Monday 30 July 2007
Ahh.... so ANGRY.... initially wanna change my blog skin n didn't save a copy wat i have described abt myself... Can't recapped wat i had wrote on my blog previosuly! So if those who read it may found tt it's a bit different rite? Any helpful soul here can help me recapped? =( Luckily i got save a copy of all my links n the tag link can be retrieve from the cbox website... phew.... How come the blog skin website change their skin format n i dunno how to use the new version leh... Can anyone help me? Calling for SOS here...
Actually today wanna write abt some thoughts tt i have... Haiz... all b'cos of the blog skin, spoiled my mood already...
Shall start wif something good, i've one more friend who blog now... so got 1 more blog to read in the future... I really visit my friends blog quite regularly to read abt their updates n this show tt i'm concern abt u all okie... not kay poh... but where got gals not kay poh one rite? hehe...
Hmm... actually not feeling v happy abt work stuff 2day... all b'cos of my boss... dun feel like elaborating it... just wanna feel like shouting out tt "I hope i can dun heard anything abt work after i have knock off!"
Sometimes on my way home, i may suddenly came up wif some new thoughts... I dun listen to mp3 nor FM, so the 1hr bus journey back home can be quite bored.. so i either read 我报 , look the cars tt drove by or just 胡思乱想。。。 I seldom snooze off on the bus, hmm... mayb less than 5 times bah... n i always manage to wake up b4 i reach the destination. Although i may close my eyes but tt does not mean i'm sleeping loh... In the past i seldom look at cars cos i'm not interested in cars previously. Now once in a while i will look at cars n c whether got any nice car, nice car plate no, mayb handsome guys? At the moment, i've not seen one yet... After reading, noe how bored my journey to n back from work? So tt's y i wanna own a car, sian of taking 1hr bus ride to work. N i always stand on the journey to work cos the bus stop tt i'm boarding is the last one b4 the expressway... So unfair cos i oso pay the same fare as other passenger.... Well, I've accepted tt life is nvr FAIR cos none of ur fingers r of equal length...Tt's wat my mom told me...
Well taking abt newspaper, i think a lot of people dun read newspaper daily rite? Actually i feel tt by reading newspaper, really can increase ur knowledge n common sense. It's true.... A lot of ppl always have the excuses of not reading newspaper... Hmmm.... reading newspaper can be a bit time consuming, but depends on individuals. Some may scan through on wkdays n read thoroughly on wkends.. For my case, i read thoroughly everyday... For some people, i wonder even if they read thoroughly, do they understand the article? Cos if u ask them to articulate, the content of the article tt they tell u is completely different from wat u read. So wat's that pt of reading newspaper since the news r interpret wrongly? I really learn quite alot of things from the newspaper but as u all noe, rome is not built in a day.
OMG it's already 11.20pm... gonna sleep.... another day passing by...
Saturday 28 July 2007
It's raining again. For the past whole week, the weather seems to be either cloudy or raining. Where has the sun gone? Probably after living in the equator for 2 decades, i dislike seeing the sun for 365 days unlike those caucasians who like the sun alot cos they seldom c the sun n i've seen the sun too much. Since i dislike gg out on raining days cos so troublesome n no plan to go out today, shall blog abt my interesting saturday.
So happy ytd cos no need to work. Really HATE to work on sat n i always look forward to the wkends which i'm not working. I really wonder how did i endure for the past 3 yrs? Hmmm..... Ironically, i seldom laze around on days tt i'm not working. Wake up @ around 8plus.... After taken my breakfast, was surfing the net until noon cos the course tt i gonna attend has changed from 10-12 to 1.30-3.30. Actually if i dun go out on wkends, i can spend my whole day @ home either surfing net, chat wif friends on msn, doing some nitty gritty stuff or sleep. N frankly speaking, staying @ home can save $$, 3 meals will be taken care of by Mom n i dun need to spend a single cents. But when i go out, i do spend loh... It's not tt i purposely stay at home to save $$. When meeting up wif friends, we seldom eat fast-food or food courts cos sian of eating it during wkdays. N eating good food is oso a way of pampering myself. - Coffee Appreciation/Making Workshop
- Coffee Cupping (Tasting) Workshop
- Barista Training Workshop
The trainers are Mr. Phil Ho & Mr. Cedric Ho n they are professional baristas. Baristas refers to one who has acquired some level of expertise in the preparation of espresso based drinks.
They started the course with brief introduction on coffee n there r 2 types of coffee bean - Arabica n Robusta. They r oso known as highland coffee (grown at altitudes between 2000-6000 ft) n lowland coffee (grown in low elevation) respectively. Well, Robusta coffee bean has the most caffeine n it's wat we drink @ those kopitiam. Arabica is the highest quality coffee bean. For making of an espresso, it consist of a mixture of arabica coffee bean. N caffeine is a legalise drug otherwise i doubt tt we can drink any coffee if it's not legalise.
Coffee grows in more than 50 countries and is the second largest export in the world after oil (in dollar value). Didn't noe tt coffee r regulated in Italty by the Italian government n each espresso drink cost 1 euro. Wow wow wow....The trainers oso brief us on the difference of espresso, cappuccino, latte n mocha. Well, i think i'm really mountain turtle... don't really noe the difference. Hehe....
- Espresso is the base for all the espresso based beverage. The word Espresso comes from the Latin word Expresere which means "to press out". Espresso are measured in shot (30 - 45ml).
Cappuccino comprise of a shot of espresso filled with steamed milk and 1.5cm of foamed milk on top n r authentically served in a 5 - 6 oz cup.
Latte comprise of a shot of espresso filled with steamed milk and 1cm of foamed milk on top n r authentically served in a 7 - 8 oz cup. So the difference between cappuccino n latte is their is more steamed milk in latte cos the cup served r bigger. B.t.w the foamed milk r not fattening cos it is air but whipped cream r fattening.
Mocha comprise of a shot of espresso combined with chocolate syrup or powder, filled with steamed milk and foamed milk on top.
From clockwise direction: Espresso machine, Steaming & foaming milk art, syrups
Center: Raspberry Mocha Latte (nice rite?)
After attended this course, i became more appreciative of coffee now. Mayb gonna enrol for the coffee cupping workshop.
Just wanna share with you all about story on Irish coffee which i read on the net quite long ago.
有人說愛爾蘭咖啡的發明人是都柏林機場的酒保，因為橫越大西洋的飛機常會在這個機場加油，旅客下飛機休息時很喜歡喝杯愛爾蘭咖啡，所以它就隨著飛航而傳到世界各處。
這個酒保是為了一位美麗的空姐所調製的。酒保在都柏林機場邂逅了這位女孩，可能是一見鍾情吧，酒保非常喜歡空姐。他覺得她就像愛爾蘭威士忌一樣，濃香而醇美。
可是她每次來到吧檯，總是隨著心情點著不同的咖啡，從未點過雞尾酒。這位酒保擅長的是調雞尾酒，他很希望她能喝一杯他親手為她調製的雞尾酒。後來他終於想到了辦法，把他覺得像愛爾蘭威士忌的女孩與咖啡結合，成為一種新的飲料。然後把它取名為愛爾蘭咖啡，加入Menu裏，希望女孩能夠發現。
可惜這位女孩並不是細心謹慎的人，所以一直沒有發現愛爾蘭咖啡。酒保也從未提醒她，只是在吧檯內做他份內的工作，然後期待女孩每隔一段時間的光臨。後來她終於發現了愛爾蘭咖啡，並且點了它。從酒保發明愛爾蘭咖啡，到女孩點愛爾蘭咖啡，經過了整整一年。
當他第一次替她煮愛爾蘭咖啡時，因為激動而流下眼淚。為了怕被她看到，他用手指將眼淚擦去，然後偷偷用眼淚在愛爾蘭咖啡杯口畫了一圈。所以第一口愛爾蘭咖啡的味道，帶著思念被壓抑許久後所發酵的味道。而她也成了第一位點愛爾蘭咖啡的客人。那位空姐非常喜歡愛爾蘭咖啡，此後只要一停留在都柏林機場，便會點一杯愛爾蘭咖啡。
久而久之，他們倆人變得很熟識，空姐會跟他說世界各國的趣事，酒保則教她煮愛爾蘭咖啡。直到有一天，她決定不再當空姐，跟他說Farewell，他們的故事才結束。他最後一次為她煮愛爾蘭咖啡時，問了她這麼一句：Want some tear drops？因為他還是希望她能體會思念發酵的味道。
她回到舊金山的家後，有一天突然想喝愛爾蘭咖啡，找遍所有咖啡館都沒發現。後來她才知道愛爾蘭咖啡是酒保專為她而創造的，不過卻始終不明白為何酒保會問她：“Want some tear drops？”。沒多久，她開了咖啡店，也賣起了愛爾蘭咖啡。
漸漸地，愛爾蘭咖啡便開始在舊金山流行起來。這是為何愛爾蘭咖啡最早出現在愛爾蘭的都柏林，卻盛行於舊金山的原因。空姐走後，酒保也開始讓客人點愛爾蘭咖啡，所以在都柏林機場喝到愛爾蘭咖啡的人，會認為愛爾蘭咖啡是雞尾酒。而在舊金山咖啡館喝到它的人，當然會覺得愛爾蘭咖啡是咖啡。因此愛爾蘭咖啡既是雞尾酒，又是咖啡，本身就是一種美麗的錯誤。」
（以上段落節錄引用 蔡智恆先生 作品˙愛爾蘭咖啡）
Touching rite? Poor bartender, his love is only one-sided n the air stewardness never discovered it. Well, one day i shall try the Irish coffee.
After the course ended @ 4pm, i decided to drop by the museum as it's still early n i wanna c the rock exhibition. I have not stepped into the national museum for > 10 yrs cos i remembered tt my last visit was in primary school.
National museum
Too bad that no photo can be taken on the exhibition in the museum. Otherwise i can upload more photos. All the rocks looks as if they are real dishes. The most interesting part is a rock that has a chocolate aroma. It's true, i smell it personally. It's known as 金香玉 and can be found in Shanxi or Dali in Yunnan. 神奇rite?
There is oso another exhibition which i visited. It's about Singapore 1st ten years from Independence. The exhibition is at the new building of the National Museum, didn't know that there is a new extension built.
Mixture of old & new
Orchid series notes
Singapore first cabinet ministers
While touring the exhibition, it oso recapped my memory of Singapore history, seems to 4get those learned in secondary school.
There are other exhibitions but admission charge is requied so i didn't went to those exhibitions. B.t.w. from 6-9pm daily, there is free admission to all living galleries.
Get to know from silent tt admission to Singapore Art Museum on Friday 6-9pm is free. Probably may visit more museums in the future cos it's not as boring as i thought. Mayb i'll become somemore who may appreciate art more? Will update my blog if i encounter any interesting stuff while visiting the museums.
Actually a lot of people dislike going out alone cos i think a lot of people have the mentality of loneliness. But after attending workshop n going to museum alone, i discovered tt it can be quite fun doing things alone. If in Singapore, i already have this mentality then how can i travel overseas alone rite?
Took a snap of myself @ National Museum. I really enjoyed myself a lot!
Wondering if i shld published my daily entries n let my friends visit my blog or not. Currently, it's only me who noe so i can write anything here... if i were 2 disclose 2 my friends, then i think i can't write everything cos it may offend people without me noticing it... Mayb if 1 day i decided not to let anyone view my entries, i think i'll just close the blog... So for the moment, i've decided to publish my entries for viewing le.
Is it that when we grow up, we have more n more worries? When recalling my childhood memories, i dun have so much 2 worry abt... just eat, play, sleep... so good.... Y when i'm young, i keep wanted to grow up? Cos @ tt pt of time, i feel tt i wanna noe a lot of things so i wanna grow up as fast as possible. Now when i'm an adult, i wanna become kids again... Human r to greedy... When u dun have it, u wan it. When u have it, u dun wan it.
Comparing to the people surrounding me, they seems to have more problems than me. Sometimes, be contented with wat u have is oso happiness. Seems like my worries r work n study. At least financial wise, i'm still ok... Currently my only debt is study loan but my liabilities will end in this coming Dec n i'll be debt free.... So mayb for the next 1-2 yrs, i shld be debt-free unless i bought a car or a house. Recently have a friend who have some financial problem, this really make me consider whether my dream of owning a car is really a realistic dream or not? Cos my friend gonna sell his car as he could not afford it next yr as he will be unemployed by then. But even after selling his car, he still have 2 owe the bank >$10k. Currently, this figure seems like an astonishing figure 2 me, mayb in the future, to me, it's peanuts, haha.... Well, back to the topic, after my friend case... i think i gonna think n plan wisely. Anyway my friend keep advising me tt unless i have plenty of disposable cash then i shld buy a car, otherwise dun think abt it... Hmmm... mayb i really dun appreciate my friend advise then n now when i saw tt he run into such situation, i became more appreciative of his advise le... Although $$ is not everything but without $$ u can't do anything...
Recently my mood is not fluctuating so much, mayb have something 2 look 4wd 2. Cos for the past few weeks, i've been feeling v down. I've told myself mentally tt i'm not gg 2 think abt so much at this moment cos think so much oso no use cos i dun think i'll put it into action. N having a trip 2 look 4wd 2 is oso good, at least it will divert my attention. Nowadays, only gg 4 trips will keep me motivated n substained me for the difficulties tt i've 2 endure n overcome. Mayb 1 yr ago, i would say study will motivate me but after so long, i haven't complete it n it's a bit offtrack from my plan. I started to become demotivated instead of motivated. I'm been complaining tt study is so hard especially juggling wif studies n work @ the same time. N it's not gg as smooth as wat i've plan. My mom n friends must be enduring wif my complains for the past 3 yrs. Although i've not reach my destination yet, but i reaching soon, just 2 more papers 2 go if everything goes smoothly... I dun wan 2 disappoint myself n the people who have been giving me support... 俗话说：“吃的苦中苦，方为人上人”。
Whenever i reach a certain age, i always have to make some major decisions. It's like i'm @ the cross-junction, deciding whether to go left, right, front or back. Actually since young, we always been in the cross-junction, it's just we didn't notice it cos everything has been planned 4 us. Don't believe, let me list them down: When we r 5 yrs old, we attended kindergarden, then @ 7 yrs old we went on to Primary School, @ 13 yrs old, we went to Secondary School, @ 17 yrs old we either went to JC or Poly... C.... everything has been planned, it's just a matter of which school u wanna attend... @ 19 when i graduate, i've decided tt i wanna become auditor n study ACCA. Now @ 23, i wonder wat i wan now? Well, i just need some time to sort out my thought... I always feel tt i'm someone who can determined my destiny cos i always noe wat i wan. Just a matter of time. So i oso hope tt my sis can give it a thought n decide wat she wanna do n work towards to achieving it instead of keep 兜圈子。。。
Sunday 22 July 2007
Decided to attend some courses in the Community Centre to learn some new skills. For the past 3 years, my life is too preoccupied with work n study. Feel tt my life seems to be lacking of something. I dun wanna become someone who duuno everything other than work n study.
Have thought of attending courses previously but have the perception tt those courses in CC r usually few sessions, n i dun wanna commit myself in case if i can't attend the courses. Then another reason is i'm too lazy, cos some courses r held at the CC in the east, so at tt time, i told myself tt i'll attend those courses after i own a car. Give myself too much excuses...
Then recently Celine was attending courses @ the CC. N i came to noe tt CC oso offer one time courses which is more flexible for me cos i dun need 2 commit. Seems like i hate commitment. So recently it trigger my interest again.
Visit the website n discovered tt there's so many courses, gonna spolied for choice. There's so many catergories and those tt interest me r: culinary art, beauty & wellness, lifestyle & leisure, hobbycraft, floral art. The courses r not v expensive, ranging from $20 - $40 bucks. Somemore member will be entitled to a lower course fees n the membership fees for 3 yrs is only $10, damn cheap!
I've make my mind, gonna register for membership so tt i can start to enrol for courses.
Friday 13 July 2007
Feel like gonna breakdown for the past 2 mths after exam.... N somemore quite a few things happen recently... Haiz....
Started to attend 1 class on thu, so damn tired... wonder how i managed 2 attend 2 class every wk for the past 2 yrs? I think @ tt point of time, i must be superwoman... haha... OMG, still got 17 lessons 2 attend until early Nov. Oso dunno how is my 3.1 result when it's out in Aug.... So much uncertainty. Intend 2 revise P3 after the result is out, so gonna concentrate on my P1 1st.
Finally, i'll be going 4 a short trip over the wkend on 11 & 12 Aug. Waiting for this break for so long. Initially, wanna take a break after my exams but due to time n travel companion issues, only till now i can finalise my trip. Really look 4wd 2 the trip....
Saturday 7 July 2007
Feeling quite down today.... the thought of changing job trigger on my mind again. I had reminded myself tt i shld make such decision after i complete my studies as i don't want to make any major decisions now. So whenever i start 2 feel tired, when i was assign to do something which i dun like.... the thought of changing job will start to trigger again.
I think i need a break soon. Initially, wanted to go 4 cruise wif celine but nothing was finalised. Everytime, only discuss discuss cos nothing can be finalised until the last minutes due to so much uncertainty. Now, definitely can't go for cruise cos 2 colleague wanna take leave on tt day. I can't possibly take leave cos there is only 1 colleague left. Haiz..... Then when can i go 4 a break? Can't find travel companion..... =(
Wanna go to Vietnam @ year end... but oso can't find travel companion. Suddenly have the urge of going alone but afraid of language barrier. Dunno where 2 go... Haiz....
If can the remaining 2 papers by Dec, then i intend to go to Taiwan in next Apr. Gonna take all my annual leave by then, dun care so much... i really need a long break to rejuvenate myself.
