Not easy planning for a trip!

Finally got some time to breathe and get down to typing out this blog coz:
1. Its Monday - no mood to work
2. Its lunch now but I am still here..
3. Boss is not in so no one to bug me

Anyway, my F&E trip to Japan has gone with the wind again. Was already discussing about it since last week and had gone down to check with travel agencies. Their F&E tours were too incomprehensive or too ex. We had also intended to take a half package half F&E one but the departure is not confirmed. In the 1st place, dunno why they have so many dates available and yet no one sign up. Wanted to book on my own but Web dun quite like the idea. After much discussion yestersday we changed our plans. Very disappointed la but no choice, hopefully can go soon...

Was even planning to go Hong Kong with my parents and sis separately aside from my planned F&E Japan trip with Web but he dun like HK and din wan me to leave him alone at home. So have to change plans to make everyone (maybe rather for him and his parents only) happy. I dun have the freedom to go tours aside with Web I guess, coz he cannot stand being alone at home without me around (too bored he said.. ). So this is the wonder of married life! No freedom at all... very sian! All I can plan is only short trips like one or two nights away at most, with family or frens.

I am not really complaining but so far I dun get to go where I like, its always his choice. Now is the 3rd trip for us and the place is still chosen by him. I told him I hate package tours (coz its always rushing here and there and no freedom) but now I still need to go with it. I really miss those days when I can plan for my own trip anytime and go with sis or frens. Being single is always better sometimes (especially if you have an anti-social hubby like me).

Anyway, the final decision (hopefully no change) now is to go Taiwan in May, in a package tour with both sides' parents and our sisters. Tentatively we are going for the 1 May 09 departure but the best part is, Web has to go apply for passports for his parents and sis before we book. Coz if any delays we will need to change the dates again. Wanted to go as early in May if possible to avoid the hot weather, which may be worse later part of May. Have to go on a package tour coz cun expect old folks to walk around aimlessly like us but would still be quite tiring for them. No choice la, very difficult to accommodate everyone.

Still happy coz I am going JB with parents and sis on Wed afternoon for some shopping. Dad actually wanted to go alone with mum to buy shuttercocks but we worried about them la, so better keep them company. Dunno why must go all the way there to buy but apparantly its very much cheaper there. Some folks just dun see the time and money wasted to save some money from buying things further away from where we could get them more conveniently.

Guess its time to adjourn for lunch now...

Hang in there..

Came across this cartoon and thought it just suited me now..

(Compliments of: http://stickgal.blogspot.com/)

Helpless...

I hate my boss..
I am starting to dislike my job..
I wish to get a new job...
I cannot coz recession coming..
I have to endure..
I will drag myself to work everyday..
I still hate the stupid bus every morning, making it worse..
I will feel sian and low morale as my colleagues..
I will go crazy soon!!!

I want to be able to enjoy life..
I want to go on holidays..
I want to be with my family..
I want to be happy..
I want to have my own free time after work..
I want to do what I want..
I do not want to slog my life away on work..
I want to be contented..
I just want to be simple..
I just want to be what I want..

But I am so helpless..
The boss is an idiot..
The job sucks..
The pay sucks..
The company sucks..
The society sucks..
The world sucks..

Damn it..

Finally!

Its Monday and a busy day... Also woke up and had quite a bad hair day even though I washed it in the morning. Hairdyer getting conky and as I was also rushing, my hair was not so dry when I felt home and already perspired like nobody's business by the time I was in the train. Luckily the bus came on time and within 10 mins, I reached office.

My hair was in a mess by then, top part not so dry, end part too dry (texture) so I probably looked like a merlion hahaha.. Wanted to get a hair cut so deperately but no time during lunch. Was talking to Susan and wanted to try the hair salon at Compass Point but her usual hairdresser was off yesterday so planned to go today.

Reached Compass Point slightly ard 6.30pm and went to the washroom 1st b4 going to pack dinner home but when I looked myself in the mirror, almost fainted. Decided to go to that salon anyway and finally, cut my hair short (shoulder length), coloured with a darker tone to even out the messy colours and did hair treatment since there was a promotion.

Susan came by just I was almost done and I sent her to the train station while waiting for Web to reach as we intend to dine outside instead. My hair felt so light and comfortable during dinner and I was glad I finally did something to it!

Scalp was quite itchy last nite but endured till this morning to wash it thoroughly. Suddenly I realised I used less shampoo and conditioner, took lesser time to wipe dry and took shorter time to blow it! Its been sooooo long since I had short hair and it feels great!

Olympics over...

Was just watching the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Felt that its not as nice as the opening, probably I already have some kind of expectations. Its quite cheena at some parts but overall I think still quite impressive.

The ceremony started with big scale performance with welcoming fireworks, followed by introduction of the 204 countries' flags paraded out by each country's representative. The came all the athletics from all the participating countries into the fields. Its a touching moments as smiles can be seen on every face. It was then the last victory ceremony of the marathon race, the last event of the games.

Subsequently was some speeches from the IOC committee members then the handling of the Olympics flag to the next hosting city, London. Fireworks works of the Olympic logo was then played, which was quite impressive. Then, there was a short performance to introduce London and a flashback of the 16 days' events around the stadium walls. The torch was then officially put out, which was quite a sad moment. Imagine 16 days of activities over in just a flash and I believed the athletics themselves would feel sad too. Anyway, Beijing had done a great job which I dun think any other country can beat in years to come.

The performances after that were several songs (some really quite cheena) performed by singers (Jacky Chan, Andy Lau, Kelly Chen, Li Hom, Rain, Emil Chau, Rong Zhu-er etc.) from different countries like China, Hong Kong and Taiwan etc. with some other performances in the background and lots of fireworks. That ended the 2 hrs closing ceremony....

So long, till the 2012 Olympics in London!

Weekends updates

Found a friend through Facebook and she accepted and replied this morning! So happy that I was able to find her coz we have lost touch for years! I was still wondering if its her coz I found the name through her email address (which I am not sure still exist or not) in an old guestbook entry sometime back in 1998/9! When I saw her message this morning, I was so excited! Also added another friend whom she has been in contact with and I hope to be able to find more soon!

Tidied our storeroom on Sunday to make way for my stuff and threw away alot of shoes and paperbags. Abit "sim tia" but bo bian... :( After that, dun have much energy to continue tidying my stuff so will probably wait till this weekend or anytime in between. After dinner, spent another hr or so ironing with the newly purchased iron and realised ironing has never been so enjoyable!! I think coz of the new iron, its very smooth and fast. I accidentally burnt a small bit of my palm though but still tahan-able.

Had dinner at Ajisen (and finally applied for the membership) last Saturday after nua-ing at home the whole day, watching the Olympics. Watched the opening ceremony on Friday night and all I can say is "IMPRESSIVE"! After watching it, I think NDP is really no big deal anymore. China really puts in alot of effort in this Olympics and for once, I salute to China. The last part was probably the best as the enormous torch was lighted up. It started with the China competitors passing the torch around the stadium then the last person was lifted up to the top of the stadium and "ran" one round as he was pulled. Behind him was the images of the passing of the torch from beginning to end, as he reached the destination where the giant torch was. It was really a touching moment and I hope it will leave a deep impression for all the people who were present and watching the opening.

北京歡迎你 (Lyrics with singers)

北京歡迎你
作曲：小柯
作詞：林夕

【陳天佳】迎接另一個晨曦 帶來全新空氣
【劉歡】氣息改變情味不變 茶香飄滿情誼
【那英】我家大門常打開 開放懷抱等你
【孫燕姿】擁抱過就有了默契 你會愛上這裡
【孫悅】不管遠近都是客人 請不用客氣
【王力宏】相約好了再一起 我們歡迎你
【韓紅】我家種著萬年青 開放每段傳奇
【周華健】為傳統的土壤播種 為你留下回憶
【梁詠琪】陌生熟悉都是客人 請不用拘禮
【羽泉】第幾次來沒關係 有太多話題

【成龍】北京歡迎你 為你開天闢地
【任賢齊】流動中的魅力充滿著朝氣
【蔡依林】北京歡迎你 在太陽下分享呼吸
【孫楠】在黃土地刷新成績

【周筆暢】我家大門常打開 開懷容納天地
【韋唯】歲月綻放青春笑容 迎接這個日期
【黃曉明】天大地大都是朋友 請不用客氣
【韓庚】畫意詩情帶笑意 只為等待你

【汪峰】北京歡迎你 像音樂感動你
【莫文蔚】讓我們都加油去超越自己
【譚晶】北京歡迎你 有夢想誰都了不起
【陳奕迅】有勇氣就會有奇蹟

【閻維文】北京歡迎你 為你開天闢地
【戴玉強】流動中的魅力充滿著朝氣
【王霞 李雙松】北京歡迎你 在太陽下分享呼吸
【廖昌永】在黃土地刷新成績

【林依輪】北京歡迎你 像音樂感動你
【張娜拉】讓我們都加油去超越自己
【林俊傑】北京歡迎你 有夢想誰都了不起
【阿杜】有勇氣就會有奇蹟

【容祖兒】我家大門常打開 開放懷抱等你
【李宇春】擁抱過就有了默契 你會愛上這裡
【黃大煒】不管遠近都是客人 請不用客氣
【陳坤】相約好了再一起 我們歡迎你

【謝霆鋒】北京歡迎你 為你開天闢地
【韓磊】流動中的魅力充滿著朝氣
【徐若瑄】北京歡迎你 在太陽下分享呼吸
【費翔】在黃土地刷新成績

【湯燦】我家大門常打開 開懷容納天地
【林志玲 張梓琳】歲月綻放青春笑容 迎接這個日期
【張靚穎】天大地大都是朋友 請不用客氣
【許茹芸 伍思凱】畫意詩情帶笑意 只為等待你

【楊坤 范瑋琪】北京歡迎你 像音樂感動你
【游鴻明 周曉歐】讓我們都加油去超越自己
【沙寶亮 滿文軍】北京歡迎你 有夢想誰都了不起
【金海心 何潤東】有勇氣就會有奇蹟

【飛兒 龐龍】北京歡迎你 為你開天闢地
【吳克群 齊峰】流動中的魅力充滿著朝氣
【5566 胡彥斌】北京歡迎你 在太陽下分享呼吸
【鄭希怡 刀郎】在黃土地刷新成績

【紀敏加 屠洪剛 吳彤】北京歡迎你 像音樂感動你
【郭容 劉耕宏 騰格爾】讓我們都加油去超越自己
【金莎 甦醒 韋嘉】北京歡迎你 有夢想誰都了不起
【付麗珊 黃征 房祖名】有勇氣就會有奇蹟

【全體】北京歡迎你 有夢想誰都了不起
【全體】有勇氣就會有奇蹟
【全體】北京歡迎你 有夢想誰都了不起
【全體】有勇氣就會有奇蹟

Getting ready

Went to watch "Hellboy" at Great World City b4 going back to Chinatown to change currency and got our hotel list in Japan.

Funny thing is when we got our Japanese Yen, I was abit confused coz of the many notes in 10000s. As we walked away, I confirmed with Web again how many should we have and he confirmed was 12 pieces (we changed 1.5k+) even after the money changer said so. Who knows after many counts, it's still 16 pieces so realised we have been given an extra 40k Yen, which amounted to SGD512. Decided to go back and return the currency else we would be haunted by our consciences. If its additional of less than SGD100 I think still acceptable but this amount is far too much. Imagine how much the worker have to pay back the boss (or to the business if he's the boss). Since the money changer was also local Chinese, decided better not to be so greedy.

Anyway the "Hellboy" wasn't that fantastic coz got alot of ugly creatures and quite lame storyline. Probably the only wise message sent across was that humans destroy everything for luxury. It was finally a peaceful movie after Web left his job with no disturbance, be it system messages or calls from his stupid boss.

Need to do some research on the hotels in Japan which we would be staying so could plan shopping around the area if time permits. At least we will also be able to spot eating places if we should be hungry at night after check-in (which is usually after dinner).

Oh ya, the sunglasses I bought last week. Kept forgetting to post the picture :P