Goodbye 2007!

As we start counting down the minutes to the end of 2007, I thought it'll be nice to do a top 5 list of happy moments for the year. Granted, they may sound minor, and utterly worthless to be worth a mention, yet, it's always these simply pleasures that make the year worth remembering!

1. Being introduced as "a good friend of mine" by someone I've always regarded as a big brother, ever since the very first job I held.

2. The really cute and sweet bear delivered to my office on 14 February this year. It was memorable, not only because of the extremely sweet gesture, but also because it coincided with me suddenly thinking of the time when we were out buying gifts together for Friendship Day some 8 years ago.

3. Presents! The earrings I wanted from Taiwan, and the comics that I didn't finished in anticipation of my job-hopping.

4. Meeting up with some friends I hold dear but have not seen for over a year, eg. Honghui, Derrick; seeing teachers I've not seen in a long while, eg. Mr Jimmy Lee; attending NJCO concert and meeting (up with) NJCO friends and juniors.

5. Relates to job changing, but not in the way most people would think it should be. More of, the voices of support given when I was about to make the switch. And a not-asked-but-still-super-grateful-to-have offer to help with a small portion of my bond by a good friend, if I so requested.

Of course, not included in any of this, but most importantly... I'm glad to still have all those I hold dear around me, despite all my unbecoming behaviours throughout the year. Thank you, my dear friends, and I promise I'll be less of an irritating brat in the new year.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Didn't have much chance to write Christmas cards this year, so.... To all those dearest to me, thank you for all the 包容s and 关怀s showered upon me for this year. And so, during this festive season, I just want to wish you all a really lovable Christmas!

朋友是值得珍惜的

Heard this line on my way home earlier, and couldn't agree more.This entry would probably sound like something that you hear only during those award ceremony, but who cares? This is by far the nicest birthday I've had, even if it happened on a rainy day. Still, with so many "wishes" fulfilled, it's hard not to worry if it's the beginning of an endless unhappy moments (yes, I'm a pessimist who believes that when one has too much good luck, it's the start of a list of bad stuff... and I'm not usually wrong anyway) Anyway, here's the list of people (in alphabetical order) whom I really really want to say a huge THANK YOU to...

Ciyao: I know I've been a real bad friend this year, yet, you still remembered and you've still sent that sms. Thank you so so so so much, my dearest friend!!! I promise I'll make a greater effort to meet up in the coming year, for example, your birthday next year. And I promise I'll not make you wait for me!

Daniel: Are you really sure I make a A++ daughter? Cause somehow or rather, I don't think I've really been a good friend throughout this year. In any case, the really sweet (not to mention over flattering) birthday sms was a really great way to start my day. Thank you, mummy! =p

Darmaji: How can I not bounce up and down when I get an unexpected long-distance sms from a friend I hardly ever hear from? Thank you!!!

Derrick: Can't remember when it was, but one of the birthday presents that I really wanted was just to meet up and chat like the way we did when we were JC kids. Over the years, some of the things that happened made me doubt whether the friendship should be sustained. Then again, somehow subconsciously I don't think I can ever bear to give up one of my most treasured friendship. Perhaps that was why one of my birthday wishes for this year was just to meet up with this once really really good friend of mine, and perhaps just turn back time, even if it were just for a day. So even if like you said, you didn't get me anything, or there were certain periods when it appeared we had nothing to say, it really didn't matter, cause I've already received the only present I wanted from you, that is, meeting up, and even walking down the entire Orchard, just like when we were back in JC. Thank you!

Egeus: Eh... Thanks for the birthday greeting over msn! =) How on earth did you figure out?

Gek Koon: Enough said from the earlier entry. Oh, and did I mention that on my way to the Family Courts on Tues morning, one cab driver actually asked if I was in a super good mood cause I was grinning to myself?

Guoxing: Even as you apologised for the lack of birthday card, it really didn't matter, cause the only present I was waiting for was that sms that you never fail to send each year. Yes, I may sound like a huge spoilt brat, but that's really the present I look forward to each year. Thanks, grandfather! =)

Itak da ge: You never fail to remember and sms every time this year too, even if you're away in another country. It's really really nice to be remembered. 大哥... 谢谢!

Jeremy: I know I'm the world's most stubborn gal, but still, delivering the soft toy etc wasn't out of the way. Or at least, I didn't really mind cause it'll always make my day when I see one of my most treasured friends! (okiez.. I'm really sorry for the spoilt brat-ish act that most likely inconvenienced you even though you said otherwise.. but I vaguely remember you once mentioning that you didn't really like meeting up with people too often cause it meant spending more money (or something like that) and so I unilaterally decided it'll only be fair if I delivered the things I bought to you) Anyway, thanks for the birthday wish! Even though it seems like it was forced on you.. haha =)

Lijia (& Ryan): Hey gal.. Thanks for smsing me at 4++ in the morning! And making Ryan sms me too... Take good care of yourself, k?

Qi: Thanks for both the birthday wishes, the day before and the day after!! =) Frankly, I don't think I can bear to use the cute highlighters lehz....

Sis: Thanks for the really fun dinner company last night (and for willingly waiting in vain for some dinner appointment without complaining) and the whole load of comics! I was merely thinking aloud whether to buy the entire series of comics since I didn't manage to finish it in my bid to save money to break my bond. I really really didn't expect you to spend so much money buying all of them. (I shall remember not to make such senseless comments next time, else you'll have to spend so much money) Still, I really really love it. Thank you!!! =)

Weiguang: Mr Tan!!!!!!! Sorry for cancelling out on you today, though I really appreciate your effort at getting being the first to sms me and for getting me to meet up with you. Thank you for being a superb friend throughout the year, and letting me be the adorable brat I am. I'll be looking forward to dinner tomorrow and I promise I'll try very very hard not to be late (Whoever causes me to be late can go and die lahz... cause Mr Tan is more important!)

Weiling (the "gorgeously evil"): Thank you! For the super early sms... for your offer to keep me company just so that I don't have to be at home. You weren't feeling well yesterday, so I thought you shouldn't be out at all, even if you said your fever's gone. Take care and we'll meet up soon. Oh.. and thanks for the Eeyore card! Who says I'm the one who calls myself cute? I AM adorable! haha

Xikai: Thanks for the (written-in-advance) birthday card! THAT was a surprise! Plus your birthday greeting. Thanks for remembering! =)

All in all, (including those not mentioned here) thank you! Haha.. once again, I feel so super loved! =)

天下无不散之宴席

Even though I subconsciously kept my distance after the unhappy incident, the news that one of my colleague would probably not be around in a few months time did make me feel a bit blue, even if I didn't want to show it. Then again, it's probably for the better, so there's no need to voice the 不舍. It was probably the same when I chose to leave Income, right?

朋友往好的方向前进是件好事, 与其有点儿失落, 不妨衷心地祝福.

The ONLY thing I want

"As per your request, this is a birthday card enclosed with the warmest greetings from the nice guy sent all the way across the vast pacific ocean to the tiny dot on the map"

1 sentence from my mum "I think your present from Gek Koon is here" drove away a otherwise sulky and weary face, and brought on a huge cheshire cat grin. 1 look at that first sentence, and you have one crazy girl half laughing to herself.

Yup, that me. Those who know me well enough would know that I'm indecisive, to the point that I'll usually have no preference whatsoever. This year, however, I insisted on a particular present from one of my most important friends. Much as this sounds super spoilt brat-ish, it's very much linked to the very reason why I love buying presents for those who mean a lot to me whenever I go overseas (No, colleagues don't count, cause that's a must buy). It's just my way of letting these friends know that, no matter which part of the world I am at, they are still thought of, and much cherished. In the same way, a birthday card from half a globe away is more than sufficient to induce a wider than wide grin on my face, simply because it signifies that I've been remembered by one of my most important friends, no matter where the friend is.

Whatever it is, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MY PRESENT, MR TAY! Even though you said in your card that you've no idea what to get me, you've actually already gotten me the present that I want most this year, ie. remembering me across half a globe, and being safe and sound! Like what I told a colleague last week, buying presents for me is both easy and difficult. So long as you're amongst my precious and highly treasured friends, I'll just love anything you get, even if it's the simplest sms or card.

On a side note, I've just received an overseas call that thrilled me no end too. Looks like I'll get to see Mr Chai this week too! But then, looks like this phone call indirectly made it clear who my subconcious mind values more too.. Can only say, time does change a lot of things..

Grrr...

For a moment, I was so tempted to scream "I hate my job". But then again, work is not meant to be loved anyway.

So yah, it's back to work. Actually, rather than "celebrating" my birthday by pooling money, I would have thought an alternative present would be way better (and cheaper). That is, LEAVE ME ALONE haha..

Don't worry, I'm really fine. Maybe with the exception of more fine lines after a while from all the frownings.. =) But I'm really fine

甜甜的

Either I'm easily pleased, or just plain attention seeking, but it sure feels super nice to see words somewhat amounting to care and concern coming your way, especially from people you least expect. Whether they really do mean it or not. Or maybe it was just from a friend whom I didn't want to be bothered with but couldn't not be bothered with. For eg. "i'm going for lunch now... you go too k! dun skip ah"

Of course, there are other conversations, where the things said may not amount to anything, but they're still sweet to the listener/reader, maybe cause the listener/reader is just plain easy to please. Whatever it is, the rain and all those unhappy matters have not seem to dampen this festive season. To the contrary, it's beginning to feel really Christmas-y, just because of the warmth exuded from the various MSN conversations from my beloved friends.

I feel so loved. Haha.. And easy pleased =)

Back

A simple sms, a simple gesture.

2003, after a horrendous holiday abroad, that birthday greeting sms from Guoxing whilst I was away reduced me to tears. Simple, yet sweet.

Along the way, there were many other smses too. Each of them brought warmth to the reader, and brought her the comforting sense of "I'm back".

This time round, I thought the "glad to have you back. that's sufficient" was especially sweet.

Whatever it is, thank you, Weiguang and Jeremy.

A lot of the recent events have emphasised the fragility of life, and the importance of treasuring. So I'm really really thankful to have you guys around. Not forgetting Gary and Weiling too, for just listening to me, and being there for me when I smsed those stuff whilst overseas. And Peiqi, for just replying to my questions too.

Thank you and.... I really love you! :)