counting down to Christmas - 11 sleeps to go!

Today is a very busy day of office Christmas celebrations for many since next Friday is the last day before Christmas, that is if you don't work on Christmas Eve Monday.

So for myself it is no difference from others.

For those who are not aware, I work in Edinburgh which is about 1 hour 15 mins commute one-way on a good day, to as bad as 1 hour 30 mins on a bad day, not considering an extremely bad day could be longer than that but those days are rare.

So anyways, I will having my Client team Christmas lunch next door to the office then proceed with my own company Christmas Dinner / party / disco in a famous football stadium in Glasgow.

Therefore, travelling to work tomorrow should be rather interesting. Train from where I live via Glasgow to Edinburgh and then a bus ride to work or I might be lucky enough to get a ride from a colleague depending on my arrival time in Edinburgh. All in all public transport will take me roughly 2 hours to get to work, costs about £13-£15 depending on if I'm taking the bus or not.

So as I prepare for my oinkety oink day, I thought the following song would be rather apt. I mean as cheesy as it sounds and I'm sure it will be played at the party / disco. Plus I love that the video reminds me our, TheOtherHalf and I, annual trip to Dobbies where they see these lovely Christmas towns.

Hope you have a good celebration if you are partying too! I know I will have a few drinks as I wind down from the past seriously stressful weeks.

Enjoy!

hogmanay.2011

As the year draws to a close at midnight, another year begins. A year of hope, dreams and plans to look forward to.

2010 has been a rather eventful year...
...I became an aunt to the lovely Emma and visited the U.S of A for the first time!

...TheOtherHalf bought a new flat and we decorated the place together, which was a huge learning curve in our relationship

...I became more involved with work, learning more and understanding a little more; corporately; globally; CSR-ly (Corporate Social Responsibility) and travelled quite a bit for work

...Corporately, I enjoy my field work with the Environment sector

...Globally, I've travelled around The Netherlands and met many colleagues from our Dutch Operation Companies

...CSR-ly, participated and climbed my first Munro ~ Ben Wyvis raising funds for WaterAid and organised an auction raising over £1,700 for UN-HABITAT

...completed my one year service for the local Cubs group and still going strong, with a recent promotion to Cub Scout Leader

...attended my first Hen Night and Scottish Wedding of Mr & Mrs Stirling and it was a blast!

...spent 15.5 hours in the car, when it is typically a 2.5-3 hours Monday morning commute, with most of the 13 hours parked up on the M80!

...had my family over for Christmas and New Year

In 2011, some of the things I am looking forward to are...

...welcoming a new member to the family ~ a brother in law!

...going home for the happy occasion and seeing family and friends and Emma again

...sit my RICS Final Assessment in Spring 2011 (need to get Critical Analysis started if I really want to do it)

...and so many things to plan for and achieve.

So, as the new year begin with 365 days of potential and possibilities, happy new year and may 2011 be better than 2010!

normality

Saw SM off this morning at the airport. So that is the lot all away home now.

This is it, the sign of life back or getting back to normal.

In some ways I don’t want life back to normal. I don’t know how long more I have to wait until I see them again. But I’m really glad we all managed to meet up and spent Christmas and New Year together as a family. Hopefully we don't have to wait another eight years.

I’m sure all of us gained weight. I know I did. What with the food in Malaysia and then the eating over the seasonal holidays plus the bumming around at home. It’s not rocket science that we put on weight.

But hey ho, January is the month of diet, or when everyone consciously moan about going on a diet.

I’ll start mine next week. You heard it here. I will need to lose 10kg by end of the year. So let’s see if I manage to shift 5kg by mid year.

It was great having a busy flat for a month, even though there had been quite a bit of compromising.

I do hope to see the gang soon. In the meantime, I will enjoy what remains of those yummy Reese’s Mini Peanut Cups (so so bad I tell ya!) and I have SM’s note for the memories.


And mind you, that note is really bad as all I had today were cravings of all sorts of food!

Diet? What Diet?!

happy.hogmanay.2009

AULD LANG SYNE
by Mairi Campbell and Dave Franci

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought tae mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
For auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my deor
For auld lang syne
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine
And we've wander'd monie a weary fit
Sin auld lang syne

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But the seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my deor
For auld lang syne
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

HAPPY HOGMANAY 2009!!!

merry.christmas.2008

Have a blessed Christmas everyone!

wet.floor

You know you are in Malaysia when...
the toilet floors are wet!

operational

An open letter to Mr. Constanti.

Dear Sir,

My other half and I had just return from our holidays from Spain through one of your packaged holidays.

We had a good time there. We were pleasantly surprise with the quality of the hotel which was beyond our expectations. The only down side was the noise coming from the Discobar at night due to patrons leaving the Discobar door open to the patio.

We were also very pleased with how efficient and friendly your cabin crew was.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the ground crew.

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon when we checked in at Glasgow airport. However, it was obvious that the check-in assistant clearly wished she wasn’t there, behind the counter. She was neither friendly nor cheerful. We were just glad that the necessary was done and continued looking forward to our holidays.

Our return flight experience was not the most pleasant either.

Noting that your travel information informed that 'check-in counter opens three hour before departure', we made our way for check-in just slightly earlier than three hours. We were about third in queue when we were informed that check-in has been revised to two hours before departure.

Preferring not to stand in the queue for an hour, my other half and I sat at a couple of the comfortable seats available.

We were very thankful for Malaga airport for the comfortable seats that we even caught forth winks there!

The queue for check-in continued to grow, within the hour a crowd gathered neatly in queue. Three queues for Glasgow (the longer queue in the picture) and another four for Manchester.


Not long, the crowd swelled and it looked like a scene of ‘last flight out of Malaga’, since check-in for both flights was pushed back to two hours before check-in.

However, check-in did not commence as shown on the screen. Although it commenced slightly less than two hours before departure, the queue didn’t seemed to clear.
My other half and I decided to continue waiting seated.

About 75 minutes before departure, we joined the queue, which by now has decreased a little.

Sadly, when we were standing in queue, it hardly moved. We even changed queues three times!

We were finally checked-in about half an hour before departure, leaving a small crowd still waiting to be checked-in on teh Glasgow bound flight. Bear in mind, all passengers should have been at the boarding gate 15 minutes ago, 45 minutes as stated on the travel information.

When we were next in queue to the check-in desk, I couldn’t resist asking one of your holiday rep, who was asking security questions on behalf of the check-in assistant, what was the cause for the delay.

To our disappointment, his reason for the delay was ‘coach strike, people were trickling in’!

Just to re-cap, we were at the airport more than three hours before check-in!

And we know that holiday reps at the hotels had arranged for taxis to transfer passengers from their hotel to the airport instead of the coach. This, I must say, was a good call on the holiday rep’s part.

Also, would the check-in area be swamped with passengers, if they were ‘trickling in’?

After the long check in process, we all had to be crammed into the transfer bus ferrying us from the boarding gate to the air plane.


Do you know how glad us passengers were when we finally see the smiling faces of the cabin crew and were seated nicely in our seats?

It was quite interesting to hear an announcement made saying ‘Good evening and welcome, I would normally say I am your captain, but, I am not. Your captain is in the plane on your left that has just landed.’

‘Due to operational reasons, the cabin crew in that plane which has just arrived from Glasgow will swap over with us and you will be on your way soon.’

‘We have decided to have you seated so to avoid any further delays.’

I guess we just have to face it that in this day and age of credit crunch and economy uncertainties, we have to be understanding that ‘operational reasons’ will supersede ‘customer satisfaction’.

Will we be patronising your services again? Sadly, us consumers will not heed ‘once bitten twice shy’ until something seriously drastic happens.

Thankfully the initial cabin crew were fantastic, taking their time treating us as we were in their care all the way. Equally, the assigned cabin crew deserved praises for their professionalism as well.

Having just touch down after a three hour flight and completing their post flight duties, walking across the tarmac and continue their duties for the next three hours, with enthusiasm and broad smiles, was very professional of them. They deserve every praises.

Our flight was delayed by an hour in total. Only saving grace is that the pilot and his team managed to catch up precious flying time, all fifteen minutes of it!

Perhaps on hour doesn't seemed long but the bad experience did leave some bitter taste.

I am very curious to know what your feedback on this matter is, if ‘customer satisfaction’ is still on the company’s agenda.

Yours sincerely,
S.

med.hols

¡Hola! ¿Como Estas?

I think it is so cool to type the quotation marks upside down.

Anyways...

It is finally here!

In dos dias, I will be away to Espana for our much awaited holidays together. We will be away on el domingo for oche dias y siete noche.

I’m looking forward to eating authentic tapas: calamares, jamon, queso, anchoas y olivas; having café, te y churros for desayuno; drinking refreshco zumo de naranja; lying under the sun and just exploring Andalucia and Gibraltar.

It will definitely be good since it will be my first trip to Spain and a much awaited and a-needed holidays, as well as just being together with TOH.

Alas! The Southeast part of Spain is populated with English speaking expats/ community.

Oh well... Still, I'm sure it will be great!

I'll see you soon! Adios.

happy easter 2008!

big smoke

Was away to London for the past four days, long weekend.

Thank goodness TOH called on Thursday morning.

ennazus: Hello.
TOH: Morning, just checking that you are awake.
ennazus: *Laughing sheepishly* I was still in bed.
TOH: You must be joking.
ennazus: No. What time is it?
TOH: Twenty to Five.
ennazus: You must be joking. *Squints at big clock. Can’t see clearly what time it is without eyes* Seriously, what time is it?
TOH: Twenty to Five.
ennazus: Really?! I gotta go. Catch up later!

The taxi was coming at 5am! Dammit!

Luckily I was ready in time for the taxi but had to put on face at the ladies after going past security check.

Thank God TOH called!

It was great seeing my sister Suemae. It will almost be two years since I last saw her, come summer 2008.

Nonetheless, I got a bit of telling off snide remarks on my English and public display of affection. Oh well. . .

After breakfast, we left our luggage at Charing Cross train station (TOH’s great idea: saved us a good bit of unnecessary travelling time).


Did the tourist thing by getting some pics at Trafalgar Square before heading off to the National Gallery. Went in there, only to realise this is not really where I wanted to go. So went next door to the National Portrait Gallery.

TS was right. I loved thee National Portrait Gallery!!! Especially the contemporary range! I want to go there again and spend a long time slowly browsing each piece of art.

And when I get my DSLR (which is a digital single lens camera), I would love to go back to London and photograph each building including details that excites and fascinates me!


We had lunch at Wahaca (Covent Garden), first time, trying proper Mexican food. Was very intrigued by the wash basin and I liked the décor. Nice food too!


We visited St. Paul’s Cathedral - our first visit! Interestingly, we didn’t realised we were short of time but we still managed to see a lot except for the upper galleries and the dome. We even stayed for the Evensong and ringing of the bells to mark the beginning of East Festival.


It was indeed a good experience attending an Anglican service and sitting in the choir stalls. Only thing is that by this time most of us were really tired.


We had dinner at O’Neil’s before heading off home.


We spent the most of next day at the British Museum. I’m proud to say that we’ve managed to see all the exhibits that were opened. Sadly, we didn’t managed to get tickets to the highly acclaimed The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army exhibition. @_@


Oh well...


We met up with TOH’s friend Robyn for a nice Chinese dinner near Chinatown and shopping/browsing/sightseeing around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.

Saturday it was shopping at Portobello Market. Was a bit disappointed with the weather and we didn’t anticipate the crowd there. O-M-G!


Would like to go there again, this time with a more prepared mind. Yes, shopping is very psychological! I would also like to see Portobello Market during the week and weekends.


We had lunch at Gourmet Burger Kitchen on Portobello Road. The food was good but it wasn’t really worth the wait. Could have gone to another GBK outlet. Next time we know.


Then it was more shopping in town.

Before the trip, I knew that there was engineering works on a stretch of the tube line. So there was much planning and deliberation on it.

However, I later found out for that weekend only, if we have a valid travel card we can take the Heathrow Express from Paddington to Heathrow!

Only, we jumped on the Heathrow Connect. So it wasn’t really a big deal.

London was good.

It was nice to see my cousin and her family.

It was great to spend time with Suemae and TOH.

Too bad it was short.

But long enough to burn a hole in my pocket.

I dare not think how big the hole is...

so-called work

Haven't been doing much work today (and some days leading up to today).

Well, I had been busy. Sort of.

Actually I had been so busy trying to draft out what the gang is going to do down in London.



Yes, I'll be going away for a few days. Early morning flights, plenty of walking and sightseeing.

I know it is sad, I have it all done on spreadsheets.

I. Honestly. Need. A. Break.

hogmanay 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

Last night TOH and I took it easy. We sat at home watching tv, surfing the internet, and having a few drinks before heading out to Castlegate.

We met up with Dawn and her friends for a few drinks before making our way to the stage - fifteen minutes before the Bells! So much for free concert.

The weather was exceptionally mild last night. TOH and I were dressed sensibly, overly sensibly I would say. I actually bought a GAP skirt the other day for Hogmanay. It's a very nice Italian material grey short skirt. Too bad when I was packing on the Friday coming up, I was too fragile and forgotten to pack it! What a shame.

Hogmanay or New Year's Eve is often very cold. I remember one year I was in Edinburgh and it was freezing cold! The next day it sleeted.

Last night was mild. One of the mildest nights in days. Today it is grey and miserable. TOH and I are just hanging out at home resting for the party tonight at Tracy's. Tracy throws the best party around I must say!!!

Anyways, back to last night's Hogamanay...

Travis was good as usual. It was just unfortunate that they didn't perform 'Auld Lang Sang'. How can they not perform that song after the Bells??!! After all we are in Scotland for goodness sake! Honestly, don't know what they were thinking or it could've been too expensive for them to sing an additional song.

I was somewhat disappointed that they didn't perform Loch Lomond as well. Okay, I'm bias, it is one of my favorite Scottish songs - could be easily mistaken for Scotland's anthem though. Oh well, what do I know...

After the Bells we headed back to Espionage to meet Dawn and gang. The last time I was in Espionage it was with AC for his farewell party. After that experienece, I don't think any other time will match how much fun we all had that night. Espionage was packed.

The drinks costs a bomb! I bought two whisky Coke (yes, yes, it is such a cardinal sin to have whisky and dash, it should always be on the rocks!) and vodka lemonade for £9.60! Goodness that is £3.20 each. Okay, maybe I had been lucky all this while and had people buying me drinks, still... But TOH did say that drinks in Espionage is not the cheapest around.

Dawn had to leave with the girls, and that left TOH and I there. After a while, it got a bit bored so we decided to go home and watch DVD.

We had a discussion that it is such a shame that in order to have a good night we have to be tipsy/drunk. It does make a difference when you see the rest of the people are 'merry' and we were so sane or insane for that matter.

Nonetheless we enjoyed Travis, although we only caught a few songs. The atmosphere was great and Aberdeen City Council has organised it rather well. Comments to Grampian Police as well since they were everywhere.

Hogmanay celebration wishlist: Stonehaven's Fireball Ceremony, or Hogmanay in Glasgow, or going back to Edinburgh for their street party. Hmm...

Oh yes, just in case anyone is wondering, we haven't really have proper snow what with this global warming business. I think Glasgow had some sleet about three weeks ago, which I did got quite over excited as TOH bluntly puts it.

It has been forecasted that it might snow tomorrow. We'll just wait and see.

'twas was Christmas

It's the day after Christmas.

I had a fantastic Christmas yesterday. TOH and I went up to TOH's dad's for Christmas after opening our pressies in the morning. I loved all of my presents and I'm glad that TOH loved his as well.

It was a very nice and relaxed day. We had chicken and all the trimmings, and then later fruit triffle for desert. The company was great.

Watched Shrek 2 on telly. It had this fairytale-enchanted-lovey-dovey-Shrekeques feeling. I think it was nice. But, as with all sequel, the first is always the best.

I think I must have almost coughed out my lungs. My diapharm muscles are aching from all the overtime coughing.

I believe I've tried almost everything I can get my hands on.

I've almost finish a 15ml/30ml bottle of Pei Pa Koa.

Sucked on tons of Halls sweets.

Had honey lime drink.

Even had a gulp of Boot's Bronchial Cough Syrup that TOH gave me. One word for it: vile. It.Was.VILE!!!!!! One gulp of it, within seconds it came out. I've tasted bad tasting things but this was way over whatever I've tried before.

However, I'm now on a CocaCola diet. I've heard of it, and I've tried it now and then, that you gently boil some Coke and a bashed piece of ginger until warm and the gas in the Coke are gone, you drink it down, it will cure your cough.

And as bizzare as it sounds, it is working. And I'm swearing by it. For now.

So I've got my excuse on drinking tons of Coke. However, just plain Coke. Don't have the time and bothering with the hassle of boiling it with ginger.

Also, I think the chill is not helping so I'm keeping myself as cosy as possible.

Going to bed at night is a nightmare. With me coughing incessantly, no one gets a peaceful night of sleep. I've even come up with my own nebuliser. Yes, it is an exaggeration but breathing cold air seems to trigger the chain of painful coughs.

If anyone is concern. The Coke has been a great help and I'm surprise at how well I'm recovering in a short time as well.

Walking in the malls today, I can't help wondering all that anticipation to Christmas, after all that mad dash, after all that scratching your head on what to get people, and after all that, it was just another day. It is just another day, even the day after.

It is not a bad thing. I always loved Christmas. There is something utterly magical about it. And I loved it more this year that I can spend it with TOH.

Of course we can't deny the true reason for the season. Going to Gerrard Street BC'c watchnight service on Christmas Eve is one thing that I try to do every year. Although it is late in the evening but it is always good. The candlelight, the message, the atmosphere, the everything.

As much as commercialism irkes any one of us, it is commercialism that helps the economy, not forgetting debts, but let's not go there, shall we?

It is amazing how the Sales starts earlier and earlier each year. I noticed some of the shops has started their Sales even before Christmas! It is the season of never ending shopping.

Shopping before Christmas. Shopping during Christmas. And Shopping after Christmas.

Yes, some online Sales starts midnight on Christmas. Great stuff ya?!

Just came back watching 'Enchanted'. TOH and I both mistakened it for 'Stardust'.

We thought 'Enchanted' was Stardust. Anyways, ten minutes into the movie, it was animation. We both were looking at each other! I was like 'sorry, I didn't know it was animation!'. But then all was revealed. And it was ahh.. 'Enchanted' I know which movie...

It was a good movie. I think Disney did it very well. How real life acting was almost the same as animation. Kudos to Disney! I can't help feeling a longing to go to any of the Disney theme parks during the singing/dancing scene in Central Park.

Oh well.. I gtg and continue coughing now..

too much too fast

Thursday night's Office Christmas Party was excellent!

We had so much fun.

The food was good, the atmosphere was great,
everyone had a good time.

I can't help feeling very thankful having the opportunity working with this group of people.

I must admit though, that that I had too much to drank and drank them too fast I had.

I had been feeling the effects of that for the past few days.

Wasn't feeling too well for Friday's Company Lunch.

Fragile would sum it all up.

Had a good sleep on the train up north.

The weekend passed by with sore throat and then a developing cough.

To sum it all, yes, I am ill just now (or NOW, for those who are unsure what I am talking about).

But I'm still happy. At least there was no rushing to the train station on Sunday after a wonderful weekend. We have two whole weeks to be together. How nice!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all. Hope you have a blessed and fabulous time!

With lots love... xoxox

awaiting

I’ve been waiting patiently for the day to come. I know we both have.

Week after week, we tell each other, Friday will come before we know it. Friday come and weekend gone, we say the same thing. It’s been a few weeks now and Friday is not far away now.

Finally, in just another few days, we’ll have two whole weeks of being with each other.

It should be good. It will be good. I just have to remember to pack extra warm clothes, since somebody’s flat is freezing cold. >__<

I’m looking forward to the cuddles in front of the fire, admiring the Christmas tree, watching tv, our never-ending chats, walking around the neighbourhood admiring other people’s Christmas decoration, essentially, just spending time together.

Ideally, it would be nice to have a wood fire burning, us cuddling together with a nice throw wrapped around us, and a spectacular view out of the deck to something beautiful and snowy.

How nice… Still Friday is not long now.

You know I always feel that way babes. xx

christmas preparations

It is 27 days to Christmas. Woohoo!!!

But I find myself being somewhat rather unorganised here.

Maybe I’m just complacent. I don’t know.

I must have mentioned this before, that there are some dates that are more important to me than others.

My birthday, my other half’s birthday, Valentine’s Day (mug!), anniversaries and Christmas.

And as usual, I still haven’t had my cards, gifts and decoration organised.

I roughly know what I want to be doing. But I haven’t really put them into action.

I think I’ve got enough cards to send out. I think and I hope. Bought a box of cards over the weekend and I have a good collection of leftover cards from the years before.

They are nice cards mind you!

I need to think of what I’m going to send out and within the country.

Royal Mail as usual have their recommended posting date out months ago.

I should really have all my cards and presents (if any) sent out by beginning of December. At least I can assure that my recipients will have enough time to receive and reciprocate, where needed.

I’m very bad at this. People are nice enough to send me things but I always don’t have the time (excuses due to bad time management) to send them back something. *Smacks hand*

Then there is the thing about thinking what to get people.

Should I or should I not get something?

What should I get?

And all those questions.

Yes, I do realise that Christmas (shopping) started in August. Yes! August! I saw them with my very own eyes!!!

It’s getting earlier and earlier.

And I think I heard Christmas songs played two weeks ago! Uh huh.. you heard it right.

Forget about Halloween.

Forget about St. Andrews Day.

Forget about whatever else and focus all your effort on Christmas.

Anyways, getting out of topic as usual…

Oh yes, Christmas starts in August… and yet, I have not got any Christmas thing organised.

At least I know where I’m going to spend it and who I’m going to spend it with. The rest are a rough idea…

Still, since ‘Christmas’ starts so early, you would think that everyone have everything organised?

You’ve guessed wrong.

The last minute buying frenzy will reach up until the very last minute of whatever store closes on the eve of Christmas. People will go and buy their things last minute. And if they can’t get what they want, they get nasty. Ooooh yes, they do.

There are two groups of people. I think there are a group that push aside the notion of anything Christmas until mid November or even December up to Christmas Eve itself. And the other group that is so super organised and have everything organised since the day after Christmas!

I fall somewhere in between.

I must confess that I will think about Christmas and what I would like to do about it. But only action on it at a rather later date.

Again, if you want reasons, I can give you a plenty!

There will be some baking involved this year and I hope to get it done as soon as possible. The Christmas cake needs time to mature.

And since I won’t be in Glasgow for Christmas plus I don’t have a car to transport a live tree, I will just put up the artificial tree that I found in the store cupboard. I hope it will be in good condition. Yeah, I know, I’m such a snob…



Luckily I don’t really have to prepare Christmas meal so it’s not that bad. But it won’t be too bad either since I enjoy cooking.

LBD

I’ve mentioned many times that it is great to be in my position. And since I like the social scene, which whenever I am up for, I had to think of something to wear to the work’s Christmas Dinner as well as my company’s Christmas Lunch the very next day.

Thus it is not surprising that the season of LBD - Little Black Dress is upon us. But I have to be difficult as usual. Well, more like, I don't want the boring usual LBD, so I'm going for something not from that genre.

I’ve seen this really nice dress in Jane Norman that I’ve been eying on for a long time. Tried it for size and it looks great. One thing I love about the dress is that there is a good support in the dress unlike most tube dress(?) or shoulderless dress(?) - whatever you call them.



I also saw a nice dress on a leaflet in store but I couldn’t see it in store. Maybe it was there all along but I just can’t see it.

So I thought, I will go online and find that dress before I make a decision which dress to buy.

Yes, I know it is such an excuse to buy new clothes.

Today I finally went online to look for Jane Norman’s website.

I was quite disappointed that they don’t sell clothes online and whatever they have online is just a handful of what they have in store.

I normally just walk pass Jane Norman racks in the departmental stores. Until I saw the Jane Norman boutique in Aberdeen’s St. Nicholas Shopping Centre.

I think all the clothes were really beautiful. There were quite a number of clothes that I would love to buy. And as much as I can think of a million excuses why I need more than one dress for Christmas and beyond, I have to control myself.

Short listed a few dresses.

Anyways, getting out of topic here. I went online today to find the dress that I can’t see in store. And since the official website does not sell clothes online, I did a general search on Google to see if I can find elsewhere that sells her clothes online.

Guess what I found instead? There is this website The UK High Street that I found, is like a forum where people put in their high street shopping experience.

Reading what the shoppers have to say about Jane Norman, I’m wary and slightly put off to whether to buy the dress that I like.

From quality complaints to customer complaints, I just feel so put off by buying the dress now.

Contemplation setting in.

I will have to either go for it or look for something else. Decisions. Decisions!

As for Christmas Lunch, I think I’m getting a much needed pair (or two) of new jeans and a nice top. Or something I already have.

TOH gave me this really beautiful necklace which I’m sure to be able to match with whatever I’m going to wear and I bought a nice bag from New Look two weeks ago with a VIP 20% discount.

Anyone wants a GAP 30% voucher which is valid until this Sunday (2nd December) drop me an email and I’ll send it to you.

It will definitely be a nice beginning to the long holidays.

Christmas Dinner on Thursday night (20th December) and then Christmas Lunch on Friday before I head up the road to spend my Christmas and two weeks holiday including Hogmanay in Aberdeen.

I just hope I will be able to recover from all those drinking (and eating for that matter)!

road trip 279 miles

Am rather knackered from my road trip through the Cairngorms.

I had been invited to speak on Rotaract at District 1010's girls' RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) in Nethy Bridge today. So, hired a car and dragged TS along on the road trip.

It was a great trip, I would say.

We left on Thursday afternoon. Almost got a parking ticket because we forgotten to check the time on the parking ticket, and it has expired when we got back to the car. The warden was just about to print the ticket and all that came out of my mouth was 'NooooOOOoOooOooooOo...' Luckily he was nice and haven't printed it. *Phew!* That was even before we left Aberdeen!!!

After recomposing myself, we then head off. Since we had so much time, the journey allows us to stop anywhere we want. Me loving to drive and he being the guide/navigator/photographer.

It has been a while since I last drove and the route we took was just excellent! Just perfect for me since I love different terrains.

Along the way, we had pronounciation lessons since I have some difficulties in pronouncing some words. We drove by many towns and stopped at Tarland for some pics, passed by the ski town/area (during winter) of Lecht and then arrived at Nethy Bridge. Since we were early and didn't want to go to the camp, we then head on south to Aviemore and have our dinner there.

It was my first time to Aviemore, another ski town/resort during winter. I think it is a very touristy ski resort town. It's not grand as a ski resort, which IMHO could have been much better. Anyways, there is a really nice train station, which both of us think that all train stations in Scotland should have been conserved this way. Anyways, there is a The North Face outlet shop and I so wanted to shop there, but it was closed. *Sigh...* Too bad.

We then realised that time flies and it was getting late. So we hurriedly got to Abernethy Trust Outdoor Centre and arrived just in time for supper. Talk about timing!

Had a minor panic attacked when we tried to open the file for the next day's presentation. Apparently the file was not recognised! I was kinda lost for words. But luckily I had older similar files on my pen drive. Some amending and downloading pictures in the morning, my presentation was ready. *Phew!* again.

Did my presentation this morning, which I am glad was good. Had been invited to speak again next year. Yaaay!! Road trip? Since we weren't prepared for outdoor activities, we had to kindly turn down joining the girls. Its my fault actually.

We then head out for more galavanting, which those who don't know me by now, means more driving around aimlessly.

Arrived in Grantown-on-Spey for brunch (toasties, yum!). Again, my first time here. It is a really Really nice town! I had to use words like 'blast from the past' to describe the town, that our friend couldn't help sniggering at me! We went to a traditional sweet shop and bought some sweets there. I was literally a child in a sweet shop! I guess TS had a time of his life watching me or he may just be so embarassed at me! I couldn't help but ask the owner if I could take pics in his shop, obviously after I bought a bag of 'Soor Plooms' (Yum!). Such a tourist!

I found my daddy's car here too! I wonder if it got lost to Scotland! hehehee...


Since TS has never been to a whisky distillery, I sort of forced him to go to one. The next one that came along was Cardhu distillery, who distills whisky for Johnny Walker. Good, since I've never been to this one before.

After our wee tour, we then head on to a place called Blacksboat. So with my trusty navigator's instincts (since he actually been there in the past before) we then head off. Drive drive drive, only to realised we are at Cardhu AGAIN! You can imagine my expression 'CARDHU!'. Of course he never heard the end of it, even after we finally found the place. It was just so so funny!

We then finally head home. Funny thing, now that I am looking at the map, I just realised that we took a really huge round back to almost Grantown-on-Spey! However, however(!), I can't deny it was a good drive.

And like any The Company slaves, we had to stop by The Company's outlet in Westhill. We need a life man!

Having a car definitely has its advantages. We had to have one last detour before home, my favourite place in Aberdeen, Balmedie beach. Glad TS loved it, the undiscovered part of Aberdeen for him.


I better head off to bed now, I am so knackered. Tomorrow is another long day.

Thanks again to a wonderful Friday 13th. Am really thankful for your companion!

special seven

The number 7 has always been something that I love.

I don’t know how you relate to a favourite number. For some there is a certain attraction. For others it is a matter of luck or fate.

I guess for me the number seven is part of me since it is the month that I was born in. Henceforth, my love for the number 7.

This year the 7th of July is certainly special. Cos if you look closely, it will be 07/07/07.

I remember at one point I had this ‘dream’ to get married on this day. It will be definitely one heck of a date that you won’t get again in another thousand years. Which I am very certain that I will not be around then.

But fate as it is, I’m not getting married on this day.

Last year, during my trip to Japan, I learnt that the seventh day of the seventh lunisolar calendar is also a day where Japanese celebrates the festival of Tanabata (七夕). Because the seventh month of the year roughly coincides with August rather than July, Tanabata is still celebrated on August 7th in some regions of Japan, while it is celebrated on July 7th in other regions.

The day celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi which are separated by the Milky Way (river). It is only on this day that they are allowed to meet only once a year. So it is a very significant and special day for lovers.

And me being me, that I’m such a sap when it comes to matters of romance, now feel that there is more to this day then ever!

Popular Tanabata custom is to write one’s wishes, sometimes in the form of poetry, on tanzaku (短冊) – colourful, small strips of paper, and hanging them on a specially erected bamboo tree, in the hope that the wishes become true.

So my wish for all of you who love me by reading my blog, I wish you good health, happiness and love always. xx

i need a lie down

Switzerland?

No. Its Shetland.

Just got back from Lerwick and had done my year's share of exercise in three days.

I need a lie down now...