Video Uploading on Blogger

Yes! Was so excited when I got to know that we can now upload video on our blog! Went home and made sure that I remembered to bring along my wedding video to office, hoping to upload them whenever I have the time.

Anyway also took the opportunity to record a short video of my cute little Regine, eating her dessert at the Korean restaurant after her Comex freak-out trip yesterday (with so many people around her!!)

Enjoy! Do contact me if you need an extra for any upcoming movie. Ha ha! She can really cry whenever she wants to (with tears trickling-down type) and stop as immediate (and yet the tears will still stay on her face!)

A New Moi???

Came back to office after a day break. Thought wasted my leave yesterday as hubby had sent the car to workshop for servicing. In the end, we can't go out till about 4pm.

Anyway, this morning, I was getting a bit restless in the morning. Somehow, just can't get into serious work. Kept on binging on tidbits, on and on, without stopping. Just don't know why...

Surfed the web and went on to check on the updates of my colleagues' blogs and well, a nice surprise awaiting for me at Barlalee's blog:

Well, we did it to Allie (aka Barlyson) last week and had a good laugh. See how well she blends into Fiona Xie's splendid curvaceous figure...hee hee...

So this week, I'm the new victim. Well, looks cool. Just smiled as I looked at it. Not much exhilaration that both Barlalee and Barlyson got worried. :P

Perhaps I should consider sporting a new, short hairdo soon...just deep in thoughts, that's all.

From This Moment I

Every time I hear Shania Twain's From This Moment (it was playing on Class 95), it will definitely bring back fond memories of my wedding. Well, I used it for my wedding march down the red carpet at Regent Hotel on 10 January 2005 and I could still remember the excitement of walking down the aisle for the first time of my life, the happiness of sharing this special occasion with my beloved parents, friends and relatives, who lined the 2 sides of the red carpet, throwing throngs of confetti at us:

From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I'd give my last breath
From this moment on

I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live I will love you,
I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live I will love you,
I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment I will love you as long as I live
From this moment on

(I do swear that I'll always be there. I'd give anything and everything and I will always care. Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, for better, for worse, I will love you with every beat of my heart.)

Well, I can't turn back the clock and experience this special moment again...

Dad's Almond Jelly

Dad had this recipe for almond jelly. He was always so proud of himself whenever he made the almond jelly for us. No one can ever beat him in this trademark dessert of his, not even my mum who tried but had to tolerate criticism from him in the end! (Well, mum was the one who took charge of the kitchen and everyday cooking previously). Well, Dad is no longer around to make almond jelly for us anymore...

Last Saturday, I tried making almond jelly for my Dad and Mum instead, as an offering during the 7th month. Preparations started on Thursday when I took a train back purposely, so that I can drop by the shop at Sembawang MRT Station to grab the incredients. I was excited, but lacked of confidence as I knew Dad's high standard on his almond jelly.

When I reached home, I searched frantically for Dad's almond jelly recipe but just couldn't find it anywhere. Quickly sms Greg's mummy who calmly assured me that she has the recipe (she has decided to inherit all of mum's recipes. Hope she masters Ma's excellent cooking skills one day as well!):

Soak a packet of agar agar in water for 4 minutes and drain. Mix 2 and half tea-spoonful of gelatin with some warm water. Pour 9 bowls of water in a pot. Add agar agar and boil till it melts. Add 700g of sugar and gelatine mixture. When mixture boils, add evaporated milk and 2 tea spoon of almond essence. Wait for mixture to cool and put in small containers. Refrigerate.

Also learnt from Dad that adding in some pandan leaves in the agar agar mixture will result more pungence. Check out my version of almond jelly:

Almond Jelly Mixture

Some cocktail to make it purr-fect!!

Am definitely proud of myself that I have mastered Dad's Almond Jelly (soft and sweet). This time round, it wasn't too tangy as the amount of gelatin was just right! I even tried cooking vegetable curry for my Dad and Mum on Sunday morning!

But sad to say, I can no longer hear Dad's praises nor see his smiling face anymore...

Women's Intuition

Hubby came back from KL last Friday night and I was taken aback when he gave me this book as a pressie. Well, he was gone for just ONE day!!

"Why did you buy me a BOOK again?" I asked. Hubby always likes to buy me books but he also knows that I have never read the books he bought (HA! HA!)

"Why can't you get me a KL HRC T-shirt instead?" I added. Anyway, he just commented that he enjoyed reading the book and decided to buy it for me.

Entitled: "Feathers Brush My Heart" by Sinclair Browning. It comprises of many different true stories of mothers connecting with their daughters after death, how mothers send their children gifts from their afterlife.

Hmm..somehow felt that hubby was trying to console me in one way or the other, after my mum left us in early June. Just my intuition...

In fact, we have never really talked about it.

Well, as women, we are the intuitive ones. To quote from the book: It's important to trust the thoughts and feelings that you get. When you experience a feeling that tells you that your mother is around, honor it. Learn to trust your own intuition and feelings. To trust our hearts...

Anyway, I just started on the book (not much free time I have per day!!) and few days ago, Greg's mother sms me a poem she wrote:

Sometimes I sit and I stare

I think and wish life would be fair.

Everyone has a father and/or a mother

But now I have neither

One after another,

You left me without a proper goodbye.

The loss remains so great that life becomes hard to get by

When I see big families out for dinner and tea

That reminds me of our happy times and I would be green with envy

How sad it is that you are no longer around

So tough for me to now stand again when I fall to the ground.

There have been so many things I want to say

But I think you have gone very far away.

This is my sister's way of sending communication to my parents: to tell them that she misses them...

Just last week, I had a dream. Perhaps an afterlife gift that my mum has sent me. Dreamt that my mum cooked my favourite curry chicken (ma knows that I get excited whenever she cooks curry chicken or vegetable curry!) and said goodbye to me. And two days ago, suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, and had this intuition that ma has gone back home but found no one staying there anymore. (Sob! Sob!)

Well, just thinking aloud, does each and every woman has an intuition? Hmm...I doubt.

But on the other hand, I am just glad that hubby does have intuition, sometimes, at least....

Weekend at Dempsey Road, Tanglin Village

We did not plan this at all...

Got to know about Gogobambini from my sis (Greg's mummy) just last week and both of us registered ourselves as members immediately.

Regine refused to take her afternoon nap on Saturday. So, hubby and I decided to bring her to IKEA at Tampines Road. Had a late lunch and by the time we left, it was already 4pm. Nowhere to go, both hubby and I decided to pop by Dempsey Road to take a look.

Regine woke up (she slept in the car, as always) when we reached there. Just then, received an sms from Greg's mummy, asking "Wanna go gogobambini?" Guess she got a shock, when I replied "We are HERE!" (Cos the next minute, my phone rang..)

Lots of kids, angmos & Indians. Toured round the place a little. Huge gigantic playground for children aged 0 to 11 years. Lots of smaller rooms with glass panels, specially reserved for parties.

Anyway, decided not to wait for Greg and her mummy. Brought Regine into the huge gigantic playground once I bought 2 pairs of socks (you can bring along own socks. As this was unplanned, we have to pay $3/pair of socks). It was $6 for unlimited play for Regine's age (less than 2 yrs) and for older kids, they charge $15 during weekends (for 2 hours).

Well, well, maybe for older kids, it's definitely worth the $15 for them to play and enjoy for the entire 2 hours. Able to take care of themselves, they were playing hard while Daddys and Mummys chit-chat (good place to catch up with friends if they have kids of the same age), read newspapers, surf web, or even breast feed the younger ones (but do it discreetly!). So far, and yet so near...

However, definitely not a good place for Mummy Barney (Hubby was enjoying his machiato at the cafe, reading Newsweek)! Regine did enjoy herself, sliding herself down and climbing in and out but for Mummy Barney, it was as tough as Outward Bound. Believe me! I was sweating profusely after 10 minutes with Regine and had to get hubby to take over. Had to make sure gine plays safely and at the same time, make sure that I can overcome the obstacles as well (*grin!*)

Anyway no discount for members during weekends but would give thumbs-up for this place. Will definitely bring Gine back again some time. Ha ha as there is definitely some motivation...

Just beside gogobambini, there is this Ben & Jerry's outlet. Well, was mesmerized by the antique van outside (cos it looks like Barney's van :P). Seats outside (sheltered) are made to look like swing. So you can swing yourself while eating ice cream. Enter the shop and you will not BELIEVE IT! The decor is indeed impressive! Fireplace, comfy seats, there is even a four-poster bed on the 2nd level (though you cant go up) which looks quite similar to what I have at home...(*grin* again!)

Check this out!! See how contented Gine was that day!!!

Jog Away Your Troubles

Was excited in the morning about my evening jog with colleagues. Guess it must have been the motivation from my new jogging shoes (luckily I bought this pair of shoes during the GSS as my old pair gave way during my jog last week).

Well, jogging in Botanic Gardens always brings back fond memories for me. Before I got married, my mum was the one who woke me up every Sunday morning at 6am (using sarcastic remarks about my weight or at times she will tempt me with 'breakfast at Katong' after jog etc) to jog.

Anyway, I wasn't feeling good at the start of the jog. Life is not always smooth sailing anyway. Troubled, or should I say that I was irritated. By certain people, by certain matters, by certain correspondences...the list goes on...Why is Life so unfair? Or perhaps this is what other people classify as 'office politics'?

To cut the long story short, the jog was indeed refreshing. Somehow, when I reached the Tanglin gate and made a U-turn, I suddenly sorted out my thoughts. The feeling was indeed beyond description. Or should I say, realise that life is short, why bother about these idiotic people who do not put in much effort at work, but manage to claim all credit in the world? Well, anyway, such credit does not mean anything to me at all. And yes, afterall, I did achieve my initial objective and goal: to get other people on their nerves and start to do some concrete work, for others, at least. :))

And suddenly remembered my Dad's previous advice: Its always better to have 1 more friend, than 1 more enemy...

Debbie Gibson's 'No More Rhyme' was playing on the radio, and somehow tears trickled down my cheeks, just dont know why, perhaps cos I miss my parents, perhaps cos I have never stopped believing in others, or perhaps I have never ever had this feeling before, just too many perhaps...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXkeuHZomdI

Voices of Mummies

Eversince my 'promotion' to Mummy Barney, am concerned and particular about the places that I bring Regine to. Previously, when I was still breastfeeding Gine (I'm still doing so!! though trying to wean her soon), will only go to shopping malls with excellent nursery rooms such as Suntec City, Takashimaya, Raffles City etc. Would definitely say that the nursery/baby's room at United Square deserves my Thumbs-Up!

Since Gine is capable of sitting on her own, would normally go to restaurants for our meals since they always provide baby chairs. Am always wondering why some food courts (one of them is Food Republic at Suntec City) refused to invest in baby chairs since they are always popular for family gatherings! Sometimes, I have to forgo having my dinner at coffeeshops, food courts and start patronising restaurants just bacause of the baby chairs that they provide.

Also know that the Food Court at United Square only has a limited number of baby chairs (only 5! Can you believe it??) when the entire shopping mall is always packed with toddlers and young children during the weekends. Oh yes, surprisingly, Yakun at United Square does not provide any baby chairs also and the list goes on...(as I bring Regine to United Square for her enrichment class every Sunday, that explains why I am so particular about that mall).

See how satisfied Regine was when she visited Ah Teng's Bakery at Raffles Hotel. Well, it was the authetic Pooh Bear baby chair....

Mummy, I want the scone hi-tea set, please...

See, I just finished my order..

Where is my scone hi-tea set??

Catch Up if You Can!

Tried searching for my wedding poster which my ex-colleague, Herman did it specially for me. Had lost contact with the entire gang (gossip gang, to be precise) since I got pregnant etc etc.

Was so happy when I found the poster (soft copy) in my hotmail inbox (Still have the big poster somewhere in my storeroom). Read his email and saw this website link which I clicked on, curiously. Bravo, it works!

Was incredibly impressed! It has been almost 2 years since we last met each other. Then I remembered those greeting cards which I used to receive from Herman, self- designed. Hmm, perhaps its time for me to go back and dig out all those greeting cards that I had and try selling them online :P

Coincidentally, during the National Day long holiday, I came across an article in the newspapers about Herman being one of the 250 international artists and illustrators being showcased in the Big Book of Fashion Illustration by Martin Dawber.http://www.heage.com/news/articles/style_strokes.pdf

Definitely proud of my long-lost friend and looking forward to catching up with the entire group again, if I can!

AhBuiDe

Last night, when I told hubby over dinner that I have finally created my own blog, the 1st question he asked, "Tell me what's your blog address. Is it AhBuide.blogspot.com?" I was stunned.

A day before my mum passed away, she was in and out of confusion. When I asked her who I was, she replied, "Ah de, fat fat." And gave me a sweet smile while she closed her eyes. (I can still remember that precious moment. Sob! Sob!)

Hmm..did I really put on weight after and not during pregnancy?

Well, had started to give myself excuses to binge on food eversince my baby girl was born and I managed to shed whatever I have gained during my preg. Moreover, I have started breastfeeding her since Day 1 when she was born (still remember how the nurses commented that Regine was such a contented baby) till now (she is already 16 months old!!) and everyday, I can't stop feeling hungry. Moreover, I will try to scout around for good food every weekend so that I can buy some back for my mum whose appetite was deteriorating then (and she just had 1 simple request then - to get something 'chu bi' (aka interesting).

Most important of all, I love food..see what I mean!

Guess its time for me to start shedding some weight soon...

Getting Started

Blog - You can earn money from it.

Blogging - Its just like writing your diary (daily). It provides an avenue to voice out your opinions, anger, happiness, depression and the list goes on...

Have been hearing about blogs, blogging etc from hubby, friends, colleagues all this while and had wanted to do it. Somehow, I just couldnt find the time to do it...

Few days ago, while on my way to work, I told hubby that I wanted to start my own blog and he went, 'Good!'

Anyway, here I am. Finally started my own blog and I have one whole list of things to blog about, hopefully from different perspectives, as a wife, as a mother, as a colleague, as a friend and on and on...And the most important of all, as someone who has so much to say about life, things, politics (so sensitive!!), relations, places, products, food, and on and on..

Hmm..at least I got started. Now, I have to go back home and dig out all my photos, my baby photos, my school days, my holidays, my ROM, my wedding, my baby girl, Regine (when she was still a new born) and on and on...

Hopefully, I can keep going on, bringing back memories and leave this as a memorable gift for Gine (my sis calls her gine cos her son is named gregory). Hearts and Kisses, from Mummy Barney