CNY Reunion Dinner

I was reading my younger sis blog and she said that she loves the Petronas ads and one of her favourite ones is last Chinese New Year's one with the poor little orphaned boy... being curious, I clicked on the link that she provided to see what it's all about...

Please go home for reunion dinner, if you can...

I haven't been home for reunion dinner for 7 years in a row already now... in all those years, have I made sufficient efforts to go home?? Or have I been to engrossed in my pursuit for materialism that I have forgotten the true meaning and symbolism of reunion dinner?? Have I ever thought about those who wants to but does not have a family to go back to for reunion...

Perhaps I should have made more efforts to go home for reunion dinner... I'm sure my mum misses having the whole family at home for Chinese New Year... and how much it would have meant to her for everyone to be having dinner together...

I'm sorry MiMi... and I promise you that next year, I WILL MAKE THE EFFORTS to go home for Chinese New Year... I don't want to look back and regret years down the road that I made the decision not to go home... even though I could have...

Farewell, my friend...

I can't believe that it's almost 9 years since I first met you... I could still remember that I was with Emilia at the activities room during my ASEAN orientation and you were reading the paper... Back then, we were just acquaintances... and it was only nearing to the end of JC that I remember it was during those massive late night gatherings under block C with lots of people that I got to know you better...

We both left Singapore and never did it cross my mind then that it wasn't the end of our friendship... I remember you calling me at home one day telling me that you were going to LSE as well and that we should meet up in London... and you were indeed one of the first few people that hung out with when I first came to London...

Looking back now... I must say that we have done a lot of things together... we've been friends at college, we were hostel mates, we went to uni together and did the same course... we have also been housemates, we have travelled together to Venice, Milan, Budapest, Paris, Greece and many other places... we studied and graduated together, we went on to be colleagues and studied for our actuarial qualification together...

And through all these times, you were there to help me out through my studies, my exams, my projects, my interviews, my career.... giving me encouragements when I started doubting myself, giving me advice when I'm planning to do something stupid... you were also there for me through my break-ups and failed relationships... you were the one who were always telling me off for being negative and not believing in things... you were the one who have always reminded me that "LIFE IS GOOD"!!!

I guess I have always taken it for granted that you will always be around...

But now, you are to embark on a whole new journey... it's time for you to leave... you may be done with London, but you will certainly not be done with me!!!

Thank you for everything that you've done for me... you have been a really wonderful friend to me and I really do appreciate our friendship... I hope that even though we will be miles apart, our friendship will not be weathered down... and our paths will cross again in the near future...

I wish you best of luck and no matter what happens and no matter where you are... always remember that you have a friend in me... this is something that distance and time can't take away from us.... OUR FRIENDSHIP!!!

I will miss you! Take care and I wish you joy and happiness in your new life in HK... Farewell, my friend....

The big freeze

It has been a really cold winter this year!!! Temperatures were down to minus 10 in central London...

Initially... the canals near my house were frozen...

Then even the lake at Canada Water was frozen man....

COLDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!

Yuni's Birthday!

This year, Yuni was in London on her birthday which is on Christmas Eve... I really wanted to make it special for her since I don't get to celebrate her birthday with her that often... wanted to bring her to Aaya, the new Japanese place by Alan Yau's brother... but unfortunately it was closed on Christmas Eve!!

I've tried a few other restaurants but many are closed... in the end we had to settle for Ran... well, don't get me wrong... I do like Ran a lot... but I wanted to bring her some place more special!!

Anyway, I hope she enjoyed the food at Ran!

Sister pictures... hehehe... don't think she looks like me though...

I also got her some little cakes from Selfridges... initially I wanted to surprise her at midnight... but her train was so delayed that by the time she got to my flat it was 3am already!!

May all your wishes come true dear... if anyone deserves it, I think it's you!!!

Well, happy birthday!! I hope you had a good time!! :) And hopefully, 2009 will be a great year for you...

Back to work

It's back to work at the office today and surprise surprise... I walked out of the door to be greeted by snow!!! The first snowflakes of 2009 for me...

Had to brave the cold and snow to get to work... though it was a pretty sight with the snow gathering on the small field that I pass by everyday to get to the tube station... didn't have my camera with me so couldn't snap a shot...

Oh well... more freeze to come as weather forecast predicts that the cold is here to stay all the week and there might be even more snow on Wednesday or Thursday...

Brrrrrrrrrr....