The Gnomes Made Me Do It!

To the handful of you that comeby every once in a long while, I'm going to stop posting here at gardenparty.
If you're interested, can find me at www.sideshowjo.blogspot.com

Bye!

Posted by sideshowjo at 12:43 am | Permalink | Comments

Borat - Sacha Baron Cohen Golden Globe Speech

Have watched him since boarding school days as ALI G, when Borat was but a small segment in the show. Congratulations Sacha Baron Cohen! Oh and You Tube rocks, because even though I missed this last night, here it is the very next day. You all have to watch his acceptance speech, for those missed it!!! Chenqueh!

Posted by sideshowjo at 1:28 pm | Permalink | Comments

I am a fugitive of Video Ezy no more! I finally mustered up the courage and of course got my act together and decided to pay me fines. If this was, say over American History X or the entire 3 seasons of Nip Tuck it would be easy to swallow, but it was all because of Madagascar and The Experiment! However, after paying the fines, I'm inclined to not patronizing the outfit as frequently anymore. Not because of service or bad experiences, but Gramaphone's offerings are far superior me thinks. Nevertheless, feels good not to be a fugitive.

Posted by sideshowjo at 12:22 pm | Permalink | Comments

On Strike
That's it, my somach along with my bile duct is on strike. I think it has something to do with the copious amounts of food consumed over the last 3-4 weeks and especially the week that just passed what with the St. Julien dinner and dinner with the gang on saturday under the couple's lovely recommendation of Greenwood's 'The Grill'. (Oh Great! My maid just walked in with a box of strawberry Pocky). So seriously, if you thought Morton's was good, you have to try 'The Grill'. 2 evenings of simply delectable marbled fat goodness that is Wagyu Beef does not bode well for my 'breathe air get fat' slow metablic rate. Oddly, I had the runs big time after the St. Julien dinner. Perhaps I am inherrently a ghetto 'Zhi Char' girl and cannot cope with ludicrously expensive and fine quality food :p

Bitter gourd tea for now.

Posted by sideshowjo at 4:10 pm | Permalink | Comments

So now that it's raining please do refrain from ordering fast food which requires delivery if you can. These young boys riding in the pouring rain and sometimes speeding due to the strict time schedule they have to adhere to. Dezzo and I always feel so very sorry for them when we see them completely drenched with WET SHOES AND SOCKS (tell me, is that not a universal pet peeve or what!). So please be kind, the clown and old man have made their billions already.

Posted by sideshowjo at 5:09 pm | Permalink | Comments

Caramelized apples

Beautiful and perfect on the outside, crunchy and sweet and full of happiness evoking properties, but down right rotten at the core. Sad.

Posted by sideshowjo at 11:39 am | Permalink | Comments

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes/smses, I'm so so touched. It makes me reflect on my own behaviour, and I don't think I'm as considerate and thoughful as the friends/ex-schoolmates/ex-collegues that have actually remembered and took the effort to type out a simple message. It really makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Most of the time I can't remember birthdays, or by the time I realise it, I end up sending belated ones. I must make a concerted effort to change that, and be alot more thoughtful and considerate.

What started out as an ordinary day took a turn, when dad whisked mom and I off to see a new development, and after an hour of vewing, made a decision and purchased a unit on the spot. We are moving! I have a room with a balcony! Yay! I can have my very own magic garden complete with the fellas in a corner! And the brother and I have full reign over our own rooms right down to conceptualizing, purchasing furniture and decorating! Fantastic, now I can finally sleep on a gurney :p

Then in the evening, thanks to my bumbling boyfriend, who makes creative magic happen on a daily basis, in true last minute fashion, planned a completely decadent outing. We had some seriously hoity toity food at Saint Julien at the Fullerton Water Boat House. The service was impeccable and the food exceeded both our expectations. Of course quality food and immaculate service doesn't come cheap. We went with a selection from their set menu which went something like this:

1) A starter plate of four samples of their best starters (which was to be eaten in a specific order! Madness). They were Hoakido scallop with caviar, crab (which I can't for the life of me remember what with), salmon on a bed of rocket and lobster with an avocado pate.
2) FOIE GRAS! served with mash potato and a few sprigs of rocket, drizzled with a lovely caramel-y sauce
3) Mushroom broth, and I distinctly heard our waiter say "infused with truffle oil" but I'm not sure, because I've never had truffle in my life and don't know what taste I should be looking out for. The broth was super aerated and fluffy and bursting with oaky mushroom flavour.
4) WAGYU BEEF! We were in bovine heaven. It was DIVINE. Cooked to perfect doneness, and obeyed the law of good steak. 3 cuts and you have your slice.
5) A selection of french cheeses and molten chocolate cake. Their cheese selection was really extensive, and the lovely lady boss took time to explain each one to us (because we only ever eat brie, string cheese and laughing cow triangles) and selected 5 cheeses for us.
6) Coffee/Tea with bluberry bundits and handmade chocolate truffles.

And all this washed down with Rose Moet. Plus we had rain and misty windows! Machiam like Paris like that. It was a amazing dinner. One of the best I've had, honestly.




And as if all that wasn't enough, I was also gifted a brand new Kitchen Aid mixer!!!!!! I have not seen a sexier hunk of metal in a creamy shade of pistachio green! Domestic Goddess-ness awaits! Heh



I would really like to thank the boyfriend for such an amazing birthday dinner celebration. Its been a great birthday. Thank you everyone!

Posted by sideshowjo at 12:36 am | Permalink | Comments

Remembering Voyager Estate, Margaret River 2006

J: So does that mean I'm in my late 20s now?
D: Yes it does!
J: Man. YOU were 27 when I first met you.
D: Yeah..
J: Man. I've seen you through 5 years of your life!

I've got today off, and all I want to do is to wake up early, have butter on toast, honey with yoghurt, and some hot tea, read the papers, and take a 30 minute walk to the florists to get some bargain flowers. I will then proceed to continue with my assignment. It's like any other day, the passing of another year. I'm progressing in age, let's hope the maturity, humility and wisdom will follow suit.

Posted by sideshowjo at 12:09 am | Permalink | Comments

MOUTH...BADDDDDDD!! Damn damn damn. Have been making an effort to walk home from work and back from Assisi during the week and on Sunday walked 3.4km at the park. Walking is fun, walking is also less lethal than running. But walking is no good when I had Brie and crackers yesterday and 2 Roche happiness balls 5 minutes ago!!! Mouth Bad!!! Damn damn damnit.

Posted by sideshowjo at 10:51 pm | Permalink | Comments

Steph e-mailed to say she'll be visiting Spain this year and asked if there was a remote possibility of a reunion, and seeing as how we are going to London again this year for another cousin's wedding, this reunion actually seems very very possible! It's insane as I haven't seen her for 7 almost 8 years. Then Isi e-mail's to tell us her book is going to be published first half of the year and how surreal it is to actually be coined as an author. I'm so proud of the 2 girls, Steph made it through law school and is now climbing the ladder at Citibank. Isi's made it through her politics PhD and is now finishing her Thesis. Every single one of the Mayfield girls has done really well. Sarah realised her dream of being a vet, Theresa pushed on to make it to the final year of architecture, Shuwen and Dayo both corporate women in London. It's amazing how far the girls have come, I am so darn proud of them all.


Steph


Author

Posted by sideshowjo at 9:53 pm | Permalink | Comments

I always remember my collegue saying "You know you're PMSing when you watch commercials and you start to tear" . I absolutely hate it when I'm PMSing, because I can be on the bus which has mobile tv, and the news so happens to air a story involving some tragedy with crying family members, instantly the flood gates open and suddenly I'm flipping my fringe and acting all nonchalant. Or when I'm transfering some mandarin documentary for a client and it involves death and...crying family members, I get all teary, and have to act cool, because, ya know, it's not cool to cry.

Anyway, my point is, I realise that I don't have to be PMSing these days to be in emotional overdrive. Today's beef steak style cutting stabs to the heart was a picture in the National geographic (or was it Time magazine), of a Doctor with Doctor's without Borders comforting a severly dehydrated and malnourished african child. Lump in throat, feelings of guilt, despair, sadness, the whole works. And I think it really affected me because, as I sat in mass contemplating about life as usual, I once again asked God if this was my calling, and the first thing that popped into mind was that image. I realise that I need to surround myself with little reminders of why I want to go through with this, and to give me that push everytime I want to languish on my bed on a warm afternoon instead of working/studying/doing my assignments. I need to go down to the Assisi home day care alot more on the wednesdays, after Sister Una's session. You will be amazed at how mature children with terminal illnesses are. They speak with such clarity of thought, such peace, such thoughtfulness. They will tell you things like "oh he's not feeling very well today, it's medication day today."

I tried looking for that photo online, but I can't seem to find it. In any case quick search on MSF generated this (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20060212-9999-1m12doc.html)
Dr. Sarah Carpenter and Marika, a Angolian baby girl.

In the article it writes: Many people had to walk from afar to the health center. “Imagine, a pregnant woman, with a sick child strapped to her back, another in her arms, and a huge load on her head, barefoot walking for 40 kilometers. Really."

Honestly what do you say to a thing like that? They say that charity starts at home. At this present moment I lack the resources to travel afar to be a part of what I'm passionate about, but I first have to start from home, family, friends, and the immediate community. How can you help others when your heart is not even open to people closest to you or in your own community? I'm not doing enough.

Posted by sideshowjo at 10:17 pm | Permalink | Comments

Great Balls of Fire!

Posted by sideshowjo at 9:48 pm | Permalink | Comments

I'm really tired
There comes a point where one has to decide if things are truly worth fighting and spilling blood for. And once that decision has been made, there's no turning back. But how do you pick yourself up and continue the battle when there is no apparent end in sight?

Being self indulgent is no good. Got to keep focused on other things.

Posted by sideshowjo at 12:57 am | Permalink | Comments

The process of applying for post graduate medicine is a highly expensive affair.
The wise saying 'Hard work pays off' is very true, but in Singapore, taking into consideration our Asian work ethics and emphasis on academia (still not as bad as Japan... yet), a more apt statement would be 'Hard work pays off if you are in the gifted programme or on the track to scholarship status'. See, if one is not particularly gifted and didn't take the numerous SSSSS papers at A-level, and is FEMALE and A RACIAL MINORITY, then one can basically kiss the hope of ever getting into the local undergraduate medical programme goodbye. And how about the graduate programme? Where research individuals (I bet they were just itching to put EXCLUSIVELY) are highly encouraged to apply? And let's not forget the compulsory MCAT. And of course how can one sit for the MCAT without purchasing the pricey MCAT practice papers! No...that would be criminal.

Fragmented gripping, because, you know, i just charged alot of money to the credit card for the 2 entrance exams and I'm feeling very sore about how expensive this entire exercise is. It just doesn't add up. Urgh, anyway, I welcome MCAT and GAMSAT practice exam pakages for birthday presents. Kidding. Alright enough, back to work.

PS: Because the eating of burgers is an event to be looked back on fondly, I must say that thanks to some nifty last minute arrangements by the mofo, we finally got to eat the sunday brunch burger at Wild Rocket. If juicy is what you are looking for, then their burger is just the one for you. And! The corn beef pasta is HIGHLY recommended by us. ok bye!

Posted by sideshowjo at 2:32 pm | Permalink | Comments

Fees have been paid, date's been booked.
Round 2 of the 5 and a half hour entrance exam.
Can't say I'm looking forwad to it, but a good start nonetheless.
It's go go go from here on.

Posted by sideshowjo at 4:06 pm | Permalink | Comments

We welcomed the new year 10 minutes late, in an empty house, sitting on a picnic mat surrounded by candles, with bubbly, chips and a motherload of a MacDonald's delivery on the way. It was impromptu, it was rough round the edges, but it was wonderful. As I sat there amidst the glow, I was grateful that I had spent the evening warming a new house with people that I truly care about. With plans to get more organised for 2007 at the swissotel, we started the new year, I hope that I will continue to walk my journey with them for a long while more.

Some goals I would like to set out for 2007, because, you know, it's the time for setting goals and resolutions and things like that.

Personal/Emotional:
1. To be less judgemental
2. To give from the heart and not have any selfish expectations
3. To accept that people are individuals, that they have reasons for acting, behaving a certain way, that it's not personal
4. To exercise alot more patience
5. To always be genuine and cut out the pretentious bullshit
6. To replace acquired cynical views with lost compassion

Spiritual:
1. Eliminate remaining vices
2. Learn more, understand more, fufill through action

Academic/Professional:
This is easy, to ace this 2nd degree, ace the entrance exam, and to finally get accepted into med school. What happens after is a mystery, but let's hope I'm not all that daft and not get kicked out too soon.

Physical:
Another easy one, to stop being a lard arse

Relationship:
1. Love and accept family
2. Love and accept partner
3. Love and accept friends

Extracurricular:
1. Get hands even dirtier and more involved in voluntary work.
2. Join dance class of some sort, or things that will require breaking of sweat.
3. Sister Una's Clinical pastoral care course
4. Sew outfits
5. Paint

Well, loose goals for now, it's always good to put things into perspective and feel like one is starting on a clean slate. Here's to going back to zero again, reboot and good to go.

Posted by sideshowjo at 12:53 am | Permalink | Comments