everyone, meet hippo!

everyone, meet hippo!

Perhaps influenced by Bubbles, Bolt or simply because I would love extra company in hall, I got a furry little ball of a hamster about a week back or so! Actually, the idea was also sparked off by my stumbling upon the perfect cage. Hahaha. I was browsing in a pet shop the other day and saw this absolutely cute cage. It is dome-shaped, with a handle and it is PINK.

But the thing was, by the time the hammy came, courtesy of Sarah's sister's friend (hahaha, yes 3rd degree friend), the cage was SOLD OUT. ): Naturally I was upset. Upset enough to NEARLY buy the other perfect cage, which costs about 80bucks. For one hamster. Hahaha. Thank goodness Ms. Common Sense stepped in at the last minute and guided me to buy this other cosy little house for my hammy. Oh, and we even bought the Bolt ball for her! Except that she doesn't like it very much. She seems rather frantic in it. 

Because the little creature looks more like a little ball of fast coated with fur with a sharp hamster face, I decided to name it HIPPO. Haha! My first choice was actually Ugly Hippo, but I didn't want her to grow up with inferior complex or something. So, Hippo! 

Hippo likes her pink house very much, she's perpetually scurrying around, either busy eating or poo-ing. Or pushing her poo out of the cage by sweeping around rapidly with her little paws. Hahaha. It's really cute, except the poo ends up OUTSIDE the cage sometimes. And according to my brother, she's up at 5.40am running her wheel every morning. 

Everybody, and here she is, meet Hippo!

Rather camera-shy, and showing off her butt. 

Scurrying up to the second level, where her little hut is.

Embarrassed, after peeing. Hahaha. 

Oh, and because I haven't bought wood shavings for her, she's learnt how to tear up the newspapers on her own to line her hut!

The greedy little thing loves transporting all the food into her hut.

Gobbling away! 

gong xi fai cai!

gong xi fai cai!

meeting the family

meeting the family

I popped by Glenn's place sometime during the holidays and met the family. By that, I don't mean his parents and sisters. I met his puppy's family - mother, brother and sister. The three of them were over at his place because his uncle's family went to Korea with his Mom and sister, so all the 4 dogs were under his care! He's been complaining SO MUCH about them, I decided to go over and offer my help.

Okay, actually I kind of whined my way into an afternoon with the 4 of them. Hee. And they are SO TOTALLY CUTE!

The moment we opened the door, Kiki (the Mom) came running to us, and the other 3 in the cage started jumping up and down and barking with excitement. I think they must have smelt the doggie chocolate I bought for them! Glenn the lousy owner didn't believe me when I told him I got doggie chocs; he kept saying I was trying to poison them secretly. Hahaha.

Once we opened the cages and let them out, all hell broke loose. They started their ever tireless attempts to scale up our legs and tried to push/punch/kick the other out of the way. When you pick one up, you'll never get peace from the rest. It was like trying to please 4 very jealous (but adorable) kids! I felt so wanted and loved by those little creatures! :D

And the cutest part is when you play fetch with them. Once you throw a toy, all 4 of them will dash towards it like missiles locked on a target. After 3 steps, Kiki will turn back and stroll back to me, because she can't catch up with her kids. Hahaha. A hard wrestle and a few growls later, all the 3 puppies will lumber back to me, heads joined, like Siamese triplets, for all their mouths were on the toy. HAHA. I was immensely amused.

I got seriously tired after awhile though. You have to constantly chase them for things (like socks), watch out for the puppies who might shit/pee at random corners of the house and make sure they stay out of the toilet and kitchen.

So in the end, I simply settled for Kiki, who is docile, cute, rather lazy and best of all - toilet trained. Hahaha. It was so much fun though! Playing with the whole family. :D

The 3 puppies in the cages.

That's Bubbles and Bernie together, and Bimo on his own.

Bimo is a secret camwhore. Hahaha.

Glenn, playing with his favourite Bubbles.

Hahaha trying to get them to sit.

Nothing makes you feel more loved than this!

Snatching the socks from her/him.
(By this time I couldn't tell who's who unless I pick them up. Haha.)

My favourite Kiki!

Hahahaha dog-fight.

All 4 of them!

homeward converstion

homeward converstion

So walking back to hall last night, Glenn pointed out the low-rise building beside the long lane leading to my block and asked, "What building is that?"

Me: "Eh, I think they mentioned that's the halfway house or something."

Him: "Oh okay okay. That's like the rehabilitation place for prisoners before they enter the mainstream society again."

I gave him a stunned look. He asked me what I thought it was.

Me: "Well... I kinda thought it was called a 'Halfway House' because it was halfway out to the road..."

It was his turn to look stunned.

HAHA!

Sometimes I do wonder how we manage to communicate too.

touch crazy

touch crazy

I've been touchrug crazy ever since the holidays started - trainings were 3 times a week (and we even trained on New Year's Eve), then there was the IVP season, followed by trainings with Sheares, and the finally the IHG (inter-hall games) today.

As a new player, I've definitely gained alot of exposure and experience. Playing for IVP and IHG were completely different. On the IVP team, I was more of the supporting player, usually on the wings, waiting for that long pass to dive in. I was the only non-player on the team, and looked to the seniors for calls on the field. I scored one try the whole season, but the referee didn't give it to me because he saw the touch first. ROARS. I am very sore about it. Haha.

Whereas with Sheares, I had to step up as a more experienced player, and guide the team along, together with the Captain and Vice-Captain. I was thrown into the middle and was expected to make things happen. Honestly, I didn't really know what the hell was the attack going to be half the time. All I could do in the middle was to hold up the defence.

But slowly, after a few friendly games and trainings, I gained more confidence in the centre. I learnt how to make use of my strength, slow the play down, and work out something. I looked out for the rest of 6 on the field, and trusted them to cover my ass.

And today, I scored tries and created tries. I saw gaps and ran hard. We played 5 good games, and I am really, really happy with our play. Okay, actually I wasn't at all that composed on the field. When we scored the first try, I thought I was going to float away. And that, I've learnt, is the true joy of the game.

i see the blue sea

i see the blue sea

My camera was at home, therefore this rather lousy picture, taken with my phone.
But look beyond the trees at the tiny stretch of blue!

Ever since I moved in, the seaview from my room has been a dull stretch of grey. If not for the huge PSA machines (I really don't know what they're called) and the big ships floating out there, you wouldn't know it's the sea at all. It could be a long stretch of road, a barren piece of land, anything but the sea.

But today, with the sunshine bursting into my room and the skies cloud free, THE SEA WAS BLUE! I was really happy! It was a pretty stretch of navy blue, and when the sun shines, the water even sparkles abit like diamonds dancing! I was so excited and happy!

I finally get the nice blue seaview!

4 people dinner

4 people dinner

After the first day of school, we met up with Fran and John for the 4 people outing that we've been talking about and planning for so long. On Glenn's recommendation, we settled for steamboat at Taka's Coaca Restaurant, but we liked it mainly for its Thai dessert. It was so sweet and yummy! The Thai Red Ruby is definitely a must-try.

It was fun for the boys to meet, and for Fran and I, well, we're always happy to see each other. Both the company and the food were great! We couldn't stop drinking the soup while chattering on and on, having maybe 4 different conversations at one time. Hahaha. We're definitely looking at squeezing in another one after Chinese New Year.

Oh, and while persuading Glenn to dress slightly glam because I wanted to wear my navy dress, I told him "But you can't come in a sloppy t-shirt because Fran is doing a nice top, high-waisted black skirt and... (I was gonna go on about the heels and bag)" Glenn cut in and asked in wonder, "How come you guys know what the other is wearing already?? I need to call John and plan something too. Bedtime t-shirts and faded, baggy berms." And just look at what they showed up in! Near-identical polos. Hahaha!

Oh and by the way, it was totally unplanned.

moving room

moving room

In the name of independent living, my family and I have decided that it'd be good for me to try out a semseter of hall stay, which means I live on campus, in a single hostel room. It isn't easy to get accepted into any of the halls in the second semester because it goes by CCA points, but lucky for me, ZuoJin got me into Sheares Hall through touchrug.

I moved in on Sunday, and the amount of things I brought was embarassing. I had two huge luggages, and countless huge bags. I couldn't even fit all of them into the car boot! Hahaha. Glenn was simply gawking at the mountain I was moving, and at one point he said, "You remind me of Lady Sarah Ashley moving down South" (for those of you who watched Australia). HAHA.

He came down with me to help me clean up the room and set everything into place, because well, it is only in the name of independent living and I MIGHT have been a complete domestic disaster on my own. And because it is always more fun to share the load! :D

My room is pretty well-equipped with the basics now, but it's still rather bare. I have more things to bring in slowly, and of course, decorations will come in time! Oh, and I am going to keep a hamster in hall too! (: So that I have something small and furry to talk to and play with in case it gets boring. Hee. More pictures then!

The bare room, when I first opened the door.

Acrobatic mopping. Or, the lazy way. Hahaha.

My favouriate Ah-Sam. :D

The view out. I can even see bits of the sea!

And finally, when I was unpacking my two luggages. Haha!

looking back

looking back

2008 has been a year of changes, experiences, first times and celebrations. It was full of tears, excitement, hope, apprehension and love.

For the world, it didn't seem like such a great year - China's huge snow storm and its tragic earthquake, Mumbai's horrific bombings, Singapore's first victim to terrorism, the financial meltdown. Then again, there were also the Beijing Olympics, the survival stories of victories over deaths, the united spirit of Singaporeans, the USA Elections with their first Black President.

It's amazing, how death and life exist alongside, how heartbreaks and love come hand in hand and how the end of the road always brings new hope.

For me, it's been one of the best years. Graduation from Junior College saw the first break from the school routine in 12 years. I had the time of my life - dabbling at everything on adventurous days and hiding from the world on lazy ones.

I stepped into the working life for the first time and made up for my lack of experience in the working world by trying out 4 different jobs. I was an office girl in an accounting firm, a salesgirl with Crocs, a waitress with Loof and a private tutor to 2 P5 boys. I learnt countless lessons about things they never taught in school. I had my fun, earned my money and realised it isn't easy. The world isn't made of marshmellows, but slowly, I think I'm getting ready to take it on.

2008 also saw me on a plane without the parents for the first time. I had an amazing holiday with Nicole in Bali. It was a hasty, last minute trip that went surprisingly well. We both had an awesome time! I am completely in love with the island, and am definitely going back again. It was a much craved break from our hectic little country, and I came back refreshed and wowed.

Back home, I skipped away from good old Orchard Road and explored the nooks and crooks of Singapore. We were such nature's girls - cycling to West Coast Park, exploring Pulau Ubin and picnicking at Botanic Gardens. And boy, was it fun!

Then there was the A level results, which sent us in all directions and all over the world. For the first time in my life, I cried over my results. The fear that welled up in me right before I collected my report slip was overwhelming. It suddenly hit me that if I screwed this up, I would have screwed up 12 years of hard work. And I didn't think I studied enough when it mattered the most. I was truly terrified.

I think I was more relieved than happy when I finally saw the grades. ADAAC. A for GP, Lit and Geography. I did well where I should. Not good enough to get me into Law, but good enough to get me into FASS.

And then of course, life as an univerisity student started. It is completely different from JC and Secondary School. It is independent. I was on my own, and responsible for myself. It was thrilling and scary at the same time.

I learnt new subjects, took up a new language and picked up a new sport. I made new friends, of which, a very special one too. I studied, I trained, I struggled, I fought the boy, I thought of dropping the sport, I hung in there and I pulled through. I scored a decent CAP, got into the IVP school team and kept him.

I missed my friends abroad. I missed my friends back home. I missed my family because I was hardly home. Everyone was on different tracks. It was hard, and even lonely at times. But we made time for each other, despite crazy schedules and time differences.

Despite everything, some things just don't change.

So here's to 2008, a truly amazing year. I am looking forward to every single new story 2009 will bring. Hello, new year.