Picasso

Daiz had a day off yesterday and we decided to recharge our artistic batteries. The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) recently brought in a new exhibition featuring the works of Pablo Picasso and his lover Dora Maar, and it seemed like an exciting place to go on a winter's day.

The exhibition was good- about 350 pieces of original art were featured, and I got to know Picasso (and his woman) better. I would rate NGV as a nice place to go, since it is near the city, yet you feel as if you are suddenly transported to a art gallery in Europe. Very deja vu. We took about 2 hours to finish viewing all the pieces, and I truly felt like a tourist.

For those in Melbourne, you don't need to be an art lover to go. Picasso is a pretty contemporary artist, and you won't be muddled by the cherubims or some abstract artistic concepts. It's an excellent place to go get yourself interested in art.

Picasso: Love and War 

Bread Break

Some facts I have recently discovered:
1)Saving money is an art and science in Australia.
2)Safeway only restock their breads on Wednesday.
3)I do not buy bread on Wednesday, because we eat less of it during the weekend.
4)So if I buy bread on Sunday, I am buying 3-4 day old bread and it will spoil in 1 week before we can finish the whole loaf.
5)Safeway's loaf doesn't go for $1.98 anymore.

Hence the motivation to make my own bread.

Verdict: Don't try making small cutesy breads cos you will only get plenty of crusts and insufficient volume for the airy soft part. Ronald was right about the flour, you HAVE TO (emphasis to the infinity), buy only bread flour. I am not taking about bread-makers, just the plain old in-the-oven type of break making. You don't want your bread to taste like cake. On the other hand, I am deeply satisfied slapping on a slice of Tasmanian Heritage Blue cheese and popping it in the microwave. Heavenly texture... mmm mmmm.....


Bread Break

Deep Winter

Like animals in the enchanted forest, I am now in the stage of hibernating at home during the deep winter. The last week is spend on running around to settle the PR documentation, as well as catching up on hours of lost time for the last few years. However, I must admit that I'm getting a little bored now that I have done most of the things I needed to do. After trying to read the bible in its full glory of the King James version with the thou thee and thys, alternating between Nicky Cruz's Run Baby Run, and savouring bowl of tinned salmon with my own pasta thrown in, I am now the official bummer.

Since last week was about bureacracy, I forgot how well-adapted I was to the Aussie inefficiencies. In fact, I think I've got that factored into my expectations that it doesn't even bug me anymore. The home optus bill was wrongly billed, the house agent took an eternity to fix the door... but with a dash of labourous perserverance, it always straightens out.

Until I got an email reply from the Singapore Police Force. The email came from a real life officer sitting in his office on a Sunday afternoon, and he apologised profusely for taking 4 days to reply my query. I looked at his reply in disblief, and if CID Officer Kumary was standing right in front of me, I'd have told him 'No problem mate.. i wasn't expecting a speedy response, let alone on a Sunday'. So yes, I am techinically impressed that they are one of the first recepients of the 'coveted' (or rather some say a 'farce') Singapore Quality Award.

If I am free later in the week, I'll send him a compliment.

IJ Homecoming

The years in IJ have to be one of the most memorable for me. It's the place where I made my closest friends, where I had the craziest times, and also the best memories.

I would have loved to join Sha and Jing for the IJ homecoming last weekend, but it now takes more than just a dozen MRT stops to reach there. So my dear fren Sha promised me that she'll take a cam there and film all the things I have missed out. I haven't had a chance to see the new school, and best of all, catch up with all my old classmates.

Sha did a nice little video of the new school, but it is not looooooong enongh. More sha! 56secs... you kidding me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_aIZWN-33k&search=CHIJ

I have to give Jing an award for this... the most shoddy marketing appeal she has ever done in a bathroom. And no, I do not have $80 pure cash to join the Old Girls Association yet. But yes, free gifts are always welcomed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt5xQ0UxOwU&search=CHIJ

Cars- The Movie

Was supposed to watch Poseidon as part of the celebration of the end of my 3/4 papers, adopting some kind of a gradual easing out of exam mode.. but ended up catching Cars instead. Turned out to be pretty cute, I was more impressed by the work that went into rendering the cars so real, the graphics, and best of all, set amidst the backdrop of one of the few places i want to go on my list before i die- Monument Valley. So that made up for the jaunt to watch a few cars talking amongst themselves. I must also be getting old, because I actually like the song 'Find Youself' by Brad Paisley.. and the reason why you never ever heard of him is that he is quite a country crooner (shudders).

Aside from that, I've been sick. Down with a fever and hence blogging. Daiz been sick too, and we've been sitting at the telly just trying to pass time. Except for the time when the books call me, and I had a rather excellent discussion with Kristian this afternoon. We actually went full steam and covered all 6 chapters of Wed's paper. It's also first time in my academic life that I actually attempted the questions behind the chapter. So I'm quite proud of myself right now.

Feeling rather feverish but contented. Hmm....

Cars- The Movie

Puff Madness

I must apologise that food seems to have taken a hold of my recent entries. Since it is exam time and there's nothing less guilty than 'feeding oneself', I have taken comfort in escaping to food land.

The theme of the month would have to be Puff Pastries. The French Iron Chef Arwen did a Blue Cheese Puff, Tuna and Potato Puff (compliments of leftover tuna and mash), Nutella Puff, and the Chinese Iron Chef Daiz whipped out her speciality- Curry Puff, in shapes of gyoza, triangular, traditional, spring-roll... I had 3 of them today, since they make great winter food.

Back to my books... burp!

Daiz's Kickarse Curry Puff

Cheesy and Nutella Puffs

Hair-Raising Business School Ads

I have been enjoying Singapore Idol's Mr Nong Nong Ago and the Campfire in the moonlight as my source of exam relief. But those have some good entertainment value, and it makes me laugh.

But you have to watch this one... not only does it raise eyebrows, it raises ur arm hairs too.

Synopsis Number 1:
(Slightly chessy music playing) Geeky kid brother asks Big Brother:"Eh Khor, so your A level results can get you anywhere you want"... "even the really good ones? you know the ones far far away?... Have you decided?"

Big brother:"eh huh..."...

Voiceover: Preferred around the world by tomorrow's elites- the NUS Business School.

Kid brother: "that's not very far what!"

Synopsis Number 2:
Watch it yourself. Cannot bear to describe and inevitably offend some countryman who might say I'm just being biased.

For the Locals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcJ1GWj02Io&search=

For the Ang Mohs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeqkQraNO7w



Did they not offer Marketing class 101 in this prestigious NUS school of Business, not to ever exaggerate your brand to what it is not? Does it not make you wonder why it never occured to the applicants that Insead and UofChicago have their own B-schools in Singapore that have a wider selection of 'cuter guys'?

For My Un-cooked Friends

This one goes to my un-cooked friends... the ones trying to make a meal (deal) for Father's Day.
Try cooking... or rather, pass off cooking if you can't cook. This is quite fool-proof. Recipe is of course, not mine. Credits go soley to Jamie Oliver, my cooking guru. Without him, I'll look like an ignorant singaporean kid.

Sea Bass Baked In A Bag
Yield: 4

Ingredients:
· tin foil
· Fish Fillet (any fish, cod... bass)
· sea salt
· black pepper
· fennel, tops (or any Ang Moh herbs... )
· handful basil (or any Ang Moh herbs.. dried ones if u can't find)
· 1/2 red onion, thinly, sliced
· bay leaf
· olive oil
· 2/3 lemon, juiced
· 2 oz butter (or a knob.. like the size of 2 fishballs)

Directions:
Sea Bass Baked In A Bag
1. Ask your fishmonger to gut and scale your fish. (No need for fillets)
2. Lay out a piece of tin foil and fold in half. Place the sea bass on top of the foil and score the flesh about 2 inches apart on both sides. Rub plenty of salt and pepper into the scores.
3. Lay out the fennel on the foil and place fish on top of the fennel and push to one side of the foil.
4. Cover liberally with the basil, red onion and bay leaves, making sure you tuck some into the slits.
5. Drizzle over plenty of olive oil, lemon juice and knobs of butter. Fold over the left hand half of the foil and seal the 3 sides to gently hug the fish.
6. Place on tray and bake in a preheated 180 degree oven for approximately 25 minutes. (More if ur fish is big). Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 3 to 4 minutes without opening the bag.

Fool Note: Preheat your oven to the temperature before putting it in and counting the time.

Exam comfort food... 

Muffins to De-Stress

Baking muffins to de-stress. And baked an extra big one as a surprise for a belated birthday.

Muffins

Looking for a "Friend"

Single and attractive lady, with wonderful fair complexion, primrose lips, seeks the company of an engaging, intelligent and suave male. Flashy car mandatory, financially self-sufficient, with extras to spare. Must love theatre, with adrenaline-level thirst for adventure. Required behavior should include the frequent giving of flowers and an occasional walk under the starry sky. Anyone above 40 years need not apply.

Must get along with her good friends too.

Those interested, please tag on the blog and leave your details.

Exam Prep Day 1

I've finally finished my lectures, and the course as well. Felt like I've ran a long race, though not as hard this semester. Now I just need to clear the final hurdle of exams. The stress is revved and I've just warmed up the engine.

Had a nice time hanging out with some friends last night, having herbal chicken and wine. It was my little indulgence before my 3 weeks exile into my little room. Haven't been studying as much as I wanted to, but I'm sure I'll make good progress as the days count down.

Won't bore you with the mundane routine of studying. Had a nice chat with Jamie just now. The funny part was how we ended up talking about our ideal weddings. Of course, the pact is, we'll be each other bridesmaids, and I cannot wear heels, and neither can she at my wedding. Hers is for aesthetic reasons, but my restriction is that she cannot look taller than me. In the end, we abandoned the topic, seeing how ludicrious it was. What good can come out of a stressed up girl and the hive-bugged pal on the other side of the world??

My other pal Sha, is fortunately getting married soon. But she seemed to be more excited over her butt-washing toilet bowl than her gown.

End of Day 1.

P.S Ted, I love you!

Yeah, you heard it right. I love Ted, and I dare say Daiz too.

How can it not be, after he gave us 2 tickets to watch the footy! Tell me, which pastor gives you this opportunity to while your lazy sunday away watching a game of numerous gorgeous hunks scruffling over an olive-shaped ball, in a crowd of 33,309 people who are predominantly people of the opposite sex??

Mine did. Ted Fabs.. you're the best pastor "muack!"... hahhah... On our way out, we heard him offering 2 AFL tickets to some of our people, and while we were trying to prove our enthusiasm for the most deserved winner, I had to admit that 'I am the Barren One' to clinge it (and borrowing daiz's hand for the handover). Pastor Ted was preaching about the barren woman, and how she was to sing despite having nothing.

So there we were, at "The G" on a Sunday, my first footy match, between St Kilda and Carlton Gardens. It was a trashing game, and we cheered for St Kilda on behalf of Ted. It was amusing watching the people, because there would be the funny supporters who say all kinds of things. One guy sweared really hard that we had to suppress our laughter, the other threw his hands in exasperation and went "Oh how does he expect to play the game with his face on the grass", when one guy on his team was being tackled, and that fella just lay still on the ground pretending to look hurt.

Overall, it was a good Aussie experience. The footy is like a cross between soccer and rugby, and it's the national past-time of the people here. There'll be matches going around every week, and they will literally interrupt tv programs to report on the latest tribunal ruiling (these guys fight a lot). You must be supporting a team to be part of the fun tho!

Grinning Daisy

The Saints are on the left, Carlton Gardens on the right. 

The Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG) 

10 Reasons Why I'm Happy

Ten reasons why I am happy:

1) I woke up at 1030am
2) My lecture ended 1hr 15 mins earlier tonight
3) Someone wanted to bring me out to the most expensive Malaysian/Sporean restuarant in Melbourne
4) Someone else is cooking me chicken curry next Friday
5) I'm going to the Myer's Sale tommorrow... with a fren who can get me extra discount!
6) I've finished all my assignments!
7) I still love my house (altho it always smells like dinner, but it's so cosy)
8) It's the last week of my course next week. Feels like I am finishing a marathon.
9) I talked to most of my good friends this week
10) God is still good to me

Huey's Cooking

We thought we do something 'fun' on Fridays. The cook hangs up her apron, the working gal leaves her work behind. This Friday, we felt adventurous enough to visit a different suburb, try a different kind of food. After all, the Japanese Okonomiyaka has been quite an overdose to us throughout the week.

We headed to St Kilda, passing the already-half-drunk middle-age men, passing the van that dispenses free Milo to a crowd of homeless people, and passing the only available 1P parking (arghh). After emptying our wallets of $3.60 full of coins, we entered into Tolerno's, where we were showed to our seats facing the kitchen. That's when the two 'suah koos' here realised we have stepped into Huey's Cooking, literally. The place was cosy, pub-like, with funky murals on the wall (very st kilda); the crowd consists of the better dressed middle-age folks, and a group of 8 ladies who were probably fan of Huey's. Meanwhile, while waiting for our Huey designed Bar Burgers, we were mildly amused with hearing that familar voice waffling out from the hole in the wall. Huey was pretty much in charge of the going-ons in the kitchen and it was fun to see him cook.

The burger turned out to be one of the best ones I've eaten in Melbourne. The meat was succulent and tender, the beetroot was so sweet that you thought you were eating the lindenberries that accompany the Ikea meatballs, and there was a lovely sauce on the home-made buns.

I'll give it a 7.5/10, but alas, Tolerno will be closed in 16 days time.

Huey's Burger

Geek Talk

I'm going to indulge in a little geek talk here. So those not-too-tech-inclined people out there, here's a good chance for you to take your toilet break. Transmission will resume later.

Found myself a great bed companion. Not a man, but IPTV. I think it's worth touting as a promising new technology (Microsoft is rushing to push out it's new IPTV program), and what better way to watch TV in the comfort of your own bedroom without a TV???

I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this, because someone ought to be doing more than just harping on the technology. We need some good channels here! I'm going to run out of my usual staple here (having watched Friends from the day Monica looked really funny to her more recent self)... First up, I need some good international news channel. The Age or The Australian are not satifying my usual craving for news while chomping down my breakfast. And yes, with all due respect, I'm getting sick of the 24/7 coverage of Tassie miners stuck in the mine (can someone plsss get them out!).

IPTV... hope it materializes. Don't we live in a strange era where we don't know who will get the last laugh? (not you Bill, cos I'm your minor shareholder).

Rainy Days

Among one of my favourite things is misty windows. I always enjoyed the ride from the SBS bus number 53 during my JC days on a rainy afternoon. The window gets misty, and suddenly the world from the inside looks very warm and comforting. Singapore didn't feel like Singapore on one of those rides.

It hasn't gotten so cold in Melbourne to mist up my windows here. But on this lazy friday afternoon, the rain began to pelt down, and I had my lesser equivalent of a misty window. So here I am, enjoying my Jamie Oliver fish pie (frozen leftover for a week), reading Tax law, conjuring the next annual travel plan with the Tribe over msn, and enjoying every minute of it.


Rainy Days

Wedding Bells

Wedding bells are ringing again! Not mine though.

I have a little confession to make today. We skipped church to go to Chapel Street. Needed a dress for Yuan's wedding, coupled with accessories and all. Despite braving the rain and taking our chance with a good parking lot (hahha!), we came home with only 3 pairs of earrings between us. Must be God's wrath on the pair of desperate shoppers. But let's not pour too much religiousity on it. It's a good weekend after 3 assignments and 1 presentation in a week! And more to come.

And of course... sha will kill me to know that we bought 4 cupcakes, 2 doughnuts and we had leftover fish pie. Lifegroup wasn't meeting formally this week, so we had seafood at Claypots, making this week the official fish/seafood overdose. I'll turn vegetarian for the week.

Die... still no dress. The one I wanted was sold! Thanks to my indecisiveness, or rather, my lack of impulse.

I must study hard this week... cos the weekend will be burnt again with Yuan's wedding.

Easter Break

I started the easter break early. Jamie flew in on Wed and I had just recovered from the flu. Still, that didn't stop us from roving around the streets and coming home all zonked out.

Together with David and Charmayne, we set off early on a Friday morning to the Mornington. Arrived even before any shops were opened. Managed to do some wine tasting at Red Hill (ala toilet break), but our stomachs were waiting for our lunch at Montalto.

Was laden with alcohol by the time we had more wine in Montalto. Cute euro-looking guy at the counter didn't have to persuade much for me to move down the range. We sat at the boarded patio for lunch, overlooking the orange-red field of vines, a wetland, and had an excellent 3 course meal. I had a Tien of Salmon, with mustard dressing and buckwheat slices on a berry drizzle, a steak with an apple-flavoured potato mash for mains and ginger-themed dessert. Not to mention, more wine, since the Chardonnay was sold out at the cellar door.

That made us disgustingly full at the end of the meal. Had a snooze at Cape Schanck while the rain pelted on the car. We all sweared to have a light dinner, but ended up in a Jap place downing sakes. Charmayne is crazy over wines (of all kinds) so we ordered some shots of heated and chilled sakes. Then all came by for a Jap movie that Lucy and Stanley asked Jamie to bring over. We couldn't do any more although Charmayne brought her coke and burbon over. Any more and I'll have an alcohol overdose.

It was Good Friday, and thank God for this great freedom to be where we are!

Lunch at Montalto Wine and Olive Grove

Day out on the Wineries

Left to Right: Great sky blue autumn day at the winery, Montalto's Chardonnay, Dessert of ginger ice cream, quince and salted caramel on crackers.

My Favourite Ad

I really like this Ad that was shown on Tv recently. Honestly speaking, I think this ad is cuter than most babies, or baby pics. Relaunching the Thailand-sourced Honda Jazz, the makers decided to play on the cute factor of this nifty car. Les and I will agree, ah ha, for after all, what smaller car to zip around than a jazz.

Check out the cool ad! http://www.eversonice.com.au/

Beep beep!

The New Honda Jazz Ad

Brain Workout

Australia has a Byzantine-sized tax system. That is my only conclusion after flipping pages and pages of legislation to complete a seemingly deceptive simple assignment. Just take one part to do with Salary Packaging, the what-on-earths you can package, and just a zillion-billion pages just on packaging and using of cars.

You know how one can reduce unemployment in a country? By producing inefficiencies, coupled that with mammoth-size complexities, you have created a few more headcounts for the HR and payroll department.

'Priscilla'-my imaginary troublesome employee-to-be beckons.


Salary Packaging

Graduation Time

I can't write today's events without throwing in this cliche- that it seemed like yesterday when I met Cindy and Clara. Cindy was sitting 2 seats from me at a pre-departure briefing 2 years ago. Then Clara's name popped out even before she arrived.

Now, both have finished their course. How time flies.

I didn't attend my own convocation last year, because I was quite sure I'll be absolutely bored myself. Not too sure if I want to attend the one that's coming up, because other than the light refreshments served, I'm not too sure if all the name-calling is going to entice me. That being said, isn't convocation something that is more gratifying to parents than to students themselves? Of course, if I can gather a bunch of people in the name of good fun, like how my soci and geog group did it in NUS, posing on rooftops, I wouldn't mind donning that gown again.


They were all very tall today...

The Photo-Session 

Clara and Cindy 

New House

Finally, after 2 months of house-hunting, we announce the arrival of our latest baby. The call from the housing agent finally arrived and it got me jumping. We were getting quite numb to this housing application process, having plotted hard for the unit at North Melbourne, yet hearing the "Eh.. you are not the successful applicants'. Until today, I can't say there are any specific tips to house-hunting, but just perservere and pray hard.

Situated along a wide leafy road on a side street of Carlton, where a nice cup of coffee is within a couple of minutes walk, the house has reasonable size rooms (read: less effort to clean) and a nice courtyard good for a BBQ of 6. While clothesline are probably going to be the likely feature, I had my daydreams of a herb garden and a garden table for 4.

Even before getting the keys to the house, I've already made my trip to Ikea. Couldn't decide on whether to buy a single or queen-sized bed because the rooms are not that huge. But savouring those delicious layouts from the 2006 Ikea Catalogue have tempted me to get a queen-size bed. It's strange because I used to share my single bed with my stuff toys, few pillows and my cat back home, without feeling cramp. Now that I have none of the above, I can imagine using the other side of the queen bed as a study-table/laptop console/side-table.....

I love houses... love to have one that choose to stay in... love the idea of decorating it... love to imagine how it'll look like...

Back to reality. School has commenced for 2 weeks and I'm quite glad with how the classes are turning out. The contents seemed to have improved, and the people more familar. I actually found group discussions enjoyable with the current group of people I'm working with. God's grace I think... it was nothing of this sort for the last semester.

Good night...gotta study a bit and wake up for church tomorrow.

Our House 

School's Started... Sigh...

Finally loaded up some of my pics taken back home with my camera phone. The resolution is getting less to be desired, with a longer exposure needed for low light, and hence shaky pictures. Still, I can't resist posting up a picture of my little niece Kalynn, whom I've finally met over Chinese New Year. She's a great baby, allowing everyone to carry her, grabbing the cat's head, and letting me rock her to sleep.

On the Melbourne front, I'm finally back and stayed with Ching for 2 weeks at Cardigan St, before moving back to my old place. No luck with house-hunting, and we'll waiting for the dust to settle before we strike again.

Baby Niece

Pick of the Week

Day number too-many-to-count of house hunting. The search goes on with more shortlists and applications, not to mention, disappointment with our misses, and revelations of dodgy agents.

The perfect house will look like this:
1. 2 Bed Rooms (with no water heater hidden inside one of the wardrobes)
2. Walking distance to Uni (preferbly rolling distance)
3. 2 Bathrooms (with working ventilation fan)
4. 2 car ports (for Daiz's car and 1 car-to-be)
5. Near to Trams (but far enough to not hear the ching ching ching)

But since there isn't such a house to my knowledge, I've selected my pick of the week while looking for temporary housing:

"We (german girl 25, australian guy 27, cute cat 1) are looking for a 3rd house mate to share a lovely 2 storey house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, in Carlton. The perfect housemate would: - love cats (or at least not dislike them!) - be friendly and open minded - be reliable - clean up after themselves - have a good sense of humour! The house will be available from mid February and rent is roughly 600AU$ per month. If you think this sounds like you, I'd love to hear from you!!"

Will it surprise them if I wanted to stay with the 'cute cat' only?

Dreams of the Disappearing Kind

Jamie and I talked about dreams today. Not the nocturnal kind, but the ones that your idols are made of. My idol of the day/month/year have so far range widely from the great cook/activist Jamie Oliver, my uni Geography lecturer, and ER actor Anthony Edwards for his real-life role in helping kids.

It was my dream to go to Canada or the U.S to do a thesis in Geography after I graduated. I still remember, McGill in Montreal, and 2 others I applied in the US. While the rest of my peers were perfecting their resumes and going for interviews, I was baby-sitting a class of naughty P2 ACS boys and mugging hard for my GRE. It must be a laspe of bad memory that I found myself negotiating my salary for my first job. I did go to Montreal and US, but as a happy tourist as I walked around the grounds of dreams that I had to leave aside for. Dreams, I told myself, can wait.

Now, as I stand at the crossroads contemplating an accounting career in Melbourne, I cannot help but to withdraw my imaginary measuring tape, and figure out how far I have deviated from my dreams.

Funny how Jamie asked,"Is it possible to go back to pursuing it?" It kind of left me momentarily wondering. "Maybe when I'm retired and bored". But then, am I not likely to be pandering to 2 cats, tending to my herbs and visiting my grandkids at that age?

For those interested in why the lament, my days in Singapore are numbered once again, and academic days end in 4 months. I need to know where I'll like to be, and what I'll do.

This One Really Cracked Us Up

According to the Times Higher Education Supplement, The University of Melbourne is ranked 22 internationally. I'm not a ranking guru, but can say with a 99% confidence that one of those criteria used was 'Staff's Humour'. I've sat through numerous classes where humour usually borders sacarsm, so those cannot be considered in pure academic integrity. After all, you are talking about 75% foreign students, out of which, 50% come from a country whose first nor second nor the nth language of instruction is not english.

The Background:
This summer's Business Finance course is on and the exam is stated to be on 14 Feb (Valentines Day) and a student emailed her concerns to the lecturer and this is the reply... mass mailed to all students...

The Email Exchange:
Student: Excuse me, can we shift our exam time one day earlieron Feburary 13th? It’s valentine's day on Feburary 14th.
thanks for regard!
happy new year and best wishes!

Lecturer:
Dear Li,

This is such an important question that I felt that it would be important to answer to all students who may be affected by the very serious predicament of an exam being held on the morning of Valentines Day. Hence:

Dear all students (and especially those who may be romantically involved with another),

In setting the exam date for corporate finance I thought long and hard about the impact of it coinciding with Valentines Day. Would exam preparation be affected by shopping for perfume, flowers or the latest Anthony Callea cd? What about young lovers who planned on meeting for an early morning latte, a sugar-coated biscotti and a sharing of the Age's Epicure section at Brunetti's? Isn't life hard enough without having all the joy of the international day of lovers taken away by some cold-hearted academic eager to finish the exam period off and get to his summer chalet in Dromana? For who was I to stand in the way of young love, for wasn't I also young once?

With grim resolve, steely determination, a stiff upper lip, a hand of fate, a nose for trouble, a tennis elbow and an eye for detail I put forward my claim on behalf of the lovestruck to the Grand Poobah of exam timetabling: "He-who-must-not-be-named-but-who-enjoys-setting-exams-for-large-classes-late-in-the-exam-period-so-as-to-frustrate-lecturers-in-charge".

In his infinite wisdom he replied:

"But Sean, what of our students of Italian, Chinese or Brazilian origin? For surely you know that in ancient Rome it was the festival of Lupercus, the god of fertility that was celebrated by young lovers on the 15th (not the 14th) of February. In China, Valentines day is superceded by "The Night of Sevens" (being the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calender) and in Brazil, June 12th marks the date of celebrating "Dia dos Namorados" (lit. "Day of the enamored", or "Boyfriend's/Girlfriend's Day"). Surely my friend, you are not suggesting that we alienate young lovers from each of these other important members of the university community?" [Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day]

So, with head bowed and with great contrition I apologised to "He-who-must-not etc" for interrupting his musings on whether to set the next lot of the exams under the clocks at Flinders Street Station, in the Great Southern Stand at the MCG or in the roundabout on the corner of Elizabeth street and Royal Parade and returned to my office.

Students, and (specifically Li) know this: I fought law and the law won, you have to know when to hold and know when to fold them, love is a battlefield. Now it is up to you to put it behind you, to show that true love can't be beaten by a three hour exam, even with an additional 15 minutes reading time.

Study hard friends.

Dr Sean "No-problem-too-small-(apparently)" Pinder

(Disclaimer: No offense to Dr Pinder, who opened my eyes to the world of finance, and kept me effectively wide awake for 3 hours every week)

It's Chinese New Year Season!

I carry a mobile phone for the wrong reasons. Other than using it to listen to music and take pictures for the blog, I usually keep it turned off. That's because it also not my local line.

Went with mum to Chinatown to soak in the atmosphere, and half-pretending to shop around like a curious tourist. Usually you'll have to harrass me to come down during this season to jostle with the crowd, but being away for 2 years just makes you shed away all the age old biases you have for a place, and start to look at it with newfound curiousity.

It's also my horrible excuse to drag mum to my favourite dumpling shop at the end of the jaunt.

Tickets to Krabi are going for a ridiculous low price, and after ten rounds of email, we're deciding on fishing and wine instead.

On the Melbourne front, Daiz is helping with the inspections and applications (muuuuak!) and I'm the armchair apartment searcher. One application is already in, and I'm praying reeeeal hard. It'll be a first if we get it- first inspection and securing it. I'll be secretly laughing.

The Chinese New Year lights in Chinatown

Crowded Chinatown during Chinese New Year period 

Lots of waxed goods- ducks, pigs and chinese sausages. 

Catties Everywhere!

While most people stop to smell the flowers, I stop to pat a couple of cute kitties along the Singapore River yesterday. Was on my way out of Fullerton Hotel to meet a friend, I saw the cutest pair of lazy cats sleeping on a raised platform with the bum-boat driver. It was a warm afternoon, but those cats paid no attention to the tourists who were quietly amused with them sprawling across what is meant for people whose feet needed a rest after their afternoon saunter.

I was pretty excited, knowing that the fake bronze kucintas sit about 100m away. "Could this be the work of STB to try to make things a little more realistic?"... my catty fren (she's not catty, she just own cats) said it's not. Sigh...

I sat with the ginger cat, stroking him for 20 mins before I could tear myself off him.

There are 2 cats in this pic.

Cat along Singapore River 

Re-pierced ears

The last time I pierced my ears, it was in the moment of impulse. It was during JC days, and I was shopping around with a friend and we decided to get our ears pierced. However, we had a crazy rambo-like PE teacher who didn't allow earrings during her PE classes, so I had to take it out. Soon after, I had the momentary thought that my ears were too big, so I let the holes close.

Take it couple of years later, I finally decided to celebrate the new year with a re-pierce. Strange it felt more scary this time, which I'll lamely attribute to age. By the way, trust no one when they say it feels like an 'ant bite', because how many of us urbanites have ever been bitten by an ant? By the way, since they never ever specify what type of ant, it can be as fierce as a fire ant bite.

But all in all, I can now look forward to wearing the pair of pearl earrings that the cell group posted to me.

Found a dress for Olivia's wedding, yippee! I'm still obsessed over a pair of silver strappy heels.

Going to have my favourite prawn noodles tomorrow, heavenly.... Actually I don't really bother about the noodles or the prawns, but the orange colour soup is a must; I'm anal about it.

Before sleep beckons, I'm going to catch Lost Episode 10! Maybe if I'm evil enough, I should write a spoiler, because I know there are some fans out there reading this.