and this is just one of the many reasons why i love you...

im finally done with all my presentations for this semester...although only a grand total of THREE it felt like i had a thousand...but i guess after the advertising strategies one was over...the rest were pretty much ok and a lot less intimidating...haha...i wonder why...i guess with siyoung and raj at the presentation we knew that we couldnt just bluff our way through and siyoung is known for her high standards and alertness at pointing out incorrect details...hurhur...but thankfully it turned out well despite all the drama we had throughout the preparation...and the other group who did on Charles&Keith as well turned out to be no competition at all...in fact...they shot themselves in their own feet...well i guess thats what you get for being mean to us...they were actually sniggering and whispering among themselves when we were presenting and when they were looking at our final product...the class also bombarded them with questions...which were valid mind you...and all ended well...haha...and at least we have pride in our own work...they stole their advertisement pictures from the very magazine we used to slot in our advertisement...all THREE pictures...tsk tsk tsk...im really hoping siyoung will realise it since we stuck post-its on those pages where they stole the pictures from...

today's final presentation went rather well too considering how last minute everything was...we actually only rehearsed once this morning...yup...i actually reached school at EIGHT am this morning...was insane...haha...i havent woken up so early since JC! but yeah it was alright...despite some last minute drama too...hurhur...surprisingly our dear indian lecturer...who came to sit in today...didnt ask too complicated questions...but as usual...i had to really tune my ears to try and understand what he was saying under his thick indian accent...come to think of it...i wonder if i was even answering his question...haha...

it's time to finish one more term paper and get started on the mugging...shucks...mugging is going really really slow for me...and i must say that its not due to the fact that JY is back...i just dont feel like getting started...and believe me...im no mugger...reallyyyyyyyyyy...i cant exactly sit my butt down for 10 hours straight and study...no way...i think my butt will cramp...haha...oh well...and im still trying to think of a suitable study place besides going all the way back to school and hunting for powerpoint plugs...tsktsktsk...alicia wants to go coffee bean/macs at east coast park...a bit far...but...i'll consider...haha...cause its a lot of fun around her...despite the annoying comments and nonsense and blabberings about spongbob...oh the horrors...hurhur...

and just to end on a much happier note (actually, anthg that has nothing to do with school or term papers or mugging or exams is a happy thing!) my neighbour gave birth on monday to a beautiful little baby girl! Charissa Wang...welcome to the world...haha...she's really cute and tiny (only 2.4kg!) with tons of jet black hair...so exciting...hurhur...but hearing her ordeal and pain throughout the labour period is seriously...very very very...scary...who ever said being a female was easy should be shot! *bleah.

Guess whos back?
(:

(with a 4kg box of mushrooms worth AUD$30 + USD$75 no less)

Advertising Strategies Presentation

061106
(pls forgive the very very blurred and lousy quality photos)

The Presenters:
Michele (and her killer heels)

Heather (and her funky red pointy toes)

Kim (and her broken masking-taped heels)

Mary (and her mondo heels)
And finally, ME! (and my cheap and relatively comfy VNC heels)

and me again! only because i was trying to pose. hur.

ok. fine. i know. enough of me. haha.

the group that made it possible:

thanks to each and everyone of you. we had a really tough time but i'm glad it's all over. i couldnt have asked for better group members to work with. let's keep in touch and do more NM modules together next semester!
(:





AND FINALLY,
this one's for you ally
Michele says it looks like a mutated child/offspring of spongebob and squidward!
HA.

For a project thats only worth a freakin 30%, i honestly think i care too much.
and im way past caring if you think im too pushy,
because im not the kind who relishes in half-past-six sort of work.

"But you dont look pissed or unhappy at all Kat..."

~leon

Although the semester isnt over yet, i think i can safely conclude that this has been the toughest and most trying so far.

Like i've told some people, i miss the days when i was doing mostly literature modules. This meant that it was just individual essays to hand up and not projects laden with lots of field work and presentations.
But not that i really mind project work. I find it's a lot more interesting than simply churning out essays and a hands-on experience is definitely a whole lot more fun.

However, what led me to this comparison is really the whole notion of "individual" versus "group".
No names here but let's just say quite a few have already managed to irk me. For those who know me well, i usually dont get angry or worked up over such things, especially when it comes to other people. But this time, i think they have succeeded in frustrating me.

Up until now i still havent got parts of a project due next tuesday. Its really annoying me because its not like i dont have other things to do. And the recipient involved promised to email it to me on tuesay. Then she apologised and said Friday. Then she said by 7pm Friday. So much for keeping to deadlines, and (more importantly) to your words. Im extremely frustrated because i cant consolidate the whole project because it is her parts which are missing.
BAH.

But on top of it all, i feel like there's something that i need to learn. JY reminded me that as much as others are praying for me, i need to pray for myself too. sometimes i feel like i refuse to seek God's help, only God knows why im so stupid to refuse divine help, and i trudge along like an old woman with a hunch. i need to start relying on Him entirely. And to cast all my cares on Him for He cares for me. Even a grumbling tired kathleen like me.

Of course there are those who have been listenning to me rant. Thanks. You all have made it that much more bearable.

And, on a much happier note, im finally going to order my birkies. Only one problem, which one? *grin

Gizeh Bronze

Madrid Rain of Flowers (orange)

Madrid Kimono (beige)

Madrid Kimono (black)

Why cant i just buy them all?

in all honestly, im quite fed up.
what's the point of emailing in my questions when replies are as hard to come by as a 100 dollar bill on the sidewalk.
and when emails are sent out, im not even part of the mailing list.
emails with important information might i add.
or when they come in when the deadline is already over.

so far, i feel like ive been self-taught and relying on friends from other classes.

sigh.
im already predicting a big fat C for this module.

After 10 weeks of school, i think i can safely conclude that every monday is "annoy-kathleen-day".
hurhur.
just ask alicia or michele.
they would completely agree with me.
*bleah.
but its all in good fun.
and it generates lots and lots of laughs to chase away the sleepy/grouchy monday blues.
so why not?
(:

someone tell me why (why why why!!!) everyone in singapore is going to hongkong in december.
and not just in decemeber, but during the same week my family is planning to go!
argh.
very very very annoying.
my parents are rather reluctant to be put on the waiting list for the flight.
it doesnt make much sense because you cant really start planning to go anywhere else.
shucks.
mum tells me to pray hard. hurhur. pray that people will cancel their booking.
yeah right.


so much for hongkong i guess.
bye bye to daily indulgences of dim sum, shopping for pretty but useless winter clothing, delicious portuguese eggtarts from Macau (sorry gina and mish!) and cheap stuff from ShenZhen.
and i was really looking forward to meeting my relatives.
especially the cool grand-aunty who is about 84 years old but uses a handphone, has a tv bigger than mine and a full sound system.
funky (grand) mama i tell you.
hur.


well, my one consolation is that if all else fails, we'll be heading to bangkok.
BUT.
because my brother is going for reservist, we have to come back on a friday.
how can anyone go to bangkok and not stay for the weekend!
bah. so much for going back to chatuchak.
oh well.
at least i know i'll have a blast shopping till i drop, sneaking out to eat street food with jy (my mum strongly objects!) and cheap japanese food.
and hopefully we get to stay at Pratunam Princess only because its connected to MBK.
(being a 4-star hotel helps too. hurhur.)


but still............
i want to go hongkong!

*sulk.

i wanted to blog this on tuesday but i was just too tired out to do so. anyway, during lecture, a video was played for us. it talked about Disney's clothes factory in Haiti. Haiti is a poverty-striken country with people desperate for work to survive. as a result, they are easily and heavily exploited. if i remember correctly, they are being paid about US$2.40 for working daily. if they meet the quota for the day, they earn about 10cents more per hour. however, the quotas are usually unrealistic. the conditions of the factory they endure is terrible. it is stuffy and hot. they are not allowed proper breaks or given sufficient water to drink. employers even deem their toilet breaks as "a waste of time".

when i saw the video, i was appalled. i'm sure michele and everyone else in the lecture theatre would share my feelings. Disney is a company that produced fairy tales and promoted living your dreams and other social values. and yet it is being grossly hypocritical by cruelly exploiting these helpless people. furthermore, a tshirt is being sold for around US$34. think of the amount of profits Disney is making.

disgusted. just plain disgusted.
google "Disney+Haiti" and read more.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

today mishie moo and i paid a visit to the new Vivocity shopping centre. we were supposed to be meeting a few of our acjc classmates there for dinner but it was cancelled in the end. i still wanted to check out the place so mish graciously went with me. let me say a big thank you to mishie moo first and foremost. thanks for accompanying troublesome whiny little me even though you were not feeling well. drink more water ok? get well soon!

vivocity doesnt live up to all the hype it has been given. initally you feel overwhelmed by the scale of the place. but i feel its only because its new and i havent been there before. but once you start walking around, you realise its really not that large after all, especially if you've been to the mega-malls in KL. i overheard one lady saying the place reminds her of KLCC.

the shops are your typical shopping centre staples - giordano, esprit, zara, mango, fox, ebase, charles and keith etc. of course there are the new entrants into the singapore shopping scene such as GAP and Ted Baker. unfortunately, GAP was a complete disappointment. the things were just okay and rather plain looking. the price definitely didnt warrant the article of clothing. i do want to check out GAP kids though. i look like i could fit into their larger sizes. heh.

overall, me and mish finished navigating the entire place in about 3 hours, inclusive of going into several shops. we also did manage to get some stuff. mish got a really pretty puff-sleeved chilli red jacket from topshop and a cherry necklace. i got myself 2 necklaces, a collar tee from topshop and a wide belt from forever 21. not too bad, considering i spent less than $70 in total.

i guess i would go back to vivocity. i have yet to go up to the viewing level where you can see the sea. and there are still quite a few shops that arent opened yet. its a rather nice place to just take your time and walk around, that is, if the crowds die down just a little. i also havent really explored what food options are avaliable but i already know my favourite Carl's Jr. is there. and that's already reason enough to go back. throw in the convenience factor (its on the NEL and near NUS!) and im quite sure i'll be back.

(:

instead of reading my literature textbook, i started browsing the latest ikea catalogue.
i guess its moments like this that spurs rather unimportant action such as a sudden keen interest in wanting to rearrange the layout of my room.
sounds fun doesnt it?

yes and no.
yes because i'll get a new room for FREE (sorta. but there is high possibility that i'd go out and buy accessories to decorate my new room. hurhur.)
no because it's gonna be a huge headache not only trying to move things around but, in the first place, to come up with a new layout.

for those of you who have been to my house, you should know how puny my room is.
one bed, one desk, one chair, two shelves, one beside table are pretty much all the furniture there is.
(speaking of which, all of the aforementioned are from *where else?* but ikea. im such a fan. ha.)
coupled with the built-in wardrobe and shelves as well as powerpoints and cable points and phone points and the lack of a wall (one of my wall is made up of sliding doors connecting to the outside PES), i think its gonna be a real challenge.
hmm.

well, we'll see if i eventually get down to doing it.
for now, its back to the textbook that got neglected.

toodles.

Leisure
W.H. Davies

WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows:

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night:

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance:

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

my friend was looking for this poem and im glad she did. i had heard of this before somewhere and just had to look for it or else be constantly irritated by not knowing the full version as well as the poet responsible for this melancholic poem.

how timely did the poem come too. a much needed reminder.

simply put, the poet here is lamenting about not being able to appreciate nature due to a lack of time. this was written during the 19th century hence the main focus on the wonders of nature.

despite being in the 21st century, we still can apply his words to our lives. we need to know when to stop and find time to "stand and stare". much more than that, our standing and staring shouldn't be, in very local terms, "stoning" but rather to appreciate the things around us. i suppose the people around us more appropriate than nature, as was for the poet, especially since Singapore is pretty much a concrete jungle.

so do heed to advice of a dead man. haha. dont burn out and take the time to stop and smell the roses. live a life rich with experiences and love, not a "poor life" ridden with care.

in case you were wondering, no, this blog isnt dead. well at least not yet. haha. just that my lappy was spoilt and was sent for repair. i was using my bro's lappy for the time being but it just didnt feel the same blogging on it. haha. and then there was paziness. and a heap of undone work that needed to be done. but at least im finally back. and here's a much needed update.

ok before any updates proper, i need to complain about the IT co-op service centre at YIH. more specifically, about the fujitsu guy. he's the most unhelpful, impatient and annoying service assistant i have ever encountered. tsk. if you ever have trouble with your fujitsu laptop, i suggest you go straight to their service centre instead of going there. it took my laptop a total of 2 weeks just to be fixed. and it was only the keyboard that needed changing. furthermore they charged me an exhorbitant price of $52.50. shucks. i should have just brought my laptop to sim lim square and get it changed there. my brother says i can do it for much cheaper and get it done in ONE DAY. bah. what a waste of time and money.

hmm..updates..nothing much has been going on really. just been doing work work work. so thank God for my brother's generousity in lending me his laptop if not i honestly would have been seriously handicapped. haha. the invasion of new media into our lives. but since our lecturers want essays to be typed out and everything about school u need to get from our wonderful IVLE, it really is a necessity isnt it. oh well. im just glad that my laptop is back! but getting it back means having to return my brother his. haha. and i was just starting to get used to the larger and wider screen and the harder keyboard. haha. oh oh oh! i'm gonna miss the convenience of having a webcam in-built into the laptop! especially when u have a bf who is down under. hurhur.

what else have i been up to. well most recently i went out shopping with gina yesterday with the intention of getting formal wear for my presentations coming up. but lo and behold, the most amazing thing happened. i didnt get anything. yup. you read it right. kat got NOTHING. i was devastated! haha. ok maybe thats too strong a word but its RARE that i dont buy anything. plus the fact that i was all ready to spend money. bah. what a wasted trip. it also means i gotta find some other day to go out again. any takers? haha. but thanks Gina. thanks for sacrificing your study time to go with me. even though i didnt get anthg, i really enjoyed your company and all the laughter. lets do this again soon alright? and yes. our high-tea session. we'll do it when we've handed up all our term papers and what not as a sort of celebration yeah? hurhur. start saving money!

alrighty folks. kat is dying of hunger and needs to go eat. i know this is probably the start of crunch time for most uni students so hang in there guys! (:

Last year, on the same day, I was in Perth with YOU.

sigh.
time really flies doesnt it?

nothing much has really been going on except work work and more work..sigh..i absolutely cant wait for this semester to be over..it doesnt help that there's so much to look forward to when im finally done with the dreaded exams..and bah..can you believe how late my exams are gonna end? it pretty much leaves me with only about 3 and a half weeks of school holidays..tsk tsk..unfair i tell you..simply unfair..but then again..im not the only one who ends that late..haha..merely all the other people who have exams on the same day and the thousands who are housed in other exam venues will end on the same day as me..haha..oh well..i suppose i could take comfort in that fact..hurhur..how terrible..

anyway..the only good thing that is coming up is possibly the term break..but..i cringe and am careful about using the word "break"..on one hand..it can mean a period of rest and relaxation..and on the flip side..it means to damange or even "ruin somebody's life" (!!!)..hurhur..i wonder which will be the most apt for me..heh..well..one things for sure..i definitely dont foresee a relaxing week..so much work to get started on and others that need to be completed..sigh..but hopefully..*kat crosses her fingers and toes..there'll be one or two days of just pure self-indulgence (a.k.a away from anthg to do with school) and of course..shopping! or..*ahem*..as i would rather think of it and call it retail therapy..

alrighty..its back to my printed pieces of paper that would determine whether i pass or fail tomorrow's test..tsk..honestly..someone should do a study on how much paper a university student wastes every year..and multiply that by the entire school population...................

Just a short and sweet message for today:

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY
AMANDA!

(:

i guess im the type of girl who enjoys hanging out with her parents..heh..or maybe its because my parents are really fun people to be around..but whatever the reason..its always great to be able to spend that extra bit of time with time no matter where we go or what we do..and them coming to pick me up after a long day of school is always a bonus..especially when we go out after that..

initially my mum had the crazy idea of us going into JB after i was done with my lecture at 4 o'clock..but thankfully she decided against it because i had so much fun walking around and shopping at the chinatown area..it also really didnt make any cow sense to drive over the causeway only to spend an hour or two and then compete with all the other cars to come back again..

went to the OG at chinatown because mum wanted to get a bag and of course because they were having sale..haha..such typical singaporeans arent we..but oh well..haha..it never hurt anyone to save a little money did it? it was a successful shopping trip as mum got herself not one but two bags..haha..one really colourful LeSportsac-ish type of canvas bag and a more formal bag for church..i too got to cash in on the sale and mum footing the bill..haha..finally..and i do mean finally i got myself a white bag..yayness! haha..ive been wanting to get one for the longest time and i finally did..its a tab bit too big but bigger the better when it comes to getting a "school bag" right..hurhur..a case of selective learning and a reduction of postpurchase dissonance..haha..see! ive been studying for my Advertising Strategies module ok..ha..anyway..so yeah..and to think my bag added up is just as expensive as both my mum's bag put together..heh..*sheepish smile..thanks mum!

really happy too because i finally got myself a pair of slippers..haha..the ripples one..been wanting to get a new pair of slippers and today i found them selling it at 50% off..haha..mum paid again (thanksthanksthanks) and so we have one really happy kat today..who would have thought i'd get my stuff at chinatown? and at OG? haha..aunty departmental store alert!

when in chinatown..there's always one place i want to eat at..and its at the HongLim Complex Hawker Centre..see..i do eat at hawker centres ok..haha..yup..and its at this particular stall that i always have my favourite bowl of Zha Yu Pian Mee Fen or fried fish with bee hoon in a milky soup..the first time i had it was probably a year ago and tonight..the bowl of noodles tasted just as good as it did then..the huge bowl came filled to the brim with piping hot soup that was milky enough without being cloying, the fish fried and yet still so firm and soft, an abundance of noodles and loads of veggies and seaweed..and all for only $3! absolutely love the soup..i love it so much i kept drinking and left half the noodles behind..haha..oh well..ive never been known to finish my food..heh..but the next time i go..i'll be ordering just a bowl of soup with the fried fish pieces!

here's the stall if you happen to be there:




if im not wrong..the shop is #02-21..its between a zhi char stall and a drink stall if its any help..heh..

after that really hearty and filling meal..we just had to walk around..haha..mum also needed to get bread..so i suggested walking downstairs instead of going to a provision shop as i love those neighbourhood bakeries..and they always seem to have interesting goodies in their shops..

the minute i spotted the chocolate-rice coated chocolate balls (thats a lot of chocolate going on!) in the cake diaplay of the bakery i knew i just had to get them..its just one of those childhood treats that brings back so much memories and puts a great big smile on one's face..well..at least for me..heh..i remember having one of this when i was about 6 or 7..when 70cents a ball was an expensive treat that i would never ask my parents for unless they initiated..so everytime i got one..it was a real treat..and i'd take forever to finish that ball of chocolate-induced-happiness..maybe thats the reason why i generally take so long to eat nowadays..haha..other than the chocolate ball..i got myself 3 huge chinese-style cookies..one walnut, one almond and one raisin..cant wait to try those for breakkie tmr..

here's happiness in the form of a chocolate ball!
(sorry for the crappy photos. i was in a rush to take the photos. cuz. i. couldnt. wait. to. wolf. it. down. heh.)



after tonight, im itching to go back and explore the place. sure ive been there quite a few times but i guess theres always something new waiting to be uncovered or rediscovered in such an old and yet "new" part of singapore..

anyone keen?
(:

*kat looks around..hmm..this place looks a little dusty doesnt it?
sigh.
oh well.

sorry i havent been blogging here recently..would really love to blog more often then this but i guess school has just been really busy for me..i'd have to admit that my past two years have never been this work/readings-laden and i seldom end school so late! mondays and tuesdays i end at 6 which means reaching home at about 8 (if im fortunate enough to not miss any of my buses) and i just feel so exhausted after the horrible 1 and a half hours bus journey..it really is no joke and just sitting there and closing my eyes is just plain exhausting..coupled with the fact that ive been feeling nauseous on these frequent bus trips is not helping..sigh..

but i suppose i cant really complain much as ive been having it good for the past two years..guess instead of complaining i should be thanking God for seeing me through this far in my uni experience and take comfort in the fact that He will continue to guide and strengthen me till the very end..

alright..i promise more interesting posts..erm..some time..hopefully soon..haha..but for now..its time to get started on my (endless) readings..its already week 3..gosh..where did time go?

(click on the photo to make it bigger if u cant read the words)
(:

my film studies class is proving to be quite interesting. not because of the lectures, much less the lecturer, but because every week we get to watch a film. these films are not your average typical hollywood conventions but rather films that i normally wouldnt watch. i doubt you can get any of these films off the internet either unless you really bother searching. so as much as i complained about watching boring old (pun intended) Casablanca last week, i should be thankful. at least my school fees are being put to good use. ha. watching movies in school, what could be better?

yesterday's film was Rashomon, a japanese film from way back in 1950. shot entirely in black and white, it turned out quite a thought-provoking show despite the slow start and all the comical moments (whether intended or not i have no idea) of the main characters. the film features four main witnesses of a man's murder: the woodcutter who found the dead body, the bandit who claimed to have killed the man, the man's (rather ugly) wife and the man himself whose testimony is spoken through a medium. the show doesnt end with a proper closure and we are left wondering whose testimony we want to believe. somehow the ending even seems to suggest that it doesnt really matter . *shrugs.

met amanda after the film screening and headed down to marina square for a bit of retail theraphy. retail theraphy it certainly was as i was feeling sick and awful (damn that phlue bug going around!), BUT i managed to spend $131 within half an hour of reaching city hall. haha. anywayyyy, moving right alonggggg, i had a great time with amanda. and lo and behold, she's as much a shopaholic as i am! you should see her go. haha. she walks into and stops at practically every shop we pass by. haha. my kind of shopping partner. haha. within our total shopping time of 2 hours we did some considerable damage. amanda got herself an off-shoulder black top, a pair of knee-pants and sunglasses. i got 2 polo tees, a pink top (topshop petite! hooray for small people like me!), a topshop denim skirt, a charm bracelet and a really pretty necklace for amanda. coupled with expenses for dinner (we ate at Out of The Pan) and dessert (ben&jerrys no less) im pretty sure im gonna have to eat grass for the rest of the week. haha.

alright. enough talk. and on to the photos! enjoy (:

my DGL liyue and amanda

charlotte and me

where's my food!

potato salad - was a bit too sourish for me. i'll stick to the mayo-laden one with loads of spring onions!

norwegian smoked salmon with philly cream cheese and (the halved one) tandoori chicken with mint sauce - both get my stamp of yummilicious approval

burp. haha. this is good enough proof isnt it? (except for the veggies. heh.)

Ben&Jerry's eaters of the world unite!

this is probby the reason why im still sick today. haha. but its worth it! *grin

i think we all need to learn to think before we speak or comment.
sometimes we just tend to not realise the effect, intended or otherwise, of what we just said.
*hrmpff.
but one should also not be petty and take it easy.
so yeah.
think first, react later.
and the world will be a much happier place.

anyway.
i think singapore idol is rigged or smthg.
look at the voting.
every week singaporeans are voting out the people who can actually sing.
tsk,
just like ken said, and gurmit who has been incessantly emphasizing, this is a singing competition. vote for those who can sing.
then again, i guess im in no position to comment since i dont vote.
im not about to waste that much money when i dont believe in this whole competition to begin with.
but im just hoping the winner will be someone who actually deserves it.

oh, one more thing.
i know this is totally gonna kill my reputation (or whatever minuscule bit i had to begin with) but anyone with jay chou or wilbur pan cds?
hur.
lend me!
*sheepish grin

(:

finally home after my first day in school.

met up with michele and gina for breakfast at breko and it was great seeing those two after so so long!
we did quite a bit of talking, catching up, senseless chattering about television and what not.
really enjoyed that rather short breakfast session.
i cant say much for the food though.
the strawberry yoghurt drink was such a disappointment and they didnt have my avocado yoghurt drink.
my salmon bagel also took so long to come. tsk. i wouldnt exactly recommend nor want to go back for breakfast.
well, at least it was FREE. hurhur.

had only one lecture today - Introduction to Film Studies.
was ok i suppose. really boring introduction, but then again, most introductions are boring.
at least i had michele and mary with me! and alicia too! and i made a new friend today! charmaine! haha. excessive and unnecessary use of exclaimation marks.
hmm. thats already 5 of us. cool. we can form our group for tutorial. haha.

as part of the course, we're required to watch one film/movie every week.
i dont really mind since its sorta included in curriculum time and an LT is booked for us for the screening to take place. this means no fighting with 50 other students for the film and finding time to watch.

today's film was the classic Casablanca.
and i totally didnt like it. not even a single bit. i dont get why they call it a classic. its just 2 hours of sappy-ness and men who all sport the same haircut.
i couldnt appreciate the romance either. guess michele is right when she said lit students are just too cynical to be inclined to such things.
to top it all off, it was in black and white. geez. i like my rainbow coloured world thank you very much.

that pretty much concludes my first day in school.
honestly, this last year of uni is gonna be a mere passing phase for me. im just dying to be done with it all and look forward to what life brings.
im at a crossroad at the moment where i have to make one of the biggest decisions in my life.
i have pretty much made up my mind but there remains one more major factor that is stopping the red light from turning green.
but even if the light turns green, the multiple consequences to that decision just keeps putting me off.
sigh.

i'll be praying. he'll be praying. and my friends will be praying.
and i'll be waiting for God.
He knows best. He always does.
(:

can i skip school tomorrowwwww..pleaseeeeeeeeeee!

can i have your attention please.
this is a very important public announcement:

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY

MISHIE MOO MOO COW!

(:

-end of announcement-

Theater Undergoes Freeze

FILE UNDER: Food, Union Square

Several weeks ago we spied representatives from Ben & Jerry's, the hippie-dippy ice-cream company, taking notes and plans for the Daryl Roth Theatre on Union Square Park. They told us a Ben & Jerry's was opening, but the theater people treated our inquiries aas if we were insane.

Well, who's insane now? As evidenced from the photo, Ben & Jerry's has indeed converted the theater, albeit only temporarily, into an ice-cream house of worship. According to a Ben & Jerry's press release, from tomorrow through Aug. 27, "Guests can enjoy complimentary milkshakes while experiencing a total sensory immersion within each of the different flavors."

The Cherry Garcia Lounge allows guests to relax in a funky setting featuring hip furniture, shag-covered walls, lava lamps and a masseuse offering chair massages. The neighboring Chunky Monkey Oasis whisks visitors out of New York City's summer heat to the tropics with rope swings, banana trees and driftwood benches. A few steps away, guests find themselves enveloped in the Chocolate Fudge Brownie Zone, a chocolate-lover's paradise, featuring plush furniture in decadent fabrics to beckon weary travelers. Sweet sights and smells complete the chocolate wonderland and the indulgent Ben & Jerry's MilkShake Experience before visitors head back into the real, unfortunately less chocolate-filled world.

We're still waiting for an apology from the Daryl Roth Theatre management. Our e-mail is to the right.

-Matthew Grace

Posted by The Real Estate on August 10, 2006 12:58 PM

why do such things never happen in Singapore?
sigh.
whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

so while my dear aussie pig is sleeping..let's put in a little blog post shall we..

but first up..the patriotic side of me wants to stand up and shout

HAPPY 41ST BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!

*ahem*. yes well, what do you expect when i've been put through a good 13 years of national education? oh well. i think everyone has a love-hate relationship with this little dot on the map (oh what a cliche description)*kat looks around..hmm..i think i had better stop here before i get into trouble with any lurking blog-gahmen-spy.

ok remember the post before the last? the one where i talked about the upstaging relatives and their spark of buffet indulgences? yes that one. im sure you remember what im talking about now.

well, it's...

*drumroll

Verdict time!

and away we go...

The Line
Shangri La Hotel Singapore

first up, some shots of the lobby. (yes i know they are lousy shots, i had to use my hp camera, but they are shots no less):

the very grand reception area with a huge chinese emblem thingy
the bar/lounge area with more chinese motifs in the back
our typical ginormous hotel floral arrangement (and my uncle on the right)


and then we move on to the interiors of The Line:



i was quite blown away at the interior initially only because it wasnt typical of a hotel restaurant and a world-apart from the chinese-influenced lobby area of the hotel. however, i quite like the way u have to take an escalator down to reach the entrance of the restaurant. this allows the first-time (a.k.a swaku) diners to be totally mesmerized (a.k.a unglam open-mouthed) as they take the escalator trip down. must be a marketing ploy. oh well.

another thing that i immediately noticed was the loud orange used throughout. very obvious is the colour palette of orange against white white and more whites.

everything was pretty at first but after a while it got darker as the sun set and i realised the lights were really dim. it wasnt just where we were seated but all the seating areas included. i and everyone else in my family found it uncomfortable and beyond the ambience/mood/romantic level of lighting.

ok now on to the more interesting bits..the food:

plate number 1 - the cold creatures of the deep
well, i was mighty excited when i saw the variety of seafood. but after tasting them, i regret setting such high standards for the food. the thing in the miniature fish-bowl is seasoned raw scallop and it just tasted salty. the oysters were fresh and erm, yeah, fresh. the alaskan crab leg was so salty i drank an entire cup of water at one go (and i dont like drinking water) and the shell thingy (sorry! i just forgot the name! argh!) tasted, tasteless.

plate number 2 - a little jap, a little italian and a little of the unknown
again, i wasnt impressed with the food. starting at 12 o'clock, the quality of the salmon sashimi and swordfish sashimi was on par with any mid-priced japanese outlet (to make matters worse, the wasabi wasnt hot at all), the mushroom cheese gratin was completely tasteless, the avocado salad was the only saving grace on this plate, the unidentifiable salad not worth comenting on and finally the smoked salmon with cream cheese and spinach was plain blah. let's move on shall we...

plate number 3 - fishy dishes and a pizza
since its the odd one out, lets start with the pizza on the left. generous with the cheese and a cripsy thin pizza base. pity i couldnt really taste much of the toppings. at 12 oclock, the dory was dry and pretty much tasteless. but thankfully, just when i was about to give up and run to the nearest hawker centre, the grilled salmon with cream sauce gave me reason to remain seated. perfectly cooked without being overdone the salmon reamined juicy and tasty. the cream sauce was light and complimented the freshness of the fish wonderfully.

plate number 4 - i love desserts!
as u can tell, i gave up with the main courses and went straight for my favourite part. honestly, its hard to go wrong with desserts. at 12 o'clock is their signature tiramisu and i can taste why. creamy, melt in your mouth with just the right amount of coffee liquer. delicious. at 6 o'clock is the cream puff and at 9 o'clock is the jam-filled chocolate layered cake. both of which are lip-smackingly good.

plate number 5 - chocolate overdose
i love chocolate. im a chocoholic. there ive said it. actually, thats not true because i basically love any type of dessert (except mint) but id take chocolate over anything else anyday. hence, my choices on this plate. honestly, i have no idea what these three items are because they dont label the individual desserts. but trust me on the taste. each and everyone are fudgy, gooey, chocolately, rich and oh-so-sinful. yum.


platebowl number 6 - siew mai noodles
i read a review on Asiaone and it said to try their wanton noodles because it costs a whooping $20 on the a la carte menu. by this time i was already really stuffed so i shared a bowl with my dad. and im glad i did because it wasnt worth bursting my seams open for. the soup was alright, the quail egg just tasted like good'ol quail egg and the char siew was just chewy without being sweet enough. the worst has to be the wanton. i felt like i was eating siew mai in a bowl of soup. bah.

plate number 7 - rabbit food
sorry about the half-eaten carrot cake. i was clamouring for something to take away the awful taste of my previous dish i dug in the minute i sat down. and a good choice it was. it was a huge slab of chocolately (see! i told u i lurveee my chocolate.) carrot goodness. not overly sweet with a gorgeously light cream cheese topping, i devoured the cake easily though i was supposed to share it with my mum. oopsy. heh. and see that colourful ruler-like thing? thats a piece of white chocolate. pretty huh? 100 points for presentation.

platecup number 8 - the shocker
let me clarify. i call this the shocker not because it was shockingly good. the waiter explained that it was a promotional drink and so we tried it. tasted alright. like fruit punch that you can make at home with pineapple syrup, lychee syrup and 7up/sprite. but here comes the shocker. it costs an alarming and shocking $13+++. i rest my case. it is well-deserving of the title.

all in all, i wouldnt go back again. the number one reason is that the food doesnt warrant the pricetag at all. $65+++? give me a japanese buffet anytime! although service is top quality and the desserts are to-die-for, burning such a deep hole in one's pocket is just not..not..not ethical!

to sum it all up, let me quote my cousin,
"it looks just like a fancy foodcourt."

well said cousin.
well said.

~Menu~


Roasted Vegetables
Roasted Potatoes

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

Chicken Kebabs

Tomato-based Pasta with Mushrooms and Minced Beef

Aunty Daisy's Fruit "Cake"
Apple Crumble with Vanilla Icecream

Assorted Soft Drinks
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Event: SPG (university) Potluck Dinner
Venue: The Wong's Residence
Time: 5.30pm

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

it almost appears to me that my relatives are trying to upstage each other.
about 6 weeks ago we were invited to the Ritz Carlton for a buffet dinner and celebration of my auntie's 70th birthday.
and tonight we're due for another buffet dinner. and this time its held at Shangri-La "The Line". its also another birthday celebration, but for my uncle's 69th birthday.
just for the uninformed, the Ritz Carlton buffet costs about $45+++ and the Shangri_La buffet costs about $65+++.
gosh. i'll be sure to skip lunch, and load up on the sashimi, softshell crab, oysters, desserts and the $20 bowl of wanton mee.

im definitely not complaining about such invites as it gives me a chance to indulge in such extravagance. honestly speaking, such places would never cross my parent's mind at all and neither would i dare dream of even suggesting these throat-cutting venues to them.

so even though it is a little awkward, considering the fact that we seldom meet up with this side of the family, and even more seldom do we see (much less interact) with this uncle, all is good in the stomach and tastebud department. let's just hope the food sounds as good as it does in the reviews ive read and warrant that exorbitant price-tag.
we'll wait and see wont we?

(:

cheers to another weekend of good food!

p/s: anyone interested in going for the australian education fair tomorrow?

today i decided to make myself vaguely useful in the kitchen and contribute something to the dinner table.

and so i had a brilliant idea that popped into my head.
ok ok. maybe not so brilliant since
1) it obviously is not my original idea
2) its a super-duper-easy-no-brainer sort of sidedish to put together
3) the idea surfaced due to excessive viewing of channel 16, weekdays from 8-9pm (woohoo! i love cable!).

so there.
now that ive successfully discredited myself of taking any credit whatsoever from my little contribution,
here's the final product:

(you know, i just realised i havent yet told you what i cooked. hurhur. so..presenting..*drumroll please...)

Roasted Potatoes (the usual kind and the sweet purple japanese kind) with dried basil and olive oil

here's another shot of mum scrapping the potaotes off the aluminium foil.
(it makes for easier cleaning. at least i dont have to scour the tray.)

i told you it was a sidedish. haha.
the main dish was obviously prepared by my mum.
oven-baked chicken thighs with spicy tomato sauce, onions, tomatoes and mushrooms.

and here's another shot just because i cant decide which looks better
(a.k.a more presentable and professional..
oh wait..i hear shouting in the background.."neither!"
tsk..cant u people be more supportive?)
my sidedish turned out better than expected.
i was actually anticipating undercooked potatoes OR burnt-to-a-crisp potatoes.
i was also expecting bland mushy-tasting cubes of starch.
alas(!), all my fears were but unnecessary.
my brother was helping himself to spoon after spoon of that carbo-laden stuff quietly
while my mum and dad raved over it.
(then again, they could just be being nice, as my parents always are.
but my bro? now thats a positive sign.)

so here, i conclude my very first
foodie-post-of-smthg-i-actually-cooked-on-my-own-this-year-without-adult-supervision.
ha.

cheers to more!
(:

on a sidenote,
(since we're on the topic of sidedishes..ok..fine..stop rolling your eyeballs. i'll shut up)
i've got new havaianas!
i love it i love it i love it i love it i love it i love it i love it i love it i love it!

one *ahem* small problem though.
its current residence in somewhere in the western part of socceroo country.

bah.
humbug.