~{Update - June 29, 2006}~
~{Update - June 29, 2006}~
~Grandma's Birthday Celebration - June 9, 2006~
Like an annual affair, we return to this stall for Grandma's birthday year after year. The people remain the same externally, but deep down everyone's changing. Grandma likes to keep her birthday celebrations an simple affair. Mum suggested several restaurants that're within the affordable range, but grandma insisted it wasnn't necessary to spend that much money for just a celebration. Thrifty traditional woman - that's my grandma. I can't recall exactly when did grandma started taking care of me 'full-time'. For as long as I can remember, I stayed at grandma's house all throughout the weekdays and only return home with mum and dad on weekends, which is also why I was enrolled into Tanglin Primary and got myself a bunch of childhood friends I'm proud to have. Shall stop here..I can practically see Mamanim floating...haha..*private joke ;)
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~Visit to the Asian Civilization Museum - June 20, 2006~
People go, "What? You went to the museum?" when they hear me talking about my outing with my family to the Asian Civilization Museum. Indeed, we immersed in the cultural tour in the tastefully done-up museum and enjoyed ourselves. I've never thought of museum as boring places. In fact, museums are really interesting places where you never know how much you can learn from it from a trip there. Here of course, I'm talking about heritage museums we're able to relate to the displays better. Aside from the main displays, the 'Mobile Homes of the normadic tribes' display is also worth a peek. Channel NewsAsia (CNA) was filming on location, probably an introduction of the exhibition. I was really tempted to go ahead and ask them if they needed an intenr or assistant..haha.. We'd wanted to visit the Chinatown Heritage Museum on the same day as well, but time didn't allow. If you're at a loss as to where to go for an outing, a date or simply a weekend getaway, do consider basking in an enriching experience at the museums! (Sounds like an ad huh? haha..)
Some poses with the founder of the Lion City - the statue, of course.
The stroll past the Victoria Concert Hall brought back sweet memories. Just a couple of years back, I stood at the steps leading to the entrance along with my seniors in Choir, waiting for our turn to shine on stage. We've practised and rehearsed for months for this day. It isn't my first time taking part in a SYF competition, but every time proves a different experience. We couldn't help but put down the costumes of the other school choirs, probably to boost our own confidence. Don in purple silk blouses and long flowing black skirts for the girls and similar silk shirts matched with black trousers, we were ready for the stage. Afterall, we'd put in much effort for this, and our principal was pinning her hopes on us. With prior experience performing in school numerous times, confidence grew within and we could hardly contain our excitement.
"Remember, always SMILE. Just enjoy yourselves on stage, alright! You guys look great!" Our instructor whispered as we hid behind the curtains, waiting as the school choir in front of us neared the end of their second song. Man, the all-boys choir was really good. (We later heard that they got gold!) Row by row, we positioned ourselves on the carpeted steps in the middle of the brightly lit stage. The judges looked tired out cuz it had been a long day for them and we were one of the last few groups - not exactly a good sign.
"Ready?"
We gave a nod in response and took a deep breathe as the first few familiar notes of our first song filled the entire hall. Fortunately, the performance went on without a hitch and it felt absolutely great that it's over. Outside the hall, we were assured that we could managed at least a Silver award, if not Gold. For hours after our performance, our seniors and us couldn't stop talking about it. 'Anxious' was the best word to describe our feelings then. It isn't exaggerating when people say you could hear your heart beating - we experienced just that when one of the seniors received an SMS from our instructor. The suspense that the senior kept us in was unbearable, so unbearable that we could strangle her for hiding her phone. Finally, she loosened, "We got Silver!"
It was rather satisfying, although we'd hoped really hard for a gold. What made us grip our fists, was the news that there was a tie-breaker between our school choir and another boys-school choir initially, and the final decision saw the Gold award escaping from our grasp. So near, yet so far - how apt. Urgh.. Oh well.. silver's pretty good too, at least it's better than a Bronze. The same went for my SYF chinese dance competition back in primary school, it was another tie and the votes were in favour of the other school. But in this case we could understand, cuz we had a minor slip. A pity we weren't given a chance to compete when we hopped over to the Drama club in Primary six after our Chinese Dance club dispersed before our graduation.
Those were the days where I roamed the stages frequently and seeked excitement in competitions like that. Gee, I sort of miss the stage..
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~ Date with the cousins - June 21, 2006 ~
During the kids' recent one-month school holidays, my cousin, Diana, and I brought my brother and our two cousins out for a movie. Diana and I were even afraid we would look like two mothers bringing their kids out, and toned down our dressings to look younger with the boys. I haven't treated anyone to a movie - can't afford to :) - but it seemed only right that Diana and I, the two oldest ones there, to foot the bill. 'Cars', another Disney Pixar production with a rather ordinary plot that carries a message, wrapped with enchanting animation packed with lots of humour. Not too bad a catch for a good laugh. Too bad the two-hour movie left us with only barely an hour for a quick chat over a quick dinner. We always feel like we never grow up when we're playing with these boys..Haha..
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~ Friday night dinner with De'lites - June 21, 2006 ~
Week after week, our schedules just don't seem to meet. But just before Clarice's presents started rotting under the sun, these busy ladies finally set a date for dinner and realised it. Win kindly picked us all up with her velocity red zoom despite a day at work, and off we went on an adventure on the Singapore roads. Five ladies, one car - the only thing missing was a street directory. We shall map out our routes the next time we plan on a road trip again, ya? Gee..
Our stomachs protested throughout the journey, except for Nits, who took 10 mouthfuls of rice from mummy before she left her house. 40 sticks of satay, a huge plate of Fried Rice, medium plate of sambal stingray, and a small lemon chicken. The table was filled with dishes in no time. Three petite ladies, one slim slim Nits, and a big me - wiped out whatever we could, apart from the disappointing satay that strayed too far from 'tender'. Oh yes, and I did mention I can't wait for the ban on smoking in most hawker centres and coffee shops to take effect from the first of July 2006, did I? Man, I just can't wait. Cheers to cleaner and fresher air! Yeah!
A stroll to the car from Lau Pa Sat was what we needed after a full meal. It's been a long time since we'd last filled our cameras with our pretty faces, say, a month? Haha.. And someone(was it Win?) said something we all couldn't agree more. The pictures lacked something. We missed Carine...and her formidable Lumix. ;)
Clarice's one-way 'gift-exchange' was extremely sweet. All of us received glass bottles with messages and very meaningful little treats. Like the Power Rangers, we all had custom-made wristbands hand-sewn by our very own Rice. Thank you so much, Rice!
I'm looking forward to our long-awaited Graduation! We shall end our poly life with a bang, like we always do! ;)
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Til then folks! Cheers!
* ~ End of Update ~ *
