I'm happily chair-bounded

O yes, I still cant wait. And the physio doc doesn't support the idea of me using crutches all the time in order not to strain my right leg unnecessary. So most of the time I'm chair-bounded, wheeling around the house, or on my grandma's wheelchair. And being so, I can feel for the disabled more in a way also, especially those wheelchair bounded.

Generally, the neighborhood and Jurong Point is rather barrier-free, but I seriously dislike the steep slope. And also the color-ed lens of strangers. Some strangers are kind though, asking what happen and expressed their concern and well-wishes. But some looked at me like I'm an alien.

And guess what? I even went to catch two movies! Thankful to GV for the wheelchair lift at all the cinema halls. And of course Mr Boyfriend, who doesn't mind find it troublesome. And also the staffs at GV that we met that day were really friendly. Treated me like a normal person but just needed something special. Imagine having a good few minutes of the whole cinema hall totally to yourself.

Meal-wise, anything that contains seafood, besides fish, are off the limit. This is truly a torture. There's so many food out there that contains seafood! Even chilli. Torture.

After so many days at home, if you ask me if I'm bored at home, I will say rarely. Most of the time I'm occupied with either drama, painting, e-books or cooking/ baking. So I'm rarely bored. Especially now that I'm more used to being chair-bounded, I can get more things done myself too. But there's also stuffs I can't do.

Hopefully everything goes smoothly... 

19 Days Post-Op

Before I step into AH on 16 Jul 12, I wasn't a bit bit scare of the operation. Weird yes, but somehow during pre-op days, I just want to enjoy them to the fullest because I know I won't be able to have the same fun for months. I met up with an old friend which I hadn't seen in 5years, I met up with my ex-colleagues, I met up with my dearest girlfriend and of course, I had the most amazing 5th year anniversary with Mr Boyfriend one week before the op.

On the day of the operation, get well wishes came flowing in through out the day from friends, some that we hadn't met nor spoke in awhile. I felt so glad that they care. No matter how busy we are in our own daily life, I was not forgotten. It meant a lot to me.

For first week post-op, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Inconvenient, yes. Uncomfortable, yes. But the constant visits from friends and colleagues and with Mr Boyfriend coming over every single day, it was still quite bearable.

12 days post-op, I had the stitches removed. It was freaking painful and I was screaming and crying my way through it.

And it took me a freaking 1 day to stop crying whenever I see the scars. There's three of them.

19 days post-op, I seriously hope the bone and cartilage are re-growing very nicely and healthily inside me. I don't wish to go through another round of this. Movements are better now, but another 4weeks before I can go on to partial weight bearing. For now, the leg knee is on no-weight-bearing, meaning, no walking around.

 Jia you.

What happened to BLOGGER?!

O my tian!!! What happened to www.blogger.com?! The layout is a today 360degree change from the last time I log-in!

I had been too busy with Wordpress and neglected the blog that is closest to my heart.

Generally, life had been treating me pretty well. Instead of working long hours now, I make it a point to leave on time half the time and at times, my colleague will literally force me to leave the office. So I'm getting more of a 'life' outside the office right now. Manged to meet my babes for dinner and chill out too. But it's Mr Boyfriend who is busy with work now, almost OT-ing everyday.

And in two months, I will be going for a small operation for my knee. The cartilage was found to have damaged and my bone was also affected. It's 'no-heels' and 'no-gym' for me for another year after the operation. Comparing to others, it's consider small. But it's sure gonna affect everything for the coming months. Trying to try new things, new food, new recipes, meet up with friends because I won't be having the freedom of walking around for a good two months. And though the risk is small, no one can guarantee everything will be fine after this. I heard that the pain will be unbearable for the first week after the operation, some also mentioned that the feeling will be weird after the operation, some told me it will still never be the same and cartilage take years to recover. But which normal girl on earth doesn't wanna be pretty in heels? Which normal girl on earth doesn't wanna shop with ease? I doesn't really felt comfortable with functions nowadays because I can't attend in heels which is a normal thing to do. I can't dress up prettily in dresses because no flats nor shoes will go with them. Only heels.

And the only chance of me ever wearing heels is going for the operation.

Why not TCM? Because at the end of the day, TCM aids in releasing the pressure or whatever thingy and lessen the pain I'm getting. And not really curing it. I'm not trusting it.

How I miss my heels.

O well. On the happy side, I have set-up another site for FOOD! Bake Cook Love. It was actually born because I wanna share and also keep a site purely for what I love doing - blog, cook, bake, food! After a few months, Bake Cook Love had really taken baby steps and had likes for a few posts. It's a satisfactory that I can't describe. Comparing to those established bloggers, this is nothing, but it's something I love doing and doing something I love.

Felt good to finally be able to 'say' out the stuffs that had always been unknown to most.

=)

Happy Lovely Valentine's Day
Though outdated, I must still blog about this! *points above*

Mr Boyfriend never believes in buying real flowers. Since we got together, he had only bought real flowers two times - our first month and my graduation.

But for the 'ever-lasting' flowers (that's what he like to call them), he had given me three times - a glass rose from Phuket, a cloth rose from Hong Kong and the latest addition, paper roses from chocolate wrapper.

The latest addition given on Valentine's Day itself, I argued they are so tiny comparing to those real flowers on other girls' hands. And his reply? Theirs' were bought, mine was made by hand. How not to get touch by this? It's likely to be the one and only golden-chocolate-wrapper roses that day. I didn't even know he knew how to fold paper rose! And he claim he didn't mention he did not know. Now I wonder how many more 'talent' he is hiding.

Come to think of it. I still prefer to argue he ate 10 chocolates without me!

A pretty memorable night. Worthy for me to wait for him to finish school.

Why not three roses to represent "I love you"
Why nine?

Nine roses also represent "I love you"

"I love you" "I love you" "I love you"

What is the ideal wedding?

An event of two individuals really seems not so simple.
Parents' wants aside, what do we want?
Boyfriend mentioned about having pre-wedding shoot for memories.
Studio? Outdoor? Oversea?
I want a make-to-measure dress/ grown.
ROM lunch/dinner to include who? Relatives and friends?
Boyfriend's relatives alone is like super many.

Its not really as harass-free as I keep wanting it to be.

O well. But I'm still gonna enjoy it.

Tomorrow, we will be 4years 7months 7 days old.

I can't express in words how grateful I am till today that he enters my life.
Stay by me all my downs and let me enjoy my ups truly from my heart.
Taught me to be a better person, to threw away my spoilt side.

Since school started for him, we had less time to ourselves.
Though we insisted on spending weekends together, but the private time for 'we' got lesser somehow.
But he make sure all the time that he is busy with his assignment, I have something to occupy myself.

That is how sweet he is.

He's not an expressive guy.
At times I didn't notice his intention till the later part.

What I love about him?

Everything.

Comparing to New Year, Lunar New Year seems more meaningful to me. Typical Chinese I am.

But sadly, over the years, house-hopping had lessen gradually. My family is a really small one, with my mum only having one sister and each of them have two children each. My father's side have one additional brother, but he had not been in contact with us since I was in primary school and had recently moved to a far far away place. Another close relative, my grandma's sister, had also moved to that far far away place a just slightly before 2012. Being Chinese tradition, we can't visit them this year.

I don't really have cousins my age either. There's a group of them, but they formed their own 'group' as my family is not that close to them either. So that only left my mum's sister's family and my father's sister's family. Pretty small ya?

Lunar New Year is like chinese-christmas to me. I love baking cookies to give away and for relatives who come visiting to munch on. It's a Chan-family tradition pass down from my mother. She used to do this, but it had became me now.

That's why home-visiting to Mr Lee's family had always been terrifying! His relatives are in tons! Not numbers. But its hard for him to comprehend because he's already used to that massive amount of people. It's really funny thinking about it. This is how different we are.

Its going to be Dragon Year in 30mins..
I hope everyone will have a smooth sailing year ahead with the Water Dragon.
Regardless school, work, relationship, family, friendship, financial and any other thing..

Just in case I didn't get to post before 2012 comes knocking on our door.. I'm super determined to post a summary of my 2011.

This year (2011), personally, there wasn't much excitment in my personal life. Work was more 'exciting'. But boyfriend and me did had some new experience with this little small homeland of ours..

Celebrated our 4th year old at MBS. It was both our first time there and we had a fun and expensive time there! But it was pretty enjoyable to be able to enjoy the night lightings of Singapore. I enjoyed it more than expected.

Like last year, the group of us went Malacca. This trip was more relaxed and much more enjoyable.

Boyfriend got his driving license after his birthday this year. And while my brother went oversea for a week, we had a good time with the car. Boyfriend drove me around Singapore, to Singapore Flyer, to B&J, to Farmart and sent me to work!

Lastly, I offically graduated! It was a pretty simple affair, but I finally got to wear the square hat! We (me and the people who supported me) went through a long two years to let me wear this hat! What an experience.

Work-wise, I can no longer take leave as and when I like. It's pretty sad! But I must admit I'm quite a lucky girl to get where I am today in just four years in the company. It will never ever be an easy job. But I'm blessed with good people around me to support and help me.

O ya, how could I have forgotten. Boyfriend and me selected our future love-nest in Seng Kang! It will be ready in 2015. Amazing right? When I look back I really feel extremely lucky to have met him at the right time and be together from then till now and for a long long time in the future. We fought, we argued, but we managed to accept each other's shortcomings and decide we really want to be together. How lucky we are.

Managed to meet up with some friends this year, but not so for some. We all got more busy with age. Work, study, other friends, family. Once awhile I do like to distrub them for updates. But some friends are just so amazing. Having not met for a year, but the closeness never went off.

Health-wise, I'm getting old! Old problems too, the ankle, mirgain, backache, women issue. The usual. Lucky my company have good medical benefits! Lucky me again.

Overall, it was a pretty good year. It's suppose to be a bad year for 'rabbits'. But generally both boyfriend and me had a rather good year. He found a job rather quickly, enrolled in his degree course and got along with his colleagues. For me, promotion, selection of flat, grew up.

Hope 2012 will be even better for boyfriend, me and everyone else!

Sometimes, I wonder..

Double YEAH today!!!

We selected our love nest today. Its at Anchorvale Harvest (Sep 11 BTO). Level 9. Facing playground.

I can already kinda imagine how our love nest will look like...

Minimum decoration in the living room.
When you enter the door, you will be greeted by a half-height fish tank.
A simple dining table.
Timber feature wall behind the flat screen TV facing the sofa which is also our cozy corner.

Bedroom will be painted with a relaxing colour, e.g. lavender
A queen size bed by the window.
A dressing table by the bed.

Kitchen will be the most expensive part of the nest.
A reasonably good oven.
A reasonably good mixer.
A tempered glass table-top stove.
A spacious fridge
A little corner for wine glasses
A big big sink for easy washing
Lots of cooking and baking accessories.


I'm so HAPPY and EXCITED!!

Estimated completion will be Jul 2015.

O YEAH!! I finally officially graduated! Worn the academic dress and the square hat which is iconic to degree holders!

I'm so freaking happy! There were a few moments that I almost tear abit - when the staff help me to put on my academic dress and hat, when the council staff march in, when Singapore national anthem is being played, when I collect the 'certificate', when our lecturers congrats us while marching off. After all the tough tme and money spent, it was only for a few months of glory and a day of wearing that square hat on your head. Serious, I know everyone will look good with that square hat on their head. Even without the academic dress.

It's the square hat that is IMPORTANT! lol.

Finally fulfilled my dream of wearing THAT square hat. Not anyone square hat, but THAT.

We FREAKING did it!!!

Singapore Flyer by Night (i take one ok? nice right? =p)

Its rare for me to blog on a weekday. But here I am because I'm bored.
Boyfriend is having fun time alone playing CS, brother is still oversea.

I didn't waste this week at all! Boyfriend can legally drive now and have a week to 'own' a car, we made full use of it! Boyfriend drove me to work twice, fetched me twice, drove me for dinner everyday and brought me to places that I wanted to but inaccessible without a car.

So sweet right? =D

So guess where is one of the places we went to?

Singapore flyer! On holiday eve as we have a pair of tix that are expiring. Boyfriend got it at $10 per tix via a charity event and he had been planning to bring me there for night view as we did enjoy the night view from MBS.

Pretty love this pic...

And this too... but my eyes look so swollen.. =(

Last but not least, thank you brother for going oversea and thank you boyfriend for driving me around without any compliant. We basically almost went round Singapore. East, West, South. Yet to go North though.

I can't describe the feeling to sit in the passenger seat besides the driver's as a girlfriend. The 'status' is different, so is the feeling. Now I know how good it feels to have a boyfriend drive you around. Its a very good feeling but one I won't wish to get use to. Otherwise, the magic will be lost. I'm truly glad and appreciated his gesture in driving me to places I wanted to go and driving me to work early in the morning (he's not a morning riser). Thank you boyfriend. I didn't take it as granted for you to drive me around. *smiles*

I'm really having a love-hate relationship with the country I'm born in, grew up in and continue to live in.

HDBs are freaking expensive! Its consider affordable but yet, not that affordable! And the balloting. Its crazy. Paying $10 for each ballot. Ok, I'm just upset with the high living standard in Singapore. Its a battle between having a car and having our own house. Of course having our own house wins hands down. But, it will be nice to have a small little comfortable car to have boyfriend fetch me in. Of course not for me to drive!

Anyway, something nice, finally met up with polymates awhile back. It was really nice to see them after a long time. And from where to shop, we are not discussing proposal rings and HDBs. The topics reflected our age and stage of life. Food was ok. Packed the leftover pizza for boyfriend and he likes it too.

One good news, boyfriend had ORD-ed! No longer the girlfriend of a NS-boi.

Wish weekends are longer. If it is, I can bake/ cook and yet have some time alone with boyfriend.

Mr Boyfriend is 24!
Celebrated Mr Boyfriend's 24th last weekend. It was a pretty simple and cozy celebration. He even helped in making his own cake! Yes, I made a cake for him. A tiramisu. It's the first time I 'baked' for his birthday and the first time I cooked a full dinner with him - completed with soup, vege and meat. Not really that heavenly tasting, but still passable and he ate quite alot of the dishes. *touched*

Bought him for massage too! Which was his first full body massage locally. =) Nothing amazing, but something that hopefully he will remembers, given his lousy memory.

Hmm... What else...

Altec aka boyfriend's bao bei came over for a little surprise and cake cutting session. Then we popped over to JP for movie. Johnny English was super FUNNY!!!!

Actual day birthday lunch was at Ma Mansion. A wonderful meal that we both enjoyed. The day ended with prawn fishing with Altec.

Simple right? We did a number of stuffs, but nothing amazing. But hope Mr Boyfriend enjoyed his 24th still. =)

Dar, hope you truly like the small little celebration that I planned for you.

I promised you that I will not spend too much on your birthday and I kept my promise! =) These are the littl stuffs I had always wanted to do for you.

Though the dishes were not that great, they are cooked with love.

Though the cake was not perfect, I was thinking about you while making it.

Though the lunch was not the atas place I initially wanted to bring you to, I know it's still a place that you will enjoy.

It's your special little day.

And I'm glad that you are born.

*loves*

Our family photo rarely appear here. So here we go...

Taken at Tung Lok. Went there twice in a short span of a month! Can you believe it?

First time was for my promotion. Yes, for those that hadn't heard the news, I had recently gotten promoted. It had been a few months actually, but only recently I got settled down and feel comfortable with the new title and job.

Second time was purely to make use of the voucher before it expired!

Both time, we had such a hearty meal! Spending a good 2 hours there and fill our stomach with good quality tasty food.

And of course, here's US. =D


Boyfriend had recently started school and doing his assignment with all his hard. Never know he can be so hardworking! And its only now that I know how bored he is when I was rushing my assignments. Poor boyfriend. Having to put up with me for the past two years. Now its my turn. Gonna find some stuffs to occupy myself with when he's studying.

I'm duper super happy today. Its like a heavy stone had been lifted off my chest.

Seriously.

For the past 4 months, everyone had been working very hard. And the sudden change in job scope and responsibility for me was a tough switch. It was a good chance - like everyone who knew what happened had told me. A good chance for me to advance.

Initially it was really horrible + terrible. I lost 2 to 3kg in a week or so. Not able to stomach any meals. Life-less - work, home, work, home. It was pretty bad.

BUT! Good news! I can bravely say now I SURVIVED! Though not the best. Still lots to learn. But others are accepting this inexperience me. The toughest had past. There's still many catching up to do, many things to learn. But at least for now, this introduction chapter of this new responsibility of mine had come to an end. A brand new chapter is starting.

Many a times, I had wanted to quit the job. A pay cut is fine. Since my increment in pay is not that much either. I'm glad I didn't give up.

My previous GM once told me - he quit one of his job previously as he wanted to run away from a problem he faced, but in his next job, he faced the same issue again. So lesson learnt - don't run away from the problem. Face it. Be brave. Thick skin. Then you will grow stronger. And everything will be OK!

Everyone Jia You together ba!!!!

Thanks for all the help. It won't be possible without the people around me.

thanks boyfriend.

you are the best.

One of my uncle had just passed away. I was wondering to note this down or not. I didnt really have much memory of him and his family. Or rather, he and his family and disappeared too long for me to remember his existence even.

After the phone call that came to deliver the news, I slowly started to recall about this person who share the same bloodline with me. Someone that even boyfriend wasnt even aware of.

I remembered we used to go to his house at Queensway.
The cement raw finishing floor.
The pet cage in the living room on the floor.
Cant remember its hamster or bird though.
The simple layout of the house at ground floor.
The family problem that arises which lead to another broken family in Singapore.
After the sale of the flat, he found another job.
Heard from my mum he even helped us in moving from JE to JW.
Then suddenly, he disappeared.
Not a single word.
I briefly remembered how he looked.
Thin, dark, like my father.
Taller though.

Will this lead to another family argument?

I hate Sundays.
I miss boyfriend.
I wish Mondays never come.

It will be a tough decisions.
Might not be successful also.
But no harm trying.

I was bored during my week-long MC stay at home due to chicken-pox and since boyfriend is around, we decided to do something. At least to get my mind off and feel abit productive from the stay at home.

Baileys Cheesecake (no-bake)

I couldn't recall where I gotten the recipe from so not posting it online. However, if any interested, this is definitely a must-try. Even first timer will be able to do this. Its simply so simple. The only troublesome part as of all no-bake cheesecake is to do the base one day in advance. For future, I would most likely increase the amount of Baileys and use warm water for the gelatin instead of cold water. Its basically a very light and smoothing cheesecake with a hint of Baileys.

Beside this, I had only been rotting away and watching drama online non-stop for the past few days. According to my auntie and boyfriend, my chicken pox is really little and small. Hope its really due to the medicine because I dont want to have a second time chicken pox. The itch is still bearable due to the anti-itch medicine. However, it will be tough adjusting back to work after this long break. Review on Wednesday to see whether I can go back to work. Most of the 'pox' is drying up. And starting to itch and hurt abit more.

Considering to do a chocolate cake or something next since Tuesday is a holiday. =)

The never-going-to-get-chicken-pox me finally had my CHICKEN POX!

Come to think of it. The first pox might just so started over the weekend. First notice the mega mark on my hand on Sunday actually. But never really thought much of it. It was only yesterday night that I wondered why I have 7 similar looking marks all over me. And also a few red dots. And there you go, a trip to the doctor and confirmed it as chicken pox.

Now suddenly, Im having all these 'pop-ing' all over me. Mega emo. Im so worry about the scaring.