It is a line I liked very much. I held on to it.
So much that I had it etched on a cap, and when I lost the cap, I texted a friend from the States to do a replica, with the same words on it.

But this line thrives in the past.

For some time now, I have wondered what to do with this blog. It has all the recesses of the past. 7 years. When did it amount to so much? The long archive is something I want to return to, occasionally, for a peek, but not continue from.

I suppose it is time to leave it behind, and start on a clean slate like Xinyi said. So that’s exactly what I am going to do. I’ve re-opened the archives here, but I am moving to a new address in 2011. Because I am thinking, it is prettier to be so.

I have been expecting my online purchase for a few days now. Still, I was thrilled to find a neat package sitting atop my messy desk when I returned home from work today. Thanks to the good people behind FARM, I got myself a super cute tote to start the new year with. It’s modeled after the once-ubiquitous brown paper bag – how brilliant is that?

This bag cost me only $12 during the 2010-11 crossover sale and it comes with free local shipping. I had a hard time taking my eyes off this and this too.

The first one is dull grey, with a rabbit and pocket-watch on it. I only noticed now that 2 little white gems are missing, but I am not too concerned about it, because it really is cute in spite of its flaws.

The second one is a red Forget-me-knot ring. I hope it helps to remind me, especially when I am too caught up in mundane work chores, to make the best of the year lest it sweeps by me in a wink.

I am logged onto the internet and plugged in to the sounds of Katie Melua, a discovery I made only yesterday by way of the new Angelina Jolie-Johnny Depp movie, The Tourist. I wish I knew about her earlier, but I guess it’s never too late to stumble upon something so good.

For some reason, I am feeling a little sappy that the year is left with just another 10 hours to its name.  It isn’t because 2010 had been spectacular; on the contrary, it wasn’t and I am hoping to get more out of 2011.

This year, we took our annual Christmas stay-over to a hotel. We considered several boutique hotels before settling on Studio M which had a unique loft concept. That’s my dress in the bottom-left corner of the picture to show that there are 2 floors to our room.

We loved the room. It was very cosy, with a sofa bed on the upper floor where we lazed and did our gift exchange. I especially liked the huge bay windows by the bed. Apart from the lack of a proper kitchen space, the room was live-able, like a one-room apartment. I was constantly amazed by the concept which managed to conceal the smallness of the place and made it appear so roomy.

Christmas is not Christmas without some cake and wine. As our number dwindled to 3, we figured a log cake would be too much for us to wolf down, so this year, it was just 2 slices of hazelnut cake and cheesecake.

And here’s a picture of the Trung Nguyen coffee we had in between check-in at 2pm and dinner. It’s good; go try it at Liang Court if you haven’t.

The water on the immediate upper and lower floors smelled funny too, and after some trial-testing, we found water safe for consumption flowing in the taps 3 floors beneath ours.

 So we’ve been making trips to someone else’s pantry this week… we hope they don’t think we are intruding on their little talk space.

The extent Lomo- camera makers go to up the cute quotient of their products!

The Lego Lomo Camera

Pinhole Art DIY Combo

Juice camera

And then there are retro-looking radios that tug at my heartstrings, but really, are of of little function to me.

#1

#2

#3

It had been arduous to keep the discipline. The jogging routine eluded me and I found myself jogging sporadically over the next few months. I never quite obtained my optimal stamina by judgement day and my timing sucked, but hell, I finished the race. We rewarded ourselves with a nice (and healthy) brunch at Cedele after that; it’s really a pity we didn’t take a picture to commemorate our first race, considering that it might be my last (laughs).

I woke up from a 3-hour nap and spent the rest of the evening at a wedding dinner. Generally, I have little enthusiasm for wedding dinners but this one is kind of special. With such an outcome, I couldn’t have asked for more right?

Sweet colleague bought me cute stamps to cheer me up :)

If you need a space to sun your moods,
I will be that home for you;
Even if the rationality you seek rests upon my irrationality,
I will endure.

But I cannot un-learn other truths,
un-see other colours,
be a home if you won’t return,
or forget that a part of me knows rationality.

You come and go on a whim,
blow hot and cold, and set eddies of rue through me.

I have thrown myself into the ocean, darling,
but you are not there when I wake; if the only way to stay afloat is to drown,
for you I have drowned a thousand times, and a thousand more…
Is this how you are leaving me?

It was one of those atrociously boring days filled with little chores and activities that just won’t go right. Like PDFs that misalign even though your word doc version looks pristine. That aside, I must also take blame for not being motivated at all to salvage what’s left of the day. I basically surfed it away.

The last straw came when my Internet failed me just as I found a purpose amid my random surfing. My frustrations peaked with this dosage
of bad luck, and I decided, there and then, that it was not such a bad idea to turn in early.

It hit me, in bouts, resembling violent waves onto shores, except that it occured at any hour of the day. Whatever it is, whatever this anger is made up of, the worst has blown over. It’s just that… whatever little sentiment I have for this place has blown away with it too. For the first time in about 14 days, I feel energised and optimistic. The flu bug has mellowed quite a bit, and my throat soothed after an intake of honey and rest.

-Oscar Wilde