Time flies & it's December now. 24 more days to Christmas. Yes, I'm spending Christmas & New Year here I suppose. I don't think I'll go back to Singapore.

Just a blink of an eye & I'm already 7 months into my 2-year contract here. 17 more months to go. I wonder where would I be posted to next. Hmm.

Life's been really hectic for me with lotsa ups & downs. I would have to say career-wise I'm progressing & loving it. I've learnt so much over the short span of 7 months & I am thankful for this opportunity.

People around me take really good care of me - e.g. Anthony, Polly, Rommell, Odette & Marthyn. All of them treat me like a baby. Pout. Okay, I'm the youngest of the lot, but still! But without these friends, I won't be able to keep my sanity.

Alright, my update will end here for now. Till then.

Cheers.

I have finished the 1st book of Twilight. Rushed home after work to continue on it. Reckon it's the first time I took less than a day to finish a book.

Now, turn me into a vampire...

I know I'm slow. I didn't intend to start on the book at all, but Polly decided that I should read it so that I could accompany her to watch New Moon this weekend.

& omg, I am stuck to the book. It is amazing & now I can't wait to rush home to finish the 1st book, which I only have less than ¼ left.

Test post.

One of the many test results is back. No cancer cells were found in her bones. I really hope it isn't lung cancer & that the tumour in the head will not lead to some cancer crap.

I can remember vividly the day she asked if I can stay in Singapore as opposed to going to Manila. That was a week before I was meant to shift here for 2 years. I saw the disappointment in her eyes when I said "I can't." My heart shattered at that very moment... I saw tears welled in her eyes as she tried so hard to hold them back. She gave me a really tight hug & not wanting to let go of me thinking that it might prevent me from flying off at that very moment. I reckon a part of her believed that by holding onto my hand & not letting go, I will remain where I am, I won't have to get posted overseas...

If anything happens, I will fly back asap & probably request to work from the Singapore office if possible. I want to spend as much time with her before all's too late..

I miss my granny...

Granny, I've been sending my prayers to whoever's listening. Please be well & stay happy. Fight away those demons & ensure that nothing cancerous can be found in you. You're such a wonderful person & you don't deserve all these. I'm sorry if I've disappoint you by not staying. I really do miss you. I miss the laughters at home, you arguing and/or chatting with Gramps, you taking care of me, you wanting to cook my favourite food for me all the time, & the list goes on. You don't have to take care of me anymore because I'm old enough to do so my own. I've lived out here in Manila for 6 months now & coping fine. Do not worry for me. It's time for me to take care of you now. Your duty of taking care of everyone else in the family is over for it's time you should enjoy your life. Please get healthier & I'll see you end of the month. I love you.

Today has been a rather emotional day for me...

My Monday blue carried forward itself to Tuesday & now Wednesday. I've been feeling gloomy since.

Perhaps it's all the things that are bugging me. I don't know. I want & need good news. I need a clear mind. I need to sort out my thoughts.

I've been using work to distract myself from the feelings I might feel. Maybe my teammates called me workaholic for a reason. I'm using work to escape from reality.

I don't want to think because I know all that I've been putting behind the door would come at one shot & I'll feel the pain.

I hope someone hears my prayers & give me the strength & good news that I need right now.

I can only be this strong emotionally because I'm starting to feel I'm eating myself inside.

The mood in our team's quite sombre today due to the aftermath of the storm. One of my colleagues still remains uncontactable & his house was fully submerged as of Saturday afternoon. I hope he's fine.

To be frank, Singaporeans living in Singapore are one lucky bunch. We do not know of any real calamity happening to our country. Though I live in Manila, I've not experienced anything to this extent. Even where I'm living, I don't even experience 1% of the damage done to other parts of Manila by Tropical Storm Ondoy (Yes, CNA has got another name for it - Tropical Storm Ketsana). We, Singaporeans, have to count our lucky stars really.

I hope the flood waters can subside soon for those affected areas & that food & medical supplies have reached them.

There had been depressing news heard. There's this lady from another department who lost her daughter to the flood as they were not able to rush her to the hospital when her asthma attack happened.

I don't know what to make up of all these that's happening. I just hope that Manila can get through this...

I never knew the severity of the storm of yesterday till today when I read it online. It's really B.A.D.

I know there are many of my colleauges staying quite far & in floodprone areas. Hope they're fine. I hope to see all of them tomorrow although I think the government should declare it a non-working holiday so that people can find pieces of their lives back...

Hope there's something I can do. Can someone tell me where I can go to donate money to help them?

[update]

More updates on Tropical Storm Ondoy can be found here.

This is my 2nd typhoon eversince I've been here but it's worse than the previous storm. Winds are so strong & I don't think I can even step out with a brolly. I can't see anything beyond the condos opposite where I'm staying. I can't see the golf course.

Whenever I plan to head out (e.g. to Greenhills or to go for a hair trim today & to send those documents out to Dad), it rains so heavily. Sigh.

Thank goodness my fridge's stocked up with the leftover from the steamboat I had 2 Sundays ago. At least I can still cook myself lunch later without having to go out to get food.

It's gonna be noodle soup for lunch & soup with rice later for dinner.

Hope you guys would have a better weekend than I do. All I can do is sit in the living room & look at the storm. Gah.

I finally got my lazy arse to cooking. The last time I cooked was when GC was here to visit. To be honest, I miss his cooking...

Wanted to cook this arvo, but I was too lazy & the rain dampened my mood to do anything. Therefore, I lazed on the couch for the entire afternoon.

Cooked myself curry with the help of ready made paste. :P

Realized most of the vegetables had started to rot so I threw them away. Thank god for frozen vegetables (consist of cauliflower, broccoli & carrots). They're da bomb.

That big pot of curry's gonna last me for quite some time. Haha. At least I can bring food to work now. Hopefully I'll keep this going.

Till then folks.

Tata.

I've been spending so much lately. Just needed to shop & see beautiful things.

Bought heaps of things from bonitochico in less than a month. Just needed to document everything before I forget what I've bought.





They'd better be nice & that I'm able to fit!!

I detest month end reports.

People have been telling me how cheap Manila is, how the lifestyle here is much lower compared to Singapore. All I can say is, these people are so wrong.

Grocery is probably the same price as it is in Singapore. The utilities bill is horrendously expensive. Think S$300 per month for a single person who is seldom home, does laundry (washer + dryer) once a week, cooks on an electric stove at least twice a week, uses the microwave at least 4-5 times a week, turns on one air-conditioning for an average of 10 hours per day. I don't know how it costs more than what my dad pays in Singapore.

Cable + broadband bill is definitely more expensive here than Singapore. For restaurants, it's slightly cheaper than what I pay in Singapore & that's about it.

Well, maybe it's just me chalking up ridiculous utility bill. I'll have to check with the colleague who stays in the same block as I do. Maybe hers isn't as expensive. Probably it's only me...

Hopefully there isn't any leakage!

So, the next time you hear about Manila being a cheap place to live in, please think twice on what you hear.

Woohoo!! Finally. I spent 1½ hours doing it up & also packing my dining table.

I finally have a decent table to eat on & also to invite friends over for a meal.

I can finally surf on my couch while watching tv.

YES!

I've finally gone out to get grocery with GC. Yes, he's here to visit me again!

Bought lotsa things & managed to go to the hardware store to get 3M hooks & my extention cord!! It'll be setting up of wireless internet tomorrow! Time to beautify my home too. Photos would be hung up on the wall, clock would be up where it should be, etc. All these should be done before my shipment arrives on Wednesday morning.

The upcoming week would be extremely busy for me because my team lead would be on leave & I'm his cover. Also, I've got a course to attend on Thursday & Friday. I wonder how long would I have to work this coming week. Hmm.

More grocery shopping tomorrow at S&R. Seriously, I love grocery shopping & I can buy shitloads of stuff. This is even worse than buying luxury bags.

To-do-list:
1. Make breakfast for GC
2. Buy frozen vegetables Done!
3. Buy ginger Done!
4. Setup wireless internet Done!
5. Pack the dining table Done!
6. Buy more photo frames Done!
7. Hang up photos
8. Get a hair trim

URGH. Am short-fused today.

Am trying to hold it in. Kill me.

Patient. Be patient.

*stabs myself*

I need to stop being so lazy & get my arse to Makati to get grocery & my extention cord!! I can't keep sitting on it.

It's been 3 days & I'm still here. URGH.

I need to get my wireless up so that I can clear my dining table from the clutter!! Also, I need to get food so that I can boil soup for dinner!

Stop being so lazy. GAH!

See, this is the aftermath of being pampered for 3 weeks. Pout.

It's gonna be another hectic & crazy week. I already know it before it even started.

There are a few things that I need to take note of & also to take care of...

1. Taipei - No more 9pm
2. GEM - Automatic or manually done? Done!
3. AMEX card payment @ BDO (Call to get rates first) Done!
4. Send Che's socks out by mail forgot that GC's coming over. so, i'll get him to bring it back for Che. makes more sense.
5. Buy extention cord so that I can setup my wireless Done!
6. Buy grocery so that I can boil soup Done!
7. Settle utilities + broadband & cable bills (damn expensive!!)
8. Get rid of my caterpillar brows (browhaus) Done!

Okay, I know the above doesn't make much sense to you guys. But, it's for me to take notes. As all of you know, I'm a scatterbrain. Thus, I need to take such notes so that I can remember.

Alrighty, back to 溏心風暴之家好月圓.

P.S.: It's getting a lil tough having to adjust back to doing my own household chores after being pampered for 3 weeks back home. Pout.