Christmas Day 2004

Christmas holidays have been bland for me these two years. While I used to go out with my friends and exchange pressies, our traditions ceased as most of them have relationship and family committments now. I didn't even receive any present from Mr. Gecko this year! :( I gave him a Nokia 2650 - makes me happy to see him fawning over his gift though. It was more an effort gift as the mobile is free. I signed a corporate plan for him with my name; and that only makes him happier. Silly boy.

Spent the holiday watching Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle with Mr. Gecko's family as his dad and mom are staying put with us. Kung Fu Hustle was very entertaining, Stephen Chow's show had graduated so much from the usual slap-stick, laugh a minute gags he's so famous for. I was quite skeptical initially if he could produce another movie with similar substance akin Shaolin Soccer and I say, he's doing alot better!

Other than an unexpected good movie, my day is practically nothing-to-talk-about.

My day aside, Chirstmas always make me remember my Dad's childhood story on how he used to spend the Ho Ho Ho hols. He came from a really improverished family and there were a lot of mouths to feed - a typical chinese family in any Malaysia kampung those days. My grandpa was a lorry driver working for the British military in Malaya and because he also possessed known culinary skills, some Brit families would engage my Grandpa to roast the traditional turkey for them on Christmas Day. Grandpa's recipe was simple - mostly potatoes and butter but still, lots of patience was needed as roasting the turkey took almost one day.

My dad was a happy boy whenever Christmas beckoned as this meant Grandpa would get to bring back portions of the turkey meat and the greasy gravy dripped from the roasted bird, considered unsavoury for the british family. But how my dad's whole family welcomed this treat to them every once a year. Dinner was eaten with aplomb as the treat was rationed carefully and none was wasted. Grandpa had since passed on many years ago but back in KL, my relatives gathered together to make this passed-on traditional recipe almost every Christmas Day (only my uncle knows how), remembering and relieving those days when little things meant much. :)

This story perks me up and reins in the festive spirits for me always! Merry Christmas to all!

Help! I Am Morphing Into One Corporate Bitch Too!

*Arrrgghhh...*

*Gggrrrrr...!!!*

*!@#$%^&*

One thousand and one cussings are swirling~~ in my mind. With my head buried at the couch of my arms in a foetus-like position sitting on the office's chair, the air seemed danker by the seconds and am finding it increasingly a chore just, to breathe.

I looked up, I fisted, I swung and hit non-existently.

Another time.

Another time.

Another time.

I AM EXTREMELY FIRED UP! I FEEL LIKE LINING UP THE NEMESES AND GIVE THEM ALL A PIECE OF MY FREAKING UP MADLY MIND. AND THEY WILL KNOW NEVER TO MESS WITH ME FROM NOW!

I have been feeling under the weather for some weeks and today, I am like one China dam unleashing its potentially powerful torrents within.

The publication production is horribly behind schedule (there weren't any proper plannings in the first place) and it's all dued to one egomaniacal freaky... I can wring his neck right now, if Hong Kong is within my arm's reach. With everybody all flustered up and bosses with nary a care except to expect you to meet the targetted - still, it's no wonder I am turning into a harridan - my nightmare personality.

Besides being pissed off, I feel bad too - for not treating my other staff with much needed professional composure. While understanding all others are just as burdened as me, I failed take control of the situation. I was shouting at one of my colleague on the phone and though my parting words were "... we are a team and you have to trust me!" I'd have doubts myself to trust a person from that tone of voice.

I will mend the situation. Later... when I calm down.

Breathe.

Why Everybody Loves Mr. Gecko (At least me!)

Mr. Gecko's small Indian investment company is expanding. His company bought some new software from India and along came an Indian trainer to train the staff for 2 weeks on the usage. Being the trainer's first trip to Singapore, he had ventured to where only tourists holed; nobody offered to take him around and his weekends spent alone in a foreign land. Remembering his days alone in India, Mr. Gecko (who is not really your typical new age sensitive guy) offered his friendly companionship during the trainer's last weekend in Singapore. And he related to me how the trainer's face brightened at the prospect of a good companionship and accepted his invitation gladly.

I know Mr. Gecko had a slew of activities over the past few weekends and that weekend happened to be the one free slot which he was looking forward to just, rest. In fact, he contemplated canceling the appointment and it was sheer determination that made him followed through his promise. Mr. Gecko never like to disappoint.

A small incident like today, sending him off at the gate to meet this Indian trainer makes me feel like the happiest girl on earth. Strange, you say? How can one aptly describe a girl's bliss while she savored in the lore of her man's merited character?

I know nobody will believe me if I declare I do not suffer from Geckophrenia nor do I ever try to dispel any doubts others have of my declaration. It's a free world and I do act like a fanatic at times. Given that we chose each other as the other half, I am naturally more inclined to commit the universal offense, swooning over him and all though I had calmed down slightly since.

Sometimes, especially these days after being together for a number of years, I can and do forget why he is my chosen one. It is easy for anyone to take someone too close for granted. Life falls into place and couplehood becomes a lifestyle rountine. It's like... both of us walk down a street and our hands will automatically link. Kinda mechanical feel. I seldom wonder why or to take pride in such couple acts anymore.

All thanks to a mere incidence, I learn to recount the blessings in my life in little ways.

Our Bangkok Trip

Lost In All Grandeur

I just came back from the Land of Smiles with Mr. Gecko! Despite having traveled to Hong Kong early this year, he very sweetly arranged another duo trip to Bangkok. Didn't know this trip would be so tough for me though :)

We basically named this trip as B.M.T. (Basic Military Training) @ Bangkok 2004 with Mr. Gecko as "Sir!" and me as the struggling recruit. Hahaha... It is a good laugh now but there were alot of times I was practicing shooting "eyes"- daggers at him then or just taking out my machine-"mouth" gun and raining bullets at Sir! for all I care.

Thinking back, I owed Mr. Gecko an apology and a big bear hug for behaving like a brat at times. Feeling kinda remorseful now. *Head hung down in shame* Fault lies in my rather high expectations for a rejuvenated, well-deserved, a self-pampered and total shopping therapy... well... besides feeling a tad disappointed with the market of goods in Bangkok (though I still came back with a modest shopping harvest), my other major gripe was how Mr. Gecko was tiring me out by making us cover almost the whole of Bangkok on feet just because he likes to "feel" like a local wherever we travel. He was in turn irritated by my restlessness while basking himself in the Thai culture. I say, if the Thais swim in Chao Phraya river as an everyday ritual, I have no doubt he'd dictate me to swim the length of it to get to the next pier, just for the experience of local feel.

Hmm... on the other hand, the torture I went through and my grumblings he had to bear probably made this trip extra memorable for us. No? (I asked Mr. Gecko and he fervently shakes his head)

Nevertheless, it was still a good trip. We had some "wooo"s and "aahhh"s over there and were particularly impressed with those ancient temples. Mr. Gecko was in turn surprised I was not too impressed with MBK shopping centre being the shopaholic that I am, well... my personal opinion was, with the exception of a few shops, most of the displayed products were of either our pasar-malam or This Fashion quality. I don't go for cheap bargains, quality goods with reasonable pricings suit me better

I love Siam Square though. Walked like mad over there, my eyes scanning feverishly for any good buys. Go there!

And please try the crocodile farm too... it's quite fun! It's more like a zoo than a croc farm with some rare animals kept in open spaces but sad to say, rather poor living conditions. It was also good that we chose to go Bangkok during the festive season. There were a lot of local bands giving live performances along this stretch of road in Central at only at this time of the year. It was a rather strange sign to behold for an event. 4 major beer companies holding their performances all at the same time, with the same concept (cooking stalls at the side) and at the same open spaces, yet, melding with each other harmorniously. It was really exciting just choosing which beer company / live performances to give our support to. In the end, we practically went beer-hopping during our last 2 nights. Ppssst... Mr. Gecko was cajoled by one over-friendly local and pressured to shake his butt to the music for 10 seconds. :0

For an overall traveling experience, both of us gave 3 out of 5 stars for this Bangkok trip.

As we were leaving and hanging around the Thai airport, we saw a Thai female star filming. We didn't know her name but she seems famous as the locals were all getting excited at the sight of her but totally ignoring the male star alongside. I managed to take a pic with her as a last memorabilia before we truly leave the Siam soil. Mr. Gecko said we have an affinity with stars when we travelled and I agreed. In Hong Kong, we saw Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng shooting for a movie at close proximity too, but too bad, security was way too tight for me to cause a mob. Instead I had a good time following those HK papparazzi around and making small talks with them.

Thank you Mr. Gecko! I am so looking forward toward our next trip, hopefully to HOKAIDDO! Ahhh... the outdoor natural spas...