Short update.

Time seems to fly by so fast. Its been almost 3 months already and am heading back to the land Down Under soon. Sad as it may seems but I guess all good things must come to an end someday. Time to go back to finish up what I started out in the beginning, getting my degree.

Picking up where I left off in my last entry, Chinese New Year was great. All the good food, all the visiting.. Towards the end of the CNY period, I actually went on a short get-away to Desaru. It was ful-filling, spending some quiet quality time.

Friday the 13th is normally a day many people avoid. However, I chose to have my farewell dinner that night with Shirine. All the catching up with her was definitely good. Accompanied with good food, the dinner was enjoyable. And yes, I got her flowers to show my appreciation as well.

Right after dinner, we headed off for KTV. She made the arrangements and I was surprised at the turnout. Honestly, I wasn't expecting so many people to begin with. It was a good night of singing and it just might be my last KTV night before I head back.

Shirine.. thanks for the dinner~!

V-day was good as it falls on a Sat. That means my date does not have to work and she came over to my place for lunch. I prepared a Western-cum-Italian meal. I received a card from her which was really nice and could tell alot of effort was put into it. All the past pics of us and its definitely an item I would bring back to Aust. I gave her a card,snow globe filled with 2 pics. ( 1 one each side) and a bouquet of 9 roses. Pink was her favourite colour and so I got my dearest friend, Matthew to design a bouquet for me. Got to say, its beautifully done and really exceeded my expectation. Perhaps a change of profession? Hehe.

Preparing lunch.. Dom called it Lunch of Love.. haha..

















The finished product..

Flowers for my partner.

After the lunch and presentation of gifts, we proceeded to Esplanade for Breakout with a group of friends. We decided to skip dinner til after the performance as lunch was too full for the both of us. Musical was good and it was followed by a good dinner at Balcony. She bought dinner and it seems like we were approaching the end of the night until I drove to Macritchie Reservoir for a night stroll. The night was memorable and sent her home only at around 3am.

The following day was spent at Sentosa. We took a cable car ride in and sun-tanning was the call of the day. In short, am all red now and in pain. Jialat.

Gatherings, CNY!

Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!!!!!
I know its abit late.. but still within the 15 days of CNY!!

Finally caught up with Zhi Zhong after his tour around Europe. Really envy him and hope to go on similar tour soon. Although we were all apart, its good to know that we are still who we are and still the best of friends. He understood what it takes to have a long distance relationship and he had to go through similar situations as I had last time. I guess its all good for him now and am very happy for him.















Finally all back~! awaiting Dave...

Chinese New Year had been good this year. As usual, the normal routine, the normal questions BUT different answers this time round! Hehe. More to be disclosed in due time...















Family portrait... May Ee... where are u....*sob*

On third day of CNY, as per last year, we met up again for a good meal. This year, it was at NBX's place. Steamboat was all prepared by his parents and we had a good time chilling out before going over to my place for mahjong! Hehe.















The spread..















Both of them waiting for the food to cook.. lol..















Mel and I..

Finally met up with Learning Lab friends after 7 long years! Its amazing how we still managed to keep in touch after so long. Dinner was at another steamboat place followed by coffee after that. Ladies had become more beautiful and one is even getting married next year!! Jialat. Please don't tell me age is catching up!~ Lol...





















Audrey, my sis...















Terence, Me, Xian, Eve...

Sat was spent at Arthur and Cheryl's place and had mum's family dinner that same night! It was good and kinda nice to catch up with a couple distant cousins. Common questions were asked again and its kinda repetitive of what I had gone through earlier.

Sunday was nice. Had a long day of visiting 3 various places, all with good food awaiting for me to try! Alot of first times that day and the mood of the day was really like a stock market. Reached an early high, plunged 'way below zero point' then started to climb slowly again. Ended the night at Bellini's. Thanks Rine for the card! I doubt I will wanna go Bellini again on a Latin night given the current conditions of the place. Nothing agains the band. Its just the music, crowd and flooring.

This week so far had been rather busy with family stuff and Tues was memorable. Am glad everything ended well that night. Dom had his 'virgin' night in Union. Haha. Someone coined the term and its just so appropriate! Too bad the video is way too large to be uploaded if not would have done so. Not forgetting, I received a gift from Viv!! Thanks girl!! Will try the rose tea some time soon! Hehe.. All the way from Vietnam! Hehe..

Am so looking forward to the wonderfully planned weekend~

Disappointed. Too naive.

Here I was believing that all was good after the conversation that day, I was sprung a surprise half an hour ago. A normal group discussion with an agreement NOT to mention anything or to bring the conversation outside was TOTALLY ignored.

Its one thing to help a friend, but another to actually bring it up outside thus breaking the whole agreement. Is there a need to really do such things? Besides, with no names mentioned, not even initials, only a couple know who I was referring to.

Am totally disappointed with whoever that person is. The least he/she could do is notify me that he/she will talk to the party and not leave me in the dark when confronted.

And Yes. I was confronted based on the CLOSED discussion we had in the group. Thats why am upset.

Perhaps I was too naive to believe that certain people will really keep whatever was discussed to themselves.
Perhaps.

Maybe I trust too easily.
Maybe.

Never knew a friend, whom I thought was someone I could count on, would do that to me.


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P.S. Thanks everyone for showing concern. You know who you are.

Korean dinner, Mussels Guys, Union and BBQ

Had dinner with ex colleagues on Thurs in Bugis. We tried a Korean Restaurant along that street. Food was not fantastic but the company totally made up for it.















Dinner with lovely ex-colleagues~















With Ada..

As usual, Ada was the talkative one. Still it was great meeting up with them as they mentioned that I was sorely missed by the company heads. Perhaps I should drop by for a visit someday soon. Hehe~.

Finally managed to catch up with Karen for dinner on Friday. She had been busy with work and park-toh. She even passed me a belated Christmas gift and I am already using it. Attached it to my luggage. Many thanks for the dinner and gift, dear Karen-sis! We went Union after that and hopefully her old shi-fu did not let her down. Its been a long time since I had picked up the phone and was greeted with 'Si-fu!!!!' Haha.. those were the days.















Dinner at Mussel Guys~

That night was memorable and I totally fell in love with a few dances that night~! The nostalgic Chan-Chan, sensual Bendita Tu Luz, romantic No Me Ames and lovely Fever. Those 4 dances totally made the night even better. Whoever you are, a big Thank you!

Yesterday had a full day event. Mahjong in the afternoon followed by a BBQ at night. It was held at my place but was organised by Fiona. Thank you so much!! Everyone had lots of fun and my family totally love all of you~! Alot of drinking indeed! Jaggerbombs.. Submarine.. even shotguns!! Haha. We stayed til 2+ and definitely memorable! Would like to thank Fiona for all the work and apologise abt her phone. Thanks to Jemz for being so sporty and we all know its all in the name of fun. My first BBQ with them and its nice catching up with so many of them after so long. Perhaps another gathering soon~!

Complaint.

Disclaimer: Bitchy-Ben on the loose... read on if you don't mind...

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I know you seldom see me bitch or complain but something happened last night that I really cannot take it. Imagine you spend some time styling what's left of your short hair to make it spike up, only to have some pple to mess it up! It happened not only once, but twice! To make matters worse, it happened to me twice on the same night!

First one... everything was fine and dandy on the dance floor. The reuda was nicely done and doing it with the performance team had never brought me such joy as everyone knows their stuff. I had my refresher course there and then conducted by Jackson! All good until the ending pose. Vacila Sentada~ The girl gladly sat on my lap and I thought it was over. Most of the ladies who sat on laps just happily stood up soon after and thank their partners. BUT HELL NO~...

Picture this... my partner got to place her palm right onto my head and rub it vigorously!~ I was stunned for a moment. I don't mind if her dancing were vigorous but its my bloody head she is rubbing!! She can grin at me while looking at my face! My expression was totally a deer-in-headlight kinda look as someone told me. Such things had never happened to me in my 5-6 years of dancing! Hmm.. maybe give it to her that under normal circumstances, she cannot reach my head. You know the best thing? I don't even know her!! I gladfully avoided her the whole night then.

Second one... As I thought everything was over with my messed up hair, I did consider salvaging what was left of it. I was thinking things could not be worse right? Well, I was sooooooo wrong! The next one takes the cake! A normal close-hold bachata can turn into a nightmare as well. I was preparing to dip the partner this time and guess what?! Her hand happily goes all the way up and mess up my hair as slowly and sexily as she could. Come on la. I do not have hair suitable for shampoo ad, what's there to touch so much? And how sexy can you look when you were messing up my hair? Haiz...

Honestly, if its some other ladies I would not mind cause I normally dance bachata with pple I had known for a long time. Besides, if the ladies were to just placed their hand there or maybe stroke every now and then, its still alright. But to stroke like I got hair long enough for me to flick and look back while at the same time release electricity (majiam Follow Me advert), its uncalled for. Bachata had always been my favourite dance and she spoilt it for me. Thank God its to an unknown song but I definitely will be more careful of the partner next time. At the end of the dance, I was speechless. I got to admit, I got a shock when I saw myself in the mirror. My hair looked as if I just got out of bed. This girl, I only know for less than 2 weeks.

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Take it as an unhappy Ben voicing it his thoughts Such incidents will still not deter him from dancing Bachata or Reuda. Except that he would be more careful when dancing with certain people again. He still loves dancing~ *wink*

On a lighter note, was encouraged to post this picture as the bar maid was too cute to not take a picture with her.. Haha..

Meet-ups.

Had a wild night on Friday. Chantel held her Birthday at Movida that night and its a place filled with all sorts of memories now. Haha. Pictures were posted up on facebook and some had to be classified solely for Private Viewing only.

Sat was Shirine's Birthday and she had it at SAFRA Mt Faber.

The grp pic!

Overall a good party. I gave her a Japan travel guide which will come in useful when she goes there in late March. Filled with common phrases and places to go, I hope she likes it.

Sunday was spent meeting up with Bella for lunch and coffee before dinner with Amanda, Elric, Michelle and Fau. Monday marks the start of a busy week with meet-ups with many people all planned out~.

Tea with Dorothy in the late afternoon was great! It had been a long time since we last caught up with one another. She got me some chocolate from S. Korea and some candies from Melbourne! Very thoughtful of her.















Coffee at Coffee Club

Finally met up with Alicia for dinner! It had been more than a year since we last caught up! No doubt we both had seen changes in one another, we still managed to click pretty well.




















Dinner at Tonkichi~

After that, had supper with YK and spent some time catching up with him. He got me some chocolate from HK Disneyland and really appreciate the kind thoughts.

Tues was spent with my dad and we had some father-son kinda time to chat. Showed him some photos and got to say am blessed with a dad who is open-minded. Went Union Square that night and had good dances! Seriously love that few songs which I dedicated.

Yesterday, finally met up with Estee for lunch. Spent some time catching up on one another before we met up with Amanda and Michelle.















Good lunch with Estee..















KTV in the afternoon~

We spent the whole afternoon singing away before proceeding to have Korean food in Tanjong Pagar area. It was a good day meeting up with one another and hopefully can meet up again soon~

Welcome 2009. Good Bye 2008.

A new dawn awaits.

I truly understand the meaning of this phrase ever since Mel had I had a good talk on New Years Eve. A new year, a new page of life to be written. Every single year that you lived, is just like a page off a book. With every year's passing, a new page was created and written on. Thank you Mel for such great insights. I truly needed a listening ear that night and thank you for being there.

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New Year Eve was spent largely at home as we decided to have our Reunion Dinner early as May Ee was leaving soon. So we had a huge family dinner with relatives. Mel came over for drinks at the roof top and we had the whole area to ourselves.

New Years was spent in Union and had a great night. Got to know more people and even got closer to some friends. Great night it was, dancing the night away til wee hours of the morning.
2 Jan- Fri
Went on to catch a musical 'Wild Rose' and got to say, its my first Chinese musical in 10 over years. Great company and with the prices we paid, I will say good entertainment. I met up with another fantastic friend for drinks at Chijmes that night. Couldn't believe we talked til almost 2+am~!! Fantastic night out with wonderful company! Really good to know one another better and can really talk alot.















With the beautiful Fauz for drinks..

Weekend was spent mostly at home, followed by a night of dancing again. I guess I had reverted back to my dancing days once again. Although not as crazy, but still going back there on a regular basis. Had a family dinner on Sunday followed by movie and chatting session with Bella.

Monday was May Ee's last day in Singapore. Yipoh came over and picked us up for dim sum lunch. That girl said she wanted dim sum so I suggested to have it at a reputable restaurant. All good then we went home for me to pick up the car. Only to send her back to town for her to meet her friends.















Dim Sum with Yi Poh..

That night, we had another family dinner with her friends and dom's gf. Dad went for a short nap soon after and we all left home for the airport to send her off at 3am. After a teary farewell, we all came home and slept. Frigging tired.

Whole Tues was spent resting and visiting grandma. Only at night did I go out.

7 Jan - Wed
I met up with my former colleagues for dinner. Funny as they always had been, it was a hilarious night out. Dinner at Manhattan Fish Market and coffee at TCC.















Thorn among the roses..

Sharon was still as goofy as ever. Some of them had already left the company and yet we still kept in touch. Was told personally that 2 of them specially came for dinner just to see me. Am so honoured. Although my time in that company was short, only spent 3 months, I guess I left a deep impression in everyone there.

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Well, a new year and I guess new things can begin. A start of a new life perhaps. But whatever the case, I would really like to thank the following people for the advises and encouragement so far.

Mel - For the endless torment you had to go through with the constant surprises I keep springing every now and then.

ZZ and Amelia - For the listening ear I desperately need in the early morning.

Fauz - For the talk and laughter that we share every now and then. And don't shy away now. *grin*

Amanda - For making me laugh when I wasn't myself. For reminding me of who I am and what I have to do.

To all these people, a BIG thank you and Muacks!

Last but not least, May Ee- I miss you already! Little princess... hope to see you soon!