Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Mummy's birthday!

It was my mum's birthday last Sunday. The Love and I booked a place at this Teochew restaurant at Macpherson road as the birthday treat! The place looks quite traditional and old, but I must say I give two thumbs up for its food and the cheap packages!!!

We ordered the package for 8 person @ $138! One good thing is there is no service charge hehe... So at least dun haf to worry about the +++ =D

The dishes are also quite 'expensive' usually la... So we think its super worth it la~~ If any of you are interested to go try try, its address is:

Swa Garden Restaurant
No. 540-542 MacPherson Road
Singapore 368223
Tel: 67445009
Business hours: 12noon - 2.30pm & 6pm - 10pm


We had the following dishes:
1. Teochew Fresh Cold Crab (Steamed crab and served cold. Crabs must be very fresh!)
2. CNY White Belly Fish (This is a CNY dish, usual price 1kg about $65!!!!!)
3. Claypot Delicacy (Including baby abalone, sea cucumber, fresh scallops etc etc!)
4. Steamed Herbal Chicken (The herbal taste is really very strong! *Yummy*)
5. Steamed Garoupa (Freshly steamed in Teochew style)
6. Crispy Salad Prawns (The prawns are very fresh! QQ!)
7. Stewed Eight Treasure Vegetables (but we changed it to Scallops with Broccoli)
8. Swa Garden Fried Kway Teow (The restaurant is famous for their very own dish!!!)
9. Dessert of The Day (We had Ou Ni aka Yam Paste!!!)

Oh ya we ordered the cold crab and white belly fish additionally...

Take a look at the pics that day ba!!!

Me all ready to go! (with my P-plate automobile) heh heh


Waiting for the food patiently...


The women in the family!


Mummy and I


The very fresh Teochew Cold Crab!!!


The very-usually-expensive dish! Scallops, sea cucumber!!! Droolz~~~


Chinese New Year traditional white belly fish!!!


Fresh prawns, scallops and my favourite Brocolli


Herbal Chicken!


Teochew Steamed Garoupa


Crispy Salad Prawns! (I ate a few before snapping the pic! haa i too greedy)


Many people go there just to eat this kway teow! Very nice!


This is the place...






My family! The Love took the pic thats y he's not in the pic!


I am super over-dressed because everyone dont bother to dress up!!! duh.


Please pardon my astonished face. BWAHAHAHAHA

Sunday, January 28, 2007

My virgin drive!

I had my first attempt in driving on the road without an instructor today! But of cos Dad is around just in case I kalang kabor in the mid way.

Mum, Dad, The love and myself were in the car so I feel a little scared at first since I am responsible for 4 lives! So for the first try I drove to our neighbourhood market so that we can have lunch, and most importantly the journey is super short la... everything was smooth and I managed to try out real parking without poles! Hehe!

After everything we went home of cos... after I successfully parked the car and have turned off the engine, Dad said "On the engine, now you driving to Telok Blangah to fetch sis from her tuition."

I was like... "WHAT THE!?!?!?!?!?!" Here I am finally sighing with relief that I have completed his test but to realise there was a bigger test coming up!!! Immediately I recalled the way he taught me swimming when I was young.

When I was about 6 years old, he brought me to the worst oldest swimming pool in Singapore (at river valley area). The walls of the pool is not tiled at all, you can see raw cement with algae growing out, and the "drains" were full of mosquitoes. I was crying when i saw the pool la, but dad pushed me into the pool and commanded me to swim to the finishing point. Of cos I cried harder and ask him to come save me! But he say I can only come up when I reach the finishing point, so I struggled and "thread water"... finally reached the point, and realised that's what swimming is all about.

Ok, out of point.

So my moral of the story is the way he teach me a skill is always very straight to the point and harsh. The love and I were in shock when we realise I have to drive along the expressways (which is like darn dangerous and scary for me can???). But dad insisted I start the engine and leave. Argh!

But of cos its good! Unknowingly, I've conquered places like Suntec and Vivo! I can drive there le! HAHAHA!

So, eventually I decided to make the best out of it... Jiayou! Some pictures of my virgin drive today! Haahaa!

The Love and I before the start off...


Anxious but still have to pose for cam...


Adjusting my mirrors...


Almost ready...


Leaving my home!


Waiting for the pedestrians...


Turning into Benjamin Sheares bridge!


The love actually took a video of me without me knowing!!! Arghhh! But its good la, can save it as a momento! Haha... my first Benjamin Sheares attempt! Please pardon the radio and the stupid sound that I produced near the end of the video when a car suddenly appears beside me. BWHAHAHAAHA.




From Geylang to Telok Blangah, we took the Nicoll Highway, Benjamin Sheares and ECP (is it correct? I haf no freaking idea hahaha).

From Telok Blangah, Dad told me to go by CTE so that I can get more exposure to the roads! We took the longer route so as to let me feel more and to learn la... After CTE we went out through Moulmein then McNair area, then Kallang, and finally back home!!! I must say I learnt a lot through driving long journeys like that!



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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

A great start for 2007

24th January 2007 - A wonderful day that I will always remember!!!

Why? Because I fared well for my DCM Microteaching! Received many positive feedbacks from classmates and tutor. Definitely lighten my burden for the day!

The 2nd and MOST IMPORTANT thing is.....


I PASSED MY TP!!!!!!!!!



Haha! The boyfriend and I passed our driving tests on our first attempts!!! There were actually 14 (including us) testis testees for our time slot. But I was shocked to see only 5 of us when we proceeded to watch the video (only those who pass will watch).

So its like, 9 failures and 5 passed. The bf and I were in the lucky 5!!! Haha... I am very happy now! CNY can drive lo~~~~~~~~

I would like to thank:
- Those of you who sent me good luck sms-es and telling me not to be a kancheong spider.

- Xin, who took the effort to make me a card wishing me good luck for my Microteaching and TP. So sweet rite? Hehe!

- Eve and Marie, for advising me not to get any points in the circuit.

- My DCE tutor, Ms Jessie Png, for announcing to the WHOLE CLASS that I am taking my test and giving me so so so much pressure (can you imagine if I failed and I have to face all of them?????????). On the other hand, its the pressure that made me very determined to pass too! So its a blessing in disguise!

- My future mummy-in-law, who helped me lots lots with my Microteaching materials the day before till 12 midnight, and prayed hard for the 2 of us to pass our TP.

- My Love, who helped me with the Microteaching materials as well, and continuously tell me we will pass and holding my hands firmly all the while before the test.

- God (is a general label for me, you dont expect me to type Guanyin Niang Niang or Da Bo Gong or Jesus rite???), for answering my prayers and blessing me with the luck of smooth traffic and the power of overcoming every stages in the circuit with zero points.


I'm now a qualified driver!!! Time to go buy p-plate lo!! *megawatt grin* Viv is a happy girl!!!!!!!!

However, I am sad because the pretty IC photo that I have prepared cannot be used!!!! That person said it is too red!!!!!! Walau sian... end up went to take instant photo. Looks like shit lor. Duh.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Just another entry

Sorry for not blogging for almost 2 weeks... Its too cosy at home with the DVD marathons, nice food, and my bed. I've practically been slacking at home, meeting up with my peeps during the holiday i.e.

Settlers day with Xin, Silvia, and Christal.
Alleybar chill out with Michelle, Claudia, Xin, and Christal.
Going to Wanyu's place for some girly afternoon.
Dinner with Karen just before she moves to KL for work.
Xmas celebration with Xin, Silvia, and Christal.
Xmas celebration with Eve, Wanyu, and Jasmine (hereafter named The Girlies).
BBQ at home with my loves.
Mahjong session with the girlies.
KTV session with the girlies.

Not forgetting my hectic driving lessons as well as my Kickboxing sessions that I am estatic to say that it is finally over.


Rounding up for 2006 seems a difficult task for me as I have forgotten what really happened. I'll just write down what I remember la...

At the beginning year, there a terrible thrash out with one of the friends whom usually hung out with the girlies. I was disappointed things did not work out, but I am glad after such a long time I managed to at least go back to talking terms with her again. Even though its always hi bye. There were times when I was looking at our old photographs, listening to some emo songs and I immediately have the urge to tell her I just pray all the best to her in whatever things she do. But somehow after I express myself I am held back by her sorta cold replies. But at least there was some talking. It's good.

During Feburary, an event marked a significant milestone of my 23 years on earth. I managed to perform @ The Esplanade for the Accapella, Choir, and Sing & Strum which simply means my Solo piece. It was also a night of pure happiness and touching moments because most of my friends came to support me (they have to pay for the tickets somemore), and most importantly, My Family & My Future Family (the Love and his family la) all came! Can you imagine my love and gratitude towards them? All of them, sacrificing their time and coming down to support me. It certainly made me feel loved. =)


Oh ya, The Love and I actually booked a chalet to celebrate Valentines Day. It's super funny because there's only the 2 of us, which we have made a pact never to do such a silly thing again. It's seriously boring and pathetic to see other big groups bbqing together and us 2 small fry cooking some food. Bwahahaha.

Us girlies had a chalet on the next day, so that I dun haf to go home and come back for chalet again. Just move next door. Haha am I smart or wat. =D It was definitely a fun-filled chalet and it definitely brought us closer to one another. We had fun relaxing at the Jacuzzi pool, bbqing food, watching vcds (but end up falling asleep), attempting to eat marshmallows in chocolate fondue (but got bad sore throat cos of the burning chocolate), and eating prawns for breakfast (are we in the right mind or wat?).

The next big thing I can remember will be the Love's and my holiday @ Taiwan. This is the first time we did not go Bangkok (haha) and I'm glad we chose this place (even though Bangkok is still our favorite). Firstly there was no communication barrier, it is so much simple for F&E peeps. Secondly, the food there is damn nice la. Thirdly, we have experienced the world's fastest elevator that can shoot up to 89 storeys within 30 seconds (do your calculations) with amazing light show in the lift. Which means we have been to Taiwan's tallest building - the Taipei 101. Fourthly, we took a ride on the World's Second Tallest Ferris Wheel. It is super scary la, when we are stuck right at the peak and the cold wind gushing against our carriage producing the creaking sounds. Argh. But overall, it is a super memorable vacation.

Followed by Mel's ROM. The first ROM I attended and I am so touched by the pure and amazing love that Melissa and Lance share. So I was very gan dong that I almost teared when they said their vows and seal it with a kiss. Awwww.

It was my birthday next, with a nice celebration with the girlies having lunch and games @ Settlers before heading to Mac'Nonner to have a birthday party. Hahaha. Had a great gathering with my sec 4 peeps too, many attended so I had a good chance catching up with them. Not forgetting the Flaming Lamborghini they ordered for me as a treat for the Bday Girl la. My virgin attempt k? *Sounds so wrong* =P

Then my Teaching Assistantship. Though it lasted about 1 month, I learnt so many things from the teachers there, and I must say I am freaking lucky to have met my Cooperating Teacher, Mrs Ho. She is an angel to me. We joke, we laugh, we talk about new recipes for baking, we talk about what food to get for the party for my P5 class, we talk almost about everything. We go shopping for party stuff together and have Hi-tea. Bwahahah. Cute ya? She taught me many many things, gave me chances to practise before the actual observation, help to support a bond between the kids and I, most importantly, to include me in their activities (making me feel a part of them) such as the NE show. It's another first time in my whole life to actually bring a class to watch the NDP - especially the last in Kallang Stadium. So its super unforgettable. I shall stop talking about my TA for now, I can ya dah non stop about it k.

25th September marks our 6 years together. I thought it will be a simple lunch and movie affair but the Love has surprised me with another bouquet of Gerberas (one of my favorite flowers). We had lunch at Pariss and I really (I mean really) feast on their grilled salmon! I couldnt count how many plates I ate! Bwahahahaha. I bought him a Braun Buffel wallet since his old one is cracking. He got me the wedding dolls and said that we shall open it on our wedding day. Remember my pullips? Heehee

Another good thing I did in 2006 is that I FINALLY started reading. I mean fiction books. I hate fiction actually. For all my silent-reading periods in school I have been staring onto the same page of the thin thin storybook and day dreaming. This year I dunno why but I am kinda influenced by Eve and Jas. So I started on a novel and told myself I must complete it. I was surprised that I fell in love with the story. So that boosted my interest and I tried to borrow similar books for a start - Romance. Read books that are of my interest before moving to other genres la. Haa

That's about it la, the rest I have already mentioned it at the beginning of this post.

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My resolutions for 2007:

1. Pass my TP test.
2. Get good grades.
3. The Love and I can earn more money, save up.
4. Hope for better friendships to fluorish.
5. All my friends and love ones in perfect health and happiness.