So when you live near a slacking joint, you tend to find that your friends will tempt you to slack when they happen to be there. At least I know I was. Here's Naren and Caren whom I've not seen in ages. Naren's studying in Down Under now and he'll be graduating soon while Caren's doing pretty well in some IT company as a manager. Good to see these people again after so long. Reminiscing the good old days and catching up on the new low-down can be quite fun sometimes. Just got home and it's back to sipping on my hot drink and reading.  

The moment I got to Rouge, I whipped out my camera and started snapping to "test the market".  

It started with a few pictures...wondering if the bouncer would stop us.... 

When I was loading all these pictures, I realised that all it took was 10 minutes with the camera for Sheema to effectively put her face on all 80% of the pictures we took that night. Sheema is the one on the...wait...just look at all the pictures and you'll guess who she is.

I think digital cameras were designed in such a way that even if you take them from arm's length away, you'll still look good.  

Sheema again..... 

I just realised that Sheema's face is in most of my pictures. Well, she and Aien really deserves it for the cake they bought me before training on my birthday last week. Thanks gals! Wasted we didn't take any pictures of the cake.  

These people really know how to pose for the camera...glad I brought it.  

When it comes to how red one's face can get after a few glasses, I really find it impossible to beat Lester.  

Uh oh, caught you Lester! I don't think Sheema knew that Lester almost tried to kiss her. Haha. Nah, it was just for the picture. I think the pictures turned out really well.  

Sporting nice tans after a long day in the sun, none of us were the very least camera-shy that night.  

I was a little apprehensive at first about whether rouge would allow us to take pictures but after a few shots and no reaction at all from the bouncers, we were snapping away like there's no tomorrow.  

I think Rouge is a pretty cool place to hang out at although some people may think that the crowd is too young at times.  

What all else fails, I know I have these people to turn to. 

Glad these people came. 

So that's the cake Linda and Winkie took the trouble to buy. 

One gold for soccer and one silver for rugby in two days, not a bad showing I guess... 

Took this at arm's length after training a few weeks ago.  

Took this with Char after an audition for her magazine spread.  

"I am a part of all that I've seen."

We had a smashing good time at rouge last night and every ounce of euphoria was intangibly present to end off a good tournament. All the angst and animosity between the teams as well as the players dissipated under the influence of alcohol and the slew of R & B tracks that the DJ dished out. What they say about how we should only compete in the spirit to bring out the best in each other holds both truth and new meaning tonight; one on the field and the other at Rouge. We, the SRC Rojaks, held nothing back and although some were in the theme and some were not, the difference in attitude towards “sartorial” preference did not dampen the atmosphere in what turned out to be an awesome party. At the end of the night, all that fun, bumping and grinding was creamed off with a birthday cake for Del, Allan and I plus a birthday song by the SRC Rojaks that I could have sworn was as loud as the blasting music. We didn’t win but look on the bright side, we really know how to have fun! Haha.

I would like to thank Jude, Linda, Winkie, Jiayi and Xinlei for coming as well to celebrate an unofficial belated birthday. Jude, thanks for the Flaming Lamborghini although I was so smashed that I couldn’t recognize the drink until you told me what it was. Linda, Winkie, thanks for taking the trouble to get me a cute little cake coz’ eating it also helped me to stay sober longer (which effectively meant that I could hold more of that liquor y’all were trying to make me drink). Jiayi, Xinlei, thanks for the song dedication (although John Molina read the dedication like he had something stuffed up his mouth) and for offering to share the cab fare home because I was too sloshed to drive myself back home. I am fortunate to have friends like all you. As for those who didn’t manage to make it, it’s ok. I know you would have if you could and thanks for the surprise party that you threw a few days before. In fact, you saved me quite a bit of cash coz’ I would have paid for your cover charge anyway. *grin* Cheers.

So just barely three hours after falling into deep slumber, I had to wake up for the DBS soccer tournament at PSA Club. Grimacing at the bright sun and slouching my way around the house to pack up my gear for the tournament, I was so tempted to forget the tournament but thank God for creating coffee beans. I didn’t bathe before falling asleep and I didn’t bathe after waking up either. But I dragged myself out of the house and made it to PSA club in 15 minutes. I really wonder if I would have passed the breathalyzer test if I had taken one en route to the tournament. Nah, I’m jokin’, of course I would. I’m a law-abiding citizen, really.

The cramps stayed away and we had a good tournament. In fact, we went on the become champions, conceded zero goals and had the top goal-scorer from our team. One silver trophy and one gold medal in two days…that’s ok, I guess.

Cramps - So uncool.

I just played my mixed touch rugby finals today and no, we didn’t win; much to my uttermost disappointment. Well, I wouldn’t be all that sad if I had been able to give my best. Thing is, I ended up spending more time nursing my cramps out of the field than actually playing on the field. You see, cramps have always been a rarity for me in the past even in conditions much tougher than what I had experienced today. Of all times, it just decided to come today (the last time I heard someone say this, she was about to go for a swim, if you know what I mean). Regardless of how much deep heat spray and rub the physio applied for me, it just couldn’t alleviate the pain but only temporarily stopped the cramping. I had to keep going back to the physio but somehow her rubbing just didn’t help. At one point, the pain as a result of the heat coming from all the excessive deep heat cream and spray was more excruciating than the cramps itself. Even at the end of the match my leg was still “coated” with cream and I was feeling so bloated because I had drunk too much isotonic drinks. Just yesterday, I was lying on my bed going through the moves and things I was wanted to do on the field. And today, none of it materialized. It was unexpected to say the least. What was optimism turned out to be complete disbelief that such misfortune could befall upon me. We needed everyone to be in optimum condition and because I wasn’t, I felt that I had let the team down. Knowing that I could have done so much more for my team just made it worse.

I am going to put this all behind me now. I will be back. Next time, I will come back faster, better and more prepared. No more excuses. Meantime, it’s party at rouge!

Officially quarter of a century old.....

I'm officially quarter of a century old, trying to enjoy my off-day but finding no peace because everyone from work is either calling or messaging me.

Since morning, I've had three calls from my colleagues, one call from my boss, two calls from my SSO (the one who does my paperwork) and two calls from my customer asking me to check something for them. For some reason, they always like to call me only on my off-day. I'm cutting short my afternoon nap and writing this out of exasperation. In fact, we have a meeting that I have to attend later at 6pm even though I’m off. Life is good…all the way.

That's Regina on my left and she's the kind of person you'll learn to like over time. I used to think she's really fierce but now she buys bubble tea for me almost everyday.  

That's my buddy at work, Derek. We used to have another guy, Anton, but he moved over to another branch. I didn't have a good impression of Derek at first but he turned out to be really a trustworthy and dependable friend and colleague. My colleagues are one of the main reasons why I like my job so much.  

I took this picture with my very sweet colleague, Cecilia, a few days ago. Being one of the more experienced consultants around, she likes to mother us and give us guidance. The bank is a nicer place to work in with her around because of her friendly disposition and good-natured humor. Always amicable and smiling, it doesn�t surprise us with the amount of regular customers she has.

 

By the way Eunice, it's tendeNcies, not tendeRcies. Unless of course you meant it; which I doubt. haha jokin'. 

That was one of the few nights that zouk allowed us to bring cameras in and we were sure we capitalised on that. Got this from Eunice's site.  

These people, like family to me.