u noe smth?

u noe smth?

Something cute happened yesterday.

It's my bro's off day and we had made plans to do a little shopping. However, given the fact that it's a Sunday, we woke up really late, ate brunch and almost forgot to wash up.

By the time we decide to leave the house, it's after 2pm. And my cousin's coming by with his mum, wife and new baby in a few hours.

We saw my mum's masseuse friend trying to catch a cab and offered to send her to her destination. I came up with the idea to just hang out at my cousin's workplace at this shopping centre and come back together since he's coming by anyway.

Who would have expected the roads to be so jammed up?

The carpark was so darn full that we end up parking near where we entered (yes, we went one BIG round). By the time we met my cousin, bought my brother's boxers, pack some snacks it's almost 5pm.

ANYWAY...

When we get to the carpark, I bugged my cousin to tell me of any supernatural encounters in that building (he do work night shifts). We came by outside this staircase and he pointed to it. "There's this 'thing' that like to sit at the bottom of the stairs."

I went in and pointed at that last step. "Here? What does it look like?"

"I'm not sure. Very dark. I think it's like some kinda' kid. It's not me who saw it anyway. But it's here almost everyday."

Walking to the car, he said, "This place feels warm, right? At night, it's HOT. And there's this unknown thing that runs around the empty carpark at night."

"Oh you saw that on camera? What does it look like?"

"I dunno. Just some blurry thing moving around pretty fast. All over the place."

My bro on the car engine and I munched my snacks in the backseat as the both of them smoked behind the car, in front of this store room.

Since we're near the erp gantry, you can imagine the noise as cars enter and exit the busy basement carpark.

Then I was surprised to see both of them suddenly standing beside the car and I overheard my cousin saying, " ... did she hear?"

I jumped out of the car and asked, "What? Hear what? That evo that just passed? Of course I heard that!"

He pointed to the storeroom wall behind us and said, "Just now we clearly heard 2 long, deep scratches coming from INSIDE that room. Man, look at my goosebumps!" he replied as he stretched out both his arms.

Like plucked chicken skin liddat. I pulled my bro's arms as he walked back to the car and I saw that same texture on his skin.

I went over to that very wall and said, "Here? You heard it here?"

I put my ears close and strained to hear something above all that vehicular noise. "Nothing le. What did it really sound like?"

"You know, long fingernails scratching the wall. Downwards. Twice."

Looked at my watch. 1646 hrs. Went back there and tried listening again. I began to pout and my cousin laughed, saying, "Hey maybe she's a bit shy with other ladies."

Hmmm... I remember what was said about these beings. 'They' feel inferior with other ladies because unlike us, they're considered imperfect/incomplete.

So I replied, "Yar, both you guys stood so close here, no wonder she like it. That's why she try to get your attention."

As my bro drove off, I looked back, almost hoping to see something materialising itself from inside the storeroom. Fat hope.

That night, my bro sheepishly admitted that while smoking near that storeroom, he had playfully rapped on the door. "Just for fun," he said.

"And soon after that, the scratching from inside that room occured?" I queried.

He nodded. Cheh!

PS: It can't be a cat in there. The scratching was done at human height.
And those wondering what is that I'm insinuating about; it's the possible presence of a... ghost. 'She' refers to this female being cladded in white, has long hair and nails.

rain rain come again

how's the weather been lately?

pretty miffed that I can't make it to his concert.. Not like I can afford the time (or moolah) anyway.

Been receiving guests like it's Hari Raya all over again. So much so that I seek respite at my uncle's home when I'm supposed to fetch my aunts from there. Cannot take it la. I guess it's good that my mum resigned from her job after all. Though it's kind of funny to acknowledge her as a "full-time housewife" now when she's been working all her life.

And yesterday the temperature's been risingthroughout the day... I remained in the car after sending my bro, with the a/c at full blast, listening to my K-pop. Even then, the sun streaming through the windscreen had been merciless.

Just discovered that my uncle's been watching his 2 dramas that were shown EVERYDAY on hubtv. He literally tried to summarise the storylines for me. Goodness!

That's it!

Pardon me while I continue watching his "It's Raining" concert dvd. The one where it's held in Korea. Yeah, where he stripped down topless, get wet, dress up then get wet and strip again.

I LoIKE! hahah

Hey, it's my bro who bought me that dvd, ok? It's comes with this big poster of him.

And my cousin just passed me dvd box-set of yet another Korean drama series. I'm sooo doomed. I'm slated for multiple OTs at work this week.

Oh, here's his latest MV. I dunno what I like more. His dance moves, his fashion sense or that hot hot car... Ouwh!


Rain ~ In My Bed ~ Rain's World

FYI, that hot hot car is an Aston Martin Vanquish S V12. Hot rite...?!

I hadn't been online for the past ONE week.

Boy, I sure felt lost.

I wasn't based in my office last week and I've been procrastinating the idea of checking what wrong with the internet connection at home.

My collegue and I had been stationed at some industrial building in Hillview, where I had to do site survey for over 60 units. While Sri sat in the office allocated to us, draughting in the layouts, I had to go in & out of those units with my boss's bro-in-law, measuring the layouts and checking the sprinklers etc.

Bless the fact that the buiding manager is pretty helpful. And that most of the occupants are pretty accomodating. Of course there are some of the really anal ones but I didn't allow to dampen my waning spirit.

I was told I looked pretty drained at the end of the 1st day. My boss remarked to his wife yesterday that I had sported the same drained look since Monday. Yeah yeah.. Try doing this and THAT time of the month, I sure can't help looking pale can't I?

And I drove there for the past 3 days. I got my 1st hand experience of going thru the harrowing peak-hour traffic to and from work. I discovered that between leaving home early and going thru the congestion & leaving late and experiencing smoother traffic; both allow me to reach the Hillview at the same time. I'd rather go for the latter. Wouldn't you?

And after being let off at 6pm yesterday, I spontaneously decide to bring Sri to West Coast Park to pass the time in order to avoid congestion. There we kicked about the massive playground before chilling at MacD.

I sure miss my office....

hola! i'm back

...literally.

Many things happen the past fortnight. I reeled so far back and I'm making my way back on track.

A major change in my life sees my grandma moving in with my family for good. Not that I'm complaining but I remember the anxiety a week back. I've never liked changes and I don't know what to expect from this one. At one point, I even contemplate seeking for a bigger flat. We don't have that much space here for the (now) 5 of us.

But my block may be going thru' en-bloc in a few years time and I've been told that it'll be such a waste to move out now. My bro had mumbled about renting a room somewhere and somehow, that kinda' affect me. I mean at one point, we've been trying to figure out where to relocate his games console. Right when he was so into his games. Imagine his frustration.

And my grandma, well, given her state, she can't do much, whether she like it or not. But she doesn't relent when it comes getting her food cravings. One moment, she asked for goreng pisang (banana fritters), then it's satay, young coconut, putu piring. One point she requested for sambal goreng and my dad got his elder sis to cook for us and had it sent all the way from Jurong. One time, she asked for mee goreng and my bro and I rushed to get her just that. And she ate only a tiny portion of those.

And just now, she remarked that she can smell durians from the bazaar in front of my block.. *hint hint*.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not griping here. My experience with my late great-grandma had been much worse. This is nothing much, I guess. Both ladies had been fiercely independent and it sure ain't easy for them to live with our family. I believe tolerance will eventually lead to acceptance. Then it's harmony.

I can only hope for the best.

bad, bad timing

bad, bad timing

Almost 7pm. Still in office. I dun feel like going home yet but my parents wanna eat out and my bro is nowhere in sight. I really wish my dad hadn't revoked his license. geez!

It's almost that time of the month again and I think it's hitting me pretty bad, psychologically. I try to keep track of the vitamins, evening primrose and fish oil supplements but I had that Monday-migraine again yesterday.

And tasks for this upcoming big project at work are coming in fast & furious. And loose ends from previous projects need to be tied. And my cousin just passed me a new set of Korean drama dvds which I can't resist watching (clocked 2 eps. this morning and slept at 3++am).

My 3-day leave application for next week had been rejected. But let's not talk bout' that.

Okayyyy.... this is sooo out-of-topic. But heck it. I forgot what I wanna talk about already.

Blood Diamond

Blood Diamond



Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio .... Danny Archer
Djimon Hounsou .... Solomon Vandy
Jennifer Connelly .... Maddy Bowen
Kagiso Kuypers .... Dia Vandy

Excerpt from IMDB user 'dnlcmch' comments:
The year is 1999 and war has wrecked loose in Sierra Leone. Rebellions have consumed the country and its citizens. Families have been separated, mothers and daughters go to ill-fated camps, fathers are held as working prisoners, and sons are taken to be brain-washed and induced with the most disturbing of lifestyles that includes drugs, rage, violence, and terror. All of these sinister actions are to support a civil war. What funds the civil war? Diamonds. Priceless rocks from Africa's lush soil...

Soloman Vandy (Djiman Hounsou) is among the men held prisoner by the rebellion, forced to find diamonds in the rivers of Sierra Leone. Once Soloman comes into the possession of a priceless (pink) diamond, he immediately takes it as a ticket back to his family, witfully escaping the clutches of the rebellion. Making his way back to central civilization, Soloman meets Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), a South African ex-soldier, a former mercenary, and a current smuggler who finds opportunity in Soloman, grants him his guidance, and together they seek the priceless diamond that Soloman hid and the son that has been left in the mists of the most sinister evil. Also matching wits is Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Conelly), an American journalist who wants to do more than just write an article that will have someone shed a tear. She wants to make a difference in Africa and for its society, yet, with the impossibility clear in her conscience. As Danny and Maddy build a loosely steady relationship, they find themselves helping each other see their true purpose in Africa, with the help of Soloman and his powerful devotion to his family's love, proving that morality can be found in an abyss of greed and corruption."

I don't know why I have to watch such a depressing movie at the end of my work week. However, while leaving the cinema, I realise how much the movie had opened my eyes; to the plight of the men, women & children alike- in Sierra Leone.

It's just like another war movie; this time I don't see soldiers fighting one another. I see a man hurting another man. I see kids become merciless soldiers, having been brain-washed by the ruthless rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). I see women and children alike, being massacred.

And for what? Some of them have never even seen a diamond before!

But the violence and sombriety doesn't go all out in our faces. The movie had scenes showing breathtaking views of the African countryside, scenes that remind me of Lord of The Rings.

The movie is also peppered with some light humour, mouthed by the various characters despite the turbulent goings-on in the background.
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Yet another movie with Leo at his acting best. Years back, I would have been embarassed to say this but now, I declare that he's up there amongst my list of favourite actors. I really, really hope he gets that darn Best Actor award, be it for The Departed or Blood Diamonds.

Jennifer Connelly, she took the pain to actually prepare for her role as a journalist. She said she tried to observe details, such as the types of notebooks journalists have, the things that they pack into their bags and even what kind of shoes they wear to war zones.

And Djimon Honsou's facial expressions.... So real.
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During a press conference for the movie, Jennifer Connelly was spotted wearing a pair of diamond earrings.But 36-year-old Academy Award winner politely assured reporters that her diamonds were politically correct.

'I'm wearing diamond earrings right now and they're from Bulgari. I have done research into retailers that can certify their diamonds are conflict-free,' she told reporters.
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After this movie, I can never look at diamonds the same way again.