my quaint world

What was in 2006?

.I travelled quite much this year, mostly for work. Switzerland. Bangladesh. Bali. Phuket. Sri Lanka. Amsterdam. London. Monaco. Nice. Cannes. Rome. Portugal. Madrid. Cologne.

.First ski experience on real (black) slopes. Fell. Twisted knees. Bah!

.Arrival of my god-daughter. Kaitlyn.

.I packed up and left Singapore. To Brussels. Vilvoorde.

.I got a new job. Sales.

.I miss you so. Pei Sze. H3lly.

.I ate horse meat uurrgghh... :S

.My new house is completed.

Err, I guess, not much was done yet a lot was done. Basically, looking back, the past 9 months has been a breeze.

** Wanted to write more but I couldnt find the time... so here I post a half-done review.

Just pondering about 2006. What did I do this year? These days, I feel, the years are getting by quicker and quicker. Mmmh... Can we stop the time?

I still remember the days of my childhood, it seems to take ages to grow up, to be independent, to be free of curfew, doing as I like, going out etc... it just seems like a drag. Weeks passing by so slowly. I am forever looking forward to the weekends, lookin to my 16, 18, 21...

But now, I wish the time could slow down. I wish I can still be as carefree as before. Just about eating, going out, studying, exams, parties, chatting all night long. Though now I try my best to live life freely but its a fact and always naggin behind my mind, I need to be serious, stay healthy, work, bills to pay. Sigh.

Oh yea, I was just talking to some colleagues yesterday about few other people who took retirement. And in Belgium, when one retires, he/she continues to receive 80% of his salary from the Government till the day he/she dies. This is a good pension scheme for when we are at our 50s, very probable that the houses are paid for, kids are grown and the money is timely for life enjoyment, doing whatever we want then. Dining, travelling, volunteering etc. Then I thought to myself, when will be my turn... 25 years perhaps. Mmm, doesn't seems so long he. Life is short! I am half way thru... yikes :)

Anyway, last night we decided to be carefree - went to a friend's house, another friend joined, got good news that he is gonna be a papa, popped champagne to celebrate, ate anchovies, meatball, satay (european style), chips chips chips, played card games, 1 bottle Dominican Rum, 1 bottle Russian Vodka, 1 bottle Gin. 3 very drunk men. Till 4am! Phew, I thought I never can do this anymore.

Lucky, I woke up this morning, refreshed, no hangover and ready to take the world again ;) It was fun, fun, fun!!!

Yippee, got a pair of tickets from eBay last evening (best buy again!), so packed our bags this morning and we'll be counting down to the new year with my sister and some friends in London.

Happy New Year!!! I sincerely hope for all our 2007 to be filled with all the love, health, happiness that life has to offer. Kisses!

Cologne is situated on the river Rhein in North Rhine-Westphalia and is the fourth largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich with around 1,000,000 inhabitants. It is one of the oldest cities in Germany, having been founded by the Romans in A.D. 50. Today, it is one of the nation's media, tourism and business hotspots and is renowned as the country's gay capital.

So we went there during the long Christmas weekend. It was a smooth 2 hours drive away from Brussels in our new bus - Ford S-Max :)



The city's world famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)


Another church around the corner.


In fact, I was intrigued by Cologne as I've heard in the past weeks that there in Cologne are the best and largest Christmas Markets. Also, as I was reading it up, then I realised that it is really where the 4711 cologne (after-shave) originated from. 4711 is my dad's ever favourite. It is an ever familiar smell.

The 4711 house is located in central Cologne on a street called Glockengasse. Eau De Cologne originated here, and eventually became the home of the famous perfume called 4711! The brand got its name from the house, Napoleon ordered his soldiers to count the houses and this was number 4711.

In fact, I read further and the story runs longer around the original owner who sold of the company but not his name, so the next owner rebranded it with the number of the house. Bla, bla, bla. I will not bore you here. If you are interested, just google it. (I AM becoming a google freak here)

Ok, and a faraway view of ONE of the VERY famous Christmas Markets. There are just 3 of my yummy favourite things found there :
- Gluhwein (hot wine)
- Curry Wurst (German Sausage)
- To-Die-For Mushroom Stew (Fresh button mushrooms cook in wine/ cognac/ porto - still googling for the recipe)


Lastly, it is also a fantastic shopping place. Lucky us, the day of our arrival was the start of the winter sale. I got a wool pullover from Massimo Dutti for 30 bucks. Muahaha, I always love best buys :)

Last week, we went to a concept restaurant for our teambuilding event. I thought it was such a refreshing idea, interesting and fun!

In addition to that, we had a cute young Thai chef and free-flow of wine. And of course, I would never say no to Asian cuisine.


Then we all got started, each picking up some task to do. I self appointed myself as the photographer of the day :)


You see, everyone was taking their task of cutting seriously.


Well, someone had to do the 'yucky' jobs.


When the cooking was almost done, they seated us and served us as if we were in a restaurant. The food was sooo delicious that I forgot to take any pictures of them.

You can check out the restaurant - Mmmmh!

For the first time since I arrived here, I tried to TT monies to my ma in Malaysia. Some urgent monies needed for the renovation of our new house.

So I did a quick research and thought I was just so lucky that my bank, KBC has just launched their tailored services for expats. They offer international transfer service. They claimed to be the best bank in Belgium.

Yea, but it was a shortlived joy.

2 weeks after I made the transfer, with every morning of calling to my ma, to my bank, to her bank... I received a lum sum of amount back to my account. I was shocked and then to realise that it was the money that I tried to send to my ma, but just a 100 euro lesser. Damnit!

Called my dear KBC. They told me they did all rights only, and the bank in Malaysia rejected the transfer pretending that my ma's account is nonexistence. And they charged a bloody almost RM300 for finding this out.

Well, well I was pissed for I think I have read and reread and recheck my bank slip and my ma's name and account number is absolutely correct.

Now what? And my bank say there is nothing they can do. Huh?

I was pissed. I felt deserted. Suddenly, I felt I understand why there are people who keeps their monies in an iron box beneath their beds. I lost trust in my bank. They do not protect my monies. They do not deliver a service promised.

A transfer service in my opinion is a service to ensure delivery till the end. It is not enough just to ensure what you did is correct but also to ensure that your partner is delivering the service on behalf correctly also. And that is the promise of a service to a customer.

Well, well :( So bloody dissapointed. 2 weeks of stresses. And what it cost is a bloody 100 euro.

And now, what I am doing? I take contact to the foreign bank myself to verify, to track the transaction.

And next? To close my dealings with my bank and to start afresh and anew with another.

That's the way it goes in life he. Another chapter.

This weekend, we have been cooking. I've been a really good cooking instructor. If you want the recipe, just ask ;)

Saturday's Menu
White Rice
Beef and Bellpepper in Black Bean Sauce
Stir-fry French Bean and Carrot Strips in Oyster Sauce

Sunday's Menu
Garlic Fried Rice
Ayam Temperah
Stir-fry Cucumber in Garlic
A-B-C Soup

Monday's Menu
Chicken & Mushroom Bee Hoon Soup (from yesterday's left over soup)


Yummy!

The entire city is lit up with Christmas decors which emits a grand festive ambience. I took a lone walk last Friday evening, just before the night fall, down to the Grand Place. They've put up a gigantic bluish Christmas tree in the middle of the square.


And the Christmas market, stalls lining up a long way, with lovely twinkling little lights and heaps of tourist strolling along.


And I accidentally made an art piece - compact camera with shaky cold hands. Sometimes it does wonders.

Funny enough, every end of the year, I have this nostalgic feelings haunting me. Reminding of my passion and enthusiasm of what I write and vow to fulfill on every first day of the year.

Yes, the feelings haunt me because at the near of every new year, I was reminded that this is the year, yet again, swept past my feet, dreams forgotten, for I was in the entire year running after time.

Tonight I had a lovely dinner. Met Tania, was a ballet dancer, a dreamer and a lovely energy pot. Though she reminded me hard of my own dreams which I have yet to have the opportunity (or courage?) to fulfil.

For I am stuck in this race of time for money. Customers. Services. Invoices. Payments. Money. Business.

Is this what and how I want to live my life? Its only one lifetime we all have. I am aware of the principles of life, death and rebirth. Reincarnation. But only this lifetime, is the lifetime we are fully concious of.

And yes, thats important to be aware. To know. To think about. For every minute that pass by, is the one chance, single moment that we experience in this lifetime. For never another minute will be the same.

For I know, never another moment my ass will be that smooth baby ass that it once was. Or rather, it will not be in this conciousness that I will ever know.

Anyway, time to dream.

I love the world. I want to be a part of the big part. I want to teach the world to sing. But how?

Mmm... ** fingers tapping to a rythm that makes the mind drift away