In which I talk about work and my desire to have a house cleaner

I bet you've all been wondering what I'm doing for work these days!

For two years, 2009 and 2010, I was busy studying for my Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship). In fact, my studies were what led me to start this blog. If you're feeling all nostalgic, you can click here and read my very first post!

All the while, I was working from home, tutoring high school students in Mathematics and teaching Flute and Music Craft (music theory).

Once I finished my Masters, I started looking for work in a library. So what's been happening?

I recently starting working casually as an Information Services Officer at a University Library near me. Yay!

This is actually the real library in which I work!

The job involves sitting at the Information Desk and waiting for patrons to come and ask questions. It's pretty much my dream job, apart from the fact that I'm only getting one shift per month at the moment and have to wait for someone to go on sick leave/maternity leave/long service leave to get more work. Should that happen, there would certainly be more involved than just manning the Information Desk, but it would all revolve around helping to connect Library users with the information that they need.

I also have a job interview on Monday for a year's full time (maternity leave) work as a librarian in a smaller academic library. So things are progressing on the career front.

What would be lovely would be for me to become securely installed in a permanent position so that I could stop looking. That would be a relief. I'd also love to give up the maths tutoring/music teaching. It's not that I don't love my students. It's not that I don't enjoy teaching them. It's just that my work hours are between 4pm and 8:30pm on weekdays and I just don't enjoy working at that time. Firstly, I find it hard, after being at home alone all day, to get myself motivated and excited to start work when it feels like everyone else is almost finishing.

Secondly, I'd like to be able to have dinner with the family and then enjoy the evening. As it is, our family is awfully busy after school. The kids have activities and of course homework to complete. I'd like to just come home from work and wrangle with kids activities and homework like a "normal" mum, rather than having students trooping in and out of the house and having to leave Chris to deal with the family.

I also have a confession to make. If I got full time work, I'd feel entitled to pay someone to clean my house!

I don't think I'd need a whole team!

Wouldn't that be just bliss! I'm not very good at housework and I don't take pride in it, but I would looooove to have a really clean house. I think it would be divine!

So what do you do for work? Are you in your dream job? And do you have a house cleaner?!?



Midwinter Malaise

Do you find that the weather has a big effect on your mood?

At my place it's winter, and I mean WINTER. It has been cold and miserable and it has rained A LOT. It hasn't been the cold that has bothered me particularly. I can appreciate a beautiful winter's day as much as the next person. But it has been so dark and wet! I need sunshine to feel my best.

So I'm going to blame my blogging slump on midwinter malaise.

Winter at my place hasn't looked pretty. There have been no postcard pictures.

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN NOWHERE NEAR MY HOUSE

Winter at my place has looked grey and dreary.

This is the view from my front door. Notice the water pooling on the lawn.

All the rain has made it impossible to dry the laundry. I don't like to put clothes in the dryer if they are marked do not tumble dry. This means that I have wet washing EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME.

I do have drying racks, but in this weather the clothes take a LONG time to dry on them, even inside. I don't use heating in the house during the day, so not only do I sit around wearing cardigans, jackets and sometimes even scarves (!) inside the house, but my washing just hangs there, limp and damp, for days on end.

No wonder I've been escaping to the shops for central heating and to cheer myself up by spending money!

Also (while I'm having a whinge I might as well get it all out!) the cold, wet weather has been making me so hungry! I can't tell you how many cups of tea I drink during the day to keep me going, and I've been craving hearty, warming foods. A bit of sunshine would go a long way towards lifting my mood!

How's the weather at your place?



What I'm...

...wearing

Skinny jeans!

...reading

a brief history of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper.

...watching

Downton Abbey.

Pictures come to life with HTC Incredible S!

Pictures come to life with HTC incredible S, with it's 8 megapixel camera, it can seriously capture every essence of the object taken, and make it come to life! It's as good as previewing my blog and pictures on a HD screen!
Disclaimer: Please put on your thick foundation or BB cream before using.
Was at Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie @ Raffles City to experience the wonders of HTC incredible S camera!

Now, look at this cup of coffee here. I'm impress with how the camera actually captures the foams on the surface. In fact, HTC incredible S is able to capture the surface gradient of the cup of coffee, doesn't it look as if it's just right infront of you now?
Cappuccino
Price : $5.00

Making full use of the functions of the camera, I'm allow to crop the picture by just the pinch of my fingers with ease!

Are you able to see EACH and SINGLE foam on the surface now? Hmm... I wonder how does this go on my face. =X

Well, apart from the cropping function, HTC incredible S, like many other phone cameras, also allow the user to enhance the photo with different effects. But often, due to the limited effects in other phones, users often have to download other applications. I actually had to download other applications in my previous phone. However, HTC incredible S has a total of 11 effects to choose from! All within the camera functions!

Doesn't this set of pictures create a sense of retro "feel" ?

Though with the enhance effects, the essence of the pictures still remain. Look at the big foam on the top right hand of the coffee, in the 3 pictures. Still as clear!

If you like to add alittle border to your picture, try "Basic Frame" function. If not, probably "Bleak" adds on a little vintage feel to your pictures too.

Well, if you dislike the effects, you can stick to the original too.

And apart from coffee, also tried out the restaurant carbonara. Spaghettini served with an onion and bacon cream sauce, poached egg and sprinkled with aged Parmesan cheese.
Price: $13.50
The cream is just nice, not too creamy. Together with the bacon, it added flavors to the dish and it was just right.

Bolognaise & poached egg with Parmesan cheese.
Price $16.00
Are you drooling already? The egg was superb!

Macaroons
Coffee (Brown) and Pistachio (Green)
Each at $2.50
Personally, I prefer the coffee one. But, I'm not a fan of macaroon, so probably I will give this a miss next time round.

Triple Chocolate Cheese Cake
Walnut chocolate fudge cake, chocolate chip cheese cake and dark chocolate chantily
Price : $8.00 per slice
The cheese and chocolate just melts in your mouth...and was WOAH!

And finally, with Shoel here. We didn't forget to try out the twilight effect of the HTC incredible S camera function too. =) Thankfully, our complexion is still on the acceptable range. =X
If it get worst maybe I will consider SBA Adonis Best Beauty Blog next year. Probably I will be end up being the thorns among the roses ! =x

More entries on HTC Incredible S coming up next week!
Have you voted me in the HTC mobile category already?
Vote now to win attractive prizes! Voting ends 3rd July 2011!
For those who have voted, thank you so much!!!

This entry is powered by HTC Singapore and Omy.sg

A long lost mentor... Dr. Tan Wee Kiat

Back in the 1990s, when I was still in my primary school days, my mum was a hawker selling minced meat noodles at the old NIE campus which was located at Bukit Timah. During school holidays, Mum would usually bring me along so she could take care of me, and at the same time managing her stall. I still remembered I killed my time by catching spiders, big ants, and even playing card games with the NIE Teacher-to-be undergrads. One or two of them coincidentally became my primary school teacher before I left my Westlake Primary.

Thankfully, I met Dr. Tan during one of those days. I'm lucky to have met him, as he had brought me around to places like Botanic Gardens, Science Center, his offices and even to his house. Along the way, I pick up some knowledge which was never taught in class... such as pitcher plants, and in fact, some of these plants can grow as big as the size of a human palm.

Today, Dr. Tan is already 72 years old, still engaging in sports such as swimming. We met up today, after so many years. I think I last saw him was in 1998. He passed me two of his books on Singapore stamps. When I was young, Dr. Tan used to bring me to Singapore Philatelic Museum to look at the exhibition on Singapore Stamps. I had also later pick up the hobby of collecting stamps. But unfortunately, one year ago, the recycle organization accidentally took a bag left outside my house, and my few albums of stamps was gone. Well, stamps, in general, depicts a country's timeline. In fact, there's a story behind every stamps created. It can be a significant country event, an organization's anniversary, and even a famous person who had contributed to the country. These two books in the picture taken above, was written by Dr. Tan, and depicts the history and milestones behind some Singapore stamps. Written in a easy to read manner, suitable for all ages.

It was this book that bring 2 of us back together again. One day, during my NTU exams, I was packing my stuff, and found this book which was given by Dr. Tan when I was younger...

So I started searching Dr. Tan and this book online, and thanks to the power of the internet, not only did it bring the world closer, but it had also helped to reconnect relationships.

Dr. Tan, thanks for teaching me so much when I was younger. Without you, it wouldn't have spurred my interest in science. (I actually took up triple science class in secondary school). Keep in contact, and stay healthy!

This Weekend : Formula Drift Spore 2011 returns to F1 building!

This weekend, catch Formula Drift 2011 as the excitement returns to F1 building!

With a record number of 50 drivers hailing from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand. They will be going neck-to-neck for the championship title, promising audiences a thrilling demonstration of motoring talent and prowess. The audience will also get a chance to be closer to the action than in any other type of motorsport.

Formula Drift Asia Promo Video.

Track Layout for Formula Drift 2011 - Click for bigger view

Event Programme : (Subject to Change)

Saturday, 11 June: Event Day

9.00am Practice Session for Drivers
10.00am Gates Open to Public
2.00pm Autograph and Sponsors Sessions at Driver's Pit
3.15pm Formula Drift Qualifying – All Drivers
5.15pm Formula Drift All drivers meeting and qualifying results
6.20pm Clear grid, pit garage, and F1 pit building


Sunday, 12 June: Event Day

9.00am Open practise: Top 32
10.00am Gates open to the pubic
11.30am Main competition – Round of 32
1.00pm Autograph & Sponsors sessions at drivers pit
2.30pm Introduction of Top 16 drifters and National Anthem
3.00pm Round of 16 to Champion
5.45pm Trophy Ceremony and closing
6.10pm Gates are closed

Will be there this Sunday to cover the event! See you guys there!

*Powered by ESPN Sports and Marina Bay Singapore.

HTC Sensation Launch Party

Was invited by omy.sg and HTC Singapore to the Sensation Launch party last Wednesday, 8th June 2011.

Together with some HTC mobile finalist bloggers, Calvin, Crystal, Melissa and myself striking a pose at the red carpet. Lights, camera, action! (Credits: Crystal and Livestudio)



Many were seen crowding around the HTC sensation promo board... expects faster performance with dual core processor, and on top of that, it's gonna be a multimedia powerhouse, just within the palm of your hand! Gadgets nowadays are getting smaller...smaller...and smaller.

Catch the HTC sensation phone here!

Snap here, snap there. HTC phone spotted! For many guys, including myself, bringing digi cams to party can be a chore for us, especially when our hands are already carrying wallets and phones. Thus, a good camera phone will come in handy.


HTC supporters rocking the house!


Refreshments and food was on the house too!


Seen here with Calvin...


There's a big screen which shows our Fb msges on HTC Facebook page! Visit the HTC FB page for more event updates and pictures!


The bloggers were busy entertaining themselves too... Melissa here having her tattoo. Sorry harh 女人，　took your unglam pic. Kept eating...eating... and eating... lol. =X Don't worry guys, there's no feud between 2 of us. Haha!


Got my own HTC tattoo too. Credits to Melissa for taking this pic!


Bloggers are always busy during event invites... because we always want to capture the essence of the event to our readers! Look at Calvin and Melissa, one hand busy with HTC phone, the other with their own cameras. Behind the scene, we were constantly updating our twitter, facebook, foursquare... lol. That's the life of bloggers! Wanna join us?!


Lucky draw session... well, better luck next time !


Tattoo done! Pictures Credit: Calvin


Have you voted today? Please continue to support us at Singapore Blog Awards HTC Best Mobile Blog ! (You can also click on the badge on the right hand side bar) Voting ends 3rd July, attractive prizes to be won! Visit Singapore Blog Awards 2011 to view all the 160 best blogs from Singapore!

*Photos taken by HTC Incredible S unless otherwise mentioned. Powered by HTC Singapore and Omy.sg