The BEST B'day present...from Allah!

     Sis as usual after confirming a time, will change (not her fault, I know..but still..).  Anyways, from initially 5pm, the plan was changed to 6pm.  I know they'll arrive late as usual, so I decided 2 leave house @ 5.30pm.  I had a bad migraine since I woke up.  2hrs b4 leaving, I popped a panadol & sleep, hoping 2 sleep the migraine off, but.. Oh well, I was hoping I cld make bro drive instead, unfortunately we (kids) hav dis hereditary IQ disease of being able 2 come up wif brilliant impromptu excuses 2 evade driving "Da..I dunno the place..I didn't bring my glasses.." *wink*  So I drove nevertheless, a slow drive. 

     Unfortunately, the traffic lights decided 2 play catching wif me.  So I had 2 stop at every traffic light along the journey!  But it's ok, it's cool.  By 5.55pm, I was juz abt 2 hit the ECP only!  The moment I was on the ECP, I drove like a maniac (till mom had 2 warn me "it's ok, dun rush"..but when I glanced @ the speedometer, I was juz @ 90km/h!!).  My sms beeped, I think sis & bro-in-law muz've reached 1st, coz I tol her whoever reaches 1st, giv a tinkle.  As luck wld hav it, the moment I exit Rochor Rd & proceeded 2wards a jammed stretch of road towards Beach Rd, the moment I managed 2 painstakingly take the extreme left lane (2 make a left as we go downhill), car in front of me went 2 the 2nd lane (where I was), and tadaaa - There was a Merc wif hazard lights on, wif a lady driver inside on her mobile!  Now we noe y the jam, y all those who selfishly didn't wanna giv way 4 ppl 2 get 2 the left lane but the moment dey were further in front, dey changed back 2 the lane dey came from!  And der I was, stuck downhill, wif no space 2 go left or rite as there were vehicles close behind me!  I tol mom 2 call sis 2 forewarn dem dat we'll be late (guess wat, dey also hadn't reached yet!! Dat was almost 6.08pm!!).  So I patiently hand signalled dem to move to the right.  1 by 1 dey did.  Then 1 bus was smart enuf not 2 move 2 near me, so I got the space 2 reverse (fooohhh!!! I dun recall learning - theory nor practical - how to reverse on a downhill slope, so dat was challenging!!).  Once I've space 2 filter 2 my right, the nxt hurdle is 2 get at least 1 courteous driver on the nxt lane on my right 2 giv way 2 me so I can filter!!!!  I thank d bus driver for blocking the nxt lane by inching 4ward as tho he wanna filter, but didn't, only so I cld move 1st since no 1 was giving me way!  My colleague Roshni was so right -> DRIVING IN S'PORE IS SO STRESSFUL!  I cleared dat hurdle, awrite.  Proceeded 2 turn left, den as I enter the stupidly-steeply-slopy carpark, a long stretch of cars was awaiting.  And den, as the car in front of me (I was oso such a duh, coz I was 2 close 2 it!) started rolling back (poor clutch balancing)..my mom @ the back seat was freaking!!  Since d car didn't seem 2 stop rolling (tho it was a slow speed. every inch & every second was crucial!) I had 2 honk so dat he'd realise he was rolling b/wards!  I tol mom "it's ok Ma, it happens, sometimes I may be in such situations too..the car muz be manual & he/she muz be as bad wif clutch-balancing as I am, so it's really awrite."  We went all the way 2 Level 7 to park!!! 

     We proceeded 2 Sofra Turkish Cafe & Rest & got seated [reservations made :>)] while waiting 4 sis & bro-in-law.  Dey came abt 15mins after us.   By den, we oredi decided on our orders.  We all came up wif a strategy of taking different food, so we can test-taste as many food on the menu as possible.  I repeated my Chicken&Cheese Pide, bro had Lamb Oven Kofte (which was yummy, will hav dat the nxt time I go!).  Mom, sis & bro-in-law had Chicken Doner Rice & Lamb Doner Rice respectively.  Desserts, I had Rice Pudding, bro had Asure (mixed fruits) & sis & bro-in-law had Dessert Plate (combination of 3 desserts - Pumpkin, Balaklava & Dried Fig).  Oh yeah, how can I 4get, we snapped some pics too (Dad played us out, so mom snapped a pic wif Mr Dino instead!)  Der u go..my complete family!  Heehee.  We tot of catching a movie, but all the timings were after 9pm..it was only 8pm, duh..so we called it a day & headed 4 home instead!! 

     Another hurdle on the road, my car was stuck like earlier coz der car in front of me stopped @ the right turning box & the driver was seen arguing wif the police & army on duty.  We were wondering if the U-Turn is blocked der 4 some reason, or was it an accident.  After 10mins, I checked wif the army on duty if the commotion in front of me was an accident or an argument over not being able to U-Turn.  The army confirmed can't U-Turn, so dat meant I cant U-Turn 2 Middle Rd, (road closure due 2 National Day rehearsal ?) so I cant go by my normal route (ECP), so I had 2 take a left & go via Guilemard Rg.  Agn, no complaints, stupid as I am, I juz turned left, & we try 2 find an alternative route via Guilemard Rd.  Nerve-wrecking, coz I'm bad wif direction & I'm night-blind, but we didn't get lost & found PIE (Changi Airport).  Reached home safe & sound arnd 9pm, only 2 hav Mom point out dat 2day was the 1st day in my life, I didn't lose my cool on the road!!!  I was patient & positive wif all the hurdles.  I nvr got angry wif any drivers & I was so accomodating.  Hmmm...I wonder if the car-signs really worked 2 calm me down knowing dat if any1 honks, my new car-signs "I'm Always Right!" & "Honk your brains out..It wont take too long!" wld giv the honkers my exact sentiments, so I dun even need 2 react!!

    I began pondering abt mom's observation..&..I realised I turned 29 for a reason.  The best b'day gift I got was from Allah - patience.  Btr late than nvr..I gained patience at age 29!?  Yes, I noticed, I'm calmer, more patient & no longer brash w.e.f 25 Jun 2005!  Finally!  Insyallah, I hope dis patience remain wif me til eternity.  THANK YOU ALLAH..4 a gift I nvr imagined! 

    THANK U ALL..4 the wishes, gifts, prayers & thoughts!

Happy B'day Sharu!

     After so many yrs, my b'day is happy. Well as at the time I post this blog at least.

     Whatever happened 2 humility, dun ask me..but I now dictate d gifts I wan!  1st I did it wif family since last yr.  A yr later, I do it wif frens oso!  Tsk tsk tsk..watta do, I'm growing old, so every1's running out of ideas watta get 4 me!  I'm simple, d thought is all dat matters, it's ok if no gift!  Really.  But oh wel, if u stil wanna get me a gift, let's be practical, I'll giv u a wish list, u get me if u can, otherwise, no worries.

     Family got me my Nokia 7250i last yr.  Dis yr, I got a Creative PC-CAM 930slim. It's nice, na?! So anyways, I got a 128MB MiniSD card outta my best fren, Wirza (remember, we went 2 the PC-Show @ Expo on 3rd Jun?).  Tho I asked Roshni 2 get me a mini tripod, I juz cldn't wait so long, so I bought it myself couple of wks back @ Mustaffa since it's cheap ($7)!  Dat leaves her idea-less of wat 2 get me.  So I tol her I've always loved these whacky car-signs which I always oggle at when I do my monthly IT survey @ Plaza S'pura.  So dat's it - she made plans 4 us 2 go out on 24 Jun (ie. yest) so she can gift me dat!  Style!

     I had 2 be so "suay" yest..whole wk I've been leaving office late, not spared even on dat day! *sigh* I feel so bad, we were supposed 2 leave office @ 6.10pm, but I juz got delayed & delayed til 7.40pm!!  And Rosh juz waited & waited 4 me.  Realy, if it wasn't 4 my b'day, we'd hav called it off! 

     So we reached Plaza S'pura abt 8.30pm.  We wanted 2 watch "Mr & Mrs Smith" @ 9.45pm after we got the gifts, but GV only had single seatings! No way.  Even "Batman Begins". :( So der goes our movie plan.  So we juz shopped 4 my gift, den we bunked ourselves @ Pizza Hut 4 dinner (on her!).  So now I'm a proud owner of 2 funky car-signs!!  After we pose 4 some snaps, we decided 2 juz chill out & talk, so I drove 2 East Coast & we strolled.  The East Coast rendezvous was fun, although I was such a nerd & a nervous wreck "It's so dark, I can't see a thing, wat if der's broken glassed on the sand, wat if der's a syringe & I step on it, wat if dis, wat if dat..".  Gosh, she juz cldn't handle me!  After a while, the "wat if.." bcame more of a joke 2 irritate her!  We got some wonderful snaps der too..&..inside my car.  Bottomline was: It was such a Happy B'day!  It was almost 12am so we walked back 2 my car.  As we walked I tol Roshni usually 25th Jun I'd be home & the moment the clock strikes midnight, all the sms-es will come 1 after another!  The moment the clock striked midnight, she screamed "Aaaahhh!" & I went "Wat?!!!" And she went "Happyyyy B'daeee!".  Gosh!  Dat screaming habit of hers has 2 go or I'll die of heart-attack 1 day!!!!  Anyways, after she sang me Happy B'dae & I blew an imaginary candle, my sms beeped.  We were so eager 2c who it was gonna b from..& ooh la laa..a brand new darling -> Haslinah!  Tks, Lin!  Oh I 4got 2 mention wat it was: A MMS of a b'day cake wif a glowing candle..so pretty it was, I juz had 2 blow the candles - I noe I noe..it's virtual, but still!

     I reached home (after dropping Roshni off) almost 1am.  Roshni has been dying 2 make me be out of home past 11pm..so der u go!  But it was awrite, coz I've tol mom of the plan & tol her not 2 wait up.

     Today, I'll be buying my family dinner (thank dem 4d gift!) @ Sofra Turkish Cafe & Rest. (got 15% off voucher mah..hehehe).  So dat'll be later @ 6pm 2day.  Cheers 2 dat!  In another 12 hrs, 25th Jun wil be over, like in d past 28 yrs..& I'll b PRINCESS no more..(family culture: b'days, we bcome d Prince or Princess..will get 24hrs of love & attn!  So dis is usualy d time I'm up 2 mischief, coz mom wil nvr scold! Hehehe!)!

     That's all folks ... till nxt time ... Adios!

I'm down wif a spate of bad lucks!

Ok, I'm not supposed 2b here, but too many ppl hav expressed how much dey miss me! Dey miss the cheer-dust I sprinkle on dem. Dat aside, I also felt if I dun log on once in a while, I may juz 4get my password after 30 Sep 05.

I've been bz, genuinely. I did a timetable 2 work along wif 4 my 2 final graduation projects whose deadline freaked me 4 a while. I'm ahead of time for my Mass Comm project. So I've been spending my time reading the 7 books I loaned from the library for my project literature reviews. I've read 4 & 1/2 books..abt 2 complete the 5th book. Think in a day or 2, shld be able 2 finish all, & continue wif the report writing, etc.

I've been down wif a spate of bad lucks. Hope this clears soon, as I'm beginning 2 get very depressed & can turn evil any moment now. It's always like dat, when something bad has 2 happen, all will happen at 1 go! Bad luck needs time-management! Realy!

1st, my CD-ROM & DVD-ROM drives disappeared mysteriously from my PC. I checked wif Challenger's PC Clinic, dey suspected the drivers may hav come off, & I need 2 bring it down 4 dem 2 check. No time! I can't part from my PC til 30 Sep, CDs & DVDs are unimportant rite now..I'll juz survive wif my songs collection in my C:\ drive.

Then I changed the housing of my Nokia 7250i 2 dis blue dat I've always wanted! It's A-grade housing (supposedly close 2 original!) $10, I bargained & got it 4 $7. But I think dey're conmen. Dey sold defective/rejected items! The cover had some defect. So I went 2 change the following day. Had a hard time, but managed 2 get a non-defective 1, but it doesn't look gd, but I didn't wanna let go of my $7 juz like dat! Dey fixed it 4 me..I didn't like the way d keypad was, I wanted 2 re-do, but I had problems removing the housing!!!! Now I'm stuck wif dis blue housing whose keypad is giving me probs, I now dun even like 2 sms! Hope it'll break soon so I can take it off & change back 2 my own housing!

Yest, my new PC-CAM's shutter button magically detached itself from the body!!! I got a new phobia now! Anyways, I got it replaced wif a new set juz now but had 2 go all the way 2 Creative Resource @ Jurong East.

This morning, realising my spate of bad lucks, I tol myself, I btr back-up my projects on2 a CD..as I'm quite sure my hard disk wil crash on me anytime!! I mean, wat more can go wrong 4 a jinx like me? And guess wat? It dawned on me I can't even back-up my files on a CD as I dun even hav a CD-ROM drive now!!! Which means I'll hav 2 send my PC 2 the PC-clinic 2 fix the CD-ROM drive problem, or I need 2 borrow a thumbdrive from some1 so that I can transfer the files der & den get my bro 2 save it on2 a CD 4 me! *sigh* Now..is dat bad luck or is dat bad luck?

Homefront, Mom has been unwell..I think she's juz goin tru the menopausal phase in life, all symptoms point 2 dat. But she decided 2 consult a Doctor & now, after a blood test, she's been diagnosed wif Thalassemia (Minor) - a hereditary red-blood cells deficiency - which means mom lacks haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein) in her blood. I think I'm clear from it, since I've been doing blood tests every yr, otherwise, anything amiss, the lab wld hav notified my Doctors, no? So I've no worries. Except I've 2 avoid marrying a "carrier" or I may pass Thalassemia 2 my child.

Myself, I've been having troubles wif my left eye. I woke up 1 Sat & feel like der's some particle in my left eye, I tried so hard 2 get it out & flush it out, but nothing! Even eye-mo didn't work, can u believe it! Went Doctor, she didn't find any "foreign body" lodged, but an ulcer-like scratch on the inner upper lid. Gav me an eye-drop. After few days, it's still the same, plus the eye-drop gives a burning sensation. So on the 5th day, I went 2 my co. Doctor, who changed my eye-drop (she thinks I mayb sensitive 2 dat medication) & refered me 2S'pore National Eye Centre. Went 4 the appt this afternoon, & the Eye Doctor said I've an allergic reaction on both eyes! However, need 2 think wat I cld possibly b allergic 2? Everything has been d same, nothing new or different happened, so can't think of any rite now. On top of dat my right eye, according 2 him is "under-corrected". He had no comments wen he asked if I wear glasses & I answered : "Errmmm..hav, but I dun use it.." Shucks!!! So much 4 my honesty! Anyways, now I've 3 different types of eyedrops 2 live wif 4 the nxt 2 wks! Nxt appt, 1 Jul. I'll decide on 30 Jun whether 2 go or not 2 go.

I think Jon Abraham is really growing on me! *sigh* Lucky Bitch (I mean Bipasha Basu)! I watched 1 of his recent movies "Madhoshi" (tagline : An Illusion Beyond Imagination)..wif the lucky bitch..he really made an impact although he had only abt 1/2hr worth of scenes! I think he really can grow. I wish 2c him play Mr-Romantic-College- Boy now...Anyways, "Madhoshi" was abt a girl (Ms Bitch), Anu, an art student who succumbed 2 the charm of & falls in luv wif this successful ad-film maker, Arpit, in a family-arranged relationship. She gets engaged at Arpit's insistence (he's so head over heels abt her), as she's not ready 4 marriage yet. 1 day, on her college's field trip, Anu had an encounter wif a member of an anti-terrorist organisation, Aman, & subsequently started 2 get close wif him, while her fiance was out of town. She bcame so crazy abt Aman til she decided 2 foresake her fiance 4 him & rebeled against her parents, 2 a pt she attempted suicide. The turning pt of the movie was that Aman, didn't quite exist. He was only Anu's illusion. It is den revealed dat Anu is suffering from Schizophrenia! Wow, so unlike a typical hindi movie. On the whole, the movie was a gd 2 hr break from my routine 2 wks of nothing but project!

Ok, I hope dis surprise entry cheered dos who needed 2b cheered?! Til nxt time Insyallah..Adios!

Taking a SABBATICAL till 30 Sep 05

Uh'Oh...I'm a dead-meat!

I've been slapped with a sudden deadline of 30 Sep 05 to submit my graduation projects (with no choice for extension at all!)...

For the sake of being able 2 complete it on time, I've 2 take a sabbatical and live a secluded life w/o distractions.

For that, u might not c me online anymore & unless I take a break & haf anything 2 update, then I MIGHT not even update my blog.

While I wil miss entertaining u all...I hope u'll bear wif my absence 4 the sake of my education...feel free 2 leave anything on my friendster/blog...or email me...I'll still read it once in a while...except might not reply as promptly as I used 2.

Oh, if it's matter of life & death, sms me, I'll respond Insyallah (not that cruel yet la!)!

So til I'm back wif my nonsense in here...keep missing me!

Tata...

Aftermath..Rabba Ishq Na Hove

This was how my day went:

I left office late, thus reached expo late, reaching home late, which means I met Nikky late (6.40pm) @ Tampines MRT to head 4 Sentosa 2c the shoot of ZeeTV's upcoming serial "Rabba Ishq Na Hove" (translation: God Don't Let It Be Love).  We took the train to HarbourFront, which bring us 2 Sentosa in abt 1hr++ (including the shuttle bus & the Sentosa Blue Line bus that bring us to the SkyTower).

We were told 2 come anytime from 6-10pm.  So we made an entry @ 8pm++.  Nikky was super-duper hungry (she oso duh, nvr grab a bite while @ home!)  We met Vishali (ZeeTV, India) & Tripta (ZeeTV, Singapore) who made us feel comfortable with their warmth & friendliness.

We sat near the crew watching the filming.  It's really interesting 2c how they shoot..hantam bola only, but turns out nice on screen.  While the main cast Sangeeta Ghosh (looking bored & disinterested while waiting) & Nikkhil Arya (originally from Star Plus, this is his 1st serial on Zee TV) had 2 shoot, the rest of the few cast who's not shooting - incl. the producer/writer of the serial, actress Aroona Irani - was having fun touring Sentosa & coming back @ almost pack-up time raving abt the Musical Fountain!

I missed the opportunity of going up the Carlsberg Tower for free & seeing the definitely beautiful sight of the whole of S'pore as I didn't wanna be captured on camera.  It's amazing 2c how these actor/actress can juz be so intimate in 1 moment & the nxt moment when the shot was "ok-ed", juz walk away from each other as though they're strangers!!!  Wat an occupation..& I thot mine was bad!

We snapped some photos wif Sangeeta, & the warm Zee TV gang for remembrance sake.

I asked Tripta wat the drama is abt (cheating! hehe) & she cooly shared :

Abt Sangeeta who's an air-hostess (wif Air India of coz!) & is in S'pore on 1 of her flights.  Here she meets Nikkhil who woo-ed her tirelessly & when she finally succumbs 2 his wooing & falls in luv wif him, she discovers it was all a game - a bet between Nikkhil & his bunch of friends (so hindi movie plot!)!! Later on, while nursing her heartbreak, she falls in luv wif a guy (I think wil be played by not-so-well-known-Bollywood actor, Rakesh Bapat) ..who turns out 2b Nikkhil's bro!  I think by then Nikkhil probably had realised he has realy fallen in luv wif Sangeeta..Tadaa

What? Go subscribe 2 Zee TV & watch it urself la!

Finally, the last shot 4 the nite - Sangeeta sitting @ the table - they needed some friends 4 Sangeeta 2b chatting wif.  Vishali called me, but I pushed Nikky!  They needed more, so Vishali called me agn, but I refused.  Then Aroona assured me "Don't worry, it'll juz be your back"..& I thot "y not, my best profile is my back - that's ONE view that makes me look like Madhuri ;p" (really laaa, see 4 urself..heehee ;p)..so I agreed 2b a sport.  They even asked Tripta 2 complete the table - 4 back view sake also - & make it look like a FOURSOME.  We juz yakked rubbish, talked abt Zee TV & Sangeeta's screen history.  The moment the shot was "ok-ed", it was a wrap..9.30pm..PACK UP!  They wrapped up very fast, off all lights, lifted them, & took all equipment 2 their van & drove off.

I took the opportunity 2 pose wif Nikkhil b4 we (Nikky, I & the Zee TV gang) taking the Blue Line bus & then the shuttle bus back 2 HarbourFront.  While the Zee TV gang went on 2 flag 4 a cab back, Nikky & I went 2 HarbourFront 4 dinner @ McDonald's.  The highlight of our rendezvous started here.  We were so damn bored & I wanted 2 experiment wif my new PC-CAM, so we did some personal video - pretending 2b Madhuri & Tabu interviewing each other!  It was so hillarious we had tears in our eyes!  Who cares abt the ppl looking @ us! ;p  Btw, Nikky was more interested in taking her own pictures using her Motorola hp, rather than the stars or the filming!  Still waiting 4 her 2 email me our pictures which is the evidence of the fun we had - despite being super duper hungry!

All's well that ends well..I reached home @ the strike of midnite - *dinnggg..donnggg*  Cinderella is back 2 her normal routine (read: boring) life!

Rabba Ishq Na Hove...

Zee TV viewers can relate 2 this - A new drama is coming up on Zee TV; I think it's gonna be called "Rabba Ishq Na Hove".

Anyways ..whenever the Zee TV dramas intend 2 do shooting in S'pore, they'll come up wif a contest where winners get 2b a part of the shoot.

Flashback to the Past:

Last Aug, "Astitva - Ek Prem Kahani" did a 3 day shooting here (on the pretext that the characters are in S'pore for a conference - as part of the story line).  They came up wif "Astitva Contest"..of which yours truly won & was invited 2b a part of the shoot on any 1 of the 3 days.  Got an email today which says the shoot starts tomorrow @ Sentosa!  If that's not bad enough, it's during my office hrs! As jinxed as I can be, I had prior commitments @ work & thus can't take the day off..Much to the disappointment of Roshni & Nikky who kept on telling me 2 shed my conscience & juz GO FOR IT coz this is something I've always wanted all  my life!  But I can't, I juz can't - I'm too responsible 2b doing dat! *sigh* The 2nd & 3rd day of the shoot, my exam leave starts..& I'm not abt 2b wasting time there 4 a day of pleasure & neglecting my studies which I'm paying 4!  So wif the belief that there's always the RIGHT TIME 4 everything & dat I wasn't destined 4 something I've always wanted..I let the opportunity go past.

Zoom Back to the Present:

Two wks ago, juz 4 the fun of it, I participated in the "Rabba Ishq Na Hove contest".  Today I got a call from a "Vishali from Zee TV" informing me dat I'm 1 of the winners 4 the contest & I'm invited 2b a part of the shoot TOMORROW (Fri, 3 Jun) from 6-10pm @ Sentosa's Skybar Lounge (Carlsberg Tower?)!!!  I freaked out!  It was too short a notice 2 decide..but deep down, I knew I'm available simply coz -

1. I'm on 1/2 day leave, 2 go 4 the PC show @ expo wif my best fren Wirza 2 get a computer 4 my darling Shamim;

2. I'm not in the mood 2 do my project 2moro nite, coz I can't proceed wif my project til next wk due 2 some hiccups in Auston; &

3. TGIF, I'm not working on Sat..so wat the heck!

Sharu (that's me!): Can I juz watch the shoot?

Vishali: No, u've got 2b a part of the shoot ..

Sharu: errrr..wat do I've 2 do

Vishali: Wen u come 2moro, we'll tel u wat u've 2 do..

*Sharu big time "gabra"!*

Sharu: Hmmm..can I bring someone along?

Vishali: Sure, juz confirm if u're coming & how many ppl coming.

Sharu: Wokays..I'll call u back shortly. Tks.

Rushed 2 Roshni (my colleague) who's a night-out person (she's been dying 2 take me out during wee-hrs of the morning!)!  But as usual, I'll get a "wld luv 2, provided..." Which basically means: can't commit. Which eventually translates 2: possible disappointment if kena play out!  She gav me a suggestion though..bring my mom! I shrieked "Dowaaan!"  She asked "why!?"...and I tol her (tongue-in-cheek) "I wanna go wif someone more hip & happening!"

Hip & happening reminds me of..Nikky! She lectured me big time last yr 4 missing out on the golden opportunity 2 watch Astitva's shoot..Called her 2 ask if she can accompany me, she gav a nod (after checking her schedule 2 confirm she finishes work arnd 3-4pm - now dat's my type: CHECK! Don't juz hantam bola!)..& so I'm all set 2 paint Sentosa red 2moro!

That's all peepz..watch out 4 my next post 2 find out abt my rendezvous..but rest assured, watever it may be..fun is GUARANTEED wif Nikky 4 company!

PS:- Nikky-pls behave! Heehee..