The Sands of Time Wait for No Man

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Mummy Mum Mom

A few nights ago, I asked my mom to pass some things over to a colleague who would be coming to China. Don't know why but I was craving for kaya. My family seldom eat kaya when in Singapore, so I don't know why I suddenly long for it. Now that I think about it, I have not had kaya for a long time!

I told my mom "Can you buy a jar of kaya and pass to me friend?" As if she could read my mind (or stomach), she exclaimed "I just bought one today! I'll pack it for you." She then asked if I wanted this elusive, almost vanishing snack called Sha Qi Ma, (I think only my sister knows what I'm talking about here) that could only be bought in Chinatown. And she had just gone there today! Yes yes yes!!! For all I know, my mom could be a worm in my tummy and her shopping timing for kaya and Sha Qi Ma couldn't have been any better!

My colleague arrived in Jinan today and passed me my stuff. "What a big packet!" I thought to myself. Inside, I found more of my favourite food: Hello Panda biscuits and Pocky sticks! Mummy is best! *Muak muak muak*

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Chery QQ

When I told my colleague how much my braces cost, she exclaimed that I have a QQ Chery in my mouth. Gosh! I could be driving around China right now instead of going around in their public bus.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Exterminator

I'm on a quest to get rid of the bad smell in my toilet. The pungent smell is giving me sleepless nights. I think I'm having a lack of oxygen from constantly holding my breath. I'm also doing things at double the usual speed in the toilet. The smell is really making me gag. I'm considering switching to sleep in the next room without the adjoining toilet. Friend L has kindly given me some advice. Her formula?
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup of vinegar
2 quarts boiling water
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by the vinegar and then boiling water
Before I try her formula, I shall buy some toilet/drain cleaner and empty the whole bottle into the drain!

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Wasted

Why bother having traffic lights if no one obeys traffic rules? This is one thing that baffles me over here. Really wonder why they bother having traffic lights here. Waste money installing them and waste human resources as well. During peak hours, the police would be out there in the middle of the road directing the traffic. Together with them would be middle-aged men/women helping pedestrains and cyclists to cross the road. Even if the traffic assistance uncle says go when the green man appears, I realise I would still have to keep my eyes open and check for cars coming my way. What's the green man for if we can't follow him but have to listen to the uncle!
If everyone follows traffic rules, then all these policemen can do better things than wave their hands and blow their whistles. They can go on the streets and catch those litter bugs or spit bugs. This country would then be a cleaner and better place. It seems like the reason why they have these traffic assistance uncles and aunties is to create employment for this age group. I can think of better places which need them more than on the roads. The toilet. What a waste!
They are so not ready for the 2008 Olympics. But of course, I'm only judging it by the standards here. It could be a different story in other more developed cities.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Shit House

My toilet smells like shit. My room smells like shit. My house smells like shit. I live in a shit house. I have taken to holding my breath - in my own home! God! Someone! Save me!
I have taken to spraying air refreshner each time I step into the toilet. The thing about the smell is that it comes in untimed waves. I could be happily going about my chores at home and suddenly this 'pong' of a sewage smell would descend all over the house. I have to take light breaths because I don't know when the next wave would come. When it does come, I have to hold my breath.
I don't know which is worse - smelling shit smell or inhaling jasmine scented air refreshner.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Bicycle Built for Two

This is my friend's electric bicycle. It's very small and cute, with a pretty basket to match it! I've ridden pillion on her bike before as well. The seat is small too. I get a butt ache each time I reach our destination.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Road Hog

My right leg is now full of bruises. I'm such a klutz. But I can finally say I have ridden a bicycle on the roads of China! My colleague lent me her bicycle because she had something urgent to attend to and could not cycle her bicycle home. Anyway, I was raring to experience riding a bicycle in the traffic conditions here. Actually, I did not get the bruises from an accident on the road. Embarrassingly, I fell down when I was trying to park the bicycle. Funny!
Oh, I forgot to add that the bicycle is an electronic one. With just a twist of the handle, I can speed right ahead! The bicycle is really heavy. Maybe that explains why I got all those blue-blacks. I think from now on, I shall banish all thoughts of buying a bicycle in China. The Chinese make cycling look like a breeze. But yet with an electronic bicycle, I have so much trouble. Think I shall stick with their so-called air-conditioned public bus.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

House Not Home

Finally settled into my new house. But still feel that it's not good enough. Cleaning up my new house also reminded myself of what a clean freak I am. The house is ok, but not perfect. so many things can be better. What's wrong with my house? Plenty.
1. One of the lights in the living room is spoilt.
2. The lights are too dim in the toilets. Bought new fluorescent light bulbs but don't know why they still don't work.
3. The doors give off creaky sounds when opened. Some doors cannot close properly as well. Got to use all the strength I've got to shut it.
4. There is always this offensive smell in the living room. I've aired the whole house but it's still there.
5. Once in a while, the toilets will emit a smell that is even more offensive than smell #4. Can't do anything about it. I think it's the pipes.
6. The water heater is driving me nuts! The storage for hot water is so little that I cannot indulge in my 30 min bath anymore. In fact, I've got to split my bath into two short sections to solve the problem of hot water shortage. I bathe when I return home after work. Then in the morning, I have to wake up a little earlier to wash my hair and go to work.
7. Leaking pipes in the toilet.
8. Only cold water from the tap in the morning for me to brush my teeth and wash my face. When I say cold, it's COLD. Not the normal water we get when we turn on our taps at home.
9. Lousy sewage system that does not allow toilet paper to be thrown into the toilet bowl.
10. Musty curtains which I guess have not been washed for years.
11. Floor that is perpetually dirty no matter how much I clean it.
12. Cupboard door hinges which seem to be made from tofu.
13. No writing table. Got to use the computer in bed which can be quite uncomfortable after a while.
14. Only mirrors in the house are in the toilet, and yet the toilets are so dim. Have not seen myself in full view for a long time.
15. And last night, at 4 am, the pipe connecting the water heater burst and sprayed water everywhere! The sound of the water gushing out woke me up and I had to get out of my cosy bed to turn off the water mains.
16. My apartment is inside an estate that is so inconvenient. I used to walk to almost everywhere, but now, I have become localised and have taken to riding their public bus. No choice, I can't possibly ride the taxi all the time right? The stupid bus claims to be air-conditioned and costs me double the price of a normal bus, but yet it's so hot inside! Cheat my money!
I wish I was back in my hotel.......

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Toilet Woes

While the new office was getting done up, I reported for work in the old office. The location is rather weird for an office. It was within a senior high school. So every morning, I go to 'school' with the students. I hear the school bell go off at hourly intervals. I have lunch in their teachers' canteen. I use the common toilet. THE TOILET!!! Horrors of horrors!
First, no door. Each time I need to use the toilet, I have to time it to be during their class time so that no student would barge in and see me 'in action'. Second, it's the drain system where one can see other people's wastes float across in front of you (that is if many people use the toilet at the same time). Third, the smell. Even if I had my eyes closed, I could find the toilet!
I usually visit the toilet a few times a day, but ever since I started work in that school, I only go to the toilet once throughout the whole day. I even resorted to drinking less water so that I wouldn't have the urge. It's terrible! I feel that I would almost puke my guts out each time I go in. Or if I go before lunch, then I would lose my appetite. If I go after, then I would almost vomit whatever I had eaten. I wish they would do something about their level of hygiene.

Shifting Woes

I have been doing plenty of 'house shifting' in the past 2 weeks. First, my office in Singapore moved to a new location just across the street. Pack. Unpack.
Then I came over to China and the office here moved too! Bah! Pack. Unpack. Am I lucky or am I lucky to encounter all the moves! This was for work.
On a more personal note, when I first arrived in China, I was put up in a hotel (my usual place each time I come here). Then my boss told me that he found an apartment for me and I need to shift on Wednesday. So I packed my bags all ready to go only to hear him say the place is not ready. So I unpacked for another night in the hotel. Come next day, I packed again for my big move. Then of course I had to unpack when I reached my new home.
Sian.... Keep packing and unpacking and I have to get used to a different place each time. Well, things can only get better once I finish unpacking! Must console myself a little..... :)

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Back to Basics

Want to learn how to draw kitty? I think I'll stick to drawing her house. I wouldn't even attempt to draw her milk bottle or the bird.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Kiss Me

I'm now in China and have plenty of free time at night..... So I'm doing all these 'bo liao' quizes...... Anyway, it's all in the name of fun!

Your Love Quote

A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.


You Are A Romantic

You life your life like a fairy tale... or at least you try to.
Living for magical moments, you believe there's only one true love for you.
Love is the most important thing in your life, and you don't take it for granted.
Your perfect match loves to be in love as much as you do!


You're a Romantic Kisser

For you, kissing is all about feeling the romance
You love to kiss under the stars or by the sea
The perfect kiss involves the perfect mood
It's pretty common for kisses to sweep you off your feet



You Are a Sensitive Kisser

For you, kissing is a way to connect
And you need lot of care, attention, and privacy
It may take you a while to kiss someone...
But when you do, it's total fireworks