Latest Arrival

Call signs:
Eagle - Grandma
Command Centre - PL and PY in Singapore. Latitude: 1"22'0" N Longitude: 103" 48' 0" E
Phoenix - Me

Transmission:
"Phoenix to Command Centre.
The Eagle has landed.
I repeat, the Eagle has landed.
Command Centre do you copy?"

Grandma has safely landed last night at 23:35 hours.

We had a little trouble at immigration as Grandma forgot to bring along a printout of her return e-ticket. The NZ immigration officers of course assumed that every Asian without proof of a ticket flying out of NZ is bound to either 1. over stay, 2. be a refugee, 3. seek asylum. They threatened to not allow her into the country. Someone ought to educate these folks here about Singapore. Yes, we're in Asia but we have it pretty good as compared to most countries around the world. And I'll dare say we've definitely got it much better than in NZ. So all you NZ folks out there, take off your blinders, live a little, travel out of your country (Australia doesn't count) and see what the rest of the world has to offer.

Slangs the Kiwi Way

I've decided to come up with a list of Kiwi slangs that I've picked up during my stay here. I've listed some of the more interesting ones and also ones that I'm trying to incorporate into my everyday use. When in Rome....

Ay - Used at the end of every other sentence. It's the Singapore equivalent of "la". Using "ay" at the end of sentences make a statement sound like a question, and a response is not always expected. For example, instead of saying "The weather is good today", Kiwis say "The weather is good today ay?"

Banger - Sausage. At cafes serving brekkies, you'll find "mash potatoes and bangers" on the menu.

Boy racer - He is basically the Singapore equivalent of an Ah Beng zooming around in his souped-up WRX.

Cheers - Is used in many different ways. It can mean thanks, goodbye, good luck. I've been trying to say Cheers lately instead of thanks. Teehee.

Choice - Very good or best or something similar to its effect. Stephen is trying to incorporate this into his conversations but it comes out sounding completely wrong. Sorry mate, you've gotta try harder than that!

Flash - Swanky or smart-looking.

Jandals - Flip-flops or as Singaporeans call it slippers. The Aussies call it thongs (don't ask me why.)

No shit Sherlock - That's my latest catchphrase! Picked it up from Amy, a girlfriend of mine from London. I love it! Be prepared to hear me say that heaps (another Kiwi slang) when I'm back in Singapore.

Cheers. :)

My poor phone.

First my dog tried to eat my phone but I managed to rescue it before it was totally destroy it. It was working fine albeit it was missing its battery cover and was looking worse for wear. Now I've gone and dropped it in the toilet, it's really dead. There's no reviving it this time. Argh. I feel severely handicapped without my phone.

16/12

p/s: I think I spoke too soon. My phone seems to be coming back to life, slowly but surely. I can now send text messages from it. Not bad for having first survived Cujo and then being drowned in the toilet.

ECP

I have to blog this！

I just heard this ad over the radio:

"It's the time of the year where we go for our office Christmas parties. If you do get a little too carried away at your office Christmas party, head down to XXX pharmacy as soon as possible to buy an ECP... "

I was thinking to myself what in the world is an ECP. I figured it probably is a pill to help with the hangover or something similar. Little did I know...
I soon found out what ECP stands for - Emergency Contraceptive Pill!

WHOA! At an office Christmas party? Which means people end up sleeping with random colleagues?! Can you imagine the embarrassment and the crazy rumours going round the office after that?!! I'm literally cringing at the thought. Or am I just being a prude?!

i carry your heart - e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beatfiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Goldilocks

It's December, the start of summer and it sure feels like it. I'm feeling all sticky and hot and bothered from the heat and the humidity today. First thing I'm gonna do when I'm home is to hop in the shower. I know what you're thinking - this girl complains way too much about everything. Too cold in winter, too hot in summer, this bed is too hard, that bed is too soft. Tsk tsk tsk. I really should stop.

After all that has gone down the last week, I'm going to try to appreciate more and bitch less. Life is just too unpredictable. I just hope that in time, I would not forget and will still remember who and why.