Behind the counter

'Hello, welcome!'

(Picture taken from plussixfive - More pictures here)

Hello my friends! I finally started work, a little earlier than expected as there was an event and they needed a little help and the weekends were busier so Queen K thought it would good for me to pick up things during this time.

I started on the all the wrong notes on the 1st day by having a bad headache in the afternoon that worsened to nausea by evening time.

But I was all fine again this morning, so after church, I was back at work and greeting 'Hello, welcome!' when someone enters, and 'Thank you!' when someone leaves.

Like it very much when little children come. They toddle around and cling on to their mummies and daddies and look at everything with such wonderment in their eyes.

Have not been taken any pictures of the bookshop yet, but there are plenty of them online. Picture above is almost exactly how the shop looks on level 1. There are 3 levels. I was behind the counter for the past 2 days, so you can imagine how it looks :)

Erika the yellow submarine

Erika with new ribbons!

Erika - the yellow submarine typewriter was made in GDR (That's the German Democratic Republic which was East Germany). It is a Danish typewriter, with additional characters å æ ø. Bought it at a flea market in Denmark for 20Kr, about 6SGD. I can't remember how I managed to carry this submarine home myself because it weighs 2 tonnes (it really feels like it!)

Got new ribbons for it today at BooksActually - that is my new workplace. I will start work this weekend instead of Monday because of a big event. Had some orientation today inside the shop and around the neighbourhood. I met my new colleagues who are all very young and pretty, I guess I will fit in well (Haha!!)

So it is official, I will work 4 days a week. From 11 - 9. My Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays are off. This is part of a dream come true. Working in a bookshop has been some kind of dream for me.

O everyone, please come and visit me!! I shall serve you a nice cup of tea or juice if you come :)

Sweet Momo

White-flesh peaches from Australia

Perfect sweetness, and definitely of my favourite fruits.

Peach sounds cute in Japanese -  Momo (桃), same character as Chinese but sounds totally different. Just found out the Korean name for peach (this will be useful in class) - 복숭아.

H-san told me that Yamanashi (where he is working at) is famous for peaches, cherries, grapes and wine! Sounds like a good place to visit during the peach season, don't you think? Imagine eating peaches all day long! Haha!

Smile because it happened :)

Got a present!! I wasn't expecting it so that was a really nice surprise from the good people on Level 23.

There was a special engraving behind that says - Don't cry because it's over/ Smile because it happened.

Another classic break up line, but I sure am smiling.

It really reminds me of the popular Andy Lau watch advertisement with the classic lines -
 
不在乎天长地久，只要曾经拥有
(Rough translation - it does not have to be forever, as long as we had (each other) before)

Thank you guys!

My Maeil (매일)

Maeil (매일) means everyday. This is going to be about everyday things I discovered and think of sharing with you. But I probably will not be updating this everyday though :D

Maeil is also a dairy brand in Korea. I remember it really well because they had the nicest berry yogurt drink. I drank it everyday when I was there. Well, maybe twice a day ;)

Here's Maeil's advertisement starring ice skating queen, Kim Yuna (김연아). Watching her inspires me to run 매일. She's such a natural, full of grace and poise. It's hard not to like her. I hope she wins the Winter Olympics. Fighting!

19th February

This is goodbye.
Goodbye work relationship.
Hello friendship!

God has placed the finest people beside me all the time
Continue to stay with me

Pack up!

Lunch with the buddies at Pretty Japanese Lady restaurant

They have the nicest brown sugar pudding!

Present that made me cry!

 Tis made me realise how much I meant to them

(They mean so much to me too)

Raffles place looks so beautiful at night

***

Ode to my lovelies

There were moments in the last 3 years where I wished I had a partner to share the difficulties at work, or some happy things, a new discovery, you know, that sort of things. Now I realised, I always had it better - I had TWO partners - P and S. They did all that I wished in a partner and more. Seen me at my worst and my best, accepted my oddities and taught me to be a better person. Thank you guys. You know how I feel about you too/two and let's look forward to making more great memories together! Also had the kindest boss for my first 2 years - Mr Hwang. If I ever become a boss in future, he has set the standard for me.

Most importantly, my parents. My dad and mom for their full support while I work. Been such a baby and I guess it's really time to get more independent in a different sense from now, like helping out more at home. Perhaps this is better than giving them money every month, haha :D

All the people above and you who are reading it, I could not have chosen myself. 

How I thank God!

***

So now I start anew.

Lets!

Dinner on Level 70!

The best people I work with:

S (In specs)

Jan (is like my mother) and P (is like my brother)

Stunning view from the restaurant. 

Uncle's seafood restaurant - Ubin Seafood

Uncle just revamped a seafood restaurant and the food is goooood.
It is times like these I wish I could eat  all seafood.
Thankfully, there is still fish :)

Hort Park

Watercolour clouds

Neighbourhood dog, Ally. An old little friendly poodle.

 Look at her, she wants a cuddle

Going...Bananas! On the Hort Park Trail

World Press Photo 2010

Eugene Richards - War is Personal

Always looking forward to the World Press Photos each year. The pictures are diverse and carry so much with them.

Pictures like these puts life in perspective.

Life, o life.

Visit World Press Photo - 2010 Gallery

Happy Lunar Year!

My mum bought this pot of flowers that is so bright and happy and just reminds everyone that it's New Year.

We will bring it to be planted at my grandmama's tomorrow. It is one year since she left for a very much better place.

An evening at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory

There are free classical concerts held at my university during school term. It is usually by students and at times, visiting professors/ artistes.

Managed to catch half the 'Sounds of Vienna' concert with Neighbour. Quiet evening where we had some sandwiches outside the conservatory before entering during the intermission.

We enjoyed Beethoven: String Quartet No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 67 (selected movements) and Brahms: Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20.

Lovely day that ended with long conversations about India over lemon bush tea complete with the lush greenery and tree shadows at Rochester Park.

Yong Siew Toh Conservatory (taken from NUS website)

Tossing Yu-Sheng for Lunar New Year

Yu-Sheng (鱼生) is a raw fish salad. It is made with strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed mainly with shredded vegetables, olive oil and plum sauce. Yu-Sheng literally means "raw fish" but since "fish (鱼)" is sounds like "abundance(余)", yu-sheng symbolises an increase in abundance.

We had our company lunch yesterday and the first dish was,Yu-Sheng. Everyone said good things as we tossed the yu-sheng. It was really messy but fun. The best thing was, it tasted great too!

I wish you love

Something to wish.



By Rachael Yamagata

I wish you bluebirds in the spring
To give your heart a song to sing
And then a kiss, but more than this
I wish you love

And in July a lemonade
To cool you in some leafy glade
I wish you health
And more than wealth
I wish you love

My breaking heart and I agree
That you and I could never be
So with my best
My very best
I set you free

I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love

My breaking heart and I agree
That you and I could never be
So with my best
My very best
I set you free

I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love

But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish you love

Weekends! Part II - Botanical Gardens

A small picnic with Mom at Botanical Gardens. Very nice Chopin concert.

Weekends! Part I - Singapore Air Show

Singapore Air Show - Wanted to watch the air display so much and was a teeny bit disappointed that Korean display was pulled out and there wasn't that much stunts. Breathtaking nonetheless! Sun-burnt and happy!

Wow, so many countries!

One

'I would like the one in red and white, please'

RSAF

Look at those propellers!

Sun is shining 09

Beautiful weather and sea breeze at Changi

Lemon Balm

Taking care of something living and trying my best not to let it die.

19 days and counting