Posting the food prepared by L, thanks for having us today ❤️ Had a great time catching up and playing games (albeit people arriving / leaving at different times and not having a group photo)!! Loved those card and board games but I just dont collect them.. Sushi-Go-Party is really fun!! 

Also caught up with batchies on Weds so 2 days are used up during the break!

I guesss with one more confirmed news I got to embrace myself for what's to come in 2024. I just think it's pretty unfortunate that I lost almost all my emotional pillars of support at work (which are same / close rank to me) - I wonder whom I can speak to next time or it will just all be bottled up 🥲 

Not saying that I don't have anyone else whom I can talk to in office, but it is just not the same given rank differences (sadly, sometimes I do wish I can be as carefree when talking to them but at work I still have to act like a M/AD). And there are just things where they are not exposed to so it would be tough to relate heh. I am just afraid that I may over rely on them which may just make it even more difficult to leave next time~ Have been getting advice that I should leave for my own well being cause.. we all know whoever is left will get all the leftover stuff 🥺

Ok enough ranting, I think I am a bit too lax this week (although there are timelines to rush for 😔).. I did manage to watch a bit of TV, including the anime reccomended like Your Name, Silent Voice and 86.. got to admit, 86 is pretty good - even le bro didn't mind watching heh.

Arghh 2023 is ending (so is my office closure though I think I slept v v little) and I still have a lot of work to clear. Finally cleared some of my work space thanks to reno, but gosh I don't think I can WFH for 4 days a week.. Prob will take Mon/Tues in office as well 😕 That is for 2024 debs to figure outt.

Ending with a photo of Latte! She was quite sticky to me for while (and thankfully she didnt scare me) so I got to give her the pats and headrubs while she sat near me 😁

I know I need to sleep but.. argh when my body clock is getting messed up even after peak 😐

Feeling nostslgic this time every year hehhh, sometimes I wonder how different things would have turned out if certain choices were made..

Today's OT playlist are songs from uni days, and sometimes I just love the simpler melodies 🙃 Random songs to remember include EXO's First Snow and Peter Pan, BEAST's 12:30, Big Bang's Blue, etc. 

But these days am loving the OST from Castaway Diva too, songs were on repeat during peak 🥹

Secretly hoping this week can be kinder, and please let me wake up in time later~

// Edit 17 Dec 4.50am, me is too awake to sleep whoops

Still trying to process the things that happened over last few weeks, things that I regretted (saying) and things that are about to happen.

Can't imagine how eventful this year was, to have long time colleagues leaving (not just one or two...) and totally dreading how I will cope with it mehhh. 4 x farewells within two weeks and more to comeeee 😶

Didn't realise that I haven't touched this space for more than a year! 

2022 has been filled with ups and downs, so hectic that I stopped filling up my personal planner after Sept oops.

Just going through some of the key things that happened (and if I can recall.. going to fall back to my 2022 planner someday if I need to update this):

• Started the year on a relatively good note with me trying to be a fitspo and going classes often (part of my 2022 NY resolution)

• Caught COVID in March, but it was a short one since I was cleared after 3 days in isolation (and thankfully that was the only time albeit so many times I felt so sick and almost certain I caught the virus again)

• Sooo many farewells up till June, I lost count and decided to stop counting to feel less demoralised

• Couple of weddings in June and July (and glad to have caught up with some old friends hehhh)

• Caught up in Q2 trying to handover accounts/projects up till late Aug / Sept for my supposed secondment to OME which started from 1 Aug.... but ended up not materialising after two full months for reasons that were not within my control (still a little bummed about this but oh well)

• And back to TP right smack in the middle of my peak season (and having to rebuild my portfolio)

• Travelled to Bintan in Nov, cause the leave was planned when I was 'seconded' to OME; but laptop had to tag along in case of client exigencies 

• Lots if OT closer to end Nov and with different people cause my original batch of OT kakis all left :( am still thankful for those whom I have worked with

• Booked Korea tickets next year (yayyyyy!!)

• Some walks and activities that materialised over the year (and getting some vit D under the sun)

December was great though - most of my compliance stuff concluded in Nov so it was not as busy as prior years except getting some new work (and all ready to be BBQ-ed cause I took my office closure leave to really de-work, not sure if I will regret). Some things went on which probably made me happier:

• Physical D&D event albeit on a Tuesday (6 Nov), was great to see people around and... Winning buffet vouchers

• Mini batch trip to JB that was quite epic although short cause we were stuck in traffic on a Monday (thanks N for driving us ladies!!)

• Family dinners cause cousin E is back for Christmas and NY

• More catch-ups during office closure, including boxing day steamboat with the Chais, dinner with K and other ex-colleagues, k session at a colleague's place, etc.

And managed to clock a few classes this week despite my nose giving me headaches from all the sneezing (still a win!)

Probably going to have to start work tomorrow, I do realise my backlog is piling up and I will probably panic once work resumes :/ but ok let me finish my last C-drama cause I cannot stop watching halfway through as usual (why are the shows 40 eps urgh!!!) This bad habit gotta go next week. 

And to more Korea planning - finally bought a new laptop but not used yet omg what if it spoils zzz. That shall be done tomorrow too.

Will update again, if I have time... ending this with the new avocado huggable! Look at the colour difference after three years oops

Trying to login once in awhile just so that I lose this space due to inactivity! 

It is back to the peak season, and it's just sad that I never officially got a proper break this year. Haha I kept 'ranting' to people about the extra CCAs that I took on, like preparing materials for an external training for the partners, TPU and social event for the team.. but to think about it, all these could have been avoided if I was firm on rejecting it at the start. It was until at some point in time where everyone realised that I was really struggling and not delivering, not to mention the backlog I had..... 

But anyway, it is over! Just that I am on a tax course in Sept (which is examinable in Oct) so essentially I am still as busy as ever. Please hope that I can survive this while I figure a way out myself!!!

That said, I am trying very hard to de-work over the weekends. There were nights for family mahjong, Sundays with Tessa... Sometimes it works because by Sunday evening I just get too tired to work. I just hope I don't stress myself out too much!

Had some good time hanging out with people since being fully vaccinated! Met one of my counselees and JX (her buddy) over KBBQ and ice-cream on one Sunday; and met more people last weekend that people started to guess if I was leaving oops!!

Gna post some pics here for keepsake; I don't think these publicly available (or at least I hope so with my privacy settings) 😄

Catchup with An & Mich (4 Sep)

Met An and Mich and we found a baby friendly place to dine at - NOM. Food was ok, but I guess someone was super happy to see N! Was a great catch up, can't wait for my batch to meet and see J as well!! 

Not the glamest photos around haha. & finally visit my grandma with dad and bro, since I was home in time before heading out for hotpot with family!! Wanted to bring my maternal grandpa but we had some issues finding his vaccination cert. :(

Dinner with the A2s going S1s (5 Sep)

Met up for Clar's farewell on Sunday with her batch (JX, L and E)! Chir chir x bingsooo cause I don't think I want to eat KBBQ, and maybe not drink the day before work. 

A pity we didn't get a group photo but hopefully we will all meet again! Thanks for the jiooooo :)

Cycling from Marina Bay to Changi Airport

Finally went cycling aft we tried to walk from ECP to Marina Bay previously!! 

Gotta say it felt very weird cause it has been a long time... and the height of the handle cannot be adjusted. Usually for spin, the seat has to be high since my legs do not touch the floor, but for actually cycling I am actually super scared that I will fall so the seat height has to be low for me to feel safe. & was being a cycling hazard at the start cause I couldn't get used to it and I wasn't sure how to change the gears etc. 

But thankfully nothing serious happened except for times when I had to force brake cause I felt insecure of my skills. But yay thanks to the ones who tried to keep a lookout for us by slowly down or cycling at the back; I don't think I could have done the same cause I was too busy trying not to get into any accidents 😬

And thankful for the good weather (though not so happy about bring sunburnt); was glad to be able to watch the waves! Me would love to just sit by the beach and just chill if i have time~~~

Also felt nostalgic, and realised that it was also 7 years ago when le exhousemates went cycling together in Cijin:

Haha ded I definitely looked much fitter then; not sure how I survived cycling almost everyday for more than 3 months there!!

Anyw we went Jewel for lunch and desserts (ok maybe only I had the icecream from BOP cause I never tried that before). Was a good day that I slept through most of my Sat :) Let's cycle again soon, before things get too busy!

And yes I contemplated cutting my hair short, but Michie's wedding is coming and I was hoping to keep the curls till then. But my hair has been falling though so I think I don't have a choice.. heh but still excited for Oct, though I am not sure how I will survive this month :')

 We're back to Phase 2 (HA)!

Been such a tiring year to date (mentally). Extended peak that was supposed to end 15 Jan but not for me cause mine started waaaaay later than most people and still clearing backlog, and its worse cause it wasn't a good financial year so pressure from everywhere while we are close to year end :( Not liking this feeling but I hope it will pass soon.

No travel plans as well since COVID-19 situation is still bad in most countries, but somewhat glad that I tried to follow through my resolution to exercise more this year (as a way to dework) before Phase 2A happened! Tried to attend spin classes when I can (keyword is tried!!) There were times when I went for classes diligently for consecutive days in a week, and not so good times when I may not attend for a whole week oops. Also tried to go for walks on weekends when the capacity was 8 pax (and subsequently down to 5).. 

Here's one with le bro and cuzzie! There were other walks planned but not much photos hehe.

But most of the time it is for food!!

Now I'm just a potatooooo. With a limit of 2 pax its so hard to ask people to go on walks!!! Partly cause I'm pretty much introvert and it will be awkward for me hahaha.

So we got ourselves a new hobby as an attempt to try not to work 24/7 and that is.. mahjong! Got back to this cause my mum and I are terrible at peeling ourselves away from the laptop (ok la, for me on weekends the tendency for me to binge watch shows is much higher and if I don't start working likely my weekend will pass quickly and I suffer during the weekdays). Lost quite a bit the first time since I forgot almost all of the rules heh.

But... we got to play twice this week thanks to PH! Won quite a bit but I was too generous and didn't really collect any of my winnings in the end oops. My mum chided me a little but I guess since we're only playing with family members its ok laaaa. Featuring one of my fave 自摸满台: 

Also had a couple of good wins tonight, after attending Shenghao's and Jessie's wedding via livestream (congrats again!!! Didn't manage to capture any ss but the choir peeps did~)

Felt so unreal; not sure if it is because of the long passage of time but sometimes I cannot remember how it last felt when it happened :( 

But looking back, my mum does resemble my maternal grandma~ /random

I'm just so busy these days that I don't even know what I am doing anymore. Just can't wait for 15th to be over :(

Decided to put a short post here while on the bus, to remind myself why I didn't follow Google Maps instruction to wait for the express bus and took the normal bus that reached 3 mins earlier, only to expect myself reaching home about 30 mins later than planned.

That said, Christmas is coming! 🎄 Would love to say that my peak for the year has ended but sadly it has not given the extension in tax filing which means.. unlike prior years this Christmas would be a busy one :( Every year I thought peak would never get any worse (for myself) but seems like it exceeded my expectations yearly. Not going to rant because it's partially over, but really hoping this will be the last time! 

At least, there are always good things to be thankful for, or happy about! Finally a godma (though a terrible one for now cause I'm so busy..) but it does make me realise that I will never want my current work-life next time. Will be sure to make time for the little one after peak!

Also realised unexpected friendships do happen sometimes. Random conversations with friends, but yea would not have thought about 'eh how we became friends/close this year' haha. Well at least, its good to have more friends around to keep you sane at work, though it will be sad when the time comes and people leave.. (when will it be my turn though)

Leaving some happy food memories here! Hopefully I can remember the occasions when these happened (and whom I was with) when I look back next time hahaha :)