.::. Impressed! .::.

I was lamenting how lousy the opposition were - most of them can't even speak properly, much less discuss about important issues. I'm not convinced that they could make things better, despite PAP's imperfection.

There's so much buzz about the young candidates being fielded, but I'm not that much interested in the GE since I haven't seen any strong opposition candidates around. Just hearing them speak with bad diction was a torture!

I finally saw Nicole Seah, the youngest opposition candidate - even younger than me! I like her. I think she speaks well, and she's sincere.



Comparing Nicole and Tin Pei Ling...





How to fight?

TPL is like a little spoilt clueless girl stepping up into something she wasn't even sure about. If she really thinks that health care for the elderly is 'cheap' and education costs are also 'cheap' - she really hasn't realized that there are many people struggling to meet these costs in Singapore. Does she seriously think that enough is done for these people? Now I totally understand why people are so against her. It's not about age nor gender or family backgroud, but how the things she says come across to people. I don't like the way she speaks at all.

I would totally vote for Nicole if I were staying in Marine Parade! Having said that, it's difficult for the PAP not to win in Marine Parade. The people there have been beneficiaries of so many upgrading programs and the people are probably happy with what PAP has done. Moreover, Nicole does not have strong team members.

I guess PAP will still win. I'm in Jurong GRC, and I like Tharman. It'll be a long time before there are enough convincing candidates stepping forward for the opposition.

.::. Plan .::.

I have been reading alot these days. I'm especially interested in financial planning and health and fitness these days. I'm paranoid. I want to be 'forever young' and 'a millionaire so freakin' bad'!

I realized that one big lesson I've learnt is to plan. It's easy to want something, to have goals and aim for something. But the missing link is always the actual plan and discipline to get you to your goals. Everything suddenly seem alot simpler, for as long as you plan and be disciplined about it, goals are achieved 'automatically'.

Set goals --> Plan --> Execute the plan with discipline --> GOAL!

Obviously, things ain't as simple and plans need to be changed as circumstances change. But it's still a simple and effective equation to get to your goals.

I'm trying very hard to think only positive thoughts these days and to achieve small goals every single day, week and month. I realized that there are times when I worry too much, give up too easily and allow negative thoughts to waste my productive time. There are some days when I feel so depressed about things that all I feel like doing is hide in my covers and wallow in my own misery.

It's so easy for people to make comments nonchalently and try to bring you down unknowingly, even your loved ones. My own mum told me that my butt is so big that she can put plates of vegetables on it - when I was doing squats. And then she told me that I should not train and build up muscles because it looks 'ugly'. And then she claims that I am always very sensitive about what she says and get worked up. Maybe they really think that they're saying it 'for your own good'. Perhaps these people really don't have ill intentions - but it deflates you all the same.

I reckon there are still many people who think that beauty and health equates to skinny. I've come to accept that I'll never satisfy everyone. They can say what they like, but I want to be rich and healthy so that I can live the life I want!

I'm going to write down all my goals and plans to go with it - If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! The only person who could make you happy is you. I'm filling myself with positive thoughts and all the little goals.

With that, I shall end this with a quote which I like from the 'Rich dad's guide to investing'. I'm always enlightened by his books. He teaches you a very different approach to money and teaches you how to be rich - not by being thrifty and thinking 'poor', but through planning and achieving the kind of life you want for yourself. People who think that money is scare. so you should scrimp and save will never become rich!

Words form thoughts, thoughts form reality, realities become life.

.::. Leaving .::.



Had my farewell lunch at Marriot with a small group of colleagues last Thursday - my boss's treat. I think I burnt a small hole in his pocket.

9 months ain't that long, but I'm really glad to have met a really nice boss and some very nice colleagues. I'm really thankful for that. I'll really miss Pak, who has been my inspiration to keep fit and strong. She has so much faith in me, and it makes me unafraid to pursue my goals and wants in life. I'll miss having her around everyday.

I'm not good at goodbyes. I'm always awkward when it comes to that.

People come and go. It's time to move on.

Last 3 working days. I think I've learnt some, contributed some and found something better to move on to. I think I've accomplished alot for the year, or since I got back. It has been a good year, and I believe in the Law of Attraction - you attract things that you think about and those thoughts will manifest in your life eventually.

I want to double my income and buy my own house in 5 years' time!

.::. La Cantina in Venezia .::.

I have been wanting to try their Crabmeat Linguini for the longest time. We finally made our way there this weekend.



I wanted to go earlier to enjoy the twilight, but he took a wrong turn and we arrived just before it turned dark. The outdoor seats faced the sea and had a really good view.

Finally. Linguine Granchio. It didn't disappoint though it may get a tad heavy towards the end as it was creamy. The first mouth was heavenly!

Burrata cheese with prosciutto di parma and tomatoes. This was their 'special' for the night and I really loved it. We later found out that it was pretty pricey, but having it with some bread with olive oil and vinegar was heavenly. I love cured ham, and the tomatoes were so fresh and juicy.

Here's a badly taken picture of us. We hardly take pictures together anymore! It's our 7th year together, and sometimes, I feel so old!

I think I like Italian food, and I'll probably be back again. =)

.::. Filling Tax? .::.


Can someone tell me when did I change my name to....'TANG GOI"??

I logged in the first time to double-check whether or not I needed to file tax (no need, since I didn't earn enough) and almost thought that the system has logged me into someone else's account. I double-checked my NRIC and realize....that's me?!

Hello! Even if I haven't started contributing to tax, at least get my name right! How to get it SO wrong? I'm going to start paying tax very soon afterall, and I'm not going to condone such inefficiencies!

.::. Humanity? .::.

My friend shared her good friend's story with me, and I'm really saddened by it. Anyone with a heart would be, especially dog lovers.

Her friend just moved into a new place, while the dog dug through a hole near the fence and got out. The family was obviously upset and went looking for it and made a report. A day later, AVA called them and informed that they found her dog.

Relieved, she went down to get the dog. There was obviously some fees and fines involved and she had to microchip the dog. Anyone with a dog could probably imagine the relief and willingness to pay, just to get the dog back home. Although the dog was really afraid and did not want anyone to touch it, they refused to allow her to see/hold her dog for the mico-chip procedure.

Moments later, they informed her that her dog is dead.

All she saw was the dog's lifeless body. "They told me that my dog had to be forcefully restrained by the neck and when they finished, he had collapsed and died."

It's appalling, the way the whole incident was handled. How could they do this to a life and shrug it off as an 'accident'? Those people restraining the dog weren't even trained, and probably used brute force. Why didn't they allow the owner to hold the dog?!

If it was a human instead, would things have been the same? To these people, it's a dog, an animal, a hindrance who caused trouble. To the owner, it's their family member.

If the same thing happened to a human, be it in a hospital or prison or anywhere, what will the consequences be? Sadly, I'm quite sure that this will be 'covered up' and written off as a 'mistake' or accident. Even though she's going to get an independent post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death, how much can be done if it's proven that the dog died from strangulation?

For one, you can never bring back a life, a family, a loved-one.

Read about it here:
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_654582.html

.::. Changing Appetites .::.

My taste buds have been changing these years and I attribute that to a sign of ageing.

I never used to eat soupy dishes, yet I go for fish soup and ban mian these years. I would never eat 'Teochew muay' - it was what my grandmother ate!

Yet as I become more conscious of my diet and health, everything changes. I'm trying really hard to avoid things like deep fried foods, sugary drinks (it's been 8 weeks since bubble tea), and limiting my carbohydrate (especially simple carbo) intake religiously to one serving a day, maxiumum!

It's not easy to find food outside that fits these criterias at all. Everything sold in foodcourts and hawker center are 90% flour. A meal with simply vegetables and meat is more expensive than any bowl of noodles or rice.


The boyfriend brought me for 'Teochew muay' that day although I was really reluctant to have that.

Surprisingly, I fell in love with the dishes. I barely ate the 'muay' (rice + water) and I still do not like it (I prefer porridge), but the dishes actually fits into my diet and still taste yummy!

I really love Bak kut teh. I mostly have my bak kut teh fix at Havelock road. It's peppery and the preserved vegetables, pork liver and stomach is delicious!

I recently tried the famous one at Balestier Road - Founder Bak Kut teh. It was pretty good too! The bak kut is alot more tender, the liver and stomach comparable. However, the preserved vegetables is too oily. I don't like the one at Rangoon Road though I might give it another chance someday.

It's probably not very healthy, but still pretty much fits my meat + vegetables meal.

I also tried Saladstop for lunch that day, after hearing raves about it.

This was 'Tuna-san', with seared tuna, tangerines, peas, cherry tomatoes and avocado. It was really yummy, apart from the fact that it costs $13! $13 for a bowl of vegetables! That's 3 times the price of a normal lunch.

Just a few months ago, I was lamenting about the price of salads. I can't really understand the long queues at these over-priced salad-bars. Yet after a few months, I became one of those in the queue.

I remember that day. I went to sign my contract for my new job and decided to 'reward' myself to a good meal. I packeted this and a cup of fresh orange-carrot juice to my desk. It felt really good. I felt like I'm really pampering my body with these vitamins.

It all slowly made sense. Healthy food should cost more.

Take it as paying for better health and saving on medical fees. Instead of eating empty carbohydrates with simply flour and little vitamins and nutrients, feed your body with these goodness. Now, I stuff myself with fruits and vegetables, fresh juices and salads to make sure I get my vitamins everyday. I avoid carbo as much as possible to help fat-loss. I want to glow with good health and cure my eczema!

It's easy for me to avoid rice. But I love noodles. It's a struggle to abstain from it every meal though I give myself a break on some days, especially weekends. Slurping noodles becomes a luxury.

It's been 8 weeks since I started on making a conscious effort at change. Being creatures of habit, it's never easy. Yet when you feel your body changing, it's easier to make that informed choice and sacrifice for yourself.

My super-fit colleague at 40 who looks super good in a bikini, with 6-packs (after 3 kids!) told me - she believes that change could only happen if it comes from within. One must really want to change from the bottom of their hearts, otherwise any nagging and preaching will not work. I have lost 4kg and many inches after the inital spike in weight (I attribute that to muscle gain), and I'm hoping to lose at least 7 more this year. I want to have muscle tone and look good in a bikini even when I turn 40 and have kids too!

"It is important to realize that every time you eat you have the opportunity to choose to make your body better or worse – your choices and behaviors either move you towards your goals or away from them." - Bodyrock.tv

The next thing I would like to do is to de-clutter my room and start trashing the things which I do not need! Clutter drives me crazy.

This year, I will achieve all my goals.