Footie Fever

Been staying at my parents' most of this week as I wanted to watch World Cup on Astro (yea no Astro at my new place yet..). Since I'm here I thought I might as well get online and blog, which I rarely get to do so lately.

The Wedding of the Year was last Saturday. Prior to the wedding, I had to keep those eyebags and dark rings at bay, hence I watched the matches selectively. Since the wedding, I've allowed myself to stay up a bit to watch the earlier matches...but at my age I can't wake up in the middle of the night to watch and then live life as normal the next day. I guess I will have to make an exception for the finals. Boy, I remember back in those days it was no problem at all. Infact, I remember having this 11 or 12" black and white TV in my room when I was in secondary school. I'd get up in the middle of the night, strain my eyes to watch the tiny screen in the dark with the volume down. My mom suspected I was up anyway, when she woke up in the middle of the night once to answer nature's call and saw a faint light from under the door..

Anyway, I started developing an interest in football since Mexico '86. I think it all started because Mien used to tell me how her sister was interested in the diabetic Gary Mabbutt, then in Tottenham Hotspurs. She used to show me pictures of him in Shoot! magazine, and then suddenly I discovered there were many good looking guys in football! Hence the beginning of the interest...ah well you know, at puberty..

So since there was the influence of the English League ( back then it wasn't called EPL), naturally when World Cup came, I supported England. And I've not liked Argentina since the Hand of God incident! Anyway, since I'm footy nostalgic now, I unearthed some old autographs from some footballers. I used to write to many clubs, but my favourite was Everton (because of Kevin Radcliffe and Gary Lineker). I used to fancy Lineker so much that I used to call myself Lynneker.. Anyway here's what I have:





Nigel Clough
Nottingham Forest


















Keith Houchen
Coventry City


















Bryan Robson
Manchester United














Paul Power
Everton














Gary Lineker
Barcelona














Neil Webb
Nottingham Forest


















Bobby Mimms
Everton

Peter Reid
Everton

Nail it!

I went for my first ever manicure and pedicure last Friday. I've always thought manicures and pedicures to be a waste of money ( I still do) but I did it because of the camaraderie of it. A girlfriend of mine got married last Saturday, and a group of us girls decided to get our nails done.Although I didn't go with the bride, I went with my co-bridesmaid. I had my nails done at Scentsual (nail studio) in Plaza Damas.

It was quite an experience though. The whole session took 2 hours!! Never in my life did I expect it to take so long, I thought it would be over in an hour. They really cleaned and removed all the dead skin at the edge of the nails. I think the girl who did my feet was quite shocked and disgusted at the state of my feet....You see, after all the years of running, my toes are not rounded...it's kind of flat at the base! Plus it is badly calloused and she had to rub my feet pretty vigorously with a pumice stone!I think what really shocked her was the big blister caused by my New Balance 901s!

I wouldn't pay that much for manicures or pedicures, but I guess I would not mind pampering myself once in a while.(very very blue moon). That's it. I need to become a tai tai.

Not Irish!

I had never fixed a fluorescent light in my entire life. Not until last Monday! Sounds silly but I kinda felt proud of myself, as I fixed it all by myself (with much prayer really). I guess I'm not Irish after all..Changing the tube wasn't difficult. What was really difficult was trying to remove and put back the glass cover. Was worried that I'd be Ms Butter Fingers and drop the glass dish...

I think ever since, I've had a fetish about lights. Went out yesterday and bought a couple of light bulbs..

On the workout front, I have been diligently going to the gym, but I've been eating twice as much so I guess it negates the entire purpose..

First cookout in my new kitchen

My whole upper body is so sore after yesterday's workout. My lats are sore, my chest is sore....for those of you who are undergoing vocal training, bench presses and dumbell flyes are great for "opening up that rib cage". My rib cage felt absolutely loose after those exercises! Ran the usual 6.6km this morning, but I was so unbelievably tired after 1.5km. Just had to push myself after that.

I've set up the DVD player in my home already. I also had my virginal cookout in my home and invited my parents over. The menu yesterday was:

• Pan fried lemon-garlic-parsley chicken
• Grilled mushrooms
• Buttered corn

Mom approved of the meal..she's normally very critical. She actually said it was "ho chiak" (nice to eat in Hokkien). Oh I forgot to take photos... never mind...

After they left I watched a bit of Nanny McPhee but fell asleep halfway...Then woke up and watched the Spain vs Ukraine match, but decided to call it a night after Spain scored the 3rd goal....

I'm getting attached to my new home but at the same time I miss my old home because of my dogs.

Idiot Box

At last! Finally fixed the TV in my new place. No, no 29" plasma TV or anything..It's a tiny tiny TV which I brought from my room...16". Even my computer monitor is bigger than that...

I don't have Astro though. Anyway I am not much of a TV person but I watched the Australia vs Japan match in my new place yesterday. Next I'll have to fix my dvd player...

My latest heartthrob!

My latest heartthrob is.....


Just watched "Wimbledon". Gosh I feel like I'm half my age!!

Last 12 months

It has been 12 months since I first started blogging. I decided to join the blogosphere because I thought it was a great way for friends to know what's happening in my life. When I'd first started, I made a list of resolutions. In retrospect, I know I've grown a lot and had to make many decisions of my own. Although I have not fully moved into my new home, getting my own place was a good move as I had to grow up a lot and had to be more responsible for myself. Here's looking at my list of resolutions which I made last year:

1. Lose weight
Ok, like I said this is a life long resolution. I don't think I've gained much nor lost much weight in the last 12 months. On going process.

2. Start preparing for marathon
I started preparation for the Singapore Marathon but my training was foiled as I injured my left foot in the process. By the time my foot healed it was a bit too late to prepare for the race as my schedule was thrown off. Ah well, I hope to be able to run annother marathon.

3. Join kickboxing class
Ok this never happened...

4. Move into my new home
Almost there!!

5. Join BSF
I finally went for the intro class but unfortunately the actual classes are held on Tuesday evenings again, which clashes with my work schedule. I'm hoping that they'll one day have it on Monday or Wednesday so I can join the classes.Next round I guess.

6. Shop for new hamster
I did buy 2 new hamsters but they died within a month. Oh well..

7. Read the books i've purchased but never read
I may not have read ALL the books I've purchased but i am getting there..I am trying to read more frequently.

If people read my list, it would seem that I haven't achieved much. But honestly, I know I have come a long way since last year. Inwardly, I am growing and am still learning day by day. I think the most important item on my list is movin into my new home, whereas the others are a bit more frivolous. As I've said earlier, although I have not fully moved out yet, I know I am doing it progresssively and that's what counts.

I'm also really glad that in the last 12 months, I had the privilege of getting to know some of my friends at a deeper level. Praise God for that.

Blister blaster

I did the unthinkable yesterday. I tore my blister. (Maybe Silas is my middle name). It was painful at that moment but today it's red, dried and wrinkled like a preserved cranberry...Pain has also subsided today so I shall be able to run freely tomorrow..hurrah! Must use my New Balance 1060 instead of 901..

Running "cilice"

I am still a die hard Saucony fan. I've owned over 10 pairs of Saucony and NOT 1 has given me a blister. New Balance however, has FAILED to measure up to the standard.

Tried my 901 last Saturday on a 7km run. After 1 km my left arch was already sore..at first I thought it was the internal soreness which I had earlier, then I realised it wasn't soreness - it was a blister. I was truly disappointed as it was a nice pair of running shoes, but alas, it gave me a blister.

Nevertheless, I ran through the pain and completed the 7km.

Gosh I felt like Silas in Da Vinci Code.