Moving back to Singapore, for good.

Sitting in a cafe now, while 2 cleaners in my flat are cleaning it out before I finally fly back.

It's a very bittersweet moment for me, leaving this life in London. Cliche I know but I wouldn't have thought it would be bitter at all. After all, I've always hated the London weather and always been wanting to go home. But the fact is, I've worked here for 5 years. Life isn't particularly easy but I've gotten so used to it. The friends I made, both outside of work and within, make me quite sad to leave. It would be unimaginable to myself just 3 months ago, but saying goodbye to my colleagues as I stepped out of the office for the last time was very emotional.

Nevertheless, as sad as I am leaving this life I currently live, I'm looking forward to the life I will have in Singapore. Finally settling down together with luen. Getting and doing up a place of our own, going on short trips to Bali or Phuket together, getting a car, hosting friends over at our place... I could go on and on. Thinking about all these makes me realise how much I had been missing out on. Well, it's time I finally had a life.

I'm 30 now. Spent almost a decade abroad and away from my family, and five years away from luen. Do I have any regrets? Would I have done anything differently? I don't really know. Perhaps I could have spent more of my youth snowboarding more(but then I wouldn't see luen as much) Perhaps I should never have started playing world of warcraft (but then again I wouldn't have met a bunch of fantastic Malaysian friends). Perhaps I should have abandoned my job 5 years ago and stayed in California. Perhaps I could have worked harder, or involved myself with more of the political tussles in the workplace. Whatever it is, here I am, finally, contemplating my past overseas experiences and my future in Singapore.

So this is it, the end of a long chapter in my life, and also the beginning of a new one.

Inappropriate comment

This conversation took place in the office between me and a colleague. I was standing next to him at that time.

Me: Where did this can of redbull come from?
Colleague: Oh, you weren't here when the redbull girl came around?
Me: Redbull girl?
Colleague: Yeah... oh, she was hot.
Me: Damn it, I missed it.

I walked back to my desk, which was just one more desk away from his. Another colleague was sitting in between us, and helpfully trying to explain to an intern what we do at the desk. I wasn't thinking much about it when I sort of shouted across: "was she wearing a mini skirt?"

Colleague: ...

Me: Sorry, that was inappropriate...

Sesame oil chicken

I visited my maternal aunties a few days ago. It had been so long since I saw them. My third aunt gave me my old passport that grandma had been holding on for me since I was 3. Gosh I didn't realise I was cute.

My aunts reminded me that grandma used to cook for me my favourite dish at that time - sesame oil chicken (aka ma yau gai). I remembered I loved it and couldn't have enough of it. I did try cooking it - but somehow it didn't taste the same. I remembered it wasn't all that difficult, but third aunt helpfully suggested adding the soy sauce towards the end. I told my mum about it (at that point I still called it Ginger soy sauce chicken) and she told me the proper name is actually sesame oil chicken!

Aha! That's the secret ingredient - sesame oil.

Now, back in London, I successfully managed to recreate what I think is grandma's sesame oil chicken. Awesome stuff if I can say so myself :)

If you're interested, here's how I did it (all measurements by estimation).

1. Cut 1kg chicken into big chunks. Ideally drumsticks or thighs. Season chicken with two (or four) tbsp sesame oil, one tbsp light soy sauce, one tbsp dark soy sauce, one tbsp oyster sauce and one tsp salt. Mix well and marinate for 1hr.
2. Fry one two two thumb sized piece of ginger, sliced thinly, with half a clove of garlic, in veg oil (don't use sesame oil as it smokes easily). Fry till browned.
3. Add chicken. Brown chicken ( don't stir too frequently or it won't brown!). Abt 6-10 mins. When almost cooked, add 1cup water. Add 1-2 tbsp dark soy sauce. Add two tbsp sugar. Simmer 2 mins. Add more dark soy/ sugar to taste.
4. Serve, with steamed rice and lots of love.

Wants

I want so many things after window shopping at heathrow terminal 3. Its tax free shopping so naturally it's cheaper.

iPad. This bigger iPhone is so cool. The web browsing interface is superb. And I see how useful the mail, calendar and contacts functionality would make it so useful as a netbook / laptop replacement even. And then you can have presentaions, photos and videos on that little device as well. It's just brilliant! Except my rational mind is thinking that it's a tad expensive and me not being a travelling executive, I'd probably just leave the iPad at home collecting dust.

Bose noise cancelling earphones. For my music listening, movie watching and games playing pleasure. Maybe to cancel that loud noise on trains, flights, and tubes as well. I was thinking I could use a good pair of headphones for a pretty long time, so maybe 250 quid isn't that much to spend.

Mulberry leather hold-all. Man this is purely a luxury item that I know I would very likely just use perhaps 4-5 times a year. But it's so stylish and so functional. Although it costs 895 gbp. The good news is, at the airport, it's JUST 740! Ba I know I don't need one. But then again this is not about needs - it's about wants.

I've been thinking that it's so difficult to pull yourself to your senses and not to succumb to the temptation of spending. Perhaps I should set budgets for myself. I never had the problem of overspending since I'm quite naturally a miser. But it's miserable. With a budget - I can happily spend as much as I want wihin my budget. The problem tho is how much I should budget for these frivolous wants. Sigh.

It is a rather stressful environment

My two colleagues sitting on both sides of me would, when they get upset, slam the mouse down on the table, shout a few "these fckn idiots!", or "why doesn't anything fckn work!" etc. Chillax, I tell them. But they can't control it.

I was given a free stress ball on my way to work the other day. I gave that to the guy on my left, who breaks out into these tantrums most often. It sort of helps - the mouse doesn't get slammed so often now.

But I think I figured out the best method at controlling their outbursts. I am keeping tabs now on who has the most number of stress related "incidents". They compete at controlling their anger. So far its working pretty well - I'm having a more peaceful time in the office. :)

China vs USA

Just a random thought...

China has like trillions of USD reserves right? Lets imagine the scenario where China decides to suddenly dump all the USD in the market. What's going to happen?
- Everyone else is going to dump their USD as well.
- The USD will suddenly cease to be THE world currency
- The US will have difficulty with sustaining their trade deficit.
- The US might default.

Of course its not in China's best interest to do that. But... theoretically... China has the power to do that.

Scary?