The Sparkles of Eiffel Tower

These photos were taken in May when hubby and I went to Paris. They were in my handphone all these months...the battery on our digital camera went flat the moment Eiffel Tower lighted up. The sparkles were really captivating...like diamonds and it was really a very beautiful sight. So glad that I still had my phone camera to help me capture the moment. :0)

Christmas Decorations at HQ

These photos were taken last Christmas at my headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. Every year the trees at the parks around the premise of my HQ will be elaborately decorated with LED lights. We manufacture LEDs, so I guess we will never be short of decorative materials everyday. I am looking forward to this year's decoration...wonder if I will go to HQ this Christmas...

My stay at Baptist Hospital...

This picture was taken by my colleague who brought me to the hospital when I was sick 2 weeks ago... They put me on a drip and then gave me 3 gigantic jabs! 1 for pain relief, 1 to stop my vomiting and another 1 for I don't remember what. Anyway, I just want to remember this hospital stay as it must have been one of the "highlights" of my stay in Hong Kong for these past 3 and a half year...*sigh*

I am glad that I had a private room as I was feeling miserable enough being sick and in terrible pain...I would have felt even worst if I had to share room with some other sick people. I have to pay quite a lot for the room though as the insurance coverage from my company wasn't enough. Well, it's just my luck this year! 1st I had some funny rash all over my body in September, then an upset stomach in October while on business trip to Beijing and finally this hospital stay in November...I just hope that this is the last of my bad luck streaks. *cross my fingers*

Pulling through...

It's really getting serious. Last week when Sands decided to stop all its ongoing contruction works in Macau, thousands of construction workers and engineers from Hong Kong went out of jobs. They protested to the government to jump-start public works to create jobs for them. The government replied that they will try but most of the on-hand projects will take at least 1 or 2 years to implement. Then, HSBC announced retrenchment of 450 staff yesterday while Citi Group also announced to cut more than 50,000 positions worldwide. How many more people are going to lose their jobs? What is it like to lose one's job when the festive season is around the corner? It must be really tough...*sigh*

A couple of weeks ago, N was asking me what does it mean when the economy is bad. How do you explain to a 13 year old about the economic situation? How will the situation affect school-going children? Less pocket money? Less enrichment classes to go to? Less restaurant meals? No more exotic holidays? Should children be worried too? I personally do not prefer to worry my kids too much about the situation. We probably have to cut down on unnecessary expenses such as restaurant eats and holidays but surely we can pull it through together, can't we?

Viral Infections

It's been an excruciating week for me...

On Monday late afternoon, I suddenly developed a severe headache and started vomiting. Then I started to feel pain all over my body and my limps felt numb...I thought I was having a stroke or something! It was terrifying and for the first time in my life, I was transported to the hospital in an ambulance as I couldn't walk anymore. I went to a government hospital first and they checked my limb movements, heart condition, blood pressure and temperature at the A&E Department. The results were okay but I still felt pain even though I had a pain-killer jab. The doctor there told me to get admitted but the hospital looked really crappy, so I got myself transferred to a private hospital instead. At the private hospital, I was put on a drip, had my blood taken for tests and did a MRI too. Luckily for me, all the results turned out fine but then I started to develop a fever and the pain didn't go away...

The doctor diagnosed "viral infections" and prescribed a course of anti-biotics and pain-killers for me. I was discharged 2 days later and given 5 days of sick leave to rest at home. I never knew that viral infections can be so damaging...I back at work today but I am still feeling occasional sharp pains all over my body. *sigh*

Being mum

Got a surprise update from an ex-JC classmate today. She became a single mum in September to a baby boy! I am totally shocked! The last time I met her was in February during Chinese New Year at my house and she didn't say anything then! Her baby's father is a married man, she stated simply in her mail and made me terribly curious for the rest of the information that suppose to come with it. I have to find out more! What kind of arrangements did she make with the baby's father? Is he in the know or she's doing it all by herself? I have so many questions! Not because I am being busy-body but I really care for her to want to know more details.

Whatever it is, I think she's has done the right thing and I am happy for her. Having a baby is about the most happy thing that can happen to a woman, especially wonderful if she has it with a loving husband but even without, the feeling of total love for another human being will more than compensate for it. I am beginning to feel a little envious of her now as I wish the 2 children that I have can be mine totally and not have to share with their father...the man who does not pay for the children's maintenance but claim 50% ownership. Isn't it unfair to me? Well, no point whining about it now, I have been letting him off the hook for the sake of the children all these years. And thank God I am making enough money for them. Just hope that the economic crisis won't affect my job...

If all things go as planned, hubby and I should be going back to Singapore for good next year and then we will plan to have a baby together. I am looking forward to being mum again...unbelievable but I am... I can still remember so vividly when I first gave birth to N 13 years ago...it was the most amazing feeling. I didn't know real love until that day; I didn't know what can be so precious to me until N came into my life; she was the most beautiful baby that I have ever seen and I am so overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions that I thought I could faint. It is wonderful being mum, 1st time, 2nd time, anytime. I can't wait to be mum again!

Winter is finally here?

It's finally getting cooler in Hong Kong today. It was 17 degrees Celsius this morning, 2nd week into November and finally I can wear boots! The cooler months are getting shorter and shorter in Hong Kong and because of global warming, it is said that in about 20 years' time, Hong Kong will have no more winter...And it seems that this city is not doing much about conservation. All of its buildings with central air conditioning systems are overly air-conditioned. Although the government's recommendation for room temperature is 25.5 degrees Celsius, most of the buildings have their aircon temperature set much below that benchmark. The amount of electricity this city consume is crazy, yet more buildings are being built, each taller than the previous ones, each made grander by the amount of lights it uses, each with aircon cooler than before...

An ex-colleague who has moved to Geneva with her husband and baby daughter earlier this year was back for a short holiday. We met up and the first thing she commented was the air pollution in Hong Kong. She said that she didn't realise the air in Hong Kong is so bad until she went to Switzerland and the air quality there is just out of this world. Her baby daughter developed rashes in just 2 days being back...poor baby.

According to weather forecast, we are going to have below 20 degrees Celsius temperature for most mornings this week. So I guess winter is finally here. :D

The Venetian Macao

Spent a night at The Venetian Macao last Friday and both hubby and I had a wonderful time. It was a long-needed break for us since our last trip to Europe in May. The king-size bed was exceptionally comfortable and I am so glad that hubby finally managed a very good night sleep.

There are two TVs in the room, one in front of the bed and another at the sunken living area. There's also broadband internet access for MOP160 per day and the use of a 3-in-1 printer comes along for free! There are also a selection of complimentary Twinnings tea bags and Nestle coffee. Great for relaxing in front of the TV after dinner.

This is our second time visiting The Venetian Macao actually; the first time being when it just opened August last year. We didn't stay there the last time as the price was really crazy and it was way too crowded then. The price is still crazy now but we have an ex-colleague who is working there and got us a room at staff price which is about 60% off the promotional deal to the public. It was really a steal but too bad he could only get us 1 night's stay...I would love to stay another night! Well, I guess I shouldn 't be too creedy.

We had dinner at Fogo Samba, a Brazilian restaurant serving 15 kinds of grilled meats and the handsome meat carvers will keep bringing their freshly grilled skewers of meats to your table until you tell them to stop. Most of the meat carvers were from the Philippines but there was a young handsome Brazilian with such charmingly beautiful eyes that even hubby was envious of him. :D

The restaurant is great for meat lovers but I am more a fan of the grilled pineapples with cinnamon instead. They are so SWEET and JUICY! Super YUMMY~! The next time I do barbeques, I must do the pineapples too!