Next to clear is all the happenings in the first two months of 2017, which honestly passed in a flash...
2017 started with us doing good; could use some good karma definitely. But it's really more self-enriching than helping others. I got to fry some eggs in the end!
New year new brain! Actually this pig brain from HDL came first but I really don't want this to be the first pic of the post lol. Had it during our make-up celebration for korkor's bday (postponed cos all fell sick previously with Salmonella)
Then JPO shopping with this little imp For CNY clothing
Town Square opening treated me with this view but also took one fine Sunday morning away from me. Haha
Then dinner with this babe looking way too happy seeing her favourite food getting caged up. I still don't understand the concept; the cake has wings?
And then BBQ with this gang. We also have our first pair to be engaged. Guess which!
Then took time off to attend this talk at the other end of the world (read: NTU). It's freaking Muhammad Yunus! The queue was so long when we arrived it felt unreal... Some learning points but I shall not bore them here
Then it's time for 团圆饭！Sis and family made it back in time this time round. And we also got to play some mahjong after dinner! 守夜 plan didn't really worked out though haha
CNY was the usual bainian and collecting of angbao, other than the fact that it was twice my usual load cos I'm now half of a pair! Big families on all fronts haha
Also, I was in maroon pants, so matchy matchy! (Got a small stain on my sleeves and got my helper to wash it off... But she washed the whole shirt! So was walking around my house (thankfully) half-naked and spent the afternoon trying to dry my shirt with a dryer haha). Headed over to her mum's side for dinner and watched BFG; glad at least some familiar faces were seen haha
This 初一 movie thing is becoming quite the trend. Kungfu Yoga is as you would expect of a CNY lame movie
Her dad's side on 初二！The smallest and also the only family that takes family portraits for CNY so far
And once again, exit plan haha. Siam when we can!
初三 was a holiday but was rather calm. I honestly don't remember what I did though we were supposed to head to Kukup for my Mum's side - the plan fell through as expected haha. Too major a project
CNY is 15 days long for a reason cos there's just so many groups to celebrate with. Here are some of my lovely colleagues! I remember this was a Wednesday cos I went back home to run for work-life balance before joining the gang hahaha so 初四
Then it's 初七：人日. Everyone's birthday! And this is the 盆菜 that I looked forward to every year. Sumptuous is an understatement...
Then we also went Grace house to 拜年 the next day but somehow we missed a photo taking opp this year. Oh wells.
Next thing we knew, it's Valentine's Day! Or rather, it's early V'day celebration time (as we usually do). We went to Bangkok! Sort of... Haha
Then it's the IHG season - a disappointing one but memorable nonetheless. Maybe I'm used to being call upon from the bench as a regular bench player, the urge to play was so strong I sought coach's glance every time he needs a sub haha. Good times man...
Also met the Energy gang for this. It's only been 3 months since orientation and we are already one man down haha. Please at least stay through the first 4 years with me, rest of you guys... Side note: Yoogane, not worth!
Deputy Prime Minister Tey for the weekend. Was fun facilitating the Singapore Model Cabinet! Some of these kids are definitely smarter than me in many aspects. Heartwarming to see many theoretically feasible recommendations put out by these kids (really just few years younger max)
Then this: first time organising a panel discussion and Singapore: Smart Enough? was a huge success! Didn't go as philosophical as we wanted to but thought-provoking nonetheless! Thanks for the intellectual night, everyone
Next evening was this: SAA 2017. Won one but not really mine anyways. Nice to see all the people I knew there and also to know of so many community service projects NUS students are doing. There's still hope in humanity! Haha. Also, took half day leave for a conference in NTU but decided to pon it cos swimming is live and ubering to the other end of the island wasn't appealing haha
Then this gang whom always reminds me of good times; always a joy hanging out with them despite us all being so different. Somehow.
Then a random night at CHIJMES with Hing May & Zong. Either we were hungry or these wings and the truffle fries were awesome; actually, maybe both. I meant, both the wings and the fries.
Then this night when I returned and Lemon insisted on my patting her to sleep; my heart melted. And more nights to come subsequently, gotta refreeze my heart when I go back to office or I'll be losing my job (recent discussions lamented civil servants as being heartless - which I must clarify, misrepresented the writer's original intent - but I really beg to differ; but that's for another discussion)
Then went over to Kampung Kampus at GUI for a talk by Philip Yeo and am still in the midst of reading his biography. Interesting fella and there're many things I (or we) can learn from him as a civil servant, a Singaporean, and a human. Of course, Tay Lye Hock is one impressive persona as well! Met many interesting people there actually and I'm hoping we have the chance to collaborate on something in the future definitely. Starting to like these networking events really
DM duty in the morning was super busy but that's forgettable. First DnD in HDB, amazeballs. Other than the fact that our last two dishes either didn't come on time or at all, the night was amazing! Kumar was the highlight really. And also meeting new and old friends! Hopefully we'll stay in contact with the friends of friends' but I'm sure the core group of branch EM colleagues will stay strong as a clique, right?! (And stay on for at least 4 years with me too haha)
This was Vanessa's highlight of the night lol
Also, say hi to the Branch office colleagues!
And the door gift that I used immediately after lol. Also won a hairdryer which I'm using daily now. Came back and met my Brother downstairs (came back from Kukup, which I was supposed to have went together) and he passed me a weighing machine he won few weeks back from his DnD; guess it was my lucky night after all haha
Next morning, this imp woke me up
And then the next big event was having my think piece published on IPS. Then next followed by an interview on radio station FM95.8 with Charles, discussing on our past projects and general youth perspective of public policies and international relations. Will always remember how the producer (cum deejay) told me "my colleague Mary will pick you up from the lobby" and when I saw 巫许玛丽 and she waved at me, it still didn't occur to me that she's the "Mary" they speak of. Mad respect for the production of the whole program every morning - run solely by the two of them, even down to details and chores such as picking guests up! Very memorable experience. Also, Yixin started testing me on my current affairs knowledge midway and I almost fell for a political pithole giving a response that recently drew some flakes. Thankfully I stopped myself in time and changed course, despite an awkward 2 seconds lag in between haha. Also, thanks Charles for being late to let me say (most of) my script in full for the front part haha
Then another week came and past with a course, a project meeting, and a tea with GD taking up most of the time
Then this thingy popped out; and suddenly we all got levelled up. Meet my grand-nephew (cousin-twice-removed really), son of Calene, my cousin-once-removed. So yea, I'm now officially a grand-uncle and we have 5 generations in our family - 五代同堂.
And then a date with Miss Blur finally, after quite a while
And it was also quite an eventful day, having gone to the Human Library (super super cool I swear - and we wanna partner them in our project discussed just a day earlier at LKYSPP, and I'm already excited thinking about it) and then watched La La Land at the Projector, finally. Haha
Also, buddy Mdm Foo's baby Amanda was too anxious and came out to say hi one week earlier the next day, so here come the madness period of covering!
Shall end off with this photo of me and my new Girlfriend. Ciao!
