Of Xmas and Boxing Day 2011.

I had the most beautiful xmas ever this year (:

Im so thankful that this year not only did I get 2 nights at MBS, loads of good food but I also spent it with such a lovely bunch of people.

MBS was amazing, I love the toilet there. Judge me, but I judge how awesome a place is based on their toilets and MBS is definitely up there in terms of that. I like the fact that there is a shower and a bath tub (it was oh so shiok soaking in it), a separate door for the loo (so when someone else poo- poos, the smell can be contained within) and separate sinks for couples to brush their teeth/prim themselves at the same time. Little things that goes a long way to making the stay more pleasant. The room was pretty nice, not like out of this world but defo 5 star standard at least. Afterall it is a new hotel and new things are always nice. The staff were surprisingly helpful and friendly- happy to provide us with a table and ice and knife and all sorts of funny requests we had. Also, they sent up the cleaning team at 8pm for us (cos we were just lazing in the room for the whole morning) when we asked for it, without any hints of irritation.

Of course, what makes good celebration is always the people. Spending it with the Losers (my sec 3/4 clique) just made the whole stay memorable. Loads of heart to heart talks and catching up and even more loser stories and laughter. Plus this time Huien the lumpsy was back from Aussieland to attend one of her mate's hen's party (gosh people are starting to get married). Xmas eve dinner was also joined by may (a very unlikely friend considering we have personalities world's apart) and mindy and monica who cant stop quarreling with each other. Of course with my family and cousins and some of my brother's friends (kids who really make me laugh). So it was really one nice big gathering!

Now, post- Xmas ... BOXING DAY SALES START! Apparently, its been crazy in London this year, with record breaking sales and a fatal stabbing along Oxford Street. Of course, I have to join in the fun (not in the stabbing), even if im not physically in London. I have scoured through the websites of Topshop, Warehouse, F21, Dorothy Perkins, Ms Selfridge, Selfridges etc and managed to nab quite a few pieces for pretty good prices. Looking forward to them greeting me when I head back to London on New Year's Day. Shopping in Singapore is really getting way to expensive nowadays. I just cant afford anything locally! :( If there is one thing im gonna miss from London, it would be online shopping ... and freedom of course.

But really, its time to come back home. Better to be rough it out when you are younger than later yes?

New Year's coming .. its time to make some resolutions.

I think I shall give up on the whole dieting business this year since it hasnt worked .. since I was 15 maybe?

A week wasted.

I feel immensely guilty that all I have been doing for the past few days are eat, sleep and ... eat outside. Or watch shows on my computer and whatsapp.

I have about 1 wk left in singapore, and Im dreading it so much this time- because there are so many people I would like to have more time with, so many food which I havent had the time to have, and so many things which I would like to do ... and finally, so much work which needs to be done when I get back to London. And this time, with Kiki not around, its going to be pretty lonely (oh so lonely) for me in that empty apartment. Hopefully, I would be distracted by the work and stress of MBBS

And of course, this year, I have chinese new year to look forward to, cos some of the Losers are flying over to spend it with me ... true friends indeed (not tt they did it purely for me). Sadly, CNY has lost its appeal altogether for me- as an older friend told me, Im going to come back to have loads of people asking me "Have you brought your bf home?", "When are you getting married?", "Oh, you must earn alot as a doctor. How much do you earn?" Seriously. And of course, how much I have put on since I left singapore.
Moreover, now I really dont need CNY to see my grandparents and my cousins, they organise so many gatherings that Im more in the loop with their lives now than in the past (when i used to see them once a year).
Of course, with Facebook, everyone knows whats going on in each other's lives (which is a double edged sword since it can be dangerous with malicious relatives too). And having been away for so long, Im starting to appreciate all these little time I have with my family and Im starting to make the effort to go down to visit my grandparents whenever I can. Its scary how much things have changed in 5 years for me- I've mellowed, what I want and what I think is important have all changed as well.

I am looking forward to coming back to Singapore, but I know Im going to complain and cry and whine about missing London and wishing I was back there again. But hopefully, I would be strong enough to suck it up and plod on ... without being jaded and bitter.

Xmas plans!

Its 3 days to Xmas, and Im starting to feel the excitement!

Im currently planning an Xmas eve party at MBS (thanks to my parents for giving me a room all to myself) for some of my friends. The dinner menu is starting to look more exciting ...

1. Starters- Old Chang Kee curry puffs, squid head etc (Good ol' Singaporean faves. I would ideally like to get the curry puffs from A1 at Taka, but its too much of a hassle to go all the way down there that morning.)

2. Greens- Salad/ Asparagus (Lovingly tossed/ made by May)

3. Bailey's Chicken Wings (Im really looking forward to this alco twist of one of my fave foods ... again by May)

4. Mains- Pizzas from Timbre (Hopefully the duck pizza is as good as they all make it out to be.)

5. Dessert- Ice cream Log Cake from Swensen's (Probably the most chrismassy item on the menu.)

6. Drinks- Diet coke, green tea ... and maybe I should bring in the vodka (which would go well with both coke and green tea.) and fix some sangria as well! (Since i still dont know how to make mulled wine.)

And probably loads of mineral water to get through a potential AI (alcohol intoxication).

I was just wondering if I should throw in some german sausages (but i would make the menu so protein laden which I dont think us girls would fancy so much).

And fruits would probably be a good idea as well ... maybe I could fix a fruit salad yay!

Of course, there would be snacks for us to nibble on through the night and loads of silly games and of course... CARDS!

I think its time for me fix up an Xmas playlist on my Mac now!

Finding joy in things mundane.

Ive decided to spend some time with mom today, after making her upset yesterday (we both refused to back down on our stand on 体罚 for kids). Its good too, cos she is going for the Robinson's Sale at expo and I might possibly just manage to find myself some jewels in the mess there. And subtly try to make up for yesterday, cos Im just too proud to say sorry (and so is she, it runs in the blood im sure).

I had such a wonderful night yesterday with 2 of my besties, Ernie and Lily. Dinner was with Ernie and Greg who brought me to Santouki at Cuppage Plaza for Ramen and gosh, it now stands as my fave ramen in singapore (i like it more than ippudo yes) cos the charsiew there is oh-so-yummy and the egg is like flowy and orgasmically goood! Greg had to leave for a conference call after, but its cool cos I get to spend some girl time with Ernie and Lily who joined us eventually. It was girls activities after-- gossiping over ice-cream (cold stone is gorgeous, gotta love the cake batter man!) and shopping (have to say it still cant compare to London though, and its sooo expensive in singapore nowadays).

I guess you tend to appreciated things so much more when they are scarce- this is only my second night out since Ive started my attachment at SGH!

Lazy day.

I have 1 whole day off today and I dont know what to do with myself. Technically, I had 1.5days off, but I KO-ed for 20h after night take last night.

Should I stay in and do some reading for finals, go into ED and learn more stuff (and since my MO is on locum duty anyways, i could technially follow him around), go shopping (i need to get presents and more clothes) & get my brows done (they havent been touched for months i think) or just stay home and do lazy things like nap and waste my life away online.

Its my flatmate's big day today. No, she is not getting married ('cos that would prbly be alot less stressful than this) but is taking her USMLE. Hope it goes well for her!

Okay, it has just started pouring outside so I guess, i'm gonna stay in since mum doesnt have the car to fetch me around today. And, weve just had a little tiff about caning children (she still strongly believes in it), so Im not sure if she would be happy being my chauffeur.

Zzz, what a lazy day (:

Happy Bunny!

Im bursting with happiness and joy now even though nothing major or different has happened to me. I have just been going to work (which takes up 80% of my life now really), meeting up with the random few friends, speaking to others on whatsapp or online occasionally and having the occasional dinner with my family. Its really ridiculous that such mundane things are making me so happy Im bouncing off the walls most of the time. Im starting to wonder where all these endorphins came from.

Christmas is coming soon- have you guys made plans? As usual, my family is going to be spending it at MBS. Im soooo looking forward to the bathtub again. Its totally the highlight of my stay hehe. Im so planning to soak in there with some nice bath salts with a book/ ipad for at least an hour before dolling myself up, making myself feel pretty and stuffing my face full of good food. And I have plans to get some of my mates over so that we can drink ourselves silly and party the night awayyyyy!

It would be nice if we could do some gift exchange as well, though I have to say that I have kinda reached the age whereby there isnt much things that I would like to ask for anymore and even so, things that I want, arent quite within the affordable range anymore. (Though I wouldnt complain if you sent a charismatic gentleman my way to bring me out for a nice meal.) Plus, there is no greater gift than that of joy, happiness, love and laughter- and basking in the company of my friends would give me just that.

So ... How are you spending your xmas? :D Make sure its filled with love and joy!

Ban Marathons!

I really think that running a marathon screws up any human's physiology somehow. We are just not built to run/ last so long!

It was such an eventful day at A&E today. I was on in the later morning, when people started streaming in for heat stroke and exhaustion from the Stan Chart run. One 22y boy even died from it. SERIOUSLY, is it worth it at all? Is there anything to prove at all with a death like this? Really guys, love yourself more- you are worth more than a 42k run. And think about who you are leaving behind, these people you love (more than your own life possibly) are really the ones who are suffering more.

I wish Stan Chart would just ban this silly marathon of theirs. What are they trying to prove really?

A&E Week 2

Shiftwork really does messes up your sense of time and social life (wait, what social life?). I have completely lost track of time- my days are no longer mondays or saturdays but have all come to merge into 1 long week ... or day. Its now either on or off, nights on or day on, in Resus Room, Critical Care area or just P3 (ie. I dont know why they are in A&E actually).
I know I do sound like Im whining, but I have to say, Im really loving this attachment. Mainly because Ive been meeting such inspiring doctors who have shown me how its possible to be remain true to what we've all set out to be when we first entered med school, how we shld continually up our clinical skills and acumen and not be sucked into the system and become just yet another member of the production line (ordering all the routine tests and making everyone go through protocols for the sake of doing so) and picking up many skills of the trade.

I love A&E, but Im not sure if I would like to do it for life (besides the fact that Ive found another specialty i love more). Yes, it is exciting and yes, as a consultant you probably get to plan your shifts such that you get alot of time off to do other things, but I think what really bothers me (yes, i know you will all say I have a massive ego) is that they seem to have to take the flak from everyone in the hospital- especially when they refer a pt to them. Everyone seems to doubt the abilities and clinical judgement of e-medics and try to avoid their calls as much as possible. I can never phantom why, for 9/10x, their management plan is appropriate. Plus, if you try to avoid all admissions and not have any patients, you cant really be a doctor anymore can you? You probably are just a chap with a MBBS cert.
Pardon the angst but Im feeling really sorry for these AE chaps whom i feel deserve a tad more respect from their peers!

Ok time to get ready to set off for shift work again!