The Unbalanced Libra..

I've been craving for my JB Bak Kut Teh since i came back from New Zealand about a month ago.. There is this particular shop that sells really delicious bak kut teh, and K and I used to go there a lot when we were doing our wedding photos..  The Singapore version of bak kut teh is usually where the soup is clear-based and really peppery.  but the ones in Malaysia (which i prefer) are usually brown based soup with herbs.. Until now i still can't find a place in Singapore that sells really nice herbal bak kut teh.

So on Sunday, K and I went into JB and had bak kut teh for breakfast.  The initial plan was to go with my in laws only.  But in the end, K's sister, grandmother and auntie came along too..haha.. I felt like a big shot, because of my craving so many people go JB so early in the morning.. = )  The downside was, i didn't have my fill of the food.. cause too many people sharing, and we didn't order a lot, plus we wanted to go for an early lunch before heading back to Singapore.  So i told K my craving still not 100% satisfied.. =P

After breakfast, we headed to Giant for some grocery shopping, then had lunch at this Korean restaurant before driving back to Singapore.  K and I spent the rest of the day in Singapore viewing properties with my in laws..

For dinner, we had the balance preserved vegetables and beancurd soup that K cooked the day before, grilled teriyaki salmon, and otah otah with  brown rice.. And we watched "24" while eating.. in fact, we've been addicted to the show since K finished downloading the latest season!

I think i am becoming a marketing research addict.  I've been going for quite a lot of surveys and focus group discussions lately, and they have been my constant source of income.. haha..

The last one was the Nokia mystery shopping, then this morning K and I went to Science Park to have our fingers pricked and our glucose level tested as part of a marketing survey.  This company that makes and sells needles were testing to see which of two types of needles they make hurt more when pricked.  Then as a "bonus", they tested our glucose levels.  Monday, i am going for another 2hours focus group discussion on using government online services... haha.. i am actually enjoying it.. quite fun, (sometimes) got free food, and some more can get paid.. = )

After the needle prick experience, K and I headed to IMM for some shopping, since we were already in the West anyway.  I finally bought my lingerie.  3 panties, and 3 bras (2 "wireless", and one strapless).  The "wireless" bras are so comfortable i was tempted to buy more. It's been such a long time since i wore one without underwire that i forgot how comfortable it can be.  Think the last time was when i was in primary school! I also bought a pair of pastel pink flats for $10.  Super good deal man!  This was actually the first time i actually felt like i was shopping cause i actually bought something.. haha..

K and I walked past this toy shop, and saw this really adorable Elmo soft toy.  We decided to get it for Hikaru, Ivy's 1 year old son. Since Ivy gave me so many things for my baby / pregnancy.. Plus, her son really loves Elmo and he is just sooo cute!  I myself am in love with this Elmo soft toy too actually..

• Go Shopping!
• Visit a dentist (before ALL my teeth turns yellow)
  
• Buy some shorts for home wear (before my current ones burst from my growing tummy)
• Buy some lingerie (before the current ones burst as well)
• Do up my baby's room (before i go crazy cause i only have 3 months left, and my so called baby's room doesn't look like anything babyish at all)
• Buy some shoes for formal wear (cause i have a wedding dinner coming up, and only my crocs can fit me now)
  
  I am planning to decorate my baby's room with some wall stickers.. Have shortlisted the following, all of which i think are really cute.  Which ones do you like?
  

I met up with J today in the late afternoon at Clarke Quay.  We went to Central Mall and caught up with each other over some Japanese desserts. J had a soft sundae with banana slices, while I had a parfait with fresh fruits and 3 scoops of ice cream. We chatted for nearly an hour and told each other so many stories it was as if we haven't met each other in years.. = )



This morning, the Singtel technican came and install our MIO Home for us.  So now we have videos on demand on our TV!  K and I watched "Confessions of A Shoppaholic" at night.  We still have a few more movies to clear before the end of this month when Singtel refreshes the movies..  Then again, most of the movies are really old ones, like "Jumanji" and "Edward's Scissorhands"... super super ancient loh!  Sigh, that's what you get for free, if we want the latest blockbusters, there is a monthly fee to pay. Oh well!

THEN, at night, just before i went to bed, i yanked up my blanket and saw this little fellow on my pillow. = )  At first, i didn't know what it was, cause the lights had been switched off.  So i could only see the shadow and feel something furry.. haha.. isn't he adorable!!  And i thought he was only sold in Tokyo!  I kept wondering when K had the opportunity to sneak out and buy it, since i have been sticking around with K almost every day.  Apparently, he sneaked out last Friday when i went to my grandma's place..

Donald's about the size of a new born baby, so i am cuddling him to sleep every night, and using him to "practise" the correct / most comfortable way to hold my baby when she is born.. haha..

What better way to celebrate Hari Raya than in Malaysia right? K and I spent the long weekend in Melaka with my in-laws eating, playing mahjong, sleeping and shopping.  These were literally the only 4 things we did during our 3 day 2 night stay there.  In fact, baby and I were spoilt rotten during the trip, with my mom in law (MIL) constantly asking me what i want to eat, and ordering all kinds of nice and nutritious dishes for me.  Of course, there was the occasional unhealthy yet delicious meal, usually during supper time..

I found a delicious wan tan noodle stall, had the best fried you tiao, and also ate the well known nonya dishes and chendol that Melaka is famous for.  My MIL had rented a 2 bedroom serviced apartment near the city.  It was a decent apartment, albeit very old and run down. More like a really old HDB flat.  Everyday, we passed our time by eating out, playing mahjong in the apartment, taking naps and then a little bit of shopping.  I didn't really buy much though, cause the things there are either really ugly, or expensive.  In the end, i just bought some pineapple tarts and tau sar peah for my family.


I knew Hari Raya was gonna be a big thing in Malaysia, but i had no idea HOW big it was gonna be.  There was fireworks almost every night.  Not the big scale spectacular ones, but just the normal types.  In fact, it was quite dis-tastely done with no choreography at all.. During the first night, while playing mahjong, we actually saw fireworks display in 3 different locations all at the same time, all viewable from our apartment balcony.  Incidentally, there was lightning during the fireworks display, and i managed to catch a glimpse of several flashes of lightning lighting up the night sky with the fireworks in the background.  The image is just too magnificent for words.. = )

Then there were the prayer sessions at the mosques.. From our apartment, we could hear the praying being broadcast over the microphone / PA system from the mosque from as early as 6am in the morning.  For 3 days without fail..  That kind of became my alarm clock, although i still manage to fall back to sleep every time after that..

On the last day, we checked out and actually drove towards JB for about 45 mins before we realized all our passports were still in the apartment. My MIL had hidden the passports on top of the cupboard, thinking that was a good place to hide them since there was no safe box. She even instructed us to remind her to take them before we check out.  But no surprise, nobody remembered.. SO.. we had to drive all the way back again. haha..

And on our way back, we had one last bowl of chendol, and even aligned the car wheels.   The whole wheel alignment set us back by nearly hours. The stupid man told us it will only take 20 mins.. The first thing he did was take out all 4 of our wheels, so we had no choice but to wait.  The whole thing ended up taking 1.5 hours.  By the time we reached JB, it was already 830pm.  We had planned to have my favourite Bak Kut Teh in JB for tea.  But we didn't even managed to have it for dinner  cause by the time we arrived, the restaurant was closed already.  Sigh.. so sad.. I have been craving for this Bak Kut Teh since i came back from New Zealand.. = (

Bria had her second check up in Singapore today with Dr Lim.

I had shifted my appointment earlier cause i was worried that my food poisoning episode last week might have hurt Bria.  K and I waited for nearly an hour before we finally got to see the doctor.. I don't understand how this clinic works.. First, they don't let me make an appointment.  I was asked to call at 10am in the morning to take a queue number.. And when i called at 10am, i was already number 16 and could only go at 3pm. Then, when i reached at 3pm, i still have to wait for 1 hour.  K was also pissed cause of the wait, plus we "wasted" one hour parking coupon..

Anyway, before our check up, K and I went for the hospital tour.. We viewed a few of their rooms, and also the nursery.. While at the nursery, we saw this really cute and happy baby playing with her little hands and feet while the nurse was preparing her vaccination.  The minute the needle went in, she started bawling like nobody's business.. The change from happy to crying baby was so cute i couldn't help smiling.. = )

During my check up, i told Dr. Lim about my food poisoning, and also my concern that i had only gained 500 grams since last month.  But he assured me that 500 grams is still normal, and it's probably due to all the weight i lost because of my food poisoning.  We also did the ultrasound, and baby's okay.  Dr. Lim said i was slightly anemic though, and needed to eat more red meat..  So for dinner, K bought me a whole roast duck from the duck wholesaler near our place. = )

So glad that Bria is okay!  I got one more ultrasound scan picture of her now, but it's very very blur loh.. I asked Dr. Lim for a better one, but he said it's hard to get a full body photo cause she's getting bigger now..  Too bad..

Recently, i seem to keep dropping things..  and then after that have difficulty picking them up.. When i went to the clinic today, i was asked for my urine sample.. i actually dropped the whole half cup of urine on the floor in the toilet.. sigh.. don't know why i've suddenly turned into "Miss Butter Fingers"!