Muffin's blog

Christmas a done deal- on to the new year!

2005-12-27T11:16:00.000+08:00

New Year resolutions:

Muffin: To not pee where i am not supposed to.
EJ:To buy no more than 4 pairs of shoes in the year 2006.
Vern: To not fall down and break any other bone in his body.

Well, 2005 has been an eventful year- parents getting legal and all (although I am STILL an illegal dog). I have also achieved maturity!- am now almost full grown doggie. (yes, in all ways..)

Can foresee a difficult year ahead for mummy and daddy..new job for mummy, new posting for daddy, mummy studying more modules..grandparents going over to aussie land for around 6 months, hence more housework for mummy and daddy..

good thing is, parents probably going to europe in may/june for the big honeymoon!
going to cost a whopping S$9,000. Major ouch, but will be well worth it i think..;)

Anyways I also resolve to blog more frequently..hehhee..

Happy New Year to all...;)

Christmas is coming..new year and a new job?

2005-12-10T08:44:00.000+08:00

Hihi..

okay, so its been like a gadzillion years since i posted something up..

christmas shopping is almost done, and overspending is a given...sigh...

newsy news, mummy will be moving to AXA Singapore. effective next year, likely middle of january.. its a french company, no she will not be selling insurance, but will continue to do HR.

quite an interesting workforce from the HR perspective, and of course, a five day work week. salary is acceptable. benefits pretty good. most importantly, a short reporting line, and a seemingly enlightened and dynamic boss.

of course daddy ain't too pleased, but working in an MNC will be a good experience, and mummy hopes to learn a lot. enough anyway, to move to a managerial post in 3-4 years. So, manager at 30 is the grand plan.;)

she will miss her colleagues though, but they have encouraged her to move forward.

Updated updates!

2005-11-24T10:05:00.000+08:00

Morning all...

slow day at the office, or so mummy says..

anyways, my parents figure i have grown to just about my full size..
christmas is coming though..how exciting to have my first christmas..;)

mummy has gone for two interviews...one at KKH, one at Norelco (some sort of hard disk semi conduc company)..and one for SGH next week. well..she sort of wonders if she has been overly enthusiastic about changing jobs, as she really does not want to miss out in the bonus! perhaps she should wait until may or june, then one more semester at NUS would be over and that would be better?

well..bygones.. not like its guaranteed that they will hire me anyways..

end of the year always reminds mummy of 1995..during the christmas carolling thing with st andrews..which come to think of it, led her to join the rovers, and to foster some really good friendships with BLM, Inky, Aung, etc..
also, well, her first ex lar.
that was a small blip though.hahahhahaa....anyways, guess its just something about the rainy weather, the smell in the air, the christmas ding dangs, that just makes one think of old friends, and the time when the year is winding down and the possibilities of the new one makes one needleesly optimistic.

well, back to reality though. Dad's sis is pregnant. Yes, i know, her son is really cute, so prob this baby will be too.
Well, score is officially 0-2 to mum then, and the in-laws have noticed!(think dad's grandma)
well, "Any plans?" Yes, mummy actively plans NOT to.
luckily mum's parents are on her side.
warning to all prospective brides- Yes, they do see you as a sow.

well then, guess i will be seeing some of you at zhiguo's wedding- horror-is that next week?
see the rest of ya all soon..;)

Muffin misbeehaving..AGAIN

2005-11-15T09:22:00.000+08:00

Well..its been around 10 days since i last posted anything..

nothing much has been happening..unless of course you count this!
well..mummy and daddy did lock me out of the bedroom..there's whats left of the "ROTAN" and mummy's slippers from bangkok..

sigh..

anyway christmas is coming, and i must be a good puppy so santa can bring me some big cheewys and doggie biscuits..heehee

Rest of the pictures from Samui

2005-11-04T10:55:00.000+08:00

storm clouds ahead!
beach outside hotel

Day out kayaking and snorkeling..

View of pool...;)
View of tub..

View from the outside of our "villa"

anyways...hey guys...are we going on a holiday soon? mebbe January?? sigh.

A new month!

2005-11-02T10:49:00.000+08:00

Good morning all,

my parents have been away for more than 48 hours, suspect they are at my mummy's parent's place..

well..so many responsibilities being a mummy...busy setting up a joint account and giro-ing all "compulsory" expenditure, looking at the meagre income left over after these expenses, mummy realises that frivolous shoe shopping has got to stop!

how sad that one has to service a 20year loan for a box in the sky.

well, it could be worse!
the calvin and hobbes collection has arrived and mummy is happy with daddy.;) he has unfortunately stepped on his own foot by saying its not a christmas present and he will get her something else.

Schedule for relaxing and eating
13 Nov- Spa, dad and mum will get into some japanese tubs with australian bush flowers or tangerine dead sea salt, get a foot spa, daddy will get ear candling, mummy will get a scrub!

19 Nov- voucher for top of the M will be used.. yummy!

27 Nov- tentatively, facials for mummy and daddy!

Midweek Madness

2005-10-26T13:14:00.000+08:00

A new release of my mummy's all-time favourite comic strip- Calvin and Hobbes has gone on the shelves, unsure if Singapore has gotten it already, so mummy has resolved to hint to daddy tonight to get it for her for Christmas, apparently its around USs$150...but it IS hardcover, so...
but it may be selling out already! sheesh!
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001351239

well, quick recap, Bill Watterson is the creator, the comic only ran for 10 years, he quit after that. despite the lure of lucrative licensing deals, there are no Hobbes dolls (yes, the stuffed tiger)
He said,"The world of a comic strip ought to be a special place with its own logic and life... I don't want the issue of Hobbes's reality settled by a doll manufacturer. "

what a cool guy!

well, mummy use to do philosophy, and calvin and hobbes is really philosophical to her, anyways, here's a few good lines from Calvin:

"There is not enough time to do all the nothing we want to do. "
"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless. "
"I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each other's dreams, we can play together all night. "
"God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind that I will never die. "

excuse the ranting, you can't imagine how sad mummy was when Watterson decided to stop. The New Paper ones are just the simplest strips that he did..ya all should see the full colour sunday strips.;)

"

Updates and Mindless Chatter

2005-10-21T10:17:00.000+08:00

Well...the promised photos have yet to materialise. Yet again, daddy is occupied with ANOTHER presentation for ANOTHER convention. Most silly.

Since the wedding where mummy was given an "instant" double eyelid, one has reverted back to its single eyelid stage, and yet, the other has been permanently (we hope not), fixed!
So, what is mummy to do, suggestions please? she is going to try to make the other eyelid double to even it out..gosh..it was just sticky tape ya know?!?! wish i had a picture to show ya..

daddy has gone on an eating binge since the wedding- now, being stress-free, somehow makes him eat 8, yes, 8 polar chicken pies at one go. His exam results went fine, so goodie, will be getting his specialist diploma as planned, would hope that he can pursue it further so he can get his second degree.;)

well, now mummy is planning, as usual too far in advance, the big honeymoon to europe! They are thinking of berlin, prague, and vienna, here's the link to the contiki tour they are looking at!
http://www.contiki.com/en-PH/Tours/Europe/Getaway.Berlin.Prague.Vienna/Itinerary.htm

then prob they will head down to frankfurt by themselves, or stay in vienna for a few more days..so exciting- slated for middle of may 2006!

anyone been to these places? reviews?

thats all folks..have a gude weekend..i am due for my bath again!

Scandalous! But hey, we're legal now!

2005-10-19T13:31:00.000+08:00

Pictures from Samui!

2005-10-19T11:27:00.000+08:00

Hi people!

here are my parents, happily honeymooning in sunny Koh Samui..more pictures to come when daddy finds the other SD card...

pity no pictures of them on the motorbike, that was really fun!

here at their airport- most alfresco!

View from the villa's balcony..(the hotel is built on a slope)..

Back from Koh Samui!

2005-10-17T08:48:00.000+08:00

Hellos...

well..mummy and daddy finally decided to come back to fulfil their parental duties..they are really sunburnt from snorkeling and kayaking...

they were amazed at the cost of seafood there, and promptly ate until the restaurant had to go out and buy more mussels..

cost of baked mussels with thai basil leaves and lemongrass (approximately 20 pieces)- 50 baht- S$2.
Cost of squid curry- 50 baht, cost of prawn curry-50 baht....you get the picture....

wedding photos and holiday pictures to come later...

on a work-related note..mummy is seriously considering changing jobs...sigh..think things are becoming increasingly intolerable for her, will see how then, have been asked to apply to fullerton, so will try there and see how it goes..;)

4 more days!

2005-10-04T15:16:00.000+08:00

4 more days to the wedding, i sure am excited! dad says he will bring me to fetch mummy on the morning of the 8th,...

Weddings are stressful but find that a good chewy and a good night's sleep always helps..

will be ready to post some photos on Tuesday, 11 October, look out for those then!

Mummy and Daddy in their long- gone youth

2005-09-27T09:52:00.000+08:00

Well...we can see here that mummy has always been somewhat of an exhibitionist..and daddy, well, isn't he alpha with his arms crossed and all...

More pictures to come soon...

mummy bravely went jogging yesterday at the NUS track- feel a bit under-utilised as she only did 3.2km, legs dun hurt today, so can't have burnt any significant fat..sigh..

daddy, well, still in the midst of exams...

oh here's a recent photo, just for comparison's sake.;p

An uneventful week

2005-09-23T13:30:00.000+08:00

After a somewhat exciting weekend, my week has been a pretty mundane one..
can't say i've seen mummy much, daddy is preoccupied with exams..

i am now almost 5 months old, so just a few months more and i'll be full-grown!

I'm hoping daddy and mummy will bring me out this weekend, but they seem busy...so it may just be me, my toy strawberry and pooh bear...

Feel neglected but things will change once mummy moves over 2 weeks from now!

Wraps!

2005-09-19T16:30:00.000+08:00

Mummy went for a wrap on friday evening- weirdly enough, it works! she lost a discernable amount of weight! well, that is to say, not a lot, but worth the money.. and no..its not psychological! (but probably only water weight)

anyways, mummy brought me to see her friends on saturday afternoon, what a long ride! anyways, uncle baocheng, auntie steph, shups and queks were all there.. they said i stinked a bit, but i think its just my macho doggie aroma.;)

3 weeks to the wedding now and things are heating up!

Taking a straw poll- short getaway- koh samui, or chiang mai..
see these two websites and tell me what ya think!
http://www.amari.com/rincome/
http://www.banbureeresort.com/home.html

Whats the story, morning glory?

2005-09-15T15:21:00.000+08:00

Mummy, daddy and all relevant old people went for the food tasting at the Mandarin yesterday, am pleased to announce the banquet menu, unfortunatly, due to the ban by AVA on Chinese pork, there will be no suckling pig..

Cold Dish
Braised Fish Maw and Crabmeat
Roasted Crispy Chicken with Spicy Sauce
Sauteed Scallop with Prawns in Golden Nest
Steamed Soon Hock with Light Soya Sauce
Braised Sliced Abalone with Mushrooms and Vegetables
Braised Duck with Chestnuts and Sea Cucumber
Baked Rice in Lotus Leaf
Mashed Taro with Pumpkin and Gingko Nut

being marine friendly and all, no sharksfin!- not that the hotel gave any discount for that...
tiger beer is free flow- so drink as much as you like, folks!

well..thats it for now..;p

Stinky Muffin & Wedding Preparations

2005-09-14T11:23:00.000+08:00

2 days after my last bath, i'm stinky again, daddy and mummy are frustrated, but i think the solution would be to wash my mouth and face after each meal. i never said i was a low-maintenance puppy. In comparison, big sister Tessi needs a bath only once in 2 weeks. Perhaps females are more hygenic thatn males after all?

Most of the invitations for the wedding have been sent out..mummy realised that many of her secondary school friends know her temasek jc friends who know her NUS friends. Just goes to show how small Singapore really is.

does mummy become Madam Teo after the marriage? or Low Ee Jean, how weird!!

thanks goes out to steph for going with mummy to buy the ribbons and all..how cool to meet queks, baocheng and zhiguo when she only meant to meet up with steph!

More pictures!

2005-09-12T13:07:00.000+08:00

Some pictures taken of me on 11 September..at mummy's place..as you can see, i am getting more grey as time goes on...

i am beginning to like posing for the camera..!

daddy was "team manager" for his department soccer team, so mummy took care of me and gave me a nice bath!

The weekend is upon us!

2005-09-09T13:55:00.000+08:00

Less than a month now before the wedding!
Invites have to go out! Favours need to be wrapped and tagged!
weight needs to be lost! oh my gosh and mummy's tiara hasn't been collected yet!
video montage? oh no not yet done!
thank you speech? nope!
Any volunteers to make the ang pao boxes? Need 2!Beehive shaped, like those that winnie the pooh eats from! Preferably with bumblebees too! Need help!!

i can't carry the rings... i cannot be trusted to behave myself in a public arena! may pee on mummy's gown and chew dad's suit!

2005-09-07T10:24:00.000+08:00

This is me, when daddy and mummy first brought me back..seems like such a long time ago!

i love my chewy!

2005-09-07T09:56:00.000+08:00

Good morning everyone..

here i am, in the middle of the night(hence the night light on the digi cam)..given my favourite snack- a milky chewy! by daddy of course, mummy is asleep already..
see how i gingerly use my front paws to clasp the chewy to ensure optimum eating capacity- it takes me about 40 minutes to finish it! good for my jaws and of course the calcium helps growing puppies!

i'm lying on my blanket, a favourite resting area..just after my bath and blowdry..i must admit a dog's life is a good one!

Bad Bath Days

2005-09-06T15:54:00.000+08:00

Well, this is me looking rather wet, notice that mummy has me wrapped in a pink towel, obviously she is trying to make me effeminate..anyways, mummy is wet too 'cos well, i gave her a hard time..at least now the blow-drying can start..

not my most photogenic moment, more photos to come soon!

Woe is me-trapped on the sofa

2005-09-06T15:50:00.000+08:00

Having contemplated the option of jumping down, I decide that yapping is a better way, at least i won't injure my hand/paw like daddy. ;p..

this usually works unless daddy and mummy are tired, in which case, i will just sleep...

Centrespread pictorial!

2005-09-06T15:39:00.000+08:00

This is me, daddy likes to put me on the sofa, I can't jump down from that height!
But I contemplate it anyway..

boozing and binging in bangkok

2005-09-01T11:00:00.000+08:00

Okies, mummy just wanted the title to use alliteration. bleah..

shopping, eating, massage and transport damage= $600
please do not think this is too much, auntie ling spent a cool 1k..

bought- 3 sets of lingerie (morgan), 2 pairs of shoes, 4 bags, 2 tops, 1 pair of capris, 5 sets of accessories, and so on....

ate coca steamboat, it was great! highly recommend staying at novotel @siam square, near mrt, coca steamboat, shopping streets and isetan (to buy lingerie)!

booze-mummy tried to finish off a lime margarita, but could not. an ang moh approached her but she cut him off- then he asked her to dance, bleah, most not possible. gross!

she also observed that the tom yam there serves as a laxative, it really scrubs your insides clean out!

chatuchak market was gude, but so hot! can only stay for a certain no. of hours, otherwise will faint! must have the patience to dig around!

daddy and mummy will post new pictures of me soon..ya all will be surprised- how big i've grown!

leaving on a jet plane

2005-08-26T10:39:00.000+08:00

mummy's lecturer pointed out that for the year 2004, in asia, disposable income per capita, Japan would of course be the highest, but in terms of the quality of goods and services you are able to purchase with that disposable income, Singapore is actually the highest.

which is of course kinda strange as we all think that stuff in singapore is pretty expensive. the stats, i think were from AC Nielson. Even my doggie food costs a bomb! It depends really, perhaps they did not include the price of cars or housing.;p

anyhow's mummy is off to bangkok to check out what her SGD can buy!

big bad work week

2005-08-25T09:24:00.000+08:00

mum & dad are having a bad week at work

mum: its prob due to her own procrastination and general disorganisation, major stress is causing major shoe shopping urges, but chocolate will always help. bond will be up on sept 17, seriously thinking of leaving after bonus, but its prob just the tiredness speaking..

on the bright side she started on her masters course officially on tuesday-asian mkts & mktg mgmt, quite nice being back in nus and eating arts canteen food..;p..anyways its just a start of a l o n g journey to an MBA..let the photocopying begin..

dad: on full-time study this week, just less than a month away to the final exams and just a week plus to go before the ASMI (Association of Singapore Marine Industry) competition, major stress as well... granny went to taiwan so he has to take care of grandad..

on the bright side they have a spa package which will definitely help..quite cheap! www.simplyspa.com.sg
let me explain- buy $500 get $150 more credit.
each visit $88- dad gets massage + ear candling (1.5hours), mum gets a scrub+ detox soak/wrap/mani pedi or she can get a facial (1.5 hours), not bad right? its based on TCM concepts, pretty nice small place. apparently they won some award at the spa awards.

as for me, i got a caning from daddy yesterday for biting the leaves off plants and biting cables, felt i didn't deserve it, perhaps biting chairs is fine. will try today

2005-08-22T09:37:00.000+08:00

Daddy in a snazzy suit, mummy in a kua

weekend activities

2005-08-22T09:23:00.000+08:00

here's one picture from the wedding album! more to come later..

well, mummy did her hair on sunday, daddy and i waited outside the whole time looking at her. cut AND dye! i was bored, they promised to bring me to east coast park, but it rained so i ran round tessi instead..

mummy is off to bangkok with aunitie ling this saturday, daddy is sulking already. hope she buys lots of things for us though..;)

Married?

2005-08-16T18:26:00.000+08:00

In case ya all were wondering, besides being illegal, i am also an illegitimate puppy. Yes, my parents are not yet married, but will be walking down the aisle on 8 October.

only then can i raise my head up high!

suspect they are not bringing me along though, something about me not being socially acceptable..perhaps they are afraid i'll pee on mummy's gown, hmph, think its just an excuse, i do hope i'll get a sibling soon though, furry or not..;)

anyway will post some pictures of their photo studio tomorrow..daddy sure looks dapper!

Mummy- a sucker for poetry

2005-08-15T18:44:00.000+08:00

well..mummy just wanted to put this online, just'cos she thinks its nice and succinct..perhaps simplistic, but do say what ya all think!
daddy however, thinks poetry isn't macho enuff..ha..;p

Love is Not What Breaks the Heart

Love is accused of much pain,
But it is not the true culprit,
For the true causer has many disguises,
Such as jealousy, hatred, and spite,
Love always comes as it is welcome,
Although it doesn’t always leave when need be,
But either way,
Love is gentle,
Love is kind,
And Love is not what breaks the heart.

Love is most always covered up with lies, Denial, defiance, and insubordination,
These all play a part in heartbreak,
Not love, but who it accompanies,
Love feels good, never bad,
Love only hurts when it must end,
But either way,
Love is gentle,
Love is kind,
And love is not what breaks the heart.

Kelsey Pearson

2005-08-15T10:54:00.000+08:00

this is me, held by mummy at age 2 months..i'm much bigger now!

2005-08-15T10:50:00.000+08:00

Daddy and mummy, wearing matching polos at uncle yan beng's surpise bday bash

Muffin-An Introduction!

2005-08-13T15:39:00.000+08:00

woof woof...

my name is muffin..i was born on april 28 2005, so that makes me slightly more than 3 months old! i am an illegal dog with no registration, however, am properly groomed and fat, thanks to daddy and mummy! (but mainly daddy, mummy tries to starve me.)