Lights, Camera, Action!

This is the theme of this year's D&D.  Hollywood!

Been thinking what to dress up as... this year I wanted to be pretty (since last year's Tinkerbell was a cute character) & I wanted to wear a wig.  Don't know why but I just felt like wearing a wig, haha.

About 2 weeks before the event, beloved hubby accompanied me around to look for the right "props"...

That day hubby had work to rush so unable to take half day leave.  So we went for Plan B - booked a room @ Fairmont.  We'd early release (@ 3.30pm) but I left office at noon.  We checked in during lunch & brought all the stuff to the room before hubby returned to office and I went to a doctor nearby for my rhinitis condition.  Even went Orchard for a walk & returned to the room 4ish.  This year was a more relaxing one compared to last year's when I'd 3 ladies in tow (all 3 of them did not attend this year's).. I & A preferred to go home... it's good to be having the toilet all by myself :P  The timing was perfect.... hubby reached just before I was done with my makeup & in time to help me with my wig.

All ready!

Guess who I was trying to dress up as??

 

 

Thought I looked very different with the blue wig but my boss could even reognise me from the side when I was about to enter the hall!  Some colleagues from the ex-team happened to see me & they spread the word around & many more came to my table to take pix, haha.

 

The first pic with I & A

 

Took with my "visitors" - Mel & Serene behind me ;)

While we're looking for I who went drinking with some of the team members, a Partner got us to take a pic with him!

 

With boss!

 

Another lovely shot with them

Like this!

A shot with J, A & Serene before walking the red carpet ;)

 

With buddy, C

This was really funny. 

At almost the end of the night, our big boss came to me & wanted to take off my wig.  I stopped him from doing so &, in order to deter him, told him that on 1 condition that I'd take my wig off.. that was, he'd have to wear it.  I didn't expect at all that he'd agree! 

I stunned for a while before trying to pull it off, together with the netting, in style (think about those shampoo advert haha).  Then I asked if he'd mind wearing the wet wig which was all drenched with my perspiration.  I guess by then he couldn't back out so he nodded.  So I slapped it on to his head while those around were laughing away & J took some shots.

 

I am proud to announce that I managed my 5-inch heels very well till.....

.... I met my black cat - Max, the crazy French man.

After dancing for a while at the dance together with my fun loving (ex)team, he pulled me away from the dance floor & towards the stage.  I panicked & tried to get hold of a table, then a chair.. the only objects that came my way.  I eventually broke loose from his grasp & ran back to my group & that's when I tripped on the carpet & fell!  And I had to make him promise me that he wouldn't attempt to drag me up the stage before I got up.

And he, also volunteered to carry my handbag when I was dancing.  After some time, I couldn't find him... he disappeared like 10mins.  I was worried that he's drunk & might just lying somewhere or even went home with my bag! Worriedly I walked off the dance floor, wanted to go find him.  A few of my sweet colleagues, Mel & J, noticed something amiss & caught up with me.  After knowing what happened, they reassured me that they'd definitely locate him.  Shortly after they really found him with 2 mugs of beer which he claimed one of them was for me!  My black cat......!

(Above photos were taken during the dinner.  Suddenly he snatched my cam & started snapping away) 

Another pic with some good friends (from ex team) & ex-boss on my left.

With more from the previous team!

 

There're so many of us (like 2,000 that night?) that we're like playing hide & seek & it didn't help that I was wearing colored lens.  During one of the searching rounds, 2 Caucasians (yes, I don't know everyone in the firm despite working there for 3 years) stopped me...

 

C1:  Can you tell us who do you dress up as?

Me:  What do you think?

C1:  Katy Perry?

Me (delightedly):  Yes!  You've guessed it right!

C1:  I told him (pointing at C2) that it's Katy Perry but he said it's xxx (I couldn't make out of what name he said as it's a lil noisy then)..

C2:  You look very beautiful (with C1 concurring).

Me:  Thanks.... but just not Katy Perry.. Haha..

They continued with some small chats but I was more eager to find my friends.  So I wished them "have a good night" before carrying on with my search.

 

It's a kind of recognition as someone could tell who I was dressing up as!  Frankly I did not expect such limelight that night (realized that I was the only blue-haired gal & hence easily recognizable).  The colleagues been really supportive & everyone was full of praises... I'd Partners wanted to find out who I was too!    Enjoyed the night being (somewhat) like a celebrity.. with the total support from my loving hubby ;)

Colleagues Week!

I don't usually go out with colleagues as I feel spending more than a-third of every weekday together in office is enough.

But the 3rd week of July was different ...

Drinks at Club Street's Platters

Seafood buffet dinner at Ellenborough Market Café

Farewell dinner for Kendrew @ our current fav Chinese restaurant - The Star Vista's Canton Paradise.

He returned to Sydney where he's got a better job offer.

Month of March ...

A pre-BD treat for my Honey a day before his birthday.

One of his favs - pizza!!

 

Birthday dinner with the siblings @ Kiseki Japanese Restaurant.

Thanks Ben for the treat & vouchers from the sisters! :)

 

My first celebration started on Mon.

Western set lunch @ A'Square.

 

It's an international birthday week with colleagues ;)  On Wed, I had Japanese lunch treat from Ibrina and Korean lunch with Cindy on Thurs.

 

 On actual day, Jap lunch again with buddy Adeline.

 

Lil surprises from colleagues of other units

(the choco almond Danish was from Tiong Bahru bakery).

As I'm in a locked up area, they tried all means to get the lil treats to me.

I'm touched ..

 

Birthday surprise from hubby dearest :)

& photobombed by Simon!

 

Nice! Muakz!

 

Generous serving of my fav food! :P

Coincidentally Chinese food was booked (weeks ago) which completed the 'international' range of cuisine I had for my birthday :D

 

Lava cakes...... & more lava cakes!

Yummy!

 

Then the finale of both of our birthday celebrations was a short trip to HK at the end of the month :))

NY Gift

The bacteria infection has knocked me out the whole week.

During the initial few days, I had varied symptoms every day... Day 1 - dry sticky throat.  Day 2 - throat congested with phlegm & a lil sore nasal path.  Day 3 - Kept sneezing for whole day with phlegm in throat.  Day 4 - Super runny nose & lots of phlegm in throat.  Day 5 - Nose completed congested.. couldn't breathe!  Day 6 - Runny nose & high fever.  Doses of medicine made me drowsy & disoriented.  Day 7, 8 & 9 - nose congested with thick mucus & lots of phlegm in chest.  For more than a week, hot water was my best friend & I went dessertless.  And I had soupy meals throughout.  It's pay back time.  I've had too much curry, deep fried food,desserts & chips.  There's a period, I wouldn't go to sleep without a bowl of our sea salt potato chips. Tsk tsk tsk.....
What a gift I got myself for the new year :(

I started to feel better today & had 2 treats of PS. Café desserts.  Greedy!  Seeing that I was sick & down for a week long, Cynthia wanted to cheer me up so treated me to the first at PS. Café A.S.H Park after lunch.

Indulged in my 2nd dessert of the day with beloved after dinner at Palais - ginger pudding + carrot cake :P 

 

I better be good as definitely don't wanna be sick during CNY.

Blessed Christmas !

Hubby ordered this Durian ice cream log from Scoopz as he knows his wife loves durian (but I'd prefer it more if there's a lil bit of sponge cake in it, hehe).

 

Quite a bit of Christmas meals done with various groups/individuals.

Those with different colleagues were mainly done at Antoinette... Can't believe that I've been there 3 times with different people in less than a week!

  Have way over eaten & spent too much!

 

Had our office Christmas tea on 19 Dec.  It's so crowded & warm at the main reception area so we're happy that we found a cozy cooling corner & some couches there.

 

The Sat of the Christmas weekend, we went for a very nice lunch at Capella.

Weekend Exclusive 5-course Set Lunch.

 

And the usual family Christmas party. 

Only the few of us this year as sis & niece was on holidays. 

 

This year, we're done with Christmas shopping early.. all thanks to  our HK trip where we settled more than half of the presents.  So gift wrapping was also completed quite well in advance :)

A total of 42 done!  42 blessings given out! :) 

My fav wrapping goes to this! ;)

Always A Snack Time

Last Mon hubby & I went for comprehensive health screening, that's from his company.  And I was just shocked to discover that I'd put 3kg in the past 1 year!!!! 

Actually I shouldn't be too surprised as there's always endless supply of bites in the office.  Besides those bought by the ladies, my team travels frequently & here're some of the snacks they brought back for the past 2 months..

Nice chocolate from Bulgaria. 

V brought this back from Melbourne & I love it!  So placed an order to K who went back to Sydney to work for 2 weeks.  Nice!

And he also bought Lamington.

Chongqing tidbits from Sha.

Even Jen who visited HK, brought some nice egg rolls back.

Goldilocks from Manila.

This the latest (last Thurs).  Boss bought this in Osaka & he asked his wife to specially deliver a box each to E & I as he made his next trip without stepping into the office.  It's something like mochi in original & green tea flavour but a lil too sweet.  I'm touched though :)

Tink !

Had been trying to find a suitable character for myself since the D&D theme was Once Upon A Time... something about fairy tales.  Initially thought of dressing up as an (random/nameless) angel.. just wanted to doll up & be pretty for that night. Then  when hubby suggested Tinkerbell, my first reaction was "NOoo!".

2 weeks before the event, we went to this costume house at Toa Payoh... it's huge!! Nothing caught my eyes & I definitely didn't want to be Snow White or Mermaid! Then we saw Tinkerbell's outfit & I thought it wasn't that bad, the skirt was a lil too short but definitely I'd wear shorts :)

Dearest hubby was amusing himself in the shop!

Days before D&D, I was busy getting all things ready & finding solution to a situation which I was stuck in - S said would follow me home as she wanted me to do makeup for her & C wanted to have afternoon tea together before the Dinner (& I felt obliged because C said she'd go because I asked her to).  And even though we'd have an early knock-off @ 3.30pm that day & hubby had made prior arrangement to drive me office-home-MBS-home, I foresaw that by the time I reached home I'd only have time for myself. Hence after much consideration & discussion with hubby, we eventually rented a room at MBS, so that the ladies including myself could get prepped/have tea in the room.

That day, as planned, we left office at 3.30pm & hubby drove us to MBS.  We're glad that hubby came as there's a long Q at the taxi stand & it's changing shift time so not easy to get a cab.  After checking in, hubby did his work in the hotel room with his laptop while the 4 ladies busy dolling up, chatting, sipping tea & having dessert.  I was the first to start preparing so I could help C & S.  But I made a big blunder :(  In order to have the best effect, I bought a pair of blue lenses.  But I have totally forgotten about it till I was 80% done with my makeup.  Having (almost) perfect eyesight meaning I didn't need to wear contact lenses, I struggled with putting them on (which took me more than 15mins) & then trying to remove them as they pricked my eyes.  After more than half an hour's attempts, my whole face was soaked with perspiration & yes, my makeup completely ran.  So I gotta remove all my makeup.. & started the whole process again.  I was really upset with myself especially after so much fuss & delays, I still went sans blue lenses!  And threw $24 into the bin!  But the 3 ladies had been really patient with me... none of them chided me for wasting so much time & still tried best to not disturb me.  When I was done, it's already past 7pm & we supposed to be down @7!  In the midst, I only managed to help S with the eyeliner - the Queen must have fierce eyes!

Upon checking in, I told MBS we're celebrating a friend's birthday (S' fell on this month).  And they delivered this to our room.  So we've a free afternoon tea (in-room TWG tea + Raspberry Choco cake)! ;)

Helping C with her hair.

Notice mine's quite blond?  Hubby & I searched for colored hair spray & hubby helped to spray on after I was done with dressing up.  Everyone's impressed with the effect! ;)

Ok all set!  & it's already past 7.30pm!

We then realised that it's a looooong walk from the hotel to the convention centre.... from one end of MBS to the other end - down the escalator - through the casino - past the shopping mall to reach 5 levels of escalators before reaching our destination.  Of course, we attracted many stares.  It's my first time :P

While we adjourned to the D&D, hubby enjoyed his dinner at Kraze Burger & then went back to the room to continue his work.  And yes, he confessed that he played with the blue lenses but failed to put them on, haha.

It's a night of fun for us...  Took lots of photos with buddies Cindy & Adel & the group. Boss wanted me to sit with the team but I preferred to be with my friends (& a group of us formed our own table).  So I'd to also run between my table & the teams'.  Happy that I didn't choose to dress up as an angel as there're many nameless angels around that night.

Love this!  The hall was so big that we kept missing each other & it's impossible to Whatsapp/call as the connection was bad!  Imagine... there're 260 tables (x 11 pax/table) & how many were using their phones.

So we're like long lost friends when we finally bumped into each other :D

Towards the end of the dinner, I joined my team & got stuck there (when the ladies went back to the room to get their stuff, they told hubby I was missing! hehe).  By then many members in my team were seriously intoxicated.  One of them told me that they'd been drinking since the start of the dinner... & instead of being served by the waiter, they asked to have the whole bottle of red wine left on the table & the flow of red wine never ceased!  Well, I guess that's the privilege of being at the VIP table.  But I really thank God I wasn't sitting with them!!

After a few dances, I "danced" off to the exit & hubby was waiting for me downstairs to fetch his Tinkerbell wife back :)

Finally, a pic with my beloved when we're back in the room, before ending the night.

Rise & Shine the next morning.  We got a nice city view room :)

At least it didn't waste all the efforts in preparing & I have my beloved hubby to thank! From shopping around for ideas, searching for suitable characters, going to/from the costume shop a few times (not only for myself but for a couple of colleagues too!) to looking for other accompanied items for the character, hubby had been so supportive that as if he's the one who's going for the event.  The ladies were in fact impressed with how hubby took care of me & they kept asking "ok tell us, what else did you do/pack by yourself??".  Yes, I'm so blessed to have him!  Thank God!!  And thanks honey!  Muakz!!

Once Upon A Time @ MBS

I had my company Dinner & Dance last Fri & the theme was Once Upon A Time.  It's a night of fun & photo taking :)


Which character is this? ;)






A group pic

 


It's such a coincidence that my boss dressed up as Peter Pan haha!





Table hop! 
We're sitting far apart that night - my team's was right in front of the stage, the VIP table,
but I chose to sit with my friends which was right behind, near the entrance.


 

 

Posing with good friends






Busy night as I was moving from table to table.  Food wasn't the focus for most of us!





An inter-unit picture :)
The one with turban is our big boss.
See 朱葛亮 in the middle (he's actually my boss when I first joined in 2008)?
 When we're about to take picture, he started to look for something on the &
those around him helped in the search too.
Just when I wondered what was lost, he whipped up his feather fan (朱葛亮's signature)
out of no where.  Lost & found!  Ha!



Those in the leadership team dressed up as Indian royals.



Pretty witch

Some pics! (taken from friends as I was busy catching up with different friends and didn't get to take shots of some interesting characters)



When Genie met Moses :)