Inspired, some are

Shahnana... yo!
Joanne... yo yo!
Joanne... how's it going down in the hood, yo
Shahnana... guess who's a happy bunny?! thrilled to bits anticipating the weekend?!?!
Joanne... i know!!!!
Joanne... u leaving tomo??
Shahnana... yep!!! yep!!! yep!!! tomoro i leave office at 5pm!!
Shahnana... i'm soooooo excited!!!
Joanne... what time is your trip?? overnight?
Shahnana... we leave s'pore at 7pm-ish
Shahnana... i can't remember how long the drive is
Shahnana... but we reach resort at abt 5am
Shahnana... rest a bit till 9am
Shahnana... and then we do OUR DIVEE!!!!!!
Shahnana... i'm soooooo thrilled!!!!
Shahnana... wish u could come along!!!!
Joanne... u better stay safe, ok?
Shahnana... i will
Shahnana... definitely
Joanne... dont do any antics, thinking you are a dolphin or a stingray
Shahnana... of course lah
Shahnana... i'm very cautious
Shahnana... yesterday
Shahnana... when we did the pool dive
Shahnana... we practised a bit
Shahnana... and im a little bit better with my buoyancy
Shahnana... so it's more fun..
Shahnana... wish me well, ok?
Shahnana... :-))))
Joanne... of course!!!
Shahnana... so so thrilled!
Joanne... i pray that the sea creatures wont be too shocked to see you in their hood
Shahnana... mwahahahah!
Shahnana... i hope i dont cause too much damage to the flora and fauna there!
Joanne... you better not!!!
Shahnana... yes, thats why its important to have neutral buoyancy
Shahnana... thrilled - thats me!!
Joanne... wow, it all sounds very exciting!! im jealous to bits
Joanne... :(
Joanne... i wanted to do that too
Joanne... ok, you must tell me how easy it is and I just might still get the guts to do it.
Shahnana... ok! will do!
Joanne... when you back??
Shahnana... sunday nite
Shahnana... its just over the weekend
Joanne... ok
Shahnana... but im on leave on monday
Shahnana... but will come for gym
Joanne... lets do lunch!
Joanne... on mon
Shahnana... my gyms at 1pm though..
Shahnana... tilll 230pm
Shahnana... u can meet up then?
Joanne... no lah, too late
Joanne... i start at 3
Shahnana... we can do dinner today if u want
Shahnana... i think i'll be working late
Joanne... ok
Joanne... yey
Shahnana... got smokes?
Shahnana... on second thought, no need
Shahnana... i need lung capacity to breathe underwater
Joanne... yes!!!
Joanne... crazy woman
Joanne... i mean yes, you need clean lungs
Shahnana... i cant focus on my work now
Joanne... hahaha. understandable
Joanne... what are we eating today
Joanne... im hungry
Shahnana... got cake here, kristie baked
Shahnana... u wan?
Shahnana... im thinking of composing haikus
Joanne... hahaha
Shahnana... i watched vagina monologues the other day
Shahnana... quite funny
Joanne... your first time??
Shahnana... yep
Joanne... oh
Joanne... saw it when i was still in mla
Shahnana... aah
Joanne... 99 or 98
Shahnana... so long ago?
Joanne... yes, that's why i was surprised when u said u were going for it
Joanne... it's at least the second run in singapore
Shahnana... yep i guess
Shahnana... my haiku: clouds float in the sky
fluffy and light, blue and white
beautiful day
Shahnana... keke
Joanne... hahahaha
Joanne... does it fufill the strict haiky req??
Shahnana... 5, 7, 5
Shahnana... thats all i know
Joanne... im so hungry
Joanne... what shld we eat
Joanne... is your DM hot?
Shahnana... wats DM?
Joanne... dive master
Shahnana... oh
Shahnana... no lah
Shahnana... youngish thing
Joanne... oh ok
Shahnana... i go for 37 or older
Shahnana... haiku 2: my dreams woke me up
im drenched in sweat and im lost
why? where are you now?
Joanne... wah, it should be read to the strains of the Desperate Housewives anthem
Shahnana... haiku 3: the bird chirped and sang
what an annoyance, goodness
i threw an old shoe
Joanne... i can smell a bestseller haiku book already
Shahnana... hahahah!
Shahnana... one mor haiku
Shahnana... online mates, thrilling
i fell for one and floated
i crash to the ground
Joanne... hey be like ee cummings
Joanne... the guy who uses symbols
Shahnana... ok, will try!
Joanne... in his poetry
Shahnana... next haiku: :-) i love smileys yeah!
;-) superfluous they are not
:-) :-) :-* :-& how are you today?
Shahnana... next haiku: love life, love yourself
wonderful feelings engulf
liposuction pls
Joanne... hahahahaha
Joanne... now that is funny
Shahnana... thank you! (takes a bow)
Joanne... looney
Shahnana... next haiku: prata, instant mee
a glorious treat on board
my diving trip.. weeee...
Shahnana... (the last wee is NOT referring to my colleague, ok)
Joanne... hahaha
Joanne... someone is soooo free today
Joanne... lets go eat!!!!

Fort-area South of Market condo unit for sale

After considerable thinking and a serious weighing-in of the pros and cons, I've decided to sell my unit at South of Market.

It was turned-over in late April this year and has since been left forlorn, unoccupied by yours truly in the wonderful area that is The Fort in Taguig, Manila. I only just managed to inspect it, had it blessed, made sure it was spic and span before I had to lock the place to fly back to Singapore.

Now, what am I to do with it?

Two years ago when I signed on the dotted line to buy it, I was single and thought I should get me a bit of roof over my head someplace convenient for when I returned home for good.

I decided on the smaller-cut unit (South of Market calls it a 1-br) as it was the configuration that allowed me to pay the bulk of the purchase price in cash.

But clearly, with my personal circumstances now changed, I've had to rethink my decision re real estate ownership in the Philippines.

For one, I'm married to a man who isn't keen to live in Manila.

Also, the unit can't possibly accommodate the 5 children we are going to have (dreaming...) plus the 2 dogs we want to acquire along the way (this may be more do-able than the 5 progeny scenario).

I could just rent it off, of course. (I've had it listed too.)

Anyway, in case someone is looking to buy a move-in-condition, brand new, fully furnished, fully fitted unit at the Fort, contact me, mate.

The specs: The unit measures 38 sq-m, comes with a parking slot at the basement. Furnishing includes window-type aircon unit, small dining table with 2 chairs, sofa set with centre table, bed frame, flat-screen TV, kitchen cabinetry, ref, cooktop, rangehood, microwave oven, washing machine.

Condo amenities include a swimming pool, a theatre room, function rooms, a fully-equipped gym, concierge and doorman-assisted entry.

This condo development is about 2 blocks away from Market Market and Serendra or about 10-12 minutes of slow-walking away. Bonifacio High St is about 8 mins by foot. Ground level of the condo itself is alloted for commercial spaces. On location alone, this condo is a W-I-N-N-E-R if I do say so myself.

Check out the real estate company's marketing website for South of Market at http://www.century-properties.com/soma/frame_set.html

Will post pics in a while.

Bag hag for a colleague

An office colleague came up to chat with me by my desk today and in between topics he looks at my bag and mindlessly reads the label aloud.

'Miu Miu,' he says. 'Miu Miu Miu Miu.'

Then his head snaps back and he looks at me.

'Hey, you like Miu Miu too?' he asks. I didn't have time to say 'hmm..' before he says, 'You have to meet Amy, a new hire at my department. She's bag crazy like you and she carries a Miu Miu too. Bag hags both you are, victims of marketing. You must come and say hi to her. Come now! Be welcoming!'

I trotted off with him to meet the lady.

My new bag-hag friend is a really cheerful young woman. She's funny, articulate, warm. Like me, she sure can talk so passionately about bag styles and brands! Aside from Miu Mius, we also both like Bals it turns out. No, wait! Let me be accurate here. Make that LUV LUV Balenciagas.

Anyway, as a celebration of our new bag kinship, we've decided to act like schoolgirls by agreeing and solemnly promising to carry our Balenciagas tomorrow for our mutual show and tell.

I can't wait to see her lilac city!

Kill me now! Oh, the shame!

me: mar! ive humiliated myself. sheet na malagkit!
Marie: what do you mean?
me: you and your stupid idea to look up my old HS crush in Friendster!!!! its your fault. you very well know that I don't use friendster except to check on new photos of my nephew. now look what you've made me doooooooo!!! arggggggggggggh, i've humiliated myself and my family's honour!!!
Marie: so??? it's not only you who's browsing.. ako nga maraming nagbrobrowse di ko naman kilala. bakit kilala niya family mo?
me: mar, i didn't know you can track the people who check you out??
Marie: eh wala ka namang nilagay sa profile mo.. malay niyang maraming joanne
me: its worse. i don't care about the HS crush. I checked out my SMC crush!!!!! arrrrrrrrghh. he will think that I'm lame being married and all and still checking him out!!!! arrrghhh. why didn't you tell me that they can check out who checked their profile??? WHY WHY WHYYYYY
Marie: there are 2 of you one single and 1 married malay niya sino
you were too excited my dear even me.. don't you worry.. alam ba niya crush mo siya?
me: well, yeah
Marie: really how come? you sent him love messages ano? you were stalking him
me: but i wanted to maintain the illusion that I've forgotten all about my hang-dog infatuation with him a gazillion years ago
hahahah. crazy woman
Marie: you can never forget you crushes dear..
unless may amnesia ka
me: that's it. I've dishonoured myself!
oh, thanks for making me feel better. really, you can never forget?? i thought it was just me
Marie: i can just see you turning beet red... how lovely colour
pero ang ngiti ear to ear... i can tell
me: i wanted to scream here in the office just now when I realised my folly. no ngiti, i swear, i promise
Marie: hey which one is him nga para i can look.. oh dalawa na tayo
me: just rounded eyes and gaping mouth and a sinking feeling
hahahaha which one? the HS one or the SMC one?
Marie: naku dalawa pala yun..
mey smc ka pa..
ang aga mo namang nagkacrush
me: the SMC one is boring. Name nya lang and that's it
Marie: rommel is from smc ba then naglasalle
me: Mar, not St Michael's College, ok? San Miguel Corp
Marie: hahaha
hehehe
hihihi
hohoho
huhuhu
smc lang alam ko michaels
me: as you can see, I'm a St Michael kinda woman
Marie: yup..
kaya libog ka
both meanings
me: shet!
Marie: hehehe...
alin na nga
me: alin what???
Marie: si rommel?
me: sino na si rommel??
Marie: where is he based now? anong nakalagay sa profile
alin sya dun sa friendster
me: i dont know woman. you're the one who's checking him out
i was checking out my SMC crush, remember??
Marie: i can't check him out.. i don't have the faintest idea how he looks
ahh.. so humiliated ka sa smc.. kala ko ke rommel.. wow

Here we go!

I'm going to Manila on Sat and will stay for 9 days. This will be my first trip home this year, which makes it 8 months since I last visited.

When I was a newly expatriated Pinoy, there was no way you could have asked me to stay in SIngapore for 8 months straight without a Manila break in between to refresh me. During those early years, I saw myself as being submerged in water while I was working in Singapore, not breathing, just waiting for the time when I could break through the water's surface to breath again, take in huge lung-fulls of air, which in this case would have to be the very polluted and dusty air of the Philippine capital.

After 7+ years here, I've long stopped romanticising Manila. It has moved on without me, and I too have flourished far away from its bosom. I don't know if I can ever be based there again honestly. Can you blame me, after the sheer efficiency of Singapore? But I will go, again and again, for lightning visits to see my family and dwindling number of Manila-based friends. Until they all decide to move too, that is.

Told of my trip, Pinoy friends in Singapore have had one refrain: Ang init daw dun ngayon! Is it true, Net?

Scorching or not, I look forward to enjoying my short stay. Specifically, I hope to be offered home-cooked meals (hint, hint!); have lots of play-time with the nephews and niece; see the smooth turnover of our small but much-awaited new digs at the Fort; get cheap massages; eat some golden, ripe, sweet mangoes; have lots of catch-up sessions with the mates; and of course try and not add to the rice burden of the country by eating camote instead of rice (hmm, camote with adobo, camote sushi, camote with sinigang, anyone?).

LV's Mon Monogram

LV lovers, start saving now!

I was at the nail salon yesterday for a pedi and mani and while reading Harper's Bazaar's Singapore March 08 issue, I chanced upon a short piece of absolute happy news re Louis Vuitton's monogram bags.

In May this year, I read, LV will be launching Mon Monogram (My Monogram), a service that enables LV bag-hags to personalise soft-sided bags, at the Ngee Ann City store of the French brand.

Customers can choose to personalise one of two bag styles (initially) -- the Speedy 30 or the Keepall 44 Bandouliere -- and decide on variations of vertical or diagonal stripes; initials (2 or 3) and 16 colours for the stripes for a total of 240 possible variations! 240!!!

The article went on to say that the personalised touches will be silk-screened directly onto the canvas before the the bag is stitched up and made at the Asnieres workshop (just outside Paris) of LV. Delivery time is 8 weeks!

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. This is such good news it's baaaad! I.Must.Resist!

My 2007

I know, it's almost March and what the heck am I doing blogging about 2007?

Indulge me pls. I was putting a semblance of order to my work station today and saw this piece of paper that had my doodles and my wrap-up of 2007 that I had done one slow December working day.

I had been trolling the net then when I came across a Jessica Zafra column where she summarised her year by answering questions about the year slum-book style. Or something like that.

Anyway, I wrote down my own summary of my 2007 and this is how it is written on my piece of paper.

Holidays: 5! (all short and sweet)
February - Bintan, Indonesia
July - Hyderabad, India
Aug - Manila
Sept - Hong Kong
Nov - Bali, Indonesia

Record number of house guests/tour agent opportunities this year!
Monicca
Aunti Mimi and family
Cahoy family
Karen
Arvin
Rocky D
Joan and Juancho and Dad
Jeff, Net and the kids
Anna
Kathy
Emma and Malou

Major buys
Coffer
Marine Balenciaga
Our Singapore abode!

Leaps of faith: 1
Buying our Singapore abode

Instances when clearly shown God's angels on earth: 3
Jean, Cristy and Sally

Question: What have you learned about yourself in 2007.
Answer: I learned that I am diabetic.