北京 2008

been the school art coordinator for the last 3 years .... been churning up art scheme of work for all levels ... been learning a lot about art education... read somewhere that there's always a story behind every artwork but so far, i have not been really convinced until Li Jing posted the story behind the artwork, titled <<北京 2008>> on facebook

if i chanced upon this artwork in a gallery, i would just glanced at it and think that the artist is very boliao... why drew half and fully naked women playing mahjong...and people dun play mahjong lying down one lo....

anyway, did more readings about this artwork from the net.... the interpretation seems to come from people who studies art in detail but not from the artist itself.... and these interpretations are better explained on chinese websites than the english one which are very very vague... there are numerous similar interpretation and the one that i'm going to share is my favourite...cos it's the most gossipy version....hahahahaha....

< 北京 2008 >

Artist - 刘溢

the man featured in the portrait on the left is said to have the beard of Sun Yat Sen, the bald head of Chiang Kai-skek and the facial features of Mao Zedong.... basically, it's a combination of 3 very important people that shaped how China is today...so the picture symbolises the history of the last 100 or so years of China.

the players of the game include US (the one sitting facing the front and with her top on), China (the one with 2 pony tails and with a phoenix tattoo on her back), Japan (the one on the left) and Russia (the one who is lying down)...

China had 'pong' the 东风.. this could mean that China is the rising (崛起) star or the host (做东) ...

Russia is secretly exchanging tiles with China yet at the same time 有一腿-ing with US... this could mean the underground relationship between Russia, China and US...

Japan, on the other hand, is the only one that is fully naked... indicating that she's the biggest loser of this game (assuming that this is strip mahjong).... she is only focused on her tiles and seems to be very pleased with what she has ..... this could mean that Japan is involved in the confusing global relationship between the other 3 countries ...but being overly focused on what is directly in front of her, she failed to see the complexity of the situations around her....so Japan will lose out totally...

based on the fruits on the plate, the girl in the 肚兜, holding the plate of fruits and a knife is Taiwan... standing at the sideline, she could see the whole situation very clearly, but as she's not involved in the 'game', she is in no position to say anything....

US is looking at taiwan, concerned yet helpless at what to do.... just like how US is helpless towards taiwan with its china issue....

overall, it's an interesting experience for me to realise that there's so much thought behind an artwork.... =).....

Staying Unplugged

i think i m one of the last few people that i know who still does not subscribe to a data plan .... mab was telling me that i'm gonna be obsolete soon if i insist on being stuck in the mud... hahahaha.... actually, i think that i m weird too...

initially i tot that maybe it's the price that's putting me off... my current monthly bill is only abt $20.... but when i recontracted last sept, i was informed that i could get a data plan package at only $28 per month.... which is not too far off .... but i just dun have the desire to have data plan leh....

i just dun like the feeling of staying connected even on the go.... my eyes are already alway on the screen while in the staffroom and at home.... i m already on facebook and email while at work and at home....and i really do enjoy people watching or just resting my eyes on the bus or train....

the down side of not having data plan is that i do have friends who commented that contacting me is very troublesome cos i dun have what's apps.... and i do get left out in certain planning and info due to not having what's app....nowadays, even communication between collegues in school has turned to what's app.... is that efficiency or sadness leh??? hmmm....

so i was very happy when i came across this article in the Home section of thesundaytimes yesterday... =) ... according to the article, experts say the desire to disconnect - ostensibly to return to simpler, less-wired times - is a common theme in urban life.... and there's even a National Day of Unplugging - a creative project started by Canadian entrepreneur, Mr Dan Rollman. The project is held annually on a Friday in March aims at slowing down lives in an increasing hectic world by simply avoiding technology. It is becoming popular in the states and also in other countries (but not yet in singapore... maybe i should start one...hahahha)....

am glad that i m not an odd ball.... i m just being myself....so peeps, stop saying that i m a dinosaur...=P 

a video i watched which i think was the main reason why i do not have a dataplan....

Employing a maid in Singapore

Employing a maid in Singapore

since i was rather free during the dec holiday, i went with mummy and maid to the maid agency to renew her passport and to transfer her ownership from him to me.... was shock to hear that the renewal of the maid's passport will cost the maid (not the employer) $300+ and it will only last for 2 more years.... 

why is it so expensive???? even in Singapore, the cost of making a passport is only $70 for 5 years lo.... the employee there told us that the fee includes administrative charges...and if i want to save $$$ on behalf of the maid, i can actually bring the maid to the indonesia embassy and do it on my own at a reduced price. 


so i told mummy that since she's not working this dec, why dun she just bring the maid down to do it....and guess what's the price.... it's only $35 and valid for another 5 years....


check out the link: 
http://www.kbrisingapura.com/maid_renewal.php?lang=eng


these maid's agencies really is 'kill people put fire' one lo.... they really have the heart the earn the maid's one month salary just to help them renew passport... =S...somemore valid for less than half the actual number of years lo... $300 for 2 years vs $35 for 5 years....so employers, do your maid a favour, just bring them direct to the Indonesian embassy if there's a need to renew the maid's passport...DON'T DO IT THRU THE MAID'S AGENCIES...... 

forum on renewing maid's passport at the embassy itself:
http://singaporemaid.blogspot.com/2008/02/renewing-maids-work-permit-and-passport.html 



then, i went online and found out that actually i can do the transfer of maid's ownership by myself without having to go through the agency also.... =)....  


as i m a first time employer, i have to sign up for an online Employers' Orientation Program at $30 with Singapore Polytechnic. Quite simple and brainless, just some powerpoint slides + videos and a 10 questions test at the end of the so called program.... took less than an hour to clear... 


then have to login to WP online (web portal linked under Ministry of Manpower) with singpass to apply for the transfer / renewal of the work permit at $20


then have to get the security bond and insurance for the maid. The security bond is a $5000 deposit with Ministry of Manpower which will be confiscated if employers did not do what is required as stated in
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/passes-visas/work-permit-fw/before-you-apply/Pages/security-bond.aspx


but then, there's a 'cheaper' way out of this $5000 is to buy an insurance that covers the security bond and the maid's insurance for 26 months at http://www.anda.com.sg/prg/PackPrem.asp... cost me $321 inclusive of GST


the issue of the work permit cost another $20... so for less than $400, i cleared the transfer.... which a maid agency would have charged me $70 (for the $40 i paid for application and issuing of permit permit) and at the same time, charge the maid 2-3 months of her salary...basically, they are just out to earn the maids' money la.. =S

Haul

Haul

did a make-up blog, now for the shopping blog.... =).... did plentiful shopping last dec hol.... not only for xmas pressie but also clothes for myself.... actually started shopping abit here and there since october when i have NO MORE weekend lessons ... =)... see my first round of shopping stuff here:
http://tangtang-land.blogspot.com/2011/10/first-third-of-my-birthday-weekend.html


went bugis street at least 4 times, twice with mr ang (he did tons of shopping too), once with angela only and once with the whole chua family....  

top $10 from bugis street, jeans $110 from levis, necklace $8.50 from divas @ jurong point

top $12 from bugis street...same design as the white one above, just differen print... my first polka dots ..... very flare....  can wear to eat buffet....tummy wun show from too much food...wahahahha...

top & bottom cost only $16.90 from far east... but dun like the bottom... prefer to match it with the brown berms which i bought at $16 from bugis street...

love the big bow on the top... =)

top $10 and bottom $16, both from bugis street...the top actually makes me look very fat.... =(

dress $12 from bugis street

dress $39.90 from little match girl... gonna wear it for 大年初一... =) ....

$39.90 from little match girl... bought this together with the pink dress above cos minimun 2 purchases... very good material and very formal... but cant think of any function to wear it to leh... hahaha.... dosen look like something to be worn to a wedding dinner also leh...

$20 from bugis street....to be worn on 大年初二

$12 from bugis street...love the 2 big pockets at the side... =)... but kind of short... mr ang will definitely niam niam niam... so gonna wear it with tights....

$10 from bugis street... love this dress.... makes me look so thin... wahahhaha

top - free - mab gave it to me as it was too big for her.... skinny jeans $73 from topshop - i paid using the gift card which xinying and vivian gave me for my birthday... =) ...necklace - xmas present from xinying... =)

another top from mab.... she is this small size girl that loves to get oversized clothing.... so i always 赚到 when i go over to collect stuff for garage sale or when she does spring cleaning.... heee....and all these clothes that she gave me are always brand new de lo....

these 3 tops above cost $28 ....bought it at the pasar malam near my school last week.... =) ....

woohoo ....a total of 19 pieces of 'new' clothings.... =P ..but i still feel that i have no clothes to wear leh....hahahhahaha.....

Wonders of make-up

Wonders of make-up

Weekends are home alone day....especially for morning and afternoon.... Mr Ang has tuition lessons yesterday from 10am to 12nn and went to do OT for his attachment company till 6pm... today, he had tuition lessons from 10am to 3pm followed by gym with kelvin... will only be back around 7+???

kind of bored so decided to do boliao things to entertain myself... by blogging .... heee....

being a blogger also means that i like to read blogs...and my favourite is xiaxue's blog.... i dun really mind if she's vulgar or fake or ugly like what some of her haters say...i just find her very entertaining and am really impressed at her talent at photoshopping her photos and creating very creative advertorials

 but as she dosen blog everyday, i need to find alternatives to entertain myself lo....  so from her blog, i got linked to cheesie's blog then to qiuqiu's blog and most recently to sophie's blog.... but my favourite is still xiaxue's.... =)

it's not difficult to realised that these bloggers like to blog on the things they bought (usually clothings) and also about make-ups....so today, being super bored and lonely.... me gonna do something like that too....wahahhaha....

introducing my pathetic make-up set

(from left to right)

(1) Bio essence Bio Platinum BB cream:

BB cream stands for Blemish Balm... it was initially used by dermatologists to help laser surgery patients protect, soothe and regenerate their highly sensitive skin while also providing good coverage for post-laser scars and redness. It improves the skin's condition and evens out the skin tone while providing coverage for dark spots and other blemishes.



First knew of BB cream 3 years ago while watching 女人我最大 and bought my very first one at faceshop...but very ex... $40+ per tube.... so after finishing the second tube, i decided to try bio essense's one which cost about $28.... like it that it has SPF 25/PA++ too...cos ppl always say that the sun is the worst enemy to good skin.... =(   


(2) Silky Girl magic BB powder foundation
tried it out just because it contains the 'BB'....hahahaha.... with SPF 20/PA+.... double protection.... =)

       (without make-up)              (with BB cream)                 (with powder)


the wonders of make-up coverage....hahahha.... after the coverage, then must apply lip balm to moisture the lips to get ready for the lipstick...something that i learnt from 'Tried & Tested' yesterday...


(3) Vaseline Lip Balm in Cherry
cheap and good.... the only lip balm that does not crack my lips.... my lips used to bleed from over dryness and itchy fingers (i used to have a very bad habit of peeling the flaky skin off the lips) even with other brands of lip balm until my friend recommended this to me... =)


(4) KOSE eye shadow set
seldom use eye shadow actually, cos they make me look very mature (read - old)...


(5) Shu uemura eyelash curler
bought it at $25 almost 10 years ago upon the recommendation from either xinying or vivian or rachelle... they swear by it... so i just bought it with them as my previous plastic one cracked.... quite worth the investment bah since it lasted 10 years.... hahahaha....


(6) Maybelline unstoppable curly extension mascara
besides coverage for my skin, mascara is a must for me... but this one so so only.... i prefer one that can really lengthen and thicken.... gonna try Maybelline Falsie Mascara next..... its advertisement makes it look so good...


(7) ZA blusher
just seems to be buying the same one over the years cos i m rather satisfied with it... currently my third box i think.... like it for the duo shade.... the darker pink is used for my cheeks while the lighter pink is used as highlights around the face... actually i dun know if it is meant to be used like that.... hahahha


(8) Vanilla Kiss Lip Gloss from H&M
joyce gave this to me...a present from spain... =) .... stays on very well... and cute packaging with micky and minnie nose rubbing.... =)

             (before make - up)                           (after make - up)

actually not much diff also cos i'm a lazy girl.... my idea of make up is just to cover up my sensitive skin which is super prone to acnes and pimples... resulting in super uneven skin tone that is spotted in red..... =S....

nowadays, it's really 世界上没有丑女人,只有懒女人....i m super impressed with those ppl that look super chio after make-up la....

Ling 妹妹's birthday @ Mac

Ling 妹妹's birthday @ Mac

it was suggested, planned and executed within 2 weeks, on the day of xmas celebration... =)...that's call efficiency.... heee

directing us up to the private party area at the second level.... heng...it's private....means we would have less pair of eyes starring at us (average age of 30) 

while we enjoyed 童年没参与过的 mcdonald birthday party.... =)

Yuan looking pretty with her headgear

ailing, charlene and me looking good in it too... heee...

our 浪子, weiliang, is finally back.... after 流浪ing (travelling) for 1.5 years .... took the opportunity to ask him many many questions on his adventure...

Us: What was the most exciting / dangerous thing that happened to u?

Him: one of my friend actually fell off while climbing up the summit of mount ????? (din get the name)...and all three of us were tied together so we have to help him up.....

Us: What is the most disgusting thing u ate this round?

Him: guinea pig

Us: sliced and cooked?

Him: No, as a whole... you just eat it like a drumstick.....

Us: >_<

Us: So how much did you spend for this 1.5 years?

Him: about 20k....

That's very little for 1.5 years abroad and up to a year was spent in spanish speaking countries lo....he even managed to pick up spanish as in can speak and write lo....power seh....

many many more questions but couldnt really recall... think should really organise a gathering at my place and let him ah gong 讲故 seh......

anyway, before we could eat our food, we have to go through two scary games....imagine a group of 12 adults and 2 kids playing games at a mac birthday party.... really glad that the place is very private.... hahahha.... else it will be so embarrassing lo.... but it was fun la...

and in one of the games (something like treasure hunt), Mr Teo led a team against Mrs Teo.... the winning group is the one that managed to find the most items listed

the handbag Mr Teo was holding was contributed by me.... =) .... the $50 note from Mr Teo's group was from me too... =) ... too bad Mr Ang din join us, else we would have contributed the couple ring too.... hee....and saw didi's sock????

didi is chunyang's nephew..... he cried when me (the bad auntie of the day) removed not one but both his socks for the game without asking for permission... i just squat down nex to him and removed them....he din struggle or insist on not taking them off so i thought it would be fine.... so imagine my shock when i saw him like this...

tears rolling down the cheeks wor.....

the second game was calling out related names based on a selected theme. Example: sport brands, then participants have to call out reebok, adidas etc when the ball was throw at them....  

it's really not that easy due the the time limit and the element of surprise cos u really wun know when you would be the next one to get the ball as it was directed and thrown at random .... themes selected were sport brand, brands of car, fast food restaurants, japanese brands and even the English Football team...luckily, i watched EPL with Mr Ang so 'blackburn' and 'wolves' saved my life.....

the loser of each round had to draw his/her forfeit task

casper did the chicky dance and monkey dance.... yuan had to say A-Z backwards and act like a mad woman....

Finally both the games were over and it was time for FOOD.... =)

although we were allowed to choose from a menu of 7 types of burger, most of us opt for mcspicy.... no wonder there's a saying, birds of the same feather flock together ... ;P

 ooohhhh....curly fries..... yum yum yum....

free flow of all types of sauces..... change packaging liao... still prefer the old one....

after the hearty meal, we played the bang bang boo game.... (similar to the 007 game which i introduced before)

the finalists of the game were yuan and casper .... they had to walk three step forward and be the first to turn and bang each other at the count of 3...yuan won.... =)

The bag of door gift especially prepared for us by Mr and Mrs Teo

Mahjong cupcakes from Crystal Jade...

I managed to get the 發 one....meaning i will 發發 this year oh.... hahahahha......

Time for a birthday song for the birthday girl who was ready to blow the birthday candles on her birthday cake 

last birthday that starts with the number 2.... heading towards the 3 头 next year liao oh.... but u r still young compare to most of us.... so smile and stay happy... =)

ending the post with us receiving our happy meal box.... =) .... it's not a coincidence that most of us were in red.... the theme set was red or yellow... but only yuan was in yellow.... guess red is more popular with cny round the corner???? heee.....