Dating you

I watched from the second floor as he walked through the mall entrance, not knowing that I have seen him entering.

It was a game of hide and seek. The rule is simple, find me.

'On second thought, maybe it isn't a very good idea. Is it okay for you to come over?'

'Where is your location?'

'Outside left foot'.

In that split moment it left me wondering, 'left foot, as in minion left foot?' I wanted to ask but I didn't see him walking out of the mall. Still I guessed he probably could have sneaked out while I wasn't paying attention. Heading down the escalator, I turned right instead of my usual left. Walking on I passed a pillar and got a shock, I was the seeker instead and he was,in a way, hiding behind the pillar.

'Hey you'.

Awkward silence. But in his hands were panadol and a bottle of water. He gave them to me, mainly for the relief of my headache. Surprised yet a sweet gesture, coming from a person I barely know, and having met only once.

Yet the confession amused me when he confessed how he normally don't buy Panadol but 'borrowed' them instead. But he bought them for me. Yes maybe I was taken in by his gesture that moment, that day.

But that marks the start of our first date.


Fast forward five months, here we are.

I used to tell myself that I never want to date an army boy (or guy). Mainly to avoid the hassle and troubles of them booking in and out only on weekend, suffering through their confinement or worst, getting send oversea for days without communication. I never want to go through all these and to save myself these trouble, I rather not date one.

But I knew from the start that he was about to be enlisted. Was it in my mind to reject him if he ever confessed that he like me? Maybe give a lame reason that I'm not looking for a relationship. Or better still, admit that I'm a lesbian and is in a committed relationship.

And if we were to get together, I was nowhere prepared for what to expect when he enlisted. I wasn't even sure of I could go through it. I mean what could I prepare for, put it into perspective that it is a long distance relationship in which you only see each other on weekends? Be less emotionally attached so it doesn't bother you that much when he's inside camp? Forget that you have a boyfr during weekdays (hahaha!)  or simply accepting it? Won't the easier way be don't even date him in the first place? Simple answer, simple solution.

But. The irony that now I'm not just dating but in a relationship with an army man (heheh!) whom I'm happy and blessed to be together with. Yes it goes against all that I didn't wanted. Sometimes I ask myself, is it worth it? Suffered the three weeks confinement period, having to wait at night everyday for his calls and making use of the time before he gets tired and goes to sleep, being patience and know that now you can't inform him of things immediately but there a time delay, saving my weekends all for him, sometimes canceling plans cause he is tired and wants to rest at home, knowing that there is only that much that can be done within two (or less) days, charging the house phone everyday to chat with him, knowing you can't use time as an excuse because it's not cause he don't want to but because he can't, hugging him when he's all dirty and smelly from camp, six weeks of picking him up at tampines interchange, the thought of Sunday night book in, the tired boy who fell asleep on your calls, the headache felt when he returned on weekends with cuts from training and suddenly looking at a botak head soldier (yea the initial looking at him botak actually shocked me and made me wondered did his new look bothered me?). Yes I questioned myself, is it worth it?

Yes it was.

It became worth it knowing he allocates most of his time for me, staying up late to talk on the phone even though he is tired and he needs to wake up at 4.45am (or earlier) the next day, staying awake and focused on hearing what I said on the phone, making my weekend worthwhile looking forward to instead of saying it's just another weekend, hearing his voice every night, learning how precious time is and how you want to spend it right, learning that patience is a virtue, reading the little messages that he leave for me during the day (when he can) to encourage me, knowing that when I spam him messages through the day he would read them all always, appreciating the things he do for me even insisting on sending me home personally without fail, that awesome feeling when I see him every time he books out and seeing the soldier he has become.

In fact one main thing that I learned from being in a relationship with my boy is patience. The immense amount of patience to practice is huge, enormous. Why? You need patience to wait for him to get things done before being able to talk to you on the phone. You need patience to wait for his book out, especially especially times when he doesn't know either his book out time and when there are bad delays which can last not just minutes but hours. You need patience to wait for him to wake up on weekends even though you are much tempted to call him up yourself but you also know he's tired and he needs his rest. You need patience to not get angry with him when there are times where he is just too tired to do much on the weekend even though you have already planned activities. You need just that amount of patience to get you through. And I do struggle with that many times. Because it's just not easy and patience is never my virtue.

Do I regret dating an army man? No.

The five months taught me much, taught both of us much more. And even though our first meeting went weird and our first date was impromptu and super unplanned, it's amusing to see how it ended up here, being together.

Maybe a little overly mushy post. Bear with me.

But there are much to love about him. His expressions, dramatic. His walking style. The impromptu funny ideas we both shared and agreed, doesn't matter how hilarious or crazy it is. His sense of concern. His reactions. His goosebumps. Thoughtfulness. Overly mushiness. Appreciation and manners. And the way he looks at you and you know you're the only one he wants to look at.

Five months down. And much more to go.
Naturally no one knows what will happen in future or even what will happen tomorrow. Life is always unpredictable after all but we take one step at a time to plan.

Life is already irony enough when you're doing something you said you never wanted to do.

Annoyance

The longest I haven't been typing on my blog and my frustration increase each day. It seemed as though my Internet browser is suffering from virus attack or something is up with the useless ads that keep posting on the web page whenever I want to type a post, as such I can't post anything on my blog for weeks. Still yet to figure out the issue, maybe to reinstall my Internet browser again. And mind you I tried it with google chrome and Firefox, both didn't work.

November holidays are here for me and ever since exams ended and holidays started, well, my days are mainly slacking in the morning but stressful and annoying in the afternoon. Another week and my holidays would have ended. Don't think I can confidently said I spend it well, yet I feel it was a good rest also before December kicks in and studies kick in again. The next six months going to go pass very fast, that's for sure and I'll definitely look forward to the end of my course next year. Firstly it makes the end of my diploma course, the mark of my first year anniversary with my love (I know we will be together then and longer!) and a holiday trip to look forward to. As much as it isn't the destination that I wanted to go, still it is a place I haven't been to before and would love to visit.

As the year end draws near, reflections start kicking in unconsciously into your mind, questioning whether you have live up to your new year resolution, whether you did something good this year or whether have you changed for the better. Definitely I'll dedicate a post for that in December to perhaps write a short summary of this year. But with a warning that it is my personal post and whatever thoughts anyone would have after reading it, I most certainly would not be interested to know. The last time I wore such a post and stopped it halfway for a good suspense, it didn't end well but the closure of a good blog. Hopefully this time would be different.

For now, guess it's easier to focus on the present and look forward to tomorrow. After all, tomorrow my love gets to book out from his outfield which I have much dreaded it for the lack of communication. A short weekend this time but that doesn't mean I can't fully utilized it either. May time pass slowly. And next Thursday to arrive faster. On a lighter note, it's a week more to my last marathon/race event of the year and guess what, I'm nowhere near prepared for the race. The thought of completing 42km taunts me everyday when I see runners jogging past me, in preparation of what to come while I'm here on my bed without much motivation to run, let alone leave my beloved bed.

It's almost 1am and I'm awake. Which only means the amount of things bothering and affecting my sleep. Lets just hope it will pass and while it's tiring to be an emotion support, you can only be positive that the person trusted you so much with their problems. And maybe on my side, I'm not ready to open everything up or trust that whoever I'm telling my issues to will understand, encourage, support, listen and not tell others. Or let alone whether I'm willing to open up when there so many things bothering you at once and you're just at the beginning of trying to sort them out and think through them.

December be nice. After all, you are my favorite month of the year.

This is Halloween

Halloween. One of my favourite season to celebrate. Maybe not so much about the treat or trick as much as it would really be awesome for that to happen in Singapore. Seriously. Especially in such a neighbourhood I wouldn't mind dressing up and ringing door bells for candies. Unfortunately in an Asian culture we don't celebrate such event. Major sigh about it.

In adelaide, for the month of October we have fun events like the big zombies walk in the city. Super fun event which I kind of always ended up as a passer by and never a zombie. It's an event where everyone gets to be a zombie for a few hours and actually roam the streets of adelaide, moaning and scaring victims. Zombies who would quietly walk pass you or zombies who would attempt to scare you. It's always the best event that I looked forward to. And honestly it's amazing how aussie dress themselves up to look the part. Here in sg, it's not really a big fuss. Maybe at clubs where they have the waiters to dress up. Maybe at some bars or restaurants. Simple decoration and nothing too elaborated.

But well Halloween also means it's the end of October and hey welcome to no shave November.  The month where guys get to not shave and get away with it. November also mean its two more months away to a new year. How fast time pass. And remember that time and tide wait for no man.

Yet this year on Halloween I'm having my final paper. Double major sigh.  Life sucks.

Bright side I'm doing a horror movies marathon with my love on Friday night. That ought to be spooky fun, chilling at home in front of the tv stocked with dorito chips in cosy PJs. Yea life good when its simple. Finally a night in to chill and relax especially after a week of studying. You just want to laze at home and relax. Not out late into the night. At times its a different feeling to be out late at night, maybe one main thing that I started doing after getting together with my bumpy.
And finally to say I completed my diploma course. Though that also mean hello working life. No work means no cash. Much temptation to just laze at home and do nothing for a month. After all I can argue that it's just a month, why not sit back and chill. Hahha. I wish.

Life is unfair. No matter which angle we try to look at it, it will never be an angle that is fair.


P.s. do you know I always wanted to dress as a vampire for Halloween?

POP LOH

Haven't been much active on blog lately again. Then again this platform is more like a diary to record main things that I want to read back again in future.
So much things happened in a week since my dearest recruit POP and we had a whole week to ourselves.
Let's start with his POP.
The last time I went to anyone's POP (passing out parade) was years years ago when my brother enlisted into the army. Then at a young age, I barely knew anything about army, just that he was botak and he had to wear the green uniform. Even when I went to Tekong for his pop, I didn't know what was it about. Vaguely remembered that it was a horrible seasick boat ride over to Tekong, watching so many guys in green matching around, and finally at the end, all the parents headed down to the parade square to find their sons. That moment I was amazed how my mummy knew just where to find my brother. To me, every guy looked the same.

On Saturday I was excited again to attend my Bumpy's POP. Plus now the POP is held at the floating platform, the more I was excited to attend. After all, I have seen many pictures of my friends attending their boyfriend (or friends) POP and the scenery just so beautiful for pictures taking and the fact that you can be down at the floating platform itself makes a lot of difference.

Early in the morning and I was up. The night before was half chatting with my Bumpy on whasapp/text and finding out what time he reached the platform and what he had for breakfast that morning.
It was simple to know where everyone was heading to when they alighted at Promenade and just follow the crowd to reach the destination. Outside, I was quite worried that they would not let me in since they had placed a sign asking the public to show the letter. But watching others walking in without showing the letter, you just follow suit and it works! Hahah. It was easy and the army were nice enough to provide you with two packets of oreo biscuits and a big bottle of mineral water.

The whole event lasted about an hour, watching the recruits march in with their bags and weapons. To me, they first looked like little caterpillar marching to the greenery. And yes, it is still insane to spot anyone from that field of greenery. Even when I knew where his company/section/platoon was, it was difficult to even see which one looks like him.
The event went on where they presented the best recruits their awards, and after that the soldiers marched past us one platoon at a time before they disappear back inside to return back their weapons and come back outside. The final part where they did the recruit roar and threw their caps up into the air. That moment when inside you're like I'm done with bmt. Now for the next phrase of army life.

The next trouble comes when we had to go down to find him. It was a queue of anxious parents, family and friends rushing to find their sons and even I had a hard time wondering where is he. But like all mummies, it's instinct that they know where their son is.
Didn't care that he was sweaty from his walk before and the marching just now, all I wanted was to hug him tightly. Grabbed a few pictures with his family, and his sergeants before we headed off to find his friends.

The day couldn't have started any better than this. The recruit of mine who went into army on 12th August and is now officially a trained soldier.
Sometimes they say bmt is the toughest part of army life, where breakups happen or that some couldn't get used to army life. Maybe it's true. After all, there are times where I miss him real badly, and even when I hear that he couldn't book out on certain weekends, it does bring the mood down. But we learn to get through it together, staying in connect whether through sms or calling or leaving random messages throughout the day, letting him know how's my day and any nonsense things that I done.
After all, in a relationship, it takes two hands to clap. It takes two hearts to fall in love with each other, and it takes two people to mend what's broken and not simply throw it away.
Now my Bumpy entering his next phrase of army life; going into sergeant course.
Naturally it would not be an easy route, it might even be tougher than bmt but whatever the route is, he knows that there are people here to support and encourage him. And at the end of the day, his kitty would always be waiting for his calls whatever timing he's gotta call.

Beef?

Continuing with later part of Friday.
Headed back to my now second home (or rather that's how I'm gotta nickname it now) to shower and play minion rush!
Hahah. Nice to have a second home now in Singapore. After the past three years of changing two homes, and now I got a second home with a cosy bed for me to nap in every Sunday (so far).
A little errand to run with Bumpy's mom to Popular and Kitty kind of got stuck at the ice cream stick art. Lol. Now I'm just tempted to get a pack of coloured ice cream stick and make some kind of container with it or something.
After that it's a trip down to Bugis! A much needed trip there in a sense 'cause I needed to get my nail polish bottles and a watch. Maybe some accessories.
And we tried this store near Haji Lane which seemed to receive many positive feedback about their red wine chicken noodles. Feeling curious, we brought Bumpy's mom there for lunch as well.

On a Friday late afternoon, the shop was quite empty with only two tables occupied. And we ordered two bowls of the noodles together with a bowl of their home made fishballs to share. The foochow balls were nice, just that it didn't had enough filling, but still to know it was homemade was good enough. Especially nowadays all we get is factory-made fishballs. For the red wine chicken noodles, the soup base was good and with the mee sua noodles, it was a good combination. However, I wasn't exactly happy with the chicken. Not quite a fan of boiled chicken, 'cause the meat gets dried up and without much taste to it and with the huge chunks of chicken meat, the more I felt that the meat was too dry for my liking.
Overall, I might come back to eat if I'm just around the corner. I just might.

Seow Choon Hua Restaurant
33 Sultan Gate
Daily: 10:00 to 22:00

Fast forward a lot of hours. We had our couple romantic dinner together!
Our first earned candle light dinner in a nice cosy restaurant. Kind of like our monthsary dinner celebration. Last weekend we had lunch celebration, this week we do with a dinner celebration. Hahah! Either way, we're on foodie-diet.
A nice restaurant and we were seated in a cosy corner facing the window. The restaurant is famous for their beef and hence we're there to give it a little try. After all, I haven't been a good beef eater lately. A little strange for me to be eating beef in a cosy restaurant without wine, but hey there's always a first for everything. Was explaining to Bumpy how red wine is usually for red meat, and white wine is taken with seafood. And for me, dessert wine is with ice cream!
Super happy that Bumpy likes my favourite dessert wine; Brown brothers moscato. Just that for that price in S'pore, it's not worth getting a bottle. Super feel like flying to Australia just to buy my bottle of moscato, midori, doritos, tim tam, red rocks chips, honey melon and HUNGRY JACKS.

The freaking rib eye is huge! The size of my hand maybe. And with a bed of fries, yeaps I'm never losing weight.
P.s. the menu even convince me that the fries are free flow. Not that anyone would be insane enough to finish the fries and still ask for more.
But one thing I love is the lamb. FREAKING NICE.
So fine, maybe they are famous for their beef and lamb. Either way, I'm not coming back here again till I'm a working adult.

One thing for sure, it's the company that counts over the food.

Bishan Park

A little interesting Friday for Bumpy and I.
We managed to wake up for a morning run/walk/picture taking at Bishan Park. One of the nonsensical thing that I have been bugging/asking/bothering Bumpy since he enlisted into army; when would he run with me again?
And on Friday since he get a day earlier to book out, that's when he kept his promise. Okay technically not a promise but he gave in to my request (at last!).
We had a nice start, you know warming up and aiming to run 10km that morning and at least to cover that distance in whatever timing we will take. BUT HOR. The moment we reach Bishan Park, it was a whole different thing. Okay, kitty's fault since I got amused by the surrounding and self-reminding myself to snap pictures later. Eventually we just totally stopped the run and just snapped pictures instead. Good job!

 
Definitely a park I want to explore more the next time round and hopefully run a whole round! Hahah. No more pictures taking the next time, must concentrate on covering distance.
As much as I'm still in agony that I have to run such a long distance. Still, you can argue that it's cause I'm not training for it that's why I'm complaining about the distance. But logically thinking, it's not even advisable for someone whose longest distance ran is 12km (two years ago?) to suddenly triple her distance covered in such a short time.
Least when I'm not constantly running as well. Sigh at weird peer pressure. Just hope I can survive through the run and at least try not to walk that much. Hello music, you're my only company (if Bumpy only accompany me after 21km). After that I reckon I'm calling it quits for such insane distance for running, I'll dutifully stick to only 10km. Honestly, it's short attention span.

Mmkay enough of scenery pictures, now is couple pictures! Hahah.

 
At the end of the run, I asked Bumpy for a couple shot where he piggyback me! And he agreed \(^_^)/
Well, we did ask a passer-by to help me snap the pictures, but what was surprising was that he even snapped the process of the piggyback, sort of accidentally.
And it's the only freaking picture where it looked as though I have toned legs. Must treasure this rare picture!

We started off with a run, continued with a walk and ended with a piggyback!
Best morning spend of the week, of the month! And after that we're off for breakfast at Long John Silver and there goes the calories I tried burning off (but failed).

Creamier ice cream waffles

Cloudy with a chance of ice cream!
And that's what happen on a cloudy Thursday afternoon.
Hidden under and behind blocks, is a little cafe tucked away from the busy streets on Toa Payoh.
At the beginning, it took us a while to find the cafe, but with a turn of the corner and noticing the buzz at the front, we know we're arrived at our destination.

Simple design of the cafe. But one major flaw is the lack of available seats, and customers either have to stand and wait till a table is available or they can choose to have their dessert at the tables near the playground instead. We chose that option since we weren't sure how long we had to wait for a table. The only main thing we had to worry about is the black birds hovering above and nearby, as well as the undesired thought that ants might drop from the branches above.

The menu gave you a choice whether to have waffles with single or double scoop.
Flavors that day was Sea Salt Gula Melaka and Plain O' Chocolate.
Both are interesting flavors which I enjoyed, except that after eating it for a few more bites, I grown a little sickish of the flavor. Surprisingly to me, especially for the chocolate flavor, I mean for a person who adore chocolate, it was upsetting that I had to force myself to munch down the rest of the ice cream in cringed agony.
The waffles on the other hand were nice and crispy, unlike the other waffles places that I tried which had 'not too bad' waffles. The cripsy-ness was there and try your best not to spread the ice cream over the waffles too fast, they do, afterall, get soggy eventually.

Overall, it's a nice cafe. Just not one where I would see myself spending an enjoyable afternoon there. It's like finishing your dish so that others can have your table, and with the tables closely placed to each other, it's not the best chill out place either. Good for fast dessert eating. And with a reasonable price of $7.50 for the waffles set.
Bright side, it's a check off my list.