it's all about ....

MONEY
dum dum de de dum dum

Name those things money can buy
so many that you dunno where to begin
comfort, freedom, power, choices, satisfaction........

However, we still hear people say there are things money can't buy
luck, knowledge, love, friendship, health........
In short, money can't buy happiness

But in reality, we know that's not entirely true
Perhaps people who say money is not the answer to everything are
either
some humble toffs trying to solace the miserable hearts of the poor
or
destitute but being determinedly optimistic

Personally i think money does buy happiness, just for a brief and fleeting moment.
And, people who say money is not everything, probably dunno what it is like to live in poverty.
Imagine if you had no money
how would you eat?
how would you pay for anything you do?
rent?education?car?house?medical check-up?

It is a material world that we all live in, whether we like it or not, money is certainly one necessary commodity we can't live without

So what about true happiness? inner fulfillment?
Well, only when we have no worries about our basic needs we think about the pursuit of happiness i guess.
Otherwise, would you bother to run after the so-called true happiness when you don't even have the fundamental requirement to stay alive?!

Undeniably, money doesn't bring happiness
but
not having any does bring unhappiness

--- a reflection arisen from January financial blues

The Best Gift of All

is not always the most expensive one
but
a gift of warmth and joy that touches your heart in dark times

It puts a smile on your face just when it feels as if you will never smile again

The best gift of all

is more than words can say

Dilly Dally Shilly Shally

a 60pd pay as you go phone
OR
an 18 month contract @ 9pd a month?

both offer Sony Ericsson G502

the only difference is the 18 month plan comes with 100 min and/or text and a free 2GB memory card

but an additional contract = 2 numbers = hassle + paying extra 102pd for the exact same phone

then again, i can't afford a new phone at the moment...sigh...if 20pd is already considered my limit, let alone 60pd.

should i wait until next month and grab a new phone
OR
go for the deal, get a phone right away and put this hitch behind me?

Life is full of choices. Happiness or unhappiness is often a matter of choice.
Perhaps, i grew up with little choice about anything so i see having more choice as a burden.

a phone or a contract??

Arghhhhh!!!

you two manipulative rats!!

This afternoon i went in for perio with an expectation that my patient won't turn up. A Chinese patient.

The reason being he didn't reply my message nor pick up his phone. An early sign of DNA.Woohoo!!

Hence I didn't bother to set up the bay, just waiting to be signed off and at the same time, talking to happy helen whose partner was 'ill', permitting her to an afternoon off.

But very unlucky for her. I had to snatch her brief joy when I suddenly caught a glimpse of my patient in the waiting room...arghhh..frankly, i also felt robbed of my happiness for a moment.
Since my clinical partner was nursing somebody else, poor helen had to take over his place. Still pouting, we rushed to set the bay up and start the treatment. Thank goodness, it was a short one!

''so your next appointment will be in two weeks which is on the .....26th Jan,'' i reminded my patient b4 he went off.

''It's Chinese New Year!" Helen squealed with eyes wide open.

Splat!
How could i forget that???

"err.. you sure you wanna come in on the first day of Chinese New Year?'' i looked at his hesitant face, hoping he would say no.

"It's a Chinese superstition that going to hospital on CNY should be avoided but it's ok, my teeth are more important,''

''Actually it's up to you whether you want an appointment on CNY or a later date. It's a good news for both you and me if you cant make it. But like i said, it's your decision. I cant cancel the appointment for you until you say so,''i tried to hint that he should call it off. Dude, it's CNY!

My attempt was in vain as he insisted to choose scaling over CNY
I turned to Helen, with a disappointed look.

"Are you gonna have a CNY party?'' Helen changed the topic

"Yea..we are gonna have a big party on the 25th and count down to CNY,'' his face lit up suddenly

"Wow..you will be staying up all night and drinking then..Maybe you should take a rest on the next day and save yourself the pain of having to come to dentist on CNY,'' Helen's suggestion made my patient hesitate again

"Yea yea..i might be too drunk to wake up the next day...i'll probably have to cancel the appointment then,'' we all laughed, for different reasons obviously.

He might be laughing at the idea of getting hangover on CNY but helen and i were laughing for our moment of triumph. Our dirty little trick! Woot!!

Cheers to Helen for the early CNY pressie :D

World's most expensive poop

If you were given 50 pounds, what would you do with it?

save it?spend it on
a Nica handbag? a pair of Nike Air Force Premium trainers? a concert ticket? a day trip out of London? an exquisite dinner at a French restaurant?
OR
a cup of world's most expensive coffee?

Still think Blue Mountain is the most sought-after coffee in the world? Update yourself!
This honour belongs to a unique Indonesian coffee known as Luwak coffee or Civet coffee.

Interesting enough, this coffee is made from cats' droppings!!
The raw coffee beans are eaten, partly digested and then excreted by a small cat-like creature called the Toddy Cat. The cat is said to be very selective in it's choice of only the best and ripest coffee berries which explains the superior quality of the beans as well as its staggering price.

Still, 50 pounds for a cup of coffee sounds insanely extravagant.
What's worse is it is literally cat poo! *splutter*

No way!

Drink my poop!It's sumptuous!!

so...what now?

5 days
That's how long i haven't been to Starbucks.
That's also how long i haven't set foot in anywhere out of Whitechapel.

A lot of things have changed in Starbucks, from indoor decorations to menu board. The 3 seasonal coffee treats are gone, replaced by a new slogan ' a moment of goodness with vivanno nourishing blend'. Seeing these changes reminds me that I should get myself a new calendar.
It's 2009 now. OMG!!
I've been too busy battling with poor appetite to usher in new year and make new year's resolutions.

Anyway, it's not too late to set goals now, right?
EAT LIKE A NORMAL PERSON
that's going to be on top of the list, definitely.
No joke, being able to enjoy what you eat is a bliss!
For the past few days, i have been trying different types of food to stimulate my appetite. Food that i have been refraining from for a long time. Food that i have been considering sinful aka diet killer.
Sadly, none of them works.

You may think '' good news! i can lose weight!!''
But trust me, you wouldn't want it this way.
Imagine you lose feelings of hunger and everything tastes like plain water.
Imagine you feel so bloated that you can barely breathe after half a muffin or a quarter bowl of noodle.
Imagine you have to keep forcing yourself to eat for survival's sake until you feel nauseous like a chemo patient.
Awful! Awful to the max!!

As for my second resolution, I'll think about it once I've achieved the first one.

Let's talk fashion

Fashionistas: here is a list of trends to watch for spring 2009

• Prints - Wonderful Parrot-like prints from Peter Pilotto, huge playful polka dots, and tropical exotic holiday prints.
• Motif - The butterfly takes over from the star as the motif du jour in 2009. Don't fall into the trap of glitzy blingy kitch though - the butterfly this summer is all about elegance.
• Colors - Tropical and zesty fruits and nutty flavors from pistachio, citrus lemons and limes to juicy papaya. An abundance of nudes offer a neutral (and transparent) palette. Metallic liquid silver and gold is everywhere, from jumpsuits to evening gowns. Black is out, nude is in, so is kingfisher-type blue, named as Palace Blue.
• Jackets - Rolled or pushed-up sleeves especially on jackets and baggy blazers, or kimono sleeves. The Vest jacket gets a new look, from cropped to tunic length.
• Jumpsuits and Playsuits - Figure hugging jumpsuits in slinky jersey and metallics and candy stripes and leopard prints.
• Short suits - Not the demure variety, but sexy hotpants styles with matching jackets. Stylish daywear or sporty versions.
• Trousers and Pants - The 7/8th crop length trouser (especially in florals) comes of age this season and cigarette pants are the look of the day. Add some floral printed pants from Henry Holland and DVF or slinky wet-look leggings.
• Dresses - From single-shouldered dresses to tops and bikinis, asymmetric shoulder-lines have made a huge return in 2009. There are plenty of peplum waists (not good news for those with a bulging tummy) and spring-like papaya shifts and caftans.
• Lovely in Lace - Last season’s black punk-goth-style lace has been given a softer romantic make-over with Edwardiana dresses from Erdem, in French lace.
• Fashion Accessories - Think sash-like scarf belts and bug-eyed glasses, huge chunky necklaces,almost chest pieces and long, chandelier earrings.

reference: Spring 2009 Trend Report

Top left : playsuit ; Bottom left : single-shouldered dresses; Middle: big chunky necklace; Top right : long, tasseled earrings; Bottom right : transparent, sheer fabrics

Time for a new wardrobe??
Honestly, I'm tempted to shop after browsing through the fashion sites but let's face it: I'm financially handicapped after coming back from Turkey and Bulgaria.
So, forget about spring shopping spree until next month.

*sob*

so near, yet so far

Last New Year's Eve I had so much fun counting down to a brand new year along the banks of River Thames and watching a spectacular 10 minute fireworks display fired from the London Eye.

Same time this year I curled up in my bed, under a duvet and layers of clothing to fight off an infection called FLU!

No cheers. No gathering in great crowds. No drunkenness. No talking to strangers.
Just me and my bed in a cold, cold room.

How long I slept I remember not, but as i opened my eyes I saw only darkness outside the window and the clock struck 5.
5 a.m. or 5 p.m.? I can't tell

Feeling heavy-headed and shivery, I groped for food.
Crunchy oat cereals. That was my first meal after a god knows how long sleep.
Bluek!
Not even managed to eat a handful of cereals.
I stuffed another handful and again, I threw all up.
Feebly, i crawled back to bed and slept it off.

It must have been an extended sleep as the second time I woke up, it was still pitch black outside and the clock showed 4.35. Only this time my head wasn't as heavy as before so I could shove myself to the fridge which was just 1 metre away from my bed.
I need FOOD!!I didn't feel hungry but my intuition urged me to eat.
Sighhh,,,what was in the fridge? Oranges, kiwis, lemons, apples and milk!!

Bluekkkk!!! Half of the apple i endeavoured to swallow was all out.

Gosh! What's wrong with me??I wanted so much to cry for help but my voice failed me.
Pretty sure that i wasn't alone in the flat. My flat mates were just a few metres away but my body was so frail that even walking a few steps might kill me. Worse still, i didn't have a phone. It felt as if i was all alone, completely isolated from the world; as if i was being left here to decease slowly. No one came by to check on me. No one! So much for living in a 145-resident hall..sigh!!

I can't help wondering how long it would take to discover my body if i died in the room.
One day? One week? Maybe when my body starts to rot and stink the whole place??
It was ironic that the first person to learn my condition was actually miles away but was the one sending help signals to my literally reachable friends in London for me.

A world without friends is a very lonely place, indeed!
Nonetheless, is it fair to say otherwise?


P.S. a big big hug for my life saviour aka my ex-roommie aka Pei Lian :):) You proved one thing "distance is no obstacle for saving lives"!!!!! *muaks*