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*

Breaking out

I have come to a point where i realise my blog is no longer a safe blanket for my thoughts and feelings so i shall be off blogging for a while

dunno when i will be back..maybe when i'm ready to share again or maybe when i have grown out of being judged by what i write

Anyway, thank you for all your visits and comments!

Take care :):)

Clean up this pigsty!

If there is one thing i hate, it's room tidying

Clothes everywhere in bags of all sizes and colours, overfilled shoe rack with shoes stacking on top of one another, overdoor hooks drowned in bags and coats, papers and books scatter all over the table, leaving the laptop to suffocate in the mess they make

Visualise those images and now transfer them to my room, a 6 x 7 square feet room

An eyesore?Absolutely!

You know it's time to tidy your room when
you can't find half of your stuff
your guest feels claustrophobic after staying for less than 1 minute
the messiness becomes a hazard,
and
your friend who has got used to the clutter starts giving you suggestions on how to keep things orderly.

Arghh...a few more things to be added to the shopping list

probably what i need to turn my room from pigsty to presentable

I wonder where i should sleep if i fit them all into my tiny room...Hmmm

Beat the blues

For all you guys out there

ever wondered why girls can feel depressed for no apparent reason at all?

some call it chemical imbalance in the brain

women call it PMS

yea..it's the hormones

it's that time of the month when you wake up in the morning feeling moody,headachy and tired, your pants feel tight and you wonder how the hell u gained weight overnight, you can't get enough of chips and chocolate, you feel bloated and crampy all the time even if you haven't tucked in anything and you get irritated by the smallest incident.

It is as if a different persona has taken over.

So ladies, how to fight PMS??

• Eat complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain breads, pasta and cereals, fiber and protein. Cut back on sugar and fat.


• Avoid salt for the last few days before your period to reduce bloating and fluid retention.


• Studies have shown that taking 1,200 mg of calcium a day can help reduce PMS symptoms.


• Magnesium supplement can help reduce bloating, breast tenderness and mood symptoms. There is also some evidence that vitamin B6 and vitamin E can help reduce PMS symptoms.


• Talking with others about how PMS affects you can help. Sharing what you are going through will enable the people around you to be more supportive.


• Get moving with aerobic exercise. Work up to exercising 30 minutes, four to six times a week.

• Try new ways to relax and relieve stress, such as yoga or massage.
  

Last but not least

• Avoid CAFFEINE and alcohol.

Gosh..i think the withdrawal symptoms will turn me into a manslaughter first!!

To: You From: Us

Dear Yin Hui,

Christmas awaits you at local Starbucks. As a valued Starbucks Card holder we'd like to invite you to try our new Dark Cherry Mocha, on us.

a little bit of festive magic from Starbucks

A Fragile Thing

As doctors, we're trained to be skeptical, because patients lie to us all the time. The rule is, the patient is lying until proven honest.
----- Grey's Anatomy : Tell Me Sweet Little Lies

Sometimes i think i'm not destined to do prosthodontics (a branch of dentistry dealing with the replacement of teeth)

first patient - a friendly chap but not compliant with his appointment. I have to discharge him after a couple of cancellations

second patient - a grumpy,nasty and fussy middle-aged woman who is willing to stay for only 1 hour for each appointment.Worse still, she is diagnosed with uterine fibroids weeks later and has to undergo hysterectomy which puts off her dental treatment.

now comes the third patient - a huge black man who is 30 min late for his first appointment

Medically, he suffers from hypertension, stroke, diabetes and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

When asked to come in early at his next appointment, he goes
"i live in North London. It takes me 3 hours to get here. There is no way to make it earlier!''

Clearly i have no idea how far Enfield (where he lives) is so i just take his words for it.

When queried about his dental and social history he jeers at questions like ''how many times do you brush a day?", "do you floss?" , "do you smoke?" which are what we call standard questions for dental check-up.

"You like being a dentist?Looking at people's teeth every day?" he sneers
"i'm enjoying it so far'' trying to sound positive
"i think dentists like giving empty promises!'' he then goes on how his previous dentist has kept him waiting for a year and never dealt with his missing teeth as promised.
"So i suppose the next visit will be in a year's time?" he gives me the scornful look which i hate a second time
"Of course not!Your next appointment will be on 15th Dec,'' i put down the date on his appointment card.
"Promise?I know your name and i will call to remind you. Don't you ever think you can fool around with me!"

WTF! first time my trustworthiness has been questioned by a patient!!

Even worse, i later finds out he is a big fat liar. It only takes 45 min max by train to travel from his place to Whitechapel according to my group mate who lives in North London. As a stroke patient, he is entitled to free travel after 9.30a.m. which explains why he refuses to make early appointment.

"3 hours is a joke!'' my group mate teases

Interesting enough, the patient warns me not to break my promise when he himself is a liar in the first place.

Trust is like a mirror. Once broken you'll never look at in the same way again.

But for the sake of my pros requirement, i must mend this fragile bridge even if it means i may have to put up with more lies then.

It sucks to be a dental student like me!!

Never enough

A woman can never have enough shoes/bags/clothes

so what's new?

the hunt continues......

Never been so lucky

i had been in a stupor
before and after i collected my result

I flicked through my patient's notes without comprehending what i was reading
the words seemed jumbled up in my mind, not making any sense

I didn't pay attention when my tutor was talking

"What are you doing today?" he peered at me indifferently through his square glasses
"Yea. I've got a patient at 11 o'clock,'' words slipped out of my mouth like a pre-recorded answer
"So what are you doing today?"he repeated in a colder tone
"Ohhh..ermm..probably fissure sealant and topical fluoride,'' i suddenly regained my senses, as if i have just been concussed

Not a good start to the day

After the patient left, i stared at the notes with a pen in my hand, having trouble recalling what i just did. The only words reverberated in my mind were 'result', 'R 240', '1.15pm' and 'doom'.

i went down to the lab, hoping to preoccupy myself with some lab work before getting my result. Then i met Helen there. We decided to face our fear together so we went back up to second floor, R240. We saw some of our course mates holding a piece of A4 sized sheet and smiling in relief at the walkway.

Ouch!
Dunno why but it hurt when i saw those happy faces. It haunted me that i might not be walking out with the same kind of face.

Oddly enough, it didn't seem to take a minute to collect my result slip but it took me yonks to pick up the courage and open it. Being braver than me, Helen read her slip line by line slowly, then looked up with unconcealed glee.

"Open it!i have a feeling we both have the same thing!!" She gave me a reassured look

Feeling paralysed, i slipped my shaking fingers into the envelop and withdrew the paper.

My eyes ran over every word again and again, trying to savour it slowly and make sure i wasn't hallucinating.

Section A, result : Pass
Section B, result : Pass
Result at Part 3 : Pass with Distinction

Ohhhh Myyyy Gawddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, i entered a phase of extreme bewilderment.

Speechless and reaction-less!!

Should i just.......scream??