29/7 - 30/7

29/7

We had Day 2 of SMU Gives back on Thursday. Reporting time 0900 at SOB Atrium. And I thought I was late... Now I know, I can go late and still get my hours, but of course, I am more responsible than that! Haha. Day 3 involved us doing some recycled art! Clients from the Christian Outreach to the Handicapped came down to teach us how to use plastic bottles to create beautiful artwork. By the way the clients demonstrated, I wouldn't imagine that they were intellectually handicapped, autistic or anything. They were really nimble with their hands, quite amazing really!
I went to collect my medical report from Ngee Ann City halfway through the activity. I am still a lil lost in town sometimes :/ I finally got my matriculation card! I can now wander around the campus freely (: I am getting familiarized with the campus now. I know how to get to Business, Accountancy, IS, Social Science, Admin Building and Bras Basah now. Haha! There's still lots to discover. Hmmm, everyone seems to know their way around the area, know where the good food is. I still know nothing! I only know how to get to Iluma! ):
I am really lost! If not for my friends, I wouldn't have known that I was supposed to hand in my tuition grant by the 30th. Thank you God, for friends who are so much more in-tune than I am (:
We had dance practice for the flashmob on the 7th. By right, I am not supposed to even be there, but I think my faci will drag me out of Bondue just to attend. I will be so dead tired, considering I will be having fright night till 3am ):
I saw the chicken game. Crap la. Such a turn off. I don't wanna touch raw chicken!!! ):


30/7

Headed down to school again to hand in the form for my tuition grant. Decided not to make a wasted trip, so went to the gym for a run. Then off to Raffles City for the second straight day for a meal at The Food Place. Had Pepper Lunch as I was having a craving for some meat. Actually Pepper Lunch isn't that bad. But it's pretty unhealthy. Cos there's butter (yummy yummy butter), and I don't know what kind of meat they put into their beef patties. But it tastes pretty good! The guys wanted Koi after that. Crazy. Even willing to take the train down to Bugis (ok, it's just one stop away), just to have their dose of Koi. They tried to tempt me into getting one for myself! Evil. But I did take a sip of the Hazelnut milk tea. Really good! I think SMU is really into Koi :/ Drinking in general. Haha!
Headed home for my second workout. It was good sleep last night. Completely worn out! But feels amazing to get back to my workouts!

Afternoon workout:
30 min @ 8.0kph (Shall sprint again soon!)
Evening workout:
Cardio recovery, which involves lots of breathing exercises.
Plank work, plank pulses
2 X 16 squats, squat hold and 2 X 16 pulses
2 X 16 lunges, lunge hold and 2 X 16 pulses
Plie yoga stretches
Quad strengtheners
Oblique work
I can't do the darn table top balance pose :/ Even hip flexor stretches are a pain.
Am slightly sore in the hamstrings!

Some of the yummy nutritious food I have been having since I got home from FTB. Feels good to get back to my regular diet! (:

18/7

I am dreading tomorrow. I really don't wanna wake up and go to work cos I know, as usual, half the time I'll just be waiting for something to do. HATE IT. Really not in the mood now :/

Met up with the family today. It's been awhile. They weren't expecting to see me! And they won't be, at least not the next two weekends.
I think I sat in the same chair without getting up for three hours? Feeling so sluggish! Sit and eat! Our family just absolutely loves herb and cheese bread. This is a really great quick bread recipe. The smell wafting from the oven was so good! The moment I stepped through the front door, I already knew what was waiting in the kitchen :D There was a change to the recipe today though. In a bid to make it remotely healthier, we had it made with sour cream instead of butter. The resulting bread had a different texture. Like clay! But still, really good. Especially the crust! I ate it just a minute after it was out of the oven, cos it melts in the mouth when hot. Can you tell I'm obsessed with this bread?! I can't stop raving about it! :)

Food journal 18/7
Breakfast:
2 pieces weetbix with oatmilk and banana

Lunch:
Chicken breast with melted parmesan wrap
1 cup soy milk with chin chow! I don't know where my mum bought this, but it's good! Not sweet at all (:

Tea:
Countless cherries and blueberries
2 slices cheese and herb bread

Dinner:
2 bowls of kangkong + bayam soup with beancurd
Dry curry chicken






















Will need to workout the next two days! If not I won't have the chance till Thursday or Friday. By then, I would be feeling terrible! And we don't want that now, do we? :(

17/7

It seems to me that time is passing rather quickly. The more I dread things picking up, the faster it comes. Typical, really.

Had an early morning driving lesson today. My first morning lesson I think! 0800 hours. And it was also the first time driving in the rain.
I have my TP test in 3 days! And I'm left with one more revision lesson. The comments by the instructors have been encouraging. They say I'm "very good for a trainee". Heh. I think so too. I've always observed people driving, loved sitting in the front passenger seat. I guess I've always loved driving! Must have picked it up growing up with two boys!
PLEASE DON'T FAIL! Sigh! A little nervous. As long as I don't hit the curb I will be fine. Haha!

Walked around CWP after sending out a parcel at the PO. Pizza Hut is no more! Shucks! I now have a craving for Italian food! Margherita pizza anyone? Margherita is the best! Simple, authentic and definitely less sinful!
Bought some... err... stuff! And while waiting for the fitting room, two women got into an argument. It's all really funny! The saleslady and I were smiling discreetly. Ridiculous, childish behaviour!
As usual, I had to stop at Cold Storage to look at food. I couldn't resist Jollibean! DAMN. Azuki bean pancake :P Yum yum!
Bought some wholemeal wraps and green tea powder. Just this 2 items alone cost $18.15! The green tea powder is really expensive!

Spent majority of the day surfing the net. I'm in love with maxi dresses. SHIT! When will I get the chance the wear?!
Still attempting to trade/sell my clothes. Have a heap of them that either don't fit me or just ain't my look (mum bought!). I really thank the kind souls who have traded stuff with me! I now have only... 10 more to go! HAHA! :D

Decided to go for a run despite an upset tummy.
Workout of the day:
4.8km approx. run
Stopped once, for about 2 minutes. There was a little pothole in the ground. There goes my ankle! :/

Food journal 17/7
Breakfast: Oatmeal with peanut butter and banana

2nd breakfast:
Tofu and fishcake sambal
1 glass milk

Lunch:
1 egg, tofu and cheese wholemeal wrap
Rojak (We have a love-hate relationship!)
Soy with barley and beancurd skin
There was also roti prata with some mean looking curry (really thick due to coconut milk, I'm sure!). But I resisted! Sinned enough with rojak. Haha!

Dinner:
The perfect meal for me :D
Chicken breast with salad. Awesome cherry tomatoes (the only kind of tomatoes I eat. hate the normal ones!), zucchinis, red bell peppers and carrots. The chicken, baked to perfection! Moist, tender, PERFECT!
Had a pear, and a glass of milk! I'm gonna make it a ritual to have either ginger water or green tea every night!

15/7

I woke up bright and early today! Like... Noon? Haha! Feels so good to sleep in. Next week, Starring SMU starts, which means my 'camping season' starts. 3 camps. I will dread it! I won't get to sleep, eat as and when I want... Sad lor!

This time is really much more painful... But I shall not complain, since it is a blessing that it is a week late! :D I really feel like it's mind over body. If everything goes accordingly, then I won't have to suffer at Bondue! :D

I finally finished my book, The Piano Teacher, today! It's really an exceptional one. It tells of a young English rose, Claire, who moves to Hong Kong shortly after the war with her new husband. She meets Will, driver to a wealthy Chinese couple, when she takes on the job of piano teacher to their daughter. His enigmatic presence enthralls her. Of course, a scandal ensues.
A decade earlier, Eurasian beauty Trudy casts her own spell of fascination. She is a social butterfly and knows everyone worth knowing in Hong Kong, including a newly arrived young Englishman - Will Truesdale.
The book also depicts the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the brutality of the regime, the hardship that not only the locals - but also the foreigners - went through. And we all know I love these stories!
Am reading "Beautiful People" by Wendy Holden now. Completely different. It's like a bimbo book, but I like it still! Heh! There's so much joy reading books filled with sarcasm and wit! :D

Food journal 15/7
Breakfast:
2 pieces weetbix with oatmilk, banana and nuts

Lunch:
Scrambled egg sandwich with parmesan

Dinner:
Pan fried chicken breast
Mushrooms with pepper
Soup with cabbage, carrots, potatoes, celery and shredded chicken

14/7

We made it to MD today to deliver our baked goods to the guys. Initially, the plan was to meet the birthday boy, since we baked it for him especially... And I was joking when I asked what if he took off today. AND HE ACTUALLY DID! Just our luck. Oh well!
Not everyone met us. Either that or they didn't really want to eat it lor. So sad can?! All our hard work. 7 hours worth ):
I hope he likes it though :/ Choy seemed to enjoy it. Chu Chu too! Haha! Funny :P

Food journal 14/7
Breakfast:
Oatmeal with peanut butter and banana
1 thosai with sambar and coconut chutney

Lunch:
Chicken breast, tofu, cabbage and kidney beans soup


Fresh kidney beans. They're a little harder than those we usually get in cans. They are chock full of fibre, protein, vitamins and antioxidants! Really good! (: And it made my clear soup brown!
1 cup teh halia

Snack:
Mixed nuts and raisins

Pre-workout meal:
Korean BBQ chicken

Dinner:
Same soup
5 small prawns
1 glass Meiji low fat milk
1 cup ginger water

I've had enough chocolate yesterday to last me an entire month! I never thought I'd say this :/

Worked out today.
5min warm up jog
8 sets 20s/10s sprints
5min cool down
Ran up my flight of stairs
4 X 8 squats, 8 push ups, 8 floor sprints
2 X 1 min planks

My lower abdomen is starting to hurt again. Argh! It really frustrates me cos it doesn't allow me to perform to my best! ):

Mummy says I'm starting to develop my eyebags again. I don't know what's wrong! It might be the weather. I'm feeling awfully warm these few days, I keep waking up perspiring!

BALLS

We just wasted 7 hours of our lives. So much effort, and such disproportionate results. Sucks la! Quite upset. I don't know what the hell happened to it. Today... SHIT!
I turned them into chocolate balls in an attempt to salvage them. Am refrigerating it. We shall see how it turns out tomorrow. Somehow I have the feeling I will end up tossing them.

I feel upset now. I don't know why. Maybe it's PMS. Maybe I'm being too sensitive...

Champions

My prayers were answered yesterday. It was indeed fine weather, maybe a little too fine, but it was a good day! So no hiam! :D

Made it down to Sentosa for an hour of kayaking and a lazy afternoon under the blistering sun. My triceps and thighs are really burning! I guess these areas don't really get exposed to the sun that often, and certainly not to such intense heat. Cold showers are really extremely soothing now. And so is the icy cold aloe vera I have been rubbing on my skin.
We were feeling extremely drained by the sun. Really didn't feel like going down to Sunset for dinner with the guys. But we did eventually, and I guess it was worth it. It's nice to see the guys every once in awhile!

I slept for about 2 hours before catching the World Cup finals between Spain and the Netherlands. I am so proud of them! After more than 8 years of supporting them, and people (like my brother) always telling me how they suck, they finally made it! :D




His palms are insured for a million pounds?! Great goalkeeper! And he kissed his reporter girlfriend during an interview after the match. So sweet! :D

The highlight of the game was when Andres Iniesta scored and in celebration, paid tribute to a Spanish defender who passed away last year.


The message "DANI JARQUE SIEMPRE CON NOSOTROS" translates to: Dani Jarque, always with us.

They brought out Fernando Torres to play in the 30 minutes extra play. I think he just aggravated his injury. It was pretty sad to see him on the ground while the game played on.
I guess everyone who watched will never forget the English referee and his prolific yellow-card giving. Haha! More than half the Dutch team were booked. It was only a matter of time before they were reduced to 10 men.
Carles Puyol has such cute hair. Every time they flashed the slow motion replay of him heading the ball, you caught every moment of his beautiful mane swinging from side to side. My brother and I kept laughing at him. He looks like a Neanderthal =X OOPS! No offence! He is still an amazing player! :)

Look at it! Haha!

I really didn't bother catching this WC though I have been since primary school. I've supported Spain all along ok! But they never made it, so my second choice was always Germany. Raul Gonzalez was my number one, Miroslav Klose my number two. Reading the papers today, I found out that Klose was one goal away from matching Ronaldo's record number of goals. However, as he was down with the flu, he was unable to play in their last match. He is already 32. I seriously doubt he will play in the next WC in Brazil ): Raul is old too. All the people I used to watch play are all about to retire or have already done so... SO SAD! Am starting to lose interest. But no doubt there are really good players around, like Cesc Fabregas. I always thought he was good. Torres too. I don't know why some people can't stand him. I only can't stand Rooney and Mr. CR7. Argh!
I can't believe I'm going on about this with so much 'passion'. Haha!

Another rest day for me. I'm trying to finish up "The Piano Teacher", then it's time for "Beautiful People". Am really enjoying reading again! (:

Food journal 12/7
Breakfast:
2 pieces weetbix with oat milk

Lunch:
YTF with lots of chye sim

Dinner:
Chicken breast and vegetable soup
1 egg

Indulgence:
2 chocolate cookies

Will probably take half a dragonfruit and some more milk later on. Just so hungry!