Of Polka Dots and Swirls

Happy All Hallow's Eve! (Or Halloween!)

The haze hasnt exactly gone but we are getting a brief respite from intermittent drizzles that we've been getting past few days. A bit of a bother I'd say, coz it now means I have to carry a brolly with me in case of... Hate the foldable kind as they're flimsy but at the ame time, it's convenient. Can't have the best of both worlds I guess. Pretty much like what I'm going through now in my professional life.

Went on a merry little jaunt to Haji Lane this PM after lunch at one of our fav nasi melayu/nasi padang joints at Binjai Park. It's one of the other great makan places at Binjai that's cheap and good - the other is Ivin's of course. Hate to blab about these 2 places for selfish reasons but they're well known and not-very-well-kept secrets. Great ayam goreng, even better than River Valley's. I digress.

Had wanted to grab my daily shot of coffee at Lipstick Bandit but only to find out that it had closed. Not sure if it'll re-open elsewhere as there was no signs left behind. Asked Eileen at Lola but she didn't know either. It was a neat place with good nibbly things and a nice lil place to soak in the flavor of Haji Lane. If I ever get my cash act and ideas together, I'd like a lil cubby hole at Haji Lane too. Though I think having regulars who keep coming back is an important factor in staying alive in the current retail climate. Lola's a great place that stocks some familiar US and designer labels for me. Prices are fairly reasonable and Eileen's real friendly and helpful. Was waiting for Hoity Toity to open so I decided to make a bee-line to Pluck, which is just next door to Lola.

Neat concept of ice cream parlour - it was featured in last week's ST - URBAN and shop. Has a mix of local and foreign stuff, new and vintage. You can surely pick up affordable gifts here. Won't let on what I got in case someone at home reads this blog. Hoity Toity wasnt open so I ended up making a beeline towards the ribbon shop opposite the New Islamic Restaurant (nearer Jln Sultan side on main North Bridge Road). Discovered another ribbon shop on my way there, which I later realised stocks a wider range of ribbons than the original shop I wanted to go to. Lady was friendlier too! Think I shall go there for ribbon purchases in future!!!

Took a bus to Peninsula area - I know, still a little uncomfortable for me as it's too close to my old office. Speaking of which I got a call from one of my ex-colleagues, oh dear hope it aint to haunt me about my old job or something!!! EEEEEKKKK! Still traumatised by it and other ex-ex-colleagues tell me it may take ages to ever heal from it. But that's a story for another time.

Ended up at Stamford House, which I am glad was restored several years ago as it's a grand old building with much character. Of course, my purpose was to check SWIRL out. Had read about it in the same issue of Urban, but more importantly, am on their mailing list from when I bought a ring at MAAD Market a couple months ago. Main purpose was to check out the Dotted Line clothing range which is consigned to the store. When I walked in, I was greeted by a familiar face. One of the partners of the new boutique was a classmate from my NIE days. This makes it 2 ex-NIE classmates who had left and gone on to happy lives as entrepeneurs. Good on you gals! I'm waiting for the day I'll find the chance to go the entrepeneur route.

SWIRL - what words come to mind? Soft, floaty, pastels, romantic... well take a look at the clothes in store and you won't be disappointed if you want something with a special twist. The house label is designed by the two partners and sewn locally. They also carry vintage clothes and accessories so if you're a vintage type of gal, do pop over to SWIRL at Stamford House #02-05 or check out www.ilovetoswirl.com

Ok, so I shouldn't have splurged my 'lifesavings' now that I am on my sabbatical but I could not resist Dotted Line's tweed jacket. May be the good luck charm I need when I go for interviews or meetings for more freelance work. Who knows? Also check out http://dottedlineshop.com for the wonderful creations of Dorothy Loh. Again, an example of the entrepeneur who dares!! It's always a pleasure to support such talents who dare to different in our 'rat race paced' society. It's also this same fear that makes it kind of hard for me to let go to this current state of being. No fixed job and living on finite savings. Must stop going out or retail therapy'll get the better of me.

Gonna quit blogging and look into cleaning up my room and the study to make room for my home office. Need to clear the physical clutter in my house so that the emotional and mental clutter'll also sort itself out. How superstitious or new age eh?

Happy 'trick or treating' to the lil (and not-so-lil) kids out there!

Friends

Did my round of Raya visiting today and caught up with old friends from RSS, who have journeyed with me through the thick and thin. Haven't had a chance to catch up with them, due to all our hectic schedules. With this new 'retirement' I'm in, perhaps I'll get a chance to catch up with them more.

It was nice to be fussed over by my sistas' parents. Each of them had been kept in the loop over my change in career by my gal pals and were very genuine in asking me and encouraging me. Makes up for the fact that my mom ain't with us anymore and also, feels you with a sense of warmth knowing that you belong.

Of course, what is Raya without all the food!!!! Had scrumptious soto and bergedel and home fried shallots garnishing by aurora's mum. Oh and that fabulous dry satay that's not on a stick. Not to mention great cookies, some handmade by my sista! Of course we got to fus over HL's bump, though FHM and I really couldn't distinguish what was what on the 3-D scan of the baby. OOPS!

Festive fare... regardless of the season is always a heart warming time. Thanks friends, you kn ow who you are, for always making my life such a joy!

Therapy and all that...

I had a blog. I started that 2 years ago but work got the better of me and I never quite made it after 3 posts. Forgot that blog addy and passwords and all. Now that I have gone into 'bumhood' for awile, it may be therapy for my soul. I guess I hope to use this platform to track how much I have digressed or grown. I created one for my new kitten Halia and have been racking my brains to remember the passwords, addy etc. Oh well...maybe I should just merge them into 1!

This blog is also a way for me to keep in touch with friends overseas so that they'll never feel too far away from home. It's just musings and ramblings from a compulsive manic...