I have never been a football fan nor have I ever watched any matches from beginning till the end before this. To me, football is weird because for the life of me, I couldn't figure out the fun in watching 10 grown men behaving like kids (all the pulling and tugging coupled with dramatic acting) trying to chase after 1 ball. The only plus point that I could think of was watching sweaty, good-looking men, running around; in shorts... hehehe. But all these changed this year. I worked on a project at work that exposed to me some of the hottest players in WC that somewhat increased my awareness of football a little. The first match I watched was Germany vs. England that totally changed my perception of football.

Here in this game; the team spirit and dynamism was so apparent with the semi-known Germany players! It really goes to show that there's no limit as to what a team can achieve together when the so called underdog team beat the crap out of England with a 4-1! So what if England is a star-studded team cos' instead of playing the game as a team, England team members seemed more eager to display their own heroism for personal fame and glory!

This was supposed to be a longer post, but I procrastinated for so long that I now am "malas" to write about it anymore. Suffice to say that my Hb was very happy with my new found interest in football and was very eager to explain the rules of the game to me. With his explanation, I find it more and more interesting that I sacrificed my beauty sleep to watch the Finals of Spain vs. Netherlands! Slept only 2 hours and boy was I zombie-fied at work!!! And oh... Paul the Octopus was right once again!!! Cool dude I tell ya!

Yesterday, I went back for my dental appointment. I had a loose bracket that was fixed and Dr. How also changed the wires for my lower teeth with thicker wire. After the session, I asked him how long more will I have to wear my braces... and his answer SHOCKED me!!!

Initially, he said 6 more months... so ok...
Then this time round, he said 9 to 12 more months!!!
Cos apparently, there's a lot more to be fixed!!!

So damn depressing lor... why so long one!!! :(

16-03-2008: $1,100 [Deposit, X-Rays, Photos & Moulding]
30-03-2008: $ 870 [Deposit & Upper Braces Fitting]
20-04-2008: $ 423 [Extraction & Medication]
18-05-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change]
17-08-2008: $ 325 [Bottom Braces Fitting]
14-09-2008: $ 764 [Extraction, Frenectomy & Medication]
25-10-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Scaling]
23-11-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change & Scaling]
24-12-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
24-01-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
21-02-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
28-02-2009: $ 714 [Loose Bracket, 2 Screws, 4 Springs and 4 Crisscrossed Wires]
21-03-2009: $ 325 [Springs & Crisscrossed Wires Adjustment]
30-04-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Wires Change]
30-05-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Mini Wires Removal, Thicker Crisscrossed Wires]
04-07-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Springs Adjustment, 8-Ring Rubber Loops]
01-08-2009: $ 275 [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
22-08-2009: F.O.C [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
07-09-2009: $ 510 [X-Ray, Braces Removal, Scaling]
08-09-2009: $ 70 [Solubles for Retainer x 4 boxes + Plastic Case for Retainer]
26-05-2010: F.O.C [Upper & Lower Braces Fitting + 2 x Bite Blocks]
23-06-2010: F.O.C [Loose Bracket + Wire Change for Lower Teeth]

YTD Spent: $8,421.00

I've been neglecting this blog of mine because I think I'm bored with the design. Been hunting high and low for a nicer looking one but can't seemed to find any that I like. Enquired about a professional designed blog design and got the shock of my life that a basic one cost SGD$950!!!

So anyway, here's an update on our project; code named HIP (Home Improvement Plan) which Hb and I have been working on.

The latest addition to our home is the dining set from Monzio Italy; full marble piece in white including the base. For chairs, we chose 4 black-coloured chairs and 2-white ones for contrast.

The huge smiling Buddha photo was from Houz Depot... comes with the frame as well which coincidentally matches all our furniture colour. The shaggy black carpet was also from Houz Depot so that the chairs don't move around noisily. And so, our home now has a set of 3 colours at a glance: White, Black & Brown. :-)

We also changed the carpet in the living room to a shiny, furry carpet. Think the lighting made it looked black in this photo but in actual fact it is in shades of brown and is ultra soft!

Next to-do in our list is the guest toilet renovation... :-)

I finally found the courage to resume my braces treatment yesterday after 8 looooong months of removing them for my wedding last year. As expected, my dentist wasn't too happy with the delay and lectured me quite sternly. I was practically squirming guiltily in my seat without daring to utter a single word.

So anyway, this is my 21st visit to have my upper and lower braces fitted again after the looooong break. Think initially the dentist wanted to fit only the upper braces but in the end decided to do both at one go. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt as bad as I expected it to be. Sure, I was a little sore when I got up this morning... but it was nothing too unbearable... and THANK GOD for that...

However, since my upper jaw is larger than my lower jaw... with both upper & lower braces fitted, I will end up biting into the lower jaw braces and potentially bite off the wire... So... the dentist put 2 bite blocks (which is really a clump of hard clay) at my forth upper tooth (both left and right)... it was so near my front teeth that when I smile, it can be seen... and worst still... when I bite, there is this HUGE gap between my upper and lower jaw separated by this 2 clump of clays!!! In short, that meant that I cannot chew ANYTHING... and will either have to take porridge or bread with milo everyday for the next 6 months!!!

16-03-2008: $1,100 [Deposit, X-Rays, Photos & Moulding]
30-03-2008: $ 870 [Deposit & Upper Braces Fitting]
20-04-2008: $ 423 [Extraction & Medication]
18-05-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change]
17-08-2008: $ 325 [Bottom Braces Fitting]
14-09-2008: $ 764 [Extraction, Frenectomy & Medication]
25-10-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Scaling]
23-11-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change & Scaling]
24-12-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
24-01-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
21-02-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
28-02-2009: $ 714 [Loose Bracket, 2 Screws, 4 Springs and 4 Crisscrossed Wires]
21-03-2009: $ 325 [Springs & Crisscrossed Wires Adjustment]
30-04-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Wires Change]
30-05-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Mini Wires Removal, Thicker Crisscrossed Wires]
04-07-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Springs Adjustment, 8-Ring Rubber Loops]
01-08-2009: $ 275 [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
22-08-2009: F.O.C [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
07-09-2009: $ 510 [X-Ray, Braces Removal, Scaling]
08-09-2009: $ 70 [Solubles for Retainer x 4 boxes + Plastic Case for Retainer]
26-05-2010: F.O.C [Upper & Lower Braces Fitting + 2 x Bite Blocks]

YTD Spent: $8,421.00

Come to think of it... I've actually completed my payment for the braces treatment... so if the dentist is calculative... he could've just ignored me... for all upcoming visits to tighten my braces will be F.O.C from now on... So ya... thank you dentist...

HIP in progress...
We spent close to 3 weeks hunting for a brand new sofa. Initially, we thought that our requirement was pretty simple... All we wanted to get was a simple L-shaped, leather sofa... how hard would that be right?

Wrong!!!
Buying a sofa is like contemplating a marriage!!!
So many different things to think about!!!

• The type of leather (leatherbond, half leather, full leather, thick leather)
• Functionalities (expandable seats, reclining back, adjustable headrest)
• Leg materials (wood, metal, chrome, stainless steel)
  
• Number of seats (3-seater, 4-seater)
• Size of seats (8-feet, 9-feet, 10-feet in width)
  
• Brand name (obviously, the branded one will cost more la)

We looked at so many different outlets and sat on so many different types... that after awhile, they all looked the same. In the end... after weeks of hunting... we ended up buying the first sofa we shortlisted when we first saw it...

But that wasn't the end of it. 10 minutes later, on our way home... we suddenly, collectively agreed that the 3-seater we paid a deposit for was way too short for our living room... and that we should have opted for the 4-seater instead... SO we found ourselves frantically calling the shop again to change the specs of the sofa from a 3-seater to a 4-seater one... (am certain the lady thinks we're both mad)... hahahaha...

Nevertheless, here's the L-shaped, leather sofa we now have at our weekend home... and OH... it has 2 special functionalities that helped us make up our minds... (1) Expandable seats - apart from the single "L" seat, all the rest of the 3 other seats are expandable so in actual fact... this is a 4-L sofa... hahaha... and (2) Adjustable headrest - the headrest can be adjusted to whichever angle one prefers...


Next HIP item... dining set... :D

I realized that I call my husband so many different names on this blog... first it was Alan... then OWLoon cos that's his nickname to Dee sometimes cos' that's what I call him and now Hb which stands for hubby... So from now onwards, think I will just address him as Hb lah... easier...

So anyway, Hb and I are on a Home Improvement Project (code named: HIP).

The last time we did that was prior to our wedding... the reburbishment of the entire master bedroom and attached toilet... where every single item was brand new from wall colours to built in wardrobe to furniture to electrical items... everything! But because we repainted the entire house and re-wired the whole place during the last HIP... this time round, our HIP involves only furniture hunting! But guess what??? HIP - Furniture is so much more FUN than HIP - Renovation!!! At least, there are WAY less mess to clean up... :D

So anyway, our HIP - Furniture project started with our living room where we started our hunt for sofa, TV rack, coffee table, lamps and wallpapers... It took us forever to decide and to agree on what to buy... that in the end, we found our TV sitting on the floor pathetically...

What happened was this... We asked the guard at our place if he'd be interested to have our old bulky 34 inch TV along with its TV rack... and he immediately said YES!!! But he was so happy that together with the gardener, they came and carried both the items away on the same day itself (actually, it was more like within 10 minutes of Hb asking him...)! So with the TV AND THE TV RACK gone, we had no choice but to force ourselves to relook at all our previous choices...

That day, we went to Klang and purchased 4 items... and luckily... managed to get them all delivered on the same day itself...!!! We bought a TV rack with a matching coffee table... and best of all, 2 lamps that we really liked... one standing lamp and the other one being a table lamp!

For sentimental purposes... here's how our old bulky TV and rack looks like... hehehe... Hb and I nearly d.i.e.d of exhaustion moving it to the side of our living room to make way for our flatscreen TV...!!!

The following day, we went to another outlet in PJ to place our deposit for the sofa... but unlike the outlet in Klang, delivery can only be made 10 working days later!!! So yala... that's a post on its own for some other day...

Oh and before I forget, since we are focussing on the living room first, we only added blinds to hide away the naked windows... in our kitchen... :)

Ahhh... the joy of shopping!!! :D

Aiyor, this is like super overdue... Was supposed to write about my experience at the M.a.l.a.y.s.i.a.n G.r.a.n.d P.r.i.x but ahem... C.h.i.n.e.s.e G.r.a.n.d P.r.i.x also over di! But nevermind la, better late than never...

To be honest... I don't watch F.1. and somehow, I find the "vroom vroom" sound... therapeutic! Say if I try watching it on TV... my eyelids will weigh heavier and heavier by the minute and I will most often doze off... BUT... BUT... 2 weeks ago... I had the chance to visit the S.e.p.a.n.g I.n.t.e.r.n.a.t.i.o.n.a.l C.i.r.c.u.i.t (S.I.C) for the 1st time in my life to watch the practice sessions and I must say that even for a non-fan like me... I found the experience totally amazing!

Here's an account on what happened...

We visited S.I.C on Thursday for a quick tour and meeting with the L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g team and thereafter... we were given a tour at L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g garage itself.... Here, we were given a quick explanation on how the team members communicate with one another like how they each have 2 sets of headsets which only dedicated personnel are allowed to talk to the drivers... the types of tyres... and of course... the L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g car itself... all in close proximity!!!

On our way out... I walked past a driver dressed in Red and for a split second, he was just next to me... I didn't know who he was but my colleagues were practically hyperventilating at the sight of this guy... cos you know why? He's F.e.r.n.a.n.d.o A.l.o.n.s.o from the F.e.r.r.a.r.i team!!! At the car park, while waiting for our driver (we were driven in our company's Alphard cos' there were limited parking passes), we saw yet another driver (or ex-driver)... but this time round, I knew who he was la... A.l.e.x. Y.o.o.n.g... haha...

The following day, we all gathered at our office lobby at ~8.30am where our company drivers picked us up. The entire experience was quite similar to those "rombongan sambil belajar" that I used to attend in primary school... hahaha... totally fun and exciting!!! At S.I.C, we made our way to the P.a.d.d.o.c.k C.l.u.b which is really the most exclusive viewing deck in S.I.C. The L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g P.a.d.d.o.c.k C.l.u.b was located just above the L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g garage and that meant that we have superb view of the car(s) coming in and out of the pit!

The P.a.d.d.o.c.k C.l.u.b faces the G.r.a.n.d S.t.a.n.d and offers superb view of other cars coming out of their pit:

The thing with this P.a.d.d.o.c.k C.l.u.b is that, it comes complete with buffet, free flow of wine / champagne, coffee, tea, snacks, ice creams etc served by super cute model-looking guys and gals (all "ang moh" btw). Next door, at the general hospitality area, there were even free foot massages, free photo taking, free snacks and lots of official merchandise (for sale)! Uber cool!

After the practice sessions, we met H.e.i.k.k.i K.o.v.a.l.a.i.n.e.n and F.a.i.r.u.z F.a.u.z.y of L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g... both were very friendly and accommodating to the numerous requests for photo taking. :-) Heck, I even met the T.e.a.m P.r.i.n.c.i.p.a.l, T.o.n.y F.e.r.n.a.n.d.e.s himself (btw, I absolutely love the way he tweets live from the p.i.t w.a.l.l during races!!!).

Then, it was time for the most awaited moment!!! The p.i.t l.a.n.e w.a.l.k!!! The p.i.t l.a.n.e is really the lane where cars drive into for their p.i.t s.t.o.p. And as part of the experience, we were given an hour to walk the p.i.t l.a.n.e where all the cars garage are located... Since we all wore the L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g tag, we were given access into the L.o.t.u.s R.a.c.i.n.g garage... and here we took numerous shots again... before continuing our walk down the pit lane...

Along the pit lane, we had the chance to see all the other teams' cars... F.e.r.r.a.r.i, M.c.L.a.r.r.e.n... you name it...

Surprisingly, when we passed R.e.d B.u.l.l's garage, the lady asked me and another colleague if we would like to enter their garage! We obviously said YES (much to the envy of those who weren't invited in... hahaha)!!! Think it was because of their generosity in allowing us in, S.e.b.a.s.t.i.a.n V.e.t.t.e.l and M.a.r.k W.e.b.b.e.r (both from the R.e.d.b.u.l.l team) won 1st and 2nd place! Kakakaka...

All in all, the experience was truly amazing and I had the time of my life! :D