Mandatory Leave part 3

It really feels great to be on LONG LEAVE~!!!

I am enjoying myself not having to turn up for work on time.

I am also thankful for the people around me, who are willing to meet me up - accomodating to my schedule. Turns out, I'm the most busy one who can only meet people up on my off days.

Met Harold for late lunch at Secret Recipe.
Great catching up with my past-tense drinking mate and getting to know that he is doing well in his new job as well! :) Thanks for the lunch treat!



Met up with my poly "angels" who had walked me through the 3 years of Diploma studies.

Audrey and Kailin

ME and Michelle

Dinner at IZAKAYA NIJUMARU located at Cuppage Plaza level 2



I wanted to take a nice pico of the items on the table.
Took 5-8 shots and ended up MISSION FAILED!


Kailin's Tenpura Udon $11


The rest of us had Sashimi set $14


After which, we walked in Orchard Road to camwhore and soak into the Christmas atmosphere!

Kailin looks like she is wearing a big christmas hat :D

The golden Christmas tree by Ferrero Rocher, outside The Heeren.

Had our desserts at Ben and Jerry's

4 different flavours - THANK YOU Michelle for the ice cream treats! :)

Kailin and Michelle

This pico was very well-taken. HAHA!

ME and Kailin - I think I look super hiao in this pico. Hmmm...

Audrey, ME and Kailin

A pico of the candies in our bags. LOL!

Great evening spent - eating, catching up, shopping, camwhoring!

Kailin and ME - I'm short.

Audrey and Michelle - stealing some fake ferrero rocher in action!

After which, met up Rachel for ZOUK! Wheeee!

Mandatory Leave part 2

Tea break with Shu Jun (primary school friend) at Crystal Jade Kitchen @ Suntec.


Her congee $5.44 (tea-break discount)


My sour plum drink served in a Tiger mug. LOL!
$3.20 and the drink tasted awful, especially with the herb taste = weird!


Dry Wanton Noodles $6.24 (tea-break discount)


Crispy Chicken Wing $5.50


Seeked a tourist's help to take a pico of us with the Christmas Tree.
How ironic isn't it? We have become tourists in return. Haha!


Dessert as dinner for her :x
Yes, I abandoned her and went to DearBoy's house for home-cooked dinner.
No good no good!


Nonetheless, good catching up with her from Suntec to Chinatown :)

Mandatory Leave part 1

Three Cheers to the beginning of my long break! :D

Lunch meet-up with my bestie - WeiXian - at Sakae Sushi @ Northpoint.


This unique dish caught my eye while waiting for her to arrive.
Doesn't look auspicious lah!
It's like, a Chinese HUMAN eating candle.


Ordered many coloured plates and a main dish to share.
Teppanyaki set comprises of grilled salmon wrapped with asparagus, chicken, unagi, scallops and prawns. Overall verdict: Thumbs down for the lousy grill done.


And in my hurry to rush home and keep the clothes in from the sudden downpour, I forgot to take a pico with her. How bad I am! There goes a pico which we can look back in the future, reminiscing on our youthful look.



Dinner in Orchard with Adeline - Su Korean Cuisine @ Far East Plaza


Been wanting to try this place out since the Korean craze swept Singaporeans away with the TV drama - Da Chang Jin - and that's many years ago!

All thanks to Adeline, who had tried and recommended this place for dinner :)


I'm a busy woman who is on leave and yet on 80% standby mode to answer queries.
LOL!


Korean appetizers dishes - for free and are refillable.


American Chicken Soup $25
I expected the taste of the ginseng to be stronger, but this is a no-no dish to try going forward.


Chicken Fillet - you can choose to BBQ the meat yourselves or the kitchen to do it for you. We choose the latter for hassle-free enjoyment!


Korean Rice Cake $15 - definitely must have!
The rice cakes are spongy which is something good.


Another must have - Deep Fried Prawn $22
The thinly sliced prawn in crunchy bread batter goes along very well with the sauce they served with the dish.


Don't be surprised. Just two ladies enjoying the korean feast.
Rest assured. We tried our very best not to waste food as well. :)


Camwhored in the Ladies of Far East Plaza


Christmas decorations outside TANGS. Something wrong with my camera.


Likes this shot taken for Adeline :D


Tiffany & Co Christmas tree - can be found along the street of Orchard outside Ngee Ann city.

Going on leave from 20th Nov - 7th Dec 2010

Yesh!
Finally, I'm on my long awaited mandatory leave.

In financial sector, everyone has to take a consecutive xx working days of Compliance Leave in a year.

In RBS, xx refers to 10 consecutive working days.

I am taking leave for 12 weekdays and 4 weekends, to be precise :)

This is my FIRST long break while staying employed.

Converted from an intern to a permanent staff in Credit Suisse immediately since Poly graduation in March 2007,
Cleared a 5-day compliance leave in year 2008, forgotten what I had done / went,
Did not clear my 5-day compliance leave in year 2009 as the news of deployment came and I decided to encash my outstanding leave - this is a good decision.
Then was unemployed for a week, awaiting for confirmation of my official start date in RBS.
Started working in RBS since November 2009.....


Woah. I have not rested for the past years!
That really explains the LOOK of myself degrading as time passes.

Chicken essence, Bird Nest soup, Berry essence, Expensive Eye Cream, etc etc etc and LOTS OF COFFEE did not seemed to help me!

Sad to say,
I AM A DEPRECIATING ASSET! :(


On a positive note, I have planned many things during this long break from work.

And I'm glad to have my friends and family for the next 2 weeks! :D

Genting trip 20th-22nd

No, I am no ambassador for Malaysia.

I have not much time and money to travel to other countries.

Another 3 days 2 nights spent in Malaysia - Genting Highlands.


Went Genting this time round by Five Stars coach with DearBoy's BIG family.


My favourite dish from Mushroom Farm - Deep Fried African Fish


With 17 degree celsius in the day and 15 degree celsius in the night, I heart the weather!


Old Town White Coffee to perk myself up for more gambling sessions in the day! :x


New place explored - Snow City - to accompany his niece for an early snowy Christmas experience.




To end this, I am really sick and tired of Genting Highlands.
The highlights from all my trips there are the same!

- Spent time in the casinos and contributed to the Malaysia economy
- Feasting at Mushroom Farm
- Aimlessly shopping around for things to buy
- Walking and walking and walking

I NEED TO GO NEW PLACES, LIKE SERIOUSLY!

Sunday BEER session!

Try relaxing on a lazy Sunday afternoon with beer?

It's SHIOKNESS to the MAX! :)


Curry Sausage, spot the sausage!


Pizza pizza pizza


Cold appetizers


ME, Caroline, Angela and Shu Ting


Oh, this mini meet-up is held a day before Angela flies off to Sydney for a month work in the new bank she has joined not too long ago.

Angela, Shu Ting and ME


Angela gets to fly in SQ business class, just like how Shu Ting and I enjoyed when we were flying to Pune in India during October 2009.


Jeanette, ME, Caroline and Angela



5 ladies - 3 had left CS, woah!
Time flies as I had left CS for a year....
And I'm ageing....