Mum & Dad came

They could have stayed with us, but apparently the hotel was booked in advance and also Novotel is so convenient!

Meijiya the Japanese supermarket is literally a candy shop for them since Jakarta put a ban on Japanese imported products. Dad had his sake and mum had her... er.. Rique's bubble bath... (?)









Anyway, I forgot to bring out my camera so no photo of us spending quality time together, but here are some pics that will remind me of their brief visit.

My favorite boss' Farewell Drinks

Dennis Coloma (the one next to me in dark blue t-shirts) is one of the truly greatest senior colleague I've ever had.

Not only to me, but to many of us, Dennis is a supportive, protective and reliable senior, who always back us up and stand up for us when we make mistakes, never blame us, always willing to help and making jokes. Even when he's busy he always smiles and laugh at adversities. He's moving onto a new company and new role - for the better, and I wish him all the wealth, success and happiness.

The photo was taken by Fushimi-san, a famous photographer in Japan. This is his blog and we are in it! http://mashtokyo.exblog.jp/

Saturday Rugby Day

Wanderers - The team that Matt is in, is so generous.

They provide bottles of wine for the WAGs (wife and girlfriends) and guests, besides the beer they already have.
There's usually enough to last the game for all the girls, if anything we are all more than bubbly at the end the the match.

















It's a great way to support the HABs and get out under a nice weather on Saturday afternoon.
I started bringing snacks and friends...it's a picnic.
The best part is, I get to go to bed as early as 8pm on Saturday night. What a good girl...

Anne & Steve's Dinner

Anne & Steve(the Dutch man) invited us over to their place for a nice dinner.

Steve was once a chef back in Holland and he sure proved that to us.
2 fish dishes that were both tasty and beautiful to look at.


Anne is 1/4 Indonesian - can you tell? Maybe not, apart from the natural copper tan skin!

my cutest nephew Rikki

1.5 years old

Dinner at Matt's boss' house.

Yes. How privileged is it, to be invited to the boss's house for dinner?

And of course there was Matt's direct boss Ian as well.
Paul (the big boss)'s wife is Yuko-san, a Japanese lady.
She is very nice like what Japanese lady is expected to be. Not like me.

Everyone there was nice and the atmosphere was very good - I guess this situation calls for ultimate politeness and wittiness - and everyone getting along.

It's been ages since I had US Steak char grilled to a perfect rare. It was sooo nice.

It reminded me of mum's PAKITA.

Chinese New Year 2009!

It was certainly a happy festive week filled with lots of merry drinking, eating and silly talks.


















In Singapore, traditionally, they eat YUSHENG (a sort of appetizer salad with raw salmon, which is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor)(and it tastes pretty good).
The higher you mix and toss the salad, the more luck you get - so it felt like this year was especially messy and loud!
















I guess it's quite real that everyone can do with lots of luck this year.















Lasse came from Denmark for a week. Yayoi-san's last months in Singapore as she will leave everything behind and move to Denmark for good end of March.....
It's a big loss for me but I'm very happy for her and will definitely visit them!!

Idah & Michelle's Baby Shower

2 couples from Matt's Wanderer's team is expecting a baby anytime soon.
So few girls from the team organized a combined baby shower for them. They were quite clever to do it at Harry's bar's function room on Sunday - so the boys can have their Sunday drinking downstairs while the girls have the girlie baby shower upstairs.




Baby shower is an English/American thing, and I think it's for a good cause.
Personally, I wouldn't want it for myself. They said the mums-to-be can get advise from the already mums, and also get baby necessities as presents. (Remember Emi, you had yours the day Rique was born? - apparently a lot of people raise eyebrow on that because they are concerned that the outside germs will not be good for the new born).




Anyway, I think this was my first proper baby shower party with games and gifts. Maybe more, because the boys were there for the opening and the closing.

Yuko-san visits from Tokyo

An independent, eccentric, Samba dancer, food loving and free spirited Yuko-san dropped by Singapore after her Phuket holiday and stayed with us over the weekend before CNY.

Yuko loves Laksa so much - maybe because she can rarely get it in Japan.

It was so nice to have her.
She made me appreciate Singapore food once again.

Fish tank

ah... finally I've set up the fish tank.
We bought a black wooden console specially for the fish tank and it fits perfectly, in the middle of the living room.
Something alive moving elegantly in a tank of oasis, sure is a nice center piece worth the effort to set up.



Some fish died on the way home and some died after but it's normal, sadly.
They have to adjust to the water and the water has to be adjusted too.

I've done what I was told to do by the Aquarium owner but I'll never know. Fish don't speak so... hopefully they will strive in there.

Howl at the Moon

Went to "Howl at the Moon" in Emerald Hill, recommended by Calven.
I've never heard of this place until that day (apparently it was opened since last September - goes to show how rarely I go out now!)

The band consist of 5 Westerns and 1 Asian guy multi tasking (singing and playing instruments) the all time favorite songs from across the decades.



They get the audience involved like a show/team building/musical/band - it's a new concept I've never seen in Singapore (it felt like a bar in USA). Good fun.

Congratulations, It's a BOY!

Matt & Karen did not check the sex of the baby (they love surprises), and everyone including I was expecting it to be a girl.

Turned out it is a Boy!
So they did not have a name yet for 2 days and finally named him OLIVER ...What a cute name!













So here he is, Matt & Karen's first son Oliver 3 days old.

New Year's BBQ @ Prindi & Dave's

Prindi & Dave, our neighbor and friends hosted the first BBQ party of 2009.









Most of the guys are Dave's rugby friends from Jakarta and now they live in Singapore, so it was a reunion plus a new opportunity for rugby in Singapore.


The women are also active bunch, involving in gym, yoga, flower arrangements etc.

Prindi also started work as a relationship management of Australian school aand is rubbing shoulders with the power ones.


Matt as the secretary of a rugby team in Singapore also enjoyed meeting new people to join the Wanderers, as players or in the social context.

2008 X'mas & New Year BALI trip!

It was a nice and relaxing 11 day holiday in Nusa Dua & Ubud Bali.
Initial plan was to go to Bali via Jakarta but flights were full. So it'll have to be next time.

Here are some photos from the trip. The photos are backwards (latest photos first and then older photos. So scroll all the way down and go upwards!)

http://olearysbali.blogspot.com/