Singapore Community Day 2007 - Brisbane

Find the rest @
http://www.networkssa.fotopic.net/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nuttytentacle/tags/singaporecommunityday2007/

Finally got time to upload the photos I took on my tiiiiny camera from the Makan Besar this past Sunday.

So we started off the day REALLY early (obviously...look at the 2 guys yawning their hearts out above). The students from NSW took the free bus from the city over to Yatala, where the Makan Besar was taking place. I went in Alan's car but we made sure all the students were all set before setting off from the city at the same time.
SLEEPY AH!!!

The day before was very...momentous...as well. (For me at least)
Woke up really early (for a weekend) to meet the NSW students for breakfast. It was fun getting to know another bunch of like-minded Singaporeans again. Making new friends in a relaxed environment always helps break the monotony of the weekly routine.

Alan and I introduced Brisbane (well...talked about it mostly la) to the students and roughly told them what to expect over the next 2 days and where to find certain places on the map. We then let them on their way and proceeded home for a short rest.

BUT my personal 'adventure' didn't end that morning. Some #%@^!%$@ was moving into/out of my apartment building and dropped a plank (presumably a door from a cupboard) through the opening in front of the lift and broke open a sprinkler head within the elevator shaft. Thus flooding the elevator wells.

BOTH the lifts were out of service.
I COULDN'T GET HOME!!!
Come on...you can't expect me to climb up 24 floors without seriously incurring some sort of injury no? :S
So I waited...went back into the city to shop a little...bought some 'provisions' at Formosa...went to the building's podium level (the hydraulic lift still worked) and waited. I almost went to the formal dinner that evening dressed like I did in the morning: in shorts and sandals. O_O

Fortunately, the lifts were repaired at 5pm (after a 5hr wait) and I rushed home, got changed, and rushed for the dinner. Fortunately, the dinner was GOOOOD. That helped make the rest of the day seemed worth it. After dinner, the NSW students went off to do their own thing while I was stuck in the restaurant, 'forced' to join in the Karaoke. SIGH!!! I REALLY don't like to be pressured into singing. It should be voluntary and fun no? :P

Anyways...back to Sunday.
Scene: Yatala
After a simple registration and coercion to buy raffle tickets (it was for charity anyways), the event proper started off.


Registration


Registration Ladies (Eileen & Christine)


Raffle Ladies (mental note:gotta remember their names!)

As usual, speeches followed but fortunately...they were short and sweet.
Not before long, the food was ready.


Mmm...FOOD

And the queuing began again.






Everyone enjoying food from Singapore

There was a short break between the makan and the much awaited Raffle draw scheduled craftily near the end of the day's program.
The organisers arranged SGian games and a movie for the people who hung around.


Carom...ah...the memories


Chinese Chess


Card Games


And even indoor soccer

We even had Durian ok! (which Alan happily 'volunteered' to open)


DURIAAAAN!!!

Finally, the Raffle draw came along and many people were rewarded with prizes and lotsa fun poking fun at the winners. (even I won something; ok...it was only a consolation prize).





And so ended a fun-filled day.
People slowly filtered out of the event grounds.
The silence replaced the whispering and shouting voices that filled the open area.

It was definitely tiring. The volunteers worked hard to distribute the (FREE) food to the people, the 4 wonderful ladies that helped with registration and raffle draw, the organisers who brought everything together, and the people who came down to make this whole event a success.

Next year it'll be held somewhere else but who can ever forget this day we had.
Coming together because we are Singaporeans and to spend a wonderful day together. (hopefully not just for the food)

So here's to a great event and the memories that came with it.


The students & Alan
Why wasn't I in the photo? Was taking the photos la

Burn...burn the skies with fire and music

Brisbane River Festival 2007 - Riverfire
Originally uploaded by nuttytentacle

So here it is again...River Festival in good ol' Brisbane.
Missing people here.
Sigh...there are a few people I wish are here to share this with but I guess the photos are the only way I can share this with them.

If you wanna see the ones I picked out, go to my Flicker account and have a browse.

So today was sorta a slow but very busy day.
Started with lunch at Chinatown with Jeff and then back to our place for a movie, take-away from the Taj (we bought too much again), watched the fire works from my balcony (which is apparently quite a good place this year), Mervyn joining us after we put in Zoolander into the machine, Justin coming over just as I was uploading the photos.

Hahaha....it might sound boring but I was/AM so tired right now la.
Maybe it is cos of my allergies acting up...but hey...who cares. It was a night to remember and I had fun.

Lindsay bought a new coffee table for the living room so now most of the furniture in the living room fits a theme of sorts. Oh, did I mention Lindsay went with Nadia and Sonia to IKEA today for a browse? Haha.

So I am here now finally...sleepy and tired and about to retire. Nonetheless...I yearn for someone to share this moment with. (Well...more like when the fireworks were going off)
The one I wish was here isnt.
Sigh...wat a crappy feeling that is.
Maybe its just my blocked nose.

A Cheery (Cherry) Farewell

So Sunday we went to to the Taj to have dinner to send off Cherry.
Everyone (I think) had a great time and tonight she leaves for good (with a possible exception for Graduation) from Brisbane.

It's feel weird having another person leave Brisbane again.
I wonder what will happen now onwards...

Anyways...the rest of the photos can be found at
http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/nuttytentacle/2007 06 17 - Cherrys Farewell/


Cherry & Lania


So sweet together


Miss Glamorous


The Boyzzz


A Happy Host


Huuuh???


Groupshot 1


Groupshot 2


Groupshot 3


Groupshot 4


Groupshot 5


Groupshot 6


Have a good flight home Cherry!!!
It has been great to have known you here in Brissy!!!

An Autumn BBQ

So...we had a BBQ in Autumn.
Haha...there was food...there was fun...there was chatting.
The rest...I'll let the photos tell the story.

The whole album can be found at
http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/nuttytentacle/2007 05 02 - BBQ at Home/


My Tiramisu


Michelle & her Boi


The Chefs


Dawn & her Boi


The Happy Lady


Want more food?


GOOOOD!!!


Awwwwww

The Chronicles of the New Year: The Holiday, The BBQ and The Birthday (Part2)

Now...after the New Year...everything is really a blur to me except the events which I took photos of.

Let's see...The 2nd day of January was when I met up with Debs, Amy and Chua again for lunch. My sis joined us this time round. It was supposed to be a pot-luck at Deb's but cos of the lack of numbers...we went to a Hong Kong style Cafe instead. The food was good nonetheless.
The same evening, I met Dao and Yolanda for dinner at Swensons in the city. It was good seeing Yolanda after soooooo long siah...it was madness.

Makan Again


Orchard Road @ Night

*****

Met up with Justin 2 days later to go to the National Museum. It was great fun. And since both of us have not been around for so long...it really felt like a tourist thing to do la...hehehe...fuuuun.
But I didn't get to finish going round every section of the exhibit. Got round to The Japanese Occupation only and time ran out. UGH! I planned to return another day to finish the rest but that day just never came.

But to sum up...it was great to go through the history of my home all over again. But instead of boring textbooks, the exhibit was more like an adventure that peaks your interest and reveals marvels. It was GREAT. I definitely learnt alot.


Inner Corridor of the Museum


Glass Roof


Live Gallery 1


Live Gallery 2

*****

On Monday night, I went to an Accapella performance by a Norwegian (or was it Swedish) group. The singing was ok but spending time with Debs was the fun part I guess. It has been so long. I also forgot how fun it was. We had supper at the food place beside the Esplanade (don't go there...cheat money one) and I found interesting items to eat. Finally get to eat my Sambal Stringray and the highlight: Kaya Fondue...LOL

*****

The rest seems to be a jumbled memory of what I did. Definitely not in the correct order.

We (Me, Anthony, Karyn & Justin) went to watch My Fair Lady with Doris T & Family on one of the nights. It was good. LOVED how they made fun of the English Language. And of course...it was surreal cos the theme was so...modern Singapore. Social Divides, Language Problems...lol


My Fair Lady

*****

Also met up with Kent & Serene for dinner. Weixin and Wendy also joined us and we ended up at this Vietnamese place beside Raffles Hotel. Not bad, the food. Catching up with this gang really brings back memories. I mean...we were housemates back in Brissy for a long time. It felt really comfortable with them around.

Also had a chance to meet Darrell a couple of times while I was back and also Joseph and Jasmine. SIGH...It's all because all them and everyone else that makes me think of returning to Singapore. Perhaps one day I will...once I know I can survive back there.

The final 'big' thing I did while on my holiday was to watch Chestnuts. FINALLY ok! EVERY year they show it when I am in Brissy. This year...they pushed it back and I even had to change my flight to catch the preview show. But it was GREAT la! So Farnie!!!!!!!
SIGH...Why do I have to leave?!?!?

*****

And so ends my trip back home. With lotsa memories (albeit jumbled up), lotsa pictures, and lotsa love.

*****

AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ

Yeah! After one terrible week of bring back in Brissy and getting back into the grind of work, came the preparation for Australia's National Day. Jeff, Mervyn, Lindz and myself decided to have an Aussie Day BBQ to celebrate this country's Birthday and also have an excuse to gather people together again.

It was fun having everyone at one place again to catch up, spend time, and enjoy each other's company. It guess this is the closest you can get to family over here in a foreign land.

We ate our fill, chatted till the cows came home and then retreated home for rest. With Jeff, Joel and I finishing the day with a couple of game of DOTA. ROFL













*****

Ah! The Final Chapter of this Adventure.
Nadia's Birthday Drinks

This day finally arrived after 2 weeks of 'planning' and 'shopping'. LOL
We got ourselves a double booth at Alhambra for Nadia and her friends. The problem was that I was so shacked by the week...I was falling asleep before we even reached.

Had dinner with Jeff (who flew off to SG that night) and Justin (who offered to drop some of us off at the nightclub) first. Nadia seemed to have a great time that night. I got her a Champagne Royale which didn't come together very well cos alot of it bubbled over the counter. ##%^&*&^ Stupid Bartender #$^%$&

We (and in we I meant the girls) drank ourselves silly and I was just sitting there stoned out and falling asleep la. So loser...lol
I went home early and caught my Zs but not before having a great time unwinding after a long week and spending time celebrating the birthday of a good friend.


Who's your Daddy


Damien & Chris


Nadia & Lindsay


Super Thin Chinese Eyes Stare


Ahhh!!!!


The Lady & her Cosmopolitan


The Cute Couple

*****

So there you have it. The adventures of the past few months sort of summarised into 2 'short' entries. I definitely have omitted lots of details but hey...I am only human. Can't remember EVERYTHING...haha...plus I am lazy la. :P
So till next time (hopefully not too long), have a great day and happy blogging!