Thoughts for the Week

Prime Minister is giving his annual National Day Rally. So far, a very sober speech, quite unlike the very charming, very humourous, uplifting speech last year. But as usual, the speech is quite visionary, setting out plans for transforming this wonderful little nation to make it more competitive globally, increase our standard and quality of life here, and taking care of every citizen of Singapore. Where's my cynical self? It's still there, but I also believe the current governing body is doing a pretty good job at keeping this Singapore one step ahead of competition and even our better selves. It's a punishing pace to live here, but hey, means to an ends -- and voila! It works! It's a coup that he started the rally speaking on the increasing divide between rich and poor, haves and have-nots. Singapore, my beloved home - this goes into the Gratitude Journal tonight :)

The only thing that's so wrong about the rally is the eeks awful backdrop hehe.

Yeah, so I've started a Gratitude Journal, where I take stock nightly, five things about the day that I am grateful for. It's a ritual which I chose to undertake, coz there are plenty of things to appreciate and be grateful for. Putting it into practice makes me count my blessings more actively -- helps me to live in the present a little more :)

Plenty of things to be grateful and happy about in the last week. A nice lunch at Marmalade Pantry with a media contact, who gave me a book, The Pilgrimage by Paolo Coelho, the metaphysical writer. He also suggested another book by Eckhart Tolle which I am reading now - this one, quite cheem. But the nice thing was, once I got back to my overflowing Inbox, there was an email from him, with URLs of some of the ideas we discussed on. He actually bothered to google for these resources! So that was really nice :)

Marmalade's just my fave -- went there again on Saturday for tea. This time to meet ex-colleague and her boyfriend, Aussielanders, who just relocated to Singapore. The boyfriend was super hilarious, was rolling on the floor laughing half the time! Heard about an ex-colleague who had lost like 20kg of weight as she -- and her hubby -- have been on this Blood Type diet for a while, and they measure every ounce of food they would eat. EEEEKS! But am inspired enough - must catch up with her, although won't be that disciplined to execute on like she did hehe

The weekend was nice, too bad Monday is up so soon. Hung out lots with Nana the Bear - Friday evening, most of Saturday yipppeee - finished a book; had a long conversation with my good friend who lives in KL with many text messages afterwards, where she quoted Jack Welch :) ; went to a wedding with the cousins and had super delish nasi briyani and yakked a lot about gadgets (I am about to start my journey of getting my 1st iPod, yes many aeons late, and considering a Blackberry-type phone) plus good sleep too :)

Bourne Ultimatum the film was just solid - taut & well-written script, excellent action sequences, and superb acting by a first-rate ensemble cast. One of the best movies in a lacklustre 2007. Can't wait for Ratatooille!

Guten tag!