ERP going up again!

I was driving home this evening when i heard the news over the radio - the Ministry of Trspt is going to increase the ERP rates again. They are even setting up gantries in residential areas. Ok, inflation is on the rise. Let's not talk abt the rising cost of public transport & cab fares. But i do wonder, will setting up gantries around the island really elevate the traffic congestion?

I drive to work daily but honestly, despite the roads are congested, they are a far cry from those in Bangkok & Sydney! Maybe the govt thinks that they are taking a preventive measure but hey, diverting the traffic from congested expressways to other outskirt roads aren't gonna solve the problem coz one day, roads along the outskirts will be jammed too! Then the "clever" idea to ease congestion will kick in again - more ERP gantries!!! Why not just set a gantry outside every HDB/ pte housing estate so we can just pay the moment we drive out? Can u imagine that the takings from the new gantries is expected to be S$70millon per annum?!

Oh, road tax is suppose to be reduced by 15% but hmm, doesn't this only benefit the folks who drive larger cars? 15% of a larger amt means they'd save more ya? Won't this widen the income gap even more? With the rising inflation rate, the poor is already getting poorer. For PMEBs like us earning a decent salary, we aren't even coping well with the inflation how abt the blue-collared workers who has a family to feed? Even a barrel of LPG for cooking cost $29 now!

I don't deny that Singapore is relatively well-governed and yes, i really do appreciate Singapore's cleaniness and safety. But well, sometimes govt policies do baffle me. Benchmarking ministers' pay to the private section (bankers, lawyers etc.), welcoming foreign talent into Singapore and indirectly forcing our best talents to head out to become foreign talents in other countries and best of all, ask us to be stayers, not quitters! Gosh, what an irony!

Aunty Elena is getting even "aunt-ier"

I am hooked to this show - Heart of Greed. A friend in HK was telling me how nice and gripping the storyline was that she completed all 40 episodes in 1 week! My mum started watching it & i caught it on & off during the past week but from last Friday, it was a TVB serial marathon & i am proud to declare that i just caught its 24th episode! This serial is one those that will keep u glued on the couch asking for more. Nope, not to salivate over the cute guys in the show (coz seriously, i don't see any) but errm, to watch my fav character in the show - elderly actress 李司棋. One really needs to catch such TVB serials in its original language - Cantonese. The cross dialogues b/w characters are sooo interesting & it'd have lost its "feel" and essence when dubbed in Mandarin.

I hear that they are filming Heart of Greed II. Haiz, why can't Mediacorp write such excellent scripts? Haha, let's take the serial marathon as a chance to brush up on Cantonese! Speaking of which. i am gonna catch my 25th episode...

Fickle fickle minded me, which one is the fairest of them all?

I had 2nd thoughts abt my wedding gown & requested to take a look at other gowns that Dang had. I don't know why i have 2nd thoughts but after wearing the gown for the photoshoot, it just wasn't ME anymore. I think it's becoz of the built-in corset that kinda pumped up the boobs, and boy, i couldn't see the ground when i looked down, just flesh... It made me so uncomfortable and i can't imagine wearing it for the actual day.

This one is an empire-line, with a neckline similar to the earlier one i chose. The size is way to big and alterations are required to give it a good fit. But i like the vertical lace trimmings and think they lengthen the body, hence flattering the upper torso & waist area.

This other gown is rather vintage, with 3/4 sleeves & kinda "all-wrapped up". This one is a little too tight so alterations are needed to loose the bust area so yes, it looks rather unshaply in the 2nd pix. I thought this gown is rather unique, considering that i already have bustier and V-neckline evening gowns. Hmm, but does it look too conservative? I like it becoz of it's vintage feel and for the fact that it adds a different dimension to the usual wedding gowns. But i can't seem to make up my mind. Errrm, think i am only allowed to change once so how?? Which should i pick?

*** I welcome comments!!!

I am a facist!!!

Yes, Ms Dinosaur has finally set up her FaceBook profile!

I am doing my final-year project on FaceBook as a new marketing medium and in a strange twist of fate, i was the one who gave the suggestion on the topic matter & also the only one (outta the team of 5 working on this dissertation) without a facebook account! What an irony! The folks in the creative agencies as well as my classmates have been asking me if i am on FaceBook & haha, they seem to be amazed that i have no inclination to be part of their community. Ok, now that i have to do research on it, i HAVE TO BE PART OF IT!!!

Now that i have signed up, feel that it kinda operates like Friendster... Tagging friends, adding people. I wonder how do folks send gifts of $x to one another... I have added a couple of people on my list and waiting for them to give me the "approval" to add me as their friend. Seems that Stanchart Singapore also has a network on FaceBook! Hmm, think the guy from Procurement will add me in soon.

So for those who wanna search for me, i am registered under elenalow@gmail.com.

New wedding website

Created another site that has music support and nicer template! See photos of then & now, our favourite writings, as well as photo memories of our travels together

http://kanglinelena.weddingannouncer.com/

Lull period

I must be nuts to be thinking this way. It's a lull period in the office now & guess what, i am so darn bored!!!! There's nothing much to do, no hectic meetings, back-to-back deadlines, fire-fighting... All's so calm that i am beginning to feel uneasy. I have been taking long lunch breaks, heading off to Raffles City for quick shopping trips, going to Mr Tea @ SMU to buy cheap teh tarik. In fact, i am leaving office @ 6pm, even on non-class days!!!

I am so not-used to this lifestyle. I think i have workaholic genes! I can't seem to sit still!!! So for anyone that wants to jio me out for lunch dates, this's the best time! :)

Can't wait for CNY to come!

Back to the US he went!

I just saw Kang Lin off an hour ago. It's another 5 mths before we'll see 1 another again. Our last semester finally! Time does fly! I am so looking forward to seeing him again. These times that we are apart, we have made so many individual trips to airports waiting to meet one another, or seeing one another off. In fact, he brought up a very good point today, right before he went thru the departure gates. This's the last time that i am seeing him off for his postgrad studies coz the next time we meet (in the US in May), we'd both have graduated! I so look forward to that day. Till then, let's focus our hearts on doing what we both set out to achieve.

So Kang Lin, if u are reading this post, let's give our best shot for our last semester. For me, i just wanna push thru my last 3 modules but for u, i hope u'll give your best shot to aim for the Palmer Scholarship. Stay focus & enjoy the last semester of your postgrad studies!

I also collected my Brilliant Rose on Sunday. Here's a pix. Some might think it's a silly purchase but I am grateful that he offered. It's a hefty investment nonetheless on one's finger.

My pre-wedding photos, 1st cut ready!

It's rather queer to see KL & myself like that. Oh well, mum says that why there aren't any close up shots. Haha, older generation! We can crop for the album mah!!! These are just raw cuts that i got Yu Hsin to do. Can't wait to see all 700 of them!

Tired from pre-wedding shoot

We did a pre-wedding shoot today with Yu Hsin from Tinydot Photography (http://www.tinydot.org/). Boy, time flew by quicker than we expected & we had a great time! Yu Hsin was such a great guy to work with & clicked with the both of us sooo well!

It's amazing that we went to so many places - Central Mall, Botanic Gardens, National Museum, some old colonial house (that i understand was the old French embassy many yrs back) & Labrador Park to catch the sunset! My feet are aching from the 4" heels... & well, didn't help when i tore my green chiffon evening gown... Sure to kena from Dang Bridal...

Can't wait to see my photos! I hope that turn out pretty! :)

Tomorrow...

My photoshoot will happen tmr. Kanglin was telling me that he's feeling rather stressed coz we wonder how our pics will turn out... Hopefully the weather will be good (humming "rain rain go away"). I just wanna enjoy the day & pray that all will turn out fine. Already feeling nervous...

Goodbye Brilliant Rose

12 Apr 2006 - 5 Jan 2008

Trial dinner @ Hilton Singapore

Yes i know we are doing this damn early but what to do? Mr Ong will not return till June08 & according to the Hilton, it'd be too late to have the trials by then.

Anyhow, it was pretty "stressful" to bring 2 families together... Afterall, this's only the 2nd time they meet (1st time for my grandma) but nonetheless, i suppose we have to get use to having all the folks around us.

Food's ok... Portion's pretty generous but i believe it'd decrease on the actual day. Some comments here & there which i'd need to discuss with the wedding coordinator. Some pics here to commemorate the event! & a family pix too!

It's 2008!

My 1st post for the year. Wonder what 2008 will hold for me.

Been absent from this blog for a while due to the travel to Bangkok. Inflation seemed to have inflicted BKK as well. The bras, shoes & clothes are no longer as cheap as they were. I bought a pair of gold diamante heels for the gown & a pair of earrings to match the evening gown. KL didn't manage to tailor any suits coz we didn't like the material there & well, the tailor doesn't seem to instill confidence that he'd do a nice suit. Ironically, the price to purchase a suit from the department stores in BKK is the same as that in Singapore. Nonetheless, we had a great time snapping silly pics! Haha! I think that was the best part of the holiday!

Cheers to a brand new yr ahead! May it bring good health, happiness to all! :)