I've been on the hunt for a suitable new phone for the longest time. You may remember I had a phone on my birthday wishlists for the last two years, but each time, I got myself some other toy and never a proper phone. Distractions distractions.
With Christmas coming in less than two weeks' time, and my dinosaur pink Razr approaching the limit of its lifespan, I'm thinking I should really stop procrastinating and get myself a new phone before it dies on me. Furthermore, having been on a prepaid plan for three years and four months now and not gaining anything from it, I might as well sign up for a proper contract in exchange for a free mobile phone of my choice.
After spending the first half of a morning on the internet, I shortlisted five potentials:
- iPhone 3GS
- Samsung S8300 UltraTouch
- Samsung i8910 Omnia HD
- Sony Ericsson AINO
- Sony Ericsson SATIO
After more web surfing for the rest of the morning and considering all aspects of the purchase including the technical specs and budget, I narrowed down to just the two below. The iPhone which has been top on my want list for two years has now slipped to the bottom; its specs are really quite crappy when you do a full-on comparison. I guess it's more of a fashion accessory deemed by many to be the 'in' phone to have. Besides, I don't think I'll ever have the time to play with all the apps. So might as well save that money for something else more practical.
1) Sony Ericsson AINO
View full specs here.
2) Samsung i8910 Omnia HD
View full specs here.
In comparing these two, I think it all boils down to whether I really need the HD video function that only the Samsung can offer.
samsung vs sony ericsson
rex x'mas party 2009
This year, the Rex X'mas party was held on board the South Steyne, a floating restaurant at Darling Harbour. The above picture of the vessel was ripped from the website here as I didn't think of taking any photos.
Here I had the honour of posing for the camera with Vanisha the lucky winner of two air tickets to New Zealand! Although at that very instant, she indicated she'd take me with her, subsequent overwhelming response from all in the know who are interested to apply to be her travelling partner meant that she probably needs to give more thought on selecting her New Zealand tour buddy. I hope my name gets drawn if it eventually becomes a raffle. I've never been to NZ!
Well even if NZ doesn't happen, I still get to go to Byron Bay with lovely Natalie (left most lady in above pic) because she won two tickets to travel anywhere on the Rex network and I got to choose our destination! Woohoo!
And here is the best photo taken of us girls that night, thanks to Ernest and his new Lumix baby. What a great difference it was from previous years in terms of number of photos taken. To recap, these are the highlights from 2008 and 2007. Oh and can you see I've lost weight? I targeted to lose 9kgs in order to regain the slim toned self that I was when I first arrived in 2006 and I'm happy to announce I'm halfway there!
But in terms of the fun factor, it was definitely a smashing party. Way better than last year's. I got upset by a small incident that took place at our party round two at Pontoon involving a bouncer which resulted in me stranded outside the club and refused re-entry. But it all ended ok with an unexpected someone putting a smile back on my face.
smoke on the water
Went for my third guitar lesson yesterday and my tutor started to teach me to play the intro for this song - Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple. I was like OMG, isn't that a really difficult song to play? Apparently my tutor categorises his students into the juniors and the seniors by age not skill level and I actually fall into the 'seniors' group and Smoke on the Water is sort of the test song for us. I am so not going to be able to play it even with a thousand years of practice lah!
On the basics, I learnt another chord - the A minor, bringing the total number of chords I have to practise daily to five, and to scale the notes on all the six strings.
Learning a new instrument is a tough business!
lesson #2
I added the 11th song on my ultimate song list: Tears in Heaven. Here's Eric Clapton performing it live in NYC in 1999. Don't you think he looks better and better as he ages?
Early Saturday morning, I dragged my hungover (for 2 days) self to guitar class and learnt two more picking exercises, one more chord, and practised arpeggios on the chords C, G7 and G. I think I may start learning to strum next week.
My tutor Karl reviewed my ultimate song list and raised his eyebrows at some of my choices, particularly when his gaze stopped at Nothing Else Matters by Metallica - that was when his eyebrows disappeared under his hair. I was quite embarrassed. I wonder how long it will take me to even play one of those songs decently.
And oh... I can't quite feel the fingertips on my left hand now. Great. It means I am progressing! (I think)
green plum is me is green plum
This is specially dedicated to my dear BambooHorse.
Going by the market rate and my weight now, I think I would cost $549.45.
I wonder how I taste like...
kimberley quest
I got volunteered by my MD to attend a work function on board Kimberley Quest organised by the publisher of our inflight magazine. Thursday turned out to be a perfect day for cruising out of Sydney Harbour. In my excitement, I forgot to take a picture of the posh vessel so I ripped the below photo off their website for showcasing here.
And here's me with part of the boat when we docked back at harbour at sunset. Special thanks to Izzy for loaning me a dress for the occasion! It's actually a very nice silky black dress with emerald green patterns which unfortunately don't show quite well in this overly dark photo.
And here's me with the very grandfatherly Skipper in the boat. On the left, you'll see two of their super friendly service staff who kept us well fed with fresh oysters, succulent scallops, assorted yummy pastries and endless flow of champagne and wine.
The cruise was over too soon in just four hours. A bunch of us headed to a nearby pub for more drinks and networking where a very sweet one-girl band was strumming the guitar and singing along. I went up to her on an impulse and asked if she knew how to play Unintended by Muse and she sang it for me right there and then. Awwww...... I let loose a few drops of tears cos she sounded just oh so sad (it must have been the song). And she sang it again as the last song of the night before she left. OMG, I was so besotted by her voice.
And there... I had one of the most relaxing evenings in like... months? I have been sad for too long. I think I need someone to come along, sweep me off my feet and put a smile back on my face.
endless, nameless... even in his youth
Ain't it a Shame I've never had someone who looks like this and who's half as talented? Is there someone or Something in the Way? Wherever you may be, I wish you would Come as You Are in a Heart-shaped Box. Please don't Stay Away. Turnaround, and Talk to Me.
F***. I lost my Nevermind. Now I Hate Myself and Want to Die.
K song
Grabbed this off Angel's blog. Sibeh lian right? But ai rike. This is one for the Hokkien K song list to be perfected before I hit the shores of Sunny-pore in February next year. Who wants to go K with me?
all things used
Driving around in Sydney can be full of surprises. On one occasion many weekends ago, I saw a hastily scribbled 'Garage Sale' sign stuck on a traffic light post, followed the arrow on it and managed to pick up a huge vintage mirror with a broad stainless steel border with intricate designs, a vintage Regal suitcase and a tiny wooden chair (I intend to place a flower pot on it in a corner of my room) for only $30.
Today, I drove past a used furniture store and made an unplanned stop there while on my way to the beach. Great decision, because I finally found a nice, simple and very affordable bookshelf I've been hunting around for ages. It's made of a dark solid wood and in excellent condition. I love it.
After an hour or so at the beach, the rest of the afternoon was spent doing up a section of my room next to my reading corner - you can see the used bookshelf and vintage suitcase in the picture on the left below, and then practising my guitar (even the guitar is vintage - hand me down from Mama!). Don't I look like a really cultured lady in the picture on the right?
ultimate song list
I went for my first guitar lesson today. It was fun! But wow, I hadn't expected to be given so much homework!
My tutor went through 3 picking and 3 chord exercises with me today. He then gave me a time sheet to log my self practise sessions which I have to show him every time we meet. For a start, I only need to log at least 10min a day everyday until my next lesson. He will gradually increase it to at least 30min daily. When I next see him again in a week's time, I must be able to do the picking exercise at a constant 60bpm (beats per minute), after which he will increase the requirement to 80bpm, 100bpm and finally to 170bpm. He will also test me on the 3 chords. *gasps*
Another piece of homework for the beginner me before next Saturday: I need to develop my 'Ultimate Song List' - a list of songs I dream of playing someday when I have mastered the basics and which he will slowly teach me, starting with the easiest on the list. I'll need to have 10 songs on my list to start off with, and I'll have to start gathering recordings and the notations / tabs for each song.
Here's my first list:
1. Unintended - Muse
2. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron and Wine
3. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
4. Hotel California - Eagles
5. About A Girl - Nirvana
6. Yellow - Coldplay
7. Stay - U2
8. Warwick Avenue - Duffy
9. More Than Words - Extreme
10. Ana's Song (Open Fire) - Silverchair
are you happy like me?
This is my fourth 100ml bottle now.
I spent two hours in the perfume section of the biggest Myer department store nearest to me, gathering all the test fragrance strips for all that caught my fancy, both male and female scents, hoping to try out something new for myself.
And... I ended up buying the same old Clinique Happy for men. How many years have I been using the same old Happy now? I can't really remember.
What I do remember was how someone dear once made a remark on how he was greatly conscious of the familiar fragrance on his clothes even though he was pretty sure he hadn't put on any perfume before he met up with me, and then realised it was my Happy scent that caught his senses because we both are huge Happy fans. Nice.
Hmm... I wonder if he's still with Happy? Or am I the only habitual sentimental creature?
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