It's dangerous out there...

 I saw this in the hall way, outside my PhD room. This made me laugh....

... so I took a sidekick when I went home. :)

Happy weekend!

Love,

from me to u.

The year of the Water Dragon - 2012

Wishing all who celebrate the Lunar New Year, Gong Xi Fat Choi. May the year of the Dragon brings you more joy and prosperity.

Love always,
from me to u.

A late start to 2012...

... while most people have started writing about the new year at the start of 2012, it took me a while to get around to doing this. With a new year, a reflective post of 2011 is in order. I thought the best way was to do this via the "tag" game. I was "tagged" by Greta from Something by Virtue of Nothing.

To play along:

1. The instructions may be posted if one wishes - or you can make your own, or post the original ones.
2. If you like, post a dozen or less things about yourself. Whatever you're inspired to do.
3. Answer the questions the blogger poses you, or insert your own, and create your own questions for those you will tag to answer.
4. This is not a chain letter, but for the fun of community, choose a dozen or so bloggers to tag and link on this post.
5. Go to their page and tell them they've been tagged, hooray that you know someone you'd like to contact in this way: Legitimately tag individuals - there's a chance you'll make the person tagged feel special.


1. I really miss reading. Since the start of my PhD I have not read as much books as I wished. I mean novels. I really miss reading novels. I feel like as if since my PhD started all I've read was technical books... >.< 2. As much as I love traveling, I found the process of getting to the new place stressful. LOL The plane ride, the airports etc... BUT I absolutely love learning about the different places, cultures etc. 3. I can speak, read and write in Japanese. I learned for 3 years officially and on and off for the next couple of years. I really need to take my proficiency tests... but I really hate Kanji. 4. Having said that, I can read a bit of Chinese and I actually understand Mandarin. The only issue is replying back in Mandarin. Apparently my hanyu pinyin is awful. ;;^^ 5. When I was growing up in Singapore, the 2nd language I learned was Malay. I had issues speaking in Malay though because I am Indonesian. It's the "a" pronounced as "e" that kind of made it difficult for me. 6. I value friendships very much. However, even in friendships sometimes disappointment do occur too. I always think that friendship is a two-way street. I thank all those people who have been kind to me and lovely in our friendships. :) 7. I can't crochet. I tried many times and failed. LOL 8. I'm supposed to be doing my PhD progress report, instead I'm blogging... I guess I'm a procrastinator. :P

Answers to Greta's questions:


1. What is the last thing you ate? Bread with melted Mozzarella's Cheese. 2. If you can be anywhere you want right now, where would it be? At home. :) 3. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your wardrobe right now? I can't pick, but I love my dresses. 4. What is the last thing you do before you go to bed? Pray. 5. Most important lesson learnt in 2011? Sometimes we are blessed with things, but sometimes it may not work out in the end. But still it is all part of God's plan. 6. What is your favourite thought (the one to get you going)? You just got to do it. Nothing happens unless we do something to do it. 7. What is your favourite "craft tool" (pen, hole punch, etc) and why? I love my knitting needles the most. I guess with all the craft I do, knitting is still my favourite. 8. What is an example of what you do to relax? Karaoke. I like to sing my heart out out when I'm stressed. Karaoke places is different in Asia. Karaoke rooms are private and in Indonesia, karaoke places are in fact family friendly places. :) 9. When you think of "the perfect morning," what does it involve? Breakfast. I really love a good breakfast. 10. How do you define "love"? I'm really passionate about love... but this passage from the bible (1 Corinthians 13) has personal significance for me and is simply how I see love:

'If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'


11. Which movie have you watched a few times? The Cave of the Golden Rose (AKA Fantaghiro). I only like the first movie. The best "fairytale" type of movie. :) 12. What is your favourite thing to say to people? You can't change others. We can only change ourselves. 13. If you could give something to your co-workers/fellow students free of charge, what would it be? Prayers for blessings. 14. What is one of your favourite words? Hmmm... this is actually hard!! LOL 15. What is a favourite activity when you have a bit of extra time? Listening to music. 16. How do you define success? Success is when you feel you have everything that you feel needed or want. I guess this is one of those difficult things for me to explain. For me, I don't think I'm successful, but I'm happy... so hmm... I don't see myself as failing. Does that make sense?

Phew... ;;^^

So who am I tagging?
Melita (Yarn at Heart), Shanwen (Pretty Peonies), Anna (Much Love Anna) and Paulina (Hanka goes for a Walk)

I've decided to stick with Greta's questions. Here are the list of questions again:

1. What is the last thing you ate?  
2. If you can be anywhere you want right now, where would it be? 
3. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your wardrobe right now?
4. What is the last thing you do before you go to bed?
5. Most important lesson learnt in 2011?  
6. What is your favourite thought (the one to get you going)?  
7. What is your favourite "craft tool" (pen, hole punch, etc) and why?  
8. What is an example of what you do to relax?  
9. When you think of "the perfect morning," what does it involve? 
10. How do you define "love"?
11. Which movie have you watched a few times?  
12. What is your favourite thing to say to people? 
13. If you could give something to your co-workers/fellow students free of charge, what would it be?  
14. What is one of your favourite words?  
15. What is a favourite activity when you have a bit of extra time? 
16. How do you define success?

Thank you to Greta for tagging me...what a great way to reflect on 2011...  ^^

Love,
from me to u.

Sprocket Rocket

Melbourne Cup

Ranunculus

Taken with Nikon D60.

At the end of the rain, there is always a rainbow...

.... or two. This photo was taken over the weekend. Though the second rainbow is quite faint in the photo, it is still quite visible.

Over the weekend, I went for the Craft and Quilt Show which was very fun. I'll show photos of my loot next time. ^^

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend too, and Happy Monday!

Though I am not playing along this time, play along with Anna with Much Love Monday. What do you love on Monday? ^^

Love,
from me to u.

A cool ride

I spotted this Vespa in the city over the weekend. I just think it is cool to have a pink Vespa. How girlie chic is this?

Happy Monday!

Love,
from me to u.

Indulgence

I was at La Belle Miette yesterday and couldn't decide which flavour I wanted. So I got one of each flavour. My indulgence for the approaching weekend.

Happy Friday! ^^/

Love,
from me to u.

Weekend Tune: Heart Skips A Beat

I absolutely love Lenka's music videos. Such a pick-me-upper for the weekend!

Hope you are having a wonderful (and crafty) weekend!

Love,
from me to u.

Tuesday Tune: I do

I've been hearing this song by Colbie Caillat on the radio and I absolutely love it.

What is your Tuesday Tune? :)

Love,
from me to u.

Tea, tea cups and tea pots.

I just added a new tea cup and tea pot to my collection. It is also fairly obvious, I love tea. My favourite tea is Earl Grey.

What's yours?

Love,
from me to u.

Part of Anna's Much Love Monday

Shopping Finds - Cute stationery & coffee (or rather for tea) cup

I was in Melbourne Central the other day and noticed in front of soon-to-be closed down Borders, there were a couple of mini stalls. One of them was selling these really cute mugs, ceramic cups and stationery. I picked up these cute pouches and how cute is it that the packaging is an envelope?

I also picked up a ceramic coffee (in my case for tea) cup. I was told by the person at the shop that the cup depicting the Eiffel Tower was the most popular. I was not surprised though given how Paris or images of Paris seemed to be the trend nowadays....

But to be different, I got a cup depicting Saint Basil's Cathedral of Moscow. I also picked it because it is more colourful. As you know I like colours. :) Not that I've been there...but since my postgraduate research touches upon TRIZ (a problem solving tool) which is from Russia, I thought it was pretty apt!

Love,

From me to u.

Winter Styling

winter blues by nyaan featuring suede peep toe pumps

Who said that winter styling should be boring? Colours can add a touch of joy (yes, joy) to an otherwise depressing season. Don't get me wrong, I do love winter because it is time for lovely coats and wonderful boots. With less daylight, it is easy though to get depressed... so I love wearing colours in winter. And dresses too. With layering, your summer look can turn into a winter look.

And another reason to love winter? Knitting!!! ^^

Love,

From me to u.

Just because...

... I love this taxi signage/logo. Taken at Kyoto, 21st April 2011.

Love,

From me to u.

A lovely surprise.....

The postman came this morning a delivered a package. Since not expecting any, I was confused... but what a delight to discover it was from Melita from Yarn at Heart and the package contained a new lovely green (yes, green! yay!) hairband!!!

Thank you so much Melita!!! I can't wait to wear it!!! \^^/

Love,

From me to u.

View from the top

This photo was taken at The Convent Gallery @ Daylesford using Nikon D60. 

The quaint little window that they had at the top-most floor  framed the Daylesford landscape view and I thought it was beautiful! ^^

Flower arrangement

Beautiful shadows

 .... all from a teacup and light.

Back to knitting

Finally got back to knitting after the summer season. Although, it wasn't much of a summer, it did take me a while to get back to knitting. Having friends who want to get back into it is certainly encouraging to finish old projects and start new ones. I had a blast inviting the girls over for a knitting morning tea. Above are images of my new green scarf (remember my green obsession?) knitted in diagonal checks. Will share the pattern when the scarf is complete.

Meanwhile, if you want to see more lovely images of the knitting session through Miss Anna's lenses, head over to Much Love. ^^