Corporate Banking

Saw an opening in Corporate Banking after I came back from my vacation in June. It was a rare opportunity. I quickly applied for the position despite the significant pay cut upon successful application.

Corporate Banking has always been an area I wanted to explore since I started my banking career in 2008. After spending two years in Consumer Banking, there isn't much that really fascinates me anymore. It is time for a change.

I got the job. Currently in training, I will only be joining the team proper in mid-September. Already feeling excited about it now.

With the new working hours, I have better work-life balance now. Dear and I knock off at about the same time everyday so we have more time to hang out after work. Saturdays are spent playing and pigging out with friends while we spend quality twosomes time together on Sundays.

So far so good. I am enjoying myself every single day. :)

It is so hard to achieve work-life balance. :(

I have been neglecting dear a lot recently because of work, especially when I work late. Hardly see him these days and he is complaining. May have to change job soon if this goes on. :(

The pig is going to Italy and he is not going to bring me. :( He is going with his boss and it won't look good on him to have me tag along. Don't think I can go anyway. I won't be able to apply for any leave now since I am scheduled for training soon. We will be separated for another week. Gonna miss him. :(

Met up with the NJ group at Marina Square last night. We went to watch Iron Man 2 together. It was baby JR's first time watching a movie in a cinema. We were worried that he might cry in the cinema but he was very good and did not make any noise throughout the whole show. :)

We wanted to go to a wedding show at Vivo City yesterday but we couldn't make it because he was held up at work. Kris suggested that we go for the bridal show at Suntec Convention Centre instead. Since I was early, I went to take a look. To my disappointment, Seletar Broadway was the organizer and also the only "participant" of the bridal show. With nothing to compare against, we did not sign up for anything. Not much time left to waste. Got to be more hardworking in preparing for the wedding.

I miss my pig. Looking forward to our wedding day so that I can see him everyday after that. :)

One year.

It was our first anniversary yesterday.

I thought he had forgotten all about it because he didn't make plans with me. He didn't even reply the SMS that I sent him in the afternoon. I was surprised when he finally called almost immediately after I log off from my PC. He was waiting for me downstairs. When I got to the car, I saw Elmo sitting in my seat. Elmo played an important role in our relationship. A year ago, dear used Elmo to tell me that he will take care of me and he did not forget his promise. :)

Our Elmo. :D

We went to Seafood Paradise for dinner after he came to pick me up from work. We ate creamy crab with fried mantou and rice. The creamy crab is really creamy and yummy!

Picture taken from http://www.seafoodparadise.com.sg/

Collected my engagement ring from Soo Kee Jewellery last Thursday. We sent it to be engraved with our names. Loving it. :)

I love dear. Now and forever. :)

Lesson of the day: Always wait for the boyfriend to come before you shop.

Bought a truck load full of cleaning equipments and household items from the hypermart because I thought the boyfriend will come and pick me up after his meeting. He just called to tell me that he is going to be very late tonight because he has a big project to do. Now I gotta try to lug my bulky purchases home all by myself on public transport. :S

The (temporary) end of Mrs. Pig's tai-tai life.

Woke up only at noon today. Went to Causeway Point for lunch alone after I washed up. Ate a plate of tasteless and oily char kway teow which I gave up after a while and abandoned half of it.

Got some red dates and dried longan meat from Hock Hua too. Made some longan red dates tea because dear likes it. Found a recipe on Blogger's Recipe that is easy to make. I replaced rock sugar with rock honey sugar which is not so sweet.

Watched 锦衣卫 with dear at AMK Hub today. It is the first time I actually enjoy watching an action movie. The story is quite intriguing and the actors are good. Donnie Yen, especially put up an excellent performance.

We went to M1 to sign up for mobile broadband service after dinner. When the salesperson handed him the contract, he noticed that his marital status has been updated to 'married'. The salesperson had thought that we are married and updated the record. =)

Just spoke to dear and he was telling me that the mobile broadband service is mad slow. We have signed up for 2Mbps which is only 1Mbps slower than what we used to use. Shall monitor and hope that the speed improves soon. =/

It is the weekend again. One last weekend before I go back to work. I will need some getting used to. =(

Mrs. Pig's day out.

Didn't get to sing K today because Wei Qi was late by a good 45 minutes. Since I was already out, we went to town for lunch. Met Chin Heng after lunch and we ate again. =/ I seriously needa watch my diet and start exercising again. =(

Passed by the neoprint shop (Pretty in Tokyo) in Cineleisure today. It is undergoing renovation and will be reopened before CNY. Jo and I used to go there to take neoprints every time she came back. Miss the old days. Maybe we should go there and take neoprints again when she is back this time. =)

Took the PC theory test today. It is an open book test but it is not easy. We passed the test anyway. Still needa pass the practical test before I can get my PC though.

Walked to AMK Hub with Michelle and Shing Jia today. We took half an hour to walk there from the driving range but it was very relaxing. I don't feel tired at all despite walking that distance. At least I did some form of exercise today.

No appointments tomorrow. Time to start spring cleaning. =S

I am sorry to announce that I have joined yet another bank.

Just signed the appointment letter with the bank that is living and breathing Asia. I will be working with them from next Monday onwards. The job is a piece of cake for me considering my background. My new base salary is quite similar to what I was getting previously but the remuneration and benefit package on the whole is better than before. Though I never expect my salary to remain the same as before, it is still nice to be paid more than less.

Went to Suntec City to personalize a bath towel for dear as a Valentine's Day gift for him. He will chide me for spending too much money if I buy an expensive gift for him. The towel is special yet inexpensive and practical. It has our names on it so that he will think of me whenever he uses it. =)

He asked me to help him to buy a size 14 1/2 white shirt today. While I was slowly making my way to the shop, he sent me a SMS, "Rmbr need to have collar button one hor else u iron for me. :p" He is very dependent on me to do things like these for him nowadays. I have done such a good job taking care of him that he thinks that his mother is not good enough. I think I spoiled him. =/

Spoke to Jo last night. She just got her TR and she is coming home in two weeks' time! My best friend is finally coming home!!! I am so happy and excited! Gotta start planning what to do with her when she is back. =D

Meeting Wei Qi for K-lunch tomorrow. Cannot wait for Winnie and Robin anymore. It has been too long. I need my K-fix now!

Absence makes the heart feels fonder.

Dear came back last week. I went to the airport to meet him at midnight though I didn't drive. I just wanted to see him as soon as possible because I missed him so much. Both of us were happy to see each other again after a week of separation.

We saw each other everyday for the week that followed. I would stay at home to clean the room in the morning and go shopping in the afternoon while he was at work then we would go out for dinner together when he comes home in the evening. It was a period of trial marriage. He just told me that he had started saving for our wedding. Does that mean that I will become Mrs. Chua soon? =D

I miss my pig.

Dear always calls me pig because I sleep a lot. I call him pig too because he sleeps more than I do. =P

My pig left for Hanoi with his friends yesterday. We only parted when he left for the airport but I still miss him every minute that he is away from me. Didn't talk to him today so I sent him a SMS.

Me: Pig got miss me? Never miss me come back I eat you. :P missing you every minute. :)
Pig: yaya no bolsters leh. on way to train station... tired sia better behave yrself

Hee. Hearing from him puts me at ease. I kept looking at that SMS he sent. It will be my pillar of support for the next four days to come. Too used to seeing him everyday that I feel uneasy without him by my side even for a day. I miss my pig. =(

Melaka (27-12-2009 to 02-01-2010)

Was in Melaka with dear for a week. Uncle Seng has an apartment there so we had free accomodation. The host and his wife were with us on our first day there but we were left alone after that when they returned to Singapore the following day.

Lived the life of a tai-tai while we were there. We went for massage three times in a week and he brought me to the nail salon for manicure and pedicure. All expenses paid. No need to clean the house because the part-time maid would clean up after us. No need to cook meals because there are so much good food in Melaka. It was pure bliss. =)

By the way, some people have asked me how I survived a week in a boring town like Melaka. Melaka is like second home to dear and I. True enough, there is nothing interesting there. We go there just to escape the hustle and bustle in Singapore and enjoy quality time with each other. Things are also much cheaper there because of the exchange rate that is to our advantage and lower taxes.

For the benefit of those who will be going to Melaka for a vacation but don't know where to go, here are some recommendations:

Food

Cottage Spices
G26 , Jalan PM5, Plaza Mahkota, Bandar Hilir 75000 Melaka
It situated in a shop house near Mahkota Parade. Serves Peranakan food.

Restoran Nancy's Kitchen
No. 7, Jalan Hang Lekir, (3rd Cross Street), off Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka
Located in Jonker Walk. Serves Peranakan food. Also sells Nyonya Kueh.

Restoran Bei Zhan
No. 43, Jalan Kota Laksamana 2/17, Taman Kota Laksamana Seksyen 2, 75200 Melaka
Serves Chinese food.

Massage

Topic Healthcare Centre
101 & 101-A, Jalan Merdeka, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka
Provides foot and full body massage.

There are other places we usually go to for food and local produce but I do not have the address so I am not posting them up. People seldom stay in Melaka for too long anyway so I guess this should be enough.

Miss the times we had in Melaka. Miss him.