Away from Runway: 1 Year in Retrospect

300906. I packed up and left the attic with the help of friends. Changing paths is not easy though not a big deal and it's necessary. I'm glad I have the lucidity of mind to do it then despite I'm still not getting anywhere one year on.

Life over the last year is at best enlightening but ironically entrapping. The long vacation gave me enough time and space to think through what I need to do next to reach where I want to be later. It's great to have dreams; not very nice when the mysterious hands at work are not cooperating. I've to admit I'm running out of patience, sinking into angst and possibly disillusion. Ok, maybe not this bad since knowing myself, it only takes one big positive thing to send me to cloud nine again.

While this cycle of ups and downs is expected to last a lifetime for hot-blooded folks like me, I couldn't verbalise my thoughts better than Mayday's "我". One of my favourites among my many other favourite Mayday numbers that I cried listening to it sometimes. I'm such a sap.

And how could I end this entry without well-wishes on such a significant day? May the folks at home and friends around me be safe and healthy always - your well-being really means a lot to me. May I realise what I want to do, step-by-step and not missing one. May the career option I so desire happen very soon.

我 / 词+曲:阿信


还记得　小时候　作文簿上的志愿
那天真　的幻想　如今都到哪裡躲藏?
走出网咖凌晨的三点鐘　飆过天堂世纪帝国直达战慄时空
看不见的世界裡　我是英雄　
然后回到没有目标的活著　在现实中
oh my god, oh my god who am I ? 我的外号是　嘴上乔丹
oh my god, oh my god who am I ? 座右铭是　我混故我在
也曾开心的耶耶耶　也有失落的我我我
蝴蝶飞出了潜水鐘　我却还在原地停留
留不住时间耶耶耶　总是后悔的我我我
我不要一生就这样　到最后一生就这样　这样的我
这样的　勇敢的我　单纯的我　复杂的我　冷的我　热的我
无聊的我　懒惰的我　总是怀疑的我
讲了不听　听了不做　做又做不好的我
买一个梦　五十块钱的梦　期待五百万分之一的奇蹟降落
从此以后　想要什麼　喜欢什麼　就有什麼
但是我的人生还可以　努力　追求　什麼
Have you ever wanna be a spaceman?
Have you ever wanna be a president?
Or you're still a daydreaming maker?
Have you ever wanna be wanna be wanna be wanna be

*For an excellent English translation of this song, click here. I like the lyrics for the cultural references.

Around the World in 80 Lines (the first 20 lines)

Take me on London's Eye,
Round and round like life and lies.
We'll go up Taipei's One-O-One,
Now the world's creations look small and fun.
Let the glitter of Hong Kong lights,
Dazzle our eyes and spice the nights.
Or slurp ramen on Tokyo's streets,
Warm our tummies in winter's breeze.
Conquer the bunds like Shanghai knights,
And feel the rush with the rising tides.
Shop like a tai-tai at Champ-Elysees,
Dine al-fresco and eat souffle.
Go party-hop in Madrid's pubs,
Till the wee hours when the sun comes up.
Dig in kimchi with the Korean folks,
Ogle for cute dudes while drinking coke.
Pick some flowers from the Netherlands,
Beware when you roam round their red light bends.
Return to basics on Tibet's grounds,
Life can be rich with greens abound!

FAQs + Answers to Pi's Quest to be a Lecturer

I've been answering these questions from everyone who has just heard of me winding up Runway. So given my tiny celebrity status, I think it's time to put up this FAQ with OFFICIAL answers from the horse's mouth. Whatever you've heard from my secondary circle are prolly just half-truths.

1. Why did you decide to dissolve Runway?
Excuse me ah, firstly please note that the question has been carefully phrased to use the word "dissolve". The company didn't "toh-teon" mind you.

I decide this is the way to go because I'm not interested anymore. No, kidding - how can I sound so willful and frivolous?! Honestly, I lost sight from where I first started. Much as I realised my strengths along the way, it has also been a humbling experience of realising that achieving ideals can be challenging.

2. Why did you decide to become a lecturer? Is it just a temporary getaway?
Because I like young boys. Nah....I'M KIDDING TOO. I've always wanted teaching / training as a career in the later part of my life. It's not a sudden thought. It's my natural progression. Afterall, I've got innate nurturing traits mah..even so-and-so thought I remind him of his mum. Ultimately, it's to fulfill my very vain aspiration to make an impact in some people's lives.

3. Why are you going to teach at XP?
Because other polys dun want me, as yet lar! Else why you think I'll be crazy enough to travel so far (which is gawd knows how many thousand metres away from my house) and have XYZ near me? The good thing is at least I get to teach and this makes my decision stated in (1) worthwhile.

4. Who is XYZ and why does the prospect of working near her irks you?
She's a witch. She used to suck up to me cos I'm Miss Popular and she wasn't. See lar, how the wheel of fortunes turned its table on me. but XYZ dun take offence if you read this ok?! I'm learning to appreciate you lar...give me time please... :p

5. So will you go back to business in the future?
Of course!!! The entrepreneur in me never dies! But I wun dabble with agency business again, unless it's an agency that creates for itself at its own pace and whims and fancies. I dream of owning my own cosy cafe one day. Partners, anyone?

So, this woman is going to be a lecturer:

Give her your blessings.

p.s: I'm sorry, my faithful readers (chey! as if there are a lot!), if my 2 blogs have caused confusion as to which is about what. To answer the question as posted by Bren today, I attempt to once and for all set the guidelines for the content positioning of these 2 blogs:

AcesGoPlaces
1) Will continue to fulfill its vision as a travel blog.
2) Will also post contents on the bimbotic leisure activities, great haunts and good food we get to enjoy in our small town.
3) The above entry will be my last post on my life away from RUNWAY here. Thereafter I'll be posting contents on activities (see point 2) when I'm literally not travelling via the airport runway, which is most of the time anyway.

That Gibberish Blog
For humble writings on "oh-so-exciting" happenings around me, please continue to support my newly revamped gibberish blog.

But come back here often. I'll keep u entertained on my travel adventures in and out of Singapore.

Away from Runway

Now you can worship at my blog!!!

Presenting the creation of aspiring inventor, quack doctor and horse-master Mr Chee *gulp* *drum roll*......



My pa brought home a wooden piece, started decorating it with $$$ signs and proclaimed it the 大发财神 (The Great Fortune God) tablet! No wonder he was looking for multi-colours markers over the last few days! He told me he's not quite done with it yet - wanna accessorise further with images of gold bars and jewellery *HAHAHAHAHHA*

If you're wondering why the Chinese words look so scrawny that's becos my dad can't write Chinese for nuts' sake. This latest project of his sent me laffing till i get stitches. Oh man! Tell me if my family's as dysfunctional as the Hoovers' in Miss Little Sunshine?!

Other than hilarious happenings at home, the 19 days away from Runway had been all about:
1) finishing the incomplete projects
2) lunches with various folks at raffles place
3) debt collecting at Kreta Ayer
4) watching vcds
5) listening to music by 强辩 (I so love the tunes of 雨下个不停，甜蜜的愿望，1234，彩虹的另一端), 克群 and 静茹
6) got concert tix to Eason!!!
7) hoping very hard someone could sponsor me ABC stout crowns / ringpulls to the gig featuring our favouritest Mayday, stylo Chen Sheng and lame-beh Pin Guan
8) reading the Dangerous Book for Boys
9) cooking up a storm with my toasties and meatballs. YUMMILICIOUS I TELL YA! I'm a genius cook!
10) negotiating with my future employer
11) wanting to climb Mount Faber everyday but dammit! the haze forbids!
12) paying old colleagues an "incidental" visit then claiming free lunch and basking in praises of how i look younger and prettier...hehehe
13) renewing ties with frens who had been a part of my life, then not so much of my life, then part of my life again!
14) celebrating my birthday many times over...this year's celebration started earliest and is going to end latest. I can't believe this.
15) unpacking, unpacking and unpacking. I'm down to 2 cartons now from the initial 13! And there's a basketful of miscellaneous which i really dunno where to hide.
16) catching a few good movies - the departed (ok, typical hollywood all men's show), little red flower (sounds like a soft porn but not) and the very funny, simple, nice Little Miss Sunshine
17) tearing up newspapers with buddy at the NUS libby and saw her cutie not-too-bad-looking classmate who alas, is married and is not really cute by XY's standard cos he has centre-parting
18) reworking this blog and the other old and dowdy one
19) learning my driving and forgetting all the parking steps AGAIN and irritated the hell outta my instructor.


Kreta Ayer still looks the same after 2 weeks. How different can it be anyway?

p/s: my pa's gonna place the tablet at Telok Blangah Hill. He welcomes all worshippers and wish everyone the best of luck. May the GREAT GOD OF FORTUNE report at your home.

Runway Parting Shots: The Journey Ends Here

I present the final moments as we say tata to the Attic.


The Final Episode


The door leading to the 4 storeys of staircase


Runway neighbourhood - left wing. See the backview of Mr Postman in the distant? He's my fave friendly postman who'll flash his best smile and chit chat whenever he sees me. See, I'm the unanimous people's choice of Miss Popular...hahaha


Runway neighbourhood - right wing. Kreta Ayer is a blessed area. We've got church, mosque, Chinese temple and Hindu temple just round the corners!


My appointed Moving Director of the day climbing up the mean staircase


And me journeying up...by the way it's bullshit that climbing stairs can help lose weight. It didn't show on me lor.













Saying goodbye is never easy, especially if it's parting with something that has become part of your life. My "Moving Director" was once a member of the Attic.


I left a love note for the next tenant! But most likely the landlord will take it out before they get to see it. Jeff, leave it on will ya?


See lar, I'm so considerate, even left notices like that for likely situations that might inconvenience the next tenant.


Me and Geok posed victorious as we gave our final touch to the packing. We're ready to move!


Tata again! I've said it so many times and it's now for real.




The two rooms reinstated to when I saw them for the first time. (except for the carpet and empty cartons which I've so charitably left behind)


No more flights from 1st Oct. Email and business license will still be live for keepsake.

I'm starting my 28th year afresh, with new career in anticipation and new shoes to fill.

Good luck all, on your lives' many journeys.

Runway Parting Shots (I)

More pictures over the last few days of my packing. Couldn't thank each and everyone enough for all the help. Must also thank those who paid lip service (haha! you know who you are) :p

I'll be freer starting next week, so all you people working in town ask me out for lunch ok?? Else, i might be based at some ulu place soon :(


大頭 aka 小胖 (where got fat?), me and 饭盒aka (Super) Vainpot squeezing in one pathetic corner when there is more space to stand.


So many shots with 大頭 cos himbotic Vainpot didn’t know if the cam had captured the pictures or not lor.




I don't know what's with this shot with my air freshener.


Handan Chewyan or 咸蛋超人 with the very few boxes he has helped pack.


Cute boys! Where? In the poster lar, a-ber-then?

And TADANG! I finally understand why I haven’t been able to give away the laptop bag...

Because the bag is destined to serve Brader Tua-jiak! And thanx to him, my dustbin, vase, stool, side table etc found new owner! See how safe they feel in his arms...wahahaha!


And my messy workstation one last time before I pack up the mess...

The Runway Journey

Strictly speaking, this entry won't quite fall into any travel-related category. But it's about one of my life's most significant journeys. Take it away with Runway :)

The FINALE Party: Sat, 23 Sep 2006, 11am to 3pm

Episode 4, also the final chapter, will see Runway vacating the attic on 30 Sep :( More on this later. Now, the fun moments first!

Pi boasting about her S$6 Number 5 tee (sorry, tee's not available for sale in Singapore..wahaha) while Bren and LYu looked on.

The FIVEsters posed. If you still dunno our thing for 5, you haven't heard enuff about Mayday from us.

Oh my gawd! All my frens are so pretty! What do they say about birds of the same kind flock together? :p

Me shouting lelong for all my barangs in "koyok" selling style. Dammit, I know I got flair for sales but my aspiration says otherwise.

Gotcha! Jo and Minty caught in their act of secret operation for my surprise birday celebration.

Presenting the lovely cake to me!

Thanx for the "moving on" prezzies. I'll be getting birday prezzies hor?

Angel and Shazz stole a shot with my cake.

Soon, there'll be at least 3 candles on my cake :S

Sparkling wine for the occasion, courtesy of Minty!

Pink! to kick in some kink...heh

Yum seng time.

And Daffy said, "here's to more bb for everyone!" I was shocked! My ma will kill me if a baby arrived before my wedding!

After some clarifications, I realised she said VB - variable bonus lar...chey... Now we can continue happily with our yum seng :D

The ATTIC in Memory

Office layout when we first started - messy wires all around and less space for moving around.

The stairway leading to the attic. I'll miss going up that 4 storeys of stairs, really.

The best thing about being your own boss? I can wear flip-flops and look lok kok ;)

The BIG Orange Studio...now let's take a look inside >>>

Not that big huh? :p

Now let's check out the BIG Cookie Studio...>>>

Has anyone ever noticed the postcards and decor near the brown door upon entering?

Our tiny office. It may look a little messy but I make it a point to housekeep at least once a month ok!

The Runway House Rules are a reflection of my work culture. I love noise, laughter and an environment that puts people at home the very instant you set foot.

The one and only Runway window view! When we were looking for an office, having a window was one of the criteria. We got our way except the view's not quite what we initially expected.