Advertorial



You know a business is going down the right track when their tagline promises you excellence! Besides bringing you pretty clothing, Shoptan.sg wants you to know this about them: "Being brand new won't stop us from exceeding your expectations."

Yep, Shoptan.sg is new in the fashion market, and they are here to bring you some awesome fashion to take you from lunch with your girl-friends to a night out clubbing with your mates. They've just launched their first collection, and if you drop by Shoptan.sg, you'd see how easy the site is to navigate. The first item that jumped out at me was their Colourful Summer Dress!:



Call me biased, but what can I say? I love colour! Stay tuned for their 2nd collection launching real soon on Sunday, 3rd April! It will be ballet-themed; a la Black Swan (oi, one of my favourite new movies!). Expect tutu skirts, smooth chiffon layers, and alluring body skimming dresses. =) Here's a sneak peek! (click to enlarge pictures if you think they're too small):



They have a Black Convertible Mini Dress as well! Check out more ways to wear them however you wish at Shoptan.sg!:





And as for this Flowy Chiffon Dress, I posted both colours because I cannot decide which is nicer - I want both!:





Shoptan.sg offers FREE registered postage for all items in your 1st purchase! Subsequently, your items will be mailed to you via FREE normal postage, always (unless you opt for paid, registered postage again, of course). Register an account with them and after which, ordering is simple and fuss-free:

- Standard order format is [username][itemcode][size][colour][quantity][postage type]:

E.g. crystalavigne 1001 FS Blue 1 N

(Acronyms - FS for Free Size, N for Normal and R for registered)

SMS, email shoptan@live.com.sg, or leave your order as a comment or PM on Facebook and you're well on your way!



Visit Shoptan.sg and have fun shopping!

Labels: advertorial, clothes, fashion, pictures

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People sometimes really take things/other people for granted and regret it when shit happens or after that special someone or something is gone. I think it's human nature... But at the same time, I believe it's also something we need to constantly remind ourselves about. We hear it all the time - "Never take anything or anyone for granted." I guess we never really grasp the meaning of it until we allow ourselves to really ponder.

Last year during the CNY period, Gucci fell sick and got admitted into the ICU. For my first post of 2011 on the first day of the year, I mentioned that I never want to go through something like this again, although in time to come I know I would have to. Never did I expect the time to come so soon, just 2 months after that.

Recently, I got a new job at a newly-opened piano jazz bar. I was really excited to start work because it paid quite well and I thought I could finally give my dogs an even better life and not have to compromise about a lot of other things. Friday was my first day. I woke up in the afternoon and walked into the kitchen to find this:



It's common for Gucci to soil the floor, but not with bloody stool. I got a shock and was quite alarmed, plus I had to clean up and contemplate whether it was serious enough to bring him to the vet and possibly be late for my first day of work. Last year, the exact same thing happened to him, but there was only one relatively small blood clot in his stool. There was way more blood than stool this time round, so I had every reason to worry. While I was cleaning up, my sister was holding Gucci. And right in front of our eyes, he pooped again:





After that second time, I was genuinely worried sick. I tried to call and cancel my work, but they didn't let me. I knew I was taking a big risk with possibly losing my job, but my dog was in danger and I felt like shit. I called many friends to ask who could do me a favour and bring Gucci to the vet for me 'cos my mum didn't know how, and my sister couldn't. I couldn't find anybody. I pleaded with my mum and sis and they finally agreed to cancel whatever plans they had and bring him. Before I left for work, Gucci was sprawled on the floor, weak and lethargic and dozing off. I left home with a heavy heart, constantly paranoid that he might stop breathing for some reason. Was running late to meet the boyfriend to go to work 'cos we were taking the same route, so I ran to catch the bus. My mind was elsewhere and I was so worried about Gucci, I tripped and fell in my dress at the bus-stop. =S Now I have bloody abrasions on my right knee and ankle, and a damn huge bruise on my left knee. Scraped my right palm too, but I'm sure Gucci was in more pain than I was at that point in time. I'd never felt more miserable being apart from my dog, and as the distance away from him got bigger and bigger, I got worse and worse. I was trembling the whole way. Work was SO HARD to get through thinking about Gucci the whole time, even harder than standing for 5 hours while my wounds bled through my plasters. Transport was provided for us after work, but it was late by an hour so I grabbed a cab and headed home on my own because I couldn't wait a second longer.

I don't understand how Gucci can deteriorate so fast overnight. The night before, I randomly videoed him and he was still perky and fine:



Hey, he even rummaged under the kitchen table for food:



Now, not only does he not want to eat, he is no longer upbeat and excited:



He sleeps more than 80% of the time, and I've taken to putting him in my room (used to be the kitchen) so that I can keep an eye on him:



Every once in awhile I turn and stare at him to make sure he's breathing. I'm so afraid he'd go in his sleep or something. Maybe you can call it paranoia overdrive, but I'm not taking any chances. I let my guard down and woke up to a big shock, so I really need to pull up my socks this time round. In less than 24 hours, my old man changed from an energetic dog (for his age), to seemingly teetering on the brink of the rainbow bridge. I'm not going to lie - I know he's old and I'm not trying to curse him; everyday ever since he got admitted into the ICU last year, I've been preparing myself for the worst. But I know that no matter how much I prepare myself, when the time really comes, I'd still be a royal mess. It sucks.

Now when Gucci walks around the house, he tends to walk into corners and stare at the wall. He stones in the middle of nowhere a lot of the time, looking forlorn and lethargic. Sometimes he sways on his feet like a drunken dog. It could be due to dizziness from not eating much, or due to his old bones. I don't know which is which, but either way it breaks my heart seeing him like this. Sometimes he'd flop down on the floor and just sleep, no matter where he might be. At times, he would peek at me around the side of my door like that:



Notice the belly band I got for him last year. It fit him well previously, but now he's lost so much weight that the velcro closes up way past the intended spot, hence the end of the belly band pokes out like there's too much cloth. I have to buy more belly bands off eBay in a smaller size now, and the sanitary pads in my home are just being used up rapidly by him. I've also been syringe-feeding him, mixing a/d prescription diet (emergency diet for cats and dogs, you can read up on it HERE) with warm water and force-feeding him or else he'd just waste away from hunger. The previous time at the ICU, the nurse did that too and he didn't wanna eat it at first, but out of the blue he got better and he ate on his own accord. Now he doesn't want to, and it's also hard to feed him his medication. Many times he struggles, and sometimes he gives out a groan or two, like a big baby. I don't know how to tell him I didn't mean to force him but it's for his own good. His stomach gurgles loudly too whenever I feed him, and I don't know if it's due to the hunger or the discomfort from his illness. And every time, he makes a mess all over his mouth and neck and I have to clean him up, followed by the floor and then myself. Now I don't leave the house for longer than 2 hours, and if I do, I make sure there's someone else at home watching over him for me so they can call if there's an emergency.

Gucci was diagnosed with irritable bowel/stomach ulcers, according to the vet. Because the blood was so much, it was suspected to come from his large intestines. The vet gave him a drip which formed a hump around his neck that lasted about 24 hours, so that his body could slowly absorb it in order to prevent him from being dehydrated. I got the previous vet to fax over all his past medical records, and somehow this thought keeps nagging at the back of my mind. Last year when Gucci peed blood and they did an X-ray to check for kidney stones, the view of his kidneys was obstructed by something else in his stomach hence it couldn't be seen. The vet said it could be food, but I told him my dog hadn't eaten for 2 days, so much so that he actually pooped water. I still don't think it was food. Until this day, I highly suspect it was something else in his stomach, and it only further drives home my point now that Gucci has already pooped blood twice. When he got back home from the ICU last year, he went back to his same old perky self. Now, even though he wasn't hospitalised as a precaution (I decided against it 'cos I wanted to be there for him), he was still treated for his sickness, yet he still hasn't gone back to his usual self. I vow to get an answer out of this vet the next time round when I bring Gucci for a follow-up, since this new vet has all his past medical records.

Gone are the days where he used to play with other dogs, play fetch, chase soap bubbles and run around me in circles. It's like it passed in the blink of an eye. Now he just simply doesn't bother. At all. He doesn't even care much now when he sees a cat downstairs. He doesn't even want to go for walks, doesn't get excited and bark his head off after a feel-good shower, like he used to do all the time. On one occasion when I brought him to the vet, the nurse commented, "Aiyo Gucci 6 years old? Why look like old man?" And this time round for his bloody diarrhea, the vet commented that he didn't look 13 but rather, 15. It got me thinking about his ex-owner who sold me to him. Her name was Faye. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but Faye was an only child. Her parents bought Gucci for her to keep her company. At that time she was taking her O-levels in the special stream so she was busy studying while her parents were busy working. Nobody had the time. I actually found Gucci's ad on Teletext's garage sale on TV. I don't know if they still have that section now, but way back when I was still in school, they did. Some of you must be thinking, "Who the hell sells a dog at a garage sale?" But yes, I really got him through there. His spelling-error ad just said, "JACK RUSSEL FOR SALE. $300. CALL XXXXXXXX." There was no picture, no other information. I didn't ask my dad for permission before I called. When I got through, I actually got the person to hold on, and only then did I ask my dad if I could buy Gucci. Surprisingly, my dad said, "Ask him if $100 can or not." We managed to bargain it to that amount, and Gucci became mine. A few days later, Faye's boyfriend called and said his girlfriend was crying a lot because she missed Gucci. He asked if he could give us a refund and take Gucci back. Then it was my turn to cry. My dad said no, and actually I agree because since you have no time and wanted to sell your dog, you can't just change your mind and want it back because you missed him while at the same time knowing that you do not have time to take care of one. We didn't hear from any of them since then, and more than 10 years later now, I think back and wonder if Faye lied to me when she said Gucci just turned one. Because if he was 1 year old then, he should be 13 or so now. But if he's actually 15 or so like the vet said, then Gucci was technically 3 years old +/- when I got him, no? Which means that Faye could have lied to me. Maybe they thought they wouldn't be able to sell him if he wasn't young enough? Shrugs. For the record, I would have gotten Gucci all the same even if he were a couple of years older just because I wanted a dog so, so badly. So badly that I didn't even bother to ask for a picture to see how he looked like, what condition he was in etc. But I would have preferred it if Faye had told me the truth (that is, if she lied), simply because I just want to gauge how much time I have left with Gucci because he's this old now. Right now I'm still unsure of his age, but I do know that the time I have left with him ain't much longer. You know time waits for no man, and the time I have with Gucci is always precious and amazing. That makes it seem like it passes by even faster, so really, I don't have much time left.

It's true what they say about a dog's only fault being that they don't live long enough. I do not mind taking care of Gucci in this state, and I am not complaining. Because when I got him, I told myself that I would take care of him forever. And I'm still going to stick by my promise until his very last breath, that I can guarantee with my own life.



Get well soon, my precious boy. ♥

Labels: animals, dogs, Gucci, hard times, pictures

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Bought a 1-day promotional package deal (inclusive of set meal at restaurant) for the Chinatown Heritage Museum 'cos my boyfriend loves vintage. And actually, so do I. We arrived at the museum and decided to take the tour first before our meal. Grabbed a brochure at the entrance - it's a must for me! Tourist for a day!:



"In the late 1800s, Chinese began arriving in Singapore in large numbers. They were drawn to Nanyang (Southeast Asia) because of the promise of jobs and a brighter future. Their hopes were to earn money for their families, and save up enough to return home.":



I think a lot has changed since then... Now we have baggage check-in and security checks etc, but in the past, all the people travelled with was just a small cloth bag of their personal belongings:



I can NEVER imagine travelling with so little. In that sense, we as the younger generation, are all sheltered. All they had were boats, and conditions were so bad on-board that many of them died before they even set foot here:





Offerings at the temple:



Ration cards and identification cards and what-not:









A showcase of the root of common Chinese surnames in China, from different dialect groups specialising in different trades:



My boyfriend found his surname easily 'cos his surname is common, but I didn't find mine on the wall. If anyone is wondering, "Shong" is the Cantonese dialect of 常. I've been told by so many people that I have a unique surname, and I think so too. =) A showcase of the different trades among the Chinese:



And me, as a Cantonese, what are we good at?:



Haha, I think the only thing I can pick out from the above to TRY is baking. Maybe I'd turn out to be good at it? Who knows?! LOL. My grandfather was from China, but he's my maternal grandpa so he's not Cantonese. Rather, he's Fuzhou (yes, I can speak that too) and long, long ago, he used to be a barber just like that:







My grandpa passed away in 2008 (3 separate links there) and I still miss him very much. The other day, I just went to the temple with my boyfriend to visit him. I never cry in front of my family when we visit him at the temple, but things seem different with A 'cos he's my boyfriend. It's been 3 years but I still cannot talk about him without crying. OH WELL. Moving on now...:



A common known fact is the relation between coolies and opium. They called it...:









If you thought opium was their only vice, think again. There were also brothels aplenty in Chinatown, and seriously I think prostitutes in the past are super evil! =X:



A typical room in a brothel:







And who should I catch lookin' in but my own boyfriend?! >:-(:



HAHAHAHA kiddin', I'm not really angry, duhhh. This is me, pretending to be a gangster coolie. LOL!:









Rice wine (?!?!):



Moving on to the market!:





It's gross that they sell this lizard-like.... thing at the market as well?! Gawd, is it even edible?!:



Now can you guess what this is?:



It's a teahouse! More specifically, it's called Da Dong Tea House. This is a replica of how it used to be in the 1950s to 60s! The menu is on the wall, I think it's so pretty!:



OMG, VINTAGE F&N!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =O:



















According to the brochure, Da Dong Tea House has since reopened at the corner of Smith Street. Maybe I should check out the real deal someday!

Came across an old library with real vintage magazines!!!! =D:









"Like this also can be model?" HAHAHAHAHA:











Anklets for the little children, amongst other jewelry:



Tools and machines for jewelry-making!:





Night market! ;):







Festivals and cultural history:






















When I see this picture, I think of the Kopi-O song. LOL. You know? "Kopi-O, kopi-O, 喝一杯浓浓的 kopi-O!" HAHAHA:













Camwhoring! HEEHEEHEE!:





Really really old stuff - the typical settings in a room of each trade (eg. matchmaker, tailor):







This toilet and kitchen is so dingy, I would never use it:





It was there in that kitchen that something weird happened. You know how you always hear that some museums are haunted because of old artifacts etc? I don't know how true that is but because me and A were the ONLY people there in the kitchen at that time, we heard a distinct sound of fingernails scratching against a metal pot lightly, over and over again. Both of us stopped moving and stared up at the pots stored above, but we saw NOTHING. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do next until my boyfriend hurriedly shot out of that place and I freaked because he didn't wait for me!! >:( I ended up stubbing my toe real hard against a wooden stool, sending it clattering across the floor but it didn't topple over because someone tied it to the table. The rest of the museum adventure left me a little paranoid until we were out of there. Quite creepy!



















At the tailor's!!!:

















Real handwriting of the tailors and measurements of past customers (from I-don't-know-how-long ago)!:



Pictures with the boyfriend in the mirror reflection inside the tailor's workspace, haha:







The tailor's was our last stop before we turned the corner and arrived back at where we first started off. All that walking about (and kitchen scare) made us hungry, and it was dinner-time by then anyway, so we went next door to the restaurant and claimed our meal that came with the package. We had sets to choose from, and this is what we picked!:


Crabmeat and seafood congee


Singapore fried noodles


Mango rice

..... I forgot what this is but it's some kind of dessert pudding with sago and coconut milk, and I do not like it:



As you can see, the portion of food for ONE person is huge so it's definitely worth it! Boyfriend loved the congee but I like mine sticky and the one we had was a bit watery so I didn't like it as much as he did. I ate the fried noodles because he couldn't take spicy food and the noodles were a little spicy (chilli padi inside), so if you cannot take spice then don't order that! The mango rice was good too... Imagine piping hot mango-infused rice with real mango that melts in your mouth, mixed with chicken meat inside. Niceeee, yo!!

If you haven't been to the Chinatown Heritage Museum, it would be a great idea to pay a visit. =) I love Singapore a lot actually, and I really enjoyed myself knowing more about Singapore's history. The main reason for going was to give my boyfriend a treat and it was on promotion price, so I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did!!! ^_^ ♥

Labels: A, Chinatown Heritage Museum, food, history, pictures, vintage

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Advertorial



You know a business is going down the right track when their tagline promises you excellence! Besides bringing you pretty clothing, Shoptan.sg wants you to know this about them: "Being brand new won't stop us from exceeding your expectations."

Yep, Shoptan.sg is new in the fashion market, and they are here to bring you some awesome fashion to take you from lunch with your girl-friends to a night out clubbing with your mates. They've just launched their first collection, and if you drop by Shoptan.sg, you'd see how easy the site is to navigate. The first item that jumped out at me was their Colourful Summer Dress!:



Call me biased, but what can I say? I love colour! Stay tuned for their 2nd collection launching real soon on Sunday, 3rd April! It will be ballet-themed; a la Black Swan (oi, one of my favourite new movies!). Expect tutu skirts, smooth chiffon layers, and alluring body skimming dresses. =) Here's a sneak peek! (click to enlarge pictures if you think they're too small):



They have a Black Convertible Mini Dress as well! Check out more ways to wear them however you wish at Shoptan.sg!:





And as for this Flowy Chiffon Dress, I posted both colours because I cannot decide which is nicer - I want both!:





Shoptan.sg offers FREE registered postage for all items in your 1st purchase! Subsequently, your items will be mailed to you via FREE normal postage, always (unless you opt for paid, registered postage again, of course). Register an account with them and after which, ordering is simple and fuss-free:

- Standard order format is [username][itemcode][size][colour][quantity][postage type]:

E.g. crystalavigne 1001 FS Blue 1 N

(Acronyms - FS for Free Size, N for Normal and R for registered)

SMS, email shoptan@live.com.sg, or leave your order as a comment or PM on Facebook and you're well on your way!



Visit Shoptan.sg and have fun shopping!

Labels: advertorial, clothes, fashion, pictures

People sometimes really take things/other people for granted and regret it when shit happens or after that special someone or something is gone. I think it's human nature... But at the same time, I believe it's also something we need to constantly remind ourselves about. We hear it all the time - "Never take anything or anyone for granted." I guess we never really grasp the meaning of it until we allow ourselves to really ponder.

Last year during the CNY period, Gucci fell sick and got admitted into the ICU. For my first post of 2011 on the first day of the year, I mentioned that I never want to go through something like this again, although in time to come I know I would have to. Never did I expect the time to come so soon, just 2 months after that.

Recently, I got a new job at a newly-opened piano jazz bar. I was really excited to start work because it paid quite well and I thought I could finally give my dogs an even better life and not have to compromise about a lot of other things. Friday was my first day. I woke up in the afternoon and walked into the kitchen to find this:



It's common for Gucci to soil the floor, but not with bloody stool. I got a shock and was quite alarmed, plus I had to clean up and contemplate whether it was serious enough to bring him to the vet and possibly be late for my first day of work. Last year, the exact same thing happened to him, but there was only one relatively small blood clot in his stool. There was way more blood than stool this time round, so I had every reason to worry. While I was cleaning up, my sister was holding Gucci. And right in front of our eyes, he pooped again:





After that second time, I was genuinely worried sick. I tried to call and cancel my work, but they didn't let me. I knew I was taking a big risk with possibly losing my job, but my dog was in danger and I felt like shit. I called many friends to ask who could do me a favour and bring Gucci to the vet for me 'cos my mum didn't know how, and my sister couldn't. I couldn't find anybody. I pleaded with my mum and sis and they finally agreed to cancel whatever plans they had and bring him. Before I left for work, Gucci was sprawled on the floor, weak and lethargic and dozing off. I left home with a heavy heart, constantly paranoid that he might stop breathing for some reason. Was running late to meet the boyfriend to go to work 'cos we were taking the same route, so I ran to catch the bus. My mind was elsewhere and I was so worried about Gucci, I tripped and fell in my dress at the bus-stop. =S Now I have bloody abrasions on my right knee and ankle, and a damn huge bruise on my left knee. Scraped my right palm too, but I'm sure Gucci was in more pain than I was at that point in time. I'd never felt more miserable being apart from my dog, and as the distance away from him got bigger and bigger, I got worse and worse. I was trembling the whole way. Work was SO HARD to get through thinking about Gucci the whole time, even harder than standing for 5 hours while my wounds bled through my plasters. Transport was provided for us after work, but it was late by an hour so I grabbed a cab and headed home on my own because I couldn't wait a second longer.

I don't understand how Gucci can deteriorate so fast overnight. The night before, I randomly videoed him and he was still perky and fine:



Hey, he even rummaged under the kitchen table for food:



Now, not only does he not want to eat, he is no longer upbeat and excited:



He sleeps more than 80% of the time, and I've taken to putting him in my room (used to be the kitchen) so that I can keep an eye on him:



Every once in awhile I turn and stare at him to make sure he's breathing. I'm so afraid he'd go in his sleep or something. Maybe you can call it paranoia overdrive, but I'm not taking any chances. I let my guard down and woke up to a big shock, so I really need to pull up my socks this time round. In less than 24 hours, my old man changed from an energetic dog (for his age), to seemingly teetering on the brink of the rainbow bridge. I'm not going to lie - I know he's old and I'm not trying to curse him; everyday ever since he got admitted into the ICU last year, I've been preparing myself for the worst. But I know that no matter how much I prepare myself, when the time really comes, I'd still be a royal mess. It sucks.

Now when Gucci walks around the house, he tends to walk into corners and stare at the wall. He stones in the middle of nowhere a lot of the time, looking forlorn and lethargic. Sometimes he sways on his feet like a drunken dog. It could be due to dizziness from not eating much, or due to his old bones. I don't know which is which, but either way it breaks my heart seeing him like this. Sometimes he'd flop down on the floor and just sleep, no matter where he might be. At times, he would peek at me around the side of my door like that:



Notice the belly band I got for him last year. It fit him well previously, but now he's lost so much weight that the velcro closes up way past the intended spot, hence the end of the belly band pokes out like there's too much cloth. I have to buy more belly bands off eBay in a smaller size now, and the sanitary pads in my home are just being used up rapidly by him. I've also been syringe-feeding him, mixing a/d prescription diet (emergency diet for cats and dogs, you can read up on it HERE) with warm water and force-feeding him or else he'd just waste away from hunger. The previous time at the ICU, the nurse did that too and he didn't wanna eat it at first, but out of the blue he got better and he ate on his own accord. Now he doesn't want to, and it's also hard to feed him his medication. Many times he struggles, and sometimes he gives out a groan or two, like a big baby. I don't know how to tell him I didn't mean to force him but it's for his own good. His stomach gurgles loudly too whenever I feed him, and I don't know if it's due to the hunger or the discomfort from his illness. And every time, he makes a mess all over his mouth and neck and I have to clean him up, followed by the floor and then myself. Now I don't leave the house for longer than 2 hours, and if I do, I make sure there's someone else at home watching over him for me so they can call if there's an emergency.

Gucci was diagnosed with irritable bowel/stomach ulcers, according to the vet. Because the blood was so much, it was suspected to come from his large intestines. The vet gave him a drip which formed a hump around his neck that lasted about 24 hours, so that his body could slowly absorb it in order to prevent him from being dehydrated. I got the previous vet to fax over all his past medical records, and somehow this thought keeps nagging at the back of my mind. Last year when Gucci peed blood and they did an X-ray to check for kidney stones, the view of his kidneys was obstructed by something else in his stomach hence it couldn't be seen. The vet said it could be food, but I told him my dog hadn't eaten for 2 days, so much so that he actually pooped water. I still don't think it was food. Until this day, I highly suspect it was something else in his stomach, and it only further drives home my point now that Gucci has already pooped blood twice. When he got back home from the ICU last year, he went back to his same old perky self. Now, even though he wasn't hospitalised as a precaution (I decided against it 'cos I wanted to be there for him), he was still treated for his sickness, yet he still hasn't gone back to his usual self. I vow to get an answer out of this vet the next time round when I bring Gucci for a follow-up, since this new vet has all his past medical records.

Gone are the days where he used to play with other dogs, play fetch, chase soap bubbles and run around me in circles. It's like it passed in the blink of an eye. Now he just simply doesn't bother. At all. He doesn't even care much now when he sees a cat downstairs. He doesn't even want to go for walks, doesn't get excited and bark his head off after a feel-good shower, like he used to do all the time. On one occasion when I brought him to the vet, the nurse commented, "Aiyo Gucci 6 years old? Why look like old man?" And this time round for his bloody diarrhea, the vet commented that he didn't look 13 but rather, 15. It got me thinking about his ex-owner who sold me to him. Her name was Faye. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but Faye was an only child. Her parents bought Gucci for her to keep her company. At that time she was taking her O-levels in the special stream so she was busy studying while her parents were busy working. Nobody had the time. I actually found Gucci's ad on Teletext's garage sale on TV. I don't know if they still have that section now, but way back when I was still in school, they did. Some of you must be thinking, "Who the hell sells a dog at a garage sale?" But yes, I really got him through there. His spelling-error ad just said, "JACK RUSSEL FOR SALE. $300. CALL XXXXXXXX." There was no picture, no other information. I didn't ask my dad for permission before I called. When I got through, I actually got the person to hold on, and only then did I ask my dad if I could buy Gucci. Surprisingly, my dad said, "Ask him if $100 can or not." We managed to bargain it to that amount, and Gucci became mine. A few days later, Faye's boyfriend called and said his girlfriend was crying a lot because she missed Gucci. He asked if he could give us a refund and take Gucci back. Then it was my turn to cry. My dad said no, and actually I agree because since you have no time and wanted to sell your dog, you can't just change your mind and want it back because you missed him while at the same time knowing that you do not have time to take care of one. We didn't hear from any of them since then, and more than 10 years later now, I think back and wonder if Faye lied to me when she said Gucci just turned one. Because if he was 1 year old then, he should be 13 or so now. But if he's actually 15 or so like the vet said, then Gucci was technically 3 years old +/- when I got him, no? Which means that Faye could have lied to me. Maybe they thought they wouldn't be able to sell him if he wasn't young enough? Shrugs. For the record, I would have gotten Gucci all the same even if he were a couple of years older just because I wanted a dog so, so badly. So badly that I didn't even bother to ask for a picture to see how he looked like, what condition he was in etc. But I would have preferred it if Faye had told me the truth (that is, if she lied), simply because I just want to gauge how much time I have left with Gucci because he's this old now. Right now I'm still unsure of his age, but I do know that the time I have left with him ain't much longer. You know time waits for no man, and the time I have with Gucci is always precious and amazing. That makes it seem like it passes by even faster, so really, I don't have much time left.

It's true what they say about a dog's only fault being that they don't live long enough. I do not mind taking care of Gucci in this state, and I am not complaining. Because when I got him, I told myself that I would take care of him forever. And I'm still going to stick by my promise until his very last breath, that I can guarantee with my own life.



Get well soon, my precious boy. ♥

Labels: animals, dogs, Gucci, hard times, pictures

Bought a 1-day promotional package deal (inclusive of set meal at restaurant) for the Chinatown Heritage Museum 'cos my boyfriend loves vintage. And actually, so do I. We arrived at the museum and decided to take the tour first before our meal. Grabbed a brochure at the entrance - it's a must for me! Tourist for a day!:



"In the late 1800s, Chinese began arriving in Singapore in large numbers. They were drawn to Nanyang (Southeast Asia) because of the promise of jobs and a brighter future. Their hopes were to earn money for their families, and save up enough to return home.":



I think a lot has changed since then... Now we have baggage check-in and security checks etc, but in the past, all the people travelled with was just a small cloth bag of their personal belongings:



I can NEVER imagine travelling with so little. In that sense, we as the younger generation, are all sheltered. All they had were boats, and conditions were so bad on-board that many of them died before they even set foot here:





Offerings at the temple:



Ration cards and identification cards and what-not:









A showcase of the root of common Chinese surnames in China, from different dialect groups specialising in different trades:



My boyfriend found his surname easily 'cos his surname is common, but I didn't find mine on the wall. If anyone is wondering, "Shong" is the Cantonese dialect of 常. I've been told by so many people that I have a unique surname, and I think so too. =) A showcase of the different trades among the Chinese:



And me, as a Cantonese, what are we good at?:



Haha, I think the only thing I can pick out from the above to TRY is baking. Maybe I'd turn out to be good at it? Who knows?! LOL. My grandfather was from China, but he's my maternal grandpa so he's not Cantonese. Rather, he's Fuzhou (yes, I can speak that too) and long, long ago, he used to be a barber just like that:







My grandpa passed away in 2008 (3 separate links there) and I still miss him very much. The other day, I just went to the temple with my boyfriend to visit him. I never cry in front of my family when we visit him at the temple, but things seem different with A 'cos he's my boyfriend. It's been 3 years but I still cannot talk about him without crying. OH WELL. Moving on now...:



A common known fact is the relation between coolies and opium. They called it...:









If you thought opium was their only vice, think again. There were also brothels aplenty in Chinatown, and seriously I think prostitutes in the past are super evil! =X:



A typical room in a brothel:







And who should I catch lookin' in but my own boyfriend?! >:-(:



HAHAHAHA kiddin', I'm not really angry, duhhh. This is me, pretending to be a gangster coolie. LOL!:









Rice wine (?!?!):



Moving on to the market!:





It's gross that they sell this lizard-like.... thing at the market as well?! Gawd, is it even edible?!:



Now can you guess what this is?:



It's a teahouse! More specifically, it's called Da Dong Tea House. This is a replica of how it used to be in the 1950s to 60s! The menu is on the wall, I think it's so pretty!:



OMG, VINTAGE F&N!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =O:



















According to the brochure, Da Dong Tea House has since reopened at the corner of Smith Street. Maybe I should check out the real deal someday!

Came across an old library with real vintage magazines!!!! =D:









"Like this also can be model?" HAHAHAHAHA:











Anklets for the little children, amongst other jewelry:



Tools and machines for jewelry-making!:





Night market! ;):







Festivals and cultural history:






















When I see this picture, I think of the Kopi-O song. LOL. You know? "Kopi-O, kopi-O, 喝一杯浓浓的 kopi-O!" HAHAHA:













Camwhoring! HEEHEEHEE!:





Really really old stuff - the typical settings in a room of each trade (eg. matchmaker, tailor):







This toilet and kitchen is so dingy, I would never use it:





It was there in that kitchen that something weird happened. You know how you always hear that some museums are haunted because of old artifacts etc? I don't know how true that is but because me and A were the ONLY people there in the kitchen at that time, we heard a distinct sound of fingernails scratching against a metal pot lightly, over and over again. Both of us stopped moving and stared up at the pots stored above, but we saw NOTHING. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do next until my boyfriend hurriedly shot out of that place and I freaked because he didn't wait for me!! >:( I ended up stubbing my toe real hard against a wooden stool, sending it clattering across the floor but it didn't topple over because someone tied it to the table. The rest of the museum adventure left me a little paranoid until we were out of there. Quite creepy!



















At the tailor's!!!:

















Real handwriting of the tailors and measurements of past customers (from I-don't-know-how-long ago)!:



Pictures with the boyfriend in the mirror reflection inside the tailor's workspace, haha:







The tailor's was our last stop before we turned the corner and arrived back at where we first started off. All that walking about (and kitchen scare) made us hungry, and it was dinner-time by then anyway, so we went next door to the restaurant and claimed our meal that came with the package. We had sets to choose from, and this is what we picked!:


Crabmeat and seafood congee


Singapore fried noodles


Mango rice

..... I forgot what this is but it's some kind of dessert pudding with sago and coconut milk, and I do not like it:



As you can see, the portion of food for ONE person is huge so it's definitely worth it! Boyfriend loved the congee but I like mine sticky and the one we had was a bit watery so I didn't like it as much as he did. I ate the fried noodles because he couldn't take spicy food and the noodles were a little spicy (chilli padi inside), so if you cannot take spice then don't order that! The mango rice was good too... Imagine piping hot mango-infused rice with real mango that melts in your mouth, mixed with chicken meat inside. Niceeee, yo!!

If you haven't been to the Chinatown Heritage Museum, it would be a great idea to pay a visit. =) I love Singapore a lot actually, and I really enjoyed myself knowing more about Singapore's history. The main reason for going was to give my boyfriend a treat and it was on promotion price, so I hope he enjoyed it as much as I did!!! ^_^ ♥

Labels: A, Chinatown Heritage Museum, food, history, pictures, vintage