Yes, we (hubby and I) sort of made that deal recently. Cause we had enough of giving I-have-no-time excuse and keep on delaying. So we thought setting a deadline for ourselves will eventually push us to do things.

Last year we told ourselves that we’ll have a few new start-ups this year, fulfilling our many more passion in life. Okay, read the sentence back, I said “A Few”, not just “One”. Oh so ambitious eh?

I even wrote that down in my new year list early this year. But instead of “A Few”, I wrote “At least another”. Lowering my expectation and give myself rooms to not feel bad if I don’t have “A Few”.

Well, look at us now. It’s August, half of the year is gone and we only have less than 5 months for 2011. Yet we don’t have any new start-up yet. All of them is forever in progress. Not good.

I tried to comfort myself, at least I did restructuring both sites that we have now and the business plan is clearer for the future. But it doesn’t cover the fact that we fail to launch new stuff.

So, this is the month of making things happen. Either now or keep on delaying.

My progress so far, creating coming soon page. I made two kinds, but decide to stick with the soft approach instead of the bold one. This is something that I’ve been wanting to do since 2 years ago, but the I-am-not-good-enough mentality killed it.

This post itself is to remind me that I have decided to take my 1st step. Keep this kind of momentum and bring it til the finish line.

It’s always fun and interesting to know more about the lifestyle and social culture of other countries, with a hint of insight, either by paying a close attention to the locals daily activities or chitchat with them.

Moving on to today’s post.

Jul 22nd, On our way to Changi airport, we had a little chat with the taxi driver – an uncle, white hair, quite old, probably 60yo above.

The uncle started the conversation with us by asking where we’re heading to. Once he knew we’re Medanese, he mentioned about the 2004 Tsunami that hit Aceh and a little bit about living in Indonesia.

Enough about us, he then shared his opinion on Singapore nowadays.

He said that the family value in Singapore has decreased a lot if compared to the good old days in kampong (village).

Staying in flat/apartment isn’t good, he continued, once children come back home, they go into their own bedroom and do own activity. Less interaction among the family members. No warm, no togetherness.

Ah, it reminded me of my college time.

He also mentioned about the problem with seeing extended families/relatives. It’s hard to give a warm welcome cause it’s quite often the relatives come asking to borrow money. Don’t even mention about welcoming the relatives to one’s house, seeing them in the lift or public space, one will pretend not seeing them.

Owe $ Pay $, Ah Long, ring a bell?

He also complained about how the government kept on welcoming foreigners to work in Singapore, which doesn’t do good to the locals. I heard about this issue a lot during their recent election.

Of course, we couldn’t run away with the high-living-cost topic. The uncle said that the property price is getting higher, even for a HDB, I guess this valid for the whole world now (?). He said, with a basic salary of $2k, how can a fresh-graduate buy an apt, let alone getting married.

Uncle said his wife is working and he used to work double job to tackle the living cost. He kept on repeating how life is hard for many Singaporeans (xin jia po ren hen xin ku – imagine someone your Grandpa’s age saying this words, heartache or not >.<) Probably referring to the medium lower income class of people.

No wonder there is many aunties uncles at their 60s and above working in the foodcourt as a cleaner, cashier, etc. So old, still working.

After hearing all the above things from the uncle, I have a very familiar feeling. Those are like scenes from many Singapore’s movies (esp. Jack Neo’s film). But this time, it isn’t an acting, it’s a reality. Unless the uncle watches too much drama.

It definitely left me feeling the contrast between the local’s view (in this case, senior citizen) and the tourist’s view on Singapore. It’s a heaven for me as a tourist and shopper, but a tough place to live for the locals. Put aside the medium upper class people, of course.

Interesting insight (to me)! Makes me want to travel more #JustAnExcuse

For me, end of month and weekend is a perfect combination to just chill at home and slacking with no guilty feeling, especially when all projects are wrapped up for the month. Yea, I’m just too hard on myself sometimes.

On last Saturday, we did our monthly spring cleaning on every corner and single details of the house. Sweat a lot, but feel good, just take it as a physical exercise. It’s also a teamwork exercise between hubby and me.

Aside from that, hubby managed to install curtain for our mini closet (refer to picture below). We just dislike the idea of having a huge bulky wardrobe.

On Sunday, it was my couch potato day. For breakfast, I had battered egg bread with a small glass of Nestle Bliss Orange flavor, while watching My Sassy Girl 2 from MySoju.

For lunch, we had home-cooked spaghetti, quick and easy – great choice when we don’t feel like having a rice meal.

One is never too old to be fed with the cheesy-romance-story from Taiwan Idol Drama, so I tuned in to one of the latest series Mei Le Jia You a.k.a Love Keeps Going, starring Mike He and Cindy Wang. It’s up until episode 9 only, gotta wait 1 episode per week

To sum up, it’s a great weekend. It’ll be greater, if I get to soak in bathsofdistinction clawfoot tubs for a warm bath after tiring week. July itself is a great month for us. Not just because it’s my birthday month, but everything just falls in place (in a good way).

Lesson of the month that we get, don’t think (or rather worry) too much + just do it. Sounds simple eh? It could be hard cause sometimes we are too caught up in planning stage then go into worry stage, hence never move forward, just stuck there in the evil circle.

It’s pretty hard to accept the fact that I am no longer in my early twenties, but hitting mid twenty. When chatting with friends, it’s no longer about courtship but wedding, marriage, and baby shower invitations! Sigh. Can’t we just slow down the time or stop it so I can be forever 21?

I can never control my facial expression when I jump, mostly turns up ugly >.< Taken at Universal Studio, Singapore.

Birthday this year is great. I get to have a family getaway to the neighborhood country Singapore. Travel + catch up with my parent, perfecto!

Despite being so worried during the pre-holiday period, I was quite stress-free during the trip.

I managed to survive four days without internet access. *pat on the back* No email, no facebook, no Twitter, whatsoever.

Surprisingly, I didn’t even crave for the internet. Could be because we walked all day long, I was too occupied & tired by the end of the day, the first thing that I wanted was to jump on bed and sleep.

But I guess the main reason is because I was stuck with a lousy made-in-china phone that has no wifi. It’s a blessing in disguise eh?

The walking continues when I’m back in KL. Mum followed us here, so we’ve been to shopping mall, medical check-up, BukitTinggi a.k.a Berjaya Hills – nothing great, except the cool weather when it rains.

Hoping to be fully back on work by tomorrow Monday. I have enough of walking already, now let me sit sit sit.

Not even two months since my last hair-cut and here I am rocking a new shorter hairstyle. I blame it to summer, with the unbearable heat, can’t stand with shoulder-length hair. Blessed you whose office has Air-con and no need to worry about the bill. Nvm, we’ll have it soon.

The hairstylist asked whether I wanted to cut back the Bob or go with this shorter style where it will be cut off around the ear, gonna make my face looks not so small, blablabla. No picture that I can refer to, so I thought.. Ok, it can’t be that bad, let’s just try after all he said it’s gonna be easy to maintain.

I better not regret this hair-cut.