Spymama @ Mamakshop

It has been raining a lot lately. The rain pours usually in the mornings. This is the best time to stay in and sleep in. Unfortunately, I have to work. sigh.. Who doesn’t. Well, a proportion of people in Singapore do not. Either they are rich, have partners who give them enough so as not to work or those who don’t want to work and oh yes, some who can’t find a job, no matter how hard (??) they try. Which category do you belong to? ‘I have to work to feed others’ category. So I guess instead of complaining, I should be counting my blessings because I HAVE WORK.

Oh dear, what a morning, what an afternoon. I am just typing nonsence. But I am blogging about this.. aren’t I? Perhaps it is the weather, all gloomy and dark when it is not raining… I’d love to slip on my slippers and take a nap but like I said, I feel blessed I have work in an hours time.

I was in a coffeeshop when I spotted something on the floor, on the way to the restroom. I took a closer look at it because this mess looked like some eye lashes! I thought to myself… how can there be eye lashes unless those are fake ones but I looked at my friend, she looked at me with a strange and killer look that went “Whhhaaaaaat?!”

Immediately, I brought my digicam out and hurried to the spot and took a picture of it… weird but I love to take photos, anything under the sun… My friend gave me a hilarious look when I showed her the pic I’d taken after that… and you know what? The people at the coffeeshop taught I was from some govt or environmental agency and asked if those pics I took will bring them to ’shame’ because they didn’t sweep it up for about a few hours!

Oh, by the way, those ‘dirt’ are actually coffee powder that had somehow found it’s way on the floor…

Has anyone wondered why lately there has been so much violence and deaths? Each time I read the papers, it’s casualty of some kind or another… war, terrorism, politics and even natural disasters… I get the feeling that they are escalating.. is it true about what they say about The End of The World.. hmmm I have no idea but I cringe when I read so many tragedies lately. Death cannot escape us but the way humans are dying leaves me with too much perspective that many of these are created by humans.

Is this a pre-destined solution to bring Earth back to the old stone age? Something to ponder, eh.

I took this pic one day when it was raining like cats and dogs… see how these people risked their lives… and it was raining.. are they asking for trouble..

I dropped by a friend’s office on Friday last week. She was busy repainting the office with the rest of the colleagues as part of spring cleaning week. While I was there, I was asked to pick a nice colour of roller shades from their catalogue. Had a few options but ended up I chose one that is lower in budget as they have already been cutting costs last year so I believe expensive ones are out. How I wish I can change my curtains at home too. I’ve only got two sets so a third set is necessarry , I gather.

Perhaps next year during spring cleaning week? Hopefully can get some done real soon.

I have been browsing the papers in double quick time lately instead of reading them. I hardly have time for the weekend’s papers. They are so thick so I only got to go through the front pages and some parts of the Home section. Actually, what I love to do most is to hunt for daily deals and promotions from the supermarkets as well as special deals from the budget airways.. I also love to look at handphones and telco packages on promotion! I find them irresistable and great for the end user or consumer’s market. The local supermarts like NTUC gives good price for some highly recommended products. Sometimes you get the same product but a competitive pricing from NTUC competing with Shop and Save and Sheng Shiong or even Giant matching Carrefour’s hypermarts.

The best part lately is that there is an abundance of fruits on promotion and I am such a big fruit fan! Mangoes, Oranges, Mandarins, Rock Melons, Fuji Apples, Grapes and even I can see Durians now.. wow! I am so excited already!

I can’t help noticing all that slimming centre advertisements in the newspaper lately.. Boy, they sure do find creative ways to get the consumers to try their trial for free or special price. Such ads are very, very competitive like claiming who has the fastest way to burn fat! I had a very quick browze in the papers this morning. I couldn’t help noticing that there was one particular ad that even cajoled readers to take part in a contest. All you need to do is to sms answers of a lady (guessing her bra size) in multiple choice answers! Wooo Hooo… I wonder if they will take advantage of the handphone numbers and try to make cold calls to the ones who sms? I’d cancell their calls without even batting an eyelid…

Everyone knows that MARS in a planet in space. But in Singapore, I spotted bikers that spot the MARS acronym. I was curious whom and what these motorbikers do so when I finally spare some time recently, I found out that these people are despatched by some motor insurance company to assist motorbikers and their policy holders get back on the road asap. They provide assistance to their policyholders and immediate action in times of trouble in any motor accident.

So what does MARS stand for? It is Mobile Accident Respond Service. Effective branding and I wonder if they do good job in zig zagging their way towards their policyholders.

Any of you went out on Saturday from 10am to 6pm? In Singapore? You wouldn’t believe it! There was traffic jam everywhere! EVERYWHERE!

Shell had a promo on their petrol where you only pay $1 per litre from 10am to 6pm on that Saturday.. Yes and believe me.. you don’t want to be out on that day.. the traffic jams were everywhere where there was Shell petrol kiosk, (I presume..) except that I read Shell closed three of their petrol kiosk that might cause ‘lagi’ major jams. Singaporeans being kiasu, definitely just went on with their favourite hobby queing up for petrol.. Buses could be heard honking away because these queues meant they couldn’t meet their time and many people were either late for some appointment, work or destination. Except the MRT, I suppose..

I was tempted to join in the queue but that day was too hot.. sweltering hot.. and I figured my only half tank full would not make much difference anyway… by the time I reach the petrol kiosk, my car would have guzzled much petrol so I probably don’t really get much savings..

Cigarette is not very affordable in Singapore lately. Those who are addicted to it will have to pay for at least about S$11 for each pack ( I think) and you will get into trouble if you try to bring in cigarettes from the neighbouring country no matter how cheap it may be. That is because in Singapore, you need to pay the duties and taxes for each box. Even more interesting is that each cigarette stick sold in Singapore has a printed line that marks SDPC so you can never get away from the authorities! I am not sure if cigars
has it too but don’t be surprised if you see strange people watching you puff that ciggy because authorities are everywhere! All they need is to spot that mark SDPC and you can puff in peace! And if it doesn’t deter you, perhaps those horrible cancer pix on the ciggy box may make you squirm?

The weather is so hot and cold! One minute it rains and there’s thunder, lightning and heavy downpour while the other day the sun is scorching hot! Any more of these, I think I may fall sick. To prevent flu, I have been eating lots and lots of oranges - yum! my favourite fruit, of course!

The orange season seems to be abundant. Giant sells the South African ones at about $1.60 for about 5 to 8 nos. And you also get the Australian navel ones that are extra extra large at a dollar each.. I also bought lots and lots of red globe grapes, thomson green ones and even small tangerine mandarins from Australias that are just so sweet.. Guess these oranges really do make my day bright and cheery!