May-June '07 Update

Updates:

• Singapore housing prices have gone up drastically in line with the government's plans to increase the population by 50% within the next two years. There has been a massive rush of en-bloc sales, with properties frantically changing hands as people rush to be part of the bubble. Rents are still below the pre-SARS rate though, so people expect it to continue to climb. Housing sales have increased with a double-digit rise in the number of expats purchasing property vs YA.
  
• Been reading voraciously. Mostly non-fiction. Last fiction book read was Oscar and Lucinda, exactly 22 months after I found it on the Tube in 2005. Since it's a 'book crossing' book, I am obligated to 'release it back into the wild', but I think I'll keep it a while longer.
  
• Still very happy with work. Immensely thrilled, in fact, and quite pleased that it always seems to be getting better.
• Have re-stocked up on a year's supply of SK-II stuff and have taken full advantage of the 30% discount from the staff sale. Item-of-the-moment: Skin Rebooster - works like Repair C but better value-for-money. Doubles as an eye cream and wipe-off mask, and is pretty concentrated. SK-II is the skincare for smart people.
• Ran the Anlene Orchard Mile 10th June.
  
• Training for the corporate triathlon in November. Have been more regular with yoga. Have taken to waking up at the crack of dawn (0530) to get to the first class at gym. I am back to my highschool weight and am glad I never threw out those old pairs of jeans. I no longer fit into my tailored "work" clothes, and need to hold up my pants with a belt. The only things that fit now are my old stuff (circa 1997-1998), and the ones made of stretchy fabrics.
  
• Have made 5 bowls and a teacup in pottery class. Glazing and final firing in 3 weeks. My plans for the tagine are taking a bit longer than expected (Plate shapes are more unstable and wobbly to work with). I have found out belatedly that pottery requires immense patience, which I have little of. During my last lesson I got really pissed off while 'trimming a foot' on my teacup, which I hadn't 'secured' to the wheel properly. I had meant it to be a mug, but clay shrinks 30-40% as it dries, hence it's now repositioned as a teacup, albeit one with a "distressed" motif on the outside.
  
• Saw 'Phantom' with Marlon. Well played.
  
• Piece of the moment: still Fantaisie Impromptu (Chopin).
• Highlights of last trip to Ilocos in May was going to Vigan, Laoag, seeing the Marcos shrine, and the ostriches in Fort Ilocandia. Lots of old churches and museums. It's sad how there is more art from Filipino Masters in Madrid than in the Philippines. The way the museums (full of tarp-printed repros) in the Philippines sour grape about it is by saying that they wouldn't be able to afford the right maintenance or security. Pagudpud was a downer (Boracay is still better). Weirdest part of the trip was finding out that Chavit Singson has his own zoo (in his house), where he keeps endangered species (like chimps and tigers), hence contributing to the conservation problem. Downers: aunt died.
• N visiting for hols en-route to AU to see sister who's just given birth. Realized recently that I never got around to retrieving my old book cabinet, laptop and rice dispenser from The Albany, but everyone I know from there has moved.
  
• Lost another phone. Crap, crap, crap. Fortunately I've got my work mobile, but still need to pick up my simcard for my spare.
  
• L visiting and house-hunting as her brother's moving here to work after graduating from Wharton. Seems keen in moving into my block.