2011 has been a year of many new things for me, and most (that I can think of) are good, if not great.
The year started with my restarting my routine of running. Since I stayed near Gurney Drive, I had my own personal stretch of 'gym' (when it doesn't rain) with natural sea breeze (when the wind DOES blow. Definitely not pleasant when its low tide tho..haha!). It was quite pleasant and the running bug bite me for quite a bit. Decided to register myself for 21k run for Penang Bridge International Marathon when registration opened and stuck to a regular regime. Kinda slacked off during the rainy season but picked it back up just in time for the bridge run and successfully finish the marathon, faster than my target too :D
PBIM itself was quite an experience of a lifetime. To have the Penang CM, Mr Lim Guan Eng join the bunch of crazy runners in the ungodly hours of the morning to officiate the marathon, earned him heaps of respect from QJ and myself. Hats off, YB. Running on the empty and quiet bridge while the skies were pitch dark with a bunch of other crazy people who should otherwise be asleep at this ungodly hour, was surprisingly very motivating and rather fun! One of the best things throughout the run was...100Plus. Never did 100Plus taste so goddamned good. Aaaahhh... :P HAHA! If nothing gets in the way, I'd definitely go again next year, and I won't be running alone XD
Another one of the best things that happened in 2011 came during my birthday this year. Darling QJ came up to Penang to celebrate with me and gave me a box. Small parcel with a huge pricetag came in the form of an iPhone4. Life has never been the same ever since I got this lil baby. Did so much with it. It is my organizer, my reminder, calendar, directory, messenger, social tool, my recipe book, my notepad, my alarm clock, camera, and toy. The only thing I did not use it for is for music. For that, I have the iPod. Shall not leave that to waste :D
Even took it with me during my runs. Helps me track my pace, my route, time, etc. Nifty lil app by Nike (tho I hate their shoes). Here's a route map of the run on Penang Bridge. The route map for my hike to Kerachut beach was even more fascinating...
Spending another year away from QJ was getting too much to bear. The trips to visit each other always seem too short and time was never enough. After 2 years being apart, I finally got a job in Melaka, and came 'home' to him. Happy to say I'm so much happier now, both at work and with him. There are things I missed terribly back home in SP (parents, aunt, dog, home, stupid nieces)...but I guess it can't be helped :/ ....and definitely doesn't help that the stupid CM of this state doesn't wanna fly to Penang. Instead, he wants to fly from Melaka to Subang. What the F. Nicely done sir. Nicely done. Dear people of Melaka: wake up please? Vote properly next election...else you'll be having more inoperable monorails stranded all over the state.
Moving was a bitch. Running PBIM 10x over wouldn't have been so bad as my packing AND moving experience. Yuck. I hate moving. Gah! Saying farewell to the family was a pain too...tho it does help that I have some warm home made food to bring back and munch in the car.
2011 is also a year that I've picked up some confidence and started some cakes and cookie sales :D ....so if any of you guys wants cookies (festive or otherwise)....you know where to look! :P ..haha! Colleagues and friends were among the first of my customers...and hopefully this will open to more in the future (then I can quit my job and work from home and take leave whenever I want to...buahahaha!). Most of my family's birthday cake was also made by yours truly...hehe...great for practice, and its even cheaper than the ones outside ;P ...win win?
2011 has also been a year of many marriages, engagements, proposals and some break ups. Couldn't make it to most of my friend's weddings and none of the really close ones got married. For QJ and myself....we're still single but not available :D ....nyehehe...so please do not forget our portion of ang pau this coming CNY ya?
Come to think of it, we didn't do much travelling in 2011 (apart from Melaka-Penang travels..that doesn't exactly count!). Hopefully this will change in 2012 :D Bali, yes QJ?
All in all, 2011 has been a relatively quiet, pleasant year with occasional sparks of fireworks that leave a trail of warmth in the heart. As much as the passing of one year to the next is just a change in how I write the date, I do wish that it'll be a sweeter one, with more treasured friends and memories and hopefully for a better life lived filled with many happy moments.
Happy New Year :)
Signing off,
Kristine & QJ
p/s: I DID my annual Christmas Mall Deco thingy....haven't gotten the time to actually post everything up yet. Procrastinating, lazy, etc. Its on my FB if you wanna see ;P
