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Distracted at work

I've had so much excitement in my life lately. The new house and renovation has given me such drive to look forward to each weekend, to read up on loads and loads of information and also to comparing prices, payment plans and so on for everything related to the house.

I'm grateful for this opportunity to own a place of my own at my age. Couldn't have done it without my mother (and my father too - however small his role was, his refusal would have toppled everything).

I will blog about the joys and frustrations that I've experienced so far in this journey of mine but first, let me just share the great news that despite everything that happened, renovation HAS FINALLY started!!!

Enjoy the pictures of destruction!!

The Living Room


The Kitchen


The Common Toilet


The Master Toilet

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Posted by Ju Ann at Friday, December 25, 2009
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Christmas in Singapore...

... is truly spectacular! 

There's really the air of Christmas that goes round. Even the grouchy ones are infected with the all powerful "joy of Christmas".


Credits to Kelvin_Leong on Flickr

As Christmas draws nearer, I never think that I would ever get the Christmas cheer despite all the Christmasy songs that are playing on radios.

But really, give it awhile and I got right into the mood. Time passes really quickly for me nowadays and before I know it, it's Christmas Eve today.

And I really want to spend one day in Orchard Road absorbing the atmosphere. There are choir groups, there are the holly jolly songs playing in every shopping mall, there's the mad sales, there's the road buskers, the lights on Orchard Road, the mad crowd of people, and all of the salespeople in Singapore are now donning an element of Santa/Christmas on their uniforms!

How does anybody resist all that holiday and festive mood? :)



I found myself doing something I never thought I'll do. I wished everyday that the week will not be over so soon. Everybody I send an email out to is returning me with a Vacation Responder. Shiok. Nobody really wants to work and everybody is light-hearted.

No angry emails. No stress. *In Heaven*

Today is Thursday. I have been wishing pretty hard since Monday that time won't go by so quickly.

Tonight there's a Christmas Party @ the Boss's house to look forward to. More Christmas celebrations.

I hope you enjoy your holiday and the long weekend too! Merry Christmas one and all!

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Posted by Ju Ann at Thursday, December 24, 2009
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Finally the house is mine!

I am HAPPY to announce that the tenants have ALL moved out!!!

Hacking starts tmr!! I can't believe the day for reno to start has already arrived!!! So soon!

Waited forever for today but yet when the day has come, it felt like its kinda soon! Hahahaha

Yes I will post pics of my selected tiles tmr.

I went to the flat to spot check just now and chauvinistically announced to emptiness that this is MY HOUSE! Small but its a home, my home!

I never need to rent another place from someone else. I never need to look at the "colours" of landlords.

So happiee!! I went to the nearby Sheng Siong to check out my new playground. Haha!

I'm so glad for the holidays to come. More holidays = more time to start my frenzied, overly possessive check ups on the progress of the reno! Hahaha! EXCITED!!!

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Posted by Ju Ann at Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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Ideal House versus Vegas Interior Design

(obviously happened quite a while ago)

I've just received my letter of approval for the transaction of the flat! I'm mad happy and relieved.

I'm so close to the end now. And that also means I need to pay a deposit and confirm the interior design company that I am going with.

Within a week of attending my 1st HDB appointment, CL from Vegas Interior gave me a follow up call.

She is from one of the 2 ID companies that I shortlisted so naturally I was happy to hear from her. Points are of course given for follow ups.

I'm just back from a meeting with her. I expected myself to sign the contract with her. I suppose she expected herself to sign the contract as well.

But I didn't.

Perhaps I'll help myself make a decision better if I articulate the pros and cons of Vegas and Ideal House.

Notes:
- Charges 7% GST (freaking BIG negative point because 7% translates to 2K for me)

- Overall quote is $2,000 higher than Ideal House. That means, comparing apple to apple, Vegas's costing is $4K more expensive than Ideal House.

- People say $4k is not a lot when it comes to renovation. But ask yourself, what can 4K buy you in your new house?

- CL's EQ is damn good. I believe she is able to manage her subcon/workers efficiently. But JY is better somehow. His EQ is as good as a guy can get with other guys. He speaks hokkien well, he calls them all brother... and I've heard him conversing on the phone (with who I assume is his worker) and he seems to be able to get the job done.

- CL as a girl seems to be able to bond better with me than JY who is a guy and we all know how clueless guys are to girls! Haha!

- JY is highly recommended in forums. CL and Vegas is nowhere to be found on the internet sphere. I tried asking for opinions and no one responded.

- Based on gut feel, I think CL would take more pride in her design than JY would. But that doesn't really make that big an impact on my decision.

- JY is more easy going on the nitty gritty. If I say I want to choose a more expensive tile, JY would see if he can absorb it. CL would add on to the cost.

- I brought up the issue on kitchen worktop space for appliances. JY was more creative in his proposal to address the issue.


In the end, I chose to go with...


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JY from Ideal House. Did you guess it correctly? :)

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Posted by Ju Ann at Friday, December 11, 2009
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Day One of Independence

I am freaking busy with work right at this minute BUT, I shall take time to announce and celebrate today, the day that I am officially a new home owner. :D



I love being 25! 

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Posted by Ju Ann at Thursday, December 10, 2009
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Meeting #2 with ID

So since I have been to Vegas Interior and the cost wouldn't go lower than $26,536 nett without a change of existing windows, I went over to Ideal House to make a final decision.

I sat down there with my ID, JY, for close to 3 hours before walking away with a lighter heart. Yes! I made the decision to sign with JY.

Before I went to meet him for the second time, I was a bit worried because although Ideal House gave a very good price, and that he is highly recommend by someone in www.renotalk.com he did seem to appear kind of contractor-like without the initiative to give recommendations and alternative solutions.

All my doubts of him disappeared as he gave me a very innovative solution to the limited work space area I have in the kitchen and to see if all the appliances I have will be well-hidden to give a neat apperance to the room. I'll be sharing this with you after I see the first draft of my 3D drawing.

He was also, like how he was on the first meeting, very flexible with cost, very easy going and not calculative at all. He knew where his margains were and he didn't try to fleece me at every opportunity he got - and he did get plenty as I added on more requirements and wanted the price to go even lower. :/

The final cost for the same specs as per the one I gave to Vegas Interior Design came up to be only $24K nett.

So yup, I signed with JY, felt rotten about having to disappoint Vegas and now I look forward to choosing tiles for my house soon with JY at www.hafary.com.sg

Can't wait!

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Posted by Ju Ann at Wednesday, December 09, 2009
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My First Kiss

Do you remember your first kiss? I'm going to be honest and say I took 2 days to recall what's my first kiss like.

It definitely one that my then boyfriend and I blundered through but it's also one to be remembered fondly on. He was my first boyfriend. I think I was at the age of 15....or 16... We dated for over a year before we kissed.

The sweet thing was, it was his first kiss too.

I remember being young and reckless, thinking the world is made up of romance and secret. It was well, a mix of nervousness, pleasure, uncertainty, excitement, insecurity, eagerness, and so much more.

I don't know how he felt but the kiss lasted pretty long. Haha! And we were like two young, innocent people who love each other as much as we could at that tender age. We were together for more than 4 years before we grew up and apart.

It's nice to reflect on my youth once in awhile, don't you think？ ：）

Speaking of kisses, check out this new movie in cinemas!




Catch The Princess and the Frog in cinemas 10th December 2009

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Posted by Ju Ann at Sunday, December 06, 2009
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My Blogging Journey With Nuffnang

I've had a lot of fun with Nuffnang. The numerous little giveaways, exclusive party invites, the interaction bloggers get to enjoy at events add up to something I never dreamed blogging would bring me.


Imagine, just a mere 2 years ago, there was no such thing as a blogging community at all. Nuffnang has brought us all together. 

Before, there were a lot of people blogging with their own circle of friends reading their blogs. Because of Nuffnang, I've found a whole lot of new bunch of crazy and fun friends! Some are really fun to talk to, some share similar interests and some are just plain happening! 

I won't mention names because there are too many to name! But you know who you are and I'm very grateful to have known you. 

One of the most memorable Nuffnang event I attended was last year's X'mas party!! I won second prize in the lucky draw and it thrilled me quite a fair bit to a screen capture of my blog up on the big screen for being one of the top 10 most interesting blog posts! I am afterall, just one of the thousands in the blogosphere. It was humbling!

And above all, there are people who call themselves a Nuffnanger. Isn't that quite something for Nuffnang? :)

P.S.: What's this year's X'mas party going to be like, Nuffnang?

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Posted by Ju Ann at Wednesday, December 02, 2009
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