What was in 2006?

.I travelled quite much this year, mostly for work. Switzerland. Bangladesh. Bali. Phuket. Sri Lanka. Amsterdam. London. Monaco. Nice. Cannes. Rome. Portugal. Madrid. Cologne.

.First ski experience on real (black) slopes. Fell. Twisted knees. Bah!

.Arrival of my god-daughter. Kaitlyn.

.I packed up and left Singapore. To Brussels. Vilvoorde.

.I got a new job. Sales.

.I miss you so. Pei Sze. H3lly.

.I ate horse meat uurrgghh… :S

.My new house is completed.

Err, I guess, not much was done yet a lot was done. Basically, looking back, the past 9 months has been a breeze.

** Wanted to write more but I couldnt find the time… so here I post a half-done review.

Just pondering about 2006. What did I do this year? These days, I feel, the years are getting by quicker and quicker. Mmmh… Can we stop the time?

I still remember the days of my childhood, it seems to take ages to grow up, to be independent, to be free of curfew, doing as I like, going out etc… it just seems like a drag. Weeks passing by so slowly. I am forever looking forward to the weekends, lookin to my 16, 18, 21…

But now, I wish the time could slow down. I wish I can still be as carefree as before. Just about eating, going out, studying, exams, parties, chatting all night long. Though now I try my best to live life freely but its a fact and always naggin behind my mind, I need to be serious, stay healthy, work, bills to pay. Sigh.

Oh yea, I was just talking to some colleagues yesterday about few other people who took retirement. And in Belgium, when one retires, he/she continues to receive 80% of his salary from the Government till the day he/she dies. This is a good pension scheme for when we are at our 50s, very probable that the houses are paid for, kids are grown and the money is timely for life enjoyment, doing whatever we want then. Dining, travelling, volunteering etc. Then I thought to myself, when will be my turn… 25 years perhaps. Mmm, doesn’t seems so long he. Life is short! I am half way thru… yikes

Anyway, last night we decided to be carefree – went to a friend’s house, another friend joined, got good news that he is gonna be a papa, popped champagne to celebrate, ate anchovies, meatball, satay (european style), chips chips chips, played card games, 1 bottle Dominican Rum, 1 bottle Russian Vodka, 1 bottle Gin. 3 very drunk men. Till 4am! Phew, I thought I never can do this anymore.

Lucky, I woke up this morning, refreshed, no hangover and ready to take the world again It was fun, fun, fun!!!

Yippee, got a pair of tickets from eBay last evening (best buy again!), so packed our bags this morning and we’ll be counting down to the new year with my sister and some friends in London.

Happy New Year!!! I sincerely hope for all our 2007 to be filled with all the love, health, happiness that life has to offer. Kisses!

Cologne is situated on the river Rhein in North Rhine-Westphalia and is the fourth largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich with around 1,000,000 inhabitants. It is one of the oldest cities in Germany, having been founded by the Romans in A.D. 50. Today, it is one of the nation’s media, tourism and business hotspots and is renowned as the country’s gay capital.

So we went there during the long Christmas weekend. It was a smooth 2 hours drive away from Brussels in our new bus – Ford S-Max

The city’s world famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)

Another church around the corner.

In fact, I was intrigued by Cologne as I’ve heard in the past weeks that there in Cologne are the best and largest Christmas Markets. Also, as I was reading it up, then I realised that it is really where the 4711 cologne (after-shave) originated from. 4711 is my dad’s ever favourite. It is an ever familiar smell.

The 4711 house is located in central Cologne on a street called Glockengasse. Eau De Cologne originated here, and eventually became the home of the famous perfume called 4711! The brand got its name from the house, Napoleon ordered his soldiers to count the houses and this was number 4711.

In fact, I read further and the story runs longer around the original owner who sold of the company but not his name, so the next owner rebranded it with the number of the house. Bla, bla, bla. I will not bore you here. If you are interested, just google it. (I AM becoming a google freak here)

Ok, and a faraway view of ONE of the VERY famous Christmas Markets. There are just 3 of my yummy favourite things found there :
- Gluhwein (hot wine)
- Curry Wurst (German Sausage)
- To-Die-For Mushroom Stew (Fresh button mushrooms cook in wine/ cognac/ porto – still googling for the recipe)

Lastly, it is also a fantastic shopping place. Lucky us, the day of our arrival was the start of the winter sale. I got a wool pullover from Massimo Dutti for 30 bucks. Muahaha, I always love best buys