Unfazed Frogs in the Crane Machines

Now a duck who thinks he is a chicken

2012-02-12T14:37:00.000+08:00

Crockie who thinks he is a duck! :D

2012-02-12T14:36:00.000+08:00

Dash likes this one very much! :D Dash copied this from Chen Chih-Yuan's children book Guji Guji. Dash likes this story because it explored themes such as family and self-identity :)

Can't wait for the next class! :D
(Oh yesh, this piece is done with food colouring too. We are moving on to poster colours next week :D)

Food colourings for art!

2012-02-12T14:30:00.001+08:00

:D Based on Dash's recollection of herself when she was a kid. Dash has the exact same outfit :D

Dash had signed up for a Children Book Illustration class at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). This is a series of 8 evening classes, each 3 hrs. What Dash has learnt thus far is that one can paint with food colouring! :D So for the past two weeks, we have been using food colourings to paint, and like watercolours, the paint dry fast so speed is essential.

More art work to come!

To Hebe

2012-02-11T08:35:00.000+08:00

詞/曲: 陳珊妮編曲: 徐千秀

青春期有完結篇北極熊有沒有未來
地球若要毀滅請帶走我的優越感
悲傷都是極短篇回收了眼淚才明白
總會有一首歌唱清楚你的方向感

生命為你提的字
譜成搖滾樂的詩

我們應該更堅強的存在
我們應該阻止世界變壞
不只是科學不只是偶像崇拜
愛真相是愛

冰河期有完結篇寒武紀從王菲聽來
地球要是可以請帶走我的安全感
狂歡都是極短篇回收了酒瓶才明白
總會有一首歌唱清楚你的方向感

生命為你提的字
譜成搖滾樂的詩

我們應該更堅強的存在
我們應該阻止世界變壞
不只是科學不只是偶像崇拜
愛真相是愛

我們應該更堅強的存在
我們應該阻止世界變壞
不只是哲學不只是自己無害
愛真相是愛

我告訴我自己
我告訴我自己
我告訴我自己
愛要謙卑
To Hebe

_____________________________________
Dash is now officially in awe of this singer-musician Sandee Chen. This particular song is written by Sandee Chen for Hebe, 1/3 part of the girl band S.H.E. It is simply amazing how Sandee Chan can so effortlessly weave in philosophical musings about love, history, science and music in this song. She is awesome!

Now Dash needs to find her collection of Sandee Chan's music - where are the CDs?!

Ms Snowpea and Ms Broccoli wait for the Coriander :D

2012-02-08T21:40:00.002+08:00

Ms Mushroom and Mr Snowpea on their swings!

2012-02-08T21:34:00.005+08:00

Spotted on the placemat at a Vegetarian restaurant in Taipei :D

Some of us are a bit flakey!

2012-02-07T23:22:00.000+08:00

At times. :D

Oops, my bad!

2012-01-30T20:06:00.000+08:00

Mwahahahah, this is such a funny tee! The unapologetic look on the dinosaur just rawks! :D

(Spotted at a shop in San Francisco, 2010 Dec. That was about the same moment when Dash caught a whiff of weed being smoked along the street and wondered what that was!)

Odd pair

2012-01-29T22:24:00.000+08:00

Dash spotted this pair of drawing on a bus at Sentosa, an island connected by a short bridge to the main island of Singapore. Dash wonders what wld bring the artist to place the pair together on the bus: Yes, the island of Sentosa has some old army bunkers and canons, legacy from the WW2. But a parrot with the cannon?!

What an odd pair!

苏打绿 <简单生活>

2012-01-28T15:09:00.000+08:00

苏打绿 <简单生活>

或许天堂也常日落
或许所有拒绝现实的锣
悄悄穿透我的耳膜

收音机里的万花筒
锁不住那正要开始的梦
想要清醒又太脆弱

走过闪躲的念头
昨天的愧疚又沾了衣袖
思念放空的气球
想要挣脱虚假承诺
会感动我过一种生活

简单到没有奢侈的轻松
过一种生活在你的王国
过一种生活简单地挥霍创意轮廓
听你大声说简单生活

而我在你右手的花火
轻轻墬落
放了我世界以不同的面孔在穿梭

我过一种生活
简单到没有奢侈的轻松

过一种生活在你的王国
过一种生活简单地挥霍创意轮廓

听你大声说简单生活
简单生活简单生活简单生活
简单生活简单生活简单生活

A.S. Manhattaner's Cats

2012-01-28T14:56:00.003+08:00

One of Dash's favourite artists for his sketches of cats is A.S. Manhattaner's. Hence Dash was totally delighted to see a colleague of hers, Sally, having a thermal flask with his art on it. *Thumbs UP* :D

(Side note: Sally is one of most straight-faced yet humourous characters around in Dash's office.

Side-side note: Inspired by Sally one morning while both of us were walking to a meeting room, Dash came up with a riddle. Here it is:
Q: Which nut is the most pretty?
A: Pistachio ("Chio" is a Singapore vernacular slang for "pretty" :))
Of course, unsurprisingly, both of us were then making our way to a meeting room labelled Pistacho :))

Otto the Bat

2012-01-27T22:01:00.003+08:00

Otto the Bat was hanging from the souvenir shop at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo while crowd-watching the Sunday throng of visitors. In a swift of a moment, Ilya spotted Otto and Dash pounced on the opportunity to add Otto to the travelling entourage.

In their enthusiasm to welcome Otto, Fox, Crockie and Badger had wanted to offer him some chow. But the trio had just earlier finished a packet of green tea-cereal flavoured chocolate and could find no other chow in their bags to offer to the new addition to the merry band.

It was a good thing that bats are nocturnal creatures who prefer to take naps in the daytime. Later that evening, Otto found himself chomping on a soy sauce-flavoured senbei cracker as a welcome gift from the trio.

The next day while waiting for Ilya to check his emails at a Tully's cafe near the hotel, Dash decided that she should make a couple of sketches of Otto while sipping on her cappucino. And after a sketch or two, Dash decided that the above style works best to capture the free-spirited character of Otto.

(Yes, if you are wondering, together with Annoyed-Looking Octopus, Fox, Badger and Crockie, Otto was also unceremoniously vacuum-cleaned by the new house cleaner about two weeks ago. Ehm. =_= Dash is still trying to assess the psychological damage on their psyche. The only creature that seemed fine with being vacuumed was the 2 foot Totoro in the house.)

Annoyed-Looking Octopus Glares

2012-01-27T21:22:00.002+08:00

This was what Dash saw from her perspective while lying down on the couch in the living room :D Don't you just love the unwavering and unperturbed glare of Annoyed-Looking Octopus?!

(Just the other day, Dash saw the new cleaning lady cleaned Annoyed-Looking Octopus with a vacuum cleaner! O_o *G A S P* It must have been insufferable an experience for him!)

Cuppa and Crunch :D

2012-01-27T20:08:00.000+08:00

Above is a Cappucino from 40 Hands and Almond Cookies from Drips Cafe.

This picture was taken last June/July in Tiong Bahru when Dash and Ilya followed the food trail of the Galloping Geographer on Sunday afternoon. We had coffee at 40 Hands and brought along a stash of almond cookies from Drips cafe which is just a few streets from 40 Hands.

Good things don't always last - at least we were there to experience 40 Hands' coffee at its best then. Now that the barista who never ceases to make an excellent cuppa has left 40 Hands, the standard of the coffee there did take a dip for the worse. Either that or there is a change in the types of beans used. Oh well.

The good thing that has lasted - at least till now - is that the quality of the almond cookies and pastries at Drips :D No wonder the cafe is now the Galloping Geographer's second home :)

Robot #18 in his quest for knowledge

2012-01-15T15:21:00.004+08:00

This was a design Dash did for a stained glass class in 2008.

However, the instructor pointed out that there would be waaaaay too many lines to cut on the glass, and Dash replaced that with the Penguin in a swirl of colours. Now that penguin resides somewhere in the office of the Gallivanting Geographer : )

Ready? Get set and fly! :D

2011-12-13T21:43:00.000+08:00

Galloping Geogapher in BKK!

2011-12-12T22:32:00.000+08:00

Angry Bird in Blue

2011-12-11T19:35:00.001+08:00

This is an old painting from last year. It suddenly occured to Dash that the bird on the right looks just a wee bit like the red one from Angry Birds. Eh, this was not intentional. In fact, Dash subsequently coloured blue the thick brows of the bird on the right to make him look more amicable : ) Afterall, there are enough Angry Birds out there already.

Soysh! :D

2011-12-11T08:41:00.000+08:00

During Dash's trip to New York in June 2011, she made a transit at Narita airport, Tokyo. One of her best finds at the airport is this drink called Soysh, a mixture of soy milk and sparkling water. An absolutely refreshing experience. Lovely! :D

Of course all three furry friends were clamouring for a quick tapok experience over the onigiri even as the camera rolls :)

无与伦比的美丽

2011-12-10T20:09:00.002+08:00

无与伦比的美丽
演唱：苏打绿

天上风筝在天上飞
地上人儿在地上追
你若担心你不能飞
你有我的蝴蝶

天上风筝在天上飞
地上人儿在地上追
我若担心我不能飞
我有你的草原

你形容我是这个世界上
无与伦比的美丽

我知道你才是这世界上
无与伦比的美丽
天上风筝在天上飞
地上人儿在地上追
你若担心你不能飞
你有我的蝴蝶

你形容我是这个世界上
无与伦比的美丽
我知道你才是这世界上
无与伦比的美丽

你知道当你需要个夏天
我会拼了命努力
我知道你会做我的掩护
当我是个逃兵

你形容我是这个世界上
无与伦比的美丽
我知道你才是这世界上
无与伦比的美丽

天上风筝在天上飞
地上人儿在地上追
你若担心你不能飞
你有我的蝴蝶

我若担心我不能飞
我有你的草原

______
Dash likes the piano piece that accompanies this song. Now maybe Dash should get to learning a musical instrument. Piano sounds like a good choice :) And there is a shop near Dash's workplace that offers lunchtime music lessons! Set, one task for 2012, coming up! :D Wish me luck, or least my fingers luck in finding the right keys :D

Uh huh, garlic naans will hit the right spot :D

2011-12-10T20:08:00.000+08:00

ONOMNOMNOM! :D

Art and Coffee @ Loysel's Toy

2011-12-04T21:42:00.000+08:00

Dash thinks that Jason's touch of the grey shadows made the sketches more life-like : ) Loysel's Toy has good coffee too, just that location-wise, it is quite off the beaten track. And for the vehicular-challenged crowd (including Dash, Ilya and Jason), we would not be able to go there as regularly as we would like.

If only the weather is less hot and humid, a walk by the Kallang river just next to Loysel's Toy would add much to the finish of the coffee experience : )

Coffee@Forty Hands

2011-12-04T21:36:00.000+08:00

With Jason the Tiong-Bahruvian offering to give Ilya and Dash a walking tour around his area, we of course jumped at the opportunity to have a cuppa at Forty Hands to fuel our explorations :) This is Dash's fifth cuppa @ Forty Hands, and it appears that the beans and barrista's quality control can be variable. However, every cuppa thus far is still better than the norm when compared with the other cafes in Tiong Bahru.

(Then it poured, Heavily. =_= So the explorations were postponed to another weekend. Oh well, 2012 then! :))

那些年，我們一起追的女孩

2011-12-03T00:02:00.000+08:00

【那些年，我們一起追的女孩】電影主題曲《那些年》
演唱：胡夏／作曲：木村充利／作詞：九把刀

又回到最初的起點
記憶中妳青澀的臉
我們終於來到了這一天
桌墊下的老照片
無數回憶連結
今天男孩要赴女孩最後的約

又回到最初的起點
呆呆地站在鏡子前
笨拙繫上紅色領帶的結
將頭髮梳成大人模樣
穿上一身帥氣西裝
等會兒見妳一定比想像美

好想再回到那些年的時光
回到教室座位前後　故意討妳溫柔的罵
黑板上排列組合　妳捨得解開嗎
誰與誰坐他又愛著她

那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想擁抱妳　擁抱錯過的勇氣
曾經想征服全世界
到最後回首才發現
這世界滴滴點點全部都是妳

那些年錯過的大雨
那些年錯過的愛情
好想告訴妳　告訴妳我沒有忘記
那天晚上滿天星星
平行時空下的約定
再一次相遇我會緊緊抱著妳
緊緊抱著妳

2011-11-21T22:28:00.002+08:00

Finally some rest and reprieve from the hustle and bustle tsunami of work :D Now Dash needs to play second fiddle for a couple more events and then she is done for the awesome work year for 2011! :D Woooooooohoooooo! *in the style of the angry birds whizzing through the air* ^_^

Tweetering with LOVE!

2011-11-21T22:02:00.003+08:00

It is strange how much Dash still enjoys the company of Ilya! :D Anytime, anywhere and anyhow! It just keeps getting better! :D

Moomin family is good for you!

2011-11-21T21:37:00.002+08:00

Full of calcium and all goodness! :D

Love in Bytes

2011-11-21T00:36:00.000+08:00

(Robot sketch that Dash spotted in Taipei earlier this year : )

浪花一朵朵

2011-11-20T17:40:00.002+08:00

我要你陪著我　看著那海龜水中游
慢慢的爬在沙灘上　數著浪花一朵朵
你不要害怕　你不會寂寞
我會一直陪在你的左右　讓你樂悠悠

日子一天一天過　我們會慢慢長大
我不管你懂不懂我在唱什麼
我知道有一天　你　一定會愛上我
因為我覺得我真的很不錯

時光匆匆匆匆流走　也也也不回頭
美女變成老太婆
哎喲　那那那那個時候　我我我我也也
已經是個糟老頭
啦啦~ 我們一起手牽手
啦啦~ 數著浪花一朵朵

(Suddenly a holiday at the beach sounds exactly what I need - with lots of sunblock, a mega wide-brim hat and preferably with a mojito! ^_^)

Take a deep breath!

2011-09-25T12:28:00.002+08:00

And at least have fun whilst there! ><

《童年》罗大佑

2011-09-24T23:56:00.002+08:00

《童年》罗大佑

池塘边的榕树上,
知了在声声叫着夏天
草丛边的秋千上,
只有蝴蝶停在上面

黑板上老师的粉笔还在拼命叽叽喳喳写个不停
等待着下课等待着放学等待游戏的童年

福利社里面什么都有
就是口袋里没有半毛钱
诸葛四郎和魔鬼党到底谁抢到那支宝剑
隔壁班的那个女孩怎么还没经过我的窗前
嘴里的历史手里的漫画心里初恋的童年

总是要等到睡觉前才知道功课只做了一点点
总是要等到考试后才知道该念的书都没有念

一寸光阴一寸金
老师说过寸金难买寸光阴
一天又一天一年又一年
迷迷糊糊的童年

没有人知道为什么太阳总下到山的那一边
没有人能够告诉我山里面有没有住着神仙
多少平日记忆总是一个人面对着天空发呆
就这么好奇就这么幻想这么孤单的童年

阳光下蜻蜓飞过来
一片片绿油油的稻田
水彩蜡笔和万花筒画不出天边那一条彩虹
什么时候才能像高年级的同学有张成熟与长大的脸
盼望着假期盼望着明天盼望长大的童年
一天又一天一年又一年
盼望长大的童年

Crockie stowaways in Ilya's luggage to Kyoto in June 2011

2011-09-11T22:28:00.003+08:00

Crockie spotted a quiet opportunity when Ilya was half-packed for his trip, and climbed into the bag :D

And then the burrowing began... :D

And with a fwip of his tail, Crockie was snug and secure, ready for his adventure!

(For those wondering where Fox and Badger were, they were rooting for Crockie from the bookshelves and keeping a lookout to make sure the coast was clear :D)

Fwipping Out!

2011-09-11T22:27:00.001+08:00

Dash can totally relate to Earl! :D

Annoyed-Looking Octopus learns from Maru the Cat ...

2011-09-11T11:23:00.002+08:00

A box can be one's best friend! :D Providing the much needed solitary space from others. Or at least till, as Ilya astutely pointed out, the biscuits run out and the box had to be discarded :D

The Galloping Geographer as Tiger for his Annual Geographers' Dinner and Dance!

2011-09-11T10:54:00.002+08:00

Not bad for Dash's second attempt at face painting eh? :D And he won the Best Dressed Award for that night! :D Dash thinks that this makes her an award-winning artist now Hurhurhurh! :D

Hattie the Hen

2011-09-10T19:07:00.000+08:00

This post is a tribute to the story that Jason shared with me about his pet chickens

The furry trio snuggling themselves in-between Ilya and his iphone

2011-09-10T18:37:00.002+08:00

红头巾

2011-09-05T22:20:00.003+08:00

红头巾
新加坡《红头巾》主题曲
演唱：陈淑桦

轻轻的一声祝福
秋风送我上征途
回首前尘望断天涯
故乡在那云深不知处
朝朝暮暮风和雨
岁岁年年云和雾

背负千斤担
艰难开脚步
踏遍世间不平路

把那漂泊的步伐
停在荒凉的大路边
抹去泪水建我家园
你看茫茫沧海变桑田
披荆斩棘齐向前
一起等待艳阳天

两鬓添风霜
回头已百年
赢得广厦千万间

两鬓添风霜
回头已百年
赢得广厦千万间

______________
This is an 80s television serial made in Singapore and screened in a time when such productions were well-made with strong story plots and character development.

Even the songs are so elegantly and poetically written - Just take the last three lines of the song which describes the passage of time as how one's sideburns were observed to be now weathered; and how on looking back, it has been a hundred years and that the hardwork of our ancestors won our nation thousands of tall buildings. Now, how is this for National Education (or what the Americans would call citizenship education : )!

Longboard Girls Crew!

2011-08-26T20:51:00.002+08:00

They are simply inspirational! :D

"Go Outside" by Cults

2011-08-26T20:37:00.004+08:00

I really want to go out
I really want to go outside and stop to see your day
You really want to hole up
You really want to stay inside and sleep the light away

I really want to go out
I really want to go outside and make it light all day
You really want to hole up
You really want to stay inside and not care where you lay

Well I know what's good
Exactly cause I have been there before
Yeah I know what's good
Exactly those things night cannot behold

I really want to go out
I really want to go outside and stop to see your day
You really want to hole up
You really want to stay inside and sleep the light away

I think it's good to go out
Cause if you don't you'll never make a memory that will stay
I think that you should wake up
I think I want to live my life and you're just in my way

Interwebs are for cats II

2011-08-26T18:19:00.003+08:00

"Maru never fails me!" has been my slogan for the past few months.

(Picture from Maru's website)

A Most Colourful Tale of Why Pandas are Black and White :D

2011-08-20T21:53:00.001+08:00

TIJI "COLOUR" HD from AKAMA on Vimeo.

Interwebs are for cats!

2011-08-20T17:28:00.001+08:00

Tom checks out Maru the Cat : )

(Picture courtesy of Maddie : )

Holed up in the Library

2011-08-20T17:20:00.002+08:00

Badger urges for silence in the NY Library : ) And expects the Ghost Busters to walk in any time -- but alas none came. Not even Slimer. Bleah.

All three holed up in a quiet corner of the library.

Imaginary conversation:

Fox: Psst, you guys alright?
Crockie: Whoa, this place is quite a drop from the floor! ... *continues to check out the height*
Badger: Eeks, stop that, Crockie! You are making my head spin!

苏打绿 <簡單生活>

2011-08-18T21:15:00.002+08:00

"走过闪躲的念头

昨天的愧疚又沾了衣袖
思念放空的气球
想要挣脱虚假承诺
会感动我过一种生活"

- 苏打绿 <簡單生活>

Translation:
"As we walk by the thoughts that dodge us,
The guilt of yesterday stains our sleeves.
These runaway thoughts that deflate the balloon
and attempt to escape from the false promises
Will drive me to lead a particular type of life

- Sodagreen "A Simple Life"

Oatmeal Stout @ NY's Heartland Brewery!

2011-08-18T20:47:00.002+08:00

A most agreeable drink, as Bertie would say : ) Even Lego Wolfman says yesh! :D

This is a housebrew by the microbrewery pub. Dash only remembered the strong aftertaste of coffee and nuts in this mug : ) Pub is near the Strand Bookstore and Union Square Station, a much geographically-challenged Dash would venture a guess.

Upon Dash's return to Singapore, she got the Lego gnome (from the same Lego Series 4 - and OMG, Series 5 has a most adorable Legoman in a Giant Lizard Suit :D)! :D Since Dash's housemate does not think the house has adequate room for a set of garden-sized worthy gnomes, this is Dash's next best alternative : )

And of course, Dash also got the Lego Vampire -- much inspired by Otto von Chriek from Prachett's "The Truth", a character whom Dash found much endearing especially his zest for perfection in his art (photography) and his courage :D

Temporarily grounded

2011-08-18T20:31:00.000+08:00

Like these most adorable eagles Dash found in a souvenir store in NY Central Park.

Pwaaf!

Yet if one's main goal of the day is to jump into adventures with the Ankh-Morpork City Watch; or to meander through bumbling afternoons and teas with Bertie and Jeeves, these days are as good as they come : )

(And Dash needs to find a way out of this sleep pattern where she wakes up suddenly to thoughts of unfinished work in the office! Eeks!)

When an avid coffee lover pours coffee down the sink, ...

2011-08-07T13:04:00.002+08:00

You know it must be *extremely* bad coffee.
UCC Clear.
Ewwww! >:(

Early morning bird with bed head (or feathers) :D

2011-07-24T15:48:00.000+08:00

(Picture grabbed from Gab's facebook picture album : )

Dash's first Pastel Art piece!

2011-07-24T14:20:00.002+08:00

Thanks to Jason (soon-to-be the friendly, witty, too-cute-to-true Starbucks barista about 200 paces away from Dash's home) who alerted Dash to the Bearfruit Academy classes at the National Library, Dash seized the opportunity to learn from Mr Siew Hock Meng, a most accomplished art master in Singapore.

Before the hectic work week begins, Dash has to record her key learning lessons from Mr Siew on pastel art:

To draw efficiently:
1. Get the larger items right first, then look into the smaller details. Yesh, this sounds about right even for the other important things in life. Spending some time to get the larger stuff in place can help make the smaller details a smoother ride : ) Of course, the other key is *not* to skim over the details of the smaller items when the time comes - Details matter too! And often, the details are what brings the other parts to life and is probably the most fun (and gratifying) part of the experience : )

2. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. Pastel is a forgiving medium - one can always try again if the earlier attempts didn't work as well as one wanted. So get started! And preferably in bold and generous strokes! :D

3. Hold your pastel sticks firmly with three fingers (and so, Dash's intuitive two-finger grip of the pastel stick lends strength but without the energy needed). And with the right grip, draw with the necessary energy : )

Interesting, what struck Dash most is Mr Siew's sharing that in these times and today, what is perceived to be good pastel art is not about capturing life-likeness - that can be done with photographs. If Dash understood Mr Siew rightly, good art today is about capturing the art of the moment for the objects/people being drawn: By art, he means that the art piece needs to look hand-drawn. By moment, he seems to refer to the perspective of life that the artist wants to bring across to the audience - from the artist's state of mind, philosophy and attitude to life.

If Dash interpreted Mr Siew's sharing rightly, then the latter depends much on the artist's constant cultivation of his/her character and honest and continuous reflections and dialogues about the world and his/her interaction with it; and then capturing all these in art. A most difficult enterprise, Dash must say.

(All of a sudden, getting a PhD in Mathematics seems a much easier feat! At least one knows when one got the answers right!)

Further Hideouts of the Annoyed-Looking Octopus

2011-07-24T14:08:00.002+08:00

One morning, just as Dash was getting ready for work, she discovered that the awesomely-sized Totoro in the living room now had red hair! O_o

...

A closer examination of the red hair yielded the astonished yet still Annoyed-Looking Octopus! Of course, Dash slowly backed off and continued her way to work - afterall, Totoro seemed none too disturbed by his new hairdo :D In fact, Totoro appeared to be suitably happy about his new rain cover - no more need for umbrella! :D

Shark-ed!

2011-07-13T23:07:00.002+08:00

Dash found two shark costumers posing sweetly with children for photographs in the mall. And thought, "They must feel keenly estranged from their nature!" And it must be true - for when Dash asked them to pose as if they were going to bite my head off, the duo immediately sprang into action!

Ahah! :D Dash hoped she had made their day :D

Awed by Jane Goodall! :D

2011-07-13T22:48:00.001+08:00

:D Dash is so glad that she got back in time from NY to meet with Dr Goodall! :D And of course, I really should have asked her then what the little monkey she had in her arms was called!

Dash and the trio at New York Public Library :D

2011-06-24T20:33:00.003+08:00

Furry trio at the NY Public Library, Jun 2011 ^_^

And Badger finds his future at the NY Public Library :D Woohoo! :D

Keep the Curiosity and Wonder

2011-06-13T22:39:00.002+08:00

as we row ahead! :D
Because it is all we have even in face of uncharted waters! ^_^

Come on, let's go! :D Erm, row I mean :D

Happy 3rd Anniversary! :D

2011-06-08T23:31:00.002+08:00

這世界全部的漂亮

不過你的可愛模樣

你讓我舉手投降

跨出了城牆長出了翅膀

Singapore floods again!

2011-06-05T22:18:00.002+08:00

(Picture courtesy of Temasek Review on Facebook)

Yesh, it poured again in Singapore. And yesh, there were floods at multiple locations. From the looks of the weather patterns, Dash *must* learn how to swim, or at least tread water.

BTW, Godzilla evidently looked like he was happy with the water play! :)

Stowaways Alert! :D

2011-06-01T19:39:00.003+08:00

Sally & Perry (stowaways from San Diego) reporting from cottage window in Enskede, Sweden : )

(Picture and caption, courtesy of Maddie : )

咖啡乌

2011-05-24T23:45:00.001+08:00

在這個你我熟悉的地方　有著你我喜歡吃的早餐
咖啡店的老板　他們的笑容都是一個模樣
在這個你我熟悉的地方　有著你我熟悉的臉龐
它彷彿就是一個情感的聯絡站

喝一杯濃濃的咖啡　談一談自己的方向　
三兩個朋友都來喝一杯　無形中又把距離給縮短
道路上車輛橫衝又直闖　十字路口誰都在徬徨　
你看不清你自己　也算是平常

Kopi O　Kopi O　喝一杯濃濃的Kopi O
Kopi O　Kopi O　把不愉快的事情都遺忘

在這個你我生活的地方　有著我們共同的理想
讓腳步匆匆又忙忙　一齊把明天開創

张震嶽 <思念是一種病>

2011-04-24T22:51:00.002+08:00

当你在穿山越岭的另一边　我在孤独的路上没有尽头

一辈子有多少的来不及　发现已经失去最重要的东西
恍然大悟早已远去　为何总是在犯错之后　才肯相信错的是自己
他们说这就是人生　试着体会
试着忍住眼泪　还是躲不开应该有的情绪
我不会奢求世界停止转动　我知道逃避一点都没有用
只是这段时间里　尤其在夜里　还是会想起难忘的事情
我想我的思念是一种病　久久不能痊愈

＊当你在穿山越岭的另一边　我在孤独的路上没有尽头
　时常感觉你在耳后的呼吸　却未曾感觉你在心口的鼻息
　(Oh 思念是一种病 Oh 思念是一种病　一种病)

汲汲营营忘记身边的人需要爱和关心　藉口总是拉远了距离
不知不觉无声无息　我们总是在抱怨事与愿违　却不愿意回头看看自己
想想自己　到底做了什么蠢事情　也许是上帝给我一个试炼
只是这伤口需要花点时间　只是会想念过去的一切
那些人事物会离我远去　而我们终究也会远离变成回忆

Repeat ＊

多久没有说我爱你　多久没有拥抱你所爱的人
当这个世界　不再那么美好　只有爱可以让他更好
我相信　一切都来得及　别管那些纷纷扰扰
别让不开心的事　停下了脚步　就怕你不说　就怕你不做
别让遗憾继续　一切都来得及

What Dash saw on her chair one Sat morn : )

2011-04-20T00:01:00.004+08:00

^_^ Hurhurhurh!

Windy Day in Melbourne : )

2011-04-19T23:59:00.000+08:00

^_^

Dash's 1st Instagram Photo! :D

2011-04-19T23:51:00.002+08:00

Yesh, Dash is now on iphone! :D Woohoo!
(BTW, Dash thought it amusing that the chilli flake shaker has a nuclear symbol on it : )

What-ever! :D

2011-04-15T22:33:00.003+08:00

有谁期待　谁对自己抱歉
谁在乎　幻觉就算变成错觉
也算是体验过一遍
谁离开　谁陪在我身边
谁在乎　信念万一变成残念
我还是破的Ｔ恤同样一件

Come on! Let's GO! ^_^

2011-04-11T22:18:00.001+08:00

Now, iMovie is actually fun and easy to use! : ) When they say the learning is done on the job, they are darn right. Since taking on this new portfolio, Dash is now rather proficient in:

iMovie,
Microsoft Publisher, and
Doing conversion of .MOV and .AVI files.

Not to say that Dash has tried her hand at stop-motion animation and a couple of RSA animation-style works : ) Now, this is *really* exciting! :D

A pattern Dash made using Paint in 2006

2011-03-19T20:57:00.003+08:00

A rare and choice discovery made while going through old files : ) This was when Dash first found out that Paint was a computer programme that could be used for drawing Hurhurhurh! And then at that time, not knowing how to adjust size of canvas, she used whatever was the standard that came with the installed programme : )

Dash likes this patterned green design : )

Maru plays on even in face of earthquake!

2011-03-17T20:34:00.002+08:00

Now, Dash admires that even-keel spirit towards playing - come what may, Maru needs his quota of play! Life goes on!

Dash loves stroopwafels! :D

2011-03-17T20:30:00.002+08:00

NOM NOM NOM! :D

All packed and tucked snugly!

2011-03-13T22:27:00.002+08:00

Dash's design for the Invitation Card for Andrea's Birthday Party!

2011-03-12T20:05:00.003+08:00

When Rabbit One asked Dash to design a birthday party invitation card for her daughter Andrea, Dash leaped at the opportunity to do it :D Hey, it's fun and it will be a meaningful way to spend a few hours during this weekend : ) And so here it is, above! : )

Rabbit One and Andrea were very happy with the card design - WOOTS! :D

Now to get back to the design for Gab's story : )

Hoity Poity Duck at Hollywood Walk : )

2011-03-07T22:24:00.002+08:00

Check out the heels and the plumped up lips/beak : )

蔡淳佳 <陪我看日出 >

2011-03-07T22:18:00.002+08:00

雨的气息是回家的小路

路上有我追着你的脚步

脚下边保存着昨天的温度

你抱着我就像温暖的大树

雨下了走好路

这句话我记住

风再大吹不走祝福

雨过了就有路

像那年看日出

你牵着我穿过了雾

叫我看希望就在黑夜的尽处

哭过的眼看岁月更清楚

想一个人闪着泪光是一种幸福

又回到我离开家的小步

你送着我满天燕子都在飞舞

雨下了走好路

这句话我记住

风再大吹不走祝福

雨过了就有路

像那年看日出

你牵着我穿过了雾

叫我看希望就在黑夜的尽处

蔡淳佳

陪我看日出

雨下了走好路

这句话我记住

风再大吹不走祝福

雨过了就有路

像那年看日出

你牵着我穿过了雾

叫我看希望就在黑夜的尽处

虽然一个人

我并不孤独

在心中你陪我看每一个日出

When the furry trio take the pilot seat, it is time to put on the parachute! : )

2011-03-06T10:39:00.002+08:00

On our side trip to San Francisco last Dec, the happy pilot on Virgin Airline conducted a tour of the pilot cockpit while we were waiting to be disembarked. Of course the furry trio wld never miss a chance for new experiences : )

Below is a picture of them seated in the pilot seat, all huddled together of course, in case they lose each other while exploring the switches and controls : )

And they ask Dash to lift them up to take a closer look at the buttons and switches overhead - WOOOAH! :D

Yep, as David Letterman wld put it, "There is no off position for genius switch." : )

Mr Toucan is enthralled by the crowd at the zoo : )

2011-03-06T10:19:00.002+08:00

"Will someone be feeding me soon?"

Annoyed-Looking Octopus tries the Sock Drawer again!

2011-03-05T23:48:00.001+08:00

Foiled! AGAIN!

Cuppa Tea that Ilya got for Dash : )

2011-03-02T20:38:00.003+08:00

^_^

Three Things Dash Learnt in the Past Week

1. That the elbow can be used for hitting light switches, holding the door open etc. BUT elbows are no good when the light switches are in dial form. Nope, elbows cannot turn dials well : (

2. That when one is happy, one can instinctively start talking to birds that land on the pavement and grass patches : ) Even if it is a short conversation while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green.

3. That it is really difficult to try to hide Annoyed-Looking Octopus in the work bag of Dash's significant other. Maybe it will be seventh time lucky the next time! -_-

Adding some green Christmas glow : )

2011-02-28T22:45:00.000+08:00

^_^

Bacon Cheesecake urh? Hrmmm

2011-02-27T10:47:00.002+08:00

Sighted at Lestat Cafe in SD, Dec 2010
Hrmmm. A savoury cheesecake? Dash thinks the bacon business has gone too far!

Annoyed-Looking Octopus does a Maru!

2011-02-27T10:25:00.002+08:00

Evidently, Annoyed-Looking Octopus has watched one too many videos and photos from Maru the Cat's blog! O_O

Now Annoyed-Looking Octopus is into boxes too! This particular one is a box in which Ilya's new watch arrived by post : ) Dash likes his new watch - maybe Dash will try to get Annoyed-Looking Octopus to make an attempt to snitch that for a photo : )

Whirl whirl and ZEEeeee-ERH!

2011-02-27T09:47:00.002+08:00

^_^
Now, how does one spell the whirling and twirling sounds that a mixer makes? :D Dash gave the mixer more cheery colours than its usual white : )

(Based on a picture of a mixer print Dash spotted in a shop in San Francisco, Dec 2010)

Frog on Log : )

2011-02-26T22:10:00.002+08:00

Here is one frog on log - done using a new medium, watercolour pencils : ) Yep, the set that Dmitry, Cindy and Luna gave Dash for Christmas last year : )

Ilya thinks that the frog looks stoned : ) Dash herself thinks that if one focused on the left side of the frog's smile, the green fellow seemed mellow : ) However, if one focussed on the right side of the frog's smile, the green fellow would then seem miffed : )

Graphic Story of One PSD! :D

2011-02-26T21:54:00.004+08:00

This graphic story was for Dash's company's internal newsletter : ) And of course, Dash is *extremely* proud of herself for learning on her own how to use Microsoft Publisher to do the layout for the newsletter! WOOTS!

The penguin at the bottom left was a colleague's craftswork - doesn't it look set to climb the mountains of challenges?! :D RAAWWR! :D

A very pecan observation!

2011-02-24T23:03:00.000+08:00

Indeed : )

A Fluffy Pocket-ful of Cheer

2011-02-20T16:25:00.001+08:00

After a week being trampled on by a horrid cold bug, Dash is finally back on the mend! :D Woohoo! Strange how when one is older, one takes correspondingly longer time to bounce back in the pink - An icky fact of life. Ah well.

But hey, now that Dash is back (with a megasaur pile of papers to write and emails to reply on a Sunday), even a sunny day like today here in Singapore seems fabulous! :D

What did Dash learnt during the past 7 days of under-the-weather:

1. The good old remedy of gargling regularly with salt water *really* alleviates the pain of a bad sore throat! Or at least because one is intently focussing on becoming a water fountain that one momentarily forgets about the grating pain at the back of the mouth.

2. And of course, if you have a spouse who is constantly bemused by your live rendition of a gurgling water fountain, you *must* stay on the act and not burst out laughing while gargling salt water - for salt water in the nasal passageway can be a rather ... no, cross that, make it an *extremely* salty experience.

3. When both spouses have been downtrodden by a cold bug, even the game of tickling takes too much effort. Better to wait till at least one spouse has adequate energy to give chase to the escaping other.

4. Headaches are a bane of life! ROAR! D: It makes one grumpy and less than delightful company. The only place for Dash with a megasaur headache is at home. Specifically on the couch watching some comedy on youtube such as Blackadder.

5. Rowan Atkinson is so much better an actor when he gets to speak! Blackadder I and Blackadder's Christmas Carol are simply a hoot - definitely cheers up one's downtrodden spirit when one is ill.

Frog hitching a ride from a snake

2011-02-20T14:48:00.002+08:00

Inspired by a true-wildlife event during the 2011 Queensland flood

But wait! Is the frog hitching a ride to safety or is the frog just a pre-packed lunch for the snake making its waves/way across the flood waters?! O_o

(Drawn using the Wacom :D Thanks Maddie and Jerry!)

Dash the Crafts Gnome! :D

2011-02-18T22:48:00.003+08:00

Check out the art piece that Dash conceptualised for her cluster - this visual 3-D is now part of the gallery display at her workplace : )

Below is the view of the art piece as visitor approach it from one side : )

and below is the view of the same art piece when the visitor approaches it from the other end : )

Cool eh?! :D

All those hours of poring through arts books when I was a kid - I know the ideas would come to some use! :D

Bring on the red, orange(s) and more colourful bits of life in the new year ahead! :D

2011-02-03T08:20:00.001+08:00

It's the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year! And yes, since the red pandas are red, Dash has taken the liberty to include them in this post for well wishes to everyone! Woots! :D

To paraphrase a greeting from Star Trek - Live well and huat* arh! :D

*huat means be prosperous. See how syllabus-saving the Chinese/Hokkien language can be? Hohohohoho!

(Picture taken from ZooBorns site : )

Spring Cleaning! :D

2011-01-23T22:05:00.002+08:00

Spring cleaning 101: What Dash learnt today

1. If you have not had a use for the item in the past 1-2 years, junk it.
2. If you find one of the earliest notes/sketch you did for your significant other half eons ago well-nested in a box, smile, dust the box, and leave it there : )
3. Spring cleaning can be back-breaking work. So take regular breaks, make a tea, put your legs up and play on your nintendo ds! : )

Now, our house is spotless!
(Okay, where is Jeremy when we can now host a party in our house?! D: )

Maru the Cat again : )

2011-01-23T10:10:00.003+08:00

Alright, who can resist this Maru as he rummages through the wrapping paper : )

Hello Stranger : )

2011-01-22T22:30:00.002+08:00

Dash thoroughly enjoyed this Thai romantic-comedy movie! : ) Dash was guffawing so loudly most of the time in the movie that the Galloping Geographer and Ilya had to remind her to pipe down several times ^^

The one too many coincidences in the movie made the story seem too much of a fairytale/fiction, yet the timing in delivery of the comic lines and the expressions of the actor and actress very much hit the right notes for Dash : ) And the music works for Dash too - not that she understands thai : )

Yesh, Dash would so watch it a second time!

Ollie the Owl is watching. Always.

2011-01-16T01:31:00.002+08:00

This is Ollie the Owl. He belongs to the Galloping Geographer. Ollie the Owl is always watching. He only fears the niece of Galloping Geographer. The she-who-always-giggles-when-the-word/name-Ollie-is-mentioned.

Hrm. Dash kinda likes Ollie the Owl, and thinks that he should be a character in a book. : )

Unusually fabulous weather in Singapore!

2011-01-13T21:39:00.004+08:00

The weather in Singapore for the past one week has been superb - the balmy morning breezes, the gentle afternoon showers of raindrops and the placid evening air. Even the usual high humidity in the air seems to be in the doldrums. If only this can be permanently our weather here! : )

Dash's drawings for the ISO certification booklet : )

2011-01-13T21:35:00.003+08:00

Yeah, Dash's illustrations are now printed at her workplace's ISO certification booklet ^_^ Woohoo!

Little Red Bird with a Pope Hat : )

2010-12-29T12:14:00.001+08:00

Dash hopes little red bird will get his tweet back!

The Adventures of Fox, Badger and Crockie for Xmas 2010

2010-12-29T12:01:00.002+08:00

En route to meeting with Crockie in San Diego, Fox and Badger found the most tasty root beer float in SFO airport.

Here is a peek-ture of them with half-a-cup of the float :D NOM NOM NOM!

...

AND when the trio met, Crockie showed Badger and Fox the Swedish words he had learnt :D

Yeah, swedish is cool! :D

Tom meditates on the possibility of blending in with the carpet?

2010-12-15T01:05:00.005+08:00

^_^ Alright, see you Tom soon! : ) Very soon! :D

(Picture by Maddie : )

"Where's Crockie?!"

2010-12-14T21:37:00.002+08:00

Fox and Badger wonders : )

Naga and Lynette wed - Congratulations! :D

2010-12-14T21:32:00.001+08:00

^_^ Ahhhhh! Lovely! :D

Not just one, but THREE Hello Kitty on a keychain?!

2010-12-14T21:18:00.005+08:00

The Galloping Geographer must be mad. Can't believe he has THREE Hello Kitty on his keychain. And blue ones to boot!

More of the tower of fluffiness

2010-12-11T09:39:00.000+08:00

A sketch of Crockie, Fox and Badger all stacked up, Singaporean tau-pok style, on Dash's netbook : ) Dash made this sketch based on a photo that Ilya sent to her just before her flight to Bangkok last month. Under 5 min was the sketch done at the airport lounge : ) Yeah, Dash likes sketching : )