Dramas of the Year

Mr. Brain
The poster itself provides enough justification for watching!

Rating: 10/10!! :P


華麗なるスパイ

My occasional dose of slapstick comedies. It's about a convicted con-artist given a chance of redemption by serving as a spy for the government against terrorists. Which spy-themed show doesn't have a babe? Catch the weekly fashion parade by Kyoko Fukada!

So lame, so funny! The only thing I couldn't stand was how Kyosuke had to clutch his cross whenever he transformed into the person he was impersonating.

Rating: 6/10


救命病棟24時 4

I was surprised that there actually would be a new season. Thought the female lead has retired? Hmm...

I have been watching this series, so naturally, I caught this one too. Tokyo has rebuilt itself after the devastating imaginary earthquake, which must have been accomplished with blinding speed because all the leads have only aged slightly. This season, the focus was on the state of the emergency health services. Don't expect it to be as action-packed as US' ER-related dramas. Non-fans will probably find it boring.

Rating: 5/10


宫心计

The only Hong Kong dramas I watch are those 勾心斗角 kind, so how can I miss TVB's mega 勾心斗角重头剧 of the year? People already started scheming right from the first episode, with no letting up right till the last.

O yes, this is also a runway showcasing high-fashion of the Tang Dynasty!

Rating: 8/10


不毛地帯

Based on the novel by 山崎豊子, I expected this drama to be political, action-less, and potentially boring. Probably similar to 白い巨塔, which I enjoyed. Sure enough, there are neither babes nor dudes. In fact, the whole cast is at least 80% uncles. I counted 4 females, 1 of whom died by the 8th episode.

So what's in it for me? I guess it's a more subtle version of 宫心计.

I started on this drama without knowing that it's 31 episodes long (!!!). Now that China is clamping down on bittorrent sites, will I be able to finish this series? :(
31 episodes is for some other version. This is a comfortable 19 episodes and I was wishing for more. Thumbs up!

My Subsidized Movies In 2009

After HSBC Revolution card downgraded the GV movie promotion to a buy-1-get-1-free, coupled with work insanity, I only utilized it once in all of 2009.

March
Watchmen - Superheroes with issues. Afterall, they are only human.

I've not read the comic. In fact, I have not even heard of it till now. The raves and high rating on IMDB stroked my curiosity.

I entered the theater with only 1 expectation - ACTION!

And I wasn't disappointed. Very different from the usual superhero movies. They are not invincible. They did not just get whacked, they even got killed. But considering they were aged and out of practice... ok lah.

Hello, darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision
That was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

Reminds me of 把悲伤留给自己, used in 无间道.

HSBC has downgraded the promotion yet again.
Enjoy 1-for-1 movie tickets with your HSBC's Revolution Credit Card monthly with minimum S$200 charged!

Step 1
Simply charge a minimum amount of S$200 on your HSBC's Revolution credit card in each calendar month (e.g. 1 to 31 January 2010).

Step 2
Receive an invitation via SMS on every 2nd Wednesday of the following month from 5pm onwards (e.g. 10 February 2010 from 5pm onwards).
The SMS invitation will be sent to you only if you have charged a minimum amount of S$200 in the previous calendar month.

Step 3
Be the first 1,000 to reply to our invitation via SMS in this format: RVGV16-digit HSBC's Revolution credit card number.

Step 4
You will receive a movie code if you are among the first 1,000 customers to reply.

Step 5
Present the movie code and purchase one GV movie ticket with your HSBC's Revolution credit card at any Golden Village cinema. The SMS will be valid for 30 days.

Har... never lor... unless I use it as my primary credit card. But I think I still love my platinum more.

No more subsidized movies in 2010! :(

Dear Doctor, I Have Migraine Everyday for 1 Month

Going for my doctor's appointment today, meaning the pharmacy was on the way. My brother wanted some anarex.

Hmm... looks like I will need to have a chat with the pharmacist?

I decided to try my luck with my doctor.

Sotong: Doctor, can I ask something totally unrelated?
Doctor: Sure, what is it?
Sotong: Would I be able to get anarex over the counter? (Just want to confirm my worst fear...)
Doctor: I'm not sure... but I think you can't.
Sotong: (What do you mean you are not sure!!) O...
Doctor: I can give you some if you want.
Sotong: Ok!
Doctor: What do you take it for?
Sotong: My brother I take it for migraine. I find that it's more effective than panadol.
Doctor: How often is that?
Sotong: O, only about once a month.
Doctor: Ok, I will give you one month's supply.
Sotong: (Is she going to give me 2 tablets?? Noooo!!) O...k...

But my worries were unfounded. Doctor not stupid!
Wa BIG stack lor!

Enough for migraine EVERYDAY for one month!

Exotic Veggie Kit Kat

Browsing through Tampines 1's Yamakawa Super which sells Japanese stuff, how could the sotong the sucker for expensive Japanese candies exit the shop empty-handed?

Presenting...
Kit Kat Jujitsu Yasai!

Wa super expensive lor! I think it was $4+ for 2 pcs?

Taking the ingredients of Ito En’s Jujitsu Yasai drink, which is a popular Japanese vegetable beverage that was launched in 1992, the new Kit Kat is packed with healthy ingredients based on the drink, where the white chocolate is flavored with refreshing apple and carrot, while the light wafer and the cream is laced with the Jujitsu Yasai powder.

What's Ito En’s Jujitsu Yasai drink? *wonders*

Not bad, but too expensive lah XD

Just for fun!

New, But Expiring Products

Free to go out and shop, and Watson's 20% off store-wide was still on. O right! Perfect combination to restock!

I think my sister and I must have been blocking traffic at the Tampines 1 Watson's for at least 15min, picking the tubes of St. Ives Apricot Scrub and Eucerin DermoPURFIYER Scrub that appeared to be the newest, meaning prospective buyers have not squeezed some out to try before. We noticed that our chosen tubes were slightly dusty, but I didn't think much of it.

Alas, I should have paid heed to the dust!
Both were expiring at the end of 2010 lor! How to finish using them in less than 1 year?

Like I care! Don't I disregard all the "discard 12 months after first opening", and kept my last St. Ives Apricot Scrub for more than 2years (still in use now, because haven't finished using)?

New (Inedible) Goodies!

After years of sleeping super late nightly without fail and sleep deprivation on workdays, I began to fear that aloe vera gel alone for my eye area wasn't enough. Better to stop being cheapo than be sorry! Later look like a certain ex-colleague with permanent dark eye rings! Not that I wanted to be cheapo lah, but because I had no idea what to buy! No time (and lazy) to research!

Ok lazy way out - friend's recommendation!

John Masters Firming Eye Gel
USD $35.50

I am considering it not because it is organic - I don't believe in organic products. Only because my friend gave it a positive review and people sang its praises over the internet. Moreover, I have been considering it for about a year.

Ok on!

The next question, where shall I get it from?

I already know bud Cosmetics carry this product. Free delivery for purchases above S$100, but looking around the store... there's no way I could accumulate that amount. Go down to the store personally? But no intention to go shopping soon ley...

Found John Masters in Beauty.com too, but afraid that the glass bottle would arrive in pieces...

Came across ShinOrganic. They charged in USD, but due to the weak dollar lately, the prices still wound up cheaper than buying from bud. And not to forget the free delivery within Singapore with any purchase! No need to think anymore! Google is my best friend!

Before checking out my shopping cart, this caught my eye.

John Masters Deep Scalp Follicle Treatment & Volumizer
USD $27.00

Got rave reviews too, can get one to try...

Impulse purchase, shit!

Actually, the French Green Clay & Green Tea Purifying Mask looked good too.

Argh stop it! Check out before it's too late!

Paypal offered to charge me S$90 for a total of USD$62.50, meaning a rate of 1.44. Don't want to risk some sudden spike 2 days later if I were to use my credit card's rate! Anyway, it's still cheaper than buying from bud Cosmetics (not forgetting the free delivery too!)

19 Dec today, let's see when my loots would reach me. Before or after Christmas?

I could... ask ShinOrganic to send me a sample of the mask! Yeah great idea! Hope I could receive a surprise in my parcel :)

But the very efficient ShinOrganic replied on the next working day that there's no sample available for the mask. Sad :(

Then the next day, my parcel arrived. Happy with the prompt service. Even happier with some John Masters shampoo and conditioner samples surprise.

This doesn't sting my eyes at all, easily-absorbed, no stickiness, good! Shall continue monitoring for effectiveness.


John Masters The Zinc & Sage Shampoo with Conditioner
Hmm... ya... after using it just once, my hair seemed less oily the next day with slightly less hairfall. Not to forget the heavenly smell that lingered!

The con, which is probably also its selling point, is that it doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate and thus doesn't foam as much as ordinary shampoos, so one might use more than necessary.

Tempted now...

I passed the Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor and Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstruting Shampoo samples to my sister.


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I had once mentioned to my colleague that I'm looking for an eye gel. On Christmas Eve (and still feeling ecstatic over my day-old loot), I received a Christmas gift from her.

Artistry Replenishing Eye Creme
Last known prices are $22.80 for distributors, $28.50 for ordinary folk like you and me.

What a 大手笔 advertisement! I couldn't tell her that I had just gotten myself a Christmas present too :X

So how? I couldn't leave it to collect dust while I finish my John Masters first?

Idea! How many times do I get to compare products side-by-side? I shall use them both at the same time, one for each eye! O, pls don't let the difference be too pronounced... XD

Artistry stings my eye more than John Masters, but still, it's not much lah.

Monitor, monitor!