Row, row, row your boat

Last Sat was GSK Active Day (like a company's family day). Us in Biopolis were not included. The thing about the company is that cos' it's so big, the different sites are so segregated it's like we're not from the same company. I wouldn't have known anyone from the manufacturing site, much less be involved in any of their activities, had I not joined the team.

I had planned to run the 4.3km run in the morning but woke up a little late (slept late cos' finished to the gym with Lingling and her friend late on Friday). I might have just made it though, but cos' I waited with my captain for the Chemistry people at the interchange (they were late!) so by the time I got to Bedok reservoir, it was halfway through. I really should have run, there were so few ladies in the women's run I'm pretty sure I'd have made it in the top 10 (winners get vouchers!) if not 5.

Anyhow, some of us from the team manned the boats for the fun row where people hop on, get a crash course from our coach on how to hold the paddle and execute a stroke then the boats leave for a short row. Some people ended up being passengers on the boat. I've never rowed such a heavy boat before. (Imagine a 20-men boat with almost half the boat as dead weight!) The chemists were taught more thoroughly by the coach.


During our break, I even managed to get a flower balloon from the clown girl. And an airbrush tattoo (a cool-looking eagle) on my left arm. And at the end of the day, a nice big Nalgene water bottle. Not too bad for a day's work. hee. Most of us were soaked to the skin cos' it started pouring towards the afternoon as we were rowing. I went home mostly damp since silly me didn't bring any change of clothes. (I didn't think there were showers there.)

As we headed to the toilets to freshen up, coach's girlfriend asked me whether, in addition to GSK's team, I'd like to row for her girls' team too. I was elated! I'd love to row more than once a week. We'll see if I feel comfortable with the team. I'd be joining them this Sunday.

Later that evening I met up with an old friend (a senior in Secondary school) for dinner. He was so sweet, insisted on picking me up at my place in a cab even though I said many times I could meet him wherever he planned to go. And the restaurant (Oosh - that's the name. Quite funny hor?) he picked had a romantic ambience to it but so atas!!! A whole cove of restaurants like that tucked away in the Demspey Road area. Almost all the cars parked there were posh posh!!! I was glad I had bothered to dress up a little. Food was not bad (but, imo, not good enough for the kind of price u have to pay). Tiny portions arranged prettily on surprisingly not-too-large plates that you'd expect from a high-class place like that. You even have to pay for the bread. To me, that was simply ridiculous! We each had a glass of red. He picked some trio seafood thingy (prawn, tuna and something I can't remember) and foie gras for appetizers. And we both had fish for our main courses. (Dory for him, salmon for me.) While we were poring over the menu, he had insisted I not look at the 2nd column (the prices). I told him we were going dutch but he'd hear nothing of it. Even looked offended that I'd even suggest that.

Now, before you even think it, he's not interested in me. (Already has his eye on someone else.) He just happens to be a more Westernised (he took off to Argentina sometime last year to learn tango. Back in Singapore for a holiday.) Singaporean chinese gentleman. (Rare, I say. Rare.) Sorry, no pictures (of the food or the guy) here. I should have brought my camera... I'll definitely take a photo with him the next time we meet, before he goes back. Anyhow, where was I? Ah, dessert. We shared a apple pie with crumbles with haagen daz macademia nut icecream and pretty little cubes of fruit (naturally, the whole ensemble didn't amount to much). Pie crust was a little too hard. (I think an ice-pick might have been useful.) Good thing the company was wonderful. I forgot my watch that evening. So only when we were done with our dessert and wine, did I look at my phone. Couldn't believe it was past 12 already! We walked along to Orchard Road to get a drink and was surprised to find it quite dead. On a Saturday night?!? I suggested Clarke Quay and we hopped into a cab to the popular night spot.
He said he felt like chocolate (I like this guy!!! :D) so I led him to a cafe I seem to favour lately, TCC. We had our second dessert of the night, a slice of hot fudge cake with strawberry ice-cream. Plus a chocolate milkshake for him and a raspberry tea freeze for me. Yummy stuff. *slurp*

We left only when the cafe was closing around 330am.

I pulled myself out of bed early Sunday morning cos' I had promised myself I'd try baking banana bread and bring some for my captain and coach at their race that day. The bread turned out quite disappointing in the looks department (I had baked them in individual muffin paper thingies.) but tasted ok. (They smelled beautiful while baking.) Sis, my staunch supporter, ate quite a few of them. The races were exciting. Both coach's and captain's team came out top in their categories. So power!!

I followed my captain's team to their celebration di-unch (late lunch/early dinner) at Pizzahut. His team members are quite nice and friendly people. When they found out that I row too, they asked me to join their girls' team. (Boy, do I feel wanted... haha) I mentioned I was just asked to row in another team but would try to join them if I could.
It was all good, except my stomach wasn't too happy with me for missing lunch and then gorging on gorgeously greasy pizzas so I got into a bit of trouble for that, which explains the inactivity of the blog the past few days.

Am slightly better now (I think) and looking forward to the weekend.