Marina’s Bloggariffic

Its been some months since I’ve been riding my vespa and I think that I’m getting better at riding. Everyday is an adventure, just exploring, travelling and feeling of the wind in my face. I love it!

Recently, I’ve received a notification from the Land Transport Authority to renew my road tax. This task wasnt as difficult as I thought it would be - after consulting with the Vespa Club forum, I had a better idea of how to do it.

1. Send your vehicle for a full check up

I sent my scooter in to Tong Aik after being recommended by a colleague. I like Tong Aik as they specialised in Vespas and they know what they are doing. After going to a mechanic that actually damaged my baby, I became extremely wary.

But Tong Aik was professional, friendly and the prices are quite reasonable. I definitely recommend them for Vespa owners.

2. Head for your nearest Vehicle Inspection Center

Because I live in the west, I chose to go to Vicom Bukit Batok for my vehicle inspection. It was just a couple of minutes away from my workplace.

You’ll need to position your motorcyle along a line. There will be a person examining the alignment, the tyres, breaks, lights among other things. The entire check doesnt take more than 10 minutes. Once the inspection is passed, he’ll hand you a certificate. This will be used in conjunction for the road tax.

3. Renew vehicle insurance

It is a legal requirement to have insurance when owning a vehicle. I renewed both my insurance and road tax at Asphoon, where I purchased my scooter. I handed my road tax disc as well as the certificate from the vehicle inspection.

A couple of days later, you’ll get your new insurance as well as a stamped road tax disc to attach in your vehicle.

And now enjoy riding till the next year! Beep beep! :)

Last Sunday evening, my brother Nazry and I went to IMM for dinner when we passed by a wedding booth. They were promoting their studio. Bro stopped a while to look at the photos so I looked too.

That was when the owner came up and asked us, “Are you thinking about getting married?” I replied, “we need to think about that first …”

He asked again, “How long have you two known each other?” And bro replied, “We’ve known each other for a long long time ..”

The owner continued asking, “You’ve known each other for such a long time and you’re still thinking about getting married!”

I was amused as bro and I looked very similar. How could we possibly look like a couple? I didnt know what to reply, so I just smiled abashedly and continued to play along and asked him about the bridal packages.

It seemed quite attractive though. For an outdoor shoot with make-up and 2 choice of outfits with a 20 picture album comes up to about $1k. They even do overseas shots, complete with hotel lodgings for about $3k.

Is it worth it?

But personally for me, having taken studio shots of other people during my photography classes, sometimes I feel that some makeover studiots can be a rip off.

Juli and me wanted to set up a makeover business together for a long time now. We spent some time to hone our skills. Juli took professional make-up courses in Cosmoprof while I dabbled in photography.

In October 2005, together with our friend Geri, Juli and I decided to have a makeover session at coverlooks to see how it actually works in a studio.

I guess the experience was alright.

But to be honest, we were not too impressed about the whole deal. With no egoism intended, we both knew that we could do better.

Here are some shots during our practise sessions:

Juli’s makeup is definitely more expressive. We are both passionate about doing makeovers.

But I guess the factors that are holding us back is the cost of actually setting up a studio, the equipment and time constraints.

It would really wonderful when it takes off. We can do it, bit by bit. Baby steps.

If other people can make wierd music, I can too!

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Click here to view in youtube

Once upon a time, marina has just completed her diploma in computer studies. With alot of free time in her hands, she immediately agreed when a friend asked her to do relief teaching in a school nearby.

She found out that she loved it. Oh how she enjoyed teaching! How she loved talking to kids and imparting knowledge to them. Each day, she’ll find new and exciting things to do to share with her kids.

Then one day, the principal asked her to go to her office. Curious, marina stepped in gingerly where she told her that they have found a permanent teacher and they she doesnt need to report for work anymore.

marina felt as if her heart would break. She bravely smiled and said thank you and then rushed off to the toilet and bawled her head off because she already felt very attached to her kids.

After brooding despondently at home for the next 3 days, marina decided to search for a job. A more permanent job. She decided to teach IT for a secondary school and she was hired by a company to do so.

Her first job started well enough. She went to teach in schools and assisted in websites and other IT related work. But after time, her boss made her teach new things. Things she didnt want to teach. Programming!

Marina said no. She wont do it. She doesnt want to teach someone in something that she is not good at.

Soonafter she got fired.

Next, she decided to work for a private firm just to see how it goes there.

It started well enough. She went to teach businessmen and working adults. But after time, her boss made her work for longer hours. When it got to her working for 7 days a week for a month, it got to the point when marina got severely depressed.

She resigned.

Marina decided to take it slow. She became a part timer and went to teach where she is needed. When the times are good, she found out that she could earn quite abit. But when there was a period when there was no demand at all.

That was when an ex colleague asked her to work in his company.

It started well enough. For about two years, she taught students in computer applications. She helped out in the school competition. She bonded with the kids. Even when the management claimed that their funds were dwindling and effected her pay, she still pushed on because of her love for teaching.

And yet the company maligned her. Even with the support of the principal and staff to back her, she still got fired.

Angry, depressed and emotional. She made a report against the Central Provident Board. She collected evidences for legal actions. But before she started anything, the company folded.

For the longest while, marina wondered to herself about all the bad situations that she was in.

But she is a believer of fate and circumstances. Everything happens for a reason.

Now marina is working for one of the top educational portal in Singapore. Her job isnt easy and does get demanding at times. But so far, it has been one of the most fulfilling ones that she has. She gets to do the things that she loves to do, and more importantly, express herself creatively.

marina looks forward to what the future will bring.

The end

When I was a little girl, an ustadzah told us that in our lifetime, there will be 6 people in this world who are similar to us.

I think I found one person who is similar to me.

Meet Wati.

Okay, so we dont look exactly the same. But I see some mannerisms of hers which are similar to mine. She’s funny, she’s lively and she loves photography and video.

Wati is a Singaporean Malay woman who fell in love and married to a UK guy. They recently have an adorable baby boy together and are currently living in Japan.

Wati recently dropped in my blog and being curious, I decided to peek in hers and now I’m hooked.

If reading blogs is like seeing a window through another eyes, then this is a great view! In her blog she writes about her travelling experiences, life in Japan, her updates in her pregnancy and her baby as well as other interesting things that she’s discovered.

And its such a treat to watch her videos! I find myself laughing while watching a video of her husband eating a durian and chuckled when watching her teach Malay language to her husband and cringed at the different type of ice cream flavours that they had in Japan. (Horse Meat Flavoured ice cream? Charcoal? Wasabi? Yuck!)

Such an adorable family. Do drop by World of Wati. I am sure you’ll love them just as much as I did :)

On last friday, we completed level 1 basic Italian language class. 10 weeks passed by so quickly! It was alot of fun and laughter. Thanks to our teacher fauziah, we learnt alot during our lessons.

On reaching home, I had a crazy inspiration. Why not do a film, spoofing an Italian cooking show? So here is a video of me, being your chef for today, making one of my favourite dish, penne arrabbiata! :D

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

Many thanks to Cartcart for the dialog :D