The Gal – Nicole

Every time December rolls around, I would always feel that another year is almost over, and began to ponder what I’ve done for the past 11 months since January. As if 2007 has not been a fruitful year for me, but 2008 was equally, if not, more smashing than ever.

Up till now in the point of writing, I still can’t believe at some of the impacting changes, but I’ve since learnt to accept it and embrace what it brings along with it.

I spent a good half of year 2008 doing my internship at one of the local companies (’nuff said about which coy, you readers should know) Known new friends there, and also being able to secure a good grade and award is kinda amazing, because I ain’t expecting such a high grade myself. I just did my best and left the rest to Him.

Am quite happy and glad to have opportunities to be invited to attend events, product launches and parties as well, not to mention the numerous gatherings with friends and bloggers It’s been really great to be spending time with you all, and I am still so looking forward to it coming 2009 and more! I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the kind folks for sending event invites, and products to review

Celebrated the 3rd year of blogging in style, by organizing my first blog contest, being one of the featured bloggers on Blog2u, and adding variety of content on to my blog. Live blogging was a first, and to say the least, it has its own challenges (i like)

Became part of the Tech65 crew, and am still The only Girl in there. Am definitely on the lookout for more tech babes to join me! The guys won’t mind. lol.

Found the love of my life, I can’t ask for more.

Its also a year filled with personal growth, and getting in touch with oneself… For that, I am grateful, and growing up at a pace I like myself to be.

Overall, I wouldn’t have traded anything for such a wonderful experience. Though there are up and down moments in life, but life still will go on, till the day we stop breathing.

I hope year 2008 has also been a great year for you too

Nicole

I think I will create photo collages from now on… cos it saves space on my online gallery. Kidding! Will still be uploading full pictures and stuff… just that I thought a photo collage can showcase more stuff

Hope I didn’t make you all hungry! All are homecooked by dad except the Fish and Co Seafood Platter for 2

**I don’t know why I am blogging so much today, perhaps my mood has been swinging too and fro. tsk. Kinda in a bothered mood. Will.Need.To.Stop.Procrastinating.

Nicole

Wordpress 2.7 interface is so far so good. Putting many functions at the edge of my fingertips, I like!

Thus you will be able to see me blogging more short posts like these from now on. But I try not to do it so often, cos it will affect my mood to write my usual articles of course.

Nicole

It was a lovely day spent with Mum and Sister, on 29th December 2008. Been a long time since I did just that. I could have spent the day working on project, but family first.

It was also the day where my sister and I got our results for the semester… and we decided to go out and do some shopping with the vouchers our aunt has gave to us for Christmas. And it turned out to be a day of eating as well. ;P

My spoils from Ocean Pacific (first time I ever purchased from them)

and these are my sister’s:

They are having a 20% sale! And best part, I get to try as many as I want before deciding on what to buy.

My sister gave a treat at MOS Burger… and me… Swensen’s Ice Cream. Ok. My mum was also craving for the fries and dips. So… I decided to bring them there…

The picture of the Fries and Dips…

And shared the ice-cream…

Hazel Daze

Mango Madness

Sister looks better with her new specs!

And yes, she just have to play with tartar sauce and tomato sauce to create this:

This is her happiness indicator. LOL.

The 3 of us had such an enjoyable time shopping at Parkway Parade… and all that pigging out is giving me a strong craving for porridge for lunch today

Nicole

Haha.. the QuickPress function in wordpress 2.7. Lovely!

Truth be told, I was quite ready to burst into tears should I “ta-bao” (fail) any module. It has been a long and harsh semester for me.

Granted that I just came back from Internship, and that with the addition of Final Year Project, as well as trying to regain the drive to study. Not to mention attending events as well during school term Don’t get me wrong, I ain’t complaining. Just stating the odds that I am facing with.

I thank my awesome coursemates/friends who gladly helped me along my course of studies, when I bumped into difficulty or whatsoever. Their encouragement goes a long way also.

Not to forget my online community friends, you all are a wonderful bunch of people too. I can’t forget the times where words of encouragements are given to spur me on to work harder.

CSC301: Programming Languages
My most dreaded and hated subject. Can’t make head or tail. Miracle I got a C for this module.

CSC302: Net-Centric
Somehow, I screwed the paper, and got a C. My assignments were all ok.

CSC402: Advance Computer Networks
Content is ok, the second half lecturer cannot make it. Was so frustrated I skipped quite a number of lectures. Surprisingly, it turned out ok. B+

CSC417: Bioinformatics
First attempt at Computational Bio. Love it though Thanks Jean, Alice for guidance and help. My project mates are wonderful, thanks for all the hardwork! Though the lecture timing can be a pain, but its worth it. B+

CSC310: Prof Communication
Not too bad. Resume writing and Presentation. B

So there you go, here are my grades. I dare say I fared better than all my previous semesters. Still no grade A, but thats ok. At least I passed them all. Strong feeling that my CGPA is pulled up, not too sure though.

Not bragging about my grades, but I just want to share my progress and achievements with you all

Onward to my final semester.

Picture taken with the Samsung Pixon

Once again, Congratulations to tech65 for hitting the 100th Episode Milestone. May we have greater episodes ahead!

I can’t remember when I started being a fan of their podcasts, and tuned in each week to devour the weekly episodes. And soon, I went down to guest star in some of the episodes… Subsequently, I was recruited to be part of the crew. Awesomeness for me, because I never thought that one day I would be a part of them.

Fast forward to 27th December 2008, and we were live recording our 100th Episode at Geek Terminal. It was really great to see a full house live audience, and I wanna say a big thank you for taking time to attend our event.

Taken with Samsung Pixon

The chocolate cake that Jerrick baked were awesome! Rich and sinful, I can’t get enough of it.

The audience!

Taken with Samsung Pixon

We also have launched a new show, Gear65. So do catch the debut episode right here!

Do check out our new site layout too… right here at Tech65…

Nicole

I’ve too much on my hands at the moment. I’m sorry that I’ve so much backdated and unreleased content on this blog. Pardon me while I get my life in order.

I need to get up to speed with so many things that I think burning the midnight oil is the best solution at the moment. My countdown plans hangs in the limbo, but I guess at this point in time, I don’t wish to dwell on it either.

In the meantime, happy holidays to all and a cheery new year of 2009

I’ll zip by the tech65 blog as well as my own, updating stuff along the way

In the meantime, be good. And your patience will be rewarded.

Nicole

Lately, I’ve not been feeling very well, both physically and mentally. Which isn’t a very good sign… Perhaps its the long bottled up fatigue that has been building up inside me… It didn’t help that Christmas, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day are quite close to each other. Festival fatigue I think.

Not to mention another semester of work! It will be a bittersweet affair. And yes, I think I might lose more of my social life for the next 6 months. Gonna miss simple pleasures of life for a while. Bah.

Needless to say, having to graduate while in the midst of a recession is not a welcome sight. And to be frank, job woes are starting to haunt.

Oh well.

Nicole

As you all, my dear readers have known, yours truly has been part of Tech65 crew… Tomorrow is our recording of 100th Episode, and we’ll like you to be part of the show as well…

To entice you further to come…

Here is a preview of our name cards. Yes, all 9 of us have name cards that when placed together, forms a lovely pattern at the back. Do yourself a favor, get to know us and collect them all!

Need more information? Click here

See you there tomorrow!

The Girl,
Nicole

PS: I am on the lookout for ladies interested to talk geek on one of the episodes in 2009. Drop me a line if you are interested ok? It will be an all-girls episode