marlyn

May 22, 2019May 29, 2019

The 4th League Has Spoken

Another round of Hungover League, another round of creative jersey’s design, complete ornaments, adrenaline rush, shouting scene on Cages 😉

This time they will have 4 days of League with elimination day! so for 3 weeks they will play with 6 teams and on the last week there will be 2 teams that got eliminated and only 4 teams will go to Final. Who are they?!?! Here I present you:

Bowhemian Rhapsody featuring Captain Marco, Raoul, Cher, Andreas, Hutch, Eileen and Florian. I like the name so much! #Radiooooo someone still loves you teret teret tereett

Arrow Hub featuring Captain Nikita, Aaron, Eric, Ben, Agu, Aggy, Kwaki, Brenda and Alfred.

Arrrchery featuring my running buddy Captain Miguel, Gene, Jason, Anderson, Thorben, Viki, Gigi and Ricardo…. plussss 3M First Mate!

Rainbow Seven featuring Captain Felix, Viktor, Hudson, Jose R, Tammy, Christine, Helios, Jose Q.

Machines featuring roomies Captain John, Rodion, Gordy, Qi, Kun, Kate, Uliana. Just like what Cher said, you need to have Washing Machine! just imagine where everyone got a serious machine and then there you go, a washing machine photo printed on your white shirt. It is so cool and such an important machine, I can’t believe you didn’t take washing machine as a consideration phewww. I am fully agree with you Cher!

Lethal Laowai featuring Captain Zara, Lars, Radu, Jerod, Adam, Kayla, David and Benita. At first when Zara said his team name, I heard it Little Laowai and so did Luis! so I’m not alone and we were “why is it little?” and she said “no, not little, it’s like lethal weapon” and we were “ooooo”

They are all very discreet regarding the names of each team and their jersey’s design, I need to wait until 7th of May to see it 🙂 The team according to my eye sight divided to black and white haha! it’s good that rainbow seven wear green pants and arrow hub has orange color so they are kind of easy to differentiate. Team Lethal Laowai doesn’t get their jersey on time so they are wearing black shirt but I guess the real jersey will also be black #smart Marlyn!

Arrrchery is very prepared with the cheerleaders ornaments! they have a big flag, small flag and even jersey for me! wohooo I’ll scream for you arrrchery!

FIRST MATCH

There was accident happened 15 minutes before the league start which is Aggy fell down and she twisted her ankle 🙁 so Arrow Hub played with only 6 people. Imo they were so brave and they really played well! Come on Captain Nikita! You’re doing good!

Me and Marina was sitting on the bench, we did hold our big flag but then we blocked Aggy as she was sitting behind us so we use our small flag. Marina always prepared, she made protein balls and ginger chocolate snacks and we- me and Sveta ate them, not all but quiet a lot 😉

The first target game actually Arrrchery was always “almost win” so in terms of technique they are not really far behind but then on no-target game to my surprise Gene and Tonic get out almost every time by the first 5 seconds, come on Gene and Tonic! I know you can do it better. I was soooo happy when finally, FINALLY on a no-target game they got full point 😉 They were far behind but this only the first match and I believe in you, Captain Miguel!

Team Rainbow Seven was really really REALLY! good at the target game, all of their team are so precise! and just shot directly to the target and bam! one white target was out and this going on and on and on, probably it’s the perks of having a German captain, everything need to be well calculated 😉

What surprising for me on the first match came from Machine! Qi was Shazam! He was everywhere, this side, that side, caught the arrow from Viktor! this must be feel like a victory to be able to caught his shot! He also did the famous jumping shot- even though both of the jumping shot that I saw wasn’t really shot anybody but it was really really cool and what a privileged to see that 😉 Rodion always constantly good so it’s not a surprise that he performed well, but! he really gave me a surprise when I saw the way he dodged from the arrow, since when he became flexible? just like matrix reloaded movie where Keanu Reeves dodged from the bullets, that’s more or less or probably you need to use many imagination to think how Rodi did that 😉 but the point is he was so good at dodging from the arrow. This is what we called match! I said to Rodi “Rodi you guys were so good and really tight with the opponent team” and Rodi said “we played to give entertainment to Marlyn!” wohoooo yeah! this is what I’m watching for! and of course without a doubt, Machine won the first match with 6.5 points! Impressive!

At the end of the game there was “another one bites of dust” music playing from the Bowhemian Rhapsody and btw there were only half points behind Machines!

SECOND MATCH

All teams were kind of equal as the final points were between 4-5. So it wasn’t a big difference like the first match.

Before the game started, Qi said to me “Are you ready for the entertainment?!” He even put a tape around his leg, when I asked what is it use for? He said its for Machines!!!

Gimme your machine style, Qi!

Arrrchery got another support from the sub-Ricardo! They are playing better than last week and are able to get 4 points! For the first two games they lost and the third one it’s Arrrchery against Bowhemian Rhapsody, first I could feel that they will win because they still have 3 targets attached and BR only 1 left but then the they got stronger so both of them only have 1 target left and I was like “No! Not again!” Me and Marina was screaming like hell! “One more! shoot the target! go!” and I don’t know what words that came from our mouth what I can remember is Marina’s face got red after that hahaha We were sitting, standing, getting closer to the glass door it was all of our energy was pour to that match and they won! Followed by a massive, I mean MASSIVE scream from the spectator side-btw this time not only me and Marina but ALL the people that was watching and since Ricardo there, he was running around the field with the big flag 🙂 haha

There was also funny moments when Thorben and Anderson forgot to wear their mask #facepalm. Also when at some point somebody spill water on the spectator’s side and Rodion was almost slip and he said “Somebody tried to break the Machines! but the Machine’s not easily broken! ROAAAA” and he said to me “See Marlyn, before there was water here but now it’s sticky because Machines was here!” #Rodi is so entertaining. I started to like Machines 😉

Aaron from Arrow Hub is really cool, he was almost the last guy that always hit the last target and his response was only “yes” without a sound so it was only a hand gesture kind of yes if I was him I could scream out of my breath!

Ummmm hello to the girl that has black purse? Your alarm ring at 10PM! is it time for you to wake up? I’m afraid that you might be a vampire that wake up at night #woooo getting spooky!

THE ELIMINATION DAY

I still couldn’t believe what I just witness from yesterday! I guess because there will be 2 teams that got eliminated so all the teams are getting super super super serious, they are taking everything to the next level. The level of shouting, screaming and agitated was escalated pretty quickly. I think shouting and screaming was my area of expertise but I was so wrong, definitely they are many of the players that having this area of expertise as well, not only the man but the woman could scream the same level as me #Marlyn’s not gonna let her screaming throne slip away 😉

Before the game started, I thought Machines gonna be unstoppable, I mean they will win the game again but turns out no! Machines was stoppable! Let’s see who’s able to stop the machines 🙂

Arrrchery is missing Thorben because he is in Thailand but Marina kept reporting to him who we lost against mwahaha but also who we win against! And after 2 times lost we finally win over Machine!!!! It was such a nice game, the target was still attached to the bunker, if they moved the bunker the target will fall off so when finally Arrrchery hit it we were so relieved! and since Ricardo play the subs for Thorben, I was the one that responsible for carrying the flag.

At some point we know Arrrchery will not make it to the final even if they win all the games it’s just mathematically not possible, so what did the cheerleader do? We forced everyone to support us! I mean, Marina made a nice muffin cake, in order for them to have it, they need to hold the flag, with dignity! This will be the last chance for them to hold Arrrchery flag! Ling also supported for us when Arrrchery is not playing against Bowhemian Rhapsody and there was some match when me and Marina sang one of Queen’s song 🙂

Maria-Marina
Muffin
Marlyn-Marina
Us
dragging John
dragging Chadsey
dragging Jose R
dragging Christine
dragging Kun and Qi

For the non-target game we finally won against Rainbow Seven! Btw this team is CRAZY! it’s like witnessing Game of Thrones season 6, not season 8 and definitely not the finale episode of season 8 mwahaha they were brutal! they were so brave, all of them was unstoppable shooting, not from behind but from the front line! everybody was upfront and keep firing each and every opponents! Viktor was going all the way! so when Arrrchery won against Rainbow Seven it was really an achievement and here I ran my duty again 😉 Machines was always on the entrance gate and they are all tall people mwahaha but they let me in saying “yes this is your team you can ran the flag” thank you Machines!

Christine from Rainbow Seven was kind of “Mother Theresa” she always calm all her teammates down whenever something happened that bothered them, even when her teammates tried to talk out of it, she just stopped it by saying “OK, stop, don’t talk about it, let’s be better on the next game” awwww <3 what a chill Mama 🙂

So who was the one that able to stop machine?!?! the winner for the third match goes toooooo…..Rainbow Seven with a full 6 points, amazing!

The leading team so far was Bowhemian Rhapsody with 15.5 points, followed my Machines with 15 points, Rainbow Seven with 14.5 and Lethal Laowai for 13 points, soooo close!! Need to remember that there was one match on the target-game where Cher was the one that shot all 5 targets, that was super! I think that deserves a credit 🙂

Unfortunately Arrrchery and Arrow hub got eliminated, still, thank you for Arrow Hub and Arrrchery for being spare no efforts during the match 🙂 #They don’t seems so upset to get eliminated 😉

Thanks to both Captains!

Congratz to Bowhemian Rhapsody, Machines, Rainbow Seven and Lethal Laowai for going to the final! Btw I received a noise complaint, but since Arrrchery got eliminated so I don’t think you guys should worry about any noise on the final.

THE FINALE

I arrived Cages wearing Arrrchery jersey and first reaction from Aggy was “Gezz..you’re still wearing that” haha only me and Marina that wore it even their own team Gigi and Thorben didn’t wear it booooooo. Met Chadsey and I screamed “Chadsey, Chadsey, Chadsey” in front of his face like everyone else and he just stunned there he said “Perhaps if I’m not moved she will think that Im not exist and just let me go” Well, Chadsey it doesn’t work that way 😉 I asked Tim “Can I shout in front of your face like everyone else?” and he said “Yes, only you can shout in front of my face” wohooo what a privileged.

On the final since there was only 4 teams so they need to play back to back and rest only one time and play again wogh! that’s require a high stamina! There were many winning and losing between all the 4 teams which was hard to keep track on. All of them playing soooooo well!

At some match, Qi was always the last man standing from Machines and he kept fighting like a soldier or should I say like a machine 🙂 but somehow Machines was not winning as much as before 🙁

However, I like Rodion, he’s always so funny and entertaining, he said “Seems the machines is broken, machines doesn’t perform well, machines need some oil” haha

Machines got many supporters from another Russian speaking country and of course me and Marina like to shout “Machines!” it’s just their name is the shortest one so it’s easy to shout 😉

As I said the final went so fast and one team that kept winning the most was Rainbow Seven! They are unbelievable! There was no words to describe because almost all the match they won and I was “What?! Again? R7 winning again?” it’s beyond belief! Especially on the non target game, Tammy wasn’t even holding her bow and arrow she was all super ready to catch any arrow that was directed to her, and she caught it! Not once, not twice but a lot! like really really a lot maybe 5-6 arrows! that was amazing! she was like a watcher, keep watching everybody 24/7! Christine was a fighter she kept firing the arrow like the guys but sometimes she got shot but at least she’s giving her best. The guys were super good as well! Viktor is without a doubt no need to explain but what surprising to me was Jose R, I’ve never see he’s playing but turns out he’s pretty good at both catching and shooting the arrow and with Helios, Hudson and Felix, this team was just complete!

I didn’t keep the record so I wasn’t quiet sure of who’s winning but after seeing R7 kept winning the match I started to think that there’s big possibility that they are the winner. And then Tim announced the winner and it goes to….. Rainbow Seven!

Congratz for Rainbow Seven! Also good job for all the team! That was a hard final and you guys really proved that you have a good stamina to be able to fight till the end.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We really need to give the special thanks to all the referee, Tim, Wyatt, Chenzi and all other referee from the team like Chadsey, Arron, Thorben and who else I forgot haha without them this league will not happened and thank you for having a big heart and accepting all the shouts that was pointed directly in front of your face 😉

Thanks also for Arrrchery for involving me as one of your cheerleader and for taking care of all the ornaments including all the snacks to a higher level 🙂

Thanks to all the archers!

And last but not least! We have additional archery member! Baby Lowe!

Baby Lowe, I promised your father to put a pic of you as long as I made a good references to the dad… And I think I did…or? haha 😉

P.S : All the pictures was taken either from whoever that shares on the group or on their wechat moments and special message for Michael Sun, we missed you! There is no professional video made because you were on a business trip 😉

May 13, 2019May 13, 2019

Back To Back Cakes

It was Marina’s bday yesterday, Sunday 12th of May and she wrote “I’d love to just have a casual brunch with friends” but I don’t think that how it works girl 😉 you know what?

D day -1

Because Thorben got her the present of learning how to bake with one of professional head chef that got used to do pastry for industrial level, the one and only Tessa! Tim also helped Marina to do all the cakes but they are such a good student that followed every instructions from the teacher until they realized that it was too much like TOO freaking much.

But I really don’t see where is the issue of baking too much? And Thorben said because their fridge is not enough to contain all the cakes!

See the German engineering in here? Upside down bowl, pickle jar haha and this is only one side of the fridge 😉

They baked and baked and baked for nearly 7 hours, from morning until sunset. So the bday brunch plan got fast forward to one day before which is eating all the cakes plan 😉

For me, I don’t see any problem at all and not surprise because I know Marina bakes a lot before, their eclair was awesome!! They really did a good job! Here’s the video before you see the final products!

And then I came to her place on Saturday, the guest were me-Boramy and later on Brendan. I never ate that much eclair in my life, it’s awesome! I think I had enough eclair until end of this year 😉 so it means I still can eat some more mwahaha still 7 months to go!

We were there until midnight 00:00 and Happy Birthday to Marina!

D day

The real and planned birthday brunch is here! Liquid Laundry!

Followed by Viva Ibiza party at the W hotel, Luis arranged the table for us there 🙂 we were so excited to go there…. but before going there… what did we do? We went back to Marina’s home to eat all the eclairs 😉

However, the waiter from Liquid Laundry came and say happy birthday to Marina and brought her the pancakes! we were laughing because we all want to leave but then she got a dessert 😉 it’s still a lovely pancake! I helped Marina to eat it #Marlyn is so helpful

After eating the eclairs at Marina’s, we head out to W hotel! Viva Ibiza and Luis Pena here we come!!! We brought the eclairs there haha I think they really got every way they could to get rid of it ASAP! Don’t worry you will finish it sooner or later 😉

At some point Thorben told me “You can tell Luis that he can bring the cake soon” so yeap!!! there will be another cake!!! within this two days I think I ate more cake than I had last year!!

Luis had to kick out another guy that was sitting on our table that not his guest so that it will be good for the pictures 😉 haha and what cake that Marina got?!?! Chocolate cake!!!

And here is the pictures after Luis kick out some random guy that occupied our table ehemmmm move 8!@#ch!

Marina, if I can guess probably this was your favourite present:

AWESOME Marina! 3rd place of Triathlon 😉 So proud of you!! #strong Marina

Happy happy birthday Marina! Yesterday was awesome! Your birthday literally is the birthday with the most dessert possible! #and I allowed it haha! and you’re the birthday girl that baked her own cake! usually, we-the guest were the one that should prepare the cake but not in your case 😉 thanks for providing dessert for all of us 😉

Marina, thank you for inviting me, not only for your birthday but for every time you bake something, I really like and appreciate it. Going to your apartment is some kind of nutritional improvement for me and I always have a good time with you #oopss also Thorben! haha 😉

May 4, 2019May 4, 2019

The Too Many Request

First of May, Labor day but another person’s birthday who is that?! It’s Eiman! Why would you born on a National Holiday?!?! let me be specific, 17.5 people need to cancel their plan and attend your birthday party, very thoughtful of you 😉 you made this little baby awake until his sleeping time #poor baby

On Jovita’s Bruch it was the first time Eiman aka E (see below pic of why I should call her E) went to FOGO and she said “oh this is a good place as I need to find a place for my birthday” and where did she had her birthday? NOT FOGO!

#First Request (I should call her “E” from now on)

And she gave me the very absurd instruction ever!

Didn’t mentioned the name of the road, which floor and she didn’t even create a group chat made me a bit skeptic is it really a birthday party? or is it some kind of prank show and I’ll be the only one that come?!

Later on she sent me the real invitation saying that “she only made it for me” which I know she said the same things and just copy and paste to the other 17+ people, see! this is what happen when you don’t have a group chat you need to forward the same message one by one, you really have so much time don’t you? 😉 but….this invitation is not sincere invitation, it followed by another request.

#Second Request. Yeap I need to wear black dress

I thought that she will also wear black dress so we kind of sisters but then she was wearing a very flowerish dress possible then why did you suggested me to wear black dress then? I could wear my Mickey Mouse hoody instead as we were not wearing matching type of dress!

Even with the formal invitation she didn’t mentioned that Highline is located on the 6th floor of Ascott Hotel and I went to Hong Kong Plaza asking the information “How can I go to 6th floor” (because I was counting the floor and it was only 4th level, how can I go to 6th floor?!?!” and she looked at me and said “We only have 4th floor” mwahaha yes I know I can count! but she told me that I need to take the hotel elevator accross the street. And where was E while I was lost? having her champagne or whatever drink it is, she even ignored my message 🙁 boooo

But anyway due to my intelligence 😉 I made it to 6th floor and met her! the birthday girl! We were on the rooftop before the dinner start. Highline put a round sofa and the guest divided into two sections, colleague and non-colleague of her hahaha. But for the sake of the picture we were kind of “blend” 😉

I was talking with E’s new roomies Davide about Ramadhan as E will start her fasting on Monday and I was tempted to try at least the first day. I know what Ramadhan is that we cannot eat and drink from sunrise until sunset. I said to her that I can not not to eat but for drink I need to drink, I can try the first day and E said “Well, that’s not Ramadhan” followed by Davide “It’s only your personal diet” haha but I think I’ll try, I will support you on your first day! I won’t come to your place to eat at 2AM so relax! hahaha Davide hasn’t gave me the spare key yet 😉

Then it was dinner time, E already chose the menu before, it was a set dinner which all good! I didn’t even pay attention to what is what because all food was gone fast, I was sitting with a very good eater! featuring Costa Rica guy Ivan, Brazilian girl Roberta and two Italians Paolo and Giulia (Sorry if any mispelled name, again, E didn’t create a group chat so I have no idea how to write all of your name) all I can remember was the duck was the winner! Winner winner duck dinner 😉

After dinner, Highline gave E a birthday cake which is only two slices of lemon cake actually. OK, to be fair the cake is tall and thick but two slices yo! I mean… when the cake arrived and they sang happy birthday to E, I was on the other side of the table and our good eaters group was looking at each other “That’s it?” and the waitress or waiter (maybe Martin) gave another slice to us and Roberta said “Is it all for me?” so… we have to share this one slice of cake among 4 of us! (Paolo doesn’t eat sweet) the cake is good but come on one slice yo! It’s good that Phil and Julia prepare another proper for 17.5 people kind of cake 😉

I was talking with Ivan and Roberta and with Ivan we went on the same path like student here and then working, we even started our master and graduated at the same time. With Roberta omg this is so amazing! she gave me the very best tips of not getting robbed in Brazil but among all tips I like the story of her when she almost get robbed on the bus the most hahaha when some guy approach her and saying “Give me your phone” she shouted “Give me a kiss” hahahaha so that everyone on the bus looked at her and what a coincidence that the bus stopped at the bus station and opened the door and she just ran away hahaha owh girl! that’s the best!

Followed by E’s colleague named Gary which apparently we always missed each other even though we were on the same place at the same time. We were on E’s apartment when she had halloween party back in 2017, we were on Cages for England world cup and finally we talked on her birthday in year 2019. See you in two years from now then! hahaha

Thank you for having me E! I even wear the black dress (See I followed your request! what else do you need my queen? haha)

Have a good year ahead, let’s do our skydiving but please pay attention to my insurance 😉

Last but not least, don’t put your moments only 3 days viewable so that I don’t need to ask you for below picture 😉 hahaha!

Even! when I specifically asked she still gave me another request!

#Third Request

Followed by a voice recorder saying that I need to write Beyonce, Shakira, Princess whatever gezzz! I should’ve stop texting her otherwise her request list is getting longer and longer 😉 and she’s such an ungrateful “Princess” saying “weather are so nice and I can’t believe you’re at home writing story” #facepalm

Happy Birthday 8!@t#h! 😉

May 3, 2019May 4, 2019

FAQ Needed!

Jovita prepared this brunch since like a month ago, she has been asking if everyone will be available on 27th April at 12PM for ages. She will bring her polaroid cameras, prepare games and specific topic to discuss, she asked everyone to confirm with the brunch menu one week before the actual event etc etc, full of preparation style. Even she prepared the flyer! Once someone organized something and there is a flyer you know it’s another level of brunch already 😉

The brunch place was at Fogo, the restaurant is in 6th floor but I entered on a wrong door so I had to walked up stairs only to realize that the door was locked and I was like “Damn it!” and went to 5th floor opened the “back door” and the guy looked at me in amazed (read: confusion) “how did you get in from that door?” haha they showed me where is the elevator to go to 6th floor and there I was, on a very elegant place called Fogo. Jovita booked the terrace for us which is unbelievable! The terrace was super nice! the sun is there, the wind is there and what else? haha table, chair, the decoration was just perfect.

She even prepared the “game” (aka Gin game-as the specialty of Fogo is their Gin) I’m not a big fan of alcohol drinks but one glass is fine 😉

Eiman got her gin which is elephant gin, I got my London Dry Gin and Veronica got sth with tea or so. All of our gin’s were very special, just… Eiman was better 😉 and now she will request gin with cheery and apple every time she goes to a bar.

and Jo also hired the photographer that documented the whole brunch. Eiman wanted to punch the photographer on the face because he didn’t stop taking pictures of all of us, he took his job very seriously which rare in these days, it calls dedication Eiman! hahaha

After one glass of gin and tried the other person gin’s we moved to the brunch table, time to eat!

We had 12 amazing women (me included)! #wohoooo we had our self introduction before we moved to our brunch table. The presentation of the food was outstanding. I ordered charcoal grilled chicken tandoori, banh mi and bread and pudding. Turns out the charcoal grilled chicken tandoori was a ceasar salad, I don’t mean to complain but when the guy gave it to me I said “I didn’t order the salad” I mean salad yo on this very cool place? I need to have meat! but yeah turns out it is a salad, he didn’t make a mistake because he’s got all the list of what we want to eat but it’s still good anyway so I’m not complaining 😉

Behave for the purpose of the picture

The bread and pudding was amazing, they even had a scoop of an ice cream on the side, I spread the ice cream on the bread and Eiman asking me “what were you doing?” I said “isn’t it how you suppose to eat it? with an ice cream” and I saw Jo also putting her ice cream on top of the bread and pudding and I said to Eiman “Look at Jo’s she’s also putting the ice cream so I didn’t do it wrongly, she only did it in a more graceful way than I do” 😉

We were keep eating and talking and the sun was perfect but at some point I need to clean up my sunglasses and that’s the time when I took it off and I was “WOW! this is very shinny” I don’t know how Veronica, Jovita and Lauren handle it as they don’t bring their sunglasses haha

I really enjoy the conversation going on when everyone started to share some stories about everything, their diet plan, the unstoppable brunch or free flow deal that exist in Shanghai, the coffee enegma things that Mable did. The conversation went randomly to a Filipino ayi mwahaha completely other directions from diet but yeah we’re women, we love to talk 😉

I especially like the story when Jovita’s did her skydiving in New Zealand and after that specific moments, she decided to quit her job. She said that when you jumped out of the plane, you see everything from the top and there was some moments where your life flash before your eyes and you can make a clear decision afterwards. Similar with Jo’s, Veronica’s friend also did a skydiving before she decided to went back to Australia and somehow this is such a must before made a decision 😉 knowing that not only Thorben and Marina did skydiving makes me and Eiman want to do it also! Eiman, I will have to go before you! otherwise I won’t jump out of the plane 😉 It will be super cool if the next meeting with these wonderful women was on someplace to do skydiving hahaha!

The afternoon went just like the speed of the light suddenly the food was finished! oh nooo… and we moving on to our “discussion table” the topic that Jo asked us to research was about endocrine system but in the end we discussed about sth else which is feminity, and Mable gave us the tips and tricks about how women need to behave in a certain way on a workplace, just wish that I will be able to behave like that someday…or probably never! hahaha

Finally there was no photographer around us anymore, Eiman must be so happy! hahaha but at some point we need to leave because it was already almost 5PM I guess? and we all either had something or the weather were just getting more and more windy, I mean we were on the terrace yo so it’s cold! hahaha

Thanks Jovita for organizing this brunch and gave me the opportunity to feel how superstars are with a photographer around 🙂 thank you for all the preparations that you made for this brunch, I mean look at this name tag this is not made from a shitty paper kind of things, this is a serious name tag, if I zoom in the picture you could actually see a pattern on the name tag! Eiman reminded me to take it home for the next event, so Jo pay attention, Eiman has her name tag and she need to brings it to the next event 😉

Thanks for making the food deals for us I know that me and also Eiman! we are complicated “can we just order ala carte?” “we don’t want to take the free flow drink”, “where is the place?” I mean we basically asking many many questions frequently, you might need to make an FAQ next time mwahaha

Last but not least, it was very lovely to meet another 11 women! <3

April 22, 2019April 22, 2019

Give Paella The Third Chance

All equipment are sets since last time Diego cooked Paella and such a waste if we only used once, due to Thomas already did a “big investment” for it then we (read: Diego) need to use it again and again and again 😉 Yesterday- Easter Sunday, 21st of April was our 2nd time of successful Paella dinner! (out of 3 times trying)

Diego insisted that Paella is for lunch, not for dinner and Thomas supported this thought due to last time we did it on dinner time and he need to cleaned up and it took him a loooooonnngggg time to do the cleaning, sorry Thomas! but…. someone (read: Gianna) couldn’t do that so for this time we will also do it on a dinner time but we all will help Thomas with the cleaning #determined and then Thomas agreed! well, Diego need to agree as well, he need to adjust his thinking (again) that dinner in Shanghai is equal to lunch in Spain 😉

The cook- Diego and Sara arrived first at Thomas’ and then me! then Hanna and Elena (Idk how to spell your name, sorry if I spelled it incorrectly) followed by Gianna and last but not least Fiona. We miss you Christian, get well soon! and hope that you’ll learn from the fact that one beer always lead to another 😉 hahaha

This time, Diego made a seafood Paella, Thomas did the cutting, me and Sara did the garlic sauce… well basically I just put the egg and garlic on the blender and the rest was Sara haha but I still made a contribution to the Paella! I also put the ink and became the salt tester 😉 I tasted it even when Diego didn’t ask and at some point he said that I need to stop otherwise we won’t have enough soup for the Paella #ooopppssss

While Diego and Thomas doing the cooking, we, the girls were just chatting 🙂 The topic was Sara’s thumb injury that still need 6 more weeks 🙁 huaaa but hope that this really the last 6 weeks you ever needed! also her story when she came back from Singapore to Shanghai and at 5AM ish, she’s been followed by a guy #woooo spooky! nope, not spooky at all because the guy made sure that Sara knows that he followed her by spitting all the time gezzz! also her neighbor that played the piano at 6AM on the weekend! and mind you that her neighbor is not playing some kind of Beethoven or Mozart but more like practicing which is only do-re-mi-do-re-mi #poor Sara and Diego! and we, girls were creating a story of how to stop it, maybe we need to buy Sara violin or cello so she can also practice it at 6AM on the weekend 😉 hahaha

Btw the boys really did a good job!

Looks
YUMMY!

Fast forward to around 8-ish, Diego said to me “Marlyn, it’s getting ready, I already covered the Paella” and good good! Diego and Thomas was worried that it won’t be enough and we were thinking maybe we need to order pizza etc but Thomas got even a better idea, he said “If it’s still not enough, we can order Dutch Pies” and me and Sara were just “woooooooo” sooo do we ordered Dutch Pies in the end?! let’s see but first take a look at the final Paella 😉

The chef reaction….

It looks good, Chef!
It is!

And the eaters…

Our belly is as happy as our face

We killed it all! I had many prawns while Diego only had 1 maybe mwahaha I realized it when I need to put the prawns not on the plate and the other people still put it on their plate, it means that I ate a lot and then I asked Diego “Did you eat the prawns, where is the rubbish?” and he said “No, I haven’t eat it” and I stopped eating the prawns hahaha

Sadly Hanna and Elena need to leave 🙁 the rest of us still there!

After the Paella we still need to eat something and this is where the Dutch Pies begin! Sara ordered the surprise package wohoooo so we will have 7 different flavors since it takes one hour to deliver it so we continue with Gianna The Storyteller 😉 Being the longest time in SH which is almost 10 years, for sure she witness all the growth of SH, the convenient life and technology that we feel today, she didn’t get it 10 years ago but this is what makes her story interesting! Especially the story when she tried to corrected people on how to behave? yeah that doesn’t work girl, just move on hahaha! I really love the story when you wrote the “love letter” to the police haha that really was EPIC! followed by drunken Thomas and Giovanni in Hongkong, yo, taxi in Hongkong is not cheap! Thomas you wasted the taxi fare haha! and the story about you and Thomas’ mysterious friend that made me and Sara wants to meet him while Diego wasn’t around 😉

After so many times laughing, Diego kept saying “Thomas checked your phone” he became grumpy and all of us actually became grumpy, “Where is the dutch pie?!” but we cannot complain because from 饿了么 it’s written around 21:51 it will arrived, but then 21:30-ish the bell rang and we were “Open the door! that’s the Dutch Pie” and here it is our lovely surprise package 😉

TADAAAMMM!

At first we thought one flavor each but yeah we became barbarian and just pick it with our fork every flavor hahaha so we got to taste all flavors! and my fav goes to…. all of them except coconut and strawberrys 😉

The last moment the cake looks like a cake

What a dinner! and I did the washing! Gianna also did the cleaning, Hanna and Elena helped to throw the rubbish, Thomas uninstalled the equipment, I called it TEAM WORK! hahaha

Not only us that had a good food, Demon and Luna will also have many fish for his breakfast 🙂

We even have set up the Paella LUNCH! next month! finally it will be lunch 🙂 we all already write it on our calendar so…. it really should be lunch time. What will be the Paella theme for next month? Stay tuned 😉

P.S: Thanks Diego for cooking and also Thomas 😉

April 13, 2019April 13, 2019

Precisely Predicted

It started after Thorben helped me moved to my new apartment and we had brunch at Penta Hotel and two weeks after that it will be his birthday on 7^th of April and he made RSVP for 14 people. His bday fall on Qingming Holiday even though some people will travelling away but 14 people should be easy to reach considering that I don’t think anybody want to miss his bday 😉 I mean…why would them?

Then… I think I get used to unlimited list going on and on and on haha another wechat group of 5 people started and the list was for 14 people. So optimistic that he will make 14 out of 5 people 😉 but then this list getting long and longer through the following days. Ben said that he need to reserve the whole place of Penta Hotel instead of a long table. Up until this list blew up for 30+ people and Ben wasn’t so sure if Penta Hotel has chairs for all of us, but then Thorben said “knowing all of you, it will be like this sooner or later so no chair needed”

And the day arrived! He booked 3 big tables for all of us and we all had chairs 😉 It was all you can eat buffet with no time limits! And to make it better we can also order one additional dish! Penta Hotel is the best!

I was so happy that Stefan brought his son- Nemuun! Look at this cutie! He was just there, eating quietly but at some point he got bored and I tried to talk to him, apparently he doesn’t really want to talk to me mwahaha however I didn’t give up, considering that I already invested my Saturday and Sunday for 2 months in Goethe Institute, I need to speak to him in German! And the result was….it didn’t really work mwahaha but in the end we still managed to play 4 in a row and dopple card game and he was really good on it!

Focus on the kid please
Yep see the kid!

After some time, he wanted to play with his star wars game ALONE! I got rejected! Huaaaa Nemuun 🙁

It was a lot of fun with many new stories, one of them is Giorgio’s “haunted” apartment wuuuuuu it’s getting spooky! Against all odds, nobody want to be his neighbor so he has a whole floor of apartment by himself which is pretty cool for partying but there must be a reason why nobody want to rent it out which is……

Let’s just moving on to something funny when 1 hour of labor turned to 5 hours of labor and 1 person turned to 6 people hahahaha! Yep, Ben and Luis also moved to a new apartment and Thorben said that my stuff is only 1/10 from their stuff! Yes! I don’t have that much stuff then 😉

Luis came late because he’s still doing the unpack but still managed to look gorgeous!

Another funny moment was when Nicole tried to take a thousand pictures of her 😉 I was talking with Ivy and I heard Nicole said “take another one, again and again” haha such a job to take your picture! Hahaha Here’s finally her picture, thanks to Julia and Michelle that patiently that took it 😉

The…
Photographer…
Involved…
For Her!

Ivy and I also had a good selfie! I was either eating sth or looking somewhere when I heard my name being called “Marlyn” and I know it’s selfie time! Haha

Yep I was eating
Cleaned up the desert!

Moving on to Tim, he looks so elegant in his shorts and shirts, he can pull it off with just a simple shirt no wonder he’s a news anchor, therefore I need to say hi to him but either I was too excited or it just need to happen, I spilled the water to his shorts, he was on his phone and he said “bitch” so I feel (read: not really) bad 😉 I need to remind him that it could be worse, it could be a bloody mary, but since I don’t drink so……. It’s only water and it won’t leave stain, well it shouldn’t happened on the first place but it did haha

I think we were there until….3PM ish and before we walked to Zhongshan park which is only at the corner. That day was perfect, weather is really well cooperate with us, sunny and just nice!

Ben insisted of asking Luis to buy him Frisbee but since Thorben remembered that he has Frisbee so he didn’t let Ben or Luis brought it, in the end he borrowed Frisbee from somewhere and they played it for quite some time 😉 sooo think we owed Ben a “thank you” 😉

Then up until Marina said “let’s make a circle!” and here we are!

As if Thorben could predicted already, no chairs needed! And it’s not so much different from what he expected and reality 😉

Happy happy happy birthday to you Thorben! I’m so glad I can call you my brother, thank you for joining the Spartan exercise last year where I first met you (even though none of us did or will do the real Spartan haha), thank you for all the world cup game that we watched, thank you for all the steak and other food that you cooked for me and the list of thanks to you going on and on and on. There is no words can describe how I genuinely glad that I know you and simply put, you deserve all the best!

P.S: this is not some shitty lame bday wish like when you don’t know what to write to that bday person and just write “wish you all the best” hahaha biatch please 😉

March 21, 2019March 21, 2019

The Unrelated Father

It was a chill Wednesday morning so far, I was reading and replying some emails, looking on a wechat group about house, second hand stuff etc until one group really caught my attention due to many chats happening which is the one and only Hungover Games group. I was a bit curious because it wasn’t 12 PM yet so it’s definitely not a sign up time but what was the hype is all about? Turns out it’s was…….. #drum-roll and facepalm!

HAHA! SERIOUSLY?!?! Parent and Child Category?

This is about obstacle race in Moganshan the one that we and a bunch of archery people participated last year and they have it again on April and they use the picture from last year to put it as an advertisement for this year Xiaker’s race. They have 3 categories now (I think last year they only had 2) elite, recreational and parent and child hahaha! And what on earth somebody will put the picture of me and Thorben to fall on parent-child categories? 😉 LMAO!

Thank you Nikita that suddenly posted it on the group, I was laughing so hard and also thanks to Gigi that found it on the first place, you saw it right that girl on the picture is me hihi 😉

But still how it is possible? My very handsome Freddoy made an “analysis” if Thorben had me when he was 16 then it’s possible hahaha! but still I don’t look like 16, well if I do… it means I look 10+ years younger than I actually am 😉 #thanks to Yves Rocher cosmetics haha!

Not being over confident but I admit that on that picture I look younger than my age but still not as young to fall on child category hahaha and Thorben is really really impossible to look as old as a father haha!

Anyway, I found it very funny, thanks guys, you made my day and just like I mentioned before, something randomly funny always going on when you have a 500 crazy people on one group and this group is always worth to check 😉

And so it went to 12PM Tim sent a sticker saying “SILENCE” and you know what time is it? sign up time 😉

#Back to work 🙂

March 5, 2019March 5, 2019

Give Paella A Second Chance

Two weeks ago the nerdies was very excited to have our Spanish Chef-Diego as he would make us The Valencia Paella, the dish that he knows the most, even Sara doesn’t count as someone that knows how to make the real Paella 😉

The grand plan of the Paella started at CNY and Diego kept saying that we need to have the special pan with the diameter of 40cm, special stuff blablabla and Gio always said “Don’t worry about small stuff.. It’s easy to arrange, 小问题” and with the help of Thomas that miraculously order the things that we need the most which is stove and pan from Taobao where Thomas doesn’t even read any Chinese, I’m sure Nora helped him hahaha

Within the week, the equipment was “there” and I guess on D-day which is Sunday morning Diego reveal what we need for the Paella, and there was many conversation about who will bring what but in the end Sara was our unsung hero, she voluntarily bought all the ingredients 😉 up until…. when we were 3 hours away from the dinner plan, Thomas couldn’t find the connector for the special stove and the tube 🙁 so what did they do?

I was so sure there was about more than 100 chats on the group and I couldn’t even follow it anymore. Gio and Fiona checked from the shop near his home if there is any connector, Fiona suggested Thomas to go to B&Q to buy the connector there but due to Thomas doesn’t speak Chinese so he need to carry the stove as well to make sure that he didn’t buy the wrong connector. If B&Q doesn’t have it then no place will have it. Besides B&Q Thomas also wonder to several small shops on mobike with the stove ahahah 😀 and….. after wondering around the answer was a NO! We don’t have the connector!

Then how about the dinner? are we still going to make it? so Thomas went to Metro and he said “The decision needs to make now” haha therefore we postponed the Paella night and Thomas bought other ingredients and he became the cook for that night! wohoooo he made A Big Pot Chilli Con Carne 😉 and there it go, out of the sudden, potluck dinner was arranged and it went smooth! Sara brought cheese and Iberian chorio, Gio brought baguette, Fiona brought dessert and I brought Marina’s homemade waffle! Claudia kept taking out the chili from the pot so it wasn’t too spicy 😉

And right 30 mins before we suppose to arrive, Thomas found the connector on a different package from the 快递 guy pfffff after all this drama turns out the connector was at his home the whole time hahaha he just didn’t open it #facepalm!

Thomas said he never cut this much onions on his life ever and yes that’s a googles for cutting the onions hahaha

But the night went well, the food was good! and all of us were happy as always 😉

Well, I should say we learnt from the experience hahaha we became more prepared, rabbit was ordered for our Paella the following week 😉 and this time Nora made tiramisu dessert!

Diego started to cook since 6PM and we started to eat I guess at 21:15 hahaha and I had a very important role that night! which is to taste if it’s already salty enough 😉 this is the key role guys! neck to neck with the cook 😉 hahaha

Hola Paella!

Gracias Diego!!! I like the Paella, it was my first time eating rabbit and surprisingly I like it, I also like the burnt rice!

ALL
GOOD!

March 2, 2019March 2, 2019

The Something Bad Almost Happen

Tick… tock… tick… tock… it was time for our Nerdies friend- the prettiest woman I’ve ever know, Claudia and her husband Giovanni to move back to Germany 🙁

I remember I ran into Claudia like end of January in Jiaozhou Road infront of URBN hotel and she said she was looking for a venue for her farewell, I said to her that I thought it will be at her house? and she said it will be 70 people, we can’t have that much people on our house! and I was like “OK, they are really prepare! good Germans, full of calculation ahahaha :D” and then fast forward to yesterday, 1st of March, the announcement and the group chat was made and the number of the attendance keep going on and on and on, I mean who would want to miss your farewell? haha Not only that Claudia did some research about the location but she also prepared for the flyer and decorations!

The menu was very good, everything is very delicious we had a free flow finger food, the music was nice! and Claudia picked all the music, it took her 4 hours to do that hahaha and as always, Claudia looks very stunning!!! #drollingggg, she’s really lady with a class!

Regarding the food, Thomas was very aware, he saw the burger, I didn’t see it and when the burger arrived he gave me a code so that we directly went there 🙂 Sara, Fiona, Christian were… I guess, busy with talking to people while me, Diego and Thomas were busy of getting the food 😉 what a perfect combination! Then it’s time for a free flow cocktail, the Sidecar was amazing! dry martini was mehhhhhh not my fav hahahaha.

Claudia was ready to dance all day long, I mean with the high-heels and she can dance like this?! that’s respect!

In the meantime after we stopped eating and started to finally socialize with the other guest (read: Claudia’s colleague) hahahaha Thomas started to inhale the helium balloons and it triggered his friend named Joe to try it, but somehow he inhaled it tooooooo much and his face began to red and he was coughing, Christian said “Are you OK? I mean, it would be such a shame if in Claudia and Gio’s party there was one person dead” hahaha but he really really struggle, we were glad he was OK in the end hahaha!

Then, followed by another “almost” an accident where our friend, Diego lost his home key #facepalm! hahahaha but then he went back home and found out the key still attached to the door #fiuhhh at least you found it otherwise you and Sara cannot go home 😉 Besides them, Thomas is the master of getting himself locked out of his apartment, as once he got locked out wearing his house shoes, and then we would meet for dinner and he just went to Xintiandi (the fanciest area in Shanghai) wearing his house shoes and buy the new shoes there hahaha. Sorry Thomas but it was so funny! and you’re so Italian, you need to do it in style, I mean nobody will realize you were wearing house shoes 😀

Followed by Christian! He’s using a modern key which is a code but then after 6 months the battery was run out so he’s also got locked outside hahaha! Gosh it seems like a cycle! I don’t want to be the next one that lost of got locked outside of my apartment hahaha! But yeah everybody is safe in the end 🙂 it’s only something bad almost happen but not happened 😉

The party is keep going on and on, many pictures were taken on the photobooth, selfie etc. And the group picture was really a struggle! ahahaha

Claudia is really a Diva! look at her at her stunning dress and even she already had many overweight luggage, she said even if the luggage won’t be enough to bring her costume, SHE WILL WEAR IT! hahaha She will arrive Germany in style, and modest wasn’t in her dictionary 😉 Ask Christian! he also heard it!

Then….it was the time for a speech!!!

Claudia and Gio, you need to see that we all love you too, see the people that came, they are all in style and you can also see that they all agree that your party was the best! and it is really THE GREAT FAREWELL. Agree with what you said that this is not a goodbye, it will never be and we will see each other again sooner or later. You’re not the only one that sad to leave Shanghai but we also sad and please be assured that you will forever be miss by us <3

But until then, let’s just remember the instruction from this guy:

PS: Pictures were taken from everyone that shared it on the group 🙂

February 24, 2019February 24, 2019

The Difference Concept of Time

Saturday 23rd Feb marked the born day of our friend, Julia! She celebrated her birthday in a restaurant called RAW and I’m very happy to be able to be part of it. The dinner starts at 8PM and I read the comments for RAW and everyone that went there seems to have a good impression of the place and besides they won the award of best restaurant whatsoever for 3 years in a row perhaps?! and I can’t wait to try the food there. I arrived 5 mins pass 8 and the bday girl was not there yet ahahaha. Here is the special menu that we get 🙂

As for drink, I chose the 3 cocktails one 😉

Due to the bday girl wasn’t arrived yet so there were Jeni, Teru, Nick, JAdam so we started to either re-introduce ourselves or just pick up the conversation from the last time we met which is somewhere sometime in year 2018 haha! First I didn’t see Jovita and Adam but then I saw her and I talked to Jeni “I know her!” and Jeni said “me too but I can’t remember her name, I just remember she is very beautiful” and indeed agree with Jeni that Jovita is very beautiful!

Left is when I met Jovita first time on 2018 and right is yesterday, I think if there is ever be a constant, it will be her as she always beautiful all the time 😀

Then the bday girl arrived! Julia looked soooooo gorgeous! <3 #drollinggggg we were all cheered up and Eiman also arrived few minutes after Julia which is quiet surprising as we thought Eiman will arrive like maybe 2 hrs later ahahaha and with this, the dinner is ready to serve! The food was indeed amazing, the truffle was very good, Jovita said she makes it everyday as a breakfast wow! such a luxury! hahaha and the other foods also very good no wonder they won so many awards in a row! even if it’s not so many but winning an awards is not something easy so well done RAW! (I mean for now is a well done for you)

Idk if the two people on the corner was photo-bombed or what? haha

As a cocktail, me, Jovita and Adam started with Aperol Spritz. I talked with Jovita and just found out that she’s an architect! Please design me a homeeee! ahahaha 😉

I don’t know how many beers that Teru already had because I think at some point he was already 50-50, I have no idea if he was aware when he said he will join Eiman for Ramadhan month in April? ahaha it takes a mental preparation to do that, but yeah believe it or not he seems very determined about it. Considering that he was the one that bought saxophone accidentally when he was drunk so let’s see if he will do it 😉

The food came up so fast and we also ate it fast, then we still have the deal for the drinks so we stayed there of course haha. Somehow Eiman, Adam, Alan went for smoke but since Teru is already 50-50 when Eiman asked him to bring her scarf, Teru gave her my scarf, she did say that it’s not hers but Teru already somewhere on the moon so yeah thanks Teru and Eiman for the smokey scarf flavor hahaha that exactly what I ordered 😉

My smokey scarf wouldn’t be possible without you two 😉 #chuckle

I ordered my next cocktail which is Pisco Sour and I have no idea what happened with it as it took more than 1 hour to make it. I did asked the girl many many times probably 6 times and Nick keep reminding me to be calm and he told me that she remembered my order and will bring it shortly but yeah that shortly took forever as if me and RAW was on different planet with a different concept of time, what is up with you guys?!?!?! pffff They became very very slow up to the point that it wasn’t only me that realized it but Julia and the others as well. I was about to write a good review about RAW on bon app but yeah over 1 hour of Pisco Sour made me don’t want to do that.

We, well (read: I) did many things to let the time pass by and not remembered it was from almost one hour- one hour- over one hour to order my second cocktail, we did many pictures and so on but still the drinks has not arrived yet.

We were so ready to just pay the bill and go somewhere due to it will take forever and ever to get the drink but then we realized there was a cake! so we had to stay still and Julia was already hurried us to leave hahaha sorry girl, Eiman had other plan which is you need to get your birthday cake 😉

The cake was delicious! and since it’s not a tart cake so at first Julia thought to just bring it to Revolution and eat there haha yeap this is just described of how hurried she is to leave from RAW, but in the end she didn’t do that and she just cut the cake in the most brutal way possible hahaha and we didn’t even bother to put the cake on the plate we just took it with our hand, yeah! Indonesian way! ahaha We even want to take a picture together again but (again) we didn’t bother, we just want to get out of RAW and took picture outside.

We went to Revolution but due to we didn’t get the table so we moved to La Social! Adam’s friend is the owner of La Social so we got the VIP table and we enter without even waiting (except waiting for the elevator 😉 that kept ringing even though I don’t think we were that heavy hahaha)

Adam ordered a very good passion fruit mojito whatever its called haha and it’s very good indeed!

Up to the point where I need to leave because I have the German class the next day, yes people if you check on calendar it is on Sunday. And I said goodbye to Julia etc and I was like “where is Eiman?” but I realized Adam also gone so I’m convinced they were smoking downstairs and Eiman will always be Eiman, another constant, which is The Most Realistic person ever haha. I said that I have a German class and she said the F word! whaaaaaatttt precisely she said “F!#% it Marlyn, cut the BS, it’s Sunday nobody teach on Sunday? and only Germans speaks German!” hahaha #facepalm, very Eiman!

Well well well, enjoy Ritz Carlton for Julia and thank you so much for inviting me to your birthday, despite all of the drama with the different time zone we had with RAW, it was such a lovely dinner, nice place and nice time with you. I know all these people through you , I don’t know them as long as they know you but agree with your speech that they all wonderful people, I mean look at me ahahaha 😀 (read: that’s not the point)

I wish you a happy birthday, great years for you is just around the corner, all the happiness and happy to have you as my friend 🙂 #Sorry that I was trying to read your speech from your phone, I mean…I’m not a native speaker yo hahaha and I don’t get use to British accent 😉