Spent my weekend shopping, again!

Bought more skincare products yesterday; moisturisers, serum, cleanser etc. Another $350, just like last weekend. Think Dear was pretty amused by how much I can spend, especially at a period where we shoud both be saving up for our customary wedding next year.

Not sure why but when I spent on skincare, I don't feel so wasted. Perhaps it's because I treat skincare as a regiment or staple. I mean, since I need to use them daily, day and night, might as well buy since they are on sales now... right?!?

Went for facial earlier at noon and Ann really did very thorough extraction. However, the pores on my nose are really big. Ann recommended for me to put cotton pad wet with chilled toner every night on my nose. I will try to do it from tomorrow onwards and see if the pores shrink.

I also mentioned about my freckles to Ann and was asking if I should go for those freckles-lightening treatment. She shared with me that such treatment would be very slow and not so thorough, especially for my fair skin. She said if I really want to, should just go for IPL (Intensed Pulse Light) Skin Treatment with an aesthetician.

In fact, I am still contemplating if I should do IPL at St Louis Hospital in Bangkok. But I understand that if I were to do IPL, it's not permanent too and I have to do every few months. My main worry is that, I have sensitive skin and not sure if IPL will be too harsh for my skin.

If I really intend to do IPL in Bangkok, I should start to enquire with the doctor now. Afterall, I am definitely going Bangkok in December!

Argh. So much to do. So little time.

I went for my second specialist appointment at ENT Centre today. Did a Sleep Study Diagnostic Test on 16 September 2008 at home and results were mailed to Dr Chan.

Anyway, it is confirmed that I had pretty severe Tonsillitis and I need to go for Tonsillectomy. On top of that, I need to use RF (Radio-Frequency) treatment to burn off some bone inside my nostril, so that I can breathe better and not keep having flu.

It would be 2-in-1 surgery and I would probably stay overnight at the hospital for 1 night. But subsequently will be on 2-weeks hospitalisation leave. After consulting Dr Chan, the nurse made a tentative appointment for the surgery to be scheduled next January. This is because I had thought that I would be too busy until year-end.

To my surprise, when back to office and after having a talk with Boss on this, she encouraged me to go for the surgery earlier. As such, would be re-scheduling the surgery in early November. I am really thankful she is so understanding.

Well, in a way, I do want to do the surgery soon too. The doctor did say that if I do not do sooner, I will continue to have persistent sore throat with fever and flu. In fact, after my last course of antibiotics, I am down with sore throat and flu again.

As of now, my throat still hurts and I did not dare to touch the new course of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor whom I visited last week. I have finished 2 bottles of cough syrup, 2 packs of flu medication and lotsa lozenges. Currently, I am just drinking lotsa plain water and hope I will recover soon. I do hope I don't need to see the doctor for my sore throat again.

In a way, I do look forward to the surgery as my condition is affecting my productivity at work and my personal life. Where sleep is concerned, I am having difficulty breathing and I hope this will be resolved soon.

Sigh.

Both Metro and John Little are having 20% storewide discount. And, I spent so much!

Basically, bought or should I say replenished my skincare products. My best buy should be the Kawaii Tokyo All-in-1-Step Skincare for Day & Night. Been wanting to try but is quite expensive. But it is going at 15% + 20% discount at John Little today! Bought 2 bottles, 1 for me and 1 for Mummy to try. Hehe.

And with the rave about mineral loose powder, I decided to get some to try too, especially since I have such sensitive skin. Got 1 Revlon Colorstay Mineral Foundation and 2 Mermaid Mineral Powder by Splash. Both have SPF!

Total damage today is $350 but I am a happy girl!

Finally, pictures from my solemnisation taken on 7 September 2008.

Held the solemnisation at Goodwood Park Hotel, Mayfair Pool @ 6pm.

We then went to Min Jiang (Chinese restaurant @ Goodwood Park Hotel) for a private dinner reception @ 6.30pm.

My cough persists and throat gets more sore. When I went into office in the morning, it was still not so bad. But as the day goes, with the numerous meetings and phone calls, my voice box sorta gave way.

I sounded so hollow now and just visited the doctor for the third time this week. More medicine. I asked the doctor is to prescribe me some medicine to tight me over tomorrow and I promise to rest on both Saturday and Sunday. My head was throbbing badly earlier at the clinic, which I waited an hour before I got to see the doctor.

Got home late and by the time I had dinner, was already nine. Took my medicine but am still coughing right now. I really hate this.

I should sleep early tonight.

I can finally heave a sigh of relief today. But, am expecting more meetings next 2 days till next week.

AIG has accepted a US$85 billion credit facility from the U.S. Federal, which it will repay in full from sales of some of its US$1 trillion assets. New chairman, Edward Liddy, has been appointed, and changes in the Board of Directors are expected.

The day has been busy as we met up and telephoned business partners to assure them. Much effort was also put in to put up a proper Q&As for communication to customers.

For those of you who are not aware, insurance policies written in Singapore are direct obligations regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). American Home Assurance Company (AHAC) Singapore is well-capitalised and our Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 176% exceeds the MAS' published CAR requirement of 120%.

Business and leadership in AHAC Singapore remains unchanged and we will continue to operate normally and remain adequately capitalised to meet policyholders' obligations.

From Yahoo News:

By JEANNINE AVERSA IEVA M. AUGSTUMS and STEPHEN BERNARD,AP Business Writers

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government stepped in Tuesday to rescue American International Group Inc., one of the world's largest insurers, with an $85 billion injection of taxpayer money. Under the deal, the government will get a 79.9 percent stake in AIG and the right to remove senior management.

AIG's chief executive, Robert Willumstad, is expected to be replaced by Edward Liddy, the former head of insurer Allstate Corp., according to The Wall Street Journal, citing a person it did not name. Willumstad had been at the helm of AIG since June.

A call to AIG to confirm the executive change was not immediately returned.

It was the second time this month the feds put taxpayer money on the hook to rescue a private financial company, saying its failure would further disrupt markets and threaten the already fragile economy.

AIG said it will repay the money in full with proceeds from the sales of some of its assets.

Under the deal, the Federal Reserve will provide a two-year $85 billion emergency loan to AIG, which teetered on the edge of failure because of stresses caused by the collapse of the subprime mortgage market and the credit crunch that ensued. In return, the government will get a 79.9 percent stake in AIG and the right to remove senior management.

The move was similar to government's seizure on Sept. 7 of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, where the Treasury Department said it was prepared to put up as much as $100 billion over time in each of the companies if needed to keep them from going broke.

The Fed said it determined that a disorderly failure of AIG could hurt the already delicate financial markets and the economy.

It also could "lead to substantially higher borrowing costs, reduced household wealth and materially weaker economic performance," the Fed said in a statement.

The decision to help AIG marked a reversal for the government from the weekend, when it refused to use taxpayer money to bail out Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Lehman, which filed for bankruptcy protection Monday, collapsed under the weight of mounting losses related to its real estate holdings.

The White House said it backed the Fed's decision Tuesday.

"These steps are taken in the interest of promoting stability in financial markets and limiting damage to the broader economy, " White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

After meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke in a late-night briefing on Capitol Hill, Congressional leaders said they understood the need for the bailout.

"The administration is approaching an unprecedented step, but unfortunately we are living in unprecedented times. Hearing of these plans, you have to stop to catch your breath. But upon reflection, the alternatives are much worse," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

In a statement late Tuesday, AIG's board of directors said the loan will protect all AIG policy holders, address concerns of rating agencies and buy the company time to sell off assets.

"We expect that the proceeds of these sales will be sufficient to repay the loan in full and enable AIG's businesses to continue as substantial participants in their respective markets," the statement said. "In return for providing this essential support, American taxpayers will receive a substantial majority ownership interest in AIG."

New York officials said the deal helps stave off a fiscal crisis for the state. AIG is based in New York.

"Policy holders will be protected, jobs will be saved," New York Gov. David Paterson said Tuesday night.

The Fed's move was part of a concerted push to help calm jittery markets and investors around the world.

On Tuesday, the Fed decided to keep its key interest rate steady at 2 percent, but acknowledged stresses in financial markets have grown and hinted it stood ready to lower rates if needed.

The central bank also pumped $70 billion into the nation's financial system to help ease credit stresses. In emergency sessions over the weekend, the Fed expanded its loan programs to Wall Street firms, part of an ongoing effort to get credit flowing more freely.

The stock market, which Monday posted its largest point loss session since the Sept. 11 attacks, recovered Tuesday after the Fed's decision on interest rates. The Dow Jones industrials rose 141 points after losing 500 points on Monday.

AIG's shares swung violently, though, as rumors of potential deals involving the government or private parties emerged and were dashed. By late Tuesday, its shares had closed down 20 percent _ and another 45 percent after hours.

The problems at AIG stemmed from its insurance of mortgage-backed securities and other risky debt against default. If AIG couldn't make good on its promise to pay back soured debt, investors feared the consequences would pose a greater threat to the U.S. financial system than this week's collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The worries were heightened Monday after Moody's Investor Service, Standard and Poor's and Fitch Ratings lowered AIG's credit ratings, forcing AIG to seek more money for collateral against its insurance contracts. Without that money, AIG would have defaulted on its obligations and the buyers of its insurance _ such as banks and other financial companies _ would have found themselves without protection against losses on the debt they hold.

Am on medical leave today due to severe cough and sore throat. But my mobile phone kept ringing, mostly from partners trying to find out how AIG's financial crisis in U.S. is impacting our local office.

The last I heard, AIG in New York would be selling off some assets for some capital. As for Singapore, there was much panic among the public but we were told that our local offices are heavily regulted by the MAS and have sufficient funds to keep us going.

Having said that, AIG's credit ratings were slashed to negative AA and this would certainly affect how the market sees us.

Many friends have contacted me and expressed their concerns. Actually, I was not too worried but with their calls or sms-es, I am now wondering if I would be retrenched if AIG in New York does not reverse its current situation.

Yes, locally we have enough liquidity and solvency, but to keep us going, the U.S. economy must stablise. Who will imagine Lehman Brothers to file for bankruptcy and for Merrill Lynch to be bought over by Bank of America? The U.S. financial situation is really in chaos now.

Shares in all markets including U.S., Europe, Japan etc, took a plunge and investors are literally scrambling. I will not be surprised if the stock market crashes. And the impeding recession which we are expecting may come sooner than expected.

This is really not a good year and I am getting really worried. Hope this whole economical situation will not affect my wedding plans next year.

Let's just keep our fingers crossed.

You make me happy, you make me smile, and you make me feel loved.

You are patient and sincere. Thank you for loving me as I am.

I promise to love, cherish and respect you, for as long as we both shall live.

I will hold you when you fall. Listen to you when you speak. Direct you when you are lost. Laugh with you when you are merry. And, comfort you when you are sad.

Today, I commit myself to you. And with this ring, I am honoured to call you my husband.

I am ready, for my solemnisation tomorrow!

Penned my personal vows at dawn.

Did my pedicure and french manicure with nail art at noon.

Went for my hair treatment at late noon.

Arranged complimentary parking for my friends who will be driving to Goodwood Park Hotel tomorrow.

Called Min Jiang to re-confirm on the number of tables and dinner menu.

Confirmed arrival time of Make Up Artist and Photographer for tomorrow.

Packed the following:
- ROM Heels
- ROM Gown
- Necklace and hair accessory
- Dear's new leather shoes
- 2 Photo Albums for Reception Table

Now, am just praying it doesn't rain tomorrow evening. My solemnisation will be held at Mayfair Pool but if it rains and doesn't stop by 4pm, we will have to do it at the Pool Terrace.

Actually, Pool Terrace is fine too, and is sheltered. But I prefer the much cosier Mayfair Pool. And that explains why I compromised on the limited seating capacity at Mayfair, thus inviting only a few close friends.

Well, hope all goes well tomorrow and may all my friends enjoy. I am so excited!

Ok, finally, I am actually feeling excited and looking forward to my solemnisation this Sunday!

Took half day leave this afternoon to go to Registry Of Marriage (ROM) for documents verification since we are doing our solemnisation outside of ROM. We were attended to almost immediately and when I took the oath to declare both our particulars to solemnise our marriage, I was thrilled.

Anyway, went shopping after that and am so glad that I managed to find a decent pair of back-strapped heels to go with my ROM gown. Well, bought a blue dress and another pair of heels; slip-ons in black.

A few friends have sms-ed me on whether I need help on Sunday and I am really touched by their offer to help. Actually, there is no need to. Afterall, it's gonna be a simple affair. Solemnisation, take some pictures, followed by dinner.

But, girls, no worry, I will definitely be troubling you next year for the customary wedding. I will be needing lotsa help then!