Me? I'm just passing through

Coming back...

2010-05-20T00:33:00.002+08:00

Don't know if there's any of you left out there... it's been so long that I've stopped blogging...

Now that things have changed in my life... I am free to speak my thoughts again, clearly, unabashedly....

So.. come along with me again.. whoever is out there :)

You raise me up...

2008-07-02T01:45:00.000+08:00

This is blood :o)... Way to go!

Children are God's gifts to us..

2008-06-01T17:47:00.002+08:00

in order to teach us how to be better people.

But some of us abuse these gifts... and forget the reason why they're given to us to watch over in the first place...

A Korean drama in 7minutes and 59 seconds

2007-12-25T17:12:00.000+08:00

I kid you not...

Coincidence?

2007-12-11T07:06:00.000+08:00

Today.. I could have been in mourning.

You see, my son almost broke his neck last night; I am still totally shaken by it.

I was sitting on my couch last night, and my son, M, was crying. The boy came over to my right, from the back, and put his head on the seat and kicked. So hard that his whole body went up in the air. The only problem was that his chin was still on the seat.

I can still see this in slow motion. His neck slowly extending itself into a position it was never meant to be in, while his body and legs continue on their upward and over trajectory. I was frozen in place.

The next thing I knew, I instinctively gave him a hard push. He landed with a thud... and cried even harder. I did the only thing I could... I spanked him... and hugged him. My tears were on the brink.

Last night, when my little baby was fast asleep; I prayed over him, and thanked God. For putting me where I was. For giving me reflexes I never knew I had.

Was it a coincidence I was there when it happened?

I think not.

I Can...

2007-12-04T12:38:00.000+08:00

The SJI Military Band... 50 years on...

2007-11-24T22:47:00.000+08:00

... more a Concert Band... in military uniform. But one thing I must say... their concert music is GREAT! Interesting quip heard over dinner "They have traditions! It's just that these traditions change every year"

Mahna! Mahna!

2007-10-18T07:21:00.000+08:00

For those who were around in 1969. Enjoy!

Thank you Lord

2007-10-18T07:13:00.000+08:00

Warning. Watching this may change your life as you know it...

Fantastic stuff...

2007-10-07T18:50:00.000+08:00

Go out and get the album "Matter of Time"...

Small actions, Big impact

2007-09-27T06:15:00.000+08:00

I'm beginning to understand how small actions can lead to big changes... in my blood sugar.

Went to my mom-in-law's 2 nights ago during Mid-Autumn Festival. The spread was so good I got depressed. In the end, I had a whole plate of Lady's Finger to take the edge off my hunger. Then I settled down and had a couple pieces of chicken curry, mushrooms cooked with shredded chicken, and vegetables cooked in various forms. Finally... I did the unthinkable; I had 3 wedges of moon cake. I felt the effects the next morning.. my blood sugar jumped from 5.9 the previous day to 7.4, a substantial jump.

I did better yesterday. Had fruit for breakfast and went to the gym and had an excellent workout. For lunch, I had a full salad (with nuts), dressed in 1/4 cup of orange juice, as well as loads of fruit. You may not believe it, but it was fabulous. For dinner, I was craving for hot soup, so I had my helper warm up some chicken soup. I also have 2/3s a big bowl of salad, 2 plums, 2 kiwi fruit and 1 banana. My fasting glucose this morning was 6.4.

I must be doing better. A neighbour's maid told my helper that I've lost lots of weight. :o)

The beginning...

2007-09-25T06:56:00.000+08:00

Fasting glucose readings : Day 0 8.1, Day 1 7.6,Day 2 (now) 5.9

Lunch : Salad + Fruit. No exactly hungry, but made myself finish (mostly, anyway) the salad and the fruit.

Dinner : Ravenous. Needed something hot so made myself a carrot-onion-celery soup. Delicious. My daughter loves it too! Also had boiled okra (yummy!) and fruit.

Exercise : 30 mins on the elliptical machine. Grueling, but manageable.

Overall, Day 1 was okay. My tastebuds haven't totally acclimatized to the food yet, but again, it was okay. Fasting sugars are improving, but that's on medication. To totally improve, I need to drastically drop my weight. Why? The levels of insulin my pancreas are producing will still be more than enough for a (much) smaller body...

Rock on!

It's confirmed

2007-09-23T15:37:00.000+08:00

Yup. I've got Type II Diabetes. Adult Onset Diabetes.

Sigh.

It's really strange. I had a series of blood and urine tests done 2 months ago and everything was negative. The bright side of it is that it was spotted so early.

I've decided to go the Eat for Life diet. This will be for 6 weeks. There've been many diabetics who've reversed their condition.

Wish me luck.

New Mobile Blog

2007-09-15T10:27:00.000+08:00

Hi all

I've just set up a new mobile blog. Really makes blogging loads more convenient. Do visit!

My life is a ...

2007-09-15T00:25:00.000+08:00

... Korean drama... at least that's what I was told.

As you all already know, I come (came?) from a broken home; my parents were divorced when I was 5, and my mom does not publicly acknowledge me as her son. No, not because she's ashamed of me, but, well, because I guess I'm her "little secret".

3 days ago, I was working later through lunch and feeling hungry, I decided to take a walk to the food court to get some food.. when out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone waving frantically at me.

It was D, an old friend from church. She jumped up, gave me a big hug and introduced me to her neighbour... my mom.

W-O-W

After I had bought my food, D offered to buy me a drink and when she was away, my mom told me..."D told me you're a very good boy, and that you had a really hard life". With that, she put a hand to her chest and sighed.

W-O-W

While she did tell D that she knew me, she never acknowledged me as her son; she just told D that it was a "long story".

The irony of it all? D kept saying during lunch how much she treated me like her son.

W-O-W

How to live in the moment

2007-08-22T22:51:00.000+08:00

Saw this post at Patterico's and this really took my breath away. I really wanted to make a copy here... just in case the original post is ever erased...

12/3/2006
Putting Things in Perspective
Filed under: Real Life, General — Patterico @ 10:08 am

I’ve discovered a way to bring a new perspective to your life.

To explain it, I have to tell a little story.

Driving home Friday night, I was remembering a time years ago, when my daughter Lauren (now six years old) was in her first year. An old friend of mine was coming to town, and we went with my wife to see a Glen Phillips solo acoustic concert down near San Diego.

We were very excited to see the show. But for some reason, we couldn’t get a babysitter. So we decided to take Lauren. Since it was just an acoustic show, we hoped that she’d sleep peacefully on my lap. If, during the show, she got upset, I would take her out to the car. Thereafter, my wife and I would take turns watching her in the car.

Lauren was asleep when the concert began — but she awoke, crying, five seconds into the first song. It was louder than we had thought it would be. I hurriedly took her to the car, which was parked on the street about half a block away.

Once I had her out there, I never brought her back inside the club. Although part of me wanted to be back inside watching the concert, I was also having fun being with my daughter — at times talking to her when she was awake, and at times watching her sleep. Plus, I wanted to let my wife see the whole concert. I figured there was no reason to interrupt her enjoyment if I was having a perfectly good time.

It wasn’t so much that I preferred to be with my daughter than to watch a concert. I just didn’t mind staying out with her in the car.

Thinking about this the other night, I asked myself: Patrick, if you could go back to that night, right now, and either stay out in the car with Lauren, or be inside and watch the concert — which would you do?

And of course the answer was obvious.

The night it happened, I didn’t mind being in the car with my daughter. But if I could go back now, there’s no question that I would want to be there.

Not only would I stay in the car with her — I would make the most of the experience, realizing that I had a precious chance to see her at that age again. I would try to commit every moment to memory.

And then I realized: some day, years in the future, I might be asking the same question about my life today — this very minute. If you could have this moment back to live over again, what would you do?

The rest of that evening, I pictured myself as having been sent into my body from the future, to relive the moments I was experiencing. And I saw everything differently. I sat on the couch and watched television with my arm around my wife — all the while imagining myself as an old man, transported back in time to relive that moment. And all of a sudden, what otherwise might have seemed like a mundane moment seemed like a privilege. I felt like the luckiest guy in the world, just sitting there with my wife.

I’ve tried the trick all weekend, and it really changes your outlook. Just sitting around with a sleepy child in your arms is great any way you look at it. But if you picture yourself as someone whose child has grown up — if you imagine yourself as an older man, who would give the world to be back in that chair with that child in his arms — it makes you realize how important the moment is. And you appreciate it more.

Like any epiphany, I know that this will pass, to be remembered only from time to time. I hope I remember it often, when routine is wearing on me.

But there are times I actively need to forget it, because this outlook promotes a sort of hedonism. For example, right now, I need to clean the house — but that’s not really what I would choose to do if I were sent here from the future.

Oh, well. I’m going to clean up anyway. I think the guy from the future would understand — sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do. I can hear my future self in my head right now. He says to make a nice cup of coffee and put on some music while I do it, and take some breaks to play with the kids. Enjoy the chores as well as the easy and fun moments, I hear him saying. Some day, you’ll miss even the chores. Some day, you’ll miss almost everything about your life the way it is right now.

A beautiful day at the playground...

2007-08-05T08:01:00.000+08:00

Hilarious stuff!

2007-06-30T18:28:00.000+08:00

To iBook or not... that is the question!

Problem is... I can't help feeling the video's like a Milli Vanilli kinda thing...

Cowardice... Singapore Style

2007-05-13T22:52:00.000+08:00

It's been quite a while since I last blogged; too many things have happened... some good, some bad. Will talk about it some time later.

But what I want to blog about is something all of us who drive face everyday, parking lots, and the accompanying hassles that come with it.

Yesterday, on the 12th of May, my wife sent E for her weekly ballet class. After having circled the car park numerous times, L settles along a lane, and waits.... quite a few car lengths behind another car. A few minutes later, a couple emerges and gesticulates to L that they're moving off. The lot? Immediately next to my car. To allow the couple's car to go off, L reverses... but only enough to let the car out.

Something unbelievable happens. Car number 1 reverses SEVERAL car lengths, sounds his horn continuously and gesticulates wildly, claiming the car park lot as his. Now.. all of us schooled in the car parking etiquette, know that the lot will go to the car nearest the lot when it becomes vacant.

My wife, L, gesticulates back... and she takes the lot. The other chap is not happy... but does not come down. L tells me that the other fellow is a family man... while she has a feeling that he'll try to scratch the car, she does nothing... after all, E was late for her ballet lesson.

Fast forward a few hours. I'm about to bring my son M for his gym class... and what do I see? A nice long scratch along the driver's side. Good thing I don't really bother if my car has a few scratches... it is a depreciating asset after all.

What gets me though is the cowardice of this man. A man whose not willing to stand up for what he believes. He cowers during confrontations, but like the man he is, he waits for his opponent to go off.. before he strikes. Key in hand, he walks along the side of the door and scratches.

With each centimeter he digs in, he grows increasing smug, satisfied that he's actually done something. Deed done, he struts off... happy to have made his mark.

My friends from other countries tells me that doesn't happy where they come from. Instead, confrontations are not avoided. Whether or not they get their way, people actually stand up for their rights.

Which leaves me wondering... is this "Singapore-style cowardice" affecting more than our parking lots? Is it infesting our attitude towards life? Is that why the average Singaporean is unwilling to speak up.. except during election time... when he think's no one's watching? After casting his silent vote, he struts off.. happy to have made his mark?

Are we all predisposed to being cowards because how we are culturalised here in Singapore?

Getting the ole engine started

2007-01-07T08:08:00.000+08:00

It's been a long time since I last posted. So, before I begin, a quick summary of what I've been doing :

1) My dad passed away on the 27th of December 2006 at 1.23am;

2) We took another trip to Taipei in November;

3) On the work front, it's been a busy period... my team has been hitting targets
consistently. I'm proud to say that I've got a wonderful bunch of people! :o);

4) My brother-in-law had his first child, Isaac, on the 4th of December 2006;

So here you go... 4 reasons for me being totally swamped and unable to blog for the past few months. But life has settled down, and I really feel quite sane and calm enough to get blogging again.

Oh.. Happy New Year.. and I'll see you soon.

That's a promise

Here's the Skinny on the Weight Loss industry

2006-11-14T15:01:00.000+08:00

Excellent piece. Collapsed when I went through it! :o)

Cannot miss this...

http://slimderella.bobbin-comic.com/01.html

Slurp!

2006-11-13T13:02:00.000+08:00

Something cheerful. Really need this...

Your Icecream Flavour is...
Cookies 'n Cream!

Smooth and creamy with a few rough bits mixed in, you are a real treat! You are probably very popular amongst your friends. Remember too much of a good thing is not always good! Don't lay it on too thick!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz

Pearls of Wisdom

2006-11-09T11:31:00.000+08:00

"Ting, you must choose your friends very carefully"

Sounds like great advice, no? But wait for Part II...

"You must choose friends whom you think are useful to you. Don't waste time making friends whom you do not find useful"

And.. how about this gem?

... service staff delivers item. Sister thanks her... and

"No need to thank her. She's only doing her job"

I really felt sad when I heard those words being uttered.

Then I look again... at a man with no one by his side, no one to soothe and comfort him, no one who REALLY cares.

Touch Down

2006-11-08T15:48:00.000+08:00

Landed in Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Airport on 27th October 2006 at 6.30pm. Squinted my eyes... oh... there she was... my dad's "good friend". Got my Pandan Leaves impounded at Taiwanese customs. Apparently you can't bring in live plants into an agricultural country.

Gave her a hug and walked to the car... and looked in.

My heart sank.

My dad, formerly very robust, was now a shadow of his former self. His body can be best described as "skeletal" but his belly is similar to mine in size, a 120kg man.

Water-retention. A clear sign that his liver and kidneys are not working the way they should be.

We start on our long slow journey to the city to pick up my sister with my dad at the wheel. He drives very slowly... occasionally swerving out of his lane, clearly in pain and discomfort. We pick up my sister some 45 minutes later.. the long journey a result of the traffic jam. Once we arrive at the restaurant, we eat in silence, allowing dad to catch his breath and for the swelling in his ankles to go down.

Once done, we send "good friend" home and proceed to his apartment. I give it a once over when we reach "home". I say "home" because it's a sorry excuse for a home. Clothes are strewn everywhere and there is no decent cookware to speak of.

The next few days would really be tough going.

*more to come later*

Off to Taipei

2006-10-19T10:40:00.000+08:00

Between the 27th and the 31st of October...

Will be bringing sauces for my dad's favourite fish head curry. Plan to also make Hainanese Chicken Rice and perhaps carrot cake...

Last taste for him before he heads HOME.

What if...

2006-10-13T21:37:00.001+08:00

What if one day you got a call from your dad? Someone you were never really close to?

What if he told you he was dying?

What if you were asked to take in your 16-year-old Taiwanese half sister... for you to bring up?

What if you were told by well-meaning friends of the dad : "I think this would be better.. as you're brother and sister"

What if?

What would you do? What would YOU do? Because I really don't.

*sob*

Updates

2006-10-08T08:47:00.000+08:00

Thanks for all your emails expressing concern; I REALLY am very touched... :o)

Have been many changes in my life and now's a good time to update you guys..

After settling my Grandaunty's matter, went to Melbourne for a short 10 day trip...

Really enjoyed my trip with the family. The thing was, I was working (via my mobile) through at least 8 out of the 10 days. The wifey made her mandatory "why-are-we-going-for-a-holiday-if-you-have to work-all-the-time" speech, but then this time, unlike other times, I felt the same.... *sigh*

Was back to the office on the 11th of September. Was having the most normal of days when one of my colleagues let slip that I was going to be promoted to replace one of the outgoing managers. Soon enough, other rumours reached me about how arrogant / self-centred / competitive I was. Remember the bunch of people who was pissed off with me? Yup. That's the bunch who was going to be in my team.

The story goes on and on... with the team petitioning and trying to retain their existing manager... I suspect that their intentions were so that they wouldn't have to come under my charge, rather than his retention per se. Amazing, isn't it?

Anyways.. after dinging-and-donging.. it was announced on the 2nd of October.. that I was promoted.. to head my OWN, newly-created, team. The previous manager? He withdrew his resignation.

*shrug* *grin*

Back

2006-09-17T07:27:00.000+08:00

Hi guys

Thanks for all your concern. Am done with mourning. I'm back.. but will update later today or tomorrow.

*hugs*

2006-08-14T12:20:00.000+08:00

Talked about my dad sometime ago.

Found out he has Stage 2 to Stage 3 Liver Cancer.

Looks like I'll be flying up to Taiwan (where he's been living for 30 years). Time to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done.

Back

2006-08-14T10:33:00.000+08:00

Hi. Thank you all for your comforting words. The funeral was yesterday.

The passing of my Grandaunty was to me, a very interesting event. I saw (some positive and some negative) facets of people which I had not seen before.

1) The relatives
I was practically adopted by my grandaunt, albeit without any official papers. Born out of wedlock (although my parents married a month later), I was thrust into my grandaunt's arms when I was 2 months' old, and when she was 52. Now, parents out there will know how tough it is to look after a new born when you're in your 20s... this woman was in her 50s!

My grandaunt had a hard life, with all her children passing on before her. Who she had left was her son-in-law (now 78), her 3 grandchildren, her 9 great-grandchildren, and me. In terms of blood ties, I was the furthest one away.

So why was it that it was me and my wife who was taking care of ALL the final details? Or that it was only the 2 of us (together with my children) being at the wake alone for 3 full days? Why was it that the "family" came only on the evening on the 3rd day, only to leave early? In my mind, they behaved more likes guests rather than family members.

Yet when it came time to walk around the casket, they reached out and carressed the casket as though they cared.

It's all BS. It disgusted me. I can't be too bothered to be angry with them. But all this wayang (showmanship) got to me.

Urgh

It's funny... that the 2 people who were REALLY affected were myself and another girl whom my grandaunty looked after as part of her bid to earn more money. This girl who visited her when she was in the nursing home, who tried to hide her sobs, whose company sent a wreathe dedicated to "her grandmother". Somehow, I felt it was enough that the 2 of us were there... not the grandchildren, nor the great grandchildren.....

2) The friends
My friends came for 3 days in a row.. many repeatedly. They came and they hugged me, joked with me, spent time with me, prayed with me. They knew, inside, that I needed them at this time when I was feeling very vulnerable. I did not expect anything.. but got everything.

Thanks guys

3) The colleagues
One of my colleagues visited unannounced. His presence and the look on his face showed me his concern. Another was tasked to deliver the "pek kim", or the contributions from the office. This one was interesting; she hemmed and hawed.. and finally when she did come, she called me on the phone and asked to me to meet her outside because she had just "gone to the temple and therefore cannot go for such things".. why? So she can pass me the pek kim.

I wanted to tell her to go shove it. I didn't need the money. I didn't need for you to come to give me all this lip service. But I didn't want to insult the rest... but this one, she pissed me off really badly.

Another one of my colleagues covered for half a day in a branch because I was away.. the first thing she did? Write me an email... "condolences.. blah blah.. as this is a mutual swop, please cover my duty on blah blah blah date".

Bah.

4) My family
My wife and my daughter were with me almost all the time (my boy is 18 months and it was difficult to bring him to the wake). My girl, who is almost 6, took it upon herself to make sure the peanuts and candy were well stocked. She also hugged me.. and comforted me and she sensed that I was down.

Of course, my wife. She was always there for me. Always.

My in laws? Thanks for the home-cooked meals. The quiet looks of concern.

I love you all..

Sorry guys... had to vent vent vent...

She's gone

2006-08-10T16:00:00.000+08:00

After 30 years of being my dad and my mum. After doing what you needn't have done.

Thank you.

Sleep well, Kor Po.

A part of me just died today.

Housing Loans - Fixed or Variable Rates?

2006-08-09T08:00:00.000+08:00

Aug 8, 6:11 PM EDT

Fed Leaves Key Interest Rate Unchanged

By JEANNINE AVERSA
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With the economy losing momentum, the Federal Reserve halted the longest unbroken stretch of interest rate increases in recent history Tuesday - a reprieve for millions of borrowers after more than two years of rate pain.

In my line of work, I talk to clients about their mortgages. The current trend is for everyone for look for fixed rates which in my mind is a BIG mistake.

Let's look at the facts, interest rates have been going up and up in the last 2 years, more or less in tandem with the increases in the Fed Funds Rates. In the US, home loan rates are tied up directly to this Fed Funds Rate. In Singapore, however, there is no one rate which ties up all the rates in Singapore. Instead, each bank would have its own Board Rates. These rates can be arbitrarily changed by the individual banks, with no need for any justification to be made to any of their clients. The board rates are loosely linked to the Fed Funds Rates. Most banks, however, looks at the 3-month-Interbank rate when determining whether or not to raise their board rates. (although I totally disagree.. more on that in another post, if I'm in the mood :o) )

2 years ago, when rates were low, clients objected to fixed rates when you mentioned them. Even when rates turned upwards, clients continued to believe that rates would continue to remain relatively low. However, in the last year or so, clients have begun feeling more pain financially. All of a sudden, going "fixed" became more important. In a conversation with a client yesterday, he made it very clear that he would only consider going fixed; "too much lah... the other bank increase so many times... very chia lat you know" was his lament.

The signals have changed. In the last 6 months, the Fed had changed the language of its releases. Then last night it happened. They've stopped the back-to-back interest rate increases. The impact on Singapore? I expect rates to hold steady... there's just no more justification to rise further... Given that the financial system is still flushed with funds, I expect rates to drift downwards.

Fixed rates are typically priced at higher rates than typical variable rate ones. That has always been the case. If one had chosen a fixed rate pacakage 2 years ago, he would be laughing to (at) the bank.. why? Because in a period of rising interest rates, he would have kept his rates at extremely low levels. However, the reverse also holds true. If one chooses to go "fixed" in a period when interest rates are falling, one could end up holding a VERY expensive mortgage.

So... how does one decide? Simple. Do your homework. Keep abreast of market expectations... then take a view. Decide what the interest rate trends are likely to be... then commit.

Don't be too influenced by what your friends say; they may not be well informed.

Think hard.

Good luck. :o)

(My little contribution to the community this National Day)

Last bets, anyone?

2006-08-07T18:34:00.000+08:00

My big boss just bet S$2,500 for me to lose 40kgs by December 31st, 2006... and I just accepted.

Wish me luck.

Up up and away!

2006-08-05T08:36:00.000+08:00

.... just like Superman...

*sigh* am running out of progress in the progress package to keep up with ALL the price increases...

Aug 5, 2006
ERP rates at 6 expressway gantries to go up

FROM Monday, motorists and taxi passengers will have to pay an extra 50 cents in road tolls when they pass through six key expressway gantries.
Four of six gantries regulate traffic along the Central Expressway (CTE), while the remaining two affect traffic on the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) and the East Coast Parkway (ECP).

The new rate for the Ang Mo Kio gantry on the CTE from 8.30am to 9am will be $1.50, and that for the gantry after Braddell Road from 8am to 8.30am will be $2.

Evening ERP on the CTE will rise in similar fashion - a year after motorists living in the north started paying to get home. Between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, the new rate will be $1.50.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said as recently as May that average speeds on the CTE in the evening peak period had improved from 28kmh to 55kmh with ERP.

That speed is well within the authority's definition of 'optimal traffic flow' of 45-65kmh for expressways.

The authority was unable to comment yesterday on how conditions had deteriorated.

Expressways have the highest traffic volumes. Nearly 10,000 vehicles per hour head north on the CTE during the evening peak. This is about three times the volume on most arterial roads.

The last rate change affecting the CTE is for the gantry at the PIE slip road.

Elsewhere, the new rate for the Fort Road gantry on the ECP from 8.30am to 9am will be $2.

On the PIE, motorists will have to pay $1 to pass the Kallang Bahru gantry from 8.30am to 9am.

The increases will also affect other categories of vehicle.

For instance, very heavy trucks and buses will be charged $5 (up from $4) at the PIE slip road into the CTE from 8am to 8.30am.

The LTA monitors travelling speeds on the expressways and roads in the Restricted Zone and radial roads where the ERP system is in operation every quarter, and also for the June and December school holidays.

Following each review, the ERP rates will be adjusted to maintain travelling speeds of 45kmh to 65kmh for expressways and 20kmh to 30kmh for arterial roads.

Happiness

2006-08-05T08:19:00.000+08:00

I had my friends from work over last night. Cooked them a Hainanese Chicken Rice meal using a recipe from Chubby Hubby. Brilliant! :o). I'm really happy to have found the ultimate solution to soft, succulent chicken. Me? I'm a sucker for soft (chicken) breasts...

I just had my 6-year-old daughter ask me to draw and cut out a heart shape for her. She's in a good mood, I can tell, and we have a family date to go out the Poison Ivy at Bollywood Veggies tomorrow for lunch. We like the food there. No MSG and excessive salt. Just wholesome (organic) food, nice home-like atmosphere and interesting owner in the form of Ivy Singh-Lim. My 17-month-old boy has just changed out of his pyjama's and is urging me to "let's go" downstairs for breakfast.

I am sitting in my study, in my HDB flat somewhere near Siglap... and I'm feeling really happy. Strange, how can it be when I am not able to quantify my happiness? I feel really contented. I'm not a millionaire but I think I'm really wealthy.

My friend asked me last night if I would consider buying a private property for investment. Perhaps. But that's really not important... neither is having a huge car, or millions in the bank (although THAT would be REALLY nice)

What makes you happy my friends? Think about it and write it out. This will really help you filter all the unimportant things that are troubling you.

Hokien 101

2006-08-02T11:46:00.000+08:00

My initiation into the world of Hokien pop :

http://blog.galvintan.com/2005/08/03/ji-pa-ban/
Very funny.. even has a line with talks of exploring the world, eating spaghetti by the roadside

Na sih gua wu ji pa ban...

Meritocracy... just lip service?

2006-07-30T20:34:00.000+08:00

I just had a very good time catching up with an ex-lecturer from University. Given that I had gone to university very late (at the age of 26), he was rather close to me in terms of age.

I found out I had topped my year in one of my subjects... but I never got the top prize.. which was awarded to the person who was 2nd.

I am shocked.

Let me give you the background.

I had graduated from the polytechnic and had worked for a few years before I had been accepted to enter the University. Everybody was surprised... they had told me not to raise my hopes. Anyway, I got in. But I had another problem. I had no money. So, I pulled some strings and got myself a small scholarship. Still... I had to work very hard to go through school; I sold insurance part time, did 2 sets of accounts, and taught tuition to 4-5 children. It was tough. Because of that, my grades suffered. But I was good in ONE subject... the only subject that got me an A+.

Now I found out that I did not receive the top prize for the subject...because I didn't do well in the OTHER subjects.

I'm not upset, but I wonder what would had happened had I received the award; the award that I rightfully deserved? Incidentally, the award for being the BEST in that particular subject was given to another who scored below me, but who was on the DEAN'S LIST. It's hard to be retrospective about this, but knowing myself , I reckon that I would have worked a lot harder than I did... I would have pushed myself more...

*sigh*

And all this talk about Singapore being a meritocratic society... had they bothered to look (which by principle, they needn't had done, because I WAS THE TOP STUDENT), they would have realized that I deserved it... because I had done it in spite of all this difficulty.

All this from a university that proclaims itself as world class...

It's sad, isn't it?

What's rude and what's not?

2006-07-26T16:15:00.000+08:00

Not quite spot on what's bugging me... but enough to kick off with...

July 26, 2006
Customers have a part to play in courtesy stakes

IN THE recent discussion on courtesy in Singapore, there were some complaints about rude hawkers. What I am most disturbed about is the attitude of customers towards the people serving them.
Many of us tend to be impatient when things are slow, and we make unreasonable demands and pass harsh criticism. Then we rush off with our goods without saying a word of thanks.

I am studying in Britain and the situation here is very different. The British have a tradition of being polite but what struck me most is the protection offered to shop staff. Notices are put up in many shops and pubs around Britain warning that if any customer is rude, abusive or unreasonable to a member of the staff, he would have to leave.

Campaigns campaigns campaigns... ever since I can remember, there have been campaigns.. "Keep Singapore Clean", "2 is enough" and yes, my personal favourite, the "Courtesy" campaign... and more recently the Speak Good English Movement and the Four Million Smiles thingy.

Still, today, there have been many comments about how we have fallen short in terms of courtesy.. despite our (younger) PM Lee talking about it, we continue to lapse into rudeness... Perhaps we should distil ,10-year-series style, what's rude and what's not into simple rules...

The Simple Rules of Courtesy

1) Saying "Excuse Me" does not excuse one from saying "Please";

2) It's rude to stare. So there;

3) When someone smiles at you... Smile back!.. unless you're at a bar and you don't want to encourage him/her;

4) It is NOT polite to stand close behind someone have his lunch in the hope of speeding up his meal. Similarly, don't order your food and have it delivered BEFORE you have a seat at the table;

5) If you are holding an umbrella, and it's raining, it's okay to offer to share it with the person next to you;

6) Don't pretend to fall asleep on the MRT when there is a pregnant lady / aged person / fill-in-the-blank standing in front or near you. It's so lame.. because everyone knows that you are just pretending;

7) It's is alright to hold open the lift door / any other door for other people. It's only nice;

8) Don't just brush off the blind folks selling tissue papers. Who knows? May be they DO need the money. So what if you're wrong and you're taken for a sucker? What is a buck to you?

9) Some car trying to filter into your lane? Hey, it's not going to kill you if you let him into your lane. Especially if he's been signalling for the last 5 minutes;

10) Instead of saying "Can I help you?", you could perhaps say, "Hi, my name is pc. Please feel free to look around and let me know if you need anything" with a nice genuine smile when someone steps into your shop; and finally...

11) If someone does something nice for you, it's okay to say "Thank you"...

I guess having the campaigns sometimes desensitise us to plain old common sense.

*sigh*

Ok guys. Let's see you come up with your own simple rules of Courtesy and share it with others. Something tells me that if we all do this conscientiously, we'll all become nicer people...

Isn't this so Singaporean?

2006-07-18T01:33:00.000+08:00

Food for thought (pun intended :o) )... comments below.

July 17, 2006
Some Suntec food outlets up in arms
By Grace Ng

TOUGH GOING: The management met all stallholders to address grievances but some say they are still thinking of moving out. -- LIM SIN THAI

SOME tenants at Suntec City Mall's newly opened Tasty Treatz, a cluster of 'takeaway' food outlets, are in a dispute with their landlord over an apparent promise they received that a competing food joint nearby would make way for them.
About three weeks ago, 16 of the 40 stallholders there banded together to send in a petition to Suntec City Developments 'to appeal for an open dialogue' and thrash out their grievances.

They also asked for a waiver of three months' rent and more effort to be put into marketing the cluster which, they say, has been suffering from poor customer traffic.

So slow has business been that one of the 40 tenants there has decided to call it quits after just six weeks, having chalked up losses of $100,000 in that period.

'I was making only about $100 in turnover on a Saturday...I decided to cut my losses rather than continue bleeding,' said the owner of the stall that sells savoury snacks. He declined to be named.

The 10,000 sq ft joint - tucked away in a corner beside Carrefour on the ground floor of Suntec City Mall's entertainment centre - is not readily visible to most shoppers, the tenants said. A large number of them are first-time business owners.

Though business is poor, the rents they pay - from $3,000 to over $8,000 a month - are comparable to most prime rental rates elsewhere.

And they face competition from a low-priced food outlet next door.

The tenants say they were told by Knight Frank, Suntec City Mall's marketing agent, that the competing outlet would be shut down.

Now it turns out, Delights Corner - operated by Carrefour and selling snacks at prices that the tenants say undercut their own higher-end food and drink offerings - will be closed only for a short time for a revamp.

Responding to queries, Knight Frank's director of retail Sherene Sng denied that it had misrepresented the situation.

'We had said that there were discussions about the possibility of revamping Delights Corner into a gourmet concept, selling gourmet meats, fresh seafood, freshly baked breads, wine cellar. We did not at any time say that Delights Corner will be closed down,' she said.

Mr Ng Lay Pheng, Suntec City Development's general manager for marketing and property services, added that 'Delights Corner is an integral part of the cluster'.

Mr Ng said that since receiving the petition, the Suntec management has met all the tenants. 'We are pleased that with the exception of a couple of tenants, the large majority of these tenants have provided constructive feedback and suggestions to further enhance the concept.'

Some of the tenants, however, have said that they are still considering moving out, with one drinks stall owner saying that 'business has not improved in the past few weeks despite more fliers and coupons distributed by Suntec City Developments'.

Now, these are business people. People who are supposed to have done their homework BEFORE they make any commercial decision.

The strange thing about this is that these stallholders are crying foul. Too bad. Whatever is not stated, is not enforceable legally (although I realize that verbal representations can sometimes be binding. This, however, could be difficult to prove in a court of law)

Looking at this situation, though, I can't help but feel that this is a very Singaporean condition. Merchants crying foul when they themselves haven't done enough to safeguard their own position. I just wonder if that was the original motivation behind the setting up of the Suzhou Industrial Park; an evironment where Singaporean infrastructure and Singaporean rules prevail. Just so there is a glimmer of hope that Singaporean companies can survive.

It's so sad.

If I were one of the stallholders thinking, I would have realized that the Carrefour corner would post a serious threat. If I had been promised that that particular "cheap corner" would go, I would insist on having it put into a contract so that I would have a way out. If this could potentially lose me S$100,000 in 3 months, I'd better have consider everything that could go wrong.

However, it's too late now that they're there. Their options would be to :

1) take a good hard look at providing what Delights Corner does not, provide it, and then make it known that I have what Delights Corner doesn't have... the key is differentiate;
2) bite the bullet, play the pricing game and lower prices;
3) bite the bullet, take my loss, and leave...

The steps that the current stallholders have taken; complain and demand that steps are taken, doesn't quite cut it for me. I could go and negotiate, but in my opinion, I would have no legal grounds to fall back on.

Until we, as Singaporeans, realize that we must depend on ourselves to take care of ourselves and not on some omnipotent Big Brother, we will never really be the economic chilli padi that we can be.

Technorati tags : Singapore Singapore Business

Mid life crisis

2006-07-16T03:21:00.000+08:00

This has been on my chest for the past few months... *deep breath*

I'm turning 40 this year... invariably, my thoughts have been drifting to what I've done with my life thus far. My wife calls it my "mid life crisis". I mean, the signs ARE there. A couple of weeks ago, I brought the whole family to have our glasses done and I was choosing a couple of new frames... so that I would look "cool". My wife gave me one strange look... "Darling.. what's wrong... mid life crisis?" One night, I dressed up to go out for a night of World-Cupping... another look from my wife... and.. before I knew it, the mid life crisis question came up again...

Guess what? It IS true.. while I wouldn't classify it as a crisis, I find myself critically evaluating myself. Tonight, the taxi driver told me about the trouble he was having finding a new full time job. The choice of words were really interesting. He talked about having his difficulties as "he was too old for a junior position" and how employers would rather prefer to hire younger, good looking women, rather than "old men like me".

Yup. Old men like me. All of a sudden, I realize that 50 is only 10 years away. All of a sudden, I feel.. mortal... I am... afraid

Afraid that I have not made much of my life. I wonder.. could I be in a better job if I had made the right decisions? Would I have had more success? I wonder if I'm a loser.

But then, I think about my family. I look at my wonderful wife and my two beautiful children and think... even if I think that I've not "done" much with my life, I've left my legacy in my children. I've made memories with them, and they will forever know that they have a father who loves them deeply.

I think about the people who love me, and who genuinely care about me. I think about the people whose lives I've touched; in my work, in my concern. I think about the woman whom I gave mouth-to-mouth resusitation to. I think about the people I've reached out to in their time of need.

My life has not been a failure. It has been a journey for me, albeit not a very smooth sailing one. I have not reached my destination, although it's not really very clear what or where it is. I will continue to do my best. I will continue to love and to reach out.

I will continue to be me.

Sorry for the ramblings; it was important for me to post this entry

Technorati tags : mid life crisis reflections

Slower Quarter Growth = More Bankruptcies?

2006-07-14T15:43:00.000+08:00

Seems our economic activities have slowed down...

July 14, 2006, 11.08 am (Singapore time)
S'pore June bankruptcies rise to 3-month high

SINGAPORE - The number of new bankruptcies in Singapore jumped to a three-month high in June, rising by 4.7 per cent from a year ago and reversing the previous month's fall, Government figures showed on Friday.

June's bankruptcy orders - including those filed by companies and individuals - rose to 267, from 255 a year ago, the Ministry of Law's website showed.

The total number of undischarged bankrupts as of June 30 was 24,138.

Analysts say bankruptcies are a lagging indicator of economic activity.

Growth in the trade-dependent economy slowed sharply in the second quarter to an annual rate of 1.1 per cent, slower than the 7.0 per cent clip in the first quarter, as manufacturing output cooled.

Under the law, a person can be made a bankrupt by the High Court for debts of
S$10,000 (US$6,337) or more. -- REUTERS

Tempting to take this as a quick answer.

However, it seems strange... If you analyse the article, it says that the "economy slowed sharply in the second quarter". Second quarter meaning April to June. For those in the know, it is extremely unlikely that a person would be made a bankrupt in a short period of 3 months. Firstly, it takes 1 month to have a late payment... the first reminder comes from the bank, nice and friendly. The second month passes, a less friendlier letter comes... then a third month... and you get a call from the assigned collections officer... Although I'm not personally involved, I reckon that it takes at least 6 months before drastic action is taken by the bank.

Instead, do you think it could possibly be due to easy credit... especially for the lower income groups?

Singaporeans the most unhappy lot in Asia?

2006-07-13T12:17:00.000+08:00

Interesting article about the Happy Planet Index :

July 13, 2006
Singaporeans the least happy people in Asia

LONDON - OF ALL the countries in the Asean region, Vietnam has the most to smile about and Singapore the least, according to a list of the happiest countries on the planet.
A new study published yesterday ranked the small South-east Asian country as 12th on a list of 178 nations, beating big-economy behemoths such as Britain and the United States in a survey that measured people's well-being and their impact on the environment.

Singapore, on the other hand, fared the worst of all the Asean and Asian nations ranked, coming in at 131st.

Compiled by the British think-tank New Economics Foundation (NEF), the Happy Planet Index painted a different order of world wealth.

Abandoning what it termed 'crude ratings' of countries according to economic indicators like gross domestic product, the NEF intended the new index to strip life back to the basics - measuring life satisfaction, life expectancy and environmental impact.

Island nations did well in the rankings, with the tiny South Pacific nation of Vanuatu topping the list. 'People are generally happy here because they are very satisfied with very little,' said Mr Marke Lowen of Vanuatu Online, the republic's online newspaper.

Industrial countries, perhaps unsurprisingly, fared badly on the index - Britain came in at 108th while the US ranked 150th. Most of the bottom 10 countries were African nations, with Zimbabwe coming in last.

'The order of nations that emerges may seem counter-intuitive. But this is because policymakers have been led astray by abstract mathematical models of the economy that bear little relation to the real world,' said NEF's policy director Andrew Simms. -- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

I went over the the Happy Planet Website to find out how they calculated the index and what I got was :

How it is calculated
The HPI incorporates three separate indicators: ecological footprint, life-satisfaction and life expectancy. The statistical calculations that underlie the HPI are quite complex. However conceptually, it is straight forward and intuitive:

HPI = Life satisfaction x Life expectancy

-------------------------------------------------------

Ecological Footprint

The HPI reflects the average years of happy life produced by a given society, nation or group of nations, per unit of planetary resources consumed. Put another way, it represents the efficiency with which countries convert the earth’s finite resources into well-being experienced by their citizens

The equation's really quite esoteric and being the philistine that I am, I don't quite get the intricasies. However, what struck me was the following :

Life Satisfaction
---------------------
I understand that their methodology involved questionaires. Don't know the specifics, but if we were to just take a look around, you'll find the average Singaporean is concerned with :

- making good money, so that they can afford the "luxuries" of life (eg car, condo,..)
- putting their children through the best schools
- making sure their children become the best, thus the enrichment classes, tuition classes, other classes that will help them develop
- hopefully, with luck, the average Singaporean would have accumulated enough assets (or have good children / children in law, if I remember what Mr Mah talked about some time ago, about having good health insurance in the form of filial children) to have a good, comfortable retirement.

Unfortunately, what happens most of the time is this vicious circle :

- Work ==> Make Money (but not enough time for the family)
- Children go to best schools ==> But no time to for childhood ==> Love for learning is killed. Because parents are busy working, they concentrate on "quality time" (a common euphemism used when parent are not spending enough time with their kids) ==> Parents justify this by making sure that their children have the best, financially.
- When their children grow up, and the parents have reached retirement, they try to catch up on lost time... but lost time is just that... lost...

What results in that we have a very unhappy population... I've often observed that Singaporeans tend to be very unhappy... just go on a holiday and invariably, you'll find it's the Singaporeans who are complaining.

*sigh*

Ecological Footprint
------------------------
The Happy Planet folks mention this is computed based on the rate of consumption versus the total resources.

I wonder if this factor also significantly affected the numbers, given that we are a nation without any natural resources except for her people (we even have to take to importing THAT given the slower population growth)

*hmm*

I think that numbers or how we rank in indices are really not that important... If anything, I think this a good platform to think about what makes us happy... what do we want in our lives? What's REALLY important to us at the end of the day?

I am Singaporean

2006-07-13T01:00:00.000+08:00

My participation in the "I am Singaporean" podcasts initiated by Mr Brown and Mr Miyagi ... I do apologize for the crudeness of the recording... this was done using a basic Creative MP3 player with the volume subsequently boosted by Audacity (thanks to Mr Brown for the tip)

Enjoy.

I am Singaporean -...

Hosted by eSnips

technorati tag : iamsingaporean

Great makan

2006-07-11T14:30:00.000+08:00

Mr Wang

It was good meeting you for lunch. We should do this again soon... with a Huge Whale Shark, no less!

PC

Sir... This product is very good for you!!!

2006-07-11T11:33:00.000+08:00

Have been mulling over this article in the ST

July 10, 2006
Over $1m in sales but zero commission
By Lorna Tan, Finance Correspondent

ONE would have thought that achieving over $1 million in sales of financial products in just one month would mean a sizeable commission, but not for Ms Jean Lim (not her real name), a relationship manager with a local bank.

In April, Ms Lim, 23, notched up more than $1 million in sales but her commission was zero.

Her startling predicament is the result of a rigid sales commission policy imposed by her employer, in an industry where many sales staff earn large portions of their salaries from commissions.

The Straits Times has learnt that she qualifies to earn monthly commissions only if she is able to meet a minimum sales target for each of three product lines - unit trusts, structured products and insurance.

For instance, in order to earn a commission, she needs to sell $300,000 in unit trusts and the same amount for structured products each month, while the monthly target for insurance amounts to $13,000 in annualised premiums. And the overall sales generated has to total at least six to eight times her basic salary. Sales recruits start on about $2,000 a month.

To raise the commission bar even higher for employees like Ms Lim, the bank is also fond of promoting specific products as 'Product of the Month'.

Again, there is an additional sales quota for the relationship manager for these types of products which could be a unit trust, structured product or an insurance plan.

Said Ms Lim: 'It was the first time I had hit $1 million in sales and yet I received zero commission that month. I sold more than $1 million in structured products but I was unable to hit my target for insurance products.

'What can I do...force customers to buy what they don't need?' She has worked at the bank for about a year.

Banks are generally guarded when it comes to providing information on the sales quotas they impose, but a check among relationship managers showed that a multi-product target system is prevalent at several banks here.

Many banking sales staff argue that this type of compensation structure means they have little incentive to highlight warnings and disclaimers of products during the sales process - because there is high pressure to post big sales.

And this raises fresh questions about an industry push to better inform customers.

The findings of a recent mystery shopping survey conducted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore showed that out of the 100 sales representatives who were approached, only about one in 12 explained the warnings, exclusions and disclaimers of products.

Indeed, a personal financial consultant at a local bank - not the bank Ms Lim works at - said: 'If I've to follow all the guidelines, I'll be out of a job.'

Sales quotas vary from bank to bank. One foreign bank has a similar structure to that of Ms Lim's bank in that there are minimum targets to achieve for each product type, but the targets are lower, such as $150,000 for unit trusts and $5,000 for annualised premiums.

A senior executive at a bank with such multi-product target structures said the rationale was that 'every customer needs multiple products'.

Others such as Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank (Stanchart) said they do not set minimum sales targets for specific product types.

Said Stanchart's head of consumer banking, Mr Ajay Kanwal: 'We want our staff to sell what the customer needs.'

On a positive note, it appears that more banks are adopting a reward structure that is not solely based on sales targets but also includes customer service, compliance and competencies measurements.

OCBC's head of corporate communications, Ms Koh Ching Ching, said: 'At OCBC, a large bulk of the compensation for our sales staff is based on the way they service customers and not just on the volume of sales, which means their remuneration will be impacted if a customer complains or cancels his purchase.'

Hmm. Really interesting.

Let's take a look at this.

Firstly, the poor girl sold over S$1mn worth of structured deposits. Why did she not get any commissions then? Well, because she failed to achieve the minimum portfolio sales for Unit Trusts, Structured Products and Insurance. This very much reflects the way the industry has been for the past 8 - 10 years, when the banks started becoming really focused on their fee-based income.

Next, the MAS mystery shopping exercise showed that only 1 in 12 explained the warnings, exclusions and disclaimers of products. I find this result really odd... and disconcerting. With the introduction of the Financial Advisor's Act (FAA), bank sales staff have an obligation under the Act to fully disclose all the "hidden clauses", failing which there will be punishments ranging from written warnings, fines and even blacklists. What's even stranger is that precisely because of the FAA, the banks have all produced forms advising clients of the risks of these investments. These require clients' acknowledgement. Were these documents conveniently buried among the other paperwork... and snuck in? Were the remaining 11 out of 12 officially warned? Why was there no "public warning" issued by the MAS to the investing public about the results?

It's also interesting that "it appears that more banks are adopting a reward structure that is not solely based on sales targets but also includes customer service, compliance and competencies measurements". The operating word here is
solely. A few years ago, in my last incarnation as a Personal Financial Consultant, I was top in terms of customer service. So many of my clients had written in to compliment the work I was doing.... My reward? A crystal vase and some monetary incentive. What's interesting is that despite this, I was largely ignored by management for not being a "performer", having been deemed to be underperforming because I was not selling as much as the others. So, in spite of this adoption, the traditional measurement is still one's ability to garner sales!

In my opinion, I think the problem lies right smack in the compensation plan.... when you pay so much for someone to sell investment products from you... the motivation WILL NOT be in the service. Rather, it's how fast one can sell the product. Fix the compensation plan by upping the basic salary and cut the payouts on the investment products substantially, and you will wipe out a large part of the rogue behavior. The problem is that the banks are not likely to do so as this would compromise their bottomline.

The girl also says 'What can I do...force customers to buy what they don't need?'. I believe many are, if not forcing, influencing their clients to do precisely that. This is where the danger really lies; when lines between being a financial "adviser" and that of being a "salesperson" is truly and totally blurred. Many a client have bought because they trust me. In my mind, this is really dangerous which can send clients down the path of financial disaster.

To be fair though, not all the banks are like that. While I'm currently not working directly in the sales of investment and insurance products (I could not get myself to sell a product if I didn't think it was good for my clients), I know that my current employer does not push targets like others do. There are constant internal campaigns to always do what is right, to always put the clients first and to not proceed with something if it's not good for the clients.

I'm proud to be working for an organization like that. As for the others, until there is a substantial change in the compensation plans, customers will have to assume that these relationship managers would only be keen to sell their products and the term Caveat Emptor would apply.

Hiyo!

2006-07-09T22:22:00.000+08:00

I'm back.

Finally.

It's been a very busy period for me... I was on leave, but still working most of the time. In fact, it's been much more stressful than when I'm at work full time. I've also started work on a (re)new(ed) project. More details about that in the next few months. Then, after I officially got back to work.. it was targets targets targets. It's been a tough time...

I've been looking on with interest at the mrbrown saga. What's happened is very evident, and no sense in debating and being sarcastic to death. The fact is, the ruling party is further distancing the very electorate that it was trying to woo this particular elections. The thing is, people will remember come the next elections. Coupled with the good work that some of the opposition parties are doing, the PAP is setting itself up for even more challenges in the future.

While the mrbrown issue was concerning a really funny (largely) satirical piece published in a newspaper, I can't help but feel that this is the beginning of the process of "managing the (internet) channel of communication" mentioned earlier by one of the new MPs. One thing I must say about Mr Brown has kept his head held high above all this.. and kept silent. That's the way to do it dude!

To date, I've consciously chosen to keep my observations of the political landscape to myself, especially when criticisms and observations by other bloggers very often reflect my thoughts. Part of the reason is that it's been my philosophy that there's no point talking an issue to death. Second? I happen to think that many of the folks at the PAP have good hearts; that their intention is to sincerely work towards a better Singapore. It's not perfect, but I believe that however the issues are discussed / handled, it would not be perfect anyway. To me, the intentions are important...

However, what with the many happenings in the political arena, I'm tempted to change and really start giving my 2 cents'. I don't know... let me think about it and let's see how it goes.

My renewed project? Well, that's taking the form of a new blog in addition to this one and will involve a lot of work over the next 12 months....

It's late now; am planning a short nap before the Finals tonight...

Go France!!!

In the Spirit of the World Cup

2006-06-14T14:32:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the slow posts.. totally swamped at work...

One Mad Sunday Morning..

2006-05-21T08:00:00.000+08:00

In the Eastern Part of Singapore...

I discover that my son likes.. Diana Ross!

*errata - "I will survive" was a song by Gloria Gaynor.. not Diana Ross as earlier stated...

What questions would YOU like to ask God?

2006-05-16T10:46:00.000+08:00

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

From Phuket.. with love

2006-05-13T10:55:00.000+08:00

Am blogging from Phuket. Check out this cool site : http://www.gawker.com/stalker

Seems George Clooney has a running battle with the folks at Gawker. Read that he basically instructed his PR guys to inundate the Gawker guys with misinformation to invalidate their sighting reports...

Just decide, dammit!

2006-05-12T03:01:00.000+08:00

Read this ==> E at L's "rants" about this and this...

I've met E@L IRL (in real life, for you non geeks out there) and really, that is one funny man. I really enjoy talking with him; he's really intelligent and interesting and I reckon if we wanted to, we can talk about anything under the sun (no worries dude, in case you're reading this, I'm straight as a rod... hey wait, THAT didn't come out right...). Strange thing is, as I was reading the posts, my mind was heading at a total tangent.

I know E@L was talking about certain famous bloggers becoming "dull and uninteresting", and about the need to maintain a certain funny persona, just so people would continue to like them.

I started thinking about relationships... and marriages... and about most things in life actually.

Remember the time you first met someone whom you found attractive?
Remember the first time you held hands? The tingly feeling in your fingers as they gently brushed across her face? Remember the long walks? The long interesting conversations? The longing gaze as you looked at her eat / sleep / live / breathe? Remember how funny you thought she was? Remember how beautiful she was as she walked down the aisle?

Remember when all that got old? Remember the times when you walked on ahead, because she was walking too slowly? Remember thinking that she's no longer funny, her laugher more akin to a witch's cackle.. hmm.. why didn't you notice that before? Remember the time when you realized that the two of you really didn't have anything in common anymore?

The relationship had become, *gasp*, dull and uninteresting. It's perhaps at this point in time... that you think to yourself... may be I don't love her anymore; perhaps it's time to move on; to find your "real" soulmate.

Perhaps. Perhaps.

Perhaps you should notice how her body has changed from having the lovely children. Or that she wakes up in the middle of the night just to make sure that you take your fever medicine because you're running a 40 degress temperature. Perhaps you should focus on all the reasons why you still love her. Perhaps.

Maybe it's not your marriage. Maybe it's your work. Work that you found challenging earlier but you find tedious now... because it seems you're the only one trying hard. Or that the market is just so damn hard now you wonder how in the world you're going to cut it.

Simple. Just decide. Then stick to your decision.

If we decide to love our wives/husbands with all our hearts, if we decide to treat other people with love even if they don't return the favour, if we decide to go about our work to the best of our ability even though the challenges seem unsurmountable.

Just decide. Then just do it. The quality of your life will become great.

Guaranteed.

Funny thing happened on the way back to Singapore

2006-05-08T23:04:00.000+08:00

Just read Kenny Sia's hilarious encounter with a Kuching traffic cop.

Reads almost like the one we had with a "Kuala Lumpur" traffic cop... located on the 2nd link... extremely near the Esso station... R-I-G-H-T...

We were rushing back from somewhere near Genting Highlands when sensing the finish line, our feet suddenly became extremely heavy.... when suddenly...

*flash* *flash*

"Oh shoot!" (I know, I can't believe my friend said this either.. but then again, he is the father of 3 children)

Rotund police officer walks over :

Police : Good evening! How are you sir?
Friend : Ok lah! Until I kenna stop!
Police : Sir, this is for your protection... for you to keep within the speed limits.
Friend : Alamak... *silence*
Police : Where did you come from sir?
Friend : KL. We were visiting your fine country!
Police : We are actually with the KL traffic police, and we are stationed on the 2nd link.
Friend : ....
Police : You are right, sir... Malaysia is very good.. even the traffic cops are very good.
Friend : ....
Police : In fact, we are so good, I will give you 2 choices. Firstly, you could choose to go to KL to pay the fine, or you could pay us a composition fine and we will pay the fine on your behalf...
Friend : Okie lah.. we take the composition fine... lah..
Police : Good sir. How much you like to pay the composition fine?
Friend : Oh, er, 50 ringgit ok?
Police : Ok boss...

And they say Singapore is a fine city.. Me? I think Malaysia also a fine city too! Somemore got very friendly traffic cops who will go out of their way to help you so you don't have to drive all the way back to KL to drop the documents.

Malaysia Boleh!

Character Assasination

2006-05-07T22:33:00.000+08:00

And I'm talking about my character that's being attacked, not some political figure here...

I've got a client; let's call her VBC; secured her loan last July. Can't elaborate too much, but saved her loads of money and helped her with her loan.

Fast forward to October, she sends me email : "Can you please help me get a letter of consent from the bank to allow me to do something with the property?" I get to it and she gets the letter.

Fast forward to February this year. She calls me and asks for help with the loan. I calculate. "Can't help you", I say, "your package is even better than those for brand new clients!".. "But I should be treated specially!", she says.. I told her I would try. After checking around with the relevant folks, I get back to her a few days later and tell her... the same piece of news. "Try again", she says. "If there is a need, I will talk to the relevant parties";

Fast forward to May. I get an email from someone in the bank informing me that VBC has lodged a complaint against me. The charge? "Customer claims she has been unable to reach you since she signed the loan".. my immediate reaction? I gather all my evidence.. from emails and smses and shoot off my email.. all 12 points of them...

The lady is like a worm and a chameleon; she squirms and changes the story once there is enough evidence that she's lying...

Good grief. It's so amazing.. the things some people will do or give up in order just to save a few bucks. The thing she'll do?.. It's obvious... lie... The things she would give up? Integrity.

It's wonderful that I've just come back from a 3 day silent retreat and am totally unaffected by what she's done. More on the retreat later...

Something just to cheer you up

2006-05-04T06:20:00.000+08:00

*collapse*

Adventures of a bear...

2006-04-29T21:19:00.000+08:00

Kawaii neh!

Do the ends justify the means?

2006-04-29T20:38:00.000+08:00

*sigh*

There's been lots of complaints about how some members of the press mis-report and mis-quote their sources just so these stories will be more likely to tug at emotions...

First.. the story...

Caring for strays has put these S'pore sisters in debt. Now they wonder...
What is to become of 44 dogs?

MORE than $250,000.
By Nicole Na and Belle Charlene Kwan

29 April 2006
MORE than $250,000.

That's how much the two sisters have spent from their own pockets, over the last six years, giving a home to 44 dogs.

They called it Doggie Rescue Shelter.

Ms Jessie, 36, and Elsie Ng, 33, didn't give up even when they changed jobs and took massive paycuts.

But now, their savings have dried up. They hate to think of what would happen to the dogs, which are now housed in 14 rented kennels in Pasir Ris Farmway.

Said a tearful Ms Jessie, who earns less than $2,000 a month from her temporary sales-executive job: 'We can no longer afford to look after these dogs.

'The cost is overwhelming. We have tried every possible way to lighten the financial burden, like switching to lower grade dog food and looking for places with cheaper kennel rentals, but nothing has worked out.'

Ms Jessie hopes that with donations from fellow animal lovers, and interested pet owners coming forward to provide homes for the dogs, she would not have to put them to sleep.

She added that they spend about $4,000 a month on the rental and pet food. This does not include the occasional medical bills when the dogs fall ill.

They spent more than $6,000 last year when 11 of the dogs caught tick fever and had to be treated immediately.

Tick fever causes low blood count and, in serious cases, kidney failure.

Ms Elsie, who works in a bank, lives with her husband in a HDB flat in Punggol.

Ms Jessie is single and lives in a terrace house with the rest of the family in Loyang.

Every day, they travel for half an hour to tend to their large adopted family. They spend at least two hours there.

SECOND CHANCE

'Some people may think my sister and I are crazy. But all we're trying to do is give these dogs a second chance,' said Ms Jessie.

Ms Jessie said that their family disapproves of them spending so much time and money on dogs.

She said she used to have a comfortable lifestyle before the dogs came along. These days, she watches how she spends her money.

During the interview with The New Paper, she was in an old, discoloured T-shirt and worn-out bermudas.

'We went out of control, I admit it. The expense of running this animal shelter was not what we had expected,' said Ms Jessie.

Ms Jessie said it began six years ago when they found five mongrel puppies at a construction site near their workplace in Punggol.

Fearing that these puppies would be put down by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore, they decided to adopt them.

As they did not have enough space in their house for them, they rented two kennels at Pasir Ris Farmway for $500 a month.

Then, they were property agents, each earning about $6,000 a month.

Over the years, they picked up more strays.

But in 2003, the economic downturn caused property sales to dwindle.

They looked for better paying jobs even as the number of dogs in the shelter continued to increase.

Ms Elsie got a job with a local bank a few months later, but Ms Jessie was not so lucky.

She has been job-hopping for the past three years before landing her temporary sales-exective job

'I owe the bank a large sum of money I borrowed to fund the shelter,' claimed Ms Jessie.

'I've also borrowed money from friends and family to keep it going.'

The sisters have since stopped taking in strays. Instead, they make nightly trips to construction sites in Punggol to feed the stray animals.

Want to give the dogs a home? Contact the Ng sisters via their website www.drssq.com

So.. a couple of sisters love dogs so much that they are willing to spend a lot of money, resulting in them having to turn to friends, family and banks, resulting in a lot of debt. Please help.

Great story, right?

Well, it IS a great story, except it's not quite so dramatic.

Elsie is a friend of mine... and she has told me that there were "facts" included in the article which were simply not true. For instance, the sisters never borrowed any money from friends and relatives.

The interview was done quite a long time ago, and the sisters thought it would be a great platform to highlight the plight of the dogs. They thought after this story broke, they would be able to find people who would be willing to adopt the dogs, or at least other fellow dog lovers who would be willing to help with the funding and alleviate the financial burden.

When they finally reached Belle (the "journalist"), this lady basically side-stepped the issue. The justification? The way the story was written would enable the Ng sisters to get help with their dogs.

So what did Elsie have to say?

She's upset with what's been written.. but tell you what guys, this lady is amazing; she tells me that she has to "appreciate the fact that they wrote"...

wow

So guys, please write about this in your blogs and let's see if we can do out bit to increase awareness. Such passion and love needs to be supported.

Help out. Adopt. Buy dog food. Find responsible owners for these dogs.

Elsie tells me that although most of them of mongrels, many of them are really loving and really intelligent.

Oh, the ironic thing about the article? They got the website address wrong. It should be www.drssg.com.

Sadness... and Joy...

2006-04-29T08:30:00.000+08:00

Seems contradictory that these two emotions are found together.. but in many cases, they are...

About 3 weeks ago, I was told that Frances, an acquaintance from my JC days, had passed away while giving birth to her son, Evan Gabriel Ong... A beautiful soul taken away, A beautiful new life given.

My prayers will be with you Frances, Evan, and daddy Colin. Daddy has set up a blog for Evan...

Give the ones you love big hugs and kisses today.

My Inner Child

2006-04-03T09:54:00.000+08:00

Reminds me strangely of something Mr Wang showed me sometime ago...

Your Inner Child Is Sad

You're a very sensitive soul.
You haven't grown that thick skin that most adults have.
Easily hurt, you tend to retreat to your comfort zone.
You don't let many people in - unless you've trusted them for a long time.

How Is Your Inner Child?

Thanks Boo.. :o)

M - U - S - T ---- R - E - S - I - S - T ..

2006-03-25T17:50:00.000+08:00

... but I can't.

I've always adopted a policy of not showing personal photos on the web...

Let's just say... I've succumbed,,,

Went swimming with the family last week and got these shots...

*beams*

MIA...

2006-03-25T00:02:00.000+08:00

Hi :o)

Been busy busy busy... but will post REAL soon ...

Meanwhile...

Music to soothe the soul

My favourite cartoon!

Later guys.. will be back to full blogging mode by month end...

Why this will never be a food blog

2006-02-25T21:19:00.000+08:00

Just cooked the family a Lamb Stew tonight...

Yah.. I know.. ain't a Chubby Hubby.. well I am, but I'm not.. think you know what I mean...

Brought out the dish... silence...

"You should have peeled the potatoes"...

.... "Should have cooked it longer..."

"flavours are not quite together..."

Silence...

"Bread's quite nice"...

Then finally...

"Thanks for cooking dinner Daddy / Darling.."

"Actually.. the taste is quite nice..."

*sigh*

Wonder if Chubby Hubby is willing to consider taking interns?...

Half Nekkid Thursday.. in more ways than one

2006-02-24T01:22:00.000+08:00

Before I proceed with the rest of the post... boo, this is for you :o)

I had a rough day today... It seems I've pissed some of my colleagues off.

Why? Because I give a damn (for now at least)..

I guess for those of you who've read my entries know that I'm a really candid person, almost to the extent of a direct-poke-in-the-eye.

So what happened?

I am a salesman for the Bank. I sell products. As far as I'm concerned, how well or how badly I do has no bearing on others. Similarly, however well or poorly others perform don't affect me in any way. With that in mind, I'm really very open with my colleagues. When I'm not doing well, I share my frustrations and to some extent, seek support. When others are not doing well, I kick their asses, I cajole and try to encourage and share. When they make sales way above mine, I'm genuinely am very happy for them. I'm proud of them. Why? Just because!

Well, it now seems some of them are "sensitive". Why? Because I talk about numbers, mine and theirs. Some of them are unhappy.. perhaps it's because my sales have been consistent... in good times and in bad. Would they feel better if I talked about numbers only when I don't have sales, if I was a lousy performer? Is it envy? Or is it frustration at work here?

Damn. all that was going on was me trying to be a friend.

Still, I guess I can understand where they're coming from; all of us come from different family environments and naturally have different characters. So... until someone talks to me about numbers.. I'll pretty much keep this part to myself...

On a separate note, I've decided that WHEN I go down to the weight of 70kgs, I will come from behind the veil of anonymity and post a photo of myself.. That would be fun...

New post... coming up tonight...

2006-02-23T09:31:00.000+08:00

Hi guys.

Just recovered from my trip to Surabaya...

Know I haven't been posting been posting here and the joint blog for a few days already... will be coming up with new posts... tonight!

See ya!

Travelling

2006-02-18T06:19:00.000+08:00

Am at the airport... and will be in Surabaya for the next F-O-U-R days...

Weight loss update : Down to 115 kgs following a program of normal eating (!)... having safely moved out of the annual-pig-out-during-chinese-new-year stuff fest. Have also been walking along the wonderful scenic route of the Siglap Park Connector system... Beautiful I tell you!

Oh... will finally be going to the Skatesports inline skating classes... haven't exactly signed up yet, but target to start is this coming week... :o)

Later guys!

Beyond the Comfort Zone

2006-02-07T23:20:00.000+08:00

Expat At Large has kindly invited me to join in his blog at Large2mediuM. This joint blog will chronicle our journey towards healthier bodies...

Our goals are the same. While we will both pursue our exercise goals, our dietary approaches differ :

E@L will go the way of meal replacement shakes / diet smoothies / caloric restriction. He's the strong one... while I'm made of lesser stuff.. so.. I'll go the low-carb route... eating as much as I want till I'm satisfied... The theory is that I'll start losing my appetite once my body gets used to this way of eating.

Come, Join us... Support us... Give Us Pointers... Encourage Us... Hug Us (You might want to do that soon... given that we'll BOTH become hunks in no time at all..)

Oh... I've taken and posted a side profile of myself at the joint blog. It's WAY out of my comfort zone.

Be gentle, yah?

The cruel passage of time

2006-01-26T17:52:00.000+08:00

Just had lunch with my dad and my grandmother today....

He looks like... an old man... drawn and tired... and not the Dad I remembered.

I am softened...

*sigh*

Meme of Four

2006-01-25T11:15:00.000+08:00

Tagged by Trisha

4 Jobs You’ve Had In Your Life

1) Pen salesman (!) - Hmm... Alas.. too old for Singapore Idol!
2) Insurance Agent
3) Equities Analyst
4) Delivery Man for Fine French Foods

4 Movies You Could Watch Over And Over

1) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2) The Matrix Series (okie.. so I'm cheating here...)
3) Rudy - Beautiful story about this fella named, you guessed it, Rudy... who comes from this mining town... the message from the family? "Don't hope to be anything better... just be content being a miner"... Rudy goes on to graduate from college... More importantly, Rudy goes on to play in the (winning) college football team. A wonderful true story of courage and tenacity...
4) Cannot think of any right now...

4 TV Shows You Love(d) To Watch

1) M.A.S.H
2) All the C.S.Is.. (again.. cheating hor)
3) Whose Line is It Anyway?
4) Any cooking programme... too lazy to write.. so watch it to refresh my mem down the recipes... so have to watch to refresh memory...

4 Places You’ve Been On Vacation To

1) Phuket
2) Malaysia
3) Melbourne
4) Anaheim

4 Places You Would Rather Be

Hmm... I enjoy my work and my life... so what to do? You can call me a workaholic...

4 Of Your Favourite Foods

Erm.. need you really ask this?

4 Websites You Visit Daily

1) Mr Brown
2) Mr Wang
3) Trisha
4) Huge Whale Shark

4 Tagged (Hey guys.. you don't have to do it if you don't wanna... :o)

1) Huge Whale Shark
2) Mr Brown - Know you don't know me... but hey, I read you everyday so...
3) Mr Wang - Know you're not really into this bro, but what the heck...
4) ... argh... running out of people to tag coz everyone do liao...

Jakarta

2006-01-23T10:09:00.000+08:00

Just came back from a 3 day business trip to Jakarta... one of the major property developers held an exhibition over the weekend and was asked to go for "support"...

I had a fruitful trip business-wise, but felt a virtual prisoner indoors.

Why?

For those of you who have had the opportunity to go Jakarta, you would be aware that walking along the streets of Jakarta is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

Why? (eh.. strange, deja vu leh...)

Well, basically it's because it's just not safe to do so. This, in itself, goes against my basic instincts. When I visit a country, I love to go for long walks, just so I can understand the culture and the people. I love trying the street foods, albeit at the risk of my digestive system. I love zipping into small shops just so I can take a look at the local wares.

Every time I go to Jakarta, I cannot do what I so want to do. I so want to just walk out the main door and into the streets, but cannot (or rather, dare not). Not even the Indonesian Chinese do that. Want to go next door to the next shopping mall? We go in a car or a taxi, and not just any taxi at that... it must either be a Silver Bird or a Blue Bird. When you need a taxi, the hotels call a cab for you and record the license plate number... just so that you do not disappear into thin air without a trace.

I do not feel safe in Jakarta.

What's also strange is that in the malls, as in the hotels, you see well-heeled Indonesians going about their leisure. They walk about nonchalantly, carrying their LV / Hermes / Branded bags... all the latest designs of course. Then, we go into a cab and drive around through the little lanes. Here, we see a starkly different Indonesia. What's very evident is that these Indonesian are mainly non Chinese. They hang around the streets in large groups (of course, the times when I saw them is about 9 in the morning and about 8 at night on Saturday and Sunday... the last statement is NOT an implication that these folks have nothing better to do... like work).

I've been asked to go Surabaya next month for another exhibition next month.

The first piece of advice I got?

Do not walk on the streets...

*sigh*

My Dad Has Just Called...

2006-01-18T16:22:00.000+08:00

... to say that he's coming back to Singapore on the 25th of January from Taiwan for a short holiday, together with my grandmother who's coming back from the UK to join him here.

*sigh* I do have mixed feelings about this.

It's funny. Perhaps children can sense something... After I broke the news to her while I was driving home after picking her up from school, she kept quiet.. and then said :

"Daddy, so funny. Your daddy and your grandmother were away for soooo long. Until you are an A-D-U-L-T already. So funny, right?"

Right. Exactly how I feel. Amazing how even a 5 year old can work that out.

About 15 years ago, my grandmother was on a trip to Singapore and she tried to "reconnect", after years of not being in contact. "We are family", she tells me.... and all that "blood-is-thicker-than-water" litany

Right....

Now that's I'm all grown up, have my own career, no hassles involved... she wants to "reconnect"

"It's too late", I remember telling her then, "you were not around when I was growing up. It's really hard now"...

It's same for my dad too... a product of a broken family many times over. He calls when he needs help. He calls when he wants to "chat". He was never around when I was growing up.

Now, many years on, the fact remains : "It's too late", all of you, "IT'S TOO BLOODY LATE!"

And so, why am I having mixed feeling? Because deep inside me, I too, want to mend it and make it good again.

I just don't know.

*shrug*

Do You Remember?

2006-01-17T09:27:00.000+08:00

Guess I'm a huge sucker for memes...

The reality is, well, I'm more a sucker for memories, coz it's really the only valuable thing that one can leave behind...

So... *deep breath*

Do You Remember...

... the time I hid in my bedroom as a child of 3, as "the other woman" screamed outside our window... wanting to see you? I was so afraid... both you and Mum were shouting at each other...

... the time I couldn't get the word "chair" right? I remember you walking towards me with the cane... as I so foolishly thought as a 4 year old... that I could hide from your lashes by squeezing as close as I could to the wall...

... when I cried buckets because I thought you were going to die?

... the time we went fishing? That was the best time I've ever had with you... ever...

... our first kiss on the way to your home? :o)

... what you said as I dressed up for our first date on the 24th of December 1994? All I could do was blush...

... when E was born?

... what I said when M was born? "Darling... (as the doctor was stitching you up)... I think it's time to plan for No. 3!"... Do you remember the evil eyes BOTH you and the gynae were showing my way?

... our wedding day?

I do... and thank you for these was what make me me...

*I'll be expanding this later.. so many memories.. so little time!*

Kenna caught.. with pants down some more...

2006-01-12T18:11:00.000+08:00

*sigh*

Read this... and this...

I think this was really quite needless...

*shrug*

The Pickle Jar

2006-01-10T16:39:00.000+08:00

Know how people like to send emails with jokes / inspirational stories / chains? Well, I typically read them and just forget about them.

Except today.

I read one sent to me by a good friend of mine. After I finish reading it.. well, it left a lump in my throat.

Why? Simply because the father's quiet love touched me. Because I never really experienced such a love from my own dad / parents. Because I myself, funnily enough, have a figurative pickle jar.

I just didn't realize how this humble pickle jar could be a symbol of a father's love for his child.

Wow

The Pickle Jar

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.

I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.
Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back."

Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You won't get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there. I'll see to that."

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.
When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me. No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar.

Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again ... unless you want to."
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly and Susan took her from Dad's arms. "She probably needs to be changed." she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.
She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. "Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar.
I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.
Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched,they must be felt with the heart.~ Helen Keller ~

Happy moments, praise God

Difficult moments, seek God

Quiet moments, worship God

Painful moments, trust God

Every moment, thank God

Bo Hee Hai Ar Ho! (No Fish... Prawns Also Can!)

2006-01-09T15:31:00.000+08:00

*sigh*

Not allowed to have pets at home.. wife exercise veto... so have to adopt a tiger instead...

Anyone wanna surprise me with a miniature schnauzer so that I can cite "courtesy" as a reason to keep it?

*Post Note : Seems my Hokkien is getting rusty from lack of use.. It should be "Bo Hee Hei Ar Ho!".. sounds more phonetically correct anyway...

Realizations... and Resolutions...

2006-01-09T11:21:00.000+08:00

This weekend has been a stressful and tiring one.

Moved house.. (although still without the recess area).. went to church on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The time spent in church was good... it allowed me to reflect on this past year... and on my life.

2005 was a good year.

I had done well at my work... had my second child (Hi M!)... Bought a new place and moved in... All in, a great year.

But I lost something in the process.

My dependence on God.

*sigh*

As I reflected, I realized that when life wasn't so good, I was much more dependent on Him.. I turned to Him on a daily basis... for strength... for support... to speak with...

But now? This was gone.. the deep conversations replaced with the typical "Hi-s".. and "Bye-s" reserved for strangers and acquaintances...

My dependence on Him? Replaced with a self belief.. that I can do it... I can do it ALL...

This weekend was good... It allowed me to realize where I had gone wrong where it had all gone right.

I'm sorry LORD...

I'm back... Let me rededicate all my efforts, my successes, my achievements, my hopes, my dreams, my fears all BACK to you.

Where it rightly should have been.... in the first place...

Of friends.. lost.. and found!

2006-01-07T15:55:00.000+08:00

Oh joy!

Have just realized that Hugewhaleshark is an old friend.. lost his number when I lost my mobile phone.

Got reconnected when he left a comment on my blog.

Imagine that? Talk about the proverbial needle in the haystack!

See you Thursday my friend! :o)

Food Food Food

2006-01-04T01:42:00.000+08:00

Remember how some time ago, I was tossing about with the idea of going of LapBanding? I had been struggling with my feelings about my food... well, the FOOD won.

I have been reading about how TONS of people have been having their weight drop off with the Atkins Diet... yeah yeah... I can hear it already "fad diet... fad diet... fat diet"... Well, if so many people have their weight eaten off (literally) ... isn't it worth trying out? Anyone tried the Atkins Diet with any real success? Anybody?

My new place is almost ready (Yeah.. the HDB hasn't come back to me, but that's a whole separate issue)... with a spanking new kitchen and oven just beckoning me...

Since my 5 year old daughter has already placed her orders to make pizza with me once we move in.. which at this point, is expected to be this Saturday, the 7th of January, I thought, why not? Let's make Low Carb Pizza! Will upload the pictures once I've tried the recipe.

This is not a Food Blog, but this is a blog about my life.. and food does play a large part (urgh.. bad choice of word) in my life.. hey.. I reckon I'll talk about my cooking once in a while... figure I'll muck around with low carb recipes... :o)

It's 10-to-2 in the morning... and I STILL CAN'T SLEEP!

Heaven

2005-12-30T13:32:00.000+08:00

Had the first of 2 New Year's parties last night... a mild affair consisting of members of my church community.

Food was great. We had turkey, quiche, satay (500 sticks were ordered... Brother Edwin.. what in the world were you thinking? *grin*).... delectable Christmas and Carrot cakes.. Israeli wine..

It was a good night.

One thing sticks in my mind though. In the midst of the conversations, one of the brothers had mentioned that someone he had known just passed away. The interesting thing is that at exactly the same time that he passed away, his daughter and his sister simultaneously saw a man in white (with wings, no less) leading the (just deceased) man away. After he had walked a short distance, the man turned, and serenely waved his daughter a goodbye wave.

*wow*

Sometimes we need a nudge like this to remind us that our time here on Earth is just a stopover.

Technorati... and all that jazz

2005-12-28T17:59:00.000+08:00

Trying out Technorati.. and found out the number of blogs that link to me is *drum roll please*

==============> O-N-E

Thank you Trisha for this wonderful achievement!!!

*H U G E* *G R I N*

Karol.. A Man Who Became Pope

2005-12-28T11:39:00.000+08:00

Spent the Christmas holiday watching Karol.. A Man Who Became Pope (spoiler alert) with the Missus. Had bought this disc from the Sisters of St Paul, who happened to have a stall in church one day.

This movie left me with a greater sense of the Great John Paul II.

I have always had a sense that Pope John Paul II had a great love and connection with the youth, having established the World Youth Day during his 27 years as Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. I've spoken with very young people who speak of him with love.. the question in my mind at that time was how such a connection between someone who "old" and who was so far away (as in the Vatican) was able to elicit such strong love.

Having watched the movie, I truly understand. I'm sure that there is some element of embellishment of the facts.. but in my mind, given my limited understanding of the political climate in Poland, it all makes sense.

John Paul II was a man driven, no, less, by L-O-V-E.

Love. A word so deep, but steeped in meaning. We all have our own definitions of L-O-V-E.. but what I saw in the movie reminds me of what true L-O-V-E is.

I dare say that the movie helped to cast light on this enigma of a man. I now understand why John Paul II embraced the man who shot him, calling him "Brother"...

John Paul II was also a prolific thinking, reader and writer.. having released many encyclicals during his time. It's no wonder Pope Benedict XVI has said that his papacy would be spent understanding the encyclical legacy that has been left behind.

It's funny how I only thought of wanting to know more of the man when he has left us.

I guess it's only human, isn't it?

Thank you, John Paul, for leaving the world a better place than it was when you came. Thank you for being our teacher. Thank you.

Excuse me... are you a pervert?

2005-12-23T16:22:00.000+08:00

I'm feeling very disturbed right now... Have just heard that someone I know (knew?) just got fired because he got caught shooting upskirt photos. To be totally candid, he's not someone I know.. just a couple of weeks.. but he appeared to me to be someone with a good head on his shoulders, someone who appeared to be very meek, mild.... and overall "nice" guy.

Which brings to mind.. this thing about our "Dark Sides". Those of us who don't have these dark sides are either very pure, or very dead. Most of us do act out parts of our dark sides, most never get caught, and save for those closest to us, others never actually realize that we could be such creeps...

What is going to happen to this chap is almost too painful to think about. Apparently, the Police (whom a very civic minded member of the public called while his friend tailed the culprit)discovered other incriminating photos (some 20 odd photos) in his mobile phone. Most certainly, he'll be charged in court with Outrage of Modesty and will have to serve his time in prison.

*sigh* We guys tend to joke / admire / drool over attractively dressed ladies. But just how many of us will cross the line? Friends have confessed of imagining what these ladies look like under their clothes... I guess any hot-blooded-hormonally-charged male would.. but how many actually cross the line and try to find out? This is a good slap in the face for anyone thinking of trying these "upskirt" / soft-pornesque shots... WAKE UP! THE COST OF GETTING CAUGHT IS TOO HIGH! WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY FOR THIS THRILL WITH YOUR FUTURE?

It's the penultimate day before Christmas, and such a thing has to happen... *shrug* .. Sorry for the ramblings today...

Oh.. Merry Christmas folks!

1.2.3.

2005-12-19T16:36:00.000+08:00

1.2.3.
From Mercermachine, who got it from Amara. Sort of. But half as long because I'm lazy. And a meme because my brain is sorta mushy right now.You can ask me three questions. 1.2.3.No matter how random, revealing, rude, naughty or pointless, I promise to answer them 100% truthfully.[Repost this to see what others ask you...]

Heck. Nobody's gonna ask anything anyways. Just for the hell of it...

How Much is My Blog Worth?

2005-12-09T11:01:00.000+08:00

Worthless.. going by algorithms calculated by this website... *grin*

My blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

Ba-Hum-Bug!

A Night at The MPS... and the HDB debacle...

2005-12-09T10:15:00.000+08:00

The wifey and I spent 2 hours the other day at the Meet-The-People session, trying to get some help from my MP to purchase the recess area in front of my newly-purchased-in-the-middle-of-renovation HDB flat.

A quick summary. Bought the flat end June 2005. 2nd appointment due in October 2005. Made known our intention to purchase the recess area (of about 10 square metres) in July 2005. Got our lawyer to write in formally to the HDB... no reply... made a few personal phone calls to the HDB branch office. No replies, at least none committing to allowing us to proceed. The reason? We were told we had to complete our purchase of the flat in October 2005 before we could buy the recess area. (*what happens if we allow you to purchase the recess area, and the purchase of the flat doesn't go through?*)

Fast forward to October 2005. Sale is complete; our keys to the flat are collected. Once again, the flurry of activities begin. Our lawyer writes to the HDB branch office again. Silence. Multiple calls later and leaving countless voice messages on voice mails that do not get return calls later, wifey manages to conference a call between the lawyer and the HDB officer. "Oh.. " he says.. "you need to get your contractors to do.. this.. and this.. and this"... and proceeds to read a litany of items that need to be done.

Oh. Okay. First we have to get the contractor to put in an application to move the pipes and water meters. We proceed and the contractor puts in the application. Again... silence...

The wifey gets nervous. Calls HDB officer again... multiple calls again... then "Oh.. now you have to get your contractor to get another approval from Singapore Power..." Damn. Can't you guys tell us what we have to do ALL AT THE SAME TIME? Application put in.

2 weeks later, my contractor, nervous at not being able to complete the renovations calls the HDB branch officer.. and gets told.. "Oh.. approval not given to purchase the full recess area.. just 6 square meters)" Why? My shocked contractor asks and gets blasted for that.

The wifey get pissed off. Calls HDB Officer. He says "Oh.. we are the middle man... we only convey what the ARCHITECT says.. anyway.. there's a change in policy.. we cannot sell you the full recess area because that would affect cross ventilation".. bear in mind.. it's now DECEMBER 2005... a freaking 5 months after we initiated the purchase.. 5 FREAKING MONTHS!!! Pissed-off-wifey says... okay.. we wanna come down and see you tomorrow.. "Oh.. er.. I may not be around tomorrow..." Okay, the wifey asks, who's your boss then? "Oh... er.. my boss also not around" The wifey refuses to give up... Who's your boss's boss?

At this stage, realizing that he's dealing with a couple of pit bulls, he says.. "Oh.. if you come down after 9... I will be around"... *rolls eyes*

Anyway, we went down the next day... and get the whole "middleman" shite again. We make known our intention to pursue the matter... stating categorically that we would NOT let the matter rest. "What to do?" he says.. "if we can sell to you, we would sell to you.. but THE ARCHITECT..." *2 pairs of evil eyes now focused on him*

So.. that's why we were are the MPS... waiting to see our MP to try to see if he could help us... see, before we went to the MPS, we went to the block to count the number of units that had bought the recess area.. get this... this is REALLY farnie... The block we live in is 18 floors.. From the 2nd floor to the 16th floor, with the exception of our unit, ALL THE UNITS HAD PURCHASED THE FULL RECESS AREAS. The owners on the 17th and 18th floors had not purchased their recess areas. NON APPROVAL FOR CROSS VENTILATION MY ASS.

We see an eclectic mix of people at the MPS.. people seeking work.. seeking help to bring their foreign spouses into Singapore. There's this couple who's trying to rent a HDB flat but cannot, because they are below 21...

Brings back memories of the time when I used to help in the letter writing in these same sessions... and of the times I always leave feeling blessed for all the things I've been given...

My Eulogy

2005-12-01T18:27:00.000+08:00

Following from the previous post, I am reminded of my motivation for ALL my life choices; what others will see me as, when I have left this Earth.

For so long, I have been guided by this. In my mind's eye, I see my friends, family, my work colleagues, all the people I've come in contact with, eulogizing me.

It's strange I know, but it's so much a part of me that I am no longer conscious of this.

In light of Sondra's passing, and following from Mercermachine's meme on Who Am I (which is essentially looking into one's past and present to look at the things and events that define us), I guess The Eulogy is a wonderful way of coming up with one's life compass.

My Eulogy

My family

My husband was always there for me, always with a kind word, a ready hug. He always cooked for me, lovingly preparing my favourite foods. He loved me, in thought, in action, in everything he did. He always worked hard, always for the family and for the people he served at work.

My husband was a God-fearing man. He always had time for people who needed him. But he was tough, too, when he needed to be. Underneath it all, he was driven by love.

My dad spent time with me. He was there when I struggled when I was learning how to swim. He hugged me and carried me when I needed comfort. He was strict but in a loving sort of way.

My dad left me with so many memories of our times together. He taught me to never give up and he showed me the way to deal with the pain that sometimes we see in life. My dad loved me so much, and I know he loves me still, even now.

My friends, and all the other people

PC was always ready to lend a helping hand, a listening ear... to spend time with me when I needed it most. He was really good at his work, never compromising his integrity just to earn more money. He chose to walk away from 2 careers, while extremely lucrative, just so he could look at people in their eyes and so that he could sleep well.

PC was genuine about everyone he met. If he met someone he didn't like, he would not say anything bad; he would just choose to keep his thoughts to himself.

When I met PC with regard to work, he surprised me by being very responsible. He has always said he would turn away business if it didn't benefit him. I was surprised when he actually did what he said. PC always maintained that he would never do anything to harm anyone.

All in, PC left the world a better place because of who he was.

... There's really much more to what motivates me, though some are really so private that I prefer to keep them to myself...

Once in a while, something happens to remind me about the REALLY important things in life...

What are the things that matter to you?

Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep

2005-12-01T17:26:00.000+08:00

I found this on this wonderful poetry website by Chesil :

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there.

I did not die.

Nobody knows who the author of this poem was, but a copy of this was left in an envelope for his parents by Steven Cummins, a soldier killed on active service in Northern Ireland, to be opened in the event of his death. In the weeks that followed the first broadcast, some 30,000 copies were requested from the BBC programme : the Bookworm.

This is dedicated to la Idler. I did not know you, but thank you for reminding us of the fragility of life.

I'll be giving my wife and 2 children extra long hugs tonight...

Heady mix of alcohol, suntan lotion and hormones...

2005-11-28T09:15:00.000+08:00

Just came back from the company do... 3 days 2 nights of rest, relaxation and celebration for the "achievers"...

Arrived Friday afternoon and checked in. Flush not working. Called housekeeping. Changed and went swimming.

Frolicked by the pool. Amazing how the normally reserved women shed their clothes, preferring to don the bright.. and skimpy (not that I'm complaining) bikinis *grin*.

Won't bore you with the description of the rest of the trip, but there's this thing about going on holidays with the office folks which happens EVERY TIME with EVERY COMPANY... and all this happens with the official "party"...

Standard Operating Procedure for the Party

First, every one arrives at the function room in their get ups... some looking embarrassed, some bored, some proud of their bodies, their costumes, themselves. People milled around the buffet line, wolfing down the wide variety of foods, hungry from the long trip. Soon, the festivities begin and the emcee gets everyone standing with the ice-breakers. Soon after, the booze flows... and everyone seems to be best friends with everyone else.

Woman start looking more delectable *smack* and men start getting interested. Thoughts of "Hey, never noticed her before" start popping up and everyone's getting friendlier... dirty dancing and hands sidle up to waists... beer goggles in full gear here.

Soon though, everyone heads out the door with their stash of alcohol and head towards their private parties... some ending only in the wee hours of the morning.

In a few hours, everyone's back on the breakfast buffet line. Bleary eyed and heads throbbing through alcohol-induced dehydration... By lunch time, rumours of couplings the night before start making their rounds. People start speculating... and eyes are peeled for evidence of these news sparks of romance / lust...

End of the trip and everyone goes home. Some couples would have come of these. Some will go on strong. Most, however, will just fade away... the magic of the relationship fading away with the fading of the tans...

Yup. Happens every time with every trip I've been to... *shrug*...

And oh... the flush never got fixed...

The sucky thing about making decisions

2005-11-24T16:19:00.000+08:00

It's been a while.. it's like that with us ADHD folks :o)

Have been doing tons of research about this condition. Actuall got into a minor depression.. thinking about how life would have been had I not had this. Thoughts about the "what-if's".

I've more or less snapped out of it... and have begun coming up with strategies about how to deal with it.

It seems people with ADHD have difficulty completing projects.. hence, the "marathon project", the "inline skating project", and countless others. I'm still keen to do these though, although I now have to set really S-H-O-R-T time targets, such as a week. Well, this is the advice my doctor prescribed me.

Another topic on my mind is the fact that I've never really been able to sustain any real weight loss... be it through exercise, through diet choices. *shrug*

A fellow I met last week took one look at me and exhuberantly proclaimed "Bro.. you must go for Lap Banding!!!" Guaranteed will work for you one! Seems this chap lost 25 kgs in 6 months... "all without exercise!". All through this exhuberance, his assistant was gesticulating from the side... "no .. no.. don't do it... wait you eat that time sure kenna choke wan"..

So.. on the one hand, if I don't do this, I'm having hell of a time trying to lose weight.. difficulties in controlling my food choices.. exercising.. and yet if I don't, I run the real risk of having a heart attack and dying before I'm 50. If I do go ahead with this un-natural procedure, I'll probably end up choking on my meals (in the beginning at least), forcing me to make proper food choices and resulting in me losing really significant weight for the first time in my life...

Thing is, I'm really torn about having the procedure done. I love my food. I love the process of thinking what to cook, of going marketing to choose the ingredients, of the actual food preparation, of the wonderful smells wafting through the kitchen and the whole house. Damn. I do love my food.... and I have such a wonderful emotional attachment to my food.

I have to make a decision either way. Don't do it.. and I've got to find a way of whipping myself... Do it... and live with the emotional breakup with my food...

It sucks.

ADHD

2005-10-29T06:59:00.000+08:00

It's official...

I've got ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)...

*sigh*

That aside, have gotten myself a pair of K2 skates! The runs? Well, am finding it really tough to bounce along... glidings so much easier... but am still going to persevere for the 10 click run!!!

Time to take action

2005-09-30T12:40:00.000+08:00

This particular blog was started to record things I've wanted always wanted to do, but never got to doing.

Seems I'm still NOT doing anything

*sigh*

So have gritted my teeth... and signed up for.... the Marathon.

Now... if you're one of my friends, you would have collapsed and rolled all over the floor... go ahead...

Why laugh? Because I'm a HUGE man... all of 115 kgs... *grin*

Well... this is the first thing I need to do...

so darling.. tomorrow wake me up at 5am, okay? Your lao gong is going for a short run... erm... make that a jog, or heck lah... just a walk (coz hauling my backside out the door at that time is an achievement already)...

maybe i'll take photos of me doing it just so i can provide some form of motivation (or evidence).. perhaps shots of my sweaty belly? (a la mr brown's shots of his super branded shoes...)

*sigh*

Perversions...

2005-09-29T13:03:00.000+08:00

Was at Cowboy Caleb's blog and found out about an online petition against the "commercial sexual exploitation of children overseas".. Go on.. sign up!!!..

Have a couple of thoughts on this issue. As a father of a rather precocious 5-year-old, I find myself on the alert against perverts. Many occasions, when I'm out with the family, I find middle-aged to older men LEERING at my daughter, E.

Good Grief! She's only F-I-V-E!

I was actually quite oblivious to this until L pointedly told me to protect E's modesty by always ensuring that she was appropriately covered (we all know how 5 year olds have a penchant for flashing their panties). It was only after this that I became aware. Some of these creeps even attempt to touch her, albeit disguised as head patting.

Damn.

STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER, AND KEEP YOUR FILTHY HANDS AND EYES TO YOURSELF.

At those times, I really felt like belting the morons straight across the face. *grrrrrrrrrrr*

On a separate matter, I remember an old schoolmate who was boasting about how he had had sex with a 12 year old girl while on a military training stint overseas and how great that felt.

I felt like puking... and whacking him...

Couldn't contain myself and totally lost it.

Can't remember what I actually said, but remember giving him hell for it. Come to think of it, he was no longer a friend from that day.

So guys, throw your weight behind this... It's worth fighting for...

The Eternal Fight Between Good and Evil

2005-09-28T11:12:00.000+08:00

... or between the authorities and the masses...

*sigh* Just read a very heated and emotional post by Xiaxue, as well as dam farnie one by mr brown.

So, what's my take on this?

I tend to agree with XX that there has been a breach of personal freedom... However, I reckon that under the traditional Asian psyche, the authorities do not know how to deal with criticism; especially criticism that is so public... So they fall back on what they know... punishment...

As a parent of 2 children, I put myself in the shoes of the authorities. Say my kids blog on the web about me being a terrible dad blah blah blah. So what would I do (I would have to do a bit of guesswork here; my kids are a 5 year old girl and a 7 month boy.. ) ?

I... WOULD... PUNISH... THEM... :P

Is it fair? Hell no. It is after all their own point of view.

But I guess it boils down to something deeper than that.. It's about respect... in a way, that kinda clashes with the younger generation... which is more about self expression, freedom of speech blah blah blah... kinda swinging the way of the hippie generation of old...

It's really a Catch 22 situation...

Is there a better way? I think there is. What is it? Don't know... If my kids were pissed off with me, I would much prefer that they came to me directly and talked to me about it, rather than bitch about it in some "public" forum.

Oh... and life's NOT FAIR ... or did someone change the rules?

Husband Training Techniques

2005-09-26T18:13:00.000+08:00

L and I had some light banter when she saw my last post... "You so farnie... I do that meh?"

I feel I have to justify my comments.

How many of you have experienced the following :

1) You automatically do something when your wife/girlfriend makes a comment

Have you ever had your wife say... "Darling, I'm so cold"... and YOU get up from beneath your warm covers, walk all the way across the room to turn down the air con...

Heck! And you're not the one who's even cold!

"Darling... I'm so hungry"... and YOU automatically go to the kitchen to see what you can rustle up for the wifey

2) You panic when it's Valentine's Day and you haven't bought her flowers / a present / arranged dinner

So what's this significance behind Valentine's Day flowers? I've always believe this particular day was set up just so to take advantage of the guilt men feel towards their significant others : "I must do something.... otherwise she'll think I don't care anymore"...

Good grief. If you love somebody, you don't wait till a particular day to show it.

Someone I know never fails to make his wife a cup of coffee in the morning. He's one cool chap... Dick, if you're reading this, you put all of us men to shame

3) You learn NEVER to tell your wife if she's gained weight / looks under the weather

Why? Because you just don't... just ask any married man... he'll say the same thing...

I could go on and on (if I took the time to think through it all)... the point is, women have mastered their men. This is not to say that all of us (READ ==> I) are wimps and are scared shitless of our wives. It's just that they seem to have mastered our hot buttons... where to push so we'll be motivated to say and do the right things...

But then again, one other reason why we do all these things also be because we do truly love our wives. Oh darling, if you're reading this, I love you :)

South Park

2005-09-24T13:23:00.000+08:00

This is way cool : my very own South Park character! Think I'll name him Iggy. I really like this name. Was actually going to name my son Ignatius... until the wife (L) exercised her veto powers. I'd like to say we had long discussions over this, but the truth of the matter is... she just mentioned her concerns to me, and I caved． I'm not a wimp, but I reckon wives have a way of getting their way. Perhaps there's a secret manual all wives get. How else do you explain the strategies wives use when dealing with their men? Can it be so coincidental that the techniques, right down to the words used, are almost identical? (yup, we guys compare notes too)... but that's the subject of another post, perhaps tonight.

Anyway, my son's name is now Matthew... and I've got to resort to calling my comic creation Iggy. *sigh*

Yeh! No more being ripped off!

2005-09-22T23:16:00.000+08:00

I HAD THE BEST ICE CREAM E-V-E-R! Cheaper than "Ben & Jerry's" and "Haagen Daz"! Don't get me wrong... I simply love these 2 ice creams; they're just so expensive!

A friend of mine gave me a GALLON of "Fruits In Ice Cream"Ice Cream tonight... "Ube" flavour... yam as we know it. Was a bit sceptical, but when I took the first bite... mmmmmmmm.. FANTASTIC!

"Fruits In Ice Cream", my friend tells me, originates from the Philippines. Apparently, ALL Filipinos know this brand. I was surprised at the quality... and at the price...

5 bucks for a PINT, and 20 bucks for the gallon tub. WOW. Like that how to find? :P

Apparently not distributed widely, but managed to get the local contact... hee hee!!!

M-U-S-T L-O-S-E W-E-I-G-H-T.... arrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who Am I?

2005-09-20T14:06:00.000+08:00

Saw the meme started by MercerMachine and reflected on my life. This sure did stir up some deep rooted feelings.

I Am That Guy

I am the baby you almost aborted because he came unexpectedly.

I am the baby you almost gave away. Why? Because you were too young to get married

I am the child you left behind with anyone who was willing and able to look after. Who had to depend on the charity of relatives in order to go through life...

I am the child who grew up "fine", in spite of the many difficulties...

I am the child who was told by his mother : "If you see me, you must pretend not to know me"...

I am the boy who paid 30 bucks for a used pair of sports shoes, because new ones cost a bomb...

I am the boy who skipped half his JC 2 and whom deliberately failed his "A" Levels just so he could repeat; who took the LONG route through JC, Poly, Work and University...

I am the man who had his breath taken away by the woman of his dreams; who couldn't believe no one in his right mind did not already try to woo her...

I am the husband who cried while singing on his wedding day as he saw his beautiful bride walk down the aisle...

I am the father who could not believe the little shivering baby was his...

I am the husband who hugged his wife as his daughter went through her heart operation...

I am the father who is so glad for God's graces; who provided him with a wonderful family and an even bigger extended family...

I am that baby. I am that child. I am that boy, and now, I am that man...

Getting down to business

2005-08-02T15:20:00.000+08:00

Let me just start by firing off first part of "the list" :

1) Learning how to Roller-blade (or is it .. in-line skate?)
2) Running a marathon (and if I don't die...)
3) A triathlon
4) Treking in Nepal
5) Learning Malay; Indonesia; Sign Language (does this count as 3?)
6) Playing the piano
7) Going on an African Safari
8) Reading "War and Peace"
9) Fixing my teeth
10)Zapping my eyes

One of my friends once rolled her eyes when I told her I wanted to learn how to in-line skate... for her... she wants to camp in the Grand Canyon in 3 years.. in-line skating is, well, damn low on her list of priorities.

So, how did I come up with the things? For one, much of it stems from the fact that I'm short and fat... :o) and just not physically gifted... others are because growing up, we just did not have the money, and yet others, because I want to....

Hmm... will make a mental note to take shots and post them here as I'm doing the new stuff... (boy am I glad I didn't put "making love in the open" as one of the items)

PC

Birth of a Blog

2005-07-31T13:46:00.000+08:00

So... they do say that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Guess this is my first step.

I want to become a better man; to be able to do as much as I can, when I can. I want to leave a legacy so that I will have left the world a better place.

Welcome to my journey...