Me, Myself & Reading

Blog Relocation

2010-04-11T13:24:00.002+08:00

With immediate effect, this blog has moved to http://memyselfandreading.wordpress.com/. Hope you will like the new look and happy reading.

Pieces Of You (Part II)

2010-03-11T18:12:00.044+08:00

This fascinating pendant features a cameo portrait of Emperor of Shah Jahan carved in hardstone set in gold and rubies. The custom of presenting a pendant bearing the emperor’s image to favoured courtiers was established by Akbar, one of the Great Mughal ruler.

Another delightful find (apologies as I don't have the picture) is a dark sapphire cup carved from rock crystal, set with gold in Kundan technique and decorated with emeralds, rubies. If you peep closely towards the interior of the glass, you would even discover painted miniature faces greeting you. Interesting, is it?

Additionally, I learnt from a large painting that Akbar was a philanthropist as he had initiated a tradition of weighting the emperor or princes on their birthdays and the number would be measured out in gold, silver and valuable items that would be distributed to the poor and holy people. The offerings even included valuable objects with different aromatic smells such as musk, amber and sandalwood. As part of the exhibit, one could sniffed out these three fragrances on the spot. I am impressed!

Once again, these exhibits revealed that the Mughals were proud warriors, ardent in their desire to rule and highlight their distinguished ancestry through their grand collection of the various jewelled arts, unrivaled of any other royal court. It also reinforced that gift giving is central during the Mughals period.

Overall, the jewelled arts prospered because of the various factors including:

- Skills of artisans and craftsmen
- Plentiful supply of precious stones
- Active patronage of royals, diplomats and merchants to seek favours (even common people were required to bestow gift in court)

So if you don't wish to miss out this life-time opportunity, check it out locally before end of June. Enjoy the exhibition and would love to hear from you on the Treasury of the World!:)

Pieces Of You (Part I)

2010-03-10T22:49:00.036+08:00

The word is out. The art lovers in Singapore are currently buzzing about a @special exhibition in town. Not wanting to miss the glamour, I headed to the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) today to check it out. The exhibition titled "Treasury of the World: Jewelled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals" is also the first time held in Asia starting from Singapore.

It was a nominal fee to enjoy the glittering array of 402 Jewelled Arts of India in the age of the Mughals - from jewellery boxes to ornate necklaces and stately swords - from the distinguished era of Mughal-ruled India. I was totally mesmerized by the richness of the exhibits during the legendary Mughal empire from 16th to 19th centuries. It certainly lives up to the name of being one of the most powerful and affluent dynasties the world has ever known.

Not wanting to only admire the stunning yet functional arts pieces, such as the dagger and scabbard adorned with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, ivory and the like (@see picture), I made an effort to understand the history of the opulent dynasty. The Mughal empire dominated the Indian subcontinent. In total, there are six Mughal emperors singled out as the main contributors to the art and architecture of India. The rulers of the empire (in order of sequence) included Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Awrangzib were skillful fighters as well as as enthusiasts of art. Notably, the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan (1628-1657) was the builder of one of the world's most famous monument in memory of his beloved wife.

Going back to the art collection, I feel that it provides a good insight to the various techniques in jewelled arts used by craftsmen and artisan during the Mughals period. One of which is Kundan technique, ie room temperature gold fusion was widely used in most of the ornaments. The stunning looking turban ornament below set with emeralds and diamonds is a classical example.

@Source: http://www.plushasia.com/media_photo/7638

Happy

2010-03-09T17:05:00.019+08:00

Just realize the power of internal happiness. Although I say "hello" and feel perfectly friendly, I don't actually smile much. And I’ve been trying to change that...

I'm aware of this because when I do smile, it has an unfamiliar feeling. The recent being the run I did at the gym near my place yesterday. For some reasons, most users at the gym were smiling to me. Strangely, I have been there many times but have not received such positive experience.

Case in point 1: The gym was packed with people, particularly the treadmill section. Patiently, I waited for my turn. We exchanged smiles after the guy ahead of me finished his run. For some reasons, I could not get to start the machine *sheepish smile* Suddenly, he turned back and tried to help. Albeit he was unsuccessful, he offered to get the staff to assist. So nice!

Case in point 2: Upon our eye contact, the lady next to me, who was using the treadmill also smiled at me warmly. She is a senior resident and I was quite inspired by her spirited walk. We chatted briefly and it was an enjoyable run. I wished her fun in her workout in my warm tone and she replied me cordially with a big smile.

My experience shows that emotions are infectious. If I seem friendly and happy, I’ll help communicate that mood to other people. And attraction is reciprocal; we tend to like people who seem to like us. So if I’m smiling and friendly to a person, that person is more likely to feel friendly toward me. Finally, I see some light why my friend always seem to attract smiley faces.:)

This supports the theory that true and lasting happiness always comes from within and is a direct result of how we process the realities. Being in a happy state of mine, I also seem to have affected people around me. Now I believe that my happiness is not dependent on what have happened or what I have. Like everybody out there, I do not have control over the externals of my life, but I certainly have control over how I can react to life internally. And of course, with a sunny smile.:)

You And Me

2010-03-07T00:03:00.032+08:00

Was having a chat with some friends yesterday. One of them asked me if I know anything about "The Little Red Book". Ashamed of my ignorance, I decided to google and gain some understanding.

Known in the West as "The Little Red Book", it is a 33-chapter collection of 427 quotes from Chairman, Mao Zedong. In the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, it played a role as a lynchpin, representing the essence of Mao Zedong's ideas.

Since 1966, the Little Red Book, has been published by the Government of the People's Republic of China. Hundreds of millions of copies and numerous versions were printed and were almost ubiquitous in China. Students, soldiers, workers, and peasants studied the book at regular study meetings.

During the Cultural Revolution, studying the book was not only required in schools (from primary grades to universities), but was also a standard practice in the workplace as well. All other units, be it industrial, commercial, agricultural, civil service, and military sectors, organized group sessions for the entire workforce to study the book during working hours.

Also, it was an unofficial requirement for every Chinese citizen to own, to read, and to carry it at all times, especially during the Great Cultural Revolution. During the turbulence, the punishment for failing to show the book upon being asked would include from being beaten by the Red Guards to hard-labor imprisonment.

Interestingly, it was argued that understanding Mao's quotes could definitely bring about enlightenment to the work unit, resulting in production improvement. However, this was not the case, and the Cultural Revolution was now widely viewed as an economic collapse.

Frankly, if the book showing proper codes of conduct (such as how to be more gracious, considerate and etc) is adapted and rolled out in Singapore, it may prove to be a success. After all, the citizens in Singapore have been known to be law-abiding and follow the government's regulation well. Your feedback, please.

Release Me

2010-03-05T22:38:00.006+08:00

Heard from my cousin in States that she has been admitted to the graduate programme in Art Therapy. Interestingly, one of my companies where I was interviewed today also offers a similar programme, Art of Healing .

Essentially, the objective of the treatment is to leverage on the power arts as a form of therapy to calm the patients’ mind and body, so as to help them on their road to quicker recovery. Through this programme, the hospital hopes to create a warm, welcoming and enriching environment for the staff, patients and public.

Crossing over to the affairs of the heart, I feel time is the best cure in such scenario. And if it happens to me one day, I would just leave the country ~~for a couple of years~~ and let it heal naturally. For others, they may turn to drugs or something they are passionate to overcome the breakup period. Alternatively, picking up a new course or indulging in work would alsom help.

More importantly, one has to bury the past and move on with life positively. Afterall, life is too short to miss out on the fun stuff. Do you agree?

Hold On

2010-03-04T23:40:00.021+08:00

A friend of mine has been challenging me to be open-minded. To the one out there, you know what I mean. Just that the mind evolves over time, so it is not going to happen over night.

I surfed the Internet in hope of some quick tips. Here's an interesting excerpt:
Aristotle once said, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Listening to others' ideas may not be easy, but it could be an valuable way to learn something new or change your perspective on life.

Somehow, I couldn't agree more. Personally, I am rather impatient and don't take time to listen to what others say. Not that I am unwilling to hear others' views, just that the inability to hold my tongue. Could be my ego at work. So I tend not to agree with others easily or try to hear their perspectives. In fact, I often require others to agree on my viewpoint before I hear out their opinions.

After some mulling, I think it's time for me to make a positive change FOR MYSELF and learn something new or adjust my perspective. If this doesn't work, guess I can take a leaf from the site to enjoy my stand for my beliefs without the need to debate with another person every time I engage in a discourse. Hope it is not too late...

Faith

2010-03-03T18:34:00.022+08:00

I should be on cloud nine now. Have received a job offer today, after searching for a month. Well, guess I deserve a pat on my shoulder. On second thoughts, I am not so sure. The post offered to me is of public relations by nature. Based on my resume, it does meet my career objective.

Looking deeper into the prospective job, I feel that the challenge in terms of media management may be more than I could handle. For this role, one is managing both public as well as government relations on top of the media connections. Further, the avalanche of feedback from the residents has to be managed on a timely basis. The other negative aspect of the job is that I am expected to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends or public holidays. Guess the crunch from my mulling is that the pay is less than what I have hoped for or not comparable to the market rate for a managerial position.

On a larger picture, I would like to look at the job options available, as there are three more interviews to attend this week. One of which is the coveted communications job at a local hospital. For the other two interviews, I have been shortlisted by event companies. This is another area I would like to hone or explore further, if the pay is lucrative, especially when the job often requires long working hours.

Other than these three, I also have a pending communications opportunity at a logistics company (recommended by my friend) to be discussed further around middle of March. Guess I need to have a little bit of patience and above all, faith!

The Earrings Song

2010-03-02T21:55:00.014+08:00

For some strange reasons, I seem to be dealing with more than one physical issue. Other than my Achilles tendon, even my right ear lobe is infected due to a rusty earring. Hence, I removed it and cleansed it with water and am hoping for a quick recovery.

Problem is that the ear hole has completely sealed up after two days of rest. Wishing to don myself up with the pretty earrings from Russia (a gift from a friend), I decided to do something about it.

Not wanting to queue up at the clinic, I proceeded to the nearby pharmacy. A elderly pharmacist greeted me in a croaky voice. I explained my issue to him and sought for his advice. According to him, I only needed to use alcohol to address the infection. Then I asked if the alcohol would also allow re-open up the ear hole. "Apparently not as the ear cells still work during infection", he said.

Seeing my distress, he offered me his grandma's remedy to fix the ear hole back by piercing it with the end of a joss stick. I was speechless! So I thanked him and ran out in disbelief that a professional would offer such ancient advice.

Undeterred, I went to the next pharmacy. Here, the pharmacists attended to my questions patiently and professionally. This time, I was recommended to a ear jewellery shop in the next building to re-pierce my ear hole.

Though I had to pay a hefty price for the service, it was worth it! In fact, I would be receiving a free checkup for my ear in a month's time. Oh, did I tell you that the premium service also include a new pair of of non-sensitive earrings?

:)

Who I Am? (Part I)

2010-03-01T21:00:00.015+08:00

Currently, I am on the road of recovery from Achilles tendon. One of the causes for my recurring injury could be due to the deplorable state of my running shoes. To avoid history from repeating itself, I decided to pull along a friend in pursuit for my new purchase yesterday.

We headed down to Velocity, the sports and lifestyle mall in Singapore. We did not waste time and check into New Balance store right away. The service did not fail us. The knowledgeable salesperson greeted us and offered to help me find the right running shoes for my foot type. According to him, to figure out what type of running shoes one should buy, he/she first need to know the kind of feet he has.

After some observation of me running on the treadmill in different shoes, I was told that I have neutral or normal feet. Specifically, my footprint will have a noticeable curve inward, but not by more than 3/4 of an inch. This is the most common type of foot, and it's also the least susceptible to injury as long as it's outfitted with proper footwear.

Good news is I can choose from a wide variety of running shoes, including the ones made for neutral runners or those with slightly flat-footed or high-arched feet. I was also advised to stay away from running shoes that have a lot of stability or motion control. The issue is the most befitting shoes I have tried falls under the mild stability category. Hmmm...

Don't Regret

2010-02-28T13:41:00.009+08:00

Just a little thought. A friend said I was "stalking" on Facebook earlier. I searched for the definition of Facebook and it reads a global social networking, to connect with your friends and with your friends friends.

In fact, one friend of mine actually said she was stalked a few times by strangers/someone she may know. As such, she is rather prudent not to share too much details online.

Personally, I feel it is a good idea to connect with friends across the world on Facebook. If one doesn't like sharing his social comments with his friends, he/she can set it to private. Let me know if there is an alternative or better way. I am all ears:)

Time For Miracles

2010-02-06T11:56:00.021+08:00

I am lost for words... To shed some light, I have left my previous job in pursuit of another challenge. And I was really looking forward to the new opportunity when I was informed that it would be put on hold. Rather than dwelling on the predicament, I have now started to explore other job options..

Other than going through the usual job-search process, I have also decided to fine-tune my mindset for bigger success. Hence, I signed up for a motivational workshop conducted by my ex-lecturer in Mass Communications. During the workshop, she has imparted a few school of thoughts to unleash unlimited power in us. One of them is the Laws of Attraction.

Personally, I find the concept simple and inspiring. Simply be thankful of the things you currently have and wish for the positive things in life. If you continue to do it earnestly, the universe will respond and grant you your wish. Of course, if you keep thinking the negative things, the universe will hear your wish and you will receive more negativity. Sounds too easy? Well, one can take it with a pinch of salt.

To this date, the laws seems to have worked for me. I have been called up for job interviews since and other opportunities have been pouring in through friends' recommendations! Get to know two nice guys and a gal from the workshop.:) So what are you waiting for?

Lost Then Found

2010-01-03T12:32:00.052+08:00

Welcome to the New Year! Am writing with great relief that I have picked myself up positively after a bad end to 2009. In retrospect, it was probably a good wake-up call for my career. I mean I have not really improved myself and just wasted my time away... Hence, rather than crying over spilled milk, I decided to look for a job that correspond to my strengths. Easier than said, I realize!

Thanks to a good friend of mine, he has provided me with some useful tips to start my job strategy. Basically, a personal marketing strategy provides me with a game plan for my job search campaign, that is, with me, the job seeker, as the product. Every product, even the best ones, won't succeed without a strong marketing strategy. More importantly, the plan needs to be SMART - Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Timely. Setting a step-by-step timeline on how I can land a job is critical.

As what my friend reiterates, finding a job is easy. But finding what I like to do is the real challenge. By listing out my strengths, dream job duties and the gaps candidly, I first evaluate what I can do and not do. For the latter, I have to further determine if it can be addressed through training or work experience. If not, I will have to remove the job duty from my list. Based on the analysis, I will then understand my job wants and market them to the prospective employers. In this first step, I probably have spent two weeks to ascertain my wants.

After determining my marketing skills, I have to locate the job leads through classified ads, or recruitment agencies, or friends and the list goes on. Alternatively, one can write directly to the companies in the industry/industries in need of my qualifications. For the second step, another two weeks have been utilized.

Contacting prospective employers will be the next step. Generally, a resume, accompanied by a cover letter, is the way to go, especially if one is responding to an ad. Also, getting organized is important. If I organize the information, I will not misplace important job details such as titles, duties and email addresses. In other words, no precious time will be wasted searching for the information as I will have proceeded to prepare for the job interviews. Around two weeks to four weeks will be required in this step.

Fortunately, I have found an almost-ideal job through a personal contact. After matching my strengths with the new job's deliverables, I have decided to take up the offer. Having said that, actions speak louder than words. As what my friend says, if I like a job, I will do it well. So check out my next blog to see what I will/have done differently in preparation for the new adventure:)

Running

2009-12-06T20:29:00.030+08:00

Conquered my second marathon last Sunday. My experience last year was great and I was looking forward to this run till my friend pulled the plug on the full race due to his sore throat. It did not help when I had a less committed training programme this year. On average, I trained up two to three times a week. For each run, I only did 6 to 8km. Despite not being in the pink of health, I persisted.

Well, you see I had a cunning plan up my sleeve! Putting on a brave smile, I pressed on with my strategy. It was a simple plan actually. To run my first 21km at one go, then follow by walk-and-jog for the next 21km.

At the starting point, I did a quick warm up as the race has began. This time I was way back due to an even bigger crowd than last year. The organiser has flagged the participants at 0530 hours but it took me almost 15 minutes to step on the start mat. As usual, I started the quest slowly. For some reasons, I was experiencing discomfort in my left knee. Felt wobbly. This was no good, I thought. Hence I took it easy and perhaps too lightly for the first 10km that resulted in a deplorable finish time.

For the next 10km, I stepped up on my efforts marginally for fear of early time-out. However, my knees felt better and I started to run fervently. I must say running with this strategy this time has helped me to pace myself for the rest of 21km. Truthfully, I was quite surprised I could manage the walk and job consistently. In fact, I even sprinted to my last 2km.

Unfortunately, the final timing showed that I was 15 minutes slower than my marathon. Guess life is fair to those who do not work hard. Overall, I am happy that I have completed my race and hope to do a better run next time. Join me?

Tonight, I Love You

2009-11-07T12:59:00.038+08:00

Had a good chat with a lady taxi driver. Very chirpy and happy. Found her attitude uplifting and refreshing, among many grouchy taxi drivers. And especially you are talking about one who takes the night shift. I asked her, "Is that worth it?. After all, ladies are always concerned over a lack of beauty sleep. She simply shrugged it off saying so long as one gets enough rest, one can still enjoy good health.

Probing further, I asked her if she has been driving taxi all this while. One year ago, she was a merchandiser who was spending more time at work, albeit it being a day's job. Now, her new profession which requires 9-hour slog in the evening, has allowed her to spend more time with her family. Sometimes, she can even drop by her mum's place for a quick meal/chat if she is in the proximity. More importantly, she enjoys driving and sees the switch a natural progression.

Kudos to her courage to make the mid-life career change! Furthermore, it takes more than passion to survive in a male-predominated business. Interestingly, she has gained lots of attention from the male co-workers who are more than willing to share the tips in the profession.

Crossing over to Formula One, rumors are heating up that Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen will walk away from the grand prix circus at the end of the 2009 season. According to him, he may take up full time rallying being his other passion, like so many of his compatriots before him. Another potential case in point.

Clearly there is a takeaway in their stories. If you are reading this blog, you probably smell it too.

This Is It

2009-10-17T23:54:00.013+08:00

This is it! Just have to action on my muffin project rather than daydream over it. So I pulled my niece, an avid muffin baker on a Saturday and shopped for the ingredients necessary. Found this easy to follow *recipe from internet:

Banana Muffin Recipe (makes 12 large muffins)

Ingredients
2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

4 ripe bananas, mashed
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg & 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Line a 12 cup muffin tray with muffin cups or grease lightly with butter.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl.
3. In another bowl, beat the mashed bananas, sugar, eggs and melted butter together.
4. Stir the banana mixture and walnuts into the flour mixture until just combined.
5. Divide the batter into the muffin tray.
6. Bake in preheated oven on the middle rack for 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean.

*http://www.madbaker.net/category/muffins/

For some reasons, the output did not taste like banana muffins at all. It was rather bland, and there was no tinge of banana flavor. Can anyone help?

Fallin' For You

2009-09-20T23:52:00.042+08:00

In view of the imminent Grand Prix in Singapore, I have been spending more time thinking of Formula One (F1) car racing. For those who have not been following my blogs, I carry the torch for Finish driver, Kimi Raikkonen. As a lady fan, I even have one friend asking why I am following Formula 1 (F1). There you go!

Almost everyone has an idol at one point in his life. However, my primary motivation for idolizing someone is help me relate /attempt to understand the sports better. Decades back, I was drawn into local football frenzy. It certainly helped me to understand the game better when I had my eyes on 'The Dazzler', V. Sundramoorthy - a Singaporean footballer in the 1980s and 1990s, and widely touted as one of the country's most skillful and talented footballers ever.

However, I do realize that idolizing people is one of the most risky things that most of us do. It is true that some people educe reverence and admiration and it is likely that they become our role models. But as long as we don't go overboard, it is still fine.

The main reason why we shouldn't do this is because when we idolize a person they seem to be beyond our reach, we tend to believe that we can never be where they are. In idolizing others, we tend to lose all our self confidence which should not be encouraged.

And the greater the number of role models the worst is the situation. We believe that the people whom we idolize are a class above us that we can never be like them. In doing so, we would contradict the sayings of Nelson Mandela who rightly pointed out that "greatness is not in just some of us, it is in all of us".

Now, shall we start by boycotting "Singapore Idol"?:)

Whatcha Say

2009-09-20T01:23:00.011+08:00

Had a post-birthday dinner with some co-workers last nite. The topic of carpooling came up for discussion. It all started as I currently have a carpooling arrangement with another colleague. For some reason, it did not resonate well with them.

Oh well, that's not my focus for the blog. In fact, I like to share with you the multiple benefits of carpooling, particularly in the tiny island of Singapore. They include but not limited to the following:

• One helps to protect the environment when you share a ride on top of saving money on petrol and wear and tear on your car.

• By reducing traffic congestion,carpool participants also ameliorate the country’s air quality.

• When it's not your turn to drive, you can relax and make use of the time to prepare for the big meeting for the day, grapevine, read the papers, take a nap and list goes on.

• With fewer cars on the road, traffic congestion will be lessened.

• Save money on parking/maintenance fees through carpooling payment.

• Meet new people and socialize!:)

I Want To Know What Love Is

2009-09-19T00:32:00.029+08:00

Took my Flyby bike last Sunday with a friend to an exclusive hideout in sunny Singapore. It was one of those days when I felt bored and purposeless. More importantly, I wished to reaffirm my interest in my latest sports pursuit.

It was an enjoyable ride as I was more confident to ride on the road, embracing the notion that no driver wishes to kill cyclists. Of course, having a better control with the gears and brake also made the journey a smooth-sailing experience for me. On occasions, I even managed to chat with my friend briefly.

Guess what I am trying to say is fear is a mind game. As long as you are predictable and not show signs of wobbliness, you will be treated with respect on the road and there is no reason to be apprehensive.

After cycling for almost 9km (see attached route), we touched down at the destination - Seletar Air base. At the entrance of the air base, we were greeted by the picturesque backdrop. It was almost like The Village movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Drawn by the pristine landscape, we crossed beyond the boundaries of the city into the unknown.

With the help of a passerby, we hit the little walkway that led us to Sunset Grill and Pub. Personally, I found it rewarding to visit the no-frills cafe with a spectacular view of the airway donned with different private jets. Not to mention we got to enjoy beautiful sunset over runway free of charge. Now who's complaining?:)

Realize

2009-09-05T01:30:00.017+08:00

Just realize the joy of lending my time to community work:) Recently, an organisation contacted our School on the possibility of engaging our students and facility for a IT workshop for our senior citizens for free. The instructor and training notes would be provided by the company. It also aims to foster inter-generation bond. I said, why not? It sounded meaningful and beneficial for the students.

So I proceeded to touch base with the Profs and students respectively, if they would be willing to go for a pilot test early September before committing it on a long term basis. All was agreeable as long as it did not take a toil on the students. A quick briefing was also provided to the student volunteers to aid them in the community work.

On Friday, we met up with the group of seniors, the trainer and the organisation staff to kick start the Thematic workshop for the elderly. As the target audience was a group of seniors, he was very patient and guided them step-by-step. Basically, the workshop aims to teach the matured folks how to write Chinese characters using the USB input pen.

As I have volunteered to write an article on this samaritan act, I also joined in happily. And even pulled along a colleague of mine to make up for the shortfall in the student volunteers. All went well as we tried our best to engage in the right language (be it English or Mandarin) to assist to their queries better.

Overall, it was an enriching experience for both the seniors and the students. For the former, one lady from Hong Kong told me that she could now use the technology to write Chinese email to her friends in her home country. For one student volunteer, he confessed that it had helped him to be more patient when communicating with the seniors. And it felt so good, I want to do it again!

Not Anymore

2009-08-25T23:14:00.036+08:00

Not anymore. Won't be affected by anybody anymore. First thing is to rekindle an interest to learn new things/acquire knowledge. Secondly, to manage my finances wisely to prepare for unexpected job hiatus. Concurrently, a more disciplined training for my marathon (my last one, probably) is in the pipeline, even if I have to do it alone. Next, upgrading myself academically is in the cards.

I also hope I have the opportunity to lend my voice to aid the visually handicapped folks before my voice gets cranky. Learning to swim the right way is the other item on my wish list. Not forgetting to continue my favourite tennis sessions (with or without a coach) to fine-tune my skills. And hopefully, I will be able to thwart my friends soon.:) And I can go on further...

Above are the reflections of my life after I turned one year older on Monday. Maybe I just worry that the list of things I don't bother to address is growing exponentially. So I have to start doing something now! Unless I can just say screw it and go live in the woods...

Obsessed

2009-08-18T22:57:00.007+08:00

I am back for good. Last Sunday, I conquered another 1/2 marathon by Safra under inadequate practice condition. The result speaks for itself:

Name :CHUNG SIEW NGO
Net Finish:02:40:01.25
Category :21KM WOMEN'S OPEN

Honestly, I was not pleased about it albeit I did improve marginally by 5 secs. Furthermore, I ran non-stop except at drinks stations to meet my bigger target, 42km end of the year. Looks like I more motivated now to put in a proper training schedule to achieve my personal best for my 2nd marathon to come. Join me, anyone?

I Will Survive

2009-07-25T00:00:00.034+08:00

During my schooldays, I often received comments about my speech incoherence. As a result, it made me more apprehensive when talking to others. In my final year in Poly, we were told by our lecturer to make a presentation in the class. I was a bundle of nerves! In fact, it was so bad that I was seen trembling violently. To this day, I still recall the roar from my classmates over my debut presentation...

Determined not to let it affect my first job, I tried to put my efforts into practice sessions. With ample preparation, it helped to calm myself and I began to see marginal improvements. But deep down, I feel that I could improve on it further through professional training.

Then recently I have the chance to enrol for a communications course held at my workplace. It was a two-day class as we were taught a series of plans to structure our thoughts prior to our speech. In my opinion, these basic plans have proven to be useful and effective during our group projects. The instructor also shared some positive feedback about my progress that I hope to motivate myself to use these techniques in any off-the-cuff talk. I will survive:)

One Step Closer

2009-07-19T17:36:00.020+08:00

Feeling the Sunday blues... So I cajoled my friend to join me on an excursion to a mushroom farm close by. The mission was to visit the farm on our bikes to see the array of mushrooms. You see, I am the proud owner of the FlyBy foldie as of yesterday:) Well, almost...

In total, we pedalled 14 km (two-way) from Hougang to Seletar West in my quest for the mushroom feast. For those who share the same taste bud, the destination is MycoFarm Pte. Ltd. at Seletar West Farmway 5, Singapore 798057.

Rain greeted us at the onset of the ride. I have to agree with my friend now that it is enjoyable to cycle in the rain as the drizzle perks up the soul instantly. Furthermore, traffic is less on the road and makes it more fun to enjoy the space. More importantly, I have learnt to use my brakes and gears better under such wet condition on top of the regular up and downslopes.

Before long, we have arrived at the mushroom farm on a slightly less than dry condition but chirpy. Happily, we parked our bikes and stepped into cafe to satisfy our appetite. Unfortunately, we were too late as the mushroom soup, muffins and other offerings have already been snapped up. Feeling hungry, we left the place shortly in search of roti prata in the vicinity of the farm. It was a no-frills prata eatery and we wasted no time ordering our food. Between the prata and mee houn goreng, the latter was a clear winner.

After fuelling ourselves, we headed back home. The return ride was slightly warmer as the rain had ceased. No worries, as I have my cap to count on. Feeling more confident to ride on the road now, I should be ready for the next one…

Trouble Is A Friend

2009-07-16T22:51:00.020+08:00

Welcome back. After almost one and a half week of retreat, I am ready to face the world with a stronger resilience! I don't wish to dwell on the past, so I shall skip the details...

After all, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift." Let me talk about my plan to eradicate the issues at work. After much thinking and online research, I conclude an infallible plan should encompass the following:

1. It has to meet my need - Better appraisal outcome

2. It's realistic and can be implemented

3. It's specific and results can be tracked against the plan - It has to include tasks, timeline, budgets, and metrics. It's measurable.

4. It clearly defines responsibilities for implementation

5. It's communicated to the person who has to run it and understand the plan

6. It gets the person committed

7. Last but not least, success is in sight with regular review and course correction

Let me know if I have miss out anything and keep smiling.

Dangerous and Sweet

2009-07-02T22:43:00.045+08:00

If you have a sweet tooth, here's something to pique you. Located at Jalan Mas Puteh (nearest MRT is Clement station), IceDreamland is a stop you could not miss! Greeted by different seating parlors, this inconspicuous cafe offers an array of Movenpick ice cream flavours to residents in the west.

To share how I stumbled upon the place, I was accompanying my friend to get his handlebar replaced. Then we noticed IceDreamland a couple of units away. To make my story short, we took the advice of the staff and ordered the milk shake on this very sultry day. My friend decided to go for a rum and raisin milkshake. As a special order, I requested for a milkshake concocting of both the strawberry cheese and vanilla ice cream. Yummy! Look at my happy face:)

Surprisingly, the place did not seem to be packed with customers given its warm service and unique seating theme. For the latter, I have to commend the business owner for coming up with different seating ideas, including Cinderella's carriage, in-house swing for two, party table among others. In my humble opinion, the business could see a boost in patrons if the following is adopted:

- Opening promotion
- Develops the current website to showcase the quaint fairy-like setting and ice cream, as it only shows the home-page
- Special rates for students
- Flyers to residents and workers nearby
- Ice cream tasting for passersby
- Continue to offer good customer service as word of mouth proves to be most cost-effective

Let me know if you have anything to add on and enjoy the ice cream, if you drop by!

Joyride

2009-06-29T23:11:00.042+08:00

I hit the road on a folding bike with my friend to Tampines Ikea yesterday. Guess I finally wish to put my fear behind me and enjoy life freely! Attached is the route we took, about 16km in total.

Being my debut ride on the road, it was certainly a nerve-racking experience! From Hougang avenue 7, we cycled up to Tampines road with relatively sparse traffic. What a lucky start, I was telling myself.

As it turned out, life was never a bed of roses. What lied ahead was an uphill slope to be conquered. Despite changing the gear to a lower number, I found myself stationary. My wobbly legs did not help either. Once again, I had put myself on the spot! Not wanting to delay my friend, I came off the bike and pushed it uphill much to the delight of the construction workers nearby. Almost wished I could dug myself a hole at that moment.

But life must go on! Hence, I took off on the bike again as soon as I felt comfortable at the onset of a straight road. Thankfully, my friend noticed I fell behind him and waited for me upfront. Trying to look plucky, I gave him a weak smile and resumed the ride to Ikea.

The next part of the journey was quite enjoyable along Paya Lebar Runway! A winding road along Old Tampines road. Without the traffic, it would be more fun as it gets narrow at some parts of the road. Anyway, it reminded me of a getaway to the alluring countryside ahead. Dream on...

Reality bites! Before long, the buses and cars sneaked in really close to me, so I became jittery again. At one point, I even had to stop by the side to avoid jostling through the traffic. Then it became evident to my friend that my bike also started to sway from left to right. Hence, we took a hiatus to correct the situation. After a quick analysis, my biking mate pointed out that my saddle was slightly slanted sideway. I had to agree that it did help in my balance after I made the adjustment.

At the end of the road, we reached the junction where Tampines Ikea beckoned at us. I made it alive!!! So I rewarded myself with yummy ice cream and chips with my friend:)

Unfortunately, on my return trip, I took the pavement after being horned by a car. It turned out to be a bad decision! For some reasons, the pavement had a number of sharp corners. Being an amateur, I went high speed without braking at the corners. One thing led to the other, I flew over my handlebars and onto the pavement. Ouch! This one really hurts. I am walking funny now.

PPS1: Click on the picture to get the details!

PS2: Special thanks to my friend for his patient support and guidance during my ride. Honestly, I couldn't have survived without him:)

The Show

2009-06-17T22:04:00.052+08:00

If you think about it, life is really a show. An extract from the upbeat song, The Show by Australian singer, Lenka: "It's a joke nobody knows they've got that ticket to the show" sums up my sentiments fully. I mean each of us plays the leading role in our life. Basically, one is the director, script-writer and actor roll into one. So what makes a good show? In my opinion, a good movie would include: drama, challenges, never-say-die spirit, humor and lots of fun.

Just take a look at me now! Albeit I am in my mid-life crisis, I am still trying to put up a good show for myself.. Finally, I decide to sign up for a biking rally, SAFRA Runway Cycling this Sunday (thanks to persistent nudging from my friend). A bout of jitters! That's how I am feeling now.

It doesn't help that I hardly ride a bike. For me, I cycle for leisure purposes. Sure, the category I have enrolled is under Leisure Cycling Route (15km). Nonetheless, it would be a challenge for me to cover the long distance on a bike. Considering the event is a group ride, I researched on the cycling etiquette and like to share some pointers:

* pointing out potholes and other objects in the road for the person behind
* keep to the left but pass on the right
* indicate with your hand to people behind when the group ahead is slowing
* do not make abrupt and unannounced speed or direction changes
* if you get a flat in the middle of the pack, raise your hand, yell out “flat”, and hold your line until everyone has passed
* when standing out of the saddle, always pedal while simultaneously standing up to avoid a lag in momentum which can lead to the rider behind crashing into you.
* if you are in a fast group and don’t have the energy to pull the other riders, stay at the back out of the rotation. Nothing irritates experienced riders more than some yo-yo infiltrating their pace line.

Enough of theoretical talk. To alleviate my anxiety, let me kidnap my friend's bike for a spin, so talk to you later.

My Life Would Suck Without You (Part II)

2009-05-17T17:19:00.019+08:00

Was looking forward to tennis with my friend today. For some reason, he missed the booking after I reminded him a few times...

Naturally, I was not on cloud nine. After some exchange of words, he suggested that I sought alternative tennis court. My point is that why do people procrastinate? For me, I always put off to improve myself, learn new things, buy a bike and the list goes on...

Now, what can one do about it? Interestingly, an article discusses procrastination in both good and bad light saying the main reason people find it difficult not to procrastinate is that they don't enjoy doing the something. While I agree, I can't help thinking why one cannot feedback to the other person candidly, if it is not work-related? I am sure all things could be resolved if one puts across his honest views without sounding offensive. I hope I am not idealistic...

My Life Would Suck Without You (Part I)

2009-05-10T00:15:00.024+08:00

For the past few weeks, I have been receiving informal tennis lessons from my friends. Guess it is always good to have an alternative sports on top of my running. Hence, I got into the act of arranging my friend cum coach along with a few of us to start my new leisure pursuit.

In the first lesson, my coach friend introduced us to the basics of the game including the different grips. As the forehand is one of the fundamental shots in the game, we have been focusing on it during the past practice sessions. My biggest issue is that I have not master the basic forehand fully and following through. The other problems include the inability to anticipate the position of the ball and a lack of hand-to-eye-coordination.

Other than practical exercises, my coach friend has suggested that we should watch tennis videos for a better grasp of the game such as: http://www.monkeysee.com/play/1012-tennis-for-beginners-introduction.

Interestingly, I have found a useful video that might address one of my tennis issues at: http://www.videojug.com/film/hand-to-eye-coordination. Would you like to partner with me for this coordination exercise?

The Way I Loved You

2009-04-24T22:24:00.048+08:00

Caught a Japanese movie, Departures a while back. Directed by Yojiro Takita, it is a 2008 Japanese film that started with subtle humor which had me roaring into laughter at the onset. As the mood of the movie becomes more sombre, I was drawn more deeply into the story. It turned out to be a very touching and emotional experience for me.

As a devoted cellist in an orchestra, the plot unfolds with the lead actor losing his job when the the group is dissolved. By chance, he applies for a job with vague description and it turns out to be a eyebrow-raising job, the encoffiner. One that requires him restoring the beauty for the dead people before their loved ones see them off in the last journey. This movie also aptly depicts the pride and purpose in one's job, as well as questions the meaning of death.

This movie has enlightened me that death is not the end of life, as it triggers reconciliation of those who hate another person. Just like the cellist who dislikes his dad for running away from home. In the end, his death offers the son an opportunity to forgive and forget. It was very emotional for me when he realizes that his father dies with the beloved "stone" from him in his palm. For those who have not catch the show, the dad teaches the son that one can make out the mood of the sender by touching the surface of the rock. When the recipient has a smooth stone from the giver, it means the person is happy and vice versa. Very ingenious:)

I have to specially commend on the superb acting by the cast. Motoki Tomohiro's acting was especially stupendous, as he exhibits the full gamut of human emotion - comical at times, yet carry the thoughtful and professional scenes perfectly. Yamazaki Tsutomu is equally unparalleled as the strict mentor in the story. Overall, the film has a nice flow and well-paced. The usage of music in the movie is also instrumental in expressing the protagonist's feelings every scene. At the end of the journey, the story successfully paints a touching scene of farewell to all, including the movie-goers. Wonderful movie. I was moved.

Fearless

2009-04-19T23:44:00.014+08:00

Had a run today. Feeling good, I headed to the market place to take away breakfast for my family. From a distance, a queue was evident seen at my favourite stall. Despite seeing the crowd, my desire for hot piping mee houn did not waver slightest.

Around nine to ten people were in the queue. I was the last in the line. Determined to enjoy the breakfast, I grinned on. Just then, a middle age lady sneaked up to the guy ahead of me with a ten-dollar note and asked him a favour. As one who does not mince words, I did not hesitate to interrupt her conversation when I realized her "intention". I asked why she could not buy her own breakfast and imposed on others to get for her. More importantly, it wouldn't be fair to others in the queue. She just shrugged off and whispered that she had joined the queue earlier.. Not wanting to rest the case, I pursued and insisted she could have re-join the queue now.

Then the young man before me offered to let me take his position, so he could buy the breakfast for the lady. Honestly, I was appalled at the man's attitude! By his act, he was not condoning her behaviour but giving her the wrong signal that this was acceptable. At this point, I was filled with dismay especially when I saw the lady whom he was assisting happily eating her breakfast with a friend at the nearby table, oblivious to my stare. Is this the "gracious" society that we are trying to achieve?

Chocolate

2009-04-05T13:39:00.028+08:00

One of my favourite pastimes is to check out new cafes on the block . After a movie at the new mall, Iluma yesterday, I couldn't resist stopping over at "Cheeky Chocolates". It proved to be a pleasurable "licking" experience.

My friend and I ordered a chocolate crepe and a button mushroom pasta. Albeit the dessert was served first, it turned out to be a lip-smacking treat. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the crepe went down well with rich chocolate taste, along with a scoop of ice-cream . Not a tad too sweet. Cold yet warm combination...

Next, the pasta was presented to us. Unfortunately, it was not the vegetarian version, which we have specifically requested as bits of ham were detected in the pasta. We feedback to the waitress and it was promptly whizzed back to the kitchen without further questions. To our surprise, the management made it up with a quick chocolate waffle while preparing the pasta for us:) I must say the waffle was not as good as the crepe but still delectable. After all, dessert is ladies' best friend.

The button mushroom pasta did not disappoint us either. While it was served in cream sauce, it did not create a "repelling" feeling after we finished it. The serving of mushroom was just right and crunchy that went well with the smooth pasta. Only issue was that the pasta was a little short in quantity. To complete our meal, we ordered an extra mushroom soup. At $4.90, it was value for money. Along with it came a sizable bread to my delight (being a bread fan). In my opinion, the soup is a must-try as as it was addictive with the aroma of mushrooms, perfect for mushroom lovers.

Overall, the offerings coupled with reasonable pricing and excellent service would see me returning for more. Let me know if you agree when you have patronized the cafe.

Check on it

2009-03-22T21:47:00.024+08:00

I believe this is only happening in Singapore - Changi Airport. Have you ever seen police staff "cat walking" on buses to check on suspicious stuff? I must say it is hilarious, albeit they are performing extra security for our country.

The style of walking among the police force differed greatly. Some walked slouching, while others paced confidently. Some was very focused to detect possibly dangerous items on the bus and refused to looked at the passengers. For the less-diffident ones, they smiled at the passengers before they did the routine check. The length of the "catwalk" also varied. The diligent ones would walked to the end of the aisle of the bus for the full check. Others would do a quick turn at the centre of the bus for a shorter parade.

Of course, the idea of having the police force to do the additional check on buses is to deter terrorists from possible acts of destruction. I hope I do not sound offensive. I have my fair share of fun sizing up the members to walk away with the best model for the day. Now who's complaining of the slight delay in travelling to airport?

Flip Flop

2009-03-08T00:17:00.024+08:00

Was on the hunt for a new pair of flip flop today. Well, I must say I get hooked on to the light sandals nowadays, especially after having to wear fully-covered shoes to office.

Case in point: According to the newspaper source, the favourite weekend style of Singaporeans includes sandals all the way from dining to shopping - Up to half of the men who strolled past flashy Gucci and Louis Vuitton boutiques were in Bermuda shorts, and either sandals or loafers.

Now why do people get addicted to this rubber or plastic-looking sandals? I can offer a couple of reasons:

- Easy to slip on (when one needs to pick up grocery nearby)
- Ease to remove (when one engages in frolicking seaside fun)
- Prices are affordable
- Come in different colors and designs
- Relaxing to wear
- Ladies enjoy parading their pretty painted toes

Incidentally, I stumbled upon a song on flip flop, so enjoy. I think I’ll take a nap now.

Raindrops Falling On My Head

2009-03-05T23:54:00.017+08:00

Accepted a friend's dinner invitation last Saturday. In total, five of us were invited to fine dining at a lavish Indian restaurant. Somehow, I find the notion of fine dining exorbitant during this economic downturn.

So how bad is it? My friends and I have been shopping this week, out of necessity. I didn't see as many buyers at the malls we visited. Even the most popular travel fair saw a drop in visitors last weekend, a favourite pastime of Singaporeans. I think it will be a while before the economy picks up.

Restaurant business has fallen considerably. Only fast food and hawker centres selling economical or affordable set meals could draw the discerning customers. I also expect some restaurants to fold up. Even STB (Singapore Tourism Board) has tried to make up for the loss of travellers by extending free tickets to our sightseeing spots to the locals.

I think we would bounce back. Like the past recessions, the resilient Singaporeans would always find ways to be happy. And I don't believe the economy will recover in 2010 as the experts have forecasted. Guess there's one song that we could find hope now, that is, "Don't worry be happy".

Intimidated

2009-02-21T00:08:00.030+08:00

Was assisting my colleagues to purchase plaques for a workshop overseas. As it was a last-minute order, the supplier has requested that we self-collect the items upon completion. Fortunately, I managed to induce the supplier to courier the items to our organization by today, so my colleagues could take the gifts with them to the airport tomorrow.

Then, I spotted an error. As it was too late to send back to the vendor for correction, I let it pass. I was hopeful that my colleagues would do the same after I emailed them that the delivery was just on time. I was in for a surprise! One of them called me to contact the vendor to resend a new plaque. I told him that I would try and it may not be possible given such short notice. Out of the blue, he said "Then I would sue the supplier".

At this point, I felt "intimidated" as I could not guarantee that the supplier could assist the replacement by tomorrow. Thankfully, the negotiation turned out smoothly and I shall spare you of the details.

My point is one does not need to overawe anybody in order to get things done (whether he is joking or not). In my opinion, it is definitely more fruitful when the issue/s could be communicated to the other party in a calm manner. Feeling the guilt, the person at fault would be more inclined to rectify to his best efforts. I believe this could be applied on a personal basis too. What would be your approach?

Sing A Long Song

2009-02-19T23:54:00.015+08:00

People change. Or rather as one friend puts it "You don't need to change who you are, Change your perspective and you will change the world." It's human nature, most will agree.

Yesterday's perfect couple may not be on talking terms, or even on the path of separation. Change is the only constant thing. After catching up with some friends yesterday (including one who is going through the divorce), I have reaffirmed this notion.

Perhaps, what is real in a relationship would be the happy moments that both partners shared. So when one of them has a diffrent perspective (for better or worst), it is time to part and move on. Afterall, one only lives once and deserves to enjoy a better life.

Sadly, this is especially when the person no longer or refuses to communicate his/her thoughts about the current issue/s that are troubling to the relationship. Hence, time would be more well-spent improving oneself:) If it is difficult, try humming to "sing a long song" below:

I wrote this song.
It's not too long.
Cause I've been thinking about you.
I wrote this song.
Maybe I'm wrong,
to be caught up about you.
I don't know what do you think about me.
Maybe you think nothing at all.

If I Were A Boy

2009-02-14T22:20:00.028+08:00

Sometimes, I wonder if my life would pan out differently if I am a boy. I mean I can do the following list of things freely - not ranked in any order of importance:

1) Be topless
2) Dress the way I like to a wedding dinner(without the concern that someone may sport the same look)
3) Come home late/stay overnight without being questioned
4) Eat heartily
5) Enjoy the quiet moments by myself in a restaurant (without being labelled as a "bachelorette"
6) Not bother by number since guys appreciate in value as they age
7) Not shower for a few days
8) Swear whenever I wish to
9) Travel around the globe on a bike
10)Woo after the person I like with no reservations

For point 6, men seem to "appreciate" as they age because they are evaluated by their level of success. Women, on the other hand, are judged by their physical beauty, which undermine with age. I am open for debate.

My Friends

2009-02-06T00:12:00.016+08:00

Took a lift from my colleague from work to city today. To be specific, he is my regular driver to and back from work. Simply, my partner in the car-pool arrangement. As time passes by, we have progress from co-workers to friends.

Now, have you ever wondered how someone evolves from being an acquaintance to a friend? In my opinion, I can define a friend with the following criteria, first and second of them must be met including:

1. Someone who confides a secret in you.

2. Someone who is willing to do a favor for you.

3. Someone who is willing to spend time with you.

4. Someone who shares the same humour.

Personally, I feel a secret induces the recipient of the secret to be bonded to you. Also, it portrays the giver of the secret in a trusting position and it changes the receiver into a protector.

On the second rule, we do favors even to strangers sometimes, without any expectation of becoming friends. However, we never share any secrets with acquaintances. It is the combination of the secret and the favor that sees the acquaintance turning into a friend. Do you concur?

Beauty Up My Life (Part 2)

2009-01-20T22:22:00.021+08:00

On our second day, we climbed our way up to Pura Besakih, the oldest and most sacred temple after a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Besakih is also known as the ‘Mother Temple’ in Bali. The largest and most important temple on the island, it sits on the western slopes of Gunung Agung.

Being a cooler day, we were chauffeured by the local tour guide to our destination happily. At the base of the mountain, we were advised to comply with the temple tour's dress code, that is, sarong. Luckily, we were brought to a batik factory cum showroom prior to temple's visit, where we have purchased some nice sarongs for the purpose.

Besakih temple is really a collection of temples, sprawling down the hillside and its humongous size means it has become a tourist trap. When we arrived at late morning, the touts, particularly the young children, were hounding at us relentlessly. Refusing to yield to their demands, we hurried off to explore the first segment of the temples.

Beauty Up My Life (Part 1)

2009-01-10T21:10:00.049+08:00

Apologies for the brief hiatus since my last blog. I had "escaped" to Bali with my friends for a quick getaway during Christmas. And it turned out to be one beautiful holiday I had experienced in my life!

At the airport, we were greeted by our smiley friends early morning and whizzed to our hotel. Being a sultry day, we wasted no time to enjoy our shower before heading out to the streets. Like what my friend mentioned in his blog "I like a good shower...", nothing beat a nice shower to relax the body for the day ahead.

Anyway, we roamed around the streets in search of a cheap and good lunch to start the holidays. As most of my friends craved for Indian cuisine, we scouted around. 30 minutes later, we still couldn't locate the Indian restaurant tipped by our local friends. Finally, we settled for an inviting Mexican restaurant hidden in one of the side lanes of Bali. It was an succulent experience, albeit the bill was a tad pricey.

As the weather was oppressively warm, we decided to shop to minimize our discomfort. For me, I purchased a hat from Polo at a very good price (equivalent to SGD10)! The rest of the afternoon saw us checking out the boutiques but sadly, no good bargains. Guess Bali lives up to the reputation of being one of the tourist-driven countries.

Then we retreated to the hotel to freshen up before visiting the highly recommended beach in Bali, Jimbaran for the evening. It was half an hour by car from the hotel and we were lucky to catch the sunset in motion. Simply, the view was breathtaking! A must is a sunset dinner along one of the many delectable restaurants offering the freshest seafood around (including yummy corn offered by cart-sellers), outline Jimbaran beach. The breeze from the ocean and the sound of the waves completed our dining experience:)

Bounce (Part 2)

2008-12-09T23:45:00.031+08:00

I found out through the hard way that walking was more unbearable than running!! In order not to tire myself, I stuck on to my run and walk strategy. Guess the turning point was when I bumped into my friend (cum personal "trainer") again after 21km amidst the sea of runners. Unbelievable!

Having the same blueprint in minds, we ran the next two km and walked the other one km. Unfortunately, my right kneecap appeared to have fallen out of position. I suspect it was dislocated temporarily due to stress on my muscle! Thankfully, it popped back into place shortly.

Not wishing to put more pressure on my knees, I proposed to my friend to walk to finishing line from end of ecp (exactly at 30km mark). But he has other plans... Somehow, he managed to induce me to run another two km from 30km. It was an uphill struggle as I huffed and puffed across the targeted distance.

Putting my hands in the air, I raised the white flag to my friend and declared "no run" policy for the rest of the journey. Once again, speed walking proved to be more challenging than running for me. Being short by nature, my legs simply could not compete with my friend's long stride. No words could describe the agony I was in (both physically and mentally)!! Putting my discomfort behind me, I "stalked" my friend closely and focused on concluding the race with him together.

Finally, my persistence paid off! Coming to last 1.5km, we looked at each other and ran all the way to the end point. Only then I could fully relate to the fact that most enduring athletics actually transcend limit s pain to attain victory. Hey, my picture speaks a thousand of words:)

Bounce (Part 1)

2008-12-08T23:59:00.034+08:00

We did it! At Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008 yesterday, both my friend and I completed our run in 5 hours 54 mins:) Secretly, it was like a dream come true for me being my maiden marathon!!

Especially when I did not put in enough mileage during the practise sessions. For the record, I only did a maximum of 10km for my last training before the race and it worked for me. It maybe a fluke, but I don't wish to debate over it. Most importantly, I conquered my fear for 42km with sheer perseverance! Since day one I signed up for it, I was suffering from "depression" over the thought of failure. Then I decided to view it positively and treat it as a whole new experience for myself. After all, one only lives once..

It started off quite well at 5.30 am with no sign of overcast. My friend and I trotted off at a conservative pace of 7 mins per kilometre, mindful of the long journey ahead. After touching 12km mark at east coast park (ecp), I decided to break at the restroom, while my friend continued with his pursuit of freedom.

Being alone, I decided to stay focus and achieve my target of 20km (about half marathon) uninterrupted. Slowly and painfully (at this point, my knees has began to wear off when I progressed further) but I took the bit in my teeth.

When I reached my first 20km, I decided to reward myself with a break. It soon turned into an interminable rest as I refused to run anymore, for some reasons... I concluded I have to salvage the situation, if I wish to finish at a decent time. So I attempted to psycho myself to walk one km and run one km for the rest of ecp. After which, the remaining 13km would be easily surmountable by foot. How very wrong!

I Like To Move It

2008-11-27T23:25:00.022+08:00

Confession time. I caught movie,Madagascar2 yesterday. In my opinion, DreamWorks Animation seized an opportunity to add another triumphant follow-up to a previous hit. By that, I mean the success of the commercial animated film is best measured against two yardsticks:

Does it deliver for the target audience of kids and is there enough to keep the parents' attention?

For Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the answer for both of these questions is affirmative. For their first animated sequel, DreamWorks didn't alter the formula that made the first one successful. Humor wise, it did not disappoint me especially the resourceful penguins crew and resolute Mort the Squirrel lemur to go on a holiday with king Julien! I still couldn't contain my laughter when I recalled the pilot's announcement about the imminent plane crash following the good news (immediate landing) to the passengers:) Haha...

Sure, the plot is rather thin. What's holding the sequel together is the fact that we, the audience, see Alex's heartwarming reunion with his folks after his accidental "adoption" by the zoo in New York. More importantly, he has demonstrated to the herd and the rest of the animals that he is as good as his father (despite not a natural fighter like his dad) by risking his life to bring back the water to his kingdom. As a whole, this is a film that will thrill kids while not boring parents. Do you agree?

You Are My Sunshine

2008-11-24T23:38:00.011+08:00

Ring ring. Whose calling, please? "It's me, little nice Eunice! I love to eat ice cream. Notice "ice" in three words - nice, Eunice and ice-cream", shouted my five years old niece:)

Albeit annoying to receive calls from little children at work, I must say it did perk me up on a bluesy Monday. So what do you do to keep your spirits up on the first day of the week?

That’s enough for now.

Get Over It

2008-11-22T22:35:00.014+08:00

Get over it. Sounds familiar? One may say there are hundred ways of forgetting the heartbreaking moments in life and moving on. If I am feeling unhappy, I will adopt one of the following ways to get over it:

1) Scream to your heart's content
2) Play with little children
3) Isolate and think for the next best step
4) Write a blog
5) Cook as the way to a man's heart is food:)
6) Sing
7) Talk to friends
8) Travel to a new place
9) Engage in sports
10) Have a hearty laugh

Fireflies (Part 2)

2008-11-12T17:41:00.042+08:00

Indeed, the cruelty of war has bereaved them of their home and their parents! Hence, one can't help being moved by the unwavering love and care from Nii-Chan to his sister in such annihilated environment. Take for instance, the scene when the brother is caught red-handed by the farmer for pilferage. He always does his best to fend for his sister - cooking and washing the younger sibling, even stealing crops (to the extent of risking his life to ransack neighbours' houses for valuables during air raids) when money runs dry!

Finally, poverty coupled with poor housing conditions take the toll on the siblings' and the movie folded on a melancholic note... Like the short-lived fireflies, the orphans' sorrowful plight in the movie are symbolized as:

- The children themselves who die young
- Real fireflies (who die and are buried by Setsuko)
- Young Setsuko observes that a passing plane resembles a firefly
- Interminable bombs which emit light as fireflies

Truthfully, I couldn't quite hold back my tears when I was following the story. It is one of those movies that will hit you at the bottom of your heart and for a long time...

Fireflies (Part 1)

2008-11-09T22:58:00.026+08:00

Caught a tear-jerking movie - Grave of the Fireflies over the weekend. Made in 1988, the animated film is written and directed by Isao Takahata. According to Wikipedia, it is an adaptation of the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka.

The writer has lost his sister due to malnutrition in 1945 wartime Japan. As he held himself responsible for her death, he penned the story with the intention of offering a personal apology to sister and aid him to accept the tragedy.

The gist of the story tells the touching relationship between the two orphaned siblings, Nii-Chan and his younger sister in the end of World War II in Kobe. The children have lost both parents in the war - their mother in the air raid, and their father in service to the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Consequently, they seek refuge at their distant relative, but are forced to survive on their own when they are ill-treated by their very aunt. In my opinion, the indifference of the extended family members, among others, is one of the breaking points that leads them to their demise in the midst of widespread famine and poverty.

For an "excerpt" of the film, please click:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88jF99ikO-8

I Can Do Better

2008-10-26T00:26:00.009+08:00

Exactly one week into Brazil Grand Prix next Sunday! For some reasons, my head says Hamilton will win the drivers championship, but my heart is inclined towards Massa (being an anti-Hamilton fan).

According to F1-live site, it has made the following prediction:

Hamilton will be world champion if:
- He wins
- He finishes second
- He finishes third
- He finishes fourth
- He finishes fifth
- He finishes sixth and Massa is second or lower
- He finishes seventh and Massa is second or lower
- He finishes eighth and Massa is third or lower
- He fails to score and Massa is third or lower.

Massa will be world champion if:
- He wins and Hamilton finishes sixth or lower
- He finishes second and Hamilton is eighth or lower.

Now who would you put your money on?

My Humps

2008-10-23T23:02:00.015+08:00

Was caught in a massive jam for more than two hours on a bus to office this morning!! And this was not the first time. Honestly, I find time could be put to better use if one could commute to work/school in a fuss-free manner. Arrgh...

Now you may ask me what I could do to improve the situation in retrospect? Well, I could do:

1) Apply for emergency leave
2) Enjoy a hearty breakfast, and do 1) or sneak into office later
3) Visit a doctor/dentist
4) Pretend today is a Saturday and don't show up at work
5) Get a cab, if you can wrestle with 10 people ahead of you
6) Continue to enjoy the scenery on the bus and turn up at work only after lunch
7) Go to library and turn up at the office later on the pretence that you have done some research on your work
8) Have a good laugh at yourself and review the best option to adopt

For some reasons, it makes me feel happy when I continue with the options. What's your excuse?

I'll Be There For You

2008-10-19T18:14:00.030+08:00

Caught Formula One (F1) Chinese Grand Prix on television with my friends this afternoon. I have to concur that teamwork counts at the critical moment. Especially when it makes a difference to both drivers and constructors championship standings in this penultimate race.

Near to the end of the race. Massa from Ferrari overtook Kimi to take the second position, compliments by his team-mate. Above all, the act was even sweeter when it was done on a mutual basis, not influenced by the team. Some may disagree that it is orchestrated by their team, but I choose to take it with the benefit of a doubt.

In this very competitive environment, it is good to see individuals working together in the interests of the team. Of course, everyone aspires to be the champion or lead the pack. My point is we can achieve more when we put aside our personal achievements, depending on the situation.

Simple Things

2008-10-18T00:33:00.020+08:00

Had a tiff with a friend over something quite trivial yesterday. And it affected my mood for the day! Come to think of it, why do people including myself get upset over something insignificant? Is it my emotional factor at work or just a lack of bigger things in life to do?

In the evening, we sat together and mulled over the above questions. In part, I realize I do not have an aim in life to start with. And it did not help when my current concern in life is more on a social level. Perhaps I should re-evaluate my life and do something worthwhile. Following are some plans I have in mind (not in order of importance):

1) Travel round the world
2) Upgrade myself for a teaching career (as part of my retirement plan)
3) Buy a house
4) Do some investments
5) Volunteer overseas
6) Pick up an useful language like Japanese
7) Gather knowledge
8) Learn to cook to keep myself satisfied always:)

Hopefully, I would make my life more meaningful and happy*.

*PS: Fuelled by wrath, I headed for a run. My happiness was extended when I finally achieved under 12 minutes for my 2 km lap. Yeah:)

Something Right

2008-10-12T18:33:00.009+08:00

Decide to do something right for myself starting from today! Especially after an uplifting performance from my F1 idol, Kimi Raikkonen:)

Finally, he has finished the F1 race at Fuji, Japan successfully walking tall in the third spot!! Alonso came in first taking the the chequered flag, while Kubica took the second spot. Kimi pushed hard for Ferrari after losing ground on the opening lap courtesy of Hamilton. Towards the finish, he attempted several passes on Kubica for second position, but could never complete the manoeuvre.

Still, he managed to salvage the situation by helping Ferrari to regain the lead in the constructors’ championship with Hamilton finishing out of the points and Heikki Kovalainen’s McLaren failing. Once again, it proves that if you have what it takes, it is a matter of time before you bounce back in glory.

As for me, I went for a run with my friends today as part of our training to Standard Chartered Marathon in December. This time, I would set my teeth and go far out to my best abilities. Consequently, I did more mileage than my friends and it made me feel good:)

PS: Apologies for the hiatus due to heartbreaking F1 outcome in Singapore Grand Prix for my idol...

Yesterday Once More

2008-09-22T23:22:00.024+08:00

Last Sunday, my sister, my friends and I made our way to Pulau Ubin, a small island off the northern coast of Singapore in search of some adventure.

Charming villages - known as kampongs by the locals, dispersed over the island was a pleasant sight to urban dwellers like I.

If you ask the remnants of the island, the best way to see Pulau Ubin is on bicycle. Hence, we approached one of shops renting out bicycles. For a group of four, we managed to rent some mountain bikes at pretty economical prices by the jetty.

There are lots of forests, plantations and abandoned orchards one can explore. Visit old houses built on stilts or look for fascinating range of plants, birds and small animals. With a stroke of luck, we even crossed the path of the Wild Pig, which is usually difficult to see as it hides in the forest. Totally speechless!

Before we set off for our biking trail, my foreign friend volunteered to be the guide for the group as the rest (all Singaporeans including I) have not set foot on the island before. Still better late than never:P

Armed with bicycles brakes, we took off happily heading towards the northern side of the island, Chek Jawa. It is a natural beach teeming with marine wildlife, boasts a collection of distinct habitats like mangroves, sandy beaches, and mudflats.

We were enjoying the ride on flat roads in the beginning. Soon, the journey took toll on us when we were treated to up slopes and down slopes unexpectedly. For the former, I learnt that I needed to adjust the gear to a lower level, so as not to put in unnecessary efforts.

To manage the fast downturn (literally), I was advised by my sister to squeeze the brakes gently in order to reduce the speed brought about from higher points on a slope. Not pedalling on the bike is the other way to enjoy the free ride on a down slope.

Adrenaline pumping!! Wohoooooooo..I did it.... as this was my first biking ride out of Singapore.. and I was still in excitement..having endless talks with my friends...

Don't Dream It's Over (Part 2)

2008-09-11T00:07:00.013+08:00

On our way to the next bike shop down the road, we spotted another one in sight. The name of the shop is monotine(R)bikes. We went in and found an array of folding bikes economically priced. Upon query, we learnt that the bikes are designed locally but manufactured in Shanghai.

I tested out one of these folding bikes at the back lane. Given that this is not a household name, I have found the entire ride unsteadily. Remembering what my friend told me previously, that is, to get enough time test riding in all situations in the bike as follow:

* Ride in a straight line
* Make sudden sharp turns
* Ride out of the saddle
* Try climbing a hill
* Going downhill
* Try to ride in small circles
* Wobble the handlebar to see if the bike remains stable
* Try a sudden stop
* Try riding with one hand

So I decided to take a sudden sharp turn at the end of the lane to put my ride to a real test! Unfortunately, my lack of experience led me to the "downfall". Without having enough space for my bike to turn around, I lost the balance of the bike and landed heavily on left side of my body. Luckily, I was quick to use my elbow to support myself to avoid further injury.

Guess that was the last straw for me! So we thanked the shop owner and moved on to the third bike shop without hesitation.

Don't Dream It's Over (Part 1)

2008-09-09T23:45:00.022+08:00

As some may know, I have the intention of buying a folding bike as an alternative sports.

After benefiting from the exclusive buying guide by my friend, I decided the next step is to test drive the bikes to ascertain the one that best suits my needs within my budget.

So last Saturday, I cajoled the same friend to join me on a biking spree. First, we went to Song Seng Chan at Joo Chiat Road, one of the authorized dealers for Dahon bikes. Wasting no time, I tested Speed TR24, which was highly recommended by my friend. It was a wobbling ride along the narrow corridor of the shop house. After hearing the feedback from the bike salesman and my friend, then it dawned on me that that I had not adjust it to the optimum gear speed. After adjusting the gear speed, my second attempt was more stable and enjoyable.

More importantly, this new Dahon model speed TR24 is equipped with many useful accessories including:

- Factory fitted fenders
- Front and rear racks (suspect it can take full size ortlieb’s bags)
- Kick stand to facilitate folding process/stationary position
- Front and rear lights that comes with dynamo

The drawback is that price is a bit steep inclining towards the higher end of my budget, albeit it makes a perfect package for a good utility bike.

Unsettled, I decided to keep this option in mind and checked out more bike shops for other options before I make a conclusion.

Against All Odds

2008-09-01T23:58:00.006+08:00

For health reasons, I booked an appointment with my dad for tai chi chuan at a park near our place yesterday.

According to Wikipedia, Tai chi chuan is defined as:

(Traditional Chinese: 太極拳; simplified Chinese: 太极拳; pinyin: tài jí quán; Wade-Giles: t'ai4 ci2 ch'üan2) is classified as Wudangquan or an internal Chinese martial art. Tai chi is typically practiced for a variety of reasons: its soft martial techniques, demonstration competitions, health and longevity.

My dad is a stocky man. Coupled with his wobbly knees issue due to his diabetes condition, it was an uphill task to walk my dad to the garden, where the class commenced. Luckily, my sister joined me for tai chi with dad.

The tai chi master welcomed my dad to the group warmly. After hearing his condition, he adviced my dad to do some light exercise using his legs before he gets off the bed every morning. In his opinion, this would help to channel blood to all over the body before one starts his day.

As my sister and I have not experience such training, we decided to join in and have fun. As the class progressed, it dawned on me that these seemingly slow motion movements could be so daunting.

Here, we were put to a test through tai ji training using chinese fans. According to another site*, Tai Chi Single Fan routine incorporates movements from the Chen, Yang, Wu, and Sun styles of tai chi chuan. This routine combines the characteristics of tai chi chuan with the artistic and martial functions of the fan. Practicing the tai chi single fan can help develop one's flexibility, strength, balance, health, and further the tai chi training.

I have always think of tai chi as a mundane exercise intended for elderly folks. At the end of the day, I actually derived enjoyment and pleasure from tai chi single fan, a wonderful addition to the overall tai chi regimen. This despite the odds that we need to surmount including balancing, co-ordination of the limbs, in particular the handling the fan in the correct manner. For example, you need to hold the fan on the left side of the handle when one executes an upward movement.

Guess I am hooked now!

*Source: http://www.taichichuan.org.uk/yangfan.htm

This Used To Be My Playground

2008-08-28T23:59:00.008+08:00

Took my little niece to a the friend's place yesterday.

To make her day, I always take her to the playground at his place to enjoy some fun time. However, it irked me to find three teenagers in their school uniforms sitting directly in front of one of the two swings and thus, depriving others to use the swing.

As my niece was the only kid around, it was still fine to use the other swing. When she took off on the swing, I observed that she may hit the three students with her legs high in the air as they were very close to the other swing. Out of concern, I alerted them to watch out for my niece's swing. Much to my dismay, they did not sound grateful nor take the opportunity to move out of the way! In other words, they just turned a deaf ear to my feedback.

Frankly, I did not oppose to their seating arrangements or even enjoying the pizza dinner at the playground intended for kids. It did not help that they were littering the place as one chips bag was seen lying at the other corner of the playground.

Just that their indifferent attitude or lack of consideration make me wonder if the future of our country will change for the worst...

Never Gonna Give You Up

2008-08-28T23:34:00.012+08:00

Yes, I am one year "wiser" last Sunday.

To catch up with the lost time, I have decided to create a to-do list including:

- Buy my Folding Bike Friday tikit
- Cooking/Bakery experiments with friends
- Do Volunteering
- Go for Tennis lessons
- Learn Japanese language
- One hour of Reading daily
- Practise my Swimming
- Sign up for Drawing class
- Take up Driving lessons
- Train up for my 1st Marathon
- Write my Blog regularly

Hopefully, my wish list would be reduced/fulfilled at the end of the year when I reflect upon myself...

Yesterday's Gone

2008-08-26T23:30:00.012+08:00

Apologies for the brief hiatus...

To sum up my life for the past 2 weeks, here goes (not in order of sequence):

- Turned one year "wiser" (a more positive way of looking at age)

- Completed 1/2 marathon (albeit timing was mediocre)

- Initiated Tai Chi class with dad and niece (a great way to relax your body in an old fashioned Chinese way)

- Watched "The Dark Knight" (inspiring as I feel sometimes the trick to loosen up is not to live with any rules)

- Enjoyed being an idol at a karaoke session with friends (I was "blacklisted" by all for inserting my favourite songs readily)

- Caught up with hot action from Beijing Olympics on TV (Guo Jing Jing is a stunner)

- Created a list of must-do items for myself to make up for the lost time (to be revealed in my next blog)

So tuned in for more!

No Place That Far

2008-08-02T01:20:00.033+08:00

"Welcome to NTU Alumni Party,Class of 2008", announced Dr Su Guaning, President, NTU to the current graduates at St James last Saturday.

To spare you from minutiae of my story, my co-workers and I were also invited to the University's alumni party for the graduates of 2008. Typically such event was organized to foster the bond of these students with their peers and senior even after they left NTU. The temptation of free drinks was irresistible, so I succumbed.

When we reached the destination, the graduates were strolling in sparsely. Not a promising night, I thought. To make it less pleasant, I couldn't get a discount for my friend, who did not have the complimentary ticket..

At the entrance of the club, we were greeted by finger food at the buffet section. Given that the light was dim, it was an uphill task for us to pick the food items. And it did not help when the snacks were cold and tasteless.

Still the night was saved by good company from my office, coupled with killer drinks. Being a non-alcoholic, I had to say that the drinks offered at the event turned out to be quite enjoyable, including screwdriver and cranberry vodka.

To make it sweeter, it was announced by President of NTU that we would play host to the Youth Olympic sportsmen at our existing campus: The NIE will be the Village’s central square where dining, retail, culture and education services will be located, and NTU’s residential halls will be used to accommodate the athletes.

Girls Just Want To Have Lunch

2008-07-31T22:58:00.013+08:00

All staff from COE was treated to a fruit luncheon (including snacks) on Thursday.

One of the attractions included king of the fruits, durians. The lunch was scheduled between 11 to 2 pm.

Around 11.30 am, my co-workers and I trotted to the canteen. Our jaws dropped when we saw the avalanche of people. Clearly, the fruit luncheon treat had appealed to the mass.

Looking at the situation, we decided to combine forces and split our group in order to enjoy feast faster. One of us was tasked to *chop a table for all, while the rest queued up at different stations to collect fruits and snacks for our group respectively.

This worked well. Shortly, we had gathered an array of yummy cakes, chocolate fruits fondue and juicy fruits (including durians, lychee, longan and the like) for our indulgence.

Guess team work always work wonder in all scenarios, including a fruity feast:)

*Chop in Singapore context means reserve

Never Had A Dream Come True

2008-07-28T23:04:00.014+08:00

I did it!

Never thought my dream of completing a course in Mass Communication (MC) would come true. To cut the story short, I decided to embark on the diploma in MC last year after a prolonged procrastination..

Guess my efforts paid off when I was invited to attend my graduation over the weekend, awarded with a distinction in MC:)

On that day, I arranged to meet up with my best friend from my class at the hotel half an hour ahead of the schedule. Although formal dress code was indicated on the invitation letter, most were dressed to kill! So it turned out to be quite an eye-opener for me.

One of them was spotted wearing pink tights underneath a black dress. Another was seen wearing a super-short skirt. Almost equivalent to a mini-fashion show. As a result, the entire graduation ceremony became more colorful and vibrant, albeit eye brows were raised on stage.

Ironically, a few even wore jeans to the occasion. This seemed wrong. In my opinion, the casual dress code conflicted with the dignity of the event and needed to be addressed!

Being Internet-savvy, I browsed through the web to see if there are quick tips to save the day for graduates-to-be. And I found this interesting site.

Do you have any golden words to add?

Dancing Queen

2008-07-27T04:19:00.013+08:00

Couldn't believe I was drawn to the dance floor when the DJ spun Abba song!

It all happened when we initiated a hen night for our bride-to-be friend at St James yesterday. For those who have not been to Singapore, the venue is home to the largest one-stop clubbing hub that offers nine distinct outlets, each with its individual theme, from world music and jazz to contemporary dance and mandarin-pop.

Not an avid clubber, I am perplexed why people enjoy drinking and suffer the side effects of hangover such as lying in the pool of own puke at the public toilet or being entangled in a fight.

I wish someone would invent a device (with buttons of the various hot clubs) that allows one to drink from the comfort of your home and dance to the music in a virtual clubbing environment depending on your mood.

I think that would be popular.

Fly Me To The Moon

2008-07-26T01:19:00.012+08:00

Today was the start of another weekend. It’s time to party and let your hair down.

So I made an arrangement for a sushi feast with my colleagues after work, followed by hearty drinks. During the dinner, I proposed to the ladies "I’ll tell you some of my personal details. You tell me yours. There’s a good chance we’ll all get something new we can use."

Going round the table, we bared our souls truthfully and focused on the art of relationship mainly. We bounced off some interesting ideas from each other. Being ladies, we could also commiserate with each other some of the common issues we faced in our relationships.

At the end of the discussion, we concur that the important thing to sustain the relationship is to define your version of romance and be appreciative of touching gestures from the partner, whether big or small. After all, reality goes to show: Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus.

We Are The Champions

2008-07-24T23:07:00.005+08:00

Decided to participate with my co-workers for a charity relay run this August (6 by 2.4km).

So I went for a run this evening, hoping to improve my personal timing for my 2km. Realistically, I hope to set a personal best of 12 mins and below.

Unfortunately, it poured so I had to adjourn half-way. But good news is I managed to revert to my form of 12 mins 51 secs:)

Can't wait for my next run now!

Release Me

2008-07-23T23:26:00.010+08:00

It's mid-way into the week and I can't wait to count down to Friday for a couple of reasons:

1) School's graduation at the place where I work (Friday)
2) Sushi feast and drinks with co-workers (Friday)
3) My own graduation (Saturday)
4) One year birthday party for my nephew (Saturday)
5) School's Alumni dinner (Saturday)
6) Hen's nite for my good friend with lots of partying* (Saturday)
7) English Tea (Sunday)

and the list goes on... including a personal one:)

*Watch out for the cool images to come!

Little by little

2008-07-22T23:07:00.011+08:00

I am back and smiley again.

Feeling on cloud nine after I completed a major event without much hiccup for a visiting Professor today.

Then I got a free ride from a colleague back to school from the event venue. We had a chat and I learned that he is staying in Aljunied, not too far from where I stay at Toa Payoh. Somehow, the idea of car-pooling struck me and I proposed to him casually. He is in accord on my suggestion as he doesn't mind picking me and others in Toa Payoh before going to NTU. Good news is his proposed rate is $30 only, which works out to be $60 cost savings for me if I discontinue my current private bus service.

Back in school, I decided to lend my hand to a co-worker in preparation of the goodies bags for his imminent dinner event for NTU alumnus.

And it felt so good. I want to do it again:)

PS: Guess a friend of mine trying to chat with me from Japan today also lifted my spirits somewhat...

Back For Good

2008-07-21T23:31:00.004+08:00

Blog is currently under maintenance (technically and psychologically) especially after a poor run today.

Will be back for good.

Bad Day III

2008-07-20T01:50:00.011+08:00

Caught a Spanish movie with some friends over the weekend.

Based on the synopsis from a movie review site#, Summer Rain is an experimental non-mainstream movie about young men growing up in in southern Spain in the 1970s. An adaptation of a novel, the director, Antonio Banderas's debut film, displays a very personal quality, unfolding as if from a memory.

However, being an artsy movie, all of us were scratching our heads clueless on the take-away of the movie when it ended.

Then comes the blow when I learnt that Kimmi is out of championship contention for realistically following the lacklustre performance in German Grand Prix...

And the update from my friends enjoying themselves in Japan does not help either...

Hopefully, next week will be better.

#Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/summer_rain_2006/#

Bad Day II

2008-07-19T03:05:00.021+08:00

On the same day, I was looking into the logistics arrangements for an impending celebration lunch at the staff restaurant off the school. Among other things, one of them included car park lots reservation for the staff assisting the projects demonstrations.

As I am aware that next week is our convocation period for the graduates, I merely told him that I would advise if his request could be met for the following reasons:

1) This peculiar request from internal staff is out of my responsibility for organizing the event
2) The overbearing attitude of co-worker demanding 5 specific car park lots locations
3) I have no control if the security department would accede to my request for 5 parking especially during the peak usage of the car park

Focusing to solve the above issue, I thought of the following "I" ways out of this situation including:

1) Ignore the staff's request
2) Inform him that security has turned down his request without writing in at all
3) Induce him to take care the transportation himself
4) If 2) takes place, then I can advise him that I would be available at car park to guard his car, while he loads the computers into his vehicle
5) If 3) fails, I will escalate the request to my superior to "reject" his request formally

Your suggestion/s, please!

Bad Day I

2008-07-17T23:25:00.012+08:00

Today was a bad day for me at work!

Following my editorial suggestions yesterday (please see my earlier blog "Hands Up!"), my publication colleague (ie our unofficial chief editor) shared her candid comments with me about taking back the full control of write-ups. I mean I can understand her point about leveraging off the team's efforts rather than having her to look into my written articles once more before we publish them. More importantly, she has explicitly expressed the need for me to learn to delegate tasks to the team members based on their individual strengths.

Truth is always painful! After listening to her openly, I concur with her and will propose to our superior to let my publication co-worker takes care of all write-ups in future.

In case you get bored with my frivolous talk, I will continue the happenings on this very day of "a series of unfortunate events" (if I may borrow Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events) tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Hands Up!

2008-07-16T23:14:00.006+08:00

My work requires me to edit articles/publications before our School releases them.

Unanimously, my publication colleague whom I acknowledged her as the "chief" editor of the team is usually the last person to edit as well as vet the text. For my current project, campus planning, I submitted the text to her like usual. After she modified them, I had a second look and counter-proposed two changes.

For some reason, she was not receptive, so I hands up and went by her preferred text for one of them. For the other, I pushed along with my suggestion as I felt it was easier for the readers to digest.

Guess language is like art, where you can't please everybody. Do you agree?

Super Trouper

2008-07-15T23:02:00.005+08:00

Had a good run today, albeit covering only 4km.

Guess my past two months of training have paid off when I reduced my last 2 km to 12 mins 55 secs making me feel like a Super Trouper today:)

Fantasy

2008-07-13T23:21:00.030+08:00

Self-invited to a movie with friends and their folks yesterday.

You guess it! It is “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” by renowned fantasy director, Guillermo del Toro. In my opinion, it is not a awesome movie as the story is rather perfunctory. Nevertheless, there are likable moments in the movie such as the sassy little tumor.

According to the dictionary.com, fantasy is defined as:

1. imagination, esp. when extravagant and unrestrained.
2. the forming of mental images, esp. wondrous or strange fancies; imaginative conceptualizing.
3. a mental image, esp. when unreal or fantastic; vision: a nightmare fantasy.
4. Psychology. an imagined or conjured up sequence fulfilling a psychological Lneed; daydream.
5. a hallucination.
6. a supposition based on no solid foundation; visionary idea; illusion: dreams of Utopias and similar fantasies.
7. caprice; whim.
8. an ingenious or fanciful thought, design, or invention.
9. Also, fantasia. Literature. an imaginative or fanciful work, esp. one dealing with supernatural or unnatural events or characters: The stories of Poe are fantasies of horror.
10. Music. fantasia (def. 1).
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
11. to form mental images; imagine; fantasize.
12. Rare. to write or play fantasias.

Then it strikes me that the line between a dreamer (imagination) and a lunatic (hallucination) is rather thin. Guess the difference lies in the pleasure that the former could deliver to the audience/people.

Time for me to own up. I never thought this movie would have a sequel. To begin with, selling a superhero movie about a character who looks like Satan is never a sure thing. Still I have never been happier to be wrong.

Guillermo del Toro, director/writer, deserves to receive most of the credit for this movie. However, it is Ron Perlman, the guy under Hellboy’s red makeup, who makes the story endearing. Packing in more of the charming yet growling, cigar-chewing character in the movie has made Hellboy more engaging to his fans. In reality, he is a living, breathing person who just happens to be really red. Underneath his hideous appearance spells plenty of personal problems. In short, he is the kind of friend one would want to hang out with.

It is when one is hooked on the movie’s bizarre characters that Hellboy II is most fun. The defining moment in Hellboy II I must say is when Hellboy and Abe decide to get drunk, play mushy music, and share their love issues openly. It is wonderful because their emotions are so raw and real, yet their appearance is anything but.

That juxtaposition will just draw you in, and leave you longing for more time with Hellboy and his strange-looking buddies.

At the end of the movie, I have had an enjoyable time and hope it will be the same for you.

PS: On a daily basis, fascination with red continues. This time the’cycle chic’ matched her pink bike. The picture is available at my friend's blog.

Reflection

2008-07-13T00:02:00.017+08:00

Not sure if you have experience the same...

Say you send an invitation to the "target audience" depending on your objective of the get-together. What's the likely response?

If you take a chapter in my life, today happened to be a gathering the chums from my ex-company. For some reason, most did not respond to my email till I sent a gentle reminder to my friends. In the end, only one friend turned up for afternoon's tea with me. Rather dispirited.

Well, the only chum who turned up also shared the same sentiments as I. Currently, her company requires the team to rotate to take charge of the team events for all. Incidentally, both of us felt that the invitees tend to take the organizer for granted. I will explain further.

If the person is keen to join in the event, he/she will certainly offer alternative date if the proposed does not meet the schedule. Rather than having the organizer to write back to the same person for another date after hearing the unavailability. On the other extreme, we also see invitees who do not even bother to respond to the invitation (@RSVP).

The most welcome category is those who appreciate the initiative and efforts of the organizer by confirming if he/she could attend the occasion. In the case of wedding RSVP, I am sure the couples would vouch for this group too.

Which group do you fall under?

@RSVP = Please reply (Used at the end of invitations to request a response)

Runaway (Part III)

2008-07-11T23:52:00.015+08:00

Welcome back!

Here are more unconventional thoughts:

- Walk backwards on the street
- Paint my face as a joker and scare the kids (Inspired by movie "The Dark Knight")
- Pretend not to have money for a meal in the restaurant/lounge, and offer to wash dishes (for restaurant)/sing a song (for lounge) in exchange
- Video shoot a movie while watching in the theatre (Ripped off from "Seinfeld" sitcom)
- Donate hair to wig-making company
- Fly a kite in the city
- Self-recommend for a "cameo" role in a musical

Let me know if you also have similar ideas.

Runaway (Part II)

2008-07-10T23:07:00.002+08:00

More ideas are coming your way, so stay tuned tomorrow:)

Runaway

2008-07-09T23:11:00.020+08:00

Guess today is one of those days, when I want to break away from my routine lifestyle...

First, I stayed longer in the office and missed my private bus intentionally. Next, I synced up with a friend to meet him near his office at end of the north east line, and then travelled back to city.

Some other ideas spring to my mind:

- Have a picnic after running at stadium (which I really did yesterday with my kid niece & sister)
- Take dessert before main course
- Take a bus to Changi aiport without any sending-off/receiving obligations
- Eat an ice-cream cone from "bottoms-up" (literally)
- Cycle to work (when I have purchase my folding bike)
- Prepare my own lunch before I leave for work
- Be the emcee for our school's convocation (in presence of 2000 guests)
- Live in a tent indefinitely
- Marathon movies in one evening (3 movies non-stop)
- Travel and sing/write round the world till my money runs dry
- Bake a cake/pastries for my family and friends
- Stay up all nite and try not to doze off (struggling now...)

Your suggestions are welcome too.

Eye Of The Beholder

2008-07-08T22:53:00.014+08:00

Was at a friend's place to catch F1 live last Sunday.

That's when I noticed his mum had adorned a new Kolam outside his house. For those unfamiliar with the name, it is defined by Wikipedia site as:

Kolam (Tamil:Beauty) is a decorative design drawn in a variety of sandpainting using rice powder by female members of the family in front of their home, especially near stone forming the bottom of the doorway. A Kolam is a sort of painted prayer -- a line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. They are generally symmetric.

As I read on, I learnt that Kolams are considerably practised by Hindus in South India. They are also thought to confer prosperity to the homes. For special celebration, limestone and red brick powder to contrast are used.

The sole purpose of a Kolam extends beyond decoration. Back then, kolams drawn in coarse rice flour are mentioned to invite birds and other small living creatures to eat it. By inviting other beings into one's home on a daily basis, it is said to be a tribute to harmonious co-existence everyday. It is also a sign of invitation to welcome all into the home, especially Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity.

On a spiritual level, it is even traditionally believed that the lines must be completed in order to symbolically prevent evil spirits from entering the inside of the shapes.

Interestingly, it is also said to be beneficial to the health. As it requires the artist to bend down each morning, it is said to aid her digestive system, reproductive organs as well as in the overall stretching of the body.

Kolam also needs the artist to be better focused and improves the concentration when she begins her day.

Hmmm... Now I really feel motivated to learn this art, don't you?

Born To Run

2008-07-07T22:39:00.018+08:00

To continue my story yesterday, I did a charity run for underprivileged kids (Milk Run) with a friend in the afternoon unregistered*.

I figured why not if it was for a good cause? Albeit I would be considered an "illegal" runner given the fact that I did not sign up for it.

Unfortunately or fortunately, we touched down 15 minutes late for 9.4 km run (thanks to my friend)...

Being the more creative person among the duo, I proposed we joined in the 6km Flag Off intended for underprivileged children (below 17 years of age). Neither one of us looked youthful to pull it through, so I decided to exercise my imagination (well-preached by Barney).

Why not we snuggle up to one of the younger kids and posed as their buddy to guide as well as motivate them through to the end of the run? The plan was impeccable as the organizer had also arranged for volunteers to lead the younger runners to the finish line.

Guess it worked:) And it felt so good, I want to do it again!

*Due to my slothful nature and procrastination..

Wait Until Tomorrow

2008-07-06T23:26:00.004+08:00

Let's be real.

Tell me who has not fallen into the trap of procrastination?

Especially after I did a charity run with a friend followed by an adrenaline-pumping British Grand Prix today. Hence, I have decided to retire early and share my thoughts with you tomorrow.

Good nite, all.

Crunch N Munch

2008-07-06T00:19:00.026+08:00

For those who have been/stay in Singapore, the inhabitants are united by a favourite pastime ie munching. And I mean big-time including myself:)

Currently, who is our food darling? Move over, donuts. It is Chewy Junior Cream Puff now! A kind of dessert in between cream puffs and donuts. And chewy *Applause*

Today, Chewy Junior sells more than 3000 puffs daily! The craze has also been featured on our main local paper, the Sunday Times. With 13 delicious flavours to choose from, the customers are spoilt for choices.

For quick decision making, check out the array of puffs posted by Chewy Junior.

So what are you waiting for?

That Don't Impress Me Much

2008-07-03T23:51:00.012+08:00

Received an email from the vendor yesterday who supplies portable display systems to our school.

Here's what it says:

Six steps to Effective Displays

* Attract attention
You can attract attention to your display by effective use of color, light and shape.

* Arouse interest
Your display should have an attention getter -- something that brings the customer over to look further. For example, if you are displaying a pasta machine, display it with pasta coming out of the machine, or with a variety of pasta shapes. Shoppers will stop to look at the display to see how the machine works.

* Create desire and ambience
Your display should make customers want the product by showing that it is just what they need. The display should demonstrate the qualities of the product, its use and its benefits. Along with the pasta machine, you might show a checked tablecloth, a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine.

* Show applications
In the case where the product might involve more processes or explanations, show visual applications or step-by-step demonstrations for better visible comprehension.

* Win confidence
Show customers how you can help them put it all together. Display related objects that tell customers you have more than just the pasta machine -- include an Italian cookbook, cooking equipment and table settings.

* Motivate the purchase
If the first five steps were done well, the customer should now walk in and buy the product.

Somehow, it strikes me that the above steps are similar to a courtship:)

Otherwise, that don't impress me much...

Break

2008-07-03T23:28:00.010+08:00

My next post will arrive tomorrow.

Take A Chance On Me

2008-07-02T23:25:00.015+08:00

Today I have given myself and my friend another chance!

For those reading my blog the first time, it has been a while since my friend and I build up our friendship. Ups and downs like most people...

Take communication for instance. Being together for a while, one naturally feels that he/she understands the other person. Through my experience, I have to correct that the gap of communication only gets wider when both parties cut down on their chat or even cease to talk. Then issues will surface when one starts to question the other person about the meaning of the relationship...

Certainly, one shouldn't rush to conclude without allowing each other to hear his thoughts. After all, friendship is a wonderful thing:)

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try

Not Ready For Goodbye

2008-07-01T18:16:00.010+08:00

Another new day, a visit to the clinic.

So far, all is better after some adjustment. Guess it will take a while for things to settle down, but I believe this is the best decision for me.

Anyway, managed to meet up with a friend this afternoon, who has taken a break from work to sort out her life. Now how many people can say goodbye to a job and pursue things he/she wishes to do in life? Bravo!

If I am in her shoes, I would love to do the following:

- Explore the world in a folding bike
- Do volunteering overseas
- Upgrade myself in Mass Communication
- Take up basic tennis lesson again
- Learn driving
- Pick up new language
- Record a debut album (for my own pleasure)
- Learn the must-travel spots in the world
- Enrol in pastry/dessert making courses
- Master pool table tricks

What about you?

Better Man

2008-06-30T22:05:00.019+08:00

Feeling free after I made a major decision in my life...

Least I spent some time to arrive at my decision, rather than let nature takes its own course, or worst still, not even think about it! Even if it's a wrong one, it's still my decision.

Personally, what irks me is people who do not make decision when it matters most! More importantly, not even TRY to give one's best shot in life when he has attempted so many things. Very disappointing when the person matters to you...

Honestly, I feel the decision that one makes now does not mean that the person cannot "turn back the clock". If he realizes that it is not the right/best decision, it is fine to make a new decision to change the current state. At most, he can admit it is a bad decision made and put an end to it. Nothing complicated as it's all part of life-enriching process!

Besides, one wouldn't know the outcome or gain/loss if he doesn't even try.

Good news is it makes me a Better Man now:)

PS: Thankfully, little Eunice and baby Shawn always make me happy!

Yes Or No

2008-06-29T23:07:00.007+08:00

Yes or No?

One would say that we are dealing with this question on a daily basis. Basically, it's a fundamental question to our decision making process.

For myself, it encompass many aspects in my life including:

Yes or No to a folding bike?

Yes or No to a relationship?

Yes or No to a job?

Yes or No to a holiday?

Yes or No to a house?

And the list goes on...

So if you are confounded by a decision and do not have the answer? Then let fate takes its own course if you concur with me!

Maybe

2008-06-28T14:56:00.006+08:00

"Maybe" is a overused word in my opinion.

For many, if they don't care and only wish to have a quick exit to tough questions, often the word would be deployed.

To share a chapter in my life, I was checking with a friend if we could meet up today. Conveniently, he replied saying "Maybe we can later..."

Wouldn't life be easier if one could just reply yes or no? If he/she doesn't wish to meet up or has other obligations, then decline. It's that simple! Rather than saying "Maybe", which leaves the other person clueless about his/her plan to do for the rest of the day.

"Maybe" it's not such a good idea, after all.

I Love Myself

2008-06-28T02:04:00.024+08:00

It's the weekend again!

Grabbing 2 friends, I rushed to the nearby cinema and bought the tickets to a romantic movie, Penelope.

Directed by Mark Palansky, the stars in the show including Christina Ricci (Penelope) and James McAvoy delivered their roles satisfactorily. The laughter medicine is also propelled by superb comic performance of Penelope's parents in the story. Equally commendable is one of the actresses cum producer of the movie, Reese Witherspoon, who played a rough-talking bike messenger credibly.

Honestly, I was quite charmed by this small fairy tale like movie. In brief, it's about a young girl's inspiring journey, a horrendous family secret and the power of love. In order for Penelope to break the family curse to be cured of her snout issue, she must find true love with "one of her own kind."

Surprisingly, the warm and funny adventure leads her to find out the simple cure in her life is "I like myself the way I am". The importance of loving yourself no matter how you look physically!

Does it sound familiar to you?

It's Up To You

2008-06-26T23:01:00.009+08:00

I was invited by my colleague to attend an Infocomm Award for our school today.

As he has been with school for 6 years, I solicited his views on how I can improve the publicity for our school. Unfortunately, he shared more negative comments about the school unreservedly. More than I should know to do a better job in publicity..

Naturally, I was caught off guard. To counteract his school of thought, I suggested to him to always stay positive and make the best out of every situation. Then I quickly invited other colleagues who were present at the award to join in our chat to undermine the negativity.

I wish someone would invent a device that allows one to switch the conversation topic when things go astray, similar to a TV controller. I think that would be popular.

Candyman

2008-06-25T23:03:00.021+08:00

Couldn't resist the temptation of candy sale from Spain today!

Gluttonously, my friend and I both picked up one pack each. For one pack, we were treated to a sweet concoction of almond and nougat-alike texture. Simply "intoxicating"! Guess the biggest draw was that we were enjoying 50% off the usual prices:)

Once again, a man of temptation need no prompting to surf for candy vendors in Spain. And found more candies from Flickr for your drooling pleasure.

Need I say more?

Image Source:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000NQDDPU/sr=8-7/qid=1214593195/ref=dp_image_0

Holiday

2008-06-24T23:03:00.006+08:00

It appears holiday mood is in the air.

A couple of my friends are getting away in the next month (after avoiding the school holidays) to Bali and Japan respectively.

Though I desire a break heaps, I decide to delay my holiday plan for a couple of reasons:

- High air fare (due to rising fuel price)
- Lack of accomplishment to warrant a break
- Financial obligation
- Rising costs of living (in terms of food, transport and so on)
- Short of fun company
- Family members not well
- Graduation ceremony to attend

Guess one can always find something to add on the no-holiday list. What's yours?

Jaded

2008-06-23T22:44:00.020+08:00

For some reason, I was feeling lethargic after work...

Put on my running shoes, I sprang towards the stadium with the hope of recharging my batteries. Somehow, the feeling of having free time at my expense lifted my spirits heaps.

An easy solution, one will say. Now how many people actually embrace this simple idea in their lives?

Let’s say you have a typical life and attempt to live it in the healthiest way. You may assign your day as follow:

Work: 8 hours
Eating: 2 hours
Travel: 2 hours (Personal/family errands)
Exercise: 1 hour
TV: 1 hour
Sleep: 8 hours

That leaves you two hours for other things and so on. If you have a class gathering or con-call to make, or concert to catch, that leaves you completely drained out.

To live a happy life is always challenging, if you do not paying attention to all the above-mentioned. Nevertheless, doing so is almost impossible!

For me, I have become happier by adopting an approach not to be so fussy over my time management. If it rains or I have to put in extra hours at work, I will ignore my exercise and make it up another day.

Another idea is to overlook the fact that you are slowly killing yourself by not exercising and napping enough. That frees up a few hours for you in a day. The negative side is that you will become obese and die of heart attack.

So how do you make yourself happy?

I Should Be So Lucky

2008-06-22T22:20:00.012+08:00

My jaw dropped when I heard leading Kimmi had to settle for second spot at French Grand Prix, due to his exhaust pipe issue.

Guess when chips are down, one should not be discouraged and keep trying his best! As the adage goes "success comes to those who best deal with failure".

Personally, I believe luck remains to be the bigger component of success! Take myself for instance. I am reminded of the role of luck today as I am currently doing something I enjoy for a living. To rewind back on my mid-life career change, I only applied a few jobs upon completion of my part-time course late last year.

Everything happened so fast. Shortly after I applied for the job, I received a phone call for an interview. Then I was called in again for second interview but had to delay it, as I couldn't apply for leave during the peak period. Miraculously, the company was understanding and allowed me to attend the second interview much later. Following the job offer, I could only join the company two months later due to ex-company's notice period. Again, the employer waited for me to take up the offer patiently.

That's when I noticed the element of good luck.

Life Is A Rollercoaster

2008-06-22T00:29:00.009+08:00

What a day, after going through up and down all on the same day!

Honestly, I was taking a gamble by baring my thoughts to a good friend about how I really felt about our friendship. It wasn't well-received on the cell phone, no thanks to my critical tone. And the call was even terminated half-way before I could finish...

Naturally, I was feeling blues and decided to send short messages to him to conclude my thoughts. Was glad that he took it positively in the end.

So here I am smiling to another beautiful Sunday ahead:)

Something Right

2008-06-20T23:12:00.008+08:00

Start to play tennis with friends every Friday since 2 months ago.

For some reason, I still could not master the basic strokes of tennis fully. Luckily, the "masters" of the group are willing and patient to guide new comers like my friend and I.

Once again, useful links on internet are life saviours for green horns like I. So will learn to do it right next time and check it out!

If you want me
I must be doing something right
I got nothing left to prove
And it’s all because of you
So if you need me
And baby I make you feel alive
I know I must be doing
Doing something right

The Best Damn Thing

2008-06-19T23:08:00.010+08:00

Finally, the news is out!

The long overdue TMC Graduation Ceremony 2008 will be held at Raffles City Convention Centre on 26th July.

In case you do not recall, I did a part time diploma in Mass Communication (MC) last year. And I will be graduating with an overall distinction in MC:)