Oak Forest

許廷鏗 - 厭棄

2012-02-08T23:08:00.000+08:00

天與地片尾曲 - 年少無知

2012-02-08T23:03:00.003+08:00

Not a summary

2012-01-25T19:41:00.002+08:00

There are some things that I can express my thoughts on this CNY. Not that it's a special occasion that renders the need for some summary.

People do reset. A leopard may not change it's unique spots. Bad habits return, ill-behaviours re-surface.

With determination and some discipline, certain things can be certainly achieved. I managed to swim 12 x freestyle laps this new year, up from 10 x breast stroke laps a year ago. Nothing to boast of, but is a tiny achievement for myself.

It is not nice to always be the OK man. While you might be concerned over a friend, s/he might just think you are another irritation, worse, a thorn in a flesh.

Opportunity do not always knock on the door. When you see a good wave, launch your board, instead of hoping for a higher and more ferocious surf, you might just get a tsunami that clears away all hopes.

Read in between the lines at times. However, just forget it for the rest.

Flaws

2012-01-14T23:17:00.002+08:00

There flaws in life that I simply need to learn to accept; not that others' behaviours are necessarily flaws.

I need to know that there are mentalities in my friend that says - it does not matter that I am meeting you at a prearranged time, I will still go for a nap (sleep) and if I missed the timing, just too bad.

I need to know that no matter how badly you want simple helps from someone - and it does not matter you helped them before (oblivious to them); when you need help, you are the servant, they are the boss. You need to take their displeasure humbly.

Bintulu

2012-01-08T08:39:00.002+08:00

I can never forget this town. This is a peaceful old town in the state of Sarawak, East Malaysia. I was there the last few days for a site meeting. Though the outcome of the meeting depresses me - and the depression was made worse by my coming back home - I was happy to have lived a few days of slow paced life, walking around with no real aims or purpse (well, I do have some work that needs to be done).

The old Bintulu town (the area Hotel Royal was located) - as the name suggests - was the former city centre of the place. The former Bintulu airport runway is situated no more than 300m from my hotel, and was in the Guinness for being the only airport situated in the heart of a town. Every time I passed the air strip, I was taken over by the rustic charm it exuded.

Life was slowed, not physically, but really, on the whole. Order a meal at a cafe and the eatery will take their time. One morning, I ordered a chicken porridge for breakfast and it never came until after 15 minutes - slow by Singapore standards. But within the 15 minutes, I switched between lazy gazes at the morning traffic (2 meters away from my seat) and the culinary act of the stalkeeper, who attentively watch the fire to my porridge and pinching in the right amount of salt into it. She then scooped a sample of the porridge and tasted it and was satisfied that it was ready to be served, and I was.

The next time I had to visit this place again, I do not know whether this kind of lifestyle will still be an available option to me. But this trip has been a real different experience for me.

Sense

2011-12-12T20:30:00.002+08:00

I am not someone who need a sense of belonging. I can go anywhere, into any situation; drop me at any place and tell me to spend the rest of my time there, I can do it. All I need is to adapt.

I am not someone who can do without a sense of purpose. Tell me to do this, I want to know why, tell me to go there, I need to know why; when I do something, I would want to picture the consequence.

Spit all over

2011-12-02T22:21:00.002+08:00

Before I start, I have to disclaim that I am not fully in the situation I am about to narrate, hence, what I mentioned, might not be representative of the actual.

I realised something about a certain type of human being. The ones that are often oblivious to what is happening on the mind and hearts of others, yet, they often shoot off and rant about much of how they are feeling. My friend was a victim of a spat that happened a couple of days ago. I witness a spit of ungratefulness on an act of real Samaritan concern.

I think I might be guilty of these at times. So recently, I have learnt to just keep quiet than to react to a situation. Why confront a situation when what you say means nothing?

Seminar, the lousy type

2011-11-21T14:08:00.007+08:00

Before I forget, I need to have this recorded as the events created quite an impression in me. I went for a seminar a few days back. Three speakers - MOM, Safety Auditor Association and a certain Private Company.

MOM was focusing on trying proclaim how hardworking they have been; and how, despite their hard work, the laymen failed to live through dangers and hazards.

Safety Auditor was complaining about how the auditees did not made the auditor's lives easy by not producing the right document at the right time at a snap of their fingers. By the way, he did not test out the slides and had version problem as a result. He was also late when returning from tea break, as a result, the whole seminar floor was waiting for his grand arrival.

Private company's representative talk more humanely, but boastfully. He went about advertising his company and their products and how well they scored in the audit and also how every company should strive to achieve a certain level of safety.

I have no problem marking the whole session as 'FAIR', first speaker 'FAIR', second 'FAIR', third 'GOOD'. I have been quite generous with my marking if you ask me.

2011-11-20T09:34:00.003+08:00

"She held on to my hands and pressed her head into whichever part of me within her reach, as we made out way to the clinic for the third time that day."

It has been a disturbing day the whole of yesterday. I see gore, blood, innards. It's not everyday that one can see what's usually on the big screens in real life. Ah Niu went into a fight somewhere with someone (or the plural of someone) and got himself a big nasty wound at the back of his head. The wound has not healed since and he refused to be taken to the doctor. He is now Rotted Niu".

Saima has been previously warded into the clinic for a dislodged rectum due to hookworms infection in her digestive system. The specifics of it shall not be discussed. The rectum got pushed back in and the hookworm got treated, and she was discharged in our second visit to the clinic yesterday. Lo and behold, within 3 hours of her discharge, what was pushed back into her, exited again. I would not say they came out of the anus because quite frankly, nothing really came off, its the same things along the same system that happens to be in a different place. I would think of it as a sock turned inside out.

Without a choice, we have to bring Saima back to the clinic, and she is staying there, again. We forgot to bring along her leftover medication from the last warding and told the doctor we will be returning later to get that done. Saima was slightly trembling - I don't know whether it's the air-con or her mood - throughout the journey. She held on to my hands and pressed her head into whichever part of me within her reach, as we made out way to the clinic for the third time that day.

We returned with the medicine in our final trip for the day and Dr Jemmy had to break to us a news that would crack our heart and shatter our wallets. Saima has to undergo a surgery. Her digestive tract has to be drawn inwards to toward the stomach and sewn there as the recurring problems no longer has a solution. We agreed to the procedure after some serious questioning by Seamonkey.

As I typed now, Saima is probably on her way to the medical centre at Nusa.

p.s. Saima will also be spayed in the same procedure.

What song is this?

2011-10-29T11:15:00.001+08:00

If any kind soul knows the title to this song, please let me know.

Committed 2/2

2011-10-28T11:01:00.002+08:00

In the last post, I mentioned that company A never called me about the phone inquiry I made about Lian Yun Gang. When I was at their brick and mortar shop, they had the audacity to discuss it as a joke.

"What gang? Lian Yun Gang? Fan Di Gang (Vatican) I heard of, not Lian Yun Gang, where is it really?"

I believe if they know that I was the one who called and ask about their joke, they would not have joked about it so openly. Anyway, I did not book to fly with them, because:
1. The ticketing officer did not know the route to Lian Yun Gang, nor did he know the airport code is LYG (I have to tell that to him).
2. He also did not know how to connect flights to LYG. How can I trust that I am getting the cheapest possible flight?

The customer service officer finally called after 2 days. And I told her that I have decided not to book with them because the price quoted to me was at least $700+. I booked with Kingdom at $570.

Anyway, I have digressed much. I was supposed to be talking about my Shandong trip and not my colleagues LYG trip. Having secured a far with company B, yet out of curiosity, I asked the lady from Kingdom to check a fare to Shandong for me. She quoted me $1000+. I shooked my head. She asked whether I have seen cheaper fares. And I nodded. She asked how much and I replied her honestly. She told me that she would search out a fare for me, if there are cheaper flights, she would give me a ring. And I left the place after booking the LYG flight.

In a mere 15 minutes, I got her call that she had found a lower fare for me and asked whether I would like to return to her shop, which I am happy to, of course. I had to cancelled Ms Lai's offer, but I think this Kingdom lady deserve my money and she worked for and earned it.

Committed 1/2

2011-10-25T13:19:00.003+08:00

I have committed to my 6-day holiday next January.

However, I am not about to share the pre-hols itinerary planning.

Hands up to those who have encountered a bad customer service experience. What I am about to share is a modern day story of a customer service personnel who went beyond just selling airfares.

Let's define the cast. Company A, company B and Kingdom Travel. I chose not to name A & B by name because I think they would rather I not name them.

I did a fare inquiry on A's website. The site shows airfare with good price. Cheap I should say. I attempted to book it. But when it comes to the securing part, it shows that there were no more seats and I should look for a higher fare or another day to travel. Fine, let's proceed to company B.

I did an online booking with B and secured a fare. Though more expensive by about $100. I manage to reserve a seat. The very next day, the salesperson (Ms Lai) called me, not to ask anything other than whether I have transferred the money to them. I said I will make my way to her office to make payment on Monday (which is the next day).

Come Monday, I got a call from Ms Lai and quite predictably, she asked on the status of my payment. I got slightly annoyed and told her again that I will be making my way to her office to make payment and also that I have told her this yesterday.

I called up A to ask about another ticket fare for my colleague to another location. The customer service personnel said that the ticketing officers are all busy and will call me after 2pm. I believe they were all busy eating. And they never called though I heard them discuss about my call when I was in their shop. I did not buy their fare too because the ticketing officer do not seem to know the route to the destination and I had to tell him that.

This is getting abit long. I shall leave the rest of the story for the next post, if I remember.

Untrustable

2011-10-19T16:07:00.003+08:00

Cast:
Boss
Minion
Outsider
Authority-A
Authority-B

There was a time when boss got into trouble with authority-A and received an edict to appear in front of the court at a said date-A.

The boss knew that this case would mean a fine, which is fine, by the way. However, he could not attend the court session on the said date-A due to an overseas obligation. He asked his minion to try to settle the matter with authority-A without letting him know about his trip - as good as asking the minion to go to the casino without any chips.

Of course, the minion failed. Boss went to outsider for help as the outsider has links with the nobles. Boss asked for an out-of-court settlement, however, the outsider tried to be smart and asked for a total removal of the charge, which failed, by the way.

The minion told the boss that he would have to seek out authority-B and ask for the change of date. But the boss, oblivious to the minion's words, asked the outsider for help again. And the outsider - after speaking with authority-A - gave the boss a number to call, and the boss asked the minion to make the call. Alas, the number is the number to authority-B, albeit nobody answering for the whole day the minion called.

The minion continues his sad life trying to call.

Pengerang

2011-10-14T13:47:00.005+08:00

I am glad there are some things that is worthy of me saying I am happy about recently. The Robinson sale at Expo, I bought like there is no tomorrow, although the John Little sale is really round the next corner.

The Pengerang cycling trip - though smeared with hiccups - was a pleasant first time. I started the trip with less-than-optimum level of enthusiasm, made worse by the wait for the ferry, one hour, if not more. The cycle to Sungai Rengit was an excellent route lined with simple housing, just-enough-to-feed-the-family vegetables plantations, fishing houses, the sea and everything simple in life. Another disappointment is having to eat the oh-so-famous baby lobster that cost a bomb, yet tasted no better than the crayfish at Tebrau market in JB. I am not even sure they are fresh. Thankfully, we had a good company for lunch. The uncle and auntie (or should I say the hip granny with her husband) chatted us through lunch and repeatedly reminded us to "吃！吃！敢敢吃！吃多一點！我們老人家沒有吃那麼多的！"

We realised that we are running (cycling) late, and decided that there is no way we could catch the next (or was it the last?) ferry back to Singapore on time... unless... we could hire a cab to bring us and our bicycles! And we did, and we suffered the shame when the onlookers look upon our arrival at the jetty.

Better luck next time.

Caught a flu

2011-09-24T11:58:00.002+08:00

Rubbish theory

2011-09-11T20:44:00.003+08:00

I derived a strange theory on a certain monotonous trip on a coach. When the coach climbs to high altitude, the shampoo bottles bloated due to the low atmospheric pressure acting on the contents of the bottle. When I open the bottle in the hotel's bathroom, the shampoo puked out in a sudden burst.

Applying the same theory to the human body, we should experience severe farting and at least one session of good burst while passing motion.

On the way down, the pressure cells acting on the bottle is higher, hence, the soap bottle will be dented. The same pressure is applied on the human body and one travelling downhill will experience tightness physically, explaining for the queasiness.

Lousy

2011-09-04T21:42:00.004+08:00

I am forced to take things in my stride today, even if it means having to be held by the nose by a driver and suffering the consequences of a selfish, lousy, wrong decision.

I sacrificed a relative gathering, which I was never told of, and an afternoon of time to do my assignment, just to act like a responsible, helpful facade.

I chose to take a step back and just accept whatever instructions that come by. Whatever not said, I take it there's none.

More and more things I dislike are happening nowadays. But whatever I do not like, I say nothing about.

The truth always hurt.

Yet I rather keep quiet than to tell a lie.

Teachers Day

2011-09-01T10:40:00.004+08:00

Tomorrow is Teacher's day. I can only think of a handful of personnel that truely deserve my gratitude.

- Ms Cheong Lin See (Keming Pri Sch)
- Mr Beh Yong Hua (Dunearn Sec Sch)
- Mr M. Nageb (SIM-UOL)
- Dr. Philips Stephenson (SIM-UOL)
- Dr. Frances Healey (SIM-UOL)
- Ms Jacqueline-Lee Mather (SIM-UOL)
- Ms Patricia Chia (SIM-UOL)
- Mrs Rosemary Gosling (UOL-LSE)
- Dr. Steve Taylor (UOL-LSE)
- Prof. Roy Chandler (Cardiff)

Thank you all for helping through my learning journey and making me constantly explore and question.

I felt a gloom when I looked at my Alma-maters' website and had a minor shock that some 'lousy' teacher during my school days are not heads of departments. Within their departments are more qualified (integrity-wise) teachers. Think again, this is a place that looks at your degree. You don't have it, you do not rise.

Lor Halus

2011-08-20T16:53:00.002+08:00

Net happiness for the day

2011-08-18T21:20:00.003+08:00

I am having net happiness today. That being my total happiness today less my total upset, I still have some surplus happiness.

- having to count Foo pay.
- having to fret over a kacang putih order from a regular.
- had to sub the kacang putih to auntie.
-- that order is last minute.
--- all delivery truck went out for the day.
- minor screw ups with the order
- thought i nearly failed assignment

+ went swimming.
+ auntie helped me with the kacang putih order.
+ received pay.
++ banked in pay.
+++ went shopping with pay.
+ passed test
++ passed assignment
+++ being the first to leave the class because of the above 2 +
+ went running

sick of it part 2

2011-08-09T20:43:00.002+08:00

There are also times where I have to face a bad attitude from a someone - be it a co-worker, the boss, the list can go on. I reckon it could be because I do not act in accordance to someone's script of what s/he expects. For e.g., you are expected to say thank you when someone hands you something, you are expected to shout 'delicious, one more!' when someone brought forth you a dish. To me, these are the actions of hypocrites, where sometimes I am guilty of myself. Most other times, I chose to follow my own thoughts, which could be perceived by others as arrogant, insensitive and irritating.

It feels lousy to have to be issued a black card, sometimes almost immediately after offering help. It adds to the feeling of being used and thrown aside. But for not liking to explain myself, my actions or any decisions, I cannot argue for much.

sick of it

2011-08-08T12:46:00.002+08:00

How many time in your life do you have people saying 'you can't do this', 'you are not good enough' - and yet, you have nothing to say in return, because, quite in fact, you really are not up to the mark.

Yet at other junctions of the same lifetime, you find yourself really not capable of certain task, not really good enough to deliver - and you asked for help, and you get a cold call. And it is afterwards that people who shrug you off became concerned about your ordeal.

It is such events in life that makes me think thrice about lifting a helping finger, or making a genuinely critical comment. Sometimes, I think I would rather see someone go and commit a mistake, than to warn about it beforehand, only to get a face, that suggest I am harbouring a malicious intent.

Thanks

2011-07-28T22:41:00.003+08:00

The thanks before and after an event is not as worthy as a word of gratitude or encouragement during.

The thank before an event meant to inform you that your help is needed, please do a proper job.

The thank after is to let you know that everything went well. If the event did not go well, you will not be thanked.

The thank during is somewhat genuine, though it could mean that someone is checking on your progress. On the good side, thanking during could also mean that your effort is being appreciated real time, including the failures and re-tries.

So I ask myself, do I prefer a thankless job or a before-after-thanks one.

New job description

2011-07-20T14:24:00.004+08:00

I have a newfound job description for myself. I do everything, even things I do not know how to. I have to deal with people's temper. I have to deal with another company's boss's temper. I have to deal with temper arising out of someone else's home matters. I have to deal with temper triggered off by workers.

Even if I sense an unhappiness and tried to ask about the situation, I get an attitudinal answer like, 'You go and see for yourself.' So, if I choose not to, I will be at fault?

Substitute all 'deal with' with 'face' because there is no two ways about it. Just take it and swallow. Don't die, congratulate myself, die, I asked for it.

And you cannot do anything but nod and say yes, nod and say 'I will see to it', nod and shut the hell up.

Liberated

2011-07-14T22:50:00.003+08:00

I did something most people might consider stupid today. I set a rat cage trap yesterday before I leave workplace. Voila! It caught a rodent through the night.

However, when I look at the furry thing, I could not decide what next to do. Ah Siao says, drown it in water. Ah Chun suggested, put it in the Sun. Ah Jian asked me why haven't I sentenced it to death.

I fed Mr Rat with Nini's food, which it chewed with great enthusiasm. I wondered whether that would be it's last. Funny, considering it's fate laid in my one decision.

In the burning mid day Sun, I ... ... released it into a drain, and I felt liberated.

p.s. I've since set another trap.

Do not like

2011-07-11T20:23:00.002+08:00

I suddenly feel the urge to express a view. I am beginning incline towards business owners NOT absorbing increases in taxes, price, cost, NOT pledging to keep prices at an artificially affordable level, NOT raising price and offering discount. Such actions only fuel customers with the token to complain about their 'plight' when they are faced with the real situation.

I do not like the people up there raising this price, raising that tax, claiming that they are collecting them to help those in need (referring to themselves). I do not like the people up there talking hawkers into pledging not to raise prices, when they allow prices of their supplies to rocket. These are the worker's money earned shedding buckets of sweat.

Bourgeoisie beware, retribution will catch up one day.

Senseless belonging

2011-07-09T20:42:00.003+08:00

I am belonging lesser and lesser to myself. I find my weekend burnt to char.

I wanted to go for a holiday, but I sabotaged myself by signing up for a course. I feel like giving myself a jodan mawashi geri.

My most recent time, I could remember, dedicated to my likes is a photoshoot at Labrador park. Though short, but has been really meaningful, at least to myself.

When can I have more time for myself?

Time Wasting

2011-06-30T20:53:00.003+08:00

Today was supposed to be a good day for me. I was greeted with the morning rain, followed by the cool weather that lasted through the day. Yet, I was in a foul mood for much of today.

I wasted time having to think of how to draft a complain letter to Singnet, for the once-every-few-days connection drop, which happen yesterday and today, and some days of last week. I spent time thinking of how to increase the reliability of my complaint and the repeatability of connection problem. Well, I could not find a way through my thoughts.

Time wasted thinking of things that I should not have been doing. I only edited 2 photos today and I have piles more to go. My poor eyes ... ...

Maureen

2011-06-28T20:08:00.002+08:00

Some lousy event happened in a few days. 小胖 passed on to doggy heaven, two days following Ah Fluff, hope their friendship continues in the nether journey.

Called MOM today to 'talk' about the delayed response. They asked me for 3 more days, which quite frankly, I could not say NO to.

I remember a classmate name Maureen from my poly days. She is a modern, hip and friendly lady, often dressed stylishly in printed tank top, body hugging jeans and boots, and had a small tattoo ring on one finger.

But NO! I am not talking about that Maureen today. It's the Maureen from SC2. I shall not get personal on her looks. I called her to ask about how I can do an application status check by myself; I'm not even asking her about the status. In metaphoric terms, I am asking her how to fish and not asking her for a fish. She became all defensive, as if I am blaming her for the delayed outcome of an application. Argument ensued and it's not even about the topic I wanted to asked in the first place - Time Wastage. I wasted time no further and drop the line, and call SCAL instead, and ask for the general manager, who was not around, and was directed to the assistant general manager. Assistants has the sorriest of worklife. No glamourous GM title, but have the same, if not a higher, pile of work to do. Anyway, Esther, the asst. GM appeased me and offered to help me with what I wanted. I reiterated to her that I want to know HOW to check the outcome and not asking her to check it for me, and her response fully satisfy me, 'I know, let me check it for you, I want to learn it as well.' Full marks!

On the way

2011-06-27T15:50:00.001+08:00

I am composing this post amidst a jam on the malaysian side of the causeway. Earlier, I witness a person stuck in the eiacs gantry, better known as the thumbprint machine. The checkpoint officer has not the slightest idea on how to solve the problem, which I recognised even before that man enter the gantry. He was carrying way to much luggage the size of godzilla and t-rex combined.

Now, I am sitting adjacent to a man sitting beside a snoring pig. He must have been really tired snoring away, oblivious to the population, with whom he is sharing the bus with.

I am reaching the checkpoint. Oh, the man beside me is dozing off, he is reaching my shoulder. Help!

Hopeless creatures

2011-06-23T21:52:00.003+08:00

Recently, I encountered a couple of sorry organisations when it comes to customer servicing / call handling.

First, it's HDB. I appealed against a notice of offence for parking my vehicle at my house MSCP. I was issued a ticket because I had transferred the season parking to my friend's place as I was away for reservist. It happened that for 2 nights, I was able to out-pro and return home. And it also happened that for these 2 nights, I was issued tickets for parking at my house carpark. I appealed on the ground that I had actually purchased season parking, and I had only technically parked at the wrong carpark, and in real terms, I had not caused a nett increase in cars in either my house carpark or my friend's. HDB mentioned that they will reply within 2 weeks and that I could hold the fine until they replied. It's been a month since I heard from them - sitting on it?

Then, it came MOM. I helped auntie with an appeal for transfer of a foreign worker from another company to her's. MOM needed more time, 3 weeks for processing of appeals submitted via iSubmit. I certainly hope the 'i' does not refer to intelligence because I certainly sense any, both from the humans and from the machines. From past experience, if you call them up to remind them that their 3 weeks are up, they will tell you they require 3 working weeks, i.e. 21 working days in their context, which is a whole calendar month (why don't they just mention 21 working days? trying to sound efficient?). And when you call them after a month, they will tell you they are looking into it, and you get a rejection the next day - an easy way out.

Today's episode is starred by Singnet. I called the customer care number as printed on the router supplied by Singnet and highlighted my problem to them, not before waiting 15 minuted listening to music, 'sorry's, 'please hold the line', 'we will attend to you shortly' and what-have-them. Alas, the officer had to tell me to call another number for Singnet Business. So, why don't they just print that number? Anyway, I called up that number and was served by another officer who just woke up and unsure that she is still in Singapore. She asked me what modem I am using, to which I replied the 2Wire, and she asked me the color, black was my answer, and where I bought it? I said Singnet's courier sent it. After some other questioning, she ask me whether I had bought the modem at some other place. I was baffled and amused in a bad way, like watching a lousy comedy and the rest of the cinema is laughing away at a joke not funny enough. In any way, my problem was not solved, she asked me to plug in my modem directly to the wall outlet and bypass the fax. So if it works, am I suppose to terminate the fax line from Singtel? Or will I need to call again, to be served by an officer apart from her - easy way out again.

YES

2011-06-23T12:44:00.001+08:00

Night angzhenwei want to be a bat. Why not a bird? Like to feel freefall and flight. Like the charm of the night. Like to eat fruit and not fight. Thanks dj.

Thank you for your participation in our YES933 21st Birthday Bash giveaway. You won a pair of tickets to an exclusive screening of "WASAO" the movie! Pls be at GV PLAZA HALL 5'S ENTRANCE tonight at 6.45pm to collect your tickets and watch the movie. The screening starts at 7 pm. Do bring your IC for verification. Thanks! -YES933

Bumped

2011-06-21T19:49:00.002+08:00

It is sad that I have to be reminded of my dented bumper today. Auntie ask what happened to my bumper. How I wish I know. I would like to think that it was my effort in banging taxis that caused that dent, but it was not to be.

I remember vividly that my bumper was scratch free - because I wash the pick-up quite often - the night before I park my car at the MSCP and returning home. I pass by the car washing estate cleaner, the Ace Weld lorry, Hup Siong's Van and the white Toyota Mark X. The following morning, I return and see a slanted bumper with a scratch below the headlamp. This has to be one of the helpless moments to be caught in.

What to do? One cannot monitor everything in life.

Fateful beef

2011-06-12T10:11:00.003+08:00

I knew I should not be eating beef. I have this funny allergy (if I could call that it); the next day beef enters my mouth - whether it finally goes down the digestive tract does not matter - I will go down with fever.

How true! I went to a HK cafe with Onion one fateful day and he ordered a mix grill platter which is supposed to contain chicken, pork and beef. He requested to change the beef to fish, which was duly obliged by the waiter. When the dish came, there were three piece of meat - two pale brown and one dark maroon. We thought it was lamb and Onion offered me a small piece. I chewed one it and did not like the taste, and spat it out. I checked the order chit and realised lamb was never in the set. The chef had not changed the beef.

I went down with fever yesterday.

Starlight Tears

2011-06-04T11:05:00.000+08:00

Run 1/6/11

2011-06-03T17:08:00.002+08:00

I had the tendency to forget bringing my swimming trunks for swims. But fortunately, I always had backups. Not the trunks, but I have my shoes. I'm just highlighting that if one has the determination to do some workout, there is always a way round problems.

My route yesterday starts from Safra Mt Faber, I cruised down Henderson road (down slope, whew!), then turn left to go on Telok Blangah Road, passing HabourFront Centre and Vivo City; I then take a left into Kampong Bahru Road; the nightmare starts at Telok Blangah Rise's upslope, all the way back to 2, Telok Blangah Way. How far was that I really do not know.

Whew, good run!

P.s. Met 2I/C at the entrance to the club's pool. He invited me for a swim. But, but.. but, I could not swim his distant, I did not have my trunks, I'm dogged.

What has been in my head lately?

2011-06-01T10:37:00.003+08:00

Perhaps, I should be periodically jotting down "What has been in my head lately?" so that in future, I can relish / or puke at this period in my life.

Running / Exercising - My only exercise regime is my almost daily swim at Safra. I target to swim a ten-lap continuous front crawl. Who knows when I will achieve that. I am currently at six. I have not been actively running ever since I graduated from Hendon. Unlike my other buddies who have their weekly dose of football, or daily dose of college life or even occasional dose of get-together-for-sports, I am by myself. Since the conclusion of the recent ICT, I find a short adrenaline rush for a bit of running. I shamelessly pulled along Onion for a Chandu session, disguising it as an evening photography opportunity. Well, I did took a few photos. Yesterday, having had a craving for another session to work my legs, I went for another round of running. I am not exactly sure how long; the route went from Brickland Road, to Bukit Batok Road, down Choa Chu Kang Way, into Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3, back to my house MSCP.

Hypocrites - A certain ethnic group recently fired up a saga about the level of alcohol content in a beer product. It is said that a proclaimed halal beer had it's alcohol level higher than the stated and legally allowed level. While that whole country is debating the number of alcohol molecules allowable, I am thinking about the fundamentals. What is the principle behind the forbidden consumption of this drink? Will it be any difference (religiously) if the alcohol level is at 0.01% or 0.001% or 100%? It as hypocritical as Buddhist vegetarian eating mock chicken and a someone cursing another to death, short of actually killing him/her. Pass the pork rendang please, the halal one, if you don't mind.

Show - Everything since the nomination day seems like a theatrical production. We have the uprising of superstars like Ms NS, hated character like Biscuit Tin and a certain minister without portfolio, wayang promises (sometimes: lies), some good food for the brain, some conspiracy drama to fix up a minister. The older generation seemed to still hold fear and skepticism to the system of election, while the newer generation take this opportunity to party out at the various rallies. It became the talk of the town and it's certainly better than National Day Parade. Since 50 years passed so quickly, I certainly hope 5 years will pass just as quickly.

One incompetent ex-worker, one procrastinating boss

2011-05-27T12:15:00.002+08:00

It's the deadly concoction for my glass. The Martian, who has left the service - with a bang - since May last year, has it's radiation lingering in the office. The deadly half-life, coupled with a procrastinating boss who chuck the all important document somewhere between two insignificant pieces of paper, paved the way to the shit hole for me.

As usual, the Fool was sitting at her desk, enjoying the cool air-con, looking into her email screen with no new enquirers, and barking at any calling customers. Boss suddenly produced a letter from IRAS dated 18/4/11 and today is ... 27/5/11, and good one month from the letter.

Whoa... I better start to dig my grave or I might miss the auspicious timing.

Back to reality

2011-05-20T20:38:00.002+08:00

I have reached the end of my annual holiday at PRChalet. Its time to fall back into the dark well of reality, sometimes known as worklife. Back to facing idiots at work and wearing a facade to talk to people.

What has been most enjoyable during this ICT?

- Being an advanced party trooper.

-- Able to choose the best bed.

- Play monopoly card.

- Everyday book out until scared/sian.

- Every day PT.

-- Found my fitness (manhood according to CO).

- Crapping with buddies (Stanley on the alternative warm up exercises).

- Bt Chandu, my next running route.

- Biathlon (Sean, nice running alongside)

- Fishing joy

- ETC... ...

What has been undesirable?

- Everyday book out until scared/sian/no dinner indent.

- Team broken up to form a chapalang team.

- Outfield (as always).

- Cooking during a short outfield.

- Drawing signal sets and bringing them outfield.

- One egg, one sausage.

I can go on for both list, but I shall just stop there. Comrades, see you in a year, or, touchwood, during war.

$100

2011-04-27T22:04:00.003+08:00

It's a funny feeling. Perhaps, too many a time, I have been scoring only $100 for my IPPT that I do not feel too much off today. Yes, I got another $100. However, what is different today is that instead of all 4s and 5s at statics and 3 at running, I did a 5 for running, but mostly 4s for statics.

What really liven me up is that Onion did exceptionally well for running and I contributed quite a piece of effort to the training schedule.

Now, I have to give my muscle a well-deserved rest.

Monday is coming

2011-04-24T20:43:00.002+08:00

I've learnt to accept that, in life, there are always things that piss. Instead of living and reacting to them, I rather take it with a pinch of salt and be nonchalant or at least appear to be so. If you are facing someone who give you short or uninterested answers, so be it, no point forcing people to be interested. If you feel disgusted at people who crowd the lift, only to alight at the 2nd floor, let them be, wait for the next lift. If ah fool tell you she don't know, tell her you also don't know.

It's tiring to have to swim out of the misery sea, just lay on you back, and see where the waves bring you.

Events and its taste

2011-04-23T08:52:00.003+08:00

In recent days, I went through traumatic, empathising and educational events.

The trauma came the day Rose got hit by a car. Her hinds were badly injured. The fortune of this incident is that there has been no fracture or any injury to the organs, just a bad dislocation requiring a long span of rest. Rose is now on painkiller for 4 days and antibiotics for weeks to come. Her laceration wounds (some stitched up) has to be cleaned, creamed and powdered at least twice daily. Rose also panted heavily yesterday before I left, however, after her heavy peeing (right after I changed her bedding), the panting reduced and she went to bed.

I later went for a run to prepare for IPPT. I ran two reps of 1.2km with a targeted timing of 5:30 each, with 3 minutes in between; I managed to do 5:00 and 5:15. Within the run, I got to feel how Rose might have felt when she panted. Adopting Rose's hardy characteristic, my legs carried me to the end of the route.

I also understood that speech is a dangerous thing. No matter how much importance you place in a speech, it might not matter to the listener because if s/he took it in another way, you will be sentenced. Dr Chee Soon Juan may have been saying things good for the nation, but no, boss felt offended, you go to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200. So, yes, lesson learnt, next time, no matter how bad you see the situation, let it develop on its own.

变脸

2011-04-18T20:14:00.002+08:00

I took on the role of a face-changing-actor these days. I appear angry, I appear relaxed, I appear happy, I appear tired, I appear to have a good appetite, but inside me, I really felt an unexplained sadness.

I look ahead, I cannot see beyond my five fingers. I look back, I felt like a photographer who could not find a subject to a photo. I soak in the present, I rather let the waves carry me because the more I paddle, the more my torso will ache when I finally realised that I am going nowhere realistic.

I had to lie, sometimes even to myself, so that situations will remain in equilibrium, so that there won't be another concern for people around me, or in simpler terms, I will not be a spoiler. After a lie, I need another several scores of it to cover up. The only truthful claim I could remember I made recent is when I told Sherlyn that I felt extremely depressed whenever she talk about her overseas trip meeting. Onion asked me the factor that is keeping me back from going. I could not answer him, I could not even answer myself (refer to para. 2).

I suddenly think of Emilia - my furry friend who passed on.

Angry rant

2011-04-17T13:29:00.001+08:00

I might sound like a spoilt brat whose father refused to buy him a toy. The spoilt brat then rants his piece online.

I suggested to boss that we might be able to earn some bucks from buying and renting out a set of PA system. He told me that this require proper feasibility study, which I have been doing for the past few months. Alas, my hard work has been met with the most heartless reply - silence. To add insult to the injury, when a co-worker brought it up in office today, boss overtly rejected it, something he could have done to me and I wonder why he choosed not to to make me spend those time and eyesight on the screen looking at mackie, rcf, dbt, behringer, yamaha... sending enquiries and making trips to Sim Lim Square.

I am begining to hate every square inch of this place and I loathe having to respond to someone's calling with immediate speed and yet not being heard (or talked to, even if it is just to say 'no'). Remind: Spotlight 400W. I have reached trigger point, I am not going to trouble myself with more thankless venture.

Maybe I, forever, am just not good enough.

Down on luck

2011-04-12T23:28:00.001+08:00

Vehicle could not start, battery died.

Went to deposit cash, after queuing for several minutes, machine do not accept cash.

Boss came to jump start vehicle, which later died AGAIN on the road. A garage across the road, but not doing battery.

Bought a new battery, alternator died.

Back in office, ah fool give trouble.

Went to AY, pickup hospitalised.

Took a cab back, cab driver kayu, waste time.

The day has ended, and so will my bad luck I so hope.

Being helped is a misfortune

2011-04-07T13:04:00.003+08:00

The problem with engaging the help from others is when they finally saw the detrimental effects from helping you, they will call you and give you a session and you cannot say anything back to them because you are being helped by them.

Tired

2011-03-30T11:10:00.001+08:00

The last few days have been treacherous in terms of sleep quality.

Slept late on Saturday and woke up early on Sunday for tomb (niche) sweeping. Then came the dinner till late at Lam Ann.

The next day, onion informed that he needs to make a purchase at Sim Lim, which I saw as a way out of office, away from an irritating colleague. Dinner till late. Tuesday, we had to return to Sim Lim because the grumpy cashier and blurhead salesman has forgotten to return our deposit. Sent onion's uncle for servicing. Sent onion's auntie's computer to her, supper down a mcwing and jasmine green tea, and slept late.

I wonder whether it's my activity that makes me tired, or whether my life itself. Does it really matter to a person long let go?

Ah Wang

2011-03-24T11:27:00.001+08:00

The autistic dog.

Bad luck carried on

2011-03-24T10:56:00.003+08:00

Bad luck continues. Today morning, on the way to work, I was involved in an accident, a traffic accident to be precise. Luckily, no one was injured except for a slight increase in my heartbeat and the taxi's passenger.

I was travelling along the AYE and as usual, everyone was trying to slow down, hopefully the last five minutes of ERP operation would pass in five seconds. There was a certain taxi, a blue one, in front of me and the driver was skewing toward the left, which was a filtering lane into the AYE, and that road will end in 100 metres. He kept two of the taxi's wheels in my lane and 80 percent of the taxi in the filtering lane. I became cautious of him.

He came back into my lane. After passing the ERP and getting robbed of $0.50, he suddenly slowed down dramatically, and there was no car in front of him. I jabbed my foot onto the brakes and my wheels locked and I drifted nearer and nearer into the taxi's bumper. Bang! I got him.

The uncle tried to highlight my fault that I was the driver at the rear and should be in the wrong and all the other bulls. And he blamed me for not looking out for him, to which, I replied by saying I've already took notice of him from the time he started moving into the filtering lane, and I asked him what he intended to claim from me, before which, I pointed to two spray-painted spots on the bumper and brought it to his attention that that was his own doings. He pointed to another spot on the bumper, to which I see nothing wrong. I used my palm and give it a wipe, and ask him what is wrong with that bumper? He could not give me a good one, and changed tactics to introduce himself as a very 'chin chye' person and wanted to just settle it for nothing. And I see this opportunity to end this tussle. It ended there and then, and I hope he keep to his words.

What luck!

2011-03-22T19:46:00.002+08:00

If there is any single day in my life that is truly representative of the description 'screwed', it has to be today. I woke up feeling dissatisfied with the length of my sleep, and the drizzle that lasted through dawn had not make things better.

On the way to work, I was caught in a jam at Clementi; I tried to take the expressway (and had to pay $0.50 for that decision) and was stuck for 20 minutes just to get into it (and it was only 400m away).

When I reached the workplace, I had to face a bitching colleague, which I brushed away quite successfully. Another challenge came in when another fool had to push a customer to boss because she had no common sense to carry out a simple task. Naturally, that job fool set up for boss was eventually spiked into my face. After a series of calls and fax, I had it closed and buried. However, the fool had to present me more dung for the day and that irritated me, and I left the office for the sites after clearing most of the work.

At Sin Ming site, I bought some snack for lunch. The brightly lit stall with TV show recommendation proved to be overrated, for the banana fritters were made using overly ripen bananas, making the fritter sour-tasting. What a waste of money, times four. Luckily the mineral water did not go wrong.

I was summoned by boss to collect canvas at Teck Hin, and that proved to be a consolation for the day, which was pretty short-lived. After purchasing a comfortable shot of milk tea at 'I Love Taimei', my journey to Senoko site was fraught with wrong turns, traffic jams and bad decisions. Turn after turn, I kept making the wrong turns and I never felt more sick of myself.

After the task at Senoko came to an end, I thought I could go for a swim. I had a choice between CCK public pool or Bt Batok club pool, and I chose the former. Poops happens again as I realised I had left my trunks in my pick-up and going back for them would mean that I had to pay another $1.50 for the pool entrance, and had I chose the club pool, I would not face this problem since I can enter and exit as many times as I fancy. I settled for a shower since that's about the only thing I can use. When I finished my shower, I reached for my underwear and they slip off my hands and fall onto the wet ground.

I am speechless at what luck I have today.

fighting a war not my own?

2011-03-15T16:08:00.001+08:00

These days, I do not feel myself. Many things are piling up, yet, I have to appear like I have everything in control.

I did not, and still do not like a life controlled, yet, my behaviour has to be determined by those of others and others are selfishly safeguarding they own interests.

I am having difficulty putting my thoughts in words, but just as well, I am not interested in telling anyone about it, because, chances are, well.. forget it..

I sit alone, at least for now.

Smiling Apple

2011-03-02T17:30:00.003+08:00

This is the month when my fond memories of Apple gets especially potent.

I am reminded of how she ran away from me and ran back towards me and smell my back when brought her meal. Apple chases bird who tried to eat her food. Apple doesn't share with any other kind but Nini-the-cat. Apple's best feline friend is Nini. Will Nini be also thinking of her canine friend?

How are you Apple in doggy heaven? Do you have enough to eat? Are you sleeping warm at night? Do you still hurt from the injections?

Do you still remember me?...

22:22hr 22 Feb

2011-02-22T22:32:00.004+08:00

Though my day did not start quite delightfully, I had kind of a great day today. Bulk of this year's birthday greeting came in form of Facebook posts; Zukerberg, you are one mean geek.

I had a wonderful brunch at Bei Sheng, though I really hope to be eating Japanese food triggered off by yesterday's handroll.

I had one present and one birthday card and one friend to accompany me the whole day.

To me, those are more than enough for me.

p.s. Happy Birthday Rose, Daisy, Apple, Nini-the-Cat, Mini-the-Cat and Wang-the-Pig.

Emo

2011-02-19T13:31:00.002+08:00

Things may seem all happening and merry for me this week. But since the new year, I have never felt happy except for the day I spent a few moments with Rose at West Coast.

First, it was the last minutes gathering information transmitted to me, to which I had no choice and no time to attend. Then it was the way in advanced indent for morning transport to wherever pickup point. Events that are important to me, I did not get notice of till the very last minute, and event that I really hate going, I not only have to learn of them way early, I even had to attend them, for reasons I do not know why. And this advanced notice spoils my time from now till the event ends.

My consolation price came yesterday when Seamonkey's father invited me to dine with his friends in Johor. I felt overly pampered by Mr Shopkeeper who repeatedly spin the lazy susan to transport the dish to my front and top up my teacup and wineglass. It was a sumptuous dinner, which I did not deserve but get served.

Tomorrow is another dinner. In exact contrast to the one yesterday, I think I am not going to enjoy it.

Bite the bullet and drag through it.

2011-02-13T20:40:00.002+08:00

The people up there are a bunch of hypocritic nincompoops. They came out with a hundred and one rules and break them all in one night.

Fill the front seats before seating people at the back of trucks.

Not seating beyond 1.1metres above the truck platform.

No carrying of people without proper top canopy.

Just look at Chingay.

不吐不快

2011-02-12T21:56:00.002+08:00

I am once again owned by the evil aura of Fool. I am satisfactorily convinced that if we are held ransom by some crooks, and that the crook will only release one of us, she will, without a doubt, push me to die. Summing it up, she is downright selfish. I am not asking for her magnanimity of sacrificing herself in the name of justice or moral (if she even has a sense of it), but at the very basic level, I just hope she do not sabotage me. Is that too much to ask for?

When Pam the baker came to our workplace, she even lied that Pam specifically wants to speak to ME, capitalised and bolded. And she wants to speak to no one else but ME. It turned out that she could not handle this customer and she think that the only way out was to trick me into moving into the firing range of Pam and throwing a cylume stick onto me before retreating to the safety of her excuses that do not hold water. I would always remember her words, "I don't know anything, I don't know, I don't know, I'm new, I'm new." I would have crudely told her to SHUT UP, if not for the presence of a customer.

After which, I gave her a piece of my mind and drenched her with my expression of displeasure. Of course, she had nothing to talk back, because she could not find a good enough argument and also quite possibly, she could not be bother since I had already solved HER problem. I would believe the latter is more true.

Sometimes, there are things that I wish I could be blunt in expressing, but rationally, I know that it is not suitable, not morally right, not situationally right, not politically right, not appearing right, and I just have to suck it up and bury it and carry on looking all jovial and cheerful.

Behind the jester's facade lies countless unspeakables.

CNY Woes

2011-02-07T10:53:00.002+08:00

My chinese new year was not a good one. I had been feeling drowsy for most of the days starting CNY eve and I dozed off on the couch of 3rd Aunt's house during day 1. I missed two gatherings because my mother gave me the information at the eleventh hour and I was either driving a lorry or, I was driving a lorry.

My happiest moment was spent with Rose on the 2nd day of CNY where we spent a brief moment at West Coast Park. I could tell she really enjoyed it.

Today, I was back in the office (which in fact, I had started work since CNY day 2) and I got 2 random message. One wishing me a good day with Fool; another one wishing me happy new year and informing me she was not coming for work today, courtesy of Fool herself.

Mmpoh

2011-01-27T09:40:00.002+08:00

'ah mm' refers to an elder uncle's wife. (Mandarin: 伯母.)

'mm poh' refers to an grand'elder uncle's wife. (Mandarin: 伯母婆.)

The LCD showed "Service Hall 2 - Tan Cheng". It was only then that mmpoh's name got engraved into my mind. After a short ritual, the whole lot of friends and relatives hurried into viewing gallery 2, to catch a final glimpse of mmpoh's coffin, draped with a red banner, pushed into the furnace with an automated trolley. Everyone called out to her, among which, one callout touched a chord in me:

'mm ar! ai der lin sun'ar dng chu hor!' - which translates to, 'Auntie! follow your grandsons home!'

I believed that call was made by mmpoh's eldest son, who died years back in a construction accident.

My memories of mmpoh was largely during the days back at Lorong Terigu. Peh Gong and Si Jek Gong's family lived adjacent my Ah Gong in zinc-roof houses. Ah Ma, Si Jim Poh and Mmpoh are typical housewives who discusses issues like groceries, kueh, fabrics and where to perm their hair. Mmpoh was not someone very closed to me personally, but she took good care of her grandsons when alive, and I believe even in her afterlife.

The last night of the wake was grand. People from all walks of life appeared, soldiers in uniform, office workers, social groups and even gangsters. All had one thing to do, i.e. to pay their respect to Madam Tan Cheng. The night was incense-infused.

On the final day, the sky was pouring on and off, as though crying for a bunch of sons, daughters and grandchildren who were holding back their tears. Though I profess, for the whole of yesterday, to be eating snake, I do not regret, because I get to send off a relative, for the final time.

Be good to self at times

2011-01-19T22:31:00.003+08:00

This is my second post for the day. I do not usually have so much to blog about in my boring life. BUT.. today has to be different. I have to be sabotaged by my own colleague, twice.

First the Holland Road boy boy from Malaysia has to drop me sarcastic emails requiring me to fix up a job incomplete by my supervisor. I do not know whether to side with my supervisor or show the surface empathy towards the client. In the end, I decided to push the blame abit on each side.

At this hour, my phone has to ring and it has to be Pui, calling to rant about how the security guard at Suntec refuses to let him carry out his job because... he did not wear proper footwear. Again, I do not know which side to stand - to agree with t he guard that they should have worn shoes, or to bitch at the guard with my colleague. I chose the easy way out again, 'chum siong with the guard see can anot, worse case, go back and wear shoes lor'.

And I am going to bed.

Selfish

2011-01-19T11:45:00.004+08:00

I have a new realisation about the term 'selfish'. Not because everyone around me are selfish, that's actually a given and I accepted that long ago. I came to realise that selfishness can come in all styles, sometimes even subtly.

Most of the times, I like to choose to act as if I do not know what is going on and give that person a chance to move on.

Sending Off

2011-01-16T22:54:00.003+08:00

Why am I forever being cursed with having to send away my friends and families to the airport?

Today, I sent Chun to the airport. I sent away a friend.

On the positive side, I am sending a father back to a pair of siblings, a husband back to a waiting wife, a son back to his parents and a citizen back to the homeland.

Tiko's Mum

2011-01-07T21:07:00.002+08:00

I hopped onto the lorry, knowing only that it was bound for Block 509. Which part of the land, let the driver decide.

To my delightful surprise, it arrived at a certain Blk 509 at Bedok - Tiko's house. Lift upgrading had been completed for the four-storied blocks. I bought a bag of mini oranges and went to Tiko's house. Auntie could not recognise me, until I repeated that I am 'Choa Chu Kang', or so she remembered me by that title.

It was like a meeting with a long lost friend. She asked about me as if an auntie from afar would when she visited. Time flies and I had to go, promising her I would visit for chinese new year.

Target board

2011-01-04T18:09:00.003+08:00

I walked into a firing range.

Chamber 1

Firer no. 1: Angry Boss

Firer no. 2: Irritating Customer

Firer no. 3: Tantramic Colleague

Firers! Magazine of 5 rounds, load and ready...

100 metres, foxhole position, watch your front...

I morphed into a figure 11. The biggest possible human target in the range. Angry boss hurled abusive instructions to me. One round in my chest. Irritating customers fired another into my thigh. Help, I can't run. Tantramic colleague gave me a headshot.

Unload, check clear...

Tonight is special

2010-12-27T21:03:00.002+08:00

Today is special. I took half a day off to feed the pups and dogs at the farm. Orange was disobedient, and I had woven a whip to discipline any one who dare to fight next time. I did not forget Rose, Daisy and Wang in Singapore. I bought three cans of treats, which should last them at least a month. I gave each of them a bone and a piece of hide. Rose almost had half a bone finished when I left today.

I got a call from Gohzi tonight. It was special to receive a call from a friend lost for at least a year. She called to thank me for the birthday and X'mas cards I sent her last week. I thought I heard her almost crying. But I think those should be happy tears. I am glad, for I know I still have a friend.

Blank perfection

2010-12-24T23:04:00.004+08:00

If I could see my life (or the way I live it) as a piece of paper, I would like for it to be a blank piece of paper. Nothing written by myself, by others or by the situation.

If it has to be an organiser, I want it to have not a single entry, no timing to meet, no deadline to rush, no clients to meet, no gathering to attend.

I want my life not to be dictated by others, not guessed, not assumed, not manipulated.

I want my legs to bring me wherever I like, without an end destination. If I am lost, I want to enjoy being lost.

p.s. Onion said that I am not a bad person, but 'ruthless'.

Dark ray

2010-12-21T19:37:00.004+08:00

Onion told me - during my trip to vehicle servicing at Jackson and wife's shop - that I should just brush off certain pissing events as isolated, one-off incidents. But I told myself, I should not be overly concerned about other people's feeling.

I pictured a dark ray coming out of a cathode ray tube, shining towards a mirror. The light bounces off and got reflected to a few more mirrors. And the process is repeated.

Why should that mirror even prolong its stay in that position perpendicular to the incident? It got me thinking.

I am slightly affected that today, my colleague is showing an upset face. I tried to be concerned, but I think I am being a busy body, and for that, I was punished with a cold shoulder and more black face. Well, fine, lesson well learnt.

p.s. Where has Nini been the whole day?

Lifestyle

2010-12-13T13:14:00.005+08:00

As I returned from my Thailand trip, I have been thinking about the journey and of the perfect - at least perfect to me - lifestyle. I came to realised that I do not desire much in life. Not the 5C's not that perfect wife, not the soulmate, not really much.

No work stress. As I toured Ayutthaya, I see the simple life the people are leading. Not chasing after much and not needing much. And as a tourist in the Kingdom, I followed their 'sanuk' lifestyle. When I'm lost, I indulge in getting lost and seeing new things.

No complicated relations. With my best friend, we did all sorts of nonsensical things and need not worry about the looks of others. He released a fart into the face of a masseuse and I was not worried the masseuse would spout rubbish behind us because, partly, I think he would not and secondly, I do not care.

Well, if only reality were that good. But if everything is perfect, perfection, in itself, would be imperfect. Let me constantly remind myself to move towards that 'sanuk', carefree or couldn't-care-less, lifestyle. Life would not be lacking colours then, the colours merely got simpler.

I'm back..

2010-12-08T10:45:00.004+08:00

to reality, which can be so cruel at times. To add insult to the injury, I have to receive a customer call the moment I board the taxi for home.

Talking about the good things of this trip. I am happy to be fortunate enough to celebrate, with the Thais, the birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand Bhumiphol Adulyadej. Everyone dressed in pink t-shirt, which I later found out from Auntie Jintana that pink is for wishing of good health to the King of Thailand, who has been admitted to the hospital some time back. I wished I had a pink t-shirt, for I too, wanted to send some well wishes to the King...

Now, I am back in my work station, thinking about my next trip, not knowing when it will come...

Before I leave

2010-12-04T10:58:00.003+08:00

In the final hours before setting off for the land of smiles' city of angels, I got 2 calls from the event planners of a customer. It was irritating. Very irritating. I wanted to give her a piece of my mind, but I do not want to mess up my own holiday mood.

I woke up the usual time this morning and could not get back to sleep again. I hope I can make up for some eye-shut later on the plane. Some inauspicious thought ran through my mind last night when I left in the longing gaze of Rose. Will I be caught in an aircraft accident? Or will I meet with some mishap in the foreign land?

Before I left, I fed Nini-the-cat her favourite pouched fish, patted Rose, Daisy and Ah-Wang, paying particular attention to Rose, the old lady. Topped up the dog's food container. Bought a new pack of Nini's dry food and 3 rows of pouched fish.

What I will worry about? Will Rose be scared dead in another thunderstorm? Will Nini have enough water to drink, lest she drink from the waste water pail? Will there be people feeding Daisy when Ah-Wang finishes her food? Will there be someone opening the gate, asking Ah-Wang to return to the warehouse and not roam outside?

I will return.

Geh Zhua

2010-12-01T09:38:00.003+08:00

There is something call Geh Zhua. And there is something call failed Geh Zhua. Someone tried to act like she is a good customer service personnel. But she tried to hard. Anyway, ok.. Just a joke for my morning.

Plan

2010-11-21T09:52:00.002+08:00

If I have to say something bad about National Service, it really has to be that it disrupts all my education plans, that is, non-academic wise. I had plans to sign up for a certification course with either SCAL or BCA, but I had 2 concerns. One, my holiday plans from 4th Dec to 7th Dec. Two, National Service. I had to give up the SCAL option because of concern number one, and I had to give up the entire plan to go for the course because of concern number 2. Since, this course runs for 6 months from January, and my call up starts on the 4th May 2011, I could not attend the course and I am effectively 6 months slower in life. Bad luck.

On my way to toilet today. I saw Nini at the far end laundry area. It puzzled as Nini do not usually venture that far out. She was not looking too at ease. I whistled her out and carried her back, gave her some chow and top up her water and carried on with my latrine plan. When I am back, her eyes were shining and she was looking much happier. I do not know what had happen before that, but I hope she is ok.

Enmity lost

2010-11-07T20:02:00.003+08:00

I think I might have let down any enmity between Martian and me. Perhaps I am comparing the Fool with the Martian. Come to think of it. We just need someone to listen to the phone, properly, and take down enquiries/orders, properly and type simple stuff, properly. And I could do with less stupid questions and politics, and irritating behaviour.

Perhaps, that's too much.

Complainant

2010-11-01T20:35:00.003+08:00

I am alone at home, but I am enjoying this piece of peace. Sitting in front of my macbook, with the fan blowing away my stress and sore from the day. Siuzhen auntie just called to ask about the toilet, which I thought I had ordered. I checked with Cynthia, who affirmed me that the delivery has been made. I called auntie and told her that, settled. And why was the call made in the first place?

Never mind.

My new colleague proved more difficult that imagined. Complained about how Rose, Daisy and Wang and Nini-the-cat scare the hell out of her. Complained about how the heat in the office is melting her. Teach her, complain. Don't teach her, complain. Toilet too far, complain. Complain about this, complain about that. Not the best way to start the first work day.

Frankly, I fear more the human heart than the fangs of the deadliest serpents.

Difficult times

2010-10-30T09:31:00.003+08:00

I am seeing the two faces of some of my colleagues. When boss is here, they behave so co-operative, be it with each other or with me. However, when boss went on a holiday recently, the supervisor upped his level of laziness, fat driver show attitude, old driver tried to play leader. The victim? Me.

Today, I came in with 2 aims: Finish all my deliveries, and make life difficult for the folks. I'm not sure whether I can do the latter, but the former is definitely do-able.

Good luck and best wishes, Shureido.

p.s. Maybe I'll just add in another task, to buy chicken rice for Rose, Daisy and Ah Wang. Nini-the-cat had her pouch this morning.

BBQ Lunch

2010-10-29T17:46:00.001+08:00

Suffer today

2010-10-27T21:00:00.003+08:00

Today has been particularly suffering. I have to wake up at 630am in the morning, send my father to the airport, and I was thinking of going to SAFRA for a morning swim. When I reached SAFRA Mt Faber, the pool was not open (quite strangely at 740am), wasted trip. I made my way to the office to clear up some stuff.

ZZ came in at 830am. Good friend indeed.

I dragged my weary body through the day. Drove to Jurong Point for a MOS Burger lunch. Jenny asked me what sauces I would like to have and I ordered my usual combination of chilli sauce and mustard. The server came with every sauce but what I ordered.

When I got back to the office, Muni called me to ask whether I could help with some work, which I had to oblige, for that was not really a favour asked, but a threat issued. Keong expressed his stand that he would not be attending the dinner tonight, which is already scarce in attendance. I would not have felt so pissed if he had not told me he might be attending yesterday. Anyway, now that I know what kind of colleagues I have, I know just the distance to keep in the future. Afterall, I am not the boss, they can reject my invitation anytime. I know ZZ would accompany me for that dinner anytime, if he could make it.

On a side note, I felt disgusted by the death of Paul the Octo. I am disgusted by how human beings mourn / celebritise the death of an Octopus, a psychic one to be precise, but remain oblivious to the culling of stray dogs who can be anytime more loyal than a piece of sashimi.

Enough said, today, please end soon.

Gohzi is back

2010-10-24T20:39:00.003+08:00

It's funny. I really though she is dead, un-jokingly. On the 22nd Oct, I got a message "Shureido! Is it your birthday today?" I was confused. Firstly, I thought she was either dead, or migrated, or I have been ignored, secondly, my birthday was long gone and far away still. I then learn about her current state of affairs, but did not probe much into the silent period.

Anyhow, it's good to have a friend back in contact.

New Gold

2010-10-24T16:05:00.001+08:00

My beloved greasy cat, where are you?

2010-10-23T17:01:00.004+08:00

Our affinity on lasted half a day.
You are gone, and I do not know where.
But wherever you are, be good and eat well.
You'll be in my heart.

Day at farm (16.10.10)

2010-10-16T22:43:00.004+08:00

My best friend has a problem, socially. However, I could sum up the entirety of the event in a word - childish. Not that my best friend is childish, but the undergraduates classmates he has are downright childish.

When I hear his narration of the episode, I am engulfed in an amalgam of anger and jest. And to be quite blunt, I actually despise the 'undergraduates' involved. The actions they are responsible for could not have been committed by anyone in excess of a junior college student's intellect.

Today, I went in to the farm. The joy of meeting a new squad of puppies had to be countered with a sad meeting of Rotted Head. When I see him, I am quite distortedly surprised that he is still alive, though I believe that he will not be living for more than 3 days from today. I do not wish to describe what I see here for I do not know who will be reading this.

Ah Gold, as usual, was quite ecstatic to see my arrival at her lodge. And I was just as happy to see her. I thought of how different would her life have been had I smuggled her into Singapore last year. Well, nothing is going to change now. Her home is fixed.

If there is any higher being, please give Rotted Head a clean ending without further suffering.

As of 15/10/10, Neleh is gone

2010-10-15T15:17:00.003+08:00

"I'm not signing it."
"Why?"
"I've given you my resignation letter."
"But this is our exit policy. Leaving employees have to sign it."
"Other companies I worked with do not require this."
"This is our company's policy. We just need you to declare that we have not owe you any monies and that you will not leak our confidential information to outside."
"I will not do it."
"How can I be sure? If you can say this, why can't you sign against it? I am not asking you of something unreasonable, am I?"
--Silence--
"Can I take your silence as a 'yes'?"
--Silence--
"I don't understand it, I do not want to sign."
"I've already explained to you line by line, you are not observing our company's policy. You simply do it your own way, put down a resignation and leave, have you respected our company's procedure?"
"I don't know, other companies I worked for don't need this kind of signing."
"Well, you are breaching our procedure, so, now I am NOT accepting your resignation, please take it back, you are FIRED. Please go."

The rest is history.

I hate life, this week

2010-10-12T20:47:00.002+08:00

I have been hating my life thus far this week.

I have an irritating and unproductive (work-wise) colleague who make my life a misery with her questions an idiot could score flying colours for, and her repetitive questions, her slow typing, her lousy spelling, her black teeth, her stinking breathe, everything.

My hard work on sourcing for a product was met with the most unappreciative gesture from my boss. All I needed was either a "Yes, we shall buy it" or "No, it is too costly", and not "Buy in Singapore also around that price leh."

Instead of empathising my bad days, my mother has to call me in the middle of the day to tell me to send her to the airport at 5am on Friday. As if work is not enough to kill me.

Weird things happened

2010-10-06T14:17:00.003+08:00

I have been swimming quite a bit recently.

Today, the strangest things happened to me. I was showering in the very last cubicle along the row of showers. Opposite my cubicle was another person (a guy obviously because it wasn't a mixed bathroom), another guy, apparently his friend, was standing outside his cubicle, seemingly waiting for him to finish his business inside. The guy outside called out to the one inside, and the latter answered, and the repeated this a couple of times.

Then, when the one inside was done. They changed into their clothes outside the cubicle. Now, these cubicle doors were made of tempered glass, approximately 8-feet high, opaque for most of the door other than the transparent 2-feet at the top and bottom. One could easily look in without much effort I would say. I guess the designer of the toilet must have thought that users of the club are all straight guys nonchalant to peeping at others.

One of the stepped onto the bench to switch the fan. I do not know whether he was peeking into my cubicle (as i was back facing the door) which was no further than 2-feet from his point, but every time I turned back to get another dose of soap, I saw the duo, looking away. I took a phone call and spoke for 5 minutes, and after my call, they were still there, and I was halfway through my shower. Just before I was done showering, they left.

Now that was really weird. Were they full-time man oglers? I didn't really care, I have lost nothing.

Rose Licks

2010-09-29T18:10:00.002+08:00

Counter-productive

2010-09-09T18:42:00.002+08:00

A new colleague join our company since Sherlyn started her undergraduate course. However, the latest addition proved less than productive, if not counter-productive. Stubborn, deaf to instructions, smart... alec, and repeat the three for three times.

On several occasions, I was on the verge of letting go some vulgarities, but my rationality got the better of me and I managed to bury it. Not sure if she will pass the three-month probation period, but a (big) part of me secretly hope that she would not. I would rather not stay back after office hour to clear up the thrash that has been left undone, like what I was doing before I post this.

2IC

2010-08-22T21:26:00.003+08:00

On 18th August, I visited 2IC's father's wake at Jln Membina. I am a day late because I am undecided about whether I should visit the day before, hence, I was alone. But, whether I was alone or part of a crowd does not matter because the objective was to offer 2IC some mental support and to let him know that his men is concerned about his well-being.

I reach the wake at 330pm, and the place was fairly deserted. I spotted a man in No.4 and thought was 2IC, and as I approached, I realised it was Col Ang Yau Choon. Oops, wrong time to visit. I was invited to sit at that very table and 3 of us had some talk, both t he relevant and irrelevant.

I could tell 2IC was really sad, but had masked his feeling within his tough physique. But at least, he was prepared, both physically and mentally.

I left at 415pm.

Ah Wang - Date of Arrival: 14th August 2010

2010-08-16T20:43:00.003+08:00

This post is two days late.

Ah Wang - Daisy's nephew - came to my workplace to join Rose, Daisy and Nini-the-cat. To describe him, he is a fat lad about 2 times of his auntie and wears the same Brindle coat like Daisy.

Initially, he is expectedly shy. Now, he's opened up, though not fully. Today, he went for his first walk in my improvised harness, and I could tell he thoroughly enjoyed it, so do I.

The next programme for Ah Wang - weight loss and exercise.

Self-discovery

2010-08-07T20:04:00.003+08:00

There are things I cannot bear to let go. At the back of my mind, I have my paternal grandparents whom I had dedicated an essay to, which later came out in a memoir published by the National Library Board. Now, I knew I had my little memories with them on record. At the front of my mind, I had my 3 dogs and 2 cats, whom I could never stop worrying. When Daisy passed some watery motion stuff today, I suddenly recalled Apple's incident, which would forever be a pain in my heart. And whenever I see Nini, I am reminded of Mini, whom I thought I owed a good life. Rose is my loyal friend, one who never leave me when I need company. She do not tell on me, she do not mind anything I am bad for, all she ask for is my hands for licking and a nice dunk in her drinking bowl on a hot day.

I recalled my days alone in the BizIT library before the commencement of karate classes, until Shuyan came into my life, we spent a couple of months together before my training, and then she disappeared suddenly; which later turned out to be a conspiracy I do not fancy narrating. So were the solo sessions in Lot One's cinema, theatre 4 row D; I sat with my glass of chilled Ribena and New Balance sweater. As were the 2km walks to CDANS club for swims, and the walk back. Last week, I was asked the question whether I could miss my Chinese colleagues when they return to their homeland, I could not give an answer. As I think deep, I realised that the only thing that I can get used to is, perhaps, loneliness.

CCK Kittens

2010-07-31T19:54:00.003+08:00

I walked down the staircase of the multi-storey carpark and spotted her (gender still unsure) sitting at a corner, looking out to the direction of the link hall, seemingly waiting for the return of someone dear. It's the second time I am seeing her. I stroked her, no response of hostility, and I boldly stroked her more thoroughly before picking her up.

She looked at me with those innocent eyes, totally showing no signs of unease. I held her in my hands for a couple of minutes more before returning her to her place to carry on her wait. As I am typing this, I am reminded of my Mini, who died a month ago. I wish I could bring her to depot, but the thought of separating her with her family deters me.

Everytime I see her, I will worry about her future. How will the fate of the family of felines be? Will they make the estate their new home? Or will they get adopted? Perhaps some spastic residents will file a complain with the town council who will mercilessly call in the pest control. Or will they just die one day in a traffic accident? I dare not imagine.

What I did was emotionally psycological

2010-07-24T19:06:00.006+08:00

I created a light-hearted, stress-free atmosphere one for her. I maintain this for the whole duration she was around me. What I did was emotionally psychological, the rest was a self fulfilling prophecy.

When I felt that the moment was ripe, I told her, "I think you are going to do well for today's session." She asked how so. I say, "I just think it's going to happen that way, don't you think so?" She said she hope she will, and I tell her she will. She asked whether I would fulfil my promise that I would lend her support by driving her to her driving lesson, I said I could not because there is no vehicle I could use. But I raised her hope again by saying I would accompany her on Ah Pui's lorry to her driving school, which lifted her spirits after the light tapering.

I got her text message after her lesson and she mentioned that the instructor told her she did well today, albeit some nervousness.

I applied I think my hypnosis worked.

Stomach Training

2010-07-21T20:04:00.003+08:00

It is one of the rare times of my life where every other day - if not everyday - is worth blogging about. Yesterday, I went through a training, specifically the stomach. I had a bit of mental preparation for the 'good' lunch, and I had the dinner in sight, but did not expect to go for it.

As the payment from Shinan has been collected, her mummy had a cheeky plan to get a treat from my father. And since her mummy could not make it for dinner, we had lunch instead. The drive to 亮记 proved to be futile as the shop had shifted. We then headed for 阿乌, and ordered a monstrous spread. A big fish, white chinese cabbage stir-fried in black vinegar and a winter melon soup in a winter melon.

She expressed interest in the dinner at Jurong East, and my father suggested that I bring her there and send her home afterwards. I jokingly stated that I would send her to Jurong East MRT station and that invited a sharp reaction from her mummy. Of course, I did not mean that.

I went through 6 courses of the dinner and signalled her to leave as she had to report to NIE the next morning. After an exchange of a few text message, the day was concluded.

Living in the moment

2010-07-19T21:13:00.002+08:00

It has been a month or more since someone new came into my life. My office life changed from green mediocrity to detesting someone's action everyday. Then the Martian left, and office became a place I wish to stay away from every, not because of the workload, but because of the pile of mess left behind by an irresponsible individual.

Then Sherlyn came in. I guess no one can fail to befriend her because there is no need for an icebreaker in the first place. We also realised that we have several similarities and tastes, which makes communication all the more seamless. That day's embarrassing seems to have a certain bonding effect; could I say that we at least share a secret only known between us and one of our parent.

I knew rumours are flying all over the place, but when I take a step back and look with a wider angle, rumours are still rumours. Even if things happen as rumoured, it would not be because the rumourmongers are dead accurate.

Right now, I am living in the moment.

徳永英明　恋におちて

2010-07-15T21:09:00.001+08:00

Changi Exhibition Centre

2010-07-12T10:38:00.001+08:00

A m'sian pup and a s'porean model

2010-07-09T21:50:00.003+08:00

Distance Based Fare

2010-07-07T19:52:00.003+08:00

I am beginning to wonder whether our transport fellas really know their stuff. First, they injected the idea of 'distance based fares' into us, with the much hyped and suggested association of 'lower fares'. I used the word 'inject' because an injection is something one might not like, but have to take anyway. Next, the media dropped the 'lower fare' and begin to advertise with 'fairer way to charge commuters'. Then, today's Today features this:

"Transport analysts said the impact of the distance-based fares should be seen in a wider context. While a single trip could cost more, on a multi-trip journey the overall fare could be the same or lower than before.

A commuter should also consider that his weekend travel patterns could involve fare savings that offset higher fares on weekday journeys.

And while some individuals might pay more, others in their family might pay less, so the bigger issue was whether the changes benefited entire households, analysts added."

How wide a context should a commuter be seeing other than his/her own fare? If s/he could travel from point A to B in one trip, why must s/he do a multi-trip journey? What are the 'transport analysts' trying to throw on us? And assuming most of the travelling for most people are done on the weekdays, how is it that weekend savings could offset the weekdays'? Travel more save more? But travel more also means pay more. And while some individuals pay more, the household might pay less, if the household pay less, the in-laws' household might pay less, and if that is not the case, the entire block of HDB dwellers might benefit from the distance based charge.

Well done analyst!

Mid ICT Break

2010-06-27T12:56:00.002+08:00

Perhaps today is a good day for me to log a post. I do not know why I have the down feeling since yesterday - whether it is the 7th day is Mini's departure or because I am booking in tonight.

On Friday, I return for a break from my annual ICT, and return to office on Saturday to learn that the roof had leaked water from the Monday storm. My Macbook took a shower, but was still working when I tried to use it. I spend most of the time catching up with Daisy and Rose and Nini-the-cat, and squatting at the spot where Daisy and Mini played. I could still smell the faint smell of Mini's poo as she has the habit of passing motion at the same spot and caching it. I really wish she were around at that time. Daisy has become a slightly different girl since Mini's departure, and I hope she has adapted to life without Mini, her odd baby. Rose is the same Rose. Always happy, always naughty, yet always loving.

I am booking in tonight. Tomorrow will start early.

Goodbye my Mini

2010-06-19T22:45:00.003+08:00

Today will go down in my memory as the day where 1 month ago (20th May 2010), Mini moved from the fence, tick-stricken, rain-drenched, to my work place. Today, Mini move from my physical world, to doggy heaven, where she would find Smiling Apple looking up from a thick juicy bone. She would enjoy the same love she got from Daisy and Rose, and the least, myself.

If I say that I am not sad, I would be bluffing everyone, but not myself. In fact, my heart bleed once more from the same wound that saw Apple lose to Tetanus. But, what can I do? I do not want appear sad for the sake of the situation, yet I could not find a reason to feel otherwise. My only favour to Mini was to add 1 month to her life and make her feel love for the month.

Sorry Mini, I could not be there when you depart.

Line Fault

2010-06-15T12:34:00.002+08:00

Last few days were hectic. For the internet went intermittent, till yesterday, the fax machine follow suit. Yesterday night, an idea struck me that it could be solved by changing the line. And this morning, boss did just that and two problems were solved.

At least now, I only had my WSH Culture assignment to fret over before going for reservice.

Saved.. hopefully

2010-06-01T19:37:00.002+08:00

Here is something I am not particularly proud of.

On my way home today, I saw a group of Malay girls bringing, from the road to the roadside, an injured cat (let me call it Brindle for namesake). I was concerned, but not enough to go near to them and Brindle. My eyes locked in that direction as I carried on my way to the lift, with the painful cries ringing though my ears.

As I have my dinner, my heart grew heavier, for I became so worried about Brindle. My concern for Brindle became strong enough a driving force as I forgo my insignificant shower and went down to take a look after registering SPCA's telephone number on my phone. Brindle laid there beside an open pack of Whiskas food pouch, the food untouched. I called the SPCA who has already received the same report, albeit having gotten the wrong block number from the previous caller. I filled in more details for the SPCA officer and crossed my fingers.

At 7:35pm, I instinctively took a look downstairs from my flat, and there was the SPCA truck flashing the amber hazard lights. I heard the familiar meowing cries, evidence that Brindle is still alive. My mind finally returned to normal.