the "F" word.

Before you readers think any deeper south into the wrong direction, this F word i am thinking now is Fate.

As defined, this is some forces that pre-determine events in people's life. Convenient it is, freed our minds with bloggering questions about why things happens, when you can simply attribute all to this force.

Commonly used to describe relationships, it could just nice to say fate is the magical force that brought about the chain of events that lead the eventual couple to like each other. Friendship too, if not for the decision to join the group/event you wouldnt know this person that became your good friend for long. Or simply be present at the right time and right place to re-encounter into someone by chance. Nice but unexplained.

Or, perhaps even for job seekers. I was thinking that sometimes hunting for a job seem to resemble seeking for marriage: a combination of right 'qualification' and attributes will be most likely to match. However, which job you end up do depends on which listing you saw, which you apply, which got through, etc etc...or simply, whether does the boss likes you or not, based on first impression, no doubt your qualification and preparedness for interview.
..Possibly fate would result in myself ending up with some different job.

Or even buying an item; you may have planned for this shop or that specific thing, but the twist of events or the last minute temptation ends you up with something else. Perhaps explaining how people ending up buying something more expensive.

But other than that simple attribution to the unexplained cause, I guess, fate is on our side; in a way things happen for a result, be it good or bad. Just like my dad old van a decade ago; we actually went to the wrong 'stall' in the used car mart and ended up buying that van, but in return the number eventually gave my dad some 4d prize winnings 5 years back, and 7 years of trouble free miles. Or, just like me joining this school, or just like how we made some decisions.

That is why I believe, what might be odd or wrong would eventually prove to be right in the long run. "What-if" or "should-be" questions are plenty, but what matters most is what happens next.

In this tough year to come, this belief should keep it going through the odds...hopeful~

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It's all in the mind.

The good thing about socio psychology class is that you would always get to watch videos; but this one that we got on monday was so interesting, that i felt so disturbed that it was first disturbed by technical gitches, then later i only got the watch half of it..so much that i went on to youtube in attempt to hunt for the rest.

From BBC, "secret of the sexes", topic about difference about male and female...as from a survey of 500,000 around the world plus experiments.

Here's the reason about all of it:



Ah. I just like the way BBC do their shows.

decorating the decorations

The house's living room just had a fresh new cloth of yellow paint, and my dad wants some deco over them.

In the name of more 4D winnings, he got this:





So, in the spirit, my mum added this, a cute welcome. A pair, each on one side of entrance.





And this. In a lazy mood, we conveniently suspended it on rubber bands, so now you can pull it and see it bounce. Quite fun actually, can do it like long john style - if u like our home, please ring the 'bell'.





Now that wall look empty. So here you see, my novice attempt to decorate. Well....at least it was done in 3 mins...



and pulled down 15 mins later.

To have this....

Honestly, i have no idea what am I doing, until the last few mins to completion...
(i'm not creative hor)



At least... can i think of: "once wealth swims in, it swirls and stay.."


Thus, welcome to my home ^-^

Happy chinese new year~~

...for period ending 25th Jan 2009..

As somewhere in my mind lingers some memories of 2007, quickly 2008 passed by, and before you know it, tomorrow is the chinese new year of 2009.

Technically, i should not be thinking hard about what to write, cos i got to say 2008 was one of the most "packed" year ever existed. From personal to worldwide, it was filled to the brink of happenings. The year my life was changed and different, and the world look different.

But, i'm thinking. Let's first look at the world events. Yes, we are all aware that there is seriously a recession, but had we felt it yet? As a small consumer who is not yet earning a salary, he is still spending like normal and observed that streets are still packed with shoppers everywhere. Perhaps the companies are being ethical now, and retrenchments/shut downs may all take place after the chinese new year. Then when i start to search for job i will feel the pinch. Or perhaps we will be all fine thanks to US's reforms, or the new investments in Sg like the IR or etc.

Happenings in SG? Many. From mas to f1 then to flyer, never so exciting. But whatever that has to be covered is covered in newspaper, and even by mrbrown.com with the alternative perspective. Just more things to be told to friends who came back from abroad.

Personal? Without thinking, there will so much to relate to. Mostly captured in this blog; Sad times, happy times, surprising times all in a year. Several first times in life. Think marathon (or 42km walkaton). The unexpected twist of events gave the life's roller coaster ride, discomforting for some driving you almost to depression, and other great news and findings that gave great hope in the future..

Yes, and these are the hopes that drives on the new future. External factors are plenty and out of control, but internal are not. Use it as motivation and perhaps we can face the external odds.

..Hence, cue in 2009 and the year of ox, for me to believe that, having survived everything in the messy 2008 so far, i can bring more on. My hope in dreams coming true is still alive. 相信未來.

Gamble Rumble

People always say: Life is a gamble.

Based on this statement, i can conclude that, i'm indeed not a good gambler.

You see, people who wins are those who knows when is enough and pulls out of the game before he losses his winnings. Those who losses the pants out are those who kept on betting after some initial sweet winnings.

So applying this to my choice of subjects, my relative good performance from my basic principles of accounting is my big win. The one that turn all losses around and pull up my weak grades of year one.

Then come to year three i bet on and took up that advanced management accounting, and now it seems, my cards are not in my favour and the game is getting real tough.

Which means i might run a risk of doing poorly in it, or worse, having other subjects to suffer as well (thanks to the time/energy consuming nature of it) Bearing in mind that, this is not my core subject, i dont have to go through this demon training, and i might not need it in future at all.


So instead of stopping there and walking off as a winner, i bet on and risk losing what i had earned.


The game is still on now, whatever that comes next is uncertain. Since i had continued, i can only press on this game, pray for better cards, and hope for a chance to 'show hand'.

"Alrighhhttt, Let's push.."


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Another thing about gamble, or more about taking chances.

For the new year eve outing we had, the opportunity came and i executed something that i had concepted some time back: Getting a Mini Bus to ferry people all around.

Finance is ok, people nodded their heads, calls were made to check and book the proper mini bus for the big day... And thanks to the twist in events, the initial arrangement was gone.

So I end up taking the gamble... to call up this very shop we contacted before (see story of October 31, 2006) at the last minute, last resort, for mini bus, and 1 hour later, me and gh were in a 12 year old mitsu L300 van.

For the benefit of the rest of the world, the summary of the van is that it is old, sorta dirty, has a puny petrol engine, insect infested, 2 seats lesser than our headcount, and have a "heater" instead of aircon.

Thus you can imagine people's faces when i first turn up in that vehicle. All their initial flowery image of a "mini-bus" was thrown out of window all at once.

But at least, it was simply priceless discovering their expression when i first arrived. And, i believe, it was also a great experience for the clique to first try out travelling about in a mini bus. Quite cool actually, just like old time school expeditions. Just apologises to the last 2 person who sat on floor and the low head room.

And driving this really old school thing, was quite entertaining all over again.. When the last time you got to rev the engine to get it ignite (old sch caburettor), where all controls are simple and basic and direct....Well, entertaining at least for the first few miles... which then i was tired out.


Nevertheless, the result of the gamble was memoriable, in my opinion.

But not to worry, i will stick to a 7-seater MPV from now on.

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wonder waves

After 9,562 shots, my camera is dead. Which means a trade-in and replacement is on its way; the new camera uses battery pack, which means my AA-size rechargables are now made redundant. Which means the 6 of them will be collecting dust somewhere in the room now.

So as i doing readings last night, i got bored and started to look around in room to see if there's any new use for the batteries. And after clearing a layer of 5 cm thick dust, i came across my old aiwa Discman; and to my surprise it is still alive. I'm not making this up, but it's 9 years old and not been switched on even once for the past >5 years. What an amazing sight, in the era when i thought all small electronics dont survive pass 3 years...

Some time later, wanting to save myself from the same old Cd, i switch over to 933 FM, and hey, another nice suprise. It's since such a long time that i've listened to late night air-time (which is continuous stream of songs without DJs) and 85% of the songs are my favourites, with 75% in my mp3 playlist. Some are new ones, some are from recent years, and some are those classics from the early 90s. What a great coincidence, and just nice to save me through the dried up readings, and enjoy the night.

Thanks to whoever that arranged last night song list or set the system etc, never thought i would felt refreshed from listening to a simple FM radio..

pay cheque

In a very coincident manner, i had just ran into two really long-time-no see secondary school (AV-photography club) mates, on way to home minutes ago.

Great delight to find them still in the same old nice pattern, despite the both commenting how others had disappeared and etc (regrettedly, me was also not in touch)

There's more. One of the guy had just bought a dSLR, a Canon 450D to be precise. It does cost a bomb, but was his desire for long. The photographic passion is still there with the rest, for that they havent lost touch with these toys and heavily invested in it.

From the very guys whom I got this life-skill and passion from, their passion reminded me that dreams shouldnt be forgotten despite odds.. Hence, with my first few pay cheques, i'm gonna get a dSLR.

What's yours? In this joyous occassion, it's time for a new poll, on the right please.

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lets talk about huge numbers.

to be exact, 42195 metres (which appears more, rather than in kilometres)


That is how, myself and group, made a milestone in life, joining the famous standarded chartered run full marathon, on sunday... and more importantly, finished the entire distance, completed with the medal. We did it.


THE ROUTE

Starting at esplanade, it stretches down the shenton way, u-turning back to marina square, nicoll highway, entire east coast park, and back to town, before ending at padang again.



BEFORE THE START

To reach before flag off at 5.15am, with no buses or train at that time, it is to bunk in at someone else's home. Stayed at GH's, crapping abit here and there, then slept for 3 hours, waking up at usual bedtime, and loading up a cereal rich breakfast.. And out at the night, bit of exploration, board a dont-know-where-is-our-destination taxi, and reached. Unique.



THE FUN BIT

Fast forward to the running itself, and i really love this bit. Under the cooling night/morning breeze, amids the sleeping financial buildings in Shenton, you are already sweating and running with the beat. You dont get such chances often, running in the middle of road which been sealed up, together with thousand others. And indeed, these buildings look best and magificant, when you are in the middle of the road and looking up at them.

Nicoll highway also, where it was still 5 or 6km. Still surrounded by hundreds, some slowed down and some sped on. Now it became a massive road experience, with humans overtaking and changing lane all over. Just like driving, some change lane without checking blindspot, causing sudden stops and etc..Out of no where, you got some guy cutting infront of you or rubbing against you on side... The response to these was so like driving; to head over when changing directions, to give way to faster runners behind, not to hold up the faster path after over taking... what a advance theory revision..

And as commonly heard, just before you enter the east coast park, the professional kenya runners will be exiting it. That guy is amazing quick, and after (his) 30km, doesnt look shaken or whatever at all. And that's only 1hr 36mins, as shown on the pacer car. Feel the crowd (or rather, us running in opposite direction) cheering for him as he sped past. What a spirit.



THE KEEP WALKING

Soon after at around 15 kays, catch up with 2 others, had max out our running energy, so the walk begins. Relaxing it seems at first, especially at the food station, 'cos you will be right-hand-banana, left-hand-100plus, walking down as if it is sunday orchard road. Brisk walking or strolling, commenting about other runners, talking about some topics, answering and making phone calls to others, or simply laming about some ramdom stuff.. That makes up the entire east coast park.


THE TORTURING BIT

Then I realise, the point about marathon is not the running bit, but is rather, how you survive after you stopped running and starts to walk. "How hard can it be, to walk?" , very hard, after you ran, and when you are talking about 6 hours of it.

Eventually tiriness creeps in, muscles starts to complain. You heard the bells and whistles in your body calling out loud, you start to lose contact with legs (they are on auto-pilot, walking without control) and the worse is the journey gets long and dry. East coast park is full of distractions and jokes, but beyond it, it wasnt.

Especially at the most dreadful portion, that was at Kallang stadium and Nicoll highway (again). Nevermind is it long and straight, but it was made up of u-turns...So it really look plain silly when you went back to the same place where you had turned in much earlier.

Sun is doing her work at this point of time, and with the several other strangers dragging alone around, it feels like some lost-in-desert movie. Without the oasis.



THE MOTIVATORS

At 12 km, it was banana. Scared that, as i was told, it runs out of stock for the slower runners, it was such a delighted moment when we can lay our hands on one.

At 32 km, it was banana again. This time round, we are really really hungry, and wornt from the above boring walk. And much slower, so higher risk of stock out. Therefore, the beyound-any-words-that-can-describe type of happiness overwhelmed me when i saw those yellow things are still available from far, and we hurried over to grab two each this time. The girl at counter says "Come come take more, it's free!". I wanted to tell her, "No, it's Priceless."

At 39 km, i landed foot on the portion of the F1 circuit, feeling the difference in the world class tarmac (although raymond couldnt feel anymore things now). Then, at the F1 Pitstop, which was strangely littered with plastic cups, it holds a large collections of all classic Ferraris of all times...thanks to the dealer using the F1 compound to hold it's anniversary showcase. Looking at the cars (Daytona to Enzo) which i had never seen one in real life before, i forgot about all pain and blisters etc, as i stroll alongside. But guess it made me slower, 'coz i was handphone-camera shooting all way. oops.



AND ACROSS THE FINISH LINE

After such extended hours of walking, the real cheer came as you feels the ending point drawing near...as if there was a energy sucking you towards it. When the signs are counting down by metres, and the big sign appears right ahead, the world freezes and the lost legs suddenly had a new found energy, to Run towards it, heart beating fast with the excitment.

And across the finish line, with the final beep from the champion chips,

...at 8hrs 15min 53sec. You can deduce a minute off the time, coz i was still taking photos at the finish sign as i ran.







Once in a life time experience, accomplished. Really delighted.


But next year? 21km will do. Running without the walk is just sweet. ^-^

(more photos HERE)

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mid-life facelift

As you would have obviously noticed it by now, this blog, with age of 3 years and 5 months (since June 2005) have received her well deserved re-skin...before cobwebs really starts to grow all over.

And with the obiviously-new-to-me-easier-to-edit-format, I added more stuff all over, including that small little useless poll on the right. Let's see what interesting ideas i can have for it in future...

Meanwhile, it's a new lease of life for this blog. As long as my mind is functioning and my fingers are still intact, this blog will carry on, for many more 3 years to come.

For now, sincerely hope you would like this new simple white skin!

Save the daylight.

Recently, in order to beat the morning traffic madness, I picked up a new habit: To reach school earlier than normal, and then munch into my breakfast slowly before class, instead of the other way round. So food would be at some benches, next to the ray of freshly awaken sunshine.

Sunshine; so consistent in this country. Flip thru the weather report on papers, any year, any month, and it would always be plus-minus 7.15am everyday. Without fail. Weather also, as Ch 5’s “The Noose” puts it across, will forever be either Rain, or No Rain.

As quoted from my fortunate sister, who just came back from her week-long holiday in Fukuoka, Japan, the weather in Japan is a world apart. Beginning of week is Air-con like, then suddenly at mid-week it turns into Freezer compartment. And being winter, the night was longer; hence sun sets early at 4 or 5pm, reducing the time they could have for sight-seeing.

This reminds me the times when I was at Hong Kong for tour. Summer back then, and the first morning I jumped off bed when sun shone in, only to find that it was still only 6am. So if that’s how our bio-clock works, then aren’t during winter we are all going to oversleep like no one else’s business?

Not forgetting in some countries, you got that daylight saving thing. So more people will be late for work/class/appointment again, possibly quoting the reason that they forgot daylight saving and got the time wrong by one hour.

And perhaps, it wouldn’t be too bad to be late for an hour there. Considering the fact that in some of such countries, it’s alright to miss and wait for the train that have frequency of one hour each, while it is seriously not alright here to miss the train with 6 minutes frequency.

Ah. How I wish I’m born in those countries.

Random Track

1) Bored? Try Google your name.

That’s what me and guan hui tried at school yesterday. And surprise, we found more about him:

- He owns a mechanical & electric equipment company
www.guanhui.com.cn

- He is involved in a court case.

- And, he is a German dog…
www.guan-hui.de



2) Boring job? Bus Driver

Have you ever wondered, the most boring job could be a Public Bus Driver?

Everyday simply report for work, drive, park, & sign off for work.

& despite having to see hundreds of faces, they rarely need to talk at all. Other than when someone ask for how the fare charge (which is rare, thanks to Ez-link card)

Oh yes, also not forgetting "Move back please!" during peak hours.

And that's all. Rest of the journey in utter silence.


No wonder when they see other colleagues driving pass from the opposite direction, they waved so happily.



3) Bus is an adventure

…because, every trip is a surprise.

On a same day, I can get a ride that is:

So hot that you can toast a bread,
Or Cold that you can freeze a fish.

Or having the journey in silence,
Having journey with TV-mobile,
Or with teens singing loudly with mp3 songs blasted from their “Nokia N82, bought at discounted price”.



4) The use of mp3 players.

I finally realise the proper use of mp3 players... and even more, why are they made so slim and small.

Reason: You need one during running/jogging...

As discovered as we run long distance nowadays. When it gets long and dry, it's the songs that keep you going and forget the miles clocked...or the sun…or the aches.

Ah. Now I see.



5) Running for 15km

In which at the same run, last Sunday.

Finally clocked that magical 15 km, and surprisingly, it wasn’t that dramatic as when i crossed 9 km....

Either is that my body had attuned to running, or was I too tired to think anymore, or even having any expression?


More to come, for sure. Yeah.



6) Facebook 86!

Talking about magical numbers, this is what I got when logged into facebook that day.
(on the bottom right hand corner of screen)

The most number of notifications at one single go -- 86. Wow.

Nice to find, as it was due to the large amount of tagging on the birthday series of photos... Credits to that ultra funny strangers group photo. A classic, made.



7) Environmental suggestions: To chop trees

Heard from my sis, there was this dialog session between the MP and residence of a certain GRC, with regards to environmental protection.

And someone gave a classic suggestion:
In order to save electricity, we should cut down on Air-con usage by allowing more wind flow. Hence, trees should be chopped off as they are blocking the wind.


8) KFC

Finally, on the note of suggestions, some one finally heard some voices from Punggol. (or rather, consumers’ demand)

The town that doesn’t have a fast food restaurant for 6 years is now officially declared freed of this title.

KFC had just opened in Punggol Plaza. Replacing Cash-Converter.


Actually, I thought Mcd would be better?


(^-^")

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Exceeding Expectations.

SAT 25th oct

To make the beautiful story short, what expected to be a makan session @ chalet became a mafia style blind-fold walk and the cake smash session.

Which, well, ended off un-expectedly quick but yet in "style". Well, how many people in this world, will trip over a stupid drain before he manage to lay his cake on others, and falling straight next to the "happy birthday" deco, in a photo perfect pose??

Perfectly memoriable.


But to a great effect, this entire chunk did woken out something asleep inside me for long. It recalled what i felt missing, whenever i flip thru back the old JC days photos...

It's the sense of fun. The crazy old Jx was asleep. Remember the jc times, endless water bombs, never ending running and chasing, frequently mud spattered Ts? The times whereby you went all out to do whatever you deem right, regardless of what others thought....Even up to the recent camps in uni the Jx who went all out just to win the game challenge. For a long period, it was all asleep. Crazy had been replaced with sensibility, who only look at gathering and gathering.

....No wonder 'bear' becomes 'uncle'.


No, it's not time to settle down and fall asleep. There's more in life.




So now, who's next?


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SUN 26th Oct


Steamboat. Good old pals, but in an all different settings as last year. Un-expectedly, this year out of the 7 pax, we got 3 couples, and u got it, the last Odd number is me. haha.

But, true to the chinese idiom "Send a charcoal during snowing", the flew-from-UK card from derrick surprisingly came on the right time. And true to derrick's style, despite stuff'd with words, you know that every words represents his thoughts from afar.

It's always the simplest things that means lots. At the right time.


Alrite, so i shall be optimistic, if there ever a right one and a steamboat again next year, may there be 4 couples persons this time. Or even 5 pairs ?



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SAT-TUES 28th oct


Still on the same occassion. Sometimes you really dont have to take in other's opinions seriously.

Like the Mitsubishi Lancer EX i rented for the occassion. Online discussions had gun it down as Disappointing, Noisy, Underpowered, Thirsty, etc... The gloomy picture that had painted on me are gone the minute i set my eyes on the car, and forgotten the minute i Finally got my hands on to drive it.

Just look at it. The exact way i want a car to look like. Having a road presence despite not imitating. A clean proud Japanese design, not aiming to be like some conti or what. And their own take of Alfa-style brake lights which finish off the package just nice.

Underpowered? The 1.5l may be puny in this application, but by not driving it too hard it will still reward you. No one asks you to stomp the pedal to metal at every green light isnt it?

And spacious all around. The barrel style dashboard works and looks neat with integrated stereo, the red dials shouts 'sporty', and i do prefer the brigher beige interior trims (minus the fake wood) sadly they dont bring this colour in anymore. And oh, i love that headrest with the soft cushion in centre.

PLus the key-less entry...Never need to take the key out of pocket, just brush your fingers on door handle and it unlocks by itself. Great to use, especially when your hands are full; but that prompt my first ever time to flip thru the car manual to learn how to use a function of a car. grr.


So that why they say, buying a car doesnt need to be too rational at times. It's still a matter of heart; what ever you like will be the best choice.

Like person-relationships, all it's takes is just an affirmation from a single person and that's enough.


Isnt they always say, beauty lies in eyes of beholder?




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SAT 1st Nov


Exceeding all factors and records, i finally finally clocked my (ashamely) ever longest running distance.... 9 kays. Achieved at East Coast Park with the bestie-running kaki.

But that involves running-jogging-brisk walking-walking-jogging-limping-jogging-running... etc etc.. you get the picture. Hey, but that's still 9 km ya?


But i guess, so far it seems like East coast is one of the more suitable places for long distance? It's safer as compared to street-pavements, it's the biggest park around, and sufficient 'ever-changing' landscapes to distract you..

Starting from bedok jetty u got the big 360 ski to glance, then the seafood restaurant to think about, then the loud music from ECP chalets to listen, then Waraku & Mcd to signal turning point is approaching, then u-turn and all repeats itselves.

But really, by the time i approaches the stretch of Waruka/burger king, my entire body is already so on roll that anything else after it passes in flash. That's the magic of long distance i guess, makes you run til you really felt what is mind over body...without your choice.

At the end, i could finally use the word "exhausted" with confidence. 'cos i'm really exhausted.


Right, so here's my 9km. Not to be too happy yet, 'cos there are still >4 times more to be covered eventually in Dec's Run.

Grrr.

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self.

Psychology lesson today, and it took a small quiz to reveal this: So i'm of a higher of level of interdependence, than all others around.

For the benefit of all, interdependence, in social terms, refer to one taking cues of the group feelings and behaviour, before deciding on own response. That is a contrast from independence, in which own feelings take priority above looking at the group feelings.

In short, others over self. With a significantly higher figure from the "balanced" others, as shown from results yielded from the quiz.


Based on this, the curious me prompted a discussion with Jamie, which enlighted and concluded several issues that have been, sort of, bothering me.


So now it makes sense. Myself has lost the unique-ness of 'self', in name of harmony. Giving way, doesnt seems to be the way.

& possibly, a reason why people like me are always being missed out on, because there are nothing special attractive about it. Bland, in short.

This illustrates perfectly: a FIAT, although not that reliable as rivals, but still are desirable because it looks like nothing else; a BMW, although pricey, but still sells like hot cakes 'cos it has brilliant engineering and makes great noise. On other hand, a Toyota is very reliable, solid value, does nothing wrong, but is not desirable, simply because it doesnt stand out. It's bland.

Me, perhaps, is like the one that had lost the unique-selling point. So how can you get noticed in the first place when there's nothing attractive?



The ultimate target is, to make the Real yourSelf stands out, while accepting other 'selves. Harmony is not by changing yourself to themselves/other-self..


Great, now I know why. But to achieve, is still a long way to go.


Still learning. True to the title.

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kaizen

Previously learnt from HRM about KaiZen, Japanese for continuous improvement. Used as a model in organisations, for the pursuit of continuous improvements in all aspect, via staff suggestion or other schemes, so as to increase efficiency and ulimately cost saving...

All of these came to my mind, as i came across this packaging while at supermart with family. This is the pack of Snack Bar we had bought:



Which comes with a surprising long and huge Bar Code.

KaiZen? Staff suggestion that Bar Code should be made easy for scanning? Interesting.

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

Finally, that DVD recorder is back at home.

No more missing of favourite tellie shows and/or rushing back to catch them. Stuff 'em all in, and declare tomorrow (Sat) afternoon as television day.... to watch one week worth of shows.

Thankful of such invention....as long as it dont break down again ;(

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


One Choc cake, 6 candles (of various length), some bench in school, and several loud friends, and you got a Birthday Cake cutting celebration for Kelvin birthday, on Thursday.

Simple, yet unforgettable. & so damn exciting when he is still miles away and the candle are burning out fast (cos the kiasu us lighted way too early) And he still ran into some friends along the way also, according to our informant.

Thankfully he arrives back on time, to blow 'em out before you got choc-wax.

Surprises, surprises. 就是不一样.


cheers..~

PHOTO Journal of the bday cake, HERE.

same place, different person

To pass IPPT. How hard can it be for others, always very hard for me.

Nevertheless, today IPPT had bought me back to the old Academy at Thomson road. It had been >2years since i had last set my foot there, and god, it's all memories the minutes you step in.

Yes, the place is so much different now; After they had shifted the training of new NS boys to the new Academy, they renovated and upgraded some parts, specially the new area delicated for IPPT. Cleaner, better equiped, more first aid and welfare, and even a delicated running track for 2.4km with electronic time logging..

And more importantly, the way you walk in also. No more previous trainee style of marching-with-your-boots; people dragged their feets in in slippers/flip-flops with no issues at all.. No more panic-looking NS boys guarding the gate, all season'd old salary-paid guards now.

But still, how would you ever forget the times you march/punished/ran on that same old tarmac, the stretch of pavement where you almost got into trouble by fighting, that old guard house where you draw the oily rifle, and that grass field patch which you had been psycho'd not to ever cut-across-the-grass-or-you-kana-palms-down..


IPPT finishes, and I save the 71cents by walking to Toa Payoh, using the same exact route that i used to take on every book-out days.

On this route across HDB flats, unlike the academy, nothing had changed. Every sights are still the same as before, the same path under PIE, the same void deck, playground, coffee shops, every single details remains. Rather, coupled with the old memories that was engaged just freshly in mind, it had a constrast on my current state of mind..

You see, back then as i/we walked, in mind would be always the desire for time to speed up; NS to end faster, we are unexcited by the mundane routines and is so ever ready to face new challenges... Now? Time. please slow down. School-life has only lifespan of few months left; After it are Really challenges already. You cant stop it, the journey, just like this route to Toa payoh, has to, and will, end soon.

Same place revisited, different mind.


..Let's take it as it comes.

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IF you have time to kill, consider visiting this:

Facebook album, on my small photo journal of the SG motorshow '08 i visited last sat 28sept.. photos of what we did other than car browsing. ^-^


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Discovery.

ONE.


Monday. We wanted to run after School, and surprising the nearby running tracks options are out or not available. So by chance, we set foot on Bukit Gombak Stadium.

& what a surprise. Nicely located at the foot of the bukit batok natural hill and park, it was an escape from the concrete world the minute you step in thru the gate. Although only opening from 630pm on weekdays for evening (which means we, apon our 530pm arrival, have to come back again later) what we got in the end was a very cooling sun-set run.

Which I havent felt so good before during running, since i start this 'healther' activity recently. Perhaps it was already 7pm, but the air was so chilling; especially at that portion which was parallel to the Woods, where by every inhale rejuvenates. Breezes kept on flowing down from the hill, just like a natural air-conditional blowing on to you as you run by the foot of hill. So crisp, so fresh. That before i knew, i completed the run without any dragging of feet or what.


Stadiums always gave me a cold and harsh feelings. Perhaps because many are old concrete block, or perhaps it was always at Stadiums where i was proven to be the Weakest of the lot, or it was where i always fails.

But here is different. The freshness of air pumps all negative thoughts out of mind, the hilly scenery distracts me from the bad thoughts, and made me forget what is failing. ...Just run and enjoy.


When opportunity arises, i will pay a visit back there again.



Pardon this grainy picture, taken with Phone after sun had set.


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TWO.


If you had always flip thru European motor publications, you would have heard before one of the best things in the world (for car-enthu) is to drive some Ferrari or Lambo thru those long mountain-pass Tunnels, wind down the window, rev the engine and enjoy the Italian engine noise amplified via the wall of the tunnel.

That was rarely encountered by me in this Sunny Island before, not until the KPE was opened on Saturday, featured a 12km long Tunnel. Which i tried on Sunday.


What was going to be a boring drive (due to the strict speed limit) was shaken off, when i was woken up by that special noise of the V8 engine & that bright headlights coming from behind. Definatly something special, and i grabbed my camera, which gave you that pic you see below.


Indeed it was a Ferrari F430. In normal conditions it sounds good, and all of that are further enchanced when it echos in the Tunnel. The amplified sound inspirits and captivates your senses, triggering the nerves as it roars past. It shouts when it approaches, and that voice still lingers around even when it had travelled past to far ahead at the front of the pack... Dominates the entire tunnel to be it's own.


And now i understand the wonders of what the journos were describing always, after this fortunate encounter.


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Derrick & T3: The send off story.

Setting: Airport Terminal 3, Popeyes. 17th Sept '08.

As i was munching onto the famous biscuits, & pondering over how "Popeyes" is pronounced, Dom was saying that she have been here numerious times this year, sending friends off. But this time round it was really different, 'coz as you see, derrick's flight is 11.59pm, and now is 9.35 and yet there's no sight/news of him yet.


10.19PM: Idling at Departure lobby, and he calls in. Horror, he's still at home. Finishing with packing and all the admin stuff, and is rushing to leave house now.

Shock but not that surprising...this poor guy been running up and down for weeks in preparation of this Big Trip and Exchange programme, stress'd up and really busy he is...but well, now he's going to be really late. Thankful he lives at Marine Parade.


Almost 40 minutes later at 10.57pm, he arrives. with friends awaits with trolley by the Cab. With efficiently the luggages are dug out of the cab, swiftly we move onto the now queue-less Row 3 for check in procedures.

From then on it was a sense of mixed feelings. It was sort of relieve to see him arrive almost on time, but that was on a price that he havent eaten lunch/dinner, his poor parents worried and panic, and him sort of overwhelmed with all the stuff that needs to be done. So much that you see (at the photo album) most of the photos are taken from behind, not his face, neither a group photo or what.


So after all the trying-to-squeeze-last-min-items-into-the-bag, sorting and labelling, pad-locking of zip, cards issue, tying of jackets over his neck, paparazzi style photo snapping, a brief good-bye & he's in. ...and still a 20 row length of the airport hall to run to his gate at the left-most, 'A-1'. Time, 11.30pm exact.


Only as he disappears via the glass door and us saying good bye to his parents, then that bit of emo comes in. I wonder how he would be over there? Would his 5 other uni peers in this same program know his 'pattern'? Hopeful, after that 10 over hours of sleep in the cozy SQ flight overnight, he will be recharged, alert and ready to see the First world that awaits him... Better enjoy this exchange trip, else, i thought, all the effort he puts in will be wasted..


With that, we left, and out to ECP carls jr to chill... and froze our brains with that three mind killing quiz jinie gave us.. (which explains all the serious faces you see in the photo album, at the end)

**
The photo journal of what happened that night: CLICK to facebook album ^-^
**

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one of many.

Recently the magazine-reading me had went back to novel. "The time traveller's wife", by Nifffenegger, to be exact. It was a book i pick up to flip by chance, and end up on my desk at home by accident. Nevertheless once i start i didnt stop reading, amazed by the depth of thought and the abundant of details.

Now just only halfway (still) into the book, here just a portion i would like to share; it was a dialog between Henry, the time traveller, to his wife, with regards the past:

"It's a reminder that the moment i belonged to is dead, and not just dead, but forgotten. (...) That's why I get excited when i see little kids pretending to be punk, because i dont want all to just disappear. (...) Even when I get to do something cool (to travel back in time to the past), like say go to see a concert I missed the first time round, maybe a band that's broken up or somebody that died, it's sad watching them as I know what's going to happen."


This was one of the part that strike me, cos it did resemble what i felt at times. Especially when you had a dream a night, dreaming of the stuff you used to do, or the wonderful gatherings you used to had, and woke up feeling sad cos you know in real time all no longer exist anymore. Or looking at some other younger ones doing stuff that you used to do, and it was all these type of reminders that made you feel glad for the moment.

But eventually, what had passed by means that it is in the past, and soon forgotten. Regardless of how successful or how much Magic you had done, when you left the school/organisation all that is left is just perhaps a name or even nothing.


And well, perhaps that why it's useless to keep looking back at the past. Use the magic you had performed before to push for even more in future..


...As for the book, this small little segment definatly does not conclude about the story, 'cos there are far more themes and other inspirations inside. Just that i have to finish reading it first. 289 pages more to go.


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After 5 years of absent, I'm back on P. Ubin again, on Bicycle. That was last Sunday, the 7th Sept. And greeted by a huge rain that soaked us all, within 10 mins of the start of the cycling.

Then as we are dried by Mother nature, we abandoned the tarmac road for the beaten path, where you get to slide on gravel, splash on pool of water and navigate the bike up the puddle of wet mud.

Which was great fun, in my opinion. A big contrast from the beautifully tarmac'd and long and straight path of East Coast Park, cycling at Ubin is such an Adventure. Endless curves and uphill downhills, different sort of terrains, all the crest and teeth-jarring rocks, and never ending routes to explore to get to the different beaches and sights.

And after you conquered each upslopes, you will be rewarded with that fast sweeping down-hill ride. Effortless and yet 'shiok'. & it puts all your apex cornering and braking knowledge to practical use, on 2 wheels.

No wonder, when the sun sets, the weather-wornt and mud-spattered me still feels as enthuastic as before.
...It was only the thought of waking up early next day for work that kills the spirit.


*See the place we covered. Thanks to Sebas Ray Lala lihui & julian for making it possible:
Click to see the gallery of selected photos


** Note:
Seen on papers fews day later (this week) about an accident that took place at ubin on the same day as our visit; Not forgetting also the small injuries our friend suffered as she slipped off the bike at mid-way. Cycling at the terrain of ubin can be risky too..Perhaps we have to be reminded to slow down when approaching corners at all times, and be familiar with the proper braking of the bike.


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Ever since entering the household in Dec 07, my dear little DVD recorder seems to suffer from some major illness and shown to us how her health was weaken over the months, to eventually a death after my attempted surgery on her failed.

That is how she is now spending nights at the Agent's serving centre, and me and my sister to miss 2 weeks of Tellie Sitcoms and Variety shows.

As only my dad will be free to send it down, and certainly he is not at best explaining the fault, here's the description i wrote to whoever-that-is-going-to-revive-this-piece-of-dead-machine.




Which after writing, i really seems as if i'm doing a slow and painful description of her route to failure. ;p


..............