Live for life.

Quoted and summarised from an article i read somewhere:

We always give nicknames to other peers during our childhood days don't we? And many labels are always based on the characteristics we view of others, like 4-eyed chicken or fat boy or blur sotong. As much as they disagree, time and time again it became an acceptance, something they grew up accepting it as what they are.

And that's how it became; We view ourselves as not what we think we are, and not what people hope we are; Rather, we are, other's perception of us, in our view.


....and it's different from what people really think we are. Back to that children's example, labels/nicknames could be given on the instance. Not something from the heart; yet to the person in limelight it possibly had went into his heart. That's how such "small" things stick with that person for a long time.

Pretty negative? At times i do agree. More sad is how some people had carried the label on and gave up on his/her life. That shouldnt be the way; we only live for the people that cares for us right?

Easier said to be done, that's why at times i do really admire those who can persist to think who they are in their own idea, unaffected by everyone's view around them.

...Especially when all individuals are part of a society, learning and getting "ideas of living" from all members of the group. That's how we know how a man should behave, vice versa for girl, for instance.


So, how did they do that?


.

The power issue

The power of our body.

Frankly, i'm really amazed If u recalled, previously i fell sick just one day before my Final Econs Exams, and recovered within a day to be fit for the paper next day.

Now, 2nd week into school, here i go again. Woke up on Tues nite with fever. Forced myself to sleep, drank lots and lots of water in the morning, and went to school. Thank heaven for Kent's car ride.

And suffered the longest 3 hours of lecture in school. Body aching, and kept fighting to keep awake.

Once back home, went into sleeping mode again. And that night i slept for 11 hours.

Next day woke up, cleared the throat, and i'm totally ok. Wow.

Just sleeping and water, without a single pill, and i'm cured. Isnt the power of our body self healing amazing?


Power of mobility.

The fortunate kent got his desirable driving licence recently, with good scores and first attempt. 
Once again it restated to me...How wonderful is the power of mobility.

Yes, it's one of the easiest way to experience freedom and convenience....
Go anywhere where buses or foot cant take you to!
Explore anywhere that you had never seen or been before!
Reach places in record times you never attain by public transport!
Be dry even in the heaviest thunderstorm!

Sadly, things arent that innocent.
Step out on the wrong time of the day and you are struck all way in Traffic jams. What freedom are all reduced to mere confinement.  
Start paying for petrol and cashcard and burn a pocket hole as big as Java island volcano. 
Trying finding for parking lots in town, either you tear coupons as if there's no tomorrow, or pay as much as dinner+lunch, or end up walking further than marathon.

How i wish i live in Australia. Where car is neccessary, not a luxury.

But looking back at Kent, for the moment all these thoughts are flung far away. Freedom is how you define it; piloting the car at which ever lane you want it to move on can still be freedom. At least traffic jams and ERP can be avoided with correct planning of route, 
and SIM have a basement carpark...which is free.


Power of advertising.

Anyone still remembers that Prudential Adv shown more than 13years ago? Thanks to the adv song "my life story" by Dick Lee, some still remembers it....well, at least my friends, as we chatted on this topic that day over dinner.

Songs accompanying adv are really one of the most classic example of marketing, and it really works. Either people get interested in the ad because their idol is singing for it, or simply that customised tune is so catchy. Throw in a jazz song and some Ang Moh in the ad and your brand feels continental. With James Browns's "I feel Good", I thought Benq comes from the states...When it's actually Taiwanese.

And whenever I drove pass this road and saw this signboard, that song came to me again. Again and again it spins in my mind for the rest of the day. grr.


"....If you need somebody....Mr invertor, mr invertor, mr invertor...."



It's such relevances in our life that make Marketing such an interest subject to study. I guess i'll like it for the rest of the term....Only if uol have BSC Marketing.

Best.

We always save the best til the end, dont we?


Just like we always save that tasty drum stick of the nasi lemak as the last portion to be eaten with that last patch of chilli.

Just like mothers, who save the best part of the meat for the child to be eaten in the end.

Just like drama series, which the script writer save the best scene/action to the finale climax with a bang.

Just like we always save the kiss til the end of the date.


And just like me, who saved the best lunch (in my view) til the end. The lunch time of my last day at work.


This is it. The last day of my 3month assignment. From filled library to packed to empty. Alongside I tasted different stalls at different hawkers/ food court, each with different results. Some tasty, some not. Some really expensive, some value for money.

So where did I decided to go on the last day? Amoy Street Hawker. That Fried Rice stall on first level.

Yes, the fried rice with Zi2 Cha4 quality. Despite ordering the smallest portion, fillings and rice are abundant. Big yes to value for money. Further more, not overly salty, nor oily, yet is still filled with taste. In which is evenly spread out. You do know, in some fried rice you get lumps of unfried white rice here and there, or even just taste salty. Not this.
Best of all, the uncle is certainly not unfriendly. Yummy.





.......And it's not opened on that day.


Damn.


.

the long story about my phone.

Throughout my train ride home, i stared all over my phone. Rewind an hour earlier, i was in the  office flipping Today, and saw the adv: "High Trade in!....Nokia 6260 -- $130" ....130? That's 40% of what I paid for it 2+ years back....while considering others lost 40% on the first month of purchase.... Is my phone so wonderful?

That really makes me wonder about this trade of handphones. Dont you wonder at times how they determine all these trade-in prices? Dont dis-regard it; you never know when it can save you from tight times or simply help u get rid of your phone which u regretted buying...Unless you are the type who keeps all your previous phones in house and circulate among your family (yes DT, you know who you are)

So does brand really sells? Is Nokia so strong (bcoz everyone takes it) that it always the higher price fetcher? And uncommon stuff like benq/siemens have pit bottom prices?

Does features really play such a big part? Just like sun-roof & metallic paint adds resell value to a car, Bluetooth, FM, 3G are nirvana to phone trade in prices? For a phone made >2 years back, 6260 have every technology available then. And how do you judge new stuff like GPS? How will you know if it's still desirable in the future?

Model number? Higher in the nokia range means better price? Buy a 3 or a 5 series and it seems more likely depreciation is down the pit...

....but of coz with exceptions... Anyone still remember the ancient 3310? Heard back then it fetch more than anything, coz it sparks off new demand elsewhere like Philippines... Probably wat changed hands are all exported...

And, the more phones in range, the faster the prices falls? Nokia have so much models to choose from, and prices of new phone change as fast as stocks. Yet SonyEricsson never seems to budge so much, as it has a small range of models?

Indeed, i'm no expert in this trade... But it seems to serve a reminder.. .dont jump straight into the first pretty newly launched phone you see... Do some research online if possible, and wait for the price to fall and stabilise... You wouldnt want to sell and make a big lost, or be stuck with it for the next 21 months if u hate it, dont you?

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

And what a typical case of "read the fine print". The next day I realised that to qualify for $130, it must have 9months more of warranty to go. huh?

Anything else it's minus 30 bucks off. Alright, sounds decent still, but that's before they deduct for your scatches, paint peel, etc etc etc.

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

Then I saw the ad by Starhub for the COMEX trade show: "PDAs for $88!"

Too good to be true? I thought so too. This time round I flip up and down and scan through all fine prints. It's real: It only require a 2 year normal mobile plan contract renew, but while stocks last.

Quick check online; With exception of a few, the PDAs offered are aged models...But hey, there are decents ones inside too. Like the O2 stealth. At least it's black, Slider, launched in yr06, have WIFI and Windows mobile 5. Sweet.

So come Sat and we joined the rest of Singapore (I do mean, rest of entire SG) and flocked down to suntec. What a crowd! And what a Queue at Starhub! And the phone is out of stock! Expected.

Hence we shopped around elsewhere for other stuff, & we came back again with the intention to buy the remaining older $88 pda....


...And miraculously it re-stocks again, after 4 hours!

Staff hands me the order sheet, and here we starts, the long queue that eventually last for 2,3 hours. Check in 1908, check out 2145.

At least i got a new PDA. $88. Mr Red selling online? $698. Cheers.

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

Not the end of story. At night, it's spoilt. SIM card inside, phone refuses to wake up from sleep mode. SIM outside, phone restarts whenever it tries to sleep. Grr.

Next day, to Starhub customer service centre. First time i utilise the policy of handset exchange within 8 days of purchase. And was told there's no stock, will call me again when stock comes in. So now i have a PDA that only surfs net. Hmmm....

Agitated me? Not really. Even if it takes a month to repair, it's still ok... Not forgetting the price i paid for it, there's no free lunch in the world.

One week later. I'm still waiting.

What happens next? watch this space.

Who else's phone purchase saga is so long?
.

3months. 1 exam. 1 result.

I was actually typing another post for my old-phone-new-phone-purchase saga, but it gotten abit long & detailed so i guess i spend time editing it next time.

Now something to announce... after 3 months, my exams results are out today.

Guess every other SIM UOL students had been pacing up and down for it for the past 3months, and that everyone flocked in to check the portal whenever it was the supposed time it was posted there. After much delays, it was finally up today.

IF u are one of them, i wish u good luck, hope u had really did well.

As for me.... i passed everything.....but without flying colours. In fact, pretty not-so-flying colours.

Especially when you kept feeling that you could have done better.



Oh well, what the heck, at least I passed everything!

Including:
that crazily mad Econs,
that heart-killing twisted IBM,
that handcappied (no sci calculator suddenly) Statistics,
and that "disappearing-question" Sociology!


Still, it's an alarm. Buck up for the next 2 years! Focus work hard! Thankfully foundation units doesnt weight as much as Further units, so there's still chance for me....and those brothers/sisters like me. Jia you!


.

A stone's throw away

We all know what rush hour means. The time when everyone travels to CBD to work, pathway leading out of the train station is crowded. Try walking in the reverse direction and you know what i mean. But have anyone ever considered, that Lunch time might be worse? It's the same: A common time where everyone would be walking on the ground. But people are all everywhere, in different directions: There's only a way out of the station, but eateries are everywhere.

With people everywhere, how would you rest during the 1 hour time-slot that is supposed to be "resting time"? Unless you considered eyes off the computer screen as resting, there's not much place for you can to get peace. Except for this place: The river side behind UOB plaza.

What a wonder, as I always wondered, how possible is it that on a side of the building are crowds and traffic all over, but just a stone's throw away; a few steps to the other side facing the river, you get a peaceful view of the river, people strolling and tourists taking photos. Yes, this is part of CBD. What a rapid change in the ambience.... A nice place for white collars to take a breath of natural air, or to enjoy the packaged lunch, while smoking or talking to colleagues. Or for me the temp staff who had enough of artificial lightings. No matter what, it is a nice place to rest. Provided, it doesnt Rain...for god's sake.









.

the new way to cut a cake.

Last sat, the few of us gathered for dom's 22nd bday. A simple dinner, few frens put together on a short notice, and present bought with BF's guidance. Still, it was a great time.


Especially the special program after the dinner at marina bay steamboat. Dining there strategically to coincide with the fireworks that night, we managed to get a few glances of the fireworks shot high up the night skies, above the trees. Only if the music could spread over the river to our bay, it would be perfect.


But not in the plan was the jam that proceeded after it. Small road + huge crowds = traffic disaster. To make matters worse, the driver (that is, me) made a wrong turn and we rejoined the queue again. Thus we gave up on our intended destination to cut the cake and decided to do it on the spot -- Yes, the carpark.


Make-shift table from my dad's van's toolbox, candle lighter from the car cigarette lighter (that doesnt work), and ambience from the nearby cars' roar & honks as they stuck in jam. This is the Bday celebration. But the bday's girl happiness and smiles was there, and that was what mattered. If she is happy, then we friends (& her bf) are glad.


Happy 22nd to dom! Good luck in your career and may a smooth sailing life follows!

working now, work then?

That little cushion chair in SGX library, my workplace, had seated me for the past 2 months. Except the times when packing have to be done standing, it had seen the dust and documents with me while i was packing. Man, even i was surprised by the amount we had cleared... and strange enough, fulfilment is found from those pile and pile of boxes.

Thankfully, the main bulk is over, so from time to time, in between the next coming tasks (more packing, i meant) I had some freedom to take a break. Some freedom I emphasised, or rather, not much choices. No computer, let alone Internet. No desk phone, no TV nearby, and certainly no sleeping. So its left with one of the most primitive ways to break: Read.

Yes, it's a library, so for sure there are tons of good stuff to read. Trust me, never have i read so much in my life before in the name of leisure. And now i suppose you would find me a geek if i tell you i do like The Economist..No, me too didnt expect it to be interesting in the first place. Nevertheless now I do know the stable Europe does have possible threats by natural gas; Why america do not stop the use of guns so easily as we perceive; Singapore Pools is actually created to fund the construction of Kallang Stadium and eventually Esplanade; And in 1984 the current SGX building i'm sitting on was, well, part of the sea.

Magazines/Newspaper readings later, I do get tired; and box packings later I do get tired and non-motivated. And this is when the mind goes to hibernation and wanders off. Thoughts set in, questions about future are raised: Yes, i'm working now, it had not been a straight forward process and luck was involved, etc etc...but what about future? What do I want to do, and am I going to do it?

The fact that I'm on a "non-specialised" business course says it all. As quoted from a role in a HK movie we watched last time, he says "....those who took up general business degree are mostly lost people..." And it's true. A wide scope means you have many paths ahead of you to take, but it means too that you are still unsure of the coming path. What do i want to do? Right, after this job, I'm certain it's definately not anything Finance/Bank related... But then what?

Many say, it will be a job to have your hobby as your career. Yup, it's ideal: imagine do what you like everyday and yet yielding income out of it. Great, and my interest is Photography and cars, so that quite a number of lines available too. But is this really the case?

No job is without stress, so under stress would your hobby still be interesting? Would an Engineer still enjoy his work when his ideal Car is totally restricted by safety/environmental legislation, marketeers enforcement supported by customers requests, or simply cost & dateline constraints. Or a car sales executive, would he still enjoy selling when he have to sell something he knew that it's rubbish, or under pressure by the sales targets? Or in the case of the management, where the soul of motoring are all reduced to mere figures of sales, market share and profits, and satisfying stakeholders.
Overdose might just kills the hobby. Anyway for the case of engineer, at this stage of my life it is already more or less certain I cant become one.

Perhaps the ideal case is still to get a totally non-hobby related job and enjoy the hobby at ease on off days/weekends. Then the hobby would still be fresh and interesting when you go for it to relax. Well, in the first place perhaps the job will have to allow energy and time for the hobby. So it's a no-no for a IT support job (you ever see a Network Server downtime during weekdays office hours?) And please, the job certainly got to at least let me be interested to work on it for years in the first place too. So as mentioned, no "deep" financially stuff too.

Minus those, there's still plenty of choices i guess? All shall appear for me to dig more as my graduation month approaches.

Hope to find inspiration from more books now. After I finish packing that new pile over at the water dispenser ....And that pile next to that shelf too?

Pix: a hobby or carrer?

cant think of a title for this week. Gulp.

23 July Monday.


Now I declare, it's our 3rd year lor!!! Times flies and it's really quick. After all the roller coaster, what you have now is really what you would appreciate. Guess the coming 3 years and more would fly even faster..


Anyway, just to share! If you like nice scenery to dine, Cosy bay at Tanjong Rhu can be a nice place to go. Enjoy the sea view as you dig into your chicken. But do note it's more a pub than a cafe, so speciality would be more on drinks rather than food...


...And dont take a bus there, coz you cant (and you wouldnt want). Drive if you can.



24 July Tuesday.


One special day after another. One big big congrats to Dom, for her Graduation day at NTU! A grand day, and a day to make her mum really really proud. All the best to her future!!




On Both days...

A petrol head I am, so I got myself a car to drive for these 2 special days.. Never did I expect, it was rather emotional. Like "falling in love"

When i first got the key, I really didnt like the Fiat Punto. Other than the rigid chassis, the car was hard to drive. First the seat height cant be adjusted coz the lever had been broken, leaving me in imperfect position. Then the clutch was hard to moderate, giving a jerky ride. Gear shift is as soggy as overnight French Fries, and controls are so not egonomical. Windows switch is so far apart that i kept opening the rear windows when I want to insert cash card thru the front one.

Just like lovers converting from sworn enermies, after a night of driving (for the annv), the car began to grew on you. Despite all the flaws, other points triumph over them.. It feels sophisticated, the interior is inviting and very comfortable. It looks small but you never feel claustrophobic, in fact spacious in front. Nice details are found, like that Punto logo which represents a stick man driving.. And the great chassis, suspension and that eager and torque-ful engine that pulls strongly from low rev. It's light at 1000kg yet it ever stable even beyond 100kmh... And you dont see something like this Italian design on the road. It's got soul.

Yes, in the end We miss the car so much when it's time to return her. This never happens before, when I return the Honda City before it was simpler; never before i forgive a car for the flaws in areas which I took as most important. Yet we still miss it. The Orange Punto with a Orangey smell. Now in pocket is not that Key Fob, is the Ez-Link card.




Thursday..

So since i'm back to a normal daily commute to work, but on this morning I saw something that rather annoys me.

The staircase leading from Punggol LRT to MRT has 2 paths, and each is wide enough for 2 persons to move through. Every morning there would be crowd going down on an arrival of a LRT.


In front of me, on this particular day, was a couple. The guy was obviously rushing to the train (despite it leaving 4 minutes later), from his attempt to rush down the stairs, and pulling his girlfriend/wife along by hand. But the poor lady was in heels, so she was desperately holding on to the railings and couldnt keep up. Instead of waiting for her, he just pulled her along, only from time to time he turned and look back at her; not for concern, but with a look to get her faster. And he was blocking the entire path of stairs.

Oh for god's sake, cant he understand that she's wearing heels?? Does she have to roll off the stairs to bring the point across? Even if he's urgent, why cant he walk behind or in front of her to urge/guide her? The poor lady look like she's in a tight spot, yet she didnt' blew up i guess.


Guys; heels are difficult to walk on. Yet Girls wear it for guys to see.


(quoted from that her)

.

summaries summaries

I owe this blog an update...

After the previous post, I took days to find jobs, went interviews, and finally found one at SGX now. Tiring at first, but getting used to it. Guess it that waking-up-too-early-in-the-morning thing that is slaughtering me. gee.

So what's below are all the stuff that went into my mind for the past few weeks, which are all jotted down on my almost trusty phone.


When finding job...

Intelligence is not what or how much you know; It's simply how you know to use your knowledge and apply them.

Some stuff might need to be twisted when required..

It might not be new to me, but they were repeatedly re-emphasized during this period..


Working on my job (packing boxes in library)

The person who invented Masking tape should be given a Noble prize award. It is soo useful that you can use it anywhere, other than taping and sealing boxes. It's made of paper, so you can use it as a label or "correction tape", or just to cover cracks.

Inventor of water dispenser is smart too. As you go and change it, you will notice that there is a catch on the tip so that the 5 gallons of water would not gush out as you turn it over; but only comes out when you push into the Dispenser. And it will not get broken only once, when it pull the bottle out again that catch goes back again, so you can remove without emptying the contents.

...And who says the Lion Dance is dead? No, you dont only see them during chinese new year. When Chinese Companies get listed on the stock market, you get them inside the Exchange when the gong is striked. And one company's dance gets bigger than longer than the other (and so is the HongBao I guess...)

Working in CBD...

CBD is very crowded, be it be morning rush hour, lunch time hour, or evening back home hour... Yes you feel the energy at the start, but after getting used to it, I start to desire working at Industrial parks... Perhaps that lack of public transport doesnt matter anymore..

..But nothing still beats that sight of many exotic cars. Porsches are in abundance.. Ferraris, Lambo, Bentley, Rolls etc... Imagine while waiting at the pedestrian red light, that Lamborghini Gallardo rev pass and the concrete buildings echo her presence of her loud exhaust...

...still, I'm a Temp staff. So when on budget, which lunch place is best value for money? Market street is cheapest, and Amoy Street is best for nice and special food. Yummy.

Misc....

Life, still, is not all about work. Weekend comes, and several weeks ago me and shufang went ECP to cycle, by bringing my that "uncle" style Single Gear bicycle to cycle... As i re-emphasise, it is Single geared, so up slopes and high speed are killer for my legs. Ok, it's good exercise... But the dumbest thing at the end of the day is that: I brought the bicyle chain without the keys...! So... No Mac for me... only 7-11 and standing out the shop with the bike. Tiring..

...And got 2 new ambition; First is to buy a Condo at Tajong Rhu.. Went there that night during date and the place, the view, the atmosphere is simply great... Imagine overlooking the colourful Kallang River every night from your Pent House Balcony...OK no need penthouse, even with the smallest unit there is good enough. For now, some weeks later we will go to the Cosy Bay cafe to dine...

Next is to have a self drive trip all the way from SG to Cameron Highlands! My sister just spent a weekend there with her friends and I got to say, the view is simply magnificent... And the great fresh air, moist dew on flowers and the sunrise... Not forgetting the twisty motor-route there, which the bus took 1,2 hours to complete... Calling drivers...

...Since we are talking about drivers, here's a interesting info: Read on a Magazine that there a British research done on young brits, and found for those who played driving simulator PS games are more likely to commit speeding on road, on the same time, they are also more likely to pass their Driving test on first time... So if you are a L-plate now, try playing some Driving games; it might work.


.

The Exam note (read "Death note")

100 days: 29 Jan. Another absolutely normal day in school. Normal lessons have not finished, Most mock papers are a month away, let alone the final exams.

87 days : 12th Feb, first paper of mock exams. Paper wasnt too hard, people wasnt stress with it. Chinese new year coming too.


71 days : 28th Feb, Econs Mock exams. Proves how much we dont know about econs.

64 days : End of mock papers. Short break and start reading...

50-60+ days : Read all on Socio and that tough and hard Econs Study guide. Many days later, gave up in that 400page study guide and dug into lecture notes.

44 days : 26 march, start of revision month. Long time no see friends, all first greeting questions are: "how had your studying been?"

20+ to 40+ days :
And you see, the most "no-life" period of all students. Everyday you see people in school, taking up every possible bench in all storey, or every desk in library. All self-studying. Including weekends. Towards the latter part, to get a bench you have to be in school before 9am. No joke. A super motivated environment to study. And I'm there, some of the days.

As for the revision lessons, part was by own local lecturers, and others are by UK lecturers, flown in from the London Uni. Do really want to note that, while some was dry, some was sacrastically oftensive (in name of our good-ness, they say), the socio ones was superb. Rosemary is the alive elder lady who almost "jump" about and make it interesting and understandable, and Steve almost felt like a BBC host. Just a lesson and all crystal clear. Really.

And if you are a potential student coming here, do remember, when you have revision class on Sunday or public holidays, please know someone who drives. The school canteen is closed, the cafe offers special lunch box; but with all the students you get a Queue like lunch time at an Army Camp Cook house. Ngee Ann Poly closed, Mac is 3 bus stops away, and hawker centre is a 5min drive. Walking is possible, but you have to eat faster and pray there's no rain.

This is also the time where by you will be introduced to the branch of SIM, known as Management House, on Namly Ave. Located behind Hwa Chong, it was normally not used for UOL courses, but due to the lack of rooms/lecture halls for revision period, they open up lectures at this branch. If you are going by bus, merry chirstmas to you, there's a long long stretch to cover from the bus stop. That's why, many will be late and many cars had been squeezed to their maximum seating capacity. So, do car pool. You have been advised.
...but beyond this, the place is actually very very nice. I like the building circular design, and the surroundings is actually very peaceful. Like a country club though.

1 to 19 days:
Almost the end of the revision classes, so my intensive studies spread around the island. As I gradually lost the ability to study at home, I found friends and joined their study groups. So outside school, it includes Jurong East library, Harbourfront, and even Queentown library. Queentown was actually one of the nicest place; The library was quiet and empty (before students come in and ruin every piece of the peace) and the mac along queenway road is good. I saw the polyclinic, which possibly one of the oldest standing I guess? Looks more than a friendly village to me:

As for travelling, if I were to insist on bus only, I realise no matter to anywhere from Punggol, it takes around 1.5 hours. Be it Town, Queensways or Jurong East. Really. Furthermore I picked my travelling to take place during off peak hours (After 10am) ...So the smooth journeys actually became a form of theorpy for me....please recall my interest as punched on the left.

Weekends are not spared too. Thanks to the understanding of girl, Saturdays was half shopping and libraries: Orchard+Orchard library, or Bugis/suntec + central library.
Sundays are driving days, so it's either Central library again, or any library in the North/West like Bukit Panjang, Yishun, Sembawang, etc etc.

All in all, I guess I had went to almost every National libraries in Singapore...


....I had never studied so much in my life. Not even for A-levels'. .....
Everyone learns their lesson; because we are at where we are.


2 days:
Receives a call from friend. Just 3 days before our statistic paper, it was confirmed that we cannot use our Scientific Calculator, but instead, Basic Conventional ones (aka groceries shop uncle's calculator). That means say good-bye to the Fraction key, Edit key, Square/Cube key, etc etc etc. So encouraging 2 days before Econs and 3 days before Stats.

Once home at night, found that convental calculator and starts practising. To Cube, press digit, "X", and "=" 3 times. This something new. And all steps to be wrote down now, no more jumping. Time to put my new scientific calculator to sleep for long too.

1 day :
Imagine, a day before your exams, you felt you want to practise more, yet you ran a fever and couldnt get off the bed. Yes it happened to me and it was a very very bad feeling. It overcomes all emotions, and in the end I slept and went to the Hall without any anxious-ness...
....The waters are calm....after you had sank deeper than the turbulence...


0 day - D-day : ~~This is the day! This is day that we all had waited.....~~

9th may. Economics paper, possibly the most feared of all.
Here's the weird bit. Because of my practise and study of the lecture notes, I actually did not felt any fear during the paper itself; It was rather smooth to me. But when it's over, some people around me found it was difficult for them. So did I do it wrongly?? Or had the lecture notes over simplified everything, thereby I will lose marks?

-1 day : 10th may, statistic paper. Horrible speed. Me, like many others, did not finish. I was commenting, if they mark us against 70marks instead of 100, we all will do well, coz on average we lost 20+ marks due to incompletion.

-3 days : 12th may, no papers.
Initial intentions was to study at National library; needed a table for the other friends, so it's my first time going and queueing for the "opening" at 10am. As the clock strikes 9.59am and the door opens, I'm amazing at the speed those girls Ran towards the tables...By 10.01am All tables filled. Damn.

So after the noon time, we migrated to SMU. Now, this is a good place. Get a bench on the first floor; Hungry? Subway or mr.bean is behind you. Peace? You have it. But just dont rain. The humidity before rain is quite bad that day...left you sweating.

-5 days : 14th may. Maths paper....actually at this time of typing now I cant remember much of it (cos of the latter better incidents that took place) ... I guess should be ok ?

Went Airport afterwards. Was brought to Terminal 1 BK by another friend. Found another great place to study, and best of all, it wasnt difficult to get home from there. Marks the start of my week long daily (almost) trips to Airport...


-6 days : 15th May, the classic day. Sociology paper.

As you might had seen on the NewPaper, there was a printing error on the script, leaving out 2 questions of the intended 8 in Section C. The topic, which the school had selected for us and taught us, is one of the 2 Q which had been ommited. The examiners on the spot could not do anything, so we all had to "do our best" on what's available. Caused some unrest certainly, and many choosen to leave the hall early.

So some got the media's attention, and others had flooded the respective agency's mailbox.

We were told that "moderation" will be in place to "not put anyone in a disadvantage position". Fingers crossed.

Oh yes, other than Section C, Section A (50 marks) was very unique this year... So lots of smoking and twisting took place. Hope i'll be well..


-7 to -12 days:
Other than a day which I went down to job agencies and the weekend, I was at Airport. It was the most intensive week; 'cos that was the only time left to study for our last Management paper, which we had rarely touched previously... You will be surprised at how much the human brain can take in.

.

-13 days: 22nd May. Management paper. aka The LAST day!!

Yes, after this paper, you can sleep, play, club, and keep all your notes in a box ready for recycling/burning, provided that you pass them all.

But before all the celebrations, conquer the paper first. Which is another bad news.

Why do they have to be so ambigious? Before we could start to pen, we have to interpret the Q first, and that cost time. As a result, I have very bad time management, and the latter Qs were rushed through.

During which, I realised that in desperation, I had great skills in twisting facts and smoke the hack out of some parts....But would the British buys it or not, it's yet to be proven....

We shall know then, my fingers are still crossed..



But I threw all the thoughts behind, and went straight out. As the exact day of Derrick's birthday, I had a great dinner and night with him and company. After 87 days, 1 night is enough to make one really really happy.

Its all over!

(ah...usual stuff, photos all in my yahoo album.)

.

lift's life.

Remember in my previous post, I said that the common lifespan of a handphone is 2years? Well, right now i might have to extend my claim: The lifespan of electronics is around 5 years.

Nope, nothing is wrong with my phone, but it is for the elevator in my flat. Just nice to mark the 5th anniversary of shifting into the new town.

Previously, the "down" button of one of them here first gave up. So what happens is that whenever we pressed it, nothing happens. And we are not aware of it, until the realisation that no lifts are coming (which evolves, into accusation of each other:- "oei, why forget to press huhh??") ...It was until the button was found faulty then the innocent was proven not guilty.


Then, recently, the door of another lift here refuses to close.

Ok, you may think now, "Just walk out and use another lift la." Easy, but the problem is, the system refuses to send another lift to the floor, 'cos there's already one here!

So, that is, you are stuck with this one. It was only after some knocking and pushing (manually of cos) then the door decided to get back to work...and close.

For the first time, you would start to choose which of the 3 lift to take (when all is available at 1st floor)....


When your handphone spoils, you simply get it replaced at your friendly Hello! shop near you.
When your elevator spoils, it's not that simple anymore. Gulp.

Now i hope my claim is false.

If it decides to be true, then i hope i'm not inside the lift when it decides to stop work!

.

Zeng My Phone...software wise.

Right, my dear Nokia 6260 is almost 2 years now.

Electronically it's called the end of the life-span cycle, but realistically it's still going strong. So no plans to change any time soon.
(Its not a car to me, so as long as it moves it's great...gee)


So how do you keep it fresh??



1) As you can see, it's heavily utilised. Havent been deleting messages... So to keep space for them to keep rolling, ALL others (yes all) had been shifted to the memory card. Thank god i have 128mb there.

2) Changed the wallpaper (yes again)

3, 4) Added lots of new songs, as ringtone and full song....Pop have season too, so guess when the songs gets old they have to go....For ringtone to ring at the chorus, they have been cropped, that's why the name "short" ^-^

5) ...And discovered new functions! Never knew that icons can be changed for the past almost 2 years....and default ones (like inbox) can have the name changed! ...but they do look kinda kiddish right.....

6) ...Lastly added a small frog to it. Sister gave it to me as gift. GF calls it Kermit the frog.


..

merc cab? merc boat?

Ah. Allow me to take a break from studies now.

- - - -

Just a day before, was talking to my sis that, if I have a chance to take a cab, I would rather wait for anything but the good old toyota crowns we have all over. Hey, of coz someone like me would be so interested to try out all those new hyundai VW or merc turbo-diesels...

So, the next day (last sat) my chance came. Was out and after a long story, just need a cab. And great, spotted the "green" merc cab (those CNG ones). Hop on.

Well, from the papers, they says these cars started life as a petrol engined car. They fixed in a gas tank, modified some parts, and wola: A green car running on CNG that emit no pollutants. All that happens is that the car loses 10% of power but is quieter, cheaper to run (CNG is cheaper per kg compared to petrol) and trees are happy and humans will not get cancer.

It's right; from the ride we had in the cab, there's really isnt any engine noise. And since it's a merc E200, it really comfortable, very well built, very smooth auto gear change, and the car is very very stable on the move. Our toyota crowns is as comfortable as a school bus, in comparsion.

But that's not the end to it.... Power is truely lacking. There is moment when the driver was coming out of the filter lane. Accelerator down, smooooth auto gear kickdown, and.....nothing. Engine was just struggling but there isnt any "thrust" felt. You would know what I mean when you do the same thing to a coventional car.

merc cab? merc boat? ...cont.

Ok fine, it's a taxi. I'm not the driver, I'm the passenger. So no power, not my business. But now this is what that really irritates. That noise. Engine is quiet, correct. But the thing below me that draw the gas from the tank isnt. ....Just imagine you are sitting on a hundred gas pipes in the toilet and the value in kitchen is being broken. That gushing noise...it just makes the entire thing sounds like a.....jet boat. Gush and gush whenever the "gas" pedal is being step on. And oh yes. it's loud. This something is really a surprise. Is it faulty? Or is just 'cos of where i sat on?

Anyway, quite an experience. Certainly good to see more "green" cab around, after having saw personally how cleaner (and quieter) HK gets after their cabs ran on LPG (another gas). But if I have a petrol car now, will I spend a thousand dollars to convert it to CNG?

No thanks, I'm a petrol-head. I need the power and not a jet boat.

.

---------------------------------------
Weird.. Even long text-only posting will produce problems with blogger. Now i have to split into half....hmmm....let it be.

Sunday: My ass hurts.

...And that's because we went cycling, and thanks to me wrongly adjusted the bike seat to a less optimum height.

Which cause lots of stop after not-too-long-a-distance, until I fixed the seat (with was towards the end of the ride)

Still, was a fun day at Pasir Ris Park. Was months since we last cycled, and thus the decision to do so in hope to shave off some fats.

A change from our usual East coast park does bring some surprises, as I had not visited paris ris park for a long time and many parts had been different now. For a start, we actually had to walk a long long distance from the main road to find a kiosk, due to some relocation. What a way to tire out under the hot sun before the actual cycle.

Then, off we explored the edge.

Rewarded with really a nice scenary. See the Kelong behind?



And found the new horse riding range.. The Gallop Stable, built off the old cycling track for children. (My track...my childhood fun!)

(continue)

Low tide at the shore.... Which suddenly seems as if we made a trip to Australia....Minus that abandoned tyre, please.


Also happened to find this angle for a shot, which could easily be made into an advert print. Just nice, a "clean" Prius next to a "green" tree.


End of the day, me and the two bike. Lost any weight?

.