The big 15th SC gathering.

Years since SRJC ended : 4 years
Time since the last SC gathering: > 1.5 years
Period of time kent took to organise: 3 weeks
Time taken for me to get down to Heerens : 1 hour (horrible jams)
Cost of dinner on that table : $12

Having almost everyone which you havent seen for a long time on the same table :
Priceless & un-measurable.

This is the 15th Student council gathering, after a long break. Last night, 28dec 07, at Orchard Heerens Vila'ge.




Was really glad to be there, just sadly I was tired before it and had to rush back earlier than my normal timing.


Still, many Kudos once again to Kent for making it happen! To have more than half of total 25 SCs to attend is really good. 

Hope the next one comes soon!

Great little chalet + SF Drive of life

I always like chalet with good friends. Not only there's unlimited time for the night and no need to rush back, you can just spend all the time talking, playing, and achieving stuff that you cant do normally. Cue in the recent SIM og11 Chalet and you tick all box above.

Held on wed 19th dec at Costa Sands, it was not a big place. But as the first ever chalet with the guys, it was great fun. 1 hour plus after check in and we were on the road: first for dinner at Old airport road, next the surprise birthday for guan hui (kelvin's famous line to Guan: "we bring the chalet to you", to send liwen back and lastly CCK for supper for that famous Kou Loh Yok Rice.

There was 2,3 cars all the time, that's why such trips was possible. And such was what i always been looking forward (and hoping) for... a parade of cars to bring the entire group all around to many places which is normally inaccessible and activities normally not possible.

And Guan hui & raymond birthday cake too; guess it was really a surprise for both of them. Imagine stepping out of your house at 11pm to see 12 friends in 3 cars (aka wedding day) at your doorstep. Plus when earlier you gave unit number cos someone told you you got a job..that's a white lie.

And the process on the road when wenling have to follow my car (cos she unfamiliar with east) . The excitment of trying to make sure she can follow me, and same time think of the route, and them following and thinking why i went by the wrong way. (which happens again en route to Bukit batok, that i really screwed the route ;p)

And finally finding the Roy's much anticipated pork rice at CCK. A really very malaysia old style restaurant by the road side ( somewhere which i didnt even know it existed) we tasted the rice + lime juice ....to find that it was, well, not too bad.

And later back in chalet, all the PS2 games they played, the exciting poker card games that made them high (i was bathing, damn) and lastly them waking up to watch sun rise that didnt appear that morning (i was too tiredly asleep ;p )

All the little things sum up to a great and memorable event, to him (gh raymond roy), me and others i believe.

Really, my stable life never had been so happening, all in a night. That's why i like chalets.

When's next?



The wedding aka birthday surprise team.



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

Next day there's more for me. Having passed her licence, the car keys was handed over to Shufang and I became the driving instructor with great responsibility: To train up this new green horn.

But hey, i'm really proud. Months of encouragement and anticipation and now your own guided girlfriend is driving you...this feeling is indescribable.

Yes it's an Auto, but it wasnt easy to manage the traffic too, especially having to learn to move from the L-plate 40kmh to the normal driving 70kmh on roads. I got an Auto so there's no clutching to distract in this learning stage.

Overall, she's good. Warmed up fast, minus some steer guide at tricky parts she can do it...as long as it's not night. Well, cos she did not had any lessons during night previously. And parking wise...i better not mention it first ;p

But no worries, cos this is certainly not the last! More cars are coming up whenever time and finance are ok, and me this instructor will have more to be busy with ;)





This is my salary: Joy.



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The hardworked car. Honda Fit 1.3A



Why i had gotten this Fit this time is for 2 reasons: Emotional attachment, and fuel.

Emotion because this is a car which was closely associated with shufang, so as her virgin drive, there's not other better alternative. And since i cant get a diesel during this season of historial high petrol price, this perceived most fuel efficient car, fits (no punning intended) the bill.

So how was Honda fit like?
1) Got to mention first this wasnt in the best condition. Suspected been abused thus engine bearing was loose, the engine rattle like a Washing Machine whenever it moved off....So performance and our ears suffered.

2) But that aside, the handling is good. Having driven the Honda City (sedan version) which was happily sailing and lifting on motor way, this hatchback is so much more stable on motorway. Steering is light and precise, plus the excellent visibility, this is a very relaxing car to drive.
But steering been short of feel and slightly light on motorway took away the perfect feel for handling.

3) Performance wise, the 980kg weight does it merit. It has a rapid pick up from rest and power was there through out accelerating. But having a CVT gearbox, it doesnt like sudden accelerator input, else it just doesnt "bite".

4) ....which means for the auto-box, drive it smoothly and you will be rewarded with quick and very smooth gear change. (much smoother than the Fiat Punto!) Hooliegen driving is not for here.
Which ease of driving around town with this auto box did really sway me towards favouring auto car...damn.

5) And as a city car it really does it job well. Space is perfect inside. Leg room and head room are surprising in abundants, and the flexible seats made it the one of the most unique cars around. Flat fold rear seats as standard, you can even lift the rear bench upwards to throw in tall vertical items. You can also single handed-ly push the front seats forward from rear...very smart and convenient.
Storage space are perfect...I must mention it is really rare to find a hatchback (and even some bigger car) that can fit in my 0.8l bottle in the dashboard...There's accomdation for parking coupons display on dashboard, and even a slot on the door to fit in an entire a4 plastic box file. Tested and tried.

6) But sadly, the fuel consumption did not live up to expectation...The commonly accepted figure is around 18km/l, i expect 15km/l, but in the end it was....almost 12, only.
I could thought of the few explanation:
a) The car is on thicker aftermarket tyres + rims.
b) The car is aged and abused. See how the engine rattles?
c) The car is carrying 4 passengers at many times.
d) The driver is useless (that's me). Only found how to drive it smoother and slower on the day of return to rental shop.


Despite all, it's still a desirable car. Very easy to live with, Honda reliability and resale value, good looks, and (i still believe) the low fuel cost. The Fit/Jazz is having a high turnover rate on the re-sale market, being snatched up faster as compared to other makes; a Manual one is even more rare. (i visited Sgcarmart.com.sg)

So it's gonna live on my dream list as a even stronger competitor to the fiat punto now...rather, it had always been there.

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Be clear with Clarity...yummy.

It's been raining...and raining non stop recently, we got gloomy skies and gloomy guys (& gals). But here's a cafe in town, which the name does fit in... to "clear" and cheer people up with good food... and it is? Ms CLARity cafe.

Found through magazine reviews that gave good ratings, we decided to try it out. Located in 3 locations (all shophouses) of SG, this cafe does take some effort to find initially; but once found it's easy to go.

So how do they differentiate? As stated, they hope to bring Restaurant standard of dine in affordable prices. So certainly, the items are nothing but bland. Just like the item i got, the Chicken Cordon Bleu.



Cripsy chicken breast meat, stuffed with melted cheese and ham, and clothed with a sause. Being chicken breast, it will not get very XXXX NI as you eat, and yet it's not that hard as expected. And what I really like is the Kou Gan...as you bite the melted cheese lands right onto the centre of your tougue...complemented with the chewy chicken on the side. Splendid.
By the way it served with healthier roasted potato and veggies...although you can request to swap it with fries if you want.



The other dish my partner tried is this, the Red wine risotto with scallops. Cooked with abundance (almost) of Sallops, the rice is cooked in red wine...Which smells came rushing to you the moment the dish is served. And scallop is very fresh too. Certainly a dish that can fill you up, if that red wine didnt overwhelm you first.
 

Ambience? Simple yet cheerful and colourful. Evening time it will be filled by candle lights, with gives a nice warm glow, as you seen in the pix. Seats are not that abundant, so do go slightly earlier to avoid disappointment.

Price? Earlier you read the word "affordable", and it's really is. My item is $8.80 and all prices are NETT, that is no GST nor Service charge. Other ala carte meal course on the menu starts from $6+,7 , and you can add on $3 to make it a set with drinks dessert and starter. (there's even option of Ben and Jerry ice cream with additional fee) And if you do commonly find yourself asking for more plain water in cafes always, good news here cos they serve you one big jar of iced water right from the start...


In a nutshell, worth going. Try it.


No. 5 Purvis Street, #01-04 (Next to National  Library)

Possibly the most unbelievable thing on earth

Alright, the title is misleading of course. Most likely you might just say "Chey" at the end of this, but it's still unbelievable to me...but then, it's true...


Shufang had passed her driving. On the infamous Ubi circuit (as congested as India), with Manual car, Private Instructor, FIRST attempt. Oh yes, it's test route 7 (for those who knew it, the longest and toughest possibly)

And add on to anyone's insult, it's 12 points.  Passing is 18, lower the better. I got 14, the others i knew is around this figure, or even 18 too.

Her instructor? Latest figures shows out of 31 students he took.....6 passed. Down from previous year's 7.

Further more she comes from a car-less family and no contact of motoring before...As matter of fact, just before she starts learning she still ignorant about the gear ratios....

Still, she done it.

After the entire morning of pacing up and down, the months and guiding and advicing and motivating,  the joy of getting such results is really indescribable for both of us.... better than lottery.

But i still do hope lottery will come, coz as the start of a new phrase.....rental cars will be coming in. Now there's really more things to look forward to in life, for this considerably near future.


Yeah.


Now, who says we should seal one's fate before the test took place?

.

So, finally i been to KPE..

....And found that the speeding limit is really strict.




1) This is recorded by SF, for your extra knowledge ^0^
2) As u can see here, everyone is moving at 70kmh exactly. So...
3) it captured the slowest lane changing by a taxi in Singapore, &
4) The most orderly queue of cars moving behind and next to me in Singapore.
5) And yet there's still tail gating despite all the slow motion...

Despite so, this new thing is really cool. Cant wait for the entire tunnel to open in years time...By then i can travel from my ulu tip to rochor seamlessly...shld be in my own car by then? hopeful?

.

Yes, it is sickening.

Does all this happens to you too?

1) You knew something is wrong, and wanted to tell/warn your friends about it. But they wouldnt believe you, or they would be stronger in their arguement. So you chose to keep quiet simply b'cos you cannot argue. You cant support the facts, cant express strongly.
You can only wait til everything happen as what you had predicted, but even you can say "see i told you so" by then, nothing helps.

2) You knew someone was doing something not right. You wanted to just confront him and split everything out on the table. You should have done that cos all evidences are with you and it's a definate victory. But you cannot express/argue well. The person is good in twisting facts towards his advantage. In the end you kept quiet and lost it. And become an escaping coward.


Yes, I confronted someone before. Damn myself i cannot talk. I lost it terribly. And now for all that other events that followed i choose to stay quiet against them. On the fear of bombastic return fires that i cant simply handle. On the fear of lost.

It's not a good feeling ok. I cant be someone who ran away forever. But running is always the easiest yet hard way to do it.

I did mentioned this before:
"Knowledge is nothing without knowing how to express it"

...i'll expand on it now further: "Knowledge" is evidence, and "express" is to argue. So what if i knew everything? If i cant argue with my points i'm no worse than a fool.

If i can always support my thinking and points, i no longer need to live with my head down. No longer need to live in fear of losing. And escapes.

I better learn how to argue. It helps not only in all the damn essays, but everyday life.

Sickening.


.

A reason why go CDC to learn driving

Yes we know the road there are terrible, but isnt this special?? No ordinary mouse or that irritating touch screen...

.....the "toyota vios" is in control under your palm....literally.
As much as many L-plate driver hopes.


....still, a nice one. Although it's just some corperate thingy?

Daily trips: Does it trickle madness?

Was at facebook, saw this flyer ad for Tagxe, a SG community helping people to find others living nearby to share cab to cut cost. Followed link to the site (www.tagxe.com), whose humorous comparsion chart inspired this...

Do take a look there after here. Oh yes, the team is non for profit.


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

So, after spending considerable amount of time on travelling for the past 1.5 years to school, here some interesting or rather annoying observations...


Facts and Figures (Really-real time figures. Includes bus/train transfer timing)

Punggol to/fro SIM

Bus:
average : 1h 15m
fastest : 1h 5m
slowest : 1h 55m

Train:
average = fastest = slowest : 1h 25m

Car:
average: 45m
fastest: 40m
slowest: 1h20m


1) Despite some debates, the preferred mode of transport for me is still bus, over train. In my case the train takes longer during off peak and during peak i have to stand all the way for the entire 1.5hours. And cost more. And walk more. Simple b'cos my house is not next to the LRT station, let alone PG train station.

2) And for that high variation in bus timing, the weakest link is actually that bus 62, which is the only bus that move from Hougang to this part of Punggol. Waiting time can be as long as 25mins. All for a journey that last slightly more than 5mins.
My mum tried it once from somewhere in Sengkang, and swore to walk back ever since.

3) So if you add up all the worst cases' waiting-time together:

74 waiting : 15
62 waiting : 25
= 40 mins
= Time taken to drive home, all during the time when i'm not moving.

4) There's actually an express service 74e. But for a higher fee there's not much difference in timing simply b'cos....although it avoided all the jams on/after lornie rd, it plunge itself onto the long long long jam on PIE. And took a longer detour via thomson road.

5) Many guys experienced it right? The time you waited for the next bus is not neccessarily the amount of time you reach later. Sadly, that's the unavoidable fact about bus: traffic condition varies and affects it's timing.

For instance, once i took 74 at 7am, and i reach on 820am. Another day took at 6.50am, and reached at 7.50am.

Not forgetting buses overtaking each other. It can make you reach even later, or much earlier than those who boarded the earlier bus.

6) Which reminded me about what liwen told me before. When she was still going to SA back then, it's either that she arrived very early or late for school. Because by taking the one next train, she will see the connecting train leaving in her sight, and then misses again the connecting bus. .....Compared to mine, her case sounds worse.


7) So does this makes driving the king? No actually.
Despite the much faster overall timing (Morning 1h20m but at least on way home is off peak aka 40min) and the disapearance of waiting time, driving during morning peak hours is tough. Jams everywhere and everyone cuts their way through, demadning all time focus...while you are happily sleeping or munching into your breakfast on the bus.
And did i mention fuel is at all time high? Petrol now stands at $1.89 per litre, after discount. Compared to the $1.3/$1.4 of just couple of years back.


Conclusion? Seems like bikers have some edge here now. No jams, cheaper fuel, even cheaper parking (65c per day!) No wonder i know someone with ability to drive is taking moto test. Too bad i just dont have the guts, and not ever imagine my flu on the visor.

As a normal income kid, bus is still here to stay, no problems with that. Advantages are valid, and will hope for improvement in timing etc. And continue spot for the occasional special cars...or fall asleep.


.

Diesel Cars in Singapore: Is this hope?

Spotted this R&D Volkswagen Passat TDI on bus, along AMK, 2 days back.

reads on the side: "Clean Diesel Power. Singapore research on Bio Diesel Fuel" or something.


Today on Lornie road, spotted another one with same words. But is a VW Toureg.
Overtakes traffic and flew up the flyover with ease.
Must be the V10 Diesel. Pooower.


.

The 22nd year of my life (ie: Birthday)

Life is always about comparsion isnt it? Here one for you

21st bday : Big Aloha chalet, Big crowd, big budget, Lots of foods and options
22nd bday : Small chalet (aloha too), 7 pax, small budget and one steamboat.

But i'm not complaining. As a matter of fact, i enjoy it more. Planning is still involved but less intense. More importantly, less quantity = more quality. Quality time with quality people; how better can that be?

A thank you to the "old folks" there on 19oct. Especially those who squeeezed their time to come. Although everything including the program was damn simple, hope u guys had enjoyed the time, the food, and the company. ;)




....derrick, kent, dom, zw, sf....Not in pix, Wailing.


.....is aloha gonna be an annual booking?


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


...And i gave myself a little Birthday Present..

Yes, the fiat punto again, this time in the semi auto disguise. Just nice for a small comparsion since after i had driven the manual previously 2 months back.

So how's my first time with something clutchless?

1) The usual: It's a godsend during traffic jams. 
Especially when the clutch of the manual version is so hard to modulate.

2) ...But there's a tendency to shift later than what u want. Step only slightly harder it holds beyond 3k rpm. Not good for fuel.

3) Jerk during hard driving. So drive gently and leave it to it own device. Smooth is definately attainable, after I've gotten used to it.

4) Manual mode. Push it to right and select via +/. 
Fun yes, but why is it in opposite direction? So unnatural to push forward to change up, when forces are pulling u back.

5) ...And if i'm not wrong, surprising manual mode not quick as real manual. I tried changing gear and lifting the accelerater as if it was manual, but i get jerks. 
None if i release it longer. Is the change slow or sys confused? Didnt get to find out..

6) The standard car beeps whenever seat belt not fasten etc. Now, there's more stuff to beep about...: Not stepping on brakes while shifting to reverse, Not shifting to 1 when engine starts, Not shifting back from neutral when engines shuts, Not shifting to correct gear in manual, etc etc. The passengers and drivers are equally annoyed.

7) Advert claims that the Semi auto is more fuel saving than manual one. Result, auto 11.5km/l vs manual 13.2 .... Not quite it seems. But to give it some credit, i covered more smooth expressway kilos in the manual back then than this time.

Still, the rest of the car is still great. Bar the weaker built quality in glove box and some ergonomics niggles, it's : Stable, effortless, comfy, and uniquely striking looking. Just dont buy a black one. It blends away all her gorgeous curves.



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


And i go straight to the point. One day before my chalet, I broke the bumper of the car.

It was really bad luck. The Punto was parked with butt over kerb, and we got the guy to transfer to rear seat. I didnt check before moving off, so the sunken back was being pulled out by the kerb.

KRAAK it went. It crumbles with my heart. Sounds like exactly the same as my previous accident with that van and taxi.

Broke the assembly on the outer side of bumper, and broke too the plans for the night. Oh yes, the car was only 2months old from registration. Guess how obivious is the damage.


But what memoriable was what happens next. 
We spent the next 2,3 hours trying to fix the bumper. We went on kneels to inspect, analyize, and fix. 
Even to search on the ground of any dropped parts.

Honestly, i would really really be lost if i was alone. No question asked, no fingers pointed, just fix the problem together. I really appreaciate it.

After rushing to kelvin house for tools and eventually amk hub to buy that special screw, it was being put back. 

If only the car wasnt that new and shop wasnt that sharp, we could have sailed through it. 

The misalignment gave it away. And we were $180 poorer.

NEvertheless, thank you very much.

Not in order of merit: Kelvin, GH, Raymond & WQ.


.

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?
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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!


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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.









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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?