Resolutions for 2006

I've never believed in this, but hey, I've never set any goals in life either. Time to start, so here goes:

1. Avoid the poverty trap and spend within my means
2. Save $5000 by the end of the year
3. Lose weight - let's start with 5kg
4. Exercise more, at least once a week
5. Be more diligent with the house work (this will be the mother of all resolutions)

Got anymore later than add ...

Inspiring Advert

Was surfing and suddenly this song just jammed itself into my head. Been such a long time since! Apparently, this late '80s Coca Cola song/ad was shot at St. George's Hall in Liverpool, England. They gathered together young adults from all over the world. The commercial was shot in nineteen different languages. Led by a blonde girl, the young people in the advertisement sang:

I am the future of the world
I am the hope of my nation
I am tomorrow's people
I am the new inspiration

And we've got a song to sing to you
We've got a message to bring to you

Listen to me for you and for me for tomorrow
If we all can agree there'll be sweet harmony tomorrow tomorrow
And we all will be there
(Coca-cola/With our music) to share
Feelings so real and so true
Won't you come with us tomorrow
And we'll build a better world for you.

Seems like many people aren't really sure of the words "Listen to me". The different versions include: "Please let there be", "We hold the key" and "Sweet melody".

A nice song, nonetheless.

1 - 3

Aiyoh, why like that??

Kena trashed 1 - 3 by the wrong half of Merseyside. But those red buggers really outplayed us. Moyes has a mountain to climb. He better keep us in the Premier League ...

Unbecoming

Today damn steam, cos was helping out last night. Slept this morning at 2.30am, and woke up at 8am.

Anyway, this morning was informed that there might be a meeting. "Huh? Meeting? Isn't that scheduled for Friday", I asked with incredulity. What happened was, one of the guys will be on leave, and our friend decided that he should bring forward the meeting when everyone is around.

But it's only 1 working day ago that we had the last meeting!! DUHH! What updates can there be? Moreover, there's this one chap that has been missing the meeting, and yet he gets away with murder.

Anyhow, after much grumbling and re-arranging of pre-scheduled meetings, we waited. D-Day H-Hour came. And passed. WTF??!! 1.30pm came and passed. 2pm. 2.20pm. Finally, we got word that he sent an SMS, informing that he can't make it for the meeting!

Now what is wrong with this fella? He changes meetings as and when he likes. It's ok to make us wait for him, but not him for us. No basic courtesy to tell us he can't make it for the meeting.

Is that how they educate their people on Mars?

Christmas Eve

Woke up lazily today, around 2pm. Was at mum's last night for BBQ, before we left to meet up with the rest to got up The Hill. Every thing went ok until they discovered a missing item. Poor chap had to go back again to replace.

Wifey and I dragged our feet around and was in no particular hurry with our chores. We had agreed to go down to Orchard for a much-needed X'mas spirit infusion, and we left the house around fourish.

Orchard was so crowded! It was CNY shopping all over again. First stop was Centrepoint as we needed to get gifts for the 2 little devils. Couldn't find anything, so we trodded along.

We eventually plonked ourselves down in Akashi Jap Restaurant. Because of my cost-cutting ways, it's been such a long time since we last had a restaurant meal. The food was good, as expected. Bento good, sashimi fresh, reverse california sushi good.

I must say the lights this year are nothing to rave about. 'Ordinary' and 'uninspiring' come to mind. Luckily we still had the crowd, the X'mas facade lights, and all the noise and racket.

Not to mention the weather. I have always loved Christmas because of the weather. There will always be a cool year-end breeze that feels so ... comforting. With Wifey holding my hand tightly, it really has a calming effect. Makes all the problems I have at work seem so far away. 没有白活了.

We eventually found the presents at Ngee Ann City's atrium sale. Bought for the girl a Powerpuff Girls cushion, and the boy a Chicken Little shirt.

Got to try to rest early. Tomorrow meeting the guys for CS and in the evening, helping out.

The Year We Skipped Christmas

This year, I decided that we will not be putting up the Christmas tree. So much has happened that I don't want to dampen the Christmas spirit that fills the air when the tree is up.

Yes, the 2 kids will be disappointed, Wifey is unhappy and I'm breaking the tradition with the team, but I guess I need my moments.

不见棺材不流泪

Ever since the Perth trip, I've been in debt. Imagine - had to borrow money to go holiday! Thank goodness for Wifey, who lent me shopping money for the trip. She has since lent me money to pay for my credit card bills and insurance also. She even passed me some pocket money last week! (That small amount has since been returned when I got my pay). Those were painful times, with no money in the bank and the burden of an unpaid loan.

How bad was it? I had to use my ezLink card to pay for my meal at Mc's. Why Mc's and not food court? I was out of cash and Mc's is the only place that takes ezLink payment!!

This whole episode has forced me to wake up and sit up. No more messing around with my finances. No more mindless purchases. No more losing track of cashflow. And more savings please!! Heck, just the other day I even resisted the temptation of buying a $2 cup of buttered corn! But I was damn hungry ...

I've gone on a severe belt-tightening regime, scrutinising every single intention and purchase. Must not allow this to lapse into a knee-jerk reaction; it must be a way of life!! This shall be included as Item #462 on my New Year resolution ...

This month will be siong, as I still have to clear last month's bills, but next month should be a breeze.

Financial freedom, wait for me!!

It Has Been a While

It has been a while since I've been here. My last blog was 20 October. Many things have happened, both happy and sad.

Over the next few days I'll try to cover / recall as much as I can, starting from the Perth trip, then moving onto financial woes, fengshui, ancestors, weddings and *surprise!* my work.

All subsequent entries will be pre-dated, or at least as near the actual day as possible lah.