- Added a 'good' to the blog header
- Changed to new design template 'Awesome Inc'
Post Date 6 Jul 10
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
3rd Anniversary
Hi Father,
Wow, it's been 3 years. How have you been doing?
I am happy to report that you are now a grandfather! After 7 years of trying, our little girl was born early last month. Most people are saying the little girl takes after me, but I'm just thankful she has Mummy's big round eyes and cute button nose! I thought I had prepared myself psychologically for the hard work, but Wifey seemed to be handling it better. I'm so pleased that she's rising up and embracing her new role with such great aplomb.
We have also been making Mum busy. When Wifey was doing her confinement, Mum came once in a while just to see how everyone is doing. Now that confinement is over, Mum comes over every day (except weekends and public holidays) to look after the little Princess in the day while Wifey rests. She also cooks lunch and dinner, and sometimes helps with the laundry. On the whole, a great help to have around.
Work-wise, there's nothing to shout about. I have been real busy, being one of the many involved in a multi-million dollar deal. Have been coming back late because of that. While everybody else seemed to be a winner of sorts, I am the sorry one here - I may be losing my job in a few months' time. Sigh. I know I'm worrying in advance again, but I can't help it. I'll try not to think about it. Will try.
On top of my regular job, I'm also helping a friend with his project. What was scheduled to end by Mar is now still running. I'm so short of time that I can only spare this project time at the end of the day. My sense of responsibility to my friend is stopping me from handing the project back to him. But the truth is, I'm up to my eyeballs ...
Father, this morning I went to the temple and made a donation in your name. Just now, after dinner, I left the receipt on the table. And then, an insect landed on the receipt, and stayed there for quite a while. Father, was that ... you? Were you also the one that was flying around little Princess this afternoon?
I just hope that you are fine, or that you have moved to a better place.
Once again, I humbly ask that you bless Mum, Wifey and now our little Princess. Take care, Dad. Still miss you a lot.
Yours sincerely,
Son-in-law
Image credit here.
Post Date: 30 May 09
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Time flies when you are idling
So, it's December already.
I've stopped the business of new year resolutions for a while already, but still, I seemed to be repeating these to-do items in my head ad nauseam.
For example, I have yet to participate in the Singapore Marathon. And I think this is the 2nd year already. Or is it the 3rd?
I have yet to get into the habit of sleeping by 12.30am.
I still suck in photography.
I still don't have any residual income.
But what I've actually achieved, I am very proud of:
I'M GOING TO BE A FATHER!
I am also happy that I've started morning prayers.
Not by choice, but I've become more diligent with housework.
With little Princess coming on board, I had REALLY, BETTER sort out my photography.
And I can forget about sleeping early!
Image credit here.
Post Date: 1 Dec 09
Monday, November 30, 2009
Fear and hunger
Cowboy Caleb had an interesting piece today.
Life is a little like that. Most of the time, if you want something then you have to find something to motivate you to go and get it. 90% of the people never get what they really want, because they are too lazy or overconfident.
To succeed in life, you have to push yourself by finding something to motivate you. Fear seems to be good. Hunger also works. Fear of being poor all your life. Hungry for the better things in life that always seem out of your grasp. Anybody can do it. Few do.
So, so true. Guess I still have a lot of work cut out for me.
Post Date: 1 Dec 09
Life is a little like that. Most of the time, if you want something then you have to find something to motivate you to go and get it. 90% of the people never get what they really want, because they are too lazy or overconfident.
To succeed in life, you have to push yourself by finding something to motivate you. Fear seems to be good. Hunger also works. Fear of being poor all your life. Hungry for the better things in life that always seem out of your grasp. Anybody can do it. Few do.
So, so true. Guess I still have a lot of work cut out for me.
Post Date: 1 Dec 09
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tough
Yesterday was the first time we brought a friend along for our weekly prayer sessions.
In my simplistic mind, this good friend deserves to be on the "same plane" as us if we are going "somewhere better". I believed that by joining us, he is well on his way to earning his "plane ticket".
However I was a bit disappointed when, at the end of the session, he said he had to ascertain "if this was what I wanted". I mean, how wrong can one be if he has already taken the (hardest) step towards jumping out of 六道轮回?
Wifey said he was referring to the commitment of going every week, and to give him some time.
I can now understand how difficult it can be to convince people onto the correct path. Of course in shows, the bodhisattvas had it tougher cos they had to convert the evil ones.
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
In my simplistic mind, this good friend deserves to be on the "same plane" as us if we are going "somewhere better". I believed that by joining us, he is well on his way to earning his "plane ticket".
However I was a bit disappointed when, at the end of the session, he said he had to ascertain "if this was what I wanted". I mean, how wrong can one be if he has already taken the (hardest) step towards jumping out of 六道轮回?
Wifey said he was referring to the commitment of going every week, and to give him some time.
I can now understand how difficult it can be to convince people onto the correct path. Of course in shows, the bodhisattvas had it tougher cos they had to convert the evil ones.
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
Monday, October 19, 2009
NESWA!
There are Never-Ending Surprises in Western Australia!
The West Australian article here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chevron finds more gas off WA coast
US energy giant Chevron says it has made a major discovery off the WA coast that will help support its $43 billion Gorgon natural gas project.
Chevron found gas in the Achilles-1 exploration well, about 160kms north west of Onslow in the Gorgon area, the company said.
Post Date: 19 Oct 09
The West Australian article here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chevron finds more gas off WA coast
US energy giant Chevron says it has made a major discovery off the WA coast that will help support its $43 billion Gorgon natural gas project.
Chevron found gas in the Achilles-1 exploration well, about 160kms north west of Onslow in the Gorgon area, the company said.
Post Date: 19 Oct 09
Saturday, October 17, 2009
迟到好过没到
Came back early this morning. As usual, the carpark is full. At least that's what I thought. I did eventually find a lot on 4A. A very pleasant surprise, considering at 3.30am, it is a "Level 6B" time.
After parking, the Voice in Head said, "Being later than others doesn't mean you will be worse off".
Yes, I may be older than a lot of first-time fathers, but I must use that to my advantage...
Image credit here.
Post Date: 20 Oct 09
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Unlimited viewing
We have been gifted with the ability to watch ALL channels on SCV. 100+ channels, how to see all?? Hehehe, happy problem. Good for Wifey, when she is on maternity leave.
Now all we are hoping is that the authorities don't catch up with us.
Image credit here.
Post Date: 12 Oct 09
Friday, October 02, 2009
Different strokes for different folks
Flipped open today's newspapers and saw the ad of a company that is going IPO. Upon closer scrutiny, I realised there were a few familiar faces in the ad. They had seeked help before, and we were part of the team. That "project" still ranks as the "highest" point of our volunteer work.
At lunch, I bumped into someone that seeked help before also. Seems like after he was cured, he was able to go back to work, but only on a permanent part-time basis.
Two different families, two different outcomes, but same setting. People we have helped got what they wanted and continued with their own lives, albeit in very different ways.
Feel jealous? Yeah, probably all of 2 seconds. But feel the need to help those in the lower income group? All the time.
Post Date: 2 Oct 09
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Bitter. Sweet.
So today marked the end of another in-camp training. While the maps, overlay, enemy actions and the department head's requirements still daunt me, I must say I survived better this time. I seemed to know what was going on. Yet again, this exercise was definitely less intense than the previous one.
The going was tough - early mornings, late nights, endless injects and countless presentations. While going through it, I couldn't wait for it to finish.
But now that it's over, I kind of ... miss it. Not so much the training, but the teamwork, the bind of the common destiny, and the talking cock. I did much, much better on the communication with the team.
This in-camp is the last one for some of the guys. I'll miss them, just like how I miss those who had already MR-ed at the last in-camp.
In other news, I ALMOST became the first NS men of the entire division to out-pro : )
Image credit here.
Post Date: 23 Aug 09
Monday, August 03, 2009
SJS
Saw a car with license plate SJS XXXX on the road this morning.
Hmmm ... SJS.
Brings back memories of a particular primary school in the early 80s, where a boy felt left out when 3 of his classmates formed a 'Secret Js' club, a la Secret Seven and Hardy Boys. At that moment, he wondered why his name didn't have a 'J', the pre-requisite to qualify for the club.
But he got over it pretty quickly. His innocent mind told him: Got so many thefts or even deaths in school to investigate, meh?
It's strange how some memories of more than 30 years can remain stuck.
Post Date: 3 Aug 09
Hmmm ... SJS.
Brings back memories of a particular primary school in the early 80s, where a boy felt left out when 3 of his classmates formed a 'Secret Js' club, a la Secret Seven and Hardy Boys. At that moment, he wondered why his name didn't have a 'J', the pre-requisite to qualify for the club.
But he got over it pretty quickly. His innocent mind told him: Got so many thefts or even deaths in school to investigate, meh?
It's strange how some memories of more than 30 years can remain stuck.
Post Date: 3 Aug 09
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Temasek mulls joint investments with public
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,4574,343869,00.html?
"... Asked about the shock departure last week of her would-be successor Charles 'Chip' Goodyear, Ms Ho said: 'I want to reaffirm that the decision was both mutual and amicable. We continue to hold Chip in very high regard for his professionalism and his integrity, so all those funny rumours you hear about his management style and all that, you can disregard..."
High regard for his integrity? Hmmmm...
Post Date: 30 Jul 09
"... Asked about the shock departure last week of her would-be successor Charles 'Chip' Goodyear, Ms Ho said: 'I want to reaffirm that the decision was both mutual and amicable. We continue to hold Chip in very high regard for his professionalism and his integrity, so all those funny rumours you hear about his management style and all that, you can disregard..."
High regard for his integrity? Hmmmm...
Post Date: 30 Jul 09
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Longest solar eclipse of the 21st century
http://travel.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20090722-156327.html
VARANASI - The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century cast a shadow over much of Asia on Wednesday, plunging hundreds of millions into darkness across the giant land masses of India and China.
Ancient superstition and modern commerce came together in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity likely to end up being the most watched eclipse in history, due to its path over Earth's most densely inhabited areas.
While bad weather confounded some eclipse watchers, tens of thousands of people gathered at dawn on the banks of the Ganges river in Varanasi where a largely cloudless morning offered a stunning view.
With Hindu priests conducting special prayers, the crowds cheered and then raised their arms in salutation as the sun re-emerged from behind the moon, before they took a spiritually purifying dip in the river's holy waters.
A total solar eclipse usually occurs every 18 months or so, but Wednesday's spectacle was special for its maximum period of "totality" - when the sun is wholly covered by the moon - of six minutes and 39 seconds.
Such a lengthy duration will not be matched until the year 2132.
State-run China Central Television provided minute-by-minute coverage of what it dubbed "The Great Yangtze River Solar Eclipse" as the phenomenon cut a path along the river's drainage basin.
Millions of people in areas of southwestern China enjoyed a clear line of sight, according to images broadcast on CCTV, but the view was obstructed along much of its path by cloudy weather.
Shanghai viewers braved rain and overcast skies to witness the spectacle as darkness shrouded China's commercial hub at 9:36 am (0136 GMT).
"It is working hours now, but with such a spectacle going on, you don't want to miss it. The experience is truly thrilling," said Allen Chen, a Shanghai office worker, who stepped out into the street to witness the event.
And despite the weather, hotels along Shanghai's famed waterfront Bund packed in the customers with eclipse breakfast specials.
Those who could afford it grabbed expensive seats on planes chartered by specialist travel agencies that promised extended views of the eclipse as they chased the shadow eastwards.
The cone-shaped shadow, or umbra, created by the total eclipse first made landfall on the western Indian state of Gujarat shortly before 6:30 am (0100 GMT).
It then raced across India and squeezed between Bangladesh and Nepal before engulfing most of Bhutan, traversing the Chinese mainland and slipping back out to sea off Shanghai.
From there it moved across the islands of southern Japan and veered into the western Pacific.
In Mumbai, hundreds of people who trekked up to the Nehru planetarium clutching eclipse sunglasses found themselves reaching for umbrellas and rain jackets instead as heavy overnight rain turned torrential.
"We didn't want to watch it on television and we thought this would be the best place," said 19-year-old student Dwayne Fernandes. "We could've stayed in bed."
Others opted to stay home and shuttered their windows, fearful of the effects of the lunar shadow which some believe can lead to birth defects in pregnant women.
Superstition has always haunted the moment when Earth, moon and sun are perfectly aligned. The daytime extinction of the sun, the source of all life, is associated with war, famine, flood and the death or birth of rulers.
The ancient Chinese blamed a sun-eating dragon. In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to "swallow" the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.
Some Indian astrologers had issued predictions laden with gloom and foreboding, and a gynaecologist at a Delhi hospital said many expectant mothers scheduled for July 22 caesarian deliveries insisted on changing the date.
The last total solar eclipse was on August 1 last year and also crossed China.
The next will be on July 11, 2010, but will occur almost entirely over the South Pacific, where Easter Island - home of the legendary moai giant statues - will be one of the few landfalls. -AFP
Image credit here.
Post Date: 24 Jul 09
Monday, July 20, 2009
Chinatown
Wifey and I were in Chinatown over the weekend. We came across a flea market stall holder peddling CDs of yesteryear superstars. I started humming and Wifey exclaimed I was such an ah pek.
For the longest time, I wondered why I like to hang around here, but now I think I have some possible explanations:
- it offers a glimpse into how Singapore was, a hark back to our past
- the place is laid back, old school, away from the hustle and bustle of city life
- the relentless modernisation has not affected it in a big way. Yet.
- it is associated with happy thoughts, since I come here to change money for holidays
- it is real, not pretentious, no facade
- they play great (read: old) music!
Post Date: 20 Jul 09
For the longest time, I wondered why I like to hang around here, but now I think I have some possible explanations:
- it offers a glimpse into how Singapore was, a hark back to our past
- the place is laid back, old school, away from the hustle and bustle of city life
- the relentless modernisation has not affected it in a big way. Yet.
- it is associated with happy thoughts, since I come here to change money for holidays
- it is real, not pretentious, no facade
- they play great (read: old) music!
Post Date: 20 Jul 09
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI
19 years, 16 years, 10 years.
After 3 campaigns, many hours and dreams later, it's time to say bye bye to the game.
I've uninstalled it. I need my time, sleep and brain cells back.
Image credit here.
Post Date: 16 Jul 09
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Visions @ 0700 (15.07.09)
Strange, short dream this morning.
Can't remember how it started, but the part I recall starts with me walking into the old house at 坡底. On the bench in the outer hall sat 外婆, with her glasses and baby blue top. But upon closer look, it seems like its grandma, not 外婆.
In the inner hall on the left sat 2 ladies. 二姨 was facing the entrance while I had to walk nearer before recognising 四姨.
In the dream, it felt like one of those visits to the old house, with people sitting around chit-chatting away happily. I'm surprised my subconscious mind can still remember the layout so vividly.
But 2 of the 4 persons in the room have already passed on. A sign? A message? Somehow after the dream, I just couldn't get back to sleep, no matter how hard I tried.
Post Date: 15 Jul 09
Can't remember how it started, but the part I recall starts with me walking into the old house at 坡底. On the bench in the outer hall sat 外婆, with her glasses and baby blue top. But upon closer look, it seems like its grandma, not 外婆.
In the inner hall on the left sat 2 ladies. 二姨 was facing the entrance while I had to walk nearer before recognising 四姨.
In the dream, it felt like one of those visits to the old house, with people sitting around chit-chatting away happily. I'm surprised my subconscious mind can still remember the layout so vividly.
But 2 of the 4 persons in the room have already passed on. A sign? A message? Somehow after the dream, I just couldn't get back to sleep, no matter how hard I tried.
Post Date: 15 Jul 09
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Infahini
The one bright spark from the recent Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak was this gem I heard last night:
"My parents just came back from Malaysia, my brother from Indonesia, my sister works in RP, my best friend is a student of RP, and her mother just came back from China. So do you think I should impose self quarantine?"
Image credit here.
Post Date: 6 Jul 09
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
What are the chances ...
*Update 19 Jun 09, Friday*
Ok, collected the car today. Case is still pending, but typically the workshop will quickly fix the car first. No loss to them, either way.
Now that I've calmed down, maybe it's better to 破财挡灾 instead of bodily harm. Oh well ...
... of your 5-year-old car needing its alternator replaced (and making you poorer by $620) one day, only to have an idiot who didn't check and opened his car door and damaged your door and side mirror that same afternoon?
Quite high, apparently! CB...
Post Date: 18 Jun 09
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