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

The End. The Beginning

Strictly speaking, it is session #7, and it's the last. We have accomplished our mission.

All the time I was running through the logistics in my head, we executed them today: the sorting, folding, opening, transferring and the eventual trip to the site.

The site had many visitors. These unwelcome buggers made me really uneasy. What's there to watch? Just go away! And thankfully they did.

I had imagined the final scene in my head many times, and it panned out almost accordingly. I didn't realise how much we did until we laid them all out. It was quite a sight to behold - almost knee height. On our way back, I was told that everything went well. Relieved.

This marked the end of the sessions, but the beginning of a new journey. I CAN'T WAIT!



Post Date: 13 Aug 09

5 down, 5 more to go

Wow, already halfway there.

Sore fingers and shoulders aside, we did well, exceptionally well - 101%. This brought cheer to the team and at least they could see their hard work paying off.

We ended around 4.30am, after which Wifey and I went for a well-deserved, calories-laden snack at Jalan Kayu.

The news is that from next week, we will take a break and go back to the less intensive format. Hopefully we can end earlier. Also hoping that the team is not needed, so that they can finally catch their breaths.

Menu: Bengawan Solo cake and kuehs with boiled chrysanthemum tea



Post Date: 20 Jul 09

4 down, 6 to go

Full attendance today.

Think we have settled into a routine, in that the tests are roughly the same as the previously weeks. However, we have been warned that from next week, it will be DIFFERENT.

We ended before 5.30am, and clocked the highest score to date: 100%. I don't know how we did it, but we did it.

Went to bed around 7.40am. After barely 3 hours, I was struggling to fall asleep. What the hell??!! Is someone or SOMETHING trying to prevent me from sleeping? At 12.30pm, after around 5 hours of sleep (only 5 freaking hours!), I woke up. Can't sleep no more. And what did I do when I woke up? Watch TV? Read newspaper? Play games? Hell no!

I did housework! Mum will be so proud!

Anyhow, later in the afternoon, we went to the temple to 拜拜. The volunteer there saw us and starting asking if we were ok. So long never see us already, she said. The others are also asking. Told her we have been busy and will still be busy for the next 1.5 months (fingers crossed), and that we can't wait to resume our Sunday morning prayers routine.

She exclaimed that we lost weight. How not to??!!

The damage after 1 month: $800

Menu: boiled chrysanthemum tea with DIY hot dogs



Post Date: 15 Jul 09

3 down, 7 to go

Wife was down with gastric flu, so we had a modified format.

We broke new grounds in that we:

- clocked the most no. of hours so far, 10.30pm to 6.30am = 8 hours
- got the highest score so far, at 95%

Managed to go to bed only around 7.50am, after tidying up. The still morning air made everything so ... serene, and I was at peace with the world.

Menu: boiled barley drink with steam buns



Post Date: 6 Jul 09

2 down, 8 to go

We had full attendance for this week's session. All in, we spent 7 hours.

Somehow, amid all the frantic activities and relentless countdowns, we broke even. Which is supposed to be a good thing.

Talking about good things, some people need to learn that there is such a thing called "too much of a good thing".

Wifey is feeling the frustrations and doubts, no thanks to fatigue.

Menu: bottled herbal tea with individual bread



Post Date: 29 Jun 09

1 down, 9 to go

The week went by slowly, agonisingly. All the cleaning up, packing up, buying of stuff, anticipation, fitful sleeps. Thu came and went, then Friday, then finally Saturday.

We prepared whatever we could prepare already. Thankfully Saturday went without a hitch, logistically. But some things just never change, eg. exacting standards, astronomical scores, lots of dust and tons of fatigue.

I can be bitter about the whole exercise. But for now, I want to take the positive - I'm just glad Sat's over and I can finally do all those personal admin things that I have put off for a week.

1 down, 9 more to go.

Menu: Bottled herbal tea with mini muffins



Post Date: 24 Jun 09

Does history repeat itself?

Of course it does, silly!

All shall be revealed this Saturday.

Dear Lord, please give me the mental strength to proceed ...



Post Date: 16 Jun 09

Sigh ... still not good news yet

What I heard last week, I had originally thought good news are on their way.

I was wrong.

Apparently, different cases require different 'procedures'. I know my disappointment is written all over my face, but I don't intend to hide my true emotions.

I am told to stay optimistic, not to be disheartened, keep trying ... I know I have to, but I feel very defeated already ...



Image credit here.

Post Date: 9 Dec 08

The fallibility of Man

"POWER CORRUPTS;

ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY."

Discuss.



Post Date: 8 Oct 08

Sianzzzz

Slept an additional hour this morning, but it still didn't help with the 偏头痛. Knew that it wasn't going to be a good day. Even my colleagues asked what was wrong.

Decided that I had enough and left for home at around 4.30pm.

On the way home, I tried to rationalise my sian-ness. I think it's a combination of factors, a perfect storm of emotions:

1. Office Work
Work has been really intense, and I've been kept on my toes. I'm not trained in my current responsibility, and I have no prior experience nor knowledge. Everything has been learnt on the ground. Because of this, I move very cautiously, poring over every detail and (try to) cover every angle. The buck stops with me. One wrong move/decision could send me to jail, incur the company a fine, or worse, send the whole structure down. It's not so much the pressure, but rather, the responsibility that's weighing me down. I need a break from months of scolding contractors, complaining to customers, spot checks and approving drawings/plans. And just before I left for home, another person was prepared to inconvenience us so as to get whatever he wanted. I was too tired to fight back.

2. Volunteer Work
Heard from a friend yesterday that the current case has been put on accelerated path. It's back to the good old days. We haven't been approached yet, but it might just happen. I really don't mind helping, but I always get the feeling our help is taken for granted, that it is 理所当然. Sigh. I may be over-worrying. Maybe the existing group can handle ... ?

3. Kids
Went to see the chinese physician again after another month of red marks. This time around, he diagnosed that the problem may lie with me. Sigh. Why is it so hard to conceive? Other people don't even need to try to get pregnant! And we just came back from dinner with a couple friend who brought along their 18-month-old boy. Guess what was the main conversational topic throughout the dinner?



Photo credit here.

Post Date: 20 Jun 08

Is the ice considered broken?

It's been 10 months since I announced to you that I wanted to take a back seat. You gracefully agreed that I can be your third line of defence. Before that, you had just started to help me and Wifey with our baby thingy.

We didn't want to appear desperate and didn't want to put you in a spot. That's why for the past 10 months, not once did we breathe anything about the baby thingy.

We were pleasantly surprised when you brought up the issue 2 weeks ago when we went to visit you. "The time is right", you mentioned encouragingly. I'm sure the incident 10 months ago caused much unhappiness. But when you voluntarily said that it was time, I was quietly glad, maybe all that unhappiness is already behind you.

But I must commend you on the timing. This is not the first time already, that you have impeccable timing. For this case, coincidentally, we also seeked our own help a few days ago. Maybe Buddha knows that I'm kiasu, so He double-confirms?

So last night we went to fetch you. The conversation topics may still be the same, but the ease seems to be lacking. Time will improve on that, for sure.

For all the time you were in the house, you didn't leave the seat. There was no opportunity for me to explain why there is a talisman stuck on my bedroom door. But I'm sure you already know. I'm prepared to explain, once the opportunity arises.



Post Date: 27 May 08

Just when you ...

... thought it's done, you get a call to say someone went to ask sometwo, and since sometwo wasn't supposed to know and now the secret is out, we have to go back. And start. All. Over. Again.

Production line starts tonight.



Post Date: 12 Oct 2007

It's done

UPDATE - 29 Sep 07

The update is that the case is closed. All's well that ends well.

*********************************

It's done.

We completed one week of work last night, culminating into a trip to you-know-where.

The results are good, although we still don't know its direct impact. And so we wait.



Post Date: 1 Oct 2007

It's imminent

Just got a call.

The message passed was for Wifey and I to go back and help.

The situation is tricky, with many angles to cover. I can think of 2 possible outcomes:

1. We will be hated to the core
2. We will hate ourselves for being subjected to manipulation



Post Date: 18 Sep 07

It's a comma, not a full-stop

After 2+ years, after all the 酸甜苦辣, my involvement in the activities has 告了一个段落.

I've indicated to the leaders that after my dad-in-law's incident, it seems that some understandings that I've always held dear are fundamentally wrong. As such, it will be extremely difficult for me to carry on.

Wanting to maintain a link still, I proposed to be the 3rd line of attack. We were asked to participate in last night's activities, as it seems the next one will be long time coming.

We will continue our volunteer work, albeit in a different place with very different callings. More of that later.



Post Date: 23 July 2007

Hougang Case VIII

Wed night / Thu: 4am, but went to bed at 6am.

The. Case. Is. Finally. Over.

I. Am. So. Farking. Tired.

I have also heard disturbing news, once again demonstrating the fallibility of men. Sigh.



Post Date: 30 Nov 2006

Hougang Case VII

Tue night / Wed: 2.30am

Thank goodness the job is finally done. Summary tomorrow.



Post Date: 29 Nov 2006

Hougang Case VI

Mon night / Tue: 1.30am

Just got back.

I've just realised the differences:

Helper / 死党
- someone that helps you with your work
- someone you clown around with
- someone that you show extraordinary patience and forgiveness towards

Helper / 亲信
- someone that helps you with your work
- someone you confide with
- someone that you have a soft spot for

Helper / Senior
- someone that helps you with your work
- someone more senior than you
- someone that you discuss the obligatory issues with

Lord Buddha, are all these part of your divine plans for me?
(Update: I checked, and the response is ... yes.)



Post Date: 28 Nov 2006

Hougang Case V

Thu night / Fri: 1.30am

Fri night / Sat: 7am

Sat night: 11.45pm

Sun night / Mon: 1.30am



Post Date: 27 Nov 2006