Serangoon Case II / Hougang Case I

It. Is. Finally. Over.

We completed it this morning. Very, very tired. At least the work is done.

Thinking we can finally properly rest, our happiness was shortlived. We have just been informed another case is coming up.

Sigh. I really, really would like to know how much we have to put in this time.

Post Date: 6 Nov 2006

"Get out of my elitist uncaring face!"

Some ill-bred smart alecky you-know-what-JC kid who thinks the world of herself has incured the wrath of netizens and subsequently that of society. She who wears the elitist tag so ostensibly around her neck is but another product of our "give the best to the best" system.

Uncaring, unsympathetic and definitely elitist, her remarks show disregard for the real trappings of the other parts of society, or even the realities facing the common man. Mind you, her generation will be running our country in 20 years' time.

This just serves to further entrench my disrespect for people of that 'level'. I honestly don't think all they've done are 101% for the common good. I have reached the point where I'll just flip the damn page if there was a newspaper article about some elites saying something that they claim is good for us.

Call me a loser, a whiner, whatever. But limpeh is damn pissed.

Trisha wrote a very insightful piece on this fiasco, and I reproduce it here with her permission.

There is no glory in being an elite. No honour in trumpeting one’s own success. For if not by a fortunate roll of the dice of life, any of us could end up like Mr Y or Mdm C. Any of us could be born into a family visited by sorrow upon sorrow, where circumstances work against you and fate tosses you around like sand, so that you can’t get out of the shit even if you want to. So for those of us in which life has been unbelievably kind to us, a good measure of gratitude and humility is called for. Survival of the fittest is the rule for the animal kingdom. Surely we are above the beasts? Surely we are meant to rise up higher? Instead of dashing to be the first, perhaps it is far nobler to slow down, and give a hand to the downtrodden, the unfortunate, the unskilled, the retrenched, the slower, the old, the sickly and the poor. When we can restore even a modicum of dignity to our fellow beings who have no hope, surely that makes us more human.

Post date: 6 Nov 2006

The Waverley Blog welcomes its first public visitor ...

... Janise!

This blog is meant as an online diary, so its really personal, and you don't really want people prying into your private life. But I've been following Janise's blog (rather kapo-ly), so I think some reciprocation is in order.

Just a quick word, Janise dear. I tend to post- and pre-date my entries, making them as chronologically accurate as possible. Do bear with the quirks of this diary owner.

Goodness, I've been wanting to keep this blog under the radar for so long, and now I'm (sort of) making it public ... it's almost like Ting finally deciding to post pics of her face.

Sony DSLR-A100/B

Wah lau eh, can't wait to lay my hands on this mean-looking entry-level DSLR. While this is Sony's first foray into the DSLR market, I have faith in them, and have read good reviews of this model.

All I need now is $2100 to buy the body plus 2 lenses.

Post date: 6 Nov 2006

Sailor Moon!

I used to watch it every week. Religiously.

Innovationation

Attended this infocomm exhibition at Expo put up by IDA.

Must say it was quite well done, with interesting facts and figures, as well as a showcase of what our future might hold.

Brought me back to 9 years ago, when I made the decision to join either the telco or the transportation industry. While it was all excitement and greenfields then, I do admit I'm now a bit jaded. It has become a job, and that hardly gets my heart racing. Luckily, my appreciation of telco things puts me in good stead to understand gadgets, which I still enjoy checking out.

Found this interesting panel that says the average Singaporean sends about 200 SMSes a month. Well, my highest record is 700 SMSes a month. Now I average 400.

Post date: 6 Nov 2006

Channel 8 - An Enchanted Life

First episode last night, with the show touted as Yvonne Lim's breakout performance.


Was watching it when I realised her image seemed rather familiar. And then I remembered:


To help with the comparison:


To the image consultant: you really should get a life and stop going to her blog.

To Yvonne: NOOOOOOOOOO ...... !!!

Moody

I'm in one of my moods again. I feel very down.

I used to get hit a lot more often at the hell hole, so I guess this is an improvement.

Maybe with all the little sleep, limited results at work and still no news of the little baby, all these are the ingredients for an emotional me? Not to mention the inability (or an iota of possibility) to improve the status quo for my parents or Wifey ... just gets me down.

On my way back to the office after a medical appointment, I detoured and stopped at Shuang Lin Monastery. I want to know what I can do to improve the lot, what I have done wrong, or what I haven't done right.

I still don't have the answers.

Welcome Back!

Wow, it's been more than a year since they last visited!

Met up with them just now at the hotel, and realised I missed them. They encapsulate the good times Wifey and I had in Australia.

After a dinner at Riverside Point, we couldn't stay very long to chit chat, because of Serangoon Case.

Anyhow, next dinner on Friday!

Genting - Cool Weather + Smell = TMD

KNN. Just now PSI was 150, the highest in 9 years!

Taken on Thu, 5 Oct 2006.

Taken on Fri, 6 Oct 2006.

Object of Desire

This has caught my eye, but I'll wait for the price to drop further.

















It's now $768 without line. 3.2M camera with Carl Zeiss lens! My first digital camera, a Sony 3.2M without Carl Zeiss lens already set me back $1000!

TMD.

Big Case III / Serangoon Case I

Big Case has finally concluded last night. It was slated for 12 days, but it went on for a month. After all the hard work, all's well that ends well.

But ...

There is now a new case. I shall call it ... Serangoon Case. The work should be similar, and the cast will be 原班人马. Action starts tonight. Because we have a wedding to attend, our involvement starts tomorrow.

More late nights ...

My 100th Post!

Fwah! Didn't expect I'll hit 100 posts. Expected myself to be lazy. But since this is supposed to be my diary, I've tried to be as conscientous as possible.

Actually, 100 posts from July last year until now, 15 months, averaging 7 posts a month, isn't something to shout about lah.

Let's see how long it takes for the next 100 posts!

Communication

In recent weeks, we heard of conflicts between daughter and parents, as well as boss and subordinates. Each side insists on his/her opinion, and no one seems to want to give way.

I attribute all these to a lack/failure of communication. Don't wait until beh tahan already then explode everything out. Problems, like food, are easier to handle if they are in bite-sizes. Any unhappiness or uneasiness, no matter how small, should be brought out and discussed. No only does it nib the problem when it is smaller, it also builds the relationship with trust and mutual respect.

Such problems can happen to couples just as easily. My policy with Wifey is also the same: not happy, say out. Don't bottle. We have enjoyed great communications over the years, and I don't want that to change.

Wong Fu Productions

Came across this video clip at XLX's blog.

Damn funny. Went to their site at http://www.wongfuproductions.com, and found more gems!

Anyway, enjoy the show : )

How Come Leh?

Why is it that I can talk with ease to hawkers, cleaners, guards, students, salespeople, cashiers and the likes, but fumble when faced with CEOs, MDs, ministers or even angmohs?

Actually I know the answer: it is mindset.

For fear of saying the wrong things, for looking like an idiot, for sounding less intelligent than I really am. I kick in a different mode, and the outcome is exactly that: say wrong things, look like an idiot, and sounding less intelligent.

I have to start learning that they are humans too. As someone told me recently: Make that conscious decision to.

Say wrong things, look like idiot and looking less intelligent all equate to failing. It got me thinking: how come I'm so averse to failing leh? Sometimes, for fear of failing, I don't even want to do/start/say something.

Time to get out from under the rock and start living ...

Parental Love

Those past 2 weeks were terrible, but it taught an important lesson. If you were to dwell deep into the source of the case, one would realise that the underlying message is: PARENTAL LOVE.

Parents would do almost anything for their children, some even offering their own lives. I also recall the many sacrifices that my parents have made for me.

Yet, I am painfully ashamed of the little that I've done for them thus far. Can't afford to take them on tours (they have to pay for it themselves), hardly buy them things, even the car I'm driving. Priority should be given to Dad, but I end up hogging it most of the time.

So what has their poor son been doing? Keeping my weekly dinner dates, updating them about my daily life, and taking a genuine interest in their well-being. I know it's barely scratching the surface, but that's what I (and they) can only contend with now.

My dream is to one day, create 2 tertiary scholarships in their name. For Dad, a scholarship in languages, and for Mum, one in humanities.
They had (and still have) so much love to give. To them, I'll be forever their little boy. Oh, how I love the both of you so much! So many times, I want to hug the both of you and say thank you, but our Asian conservatism forbids me from doing so. Shit, I hate it when I get emo ... please excuse me as I grab a tissue ...

*compose compose*

On this very symbolic occasion, Pa, Ma, I would like to wish the both of you:

A VERY HAPPY 35th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!

Big Case Part II

Saturday night was supposed to be the last chance, but got called on Sunday night to report in.

This can't go on. It has passed my threshold. Anything that needs me to give up sleep, family time and is affecting my work is too big a compromise. If this case doesn't close soon, I don't want to be sleeping for 2 hours every night for the rest of my life.

Thankfully I've been allowed a daily (nightly?) early release.

What Will You Do ...

... if, in the span of 3 days, your boss tells you:

A) you are not shrewd and nasty enough, and

B) he hopes he doesn't reach the stage of him using a stick

A) came about because he thinks you were too nice to an agent. He expects you to change, ie. become nastier. Why? Because that is a pre-requisite to be in the business world!

If I have to change this aspect of my character because of my environment, then I'll rather change my environment.

B) came about because he thinks you are too soft, and have been bullied by the customer. This part I can agree. I need to be more assertive and must learn to put my foot down.

All said and done, my boss is a nice guy. This mild outbursting from him might have been a while in the making, meaning he's been holding it within until now.

Big Case Part I

Last night marked the start of the Big Case.

I don't know how long it would last. And I don't know how much daily sleep I'll get. If the 2 hours I got this morning is any indication, I think we are in for something whose scale I cannot comprehend.

And obviously, this post is pre-dated.