Miele Vacuum Cleaner's Attachments

The Wife is quite happy with several attachments she bought as extras.  Maybe she managed to negotiate for free, I am not sure but for the price she paid Miele should give the attachments for free!!

She has a small kit box with a small corrugated tube ending with a brush tip.  She says it is important for fans and electrical appliances.  She also have a long flat flexible tube for going behind cupboards and shelf.  There is even an attachment to suck out ants' nests from holes in the wall.  We have plenty of wood trimmings in our house and ants like to make their homes inside.  A clean, neat and tidy super-mom, she must ensure her house to be spick and span, without insects or house lizards.  It is like pushing water uphill as our house has plenty of greenery outside.  Nature is just right outside our door.  With the Miele Vacuum Cleaner and the special attachments, it will be hard for the insects to establish a presence in our home.

Decisive!

The latest book by two brothers, Chip and Dan Health is not bad.  I like their previous books Switch and Made to Stick.  It is on how we made decisions and how to improve our decision making process.  The key is we are usually short sighted by narrowing our focus and not considering other options or thinking choice is between two different options rather than having both options.  It is a very good book to learn how and what we need to consider before we make any decision.  I will recommend my readers and friends to read this book.

Sunday Times - Less Interesting

I am finding that I am spend a lot less time reading the newspapers nowadays.  Sunday is the day I usually spend a lot of reading the newspaper for relaxation.  A few of my favorite columnists are no longer published in Sunday Times - Colin Goh, Lee Wei Ling, Chua Mui Hoong and the likes.  I realised it has changed since Warren Fernandez too over the leadership.  The Straits Times now so pro-govt that it is no longer engaging or interesting.  It is like reading a slanted paper.  I am a reader of printed prose.  So the newspaper is important.  However, I am turning more and more to internet for news and alternative views.

I am thinking the columnists I enjoyed reading.  They talked about life in general.  I loved Colin Goh's humour.  He is good with colloquial words and uses Singlish with great effect.  Wei Ling's stories are very good.  I like the empathy with the poor and sick.  She also studied in Canada and I can related to this experience.  Chua Mui Hoong is a Teochew with excellent command of English language. 

Now I am left with Sumiko Tan.  She is the last "man" standing.  Once she stopped writing, I may give up reading Sunday Times.  Ignatius Low is not bad but I have not read his column for a while now.  I also missed Janadas Devan columns.  He writes well too.  Looked like most gifted writers are leaving Straits Times in droves.  I am glad Richard Lim is back with is 60s column.

Overall, I have nothing again Warren Fernandez but I believe the readerships will continue to drop with his editorial pen.

Miele Vacuum Cleaner

The Wife is super duper neat and clean when it comes to our home.  She did not like the Phillips Bagless Vacuum we currently have.  She did a lot of research on the Internet and settle on a Miele 2200 watts vacuum cleaner.  We had a 2000W Phillips vacuum cleaner before and it worked really good and lasted for many years.  Miele claims their vacuum cleaners last 20 years.  Later, she found out the 20 years claim is based on 45 mins use a day.  So we re-calculate based on our average use and will be lucky if the vacuum cleaner last 10 years.  First, we do not use everyday.  However, when we use, we will vacuum for a couple of hours.  The long usage will shorten the life of the motor even though frequency is reduced.

We bought a mid-range in terms of price.  It is the highest power and we are sold on high power and professional models as they lasted a lot longer.  We used to run through a lot of hair dryers until we bought the most powerful model available.  It was the most expensive but it is still with us today after probably 20 years. 

So we think the $758 dollars on the Miele will pay back in the long run.  An equivalent model by other makes cost only between $200 and $400.  So it is quite dear but in a long run will be more value.

Weekend is Here

It is a tiring day.  I wake up early and now feeling very sleepy.  My boys are busy with school work.  B1 is good to follow us around when we go for our meals.  Maybe it is because of the travel with insufficient sleep.  I am feeling lethargic.

On Channel News Asia, the program is on cleft lips.  So many children in India are born with cleft lips.  There is a private hospital who fixes the cleft lips for the poor villagers for free.  Smile Pinki is a very touching documentary.  I am impressed by the doctors who work to improve the lives of the poor in India.

Glad to be Home

I am so glad to be home.  Yes, it is home sweet home.  I go for night snack at Chomp Chomp.  It is not so busy at 10 pm on a Thursday night.  There are seats available.  The place has lots of late night diners.  B1 accompanied me on my snack attack trek.  It is so warm and humid.  But Bangkok is the same.  The difference is I cannot hide in the aircon room.

Good to be home!

Back to the City and Internet Access

I am finally back to Bangkok and have internet access.  It is not easy to go cold turkey with internet.  But being busy with the exhibition is helps.  Also old style wine and dine take up lots of time.  My host is sponsor a concert and we are invited to the concert.  Our sedate middle-age female Thai managers behave like wild teenagers -screaming and gyrating away.  It is an eye opener to watch how women swoon over a hot, sweaty middle age man just because he sings well.  This is an incredible scene.  It is my first time live with so many women going crazy right in front of my eyes instead of seeing it on TV.

Travelling back into Time

I am at Ambassador Resort just outside Pattaya.  The room is pretty spartan.  No internet access as well in the room.  I have access only in the business center and lobby.  Reminds me of travelling in the 80's.  Check-in into hotel.  First business is to go to business center for faxes and check if there are any call from office.  It is the same in Pattaya.  Connection to outside world is through a portal(business center).

Entertainment options are back to yore days.  There is a gigantic swimming pool (sadly, I will not get to use), the sandy beach and swimming in the open sea.  The English TV channel is limited too.  Only CNN.  I get the huge coverage on Boston bombing. 

Other than a little boring, it is a very nice place.  Plenty of Russian tourists and price is very reasonable.  Life is back to the good old days.

Dinner Alone

I reached Bangkok and was hungry by the time I reach hotel.  I have dinner in the Chinese resturant in the hotel and it is a buffet.  So I tried as many items as I can.  I am so full due to drinking a lot of tea and trying out 3 desserts.  I think my weight will go up.  The concept is similar to

I am very happy to have lunch with my 3 boys.  It is good that we are together before I go for my trip.  I am glad B1 and B2 did not make any arrangement before I leave for my trip.  Yesterday, we had a good deal with 2 free movie passes for purchasing $14 worth of Kit Kat products.  The movie pass is worth $15.  So it is a great deal.  My boys enjoy the chocolate too.  So it is win win.

Tomorrow is an early start.  I am feeling tired from the trip.  So I may sleep early and get up early.

Toilet Cleaning Evening

Finally, finally, my wife managed to get to show all our boys how to clean toilet.  They have been assigned to clean their own toilets.  I have "ownership" of level 3, B1 and B2 their own ensuite toilet and B3 the toilet for guests.  My wife takes responsibility for the master bedroom toilet.  The boys are shown step-by-step how to clean the toilet.  Every toilet has been set up with a bucket with all the necessary tools and detergents for the task of maintaining a spotless and welcoming washroom.  I am happy that our boys are responsible to maintain their washrooms. 

If we were living in Canada, they probably will be cleaning since grade school.  In Singapore, we always use domestic help and thereby the boys have no experience and can be quite thoughtless when it come to maintaining tidiness in our home.  I also feel accomplished after cleaning my toilet.  It feels clean and smells fresh. 

Sunset Grill

It is home sweet home!  I have one and half day at home before leaving on Sunday to Thailand.  We have dinner at the Sunset Grill along Jalan Kayu.  The food is not bad.  We had chicken wings of course, nachos and fish and chips.  It is an enjoyable dinner.  After dinner, we took a walk to Jerry's BBQ.  The price there is lower for chicken wings.  Now as I write my blog, I remember that it was not so good.  B2 confirmed my opinion.

Sunset Grill is quite popular.  Big groups who go to wind down after a week of work.  Some guys drinking beer and a few families and courting couples.  The food is typical bar grub.  Instead of great drinks and lousy food, I would say the food is not bad.  Of course the publicity of level of spiciness of chicken wings helps.  Even my middle boy noticed there are two pages of chicken wings in the menu.  So wings are a must!

The Chemical Society - Kintex

This afternoon I went to Kintex for the first time.  Usually, exhibitions are held in Coex.  The exhibition is quite small.  However, it is quite interesting to learn about another business.  However, I feel that the stuff on display in Japanese exhibitions seems more advanced.  So I wonder why Japan economy is not doing as well as Korea's.  In Japan, sometimes it is like science fiction coming alive.  The stuff are leading edge and serious shit!  Maybe Koreans do not like to show off their leading edge stuff.

I am happy to see our products is generating interest.  So I am glad to change my appointment to go to Kintex at the last minute.  It is good learning experience for me.

Coex Mall Under Renovation

I am surprised when I go into Coex mall.  Half the mall is closed.  No! Probably 70%.  The food court is gone and now the place is like a ghost town.  I can have lunch in a few of the resturants that are left.  Japanese tonkatus and Outback is still available. 

I am feeling full all the time as I drink coffee while having meeting with my customers.  No wonder my weight go up.  No exercise and sit and drink hi-cal stuff all day long.

Luckily, Bandi Luni is still open. So I have to chance to do my favorite pastime - browsing at books!

Pray

I arrived to check in Coex.  Immediately, I went to the Goddess of Mercy temple to pray.  It is good to pray regularly to Goddess of Mercy and also 4 face Buddha in Bangkok.  I feel better to offer my thanks for the good things and also pray for business to continue to grow and my boys are safe and do well in school.

It is natural instinct of father to ask the Greater Being to look after my boys and family.

Walking Alone

When I have a little time, I like to take a walk around my hotel.  It is very therapeutic.  Also make me think and reflect.  I always find it contemplative  to walk alone and do window shopping.  It is very dusty along the main road.  City air is really bad. I feel the need to write immediately to capture my thoughts.  I have to get ready for my next task.

VIP - Ho Ching

Ho Ching was on the same flight as me to Seoul.  Man, the whole team from Singapore Airlines was at the Incheon Airport waiting to escort her through immigration.  She has the same passport as me but she has top priority.

The weather is quite cold.  It is unusual according to my host.  Usually the sakura season is end March.  Now mid April and sakura is still blooming.  I had traditional charcoal grilled meat.  My host is so happy as it allows him to reminisce his past.  I also enjoys dinner very much.

The Store with Almost Everything!

We went to Mustafa to buy the basmatic rice for my mother.  B1 and B3 was with us.  B3 was so excited by all the different sugars.  He loves sucrose in different forms.  He want to buy all the different types for his baking needs.  However, it is very messy and mum told him no.  So he get to buy the chocolate sauce, chocolate icing and a couple of other items.

I also bought Demerara sugar. I just checked  I am wrong!  I should have looked for Turbinado sugar.  Anyway, no choice as it is already in my larder and I have to use up the sugar.  My intention is to get Turbinado for bbq dry rub. 

The problem is I could not get my favorite Bulldog BBQ sauce.  The supply is inconsistent.  Maybe Mustafa just buy whatever that has a deal on.

Sunday

It is lovely to wake up to the sound of rain.  It must have rained all night.  The weather is so much cooler now.  The rain has stopped and I am waiting for the two older boys to wake up.  They always sleep late and wake up late.  B2 is up now and he has tuition to give.  I was thinking of going to Mustafa to buy Basmatic rice for mum.  Last night, B1 called grandma to inform her when he is going to visit.  She is all excited and requested that I buy two packs of basmatic rice for B1 to bring along.  She says the rice tasted good.  I bought a pack for her when she was visiting during CNY.  She could not find the rice in Toronto.  I told her to go to Indian grocery shop.  The Chinese supermarkets she goes to will not have the rice. 

So my idea of bringing all 3 boys to Mustafa for a family outing is not going to work.  So I will have to make do going with whoever is left.

Eating Out and Household Chores

We have been eating out more in the last few days as we no longer has a helper.  We are so used to home-cooked food that now we find food outside is too flavorful and too much MSG.  We are not used to the food.  Also we are very thirsty after meals. 

Our boys are more willing to help out with household chores and it is good that they learn some responsibilities.   Slowly, we adapt and live like living in Canada.  No domestic help and doing all the household chores.  Our boys have grown and independent.  So we need them to be less pampered as B1 will be going to University soon.  If he goes oversea, he will have to live alone.  It will be a shock and major adjustment if he is not experience in doing household chores.

Thirsty All Day Long

The heat is making me thirsty all day long.  I am using up a lot of ice to make cold drinks.  Iced tea, Ribena and Coke.  With so much liquid calories, it is hard to keep weight down.  I also need to water my plants.  They are all drying up from the heat and lack of rain.  Stress of work also cause me to eat and drink more.  My way of handling stress is not good.  When my wife is stressed, she just stop eating.  Whereas for me, I eat more when stressed.

B1 applying SMU

Although B1 was offer SMU law before, he accepted NUS Law School.  Now he is applying for SMU Law School again.  He is hoping to get a scholarship and I hope he get it.  It will be helpful for us not to be burden by the cost of his university. 

B2 says he had a good day when I pick him up from Nanyang Poly at about 9pm.  He is the Freshman Orientation Program Leader.  He enjoys leading group especially when the group respond to him when he give commands.  He also enjoys coaching and giving advice.  Maybe he can be a Professional Coach or Speaker.

Make-Up makes a Woman Looked Beautiful

On Channel 8 this morning, is the Seniors singing competition.  The pictures of a 51 year old contest were flash and very unflattering.  When she come on-stage, her skin on her face is smooth!  With the long eye lashes, I will say it is not bad.  The transformation is amazing.  The mannerism did not change and it is easy to tell she is a middle age woman next door.

Nowadays, women looked better through technology.  Men also starting to using technology to improve their looks.  I always think of short cut of diet - lipposuction.

Silence on Attracting and Retaining More Singaporean Crews

Singapore Airlines replied to my compliments to the crews.  However, the manager is totally silent on my point about keeping more Singaporean men and women.  It is very interesting.  So I wrote back to her and ask why she did not address this point I raise.  Let's see if she responds.  Quite clearly, it is an issue she is avoiding.  It tells me that Singapore Airlines, a Government-owned entity is not comfortable or maybe prefers to keep the wages low by hiring foreigners rather than attracting locals.

Feedback to SIA

I wrote to SIA Feedback to compliment the cabin crews.  There is a change.  Now, the system do not give an auto-reply.  Usually, a manager will reply within two days.  I only send it yesterday and so will wait for until tomorrow to see if feedback is no longer attend to like before.  I like this set of cabin crews.  Of the six I met, only one is a Singaporean.  The rest are from either Malaysia or Indonesia.  I told SIA that I hope as a icon and pride of Singapore, it should do more to attract and retain Singapore's sons and daughters.  Let's see how well SIA take this feedback.

Every time after a trip, I will be eating a lot.  Loves our local snacks.  Nowadays, I do not eat a lot on trip.  I need to manage my weight.  I try to be healthy as well and eat more healthy food.  My weakness is dessert.  The cookies in New Zealand is quite nice and full of calories as they are very sweet.  The other reason is I drink a lot more milk tea and coffee at home as well. 

Sony Creative Toy Competition

B3 is working on his Sony Creative Toy again.  He spent lots of time on his first toy but trashed it after feedback from the teacher to make it more interesting.  Now he is working on another model.  He is good at coming up with new concept.  However, he always do things last minute and will on rush out his work when it is due. 

Breaking Light

The sky get lit up so late at home.  In OZ and NZ, the sky is bright so early.  It is nice and cool to be outside.  Although hardly any activity at all except for occasional pedestrian or cleaner.  Here our wet market is bustling.  I was up at 4am and cycled to Fernvale 24hrs Foodcourt and had tea there.  It was good to get the local taste.  As one of the stewardess puts it "No Kaya" for all the wonderful offerings NZ has. 

I have to go to the AMK market to get some small fishes for my arowana.  My poor goldfishes probably were not fed for a week that I am out of town.  I noticed they are fewer in number this morning.  Maybe the white throat Kingfishers have been raiding my pond....

Good Flight Home

It is a long trip back.  However, I managed to talk to the crews and therefore was not bored.  The movies are not good enough to hold my attention.  Talking to the crews is a lot more interesting.  On-board out of the 7 in my cabin, only one Singaporean.  The rest are Malaysians or Indonesians.  The crews worked hard and quite serious in attending the calls from passengers.  They also take care of details.  It is a good group.  They are quite service oriented.  I am happy to have good crews who are willing to work hard to service passengers.

Triathton in Downtown Auckland

The whole of downtown Auckland is shut for today and tomorrow.  There is a triathon event going on.  So traffic will be bad.  I will have to check out and go to the airport to pass time as traffic to hotel will be stopped by 11am.  I am quite sleepy as I was woke up by an sms from my wife.  On her message, she says she hope her sms do not wake me up.  Best of all, she asked me to read something that can wait as it is the weekend

Strict Checks in New Zealand

I finished my work in New Zealand.  I am happy to go home tomorrow.  It is like a 11 hours flight.  I have plenty time to read and sleep.

I almost forgot to blog about this.  Food checks in New Zealand is strict.  Every luggage is x-rayed and checked for food items.  They are strict with fresh produce like fruit.  Packaged food can be brought in but make sure you declare.  There is a $400 fine.  The chance of getting caught is 100% as all bags are checked.  So it is best not to bring any food to Australia and New Zealand.

Time Change Almost Every Day this Week

One city and one time change.  From Singapore to Brisbane is two hours difference.  On Monday, I have my clock shifted two hours ahead.  On Wednesday going to Sydney, there is a hour shift forward.  On Thursday from Sydney to Auckland, another two hours forward.  I am gaining time almost everyday.

Tomorrow, I will lose all the time I gained this week when I returned home. 

Auckland! After 10 years?

Landing at 3pm local time, I arrived at Auckland.  My second visit to Auckland and New Zealand.  The first time we holidayed here with our boys.  I remember the city is so dead.  Everything closed at 5pm.  Today, Auckland is busier.  It is the village version of Singapore.  Many foreigners, all young adult studying the University.  The food court is practically all Asian food - Thai, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese. The streets are much busier. 

I recalled my wife upset with me for not going out of the city to go to tourist spots.  I am not the adverturous type who will go everywhere to sightsee and experience tourist attractions.  I always walk around the hotels I stayed.  So my family did not experience much in Auckland previously.  I don't any of the boys even remembered being in Auckland as we stayed in the hotel most of the time.

The city has grown.  Many food courts and cafes dot the main street.  I recall the city was practically dead after 7pm.  Not a soul walking outside.  And tonight, I took a walk at 9pm and the streets are busy with young adults.  Starbucks and other cafes have patrons drinking and socialising.  All the shops are closed at 7pm.  Tomorrow is shopping night where the stores can open till 9pm.  Yes, the shops need a licence to stay open!

Most Expensive Taxi Rides

I have to go a suburb almost an hour away.  The taxi ride is $109 Aussie.  This is $143 Sin!  I remember taxi rides was cheap.  Today with the strong Aussie dollar, taxi rides today is incredibly expensive.  Exorbitant!  The taxi drivers must be making a good living.  They have to pay GST, income tax and rental.  I wonder how the residents survive paying so much for fares.

Walk to Town Center, Brisbane

Although it is late about 9pm, I decided to take a walk.  I wore thermal underwear and when I get outside, I found the temperature quite warm.  In fact, the girls I cross paths with were wearing shorts.  So I feel kind of stupid.  Everything is closed, only resturants and bars are open.  So there is really nothing to see.  It is such a slow pace of life.  I think people living here will live a long life as the pace will slow down the heart rate as well.

It is a good mix of white, black and brown.  Brisbane is very multicultural.  The walk after dinner makes me feel better.  I enjoyed the mild exercise.  It is also quite safe as there do not seem to have a lot of shady characters lurking around killing time.  So I think it is a great place to live.

Nice Weather in Brisbane

It is pretty nice in Brisbane.  Not so cold.  The whole town is like dead town.  Not many people are about as it is a public holiday and super long weekend - Friday and Monday.  It is the opposite of Singapore.  Everyone here go camping or out-of-the city.  There are few cars on the road and even fewer pedestrians.

My host told me my hotel is near Botanic Garden.  I will be out early in the morning and will be back late, no chance to take a walk.