Visiting 2 Classmates

My Art classmate is working in Queensway Shopping Center.  Since I have to send my wife there for her work, I drop by to visit her.  The shop is at level 3.  It is a bookshop with toys and games.  So it is like a regular gift cum bookshop.  The theme is Christian and some business.

I am afraid of retail knowing the long hours.  Also it is time for me to take a break and "retire" properly.  She keep asking me to attend courses.  She loves the leadership course she is currently taking.  Her trainer has the same name as me and worked in a MNC.  He went for plenty of coaching and training during his career in American companies.  I went through similar programs as well.

She is very excited as she is now using the tools for leadership training.  The learning styles, communication styles developed by American psychologists.  I am very happy for her.  She is very encouraging.

We have a lot of similar experience!  Her son is a lawyer but now working in IT.  My son is just starting out as a lawyer.  Her son's girlfriend broke up with him and so did my boy's girlfriend.  Seems like boys' hearts are broken by girls.

I also visited my Baking classmates.  They have a shop in Alexandra Center.  The carpark there is free for 3 hours if you buy something at the shops.  I was there and a few old ladies were curious and I offered them the free samples!  I also tell them the benefits of the bread which has low GI and how it is very difficult to get these type of bread from regular breadshop - rye and sourdough.

My wife loves the Cranberry and Walnut bread.  So we bought one loaf for $12.  This time my classmates give us free Spinach Bread and a bottle of kueh bangkit!  My wife is embarassed and try to reject the free gifts.  I, only the other hand is very happy and says very loudly I will keep coming back!  I have no problem accepting free gift or samples as I have to give out plenty of samples for my work.

Latest Count... 209 Books

This morning, I continue to transfers the books I downloaded to my Kobo.  Now I have 209 books.  It is so much more convenient to read.  Also no need to borrow from the library and pay fines if you forget to return in time.

The only problem is picture books are not readily available in the internet.  Books like gardening or landscaping which I also like and get inspired in order to work on my garden.

E Books

E-books are available for free.  I bought a lot of books from Kinokuniya.  Now I hold most of my books in my personal library in my Kobo e-reader.  It is really nice to that it is so easy to carry around and read wherever and whenever.  Only problem is I do not get the thrill of the physical book, cracking the spine, smelling the paper and feeling the texture of the newsprint.

I have now about 150 books in my Kobo.  The reader is not bad in EPub format.  And really slow in PDF format.  So it takes getting used to especially changing the font size and shifting the page around in PDF and putting up with the screen blinking and then displaying which can take a couple of seconds.  A couple of seconds does not seems much but when compared to instanteous with the flip of a page or multiple pages, it is eternity.

Temples in CBD

There are 4 or 5 temples in Telok Ayer.  We went there to pray on Saturday afternoon.  This afternoon, we make another round trip offering our prayers to all the temples again.  We are lucky to strike 4D to defray the cost of the accident even though it is very minor.

Car Accident

I was involved in an accident on Friday evening.  I release my brake and my car moved forward and hit the other car while we are waiting to get out of the main road.  This guy drives a KIA.  Anyway, I thought we just report the accident since it is just a touch.  However, my brother-in-law suggested to do private settlement.  I tried with him this morning and he declined.  So I guess just let it be.

The good thing about this accident is I bought 4D and the other car number popped up 3rd prize.  2nd prize is the same numbers but in different order.  I bought iBet and won a little bit of money.  I hope it is enough to compensate for the increased in my insurance premium.

Instruction Set of Quirkbot

I am stumped by the challenge of understanding the instruction set.  Going by trial and errors is taking lots of time and progressing slowly if any at all.  I am trying out varying instruction so that I can do running lights but so far no joy.  There is no time delay or trigger in the instruction set.  So I am still trying out to work out what instruction I can use.  Man, this is a huge challenge!

Fans of Boh Tong

My blogger friend is in Japan.  He has been updating his blogs regularly and has interesting stories about his adventure in Japan.

He talks about his daily life and the nice delicious and reasonably priced food.  He also gives glimpse of healthcare system which is important for everyone wherever you are.

This link to his blog is at the top of my fun places to go on the right column of this blog.

Quirkbot

I went for an introductory class in Quirkbot last evening.  It is interesting and challenging although it is designed for kids above 8.  I guess I am a new kid above 8:)

The Quirkbot keep hanging in my system.  I have to reset my computer as well.  So it is not so easy to use with my Windows laptop.  I am also trying to figure out the instruction set.  It is not intuitive for me anymore.  I will spend more time figuring it out and make some projects.  Right now, I am still trying to figure out how to make the lights go around and it is not easy!!

New Life

I am reading Boh Tong's blog.  He is now 3 months old in Japan and beginning to like living there.  I completely understand the feeling.  Initially, it is strange and everything is quite different even though it is nice.  There is this discomfort over the newness.  Over time, life gets into a routine and there are new hobby e.g. vegetable gardening(tomatoes), walks that is very comfortable...no sweats!, work on the house, etc, etc.  Then it is a real pleasure to experience different lifestyle.

I remember I had a hard time adjusting to life in Canada the first time.  The cold is frigid and goes straight into the bones.  Then the long days and enjoyable walks in the evening which is still very bright as the sun sets at 8 pm or later.  The neighbours or their kids will always say hi as it is their custom.  We can always talk to the kids we met during our walkabout and they will answer.  Whereas here, the kids look at you suspiciously or if it is a girl, she will hurry away or scream for her parents.

When we went back the 2nd time, it is so much easier.  We know the system and just ease into the life there easily.  Buy our car, get the insurance, go for weekend trips, fishing, farmer's markets, Home Depot or Canadian to maintain our home...  It is quite comfortable.

The only problem living in Toronto is snow storm and having to go to office.  If we ever go back now, this will not be an issue as I will not be working.

It will be nice to live there during summer and fall and escape back to Singapore in winter.  The only problem is airfare is so much more expensive than anywhere in Asia.

3 Weeks!!!

I have not been blogging for 3 weeks.  My blogger friend, Boh Tong has been checking on me.  I am no so conscientious in updating my blog as I stopped working and no longer needs to be in my home office everyday.

What have I been doing the last 3 weeks.  Well, first as you know my kim bak lor or Asian Seabass was kept in the freezer as the pump was leaking electricity.  I changed all the wiring which takes me two days as it did not work every time I re-wire.  So, I thought I have to buy a new pump.  This pump is expensive as it is integrated with a large filter.  So I googled and one guy experienced the same issue.  He changed to a new pump and the issue did not go away.  Since he is an electrical engineer, he did some research and found a solution.  Earth the water.  So I did as he suggested and hey presto! it works!. 

Since I no longer have to feed my Asian Seabass, I stopped cycling as well.  However, my garden needs maintenance.  I have to clear my plants.  I also acquired a banana plant from my physiotherapist.  The banana plant is growing.  So I am happy.

Since B2 brought back the Kobo ereader, I have downloaded lots of books for free.  I am reading a lot.  It is my old hobby.  I reduced my TV time a lot as well due to reading.  Unfortunately, I still watch Youtube a lot on my phone.

We had friends over for dinner one evening.  I spend two or three days preparing and cooking.  I cooked ranch beans and baked chicken.

It is mango season and they are cheap and plentiful.  I prepares dried mangoes for the family.  It is hard to keep up as the mangoes rarely last more than 2 days.

Today, I started cycling and fishing again.  So I will be back to exercising more regularly.