Diary

I have a notebook which I use to write randomly to pass time when I am out in drinking tea. I noticed I have not update this book for almost a year now. When I review my past entries, it is really interesting as many of the incidents are completely forgotten. Small details like what my boys say or did. This is a really good memory tickler. I must be more conscientous in keeping this diary alive. It is help me recall all my fond memories in future.

Dental Treatment So Expensive

My regular dentist had a tiff with the head of dentistry in NUH. So he left and he is now working part-time two days a week in Paragon. He now charges $1200 for a crown instead of $500 in NUH. Root canal cost more than $1000 now that I recall as I have paid three times. It used to cost $500 in NUH as well.

His fees have gone up by two and half to three times just practising in a private dental clinic. I am with him for so long. I am most comfortable with him as he is very detailed and have very good troubleshooting skills.

Taking care of teeth is very important. I need to look for an alternate dentist for simple work.

Finished!

I finished the book Surely, You're Joking! Mr. Feynman! It is really fun reading this book. Full of humour and anecdotes. Feynman has lots of lectures notes and audio books on his lectures. I will go to our wonderful library and borrow the Feynman's Lectures. It contains at least 12 disks.

I read the book in 3 or 4 days which is great. It is onwards and forward. I will go on to my next book.

Real Italian Wood Fired Oven

B1 saw military sunglassess at a good price during games day on Friday. He told me that the same sunglasses would sell for more than $500 would be at $143. I thought it is a good deal and asked him to find the shop. We went to Selegie Road to look for the shop that sells military sunglasses. The sunglasses does not fit B1 as it is not designed for Asian faces. So we pass. Along the way to the carpark was old shops. I saw this pizza place that looked interesting and venture to try. My boys were shocked by the price. $25 a pizza. I thought we should try and find out why it is so expensive. We tried the lassagne which is the current special(not in price!). For $25, the serving was very small and a pizza. The pizza was excellent and I ordered another pizza. I thought the pizza is quite high standard like The Chalk. Taste is different.

So we tried their dessert Tiramisu and Cheesecake. Tiramisu was very good but cheese cake is not worth the $9.90 price. For a coffeeshop style resturant, two pizzas, one lasagna and two dessert with no drinks come with a price tag of $120. Fairly pricey but good food.

Building at Frantic Pace

HDB is building like crazy around my estate. I moved here to get out of city life and enjoy suburban and less crowded condition. The neighbourhood has grown and is still growing. There are a lot more cars, people and flats. Every empty fields that were used previous for soccer on the weekends, flying kites or model airplanes now has blocks of flats or is undergoing construction. All the open fields are gone and the quality of life in SengKang is going down. It is only man-made sport or activities like gym, swimming, badminton or other indoor sports. What a pity. No more kite flying, no more frisbee competition, or soccer. It is really sad. Now, we will not get kites with flashing LEDs that looks like UFOs flying at night.

Singapore is getting too crowded and buildup. We are worshipping the almighty dollar. Economic growth over everything else.

Surely, You're Joking Mr. Freynman!

It is an interesting collections of short stories of a Nobel laureate physicist. I was browsing the bookstore and found myself sitting on the floor delving deeply into the book. It is full of humour and talk a lot about something I identify extremely well - experiments! Mr. Freynman did plenty of scientific experiment since he was young.

The big difference is his IQ is off the scale mine is just at above average. I have to struggle with calculus and he works them out in his mind. Both of us enjoying learning many different subjects.

The books by Freynman was recommended by OCBC CEO, Mr. Connor in an interview by Straits Times.

Insufficient Sleep cause Headaches!

I was suffering from headache since I woke up this morning. I took a total of 4 painkillers and it did not get rid of the headaches. When I landed and going through the immigration, I took one candy as sugar did help in relieving headaches and told the officer that I am taking it for headache. She says it is lack of sleep.

B1 has been complaining of pressure behind his eyeballs and it hurts if he jumps. I thought it may be something serious and asked him to report sick - military term for seeing the medical officer. Now I realise he may be just suffering from lack of sleep. Because beside having headaches, my right eyeball has a lot of pressure and was very uncomfortable during the flight.

I learn something from the immigration girl today.

Long Day

It is long and tiring two days. I am so tired that I almost fell asleep during dinner. I am glad to be back in the room and now packing up to get ready to leave early morning tomorrow. Good thing is summer time. So the sun will be up by the time I check out at 6 in the morning. Usually it is dark and cold.

I am happy to accomplish my objectives. At the end of the day, a lot of business still have to be conducted in the old fashion way - face-to-face meetings.

Worrying Feeling

I was browsing books as usual when I feel funny in my chest. I have this kind of feeling before and it is something that I know something is wrong. The last time this feeling happens, I had a pnemothorax. I refused to admit or go for checkup and live with one lung for more than a year. Then I have to go for x-ray for as part of the admission procedure to Singapore Poly. Before going for the x-ray, I know I may have to go to hospital for the bad feeling I had in my chest. After waiting for a few days to get my x-rays, this is in the good old days where x-rays takes a few days to develop rather than today instanteous on the computer or 10 mins on film, I was required to see the radiologist. My heart sank knowing whatever I had, it has shown up. True enough, the radiologist told me I had a severe case of pnemothorax and need to go to hospital immediately. I told him I had no symptoms and life is normal for me, so I was reluctant to go. He told me if I do not treat it, my lung may get infected and then there is no choice but to remove which is a worse procedure than punching a hole and sucking out the air. He wrote a letter and I took leave from school to have my lung reinflated or rather the air in my pleural cavity removed.

Now, the bad feeling is the heart. I think something may be wrong. I have bad diet - love all the oily cholesterol clogging food that will plug my coronary arteries. I have been exercising regularly but it does not prevent my arteries from narrowing or hardening.

Hold it! Whoa! I just blurb so it may be just air trapped in my stomach. Oh, darn it!! Am I just too paranoid? Maybe it is just a case off too much gas from the Vietnamese noodles I ate for dinner. What will be will, sigh....

Seoul Hot and Humid

This is the first time I come to Seoul in summer. It is incredibly hot and humid. It is nice to come in warm weather. Aclimatized to Singapore's weather, going to a cold place on a plane on short notice is stressful to the body. So I do not mind the heat and humidity as it is like home. Summer also mean lots of green on the ride from Incheon to hotel. I like the bright and sunny ride. Traffic is still bad in the city.

The first place I visit after I checking in is the Kuan Yin temple opposite the hotel to pray. It is good to pray.

Slime Laboratory

New hot product from Toy R Us that attracted B3's attention. It is a box of chemical with instructions on how to make various types of slime products. It costs $29.95. After we returned home, B3 spends more than 2 hours happily mixing and dyeing the chemicals and adding the hot water to turn powder into slimy gel-like tadpoles, leeches, fake fish eggs, worms, bouncing poo and other disgusting stuff. He also made jelly amber. He had a wonderful time.

A Time for Rest and Exercise

Weekend is a time for rest and recreation. For school kids, it is a time for tuition. So after my boys' tuitions, we had a long lunch at Hua Ting. After lunch, we head home for nap while B1 continues to watch the latest Harry Potter movie with his girlfriend's family.

After nap, it is time for B2 to go for tuition and then B3 and I cycle in the PCN. We bought satay and bbq chicken for dinner. We also eat the leftover from yesterday. After dinner, it is another ride to the PCN with B2 and B3.

So it is tuition, meal, sleep, tuition, exercise, meal, exercise. Writing is also a form for relaxation for me with Channel News Asia keeping me company.

Life in Singapore is a little boring. No upcountry to explore or farms to visit. No season such that we can look forward to skating and skiing or summer bbq. Everything including services are bought rather than doing-it-yourself.

Weekend is good time to recreate after all the work stress.

Traffic Jam in CTE to SLE

We have to go to Jurong to pick B1 up as he is allowed to book out. The traffic on CTE is horrendous. My wife is right. Malaysians are all going home on Friday night. I will need to use the PIE in future. For non-Singaporeans, the highways in Singapore are given 3 letters short-form. CTE is Central Expressway, PIE is Pan-Island Expressway. BKE is Bukit Timah Expressway, KJE is Kanji Expressway, TPE is Tampines Expressway and ECP is East Coast Parkway. A couple more but it is getting late and I am tired.

We divert through Yishun and used Mandai Road instead. Once we get onto Mandai Road, the going is much better. We managed to reach Jurong and B1 did not have to wait for too long. The journey takes more than an hour and half. B1 had a fellow trainee who lives in Sengkang to take a ride with us.

Effective NParks Staff

I was cycling on the Punggol PCN or park connector network as usual when I saw a fellow cyclist trying to fix a support pole for a tree. I can see that she is struggling as it is impossible to drive the pole in. So I stopped to help out. She says it is ok she will get the contractor to fix it. She says she works for NParks. I was a little surprised. She is in full cycling gear - helmet, cycling pants, even sleeves to protect her arms from the sun. Whoa! What a great job she has. Cycling for work and with it a host of benefits - keeping healthily fit, enjoying great outdoor, breathing fresh air and encountering wildlife.

She was on her way to a meeting in Punggol Marina and I am in the same direction. So we cycle together and I showed her where I sighted a metre and half black cobra and other juvenile snakes and also let her know where the lights are not turned on. Before we part company, she asked for my email to send me the newsletter. I was surprised the email arrived in the evening. She has kept her words! (I still have a healthy skepticism towards government employees). She also informed me that the lights will be fixed by the next day i.e. yesterday. I cycle on the PCN tonight and all the lights are back on.

NParks is committed to excellence and making things happen. Kudos to Trina.

Gluttony!

My Japanese colleague once remark that I am very decisive when it come to business but when it come to meals, I have to walk around all the resturants and survey and survey and still can't decide.

This morning I have a meeting with a customer. In the lift on the way up to the office on top floor, one man was asking his colleague, where should we go for lunch? It is just the start of the day and he has not even step in the office and he is already thinking of lunch! This behaviour I can identify. Lunch is always heavy duty decision for me. I have to work through several options and different scenarios before I decide what and where to eat.

I decided to go to Kallang Food Center for lunch today. I used to lunch there when I was working in Kallang Pudding Road. The braised duck is excellent. The stall is plastered with all the food reviews and Channel U Highly Recommended signs. After polishing off the duck, we bought "soon kueh" and "ang ku kueh" takeaway. The kueh kueh is good. So I bought 4 different sets. Even though I am full, I must try all the kueh kueh the moment we reached home. Guess what, my weight is up my more than a kg. I am a consummate eater and enjoying sampling all the great tasting food.

Although I exercise a lot, the amount of calories into my body is more than my output. Hence weight creep. I am a glutton. Living to eat.

Watching the TV Series Again

I just watch the Pillars of the Earth just to run through those I have skipped and also scenes that I like to watch again. It is good story telling. It is engaging and interesting story of building a cathedral. The trouble is not conversant in the British Church and aristocracy, I am not sure the different ranking of Earl, Prior, Bishop, Confessor and other titles that is in the story.

Scenario Planning

I am reading The Art of the Long View I bought 4 years ago. I read a couple of chapters and stop. Now I am continuing with the book and I find lots to learn from Peter Schwartz.

I like this part that I will reproduce vebatim.

"Articulating the decision should also focus on events where you have no control. "What if I choose to quit my job?" is not an appropriate question for a scenario. You can change the scenario simply by changing your decision. You cold ask, instead, "What events would plausibly happen that might influence me to quit?" Or, "Under what circumstances might I lose my job?""

It is important to ask the right questions. I realised I have not been asking the right questions on future of my business and my work. I will be spending time to reflect, think and mull over how to achieve the impossible goal now my company expects.

Pillars of the Earth

The best seller by Ken Follet is now a TV series available in DVD set. I first know this book when I believe Chua Mui Hoong, a columnist in Straits Times did an article on the books she enjoyed reading. I remembers her saying she enjoys curling up her toes as she read this book. I bought the book sometimes back during a Times 20% discount but have not crack open the spine. I thought I read the audio version of this book. I made a mistake. As I think through and recall the characters in the book, I realised the book I heard is the sequel World Without End which is set in the same town, Kingbridge and the characters were the decendents of characters from Pillars of the Earth. The two story has a lot of similarity. So it was easy to be mistaken.

I research in the internet to make sure I have the facts when I write. Now I know World Without End has a mini-series. I am looking forward to watch in video.

Family Lunch

11:45am, Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice Resturant, the hungry crowd was gathering strength. We booked a table for 11 last Monday. So we are assured of a table. My eldest niece called and asked where Chek Chek is and I told her we are already in the resturant. My eldest sister and my youngest sister together with her husband were there as well. We have plenty of good food and conversation. Dynamic is a little different with my sisters in. My baby sister has lots of questions for B1 and plenty of things to share. She does dominate the table. Only N1 and N2 or niece 1 and niece 2 came. Both are fairly quiet.

The food is good and we had good time. We also learn from my baby sister a fizzy vitamin C tablet called Berocca which is good for defending again sickness. We went to the pharmacy to get it right away. It actually tasted quite good. So I am impressed. Only issue is it is a little costly.
Like my baby sister's argument, seeing a doctor will cost $45 at least.

Will

I spoke to my mother now living in Canada to ask her to convince my brother to do a Will. His condition is not good and it is best he made his wishes known in case anything happen. Discussing death and dying is a sensitive topic. My sisters and mother are very conservative and superstitious. They are avoid this topic and it is hard work for me. I have no idea why people are afraid of facing their mortality and do not make plans so that their wishes can be carried out rather than have the survivors fighting or criticising the way things are handled or feeling the outcome is unfair.

My mother also feel she need to do her own will as well. So this is a good start. I do not know if my brother will draw up his will. Although he does not have much to his name, I feel it is important he make it clear what are his wishes.

Block Leave Coming to an End

Thursday! Tomorrow will be the last day of B1's block leave. It was good to have dinner together as a complete family for the last few nights. Once he go back to camp, then we will be missing one again. He should be back for the weekends unless he has duties.

It take getting used to because after army it will be university and if it is oversea, he will be out for 3 to 4 years. If he decides to work in another country, we will really missed him. By then B2 will be going to University and we have only B3. Luckily, we have a big gap between B2 and B3. So we will have at least a boy for 8 more years.

Empty nest, that is the next stage of our life.

Body Found in Forest

We do not really have forest in Singapore. We do have patches of green and they have thick undergrowth that allows dead body to be disposed and not to be found. Skeletal remains found near Tanah Merah MRT station. It is in the news about bad smell was detected but no one suspect it to be decomposing human corpse.

Reading this news, I have concerns about the bad smells along the PCN near to the end toward Punggol Marina. I decide to call the emergency line, 999 to report my concerns. AMK Central Police Station called me right away to verify. Then SengKang Police Station and tell me they will informed PUB even though I informed the officer that it did not come from the water. PUB called me in the late afternoon and ask me about the location. I cycled to Anchorvale Sport Complex to meet the officer who arrived by boat. I took the ride with them and brought them to the location. After cycling along the way, I managed to detect the exact spot which is Lamp 167 and Lamp 168. I brought the officers there and they could smell but they think it is a rat. I told them it is not possible to be a rat. I know the smell of dead rats. Then they tell me it is a small mammal common in the nature reserve. They will fill out their report and send it to NParks for the investigation as the area is outside their jurisdiction.

Dinner Conversation

We had a wonderful dinner. The food is fried flat wheat noodle. It was not cooked properly and therefore a stuck together in clumps. So if the food is not good why it is wonderful. It is the conversation we have with our B1 and B2. They are comparing our lives in Canada vs here in Singapore. My boys and I have fond memories of living in Canada. We thought life there is not bad as we are in the middle class like many other Canadian.

However, my wife did not enjoy the life in Canada as she is not the one who decide to immigrate to live there. The high income tax and consumption tax is what she keep focusing on. She keep insisting life in Singapore is much better. However, my boys felt that they have more toys than their friends and therefore life in Canada was not bad either. Actually, we are living similar lifestyle relatively speaking in Singapore as in Canada if we compare within each country. However, if we look at spending power that is disposable income, Singapore is superior with far lower taxes and a lot more variety in food and choices.

We had a healthy debate and my boys had lots of questions and sharing their perpectives as well. I am in agreement with them. Mummy was upset that her version was not received well even though we are in violent agreement. She is right but insisted only her version prevails. However, we feel we are not doing too badly when we are living in Canada.

I love the conversation with B1 and B2. They are growing up and we have intellectual and philosophical discussion on life. This is why tonight's dinner is wonderful.

Passing Out Parade

It is the first time I go into the Floating Platform of the Marina Bay. I have not gone to any National Day Parade. This morning is different. My boy is passing out from his Basic Miltary Training. All the trainees have to do a 20 km road march the night before with FBO or Full Battle Order. This mean rifle and the back pack with all the essential gears. It is heavy, very heavy. All our poor sons have to do this arduous walk just before they pass out. So much about 3G army and thinking soldiers. The march is more than 20 kms exhausting all the boys so that they cannot think anymore except to obey orders.

After the BMT roars which is funny and impressive, it is the National Anthem and they are dismissed. The whole place is smells of sweat and strong body odours. The boys are sweating like a pig and no chance to clean up or shower.

B2 was there to support his brother. He had a hard time waking up. After we returned home for lunch, he slept through the afternoon until dinner time. B3 changed his mind about going when he has difficulty waking up.

After a nice Japanese lunch at Itacho Sushi Resturant, B1 meet up with his bunk mates just to bond together outside the camp. The food in Itacho Sushi is quite high standard. It is more pricey than Sakae or Sushi Tei. All three boys enjoyed the meal. B1 was worried that it is too expensive and I told him not to worry. I explained to my boys as my siblings are diagnosed with medical problems, I want to enjoy my life before I "go". It is shocking to have two sisters with cancer, thankfully both are still alive and well. And now my brother with serious heart condition.

I am exercising regularly but still do not control my diet. I ate unhealthy food like deep fried fritters, pork lard in noodles, bak kut teh, braised internal organs, bacon, roasted pork belly and all kinds of artery clogging food including plenty of rich desserts.

So I may be the next candidate to go to hospital. Sigh! I need to face up and change my diet. Otherwise, I will be staring into death.

My Brother and His Daughters

It is gratifying to see my three nieces visiting their father in NUH CCU. The girls are grown and are mature and understanding. My brother requested for discharge from the hospital as he has to wait for a week for MRI to check if his heart muscles are damaged. If they are "sleeping" and can be revive, the prognosis will be better and he may be recommended to go for open heart to replace his valve and have double or triple bypass. Otherwise, he will just go on medication to keep him alive for as long as possible.

We had lunch with the three girls in Nonya resturant in Keppel Club. The meal is leisurely and we have a chance to have good conversation with them. I am very happy just to build relationship with my nieces.

Good End to the Month

We made another sales record in Jun. Thanks to the team and our business partners we have good customers who trust and buy from us. We are lucky indeed. The sad news is we lost a large unprofitable account but gain a smaller share of business with another more profitable product. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the next few months.

Still it is important to celebrate and enjoy our success for now and stopped worrying for the weekend.

On family front, my brother is in NUH for heart problem. His valves are leaky and there are two coronary arteries blocked and one narrowed. So he will need medical intervention and I hope he make the right decision.

Coming Lunch with my Nieces

We have a lunch date with our nieces this Saturday. My boys cannot make it. B1 has 24km road march, B2 has school activities and B3 may be going to school with B2. So it will be just chek chek and sim sim with the girls. We have not seen them for some time now. The challenge is we are going to a chicken rice shop that is famous and popular. We will not have much time with them we may feel pressured to leave if there is a large crowd waiting for tables.

I am looking forward to bonding time.

Kino is more expensive than KL Borders!

I noticed the title I am currently reading is on the display for books on the future. I checked on the price and it is $29.90. This is RM74.75 at the current exchange rate of RM2.5 to S$1. In KL Borders, the same title is priced at RM54.90. Kino price is 36% higher than in KL!!!

So even at the highest discount Kino ever offer of 20% the price is still higher. Whoa, the high value of Singapore dollar makes everything in Singapore more expensive. Also I did not pay RM54.90 for the book, I had 10% discount using a credit promotion.

In the office in PJ, another book fan, Michelle tells me the price of books in Singapore is lower. Now I have an example that prove otherwise.

Brain Rules for Babies

Audiobooks are godsend when it come to exercising. I can read and exercise at the same time. Multi-tasking!! I have been listening to Brain Rules for the few weeks. The book is very interesting and have a lot of research on how to parent for the baby development. TV and internet is very detrimental to the kids attention span. So I implemented the rule for B2 and B3. B2 has no computer access anymore until his "O" level is over. B3 has 10 mins computer and 30 mins TV instead of watching TV passively. So far, both have complied and doing well.

It is good to learn ways to manage my boys better.

First 4 Chapters

I just finished reading the first 4 chapters of The future of Work is already here. It is pretty depressing. The internet and avatars(electronic you) will mean very little human interactions and loneliness. There will be a new underclass who will be perpetually poor. Americans will get a shock that the good life of going middle class for the average American with blue collar jobs is gone forever.

After the depressing scenarios, the news is supposed to get better. We will be moving from voracious consumption to creative production.

Forecasting Future Gains Respectability

Fortune telling is a dubious art. Then there are psychics who foretell the future and is mostly wrong all the time. The respond is always future is a probability and can be change by humans actions.

Scenario Planning is the commercial version of forecasting future for corporate success. Shell is the company who started and used scenario planning with great success. Today, there is a proliferation of titles on Future. Kinokuniya is displaying more than 20 titles ranging from Future of Physics to Future of Work and Corporation. Today, there are many institutions researching on possibilities and probabilities and companies who specific function is to forecast the future for a fee.

Who says the Future is not for us to see?

A Lazy Sunday

We had a lazy Sunday. After tuition in the morning for B2, mum makes congee for all of us. I went to the hawker center to buy fritters or youtiao which go well with congee. I also had half a Hainese chicken. Lunch was really good. The thing with congee is we get hungry very quickly again.

After lunch, mummy and daddy had a nap. I have no idea what my boys were up to. B2 is probably studying and B3 playing with his toys and B1 talking to his girlfriend. After waking my nap, B3 wanted go to the pool for a bit of fun and invited B1 a couple of times. B1 relented and played with him.

We decided to eat out at Chomp Chomp's Old Hong Kong. The food is quite good. We send B1 to camp after dinner.

Fabulous Food at Hua Ting

We have buffet lunch at Hua Ting whose Master Chef won two awards. The food is the best of the few resturants I have tried. I had eaten dinner in Hua Ting a few times before with colleagues. I liked the food but have to focus on the conversation. With my boys, we just focused on the food. Yes, this is why I have a weight issue. The buffet is not mass produced food lined up in warming trays. We have to order the food and they all come fresh from the kitchen. The bbq duck, roast pork, beef prepared in different ways were so good. Much better than the resturants in KL which I loved.

The service is a little slow but very polite and attentive. Our plates are changed regularly. The meal is not rushed unlike Imperial Treasure. Yes, we are definitely going back to Hua Ting.

Warm Friday

The heat is on, the heat is onnnn! Mercury rising. It is hard to do exercise. I cycled early in the morning and then late at night. Cycling in the dark is nice because it is cool but also a little scary in the PCN. "Wild animals", dark spots and fear of the unknown can caused panic. I am lucky this time with B1 cycling beside me. So with somebody to talk to, it help prevent imagination going wild.

Overwork and underpaid is always the view of an employee. Now it is really eating into the morale as many are stressed out. As the company seek to get out of mediocrity and put for expectation of growth of 500% in 5 years, the heat is on. Just work like hell. By the way, when you delivers please do not expect any difference in what you are paid. The rewards go to the top for squeezing blood from people lower down in the totem pole.

So don't worry, be happy.

Reinvent Your Career!

It is a catchy headline. Actually, it is Success Stories of 5 individual Americans who succeeded after their careers have to switch direction. One is a blockbuster franchisor who was living large and very well with mansion for his home and a super duper gas guzzler hummer for his wheels. Blockbuster is a video rental franchise and business model has change with the video streaming or as Fortune puts it - The DVD has cracked. This gentleman has to sell his house, his cars and other status symbols. He bought 6 Subway franchise and it did not work but he managed to sell them for a small profit. Finally, he went to L.A. and noticed the success of a Yoghurt chain. He filled up an application form to be a franchisee and did not get a reply. So he start up his own Yoghurt chain and right now the number of stores keep increasing. Success!

Another story is on a lawyer who turned to writing and become an author. He was making good income selling 200,000 copies. Then e-book happens(sound familiar?). Once again, the internet forces the change. Now he writes and sell his books through the internet for $2 per copy. He is making progress in his new career.

As I read this, change in our world is happening all the time. We have to adapt.

Possible Punishment

It is the army's way. Army like to make the soldiers feel unsettled and on the edge all the time. B1 is supposed to be booking out today at 8 pm. Until now, we have no news...hold on! SMS just came in. He is on the ferry now. Hurray. He has freedom for a couple of days. I have to go now to pick him up.

Woke Up by Lightning

It is pouring at 5am. The frequent lightning flashes woke me up. So I brush my teeth and dressed up and head off to my regular hawker center for a cup of tea. A consummate reader, I brought along Tuesday's newspaper to read. There are many stalls opened for business. So breakfast at 5am is a cinch if I wanted it. I abstained as my stomach is still asleep and I have to watch my calories intake.

The rained stopped by the time I am finished and I headed back home to write. Writing is a relaxing activity. I get confirmation of my worst fear late afternoon yesterday. Maybe this is why I am up.

Reinvent Your Career! Big, bold and black! on the cover of latest issue of Fortune. I shall flip open the magazine and discover the secrets. Have a good day ahead, my readers.

Glad to be Home!

I am glad to be home. Although it is a short trip, it is quite hectic and energy draining especially dealing with difficult issues. I did not go for my regular teh halia this time. I have to work late tonight and drinking Chinese tea will be better with less cafeine.

Sleeping with my regular tempur pillow tonight hopefully will ease my neck pain and give me restful sleep. Amazingly, this trip I lost weight. My weight was creeping upward anyway. Now I have to discipline myself not to gorge on my usual comfort food.

At the airport, I bought a new book, The Shift. It is on the future of work. I enjoys the forecast on the way we will work in future. I shall write about it as I read this book. Author Lynda Gratton is a Business Professor in London Business School.

So Full

I have been eating non-stop since the last two days. It is a glorious eating and making myself fat. Yes, this is a wonderful stress relief. However, getting fat is not good. High blood pressure, diabetes, a host of many rich man's diseases. Not that I am a rich man, I am just having too much rich food.

The good thing is I am reducing my carbo intake. However, it terrible guilt feeling. Worse of all, I ate more snacks in the room.

There is very little time for window shopping. I am a little sad as window shopping is my favorite pastime. I have very little battery left. So I have to sign off now.

Goodnite...

Art is a piece of Cake

B2 and B3 convinced mum to buy a cake for them to customise for Father's Day. The Icing Room has this novel idea where they sell blank cakes with a set of coloured icing. You can do your own artwork on the cake. There are many stands with rotating platform to help with the icing.

Many other kids are doing the same thing - making cakes for their daddy. George Quek hit the right recipe for Breadtalk. No wonder he is so rich and I am so...soo average. Sigh!

Father's Day Celebration

B1 has confinement and need to return to his camp tonight. His weekend has been cut short and we have a father's day lunch instead. We went to Ah Yat's Seafood resturant. The food is not bad but not fantastic either. Maybe because the set menu is all seafood. I had to order chicken wings and Peking duck to supplement the father's day menu.

After lunch, we adjourned to IKEA to get a stainless steel shelf for our kitchen. Then we returned home to cycle at the PCN. B3 ride on my back on the hybrid bicycle and B1 cycled beside me. B2 was having tuition at that time.

For dinner, we made duck porridge using the leftover of the Peking duck. I debone all the meat and the bones were used to make the porride. After dinner, we pick up Daniel who needed a ride from us to go back to camp. Daniel is sleeping in the same bunk as B1. We drop both of them off in White Sand and return to fix up a shelf for our kitchen.

We had a wonderful family day.

Our New Fridge

The ice tasted horrible. The fridge is also a lot darker as it uses LED lights instead of regular light bulb. I have no idea if our frozen food have turned bad. Right now, we are eating up as much as we can the stuff from the old fridge. Although the size of the Mitsubushi Folia fridge is supposed to be the same size in cubic feet, it seem to have a lot less space than the Maytag. Maybe it is because it is divided into 6 compartments. Our old fridge is just freezer and refrigerator. So with less compartment it has more airspace and easy to put in big items like pots. All the new features need to be tested out. Maybe the old is still better than the new for refrigerators.

Singapore Discovery Center

The Singapore Discovery Center is a place designed to promote the SAF or Singapore Armed Forces. We visited this place or rather we went there to pick up B1. The place is not well frequented and not many visitors. All those who were there had a purpose. To pick up their sons or boyfriends. So it is a white elephant. There is a souvenir shop, a shooter range(same as the arcade) and a museum. It is the most boring tourist attraction.

Final Lap for the Kitchen

The kitchen is getting done up nicely. It is lot of work. The new fridge was delivered this afternoon. Our old fridge is Maytag that we brought back from Canada. It is using 110VAC. We think it is no longer energy efficient and we may be right. The delivery guy says something is wrong with so much water pouring out of the fridge. I am hoping my electricity bills will drop with this new fridge. Space is more limited with the new fridge.

I hook up the induction cooker. Also fix or at least try to fix the leaking plumbing. It was a huge challenge. I think I did better than the plumber who fix up our water filters. Tomorrow, is Friday!

Thank God It's Friday. Weekend is here. Hurray. Oh! by the way, it is Father's Day this Sunday.

Old HongKong

The food in Old Hong Kong resturant is very good. I enjoyed the food but the price is a little on the high side. We had only two dishes with one dessert and just water for drinks and a bowl of rice come to a grand total of 47 bucks! The dessert was crispy sesame paste pancake and it is really crispy and crackles in the mouth burst with flavour. Yummy. I must go back there again.

Eating Out all the Time

I am getting tired of eating out. I am looking forward to the "official" opening of our kitchen. We can have our home-cooked meals. It is also expensive to eat out. Average about $30 for each meal for family of 4. Luckily, B1 is being fed by the government.

The World in 2050 on Investments

Right now, all my stocks are going down in value with the global indices dropping. The author of 2050 bought stocks of pharma companies. Demographic indicators pointing to aging population and therefore demand for drugs will go up. The other investment opportunity is water. Demand for water will continue to go up. However, demand are in the poor countries and the poor. What is needed is small projects to get access to water. What private companies are interested is making money from water in Large projects which mean the poor will continue to have no access to water and the rich continues to waste water.


So water and oil may be the next investments of choice. However, Hyflux and BP is not doing to well either. Sigh!

The World in 2050

I acquired this book from Borders in The Curve. This book is interesting as it is the first time I get the view from a Geographer I always though geography was just for general knowledge. Then an interview on a Geographer who start a successful business based on geography changed my perspective in this subject. The CEO has a unique management style and his company offers geography services to companies. He became wealthy using the knowledge of geography.

The World in 2050 forecast based on the four forces - demography, growing resources needs, globalisation and climate change. There are plenty of scenarios, mostly water level rising and milder winters. Higher temperature means our atmosphere can hold more water. Hence, heavy rainstorms and floods will be a common occurence in future.

Human will have to adapt.

Hippopotamus

Interesting name of a new resturant in Marina Square. Our plan was to go to Changing Appetites right beside Carl's Jr. Burgers. Changing Appetites went OB aka out-of-business and replaced by Hippopotamus. B3 had kid's meal which is a hamburger with fries, a drink and creme brulee for dessert. B2 had a bacon burger which was excellent. I had French onion soup and Mum had just camomile tea. The melted chocolate cake looked very appealing and we tried it. It was very good except the ice cream is too hard. B3 wanted to try the churros. It comes warm with warm chocolate sauce. It was very tasty. I think it is a Spanish theme.

I will go to this resturant again with B1. Actually, I was thinking of my three nieces as well but they do not eat beef. So we will see...

Gratitude

The path to happiness is gratitude according to The Happiness Hypothesis. Everyday, we need to spend a few minutes to feel grateful for all we have and be thankful for the positives events that happens to us. I shall practise this now by logging my thoughts.

I am up in my office and as I write I feel thankful I have a wonderful family, a nice and warm home, I am healthy albeit a little overweight. I enjoys exercise and keeping fit. Have wonderful colleagues in my small cozy team and a job I loved. Our planet is still going on despite Man exploiting it relentlessly.

Life is good on a Sunday morning.

Weight Matters

My weight was okay on Thursday night after returning from KL. This morning, I weighs a kg more. I am eating my heart out. I need to stop eating like a hungry ghost whenever I return home. Missing food at home and stress cause me to eat and eat. I must find my emotional trigger for gluttony.

Maybe I just die happy instead of worrying about my weight all the time. Yet, if I don't, I would have ballooned to a huge tummy like my brother.

Early to Rise

Saturday morning. I woke up early. It is dark, so cycling is not a good idea. So I decided to go to the market and see beside the grocery stalls what else have started to operate their business. Armed with newspapers for the past three days, I go to the market in AMK Ave 10. The coffee stall is opened. I was surprised. So I asked what time do they start. They actually open at 4am. Now I found another place to go if I am sleepless.

A lot of the food stalls are ready and serving food. Business in this market has improved over the years. It must be due to the renewal of the surrounding. New flats which are much higher mean denser living and more people. Construction and factories nearby have increase the number of workers. Everywhere is Singapore is getting more and more crowded.

Reading the past few days papers, the most important issue is still flooding. Orchard Road is flooded again. A picture of the Minister for Water and Resource surveying the damage in Market Place. Cabinet Ministers are visible nowadays whenever there is a photo opportunity. The message is clear. Vote for Opposition and the government will show they are working. This is politics. It may be just dog and pony show. It may be real. Next General Elections I hope more opposition get voted in. This only way the Singapore Government will improve. Otherwise, it is just reading a report in the Parliament rather than MBWA or management by walking about.

Normal Again

It feels so good to be normal again. One week of resturant meals is can be a little too much. I had fishball noodle for breakfast, wanton noodle for lunch, Taiwanese XXXL crispy chicken for snacks, fried kuay teow for tea and finishing up B3's dinner. B3 had sirloin steak in a local western resturant own by a Hainanese chef.

I did not get a chance to eat local food in Malaysia in this trip as I am hosting Americans colleagues. Sunday night - Halal Tony Romas i.e. no ribs:( Monday night - Banana leaf, not bad actually. Tuesday night - Dave's Deli, Italian-style cafe in 1 Utama. Wednesday night - TGIF. Western food is good but servings are large, unhealthy but great taste. It is a love-hate relationship.

I do not get tired of my hawker so far. Only problem is it is high in carbohydrates and sodium. Variety is the spice of living to eat.

Dried Pineapple and Banana

I reached home and head straight to the fridge to try out my latest dried fruits. I have dried them before I leave for KL on Sunday afternoon. Pineapple tasted good. It is nicer when it is cold and juicy, however it is sweeter and the flavor stronger and stimulate a strong flow of saliva. Best of all, this is healthy snacking. So I can snack feeling less guilty as the calories content for the dried fruits are high as well. At least I am getting the fibers and it is fructose rather than corn syrup or sucrose.

It has been a long week. I am looking forward to exercising after eating and sitting on my butt for so many days.

Meeting New Friend and Old Friend

It is just food and more food. I just took a little food from everyone when I ate dinner tonight. It is good to go easy on my food intake. I do not feel guilty and I had a lot of snacks anyway i.e. white coffee gurang manis, rojak and kaya toast plus plenty of nuts!

I managed to meet some old friends in KL this time and met a new friend from Thailand as well. So I had fun and enjoys chatting on family, books and office gossips.

Good Meeting

We had a good meeting today. Everyone in the team did well. Not sure if it is just typical American way who loved to give positive feedback. Sincerity is always hard to gauge. My personal assessment is the everyone did great and help in the positive outcome of our recent performance.

The heat is on with our new target. We are going to perform miracles moving forward.

Office Stories

I am a believer in MBWA or Management by Walking About. I talk to my colleagues whenever I am in town. I learn two of my colleagues had to be hospitalised for stress-related issues. One of them twice. After hearing the stories, my stress issue is relatively minor. Or the other possibility is my ability to cope is better. One of my colleagues suggested it may be my mode of working. It may be possible but I think exercise and plenty of snacks help me cope with stress.

The office team and I had good meals as usual. Lunch was Penang food. I had fried mee sua, chicken lobak, mango salad, fruit rojak and a drink that come with a sng buay. HK suggested Indian food for dinner. We had curry mutton steaks, dry curry mutton, curry chicken, fried chicken, fried pigeon, fried fish, fried cuttlefish with rice and vegetables on a banana leaf. All of us enjoys the food very much. I had mango lassie for drink and also tried their chappati and paper thosai.

Sitting on my butt, eating delicious food with ravenous appetite is recipe for weight gain. I managed to buy my snacks - nuts and preserved guava for the stimulating saliva glands, I have plenty of exercise to do once I returned home. This is a rare time I am out on such a long trip to KL. I have to control my calorie intake before I balloon out of control.

It's a Happening Place

The Curve is incredibly busy place on a Sunday evening. This is the first time I am here on Sunday. My flight was late, so I arrived late for dinner.
I was in a rush after dinner and did not go to the supermarket to get drinks and snacks. It is important to keep me going as I work. Now I am hungry for something. Guess I will need to get some stuff tomorrow. My bad habit which helps increase my weight. It is getting late. I should go to bed for an early breakfast meeting.

The Kate and Will Story

I feel so much better after a good night's sleep. It is pouring. So my newspaper will be late today. Meanwhile on TV's Channel 5, the love story of Kate and William. Their growing up years, what schools Kate go to, their common interests - love of countryside, same charities they go to, same course in University...

Kate's parents started a business in mail order party and was very successful and earned a lot of money. With the money, they put Kate into a private school and start her into a different path in the country where one's social standing is determined by birth.

Kate has a boyfriend in University and so did Will. It was during a charity show that is the watershed for their relationship. Kate wore a see-through dress and was very sexy on the catwalk. Will was like...hmmm! this is my future queen!!

Great Singapore Sales

GSS is on and prices are marked down. We have to buy a baby full month gift and it is great. 20% off in OG. Resturants joined in the sales as well and many deals are for the taking. Of course it make all of us spend more money. It is good for the economy. May not be good for Mother Earth with more consumption.

I am not feeling well. It may be the yam dessert. I suspect the coconut milk that come with it. I have cold sweats and dizzyness. I shall go to bed now. Goodnite....

Life - BBC Earth

This documentary is screened on Octo at 9 tonight. B3 enjoys the show a great deal. He is talking and commenting to me all the time while I work. I have to tell him that daddy is working and needed to concentrate. Tonight programme is on reptiles and amphibians. It is very interesting to see survival techniques of frogs, lizards and the hunters like snakes. The show ends with komodo dragon biting a water buffalo and waiting for three weeks for the buffalo to die. They then stripped the buffalo to the bones in 4 hours. It is horrible sight. "You do not need to see Jurassic Park to know how dinosaurs rule the earth. It is all here." Yucks!

For Bad Service and Miserable Times - Nandos!

Joanne Peh and her boyfriend stormed out of Nandos resturant. Last August, I had similar experience in Nandos, Bugis Junction. I am not a celebrity. So no one bothered. I am surprised Nandos is still around. I hope people get tired of the horrid service Nandos gave to its customers. I do not know why so many people are desperate and put up being treated badly for a piece of chicken.

Yes, I swear never to step into Nandos again. It is the place to go if you want to feel like sh*t and be treated like sh*t. This is the first time I used swear word in my blog. It is so bad that I feel so emotionally charged recalling my experience over the meal.

It will be good riddance when the resturant chain go OB (out-of-business).

The Happiness Hypothesis

I am listening to the audiobook but it seems like I am not registering the content well. Maybe it was the fighter planes making a lot of noise. Maybe my mind is just preoccupied. I only hear the "elephant and the rider". I have no idea what or who is the elephant or who is the rider. I remember cognitive therapy is a successful and went against the prevailing treatment that follows Freudian school of psychotherapy.
So to write more about this book I check out the book in the website. I realised why it did not register with me. It has a list of 10 ancient wisdom on life. I read all about them. So it did not offer me anything new or different. Just selecting what the author felt are the best ways to achieve happiness.
This book is highly recommended. So it is worth having a copy in your personal library.

New Tires

I have to replace my tires as one of them has a screw penetrating through. The threads were worn thin as well. 4 tires cost $440. Alignment cost another $40. Then I add shock absorbers stiffeners for $160. The whole service cost almost $700 after adding GST. I hope the new tires last. It is costly to replace with rubber price keep reaching new high. The odometer now reads 42,000km. The new Dunlop tires are supposed to last 60,000 km. I hope they really do.

Excellent News But...

I am trying to think what have I done. I am busy. Busy but not accomplishing much. The good news I have today is we won new business worth half a million to six hundred thousands US annually. It is good news indeed! Yet, I did not jumped with joy or feel exhilarated.

I enjoys reading and learning. I am a perpetual student. Learning, developing and growing is a value I instill in my team at work.

The Happiness Hypothesis

I borrowed this audiobook from National Library. I am rather unhappy these days and is seeking ways to change my emotional state. I remember a conversation I had with a colleague in Toronto on a ride to a service call. He was very knowledgeable in a lot of the Eastern Philosophy and it surprises me that a white guy know so much about Eastern thoughts. So I asked how come he is so knowledgeable. He told me that he had a lot of unhappy times. So he read a lot of Western Philosophy trying to get answers and then he turns to Eastern Philosophy. He reads to find out why he is unhappy and how to fix his unhappiness.

I read a lot on Tao, Buddhism, Chuang Tzu, meditations, Zen and other esoteric subjects when I was young. Many a times, I wonder why am I born to suffer, study, work and then die. Lao Tzu and Tao De Jing is one of the best that make me feel happy with poems like Sitting, Sitting, the Grass grows Green. Mountains will be mountains and White Clouds will be white clouds.

Today, the Positive Psychology or professors come up with their own recipes for Happiness. I am just on disk 1 of The Happiness Hypothesis. The western way is to do research. The first "proven" way is volunteering. Volunteering is like taking Prozac according to the author. It get rid of depression. Unlike Prozac, the effect stops the moment you stop taking the drug, the effects of volunteering continues even after you have stop all the volunteer work.

Water Pump Replaced

The water pump in my pond finally gave up. It has been pumping 24/7 for almost 7 years. The rotator center was so worn out that it has become a slot rather than a round cylindrical hole. I had bought a pump wrongly before and it cost me $160 from the nursery in Thomson Road. I was a little reluctant to back there to get to be ripoff again. Luckily, my wife reminded me that about the nursery near my home. We went there and the selection was limited to one brand. So I decided to go to the aquarium to see if I can get a large silver arowana for $35. The aquarium has a whole range of pumps! I bought a pump for S$14, really inexpensive and it works when I installed it in my pond. I feel so accomplished to do practical work. The outcome is clear and concrete. Now my water is flowing again and it looks good, the water clears up and my fishes are swimming happily.

The only disappointment is there are no large arowanas. Only small ones and they are priced at $18 instead of $12 before. So I did not buy any.

Working with my hands feels good. I should do more handy work.

Chengmai

Channel News Asia has this program, Yours Truly, Asia. It protrays the different cities of the countries that the CNA journalists are based in. Right now, it is showing Chengmai, the northern city of Thailand. The food looks delicious and fabulous. I am thinking the city is probably cost a lot less to live in. It may be a good place to retire in. If it has good internet, medical facilities, maybe bookshop and safe and with good food couple with low cost of living, it will be a wonderful retirement village. May have to give up lots of modern conveniences and communication. Learning to communicate in Thai is non-negotiable. However, the upside is close to nature and a slow pace of life.

Mmmm. Early retirement, anyone?

Splashing Time

The kids in my neighbourhood are having a wonderful time at pool with the high temperature. They just loved the water and splashing each other and giggling. Running after one another is another game they play and screaming along for additional sound effects. I was taking short snatches of nap and could not sleep anymore after the girls come to the poolside.

It is real joy and fun for them and I am happy to see them enjoying themselves even though my peace was interrupted. I should learn more French so that I can understand what they are saying to each other.

Chiropractor

B1 is limping, his left hip is strained and hurting. So we bring him to the chiropractor. Since we are going, the whole family did our spine adjustments. We are a big customer. Cost of chiropractice treatment is high. Health is priceless, so we just go for it and do not think about cost.

We had lunch at Modesto's. I like the seafood linguine. It is the only seafood dish I truly enjoys as the fresh ingredients and sour tomato sauce makes the seafood tangy, sweet with no fishy taste at all. I simply love it. It is nice to eat with the family as I can order the portion fit for 2 which cost $48. It comes with a complete flower crab.

B1 go to the movie with his girlfriend and B2 and B3 go home. B2 has to prepare for his
'O' level exams tomorrow. B3 pumps up his newly acquired floating bed. Meanwhile, my wife and I go to Sungei Kadut to look at kitchen cabinets.

B3 went to the pool to try out his new toy with his friends once we return home from viewing kitchen cabinets. He had a wonderful time playing with his friends.

Practical Grammar

Grammar is the most boring and dry subject. Yet Practical Grammar is interesting for me. I like it as the author puts it "There are more to life than getting your grammar right." This book is interesting as it start with 35 common grammatical errors and 35 grammatical errors made by advanced English users. It has plenty of useful example and explain the rules clearly. It is the first grammar book I find easy-to-read.

Happiness

I am reading books and watching video on Happiness. Somehow they are not making an impact when I am unhappy. I thought it is really working when I was in a good mood. Knowledge about happiness does not make one happy. It is the flow of good things happening to oneself. Still the books on Happiness continues to hit the bestseller list.

Exercise

I am glad I am exercising regularly. The stress level at work is at an extreme level. During dinner, I realised I may have health issues had I not exercise as much as I have recently. The weather is hot and it is good to sweat profusely. Help in losing weight albeit temporily. Weight regains once I rehydrate myself.

The PCN or park connector network is making progress. In a few months, it should be able to run to Punggol Marina. I talked with the supervisor of the contractor, Shincon. He says the stretch was supposed to be completed last July. Delays happened as contractors for other works has not completed their parts yet. Eventually, the PCN will connect up with Hougang. It mean I can cycle for at least half an hour one way. Then it will be a scenic way to get healthy and wise. The PCN is a fantastic cycling route where it is safe, no need to watch out for cars and no fumes!

Biomimicry

I just started on this book on biomimicry - learning from nature. It is a different take. This field is relatively new. Many physicists and engineers are learning from the natural world. Velcro is seeds that hooks onto clothing, cotton gin is from cat clawing and pulling out canary's feathers, submarines from fish bladders and many more.
I was browsing in Kinokuniya and the title caught my attention. I read the content and there is a section on business. Besides engineering solutions and product development, it also has business ecology. I just started on the book and will write more as I read further.

Grouch

B2 has been grouchy lately. He is temperamental and is rude, sarcastic and hurtful in his response to his parents. Totally disrespectful and hurting me and my wife. He is also nasty to his baby brother, B3 at times. We are at wits' ends. Is this a passing phase? Did his elder brother go through the same phase? Did we have bad karma to have our boy torturing us?

The up and down of having a teenage son can test and stretch our patience. It is also our hearts. I reminisce the time he is such an angel and so adorable. He was a jovial boy and very loving. We felt so wonderful having him in our lives. Now, he is in his terrible teens, it is painful. I hope he grows up and be back to his adorable self again.

The End of the World and Beautiful Weather

The weather is beautiful yesterday and this morning. The TV evangelist in US who predicted there will be a terrible earthquake and life on earth will come to an end is wrong. Well, he is wrong. The end of the world did not happen. The next date is Dec 21, 2012. It is a year and a half away. What is the chance of this date being as uneventful? Too many specific dates have been wrong. The future forecast is a probability and possibility. It is not an exact or precise or scientific. So I wonder why some people like to make a fool of themselves.

BBQ Chicken at AMK Ave 4

B2 has tuition in Eglingtion Square which is off Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, Street 11. There are two coffee shops. Recently, I tried the bbq chicken wings and it is very fragrant and tasty. So we have them for dinner tonight. I also ordered a bbq spring chicken. My boys enjoys meat like me and they like tonight dinner. We also have fried carrot cake and duck and salted veg soup. The chicken wings cost only $1.10 each and spring chicken $7. The meal is quite economical.

The coffeeshop next door has "bak kut teh" or pork ribs soup which is highly recommended. Price is higher and just as satisfying.

Pleasant Surprise

B1 was release today instead of tomorrow. We are glad he is back home. He keep worrying about how dark he look and his sweating is now in beads instead of moist layer. I told him not to worry as his skin has toughen due to suntan. I am quite tan myself. And when I sweat, it is little droplets just like condensation on the outer surface of a glass of ice-water.

I am so tired and sleepy. Work is a little exhausting these days. Goodnite zzzZZZZ

Hope

The change in the new cabinet is radical. Now there is a gimmer of hope that the government will have a little heart. It has been all intellectual and little regards for citizens left behind by the growth in economy. Grievances have been largely ignored in the interest of GDP growth and pro-business policy. Hard-headed Hard Truths is pretty strong medicine dished out by people who have multi-million salaries. I heard of a specific example of MP who give advice that is impractical for a relative. He need help to talk to the bank to stop interest payment for his credit card debts. The MP told him to get a higher paying job. Please note! It is told. He did not lift a finger to help him get a higher job. Dishing out advice rather than doing something. Then the MP continues... go to visit the bank during office hours. The relative responded he is not allowed to leave or take time off in his job. The MP think that the low level job his resident has is like his cabinet job - flexi-hour!

It is really really terrible to get insensitive MP who just give advices rather than help. I hope the change is positive. We shall see. I am skeptical as tigers do not change their stripes.

Some Are Quite Interesting

I asked an ex-colleague if she is still reading my blog. The usual excuse was the immediate reply...I am busy lately. However, she continues...some of my writings is interesting. Being a pessimistic person, my first thought is most of my writings are boring. After brooding over for a couple of minutes, I decided that she is nice to focus on the positive aspect of my blog.

I have been disciplined to make a daily entry unless I am travelling or in a country where blogging is not allowed e.g. China. Attracting a loyal and strong following will be fun and good for ego and maybe help me make more income with Adsense, I find that reading my past entries is a great way to tickle my memories of events and experience. So the blog is as much for myself and hopefully my future generation.

An ex-manager who is a single woman is very private and I always asked the same question every we are out for meals. What is your ideal Mr. Right? She would always refused to talk about her private life. Once, she is in a good mood and less guarded, she says the man must have humour and be able to make her laugh. I enjoys Mr. Brown's blog because it is funny and makes me laugh. I know my blog is not as well visited as it is not funny or interesting. But it is a personal memory bank for my experience and a way for me to leave behind a legacy.

Even this discourse on a remark pass by an ex-colleague is serious and factual. I do not have a funny bone.

Busy as A Bee!

The poor economy in US is killing us in Asia. We are pushed to make up for the poor sales in US. My business is really tiny in the scheme of things although we are growing well at 50% compound annual growth rate. At any rate, we are a big team, so we will continue to put in our best efforts for the company.

So I have lots and lots of work ahead. Just the meetings alone is a full time job. Then we have to execute. So like the airlines industry, we are going to have turbulence.

Productive Reading

I have been reading quite productively last few weeks. I managed to finish three books from cover to cover. Usually, I read multiple books at one time. Thrive is quite interesting as it is about happy places in the world which Singapore is included. The other book is Let Your Creativity Bloom by YKK, a Malaysian author and Friday with Philips in my earlier entry for this blog.

My boys do not seem to have as much love for reading like me. Maybe they are exposed to the new media especially internet where you can get short videos and short articles. So their attention span is short. B1 and B2 have read plenty of novels and B3 like non-fiction books. B3 enjoys books on science, ancient animals and how-to like Tell Me How. They do not gravitate to bookstores or library like me. A psychic once told me I was a librarian in one of my previous lives. I do not know about whether the psychic is real or just giving me some bullxxxx. It does makes sense. Everyone around me can see I am a bookworm.

Time to Book In Again

We spent the day doing the regular family stuff. Lunch at Carnivore, the Brazilian meat resturant. Then mall crawling until late afternoon. We have home cooked dinner and B1 was wishing he does not have to go back to camp. It is a short home break and he has to go back to the screaming and yelling i.e. scolded all the time. Well, this is army life. It is breaking psychological and individual identities and the making you listen and obey without questions or thinking. The good thing is he is in the 9 weeks program instead of 16 weeks. Being physical fit does help. The uniform today is so much easier to maintain. Still the rigour and toughness of being a soldier is hard for a modern city boy. This is national service and my boy is serving his country.

First Book-Out of Camp

B1 like many others recruits book out of their BMT or basic military camp today. He is so dark and happy to see us. I was not sure if it was him in the beginning. There are many girlfriends waiting for their boyfriends and I thought I may be smiling at the wrong army boy who is smiling at his girlfriend.

I only recognised him when he greeted "Daddy!". I gave him a hug and then mummy and his two brothers. He is so happy to see us. The wonder of army confinement. He is in a hurry to come home unlike some who ate at McDonald's. We are very happy to have him back. Mummy set up the washing machine to wash all his dirty laundry. He has only 20 hours before he returns to camp. All the laundry must be washed, dry and pack before he leave for camp tomorrow evening. It is just mad rush to get things done.

We are very happy to have B1 back home.

End of the Weekend

It is the end of the weekend. Tomorrow is a school day and B1 will get his first home coming late tomorrow night. I am at my computer writing my blog. As a country, we are undergoing change. MM and SM resigned after analysis of the voters results. PM will give his answer on Monday whether he accepts their resignation. He need time and watch the reactions of the media to take the next steps.

I look out of my door and it looked normal. Yet, emotionally there must be upheavals in PAP and the opposition parties. Fellow Singaporeans continue their life as usual. In the internet world, there are calls for other cabinet ministers to resign.

Meanwhile, the global economy is undergoing change and is unpredictable. Inflation is getting out of control. It is a challenging times ahead. What will 2012 brings?

Wonder

Sometimes, I wonder the meaning of life. Why are we here? Why do we have to face with so many problems and issues? Why colleagues are jeolous and do things to sabotage another colleague or make things difficult? Why? Why? Why?

When I am in this mood, I become preoccupied and my thoughts just keep spinning and spinning over the same few scenes. I need to learn to meditate like LKY and be mindful and present. Exercise is good but only for short time. Euphoria over and same thoughts surface.

I shall stop now and shower and go out for dinner. Food can be a distraction too.

SMU Tea Session

My wife and I attended the SMU tea session for Law faculty offerees. B1 is unable to attend as the army refused to let him off to attend the talk. Mrs Lee Suet Fern was the guest of honor. She is the Senior Director in Stamford Law. She specialises in Corporate Law and work on mergers and acquisitions. It is challenging and interesting work. The hours are long and sometimes 3 am in the morning and working on contracts. She makes being a lawyer sound fun. She is an awesome speaker, articulate and funny. Her views are sound and reasonable. I learned a lot from her.

Fridays with Philip Lee

I pick up this book on Monday at MPH when I was in KL. It is a series of articles published by Philip Lee in Streats, the now defunct free newspaper. I remember waiting early in the morning at Toa Payoh Central for the arrival of the papers every morning 8 or 9 years ago. It was very popular and I always enjoyed reading it. We were living in Oleander Towers then.

Philip Lee grew up in Penang and lived in England before settling down in Singapore. I enjoyed the articles as it is easy read and interesting. The content is local i.e. Singaporean issues and on wide ranging topics. It brought back memories for me. I finished reading the book in two days. Right now I am working through a Creativity book by YKK, a local Malaysian author. Malaysia does has a lot of talent. Pity many have left for greener pasture out of the country.

Random Thoughts

I have been thinking and reflecting, reflecting and thinking nowadays. I need to brood and brood. I need to go for a holiday and practise meditation to calm my busy mind. Most of my team members are going for holiday next week as Vesak day falls on Tuesday. Taking one day leave, we can have a stretch of 4 days. Enough to go for tour or oversea holiday.

I am in an unpleasant situation where the pressure is intense. No matter how well we do, it is not enough. Demand is excessive and unreasonable. What can I do? What should I do? Should I continue or should I go? What is the world did change in 2012? Will all this matter?

How should I lead my life if it is going to end soon? This question is supposed to help me lead a fulfilling life. I asked this question a hundred times and I still cannot get to the answer. Why? Why do I worry about day-to-day life? Worry about the bills, worry about the boys, worry about everything and nothing. It is not a good state to be in.

How can I achieve "flow" as defined by Mike Cziksenmihalyi? Why my work which was giving me meaning become nightmare? Plenty of questions and more questions. I am still searching for answers.

Short Trip

A quickie trip to KL to meet an important customer and present an award to them. I am very happy to get their support and they have help my team to be successful.

We lunched at Overseas Resturant and the Beijing Duck and Pork Belly char siew is simply fabulous. Overseas Resturant has recently opened a branch in Singapore. The price in Singapore is outrageous compared to KL but it is better than making the trip there to eat.

I am very sad to see George Yeo saying he will leave the political scene during his press conference. He is a good guy. It is unfortunate we lost an intelligent and capable man in the PAP where he can influence the party to more progressive views. If PAP continues her high handed and arrogant ways of neglecting the old and poor, it will be sad. I am sure there will be improvement with the votes swing.

Only in Singapore, you see all the Ah Mahs and Ah Gongs (grandmas and grandpas) clearing dishes and cleaning tables in foodcourts and hawker's centers or collecting empty cans and cardboards to sell for paltry cash to survive. Many visitors were shocked by the sights and some even write to Straits Times. I know PAP government is adverse to welfare society. Homemakers or housewives do not have income and when their husbands die, they will be left penniless and have to survive in an expensive global city.

Heatwave.

This is probably one of the largest mall in Malaysia. I like this mall because the Borders is big and MPH has broader selection too. The ACE hardware stall sells lots of gadgets. Plenty of F&B. Ahh! I am a mall rat.

On the taxi, the cab driver complains it is very hot and he is having a headache due to lack of water. I told him he should have a bottle in the car. He says he finished it. He was about to take a drink when the call come in for him to pick as there is a long queue in the airport. Temperature in KL probably reach record high. The heat reminds me of summer in New Delhi although not as bad. Still it hits hard whenever I step out of airconditioned environment - taxi or mall or hotel. I wonder if it is the proverbial story of frog in water brought slowly to a boil. Is human race slowly boiling itself to extinction? I am sure there will be survivors who can adapt to the new environment. After all, man does live in deserts.

The news report that Green energy business grow by 77% in China. I am glad to see steps are taken to reduce our usage of fossil fuels and carbon footprint. There may be hope for human kind.

One GRC and One SMC

The opposition despite strong showing and great support on the ground won only one GRC or Group Representation Constituency and one SMC or Single Member Constituency - a total of 6 members of parliament. The total share of votes to opposition is 40%, an increase of 6%. Big improvement.

Plenty of experts offered their views. Nicole Seah is the star "mei mei" or little sister. She is mature, articulate and handle the press extremely well. Her ideals on helping the poorer segment of the society is admirable and she has a huge following. In contrast, Tin Pei Ling of ruling did not well in presenting public image.

Best performer is Worker's Party who garner all 6 opposition seats in Parliament. It will be interesting as the next five years unfold. Will Worker's Party be able to continue its momentum? Will it be able to gain another GRC, East Coast perhaps since it won more than 45% votes?

The Night That Determines the FUTURE of Singapore

Election today and tonight the gnashing of teeth for many candidates as the votes get counted. It is really exciting. CNA is live at all the counting centers. Most of Singapore is up watching. For the first time, Singaporeans are engaged in politics. It is also the first many young voters and most get to votes. We used to get walkovers. This is a new dawn for Singapore.

Our government always exhorts that competition is healthy and good. It is quite competitive this time. So it is going to be an interesting night.

An Anonymous Reader Asked

I reproduced the comment below:

Hi. I read that you were living in Canada for 7 years before moving back to Singapore. Do you mind sharing the reason? Is it due to the high income tax in Canada? Many thanks...

My Answer:
I actually lived in Canada twice for a total of 7 years. Immigrating and living in a foreign country is very difficult in the beginning. There are lots of adjustments. Going over there as a student and then finding a job is different. It is nice to live in a country with four seasons and different lifestyle and culture. Canada is a great country and a good place to live and raise kids. It is a little backward relative to Singapore in material things. But family life, friends and lots of recreation more than make up for all the "toys" and designer clothing.

High income tax and consumption tax is one reason to leave. Long and bitter winter is the other commonly cited reason. Another reason is career advancement. The key reason I move back to Singapore is my wife wanted to return home to be closer to her family.

Lions Roared at Yio Chu Kang Stadium

Latest excitement in town - rallies, political rallies. The crowd in YCK Stadium is incredible. We decide to visit the hottest rally in town, The Worker's Party Rally. The enthusiatic crowd was immense. As we walk to the stadium, everyone else was streaming to the stadium as well. It is a night to remember. The Worker's Party is getting lots of support and generate huge following. Saturday is the D-day. May the Force be with you.

The roar is loud, very loud. Now we wait for the action.

The Heat is On

It is hard to think of what to write! My friends told me not to write about work. It is too boring. I always enjoys working but these days, it is just stress and more stress. Turning to the hottest topic the last few days...the election fever and the temp is rising. There are so many humorous pictures and video clips. All very creative! So I wonder how Singaporeans get the reputation of poor creative ability and low innovation drive.

The lighter side of Singapore politics is really fun and enjoyable. Now every 5 years, we get to tickle and laugh at ourselves and the political figures. The staid Singapore let her hair down.

Enlistment

B1 enlisted yesterday. He was in trepidation as he heard stories from his classmates and colleagues on the Basic Military Training experience. I know it is tough and there is a lot of psychological pressures and breaking down of individuality during the training. The training basically tear away your identity and make you obey orders. This is why everyone is made to sleep together in a room, shave their heads and shower is a communal bathroom where you have nothing to hide from your fellow "soldiers".

Aftering suffering together as a group, there will be bonding and the men can operate as a team. Blind obedient is required so that you can order them to kill the "enemy". The tagline for army is "Where boys become MEN". I guess boys don't kill, MEN will to defend their country.

Running Shoes

B2, my middle son need a new pair of running shoes as his old pair have worn out. Queensway Shopping Center is the place for sport shoes. There are so many types of running shoes that it is becoming confusing.

Mum asked him to chose "value" choice. He pick a pair costing $107. I found it looked very reasonable and cool. Then I looked at the brand. It is ASIC with Gel technology. So I think it is good value for an expensive brand. Queensway is the place to get newly obsolete product where price will drop dramatically. Maybe I am wrong. $107 is not that good a deal.

Just Another Day

It is just routine activities for today. I ate Guilinguo or Tortise shell jelly to help soothe my sore throat. My wife who is a Cantonese this is wonder drug. It helps for a short while and the effects wear off.

Dinner was at Yio Chu Kang Stadium so that our boys can experience the election rally. I was too exhausted and leave after the second speaker, Kenneth Jeyaratnam. Kenneth's accent is like JB's. Like father like son.

In the Dead of the Night...

Chomp Chomp is alive and full of young adults roaming about and drinking designer coffee. I was quite tired and sleepy after taking two tablets for sore throat but unable to sleep. My mind is spinning away over work issues. So I decided to get up and go for a spin in my energy saving and environmentally-friendly Prius.

The Indian Muslim roti prata coffee shop is crowded and full. Good thing as I was thinking of drinking my favorite beverage, teh halia. Teh halia would have kept me awake for hours. I roam about people watching and exploring which shops are still open. There are plenty. Finally, I decided to try Cold Storage to see if I can get Lucoade, which is a glucose based drink by SmithKline Beecham. Lucoade helps in rebuilding strength, getting rid of tiredness and recovery from flu. However, the 24 hours Cold Storage does not have any and I settle for Vitamin Jelly instead.

So well past midnight, Chomp Chomp is alive. I noticed a few unsavory characters lurking around as well. Singapore is a safe place and I do not feel threaten at all.