Fear

What is your fear?

Do you have a phobia of animals, strange small dark insects or perhaps ugly clowns?

Do you panic when you see them in front of you? Do you run?

Do you close your eyes and try to sleep only to be disturb by the endless images?

I Do.

and strangely after 2 years, the memories of it doesnt go away.

Prata anyone?

All these running is making me hungry.

Prata anyone?

Quiet week ahead

I gotta feeling its going to be a quiet week. Almost as quiet as last week. I wonder if Bjork will come down and sing in my office and if anyone would make a ding about it.

The ring

A recent discussion with my pals on the amount of money guys "SHOULD" spend on a wedding ring, brings about an interesting demands on what modern girls expect.

I was quoted by my lady frens that a minimum of 3 months of your salary was necessary.

Anyhow, I stumble onto these interesting set of rings which make great gifts.



and It cost only $10 USD.

Christmas carols

Just the other day, I was sitting in JY's car, leaving Ian's place, after a hearty dinner meal which NDR treated us, I heard an old song. It was a love song played on the local radio, sung by four grown men which the MV gradually show them kneeling down towards the end of it.

Anyhow, that song brought a sense of nostalgia. A lovely one from over 10 years ago. I could remember myself standing there in my good old Primary School Hall. I could recall the guys all behaving a little louder than usual. I could imagine the girls dreading the never ending shyness we really are.

The year was 1993 and I was a mere 14 year old boy attending my first Christmas Caroling session with my Scouts and the charming girl guides from St Hilda's. It was my first Christmas carol and I could not attend the year before with St Margaret as I was infested with chicken pox. A nasty time then.

I too was a shy skinny boy. I vividly recall my patrol then had 3 girls. We took a while to warm up to each other and before long could easily chat endlessly. (I supposed being in a boy school does make us look like bad)

Thinking back, I am amused as I recollect and uncovered such distance memories. There was a girl in my patrol whom now I struggle to remember her name. She was among the cutest then and I did had a crush on her.

There was also 2 other girls whom I was chatty with and they both gave me a card each at the end of our meetings. One of them had a serious crush on me then and I too cant remember her name or even how she looks like.

Ok I should probably stop here as I know I could go on....

With the festive time of the year upon us once more, I do hope we all would find joy and happiness with our loved ones. Its a time of giving and receiving. A time to share and recollect.

To the 2 girls whom I have forgotten your names, I doubt you would read this entry but I dedicate this song to you whom inspire meto write about this entry.

See Tom dance

The last couple of post from me have been tooo serious. Before I start on my next post on xmas carol (pending), its time to unwind a little with the upcoming holidays. Here is tom cruise dancing

Cat with only 2 front legs

What I learned is that the cat has it hind legs and tail removed due to injury. But has learn to walk on its front legs.

With such a cute survivor around, we should find strength through it.

INTP

INTP - (Introversion, iNtuition, Thinking, Perceiving).

Years ago, in the backyard of a temporary home for my old primary school, I sat thru a session of MBTI conducted graciously (and 'freely') by our Group Scout Leader. He gave a long presentation of the MBTI and did an even longer conclusion of it.

In it, the only phrase I did recall is that, there is no right or wrong in this test. Its merely asking for a response on how we would react. So we are to give the response as close as the MCQ could provide.

From then I learn that I was an INTP. And years later I too learned that a good friend of mine, Edwina, too was an INTP. I recalled her saying that we are one of the rarest personality type and something like less than 5% of the population.

Anyhow, I read with interest on my personality once more on wiki. I must say that its quite accurate still. Perhaps my personality never changed, except for now, I am more crappy.

Boycott Cab

Its the start of the recession period. Cabby are probably the most affected by this. After all they are sorta a luxury comfort instead of the bus or train. And no doubt they are plentiful in numbers.

There was a time I was absolutely pissed off by them. Its edging towards the midnight where the charges would increase by 50%. And no matter where you are, there is not one of this blue creatures in sight. Yet at the stroke of midnight, like the full moon brings about the werewolves, these bloodsuckers are everywhere.

Anyway, I have decided to boycott them after nearly getting run down by one of them.

I wasnt feeling too well today and opt to go back home early. As I alighted the bus, I went on to cross the road to my place. The green man sign was on, however as no one was there except me on the other end, a bus proceed to slowly squeeze his way pass. This was fine since I havent gotten to the middle of the road yet.

I waited for the bus to clear and just as I was about to cross the remaining section, a BLUE comfort Hyundai Sonata cab, race across the adjacent road and nearly ran me down. He was obviously not looking for I am not like the skinniest person around. Nor do I wear the no.4 and blend in with the trees.

He was just anxious to cross the lights before it goes red once more and possibly miss out on some potential customers. I took 2 steps back when he threaten to run me down. It was just enough distance for him to stop. I stared into the windscreen and he nonchalantly pretend to look elsewhere. I wanted to slam my hands on his front but decided its not worth that effort.

I should have gotten his license plate but he is fleeing fast after this. He was lucky this time round and I wont be so kind to the next.

So for now, I wont attempt to take any more cabs. They wont earn a cent from me.

My grandpa

I made this comment in regards to the Little Nonya tele-series they are showing on Channel 8 at this moment. Baba and Nonya doesnt speak Mandarin. I guess you probably knew that deep down too but just din realise while watching the show.

Interestingly this is one of the rare shows my whole family enjoys catching. My dad would comment on the traditional nonya cakes and dishes that he has not tasted for decades. My mom would try to see how to incorporate some new ideas into her cooking. My sis would stared endlessly at 715 and I would be amused of the funny costumes and hair they made Joanne Peh put on.

Indeed watching this little series brought up a little fire in my dad. Its after all the memories of the past that gets him all nostalgic. The years after the war was a terrible time for all. And for those whom grew up the Peranakan heritage, they never understand such hardship before.

My grandma (whom I dearly call Mama) was a wealthy young lady before she met my granddad (whom I call Ah ye). The war took away plenty of the fortune and wealth. And true enough, rich and influential "friends" were all forgotten.

I am not too sure on my grandparents romance story and wonder if they indeed had one. But I do know one thing and that is my Mama loves Ah ye plenty. Sadly, I could not say the same for Ah ye. He was what I deemed as the James Bond without the gadgets and the secret spy mission roles. He is just that, if you know what I am hinting.

Despite this all, Mama never gave up on him. He was still her husband and father to all the five sons. And also to ermmm 10+ grandchildren.

Now that my Mama whom binds our bigger family together has left us. We are left with Ah ye to hold us close. I dare not wonder further what would happen if he would to leave us. Would our bigger family still come together during CNY. Would we still meet up just as often.

However the past couple of years had not been kind to him. He was staying alone right up to 1998 I believed. He preferred the bachelor life and only after an accident prompted us to forcefully moved him out of his bachelor pad. He was moved to my aunt's place where my grandma stayed with.

Over the years, the impact of the accident slowly resulted in memory losses and errant behavior. Then came a night when he became violent for no apparent reason and we had no choice but to place him in the care of a nursing home. He has been there ever since.

Just yesterday, I rush down along with my dad to the hospital. Ah ye has pneumonia and a high fever. The doctor was not too optimistic on his condition. In a sense, we are all preparing for the worse once again.

You might wonder why we would bother after all he din fulfilled his part in the family. Well the simple reason is that he is my granddad, a father to my dad and a husband to my mama. No water is thicker than blood.

Shanghai lady vs Tow truck

Never get a lady angry. Especially if she is from Shanghai and drive a 4 wheel drive.

Tiny the fish

In a strange turn of events, I now have a really tiny fish to take care of. I not entirely sure how this happen. With a colleague even claiming that I created Life.

As you probably know, I have a small Shrimps tank at work. It helps me to destress and keep me occupied. Till date there was never any fish of any sort that swam within the glass chambers.

Anyway here is what I suspect really happened. Just last week, I borrowed my colleague's filter to help clean up some dirt that has been lying around at the bottom of the tank. I din like having a filter for my tiny prawns as it gives them the creeps from the endless circulation and vibration.

So after using the filter for a work day, I unplugged it and returned it before I left. This probably happen on last Monday or so, but I cant be absolutely sure. What I am sure of, is that would scope up a cup of water every morning and replenish it with cleaner source.

Imagine the surprise I had on tuesday morning, when I saw a little dot, no bigger than a full stop, swimming around. At first I thought that this was a mosquito larva and I had been responsible for the Dengue fever a couple of months back. However on closer inspection, I realise it was not.

The larva would not have graze thru the water. It would simply wiggle endlessly till it matures. So could you imagine the surprise I had when I saw a little "fishlet" or baby fish.

Just today, I brought a container and scope up the little fellow into it. It was a feisty creature, knowing that it would be taken away and kept swimming low, hiding in the plant. Took me a while to get it out and nested in its new home. I then fed it with some protein like substance. A liquid diet which I gave my older fishlets a whole year and more ago.

In my thoughts, this is one lucky little guy. He managed to escape all the water changes which I may have killed plenty of his siblings. He also managed to escape his hungry parents (likely to be from my colleague's fish tank). I am sure he would live a long life.

Anyway, I decided that I shall call him Tiny. In no reference to the rock giant from dota.

Watches

Of late, I been more passionate on the good old time piece. Many view of it as a simple time keeper and would not spend more than needed to ensure they are never late. Others value it as a fashion statement. Where a classic watch must be pair with a nice shirt and pant.

As for me, its the design of the beauty. I prefer that the watch has an elegant look. Something that its not clutter by endless font size 5 numbering. For example, the watch you see topmost is something pretty awesome. Its simple and it tells you the time in 24 hrs (not 12 hrs as you would expect)




Next you see a wonderful Omega Timepiece. A brand endorse by the current British Super Secret Agent. Its called Speedmaster Moon Phase. And guess what, it tells you the moon phase. Another beauty indeed and sooo is the price tag. Which is probably why this would likely to be a dream watch to envy and not to own. I would tell you the price here but its likely to break your heart. So better to save the trouble.




Perhaps I should stick to my limit. Something that wont take away more than a quarter of a month pay. Something nice and within reach and most of all, something that is Swiss. The Tissot brand offers good affordable watches that are decent looking. This PRC200 series has one of the better designs I have seen. Perhaps its time I look into this direction.

Then again, the lure of trendy and unique timepiece is something too much to bear. I have found that the French label "LIP", offering some pretty cool designs. I wonder if I would have the chance to pop by France again.

Duran Duran - Come Undone

This was a classic. A song that touches your inner soul and makes you want to sing along too.

Kinda miss my childhood

running soon ended

I should be getting some sleep before my run. But I cant.

I think its the amount of coffee I had today

Update: Ok I complete the 10km in 1hr 19 mins. Did a bit of walking at the 8km mark when my ankle gave way. But well managed to push myself to complete it painfully.

To all those who were walking in front of me when I was running, I am sorry to have bump into you.

PS. My calf and shin are dead at the moment. No amount of Yoko Yoko seems to help

Kungfu fighting

The battle of Bruce and Chuck

The need to bulk up

Very soon now I would embark on a long journey. One that I hope to complete without walking.

So to prepare for that, I would need to bulk up.

Wanna do a big dinner this week guys??

Going the mile

I must say that I have not been running as much as I like.

Perhaps its the endless rainy days. Perhaps its the time and schedule I been having. Perhaps its my lack of motivation after getting Silver in IPPT.

Cant really say for sure. What I do know is that I need to complete 10km this sunday. And I have yet to cover half of the distance.

Now I hope I wont have any trouble waking up early for it