《当我老了》 — 写给孩子的一封信

Saw this posting at both Ah Kiong and Esteemm's blogs.

Reading it brings me to tears....

当我老了，不再是原来的我。
请理解我，对我有一点耐心。

当我把菜汤洒到自己的衣服上时，
当我忘记怎样系鞋带时，
请想一想当初我是如何手把手地教你。

当我一遍又一遍地重复你早已听腻的话语，
请耐心地听我说，不要打断我。
你小的时候，我不得不重复那个讲过千 百遍的故事，直到你进入梦乡。

当我需要你帮我洗澡时，
请不要责备我。
还记得小时候我千方百计哄你洗澡的情形吗？

当我对新科技和新事物不知所措时，
请不要嘲笑我。
想一想当初我怎样耐心地回答你的每一个「为什 么」。

当我由于双腿疲劳而无法行走时，
请伸出你年轻有力的手搀扶我。
就像你小时候学习走路时，我扶你那样。

当我忽然忘记我们谈话的主题，
请给我一些时间让我回想。
其实对我来说，谈论什么并不重要，
只要你能在一旁听 我说，我就很满足。

当你看着老去的我，请不要悲伤。
理解我，支持我，
就像你刚才开始学习如何生活时我对你那样。

当初我引导你走上人生路，如今请陪伴我走完最后的路。
给我你的爱和耐心，我会抱以感激的微笑，
这微笑中凝结着我对你无限的爱。

Time After Time

Originally sang by Cyndi Lauper......nice song that brings back memories.....

They don't write songs like that anymore.......

Respect but never Expect?

有时候你对人家好
人家未必会对你好
有时候人家对你不好
你可能要看他的用意在哪
但是人家对你不好时
你该如何对待那个人呢?
是不是要像人家说的
Respect but never Expect?

但是要别人Respect 是comes naturally 的?
还是要earn the respect from people?

我觉得要我respect you as a fellow human being 没有问题
如果你能earn my respect, 我会加倍的respect 你

就好像在公司里的一些主任/经理
我会打从心里的respect 他们

但也有一小撮的人仗着有靠山
就作威作虎, 其实不过是空城一座罢了
不要说是Respect, 我反而看不起那些人!

Smokers irrational, like animals: M'sia cleric

Saw the following from Asiaone website:-

KUALA LUMPUR - SMOKERS are like animals that do not think rationally, a Malaysian hardline Islamist cleric said at the weekend.

Islam discourages the faithful from smoking, just as it bars them from alcohol, said Mr Nik Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia, which seeks to turn the country into an Islamic state that punishes thieves by lopping off their hands.

Smokers did not use their brains because they continued to let themselves be addicted to the habit, despite knowing it was bad for their health, the Star newspaper quoted Mr Nik Aziz as saying.

'People who do not want to think are like animals,' Mr Nik Aziz told the launch of an anti-smoking campaign in Kota Baru, the capital of Malaysia's north-eastern state of Kelantan, which is his party's last remaining bastion.

Mr Nik Aziz, himself a non-smoker, has earlier said smokers would not be included among his party's candidates at Malaysia's next general elections, widely expected to be called as soon as early next year. -- REUTERS

The following not directed at anyone.

Once on a mrt train I saw a man boarded the mrt train at the Novena station.......carrying those brown envelopes, those carrying x-ray type. His eyes were bloodshot like he just cried his heart out. Tho he is a total stranger but somehow I feel an immediate heartache for him.

I thought about what must be going thru his mind now.........

"do I tell them?"
"what will they do if one day I lost this battle....."
"If only I've listened....."

Death At A Funeral

If you only have time for a movie this week and comedy gets you going......I would recommend you to catch Death At A Funeral.

It's proof of Murphy's Law - right from the start of the movie when the funeral director brings in the wrong body. It is hilariously funny from start to end. A bit of dark humour at play with a very cleverly thought out plot.

Polling time

但愿人长久 千里共婵娟

但愿人长久
词 苏轼
曲 梁弘志

明月几时有
把酒问青天
不知天上宫闕
今夕是何年

我欲乘风归去
唯恐琼楼玉宇
高处不胜寒
起舞弄清影
何似在人间

转朱阁低绮户照 无眠
不应有恨何事长向别 时圆
人有悲欢离合
月有阴晴圆缺
此事古难全

但愿人长久
千里共婵娟

我欲乘风归去
唯恐琼楼玉宇
高处不胜寒起
舞弄清影
何似在人间

转朱阁低绮户照 无眠
不应有恨何事长向别 时圆
人有悲欢离合
月有阴晴圆缺
此事古难全

但愿人长久千里共婵娟

Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival

This year is sort of like the 2nd time I'm making my own snow skin mooncake. The first attempt was last year but that was like all the ingredients were ready made by my friend and a few of us just go over to his house do the final step of wrapping the 'ready' snowskin to around the filling and casting it inside the mould.

This year, with exception from the mint-flavored 'lian rong' paste, the snowskin was prepared by 'ahemmmm' me, myself and I (oh ok lah, I bought the ready-mixed pack....heehee but still must follow the recipe to add the right amount of water and shortening to make the dough)

Brought the end-product to a gathering on Sat night and it was pretty well received.....hehee (hope they really liked it and not cos of the need to be polite for it's the first time I'm meeting them) ......tonight there will be another gathering and will be bringing it there too.....hope the response will be good too.

Due credit must also be given to JWorld for supplying the mint-flavour lian rong and the moulds.

康熙來了

张惠妹-如果你也听说

张惠妹-如果你也听说
作曲:周杰伦填词:李焯雄
监制:崔炎德, evi yang
编曲:adrian chan

突然发现站了好久
不知道要往哪走
还不想回家的我
再多人陪只会更寂寞

许多话题关于我
就连我也有听过
我的快乐要被认可
委屈却没有人诉说

夜把心洋葱般剥落
拿掉防卫剩下什么
为什么脆弱时候
想你更多

如果你也听说
有没有想过我
想普通交朋友
还是你依然会心疼我

好多好多的话想对你说
悬着一颗心没着落
要怎么附和
舍不得又无可奈何

如果你也听说
会不会相信我
对流言会附和
还是你知道我还是我

跌跌撞撞才明白了许多
懂我的人就你一个
想到你想起我
胸口依然温柔


许多话题关于我
就连我也有听过
我想我宁可都沉默
其实反而显得做作

夜把心洋葱般剥落
拿掉防卫剩下什么
为什么脆弱时候
想你更多

如果你也听说
有没有想过我
想普通交朋友
还是你依然会心疼我

好多好多的话想对你说
悬着一颗心没着落
要怎么附和
舍不得又无可奈何

如果你也听说
会不会相信我
对流言会附和
还是你知道我还是我

跌跌撞撞才明白了许多
懂我的人就你一个
想到你想起我
胸口依然温柔

如果你也听说
有没有想过我
想普通交朋友
还是你依然会心疼我

跌跌撞撞才明白了许多
冷漠的人就你一个
想到你想起我
胸口依然温柔

如果你想起我
你会想到什么

Just to share another nice song not a reflection of my situation....haha....... Heard it over the radio and a friend introduced that song to me.....so just dedicating this song back to him.

那年夏天宁静的海

那年夏天宁静的海 - 王心凌

那时我们天天在一起
太幸福到不需要距离
很贪心要全世界注意
只是太年轻
快乐和伤心
都像在演戏
一碰就惊天动地
今天看你
昨天的你去了哪里
那年夏天我和你躲在
这一大片宁静的海
直到后来我们都还在
对这个世界充满期待
今年冬天你已经不在
我的心空出了一块
很高兴遇见你
让我终究明白
回忆你真是精彩
还记得一起努力
还有那些一言为定
现在我就当过去是种学习
虽然好不容易

U probably won't be reading this. But I think it's better for me to write it out.
They say it's better to write it out as seemingly may be better able to release stress and letting go.

Now I wonder.....
When the train reaches that familiar station - do I hope to see your face...
When I go Soup Spoon, should I have the Velvety Mushroom Soup...
When I go Sentosa, should I go to our favourite spot...
Should I cycle there? should I tan? Should I even go at all...

陳奕迅 - 淘汰

When you gone past the 'you're so cute/adorable', 'miss you already' stage, next comes the I wonder if I just said something stupid stage. Then there's so many guess work on who's the one calling you now.....who sms you on what. Very tiring.

Not a new song,but I think one of his best songs that I like most.

歌手：王力宏 专辑：盖世英雄

baby不要再哭泣
这一幕多么熟悉
紧握着你的手彼此都舍不得分离
每一次想开口但不如保持安静
给我一分钟专心
好好欣赏你的美
幸福搭配悲伤
同时在我心交叉
挫折的眼泪不能测试爱的重量
付出的爱收不回
还欠你的我不能给
别把我心也带走
去跟随
每一次和你分开
深深的被你打败
每一次放弃你的温柔
痛苦难以释怀
每一次和你分开
每一次kiss you goodbye
爱情的滋味此刻我终于最明白
----
但欠你的我不能给
我才明白爱最真实的滋味
我终于明白

BKK again...haha

Yup I went to BKK again over the weekend (04-07 Aug 07).....yes again.....nope not that got mistress there or anything......this trip was to bring a friend who is in between jobs and whom have never been to BKK to relax, sightseeing and shopping of course.

This time we stayed at Citadines (Apartment + Hotel). A rather nice and cozy Apt that is walking distance to one of the Skytrain station 'Asoke' (which is also an interchange with their MRT station 'Sukhumvit').

It's relatively new as it only opened in Jan 2007. It is also under the Ascott group of service apts. Only thing that wasn't ready yet was the swimming pool. They do have a gym that I got to use every morning.

The breakfast provided was very simple. And so we only took it one morning and for the subsequent 2 mornings, we went to a nearby supermarket-cum-eatery known as Foodland that serves a simple American breakfast for 58baht.....what a bargain. You get 2 eggs (choice to have it scrambled or fried), Ham/Bacon/Sausage (choose Sausage as one morning I opt for Bacon and all I got was a strip of bacon......) Coffee or Tea, Pineapple or Orange Juice plus 2 pieces of toast with butter and jam.

The TV console can slide across the wall to be in front of the bed or the living area.

Pic of me at Chatuchak Weekend Market......

In the Grand Palace in front of the Monkeys that supports the Golden Chedi.

Depositing the coins into the 108 bowls at Wat Pho for good luck and blessings.

When you enter Wat Pho, remember to go to the ticketing counter to get your entrance tickets - it's 50baht per person. At the entrance, there's usually no guard, no barriers, no arrows to tell you where to get your ticket (depending on which entrance you enter by). After paying for the entrance, remember to ask for a receipt if you're not issued any as there isn't any tickets being issued and the receipt serves as the ticket.

This trip I travelled via JetStar and was quite surprised and happy that they actually allows you to select your seats online. But there's some facilitation charge of $6 per pax which they did not explain what that was for - seats selection?

However to my disappointment, when I checked in on my departure morning, I was dismayed to be informed by the check in staff that there are no more seats side by side for me and my friend. Upon my querying about my seats selection online, which he could not provide any explanation. except that he mumbled that there weren't any seats allocated beforehand - then he verified with us if we're ok to seat at the rows at the emergency exits.

We obliged but when we board the plane, we then realised we were both allocated aisle seats! That wasn't very nice.

Imagine the plane's seats are

Window A B C [ aisle ] D E F Window

and we were given seats C and D.

The funny thing is, when we check in for our flight back to Singapore from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi's Int'l Airport, we did not have such problems. The staff promptly inform us that the seats has already been pre-selected and allocated us the seats. I've drafted a letter to JetStar to ask for an explanation why this is so.

Genting and KL Weekend!

Went to Genting Highlands and KL over the weekend (26-29 Jul).

It's been so long since I last visited Genting. So much has changed. Had an enjoyable day there playing at the outdoor theme park. Simply love those roller coaster rides. One of my favourite is the Rolling Thunder Mine Train......took it twice and would have gone for a third ride if it's not closed for maintenance....heehee.

Another one of the new rides there is the Flying Coaster. You start the ride in a standing position but it'll slowly adjust to a horizontal position so much so that you're flying like Superman.....and slowly it'll bring you up to a height of up to 4 storeys high......

After that it's whizzzzz......you'll be flying and zipping around, even turning over 360 degrees. This ride is definitely not for the faint hearted and it made me feel a little giddy after it, but it sure was quite an experience.

New weekend pastime - Sentosa for tanning

Recently been going to Sentosa for suntanning quite a bit........

BKK Trip part 2

Right next to the Bangkok's Grand Thai Palace is the Wat Pho. A pretty famous temple with I think the world's largest reclining Buddha's statue.

For twenty baht per person, you can exchange for a bowl of coins - about 108 pcs of them to deposit one each in 108 bowls so as you drop a coin in each bowl as you move along, you can pray for the buddha's blessings.

Then we headed to the Grand Palace......a few re-structuring works here and there but it's really very very beautiful.

Dunno why but just love this song.....

My Wish - Rascal Flatts

Before I continue to post about the Bkk trip. Just like to post a very nice and meaningful song by the group Rascal Flatts.


My Wish

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you wanna go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
But more than anything, more than anything...

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more than you take.
But More than anything, yeah, more than anything...

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish. Yeah.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll post a link/embed the song for you here to listen to it if I can find the music video or do let me know if you found anything that I can embed the song here.

Recent trip to BKK

Went on a sight-seeing trip to BKK.

Stayed at Somerset Park Suanplu Service apt.


Had quite a pleasant stay there I must say.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is ze living area........

and ze Kitchen......Complete with ze oven and cooking utensils.....



They have TV in the living area as well as 2 other TV sets one in each room. Very nice decor. Zen and comtemporary look.

We stayed on the 23rd floor.......

Unobstructed view from the balcony on different parts of the day








We went to the floating Market- one and a half hours car ride away from Bangkok city......and first stop was a souvenir/palm sugar producing shop.... along the meandering canals....


Wanna make a quick guess what do you think the picture below is of?

Quite an experience thou nothing to buy there really for most of their wares are also available in bkk city and they are targeting at more unsuspecting tourists I supposed.

I did not really get to spend much time there.....I supposed if I did, maybe I would be able to find/see the floating market that correspond to those beautiful postcards that we see so frequently.

..............to be continued.

My 'virgin bake'.....Decided to bake my mom a carrot cake for Mother's Day. Results.....too hard on the outside.......think I used a tat bit much flour.........I must try again.........

Careful with the receipts

The other day, I was shopping for stuffs at the local supermaket near my house - the one that advertised for being opened early in the morning and that you'll be able to Shop and Save- for ingredients to make Salad and Pumpkin Soup for mother's day and happened to see that the Cherry Tomatoes are on promotion. The refrigerated shelf pricing labels indicates that it is $1.70 each plastic container (punnet?).

After picking the rest of the stuffs, at the check-out counter, the cashier - a young lady wasn't sure what is the code to punch into the register for the Cherry Tomatoes and so she checked with her neighbouring cashier who advised her to key in certain code and the price was $1.95. I disputed the pricing, but the young lady looked to her colleague who arrogantly and impatiently insisted that the pricing was correct. Just as I told the cashier to ring it up and I'll go verify later, the supervisor - a guy approached and clarified that the code is different and managed to key in the correct code with the right pricing $1.70. All this time, no apology from both the cashiers and supervisor. I know it's only $0.25 difference, but what I'm trying to highlight here is the level of service or the lacking of (and the lousy attitude). In the end I choose not to make any noise and just pay and leave.

Moral of the story? better check the cash register when the cashiers rings up your purchases. but I guess nowadays bar codes are widely used and hardly the need to be punching in codes so errors are minimised also not to expect too much from such local supermarkets.

They should showcase those person around the smoker - their emotions.

I can't say for sure that smoking killed my dad, but it's definitely a contributing factor. It's unbearable to see someone close to you go thru the suffering - the angioplastry and other treatments. My maternal grandfather died of complications arising out of lung cancer. Till this date I'll never forget what the doctor said to my mum when my grandfather was running a high temperature and slipping in and out of consciousness - 'the cancer tumour has spread to his brain, there is not just one but many tumours and they are growing in size. There's only so much space in the head and so they are squashing the brain and have damaged the portion regulating the body temperature.......". Imagine being at the receiving end of this piece of news regarding someone you care.

Sometimes they only highlight that smoking may cause lung cancer, but they don't showcase the complications that may arise or the fact that if you have lung cancer, it doesn't necessary mean you die of lung failure only.

So that's why I say, even if you don't care for yourself, show that you care for your partner by quiting smoking.

That's why I hate to see someone light up a cigarette in front of me.......

On a lighter - not that lighter for fire - note, I have this crazy crazy 'song kram' inspired idea of our NEA officers going around with water pistols or 'super soakers' on every first Wednesday of the month (in conjunction with BYOB day) - environmentally friendly mah - to extinguish cigarettes when they see people light up.....haha.

Quit - Smoking.

There's been much criticism over Singapore NEA's recent hard-hitting anti-smoking campaign which includes the use of the graphic television advertisement showing a lady suffering from mouth cancer.

When I first saw that ad on TV, it was pretty startling for me especially when I was half surfing the net only to turn my head to the screen to see the part where they already zoomed in on the mouth. Like most of the people who wrote in to Today, I had thought it's the trailer for another horror movie. I can imagine the impact it will have on young impressionable kids.

Using scare tactics to attempt to make people quit smoking - my own feel - may not achieve it's desired effect.

I feel it would be better to showcase the plight of the family members/love ones of the smokers should the smoker be diagnosed with smoking related illness. A friend once said, 'when you're ill, it's your love ones who suffer most' - which I agree.

So if you're a smoker, think of your love ones.......not just the 2nd hand smoke aspect but how they will feel should anything happen to you, the mental anguish they will suffer.

I'm calling on behalf of XXX Bank, are you holding any XXX bank's Credit card?

They called me on my mobile using a 'caller-number non display' line, identified themselves as 'calling on behalf of XXX bank' and yet asks if I carry XXX bank's credit card.

Firstly I don't even know where exactly they are calling from, especially since they choose to 'hide' their calling number.

Claims to be representing XXX bank yet they do not know if you're already the bank's customer and expects you to divulge personal and confidential information.

It has happened to me a few occasions and I'll shoot them down with the points I raised above. One time, the caller actually agrees with me! hah!

Last week, it happened again and this time this guy's more persistent. Saying that they are offering existing card members a chance to get a supp. card with waiver of annual fees and they are giving away a free passport holder with each successful application......duh! Don't mean to appear snobbish here but who cares for a passport holder. (which most likely will be embossed with the bank's logo on it?)

I know it's nothing new, some banks have outsourced their card's membership drive to agencies. Some of them may even have gotten our infor from Lucky draw coupons that we filled up.(some do ask you to indicate if you paid via Visa/Master - since you qualify for one card, you should qualify for the other banks). Guess that's the mode of operations for these agencies. I think, well maybe they are authentic and are not fraudsters but I think their approach needs some fine tunning.

Also just the other day a lady from this pretty well known bank to offer me balance transfer facilities 'at low interest rate'. When I turned down the offer citing reason being 'no plans for usage at the moment', she tried to hard sell me their plan where should you lose your wallet especially with all your credit cards (any bank), you just need to call one number and they will cancel all your cards for you and even protection against fraudulent use of your cards. Agian I turn her down.

And she goes like:

"Sir you mean you don't own a lot of other bank's credit cards?" I was thinking, "none of your business!" but still I politely told her I still don't see any need for it (especially not when you need to pay $49 a year!)

"Sir you mean you don't travel a lot and so is not scared of potential risk of losing your wallet overseas?" at this point, I was actually quite upset with her and almost went

"You there, you mean you don't know you're being very rude?"

2nd day of the IT show at Suntec Convention Hall

2nd day of the IT show at Suntec. The place is crowded, littered and crazy. Most environmentally unfriendly event. See the brochures littered indiscriminately on the floor.

- This blog was updated through my M1 mobile phone.

My new hobby. Making orchid potted plants

My new hobby. Making orchid plant from artificial 'orchid'. Want to buy one?

- This blog was updated through my M1 mobile phone.

Gong Xi Gong Xi! Happy Lunar New Year.

ICT

Having my ICT from 29 Jan til 10 Feb and I already felt the heat when I saw what's th programme like online from www.ns.sg .

Today is off-in lieu as this weekend (starting tomorrow morning) til the coming Friday (9th Feb) will be out field.......

To that sargent who called me and those excused field duties (by the MO) lobos - Yes we excused field duties but you think your breakfast that morning found its way to the store all by itself (so that you guys can wake up at 9am and not miss it?) bloody hell; yes you all went for training till very late, but I also did not get to sleep until you guys return and yet I had to wake up at 6.30am to go cook house to ta pau breakfast for the whole company. There are those guys who are also lobos and stayed in their bunk the whole time and who only show their faces during meals time and booking out, why I never see you get them to help with the chairs moving thing?

Use your brain!

KL and Port Dickson

Went to KL 2 weekends ago and it was the first time I went to The Curve - which is rather near 1 Utama.

The Water Chalets


Also my first visit to Port Dickson ......Stayed at the A'villion Village Resort.

Very neat and tidy room that even comes with a day bed (near the window overlooking the sea).The rooms are very clean and tidy...only some of the desk, cupboard looks a bit old. Even so its a very nice and well maintained resort. One thing I like very much about this resort (amongst other things) is that the pool (one of the two pools within the resort) is open 24 hours.

The Village Pool

A view of the bathtub & Shower from the room

U can see the stars when you shower at night....

Went for a walk during low tide.........

There was this army of tiny little crabs scrurrying with their own agenda.....they were very quick to zip into their hideouts or dig fresh ones when you approach.....like the ones you see above are about the diammeter of a 5 cent coin or so - think the biggest was just slightly bigger than a 10 cent coin.