The Ghost of Christmas Past

'Who, and what are you.' Scrooge demanded.

'I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.'

'Long Past.' inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature.

'No. Your past.'"

- A Christmas Carol: The First of the Three Spirits

*******

Even old Ebenezer enjoyed his trip back to his past. So armed with a few pics from yesteryears, let me walk you down Nostalgia lane (I hear it's just next to Wisteria).

A photo in Church with our priest, Father Huan before we set off for carolling. That's me standing on the far left. Was only in Sec 2 then.



One of the more memorable nights. A bumpy jeep ride to Kenny Peter's residence deep in the rubber plantation.


Our Christmas Play in 1990. That's me in the Clown costume. No, the Royal London Circus was not in town.



At Rachel's birthday party on Christmas Day 1990. It became quite an annual affair on Christmas Nights.


Slightly older now in 1992. On the bus for another Carolling session.



With Ray, Steve, Julian and Dennis. There were quite a bunch of us, Dragon year babies, at that time.


With Ray Lee, Carol, Ray Ng, and Justin (Ching Leng). Taking a break from singing.



The year we made a year-end trip to KL



After Christmas Eve Mass

And before I scoot off to Muar tomorrow, here's wishing you a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Maybe I'll follow up this post with Pics of Christmas Present after I'm back next week.

So meanwhile, HoHOho ... MERRY CHRISTMAS and GOD BLESS...

*******

i wish i was santa...
he knows where all the naughty girls live...
- on a t-shirt

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

“It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five and ten glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas …”

Yes it certainly does look like that time of the year again, and going down the checklist …

Wet rainy mornings and cold stormy nights … tick

Brightly decorated and lighted Orchard Road … tick

Lots and lots of shoppers thronging the Shopping Centres … tick

Year-end sales … tick

Carolers, street performers, dancing cartoon characters doing their bit to spread the cheer … tick

Salvation Army volunteers at every street corner … tick

E-mails and E-cards bearing Christmas wishes … tick

Yes, the familiar sights of the year-ending festivity. Like a well-rehearsed annual play that never fails to put on a show every year.

Christmas has become a truly universal (and commercial) event, enjoyed and adopted by many, regardless of religion or belief. So much that people now religiously make it a point to observe the day the only way they know, ie. Christmas Countdown, partying the night away, exchange gifts with loved ones, bbq with friends, etc. You don’t have to be Christian or even know the name of the town where baby Jesus was born to celebrate this occasion. It’s an open invitation, no cover charge, just come dressed to party.

The face of Christmas is changing. Even Santa is going out of fashioned. And at churches the Nativity Scene is taking a backseat to the Christmas tree.

Well, you can argue that at least the themes of peace, goodwill and charity are still closely linked to Christmas. So is the art of giving and sharing. People are spending, retailers are profiting; the economy can only look up with all the good vibe spreading around. Drop the religious association and you will have a celebration so universal and unifying that it will make a fitting end to the year. So why change a wining formula ?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Is it?

*******

From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it. ~Katharine Whitehorn

Nonsensical Musings

I have not blogged much recently. Can't find a right excuse for that.

So as I sit in front of the widescreen, my mind runs through topics that I might blog about - the Year that is almost over (no point crying over spilt milk), the magical December feeling (done that, and besides I'm suffering from a lack of it this year), year-end shopping sprees (probably not, credit card bills went soaring from recent purchases), movie reviews (a bit behind on this aspect, last seen was Casino Royale) or more rants about everything that is not quite right with the world (S'pore PR price hike, the Iraqi conundrum, melting ice caps, Soccer Sugar Daddies, the list just goes on). Then the mind just goes blank and the gears in my head just refuse to click.

Oh well at least I tried.

Here's something to leave you by. A quote from Henry Drummond. Something to keep you in the right spirit this Christmas.

'The test of man then is not "How have I believed?" but how "How have I loved?" The final test of religion is not religiousness, but love; not what I have done, not what I have believed, not what I have acheived, but how have I discharged the common charities of life. '

Wider window to the world

My new toy from Sitex. A 19'' Viewsonic widescreen LCD (yes, it's the brand with three Gouldian Finches) with built-in speakers. Now my screen can accomodate more content at one time, though photos seemed kind of stretched. That means people will put on a few pounds on my screen.

The rest of my PC do look a little ancient around the new kid in town. My old graphics card don't even support widescreen resolution or DVI output. Now I've got an excuse to upgrade the rest of the hardware.

But the "Bad Electronics" curse got me again this time. Damn you single bad pixel ! This means a trip all the way to Funan to make the exchange.

Moving in

It has been a hectic past few days. At least the moving was without any hitch. The house is still in a bit of mess, with boxes and bags still unpacked and pieces of IKEA furniture still un-assembled. Out of the few things I bought, the 'Fisher & Paykel' fridge does not work, the 'Delonghi' air port leaves a funny tasting drinking water and the leg rest I picked from IKEA is of the wrong colour. Okay, the last one was my fault, but the other two tells much of the quality of electrical goods nowadays. It is like for every three items you buy, one is defective. There should be a penalty against the manufacturer for poor quality control. Like a $50 voucher or a discount on the initial price.

Sorry, I 'm sidetracking. Anyway, the house will keep me busy for the next one month. A paint job maybe, more IKEA shopping, do up the study and guest room, christmas decorating, etc. It's like I've taken up a new hobby, and that's not including the compulsory house chores. Oh well, this is the price you pay for owning your own place.

Here's a pic of my place before the move-in.

And here's how 'moving house' is done in Malaysia.

TGIF - The John Cage Way

Here's a wacky Ally McBeal video to warm up your dancing feet on Friday.
The one where Ally and friends all dance to Barry White singing 'You're the First, the Last, My Everything'. The look on John's face when he sees Barry is priceless ...

"Oh Baby, Oh We really got it together Baby"....

Barry White performing on Ally McBeal
Uploaded by leimsieder

Beyond Hope

An account of a personal battle against cancer by my colleague's husband.

Of Endings and Beginnings

On Friday, my company’s MD officially announced the death sentence. The company was winding up and all employees had less than seven months to help out in the transfer process, find new jobs, collect whatever retrenchment benefits that they are owed and clear out. Well at least that put at end to all speculations and rumours that have been circulating since early this year. But I guess many had not expected the axe to be brandished so soon. The hardest hit will be the ones above forty as the working culture in Singapore is not too kind or accommodating to older workers. Old doesn’t necessarily mean gold here. With that said, it is time to pay more attention to the recruit section again.

And on a totally different note, on Saturday, 11 Nov at 11am, under the watchful eyes of 11 family members and one toddler, I officially denounced my ‘single’ status and was officially wedded by the local Marriage Registrar. We are doing it pretty much the Singapore way, ie. book house – register marriage – wedding dinner a year later. A bout of food poisoning (from either the Nasi Lemak Rendang @ Larkin Station or Prawn Noodle @ Bentayan, the night before) literally gave me cold feet (and hands) that morning. Just had enough strength to last the short ceremony and lunch afterwards. A new journey begins …

*******

The True Love

There's a faith in loving fiercely the one who is rightfully yours
especially if you have waited years and especially if part of you never
believed you could deserve this loved and beckoning hand held
out to you this way.

I am thinking of faith now and the testaments of loneliness
and what we feel we are worthy of in this world.
Years ago in the Hebrides I remember an old man
who would walk every morning on the gray stones
to the shore of baying seals, who would press his
hat to his chest in the blustering salt wind and say his
prayer to the turbulent Jesus hidden in the waters.

And I think of the story of the storm and the people
waking and seeing the distant, yet familiar figure,
far across the water calling to them.
And how we are all preparing for that abrupt waking
and that calling and that moment when we have to say yes!
Except it will not come so grandly, so biblically,
but more subtly, and intimately in the face
of the one you know you have to love.
So that when we finally step out of the boat
toward them we find, everything holds us,
and everything confirms our courage.

And if you wanted to drown, you could,
But you don't, because finally, after all
this struggle and all these years,
you don't want to anymore.
You've simply had enough of drowning
and you want to live, and you want to love.
And you'll walk across any territory,
and any darkness, however fluid,
and however dangerous to take the one
hand and the one life, you know belongs in yours.

~ David Whyte ~

Uniquely JB

I was over in JB last Saturday for a short day trip at the invitation of Chern Yin. As a proud JB-ian, CY wanted to show us the less common attractions in this southern city while educating us on some of JB's geographical and historical facts. So you see it was not the usual foray into JB for VCD or cheap groceries.

For a more detailed write-up, go read Ravi's post on the visit, cause here I'm just putting up some random pictures. Enjoy!

Wat-do-you-know, we were on time to witness the arrival of VIPs at the SJER launch in Danga Bay.

Main event-hall of the SJER launch. Recognise any familiar bald patch ?

JB's own Dato'Shahrir talking to reporters outside the hall.

Spotted. CNA's Melissa Goh in mid-run.
Yeah, CNA reporters can't just sit around waiting, they got to write online reports too!

Bikes all proudly displayed. Their owners ? Lepak-ing under the shade while uninvited guests walk around the place unchecked. Well, that's just Malaysia's open styled security.

I found a 'Rumah Muar' at Danga Bay! Ok, we are not unique, every district had their own house too ...

A beautiful and quiet spot in Danga Bay - the Orchid Garden.

Had this JB version of the Laksa near Taman Nong Chik.

A couple spotted at 'Hutan Bandar' (the forest park in JB). Who wouldn't want their wedding pics taken near brown murky waters?

The grand old Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque.

*******

"Nothing like jb in early morning! sun shining ... birds singing ... snatch theives running ..."

- a quote from one of the guys before he admited in his latest post that there was more to JB then being S'pore's Tijuana. Name of person withheld .

The Great Equalizer

e-qual-iz-er [ee-kwuh-lhay-zer] :
any device or appliance for equalizing strains, pressures, etc.

courtesy of dilbert.com

Reminds me of the time when I was without Internet for almost half a year; though I forgot how I passed time during those dark ages...

So what is your 'equalizer'? Korean TV Serials? Free-to-play Online Games? Jodi Piccoult novels? Home making (seriously!) ? Or don't tell me you are one of the lucky fews with jobs that you just love to bits. Gahhh !

*******

"Businesses used to be like Christianity; if you were faithful and obedient, you could obtain bliss in the afterlife of retirement. Now its more of a reincarnation model. If a worker learns enough in his current job, he can progess to a higher level of employment elsewhere."

- Dogbert

Living ‘The Sims’ life

We’ll finally get our new place in about a month’s time.

To think of it, we are only half way through the whole house-buying process. It started with two months worth of house viewings from June and we finally found the ‘Right’ one in late August. A quick negotiation ensued and the deal was finally clinched a week after we viewed the house. We were fortunate to find a direct seller, thus leaving out the housing agent, from the process.

After the first appointment at HDB, we realized that we could bring forward the Completion date from the traditional 6-8 weeks. So, after a little bargaining with the owners, we brought the waiting time down to 5 weeks. Well if you’re already confused with the house-buying process, just wait your turn, it will come clear when your turn comes to buy.

So, we spent the past two weeks scouring exhibitions, furniture malls and the neighbourhood Courts Superstore. It’s always exciting picking the furnishing for a new place. Just like playing ‘The Sims’ but without the cheat codes to expand my shrinking funds. Since we are moving in without the renovating phase, we need only to concentrate on the essential furniture and appliances first.

We started off by paying a visit to the ‘Home Living’ Exhibition at the Expo. Before that we didn’t think that there was much to know about mattress design. That was until the sales reps started to convince us that terms like Pocketed Spring, Memory Foam, Negative Ions, and Orthopedic Designs are important know-how for selecting a mattress that will serve us eight hours each day. So much for the art of sleeping!

We finally settled for a full foam mattress utilising space-age technology, ie. with a layer of memory(visco-elactic) foam on top. It’s a different feel from the common pocketed spring design, so much that you can literally melt into the bed. The debate is still out there on the effectiveness and durability for such a design, we will just have to experience it to know. Anyway, we also had time to pick a bed frame with sloping compressed cushions as headboards (good for sitting up to read or watch TV).

Lots more shopping will be required but we will bide our time and just enjoy the process.

Welcome back Blue Skies

Finally, the blue skies are back and the sun is no more a distant orange glow in the sky. The heavens are pouring too. And most importantly the Haze has been reduced to a PSI statistic of below 30.

Must thank the person(s) who did the rain dance, or maybe it was God himself who decided to let loose the Northeast Monsoon earlier than expected. Anyway let’s hope that the trees are now too wet for another bonfire. As for progress, we can only pray that our ASEAN leaders can hammer out some effective action plan in the coming ministerial meeting on the Haze.

It is back to work after a lazy long break. A short work week too, and even before you can blink, it is the weekend again. Talking about work, I’m feeling so unmotivated nowadays and often find myself dragging my feet to the office. Then at work, it seems that I am just going through the motions, like a puppet on a string, while daily issues and external circumstances control me and my time. Something in me wants to take charge and stop the tide, but this little voice soon fades out when things start to overwhelm. I know I must put ‘first things first’, set smart goals, change my mindset, bla bla bla, but sometimes it is easier to just let things be.

While I write this, the poster in front of me reads, “Attitude : Even if the world is coming to an end tomorrow, I would still plant my apple tree.”. Maybe I just have to find the reason why I want to plant the darn tree in the first place. Maybe I just have to convince myself that I’m doing it for me, not the company or anybody else. Maybe work has become stale, maybe … I can go on and on here, but let’s cut the rant and get some sleep. Maybe my subconscious (or unconscious mind) can reveal the answer to these mysteries.

Signing out. Sweet Dreams.

*******

“-What power would hell have if those imprisoned here would not be able to dream of heaven?”
Dream to Lucifer and the citizens of Hell, in Preludes and Nocturnes

L-O-N-G Weekend

It’s finally here, the long Deeparaya weekend. Four days away from work and the dreary office, with time that is just waiting to be filled with things to do. However one thing about such long breaks is that it often starts off with a lot of promise, with my head filled with tonnes of ideas and plans, but as always good times have a knack of slipping away quicker, and I always leave it too late (like till the last evening of the break) to hurry through the chores that I have time for.

Well, while I am writing this, Saturday is almost gone. Spent the morning catching up on sleep and in the afternoon had a game of hard court soccer with the guys. The game came to an abrupt end when poor Edwin twisted his ankle when he landed badly after a jump. Looks like he will be out for weeks. So much for our Weekend Warrior regime.

Would not be going back home as I expect the jam to be pretty bad on the roads with the ‘balik kampung’ phenomena taking place. Let’s see, places to go … there’s Vivocity. The latest shopping attraction located at the former World Trade Centre side. Was just there yesterday to catch, no-prize-for-guessing, World Trade Centre. The place definitely deserves another look. And if the haze is not too bad, maybe will take a trek up Bkt Timah hill with Vicky.

Things to do … well there is some cleaning and tidying required in this sty, I mean room of mine, Norman is dropping by for a visit, maybe catch up with Wee Loong (hmmm …DOA?), and Vicky will also be busy when her mum and cousin’s family arrive for a short visit. And there is a raya house visit on Tuesday, plus books to read, stuff to buy and information to find out. Three days left. Only procrastination (and sleep) stands in the way. Ok, let’s start tomorrow.

To all Muslim and Hindu brothers, Happy Deepavali and Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

*******

"Time sneaks up on you like a windsheild on a bug"

HAZE gets in my eyes

Almost fifteen years ago, the haze first appeared. I didn’t know what it was then; it scared me. All I know was that it was the consequence of men’s transgressions and nature was getting back at us. It created an instant environmental awareness. The haze didn’t stay long. And later we found out that it was the smoke from the burning in our neighbour’s yard.

Fifteen years on, the haze is back yet again. As true as the coming of spring, the haze has never failed to appear around the same time each year. The right combination of dry weather and wind directions have us, neighbours, suffering the same yearly plight. It has been all talk since, without results. Action? Oh we had plenty of those; Satellite pics of hotpots, PSI monitoring, health warnings, and still the same culprits burn as freely as if nothing has got into the thick skulls of theirs.

On a side note, my colleague was making a remark in the MRT the other day. She mentioned that from the comfort of the air-cooled train cabin, it looked like mist had descended on the city, a sight common only in places located in cooler climates. That is until you step out of the door, and the heat and smell hits you and bring you back to reality again.

Anyway here’s an ode to the HAZE (to be sung in the tune of ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’)

Th-e-yy asked me how I knew the PSI was true
I of course replied
"Something’s in the air cannot be denied"
They said "No wonder now we find
our sight’s turning blind"
When the land’s on fire,
You must realize
Haze gets in your eyes
…….

Now foreign friends deride
Ills I cannot hide
So I curse and swear
"Pray that the flame soon dies, or
Haze gets in your eyes"
(Haze gets in your eyes, Haze gets in your eyes)
Haze -gets-in-your-eyes.......

Bliss

No lengthy post on the-wedding-i-attended-last-weekend. Just pictures (hey, there represent a thousand words each, according to that 'bread' song at least). Enjoy the black and white pics.

Ray and Carol's Wedding Day ...

Weekly Food Round-up

“Thirty Eight Dollars per box, no mixing, no sales in individual packs; last day today!” Well that was enough to convince me to get a box of eight mini snowskin mooncakes with dark chocolate crunchy pearl from Raffles Hotel on Wednesday evening. Having tire of the lotus paste variety, and since these snowskin ones came highly recommended, could not resist buying a box of them.

On the same night, I met up a two close friends for dinner at Alaturka, a Turkish Restaurant, in Kampung Glam. Decided to have the ‘Buka Puasa’ buffet that left us totally full at the end of dinner. It was the usual banter, jokes and lastest updates, that so easily flowed between us, friends of over ten years. One was getting married (ROM) on Saturday and the other will be leaving for the States next year.

Then on Thursday night, met up with a couple of other friends for a treat at Tong Shui Café in Liang Seah Street. Dessrt was supposedly Hong Kong Style (the latest business craze now) and we had fruit cocktails and thick taosted bread with peanut butter and butter-honey spread. Another filling treat.

Anyway in a few hours time, I will be heading back to Muar. Ray and Carol are getting married tomorrow, so will be attending both their church wedding and dinner.

Free Hugs

If you happen to meet some stranger offering you a hug on the street, do not be alarmed, he could have been inspired by this youtube video.

Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, a man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug strangers to brighten up their lives. As this symbol of human hope spread across the city of Sydney, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. But then the true spirit of humanity came together as 10,000 signatures were collected for a petition to overturn the ruling. In the end, humanity triumphed.

Music by Sick Puppies.

More about the mann …

Do we still need hugs in this times when we can easily turn to the internet and find online communities that openly support us, advice us and ‘love’ us? Go ponder.

*******

"Bush gave an interview and he said people will vote for him because 'They've seen me weep, they've seen me laugh, and they've seen me hug.' These are the same qualifications for a Tickle Me Elmo."

- Bill Maher, Comedian

Over the Moon

I believe that I have gobbled down the equivalent of four whole mooncakes in just the past one week. It’ll probably be five before the week is up at the rate mooncakes are being shoved in my face.

First there was the tasting spree at City Square (JB) last weekend, and then there were the eight that we bought up to now, and then came the cakes donated by suppliers that screams at me every day during afternoon tea time at the office. Well it’s just barely a week away, mid-autumn that is. There’s money to be made, and hotels, bakeries, eating houses and even credit cards are pulling out all the stops to ensure that they make a tidy profit from our sudden obsession for these sugary treat.

Anyway back in the days when mooncake variety means with or without egg yolk, or with nuts, there was a real buzz and excitement whenever mid-autumn approaches. About a week away from the actual day, my sister and I would take out the old lanterns from the back cupboard. There were the familiar multi-coloured folded ones and the animal themed glass-paper ones. Then as night approaches, we will take out the candles and sticks to prepare for our night walk. For that one week, we and our closest neighbourhood friends will prowl the housing estate with our lighted toys, reveling in the festive atmosphere accentuated by the many houses decorated by lively lanterns and the other roving lantern gangs like us.

Well, it’s just mooncakes now that I have grown out of lanterns. Just got to fit in more jogging sessions to counter the effect of those sweet fattening pastries.

Transform and roll out!

And yes, that’s exactly what’s happening; they’re rolling out on 7.4.7 (next summer). No, not a new fleet of Boeing planes. Transformers – the movie ! Life action ones (not animated) supported by the special effects of Dreamworks and directed by Michael Bay (of Bad Boys fame). It’s like being 12 all over again, watching your favourite childhood cartoon characters enact some earth-rescuing plot on the silver screen.

But I wonder who’ll be watching the movie? Young adults between ages of 25 to 35, who grew up with the cartoons? Certainly not kids of today who are fed on cartoon network and Japanese animes. But who knows ‘more than meets the eye’ might be a popular catch phrase once again.

Characters :

“Included in the cast of characters will be...
For the Autobots: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Ironhide.
For the Decepticons: Megatron, Starscream, Brawl, Bonecrusher, Barricade, Scorpinok, Frenzy, and Blackout.” .... from www.thegate.ca

The Official Site :

http://www.transformersmovie.com/

A Song for September

If there’s a song that just lulls you into fits of nostalgia, and makes you sit back and dream of the old days in sepia-toned frames, this would be it. You would expect no less from a song with words like “try to remember” repeated every other line. Nevertheless it’s a good song to accompany old home videos.

Made famous by Tom Jones and scores of other old singers, the song also made an appearance in movies like ‘The Fantasticks’ and ‘City of Glass’. Well here’s to a time when life was slow and mellow.

Try to remember

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow, follow

Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow, follow

Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
Then follow, follow

Clementi also got hero

The hero of Clementi blogs ! And here's his account of the story. (Caution, expletives aplenty!)
http://jeffreypang.blogspot.com/2006/09/incident-of-day.html

If you do not know what I'm referring to, this was the guy who was brave enough to confront and stop the escaping boyfriend who had just pushed his girlfriend onto the train tracks at Clementi MRT station. Kudos friend !

Just thinking... are we at the dawn of an age of masked avengers and caped vigilantes ? Or are we turning into a society who will conveniently turn away even when others are in harms way ? It only takes one to make a difference this time, but when my turn comes, will I just shrug and look away ? Sometimes I myself do not know the answer.

P.S : BTW, my site was down for long periods yesterday, so I took the chance to upgrade to beta blogger. More features, better layout.

Update : Jeffrey has removed the post on the incident as investigations are still pending on the case.

TalkingCock gets Singapore Dreaming

How often do you get to see the directors popping out at the end of the movie to say hi to the audience?

Well, it was the first time for me too last Sunday. While the credits rolled at the end of ‘Singapore Dreaming’, Colin Goh (of TalkingCock.com fame) and his co-director/wife, Woo Yen Yen, appeared out of nowhere to thank everyone who watched and asked us all to help publicise the movie to our friends (guess I’m doing that now).

The movie? Brutally honest, clever script, believable acting, no over-dramatisation, and a memorable Hokkien track that has stayed in my head for days. It is certainly not the usual Jack Neo fare or the cinematic Roystan Tan movie, and definitely not for kids. (Although I saw a few kids in the theatre that day; they must have expected some comedy). Supposed to be one of the better local movies in years. Go watch it!

*******

Here’s what the Toa Payoh resident Ang Moh, Neil Humphreys’ , got to say in TODAY:

"...the best movie this little red dot has produced in a decade. It is the most accurate depiction of heartland living since 12 Storeys, but is thankfully spared that movie's indulgent sexual undertones. Singapore Dreaming is a welcome, timely reminder that local stories can be told authentically without resorting to voyeuristic nonsense about lesbian lust on an HDB void deck. The husband and wife writing/directing team of Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen have crafted a beautiful tale about Singaporean family life that is almost flawless in its verisimilitude. ... Singapore Dreaming dares to hold up a mirror to the audience itself. That makes for difficult viewing at times, but you have to look. ++++"

Ai yah, no other old classmates to call

The Measure of a Life

How do you measure a life? Are we judged solely by our achievements?

And what would you do to achieve your dreams? How far would you go to pursue a passion?

In the pursuit of success, some are willing to do whatever it takes. Until secrets are uncovered; and they fall from grace.

Landis

It is a long way down. Is it worth the price?

Gaitlin

Between success and failure is a thin line. All it takes is a moment of weakness.

Clinton

Or a moment of madness; when the subconscious unravels the dark truths.

Mel

A few do bow out in glorious acclaim and celebration; to be worshipped by men for posterity.

Agassi

And some bow out in heroic tragedy; to be fondly remembered and honoured

Irwin

And we ask ourselves, is an ordinary life worth living? Are we only remembered when we do great things? Are we all called to be successful?

Or to be faithful?

"I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness." - Mother Theresa

*******
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...

Anon

Of Muppets and Nuptials

It was a quiet weekend back in Muar. Hmmm… well quiet seems to be an understatement when you have a 1½ year old nephew in da’ house. He walks now, so he covers all corners of the house within seconds. And he’s up by 7 in the morning and never stops till afternoon nap. Everyone then takes a short two hour breather before all activity starts again when he awakes. He might be a handful but he’s such a lovable kid that when he goes home (to Melaka), he leaves a void in the house. He has also picked up quite an impressive vocab since I last saw him. Among the words he knows are two of his favourite Sesame Street characters, Elmo and Ernie.

*******

Part of the reason I was back home was to attend my childhood friend’s wedding. Last time I saw Terence was about 4 to 5 years ago when he came back from New York to celebrate CNY. The wedding was at Star Restaurant Muar and the majority of the attendees were family friends(mainly retired teachers) and relatives. The rest of my friends had attended the dinner in KL so I had to sit with a table of strangers. These strangers turned out to be his close relatives like his sis, cousins, uncle and aunty, and the bride’s sis and bro. So there I was the odd one out sitting among ‘family’. I was like an outsider witnessing two sides building bridges and fostering ‘silaturahim’ between themselves. Fortunately his sis who was almost 6 years my junior was quick to break the ice. So for the rest of the dinner, I managed to join in the banter around the table.

*******

“Hard work may pay off in the long run, but laziness always pays off right now!”
Elan the Bard, Order of the Stick Chapter #126

Turning Thirty

Yep, got over it. There were many cheering supporters on both sides of the fence. “How does it feel turning 30? heh heh.” (laugh, laugh, but is that a wrinkle I see on our forehead) and “Hey, welcome to the club.” (from the “Life begins at Thirty” Club) were the enthusiastic messages that greeted me on Monday morning. Well, one thing is for sure, I can now tear up the “Things to do before turning 30” list and head down the future beyond the OB markers.

P.S : Special thanks to those who had sent me birthday smses, e-cards, e-mails, reminded me of my age, stuffed me with birthday cakes, sent me gifts, and especially for the companionship that you guys continue to offer.

The Seven-Day Weekend

Imagine a workplace that relinquishes control over its employees. That means no monitoring of arrival time, no control over what clothes to wear, where to work(home or office), or monitoring of what the employees are doing. No rules. A company that trusts in adult behaviour, encourages job rotation and practices flexi time (the employee decides what time they arrive and leave work, even for assembly floor workers!). A company that does not hide secrets from its lower level staff and practices total democracy(where the CEO’s vote is equal to the cleaner lady’s vote).

My initial reaction? Such a model would be impossible in Singapore, a first world country. People here need fixed rules and supervision; for without, there will be plenty of abuse and loss of productivity. My reaction was basically founded on the premise that people are inherently selfish, self-centered and cannot be fully trusted to put the company ahead of self. Not too far from the truth, right?

But such a workplace does exist. And it is not in America, Switzerland or in any of the leading first world countries.

The company is called Semco and it is located in a Brazil, a third world country. And all this was made possible by its visionary owner, Ricardo Semler. Instead of falling apart after the introduction of radical reforms and corporate re-engineering in the 80s, the company’s revenue has grown from $4mil in 1982 to $212mil in 2003, enjoying 40% growth annually without public investment. As for turnover, it is less than 1% annually (that is 3 out of 3000 employees). Well, if I was there, I wouldn’t want to leave too.

Get hold of his books, The Seven-Day Weekend or Maverick if you wish to find out more.

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“Among those things Semco doesn’t do is a 7 day work-week. If rock climbing is more inviting on a Wednesday morning than a budget planning meeting, then break out the rope and pitons. If lighter traffic on a Saturday afternoon makes the commute to office more bearable, go for it. The seven-day weekend is more than permission to play hooky. It’s about creating an atmosphere and culture that grants permission to employees to be men and women in full for seven days a week. Why should the fun, fulfillment and freedom stop first thing Monday morning and be hold until Friday night? I believe no one can afford, can endure or can stomach leaving half a life in the parking lot when she or he goes to work. It’s a lousy way to live and a lousy way to work.”

From 'The Seven-Day Weekend', by Ricardo Semler

Riding into the Night

It was time for the annual cycling trip. My third year in a row after Changi last year and a all nighter in 2004.

It’s indeed an exhilarating feeling cycling on wide open roads, with the wind in your hair and the thrill of speed in your blood. Well that doesn’t quite explain why I only do it once a year, but a yearly dose is better than none.

Flag off.
So there we were, twelve adults of varying ages gathered at a crowded East Coast Park on Saturday night. We got our bikes(plus blinkers) for $7 per bike for overnight rental. There were a few beginners among us so we anticipated a slow ride. At around 11:30pm, we started our journey.

One for the road. A 'Before' pic.

Tanjung Rhu Mishap.
We cycled down ECP until we hit the Fort Road exit. From there, we turned into Tanjung Rhu Road. That was where the unexpected happened - two bikes met with broken glass pieces and ended up with a punctured tyre each. We scratched and searched our heads for solutions.

With no tyre patch available at the nearby Petrol Kiosks, we had to send two among us to get the bicycles fixed. Wee Loong’s plan was to get one bike fixed up by replacing the bad wheel with a good one from the other, and also using his own racer at home. So, we hailed a cab, got the two bikes into the boot, and sent them off.

To the Bay.
The rest of us took to the roads again. Our journey took us across Geylang River, through the Stadium area, across Merdeka bridge and along Nicoll Highway until we reached the Esplanade. There we waited at the Merlion for Wee Loong and Alice to join us.

babyface @ one fullerton. the new centro.


After a few drinks at 'babyface', the local icon couldn't hold his licqour.

Kopitiam Supper.
Back as a group of twelve, we decided to fill our stomachs at the 24 hour Kopitiam along Bras Basah Rd.

Supper Stop

After drinks and dim sum, we headed for Orchard, cycling along the tiled pavements fronting the many shopping centres and offices. We made a U-turn when we hit Scott’s Road.

The Journey Home.
It was a long ride back to ECP. We took the relatively straight road that passes through the MRT stops from Bugis to Eunos. We reached back at ECP at around 6:20am. After returning the bikes around 7am, we had breakfast before calling it a day.

All's well. A 'After' pic

All in all, it was a relatively easy and tireless ride this time round. (No sore thighs on Monday!). Maybe due to the many stops along the way and the slower pace to accommodate the first timers. Nevertheless, it was a fun ride in a big group. Other than the trouble of the punctured tyres, the ride was all smooth sailing save for some minor accidents involving skirmishes with road-side plants and one collision with a traffic light pole (mainly by the same person).

Well, let’s see whether we can keep this up next year. Malaysian Roads perhaps?