More and more purchases...

It’s the last day of the 3 days course tomorrow and I will be making my way home by midnight bus. Ya, home at last, taking leave on Mon, I will be spending 4 days at home this time round.

Including the trip home, I will not be in the office for a week. Goodness… but I am getting used to it, getting better from time to time. Though I admit that I made those quiet phone calls back to office during the tea breaks and exchanged smses with fellow colleagues in the office to get things done and I checked my emails everyday as soon as I can.

Oh ya, talking about this made me wanna share with you my latest “commitment”. For those who know, will understand what I am trying to say here. Hahaha… I do not have to go to Mc’Donalds to check my emails anymore. (For those who do not know, because I do not have a broadband in my rented room, I had to go to Mc’Donalds each time I need to use the internet).

Anyway, back to my latest “commitment”, I registered for the M1 mobile broadband on Tues. :-) Yippie… I called M1 like 11.15am, and they had the USB modem delivered to be at 9.30pm the same day. Such a wonderful world, everything is just a click or a phone call away. :-)

Tried the broadband for two days, (crossing my fingers) everything have been fine. So far so good…

I was shopping at Plaza Singapura after class yesterday, looking for the custom-made sandal shop, but ended up buying a pendant and a chain for mummy. Hahaha… for Mummy’s Day actually. I hope she likes them, they cost me a fortune. :-p Too bad, I have not bought my camera yet, otherwise, I would be able to take some pictures to show you. ;-)

Well, I know, I am kinda outdated, everyone owns a camera but not me. Hehehe… I have one, on my mobile phone! Hahaha… it takes better picture than any normal camera ok… anyway, I am considering to buy one... hopefully before my Italy trip next month, so I can take beautiful Venice… :-p Any good recommendation?

Stone Hawk

This is a sponsored post by Stone Hawk

Stone Hawk doesn’t sound like what it really is. It is a drug rehab centre located in Michigan with a beautiful and comfortable treatment facility set-up and breathtaking scenery by the lakeside. I personally think it is a good place for recovery.

Founded by Mr. Kellogg (yes, that’s right, Kellogg as in the Kellogg’s cereal but the brother), Stone Hawk has success rate of more than 76%, offering treatments for various type of addictions, from coke to pain killer addiction.

Well, we all know drug addiction need to be treated so why not let the professionals advise you what they can do?

You may want to visit their website for more information and decide what is best for yourself or your loved ones.

Invest in a woman

I received this email from Grace, and I agree, to a certain extent, that investing in a woman and you will get a great return, this is a life long policy. :-)

***Quote***
It’s a great fortune to invest your time in a woman, especially a good woman. If you are an experienced man, you would certainly agree with me.

Women are peculiar species. If you have succeeded in conquering her heart, she will ceaselessly sacrifice for you till the end of your life.

Just think over, you just spend a little of your time to go out for dinner with her, watch a movie or give her a simple gift, or say a few words to touch her heart or you promise her that you will bring happiness till the end of her life, or take time to help her kill some cockroaches in the kitchen, or sometimes spend some efforts helping her to carry some heavy stuff, or to open the car door for her. Continue to do all the above things and care for her well-being for 2 to 3 years to come……..

What do you get in return?

You will be amazed to find that you have a woman whom would continue to care for your well-being for the rest of your life. She will wait for you at the door steps with a naïve and sweet smile each time when you meet her (of course, you don’t get the sweet smile when you are arguing with her), nevertheless, she would still prepare a warm dinner for you after the heated argument has faded away…

The greatest of all things she has done for her life, is to give birth to your child (of course, the unbearable pain need not be mentioned here)… She would continue to care and feed the child that carry your surname for many years to come no matter how naughty your child would be.

On top of that, she also does the thing you that hated the most, i.e. doing housework, washing your clothes, sleep your child and tossing alone in the bedroom waiting for you at night for your return. For some of you, you would rather spend some time drinking with your friends at the bar and telling her that you have important assignments in the office, letting her to wait for your return in the living room till the wee hours of the morning …

When you are down, she will be the first to encourage you. When you are happy, she would be the first to feel for your happiness before you open your mouth to tell her by looking at your face. When you achieve some good results at work or assignments, she feels the happiness with all her heart and pray to God to protect and bless you with more successes in the future.

Despite all the above, you repay her by asking her to talk less and tell her not to bother your work. You ask her to sleep when she wanted to spend some precious time with you sharing with some simple happenings of the day. Sometimes, you are too proud to take her out when you are out with your friends. Can you feel that the suffering that she has to endure for the next 30 years of her life staying with someone like you?

And for men, for the next 30 years, what do you do to repay her gratitude; you are only capable to continue to do what you know…….to work.

Please continue to appreciate the woman of your life….

If you noticed that if there any women whom start to show some sacrifices to you, your door to the days of happiness has opened before you ….

Please grab the opportunity to share the happiness with her and help her to be the man of her dreams….

***Unquote***

Left Hand

I have always thought I can’t leave without my right hand. Why? Because I am right-handed, I intimidated my left hand, thinking it’s only a supporting hand. I do not need my left hand as much.

My my my…. I was so wrong. Have been suffering this pain on left arm for weeks, thinking all possible reason why is that so. Perhaps the heavy luggage I lugged back from China last month? I lugged 40kg back then paying RMB 1.7K++ for the excess luggage. Some say, sleeping posture? Some say the few strokes of golf I did the other day at the driving range. I can’t bring myself to believe the few strokes of golf are the reason behind my pain. I played hockey in school, a few strokes of golf will not hurt me! So I convinced myself, it’s the luggage.

Anyway, I was too stubborn to listen to friends around to go to tabib cina (Chinese sinsei) and have my arm looked at. Until yesterday, when my friends practically forced me to one. It didn’t come easy, Chinese sinsei closed early we got to see the third place we went.

Wow, I was trembling when the sinsei said “it’s best to do all 3 types of treatments, ie. acupuncture, massage (tui na) and bandage”.

**speechless**rolled my eyes towards the sinsei**with my jaw dropped**

“I am scared. I have never done any of these before”.
“Don’t worry, they are not painful. Just some “sore” feelings when I poke.”

And she was right, it was not painful at all, I mean the acupuncture, not the tui na! It was painful ok, and I groaned when she rubbed the right spot. God, what an experience. She bandaged my hand, to be taken off when I wake up this morning. Then gave me a few medicine plasters to paste onto my arm for hours.

When I reached home, I realize I can’t live without my left hand! For instance,
1) I had to place my bag on the floor before using my right hand to open the door instead of holding bag with my left hand.
2) I had to change clothes using one hand.
3) I had to shower with my left arm lifted throughout.
4) I had to squeeze the toothpaste with right arm, on the toothbrush lying still instead of left hand squeezing the paste onto the toothbrush held by right hand.
5) I had to pump the body foam onto sponge using one hand instead of holding sponge on left hand and pump foam using right hand.
6) I had to spray my toner onto the face using right hand and even them using right hand, and of course the moisturizer.

I had enough, and I realized left hand is just as important. :-)

Vesak Day

I was chatting with sis yesterday when we talked about my trip home for Labour Day.

“So, when you will be back?” sis asked.
“Well, I applied leave for the Mon so I can have long weekend” I replied.
“When will you reach KL and when will you go back Sg again?”
“Will take either Fri midnight or Sat morning bus. Back to Sg on Mon if there is class. If there is no class, it will be Tues.”
“Why Tues? You do not have holiday on Wed?”

I was like “err… why is there a holiday on Wed, the 2nd May?”
“Because Labour Day and Vesak Day fall on the same day, and thus, the next day is a substitute holiday.”
“Hello sis, Vesak Day is on 31st May ok. What do you mean Vesak Day on 1st May?” I was checking my calendar at the same time, confirming that I did not see wrongly.
“No, Vesak Day is on 1st, not 31st. It’s already declared that 2nd is a PH.”

Not believing what I hear, I asked around. Cannot be right, there can’t be two Vesak day in the world. So which is which? Fiona and YH confirmed that they have the Vesak Day holiday substituted on 2nd. I can’t believe it.

(I think this is the first time Sg and Msia celebrating Vesak Day on a different day)

Bring Your Own Bag Day (BYOBD)

What is BYOBD?

It's an effort by the NEA's (National Environment Agency) effort to encourage fellow shoppers to bring along their shopping bags and reduce the use of excessive plastic bags.

It started today and then, subsequently, on the first Wed of the month.

This reminds me of the 7-Eleven guy when I buy Sat paper every week.

"Bag for you Ms.?"
"Hmmm.. no thanks."

All of us play our part to the environment. As I have always mentioned in my presentation to customers, we fulfill our social responsibility as well to take care of the environment, and thus, we have only ODS Free Processes.

Everyone have to admit that global warming is a very alarming phenomenon now. The whole globe is experiencing change in the climate. Winters are shorter and warmer.

Let's play our role, in taking care of the environment, so that the generations after us breath in clean air. Can you imagine if we run out of oxygen? Perhaps every one of us will have to carry an oxygen tank on our back with a stupidly look "helmet" that looks like the one in one of the mobile phone advertisement.

Dreams...

I sleep really well these days; in Cantonese they’ll say “one sleep till dawn”. And I had dreams. Used to remember what I dreamed of but I couldn’t recall a single dream lately.

Have you ever dreamed of running? Sometimes with someone chasing after you, sometimes just you, running and keep running (don’t know whatever for). I have no idea but each time I woke up from these “running” dreams, I would pant, ya, pant as in, as if I really ran. Hahaha…

Then I had this dream when I bought a pair of ear-ring made of white steel, coiled into a see-through-hollow sphere contain a diamond in each sphere. I dreamed of something similar to the Blood Diamond. Not sure if the diamonds in the ear-rings triggered the dream, or the movie. I dreamed of someone coming after me for the diamonds and I had to run and run, to protect my diamonds! God, I wonder why I didn’t have this dream when I got myself the first 0.24 carat diamond ring as last year’s hard work reward.

Why am I talking about dreams today? Because Mike has just told me that he dreamed of me last night. He dreamed of being invited to my wedding and he actually attended, wearing short pants and singlet. Errr… and he forgot to bring red packet to my wedding! Hahaha… I told him that I understand my dear friends being anxious about getting me married off, but need not be too stressed. :-p

Time to renew PR

I went to meet a customer last month. He called when I was in Pudong airport, checked in, enjoying my lunch at my favorite café, having my ice cream coffee. Yummy…

When we met the following week, he was surprised to find that I am from Malaysia. Normally, people would assume I am a Singaporean, until they ask where I graduated from. Then I would have to explain, I am from KL, studied in Penang, and worked all my life in Singapore. Sometimes, I am lucky if they do not ask why such “messy life”.

I would start with, I was lucky to make it into one of the local uni, and it was USM. And my results were not that good to land me into some famous or well sought after courses like engineering, so, I did Physics. Hahaha… Then came another question, why chose to work in Singapore?

Well, I came to Singapore because of the currency of course. Many people back at home would not understand what so good about Singapore, especially the currency. Because many of them chose to believe the cost of living in Singapore is extremely high. So, it’s not worthy to stay far from home to gain “nothing”.

I had difficulty reasoning with those people who do not like Singapore. Now, all I do is just give an example. Let’s say a fresh grad in Singapore taking a starting pay of SGD 2.5K. He/she travels to work by public bus that takes up let’s say the max, SGD 3 to and from work, taking into accounts, the SGD 0.25 rebate if you manage to change bus within 45 minutes from your first bus. (The most I paid to go to work, when I stayed in the West and traveled to the East was SGD 1.90 for an hour ride. Now, I am paying SGD 0.65 to work)

Then again, there is a fresh grad in KL, taking a starting pay of RM 2.5K. He/she travels to work by public bus. Well, I am quite sure fresh grads nowadays do not take public transport. Hahaha… because they would purchase a car the first thing they get their pay check. Anyway, just for discussion, let’s say this guy/gal takes a public bus to work. I supposed the fare he/she needs to pay is RM1.70 the moment they board the bus. To and from work, RM 3.40 the least. This provided if they take direct bus to work, what if they need to change buses or LRT?

Talking about MRT or LRT. I am paying RM 2.40 from Plaza Rakyat (better known as Puduraya Bus Terminal) to Ampang each time I go home. In Singapore, one pay less than SGD 2 for a ride equivalent far. Please do not tell me SGD 2 is equivalent to RM 4, because we have the same basic pay!

How about Mc’Donalds meals that cost about SGD 6+ here but cost about RM 8+ in Malaysia? Some instant noodle that cost about SGD 1.80+ but cost about RM 6+ in Malaysia? Not to mention the EPF…


I can’t say I would have as much savings I could have saved if I am working in KL. I do not think many would understand. I am not saying everyone should come to Singapore to work, but all I am saying is, do not criticize something you are not too sure about.

Anyway, let’s get back to the purpose of writing this blog is, that customer of mine asked how long have I been in Singapore, and when is it time to renew my PR. I was dumbfounded. Errr… renew PR? I actually didn’t know that I have to renew my PR. So, its 5 years now, and I am supposed to renew my PR this year, to be precise, by 2nd Aug.

Wow…. Time flies… I have been a PR for 5 years now and I am told that this time, I can renew the PR for another 10 years time. All I have to do is bring the 3 years income tax and company letter that I am still employed. And poof… I am a renewed PR, for another 10 years.

Then he went on to he has been in Singapore for 15 years, and he has long forgotten how a salty char koay teow taste like. Just in case you wonder why he said that, it’s because char koay teow in Singapore are sweet. They added sweet sauce into it. :-( I told him that I do not have this problem because each time I order my char koay teow, I will tell them “salty char koay teow” please. :-p Wanton noodle with chili sauce in the noodle, green chili in the same plate not so appetizing, but we can order wanton noodle without chili sauce, also ok. :-p We can’t change the way things are, but we can make it our way.

So, at the end of the meeting, my customer still talking about Singapore and Malaysia and that he has married a Singaporean wife and his kids are Singaporean but he is not going to give up Malaysian citizenship. Well, I am not sure how long he will hang on there, but three quarter of his family are Singaporean now, what difference does it make if he is a Malaysian or Singaporean?

He asked if I am willing to give up my Malaysian citizenship, without thinking, I said no. He said 5 years is a bit too short to decide, wait till another 10 years down the road, I may think differently. Well, why scratch if it’s not itchy. I am fine being a Malaysian, working in Singapore as a PR. Though I know that the government has been working on stripping some of the tiny privilege we have so that most of us will convert the citizenship and hopefully, contribute in growing the population.

July 14'07 : Anyway, my PR is renewed :-) Wanna know the procedures? Check this out...

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Honestly, I told myself I am not supposed to read anymore novel. I am not supposed to borrow or buy anymore fiction. I should be reading something to add value to my self-improvement instead. Well, the moment I stepped into Popular and saw that this book was on 20% sale, I went all crazy. Ok, maybe it wouldn’t hurt me if I break my own promise, just this once perhaps.

I heard that the show was good. How good, I am not sure, because I have yet watched, I was not really into the title till a movie lover told me I should watch it.

Let me just comment on the book, the set-up was something like Ugly Betty’s, in a glamorous, everybody wears branded stuffs kind of environment. And I can’t imagine how Andrea looks like. I can only imagine her as having the good enough body with a quite plain Jane wardrobe. Something different from Betty huh.

Well, maybe because I am very into Becky in Shopaholic series, I kinda expecting something smarter from An-dre-ah. Andrea got stucked in tough situation, while smart Becky bluffed her way through. The difference is significant, and I really hate the character. Biased…I admit.

The only thing in the book I like, the ‘privilege” she’s got because she is the famous Miranda’s assistant. Guess what, she can change into anything, from accessories to Jimmy Choo’s whenever she likes, at work, then drop the clothes back into the laundry basket when she changed them. And she gets to travel, with a very well organized Be-All, End-All Cosmetic Catchall.

There was every imaginable type of shadow, lotion, gloss, cream, liner and type of makeup. Lipsticks came in matte, high-shine, long-lasting and clear. Six shades of mascara-ranging in colour from a light blue to black, were accompanied by an eyelash curler and two eyelash combs in case of clumps. She was given the choice whether to add that healthy brush in the form of a liquid, solid, powder or a combination. Packed separately, were the suppliers of cotton balls, cotton squares, Q-tips, sponges, two dozen different size application brushes, washcloths, two different types of eye makeup remover, ie. moisturizing and oil-free and no less than twelve kind of moisturizer, ie. facial, body, deep-conditioning, with SPF 15, glimmering, tinted, scented, non-scented, hypo-allergic, with alpha-hydroxy, antibacterial, and sunburn lotion with aloe vera.

Also included in her package would be sketches of how she should get her make up done should she be attending anything from a not formal cocktail to a black tie function. Of course, not to mention the clothes she has to change into to give that look.
Envy…. Hahaha… I wish for the cosmetic catchall part, because I am absolutely hopeless in personal grooming, but then, wouldn’t the luggage me too much to bear? Gosh… Hahahaha…