Disaster!!!

30th March is a day I'll remember. A day when the feeling of lost, sadness, anger & confusion gripes me.

A day when a huge part of me is suddenly gone. I've no idea where it went, how to look for it or where to start looking.

All I have now is some sweet memories.. that it had accompanied me almost daily for the past 11/2 years.

It used to be so simple, so worry-free... and most importantly, it never fails to fill me with contention and satisfaction.

However on the afternoon of March 30th, as I approach it.. hoping to once again catch its familar scent. A horrific scene greeted me. I practically see my world came tumbling down...

It's so heart-breaking that I didn't even stay a second longer. It's too much to take in. Especially on an empty stomach.

This is what I saw....

Gone are the throngs of people, the tissues packets on the table, the pungent smell of food.. the friendly plate-clearing aunties & uncles and most importantly, the snaking queues that form along the 'Mixed Rice" stall.

I'll definitely missed the familiar faces of the stall holders where I often just had to nod & I'll get extra rice & generous serving of curry gravy. My daily lunch of $1.80

No more..

=(

My new toy...

Time to drool, guys...! My lastest gadget, one I've been yearning for years.. finally the 'perfect' one comes along. Just got my hands on a pretty expensive toy.. a Sony HD DVD cam.. pretty neat gadget, featuring a full 1080i HD video and images with 5.1 surround sound.

Small enough for me to lug around almost everywhere I go, yet it's bursting with features. Love it's 2.7" touch screen LCD, and the ultra cool.. super night shot (heheh.. no sleazy home videos for me!! not yet lah!!). It's damn cool lor, can film in complete darkness!!

The 4megapixel camera function is great as well.. with its anti-shake capabilities and not-so-bad flash. Doing a good job so far.

Guess my only complain is the recording format.. a 8cm DVD can only record 25mins of HD footage while standard footage is only 30mins. And.... the irritating extension format from Sony, .m2ts. Been having problem converting them to suitable format for DVD players.

Tried the many ways from the net but I don't wish to fork out any more $$ for some converting softwares.. Anyone got any idea???

Jackobot?!

Imagine... a 50 foot tall robot in the likeness of Michael Jackson, greeting you as you fly into 'Sin City' (Las Vegas).

Well, if this report is true... imagination will soon make way to reality.
What's next, MJ?? A MJ shrine?? Oh oh.. what about a mannequin exhibit.. featuring the great one himself?!

Someone please pass him a mirror!

Hehee..

Jigsaw II

Saturday night activities - Part 2 of our Jigsaw challenge!

LaoZhaBor Blog

Oh man.... this granny rocks!! check her out at http://laozhabor.blogspot.com/index.html
To be blogging at her age and her language.. totally awesome!
(To my overseas readers.. lao zha bor means old lady in hokkien dialect)







Dear Lao Zha Bor.. you have my utmost admiration & have earned a permanent place in my links.

Blog on, gramps!!

Kudos kudos!!

Hope Vs Peace

How often does Hope basked in the disguise of Security? Some would call it a false sense of security but still, I feel its at the very least better than a sense of insecurity.

A peace of mind... that's actually what many would pay an obscence amount of energy, time, effort & money for. Irregardless of its actuality or practicality.

Similarly, in a relationship.. couples tend to overlook this much forgotten aspect. This applies more so for couples after marriage or even planning for one. In their so-called 'advance' stage of their relationship, many have failed due to negligence and ignorance.

In a journey.. the destination is just as important as where it begins. Some have gone so far yet they have forgotten to look back. Basics are named for a reason.. so are foundations.

Like any fairytales.. the beginning is always the happiest and sweetest.. wouldn't it be nice if a little of this is sprinkled throughout your story??

A little favour

Dear Readers,

Mind do me a little favour? You see, I've spent many precious ('company' heheee.. sheeeshh!!) hours doodling up my blog, designing it and improving the visual & infomation flow.. Though I've been encouraged greatly by all the wonderful comments, I thought it'll be nice to enter this blog for some kinda award stuff... you know, to make it official kinda stuff??

So while you're reading through my whining.. maybe you could also excercise that little index finger a little by wheeling down to the bottom of my side bar (in case you're not sure which one ----------->>) and click on the buttons as indicated..

But of course, if you think this blog is not up to it... drop me a note and I'll be most glad to improve it.

Thank you

Sincerely Yours
trav.

smiles

Smile-Maker

Flowers without reasons means more than one with.

A simple way to say.. "you're in my thoughts".

(hope she don't see this before it gets delivered... hehehe.)

Thoughts for the day...

Had a sudden thought about survival in this cut-throat society.. Times can get really rocky, you never know when a snake might just bite you at your rear or a rhino might just come charging at you.

Thread cautiously, look for allies not foes. Give your precious water & be rewarded with a waterfall.

Learn the fine art of camoflague.. it's afterall the basic rules of survival. Afraid of dirt & you'll be one soon.. Get dirty & stay alive.

Hide your trails but leave a mark, you never know your past could be a life-saver. Venture ahead with ample rest and you'll be ready to overcome even a lion



Lastly.. read my poem...

Laughs...

Hmm.. heheh... wonder what 2015 would be like... **evil grin**

Waiting for the end...

Was having dinner at the 'kopitiam' (a local food center) recently and chanced upon a cage of crabs on the 'zi char' (a local term for restaruant-type of chinese food at value prices) store.

One of the crabs caught my eye.. he (let's assumme lar..) appears to be leaning on the metal bars and reaching out to scratch the tabletop. Seems to be a cry for help to me.. knowing its days are numbered and he's just a pick away from the chopper.

Which got me thinking what the inmates on deathrow must be thinking... regret, remorse, repentment, resentment or fear and sadness....

Hmm...

Mr Orange

<< Looking For A Mate >>

I maybe ugly but I'm tender and soft inside.
I can get sour at times but am usually sweet.
I've a pleasant personality and always smells good.. (kinda fruity as I'm told.)

My particulars are below:

Born: 15-02-2007

Sex: Male

Blood type: O+

My pet in office...

bored

Sorry folks.. hasn't been updating my blog for some time... feeling kinda jaded, maybe I'm tired, maybe life's getting too monotonous.. Nothing much eventful has been happening.. hmm.. maybe tomorrow in office, I'll "chronologicalise" the 'adventure' of a very special mandarin-orange peel. Hehehee...

Lifeline

The Journey

A thought came to mind on my way to work this morning.. while in the subway.

(if it's too small.. pls click the pic to see a bigger version)

Ok.. got some feedback that this post got some heads scratching.. shall attempt to explain it...

Hmm.. feel that life sometimes run parallel to that of a train. Imagine you are a train... on a journey through life. Along the way, many people will get on board, some will be there for only a stop, some will be there for a significant part of your journey, while some will continue your journey with you till the end.

While some 'trains' choose to close their doors.. preferring to journey alone, some just prefer to speed through the tracks.. arriving at their destination sooner, but missed out on the scenery, the company & the beauty of the journey itself.

Some trains open their door to passengers.. but refuses to open again when the passengers wishes to leave. Some open their doors.. and forces the passengers out even before reaching the station.. leaving the passenger stranded, helpless, lost and nowhere to go.

Be a train that arrives in time, departs on schedule, waits for all to enter before closing the doors, faithfully opens the doors at each station to let those who chooses to alight, leave. Offer them comfort, protection and security while they're on board and close the door gently if they wishes to leave.

Let us be a train that arrives at the final destination with pride and honour. Looking back at the journey.. you'll be glad that you had help many arrive safely at their destinations, be thankful that your very existence has contributed in a small way in their lives and count your blessings if upon arriving at the end, you still have 1 or more passenger onboard.

Fun Facts

Saw this really interesting post on Katrina's blog.... thought I'll share it here as well...

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and off the roof. Hence the saying : "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet , so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a "thresh hold."

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell, thus someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."



Isn't history fun??!

Planting a heart

A thought just came to my mind.. a seedling. And how it links to the mindset of a relationship. Maybe this applies more to a relationship with many ups & downs and spanning over a period of time.

Let's say you have a seed, you planted it.. you took tender loving care in watering it, giving it fertilisers, making sure the sun is neither too little nor too strong. For years, nothing grew... your peers told you to give it up, but you hang on.. believing in the plant.. as well as believing in yourself.... that one day, the seed WILL grow.

Finally.. after much patience and perserverance, the plant started growing. A joyous occasion indeed... Ignoring the many advises to discard this plant.. I believe the plant will grow strong, flowered and bear fruit one day. Maybe I'm a stubborn mule.. and it may take me a lifetime to see results... but it's a choice I made, and I'll continue to stand by my plant.

No regrets..

Moooooo...

Saw a really nice family portrait.. thought I'll share with Eleen..

Photoshop Online?

Cnet reports that Adobe Systems is releasing a free, ad-supported version of Photoshop online in six months.

“We are watching folks like Google do it in different categories, and we want to make sure that we are there before they are, in areas of our franchises,” said Adobe CEO, Bruce Chizen.

It looks like it’s high noon for online image editing - and it’s the illustrators and visual creatives who stand to benefit the most. I can’t count the times I’ve been on a remote terminal without Photoshop and felt completely useless as I tried to resize my image in MS Paint or whatever was at hand.

I gave up.. hahha..

Tremor!

Felt some tremors in office this morning and a second one soon after lunch... Strangely.. my 1st thought was not about fear nor apprehension.. rather it's excitement.

Bet I'm not the only one who feels this way though... I get kinda excited thinking maybe something out of the ordinary is finally happening in boring SG.. Ok, I know disasters are nothing to look forward to nor its something we should wish for.. but can't help thinking about something that will break the daily mould of work, home, work, home..

But end of the day.. I'm still thankful that we live on a land blessed without any natural disasters nor calamity. The loss of lives and damages to properties associated with these events simply outweighs any cheap-thrills it might brings.

Anyway, the actual cause is an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale from Sumatra, Indonesia.. casualty so far stands at 9. Read more about it here

Took some pics while I happen to be down for a puff.. (still thinking how come suddenly there's so many smokers?!.. hahaha)

A nice weekend

Had a pretty good weekend.. though I didn't go to the lastest hotspot, chill out at the hippest cafe or even my favourite pastime, bowling... I was home pretty early on a saturday nite.. Bon and I had a good dinner at "Dian Xiao Er".. some duck place.. they serve very good duck I must say!





Headed home.. really early and started doing Jigsaw puzzles..! Haha.. though it may sound pretty uneventful.. but I do feel its a really welcoming change, something simple, homely and meaningful. Kinda nice if you ask me.





Well.. while doing the puzzle.. we decided catch a DVD.. The Last Kiss.

"The film is about turning a major corner in your life: settling down and starting a family, while still clutching on to everything that was free, innocent, and fun about being young."

The screenplay takes a refreshing and rather edgy look at the ideals we have about what we imagine we want in our life partners, how we see our lives going, and what we expect to achieve at various stages of our lives.

Somehow life never quite works out like the ideal we envision. What do you do when life happens to you?"

Not bad... but not a movie you'll want to watch with your spouse though... unless you like to be questioned like the lead in the movie... Expect lotsa... "Ifs.. what ifs... will you... questions!"





Overall.. a memorable weekend. Nice.

Been staring at this blank screen for the past 5 mins thinking of what to blog about... it's still a blank. Maybe because its a satuday and I'm in office.

I simply hate a working saturday.. find it utterly useless and totally unproductive to have employees spending up to 2 hrs of travelling time just to work 3 hours. It's a complete waste of a perfectly good weekend.

The implications actually goes beyond that 3 hrs wasted in office.. how?

With a working saturday.. your friday night gets tamed down.. meaning bed time gets pulled forward. Waking up early and driving along the almost deserted highway to work is a very sad event.. thinking most of the normal traffic are blissfully asleep at home while here you are, cruising along the road, to spend the next 3hrs having coffee at work.

Urrghhh..

Sucks.

Bz day

Initially wanted to do some major blogging today.. but was really tied up with work.. well, duties calls. Anyway.. just reach home, dying to take my dinner!

Later people...


TGIF!!

Maturity of the heart

The following is from Eleen's blog.
Although I can't read all these.. but through her explanation, I find it kinda true..


如果生氣難過發脾氣哭鬧, 都不能改變什麼或解決什麼問題... 那我還需要這麼做嗎? 如果是以前的我, 我會這麼做... 但現在的我, 雖然是難過, 也不再會哭鬧發脾氣...

我想与其哭闹发脾气, 不如冷静的想办法如何去面对去解决... 这样才是最成熟最理智的我...