Yibei's birthday party

ohhh... What are friends for?

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2005

It took me 2 hours 39 minutes and 35 seconds, but I did it.

Oh-oh, I forgot about the marathon

I just realise that i will be running 21km in 6 days time. Wonder where i can get some steroid online?

A beautiful finish for the CGW

The schools carvinal finally came to a close, goodness, i was in office with Vaan till 2.30am for a few nights. Not to mention that i reported for work at 8.30am as usual. Didn't really remember how i got involve in all this...
I think it started with a email from Joe at the Environmental Council asking for volunteers for quite a few events. I'was interested in volunteering for a few, and seeing NEA name on it, naturally wanted to offer my help to NEA first(browniee points, yes?). I started asking around and got my name listed down in 2 of them. So thats how it happened, i guess.

I must say i work my ass off these events on top of my work and during my week-ends and ALs, and i love it!

School Carnival'05

Wow, I just got back home. Was in office till 0:14am. Is that a record or what. Helping Vaanthy with the school carnival for CGW. Wondering what i have got myself into. Oh what the heck, let's just dive down.

Clean and Green Week Balloon sculpting photo

We had a blast!

Balloons sculpting

Wow, what a day. Saw Clara, and sis all in one day at the Clean and Green week opening. Those balloons had me aching at my fingers and the screming kids gave me a throbbing headache. Well in fact my whole body aches, most noticablely my legs because I stood for like 9 straight hours.
Gained my first balloon line work experience. Going for some more 2morrow.

i just wan to eat meals and sleep!

Busy lately. The days are filled with activities. Trying to cheat by cutting down on sleep. A real torture. Been practicing my balloon sculpting skill, going to take part in the Clean Green Week this week-end. Went on a trip with SPI last night to all the supposedly hunted places in Singapore. Old changi hospital is really creepy. Must find time to review my insurance. Really should get back to aikido. Better start training for my marathon in dec. Let's just starts with eating meals and sleeping.

Sons of Singapore

My brother just enlisted. First time I went back to tekon in 2 years, the island does look a little like a holiday resort. Now that I'm out.
Celebrated Hui Wei's birthday on sat. Hui wei remains the super blur buddy i remembered him to be. Can't imagine having to go ICT with him.
There seems to be a lot going on at work, and in volunteering activities. Taking part in 3 events in November. Hope to use some of my ballooning skills.

Juggling

Being juggling with life, work, friends, sleep and literally, juggling.
I attended a short juggling workshop, can't say I can really juggle now, but I can manage a few passes.

Work is bending me double, work load is rocketing thought the roof. Somehow I have to help walk-in customers and phone enquiries.
The call centers for dengue is new, so they pull useless staffs from other dept to man the hotline. The call center staffs are not train to answer calls, guess who they transfer the calls to? Which makes me wonder about the need for call center since i can do all their job.
So, in putting on a front, we have under-staffed our depts, using untrained and unwilling staff to man hotlines, and basically, confuses everyone. When are we going to get our act together? We sucks. Everyone is blaming everyone elses for everything, and no one wants to help anyone else. I, myself has lost my temper and shouted at colleagues and customers alike for the last 2 days.

Update

Went to my first workshop in nonviolent communication. Went for the Yellow-Ribbon walk. Went for the corporate massage workshop. Pain in right feet, so stopped training for my run. Must try harder. Got a cool looking running outfit. I'll be beating the girls off with a stick any day now.

Let's do it!

What a month! The resigning rate broke a new record, no prize for guessing where all the work got dumped. It's not just our section but a departmental thing. Everyone is encouraging everyone alse to tender. Heck. This sucks. Morale is so low, it's in the mud. Tears every few days. Happily, I still going strong. After all thats that bonus I'm looking forward to in December. And, I love my job. No seriously.

Lots of things happening in my life too. I've been skipping waaay too many aikido class for my own good, that's because I training for a half-marathon. Yah, that's right. In fact, I'm ruuning in 3 events this year. 10km, 12km and finally in December, 21km. Hope the goodie bags are worth the affect.
Beside all the running, I have signed up for English speaking class, Non-violent communication(NVC, what-ever tat is), and corporate massage workshop. All this coming up in the month of september. Hopefully I'll find time to attend them (bearing in mind the resign-rate and the amount of work that's been pushed around).

I'll be taking part in a "Tie-a-yellow-ribbon walk" on 3rd Sep. It's part of the Yellow Ribbon Project. Why? Because some of the best people I know, are ex-offenders. Don't be too fast to judge a movie by its book, or a person by his past. Some of the worst people that we know, are not legally criminals(and i right, people?).

On a happier note, mid-autumn festival is coming up. It is my FAVature festival of the year. To me it's the most romantic. I'm buying lanterns and moon cakes for my friends, urging them to join in this celebration.

Who borrowed my Harry Potter 5 Order of the Phoenix?

Ok, I have finished reading Half Blood Prince (HBP) once and is rereading it a second time. If i have time i might even post an editorial.
I'm looking for HP and the Order of the Phoenix, which i think i lent to someone, just can't remember who.
Is it you? Tell the truth!

Fund raised down by 30%

I have noticed many student volunteers raising funds for voluntary
welfare organisations(VWOs) do not know enough of the organisation to
answer simple questions posed to them during flag days.
I have encountered many that knows only the name of the organisation,
and practically nothing else.

The public are now more wary of charities and will naturally want to
find out where their money are being channelled and to what causes.
Most will be asking what percentage of the donation goes to the
people.

If the volunteers cannot answer these questions satisfactory, the
public will be reluctant to contribute and may even lose confident in
the organisation.

So I think it is important for VWOs to educate their fund raising
volunteers to answer the questions that the public may pose. It is
also the responsibility of the volunteers to familiars themselves with
the working of the organisation, in order to present the proper image
of the organisation to the public.

The Best Birthday ever!

Started the day going to work and waiting for my harry potter book to arrive. I was pacing up and down and very nearly freak out the whole office. But, it was just not mean to be and I guess I had to wait till monday. Hey, the wait is half the fun. I actually wanted to stay in the office to wait for it, but was talked out of it.

I cannot believe the amount of people who remember my birthday this year. I have like sms, phone calls, cards, e-messages, people wanting to have meals with me and stuff, my mum even suggested a family dinner. What a change from my last 2 birthdays in camp. sob...sob...You people are too much.

Adam is like calling me what, everyday, to have dinner together. I finally have to agree when he said he'll be bringing girls along. I had a great time.

Thanks guys, you are the best.

...now, to wait patiently for my belated potter book...the best present ever.

Of Dinner and Dance, resigning, and swimming

Went to NEA annual dinner and dance, and I had a great time! So what if my dancing sucks? Is not like people can see me in the dark....or can they? And i get a free ride home! A lot of people are giving me rides home lately, another motivation for me to go aikido training more often. Remind myself to get a girlfriend who can drive me around.
Work is OK for me, but it seems like the "2 resigning per month" rate is still prevailing. A few tears here and there, the usual mumbleing, all's in a day work. It feels really sad to have all my friends leave. (Why is eveyone whom i like going somewhere else? Does nea sucks that much? The general point of view is that the people are nice, but the job sucks BIG time.)
On a brighter note, i have started learning swimming again. Every since i stopped after learning the breaststroke at like 9, this is my first formal training. The first lesson was fun, and I really want to learn the freestyle by the end of the lessons. Another motivation factor is that in the whole class, there are only 2 guys.

And so life goes on...

We live, work and dream,
each his own little scheme.
Sometimes we laugh,
sometimes we cry;
And thus the days goes by.

Siemens sucks

I washed my 3 months old Siemens phone with running tap water today. It die. Boy, was I surprised. Life is full of something new. So I guess its time to get a new phone. Sadly I lose a few phone numbers too. Oh well.

aikido, again?

Being to 2 aikido gathering, one is for euguen farewell, the other is to celebrate nyp new year. Heck. Looks like its time to carry-on training. Signed up for tanglin classes. Hopefully I can make it down more often.

A trip to Sungei Buloh

Went to sungei buloh on a volunteer trip with VSA today. Reminds me of the jungle in my NS days. Saw a pair of otter! They are very uncommon, so i feel sooo...lucky.

Positive thoughts

Ok, so my blog have been sounding really negative lately. But hey, i'm a whimer. It's sort of a way to relieve the pent-up pressure. And boy, do we all have a lot stress these days.

So lets talk about things that make me glad.

I have tons of friends who don't mind me been the idiot I'm. A healthy body. A (fairly) nice family. A stable(because we are already short of manpower) if busy, and enriching job. My insurance paid up. I enjoy dhamma talks, funny movies, swimming, aikido(whenever i can make it), animation on kids and arts centra, yoga(i have been like what, twice?).
I'm going to attend our annual dinner & dance, going to take part in another VSA volunteer activity, going to meet those wonderful kids and teens (who, sometime, test the very limit of my patient), taking part in a swimming clinic, harry potter coming soon(on my birthday!), learing to make more ballon sculpting, going to thailand in nov, and no doubt many other activities to come.

Well, so let's not let 2 bad bricks spoilt our view of the entire wall.

p/s
Heard this quote from a friend, how these it goes?..."Do not feel sad because the sun is setting, it means the stars will be out soon."

This is BullShit!!!

Work sucks! Everyone is feeling so stress out that we are ALL falling sick. Worse, people are feeling guilty taking MC, so we work even though we are sick. More work and task are added to us everyday, not enough manpower, lack of support from management.
Suppose to be on a really interesting course, but because of work, i had to skip all the fun part. I'm not feeling happy about this. Feel like failing the course to go for it again.

Hey! Who wana catch Flipside at Esplanade?

I wana watch Ristorante Immortale and The Return at Esplanade in the next few weeks.
Who wanna to catch them with me?

Vesak 2549

Took part in the celebration at Orchard this weekend. Tiring and fun, good to see all those people again. Ehi Passiko.

Ballons Sculpting

Peehw..! The recent Charity Drive at NEA finally came to an end. I was so worried for the organisers, i stayed behind till they tally the results. The target is 15K and they(somehow) manage to raise 14. WoW! I took part in the ballon sculpting class, and now my room's fill with ballons. Could be a new hobby.

P/s: it's nice to lay on the field at night in a slight drizzle, because u can see the raindrops falling out of the sky.

A lesson in service

Had a lousy day today. Make a mistake in my work, wonder when that will come back to hunt me. Complains after complaints, my work seems full of unhappy people. Gets arrow with more work. Changes to project requirement, people just don't understant that it can't be done. Sensei ask me down for aikido. Tired.

Met an interesting Taxi driver today, reminded me what customer service is all about. Sometime all u can do is smile, and try your best. Strive to offer better service. Hopefully the people u meet went away a little happier.
We can but try to make the world a better place. It's hard to get angry at a kind person.

Right or Wrong?

Working with people is difficult.
Interacting with humans is a bother.

Confucius said:"To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage."
Right or wrong? Who can tell? What if u wan to save someone's ass without getting another ass in shit?

So i think i should do this, but helping this (somehow) gets another into trouble. And it's not my business.

Anyway this flash is one of the more sensible stuff i have seen in weeks. Check it out: http://www.compfused.com/directlink/707/

............................................................
Ah right, a little update on this. Turned out well, I'll say. Glad I took some action.
...We never really grow up do we?

Hoilday Plans

Been working my butt off tis few weeks. Time to plan for a break. SeaBorne dive center has a beginner diving package going for $485. That's a little X. Went to Kusu and StJohn's island today. Kusu seem to be a great place to stay for a night. Small, peacful, clean water, shelter, it has everything I like. Definitely going back.

www.myeyesinyourworld.com

Wow! Adam finally set up his own site to show case his photo shots. Check this out: www.myeyesinyourworld.com
This is one photographer that's going places.

Someone going to Brunei, and its not me

Dickson volunteered to go Brunei for 1 and a half year. Don't know what possessed him to do so. Really having a headache on what to get him. Leaving so soon too. I've been considering a "danger creatures of SE Asia" book, or a GPS device, maybe the whole Harry Potter series to pass the time. Perhaps some super bugs repelling spay, or better still some cobra anti-venom.
The real bother is staying in that god-forsaken jungle for so long. Being there once, maybe i was not in the mood to enjoy the wild-life and great open space at that time. I do remember staying up one night when everyone has fallen asleep and looking up to heaven at all the constellations. It was a special moment for me. All alone, just me and the universe, me and the universe.
Diskson must have his reasons for leaving. Maybe he, like me, would like some time alone with the world.

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince

It ahmmm... also happen to be on my birthday...ahemm!!

Celebration of friendship

Wow! 2 parties in a day! Went to Dickson's housewarming cum Freda's birthday party. So thoughtful of them. Then I went to Sithu birthday celebration. Great time again! The house was in a mess, but what do u expect for 3 guys liveing 2gether? Ended up cleaning half the house. But i love it.

What can i say? I eat, i eat, and i eat some more.
Seriously, i feel so bless to have so many friends. What did i do to deserve so much blessing?

Ren Ci visit

Finally! I get a chance to visit Renci Hositpal! And it was fun!

It's Chinese New Year!

Is it just me? Or does everyone feels sad during chinese new year? Time flashes by when you see it in years. Another New Year. Seems to be something of a count-down isn't it? Of time shared with families, of our youth, our life.

Where is the ox?

Being teleporting between work(NEA), aikido, and Zen lessons recently.

Can't really say i'm having a hell of a good time at work. Everything is so new to a newbie like me. There seems to be so many things i don't know. Didn't help that i'm the youngest one there. And it just seem to be a time of changes, with 2 supervisors quiting just as i came in(and there are good people too). I'm well, scare. And a little worried.

Aikido's stilll the same. But it's easier now that i'm working at scott road. You know, it's the friendship that gets me back everytime. Doesn't matter where the dojo is, i go for the people there.

Oh, the most interesting things are the series of Zen workshop by Ven. Chi Kwang. She is the first real teacher that guide me on meditation. I feel attracted to her. I think she looks a little like pooh bear. Always calm, cheerful, and compassionate, she share her jounary thought life with us. But i always thought there is a hint of sadness in her eyes. Maybe it's regret for us, at not been able to catch the teaching she's throwing? She is so human, she gave me a feeling that i too will be able to go where she has been. A hope maybe.
I went to say goodbye to her at BF. How i regreat always coming late for her class. She said i'm young, ask me how i am. She told me to: "do your best in everything you do. But if it gets too hard, like your leg's painful during meditation, then do something else."

Of Yahoo, sleep debt and new job

My job at Yahoo's ending today. Will be starting on a new post at NEA on monday. Life have been so busy lately, and looking at the schedule, it's still going to be for some time. Always running around. There seems to be so many courses, talks, and lessons to attend, places to go, things to do.
Have been going back twice a week for aikido too. Here's to health, fun, and friendship!

Channel u & i, its good bye. Thank You.

I like channel u and channel i. After staring at channel 8 & 5 my whole life, they came as a refreshing change. Unlike other channels, i feel that they actually care. Its a frequency thingy. Our wave lengths are the same. Channel 8 programmes just makes me want to roll my eyeballs. I can safely say that about the only shows i do watch, are imported.
Oh what the heck, in the end, its always about money.(microsoft sucks).

Farewell, my old friends. Its time to get cable.