Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Day Two of CNY and the first half of the day is the same, the same visiting of friends and family. My twenty (OMG! i typed seventeen before realising i was SO wrong!) years of "practice" has very much geared me for all the boredom. haha.
me in the car
(i like the blue! really... *no comments pls*)
BUT THE MAIN EVENT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON.
BUT... I won't be spilling too much details here on my blog (too bad). haha.
 
YES, moi family and i went to the ISTANA.
"Somehow", we have the opportunity to visit the royal house, just like the many people who queued for hours (i think - we didn't need to queue =X). Having lived in so long and having studied the Singapore Story long enough (though not completely complete), i've never stepped into the Istana before. Though i knew someday i might. But not so soon as well.
On the grounds of the Istana, we had a ground tour of the place, and i think it's really big. Similar to a golf course you might find in a small club. Of course, the main attraction was the main building of Istana itself. Very fortunately, and very gratefully, we had a guide with us to provide us information tidbits on the building itself, the arrangements and practices etc. Pretty interesting i must say.
Then it was back outside where we waited for the arrival of
THE REAL yours truly (not me la!) haha.
my brother's not bad right, managed to get such a winning shot:)
Then we watched some performances along the side. When we watched the news playback at home, my mother and i saw A TINY SECOND of A TINY US in it!!! haha... We were like "Ahh...." when the video sweeped past us... Crazy fools.
But of course THE MOMENT OF THE DAY went to this:
my family with the president
that's all i'm saying! :) haha.
more updates coming i hope P.S: i hate returning back to work!
music.city.soul || 6:53 PM || 0 comments
Today's The Sun's On Us
Hi All, once again, happy Pr-OX-perous Lunar New Year!
Day 1 was the usual fanfare of visits, except this time round with no visits from my paternal side, we left house early at 930am to kickstart CNY visits. Well, the routine you know it all. Reach the house, shake hands and say your greetings and sit down and eat some goodies while engaging in small talk. Then time's up and ready to move on.
Just that this time with Uncle Pink (my dad's China friend if you remember...) was in Singapore this time round so my father had the "obligation" to accompany him around. Very irritating especially to me since i HATE to entertain guests - makes me feel like i'm putting on a show.
At around 3 pm, the family decided to take a break and head home. But i had other plans haha. I managed to use this short break to make a visit to Kelly's and Grace's house for a visit. After all, Kenny, Feng and Gracie were available as well.
A small thanks to their parents for the reception. Especially Aunty Nancy (Gracie's mother) who took the special effort to message us to invite us to her house :) So nice haha.
some photos we took there
the attendance
the food
the food monster
the boys and girls
the mickey mouse club
HAPPY.NIU.YEAR!
music.city.soul || 6:25 PM || 0 comments
Someday Soon
It's eve of Chinese New Year and i am still not completely recovered from my illness. Damn! The dry throat still there even after i've drank bucket loads of water, and the block nose still there after tons of medicine! Sickening germs in my body who chose to attack at this very critical point in life (i'm not that traditional to celebrate chinese new year actually. i just want my BAK KWA! And Hongbao hehe).
Anyway, guess this year's CNY for me will be abit downplayed as well, since my grandmother's off-island, on CNY getaway on board Star Cruise. Thus, as quoted by someone, "there was no point for my other relatives to visit us". Greatness, Siblings who don't meet when the parents are not around. Where is the whole point of CNY then? (But erm... come to think of it, i don't meet my brothers without my parents too. haha. But this is definitely different alright...)
Well, guess this means seeing less people during the next two days. Which is both a good and bad thing. The bad you know - less money! - and as for the good, i think you know too. Facing relatives who ask you the same questions every year about studies, height, appearance and of course, your relationships (nosey parkers! haha). Which is probably why i've naturally adopted the "don't talk much and act very shy" method to minimise interaction time. haha. Shouldn't be a problem since in office nowadays i'm quite the mute. SAD.
Moving on to brighter stuff, i met up with fellow ex-colleagues from CPF. Things have changed a fair bit with Siny and Chunli (haha, not her real name) have moved out of the call centre. Well, i met up the little group consisting of Ms Miao Miao, Mr Koh, KL, Wad-U-Doin', Chunli, Siny, and Siny's two other friends which i've met briefly at CPF before, Bee Bee and Monkey (also not their real names haha).
Strangely, we had deserts first at Swensens as we have coupons to use (very embarrassing! ha).
Facebook was quite the hot topic amongst them, and especially funny (and embarassing to me) when KL tried to imitate my display pic action of the "OK!" sign. Made me feel like a stupid monkey on full display to all my friends. (i said i will change my display pic but i haven found anything better! haha)
After which we walked around before settling at Burger King for dinner. By then, Wad-U-Doin', KL, Bee Bee and Monkey had left. So the remaining five continued small talk at BK, gossiping and having ALOT of scandalous updates and jokes. Felt quite good to meet them after the pretty disastrous first week of work and illness combined. They certainly provided some great entertainment and enlivened my mood. If only everyday was like that at work... haha.
Well, at least next week's a three-day work week! Cheers!
HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!
More updates soon (i pray!!! ha)...
music.city.soul || 3:32 PM || 0 comments
Saturday, January 17, 2009
MILK MOVIE OUTING  .jpg) Just today, i gave my virgin R21 movie to this very well-acclaimed movie about erm.hem, gay rights. haha. I'm not even 21 YET (dunno whether i should be proud or not about this haha). But i guess it's a great movie to mark my becoming into an adult. .jpg)
Kenny and i Reason being, the movie was very motivational and inspirational, and certainly spiked me up on all the different types of discrimination in this world. Against people who are different, who are of different race, of different religion etc etc. Somehow, i feel those fighting against gay rights are very contradictory in their argument. Namely the two arguments brought against them are that homosexuals are against the fundamentals of the PRO (heterosexual) FAMILY ideals we are exposed to - which technically suggest, homosexuals "destroy" the traditional family unit. Secondly, the religious argument that God forbids homosexual behaviour and so since homosexuals are committing "crimes" (by being themselves strangely, which is not exactly their "choice"), they shouldn't be entitled to the basic rights of other humans. With regards to the first argument, i don't think homosexuals set out to break any family traditions. Instead they're a totally alternative "family" setting, with two of the same sex rather than of the different sexes. It's still PARTNER-plus-PARTNER, though only the heterosexual combination can lead to the procreation of a new life. But then, nowadays, some heterosexual couples don't even want kids. Should they be denied the rights as well? On the religious argument, i shall not delve to deep in order not to offend anyone. But i say, if thieves, rapers, murderers are entitled to the basic human rights, why can't homosexuals??? Assuming homosexuality is a crime, then why are homosexuals treated differently from the other criminals. Fact is, they're not even hurting or affecting anyone else (maybe just your mood?). Plus, i already feel it's damn unfair to compare homosexuals to those criminals. Can't believe some people in this world (anti-gay activists i believe) would rather waste their time fighting against people who have done nothing to hurt this world (but lead an "alternative" lifestyle) than spend the time on persecuting mindless and evil harm-do-ers in our society. I just don't understand these people. hah.
music.city.soul || 9:41 PM || 0 comments
Can't Fight It, Can't Hide It
After (almost) two months at CPF, it's time for another goodbye for me. As i've mentioned earlier, i'll be moving on the Kranji to my dad's friend's company. As i told my colleagues/friends at CPF that i'll be leaving the friday of this very week, even i felt like it was very sudden. As someone in the office said, we're are starting to get the hang of working there, and by now, we've really gotten to know each other much better than when we first came in. In another words, greater familiarity leads to more jokes, more laughter and certainly more fun. But well, this is life, change is the constant. As much as i would want to prolong my stay, don't think it's right to stay behind just to relive more of the good times.
  Anyway, farewell came a day earlier for me with GML and Sharie, especially since they're on secret mission on friday, my actual last day. After we had lunch together, we took a ceremonious (haha) group photo and went to develop it. Back in the office, after they received the developed photo, they took a small effort to make a personalised notebook as their gift to me. Right from the start (training days) to being in the same workplace, it was great that we managed to stick together - to share about work and work gossips (GOOD NEWS!) haha.
their artwork (thanks gals! that was sweet of u! haha)
Then, that night before friday, thought i'll buy some tidbits and write some cards for the gals.
then my last day came
The last day was filled with jokes and small talk. In fact, the last few days were pretty amazingly amusing, especially since i "cried" a few times over Wad-U-Doin and his "lover". Towards the end of the day, i have to quickly distribute my tidbits to all the temps and my supervisors.
then it was photo-frenzy in the final hour
Me and Siti
-don't forget our RAP!- Ying Ying Run Around, Siti Falling Down, Nadiah Cam-whoring, Charis, WAD U DOIN!
Me and Badchic (who really wants my "frontcamera" 6120c haha)
Wad-U-Doin, Me and Badchic
Badchic and i (with Siti sometimes) always laugh at Wad-U-Doin. As what we ALL agree, Wad-U-Doin (who got his nickname from a very funny/blur thing he did) has a different frequency with all of us. haha. Maybe except from his "lover" haha. jk.
the "last warning" crew
the guys who i mostly had lunch with
the rest of the girls (should recognise SinY, ChunL and Ms Miao Miao in the photo)
Has been really great to have to chance to work with them and they're of course all very fun and pleasant people to be with. Will miss Miao Miao's loud voice (haha! thanks for always changing lunch with me!), SinY & ChunL's little jokes and of course Mr Koh's weird and hilarious stories! haha
with that
this little CPF work journey ends here for now
Will miss my little workstation
And my "Good Morning/Afternoon, Joel Speaking. How can i help?"
and of course the time/people there! haha.
thanks!
music.city.soul || 8:41 AM || 0 comments
Treat Me Good
A summary of what i've been up to these past few days:
The latest of which is meeting up with Marc and Oh-My-Tian for dinner at Ajisen Ramen tonight after my farewell at CPF (more on that next entry). It was mainly catching up with each other (me on the office gossips back there) and talk about KBOX and stuff. ha.
 
Rewinding back, on Monday, i met up with Terweeds over dinner at Causeway Point, only this time, there was the addition of his dearest. Nothing better like the usual talk and catch up :)
On Tuesday, i took half-day to attend an interview with my father's friend's landscaping company to do their admin/accounts job. The company was located at some Kranji Industrial Park = super ulu and very inconvenient by public transport. Even though i followed the instructions given by the person, i STILL GOT LOST. Walked for half an hour, circling roads and roads aimlessly. I swore i ALMOST GAVE UP. But i guessed eventually, after some guided help, i managed to find it. Nevertheless after walking ONE BIG FREAKING ROUND the industrial park i suppose. haha. But the interview was sort of a formality so nothing intimidating, though i did my homework of prepping myself on the potential interview questions (darn! haha). So well, with that i will be starting new job on MONDAY!
On Wed, declared this piece of bittersweet news to my fellow colleagues. I personally felt it was a bit abrupt too but well, when it's time to go, it's time to go. But i had a lot of fun and laughter in these last few days at CPF workplace. More on that and my farewell today in the next entry! ha.
But one major thing during work these few days was forum-ing. Wad-U-Doin (aka Charis) recommended i read the forum website (reach.gov.sg) and subsequently i got myself and some others hooked onto reading the forum pages too haha. Well, there was one particular forum about Smoking and Littering that was probably worth my comment...
original first forum thread (edited to be shorter)
Just an hour ago, I confronted a girl student from SCSS, then in her school uniform, after seeing her throw a cigarette butt onto the grass. In another incident, I saw 2 male students, coming out of the lift at my block with lighted cigarette. On yet another occassion, I had to tell 2 primary school girls to pick up the tissue they had just thrown onto the walkway.
There are a few more instances when I acted upon similar situations.
It is a pretty frequent sight nowadays to see students littering and smoking daringly at void decks, bus stops, coffee shops and etc. This development really worries me as it is a reflection of an education system that has failed to impart proper values in our young. We are effectively a step backward from the past, when people were generally more civic-minded.
We cannot allow this to go on indefinitely or we shall never achieve our aim towards a gracious society. More concrete measures are needed by everydody, including both government and individuals... I wish to see a more proactive government, ie. the schools, police, NEA, Town Councils and etc., as regards to this. It is no use for the government to always tell its citizens to do their part without doing theirs. We need 2 hands to clap if anything.
then a reply by a DISAPPOINTED PARENT (to somebody's comment that parents are the culprits ashey brought the children into this world and they are acountable for what happens to their children and cannot pass blame to the govt, teachers or anybody else. )
I guess you're still single. Maybe you parents should strangle you when you're young, so grateful.
Is it not true that our high cost of living is forcing both parent to work?Is it not true that both parents are being stretch to the limits because of Government welcoming of foreigners with open arms? If these are not the Government fault, then whose is it?
Is it not true, that we sent our children to school for education? If the school failed to educate the children when they're professional in that field, how do you expect a layman Parents without much knowledge of handling their children to take responsibility? If you're poor in math and your parent who're not educated, are unable to teach you.
Will you blame them or your teacher? Yes, the parent has got responsibility to bring you up proper, thus, they sent you to school and not leave you at home. They would like to be by your side 24/7 too, if they can afford it. Will you blame them if you have one working parent bringing in just enough for three meals and no other luxury or pampers. If you said you would, but will you loving parent bear to see you suffer and having less than other, when they know that, live will be better if two of them work.
They want the best for you and you blame them, instead of seeing the effort put in by them for your sake. Why not blame your Government and Teachers?
which i thought was BULLOCKS. (so i decided to reply - Pardon if my argumentative skills have become worse ha)
Dear Disappointed Parent and ALL,
1) Government welcome Foreigners precisely because our hands are tight. Declining Population/Falling Birthrate haven't you read? How do you think our economy can still survive without these extra pairs of hands? You are what you are partly because they are here to help.
2) Teachers can't make wonders out of everyone. Teachers are like you, with work and stress. They will try their best to impart values to students but if it doesn't reflect in the students, neither should it be their fault too. Teachers are there to provide SUPPORT. If you as a parent can't manage a child on top of the work you have, maybe you shouldn't have a child until you are ready and prepared. Parents should and always be the PRIMARY SOURCE of education and upbringing of a child.
3) Nowadays, most parents are fairly educated. (Emphasis: Not ALL, but most. Not HIGHLY educated, but still educated.) There is one teacher to at least 30 students. But each parent has generally 2 children. Should the teacher be unable to help, parents should be able to do so, if not have the general means to provide means to help their own child.
4) Qualified that it is the government's job to maintain social security, it has done its part to discourage smoking and other teenage crimes among youths. And hopefully it can do more. But it is a parents' responsiblity to REINFORCE these teachings into their own children. If parents say they can't do that even, then they are purely human-making machines, with the government as the REAL PARENTS. We complain being a nanny state, but in fact (if your views are anything to go by), we WANT to be a nanny state.
5) Considering the constraints of the parents, it is justifiable to say that parents are NOT THE ONLY culprits. But we need to establish the fact that parents are and should always hold the primary responsiblity of bringing up a child. After all, he/she is YOUR CHILD. Not the schools' or the government. Schools/Government can do their part to help but it still boils down to the closest party of the child/student: THEIR PARENTS.
This is not to bring down ANYONE, esp not parents. But we need to take self-responsibility rather than ALWAYS depending on the government. There's only so much the government can do, and so much that can do for YOU. YOU are not the only one in Singapore the government has to help. So while they try to HELP YOU, you need to HELP YOURSELF.
******************************************************
Well, i did post other comments but nth came close as long as that so thought i shall post it. Plus i got some good comments (no bad comments so far haha):
1)Wow lau very good man!!! ; 2) Wah Lau ay very good lah. ; 3) OMFG!!! u go boy. gosh.. im amazed. good job man. YOU're e MAN. YEAH!!!
hehe.
just too bored i guess.
P.S: More in the next entry! My little farewell! haha.
music.city.soul || 11:57 PM || 0 comments
Do You See What We've Done
Hellos, i guess right now things at work are getting to be more fun and comfortable. In fact, a bit too comfortable for me cause the past week, i did nothing most of the time, and even slept on the job sometimes (of course i never got caught la). But i believe the job seems more enjoyable now because i know most of the people better and we all have a better time working together.
Which brings me to what i'll be blogging today. haha. Well, some of my colleagues suggested a Kbox outing - something i believe anyone who likes music/singing is up for - and yups, my second Kbox outing materialised on Saturday afternoon.
If what we did in office was explain Good Service Tax (GST), then yesterday we have a Good Singing Time (GST too). haha.
chunling, charis and "Mr Koh"
and now you do the maths
ONE "Mr Koh" who had to stand to expand his diaphragm (he raps very well!)
TWO Mr Koh and Me, who likes to sing (mostly) female songs haha.
THREE the one in black jacket is Sinying (quite a good singer! ha) the one in brown is Ms Miao Miao (very LOUD voice haha)
FOUR can't tell i'm older by two years right? (DAMN!)
FIVE Yups, Mr Koh not inside (and Charis was wearing my jacket coz it was too cold)
There were quite a number of laughable moments when Mr Koh kept making funny noises and stuff. Then we all took turns to make fun of Ms Miao Miao that she speaks VERY loudly in office and now her voice is, once again, overpowering and sinking all our beautiful but softer voices. haha. Of course, there's also Charis with his "soulful" crooning that made us think he was emo. LOL. haha.
It was pretty tiring since we sang from 2pm to 7pm plus. After which, we (excluding Miao Miao) went to had dinner at nearby hawker. The dinner was quite hilarous (proof: i "cried") as well with many office gossips spilling out and funny moments of Miss Miao Miao and Mr Koh. The two of them can be in a sitcom totally. haha.
Quite a day. First time with my new colleagues and hopefully more fun outings next time (when i'm/they're still working at same workplace or not). haha.
music.city.soul || 11:01 AM || 0 comments
Saturday, January 10, 2009
This Tuesday i met up with Hern again, this time with college classmates Jas and WeiLin. Quite out of the ordinary but it happened probaby because 1) Hern and i wants to Kbox (we've never kbox-ed together ever ever! can't believe this), 2) Lin and Hern, since they're in close contact right now about their (same) uni prep, wants to KBox together too and 3) maybe Jas and Lin wants to Kbox too. So the combination was derived, with additional linkages - girls' respective boyfriends joined as well.
Considering it was our first Kbox together, think it was quite alright and pretty fun la. But most of the time i was singing with Hern while the girls sing with themselves (the boyfriends didn't really sing much, since they don't know much chinese songs. But me too! hmmm... haha jk).
pairs and quartet.
well, more of hern and me now (we get more of the coverage! haha)
stars of the show (the girls better not know this haha)
"i look DAMN spastic"
and our mini-mini-mini-mini class photo
(shall spare myself and hern the torture of any old photos this time haha)
After the singing session, Hern and i wanted to catch any one of the movies that has been showing though the girls wanted to go to Settlers' to play games. So we walked around together before we separated. We went to watch the movie "Australia", which i found pretty meaningful though the australian accent can be quite a problem trying to catch at first. And at 3 hours, it was pee-holding long. haha. And after the movie, Hern and i, walked around and ate dinner before we left home.
Was good to see them, making a nice start to the year :)
music.city.soul || 8:52 AM || 0 comments
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