The girl who lives in the dark

( Lao Yang - The girl who lives in the dark )


Have you watched this documentary? I caught it last night. While painting, and crying over her mishap. You should watch the documentary esp the part where she reached Shanghai and making a call from her room and spoke to her younger sister, telling her that she will return back to the village soon and take care of her.

It talks abt this little girl who suffers from XP (Xeroderma Pigmentosum), a rare and incurable genetic disorder that makes exposure to the sun, or any UV light, extremely dangerous. Sufferers rapidly develop skin crusting, scarring and cancer.

Lao Yang (the little girls name) lives in a remote village in China. Because of their poor knowledge and understanding of the dangerous illness, tho she was donated a UV protection suit, but she did not wore it all times, partly becos the mask brushes against her facial tumor causing her pain. Her condition worsen and became horribly disfigured by the pus ozing tumors growing on her cheeks and almost blinded one of her eye.

Dr David Atherton from Great Ormond Street Hospital traveled to China in a bid to help Lao Yang and concluded that she needs treament urgently. So left the village, accompanied by her father, and to Shanghai for surgery to remove the life-threatening tumours.

Lao Yang's hope was to return back with a more socially acceptable face, and to be back schooling.

In the end, her nose and an eye were removed in order to save her life. And even after her return to the village, bad news came from the doctors that her cancerous cells have spreaded to her body and she may not have much time left...

If only proverty is not the hindrance to treatment, if only education and knowledge is freely imparted. How many conditions will not have been worsen and how many lives could have been saved.....

The Little Manual of Happiness

This little manual book is like a manual book of how to lead a positive life so whenever I started to wander off, I pick up this book and starts to flip thru again and again for the answers and directions.

Its either this book or Paulo Coelho's "Manual of the Warrior of Light" which give me guidance and strength and supports my mind through the day. Although I don't practice all that was mentioned in the books but they serve as a reminder to me everyday or every min when my mind went blank and become doubtful. They become my mental supports and whenever I am down, they always manage to encourage me and smoothen my mood.

Below are the 7 basic steps towards happiness. But it will be best to get this book and read up the pages yourself. Enlightenment is only when you understand and accept. A book is still a book, words are still words when you dont accept and acknowledge them.

Simple Steps to Happiness:

1) Choose happiness - A happy person is one who knows that there are options and always chooses the happy one

2) Be happy anyway - A contented person is happy no matter how things are

3) Accept imperfection - You don't have to wait for perfection to be happy

4) Live in the present - This moment is your only reality

5) Think happy thoughts - Negativity never enters a trained mind

6) Be postive always, all ways - Happiness is created within you, in your mind

7) Choose sunshine over shadows - Whatever you focus on, grows.

How to protect your fav dish from the little devils (ants)

Let me tell you my frustration when I spot any enemies trying to invade my fav dish. I love to eat Hay Bee Hiam (home cooked only) whenever it's rainy days. And so happen, it been raining these few days and mum decided to cook that for us after I made my request known. It's only with this dish, that I will fill up bowl up 3/4 full then my normal intake of 1/2 bowl. Then, for supper, I took rice again with this hay bee hiam. If you dun know what is Hay Bee Hiam, it is actually grounded shrimps fried with chilly paste and with some slices of pork and omelette. Anyway, that is not the point cos my point here is to teach you a way to stop any enemies from invading your fav dish if you leave it overnight on the kitchen table. It is pointless to just cover the dish with an overturn plate or with the dish cover cos, the little devils will still crawl on the table and up onto the dishes and find their way to the food! And the thought of them eating my fav dish while I am snoring away in the night, irkes me. So! I made an extra effort that day to protect my fav food with all my might:



(Step 1: Put your dish into a bowl instead of plate)

(Step 2: Then fill some water into a plate. This layer of water works like a river for the little devils, ants, to drown them if they ever try to swim across and invade your face dish)

(Step 3: Place the bowl onto the plate which you have earlier fill with a shallow layer of water)

(Step 4: Cover the bowl with an overturned plate to protect from the crawlies)



Ta la! I know I am abit too boh liow or paranoid but I just cant help it but to post it and share with yous. Muahahhahha!

A funny encounter

I was having a meal at coffee express, silently eating up the chicken baked rice which doesnt really taste that good as there is a smell in the chicken chunks and the cheese is pretty much overwhelmed with its smell.

Then while I was reading a good book and sipping a glass of warm water, a mother about late 30s walked in with her younger daughter who is about lower primary. Then came her elder daughter, (probably about upper sec level) who joined them shortly. They sat behind me and started ordering.

"Your aircon is not chilling enough ah?"
"I wan sandwich blah blah blah, I wan soup blah blah blah"
"I wan toast in WELL DONE" the mother said
"Well done?" The Philippino waitress questioned
"Yes, well done, your other branch can do it for us, fully toasted" replied the mother
"and I want salad with only salad cream only, no other cream and I want, coffee with low skim milk" continued the mother.

Then came the servings and the waitress left

"Hello excuse me!" shouted the mother.

(waitress walked over and stood next to the mother)

"Smell it." said the mother
"Smell?" waitress replied
"Ya, smell the soup, smell it!" repeated the mother
"The soup..it has a bad smell" joined the elder daughter
"Can you change to a new one for us? The soup is smelly." demanded the mother.

(then when all servings are done, the mother called out to the waitress again)

"Are you the most senior one here?" asked the mother
"Yes, mdm" replied the waitress
"Can you tell your staff that he has some body smell which is unpleasant huh" said the mother
(the statement came abit too surprised for the waitress I guess)
"I know there is this place at Compass Point which sells XXX, he just need to put under this armpit for a few mins everyday and wash it off and the smell will be eliminated. I know cos my maid has this prob too" explained the mother
"er...oke..." replied the waitress
"Rememeber to tell him huh" reminded the mother

(then I requested for the menu again, ordered a sumatra coffee and apparently it is the "smelly" waiter who served me my coffee. Yes, the smell is unbearable I know, but with some courtesy, i smell and inhale more of my hot brewed coffee and continued reading my book.)

Given in the scenario above, I wonder she is too fussy with everything in life, or its me who are unconcern about others. And was she just merely fighting for her rights while I am just giving up mine by silently filling my stomach with the not very nice smelling chicken baked rice.

And will you tell someone so abruptly that he has a body odor? Probably she is just abit too blunt but hey, and how many of us actually tell someone a remedy to their problem which maybe, they themselves are looking for a solution too? :)

I fell in love......

I fell in love when I first set my eyes on him among the rest. He was tanned looking and looks sincere. I knew I can rely on him for the most impt thing whenever I need him, he will sure be able to help. He has all that I want, all that I need, all that I hope for in.......a...........
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watch!

This is my first chronograph watch, tho I kind of regret my choice cos upon a closer look, that bezel is afterall, not that attractive. But I love the way it display the dates in an arch like a moon shape. But then one fine day, while walking side by side with mum, her hand sort of brushed against my wrist and I heard a "crung" sound. I immediately inspected my watch and sad to say, her silly rolex chipped MY WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!! She can even consoled me with a "aiyah, small hole only." BUT THAT MAKES THE FACE NOT PERFECTLY SMOOTH ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!

Bearing my grudges, I been looking for an opportunity and excuse to buy another chronograph one, and then one day, or a few days to be exact, I went to many little or big watch retailers to look for "The one" and even surf those online brands which many local retailers dont carry. Then while aimlessly shopping at taka, I decided to cross the road and explore lucky plaza, which I believe, I will find..... "The One".

So I popped into this little but full of watches store and I saw Movado, a brand which I chanced upon only online and immediately asked the lady boss "hey! you carry this brand ah! many places I been to dont sell this! do you have Bulova also?" she coldly looked at me and said they dont. All of the sudden, I imagined a bubble appearing on top of her head that says "I only serve the golden haired!"

But her attitude does not spoil my day cos am too excited to come face to face with those watches which I thought I can only see from online than to get affected by her body lang. And then I explained to her that I been seeing this brand online but her store is the first which I chanced upon carrying this brand. And I continued asking her why so limited places carry brands like bulova, movado etc. She explained becos the agents were not very reliable and advise me not to buy online and even those in her stores are pretty out-dated designs. Then slowly turned friendly and introduced me to go to another bigger store just a few shops away which I may find those that I am looking for.

Thanks to her, I am another step closer to "The ONE" and saw this watch paradise which is what I have been looking for. Big show cases with many different all sorts of brands, vintage watches to chose from. I already knew what I wanna get. A white chronograph one this time and spotted "THE ONE" and immediately told the uncle I wanted that (tho I knew city chain or so ever will have it too).

And though usually I will grab and go but this time, I looked thru the watch thoroughly and asked a few questions even boldly asked for discount and smiled. The grandfather looking old man agreed to cut 20 bucks for me and I even rounded off another 2 bucks which he also agreed. Muhahahaha! Well I guess he will still make some profit even after those discounts given to me but its the negotiation and getting what I asked for, which makes the whole thing fun! Tho this watch is kinda common, but still! Its my second chronograph watch.

Actually wanted a tag heuer golf chrono but tho it looks nice but the price is not that nice after all. MUahahaha! But I am contented with this one still, and hmmm.....probably sourcing for another one, maybe a red or pink one, or a black watch with white face or a white watch with black face. Or a Blue watch? Slowly, these will come into my collection. Heheheehehehehe!!!

Then I showed uncle and his son my chipped titus and ask them to get it replace but they looked and me and say its just a chip, replacing the glass will cost me a 65 bucks and tell me no, wait till it gets more scratches then replace it. Totally different response I got. I remembered asking the sales person at City Chain some days ago and he immediately he can get it replaced for me except that I have to wait for 2 wks to get it done without telling me the price even.


This is "THE ONE"



(Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai)


And I simply have some fetish over chronograph watchs esp men's watch. They always look so much better than ladies collection. Will also be sourcing for skeleton ones too, meaning those which you can see the mechanism through the full face but very limited brands carry that and from the side of it, the whole face looks thick. Sigh.. but am sure I will be able to find one to my liking.

And now I know where to get good deals and wide range of watches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy! Very easily contented hor? :)

Happiness

If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happines for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

My conversation with Ah Fu

Below is a fucking funny conversation after so long, I have never had a very good laugh in front of my pc. its a conversation I had with my friend (let's call him ah fu)

Here it goes!!!!


Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
spend it on me man
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
it's worth it
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
you wanna be my small white face?
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
who dont want sia
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
but my face not white
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
too bad
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
so i can nvr be one
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
you are not eligible
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
ah fu!
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
i want watch
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
i just received bank statement
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
asking me to pay back tuition loan
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
LOL
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
hahahahahaha
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
thats your business
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
i wan a watch
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
tat's ur business also
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
LOL!
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
but i wanna make it YOUR BUSINESS
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
my business is to sell fishes
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
not sell watches
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
you sell enough fishes and sharks then use the moeny to BUY ME A WATCH LA!
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
WHY YOU SO STUPID!
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
DEG HOLDER SOME MORe!
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
WHAT YOUR LECTURER TEACH YOU MAN!
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
dont lose already start to vent anger man
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
a wise person shuld admit defeat
(You have just sent a nudge.)
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
i dun care lah, you get me a watch. tag heuer one
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
if not you return me my friendship band
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
since when u give me a frendship band
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
wtf
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
huh! you mean you lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
right
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
i nvr got it
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
how i lost it
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
you lost it you still say you never got it
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
u nvr give me
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
that 18th of july 2007 i gave it to you
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
i rememeber it was a sat
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
rainy day
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
you sent me to the taxi stand and i stuff the friendship band into your hand and say "friends forever"
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
RIGHT
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
you shed a tear and i left in a london cab forgetting to pay for the money
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
i TOTALLY BELIEVE MAN
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
hahahahahahahhahahahaha! nice boh! i very good story teller hor
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
ya
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
very
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
i dont noe whcih part of u to believe
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
top or bottom
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
maybe it's all fake
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
my inner is real, aiyah oke lah its nt a friendship band la, its a friendship chain
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
-|-
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
hahahahahaha
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
sorry la
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
okok
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
the truth is a friendship amulet
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
i got it from bintan for you de
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
rememeber?
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
i think u bought a voodoo doll
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
and u are poking it every night
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
sigh no leh
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
i just fart at it when i sleep every night only
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
no wonddr
Repmarc --> Till I Collapse says:
i thought why every night got live firing
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
muahahahahhahahahahaa
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA
Miumiu- I will never b your stepping stone, take it all or leave me alone. says:
FUCKING FUNNYY!

In the name of trust and mistrust

The recent reports that splash all over the papers which I believe, many of the Singaporeans and foreigners have read and felt ashamed of. In the name of trust, members of the public donated generously, some, may have even saved up a sum of money every day, especially for the charity organization, to help the needy.

The TT Durai saga and now the Venerable Ming Yi. Both, from the well known NKF and Ren Ci charity organizations respectively. Both, who received numerous supports, with money stacking up on top of one after another that synchronizes with the millions and millions of call-ins during the charity show. The amount collected was “made in public” through live tv shows and somehow one day, someone has woken up and realized the danger of how the enormous sum of money could have been handled all these years.

I have always been, since secondary sch days, supported NKF. But after the NKF incident, my trust has shaken and I wonder if my money goes to the needy? Then again, if we keep harping on the thought how our money has been put to use or misused, we will never be happy with the idea of donating, now or in future.
After the TT Durai incident, relevant authorities stepped in (which was, truly necessary) to looked into the funding. It was an official took over.

Then now, another charity organization will soon be taken over again by the relevant authority. And coincidentally, both have been in limelight over the years thru the charity shows where donations were so openly reported.

I guess, in the near future, all charity organizations, regardless how large or tiny it will be, will soon be made under the care of the relevant authority.
All I can say is that you were given a chance, to help the needy and for the public to place our trust in you. You were given a chance, to handle the funds entrusted to you with care. You were given a chance, a chance from the relevant authorities to see how you can manage on your own.

But the trust was broken, indeed, you were not wise enough, not benevolent enough, not clear enough of what you have been doing nor helping. And because of your misdeeds (if any), it has given a space for the relevant authorities to step in and take over. You have proved to the authorities indeed you cannot be entrusted, you can’t manage. You have to be treated like a kid. Whatever did, you have to report what was done.

The members of public cannot trust you but probably someone else. And again, you have extinguished that burning flame in us that “relevant authority is not always right”. You have once again proved that shit happens when you are given the freedom to be independent and that relevant authority has become the superhero to sweep up your dirty linens.

At the end of the day, it’s only the needy who suffer no matter who are right or wrong in whatever accusations. Who is beneficial or who is not. And how can we learn to trust? And who?

Was it indeed your misdeed or was it just making it official and justifiable for the taking over, just to make it easier for the public to accept?

Get Well Soon

July is certainly a very busy month for me. Briefings, meetings, work work and more work.

And I seriously understand what ppl means by "burying my head with work" becos my head was hanging lower and lower in front of the computer and deeper thoughts into the documents that sometimes, my limbs were moving to complete the tasks but my mind was drifting to somewhere else, dun know why I was still able to coordinate and pull through till 5:45pm. It seems like the brain and limbs been programmed to default mode that I dun even need to even think but just auto complete those hateful tasks.

I dun even have the time to join the rest who went to see an injured colleague who is hospitalised in TTSH no matter how much they assure me "we will be back by 1pm".

I got the ward no. and so off I went, after work, making my way alone to TTSH to see her. In fact I like to do lots of things alone. Upon reaching there, looking carefully where I should be heading, but before that, choosing some red roses (I like red roses so I assume she does too!), a basket of essence, a card and a mag for her.

The sight of her lying there helplessly saddens me. Tho there was no visible bruises on her face, but her sharp pointed nose seems broken (and yes indeed, it was confirmed by her). Her left knee cap was operated and instilled with metal plates, two bones in her thigh ware broken, ankle swollen, and spine also fractured. Seeing her in this state was never was I expected though I thought hearing so much from colleagues, I should more or less have some mental preparations. Putting on a strong front, I showed her the roses I got for her and told her she must read the fashion mag I esp got for her.

Apparently what happened was she and her male friend was assaulted in JB, after their meal in a restaurant. Assaulted by? 3 full grown man with wooden rods. Her friend got a broken skull but need not be hospitalize. I asked if she uses her hands to protect her head and face, she said she was scared to protect herself. Partly was also, it happened too fast like a flash of lighting and they ran off. No one in the restaurant offered to help. Someone sent them to the hospital and they were left there alone. They even arranged (while blood were dripping from their head) for a private ambulance to come over to JB from singapore, to bring them back here. She have a blood transfusion yesterday. But the bizarre thing was that nothing was snatched from them.

All of the sudden, I pictured the scene happening, imagine someone inflicting hurts on you while you can only accept taking them helplessly, imagine someone using his feet (wearing shoe) and stamp on your face repeatedly until your nose bridge breaks. Imagine lying on the bed helplessly, bearing with the immerse pain all over your body which can only be subdue by morphine. Imagine the subsequent operations, while you are recovering from one operation, you have to go thru another one and again in pain from new wounds.

And all I can only do is to comfort and assure her not to worry about her work. She will need at least a 6mths for a full recovery.

Then I went down to the food court to have my dinner alone, thinking I should reward myself after a hard day work and making an effort to come all the way from jurong to TTSH to visit a not very close colleague. Wondering what to eat then thought I should get some wanton noodles, only to realise I have wanton noodles but in vegetarian style. NO MEAT!!! Carnivorous me is not turning into herbivorous!!

But sigh...maybe its a sigh that I should eat more vegetarian and do more good deeds after seeing my colleague in such bad state. When was my last time eating vegetarian?? In the end, thinking about that while eating my vegetarian wanton noodles, suddenly I realise I can also do without meat. Then I ordered a milo peng and walked about the hospital, browsing thru the organic food stuffs, books that they have (yes, I can even shop in hospital) before flagging down a cab and head back home straight.

Let's us hope my colleague will have a speedy recovery and come back office soon.......the rest, forget about it.

Duffy - Rockferry

You guys should purchase this cd by Duffy which I chanced upon while browsing thru the cds at Popular one day and heard this playing:




Duffy Lyrics
Stepping Stone Lyrics




Duffy Lyrics
Serious Lyrics

Movies again!!

Hey Hey!

I have watched quite a lot of movies again....Hand Cock...er...I mean, Hancock, Get Smart, Wanted, You dont mess with the Zohan, and recently, the Red Cliff and Hellboy.

I seriously recommend you guys to catch Red Cliff （赤壁 which I keep thinking of calling it 墙壁) and Hellboy. Red Cliff has alot of killing scenes basically that is necessary becos the whole show is about war. It can be pretty much bloody but that was necessary and each actor was very impressionable, capturing clearly each of historical figures' capabilities and strength as well as their unique characters. Esp the Guan Yu, whom I remember most vividly. He looked exactly from what I have seen from those chinese story books which I read when I was in primary school. The interesting part of the whole show is seeing how victory is attained by not the number of warriors you have, but how its attainable by wits and strategies. Sigh! But the thing is the whole story does not end here, there is a part two coming up I hope the soonest it can be!!!!

This is told in part one of Red Cliff:

In the winter of 208, Liu Bei and Sun Quan two warlords who later founded the kingdoms of Shu and Wu respectively formed their first coalition against the southward expansion of Cao Cao. The two sides clashed at the Red Cliffs (northwest of present day Puqi, Hubei). Cao Cao boasted 830,000 men (historians believe the realistic number was around 220,000), while the Liu-Sun coalition at best had 50,000 troops.

I believe part two, the continuation of Red Cliff will speak of the defeat of Cao Cao:

However, Cao Cao's men, mostly from the north, were ill-suited to the southern climate and naval warfare, and thus entered the battle with a disadvantage. Furthermore, a plague that broke out undermined the strength of Cao Cao's army. The decision by Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, military advisors to Liu and Sun, to use fire also worked effectively against Cao Cao's vessels, which were chained together and thus allowed the fires to quickly spread. A majority of Cao Cao's troops were either burnt to death or drowned. Those who tried to retreat to the near bank were ambushed and annihilated by enemy skirmishers. Cao Cao himself barely escaped the encounter.

As for hellboy, the only thing I am looking out for are creatures. If you like creatures and all, catch this one.

My next movie to conquer........The Dark Knight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its Alston baby day!

The funny little boy, who waited with his mummy at the void deck. As usual Auntie Ling is late. I saw his jumpy self when he was my cab arrived. This time, he is not interested in Thomas the Train, but Bob the builder. LOL!

This time, we went to taka for lunch and shopped around for almost half a day. It was that day that I realised that chocolate has BIG effect on kids, esp Alston Baby. He will laugh, jump, swirl and run FREELY, hyper-actively. I had a good laugh at his reaction which I never knew a few chocolate biscuits will have such big effect after that.

I keep complaining never get to buy anything I like except for a 2/3 pink linen pants from mango. Sigh..then we realize that weekends, the clothings seems alot more uglier..almost all those we entered, we came out shaking our heads. I was so empty handed that day that I feel like a little girl whom never gets her toy at the end of the day. Now I can understand how Alston will have feel if his mummy never get him his thomas the train (yeah....in the end, he also like thomas the train.......)

It was a tiring day for us all but an enjoying day, updating each other and joking happily about many things.

Till the next meet up Alston baby and mummy!!!!!!

Behind every grey cloud lies a clear blue sky

Behind every grey cloud lies a clear blue sky.

How nice the sky can be. Have you ever stopped walking and looked up at the sky and appreciate what nature brings us?

Can you imagine how wide the sky is you can roam freely up there without possibly hit onto any walls or someone else's shoulders?

Everyday after work when I reached home, I take a look at this sky outside my window. They always, never fails to show me some master piece. No Van Gogh nor Dali can give me.









The earth is getting crowded! and I hate it! I wish I can fly up high and be alone up there for some personal space. Someone just take me away from this crazy place. I really wish not to see every faces in the street.

My long lost and found friend, Aye Chan

I met a long lost friend today at the ceremony! Er....not say very lost or very long...we just met over the counter when I was still with my previous organisation, and I was telling this friend of mine, Aye Chan Zaw about my thoughts of leaving and joining another company. Its been a whole of 7mths and here we met again, after so long. Coincidentally he was here to attend his friend's ceremony and I am the one who spotted him!

Again, every time he see me, he will ask for my number. I guess, he always lost it, or delete it as he is afraid of his wife. Well, mths back, when we met (also coincidentally), he was telling me about the never ending quarrels he has with his wife. And he is always afraid to return home, fearing of a potential arguement, or her shoutings. 7 mths later, when I met him today, again I asked about his marriage. And still, he gave me the same facial expression and gesture, "Everyday quarrel".

They have been together for 3 years, no kids. I asked him why not think of having a little one probably that will help to shift the focus? He gave me a straight answer "NO". He explained that he has so much issues with his wife now and he dun want to have a kid. And he hates marriage, and said to me "Marriage no good".

I tried to help him think of ways and solutions, seeking counseling or doing some activities together. All he said was no, except hesitantly agreed to seek some help from the family counselor. He said once they quarrel to the extend of involving the participation of the police officers to come in and resolve the situation. It certainly sounds very bad, and I feel so sad for him.

Thinking back, we used to study in the same poly and were classmates. His command of english was not that good (probably because he is a foreigner (myanmar)), and we always used to laugh at him, and in return he will laugh at our chinese name esp another gal friend's name. He is a very smart guy and is competitive academically which made him sort of "popular" among us, getting him to tutor us nearer the examinations.

I still remember he went back to myanmar once and returned with a souvenir for me (you know, that kind of feel of labeled as a special or exclusive friends when others were not given anything while you got one, lol!). I was elated!

After our graduation back then, we sort of lost contact, as and when hearing news about him, returning myanmar, becoming sg pr, getting married to a myanmar girl etc. And we do bumped onto each other throughout these years. Everytime I see him, he is putting on weight. I poked his stomach and said straight into his face "You putting on a lot of weight huh! You should go and run". He think and thought and said "I will if you run with me la". I happily agreed cos we been staying so nearby! And he seriously need to lose those extra kgs. I still remember his clean and study built back then. He has now become a totally changed person, sounded frustrated over the phone when he spoke thru it, didnt want to look for a job (he will be graduating very soon from NTU), putting on weight, unshaved chin.

But when it comes to study, you see the sparks in his eye and he was pushing me to do a part time engineering course but I told him I simply has no interest in it.

Bring the topic back to his marriage, it is really sad to see another friend's marriage on the verge, in danger. I guess the alienation of communication between humans are getting wider when most of us are being more self centred, moe competitive, more judgmental, have our point of own views about things, impatience with communicating and building the message across, lack of expressing skills, lack of affection, lack of touch, lack of empathy, lack of understanding, lack of many many many other things. We are simply robots.

And all the while I thought he was happily married and will stay happy as always....sigh...


(photo taken many years back, this is the only one we took together. I know its very blur but thats the only one we took. Right: Me, Centre: Aye Chan, Left: Vernetia)

Passwords Passwords!

Do you even remember your passwords well? Do you know how many passwords you have to remember?

Person ones:
Internet banking
Phone banking
Singpass
Bbdc login
Insurance online login
Sports hall login
Mobile website login
Msn login
Blog login
Friendster login
WLNY login
Facebook login
Yahoo login
Hotmail login
Flickr login
Red dot login

Work ones:
Windows login
Staff portal login
HDA system login
HDS system login
EXS system login
HDT system login

How many of these passwords requires at least a 10 characters with no repeated characters and must have a mixture of alpha and numeric? And how many can you remember and how many you need to reset? And how many of these passwords you die die also will not forget??
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Msn one la!

For you only

What date is it today? Its 3rd Jul 2008. Just a normal day for most of us but! not so for those who are born on this day.

Yup! It is her bday today and sure is her off day too. While she gets to lie on the bed and mumbled to me, I am dressing up for work.

My bfast today is sumptuous! See below:
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And I gulp two two cups of black coffee before heading off for work. Took a half day today to run some very impt errands. Very very very very impt one. Cos the task was bestow on me. I guess I have no doors in today if I dun bring back the props home today. So thinking about how to get them and carry them home since I wanted (die die also wanted) to take a bus ride home. I browsed thru the website for the STRAWBERRY SHORT (cannot be long one, must be SHORT) CAKE, asking if they have a 26 by 26cm one. And their reply saddened me. "Sorry ms, we only have 13cm by 13 cm off the shelve. You want 2kg one, must preorder 2 days in advance."

Thinking about should I bypass getting her the one from BAKERZIN, should I cock up a story saying "all sold out" out of the convenience sake and replace with one from Swensens? The struggle of moral and un-moral begun in my head while heading my way to VIVO.

Upon reaching there, there again I tried my luck.

Miu: "Hello! I want eh, a STRAWBERRY VERY SHORT CAKE. SHORT SHORT ONE. IS THAT THE SIZE YOU HAVE?"

Came the reply: "Yes I am afraid that is the shortest we have, 13cam by 13 cm".

Then I shrugged my shoulders and after some thought, I decided to get it no matter what because I am a person with moral values.

Miu: "Can you deliver the cake to my house huh? I need to shop then later taking my slow bus ride home"

She replied me: "eh..yes, there will be a delivery charge of 16 bucks, but then no, becos you need to order two days in advance".

I shrugged my shoulders again and said: "Boh bian loh like that. Then do you have anything to keep it cold while I slowly travel in the bus with the cake on my lap and its a journey from vivo to jurong mind you!"

Then she replied saying: "No worries Ms, we have ice pack. You leave your contact with me, I will call you to remind you to collect your cake and before you come then I put the ice pack for you"

Happily, I nodded my head like a woodpeck and walked out from the place, smiling.....

(the cake which is very short, 13cm by 13cm, maybe thats why its called strawberry shortcake.)

Why am I smiling Becos it means I have settled my bestowed task and time to head off to shopping! But what did I get in the end? MUahahaha! just a headset. But this time, I went to different shops looking for the ideal one instead of just grabbing the nearest one I reach off the shelf. Pretty, affordable with adjustable volume and retractable and must be in-earbud, these are the criteria. Been to a few electrical stores and finally set my eyes on this one:

(It has all that I am looking for except for being retractable.)

I asked the salesman quite a few questions: "eh, xcuse me, I am looking for a headset for my phone. Are all those displayed there compatible to my phone? Which are those with adjustable volume control huh?"

TOot Sale man he replied "These from Sennheiser, these few also got adjustable volume control, hmm...and few like these..."

Miu: "But these very ugly leh, so fat, ek...I dun like this color, ek..I dun like that one"

TOot Salesman" Hmm....yah.. (smile) you wanna try this one? (The one I bought in the end)"

Miu: "Hmm..not bad. which country is this made from ah?"

TOotSalesman: "Eh......(trying to smoke me) from hongkong"

Miu: "Oke, then i get this one loh, thank kiew ah!"

In the end, I paid for it, asked the cashier girl to immediately remove the packaging for me, and I saw IMPRINT BIG BIG "MADE IN CHINA". I was pretty pissed with the toot salesman but then again, he is not wrong too....cos HK is part of china already what! Sigh...on what point can I argue? Sigh.......


Then I went, just only one more shopping store, River Island to get sis a gift. Definitely something for a change or maybe not so much for a change cos its something which will suits her style:

(Very expensive! You better make sure you wear no matter whether you like it or not! I dun care I dun care!!!)

Hugging the cake, carrying the tote, and a shopping bag, keeping everything within my lap space, tip toe-ing my heels to keep the cake leveled on my lap........it was really a numb journey. My legs went numb...

And all these were for who?? The one who sleep with me everyday, none other than
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my sister!

My date with Jae Woo

Finally our date arrived. Hey Jae Woo! You seems to have become more mature and taller too (thanks to your heels). I really have to laugh at myself for always mixing up Marina with Wisma. Actually my mind pictured Marina and I typed Wisma. Only much later then I realise I have told you the wrong location. Probably both have a similar pronounciation (mariNA, wisMA, the Ma and the Na!) thus it always make me confused saying one thing, meaning another.

And 1st of all, it certainly worried me a little when I heard "I see you at MOS at the Central Stage!" I thought you become so happening all of the sudden, meeting at MOS and at the center of the stage some more. Thank god I was at Marina Square and slowly figure out what is this MOS you talking about. In the end its MOF (Ministry Of FOOD"), japanese food to be exact....

Then seeing the amt of food on your table...I wonder if I ordered too little or was it you who has grown your appetite over the mths? weeks?

(Pork dice Bento I order, portion good enough for a kid. Half of the bento was filled loosely with rice and a few dices of pork, I believe were from can, made in china i suppose?)

(Jeo Woo order a set, Salmon SET with chicken too! Not forgetting a Charwanmushi. I thought I was the one grumbling I was famished!)

(So in order to, thinking of outbeating Jae Woo, I got my fave side dish.)


(And Jae Woo added Mango Dessert during the second order!! Now who is the starving one who never had lunch. You or me?)

We had a decent meal and behaved decently, no oozing at ugly men, nor peeping at tongs. We shopped around and headed home, with her telling me stories about household chores, washing basin without using detergent, using table cloth to wipe toilet bowl cover, finding excuses from chores by visiting the toilet to shit or simply pouring water onto the kitchen floor to clean it, and "crazy" habits like we have which others will not understand, for example, pulling the crumpled bedsheet neatly before lying on it to sleep, or dusting our footbed before lying on bed.

Sigh...when will I see you again...

The Tree Man

Ever heard of the tree man? I watched the documentary yesterday on arts central, featuring the Tree Man (his name is "De De"), someone from Java (indonesia) who gotten a very very very rare, bizarre illness whereby he grew warts all over his body. and the warts grew more until they entirely covered his palms and foot, making them look like tree barks. There's no way to remove the bark like foreign growth with any nail clipper or plier or saw. It things were so simple. But fact is, there were living tissues in these foreign growth, whereby DeDe will feel pain and bleed when his closed ones tried cutting off the "tree barks" from his limbs.

The saddest thing is that because of his appearance, it was difficult for him to look for a job, and no suitable job was there for him. So the only way to survive and support his family was to perform in the circus. In one of the scene shown, a thick rope was tight on his pony tail, and with slow and steady step, he walked forward again and again, using the rope to drag the lorry, piled with children behind him. There was an explanable sadness and helplessness in his face, there was a big crowd surrounding him, some helpers were there to ensure the whole performance went off smoothly. With every walk step he took, I cried. I cried while watching the scene helplessly. I guess he felt the same way too.

Fortunately for De De, an american dermatology expert Dr Anthony Gaspari was willing to help De De find a cure. After months of research were done to his blood samples, results shown that he has an extremely rare immune system deficiency thus resulting the massive growth of warts on his skin. Operations were done to remove the exceesive growth of warts on his limbs and hopefully he will be able to lead a normal life all over again.

Besides De De, there were also other unfortunates, like the Bubble Man, who has tumor like lumps, big or small, all over his body and face, another one, who has her left side of the skin from her face hanging loosely, and another two I forgot how they look like but just like De De, they perform in circus in order to earn a living.

It suddenly hit me that everyone of us here, living with a normal face and limbs and bodies, was not something we should have by default. In fact, we should count ourselves lucky, plain lucky ones who are able to face this world with a normal looking face, where strangers will not turn and give us a second glance cos everything on our appearance, were deem normal, so normal, that no one cares to cherish everything we were born with.

To read more about "Tree Man, De De", please go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1584915/Tree-man-%27who-grew-roots%27-hopes-to-marry-after-4lb-of-warts-removed.html