Dec 2010

I think my life seriously needs an overhaul, doesn't it?

Have been quietly cruising along uneven roads, with thorny bushes by the sides but has a beautiful landscape. Isn't life's like that? Beauty comes with a price.

Probably it's time to unwind. Take a day off to the beach and enjoy the wind, sipping starbucks and listen to the universe - as they cruise past me. Resume.

The year is coming to an end, yet again. Next year would be like this, where I push myself to the limits and achieved them all anyway. New year resolution soon!

BMT again

Going back to P. Tekong for BMTC Graduation Parade rehearsal on 29 Sept 10 has never had such an exciting affair with relative to my feelings on Day 1 - enlistment - last year. I actually couldn't really sleep well the night before. Upon reaching the mainland ferry terminal, memories started flashing back effortlessly, as if they were moments of yesterday; everything image remained clearly dotted with much details. Every part of the island, or at least the places I've gone yesterday, I've seen it in a different light. Quality accommodation, million dollar sea view, good food - you name it - but other than the training. Now back again as an LCP, things looked less scary than more than one year ago when the recruits' way of life is to keep going irregardless, don't think.

Probably somehow that's also because cousin Leo's passing out, that made the parade more worthwhile. Saw him at Cookhouse, very familiar sight. But I was too tired to talk, after consecutive hours of playing.

2 Oct, Graduation Parade (formerly Passing out parade 'POP) will be held on Marina Bay Floating Platform. First ever. Will be there for a sound check with 14 mics planted all around, and with that, more occasional pitching mistakes will be slightly more audible. Uh oh..

Repertoire





And finally, Bandstand:

Optional Inspection march: Pride, Discipline & Honour (Favourite inspection piece!!)

I had thought this would be my last moment (or photo) there... who knows I got to be there again, and happily so when so many others dread to enter this so called shutter island. lol. Don't blame me, but seriously BMT is fun, a life's experience and a big School to begin with: where we learnt life's skills.

Fixing a Broken Heart

There was nothing to say the day she left
I just filled a suitcase full of regrets
I hailed a taxi in the rain
Looking for some place to ease the pain, ooh
Then like an answered prayer
I turned around and found you there

You really know where to start
Fixing a broken heart
You really know what to do
Your emotional tools can`t cure any fool
Whose dreams have fallen apart
Fixing a broken heart

Ever could understand what you're going through
There must be a plan that led me to you
Cause of the hurt just disappears
In every moment you are near, yeah
Just like an answered prayer
You make the loneliness easy to bear


Soon the rain will stop falling baby
Let's all forget the past
'cause here we are at last



PS: It's a lovely song, by the way.

Woman's Charter Enhancement

So there's this new rule on divorced men for their one-beloved wives. If you're a man, you'll for sure feel unfair. Where the heck is the proclaimed sexual equality in Singapore? Looks like going to Vietnam is the way to go, buddies!!

And there's this funny comment too, and I feel it's true:

"Look, the whole episode is about the garment using Woman’s charter to castrate men. Men’s contribution to the family has been overlooked and women these days can fuck around and still have the cheek to ask for compensation.

Can Singapore women cook? Most of them can’t. That’s why so many hawkers and restaurants are filled. Singapore women simply cannot do house work.

Then its the maid. What’s the point of making S$2-3000, pay most of it to the maid, and then on transport eat out and cloths. How many women dump their kids to Pino maids and failed their duties as mothers? Too many! What is the role of the women? The education system has been training the women to compete with the men. That is what its so fucked up because most women are supposed to raise the kids and not fight in the field. If they want to, they will be miserable and stressed out. Its simple common sense, but they do not have it. They just want to drive big cars and get high pay, without first look into the mirror.

How many local women will please the husband? Please the husband? I know many Singapore women are damn good in scolding the husband in public and make the husband malu like fuck. How many times you see women hit the men in public and scold vulgarities openly. Why they worry? Got women charter what, I can hit you you cannot touch me.

No wonder, no wonder, 30% of Singapore women past 35 years are all single. These women can be damn critical to local men, but their legs can spread damn wide when they see Angmo. We all know that!

Lets see what the news been telling us these days. Men refused to pay. Men refused to maintain the divorced wife. Of course lah! Stupid ah kenna trash by the stupid women still must pay money ah? How many women fabricate stupid stories to file for divorce? I have seen too many! Everyday, 40 cases in the family court file for divorce, and many are raised by the WOMEN! And if you read the case carefully, it all boils down to the women having adultery or not doing her basic duties, then, BLAME THE MEN, of course!

Lets see if LKY’s wife given him a green hat, will he still pay maintenance? Of course he will, because his wife wrote the Women’s charter to grab him by his balls.

I see only female rights activists and females kaw peh kaw bu about men not paying. FINE. Very soon all local women will be singles and attached to angmo for free fucks. There will be no more local women producing babies but China women or Vietnam women. Good luck!

(For those men who want to get married, you better read the Women’s charter carefully before hand. Its damn biased and very scary. If you sign ROM without knowing it, you are a damn bloody stupid idiot.)"

Adapted from Temasek Review, WomanAreSuperior:

September 18, 2010 at 2:14 am

IR Shuttle

Gov’t takes action on free bus rides to casinos

Read: Yahoo! Singapore Fit-To-Post

My comment posted:

Why probe over this nitty gritty thing? I think they have nothing better to do. Election is coming, so wayang abit and show that they care... lol... The free shuttle is definitely a good initiative, because people go there for tonnes of other reasons, i.e. wine and dine, have fun in theme park etc. This is also the reason why the PM and his administration (who approved the plan) called this an IR, 'Integrated Resorts' to be exact, and prohibits the media from using the term 'Casino'. Now, they slap themselves on the face with this probe because gambling has instead become THE thing to do at the Resort.

I'm puzzled to the max.

and please, don't remove the shuttle. Heartlanders are really enjoying it. Don't take away something that will make us happy. Don't take away our LIFE.

Time Flies

My blog is seemingly more boring nowadays, thank goodness it hasn't become a new spiders' habitat. Am I busy? Not quite so, neither am I restful, although what I can say is I'm highly occupied. New template again!

Well in just a few days, I'll flip the calendar again! And very soon, it's time to change one too. Time really flies!!

9 months in the SAF band. in just 2 more weeks, I'll be left with just 1 year to serve. Woohoo!

Moved house twice, settled. In a beautiful house.

Weight wise, the story goes like this: it had peaked once, but plunge after BMT, gone up slightly after December trip, down again to a record low in Feb - at 73kg, then progressively went up at a slow rate till now, and it is set to go down again to somewhere near the record low. Thanks to the exercise regime that has kicked in few weeks ago.

Hillgrove Alumni

HGA is seeing its fruits of labour. Very soon, it'll commence into being and with that, it will mark the team's hard work for the past 12 months into something we must be very proud of. It's definitely a mile better off than the first half of this year. Thanks to Yong Qing, Shu Qin, Yee Kiat, Khian Chong and Ren Sen for the hard work, particularly the first three aforementioned. =))) Frankly, never before has it been so fulfilling to perform a huge voluntary task. I am satisfied with the results thus far, all thanks to the strong and serious support of the School, and best of all, the quality volunteers in the Exco who together forms the pillar of the soon-to-be success story of our own.

Once it is up and running, we will then transfer the energy to helping the kids improve, whether academically or otherwise, including CCAs and life's skill. Some may not want to face the reality, that some parts of the School has a really bad situation. Not the physical premises, if you don't already get it. As a neighborhood school, it may be the norm per se, but things will get worse if it is left a sacred cow. Discipline wise, as usual. Last week, I visited and was shocked to find Sec 1s in the band don't even know where the middle G note is. Omg.

Dream.

Everything aside. Now, dream wise, I've further reinforced my plan to build and run a hotel group decades down the road, with some significant but confidential plans.. =P What comes along the way shall not be made known.

2020.

Back to reality.

I'm super proud to be able to take part in the upcoming OCS commissioning parade on 18 Sept, as well as the BMT passing out parade on 2 Oct. In the former, Wengkin will be commissioned as an SAF officer and it'll be kinda significant for me to be able to play music for his parade. Likewise, cousin Leo is scheduled to pass out of BMT and I'll be taking part in it as well. Remember, let's take photos!! No matter how difficult the situation is. =)

On 5 September, Sunday, come down to Orchard Road if you're interested in the Changing of Guards (COG - Pictured above) parade at 5.40pm beside the Old Chang Kee kiosk near The Heerens. The contingents, including myself in the band, will march down the shopping belt at about 5.45pm, and join the guards at the Istana at about 5.55pm. The Provosts, after the guards' sworn in ceremony, will perform two precision drills, support by the music from the band. After that, at about 6.10pm, the band will march off the Istana, bound for Handy Road (outside The Cathay) for dismissal and photo-taking, passing by Plaza Singapura and Macdonald's House.

We'll be marching at speed of about 35 steps per 15 seconds, or 2.5 steps per second. Rather fast huh.

See you there!

Thickened Skin

It started out as a mere toothache. Then infection with fever. Swollen face came right next. As a result, it is something not as simple anymore.

I went to the dentist this morning and she was shocked to see pus in the gum, which she suspected there is more up in the sinus region. Gotcha, when she tried to drain it. The whole process went through with pain and shiver. The moment the anesthetic jab touched the infected gum, chill went all the way down to my feet and up, which I couldn't help but to howl in agony.

"Sorry.....", she exclaimed. "Yes, i know it's painful. But we've got to drain out the pus, which otherwise would move up to your eyes and ultimately the brain. It's a serious condition."

I couldn't at all speak a word, and I wanted to tell her 'please go ahead'.

In total, there were about 6 jabs, with the subsequent attempts after the third got less painful.

Once done, she pried open a section of the thinned skin and according to her, the pus flowed right out. Like a river.

I had mixed feeling then: good as in finally the substance that caused my face to swell were getting out; bad because I was disgusted by the fact that the large amount of pus was entering my mouth. Pretty yacks. Her assistant gave me a mirror and my specs, omg, I couldn't help but to grin further. Blood and pus, a mixture of mayonnaise and chilli sauce. When the flow almost stopped, she applied some pressure on the affected face, more came out.

She referred me to the Alexandra hospital for follow-up, which I'll be going tomorrow. And I'm fully aware that the experience I got this morning was just the beginning; more treatment will come because the swollen face has yet to deflate.

Looks like I'm going to miss the NDP actual parade. But I'm so gonna perform as it would render the past 10 weeks of rehearsals useless should I miss the actual one. Someone please save me!!!

For now, I'll just stick to wearing a big shades while I'm out of house.

Of Style and Wow III

Updates. Excitedly.

Of Style and Wow II

Here comes an update on the current development of my house!

Picture tells a thousand tales.

Wall tiles are up. [Top, Bottom]

Kitchen cabinet's shell is completed. Washing basin fitted in. Now awaiting for door panels and black granite table top to be put up.

Construction of false ceiling and curve light box have been completed. [Top, Bottom]

Great. But when it comes to workmanship, it is bad. When I say bad, it's truly so. Same thing, pictures tell a million tales:

Tiles are not in line with one another. No just that, they are shockingly uneven with the rest of the surfaces.

The gaps are so uneven that, from the picture below, shows the extremity of what else they are capable of delivering.

Cracks on the new tile aside, hairline cracks on the cement can also be found above the skirting, which is barely two weeks old. I couldn't imagine what will happen 10 years later. Obviously I don't want to witness tiles exploding due to heat expansion or falling off from the wall. Not just here, but everywhere. The designer says it's due to a negligence in inadequate amount of water added to the cement mixture, hence the crack. She will get them to redo, promised but hopefully.

P-YOG Fever

Oh Yeah, Oh YeaH, oH YeahH, HEY! HO! OH YEAHH, OOHHHHHHHH YEAH!

Hey ho.

Other than the dubbed 'lyrically brilliant' official YOG song by Mr Brown, there is actually much more fanfare to this inaugural worldwide sports event to be held locally in Singapore. It's first, it's held at Home, it's Sg's first 'five-ring' event in history, and what not.

But that said, I'm aware that many of us, even the youths of my age, are clueless about the period and commencement date. The government has even urged us Singaporeans to 'be part of it', which would be needless if it has already created a big bang nearing to the event period. Probably the only relation close to heart is none other than the Oh Yeah song.

So here I am starting my own! Yeah!

Introducing the P-YOG - Personal YOG!!! On the 14th Aug, I will draw my own five intersecting rings representing a dream of mine - AUDI + a Merc without the 3-point star. Cool isn't it? Rearranging them to make it three on top, and two bottom. This logo symbolizes my will to drive, or the drive towards will. Oh, yeah, and probably the whole game will revolve around, well, just running. It's probably my favorite 'game' of all anyway. The spirit of 'Quattro' 4-wheel drive + the stability of merc - it will be a good attitude to good running. Afterall, it is a personal one. Yes, personal.

So why P-YOG? None other than that; I'm still a Youth anyway. It's true, even at heart.

3,600* young athletes between 14 and 18 years of age
5,000* young athletes and officials
205 National Olympic Committees
1,200* media representatives
20,000* local and international volunteers
370,000* spectators

26 sports and culture & education programmes

1 RUNNER.

14 - 26 Aug, Singapore, HERE I COME!! At Bukit Panjang only, sorry.

Health = Wealth

I'm so gonna start a healthy diet from 8am tomorrow! Derived from: After hearing lots of stories about how illnesses and diseases come upon human body after a certain age has really frightened me lots and big time. Just yesterday, one of my friend's pal died of breast cancer, at a young age of just 23. Don't know how did it eventually happen, and simply I just feel so sad for her.

On Sunday while shopping at furniture, a salesman whom we chatted with revealed that he just had his by-pass surgery not long ago and is now on many types of different medication on a daily basis. He also cannot carry more than a 5kg load or risk damaging his arteries. He is 52. Few months back while he was warded in TTSH for surgery, one of the patients in his ward was bedridden, in total dependent on others for event a slight body movement. Still, he gobbled up the Mee soto and mee rebus his wife had cooked for him, consumed cola, and did not watch his health. He passed away.

Among many other stories.

Health = wealth, this is true. I'm afraid. Other than buying more insurance, which is very important, I'll also watch the slightest thing I eat too.

New New New

New template, new beginning! =D

Nice right??

iPhone

At first I thought: what's so magnificent about it? Why are people so crazy over this little gadget? Then as more and more people around me own it, holding it in their hand, I condemned it as a 'commodity at a premium price'.

After the introduction of the iPhone 4, I thought: remarkably yes - it has got quality, form and functionality, design and most importantly, it's not a phone but iPhone. Apple does not invent a phone just so to sell a phone; it makes sure industry partners follow the trend as well. For instance, if it's not with the wide range of useful applications, many would probably not want to buy simply because it would be so much useless. Sometimes reinventing the wheels do works; it also think out of the box! Wonder how often do you use your video calling capability? None? I'm guilty of that too, even after owning more than 3 dual-camera 3G phones. Apple's FaceTime is set to create another wave from older technologies. Kudos! Although its competitors such as Samsung, Nokia, SE and Motorola have had a fair share in market leadership (i.e. Front camera, Bluetooth, and touch screen), it is quite shameful that this new comer is now leading the market with technologies they have adopted years ago. Imagine me selling buns topped with pork floss today and still create a huge public excitement that BreadTalk has enjoyed ten years ago? Or can I work out to sell a Cheesecake with not at all a dairy product as ingredient? Apple is simply smart.

Now, still I think the iPhone is a brilliantly amazing phone. But one thing I'm quite certain is that I no longer think the pricing is too 'out of the way'. If my ability permits I will pay good money for good stuff. I have previously decided to buy its contender Andriod phones, but perhaps it is now a good time to give this elite a try.

I am a late adopter, or even a laggard for that matter, nothing's to be ashamed over it. I shall adopt technologies after the majority has tried and tested, and give the Andriod some time to improve before I finally give it a try. But who knows, I might just stick to Apple OS indefinitely.

Microsoft's Windows Phone, which I'm currently using on my Samsung i780 smartphone, is way out of the way and will be, if they continue to apparently sit idle.

Reunion

To display my sense of excitement, I blog. Main point.

Because Amir just messaged me that he just got posted to saf band! We end up in the same place after some few years. A very good news for both of us!

Monday. (Wednesday in fact, off on Mon and Tues =D )

Hi June!

In just a blink of an eye, here comes June! She's not my new love, but just a significant milestone of the year everybody would go through, letting known that 151 days, of first half of the year is coming to an end (mind you, not yet the start of second half!). Usually, and since 3 years ago, this month of the year has been the pit stop, other than New Year day, of wherever I'm bound to, think deeply into issues that have and would have happened, and what's to come.

Thinking back, just hundreds of days ago I uploaded this post containing:

New Year Resolution (It comes a li'l tooooo late but isn't it better than nothing?)

1. Do not initiate buffet outings (No unless)
2. No more sleep-debt - Sleep early or pay the price
3. Wake up and, yes, get up, and never touch the bed for the day.
4. Will remember to floss
5. Lesser cold jokes (i'll try harder each time)
6. Save > $50 a month (and never use them the next month!!)
7. Stop dreaming about my (tonnes of) dream cars
8. Try even harder to stop procrastinating
9. 100% or none
10. Remember the 9th point OR ALL.

Very gladly I'd say I've been guiding myself along these points, especially the 9th point. In particular, though, the small maximum allowance has made savings very much impossible. Procrastination has stopped totally. yeah!!! Practicing hard on my trombone is the last thing on the list, and I'm so going to reach Laurel's standard as at today within the next 1.5 years (before ORD).

Of Style and Wow

My dream home is taking shape...

This is my new house! Just an artist's impression though, the first one is, well, the living, and next is kitchen. The third is my beloved room!!

Work started 24 May, and since then the whole house has been literally stripped naked leaving only the untouchables such as walls and pillars. And of course, the roof and floor! Yes, everything. At a cost of a 'complete makeover'.

30 May, the progress has been smooth! Some wall tiles were already up. Most others had their surfaces already prepared for tile works. Ready to make their way up onto the walls are new and shiny tiles.

Mozaic art glass tiles (Above) and one of the many beautiful tiles (Bottom).

Drill drill drill!!! It's very exciting knowing that your new house is being dressed up tiles after tiles, days after days, among other little things that would ultimately form up an intended dream home. I'm also especially grateful knowing that somebody is quietly (not our neighbors though) helping us do all the craft work while we are out doing our own things.

My First Formation Drill!

Navy Open House 2010

20 - 23 May 2010

Changi Naval Base

Finally, this show marked the end of our 7 weeks of training and 8 actual shows. Though there were some mistakes here and there, they were less noticeable ones. Phew... That said, I really enjoyed everything else, like the fun and laughter.

Songs were play in this sequence-

March in: Bandstand by Maj Tonni Wei

NOH 10 Medley: Victory at Sea, Jap Graf XII (Uchuu Senkan Yamato), Mamma Mia, Dayung Sampan, Can't take my eyes off you, and finally back to the end of Jap Graf XII.

March out: Upwards and onwards (Navy song)

That's all! More to come though - NDP, SAF Day, and COG at Istana, that's enough to keep us occupied for the next two months. All the weekends will soon be burnt!! June's COG will be very very exciting, because feiyang arranged Cruel Temptation 아내의 유혹 korean hit series and we'll play that. Imagine when the MPs or provosts are performing their drill, and we play this song. Wouldn't it seem damn interesting?? =)

Life as a bandsmen

It's been a looooooooong looooooooooong time since I last updated! And, this phrase has been sooooooo familiar cos I've been using them for the new entry after every cob web infested blog post. I've recently been very busy with band stuff and the setting up of the school alumni, which is a good thing because I enjoy leading a fulfilling and balanced life! Now, 21 already, so adult but NOT old. Young and energetic!! But i'm consistently tired. So how?!?? I wan to also lose more weight and not gain back within weeks!! HEHEH.

Hgv Alumni Association. That's the thingy me and the team is trying to set up. The school shows strong support for it, and I'm glad with that. But one constraint is that they are still hard headed about certain policies. Firstly, we can't go back to the school for a meeting on Saturdays simply because they want to conserve energy. No problem with that, we'll meet elsewhere. Second, our proposed new website must be hosted with their current website, which is apparently updated only a few times a year. Third, we cannot hold any funds, neither can they give us any for lawful reasons. I understand this, so we steered away from any potential cost-incurring activities like bonding games for the Exco. Many of such issues need to be ironed out, which I hope the management can practise a little more discretion about their hard rules. But one thing otherwise to note is the openness of the new management led by the new principal. Some initiatives once forbidden are now introduced, just like the bold step of forming one alumni body. If you were an ex-student and are now reading this, lo and behold we'll deliver something we can be proud of.

Kindly fill up this form! For Hgv ex-students only.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dF9OcDdFR19pUDc2bjVvaDNmRVpqRWc6MA

Just had COG. Nervous but, quite an experience!! =)

So basically, i'm out of the training wing officially. Though obtained a pass, I am seriously in need to practise hard to catch up with the rest - like fast sight-reading and fine-tune new pieces in lightning speed, scales, dynamics and articulation. Seriously.
With so many balls to juggle, can I do well for all of them? Result will show. I'll try hard. Real hard. Ultimately, my 2010 resolution is '100% responsibility'. Under it, I will bother and care to do the things I'm doing. It's a marathon, and i'm also physically fulfilling it - by running 4 - 6km a day, at least 3 times a week. I've been doing so since Jan, and doing well! I can now run 6km without slowing or stopping, unlike just last year. The next target will be 8 - 10km by April.
Next Tues, I'll stay in camp. there's a bunk, and a bed. Perhaps also the mates, and nothing else. No more internet at night!! Back to bmt-like life, where turning in and waking up is the 'right timing' in accordance to the body clock. Healthier lifestyle once again!! I'll download more games into my ipod touch so that I won't feel bored at night!!! =)
Good nites!!

13 February 2010

Got a call to urgently update my blog!!! And in order to get it updated, I'm now updating word by word, letter by letter and lastly, sentence by sentence and in conclusion, I've updated!

Shouldn't it be more exciting when it's my 21st birthday, and anything that follows it will be undertaken by the big word - LAW. I'm old! Old man! errR I mean, oh man!

Happy Eve of CNY, Happy birthday to myself. I've gotten myself the best present ever. What about the date? It's rather cumbersome to have it fall on the eve of CNY, but who cares? Cos it's something really unique about this date, and on top of the 21st special birthday. A key for me!

I'll update more when I feel like it=) Very soon, I meanz. A promise.

Happy 2010

Yesterday, we had a casual chat in the training room when we probed into 'what's our life's purpose'. Idiotic Stanley shouted You are born nothing! You're born to die! in an extremely tongue-in-cheek manner. No offence, but it really made me wonder what's mine? While some people are born talented, I thought i'd better be borned to party, to appreciate and any other except talent. Yep, but maybe not. Time, together with effort, will complete the blanks very soon!! That's all folks!

And what? My 21st birthday is in days. The long overdue question has once again resurfaced and is rather pressing because what have I been doing for the past 21 years? A lot. I need a de-fragmentation, and then start to reorganize things soon. Nothing depressing, I'm ready to face the fact! I shall cook my way to my zhenyu's hospitality empire in 30 years! MUAHAHAHA.

New Year Resolution (It comes a li'l tooooo late but isn't it better than nothing?)

1. Do not initiate buffet outings (No unless)

2. No more sleep-debt - Sleep early or pay the price

3. Wake up and, yes, get up, and never touch the bed for the day.

4. Will remember to floss

5. Lesser cold jokes (i'll try harder each time)

6. Save > $50 a month (and never use them the next month!!)

7. Stop dreaming about my (tonnes of) dream cars

8. Try even harder to stop procrastinating

9. 100% or none

10. Remember the 9th point OR ALL.

And today, we had an early book-out just because of no water supply in the white house. Wonder how much more strange can that be?

I miss you. Z068.