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.

Musically ongoing.

Even the best deal in the world would somehow dissatisfy somebody like me. It's back to honing my musical skills again, just like that of the past eight barren years. The poor feeling stayed on until today.

I get to go home everyday, pay a visit to the backyard whenever free to pluck the overgrown weeds like some farmers. Not a bad deal though. Sometimes a match of soccer game and gym session whenever we like it will be of enough goodwill to nullify the misery - all the freedom because the instruments aren't ready for use; some still at repair, for at least the next three weeks. It is seriously boring, but the overall and holistic package seemed to have simmered the bordom in reality. No more rifle, no more route march, soc, and you-name-it.

Firstly the entire environment physically is an art structure; a prewar building, probably a preserved one: more so of a colonial house with a strong british design language that is painted white in colour, as dubbed by its name 'White House'. Just like the Victoria Concert Hall, there are many large and tall wooden dome-shaped doors along every corridor, with the majority being studios and practice rooms. All are sofisticatedly soundproofed. Being situated on a hilltop just like the Instana building, I do feel a little bit of prestige. So far it has been rather breezy all day long, and having nice music from good players in the midst of the serenity made the place 100% a music school. More so a perfect one.

People wise, it's honestly rather stressful to know that many of them are holding on to music diplomas, with some majoring in opera studies, studio and stage production, and, deeply just music. Everything is that competitive from top to toe so at times I wonder why am I here. There's a strong need for commitment and an added interest to whatever I'll be doing from right now. Plus, there're so many geniouses around to influence me and whom I can learn from. Strategically this is the right path at the current stage.

It is only the begining; boring times will go away because busy time will come for sure. ;) Not so much of a sour grape taking into consideration the tight schedules the seniors have, but definitely the mainstream events will gradually occupy us to death. In conclusion, I'm proud to be here for the chance that they'd given me, and the opportunity out there to meeting people from basically one begining like myself.

Anyway, my 21st birthday party is on the list! Adult soon. Finally. Not only the look anymore =\ wahahhaa. That's all folk's!

- Pictures adapted from mindef's website

POP LO!

BMT is finally over! Those days were hectic, yet fulfilling at the end of the day knowing that I had learned many skills and gained precious experience. After all, 'it's not what you would leave behind, but what you'll gain in the times ahead.'

Whether joyous or misery, we all went through it together. That's the emphasised 'brotherhood'.

Today is the first day of the 10-day block leave, and I'm trying to get used to staying at home, nothing regimental anymore.


I miss all my friends.


Off on a holiday tomorrow! Take care, people!