So far ... not so good ...

It's going to be June soon, report card for the year so far is not really so good. Stock market is in a wild swing mode, made some money earlier this year but also have a few counters in deep red. Health is not too good, always falling sick, even on MC for 4 days 2 months back ... now typing with a sore throat, nursing 2 sick kids at home. God bless them with good health and fast recovery.

Travelling is in the card, already went to ChiangMai in April with Ace and just came back from Ho Chi Minh city last weekend, on Co incentive trip.

ChiangMai, wrong time to visit, hot, very hot! Dry weather, not much fun, but the night market shopping is nice. Maybe if we had went in Nov - Feb, the experience will be different, heard it's cool and nice! In thailand though, with Tomyam soup, banana prata and sticky rice Mango ... you can't be too wrong.

Ho Chi Minh just stop short of being a disaster. Very hot and very humid! Nearly fainted a few time due to over-perspiration! Shopping was not nice, maybe due to the weather or the price, though those "aunties" that went with us will differ ... it was heaven for them. Food ... what did I had for the whole trip? Can't recall ... Traffic was horrible, there were probably more motorcycle on the street then people walking anywhere. Only nice place was Cu ci tunnel where we see history in a different perspective, it's seems the victim is probably the terrorist? Until a superb reason can be found, it's probably a long long time before I will visit Vietnam again.

Peace be with us all.

GB

Happy 2 years old to Lucius! :)

Today Lucius celebrate his 2 years old birthday! We took child care leave to stay home with him, do not really know where to go, so just go walk walk and shop around. haha. I guess the best way to spend time with the kids ... well, is simply to spend time with them, regardless of the venue.(excuse, haha)

I do not know if emails and handphones have really made our life better. It seems we can no longer live without them this days ... but sometime I really find it a pain in my A#$! I'm on leave, I want to spend time with my birthday boy but my phone just keep ringing about work. Untill by noon, enough is enough, off my work phone. But then at night, I still logged on my co email to check what outstanding work there are for me ... sigh ... I guess our working hour is really getting longer these days.

God bless us with peace and joy.

Working at a construction Site

Well, not that I've changed line or job, just that we have to do an installation in a still in-progress hospital. It's the first time, not just for me but probably for everyone involved. Somehow the construction was delayed but the management still decides to still to the timeline for the establishment for the Lab. So we as the main vendor for all the major instruments in the lab ... we becomes part-time construction workers.

It starts with safety briefings, buying of safety helmets and shoes ... getting that all important sticker to paste on the helmet ... haha and then we begins. It was fortunate that by the time we move the instrument in, the air-con was already turned on ... given the condition outside, I really pity my boss who who the vanguard for this whole project, can imagine how hot and dusty it was.

Nonethless, we made it, the lab is running now though still not in full gear (well, all the wards are still not ready! haha) All that is needed for the final touch will be bringing in our automated sample sorter this coming week!(Which I'll be going for it's training this June) Congrats to all! Was a really nice experience so far! Now we have a nice hospital with well equiped lab to service the northern part of Singapore.

Gosh, just lost another month of memories ... FEB ... it's really months of up and down ... I mean for my share Genting ... haha, High of $1.32 to low of $0.84. Must learn when to sell ... must learn, will learn and will always be learning! hahah!

GB

A place call Raub

Sometime it's really interesting how fate will bring you to places. Ask me about Raub 2 weeks back and I'll give you a blank look ... at least now, I can tell you it's a place nearly right in the middle of West Malaysia. And I had always wondered, whenever I'm going home from Genting Highland, where the hell the tunnel (look like CTE tunnel) goes to? It's drills right through the mountain ... now I know cos I travelled pass it last week.

2Hours from the foot of Genting, we pass by Bentong and reach Raub, I do not know if it's a town or village or what ... ok, it's simple and really kampong type of living condition. Long time since I woke up to the crowing of the cock! hahaha!

Really kampong spirit, they started celebrating with simple buffet, lots of beer and karaoke session!!! Open Air type!!!! haha! Celebration continue to the next day ending with a similar wedding dinner in one of the restaurant where I think the whole village was invited!

Congrats to my Brother-in-Law, and hats down as to how he managed to find a wife from this place ... Raub!

GB and peace be with us all.

Are we really progressing?

Sometime, a confusing tot like this swim about in my mind...

We grew so much, and is still growing so much to reach our status today, a Singapore that is rich and everyone can be proud of. Then come all this bite the bullet, embrace the FT things ... I'm no racist, I've many friends from other countries... but I think we are simply over-crowded.

We need the FT and quantity to continue growing, so they say ...

But if, in order for this growth to continue, we, ourselves, relatives or friends, suffered pay cut, job loses ... unable to live the Singaporean lifestyle anymore ... Imagine, a Singapore that we help build only for others to enjoy ... (sounds like those banga who build our HDB then cannot even sit around the void deck right?) .., then I always ask myself ...

WHY THE GROWTH then? I remember life back in 80s and maybe 90s, it's simpler then, not all buses are air-con, not so many BMWs on the street ...

BUT, it's not so crowded on the bus/MRT, roads congestions is nothing compared to todays'. It's a vicious cycle right? Even till today, buses are still so pack, worse, MRT I heard from friends, many a times have to wait for 2nd or 3rd one to board ... ERP up everywhere.

Has life really improved for us? Maseratis/ Ferraris are everywhere now, can they enjoy the speed thrill? BMWs, Lexus and mercs boast more comfort ... in the jammed expressway everyday?

Why do we have to be always number 1 ... will we really "die" if we just grow at a more "relax" pace? Anyway even when your pay becomes higher, things also becomes more expensive ... and hell welcomes you when you are obsolete in your field because of the crazy chase for growth bringing in loads of fake FT ...

All said, I always wanted to make my vote count ... always walk-over ... sigh ...

Peace be with us all.

**I pened these thoughts after hearing many stories of job loses from friends and associates due to FT directly or indirectly ... more anger when it's new FT bosses forcing locals to leave and getting their own kins and villagers to come in ...

Where is peace and happiness?

I just finished watching 11pm news, first 4 news:
1) Rebels or terrorist I do not know, held and killed 36 hostages, could be due to political revenge or something. Happens in southern phillipines, where floods just destroyed lives and homes not long back.

2) Another Ferry sunk in Indonesia, killing numerous.

3) Mine collapse or exploded, somewhere in China, angry relatives and family members crying and screaming at the authorities or at anyone they think is responsible.

4) More floods in northern Malaysia and southern Thailand ... tens of thousands forced to leave the place they called HOME.

And maybe thousands or millions more tragedies that were not in the news ... Just like the fatal road accident I passed by on my way home just now. Where on earth is peace and happiness? Not that I'm not statisfy with my life, in fact many times I've reminded myself, even in this blog, to thank God for my blessings, yes I still thank God for sparing my home from major calamity except for the more frequent tremble felt from earthquake in Indonesia.

But how interdependent life is, guess it's not the first time I hype on this issue. Just when you think you done things right, just when you think you sort out your life and things looks nearly perfect. A close one falling sick to the occasional cold hit you. Your family member gets into some sort of unnecessary trouble. Someone near you have to throw some unreasonable tantrum as usual to spoil your day. I really never understand how can one be always so full of anger and temper. I'm also hot tempered, but I always get over it nearly the very next moment. And I feel so sick if I were to remain angry for more than a few hours ...

Should we not be looking at our blessings? And be happy about it? We are never perfect, so we will get angry, jealous or whatsoever, but just blow it and get it over. Life is too vulnerable and precious to waste your time gettting angry right? And what can be more worst than getting angry over practically nothing or simply because others do not see things your way?? And what can be more sinful than imposing your anger on another person who wants to cherish peace and happiness? Sigh ...

So maybe, just maybe, this is the reason why JESUS says, love your neighbour like you love yourself! And many religion are always saying we should pray for the good of other people ... I guess for yourself to have peace and happiness, you must pray and make sure people around you find that peace and happiness first, only then will you find it ... so they say, to receive, you must first give ...

Peace be with you.

* the drawing shown here do not belong to me, neither do I know who it belong to, a friend send it to me, it's loving and peaceful, so I want to share it.

Congrats to CheeWee and SeePing!

On the 27th Sept 2009, 60 storey up in UOB plaza, Seeping concluded the bachelorhood of my last available Batch-boy, Chee Wee! What a celebration for them with F1 in town as well! haha!

Wishing them a blissful marriage with many claims for baby bonus soon! :)