JZ88

The solution to outragous petrol prices, increasing no. of ERP gantries and persistent parking fines...

This is, by far, the more economical one among all that I've researched.. good size and ergonomics.. (furthermore got a bit of discount cos know the guy distributing it... wahahaha...)...

I'm seriously considering to get one.

http://www.jz88.com

St. Andrew's Alumni Dinner, Aug 30, 2008

We finally attended the SAA dinner (formerly known as SAOBA dinner) this year... after all the years of plain talking about WANTING to go.

I'd been all excited about going to the dinner since 2 months back when we finally decided to confirm a table for this year's session. Jason did a fantastic job arranging the booking, confirming the list of attendees and providing updates even till the last hour before the cocktail begins. It has been 20 years long now since I was first a young Saint (Sec. 1) back in 1988... and I haven't set foot in the compound again after graduation , though I was all along staying in Potong Pasir (where the sch locates)till early 2007. The school changed a lot after the major campus overhaul fews yrs back - all new buildings with much better facilities and all compared to the old days... swimming pool, astro-turf pitch, etc... Now, they call the compound the St. Andrew's Village - bringing the junior school, secondary school and junior college all together. Though I thought the overall design of the architecture could have been a lot more stylish... but on the other hand, it does maintain that nostalgic 1862 (St. Andrew's School founding year) flavor - perfect excuse to cut cost on lavish designs.

There was about 60-70 tables in total that night to fill up the air-conditioned school hall. Most of the attendees were made up of grey-haired seniors... and being the age of earlier 30s, we're already considered as the younger ones at the scene. Thats what I liked about the school - great bond and passion that lives with you till you're all wrinkled up.

Noticed a couple to big shots at the scene... including one of the SIA chief pilot, i think (Dunno his name) and local CGI whiz Nickson Fong... didn't know they are old boys... Nickson Fong gave an intro of his upcoming animated movie - Kungfu Gecko... All i can say is, I prefer Kungfu Panda....wahahaha. Jacintha Abishsiganathan was there (her late father was an old boy) to sing a couple of songs that night.. powerful vocal...her voice actual did manage to brave the rowdy crowd to win some applause in the end.

I'm glad that the 10 of us that made up our table clicked pretty well... Anyway, 7 out of 10 from our table were from the same year, with the addition of Fahmy and Terence who were a few years our junior. Of cos, there was also Andrew Pang, whom we sometimes forget he's a year younger than us cos he's has always been closer to us than his own batch. Anywy, with that hairline of his, he can pass off as our senior anytime...wahahaha...

We BYO a bottle of Macallan 'fine oak' and a bottle Chilean red(courtesy of Jason and CP aka Jimmy aka 'ball-less'...)... after the 3rd dish, we realised our inexperience beverage planning was leading to a shortage in alcohol supplies. Terence and Fahmy volunteered to make a trip to the nearby 7-eleven to replenish the supply for the night (so to avoid ordering from the expensive wine list by the banquet...haha).. Next year, we'll bring by crates!

The climax of the night happened as we sang the school song for the finale, Leonard finally couldn't hold it anymore and did a 'Merlion' stunt onto the table while standing up!! ...well done! hahaha... I was quick to shun in time without being hit by any of the splatter, but my desert was sacrificed. Terence offered to drop Leonard off home that night... but I heard the Merlion came alive again in Terence's car... haiz...

Next year... we'll be back!!! UP & ON!

Happy Birthday to me...!

Yup... today is my birthday... and also the 1st day of my 2 weeks ICT (In-Camp Training). How coincidental, right?

Well... its not as bad as I thought - its has been a while since I last 'switch off' my mind and 'wait for instructions'... guess it's good to rest my mind a bit, let all those 'siao-on' officers and specs do the rest, wahahaha... ...can't stand how some of those 'Regular' officers and specialists when they address us... think they're always imagining that the world is only about NS and reservists are some dumb-ass who have never exercise common-sense, presentation skills, management...etc... and are probably too low in IQ, with no possibly that anyone can be lead like they do.... DUH!...But thats how we'll let things be, so we can enjoy the vacation.

Anyway, I think this time round is going to be tougher than the last two ICTs.

A big part of me is still kind of worried about things at work... its now my own business after all, especially when there's a project with critical timeline going on now. The fact that Naa is not around this till this tuesday is adding on to the worry. ...Haiz...

The guys had an early celebration for me last saturday. We went this infamous crab 'tze char' @ AMK... Mellban - I think thats that the name of the stall. Food is not bad... but I think its quite costly. No choice, have to please 'tai-tai' jennifer... but I must thank her for remembering my b'day and organizing the dinner, cos I know the guys would never have remembered.












...and my birthday gift for that night! A kiss on my car's bumper... !! How lucky...

Happy Birthday to me!

Godmother

Just settled my Godmother's (who's also my aunt) funeral yesterday.

She had been battling cancer for quite a while already, and was in and out of the hospital frequently. She was just discharged from SGH last friday before she passed on tuesday, a day after Vesak Day, at her own home. In fact, that day was exactly a day before my grandma's 49days 'anniversary'. As how my grandfather put it, we lost 2 of the most respected people in the family within 48days.

I never knew exactly what cancer she had. Not that i didn't care, but I just don't see the point of perpetual asking or discussing her illness with her, which many had done so. I only believe in boosting her will, so whenever I see her, I only want to make her laugh and be happy - which I always did.

As described by many, my godmother is the nicest person they'd ever met. Kind-hearted, and always sparring thoughts for others before her. Her wake was so crowded with visitors that it almost seem like the wake of a secret society leader. Anyone there can actually feel how respected she was.

Being the godson, I had to take on the role as her 'son' when we 'send her off' as she only had 2 daughters. Well, its the least I can do for her after all these years.

We didn't cry when we sent her... even right up to the point when they push her in for cremation - because her last words to my cousin was 'do not cry'... we made it a point to remember that. I think the crowd behind us must be wondering why we're still so calm, especially when my two god sisters a.k.a cousins were still chatting away during the process.

... We'll always remember you, Godma.

3 -in-1 SuperHeros

Damn cool rendering... Must watch... Enjoy!

Who says, who stays, who are the castaways....

Here's some headlines & highlights captured from PM Lee's reaction after the report on Mas Selamat's escape was revealed by DPM Wong...

"Resign? It won't solve the problem, says PM"

"Don't over-react, go overboard over one bad incident: PM Lee"
SINGAPORE should not encourage a culture where officials and ministers resign whenever something goes wrong on their watch, regardless of whether or not they are actually to blame, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament on Tuesday.

"PM declares full confidence in DPM, ISD chief"
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared his full confidence in DPM Wong Kan Seng and ISD Director Pang Kin Keong on Tuesday, amidst calls from some quarters for the minister to step down to take responsibility for the embarrassing escape of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari.


"Full backing for DPM and ISD chief"
THE Prime Minister yesterday declared his full confidence in Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng and the director of the Internal Security Department (ISD).


Although he did also mentioned....


"PM: Civil servants have to answer for mistake"
THERE'S no iron rice bowl in the civil service. When a civil servant makes a mistake, he has to face the music.


AND... this is how DPM responded in the report when it comes to disciplinary action:


Disciplinary action
"I have directed Commissioner of Police and Director ISD to investigate the operational lapses related to the escape and to ascertain accountabilities, taking into account the findings of the COI and CID reports. Officers who are responsible for Mas Selamat's escape will be disciplined and penalised. In this connection, I have asked Director ISD to examine the roles not only of the WRDC junior officers but also to go up the chain of command and include the supervisory and management levels of WRDC as well. There is a proper process for disciplinary action under civil service or Police Force rules and this must take its course."

"I have also instructed Commissioner of Police and Director ISD to replace the officers at WRDC responsible for Mas Selamat's escape as identified in the COI report."



Hmmm.... Duh!


Anyway, next time I get into trouble, I'll get my friend to declare his full confidence and full backing for me. I'm sure it'll help to get me out of trouble...

I shall say no more.

4 April

Today is the day - a year after the freak accident @ Eng Neo took our very good friend Jackson away from us.

Raymond, Jenn and I went to visit him during lunch at St. Michael's church where he rests now...seem like his aunts and cousins were there earlier, with all those messages and flowers around. It must be the most decorated area in the whole place. He'll like it...cos he always likes the best.

Deep inside I believe I still have not accepted the fact that he's gone... its hard, after the great times we've had and he was still so young. I'm sure the rest felt the same... though we're still always making jokes out of him...

Too bad, won't be able to gather the rest to 'celebrate his life' this weekend, cos I'll be expecting to be helping out at grandma's wake... yeah, can you believe it? Same period of time...haiz...

Rest in peace, Jacko... you're now our guardian angel.. though a bit big and hairy...