Season review

As another season wound down, it's 3 months to ponder and act upon whom Arsenal should recruit to boost their title hopes next season... in my opinion just 2 players - a pacy world-class striker and a sturdy defensive midfielder. An agile left winger to complement Walcott on the right will be good too. Think Agbonlahor will come cheap?

C'mon #ArsenalFC, surprise us.

- impatient fan

Random pic

The best times of the 2 yr 3 months was the 4-5 months with this bunch of lobos!

Maybe it's time for a change...

Tired from work...

Feel so tired from work recently... work is busy and very taxing on the mind. It is not the very stressful type (there is some stress, yes) but the events and action items are dynamic and plentiful and it's taking a toll keeping up with the pace, all of these amplified by the numerous meetings day in day out. I have at least 2 meetings EVERY SINGLE DAY! I'm annoyed by the fact that I hope to be able to make better use of my time during the meetings...

Yes just hired a capable staff to assist me with one workshop but the Engineer position at the biggest workshop is still vacant... wonder when I can let all of them run independently for me to really take a step back to strategise, plan and act on the more important items. Am planning to train up my guys to level up and align them to my standards and expectations, think work will be more manageable with them managing the ground and me can focus more on managing the business.

Being away on leave adds to the stress level as at the end of the day when I log in and discover there are 100+ emails to go through... is this the way to work, really?! Sigh...

Well, let's try to think of the positives, I do enjoy working with my colleagues and we're trying to play badminton regularly! I'm very rusty and hope to be able to rediscover the techniques.

On a side note, am really looking forward to taking a short break away from work... wish for the days when I can not think about work at all and just let my mind relax!

In a month's time!!

81-year old Primary School to go down into the history books

The headlines isn't very eye-catching and true enough didn't capture my attention until I caught sight of the name of my alma mater.

With disbelief I read that it has a rich 81-year old history! I read on and was disappointed to hear that only 20 odd places were filled up, not even enough students to complete a classroom.

However, the final straw was when I learn that Qiaonan will be merged with Griffiths to form .... Angsana Primary. Seriously?! I was like ARE YOU KIDDIN ME - ANGSANA?? It's like the worst possible name ever to name a school!! And I don't even want to start debating how its uniform will look like.

Anyway. No doubt Qiaonan was a lesser known neighbourhood school, I always felt proud to be a student because I had dedicated teachers and an enriching primary school education. Vividly recall the hike in Macritchie Reservoir during my Primary 5 school camp, tuition sessions where I went to school early twice a week to teach juniors how to read, the achievement of "I am a Young Zoologist/Physicist/whatever" badges... 

Am arranging to gather with my primary school classmates and form teacher at our dear school compound. Been many years since we met up... looking forward to relieving the childhood memories one final time! 

On our Lion City Qiaonan School stands
Reaching up to the sky and looking grand
Where-in we are nurtured
to be learned and cultured.
Ever keeping up with time
so we won't be left behind.
With one another we will share,
for each other we will care.
With the spirit that is Qiaonan
working mind and heart as one.
And with the same unity,
we will serve the country
as loyal citizens should,
For all Singaporeans good.

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Read more about Qiaonan here (from http://mothership.sg/2014/03/bye-bye-qiaonan-bedok-west-griffiths-hong-kah-primary-schools/)

Qiaonan Primary’s history has deeper meaning
Qiaonan Primary was founded by the Wenzhou Clan Association. It was previously known as Kiau Nam School. It has more than 80 years of history, making it far older than Singapore has been independent.
In 1933, 20 pupils started classes at a rented unit in the now-defunct Lorong Koo Chye.
In 1940, the director of the school board donated his house at Paya Lebar Road to be used. It was closed during World War II, but reopened after the fighting was over.
In the late 1950s, there were 480 students with makeshift classrooms added and classes were purportedly conducted within the confines of a Chinese temple to fit more pupils.

Random pic

Some things never change. For example, Jx's favourite is still the chocolate cake.

(Hmmmm this was some 2 and a half years ago, our looks hardly changed, have we! :))

Exciting 2013

(Due to buttock itchy, this post was completed in a few seatings, the first being 18 Dec 2013.)

Somehow, as the years go by the inertia to blog a review increases – is it just my laziness, procrastination, or lack of interest? It’s certainly not the lack of events; for every year just gets more and more amazing. 

Looking back at my previous years’ reviews, I feel I should keep this tradition going – to document my achievements, a snapshot of my life, a chronology of significant events, and at the same time, the rare opportunity and time to sit down, clear the mind of other chores, and to write, is a good time to ponder and self-reflect – considered a luxury given how fast things are happening.

Here’s looking back at my ‘resolutions’ set for 2013 (made in Feb 2013):

• Increase my monthly financial input

Ticked.

• Read a book? 

ROFL. A good start? Pat on my own back lol.

Hey, IT IS STILL A BOOK.

Who am I kidding? It’s a children’s book… nonetheless a very entertaining storybook! It’s been 20 years? I have completely forgotten the content and was quite eager to quickly flip through the chapters to unravel the ending. Roald Dahl really knows how to capture childrens’ attention with his fairy-tale characters, giants and queer made-up names e.g. snozzcumbers, frobscottle.

• Maintain Silver for IPPT 

ACHIEVED!!! :D

Usually, I would start training 2 months before the test date, allowing myself a slow start during the first few weeks. This year, however, I was feeling really lazy and unmotivated… was managing daily push-ups and sit-ups but unable to get my feet into my jogging shoes. Only jogged like 4 times the last 3 weeks before the test date. Input cheat code ‘M-a-j-u Camp’, plus a can of Redbull – I managed a good time to qualify for Silver! WOOOOHOOO~~~ Super happy.

• Donate blood twice

Forgot whether it was once, or twice. Could have done better, though.

• Paint

Girlfriend bought a groupon deal for like $29 for a painting class. Unlike the popular place Artisteque, we found ourselves in a HDB unit converted into a small classroom. Unexpectedly though, was that the teacher was a young talent and guided us step by step for a whole 2-hours. I loved my virgin piece of art! Teacher praised, “Are you sure it’s your first time painting?” I put it up on my bedroom wall in front of my bed and the scenery looks perfect for a lazy weekend sleep-in.

• I also want to pick up a new skill.

Hmm. Does beatbox count? Haha. Watched a couple of tutorial videos on youtube but that’s about the best I can do. Guess a lot is derived from one’s flair for music and creativity.

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Significant Events in 2013!

Jan: 

A successful company event that lasted 3 days – of which we shed blood, perspiration and tear for an intensive 2 months prior to it. Our goal was simple, to make the Head look good to his bosses, but the process was painstaking and stressful. Thankfully, all was smooth and our toil paid off.

Feb: 1^st anniversary with girlfriend. A simple dinner and not too expensive gifts but it was the significance and time spent together that mattered.

April: Overseas trip with my buddies Roy and Jx! 

So glad it happened, so glad I pushed for it, so glad we had bountiful fun! Only our 2^nd bros-only trip together, the first being an uneventful one at Batam in 2011. And probably the last too, as we’re all progressing towards the stage of starting a family soon… Nonetheless, this trip will go down as “One of my favourite holidays” because of the awesome company (couldn’t ask for better, really), the nightly htht-s, the variety of activities (from city to scenic to onsen to hanami) and the absolutely lip-smacking local flavours (ramen, yakitori, sashimi, convenience store take-aways).

July: Thank you bosses, fellow colleagues and my supportive staff, for the past year’s commitment  and cooperation. Upgraded from OM3 to OM4.

August: Triple-date overseas trip to Pulau Redang. 

Unbelievable snorkeling experience, the waters were clear and pristine, the corals colourful and virgin. Saw a few corals with many clown fish weaving in between the streaks – it was really amazing. Also encountered almost human-eating fishes, nibbling on our hands and fingers just to reach the wet lump of bread in our palms. The food at the island was better than expected, too. Very relaxing holiday, we restricted ourselves to not use our mobile phones and simply enjoyed the nature and company. The nights were entertaining, one night being a disco on the beach and the other a very memorable live band belting out awesome Canto-pop and Mandarin R&B songs. We drank heartily, sang merrily along and I even got sabo-ed to sing and later teased by the band to propose on the spot! HAHA! One of my favourite moments has to be when I challenged my buddies to dance along to 爱不怕 by 草蜢 - which we did! Oh, not to mention that one of the band members was none other than the lead of ‘Baby' (long forgotten 1-hit Malaysian band).

October: The Proposal

On the 18^th day of our 18^th month (really a coincidence), I did it! I took several trips to recce the place, choose proposal ring, buy props, dry run with my buddies, linked up with her besties privately – alas it didn’t turn out perfect with the drizzle, fly-away tiara and speakers that Roy forgot to switch on – but the string of surprises did their magic and was impressive enough for her to give the nod. J

November: Sydney!

It happened because I was just checking out air tickets one night and discovered it was reasonably priced to fly to Sydney. I have 2 cousins residing there and it may be a great chance to visit and holiday! Very perfect holiday, blessed with great weather (although it coincided with the forest fires and haze but thank heavens for looking out for us), smooth road trip and every day was filled up discovery of new sights and scenes. Especially unforgettable was a 2-night stay in a superbly cosy farm cottage which was fully equipped and we whipped up steak, ABC soup, fresh salad and grilled meat. Quality time with girlfriend and loved the bonding time with my parents and brother, too J Pity my sister couldn't join...

December:

My birthday this year was simple but it matched what I had asked for: red eggs, pig trotters with vermicelli, home-cooked ABC soup, and a steamboat dinner with my favourite friends.

26/12/13 – FINALLY owners of our humble abode! Never knew there would be soooooo much paperwork to be done prior to purchasing a resale flat. And when we finally put pen to paper, we didn’t feel much excitement because probably already numb after visiting more than 25 units and waiting for 6 weeks for the HDB appointment. Nonetheless, we looooove the unit to bits.

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An exciting 2013 it was, and an even more exciting 2014 I am looking forward to!

• April --> HKG with girlfriend, Roy and gf
• March-July --> Home renovation and furnishing
• July --> Wedding!
• September-October --> HONEYMOON in Europe!!!!!!! 

Lacking in quantity but the above events are more than occupying our weekends and free time already! Europe is exciting but planning and researching on it... not so easy.

Okay, lastly to end off this post - 

RESOLUTIONS FOR 2014!

• Learn to juggle 3 balls
• Donate blood 2 times
• Silver for IPPT
• Read a book (I think the least possible to achieve)

Read from a couple of sources that Horsey year will not be a good one for Rats... but I'm not buying it at all, cos I believe that the destiny is for oneself to steer! 

$10 Million Toto Friday, HUAT AH! 

:P