Birthday on 29Aug

Who says i have gain one more year from my life? With effect since yesterday, one more day has been deducted from my life. Every year on my Birthday, i will always start thinking back on what have i been achieving during the pass one year? Now i got one year less to make the best of my life.

On Sunday (26Aug12), celebrated with family over a meal of Vietnamese Rice Paper Roll and a nice bottle of Wolf Blass Red Label Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2010.. That was an awesome paring.
Yesterday my aunt buy me lunch at Secret Recipe PS. Had Lasagna and Chicken Cornish..
Evening had a nice yummy Fried Rice Dinner from my maid and a glass of Wolf Blass Red Label Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2010. Then bring out the Tiramisu, brought by my aunt for me and my wife (Yeah her birthday is just a few days after mime)...
Celebration still continues till friday.. My friends are buying me dinner.. They are so secretive about the venue that excites me.. Dress code: no shorts, no sleeveless and no collarless... Hope somewhere not too "ATAS"....

I am so touched by all the Birthday greeting from families and friends.. even my ex-colleagues keeps pouring in their wishes in Facebook. I used to tell friends that my birthday is on the same day as Micheal Jackson and they will go "woah!", but now their reply is "choy choy choy, he is dead and you are not." Hahahaha..

Singapore F1 Tickets

Yeah, i finally got my Singapore F1 Tickets...  This year the pack is no frills and only one colour for all three days. White, grey and light green... hmm looks like Team Mercedes's official team colour hor (do you agree).. Anyway its a once a year event that i look forward to, especially i missing out last year race, but luckily enough my friend offer me the Stamford grandstand for Friday practice, that comfort me a bit in 2011.. 

Singapore F1 Grand Prix is the World's first and only Night Street Circuit since 2008...and Bernie Ecclestone heralded the Singapore Grand Prix as the "New Jewel in the Formula One Sports Crown"

 I have been watching F1 since my secondary sch days and my favorite driver then is Alain Prost -  4 Times World Champion... Yah yah yah, another favorite of mine in the nineties is Michael Schumacher (Won Seven World Championships). I still get to cheer for him in Singapore GP after he return from retirement.. I still believe that he can do wonders on the track, give him a reliable and fast car, then you see what he can do... Got some rumors that Team Mercedes might be pulling out next year and concentrate on just supplying their engines to F1 teams, like Mclaren... etc

 This year will be an exciting one for me as Maroon5 will be performing after the qualifying day (Sat)...!!! Yeah yeah i know Katy Perry will be performing too, after the race day (Sun)...

 Look at the no frill packaging..

 I like the Lanyard.. but does the colour does not goes well with the pass.

My Advance Birthday Dinner..

Its two more day to my Birthday.. and last night my mom come over to have a little celebration for me.. We made the family's favorites - Vietnamese Rice Paper Roll.
I brought a bottle of Wolf Blass Red Label - Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2010 and its a perfect paring with the Vietnamese Rice Paper Roll.."Nice pale straw-Green Hue, Scent of nice lemon with a little passionfruit.. Mid bodied with fresh crisp, ripe citrus & passion fruits" My mom praised me for the good selection that compliment the food very well and she did enjoy her dinner.. Happy to hear that, even a non regular wine drinker appreciate the right paring...

The fresh ingredients, Got Oriental Lettuce, Rice Paper, Bee Hoon, Bean Spouts, Roast Pork Belly, Shredded - Cucumber, Omelette, Crab Stick & Sausage, Prawn and Sweet & Sour Chilly Sauce...

This is how you wrap everything in the Rice Paper.. Just add a little of every ingredients and wrap it up..(Og yes remember to soak the rice paper in water to soften it.

 See i have made one without sweat.. Its yummy and healthy..

And it is BEST serve with a glass of Wolf Blass Red Label Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2010..

Garden by the Bay

Here are some of the nice pics of Garden by the Bay, i took with my Samsung Galaxy S III. Time to share some of the pics..

 The man-made trees structures looks like the bell of musical instruments. Its a symphony..

The two Domes look like a a giant sea shells.. same says it looks like a dragon ascending.. Maybe its for Feng Shui or just design??  

The symphony of Man-made tree.. It would be nice if can pipe some soft music.

This view is like a the spines on the back of the Spinosaurus. (see pics below)

Endless Summer Nights

This morning, on my way to work, i was listening to "Endless Summer Night" play by Dave Koz (Saxophone version). This song brings me back to 1988, well, back then its a billboard hit song sang by Richard Marx. I love the saxophone solo intro and later realize that the saxophone player behind this song is actually Dave Koz, my favorite saxophonist.. Hope someday i can play as good as him..

Well the last few months has been an Endless humid and hot Summer Nights.. Think about it, my fan is down and got to get a new one..

The link: http://youtu.be/1lJI9DBEQiY

Teacher cuts pupil's hair, mum files police report

ST Published on Aug 23, 2012

A mother has lodged a police report after her 12-year-old son's teacher cut his hair an hour before his PSLE oral exam last Thursday.

The mother, Madam Serene Ong, is outraged that the teacher did this just before a crucial exam, that it was done without her knowledge - and that it ruined the boy's $60 haircut.

She claimed the teacher - Ms Belinda Cheng of Unity Primary - also threatened to deduct marks from the boy's exam if he refused to have his hair cut.

On Wednesday, the school's principal, Mrs Jasmail Singh Gill, agreed with Madam Ong that the teacher had no business cutting the boy's hair.

Here is the link..

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/teacher-cuts-pupils-hair-mum-files-police-report-20120823

During my school days, those students caught with long hair are send to a make-shift area where the school will engage barbers to cut their hair for free. Of course the free hair cut is not stylist de, it is according to the school's requirement. 

Off days for maids, this is what can happen.

Before i blog about what i want to highlight.. read this..

Singapore to grant mandatory day off for maids

AFP News – Tue, Mar 6, 2012

Singapore will from next year require a mandatory weekly day off for maids, the government said Monday, in a move that will affect more than 200,000 domestic helpers in the affluent city-state.

"The new weekly rest day requirement will apply to (foreign domestic workers) whose work permits are issued or renewed from 1 January 2013," the ministry of manpower said in a press release.

Non-governmental groups and the governments of the countries the maids come from had been waging a campaign over the past decade for Singapore to grant them a weekly day off, a right already enjoyed by domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

Employers will have to reach a "mutual agreement" with their maid if they want her to work on her rest day for which she will be compensated.

The manpower ministry said the new ruling would boost their productivity and make Singapore an attractive destination for potential helpers.

Yes i know, this debate is long over.. but please see this pic below..

Last Sunday, its a public holiday in Singapore and some Philippines maids enjoying their off day at Garden by the bay.. and to my surprise, these maids were wearing sexy clothing and is flirting with some Indian workers.. They were seen drinking beers, having picnic and i even witness some hugging behind the bushes. OOh gosh.. This is..... erm..  Yes, i do agree in giving maid a deserve off day as they are humans too, they too need a good rest like the rest of us.... but if they are not going to discipline themself, then who is to blame if they got pregnant?

Hungry Ghost Festival

Well other then the Train Delay today...I can see lots of burned joss paper everywhere.. yes, today is the first day of the annual Hungry Ghost Festival..

Taoist Chinese in Singapore observe a traditional festival of paying respects to the dead. They believe that during this month, the “Gates of Hell” are opened and hungry ghosts are freed and allowed to roam the earth. There will be lots of Getai (Concert) to entertain the spirits and big scale of offering to the hungry ghost like Roasted Pig, fruits, bowl of rice, burning of joss paper and joss stick, it is mostly practice in the heartland area.. Everyone is welcome to watch the Getai, but remember NOT to seat in the first row, which is reserved for "Special VIP Guest" need not me to elaborate more hor..

 Doing Offering to the Hungry Ghosts.

Taoist observing the "offering to the spirits"...  

See the first row is reserved for "Special VIP Guest" ..

And also remember not stay out too late at night and also avoid swimming in the seas..

NE MRT Delay again.. due to Power failure

This morning NE line MRT was delayed again.. due to power failure..
The announcement was made in all NE stations.. Train will arrive in every interval of 10 - 15 mins..
Well i took an alternate route by bus to Serangoon MRT.. At Serangoon MRT i try my luck at the NE line again.. oops, still have not recover yet.. then i took the Circle line to Dhoby Ghaut MRT.. Well still late for work loh..

When i reach Dhoby Ghaut, i went over to take a look at NE line.. the station is empty... see..
Yes i know is the long weekend and most ppl took leave, but sure ppl avoid NE line and took alternate route, just in case.

NE MRT Delay..

Once again the NE MRT delay this morning.. it stops at Kovan for about 5 mins with an announcement that say "delay due to train faulty".. then moment very typical Singaporean scene.. I hear lots of "tsk tsk tsk....". Some looking at their watch and some start texting on their mobile phone..  Then after 5 mins the train start moving to the next station and the same delay and same massage again.. Thus this morning end up reaching office 15 mins late...

BABY NO ENOUGH

(This article was first published at publichouse.sg on 13 August) 

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is right. Singapore needs more babies. As he warned in his speech at the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru National Day celebration dinner on 11 Aug, Singapore could ‘fold up’ because natural citizens are far from replacing themselves, with the birthrate forChinese and Indians at about equal, 1.08 and 1.09, respectively; and the Malay community faring better at 1.64.

This is in spite of the generous Baby Bonus scheme, tax rebates for parents, extended maternity leave and various inter-ministerial committees – such as the Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy and The Working Committee on Marriage and Procreation - set up specifically to address this issue.

There are more and more singles in Singapore.. Well this is a uphill task for the government. First they must understand that education level has increase, by the time a guy finish his NS and complete his Degrees, then he enter the work force as a junior executive in his mid twenties (average).. Some take more then it takes to find a partner. Save up for a costly wedding and buying a home, takes a longer period then before. By then he already reach his mid thirties, then also at the same time have to climb up the corporate ladder as jobs security are uncertain.. Seeking promotion and pay increase in order to think about having babies..

I do have friends reaching their late thirties and dare not even think of having a baby due to financial and career commitment. Singaporeans have to work extra hard to sustain the high cost of living, not to mention bring up a child. Once a child is born the responsibility falls heavily on both parents till they reach the work force. If the cost of living keeps fluctuating, these childrens will have a harder times when they grow up, comparing with our generation.. So couples will think think think, consider consider consider, save save save till their hair turn grey and start to go bald, by then too old to have baby liao.

My new DIY hair style

Reviewing my new DIY hair style.. that cost me only less then $20.. If go saloon, it could be more.. hor..

See i look younger liao.. :)

This morning check up

This morning i went for my usual check up.. Hey i lost 1 KG after all the hard work and dieting.. Well no bad lah.. what more do you expect? I put in much effort to exercise as much as i can squeeze in my time.. With my right diet.. Hey if i suddenly lost 5 - 10 KG at one go then, its not good loh.. my last check up 3 months ago also lost 1 KG till 79kg, now 78kg.. going to target 75kg.. slowly ok.. :)

After that got more motivation liao.. so went swimming in the late morning, did 14 laps.. (ok 14 laps is nothing to some)..Tomorrow morning going for Mt Biking at Bt Timah Mt Bike Trail.. :) (I tell you hor its tough for me)...

Not in Mood to work

On Wed it feels like a Friday.. and yesterday.. feels like a Saturday and today.. Feels like a monday.. Feeling so blue.. Can you imagine Friday Blue?? Gosh..
Anyway on Wed I brought "Take Five" Alto Saxophone with piano accompany music score.. and have been practicing it yesterday..

THE PLEDGE MOMENT

Say the pledge on 9th Aug 2012 at 8pm..

Ok ok for those who have not recite this national pledge, here you go..

We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.

Its all about true friendship..

FRIENDSHIP.. What is true friendship? In my entire life i always been putting much effort on friendship, even thought i fall out with some, but still did not learn my lesson and got hurt again by some.. 

I just recently realised what is true friendship.. There are friends who just appear when they needs you and there are friend that open their arms when you need them.. There are friends who shared your sorrow or joy and some only just wants to tap on your happiness an success. 

In my 30 overs years of life.. I experience friends coming and go.. but there are friends who stay a bit longer and also some who stay from the beginning. Now i discovered that there are friends who will be by my side when i needed them most. I would like to say a big "THANK YOU" to you and cherish this friendship.. (p/s you know who you are)

Some of the classic songs about friendship to share with everyone..

"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay."
- Dave Matthews Band

"In good times, in bad times I'll be on your side forever more, that's what friends are for." 
- "That's what friends are for"

"Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long, 'til I'm going to need somebody to lean on."
- "Lean On Me"

Leaking in MRT.. and Weekends Cycling..

This morning so much leaking in MRT.
NO NOT water leakage in MRT.. its the passengers, everyone is having a running nose in the MRT.. Sniff Sniff, even i also have running nose.. Well another monday blues...I need more coffee..

O let me shared some of my weekends cycling pics.. My first time at Bt Timah Mt Bike trail.. and for  a beginner like me, i can say its very tough.. End up push my bike for almost half the trail.. Need more practice..

 Wet and slippery ground..

 Nice view at the top..

Some Japanese Trekkers amused by the view..

Texting while crossing road

This morning on my way to work, i saw this lady texting while crossing the road.. then i hear a loud "OUCH!!", i turn my head to take a look.. This lady that is texting while crossing the road hit the road bollard at the traffic and her mobile phone flung off.. OOOuch!!.. i'm sue not only she hurt her leg but her heart got the worst hurt loh..

On Veggie today..

Today is the 15th day of the lunar month.. Yup i am on veggie again..
See what i have for lunch..

After lunch now feeling hungry again.. gosh.. I must endure till 4-5pm then take a little snacks..

Train stopping reaction and unhelpful Singaporean Commuters

This morning while commuting to work by MRT.. When the train arrive at Serangoon Station, it announce that "This train will delay here for a few minutes, apology for the inconvenience." Then i heard lots of "tsk" noise.. LOLZ.. I am sure Singaporean are really sick of train delay..

Check out this link..

Australian tourist blasts unhelpful Singaporeans

http://news.insing.com/tabloid/australian-tourist-blasts-unhelpful-singaporeans/id-ae5a3f00

I am back..

Yes i am back. I have been so busy with my work and does not have time to blog..
Anyway here i am.. Back again..
Last week was a very Emo week, as i have unintentionally scolded my friend and make him angry.. after a week of cooling down.. he finally forgive me.. I blame myself for being so emo and my stupid temper...