Message from the Daily Bread

Desire says, “I Want it.”
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Instinct says, “Me first.”
Jesus said, “The last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16)

Intuition says, “I’ll feel better if I get revenge.”
Jesus said, “Do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

Wanting something doesn’t make it good.

Achieving something doesn’t make it valuable.

And having strong feelings about something doesn’t make it right.

I say, “I can only trust my feelings, when I trust in God.”

就让我

一笑而过

The HEAT is on!!!

Its so $%*#@#$% HOT and HUMID in Shanghai now!!!

The temperature whatever it maybe is a killer. All you have to do is go out of a non-aircondition place and you would begin to perspire. Dehydration from the major loss of water …

I slept like a PIG last night (sh, no offence) … I did not hear the gang come back home after their movie and I did not even hear my room mates leave for Hangzhou this morning … I slept like a log and I am surprised that I could actually wake up in time this morning to get to “work”

Went to Office this morning to collect the surveys to be done and I was sweating buckets! Did the Head and Shoulders survey (done by 4 students) and it was done really fast … completed the survey within 3 hours … phew … no more dying in the HEAT … was asked by some person doing some sign up programme for a Media company … they were looking for people to be models … told them sorry, not interested … and I am not local… so no way … these things, are surely con people one!

met up with weijun for lunch … and had a nice chat with him … its amazing how news spread! … weijun, thanks for the feedback, advice and chat in general!

afternoon, went to Singapore Consulate for the SSBA NDD rehearsal again … figured that since fionna and elaine weren’t going, and no one else was going I had better go … in case our SHEN’s name/image gets totally “trashed” in SSBA circles … any sh also managed to come along… i got another role … I am suppose to be both an indian and a westerner … wonder how that works … “Edwin, I think you need to go get a tan for your role …. but if I get a tan then i won’t fit the part of the westerner liao … hmm?!

Coffee Bean … once again … coffee bean … 3rd time in a row … this time at Parkson, Zunyi Road … with the cast for NDD … (Chin, Jo was there …) and suddenly, she became “mother” to me … haha!

Nice to meet MC’sister … had dinner at Steak King … and once again we get “brilliant” service … and fortunately this time we did not get the “black face” waitress to serve me.

speaking of service …

I went to China Mobile Service Center at Fuzhou lu this morning wanting to ask how to go about setting the GPRS settings for my phone … the counter girl was as usual so RUDE (not my first time there) and was like literally “barking” at me with questions … I got kind of fed up with her … fortunately for me, I found a “questionaire” lying on the table … it was a feedback form … I took a slip and began to fill it in in front of her … personnel 7559 … yup, i took down the number of that service personnel … ticked everything BAD and wrote in English some comments about her rudeness and bad attitude … smiled at her and dropped the form into the box. Brilliant … and I left with a smirk! (“,)

its LATE once again … and work beings tomorrow … so good night folks …

before I sign off …

thanks to everyone for all your help, concern, advice, consolation, encouragement, support and tolerance to/for/with me … I really appreciate everything!!!

a many many things happen

in a very short time …

1. Thank you dinner @ Peninsula Restaurant for Seniors and Bosses and representatives from Companies.
- Interesting Questioning session from Mr Yong again (inspirational!)
- Nice chit chat session with Mr Ho (Grundfos)
- Met dad’s old friend (Mr Ho Ka Kee)
- Drank loads of red wine (which was really quite bland, hence the loads of it … heh)
- ended 11 pm +

2. Chill out session with Colleagues from MBO. Danny jioed me down to Big Bamboo by saying he has someone there who knows who I am and asked me to come down immediately. It so happens to be my colleague and my boss’s driver. (“,)
- drank Guiness Stout … not very nice … very bitter
- some interesting chat about advertising medium and market with Danny
- ended 1 am +

3. Supper with Lynn and Weijun at 鹿港老镇 On 黄金城道 … Taiwanese style food …
- Cai4 Po4 (hokkein) egg … nice!
- You Tiao with Shrimp Paste … nice!
- Dou4 Hua1 … nice!
- Treat from Lynn … BEST!!! haha!!!
Lynn was going back to Singapore the next day … so it was a mini farewell and congragulations for her in getting into Fudan University as well.
- Went to see her International School … Yao Chong International School campus facade.
- ended 3 am + after dropping Lynn off at her place.

4. forgo sleep since the sky was already bright at 4 am.

5. Watched a couple od episodes of Season 4 – Alias (DVD bought recently at Fudan University for 56RMB for the entire season)

6. 7 am went out with Yvonne to meet Kenny for breakfast … hung ard at the mrt cos’ “someone” was late.

7. Had a mini breakfast at Macdonalds … hashbrown and nice chat on topics which I am not familiar with, such as Company Organization, etc.

8. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaves Opening Ceremony at 愚园路 … met the marketing manager who was the daughter of the Owner of the Franchise. Good snacks and good Coffee.

9. Went to Shanghai Railway Station …
- Got out at the wrong exit … 北广场 … walked ard lost for a while, before headed back underground to get to the 南广场.
- Found the shop that sold handphone to HC that time at 不夜城.
- Undecided on whether to buy the phone for 1500RMB … model Samsung E610c
- Went to walk around the area and consulted 2 ppl, before the final decision.
- Consultant’s replies were all too LATE.
- I bought a new Samsung E610c.
- Its nice and FUN, but cannot get the pictures I took out from the phone till I get a USB cable.

10. Came home to rest … for like 1.5 hours.

11. Went to 乐购 to buy memo pads for free gifts that MBO will be giving away while they conduct the survey tomorrow on P&G’s Head and Shoulder commercial.
- melted in the HEAT
- i think i lost like 5 litres of water … faints … almost lah … from the heat and the lack of food, since I did not eat anything since coffee bean’s snack.

12. Dinner at 上海人家 with CISC (China Initiative Steering Committee) – made up of professors from NUS – frankly, quite BORED during the dinner. maybe I was too sleepy, but I just felt the conversation at my table a bore. Engin and engin …
- ps. din like the girl sitting beside me
- weijun, she really isn’t that “chio”

13. went to visit Weijun’s office – Grundfos
- Nice view!!!

14. Home at last
- Send out initial research on SPAs to NVC grp members
- type blog
- prob go and sleep

15. Tommorow will come
- Survey at Raffles City
- Maybe rehearsal at Singapore Consulate for NDD performance, if I am “Strong” enough!

Gd night everyone!

final reminder to myself:
“Busy and Tired is not an excuse!”

yup, one more word added to the phrase now!

perking up my “drowsy” afternoon

… with a quick blog entry.

so sleepy, yawns … keep wanting to fall asleep …

does anyone know that its 土地日 tmr? well, it is and the district govt has some publicity event this morning outside Raffles City and hence I was there to asist them with their publicity clip on our LED. Did the mini flash for them and placed it on the LED on high frequency during 9 am to 11 am. For about an hour after setting up and waiting for them to close shop, I decided to head to Coffee Bean to sit down and have a drink. On my way there, I got tempted to try Delifrance over here … I got myself the Tuna Mushroom and an Apple Turnover. Cost me 22 rmb, and the only consolation is that it would have cost me the same if I was in Singapore. Sat at Coffee Bean sipping my Ultimate Ice Blended and reading a chapter of “Finding Fertile Ground” while i waited for 11 am. If only everyday could be this good … sitting, sipping and reading.
p.s. don’t buy delifrance here, its really not worth it … pastries aren’t as good as BreadTalk!

came back to office hot and flushed from the heat outside!

then went to meet Shallene and sh who were suppose to be going for lunch … and we ended up at the Baleno shop … and we all bought something … Yikes!

ok, that’s all folks … for this short entry!

I take comfort . . .

… that God Loves me.
… that by His Grace, I shall not want.
… that I am so blessed and will not be green-eyed.
… that He strengthens me in everyway.
… that He walks with me through it all and I am never alone.
… that I am covered by His Holy Blood and no harm shall befall me.
… that God is good.

Above it all, I take comfort knowing that I “ask and I shall receive”.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house
They are ever praising You
Blessed are those whose strength is in You
Whose hearts are set on our God
And we will go from strength to strength
Until we see You face to face

New Venture Creation Lesson 1

Ok, Ms Virginia Cha was an interesting lecturer … dynamic and full of passion for what she does – being an entrepreneur … therefore class is good.

formed teams for the Business Plan … group 2: 4 norwegians, 1 chinese and 2 singaporeans. A very packed and busy 2 months ahead! definitely.

the end for today.

In doing what you do, “what matters is how big a heart you have”.

Cloud 9

Sitting on the 87 level of Jin Mao Building (金茂大厦) was really an interesting experience. The view was good. The Oriental Pearl Tower was in full glory with the clear night as backdrop.

Really spent alot last night. ZJ and I both spent 391 RMB (and that’s not including my horribly expensive cab fare back from Pudong – 34rmb) on food and drinks but it was quite a good experience. It was the last meal with ZJ in Shanghai. We went to 正大百货 (Super Brands Mall) for dinner – 干锅居 – some kind of food cooked in a wok and served to you. Food was good!

After dinner, made our way to Jin Mao and took a rather long time to get to the 87 level bar. First we were told that there was no bar on the top floor (level 88) so we went to the one at level 56. But realized that that one had no window seats. (Window seats were for the restaurants … and we weren’t having a meal) so we were told to go to level 53. At level 53, we were told that we could go up to level 87 as there was a pub there too … confused yet? Yar, I was alittle confused with all the going up and down. Especially when the lifts are all not connected. You have to chang lifts at many places. I think to get to level 87, we had to take 3 lifts.

Well, finally at the window and snuggling into the seats was good. I had a Cosmopolitan and a Giffidian 15 years whisky. Both were good! And ZJ had a port wine and an electra. Drinks were good … haha … i realized that the amount of alcohol I have drunk in Shanghai to date exceeds the total amount of alcohol I have drunk in my entire life back in Singapore. I think being in a foreign land somehow changes a person, more so if the foreign land has so much more to do at so much cheaper the costs.

Its no wonder that many singaporeans still continue to flock to Shanghai or China to work and play.

NVC begins this evening…

The subway (Line 2) broke down

Or maybe there were some problems with the track, train, etc …

I walked into 中上公园地铁站 and there were multitudes of people queuing at the barricades. Everyone was waiting to get through the gates and the corwd was only getting more and more … argh! I was so going to be late … I decided to take the bus and so walked towards Bus 20 Station.

and once again multitudes of people … the first bus came and it was impossible to get on with so many people pushing and squeezing on. I so gave up … walked to another street 愚圆路 to try and get a cab but everyone it seems were also on the same wave length and there was just no empty cabs … (moreover if I had really taken the cab during peak hours with such heavy traffic, it would have cost me a bomb!)

so, I made my way back to Bus 20 station and waited. yes, I finally got on the bus ard 9.10am and was making my way towrds the bund (九江路 外滩) reached my destination at around 10 am and finally reached office at 10.15 am. Lucky my boss got a habit of arriving in the office late. (“,)

ok, I am beat … after sleeping for so little for so many nights … but time is so precious here … every small little time can be used to enrich oneself. So, inspired and determined to learn and do as much as possible during the remaining stint over here in Shanghai.

and so, back to work!

Old Shanghai 老上海

The Dinner and Dance is finally over … I really hope everyone had a good time at the dinner, hope that they enjoyed themselves, hoped that whoever who came went back with their expectations met. After about a month plus of preparation, the event has finally been successfully executed. Sure, its not perfect, but I think we met the objectives of the night and that was to give the seniors a very enjoyable and memorable night. (“,)

Would also like to thank my “lovely” lady who hosted the event with me. I think you were great handling the Chinese lines.

Everyone who has photos of the event please please send to me … Thanks!

Have a myriad of feelings churning within me now … Gladness, happiness, relieve, inadequateness, fustration, sadness, anger. “Just want to be freezed dried, vacuum packed and shipped away” (To be away from all the mundane fustrations of the world.)

“The imperfection of humans is not an excuse to stop reaching for greater heights”