i think tmr gg to have splitting headache again

I had a splitting headache the whole day on Saturday. Woke up with one, ate lunch with one, cleaned up my stuff with one, went to church with one, met the noc gang with one, and finally when I am about to sleep, it’s gone. I’m tired, but I don’t feel all that sleepy. The tea from just now must be Strong! I really need to sleep though, if not I think tmr is going to be all headache again!

All my bags are packed (almost!) and I am (almost!) ready to go.

Hmm … paper for a conference … not the high level academic level lah, but still rather interesting if I get a paper into the conference, right? Ok, shall give it a shot! Hopefully all goes well …

Busy week ahead … many people to meet, got pdt trg, got errands to run, got companies to meet, got admin to complete.

Follow up … I have so many things to follow up on.

iCon Steve Jobs … I bought the book recently and I am enthralled by the tale. SJ is probably the most loved brat in the world. The most innovative person also. I see the ideals of perfection within him in me too, but I lack the brilliant eloquence and the strong desire and passion. So, my ideals are just naggy nitpicking!? Well!? …

I’m relaxed … cos’ I believe in the Eternal God. I worry not for tomorrow, for today has enough task for me to handle. Our winged friends neither sow the land nor stock a harvest yet they are fed so well by our Heavenly Father, what more us, His beloved children. Fear not!

Good night, to all.

Happy Deepavali!

A little late, but nonetheless the well wishes goes out to my Indian friends.

Went all the way to Tanah Merah to visit my friend. I must say that place is damn ulu, but for a reason. Lucky got another friend to fetch me there … though I still had to take a cab out to the city. EX! (Anyway, Happy Deepavali!)

It had been an interesting weekend, been doing alot of things, of course I am not losing focus of my HYP. Still taking each and every single step towards getting that done. Lacking a clarity of mind to organize my report and get it out properly. I feels I’m in a state like I was when I was writing my business case the previous year. Stuck! Yet, I know that I will get the flow eventually, and then it would be so easy to get everything written out.

Ok, enough said about that moaning.

I thought of another cool idea yesterday night as I was going to bed. It’s interesting that I had 3 cool new ideas for the past 3 consecutive nights. I wonder if it’s some kind of idea generating streak that I am having. I wrote it down in my little book. So far the ideas are cool, but difficult to implement, at least by myself, so needs more thought if I want it to go ahead. (I’m very analytical, so I think alot.)

I wonder what everyone else is doing for this very long weekend. It’s a wonderful period to go holiday! =)

Dancing in the haze

After church yesterday, I went to Hwa Chong for the annual Mid Autumn Festival (or more affectionately termed MAF). Stopped by Coronation to meet some of my classmates and bumped into sh and larissa at the same eatery. (The one that I do not really like, cos’ they have the most uncooked sunny side up and the most bland very deep fried fish fillet served as fish and chips.)

It was hazy and I was literally coughing while I was walking. (It was bad!)

Hwa Chong now has an Institution behind it’s name. Besides that and the other new extensions to the school, Hwa Chong remains largely the same. First person I bumped into was Mr Choe and as usual, he was the same. That was after 8 years.

Atmosphere for MAF remains vibrant and I like it. Alot of people still return, though there are fewer people from my year. (1998). My class had a respectable turn up of 8 people, (Manping, Karin, Sharon, Yingzhao, Kuangti, Eugene, Chongyao, and myself). The 25th SC also did not do too badly, considering that only 2 people came back from the 24th. Saw the usual few that came back (Lakshmi, Yiru, Jessie, Piyo, Shuxiang, Vincent, Shanhan, Sijie, Enwen) and the most shocking one was Wanling. I had not seen her since graduating from Hwa Chong. She is still as energetic and lively as ever. It’s in her blood. haha!

Rekindling the long lost past, this year I actually joined the other SC to dance the mass dance. Surprisingly still remember some of the dance moves, though I had almost forgotten all of the council dances. Reliving those will only be as a silent observer. =)

Here’s a picture of the centre piece. (Pictures courtesy of piyo)My classmate’s commented it looked so small. eh!?

The “grand” light up was very very very anti climatic and the video was sad. I used to love the videos they show because Sensorian Vale (or SV) used to be highly innovative with their video production. (Perhaps, the innovation and technical skills departed when Jiaxiang left in 1999.) The light up was also too draggy and did not have the granduer that it used to have. Yes, there was fire, yes, there was fountain, yes, there were lanterns, but nothing was spectacular. It’s like it wasn’t even rehearsed. As though everything just happened accidentally without and plan. Sighs! It’s quite a disappointment. (BUT) Since, I know how much effort the Councillors put into the event I shall still applaud them their effort in making the event a success. (3 cheers!)

T-Bone

Had my huge portion of steak today for lunch.

My mum doesn’t eat beef. My dad stopped eating beef. My brother ain’t in Singapore.

So … drag my friends to eat steak. =)

Went to attempt to repair my Swatch watch. Changed the battery for 1 of them. The other was a goner. Time to get a new one, BUT, there isn’t one just like my old one. Nothing as good, nothing as beautiful. Yes, I am faithful. I had the watch for 4 years and would have been for many more if it hadn’t stopped after ‘catching a cold’ in the torrential rain. I shall have to wait for the next heart stopper in the next season, or the season after next, or thereafter.

So much books at Borders. Everytime I go there, I want to buy up so many new and interesting books, but I know that I really don’t ave enough time to read it all. There are still loads of books and readings to be done. I shall postpone to more leisure times (maybe when work begins?!).

Spent yesterday and today planning the next major iteration of programming for my HYP coding. Hope this would help in making the coding process more manageable.

Have a good weekend to all.

p.s. Thanks for the lunch company and the Bauffel. (“,)

The Forbidden City – A portrait of an Empress

Went to watch the Forbidden City yesterday afternoon. It was a matinee show, but the theatre was packed. Everyone was there to support the local art scence?!

The performance was good. The set was quite innovative to potray the majestic past, and the costumes were quite real. Some singers needed to improve their diction though, as there was some slight slur that made it difficult to hear exactly what they were singing. I had to refer to “Chinese Subtitles” every once in a while to get the right meaning. Haha! The score and music of the whole musical was plain musical style. No great break through and no really memorable tunes.

What I did like about the show was that it brought a human side to the Empress Cixi. The show wanted to bring out the female side and human side of the Empress which was contrary to all the “facts” that we have been fed about her ambition, her power hunger, her cruelty, her insincerity and her immorality by “kiling her son”. (well, I dun think she really killed her son, it’s a mother’s instinct thing to not do so, right?)

So, 2 thumbs up for the show, nonetheless.

After the show, ended up at Imperial kitchen for dinner at Marina Square. They served alot of shanghainese dishes. Quite expensive too, considering that the prices were Singapore equivalent of Chinese prices. A bowl of la mian cost S$6, which is equals to the price numerically in China RMB 6. Food was good, especially the fu yong egg with crab meat and dried scallop.

And after shopping for my mouse, I got dessert. ok … need to do something about it tmr … Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream (which I think is quite expensive!) 3 scops of ice cream in a waffle bowl cost a whopping S$12.50.

and the day was good. (I’m learning this from friends or friends’ friends…

Thank God for the MacBook!
Thank God for the beautiful musical – Forbidden City.
Thank God for mum that sponsors part of the cost of the musical.
Thank God for friends to watch the msical with and have dinner with.
Thank God for it all.

Have a great week ahead!

Huiling’s ‘Little’ Welcome Back Party

Went to the party at Hume Ave. If it was any further, I might have reconsidered coming! (“,)

Small little gathering … mostly her NUS friends and just 3 of us NOCians …

Nice condo … nice pool … nice ppl … nice lazy sat night … I’m satisfied, even w/o the food, the alcohol and etc …

Well, HL (u readin’ this, yar?) … you adjusting back quite well ah … haha … anyway it’s only 2 weeks … u’ll get back to life in Spore … u can’t possibly NOT … cos’ u lived here most part of your life.

so … Welcome Back!!! (& thks for the invite)

p.s. we won’t tell others that u r a gossip queen. =)

There is nothing to do but go to Ikea.

In Singapore, there appears to be nothing to do but to go to Ikea on a public holiday such as today.

It was so crowded!!!

Went to be “manual labour” for some friend … Oops! … actually it’s also to get a Bday present lah and provide “delivery” and “assembly” service.

After seeing my uncle’s Golden Retriever and my friend’s Shitsu … I still like BIG dogs … I was just commenting to my brother yesterday about my uncle’s dog … “This dog looks good in my garden.”

Well, shan’t be getting any dog, cos’ there really isn’t anyone to take care of it. I guess, I’ll just be one of those that go to someone else’s home to play with the dog.

And like everyone else …

Happy National Day! (right?!)

For you I write …

This is for my die hard fans. (Although it really isn’t about you. It’s merely one of my complains about some people, who might fall into my “die hard” fans category.)

Arrange gathering … BUT …

1. People fly aeroplane
2. People don’t want to come
3. People arrive like 1 hour late (or later)

Still was a good chit chat session and thanks to the people who did turn up.
** Makes mental note **

Weekend! (”,)

The weekend has finally come. This time even more happy that usual … hahaha …

Had a long day today. Rather tiring too …

Stayed up a bit last night to try and solve a problem I had with capturing data into the database. Finally solved it this morning and I encountered another problem. Now, it’s due to the irregular format of the entry and hence, I am now thinking of solution to solve this problem. Still got alot of small problems that are yet to be solved. I think I try and try … then if cannot need to take a break … usually after the break then can have some kind of break through.

Went to school to collect the book which was ordered a week ago. It finally came! I had to call them though, and the staff informed me the book was here and ready for collection (not the other way round as it should had been). Went to the Co-Op and … hmm … they could not find the book. They asked if anyone called me and I told them my story. So, they called the publisher and was told that there was no record of the order. (Oops!) I could only sigh! What to do?! After megotiating to get the book ASAP, the earliest was still Monday. hmm …

Another younger staff then mentioned that the computer sayed that the co-op was stocked with the book. (I think she was the one that on the phone.) Almost all the staff (except for one – the one who ‘took’ my order right from the beginning) tried to look on the book shelves to find the book. They searched under HR, management, Business, etc … and after like 20 mins of searching (even the store room), the lady found the book hidden under Sociology. Efforts were paid off! I was a satisfied customer! 3 Cheers for the staff at the Co-op, except for the guy who took my order to start with. I know his name, but shan’t name it here (Not good.)

Went to town in search for something. Went to lots of places … from Orchard all the way down to Suntec, but still have not found any hint or traces of it. Hmm … I’ll see if I can get it tmr. Anyway, on the way bought myself a Polo Blue at Lucky Plaza.

This is also an interesting story. I went into a 2nd shop to ask about the Blue. I wanted the medium size bottle, which the first did not have. They quoted me S$65. I looked at them and asked for it to be cheaper. The guy then gave $63. I told them I’ll think about it, and attempted to walk away. He asked me to give me my best price. I said $55. After making like 3 phone calls, he said $57 lah … I bought it! A remininsce of Xiang Yang Market?! Heh heh!

~ Insert ~ Forgot to add this in just now …

I went to TopShop and I bought a shirt. Contemplated very long. Tried it since I was waiting for people, and eventually bought it cos’ it was on sale and I get an additional 15% discount cos’ of the UOB card. Nice! Also tried on some suits and I like the cut, but not the price. Dunno if can copy it or not?! those China Tailors the design abit old fashioned.

~ End of insert ~

Had dinner at Ichiban Boshi with the guys … hmm … reminds me of Sakae Sushi. For all the posh decor, the food was only reasonable. Well, the price was equivalent to Sakae. Not great food. But what the heck. At least I know that my Soba was hand made. hahaha! (Although handmade soba does not look as impressive as how the Chinese made their la mian)

A tad sleepy, but shall proceed to attempt problem solving of my problems again.

You brought tears into my eyes.

Thank you!                                       (elm tree)