Old Trash Thrown, Welcoming New Trash

I finally took some time to clear my room of all the rubbish and useless stuff. Imagine throwing my game magazine collection. Started out as a hobby to collect but realise im not a magazine company, so why bother collecting them?

Threw away alot of junk. It just piled there from time to time. Some of the things i threw:

1. Gateway CPU
2. Computer chair with armrest
3. Gaming magazines
4. Old newspaper cuttings
5. Rough papers that are used but not thrown
6. Empty computer part boxes
7. Spoilt plastic folder

And many many more.

Spent like $200 on a new printer and another $100 for the printer cupboard. Ouch. Now i want to tear down my old posters that is 'yellowing' on my wall and put up an artwork i saw in IKEA or get a custom made mirror to make my room look bigger. Hmm... Suggestions? Im sourcing for a wall bracket from IKEA too. Wanna continue my robot collection. :D

Privilleges of a Student

Life of a student is sure fun. No much of responsibility and no one to report. Only you and yourself to study hard and achieve high grades for your course. Sometimes it is stressful but at least its less stressful and tiring than working.

But the problem of being a student is cash flow problem. Lots of money going out but little coming in. Even with tuition classes, its still not enough to cover my expenses. Travelling, lunches, dinners, occasional treats here and there. All amounts up to a big bill. Plus the plunging market prices, makes me even poorer... UGH!

Well, hoping some stroke of luck or something will hit me soon. I don't ask for much, just the top prize for the monthly lottery ticket will do. Thank you!

EPL has revived!

The new season has started! And i have all the time in the world to watch the games now. Doesn't matter even if its on a weekday night. And the best part is, my dad just brought back a carton of bottled beer. Guess its gonna be finished pretty soon. =)

With the new season, im considering to purchase Manchester United's jersey. Especially now we have the champions badge. Its a pity that they did not win the Champion's League Cup, but they worked hard to be the champions of England. They will always be champions even without the cups or trophy. But the cost of a jersey, plus printing of name, plus badges would equals $$$$. Which is $$$$ i do not have. Right now, im saving up for a notebook. Its not easy to suddenly make decisions where you have to curb spendings. Events like having coffee at the joint is taken out. No more outdoor lunches and definitely more home cooking. Guess i will have to start going to the wet market again. Haha...

It isn't easy after leaving the military. Even though the freedom is there, i realise that i have spent alot more than usual. For instance, travelling expenses have inceased 4 fold. That increase is really taxing on my wallet. Im deciding to cut down on lunching and maybe skip lunch so i can have a hearty dinner at home. Unhealthy definitely but it is for awhile. With giving tuition to kids relieving the burden, its still not enough to fully cover my expenses. With the current grim market prices, im looking to see if there is any quick buck to make. Hopefully quick enough to sail me through the next month.

School Has Started

I finally get to attend school again. It is more than 2 years since my last lesson in an education environment. But the feeling of a university student and a poly student is definitely different. Especially in the quality of the lecturers.

Instead of creating their own set of slides and teaching materials, they follow a set of notes and slides given by the university. And the best part is, some of them do not know what is on the slides and just blabber without following the slides. I feel that i can study better on my own by reading both the prescribed text and notes, do the tutorials and try some quizzes online. The best part about these lecturers, they do not quite care about their student's passing. They seem to be just doing their job within their contract and hope that when it finishes, the school will either renew it or they find a career outside the education sector.

As for the on-campus transfer, i suppose im leaving end of the year. Going over there as soon as possible. Why? It is more worth it paying the exhorbitant school fees. I know its gonna cost more with the addition of living costs and other unforseen expenses(eg. abortion haha...). But i believe that you are paying for the experience which you will never ever do it again. Imagine if you still want to study overseas for a couple of years with a wife and 2 kids?

Adventures of the Uni Student

Well, it was time to go back to studying as usual. The past month have been playing games at home non-stop. So now it is time to go back to studying full time and maybe apply for a part-time job.

Im currently scheduled to classes on mon and wed. It seems like so easy... Life of a uni student seems so easy. Wondering why so i spend so much money for only 6 hrs of class each week. Unlike pri sch... I spend like 1 day would equate my 1 week. Haha... In sec sch, is an even worse comparison. I can easily spend like 10hrs in school a day. Including saturdays when i have activities. The good old days...

As i slowly advance, i countdown to the number of days i have left here in SG. I will be flying off to Melbourne, Australia at the end of the year. Im planning to study there next semester. At least enjoy the feeling of an overseas student. Life alone and independence is the next challenge. I have learnt all the skills of surviving alone but have not gone through the tests yet. Would love to test myself for the next 2 years and hopefully be branded as a full independent person. Do no need to be dependent on my parents or somebody. But i would miss lots of people... Family and close friends. Especially my god-sister, would not know how it would be like chatting with her over Skype. Haha...

ORD Loh... New Chapter begins...

On 9th June 2007, I have officially cleared my service to my country and moved on with life. I will miss those days where i have rules and regulations, regimentation and controlled freedom. Alot of people will hate such kind of life but i will definitely miss it.

Right now im just living day to day, getting back to life as free men should. But the chapter has started pretty bad. Im just at home, rotting and gaining weight everyday. I realise that i need to do something while waiting for enrollment. Guess its the sort of life like what happened in the past, im letting history repeat itself.

Not anymore... Since i have been through that part, i told myself that i must have things to do daily. Even the smallest event would be good. So i took part with a friend for a overnight geo-caching hunt. Its actually very simple, a clue of a place and a coordinates of the place. You just have a GPS and off you go. Its an entire island thing and its pretty amazing at how people can think of places. At one point i had to climb up a hill in the middle of Yishun, our coordinates shows that of a HDB lobby. We were wondering where it is when one teammate thought of the letterbox. Lo and behold, the treasure is in the letterbox with the same coordinates. Hehe...

Well... This chapter begins slow and boring, but im sure i can make it exciting and fun. This chapter in life is just as exciting as how i choose it to be, how i want it to be.

Macdonald Kids

RSM: 'So how did you injure both your ankles?'
Me: 'In Taiwan, during the excercise.'
RSM: 'Haizz... Macdonald kids. Walk also will sprain ankle.'
Me: '...'

That was what i got when i injured both my ankles. The RSM is the highest raanking in the specialist cohort in any unit. I kinda hate the comment he said about me. He isn't the one walking in the middle of the night. He isn't the one inserting into enemy territory alone and without medical help. He is armour trained which means he doesn't even walk at all! The only time he walks is going to the toilet and maybe to the field kitchen. Macdonald kid... BAH!

Accupuncture Treatment

I twisted my ankles during my trip to taiwan. Left ankle 4 times, right ankle 2 times. So overall, i have wobbly ankles. I still can walk and run but i cannot change sides suddenly or shift my body weight to the sides. Even sitting down cross-legged hurts!!

So i decided to visit my usual doctor regarding twists and sprains. He reccomend that i do accupuncture treatment. It was my 1st time doing it but i jus took the challenge like it was nothing. After agreeing to it, he proceeded with wiping my shin and ankle areas with alcohol. The alcohol was kinda cooling compared to the heat outside his clinic. He went on with the procedure with a packet of needles, told me to relax and not to move so much. As the first needle poked in, i was like ouch! Feels like an injection, but there was more to come. Slowly, he finished poking like 7 needles into my right leg and went on to start on my left leg. Now both legs have around 18 needles sticking out of them. Was kinda cool but it jus felt like multiple injections which equals to multiple ouches. Hehe...

He left me lying on his clinic bed for like 20mins before he took out the needles. A couple of the holes was bleeding but he said its okie, it should clog up later. I tried standing on my feet but there was this strain on the ankles and i quickly fell on my butt again. The nurse/doctor's attendent laughed. I told her my ankles are a little strained after the treatment, she told me to sit down and rest till im ready. Kinda embarrassing... As i get my composure back, i paid the nurse/doctor's attendent and left the clinic.

The accupuncture treatment was intresting but i could not feel the healing on my ankles. They still seem to be swollen and twsiting them a little still hurts. So i guess accupucture still isn't the miricle cure i always thought it would be. Worse still... Doc says im to go back for more treatment. More needles...

Chapters...

After a short conversation with a close friend of mine late one night, it came to me this question. Did i change anybody's life? Did i set an impact in anybody's life? Seriously, did my comments or advices change your decisions in your life. After that conversation, i thought... Was i insensitive to his/her thoughts? Did i question the right areas to help him/her? Was i of any help at all...

All i wanted to do was help. To assist, to aid, to lend a listening ear and a helping hand. But if all you wanna do is ignore my help. Ignore all that i have done, then i think we are done. Why should i spend time and energy to help? Why should i help and advise when i could ignore toally, accepting that one should solve their own problems themselves?

All im thinking now is, what did i do to set an impact in your life? Did i help you in times of need? Was i there when you need assistance? I don't need spectacular stuff, but at least show me that i have entered your path of choices. Being part of your life and entered a small chapter in your life story.

ORD countdown mode

Now is the time... I have almost finished my liability to the service of my country. Now all i need to do is wait for time to pass and finish my clearance form. AND IM A FREE MAN! Haha...

Have so many things ahead of me to do. I do not know where to start. Most probably have a nice dinner with my family for the celebration of finishing my service. After that would be proceeding to Australia for further studies. Or maybe i can try a part-time job and earn some income to curb my spending. Anybody got any part-time jobs to recco??

Flight to Taiwan

In another few hours time, will be my boarding call for my flight to taiwan. First time leaving this country under the rules of the military. As everybody knows i like the freedom of goin overseas but hate the constrain of guided tours. I do hope that when we are over at Taiwan, everything would be fine and dandy. Hope that nothing will go wrong and after this 2 months, I will be enjoying my life real soon.

Back from Perth

Im back, im back! Back from Perth. Its fun there but i guess its time to come back to Singapore and back to reality. The only thing lacking there is the nightlife. As the entire Australia operates up to 1730hrs, its always a sad thing when the watch screams 1700hrs on my watch. So usually we would have dinner ard 1700hrs. At around 1900hrs we would settle dinner and most probably be drinking at some pub. And soon after... Its back to the room and slpy time.

The next day we went out to the great outdoors and drove around the outback of Australia. It was fun and got a couple of factory outlet stuff. Including a chocolate factory and a nougat factory. Haha... So intresting to see how chocolate is being made. Finally... Imagine buying a case of wine and drinking it with a bunch of new friends i made there. Starting was drinking but as we got near the last bottle, most of us are almost pouring all over us.

Near the last day, we went around doing shopping. I managed to find that blasted Crumpler specialty store. Bought a few items and went back a happy man. Dinner was nice as one of our new friends invited us over to her place. She owns a place there and we went down to enjoy her cooking. It was not fantastic but the spread was amazing. In the end, we ordered pizza and threw away abt 50% of what she cooked. Haha... We ate and drink again. This time it was worse as we emptied her cabinet of alcohol. Played some games and slept at her place for the night. The next morning we packed our stuff and drove to the airport. Upon leaving we dropped by the post office and sent her a thank you note plus our contact if she or her frens intend to come over for a visit. It was fun having known such nice pple there.

Trip to Perth

Im typing this as we are still stuck in Changi Airport. Flight was suppose to be scheduled for 8.10am, but due to technical problems which nobody knew what is happening delayed our flight. Initally, i thought the delay would be an hour or so... But as it drags on and on... It became longer and longer. After 2hrs, the pilot said over the comms that the initial techinal fault was not the one. So the 2hrs was wasted and they are finding the fault all over again. ARGHZ!!!!!

So it dragged and dragged till lunch time. We had our lunch at the transit hall, which we got a couple of free items. To make it simple, 5 person ticket meals but we got ard 8 meals. Too bad alcohol was not free... Else there would be 5 drunk travellers in Changi Terminal. Haha... Anyway... The pilot later informed us that the flight will take off at 1.30pm. But the ground engineers are taking too long to remedy the situation therefore the flight is further delayed. Now the major problem that we do not know when are we flying, what time will we land and what is the compensation of this major delay. Seriously, i do hope they refund at least 25% of our ticket price.

Im not sure if the car rental company will charge us for the rent of today. I do hope that when we arrive there, we have a smooth entry and quick paperwork to access our car. And lastly, we find a good hotel and park our butts there. Waiting is so tiring and my PSP is running low on batt. One of my buddy is gonna explode soon if we do not receive any news about the flight. I do hope we can make such a big explosion that we can get a direct flight to perth! If thats the case, forget about the 25% refund!

Our kind of New Year, The Lunar New Year

It was a joke made in the Simpsons where the police chief confiscated fireworks from the Chinese in their town. The reason of confiscating the fireworks was danger to the public and saying that its crazy the chinese are celebrating New Year in February.

In hot and steamy Singapore, we celebrate many kinds of New Year. We even have public holidays to remind us of these days. But to me, the most important and most looked forward to is the Chinese Lunar New Year. Why? Simply put... Im a Chinese(even though a banana, but still chinese rite??) and we should be proud of our background and the way we celebrate our New Year. With so many things happening during the 14days of the Lunar New Year, its hard to catch up with the all the action happening at the same time.

This Lunar New Year, i will not be celebrating it at home. Im going on a trip to Perth, Australia to celebrate with my family. Since this is the only time we can go on a holiday as a family, im just glad that we can spend time together as a family.

Extreme Makeover: Room Edition

Im planning to take care of my room. Since this is the year of my ORD, might as well change some things. I've sat down and listed a couple of things that i want to change...

1. Clutter clutter clutter, more boxes or cupboards to organise things.
2. Retiring of old Hi-Fi set, time for a smaller and sleeker machine for churning out music.
3. Rip off the posters on the wall, buy wallpaper and DIY.
4. Clear off unwanted magazines, even though they are my precious~~
5. Seperate treasures and junks, sell or keep treasures and throw away junk.
6. Donate bed to Salvation army, buy new bed.
7. More space, more things. Invest in a sofa bed so can have friends sleepover.
8. Install a board so i can remind myself of assignments and events.
9. Together with the Hi-Fi set, out goes computer chair, in come ergonomics chair.
10. Revamp my already old and slow PC so i can enjoy gaming when i have too much time after ORD.

Anybody wanna join me in this quest to makeover my room??

Another Great Book Down

This book is about 2 brothers who took time off from their family, their work and their life to travel for 3 weeks around the world together.

Title: Three Weeks With My Brother
Authors: Nicholas Sparks, Micah Sparks

I manage to get my hand on this book is a try out from the Times bookstore. I was walking around aimlessly in the bookstore when i pick this book up and read the sypnosis. It suddenly caught me that i have not spent time with my brother like i used to, or like we used to. The book goes about how one of them got a brouchure of a round the world trip and invited his younger brother to join him in his trip. Even though both are married and the elder brother have a family of 4 children. Just imagine having so many children in a family, taking time off from them is like having God giving you a lifeline. So... They took time off their life and went on an amazing trip together. They went to St. Petersburg, the Nile River, Vietnam, Stonehenge, Niagara Falls, Sao Paolo and many more. And in this 3 weeks, they realise how much they miss doing things together. How much fun they have as brother and how life have changed as they grow from kids to adults.

After reading this book, i hope that i too can travel for 3 weeks around the world with my brother. Seeing all the wonderful things in the world and in life. Right now, both of us are living our own lives. Im not depending on my parents that much anymore and my brother is learning the ropes of independence. So maybe... Just maybe one day we can travel around the world together and look back at it when we are old and wrinkly.

The Year of 2007

Simple recollection of the things that happened in 2006.

• I got into an office-cum-outfield-type of job in the army that allowed me to stay out every week. It sucks but i get to go home.
• Got a huge red packet from my grandmother during CNY.
• Learnt to ride a bike from the SAF.
• Got promoted to the specialist rank.
• Indulged myself in the World Cup fever and got myself a pair of Argentina jerseys.
• Got into a relationship which lasted not very long.
• Bought a new monitor that kinda fits its purpose in my room.
• Received part of the insurance my grandmother bought 21yrs(or 20yrs) ago.
• Celebrated birthday with a little hush hush since nobody remembered. (Got used to it so dun nid to pity or sympathize me...)
• Got into the hang of investment again and earned a few dollars myself.
• Got burnt in the investment but the only thing that hurt most was seeing my friends lost money.
• Man Utd led the table for the longest for this season since Chealsea won the double last year.
• Due to problems caused by somebody, which nobody could argue with another somebody, everybody that stayed out began staying in. Including me...
• Went to Melbourne to take a look at how is the place im gonna live in when i move over there to study.
• Christmas was nice and enjoyable, hope it would be better anyway.
• Counted down with the stars at Vivocity and got pictures of those i wanted to take with. Just to make sure... Jamie Teo was extremely hot and beautiful, the no. 1 of my favourite babes of Singapore. Felicia Chin had to take second place, im sorry.

Well... Thats about it. As for resolutions, last year i did manage to complete all of them. Since i set only three so completing was easy. Its the same for this year...

1. Bring back a girl for CNY so that my grandmother knows that im trying to carry on the family line.
2. Tidy up my room so i can organise things for a fresh new chapter in life. (That is life after ORD.)
3. Organise my finance well as i would be taking allowance from my parents again.

So... I guess there are other things to hope and wish also. Three wishes for the year...

1. Friends and family great health and wealth, with happiness and laughter following them everywhere they go.
2. Removing of old stuff from my room so that new things can take over.
3. To see my grandmother and granny still around till the last day of the year and surviving longer after that.