Quiz time!!

What's the meaning of 'Philanderer'??

a) a person who does benevolent deeds annonymously

b) a person who flirts and have relationships with many women

c) a person who collects and studies stamps

d) none of the above

The Realist Meaing of Christmas

In the last post, i left off by saying how hard it was to get Christmas gifts to exchange in the working environment. Unlike giving gifts from parents to children, getting something appropriate and within budget is sometimes hard in this modern times. So to solve this issue, the working adults have come up with a 'wishing tree' or 'wish list' kinda of thing.

This 'wishing tree' or 'wish list' allows colleagues to state what they want as their Christmas gift. Usually there is a limited budget so everyone gets somewhat the same value and nobody is on the losing or wining side of the exchange. On the gift exchange day itself, people get together to eat and drink. While not to spoil the mood, the gift exchange maintains or improves it by allowing receivers to get what they 'wished for'.

So what is the true meaning of the Christmas spirit now? In the past, i was taught that Christmas was the celebration of Jesus Christ birth. His birth was considered the saviour of Man. That is why we sing praises to him and to God on the eve and the day itself.

Now... I think that has waned pretty much. We have changed and accepted the way how people look at this day. The marketing and media has take upon their shoulders to make use of this festive period to garner more sales or publicity. People celebrate the mood whether if they do or do not believe in The Nativity Story. The real world has changed. We celebrate it no matter what, get together with family and friends. Have dinner together and make merry. Maybe that is how we explain why there 'Merry' comes together with 'Christmas'.

So what is my stand? Where do i stand in this Christmas spirit? I'm on the limbo of both, sitting on the fence of both the religious and realist sides. Family members gather together to have dinner and catch up. I see my cousins and nephews whom i doubt remembers me much. But... That is how i celebrate Christmas. That is how i see Christmas through my eyes.

Christmas = Mad rush for Christmas Presents

I'll usually save up for my Christmas spendings. Such like start saving $5 a week and end up with more than $100 for my presents shopping spree. This year, i'm torn with last minute spendings. Such has caused quite a dent in my wallet. Well... Less shopping for myself and more running, swimming and staying home to relax then.

I started my Christmas shopping early this year, had lots of time on hand to burn anyway. It felt like the entire Singapore was out shopping instead of staying at home. Car parking was limited, the malls were crowded and patrons were lining up outside restaurants. I manage to get what i need before i escaped the massive crowd. I came to conclude why is Christmas not only a religious or festive mode, but also a marketing and sales upturn too.

The Christmas spirit is about sharing the love with friends and family. Sharing what you have with strangers and making them feel the warmth in their hearts though its cold outside. But in sunny Singapore, there is seldom a cold moment. It is cold when it is raining, else it's just another hot and humid day. And... With the festive season, companies used it to foster better working relationships by having Christmas dinners and presents exchange programme. This... Became a huge problem for most of my friends.

As you are working in an environment where you see the same people 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. That adds up to more than 40 hours a week if you include overtime. So now you are tasked 'involuntarily' to buy a Christmas present to exchange. What you do? Plus it is always hard when buying gifts for friends of the opposite sex, especially the guys. Guys get it easy as there are tons of stuff marketed at the female population of this world. But the guys usually wants something small yet so expensive. So in comes the unisex gifts such as the daries, calendars, fancy notebooks, etc. These are not only considered the 'safe zone' of gifts for the mysterious receiver, also playing it safe by the mysterious giver.

In the next post, i shall talk more about this gift exchange programme. How it has improved, what it meant now to celebrate Christmas with working colleagues and how the real world changed the true meaning of The Christmas Spirit.

Boom De Ya Da!

Love this commercial when i returned back to SG and started watching some of my favourite TV channels such as Nat Geo and Discovery channels. There is this song that really get me hooked on to it. Check it out, its kinda nice and catchy.

Click here to see the tv commercial

So i survived...

Yea... After a gruelling 42km of pain, i survived through it all. Though it was not all fine and dandy, it was still an achievement. If you ask me now if i wanna do it again next year, i wouldn't agree on it. Maybe another 2-3 months, perhaps i'm sane enough to sign up for it again.

So this major event has passed... Next on list are Christmas Dinner. There are lots of things for me to do, stuff that involves me and stuff that do not. It is tough to make decisions when you do not know the imminent outcomes are. This adds further stress to the planning and execution i have to do.

During the marathon, i have thought of disappearing again. Take my passport, enough clothes and begin on a journey. Get away from all the mobile phones, all the MSN, all the emailing and just disappear. I remember vividly how my parents missed me while i was away, backpacking for my 1st time, for two months. My parents only bothered to find out where i was when they didn't see me for consecutively two days. Well... Back then, i did leave a message for them. In case they report to the police or otherwise.

Times have changed... Back then, i was a young kid. Nothing to be responsible for, nothing to fight for, nothing to work hard for. All i had was time, freedom and my friends. How i miss those days...

Whoa... It's one month since last post!!

I just realise i had a blog myself. Guess i have been too busy with stuff and such that i simply forgotten to update this online diary of mine. Alright, shall keep make this post simple and summarise what i have done in the past week.

Nov 9th - Nov 15th
Came home on a early flight and went out for dinner with my parents. Had quite a nice dinner as it was quite a long time since i had good food. Muahahaha... Also met up with friends to catch up. Had dinner together and lots of chatting again.

Nov 16th - Nov 21st
It was another week of hectic meet ups. Met up with my gang of friends from Melbourne for dinner, had crab which i missed pretty badly. Also a small meeting up with my old friends from my internship days. It has been quite a long time since we last met, the last round when i was back, i didn't had time to meet them so i was glad to meet them and find all of them doing very well in life. On the 21st, it was my trip to Sydney on the A380. More in the next paragraph.

Nov 22 - Nov 29th
I was in Sydney. The plane ride was amazing. Best flight experience ever. The size of the seats, the quality of the food and the ambience... It was something that set the bar higher. I've taken business class before but this is waaaaay beyond that level. Enjoyed myself while in Sydney and met up with a friend which i have not met since 2003. 5 years can really make a lot of difference. And the weekends of the week was spent shopping at the IT sale. Didn't buy alot but i did buy what i needed.

Nov 30 - Dec 7th
Nothing much happened this week but it was more of recuperating from all that travelling. Had an offer for internship which i rejected. Yea... I know, dumb choice but i believe that work can always come later, family, friends and loved ones always come first. Yesterday and today was out and about. And this weekend is gonna be a rush of events for me again. Wedding dinner and the standard chartered marathon. If i survive and live through the marathon, i will make sure i post online again. Else check for my news on the papers!! Hahaha...