Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa

It has been ages since we went pak-toring (other than shopping for baby stuff and occassional dining out) ... Chanced upon this promo when surfing net last night ... Hmmm, set me thinking "Why not ...."

So, decided to plan a surprise for my wife ... this morning, told her that tonight will bring her to some new place but didn't say where ... keeps the suspense ... heehee

Guess the place?? ... Universal Studios Singapore !! at Resorts World Sentosa ... finally we are going there after it opened its doors couple of months back

The drive there was uneventful ... heavy traffic as usual on CTE towards AYE, near PIE exit ... upon entering the bridge to Sentosa, keep left and enter the RWS carpark, else have to pay admission fee to Sentosa lor

Looking for a place to park was harder than i thought ... many many cars ... haiz ... eventually parked and had to walk some distance back to get to the escalator up to Universal Studios

Bought the tickets @ $2 each

and we went to check out the Hershey's store, near the entrance ... You won't miss it ... and next to that is a small store selling popcorn ... wow, long Q (must be good lor, typical Singaporean style, see got Q, must join in ... lol)

Tasted the different flavours first (can try one, good ah) and then decided to get a small pack of cashew caramel crisp popcorn ... guess the price!! woo hoo ....

Alright! Time to go in ....

This is the start of Hollywood street




A few of the shops selling stuff and makan ...

even got a cinema "Pantages" which was screening "Shrek 2" tonight ... tickets are only $3 each

and we met Shrek and Fiona "LIVE" !! Wow ...



Here they are walking past Eunice :)

My wife and daughter ... They are the best and greatest!!

Took a photo of my new ride :P ... lol

And rested our tired legs, to wait for the fireworks show to start ....

But then, 8pm came and went, still no fireworks?!?
Asked around and the staff says there isn't any fireworks show at all leh ...

Hmmm, sure bo? We tot everyday got fireworks (machiam Disneyland), both of us also blur blur ... lol

Took some more photos (till camera bo battery liao, oops, forgot to charge full) and then, time to go back home!!

A long walk back to the car .....

Till then, next time perhaps .....

Tweaks and Themes

One of the things i like to do every now and then is to play around with tweaks and themes, be it OS desktop or mobile phone.

But somehow never got around to designing and coding one of my own .... hmmm .... maybe next time will do one ... heehee

Here's my current desktop, which i am quite happy with at the moment ... it is using Rainmeter as the customization engine.

Credit goes to Lightning at Sunset and Customize Your Own Killer "Enigma" Desktop

Love and Time

Writer Gary Jennings said this: "Love and time, those are the only two things in all the world and all of life, that cannot be bought, but only spent."

I love that. And HOW I spend my love and time is what it is all about.

My work and interests require me to spend probably an inordinate amount of time in front of my computer. At least according to my wife Bev.

She and I were talking one day about death and funerals and what to do with each other's remains. I asked. "What will you do with my body? Burial? Cremation?"

She answered, "I think I'll just have you stuffed and propped up in your chair by the computer. That way when I walk through the room I won't even notice that you're gone."

I got the point - too much computer time. And how I spend my time and my love is all important.

The question I ask myself is this: "Do I generously and freely give love and time away - and especially to those closest to me?"

Charles Francis Adams was the United States ambassador to Great Britain during the Lincoln administration. He had the habit of keeping a daily diary. He also taught his son Brooks the value of journaling his activities in a diary.

One memorable day, eight-year-old Brooks recorded, "Went fishing with my father, the most glorious day of my life." It must have been a glorious day, for the next forty years Brooks repeatedly mentioned it in his diary. It became a life-long memory.

His father also wrote about the fishing trip. His own diary on that pivotal day for his son reads, "Went fishing with my son; a day wasted."

He didn't get it. That one single day he generously and freely gave love and time away to Brooks may have been the one of the most important days of his son's life. Did he feel that, as a United States ambassador, his time was too valuable to be "wasted" with his children? History seems to show that a fishing trip with his son paid huge dividends in Brooks' life.

I only hope I will spend love and time so well.

-- Steve Goodier

The Rose

A nice song to relax on a rainy Sunday morning ....

Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
and you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
who cannot seem to give,
and the soul afraid of dyin'
that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been to long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong,
just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed that with the sun's love
in the spring becomes the rose.

A Day of Indulging

Been a while since we pamper ourselves ...

Body massage and facial at Spa Dor ---> $60
Subway melt sandwich ---> $13
Strolling hand in hand along Orchard Road ... in the rain ---> Priceless

Hahaha ... Ya, the rain came pouring down ....

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me

Ice Cream !!!

Mmmm .... slurp slurp

Dad's For Life

A heartwarming video about fathers, for fathers

First produced for the Dads for Life movement by the National Family Council and Fathers Action Network to encourage fathers in Singapore to be more involved in their children's lives.

Commissioned by the Ministry Of Community Development, Youth and Sports (Singapore), Little Red Ants Creative Studio is proud to work on this project with renowned photographer and first-time director Tay Kay Chin.

Makan Oishi Food

We went ...
We ate ...
We left ...

Burp ...

Be part of the Happiness Revolution

All how you choose to think about life

We are already in 2010!!

Wow, time flies, no matter whether you are having fun or not ... So, why not be happy and smile while time passes you by?

It's all how you choose to think about life ...

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS DINNER IS HOT DOGS TONIGHT
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE


FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS


FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME
NOT ON THE STREETS


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT


FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME


FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH


FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM


FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR


FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE


AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I work with
BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun!!


AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL

BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME

Share this with someone you care about ... I just did :)

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!


If you like this, here are some more:

Be thankful for what you have
Feeling More Thankful

Never Too Late

Katharine Hepburn once said, "Life is hard. After all, it kills you." And it can kill you early if you don't figure out how to change. Let me explain.

The expression "turning over a new leaf" refers to turning pages of a book. Just as the plot of a novel changes from page to page, people, too, can change their lives. Indeed they have to if they are to live well.

I enjoy reading about ancient cultures. And it occurs to me that most of the old civilizations are gone. Some have left little behind except ruins and rubble. What happened? Where are the people, their music and ideas? Why are they nothing more today than a collection of stones visited by tourists and curious historians?

The answer, of course, is not the same the world over. But Arnold Toynbee, in his work THE STUDY OF HISTORY (1987), says that the great lesson of history is this: civilizations that changed when confronted with challenges thrived. Those that did not change died. In other words, when life got hard, it killed off those who didn't make needed changes. The key to survival is often about "change."

And what about us? What about you and me? It's good to accept ourselves as we are, but when an unhealthy attitude or a destructive behavior gets in the way, when we wish we could change something about ourselves, we had better change. People who embrace change thrive; those who resist it die.

If you have been waiting for a sign to make that needed change, this may be it. I am convinced that it is never too late to be the person you might have been. It's never too late to be happy. It's never too late to do something different or to do something better. It's never too late to change a habit. It's never too late to live.

Begin making that necessary change today. Then tomorrow, and every tomorrow thereafter, can truly be different.

-- Steve Goodier

The Gift

A story about an old Bendix washing machine helped one man get through the valley of loss.

His parents acquired the washer when John Claypool was a small boy. It happened during World War II. His family owned no washing machine and, since gasoline was rationed, they could ill afford trips to the laundry several miles away. Keeping clothes clean became a problem for young John's household.

A family friend was drafted into the service, and his wife prepared to go with him. John's family offered to store their furniture while they were away. To the family's surprise, the friends suggested they use their Bendix while they were gone. "It would be better for it to be running," they said, "than sitting up rusting." So this is how they acquired the washer.

Young John helped with the washing, and across the years he developed an affection for the old, green Bendix. But eventually the war ended. Their friends returned. In the meantime he had forgotten how the machine came to be in their basement in the first place. When the friends came to take it away, John grew terribly upset -- and let his feelings be known.

His wise mother sat him down and said, "Wait a minute, Son. You must remember, that machine never belonged to us in the first place. That we ever got to use it at all was a gift. So, instead of being mad at it being taken away, let's use this occasion to be grateful that we had it at all."

The lesson proved invaluable. Years later, John watched his eight-year-old daughter die a slow and painful death of leukemia. Though he struggled for months with her death, John could not really begin healing from the loss until he remembered the old Bendix.

"I am here to testify," he said, "that this is the only way down the mountain of loss...when I remember that Laura Lou was a gift, pure and simple, something I neither earned nor deserved nor had a right to. And when I remember that the appropriate response to a gift, even when it is taken away, is gratitude, then I am better able to try and thank God that I was ever given her in the first place."

His daughter was given to him to love and nurture. She never belonged to him, but he had the awesome privilege of sharing her life for a while. When he realized that simple fact, everything changed. He could now begin healing from the tragedy of her loss by focusing instead on the wonder of her life. He started to see Laura Lou as a marvelous gift that he was fortunate enough to enjoy for a time. He felt grateful. He found strength and healing. He finally knew he could get through the valley of loss.

We all experience loss -- loss of people, loss of jobs, loss of relationships, loss of independence, loss of esteem, loss of things. What if you view that which is lost as a gift you were given for a time? Perhaps that simple choice of trying to reframe your loss will change sad memories into thankful ones. And perhaps it will get you unstuck and back on the road to healing and wholeness.

-- Steve Goodier

Letting Your Soul Catch Up

Did you know that practicing some form of relaxation is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself? Taking time each day to quiet your mind and breathe deeply, can make a big difference in how you feel throughout your day and into the night. And dedicating a day every week for mental and spiritual renewal is equally important.

We're told that the word "relax" has its origin in the Latin word "relaxare," which means "to loosen." When we relax, we are in effect loosening tension, releasing tightly held energy and letting go. From the state of relaxation we can experience calm peacefulness.

Another great word is the Hebrew word "Shabbat" which, of course, is a day of rest. But it quite literally means to "quit; stop; take a break." Whatever you are doing, stop it. Whatever you are saying, be quiet. Sit down and take a look around. Don't do anything. Don't say anything. Fold your hands. Take a deep breath...

Extended periods of rest are a biological necessity. The human body is like an old-fashioned wind-up clock. If it is not rewound by rest, ultimately it will run itself down.

A group of Americans made a trip with Brazilian natives down the Amazon River. The first day they rushed. The second day they rushed. The next day they rushed. One day, anxious to continue the trek, they were surprised to find the natives seated together in a circle.

When asked the reason for the delay, a guide answered, "They are waiting. They cannot move further until their souls have caught up with their bodies."

Do you owe yourself time to let your soul catch up with your body?

-- Steve Goodier

Shell Fuel Promotion

A lazy saturday ... Went to queue up for the Shell fuel promotion - $1 per litre of FuelSave 95 or 98 ... just for today only, 10am till 6pm

Many, many cars in the long queue indeed ... were you one of them??

Pumped a full tank of petrol, went home to lim kopi and take photos of the never-ending queue ... lol

Luckily got Cisco police to control the traffic, if not, i am sure there will be ppl who try to cut queue ... then, will be chaos!!

Today is Friday

Been a while since my last post ... How's life for you?

Me ... Started a new chapter in my life ...

- Become a father to Eunice Ng, our baby girl
Here's a slideshow i did for her full month!!




- Bought my first new car
.... after 10 years ago, when i bought my first second-hand car in 1999, later sold off to scrapyard, before i ORD in 2003

Buying car is a liability, if dun need, better save the money ... Mainly, i buy for convenience sake cos need to use for work and family, rather than spending money on taking cab and still need to wait for cab some more ... hahaha

Was deciding between these few models:

Suzuki Swift - 1.5l engine power, comes with pretty good options, price around 55k after cash rebate

Honda Fit - 1.3l, good fuel consumption, can get between 14 to 16km per litre (for auto) but price quite ex, around 60k

Kia Picanto - 1.1l, drives well, decent fuel consumption (between 12 to 14km per litre for auto), a good Point A to B car, price 43k

After doing my sums, i decided on Kia Picanto cos i just need a budget car, dun want to spend too much.

Went down to C&C to test drive ... end up couldn't get any freebies from the agent, only neg for remote alarm ... lol ... which i thought should come as standard!? wtf ... also have to pay extra 1k for factory fitted leather seats and 500plus for paint protection and rust proofing ... haiz, what to do ...

A consolation is that the agent really help to push hard for the delivery ... I got the car in just 2 weeks after booking and successful COE bidding ... Woo hoo!! That was fast ...


On hindsight, i should have booked the car in Apr or May 09, when COE was just about 5k and Kia Picanto only cost around 33k ... that is a massive 10k discount wor


- At work
... closing off 2 projects, so not too stressed out now, can take a breather before moving on to next project


That's all i have for today ... Enjoy the weekend!!

You can shine

Why am i different from others?

Why do you have to be like others?

Our Little Bundle of Joy

Putting It Out There

We used to play spin the bottle when I was a kid," says comedy writer Gene Perret. "A girl would spin the bottle, and if the bottle pointed to you when it stopped, the girl could either kiss you or give you a nickel. By the time I was 14, I owned my own home."

Gotta admire persistence. Because rejection is hard to take. Especially when it comes from someone you know. Or, come to think about it, someone you don't know.

And we all want to be appreciated. We like being valued for what we do and who we are.

American football coach Bum Phillips lives in a world where one can become a hero or a heel in an amazingly short time. One mediocre season and a coach, even a good one, can be out of a job. Like Phillips once said, "There's only two kinds of coaches -- them that's been fired and them that's about to be fired." Sounds like they might want to make friends with rejection.

Few things hold people back more than the fear of rejection. They don't ask for what they need because the answer may be no. They don't ask their boss for a raise or for more time off. They don't ask for help. They are afraid to be the first to say "I love you" (what if they don't hear "I love you" back?). They don't ask for a better deal or a lower interest rate. They don't submit that manuscript to a publisher. In short, they don't let their wants and needs be known, for fear of being turned away, turned down or turned out.

But the wonderful truth is this: If you can accept NO for an answer, you can ask for anything. ANYTHING. When no is an acceptable and okay answer to what you'd like, you can fearlessly ask for whatever you need.

I love the expression, "I'm just putting it out there." Just put it out there. Ask. And don't worry about the response. Nobody can say YES if you never asked. Just put it out there and don't be afraid -- you may be surprised at the answer you get. Sometimes people just need to be asked. And if you don't get the response you want, are you any worse off than before?

Hey -- I'm just putting it out there.

-- Steve Goodier

Happy Dancing

Always can't resist smiling whenever I see this ...



Here's the english version ...



And it all started because of this one guy ...

14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands.
Thanks to everyone who danced with me.

- Matt Harding



This is his story

Up, Up and Away

The movie "Up" touches our hearts. It prompts us to reflect on life's unfinished business and our tendencies to put even the biggest dreams on hold while we go through life's ups and downs.

In a silent, flashback montage and less than 5 mins, we went through the decades that Carl and Ellie spent together, this is the first touching moment, can't help shedding some tears.

When Ellie passed away, she leaves behind a scrapbook as well as a very grumpy widower, who retreats into himself. After an unfortunate incident, Carl was about to be evicted from his home and then, he got a plan. Using thousands of colored balloons tied to the house, prying it from its foundation and carrying it up skyward, Carl intends to fly it to South America, fulfilling Ellie's dream of going to Paradise Falls, somewhere in South America.

Here comes the funny parts - Russell (a chubby Junior Wilderness Explorer), Kevin (a brillantly coloured rare bird) and Dug (the talking dog), laugh so much here.

From left to right: Dug, Kevin, Russell and Carl

More touching moments:

Russell recalling time spent with his dad - "Sometimes the boring stuff is what I remember most."
Ellie's adventure book - Carl was her adventure, not really going to South America.
Carl pinning the Ellie's badge on for Russell - "for a boy who showed true courage, going above and beyond his duties."

Poignant, emotional, endearing, enlightening, thought-provoking, and enjoyable - go, watch it.

P.S. - I love the music
 

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Happy 44th Birthday, Singapore!!

Last year, we celebrated with Carls Jr burgers, Anderson's ice cream and champagne at a Ritz Carlton suite while watching the preview parade from above.

This year, we had a simple and delicious dinner of Teochew Porridge (but we ate rice ... lol) at Joo Chiat.

After we are done ... Imagine the 2 of us (oh, it's 2 and a half) managed to finish all that food, no wonder my spare tyre keep getting bigger and bigger ...

And watching the parade on TV ...

On our way back, we saw lots of policemen and a VVIP entourage, en route to the parade ...

Guess who!!

Clue: SM Goh is already seated at the parade. So it could only be ...

Actually, to us, 9 Aug is more than celebrating the nation's birthday.

It's our first date, 4 years ago, when we went to watch the fireworks together.

That's when it all started :)

Mind Movies

What Exactly Is a Mind Movie?

A Mind Movie is a short 3 minute video filled with powerful affirmations, and emotionally inspiring images. By watching this video twice a day you are commanding the universe to bring you the people, and resources required to make your dreams a reality.

Thousands of people have already discovered the life changing power of Mind Movies, and have decided to make their own. (Often with truly unbelievable results)

A quote by Napoleon Hill, the author of "Think and Grow Rich"...

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, It Can Achieve."

Check out this awesome mind movie from personal development junkie, Alex Cattoni. Want proof that this works? She’s only 23 and she’s already managing a multimillion dollar company, lives a lifestyle only CEOs dream of retiring into, and is a world class photographer.



Want to know how she created her mind movie?? Very easy, if you have ever done presentations for work using Powerpoint or photo slideshows for wedding using Windows Movie Maker, etc, it is along the same lines ... You can make your own mind movie too ...

No One to Phone

One afternoon after the death of her grandfather, Carol lay huddled on her bed, sobbing forlornly. Her mother sat beside her and asked, "What's the matter, honey?"

"I miss my grandpa, and I miss talking to him about my problems," the girl said.

"I know, dear," sympathized her mother. "I miss him too. But can't you talk to me?" Carol shook her head vehemently.

"Why not?" her mother persisted.

"Because you're what we talked about," sobbed Carol.

Children may not always confide in their parents. And adults may choose not to confide in many of their friends and family. But it is important to have someone with whom we can be emotionally intimate.

Tragically, it has been estimated that the majority of men, and many women, have nobody they could phone at 2:00 in the morning if their lives fall apart. They believe there is nobody who really wants to hear from them in a crisis. Too many of us are utterly without close and intimate friends.

The philosopher Goethe once observed, "The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth an inhabited garden."

Who can you be vulnerable with? Is the earth, for you, more like a lonely desert or an inhabited garden? The difference may simply be in whom you feel free to call at your most wounded moments. Do you have such a person? And are you such a person for someone else?

As it has been said, "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

If we are to find the kind of friend who knows the song in our hearts, we must also BE that kind of friend. And since good friends take time to grow, today is a good day to work on those friendships.

-- Steve Goodier

Take Lots of Breaks to Get More Done

What if you could get more done by working less? Everyone wants that, right?

But that’s obviously not the way most of us work. We think that in order to get more done and be more productive, we need to increase our effort and time.

That’s the obvious, intuitive answer. But the less obvious — the counter-intuitive approach of working less and taking more breaks — gets better results.

Article by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead


Continue reading ...

Gran Turismo

Gran Turismo 5 for PS3 ... coming soon




Gran Turismo Mobile for PSP ... Oct 1 2009 ??

Ice Age Weekend

Watched Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs over the weekend.
Quite a funny show, lots of laughther in the cinema ... hahaha

Got a new character in the movie, Buckminister or Buck for short ... Like this part ...

Buck: "Listen! The wind! It’s speaking to us."

Eddie: "What's it saying?"

Buck: "I dunno. I don't speak wind."

Wahahaha

And there were some heartwarming moments, too ...

When Ellie the female mammoth gave birth to a little baby mammoth, so cute ... and named her Peaches, after the codeword they use if Ellie was going into labour.

And Mannny the male mammoth cuddling little Peaches ... so sweet

This aptly remind me of my baby girl, coming in Sep 09 .... oh, my :)

End Of The World

Will the world really end on 21 Dec 2012?

Watch these interesting documentaries on Youtube, posted by fellow blogger MoMo

Breathless

A couple of days back, was in the library when a small blue hardcover - "breathless" by Lurlene McDaniel, caught my eye ... Picked it up and read the intro ... Here it goes:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don't know me yet, but please read this before you begin.

Most people believe they have a clear idea of what's right and wrong. Many say they know how they'll act, or how they'll handle an extreme situation. But to be honest, no one knows. Not really.

Even if you say, "I'll never do this or that!" it actually might not be true. Because none of us truly knows what we'll do when the circumstances become so overwhelming and complex that we can't even tell right from wrong. And then there are the totally unforeseen situations, when life deals cards you never expected, or when something that's considered wrong morphs into something right and your mind determines that what once was the rule is not written in stone. Even if this has never happened to you, I'll bet you understand exactly what I'm talking about.

This is what happened to me. I thought I had standards. I believed in my absolutes. I did for most situations. Then I didn't. As time went on, my world turned gray and my absolutes became murky. Right and wrong dissolved into what I knew I had to do.

Please don't judge me until you hear my story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, did this arouse your curiosity enough to read the book? Well, it did for me and I find it a good and short read (by my standards, not sure about yours)!!

You can check it out at the library if you are slightly interested. Hehehe :)

A relaxing weekend

Well, that was last weekend ... Went with my missus to Spa Dor, she did facial and i had a tui na massage, gua sha and cupping session.


My back ended up like that :D

According to the masseuse, my body too heaty, that's why the colour is so purplish red. If do this more often and eat less heaty, deep fried food, then will not be so jialat. But that means less KFC, less nasi lemak, less laksa and more $$$ on massage ... wah piang eh!!

Maybe a cheaper alternative ... no heat that a few botak coconuts can't cure ... hahaha ... 95 cents only, from NTUC fairprice, cheaper than those at pasar malam, only that u got to chop them open yourself ... kekeke

Look at these cute doggy

This pic reminds me of the dog Marley in the movie "Marley & Me".

Happy Rainbow: Look at these cute doggy

I did it my way

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life thats full.
I've traveled each and evry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

freecycle - changing the world one gift at a time

A couple of months back, i chanced upon this SgFreecycle group, which is part of the Freecycle Network that started in Tucson, Arizona in May 2003 by Deron Beal and has since spread worldwide, to over 85 countries, where there are thousands of local groups representing millions of members -- people helping people and "changing the world one gift at a time".

What's that all about?

In a nutshell, it means to give away stuff you do not need at home to other people for free, instead of throwing away and ending up in landfill, wasting resources.

I have been selling my unwanted stuff online in Yahoo Auctions (which has since closed down) and eBay. So, i was thinking ... why not do my part and give some stuff to others for free, if they need it more than i do ... Hmmm ... pondering and scratching chin

Alright, i started to look around for something that can be my first gift in this SgFreecycle group.

Got it!! My Sony PlayStation One game console ... It's been lying around for a couple of years, rarely used, as there were no more new games since PS2 and PS3 came out and i got myself a PSP. LOL

Oh, well, i took it for a test drive to make sure it is still working good, did a clean up and packed all the accessories and games ... and posted my first post and went to bed.

The next morning, i log in to my email inbox and got a shock ... Wow, i got over 80 unread mails !?! Seriously, for a moment, i thought the spam filter was not working ... hahaha

Well, looks like my Sony PS One still quite high in demand, ya ... Then, i realised my mistake ... I put in my post that "first to email and collect gets the item" ... Now, thinking back, why did i put that? I also dun know, maybe for convenience sake, as i did not expect to get many responses, so just give to the first person who ask for it.

In actual fact, after reading through all the emails (Yes, i read them all and in the end, it came up to over 100 emails in total), i realised that those who responded falls into 4 groups:

1. Those who are nearly always online or just happen to be at the right time when i posted (the first email was just shortly after my post)

2. Those who genuinely want or need the item and would state their reasons in the email

3. Those who are just trying their luck to see if they can get the item since it is free (no harm trying but please be more polite when asking)

4. Those who think they already own the item and want to get it (huh !?! wtf)

As you can see, i would love to give to people in Group 2 as above ... but since this was my first post and so, due to my inexperience, i have to honour my words and ended up giving to someone in Group 1 ... But, it's ok lah, still benefit someone, though not the way i expected it to be. So, ok, next time would be better. But somehow, i still feel a bit sad and guilty that i have to disappoint those people in Group 2.

Since then, i have gone on to give away more items:

- hard disk
- power supply
- mp3 player
- portable VCD player
- table lamp
- phone accessories

I have been having fun, reading through all the emails and then deciding who to give the item to. So, to those whom i have given stuff to, hope you enjoy using them.

I will continue to do my part for Singapore Freecycle Network!!

If you are interested to do the same, can just hop on over to the Yahoo group (click on the link above), all you need is a Yahoo email account to get started, giving or receiving. Most important is to have fun and enjoy yourself, giving things away! Woo Hoo ...

Cheers and happy freecycling!! :)