The dreaded day is here earlier than I thoughT!!!!
Just when I was deciding what goodies I should buy from COMEX, a letter comes after lunch from my lawyer, telling me that they've been informed that the developer is projecting to obtain TOP in October 2006, and therefore payment of the balance will be due.
This is a disaster because the money tt's supposed to pay this one is stuck in some FD maturing in JANUARY and MARCH.
After paying off the amount due, I will have a grand total of a few k left in my account. This means I will have a new house with no furniture for at least 3 months. Whoopee do. Oh, and if I get into any accident, then OOPS.
Plus I haven't got ANY bank loan as yet.
I spent the whole afternoon moping, and then went to COMEX but didn't buy a single thing because I am now a pauper.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
It's been an exciting and eventful weekend - Friday we went to watch the Taipei Male Choir - the hall (Singapore Power Auditorium) simply did not do justice to their fantastic voices. Sigh. If only I could sing like the tenors there. Sometimes I wonder if I'm a bass masquerading among the tenors ahhahahaha
It's also heartening to know that they suffer from the same pronunciation problems we have - eg "Can you fieeeel the love tonight", but we could learn a thing or two from their sense of line and how clean their sound is.
We watched The Devil Wears Prada after the concert, and I highly recommend the show to everyone. It reminded me of my first six months at work.
Saturday was pretty much spent at the AGM where the new EXCO was elected - thank god it wasn't me. Spent the night being educated / exposed by YL to cheesy love lines from movies like "to me you're just perfect and my wasted heart will love you until you look like (a dead corpse)". hurhurhurhur. Yah, HOW cheesy.
Sunday I went to test drive many cars, except that without a license nobody let me test drive anything knn so now I have to go back. My 2 friends test drove and I just sat at the back and was an armchair critic. We test drove:
1. Toyota Prius auto - cool car but looks fugly and way too expensive
2. Toyota Vios manual - damn cool car I'm considering
3. Mitsubishi Lancer manual - quite cool also and good value
4. Kia Cerato manual - friend says it was a bit underpowered. seats felt very spongy.
5. Proton Savvy 1.2 AMT transmission - surprisingly powerful and spacious on the inside - friend said the engine was rough. Outside looks fugly.
Proton's QC has not improved - the doors still bloody open and close like a Milo tin can. Wahlau. Needs some serious thought. However, the ride was comfortable (suspension is tuned by Lotus).
6. Honda Civic 1.8 manual - nice car, but saleswoman was a complete bitch (damn condescending) and the car is way overpriced.
Cars I have ruled out:
(a) Kia Picanto: there's no back head rest, and the door handles on the inside look like they ran out of rubber / fabric inside, and recycled some metal material from the car door. Absolutely hideous.
Cars to try:
(a) Hyundai Getz 1.1 manual
(b) Suzuki Swift 1.5 manual / auto
(c) Toyota Vios 1.5 manual / auto
(d) Kia Rio 1.4 / 1.6 manual / auto
(e) Chery QQ!!!! (just for fun - won't buy it)
(f) Honda Jazz
Wah so many more cars to test. I need to get my license.
It's also heartening to know that they suffer from the same pronunciation problems we have - eg "Can you fieeeel the love tonight", but we could learn a thing or two from their sense of line and how clean their sound is.
We watched The Devil Wears Prada after the concert, and I highly recommend the show to everyone. It reminded me of my first six months at work.
Saturday was pretty much spent at the AGM where the new EXCO was elected - thank god it wasn't me. Spent the night being educated / exposed by YL to cheesy love lines from movies like "to me you're just perfect and my wasted heart will love you until you look like (a dead corpse)". hurhurhurhur. Yah, HOW cheesy.
Sunday I went to test drive many cars, except that without a license nobody let me test drive anything knn so now I have to go back. My 2 friends test drove and I just sat at the back and was an armchair critic. We test drove:
1. Toyota Prius auto - cool car but looks fugly and way too expensive
2. Toyota Vios manual - damn cool car I'm considering
3. Mitsubishi Lancer manual - quite cool also and good value
4. Kia Cerato manual - friend says it was a bit underpowered. seats felt very spongy.
5. Proton Savvy 1.2 AMT transmission - surprisingly powerful and spacious on the inside - friend said the engine was rough. Outside looks fugly.
Proton's QC has not improved - the doors still bloody open and close like a Milo tin can. Wahlau. Needs some serious thought. However, the ride was comfortable (suspension is tuned by Lotus).
6. Honda Civic 1.8 manual - nice car, but saleswoman was a complete bitch (damn condescending) and the car is way overpriced.
Cars I have ruled out:
(a) Kia Picanto: there's no back head rest, and the door handles on the inside look like they ran out of rubber / fabric inside, and recycled some metal material from the car door. Absolutely hideous.
Cars to try:
(a) Hyundai Getz 1.1 manual
(b) Suzuki Swift 1.5 manual / auto
(c) Toyota Vios 1.5 manual / auto
(d) Kia Rio 1.4 / 1.6 manual / auto
(e) Chery QQ!!!! (just for fun - won't buy it)
(f) Honda Jazz
Wah so many more cars to test. I need to get my license.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
I confirmed my suspicions today that a lot of the secretaries hate me / badmouth me behind my back. No biggie.
It started in the morning when a secretary sent round an ordering list for lunch. I'm aware of the list but have never been copied (it's fine - I ask the tea lady to buy my lunch). But since I was copied today I placed my order, a bit late. Then while the secretaries were making the calls to order, I suppose the one I e-mailed was a bit paiseh to not add my order, which annoyed the other secretary (extra work I suppose), and she went, quite loudly: "WHOSE IS THIS????". I couldn't hear the rest, but I DISTINCTLY HEARD THE WORDS "there, the AH PUI's one" a few seconds later.
KNN IF I WERE MORE SENIOR I WOULD HAVE DRAGGED THEM TO HR AND GOT THEM FIRED.
wahlau. Talk about rude.
This is the one who kept playing Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" 7 times a day and almost drove me insane until I dropped her boss an e-mail (knowing she'd get a copy of it) gently suggesting that she should buy her secretary some new CDs for Christmas.
Never mind. The rest of the day I was sending about 3,000 pages of documents to the printer, jamming it up for more than an hour. I suppose this didn't really help boost my popularity, but I needed the documents and my secretary was away.
Finished work sort of early, and AHG3 aka the Vampire managed to squeeze a treat out of me and we went to Billy Bombers at Bugis for a milkshake + her dinner. Boy she can really eat.
We discussed the difference between being thrifty, being stingy and being miserly.
Thrifty = not spending much on yourself but relatively generous to others
Stingy = parsimonous towards others
Miserly = stingy to both others and yourself
What an educational dinner!
It started in the morning when a secretary sent round an ordering list for lunch. I'm aware of the list but have never been copied (it's fine - I ask the tea lady to buy my lunch). But since I was copied today I placed my order, a bit late. Then while the secretaries were making the calls to order, I suppose the one I e-mailed was a bit paiseh to not add my order, which annoyed the other secretary (extra work I suppose), and she went, quite loudly: "WHOSE IS THIS????". I couldn't hear the rest, but I DISTINCTLY HEARD THE WORDS "there, the AH PUI's one" a few seconds later.
KNN IF I WERE MORE SENIOR I WOULD HAVE DRAGGED THEM TO HR AND GOT THEM FIRED.
wahlau. Talk about rude.
This is the one who kept playing Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" 7 times a day and almost drove me insane until I dropped her boss an e-mail (knowing she'd get a copy of it) gently suggesting that she should buy her secretary some new CDs for Christmas.
Never mind. The rest of the day I was sending about 3,000 pages of documents to the printer, jamming it up for more than an hour. I suppose this didn't really help boost my popularity, but I needed the documents and my secretary was away.
Finished work sort of early, and AHG3 aka the Vampire managed to squeeze a treat out of me and we went to Billy Bombers at Bugis for a milkshake + her dinner. Boy she can really eat.
We discussed the difference between being thrifty, being stingy and being miserly.
Thrifty = not spending much on yourself but relatively generous to others
Stingy = parsimonous towards others
Miserly = stingy to both others and yourself
What an educational dinner!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
I think this must be one of the most beautiful sacred pieces ever written for a choir. This one was performed at the Choir Olympics 2000. Gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it.
The constant banter between the 4 year old kid and the resident maid ranges from being annoying to somewhat amusing.
(irritating as it precedes my waking up) 7.30 - 8 am (ON THE DOT), everyday: "Mummy mummy.....mummmyyyy, MAHMEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"
(amusing) 12 pm:
Maid in Indon accent: "Don be nawty" (singsong fashion)
Kid: "Kakak NAWTY. HMPH!" (and he actually makes that hmph sound!!!"
(now I want to strangle him) 12.04 pm: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
12.05 pm: heeeheeeheeeeeeee
Talk about crocodile tears. If he were my kid I'd either:
(a) lock him in a room to scream his heart's desire
(b) smack him
(c) scream back (hey, if you can't beat them, join them!)
He reminds me of me when I was young!
(irritating as it precedes my waking up) 7.30 - 8 am (ON THE DOT), everyday: "Mummy mummy.....mummmyyyy, MAHMEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"
(amusing) 12 pm:
Maid in Indon accent: "Don be nawty" (singsong fashion)
Kid: "Kakak NAWTY. HMPH!" (and he actually makes that hmph sound!!!"
(now I want to strangle him) 12.04 pm: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
12.05 pm: heeeheeeheeeeeeee
Talk about crocodile tears. If he were my kid I'd either:
(a) lock him in a room to scream his heart's desire
(b) smack him
(c) scream back (hey, if you can't beat them, join them!)
He reminds me of me when I was young!
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Utter Boredom
I find it ever so amusing that some of my younger friends have nicknames on MSN that go along the lines of "Choir Is mY LiFE".
It's amusing on several levels:
1. The enthusiasm for choir is refreshing.
2. The random capitalisation of sentences is a SKILL which I've often tried to emulate but fail miserably. My SentEncES look UNIformLY CapiTALIsed for somE ReAsOn anD iT TAkES me TwicE aS lOnG to TypE iT.
And then of course there are the youngbie forms of contractions which go like "rot at hm", "hm" being "home" I guess.
It's all very interesting.
The weekend started out pretty fun - Friday evening was the mini concert and we sounded really crappy during the rehearsal but marginally redeemed ourselves at the actual performance although Hainan was out of tune, again.
The rest of Friday was spent at Dawn's house where we watched Harold and Kumar and stuffed our faces on McDonald's and more Zhi Char. Yums. Harold and Kumar wasn't as funny the second time round.
We played some drinking games and, at 5 am, I decided to take a nap, thinking that when day broke we were all going to McDonald's for breakfast. Little did I know that when I woke up, EVERYONE had left. GAH. iOutKasted. The rest of Saturday was spent recuperating by sleeping from 1 - 5 pm. There was about 20 mins of pure indeciveness as I was too tired to go out to eat breakfast/lunch but too hungry to sleep. In the end sleep won precedence.
Saturday night was spent bored as hell - I went to the library and checked out travel books to Tibet and Mongolia and decided there and then that it was too adventurous for me. Too bad - the photo opportunities look really good. And the rest of the night was spent reading Amateur Photography, not learning very much.
And so weekend no. 1 without choir passes. Oh what shall I do from now till November???
It's amusing on several levels:
1. The enthusiasm for choir is refreshing.
2. The random capitalisation of sentences is a SKILL which I've often tried to emulate but fail miserably. My SentEncES look UNIformLY CapiTALIsed for somE ReAsOn anD iT TAkES me TwicE aS lOnG to TypE iT.
And then of course there are the youngbie forms of contractions which go like "rot at hm", "hm" being "home" I guess.
It's all very interesting.
The weekend started out pretty fun - Friday evening was the mini concert and we sounded really crappy during the rehearsal but marginally redeemed ourselves at the actual performance although Hainan was out of tune, again.
The rest of Friday was spent at Dawn's house where we watched Harold and Kumar and stuffed our faces on McDonald's and more Zhi Char. Yums. Harold and Kumar wasn't as funny the second time round.
We played some drinking games and, at 5 am, I decided to take a nap, thinking that when day broke we were all going to McDonald's for breakfast. Little did I know that when I woke up, EVERYONE had left. GAH. iOutKasted. The rest of Saturday was spent recuperating by sleeping from 1 - 5 pm. There was about 20 mins of pure indeciveness as I was too tired to go out to eat breakfast/lunch but too hungry to sleep. In the end sleep won precedence.
Saturday night was spent bored as hell - I went to the library and checked out travel books to Tibet and Mongolia and decided there and then that it was too adventurous for me. Too bad - the photo opportunities look really good. And the rest of the night was spent reading Amateur Photography, not learning very much.
And so weekend no. 1 without choir passes. Oh what shall I do from now till November???
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Thursday, August 10, 2006
The OC
Have started watching my uhm, collection of DVDs from Shanghai, beginning with the OC. I really love to watch the OC. I don't really know why I like it so much. It's so trashy and brainless. Oops - res ipsa loquitur.
I think being an actor must be damn cool, and if I were uhm, starring in the OC, I'd want to be Ryan. He's so cool and all he does is make out with Marissa everyday. How cool is that??? And, regardless of what OTHER ppl say (that I have bad taste in women, as evidenced by the Shanghai roadside noodle seller), I STILL think she's hot so there. The fact that she turns lesbian for a while in Season 2 is
On top of that, the music's really cool. I like this sort of music. Sort of semi-sad and relaxing at the same time and really sets the whole brooding tone to the show. Ok, say it again, t-r-a-s-h-y.
So it's back to work today, and I've been slowly easing back to the flow of work after a long absence. The office looks kinda different as do the Raffles Place surroundings. Have I been away so long? I'm glad there aren't like 10 files piling on my desk calling for my attention, as result of which I went off at 8 pm for drinks before coming home. Must pay attention to work-life balance!!!
Hanging around lawyers can be somewhat toxic - a lot of them just bitch about work and pay all the time which kinda puts a damper on your mood, so I'm glad I have many non-lawyer friends and activities outside the field!!!! If not I'd probably feel suicidal.
Decided that it was time I started to rekindle old friendships and I went for dinner last night with one of them while the rest of the world was going ra-ra at the National Stadium - we're Malaysian so we can't be bothered. Dinner was a simple Katong laksa, followed by a somewhat long walk (we got lost) to see how my apartment is doing - the pool and my block is semi-done, but the wait seems forever!!! - and then a shorter walk back again (didn't get lost this time) to Katong for yoghurt ice dessert. Cheap, simple and unfancy dinner. Said friend is moving to New Zealand in October so it was kinda a catch up thing to see how everyone's doing and what's happening in our respective lives etc.
We kinda concluded that we're not very ambitious people haha. I mean, I don't need to make a million dollars a year to be happy. So er, I guess I'm not gonna be one of those high fliers quoted on various publications as "Brilliant", or "unsurpassed in his field" etc. I can be contented with little things and be a peon forever!!!
Eg: stay in 3-star hotel in China. I could probably afford better, but well, like Kiat says, anything more than 3-stars is just luxury, and I'm happy with it. Eg2 - take budget internal airline. Safety issues aside (I think the plane is damn old), I think it's not really a biggie.
Plus I still take er bus / second class train home to KL when I suppose I could fly back.
Some may call it stingy, or, to be kinder, frugal, but the way I see it, if it's fine with me and I don't need the extra, why bother?
So, there we are, I'm too easily contented and I shall be a peon forever.
Methinks it's time for another episode of the OC. Marissa Marissa Marissa Marissa Marissa. Summer's got big uhm, assets, but she's so bimbotic. Budden, who isn't bimbotic on that show????
Go trash! Trash rulez! (youngbie speak!)
I think being an actor must be damn cool, and if I were uhm, starring in the OC, I'd want to be Ryan. He's so cool and all he does is make out with Marissa everyday. How cool is that??? And, regardless of what OTHER ppl say (that I have bad taste in women, as evidenced by the Shanghai roadside noodle seller), I STILL think she's hot so there. The fact that she turns lesbian for a while in Season 2 is
On top of that, the music's really cool. I like this sort of music. Sort of semi-sad and relaxing at the same time and really sets the whole brooding tone to the show. Ok, say it again, t-r-a-s-h-y.
So it's back to work today, and I've been slowly easing back to the flow of work after a long absence. The office looks kinda different as do the Raffles Place surroundings. Have I been away so long? I'm glad there aren't like 10 files piling on my desk calling for my attention, as result of which I went off at 8 pm for drinks before coming home. Must pay attention to work-life balance!!!
Hanging around lawyers can be somewhat toxic - a lot of them just bitch about work and pay all the time which kinda puts a damper on your mood, so I'm glad I have many non-lawyer friends and activities outside the field!!!! If not I'd probably feel suicidal.
Decided that it was time I started to rekindle old friendships and I went for dinner last night with one of them while the rest of the world was going ra-ra at the National Stadium - we're Malaysian so we can't be bothered. Dinner was a simple Katong laksa, followed by a somewhat long walk (we got lost) to see how my apartment is doing - the pool and my block is semi-done, but the wait seems forever!!! - and then a shorter walk back again (didn't get lost this time) to Katong for yoghurt ice dessert. Cheap, simple and unfancy dinner. Said friend is moving to New Zealand in October so it was kinda a catch up thing to see how everyone's doing and what's happening in our respective lives etc.
We kinda concluded that we're not very ambitious people haha. I mean, I don't need to make a million dollars a year to be happy. So er, I guess I'm not gonna be one of those high fliers quoted on various publications as "Brilliant", or "unsurpassed in his field" etc. I can be contented with little things and be a peon forever!!!
Eg: stay in 3-star hotel in China. I could probably afford better, but well, like Kiat says, anything more than 3-stars is just luxury, and I'm happy with it. Eg2 - take budget internal airline. Safety issues aside (I think the plane is damn old), I think it's not really a biggie.
Plus I still take er bus / second class train home to KL when I suppose I could fly back.
Some may call it stingy, or, to be kinder, frugal, but the way I see it, if it's fine with me and I don't need the extra, why bother?
So, there we are, I'm too easily contented and I shall be a peon forever.
Methinks it's time for another episode of the OC. Marissa Marissa Marissa Marissa Marissa. Summer's got big uhm, assets, but she's so bimbotic. Budden, who isn't bimbotic on that show????
Go trash! Trash rulez! (youngbie speak!)
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Pics!
For the benefit of non choir members:
1. Xiamen Pics
2. Shanghai Pics
I'm sorry they aren't very good - kinda what I'd classify as "travel photos".
1. Xiamen Pics
2. Shanghai Pics
I'm sorry they aren't very good - kinda what I'd classify as "travel photos".
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
Saturday, August 05, 2006
China
Just got back to Singapore. It's kinda surreal to be here - it seems like forever since we left for Xiamen 2 weeks ago. My mandarin has improved somewhat, I even managed to hold a conversation (with Skunk's help) on the plane with a Xiamen native. How impressive is that?
Going back to Xiamen was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride - we walked past the hotel we stayed at during the competition, went to Walmart, went for the blind massage etc, but it's all different without the group being there. I don't really know why I feel more emotionally connected with this trip than in Bremen - perhaps now that I am two years older, its the thought that there aren't that many of these trips remaining before I call it quits. I haven't decided as yet whether to stay on - it's been 5 years since I first joined Chorale, and I wonder whether it's time to move on to other things. That said, I cannot recall when I truly felt more happy or emotionally overwhelmed than when we won the championship on 26 July.
On the other hand, the composition of the people in the group have / will change quite significantly, and last night's outing reminded me of the 10-year age gap between myself and the new members which is somewhat difficult to bridge. We talk and do different things - for example, I fail to see what is so interesting about Polar Bear (it's a game the purpose of which is uhm, to find out the identity of the Polar Bear - substitute "Polar Bear" with flesh eating monster of your choice), or Saboteur, which I played with about half a brain - no offence meant to anyone of course. Whatever happened to Hero Quest, Space Marines, Monopoly, Cluedo, Game of Life, Risk etc which I recall were quite fun when I was younger. Perhaps my attention span has deteriorated somewhat.
Also, it is now Sunday - I am going back to work on Thursday, and I am wondering what I should be doing for the next 3 days and what I should be doing every weekend from now till December. It's terrible. All this free time and nothing to fill it with. Kill me now!
Shanghai was rather fun, and I'm glad we came out of the trip remaining as friends. The trip was rather smooth going, except for er a minor misunderstanding when er we bought double portions of food for dinner by accident, but we kinda just glossed over it and everything was fine after that. The trip basically consisted of shopping, eating and exploring many local eateries, and walking a LOT. I think the eating outstripped the walking, and uhm, a check on the scales this morning uhm, confirmed this. Time to hit the gym.
The people in China kinda sucked, public spitting, lack of social grace etc - I don't think I could live in Shanghai - having to deal with the Metro every morning to work would absolutely kill me. I suppose this will improve with time - as I was trying (very hard) to explain to the China native on the airplane, this is probably just a function of the economy - as the economy becomes more developed, social grace will improve. Right now the mentality of the people is still in the acquisition mode, stemming I suppose from a background where if you did not fight for yourself, you'd just be left behind / starve to death.
Anyways, I'm glad to be back in Singapore, although coming back to this rented room is somewhat a bummer. Had a dream about my (new) apartment last night and I think I can't wait for it to be completed. 6 months will pass in a flash.
Oh look, it has stopped raining - I think I shall go stuff my face now. Crap. I haven't showered or brushed my teeth and it's 12.30 pm. Die.
Going back to Xiamen was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride - we walked past the hotel we stayed at during the competition, went to Walmart, went for the blind massage etc, but it's all different without the group being there. I don't really know why I feel more emotionally connected with this trip than in Bremen - perhaps now that I am two years older, its the thought that there aren't that many of these trips remaining before I call it quits. I haven't decided as yet whether to stay on - it's been 5 years since I first joined Chorale, and I wonder whether it's time to move on to other things. That said, I cannot recall when I truly felt more happy or emotionally overwhelmed than when we won the championship on 26 July.
On the other hand, the composition of the people in the group have / will change quite significantly, and last night's outing reminded me of the 10-year age gap between myself and the new members which is somewhat difficult to bridge. We talk and do different things - for example, I fail to see what is so interesting about Polar Bear (it's a game the purpose of which is uhm, to find out the identity of the Polar Bear - substitute "Polar Bear" with flesh eating monster of your choice), or Saboteur, which I played with about half a brain - no offence meant to anyone of course. Whatever happened to Hero Quest, Space Marines, Monopoly, Cluedo, Game of Life, Risk etc which I recall were quite fun when I was younger. Perhaps my attention span has deteriorated somewhat.
Also, it is now Sunday - I am going back to work on Thursday, and I am wondering what I should be doing for the next 3 days and what I should be doing every weekend from now till December. It's terrible. All this free time and nothing to fill it with. Kill me now!
Shanghai was rather fun, and I'm glad we came out of the trip remaining as friends. The trip was rather smooth going, except for er a minor misunderstanding when er we bought double portions of food for dinner by accident, but we kinda just glossed over it and everything was fine after that. The trip basically consisted of shopping, eating and exploring many local eateries, and walking a LOT. I think the eating outstripped the walking, and uhm, a check on the scales this morning uhm, confirmed this. Time to hit the gym.
The people in China kinda sucked, public spitting, lack of social grace etc - I don't think I could live in Shanghai - having to deal with the Metro every morning to work would absolutely kill me. I suppose this will improve with time - as I was trying (very hard) to explain to the China native on the airplane, this is probably just a function of the economy - as the economy becomes more developed, social grace will improve. Right now the mentality of the people is still in the acquisition mode, stemming I suppose from a background where if you did not fight for yourself, you'd just be left behind / starve to death.
Anyways, I'm glad to be back in Singapore, although coming back to this rented room is somewhat a bummer. Had a dream about my (new) apartment last night and I think I can't wait for it to be completed. 6 months will pass in a flash.
Oh look, it has stopped raining - I think I shall go stuff my face now. Crap. I haven't showered or brushed my teeth and it's 12.30 pm. Die.