水曜日, 4月 27, 2005

Software Specialisation Class Gathering???

I have organised 2 of such gathering. Monday was the 2nd gathering. But i realise that i will no longer organised anymore. Not that it is a sad event, but that i might not suit to organise gathering at all.

First gathering: fish & co, many people did not turn up.. last minute.

Second gathering: Sakae sushi, yet, last minute change to pizza hut. Coz kwet keong cannot wait till 3pm... 3pm becoz sakae buffet starts at 3pm. I considered that the guys is better to eat buffet, that's why i choose sakae buffet. Yet, hai~ Those who confirm wan did come, and the only that did not confirm and yet come is yi zhuang, but... Then koon aik was late, coz he was doing his fyp final report in SSMC... hai~ and only me, grace, jiren and kaiwong waited for koon aik. Kwet keong was going to meet gf so he left 1st, and yi zhuang, he simply have no intention of waiting for koon aik, i guess. kaiwong left after waiting for some time coz he going to eat dinner with mum as early celebration of mothers' day. In the end, grace, jiren and i waited for the BOSS to come... Not long after koon aik reach, grace left to go home and rest as she has to work at night. After makan, koon aik company me to shop around while jiren went home... What a NO FUN day!

兄, 誕生日おめでとう

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to 二哥
Happy Birthday to you

火曜日, 4月 26, 2005

CableTV

Finally end of attachment and is a case of double happiness. First, end of attachment. Second, install CableTV @ $14.70 only per month. I am a maxonline user so StarHub give me 50% discount. Not bad uh. Ok la.. what i really want was to let my daddy watch the "zong yi da ge da". I am not interested in TV at all. I am a VCD person.

BUT... i was a bit glued to the TV since i realise that JET TV (CH 57) is all about Jap!!! So most of my time now is spent gluing to the stupid TV. After all, there are tons of jap drama, old like "long vacation" , "老爸五千金" (jap name:東京庭付き一戶建て), new like "Say hello to BLACKJACK". But then, i need to pay extra $6.30 for JET TV. Ok la, my monthly jap drama vcd is much more than that.

On top of that MTV Mandarin has also a rich "database" of J-pop and J-Rock MTV. So another reason for me to be glued. Saw some old MTV like kinki kids's "passion", but make me so happy.. lol.. i also dunno why. But the MTV really made me attract to tsuyoshi, though koichi is more handsome. heehee

Opps.. needa go shower and watch 東京庭付き一戶建て @ 11pm. Later then blog about yesterday's gathering =(

金曜日, 4月 22, 2005

Bye AH, hello holiday~

2 hours to holiday!! Hooray~!

Just finish packing my stuff that i am gonna bring home. Not that i brought alot of stuff to AH, but that during lunch, i bought cake, "lao po bin" and a pair of jogging shoes. Cake is for my dear jie jie, mummy and daddy coz the cake happens to be the kind they like - soft and "cream-less". "lao po bin" is dad's favourite. Recently did i knew that daddy don't really like the "lao po bin" from hk, becoz it contains preservative. So today i pass by this shop, i decided to buy the "lao po bin" coz it is "today-make-today-sell"

Jogging shoes.. haha.. it is up to you to decide why i buy it.. hohoho..

The StarHub CableTV man is coming tml morning, i will update about it tml.

水曜日, 4月 20, 2005

日記

Really thank xiong for linking me(as 'Jasmine The Manager') at his blog. Arigatou ne~ Coz you are only one who link to me! *sob* Slightly went though his blog and really gonna agree that, xiong, please state it is NC-16.. lol

Finally reaching the end of attachment and i know that i will NOT miss here or anything like that. They have somehow slightly hint both kaiwong and me about continue working. But as kaiwong is going army soon, i might be the only choice left(dunno about DEM's gp). Yet, i keep quiet. Coz i have absolutely no intention of continuing at all. Reason:
1) Pay might not be alot. If you ever read 'THE STRAITS TIMES', Alexandra Hospital is currently developing HealthCare.NET. Plus they going to move to Yishun in 2009, they are kinda tight on their budget. So how much do you think they will pay us to stay?
2) No point have money but cannot spent. Working makes me tired, increasing my rest time but decreasing my shopping time. I hate this! Plus, GSS is coming soon. 26 MAY!
3) Pre-Uni. Once get into uni, means stuck for up to 4 years, so shouldn't i be enjoying myself these few months? i hope to go for a holiday, still planning. Plus, i am considering to take advanced placement tests which means i needa study then. How to work?

火曜日, 4月 19, 2005

Who am I in Disney?

Hahaha... Accuracy:50% coz i am sleepy head, but no beauty~!

You scored as Sleeping Beauty. Your alter ego is Princess Aurora, a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty! You are beautiful and enchanting, and as sweet as ever.

Sleeping Beauty

81%

Cruella De Ville

63%

Cinderella

56%

Snow White

50%

The Beast

50%

Goofy

50%

Donald Duck

44%

Peter Pan

44%

Pinocchio

38%

Ariel

38%

Which Disney Character is your Alter Ego?
created with QuizFarm.com

月曜日, 4月 18, 2005

Distinction? Fly Away

Receive a phone call from a "Mr Cheong" on friday. Not me, but my project partnet kaiwong. He was told that both of us have to be back on Monday(today) for a presentation. Our lecturer recommended us to get "Distinction " for our project, thus we have to present to the director.

The day arrived, but i went unprepared for it. Probably because of the vcds and MU, i almost forgotten about the presentation. Went through the slides just before the presentation, and secretly prepare my "speech" in my heart.

Our turn. Assessors were Mr Daniel Liu and Mr Kelvin Ng. Kinda nervous about it. I presented, follow by kaiwong. Upset by Ng's "uh" look. Worse still, communication problem with Ng. Not me, but kaiwong too, have problem understanding his question. Therefore, we did not perform well in Q & A with Ng, but quite well with Liu

To make things worse, other groups are really doing very well, in comparison, we are NOTHING. I do not expect much, just give me an "A" please.. don't need "Distinction"..

日曜日, 4月 17, 2005

Enlistment か

hai~ all my friends going in army soon~~ (T_T)

yeah, the enlistment letter came and some happy some sad.
Think wei kiat (aka zhang korkor)is the saddest coz he is enlisted in sept and not june. Poor kid.. Don't cry, k. i know you wanna stick with eddie kor kor, but eddie going to be commando, ha!
Think i really going to miss all the guys(and gers) when they are in army, regardless from D1, D4 or software class. boohoo~~
  • miss the ktv session with D4, where nigel just eat, and kangwei just listen.
  • miss the mj session with kwet keong... we must chiong more in May~~
  • miss hazel cruize, darren and roy's guitar, daniel's left-handed bass and xiong's drum. And Man's voice.. *sob*
  • miss all the makan with the software ppl - buffet, wasabi game(yucks)
  • miss the eddie's guitar and "self-composed" music
  • miss the fun with D1, eat, crap, movies~ seeing chink irritating john and john irritating chink
  • miss bullying ppl like shyblush(wei kiat), patrick, kaiwong, sasi blah blah blah
  • miss party(maple and MU) with them
  • miss all the programming discussion, study groups, project discussion, talking from ERP, OOAD, OOP, C++, VB to C#, MFC, APP, CMainWin, midlet, CLIPS, and even Genetic Alogrithm
  • miss famous people like takeshi kaneshiro(koon aik), Ah du(alex), zai zai(patrick aka boss of S&K) and zhang wu ji(wei kiat).. lol
  • miss midnight chats and conferences till morning
  • miss eating at crystal jade with D4
  • miss software class's "chocolate pocky"
  • miss eating lor mee with dustbin kwet(nick from yi zhuang) and auntie grace
  • miss eating KFC with "takeshi" and "shyblush"
  • miss talking about the toilet flushing system(and smart concrete) with grace, delong and darren
  • miss talking about codes on phone
  • miss the time we all curse and swear on some irritating lecturers..
  • miss my ah bangs...

hai~~ too much liao..
guys, jia you in army, don't die under horrible training. Looking forward to see you all pass the horrible 3 weeks and come out with your botak head~ lol

Gambatte ne~ (^_^)

金曜日, 4月 15, 2005

Pre Mothers' Day

According to what i know, this year mothers' day is on 8 May. So currently i am doing "restaurant hunting". I have brought mum to many place to makan, include many japanese restaurants, olio, fish & co, Baker's Inn and blah blah blah. Anyone have good suggestion? Prefer to have at least 3 of the characteristics

1. Japanese food (fresh sashimi and good shisamo prefer)
2. Curry fish head (mum's favourite)
3. Good wine
4. Quality food, not quantity (mum eat little)
5. If is buffet, prefer variety and quality
6. Good ambience
7. Easy to access to "smoking area" (mum's habit)
8. Accessible area, prefer town or located in hotels or mall.
9. Minimum walking distance from taxi(mum is lazy)
10. Price within $120 for a-lar-carte and within $150 for buffet

Next is present: i considering buying a handphone for mum coz the handphone she is currently using is seriously irritating. I do not have a big budget for handphone coz to mum, i know food is most important. The phone just need to have the following "qualification"

1. Can call and sms, don't need stuff like GPRS or wap or bluetooth at all
2. Big screen and font so that mum do not need to strain her eyes
3. Extreme loud ring tone, mum has slight hearing problem, but she can hear if i scold her softly.. haha
4. Prefer to be nokia, coz i can teach mum to use easier, but other brands also ok
5. Not too small buttons. just nice
6. prefer to be within $200 without plan. $200++ is also ok.

All the above might used up one month of my attachment money. But i know it is worth it. (^_^)
*Please comment if you have any suggestion for restaurants or phone. Thanks~

水曜日, 4月 13, 2005

Dolphin and Badges

Bought a blue/white dolphin and 4 badges at a shop at anchorpoint during lunch yesterday. Dolphin, coz i really wan one as it is my lucky object. Moreover blue is my favourite and lucky color.. it is kinda medium size and i can hug it to sleep. but material is so-so..

The 4 badges attracted me for the words they have
1. "I don't have an attitude; I have a personality you can't handle"
2. "I Love My Attitude problem
3. "I AM R(A) Really(Adorable)
My favourite:
4. "I admire lesbians, they leave more men for me."

月曜日, 4月 11, 2005

F.I.R <<无限>>


Click to view bigger picture

Bought <<无限>> last night. It was release on friday, but it was only yesterday that i got a chance to get it. Excited, coz the 1st album was real good. But..



Maybe my expectation is too high? But with such a great starting album, don't you think that the 2nd album will be better? It is not that it is lousy, but just nothing VERY special. Songs in the 1st album trigger lots of thought and memories, while the 2nd album, i feel that it is merely nice songs. No much feelings and thoughts. In the album of 13 songs, i seriously only will recommend 4 of them, after listening to it repeatedly for 2 times.

Songs i recommend:


Track 07 Neverland My Favourite!!
This is the 1st song that i listen to in this album. Coz the title "Neverland" attract me. "Neverland" -> my hometown. The 1st time i come in contact with the word "Neverland" is from a Japanese Drama. It is the title.
Followed by knowing Michael Jackson's home is named "Neverland" and movie "Finding Neverland". What so special? Coz everyone has a "Neverland".

Track 02 千年之恋
Maybe becoz i have already heard it on the TV, but this is the other song that i like. Other from "Neverland", it is the only song that have "feeling". I like the "rock" + piano feeling. If you pay attention to the music, the feeling of orchestra is kinda strong. Seriously, the drum is the best out of the whole song. haha

Track 01 无限
I love the intro!! and the "只有我絕對................................"

Track 09 刺鸟
Other than the above 3, i suggest that you should also listen to this. Like the first and last part of the lyrics.



Click on the to listen to the song online. You might need a real player.
Please buy the album, do not download.


01 无限
02 千年之恋
03 LOVE*3
04 盛宴…
05 应许之地
06 把爱放开
07 NeverLand
08 The Legend 传说…
09 刺鸟
10 爱的力量
11 死心的理由
12 I Can’t Go On
13 What’s Next?


Just my favourite 4 Lyrics, too much to list all


NeverLand
詞:黃漢青(F.I.R.) 曲:黃漢青(F.I.R.) 编曲:黄汉青(F.I.R.)/奥斯卡


開始有一種 冒險的感覺
知道我不能夠後退
翻開了地圖 最遠那一邊
找尋著夢裡的 neverland


用食指朝著 深藍的海面
那力量在心底出現
陣陣的微風 吹的那麼美
我看到夢裡的 neverland


我站在船頭的邊緣
太陽讓我睜不開眼
我堅持不退 跟海風並肩
I will never be afraid


Do my best 把梦实现
走到海的最遥远
就把时间化成永远
找寻新的体验

Do my best 當成信念
航向天的那一邊
拼著地圖 我能找到
心中那座 美麗樂園
Far away 不會累 Find the way


千年之戀
詞:F.I.R./謝宥慧/林志年 曲:F.I.R. 编曲:Terence Teo  


竹林的燈火 島國的沙漠
七色的國度 不斷飄逸風中
有一種神秘 灰色的漩渦
將我捲入了迷霧中
看不清的雙手
一朵花傳來誰經過的溫柔
穿越千年的傷痛 只為求一個結果
你留下的輪廓 指引我
黑夜中不寂寞
穿越千年的哀愁 是你在盡頭等我
最美麗的感動 會值得
用一生守候


無限
詞:F.I.R. 曲:F.I.R. 编曲:奥斯卡


In a small island,
people are still building there,
so called-tradition
Totally controlled by their desires
And listen! Their words
Seeking one more step further to the heaven
Whether you like it or not
The brand new start in 2005
We are F.I.R.


無邊無際無窮 無限蔓延
無道無天無間 無限光遠
無悔無怨無限 無法超越的世界
紅色藍色灰色 黑色警戒
無色有色真實 虛幻空間
都是屬於我們 音樂自由的意念


Hold your tears
No matter what the people say
只有相信一種堅持 一種力量
能把失敗都摧毀


只有我絕對
沒有後路可退
自由去追沒有誰能拒絕
只有我超越
極限你看不見
自由的純粹我能體會


Music and eternity.
Searching for music and eternity.
Now let’s continue our stories about searching the eternity in music.
There is no limit, no extreme, no boundary, no edge.
There is no fear at all.
Let us be faithful to our dream.
We are F.I.R.


刺鸟
词:F.I.R./谢宥慧 曲:F.I.R 编曲:Terence Teo  


也许就是要等 一百个世纪
我们才能够发现 真爱的美丽


龙舌兰的花朵 不代表绚丽 
选择燃烧了自己 将真爱延续 
就像刺鸟的宿命 悲剧却勇敢 
用生命交换结局的灿烂 
天上的风被谁推开 温暖的手是你的爱 
我还在等待等待你的爱 真实呼喊 
天空晴朗心情很蓝 紧握的手绝不松开 
怎么不回来怎么不回来 刺鸟呼唤


天上的风被谁推开 温暖的手是你的爱
我还在等待等待你的爱 真实呼喊
天空晴朗心情很蓝 紧握的手绝不松开
我穿越伤害最美的答案 是你的爱

You are what you eat~

This is about me:

You have confidence in your ability to get things done. You are a leader among friends, and a good one too. You are responsible and like to challenge yourself by taking up difficult tasks - and you usually succeed.

You are always wilful and most of the time, you are a stubborn person. But you love to work and are quite honest, which makes you good to get along with as a friend or lover.

You think positively about the people around you and are never prejudiced. This means other see you as a kind and gentle person. They enjoy listening to what you have to say because they respect you.

You are logical, smart and inventive. Sometimes you are too cold and selfish.

How true? Write comments.


Try it



土曜日, 4月 09, 2005

Finally....

NUS send me a letter. Yes! Letter to offer me admission to NUS in academic year 2005- 2006 for a course of study in:
COMPUTING

Lucky!! Though it is a conditional offer, but the condition is that i successfully complete my diploma studies before the commencement of academic year 2005-2006. Shouldn't be a big problem right? Especially that i am now in attachment liao...

The letter came with lots of information attached, make me happy and worry at the same time. Worry about all the advanced placement test. Though i am still considering about it, but who do not wish to graduate earlier?
So dear friends, if you happen to be NUS student, please help me get reading materials or information about the following modules.

MA1301 Introductory Mathematics
CS1101 Programming Methodology
CS1102 Data Structure and Algorithms
CS1104 Computer Organisation
CS2102 Database Systems
CS2105 Computer Networks 1

I am consider taking these advanced placement test to skip these modules so that i have lesser modules to take in uni. So might have to "study" during the 3 - 4 months "holiday" hai~

Though disappointed that BI and IT can get immediate exemption, while EI cannot, but... i might not get into uni at all if i don't take EI right? Things have pros and cons~

金曜日, 4月 08, 2005

漫画

I just realise that some comics are ban(ok, i sua ku). Thanks to a ger who i never met before. We happen to have same interest in anime, comics and MAKOTO, that's why we were sort of in contact. She mention in her blog that the comics we like are ban. i get what she mean. It doesn't mean that the comics that we like are porno, but she mean that the comics that we like are indirectly affected by the porno comics and kana ban at the same time.

The comics that i like(e.g kaikan phrase) are drawn by Shinjo Mayu, it is a story about a high school girl's romance with the lead singer of lucifer(a japanese rock band). The comics has been "film" as animation, where the story change to focus on the band instead of the girl. But everything is fine~
So why should these comics should be ban too?

Whose's fault?

1) Shop: the comics shop that i used to patrol(before the ban) always check our age before letting us read the comics that might contain explict materials. Coz some comics are not suitable for below 18. The comics shop, that "ms tan"(mrs tan's daughter) patrols, is absolutely doing the wrong thing. The shop owner should be punished.

2) Mrs Tan: I somehow feel that she has overdone it. Youngsters are always exploring new stuff that they never try before. Instead of trying to stop them from exploring, why not explain to them the effect of it?
I recall that she mention that she is afraid that her daughter will end up like the Toa Payoh case whereby the university student threw her baby down the rubbish chute.

Let me emphasis one point:
[!= means not equal(programming language)]
reading comic != sex != pregnancy != baby discard

How can u link everything together? reading comics leads to baby discard? There are many people who read such comics, does it means that they all tried sex and result in baby discard? or is she trying to say that all unwed mum discard their babies? Or should i say that she should go and ask that university student and see whether she has ever read such comics? Atrocious! What logic is that?

Family teaching is very important.
Mrs Tan, if you do communicate well with "ms tan", she not be rash in such issue regardless of what she read or see.

In my opinion, baning comics does not help at all. Coz you can ban it, but people can still find source online, which might be 100 times worse that what they are reading now!!! The more you don't give them, the more they will try to get it. Youngster are like that. I am once a youngster, aren't you?

Think about it.

木曜日, 4月 07, 2005

日記

Attachment.
Just another day at work. Hai~ count down 11 working days. Waiting for my 2nd month "allowance"(pay from AH). Hopefully it will be given by tml. Finally got my computer. hohoho.. but i only have 12 days to use it, so what's the point? After installing all the stuff, i guess i don't have much time or chances to use it either.

MU.
Thought i could "chiong" till lvl 180 on tuesday since i am on MC. but sick, don't really have the energy to play. Till date, i am only at lvl 169. How i wish to wear wings badly.. But my niece might be staying from today till sat. It means i could only play on sat? =(
but still glad that the cutie pie is coming over.

TV.
Monday and Tuesday is "GOOD LUCK", Wednesday to Friday is "海豚湾恋人". Really happy on the 1st 2 days, coz jap show mah.. Though i never really like takuya (does not means that i dislike him), but i have to admit, he is kinda cute for his age.. hohoho.. but i like the show mainly becoz of hitomi! i am a BIG fan of hitomi! i have to admit that at her "old" age of 45, she still look so pretty, smart, elegant and confident!! How i wish to be like her...
Last night i watch 海豚湾恋人, erm.. how to say.. yeah, it is touching and i almost cry, but seriously, i am afraid of watching such show coz my soul, my mood, my feelings and everything will be badly affected by the ups and downs of the show, just like "hana yori dango" anime. Luckily, i read abit of the synopsis, not too much "down" for the next few episodes. So i guess i can continue watching...

University.
Call NUS OAD(Office of Admission) that day. Kind of irritated. I called from 8:30 to 12:30 and continue calling after lunch break. It was about almost 2pm when someone finally pick up my phone.. Luckily that my mood is not bad, if not i sure yell at that guy. Reason for calling: afraid that i kana rejected by NUS. Coz result should be out by post late march. Sis continuous asking of NUS result make me panic and irritated, though i know it is concern. Too much concern is irritating. Result? Will only be out on 3rd week of april. Chey~

水曜日, 4月 06, 2005

葉子的離開﹐是風的追求﹐還是樹不挽留﹖

Nice phrase... or should i say meaningful...

like this phase since the 1st time i saw it on one of my poly-mates msn nick. Immediately, i msg him "I like your nick".

for non-chinese speaking friend, the meaning of the phrase is "Is the leaf's departure, a result of wind's wooing, or that tree refused to ask leaf to stay?"

Sorry if i did not translated the best meaning out of it. My english sux.

Think about it.

火曜日, 4月 05, 2005

病気の

Sick.. on MC.. very irritated now.
running nose and sneezing the whole day yesterday. Used up 2 boxes of tissue in my office... yucks..

Though feeling better today, still conclude that stay at home and rest. Maybe i also wanted to play MU.. heehee
Stupid T & T.. long queue.. went there at 8:30am, but i get to see the doctor at 10am. wanna fight for the longest waiting time award arh? sorry lor.. TTSH still wins!!

ask for an extra day of MC.. doctor refused.. haI~~ i merely wanna rest and sleep well at home another day..
never had a day of perfect health since attachment. Glad that left with 13 working days. Can sleep well at home after 22 april liao.

Today must train MU and sleep well. Intend to be at least lvl 180, so can wear wings...

月曜日, 4月 04, 2005

Condolences from President & Prime Minister

Your Eminence,

I am deeply saddened to learn of the padding of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

I was very privileged to have met His Holiness in December 2002, and I came away deeply impressed by his passion for his life's calling and his concern for the well-being of people everywhere.

Pope John Paul II devoted his life caring for his flock and humanity in general, and personified the message of the Gospel to Catholics and to others around the world.

His Holiness has touched the lives of countless people, who benefited from hearing his messages of peace and virtue. His Holiness was well-loved and will be remember and missed by many here in Singapore.

Please accept, Your Eminence with these sincere condolences, the assurances of my highest consideration.

SR Nathan


Dear Cardinal Sodana,

I am deeply saddened that His Holiness Pope John Paul II has passed away. On behalf of the people and government of Singapore, I convey our heartfelt condolence to the Holy See.

John Paul II was a world leader in the fight for peace and justice. In a period of great change, when many of certainties are being questioned, he spoke out with passion and conviction on fundamental moral issues.

He stood up against communism and helped being an end to the Cold War. He was a symbol of compassion and hope for millions of people around the world.

By the way he endured daily physical suffering and soldiered on regardless, he inspired Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Singaporeans remember well his visit here in November 1986, when he celebrated mass in the National Stadium.

Singaporeans join you in mourning the loss of this great man.

Lee Hsien Loong

What the modern woman wants (not written by me)


THE old woman sat in the back seat of the magenta convertible as it careened down the highway, clutching tightly the plastic bag on her lap, afraid it might be kidnapped by the wind.

She was not used to such speed. With trembling hands she pulled the seat belt tighter but was careful not to touch the patent leather seats with her calloused fingers. Her daughter had warned her not to dirty it: 'Fingerprints show very clearly on white, Ma.'

Her daughter, Bee Choo, was driving and talking on her sleek silver mobile phone using big words the old woman could barely understand. 'Finance', 'liquidation', 'assets', 'investments'. Her voice was crisp and important and had an unfamiliar lilt to it. Her Bee Choo sounded like one of those foreign girls on television. She was speaking in an American accent.

The old lady clucked her tongue in disapproval.

'I absolutely cannot have this. We have to sell!' Her daughter exclaimed agitatedly as she stepped on the accelerator; her perfectly manicured fingernails gripping onto the steering wheel in irritation.

'I can't DEAL with this anymore!' she yelled as she clicked the phone shut and hurled it angrily towards the back seat. The mobile phone hit the old woman on the forehead and nestled soundlessly into her lap. She calmly picked it up and handed it to her daughter.

'Sorry, Ma,' she said, losing the American pretense and switching to Mandarin. 'I have a big client in America. There have been a lot of problems.' The old lady nodded knowingly. Her daughter was big and important.

Bee Choo stared at her mother from the rear view mirror, wondering what she was thinking. Her mother's wrinkled countenance always carried the same cryptic look. The phone began to ring again, an artificially cheerful digital tune, which broke the awkward silence.

'Hello Beatrice! Yes, this is Elaine.'

Elaine. The old woman cringed. I didn't name her Elaine. She remembered her daughter telling her how an English name was very important for 'networking', Chinese ones being easily forgotten.

'Oh no, I can't see you for lunch today. I have to take the Ancient Relic to the temple for her weird daily prayer ritual.'

Ancient Relic. The old woman understood perfectly it was referring to her.Her daughter always assumed that her mother's silence meant she did not comprehend.

'Yes, I know! My car seats will be reeking of joss". The old woman pursed her lips tightly, her hands gripping her plastic bag in defence. The car curved smoothly into the temple courtyard. It looked almost garish next to the dull sheen of the ageing temple's roof.

The old woman got out of the back seat and made her unhurried way to the main hall.Her daughter stepped out of the car in her business suit and stilettos and reapplied her lipstick as she made her brisk way to her mother's side.

'Ma, I'll wait outside. I have an important phone call to make,' she said, not bothering to hide her disgust at the pungent fumes of incense.

The old lady hobbled into the temple hall and lit a joss stick. She knelt down solemnly and whispered her now-familiar daily prayer to the gods.

'Thank you, God of the Sky, you have given my daughter luck all these years. Everything I prayed for, you have given her. She has everything a young woman in this world could possibly want. She has a big house with a swimming pool, a maid to help her, as she is too clumsy to sew or cook. Her love life has been blessed; she is engaged to a rich and handsome angmoh (dialect for Caucasian man).'

'Her company is now the top financial firm and even men listen to what she says. She lives the perfect life. You have given her everything except happiness.'

'I ask that the gods be merciful to her even if she has lost her roots while reaping the harvest of success. '

'What you see is not true, she is a filial daughter to me. She gives me a room in her big house and provides well for me. She is rude to me only because I affect her happiness. A young woman does not want to be hindered by her old mother. It is my fault.'

The old lady prayed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, with her head bowed in reverence, she planted the half-burnt joss stick into an urn of smouldering ashes. She bowed once more.

The old woman had been praying for her daughter for 32 years. When her abdomen was round like a melon, she came to the temple and prayed that it was a son.

Then the time was ripe and the baby slipped out of her womb, bawling and adorable with fat thighs and pink cheeks, but unmistakably a girl. Her husband had kicked and punched her for producing a useless baby who could not work or carry the family name.

Still, the woman returned to the temple with her new-born girl tied to her waist in a sarong and prayed that her daughter would grow up and have everything she ever wanted. Her husband left her and she prayed that her daughter would never have to depend on a man.

She prayed every day that her daughter would be a great woman, the women that she, meek and uneducated, could never become. A woman with the ability to do anything she set her mind to. A woman who commanded respect in the hearts of men. When she opened her mouth to speak, precious pearls would fall out and men would listen.

She will not be like me, the woman prayed as she watched her daughter grow up and drift away from her, speaking a language she scarcely understood. She watched her daughter transform from a quiet girl, to one who openly defied her, calling her laotu (old-fashioned in Chinese). She wanted her mother to be 'modern', a word so new there was no Chinese word for it.

Now her daughter was too clever for her and the old woman wondered why she had prayed like that. The gods had been faithful to her persistent prayer, but the wealth and success that poured forth so richly had buried the girl's roots and now she stood, faceless, with no identity, bound to the soil of her ancestors by only a string of origami banknotes.

Her daughter had forgotten her mother's values. Her wants were so ephemeral; that of a modern woman. Power, wealth, access to the best fashion boutiques, and yet her daughter had not found true happiness.

The old woman knew that you could find happiness with much less. When her daughter leaves the earth, everything she has will count for nothing.

People would look to her legacy and say that she was a great woman, but she would be forgotten once the wind blows over, like the ashes of burnt paper convertibles and mansions.

The old woman wished she could go back and erase all her big hopes and prayers for her daughter; now she had only one want: that her daughter be happy. She looked out of the temple gate. She saw her daughter speaking on the phone, her brow furrowed with anger and worry.

Being at the top is not good, the woman thought. There is only one way to go from there - down. The old woman carefully unfolded the plastic bag and spread out a packet of beehoon (rice vermicelli) in front of the altar. Her daughter often mocked her for worshipping porcelain gods. How could she pray to them so faithfully and expect pieces of ceramic to fly to her aid?

But her daughter had her own gods too - idols of wealth, success and power that she was enslaved to and worshipped every day of her ife. Every day was a quest for the idols, and the idols she worshipped counted for nothing in eternity. All the wants her daughter had would slowly suck the life out of her, and leave her an empty soulless shell at the altar.

The old lady watched her joss stick. The dull heat had left a teetering grey stem that was on the danger of collapsing. Modern women nowadays, the old lady sighed in resignation, as she bowed to the east one final time to end her ritual. Modern women nowadays want so much that they lose their souls and wonder why they cannot find it.

Her joss stick disintegrated into a soft grey powder. She met her daughter outside the temple, the same look of worry and frustration was etched on her daughter's face. An empty _expression, as if she was ploughing through the soil of her wants looking for the one thing that would sow the seeds of happiness.

They climbed into the convertible in silence and her daughter drove along the highway, this time not as fast as she had done before.

'Ma,' Bee Choo finally said. 'I don't know how to put this. Mark and I have been talking about it and we plan to move out of the big house. The property market is good now, and we managed to find a buyer willing to pay seven million for it. We decided we'd prefer a cosier penthouse apartment instead. We found a perfect one in Orchard Road. Once we move in to our apartment, we plan to get rid of the maid, so we can have more space to ourselves...'

The old woman nodded knowingly.

Bee Choo swallowed hard. 'We'd get someone to come in to do the housework and we can eat out - but once the maid is gone, there won't be anyone to look after you. You will be awfully lonely at home and besides that, the apartment is rather small. There won't be space. We thought about it for a long time, and we decided the best thing for you is if you moved to a home. There's one near Hougang, it's a Christian home, a very nice one.'

The old woman did not raise an eyebrow.

'I've been there, the matron is willing to take you in. It's beautiful with gardens and lots of old people to keep you company! I hardly have time for you, you'd be happier there. You'd be happier there, really.' Her daughter repeated as if to affirm herself.

This time, the old woman had no plastic bag of food offerings to cling tightly to; she bit her lip and fastened her seat belt, as if it would protect her from a daughter who did not want her anymore. She sunk deep into the leather seat, letting her shoulders sag, and her fingers traced the white seat.

'Ma?' her daughter asked, searching the rear view mirror for her mother. 'Is everything okay?'

What had to be done, had to be done.

'Yes,' she said firmly, louder than she intended. 'If it will make you happy,' she added more quietly.

'It's for you Ma! You'll be happier there. You can move there tomorrow. I already got the maid to pack your things,' Elaine said triumphantly, mentally ticking yet another item off her agenda.

'I knew everything would be fine.'Elaine smiled widely; she felt liberated. Perhaps getting rid of her mother would make her happier. She had thought about it. It seemed the only hindrance in her pursuit of happiness. She was happy now.

She had everything a modern woman ever wanted: money, status, career, love, power and now, freedom, without her mother and her old-fashioned ways to weigh her down - yes, she was free.

Her phone buzzed urgently; she picked it up and read the message, still beaming from ear to ear. 'Stocks 10-per-cent increase!' Yes, things were definitely beginning to look up for her...

And while searching for the meaning of life in the luminance of her handphone screen, the old woman in the back seat became invisible, and she did not see the tears.

土曜日, 4月 02, 2005

Server Maintainance

So bored and i went back to play MU, but private server..
just when i was approaching level 113, a message appear

"Server Maintainance"
"Server will be closed in 1 minute time"

hai~ i therefore quickly bring myself back from Dungeon 2 to Lorencia, then Exit..
now can only wait.

*Stop playing maple for 1 reason, can't stand the fact that have to repatch, repatch and repatch.....

Kor Kor

The happiest thing i got today is by checking my email.
Friendster send me a mail : You got a new message from Zhiwei
You got a new testimonial from Zhiwei

Lucky~ I thought kor forget me liao.. haha.. and yet he say he is glad that i never forget him. Please lor. i not so heartless lor. Moreover, out of all the kors that i have in sec sch, you are the only that i continue to keep in contact. Or i make an effort to keep in contact?? Heehee.. and i have never forget about your birthday lor, send sms to you on your birthday "yearly".

But the happy thing is that Kor is going to uni this coming august, that's mean same time as me!! Kor is already accepted in NUS, so i also badly hope to go NUS now... Haha.. no la.. i also wanted to study at NUS at the 1st place. But i also scared that kor study in the same course as me.. coz he so smart!!! later stress me.. haha

金曜日, 4月 01, 2005

April Fool Day

i have send out 10 sms : "i now at tan tock seng. Food poisoning.. *sob* "
till now only 6 replied.
4 knew it is april fool day
1 panic so much that went to call tan tock seng and sort of realise i was lying (very good friend)
last one continue smsing back.. i shall not mention names, but i will type out the general content below, coz it's the funniest of all.

@ Some parts are slightly change or remove to prevent friends from knowing who this person is.

ME: i now at tan tock seng. Food poisoning.. *sob*

Friend: Wa.. Wat happen?
ME: Food poisoning lor. From yesterday i think. Think i dying soon
Friend: Wat u eat last night?
ME: i just eat carrot cake la..
Friend: Den y like tat.. The carrot cake ar
ME: How i know, if i know i can be doctor liao..
Friend: Now u still at tts?

ME: No.. i now at AH.
Friend: Den u now ok?
ME: Erm.. Soso.. It is the fault of today's date that i am in tts.
Friend: Wat date.. Y?
ME: 1st April. April fool's day. I don't lie, except today.. Though i really sick from yesterday, but not that bad to be hospitalised.. haha.. Happy april fool's day! v(^o^)v
Friend: .......................

i really had a great laugh at my office that i wonder if the lady beside me could hear my laughter.. hohoho..
Should i say my friend above is a good friend or a stupid friend? It is up to me to decide. You think about it

i am still looking forward to the other 4 replies, if no reply mean lousy friend.. =(

For friends at overseas: tan tock seng(tts) is a hospital and AH stands for Alexandra Hospital
PS: one of the 4 who knew it is april fool day is Mr C => C for Clever Man

Post KTV Effects

It is not usual for me to write at such a time, not that i have good habits, but since attachment, i realise that if i dun sleep by 12, i will be extremely tired when i reach office the next day. However, i have just reach home, just bathe, and currently eating a bowl of stir-fry vege that i promise my poor mother that i will eat when i return back. Sorry mum, i am struggling to eat now.

Went KTV with my D4 classmates. D4 is the class that i'm in during year 1 and 2 of my poly studies. Sing and sing, till now my throat hurts. Worse still, drank "low-quality" red wine, cold honey lemon, and when thirsty, "steal" coke from my best friend. And the effect? Puking at the place i alight, puking at home. Even now, i feel "disgusted".

That's why some how i feel that i deserve it when my best friend laugh at my disgusting state in the cab. I knew better than anyone that when i drink red wine when i'm sick, this will be the effect, yet i still do it. Stupid me.

Maybe it is wrong decision to go to out today since i'm sick at the 1st place. But then, as we were going separate way soon, guys mainly army, gers work or further study, i understand how precious each gathering is. And i really treasure. So thanks to that john who "completely" cover my voice during the KTV just now. Thanks coz he ask me out, as there is less chances that i can still go out with D4 when i am in a different path from them now and worse still, there is no 'D4' who is in the same class as me when we spilt our route during year 3. Somehow this make me feel insecured, coz when everyone is together, i somehow feel alone. hai~ childish me. But how can u blame a person when 2 out of her 3 best friend happen to be in this class (liyan, thanks for not being in NYP). argh.... i also dunno la..

i better stop before i turn up to become like best friend "P" => mr nagging.. hahahaha

*just to add on: i wasn't lonely in the new class, coz got new good friends~~ and "shyblush" for me to bully!!
~(^@^)~
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