Monday, July 31, 2006
My blog is almost two and a half years old. :) I thought I better make changes to the template when I still have the time.

Actually today is a rather memorable day. It's the day I set foot in Singapore to start a new life exactly 8 years ago. I initially wanted to celebrate. Although it probably makes more sense to celebrate the 10th year. Thou 8 is a nice number too. But well, the circumstances do not allow for celebration because firstly, my sister is not here, secondly, my Grandpa is here so I'm staying at home to keep him company, thirdly, I don't have a maid now so I'm staying at home to stand by. Yep, I'm like half the maid now.

However, as I'm typing now my sister is already in Singapore!! She just called and said that when she checked in at Hongkong airport 2 hr before her flight, they offered her friend and her to fly business class on an earlier flight. Lucky girl. So in a way it was a celebration lah.

romanced at 18:03hr

Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Yay! My Toshi baybee is back. Alive and kicking. How I have missed him. He's now suffering from 'Amnesia'. Well, he just had a brain transplant. So for the next couple of hours he and I are gonna cuddle and bond while I tell him of all the sweet memories we have created together. :)

Alright. Back to school. This semester is going to be different. I can feel it. Lab on week 1. The briefing on the week before school opens. I must take a sixth module this sems if I want to go for IA(Industrial Attachment) next sems. All these are happening in 2 weeks' time. And I haven't gone on a holiday or have a fully relaxed day. I want to go on a cruise. 3D/2N Redang, or Penang. Or a 3D/2N Bintan getaway. Anything.

My Grandpa is coming tomorrow. While I'm excited and happy to see him, the timing is really not right. The house is without maid. My sister is away in HK till next Mon. I'm worrying about changing the bedsheet and arranging a room for my grandpa even after I have washed and ironed two bedsheets today, and swept and mopped the first floor. Tomorrow I'll have to do the second floor.

My mother is giving me a hard time. I don't like her to be around when I'm doing chores. When I'm doing, she also wants to do. When I'm not then she wants me to do. We always end up arguing, and it was all because I told her to stop and let me do. It was never because I don't want to do the chores. Like today, I was sweeping the floor. I only have two hands, when I'm sweeping I can't wash the dishes. She went and washed them on her own. Then complaint that there were so many things for her to do. That she can't even rest for a bit. I told her to put them down and I would wash them later. She said she don't want my fingers to become rough. I told her never mind, I already washed many clothes, and I can apply moisturizer. She said cannot. And we continued like that until we argued. Somehow the conclusion is always the same. I'm bad-tempered. Always talk back to her, being rude and disrecpectful. And I don't want to do any housechores. Don't want to help her when there's no maid. Well, I thought I was asking her to leave the dishes to me. I did not know that I was talking back.

In GP, I learnt to read between the lines. I thought then that it was quite a skill to possess. I mean, many people say certain things just to be polite. But they don't necessarily mean them. I did not know I have to read between MY own lines. Cause my mother always say things like: 'I know, you were not happy, you were waiting to argue with me, I know.. blah blah blah...'. Holy shit. If I don't know that about myself, aren't I in great trouble.

romanced at 17:50hr

Monday, July 17, 2006
I have to shop. It is the last week of the Great Sale. But my blister is killing me. I was forced to wear sandals with strap to school, okay I know that's the rule, so now I'm nursing one blister at the left ankle and two sore pinky toes, and two sore big toes as well.

Okay, what a bummer. I missed the roadshow sale of the phone I wanted. I was flipping the newspaper on a fine Saturday and to my delight there was the Starhub ad regarding the 2-days roadshow on Sat and Sun. The phone I've been eyeing was right there, a huge $90 off the usual price (it's huge considering the phone's U.P is $288). The phone was even the star buy of the show. But, there is no Samsung promoter when I went there on Sun. Which meant I will not get to try the phone, not even the dummy set. Stupid right. I mean, the fact that they do not have a Samsung promoter. So I could not decide on the phone straightaway, and when I was about 60% decided after I tried the dummy at another operator's shop, I had to leave the roadshow to get to the movie.

There was I and five other boys, all both of our hands full, with drinks, popcorns, nachos, at least I have one free to hold the tix. My youngest cousin was munching on snacks throughout the show. Erm, and the show was more than 2 hours. Haha. We watched Pirate. Damn great show. Anyone will love Jhonny Depp after they watch this. Actually people already love him from the first sequel. I remember he acted in something famous and then he was quiet for a while before he acted in Pirate. Anyone know what that something famous is?

Right, I shall not spoil the movie for those who haven't watched. All I can say is that, if you already plan to watch, then go ahead. If you are wondering whether to watch or not, just go and try, and weekday tix is cheaper so go on weekdays.

After the movie, I thought there was the end of our outing, cause my uncle wants my cousins back home to do some homework. But, my aunt couldn't get enough of window shopping (she didn't join us for the movie so she went shopping) so we walked around for another two and a half hours. And we stopped to eat something twice. I was so busy taking care of their food that I forgot I did not have my dinner. Then I went back to bugis alone for the roadshow only to find out that the phone I wanted ran out of stock, again.

The salesman suggested that they might have the phone at Bishan, so on the way back I stopped by the shop. Voila!! they have it. Even though I was only 60% decided and I was even swayed a little in my decision by another cheaper phone, I decided to just get the phone while it's cheap. As we were ready to write the form, I realised I signed up under my mum's name and without her IC and her presence (or an authorised letter) I can't sign another contract. So I was thinking of signing up under my own name but that means I have to change my no. and I called my mum for advice on the new numbers. As they say, bad luck comes as a streak. None of the numbers they have are good. My mum was tired and hanged up on me quickly. I even used the shop's phone to call cause my phone batt has died. In the end, I decided not to buy. Today, I passed by a Starhub shop after my last relief. You guess it right. The price of the phone is back to $288. I shall wait a bit longer. Just for as long as my phone is still working. I decided easily to wait until I graduated before I buy a good phone or probably a palm top. Though that was before my phone vibration went into comma. So I can definitely wait for good things to happen. But I will probably miss my phone's mirror when it's time to part.

I still haven't send my laptop for repair. There's just no time, my relief ended at 2.10, I will have to go back home to take a quick shower and to take my laptop. But the service shop closes at 4.30, and it is all the way at NUS. So tomorrow onwards I'll have no excuse, except that I can't be without my laptop for a week!! I'm using it right now. In case you are wondering what's the problem with my laptop.. it's a hard disc crash. I hope I'm not causing any more damages by keep using it even though it's lying on its deathbed. But so that I can have it repaired under its warranty, you and I shall keep quiet about this. Sssshh.

romanced at 16:09hr

Saturday, July 15, 2006
I am beginning to see something good out of the Singapore Idol 2. Have you watched the final 12 contestants? They can sing and it's not bad. Really. The whole audience-vote-who-they-want-to-be-in-the-final scheme is definitely for money. Luckily the audience are not deaf. How can they let the audience vote so early into the competition. If their judgements are only justified by looks or the fact that the contestants are their friends, there will be nothing more to watch. And raising the cost of a vote to $0.60 is unjustified. The previous cost of $0.50 were already too much.

Anyway, is anyone aware of the existence of a Mr Brown who has just lost his job due to something he said about the Government? I was not aware until he lost his job either. While I am not very sure of what exacly he did say about the Government, I think part of the analysis he made hit the spot. It is all seems to be too much of a coincidence. He made some political remarks regarding the recent rise in taxi fare and the cost of living in Singapore in relation to the election poll this year. Probably about how some people were happy to get cash rebate (or whatever you call it) and thus were willing to do something in return, without knowing that this cash would not stay with them for long.

But never mind about that. I have one thing to complain about the rise in taxi fare. I would rather they increase the starting fare by 20 cents instead of doubling the peak hour surcharge to $2. This will only make the problem worse. It is hard enough to find taxis within 30 minutes to peak hour. And now they increase the range of peak hours as well. Sigh. Why must they do this? Next we will see increase in bus and MRT fares. The previous increase was like.. what, less than a year ago? And do I see an increase in wages?

romanced at 19:23hr

Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Grr.. how come all the school staff toilets get cleaned at the same time. Anyway, relief or no relief, teaching is tough. Not so much the teaching part, it's the controlling the class part. When some bold students decided to leave their chairs and never go back, there is almost nothing you can do. They say you must gain their trust, then they'll respect you and listen during lessons. Heck, I only have one week with them. And it's me against 15 naughty ones, 10 yes-mam-but-never-do-anything ones and 5 better-keep-their-attention-while-they're-giving-it ones, in an average of 50 minutes of interaction per day. Right. I think the door-to-door slimming product promoters have higher percentage of success sales. By the way, my secondary two class is learning percentages during Maths.

My laptop is still in 'crashed' condition. I haven't gotten the time to send it for repair. Hopefully I can get that done tomorrow.

romanced at 19:15hr

Sunday, July 09, 2006
This is pissing me off. $^%@

romanced at 01:01hr

Saturday, July 08, 2006
Okay, my hard disk crashed yesterday. I went into a panic as the thought of losing all the family photos I keep in my laptop ran inside my head over and over. The technician I spoke to over the phone pretty much confirmed that my hard disk is gone case. I told him I will go down on Monday to have the laptop repaired then. Since there's nothing worse that could happen, I tried restarting my laptop. And Voila! it loaded successfully. So now I have all my files backed up. At least the personal files. Those software that I downloaded or installed like for the printer are not backed up. I think it makes more sense to re-install them again.

Okay, so I'll be without my laptop for about a week (I hope it's not more than a week) starting from Monday. Luckily I have my relief teaching for the whole of next week or else I'll be so bored. Even though I mostly play minesweeper, heh. I was hooked on Sudoku for the past two months. The last time I checked I have played 337 easy games, over 50 medium and hard games, and less than 10 evil games. Then I cleared my cookies, internet files and history (I do that every once in a while) and the whole record is gone. Now I feel kinda 'sian' to play. Previously the kick was in decreasing the average time for solving.

Okay, timetable for next semester is out. It's now five more weeks before day one of new semester. Time to re-sell old books and scouting for second hand books. Actually, that was not the main point. This semester by hook or by crook I have to get my ass down for every lecture and tutorial. Well, it's not my fault it's heavy. Ah, need money to buy new phone.

Oh, in case you're wondering, I take cash donation with no question asked. :)

romanced at 17:11hr

Thursday, July 06, 2006
I have decided to get a new phone. Yes, finally right.. I like my current phone but I think for an everyday user like me, though I am only an average user, a phone's life span is probably about 2 years only. And I have had mine for 2 and a half. The silver paint has faded, the keypad became hard to press long ago, the phone hangs more often, and the vibration mode no longer working. Are there enough reasons to get a new phone, I wonder. I really like the mirror on my phone. :(

Right, anyway, if I'm getting a new phone, I want one that can be used as an MP3 player since mine's spoilt. Doesn't matter if it doesn't have radio, cause my radio is still working and I prefer manual tuning to digital as I am the type of person who keeps switching channels. And I want one with card slot for external memory so I can put more stuffs inside my phone. Yep, yep. Oh, this website is good for getting info on phones. The reviews are so thorough. Not all phones are reviewed, but most popular ones are. And there are lots of pictures taken at various angles. But there are no price though, cause the website only does reviews, which is good. I hate those keep asking you to buy.

romanced at 13:55hr