I want to be healthy for my family

Last weekend, both girl and dear were down with viral infection.

Girl was warded due to high fever (40C) for 2 consecutive days. Dear has better immunity, but still ran a soar throat and cough.

We stayed with girl at the hospital for 2 nights, hardly slept at night with the hourly temp checking and 4/6 hourly medication.

I kept up with the demand pretty well, beside a little backache from prolonged carrying of girl, otherwise I was still energetic and alert.

I guess all the exercises have kept me in the best of shape and I was glad to be the safety net for the family when they needed me.

As i said before, staying healthy is a choice and I am glad i have made that choice.

Clueless

I have remained clueless for a long while....

Why do people judge you or themselves by the title you/they are holding in your/their company? Account Manager? Impressive!! Director? Awesome!!! Retrenched by company? erh.......something must be wrong with you.

Undeniably, our society is a meritocratic one.
Many a times, our personal worth are defined by what/where we stay in, the size of car we drive and the job title we hold.
Given the limited resources each of us have, we tend to go for the minimum-input-maximum-output methodology. Whats in it for me? You will always ask. No longer people will want to take the "long cut", forgetting that the road less travelled, is the more rewarding one.

We become more conditional in our human interaction. "I will do this for you only if you do this for me" or the "You didnt do this for me so why should i do this for you".
When will we start to trade "relationship" footprint on some commodity exchanges like we trade carbon footprint? Ok...so and so owes me a favour and i am trading this favour in return for something. Name your price!

I am learning to be more unconditional in my dealings with family and friends. I am not perfect and am not trying to be one perfect soul.
My wife and my baby make me want to be a better person, i have found love that i didnt know exist before.
Will you give your life in exchange for theirs? I will.
If you wont, you may need to think about it.

25 Trivial Facts about Me

I was tagged in Facebook by my cousin to reveal 25 things about myself.
Scratched hard (my head of course!) to come out with the following list-

1. I hated sports till I have graduated from University. I still dont play many sports.
2. I was a nerd, but not studious, up to JC. Maybe I still am.
3. I had my first relationship at the age of 17 but it lasted only 3 months.
4. I lose weight at twice the ease of gaining them.
5. My favourite instant noodle is Maggi Mee, curry flavour.
6. I like Chinese novels more than English.
7. I love comics. You wont know it unless you have been to my house.
8. I am a spender more than a saver.
9. My dream car is a Mercedes, not a Ferrari or Porshe, cos its more an achievable dream.
10. I dream a lot and I usually remember my dreams.
11. My dreams are repetitive- either falling from a tall building, or flying in the sky, or chase/get chased by vampires (yeah i know its weird!).
12. I like love stories, love novels and love movies. Yes, I believe in soul mate.
13. I hated beer before the age of 27. I love beer since then.
14. Last dish before I die? Can I choose two? No? Probably my mum's salted vegetable duck soup.
15. I will not never appear in jogging shorts, t-shirt and slippers in town.
16. Yes, I place great importance in wearing the right attire for the right occassion, and in coordinated colours.
17. I liked the colour red up to Primary 6. I liked the colour blue up to University. After that, I like every colours.
18. I have problems with authorities.
19. I am never good at board games.
20. I think I am an under-achiever.
21. I love fishing but I cant swim.
22. I have focus deficiency. My focus span is as long as the weather reports on news.
23. I dont like current affairs.
24. I will never marry anyone with skin tone darker than mine.
25. Last, but not least, my waist measures 30in, and not 28in as you imagine. I was a 32 more than a year ago.

Maybe I should put them in a biscuit tin.

This is not some news that every bank will publicise, and i only stumbled upon it when i was doing my internet banking tonight- DBS has slashed all rates on savings and time deposits by up to 50%, wef today (2 Mar 2009).

Read it yourself- http://www.dbs.com/sg/personal/deposit/notice/interest_rates/pages/default.aspx

who says Cash is King?? The banks are paying me peanuts so I feel more like a monkey.

More reason to withdraw all my money and put them in a biscuit tin.
I wont be charged service fee every month, nor have to queue at ATM to withdraw $$.....hmmm...the biscuit tin option is sounding more feasible as I think about it.

Just have to remind the maid not to throw my tin away though.....

Bali Photos? Akan Datang.

I am just too lazy to load the photos...ok ok I will do it this weekend.

^..^ ^..^

I am SLIM again!

Did a body fats composition check this morning.
My fats composition has dropped from 20%, three months ago, to the current level of 12.4%, which puts me in the excellent range.
Yeah! I am officially SLIM again : ))

^..^ ^..^

Stranded!!!

Guess where am I??

I am sitting on the floor in one of my office's lift, waiting for help.
I am trapped in a lift!!!!
How suay can it be?
First time in my life so I better enjoy the experience : ))

my indian knight in shining armour to my rescue

A Tiring Week

In HKG airport lounge now.
Can have temporary peace of mind with all the meetings and entertainments finally over.
THis is a tiring week with the commuting between Singapore, HKG and Fuzhou.
Cant wait to get home to see my babies.
And to continue with training too : )

^..^ ^..^

Sports Injuries Consultation

A follow-up consultation with Dr. Low from 2 weeks ago.

He told me my condition has improved and I no longer need to see him, but I will need to continue with my PT till the hamstring improves.

Hooray!

^..^ ^..^

21-22Aug, forecast for 23-24Aug

21Aug
1 hr of weights and core exercises. Was very fickle minded and couldnt decide on the types of core exercise I should do....

22Aug
Was drizzling in the morning but the sky cleared up just before my lunch-time swim.
This time, a collegue, WK, tagged along since he wanted to try it out.
WK had the same swim handicap as me- water confidence. I encouraged him to take up swimming lessons than to solicit advices from me. Anyway I am not much better than him.
One thing that surprised me though, I could still swim breaststroke. Swam 1 lap, or almost 1 lap, in breaststroke. Hmm....seems that i have not given the breaststroke back to the PTI in BMT.
Could only manage 3/4 lap in freestyle. The strokes were still not very coordinated so couldnt last the distance.
Target by end of August: 1 LAP.

Anyway, WK loved the swim and suggested that we should do this next week again.
At last, someone to motivate me to swim during lunch.

Went down to Safra Tampines with fu ren this evening, to witness how coach Alex conducts his intermediate tri-swim. My god! the trainees were swimming laps after laps....and this is only intermediate swimming???!!! Shuts! I dont think I am good enough to join them after i complete my beginner's swimming.

Maybe....i should push back my target to take part in a triathlon next year....I am just not good enough yet....

23Aug
Likely to cho bo for the day, except the swimming lesson in the evening.
Hope the weather holds up.

24Aug
Army Half Marathon. Can focus my SCSM training after the AHM.
Will conserve my legs and just take this as a LSD practise.
No time expectation but probably should finish by 2.5hrs.
Fu ren insists to drive me there even though she is not running. Thanks baby!! Muack!
Now, what should i wear on Sunday?

^..^ ^..^

我没有买!!!!!!!

After my PT session, my car rental agent buzzed me.
"Eric! Ho sei liao bo?"
"Ho sei si mi? You gonna upgrade my car to Mercedes izit?"
"Bo lah!!! Your car plate number came out first prize!!!!"
"huh???!!!! I didnt buy!!!"
"Aiya! See your face I know you are not the buy 4D sort."
"NB! Then you call me for what??!!"
SIAN x 100!!!!

This morning, I drove along Joo Chiat Road and stopped before a traffic light.
An old man was sweeping the floor infront of his shophouse.
He paused briefly, stared at my car and then looked at me.
With a sheepish smile, he gestured a thumbs-up to me.
I gestured a thumbs-down. Arghhhhh.....
SIAN x 200!!!!

When I drove pass , my office's car park ERP sensor, had this phobia the display screen would flash "Welcome! First prize car owner!"

When I drove up the car park, the 2 resident car polishers were pointing at my car plate and murmured "tao peow" (first prize in hokkien! And yes, somehow I heard it!). I wound down my car window and shouted in disgust "我没有买!!!!!!!"
SIANZZZZZZZZ.....

^..^ ^..^

20Aug08- Another day has past

Physio Session
Worked on the IT band today = OUCH x 10!!!!!
If not for my pride, I probably would have teared infront of the PT.
At the end of the session, she pasted some bandage on my right thigh above the knee which she claimed would hold my tendon in place.
It looks funny on my leg. Is she playing a prank on me??

CTE
Headed home after the PT session.
Heard that there was slow traffic on PIE so took a detour TPE via CTE.
I was driving on lane 1 along CTE. A motorcyclist with his pillion rider on lane 2.
To my horror, the helmet of the pillion rider flew off in the midst of the ride.
My god!! What are these people thinking of? Tsk tsk tsk.

Olympics Women Swimming Marathon (10km)
Was telecast live on TV this morning.
10km for 2hrs. When will i be able to do that??
Ok. My goal is to complete 1 lap by the end of this month.

By the way, I observed that the women swimmers hardly kicked the water, they relied solely on the pull of the arms to glide forward. Is this the way to swim long distance?

^..^ ^..^

We Are Proud of You, Regardless!

We lost the tennis table match, but not without putting up a good fight.

There was a clear disparity in skills and experience.

As long as you have tried your best, we are proud of you!

Good job, Singapore Women Table tennis Team!!

^..^ ^..^

Table Tennis Match vs National Day Rally

PM has decided to postpone the English speech of the National Day Rally so that Singaporean can watch the Table Tennis Olympics match against China.

Isnt that great!

^..^ ^..^

FINAL! Finally....

Hee hee.....3 CHEERS for the Singapore Table Tennis Team!!!!

Go for the gold ok!! 加油！！！

^..^ ^..^

29-30Jul

29Jul
A welcome addition to my otherwise boring office environment....go green in the office.


Will be buying more smaller potted plants soon.





30Jul
I have slacked again....planned to be at the gym @ 7am before attending a full-day workshop @830am in the office.
I was still on the bed at 7am...enough said.

I find that workshops/seminar/long meetings are bad for my health cos
1. I cant stop stuffing those candies in my mouth
2. I cant stop drinking tea to keep myself awake.
So basically, I suffer from caffeine and sugar high....so ERIC! WIPE THAT STUPID SMILE OFF YOUR FACE!!

^..^ ^..^

My loot from Hong Kong

1. 5 boxes of Pocari powder mix. 5 sachets per box.
Each sachet can mix into 1 litre of pocari isotonic drink.
If anyone knows where I can buy this mix in Singapore please let me know.

2. 5 tees and 1 running shorts from Adidas, all with 30% staff discount : )
3 of the tees went to fu ren, which includes a Beijing olympics tee.
For myself, a formotion running top (same as Sundown Race tee but with sleeves), a gym tee and the formotion running shorts.

3. Lastly, of course plenty of tidbits for the family- dried mango, dried scallops, chicken and duck wings etc etc

^..^ ^..^

I am coming home

Here I am, in Hong Kong airport lounge.
Finally....end of my hectic trip...I want to be home so much.....

^..^ ^..^

Free Eats- Bangkok 22Jul

After a meeting with a customer, my colleagues brought me to a local chicken rice shop (yes its occupies the whole shop, just like our boon tong kee).

The location of the shop is very near to the Pratunum market and we had to wait for seats even we arrived before the lunch hour.

The chicken rice is the same as what you would see locally, except that the chicken are huge, probably twice the size of the chicken you see in Singapore's stalls.

Also, they do not serve our red garlic chilli. Instead, what was on offer was a mixture of garlic and gree chilli in a sweet and sour sauce. The sauce goes quite well with the chicken though.

Another specialty is the duck herbal soup (yeah, chicken rice and duck soup), although i personally find the duck soup so-so.

I devoured 2 bowls of the rice and thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Chicken Rice and Duck Soup (do you think it rymths with hidden dragon and crouching tiger?)

My colleague pointed to me a thai noodle stall that was in a back alley near the chicken rice shop.

I will try that next time I am in BKK!

Trivia- Bangkok

This simple decor in the hotel room caught my eyes before i check-out this morning.

It is an elephant made out of rolled towels- simple but yet creative.

ok. on my way to Hong Kong now.

^..^ ^..^

Free Eats- Bangkok 21Jul

Had lunch with customer and my BKK collegue at the MK Suki Restaurant.
For the benefit of those that havent heard of MK, MK is similar to Coca in Singapore.

Half-way through our meal, the restaurant started blasting the music.
As we were wondering what happened, the restaurant staff started dancing.
The dance steps were simple but it provided some entertainment for the patrons.
Later I learned that the restaurant does it everyday at the same time.

Amazing.

I am a Dancing Queen..YEAH!

Ok. Since I had a good run this evening, I have decided to reward myself with a good meal. Took the MRT to Hua Lamphong station and then a cab to Chinatown.
Finally finally, I reached my favourite Kuay Chup store in Chinatown.
The kuay chop is different from the braise sauce kuay chup we have in Singapore. The soup base here is similar to our peppery pig stomach soup, with a mixture of kuay and pig's spare parts.

My long-missed Kuay Chup

Oooooo....i missed it so much.....After my bowl of kuay chup, I crossed the road to another chinese restaurant.This time, the victims are the sharks (Sorry Karmen! I know I am sinned :))Ordered a bowl (claypot, to be exact) of abalone sharkfins soup + a bottle of singha beer.

The white piece on the left is abalone. Those pieces on the right once belong to some sharks

Ooooooo.......HEAVEN!!!

The damage was
Kuay Chup- THB 55
Abalone Sharkfins- THB 700
Singha Beer- THB 50
To relive the experience- PRICELESS!

Fu Ren and Moo Moo, wish you were here!!!

^..^ ^..^