hApPy BiRtHdAy DaDdY!!!

Today is my dad's birthday... Poor him has got to work on his birthday... Nonetheless, i've bought him a cake from four leaves... it's called Almond Fruit Tops... It's a vanilla sponge cake layered with fresh cream and peach slices, topped with strawberries and kiwi, and finally sprinkled with bits of almond nuts... Enjoy with a toast!! =)

a ReMaRkAbLe LaDy...

The company that i'm going to work for has an in-house medical clinic... (how cool is that?) Apparently, the procedures for the new employees were to do a medical check up for referencing... So, i headed to the clinic to start the procedures...

Upon stepping into the clinic, i had a rough impression of the place... The clinic is generally painted with a white coat of paint and lighted with white flourescent lamps... the furnitures and posters were old, but still in a usable and tidy condition... The whole environment juz eludes a feeling of you being in a British clinic, western but old... The clinic is manned by a male nurse, who's into his late fifties and sixties... (i later found out from the doctor that his name is john...)He gave me the impression that he's educated and retired (he speaks english...), and the job is juz to keep his mind active and to kill time, as the clinic is only opened in the morning... The radio is tuned to Gold 90.5FM, a station of his age group... While waiting for the doctor, it juz feels so comfortable and serene... Ol' John took my urine sample, height and weight, before asking me to sit and wait for the doctor... The clinic had about 6 patients waiting in line ahead of me...

The wordings imprinted on the door were written as "The doctor will be in attendance from 8.15am to 9am, Mon to Fri, and until the last patient is seen" So wat time does the clinic closes? The time is about 8.50am now, and the doctor is not here yet...

Juz then, a lady stepped into the clinic... She wore formal office attire, carried a handbag and briefcase, and gave everyone a warm smile... For the moment, i was wondering, "who is this warm lady that has so much charisma? She's pretty and carried herself very well... Must be someone high-ranking to gain everyone's respect..." She answered my question when she walked into the room labelled "Consultation..."

So i waited for my turn to 'visit' this pretty lady...

I sat on the chair next to her table and tried to steal glances at this remarkable lady... *heehee* Her complexion is soft and smooth, but freckcles can be seen on her cheeks... On hindsight, she looks like bao bei's auntie teresa, but a bit plumer... (juz a bit)

She went on to take my blood pressure and blood sample... We small-talked a little...

Doc: So, you juz finish your NS?
Me: Yup... About 2 weeks back...
Doc: Oh... so wat did you do in the army?
Me: I was from the armour vocation, 46 SAR...
Doc: From Sungei....???
Me: Yah, Sungei Gedong... You know about that place?
Doc: My husband is Bernard Tan (Ex Chief Armour Officer, the very top guy in armour vocation... He's a general and his office used to be located there... He's a very warm person as well and was well-liked by many...)
Me: Oh!!
Doc: Yah, so if you ask me whether i know about the place, i do know Sungei Gedong...

At that moment, i was thinking... His husband can easily fetch $20k per month, and with her income as well, i wonder wat kind of housing do they live in... Her dressing also shows that she is rich and classy... And she's such a warm and nice person... Wat a nice and sweet couple... =)

These are instances in life when after rubbing shoulders with people of these class and status, it juz makes you feel inspired...

yEs, I'm PeTtY... sO wHaT?!?

Dear Diary,

Bao bei's sister has juz had a change of tutor due to some personal commitments... The previous tutor had to drop a heavy bomb and 'pang-sang' her at this time when prelims and PSLE are juz around the corner... So, at this crucial moment, everyone is anxious to find her a tutor as soon as possible... But in such a short time, how to find one? And a good and reliable one at it!!

Then, out of nowhere, the idea of engaging 'him' as her tutor popped out... (Dunno who's great idea...) *eyes rolling*

The 'him' refers to bao bei's ex... He's generally smart, but mischievious... I didn't have a very good impression of him after some unhappy events back during the schooling days, and until today, nothing much has since change my opinion... Honestly speaking, this 'impression' thing is juz a small part of it... The bigger picture is: since he's bao bei's ex, and he has since broken my bao bei's heart, i dun really like the idea of him going to her house every now and then to tutor her sister, and at the same time, able to give him a chance to step into the house, and probably see bao bei... Even though the main issue here is to tutor her sister, it seems like an opportunity for him to see her, which i cannot tolerate... =(

At the end of the day, when there seems to not be any other tutor to cross our path, he's therefore employed...

So, twice a week (i guess), he'll be at her place to tutor her sister...

With his presence, things can get a little uncomfortable...
1. Bao bei's parents should noe that he's the ex... (i repeat: EX) So it may get a little awkward...
2. I wonder how comfortable her sister is with a guy tutor... (i'm juz trying to find reasons to argue...)
3. Bao bei will have to dress a little nicer to be presentable at least... And that includes *ahem*
4. Wat will they say to each other if they were to meet?
5. I surely wouldn't want to bump into him if i were to be at her place...

And today, while i was talking to bao bei on the phone, i realise that he's there... And bao bei is juz sitting across him, surfing her net, seperated by a see-through sliding door... (i do not like the idea of him able to steal glances at her easily... it's over!!)

I've told bao bei that i'm not happy with the idea, but she feels that i'm juz being whiny and not too serious about it... Yes, i may not be too serious, and juz wants to sound whiny, but i just do not like him and the idea of him being so proximately close to the family...

Worst still... I had the opportunity to hear his voice in the background over the phone!! Eewww!!!

So will he be here for long? Or will he be here juz through this year?

Dear Diary, wat should i do? Am i being whiny??

pLuTo Is OuT...

The news reported that Pluto, known as the ninth and smallest planet of the Solar System since its discovery in 1930, has been taken off from the list of planets... It was stripped of its planetary status by the International Astronomical Union at their Prague meeting as its orbit overlaps with Neptune's. (Chim huh?? I also dun understand...)

Pluto's brown color is thought dominated by frozen methane deposits metamorphosed by faint but energetic sunlight. The dark band below Pluto's equator is seen to have rather complex coloring, however, indicating that some unknown mechanisms may have affected Pluto's surface.

Pluto's size in comparison with Earth

Therefore, the Solar System now only comprises of 8 planets, namely; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune...

With Pluto dropped from the Solar System, will the other pluto, Mickey's dog, be gone from Disney's characters as well?

Oh... How i miss those silly Disney cartoons... I can still remember how excited i was when watching the characters chasing about with things falling here and there... phew... bao bei... i do have a bit of childhood... =)

cOnDoMs NoT aLLoWeD iN sChOoL... (of course...)

I saw this interesting topic in The Straits Times, regarding a thread made by a stomper in the STOMP website...

"Condoms Not Allowed In School"

With the ever correct notion of 'sex sells', and a little bit of kaypo-ness, i went to the website to 'check it out'... Below is an excerpt of the well-written complaint/feedback (i think he's a smart student considering he's only a secondary student and can write so well):

"Recently, a packet of condoms was found lying on the floor of my classroom. My teacher who picked it up from the floor became furious and started reprimanding the whole class. The owner of the packet of condoms was asked to own up. And, you'd even be surprised to hear that the school discipline master was called up to give us a lecture - apparently, we were told by him that condoms are not allowed in schools."

The complainant was not happy that the school came up with this 'no comdom' rule, which he strongly feels it's stupid and discourage safe sex especially among the young, who now ever readily engages in it... *damn it* This has add on to the other silly rules that students have highlighted in the media recently, which include the accepted and proper hairstyles to be adopted by students...

I feel that the school only manage to solve half the problem by lecturing the class, instead of using the opportunity to teach the students, an impromptu session of sex education which i believe the students will not mind having more... By banning condoms in school, it doesn't get the message across for students not to engage in sex... If the students wants to 'a-hem', and they want some 'protection', they can always get them from the neighbouring shops, convenience shops (is that why they call it convenience?) or even worse, have unprotected sex... The school should explain to them that they strongly do not encourage sexual activities at this age, and therefore view it as a bad thing for students to possess condoms, especially in the school compound where it should be a place of learning... The students should concentrate in class instead of thinking where to go after school for their sex rampant, or wat kind of positions they should adopt later... No doubt the school cannot stop the students from their raging sexual lifestyle, should they still want to have sex, then this will be the time for the condoms to come in... But even so, they should not bring these items to school, as the school is a place for learning...

Another interesting thing that i wan to highlight is; why did the student bring comdoms to school? the writer said in a later entry that his school is a boys-school...

1. Did the student intend to have some boy-on-boy action during recess time/after school in a dark corner of the school?
2. Or is it that the student is going to meet his girlfriend after school and IMMEDIATELY go and have some fun? (Can't wait...)
3. Or could it be that he juz wans to show off to his friends that he has condoms... Ego problem...
4. Or did they intend to fill it up with water, and use their pens as darts for some games? As what some stompers related their experience in their entries...

As i scrolled down further to read the other stompers' comments, i saw bao bei's comments on the issue...

"i think why it is said to be banned from sch is because they think that by banning it, students will not engage in the activity itself-which is of course very naive. On the other hand, maybe the teacher didn't noe how to react to a packet of condoms lying in the classroom so she reacted by reprimanding the class. Den again...if she didn't make such a big fuss over it...the students might have interpreted as...it's ok to carry condoms...and it's ok to engage in sex...u noe..."

What bao bei said is true also... Maybe the teacher did not know how to react to such situations as these things obviously dun always happen, and it is still a taboo subject in the asian culture...

(I realised that bao bei is getting more mature and analytical in her thinking these days...)

Talking about condoms, juz allow me to side track a little... I went to the durex website (u dun tell me u dunno wat is durex...) to look for picture(s) to add to this entry... And i was glorified by the new products that they have... interesting fellows... great 'research and development' from you guys... i'm lovin' it!!!

NEW Durex Pleasuremax condoms have a uniquely positioned raised rib and dot texture designed to maximise stimulation for you and your partner. This design, combined with an easy-on shape, ensures that both of you enjoy ultimate pleasure and intensity.

Durex easy-on condoms are now shaped to be easier to put on and to provide a better fit and feel during lovemaking. Transparent, ribbed and raised dotted texture, shaped, teat-ended, natural rubber latex condoms with a non-spermicidal lubricant

*This one has raised rib and dotted texture... and the description makes it sounds so deliciously easy to put on... heehee... juz launched in jun 2006*

NEW Durex Tingle condoms are coated in a special lubricant to create a gentle tingling sensation, heightening stimulation for both partners. Non-spermicidal mint flavoured lubricant. *woo-hoo*

and lastly...

Ultra-fine condoms that offer greater sensitivity. They are straight shaft shaped and transparent

*no more worries about not able to feel the real thing*

Okay, calm down and keep your d**ks in control... here are juz some pictures to add to the fun of reading a blog... no perverted intentions intended...

Hint: bao bei... how? *lustful wink*

sO wHeRe ThE bLoOdY hEll ArE yOu?

You would probably have seen the Australia's tourism ad, or have heard the many comments, both positive and negative about the ending line or the concept... Below is the ad broken down into their scenes and dialogues that i've gotten from a website... (oops... i forgot to take down the address... no intention to plagiarize...)

The ad begin with a punter in a remote outback pub standing at the bar and says, “We’ve poured you a beer” and turns to face the smiling female bartender.

A camel trail is silhouetted by the Australian sunset. A woman says, “And we’ve had the camels shampooed”. The traditional Aboriginal percussion and didgeridoo is playing in the background, with the camels walking down the beach, sun setting in the background.

Bare legs swish through the surf. A woman in bikini top tells us, “We’ve saved you a spot on the beach”.

A boy with white zinc sunscreen on his face dives into the pool and emerges to say, “And we’ve got the sharks out of the pool”. Surf surges up the edges of the sea-side pool, saturating the swimmers.

Kangaroos watch as sand flares up from the golf course bunker. A golfer says, “We’ve got the roos off the green”. The kangaroos hop off.

The camera zooms up to the front steps of a homestead. A jackaroo tells us, “And Bill’s on his way down to open the front gate”. Bill is driving a ute down a long red dust road.

A yellow sea plane lands in the Great Barrier Reef. A snorkeller swims towards the plane as the pilot sits on the float to tell us, “You’re taxi’s waiting”.

It’s now night time in front of Uluru (Ayers Rock). A waiter, dressed in black and white formal gear, tells us, “And dinner’s about to be served”.

In Sydney Harbour a woman stands with her friends in front of dazzling fireworks display. She says, “we turned on the lights”. Inland an Aboriginal dance troupe goes through its moves. A young woman says, “And we’ve been rehearsing for over 40,000 years”.

It’s back to the beach babe and she asks, “So where the bloody hell are you?”

Cool ad i would say... It showed many interesting side of the Australian life, with the surf, aboriginals and the great wild life... The concept had a lot of vibrancy in it and by ending it with a question, "So where the bloody hell are you?", it hooks and invokes an action to the viewer, "damn, i also wan to book the tickets now..." (at least for me...) And by choosing the beach babe to ask the question, it sure do many more wonders... Sex does sells... *wink*

Personally, i do not find the ad offending by the phrase... I feel it's like a slang that they use locally, juz like we use lah, lor and wah lau... Yes, it may sound rude to outsiders, but I believe it's a culture thing and countries and societies should learn to accept it and take it in their stride...

What happened in Canada for example, is a little shocking. The paragraph below is taken off a news report.

"Less than a week after it was first banned and then cleared for screening in the U.K., an Australian tourism ad featuring a bikini-clad girl asking prospective tourists "Where the Bloody Hell are you?" has been banned in Canada. Ironically, it wasn't the controversial question — a line described as "warm, friendly and inviting" — that got the ad banned, but its opening: "We've poured you a beer." This line was ruled unacceptable by the Canadian regulator, as it refers to an unbranded beer."

The Australian Tourism Minister, Fran Bailey, replied by thanking the Canadian authorities for the publicity... Yes, good or bad publicity is still publicity... By the ad creating a talk of the town, people are trying to view it way before the authorities passed it for viewing by searching it online... This has caused some interest and publicity for the ad and ulitmately, is good for Australia... All the more with the tourism message being carried across... The Australian Tourism Minister replied by thanking the Canadian government for providing free publicity for the ad, saying, "As far as this particular Canadian regulator is concerned, I'd love him to come out here and I'll buy him a beer and say thank-you."

On the whole, i like the ad very much... It really made me feel like getting the tickets to fly to Australia, answering to the bikini girl's call... *heehee* Alternatively, you can visit this website, http://www.wherethebloodyhellareyou.com/ to view the ad...

tO fLy Or NoT tO fLy?

Our National carrier is recruiting for cabin crew... I'm in a little dilemma as to whether to sign up for it or not... I am interested to take up the position, but i do have my concerns...

1. If I were to be selected, and ultimately be given the opportunity to fly, I will end up working irregular hours. It will be a no-day-no-night kind of affair... The job will require me to fly even during odd hours like 3am in the wee hours of the morning... That will mean going to the airport at probably around 2am and serving passengers through the night... Irregular hours also mean irregular working days, inclusive of public holidays like Christmas or Chinese New Year... And the peak flying season will coincide with the vacation holidays period, where chances of going on holiday with bao bei will be sacrificed... All these will mean lesser time for bao bei, family and friends...

2. As you know, the percentage of females to males as cabin crew is generally distorted, with females majoring the scale... Furthermore, these girls tended to be good looking...

So by taking up this position will mean being close to the beauties and making bao bei feel insecure... On top of that, i will be overseas with these girls, far away from home... On this note, i would like to reassure bao bei that i understand your concern, and that you shouldn't worry as I will stay commited and loyal to you... I will always remind myself who is my soulmate and to whom my heart should go to... (bao bei, i love you...)

3. I'm also concerned about the career opportunities that comes with this job... What if a few years down the road, should i decide to leave the industry, or should they decide that it's time i leave, what am i going to do? With such a high paying job, it will definitely be a difficult task to re-adjust back to the normal lifestyle...

But the advantages seem to lure me too...

1. The money is definitely good... With basic, flying allowance, incentive, and huge bonuses, the pay pocket is going to be thick...

2. The opportunity to see the world... With so many destinations and flying routes, I will have lots of opportunities to explore different cultures and see the world...

3. Working in the service industry, image branding and public relations has always been something that i would like to explore in... This position will definitely give me a chance to try out a career in this field...

For now, i still have some time to really decide should I go for it... The interview is at Swissotel this weekend... Do check it out if you're interested...

wOmEn...

This was forwarded to me from my friend... Enjoy... =)

One day, a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river and her thimble fell into the river. When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, "My dear child, why are you crying?"

The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family. The Lord dipped his hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with pearls. "Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked.

The seamstress replied, "No." The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a silver thimble ringed with sapphires. "Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked again.

The seamstress replied, "No" The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble. "Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked.

The seamstress replied, "YES." The lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep and the seamstress went home happy.

Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the same riverbank and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, "Why are you crying?"

"Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!" The Lord went down into the water and came up with Mel Gibson. "Is this your husband?" the Lord asked.

"Yes," cried the seamstress. The lord was furious. "YOU LIED! That is untrue!"

The seamstress replied, "Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding. You see, if I had said 'no' to Mel Gibson, you would have come up with Tom Cruise. Then, if I said 'No' to him, you would have come up with my husband and had I then said 'yes' you would have given me all three. Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so that's why I said 'yes' to Mel Gibson."

The moral of this story is : WHENEVER A WOMAN LIES, IT'S FOR A GOOD AND HONORABLE REASON AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OTHERS. THAT'S OUR STORY, AND WE'RE STICKING TO IT !!!

mY eNcOuNtEr WiTh A wIsE oLd MaN...

I had a lucky chance to meet an International Sales Manager this morning during my interview... From the moment I saw him, i knew he was different...

He's about 50 plus years old, and looked a bit eurasian... He speaks very good English, and carries himself very well... I shook his hand and it was a pair of firm broad hands...

He sat down and looked at my credentials, and started to make small talk, without making me feel small... He briefly explained to me what the job scope requires me to do etc... When i told him i'm not too sure whether i will be up to it, as i do not have any engineering background (it's an engineering company that sells spare parts...), this is what he said to me, with a tone a senior would use to advice a junior:

"Everyone is born with nothing initially, and has to learn and pick up skills and experience... You are young, at 22, and have a long way to go to gain experience... Even though you may not have any experience now, you will have in say, 5 years down the road... Experience is not important, but the attitude... You must possess the right attitude... We would rather have someone who has the right attitude, and we take time to train him up, than someone who has the wrong attitude..."

(What he said below touches me the most, and really set me thinking...)

"I always tell my son... You have to put in the best effort in whatever you do... Even if you have to be a taxi driver, you'll be the BEST taxi driver..."

I feel very fortunate, that I get to meet the International Sales Manager, and he talked to me nicely and gave me some really good advice... In the first place, how many people actually gets to meet someone who holds such a high post, and talk to you and gives you good advice? He even said that he doesn't know why, but he can continue talking to me on and on... In the end, he cut the conversation as he's afraid that he'll bore me... I assured him that i enjoyed the conversation as much as he does...

I would be very happy, to have a father like him, to receive good advice... and him being so RICH lah... I'm not saying that my dad is not good, but i think his son is very fortunate to have a wise old man...

I will try to keep these wise words in my mind, and hopefully, pass it down to my kids in future... I would then tell them: "A wise old man once said this to me......"