32 days to 2010

It is now 32 days to 2010. Really fast, We are reaching into the last month of 2010. I don’t know why, but every time when it reaches this period of the year, I have a lot of thoughts going through my mind and this year, there seem to be more, and I think most of it are greatly due to my age.

Call it mid life crisis 🙂 As we ages we tend to spend more time reflecting on the past and you start to think of old friends, When you met up with old friends, you could talk non stop on the past and update one another on your life.

I must say that this year till now, has been very fast and hectic for me. Economic down turn, new ventures, new friends coming into my life and so on. In fact, I have really taken to writing my blog on a very consistent basis, I hope to be able to compile all my knowledge and my own life on my few blogs and treat it as a repository on my thoughts, it should be quite fun years on when I start reading back on what I have written.

Although hectic, life was simple shuttling between work and home almost the whole year. Years back, I still remember the outings with friends during the holiday and weekend, where I just hang out with friends on weekends and holiday eve and won’t return home until 3 or 4 in the morning. Life back then was simply care free, pocket money from my dad, extra money from part time job and so on. Spent everything on games and fun.

I don’t really know which year it started but all of a sudden during one of the year, I just have a feeling of trying to spend holiday eve at home. Maybe it was a sign of ageing back then. Especially Christmas Eve, I tried to spend time after attending church with my parents. and I think I make the right choice which I never regretted, I think for the past 4 years, Christmas Eve was spent at home with my parents. Anyway during the past few years even if I wanted to go out, it would only be me alone also. My best friend was in China, Most of my buddy were either celebrating Christmas Eve with their wife or girl friend. I’m all alone, so the best is just to “hide” at home. I felt that this was definitely worth it. Back then I was still working 10 to 12 Hours work day in the office, So I was actually spending a lot less time at home during most of the year. During those years, I treated my home as a Hotel, Came back home between 10.30 to 11.30 at night, have dinner prepared by my Mum, at these hours, my parents would have already slept. After dinner, took a shower, and then watch some news and slept between 2 to 3 am in the morning, wake up at 9am wash up and leave home by 9.30 am or earlier if there is classes in the morning. Before leaving house, maybe a 2 to 5 min chat with my Mum, I seldom see my dad during those days.

So I really treasure the fact that I did spent some time with my parents during the past few years. 

A week had passed

Time really flies, It is a week after my first outing with my bread girl. Today is her off day again, but I’m still in my office typing away on quotations and reports.

I still could not date her out for another time. Not because of rejection, but I because I did not ask, When I’m facing her I’m lost for words, I could not find any topics to talk, I am just plain nervous when I’m facing her.

I really wanted to tell her that I would like to bring her out for dinner, but just could not bring myself to tell her. Really frustrating and disappointed with myself.

Last Sunday, I bought her a small gift in return for the Cross that she gave me during last week dinner. I could really felt that she was genuinely happy when she saw the gift, It really warm my heart to be able to see her happy and smiling away when she saw the gift that I gave her, She told me that she was really feeling lousy the whole day but after seeing my gift, she is happy and all her sadness is gone already. At that moment, I felt really happy.

Words just cannot come out from my mouth when I’m facing her, But I must at least do it for once. Be it success or failure, I have to let her know, Now I just hope to be given another chance to be alone with her for 5 minutes and I  will DO IT………. Will post update once I did it. 

Outing Day

What a day. It just pass so fast. It’s now 2322hrs as I’m writing this blog.

It was a day out with my bread girl. She is definitely a young lady who is full of laughter and is definitely very energetic. She can be seen running and laughing the whole day.

It was a date setup by my friend’s wife. She invited her out for a one day outing on their off day. So I was definitely really excited about this outing.

The day started out disappointing as escape theme park was not open on weekdays. We did not know. So plan B was to be planned and sorted within 10mins. We decided to give snow city a shot.

It turned out ok and luckily, we did not disappoint my bread girl. I felt that she enjoyed herself at snow city riding down the snow rides. When I see her smiles, I also felt happy. After snow city, we proceed to science center. Science center was a place which I never visited for more than 20 years. It really brought back fond memories of my younger days when during one of the school holiday, My Dad and Mum brought the 3 of us to the Science Center for a day of outings. Those were really happy days, no worries, no stress. Outings although no many due to financial income of our family, but my Dad and Mum will still bring us out for day trip to places of interest like the zoo, sentosa and so on. Well those were the days.

Dinner was back at Punggol Sakura. I just love the environment there, It is a place that I must bring my bread girl to. Seeing her enjoy the food that I cook was enough, I felt happy. Though the day ended without even getting her hand phone number, I’m still happy, at the very least, we are now officially friend. I know where I stand and dare not hope for more, although I’m might be lucky, but then there is still some age difference between us.

To love someone is not to process her, but seeing her happy and living well is more than enough. She is a Christian and may God Bless her.  

Mid Week Thought

It’s Mid week again, Another week coming to an end soon and also we are just 2 months to a brand new year, I already saw Christmas promotions on my incoming mails. Time really flies, and it waits for no men. Which is very true, before I knew it, I’m already reaching mid thirties in just 4 Months time.

If i am able to live till 70s, then it would mean that I have already spent half of my lifetime. I’m left with another half only. What have I accomplished ? and what do I still left to do. Thinking of this, I have accomplished a lot in the past 34 years, I have grown into a man, I have gain knowledge, I built my business from zero and lots of other things.

What have I not done? I have yet to start a family, I have yet to own my first car, I have yet to gain success, I have yet to gain financial freedom and lots more.

I have to hasten my pace from now on. I have to work smart, play smart and start to enjoy what life has to give me. I can’t just slot everyday and neglect my Dad, Since my Mum passed away suddenly last year, I’m only left with my Dad to take care of, He’s getting old, getting more fragile, his eyesight is also failing him due to years of uncontrolled diabetics.

Since mid of last year, I have been coming back for dinner almost daily with my Dad. 24 Hours a day and I could only be with him for approximately 3 hours. Seeing how life has taken a toil on him makes me feel bad. He slogged all his life for the 3 of us, but what we have been bringing to him since he retired are just basic stuff. I felt that more or less he do felt disappointed with us.  I must try to change that. I must try to fulfill his expectations of me. His main expectation of me right now is to start a family. It’s a tough job, I must admit.

Windows 7 Launch in Singapore

This was supposed to be published 2 days back, but I was just too tired after the event to do any posting and therefore have to wait until today whereby I have some time to compile the pictures and do my posting.

Launch of Windows 7 in Singapore, held in Mohamed Sultan, It was an event which media from the region was invited and Speakers from the region gave demo and introduce features of Windows 7.

There were 4 demos inside the conference hall, comprising of “Outdoor”, “Office”, “Bedroom” and “Living Room”, MVPs from the region were invited and they showed attendees how Windows 7 help them in their daily life from working, communicating with friends, viewing photos, watching videos to gaming online.

 

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1 Day before official Launch of Windows 7

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The live demo of Bedroom and Living Room

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Booth where different manufacturer notebooks will be on display

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Morning of the Launch Day with Standing Banners of Windows 7 outside the venue

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At the outside hall, Manufacturers displayed their latest Notebooks and PCs with Windows 7 installed

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Games and Videos running at the live demo area

Almost Dinner with Bread’s Girl

I’m really excited as I’m writing this post, I just had a chance to sit down with my Bread’s Girl seeing her having her dinner. She was having dinner alone and my friend’s wife happen to be off work and went over to chat with her, my friend and I then went over to sit down and chat with her. I was really excited of being given this chance to get this close to her.

I was so tensed that I hardly talk when we were sitting together, Really useless, but then it will be a night where I won’t forget easily, October 20th 2009. I guess majority of you would also have this strange when meeting with someone you really wish to meet but hardly get the chance. That was how I was feeling just now.

The other thing that got me excited also is Windows 7 Launch in Singapore, I will be at the setup for the launch and also at the launch day October 22nd 2009. I will be witnessing the Official Press Media Launch of Windows 7 in Singapore. Really excited and I hope to be able to do a live update during the launch.

As written on Windows 7 before, I really think that this version of Windows 7 will be much better than Vista. Stay tuned guys, as I will definitely give a live report if possible during the official launch.

Nanny for 1 Night

This evening, I was called up by my brother to babysit his child for him while he attend to his mother in law funeral procession.

Without any hesitation, I obliged and make my way over in the evening, It has been a couple of months since I last saw my niece and nephew, I saw my youngest nephew, He was only 5 months old, but he is big in size, look very much like me also. When my brother carried him over to me, He gave me one of the biggest smile, very chubby and very much likeable.

I was actually in fact needed to look after my older nephew, he is 2 years old plus now. A super hyper active child. He just cannot sit around and do nothing, must move about and if you don’t walk him, he will kick up a big fuss.

For the whole night, I carried him around the whole estate, looking at buses and cars, in between, he only slept for around 45mins. It was actually one of the longest time that I ever spent with my nephew for almost a year plus.

It was really fun to be able to spend a couple of hours with my nephew, seeing how he has grown. Naughty he was, but then it was time well spent. As I’m writing this, My hand really ache from carrying him the whole night.

Dinner at Sakura Charcoal Grilled & Shabu Shabu

Saturday October 10th, went for dinner at Sakura latest dinning restaurant at Punggol Marina, Sakura Charcoal Grilled & Sabu Sabu, Called in to the restaurant at about 5pm for reservation and was told that they were fully booked and the next available reservation based on availability and first come first serve basis was at 8.30pm. I hesitate and did not make a booking, I decided to go down and see how packed the restaurant is, It actually make me more interested in finding out more about this restaurant.

At about 7.30pm I reach the restaurant, I have been to Punggol Marina just about half a year back, and that place was mostly deserted except for diners at the Punggol seafood restaurant, Boatel Steamboat buffet, and Hot Stone buffet which actually open until 3am in the morning. There is also activity at the prawn farm with people Prawning (prawn fishing).

There is surely much more people and activity on this visit than my last visit, Most of the crown are at the Sakura Restaurant and mainly also because they offer free shuttle bus service from Sengkang Mrt Station. I went up to the waiting list counter and check with the person in charge as to how long do I need to wait as I’m not in the waiting list, He told me that only after 8.30pm then I would have a chance, same as what the lady told me over the phone, I put my name and phone down and waited.

I actually saw a lot of empty table inside the restaurant and was wondering why they do not let us in since they have quite a number of empty table, it was later that I found out that some people reserved the table and have yet to turn up, I think some got lost on the way.At about 8.10pm, I got a call from the restaurant, proceed to pay up and was led to the table by the staff.

For S$90.00 for 3 person, with S$ 30.00 stored coupon value for beverages and premium food like lobster and Wagyu beef, It’s definitely value for money. We went to the food counter for food, I was personally amazed at the variety of food available both for the Sabu Sabu and Grill. They even have a small pamphlet telling you about the stored value and to let the Sabu Sabu pot boil for at least 15mins before you start cooking and not to mix cooked food and raw food utensils to prevent cross contamination between food. A very great way to inform customer.

From their website they state more than 200 variety of food items, I did not do a manual count, but I can tell you, in one sitting, even if you take one of each food variety, I can tell you, you won’t be able to finish it. The variety is really huge, Ice cream and dessert inclusive. One very nice feature of this restaurant is that they serve very high quality food and even the beef for Sabu Sabu and some other non marinated pork is individually packed and wrapped to maintain the hygiene level and to prevent contamination. I especially like the Salmon, which they give an aluminum tray for you to grill, They salmon tasted great, although the other meat also taste great, just that I enjoyed this particular salmon and got myself a second helping. Seafood are lay on top of shredded ice to maintain it’s freshness.

When compared to other similar restaurant, this restaurant will be one of the highly recommended choice by me, First of all food hygiene and quality is great. Environment is also good, although it is a bit way off for some, but then it is very near my house. Restaurant is very clean but lighting is a bit poor on certain area, hard to gauge whether the grilled food is cooked or not, but then this is just a minor minus point, I never tried the premium item because, I spent all my stored coupon on drinks, they have Wagyu beef at S$ 16.00 per 100 grams. 

This time round, I remember to take some picture to tempt your taste buds,

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Sausages, beef, pork, and my favorite Salmon inside the aluminum tray

 

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Fresh Seafood

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Satay of different meat

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A shot of how the charcoal pit looks like

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Another shot of the Steamboat

This is a delayed post because my dad ended up in hospital again, But he should be out in a day or two, I just hope and pray that he gets well soon and do no stay so weak.

New Site Ready Soon

My new blogging site will be ready soon, I’m trying my very best to get it up by the second week of October, Hope that everything will be good by then, have been rushing like mad gathering resources and writing articles ready soon. It’s 100% all my own article and I have really put in a lot of effort onto this site.

I hope that my effort will be of  help to companies and individuals getting online. I’m also using this opportunity to hone my writing skills since it has all along been my interest in expressing myself in words beside computing, I have written a lot of technical menu for my clients before and now I using the skills acquired to publish article online.

Start of a new week

It’s Monday Morning, 12.30am in the morning, start of a new week, I’m getting ready for the new week, a lot of things to do next week, and anyway my dad is out of hospital already. Great to have him back home. At least I don’t have to shuttle between workplace and hospital. I will have more time for my new blogs, I have already almost got everything up in place, the development site is getting slower and slower due to the amount of plugins I have planted inside.

But I’m happy that everything is coming together, Now the last part is getting the design up. I have to admit that I’m a bad designer, I just don’t have the creative mind built in. But at least help is round the corner, I have already engaged someone for my banners and logo design, I hope that everything will be up and running by this Friday.

I’m quite excited at the way my site and blog is coming to life. It just like the feeling that I have 12 years back, when I’m starting my business. I will continue the business part somewhere mid week this week, have to let me take a breather first. This week is definitely a busy week again. As I’m going to go live for the other 2 sites.

Stay tuned for updates. Cheers and have a nice week ahead.