Hurting

I've been hurting for some time. In many places.

One of the more worrying places is that the last two fingers on my left hand always not much feeling. My left hand's always more weak.

Ive gone to many places for help. Then today i went to this acupuncture sinseh. He was damn rough man. Jerked my left hand so hard that the insides all had a tingling feeling. It's almost like all my nerves were firing up.

Then he pierced the acupuncture needles to each of the joints on my last 3 fingers. Ive had acupuncture before but this felt damn pain. Then i realised he pierced the joints to bleed them. After he squeezed out the blood, he then used a stick (which is shaped like a nail file) and kneading at each of the wounded joints. I was screaming. After a while, the joints all turned blue black. He said it was all the bad blood stuck there.

All this while i was lying on my tummy on his table with needles in my back, writing away like a beached whale.

My hand feels much better now.

Song

I heard this song on the Sichuan Charity Fund Raising show this evening. Some of the artistes and their kids were butchering this song.

It sounded familiar but i couldnt place it.

The sad lyrics made me think it was Jay Chou's Shi Jie Mo Ri. But i thought it was quite a weird song to choose.

Then i realised it's not the Jay Chou song.

It's actually this song.

I actually remember watching this MTV in a KTV, on a rare occasion i went to a KTV (think only 3 times in my life). Brought back so so so many memories.

Sigh.. im very sad now.

Tripping

I'm tripping. I left my previous job cos of the intense travelling. Thought i can relak one korner here.

I'll be going to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City next week.

The following week, I'll be relocating to China for three weeks - got a nice cosy hotel in Shanghai and then flying domestic to Beijing, Sanya, Haikou, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Chengdu (shudder).

My boss said to stay at least 2 wks but i can extend to 3 weeks. Will see my mood. I'll definitely be back for this.



I went to their concert the last time they were here in 2005.

Just Cant Run Far Enough

I used to run quite a bit. I enjoyed it. I used to run from my house to east coast on weekends when i book out. It felt good. Till i fractured my ankle.

Then i bought a bicycle. Then i cycled all the way to east coast. Much easier than running. But cycling is more dangerous than running.

I used to swim a lot. I used to swim on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, hours on each stretch. I have lifesaving certificates,long distance award and some speed awards even. But after some years of not swimming in uni, i now get a headache when i swim in a pool.

It just feels like sometimes things dont last. It's really odd that i get headaches after swimming, despite being decently good at it at one time.

Nothing lasts.

Ive started running a bit now. I went cycling on Monday and thereafter i went shopping for goggles.

I'm thinking of joining a triathlon. http://www.triathlon.sg/ Thinking of doing the Mini - swim 200m, cycle 10km, run 2km. Doesnt sound difficult on paper but to do all three consecutively.

Sweets

I met an ex-colleague for dinner that night.

She said she wanted to buy me a meal cos she got a good bonus. But i decided on such an expensive place that i decided to buy her a meal instead.

When she met me, she showed me something she stole from the office for me.

Running

I started jogging after work recently as i wanted to get my mind off things and maybe lose some weight.

First time i jogged, was the first in some years since ive used my track shoes. Track shoes were bought in my US tour in Dec 2002 for merely US$25. But it's quite a funky design and i love it.



When i put on my shoes after such a long time, the side straps came out. Thank goodness, the entire shoe's like a glove, so i could still run after removing the laces.





After that, i decided to go buy another pair.



I remember being one of 24 people in Singapore in 1992 to own the Nike Air 180.

Has it been worth it?

You give it a lot of thought.

You wonder if you need her in your life.

You've done without her in your life so far and it's been fine.

You consider for a long time. Is this right? Is this the right decision? Are you ready for this step?

You buy things to make her happy, hoping that if she's happy you become happy too.

At the end of the day, it's not about the money. You'd have bought her the world if she wanted it. It's about the commitment.

You worry if it'll end up with nothing. Will it be a headache, heartache or immense joy?

You wonder if it'd bring you the immense joy that you, your mother, your father, your sister have been waiting for.

Is it worth it? You cant tell till you make the next step.

You realise that the word "worth" pops up more often than others. It's a question of worth because in all things there's a cost and benefit and you jus have to weigh it, consider it, analyse it to make sure the joy you feel is more than the risk you're taking.

So many things you'd have to consider before you hire a maid.

Today I’ve Lost You - Take That

Driving home in my car, nearly midnight
Rain on the road in my view
Holes in my heart, it’s the first night without you
On my clothes I still smell your perfume

Should i call?
When I left you were crying
Is it too late to apologise
From talking to fighting, admitting, denying
To finally saying goodbye

Now I regret every word that was spoken
I said some things you know I didn’t mean
Maybe we’ll turn back the time
Work it out, start anew
Or maybe today I’ve lost you

I can’t help but think of our last conversation
I close my eyes I can still see your face
I hope what I’m feeling now
You are feeling it too
Or maybe today I’ve lost you

Driving faster out on this empty road
Being single’s so bad at twenty-three
Looking for signs, asking strangers directions
When the answer’s right in front of me

Strange how a day it can feel like a lifetime
I know what I had now it’s gone
Ive swallowed my pride cos alone here, I’m dying
And with you is where I belong

For twenty-four hours I’ve been searching for reasons
Reasons why we should be living apart
Hope I’m not too late to come home
Work it out, start anew
Or maybe today I’ve lost you

maybe today, I’ve lost you
maybe today, I’ve lost you

Bali

I actually went on a day trip to Bali yesterday.

And im back in the office today.

My super duper ultra big boss asked me which part of the island I went.

With my limited drawing skills, I drew a map of Bali for him.



This looks like someone’s testicles man.

I hurriedly went out of his room to print a proper map when he looked confused.

Carz

I went to my boss's room today and saw that he placed the car i gave him on this mantle place he has in his room.

Look at how proudly it stands.



Until you step further back and see the kick-ass models already there.

Compliments

I have been complimented for various things before. But I never thought I'd receive one like this from my boss after last week's conference in Shanghai. Definitely not my chinese speaking abilities.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on the great job you did at the conference, without your chinese speaking capabilities it would have been much harder. So GREAT JOB!"

Conference

Going to this conference that my ex-company hosts gave an odd sense of familiarity. Odd feeling cos I've gone to this conference ever since its inception and it's the first time I am attending this as an outsider.

My former boss came to introduce himself to my current boss and it was an awkward moment for me. Current thanked Former for letting Current have me, while Former said it was only a loan. Kinda weird moment there.

There were several cocktails and dinners during the conference and we were shuttled by buses from hotel to hotel, depending on where the coctails/dinners were held. I caught this sign as i was walking to the shuttle bus.



IHG stands for InterContinental Hotels Group. Haha.. this was a funny one.

I brought tons of brochures and even more namecards. It was a tough time trying to explain what my company was in Mandarin. I spoke so much Mandarin that i got a headache in the first two days. Gave away all of them and now i have this much namecards to reply to.



Hopefully i get a deal or two out of these buggers.

On a happier note, I managed to catch up with my pretty Shanghai friend. I've now known her for 3 years now and she was literally my first work friend. It's fun to see how we've grown into our roles.

Hangzhou

I did a day trip to Hangzhou when i was in Shanghai.

上有天堂，下有苏杭。(i'm very good at chinese proverbs, as evidenced here). I've been wanting to go Hangzhou for a long time.

It was a long long journey..

1. 45 mins to the train station to my hotel

The train station was packed at 9am man.



2. 1.5 hour journey to Hangzhou

I called my ex-colleague to ask how to get to Hangzhou. Coincidentally, she was there at the same time! Haha.. she mistakenly took the el cheapo RMB15 (S$3) train which takes 3 hrs and there was no allocated seats. So she stood for one hour until she got a seat. For RMB 50 (S$10), i got a seat and the journey was 1.5 hours.

3. 2 hour car ride to Thousand Islet Lake.

It was raining the entire day which made the pictures bad..but the fogginess added to the mystique of the place.







Going down the slippery slope to get to the boat.

Illness

I think i have an illness.

No matter how late i arrive back from a trip, I'd unpack everything, dirty clothes, toiletries, work files, accessories, etc before i go shower and sleep.

No matter how long the flight is.

It's 2:30am now and im glad to be back.

Shanghai

Came to the conference my ex company hosts every year. But this time I'm here as a delegate. In the past, we used to all squeeze in a serviced apartment to save costs.

Now i finally get to stay in the hotel where the conference is held. So nice.





It isnt that obvious here but the cupboard opens both ways: one side opens into the toilet, and the other side opens at the doorway. Very convenient.



It's an 88 storey building. Scary!





I was famished after my flight and ordered these... yummy.. but they had 10 xiao long bao...



Then i just had this for lunch... nice soup!

Help

I actually recently got some part-time help for my mum. She comes in once a week to clean up the house and help out here and there. This lady came highly recommended by someone i felt is a little too picky and anal for her own good. So i trust her opinion on things like these.

After the first time she came, she wanted my mum to buy the following:

1. A stronger vaccuum cleaner
2. A stronger iron
3. Some special table cloth she recommended

We bought #1 and #2 before her second visit and she helped us buy #3.

On a second visit, she wanted us to buy:

1. A better ironing board.

I didnt manage to buy an ironing board before her third visit.

On her third visit (today), she suggested that my mum bought a cupboard to store the excess clothes we have.

Siong man.

Cards

Just got my order of 2 boxes of name cards for an upcoming conference i'm attending.

Means i wont be getting promoted anytime soon i guess.

Vicious Spiral

It’s strange how one thing can lead to another.

I actually went to Watson’s to get pore packs.

Then ended up getting batteries for my wireless keyboard. Wanted to get 4 pieces only (S$7.05) but then 8 pieces cost S$10.50. More worth it.

Then while paying, saw this two-bottle dettol promotion. Original price is S$15.50 and then now is S$11.80 if I bought more than S$15 at Watson’s.

Bought them all.

Cant think of a nice title

My mum’s happy that my that uncle won S$10,000. His daughter’s in uni and could use with some extra dough. He's very thrifty. Handphone screen spoilt never change. My mum told me to buy him one.

Coincidentally, DBS ibanking has that fab offer with 40% off Samsung phones. I waited till 31 March before ordering cos I wanted to pay till payday. Then I realised deadline was 31 March and the payment website doesn’t work with Mac and Vista (office laptop) and then was panicking cos I cant get my 40% off deal.

I finally managed to in the end. And now he won S$10,000.

I hope good things come to good people.

Digital Aged

It was a flurry of activity in my house last night. I came home late cos I went to get a PSP. I was supposed to stay out later to wait for my mum who was supposed to go to town to pick up my cousin’s maid to come stay at my house cos my cousin’s going on holiday.

After some change in plans, the maid no more coming liaoz. So I went home.

When I came home, my mum was yakking on the phone cos my aunty won second prize in 4-d (or toto). W00t S$2,000. And then another uncle called to say he won first prize!!!! W00t w00t w00t w00t w00t S$10,000! Happy like bird. My mum was very happy and yet half sianz cos apparently she saw the winning number on a car license plate together with my uncle when they visited my aunty (same one who won second prize - very complicated). But she was too lazy to buy in the end. She was nonetheless happy.

In the short window of time my house phone was available, my cousin (the one with the maid) called to say that she’s getting a cab to send her maid to my house. Asked me to take down the taxi number so that we can go down and pick her.

My mum hurriedly took down the numbers to buy in the next 4-d!!

In other news, PSP is very difficult to play.

PSP

Just bought a PSP.



Increasingly more things in my room is white.

My Mac's white.

My keyboard's white.

My ipod's white.

Bought an ipod speaker cum radio that's white too recently.