Uprising

2010 21km..here I come

Finished the 21km!!
Although I fell short of my target of 2hrs 30mins, I managed to complete it in about 2hrs and 37mins..
Well, at least it was because my legs are so damn tired, sore and pain, and not because I did not have the stamina to complete it! Couldn't resist the temptation to walk!!

Also congrats to Mitch who came in about 10 mins faster than me! So can I be proud of you? hahaha (it's not 3 hrs leh, can la right..)

Pool, dinner and drinks await, if I can still move of course.. No more abstinence until the next 21km! And I will do it better than this year! (even if it's just 1 second)

Peak is over!!

30 November is over!! No more filing deadline!! But work still never ends..well..at least it's more relaxing now..

Can't say I am very prepared for the 21km run this Sunday..I ran a total of 21.5km for training..

12.9km once..
8.6km once..

And my knee still feels tight from last Sunday cos I played soccer after the 8.6km run..

Nevertheless..I shall try to achieve my target of 2.5 hrs this Sunday..
Sometimes I wonder why did I sign up to torture myself..
Abstinence from beer..just for the run..
I am gonna drink a tower after the run on Sunday haha..

2009 - 1983 = 26

Signs that you will never relive the glory days:-

1. You run 13km in the morning and you can't get off the car after that
2. You drive to your friends house with anticipation to play Wii but have trouble getting down the stairs of the multi storey carpark
3. You play Wii and even that makes you tired
4. You go home and once you are on the bed you don't feel like moving
5. You fall sick and the doctor gives you 2 day mc (although falling sick could be because of the "scissor cut curry rice", mcspicy and "big eater" seafood)
6. You sleep 13 hours and still feel tired

Updates

Just some updates on what is happening:-

1. My good friend Shichang's mother passed away on Friday. Went to her wake on Sunday, and Shichang looked ok. But I know he is still getting over it, as even as a friend, I am already feeling very sad. It is just very sudden and I just hope everything will fall nicely for him.

2. On Saturday, there was the Corporate Community Games Pool Competition. I had sent 3 mixed teams to the competition. However, 2 people didn't turn up. I had to reorganise the teams and in the end forfeited 1 team. Although the firm paid for the teams ($500 a team), I felt it was a waste of money. Furthermore, in the midst of my busy peak season, I asked for budgets, organised training sessions, coordinated the teams, prepared souvenirs and everything, just to make this competition happen. But one guy overslept and one girl went clubbing after work at 1am, and both of them couldn't wake up. I am not angry, but just disappointed. It is just irresponsible, but well, shit does happen. And the guy was the best player and I seriously thought his team had a chance to win it, but it was not to be.

3. In between these things, I went to my grandma's birthday celebration on Saturday evening. It was good food and stuff and I hope my grandma can live as long as she can as she is currently diagnosed with the last stage of cancer.

4. I also attended a secondary school friend's wedding at St.Regis on Sunday. 2 rich families coming together, and my friend's father-in-law damn trendy la. Hairstyle very hip, and he has 2 twin sons who are damn handsome and look like actors(think Takeshi Kaneshiro and you know what I mean). Rich, handsome, just dunno smart anot.

5. Worked late again today as tomorrow I am on leave. Peak is really tiring and I hope everything will fall nicely in the end too.

6. Sipping my can of Kilkenny now (1 of the 2 cans i bought on the way back from Bintan). Shiokz..and enjoying the air-con while the weather outside is so warm even though it is night time..

Seems like alot of stuff happening suddenly..I prefer peace..cheers to world peace!!

Weekends so short..Weekdays so long

Says it all..

Peak is here again..
Not the 1st..neither should be the last..
But with support, drinks, and all the things that keep me going..
I can conquer it again..



I hope..

Bintan

Back from Bintan!!

So how will I describe the trip??
A few possibilities:-

- "Shiok stay" per Shichang, Gina, Gary??
- "Hao Hao Zhuo Ren" per Desmond (so does he want me to "hao hao zhuo ren" or "hao hao zhuo ren"??)??

Well..we ate..cycled..drank..slacked..kayaked..swam..slacked..ate..drank..slept..drank..etc etc

All I know is that I am missing it already..and I wanna slack somemore!!

On a side note, missed the mini earthquake in Singapore, and why did Singtel get the rights to EPL?? Damn..

Jizz in my pants

This video is recommended by a friend of mine..ok it is really catchy after a while..stupid lyrics! It has 62m views though..



And I get goosebumps when I see the next video

By popular request

Ok so now I am blogging after almost 1 month.

Many things have happened that you don't need to be my closest buds to know (please refer to "Special One" blog entry "I'm back!!! and complaining....!!")

1. Won the CPA Snooker championship for EY with my team
2. Training hard for the CPA Pool championship coming up
3. Not training for my 21km run in December
4. Drinking lotsa beer as usual
5. Have not clubbed since Kelly's farewell at Butter (if you consider that clubbing)
6. Working harder than usual
7. Started playing soccer again
8. Playing number ball snooker again
9. Eating lotsa good food
10. Blogging again

Wah..coming up with the list above is hard..

Woohoo

MerLion

Met with an amazing incident yesterday..
Was driving my friends to play pool around midnight..
Entering the expressway..
An innocent looking car in front of us..
Suddenly we see stuff splurting out of the driver window..
VOMIT!!!
Not once, not twice, but around 5 times!!
And it's like..Merlion...shot out..not flow out..
Gross..

A motorcyclist was beside me..
We were both actually driving quite fast..
But we slowed down once we saw it..
And the car swerved everytime there is vomit..
But after that he sped away..cutting lanes and driving fast..
Don't think he was drunk, probably sick..
But a rare sight..

Another random incident..
Playing 3 jiao mahjong..
Just started a new game..
My friend hit, I eat. I hit, He peng. He hit, I game "Ping Hu"..
No tiles on the table..
The other significant thing my other friend did was "Bu Hua"..
Haha..Another rare sight..

Anyways, been drinking a little bit too much this week..
To dealcohol again.

Motivational problems

Back to work not too long ago after a great holiday in Taipei and a week of slack reservist..
Can't seem to find the drive and attitude to work..
Everyday just slack..
And nua..
Feeling tired..
Yawnz..
Zzzzzz..

Well..the CPA competitions are starting soon..
That's the only thing good to look forward to now..
But for now..I need to find my motivation and drive back..
But where do I start??

Zzzzz
Haha...

Wine

Red wine or white wine..
Personally I prefer red..
But now I don't like any..
The phobia is still there..
The thought of the overdose can always come out from no where..
That fateful D&D night (see post on 4 November 2008)..
The night red wine killed me..
Killed me worse than beer and liquor ever did..

I avoid wine whenever possible..
Maybe there will come a day I avoid liquor as well..
Judging from the past 3 fridays (Butter / Pump Room / Lunar)..
I really am sick of the feeling that comes the next day..

Off to Taipei tomorrow!!

Liquor

Love and hate relationship..
It is quite gross if you drink a lot..
And yet it is the key drink at clubs..
Where people not friends drink already also all become friends..

Drank Chivas for chivalry..
Hennessy..Martell..Johnnie Walker..Jack Daniels..Macallan..all have been tasted..
And if you mix it with beer (see below post for beer)..
Tada..
High enough to enjoy the night..
And enough for you to have a headache the next day..

But I still prefer beer on anyday..

Beer

Beer...

I think I am addicted to it..I drink it so often now..

Hopback ale..
Kilkenny..
Singapore pale ale..
Scottish ale..
Munich dark..

And my taste for the darker beers are getting there..
except I still wonder how Mitch and Ojay enjoy drinking Guinness draught..
Well..its an acquired taste..
And Shichang is acquiring it right hahaha...
While I am still a work-in-progress..

A tower of scottish ale coming up!!

Time to club!!

May is here!!

Nothing much happening recently..
except that have been drinking quite abit..
but all of the sessions were fun I must say..

Anyway, heard this joke on radio..

QN: What do you call a pig which rode an aeroplane?

I bet the first thing that comes to mind is air pork..
But it's WRONG!!

It's got to do with something that is causing a lot of hoo haa nowadays..

It's even hotter than the topic about recession..

The answer is...

" Swine Flew (flu) "!!!!

Is June coming already?

It's the annual affair of waiting for June (but next yr will be different as it will only happen in Sept/Oct)

Promotion + bonus (if there is)

Well..and also my holiday during my bdae week! Plane and hotel booked..to taiwan!!

To end off with the usual cheesy line..

Wake me up...when May ends...

Long weekend that passed by

Before we move to the weekend highlights..
I was having severe mahjong overdose..
Mahjong on Monday / Wed / Thurs night..and after the former 2 still have to work the next day!!
No wonder my colleagues had to have a disclaimer "see you next week" after our Thursday session..

I visited Tampines 1 shopping mall on sat afternoon..
Ahh..the so called "the new town"..my uni good friend say one..
So we went together..and was disappointed..
Crowded..and lousy shops..
Actually she made a good point..the mall is by Asia Malls..
The one who made White Sands and Century Square..so we shouldnt expect much..
And we really really shouldnt..

And so it was Saturday night..
Chelsea were leading 4-0..
I was toasting Mitch at Brewerkz Indoor Stadium and told her wah..unless Bolton score back 3 which is unlikely..if not the money is in my pocket..
and then..3 goals were scored in less than 10 mins..
Next time I should just keep my mouth shut..

Visited the "vivo of the west" courtesy of Shi Chang today with my family after Sao Mu..
Not bad la..better than Tampines 1 by miles (although they are separated by miles)
And it wasnt crowded! minus the "you know who" people at Boon Lay..
Well..might go again..as din really walk much..

Off to work tomorrow again
Monday blues...
Labour day faster come!!

What about the pay of this type of people akin to CEOs??

Remuneration of people in banks and insurance companies had been scrutinised recently. What about this for a pay for a pastor..


Singapore church pays princely sum to leader: report

A Singapore-based church paid one of its leaders more than 500,000 dollars (329,000 US) in its last financial year, a report said Monday.

The New Creation Church, which raised 19 million Singapore dollars in just one day in February for the construction of its new premises, paid one employee between 500,001 and 550,000 dollars in the financial year ended March 31, 2008, the Straits Times said.

It said the church did not confirm if the money was paid to its leader, Senior Pastor Joseph Prince.

But New Creation's honorary secretary, Deacon Matthew Kang, was quoted by the newspaper as saying it was the church's policy to "recognise and reward key contributors... and Senior Pastor Prince is the main pillar of our church's growth and revenue."

Kang also described Prince as "the key man responsible for bringing in about 95 percent of our church's income," and added "he has enriched the church and not the other way around."

Two other employees of the church were paid between 150,001 and 200,000 dollars, but no names were given, the report said.

One of Singapore's fastest growing churches, New Creation had an income of 55.4 million dollars and net assets of 143.36 million dollars in its last financial year, according to its website.

Singapore is a predominantly ethnic Chinese society with deep Buddhist and Taoist traditions, but Christians here are known as a devout, close-knit and relatively affluent community.

KTV

Went kbox..wow they have a lot of English songs!! Original mtv as well, including these





And my all time favourite..

Recession??

Recent happenings:

- New Creation Church raises $19m in 24 hours. Recession..what recession?
- 2 deaths in NTU in quick succession.
- Retrenchments...retrenchments...and more retrenchments.
- Worsening economic forecasts. How will people have confidence when such news keep appearing??

Anyway, I am slightly disturbed by the 1st one. That's like about $220 every second. Not like the place is open 24 hours. It was raised in 4 sessions only. Woo...charities can't even raise that amount. Furthermore, it was raised for its new premises, not for charity.

Well, if only everybody is so generous and willing to spend/donate, I don't think we will be in a recession.

What you need to know for taxes $$$

So I am filing taxes for the first time..
Logged in and realised some things:-

1. They are taxing my ippt and marksmen award. Piangz..even though they give me nsmen relief doesn't mean they have to do that. Niao..

2. I cannot claim parent relief ($5k) if my dad claims wife relief ($2k). FYI, my mum doesn't work and is >55 yrs old. For those who are not too mathematically inclined, it means my dad's tax rate has to be 2.5 times more than mine if he should claim his and not mine. For those who still don't understand...

2000a = 5000b
=> a/b = 5000/2000 = 5/2 = 2.5

where a is my dad's tax rate, and b is mine.

Please note that personal income tax rates are stepped, i.e. income is taxed at different rates at different levels

On a side note, I wonder how does the IRAS choose if both my dad and I claim.

3. You can apply for GIRO instalment plan online if you have DBS internet banking. Yay..less hassle.

4. I was employed by 2 employers last year although I did not change jobs. Ernst & Young and Ernst & Young Solutions (ok not very relevant)

5. Even my $25 donation to NTU (double deduction at $50) is recorded. No need to give receipt. The IRAS really has all the info.

Anyway, I work in Corporate Tax. So Personal Tax is not my expertise. However, if you insist in asking me for help, charges apply! haha

Monsoon

Although a little out of point..but the weather is so hot I want a monsoon!

Nobody

I vaguely recall this song was played in Lunar that time was it?
Did we clap together with it..
Haha...

Great weekend

Pri sch gathering -> Drinks -> Golf -> Benjamin Button -> Pool -> Chill outside -> Mahjong -> Golf -> Sleep -> Chill outside -> Soccer

Awesome weekend..No Monday Blues!!

But I got to set my mahjong record good soon. 5 straight losses!!

CNY

CNY so far:

1(a) Down on luck at mahjong (lost 4 times in a row)
1(b) Super lucky at Blackjack (won alot of money as banker)

2(a) Ang pows are mostly smaller..times are bad
2(b) Yet some ang pows are bigger..not everyone is hit..

3(a) Great long weekend holiday..
3(b) But next public holiday is only in April!!

On a separate note..told my mgr I am going to the greens with them in 6 mths..
I better be able to hit the ball well soon!!!

Happy Chinese New Year

Ok..a bit early..but so what..what matters is..

Huat Ah!!!!!!

Some reasons why Chi Bi 2 should not be shown

1. Suicide ships that blast into enemy ships to cause fire (idea for suicide vehicles with bombs)

2. Suicide warriors (Gan Xing / soldiers) which are too similar to suicide bombers

3. Fish oil used for bombs / testing of bombs by Gan Xing, which will give even more ideas

4. The distance when Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu talk is damn near. Signs of gay tension. What about the bad breath? ( Please do not try this in real life). Oh, and Gan Xing seems gayish too

5. Zhou Yu swallowing a lot of tang yuan at one go (Again, please do not try this in real life)

6. Zhuge Liang showing best what is all talk and no action (Damn slack can, and he could jus watch from a patch of grass. Not even on a particular ship)

7. The amount of lies in this show is amazing (never let your kids watch this)

Ok..not that I am complaining about the above. The show rocks! Go watch it!!

Broke again

Spent way too much recently..
Time to cut down on spendings which are not necessary..
Here are my plans to revert to my stable financial position:-

1. Eat Golden Shoe Cai Fan / Nasi Lemak for lunch at work ($2!!)
2. Eat the damn lot of snacks/chocolates I have at my workplace instead of lunch/dinner
3. Make my own milk tea instead of buying the bottled one every morning (no more promo price of $1.50!! now it's back to $2.45..sob)
4. If need the beer fix, drink only during Happy Hour (1 for 1 or whatever discounts)
5. If need to eat expensive, eat only at places with credit card discounts
6. For mambo next wed, go damn early to ensure free entry with citibank cards. If there is a need to eliminate competitors, so be it
7. Shop only when there are extreme sales (like the 50-60% at G2 Black etc.)
8. Play mahjong properly and not take stupid risks. Use whatever psychological warfare to affect opponents
9. For soccer, only bet when sure. Not sure, keep the bet for next time
10.With regard to games/songs/movies that need not be watched in a cinema etc., do what is necessary.

The list goes on...

CNY coming. Huat ah!!!

End

It has come to an end..

3 weeks of fun..
Cameron..Christmas..New Year..lotsa leave..very little work done..
It is my 1st notable break since I started work..

Now I am having very serious Pre-Monday blues!!

Well..at least there is still some time left to enjoy~..

On a side note, started golf today.
Seems fun! But will have to wait and see if it lasts haha..
Wonder if there will ever be a day I go to the greens with my Dad..

But I still hafta fight the blues 1st..

2009 Resolutions

Normally when people ask about my new year resolutions..
I would reply "1280 x 1024" (ok this is an outdated joke)

I don't normally have resolutions for the year..
But since I have a blog now..I shall write down what I hope to achieve..

1. Win toto/4D
2. Win mahjong
3. Win soccer bets

Wait..before you all think I am such a gambler...the above only constitutes a small portion of my resolutions!!

4. Learn more things like golf (coming soon!)
5. Save more money
6. Drink less (big task)
7. Shop less (equally big task)
8. Exercise more (soccer or whatever)
9. Run 21km in the SC marathon / run + walk the 42km (shichang we must train!!)
10. Eat healthy
11. Read more (I am still at chapter 8 of deception point after 2 months)
12. Work hard
13. Stop visiting Malaysia (5 times in 2008!!)
14. Go on a long and far trip
15. Spend more time with family

Ok that's all I can think of..seems a lot..

Let's see how many I can achieve in 2009..

Happy new year to all!! Start the year with a nice song below~