Birthday Presents

I'm 27 years and 363 days today.

Yahyahyah... i'm very calculative where the days are concerned. Going to the Big 3 is just a matter of 365 x 2 + 1 = 732 days!!!

Wha biang eh!!!

Anyway, whichever age we are at, we love getting presents for our birthdays. Besides Christmas, birthday is the time where you can get presents. And, everyone loves presents (if u don't, u can give it to me, i'll gladly receive it from u).

Got a bag from CG. Beautiful bag, and a shape that i didn't have. It has the 'Charles and Keith' feel. I Love it!!!



Personal gifts from Christal (Aqua Lily Body Mist and peppermint lip gloss) and my partner-in-crime-for-invading-Bodyshop-Stuff Michelle!! Thanks Gals!! I Love BodyShop a lot a lot a lot!!

I like the way the how blinky the coin pouch from Mic is :)



Cupboard from Mommy!! U know lah, i have soooooo many stuff, so Mommy bought me a cupboard with 5 doors. I love you Mommy!! Without u, there won't be me, let alone me celebrating my birthday. Even though u don't like the idea of me going to SOT, but i know that u worry most that i don't have enough. Mummy, i will work hard during SOT and at work and make sure i won't be in lack. I love you!



Precious Moments figurine from Chorus Board. Sarah said I looked like the gal. (Sweet looking, pretty)..... Muahahaha okok she didn't say that la. I know, i'm so Buay Hiau Bai. Lol.

3 birthday cards, The left is from Christal, Right is from Michelle.

I have to say something about the one in the center; it's from my leader, who's currently in KL for mission trip. She didn't managed to come for the cg farewell-cum-birthday-outing on Friday. So i got a pleasant surprise when i received a card, thinking it was from Church, but it was from Karen. Oooh. And she even sent it out. :)

Thanks everyone!! U've made my day.

Counting down :
- 2 days to 28 years old.
- 213 days to SOT 2009 (counting down liao... hahaha... it's not that far away, u know?)
-732 days to 30 years old (whatever happened to 29....)

Informing my parents...

Going to SOT is not exactly something that is as simple as saying that you want to study.

This is one area that i really need a breakthrough in my life.

U know ah, when i made the decision to want to go for SOT, I know that definitely, parents will say some things.

I tried once, remember?

Was only 20 years old, fresh out of my graduation from Advance Diploma. Made a casual remark about going to SOT. And was diao ... Had to study.

Remarks include:

"You want to go to bible school?? U want to be Pastor or nun is it???" (Wha biang, talk about being shallow.... Going to bible school doesn't make u a pastor/nun, just like if u happen to be in MacDonald's, that you are definitely a Fillet-O-Fish??? )

"Study this got use meh? Don't waste your time la"


****
Fast-forward 8 years.

Showed my mom something. And suddenly have the urge to tell my mother.

Maybe i've started it the wrong way..... told her maybe that i wanna take a break (Yikes.... copyrighted from someone i know), for a bit and do something else.

Her eyes twitched. She knew what i wanted to do. And SEE!! Putting the SOT form there so blatantly, it's hard to miss. I think she foreseen this day coming.

Her remarks are the same:

"You want to go to bible school?? U want to be Pastor or nun is it???"

"Study this got use meh? Don't waste your time la"

(new one) "Tired after working for 4 years? Me leh, work 25 years, more tired, but didn't think of stop working totally" (bad choice of starting line)

Defended the period of study at 5 months (ok that's out of desperation on my part, i really want her to see that i wanna do it).. which did nothing.

"U better don't let your father hear what u want to do"

"Doing it part-time is fine. But not just study and and don't work"


The conversation sounded a bit heated, but immediately, she was all smiley again... As if the conversation never took place.

I was kinda sad initially... but when i came back to my room, i recaped what was said:

"Doing it part-time is fine. But not just study and and don't work"

It brought a smile to my face. SOT is only part-time mah... 9am - 1pm is only half-day lor.

Also, what the.... i'm already 28. The conversation is meant to be an information thing, NOT to seek an approval. I do what i wanna do. My part is done in which i've informed. Whether to accept it or not, it's all up to me.

I can work part-time (but that's for part 2), for 4 hours for the next 5 months.

I guess i need to plan out my time more properly next year. I'm taking mental notes of the humongous pile of assignments waiting for me next year.

*****
Hmmmm , now's not a good time to tell COY about me going to SOT next year, i'm still praying and seeking for favor and a good solution that it work best ways for us. Best is i can still work half-day, but for my scope of work, all the 'exciting' parts are all happening in the morning.

And i want the best for the company too.

Guess the informing part 2 will really akan datang until a suitable time.

For now, it's back to training myself to wake up early, to really get into the habit.

Whatever it is, I'M SO SO SO SOOOOO EXCITED ABOUT SOT!!

Registering for SOT

U won't know how much you want to go SOT...

Until you have registered for it.

I did that 8 mins ago. And i have peace and enomous. enomous JOY in my heart. And i'm really really REALLY excited about SOT!!!

Yay!!!

Now, i'm waiting for the call to come and see what's next (should be the stackful of application form. hohoho)

*Can't stop the happiness flowing out of me.

School of Theology 2009 (30 Mar - 16 Aug 2009)

Last weekend was SOT graduation, a joyous occasion.

5 of our CG members has commenced on their new path post-SOT. That is to penetrate the marketplace and shine for Jesus!!

I blogged about my revelation and conviction about going to SOT next year. And i've been waiting and waiting...literally for next year's school term.

It was finally released during FOP, where the dates are in the first Week of April - 3rd/last week of August.

Then, last week, there was an update of the dates. They are going to start 1 week earlier. So, no matter what, i wanna go!! And i've filled in the registration form (i heard from past SOT grads that the application form is a stackful of papers... haha)



Had a last-minute meet up with a good fren who was in SOT last year. She was telling me all about the assignments, and all the stuff that she did in SOT. And, it encouraged me a lot.

Now, i've started to do some preparations for next year. Look out for it entries down the road!

There's a few hurdles that i need to cross for me to go. Do pray with me. Thank you.

Single@28 and not exactly desperate

I was really thinking of how i should pen this entry.

U see, it's ONE week away to turning 28.

In the year 2008, i am turning 28. I can have the following reactions:

a) AAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! I'm 28 and nowhere in the next stage of my life (more on that later).
b) Age at 28 and feel like 82. (i remembered i turned 21 and looked at my young members aged 14-18. Yah.. i felt like i was in another generation)
c) Age with grace. *slaps myself with brickbat* What the .... i'm ONLY 28. Still young, still young.

But as they say 岁月不留人, YES. I am going to age with grace. This aging-with-grace thing has been lingering in my mind when i thought about this entry. And yes, i'm going to do so. C'mon i'm still in my 20's. As long as people think i look young, how much is my age, doesn't really matter. *smug* can't blame my mother for her good genes. I look young for my age. Hehehe...

As per usual, i was reading my Newpaper Online when i came across this interesting article. There's a few questions that was asked and thought it will really be interesting to answer them in my opinion.

*****
1) I'm single but not desperate because...

I hasn't found the correct person. U know la, in this day and time, good guys are hard to find. Instead what u find are all the MCPs that lurks at every corner, waiting for a chance to overtake and control you at every chance, but doesn't have the ability to do it. I mean, u read the article, one of the respondents nearly got married, but didn't because the guy was showing his irresponsible-and-immature-and-wishywashy side.

What girls really want is a man, that she can submit to. Because the bible says so.

Ephesians 5:22-24

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

But the man, must also learn to love their wives like they love themselves. (Meaning, accomodate to the wife when need to, and make decisions that benefit both)

Ephesians 5:25-28

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

Unfortunately, in many cases, man will love the wife before marriage, and it changes after marriage （结婚是爱情的坟墓？？？？）. U see it in so many cases of marital abuse and it shows a lot in many many .... and many many drama serials. And, seems that guys of our generation seemed to be a tad too wishy-washy where decisions are concerned. But there are definitely exceptions. The thing is: Where are they??

2) Singaporean men are a turn-off because...

Like my comment on the previous point, they are wishy-washy and can't seem to be able to make a firm decision. Maybe they are not willing to wear the pants in the relationship, though the MCP mindset lingers in them. Now i must say is, MCP-ism is NOT wearing the pants in the relationship. But most guys see that as the same.

Also, because they are typical Asians. U know, they grow up in a very typical Asian family where the father only bring home the bacon and hand out the cane, they are very distant in terms of where relationship is concerned. Emotional Shut-down. So in terms of expressing love, they are lacking quite a lot in that department.

3) My ideal partner is...

Someone that is spiritual = Love GOD, conscientious and comes with a stable income, must have at least a Degree (must match up la, if not, that can become a topic of argument in the future.... yah thinking too far, BUT u never know), filial and with a good sense of humour (yes, i'm the crappy kind, sadly.. haha). He don't need to be super-duper good-looking, just someone who's soothing to the eyes. He must be able to give out proper encouragement and chastisement at the correct time. (FYI my LOVE language is word of affirmation & Quality time). A SNAG will be good (OMG are they... EXTINCT??)

4) My response to PM Lee's National Day Rally...

It's not that we don't to settle down. BUT, look, there are so many ladies out there who aren't married though they are reaching 30's. There are a lot of men who are not married. Reasons could be:

a) Men are shy... so are girls. Shy = pride. So if they are so paiseh (again, a typical trait of Asians), then how to have breakthrough? And modern people don't believe in arranged marriage in these days... FREEDOM OF LOVE RULES.

b) Men and Women wanna chiong for their careers. Now, because women are a bit more meticulous than the men, they are very detailed, which leads them to promotions and career advancement. From 21 - 35, women are in their prime. This is the time where women will chiong in their careers... they dont' want to be a 滥茶渣 where their experiences are not appreciated, as compared to the men.

c) According to what i heard, statistics show that men and women are getting married later and later and later in age. My mother at my age of 28 years old, she already have 2 children. I'm still freely single. When she was my brother's age at 24 years old, already popped me out already. My brother is in-a-relationship-but-not-marriage-ready-yet. So guys and gals alike, all are getting hitched later and later in life. What to do, for survival mah, Ai Pia Jia Eh Ya!


So, i guess Singaporean guys really need to buck up.

Eat fruits and drink more water

Even on the morning of the blardy stool incident yesterday, i told myself that I MUST drink at least 1.5 litres of water. I have a Nalgene Pink 1 Litre water bottle in the office (which was with me since i started work officially after graduating with my degree) that i didn't exactly use. It was just sitting on my office table, taking up a diameter of 8cm space.

There was a time i thought of bringing it back... bringing it when i served at FOP and didn't.

So yesterday, i filled the bottle up to the 1 litre mark, and started to drink water from there.

*gulp...gulp...gulp*

And then that's where i found the blardy stools. !#$%^

But today, i'm happy. Still feel constipated, but no blardy stools. I guess drinking water has a good benefit.

For those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or suspect that u have that, read on what i'm gonna share on the benefits of fruits and water.

According to my search, eating fruits helps in

a) potential for weight control - Woohoo... I want!!
b) more energy for exercising - Yeah, baby!
c) reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases -
d) reduced risk of developing cancers -
e) lower blood pressure
f) potential to lower cholesterol -
g) reduced change of developing type 2 diabetes
h) potential to slow down age process - Yes... Oh vanity vanity..

Drinking water has the following benefits:

a) regulate appetite
b) increase metabolism
c) boost energy levels
d) less water retention - it must come together with sufficient sleep.
e) alleviate some headaches
f) help reduce blood pressure
g) help reduce high cholesterol
h) ease joint pain - i need that.
i) decrease in risk of some cancers
j) less chance developing kidney stones
k) release toxic waste products - help your liver
l) improves skin

See!! So many benefits of eating fruits and drinking water!! I want to lose weight! I want super-duper good skin.

One thing to note: don't overdrink water . As always, have a balance!

Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes. Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes

Cheers to good health!

Blardy Bloody Stool

Really KNS lor! The blardy stools came back (it'll better be for a 'short visit') again!!!

Just when i was talking about drinking more water and taking more fibre. *sigh*

ARGH!!!!!!!!

It seems 99.99% like IBS

Before i go on, i have to emphasize that this is only a suggested analysis of what i'm currently going through. I'm sharing this so that if u are experiencing this too, hopefully it can also help u in some way or another.

This hasn't been verified by any doctors/physicians... yet. (in as much as writing about this is malu enough, seeing the doctor for this is malu times infinity to the power of infinity)

_____________________________________________________________


Ever since my university days, i've been having this very irritable habit. And it happens especially right after lunch.

It's a common thing to move your bowels. And if u don't move it (if u don't know what's moving your bowels, it means shitting in the toilet la), then it means that you are constipated.

All along, i thought that it's a norm for working people to have such a habit, since all working adults in the office will sit down and work (which explains that the protruding tummy starts coming out), and probably that's the course of it.

While i was working as a Recruitment Consultant, this symptom seem to be really obvious. And my then-colleagues commented that it's really weird for me to visit the toilet for 'big business' right after lunch, every single day.

And for the past 2 years working at my current workplace, the cycle continues. Though my eating habits are kinda different, since i will pack food from home, eat some other stuff and now with my mother's home-cooked lunch, the situation is still the same. I'll still go for 'big business' relatively fast after my meal.

Today, my Finance, Sarah, mentioned about her friends' friend died of colon cancer... and her dunno-whose friend contracted colon. And it's so out of the blue!!

And today happened to be a day where my situation is really kinda bad, where i literally moved my bowels so much that i felt weak in the stomach. And i thought of what she said about Colon. Hmmm...

I wasn't even intending to post this entry about it. I was about to log off when i thought i should google it.

So, usually, Google will search out words that u type. So i typed:

Moving my bowels right after a meal

The answer generally stated Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Hmmm... doesn't really seem to explain much. So i typed again:

Pooping right after a meal

I got a more detailed answer here. So seems that the possibility of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is kinda high.

So i googled Irritable Bowel Syndrome. And this is my result. (From Mayoclinic.com)
1) What is IBS - Hmmm... i seem to experience a bit of everything (-__-)"
2) Symptoms of IBS - My question is, Do u really see ur own poop??? I don't, so i won't know if i have mucus in .... *sigh, anyway, it seems i experience everything here.
3) Causes of IBS - Argh. Milk makes me more bloated. Too much chocolates makes me burp umcomfortably for eons. Hmmmm... Lactose intolerant???
4) Ladies are more prone to IBS - So ladies, take note.
5) When should u visit your doctor for IBS - Well, don't wait until something really happens before u go.

i'm skipping part 6 - 9 (that's together with the package from point 5).
10) What u can do now to help yourself - Points are highlighted below:

• Experiment with fibre - eat more fruits and vegetables. Fibre helps with constipation. So it should be good. The only problem with many people, including myself is, Laziness.


• Avoid problem foods - how to cut coffee from my life??? I need my daily fix and my starbucks!


• Eat at regular times


• Take care with dairy products


• Drink a lot of water - 8 glasses per day is the way to go.


• Exercise regularly - Needa gym more.


• Use anti-diarrhea medication with caution - bottomline is, don't any how self medicated la.

So, i shall try to be more mindful of what i'm putting into my mouth during meals for now, so i'm gonna work around with IBS in perspective. Will see if there's improvement in bowel movement. Will give an update on it in a few weeks time.

Stupid things people does at the gym

I encountered 2 apparently inconsiderate and definitely stupid women at the gym.

One was last year. One was yesterday.

Both was in the gym's toilet premises.

If u attend any of the gyms, be it California Fitness, or Planet Fitness or FF or what others, u know that the sauna and the steam bath facilities are located within the toilets.

*****
Last year, i was 'cooking myself' in the sauna with about 8 other ladies, including a school mate i've met. So entered stupid woman 1.

This stupid woman 1, like the rest of us, are only clad in a white towel and nothing else. She carried a plastic bag which has her bathing stuff. Pretty norm.

Then, something in her bag started ringing (it's obviously a handphone). She opened her plastic bag, picked up the call and started to talk very loudly on the phone. Even with 8 pairs of eyes staring at her, she bantered on loudly, oblivious to our stares and the obviously-irritated looks.

Schoolmate and i thought that it was kinda weird to be talking on the phone in the sauna. And dangerous.

THE BLARDY PHONE WILL EXPLODE in the heat! (that's why some of the ladies left the room)

Schoolmate suddenly stood up and said to her,

"If u wanna talk, can u get out or not?! U are endangering us, by talking here. Ur phone will explode, u know that??"

Then, the lady security guard entered the room and told stupid woman 1 to exit the sauna.

And she did, still on the phone.

*****
Yesterday, i entered the steambath room, and saw stupid woman 2 sitting on the left side of me. What appalled me was not her fantastic figure (actually i don't even know how she looked like or how fantastic her figure was). What shocked me was her talking on her N95 in the steambath.

N95 OK... Mai siao siao.

Another gal entered the room, took a look at her, and sat at a corner of the room.

A woman entered the room, took a look at her, and sat down.

Stupid woman 2 was talking to someone on the other end, sounding agitated. Her language is something that i couldn't understand, and it seems that the carrying of the tone of words are very very fast - in fact, it sounded jibberish to me, except for some english words (she might be an IT person or someone looking for a job).

Even when the steam came, she was talking and talking and talking. Woman looked at her, in her mind she must be thinking :"wha lau, this stupid gal talk so loudly, as if she owns the steam bath!" She must be feeling pissed, and left the room.

The whole steambath room was engulfed with steam and nothing but steam. But stupid woman 2's voice boomed through it.

At this juncture, a thought just flashed through my mind:

"Wha biang, this siao zha bo, talking on the phone in such a wet environment, wait the phone short-circuit then electrocute everyone in the room". *shudders.

2 mins later, with more agitated jibberish in the background... more thoughts surfaced in the middle of my mind...

"If this woman studied IT, i really wonder. SHE NEVER STUDIED PHYSICS is it??? Water is a conductor of Electricity OK! Did she really pass her exams?!"

1 min later, with some more agitated jibberish in the background... In my mind, more and more thoughts came...

"Wha lau eh, if she wants to get electrocuted, she can go ahead. Don't electrocute the others who don't want that."

**

**

**

**

"I hope the water spoils her expensive N95!" :@

Then, Stupid Woman 2 left the room.

I didn't feel convinced to stay (what if the electrons from the phone stays???) and decided to go and bath.

Once i stepped out, i continue to hear the gibberish from Stupid Woman 2. And as i stepped into a bathing cubicle, i realized that Stupid Woman 2 was opposite me. And yes, still talking on the phone, even best, while bathing.

*****

Wha Lau eh! Stupid people really do stupid things. Never mind that it's stupid, but worst, they endanger others!

And the best part? While Stupid Woman 2 was yakking so loudly in the steambath, the female security guard was standing outside and talking. Is she deaf or what???

DO NOT STEP INTO THE SAUNA AND STEAMBATH WITH YOUR HANDPHONE. U can, if u wanna kill yourself. Leave the innocent out of your suicide plan!

A bit more on Michael Phelps

He has won so many medals, that i think it's really mind-blowing.

How can anyone win so many GOLD medals at one event? But, he did. And none of them are a subtle record, all are either World Record or Olympic Record. U tell me, u amazed or not?

Updated score of Gold Medal won by Michael Phelps. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)



Something crazier that i've read: His diet is more crazy than [name of a glutton that u know] (i don't have someone to take part in this analogy, so if u know of someone who eats crazily, it's comparable)


MICHAEL PHELPS' 12,000-CALORIE DIET
DOES PHELP'S DIET BELONG TO OLYMPIAN OR OVEREATER?

WITH his washboard abs and a fat-free physique, you would think that Michael Phelps follows a very strict diet.

Guess what? The superstar of the Beijing Games has a voracious appetite, perhaps matched only by his hunger for gold medals and world records.
His recipe for success involves eating a staggering 12,000 calories a day.

'Eat, sleep and swim. That's all I can do,' Phelps, 23, who has so far won five gold medals, told NBC when asked what he needs to win medals. 'Get some calories into my system and try to recover the best I can.'

By comparison, the average man of the same age needs to ingest about 2,000 calories a day.

His diet - which involves ingesting 4,000 calories every time he sits down for a meal - resembles that of a reckless overeater rather than an Olympian, New York Post reported.

He lends a new spin to the phrase 'Breakfast of Champions' by starting off his day by eating three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise.

He follows that up with two cups of coffee, a five-egg omelette, a bowl of grits (maize-based porridge), three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar and three chocolate-chip pancakes.
Now on to lunch.

He gobbles up about half-a-kg enriched pasta and two large ham and cheese sandwiches slathered with mayo on white bread - capping off the meal by chugging about 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks.

Dinner is all about carbs - something which gives him loads of energy for his five-hours-a-day, six-days-a-week regimen - with another half-kg of pasta and an entire pizza.

He washes all that down with another 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks.
He picked up his 11th career gold medal on Wednesday to become the most decorated Olympian of all time.

He also remains on course to at least equal Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals won at the 1972 Munich Games.

PHELPS WHO?
While Phelps is generating incredible attention in the US, his incandescent attempt to win eight gold medals is receiving curiously subdued attention in China.

There are empty seats in the Water Cube aquatics centre for his races and state-run Chinese newspapers are providing muted coverage.

Also, a number of people interviewed on the Olympic Green said that their favourite American athletes here were not swimmers but NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

The world record Phelps set in the 200m freestyle on Tuesday was relegated to the world report on page 30 of Wednesday's editions of Titan Sports, a popular Chinese sports newspaper.

Another sports daily, The First, played his record on page 32, with two photographs and a brief article.

A third publication, the Guangming Daily, a leading paper for intellectuals that is not read by the mass public, did not mention Phelps at all, the International Herald Tribune reported.

'I don't know the name,' said Yang Quilian, 30, a technician working at the gymnastics stadium, a day after Phelps participated in an astonishing 4x100m relay that also took gold.

She thought a minute, then said, 'Is he the boy in the relay? He did a great job.'
Generally, people interviewed did know Phelps and said they liked him and respected his otherworldly swimming ability. His races are carried live on television - though rarely if ever replayed - and generate excitement inside the Water Cube. He even has a nickname here, the Flying Fish.

Still, swimming is not an especially popular sport in China.

As could be expected, the Chinese news media are more concerned about their own athletes' victories in such sports as gymnastics, diving, badminton, table tennis, fencing and weightlifting.

Phelps also seems to be overshadowed in popularity here by Bryant and James.
The league has also heavily invested in China in recent years. Its games are popular and widely viewed. Bryant and James have made several trips through China and Asia, making appearances, taking part in clinics, boosting their name recognition.

For much of the world, Phelps is the main draw at the Games. And he stands to make a $1 million (S$1.4m) bonus from Speedo, the swimwear company, for winning eight gold medals, which should more than compensate for any lack of buzz.

It might be said that Phelps occupies a special niche - most popular international athlete not competing directly against a Chinese star.


I've meant this to give an update. But oh well, he's the buzz of the media, so i guess, he deserves a single entry on my blog. And yes, i'm really amazed at how much he can achieve at the Olympics... and how much calories he eats per day.

After 48 years of Olympics Medal Drought...

We finally got a Silver!

It was an intense fight, i must say.

Battling with the Queen team of all pingpongs, China, it's really hard to be able to surpass them. I read the Chinese newspapers headlines which read that "9 out of 10 people betted that China will win."

And from the start, The Singapore team was already on a losing streak. Like how possible is that for World's number 9 to win the (Previously known as) World's Number 1?? Wang Nan definitely has 两把刷子 to be known as the World's Number 1 in Pingpong.

However, Our team has fought on courageously. Though we lost, but they did their best. so, Kudos to the Singapore team.

*****
I was telling my mother earlier that Singapore got silver after 48 years, and where this is the year where Pingpong medals are all taken up by Asians (South Korean got bronze)

Instead of agreeing with me, she retorted with saying that we've got 'foreign imports' from China to help us clinch the silver medal.

It's sad, but true. Our Singapore team consisted of:
- Li Jia Wei
- Feng Tian Wei
- Wang Yue Gu

And none of them are Singapore-born Chinese. All of them are born in China, where the ultimate queens of pingpongs emerge from.

So maybe this is something that the youngsters of the future could think about.

Are we able to get our own true-blue Singaporeans to represent us in the next few Olympic games in Pingpong?

Will Pingpong die off as an Olympic event for us, when Li, Feng and Wang retires?

Will the Singapore Sports School be able to rise up potential Olympic winners in Pingpong?

This is something that we never know.

Beijing Olympics so far

I hasn't really have much positive thing to say about the Beijing Olympics.

I has wanted to blog about its magnificent opening ceremony but was a bit nua.

Then, i blogged about the "200-pound esq beauty" in my previous entry, which my blog really pt it into a rather negative perspective. And so does many other media papers. And there are other notable stuff such as the graphics which was pre-recorded and etc.

There are many other good things about the olympics that are really eye-popping though:
1) Michael Phelphs : Did u see the way he swam??? This is his current list of GOLD medals (Courtesy of Wikipedia.com)




I dunno if there's more to come (tomorrow). But i guess he'll be the MVS (Most Valued Swimmer) of all time at the Beijing Olympics (if there's really such a title).

2) Tao Li had a shot at the 100m swimming finals.
Though eventually she didn't win, but Hey, she's the 5th fastest swimmer in the world ok! Woohoo!

3) Singapore will grab a minimal of Silver in Table Tennis.
Article available here.

Singapore's women paddlers in Olympic final

Singapore's women table-tennis team won 3-2 in their semi-final against a skilful and tenacious South Korean team.

They are now assured of a silver medal and will meet the victor of the other semi-final, China or Hong Kong, in the final of the team event.

The match was played at the Peking University Gymnasium in Beijing.

Feng Tianwei was the first up for Singapore and she won her match against Dang Ye Seo, 11-5, 11-5, 11-2, giving Singapore the lead.

The second match between Singapore's Li Jiawei and S Korea's Kim Kyung Ah was a tensely-fought match, characterised by several brilliant rallies as neither party was willing to concede the point without a fight.

In the end, Kim Kyung Ah beat Li Jiawei 3-2 in a five-set thriller, 5-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8.
For the record, Kim also beat Li during the Athens 2004 women's singles bronze play-off.
In the next match, Singapore's Li Jiawei and Wang Yuegu paired up against South Korea's Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young.

The Singapore pair wrapped up this match efficiently with a 3-0 win over the S Korean pair, taking the match 11-7, 11-6, 11-9.

In the fourth match, Singapore's Wang Yuegu lost 0-3 to S Korea's Dang Ye Seo. She went down 11-8, 14-12, 11-9.

In the rubber, Singapore's Feng Tianwei beat S Korea's Park Mi Young 3-1, taking the match 11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 11-9.

With their triumph over the South Koreans, the Singapore team is now guaranteed the silver medal. They will now meet the victor of the other semi-final, China or Hong Kong, in the final for a shot at bagging the first Olympic gold for Singapore.

On their way to the final, Singapore's women table tennis team had to beat the United States, Nigeria and the Netherlands.


Well done ladies! I was at my colleague's house preparing for the company BBQ and lo and behold the game was on and we were watching Feng TW Vs Park MY. And i must say it was very intense. Both players seems to lose some of their fighting spirit with each of their comrades were give a 'red card' by the referee and 'invited' out of the stadium (for unnecessary rah-rahing).

But then both recovered relatively, esp Park, who won the 3rd match (1st 2 was won by Feng). At the last match, eventually Feng won and we got into the finals.

The minimum that we'll get is a Silver.
Really really cool. This is our first medal at the Olympics!! :)

Overwhelming talent with Aesthetics

This thing has been splashed all over the papers in Singapore.

And it's not something that's really nice.

Read this (Articles and Pictures from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ )

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Olympic bosses defend decision to use fake singer
BEIJING: Olympic organisers on Wednesday defended a decision to fake a key part of the Games opening ceremony, as China enforced a media blackout on the lip-synching controversy.

Nine-year-old Lin Miaoke became a celebrity in China after she "sang" a patriotic ballad in front of 91,000 people and a television audience of over one billion during last week's spectacular show.

But it later emerged the real voice belonged to chubby seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was deemed not attractive enough to go on stage, and that the switch was ordered by a politburo member of China's ruling Communist party.

Wang Wei, vice president of the Beijing Olympic organising committee, said an artistic decision was made by the producers of the ceremony and that he did not believe it was unethical.

"I do not see there is anything wrong with it," he said. International Olympic Committee executive director Gilbert Felli also defended the use of a more photogenic double, comparing it to an athlete taking part in Olympic qualification and then being dropped for the main event.

"You have to be sure that the performers and the song, it is at the highest level," he told reporters.

Asked how Yang's parents would explain the decision to her, Felli added: "That is what it is in sport, in life."

Photographs of Lin in a bright red party dress apparently singing the patriotic song "Ode to the Motherland" were published in newspapers and on websites all over the world.

The official China Daily on Tuesday said "songbird" Lin was on the way to becoming a major star, and it quoted her father as saying his daughter had become an international singing sensation.

However, the tributes stopped after Chen Qigang, the musical director of the opening ceremony, revealed in an interview that pigtailed Lin was only selected to appear because of her "flawless" appearance and did not sing a note.

"The reason was for the national interest," Chen, a renowned composer and French citizen, said in an interview that briefly appeared on the Sina.com news website before it was apparently wiped.

"Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects. But in terms of voice, Yang Peiyi is perfect," he said.

Chinese newspapers and broadcasters made no reference to the two young girls on Wednesday.

References to the story were also blocked or deleted from the Internet.

China's media is under the control of the central government, which also tightly polices the Internet and often deletes or blocks access to items considered unflattering to the country's leaders.

The song saga may have embarrassed the nation's top leaders after Chen also revealed the decision to switch the girls was made by a very senior official.

China's ministry of industry and information technology, which is in charge of the Internet in the country, declined to comment on the issue on Wednesday.

The opening ceremony directed by China's Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zhang Yimou and featuring more than 15,000 performers won high praise in China and overseas for its breadth, scope and flawless execution.

However, criticism began to build after it emerged that another part of the opening ceremony had been faked.

Supposedly live pictures of fireworks depicting footprints moving from central Beijing's Tiananmen Square to the Olympic stadium in the north of the capital were actually partly computer-generated or pre-recorded for TV, organisers have admitted.

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When i read this article, it reminded me of this movie; 200 Pound Beauty.

If u didn't really remember the plot, it's about a fat and ugly gal, with a good voice that was the voice for a beautiful-without-singing-talent female singer. Super duper good voice, but hidden away from the public eye. No one knows about her existence. Very sad hor?

No doubt, Lin Miaoke wasn't at fault for being cute. In fact, she's very loveable and adorable and has certain x-factor.



The only thing is that her real voice is not portrayed in the Opening of the Beijing Olympic Games, as it was believed.

The real voice that sang the song, is her.



Actually, Yang Peiyi didn't look that bad, right? She's slightly younger, so there's a wee bit more baby-fat that is existent on her face. So aesthetically, she's not as 标志-looking as Miaoke.

I know that the Olympic comittee are wanting to achieve perfection in the performance in terms of vocally and visually. But Peiyi was totally not recognized for being the voice. In a singing event, beyond the visual enjoyment, the singer and her vocals are of utmost importance. But however, the world deems the importance the other way round.

Just like in some singing competitions. The most important thing is the voice. But where there's an opportunity for viewers to vote, they look beyond the voice and look at the aesthetics. Good voice but with mediocre looks, they are slated to be booted out of the competition when compared to one with very good looks but the voice sux. Isn't this what is happening in many singing competitions?

In the movie, the fat and ugly girl eventually became very beautiful and was eventually recognized for her voice and looks. So hopefully in the future, Peiyi will be recognized for her voice and yet-to-be-seen beauty. As they say, 女大十八变, we never know what will happen in future.

你的钱够用吗？(Money enough or not?)

Self-Declaration: i can't exactly type much in Chinese to save myself.

However, i know enough Mandarin to enjoy Chinese shows and know what words are. Just don't ask me to write a 150-word essay in Chinese. Somebody kill me pleeease.

Anyway, today's OFF in lieu for me (thanks to National Day that fall on a weekend), so i went to watch the Bestest Singaporean movie (imho) for 2008. Yes, Yo-ah-yo pales in comparison. (Sorry, Royston Tan, i really like your movie, but a better player rose up).

This show is the sequel to the first that was shown 10 years ago. And as usual, it depicts strongly of what many Singaporeans feel.




Why is 钱不够用2 the bestest Singaporean movie of 2008? Here's why.

a) It talked a lot about what i've been (and many other Singaporeans) are constantly complaining about. All about ERP gantry and rising costs.

b) It speaks about a mother's love for her children. The song about no reciporating of the mother's love from their children (hokkien song) touches many ppl in the cinema to no end.

c) It speaks about how the wives stood by their husbands, for better or worse, and even sacrifice their all to support their husbands.

d) A mother's love (and selfishness) for her child.

e) A grandmother's sacrifice for her grandchild.

f) Hokkien banter. (Sorry ah, me a true-blue Hokkien, feels better related to in Hokkien at times. Hokkien jokes convert to Mandarin just can't kick, no matter what)

g) Lameness that makes u Lau-gua (sweat. Like this (-__-)"' )


What can u ask for in a movie? U have laughter, you can relate to the issues mentioned in the show, u sweat, u cry over the plot in the movie.

Bonus Point to the show
The show educates the audience too. To be considerate to the needs of others.




HAHAHAHAHA. So if u are watching this movie, and ALL other movies for that matter, switch off your phone.

Catch 钱不够用2 at all GV Cinemas near you.

Happy 43th Birthday to Singapore

Been lacking in posts.... i know. Been having crappy days and sickness over the first half of the week. And was totally zonked out after cross-jab-hook-Bodycombat sesson yesterday.

Today's a reason to celebrate because it's Singapore 43rd Birthday!

The things that u MUST never do without on Singapore's national day.

a) National Day flag - Nope i didn't hang one outside my window. If u stay near me, u know that we are having an exterior upgrade, so hang for who to see?? Anyway, to show my *ahem patrioticism, here's a Singapore flag.




Yes, i know how the Singapore flag differentiates itself: the 5 stars and the 1 moon.

Never just think that they are just there for show.

The Singapore flag got significance as such:
- Red stands for Universal Brotherhood and equality of men (no matter what race you are)
- White stands for pervading and everlasting purity and virtue (er... i dunno what that means though)
- the moon, the CRESCENT Moon represents a young nation on the ascendant (we are young as compared to many other nations, the crescent won't turn into a full moon even when we are 100 years strong)
- 5 stars stands for: democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

See, having a national flag is not just about having 5 stars and a crescent moon. Every element has a significance in itself.

b) National Day Parade
It's going to be at the floating stage near to where the Integrated Resort is built. And yes, being there, you will see the Singapore Flyer too.

c) National Day Songs
Here's a list of the songs that i can remember off my head right now.
- Stand Up For Singapore (u mean u don't know??? are u Singaporean??)
- Count On Me Singapore (starts with "There was a time where people say that Singapore can't make it, but WE DID.... *paiseh paiseh, it's a 'ministerial' hazard)
- One people, One Nation, One Singapore
- Chan Mali Chan (can this count???)
- Home - IMHO the most patriotic song i can relate to, seriously (by Kit Chan)

English Version


Chinese Version


(Specially for my fren whom i informed yesterday afternoon that today's National Day, hope this song will bring you to your remembrance that Singapore is your home, no matter where you are =) )

每一次我感到彷徨 不自禁就会回头望
mei yi ci wo gan dao pang huang bu zi jin jiu hui hui tou wang

我知道心中有个地方 一定会有一盏灯
wo zhi dao xin zhong you ge di fang yi ding hui you yi zhan deng

照亮每一颗黑暗的心房 指引未来方向
zhao liang mei yi ke hei an de xin fang zhi yin wei lai fang xiang

沿着生命河流向前航 就能登陆理想
yan zhe sheng ming he liu xiang qian hang jiu neng deng lu li xiang

Chorus:
我的家 收藏 我的欢喜悲伤
wo de jia shou cang wo de huan xi bei shang

只要点燃希望 梦就会自由飞翔
zhi yao dian ran xi wang meng jiu hui zi you fei xiang

我的家 给我 一双坚定翅膀
wo de jia gei wo yi shuang jian ding chi bang

我的梦 不论在何方 一生的爱唯有家
wo de meng bu lun zai he fang yi sheng de ai wei you jia

再也不会感到彷徨 不会再失意回头望
zai ye bu hui gan dao pang huang bu hui zai shi yi hui tou wang

我要用心中一点烛光 燃放千万户辉煌
wo yao yong xin zhong yi dian zhu guang ran fang qian wan hu hui huang

要让繁华的城市更灿烂 世界和平共享
yao rang fan hua de cheng shi geng can lan shi jie he ping gong xiang

全凭生命河流来导航 一起登陆理想
quan ping sheng ming he liu lai dao hang yi qi deng lu li xiang


I couldn't remember what was last year's song, which i guess should be quite a forgettable one.

This year's National Day song is in 2 languages.

Chinese Version


Sung by Joi Chua, the song title is 晴空万里 (translated as clear sky over ten thousand miles)

English Version


Sung by Hady Mirza ,Singapore Idol Yr 2 and 1st Asian Idol, the song title is "Shine for Singapore".

*****
Even though i don't have a Singapore flag hanging outside my window, i know that in my heart, i am a true-blue Singaporean and i know that the crescent and 5 stars are on the top left hand side of the flag, red on top, white on bottom.

Even though i have never been to the NDP live, i know that i still feel proud watching it Live telecast on television, and not to forget waving to the Singapore flag when it made it's all-around-Singapore rounds, even though i know that the pilot can't see me waving, and feeling very proud when the National day songs are being sung.

Even though i have not recited the Singapore pledge for the longest time since i've graduated from Secondary School, it has been in my heart for as long as i know it.

We, the Citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as ONE united people
Regardless of Race, Language or Religion
To build a democratic Society
Based on Justice and Equality
So as to achieve Happiness, Prosperity
And Progress for our nation.

FYI, i typed it word for word. I didn't google it to copy it here.

Even though i've listened to the new National Day songs year by year, and forget it the next year, i'll still remember the "Stand up for me Singapore", and "Count on me Singapore", because i can STAND up to defend my country, verbally when i need to, and Count on me to defend it.

Even though we are a young nation, but we are a properous one, because of the foundations built by our Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Without his determination, we won't be an independent nation, and we won't even be celebrating National Day every 9th August 2008 *Salutes to MM Lee.

Even though the ERP rates and Taxi rates are suffocating us like never before, and pay doesn't rise as fast as these rates inflate, but we still pay, because ... we HAVE to. But despite that, we are, as always, counting our (5) lucky stars that we are in Singapore, a place of stability and constant improvement.

For the wonderful, and the one-that-burns-our-pockets, i wanna say is.

I LOVE YOU SINGAPORE! And happy birthday!

Living Rain - Parachute Band

Do not think that i have not been ministered throughout the FOP, even though i've served the full 3 days. In fact, i feel more closer to God as i serve Him. Though i can't be at the hall worshipping, but, i know that i am pleasing Him as i serve Him.

No doubt, my mind is still full of Reuben Morgan's songs. But there are songs from Parachute that i really love. In fact, you are listening to the song right now that is i love most from Parachute Band.

Living Rain

Let your People Come
In Desperate Need To You we Run
Called By Your Great Name
With Humble Hearts We Seek Your Ways
We Believe In Faith
Your Promises Will Never Break
Turn From Wicked Ways
To Live As Christ For All Our Days

O God High Up In Heaven
Won't You Heal Our Land

Living Rain Fall Again
Over my Life Over my Land
Living Rain Wash my Heart Again
Open Wide Heaven Skies
Over my Street O Spirit reside
Living Rain Flood my Life Again

Come Back, Back to Your First Love
Back to Your first Love
Back to the Cross
Come Back, Back to Your First Love
Back to Your First Love
At the Foot of the Cross

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There will be some inactivity for the next 2-3 days. Need to recuperate a lil as well as new things that i need to look look see see to blog about.

And tomorrow, there might be a short entry if this really gets through, once i successfully EMERGE through. =)

Till then!

The thing that keeps me boosted

It takes a lot for people to serve for a full 3 days event, and still keep on keeping on. It's physically very very very draining. Totally had no energy to do anything else but sleep the moment i reach home.

Yesterday was Day 2, and i was feeling sleepy even before the practice started.

I REALLY need my coffee fix.

And this came to my rescue.


7-Eleven It's A Store And More! (oops, this lingo is no longer in use, if i'm not wrong. Sigh, i'm so outdated huh).

Saving the best for the last. Starbucks Venti tonight! Woohoo!!

I Will Be Back - Soon

It's been 2 exciting nights at the Festival Of Praise .

These year's special guests are:
- Parachute Band : I must say, they are really good. I really want to get their CD.
- Reuben Morgan : Wonderful wonderful P&W. My mind's full of their songs as i'm serving the full 3 days of the FOP.
- Rev Mark Conner : He's a good speaker, who brings forth messages such as "Ingredients for a healthy church" and etc. Don't miss FOP tomorrow if you hasn't been for any sessions yet.

Physically, i'm really tired. I could fall asleep anytime.

BUT, despite this, i'm ready to serve.

Tomorrow's the finale. Tomorrow it's gonna be the BEST.

Can't wait to serve! Woohoo!