You want Old School? I GIVE Old School

Okay la.. actually not I give.. is Sebas found the video wan..

Watch his hair man. Some of the things he says are SOOO Old School, i also blur.

Enjoy folks!




O. I had a pretty good Saturday. Took many pictures too. Will post them soon!
(Yeah, we still have the Ubud ones not up yet!)

An Interview with David Marshall

Yesterday was one of the more intense days I have had at work in a long while. At the end of it, I picked up the latest issue of the Law Gazette which was strewn across the mess that was my office, meaning to make space for more textbooks and cases.

My rare attempt at orgnization was rewarded. My attention was drawn to one of the features on the cover of the said Law Gazette.

I haven't read anything that struck such a chord in my heart in a long time. The last place I expected to come across such materials was in an office. And so it was. An Interview with David Marshall in 1994 by one Dharmendra Yadav.

Setting out the parts that spoke the most to me: David Saul Marshall, First Chief Minister of Singapore, one of her finest legal minds on..

modern society:

"in my time, I tried to educate our people in an understanding of the dignity of human life and their right as fellow human beings, and youth was not only interested but excited about what I consider things that matter. Things of the spirit, the development of a human being to his true potential in accordance with his own personal genius in the context of equal rights of others... we've lost sight of the joy and excitment of public service, helping our fellow men.. we seek a rice bowl full! It is full and overflowing, in fact. They sere you your rice in a jade bowl with golden chopsticks; not that it makes much difference to the taste of the rice. But you're empty! ... We have lost taste for heroic action in the service of our people. We have become good bourgeois seeking comfort, security. It's like seeking a crystal coffin and being fed by intravenous injections through pipes in the crystal coffin; crystal coffins stuck with certificates of your pragmatic abilities "


education:

"my children have had the best of education. in fact, I am very proud of them ... (Asians) have a great passion for education. My secretary - I asked her once what her background is. She said her mother is a washerwoman and, here is this lovely secretary doing a damn good job. She was educated. How could her mother have saved enough to give her the education?"


a career in law:

"try and understand that the law is a vocation and not a business. respect your clients irrespective of fees... I'd like them to understand that justice is a meld of law and humanity. Law and humanity; decency in concepts; if we administer law by the soulless logic of the computer, we aren't on our road to progress... if you want to make money as a lawyer, you can... they work till nine o'clock at night. I dont know how their children survive. They work very hard, they make a lot of money. Yes it's true..

Regret? I am full of gratitude for having become a lawyer and, especially, a criminal lawyer; for having helped thousands of people terrified, helpless before the silly forces of society... to help who is helpless in seeking help."


youth:

"all youths no mater what race, no matter what country, goodwill flows frm their hearts. They want to help the world but by the time you reach 30, your goodwill like good wine turns to vinegar - the vinegar of crabbed egoism"


a message in general:

"recognize that there is a lot of satisfaction in public service, foreign service, judicial service ... if you are totally engrossed in self-promotion, at the end of the day, you'll find it's dead seafood... it's an exciting country, singapore. It's a lovely country. And you have to make your own space for your own spiritual and intellectual needs and have the courage. Have the courage to serve your fellow men with integrity. I'll put it in one nutshell: Have the courage to live, dont be afraid!"


==========================================================================================

What moved me, was that words of such idealism would grace upon the lips of one so successful in his career. Too often, the dreams we cherish in our hearts disappear after we are acquainted with the real world.. and too often we forget what really makes the world go round.. you know. the invisible stuff.


And David Saul Marshall, he was no young man when these words were uttered. 86 years old. These are words tested, refined and strengthened through pure tenacity. His life bore testimony to that.

I want to be like that too.

School Boy Humour

I cant resist this... saw snippets of it when I was in Thailand two months back.. but it's here now in full blow!!

Objective of the game is to NOT laugh or make any sound whilst you are being inflicted with the craziest form of pain or humiliation, or not to laugh at the person who is being so inflicted - library mah.. so cannot laugh.. it's farnee.. I found that even though I was watching it in the comfort of my room.. I was also sniggering and suppressing my HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... i think like that more shiok.. heh.

watch all their expressions!



definitely my kinda humour.

8 reasons why Frederick deserves his own post

(for the uninformed, Frederick is my pet hedgehog at the right side of the screen)

1. He can do tricks: click on him, he moves.

2. He can do many tricks: click on him real hard, or double click, he'll somersault!

3. He eats anything: click on the strawberry at the bottom of his box. The strawberry will pop out. Just bring the strawberry to him and watch him go! (Hint: he really likes strawberries, he will follow you around!)

4. He is cute. 'Nuff said.

5. He has many friends, like flopping goldfishes and spitting lamas.

6. He can change colour: ask me nicely and i might show how..

7. He has a cute name (which I came up with of course).

8. Because i jus came back from Ubud and have lots work to clear so not able to blog as much! Hur hur hur..

And just for treats, here's a picture of his fren the wombat, whom i've not named, courtesy of BY all the way in Auzzie.

That's my new luggage tag! Cute horh.. check out the comb in his mane on the left side!! Heh.

Will be away at Ubud, Bali for a short while, back next week! Taking lotsa pictures so stay posted!!

What came in the email today

My colleague sent me this email today about Canadian humour ... well, wherever it's from, I think it rocks anyhow!!

On effective communication..





I wonder when this would happen to me (like me owning the car, not the car being taken away from me - duh!) maybe I should learn how to drive first.. heh




Well, He did tell us to subdue the earth .. kinda.. heh.. and this one I like!! the green one..



Attitude baby, Attitude!!

Got somemore.. I post another day!!

At times like these (ii)

Yesterday, in the office.. I was walking back to my cubicle from the toilet at 2330 when something caught my eye.



Close Up.



I think perhaps somebody is overworked leh. Sigh..

Learning English with Kern - prepositions and sayings

Everyone should learn English this way! I bet you won't forget your grammar!

Click and enjoy!



for those of you are wondering .. Kern is a really nice guy, he won't dream of doing anything indecent. Really!

I shop but I also have self-control

See what I got myself over the weekend.



I know. I know I said I shouldnt' have, but who would not succumb in the face of such colourful temptation at such affordable prices? Yup, I didnt stop at one, infact .. I got 3!!





Here, I put out nicely for you all to see.



Nice horh, look at the colours! I think it's great being female..

I mean, 3 dresses for S$69 is definitely a cause for celebration! I don't think my Financial Advisor will scold la. I went a little crazy initially, because there was so much variety and I wanted to try everything. But I am not THAT bimbo because I actually get tired of trying on clothes, and I dont try on clothes unless I intend to buy something - troublesome la. Heh.

BUT to be consistent, I shall not buy ANYMORE clothes for the rest of this month.. hahah (this month only got 2 days left)!! But I mean seriously, I won't get any more clothes for the month of november (my trip to Ubud is not included - Yah I going Ubud later this week), unless of course it's a really really good bargain?? Kiddin .. I won't get anything. Period. Resolutions are made to be kept, and not whittled down by qualifications.

But on this subject on self-control, I mean I joke about my apparent inability to control myself and keeping all these "I want-s" in check, but I actually do think I have self-control.

What IS self-control? Well, I think that it's the ability to restrain oneself - from the heart's desire. To curb, and to check. It's similar to discipline, which is like a routine we compel ourselves to adhere to, to achieve an order or a result. We all have self-control in varying degrees, like in the case of a student, when to stop playing computer games and start mugging, for the person on a diet, when to stop eating, you get my drift.

Part of the formula for success in life involves self-control, I mean desires are all well and good (I am game for a wild night or icecream or you-name-it most times) but I think the ability to deny oneself, in light of a greater cause or goal, is something that is worth building. If I may illustrate by a simple example, some youth are better able to succeed then others because they exercise self-control. o-i-love-gaming-but-i-wont-cuz-o-level-prelim-next-week-better-mug, instead of just piahing the game all the way.. and if you continue along those lines, see how that same youth may exercise self-control in other areas, o-i-think-this-girl-is-so-hot-i-cant-keep-my-hands-off-her, but he will, because he knows he doesnt want to get on the slippery slope of how far is too far and before you know it, Oh Oh! Pregnant! Byebye scholarship dreams!

(I am not negating the part values play in enabling this young manto keep his hands off his hot girlfriend .. values definitely help! Self-control works best, perhaps, only can work, in a matrix of values?)

I feel strongly that self-control is something that should be taught, from a young age. Human beings are able to will, i.e. choose. And the best time to learn how to do so is when you are young. Don't ask me how, I am not married with kids yet, so that subject is not getting alot of attention from me just yet.

For those who are askin: I can't post as frequently as I would like to. My ibook spoil.. keeps hanging.. I know! Where got ibook will hang wan..

Got. Mine lorh..

At times like these (i)

At times like these, I hate my job.

I have been trying to get a fax across to India for the last 2.5 hours, and it's not going through! And I can't email because there is no internet access there. And I HAVE to get it to that party by today, like NOW. There is something due tomorrow.

So here I am sitting, wanting to go, but I can't because I am responsible. Thinking of what I am missing at the meeting I am supposed to be at, but thinking amounts to nothing sometimes. Fretting about the other kinds of work that I also need to finish by tomorrow but I can't get down to doing it because I am so restless with hoping that the fax would quickly go through so I can go for my meeting!

Chennai!! Come on, which part of India is that??



Grrrr!

Shrimp Running on a Treadmill

This is real farnee! No need to adjust your volume cuz this thing plays without sound. At one point in time, the camera zooms on the shrimp, not unlike an olympic runner making his dash at the 400 m sprint. hahaa.. Apparently, there was this scientific experiment conducted on shrimps, and this tread mill thingy actually improves the shrimp's overall well being. (I think it would also make the shrimp taste better)

On the subject of treadmills, I should be ashamed. I am paying for a gym membership across my office but I think I can count with all my fingers and toes, the number of times I have gone in the last year. Tis' most terrible I must say, wasting money like pouring good soup down the sink. But yes, the times I went to the gym, I fell off the treadmill before. Hurhurhur. If enough people ask, I will blog about that!

My brother!! must be one of the most disciplined persons I know, he trains like everyday. Some days he trains twice a day! He is an amazing young man (and I must also add, very handsome).

I wonder if athletic genes are recessive, since I apparently do not share his athletic finesse? I wonder what I would look like if I was training like him? Well, whatever. I just ordered pizza!

I have Self-Control

Look what I found whilst I was out.



For the benefit of my many dear male friends, I've taken a shot of what caught my eye EXACTLY.



I went in, walked around, tried on stuff, and walked out again.

I didnt buy a thing!

Think my Financial Planner would have been proud of me. You ought to too!

When Death Calls

My friend's dad passed away over the weekend. Unexpectedly. Heart attack. She flew back home to Malaysia straightaway. I don't have the details yet. But she was feeling all sorts of tentative. Parents separated, and had not had the opportunity to reconcile. The mother was still carrying alot of pain in her heart. Now no chance already.

=====

I saw somebody go before me once. I am not a doctor and am not used to these things. It was quite an experience.

I was visiting a friend's grandma. Frail old lady and I just wanted to spend some time with her. I remember I was sitting next to the granny. My friend was not there. I didnt speak her dialect but I spoke to her in Cantonese and English. I am not sure if she caught what I was saying, but I am sure she caught the heart from my tone of voice. So, she was looking at me. And then she would close her eyes. Then she would open them, and look at me again.




I don't know why but I told her she could go if she wanted to. And she didnt have to hang on for anybody. She could go. She knew where she would be going.

She looked at me. Closed her eyes. And then she looked at me again.

I didnt know what to say so I just reached over and placed my hand on top of hers. It was rather scary because she was so thin and frail, the skin was literally just covered her veins. I was quite sure if my nail scratched her she would bleed. She closed her eyes and her breathing became less laboured. She took a deep breath. And didnt breathe out.

I panicked. Was I supposed to call the nurse or something? Please ah ma, don't die on me!

Then she breathed out. And I also breathed a sigh of relief.

Then the cycle repeated. But it seemed to me that each interval where she would breathe out was getting longer. I really didnt know what to do. I was contemplating calling the nurse when suddenly.

Nurse: Aiyoh. This auntie is dying. Come, stand one side girl. Let me do work.

She pushed me aside and pulled the curtain around the granny. And before I knew it. My friend's granny passed away.

====

So. If today I die.

1. Would I have any regrets? Was there something I should have done / not done?
2. Do I know where I am going?

Heavy thoughts for a Sunday night. You? What about you?

And the rest of HongKong

Let's get the food out of the way first.

So we had dessert, now I remember where, at the New Territories! Anyhow, dessert in Hongkong is really a league in itself man. If you are a fan of local dessert (the mango sagoes and such), I assure you, you'll go ballistic in HongKong. I wasnt a fan and I went mad.

Check this out.



They have all kinds of stuff and flavours in this place, but I settled for mango sago and the bowl you see behind is this almond thingy, much like the local purple dessert thingy that we have at home.. but this one the fragrance INVADES your nostrils..



The MANGO SAGO is really !!!! It wasnt too sweet, but the best thing was.. they practically placed the WHOLE fruit in the dessert. I mean in Singapore we get cubes of mango from a can (the number of which we can count most times, using the fingers on both hands). This one, wah.. they sliced fresh SWEET mango and put it in. See!



And the best thing was the mango sago was served in this old school blue poreclain bowl.

I like it so much I went to another place in HongKong Island Causeway Bay to try the dessert there. It wasnt as good as the previous one, but still decent.



And of course, go to HongKong must try the roast pigeon. I was a little tentative because of the whole bird flu thingy, but I am more greedy than I am kia see.



I really like HongKong. Pity I didn't get to see much of it. I did go to Disneyland though. It was rather disappointing though. There was only ONE adult ride and it wasnt even remotely thrilling. Was also very very packed, and there were like THRONGS of people queuing up everywhere. It's like they were queuing for the sake of it.

These people were just standing behind one another, alot of them forming one line, i.e. a queue. But there was nothing at the head of the queue! So I asked my colleague, who was the bohliao/observant one who noted this phenomena, to pose infront of the queue. He pretended to be giving something out. Hahaha.



Point made!

Other silly pictures, since we ARE in Disneyland. My colleague bought this for his sister.



She is 8 la.



Okay. So I am not one of those girls who can act cute and act cool at the same time. But I realize that I tend to look a certain way without trying. These, are supposed to be bambi's ears. I think I make them look like fox's / vixen's ears.



Think you get my drift. Heh.

Anyhows, I really like HongKong. Must go back one day!

Hong Kong Day One

okay.

because i am an exhibitionist, and because some have asked.. here are some of my hongkong pictures.. the better ones.. you know i actually took 120 plus pictures in 3 days? most of which were pictures of myself?

And, yes. This is the same Hongkong trip where I didnt get to shop much.



so i act cute.. kill me lorh..



Temple Street, where all the ku waak zais (read: Cantonese for gangsters. they is attas one, like mafia, not arh bengz).

My colleague and I went to this place that was super old school.. they had like glass bottles of cokes in crates and small squared tiled floors.. but best thing was, food was GOOD. We ordered this "Yat Wo Fan" (read: Canto for a whole wok of rice) which is basically cooked rice with eggs, and yummy sweet and sour pork on top with lotsa gravy, and piping hot!!



And we also had their tea-house speciality, "po lor bao", which is really just butter buns, which the Hongkies lurve.. not bad larh, you can feel the butter ooze out when u bite in.. tasty tho.. and their french toast, which is french toast.. but somehow tastes nicer..



Then my uncle brought me to this place which was really famous for roast goose. Wah you have to queue to get in, and it was like HUGE.. like maybe the size of hmv on 3 floors, and is all ONE place selling roast goose. This is the spread we had..



Look at my cousins go! Glenn on the right has a bottom less pit, he ate like 3 bowls of rice can, and still had room for dessert!



This is super fattening. My mom cooks it at home, but it's much tastier here, I think because the people just whack the ingredients with no inhibitions about health. So you jus stew cucumber until it becomes all mushy and put lots of chilli and other oily stuff, but it tastes goood..




This one i think some will think twice. Fried duck tongue with chili padi!

Family picture. My uncle moved to HK 12 years ago.. True singapore style, eat first, photo later.



Then we adjourned for dessert! I took a picture so I'll know where it is, but I still cant recall.. except that it's somewhere at the border, near China.. not on main Island. . HK dessert is really good man. No joke.. but I'll leave that for another time!