1. The Nostradamus Prophesies - Mario Reading (the one with the ambiguous status but am going to include it anyway.)
2. The Vanished Man - Jeffrey Deaver
3. The Keeper - Natasha Mostert
4. The Stone Monkey - Jeffrey Deaver (In progress) (By the time I finish this draft, I have finished the book)
5. Scarpetta - Patricia Cornwell (In progress)

One thing down. Very good.

This is going to be quite a long post because when I couldn't sleep last night, I was sort of inspired to blog about many things. I kept making up sentences in my head but was too lazy to get up and start up my laptop and put them all down. Of course, it doesn't help that it was already probably 3.30am and I was already supposed to sleeping soundly, not having random sentences floating around in my head!

Anyway, it's just into the thirteenth day of the year and I felt like I had done so many things!

We celebrated my grandma's birthday on 3 Jan. Subsequently, went to the David Tao's concert on 8 Jan. However, I forgot that I was supposed to attend a meeting on the same night and had to make some last minute arrangements with another colleague for her to cover me for that night. On that same day, I 'conned' my immediate boss out of 2 unopened durians and we had durians for snacks. I then had my first mahjong session of the year on Saturday and finally some rest on Sunday. Come monday, 11 Jan, I went to RELC to attend a pre-trip briefing with the sister regarding her impending education overseas. Had the Korean food along Thomson Rd that I had been talking about trying forever and was indeed worth my perpetual talk. Tuesday, which was yesterday (the REAL yesterday since I finally finished this post on 13 Jan, Wed), meet the kuku girls for xiaolongbao-steamboat buffet at Crystal Jade at Holland Village.

My goodness. I even feel so busy already as I was typing that whole chunk of stuff out. I guess this will be a fruitful year! Considering a few friends are getting engaged/married, busy busy.

Oh ya, and I totally forgot about future events. Booked tickets to Bangkok in Feb, my first time since my memory although my mum insists otherwise. And the highlight of the month - my Amei concert! I almost forgot that I had to attend the concert on 30 Jan and almost booked tickets to Bangkok on 29 Jan. Luckily we had the 'blessings' of the Procrastination Deity and when I was finally reminded of the concert, we haven't booked the tickets! See, reiterated my view that this is going to be a good year despite Fengshui or whoever else who says that this is a bad Tiger year. BOO!

In the meantime, back to work! (Yes, I actually DO work)

Labels: 2010, Amei 张惠妹, Bangkok, Birthdays, books, Concerts/Performances/Shows, David Tao 陶喆, Food, Mahjong, New Year Resolution, Sister, Travel, Work

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Monday, May 18, 2009, 7:35 pm :

I have been meaning to blog about this for the longest time but I just have been really really really lazy.

So, Singaporeans are usually thought to be safe and conservative and not very willing to try out new things for fear of failure. I think that it very true of most people here who think that they will have much to lose should they decide to pursue something different or risky and fail.

I think the younger generation of today tend to have more risk-taking spirit with all sorts of new ideas, and of course some old ones. I have always been a little bothered by the loosely used term 'entrepreneur'. It seems that anyone who has enough money to import some random clothes from somewhere and manage to rent a shop space to sell them are considered to be 'entrepreneurs'. I have always thought that the term should be reserved for people who come up with new business ideas and put them into reality, not for any Tom, Dick or Harry who sets up a shop with a few friends, selling stuff that 100 other stores in the same location are selling.

Anyway, back from digressing, I think that I may have figured out part of the reason why Singaporeans are pretty afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone to do something different with possible huge returns. I had learnt this a long time ago when I was at a friend's place playing mahjong. Yes, playing mahjong does allow me to learn things about people.

So, this guy apparently was planning to do something big with his investments or something like that, I didn't catch the story and he didn't elaborate. While he was pretty excited about his potential positive investment, my other 2 friends were sort of trying to dissuade him out of it. The common reasons for not doing crazy things came up. Things like "You should think carefully in case you lose everything!", or like "Are you sure this is going to work?" I do like the guy's answers though. He replied with stuff like, "If I succeed, I am going to make it big." and "Even if I fail, I will at most declare bankrupt and after 5 years, I can start again."

I mean I understand his friends concerns over his decisions but its not very encouraging to have your friends being the wet blanket when the plan has not even taken motion. If someone else who tends to be swayed by friends' comments were to hear this, will he give up his dream and plans and take the safer route in life?

For now, I think I am not in much of a position to comment. I am still too contented with my life to really strike out somewhere and do something crazy in the eyes of others. Who knows, maybe one day I'll give up my stable job and income and take on some adventure. The question is what kind of adventure will be in store for me?

Labels: Mahjong, Musings

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Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 10:30 pm :

I've decided that since I go to so many concerts, at least more than the average person, I should start a blog or something along that line to pen down my thoughts on those stuff. The only obstacle that remains in this task, is me. It all depends on how long I procrastinate. :)

Anyway, I was opposite my place just now for dinner and while waiting for my dad to buy newspapers, I stood outside 7-11 and stared at the ice-cream box. I was then suddenly reminded of how I used to stand by the box and choose all the ice-cream to eat when I was younger. All the flavours then were so kiddy like 'rainbow' or creamy stuff or Paddlepop (gotta wiki the correct spelling of this). As compared to flavours now, magnum chocolate and stuff that looks adult and intimidating, I miss the colourful flavours of my younger days.

After attending the Grasshopper's concert, or better known as 草蜢, I am suddenly reminded of why I used to like them so much. THEY ARE DAMN HOT. Like amazingly hot, even at their age. Seems like performing artists have perfected the art of ageing, or rather not-ageing. They gets more charming as they age. It's amazing!

Well, I'm in denial that they are not from my era or generation. A friend who called me on the concert day asking me to play mahjong gasped after knowing that I was attending the concert. She actually asked if I was serious and said that I was vintage. Coming from someone who is of the same age as me!

More to come. Hopefully I'll dispel enough laziness to start on Jakarta soon.

Labels: Concerts/Performances/Shows, Grasshopper 草蜢, Mahjong, Rants

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Friday, January 30, 2009, 2:27 am :

Well, I haven't been blogging for a really really long time. I'm sure quite a lot of things have transpired along the way and I'll try to remember them all to put them down into words.

First, Happy Chinese New Year all! Have to say this before CNY is offically over, and today is the last day to say it. Heh.

So, CNY this year is just like every other year. We go to my grandma's place on the 1st day. Then we went there again on the 2nd day. Then on the 3rd day, we went to my auntie's place. What was important was that I was almost playing mahjong everyday. As I had taken leave on Thursday and Friday, I have rest days amounting to a grand total of 9 days! It was quite dreadful when I finally had to come back to work again... :(

Coming back to work on Monday, I was on a whole-day course on Microsoft Powerpoint. Didn't know that it was such a basic course and most of the things that the instructor taught, I had already done it before. So that day was spent surfing the net and facebooking. As usual. ;p

Coming to the next day, it is the next important day in my life, after my graduation (according to my parents). It was the BIG day. Not marriage but my driving test.

Although during the test, there seems to be many signs that were trying to put me down (e.g. some motorcyclist falling down right beside me, landing with a very loud sound; another test car knocking down the pole(s) while doing parking), I still managed to do pretty well, according to my standards.

After the test, the tester just made me follow him to the office, not telling me if I passed or failed. Soon after, he just handed me a piece of paper in which he just signed and told me to go watch a video. I had to ask him if I had passed and it seemed like he was quite reluctant to answer me. -_-"

What was worse than the test was the waiting time to apply for the stupid driving licence. We had to wait for about 1.5 hours just to fill in some simple form and we were given a flimsy piece of paper as temporary licence. They even made me take a photo because the lady behind the counter claimed that the photo that I had with me was dirty on the surface, thus cannot be used.
I shall not harp on this as I will look at the positive side. At least now I have a decent photo to use when I go to renew my passport.

Over the weekend, I was driving already. I drove my dad back from the airport. Then I drove my parents to my auntie's place and my grandma's place. Then I drove out in cw's car to Clarke Quay then I drove kutu and friend back home and I drove myself home. I'm so proud of myself although the stupid sister may doubt my skills.

And subsequently, I am actually busy at work!! Can any of you believe it?? Even I'm busy, you can imagine how hectic the office has been these days. Alright I shall end off here.

Labels: Chinese New Year, Driving, Mahjong, Rants, Work

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 1:34 am :

Huat ah!
Starting the new year with a bang, mahjong was on the cards everyday. At least for the past 2 days. And the best part is that I just won $168, a fantastic amount to start off the year.

Hopefully there will be more good news to come in the next weeks or so.. *keep fingers and toes crossed*

Labels: Chinese New Year, Mahjong, Rants

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Friday, August 01, 2008, 12:46 am :

Working in a school is almost like I am still schooling. I still have to face exam papers, although from the other side of the system; I still have to face lecturers, although they are now colleagues; and I still have to go for school camps, very nicely disguised as a school retreat when it is actually work intensified.

I am not really complaining because all I had to do was to sit and listen to the Heads make their presentations and others giving their one million bucks two cents worth. Making us listen to presentations early in the morning, aka 9plus am, is like being back to a student once again, having to attend lectures while I would very much rather to be somewhere else.

But, making up for the mental torture, there are sumptuous meals to follow. Lunch was at New York New York at Downtown East, a treat by the new academic staff. It was an expensive meal of ~$600 bourned the two of them. Dinner was catered and snacks were aplenty.

Of course, no chalet is complete if there is no at least ONE mahjong table, at least in my opinion. So, the mj session was dominated by me, my neighbour, the dean and the head of the diploma program. And it was the most embarrassing session I've ever attended. How was one supposed to react when the bosses started giving you money when it was initially understood to be just for fun? Well, mine was to be confused and flabbergasted. So now, my new nickname is "Mahjong Queen". -_-"

My room

L: the "polar bear" CK

R: Hongkie who studied in UK, resulting in weird accent at times, SK.
Fellow admin staff Soo Hoon
The forever busy admin staff, Alexter.
The acad staff trying to look intellectual discussing about important things while waiting for dinner to be set up.

Labels: Mahjong, Photos, School Retreat, Work

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Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 1:25 am :

I haven't been updating the blog as frequent as before, not that it was very frequent in the past. And now, I feel bad for leaving it to rot. :(

Well, the new school term starts again! And needless to say, the whole bidding frenzy was a period of frustration and madness but at least I have the comfort of it being the LAST TIME I'm going to go through all that rubbish. Actually, I secretly hope that the whole cors system will crash and save us all the agony.

And yes, before school starts, I was still in extreme playing mood. Mahjong, ktv, pubbing, staying up late and doing nothing, hanging out till late, you name it, I've most probably done it. And the evil online mahjong game. Thank goodness that the website is super laggy these days and I'm too impatient to wait. I think its a sign that I should stop playing it and if I can't stop myself, some bigger external power is helping me!

Oh, and I was supposed to start Intermediate Spanish today, so I thought, but apparently my dear friend was confused and miscommunicated with the person-in-charge. So, we both went down to Cambridge and sat in the office chatting to the person for an hour or so. And the dear friend, cheapo as always, tried to con a 10% discount from the person in Cambridge, failing apparently. And according to Dr Christian Huang, I am now also a Dr Xu in the area of Mahjong. For more info, read this.

Alright, I shall stop here for the moment. I'll be back. :)

Labels: Mahjong, School

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Sunday, August 12, 2007, 3:35 am :

When you don't really feel like doing something or going somewhere, you had really better not do it.

Real life examples:
I did not really feel like playing mahjong (yes, I have days when I don't want to play mahjong too!) yesterday, or rather the day before but I went and I had a terrible headache throughout and I lost.
A friend didn't initially wanted to go to a place but still went eventually and almost got into trouble.

Well, this shows that intuition is useful and it is better to heed it when you don't feel right. Try to be funny like us and things won't usually end up good.

Labels: Mahjong, Random

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Tuesday, August 07, 2007, 1:08 am :

School is starting again. After 3 whole months of not going to school, the idea is not exactly very appealing. And of course, the fact that I can't play mahjong every week after school starts is not very comforting either.


Speaking of mahjong, it is really such an amazing game and I can't thank the person who invented it enough. I can't exactly pinpoint who was the inventor but there were rumours that it was Confucius (?!) because the game was founded in one of the province right after he left the place. Well, if it really is him, I guess I can afford to forgive him for coming up with almost-impossible-to-understand philosophy of how a 'gentlemen' should behave.


Anyway, since I HAVE been playing mahjong every week for the past month and a half, it got me thinking about how I picked up mahjong. I remember going to my auntie's place every sunday with my mum and I would lie on the bed or sit beside my mum when she was playing and I just looked at how they played. The times when I get to touch the tiles were when my mum has to go to the toilet and so I would set up her side of the tiles for her. And if she was slow, I even 'collected' her tiles for her. As time goes by, I think I've learnt enough through watching and she also decided that I was good enough to play. So when she gets bored or irritated of playing for whatever reason, she would ask me to take over. And soon, my aunties too decided that I was a good extra 'leg' to have around because I could take over when they were tired. And so, that was how I ended up playing mahjong, with my relatives at my aunt's place.
As I was telling a friend recently, maybe I have an added advantage over others who play because I started out playing with adults who included an uncle who would scold me if I were to throw tiles out for others to win. As compared to others who started out playing with friends who might be of the same level as them, I might, maybe have a little advantage over them. But again, it might be that I have 'mahjong luck' as a friend put it. But they say, 情场失意，赌场得意。I wonder how true is that.



And I just read an article about how playing mahjong would increase the probability of epilepsy and the best way to prevent this is to avoid playing mahjong. Seriously! How can that ever happen? And if you guys are interested in the short article, click here!

Labels: Links, Mahjong, Random, School

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