Bristol Day 12

Finally the body system failed a little. I fell ill. I guess it is a bout of flu trespaasing but don't worry. Am feeling better after taking a nap in the afternoon.

Headed to the pharmacy to get a thermometer and some lozenges. The throat hurts and it is time to take some ginseng tea or Eu Yan Sang's heat expulsion. Am sure it'll help.

Anyway it is the weekend and plans to head down London will be postponed till a later date. I'll stay in Bristol and get well soon. Hopefully I will be well by tomorrow night for Halloween and a visit to Bath on Sunday with Chris and family.

So did you guess what cuisine I had last night? Italian. Not Indian. I had seafood risoto and goat cheese. Was fabulous. Loved it.

Today's dinner as you can see was delicious. Nay. Not the clams. The clams were to remind me of the good food in Singapore. Well, I had tapas, the Chinese version of zi char. It was an order of various small dishes. Chicken, prawns, salmon and a plate of rice. Again, I liked the food. Oh. The first dish that came was a bowl of olives. My. Didn't finish it as it was plentiful.

It is a culture here that people take a drink at the bar before heading to the dining table. Or maybe not. The Spanish restaurant was filled up and this sick man was made to wait an hour before I got my table. While waiting I could only have a beer and wander the eyes around for pretty things. They had very nice decorations. :)

Tomorrow I might try taking a bus and head out to some place else. Cabot Circus and the vicinity has plenty of my leg hair now.I need to find new places to drop some hair if not I will be bored. Maybe it is time to head back to the casino again. Haha.

Bristol Day 11

I don't know but it is a weird feeling. Maybe because I just had two glasses of beer and a bottle of sake. I enjoyed the weather very much today. It wasn't cold but cool.

Still I miss home and my wife and I wonder if she misses me too. I am sure she does only that I miss her more than she misses me.

The day got a little busy today and that can be a good thing but work ended by 5pm and I took a walk around. I walked past the casino and didn't even bother to step in. Great job huh?

Walked to Baldwin Street and found a restaurant which seemed pretty interesting. Take a look at the photo and make a guess on what type of food is it. I enjoyed it and frankly, I have been wanting to have this dish for a very long time. The last time I had it was likely 3 years ago. Yummy.

After dinner, I headed to my 'hideout' at Masa Japanese restaurant where I took a Kirin beer and a small bottle of sake. Sake helps make me sleep better it seems. Knocks me out and allows me to sleep till at least later into the morning. I guess it is nice to be at Masa because everyone speaks to me in Cantonese. I feel a little at home there. The waitresses are friendly too and one of them sure looks like one of my crushes when I was younger. Oops. Sandy must be fuming mad. Please don't jump ok? You know you shouldn't right?

Lunch was very Singaporean. Filet-o-fish, fries and a cup of Sprite. Haven't had a soft drink for the longest time. What to do? It is always beer here.

Bristol Day 10

Finally I reached a certain milestone - 10 days. Actually, it is day 11 but never mind.

I was all excited about my tepanyaki dinner as I didnt know what to expect at a Japanese restaurant in Bristol. At least something to look forward to this evening.

I somewhat left the office pretty late today at about 545pm and headed straight for dinner. No dropping pounds today. :)

I have to say today's decision to have Tepanyaki was just the right choice. Finally I had 'company' for dinner. The Malaysian chef kept me company as I completed the whole meal followed by a family of three - Chris, Trish and Alex who kept me company for the rest of the night.

Well, we never made any arrangements to have a 'family' dinner but we started off with some casual chat as they sat across me at the Tepanyaki table. They were a friendly family and I was awed by the passion young Alex had. He has a love for engines. Old engines that were built in 1917. At the age of 15, he has a garage full of equipments for the purpose of modifying engines. See, sometimes it is good to have real passion for something.

We spoke about Bath (a nice town 25 minutes from Bristol) and how I wanted to visit. Not too sure when though but I will likely head to London this weekend if everything goes well in terms of cash and my allowances which I have yet to receive. I have already spent about 1000SGD already. Some of which was sucked in by the casinos. :)

Anyway, don't find it fun any more to visit the casino. Boring because it is just so small and always the same faces who play the same games but let's see. I might just pop in again tomorrow.

So you must wonder how much my yummy meal cost - 45 pounds courtesy of my employer which included a hot sake and a Kirin beer.

Bristol Day 9

No photos today as I totally forgot to take my camera out.

Nothing much happening in this small city except for a Japanese meal of Unagi rice and some soft shell crab roll. Nothing that special but I look forward to Tepanyaki tomorrow night. Yummy.

Well, don't be mistaken. I have no date tomorrow night except with the male boss at the Japanese restaurant. I didn't know they served Tepanyaki thus I told him I would like to try it tomorrow night. That's all so no wild guesses. Still no luck in finding friends here.

Well, actually not true. I made friends with the people at the casino, servers at restaurants and that is about all. Frankly, I guess I talk to these people more than I talk to my colleagues. Everyone is just so busy buried in their work and when it is time to knock off, we all just knock off and say our 'have a nice evening'.

The weather is now a little warmer and if this goes on I think I will have problems sleeping. I need cool or cold air to sleep. You know that don't you? Don't forget to arrange for an aircon servicing before I head home. I will be used to the weather and will need cold air in the room.

I wonder how's my car doing. It is good to know my father-in-law is driving Sandy to and from work. Sandy is spoilt now but she deserves to be spoilt. :)

Waiting for a friend to visit London and maybe might just catch up with him. If I do meet him, then it'll be the first time I have company for a meal. Phew. Tough life huh?

Off to sleep now. It is 10pm. The latest time I am falling asleep in Bristol. Looks like I will wake up a little later tomorrow morning.6am?

Bristol Day 8

The morning started with great sunlight but as I was heading home after work, it started to drizzle. And I was caught without an umbrella. The only day I decided to travel light without having additional weight of any umbrella. Bad decision.

Woke up slightly later that usual about 6 odd. Had to pack up a little because the housekeeper will be here to change the sheets. Only the sheets. I realised the toilet wasn't cleaned. Argh. I will have to check with the reception on whether full cleaning should have been performed instead of a partial.

Dinner was pizza with western 'salted fish'. Kind of weird but not too bad. Something different from the norm pizzas I eat regularly. Before dinner, I took a drink by the bar as I needed to wait for a seat. Just like in Japan, I was given a buzzer which would buzz (of course) to inform me my table is ready. Impressive isn't it? Do this in Singapore and the restaurant will close down due to numerous buzzers missing. Ha ha.

Wonder what's for dinner tomorrow. Dinner is the only entertainment I can get here even though it has to be alone. Sad isn't it?

Miss my wife and family at home. Really can't wait to have a plate of Boon Tong Kee chicken rice and some nasi lemak.

Bristol Day 7

Just one week ago at this time, I was perhaps flying across the Indian Ocean on Dutch airline KLM.

You may think time passed really quickly but the truth is the hour and minute hands crawls just so slowly here in Bristol. The weekend was nothing but a walk around the city with most hours spent losing pounds at the casino.

Looks like the past week's meal was spent all alone with my camera. I don't know if I will ever get used to it. I really doubt it because I love company and surely need company.

The weather seems a little warmer now but let's not speak too soon because the weather here can be pretty unpredictable too.

Lunch was at some English pub / restaurant along Whiteladies Road - sausage and leek on mashed potato together with a beer for only 7 pounds. Nice deal but surely weird having a beer to go along with "breakfast".

Dinner was lamb shank at Cabot Circus with a hot chocolate. The shank was tender and marinated well with red wine however I didn't finish the potatoes as I don't want to gain extra pounds the wrong way. I rather leave the gaining of pounds at the casino. :)

Am glad it is Monday tomorrow. Weird isn't it? You should know why.

Bristol Day 6

A long day because I woke up at 5am again. And why? Because I sleep darn early by 9. Nothing to do but read and I feel walking in this area at night isn't so safe. Perhaps it is due to the bright lighting we have on the streets of Singapore but here lighting aren't that efficient.

I thought I could grab a ticket to watch musical We Will Rock You but tickets are all sold out for the weekend. Am hoping I can get tickets on weekdays but I dare not purchase yet just in case I end up with some work commitment.

So I spent the day walking around town and looking every bit like a tourist. Tried to make some friends but unsuccessful. Sad isn't it? Ended up at the casino and losing some pounds. Only if it were weight loss. :)

Now, it has been 6 days and still counting since I had company for a meal. Sucks big time eating alone without having someone to chat with or share my food. Miss home so badly.

I can only hope that I will head home earlier than expected but let's see. Maybe by making some friends here I might just enjoy it a little. Let's wait and see.

Oh, I heard from some strangers I spoke to and they told me they loved the hot weather in Singapore. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side because I somewhat love the weather at least for now. It might change when the weather turns freezing cold.

Daily report on my meals now. Lunch was a 12 pound Chinese seafood hor fun with a ice lemon drink. Surely overpriced if compared to Singapore but dinner was kind of worth it. A soup of the day, a salmon pizza and a hot chocolate which cost me 14 pounds just like at Pregos.

Bristol Day 5

TGIF! Not for me. Hardly do I feel so down on a Friday evening.

It is 8 pm here and I am back at the apartment surfing. The city sleeps at 7pm. What else can I do?

Dinner was Chinese food at HK Diner and it was a plate of 'big prawn fried rice' which didn't come cheap - 12 pounds. I managed to grab a glass of luohan drink to help cool down the heaty system too.

I wonder what am I going to do to pass my time tomorrow. It is the weekend yet I am bored. Maybe head around town and take some photos then head down to the restaurants for lunch then dinner.

Sigh. Boring indeed.

Bristol Day 4 - Part 2

Even though I miss roti prata in Singapore, I don't think I would pay 5 SGD for a plain roti prata. Welcome to the United Kingdom!

Photos were taken near Harbourside at the city centre.

It is 9pm now and am off to sleep now. Will likely wake up at 4am to talk to my dearest wife as she will be on leave on Friday.

Bristol Day 4 - Part 1

For a change, I have decided to try Nepalese cuisine instead of Italian. So don't mistake me for chasing skirts at the Japanese restaurant even though the waitresses are indeed pretty Chinese.

I have attached more photos today so that you can see what I have been up to after work daily. Just walking around the city centre. Believe it or not, I don't need a map anymore.

Many things are happening in the UK right now. Swine flu with 53,000 infected, postal service employees are on strike and some other protest against some political guy called Nick Griffin. No idea who he is but he sure has a lot of publicity these couple of days.

Forget the complicated stuff. Weekend is round the corner and I just wonder what is going to help me pass time. Musicals or a trip to Bath? I have no idea but the weekend will surely be gloomy without company. Even the casinos can't cheer me up.

Anyway, enjoy the photos of my Nepalese meal. The dumpling look-alike is called MoMo while the sea bass is called Sunkoshi. Nice candle light dinner alone. Sad huh?

Lunch was a 2 pound cheese and tomato sandwich.

Bristol Day 3

A Fosters beer and a 20 pound Japanese meal helped complete day 3 in Bristol and I have to say I am getting quite good at walking around Cabot Circus and Harbourside. Walking seems to be leisure fun for the folks here. Walking half an hour to work is absolutely normal but a real dread for me.

The weather isn't that cold today and I had the opportunity to perspire this evening because I was rushing back to the apartment. Am feeling sleepy.

Looking at tomorrow's weather report, it seems it is going to be a rainy day for us here at Bristol. Equipped with my mini umbrella, I wonder if I can get myself out of the apartment to work. Thankfully it is only rain and not snow.

Can't wait for the weekend so that I can be a tourist and visit some attractions but unfortunately, all alone. Anyway, who needs company at casinos. :)

Bristol Day 2

I started my day at 4am local time. I guess the body system hasn't gotten used to it yet and it will take some time to 'convert'.

The wind was strong and the weather chilly. Nice to sleep in but too bad the body just can't be forced to rest. But it is good because I was able to call home to check out on my darling baby. :)

It is 830pm now and my brain is slowing down. Maybe due to a glass of beer I had earlier in the evening. Hope it can help me 'tune' the system.

Guess what? I managed to input some rice into my stomach. Japanese food. Looks like it wouldn't be the last time I am going to the Japanese restaurant even though the meal cost me about 20 pounds for Japanese seafood curry rice and some futomaki which had fried seaweed.

I wonder what's for lunch tomorrow. It seems most folks here actually prepare lunch and pack it in to the office to eat. Maybe they just don't like the cold. Frankly, I love the weather for now. At least I don't get sweaty after a 25 minute walk to the office from my apartment.

Oh. I took my first taxi ride in a SAAB. A private owned cab which didn't at all look like a licensed taxi and a short 5 minute ride cost me 14 pounds. I have to ask my collegues if I got ripped off.

Off to bed now since there is nothing much to do at this moment except to watch some BBC News.

You will hear from me again tomorrow.

Bristol Day 1

It was tears when I departed changi airport. It is afterall the first time Sandy and I ever parted for such long time.

Sacrifices need to be made. For me and the family.

Anyway, it was a really long flight from Singapore to Bristol via Amsterdam. Thankfully Stilnox worked well for me and during the 13 hour flight, I slept for at least 10 hours. Guess I have been overky tired from the last minute packing.

Lunch in Bristol was a simple 5 pound Chicken Avocado sandwich and dinner was KFC taste-alike. Didn't really liked the fried chicken because it was darn oily. And the cost of a three piece meal was 5 pounds again.

Looks like I really need to use the kitchen facility in my one bedroom serviced apartment - www.geometricapartments.com. Can't complain much but the bedroom has no aircon. Weird isn't it? Maybe because it is winter.

I hope there will be an opportunity for Sandy to visit me as I miss her so much and it has only been slightly more than 24 hours. Thanks to SKYPE, we still can use video call online.

It is 745pm here as I type but am feeling so tired already.Jetlag.

Let us hope all will turn out well tomorrow as I report for my first day at work in Bristol. Hope the days ahead will be a little more exciting in terms of work and leisure.

A dying man's wish ...

Fear not. My time should not be here yet but what if it comes?

Again, I insist life is fragile. Or perhaps brittle? Well, both words relate don't they?

How often do we ask ourselves what if we were left with only one more day to live? What would we do? Or how would we speak? Would it be a different choice of words used or will we just be the same old self?

Ask yourself.

I think if I ever get to know that I have only one more day to live, I guess I might just forget all material stuff but take as much time to sit around with loved ones, relatives and friends. Realised why family is missing? That's because they are my loved ones. :)

I would rather choose to take time to bid farewell , seek forgiveness for any wrongdoings and have a final handshake or a hug. This way there would be an end at least.

A closure of a chapter. With no regrets.

I guess that's what I would do so what's yours?

Oh. I still haven't decided what food I would like to fill my stomach when it is time to go. Just too much to even write here but I'll think about it and share the next time.

Dwelling in the past ...

I often wonder what really makes us who we are.

Is it the past or is it by looking forward into the future? Beats me but I think it is the past.

Our past carries lots of victories as well as defeats. We learn from falls and cherish success. Thus doesn't it make sense that we are who we are because of our past?

Then again, there are people who take a fall and later find it very hard to pick themselves up despite numerous struggles. Is it because they failed to rid off the inner demon of a past failure or experience? ( not sure if grammar is correct here )

I for sure am someone who oftens dwell in the past. That is who I am. It can be quite a pretty traumatic experience.

We allowed our emotions to dwell in a past experience that was utterly negative that we totally forget what our future can still bring to us if we stood up well and strong.

It is a mix of emotions. A mix of both friendly and negative forces that makes us who we are. It is what we did in the past that shapes our future.

We can only see success if we choose what emotions or experiences to carry with us .

We learn from past defeats but not dwell in it. We pick up the positive vibes when we smelt success and would very much want to taste it again. Only this way can success finds its way into our lives.

At least that is how I think the past indeed builds our future.

Mistakes.

How many of us can proudly say that we never made mistakes or we have never wronged? None.

We are afterall human. Made in flesh and blood with a soul of emotions that sometimes cannot be controlled.

Why were we made to be like this? Ask the Maker. I don't know.

Perhaps the Maker made us like this so that there will be different characters in His world. To make His world even more colorful, he added color to the skin.

Were these mistakes? Ask the Maker. I don't know.

Euna Lee & Laura Ling returns home.

After 5 months of ordeal in North Korea, the two American journalists have finally been pardoned by President Kim Jong Il. All thanks to former President Bill Clinton.

What happened during those 5 months of detention is still not known but I am sure the world will want to know if they were at all ill-treated while in the hands of Pyongyang's military. Afterall, they are American journalists doing a coverage for Al Gore's Current TV.

It didn't really bother me that two American journalists were captured but the media successfully made it a big story for two intruders into a foreign country. See, the word used was 'intruders'.

Let's look at it this way. Euna and Laura were surely aware of the consequences of illegally intruding into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea so why all the hype when the two Americans were captured? They were merely asking for it isn't it? They were out to toy with their lives and emotional strings of audiences like me.

Well, it could be a good cause that they set out for. Perhaps they wanted to tell the world about the human trafficking that were happening at the borders. Or maybe they really wanted fame when they took on the project and if that is so, both of them made it. Not many would get to know the names Euna Lee and Laura Ling if not for this capture.Who knows, Hollywood might just start knocking on their doors for a movie script.

Can't the world learn what is wrong and right? Firstly, was it even right that a foreigner enters a country without valid permission or authorisation. If someone you didn't know intruded into your private property, wouldn't you get him or her to get out and what could be worst when the intruder decides to take photos of your home without seeking permission. You'll likely get irritated by such gesture and report it to the authorities right?

Euna and Laura indeed got on the wrong side of the law in North Korea. That's a given. They did something wrong and in the law books of the Northern Peninsula, they had to be punished. They had to be sent to labour camp for 12 years so what on earth is wrong with that? When one does wrong, one should be punished.

Whenever the United States of America feels that national security is compromised, they have a habit of firing their missiles and killing thousands of people. Is that right or wrong? North Korea perhaps felt that their national security was also compromised when Americans Euna and Laura intruded. The argument is open.

So what triggered the visit by Bill Clinton? Was it the duration that mattered? 12years is a long time but I would think even when Pyongyang throws the two intruders a sentence of 6 months, the Americans would still find ways to get them out. Afterall, they are American journalists. Have you ever wondered what made them special? : )

Conscience ...

I only have 30 minutes to type this blog because that's what the battery meter indicates.

While I was driving earlier home from dinner with family, a word just popped into my head. Look, it's not like I robbed someone or did something bad but a scene from one of those Hong Kong drama series played back in my head's mini theatre.

Well, it was about cheats who go around doing what they are best at - cheat.

So what is cheating and how does it relate to conscience?

The word conscience as per dictionary.com defines it as :

the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience.

People like you and me likely probably grew up in very normal families who believed very much in ethics, principles and can very well tell between what is right or wrong.

But what if you grew up in harsh conditions whereby the family or your siblings needed to cheat in order to survive. Would you then know what is right and what is wrong because from the day you were born, everyone around you had to cheat to survive. You probably thought that was how the world revolved. So under such circumstances, can the word conscience ever fit into your life when you were never taught what's right from wrong?

How then can someone like that ever find conscience?

Parenting Congress.

Another 23 minutes before the computer would shut itself thus I thought I shared about parenting.

Just recently, I often heard a commercial over the radio about a Parenting Congress that was to be held at the Singapore Expo.

I wondered if Sandy and I would ever sign up for such a seminar.

I don't think my parents ever signed up for such talks on 'how to raise your kids the right way' or ' raise him up the way you want it to be'.

It is weird but among friends or even family, we can see how differently parents raise their kids. Some parents can be overly paranoid over some issues while others might not feel the need for such attention.

Everyone has a different way of communicating and showering love for their children.

I guess when Sandy and I have kids at a later stage, we might just raise our kids in two different ways. It is very scary to even think of it right now because it is pretty obvious that both of us were raised a little differently. Different in the way that we don't agree on certain values or principles.

In other words, if we both don't see eye to eye on the values and principles we want to instill in our children. Our children might just be so confused as to which is the right direction for them, right?

Thus I think it could be rather important that we sign up for such seminars next time so that we can be in line with what we want to teach our children.

We want them to live life the right way and to grow up as contributors to society. : )

Halo ...to an angel.

From this photo, can you tell that I have decided to look vain by taking time to sit under a weird halo looking device that heats the scalp of my head?

Well, I am having white hair covered. Lots of them which I have been wanting to rid off.

I can't prevent the greying hair from popping up thus this drastic measure to look younger again. Right. The face and wrinkles still tell the same story and not my exact age but older.

Maybe I should consider botox or perhaps a head change too. Maybe I should take the face of Sandy's favourite idol - Hacken Lee.

A tipsy posting...

As from the title, you perhaps can tell that I am writing under the influence of alcohol and frankly, this is the first time this is happening. Writing when I am intoxicated. Not drunk but only tipsy.

Firstly, I drove back home safely without compromising road safety so that sure is something consoling. Come on, don't look at me like that. It's not like I committed the biggest crime in the world. I only drove with a certain content of alcohol in my system.

For once, let me just blog without having to care about the feeling of others and just let me be me - Mark Chong. If you read this and have very strong feelings about what I am going to say, just take it like I never once said a word about it.

Well, I just want to moan and groan about the world. About life as a whole. About my life.

I realised from this experience of being intoxicated and driving home from Selegie to Simei and droppin off two passengers can be quite a feat and surely quite a selfish act but I did it anyway without getting into much trouble. Frankly, I hardly do this - drink and drive.

In many other countries, this is just so common. Drink driving.

Yes, I know the complications and implications about having to drink when highly intoxicated with alcohol in the blood stream but sometimes, it is just so tempting to try that experience. This is my second time. Only second time so don't worry too much. I don't know when the third time would come but it really depends very much on the mood I am getting into.

Never mind the mood and never mind the alcohol level that is in the blood as I type make this entry.

I realised something very important and I believe many of you might have experienced this too. Did you realise the most important people in your life are those who are actually related to you by blood? The chaps who get darn worked up and worried when reading such a negative blog like mine is perhaps my parents. Not friends.

Parents worry day and night about us. They worry about when we sleep , when we wake up and when we have our meals. They worry about whether or not we can cope with society, cope with our studies and also worry about whether we have enough to spend. That is the genuine love we should relate to.

Surely not what friends say about loving you and all those mushy words. No other love can ever succeed the love of a mother or a father. That is one true love. Of course, the other love you can ever depend on is truly the love your spouse showers you with. She is the other person who will selflessly sacrifice for you and make all the difficult paths or journey with you. Rich or poor, she will walk with you just like what both of you vowed previously. Great love isn't it?

Well, I am not comparing the love between parents and that of our spouses. I just want to relate that no one else can spare or make huge sacrifices for us. It is only this two group of people in our lives that think a lot about us and hope for the better of our lives.

When time are bad, who really sticks with you? I guess the answer is pretty obvious. Parents and of course your spouse because only their world revolves around you but for others, their world will not stop a minute for you as they do have their own world to live in and that's what life is all about. Sadly .. unfortunately.

The world is only selfish .... thus I have decided to take upon what comes upon me and I will walk my way with my spouse and with the support of family. No one else really matters and this is the most frank I can be.

** do note that I am writing this with a intoxicated brain thus if you do get offended, I apologise but this is what I really think the world is about and this is indeed how it revolves. The world revolves not about me but it's about you and your world will not stop because of me. Sad this is so true ......

A dead battery ...

I never knew how crippled I could end up without a working mobile phone.

Yesterday during office hours, my battery died on me and leaving me with no way of communicating with colleagues, friends and most importantly my lovely spouse.

With today's advanced technology, mobile phones are just too common and a public phone is downright rare. I roamed the streets to find a public phone booth but couldn't find one that allowed me to insert coins. I only found those which allowed calling cards. My was I agitated.

It is my mistake for not charging the battery and it is only through this experience that I realised how important tele-conversations can be. The need to communicate with someone out there seems just impossible. What's worst is that phone numbers are no longer stored in my brains but all in the phone.

See how much we rely on memory chips and technology. Without it, we just feel helpless and very much lost.

12 years ago from school ...

It's nice to catch up with old friends especially when these 'old friends' are able to help you recall your younger days.

I was honoured to be invited to Shariffah's place for lunch. Why honoured you must wonder. It's been ages since we met and we never really kept in touch after college.

Well, you have to understand my youth or my younger days have been robbed by my wife Sandy. Frankly and sadly true but I never really regretted. : ) She's the best thing that ever happened at college. I have to say much better than where my results brought me.

The other chap which I got to catch up again was Mubin. We were close friends in school but sadly after I got conscripted, we didn't really stay in contact. He is now married with a daughter. Lucky chap and am sure he is all happy now having settled with family.

Lunch was fabulous and Shariffah sure cooked the French cut lamb really well. Unfortunately, my appetite after badminton could only allow two pieces. If only I didn't exercise that morning.

The other person whom I met was Peiling. Let's not talk about her because I get to see her any other day. Oh, we have her date with her on 14th July to celebrate her turning a year older. How old? I better not blog about it if not trouble will come looking for me. : )

It was a well spent Saturday afternoon and I look forward to many more meet-ups with old friends in the near future.

A part of Michael in me ...

The Black or White megastar played a part in everyone's life and I was no exception.

When I was a little boy, I remembered trying to dance like him but of course, my motion never looked like I was doing a moonwalk but more of a duck walk.

Over the past week, I managed to put together some of my favourite songs of MJ's and I realised how much I miss the lonely fella.

I can't forget how I used to sing Heal The World with a change to the lyrics. It's awful but rather funny. Some will say bad taste. Here it goes:

"There's a smell in your butt and you know that its a fart.

You know it stinks and you'll dread that the shit is coming."

Alright, I won't make fun of his songs because I truly respect the man and his music. It touched us deep inside our hearts. The lyrics he sang were really meaningful.

I grew up listening to MJ's Heal The World, Earth Song, Childhood and many others.

I guess the world won't forget him like how they didn't forget The Beatles and Elvis.

MJ was in a league of his own and surely the King of Pop.

May his music live on forever even for our children's children because it indeed tells us much about the health of our planet earth and its people.

So Will You Be There for the man and his music because he for sure believes You Are Not Alone.

Lost and not yet found ...

It is quite a handful of stress when you realised that you have lost something and can't seem to find it.I guess at some point of time in our lives, we do get to experience this pathetic feeling of losing something precious and close to our hearts.

Let's not get into too much details about what I have lost or hopefully, misplaced because I deem the term 'misplaced' a better friend than 'lost'. Can you imagine the grave difference when you say ' I lost a friend.' Some might just think your friend died and made his or her way to heaven. In my lifetime, I think I lost 2 friends. Of course, my grand fathers are also lingering somewhere in heaven too.

It can be very frustrating when the things you misplaced don't seem to want to appear right in front of you despite how desperate you try calling out to it. Ok. I aren't talking about my dogs here but a gift from someone which I treasure lots but perhaps due to me being careless, I am afraid I won't be able to find it back again.

Life is weird isn't it? When it is around, you just take it for granted but when you realised that it's lost, the heart seems burdened with weight.

If this was meant to be a lesson to teach me to keep my things properly, I can tell you the grave consequences it'll lead to and surely a darn expensive lesson.

Now, wish me luck and hopefully I will find that piece of gemstone soonest and I'll be celebrating with champagne with a lighter heart.

Luis walks .... quite fast.

Take a look at the little chap making his steps quicker than he is able to.

Which is better? To love or be loved? ( Part 2 )

Well, I hardly get so many responses or comments from my blog postings and I am glad many friends took time to read and drop comments about these thoughts I had.

Thank you for dropping in. At least I know the blog is still being read and it is a consolation that people still want to know what is happening in my minute brain. : )

Like many others, I day dream a lot and by writing these thoughts I come up with is just a way of expressing how I feel about certain perspectives in life. Some important and some aren’t.

Some ought to be shared but some should remain unwritten. I made a mistake about writing this topic because Sandy got very angry over this blog.

Caught you! : )

I was kidding about my wife being angry. The only angry people I know of might have ended up hating me for putting up such a blog.

Let’s get back to the topic.

I asked myself if I knew what love really is. Frankly, no.

I had to ponder a little while before I could come up with what love consists of.

Let’s picture love as a pie chart or even better, a pizza.

A full pizza made up of different ingredients to enhance the taste and flavour. Yes, if only I could have some fresh from my neighbourhood delivery. OK, am feeling hungry and craving for Rocky’s Pizza now.

So what makes up a ‘love pizza’? It won’t taste nice only with a thin crust even though that’s my favourite.

A little bit of respect, trust, compromise, care, faith, happiness, laughter, loyalty, devotion and compassion. You can also add a little bit of intimacy, energy, patience, affection etc. So many things make up love and trust me, the list can go on but have we ever thought about the ugly side of things that keep love going? There are more than the above positive descriptions.

But remember your journey in love? There is bound to have encountered elements of selfishness, tears, squabbles, betrayals, lies, irresponsibility, uncertainty, insecurity etc. Again, the list goes on.

I never really heard of a fairy tale love with no misunderstandings, quarrels etc. If this is how your love started and still going strong without a single quarrel or difference in opinions, then you might want to stop and think if it really is true. The person who is holding your hands so tight might just be hiding behind a mask.

Let’s face it. We were not made perfect. We can’t be perfect even in love. There will be some sort of flaw somewhere waiting to be discovered by our partners but what is most important is the virtue of forgiveness. That plays a very important aspect of love so that the pizza will not taste at all bitter.

I agree with many friends that love is not forever. Some day it’ll fade but when it is time to fade, we are likely old and at such an old age, it is only companionship we seek after. We won't go find another lover. Or chances are we won't want to go through the dating again. We only want someone to walk the last steps of our journey on this planet. I don’t think this will be called love but then again, we often see aging grandparents who still hold hands walking in the park, cuddling on the bench and wiping perspiration from the face of their wrinkled spouse. Can we call that love or just a habit of having the company of one another?

Weird thought isn’t it?

Again, I insist Sandy loves me more than I love her. Reason why I say this is because she gives in to me most of the time and she hardly gets her way because her way is usually not my way. See, this is true love because she has discovered that flaw in me but has yet to exploit it and that’s why I love her for who she is and she loves me as who I am. That’s true love which Korean dramas don’t really portray. Remember Full House? : )

Which is better? To love or be loved?

 

Just yesterday, I met up with an old friend of mine and at the age of 30, he told me he is caught in a love triangle.

 

OK. The age is insignificant. We can always fall in love again at the age of 80. Right?

 

So he told me his story and in the midst of our conversation, I asked.

 

'Would you prefer to love or be loved?'

 

He wasn't sure. In fact, I too am not sure but I am convinced that being loved is far better than loving someone.

 

To love somebody takes a lot of energy, strength and emotional setbacks whereas to be loved would mean more like sitting in the passenger's seat and let things go almost auto pilot. Agree?

 

At least the chances of being hurt and leaving the relationship with a broken heart would be minimized. No teary eyes and sleepless nights.

 

But on the other hand, you love her so much that when the day that relationship falters, your eye balls will start to pop out due to over exhaustion of the tear glands. ( are there tear glands? )

 

So where do you stand in a relationship?

 

For me, I think I am the receiving one in my marriage.

 

Shhh …. Please don't tell Sandy about this. I aren't afraid she'll hit me but I am just afraid she'll love me lesser and I'll end up having to love her more thus changing the tides of love.

 

Ok, now it makes no sense because we do not know how to measure love. What units do we use? Amperes?

Every first step is difficult ...

Let's be honest. When we made our first steps as babies, it was sheer difficult but perhaps we couldn't remember much about it thus people sometimes say the first step is the easiest.

Every life and every form has a beginning. Everything we see has a story but not every story was told to us. The same goes for my story.

In this couple of months, a new beginning is taking shape for me. It is a rough ride right now and I just have to get through this tumultuous times until yet another new beginning comes about - another change would mean yet another new beginning isn't it?

My first anniversary and it remains fresh in my memory ...

Last year today, Sandy and I both said ' I do '. I do to a whole new world, I do to a whole new life and as one. As husband and wife that shares the same surname - Chong. A unity of love and a promise to care for one another, through thick and thin, through riches and rags, through good and bad health.

 

Everything that happened during this period last year is still fondly cherished and remembered.

 

From the gestures of family and friends that took time to witness the biggest event of our lives as well as the moments they spent with us partying, merrying.

 

Of course, I have to thank those close friends who made our wedding a total success especially on that rainy day in Sentosa. I can remember how the skies opened and partied by showering us with lots of love in rain.

 

The bachelor parties, the drinking sessions and the drunkards we created all in the name of fun and great company.

 

Yes, I remembered also how I cried on stage and how I managed to serenade the crowd with my own composition of romantic tune. Somewhat, Sandy didn't get my lyrics right even till today but it's all great because I fulfilled my wishes in having my own 'mini - concert'.

 

The days that followed after the wedding was a fantastic time spent with a close buddy. I do not know if Sandy and I will ever find such fun and company ever again in a vacation - a double date away from the little dot we live in.

 

From what I can remember, everything went smooth and almost as planned.

 

I hope in the many years to come, I can still do a playback in my mind of what happened during the summer of 2008 as I know, these cherished moments can only happen once in a lifetime.

 

Happy 1st year anniversary. As of now, we still do not know what we'll be having for our anniversary dinner. We'll likely visit Amara Sanctuary again and try to walk those path that we step foot a year ago. Hand in hand, heart to heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A game of survivor?

 

 

After bowling with Geoffrey and Beatrice last night, Sandy and I were approached by another couple.

 

First they took out a stack of serviettes and asked if I would like to learn how to make a rose using a piece of serviette. Frankly, I wasn't interested but I obliged because they seemed pretty sincere.

 

So the guy ( Ryan )  showed us how to do it with trembling fingers. His fingers were practically shivering. In the midst of his demonstration, I asked the girl ( Sharon ) what is this all about.

 

She stuttered and told us that they were part of a survivor game series in Singapore and that they will need to get down to the airport the next morning presenting to the game host a hundred Singapore dollars. They also told me that they were hungry and haven't had their dinner and have no place to sleep tonight because this was all part of the guidelines laid out by the organizer.

 

Was I convinced? Frankly, no but Sandy and I played Mr and Mrs Smith. Kidding. Mr and Mrs Nice Guys.

 

Ryan completed his origami and Sharon went on to explain the situation further and asked if we could contribute some money to them. As you know me, I would have said yes and even though I am so broke, I had thoughts of parting 20 bucks just for them. OK, I have a soft spot. You know it don't you.

 

Sandy suggested buying them dinner instead so we told them to join us at MacDonald's since I had intentions to grab a sundae. We asked if they wanted a full meal and they told me they'll rather have some cash but Sandy refused and ordered two McChicken burgers for them instead. They had no choice but to thank us before walking away looking disappointed.

 

Is this all a scam? Yes. We knew it was a scam but we didn't want to take the risk just in case these two chaps really got hungry but that's all we can do for them because Sandy and I know how it feels like to be hungry with no food to eat. To us, we did something good but if these guys were out to cheat us, so be it.

 

They did wrong. We didn't.

--
http://hidekram.blogspot.com/

Missing stuff ...

Life is getting a little boring here with nothing much to do. No visitors from overseas, no big bang parties. I guess it is due to our recent purchase of our home that we feel nowhere else can be more comfortable than being at home.

 

We haven't really found the strength and energy to go shop for some missing items of the house. I am still missing two side tables and a television console for my bedroom. Did I blog about this already? : )   Of course, we are still missing a wardrobe in the guest room too but that can wait.

 

I frankly can't wait to get myself the television console because my sound system is still at Marine Parade and I miss listening to the radio while in bed.

 

There are so many things I miss actually. CD racks, book racks and photo albums. I still have a few cartons of items I left behind at my parents' place and the things in the cartons are things I collected throughout my teenage years. I think I also will need a display cabinet or whatever you call that.

 

It'll take time I guess since weekends are pretty busy entertaining family.

Bra Talk ...

No typo, no blurred eyes. Indeed am writing about bras today. Bra talk, not Breadtalk.

 

Well, you must wonder why the sudden interest in this topic.

 

My wife often comes up to me asking me if her bra was showing under some other cloth she has over her and I would always tell her it looks fine even with the lacy prints showing. ( Did I use the right term? )  

 

As an open minded chap like myself, I think it is fine to have those designs stick out as long as it isn't something else sticking out. You know what I mean right?

 

I think all men out there would think it is normal having a little bra being revealed but men would think even naughtier if they realised nothing else was below the blouse the ladies wear above their skin so isn't it better showing some lacy prints instead to make sure men think straight.

 

Oh, talking about lingerie, a guy friend just told me about his massive collection of sexy lingerie. I wonder whaton earth does he do with it. I certainly hope it is not for cross dressing because I don't think he'll look better than me in a dress.

 

Lost and found ...

I always thought the term "lost and found" to be pretty amusing. I should perhaps write my thoughts about it the next time I sit at home with a computer.

Anyway, I found a latest model of a Sony Ericsson phone this afternoon and sent it out to the police station so that the item can be found by the lost owner. :)

Ok, I wonder who got lost first. Was it the phone or the owner? Beats me.

Catching planes ...

My in-laws are back and am at the airport awaiting their arrival typing this blog.

With nothing much to do, I tried snapping photos with my camera phone but the effects suck. If only I purchased one of those SLR cameras.

Its funny. My father-in-law called and asked me to return home and hear this, it's a funny reason.

He heard some chaps coughing and is pretty much afraid that he might be carrying some H1N1 virus. Afterall, he came back from a place with the virus HK.

I told him it was ok and that it didn't bother me since we do know the flu can be cured and is likely just another strain of virus.

Anyway, check out the photo. Lousy huh?

A quiet morning swim ...

Besides the sun being out, no one else seems interested to enjoy the swimming pool as much as us. Perhaps its a work day thus no one has the time to take a dip in the pool.

I managed to do a few laps and that's it. I was punctured. I was gasping for air and the muscles ached a little. It was time to stop after swimming for only 15 minutes or so.

I used to do better in terms of speed and stamina. Sandy urged me on but I gave up. Anything more would likely lead to heavy consequences - water entering my lungs.

Swine flu ...

The swine flu has hit America as well as some European nations and it seems to be coming in the direction of Asia now.

Can you remember what it was like during the days when Asia was hit by the SARS outbreak?

It was a common sight to see people wearing masks and everyone was paranoid whenever someone coughed or sneezed. Looks like it is going to be a repeat of what hit us in 2003.

Tourism came to a halt, the economy went berserk and people were dying every day.

The governments sent a red-alert signal across nations and placed barricades to try and stop the bacteria from forcing its way through the immigration borders.

Thankfully the Singapore government did well and managed to get us out of further deaths within a month or two and I am sure this time round, we'll have more than enough ammunition to fight out this swine flu but let's hope it won't be as serious as how it was in 2003.

I can only picture the winners out of this ordeal - makers of protective masks and bacteria fighting cleaning solutions.

Luis is turning 1 this May ...

A year ago, Luis was delivered in Mount Alvernia and very soon, he'll turn one next month.

Seeing him grow up a healthy boy surely brings smiles to us all.

I believe Luis is going to be a cheeky boy and surely a playful chap when he grows older and that is what's going to excite all of us later on as we wonder if he is going to take on his father's traits.

Here is a photo of him in the midst of a gambling session. Too young to learn the game of mahjong?

Sushi making ...

Finally I got to eat sushi that was made by my sis-in-law. The last time she said she'll make it for me was more than a decade ago. Yes, 12 years is surely a long wait but what matters most is I finally got to savour the delicious handrolls and makis she made with her own hands.

Check out the video and see if you'll like to place some orders with her too but bear in mind that you might only eat it after another 10 years.

By the way, I am sorry you might need to tilt your head to watch the video. : )

A mothers' celebration ...

Having three cakes together seems to be pretty unusual but that is what happens when there are three birthday celebrations that take place at the same time.

Happy Birthday to Grandma, Mum and Godma!

May their days be filled with great health and lots of happiness!

Thank you to Weisheng for the cakes which he has contributed. Indeed a very filial son and a supportive brother too.

Junsheng, it'll be your turn in a few years so start working hard now.