Higher Ground / Idde Schultz

This song is very rare, hard to find. Google offers no direct matches. Torrent and emule did not offer any hits. Yet, its melody and lyrics are simple and beautiful, deserving to be found.

Luckily, there is blog entry that offer a clue, to search into Google groups. And that finally leads to the english version. The song is originally in Swedish (You can find the original song in Youtube). A smash hit in 1995 (in Sweden). The original title is Högre mark (Higher Ground.)

And finding the lyrics online is a unsolvable challenge. I have to get the lyrics in the old fashion way, by listening to it.

Do let me know if there correction required (especially in the 4th stanza)

Updated (20 Oct 2013)
You can find the song from Amazon at this Higher ground [Single-CD] link.

Higher ground by idde schultz

hey you
it is not that i looking for good news
not expecting any changes in you
no no that not why i am back

hey you
i did not came back to your house again
to find out if you have a brand new friend
it was long ago that i was sick with desire

[Chorus]
I just wanna know a secret
And find out if there is
A blue blue heaven for the bitter
Where we could fly and then land again
On higher ground

hey you,
do u remember when the nights awake
look picture at ice cold space
on a arise as such
when nothing can happens.

[Chorus]

hey you
it is not that i looking for good news
not expecting any changes in you
no no that not why i am back

hey you
i should ask myself the reason why
I think i see the answer in yr eyes
it is a color that, and is not the one I remember

GrandMa

You lie on in the bed, feeling memories flooding over you, wondering why memories of her cames to you, remembering her pampering of you when you are young, remembering how she bought a schoolbag for you when she overheard you asking one from your parent. You remember how disappointed you are that it was not the type you wanted but you still keep till you were in your adult years.

You remember the nurse fondly smiling when they relate the story of how she ask them if she is pretty still after they bathed her. You always remember her cheerful self.

Thou it been years since she went to a better place. You wishes you had make grandma's last days happier.

StanChart 2009 Marathon Bib 20892 (4hrs 37min)

My one and only marathon, it was an experience and finished in 4hrs37min. The training helped. I was able to keep a constant pace for 27km, exhaustion take over after 32 km mark.

Maybe a longer training running distance would had helped me be conditioned to the exhaustion effects. That said, not again, it is too bad for my knees.

Princess on a jet plane

Tonight, dearest Princess is leaving on a jet plane with her husband-to-be. She is so happy and joyful, chirping and smiling, as we walked to the custom gate. And Des matches her character well, a serious, mature and stable person, to her playful, free-spirit and caring nature.

With a mixture of sadness and happiness in my heart, I waved goodbye to her as she crossed past the custom on her way to a new life phase. I wished I said a more proper goodbye to her.

Dear Princess, I will pray for your future happiness and asked God to gave you strength and hope in this new phase of your life.

Church of St Terea

Church of St Terea is a gazetted monument now. Meaning it stand forever as it is as the building represent a heritage of history and contributions of/to the community around it.

Standing on a hill, away from the buzzy roads, its gentle domes reach up to the skies, a single cross against the open sky, a beautiful white structure along Kampong Bahru road. Many times I glanced at it on my way to SGH and it always bring peace to my eyes as I see it standing tall against the blue sky.

Never did I knew that it will bring me back to God so many years in the future later. It was here that I promised God to be faithful and have my faith restored in Him. It was here that I felt belonged in the solemn, traditional and formal celebration.

Maybe it is the beautiful interior, maybe it is the good acoustics, maybe it is the formality of the celebration, maybe it is all of these. Ultimately they were what I needed then. A place to be comforted in, a place to gave thanks for His blessings, a place to root myself in that turbulent period. A rock for me to stand tall again.

I am so happy that it is gazetted now and in my opinion is all churches should be inspiring beautiful structure that cries out to be seen, to draw people to visit it and to learn about God.

Maturity

You wonder why, why some people never realized that you are giving way to them, to keep the peace. You realized that is not the best approach to take. Keeping peace is not as good as making peace. You realized that you have to be sharp and to the point, for those who are arrogant, proud, foolish and immature. Sharp with love and a spirit to teach and let them learn their actions are incorrect and immature.

These are for acquaintance and friends. Never to the animals in the corporate world. Some are intentional and are very good actors in hiding their immaturity and inexperience. You need to find another way to deals with these animals.

Forgiveness

Forgiving does not mean forgetting that you have been wronged or pretending you have not been hurt. It does not mean that you must like a person who has caused you pain. Forgiving does mean releasing the pain to God.

Getting the other person to change their actions, behavior or words isn't the point of forgiveness. In fact, the other person may never change or apologize for the offense. Think of forgiveness more about how it can change your life by bringing you more peace, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing.

Forgiveness takes away the power the other person continues to wield in your life. Through forgiveness, you choose to no longer define yourself as a victim. Forgiveness is done primarily for yourself, and less so for the person who wronged you.

It does not mean reconciliation as it may not be appropriate where trust is lost and difficult to be rebuilt in the current present situation.

Forgiving isn't the same as forgetting what happened to you. The act that hurt or offended you may always remain a part of your life. But forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, positive parts of your life. Forgiveness also doesn't mean that you deny the other person's responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn't minimize or justify the wrong. You can forgive the person without excusing the act.

- Extracted from various websites with my own commentaries.

Be Bold each day

Be bold each day means bringing yourself to do an action outside yr comfort zone, that take you to the edge of fear, where crossing it brings the potential of a good outcome. Meaning giving you a chance where not taking action means no chance at all.

Happy Brithday!

Happy Birthday, Beautiful Invisibles!

Singapore Highway Code

It will be very normal if the highway code for Singapore is found online. Googling only shows up 2 requests on forums to the relevant government agency to place it online. The highway code consist of 2 books and costs at most < $10 together.

Well, I dun have one and I borrowed both of them the last time I needed them for passing my basic and advanced theory tests. And I as suspected, most of my friends borrowed theirs too.

Beyonc - Halo

Melaka 20 June to 21 June

I wanted a break from work the month before and planned an excursion out of Singapore. I was really looking forward to it and somehow the wait eroded the excitement for it.

Days before the trip, there was multiple signs that I should not go. Events that I am interested in were happening on those 2 days. Even work beboking me to stay back. I still went ahead. And amid in it all, I encountered the Singaporean family I met in turkey, which is a good sign.

Overall, the trip will be more enjoyable if I had planned more and chosen the correct people to go with.

Jonker Street Chendol (Jonker Desert 88)
Really love this chendol, and a must visit place whenever I go to Meleka.







The laksa is deliciously sourish and it does not use coconut milk in the soup base.






Finally we tried the Chicken rice ball. Personally, I prefer the singapore chicken rice with its loose and non-compacted rice. The rice was too squashed to tastes good.



Ole Sayan (average)
Aunty Lee was fully booked, so we tried this alternative Nyonya Restaurant. The gang agreed that it does not worth a second visit.

2 Cor 6:1-10

I realized there are many translation of the same verse and chapter. Some in more modern English using more direct, simpler expression. The reading I read today morning used more complicated words, e.g. affectation, salvation, which I personally find makes it harder to grasp the intentions and meaning behind God words.

The search for better understanding of how to express and read out loud the passage leads me to find the simpler and more direct translation first. So to gain a better understanding of the passage's purpose before attempting to practice on the RC version which tends to use more older sentence structure and words.

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

Brothers and sisters:
As your fellow workers, we appeal to you
not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
We cause no one to stumble in anything,
in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves
as ministers of God, through much endurance,
in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
beatings, imprisonments, riots,
labors, vigils, fasts;
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness,
in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech,
in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.
We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
as unrecognized and yet acknowledged;
as dying and behold we live;
as chastised and yet not put to death;
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing;
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Quote II

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created--created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination." - John Schaar

Birthday Song - Corrinne May

This song really express it well if dedicated to a old, familiar friend. It is a refreshing change from the traditional Happy Birthday tune. A excellent choice to gift away, expressing how only time can bless the person with maturity, wisdom and health.

Here the lyrics:

Don't worry about that extra line
That's creeping up upon your face
It's just a part of nature's way
To say you've grown a little more
Trees have rings and thicker branches
Kids shoes get a little tighter
Every year we're getting closer to who we're gonna be
It's time to celebrate the story of how you've come to be

Happy birthday my friend
Here's to all the years we've shared together
All the fun we've had
You're such a blessing
Such a joy in my life
May the good Lord bless you
And may all your dreams come true

So light a candle on your cake
For every smile you've helped create
For every heart and every soul
You've known to grow a little more
A few more pounds, a little more grey
Don't count the years just count the way
It takes a little time to go from water into wine
Don't ever lose the wonder of the child within your eyes

Happy birthday my friend
Here's to all the years we've shared together
All the fun we've had
It's such a blessing
Such a joy in my life
May the good Lord bless you
And may all your dreams come true

The Birthday Song - Corrinne May

Passion run (1 hr 35 min 56 sec)

3rd attempt for this run. Again was not conditioned enough for it as I was working late in the previous 2 weeks
The temperature was warm and it was a new route, different from last year. At the end of it, am not satisfied with myself for not able to keep running all the way to the end. I was doing good time up to the 5km mark. It was after the 10km mark that I could not continue my pace.

My left knee did not feel well after the run, looks like I really have to watch my knee from being damaged further.

How do you feel God?

Benjamin wrote the beautiful, simple and touching poetry below when the class was asked to write about God gift/power to them.



Pray that God bless His sweet child.

after note: Benjamin is a 6 year old boy. The simplicity and deep faith from this writing kid can move and touch so many adults.

Methods to extract information in the work place

Method 1:
Works only if you are the superior, start with a dominating accusatory tone, put the person at defence. Words your statement ambiguously, let the person defends himself, repeat your wording accusatory and see how the person flows the information out.

Method 2:
To be used on peers. Start with open statements, wait for explanation, repeat same open statements, wait for expanded explanation, choose a particular clarification from the explanation, wait for explanation, repeat back same beginning open statement.


What can I says about the facts of life about works from the above?

West Coast Highway Route - 14km

Almost got cancelled because it was raining in the morning. Supposed to be a 35km route. Decided to turn at the 6 km point. :)

8 hours

After reading Danny post on how we can pie each day into 3 slices of 8 hours each, it bring to sharp focus how much time we have time we have for ourselves and family each day, if we were to sleep 8 hour, work 8 hours, we will be left with 8 hour, take away 2 hours away for the small things in life that eat up time, ie. Travelling here , wait there, then we are essentially left with 6 hours to do own personal interest or
keep relationship alive.

Most people I know do not divide their time so equally, they usually work more than 8 hours, eating into sleep and personal time.

How do you spent your 6 hours?

Useful work excuses

Some real-life reasons given for not able to stay late. Collected them over the span of a few weeks, guess it is somehow related to the roll-out happening now.

1) My wife birthday today.
2) My wedding anniversary today.
3) I am expecting guests in the house.
4) I have classes to attend today.

:)

Pukka Ice Creams (Again)

Tried the place again, this time round, sampled Chocolate, Butter Scott and Banana flavour. Decided on Banana without any mix-ins. I always find the names to the flavours could be more original and less plain. Banana really taste banana and there were some banana chunks in it, I think.

Anyway, I still prefer Tom's Palette flavours any time any day.

Maleka April 4 - 5

It was fun driving all the way there, the journey feels shorter and faster compared to the journey back.

And I keep smiling when I remember the way KK says his 1.5l car worked very hard to keep up with my. =D The joking expression on his face when he said it is priceless.

Even though we agreed to travel at 100km/hr, his car really worked hard to keep pace, maybe is the weight from all the eating and maybe it is the 2 x 5 kg of oil he had in his boot. (which he says is very cheap)

I like the adventure in exploring the unknown road and trying all the nyonya (authentic peranakan cuisine) food there. Aunty Lee still is the best, compared to Bibik Neo and Manis Sayang.

Bibik Neo Restaurant
No 4&6, Ground Floor,
Jalan Merdeka
Taman Melaka Raya
75000 Melaka
email: bibkneo@streamyx.com

Manis Sayang
617 Taman Melaka Raya
Malacca, Malacca
75000

Aunty Lee Restoran (THE BEST)
No 385, Jalan Ujong Pasir,
75050 Melaka
Tel: 06-283 1009 (Tue is rest day. Best to call after 930pm to make reservation)


Everyone enjoyed themselves with the food, and I am especially happy with the photos taken. I got many good looking photos, my friends looking happy and joyful. :) So much so, we talking about the next road trip.

Daily Misel 31 March 2009

A reading from the book of Number:

From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road, to bypass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!"

In punishment the LORD sent among the people fiery serpents,
which bit the people so that many of them died.
Then the people came to Moses and said,
"We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents away from us."
So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
"Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,
and whoever looks at it after being bitten will live."
Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,
and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent
looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Responsorial Pslam

R. (2) O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call,
answer me speedily.

R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer.

R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die."

Sky so blue

You wonder what prompted you to look up into the sky, and always when you do, it is always so clear, blue and bright. For all that happens under His sky, nothing can be hidden and you felt peace with a new unknown feelings when you looked at the sky.

Even when it feels heavy to do what needed to meld the path and hope it is done right. You pray for wisdom to see so and to know what else you failed to do so.

All these thoughts and feelings when your eyes moved upwards to the big wide blue sky.

He's just not that into you

The show is enjoyable, entertaining and thought provoking. And its highlight sometimes, the kindness and affirmation of friend does more harm than necessary.

Considering the main actress as she struggle to understand if he is interested in her (he is not), her friends justifies and provides reason for his silence, stood by her and comforts her also. Their actions paints a false reality to her and gave her hope.

Personally, I prefer candour. The rawer the better. Especially, when it is really necessary, to shake me by the shoulder when I am not listening to his truth.

I understand most people chose the safer path, to stood by the friend and said what is necessary to help the friend to ease the pain. The necessary is usually the kinder, gentle and softer truth. Again, the softness depends on the character strength and fragility of the friend self-esteem.

Rare is the person who can accept the first time, the reality that pains him, as voiced by another.
Time does help to prepare the person, it is also make the reality that occurred not relevant any more.

Clementi Ave 2

The food really tasted great, and the rating in term of deliciousness are, bee hoon goreng, mee goreng and nasi goreng. All from a malay stall at Clementi Ave 2 hawker stall. The stall is located at corner, facing a supermart, with the main road at its side. We waited approx 15 min before the food arrives and the food did not disappoints. Yes, the queue is long at this stall.

The ikan billis was crispy and melded well with the well fried nasi. The nasi was not too oily, just with a touch of oil, which was mixed well with the egg and beef. We tried the nasi first, followed by the bee hoon. The bee hoon was sweeter, blended better with the egg, beef and billias compared to the nasi. The nasi is just too grainly for me. The mee goreng was red in color, was not oily and fried just nicely with a hint of dryness.

It was a good outing with Will and Marg. They shared the good food with me and as usual, they shared their faith and spirit-fullness with me. Luckily this time round, I managed to not trigger Will into a sermon mode and the outing turned out enjoyable.

Also, Will introduced me to Fong Seng nasi lemark around the junction of Clementi Road and Pasir Panjang road.

From this and previous outing, Will and Marg are really simple, kind-hearted people who enjoyed simple hawker fare. And I can image them eating at resturants or more fancier places. And it is always so spirit enfulling when I am out with them.

Ethan

Ethan is a quick-witted, smart and vocal boy. He shows his quick-wittiness by answering quickly and throwing any challenge back to the questioner. And his response shows intelligence. Behind that handsome sad young face, with a mixture of Malay and Arab feature, lies a child whose future can turn either way, good and bad.

If only he knows that imitating what he sees and hears without understanding the implication does not make him a better person. And he listen to you, this child needs lots of explanation on the outcome of his action and make him understand how he feels if the same unkind words he used is said back to him.

And they run screaming....

Another class, another lesson, the children needs to be told how their behaviour affects others and then they will listen. Again, they run screaming to the toilet beside my attempts to send them in group of 3. Faintz!

In the next class, I plans to make the male tots queue up and be told how to do it right and proper, not to run, not to scream and act responsible. Just like I explains how I told one male tot that he should take responsible for what he said after the victim complained to me that he told her that she a pig, Kids are good naturally, some noisy, some quiet, some very shy and generally adorable. :)

Peezzeee

It was simply amazing, funny and shocking at the same time, all of them fighting to pee into the 2 urinal is a memory I always remember.

When I asked them to queue and wait for their turn, they simply refused and want to be the first. Talk abt urgency. Controlling these tiny tots is a exercise in patience and self-control. And some of them really washes their hands. Faintz.

Luckily, none of them went missing during the toilet break and all reach back the class without any injury. I was so worried that the few naughty ones will run away while I scramble to and from those who finished peeing and those waiting their turn. Faintz! Faintz!

At the end of day, it was fun. My first lesson with Primary 1 kids for the catechist class. Luckily, Margate was a experienced teacher and knows how to manage them and control them. There still a long way for me to go before I can taking over a class, thou I be looking forward to it.

It is inspirational and so exciting that these tiny tots are so positive in life and they have so much to learn and pick up the right lessons to be better persons. And they are so impressionable, which is both a danger and a chance, that they may turn either way if placed in the wrong company and environment.

I be looking forward to the next class. Lent.

Kindness of Strangers

Sometimes, a stranger do the simplest action that make you feel that the world is a kinder place. Like the kind stranger who passed me his unused parking coupon when I finished parking next to him, to the kind man who pass me his winning coupon for a free drink. The world does have people who treat other human with care, unselfishness and kindness.

Praise God! Let me have the strenght and loving heart to be a kind stranger also.

Udders Ice Cream

Here another ice cream which have better layout and presentation, Ubbers is located in GoldHill Center and serves wonderful ice cream with their waffles. Their waffles with their ice cream is so delicious that I went for two rounds. :)






Their liquor flavours are strong with the liquor and blended very well overall. Their Bailey & Burbon really deserves the award given to it. I went there on a Sat night and it was crowded and packed. They are also famous for their durian flavour creation, thou I did not try any that night.

From memory, these are the flavours i ate. :)

Rum Rum Raisin : Simply love Rum taste in this. Not too strong, not too light.
Bailey & Burbon : Heavy Bailey melding very well with the burbon.
Lychee Martini : The lychee and Martini at the same time. Complementary each other.
Gila Melaka : Traditionally Gila taste, a refreshing asia touch.
Orange Choc Bitter: Yes, bitter and orangey at the same time!

Colleague's Wedding Photos

It is a kinda of feeling that have lots of emotion mixed in it. The kind where all the emotions have equal strengths, pulling at my heart. Sad, envy and happy at the same time watching my colleague wedding photos and albums.

Sad and envy because I got reminded that a chance of my have past. Happy for my colleague because if is his happiness day of his life. The photos and video are excellently crafted together with a matching audio track bringing out the right emotions.

This feelings is the kind that reminded me of where I am now is because of a decision I made in the past. It is the "what if" questions that its bring along.

And it is always then I remember the reasons and rational that made me reach my decision. No regretfulness over being unfaithful adds strength to the fact that the love is only one-sided. Never will I let one lie remain unchallenged for it will always leads to many others.

And in this aspect, my wedding will be one full of praise and worship for my God. I have chosen the songs and the church. And I pray to the Lord not to let me wait too long for his chosen one for me.

No One Like You - Sarah Brightman & The London Symphony Orchestra

Pukka Ice Cream

E recommend Pukka, seeing my recent entries about ice cream shop, telling me that it is even nearer to my home. The place is located at near the famous NUS prata stalls, after the 7-11.

It was pretty quiet and the flavours pretty normal, i.e. vanilla, horlicks, rum and raisin. I tried the rum and raisin and was shocked to find how heavy the rum is in the ice cream. Overall, it is money well spent thou it will not be one of my must go again place.

Be-Do-Have II

One key factor to Be the person you aim to be is to improve one own self-awareness. This is the starting point. Being aware of how you doing it right, of how you are not doing the things you starts the discovery and search process of self-improvement.

It is not necessary to actually know what you not doing right or doing right, with time and multiple experiences and keeping your eyes/ears open and remembering what had occurred helps.

Just like the case of what is the proper response if someone eyes your other significant half, a confident, self-assured person will take it as a compliment that his choice is still attractive and she/he is with him. Maybe, a self self-assured person will be jealous of the attention by the other half. A debate may arise that the jealous response is normal and justifiable. I would agree and ask how a confident person with jealous feeling would react in this scenario?

The key take from the above is again self-awareness, being aware of your own feelings and the surrounding helps to bring a total picture view and increase the growth of self-improvement.


Barry Manilow -I can't smile without you.

Be-Do-Have

It is a important concept to self-actualization of your goals.

Be the future person by starting to thinking like him. On the way, act out the actions and start behaving like the person to be. Then, you will start having the life of what you want to be.

It is easier to have a role model to copy from, thou I believe by thinking hard and increasing your self-awareness, you will discover the area of improvement. Then start Be, Do on those area of improvement.

It goes back to your life goals, area of work/family/community/self and in those areas finding the actions and thoughts to be the person you ultimately are.

Start with small achievable goals and build on the foundational from there.

My name not Tom

"I named the store Tom's Palette to remind myself to work hard, to prove to Tom, my partner that a ice cream store is a feasible in Singapore. Even thought there are many ice cream brands in the supermarkets" He answered when I asked who is Tom.

So today, I tried the following delicious flavours, , Apple Pie (Yum! Yum!) and Granny Favourite (Always nice!) in a small cup while carrying a tub of creamy cheese cake,Pumpkin and ??.

Super Yum! Must try!

Tom's Palette

And another traditional homemade ice cream can be found tucked away in Shaw Towers, with flavours like Granny Favourites, Lou Han Guo (i think). Tom's Palette made their own ice cream with less cream but with more milk and egg. Their prices are cheaper compared to Ice Cream Chefs even thou they are located in CBD area.

I like their friendlier services and even more creative and exotic flavours. They dun "cook" their creation which is not important for me. Texture and richness of taste is more important and is what they have. If you like, they allow you to choose two flavours to enjoy in one cup.

Compared to Ice Cream Chefs, this is my current favourite ice cream shop.

Ice Cream Chefs

Once upon a time, someone excited me with a biz idea that touches on one of my favourite food. It is about turning the act of serving ice cream into a more restaurant experience. She took the idea from a ice cream franchises, named Cold Rock, in Australia.

The idea was to cook ice cream with customer chosen ingredients like MARS bars, candy, cereal flaks etc with their favourite ice cream. I was excited and wanted to plan how to bring it to Singapore. The idea died when I calculated the cost involved and my supposed be partner suddenly turned disinterested (maybe due to her father influence).

So it is a nice surprise when Princess bought me to this neat tiny place in Siglap that executed the idea above. Ice Cream Chefs is run by mostly young adults/teenagers and it is always crowded the two times I been there. Here, the ice cream is home made and they "cook" the ice cream with your choice of toppings.

Here a picture of the cooking tool on a very cold stone. :)


The favour changes often and I chose a mocha favour mixed with cashew nuts. The ice cream is creamy and well-mixed, soft and blended nicely. Overall, a enjoyable experience.




Likely, will go back again and to scout out the food around the siglap area.

Lessons in Work

Before I joined this company, a friend wished me the best of luck. And another predicted one year of services will be good enough.

From the past year, there many lessons learnt. Not much on technical but many on politics skills and manipulative tactics. In an environment where people move behind your back (even bosses) to create a situation of uncertainty, the ones who can stand up to meet boss demands are the ones who move ahead even if they are unable to deliver and do not really understand how to deliver.

To survive means to learn fast, recruit allies and adapt quickly. It is amazing that the company can still continues to move forward in such environment. And I sometimes wonder would I even perform better given what I learnt now in my previous company.

I believe God placed me here to toughen me for His work ahead. And praise Him for faithfulness and believe in me to do His work.

Amen.

Jan 2009

How time quickly flies and CNY about to start soon, finally found a chance to catch up with SY. His work situation looks glim as sales are dropping and the company may run out of cash soon. He is mentally prepared and planning for alternatives in 6 month times. From him, it seem some of my classmates have fallen on bad times also.

Both of us agree is matter be mentally prepared and thinking positively to move ahead for better or worse, it is that fighting attitude that determine a man success in life.

We even joked about how to save on parking, he can park his car on the park near his home. :)

And I agreed that as long as each of us think hard for a solution to feed oneself and be mentally strong in face of challengces and setup, there nothing stopping a person from moving forward.

Transfer Emoticons to another machine

It was a pain to realized my fav emoticons may be lost and I will not able to use my cute picture during msn. My situation came about when my previous notebook hard disk crashed. Luckily, I was able to salvage essential files out, including my emoticons.

The next step was to find a way to copy them back into the msn in my new notebook. After some googling, I found that the emoticons files are stored in the following directory

WinXP:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\\ObjectStore\CustomEmoticons

Thou, the directory above is not exactly the same in Vista (my new notebook)

Vista:
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Messenger\\ObjectStore\CustomeEmoticons

And I have to turn on "Show Hidden Folders and Files" folder option to find AppData directory.

A simple copy of the directoy to new notebook and restarting my MSN did not work to show my emoticons. The alias key works but a blank emoticon is shown. It seem that MSN protects the emoticons by encrypting them. So a simple copy will not work.

Again, thanks to google, there is a tool to backup and restore all msn files. MSNBackup is a free tool that works for MSN 8.1 and MSN Live Messenger.

So here the steps I look to transfer and install back my emoticons into my new notebook.

Rename my current Vista CustomEmoticons to temp name.
Copy the previous CustomEmoticons to the Vista location.
Started MSNBackup.
Enter my hotmail ID and passport ID. (Passport ID is found at the bottom of this page.
https://account.live.com/EditProf.aspx?mkt=en-us&rp=Profiles. )
Start the backup.
Rename back the Vista CustomEmoticons to its original name.
Start the restore.
Voila! Emoticons transfer ed from one previous msn to my new msn.

=)

Museum of Broken Relationship

On display at the Jendela threater of Espandale is a roving exhibition of memtos of gifts/items representing failed relationship. Some are very cryptic, like the series of bras with notes attached that leave an unexplained story.

Some are so touching and sad, like the case of a boy realized his love can be because his girl loves women more. And vice versa, the sketch drawing of 2 naked men by a girl marks her realization that her love is gay.

The most touching is the single metal green key, one of the many gifts to his love. Only upon his death, did she realized his refusal to have sex is of how much he loved her to prevent from her being infected with his AIDS illness.

Another sad, sharp and brunt story was of a mobile phone send to a girl from her boyfriend to mark the end of their relationship by saying never to call him again.

Different stories, different hurts and haunting memories of past affections litters across the exhibition. By the end, one leaves the place with a feeling of how fragile is love and how warm glow of love items easier turns to memtos of anger, tears and sorrow when the feeling is gone.