Simple Life

伦敦之行

2011-01-18T15:33:00.009+08:00

12月19日：飞往伦敦的飞机因大雪Heathrow机场关闭，多趟航班延误有些还取消了。航班改为2.45am, 20/12.我们唯有听天由命。做最坏的打算，继续在冷清的樟宜机场T3耐心等待。

终于，在1.35am, 惺忪睡眼，被机灵的Kylie摇醒，人去场空，是登机的时候了。雀跃万分，我们踏着飞快的脚步，赶往登机处。终于踏上旅途了！

出游多次，这是第二次因航班延误而滞留机场。上一次是因为引擎问题从早上8点等到下午2点，才起飞。这次算幸运了！

十五年了，伦敦依然如依，世纪的一场雪给它增添了多点的浪漫！

伊朗之行-饮食篇

2010-09-28T18:37:00.012+08:00

说到饮食，除了串烧（Kebah)，米饭和煎饼也是他们桌上必有的食物。另外，他们也吃好多番茄和前菜。

伊朗人的食量分很大，所以分量也不小。每一餐都是一大盘的米饭，午餐和晚餐都少不了鱼或肉和牛油，另外还会加些NANN（？）即较厚的印度煎饼，因此，一般的伊朗人的体格，无论男女都是大块头。

在伊朗呆了四天，吃了两天的KEBAH，第三天，我已经”投降“了！只吃面包，青菜和喝Pepsi！

饭加鸡肉和羊肉串烧（KEBAH）

两团看起来有点“恶”的，其实橙色的是炒番茄加鸡蛋，青色的是炒菠菜加牛油。味道其实都不错！
羊Kebah 加牛油

菜汤加牛油

意外发现他们也爱HelloKitty！

白色的瓶子是Yogurt（酸奶），也是伊朗人爱喝的饮料！

橄榄加特别浆料

伊朗之行（1）

2010-06-16T17:34:00.027+08:00

看过或阅读「倚天屠龙记」不会忘记那温柔又善良波斯王国的君主小昭吧！因为工
作的关系，五月末,有个难得的机会到波斯王国也就是现在的伊朗一游。
由于是个中东回教国家，或多或少会有点顾虑，担心自己的安危。受邀在一个区
域性的研讨会上演讲是个不错的经验，该接受这个挑战吧!
经过签证的小插曲，终于在出发的前三天才确定出得了国。
在没有任何行程，只知道三天的研讨会将在zibakenar举行，我们毅然踏上未知
之旅。
到伊朗没直达飞机，得在迪拜转机。

波斯在1979年正式成为回教国家并改名为伊朗，是个保守的国家，特别是女性。 9
岁以上的妇女包括旅客都必须戴头沙，长袖上衣，而且还得长过腰身盖住臀部。我
们都入乡随俗。

首都- 德黑兰

抵达伊朗首都德黑兰，天气晴朗，机场四周荒芜，人烟稀少，除了伊朗人，其他
的都象是来公干，没有旅客。
正逢春天，伊朗天气晴朗, 还有点凉意,但由于几天前有场沙尘暴，天空被蒙上了一层薄雾。
伊朗主要语言以波斯语为主，因为是回教国家, 男女授受不亲，不能握手只能微笑以示礼貌。

一般的人民收入为US$200, 生活很节俭, 简单. 看电视与听电台广播是他们的娱乐. 说你可能不信, 伊朗没有电影院, 大家都是看电影光碟. 朋友聚会少不了这项娱乐！

ZIBAKENER距离德黑兰还挺远的, 需要大约5-6个小时的车乘. 伊朗从南到北, 气候很不一样.ZIBAKENAR位于德黑兰北部的一个小镇属于GILAN市，绿意盎然以农业为主。一路上还路经许多水稻田,天气较接近新加坡.

小山丘

米稻田

会议地点

黄昏时分，小巷热闹非常

明知故犯

2010-03-10T15:28:00.005+08:00

Tiger Woods, John Terry , 梁志强... 还有许许多多的男人都背弃了自己当年许下的婚约与承诺.
有人说, 天底下没有男人没偷吃过, 只是次数与频率. 有钱有势的男人, 发生的机率最高, 中年危机的男人也有迹可寻.

每个已婚男人都知道背叛的后果, 可是还是"铤而走险". 经不起诱惑所以冒险. 确保不被发现,吃过之后只要把嘴巴擦干净, 就万无一失. 当东窗事发, 祈求原谅. 为了孩子, 顾全大局,女人选择了妥协,暗自承受悲哀, 牺牲了自己的尊严. 女人如此豁达, 男人是卑鄙,可恶!

为何婚外情不是一项罪名呢? Adultery should be a Crime! 这样已婚人就不会轻易的放纵自己,以至伤害另一半和无辜的孩子.

2月6日随想

2010-02-06T22:29:00.004+08:00

与您走过前后18年, 如今虽较少接触但感情依旧浓厚. 这些年来, 历经大风大浪,与您同舟共济, 无怨无悔.
当初的执着与热诚, 相处如一家人. 我们从不猜记彼此,真诚以待, 各尽所能把自己份内的工作做好. 为共同的目标努力.
当您被别人欺负,大家都愤愤不平,各出点子想办法为您出头, 决不让任何人得逞. 我们的凝聚力, 让别人都嫉妒. 当时,我们都如此纯真, 如此热衷于您, 都因为您的成就而引以为荣.

其实, 若要算当家的,我算是当最久了- 该有7年吧! 要让您永远青春常驻,还真不容易! 难怪我白头发这么多!

如今你已经20岁了, 不知他们是否也持有我们当初的精神与热诚? 时代变迁,这个年代的他们, 在忙碌追寻个人理想的同时, 希望也没忘了为您灌溉施肥, 让您茁壮成长! 毕竟您才是他们的最终.

Laughing

2009-08-11T19:26:00.004+08:00

Has life changed me or have I changed my life?

Growing up is pain, growing 'old' is even more painful. Not physically but mentally. Challenging issues and circumstances really make me really "Grow Up".

When I realized I'm not laughing as much as I used to be, I was worried. I seems to lost my lively nature.

Can I still laugh out loud again?

When was the last time you really rolled over and laugh our heart out?

流感

2009-06-30T19:00:00.005+08:00

最近的A型H1N1流感，搞得大家神经兮兮的，放长假也不敢冒险出国，担心自己无辜被隔离. 更有人出国的时候，那国家还好，回来时获知该国已列入疫区，公司下令必须自行隔离，还得拿年假，自叹倒霉。
老实说，若不强制，有多少人会自行隔离，在家无所事事，待一天就快闷疯了，还要他待7天？人，本来就是自私的，自己认为没感冒，又发烧，为何要委屈自己呢？
就因人的自私，病菌就这样开始在社区传开来. 我们再也无法控制这无形的病菌，它即将象普通流感一样，任何人都有可能被感染.

在疫苗还没能大量生产，让每个人都能打预防针之前，我们还是得尽自己的责任，若身体不适，还是要避免到处走动，以免把病菌传染给别人.

中年危机

2009-05-12T18:38:00.006+08:00

当一个中年男人开始注意自己的外表，从穿着到护肤品，样样都在乎。他们开始怀疑自己的魅力指数，
开始对自己失去信心。于是，就去寻找自己当初年轻的感觉，证明自己还精力充沛，魅力不减, 重拾对自己的自信心。人家说，这就是中年危机的迹像.

男人为了表现自己的魅力，都会'向外看'，追求年轻美女，不分国籍。与她山盟海誓，重新找回恋爱或新鲜的感觉。他们会为了她而做些你无法想象的事情，他们会换时尚的手机，穿情侣装，带情侣表, 为他们设立个人网页等。他们享受这种感觉，以至沉迷忽略家庭，甚至有些还抛妻弃子，最后酿成家庭悲剧.

最近有份报道说在新加坡，在每4个人结婚的同时，就有1个人办理离婚，离婚率日趋偏高.其中因第三者而离婚占多数.

现代婚姻，你有多少信心?

现今男人诱惑多，只要有钱，女人随手可得。在面对诱惑，有多少男人会为了枕边人而悬崖勒马呢？

养颜秘诀

2009-04-17T18:28:00.005+08:00

在公司canteen经营水果摊的夫妇非常友善，在他们的非繁忙时间，我总喜欢和他们聊几句。
告诉他们我很羡慕他们的工作, 即没有竞争也没压力，是我的理想工作。 Auntie听了，开心的说不介意免费教我收我为徒。太感动了!

今天与Auntie言谈中才知道她已六十多岁了，我说她看似一位五十来岁的妇女，夸她驻颜有术, 秘诀是否是常喝自己炮制的果汁? 她笑着说“每天都喝，但是最重要的是我的家庭幸福。家庭不幸福，心情就会不好，喝什么都没用！”谢谢Auntie, 让我懂了.

说谎

2009-03-23T14:38:00.003+08:00

小时候，妈妈最讨厌人说谎。她说“狼来了”只能用一次，下次她就不再被骗。
没人喜欢说谎，大多数人所谓的“善意的谎言”往往都是在为自己辩护。偏偏就有人说谎成性，喜欢为自己的所做所为编织善意的谎言. 但当谎言一一被揭发，犹如洋葱般一层一层的被剥开，丑陋的面目浮现。在慌张的时候，他就开始狡辩。编出的谎言越来越多, 人也变得更可耻，更可恶!

随想

2009-02-09T18:12:00.003+08:00

“面对它，接受它，处理它，放下它”- 圣严法师的名言.

逃避不能解决问题，坦然面对, 接受事实。
找出最好的解决方法，只要不造成太多的伤害，也算是妥当处理。
事情过去了，放下它, 不要让它成为包袱，影响心情.

也是－其实原谅并不算高尚的行为，它却能释放你的困惑，解脱你的烦恼.

F1赛车初体验

2008-10-09T18:35:00.011+08:00

有幸到现场观看新加坡首个夜间F1赛车. 从高空,摩天观景轮的车厢里即能看夜景,也能观赏赛车 - 一举两得! 车速达快达每小时300公里, 除了转弯时看得比较清楚,其他时候只看到车影. 震耳的引擎声, 如果不带上耳塞, 整晚下来肯定被震聋. 不信, 看吧!

有海,有椰子树 .. 感觉像渡假.

从Spore Flyers 看下来, 手机摄像无法补抓快速渺小的车子.

简单快乐 2

2008-10-09T18:29:00.004+08:00

一个石头蛋糕, 沙上写上儿童节的祝福 ... KT/DT的杰作

简单快乐

2008-10-03T19:26:00.007+08:00

9月30日, 加入了公司的自愿团到Yishun Park School和一群可爱的小朋友提前渡过了一个愉快又有意义的儿童节.

Yishun Park School 是一所专为自闭症和痉挛儿童开办的学校. 为欢庆儿童节老师们特别为同学们安排了竞技比赛和一些游戏与活动.

玩汽球, 吹泡泡 - 简单的游戏就能让他们玩的很开心. 自闭症的小孩特别敏感, 不善于表达,对陌生人都会有些害怕, 所以这样的活动, 还需要一些时间warm up 才能打破隔阂. 能给他们带来快乐, 纵然是累, 也是值得的.

走之前, 负责人给了我们各一张纸,要我们给他们留些鼓励的话. 这就是我的杰作..
" Your smiles warm the hearts of the world"

葡萄珊

2008-08-15T23:43:00.004+08:00

看过这水果吗? 这是我小时候最喜欢吃的水果.当时在我家前面,就有一棵.每年都盼望它早点开花结果.

它长的有点象红毛丹, 但是剃了光头而且壳也比较硬,吃来也比红毛丹甜.
今天傍晚,萍姐不知从哪儿弄来给了我一串. 让我意外又兴奋.

福建人把它叫'葡萄珊', 觉得还挺贴切的.一串有几颗, 象是大颗的葡萄. 至于它的中文或英文名称, 也许它不普遍, 问了好些人都不知道. 你知道吗?

简单生日

2008-08-14T17:22:00.004+08:00

已经过了庆祝生日的年龄, 所以没有太多期待. 对我而言, 过生日只要有幸和关心我的朋友,家人聚在一起吃个饭, 聊聊天, 那已经很幸福了.

生日当天收到生日卡片或祝福简讯, 让我很感动. 深信,只有有心人会记得你的生日. 不需要贵重的礼物, 简单的一则简讯就能让我开心一整天. 曾经有位同事总会在生日的午夜12点,第一时间给我发简讯,献上生日的祝福, 让我很窝心. 毕竟在繁忙的生活, 要记得一个人的生日是得用点心思.

朋友,由衷感谢你们的用心! 我也会记得你们的.

我看朱蒙

2008-07-01T18:23:00.004+08:00

趁休假, 花了一个星期的时间, 不分昼夜, 终于把韩剧"朱蒙"看完了.
撇开历史不谈, 它让我有所体会.

- 凡事要成功就要有大气.
- 沉得住气的人, 必能完成大事
- 武力未必是唯一能屈服弱者的途径
- 伟大的爱情是默默的扶持他, 体会他的苦处

最感人的是召西努对祝蒙的那份情. 纵然他们有缘无份, 她却愿意不顾一切的扶持他,完成伟大的事业. 甚至为成全朱蒙一家团聚, 避免王位的斗争, 她按捺着自己的感情,毅然带孩子离开朱蒙, 寻找另一片天空.

如此伟大的决定, 现实中会有多少人会这么做呢? 我会吗? 也许.... 如果他是朱蒙..哈哈哈...

Scapegoat

2008-04-22T21:51:00.004+08:00

It's natural to find a scapegoat to take the blame when a grave mistake is made and the consequence is beyond control. It is sad but common practice since ancient days. The King would execute anyone who he deemed 'guilty" with no mercy while his favourite governor would be spared with relatively mild punishment for his negligence in supervision.

Some people are just more fortunate than the others, they are deemed to be the trusted lot and the higher authority has a higher tolerance of mistakes than the others. The unfortunate ones will be the innocent ones who are not part of the plan and are often being sacrificed 'cos you have no value anymore. They call this the "conspiracy theory". Anyone can be a scapegoat - when you are not part of the plan but your existence will hinder the execution of the plan.
OMG.. life is so complicated.. reality hurts...

How many times have you been victimised by all these politics?

歌..岁月

2008-04-05T11:11:00.002+08:00

周末听着"绝对金曲",耳边传来了我的歌, 午后的雷雨, 歌, 答案, 神话, 忘了我是谁..还有许多我熟悉的歌. 首首动听,每一首都有我的回忆.. 歌曲旋律清新, 歌词简单,充满诗意,代表当时的纯朴时代.
依然喜欢这些歌, 向往单纯的岁月, 怀念当时的生活, 儿时的玩伴,景物...
时光不会倒流, 人事已非, 只能在歌声中缅怀过去, 寻找纯真....

Where huh?

2008-03-16T22:53:00.000+08:00

It's been 2 weeks and the search is still on, is kind of worrying to know how vulnerable our security system is. Besides, I'm quite skeptical about the official statement which confidently claimed that he's still hiding here. The search focus area seems to be in the forest. For those who have been watching hit US TV drama serial "Prison Break" and many movies, all our imaginations start to run wild. What could be the scenario?

Scenario 1 :
If it was a planned escape, he could be out of the country within an hour. If the immigration were not informed in time, he could be out of the country using another identity, afterall he's an extraordinary man. He has special power to seek help.

Scenario 2 :

If he is still here, someone could have kept him at home. Do we all know if our neighbours have guest staying over? He can stay in a house for couple of months without anyone knowing. He will have laughing as he watches CNA/Suria every night!

Scenario 3:
Could he be walking down Orchard Road or Toa Payoh Central in disguise? Will commoners like us recognise him? With the nonchalant attitude of most, he'll probably be able to walk around without giving away his identity.

Scenario 4:

Could he be hiding on his own in a Kampong in Sembawang? Take a boat to Pulau Ubin? St John's Island? Is anybody's guess!

Hopefully I'm wrong, else the men in Green and Blue's effort and suffering in rain and sun will be of waste.

元宵意外

2008-02-21T22:50:00.000+08:00

今天是元宵, 可我却在今早撞车了! 精神恍惚, 在左转时,一不留神没注意到前面的德士突然刹车. 就这样酿成了"残局". 庆幸没人受伤, 也没严重损害对方的车子, 只是后灯碎了. 我的小瓢虫的左边脸凹凸不平, 眼镜也被撞碎. 原来时速大约15公哩的撞击已足以造成如此严重的损伤, 更何况是更快的速度! 在元宵节发生意外, 希望是破财消灾!

依晰记得10多年前第一次开车被撞, 当时吓得魂飞破散,不知如何是好.幸好有遇到有良知的先生, 一切程序都安排妥当. 虽然错不在我, 但车子又不是自己的, 情绪也受影响了好几天!

开车真的是要时刻留神, 现在有好多人都会一心二用, 可不是每回都那么幸运! 提醒自己切记" 小心驶得万哩路"!

今天傍晚揭晓2010年青年奥运会的主办国由新加坡获得, 太开心了! 大家总算没白忙了7个多月. 下来新加坡将是世界的焦点. 今年F1大赛, 明年赌场开幕,2010年青奥, 看来我们的旅游业, 饮食和旅店还有零售业将会蓬勃发展,大家有的赚了! 是不是意味着我们的生活水平是不是更高了?

重回普吉岛

2007-12-28T22:54:00.000+08:00

1997年是我上一回到普吉岛渡假. 十年后, 我再一次选择它作为我短期渡假的地点.

岛上增添了好多山腰的豪华渡假屋, 看看告示牌..几乎100%都售出, 还有好些面向大海的高原的地方正在进行建筑工程.大家都往山上退了吗?
我所熟悉的PATONG BEACH 街边的摊位, 不再是热情的泰国歐巴桑, 取而代之的是面无表情, 不善言语的北印度人. 以往的购物乐趣已不再现! 餐馆的侍应生也不象从前那么殷勤.

同样的度假村, 同样的湖, 同样的海滩, 昔日的普吉岛的精神已不再重现.
感觉真的好陌生! 三年前的海啸,似乎将它的热情给熄灭了! 岛上人民的脸上似乎少了以往灿烂的笑容.. 三年的时间, 无法磨灭惨痛的记忆,无法安抚人们悲痛的心情...

无良

2007-10-31T22:53:00.000+08:00

今年的金曲奖再一次被报章评得一文不值，甚至歪曲事实，更没给机会澄清。好多“有心人“趁机落井下石，报章和友台都趁机借题发挥。真不明白这些人怎么想的，难道他们的良心都被狗吃了吗？把他们最丑陋的一面都表露无遗？这是两大媒体竞争所带来的后果吗？

香港看 <色. 戒>

2007-10-16T19:11:00.000+08:00

起初对电影 <色.戒>的兴趣不大, 大家都说在新加坡看没那几场情欲戏, 电影不完整, 对李安有欠公平.

带着好奇, 到香港出差时,挤出时间到旺角朗豪坊的电影院观看. 遇上周六, 五点多买票时, 七点半和九点场都只剩前面第一排. 没得选, 再不看就没机会.看看票根, 这部影片被列为三级片, 哈! 竟然把看三级片的第一次给了香港.. 叫它限制级好听点吧?

从来没到香港看过电影, 没想到第一次的经验就是要考颈项功. 这么一部压抑的电影,加上座位不佳, 看了心情更加沉重. 那几场情欲戏, 真的令人看的咋舌, 拍得太入骨!

这部电影, 我的总结是 - 它是为汤唯而量身定做的, 她是主戏, 其他人都是配角.李安对她, 真的是用心良苦. 我还嫌她对角色的掌握不是很强,内心还不纯熟. 姜还是老的辣 , 陈冲和梁朝伟的演技就没话说了!

观后感: 女人对她爱的男人覆水难收, 男人却不会为他爱的女人放弃他享有的一切. 在爱情里, 女人是盲目的, 男人是三分醒.

感想

2007-09-18T19:32:00.000+08:00

那天, 有位忠实听众发了电邮提醒我这周末就是我入行的周年纪念日. 除了感动以外, 还有许多感慨.

当年进入这行是机缘巧合, 从千人中"脱颖而出". 虽然间中离开过还是回来了，也许是一股不灭的热诚支撑著吧！

每天工作没有任何期许，免不了有怨言和牢骚。好几次都想离开，但总会有被说服自己留下的理由﹣是同事，是朋友。

如今上位真的并不是我所料到的事，太不可思义了！

十多年得出的结论是：凡事尽力，不强求，顺其自然，开心最重要

随想

2007-09-07T18:09:00.001+08:00

最近,在电影频道看了一部让我很感动的韩国影片"爱的季节". 影片说的是三个不同背景不同层次的感情故事. 三个故事都很感人其中, 最能引起共鸣的是有关母子情.

母亲因为工作忙碌,忽略了6岁儿子的感受, 直到有一天因为交通意外住院, 才领悟到儿子渴望妈妈关心的程度. 儿子每天写日记给妈妈看. 通过日记, 妈妈与孩子的距离缩短了. 儿子希望妈妈天天都生病,妈妈就不会骂他也不会常常喝酒迟归,自己也可以每天都看到她. 儿子希望妈妈能有一天到学校义务当交通指挥,母亲听了当时一笑置之.
儿子无意间在家里找到了妈妈的旧日记..日记上记载了妈妈对他的疼爱... "儿子, 当你生病整晚哭不停时, 妈妈也在房门外暗自哭了一晚, 妈妈多么希望生病的是我不是你!".. .
后来, 母亲得知自己得了癌症, 她决定完成儿子的心愿到学校当义务交通指挥官,让儿子喜出望外.儿子虽然无意间,知道妈妈病情严重, 还是不断鼓励妈妈要坚强. 即使是在妈妈病情垂危,他也希望妈妈不要和他分手, 勇敢的活下去. 儿子目睹妈妈的被病魔折磨, 放声大哭的那一幕, 让感人肺腑.

忙碌的生活, 盲目对孩子学业的要求, 常常让我忽略了孩子对自己渴望的爱与关怀.他常常会不经意的向我提起班上某某同学的妈妈到学校帮忙, 那天他又提起要我请假到学校义务帮忙一些事, 看来他对妈妈瞒自豪的!

故友

2007-08-21T19:18:00.000+08:00

最近远在温哥华的小学同学Fiona要回国, 希望我能找故友们聚会. 天啊! 是个不可能的任务??

从小学毕业至今, 除了她, 就没和其他人联络. 其实小学同学也不多. 由于我们都是在一所属于马来村的小学上课, 华人同胞屈指一数, 也只不过四到五个. 毕业后都被分配到不同中学. 也没再见面了.

跟Fiona,说起来也算是缘份.我们在选择中学时其中三所都一样, 唯有一所不同. 偏偏天爱捉弄人, 我们就被分配到那所, 真的好无奈!
还好, 我们都一直保持联系, 当时虽没有msn或 sms, 但每年会寄生日卡和贺年片给彼此. 一年也谈不上几次电话, 可是友谊却能持久. 后来,中学毕业后就到美国深造, 那段时间就很少联系, 但至少一年会有一封来信报平安. 她就这样在美国认识她的先生, 移居温哥华. 无论结婚生子, 她都会通过书信通知我. 现在有了email, msn 偶而聊聊天, 缩短了距离. 真心的朋友难寻, 是需要一份诚意和时间的灌溉, 才能细水长流.

现在因为她的要求, 我开始四处探听, 希望在三个月内能完成任务!

Humble Contribution

2007-07-26T14:29:00.000+08:00

Having a chance to volunteer in house building has always been top of my mind but it didn't materialise until recently. Thanks to the new initiative of the company (Corporate Social Responsibility), we are all given a chance to help the poor to build their house.
In a team of 12 all ladies, we set off early morning ferry to Batam for a 3day 2 nights volunteer work. Work started about an hour after we arrived in Batam. That included dropping our bags in the hotel and travelling time to worksite. Most of us were changed into long sleeves T-shirts except for the bravo ones who didn't mind been tanned. Obviously, we weren't praying for fine weather. Cloudy and some rain would help to chase the heat away.

It started to rain when we reached the worksite at around 9am(Batam time). Luckily boots were provided and we managed to get to the worksite moving through the muddy road. Of course we "armed" ourselves with gloves, cap/hat, towel and sunblocks (very important!). The house was about a third done. We met the owner and Ann. Ann, the person-in-charge briefed us of what our task were for the day.

The day started well. We were spilted into 2 teams, 6 of us to cut long metal rod into pieces of 10com, while the other to made the metal column, helped in tightening with thin iron wire. The real challenge for us was bending the metal rod into rectangular-shape ring. As there were no equipments or machine, tools were primitive. The strengthen and skill required to complete a good ring was challenging.

Compare to tying the rings to build the structural column, this was tough. We managed to made quite a few though, SP was the persistent one whom never gave up till she had a few near perfect ones. 2 new skills we picked up, making rings and tying rings to build a strong column structure!
Without cement mixer, mixing cement with sand was manual! It was like mixing flour and sugar but using 20 times the strength required. Forming human chain to transfer bricks to the house was not uncommon sight in days when the Eygptians built the pyramids, that was what we did. We took water breaks in between especially when the Sun was out. The heat was merciless. Constant application of sunblock was a priority for all ladies team!

Lunch came early for the first day as all of us were starving due to early morning.
The noodle tasted extremely yummy and the chicken was excellent despite being cold..must be the hunger<''> . Lunch break was about an hour before we continue part 2.

Our stamina seems to ran out on the 2nd half day which involved using "changkul" to dig soil to fill the rooms so that cement can be poured over to form the flooring.
This was really a chore for a ladies team. The "changkul" reminded me of my childhood days when my granny worked in the vegetables farm, loosening the soil and planting vegetable seeds. The smell of the fresh soil brought back fun memories.
The day ended at 5pm. A good massage was ideal for a long day's labour. Most of us had an early night as tomorrow , was another full day of hardwork.

Day 2 seems easier as we were all mentally prepared for the challenge. We did our best to "changkul" , ferried the soil on wheelbarrows hours after hours. More water and sunblock application breaks with the rising temperature. Cindy was constantly yelling "mati already.." appealing to Ann for empathy while some were bargaining for shorter day. We managed to reach our target to fill up the rooms with full load of soil though. Arms were aching as both wheelbarrow and changkul digging were strenous on our arms and other unused muscles of course. For me, golf, squash and tennis swings had trained up my arm strength, hence it wasn't too tough for me, though it still ache due to 8 hours of work!
Day 3 was worked till 12noon before we catch our ferry at 2.30pm. Weather was "good" again! It started to rain cats and dogs in the midst.It made our job tougher as water added soil to mud and added more weight. I like the feeling of being in the rain though, 'cause I had not tried for so long. If not for the thunder, I would have longer hours to enjoy the rain. Rare chance for us to be so natural!

Despite the physically strenous work, all of us had quite a bit of fun too! Pauline was the popular "ante" ( auntie) of the kids. Angela was the most covered up one while Tris, Cindy and Pauline were the bravo with short sleeves/sleeveless for three days! Ee Sim, Si Ying and Li Mei were the hardworking ones but SP was the top student. Dahlia was cool thoroughout the 3 days, never breathe a word of complains. Hui Tin and Zak were the cheerful ones! For me, I was the strongest of all (hehehe!!) 'cause I can changkul for the longest hour amongst the ladies!

It was really a joyous sight to see our little contributions to the house.
Being able to do our bit for charity, having a chance to be with the nature, seeing how simple life can be.. it was indeed a fruitful trip!
>

Bali

2007-07-16T22:01:00.001+08:00

Though many of my friends have been going to Bali for more than once, travelling to Bali has never been my top choice. March last year was my first trip with colleagues, didn't leave much impression till my family trip in December. Probably was the relax mood and self-planned itinerary, I get to see the beauty of Bali. The paddy field and volcano were something new to city dwellers like me. Tanah Lot, was just within walking distance.Sunset at Tanah lot was magnificent.

休息

2007-07-14T20:28:00.000+08:00

六月, 多姿多采的一个月份.

放假前, 特别忙碌, 为了一个期待已久的休息是值得的.

最开心的莫过于能和家人到西澳渡假一星期, 享受凉凉的天气, 暖暖的太阳, 郊外新鲜的空气 ..太舒服了!

车子翻山越岭, 时而广阔的草原, 时而青山绿水,再沿岸经过碧海蓝天, 心情特别舒畅!

若能在工作四个月后, 就来一次短程旅游, 当成是对自己的奖励, 对于激发人的斗志也许很有效!

Japan Trip

2007-07-14T20:25:00.000+08:00

Despite the fact that a population of 12 mil people actually stay in Tokyo, the capital city still has it's attraction. The weather, the interesting culture and the Ramen are some of the reason that makes Tokyo an attractive place for me. The 4 days 3 night trip was a little too short 'cause I haven't had enough of Ramen! The day tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone-an was the highlight of the trip. 3000+m above sea level, Mt Fuji was the main course. We were blessed with fine weather to have the view of full mountain with a tip of ice.. looks like a yummy ice-cream with whipped cream. The up close and personal view on the 5th step was spectacular... Lucky us! Travelling up to Hakone-an was another fulfilling experience. Taking a gondola up the top was thrilling, though then the haze had blocked the view of Mt Fuji, we still had a lot of fun up there playing model role on the yellow grassland which was rare sight in Spore. There are still places that I missed this trip and definitely it will be on my dream list to visit the land of rising sun again!

万年青

2007-07-14T20:18:00.000+08:00

办公室里种植了一盆长的非常茂盛的万年青.
从先辈传入我手中, 虽然已经有十年了, 它还是茁壮成长. 惭愧的是, 我只在有时间
的时候才给它呵护, 带它出外一游, 让它"花洒浴".

最近太忙了, 已经大约一个多月没理它. 昨天惊然发现, 它已经自己"纠缠不清". 还好即时发现,
园艺不是我的强项, 找来好心的同事大哥帮它"解围", 才不至于自寻短见.

万年青的叶子是心型, 独竖一格. 同事建议把它的尖角给剪掉, 据说从风水角度,
放在办公室内的任何植物最好没有尖角, 如有, 最好把它修成圆状或剪平它. 这可减少磨擦, 避免被莫名暗箭所伤.

天啊! 我怎忍心给它"整容"呢? 植物也必须违背自然, 改变本质适应大环境?

这我可不苟同. 大自然的植物是天赋予, 何必折磨它们呢?

人的尖锐的触角, 是必须被磨得"面面俱圆", 方能在这大都会生存.. 适者生存也!

至于植物, 我们就放了它吧!

从心出发

2007-07-14T20:11:00.000+08:00

迎接新年, 有个新启发凡事都要从心出发:

对工作要用心
对感情少点疑心
对家人多点耐心
对同事多点爱心
对朋友多点关心
做人要将心比心

~~~21 Feb 2007

十二月的感想

2007-07-14T20:05:00.000+08:00

很喜欢十二月, 疲惫的身躯总会在这时候自然的放松. 心情也随着天气的转凉而变的愉快起来.
新加坡没有四季之分, 但是"一雨便成秋". 灰色的天空给人萧瑟的感觉. 这种天气, 短时期还好,
如果要我长时间这样的天气生活, 我想我肯定得忧郁症!

现代忙碌的生活让许多人忽略了身边的人, 我也不例外. 今年特别有感触, 在一个月内找了好久都没
联络的朋友们吃饭, 希望能祢补过去. 其实很享受和旧友叙旧的感觉, 虽然很少联络,
可是见了面却能天南地北聊了整个下午. 真正的朋友是不需要每天见面, 即使是隔了好几年没联络, 心还是系着
彼此. 纵然大家的环境都改变了, 友情还是没变质. 话题反而更广. 在分享彼此的生活和工作上经历时, 更加深了友
宜.

其实交朋友也要靠缘份. 有些人即使与你做10年的同事还是有距离, 有些只需认识3个月却能友谊永固. 有些人对你好, 看似朋友
但另有企图. 一旦你没利用价值就会疏远, 这种人在你落寞的时候最容易被揭穿.
无论如何, 泛泛之交可以多, 但真正的朋友, 我们又有几个?

8 Dec 2006