Money No Enough 2 - Gala Premiere

Hi,

We were invited to attend the above on Mon evening and buffet dinner was included for the occasion.

This is our 3rd time to watch a movie at GV Gold where the seats are there to pamper you. It can be slided out with a foot rest and inclined to a sleeping position. There are only 8 seats in a row and 6 rows only.

You can also order some finger food besides pop corn and coke but it is very expensive. We know as Jason did it once as he was very hungry that evening. BTW, a ticket now cost $30.

Check out the photos below :

If only it can give us a massage too, it would have been great ! A blanket is provided too if it is too cold for you.

Anyway, I should say something about the movie too.......

It follows the similar plot.... poke fun at some of the local incentives by the government... like ERP gantries, parking coupons,..... but surprisingly quite a bit in Hokkien dialect so it can be quite funny if you understand it else watch the subtitles then.

It also touches on a sensitive issue.... caring for the old folks. I am not too sure my parents would be comfortable seeing that part though it is quite factual and what we could be dealing with ourselves.

Go and watch the movie and support our local production and actors and actresses too... Of course, we met the main cast since it was a gala premiere, after all.

The main cast with our host...... after a short welcoming speech by the 3 main actors.

Singapore Garden Festival 2008

Hi,

My dear wife & I took some time off on Mon afternoon to see the Singapore Garden Festival at Suntec City covering 4th and 6th levels.

It is 50% cheaper on weekdays ( $6 instead of $ $12 on weekends! ) and should not be so crowded too, I suppose.

I think you should go and have a look as it is just great even if you do not have green fingers or gardening is not your hobby.

Check out the photos and slideshow below :




















That's ME in front of Marilyn Monroe potrait made from pots of plants placed vertically!


















'Pak Toh' .....hee .....heeeeee

This is park of the Orchid display on 4th level.

Please click on the 'X' on the top right-hand of the screen if the slideshow is not showing any photos.

Shopping at Funan IT Mall & Sim Lim Square

Hi,

I bought a LAN cable at Funan, to connect my notebook to the router as the wireless connection was not stable at times and I must have my Internet access to maintain my business done on the Internet.

Much to my disappointment, the connection using the LAN cable did not work and I did some testing with my desktop PC and I was pretty sure that the connectors of the LAN cable are faulty.

It would have been a pity to throw it away so I decided got to SLS to get the connectors replaced if it was not too costly as I know of one shop selling cables, connectors, etc....

I went to the shop in SLS and approached the staff but was disappointed with her service. She told me that the replacement of each connector would cost me $2 and was more interested to get me to buy a new LAN cable for $7. I asked if she could test the LAN cable for me as I know thay have such equipment since they can make LAN cable to your required length. She did it reluctantly and then made an excuse that the cable is not thick enough for their connectors. So I walked out of the shop much to my disappointment.

However, I still felt that the connectors could be replaced and I was prepared to pay $4 to have the them done. So I decided to go to other similar shops and just tried my luck. I went to a shop at 6th level that seems to be making cables of all sorts ( like a wholesale than a retail outlet ). I asked if they could do it and also to test the cable to verify my suspicions about the connectors. I was surprised they were friendly and did the necessary test and suggested that I changed one connector first and re-tested it wtih the equipment. In short, they were very pro-active and helpful and it cost me only $3.

Well, service is everything and the earlier shop has lost their loyal customer as I have been giving them some business in the past. It could be bad service by only one of their staff as I have better experiences from them before but it has pissed me off.

I was also shopping at SLS for a microphone for Jason to do some recording of his guitar playing. Guess what I discovered?

It is general knowledge that items sold at SLS should be cheaper than Funan. Well, it is not that true anymore.

Why?

I found that the price for the LAN cable that I bought at Funan, could be more than 2 to 3 dollars though you can also get it for the same price that I paid for, in SLS.

Similarly, while shopping for a microphone or mike, I cam across the same model selling from $6.70 to $12.00 ...! In facat, I thought my initial search that led me $9.00 was a good deal until I could not find that shop and started to move from floor to floor again and I found the same model selling for $6.70.

In short, it helps if you have the time to shop around and not in a hurry to just buy the first one you like and go off.

I suppose that is the fun of shopping too when you can get what you want at the lowest price that you can find.

Good luck !

Street Soccer Tournament - Siglap CC

Hi,

Jason got together a team to participate in the Siglap CC Street Soccer tournament held last weekend.

He also got a team to play last year, for fun and exposure to competition too.

The team was named SPS as all the members except one came from St. Patrick's Secondary School (SPS). The exception is our neighbour's son from Victoria Secondary School .

Here are some highlights from the 2 games :

Lost the first game by 4 goals....



Team SPS lost but Jason scored the only goal from a goal kick when he was playing as the keeper in the 2nd half.

Good games and I am sure the team has learned a lot from this tournament.

A Friend 'Serving Time' or In and Out of Prison Weekly

Hi,

I just met up with a friend that has been in and out of prison 3 times a week, for lunch last week.

Or he even said that he tells his friends that he is " serving time " jokingly...?

So before you jump into the wrong conclusion on the company that I have been keeping.......!

He was an-ex colleague of mine when I was working for one of the local banks, OUB.

Ah ha...... some of you even knew him too or also keeping in touch with him just like me.

So who is this person?

He is none other than Siew who is doing some voluntary work, providing counselling services to the prisoners......

I salute him for his committments to his cause and it takes special people to do social work of any kind.

It was also reported in the papers when he mentioned that some of those in jail took such an experience to wake them up and even regretted not listening to their parents or wishing that their parents should have been tougher with them when they were growing up.

Through my few lunch or coffee sessions with Siew in Funan IT Mall ( ie we like to meet there in case you think we met in the prison....ha..ha....), I came to the conclusion that the family nucleus ( ie the parents ) make or break the family. It is important that the parents communicate openly and discuss what is best for the family especially their children.

Finally, I salute all the social workers out there for their commitmments and and sacrifices in helping those in need.

Chua Chu Kang Stadium

Hi,

Though CCK stadium is far in the western side of the island but it is a nice stadium.

Don't believe me...? See the photos below then.

Fish eye view of the stadium..? No-lah! Just stitching of 4 photos to give you this panaromic view.

I wonder how these schools managed to convince the residents to allow them to hang up their school banners on the final day of the meet...!

Mum & Dad were present on the final day of the meet too to support SPS, especially Jason, of course!

4x400m Relay National Inter-School Final

Hi,

SPS had a good run but came in 7th placing in the final.






Pep talk by the Coach......








SPS Atheletics team members lending their support to their team-mates.

Jas coming back to the stand after the run, the team was a bit disappointed with their placing but it was a close finish....... watch the video below.

Yoo Ye Eun - 5 Years Old Blind South Korean Piano Prodigy

Hi,

I saw the interview with the girl and her mother at CNA a few days ago and searched for her performance on You Tube.

So here it is, 5 year old genius pianist, Yoo Ye Eun who can't see from birth but can play the piano after listening to the tune just ONCE!

Amazing...... so here it is !

2 Boys Saved A Drowning Old Man in Singapore River

Hi,

Recently, it was reported that an old man fell into the Singapore River in the evening.

2 boys in their teens jumped into the river and rescued the old man while another girl also helped from the riverbank by hanging onto a plastic sheet that was thrown to the boys.

Luck was with them and the old man recovered without any major injury and the boys became heros. I am proud of them.

However, there was also another side of the story that was reported and I brought it to Jason's attention so that he can make an informed decision if he is in such a similar situation as the boys.

1. The boy said that they did not hesitate to jump into the river in darkness as their main concern was to save the old man but also admitted that when they touched the water, they suddenly realised the possible danger that they were facing as it was dark and the river was deeper than than they thought. Also, they started to fell tired too but luckily, they told themselves to remain calm and managed to hang onto the plastic sheet thrown to them until help arrived.

Upon reflection, they could have ended drowning themselves if they had not remained calm and managed to hang onto the plastic sheet.

To be honest, I think I would not have done what the boys did. Though I can swim but I am scare of the darkness and the unknown depth of the river, and I am likely to panic too! Similarly, that is likely to be the reasons that many people, who were watching from the bridge but did not jump in like the boys. Also, I have to think of my family too and not take such risks.

2. The girl complained that she asked for help to hold onto the plastic sheet as she alone was struggling but no spectators came forward to help her.

In this case, I would have helped her if I am aware of her cries for help.

As part of the news reported, a psychologist was interviewed on the crowd behaviour that evening. He commented that there is no right or wrong as the spectators have their reasons for not jumping into the river. That's why the boys are considered heros that night and not all of us can be such heros.

Well, I rather do it only if I am confident than a dead hero ... eg. save the old man but I drowned in the process. I owe it to my family who still needs me at this moment.

Food for thoughts......

4x400m Relay National Inter-School Heats

Hi,

I went to support Jason's run in the 4x400m heats at Chao Chu Kang stadium last Fri.

The team ran very well in the heats and made it into the Final this coming Wed.

St Patrick Secondary school (SPS) was in Lane 1, wearing white and blue sports gear.

Jason is the second runner in the relay team.








Here is the video clip of the run ....... SPS was way ahead in the finish, thanks to the 1st and 2nd runners.

Outdoor Movie at Fort Canning

Hi,

My dear wife and I participated in the above event organised by NTUC and the theme was Pak Tor With U @ The Movies.

Marriage couples only and no children allowed.

The tickets for the movie, Fool's Gold, was S$2 only and with a bag of door gifts plus pop corn and drinks. So it is really value for money...!!!

One of the MPs was the guest of honour, Mrs Jospehine Teo. She was there to receive the official award for a Guiness record - the most number of married couples watching a movie, 449 couples.

Now I know why we have to sign a declaration that we are married during the registration for the event.

Here are a few photos taken with my mobile...... quite a nice environment but the the picture projected was not very clear and there was some sound problem too. We were sitting on the ground so it was a bit uncomfortable.

But remember we only pay S$2 for the movie and the freebies.....!

This was taken ater 7pm.

The building behind is a club house, I think.

No luck with the lucky draw held after the movie screening.......

Wrong Place at the Wrong Time ? Choice of Lifestyle ?

Hi,

Recently, there was news on 2 attacks on innocent people as follows .....

1. A group of people were attacked by 15 youths in an alley near Boat Quay in the early morning as they were not allowed to use the alley or that part of the road, something to that extent...

They were on the way home after a drinking session and it was the first time for one of them too.

2. A group of youth was drunk and disturbing some youngsters at the basement of the Esplanade where you find groups of teens practicing their dancing like breakdance. One guy asked them not to disturb them and asked them to go away.

They went off but came back with more friends to attack the guy who told them to leave. This guy managed to run away with minimal injury but a guy who went to help him got beaten up badly; slashed by a parang.

The above incidents were senseless .....

But as I was telling Jason, he can minimise it happening to him by avoiding undesirable places and sometime it does not pay to help others in certain circumstances. I do not drink and I avoid pubs and night places where people get drunk and do things that they may regret later or when they are sober. I guess it is a choice of the lifestyle you want; eg drinking and smoking and the crowd you mix with....

Also, it is sad to see that there are such senseless fighting and injuries and sometimes death too.

And we boast that Singapore is clean and safe place to live.

There are so many external influences and distractions in today lifestyle compared to when I was growing up, more than 40 years ago...!

I just hope that I have guided Jason well and given him a good set of principles in life so that he will make the right choices and appropriate lifestyle.

It is tough to be a parent these days but it is also tougher being a teenager in this era too, I suppose.

National Inter-School Track & Field Meet 2008

Hi,

Since school started about 2 weeks ago, Jason has been training hard for his 400m event almost daily.





Jas going to the starting point assembly... all warm up for the run.

Jas in white and blue , on the right, walking to his starting lane 7.

Jas getting a well deserved drink after his run.










Want to know how it went.... ? Watch the short clip below.....

Return Policy on Purchased Goods

Hi,

We went shopping at Southland Shopping Centre in Melbourne.

Jason saw a hooded jumper and we bought it for him. A few stores later, he saw a nicer hooded jumper and regretted having made his earlier decision.

My dear brother, Charles, told me not to worry as we can just go back and return it and no hassle as there have such a return policy as long as the tag and receipt can be produced.

We felt a bit bad initially as we are not used to such return policy here in Singapore.

A few days later, I saw an advertisement on a Digital Photo Frame for AUD65 and I bought it.
I tried and tested all the functions and was happy with it as I doubt I could get it at this price back home.

Unfortunately, it shut off after a certain time and I could not figure why it did so after reading the manual and checked that I have not set the timer. So my brother advised me to return it since it is defective.

I went to the customer counter and I was given a choice to have a new replacement or a full cash refund. I asked for a new replacement as I really like it.

Unfortunately, the same thing happened again. So either I do not know how to use it or this batch of the goods is faulty. I went to get a full cash refund this time.

Initially, I felt bad as I have never done such thing before at home but then come to think of it, I believe they got it right. You should always have the customer satisfaction in mind and not assume that they are all crooks or trying to take advantage of the policy.

I am still shopping for a Digital Photo Frame. It still seems costly here, S$100+...

Has anyone of you bought one?

David

Public Toilet

Hi,

I have seen portable toilet here in Singapore but I was impressed by what I saw during my recent trip to Melbourne in Australia ( BTW, I just founf out that there is also a place called Melbourne in Florida, USA....! )

My brother took his dog to a public park and I came across a public toilet as shown in the photo below. It has an automated door and once you have pressed the button to open it, it will close after you have gone in.

The toilet was spacious and reasonably clean. There is also a water tap and basin for you to wash your hand. While you are inside the toilet, there is an announcement informing you that the door will auto-open after 10 minutes.... ha...ha..... So if you are doing big business ( ie shitting..) then you have a time limit to beat...!

It is big enough for a wheelchair to go in. My son & I went in together just to check it out. We are impressed......! I should have taken a photo of the inside too.