Foong de Blog

.. Life moves on.. Time does not stop..

2011-02-15T22:00:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, I started to cry after finding out some not too good news. Sobbing, I related my unhappiness to some friends through sms. I was sure they will ask me if they found out from another source. I told them not to question me as then I was in no mood to explain. From the answers I received, I knew I have good friends! Someone always says "Ladies have good 6th sense". Perhaps, I knew it all along but I was too afraid or too unwilling to face it or even ask about it. This time, my heart fell, it chills and left me lost. This was a feeling which I did feel from reading books but for the first time, it really happened to me in real life.

That night, I could not sleep. From the crying I had a blocked nose but these was not the reason why I could not sleep. I tried to read to get myself into a sleepy mood but to no avail. Eventually, it took my body quite a long time to finally settle down. Woke up early the next morning, and switched on my laptop to play Facebook's games. The relevation from the previous night still haunt me and only time would tell whether it will go away. Previous night, I congratulated Someone and even wish him luck. I also told Someone that I will be sad. Guess I was being honest about it. He said we can still be friends! Either to assure him or console him, I said this is not the first time and I should be able to get over it. He told me he is glad to hear that. After surfing facebook for a while, someone came online. I started a normal conversation with him. From my perspectives, I do not want to lose a friend and which is what I am most concerned about. Maybe I am weird but Someone is still a friend that I want to keep. Only time will tell.

From this incident, I knew I have some good friends. In "Discussion with Youth", Ikeda Sensei wrote " True friendship implies a relationship where you empathize with your friends when they're suffereing and encourage them not to lose heart, and where they, in turn, empathize with you when you're in the same boat and try to cheer you up. A friendship with those qualities flows as beautifully as a pure, fresh stream." For this, I want to thank my friends for trying to cheer me up these past few days!

However as I reflected today, knowing Someone changes some of my habits. Firstly, I begin to sleep early and wake up earlier. This gives me time to do a bit more chanting, eat breakfast (which I have no habit of but is good.) and not feel so lethargic in the morning! For this, I really have to say "Thanks" (while bending my right hand to place palm on left side of chest and bows slightly) to Someone too.

Quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the author of The Little Prince, " Love is not two person gazing at each other, but two people looking ahead together in the same direction".

Back again! Hopefully I'll stay.

2010-11-23T17:31:00.001-08:00

This blog has been pretty quiet except for the random spams that rocked its surface every now and then. Is there an automatic virus that will spam blogs and leave unreadable messages that needs time to discipher? Well the world of IT is really unfathomable!

This entire year has been a busy time for me. You can even say it is life changing as this year I was given the opportunity to be part of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games (SYOG)! Not as an athletic but as part of its performing and volunteer team. Initially my plan was to be a volunteer to 1 of the NOCs but FD chief called and I got myself into the performing item as well. Training as 1 of the trainers for 1 of the opening ceremony's item started end of 2009. My journey as part of SYOG thus started. Somewhere end of 2009 to beginning of 2010, I received news that I would be a Block In-charge which means I would not be only be taking care of performers but also a group of trainers. However I was not alone as I had a great counterpart as Co-block In-charge. This committment added on to the Volunteer trainings that I had to find time to attend. Though I was not able to attend every training, I tried to get in touch with things I should know as a NOC volunteer.

14 August 2010 came and gone. The 2 weeks plus of competition and time spent in the SYOG village also came to an end on 27 August 2010. The NOC team I was involved with was a small team but nonetheless giving their best for this first YOG. It was a great experience and the comradeship formed was forever. Our performers enjoyed themselves and they have achieved something in their young life. To some, it is life changing, to others, it is a challenge which they have overcome and to me, maybe this is what I was meant to do when I came back from overseas a few years ago.

A few days ago, we received our long-awaited certificate of participation from the SYOG committee. The certificate will go in together with the rest of the certificates but the memories created will always be embedded in my life and in the photos that were taken.

Lastly to quote from Ikeda Sensei "Each of us must seek to discover the particular theme or motif that will characterize our life. An attitude of intense, undaunted seriousness toward each fleeting moment can open up a whole new life for us. "

The trainers for the SYOG's opening ceremony item "Playing with fire, pushing the limits".

With my wonderful co-block in-charge.

Post Christmas and counting down to 2010

2009-12-28T21:50:00.000-08:00

2 more days to the end of 2009 before we welcome 2010. How fast a decade just goes by? It seems like yesterday, we are still talking about the new millenium and the Y2K bugs. This year we begin to discuss about 2012 and the end of the world. The movie rised questions about the possiblities of how natural disasater engulfing the world and as a result bring about our final demise. This is not too far from the truth when one hears and watched natural disaster afflicting many part of the world in the past few years. Although we get better at diasaster warning but it is still difficult to achieve hundred percent accuracy. Technology is limiting but probably we should learn from the animals. Some of them do present natural warning system as if they really know what is coming by the changing in the wind director or even the absence of wind. Perhaps, the evolution of these animals make them more adaptable to any changes and thus be able to brace for the worst.

Is the time of the year to review the past and set new resolutions. I guess I will have to seriously think back of what i have achieved so far and to set off again afresh in the new year.

"Life is best lived by being bold and daring. People tend to grow meek when they taste failure, face a daunting challenge or fall ill. Yet that is precisely the time to become even bolder. Those who are victors at heart are the greatest of all champions. " - Words of wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda Sensei.

Will carry on to blog in 2009! Hopefully the frequency will increase.

Blog mood - In need of coffee..

2009-11-29T23:01:00.000-08:00

Was listening to BBC this morning on the way to work. My advise is not to listen to BBC in the morning, it can be quite mood dampening. News on the shoot and run case in Washington City was reported where 4 police officers were killed. I guess i rather listen to something more light-hearted to start the morning. Luckily, my bro changed the channel to the local radio station where they were joking about some news happening in Australia. This does not mean I m not interested but is kinda depressing hearing bad news every now and then.

Today is Monday, another week that begins with a blue mood. Hopefully it will start better tomorrow. Guess i really need at least 2 cups of coffee to last through the whole day.

Quote from "Words of Wisdom" from Daisaku Ikeda "It takes courage to become happy -- courage to remain true to one's convictions, courage not to be defeated by one's weaknesses and negativity, courage to take swift action to help those who are suffering. "

44 years of Nation building

2009-08-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

Today is the 44th birthday of our nation. A long way since our independence in 1965. Well to those who were taught in school, we would not be here if not for the decision of our neighbour to oust us from the confederation of states. Every year, we celebrate our national building with a parade that consists of the marching contingents and various cultural perfromances. This year also marks the 25th year of Total Defence and we were treated to display of the country's preparedness for any internal threat! I love the naval display and special group such as the bomb disposal unit.

This year the host also appealed to all citizens who were watching the show to recite the pledge at a specific time at the end of the show! I wondered wether they were trying to break a guinness records. Anyway, as a patriotic citizen, I did my duty at that said moment. It is really special that as a country with multi racial people, all of us knew how to sing our national anthem which is in Malay. It is also a respect to the original people who settled on this island before it was discovered by chance by a prince from the neighbouring island. Subsequently due to trade, it was rediscovered by the East Indian Company and raised its status from a small malay fishing village to today's striving cosmopolitan of the world.

As a nation, urged by the Prime Minister in his National Day speech, we have to strive together and to unite as a people to face the challenges ahead. The country has expanded in all ways and more diverse than most can imagine when we gained independence in 1965. In order to assure that we continue to progress, we need to be more tolerant and accommodating to others' beliefs. However, each individual must also do their part as citizen and as human beings to build a community that we will be proud of. Peace starts from the individual.

"Everything begins with the resolve to take the first step. From that action, wisdom arises and change begins. Without action, nothing changes. " - Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

To smile or not to smile.

2009-07-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

I wonder what is the best method to deal with an emergency that suddenly croped up?

For instance, someone suddenly called you and told you that another person called her up and told her that he found some thing that was not supposed to be there lying just besides the bin found at the first level of the building that you are occuplying. She also told you to bring along suitable PPEs to deal with the matter. When you wavered a bit and told her you would also ask another colleague, she told you that you should be able to handle such a thing on your own without other guidance. She also told you to hurry up and get to the scene of the supposed crime. While still taking instructions from her over the mobile, you walked to your colleague seat to alert her of the case as well. After putting down the phone, you asked your colleague for the necessary PPEs cos it is stored underneath her table and also briefed her about what the caller had told you. Immediately, both of you went downstair to investigate.

Upon reaching the supposed crime scene (the instruction is a little bit out as the location is about 5m away from the instructions given). Anyway, you spotted the supposed illegal thing and approached it. Upon reaching the target, your colleague told you that thing was not what it supposed to be. This means the supposed "crime" was not a crime and a false alarm. Somehow we thought this was nothing to be of concern and of course, smile went around our face. I guess any normal human being after sensing the danger is no longer a danger will surely feel a sense of relief and smiled or even laughed at the fortunate discovery. Somehow this "smile" was taken as being slugglish or not sensing the imminent danger it would have posed if it was really the real thing! The caller called later to say that the informed has called her and informed her that we were treating the whole affair as a joke and not taking it seriously. By now, you would have guess the caller is my superior!

This supposed "crime" actually did occur before at the workplace and it was really taken very seriously then. We realised the seriousness if it was really the real stuff but what done cannot be undone. However what we found was a false alarm, I guess this really called for some relief.

Yes, it should have been dealt with better but I do not think the informer should called up and reported on us. If it was to be a real matter, we would have to investigate and trace it back to the propagator. I will probably also put on a mocking smile, lament on encountering such a scenario and record all possible traces/ clues and content before finding the best way to dispose it.

The next thing we could do was to be really angry, upset, screamed 'foul' and 'fool' on the propagator and put on a face that suited such occasion. After that, write angry but diplomatic email to the suspected propagator and his/ her superior, followed by reminders to the rest of the population that such behaviours are not to be tolerated. Is this the correct way?

I guess I know not. Probably I have not sensed the seriousness of the thing. If such things really do occur, it is a major bleach! After being months at the job, such urgencies or dire to do good has died down quite a lot. Facing the various kinds of restrictions and "red tape" or maybe no tape, passion do wan. Your "professional" knowledge and subject know-how are often doubted which make your statements falter. You do not trust yourself anyway. Probably one can see this positively and treat it as a training ground to polish the foundation and the subject matter, but too much of it can be mind warping! It do pain also when your trainings and qualifications are not being taken seriously or as necessary requirement for the job. You find that you are being denied and your heart faltered. Should this be the place that you should continue staying and see no recognition for what you have painstakenly qualified? Trainings are not exactly encouraged as they do not see the applicability at the place but are required if I am to remain qualified in the field.

External people are roped in to do a briefing which we should be doing because they belong to another section. It is an insult to our designation. In addition, my superior think we are not "qualified" to do such a briefing. Technically, we should be the correct and most qualified people to give such briefing because is what we are hired for! Irony......

I have not ventilated for a long time. Karma does follow us. Getting out of one hell does not guarantee getting to paradise because our karma does follow us. Characters and aspirations also play a part when we shift around job. Reflecting, I was happy to get out of my previous job and was anxious to start the current job. However, although it is what I want to do but I do not find the happiness nor the satisfaction. This current job pays better, regular timing, better boss and the appropriate designation. Have I been "tortured" or endured too long to feel happiness? Maybe my aspirations and my goals in life have moved on from what I want initially!

"The biggest obstacles to our progress exist within our own lives in the form of cowardice and the tendency to give up. Breaking through these barriers will unleash a surging wave of change. " - Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

.. Some North American Airs..

2009-06-09T20:43:00.001-07:00

Realised that I have not been blogging for donkey years! As a sign of guilt, I have decided to put up some photos of my recent trip to US to occupy some byte space. It has always been my long cherished dream to visit the States which means I would have been to at least 4 continents of the world. Although the trip was only to the east coast but this is probably where most American history begins. It is one thing to travel on one's own and another thing to join a tour. For my very first trip to the US, I decided to join a tour instead. Firstly, I do not have to plan for anything except to pay money and to make sure I catched the plane on time. Secondly, this is my first time there and I have no idea what to expect. In Europe, the train is the mightiest but the trains in US do not instill confidence. There are many ghost stories around to deter venturing out on my own although I also have lots of assurances from friends who have been, lived and travelled there!

I guess the American dream still lights in most citizens and the by-product of its involvement in world history in the last century can be clearly seen in its many monuments in Washington. My tour group was made up mostly of people from the other parts of the US and they are of Chinese and Vietnamese origin. Thus the tour leader spoke in Mandrain, Cantonese and English (cos she cannot speak Vietnamese!). In spite of the H1N1 virus, the coach was full and there are about 3 coaches from the same agency starting the tour on the same day. Guess either we were "gangho" people or we simply are ignorant of the health scares that were going around the world! Anyway, no one was wearing a mask and walking the street of New York!

The tour started on a Sunday from New York where we visited Ground Zero where many have fallen on the faithful day of September 11 2001, Wall Street where they are now trying to save the economy and the Madoff scandal, Empire State building, United Nation HQ, Intrepid (First time i am on an aircraft carrier) and a few others. From New York, we went on to Philadelphia for the historic part of town where u see the independent bell (featured in National Treasure I). Then on to Washington for the White House (seen from afar), monuments (Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Vietnam war, Korean war), National History Museum (in under 1 hour, have to walk the whole museum although the focus is suppose to be on the Hope Diamond. I did see 1 statute from Easter Island) and Capital Hill (photos photos).

The elephant that grazed the entrance to the Smithsonian's National History Museum at Washington.

From Washington, we move on to Buffalo (where the original Buffalo's wings are invented) for Niagara Falls (US side) but stopping for Hershey's Chocolate World and Corning Museum along the way. It is different seeing the falls with your naked eyes and from photos or website. It is magnificent! From the border, we crossed over to Canada to be overwhelmed by the Niagara Falls (Took the maid on the mist boat cruise, lunch on top of the Skylon Tower and IMAX experience) again before heading towards Ontario. Surprised to find that just off main shoreline of Ontario are offshore islands where it looks like u are in Amazon and not near one of the busiest city in Canada!

42th Street in New York. Musicals tinkling but no time for any!

External metal staircase found in old buildings along New York Street. This kind of architecture will have failed current fire Safety regulations.

After Ontario, we were ferried to Ottawa which is the Capital (Honestly, I have no idea that Ottawa is the Capital. Tot it was Ontario which also starts with "O".). Before we hit Ottawa, we went on a Thousand Islands cruise (islands that lie between US and Canada) where we were treated to the views of holiday homes belonging to the rich and famous. Some of the houses look like they are going sinking. Wannabe Robinson Crusoe may find these islands good training ground!

A house on one of the islands of Thousand Islands.

In Ottawa, our coach broke down and we were stranded in the vicinity of Ottawa University for a few hours before we were rescued and delivered to Montreal. What did we do in Montreal? Had dinner, stayed overnight and then left for Quebec the following morning. Quebec is a nice old town that resembles Europe. In Quebec, a must to visit the La Citadelle (motto: Je me souviens or I remember) and old town of Quebec.

I tot this is pretty interesting. Should consider having such stickers for toilet seats in Singapore.

Quebec was the last place we visited in Canada before going back to USA. Forward we travelled to Boston where Harvard and MIT are! Had wanted to get a Havard or MIT sweater but the designs at the Quincy Market were not very nice. Anyway it is too hot to wear a sweater in Singapore. What else is famous in Bostom? Lobsters! I do not take lobster so I watched while the others ate.

Trash from Harvard! Just to show they are human too!

The empty shell of a lobster head! Cost US$14 to have a whole lobster.

Cannot remember where this was taken. Probably Canada.

Beholds the magnificance of the fall!

In this set of chess, the pawns are made of chess!!

In Boston too, my mum met up with her friend who is staying there with her family. After Boston, is time to go home! Our plane took off from New Jersey Newark and this marked the end of my first USA trip!

Planning for a followup trip soon! I still have not visited their factory outlets or shake hand with American Mickey mouse!

"The true value of dialogue is not to be found solely in the results it produces but also in the process of dialogue itself, as two human spirits engage with and elevate each other to a higher realm." - Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Moving forward.. learnt from history ... tomorrow is a probability

2009-04-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

Moving forward! This seems to be some optimistic declaration of new aspirations, inspirations, determinations and resolutions! Alas, I do not know why i say it! I guess if we do not move forward, then we will forever be left behind and live in the shadow of the past! The past where everything is bad, everything is impossible and we feel trap! I hate being trapped! It is like being stuck in limbo, in a void that sees no bottom nor top nor even left and right. When u reach out your hands to touch the side, u have no wall! Sounds science fiction but yet that is one concept that is used in Movie! A void within a space, a room within a room, ever expanding and bending towards the centre. Nevermind if u do not understand what I have written so far. Neither do I!

History is interesting. By the time, i write to this point, whatever i have written earlier has become history. Even our books are history if u think about it. The books are written some time back by the authors with a particular mind set which is totally different now! He or she might have better ideas for the books but at that time, it is probably the best plot! I like history! As i blar blar to this point, I realise I m writing this post for the sake of populating and updating my pathetic blog!

Why is tomorrow a probability? Because anything can happen! However in buddhism, there must be a cause before there is an effect. Thus it should not be a probability, it should be deterministic! Then and again, we can change our karma by performing a good cause and by tranforming that bad cause into something positive. We can make a difference and that is human revolution!

Now to end this blar blar blog, I will quote from Ikeda Sensei's words of wisdom "It is this time and this place that matter--not some other time or place. What matters is here and now--the people here and now."

See no up and blogging blogging

2009-03-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

Everytime I walked by people who were trying to promote their credit cards, I was not approached! Well I m not unhappy that they did not. I just do not understand why I m not approached! Is it due to my dressing or to give myself some credit, I look too young to be capable to own any credit cards? Contrary to their oversight, I do have more cards than they presume! Now, I pay my bills regularly although I look "poor" and I do not spend more than I can afford. Thus this makes me the ideal client for any card company cos I will definitely pay back. Then and again, by paying back on time, they do lost interest and interest for credit cards are pretty exorbitant!

Anyway, what is the purpose of holding a credit card? Is it to look good? Is it to fulfil that requirement that all girls want in the guy? Come to think of it, how many Cs are we talking about now? Anyway, Cs in material are not going to last while Cs in care and concern will probably worth much more! Well, some will tell you, all talk and no cash, we will all starve so money is still important! How much is enough? Very subjective answer!

On blogging, I love this piece of conversation between Gurkin and the guys in the movie "Sydney White". Gurkin asked the guys what will be another word to use instead of "douchebaggery". Spanky told him nobody will read his blog. Gurkin replied that the idea about his blog was not being read but about being written! Cool! I thought this might be same as my blog. It is not about being written, it is about being written for my sake and for making my statement felt in the internet space!

I have signed up for Earth Hours and pledge to switch off powers for an hour on 28 March 09 at 8.30pm.

Quote from Ikeda Sense's Words of Wisdom - "The external desertification of the planet corresponds precisely with the spiritual desertification of human life."

Thus if we clear the green from our environment, we are also plucking out that green in our life! Green is a marvelous colour!

All not so New Yearsy..

2009-02-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

Is after the Chinese New Year! Well I do not really feel the season or rather i did not merge myself in this special season of the Chinese people every year! Chinese New Year seems to be a Han thing and in olden days, there were many customs and traditions that one needed to comply with in order to have a great year ahead! One of these is probably to send the kitchen god back to heaven so that he could give a great report to the heaven emperor on the good deed of the family and ensure enduring good fortune in the new year to come. The most famous Chinese New Year story is probably that of "Nian" or 年. This 年 is a monster that will come down and terrorise the village every new year. It seems like the only way to get rid of 年 is to make lots of noise so comes the tradition of setting off fire crackers to ward off 年 and ensure a prosperous year ahead. Anyway, the main idea is to create the best atmosphere and to have a great start to the new year ahead!

This year I did not go down to the festive market at Chinatown and did manage to take some photos of the decoration along South Bridge Road!

Year of the Cow... mooo mooooooo....

Moo moo year to you!

Ratty bringing in the cow.. ma me moo ma me moo...

The entrance to Chinatown from Chinatown Point!

"The external desertification of the planet corresponds precisely with the spiritual desertification of human life. " - Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda

I read this in the book "Soul Mountain" - 无极生太极，太极生两仪，两仪生四象，四象生八卦 or rather the english translation of it and I find it really interesting cos it talks about the one but not one of phenomenon and the interconnectedness of things around us! More on this book later.

Remembering 2008 and advancing into 2009

2009-01-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

It had taken me almost the whole of January 09 to find the time to write my reflections for 2008 and resolutions for the year 2009.

2008 was another year to remember and I will review the year using a couple of sub-headings!

First let’s start from Health, Exercise and Keeping Fit:

Going to gym regularly became the practice though pretty reluctant as I struggled to wait up early to start my trainings as early as 6.30am in the morning. However this practice did not continue later in the year as I started to go to gym in the evening. My muscles are tone but I do not see any significantly decrease in weight!

In the later half of the year, I started going to the gym opposite Takashimaya so that I could pop down into Kinokuniya after the work out!

On sickness, nothing major except the normal “morning flu” and bouts of headaches that progressed to migraine on several occasions.

Next will be on Career, Jobs and Living:

In the first 3 months of 2008, I was still miserable in a job that promised but never delivered, tasked to perform mission impossible with no option to say “NO” and a boss that attributed your behaviours to the education levels of your parents (meaning if your parents are not educated, then their ability to bring up their children to persons of ability, integrity and good character is questionable). By the 4th month of the year, I had left this “bottom of the well” to a place of “higher learning”. I thought I will lose my performance bonus but it seems naught! The new job provides new challenges, pretty of “walking about” and learning.

Before I left the old workplace, I was given an opportunity to organize and even lecture in a workshop. This was a great experience and I also got to go on board of warship!

Then we go on to Professional Development, Trainings, Conference and Publications:

Seems pretty a diverse headings but all linked (I think so).

First I venture to better myself by enrolling for the Specialist Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health at the local Polytechnic which I completed by September. This diploma eliminated many of my fine brain cells and imaginations. Good new was my typing skill has improved!

In my new job, I was also required to attend trainings to learn the basic trades of the job. I was also certified in CPR-AED and hopefully in 2009, I will receive my Instructor qualification.

In the first half of the year, I finished the formatting of a book and brought it to publication. This book was very well received when it went on sale during a related conference in September. For the conference, I was part of the publication team where my formatting skill is further honed and fine-tuned. I guess nothing brings more satisfaction when you see the fruit of your effort being published! From publishing the two books, I learnt much on ISBN and its applications!

I took my second try with Law and it din turn out well, thus I decided to give it up academically.

Now we move on to Friends, Family, Entertainment and Life:

My nephew is born in March and he is such a darling! Many of my friends gave birth in 2008 too and one of them gave birth to her second son! I guess meeting with friends were not that frequent so 2009 must be better!

No traveling in 2008 outside the country and the furthest I went was probably Changi Airport!

Many friends got married too and I was invited to be the “sister” for two of the weddings!

I could not remember the number of times I went to the cinema but I did purchase many VCDs and DVDs to make up for the “loss in opportunity”. Books are always my constant companions but I shan’t do them justice here as I have decided to write a list of books and short reviews later (This should be my 2009 resolutions!).

On a personal note, I gave up my “obsession” or rather hopeless insistence on somebody! Yeah, please cheer for me!

Lastly and an important component is Gakkai Activities:

Beginning of the year, I got myself involved in the Future Division’s Musical entitled “The Little Prince”. This was a musical performed by Students for students and we did 3 shows altogether. The music was original and not copied from any existing pieces!

In October, we had a Chapter Friendship meeting that began planning since the beginning of the year. I took part in my first ever hip-hop dance. Well, most of the time, I did more singing than dancing! It was most significant as we managed to gather most of the young YWDs from the chapter in this dance!

Friday Rendevous workshops started in April 08 on every 3rd Friday of the month. We had grooming, EQ, hair styling make-up, Aroma therapy and even counsellng. As part of the workshop committee, I tried to attend all the sessions. I was the moderator for the session on SOKA education where I “interviewed” 2 graduates from Soka University Japan and US respectively.

I ended my short stunts in the English district to move to a Chinese district in the same chapter.

This year I finished my 1 million daimoku which I started in 2007.

There were other activities but too many to write them here and I really cannot get the diary habit started! 2008 was a year of change and guess changes were seen as the world economy took a turn down and a new president for the USA!

2009 will be another challenging year and I have yet to set my resolutions. However this will be done!

I pray for world peace and heighten environmental awareness among all! Someone told me that a slowing economy will do the environment good as pollution will be reduced with decreased industrial productions and reduction in transportations!

“We need to awaken to a common consciousness of being all inhabitants of Earth. This consciousness is not to be found in some distant place. It will not be found on a computer screen. It lies in our hearts, in our ability to share the pain of our fellow human beings. It is the spirit that says: "As long as you are suffering, whoever you are and whatever your suffering may be, I suffer also."

- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda

Christmas atmosphere..

2008-12-18T16:03:00.000-08:00

Is the holiday season! People are taking leaves and going for holidays or just to laze around at home or even to do shoppings! Recession? Hmm.. well, why are there still so many people at Orchard Road? Shopping centres in the suburban areas or regional towns are expanding. Jurong Point extension is such an example. I have not been to Jurong Point for donkey years and a plan to visit that place is high on my list of "adventure" in this small island. Jokes aside and let's get down to something more serious! Okay, there is nothing really serious about a blog and I don think people should take seriously to what one's blog. A blog is a place to ventilate or rather to tell the cyberspace some things that will bore your friends or rather no one wants to hear. This is because as a friend, you are suppose to "listen" more and not talk the world of yourself! Anyway, enough of crapping and perhaps it is also time to write that year end reflections and new year resolutions!

Another good piece of news for this season is my friend has just given birth to her second son on the 15 December (Monday). Have to make time to visit her 8). Second piece of news is my boss is on vacation until next year - YEAH. Third piece of news is there is no 3 piece of good news!

Below are some photos taken this holiday season at ORCHARD ROAD:

Along route to Takashimaya.

Rows of Teddy bears forming a tree, displayed at Takashimaya Shopping Centre. I want one of those cutties.

Decorations on the Christmas Trees at Ngee Ann City. I wonder whether they recycle the same tree every year! Is good if they did that!

Street decorations. Not that impressive.

Welcome to Orchard Road and a Merry Christmas to you.

The other big and tall Christmas tree just outside Paragon. I like this one!

I tot i took more photos. Anyway, 6 is better than none.

"Iron, when heated and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Likewise, Buddhism teaches that our true strength and potential cannot be forged without hardships. " - Extracted from "Human Revolution" by Daisaku Ikeda's Words of Wisdom.

Merry Christmas to all!

Finest Ingredients!

2008-11-30T03:04:00.000-08:00

Am watching this show titles "料理天王" which is a Korean movie on cooking. Just learnt that the finest ingredient needs not be the freshiest or most beautiful ingredent! In fact the most unsightly or "bent"truck can be used to make the best charcoal. The guy who sells vegetables in the market is in fact the best chef in town! The most important ingredient in any culinary culture is probably the "heart" or rather you must enjoy cooking and put your heart into the dish! Yeah, my piece of culinary advice which i believe is true because this is how i cook.

Besides cooking, not using the best ingredient can be applied in other areas as well. You can make a cute teddy bear without using the best cloth or the best fur. The basic ingredient is the know-how and the patience to sew it all together! In fact, a home-made teddy bear is a teddy bear made with love from the maker!

Probably when we are the best, there will be no place for improvement! Would not life be boring if we cannot keep on improving ourselves and learning something about ourselves every day? Every day is a self discovery day for myself. I won say i improve everyday but i want to be a better person, a more filial and understanding daughter and also a better employee at work. It is not easy doing all these and I will lapse into my old not so good self again! Human revolution is really not easy and it should not be else nobody will want to do their best!

"When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. On the other hand, if you think, "This is never going to work out," then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight. Then everything really will move in the direction of failure. " - Words of Wisdom by Ikeda Sensei.

Some plans before the end of the year involve doing up the OEHS website, writing up my book reviews and cleaning my bedroom!

History is a peek into the future..

2008-11-15T01:28:00.000-08:00

I have been reading this book entitled "The Britannica Guide to the 100 Most Influential Scientists". It gives a brieft account of the people that had made a difference in the field of Science from BC to current. Science more than 2000 years ago comprised of philosophy, astronomy, logics etc. What we have today is built up and developed from these people/ philosophers of the past. One built upon another to make the possibility of reachig Mar no longer a vision but something that will be possible in the near future. I guess from history, we should learn from the mistakes so as not to commit the same errors in our time. However, human beings are forgetful and arrogant creatures as we trust and strongly believed we are more intellient than our ancestors. We think this way because of what we have and what we are now - better and more prosperous, better understanding and treatment of diseases resulting in lower mortality and longer life, advance in technology and the advent of nanotechnology allows us to search even deeper into the micromolecular and nanomolecular level. At this point, we should stop and think that all these are possible not because we are smarter, is because we have inherited and built upon what our ancestors had started. History than is our cornerstone to the future, we should not dealt too long in it but advance with it.

Just finshed FD's meeting this afternoon ad we talked about the eight winds which in buddhism refer to the 4 postive and 4 negatives conditions that can influence our life. The eight winds are prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering, and pleasure. As human we are constantly swayed by this eight winds. We should not avoid this eight winds but we should face this eight winds and counter them in our strides. In buddhism, a life without troubles and fill only with pleasantness is not happines which is also not really possible in real life. When we face with problems, we should have the wisdom to overcome them through chanting daimoku. The joy of overcoming our adversities will bring more joy to ourselves than merely without or avoidance. This will become our experiences and make us stronger and better human beings!

The second Soka Gakkai president, Josei Toda, once wrote: “Absolute happiness is a state such that, whatever your situation, you feel an immense sense of worth and satisfaction; and wherever you are, to be alive is itself a joy…. Even when we encounter situations that make us angry, we become angry joyfully. When we establish such a state of life, our life is one of boundless joy” (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. IV, p. 80).

Today is another lazy saturday!

Finally or gradually..

2008-11-07T19:37:00.000-08:00

This is probably going to be one of the most controversial of my threads! Don worry, is not political neither is it sexist! I do not like the idea of being pursued by ISA and also it is not advisable to put myself in such a position! Technically, I m pretty pro government and I will probably get hate mails for saying this! Don say I m uneducated and totally hynoptised by the spell of ruling party. I have received education from institutions of the highest calibre and I have also drank "Ang moh" water and done a module in International Law! I don see I have been disadvantaged but rather glad that I have been given the opportunity and the freedom to choose. I have been rather puzzled of those negative comments on the local government. Are we in war? Are we not allowed to leave the country? Are we having bad sanitary facilities or pay a bomb to use public toilets? Are we restricted to access the internet? Are we have to worry constantly about being robbed and murdered? Are we......? The list is long. Do not know what I mean, try living overseas for some time or simply travel beyond Singapore! And about not being able to speak up? This depends on how vocal u are and now you have the chance to do that without applying for a license at Sim Lim Park! If is for other issues, please apply to migrate!

Wrote the above in a moment of tots a few days ago! I actually wanted to blog about this person that I like but who probably tot I m not worth the effort. However at tis time, I think perhaps is not so important after all. Anyway to quote from Ikeda Sensei's "The course of our lives is determined by how we react-what we decide and what we do-at the darkest of times. The nature of that response determines a person's true worth and greatness. " Guess is only at the most crucial of times, u will know who are the people that really support and stand behind u! The darkest of time is also when u discover what type of person u are! I hope I m a fairweather as well as stormy weather friend!

"Hope transforms pessimism into optimism. Hope is invincible. Hope changes everything. It changes winter into summer, darkness into dawn, descent into ascent, barrenness into creativity, agony into joy. Hope is the sun. It is light. It is passion. It is the fundamental force for life's blossoming."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

The change in the US presidency really brings hope to people all over the world. Suddenly we dare to dream and "yes, we can" accomplish if we set out to do what we believe in!

Blog, Blogger, Bloggest!

2008-10-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Woohh. long time no blog! What happened to me? Nothing! Just do not feel like venturing into the world of the blogger which can be quite controversial! Anyway, I m back today because i m inspired by this quote "One's true worth as a human being is not a matter of outward appearance or title but derives from the breadth of one's spirit. Everything comes down to faith and conviction. It is what is in one's heart and the substance of one's actions that count" by Ikeda Sensei at Words of Wisdom.

Tomorrow is our district 4 monthly meeting and will probably be my last session in this district before moving to district 1 in the same chapter. They require a YWD who can speak Cantonese and the most obvious candidate is me! Yah, I can speak Mandrain, Cantonese, English and basic understanding of other chinese dialects like Hokkien and Teochiew! Why do I need to speak dialect? Well, most of the members in the district 1 are old folks who speak Cantonese so in order to make the meeting fun and bring understanding to their level, you have to speak their tongue!

And today, the Internet in my office was down and we cannot work! Then we realise how reliant we are on IT and internet. Nothing moves if the cyber network is down! This last sentence marks the end of this blog!

My weak nature..

2008-09-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Sounds funny isn't it? My weak nature sounds like a self indulgent post that is going to be written here! In actual fact, there is some truth but I want to encourage myself instead. Somehow I felt I want an overhaul of what I m doing now. I want to be in charge and be comfortable with myself but there seems to be things preventing me from moving forward! Something is holding me back and that is my weakness or negative life is coming forward! How can I defeat it and win over my weak self? In buddhism, it will probably be using my weak self as a force to propel myself forward! It should help me to improve, to greet what is unknown and to take on the environment! I guess we have to be aware and to win over our weak nature!

Thus in desperation, I had to seek some guidance and here is what is taken from the Words of Wisdom by Daisaky Ikeda "As long as we are human, we are destined to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What separates a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a malevolent one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to ones mistakes and take bold steps to redress them."

Yes, I need the courage to confront myself and to admit my mistakes! Ultimately there is no shame in not knowing, there is only shame if we pretend to know everything! Thus, step forward Foong, and be not afraid to make mistakes. When mistakes are made, be ready to apologise, redress and continue to move onwards! Yeah!

Opposites..

2008-09-20T00:45:00.000-07:00

Today I was reading comics and leant something from the story. Many would have say comics are not exactly educational materials but sometimes, there are some lines that really hit home. In one of the story, the characters were discussing what is the opposite of love and they conclude is hate. What is the opposite of marriage and the answer is probably familiarity turns to ignoring. The couple gets so used to each other that after a long time together, there is the loss of the passion that got them together in the first place. Well someone said at a course I attendee recently that one of the reasons that marriages broke down nowadays is due to the breakdown of communication between the husband and the wife. This breakdown in communication can be due to kids because there are so busy trying to provide the best for their children that they have found no time on their own and to do things they would do together. Ultimately when the children are grown up and have a life of their own, the parents will be left with each other. Will they have anything to say to each other besides the children? Hmm.. yes and no? I don want to answer!

The other thing from the comic is how do you know whether you like someone? The answer comes clear when you are able to spot that special someone no matter where you are even in a crowd or a busy street. A sense of familiarity or a detection of that person's hormone/ smell from afar? In some studies they have shown that a person like someone because of the hormone/ smell released from the person's body. This is probably the reason why some animals find their own by smell. There are of course other theories but I m not going to discuss them here.

From words of wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda - "Never for an instant forget the effort to renew your life, to build yourself anew. Creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway of life itself. This is not an easy task. Indeed, it may be the most severely challenging struggle there is. For opening the door to your own life is in the end more difficult than opening the door to all the mysteries of the universe."

Political view and the pursuit of Happiness!

2008-08-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Well from the title, i don think you will find any link between political inclination and the pursuit of happiness. U are right cos is just random! What is my political view? Well, what is politics in the first place? According to Wikipedia, politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions that affect others' lives. Politics consists of "social relations" involving authority or power and refers to the regulation of a political unit, and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy. Thus in short, it is some thing that rules your life either making it pleasant or unpleasant for you! If it is unpleasant, you will make lots of noise and if circumstances allowed, shift to another country that you think politically suits u better. If it is pleasant, you will live in peace! The irony comes. Even if the country has low crime rate, a passport that gives you liberty to travel and enter almost every countries in the world, a transport system that literally delivers u to the door step, an education system that produces top students, all type of cuisine to satisfy your taste bug and many others, it is still unpleasant for many. Well people are hard to please. So no more politics for now!

Watched the movie " The pursuit of Happyness" by Will Smith. I believe i might have said something on this in an earlier post. Anyway, wat is happyness or happiness? Is it the realisation of a dream? Is it achieving distinctions in all your subjects or is it striking the lottery? In buddhism, there are 2 types of happiness in buddhism - relative and absolute. Relative happiness is the happiness that you feel when u did well in certain things, watched a funny movie or bought a beautiful dress. The question is how long do you feel that happiness? Some of us are so hard to please or to be happy about things or sometime our happiness does not last from the satisfaction of this everything stuff. Relative happiness is fleeting happiness and it does not last. On the other hand, absolute happiness lasts because it is happiness from the depth of our heart. It is lasting happiness and satisfaction in our life. Probably a good illustration is we feel happiness even when we are struggling. This sounds illogical but if you have the courage to face every challenges head on without being defeated and treat that as a means to strengthening your self and enjoying every ounce of it, your life is happy! This absolute happiness stays with you and will not go away as relative happiness. Well if you don get what i means, grab this book " The Buddha in you mirror" which give a good description of what i m trying to say!

In summary, there is no summary. Quote from words of wisdom by Ikeda Sensei "As long as we are human, we are destined to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What separates a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a malevolent one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to ones mistakes and take bold steps to redress them."

Another quote from the same source "We each move forward secure on our own earth, not the earth of others. Happiness is something we must create for ourselves. No one else can give it to us.""

Post National Day.. n 1 year older..

2008-08-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

Singapore just celebrated her 43th birthday on the 9th August! I sat in front of the TV and watched the whole parade live from the Marina Bay floating platform! Asked me what I liked? Well, I do not have any special likes or dislikes but i guess the rain probably brought the whole spectators together with their red disposable rain coat.

Today I was trying to queue up to get mushroom soup. There was a couple in front of me who was trying to find out what is these soup thingy. My bag hit the lady while i tried to squeeze to the front of the queue. She was really fussy about it but she was like standing there with no inking of her blockage. The reason why I was trying to move pass her was they were really taking a long time n holding up the people trying to get into the queue. Anyway, the comment is why some people are so damn self centered and not aware that they are holding up the rest of the world! Yah! Well the morale of the story is we should be more aware of our environment. Decide what you want to get before you get into a queue and if you really need to ask, do apologise to those who are patiently waiting behind you and who have already made up their mind what they want to order! I could have been more patient too.

Since the olympic started yesterday, the most apt quote from Ikeda Sensei from words of wisdom "Life may be more akin to a series of meets than a single marathon. You can lose a race here or there, as long as you win in one contest, in one area. All the struggles you endured will become a prized investment in your own person."

Watched " The day after tomorrow" recently and I really like this movie! Global warming can be real so why do we not try to do something about it! Instead of living for myself and for today, we can change our motto to for ourselves and for the future! Ultimately this will benefit ourselves! Remember life is continuous and our legacy will be carried forward!

Safety and think safety first!

2008-07-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

This year MOM or rather WSH Council's theme is "Safety Starts with me". How do you think safety first? I guess if you have taken the advance theory from driving school, u will probably encounter this concept. In the advance theory, you have to maintain a safety first mentality when u are answering the question! The safest answer will be the answer to the question. You can argue but they are always right!

Up until now, I bet nobody knows what I m trying to blog in this blog. In actual fact, I have no idea too! Anyway, just bear with me for a while more n I will be done with this blog!

From Ikeda's sensei Words of Wisdom, "As long as we are human, we are destined to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What separates a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a malevolent one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to ones mistakes and take bold steps to redress them."

About mistakes, this is something that my current boss keeps emphasizing! If you make a mistake, always be ready to say you are wrong as saying wrong now is better than keeping a wrong that can escalate to unfathomable level! In another words, people lose trust in you!

"The important thing is to take that first step. Bravely overcoming one small fear gives you the courage to take on the next. " Another words of wisdom from Ikeda's sensei!

National Education Show 2

2008-07-13T02:12:00.000-07:00

Attended the NE show 2 on 12 July 08 which is yesterday! Well din expect to attend but an extra tix cropped up last min and I happened to be free! Actually I m not a busy person but it happened that I m free which is why i m able to attend a lot of events! In other words, I m always on the call and on people's back up list! Back to NE show, 2008! The theme for this year is "Celebrating the Singapore Spirit"! Overall, it is not as exciting as last year but maybe is still a sort of combined rehearsal, the whole show still need some putting together! I have been in at least 4 National Day parade so I so know how the show goes. You probably will not have a great show until the final day!

The best program of the show was the showcase by 6 perfectly coordinated Black Knight fighter planes! They did some fantastic maneuvers that one can only see at the air show which I also missed because I had something on that day! The plane shot through the sky performing some technically difficult acrobatic stunts that delighted all that were present! The organiser also attempted to switch on the communication channels between the pilots for the spectators. It was just some coordinating conversations about their impending actions! I rather they do some candid camera speech like "Jiak bao beh or ni hao!". Alright, this will not be broadcasted on national TV but it will be rather fun if it was really like that! YeaH! As usual, the Singapore flag was flied in by the chinook, escorted by pumas! Both are my favourite on air transportation, though I have never been on one before! The funpack for this year is not that fun! The concept of a recycled bag is good but I rather they give me the NTUC type of material bag! The fireworks were there but I did not think they were well coordinated yet! Anyhow, let's all look foward to the actual day for a better show! By the way, the theme song is available for download on the official NDP website. This is the only place where u can download your favourite singer's songs for free and legal!

I guess the motives for us to attend the parade are different! Some of us want to get hold of the funpack. There are also who enjoyed the spirit live at the Marina Bay. They are those who have never been there and want to be there to see how it all works! There are some very interesting foreigners that were present at yesterday's parade and who were sitting in front of us! They kept taking photos throughout the show for themselves and for others. Others also start taking photos of them because there are "enjoying" themselves so much. I guess there are the people who have the most fun throughout the show. At one time, they even start putting on the disposable rain coat because it was slightly drizzling for a while. It was a comical scene and of course the photographers had a great day putting them on film and they are not an ounce embarressed by their act and extra actions! Then there are some people who sat behind me making all kind of funny remarks and did not sound local or maybe local but been overseas for too long. That person din even know who is the Guest of Honour and was pretty skeptical about the whole thing. Well this is a national parade celebrating the anniversary of a nation state which has come a long way and proud of its achievements. There are always cliche we have to accept! The moral of the story is have fun and take it as a time to renew our pledge for being Singaporean! A citizenship that many crave and which we took for granted!

Today I m sick so i skipped the district study meeting. Actually I m feeling pretty guilty for not attending the meeting but I also do not want to go and come back feeling even worse! Look though sensei's words of wisdom and i took this "Human life is indeed wondrous. You may be ill physically, but as long as your mental state is strong, it most certainly will exert a positive influence on your body. There may be no better remedy than hope. " Guess a lot of illnesses are overcome because we have hope!

This is me, myself and I, taken in the new office because I was playing with my camera! I know but no harm pretending to be cute! hahah..

In life where there are so many other things..

2008-07-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

This is my life! I guess it will be different from what other people are going through and we may not even know what others are going through! A friend just told me to take things easy cos we should not be put down with what we cannot control. In the end no one will pity us if we are down. This is human nature! I guess as human being, we should not be unfeeling and irresponsible creatures! We should have more compassion and love for our fellow earthlings!

On happy cells again! Yup i hope i have them often to help me through with tough patches! Technically happy cells should be cultivated!

I have nothing to say so i will quote from words of wisdom again "How aware are we of our own inner life, our spirituality--something so intangible yet so priceless? How much effort do we make to perceive that which is not obvious, which can neither be seen nor heard? I believe the exploration and enrichment of the human spirit is what determines our very humanity. Such enrichment provides an inner compass that can lead civilizations to greatness." Thanks Sensei!

Bad Ichinen will deflat the cells!

2008-06-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

If we are happy, it is shown on our face and in the way we stand, we greet people and even the way we talk! We will skip a step as we walk. We will smile to people whom we never see before. We will whistle a happy tone and eyes will be looking at us but we don care! We are happy and we want to show it to everyone! Now when we are happy, our body will naturally react to that happiness with more happiness. We will want to be creative, we will want to do something special and we may even want to do bungee jump (maybe not me!). Anyway, we feel we can do anything and this is sensed by the million of cells in our body as they prepared to support our action! This is also why when we are positive, our cells will in turn wants to be alive too! People have recovered from diseases even hopeless situations such as terminal cancer n even paralysis to bounce back to good health. Science is not able to answer this question but buddhism has! In buddhism we engage our mind, our heart and our body. The philosophy of nichiren buddhism is one of hope and by engaging in the chanting of Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo, we are engaging this hope to be brought out from our beings! Don believe me, give it a try! There are many testimonials of such personal manifestations! Better than drugs, no negative side effect!

Well if we are hopeless, lost, sad and even discouraged, our cells will be too! We do not eat well and our digestive system will suffer. We complain of imaginable headache, pains and dispair beyond help! Remember, Human beings are resilient and we are able to overcome all obstacles, if not we won dominate the world now. Just one happy cell in the body will affect the next and the next and the next, creating a chain effect that will turn the situation around! Then we will overcome and become even stronger cos we have been to the worst and nothing can be worser. Even the most down person can pick himself or herself up if he or she truly has one happy cell left in the body! If we are still alive, there is no reason why we should not have at least one happy cell in the body!

And aptly from Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda "Ultimately, our battle is with ourselves. Whether in our activities in society, or whether in historical, political or economic developments, everything essentially boils down to a struggle between positive and negative forces."

The above is something to cheer myself on too! Happy cells vs sad cells! "Aye! Aye!" for happy cells.

Today attended the Daisaku Ikeda Annual Lecture (DIAL) at the Singapore Soka Association Headquarter. The speaker for this year is Professor Jorgen Moller, ex-Danish Ambassador to Singapore and current visiting Professor to the Institute of Southeast Asia Studies. Chairing today's lecture is Dr Vivian Balakrisnan (whom I tot is a female when i was in JC) who is a MD and a minister of parliament. The topic is "Securing Peace in Asia in the next 25 years!". Prof Moller has adapted key policies from the EU to illustrate how we can apply it to Asia. Well for the European continent to forget the atrocities that inflicted one another in the last century and come together under a common EU is no small feat. If the EU can do it, why not Asia? Particularly I like the way Professor Moller ends his lecture. He used this Viking's sayings to illustrate that the way forward is really coming together and together works towards achieving the peace and advancement that we want to see for our region! (I really like this Viking's quote but I will wait for the next SSA Times to see if they put it into text!)

Thus from me on peace: Ci vis pacem, para pacem! (If you want Peace, prepare for Peace!)

More happy cells = Happy people = PEACE!

Builder, peace loving half aries and a fool perhaps..

2008-06-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Did a creative style profile today and discovered that I m a builder. This means I m visually-oriented: artistic, detailed, and resourceful and also adept with the hands. Not bad, I pretty much agree with the description! Yeah!

At the same time I m a peace loving half aries cum half bull still searching for my identity in this world! I want to find my matching other half (not another half aries and half bull) to form another integrated environment that will enhance peace. Oneness of man and environment or eshofuni, the buddhist principle that says we have the power to change the environment and likewise our environment has the ability to affect our mood! Thus, should we not make it a nice and peaceful environment for all? No unnecessary fishing, hunting, gun ownership, nuclear weapons, discrimination, child labour etc! What a beautiful world!

We are all fools in some way when we stubbornly hold on to things that we know are hopeless or useless to us. However we cannot let it go because it has great sentimental and emotional value for us. Probably if we are to realise that the only thing that we will bring with us forever is our heart and memory of the heart which essentially means our soul!

From Daisaku Ikeda Sensei in Words of Wisdom "It is much more valuable to look for the strengths in others--you gain nothing by criticizing people’s imperfections.".

Below are some photos taken from Southern Ridges:

This is the famous place where the Indian scene was filmed in the local movie " Army Daze". Presenting Telok Blangah Hill!

Durians durians.. so far yet so near! Don be deceived by this photo, I had to zoom my camera len to the maximum.

The "fingers" of PSA and beholds one of the busiest port of the world!

The human spirit!

2008-06-09T04:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was wallowing in self pity because someone made me feel so EXTRA! Then, my not yet 14 yrs old cousin told me something that woke me up from my self indulgence! She told me nobody can put me down except myself! This statement penetrated and create a ripple in my mind and tots! Me as an adult who is more than double her age had to be reminded that I m my own boss and I m in control of my own feelings and determination. No one should be able to dictate my life cos is my life! A friend also reminded what Ikeda Sensei said in a guidance to the young women division (YWD). As YWD, we should not based our happiness on our partners or others. I somehow subscibe to this sayings of "我宁愿人负我，我也不愿我负人！". Just a principle to work with but sometimes is really hard to keep to it! Most of us do not like to be let down by others but we seems to be doing that constantly to people.

Quote the following from words of wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda:

"Ultimately, we are responsible for our own destiny. It may seem to us that our fate is predetermined, whether by our genes or by our environment. What really matters, however, is how we can improve ourselves from this moment forward, how we can change the circumstances that we find ourselves in. This enormous transformative force is what Buddhism is all about. In this struggle lies the source of never-ending youth and vitality."

Somehow I m always able to quote something from Ikeda Sensei that resonates my feeling. In the recent YWD Kenshu which i missed because i had lousy reasons why I cannot attend. The issues discussed is Mentor and Disciple spirit. How can we be worthy disciple of Ikeda Sensei and worthy inheritance of the Soka Gakkai movement and spirit? Sensei is what he is today because he holds his mentor deeply in his heart! His achievement is the achievements for his mentor, someone who changes him to what he is today! If we are determined to achieve something, it is not impossible. Everything is possible if we believe in it or rather we take steps in achieving it. It is no use strategising and talking while doing nothing to bring about the thing. Getting our hands dirty and our feet into the task will create something and move it nearer our goals!

The plants will always face or reach towards the sunlight! This is due to the chemicals called auxins in the plants that ensure they grow towards the sunlight which is greatly needed for photosynthesis. Without the food produced, there is no growth nor survival of the plants. Plants need to grow and they are never stagnant. The stem will grow thicker, the root will grow longer and the leaves will grow bigger too to take in the sunlight! With the stem, we can then determine the age of a trees by reading its rings! The spirit of the plants are undaunting! As the thinking species in the biological system, we should have the same undaunting system. Although we try not to grow around the waist but we should grow in our brain materials through the accumulation of wisdom and knowledge. Our spirit should be the auxins that will propel us to achieve and to reach for the growth and sunlight in our life!

Last sunday, I have also visited the Southern Ridges at the West end of Singapore. It stretches from West Coast Park to Mount Faber and this includes forest walk, hilltop walk etc. Took many photos will put up in a later blog.

Need to get back to revision for tomorrow's paper! The "never say die" human spirit will continue to strive!

Feeling a bit sad.. probably too much stress

2008-05-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

Feeling a bit emotional now! Somehow feels someone is angry with me! Well maybe I m too sensitive but I m a woman and the female species is supposed to be sensitive to such issue! Anyway I am suppose to study now but end up msning friends over the msn! Getting more responsbility at the new job and I have written my first inspection report! Have to archive all these things so that I can summarise them for performance appraisal at the end of the year. This will also helps me to write my resume! YUP!

"People who come to your aid in a time of personal crisis are people of genuine compassion and courage. More often than not, people will try to act as though nothing is wrong. Others are either afraid or refuse to get involved, and quietly drift away."

- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda

Hmm.. people of genuine compassion and courage will aid you in time of crisis. Can we say this of people who help those out during the cyclone and the earthquake? These people who despite of the horrendous condition still go out to the affected places to offer the people their strength and comfort. As the highest order of living creatures in this world, should not we the group that has the capacity to help each other out? The group that will be able to create a better world for all! Some time, we still cannot defeat nature!

Well, time to go back to my studies!

What can be done besides donating money?

2008-05-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

Recently, there are a couple of disasters that struck the world, 1 of them happened in some of the poorest part of the world and the other one happened in the most populated part of the world! Watching all those scenes on TV and looking at the photos in the newspapers and internet touched many hearts! A lot of people want to help but there is a limit to what we can do or at least that is what we think! Unless you are already in those voluntary associations such as Redc Cross, doctors beyong borders or Care, it is really difficult uprooting yourself from your current position to be in the area!

The other concern is instead of helping, one becomes a burden! What can one contribute? To help to dig emergency sanitary toilets, to build tents, to distribute food, to apply first aids, to counsel etc.? Does one has the vaccinations and immunity to face the situation? I realise if i want to do any of this work, I have to be at least trained to do first aid! I must trained myself to be able to counsel and to give hope to these people! Facing the aftermath, I must not suffered from post traumatic stress! Seems like a lot of myself but this is true especially when you are living in an environment that is comfortable and sheltered!

I feel helpless with the situation in Myanmar! I can only pray the country's leaders will just relent and let help in. Contrasting with China, the government is actively sending help to the area but the area is too big and too remote and it is slowing the process initially. What is the cost of life? Probably can be easily illustrated by the reactions in these 2 countries!

Still have revisions to do. First paper on Tuesday!

"As long as we are human, we are destined to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What separates a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a malevolent one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to ones mistakes and take bold steps to redress them. "

- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda

... some online blogthings!

2008-05-19T04:57:00.000-07:00

As explained by the title, some random blogthings that I took:

You Are 48% Feminine, 52% Masculine

You are in touch with both your feminine and masculine sides.
You're sensitive at the right times, but you don't let your emotions overwhelm you.
You're not a eunuch, just the best of both genders.

http://www.blogthings.com/areyoumasculineorfemininequiz/">Are You Masculine or Feminine?

Your Personality Cluster is Extraverted Intuition

You are:

A true wordsmith - a master of words
Original, spontaneous, and a true inspiration
Highly energetic, up for any challenge
Entertaining and engaging, both to friends and strangers

What's" Your Personality Cluster?

You Are 50% Extrovert, 50% Introvert

You're a bit outgoing, a bit reserved
Like most people, you enjoy being social
But you also value the time you have alone
You have struck a good balance!

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouanextrovertorintrovertquiz/">Are You An Extrovert or An Introvert?

All American Kid

Popular but not plastic. Athletic but not a jock. Smart but not a brain.

You were well rounded and well liked in high school.

http://www.blogthings.com/whowereyouinhighschoolquiz/">Who Were You In High School?

Your Travel Personality Is: Easygoing

When you travel, you're looking for a lot of downtime. Vacations are your chance to recoup.
All you need is a scenic spot and plenty of time on your hands. You'll figure out the rest.
You're not one to make lots of plans when you travel. You just follow whatever path seems right.

What's" Your Travel Personality?

Your Thinking is Concrete and Random

You are naturally inquisitive and curious.
You're excited by new ideas, and you are a true independent thinker.

You are interested in what is possible. You like the process of discovery.
You are often experimenting, challenging old ideas, and inventing new concepts.

Rules, restrictions, and limit don't really work for you.
You have to do things your own way, and you can't be bothered to explain yourself.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofthinkerareyouquiz/">What Kind of Thinker Are You?

What These Sunflowers Say About You

You are a truly warm person with amazing bursts of energy.
You bring happiness to everyone around you, and you are adored by many.
You're bright, bold, and cheery. You nourish friends you with your optimism.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatdotheflowersyoupicksayaboutyouquiz/">What Do The Flowers You Pick Say About You?

That's all for now!

Stress stress.. cramming..

2008-05-19T03:01:00.000-07:00

Is cramming time! Lots of work to cram into a cranium that contains a brain that only uses less than 10% of its capacity! That means i have to work harder to make sure that the most essential stuff is entered though I believe the non essential has a better place in the brain! Anyway, less than 10 days to my exam and still I m in a daze state! That'a all for exam as I think I write something more encouraging! Yeah!

As the world is a in a desastrous mood recently, we should all reconsider our priorities.

Some quotes from "180 degree - Yearnings for Peace":

When a lamp is lit, darkness is dispelled. - Sikh Teaching

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of services and compassion are the things which renew humanity. - The Buddha

Many raging fires are quenched by a single shower of rain, and many evil forces are vanquished by a single great truth. - Nichiren, 13 Century Buddhist Sage

A thousand people working hand in hand can achieve the strength of a thousand people; ten thousand people working without unity cannot achieve the strength of even one man. - Taoist Saying

From Words of Wisdom, Ikeda sensei says "Iron, when heated and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Likewise, Buddhism teaches that our true strength and potential cannot be forged without hardships."

Will continue to do some cramming!

3 Criteria: Short, Thin but Healthy and Stupid...

2008-05-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

Interesting title? Of the 3 criteria, I have only meet one and that is short! Well I m not thin and never will. Doctor told me I have a mid-frame body size so that means I cannot be thin if not I will look like skeletor or those they used for medical study. As for stupid, I will use Jack Neo's movie "I not stupid" to explain. Technically it depends what area of stupidity u are refering to. We should not elaborate that here as that will be exposing my flaws! Curious? Please continue to be!

Today is an interesting day at work! Since I took up this new post, there are really a lot of interesting n new grounds that I have found myself tracked into. Firstly the countless licenses that a research facility needs to have and the many governmental regulations and authorities that u need to know and be familiar with. It is basic courtesy to call up and say hello so that they can expedite the process. It is also a familiar thing to receive government letters frequently! Remember, we should always engage the authorities!

My colleague who is away this week for course will be shocked when she comes back to work. I have sent her lots of emails for her information. I have been sending emails to almost everybody these few days for information and actions! Keeping her in the loop is good so that she knows what are the things happening!

Back to today! While I was busy trying to match some data, the maintenance person asked to see me. I wondered what happen and it turned out to be a non-compliance act that had happened at the disposal area. Following the person down to the crime scene, it was really a non-compliance act that nobody knew who had done it. I took some photos and asked for help! Yah, I m not exactly a trained crime scene investigator and this is definitely not CSI! Investigator Help arrives and pointed out that there are surveillance camera around the premises and they are 2 that overlooked into the disposal area. Feeling excited, we went to the Command and Control Centre and called up the recorded images. After some trial and error, we finally located the crime action. Now was to identify the culprits! It turned out that the identities were quickly discovered and I made a few phone calls to enquire! The confrontation was not good and I had to make more phone calls to clarify some policy issues. Eventually I got my policy answers and the responsible party called up to acknowledge the non-compliance and we close the case.

Suddenly the floor above us thundered as if something heavy had been thrown on the floor! No worry, this is not another repeat of Hotel New World. There are no cracks on the wall and I m still alive to write this post! Don know what happen though! A wild guess is it could be from the construction site next door!

Anyway, end of my tale for the day!

To sum up with a quote from Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda:

"A person who cannot genuinely empathize with others can never excel as a leader. So much of what ails society today is the result of too many people in leadership positions who do not or cannot identify with the plight of their fellow men and women. It is in enduring pain and struggles that the earth of our humanity is cultivated. And it is from this earth that a capacity to be genuinely concerned for the welfare of others blossoms."

I spring from the earth!

Say u to what?

2008-05-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

Wanted to blog but cannot think of anything constructive to say. Just tot i will do something pretty random here. Just watched the movie "Talkingcock", a stupid Singapore movie made by Singaporeans for Singaporeans who love to talk cock and jokes only a Singaporean will know!

3 random dogs of 3 different colours made with towels! Woo Woo...

This is taken near Botanic Garden! Just random phototaking while waiting for the bus to Orchard Road!

Near home and pretty random too! Really early in the morning so there are no vehicles around!

Daring Nephew here! Is he not cute?! Yeah yeah! The position of a froggy!

Another random quote from Words of Wisdom by Ikeda Sensei:

"Everyone born in this world has a unique role that only he or she can fulfill. Were this not the case, we would not be here. The universe never acts without cause; everything invariably has a reason for being. Even the weeds people love to loathe serve a purpose. I might add that every cherry blossom has its own personality, a purpose and meaning in life that is unique to it--as do the plum, peach and damson."

"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien

So is May Day ....

2008-05-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Happy May Day! Heard May Day come about because of a few workers that banded together to demand for shorter working hours in the late 19 century. As a result of their sacrifice, May 1 was destinated as the day for labour day and this spreaded all over the world as workers become to see themselves as much more than money making machines and cheap labour! Well, today is a holiday for many and a long holiday for some. Tomorrow, it will be a bit quiet at the office as many will take the opportunity to take leave for a short vacation. Yeah but I will still be going to work tomorrow!

I was at the bookshop on Wednesday and I bought this book called "The Last Lecture". Have not read it yet but it seems to be the last lecture of a professor from a US university. He was disgnosed with a terminal illness and when asked what his last lecture will be, he said the lecture should be about "living". How provocative a topic! I think most us of will probably decide about lecturing about our life, our achievements and the knowledge that we would like to pass down to the next generations. To talk about living shows the positive perspectives of the person and this will be a person to learn from. Not many people will talk about living and the other person that values every minutes of his living is non other than Daisaku Ikeda sensei. Every seconds and every minutes is important. Sensei taught us not to just talk about the future but to fully make use of the presence to create value and to never regret this day of our life. We can always say there is a tomorrow but if we do not make good use of today, there may not be a tomorrow. In order not to regret, we must use our time and thus our life carefully! Most of the time, we tell ourselves that we are afraid or that we cannot do this or that. In the end, we will regret we ever hesitate. Hesitating in doing things as it may turn out wrong but without doing, we will never know! At the end of the day, we know we have tried and looking back, it provides us with the consolation that the answers are known. All it takes then and now is the courage to live our life!

Just watched a movie called "Stomp the Yard". This is about this dance or sport called "Stepping". The stepping movement is great but behind all those dangerous yet fabulous sequences are lessons for the youth. Themes such as teamwork, integrity, honesty, and hardwork are good moral characters. Often, one has to make some choices but not all choices should include sacrificing one's belief and dignity. At the end of the movie, the movie quoted this from Dr Martin Luther King, Jr "Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of education".

Education is to train the mind as well as the character of a person. Pocessing high intelligence yet lacking in strong moral character does not make the person educated. Unfortunately this is a common sight in society today! Graduates from well known universities with mulitple degrees and Phds have shown their brain power but their characters may be in an unpolished state. These are the people who will probably take up positions of decisions in companies and the government. These are the people who will make the decisions and make peace. With no strong character built, their actions will be the perils of the common people. Thus, education should start with building character before inculcating knowledge which is neverending in the first place.

"The word "character" originated from the Greek words meaning "sculpture" and "impression." Character, then, could be thought of that which is shaped or etched. It may be true from a medical perspective that our psychological and physiological traits are generally predetermined genetically. Knowing this, however, adds little to our lives. All that matters is how we can better ourselves here and now."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Building character starts from the home and do not leave it to the teachers who probably have problems making syllables deadlines!

BTW, I also like the song group "May Day" from Taiwan. Yeah!

Lastly and to quote from Daisaku Ikeda's Words of Wisdom again "The task of education must be fundamentally to ensure that knowledge serves to further the cause of human happiness and peace. "

Cheerios!

Today I grow more wiser hopefully in both IQ and EQ

2008-04-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me! Yup is my birthday today and I share it with many fine individuals both in history and among my friends! Well maybe not all fine dividual as one of them is remembered for his notoriety in World War II. Other than him, the rest have made history and fame in the arena of Health, government and entertainment!

Among my friends, there is 1 fine individual who is born on the same year, month and day with me. We met in University more than 10 years ago and it all started with an inpromptu introduction by myself after realising we share the same birthday! Recently, there are more and more people that I know that share the same birth day as me. These people include my consultant's triplets, my student's father, the nurse in the staff clinic of my ex-company and maybe even the baby of another dr.

I think this is a good day because I am born on this day! Heard from my mum that I was an overdue baby who refused to come out so probably I have been hanging on in the womb so that I can come out on today. Yeah!

I have not made any wish on this day but I hope I can find my better half. No special celebration and no cake as I do not like cake. It is basically a day of trying to finish my assignments and holding 1 future division meeting in the afternoon. In a sense, many people celebrate my birthday with me today and I had a great meeting with the students and in fact learning more about them and their interests!

Lastly, ending my blog with words of wisdom from Ikeda Sensei:

"..Never for an instant forget the effort to renew your life, to build yourself anew. Creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway of life itself. This is not an easy task. Indeed, it may be the most severely challenging struggle there is. For opening the door to your own life is in the end more difficult than opening the door to all the mysteries of the universe. .."

Today is the start of a new beginning and opening my life to more possibilities!

Sum it up after almost 5 year!

2008-04-06T04:41:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I have mentioned that I have resigned! Yup so in this post I m going to sum up what I have been doing in my last job for the last almost 5 years! Not exactly a find fault type of review but I tot it will be interesting to blog it. Yeah!

My own ways of doing this so if you are interested do read on. If you think this has nothing to do with you, then just ignore it. Then and again, if you can come and read my blog, you should be interested in some ways! SO here goes:

Location:

My office shifted 3 times and the current location is a refurblished new block with a long history and is rumoured to be haunted. However with time passed and as more people populate the building, the "yang" energy will put those creatures of the darkness at bay!

People:

People go and people come. I have seen the departure of many people and wondered when is my turn. Hmm.. as mentioned, my unit bade farewell to at least 4 permanent Admin Assistant and many temporary helps. Some 4 executives, 1 nurse, 2 epidemiologists and even 1 consultant. The unit split in 2007 and half of the people departed to another unit and probably a better environment too!

I should not forget all the friends that I have made along the way. Thank you all if you read this post!

Projects/ Events:

Many along the way but I like those that involved the whole company cos is so challenging. You have to solve the logistics, the manpower, the supplies and coordinate the movement of goods and materials to ensure the smooth running of the whole process. It is actually pretty cool when your adrenaline gets pumping especially when you have to do reporting to the ministry within a certain period. You get drained but you feel very satisfied!

Participating in these projects test your own limits and make work more bearable.

Meetings:

Why meeting? Meeting cos some of them are really boring and I have to sit through them hearing the same thing from the boss and trying hard not to fall asleep! Is embarressing to fall asleep in meeting with external people and I did just that in a few! Cannot help it cos is like the tape repeating itself in a boring afternoon!

The best part about Unit's meeting is that more than half of the things that are mentioned are not to be recorded. Thus the minutes at the end of the meeting are just single line sentence for each topic discussed. This is to prevent important information being disclosed to people outside the Unit and which will be used against the Unit. In another words, we should be more confidential than the CIA or the FBI unit.

Photography:

My phototaking as well as video shooting skills improved tremendously when I am in the Unit. Rather, there are plenty of chances to take photos and from different angles as well.

Presentation:

I have the choice to present whatever I want and to research into the topics. Since I m bad at journals, I will choose those topics that I m interested in and write it in such a way that it is related to the discipline of the Unit. A lot of work involved and many unknown areas trampled but the journeys have been fun and enriching. My audiences include Drs and professor. Recently one of the drs told me she did learn something from my presentation.

Conclusions:

I have much to say and too much actually so I will just stop here! Too much of anything makes it dull and I won want that to happen here! The next phase is up the next corner and it will be a new page in my blog!

Say Cheers and bye! Of course we will meet again but not in the office!

This has nothing to do with today's blog but I ran out of non controversial photo!

Quote from Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda Sensei:

"Ultimately, we are responsible for our own destiny. It may seem to us that our fate is predetermined, whether by our genes or by our environment. What really matters, however, is how we can improve ourselves from this moment forward, how we can change the circumstances that we find ourselves in. This enormous transformative force is what Buddhism is all about. In this struggle lies the source of never-ending youth and vitality."

A new step forward!

Finally I resign! Yahoooooo...

2008-03-29T09:25:00.001-07:00

On the 26th of March 2008, I tendered in my letter to the boss and resigned from the position of Executive which I have held for the last 4 years and nearly 10 months. Before I handed in my letter, I was pretty apprehensive and nervious. It is not that I really like my position so much that I am hesitating leaving such a place. The problem got to do with whether or rather what the reaction of the boss will be! In the end, my worries were unfounded, the boss excepted my letter with no big emotion. Later on in another subsequent talk with her, she told me she was surprised I have stayed so long despite the problems with the management! Yah, this means my presence is non-essential and pretty much redundant and I should have gone long ago! Well although I know I was bad-mouthed by her often but hearing from her personally is rather different. Anyway, in the last few days, my parents were insulted because they were uneducated and thus was not able to teach or nurture me in management! I dressed badly cos I came to work in jeans and shorts and the ex-division chair was not happy! Hmm, well I wonder what is the truth and whether there is any truth in her words! I believed if I m really bad in my dressing, the ex-manager will probably talk to me or at least hint to me. No one can beat the boss in coming for accrediation meeting in a light pink long sleeve blouse and a long light purple skirt! Too bad I din take a photo of it!

On Friday, one day after I tendered, she told me it was a short notice that I was giving but I pretty much don think I will be able to work for her any longer. She had wanted me to leave end of the month so that I can transit over to the next person. If you pretty much think that I should not have gone long ago, then there is also no reason that I should stay further to hand over! I have lots of leave to clear. I have so much leave to clear because it is troublesome to take leave and no one to cover. It is troublesome cos you have to check with her first before u can book any holidays and if it coincide with hers, she will threaten to not let you go as no one is around in the office. For goodness sake, if I m away for a long period, I will jolly well ensure that the next person or someone in the office will cover my duty. There is no crush too because I m not a doctor. If the boss is not around, the clinic will be closed too so there is no conflict anyway! For handing over of work, I will try to teach the temporary Assistant and my MO. Poor MO got to learn how to do my job! Wih the frequent changeover of manpower every month and the need to cover whoever is missing, the opportunity to take leave is minimal. Everytime someone leaves, I will do that person's job. Well I try and even if it is not good, I tried anyway. I don complain because it may be my fault that the hiring is delayed. In the end, when I leave, you should at least say "Thank you" to me for being there to hold the function together all these years!

Morale of the story is "Learn from this experience and don be like the boss". She taught us what not to be!

"People who come to your aid in a time of personal crisis are people of genuine compassion and courage. More often than not, people will try to act as though nothing is wrong. Others are either afraid or refuse to get involved, and quietly drift away."

- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda

My mum says I m rude. Well I guess i will try to note that. I guess I m rude because I m quite a crumpsy person when it comes to expressing my feeling.

March 16 marks a significant event!

2008-03-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

Significant day today! March 16 is the 50th anniversary of Toda's sensei entrusting the youth to continue the spread of Nichiren Buddhism to the world and is also the 20th anniversary of Ikeda sensei's visit to Singapore! On such a special occasion, we have a meeting yesterday where SSA invited youth members from the SGI organisation in Asia. Countries attended include Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Sri Lanka, Philippine and Thailand. During the meeting, youth representatives also signed a pledge for kosen rufu to be presented to Ikeda Sensei. SGI General Director also commented that is significant that this event is being held in Singapore, the Lion City.

On the actual March 16, SSA organised the First Youth Peace Interfaith Symposium at the Singapore Expo and it gathered resounding success. The theme for the symposium is "Humanizing Religions, Creating Peace" and the speaker for this first ever peace symposium is Mr George Yeo who is the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is significant to note that the theme is also the theme for the peace proposal that Ikeda Sensei has submitted to the United Nation this Jan 26. My role in this event is part of the welcoming group where we warmly welcomed our foreign minister to this event.

"I choose hope because I feel a deep responsibility to do what I believe I am obligated to do - to pass the world on a better place than when I came into it"

- David Krieger (President of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation)

I choose hope for another reason. I choose hope because without hope we will never believe we can fulfill our dreams nor make the impossible possible!

"Let us extinguish the flames of hatred with a flood of dialogue"

- Daisaku Ikeda

A speaker at the symposium said something like we should not beat someone down because we were being insulted. This is because in peace time, we should not make enemy. We should make friend so that in war time, our friend will shot that someone down before it gets to us!

Well this is not advocating war or even killing. In the end, it should be si vis pacem para pacem - if we want peace make peace!

"A great revolution in just one single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a society and, further, will enable a change in the destiny of humankind."

- Daisaku Ikeda

Today, YMD chief said is a new departure and we should attain a higher level from before. We should set a new determination to start at a higher platform as we have succeeded showing our fellow citizens that what we have been doing is the correct path.

New goals! Renewed determination! Refresh faith! A new human revolution! Another step towards Kosen Rufu!

Leaping over 2008

2008-02-29T18:34:00.000-08:00

Is a sad day today? So far 3 of my colleagues have resigned! This will be the no 4 Admin Asst, no 4 Executive, and 1 consultant that will be changed over! In May, it will also be the 4 th changeover of MOs in the Unit. Woah.. 4414, the last 4 digits of my employee no. and the first 3 digits of my employee no starts with 8. Coincidence or symbolising something big happening! Hmm.. will have to see.

This is also the week that the office is hosting a visiting expert in Occupational Medicine from UK. Well some well known and authoritative person in the field and who is really tall. I gathered he is almost twice as tall as the boss. Ok is a bit overstated! As usual with any foreign visitors, the boss will get into her fake American accent which sounds funny. I don understand why she cannot just speak properly. I don think foreigners have problem understanding us if we pronounce all the words properly.

Back to the topics of resignation! The boss wants me to talk to my executive who had handled in her resignation letter. She wants me to find out the reason behind her decision. Well and honestly, I know the answer but I cannot tell the boss that so that means I have to find some credible story to convince her. Need to discuss with my colleague! Wonder when it will be my turn? I have the urge and inspiration to write the letter and the content is already spinning in my head! This means more daimoku and earnest prayers!

Then another thing I want to do is to tell my other colleague that I like him! Maybe I should just write him an email and tell him I like him. Just I like him and he can interpret it whatever way he wants. Is not very healthy to cope things up too long in the mind and I think telling him will help me to move on! On second tots, I think I will hold it until later!

I want to break through by MAR 16! A significant date for SGI and SSA cos it marks the 50th anniversary of the SGI Youth's determination to carry on the propagation of Nichiren Buddhism and also the 20th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei's visit to Singapore.

"One thing is certain: That is that the power of belief, the power of thought, will move reality in the direction of what we believe and conceive of it. If you really believe you can do something, you can. That is a fact."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Everything comes to nothing

2008-02-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

I do not know why but I am really down. As in, I m in a state of low morale n life condition. Like I say in Facebook these few days,"Foong is sad! She needs lots of hugs and encouragement!". From Ikeda Sensei's quote today "Human life is indeed wondrous. You may be ill physically, but as long as your mental state is strong, it most certainly will exert a positive influence on your body. There may be no better remedy than hope." Guess I need hope. Without hope, we will not be able to survive until tomorrow. Without hope, we will not be able to trust and believe in other people. Without hope, there will be no sunshine, no laughter and no one to share our joy and sorrow! Guess hope is the key to the answer but how to have hope! I need to go and chant!

The office is busy with preparation for some expert to visit next week. I m still calling the secretaries of department to ask them whether their bosses are coming for an open discussion. Do not really like calling people so I have not completed my calling list. We need sponsors for the refreshment and being who I m, I really do not like to call people especially those I don know and ask them to do the sponsorship. Had the help of one of my colleagues from the main department but seems like everyone is on thin budget. Anyway, one of my doctors wants to try 2 other sponsors which we have some dealings!

Probably this is the last blog for Feburary. March may be a better blogging month!

Happy Chinese New Year!..大吉大利，岁岁平安

2008-02-07T21:17:00.000-08:00

Seems like a long time since i last blogged! Busy or just bochap (no interest). This is the second day of chinese new year and I have only been to my uncle's place last nite! This is the routine thing every year. Hmm.. think I better make a difference next year if not chinese new year will be just like any other public holidays!

Since the last blog, I have done quite a lot of things. For January, we completed the FD musical " The little prince". The rehearsals were bad but the students really put up a good show on the actual day and come to think of it, the first 2 shows are more full dress rehearsal than performance. Imagine. The lights and sounds are only adjusted on the morning before the first show! There was never a full run before but u must really give credits to the lighting crews, they performed and marvelously! Since I have not included photos for a long time, will insert some here which were taken during the musical preparation.

Tired after a whole evening of recording especially most of us came after work. We left the studio at about 11pm! This is day 1 of recording!

The RHQ3 FD sisters.... hahah.. Din notice half of us were wearing red and the other half in black. Those of us in black were supposed to help out in the backstage and logistics while the people in red did welcoming, ushering and attendance!

We have the geographer and the sheep in this pic! To understand the characters in the musical, please pick up the book "The Little Prince"!

This is the larger than real life fox in the musical! Cool!..

The next project coming up is the 3.16 meeting in March! Then the Friday Rendeavous sessions will start in April. For the 3.16 meeting, I have no idea what I will be doing. For the Friday Rendeavous, I m in the Workshop committee and we have lined up a series of talks and workshops for the year. Promised to be really cool and fun workshops!

This last week, the office is pretty quiet cos a lot of people are on leave to either do last minute spring cleaning or to go back home for the season. I miss the one on leave to go home! Then we have our HMDP project after the new year! This is going to be focus after the holidays! Lots more things to do? Rather, we don seems to have done a lot of things up to date!

Is New Year and a new beginning so:

心想事成，步步高升，开开心心，圆圆满满

What I want to wish for the New Year? Hmm.. or rather my resolutions:

1) Pass my exam and finally complete my law degree this year

2) Read more books and to finally start reading the "Human Revolution" and "New Human Revolution"

3) Keep my exercise regime

4) To finish my million daimoku and to start on another million

5) To get to know my YWDs and FDs better

6) To do my human revolution ie to be a better person

7) To have the correct attitude in watever i do!

"A person who cannot genuinely empathize with others can never excel as a leader. So much of what ails society today is the result of too many people in leadership positions who do not or cannot identify with the plight of their fellow men and women. It is in enduring pain and struggles that the earth of our humanity is cultivated. And it is from this earth that a capacity to be genuinely concerned for the welfare of others blossoms."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

"Every exit is an entry somewhere."

- Tom Stoppard (Screenwriter and playwright)

走出去就是路！

Sun Tzu Art of War or so

2008-01-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

Today at meeting, we were treated to another piece of famous chinese history! Sun Tzu's Art of War is not only used in ancient warfare but is a great manual for business and commerical strategy! I don think Sun Tzu had any inkings that his works were used by future generations and in such wide application! This post is not going to discuss Sun Tzu as u can always read more about it from books and wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War). So why is this old theory of victory being mentioned during the Unit's meeting? I don know but I guess the basis is the boss has an MBA and she needs to read this because she needs to undertstand how her boss is thinking. It is an acument thing and there is a need to apply this to our enviroment to understand it better!

After the paragraph above, I left this post in the draft post as I got sleepy. Now I m back again! Well there is still another occasion later that Sun Tzu is being brought in again! Anyway, it is good we know what is Sun Tzu all about but to apply it to understanding the big boss is not exactly the best application. I think if I m the boss, I don want my subordinates to use Sun Tzu against or understand me. Sun Tzu is better used in bringing businesses to the company or getting better business strategies! For me, the best strategy will be the 36 strategies of War where the last strategy says to leave while one still can! This is definitely aptly for the situation in the office.

Perhaps the boss should go and read books like "How to trust your staff?", "How to boost the Morale in the Office", "What are the things your staff do not want to hear?", " How to be tactful?", "What is considered as infringing of personal rights?", "How not to sound like a nag yet getting the message through?" and most importantly "Listen to your staff, they cannot be that wrong!". Note these books are of course non-existent but do consider writing one if you have any idea!

"Nonviolence" does not merely mean to refrain from violence. Violence erupts when one person blames another for a problem or conflict. Conversely, nonviolence is a way of life in which one resolves, “Let me be the one to change first.” If this spirit were to be embraced, how much more at peace would our families and society itself be."

- Words of wisdom by Daisaku ikeda

the second blog of the year...

2008-01-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

This year started with a bang? Well, since is my second blog of the year, I don think it has been a bang so far! Got my first migraine/headache of the year last sunday! My nose has been sniffing and blocked for the past 4 days and don seems to be recovering! I have also twisted my ankle last Tuesday while crossing the road. OK it din happen because I was looking at some handsome guys. It would have been better if it had happened because I was eyeing some guys but too bad it just happened while i was walking innocently across the road!

The FD musical training is underway now and we are into the last second week of trainings and rehearsals. There are still quite a lot of things that need to be ironed out! Since I m supposed to do singing, I feel the singers are not getting the feel of the music! Next week will be the week to get it all done!

Just completed a 3 days workshop at the Navy. I did learn quite a lot of things from the workshop and in between i also did a presentation on IAQ to the participant. This is my first external presentation! I won say I did a good job but there is really room for improvement! It is a learning experience in so many areas and contrary to what I tot before the workshop, the people there are exactly very nice! Hopefully there is other chance that I can do the same thing again!

To end this, let's quote from Ikeda Sensei again from "Words of Wisdom"

"Of course, people want to live long. But in the end, what matters more is what we have been able to leave behind -- the value we have created in our lives, the number of people we have made happy and how much we have been able to grow and expand as a person. "

Today my fellow buddhists were telling me how those reactions that I got from the boss could be just a reflection of the causes in my life. It is precisely because of these causes that I got the effect. The effect could be elements that I should change in my life. Changing the causes thus transforming them into postive influence in my life. Probably this is precisely what it means to do human revolution.

My heartiest thanks to 2007 before embracing 2008.

2008-01-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

2007 just passed! It is a good idea now to review what I have done throughout the year. There are so many things so I will just go by the month.

January
NDP audition – The venue will be at the Marina Bay, the temporary platform that is being built especially for NDP while they rebuilt the National Stadium. I heard this platform will be used for 5 years. It is probably the largest floating platform in Asia and a project by Sembcorp.

We shifted meeting location from Telok Blangah to Redhill. It is a new start for my meeting district. Other than that, I cannot really remember.

I passed my driving test on the third attempt.

My sister got married this year and I have the whole room to myself.

The Future Division and Student Division also launched their very own monthly magazine called “Wings”.

February
Chinese New Year fell on this month. This Chinese New Year, I stayed at home and rot and read all the comics that I had no time to read. Till the end of the year, I still had many more to read!

March
YWD 3.16 meeting fell on the month and the first NDP rehearsal started. I remembered my name was not found on the list. After some hassle, they told me I was on reserve list but they din inform me to tell me that. I was pissed because they did call me up earlier to tell me which group I was in. Anyway, I got a temporary pass to go into Kranji camp for the first practice. Then history was made and I remained in the item until the actual performance. My item is called the “River of Dreams” and my grouping is B1.

On this month, we also held our first Future Division Meeting for the year.

April
After almost 4 months or preparation, we had our Delta Zone Friendship meeting at SYC. Our souvenir this is year is a mini standing calendar from April to April 2008. It took us many months to complete the all the souvenirs by all the youth in Telok Blangah chapter.
Overall, it was a successful meeting.

May
2 months into NDP practices and we are still practicing hard for it!

My Law exam starts at the end of the month.

This month is also the changeover for the MOs in my Unit. We have 2 new MOs (not very new cos only 1 is new but the other one has been with us before) for BST training.

June
Law examinations continue and I took leave until 12 June (inclusive) to study. NDP rehearsal had started at Marina Bay by this month.

July
On the 7 of the month, SSA celebrated its 40th anniversary. The celebration was at Indoor Stadium but those of us in NDP had to go for NDP rehearsal instead as it was a performance vetted by the NDP committee. We got through of course.

Attended a piano recital where students were taught music with special methods that aids in the development of their brain.

August
NDP ends on National Day as we put our best performances for the year. 5 months of practices and perspiration culminated in the first ever performance at Marina Bay.

September
Nothing special really or I really cannot remember what’s going on this month

October
The first Nationwide Youth Meeting held on this month.

Future Division’s annual retreat which is a time for IC to refresh their spirit and to plan for the coming year programs.

The first reading club started this month with the book “Lord of the Ring” at SYC and we even put up a blog for comments on this and any book.

This is also the month when I went with my friends to Taiwan. On this, there are photo installments in the previous posts.

November
This month I was officially transferred over to the English district in my chapter. This is the first English district that I will be handling ever since I become a district leader.

Signed up membership with Fitness First and started my gym session at One Raffles Quay.

Reading club this month is on the book “Tuesday with Morrie”.

The MOs at work stayed in the Unit for another posting, after which they will go on for their Master program at NUS.

December
The first 2 days of the month was spent in Johore Bahru as the Future Division participated in an exchanged program with our counterpart in JB. It was truly a great experience as we learnt from each other and shared with one and another on the finer aspects of being a disciple of Ikeda Sensei.

Gotten my first PDA which was sold to me at a low price by my consultant.

Attended this year Daisaku Ikeda Annual Lecture on the topic “Buddhism, Singapore and Interfaith Dialogue”. The speaker is HE K Kesavapany, Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

I joined in the preparation for the FD musical in January to assist in training the student to sing the songs for the musical.

The Future Divisions also did a community project in conjunction with Marina Bay Development, Esplanade and URA. We had to be at various places in town to ask people to sign their wishes on the balloons.

On work, I m helping my consultant with a workshop in January.

Reading club this month is on the book “Totto-Chan”.

Summary
After I have listed the things out, it seems there are not many things that I have done. Hmm.. probably the best thing to do is to re-read all those posts I have done to have an idea of what’s I have really been up to tis year! What I have is in essence what I have in my calendar both written and electronically!

I had given tuition throughout the whole year except during the school holidays. I had attempted to pack my rooms a couple of times. I had been to Kinokuniya countless times. I had also started on my million daimoku of which I m proud to say I have exceeded the half a million marks. In 2008, I intent to complete my million daimoku and to start on another million.

On the office stuff, guess many things happened and I should have written them here and here with my complaining. Come to think of it, I have to write a “What I have done in the office in 2007” for my appraisal this 2008.

I guess I have tried to like someone but that someone din show any sign. Thus, I have decided to move on. It seems really sad though and I think time will help to heal the openings.

After this review, it will be time to set my resolutions for 2008.

In 2008, I will have to be a better ICs for my Students and to look after members in my district.

“One thing is certain: That is that the power of belief, the power of thought, will move reality in the direction of what we believe and conceive of it. If you really believe you can do something, you can. That is a fact.”

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Post Christmas cum Pre New Year blog..

2007-12-27T07:16:00.001-08:00

Took today's title from the post christmas cum pre new year party that we had this afternoon in the office. Technically it was supposed to be yesterday but to accommodate more people, we decided to push it to today! Well all in all about 14 people came for the party. No bad when the replies that I received are less than that number! Food was good because it was planned by the party committee which basically is the whole office but in the end, is left to the wits of my colleague and me! Yah so you can imagine, how frantic we became! We had to take care of food as well as games! Luckily no decor involved this year! I made some Japanese jelly and we skewwered the ham with tomatoes! Comment was this is a pretty neat concept!

The actual party started with this game called "Fact or False" which is done by your truly using all the resources from the internet and some crazy facts that we know! Come to think of it, Mythbuster is not a bad source of information. However one needs to bear in mind that we are not American so certain thing cannot be used because they do not apply to us. I should have cut the questions down as by the time I got to end of the slides, I m extremely tired myself! Then it is a small food break before we continue with a guessing game. It is an action game whereby one is supposed to guess what the other person is trying to hint to him. Ok it starts something like this: 1 person volunteered to do the guessing. A card is then picked with actions written on both top and bottom of the card which is shown to the team mate. The team mate will decide on the action to be done and the card is then placed on the forehead of the volunteer. Then another card is picked and topics to be discussed are again written on the top and bottom of the card. The team mate will decide on the topic to discuss and they will use this topic to hint to the volunteer what the action that is written on the card on his forehead is about. For example, the volunteer's card said "complain" and his team mate picked the topic "rice", then they need to use "rice" as the content of their conversation to let the volunteer guessed that they are complaining. So something like " rice is really expensive, and the price keeps going up" or "got ants found in the packet of rice. what like that wan, must go tell the consumer's people or best still go tell AVA to come arrest the rice importer. Why they so unethical wan?... "

After the guessing game, we had another "see who can unwrap the presents before the number is thrown". This game was tot by my colleague which is basically see how fast u can unwrap a present and if u did so before your turn was up, u get to keep the present. A number is decided and a dice is used to determine whether the initial person who is given the present can unwrapped the present before the number is thrown. In the end after some dice throwing n lots of excitement and many layer of wrappers later, the winner emerged!

There is also a forfeiting game through the whole party which is "nobody supposed to put down the party hat before the game master and if he or she was the slowest to remove, then a forfeit will be bestowed upon him or her". One of my Drs was forfeited because he played plank on the game master a couple of times. The other person who was forfeited was me. Is actually nothing really frightening, I had to stand on a chair n sang a song. I did it with fun and glee. The Dr seems a bit reluctant to do the forfeit and I think we were really afraid that he will get angry. By the way, he had to do 3 forfeits. One was to tell a joke to make the people laugh, second was to be blindfolded and guessed by touch who is the person and third is the same as me, which is to stand on a chair n let the rest decided on a suitable course to do. From my point of view, the forfeits was not that bad so just do it and let the rest had a good laugh. Somehow I find that he was being gangsterish thoughout! This is the same Dr that I liked. Today, I changed my opinion of him. I don know whether I should continue to like this person who thinks nothing about me. I think behaviours can be controlled or adjusted to be better and I don mind liking a "gangster" as long as the guy returns the affection. This is just wasting my time if whatever I do is not going to create any value in the person' s heart. Why should I waste my time liking you? Everyone deserves to be valued and treasured by someone. Everyone is too precious to be thrashed by someone who does not care about you. Thus, I m going to reset my priority in this coming year 2008. It is easier said than done but I have to make that first small step!

I think I m too long winded with no pictures. Then and again, this is my blog and it should be my way!

"It is much more valuable to look for the strengths in others--you gain nothing by criticizing people’s imperfections."

- Words of wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

I know the strength in him and I will accept his flaws. This is to a person you truly like and who returns the affection. It is not worthwhile then to like a person who will have nothing to do with you. I m too precious and my life is too short for that!

Season Greeting and Christmas 2007!

2007-12-25T02:29:00.000-08:00

How fast! It is almost to the end of the year and in another of couple days, we will welcome 2008! It seems like it was 1999 and we looked into the 21 century just not too long ago. Look at now, we are already 8 years into the 21 century. Things have progressed but the world is still not having peace. The shock of Sept 21 just one year into the 21 century does not really signify a peaceful and progressive world! It left people thinking about what we have achieved over the last century and what we still need to improve and what we should bring into the next decade and century. Firstly, I think though globalisation has brought us closer but it also leave a lot of gap around! Though we now can communicate and even travel across long distance in matters of hours, our understanding and our patience have decreased! We are able to see more differences among people and we lose patience when we do not see eye to eye. This is sad cos should not this gives us more time to understand and accept our differences! Anyway, today is Christmas and an event that is celebrated by many people around the globe. Though there are also many of us that do not celebrate Christmas but this does not stop us from bringing some cheers to our friends and families! The celebration of festivals by the people of the world is possible because we appreciate and are able to endure the peculiarities of others which we ourselves do not subscribe! The narrowing of the gap that separate us from them, you from me and he from she should be encouraged because only by understanding and thinking as one common human race, we can then resolved all those problems that are inflicted on us, environment and planet earth!

Therefore, Merry Christmas to all! May Santas continue to bring cheers and gifts to all those who believed in him! I rather enjoy the kissing under the mistletoe legend and m still finding that person to perform such an act!

Orchard Road is open to all pedestrians today! There are some floats on the road on display. Many took this opportunity to take a stroll along the road and some photos as memory to say "HEY! Watch me, I m on Orchard Road itself!"

It is not that glaring here but nothing stops some humor with sunglasses in a shopping centre!

This month has been pretty hectic and I will probably come up with a post on what I did this year as a conclusion to the blog for 2007. This means I have to start writing so that I can post exactly on 31 Dec 2007.

From now to end of the year, there will be a gathering, FD musical training, Telok Blangah Chapter Daimokukai and gym. Seems like a good ending to the year and a fresh beginning for next year!

On counting down to Christmas? I took my cousins to Harry's Pub but since the cousins are still young, we have to sit outside along the Singapore River. Then on to TCC for tea (to wash down the alcohol) and soup! Seems like pretty unadventurous but it was pretty fun still.

"As long as we are human, we are destined to make mistakes. We all fall prey to flawed beliefs and views. What separates a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a malevolent one, however, is whether one can candidly admit to ones mistakes and take bold steps to redress them."

- Words of wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Just watched "National Treasure" Part 2 so from Abraham Lincoln himself who was the president featured during the civil war:

"There are no accidents in my philosophy. Every effect must have its cause. The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future. All these are links in the endless chain stretching from the finite to the infinite."

"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

"The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next."

We are the water!

2007-12-16T02:22:00.000-08:00

I tot "we are the water" will be quite an appropriate title for this blog. This is the title of 1 of the theme songs for this year SEA games. Unfortunately I din follow the whole process and probably to the rest of us who are non atheletic, this is just another event that happen. Right back to the song, the lyrics is pretty interesting. It talks about people like water coming from different places and converging at a common point and become united for a common dream. In this case, it will be victory, glory and achievement at the SEA games. I guess we are all pretty the same, all of us have goals, aspirations, needs and most importantly we are all staying on this planet earth. Our common heritage is the monkey and we are the species called the Homo Sapiens! Then perhaps, if we have this common acknowledgement, we can prevent a lot of conflicts. How can men and women who are so closely knitted have war and arguments that destroy harmony!?

Today, the FD participated in a community service event for URA, Marina Bay development and Esplanade. We volunteered to obtain wishes for Singapore on inflated plastic balls from Singaporeans and tourists all across the island. My venue was at Vivo City and the event started at 12noon. By 2pm, we had gathered enough signature to call it a day. It is really interesting to note that people really asked whether they need to make a donation for this. Of course, it is free. How can we ask people to donate when making wishes for Singapore! In total, we collected signatures on 16 plastic balls of different sizes.

After this, I had to go down for the final district meeting of this year. Although only 2 of my YWDs attended the meeting, it is considered a good meeting. I will have to work harder next year. It will be really great that my YWDs can grow and develop into capable individuals in their respective frontier! It is also time to pen down my resolutions for 2008. Some of 2007 needs to be brought forward not because I have not done them but I know I can do better next year. 2008 is a year developing capable people for the next decade!

No pictures for this blog. However I m still going to end with quote from Daisaku Ikeda Sensei.

"The heart is what is important." There is nothing more vulnerable, nothing more corruptible than the human mind; nor is there anything as powerful, steadfast and ennobling."

- Words of wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

"The fortitude to fight on through to the very end—this strength is not only the basis of happiness, it is also the force by which social wrongs can be righted. It makes no difference how humble or virtuous a person may be if they cave in at a time of crisis. Such a person may even end up betraying others. That is why we must become stronger. Victory can only be wrested by those who are strong."

- Words of wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

- Charles Darwin

"It is not length of life, but depth of life"

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

往往一个人都会觉得自己能做什么呢？其实只要一个人能觉醒，能毫无畏惧的站起来，世界的转变就开始了。

Totto Chan and her quest for the welfare of the children.. An early morning on Saturday..

2007-12-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

Totto-Chan, does the name ring a bell? This was a little gal who was a little gal during the second world war. A little gal who was different from others because she was more curious! In yesterday environment, this was equivalent to being naughty and unruly and children were not supposed to ask more questions nor disobey their teachers. Totto chan was expelled from elementary school. Well, Totto-Chan's mum did manage to find her another school and this school called Tomoe taught children to be themselves and used their curiousity as a method of education. Totto-Chan learnt in these classrooms of previously train cabins.

This was shared at the reading club yesterday at SYC. The attendance was not that fantastic but I think everybody did bring back some Totto-chan's spirit back home. This Totto-Chan really grows up to be someone true to herself. It is a true story of a Japanese lady who became a celebrity and an UNICEF embassador.

The Japanese version of Totto-Chan. The Englsh version is called Totto-chan - The girl at the window. This book has been translated into many languages including Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai. Of course, I have the English version. Read this a couple of years ago and certain episodes in the book touches me so then.

I woke up early today not simply to blog about Totto-Chan. I had something in mind. While my laptop started just now, I was reading about Ikeda Sensei's dialogue with the Youth on GOYA. One thing that striked me then was being true to oneself and to live by one's standard rather than to others. When we stand up for ourselves, we truly find our purpose in life. It is a shame to live in the shadow of others cos other won live for us. We live only once and if we are awkward about it then, we really have live in vain.

This morning, I was reflecting on my behaviour and my dialogue and conclusion with myself was I want to meet people and talk to people with my heart. Ok, this does not mean to dig out my heart n ask it to talk. It means to dialogue with sincerity. In chinese, it should be 以心比心. Hopefully by using your "heart" to dialogue, it will reach into the heart of the other person who will reciprocate with their "heart" to you. This is also the avenue to start a heart to heart and meaningful relationship, a way to develop trust n peace among people. I talk about this because I find I might be too artificial at times and I don really like people to be that too especially those I consider as friend. I guess age and time and life do harden people as time pass by but we should not let this hard fact of life control us. Like what I was saying, we should live true to our life n not the standard of others. In using the heart, we appreciate associating with this person. After that, there is no regret. I would like to say to this person that I like at work (Whether or not he has any clue I like him), I have use my heart so please treasure it!

More picture from Taiwan and I would have finished the whole installment!

Another picture of damage by earthquake in Taiwan during Sept 21, 99. This scene was preserved in the Earthquake museum.

Last meal in Taiwan and the best! Japanese steamboat and eat all you can! Tuck in everyone!

Standing in front of the mall that houses the bookstop that I had been pursuing the whole of the trip. My final trip to the bookshop before heading home with lots of books.

The last leg to home. Taken at Kaohshiung airport, the corridor send passengers to their respective flight! Ciao n till next time, Taiwan!

"Trust is as difficult a coin to earn and it is easily lost - the trust built over a decade can be shattered in an instant by one offhanded remark or deed. A person who is not swayed from their chosen path, even during the most trying times, will ultimately find that he or she is trusted from virtually every quarter. "

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

An ept quote from Ikeda Sensei on today's blog.

I tot I m busy on Saturday but Sunday is even worse...

2007-12-09T04:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a busy day or rather I had a work out in the morning followed by shopping. Kino is having 20% discount until the beginning of Janurary 08 and how can I miss such an opportunity to get more books! In the end, I din really get that many except for what I should be getting - the latest release to 2 comic titles and a book for my cousin!

As for today, my alarm rang at 7am but I was only physically up at 7.40am thinking I had enough time to prepare and go out of the house by 8am. Unfortunately a miscalculation on my part resulting in me leaving the house 5 minutes late but my friend was even later so by the time we took the train, it was already about 8.30am. We needed to reach Senja Kaikan by 9am for the FD musical training. If I had not already mentioned in the previous post, the SSA FD will be presenting a muscial called "The Little Prince". Yeah, clap clap, gonna be a world class musical. Although today training was still a bit ra fwor everybody but there is potential for improvement! SO, wait for 26 and 27 January 08 for the actual staging of the musical!

Before the end of the training, we had to rush back to Tiong Bahru for another meeting. This time, it would be the FD RHQ3 ICs and student mass home visiting meeting at my friend's house. The same friend who went to Senja with me in the morning. I had to go home first to print the write up for Totto-chan and to bring my laptop for the meeting later. Though the meeting was supposed to start at 1pm, we din start until 1.30pm with gongyo and daimoku. I was feeling kinda of groggy by then cos woke up too early and not enough sleep. Anyway, the meeting started with the impression from the JB exchange by both the RHQ3 Chief and a student. It was a good exchange session and a new start off for our FD campaign towards FD musical 2008. The meeting ends at 3.15pm and I had to rush for another appointment at SYC.

Took a cab down to SYC cos I was getting late and it was raining. The lucky thing was I managed to wave a cab almost the min I got to the road. At SYC, we had to put up this notice board for Reading Club where people can leave their message n impression for the book of the month. For this month, we will be doing Totto-chan and which was the reason why I had to go home earlier to print the write up. We did up the notice board on record time with the cooperation from the members of the reading club. Hopefully, people will really leave their impression on the board. The content will change each month according to book of the month. For those curious about the reading club, please go to http://readingclubsyc.wordpress.com/

Conclusion, today is really a FD day. FD in the morning, FD in the early afternoon and FD in the late afternoon. Nite? Well is for me to blog. haha.. La Viva FUTURE DIVISION!

More of Taiwan's photos below:

The interior of Taipei 101. The core of the building houses Page One, a local company that makes its name in Taiwan. There, you probably find the most english books in Taiwan. The interior design of Page One is really nice, though a bit difficult to navigate!

Shen Keng's Tofu street, where u find specialists of stinky tofu. However I don really find the tofu stinky here!

Here is Feng Jia nite market! Another of those street market where u can find many stuff and local Taiwaness food. As usual, I was not really impressed with the food but the stinky tofu here is not that bad though.

This piece of landscape was devastated by earthqauke on September 21, 1999. To remember this day in Taiwan's history, the government preserved the damage caused by the earthquake and created a museum to teach all about the earthquakes and their physics.

Ri Yue Lake or sun moon lake, the only inland state in Taiwan that does not face the sea. It has become such a tourist area that it is no longer cheap to stay in any hotels or resorts facing the lake.

"The heart of one person moves another's. ... If one's own heart is closed, then the doors of other people's hearts will also shut tight. On the other hand, someone who makes all those around him or her into allies, bathing them in the sunlight of spring, will be treasured by all."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

- Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) - Ex USA President

Abraham has it when he said the true worth of man is tested when he is given power.

"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."

- Christopher Reeve (Ex Superman)

We must dare to dream!

To quote Ikeda Sensei again, "I have a dream, only I can fulfill.."

No boss around! No one to stop us from talking with our neighbours...

2007-12-08T01:55:00.000-08:00

This week is a fine week! No boss around and we are free to talk to anybody in the office without being worried that that the boss will appear at any time.. hahah.. No stress week! Well she will be back next week though and I m getting a headache now!

Christmas is near and town is full of lights and human beings! Well it just shows that business is good and people really buying. I bought my chinese new year clothes today as well. Yes, it is a wee bit early but it beats trying to find something that is not red when the session is nearer.

Well I have to continue my Taiwan's trip photo in this post after a long break.

Welcome to the famous Shilin nite market! Ahhh, actually I m not really impressed with it except the place is really big and crowded.

The Train! Contrary to what the tour guide and tour leader said, is pretty easy getting around on the train! What can be more complicated than Tokyo's train station or even London's undergound labyrinth!

Welcome to Zhong Zheng gate! I don know whether they are dismantling this place or renovating this place cos I have been hearing quite a lot of contrasting opinion!

Soldiers, the cream of the crops, changing duties at the Zhong Lie's Temple! This is to commemorate those who had served the country's with courage and royalties!

Once the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 is now being overshined by Burj Dubai since Jul 2007. No visit is completed without a trip to this symbol of Taipei and Taiwan!

Went to gym today! Great new is my lean weight is up and fat is down. However, there is no change in the total weight. Therefore I have to abstain from potato which is one of my favourite food!

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Need to go take a nap but I think I will blog pretty soon!

JB exchange and to have a sense of gratitude!

2007-12-02T04:52:00.000-08:00

Finally into the month of December and christmas is just round the corner again! Hmm.. last year this period of the year, I was preparing to go to Japan for holidays! It was a great trip and I got to meet mickey mouse but I lost my camera in Shinjuku and all my photos! This just meant I have to go back again! I have to visit SOKA GAKKAI headquarters again! Kenshu? Maybe..

Had wanted to blog before the end of November but opportunity did not knock on the door as I was really busy the whole of last week with activities in SSA and also gym. Below is a summary of what I did last week:

Monday - Reading Club discussion at TBSC with the committee and Denise, our speaker for the next reading club on 14 Dec 07

Tuesday - Briefing for the JB exchange at SYC, submission of souvenirs and payment of $50

Wednesday - Gym at Fittness First. Muscle aged for a few days after that.

Thursday - Went to the airport to send my brother off to Sweden. He will be there for a year. Rush down to Redhill for a YWD meeting with our new Chapter YWD chief.

Friday - Gym again before finally going down to Jurong Soka Centre. At JSC, we stayed for the nite to set out together to JB on Saturday.

Saturday and Sunday - First overseas exchange meeting with JB (Johor Bahru)'s SGM Future Division.

The whole experience at SGM (Soka Gakkai Malaysia) Future Division is really enjoyable and it was a learning experience for all of us. I have never seen FD students who are really filled with enthusiasim and full of youthful life forces. They really took pride in what they do and they really perform the roles they were given to the best of their abilities! Gakkai is a place for youth development! One thing I learnt from the leader from KL was to always have a sense of gratitude as we are practicing Nichiren Buddhism. In order to learn what Ikeda Sensei is feeling, we have to read his books to find the bond with him. This exchange humbled many of us as the purity of faith in these members are incredible. Ghee Han, Singapore FD Chief, told us to have a dream because we will move forward. Wai Leong, Student chief from KL, told us to study, have a good health and to polish our life into diamond. Johore regional MD chief told us to not neglect our meal so that we do not get gastric which incidentally can develop into ulcer, then cancer and ultimately death. These advice though simple but provide the fundamental for practicing faith. We need to be healthy to do our activites, we need the knowledge and wisdom to share with the people around us and finally we all have a mission to fulfill and only we can do it!

JB exchange 1 and 2 December 2007. - Establishing the Foundation for Eternal Victory in the Next 10 Years Through Faith, Practice & Study!

Early saturday when we set off towards Tuas!

Into Johore and on our way to the SGM Johor Kempas Kaikan.

The facade of the Johor Kempas Kaikan, officially opened in 2000, which the local members spent 10 years planning and funding.

A sharing session where we discuss the mentor-disciple relationship. Lion cubs will emerge as lion.

Kosen Rufu, a stone inscripted with the chinese character placed at the carpark of the kaikan.

The notice board of a private kaikan where meeting of Honbu 1 Chapter 3 is held.

Finally, members of group 17. We have members from Johore, Sembilan, Singapore and KL.

Resolution No 1 - I m going to start reading Sensei's New Human Revolution!

"One of my favorite Argentine poets, the great educator Almafuerte (1854-1917) wrote: "To the weak, difficulty is a closed door. To the strong, however, it is a door waiting to be opened." Difficulties impede the progress of those who are weak. For the strong, however, they are an opportunity to open wide the doors to a bright future. Everything is determined by our attitude, by our resolve. Our heart is what matters most."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Thank you SGM!

A whole day of TV and Internet!

2007-11-18T07:19:00.000-08:00

Sunday seems to be the day to get sick! Well I got up and din feel very well and continue to lie in bed until about 11am. Then a bit grouchingly, I had to drag myself out of bed! Took some chinese herbal tea but din really help and had to use generous dose of medicated oil to lessen the pain. As a result of not feeling well, I also missed today's last study meeting and a chance to meet some of my new YWDs. As it is too wasteful to go to sleep and I don want to waste my sunday, I had to tilt my head one side and starts on my DVDs, VCDs and audio CDs cataloguing. Finally after some struggle and much medicated oil, the list is completed! Yeah!

Today I have watched almost 3 episodes of Crime Scene Investigation starting from LA, NY and Miami before going on to Boa vs Python, then the HK TVB awards (Lydia Sum got the achievement award in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of TVB) and Eragon on DVD! I had to get the original Eragon VCD. Then TV showed the TV special of HERO, the movie stariing Takuya Kimura, Takako Matsu adn Lee Byung Hun. The story is a prequel to the movie that will be in cinema this month. Yeah, all my favourite actors and actress, so I m definitely watching! After Hero was 综艺大哥大 and now I am watching CSI-Miami again!

Besides the TV, the Laptop is also on for the whole day! I have been in and out of facebook, yahoo mail and other websites! hahah.. gonna kenna radiation poisoning soon!

Now, another installment on my Taiwan's trip.

Peace train station, a place for toilet break. We are on our way to visit the jade and gold mazu temple in 南方澳, a small fishing harbour in Yilan 宜蘭 county.

The port itself just in front of the Mazu templet and supposedly, further out is where the Taiwan's naval fleet is stationed! Well since it is a seaport, you can get some sea product like dried shrimp.

This is the street of 九份, where we shop for all the mango puddings and sun biscuits! And not losing out, I got 1 big box of sourvenir here to bring back home.

Naturally weathered rocks in YeLiu 野柳. Shaped like mushrooms but tasted not like them. There is even 1 feature that resembled Queen Elizabeth.

We had dinner in this resturant called 两个飘舞的woman. Hahah.. ok this is what the guide told us so I don know whether is the correct name. Anyway, the architecture remains me of Gaudi's organic style. Well I think there is some element of organic here. I bought the book on the architecture but I have not read it yet! haha, wat's new!

Finally, the pics have reached Taipei so next blog should be in Taiwan.

Human Rights?.. is it a right for human?..

2007-11-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

According to the United Nation Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed in 1948, human rights is much more than freedom to do whatever you want, it contains the freedom to practice free thoughts and religion, equality of all human regardless of race, culture and education, equal rights of woman and children, no slavery, fair trial and access to the law, freedom to own property and many others. The bill containing 30 articles was ratified on December 10, 1948 and next year will be the 60th anniverary of the declaration. Human rights is part of International Public Law and though the declaration has been in place for more than half a century, failure of human rights is still evident in many parts of the world. Mainly the children and the women folks are victims. There is no rights for human if politics and self interest lie first in person of authority. However human rights is not a tall story nor something so big that it can only be achieved by the authority. It can always start with oneself. We, as common people, do our part to upheld the integrity in ourselves and the people around us. Simple things like being friendly and cordial to our neighbours in multi-racial Singapore is already practicing human rights. Thus it is not difficult, it is part of being human beings!

Many believe including myself that our country has no human rights. If I really look closer and applying the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we have human rights. Most importantly, male and female have equal access to eduation and to justice. We have the rights to practice our religion. We have the freedom to travel to any countries we want with minimun difficulties. There are many more examples. Well, we do believe in capital punishment but this helps to deter crime in some way. Thus if we say we have no human rights, we have really define human rights in a narrow term! We have restricted our human rights!

The current supervisor cum boss at work told me "There is no human rights in this country" ".. you and your human rights issue, no wonder whatever I told you, you will not follow.." The reason why she said this start with my refusal to wear a skirt to work. The boss insisted that it is the dress code but the the actual dress code says that dress pant is also allowed. Thus this insistence is because of my "Human Rights" principle. I m not trying to disobey or being unreasonable and as an employee of a particular company, if is the dress code, then I have to follow. However the reason given by the boss is not exceptable. This is my insistence of being treated fairly as an employee and being in skirt or pant is not a life and death issue. Furthermore, it is more convienent to move around in pant. As any subordinate, there are certain things I have to fulfill but the frequent bringing up of the fact that I do not wear skirt is really too often and void of logic especially when it is not a company policy. The boss can win but the boss will win if only she makes people do thing in a logical way. Being a dictator is not going to garner her any respect from her staff. Employees will not work hard for their employer who are "asshole" and even if they are, they must be motivational "asshole". An indiscriminate display of nastiness is going to earn more disgust than grace.

Come, let's shift away from a workplace that does not even know how to respect their employee to a place where u can even fight in parliament. You guess it? Well is Taiwan and my next installment of photos.

This is the starting point of the first East West Highway! From here you can travel from the East of Taiwan to the West and I believe we are someway near Hualien.

There is a shrine that is built here to commemorate those who had given their life for something I cannot remember but is either for the country or something they build. Anyway this place has a stone with these 4 words 长春听涛 or forever listening to the fall. Peace for those who are buried here.

The hotel that we were staying in Hualien. Not bad internally too. It has some nice marble carvings in the lobby for display and sale. Hualien is home to Marble.

Welcome to the Hua Lian's aboriginal cultural village. This is the home base of the Amei tribe, one of the 12 official tribes in Taiwan. We were treated to a night of dances and songs. Some of the audiences were also invited down to the floor to dance with them later on in the program. Try your talent at pole, anyone?

We are on our way to Taipei along the pacific water and round 5 mountains! I m going to be sick with all those round the mountain roads. Consolation? Enjoy the vastness and clearness of the Pacific Ocean and be scared with how close the coach cruised along the edge of the cliff!

Next installment on another day!

"When we draw strength from within, our outlook undergoes a dramatic transformation; everything around us looks completely different. To be strong--that is the key to happiness."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Like what Ikeda Sensei says "The Heart of one person moves another's.", I hope my heart will be able to move others especially the one that I like.

I must really sleep properly so that I will not get sick on Sunday! I missed the last study meeting of this year and I missed meeting some of my new YWDs!

1 wedding and 1 funeral..

2007-11-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

Watched "4 weddings and a funeral"? Today, I have attended 1 wedding and a funeral. Life is really something fragile and something that can be broken so easily. Nothing can give back life once it is gone. Life has to be recycled in order to come back again. In buddhism, this is what happened, life leaves the body and return to the universe, recharged and come back again as another personality. Fundamentally, life remains unchange and karmic link remains intact! Sounds profound? Nope if u think about it. Everything leads to something. Like energy, one form is transformed to another, there is no energy that will disappear. Energy will just come back in another form or be imbedded in another thing. For example, the nitrogen cycle and the carbon dioxide cycle.

Therefore do not begrudge life. U will not get a second chance! Simple yet difficult to apply. If we are not afraid to face our life full on, we will definitely be able to achieve much more. Our human and mortal thinking always hinders us. Utimately, it is not that hard to say " I like u" or to say " I m Sorry". Why then do we not say it out willingly and freely enough? Our pride stops us! We still want "face"! Complex human feelings! Think about it! I m!

Now for another installment on Taiwan tour. Some more of Kaoshiung before heading to Taidong and Hualien!

What u see behind me is the statue of wen wu da di. He has his leg stepping on 1 tortoise and a snake and his hand holding a sword! Flanging the bridge are immortal soldiers as well as the 四大护法.

This is the courtyard of the luohan statues. All the luohans have different pose so I think there are more than 600 here if I get my info correct. Anyway, this will lead to the main temple where it houses 2 huge buddhas.

Into Taidong and on route to the red leaf spa area.

This is taken at the spa and of course no shot in swimming costume will be displayed here. haha.. n after this, we will proceed to the Bear Holiday Resort.

Somewhere near Hualien, the street where the tour guide lives. An ordinary street in the sub urban are and is so quiet. Accordingly, all the youth and young people are either in school or in the big cities to earn a living. Only those who can find a job stays around and even then, it seems like a deserted town in broad daylight!

"True love should be transformative, a process that amplifies our capacity to cherish not just one person but all people. It can make us stronger, lift us higher and deepen us as individuals. Yet, in the end, we can only partner with those befitting ourselves. The same is true of friendship. Only to the extent that one polishes oneself now can one hope to develop wonderful bonds of the heart in the future."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Should I say it here? I like one of the Drs working with me now. I don know whether he knows anot but if he does, he sure really know how to pretend not to know!

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery (who wrote "The Little Prince")

Stardust.. fantasy n Human Realm..

2007-11-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

Is amazing or rather interesting to have a form changed when you cross over some line! In the movie "Stardust", a star becomes dust when she crosses into the human realm through a wall that separates the 2 world. Is not rather true that a tiny line divides right n wrong, fantasy and reality, sky and earth, man and animal, real and image?

Stardust is worth watching and I m going to get the book and the VCDs. If you love fairy tales, happy endings, witch crafts, magic, curses, romance, adventure and UK, this is the movie for you! From wikipedia, the filming locations of the movie took place in Scottish Highlands, Isles of Skye, and places in England itself such as Buckinghamshire. I like the landscape of these places and it really brings back memory of my stay in UK. I won mind backpacking in the highlands again. The air is fresh and the scenary is breath taking. U feel like you are one of the highlanders when u are in Scotland!

Anyway, UK will have to wait until next year perhaps. Back to Taiwan, Let's put up some more photos before I forgot where I have been.

Dream Mall in Kaohshiung, Taiwan. Accordingly, it is supposed to be the 6th largest mall in Asia. Well, is like any other mall with lots of shops. The best thing is it contains 2 bookshops of which my favourite is 誠品bookshop.

The interior of Dream Mall. This photo is taken to show the big escalator behind me.

Why? or spoilt? The Taiwanese has an interesting way of making English sounds Chinese. So next time when you say why, remember it may be spoilt instead!

The ferris wheel with carriages of Sario or Kitty and friends on them. This is located on the top floor of Dream Mall. Great view of Kaohshiung on it but then and again, the air is probably too polluted for you to really have a clear pic of the City.

"Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind."

- A Midsummer Night's Dream (I, i, 234) by William Shakespeare

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

- Eleanor Roosevelt (Ex First lady of US)

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend."

- Albert Camus (Nobel Prize for Literature 1957)

Boss versus Employee

2007-11-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

To the boss, if you cannot find what she wants, is because you are untidy and disorganised. If the boss cannot find thing, is because she has lots of things. Hmmm.. The boss is always right?

"Boss, the deadline for submitting the document is tomorrow?"

"I m so busy, how can I possibly do it and why do u always pass me things at the last minutes? I have told you so many times..... Why do we have to do this, it is not important! They are other more important things to do"

In fact, this is the umpteen time that the document has been presented to her. She had made multiple changes so when this draft is presented to her, the deadline is near. The document is required to fulfill some certification requirement in the office.

On another day...

"Boss, BD require the document from you a few days before the meeting so that they can go through it.."

"Ok ..I will get back to them"

"Boss, the meeting is tomorrow, BD just called regarding the document.."

" .. Haiz.. I will email them"

On the actual day of the meeting, the document is finally shown to BD 5 minutes before meeting the client. After the meeting, BD told me the document is still the same as the original document that they send to her. The boss is supposed to decide on the term and amend the document before meeting the client.BD was supposed to have a copy before the meeting so that they know what is going on. We are back to zero, the purpose of the meeting is not fulfilled.

Most the time, the employee working under the boss are the people that suffer because we made excuses for their delay and we have to bear the blunt too. hahha..

Was in Taiwan from 22 October 2007 to 28 October 2007. 1 whole week of no work and no nonsense from the boss. Yeah!

Loading of luggages onto the plane. Raining outside. Cool to take this in BW.

First meal in Taiwan and we had lunch at the Hakka Cultural Village! Smile, tea?

Famous 担仔面 in 六合 market in Kaohshiung. Salty but still ok if you ask me! The portion is small though so if you don like it, you won waste too!

More of Taiwan later.

Reading is to gain knowleage. Resting is to be able to go further.

2007-10-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

3 Rs - Reading, Resting, Recharging!

When I read, my brain is recharged because I gain new knowledge and insight into things. When I read, my mind starts to wonder and wonderful images are formed to encourage and to propel me onwards!

When I rest, it is to make sure that my body is recharged to take flight again and to be able to take on more adventure! After I rest, my spirit will be recharged and nothing will be a hedge that I cannot overcome!

When I recharge, I will be a better person than I used to be. After I recharge, you will see that I m a better person, a person that will stand strong,both physcially and mentally, when surrounded with obstacles. Nothing will bring me down cos I will not allow it to happen. Nothing is too difficult if we set our determination to do it!

Ganbatte!!

"All great literature, ancient and modern, is a bridge connecting one human being to another, one spirit to another. The quality of our life is determined by how many of those bridges we can cross."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

I want to love, be loved and be in love!

"Love wins, love always wins" - Excerpts from "Tuesday with Morrie"

What has it got to do with upbringing?

2007-10-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Teenagers are kicked out of their house after high school in the States and if they fail to launch, the parents will have to think of some way or employing someone to kick their children out of the house. For further info, please consult the movie "Failure to Launch". In Asia, we stay with our parents until we get married and may stay on even after marriage! Basically, there is no issue about staying at home as long as you contribute to the daily expenses and houseworks. I think parents are even glad that their children are still living with them after they get married.

On the issue of upbringing which basically means training that someone received while he/ she grows up! They are different types of upbringing and it will probably depends on the culture, religion, who your parents are and the type of family background you come from. I don think anyone will say I have better upbringing than you etc because who is to judge whether anyone has better upbringing! Will you say that a politician will have better upbringing than a polite waiter working in a restaurant? In the news and especially in some parliament of some countries, corruptions and even cat fighting are occurring among politicians during parliament sessions. A polite waiter who smiles at his customer will warrant a praise but is it his good upbringing that he smiles a lot or is it just his friendly nature? Point to ponder.

Tiring day today especially since I din sleep well last nite so going to end this post here n go to sleep.

Insult me but please don insult my parents! I think they are pretty proud of the fact that they did not fail in their parenting cos we din end up as criminals!

"I suffer whenever I see that common sight of a parent or senior imposing his opinion and way of thinking and being on a young soul to which they are totally unfit. Cannot we let people be themselves, and enjoy life in their own way? You are trying to make that man another you. One's enough." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A round of applause for Emerson, he said it all!

Happy Boss Day!.. Cupcakes anyone?

2007-10-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Today is Boss Day! Should there be such a day? Should we as subordinate give our boss a treat? A debatable answer. If the boss is good to his/her staff, it will be a good time to show their appreciation for all the rubbish that he/she needs to put up every day in the office. If the boss has been bad, then the staff can still show appreciation to shame the boss for his/her bad attitute! As a boss, if your employee give you something on this occasion, will you be flattered or will you think that there is some ulterior motive? I will be flattered as the boss because it shows that I have subordinate that still care about me even though I may have been mean to them at times. Even if it is purely "polishing my shoe", they still bother to do it. Question? If the boss accepted your gift, consume it, thanks you for it and then told you later that this gift is to butter her, how will you feel? If the boss thinks that it is with motive, then would not he/ she reject the gift upright and chide the employee for such action? However, the acceptance of the gift will also signify that the Boss understands the implication? Then, would not a gift be just out of the good will of some one with the only motive of making someone happy. I believe we all love to receive gift as this is human nature. No one will turn something down unless the purpose behind such gift is really of question eg bribery or even criminal in nature or they are for something that you are unable to perform or they are really too expensive to receive as gift for no reason at all.

An innocent cupcake becomes an item of evil intention. How absurd can that be?

More beautiful cupcakes! They looks good yet be not deceived by its mere appearance.

Please also note that comments to cupcakes' pictures above are not directed at the cupcakes themselves or their ingredient or baking methods or their makers or even the shops that sell them or anything related to these cupcakes. Comments are used metaphorically.

Therefore the morale of the story is never give gift or even cupcakes to your boss. Is just not worth that effort! You will be backstabbed for whatever intention you may have.

Finally we should leave with this following quote:

"Failure is an instrumental part of every success. Whether our life has been a triumph or tragedy can only be judged at its very end."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

I think without failure, we probably will not know what is success. To succeed, we probably have to fail first. Most importantly, we have to pick ourselves up from the failure and carry on!

I cannot oversleep!

2007-10-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

I had wanted to blog yesterday when I was highly inspired. Cannot remember what I had wanted to say but I think it has to do education! Why this topic? I don exactly remember but it probably got to do with the fact that I have more than a basic degree and a comment by a friend of what's wrong with having something more than a degree. Education is not a tool to tell people you are more superior than them because u know more. Education is a tool for people to get beyond the environment (meaning the environment beyond the skin that wraps our flesh and organs) that they are in. It is something we all need to become more human and to empathise with others. Then even if we are educated, it does not make us more superior human beings cos knowledge can make someone arrogant! I guess when I got myself educated, it is not to show my superior studying power but rather I want to know my world and I want to know why things are happening around me. I want to know why there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and why the gods are quarreling when there is lightning and thunder on a rainy night. I want to play a part in maintaining the ecosystem on this world in which we live. Though the earth may not be the only living planet in the entire universe, it is probably where we will be for many years to come.

Today I overslept and I slept in the afternoon and as a result, I got a terrible headache which is not so bad now. I think I really have to find something to do on weekend.

A black and white photo that was taken from a canon camera which I only realise has this function a couple of days ago.

Same canon camera but in its original colour.

The sky in black and white. The sky is the limit and probably that means no limit!

Hmm.. last friday, we had the first reading club at SYC organised by FD! The first book to start off this session was Lords of the Rings! Remember the famous quote of "One ring rules them all"? Power in the wrong hand will lead to suffering. It takes a strong individual both in spirit and inner strength to resist power and to use it wisely. It is rare to find such individual.

To quote:

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Guess our life span is limited so if we are always limiting ourselves because the norm says so then we are really wasting our lives! I should not live to regret because I have no time for that! This is also wat my friend told me. This is the moment! To quote from the lyric of a song from RENT, there is "No day but today". Incidentally, RENT is also a very inspiring muscial about life of the common people who are constantly confronted with their own identity and basic survival.

There is "No day but today"!

Kenshu is the time to refresh our spirit to travel further

2007-10-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

Finally I have paid the whole tour amount. If nothing copes up and there should not be, I will be setting out to the country which the UN does not recognise and where the wearing of red is not exactly recommended unless u decide u want to stay there permanently. Wear red for Burma too and I wore that colour on Saturday and Sunday n not on the Friday. Sorry, seems not that appropriate wearing red to work on Friday! Plus, I have no red blouse to flaunt anyway.

Hmm... last evening and this morning, we have our year end Kenshu for FD Ics. The topic discussed revolve on this Mentor and Disciple spirit or for short M & D spirit. It took me some time to register what M & D stands for cos the official theme for the Kenshu is "My Mentor & Me" so I was wondering what happens to the D or M.. Should it not be M & M? Sounds like chocolates which incidentally is one of my favourite brand of chocolates. Then, I don really eat that much too! What is M & D spirit? I gather it got to do with fulfilling our teacher's dreams. Ok, is a lot more than that but I don exactly want to reproduce wat I had learnt and heard! Besides FD chief, the other Youth division chiefs also turned up to elaborate more about this M & D spirit. I think is a personal experience that will be unique to each of us. How can we reach into our mentor's heart and how do we inculcate this into our FD members? The conclusions is then for me to think, live, breath and feel my mentor in my life and daily go abouts. In this way, we will be able to convince n bring forward this M & D spirit.

The second part of the Kenshu which was this morning is left for study lecture. It is the best every year. How do we then lead a life pulsating in rhythm with our mentor? 3 words - Choice, Compassion and Champion! We have the choice to change the life of ourselves and others and to bring happiness to ourselves and others! Simple words yet deep meaning within it! Guess I make it too simple here but then this is a blog and not a buddhist lecture and tutorial class. If I get too technical, i will probably fall asleep myself. Hahaha..

Lovely RHQ3 Ics. Chief says to retire gracefully from FD when it is time!

Last and not least. If anyone goes to see fortune teller and predicts your fortune! Never think it is fated and resigned to it. In buddhism and what the lecturer today puts it nicely, as practicers of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism, we have the power to change our life and karma. Thus this is a buddhism of turning poison into medicine. We chant to bring out the best in ourselves, displaying high life condition and wisdom!

Let Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo shines through!

Non-disclosure indemnity and happy news

2007-10-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Today, there is a mixture of news. It started out pretty ok in the morning with a plan to visit one the Drs who has just given birth to a pair of unidentical twins! Cute babies (though we only get to see one as the other baby is still under observation) and the mother do definitely needs a bottle of wine and some chocolate for the hard work she has undergone to have the babies. SO for a new birth, do we give presents to the mother or do we give it to the babies?.. Hmmm, personally I think we should give to the mother! Isn't it obvious? She really really puts in a lot of hard work and effort to bring lives into this world. On baby news, another of my friends is on her way to have a baby next January! yeah! Loves all these happy baby news. Makes me want one as well. That will have to wait until I find the right guy! YO, where are U?

On not so happy news, I m currently looking for a template on non disclosure. Things are getting pretty "political" at the place where I work. I used to like politic and this is during JC. Now I try very hard to shun away from it all. U get burnt for nothing at all and all I wanted is to get things done and get to do what i want to do.

Been too tired to read recently and I should really get back into my reading habits! 3 more months to go before the end of the year and I m very behind in my readings. 3 more months towards achieving my resolutions for this year! Ganbatte! Must get to reading them!

So to end this average day, let's quote this:

"Ultimately, our battle is with ourselves. Whether in our activities in society, or whether in historical, political or economic developments, everything essentially boils down to a struggle between positive and negative forces."

- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda

I m still me no matter wat! As long as I don lose sight of myself, I m sure I will be able to change my environment!

We are the world! We are the children!..

2007-10-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

Remember Micheal Jackson's famous song that goes "we are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a better place for you and me.." Seems to be the anthem for children of the world then... Are all heros fallible? Hmm probably since they are still human beings in one sense. How not to make mistakes or rather become pompous? I think the heros must remain humble and not be too big headed with his glory. This will probably apply to civilisations as well. All civilisations had its glory n its dark ages. However, the remains of their cities walls and archaeological artifacts proved they had really been here and conquered the place for that period in time! Examples of Civilistaion includes The Ancient Egypt 3200–343 BC and Sumer 3500–2334 BC. Some such as the chinese and Greece are still around today! In civilisations, the dominant power changes over the centuries and many legends are formed! Enough of history, though civilisations seems like a pretty fun and interesting subject! Will read more later!

My really messy table in the office! My mum gonna faint if she sees this. Spring Cleaning Time!

New colleague at work today! Need to pass on but I think should not burden her on the first day! Transit takes time!

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Something is wrong with my CD burner! I don seems to be able to burn anything! So sad! Change burner!

the furniture in my room was rearranged!..

2007-09-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

I wonder? Is it a crime being old and still keeping things that kids collect? I like to keep things and technically I have thrown many things away when we shifted house in 2000. If I threw everything away, will I be discarding my memories away as well? Hmmm.. something to think about .. I know I cannot bring things with me when I pass over. However, this should not dissuade me from keeping things! Some time I think we should not think things are not necessary thus we do not want to keep them. Everything has a story and is a special story for me and of memories that is precious to me!

Well came back from a meeting on dialogue with GD (SSA General Director). Is an enriching and great session and from the session, GD asked us to think about the fundamental of life and our practice of Buddhism. We have to ask ourselves what is happiness, life and death. The best way to start is probably to think about death first, then we will know what is life. I think is true cos if you do not know what is to die, then how would u know how to live? A bit too deep? This is the most basic of our existence! Then in Nichiren Buddhism, happiness is not something we crave from the outside, happiness is within us. We have to find happiness within our life! Honestly, I am afraid to ask myself about death, it gives me the shiver. In buddhism, we know is part of the cycle but somehow, I don seems to leap over it at this moment in time! I guess to fully appreciate life, I really need to think about death first!

Back to my room. The furniture has been shifted but is not the end yet! More shifting needs to be done. I think I will post a photo once the arrangement is completed!

I must like myself more! I must be confident! I m an unique individual! I m who I want to be!

"Anyone who has ever made a resolution discovers that the strength of that determination fades in time. The moment you feel that is when you should make a fresh determination. Tell yourselves, "OK! I will start again from now!" If you fall down seven times, get up the eighth. Don't give up when you feel discouraged-just pick yourselves up and renew your determination each time."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Rainbow Connection..

2007-09-24T08:13:00.001-07:00

.. Why are there so many songs about rainbows? What's on the other side? .. rainbow have nothing to hide.... have you been half asleep, have you been hearing voicees?... some day u find it, the rainbow connection, the lover, the dreamer and me!..

I simple adore this song " Rainbow Connection". Well though the gay flag is rainbow but hey, think not that but something more magical and a natural occurences beyond the creation of human! Human connection is really something marvelous, is either you click at first contact or u don.. u meet people whom u never tot you will ever. Then human comes and human goes! Today u have the best conversation and probably think she/he gonna be your best pal but tomorrow, u don even know where this person is or what happen to him/her. Sounds philosophical? Nope but probably this is what so marvelous about this. U really never know .. Just like Tom Hanks in Forest Gump said - Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what u gonna get! However the faithful meeting of one person can change your life forever! This happens to many people n the best example I can think of is Daisaku Ikeda meeting Josei Toda. Toda not only opened up Ikeda to Nichiren Buddhism but he also presented to him a world that is beyond his wildest dream! Who will tot and definitely not Ikeda himself that he will one day be a figure of great admiration, a teacher, an author, a pacifist and meeting and conducting dialogues with people of influence such as Arnold Toynbee, Gorbachev, Rosa Park, Wen Jia Bao, to name a few.

Let's come back to the meeting of my insurance agent today. She told me if you have the will, things can be done! If we set our determination to doing something, we will definitely achieve it! Thus, I really need to set my antene onto the subjects I m pursuing!.. di di dididi..didi..

I m a dreamer! I m a lover! Is just me!

May the force be with you..

2007-09-23T05:48:00.000-07:00

hmm.. back to blogging albeit reluctantly.. guess the blogging thing is slowly fading off my system....must be the age! well, then and again I m really glad that people do read my blog! wahhh.. that means I really have to be politically correct and watched my back when i write! Why the back? Well, to ensure no one plagurise my content when I m writing! Of course then, this is really highly unlikely and more unlikely than an earthquake with epicentre in Orchard Road!

The last week was a long week for me! Stayed in the office until almost 9pm on Thursday and Friday! The best part was I was at work on time so that means I worked more than 11 hours on these 2 days! What a hardworking soul I m! The reasons being I need to clear my stuff before my new colleague joins us next month and I want to give her a clean sheet to work on! Also cos I was out of the office for WHRA and meeting for 2 afternoons and 1 morning so lots of work accumulated! One of the meeting was at the place where the "force" originated! Make a guess cos is a commerical secret and I m not at liberty to divulge!

Took to facebook these few weeks and downloaded this from there. Taken when we were very young! Those were the days where singing and gathering at people house to take photo seems to take priority over studies! Presenting the NJC choir 93/94!

Attended the Student Division (SD) Concert today at SSCC's ICA! Seems a lot of abbreviations but then you will get use to them. The theme for the concert is "The World is yours to change" and "Pintar el Futura". They made it every spanish but only got 1 salsa dance (not exactly your normal salsa, is something with a pitch of violence and racial disharmony) and drums (this group is fantastic!). The best dance performance is from TP or Temasak Polytechnic comprising an eclectic mix of steps danced to a well pieced together composition of various artists and rhythm. A couple of band performances but being Singaporeans, we love our seats and we appear deaf to rock meaning no one stands up and rock or even warm to the beat! Perhaps students nowadays love classical music (meaning sensible clapping of hands when the conductor finally put down his rod and no unneccessary comments or even a sneeze when the music is being played cos any interruption will be rude and uncultured!). Well, I sit down too! 8P

To end all well meaning blogging, I should round off with some inspirational quotes:

"I don't know how man will fight World War III, but I do know how they will fight World War IV; with sticks and stones."

- Albert Einstein

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

- Douglas Noel Adams

Yeah! Always remember that deadlines are meant to be broken!

""Nonviolence" does not merely mean to refrain from violence. Violence erupts when one person blames another for a problem or conflict. Conversely, nonviolence is a way of life in which one resolves, “Let me be the one to change first.” If this spirit were to be embraced, how much more at peace would our families and society itself be."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

A new set out was initiated!

2007-09-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

On the 15 Sept 07, a new set out was initiated! That is to increase the no of YWD in Delta Zone, Telok Blangah Chapter! Look at pic below and the aim is to increase the no of people we have now! Yup and this initiative will start with mass homevisiting at the end of this month. Ganbatte YWDs! This means I have to go and contact my YWDs and arrange to pay them a visit! Will also need to make guidance cards to be given to them on the day of the homevisitation!

Posing with the senior leaders! Stressed?

BTW, if no one knows, I also collect stamps! Not really the correct methods but I have removed the stamps from the envelopes and they are left to dry in the basket! Have taken extra care to ensure they do not adhere to the surface of the basket! Technically I think the professionals use a hair dryer to dry every stamp! I do not have that type of time!

Another highly recommended book - the buddha next door. Is a chicken soup type of book but is testimonials of SGI members in USA. The testimonials are divided into different sub topics such as relationship, health, family, finances etc. Testimonials are on how common people struggle with their personal problems and their environment based on Nichiren Buddhism. In the end victory is won for those who perseverse in their faith and practice. Frankly I m highly inspired and motivated after reading these testimonials and I m able to identify common grounds with some of these contributors to the book. The often mentioned and famous buddhist principle of turning poison into medicne is highly applicable to my situation. At the beginning of every testimonial, there is also a short apt quote by a famous person to relate to the experience that follows.

Some quotes are:-

" I choose hope because I feel a deep responsibility to do what I believe I am obliged to do - to pass the world on a better place than when I came into it.

- David Krieger"

" This lifetime will never come again; it is precious and irreplacable. To live without regret, it is crucial for us to have a concrete purpose and continually set goals and challenges.

- Daisaku Ikeda"

"We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our own hearts.

- Nichiren Daishonin"

Is available from Amazon.com and also Kinokuniya! Still reading but going to finish soon.

Mooncake Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is round the corner. Bought a box of mixed nuts with bacon mooncakes from Shangri-la Hotel. Seen pics below. Mum has a sudden craving for mooncakes from this hotel. The packaging is good and thus is a bit more expensive than mooncakes from other places!

Mooncake? Yum or Yuck? Me not a fan!

Into the Chinese Calendar Month of August

2007-09-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Long since my last blog. What have I been up to? Well, nothing render of concern except I m still very busy at work n Gakkai!

On the 4 Sept 07, the Unit received its AST accreditation and that is a major project for me. I have been preparing for it for months! Me, I dressed up and even powdered up for the occasion! Some time I wonder whether I m too kiasu anot! Anyway, it was a half day event with an hour long presentation followed by an interview with the existing trainees before a short walk to the staff clinic. It ended with a general review by the accreditators. In short, they were quite impressed with the work we have here and decided to give us more training position. The tea is good but nobody seems to be interested in the tarts and muffins!

Yeah! Is over! The aftermath of the accreditation!

Last Sunday or the just past sunday, went to a concert by the SYC ensemble singers. A concert entited "Lluvia" of technically challenging pieces sang in Spanish! Yup, Spanish music and lyrics from the Basque, across to Cuba and Argentina in South America. A journal through landscape of differred culture and tradition though they all speak the same mother language! The first half of the concert was bit technical or boring in laymen term. The second half started off with a very interesting piece in which the singers performed some well chorergraphed movement on the stage while singing! It end well but I think the singers should smile more. It seems like some of them are trying to very hard to squeeze out the notes. This is evident by the cringed up expression on the face!

Now it is budgeting time! Hate that but must do n been having sleepless nite over this! Keeping fingers crossed! Deadline is coming fast n I have not even submitted the first draft to the boss!

Last Saturday was the exam daimoku for the Future Division Member. Besides daimoku chanting, we had a game on stupid qns or what u called 欠扁问答题 followed by a book review by a student on "Toto Chan" (highly recommended for reading, I was really touched by the book). We also did a short skit on selling shoes in Africa and my role is the African chief! The morale is on positive attitude to things around us. Make the impossible possible. Most of the times, it depend on our attitude and how we overcome our limitation and how we turns all deadlocks into possibilities! Imagine selling ice to an eskimo! Why not? I believe they will also enjoy a nice cold Coke with ice! It actually taste better with ice!

The FD ICs! We are fun people! Say "Hoben-pon Daini"!

Finally,

"Life loses its dynamism from the moment we lose the passion with which to live it. No matter what our age, we cannot afford to let the flame within our heart grow dim. We do not become unhappy because we grow old. We become unhappy only when we grow ever more unwilling to change as we age."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Cheers Folk!

Happy Teacher Day!!

2007-09-01T01:56:00.001-07:00

Happy teacher Day! To me and to all the NIE trained teacher in Singapore.. Why to me? well I happen to be a tuition teacher with more than 10 yrs of tutoring experience.. haha..

Hmm.. as a treat to myself as today is Teacher's day. I have decided to go for a hair cut.. basically to shorten my long fringe n some trimming to the hair. Also to impress someone by looking a bit neater!

I love happy ending and that is the main reasons I will only buy dramas, movies and books that end well. Who needs a bad ending? Well someone told me real life is not that happy but why would I want to read and watch some thing that make me sad! i don have to learn to be sad. BTW, am just listening to the song by Sally Yah and Ah Lam titled 选择 and the chorus lyrics is nice!

2005 - Hong Kong Ocean Park and withone of the mascots!

And finally the environmentalist inside me say:

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
~ Native American Proverb

Dental Appointment....

2007-08-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

I don like to see the dentist! I don see them unless it is necessary n today is one of those days! So I had teeth cleansing cum polishing plus an Xray to my molar! The bad news is my nerve is inflamed and to solve the problem, I will have to do a couple of procedures!

Option 1 - Do a nerve canel treatment to remove the nerve, then crown lengthening, then crown cap.. Average life span of 10 yrs.. retain my molar

Option 2 - Do the operation to pull my molar out n install a false molar.Average life span of 10 to 20 yrs.

hmm.. I don know, still thinking!

"All great literature, ancient and modern, is a bridge connecting one human being to another, one spirit to another. The quality of our life is determined by how many of those bridges we can cross."

- Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

An irony everywhere!!

2007-08-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

Just wondering.. the world is really an ironical place!.. One place in the world, scientists are discovering new breakthrough to mend heart tissues.. another place is reported terrorists killing soldiers.. and arsonic fire reported in Olympia in Greece.. Hope and hopeless exists concurrently.. Build and destroy. If we utilise all the positive energy towards doing good, imagine the world we are able to build! Why are human beings crossing each other in such a way? Can we all come to a common ground? Seems like a major problem but all it takes is a change in mind set!

Don really like solemn topics but somehow the headlines in Yahoo News makes me wonder!

On a lighter note, the new korean drama called Coffee Prince seems to be quite a happy show! Going to get the VCDs for it!

Family Day Meeting Part 2!.. tomorrow got part 3!

2007-08-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

Is blogging good? I think I have overblogged this month.. Hahaha.. anyway, I tot I will just come n say what happen today! To expound on my full activities and how I really enjoy every bit of it!

Let's start with this morning tuition. It started with congruent figures and ended with similar figures. Then I realised he has not learnt that in school. One consolation is he manages to score better in his latest test but he din pass that paper! Well, at least he did better and is a good start!

Then, meeting friends in the afternoon and we ate at Sushi Tei again. My friends are accountant, Architect, Interior Designer, Mezzo-Sop, Arts Manager and me (highly paid Clerk and non qualified Nurse)! It was a good afternoon catching up with one another and hearing also about other people that we knew! After a Japanese lunch, we proceeded to Melotti for dessert! I don really like the rum and raisin ice-cream! The passion fruit favour gelato is well sour but good on the taste bud. Mango was alright and by mixing the 3 favours, they do not really go well!

In the evening is my family day meeting cum month district meeting! For this meeting, there is no hard to understand guidances or long explanation of buddhist fundamentals. We started out with daimoku and gongyo followed by GD's speech before watching the SSA 40th Anniversary video. Then a not very professional dance cum song done by 2 ywds (of which I m 1 of them) to the song of Twin (HK pop group). After much dance n no one sang, we went on to the game session! Members really respond to the qns that we asked and I think they really enjoy themselves. No meeting is complete without testimonial which is inspiring and part of the content was the focus during PM's speech this National Day Rally! The meeting ends with activities report and encouragement by senior leader! I really learn from these members who really have deep faith in the buddhism. By chanting sincerely and single mindedness to the Gohonzon, everything can be resolved!

Let us give something to each person we meet: joy, courage, hope, assurance or philosophy, wisdom, a vision for the future. Let us always give something.

- Quote from Words of Wisdom by Daisaku Ikeda

Tomorrow, another family day meeting to attend

I think my emotional sickness is back!!.. been suppressed for so long!

2007-08-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

My bro makes a very interesting comment again.. He says he wants to live a less stressed life and that is the reason why he is repairing ships instead of aeroplanes! To me, is just facing different environmental hazards altogether! Most in the shipping industries will know that ships and shipyards are really hazardous place for the workers - being too many confined places! Come to think of it, when will I know the result of my test on confined space assessor? Anyway, I don know whether I will get to practice anot even if I have my ID card!

Guess I got a bit moody at the end of the work evening today! I think is my melancholic nature at work again! Where is my Aries and Taurus personalities? Seems missing cos I think I m lamenting or rather sulking over my lack of self confidence or more precisely my singlehood!.. hahah.. well to many people, being free from bonds seems to the greatest thing to be happening but I think I m still a people person in some way! I want to be independent but at the same time, I want to have dependency too on someone and being cared for in a way that will warm my heart and senses! It seems sometime unbelievable that someone like me will be so weak emotionally. Guess, most will have their weak point and I am definitely those in the 口硬心软 category.. hahah n a lot of 口是心非. Probably this is what a woman should be? No wonder I never could say never! Ok, take my last sentence positively and politically correctly!

I believe that when I m face with difficulty at work, I will always think on the spot n solve the problem. Although this may not land well on the boss cos to her, this is being disorganised! Guess my nerve has been trained and I m still able to think albeit not 100% efficiency! Experience helps in a lot of thing and knowing wat to do plays a good way in solving crisis. I guess I do panic but my sense of responsibilities overshadows all that! Halaing with people also makes life pretty interesting in the office!

Chit Chity Bang Bang anyone? I want to go but I have not bought the tix yet! Calling for accompanying person! The thermometer is just there to measure the room temperature which I assure u is mainly below 20 degree celsius!

Most then half empty bus service 190! I tot this might depict what I feel sometime and hopefully it will be packed up along the way! For service 190, this is never a problem cos the bus will be filled when it reaches the next stop at Chinatown!

Then the darker the night, the nearer the dawn. Dawn is coming and is not too far off!

Mid week... n going on to Thursday!..

2007-08-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

So boring title!! I can be more creative but brain blocked after dinner.. all energy went into the digestion process.. hahaha.. need some time before the digested sugar is transferred up for fueling..

Another new theory on EP.. devised while at journal club today. People who have high EQ will also have high IQ. However, people with high IQ may not process high EQ! Don get what i mean? Nevermind, is not life threathening nor life delibitating n u definitely don need to know this to pass exam.. hahah..

Hmm.. I think is so wonderful to know that somewhere someone is thinking of you or loving u! I don know whether there is another person in this world thinking about me. It will be so nice if there is someone like this. Ok, this is the mid-week syndrome and definitely no cure.

Tomorrow is thursday already! Time flies? Then, I still have lots of things to do...

The champions of human rights inevitably face persecution from the entrenched authorities and the powers that be. This is a constant of history; it is inescapable. All victories for human rights have been won as the fruit of such struggles. Therefore, it is necessary to always view things from a long-range perspective. By so doing, one becomes able to perceive the essence of the matter, and to see the broad path to victory that lies ahead.
- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda

Is father's birthday n we get a treat!!..

2007-08-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

Oh.. today is my father's father n he gave all of us a treat at this Coffee shop style restaurant near Tiong Bahru's market.. yeah.. so we had crabs (chinese n stirred fried), prawns steamed in salted egg, fried tofu in egg, vegetables and pork ribs.. altogether is a fest.. hahah.. din really eat a lot..don know but I don feel like eating .. not in a diet, probably too tired to eat.. my bro in laws who is still recovering from his flu din really eat much too.. my bro seems to be a great appetite though, his worms are truly hungry..

hmm.. lots of work to do recently n m clearing backlogs.. if I don clear, I will not be able to move on n things are definitely piling .. need more time to do but I cannot stay late at work cos there are always activities after work n I m scared to be alone in the office ... hahah.. not really scared but kinda of pathetic to be alone in the office after 7pm... no life!!!

Come to think of it, I have to prepare for this weekend's family day meeting .. n I have to start to read my books.. one of my resolutions this year is to read as many books as possible. Yeah!

Going to upload a couple of photos from NDP which I find really nice n interesting!..

Celebrating 40 yrs of National Service, NS men in full gear all ready to protect the land they are born in..

This is Gate 5, the gate that River of Dreams item will exit into the performance area from here every Saturday until Aug 9....

.. Followup on EP, my bro provides a brillant answer about IQ n EP.. those with high IQ will have low EQ.. is a balancing act.. people with high IQ spend so much of their time studying that they neglected the social or other aspects of their development... hahah...wat u think?

Saturday Morning at Home.. rare!!

2007-08-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

.. is saturday morning and I m at home!.. rare!.. hahah.. so I tot i have to commemorate today but entering an entry onto the blog.. this seems to be redundant to some but what is a blog if it is not for blogging.. currently History channel is showing engineering disaster.. Even the best research and engineering can lead to unexpected circumstances.. In Safety, we say we can try to prepare to prevent any hazards from happening but then there is always the unexpected.. SO we have to always expect the worst in all our scenarios!.. haha.. sounds pressimistic but that is how we try to prevent disasters.. Hmmmm.. come to think of it, is not safety my cup of tea since I m melancholic n pretty "bad thinking" most of the time??.. fruit for tots!..

time to log myself out of the computer n start to do the cards for tomorrow family day meeting.. i need to cut it n then laminate it.. yah..

My fellow FD ICs from RHQ3.. taken at ICA during our FD General Meeting this Month!.. Cheers ICs..

I m knived again!!..what went into my cortex??

2007-08-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

Today I was knived again!!.. yah.. never trust intelligent people to know what is correct n wrong..most of the time, they lack this thing called EQ or insight (as often coined by the boss). .. no insight is worst then no IQ... I can forgive u for being stupid or slow in learning things but I cannot forgive u for lacking that ability to differentiate what should n should not be done ..

What is EQ? As smartly outlined and copied from Wikipedia today:

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth. (Salovey, Peter & David Sluyter (1997), Emotional Development and Emotional Intelligence: Educational Implications, Basic Books, ISBN 0465095879, at pp. 3-31)

Can we be taught EQ? I don really know but if based on the definition above.. Yup I think yes.. just got to teach besides apple is red.. u have to teach how to perceive the taste of apple n what does it lead u to think of.. must apple be red and can it be other other than red n why must u called it an apple?? a developmental thinking education.. To quote from "To kill a Mocking Bird".. Atticus says "...You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it".. This is EQ n Jem and Scout will definitely grow up to be person of great EQ.. I don profess to have high EQ but still some common sense.. so common sense = EQ?.. hmm.. something to ponder..

Ok.. so how does this lead to the cortex.. the Boss says what went up into that cortex of mine?.. hmm to explain .. let's look at the definition of cortex.. wikipedia again:-

The cerebral cortex is a structure within the vertebrate brain with distinct structural and functional properties. The human cerebral cortex is 2-4 mm (0.08-0.16 inches) thick and plays a central role in many complex brain functions including memory, attention, perceptual awareness, "thinking", language and consciousness.

So to equate EQ and cortex.. Well did something stupid today n was reprimanded by the boss ... however it will not be so serious if a particular person schooled in the method of cure has processed some amount of EQ to understand that certain things should not be done in this way!!.. anyway.. as a result of that low insight, i was knived!!.. But then i should not have lost that grey matter.. anyway, I m very unhappy n I did show that in the office .. n that person with low insight din even know why I was feeling that way.. In comparison, another person with the same surname did notice n try to help out!!.. haiz.. don my emotion tells.. even my other female colleague notice my pissedness!!..

.. For the next month, I have to work with this person with low insight.. this is going to be tough.. wish me luck n I think i need lots of daimoku to have the life condition to face this!!..

1 good new today.. they finally approved another position of EXECUTIVE.. yeah.. that means someone coming to share my work!!.. cheers. cheers..

.. Today is FD's 14Th anniversary Meeting!!

2007-08-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

Hmmm.. today is SSA future Division's 14th Anniversary meeting held at Tampines HQ.. As IC, we were there as early as 8am (for those who joined in the Sunday Morning Gongyo) and 10am for the rest of the ICs... I was there pretty late cos I spent some time msning with a friend.. haha.. Overall It is a successful meeting and the theme revolves around a magical journey with concepts from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Harry Potter.. Students were given a yellow ticket which looks something like what Charlie received when he teared open his Wonka Chocolate bar.. and Edward Potter and his friends took the students on a magical adventure of discovery and adventure .. introducing people such as Florence Nightingle and Rosa Park... and the testimonial of a student who rediscovers himself after chanting Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo.. Meeting ends around 4pm with the cutting of the birthday cake and the singing of the FD theme songs...

Today meeting also include a mini exhibition on the beauty of reading and each HQ puts up a reading tree where the book reviews from students and ICs were being hanged on the tree..

The tree by RHQ3.. oriental theme .. book reviews were being written onto hand shaped card that were hanged on the sticks...

After the meeting, a short debriefing before going home or dinner for some of us..

Some more NDP photos or rather some thing we prepared for each other on the day itself.

Special donuts bought by Elize and me or rather I just pay the money for them. Elize ordered them specially online for the participants in our group. Don they look cute!!!.. n taste good too!!..

B1 Rocks!.. yup we are block B1.. the wordings on the donuts were requested by Elize. Elize also happens to be the galfriend of a good pal of my brother.. sometime the world is really small..

A card of appreciation by 2 really totful students in the group for all the participants in B1.. Thank YOU... Arigato!.. Danke!.. Gracias!.. Xie Xie!..

This post is long and I will stop here.. waiting for other photos to post..

.. After NDP... what's next??..

2007-08-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

.. this is a good question!! After NDP, what should I do?.. hmm.. immediately I have to study for my exam on the 16 August 07.. This exam is get the qualification to be a confined space safety assessor.. hahha.. wat m I doing with such a qualifcation?.. I also don know really but it will at least help me to determine wat i really want to do .. i.e Do I want to be a workplace safety officer or something else.. well for every dream I really need to take the first step.. the boss just told us the other day at the meeting that we should not dream n take action.. well I m taking action, I m not waiting for the dream to come true.. I have a dream n only I can fulfil which is wat Ikeda Sensei says.. so I should go all out to pursue my dream!!.. yah yah

However i have been really busy these past few months especially in July.. so for August, I m going to take everything a bit slower.. need to recuperate before i go all out again.. hahha...

I did my best for yesterday performance n the most important thing is we really must enjoy ourselves ..nearly slipped while executing one of the steps but then i manage to balance myself n all is not lost.. too bad the finale was too cramp to really perform the dance which i really like..

Also I realise i m pretty good with doing hair so i guess i might consider doing a professional hairstyling course.. hahah.. ok just dreaming.. I m always pretty good with my fingers and hand.. which is why I m always good with handicrafts and this is the area where i really put in my creativeness and innovativeness into full use.. I can realise my dream design in crafts..

before i rumble on forever, i better put a full stop to this n go do something else eg giving a call to my fellow buddhist n discuss about this month's family meeting..

I blog.. u blog.. everybody also blog..

2007-08-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

.. blog blog blog.. wat is the latest thing in town?.. blogging?.. anyway.. just tot i might as well write something here since i m also in front of the PC.. well, suppose to be teaching tuition today but my student cancelled it last minutes.. luckily I m not out of the house yet if not i m really going to be really angry with her..

Tomorrow is NDP proper. need to sleep early to have the energy to really perform to the best of my ability tomorrow.. if not all those training will be lost..

hmm.. n I think that is all for now.. logging off..

Book Review... I am David..

2007-08-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading this book called "I am David".. is written by Anne Holm and is written orginally in Danish ... so what is so interesting about this book?... well i tot it teaches some values that adults should know though the story is intended for children.. is a book that deserves reading and understanding and as good as "To kill a mocking bird" which is another book that I really like..

Back to "I am David".. is about a boy's adverture after his escape from his concentration camp in Greece to Denmark.. His strong resolute to remain true to himself no matter what circumstances he is faced with .. his struggle against evil and his hatred of evil and brutal force.. is a story of a 12 yrs old boy that is brought up in the concentration camp, his education from this man call Johannes, his refusal to call the man by his name, freedom to do what he wants, freedom to associate with whom he chooses to and his friendship with the sheepdog .. along the way he learns to trust his existence and to live to see beautiful things around him but then he also nearly gives up in the end. However with the fateful meeting of this Danish lady in Switzerland, David learns he has a mother and a goal to reach. David learns to smile when he saves a little gal called Maria and he taught her to be brave just as he is .. he learns that some time people are not evil, they are simply stupid, stupid to not see that force or the use of it is not correct.. he also learns to trust people and he is always polite in watever circumstances as this is what Johannes always tot him to.

There are a couple of worthy quotes from the books.. of which i will quote some here..

"... you must always hate what was evil or else you grew just like them..."

".. It is important not to give in to people who love violence and think they have the right to take away another man's life and liberty. And if you don't let them change what you think and believe, then you have won."

".. if I hit you back, I'd be no better than you are. I 'd be just as rotten and worthless, and I'd have no right to be free."

" .. All suffering has an end.. if only you wait long enough... Sorrow has its life just like people. Sorrow is born and lives and dies. And when it's dead and gone, someone's left behind to remember it. Exactly like people."

Is really cool book!! rated 5 stars.. gonna use this for the Future Division book review for this sunday general meeting!!..

End of book review.. don know when i will do another one.. hahha but i spent 2 days reading this book.. had wanted to buy it long time ago.. saw an ang moh lady bought many of this title a while ago.. I guessed it must be good ... In fact it is.. read it if you have the time.. is not that thick and good for some tots after reading.. 8)

We are so fortunate!!.. so why complain??

2007-08-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

.. We are so fortunate we are born in this country where we will be celebrating our 42th year of independence.. but then people are still complaining this and that n people are still migrating all over the world .. I m not saying they are wrong cos they are pursuing their ideal n the way of life.. I m grateful that I was given lots of opportunity to grow and develop and the freedom to be on the street without worrying that i might be shot down the next moment.. in some countries especially in the Middle East now, the situation is tense.. really tense n people living in such conditions are not able to get proper education, resources to improve themselves or even the freedom to choose what they want to study.. SO r we fortunate? I m fortunate.. I know i still complain .. guess this is human nature.. then we must learn to appreciate wat we have now.. the peace, prosperity and progress that we are enjoying now..

... they are a lot of rude people around.. n why not we learn to be a bit more gracious.. we want to be as good as the ang mohs but our people are still behaving like you own them money... My uncle says we are really really being taken care very well by the government.. though i still pay tax but I don have to worry about not getting electricity or my flat looks old after 5 years.. the goverment took care that all buildings will get a new splash of paint every 5 years n we have 3 independent power suppy companies to supply power to the whole population.. so we are really fortunate!..

this is not a political propaganda document and not intended to be one... is just my tots.. for the liberal thinkers n the opposition, they might think i m naive, no tots of my own etc.. but then why should i complain when the sanitary and the sewage system is world class, the street is clean, crime rate is not high, 24 hrs freeflow internet/ free wireless at certain places, get government rebate, many channels on the TV, no major natural disasters, a passport that allows me to enter most countries of the world with no visa, chance to perform for at least 4 million people ( if the whole country watches NDP) etc.. u tell me how many people in other part of the world have such opportunites and as fortunate!!.. Probably i can say I have been to other parts of the world and I really appreciate home.. my fellow countrymen complain things are not as good as home when they go overseas but when they are here, they complain home is bad..

People are hard to please.. hahah.. anyway, complaining increase negative karma too.. so should we be contented?.. hmmm.. maybe not, we should always find ways to improve.. 8)

NDP final rehearsal.. the big day is coming!!!!...

2007-08-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Somehow today is a pretty warm day!.. Today is the final rehearsal for the NDP.. n we are not required to wear the custome ..though we have to turn up with our head gear and cloths and be at the gathering point by 12.30pm.. but i reached the place about 1.15pm after finishing my tuition.. lovely day to take more photos so here i m with my mini photo exhibits.. forget about photobucket etc.. photos I should paste here.. hahah..

.. looks familar..the skyline of singapore of which we are so proud about.. plus the memorial structure for all those who parished during the world war.. salute!..

planks lined the floor of the make shift gathering point for most of the NDP participants.. tot is quite classic to take such photo.. plus the uneven level of the planks provide a hazard for all..

.. a tent dedicated for mass casualty??..R we expecting a major catastrophe??

.. my goodie bag!!.. in red.. the winning design for this year NDP.. able to increase n shrink the size by unzipping the stripes!!.. so let your imagination runs.. there are 6 colours in all not including the white piece that all get..

Dinner from Singapore Food Industry or SAF food.. haha.. i don really like the fish fillets, the potatos is ok but too oily.. Din eat the bread or beans..

ok.. wat has this ferriswheel got to do with NDP?.. nothing.. it was situated just beside the Marina Bay platform.. i tot it looks pretty impressive from where we are..

All the participants have left.. briefing for the NS guys before they are dismissed for the night!..

.. hmm.. overall been quite a good rehearsal.. the road to NDP is getting shorter... 4 or 5 days to the actual day.. We need to take care of ourselves n be mentally and physically prepared for the day... They say is the process that counts much.. true but we would also want to bring the process to a perfect ending.. so now lots of daimoku for good health of all participants, health life condition and success of the NDP..

Here I come NDP 2007... Marina Bay August 9, 2007..

.. hmm.. 5 or 6 days to National Day

2007-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

I think I m addicted to blogging!!.. I must say something whether good or bad.. I must write something whether it makes sense or not.. I must do something whether redundant or essential.. hahha..

another mini photo exhibit of the Marina Bay seating podium.. I took a lot of photos but then i think photo album will be more appropriate than here.. anyhow, still please, look at the photos..

this is the roof of the underneath of the podium seats .. Looks like hard work building this place..

the entrance/ exit to the floating platform itself.. though it looks low at the opening.. the tank can pass through...

temporary toilet... amenity that is essential for all major events!!.. but there are toilets built here as well..

OK.. 2 photos from the office.. love taking photos nowadays cos digital camera is so convienent!!

my very messy table.. even more messy now as I took over the clinic stuff

This is what happen when u had to take timed photos.. obviously we had to place the camera quite away from the cupboard edge to capture 2 standing people..

.. Need to put the act of the clinic together.. more checklists and more preparation work.. Dr says he will help me.. yeah!!... hopefully the whole thing can be brought together by next week.. n why m I thinking of work on Friday nite.. going into the weekend.. no work no work.. is the weekend!!..

.. signing off to go to bed.. I m tired..

.. busy file transferring nite..

2007-07-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

.. while i m writing this, I m transferring a file through msn to my cousin.. is slow.. guess wireless is still not so good as land wire.. hahah.. seems like it is going to take the whole nite..

On another window, I m attaching some photos to be sent to my NDP mates.. some group photos that we have taken during last preview at the kaikan and marina ground..

.. WHY m i in here tonite?.. probably to see how far i can blog or rather how long i can sustain this interest.. yah yah..

still only into 50+ pages into the last Vol of Harry Potter.. so far Mad eye moody had died.. n George lost one of his ears.. hmm.. getting grim.. anyway, will continue to read ..

.. Outside Millenia Walk, the bus unloading area for participants of NDP.. Opposite is the 6 Star Ritz-Carlton Hotel....

Same Millenia Walk but at nite.. the contrast of day n night.. hahha..

I simply like taking photos.. takes even more photos at work.. going to take more photos..

Others and NDP preview 2007

2007-07-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

I tot since i m so wordy, I have to increase the no of photos in my blog.. thus, today i went out with my camera.. First thing today was to attend this seminar on "How to invest in securities Market?" Not that I will become an expert once I attend this course, in fact, I think I was sleeping almost half the time.. is interesting as some market concepts were introduced.. then is not a game for the weak hearted nor for someone who has no time.. u really need to have a nice quiet afternoon each week to contemplate your investment .. hahha.. anywhere not all is lost, I took a nice picture below just beside the SGX centre at Shenton Way...

Some how or other, this reminds me of scene I often see on TV.. like the back street of the commercial centre in other country... hahah..

Then after that, rushed back home to change n pick up my things for the NDP review today.. raining.. n still raining.. I really chanted in my heart for the rain to stop while on route to Tampines Street 81.. which incidentally is the headquarter for the Singapore Soka Association (SSA).. from there, we set off to Marina Bay temporary tent under the ECP ...

Some of us but not all of us.. hahha... aren't us fun people!!..

This is really a great idea to capture some images.. moving towards the waiting area at Marina Bay

Dinner today, how would u like a chicken burger, a chicken part and mash potato from KFC?.. actually today i was pretty hungry so I finished everything!..

For the first time in so many practices and rehearsals, we have full atendance for Block B1.. yeah.. a pat for ourselves n trainers.. total 50 + 2..

End of the photos, though I do have more but then.. maybe next time.. need to go rest now.. tomorrow is another full day of meeting..

Pop goes the weasel!!...

2007-07-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

.. suddenly i tot that the title will be cute.. don know why but the weasel just pops into my head.. hahaha.. don really blog continuously especially when i do not have any photo to support the blog.. gonna be wordy or brief??..

MOTTO for today.. Is Summer but nothing is happening!!!.. if u know what i mean.. anyway, i wonder whether i can change the colour of the the create blog page.. though it is not that ulgy.. ok i m weird..

A friend helps to sign up for the Great Eastern Run.. so I m officially in for the 5km fun race.. need to train.. need to go on a healthy diet too.. have to go see the Hypertension dr but my appointment is in November so I better exercise during this period to bring the pressure down down down.. on the list is running.. n an exercise schedule!!..

.. Manage to find a friend to go watch 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" with.. yeah.. going to book tix soon.. of course, knowing me .. sure the cheapest tix.. hahahah..

.. end of maddening time.. going to bed..

Last NDP practice before the preview..

2007-07-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

.. today is the last practice before the NDP review.. nervious??..hmm nothing now.. just that i m feeling very sleepy... not enough sleep.. i need to rest.. not doing very well on the BP side... going to refer to Cardio for checkup.. family history so have to watch my diet n lifestyle.. healthy lifestyle n i need to lost some weight.. hahah.. so will look nicer wat.. hahha..

got gotten my long long delayed birthday present from my pal in Spain.. consolation is he still remember.. con is it took about 3 months to come.. haha.. anyway, I like the presents.. a fan and a purse and I think i know just what i can do with the purse..

suppose to draft a testimonial for one of the drs that worked with me before to endorse but i think i m too dead and stone now to write anything.. maybe i will do it later.. however at this moment in time, i m really dog tired..

.. Potter .. is it Potter??..

2007-07-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

.. yo yo..21 July, the last of Harry Potter's books was released.. Harry Potter and the Deathly Harrows.. JR Rowling's last attempt to enchant her fan in this last installment of Harry Potter n his battle with "you know who".. hahah.. Well as a loyal supporter, I woke up at 6am on the morning of 21 July - Singapore Time - n make my presence at Kinokuniya Bookstore at Ngee Ann City minutes before the fateful release of this world phenomena ... to catch a copy of this last book, i have taken some evidence of my appearance that day at the book shop.. well the queue was not that long n no one was crying .. there was a dad with his wide awake baby in the queue and a gal who insisted she cannot miss getting her own book even though she had to limp her way to the bookshop.. the power of Harry Potter..

In front of the Kinokuniya, not too far from the front of the queue. In fact as we realised later, there is no need to queue, many books to go around. My cousin was also involved in this crazy chase of the last book...

Cosplay.. staff from Kinokuniya dressing as characters of Harry Potter.. Honestly, I really don know who they were trying to be.. Do we have Draco here (notice the blond hair!!)?.. my guess is as good as ur.. hahah.. ... the book itself!!!.. grab one grab one n be mesmerise by the magic of Harry's world ... don mind owning one of those brooms myself.. haha..

.. Then move forward to NDP NE show No 2 in the evening... I got some photos took previously of the platform.. Watched a documentry when I reached home in the night on how the platform was being constructed and put together by SembCorp Marine.. techonology at work here.. the company's expertise in constructing ships, oil rigs n other floating platform was put into action here .. the platform seems to be the world biggest too.. woooohhh... another reason why we should celebrate with more gust this year.. haha..

photo taken during one of the rehearsals at the Marina Bay Platform..

.. this post is getting long, I m losing steam.. need to go finish writing this n go do my evening Gongyo..

.. Anyone heard of Professor Wei Tsin Fu?.. well this guy invented this Snowball method of piano education n he taught many children to play piano pieces that are of high techinical level.. 2 key points from his theory... Firstly, children must be humble, they must be open minded to learn n parents must encourage n tell their children to not say "no" without trying.. Secondly, children must be taught to help other people because by helping other people, they use their mind more n thus becoming more intelligent.. It is always harder to solve other peoples' problem so by helping others, they become smarter.. he discovers that our brain capacity is really under utlised n his methods is teaching children how to utlise this capacity of their.. BTW, he is also a scientist.. Today, He brought his students to the SSA headquarter at Tampines for a 2 hrs mini concert.. His students are about 15 n a6 yrs old n they are playing pieces that only master can play.. It was really an enriching experience n I totally enjoyed the music.. They played master pieces from Mozart, Beethovan n also Gershwin.. then modern classic was also played.. those that have lots of clashed keys n banging.. fantastic, finally I make sense of these music n it was really worth the afternoon.. BTW, is free so is double n even triple worth it.. yah yah..

.. i want to learn piano again.. hmm.. maybe do my theory first .. but this will have to wait after NDP..

... Joining the sleepless community.. or the wakeful other half of the world

2007-07-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

.. seems like a long title i have there.. well if you really think about it.. it is really bedtime this part of the world n afternoon at the other part.. hmm..the sleepless community always find sensational inspiration after their due sleeping time.. hahah..

.. trying to inspire myself with songs at this hour of the nite... hmm.. well m listening to random songs in my laptop.. currently is playing is "Teach me again" by Tina Tuna and Elise..

.. really need to find something that is suitable for me to do.. to find my niche.. to really be able to do what i m really good at.. although doing something that i don really know is a good learning process but if my passion does not lie there, it will be torturous in the long run..

Don know what's happening to my internet connection.. it keeps going on and off n i have to set it on at least twice already in the last few minutes..

decided to go sleep now..

.. another SUNDAY just went pass like this

2007-07-15T04:48:00.000-07:00

.. hmm... yesterday was the first NDP NE show... wat a way to educate national education!!.. send all of the P5 students to go n watch National Day Parade.. hahahah.. yah yah... is always good to start educating national pride in young Singaporeans... I must have gotten lots of intoxications cos this marks the 4th time i m doing national service for the country.. hahah..

.. n then.. hmm.. Oh yah.. i watched Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix this morning.. despite wat others say, I really enjoy this movie..the effects is good... is impossible to put in all that is dispicted in the book to the movie so the gist of the story is in it.. n if u really think u don know what is going on, get a copy of the book today.. Hey do i get a commission for advertising the book.. haha.. Oh well, was thinking of going for the book launch on 21 July at Kinokuniya.. that provided i can wake up to be there by 7.01am in the morning.. they promise special gifts for members ..n u bet i m a royal member of Kinokuniya.. hahah.. so should i go??.. may i get 20% off the book ... then i m hoping to get at least 40% off.. hmmm... maybe they throw in other discounts as well... let's see.... i will need to get another 1 or 2 more alarm clock.. lots of sleep on Friday n the determination to wake up... sounds like serious business..

i wanted to put photos here but got nothing to put up leh.. wait, let me go take more photos at NDP first.. the fireworks is pretty.. remember to watch n have i mentioned i really like the scale down the side of the expressway by 20 SAF men.. charming..

Alright, time to do other thing.. watch TV n eat dinner..

LOL.... Friday the 13 soon... good or bad!!

2007-07-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Yoho.... This blogging business is really tedious.. need to come n upgrade, maintain, create n save all those funny tots that i have over the last few days or in the next few days.. hmm.. sounds like a full time business.. hahah..

Nothing really to post today.. trying to amend my resume.. haha.. planning to do some posting albeit by email... just check that my website is still functioning.. need to revamp that soon..

alright.. time to log out n do something else.. yah yah

Here pass another week!!

2007-07-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Is amazing how time really flies past.. dadada n is into July already.. many things happen during the last week.. not for the bad but just that i have taken up another certification course and now my week days are all packed.. the certification course is a safety assessor course recognised by MOM n will be for a total of 28 hrs over a month with 2 night of lessons each week and a final exam 2 week at the end of the course..

hmm.. then we had the 3rd combined rehearsal at the Marina Bay floating platform.. This time round, we had to performed in front of a full audience.. well we got onto the flatform in good time... n performed according to the routine we have practiced so hard for the past few months.. i guess most of us tried our best but then to the trainers, we can still be better.. BTW, my item is entitled River of Dreams... is basically depicting our ancestors descending into the this island of Singapore from all over the world in the beginning day of the island... thus the music has a mixture of Indian, Chinese and Malay element in it... the rhythm is not easy to catch but to listen to special cue at certain part, we are able to follow perform at the appropriate part of the music.. overall we can do better.. hahahah.. so watched out for National Day Parade on 9 August..

Featuring the Block B1, my fellow participants in NDP 2007.. the boy doing the monkey face is the youngest guy in our group n the most mischievous ..

On the same day of the 3rd combined rehearsal is also the 40th anniversary of Singapore Soka Association celebration cum Youth Festival at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.. missed this though..

Today homevisited 2 of the student members .... it is always interesting to talk to young people.. they made u fill with dreams n hopes afterwards..

Well.. just finished reading this manga title called 水边战役... well in english it can easily be translated as the Water Margin... on the 108 heros of Liang Shan.. although the content of the manga does not follow the original version .. the Water Margin is considered one of the 4 greatest novels of china.. the others being Romance of the 3 Kingdoms, Dream of the Red Chamber and Journey to the West.. incidentally, China just had a competition to choose the gal that can best depicts Lin Daiyu in the Dream of the Red Chamber.. while a successor to the New Lin Daiyu was discovered, the lady that originally played the role also passed away recently.... really 一代新人换旧人 (used negatively here)... ok back to the manga story. There is noone who is really evil or good in the story.. the person who was perceived as the most evil guy did wat he did for what he believed to be the best for the country.. even in the process, he sacrificed his old comrades and friends... We cannot then judged him as wrong but the method that he used was.. in the end, the dynasty will still fall like all great dynasties in ancient china.. actually if u think about it, history really gave people pointers about how a country should be run.. anymore, no politics here.. hahah.. is kinda of bloody so if u have a phobia of blood n fighting, then this is not for you though is not as ghastly as Tekken.. BTW I bought this title for the simple reason that it will end at Vol. 5.. .. 8)...

.. Latest New, Roger Federer of Switzerland just beaten Rafael Nadal of Spain in a 3-2 games to win his fifth Wimbledon Championship.. yeah to Roger.. n that made him in equal par with another tennis legend... well it was a tough fight so we won know whether he will be back for his 6th win next year... watch out..

Till next post.. i better round off and log out.. is getting pretty late... n this weekend the whole world turns to Live Earth, live concert in 9 cities over 7 continents.. I was in green for the 2 days this weekend to support awareness of climate change n to support the 3Rs movement... conserve energy Folks!!!.. save the earth.. we are living on the borrowed earth from our grandchildren.. so ANSWER THE CALL...

LOL.. July... n June just went past like that..

2007-07-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Yo ho.. seems quite a long time since i hop in here.. haha.. anyway, something short cos got to go do my evening prayers.. Hmm.. seems like ebay really works.. trying to sell a digital camera n well there are 1 enquiry so far.. not bad but need to go ask my aunty whether she wants to sell anot.. haha.

Had a really busy weekend.. NDP 2nd combined rehearsal on Saturday .. then Milkrun on Sunday.. needs my sweat n perspiration to complete both.. yeah n the weather is not kidding these days..

so for short, this is it... no pics nope nothing..

... blogging blogging.. what's not??

2007-06-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

I say.. is really difficult coming up with a title to every post.. nearly out of idea but if i m too conventional , then the blog will not be interesting.. ultimately this blog is for me to talk nonsense.. hhah.. so like what most people will say.. to air my view.. this blog is non political so don talk politic here.. so u will be disrespecting my human right if anyone talk politic here.. yah yah..

Oh well.. from the last blog, is been about a week.. so wat had happen over the week?.. hmm.. NDP on wednesday.. chilling out with colleagues on thursday after watching Fantastic 4 and the silver surfer.. Friday is district meeting, saturday is NDP again n this is the first combined rehearsal.. the grand finale is really fanciful this year.. we have to learn a whole set of mass dance n some choreographed movement which include waving, bowing, waves etc..

On sat, on the way home from NDP while at Esplanade, saw Liang Wen Fu, the talented Singaporean composer cum lecturer.. think he just finished watching some play.. anyway, is not every time I got to see someone famous ...

Today sunday, went shopping with my sister and brother at Orchard. .. n I also bought the third set of Clamp 3D's collection.. hahah... below is the photo of the set..

Aren't there adorable?.. the next set will tentatively be out in September.. so another 3 months n there are 8 sets altogether..

More photos next time.. need to log off n watched a movie now..

.. on a day like this.. no day like today!!..

2007-06-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

... haha.. i sort of like this phase.. no day like today.. is part of the lyric of a song.. cannot remember the exact muscial which is from.. the tune keeps repeating in my head..... no day like today.... awwww...

.. attended a wedding dinner .. the groom is my uni school mate and the bride is my ex colleague.. they been together for almost 8 years before finally tying the knot.. saw some ex classmates and ex colleague .. i got the feeling that 1 of my ex classmates is avoiding me.. hmm.. i could only think of 1 reason but that happened so long ago.. anyway.. probbably will not see them again soon.. yup yup.. well if u know my in uni, u probbably know the reason.. some time, people remember the slightest thing n will not let go.. life is not eternity, we should not begrudge life with the smallest thing... i want to really go through life with no regret n to cramp whatever i can cramp into the time i have.. hahha.. sounds so ambitious.. ..

.. i think i m getting bolder on the website.. post some photos with me here.. hahah..

Photo of my NJC alumni juniors.. Cantabile 2007 at Victoria Concert Hall.. the soprano section n a lone male (could not remember whether he is with the tenor or the baritone) . ..

Is me!!.. unbelievable right.. free photoshot .. din pay a single cents but i spent the whole afternoon there though.. hahha..

.. self portrait.. hahah.. after coming back from the wedding dinner.. tot don waste since i had put on make up.. haha..

Watching this drama from China/ Taiwan .. title is 四大名捕会京师.. it about these 4 famous royal guards or what u will call police inspectors in today's term.. got adventure and got romance which is one reason why i m watching it.. yo yo .. plus it has a good ending.. yeah!

I tot i mentioned i want to do manga review.. hmm.. maybe next time but currently my favourite manga is Fruit Basket 水果篮.. heard of the 12 zodiac signs story and the cat that was betrayed by the rat.... well, the story revolves around 13 persons possessed by the spirit of the 12 signs and cat.. then there is the god who wants the 13 persons all to himself/herself and a gal who lost her parents and got to know the 13 persons.. is a story about getting to know oneself, and searching for meaning in life.. finally the curse of being possessed from the signs are lifted and they each embarks onto their new life... total of 23 volumes .. a well worth investment..

.. The course of our lives is determined by how we react—what we decide and what we do—at the darkest of times. The nature of that response determines a person's true worth and greatness. - Quote from Dr Daisaku Ikeda, Soka Gakkai International

... is an environmental problem!!!.. hoho

2007-06-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

.. think this is the first post of the month.. hahah... why?.. been really busy mugging exams.. 5 papers.. n finally all ended yesterday.. so now i can take a break n keep my fingers really crossed for a reasonable result!!.... well been taking quite some time already so i hope i can finally move on n do something else... actually while i was preparing the papers, i wondered why i m torturing myself with another major exam.. i don need another degree.. anyway, the ego in me instigated the attempt so i have to accomplish it some how..

alright must be wondering why the title to the post??.. environmental?.. hmm.. been reading this article from the April issue of the National Geographic Magazine on fishing.. the depletion of the world fishing sources is posing a problem for the oceanic ecosystem as well as the livelihood of subsistence fisheries.... well.. this is due to commercialised overfishing using big vessels n new fishing technology.. also lead to indiscriminate fishing.. as in what are caught may not be the catch n the wasted catch are dumped back into the water.. hmm.. well one of the articles are on the really big bluefin tuna.. these tuna are able to grow up to 12 feets but their numbers are decreasing due to the fishing for markets in Japan, USA etc.. these tuna are priced for their fatty meat at the stomach which are the best sushi..

.. well not a fan of tuna sushi.. but overfishing also reminded me of shark n shark fins.. well the demand of shark fins and the profit from shark fins killed shark n mainly the fins are retrieved n the rest of the sharks are just dumped back into the water.. n even juvenile sharks are not let off.. so if u kill off all the small sharks now, who are going to grow up n give birth to other sharks.. n bearing in mind that shark undergoes a period of gestation before they give birth to small shark.. so is a vicious cycle.. so stop eating shark fins.. but human beings don think about the future, they only enjoy what is present now...well there are many people who don believe in not eating shark fins n they even go all the way to Thailand to have cheap small shark's fin.. people just don buy the fact about such dietary habits are endangering the sharks.. I used to like them so much n will go all the way to go eat them but after learning of the dire consequences of such practice, I have decided not to be a perpetuator of such practice.. however, still get to eat it at wedding dinner.. is a dilemma actually.. besides sharks, whales are the other marine animals that were heavily sought after for their blubber in the last century n now for Scientific research... before i go on and on.. think i just stopped here..

.. hmm... sale at Kino this month.. so been enjoying lots of book retail therapy!!.. hohoho... let me post my 2 favourite characters from Full Metal Panic.. Chidori and Sousuke, a very interesting couple .. the gal is very smart n is supposed to be a whisperer which means she has information of future high technology in her body and the guy is a very nerdy trained soldier who is posted to be her personal guard.. so both of them from different backgrounds created lots of conflicts and adventures together....the story is still continuing though.. too bad i cannot read Japanese so have to wait for the chinese translation from Taiwan kadokawa..

well.. that's all for this post.. will think of more to say next time.. maybe do some manga review.. haha..

is the wee morning of 1 June 2007

2007-05-31T11:15:00.001-07:00

.. is the wee morning of 1 June 2007 and I am still awake .. M I sleepy?.. Yes i am but my hair is still wet... had my first law exam paper a few hours ago n well I don know how to answer majority of the questions so is smoking all the way... hope i will get some sympathic marks.. haha..

Over at friendster, i did a "nobody needs me, nobody wants me i am so unwanted" post.. i tot i will repeat it here albeit a shorter and more concise version .. i don think i can recollect what i had expressed earlier on but then i think i will just continue from here... why am i feeling that?.... probably the age catching up... nobody needs me.. but i need somebody.. somebody to care about me , to take care of me.. someone that needs me .. n for me to need that someone.. someone to hug, someone to share, someone to make my life more interesting than is now... hahahah.. .. is ranting in the wee morning of 1 June 2007.. i might feel different later... i need to sleep i need to think where i should go from here.. i don want to go on by myself.. i want someone to share in the journey with me.. to walk beside me till the end of time... in short, I need a guy.. not any Tom, Dick or Harry... someone just for me.. yup.. ranting in the wee morning ... don take me so seriously... I m really really tired now.. my eyes hurt.. i need to sleep..

Back to reality.. just for a while... Just finished another National Chorale project 2007.. a performance at the Victoria Concert Hall with the NJC Choral Alumni.. we did 3 songs to a full audience... the 3 songs were Hana (flower), Idem Idem Malidem and Shima E (to the island)... 2 japanese songs n a war song.. anyway.. we did it pretty well.. n hopefully, they will ask us back for next year.. hahah..

After the performance, we had supper at this makan place next to Esplanade.. ok, i think is called Duxton Place.. good chat with my juniors.. bunch of very nice Folks.. hope to see them next year too....before heading home before mid-night... End of Vesak Day..

Suppose to load some photos the last post but difficulties arise so let me try again here..

Ok, what u are seeing in the photo is a messy bed as a result of all the things on the floor being place onto it. Mum needs to sweep n mop the floor ne. ..

this is the scenario under my table just where my legs will stretch.. my bag n a facismile machince are located just there.. this make sure that i will get all the confidential faxes!.. hahaha.. don quote me!..

the wee morning to first Law paper..

2007-05-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

.. too too busy to come in or lazy..i tot i will write something before i go mug my notes .... first law paper in slightly more than 24 hrs ... am I ready?.. nope .. haha.. m i nervious ? I don know cos i want to sleep already... i know i have some topic that i have to really go read up if not i will really have no idea what is going to happen in the paper.. need to answer 4 questions only... hopefully i have a choice out of 8... 8)

just back from Choir practice.. performance is tomorrow.. yup.. n well is going to be after my exam... hahah... so something to look forward to...

wanted to load some photos but server cannot be located so.. maybe next time..

come back later.. hahahah

a saturday ... a day of the week

2007-05-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

.. Back after missing for a long time... reason.. i was very busy and still busy.. so before i lost touch altogether, I think is fair I come in to post something.. hahah..

what have I been busy?.. well lost of things.. firstly, choir practice to prepare for the Cantabile 2007 which is the annual concert of National Junior College Choir.. No, I m not a student which is pretty obvious if u have read the post below.. my capacity is as an alumni in the National Junior College Choir Alumni.. remember is NJC choir alumni and not NJC alumni Choir.. there is a different... the choir is formed from previous member of the NJC choir so is called NJC choir alumni n members of the NJC alumni cannot joined the choir alumni unless there also from choir in NJC... Do I sound confusing?.. anyway.. we will be performing 3 songs so intensively practicing now.. n I need to memorise the scores!!!.. i m so bad at memorising scores.. 8(

ok.. next ..hmm.. the other thing i have to do is to study.. yah.. exam end of the month and I don seems to be progressing at all.. all due to the activites of singing and dancing.. why dancing?.. refer to paragraph below.. hahaha..

also NDP practices been increased to 2 times per week starting from last Thursday... so now thursday and Saturday are devoted to Choir.. yo yo... technically they said the dance is finished... some changes were made last to the steps.. more simplier... haha..

then there are the regular SSA meetings.. yup yup..

Just attended a workshop on Finance for Non Finance Person last Thursday and Friday... a 3 yrs course shrinked to 2 days.. hahah.. interesting.. some revision on accounting concepts which I had learnt about many years ago.. Is interesting to see the debit and credit stuff again.. but there are pretty confusing if you asked me... have to sit down and ponder over it .. but probably do it after my exams.. yah yah...

so tired too... Thursday spent the whole morning at the hospital accompanying my father to see the dr cos he had a sudden hearing loss.. n he was very gan cheong throughout .. to eliminate all adverse possibilities, the dr prescribed Anti-viral medicine and a brain MRI scan.. yup.. luckily cousin dr was in the same hospital that day and was there to help too.. he was seeing patients at the next door's clinic so he came over and try to help...basically to help to relieve the stress that my father is feeling... anyway.. so now waiting for the MRI scan which will be in June.. lucky we were charged subsidised rate if not the medical bill will be really high... cannot fall sick in Singapore, really expensive.. this makes me think whether i should go and revise my medisave plan... perk it up or something... yup yup... so if everything is ok, he will have to wear a hearing aid.. yup..

oh well.. this probably my life update for the past few missing in action days.. will come back again maybe later... hahha..

Into May.. passes May 3rd..

2007-05-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

Yo hoo... is May!.. wat's the difference?..nothing much except getting a bit older n a bit more lethargic.. yup yup.. nothing happening except needs to do budgeting again at work.. I hate budgeting.. so what's new...??.. complained each year n yet i m still doing budgeting... HELP!!!!..

Alright... we have a changeover of MOs this month... 2 old n 1 new so no major learning curve.. they just have to bring out the stored stuff from their brain.. hahha.. I need a change of office environment. ... major change if not I m going crazy.. or rather rotting.. hahha..

oh well... pretty busy.. NDP getting heavier with 2 practices per week coming up in a few weeks time.. n I got choral practice for NJC alumni concert twice per week too n the performance is end of this month.... to cap it all, my first paper is also end of this month... so I m really really really super super super incredible boliao busy.. hmmm..

Anyhow.. m writing this in the middle of tuition..so have to log off now.. will probably come complaining soon.. 8)