there's something about ..... celebration

Been rather busy lately. Work was taking up alot of time just before Ghost month started. When ghost month started... I decided to spend more time on "mini" projects. I'm creating 2 more blogs. One private blog of family photos and one specialty blog.

However, seeing National Day around the corner... I have decided to celebrate nation building with this blog.

You see.... I LOVE SINGAPORE.

Along the way, you will get really fed-up with progress (ooopss) and fines, summons and whathaveyou. But generally Singapore is a great place to stay. We need to see war in other countries before realising this.

Along the way, government comes out with great planning details. Some ingenious stuff like ERP, COE etc, that make Singapore so unique. I believe the ERP concept has taken the World by storm and some of the more develop countries are also adopting this approach.

When you have traffic jam here.... easy..... put up ERP gantries. That will ease traffic and will increase your driving speed from 30km/hr to 40km/hr. Even if it doesn't ease traffic woes, who cares... Government will pocket the dues from the ERP and then they will have enough money for PLAN B.

But...... why set up ERP on the way back? How would that impact the government or the economy as a whole? No answers... but it doesn't matter.

But.... what happen after the ERP hours are over in the evening about 8.30pm?

The answer:

IT TAKES A BLOODY 1 HOUR FROM CTE COMING IN FROM CHINATOWN TO ANG MO KIO!!!!

ASSHOLE!!!!!!!

I had just finished dinner in Chinatown last night with family's friends about 9.30pm. And when I enter the CTE in Chinatown about 9.45pm, I was stuck in the tunnel travelling at speed of "STOP...MOVE 1 feet.... STOP... MOVE 1 feet" (I couldn't read the speedometer as it hardly move) for about 30 mins before I could next see the sky at the tunnel portion at the CTE entrance from PLAZA SINGAPURA. 30 MINS between chinatown and plaza Sing.

And it takes me another 30 mins from the tunnel portion behind plaza Sing to exit Ang Mo Kio.

BLOODY ASSHOLE!!!!!!!

I think Government has achieved their aim. Let those rich guys pay the ERP and reach home sooner so that they can have a better quality lifestyles and let those poorer chap get stuck in CTE FOR 1 hour. And if you stay woodland... 1.5 hours in CTE/SLE.

Oh... I forgot..... I'm celebrating nation building. Hooray.... to great planning!!!!!

there's something about ..... PE

Just read that you can now take PE as an "O" level subject.

Wonderful news.

I wonder what they will test you on the Theory.

Q1: What did Materazzi said to Zidane before the Headbutt incident?
a) Mother F%$ker
b) Mother and Sister F$%ker
c) You terrorist
d) No one knows

Q2: Which fictional character does Ronaldinho looks like?
a) Scooby Doo
b) Jar Jar Bing
c) Snoopy
d) Garfield

Q3: How many kids do Fandi Ahmad has?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6

Q4: Which is Singapore National Sports?
a) Shopping
b) Queueing
c) Betting
d) complaining

there's something about ..... brownie

This post is about the brown vs goverment vs today saga. Super duper old news but it's better to make comments now when the dust has settled, anything earlier, it would be too emotional.

Click here for the full transcript of brown

Everybody loves Raymond brown. He is like the Mentor Minister of Blogging. Everybody knows Brown as a humorous chap unless you work for the Ministry for Information, Communications and the Arts. They don't see humour. Which is why "Arts" is added to the ministry but not "Comedy".

But what they do know is that Brown is a very very popular man. And if a very very popular man says something not politically correct, general public may believe him. Blog may not be as accessible as Today. They do not have a computer with Brown as the homepage in all MRT, 7/11s and Mamashops. They realised the influence of Brown and they need to set the records straight.

I read Brown's column via his website all the time. I enjoy it thoroughly. Even when I read his last column, I found it to be humorous tackling on rising costs issue. But I do sense some "red alert" in the article, perhaps testing new boundary of OB?

And what do you expect the Government to do? They need to do a job. If this is the Qing Dynasty, Brown would have been taken and he will be beheaded. But in modern Singapore, you only kenna a "scolding" from Ministry and lose your rice-bowl from the same Newspaper who failed to see this coming and approved the article.

I don't see anything wrong with the Goverment's reply. They are government what.... they are not human beings. They function with a set of rules of high order. They are supposed to be rigid like iRobots. "Yes" is "Maybe"... "No" is "No". As I said, they have a job to do.

In fact they did the job the right way. By writing to the forum page of Today. They didn't try to send emails to the boardroom of Today to take action. The reply was also targeting at journalism as a whole, indirectly on the role of Today. They were... transparent about their action. They should be applauded for doing a job, nevermind that it's a unpopular thing to do.

What happen at the board room in TODAY is anyone's guess. Someone has to lose a job. So let's put the blame on the columist, afterall, without his article... they wouldn't be in that sorry situation.

But what about the Editor? The Chief Editor?

Someone must have vetted through the article. What happen to them? If anyone is at fault, it's the editor. Not brown. Otherwise, why give a salary to editor who didn't do the job of editing?

Today's action of terminating Brown is that of a evil "TAI JIAN" or eunuch (dunno how to spell). Very below the belt. (oopss....)

Make TODAY... yesterday's news.

there's something about ..... "the" condo names

Recently I came upon an TV advert for a condominium in the North-east region called "THE QUARTZ", next to buangkok MRT.

I don't envy the project manager in charge of condo project. They have so much to do and so much responsibility and liability, it must have drained off alot of their energy and .... creativity as well.

Come up with a common condo name of the 80s and 90s, and you will have :

XXX garden
XXX court
XXX ville
XXX Vale
XXX park
XXX point
XXX green

And the project may not sell. Not that names matter... but it's nice if the names reflect certain characteristic of the buyer or their liking and thus achieve what the condo was trying to sell.

Then in the early 2000s, you have condo named after city or town of famous countries with foreign-sounding-very-mouthful names like Cote D' Azur (France), Costa Del Sol (spain), The Marbella (Spain), The Azure (france) D'Ecosia (I dunno).

Of course, if the developer is to target heartlanders, it's good to have a heartlander's names like Bishan Park, Bishan Point, Bishan Loft etc.

Lately, naming condo is becoming easy. Just add "THE" in front of anything, and you have a catching sounding name plus the exclusiveness associated with it. "THE" is supposed to illustrate that something is unique of it's kind and there is no comparison, like "THE SUN".

However, I think most developers are taking this a litttttllllleeeee too far. The earlier post shows all the condo/apartment projects in Singapore that started with "The". Some of these are really ridiculous.

I can understand the convenience of naming the condo after the street name just to tell people that any other condos along the same street do not carry the same prestige... but.....

"THE GRANGE" at grange road?
"THE BALMORAL" at balmoral road?
"THE BAYSHORE" at bayshore road?
the most classic.....
"THE CHUAN" at Lorong Chuan road??!?!?!?!?! What is the "Chuan" supposed to mean?

If your rival developer has already named their condo after the streetname... what should you do? How about naming something that is damn difficult to pronounce... that way unique mah...

For example:
THE BECCAGAYLE
THE CALYPSO
THE CARPMAELINA,
THE ELYSIA
THE GERANIUM
THE GLENCAIRD RESIDENCES
THE GRANDIFLORA
THE HACIENDA
THE HELICONIA
THE MADEIRA
THE NEXUS
THE PALLADIUM
THE SHAUGHNESSY
THE SUNNIDORA
THE VERMILION

I'm sure the above has a meaning. I'm too lazy to go find out what each of these mean but I'm sure it meant something to the owner who bought units there.

Friend ask proud owner: Where you stay har?

Proud owner: I stay at The Helicopter.

But what if your rival developer has already named their condo after the streetname and another developer has named their condo after something very cheem.... what to you do? How about a reverse pyschology and named your condo after something simple, something that everyone can pronounce, don't care what it means to the buyer... as long as people know how to read.....like...

THE QUARTZ.

What the hell is the "QUARTZ"? That everything in the condo works like a clock...every security guard will be on time for their duty. The flood lights at the tennis clock will switch off exactly at 10pm?

Maybe they should have named it "The Buang" or "The Kok" or "The white elephants".

there's something about ..... the

THE 101, THE ABERDEEN, THE ABODE AT DEVONSHIRE, THE ALBANY, THE ALBRACCA, THE ALCOVE, THE AMSTON, THE ANCHORAGE, THE ANSLEY, THE ARC AT DRAYCOTT, THE ARCADIA, THE ARDMORE, THE ARECA, THE ARMADALE, THE ARRIS, THE ASPINE, THE ASTON, THE ATRIA AT MEYER, THE AZURE, THE BALMORAL, THE BALMORAL SPRING, THE BAYCOURT, THE BAYRON, THE BAYSHORE, THE BEAUMONT, THE BECCAGAYLE, THE BELLEFORTE, THE BELMONT, THE BELVEDERE, THE BENCOOLEN, THE BERTH BY THE COVE, THE BERTHSIDE, THE BLISSVILLE, THE BOTANIC ON LLOYD, THE BOULEVARD RESIDENCE, THE BOUNGAINVILLE, THE CALLISTA, THE CALROSE, THE CALYPSO, THE CAPRI, THE CARPMAELINA, THE CASSANDRA, THE CHAMPAGNE, THE CHANCERY RESIDENCE, THE CHERRYWOOD, THE CHUAN, THE CITRINE, THE CLAYMORE, THE CLAYTON, THE CLEARWATER, THE CLEMENTVALE, THE CORNWALL, THE COSMOPOLITAN, THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE COURTYARD, THE DAFFODIL, THE DAIRY FARM, THE DEW, THE DRAYCOTT, THE EASTSIDE, THE EDEN AT TAMPINES, THE EDGE ON CAIRNHILL, THE EDGEWATER, THE ELEGANCE @ CHANGI, THE ELYSIA, THE EQUATORIAL, THE ESPARIS, THE ESQUIRE, THE ESTA, THE ESTIVA, THE ESTORIL, THE FLORAVALE, THE FLORIDA, THE FOLIAGE, THE GARDENS AT BISHAN, THE GARDENS AT GERALD, THE GERANIUM, THE GLACIER, THE GLENCAIRD RESIDENCES, THE GLENWOOD, THE GRANDHILL, THE GRANDIFLORA, THE GRANGE, THE GREENWOOD, THE HABITAT II, THE HACIENDA, THE HAMLET, THE HELICONIA, THE HERMITAGE, THE HILLSIDE, THE HORIZON, THE HUNTINGTON, THE IMPERIAL, THE INFINITI, THE INGLEWOOD, THE JADE, THE LADYHILL, THE LAKESHORE, THE LEGACY, THE LEGEND, THE LEVELZ, THE LIGHT @ CAIRNHILL, THE LINC, THE LINCOLN MODERN, THE LINEAR, THE LOFT, THE MADEIRA, THE MAKENA, THE MARBELLA, THE MAYFAIR, THE MAYLEA, THE MERASAGA, THE MERGUI, THE METZ, THE MEYER PLACE, THE MIDAS, THE MONDRIAN, THE MONTANA, THE MORNING DEW, THE MORNING GLORY, THE MORNINGSIDE, THE MORNINGTON, THE NCLAVE, THE NEXUS, THE OLD HOUSE, THE ORANGE GROVE, THE OXLEY, THE PALLADIUM, THE PARK VALE, THE PATERSON, THE PATERSON EDGE, THE PEAK, THE PEARL @ MOUNT FABER, THE PETALS, THE PIER AT ROBERTSON, THE PLAZA, THE PRESTIGE COLLECTION, THE PRINCETON, THE PROMINENCE, THE QUARTZ, THE QUAYSIDE, THE QUINTET, THE RAINTREE, THE REGALIA, THE RICHMOND, THE RIVERINA, THE RIVERSIDE PIAZZA, THE RIVERVALE, THE RIVERWALK, THE SAIL @ MARINA BAY, THE SAPPHIRE, THE SEA VIEW, THE SENTINEL, THE SERENADE @ HOLLAND, THE SHAUGHNESSY, THE SHELFORD, THE SIERRA, THE SOVEREIGN, THE SPECTRUM, THE SPINNAKER, THE SPRINGBLOOM, THE SPRINGFIELD, THE SPRINGS, THE SPRINGSIDE, THE STELLAR, THE STERLING, THE SUMMIT, THE SUNFLOWER, THE SUNNIDORA, THE SUNNIFLORA, THE SUNNY SPRING, THE SUNNYDALE, THE SUNSHINE, THE TAIPAN, THE TANAMERA, THE TENERIFFE, THE TESSARINA, THE TOMLINSON, THE TREVOSE, THE TROPIC GARDENS, THE TROPICA, THE TRUMPS, THE TWINS, THE VANTAGE, THE VERMILION, THE VILLAGE, THE VILLAS @ SENTOSA COVE, THE VINES, THE WARREN, THE WATERDALE, THE WATERINA, THE WATERSIDE, THE WESTRIDGE, THE WILSHIRE, THE WINDSOR, THE WOODGROVE, THE YARDLEY

there's something about ..... being cheeky

Wah biang.... this entry by cheeky ..... damn funny. Show my wife and she can't stop laughing.

Welcome back dude!!

there's something about ..... lost and found

On the topic of food again. After my bad experience with Mr Chicken Rice, I recalled another "bad" experience with another famous food about 1-2 months ago.

This is not your famous famous kind of food but it was featured in Makan places: Lost and Found in Channel 5, hosted by Gurmit Singh and Michelle Chia. The show is about finding some of the famous foodstalls that were relocated.

This stall in question was at Lavender Food Centre.

After our hearty meal, decided that our mouth is still abit itchy, we decided to order some light food just to keep our fingers and mouth active.

We saw this POPIAH store with the sign that says "Makan Places: Lost and Found".

We thought "hor say liao.... un-intended also can eat good food", and so we ordered.

After taking a first bite... I look at my wife and ask her to try.

She took a first bite... she look back at me.

It's a scene that we often saw in Korean TV production of the romantic sort.

However, its far from romantic.

The POPIAH... TASTE LIKE.......

POPIAH!!!!!

Ninabeh. Now I know why this STALL WAS LOST in the first place. Maybe the food was so ordinary that they have to move to another location in search of some dumb-bells.

Just think about it. I open a popiah stall in Ang Mo Kio. After 3 months, my stall close down because my food taste horrible (which nobody will admit). I decided to relocate.

I find another stall in Jurong. I called it ANG MO KIO POPIAH. Consumers thought... "WAH.. must be very good hor... got name after a town one leh". Same old lousy food. Business flourish.

Singaporeans are blinded by popularity (but no substance) food.

For good Popiah... I personally like the one by CHI JI. (translation in chinese: Miracle) Though the standard can vary depending on who is preparing.

there's something about ..... zidane

Why did Zidane do it? There are many speculations. Below are some of the different versions:

"He was taunting me throughout the game saying he saw dandruffs on my shoulders"

"I was too tired and they have already make 3 substitutions, so I just have to come out"

"I have won the World Cup, Euro, Champions League, everything.... I just want to do something extraordinary to end my career. Scoring the winning goal is too boring"

"It's an unfair decision. I didn't headbutt him... his chest headbutt my head. He should be the one that got sent off!"

"I betted for 1 red card to happen in the game and I thought Italy will make it happen but didn't, so I take matters in my own head"

"I reckon the only way I can get near the World Cup trophy is to get sent off and walk past it."

there's something about ..... Mr chicken rice

Lucky me!

I have heard about former Mandarin-Hotel's Chatterbox's chicken rice chef opening his own stall at Pasir Ris Downtown East, that I kept telling myself to go there one day to eat.

I mean.... surely it can't be Mandarin Hotel's price. And even travelling down to Pasir Ris to and fro, it must still be worth the trip.

To be frank, I really can't remember how Chatterbox's chicken rice taste like. To be even more frank, I thought most chicken rice taste very similar.

To me, chicken rice is categorised as "VERY GOOD", "GOOD" and "BAD".

Fortunately most chicken rice to me belongs to "Good" and above. Thus my lack of motivation to eat at expensive Chicken Rice in Mandarin Hotel. And since it's so infrequent, I really do not remember whether Chatterbox is good or bad.

Anyway... why did I say "Lucky me".

I was lucky because I didn't have to travel all the way to Pasir Ris to try the chicken rice because they opened up a second branch in BISHAN.

And BOY... ain't I lucky. Otherwise I would imagine myself travelling all the way to Pasir Ris, eat the chicken rice.... and CURSE ALL THE WAY BACK HOME!!!!!!

The stall is called "MR CHICKEN RICE". After eating the chicken rice, I almost want to wreck his signboard.

The rice is ordinary.

The chicken is less than ordinary.

The chilli is standard chicken rice chilli.

The black sauce is the cheapest kind. Super watery.

The soup is vegetable soup.

I couldn't believe I was eating a supposedly famous chicken rice. I try to be partial and not place the hype on the brandname and judge the food accordingly.

However, based on my taste bud for chicken rice, this would have been categorised as "BAD". And the fact that this is by somebody supposedly good, I will have to rank this "VERY BAD".

Boon Tong Kee is so much better in comparison.

No wonder chatterbox has to sack him.

there's something about ..... football

It's been a busy month. It's no joke when World Cup is in town. It's no wonder that they said the market is usually quieter when the World Cup beckons, except if your market is Kopitiam Business, Pub business or if you are a Doctor. I heard the the flu bug is at the highest this June than ever before.

Anyway, I saw this advertisement by Coca Cola and I almost have a surreal experience with my brother-in-law. This is a funny advert. Note that the one on TV is a shorter version.



You see.... my relationship with my in-laws.... at best.... at most tactful.... you could call it "friendly".

We don't chat. We exchange pleasantries... if we happens to have eye-contact. On average, minus away the pleasantries, our conversation surrounded this word "Bye Bye".

However, when it comes to Football.... Football basically unite strangers. One of my brother-in-law, who is my wife's sister's husband, whom I only met during CNY.... will call me once every 2 years. The last time I received a call from him was EURO 2004. And again, he called me last night, after a 2 years absense.

I treasure such calls. I ranked them high up along calls from Telemarketeers.

You see, I'm a soccer fan. I analyse soccer games with theories. I analyse the tactics, the players the feng shui, the History. And I'm a small time puntits. I punt from Singapore Pools like $50 per game. And I strategise my betting in such a way that if I lost... I lost minimum and if I win, I win a bit more. Essentially.... I think too much.

My this brother-in-law is different. He don't analyse. Whichever team that offers a better odds, he will go for it. He went all out for a France win, against Brazil. He won handsomely. I went with Brazil win, I lost $8. The last time at EURO Final. He betted $1k for a Greece win and he won $8k. I betted for a portugal win and I lost $50.

Maybe that is why he likes to call me during football seasons. He reckons he just need to reaffirm his bets. Whatever I bet, he bet the opposite.

Anyway, back to the call. I had already placed my bets with Singapore Pools for a draw last night for Germany-Italy game, before he called. He told me that there is no way Italy will lose and he was ultra-confident Italy will win in 90 mins. He went on to tell me about his bets and how much he betted and he encouraged me to bet for Italy.

I got influenced. I mean this chap is a Big and Lucky Puntit. Surely I can't go too wrong by following him. Off I went to Singapore Pools again at about 9.45pm last night. Thinking that my "draw" slip will not earn me any money, I decided to buy alot more for an ITALY win to cover my bets for a goalless draw game.

And of course, everyone knows now that Italy did win... but only in extra-time, and full-time score was indeed a draw. I lost money.

I wish I can embrace him like the coca cola advert. when I next see him, probably next year's CNY.

But... I think I shall just stick to "Hi" and "bye"

there's something about ..... burning sensation

This is a dirty word. It's like they tell you at every injection that it felt like an ant-bite. They told me "you will feel some discomfort and some burning sensation". RIGHT... BURNING SENSATION!!!

By the way, I must have scared myself silly about my medical condition. They discovered Kidney Stones from the CT Scan last week, but decided that Cystoscopy is still necessary just to isolate the diagnosis further.

The kidney stones aren't too big and my cyst is benign in nature. What a relief. And this news came after they have done the Cystoscopy on me... So it was DOUBLE THE RELIEF! And I really meant it literally.

This scope thingy is big. The sight of it is enough for you to quit. And you always think... maybe... they will give you an Anesthetic to ease whatever "discomfort" (MY FOOT) and "Burning Sensation" (I would have given her my middle-finger, but since my anatomy is fully exposed... I felt that is not necessary).

No Anesthetic.

And you always worried on few fronts. The Pain, the result.... and WHO WILL DO IT ON ME.

And you think a nurse in uniform with my dick exposed is kinky, I can assure you any remote chance of an erection is out of the picture. She is probably the only Aunty in the Singapore who has seen the most dicks in a day. And she has a face that you wish she won't touch you for risk of having a phobia.

Before the procedure, she will keep telling you about the "little" discomfort. The thing is I don't always take things at face value. Having a scope going thru your Dick Hole is not what I would imagine a discomfort is.

And so I lie on the procedural table for a good 10 mins. In that 10 mins, it was hell. I dunno which is worse... the anticipation on what to come... or the actual thing. It doesn't help that the full sight of the cystoscope is next to me. I try to close my eyes and sing.

The first doctor came. I thought he was the Urologist but it turn out he is another intern. His job was to prepare my dick. He cleaned the whole area. After a while, he told me he is going to "inject" a gell into my dick to ease the insertion of the scope.

MY GOD!!! Imagine a solid liquid being forced into your dick hole. My whole leg cramped up. The nurse hold down my leg and told me to relax.

The feeling is a bit of pain, a lot of awkardness and a quite a fair bit of "burning sensation".

During this process, my eyes were closed. I just could not bring myself to witness this. I thought they would also "once and for all" also insert the cystoscope into me to "strike the iron when it's hot". But no........

I wonder what happened. But the next 5 mins, the doctor was cupping my dick. The nurse also left the room. Perhaps it was for the gell to settle in. Might as well, my whole body was so tense up to the cupping that I thought this 5 mins was good for me to relax.

Then the Urologist came in. Apparently, the waiting was for the actual Doctor to come in to perform the procedure on me. Suddenly, 2 other nurses came in. And I know.... Here Cums.

MY GOD TO THE INFINITY!!! This must have ranked the lowest in my life. The insertion of the scope into my dick is not only painful... but you could actually also feel the scope being wringgled into your dick and into your bladder. The awkardness of that sensation is killing.

I cramp up again. All four of them was telling me to relax. (HELLO.... HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?!??! RELAX??!?!?) One of the nurse was telling me to look into the monitor to see how the internal of my organ and bladder looks like. She said perhaps after I look into the monitor, I will know what happen and I wouldn't be so tense. (HELLO.... HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?!?!?!?)

Next come an acute pain. A Short one. After that, the Doctor said "it's in".

The pain lessen. But the awkwardness remains as the doctor was turning the scope within my dick to see the whole bladder. Each Turn of the scope, I cramp up.

The Doctor decided to do a quick one seeing my inability to relax. So he just took more pictures and soon after it was done.

I guess.... my dick was too sore that when they remove the scope, I actually didn't feel anything.

It was a relief.

They told me that I will face some "burning sensation" when I urine for the next few days.

Nabeh. Let me tell you.... urinating now is so painful that I'm trying to hold my bladder as long as I could and cut down the number of times.

Moral of the story... drink lots of water. Stay Healthy.

there's something about ..... cyst

I felt more relax now and decided to blog about my problem.

I had a Ultra-sound scan on Monday by a Urologist and they found a cyst in/on my kidney of about 5cm in size.

I was shocked. I think I have always take my life for granted and never felt so vulnerable in my life.

I have never know what cyst is. I have heard numerous times but have never bother to find out more. So when I ask the urologist what Cyst is, he felt a need to explain a term that is more commonly understood.... he said it's something like a tumour.

My world crashed.

But he explained to me that this is a common problem and may be benign in nature. As usual, I never really know what benign is. It essentially means it's not a serious problem. The opposite meaning of that could be "cancerous".

Immediately, he booked me for a CT Scan which I went on Tuesday night. The CT scan is a very clear and detail x-ray that could see the Cyst clearly, or that is what I understood.

The thing about such night visit like this is... it's quiet, the air-con is at full-blast serving very few people. You feel cold physically and emotionally. You felt very alone.

The nurse called me in and told me there is a need to inject me with Saline.

I thought Saline is what you use to wash your contact lenses. And I don't mean just a syringe of saline. It's a BAG of Saline. Apparently, it's to make my blood alot lighter in colour and thus able to see alot more clearly with the scan.

So they insert a connector of sort into my main vein of my hand. This is to be connected to the bag of Saline when I enter into the X-ray room.

And am I shocked when I enter the x-ray room.

I have done an x-ray last Friday at the A&E and I was expecting something similar. But what I saw was this.




It doesn't help when the room is very very big, very white and very bright. It makes the place very intimidating and "cold". Of course, I do not expect plants (which probably will die of radiation) or warm lights or sofa couches.

I rest on the bed, they inject me with Saline. And the bed went into the "hole" numerous times for scanning. The whole process takes about 10-15 mins real time but eternity in unreal time.

I will only know the results next wednesday when I go for another test call "cystoscopy".

Ouch.... I already felt the pain.

there's something about ..... sgh

Have been so bloody busy lately. On top of that, 6 hours of soccer every day just take away all other time for other things.

I haven't read a book with my son since World Cup started. I almost felt a sense of guilt... but I kept telling myself that World Cup is once every 4 years and my son will understand.

On top of that, I haven't been in the pink of health lately.

Was having a dry cough for a long time. It started with "wet" cough which my family doctor said it was due to my Sore Throat. Sore Throat cause phelm, phelm cause cough. After 3 rounds of Anti-biotics costing me about $80, my "wet" cough didn't go away.

So I took TCM. A bottle that cost $6 and after the first intake, my "wet" cough goes away. And now, I have the occasional dry cough which I'm too busy to take care of it.

Just when I thought I'm on my way to good health... I met with a little "industrial" accident on Tuesday.

I was helping my client to change her rusty shower head. Thought was a easy job. But unfortunately, a rusty metal splint went into my thumb.

As it was already 9pm, I decided to see a family doctor that closes at 10pm. After waiting for about 30mins, the doctor told me that they do not have ATT (that injection you have when you are cut by rusty metal stuffs) and refer me to SGH. Actually I do not need to have that ATT as I have already taken one in November last year and I was told it's good for 5 years. But the doctor advise that it's still better to go to SGH as they have a new injection called the ATG which is much better than ATT.

And So I went but not without trying at Tan Tock Seng first as it's much nearer to home. But I realised that Tan Tock Seng is also much nearer to almost everyone staying in Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, Yishun, Sembawang, Woodlands, Sengkang, Puggol. After queuing for 10 mins waiting for my turn to get my temperature taken, I saw a notice that says that the expected waiting time is 2hours. I decided that SGH might be faster.

SGH is alot faster. After waiting for an hour, it was my turn to be attended by the doctor. He uses a needle and a forceps to try to take the splint out. It was the same old approach which my mum tried to do but decided to leave it to the doctor as she felt that maybe the doctor will be able to do it in a more painless and clinically advanced way. She was wrong.

There is no other way except the more painful and traditional way.

After the splint is taken out, I ask for the ATG injection. I thought it's better to ask in case the doctor gave me ATT which I already had and will make my trip to the A&E meaningless since my mum could also use the same method to remove the splint.

To my unpleasant surprise, the doctor told me they do not have ATG and they still uses ATT.

NABEH! I could have save $80 bucks and 2.5 hours!! And I could have watched the world cup match!!

Just when I thought things are over. I discovered blood in my urine the next day. Thinking that it will go away, I decided not to raise any alarm. But the blood in the urine gets alot more by the next day.

So yesterday I went back to SGH A&E again.

It was a worrying experience. Blood in the Urine could mean a few things according to doctor.

• Stones in the bladder, kidney or somewhere.
• Tumor in the bladder, kidney or somewhere.
• Cancer.
• Heavy excercise leading to this problem but will go away.
• Chinese Herbs which I stopped having about a week before this happens.

When the nurse ask me what was wrong with me, I told her I have "urine in my blood".

We both realised the mistake but with a mask, I'm not too sure whether she is laughing. But I'm too worried to correct my mistake and I got no mood to laugh.

Waited awhile before the doctor called for me. She was a Phillipino Doctor. Win already. I'm sure she is a good doctor. But given all humans tend to judge someone from where they come from,and I was rather worry about my medical condition, I was hoping to get perhaps an American or a British Doctor instead.

It doesn't help that she doesn't speak with any English Accent or Local Accent. She speak like most Phillipino maid who graduated from Phillipine University.

But such unfounded biaseness aside, she lived up to my expectations.

I have my blood tested for Kidney and did an X-ray on my bladder and kidney. At this point, they couldn't find anything which makes me even more worried.

Without sounding too positive and negative, the Phillipino Doctor referred me to a Urologist on Monday. The worrying thing is that the Doctor told me she took alot of effort to squeeze an appointment for me. Perhaps suggesting the seriousness of my condition?

I'm thinking too much.

there's something about ..... occasion

Just realised this must be the longest break between posting since I started this blog.

Bo bian... has been too busy with work. Now it's almost practically 7 days a week!! But might as well, World Cup is coming.... so better stock up for the lull period.

Every year for the last few years, I will mark my calender for some major events coming up for the year. Not your usual birthdays or anniversaries as those usually do not require much effort to remember. But like big parties, big gatherings, buddy's wedding, new baby....things like that. I like big occasions.

I remember attending Swing Singapore and Countdown parties with "wolf" during our mid-20s. Or organising those Christmas parties on Hotel Suites.

So now... I'm marking out 2 approximate dates.

One is Coolcat's Housewarming probably soon. I like gate-crashing.... not that I'm not invited. But I like to gate-crash buddies house before they settled in.

Years ago, I slept on Jeff's Sofa immediately when the Sofa arrived. I dunno why I was so tired. The Sofa came, and I slept like 10 mins.

And you bet I'm patiently waiting for Coolcat's sofa to arrive.

The next thing I'm looking forward to is Ella's new little sibling coming soon in September.

To all my buddies out there... do me a favour in no particular order:

• Please get a girlfriend/boyfriend and marry them.
• Procreate... the more the merrier.
• Buy more houses and keep moving.
• Or if the above option is not possible, keep changing sofas.

PLEASEEEEEEE..... I NEED AN EXCITING LIFE!!!!!!!

there's something about ..... bj and tyler

Aren't I glad they win the Amazing race!

I believe this must be one of the best finale of the Amazing Race series. And What a finale!

Coming from behind by about 7 minutes to Eric and Jeremy, they are supposed to find flags of the countries they visited in the race and place them in the sequence, with these flags scattered among 200 over flags on the field, it's looks like the hippies will not make it.

You may think it's easy. I personally would fail in this task... meaning I'm as stupid as Eric and Jeremy. Other than recognising flags from Japan, USA, England, Italy, Brazil or any soccer power nation flags, I woudn't be able to know the other countries that well.

But the hippies not only were able to identify all the flags in 1 go, but also manage to place them in the exact same sequence in 1 go, beating the Frat boys by about 14 mins!

It's not exactly a close race by most standard. But the popularity of the Hippies is undeniable. They are so free spirited and they know how to have fun. To them, money seems secondary. They enjoy the race and the make the race very enjoyable to watch. This is definitely a big REBOUND for the amazing race franchise. The last family edition is bad... very bad.

And if you think the hippies win because of luck... think again. Yes...luck plays a big part. But they have brains!!! Bj is a graduate of HARVARD!!!! And Tyler graduates from UNI of California!!! Wah Biang!! Dun pray pray!!!

The face on Eric on Jeremy when they arrived at the finishing line is priceless. What sore losers!! They couldn't believe they would lose to the hippies.

But if you think they are enemies, you are wrong! These pics were taken after the race. I think they were having a gay orgy party. One of the picture not posted was x-rated.

there's something about ..... homosexual (update)

Just realised from Wang of Karma that today is World AIDS day.

The timing of my blog on homosexual is uncanny.

there's something about ..... homosexual

I met up with coolcat and family briefly yesterday. And we talked about "gay".

They went to Ikea over the weekend and they saw lots of gay couple hunting for furniture. Coincidentally, yesterday's New Paper carries an article about Homosexual activities in some of these health clubs for men. One "victim" had an orgy in one of these health club and came away with HIV. So this became a conversation piece.

I was surprised to find out about such clubs in Singapore.

Years ago, I was a member of California Fitness. I signed with a male buddy of mine. In those days, it's perfectly normal for 2 guys to go clubbing together, to go workout together, to have a meal together .... all these without a second look from passer bys. It's understood that such outings are normal male-bonding activities.

But now... people view "male-bonding" activities differently. I would think twice about asking my buddy out for a drink and risk being seen as a potential gay. Nowadays gay are getting more and more open and they wouldn't mind chatting you up just to know your sexual orientation.

Now.... back to California Fitness. In those days about 5 years ago, things are more "normal". It appears that single guys go there to check out the single girls... Single girls go there to check out the single guys.

However, things are alot more different in the changing room. I have personally witnessed a young, studious looking chap, like probably a IT programmer kind of look... chatting up another guy near me. As I was changing, I could hear their conversation. As innocent as the conversation is, one could tell is a sizing up conversation.

Not only that, I always see this muscular guy wrapped with a tower walking around in the changing room. While you think it's normal to see a Muscular guy wrapped with a tower in a changing room in a gym, this guy always seems to be in the changing room not doing anything other than getting change. He could be walking here and walking there and he is hardly in a sweat. You wonder what he is up to. Why I took notice? Because he has that "I want to lick you" look which I find disgusting and constantly worried about my modesty. Not that I'm so babelicious that I could attract gays... but I think in those days, it's not easy to find a partner and I think these people lowered their expectation to cast their net wider.

And you felt your modesty is under the higest risk in the Steam Bath Room. In that room, where you have guys with just a tower wrapped round you know what and within 4 walls and with the room full of "steam", you felt you were visually molested all the time.

So I stopped going and basically forgo my membership with almost about 1 year left in the contract.

Anyway, yesterday coolcat mentioned about one outing I have with "wolf", another buddy of mine, many years back. She said that is very brokeback.

It was many many years ago, and I was at the beach with "wolf". We were just hanging out at that beach, sharing a beach mat. I was doing my thing, he was doing his thing. It was a very innocent hang out back in those days.

I guess coolcat knew about it because she ask me where I was and I told her I'm at the beach with "wolf".

And I realised something yesterday.

Did such an openness from gay today, started many years back from this very innocent hangout between 2 buddies, that gay people mistook as a rendevous and they decided that being gay is no big deal and you can be open about it?

Does that mean myself and "wolf" revolutionalised Singapore's gay's society?

Wah....

Moral of the story.... be careful who you ask to go to the beach with you.... you may change the lives of thousands, if not million.

there's something about ..... idol

Caught Singapore Idol earlier and I saw a new pattern emerging.

It's not Singapore Idol earlier... it's Singapore's Malay Idol, It's Singapore's Indian Idol, It's Singapore's Eurasian Idol. Or in short, Singapore's minority race Idol.

I'm not being racist here. I thought Taufig was the better and deserving winner the last time round. But coming from a typical malay family, Taufig was surely the many inspiration to many Malays and Indians here. Thus a big turnout from this demographics for this competition.

The Chinese? Not to say there aren't any in the show.

Many chinese in Singapore are bilingual. If given a choice, a good chinese singer who could speak in Mandarin would rather take part in the Chinese equivalent of such competition because the stake is much higher. The regional market for chinese pop is bigger and more lucrative.

We have mandarin-singer millionaires like Stephanie Sun, A Do and JJ etc etc. But we don't have a English-singing singer that could consider a big hit, even locally. Taufig's first album may consider to be one of the best-seller. But that is due to the interest of Singapore Idol then, curiousity spills over. I would be interesting to see how his second album would fair.

To some of these Malays and Indians, they see this as their best chance to earn a respectable living in Singapore. They could see how winning this has transformed Taufig's life. And they too want a crack at stardom. I mean... not every one can say they are the spokesperson for "BIG GULP". That is huge!!! That is the first time a in-house beverage of a chain get their own spokesperson!!

As for the show.... I feel it has lost it's appeal. The fact that they have to still feature some of those rejects from the first show, shows that there aren't any interesting characters out there. You have some "clowns" whose aim were to just appear on TV and nothing else. Such acting is passe. I suppose Singapore being a small country, it's hard to find real and funny personalities.

And Jacintha.... if this first show is any indication, she is just as bad as Douglas O. She wanted credibility and she tries too hard to be a Ken. She is a funny woman with wisecracks and there wasn't any from her. Maybe she feels uncomfortable with her ex-husband 2 seats away.

YAWNnnnnn.

there's something about ..... cycle

Things happen in cycles. You can be doing fantastically well one day with golden taps et al or you can be at the bottom of the pits one day, ask TT Durai. This happens in Sports. In Economy. In Karma. Everything.

Thus, I believe in Vicious Cycle.

My line of work require cold-calling though I don't do that as much now as I have a assistant to do that.

Rejection rates for cold-calling is high. For every 10 calls you make, you will have 5 who slams down the phone on you, 3 who scolded you and then slam down the phone on you, 1 who chit chat with you with no intention of doing business and you have that elusive 1 guy who is prepared to listen.

And after being rejected so many times, I have also conformed to norm. Below are my real life examples.

Telemarketeer who is promoting hotel discount card: HI MR MOOMOOMAN. (in capital because their voice is always in high pitch and so enthusiastic) HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

Me, recognising that pitch: I'm good until you call.

Tele: ohh... can't be that bad. We are................(sales Pitch that last for 2 minutes).... shall I sign you up...

Me: Sorry. I'm not interested.

Tele: Why? It's very cheap.....

Me: I'm not interested.

Tele: Don't you dine out nowadays...

Me: No. I'm jobless now, please delete my name from your mailing list.

Tele: can you refer your friends to me.

Me: No.

I hang up.

*******************************************

Telemarketeer promising you prizes in broken english/and chinese: hi moomooman, congratulations you have won your self a plasma TV, can I verify some information... did you visit any IT SHOW, FOOD FAIR, WAREHOUSE SALE in either Suntec City or Singapore Expo Last year? (umbrella question to make sure your answer is yes)

Me, laughing: Yes. Wah.. last year "lucky draw", this year then give me har.

Telemarketeer: Why you laugh. Why not. So you want the prize or not?

Me, still trying to contain my laughter: So what do I have to do? Listen to a seminar for 1 hour with my wife at Ngee Ann City issit?

Telemarketeer: Yes. No obligation. After that you can stand to win Plasma TV.

Me: I thought you say I already won?

Telemarketeer: Got condition mah.

Me: So this is timeshare.

Telemarketeer: No.. We are not timeshare. We are a leisure group.

Me, still laughing: Haha.. I see.

Telemarketeer: So you coming or not.

Me: Why don't you guys give me my prize and I leave. I don't attend the seminar lah.

Telemarkeer, sounding impatient: Cannot. So you want to come or not.

Me: No.

Telemarketeer hang up.

****************************************

Telemarketeer trying to sell you insurance products: Hi Mr Moomooman, I from *** Insurance.

Me: I also a Insurance agent from *** (quote rival company)

****************************************

Telemarketeer trying to ask you to sell real estate: Hi Moomooman, I from *** company.

Me: I also a real estate agent from *** (quote rival company)

****************************************

Telemarketeer trying to sign you up for Platinum Credit Card: Hi Moomooman, I from ***, are u keen to sign up *** credit card, free for first year and you can ................Sale Pitch.........?

Me: Got free gift?

Telemarketeer: yes... on top of that.. you will receive.........

Me: Ok lor.

**************************************

there's something about ..... tact

How long does it take for one to offend a client?

Answer: Split second.

Real life example that took place recently:

Lady client: Hi Moomooman

Me who has the client's number stored in my hp: Hi client.. it's been a long time. How have you been?

Lady client: It's been good. In fact I have just given birth to a beautiful daughter.

Me: Wow.. congratulations!!! Was your first one a boy or a girl?

Lady Client: no.. this is our first one.

This is when one should take the cue and move on to other topics... but not this moronic author.

Me: Oh... I thought you were pregnant 2 years ago when we met?

Lady Client said dryly plus probably cussing within: no.

OOpsssss.