I can't stand it anymore

A long time friend of my mom's just HAD to preach to me about getting married. Why? Why must they be so concerned about whether I'm married or not? So what if I don't get married? So what if I do? Does it bloody concern them? Maybe the red packets issue but that's totally besides the point.


That's it. I'm going overseas next Chinese New Year.

Grandma dearest..

Grandma Grandma.. Are you so desperate for me to get married?


I went to Grandma's place to collect some bowls and utensils this morning. Here's our conversation..


Grandma : Eng Kiat engaged ah? (Eng Kiat is me in case you didn't already know)
Me : No la! Who told you that?
Grandma : But I'm going to your house later! Eng Kiat engaged ah?
Me : Aiya that's for Chinese New Year! I'm not engaged..
Grandma : Oh.. So Eng Kiat not engaged ah?
Me : No no..
Grandma : But I'm going to your house later!
Me : *faint*


Tell me how? And don't tell me to get engaged.. :))

Geez

Just got back from my grandma's place. Everyone's asking me when it'll be my turn to give red packets. I really have to start going overseas during this period. Anyway I was bored stiff there. No Chinese New Year spirit as usual.

Chinese New Year

The year of the puppy is now upon us. Time to gather with family and friends, smile and be polite to relatives you see only once a year, trying so hard to remember their names. I don't know about you, but that's what always happens to me.


I enjoyed Chinese New Year as a kid. Snacking non-stop, running up to grown ups to get those wonderful red packets. Hiding in the toilet counting how much was inside the red packets, and secretly labeling the grown ups as stingy or generous. It didn't matter if I had forgotten how to call them. A simple "uncle" or "aunty" would suffice. Anyway I was then a cute little boy. Did I mention irresistible too? :))


Now Chinese New Year is just a time to catch up on sleep in the mornings, and to go visiting and try to put on a pleasant face. There was never any significance to this occassion to me. It could totally disappear from the calendar and I couldn't care less. Except for those red packets. :))
But those seem to have lost meaning to me as well. I guess red packets are just a tool to get
little devils to be quiet and well-behaved.


I had reunion dinner at my granny's place last night. She's been bugging me about a girlfriend for ages. Initially she said I was still young. Then she asked me how old I was. And then everything changed. To her I was old and had little time to get married. Sheesh. She said my parents want grandchildren. I told her to bug my sister instead. :))


Oh well.. 恭喜发财! May the year of the puppy be a good year for all! Huat ah!

22nd January

One year on, and I still cannot let go..

Goodbye my friend..

I received a shock this morning when I went to work. And it wasn't because my boss reached there earlier than I did. A friend and colleague came up to me when I was having my morning smoke and told me that a mutual friend of ours had passed away. I was in shock. He was my age.


We both played badminton in the national junior squad. That was about a decade ago. And about this time we both picked up smoking. He ended worse off. We had spent many evenings and afternoons with the other badminton players training and having fun. And now he is gone.


Was he too young to die? Could it have been me instead? I am still too shocked for words.


Rest in peace my dear friend. You will be remembered.

Where have all the seconds gone..

One week into my new posting, and I think I'm settling in relatively well. I do not have any trainees under me, but I do not see anything wrong with that. =) Although the training tempo seems high, the colleagues there make life more bearable. I still do miss my men back in my old unit though. But life must go on.


Suddenly time seems so short now. This week just flew by, espcially so the weekend. One night out with the boys and it's time to prepare for the new workweek. So many things I want to do. So little time. Little time to spend with my friends. Little time to spend on my car. Little time to do something I really need to do.


What's more alarming is that I feel really old. General concensus is that I look 27 thereabouts. But I feel so much older. Maybe I should start drinking Yomeishu. :))

Father Time

How fast time flies. Christmas is now over, as is New Year. My stunning holiday just flew past me. Chinese New Year is fast approaching, but it will be past soon enough. I went into my old unit on the 9th of May 2005. And now, 7 months after posting in, I'm leaving her. It is with great reluctance that I leave my boys behind. I might not have taken them for the longest of times, but it was long enough for me to feel attached to them. Not the best behaved ones, but still my boys. Guess they take after who is in charge huh?


I officially started a new chapter of my career on Monday, although it really begins tomorrow. A whole different tasking altogether, but I'll do my best. As usual, as always.


I most probably have to go overseas again. My new unit is due to leave early Feb. Meaning I'll be spending Valentines' Day overseas. Not that I've got a Valentines. Was hoping to spend it with a friend but I guess it won't materialise. Doesn't matter.


Time waits for no man, and no man has the time to wait.
A good day to all reading, and hope you enjoyed your public holiday.

Home!

I'm back! From a lovely wintery wonderland! It was absolutely gorgeous! The snowcapped mountains, with trees sprinkled with icing and houses with white roofs. Really a winter wonderland!


I spent the first day in Frankfrut meeting the other folks from the tour. Had Aussies, Americans, New Zealanders and a couple from Singapore. The majority are older than I am, but that didn't stop them from having fun.


On the second day we headed down to Munich. That was the first time I experienced snow falling from the Heavens onto me. It was beautiful! The snow was already thick, probably shin deep. I spent two nights there before heading down to Austria, Salzburg.


We visited Mozart's birth place, as well as toured the locations that were used to film "The Sound of Music". If you thought the scenary in the movie was nice, you ought to see it in real life!


After Salzburg we headed down to Innsbruck. Over there besides the sight-seeing, I also went on a horse carrriage ride. The temperature there was 17 degrees below zero! I was wrapped up like a marshmallow but my bits were still freezing off! :)) Oh yeah I saw little eors up at the farm too. :P


After Salzburg we went to Lucerne in Switzerland. The town area was gorgeous, with a beautiful river cutting it down the middle. We went up Mount Pilatus, only about 7000 feet. The view from the top was stunning!! Up in the clouds, looking down at tiny houses. It was almost like an air-photo you get from the web.


Here's the best bit. I took a sledge down! Sliding down the slope was exhilarating!! The tour guide made it sound so easy. "To stop put both feet on the ground." I put both feet and I was still going at 1000 km/h! Or at least it seemed like 1000 km/h. Ended up having to crash just to stop. My bum is still sore!


Finally made our way back to Frankfrut where we said goodbye to one another and went on our seperate ways. It was only 9 days but it was the best 9 days of my life!


I took 954MB worth of pictures, so I'll put it in my portable hard drive and pass it around. Be patient! :D