The Oddfellows performance was pretty short but good. It touched me deeply when they played (The Unity Song). It's one of those songs which I hoped that the radio would play on my way to school when I was 18. I just sang along when they played that song. Caught up abit with Stephen from BigO, it's been awhile since I last spoke to him. Told him that I have been "quite off" the music and that I haven't been listening to much for the past two years.

Oddfellows would be playing again on 31st Jan 2002 at Library @ Orchard. While he was signing on my CD (entitled Bugs And Hisses, which I bought on the spot), Patrick Chng told me that they would be playing new material at that gig. I think I should be there again.

I would be leaving work early to catch Oddfellows playing live at the Library @ Orchard at 7.00pm.

Me and another of my colleague are the only marketing team members who are in today. Everyone else is on leave.

It's been cold and drizzling for the past few days/nights. I think the weather pattern would be like that until the first half of January. I took leave yesterday to try to spend some time by myself. It's really good to be able to spend time to connect with oneself.

Actually I had planned to go shopping. Wanted to see if I could grab some clothing for Chinese New Year. I know it's abit early but I really hate last minute shopping when I have to fight crowds or endure with the words 'No more' from sales assistants. I was specifically looking for red short-sleeve shirt (which I can wear to work) and a pair of jeans. I have already got new shoes (I have three pairs of new shoes which I haven't worn) and new socks already.

I don't think I am ever a "shopping" person even though I make good company for shopping. It's no surprise that I sometimes view it as a chore, unless when I am overseas or when I am in a really shopping mood. G2000 had a 40% storewide sale, I tried for the size and went on to buy the same shirt in five different colours. I am not so fussy about the clothes that I wear to work. I never liked shopping for "workwear" too.

I was very tempted to grab the Levis RED jeans. They look totally unlike Levis and more like some cheapo jeans which you can find in markets. The $238 price really put me off. I have done my research and I found out that it costs 22,000 Yen in Japan or 189 USD in the US. I guess I would think about it. If I get this, my shopping needs will be satisfied and I can live for another six months without shopping.

A war would be raging in Singapore starting tommorrow. Yes! It's the start of the Mango sale tommorrow! *mad laugh*

All the holidays are screwing up my orientation of days in the week. It didn't feel like Wednesday to me but it is. It's time to kick myself again for missing FilmArt yet again.

I haven't blogged in five days. Just wasn't in the mood to.

Finally caught Lord Of The Rings on Saturday. Only one word - Impressed. It should make it to my top ten films I have seen for this year (which is impressive considering the fact that I have probably watched over a hundred films since the start of this year). Ate at NYDC (Wheelock Place) for the first time in my life. Committed a sin by going for the absolutely yummy Cookie Monster Mudpie (which I commented that "Mudpie" is actually just euphemism for "ice-cream cake").

I actually slept through the whole of Sunday.

Christmas eve was a quiet affair with a few close friends. A dinner followed by some games (e.g Uno). Was actually home before midnight. Christmas day was worst. I didn't even feel like going to the house warming and the "theme" party (this year's theme is "Hats"). I have never missed any of the "theme" parties and this year I did. I had very memorable "theme" parties.

This first year which I went was "Polka dot" night where each of us had to turn up in some polka dot gear. We watched Santa Clause together and had a really nice game of Bingo. The next was six years ago. Another year we had "Back to School" where everyone had to turn up in school uniform! It's really hilarious seeing people in their thirties wearing school uniform (I am the youngest in the group, most of them are in their early thirties and married). In another year, we had "Beng/Lian" night when each of us had to turn out in our "Bengest" or "Lianest" self. The last one I went to, was the "Old folks" year when each of us had to be in our "sixties", complete with white hair and all. We had two years in between the six years which we didn't have any "theme" parties (which was three years back and last year) for some reason. They had one this year and I wasn't there.

Something must be really wrong with me.

Looks Iike I am going to put on alot of weight for this Christmas season.

There was a Christmas lunch over in our office today. They had all the sweet, fried and oily stuff. There's going to be another dinner with my closer friends on Christmas Eve, a gathering over at my old classmates new place (the couple that just got married) the next afternoon and a "theme" party on the evening of Christmas day. Food food food. Uck.

I bought one whole bucket of "candy canes" and I went around all the floors in the office distributing them to people I know, giving them a handshake and wishing them,"Merry Christmas". Was really surprised how a little gesture like that ignites a really warm response from people. Since I have given out about a hundred of them, it means that I have known/worked with at least a hundred people this year. Amazing. I was really touched by the smiles on the people's faces. Especially when I told those people with young kids that they can pick another one for their kids. *Grin*

Everyone is either on leave or away (boss is on leave until next year). I am the only one doing all the dirty work (conducting training, UAT test on Saturday. *Sigh*). I am taking leave on Boxing Day and I am going shopping.

Watched Ocean's Eleven last night. I always liked shows about big heists not matter how unbelievable they are. I wished they had started showing Spirited Away this week but I guess I would have to wait for another week.

I received an email from the shop that sells the Transformers tees informing me that the stuff's here. I am going to pick them up and that would be the Christmas present for my brother. Watching Lord of The Rings tommorrow afternoon. Looking forward to it.

I should be kicking myself now. I wonder how I could forget about catching FilmArt last night!! Felt really horrible this morning.

I caught the Transformers movie last night (courtesy of Morpheus again). Was quite good despite the poor picture quality. No complains because it's free anyway.

For some reason, most people I know actually like the bad guys (Decepticons) more than the good guys (Autobots). Even though Megatron is really bad, personally I think he is the coolest. He transforms into a high powered pistol. When I visited Hong Kong, there was one set of the Megatron Transformers toy selling for $300. I don't think there are many of these around these days.

Even the Decepticons emblem is cooler than the Autobots one (which is also the same reason why I like the wear the Decepticons tee more than the Autobots one).

Had a very bad back spasm this morning (thanks to my prolapsed disc) so I took half the day off after my session of UAT at the branch (UAT : User Acceptance Test). The bad news for all of us is that the whole UAT has to be redone because of some problems with the cycle cut.

Flagged a cab because I can't really walk with my back spasms.

My brother borrowed some Captain Tsubasa VCDs from his friend. I wanted to start watching them but I realised some of the earlier discs are missing. I am a really big fan of Captain Tsubasa.

Captain Tsubasa (or "Tian1 Shi3 Zhi1 Yi4", the Hanji title - loosely translated into "Wings of the Angel", but "Yi4" could mean feet or wings in Chinese. "Yi4" actually refers more to "Ta4 Kong1 Yi4" who is the main hero inside the series). It's probably not as popular as the ubitiquious "Dragonball", "Slamdunk" or "Doraemon". Strangely enough, I first stumbled upon Captain Tsubasa in my days of playing Nintendo games. I started playing those Captain Tsubasa games and I was really fascinated by those really fanciful kicks which the characters in the game could do (e.g Tiger Shot, Drive Kick, Drive Overhead Kick, Tornado etc). I even remember renting original Japanese Captain Tsubasa comic books from the old Seiyu (when they were still in Marina Square) and trying to read the comic without really understanding all the Japanese. Until some local publisher (Chuang4 Yi4) bought the rights to some of the manga titles and they began publishing translated Captain Tsubasa comics. I was quite disappointed when they changed all the names of the characters inside the book to Chinese names. The first series of Captain Tsubasa comics had thirty-seven books. I still have an old Captain Tsubasa poster at home.

All these are endearing memories.

The lowdown on the KL trip!

Friday afternoon - Headed off to Ban San Street Bus Terminal to board the Singapore-JB Express after we changed our money to RM at Bugis Junction. We dropped off at Merlin Tower in JB and found out that all the tickets were sold out! Decided to try out luck at Larkin bus terminal. A decision was made to head back home to Singapore if we cannot get tickets for any bus earlier than 8.00pm. There was this ang moh trio (One old man and a couple) that had alot of bags with them from the same Singapore-JB Express bus we took whom are also headed for Larkin. On the way to Larkin, the bus broke down and we had to transfer to another bus. Poor ang moh trio has to move all the bags from one bus to another.

Late Friday afternoon - Bought tickets from a tout (about 3RM more per ticket) for a 3.30pm bus. The ang moh trio were smart enough to buy tickets too so we were on the same bus with them again. After waiting for half an hour, we were told to change buses again! The look on their faces! The guy was swearing (and sweating) while lugging all their bags to the next bus. The bus finally moved off at 4.15pm.

Friday evening - Heavy jam at certain parts of the North-South highway because of really bad road accidents. Managed to reach Puduraya (KL's bus interchange, easily the most chaotic place that I know of in KL) at 11.00pm, two hours off schedule.

Late Friday evening - Took the LRT from Pasar Seni station (which means "Art Market" in Malay, the station is a stone throw away from Central Market - one of the tourist attractions) which is within walking distance of Puduraya. Struggled real hard with the ticket vending machine because it doesn't take in the notes properly. Found out that we could actually just buy tickets from the station control.

Friday Midnight -My uncle lives within walking distance of the Taman Melati LRT station. We went out right after we showered after dropping our bags. Took a cab to Jalan Alor, which houses the some of the best hawker food in KL. Supper was really good and we decide to go clubbing afterwards. Hailed a cab to The Beach Club.

Clubbing time - The Beach Club is easily the most popular club around. There are other clubs surrounding it but none of it has the crowd like they do. Back in March, I loved Flux when I visited but Flux is like a dead joint now with less than seventy people inside. I really wonder what happened. The very last time I visited, Joe Caussell was playing as a guest DJ with at least two thousand people inside and I had to pay RM38 just to get in. This time however, I noticed that Flux's decks were manned by a cute, young girl and I was really impressed. The Beach Club has all types of people - expatriates, locals, Malaysian SPGs, tourists etc. It's weird because they play a very weird selection of Top 40, old skool hiphop, gangsta etc. Really weird mix. Of course I loved the hiphop bits (especially the old skool bits which you don't really find back home). Me and my friend were looking at all the Malaysia babes in their tube tops and open-toe heels. Looks like they have better clubbing scene than us?

Wee hours on Friday - We were approached by a pimp cum taxi driver. I have never been approached by a pimp in my life before. Feels funny. We got home at 4.00am.

Late Saturday morning - We went down to Puduraya again to get bus tickets for our return trip. To our horror, everything was sold out. Luckily I managed to land two seats on a Transnasional (the SBS of Malaysia, the most reliable bus service provider) bus to J.B for 9.00am, Monday morning. It's really great luck because Transnasional seats are always the first ones to be sold out. For a while I thought we were going to be stranded.

Saturday afternoon - Finally, we found out where we could take a bus to the Skyway cable car station at the foot of Genting Highlands. It seems like all the north-bound buses are all now housed in Huta (because Puduraya is too packed and chaotic) terminal. After reaching the Skyway cable car station, we had to queue one hour just to get to the cable car. Breath-taking view on the way upwards. While we are near the top, we could see nothing but clouds. Really feels like you are looking out into a sea of white cotton. Mesmerizing.

De Casino - This is where Malaysia never sleeps. I am someone that you would call an "Accidental Gambler". My friend was the one who was really keen on it. He even wrote 1650 on his hand and told me that the number is the target profit (not many people I know leave Genting winning as far as I know). He had a base of RM500 while I only had RM250 with me. After fifteen hours, I pocketed an extra RM300 and he pocketed RM500 extra but it was not without it's risks. At one point, I had only RM100 left and I could have almost lost my base if I lost another two hands at "Tai Sai" (Big Small, a three dice game). My friend had won RM700 earlier and lost everything including his base. He had to advance another RM1,000 from his credit card before he could get back his base and an additional profit of RM500. I decided to call it quits after hitting RM300 in winnings knowing that luck would eventually run out for me. It's too "heartstopping" for me to bear. That "voodoo" table (that was what I called it afterwards) had eight straight "Tais" (Big) and I betted on Big for seven games at RM25 each. Unbelievable but true. On hindsight, both of us could have lost everything.

Sunday afternoon - We didn't sleep at all and we went shopping after washing up when we got back from Genting. There is only one place that a person needs to shop at in KL and that's Sungei Wang. Forget about KLCC or Mid Valley (largest mall in Southeast Asia). Sungei Wang is like Far East Plaza, Funan and Sim Lim rolled into one.

Sungei Wang - I am normally not a shopping person, but when I get into the mood I do shop like mad. Bought five tops in two hours when I don't even buy more than one for half a year. Was really tempted to fork out money for a GBA (Gameboy Advance). We decided to use our winnings to go for a really good foot massage. It was heavenly! There is one place where I never fail to visit everytime I am in KL and that's Victoria Music Centre. I got to know the lady boss a few years ago when I bought a banned Manic Street Preachers album - Generation Terrorists (with the excellent, excellent Motorcycle Emptiness). This is the first time she's not at the shop when I visited and also the first time I didn't buy anything from the shop. The staff at her shop really know their stuff.

The Ship - Just opposite Bukit Bintang Plaza (which is linked to Sungei Wang) is The Ship restuarant. We decided to pamper ourselves with really good food. We had escargots (yum!). The Ship there is no longer related to The Ship in Singapore (Shaw Centre) and the food selection, price and quality is at least ten times better. The Ship in KL really kicks ass. This is the second time we have eaten there.

Chinatown - We took a long walk from The Ship to Chinatown to hoard some local delicacies back for our colleagues, friends and family members. It was packed with alot of people. They sell the famous "Wo3 Lai2 Ye3" bak gua there. We were really tired because we haven't really slept at all after the Genting ordeal. Slept early after we packed everything.

Monday morning - Boarded the bus at Puduraya and for the first time the bus left on schedule.

Monday afternoon - The shortest return trip I ever had. Four hours and fifteen minutes and I was back in Larkin. We decided to do more shopping at Holiday Inn and the City Centre. It's nuts considering the fact that I am carrying an 30kg backpack. We stopped for a hair wash and it's was absolutely heavenly all over again. A neck massage, facial wash, hair wash all for RM12.

Late Monday afternoon - The part that I hate the most about visiting Malaysia is the customs. All the people packed into one tiny miserable room. I am very sure that is a serious fire hazard. It's alot worst when you are carrying such a load. Took the Singapore-JB Express back to Ban San Street and took the MRT home from Bugis Station.

Back at work now. *Sigh*

Looking forward to my KL trip. Making the trip after lunch.

I am using the profit that I made from selling the IPAQ to go on this short break, otherwise I would have never been able to afford it. I have to bring along one set of office attire because we are going to visit the casino. The casino demands that all male patrons to be dressed in a shirt/tie or batik (which is Malaysia's national dress).

Listening to Luke Slater's Wireless album now. An album constructed using really weird samples like computer beeps, radio frequencies etc. Delicious. Orbital even had samples of door knobs and stuff. Weird but true.

There's this really huge swelling on my gum. It's worrying.

Ironically, the last marketing program that I screwed up on is the last program to bring in the results that we would need to meet our year target. My boss was jumping with joy and I felt really glad. Good news is rare in such an economic climate. I see how my other colleagues from other departments putting up a black face perpetually because they know there's no way they could have hit the target.

Alot of people would rather be a low level employee in a high growth area of the company rather than a high level employee in a low growth or stagnating one.

I will enjoy my weekend. Hope everyone enjoys theirs as well.

Great show on FilmArt last night. 6ixtynin9. Wonder what's it with dead people and alot of money. Here's a recap of the older movies that I have watched that surrounds dead people, money and people going on mad rampages just to get the money

- Boogie Nights - when a everyone dies after a bizzare and messy shootout in a convenience store, Don Cheadle makes off with the money and starts his own business in hi-fis.
- Common Wealth - Spanish film shown on FilmArt two weeks back, old man who wins the sweepstakes dies and all the neighbours hanker after the money.
- Adrenaline Rush - Japanese film shown during 2000's Singapore International Film Festival, some innocent teenager survives a freak blast in a Yakuza hangout and makes off with a nurse and a huge bag of money. Hilarious caper when we see the other Yakuzas chase this couple for the money.

I like the part when everyone is pointing guns at everyone else in a room for five minutes and then everyone starts shooting everyone dead when the phone suddenly rings.

Trust me, there would be more shows with such instances when an innocent person picks up ill-gotten money and all the trouble for that person after this person tries to pocket the money.

It's crazy but it took twenty-four hours to defragment my hard disk.

Come tommorrow afternoon, I would be on a coach to KL. Looking forward to shopping, some clubbing and food. My friend would like to gamble (and hope to win big) on Genting Highlands. Wish him luck.

Surreal.

I was in a bus on my way back to the office and suddenly all the very old A-ha songs (yes, I listen to A-ha even though I know it's embarrassing) came to mind. Because the bus passed by Empress Place it reminded me of the time when I was twelve and owning a pirated A-ha casette tape. It takes me, to be in a bus, passing by Empress Place and suddenly you are reminded of the music of yesteryears. It's strange how places remind you of music, vice versa. Back then, I was at the super old NRO building at Empress Place to get my IC (if you remember the old laminated ICs) done.

When I listen Hackers soundtrack, Perth comes to mind. Because the first time that I heard the Soundrack, I was on a plane to Perth.

I really feel like digging out my old A-ha CDs for a listen. I have every A-ha CD except the latest one. Even though A-ha was famous for their hit (Take On Me), that is my least liked A-ha song. All I need is for the radio to play (Take On Me) when I got back to the office. Surreal like I said.

I was absolutely disgusted at (Take On Me) remade by one of those boybands. Being a boyband is bad enough. But a boyband ripping off others!? *Humphz*

I have actually sold my IPAQ off after one week of fiddling with it. I rather I get back some moolah because I just can't seem to maximise the use of it. Like what I told my friend, the IPAQ is too powerful for me. I guess it's back to pen and paper now. I packed everything back into a box and tommorrow I will cease to be a proud owner of an IPAQ.

It's strange that I have actually dreamed about owning an IPAQ for one whole year only to use to for a few days and re-selling it after that. Stuff about human desire is really unfathomable. There is really this irrational consumer in everyone, as my boss says all the time.

On my way home, I met a really old friend which I have known since Primary 3. He even used to sit beside me in Primary Six. Now he's a high flying senior auditor in one of the big accounting firms. He's also legally married now and waiting to move into his new flat in Punggol. Both his folks and himself would all be moving out of my neighbourhood. Time really flies. I have known this fella for a whopping seventeen years! Deep inside, I feel so happy for him. Seems like every grown bird flies out of this old neighbourhood.

I had supper with my brother last night to catch up with him. That poor boy had his handphone (Nokia 8250) stolen. He's been hit with a spate of bad luck - failing his driving test 200m away from driving centre due to some "seizure" he had, punctured tyre for his motorbike and now this. I have been asking him if he needs any financial assistance from me.

I am going to stop writing about all the negative emotions/actions. They are not the reason for the existence of this blog.

I finally got to talk to a friend whom I haven't spoken to for a long time. I finally got the answers to some of my questions that I wanted even though we just dropped each other off the cliffs that last time we spoke (read : intense). So many things has happened for each of us during this period of time. It feels weirdly calm for us to talk again. If there is a term that I would ever use to describe the outcome for this conversation, it's going to be an ambivalent term - "uneasy glad"

After lunch, strangely I just feel like I wanted to hear Mazzy Star's (Fade In You). Ten minutes later I wanted Stone Roses (I Wanna Be Adored). Luckily I do have The Complete Stone Roses in the office. By the way, Ian Brown has a new album.

With a long holiday coming up, I am actually trying to plan for a trip to KL. I need a break. One of my colleagues visited my blog. I really wonder what's the reaction after my colleague finishes reading the whole thing.

I screwed up badly on one of the marketing programs that I am working on. It's a bad mistake which I never make. I really just waiting for the shit to hit the fan.

What's worst is that my boss is on urgent leave and there is no one to help me.

I removed some stuff and pasted four Chinese characters on my monitor this morning - "Yu4 Ren2 Bu4 Shu2". Means either -

i) Bad karma with people
ii) Meeting the wrong people
iii) Knowing people at the wrong time

Pretty much sums up the whole thing. This is confusing. This is awkward. This is painful.

Maybe like what some of my friends say, being nice only gets you nowhere. You get taken for a ride. People hurt you. People take you for granted. Humans will be humans.

For every type of broken relationship (family, friends etc), it's painful to pick up the pieces and move ahead. More so when you know that there is nothing you could have done really.

I am putting on The Cure. I need it really.

It feels strange. Two months has passed since I last started this thing. Many a times I wanted to kill it (and I told alot of people this as well and they also said they never understood why). We shall see...

There was a team-building offsite on Friday and it's the most unbelievable workshop I have attended. All of us were at Beaufort Sentosa (which was a really nice place - lotus ponds, roaming peacocks etc.) and 90% of the workshop was "highly interactive". We had to pitch a tent (not the Army two-men tent type) in half an hour, build a stool from a plank in half an hour (hammers, nails and saw) etc. All of us were sweating out in the hot sun and 80% of the participants were dainty girls. All the moans and groans. I don't know about the girls but I had great fun. As a round-up of the day's activities, all of us have to do a Trust Fall and the comment was that I did the "prettiest" fall. *applause*

Saturday was a "lazing around" day at my best friends' place. Although I am totally helpless with Metal Gear 2, I had great fun. Perhaps now I could understand why they shelled out so much moolah for a PS2.

Having time on my own is good in it's own way. Did a little introspection and took stock of my life.

As individuals, why do we allow ourselves to be hurt without condition by the ones we love? Why do our loved ones continue to hurt us without knowing that we harbour such pain and agony for them because of our love for them? What would they have done if they knew? Why do love and pain go together as one coin with two faces?

This is the end of the year. I am drained - emotionally, mentally and physically. Shoot me rather than letting me bleed to death.

I have decided to neglect my IPAQ tonight and devote time to it over the weekend. Quite a few things has been happening over the past few days actually.

I bought my "immediate" colleagues (as in my immediate boss, people from my department) Japanese buffet lunch over at Checkers (Hilton Hotel) because I would have clocked one year on this job on 6th Dec. The bill was almost $200 but I really wanted to thank them (even though I don't see eye to eye with the two girls on alot of occasions), especially my beloved boss. He took a big risk in employing me - someone with 0 banking experience (not even a banking/finance degree) and 0 experience in consumer lending. He spent time to teach me everything I wanted to know (which also includes things that are not about consumer lending) and impart me his excellent Access and Excel skills (e.g Vlookup). While the five of us are gorging ourselves with food, I said that I would like to have the chance to buy them a good lunch again on the same day next year.

6th Dec is the birthday of our "super dua towkay" (that is the term my boss coined) - i.e the Head of the consumer finance business. There was lunch for twenty-two of her direct reports at Sketches (Bugis Junction). It was a mad three hour lunch when I actually fell asleep close to the end. There is this special significance of 6th Dec. First it's my ORD date (which every male in Singapore can remember in their lifetime), first day at work in this company and her birthday (Madame, or Empress Dowager - that is what I refer her as to other colleagues).

It's a milestone, really. I can't describe the feeling but I guess I am feeling really glad.

Wow, it seems like I haven't blogged for four days. Can't help it for two reasons. First, I have been really busy at work (I am actually in the office very early right now because of an overseas conference call). Second is because I am now a very proud owner of a IPAQ! *snigger*

I finally landed my Compaq IPAQ on Monday night. Spent so much time fiddling with it for the past few nights, trying to figure out how it really works. I have been trying to find out more on game emulators (Gameboy Advance capability!), ebooks (no more lugging books around, Neal Stephenson on the move!) *beam*

I also tried playing songs on the IPAQ and the sound was very clear even though the file took an obscene chunk of space on the device.

I have already sold the Palm M125 for $350.

I have actually finished two books over the last week - Fever Pitch (Nick Hornby) and Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson). Got a new book from the library - How to be good (Nick Hornby also).