Yet another buffet

After the meaty buffet at the 6th ave, it was the vegetarian buffet at Quality hotel on Sat.

Vegetarian buffet because the extreme left guy is a plant eater. So we have to factor that in and settle for vegetarian buffet. He can't even eat onions and garlic because they have the ability to make one horny. So being religious, he can't take it. Really have to salute him. I can't live a day without pork or chicken.

I think I never ate so much vegetarian food in my life before. It was very filling. Maybe because everything is just full of carbo.

It's so interesting to know there's such thing as the vegetarian buffet.

It was a hectic sat. 15 km Run in the morning with my buddies, wakeboarding in the afternoon with ting ting and meiqin and buffet in the evening with my dear team-mates.

My bro's army friend makes my day too... hahaha... He asked me how many more months I have left before ORD... hahahaa.... Can see the shock on his face when i turned around and told him... "Your brother me already ORD 5 years ago..." Maybe he is just trying to make me happie to pay back for the lift to the MRT station. haha

Oh.. anyway merry christmas... Beer will make me sleep well tonight. 2 mugs of that at Brewertz.. Sure will...

My first PC outing...

In my company.. PC means something like division... I forgot what does PC stand for...

Anyway, we had a buffet lunch at the brazilian buffet store along 6th Ave... It's really eat until want to vomit kind.... It's the kinda buffet where the chefs will take the meat and come right to your place and cut a slice for you kind.... THey had lamb, beef, chicken, ham, fish, sausage... and.. pineapple?!?! but it was good...

We had a good time together, mingling around and crapping as usual...

Played some games after the food too... Everyone is so on..

We managed to finish what we took.. Damn satisfied..

Huizhen was late.. Ke lian her.. RUshing over from a supplier site.. THe chefs all targetted her cos she was the only surviving one..

GOt arrowed up to 比手画脚.. was trying to 比 "Last christmas"... was trying to draw a christmas tree in the air...

"Clever! you got it!"

13 Dec

Just when I am enjoying the things I am doing at work and the company of my colleagues, the email came. The email to go for the first interview. The late email. Was chatting with Huiyu during work and I told her about this email. SHe gave good advice.

"Are you comfortable with the people here?" (definitely a resounding Yes!)

"Do you like what you are doing?" (Yah. I always like defense stuff.. If not, i won't quit my previous job)

"Do you see yourself growing in this company?" (Yes. I am learning everyday. And I feel that my boss is taking very good care of me"

"Are you willing to let all these go to go for that job?" (I don't think so... Will have to take a paycut too... haha)

All these qns for me to brood over this weekend. But seriously, i think my boss is giving me a lot of opportunities. Kept giving me projects to learn. THe most amazing thing is I already have around 4-5 projs on hand and he is still loading me... He even arranged for me to go to US next feb. Right after my HK trip.

Boss: Justin. Is your HK trip confirmed

Tin: (Wah lau eh.. Pls don't pop something bad ah... ) ehh.... Yah... air ticket + lodging settled le

Boss: When are you coming back? 11th right? Can you go to US on the 12th? ALone?

Tin: Can.... But alone??

Boss: Why? cannot ah? You commando ley.. scared ah?

Tin: (Puzzled... Stop playing this chickening thing ah.. My boss was also a commando.. that's why he always like to test my pride) Not that i scared.. but i don't know what to ask over there..

Boss: You will learn. Just came over to ask you so that you won't complain that you haven't even warm your bed after you are back from HK and have to leave the next morning.

Tin: ....... (Your wish is my command) (have to spend money to tailor blazer liao... Cos all ang mos will wear blazer and we can't lose face)

And thinking about it, since i am going to be there... might as well just extend my trip to tour around...

And now i can't sleep because of the zi char (yet again) + ice chocolate float just now...

Why?!?!

The only picture they took of me... But i was WALKING!! argh... why can't they take me in action? like at least running?? sian...

And i am going to buy compression thighs for HK... so that i won't have cramps... but it costs 130 bucks...

Rite of Passage: From Boy to Man

My brother got enlisted today. The rite of passage for all Singaporean men. Ever since the dun-know-when law got erected that all men have to serve as conscript soldiers, batches and batches have to leave behind all that they have to spend 2 years of their lives holding arms and building the buddies bond that will last a lifetime.

Actually I am sad yet happy for him. Sad that there's no one at home for me to kajiao and nag at. Maybe for him, he's just so relieved to serve NS. Happy for him in the sense that I know he will grow. Grow into a young man with character and personality shaped by the training he will receive in the army. Hope he will find his direction in life and realise his potentials.

Specially took leave to be part of this special stint in his life. For me and my dad, it's dejavu. It seemed just like yesterday, I was standing amongst the boys making that National Service Oath. "To protect the Nation with our lives." I bet my brother doesn't know what he's reciting. Me too that time. I only know it's an oath which will strip me of my hair, Pink IC and 2 1/2 years of my life. The pain of leaving the family, gfs and friends. But looking back, I am just so glad we have national service. If not, I won't have buddies who motivated me when my morale was ultra low during the shit we went through during missions (72 km marches.. Uncountable amt of fast marches... uncountable tekans to earn that beret... the fear during the night before the actual parachute jump the next day...), who stood by and supported me when i broke up with my first gf, who feel my joy when i graduated from Uni, who gave me support when i was running my first marathon.... I am just so glad for them to be in my life. I am sure my little brother will find his buddies in the years to come.

Hope he will train hard and safe and realise his potentials during this 2 years stint.

His first botak haircut

Our farewell dinner for him. Other members not inside the pic. Not onli me and my cousin.

The farewell lunch at Pulau Tekong.

Just as I was about to post this post, my brother called back home. hahaaa... He will survive.

The struggle!

"I want to give up"

"What did i sign up for it!?!"

"Where is the next water point?!?!"

" THis is going to my last marathon"

"WHy did I sign up for the HK marathon even before running this one?"

All these came to my mind when I was running the marathon yesterday. It was really a mental struggle during the last 12 km. The heat, the sweat and the CRAMPS! It's the first time in my life I can even cramp while walking. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak... or should i say the flesh was cramped? My thighs were constantly cramping, my shoulders were tight, my arms were tired, my butt cheeks were aching and my whole attire was wet including my socks!

Nevertheless it was really an experience. The whole event was out to test your mind. Mind over body! Too bad i didn't achieve my targetted timing of below 5hrs. I got 5 hrs 9 mins 18 secs! Initially I tot i could get 4hrs 30 mins based on my first half pace. haha. Never did I know that the challenge is the last 12 km. It was the longest 12 km in my life. I think I took 1hr 40 mins just to complete it. BUt at least I completed it.

And thanks to my army buddies. THey went to East Coast Park to support us. With drinks, towels, power gels and bananas to perk us up. Thanks buddies! Very touched.

HK marathon next. 8th Feb. Wish me luck. Less than 2 months to train. But how to train when I have difficulty walking down the stairs? It's even worse than that time when I completed my 72km route march during army. Let me recover fast!

Sat was good too. Visited the science centre. Been ages since i last went. We had fun. Picture tells a thousand words.

1 Dec

It has been a long time since I update... Just within these 2 weeks, so many things happened.

The Malaysia worker got mauled by the White Tigers, the Thai Airports got shut down by the Protestors and our fellow singaporean got killed by the terrorists in India.

LOoking back, the white tigers are my little cousin's fav whenever she goes to the zoo. The white fur just brings out even more of the majestic feel of the Tigers. Yah. That's why my little cousin is always so fascinated by the White tigers. A must go for her whenever she has the Zoo map in her hand. But animals are still animals. My brother showed me the video showing the whole event. Just so sad to see a live person being pinned down by the wild cats.

And why is the THAI airport still SHUT?!?!? My thai trip seems to be in constant jeopardy of being cancelled. I desperately need to go there and tailor my shirts and pants. Even if i made it there, can i make it back to Singapore? No one knows.... even if i made it there, which insurance companies will insure me for my travel insurance? Hai.. Hai...

Looking at the news abt the India attack, I was thinking why are the special forces going in like there are no hostages around. Not that I am SOF trained. But at least being army trained, you just wonder why are they doing that. It's either you storm in and make a fast one or you don't go in and just make negotiation while waiting for the chance to storm in again. Not like taking your own sweet time.. Team by team entering the building fighting a drawn out battle. Okay. Not fair for me to comment since i am not the one entering. Maybe I will just faint when i hear gun shots.

And I just passed my swim trial today. The pre requisite to participate in the Singapore Biathlon. Criteria is 40 mins for 30 laps. The pool is damn crowded. Only 3 lanes for us and they put in more than 5 swimmers. I even got side kicked by this lady who took her own sweet time to swim. I always tot they can't keep to lanes when driving. It seems that they can't do it while swimming too. (Sweeping statement. Subjected to major protest) I really had the urge to tell her that she might not meet that timing cos I was constantly monitoring my timing. But I can't do it while swimming, i might just swallow in water and choke for the remaining laps.

But at least i made it. 31.55 mins. Ho ho... Always hear that old people gain weight easier. Never tot it's true until i experience it myself. I exercise so much. I swim once per week, run thrice per week and gym once per week. And i am still gaining weight! So bad that other colleagues at work asked me whether I take Protein Supplements. And the worst thing.... The newbies at work don't believe that I am also a newbie. hai.... So sad...