The Singapore Sun

The weather last Saturday was unbearably hot and I was seeing stars somewhere during our 4-hour session.

Then next morning, I spotted cluster blisters on my forearms as a result of the sun. Looks like I have to start putting sun screen from now on.

Hopefully, the "oiliness" from the sun screen won't cause my racquet to fly off to the opposing court.

It happened once but that was due to my racquet snapping off at the handle when I pummeled a big forehand drive.

That would have been fine. This would have me malu to death.

- Voxeros

1. starm|st left...

Saturday, 3 January 2009 5:51 pm

looks a bit like some kinda ezcema?

2. JayWalk left...

Sunday, 4 January 2009 8:26 pm :: 

starmist: No eczema there. But if you look close enough, the whole arm is covered with little blisters. Just that the 3 in the cluster are the only ones big enough to be capture by the digicam.
 

My Crocs

Not those sibeh KPCT obiang ones (real or otherwise) that you see them everywhere. It cringes me to tears to see a grown up man strutting it proudly. Birkies are fugly enough but this one is ultimate champion liao.

Anyway, I got my crocs when my Timberland Decks finally decided to opened its mouth (both sides at the same time!) and transformed into a pair of walking buayas.

I am partly to blame for I haven't worn them for like 8 years since they were left behind when I headed up to QQLand.

So, not wanting to see a good pair of shoes go to waste, I headed to the DIY shop and gotten myself a tube of leather glue.

It is a relatively simply repair process.

1) Empty the ENTIRE tube of glue onto the detached soles and smear it evenly.

2) Do not rub your eyes nor scratch your backside nor dig your nose while you still have glue on your hand. Haiz...

3) Thereafter, find all the clothes peg your can locate and kiap the shoes all over the place.

4) Upon hearing your mudder KPKB what happened to all the clothes pegs, act blur and quickly go downstairs to sio hoon kee.

5) Remove the clothes pegs after about 48 hours.

6) Done.

Image Credit: http://www.instablogsimages.com

- Voxeros

1. msvindicta left...

Sunday, 21 December 2008 2:13 pm

thank god you didn't get crocs. they're the fugliest things ever!
actually hor, you can just get gab and faith to sit on your shoes. heh. that will do the job too!

2. Mistress Grace left...

Sunday, 21 December 2008 7:38 pm

What are wrong with Crocs??? I happen to like them. They are really comfy and slip proof. I wore them during my pregnancy.. I really like the bright colored ones..I still have a pair of leather lined Deck shoes from Crocs. The brighter the better!!!!!

3. sunflower left...

Sunday, 21 December 2008 10:22 pm

Bloody hell... yr idea... -.-

4. ahtiong73 left...

Monday, 22 December 2008 6:11 pm

wahaaha

5. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 23 December 2008 8:38 am :: 

msvindicata: Cannot lah. Coz these things need to be held down for at least 48 hours in order for the glue to properly set in.

Mistress Grace: One word. Ewwwwwwwwwww......

sunflower & ahtiong73: I'd like to pride myself as some kind of a McGyver.

6. aloe left...

Friday, 26 December 2008 8:41 am

i do happen to like some of the birkies and one or two of the crocs design. Not all the designs are lousy laaahhhhhh...... Anyway, my ma or pa will usually use a chair or the telephone book for this purpose. Whahahahaha!! =P

7. JayWalk left...

Monday, 29 December 2008 8:36 am :: 

Aloe: Cannot lah. Chair or phone book would spoil the shape of the shoe lor.
 

Sunday at Pasir Ris Park

This post is overdue by 2 weeks as Deek and I took our families to Pasir Ris park. It has been almost 20 years since I last set foot there. The last time I was there was after my A-Levels where we were fishing and casting nets. Didn't catch anything at all back then except 3 hooks embedded in my palm as I dived in to release the fishing lines caught among the rocks.

Much has changed with many more kiddie features added. The rope pyramid was still there but was under repair. The maze was gone though.

- Voxeros

1. grasshopper left...

Monday, 15 December 2008 5:02 am

I also haven't been there for decades and remember trips there very well now u mention it! I love the rope pyramid thing and the tarzan thing where u hang on and zuuuuuuuu to the other end. Nowadays kids need o get outside more.

2. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 10:18 pm :: 

Grasshopper: Yeah. Too much tv and video games are making all our kids look rather sickly.

RunForFunds 2008 - Marathon Day

The Man has done it again! :)

It's that time of year where Adrian will slog it out of the roads, just so our kids at RunForFunds have money to study. Yes, it's the Marathon again. This year is more subdued considering the fact, we didn't have superfriends running alongside nor supporters flinging their panties over the fence, onto the road at Adrian.

Nope.

This time round, all of us just kept our heads down and go about doing our business quietly. Perhaps, fanfare is not in fashion this year.

We got there at around 8+ knowing that Adrian, doesn't really need me at the beginning stages and we were just too lazy-assed to get there at 5 in the friggin morning.

So there we were, standing at the roadside waiting for Adrian to turn up in order for us to give our 5 minutes of cheering to him.

Oh the irony when we finally saw him at the finish line albeit under different circumstances. Read the following SMS conversation (gotta love this Nokia PC Suite) to find out what happened in the end.

. 08:39 Adrian: 24km and my inner sole broke. Shit 08:41 JayWalk: So how? Can tahan? You can sms while running or not? 08:41 Adrian: No. I had a Gd run till my shoe broke. 08:42 Adrian: Will try to complete. Feet Damn pain. 08:43 JayWalk: Hang in there. Sms me if you need the distraction. 08:43 Adrian: Ok. 08:45 JayWalk: Need anything? I can pass it to you on your way. 08:46 Adrian: No thanks. Appreciate the company via sms. Haha! 09:11 JayWalk: Where are you now? 09:11 Adrian: Right no support. Hurts. Can feel blisters forming. Cb. 09:12 Adrian: 14 km to go. One third left should be no prob. 09:12 JayWalk: Gambate! 09:36 JayWalk: See you at finish line. 09:36 Adrian: 30km. Getting over taken by Ah Soh not shiok. 09:38 Adrian: See Ah Soh VPL can puke. 09:46 JayWalk: Better than seeing Ah Soh camel toe 09:47 Adrian: Puke! 09:55 JayWalk: I am directly opp durian at the Cenotaph. Remeber to pose for picture (Jay: Which we didn't.) 09:56 Adrian: K 10:06 Adrian: 33km. No giving up now. My right foot hurts like F*ck 10:07 JayWalk: Less than 10 liao. Go go go 10:07 JayWalk: Need me to take chiobu photos for you > got mms? 10:08 Adrian: Quite low morale to see pple collapse along the way. Esp during the final stretch 10:09 JayWalk: You can take their power gel. I dun think they need it anymore. You got see FatKitteh? 10:10 Adrian: No mms 10:10 Adrian: No see her  10:26 JayWalk: where now? 10:26 Adrian: Approaching 36 in 3min 10:27 JayWalk: Less than macritchie liao!! 10:38 JayWalk: Reach durian buzz me 10:39 Adrian: Ok. Now cant walk properly. Struggling 10:42 JayWalk: What you wearing? Hang in there. Almost there. 10:43 Adrian: Wearing red thongs. I will get there 10:44 JayWalk: Flash me the red thongs for me to post online 10:59 JayWalk: Heart doing ok? 10:59 Adrian: Ok. Feet not ok 11:01 JayWalk: Stay in there. You are too close to give up. Hobble if you have to. 11:01 Adrian: Will do 11:02 JayWalk: How far are you? 11:03 Adrian: At 39km mark 11:03 JayWalk: A bit more means left 2.4 liao. Peanuts! 11:04 Adrian: Peanuts expensive 11:06 JayWalk: Welcome to singapore. 11:13 Adrian: 40km. 2 to go 11:14 JayWalk: Yeah baby!! 11:19 Adrian: Approaching durian 11:20 JayWalk: At the bus stop at the turn 11:35 Adrian: I finish liao 12:05 Adrian: In bright orange rff t shirt (Jay: We totally missed him. *facepalm*) .

 

- Voxeros

1. Adrian left...

Monday, 8 December 2008 9:40 am

Jay and Grace, thanks for going down to the race to support me.
Of the 6 marathons I've completed, yesterday's was the toughest and undoubtedly, the most painful. Each right foot step I took for 18km was like walking on hot cement, no cushioning (maybe next year I'll try firewalking... haha !!)
The sms-es kept me going..... knowing there are people waiting for me at the finish line (but why no cold tiger beer?) Now my left foot base is hurting badly with a big blister surrounded by smaller ones. Should be ok by Tues.
I'd encourage others to train for the marathon. The excitement comes in not knowing what to expect during the race and fighting the pain barriers to cross the finish line..... yes, I'm masochistic !!

2. msvindicta left...

Monday, 8 December 2008 2:31 pm

the sms convo was very amusing!
and i admire Adrian who can still sms while running despite his foot burning. when i run 2.4, i already want to smack ppl who slow down to talk to me and expect a reply.
good work to all of you! :)

3. Mistress Grace left...

Monday, 8 December 2008 9:23 pm

Yeah i was rather amazed that he can sms.. Anyway I think me and uncle needs to get new glasses. Didn't even see Adrian despite standing on higher ground..

4. sunflower left...

Monday, 8 December 2008 11:23 pm

Adrian... walau... faint...
Hope next year i can run liao.. wanted to do last year... signed up liao but pregnant... :S

5. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 9 December 2008 9:12 am :: 

Adrian: Aiyoh... by the time you reach the finish line, the tiger beer not cold liao lor.... then how? Next year, we try Plurking while you run.

msvindicta: Actually, it is also due to the fact that the shoe pichar, that Adrian has time to do sms coz there are stretches where he is only walking.

Mistress Grace: You and me stand in the sun for 3 hours and missed Adrian. Epic Fail.

sunflower: Well, give us a buzz when you are ready to run again.

6. Mistress Grace left...

Tuesday, 9 December 2008 11:16 am

Eh what to do... I thought u will be able to spot him... *sighz. I think i need to go Kwong Shin to get new glasses lliaos

7. Adrian left...

Tuesday, 9 December 2008 9:52 pm

All - Let's all run next year. Jay will wait for us at the end point with tiger from ice box.....

8. Vandalin left...

Wednesday, 10 December 2008 8:14 pm :: http://vandalin.blogspot.com

adrian is da power

9. JayWalk left...

Wednesday, 10 December 2008 10:16 pm :: 

Mistress Grace: We both do. haiz...

Adrian: No Tiger. We go for the good stuff. Kilkenny's and Boddington's

Vandalin: You said it!

10. Adrian left...

Thursday, 11 December 2008 10:23 am

Vandalin - The power is alll within us. I discovered mine under a heap of spare tyres around my waist in 2002 :0)
Jay - We should have a Jay-walking group @ next year's marathon. Walk backwards for 42 km (team relay event).

11. JayWalk left...

Saturday, 13 December 2008 12:24 pm :: 

Adrian: Siao!!!

12. Chocolate gal left...

Saturday, 13 December 2008 9:26 pm

LOL.. the morale booster smses are soooooooo funny... Luckily Uncle A still manage to complete it.. Super strong...

13. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 10:23 pm :: 

Chocolate Gal: Yah. You really have to tip your hat to this guy. A real superman.

End Of First Week

It's the end of the work week officially and I survived.

It was tough initially has a lot of things were thrown at me without head nor tail. Fortunately, I have many very supportive colleagues who would give me the time of day despite their overwhelming workload.

This blog will be kept secret from them as I don't know what would be the implications when they see this. Better to just act blur and keep quiet about it.

Work here is fine. Despite it being very challenging, it was very interesting to the extent that I actually wake up before the alarm clock rings everyday and one of the first to reach the office. (No CTE traffic jam also.) Cannot be the first coz I no key to go in. Wait later gong gong stand outside office door let people laugh. :(

After what I have gone through in QQLand, this is a fresh breath of air and I actually feel revitalised about going to work.

I realised that my time in QQLand wasn't wasted as I was able to settled operational problems on the spot here to the extent that my colleagues were amazed in awe. Remember, today is only my 5th day.

Seriously, the problems here are nothing compared to what I have been dealing. Try settle problems with people who are unreasonable. Over here, you speak a little little bit louder and they are scared shitless. No need to beat them up to get things done. Good.

Everything here looks manageable and not really that difficult. As long as you apply common sense and simple logic, you are going to fine. Sadly, you don't see much of that in people these days. My only concerned is the number of hats I have to wear in time to come. It was discussed that eventually, I will take full control of showroom, admin, HR and finance/accounts.

Wait, didn't they ask for someone to handle operations during my interview?

IT here sucks monkey balls as we are dependent on the office in the country North of us. I think pulling wisdom teeth out of a 300lb gorilla is easier than to pull one of them down to troubleshoot our network.

Till date, I am still using my personal laptop and using my personal gmail for work coz the IT, while that have set up my Lotus Notes account, have not given me access to log in to the office network with the laptop assigned to us.

WTF right?

- Voxeros

1. venu5sian left...

Saturday, 6 December 2008 9:14 am

your company on-boarding process got problem lah ...
Great to hear you survived and Good Luck!

2. msvindicta left...

Saturday, 6 December 2008 2:17 pm

see! i told you you could do it and everything will be good. :D
hire some it whiz lah.

3. aileen left...

Saturday, 6 December 2008 2:34 pm

hey jay, great that you are doing good~!

4. TSSD left...

Saturday, 6 December 2008 3:08 pm

IT dept. FAIL

5. POsh left...

Saturday, 6 December 2008 3:09 pm

office looks nice, hope the view is not too bad too. am certain by end of next week everything will be second nature to you already. can't say much about the IT thou', guess it must be an universal problem cos my IT suxx too. its one week for my access to be fixed up by IT. yeah, go figure. anyways, jiayou!

6. sunflower left...

Saturday, 6 December 2008 5:32 pm

Happy for you... in this time, still manage to get a job!
Well done!

7. Pam left...

Saturday, 6 December 2008 7:28 pm

that's rather unprofessional, having to use your own email for work! :) oh well. great to hear you're at work. It's fab isn't it? Even all the BS at work can still motivate you to get to work. So where you working (email me that answer!)

In this country, we're trying to make them work - that's part of the govt's new plan...ahahaha. they've got to figure out why there are 3 generations of people who don't work and yet can afford Sky TV, cars, holidays, cigarettes and food!

8. Linny. left...

Sunday, 7 December 2008 12:39 am

aiseh maaaan. chinese fax. RESPECT.

9. Gary left...

Sunday, 7 December 2008 12:45 am

wah. your desk very spacious. very spacious underneath as well hor.

10. Everton left...

Sunday, 7 December 2008 12:39 pm

It's a good start. Add oil .....

11. akk left...

Sunday, 7 December 2008 6:43 pm

hey hey. very nice to know you are happy at work! times like these is hard to get something, but to have something u are not only great and, but also u are excited about is something really worth treasuring. The IT thingy will work itself out. in the meantime, enjoy yourself!
thanks for the treat last time, really shouldn't have. next is my turn! where u want?

12. JayWalk left...

Sunday, 7 December 2008 10:03 pm :: 

Veus5ian: Well, no company is perfect and I think this is just a minor problem. The friendliness and supportiveness of the colleagues more than made up for all the shortcomings.

msvindicta: Thanks for the faith. But IT die die must be from Malaysia. Edict from Spain HQ.

aileen & everton: Thanks :)

tssd: I think my IT power can easily beat them.

Posh: For some strange reason, my office is the coldest spot. No view to speak of considering the fact that it is in industrial area. The view "inside" the office on the other hand....

Linny: Yeah and the good news is that the QQLand side replied liao. Mission accomplished.

Gary: Spacious for now coz still settling in.

Akk: Let me settle the dust around here first then I let you date me, hokay?

Pam: By right, I am not obligated to use my personal laptop and email for work. However, I can't stand sitting around doing nothing and might as well use my available resources to start the engine running first right?

13. sunflower left...

Monday, 8 December 2008 12:55 am

Why u miss me out??? :(

14. JayWalk left...

Monday, 8 December 2008 6:52 am :: 

Sunflower: Oops!! Sorry!!!

Thanks hor!

 

RunForFunds 2008 - December Update

Yup, it's that time of the year where Adrian and his superfriends will be pounding the miles again.

We won't be raising funds this year as we are expected to cover 2009 adequately with whatever resources we have on hand.

However, moral support is very welcome. Speaking of which, I am trying to get Adrian to Plurk while he runs. That way, he would be able to get us a live account and share with folks what it feels like to be running the marathon.

This year, given that I am back in Singapore, I shall be volunteering to be Adrian's barang barang jagar while he runs. Unfortunately, I have yet to year from him.

In the meanwhile, here Adrian's new RunForFunds update.

---

Hi folks, (for RFF postings, pls go to runforfunds.blogdrive.com)

Greetings from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Yep, I'm serving my military reserve training from 24^th Nov to 5^th Dec (Fri). It's surprising that the SAF still needs me. Perhaps to show how things shouldn't be done during military exercises.

You guys know that Stanchart Marathon is on 7^th Dec. I've had my final long training run last night (Sat) and won't have the chance to train again till the actual run itself.

Reason: My unit is going to the jungle from Mon to Thurs and it would be absolutely insane for me to jog in the wilderness with my boots on (and I can't shower after the run too !!). In this period, we'll be deploying our equipment and there will be sleepless (mosquito-filled, non-aircon) nights.

Needless to say, the training will take a toll on my physical well-being. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get injured or sick. My target time this year …….. 5h 30 min (with my nipples intact at end of the run ….. if you recall what happened last year. Ha!!).

Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers.

This year, RFF will not be raising funds during the 2008 Stanchart Marathon. We have enough reserves to fund RFF beneficiaries for 2009. Some of you have offered cheques for RFF 2008 which I've asked you to either hold the contribution for 2009  RFF fund-raising or direct it to a cause in need of urgent support.

Economic conditions are bad and markets are depressed. We should be prepared for a rough ride in 2009.

In such challenging times, those who are originally in need (due to their lack of skills or poor education background) could ask for more support. If RFF runs short of funds in 2009, I'll give you guys a shout.

I will be closing RFF accounts for 2008 after my 42km run on 7^th Dec.

Will give you guys a detailed breakdown of expenses in 2008.

The major ones are (1) $1.5k for Semb Pri School drop-in centre (2) $6k for Semb Pri day care / low income families fund (3) $20k for D'Joy renovation funds.

Talk to you guys in 2 weeks time.

Cheers,

aL

p/s I wonder how much my brain has been damaged during my reservist training (activities are really non-cerebral) …… 

---

- Voxeros

Thanks For The Lunch, Thanks For The Beer

Thanks for the lunch,
Thanks for the beer.
Thanks for the friends,
Who kept me near.

Thanks for the dinner,
Even though you don't earn much.
But it's the littlest gestures,
That my heart's most touched.

Some of you are my brudders,
Rest of you are my shishtars.
The thing you have taught me
Blood not always thicker than water. 

Glad to be back,
Despite the uncertainty.
Your unwavering support,
My outlook positively.

Thanks for the lunch,
Thanks for the beer.
Thanks for the friends,
who shout to me "I'm Here!"

Image Credit: http://profile.myspace.com

- Voxeros

1. sunflower left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 12:25 am

You din give ma a chance to buy you lunch yet... :(

2. Gary left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 12:43 am

im here?!?!

3. msvindicta left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 2:11 am

why the picture so act cute one?
but no lah. just glad you're back and everything's well. *pats back* :D

4. TSSD left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 10:06 am

Huat ar!

5. Old Beng left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 10:26 am

After you settle down, we can lunch/dinner together with Meepok?

6. Ruok left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 10:42 am

fwah, so poetic!

7. JayWalk left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 5:56 pm :: 

sunflower: I will be around for a while. Got chance one. No scared ok?

Gary: It's another way of saying that you are still around lah.

msvindicta: Glad I am back too.

Old Beng: Sure thing. I think I will be meeting up with Meepok on Sunday for his marathon run.

tssd: Huat ah!

ruok: Abuden? Scared or not?

8. Old Beng left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 6:12 pm

Meepok told me he is currently in reservist and will only be free during the 21st Dec week. Let's see what we can do and arrange then

9. barffie left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 7:57 pm

Awwwwwwww. We haven't met up since you came back leh. Adoi!

10. POsh left...

Monday, 1 December 2008 11:06 pm

whatever the new chapter brings, always stay prayerful and thankful for His grace. 0.02 from the professional bum.

11. JayWalk left...

Tuesday, 2 December 2008 12:07 am :: 

Old Beng: I think I will be his logistics officer during the marathon i.e. jagar his barang barang when he goes running. I am trying to get him to plurk and run at the same time.

Posh: Yes, I am thankful.

Yes, we must meet up!

12. nerak left...

Friday, 5 December 2008 2:55 pm

So lomanticu!!!!
Awwww........ Write one poem for me can? (*in exchange for cloud photos for your HDR)
Ai mai???

13. JayWalk left...

Monday, 8 December 2008 6:45 am :: 

nerak: Mai..... I write already wait kena attack by you. iScared.