We have moved!!!!

We have moved!!!
http://keystothecoffeemachine.blogspot.com

Random thoughts

I don't know how many people read the papers yesterday but this is what the head- lines read; Civil Servants not getting any bonus.
Sucks doesn't it. I know that we suffered a recession this year but we have still worked hard and I believe many of us have worked even harded as with all the budget cuts and less personnel around. The worst part about it is, even though the recession has hit everyone, some friends of mine in the private sector are getting 3mths bonus. Well, I don't really know how the system works. I know they said we will be getting the usual 13mth bonus plus 0.25 of a month but its capped at $750. For a whole year of work thats all they are giving us? We did not even get our mid year bonus.
Its times like this when you start to realise that maybe these are some of the small reasons why no one wants to stay in the civil service line. There is so much more money to be earned outside and I honestly think we get treated better outside. I'm not saying work is easier outside. Work maybe harder, longer hours but you are recognised for your work. Over time has over time pay. Good work is rewarded. In the civil service line, like being a militry man like I am, you just get paid for being in whatever rank you are. No matter how much work we do, no matter how good our work is, we still get paid the same as someone who is the same rank as us but doesn't do any work.
Oh well... no point complaining. Nothing will change. Or rather, it might change but it'll take a really long time.
on another note...
Why can't people just move in when they are standing in the MRT train? I know I don't take the train often as I drive but why is it that Singaporeans are just so insensitive? When the doors open, why do the people outside block the doors and don't let anyone off and when those finally get in to the train, why can't the people move in? Why does everyone want to stand near the door? The center of the train is empty but no one will move to stand there. They just jam pack the door areas. Then when you say excuse me to try and move further in so that people will have space to enter the train, people stare at you like you're not allowed to move in and you are some wierdo.
Courtesy DOES NOT START WITH SINGAPOREANS.
Why can't anyone say excuse me when they need to pass through a crowed area to get some where? Its not like we are going to deliberatly try nd block your way. You stupid, kiasu Singaporeans just push your way through like you are the most important person in the world and where ever you need to go is the most important. Is it so hard to open your damn mouths and just say excuse me? This habits translates to the road too. You idiots speed and cut lanes and swerve without indicating or signaling. Why? Do you all have a death wish? Yeah, maybe you think you are skilled driver but who knows, your reckless driving might cause an accident cos another driver might try to evade you and get into a accident.
I've come to accept it. Sngaporeans will always be Singaporeans. Born inconsiderate and selfish. Impatient and rude. A disgrace if you think we want to be a first world country with first class people.

A running we shall go

Its been a super long time since I've written anything here. Well, I'll be writting some stuff here from now, but it'll take a new turn. My love for running seemed to have wained alittle but recently I've been running almost everyday and I've sarted to love it again. So lets go running...

We should have just turned right...

A bolt out of the blue. Darkness seemed to slowly creep up from behind the island. We looked at each other and started to dread the worst. Inevitably, the sound of rolling thunder summoned up our worst fears. Jumping of the boat we made our way along the jetty. There I was, wearing my new sunglasses, trying to look cool when the rain started to fall. Thankfully it was a slight drizzle and it lasted a mere 10 mins. We walked to the rental place, paid the shop keeper and made our way towards the map at the entrance of the trail. Before long, we were zooming along the tarmac, silently praying that the rain would not come. We started at Chek Jawa (not sure if I spelt that properly) and upon completion I was starting to feel the fatigue. 1 trail and I was done. How can that be? We stopped for a quick drink and continued along our way. Riding around the island we completed a few more trails before we decided to head to the dirt skill area. Open land. Knolls after knolls, as far as the eye could see. Arrows with fancy names tempted us at every corner, calling out for us to go give it a try. Succumbing to her powers of persuasion, we tried them all. The dirt skill track was the last ride before it all began. Amid the welcoming blue arrows we decided to go along the trail, with the black diamonds and arrows. the first 5 mins was interesting but the next hour or so, was an adventure we have no intention of doing again. The trail was hard. More that hard, it was insane. Maybe to those other experienced bikers, you would happily spend your time in there but we were struggling. Half the time we had to stop and carry our bikes over rocks, logs and push them up slopes so steep, it touched the sky. It did not seem to end. Forever, it went on. Finally we came out into a small clearing. Left or right? No sign boards anywhere. As the trail to the left was down hill we decided to follow it. Once again, it did not seem to end. Once again, as fate would have it, we reached a cross junction. Where too now? trying not to think too much, we decided to go on straight. The terrain got muddier and started to go up hill. After and arduous task of going up hill we came to a dead end. I hit my brakes and skidded to a halt. That's when it hit me. Both my thighs cramped up the moment I stopped peddling. I fell of my bike and tried to walk it off. Searing pain shot through me as I tried to stand up straight. Squatting, the pain eased up a little. Holding my breadth, I stood up and gingerly stretched both my legs. So much for not stretching before strenuous exercises. Getting back on my bike, we headed back the way the came. We turned right. Cycling down the stone filled road we went on for ages only to find another dead end. Moral was at a all time low by this time. Once again, we turned around and headed back in the opposite direction. From the cross junction we decided to carry on, as if we had turned right initially. Up the hill we climbed and soon we found ourselves at another dead end. We took 3 routes and they were all dead ends. Did that mean we had to re-trace our steps all the way to the beginning of the black diamond trail? It was too much. We haded back. Reaching the cross junction we went back the same we that we had originally came from. as we paddled up hill, we came back to the exit point of the black diamond trail. We stopped for a minute. Tried and thirsty, we did not know what to do. We had been peddling for over an hour and all we could find were dead ends. So after a short discussion we decided to head up hill, that means turn right upon exiting the black diamond trail. we peddled up hill for 50 meters or so, and what would you know. There was the main road. There we were, lost for over an hour, in no man's land and all we had to do in the first place was turn right. With smiles on our faces we sped off into the afternoon sun for fresh coconuts and 100-plus. What an adventure.

ice, ventti, vanilla latte please...

Blink and you would have missed it. April has begun. 4 months into 2009. How time flies. The Christmas and New Year festivities seem to have recently ended. Where did all the in between time go? Diving season has begun. The new work year has begun. Semester exams are a month away. So many things, so little time.
Well, I still haven't bought my Helios 300 yet. Hoping to get it soon. Waiting for a friend so that we can get it together and bargain and get a better price for it. My knees are slowly starting to give way. It started with my right knee but now my left knee also seems to be giving way. It hurts when I try to run and walk up stairs. Its really annoying. Doc gave me some pain-killers. He gave me two weeks to take them and seem what happens.
Getting my bicycle now seems more important than ever. Cycling is probably the only type of sport I will be doing for the forseeable future. Low impact. Less stress on the knees.
Wedding planning has been going fine so far. I've been emailing a few Hotels to get their quotations for the wedding dinner packages. We have yet to confirm anything but I'm hoping to settle it asap. I'm one who does not like last minute things.
The search for the house seems to be coming to an end. Jasmine and me have found a nice place that we both like. Its also within our budget. We'll be bringing out parents to see the place over the next few days to see what they say. Hopefully it'll all work out fine.
Till the next post! Cheers!

Been busy...

Well, I guess from the last article, we can safely say that Chinese guys can't dance. This month has been an interesting. I've been trying to get back in to the rhythm of running again but my knees have been hurting again. Now its not just my old injury on the right knee but my left knee is starting to hurt when I run too. I decided to go back to see the doctor about it but i haven't got around to doing it. I'll probably go see the doc next week. Since I can't run anymore, I've decided that I'm going to take cycling more seriously. I currently ride a SCOTT Aspect 50. However a mountian bike is not going to work for what I had in mind, so I'm thinking of changing my ride. I'm looking to get the Giant OCR 3 road bike.


I'm going to sell my current bike and try to save up a little more for this bike.
Another interesting thing is me an some friends have registered for an adventure race. We have only managed to send in our registration. We are waiting to see if we are short listed and if we can actually take part in it. Anyway, thats all the news I have for now. Cheers.

Not wanting too...

Yesterday was my sweetheart's birthday. She just turned 23. I remember when I was 23... that was like 4yrs ago. Anyhow, together with some friends we went to Movida @ St James Power Station to celebrate her birthday. I've been clubbing for many years now, though not often, I have seen my fair share of horrible dancers. Don't get me wrong, I'n not saying I am some dancing guru myself. I can't tell the difference between the tango and the waltz. However, I know that I can reasonablly cough up some slick moves on the dance floor. In my many years of "dancing", I have come to one conclusion. The majority of the chinese people I have seen on the dance floor, they all cannot dance to save their lives. I mean, I know some chinese people who can really dance but the majority of them just "shake". I mean, they have no sense of rhythm. They just shake their bodies all over the place. Its comical and yet sad to a certain degree. I am a believer that when you dance,you should just close your eyes, feel the beat and move to it. Move to the rhythm of your heart. Feel the beat, feel the music and move. Dance is an expression of ourself. Its not about looking cool. If you are a good dancer, sure, you can dance to look cool. But people like me who have no formal training in dance, should just move to the beat. Try not to be soo self-concious. Don't shake. Shaking up nd down or on one foot does not translate to dancing. It just looks weird. Then again, maybe that's what your body is tellingyou to do and that's how you interprete the music. If that is so, I feel sorry for you.