Autumn Wave

Korean wave coming back? Too obsessed with Korean dramas? The missus maybe. For me, I thought this actor Jang Dong-Gun is a really talented actor who can appear as a cold hearted killer or just mete out a mature but yet cute presence. If I, as a guy can feel this, what more those women out there?

However, I have a better reason than than the above. Truth be told, a very good Korean friend of ours will be coming back to the Lion City, this time albeit with another half - his wife! Singapore has been chosen as his choice of honeymoon after their wedding. This long awaited coming back of him will also be a good time for us to catch up on lost time. When Keith went home South, he was still a very young man at age 21. Today, he has alredy turned 28 and a young man starting to go into the path which I was taking when I first met him.

We were in a class , studying to be aspiring sportsmen in business. He struck me as a very friendly person who spoke very little. By some chance, we managed to know each other and an opportunity to visit his hostel convinced me that he needs some help. Thus, he moved to my home and our acquaintance quickly blossomed into a great friendship. With strict upbringing, he was very respectful of elders and always offered to help carry shopping bags when we go out. Not only that, he was also very supportive of us!

One of the funniest thing i recounted when we just knew him was this. He asked me about a sign on the MRT trains. He understood all the signage except for the durian sign. Not understanding what a durian was, he thought it was a bomb.

As we approach the end of September, it also beckons the end of 2013 soon. This year has passed by very quickly. I felt that it moved somehow rather quickly, especially after May. This year has also seen certain changes, such as on the work front for both of us. While it has altered some of our lifestyles, i guess all these are part of adaptations in an ever changing world.

Just as we put down the mooncakes and lanterns, the sounds of bells are near, i suppose.

Happy Anniversary USsenal

Happy Anniversary to US : Mr & Mrs USSenal

People always say they feel re-charged after a long vacation. Do they , actually?

If I can still remember my work well and still knows and expects very well what is in store when i go back and yet hold a monotonous feeling towards it, have I re-charged myself?

It has been a week, exactly when Karen ended the last piece of work before packing her bags for the trip. Quickly, we have returned. Not with just more luggage of shopping conquests, but also luggage of memories and impressions saved in our minds for years to savour and boast about.

The haze has been a top topic for the past week. Anywhere in local media you can read about it. Comments, topics posted by government officials, facebookers and neighbouring countries. Masks, dengue and so on. As such, i will not touch on these subjects except to say that in Singapore, there are many who can type and and say anything they want without fully realising the full consequences that will follow.Perhaps its the same everywhere, perhaps its just us.

Laying your mind to rest completely is something which I really enjoy and love. Prior to this trip, there is only the annual in camp training where we can take our minds off work. However, in this trip, there is none to worry. You only worry about what food to think next. As such I think I have not re-charged myself. Instead, I would like to say that I have relaxed myself and enjoyed myself very much over an extended period of time. It was the longest period of overseas travel but the whole experience has been fantastic. There have been several write ups on Bangkok and its shopping blah blah, but until you start to understand their way of life and look deep, you may have just only visited a new shopping/eating joint which requires you to take a plane to reach.If you are talking about re charging, i reckon it will take a month at least to repair the pressure lines, get sufficient sleep and rest. Who gets to rest really well during trips? You shop till you drop , don't you? So where is the re-charging?

This time round for BKK has been a nearly whopping ten years since the last visit. Bangkok has changed a lot and very beautiful shopping malls and eateries have sprout up. In our stay at Centara Grand, Central World was the closest to us(linked to hotel) and had been our main source of meals during the 1 week stay. Maybe i sound like a noob, but Central World has a very good selling point regarding its' eateries. Everyone of them has a different theme to it and you can see it easily through its decor and even the seats. The shops are spacious and they have nearly every thing a shopper will need. A supermarket which is just next to their carpark... just compare it to our Vivo City, I would like to think the latter of being a place designed to torture shoppers. Central World wins hands down.

I think I will just mention the following people whom deserved mention during the trip:
1) the kind security guard at Central World on 7th floor carpark lift.
2) the chamber maid who made our beds during the 1 week stay
3) practically all the hotel staff of Centara Grand
4) The haversack seller at MBK
5) The supposed'Iron Ladies' at MBK(but I think they are real pretty women, no gender change)
6) Taxi driver who drove us to the Suvarnabhumi Airport. Really smooth driving skills and helpful
7) Nana Betta whom i bought fishes and made friends with at Chatuchak Market. She and her husband are really nice people and they have a very cute daughter.

It was a bit wasted we had'nt got a chance to soak in the pool which is an open view type similar to Marina Bay Sands. But there is little to complain about in this trip and it ended nicely on the last night with a room service call in.Fantastic meal to round up a week of nice food and nice people. Im sure i am one of many thousands who would enjoy a great time at Bangkok and can't wait to go back there again. It is also the first time i have taken the BTS train alone to Chatuchak(karen had sore blisters and did not travel while Ken was busy at the Magic Competition)not once but twice. Suddenly during the second time i took the train to Chatuchak, i realised Bangkok isn't what it used to dawn on me ten years ago when I was there and led by my friend. It wasn't difficult and I definitely had no idea how it would be like to stay in a hotel this time round(back then we had stayed in a friend's house), shop ourselves and entertain ourselves.

Everytime when we end a trip, we will always tend to forecast when we are going again the next time. Most times, I know that it will indeed be some years later. However, this time round, the feeling's different. Maybe, just maybe it would be near this time. =)

Signs off
Mr Ussenal.

Mrs USsenal 2013 Birthday

Mrs USsenal 2013 Birthday

2013 June 1st - My Birthday and it also offically marks that I am 34 years old.

As age is catching up with me, I realised that I do not like fanciful birthday celebrations but I longs to have quality times with my loved ones instead.

This birthday seemed to be especially fruitful yet especially tiring and hectic for me. God given me so much during this year but He seemed to have another 'route' planned for me.

Been working on the SCC based in school project for the past 1 year and FINALLY... ... Fei Yue got the tender at Sembawang Primary School. SCC will be embarking onto a new journey; into a new territory... into a primary school.

The feeling of anticipation is overwhelming yet somehow, there is a tinge of fearful doubt in me. With a pressed deadline of less than 14 days, will I be able to fulfill what God wanted me to? I constantly pray to Him and even I knew that He shall provides; I am still unable to find peace within.

The unstable feeling of taking over a new place plus leaving my comfy zone and going into a new 'war field'; having to start all over again. Taking in new registrations, to hit the quota of 120 students as well as many other more pressing issues ahead of me... ... 

As much as I wanna hold, human body is simply weak. Eventually, I finally fell sick... ... Having continuous nosebleeding for the past week, it is finally time to admit myself reluctantly into the hospital.
As much as I wanna 'siam', my body alarm finally 'gave way' on last Friday...  the eve of my birthday.
Awwwwwww!

Lying on the bed of the hospital, loads of stuff was going on in my mind... ...
Seeing the sick and weak lying just across me, I am thankful that I am still pretty much alive and well; as compared to them. I prayed and give thanks to God for looking over me in such a adoring way. Though it seemed pitiful and vexing to have to be in hospital on my birthday eve yet somehow, I managed to find peace within these few short hours. I am sure God has His own way of showing me what is real peace in the most unseen way.

Reaching home around 9pm but all I can see was a table full of my favourite food. Madam had prepared a mini sumptuous dinner spread for me. Nothing fanciful but just my most loved home-cooked meal.

The most important of all was the quality times I had with the people I adored most... ... Special thanks to my wonderful PIL, Mr USsenal, my lovable brother & my 2 'cute daughters' who came all the way down after work; to give me a surprise. I am so sorry that they have to wait so long at Westmall as I am still not home yet(from the hospital).

Mr USsenal  got me a lovely Coach pink watch... ... indeed a BIG surprise! The girls got me a Batt.bank for my phone(really useful and thoughtful) and most wonderful of all, my brother gave me a BIG kiss filled with care and love.

Woohoo! I also received BIG angpows from my parents and my dear sister. Thankful that they have never forgotten my birthdays; not even once. Just kinda sad that I wasnt able to celebrate with them at Woo's Mansionette this year. Just don't wish to worry my Mummy. How I wish I could just tell them how muchie I missed and loved them; deep in my heart. 

The big and little ones at work too gave me an early birthday surprise. They filled my birthday with loads of yummylicious KFC chicken drumsticks(supposedly birthday must eat at least one drumstick) and plentiful of cutie cards - solely Handmade with LOVE.

Teacher Vanessa even gave me a lovely mini cake.

My two lovely aunties gave me Heng Heng angpows.

Even my JJCs two lovely babes; Fionn & Liyin gave me a mini surprise. hehe They are indeed so sweet and wonderful kiddos.

Loads of wishes and regards from my loved ones, besties, friends, students, parents, old pals, ex-students and many more. My handphone was flooded with messages and meaningful messages kept flowing in... ...

A BIG thanks to all of you for making my 2013 birthday more memorable than the previous year; always filling my mind with lovely and even more memorable memories to behold onto.

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”

Cheers
Mrs USsenal

A hectic month of May has whizzed by and ended with a trip to the hospital for the missus due to a prolonged period of nose bleeding due to hypertension. It was a nervy time waiting for doctor's conclusion and diagnosis in the consultation area of the A& E of the National University Hospital on a cold and rainy evening on Friday.

By being asked to wait outside had given a bit of reprieve; time to catch up on some lost sleep the night before. However, the time taken to rest soon turned into time of eagerness as well. Longer time i had rested = longer time of anticipation on what's going on or going to happen inside the treatment room where Karen has been told to lay down.

May had started off with a bang , with the news that a tender has been awarded to FY and that the new scc should begin operations on 17 June 2013. A lot of things to be done but amid lack of logisitics and manpower support, tension began to build, spiralling the previously tranquil and direct lifestyle of ours into unfamilar settings. Karen was often busy and messages will often go unanswered till hours later occasionally. She also slept earlier which meant we couldn't enjoy the movies/tv shows together and i will have to turn in early as a result as well.

However, Karen began to have nosebleeds a week ago, which was probably a timely signal of red warning which then culiminated in a night of non stop on/off bleeding which last till the early morning the next day. It was a wake up call type of shock; we did not expect the relapse to get so bad since a visit to the clinic was just a week ago. However, the relapses just after 2 days should have gotten us on the alert that her blood pressure is still dangerously high.

Immediately, changes were discussed and made. No more night suppers and late nights except for weekends. Even though, it should not be mandatory that nights must be served late every friday and saturday. It's just the licsense to sleep late , but not a necessity to sleep late. Diet changes and as well as watching one's own tension in work and life. seen a doctor, made diet changes,life style changes and the rest is really up to the individual.

Such an incident has also shed light of how good health is important. If your body is in poor shape without any proper care, what good will it do even if you worked your socks off  only to be laid off to rest for an even longer period of time? I believe in hard work, but i never believe in working with eyes blindfolded.  I am responsible to my work, but I think i should be more accountable to the people who have loved and cared for me.Should'nt I also pay heed to the people who love me such that I will not cause them pain and worry also? Work is work and there is never a finishing line.

Such an incident has really taught me lessons. In a way,. I have also been performing below par especially in terms of concentration. Hopefully with a lifestyle change, it would also help in work and at the same time ensure a healthier body too.

 In all, I can't complain too much as May then ended with a nice mini celebration of Karen's birthday and coupled with a full 2 day weekend rest, it is time to face June where there will be another time of breakaway with a trip to Thailand and my reservist swansong.The rest of the months will just get better as it should as normal, when the year gets into the halfway line and all dust will have settled.

Stay cool, healthy happy and relaxed.No amount of job satisfaction can equal what you feel when you really relax and let go..

Does the world have an Iron Man to save it from North Korea?

April has been a month filled with much suspense on the national papers in every country. What will they do? What are they planning to do? Will their attack spell the end of Girls Generation and all the oppa handsome actors and not forgetting the gangnam 'shake your bon bon' oppa?

However, it all seems to have quieten down. Not sure what the joker from the North is planning. Not even sure at all if their self scripted, self directed and self action drama is useful for their own people. I was guessing if North wanted to send a strong message to the world, it is either to launch a super warhead that could terminate half of USA or big enough to sink a notable city, which would likely to be Singapore.

Well, of course, more unpredictable things have happened. Besides Arsenal traitor RVP finally winning a title with arch rivals Man Utd, it is even stranger that Arsenal will have to do a lap of honour since Arsenal is the team they next play after the title win at Aston Villa. Full 100% mockery of the situation at Arsenal that players leave to win things elsewhere.

April has come on quickly. Just as the month approaches May and will also soon hit the half-year mark as well, another notable thing happened in Singapore.The War Memorial at City Hall was vandalised with this word: A crossed out Democracy.

While many citizens may have their beef with the local government and certain policies such as high prices of flats, transport woes, it isn't as if the government is sitting on the fat cow. As much as I have voiced out about how certain things can improve, it is notable that the government has been trying hard to win the citizens over and has been going places where they have never been. Engaging citizens in live shows on how to improve the nation forward, giving trial of free transport for early commuters. While there is still a lot to work on, I believe changes don't just come at the whisper of 1 word. We must accept that our government is no Aladdin and there is no magic lamp. Every piece of thing that we have now is due to the hard work of early forefathers. We must accept that no matter how we look, the Singapore of today cannot be compared to the one in the flourishing 80s. Terrain of the economy , inside and outside of it are all different. As a city becomes densely populated, inflation is bound to come in. We must advocate the best polices ever, but never to forget our roots and values.

As such, while i was browsing through the comments posted on the article link by Channelnewsasia, I was appalled to find out 1 certain netizen who seeemd to feel it was okay to deface the memorial. He talked about the rights of gays and on more for his selfish means. The one thing which we can use to gauge the speed of change in the world today is this: Gays over in some countries have the right to get married even. Even as you speak bad of gays in the local community media, you risk the chance of getting flamed. I just don't see it any way how it can be right. Nature has deemed like poles of the magnetic field to always repel. How a person can be homosexual is really down to the beliefs and choices of the individual. Your parents don't teach you that you can marry the same sex since you are a child, that I am very sure of. We went through the right education being taught in school and received the right values about rights and wrongs about this topic. So, selfish excuses won't work at all.

It was already bad enough to see an honoured war memorial being defaced. Adding on some stupid comments such as the one above who use it to spear head his gay rights and others such as' big deal' , i feel these people are utterly useless in my view.

Let me ask you something. Have you ever stopped and paused to think that the very step you are standing now used to be a flat piece of land where your forefathers fought to the very death with our perpetrators during the world war? Where dirty people spat into the grounds stand the very same land which others' blood has soaked in just for our land to be free.People who left their familes behind just to join the war so that other families including theirs will be free. Think about it. When people can't even think deep and have some respect for the honoured dead, what use of the person could he render to the country in need? This person will run first and say'big deal, I don't care'

Oh yes, on a side note. April has also been such a hot month that you have to pray you don't have diarrhoea as you will realise you are not only losing water at the bottom end, you are also facing water loss from the extreme heat facing Singapore for this month. Maybe it is good training for us before we go and visit Pornsak Sukhumvit soon.

20 months exactly, the date meter of the blog wrote. Time had passed quickly since our wedding on 16 July 2011. Every time I watched the video montage of our wedding, I am so touched by everything that happened. Of course, the short montage was able to sum up the feelings felt that day graphically.

The preparation prior, the meeting with Whye Keen, the rehearsal in Church, Church wedding prepartory classes, restaurant booking, invitation cards, wedding shoot..tekaning of my buddies on the wedding day, receiving the bride and so on and so forth..

Such memories will be iron cast.

As we look forward, its a longer road down the lane. As Jing mentioned to me a sight of an old couple eating beside her table one day at Crystal Jade. The old couple had both grey hair and should be considerably into their 70s. Their actions were relaxed and they both shared a bowl of congee and a couple side dishes.She mentioned this again when remarking that the local govt should make transport free for senior citizens past the retirement age. But I am very sure she must be thinking how many couples are able to be like that grand old couple she saw. As techology changes and people's lives changes so quickly, a couple's similar interests may wane as time grows. Is that why couples decided ultimately then that they should go separate ways since they share no interests together then?

 I beg to differ.

Marriage doesnt mean that couples have finally found the correct person to spend the life with. To me, it is more about making and creating the journey which a couple has to take correct and not just focused on finding the correct person to take with you. As Jing's favourite singer JJ Lin puts it in one of his songs, it doesn't matter how old you are and how both people are.Just a piece of youtiao and soya bean being shared will make the day as long as both enjoyed it.

Similarily, I can find similar couples in my parents and parents in law. Both set of golden loveys have been very good examples to follow. Of course although we are not able to compare equally due to the different types of leisure and things to do between our generation and theirs, the same methodlogy is there. Enjoying and refining one's own interests but at the end of the day still getting together to do things which both like and share with.

Well, i have not much to write on yet here, as I believe I am still learning.

Happy 20 months Anniversary.

March Friendship

It's the month of March. Flower for the month of March would be the Daffodil. It is chosen to mean friendship and domestic happiness.

Xmas has passed and so have Chinese New Year celebrations which have came with a blast and over quickly.

2013 has indeed been special and so have the CNY celebrations that come with it.

For the first time, our own family including my brother's , have had our own reunion lunch this year. Good food was never in lack but somehow it just lacked that extra little oomph that families who eat together look for, especially on a special occasion. The meal was relatively quiet, not much topics on hand. Perhaps it could have been with my illness which I have carried from start of Jan 2013 to Feb 2013, right in the smack of CNY. The night was later spent at my granny's and there was much more chatter this time among my aunties and uncles, and not forgetting my cousins Nic and Mal. We grew up into our early teen years together and it seems that bonds created this year look hard to break. There is no ice breaker needed also even if we mostly meet once a year. I am sure whenever we meet, the rapport which we expect of each other will be the same, as per what it was during those Sesame Street years. Of course, due to the further studies both have had than me, i started to get lost in their topics once they started to talk abt investments where figures came to 6 figure sums.

As we really didn't get to play some cards that night, I went home earlier to prepare for my 'boyz to men' buddies. Jing was away at the in laws  and despite my irritating cough, the 4 boyz of us managed to drink away several cans of beer to usher in the CNY. Played some dice and we have had not such a good laugh together for so long.Likewise, friendship bonds created like the 4 of us are hard to break,especially if forged in the hardest and the most testy of times, when one's loyalty and patience with one another comes tested. This year I will be going back ICT without them and i have already started to get hiccups and bad dreams such as being late for ICT and not really knowing where to go. However, I believe that wil not be the most challenging part in ICT. The hardest part will be the day i make my last insteps as a reservist NS men walking in Seletar.So much memories, so much joy and laughter and tears. Jack Neo should start to make a third army movie abt Ns Men and i will gladly sign up for the audition. As much as i detest some of the policies of our government, NS is one thing they have really scored a high mark here. Just look at what happened to Sabah, our East Malaysia neighbour who was recently attacked by a group of nonsensical amnesia struck filippinos who suddenly decided that they should come back and claim back Sabah after a 100 years. Should one day Raffles come back from the grave and says to want singapore back, i will not hesitate be Dean or Sam and send him back to where he belongs....

On another note, it was also the first time i have invited colleagues back to home for not only 1 meal, but also on the nearly last day of CNY. Jeanie, Macy and Yvonne. Best of my current colleagues and it was very good to see Jing talking and sharing things with them as if they were long lost friends.

Good food, good companionship and a good feel among all. To cap it off, Arsenal won both games on the CNY eve and the eve of Yuan Xiao. =D

Practice of LOVE

JJ Lim Jun Jie latest Album - Practice of LOVE.

I am definitely soooo gonna getting this albium. Never have I missed anyh one of his albums since his debut.

18th Feb. 2013 - Debut of his Practice of Love Album

 It got me wondering... .... Does LOVE really allows one to practice? Do you think with more practices, then the Real LOVE will be there for us? 

修煉愛情
主唱：林俊傑
作曲：林俊傑
填詞：易家揚

 沒什麼要失望　藏眼淚到心臟
往事不會說謊別跟它為難
我們兩人之間不需要這樣
我想
修煉愛情的心酸　學會放好以前的渴望
我們那些信仰　要忘記多難
遠距離的欣賞　近距離的迷惘
誰說太陽會找到月亮
別人有的愛　我們不可能模仿
修煉愛情的悲歡　我們這些努力不簡單
快樂煉成淚水　是一種勇敢
幾年前的幻想　幾年後的原諒
為一張臉去養一身傷
別講想念我　我會受不了這樣
記憶它真囂張　路燈把痛點亮
情人一起看過多少次月亮
他在天空看過多少次遺忘
多少心慌
修煉愛情的心酸　學會放好以前的渴望
我們那些信仰　要忘記多難
遠距離的欣賞　近距離的迷惘
誰說太陽會找到月亮
別人有的愛　我們不可能模仿
修煉愛情的悲歡　我們這些努力不簡單
快樂煉成淚水　是一種勇敢
幾年前的幻想　幾年後的原諒
為一張臉去養一身傷
別講想念我　我會受不了這樣
笑著說愛讓人瘋狂
哭著說愛讓人緊張
忘不了那個人就投降
修煉愛情的悲歡　我們這些努力不簡單
快樂煉成淚水　是一種勇敢
幾年前的幻想　幾年後的原諒
為一張臉去養一身傷
別講想念我　我會受不了這樣
幾年前的幻想　幾年後的原諒
為一張臉去養一身傷
別講想念我　我會受不了這樣

The Smell of CNY

I woke up at 4am; awaken by the 'smell' of CNY - Chinese New Year.

Days of preparations, buying of stuffs and froceries in quantities that can last us days, stocking up of sweets, chocolates and tibits that we usually dont eat that much and of course not forgetting - CNY goodies.

This year preparation was pretty easy.

Usual years, we used to go to Chinatown but as Mr Chua was sick and hence, we got to give it a miss this year. Hmmm... something feels amiss but glad that the neighbourhood CNY bazaar makes up the most of it.

If you asked me what I liked most about CNY; that would be time with our precious ones. It's the only time we can sit down leisurely, no work, no pressure and only ample of time between us and our loved ones at home. Friends whom are usually very busy at work too have time to sit down for a can of beer and to watch the latest match of Arsenal together. That' definitely one of this year CNY itinerary.
Well, all I can say that is my Mr Chua is definitely excited about the match as he gotten a carton of beer, loads of tibits for this coming day - TODAY!. hehe

TBC... ...

我們的故事

我們的故事

主唱：光良
作曲：光良
填詞：伍阿冰
編曲：袁偉翔
監製：光良


流著眼淚看完你的日記
你曾不在意的原來安好的存放著
你說　是的　我愛你
看著你　我笑著抹去眼角的淚滴
輪廓那麼的清晰
閉上眼　深呼吸　腦海裡模糊的回憶
聽不見卻感覺　熟悉
這是我們的故事　曾經緊靠也曾經分離
那些已經缺席的劇情　錯過了　就讓它過去
雖然我們曾迷失　依然重複上演著甜蜜
已經沒有餘力說放棄　緊握了　就不要再失去
看著你　我笑著抹去眼角的淚滴
輪廓那麼的清晰
閉上眼　深呼吸　腦海裡模糊的回憶
聽不見卻感覺　熟悉
這是我們的故事　曾經緊靠也曾經分離
那些已經缺席的劇情　錯過了　就讓它過去
雖然我們曾迷失　依然重複上演著甜蜜
已經沒有餘力說放棄　緊握了就不要再失去
摀住我的耳朵感受著靜空的世界裡　斷了聯繫
低著頭靜靜的彈奏著寧靜被融化了
隱約你再聽見我說　是的我愛你
這是我們的故事　曾經緊靠也曾經分離
那些已經缺席的劇情　錯過了　就讓它過去
雖然我們曾迷失　依然重複上演著甜蜜
已經沒有餘力說放棄　緊握了就不要再失去