"Luckily we have 5 weekdays ... ", my colleague was saying. In my mind I was already completing the sentence, "... instead of 6 in certain countries."
But no, what he continued saying I would never guess.
"... to rest from the 2 days of weekend."
Haha seriously that is damn funny. In case you didn't know, recently it has got really quiet. Not quiet as in not noisy quiet - its more like there was seriously nothing to do.
But still I'd never expect my colleague to say that. Everyone who was within earshot (only me and another guy) burst out laughing.
Ideal job heh?
Monday, July 31, 2006
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Football.
I love sports, but I love football best of all. Felt so excited today, for the whole day, because I knew I was going to play football later in the evening. I felt so alive!
The last time I played football was I think two months ago. Wow that feeling was even better. I felt excited for 2 whole days before the game!
It was 5 on 5, street soccer style, the way I liked it. Small pitch, big goals, which resulted in a fast-paced game with many goals scored. Tight spaces, which means tight dribbling. Few people, which means more one-twos (its a passing play where player one passes to player two, who passes it back immediately to player one, who usually has sprinted forward).
Though it was only 40 minutes, it was a superb game. I loved it. Esp when somebody commented, "you're pretty good" after the game, while we were re-hydrating and cooling down. Hee...
By the way, this is a little out of point. Actually, totally out of point. I dropped my left contact lens on the toilet floor this morning. And I spent 30 minutes looking for it. And I can't find it.
Luckily I kept my old contact lenses as a spare...
The last time I played football was I think two months ago. Wow that feeling was even better. I felt excited for 2 whole days before the game!
It was 5 on 5, street soccer style, the way I liked it. Small pitch, big goals, which resulted in a fast-paced game with many goals scored. Tight spaces, which means tight dribbling. Few people, which means more one-twos (its a passing play where player one passes to player two, who passes it back immediately to player one, who usually has sprinted forward).
Though it was only 40 minutes, it was a superb game. I loved it. Esp when somebody commented, "you're pretty good" after the game, while we were re-hydrating and cooling down. Hee...
By the way, this is a little out of point. Actually, totally out of point. I dropped my left contact lens on the toilet floor this morning. And I spent 30 minutes looking for it. And I can't find it.
Luckily I kept my old contact lenses as a spare...
Monday, July 24, 2006
What do you think of the middle east crisis?
A colleague asked me that very open-ended question. I usually answer very open ended questions with "huh?".
He elaborated, "Who do you think is responsible?"
"Responsible for the crisis?"
Another colleague interrupted, "Well, you have to go back to who started it right? Its Hezbollah."
"Depends on how far back you go", the colleague that originally asked the question said.
-- lots of stuff about the whole middle east affair, involving iran, syria, etc etc.. finally a lull in the conversation...
"So, how far back would you go?" I asked the colleague that orginally asked the question.
"Moses."
"Moses?"
"Yeah when he parted the red sea."
"Moses is dead! How can you still hold him responsible?"
"Maybe he's not dead."
... I left it at that.
He elaborated, "Who do you think is responsible?"
"Responsible for the crisis?"
Another colleague interrupted, "Well, you have to go back to who started it right? Its Hezbollah."
"Depends on how far back you go", the colleague that originally asked the question said.
-- lots of stuff about the whole middle east affair, involving iran, syria, etc etc.. finally a lull in the conversation...
"So, how far back would you go?" I asked the colleague that orginally asked the question.
"Moses."
"Moses?"
"Yeah when he parted the red sea."
"Moses is dead! How can you still hold him responsible?"
"Maybe he's not dead."
... I left it at that.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Am I supposed to be used to the weather?
The temperature went to 34 today. Blardy hot. A colleague from France asked me, "Aren't you used to it already?"
I've spent 21 years in Singapore, where the weather is always blardy hot. AND blardy humid. After so long, you'd think that I've gotten used to it.
But no, I'm not used to it. I'd still prefer 24 degree weather with about 30 percent humidity.
I've spent 21 years in Singapore, where the weather is always blardy hot. AND blardy humid. After so long, you'd think that I've gotten used to it.
But no, I'm not used to it. I'd still prefer 24 degree weather with about 30 percent humidity.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
One of those chain-blog things again.
Favourites
Colour: Blue, Black, White and blends of those colours. Actually since Black and White aren't colours, its just blue.
Food: Depending on situations, I like Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa, Wan Tan Mee, Roti Prata, Carrot Cake (white), Satay, Pengkang Fish, a nice thick beef Steak (preferably Rib-eye, Sirlion, Fillet) ...
Song: Don't have a favourite one...
Movie: Hard to say. I don't tend to watch movies again and again... But I like action/sci-fi movies like Independance Day, MIB, X-men etc.
Sport: Football aka Soccer
Day of the week: Saturday
Season: Late Spring/Early Summer
Ice cream: Cold Stone's Strawberry Cheesecake Paradise (or something - contains cheesecake ice-cream, strawberries, and graham crunch)
Currents
Mood: Tired but relaxed (went to the gym a few hours ago)
Taste: None (not eating at the moment).
Clothes: Shorts. Thats it.
Desktop: Eh heh. I'm proud of my desktop. So proud that I'm going to show you:
Toe nail colour: Natural. Except for one toe, you know the toe that got stubbed. The nail dropped out finally and now there's a new nail forming. But like newborn babies, new nails look really ugly. Its not smooth and pink. Its very wrinkled, with spots of dark purple (possibly dried blood).
Surroundings: Quiet small cosy bedroom, with the window slightly ajar, the door closed.
Annoyance: None?
Thoughts: Thinking about what I'm thinking at the moment. The fact that I'm actually thinking about what I was thinking probably means I wasn't thinking of anything. Or maybe I'm thinking about what I was thinking. haha.
Firsts
Best friend: My neighbour who went to the same primary school as I. Our parents used to compare our grades (though there wasn't much sense comparing since in Pri 1 the grades are always > 98).
Crush: Some girl in my neighbourhood. Her name was Cheryl (not the Cheryl in the same class as I - its another Cheryl!). I was 8, she was 7. Unfortunately she moved out about a year after and I was too young to ask for her phone number. Hey wait.. that's almost 20 years ago!!!
Movie: Don't remember.
Lie: Lied about forgetting to bring my homework, when I really was too lazy to do it. Lied like this too many times.
Music: I dunno...
Lasts
Cigarette: Second hand smoke? er... yesterday.
Drink: Yesterday. Though I had something with Shaoxing wine today.
Car ride: A month ago, shared a cab back with a friend.
Crush: Excluding the gf? I have a current crush - Jessica Alba. My previous crush would be Scarlett Johanson.
Movie: Munich 1972. Good movie I must say. Watch it if you can.
Phone call: Called a colleague who didn't turn up for work and boss was concerned. Not concerned for him, concerned that he didn't turn up. He didn't pick up the phone though, so I'm not sure it counted.
Cd played: Can't remember (how sad is that?)
Have you ever:
Dated one of your best friends: Yes, the gf
Broken the law: Civil or criminal? Criminal no, but civil, possibly. You know how strict SG is, littering is against the law you know... not to mention being naked in your own home etc.
Been arrested: No
Skinny-dipped: No
Been on tv: Once also when I was in Sec 2 or so. Attended a writing course (writing as in short-story writing, not handwriting writing - though I probably need to improve on the latter) with an apparently famous SG based writer. Got reporter come and interview us. I was on TV for a few seconds.
Kissed someone you don’t know: No
5 things you are wearing: Briefs. Shorts. Ring. Left contact lens. Right contact lens. (heng, got 5 things)
4 things you did today:
- Went to work
- Went to gym
- Cooked Chinese Style Spaghetti with leftover Jamaican Jerk Chicken topped with Ham.
- Fulfilled my "duty" as a loving bf by writing this chain-blog thing
3 things you can hear right now: Breeze blowing my curtains, someone turning on his car engine, my housemate just opening her door.
1 thing you do when you’re bored: Surf the net.
5 ppl whom I want to do this thing:I don't want to trouble anyone doing this. But I hope AKK will jump at the opportunity... Otherwise, the chain (more like web actually) stops here.
Colour: Blue, Black, White and blends of those colours. Actually since Black and White aren't colours, its just blue.
Food: Depending on situations, I like Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa, Wan Tan Mee, Roti Prata, Carrot Cake (white), Satay, Pengkang Fish, a nice thick beef Steak (preferably Rib-eye, Sirlion, Fillet) ...
Song: Don't have a favourite one...
Movie: Hard to say. I don't tend to watch movies again and again... But I like action/sci-fi movies like Independance Day, MIB, X-men etc.
Sport: Football aka Soccer
Day of the week: Saturday
Season: Late Spring/Early Summer
Ice cream: Cold Stone's Strawberry Cheesecake Paradise (or something - contains cheesecake ice-cream, strawberries, and graham crunch)
Currents
Mood: Tired but relaxed (went to the gym a few hours ago)
Taste: None (not eating at the moment).
Clothes: Shorts. Thats it.
Desktop: Eh heh. I'm proud of my desktop. So proud that I'm going to show you:
Toe nail colour: Natural. Except for one toe, you know the toe that got stubbed. The nail dropped out finally and now there's a new nail forming. But like newborn babies, new nails look really ugly. Its not smooth and pink. Its very wrinkled, with spots of dark purple (possibly dried blood).
Surroundings: Quiet small cosy bedroom, with the window slightly ajar, the door closed.
Annoyance: None?
Thoughts: Thinking about what I'm thinking at the moment. The fact that I'm actually thinking about what I was thinking probably means I wasn't thinking of anything. Or maybe I'm thinking about what I was thinking. haha.
Firsts
Best friend: My neighbour who went to the same primary school as I. Our parents used to compare our grades (though there wasn't much sense comparing since in Pri 1 the grades are always > 98).
Crush: Some girl in my neighbourhood. Her name was Cheryl (not the Cheryl in the same class as I - its another Cheryl!). I was 8, she was 7. Unfortunately she moved out about a year after and I was too young to ask for her phone number. Hey wait.. that's almost 20 years ago!!!
Movie: Don't remember.
Lie: Lied about forgetting to bring my homework, when I really was too lazy to do it. Lied like this too many times.
Music: I dunno...
Lasts
Cigarette: Second hand smoke? er... yesterday.
Drink: Yesterday. Though I had something with Shaoxing wine today.
Car ride: A month ago, shared a cab back with a friend.
Crush: Excluding the gf? I have a current crush - Jessica Alba. My previous crush would be Scarlett Johanson.
Movie: Munich 1972. Good movie I must say. Watch it if you can.
Phone call: Called a colleague who didn't turn up for work and boss was concerned. Not concerned for him, concerned that he didn't turn up. He didn't pick up the phone though, so I'm not sure it counted.
Cd played: Can't remember (how sad is that?)
Have you ever:
Dated one of your best friends: Yes, the gf
Broken the law: Civil or criminal? Criminal no, but civil, possibly. You know how strict SG is, littering is against the law you know... not to mention being naked in your own home etc.
Been arrested: No
Skinny-dipped: No
Been on tv: Once also when I was in Sec 2 or so. Attended a writing course (writing as in short-story writing, not handwriting writing - though I probably need to improve on the latter) with an apparently famous SG based writer. Got reporter come and interview us. I was on TV for a few seconds.
Kissed someone you don’t know: No
5 things you are wearing: Briefs. Shorts. Ring. Left contact lens. Right contact lens. (heng, got 5 things)
4 things you did today:
- Went to work
- Went to gym
- Cooked Chinese Style Spaghetti with leftover Jamaican Jerk Chicken topped with Ham.
- Fulfilled my "duty" as a loving bf by writing this chain-blog thing
3 things you can hear right now: Breeze blowing my curtains, someone turning on his car engine, my housemate just opening her door.
1 thing you do when you’re bored: Surf the net.
5 ppl whom I want to do this thing:I don't want to trouble anyone doing this. But I hope AKK will jump at the opportunity... Otherwise, the chain (more like web actually) stops here.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Tuanging
For the sake of people who don't know what Tuanging means, it means idling, or avoiding work.
For the past three days, I was doing that. I actually signed up for this course "Advanced Equity Derivatives", hoping to learn something advanced about you know, equity derivatives. Unfortunately, it turned out to be actually "Really Basic Equity Derivatives". I already knew everything he had to teach.
On the first day, I thought, hell, its always good for someone to reinforce your learning you know... At the end of the day I thought, the instructor isn't even clear about what he's teaching - I may end up more confused.
On the second day, I thought, its 8 hours long of boring activity, but hell, its not work! I sit down and listen all day, make a couple of comments here and there, and yet get free lunch, still get paid, and I leave for home at 4! 4! can you imagine? I'd suffer through any boring lecture for that. By the end of the day though, I thought, I was just wasting my time. I could just have stayed at home and nobody would suspect I'm at home (the people at the office will assume I'm on course, the people on the course would assume i'm in the office).
On the third day, I thought, I'm a man of integrity. I should go for the course since I signed up for it, the instructor knows me now, and hell, its still better than working right? At the end of the day though, I'm glad I went for the course, because it ended at 3. 3! And we all headed to a nearby pub to "discuss some equity derivative related problems". Which of course included poker, somebody's wife, somebody else's girlfriend, snooker, over a seeming endless supply of beer.
Days like this come rarely. I do appreciate them though. =)
For the past three days, I was doing that. I actually signed up for this course "Advanced Equity Derivatives", hoping to learn something advanced about you know, equity derivatives. Unfortunately, it turned out to be actually "Really Basic Equity Derivatives". I already knew everything he had to teach.
On the first day, I thought, hell, its always good for someone to reinforce your learning you know... At the end of the day I thought, the instructor isn't even clear about what he's teaching - I may end up more confused.
On the second day, I thought, its 8 hours long of boring activity, but hell, its not work! I sit down and listen all day, make a couple of comments here and there, and yet get free lunch, still get paid, and I leave for home at 4! 4! can you imagine? I'd suffer through any boring lecture for that. By the end of the day though, I thought, I was just wasting my time. I could just have stayed at home and nobody would suspect I'm at home (the people at the office will assume I'm on course, the people on the course would assume i'm in the office).
On the third day, I thought, I'm a man of integrity. I should go for the course since I signed up for it, the instructor knows me now, and hell, its still better than working right? At the end of the day though, I'm glad I went for the course, because it ended at 3. 3! And we all headed to a nearby pub to "discuss some equity derivative related problems". Which of course included poker, somebody's wife, somebody else's girlfriend, snooker, over a seeming endless supply of beer.
Days like this come rarely. I do appreciate them though. =)
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
A small accomplishment
Today I ran in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge (Whoa its a damn good marketing event la, 13,000 people participated in the run, and everyone has to call it the JPMCCC. No-wonder you have the Barclay's premiership, the Stella Artois Tennis Open etc.)
It was quite well organised I must say. Each company had a large tent where you can put down your stuff. Plenty of access to bottled water. Lots of toilets all over the place. Water point at the halfway mark. At the end of the race got water, banana, and a T-shirt. Head back to the tent for some BBQ food. Nice, everything paid for somemore. haha.. I will prob go again next year if I'm still around. Hmm. Maybe I should sign up for 10k, or half-marathon runs. Its a good motivation to get active. YEAH!
Had to leave early though, because the run was at 6.45, and by the time I felt well enough to leave for home it was already 8. Germany was playing Italy at 8. Took me an hour to get back home. Fortunately I didn't miss much as they didn't score any goals. Unfortunately, I lost 5 quid because they didn't score any goals. Ah well, its still an overall (tax-free) profit.
It was quite well organised I must say. Each company had a large tent where you can put down your stuff. Plenty of access to bottled water. Lots of toilets all over the place. Water point at the halfway mark. At the end of the race got water, banana, and a T-shirt. Head back to the tent for some BBQ food. Nice, everything paid for somemore. haha.. I will prob go again next year if I'm still around. Hmm. Maybe I should sign up for 10k, or half-marathon runs. Its a good motivation to get active. YEAH!
Had to leave early though, because the run was at 6.45, and by the time I felt well enough to leave for home it was already 8. Germany was playing Italy at 8. Took me an hour to get back home. Fortunately I didn't miss much as they didn't score any goals. Unfortunately, I lost 5 quid because they didn't score any goals. Ah well, its still an overall (tax-free) profit.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Cool but stupid: Magnetic Floating Bed
Got this from gizmodo:
It reads:
"Every so often, we like to take a look at things whose functionality isn’t measured in gigabytes or megabangs, but instead just look amazing. This magnetic floating bed, I submit, may be among the coolest things we’ve ever covered. Designed by Dutchman Janjaap Ruijssenaars, it’s got enough magnets to keep 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds) floating in the air. To make sure that the bed doesn’t float away should it become windy (or “interesting,” wink wink), it’s tethered to the walls by four cables.
Technically, the magnetic floating bed is for sale, but at a price of 1.2 million euros ($1.53 million), you’re not likely to find it in your local mattress store."
Its just common sense: since the bed is already "tethered to the walls by four cables", we should just do away with the magnets and suspend it by the cables.. I'm sure it'll be much cheaper.
It reads:
"Every so often, we like to take a look at things whose functionality isn’t measured in gigabytes or megabangs, but instead just look amazing. This magnetic floating bed, I submit, may be among the coolest things we’ve ever covered. Designed by Dutchman Janjaap Ruijssenaars, it’s got enough magnets to keep 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds) floating in the air. To make sure that the bed doesn’t float away should it become windy (or “interesting,” wink wink), it’s tethered to the walls by four cables.
Technically, the magnetic floating bed is for sale, but at a price of 1.2 million euros ($1.53 million), you’re not likely to find it in your local mattress store."
Its just common sense: since the bed is already "tethered to the walls by four cables", we should just do away with the magnets and suspend it by the cables.. I'm sure it'll be much cheaper.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Its Blardy Hot!!
I know most of you guys would be pronuncing the title the Singaporean way, i.e., no intonation, no accent, just "ITS BLAARDY HOT".
But for the fun of it, lets do it the British way. Try it: "Its BLAD-y HOT!". Ah, I guess intonations doesnt get conveyed just thru the spelling of the text.
Sorry about that, I guess I got a little carried away with accents after watching this movie Matchpoint. Pretty good movie, and its not just because Scarlett Johansson is starring in it. It was based in London, where this ex-tennis player becomes a tennis coach at Wimbledon, gets aquainted with the British upper-class, gets married to this sweet girl with tons of money, then gets involved in an affair with Ms Johansson. She gets pregnant, wants him to leave his wife. He's too used to the upper-class lifestyle and isn't willing to give that up. So he kills her.
Anyway, back to the point. I hate the weather here. It really sucks. One moment ago it was so cold it snows. Another moment it gets wet. Not just wet but dull gloomy misty foggy kinda wet. And now its just blardy hot! Why? Why can't the weather be like oh sunny California, where its sunny yet cool.
I'll never settle down in London. The weather may be a convenient topic to discuss over coffee/beer, but I'd rather give that up to live somewhere nicer.
But for the fun of it, lets do it the British way. Try it: "Its BLAD-y HOT!". Ah, I guess intonations doesnt get conveyed just thru the spelling of the text.
Sorry about that, I guess I got a little carried away with accents after watching this movie Matchpoint. Pretty good movie, and its not just because Scarlett Johansson is starring in it. It was based in London, where this ex-tennis player becomes a tennis coach at Wimbledon, gets aquainted with the British upper-class, gets married to this sweet girl with tons of money, then gets involved in an affair with Ms Johansson. She gets pregnant, wants him to leave his wife. He's too used to the upper-class lifestyle and isn't willing to give that up. So he kills her.
Anyway, back to the point. I hate the weather here. It really sucks. One moment ago it was so cold it snows. Another moment it gets wet. Not just wet but dull gloomy misty foggy kinda wet. And now its just blardy hot! Why? Why can't the weather be like oh sunny California, where its sunny yet cool.
I'll never settle down in London. The weather may be a convenient topic to discuss over coffee/beer, but I'd rather give that up to live somewhere nicer.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Brazil Lost...
Damn it. I had high hopes on them. and high stakes.
I lost 5 pounds on them losing to France, and 4 pounds on them not winning the world cup.
Well, at least I made up for it by guessing the right number of goals...
England lost too. Quite surprising that they played better with Rooney off and with 10 men than with Rooney on. I guess England just isn't a winning team.
I lost 5 pounds on them losing to France, and 4 pounds on them not winning the world cup.
Well, at least I made up for it by guessing the right number of goals...
England lost too. Quite surprising that they played better with Rooney off and with 10 men than with Rooney on. I guess England just isn't a winning team.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Training for a 5k run...
I signed up for this JP Morgan Corporate Challenge 5k run. Just for the fun of it, and also for the free T-shirt that the company is sponsoring =). When I signed up, I felt pretty confident about it - not to win the race la, to complete it in a reasonable time.
But I haven't been running for the past 2 months? Since my toenail turned black, I had several excuses not to go running. House-moving for example, my back ached for the next two days. And then I got struck down with a cold. Slight fever, then coughing and mucus and pleghm. And then the world cup. Its like the world is against me running!
I decided that if i'm going to leave some face for myself, I'd better start moving. So on Tuesday I ran on the treadmill. I started a little too ambitious, and gave up at 2.5k. Today I ran again, and managed to complete the run, though about a minute more than my best time.
ah.. boring post eh. guess nobody's interested in me going to the gym.
But wait! interesting part comes up. I went to the gym at about 4.30pm today. The gym was quite empty. Of 10 or so treadmills only 2 were taken. However, while I was at 2.5k, this plump middle aged indian man comes to the treadmill right next to me. At first it was alright yeah, until he raised his arms to press on the buttons...
* a waft of wind catches the odour under his arm and brings it straight to me *
*breathing heavily.. puff pant... then gag...*
worse still, once he starts running, he rests his arms on top of the treadmill panel! the treadmill is pretty big, the panel comes up all the way to the chest - so his arms were f88king raised!
now, imagine a plump middle aged indian man. arms raised. sweating more heavily than you who still has another 2.5k to go. less than 1m away. with the wind from the cooler blowing air from him to you. with you not being able to help but breathe heavily.
its a nightmare i tell you.
thankfully though, the nose works in magical ways. It gets desensitised after continued exposure to the same smell... and I survived the run.
But I haven't been running for the past 2 months? Since my toenail turned black, I had several excuses not to go running. House-moving for example, my back ached for the next two days. And then I got struck down with a cold. Slight fever, then coughing and mucus and pleghm. And then the world cup. Its like the world is against me running!
I decided that if i'm going to leave some face for myself, I'd better start moving. So on Tuesday I ran on the treadmill. I started a little too ambitious, and gave up at 2.5k. Today I ran again, and managed to complete the run, though about a minute more than my best time.
ah.. boring post eh. guess nobody's interested in me going to the gym.
But wait! interesting part comes up. I went to the gym at about 4.30pm today. The gym was quite empty. Of 10 or so treadmills only 2 were taken. However, while I was at 2.5k, this plump middle aged indian man comes to the treadmill right next to me. At first it was alright yeah, until he raised his arms to press on the buttons...
* a waft of wind catches the odour under his arm and brings it straight to me *
*breathing heavily.. puff pant... then gag...*
worse still, once he starts running, he rests his arms on top of the treadmill panel! the treadmill is pretty big, the panel comes up all the way to the chest - so his arms were f88king raised!
now, imagine a plump middle aged indian man. arms raised. sweating more heavily than you who still has another 2.5k to go. less than 1m away. with the wind from the cooler blowing air from him to you. with you not being able to help but breathe heavily.
its a nightmare i tell you.
thankfully though, the nose works in magical ways. It gets desensitised after continued exposure to the same smell... and I survived the run.
Monday, June 26, 2006
House Season 2 finale
I just finished watching House, M.D., this TV serial that is really pretty good. If you haven't seen it, its about this super brilliant doctor that's arrogant and makes himself miserable. Its a fantastic show.
I was most impressed by its season 2 finale. Dr House is shot by someone. I sort-of expected that, him being the arrogant jerk, moreover this being the finale, of course something dramatic like that will happen. But I never expected the plot to develop into something else. Can't reveal too much, otherwise it'll take the fun out of the show. But, I can tell you, straight after watching it, I went online to search out a review/ critic for that episode. Its quite simply the best TV episode I ever watched.
Watch it, you won't regret it.
P.S. Its better than the action-packed Portugal vs Netherlands match.
I was most impressed by its season 2 finale. Dr House is shot by someone. I sort-of expected that, him being the arrogant jerk, moreover this being the finale, of course something dramatic like that will happen. But I never expected the plot to develop into something else. Can't reveal too much, otherwise it'll take the fun out of the show. But, I can tell you, straight after watching it, I went online to search out a review/ critic for that episode. Its quite simply the best TV episode I ever watched.
Watch it, you won't regret it.
P.S. Its better than the action-packed Portugal vs Netherlands match.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
I blame the world cup
1. For turning me into a couch potato. I've been confined indoors, with a lounge chair, a TV and a remote.
2. For distracting me at work. I can't seem to do much between 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 for many days and more recently from 3-5, 8-10. It seems starting today my un-productive periods will be from 4-6 and 8-10.
3. For reminding me that footballers earn shitloads of money, that some girls actually dream of becoming a footballer's wife.
4. For making me pick up spread betting. Don't mean to advertise here, but do check out betfair.com. Its like trading stocks on an exchange - the prices move up or down depending on supply/demand and of course during the current match. Being careful not to get too engrossed in gambling, I'm limiting my maximum bet size to 2 pounds, which unfortunately is also the minimum bet size on the site.
2. For distracting me at work. I can't seem to do much between 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 for many days and more recently from 3-5, 8-10. It seems starting today my un-productive periods will be from 4-6 and 8-10.
3. For reminding me that footballers earn shitloads of money, that some girls actually dream of becoming a footballer's wife.
4. For making me pick up spread betting. Don't mean to advertise here, but do check out betfair.com. Its like trading stocks on an exchange - the prices move up or down depending on supply/demand and of course during the current match. Being careful not to get too engrossed in gambling, I'm limiting my maximum bet size to 2 pounds, which unfortunately is also the minimum bet size on the site.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
British Peculiarity
When I first came to the UK, I noticed a couple of things that was just so unusual. Most unusual of all, has to be the water taps. Every toilet you go to, on each sink, there will be two faucets - one for cold water and one for hot.
Now that doesn't make any sense to me at all. If I was to wash my face, my hands, or anything for that matter, it has to be EITHER scalding hot or icy cold. No in-between. Of course you can plug up the sink and fill it up with water - but how hygenic is that?
My current flat, though looking relatively modern, still has separate faucets. Its summer now so I'm not really complaining. But I imagine I will be quite fustrated in the winter.
Never quite understanding the difficulty in combining the two taps into one, and never quite getting used to the idea that two separate taps IS NORMAL, I looked up the net to see if at least somebody agrees with me. Here's what I found.
------------------------------------
Old-Fashioned Faucets:
Unique British Standard
By JAMES R. HAGERTY
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
From The Wall Street Journal Online
LONDON (Oct. 31, 2002) — During a wartime visit to Moscow in 1942, Winston S. Churchill discovered a marvel of modern technology: hot and cold water flowing from the same faucet.
The plumbing in the villa where he stayed as a guest of Stalin was unlike the primitive British standard of separate taps for hot and cold. Rather than having to fill up the sink to achieve the right blend, the British leader could wash his hands under gushing water "mingled to exactly the temperature one desired," as he put it in his memoirs. From then on, he resolved to use this method whenever possible.
His countrymen have been slow to take up the single-spigot cause. Most bathroom sinks in Britain still have separate hot and cold taps today, 60 years after Mr. Churchill's conversion and decades after nearly all dual taps were scrapped in the U.S. and most vanished from continental Europe. For reasons of thrift, regulations and a stubborn attachment to tradition, the British have resisted the tide of plumbing history. Even when they renovate old homes, many choose two-tap systems, and builders often install them in new, low-end housing. Separate taps account for an estimated 40% of all bathroom-faucet sales in the U.K.
"It's very strange to me," says Ayelet Langer, who moved to London from Israel last year and found two faucets mounted on the newly installed bathroom sink in her apartment. "I thought I couldn't really cope with it at first, but now I do." Worried that the water from the hot tap will scald the fingers of her one-year-old son, she washes his hands in the kitchen sink, which has a single spout.
Britons don't understand why foreigners raise a fuss over this issue. "The British are quite happy to wash their hands with cold water. Maybe it's character-building," says Simon Kirby, managing director of Thomas Crapper & Co., a maker of bathroom equipment in Stratford-on-Avon.
Boris Johnson, a Conservative Party member of Parliament representing Henley, congratulates "the higher civilizations" that have adopted advanced plumbing technology. But he argues that having the choice of either hot or cold for washing hands "is an incentive to get it over and done with and not waste water."
Separate faucets are only one of the peculiarities of the British bathroom. Another is electricity — or rather the lack of it. Regulations aimed at preventing shocks forbid the installation in bathrooms of electrical outlets, except those designed for shavers. One more antishock measure bans standard on/off switches in bathrooms. The lights are controlled by pull cords hanging from the ceiling.
None of these eccentricities causes as much annoyance among foreigners as separate taps. Renee Guinivan of Bath, N.C., a retired secretary whose daughter lives in London, finds them "unsanitary." Ms. Guinivan could fill the sink with a mixture of hot and cold before washing. But what if the last person who used the sink brushed his teeth and spat? "I hate to be fussy," she says, though she is tempted to tote around a small package of Ajax cleaning powder and a sponge when she visits Britain.
"Perhaps it's something Puritanical about the English" that inclines them to shun modern luxuries, says Pam Carter, a spokeswoman for the Savoy Hotel.
In keeping with the grand style of a luxury hotel opened in 1889, the Savoy's vast white-tile bathrooms retain a Victorian look. The huge shower heads, resembling upside-down pie tins, dump cascades of water on guests. Call buttons above the tubs read "valet" and "maid" (though the buttons no longer function and guests are expected to use the telephone if they want help). To appease its largely American clientele, the Savoy has converted many of its sinks to single hot-and-cold taps, but some of the sinks retain separate faucets. Ms. Carter points to a gleaming white double-tap sink from the 1950s, large enough to bathe a midsize dog. "It would be a crime to get rid of something like that," she says.
Many in Britain keep separate bathroom taps to preserve the authenticity of Victorian homes. The force of habit also plays a role. As the commercial director of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, Yvonne Orgill might be expected to favor frequent renovations, yet she is completely satisfied with the separate taps on her bathtub and sees no reason to replace them. "I can turn them on and off with my toes, being a lazy person" she says.
In their defense, some British cite red tape. Older British homes often have storage tanks in their attics that feed water heaters. Under certain conditions, those tanks could be contaminated — for instance, by the intrusion of a rat — and tainted hot water that flows into a mixer tap might get sucked into a cold-water pipe leading back to the public water supply, endangering the whole neighborhood. So regulations forbid mixing of hot and cold water streams inside a tap unless the tank meets strict standards or protective valves are installed.
Separate taps are also a bit cheaper. A midprice pair of chrome bathroom-sink taps from Pegler Ltd. costs about $87, or half the price of a hot-and-cold "mixer" tap of similar quality.
Even so, modernity is slowly imposing itself. British people who travel overseas often are impressed by single taps, not to mention the "lovely shower systems that blow your head off," says Kevin Wellman, operations director at the British Institute of Plumbing. A U.S. company, American Standard Cos., is now the largest supplier of bathroom equipment in Britain and promotes modern fittings, including mixer taps.
Martin Phillips, a Londoner who sells car-industry forecasts and is married to an American, says his wife has converted him. Now when he encounters a sink with separate taps, he says, "it drives me potty."
But there are many holdouts. One is Mr. Kirby, the managing director at Thomas Crapper. Of the mixer tap, he says, "I wouldn't even consider it as a modernization — just a different way of doing it."
Of course, he has a professional interest in the matter. Founded in 1861 by Thomas Crapper, the firm he runs makes replicas of Victorian bathroom equipment, including bathroom "basins," or sinks, ranging from about $1,320 to $1,875. In a rare compromise with authenticity, the company does provide some sinks with mixer taps, but those are sold mainly to overseas customers.
Mr. Kirby says he doesn't find separate taps inconvenient. He dunks his hands under the cold water tap when he wants a quick wash. "If I want to wash them properly, I put the plug in" and fill the basin, he says. Isn't that less hygienic than washing under running water? "It's a cultural difference," Mr. Kirby says. "We're less bothered about that."
Despite their clashing views on hand-washing, Mr. Kirby keeps portraits of Winston Churchill in his home and office. He isn't surprised that the prime minister liked fancy plumbing. "You have to remember that Churchill was half-American," Mr. Kirby says, "so he was probably a bit more open to some of these innovations.
--------------------------------------------
Now that doesn't make any sense to me at all. If I was to wash my face, my hands, or anything for that matter, it has to be EITHER scalding hot or icy cold. No in-between. Of course you can plug up the sink and fill it up with water - but how hygenic is that?
My current flat, though looking relatively modern, still has separate faucets. Its summer now so I'm not really complaining. But I imagine I will be quite fustrated in the winter.
Never quite understanding the difficulty in combining the two taps into one, and never quite getting used to the idea that two separate taps IS NORMAL, I looked up the net to see if at least somebody agrees with me. Here's what I found.
------------------------------------
Old-Fashioned Faucets:
Unique British Standard
By JAMES R. HAGERTY
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
From The Wall Street Journal Online
LONDON (Oct. 31, 2002) — During a wartime visit to Moscow in 1942, Winston S. Churchill discovered a marvel of modern technology: hot and cold water flowing from the same faucet.
The plumbing in the villa where he stayed as a guest of Stalin was unlike the primitive British standard of separate taps for hot and cold. Rather than having to fill up the sink to achieve the right blend, the British leader could wash his hands under gushing water "mingled to exactly the temperature one desired," as he put it in his memoirs. From then on, he resolved to use this method whenever possible.
His countrymen have been slow to take up the single-spigot cause. Most bathroom sinks in Britain still have separate hot and cold taps today, 60 years after Mr. Churchill's conversion and decades after nearly all dual taps were scrapped in the U.S. and most vanished from continental Europe. For reasons of thrift, regulations and a stubborn attachment to tradition, the British have resisted the tide of plumbing history. Even when they renovate old homes, many choose two-tap systems, and builders often install them in new, low-end housing. Separate taps account for an estimated 40% of all bathroom-faucet sales in the U.K.
"It's very strange to me," says Ayelet Langer, who moved to London from Israel last year and found two faucets mounted on the newly installed bathroom sink in her apartment. "I thought I couldn't really cope with it at first, but now I do." Worried that the water from the hot tap will scald the fingers of her one-year-old son, she washes his hands in the kitchen sink, which has a single spout.
Britons don't understand why foreigners raise a fuss over this issue. "The British are quite happy to wash their hands with cold water. Maybe it's character-building," says Simon Kirby, managing director of Thomas Crapper & Co., a maker of bathroom equipment in Stratford-on-Avon.
Boris Johnson, a Conservative Party member of Parliament representing Henley, congratulates "the higher civilizations" that have adopted advanced plumbing technology. But he argues that having the choice of either hot or cold for washing hands "is an incentive to get it over and done with and not waste water."
Separate faucets are only one of the peculiarities of the British bathroom. Another is electricity — or rather the lack of it. Regulations aimed at preventing shocks forbid the installation in bathrooms of electrical outlets, except those designed for shavers. One more antishock measure bans standard on/off switches in bathrooms. The lights are controlled by pull cords hanging from the ceiling.
None of these eccentricities causes as much annoyance among foreigners as separate taps. Renee Guinivan of Bath, N.C., a retired secretary whose daughter lives in London, finds them "unsanitary." Ms. Guinivan could fill the sink with a mixture of hot and cold before washing. But what if the last person who used the sink brushed his teeth and spat? "I hate to be fussy," she says, though she is tempted to tote around a small package of Ajax cleaning powder and a sponge when she visits Britain.
"Perhaps it's something Puritanical about the English" that inclines them to shun modern luxuries, says Pam Carter, a spokeswoman for the Savoy Hotel.
In keeping with the grand style of a luxury hotel opened in 1889, the Savoy's vast white-tile bathrooms retain a Victorian look. The huge shower heads, resembling upside-down pie tins, dump cascades of water on guests. Call buttons above the tubs read "valet" and "maid" (though the buttons no longer function and guests are expected to use the telephone if they want help). To appease its largely American clientele, the Savoy has converted many of its sinks to single hot-and-cold taps, but some of the sinks retain separate faucets. Ms. Carter points to a gleaming white double-tap sink from the 1950s, large enough to bathe a midsize dog. "It would be a crime to get rid of something like that," she says.
Many in Britain keep separate bathroom taps to preserve the authenticity of Victorian homes. The force of habit also plays a role. As the commercial director of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, Yvonne Orgill might be expected to favor frequent renovations, yet she is completely satisfied with the separate taps on her bathtub and sees no reason to replace them. "I can turn them on and off with my toes, being a lazy person" she says.
In their defense, some British cite red tape. Older British homes often have storage tanks in their attics that feed water heaters. Under certain conditions, those tanks could be contaminated — for instance, by the intrusion of a rat — and tainted hot water that flows into a mixer tap might get sucked into a cold-water pipe leading back to the public water supply, endangering the whole neighborhood. So regulations forbid mixing of hot and cold water streams inside a tap unless the tank meets strict standards or protective valves are installed.
Separate taps are also a bit cheaper. A midprice pair of chrome bathroom-sink taps from Pegler Ltd. costs about $87, or half the price of a hot-and-cold "mixer" tap of similar quality.
Even so, modernity is slowly imposing itself. British people who travel overseas often are impressed by single taps, not to mention the "lovely shower systems that blow your head off," says Kevin Wellman, operations director at the British Institute of Plumbing. A U.S. company, American Standard Cos., is now the largest supplier of bathroom equipment in Britain and promotes modern fittings, including mixer taps.
Martin Phillips, a Londoner who sells car-industry forecasts and is married to an American, says his wife has converted him. Now when he encounters a sink with separate taps, he says, "it drives me potty."
But there are many holdouts. One is Mr. Kirby, the managing director at Thomas Crapper. Of the mixer tap, he says, "I wouldn't even consider it as a modernization — just a different way of doing it."
Of course, he has a professional interest in the matter. Founded in 1861 by Thomas Crapper, the firm he runs makes replicas of Victorian bathroom equipment, including bathroom "basins," or sinks, ranging from about $1,320 to $1,875. In a rare compromise with authenticity, the company does provide some sinks with mixer taps, but those are sold mainly to overseas customers.
Mr. Kirby says he doesn't find separate taps inconvenient. He dunks his hands under the cold water tap when he wants a quick wash. "If I want to wash them properly, I put the plug in" and fill the basin, he says. Isn't that less hygienic than washing under running water? "It's a cultural difference," Mr. Kirby says. "We're less bothered about that."
Despite their clashing views on hand-washing, Mr. Kirby keeps portraits of Winston Churchill in his home and office. He isn't surprised that the prime minister liked fancy plumbing. "You have to remember that Churchill was half-American," Mr. Kirby says, "so he was probably a bit more open to some of these innovations.
--------------------------------------------
Monday, June 12, 2006
A week without Internet
Sorry about the absence. You see, after I moved, I had no access to internet. The whole process of subscribing for a line, then signing up an ISP usually took 3 or more weeks - we fast-tracked the process because there was already a line set up and we signed up for the ISP a week before we moved in.
Anyway, just to let you know I'll be updating my blog again. Soon.
A week without the internet wasn't that bad, to be honest. I guess since I had internet in the office and also since unpacking, and more recently the world cup, had me pretty busy.
Check back again soon, I promise I'll post something in the next few days.
Anyway, just to let you know I'll be updating my blog again. Soon.
A week without the internet wasn't that bad, to be honest. I guess since I had internet in the office and also since unpacking, and more recently the world cup, had me pretty busy.
Check back again soon, I promise I'll post something in the next few days.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Moving house!
Every year in London, we move house. I've lived in 4 different places already, in the 4 years that I've been in London. Come June, the tally will be 5.
When I was a student, in my first year, housing was guaranteed by the college. i.e., we had a dorm (also called a house or hall) to live in. It was relatively cheap, about 85 pounds a week - but we had to share toilet and kitchen. Living in a dorm was definitely a great experience.... but lets not digress.
In my second year I lived with four other flatmates. We rented a flat from an Egyptian landlord. The place was relatively cheap, at 400 per week, but the place was fairly run-down. The carpet and the curtains were very dirty, the heater wasn't working when we moved in, even the beds, tables, chairs were all the cheapest furniture from Argos. Worst of all, the landlord would say "Anything you want, I will give you..." But nothing he promised ever happens. We learnt not to trust dodgy Egyptians from then on. We decided to shift house the next year.
For the third year, L and I very luckily found a superbly cheap place at 325 per week (for 4pple). The landlord was British, owned a few other units along the road, and didn't go through an agent to let out the flat - thus saving us the agency fee. The furniture was old, but good quality, and we pretty much loved the flat. Unfortunately, my third year was to be my last year in London...
And then as you know I went to the States for 1 year... and found a job back in London.
I didn't have much of a choice over the place I'd live for my fourth year in London. Thankfully I had a friend who'd be working in London too, so I asked him if he would accept me as a housemate. The househunting basically involved me looking at photographs of the place over email and agreeing on the conditions... I'm pretty happy with the place I'm living now, though I'm paying about 130 a week.
My newest home would be pretty good too! My rent will go up by 5 pounds a week, but I guess its worth it, for the nicer toilet, kitchen, and humongous lounge. I'll post some pictures when I move in.
When I was a student, in my first year, housing was guaranteed by the college. i.e., we had a dorm (also called a house or hall) to live in. It was relatively cheap, about 85 pounds a week - but we had to share toilet and kitchen. Living in a dorm was definitely a great experience.... but lets not digress.
In my second year I lived with four other flatmates. We rented a flat from an Egyptian landlord. The place was relatively cheap, at 400 per week, but the place was fairly run-down. The carpet and the curtains were very dirty, the heater wasn't working when we moved in, even the beds, tables, chairs were all the cheapest furniture from Argos. Worst of all, the landlord would say "Anything you want, I will give you..." But nothing he promised ever happens. We learnt not to trust dodgy Egyptians from then on. We decided to shift house the next year.
For the third year, L and I very luckily found a superbly cheap place at 325 per week (for 4pple). The landlord was British, owned a few other units along the road, and didn't go through an agent to let out the flat - thus saving us the agency fee. The furniture was old, but good quality, and we pretty much loved the flat. Unfortunately, my third year was to be my last year in London...
And then as you know I went to the States for 1 year... and found a job back in London.
I didn't have much of a choice over the place I'd live for my fourth year in London. Thankfully I had a friend who'd be working in London too, so I asked him if he would accept me as a housemate. The househunting basically involved me looking at photographs of the place over email and agreeing on the conditions... I'm pretty happy with the place I'm living now, though I'm paying about 130 a week.
My newest home would be pretty good too! My rent will go up by 5 pounds a week, but I guess its worth it, for the nicer toilet, kitchen, and humongous lounge. I'll post some pictures when I move in.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Answers to the personality quiz...
If you haven't done the quiz yet, please see this post first.
** Warning! Spoiler for the quiz in question ahead. If you really don't want to do the quiz before reading, its your own fault! **
The rabbit in the quiz represents love, and the key represents your career. the bridge/river is an obstacle. thats it.
My story was that I was holding a key and crossing the bridge when a cute rabbit jumped up, took the key away from me and hopped across the bridge. You can interpret it either as I gave up my career for love, or that my love interest helped me with my career. haha.
I got another friend whose bf told her the story was: He was holding this very cute rabbit, crossed the bridge, and exchanged the rabbit for the key. haha, upon being informed that the rabbit represents her, he changed his answer and said he exchanged the key for the rabbit. glib tongue neh?
Yet another story I heard was that she was carrying the key across the bridge, when she saw this cute bunny swimming in the river. She ignored the rabbit and walked on. haha.
i think this quiz is so cute.
** Warning! Spoiler for the quiz in question ahead. If you really don't want to do the quiz before reading, its your own fault! **
The rabbit in the quiz represents love, and the key represents your career. the bridge/river is an obstacle. thats it.
My story was that I was holding a key and crossing the bridge when a cute rabbit jumped up, took the key away from me and hopped across the bridge. You can interpret it either as I gave up my career for love, or that my love interest helped me with my career. haha.
I got another friend whose bf told her the story was: He was holding this very cute rabbit, crossed the bridge, and exchanged the rabbit for the key. haha, upon being informed that the rabbit represents her, he changed his answer and said he exchanged the key for the rabbit. glib tongue neh?
Yet another story I heard was that she was carrying the key across the bridge, when she saw this cute bunny swimming in the river. She ignored the rabbit and walked on. haha.
i think this quiz is so cute.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Soccer, after one whole year.
Never thought I'll get a chance to play football (soccer) again, but yesterday my colleague asked me to join him and his HK friends to play. I was so happy that I went down to Lillywhites and bought a brand new pair of astro turf boots just for that.
I thought it was a 40min game initially. We all thought it was. So we went all out.
40 mins later, nobody chased us away so we continued playing. Before we knew it, we had played almost 3 hours! At the end we were so tired we couldn't even walk properly. I suffered several blisters (blame it on the new shoes), and a black toe.
Before the game:
After the game:
Actually I took the above pictures at the same time. The top picture is my right foot. Yeah, I know I have two left feet...
I thought it was a 40min game initially. We all thought it was. So we went all out.
40 mins later, nobody chased us away so we continued playing. Before we knew it, we had played almost 3 hours! At the end we were so tired we couldn't even walk properly. I suffered several blisters (blame it on the new shoes), and a black toe.
Before the game:
After the game:
Actually I took the above pictures at the same time. The top picture is my right foot. Yeah, I know I have two left feet...
Monday, May 15, 2006
Little personality/life quiz...
I don't know if we can call it a quiz. You know when somebody asks you this sort of question "you're walking along a path in a forest when the path branches into two. do you take the left fork or the right fork?" if you answer left you're so and so and if you answer right you're so and so...
well i've got a similar question. you can either jot your answers down in the comments or mentally. i'll reveal the answers in about a week.
Question.
Form a story using your imagination and creativity using the following nouns:
River
Bridge
Rabbit
Key
Yourself (i.e., "Me" or "I")
Have fun!
well i've got a similar question. you can either jot your answers down in the comments or mentally. i'll reveal the answers in about a week.
Question.
Form a story using your imagination and creativity using the following nouns:
River
Bridge
Rabbit
Key
Yourself (i.e., "Me" or "I")
Have fun!
Ba1-Shi2
Ba1 shi2 means eighty in Mandarin. its also a very complicated bridge-like game.
You know how people like to modify games when it gets too boring? well, i think bridge has the most modifications... lets see, besides the normal fixed partner bridge, there's floating partner bridge, german bridge, spades, and now bashi...
its damn complicated. i will not be able to note down all the rules here. like bridge, there are 4 players, 4 suits, and the same kind of trumping process. but thats where the similarity ends. Besides playing with 2 sets of cards instead of 1, there's a trump number (that changes almost every round) in addition to the trump suit, there're jokers, and you can play more than one card at a time. further, you don't just try to win sets, you neet to win "points", and points are just 5s, 10s and Ks.
thats just the gist of it. of course there's more to it, including the number of points you need to "shang4 tai2" (climb onto the platform)... it took me 15 minutes of listening and two/three rounds before i could manage to play it - but even then I was still very blur and inexperienced and caused my partner to lose a few times...
anyway, i played with a bunch of friends from 6pm. and the game wasn't completed until 11pm. and we didn't have dinner. so i'm starving right now.
but its very fun. i don't mind spending my sundays playing cards...
You know how people like to modify games when it gets too boring? well, i think bridge has the most modifications... lets see, besides the normal fixed partner bridge, there's floating partner bridge, german bridge, spades, and now bashi...
its damn complicated. i will not be able to note down all the rules here. like bridge, there are 4 players, 4 suits, and the same kind of trumping process. but thats where the similarity ends. Besides playing with 2 sets of cards instead of 1, there's a trump number (that changes almost every round) in addition to the trump suit, there're jokers, and you can play more than one card at a time. further, you don't just try to win sets, you neet to win "points", and points are just 5s, 10s and Ks.
thats just the gist of it. of course there's more to it, including the number of points you need to "shang4 tai2" (climb onto the platform)... it took me 15 minutes of listening and two/three rounds before i could manage to play it - but even then I was still very blur and inexperienced and caused my partner to lose a few times...
anyway, i played with a bunch of friends from 6pm. and the game wasn't completed until 11pm. and we didn't have dinner. so i'm starving right now.
but its very fun. i don't mind spending my sundays playing cards...
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