tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14638648335668029092011-12-10T01:59:34.641+08:00Worked in HK, stayed in Tai Kok Tsui and Tung Chung. Now back in Singapore. Eat, sleep, bowling and live life~WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.comBlogger6021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-79880383306554586442011-12-07T09:29:00.001+08:002011-12-10T01:59:34.690+08:00

This M&A and relocation project really took the life out of me... I know its bad to let your family time and stuffs get affected by the drain inflicted by work but when so much is at stake for many of the workers and management here... Anyway the move is happening right now and the ERP servers arrived pretty much intact. Will run through the services once they are here. The IP will swing over

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-48910049372558161082011-10-27T11:04:00.003+08:002011-10-27T11:05:22.648+08:00

Whenever we talk about work-life balance its mostly about how much time we devote to work vs play/family. A company with a poor work-life balance may not pay well nor may it pay badly either. Rather it is how much time it gives its employees to spend on non-work activities. At this point of time I'd like to say my work-life balance is pretty average with 9-6 hours with hardly any overtime at all

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-39422588596982324272011-10-16T22:44:00.000+08:002011-10-27T11:05:37.467+08:00

Before I write about how my new job is like (basically sux), I would like to tell of what my wife experienced in her time in Bangkok recently. Most of you should know that Thailand is in danger of being overrun by flood water from Chao Praya and some other rivers due to the rain that's been hitting them hard over the past few weeks and months. During her time there she was amazed by how so many

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-89722275070371928702011-10-02T20:47:00.002+08:002011-10-02T21:43:00.691+08:00

Starting work tomorrow. Of 3 possibilities this is probably the lowest paid, with lower benefits but will give me the most time with my family. No regrets? Initially plenty of regrets. Especially when the difference can be up to 50% more. But I did my sums and decided that the price for that 30-50% extra will be time away from my family. I've been away for too long and now I do not wish to be an

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-22172677926887829472011-09-26T09:56:00.003+08:002011-09-26T10:05:44.010+08:00

The job is nearly secured and will be confirmed once the contracts are ready and I sign them on Monday or Tuesday. The other job, with probably a significantly higher package, would probably require me to work longer hours. At the end of the day the job I chose will give me regular hours, more time with family and probably better long term prospects.  Regrets with giving up on a bigger

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-22619766307226094622011-09-20T15:02:00.001+08:002011-09-20T15:02:54.818+08:00

We make decisions based on the best available information we have on hand and our mental/physical conditions at the point of time. But if circumstances takes a dramatic change then all bets are off. Update on my job: 1) I've more or less been selected and now awaiting approval from higher-ups. Heard from the headhunter there's room for negotiation with regards to the remuneration package. 2) A

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-47522083590380617992011-09-16T11:38:00.001+08:002011-09-16T11:41:49.227+08:00

Some time since my last post. I've been spending quality time with my little boy and also trying not to neglect the older one as well. I've also been working on the statistics portion of my Pin-Targeter App. And then there were the job interviews... It's really amazing the things that have changed with the job prospects over the past few weeks. For 2 months I've been camping on job sites

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-58155210514313022882011-08-30T18:12:00.000+08:002011-08-30T18:12:31.869+08:00

Just caught Cars 2 at Kallang Leisure Park today. And if Jeff and Flora are reading this, I saw you guys queueing up outside the rink but no chance to say hello as I was rushing for my show~ Extremely crowded place today~ The movie was pretty good and I love the way they try to capture real world things and put them into the Cars world. One particular scene I like was the toilet in Japan. I'm

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-37499108176069678172011-08-27T13:06:00.000+08:002011-08-27T13:06:39.193+08:00

I've finally released version 2.0 of the Pin-Targeter app on the Apple AppStore. It took me more than 2 months of procrastination to start and it took me less than 3 days to make the amendments. I guess sometimes we need to take a break before we can absorb all the new knowledge. Its a joy to see my app being published on the Apple AppStore. Its not so much the income (although its definitely

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-82310871297540190722011-08-26T21:05:00.000+08:002011-08-26T21:05:30.409+08:00

Life has settled down into a routine and I don't really have any problems with it. Weekdays its all about job hunt (even though I sort of have a job now) and taking care of Baby. I've also restarted my iPhone development and this time the engine is much smoother and I'm very very productive. Weekends we will go for bowling sessions at East Coast, with a meals there as well. Managed to meet a

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-1484911161243670102011-08-16T03:57:00.000+08:002011-08-16T03:57:21.789+08:00

The first thing I did when I heard that the govt will raise the salary cap for couples to buy HDB flats was to send an SMS to my NS buddy. Its a real catastrophe when you've been earning slightly above S$8,000. That means you are not eligible for an HDB flat while the Executive condos or private properties will probably require another 4-5 years' savings just to pay for the downpayment. Now that

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-72671655827458440382011-08-10T01:26:00.000+08:002011-08-10T01:26:24.415+08:00

Singapore just celebrated its 46th year of independence. From 1963 to 1965 we were part of the Malaysia along with Sabah and Sarawak. Before that we were a British colony. I am glad that we are part of neither of them. For all its nature beauty and some wonderful people, the government policies really leaves much to be desired. As for the UK... the London riots over the past few days more or less

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-79334875732950503002011-08-06T12:31:00.001+08:002011-08-06T12:31:36.485+08:00

The fasting month of Ramadan... Ahh.... But it works out to a month of feasting for me since the annual night market near Tanjong Katong Complex will be up until the end of the fasting month. The walk through the bazaar will definitely be hot, sticky and uncomfortable... but if you find the food sections (I know there are at least 2) then you will be rewarded with tonnes of oily goodness~

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-26745181659582846952011-08-02T18:01:00.000+08:002011-08-02T18:01:31.864+08:00

Marine Bowl starts looking and feeling alot like Mei Foo Bowling World. We start knowing people from the pro-shop, the people behind the counter and other regular bowlers. I also know a few other people from the bowling coaching course I attended in May this year. Then there's also the drinks stall from which we get our sandwiches, mee siam and teh~ The nightly leagues also mean that we have to

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-80276530943373835012011-07-26T13:53:00.000+08:002011-07-26T13:53:45.743+08:00

According to the missus, I'd jinxed my own job search when I made a statement about how nearly perfect my life is apart from being unemployed. I guess I DID jinx myself with that statement but I really felt very blessed because I just welcomed my beautiful baby, back in my home country after so many years, and finally able to celebrate the birthdays with the entire family! We just had a

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-8420408910594040512011-07-22T12:57:00.000+08:002011-07-22T12:57:38.948+08:00

I spent some time last night reading about the debt ceiling issue in the US and how it is going to affect the rest of us. Mostly blaming the Republicans (or the Tea Partiers) and then some leaving the blame for Obama. Mostly blaming fellow Americans for voting in the new generation Republicans. One particular Republican-hater wrote something like this, "A democracy is great if we have an

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-3156613180611806542011-07-19T13:52:00.000+08:002011-07-19T13:52:31.624+08:00

My first ever drive on a 3,000cc BMW. I'm sold. Now I only wish I had the money for a 6-series convertible. More spacious than the VW Beetle, more powerful than any car I'd ever driven and felt more majestic on the road. I guess that's the reason why people crashes their Lambos or Ferraris... the power you feel behind the wheels... A 2,000cc or a 3,000cc car? I guess there's no turning back now..

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-14117839820361894542011-07-11T13:13:00.003+08:002011-07-11T13:15:41.688+08:00

I finally realized the biggest issue bugging me at this point of time... Its the fact that I've been withholding my spending limits since I'm not bringing in any income for the family. Prior to my return to Singapore I've been spending without restraint. Now that I'm back and not working, we are basically living off the missus's pay cheque. Thankfully that is quite a substantial one... still

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-82925805579363426972011-07-08T09:17:00.000+08:002011-07-08T09:17:08.894+08:00

I'd say neither here nor there... For all the frustrations I'm getting from the job search, most of them are actually self-inflicted. I'm only applying for jobs I think I would like with little or no regards to requirements. Oh... And a high expected salary probably didn't help my cause much. On the IT front I'm probably deemed too young and inexperienced for some of the senior posts and too old

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-66711760299457190202011-07-07T13:47:00.003+08:002011-07-07T15:58:55.353+08:00

Below is a list of Bowling Alleys I've bowled in since my return to Singapore in January 2011: View Bowling Alleys in a larger map Listed Alleys (Alphabetical Order): 1. Kallang Bowl 2. Marine Bowl 3. NSRCC Bowling Centre 4. Orchid Bowl - E!Hub Pasir Ris 5. Orchid Bowl - Mt Faber Safra 6. Orchid Bowl - Orchid Country Club (OCC) 7. Orchid Bowl - Tampines Safra 8. Planet Bowl Feel free to drop

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-86075462300922375012011-07-06T17:11:00.000+08:002011-07-06T17:11:32.099+08:00

My sis came over to my place this afternoon and we had a little discussion on car ownership. With the rosy economy and influx of rich expats, the price of COE has risen to nearly S$70,000. COE is the little piece of paper that gives you the right to own the car for the next 10 years. You still need a car along with other stuffs (insurance etc) to put it on the road. A brand new car in 2008 cost

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-66187745925255016072011-07-05T10:52:00.000+08:002011-07-05T10:52:50.695+08:00

Crushed on all fronts and I have no idea what to do now... this is really not the scenario I have envisioned myself to be in 1-2 months ago, let alone 6 months ago...

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-9328186357467111312011-07-01T15:07:00.001+08:002011-07-01T15:08:55.528+08:00

Quite a hectic last day of June 2011... First a presentation for the School early in the morning for the 2nd round of the job interview. I thought I did well, answered their questions quite professionally and maintained my composure quite well throughout the interview. I will know the results soon enough... Made my way to Orchid Bowl @ Pasir Ris E!Hub after the interview. Got myself lunch

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-34263427586004669752011-06-27T01:12:00.000+08:002011-06-27T01:12:14.170+08:00

Was feasting on some local junk food at Dunman food centre when I suddenly though of D. He's in secondary one now, it's about time he starts having a girlfriend (we are in no illusion that kids start dating only when they are 16-17) and I couldn't help by remarked to my wife that what a wonderful period of life he's going through, and we are witnessing for him now. It's the period of his life

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-91721227924899283002011-06-25T15:02:00.001+08:002011-06-27T00:37:13.958+08:00

Job hunting is getting some echoes and calls here and there. The biggest prospect is coming from the School. In terms of a future and escape options it's really bleak since sports has never been a big market in SG. But it's 180-degree change from what everyone is doing and most importantly it gives me an opportunity to try out something different with my life. More often than not we are led by

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-21743472694818736652011-06-15T12:32:00.000+08:002011-06-15T12:32:11.716+08:00

I just got off the phone with a headhunter. Basically I dug out the information of this person from the internet, wrote an e-mail over and rightfully got a return call. It all happened a day ago when this lady called and asked if I'm interested in a job. Blah blah blah and it seems like everything is within my scope, even the pay package. I thought that's pretty good until she mentioned that I

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-50097674985104859112011-06-13T13:38:00.000+08:002011-06-13T13:38:18.369+08:00

The first wedding anniversary we've ever had in Singapore and I decided to book a table for us at Jaan. It's located on the 70th floor of Swissotel Stamford and offers a great view of the Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade. Of course when they called to reservation I did highlight to them that I would like to have a window seat since its our wedding anniversary and here's the view we get for the

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-29002142523160098742011-06-11T14:17:00.000+08:002011-06-11T14:17:16.901+08:00

Considering the fact that I had planned for this 6-month hiatus from work, the lack of job opportunities haven't really caused (that many) sleepless nights for me. Of course the poor response is a concern but I guess over the past few weeks I've already recognised that I've been pricing myself above potential employers' comfort zones. So 2 options for me. 1) Get out of MY comfort zone and do

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-73866868745031392872011-06-10T12:35:00.000+08:002011-06-10T12:35:21.890+08:00

3 weeks since my last post and I've only gone for 2 interviews. The chances of me getting anything from either of them is very slim considering 1) My expected salary and 2) My lack of experiences in Singapore over the past few years. But I'm still pretty optimistic about the job market in Singapore because everyday I see plenty of listings on various job portals. The real issue bugging me is

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-51150011921283239882011-05-19T02:11:00.000+08:002011-05-19T02:11:44.452+08:00

I'm really kicking my job-search into full gear this week. Until last week I was on an apply-when-a-good-job-appear kind of mentality. But this week its whatever comes I will send a resume. Of course that doesn't mean any job that I will never do... But there are some jobs that I will do although I hope I don't have to do... I wish to break out of the Japanese + Manufacturing sector and do

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-89218330392967311142011-05-10T22:33:00.000+08:002011-05-10T22:33:51.721+08:00

Amazingly my last post was about my app on the AppStore (Which is not making much money). Since then I have had a crazy 3 weeks which involved a week taking a bowling coaching course, having friends from HK visiting and the SG elections. The coaching course was great~! Met some nice people, fantastic instructors and really motivated me to take up level 2 so that I may be able to take up school

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-15073337832833897842011-04-21T14:40:00.002+08:002011-04-24T20:24:31.078+08:00

And with that I can stop checking my e-mail account ever so often... It's been a torturing wait these past 2 weeks and this morning I received 2 e-mails in quick succession. Well... not really quick but 3 hours while I was asleep was pretty quick. The status of my app jumped from "Waiting for Review" to "In Review" to "Ready for Sale". Working on my 2nd app now. It's real fun this app thingy

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-2779112899054295572011-04-12T12:49:00.000+08:002011-04-12T12:49:08.236+08:00

As I read the newspaper articles on retiring MP Mr Lim Boon Heng's tears in yesterday's press conference, I cannot help but think that he must have known someone or the friends/relatives of someone who was a gambling addict. Some people say that it was staged, some said I t was fake. I think it was real. Groupthink... In the case of the casino is was bad if you do and even worse if you don't.

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-79136491064231332992011-04-08T09:22:00.000+08:002011-04-08T09:22:55.346+08:00

It's been a wonderful adventure writing this Password Management App. This learning how to program for iOS, learning object-oriented programming all over again and this understanding of how Apple manages their apps. I guess the biggest thing I gained from this episode is that lots of effort has been put into by Apple to make sure that apps out there don't really suck. There are rules to adhere to

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-41951238050266008542011-04-06T15:49:00.069+08:002011-04-06T15:49:00.276+08:00

Its interesting the things people say about the new candidate Tin Pei Ling. Young she is and inexperienced indeed. But to put her in a single-seat ward will be more worrying as that will mean that the ruling party has lost it and people should then really think about whether to vote for them. Why would any party put a weak candidate in a single-seat ward if they are bound to lose??? Crazy?

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-79791804370090822382011-04-05T17:48:00.001+08:002011-04-06T11:14:41.635+08:00

Once in a while I do get fuel for writing about this subject. I think it is a subject worth debating about because it involves human lives, on both the part of the trafficker as well as the user. I am all for the death penalty if it can be proven that the person wasn't a victim of a scam and will not be receiving any payment of sorts. There are some contradictory reports of Vui Kong's case.

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-40857324354523345362011-04-03T21:36:00.000+08:002011-04-03T21:36:29.168+08:00

After the Maid-with-the-army-backpack saga, we got the elitist-Samantha-from-Holland-Village saga. Long story short, this particular woman Samantha called a local radio station to complain about heartlanders from Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok etc who tarnish the image of Holland Village by appearing in slippers, shorts and weird hair colors. Apparently her rant was due to her own encounter

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-59653831918547930752011-04-02T06:22:00.000+08:002011-04-02T06:22:17.704+08:00

It's used to describe someone who loves a person so much that he/she will obsessively/try hard to like what the person likes/care about. It is a blessing to meet such a person. Because it is not always an easy thing to do. Take for example my friend N. Staying with her in-laws and siblings of her husband, she is fighting a lonely battle in raising her kid as everyone in the family has differing

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-60516057341865278512011-03-31T13:15:00.000+08:002011-03-31T13:15:36.811+08:00

"I had a very very good impression of Singapore !! Everyone feels genuinely nice and helpful and I don't feel scammed at all. (or maybe they are so good at it that I don't realize)" That's the Facebook message I received from an ex-classmate after her recent visit to Singapore. Absolutely no idea why she felt that there will be scammers waiting to pounce on her. A helpful advice from friends and

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-68427658504455340962011-03-29T15:15:00.002+08:002011-03-29T15:16:37.845+08:00

The latest saga in little Singapura... a maid carrying the army backpack of a national serviceman... Click on the image to read the article on STOMP Some people are born rich some people are born poor some poor are born healthy and some people are born weak. So this guy got a maid to help him carry his stuff. No one is supposed to carry his backpack if I remember correctly. On the first day of

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-35361162806107082362011-03-28T21:09:00.000+08:002011-03-28T21:09:05.001+08:00

Surfed around the internet on pages related to bowling and found the following website: http://bowling.about.com/ Its interesting what resources the internet can churn up. When I started bowling 20 years ago the only place for information was my bowling coach. But its hard because there would be 10-12 of us in every training session and you really only get that little time with the coach during

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-71454584787120118872011-03-26T15:26:00.001+08:002011-03-28T11:22:46.311+08:00

Everywhere I web-surf I will find debates and commentaries on the nuclear situation and the exodus of foreign residents and workers. Many chose to write on how these people had been influenced by doomsday-style coverage by the media. How the nuclear situation is not as serious as people imagined. But what is the real situation like? I've worked in a Japanese company for 7 years and im not

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-34163132118787956912011-03-24T17:53:00.000+08:002011-03-24T17:53:37.115+08:00

The conflict in Libya and the nuclear crisis in Japan. What is Libya to the rest of the world? It is a source of oil, a commodity which is crucial to the economic well-being of the world. The nuclear crisis stemmed from the fact that we cannot rely solely on oil forever. Japan has been using nuclear energy for a long time and without those nuclear plants the global oil requirements could be many

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-30185705654437345982011-03-21T20:24:00.002+08:002011-03-21T20:42:41.691+08:00

I think it is tough to balance parenting and work roles without compromising somewhere. Trying to come out with an iPhone app is harder than I thought. Actually the SDK and object-orientated methods are simple enough to comprehend, and also the tonnes of help available on the internet. But between learning and applying what I learnt, I also have to look after my wife and baby. I'm unemployed at

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-28698046804251386112011-03-15T14:34:00.000+08:002011-03-15T14:34:01.858+08:00

Back from the hospital. Things are not well... the jaundice level did not go down. On the bright side it did not go up as well. Another 20% higher Baby J would have to be admitted straight away. Another round of phototherapy session coming up. Mrs WD is going under the lamp with the baby... not sure how she's going to achieve that without hurting herself... Meanwhile I'm using daylight hours to

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-76182723450667479062011-03-13T20:01:00.003+08:002011-03-13T20:52:51.835+08:00

Baby J praying for a fast recovery from jaundice On Thursday we returned to the hospital for a blood test on Baby J. The results were delivered to us thru the phone after 2 hours and revealed that Baby J had a serious case of jaundice.We were given the option of putting him up in the hospital or having a rental phototherapy unit delivered to our place. We chose the latter, partly for convenience

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-87633142208836392402011-03-12T17:07:00.000+08:002011-03-12T17:07:55.105+08:00

First week of fatherhood. Can't say I was totally unprepared for this... I once had an offshore exercise with the army which reaped a total of 8 hours sleep. I had more than that amount of sleep this week. But army had hundreds or even thousands of men having a few objectives whereas parenthood is one small heavy-duty tear-packed objective with only the 2 of us. So you can understand the pressure

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-13446929712497711282011-03-11T10:56:00.001+08:002011-03-11T10:56:00.243+08:00

The 3rd bowling alley review brought me to Tampines Safra. This was the last place for me to bowl before I left for HK as I used to stay nearby. The whole SAFRA compound changed quite dramatically with new soccer pitches and the upgrades to the bowling alley... Location Located on the 3rd floor of Tampines Safra, the easiest way to reach this place using public transport will probably be taking

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-68632210310266160112011-03-10T11:24:00.000+08:002011-03-10T11:24:52.761+08:00

Baby J's first "reaction" in this world was an eruption after the nurse cleaned the area near his balls... Day 1 - The very first photo for Baby J All wrapped up after a thorough cleaning by the nurses In the ward - the look of Baby J after feeding 1st night ready to sleep 2nd day morning - A sight of Baby J sleeping is a good one Always hungry for more... Day 3 - Bye bye ward~ (Baby J is in

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-50578102886888744282011-03-10T02:38:00.009+08:002011-03-10T09:58:56.646+08:00

This is the 2nd of 3 bowling reviews I wanted to write before Baby J came to this world. So starved of sleep but I figured I'd better write it before I lose my senses~ Location Situated within the National Service Resort and Country Club in Tanah Merah, this place is not really accessible by public transport. The best way will be hop on to a shuttle service or drive/take a cab there. Nearest MRT

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-54252144162209403852011-03-09T00:02:00.000+08:002011-03-09T00:02:19.333+08:00

The plan was to have the birth induced on the 8th. I guess not everything goes according to plan. 6am+ on Sunday morning there were some minor pains which we thought might be false alarms. When it didn't go away at 9am I still didn't take it too serious although Mrs WD was already putting on her make-up... I changed and bought her breakfast according to my mum's instructions "she's going to give

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-72438056570236636702011-03-07T09:50:00.000+08:002011-03-07T09:51:20.198+08:00

Everyone, meet Baby J.Baby J, meet the world~

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-9381347119069490902011-03-05T02:40:00.041+08:002011-03-05T13:13:32.487+08:00

This will be the 1st of a series of reviews on bowling alleys in Singapore. First and foremost it will be a reference point for me. I also hope that fellow bowlers will find the information useful. Location Situated on the 2nd floor of Kallang Leisure Park, this place is highly accessible via major expressways like ECP, KPE and PIE. Alternatively the Stadium station of the Circle Line is right

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-45635044047876050022011-03-02T22:09:00.000+08:002011-03-02T22:09:22.911+08:00

Below is a small paragraph which I copied from http://www.gentlebirth.org regarding preparation of Placenta for consumption To cook, wash excess blood from the placenta. Place it in a steamer over water. Place with it fresh ginger slices, half a lemon and a hot pepper. Steam for 15 minutes, turn, and steam 15 more minutes until no juice comes out when pricked with a fork. (Steam over low heat,

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-53694117003608150602011-03-01T13:59:00.001+08:002011-03-01T14:01:07.188+08:00

Just been to the doctor and it seems like Baby J may be out sooner than we expected. He's in position and is poised to make a swift exit within these few days. We were hoping for next Tuesday because that's a good day according to the almanac. Like all parents I want the best for my children and if choosing the month, day and hour of his birth will smoothen his life than I'm all for it, which

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-54566541609740129962011-02-28T08:37:00.000+08:002011-02-28T08:37:00.775+08:00

I managed to complete Assassin's Creed 2 and Brotherhood during the past 2 months although the slower pace of part 1 didn't keep me interested in it long enough. And the backdrop of Syria was a stranger to me... What kept me so captivated in the 2 sequels was the replication of Rome and Venice. Although not on 1:1 scale the attempt to recreate Rome in 15th century brought back many memories of

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-80065202336892421912011-02-24T23:54:00.056+08:002011-02-24T23:54:00.887+08:00

Just read the following post on Mr Wang's blog. Do we need maids? Yes and no. Yes if we want to have more time watching TV, meeting our friends and going out for movies. No if we try and use part-time maid and childcare. There are stay home mums who have maids who help out simply because they want the tai-tai lifestyle. I agree that some people have a real requirement as they have elderly parents

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-54783879611924962432011-02-24T09:55:00.000+08:002011-02-24T09:55:16.723+08:00

As I read the article regarding Shahril Ishak and Baihakki Khaizan playing for a breakaway league in Indonesia, I can't help but feel a bit sorry for the state of soccer in Singapore. Sorry because they cannot ply their trade in SG and earn similar or even slightly lower salaries than the one offered by the Indonesian team. And by playing in a league not sanctioned by FIFA they may be banned from

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-33452603240236306672011-02-23T09:28:00.002+08:002011-02-23T09:33:52.828+08:00

More of a coincidence than anything. More than 100 personnel from HQ Guards are in NZ for an exercise and our ministers offered their services. Another 3 planeloads of search and rescue specialists and equipment are on their way as Im typing this. Be safe and come home in one piece although I must add that this will probably be the most rewarding experience wearing their uniforms. This reminded

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-91191665732031253382011-02-22T23:43:00.011+08:002011-02-22T23:43:00.632+08:00

Received an application letter for withdrawal of Edusave funds for the a visit to Peranakan Museum Chinese Trail as part of TK's MT Week for Chinese students. I wonder what the Malay and Indian students are doing... Activities include Chinese painting, calligraphy and art of Chinese tea. Then there will be comic drawing and a trip to the comic production and publishing company. The above

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-76276774641001219052011-02-22T11:00:00.060+08:002011-02-22T11:00:00.703+08:00

I've taken the clear skies for granted. Not so long ago I was lamenting about the polluted air in HK but now that's all forgotten. The first few days back in SG I spent some time to take in the blue skies but as days gone by I've lost sight of some things. Then today as I was driving back home from Ikea I opened up my eyes on this new elevated road and saw a new skyline and blue skies. We

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-35610437772642926492011-02-21T15:01:00.001+08:002011-02-21T19:59:13.933+08:00

I've been eating alot... And my HK friends have been asking me alot about where to get the best food in town. Actually there is an SG version of Openrice.com. So if you find it tough to decide on where to go for your next meal, look up the page~ It's on http://sg.openrice.com

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-62901115061965285372011-02-20T15:35:00.049+08:002011-02-20T16:14:28.685+08:00

Had the opportunity to visit my alma mater yesterday. Called TK1Nite, it was an event organised by the Parent Support Group as an introduction to the school as well as an opportunity for parents and teachers to meet so as to gather information on how their wards have been performing and how parents can play a part in the child's progress. The event kicked off at 4pm with a guided tour around the

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-78313445382785859542011-02-20T01:26:00.002+08:002011-02-20T01:38:53.064+08:00

Finally gotten a chance to go bowling with the balls I brought back from HK. Kallang Leisure Park is really convenient as the lift will bring you from carpark to bowling alley in no time. With the Circle line it's just as convenient as it's just outside the building. Bowling in Singapore is nearly 50% cheaper than HK. And the lanes are generally more spacious compared to HK. Lane at Kallang was

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-30146600848940556152011-02-15T13:59:00.000+08:002011-02-15T13:59:02.721+08:00

Yes... A remarkable weekend~ It started off on a Friday night with karaoke at K-Box Kallang. Around SGD40 for buffet + 4 hours of singing. The number of Japanese songs is fine and they are mostly originals but the sorting of the singers makes finding your song a tad more difficult. Then a Saturday that seemed destined for rest at home didnt turn out so when we made the breakfast trip to Geylang

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-58335243883661944922011-02-09T12:07:00.000+08:002011-02-09T12:07:48.703+08:00

I'm sick of reading articles on the Internet criticizing the lack of alternative entertainment, culture and holiday options in Singapore. Aiyah we are just a small red dot in the middle of nowhere so please don't expect real Bali-style villas, endless beaches or a farm-stay experience~ how many things can we squeeze into 700sqkm of land? we travel to places in Indonesia like Bali, Bintan and

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-14679729172529411302011-02-07T21:21:00.001+08:002011-02-07T22:14:38.334+08:00

Life of a colour-blind is filled with shame, ridicule and many periods under the spotlight not unlike a showdog. Before i found out my problem at 12, I've been laughed at by friends and given a scolding by the teacher for painting the characters in my drawing green. (if i had been more savvy then i would have told her that it was the Hulk family... Not that i knew back then the Hulk was green...

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-76464599761113429652011-02-03T18:21:00.000+08:002011-02-03T18:21:08.971+08:00

Flew by. The last month flew by so fast but i didnt waste it all on sleeping. Spent a good amount of time with my family. Really glad to be able to chat with my sis and uncle on a regular basis. Both of them are really dependable ppl and for that i am thankful. As for my mum, I've come to realize that she is what she is. Getting upset, angry or disappointed will only make ourselves miserable so

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-11713056951673218732011-01-23T23:00:00.002+08:002011-01-23T23:09:26.679+08:00

After being away for so long, I've forgotten how cheap and delicious Singapore food can be! Below are some pictures for my blogger friends out there, just so that you know I'm not eating too shabbily around here~

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-41905080573068572092011-01-22T12:58:00.000+08:002011-01-22T12:58:28.002+08:00

...and practising what you preach. For so many years meritocracy has been the principle on which our society has been built on. A better education, better CV and better performance means better rewards. But when foreigners come in and outdo our own children then its not fair anymore. Why? Most of us are descendants of early immigrants. The present FTs are the modern version of our ancestors.

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-58401213349927258782011-01-17T13:08:00.000+08:002011-01-17T13:08:00.962+08:00

It's been more than 2 weeks since I returned to Singapore, although I did make a 3-night trip back to HK in the last few days to settle my income tax and MPF. Any massive changes to Singapore? Not that I can see... but I sure feel that the weather after office hours have dropped quite a bit. I actually felt chilly when I went out for dinner at the roadside stall last night! Of course not

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-29170322786976352472010-12-30T10:31:00.000+08:002010-12-30T10:31:35.927+08:00

Finally closing a chapter of my life... and a pretty long chapter at 5 years 4 months. I'm humbled by the display of generiosity and love by all my friends here in HK. Part of the reason why I've not been able to write during the past few weeks is because of the number of farewell dinners I've been attending~ Staffs who left the company made the effort to join our little farewell karaoke dinner.

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-54756029154000097342010-12-20T15:28:00.000+08:002010-12-20T15:28:47.354+08:00

I finished the last 2 papers of my MSc studies on Saturday. Prior to the exams I had many scenarios running thru my brain about how I will react once I leave the exam hall. Will I shout out a celebratory YEAH or throw my fists into the air like a crazy Orang Utan? Well none of that happened... all I could muster was a congratulatory yeah to myself... I was the first to leave the exam hall and

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-50343227590502105282010-12-13T10:21:00.000+08:002010-12-13T10:21:13.256+08:00

13 more work days to be exact~ before I board my SQ flight to Singapore. I've been staying in a service apartment in TST since exactly 1 month ago. Significant differences between the 2 places... Tung Chung - quiet (relatively), fresh air (polluted or not i'm not sure but definitely smells better), spacious... Tsim Sha Tsui - noisy, choking with cigarette smoke and crowded... But I like

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-32689074951520037982010-11-24T16:32:00.000+08:002010-11-24T16:32:55.946+08:00

I read an interesting article recently regarding the games we play in life. Particularly the game of love. The writer, a lady probably in her 20s, asked why lovers like to play this type of games. Instead of a doubles pairing who should be returning every obstacles that come their way, they (I presume she and her husband/boyfriend) are playing a singles match with each other. They throw tantrums

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-56821397861316558922010-11-23T17:32:00.000+08:002010-11-23T17:32:51.567+08:00

This Thursday will see thousands of kids in Singapore going back to their primary school to find out how they performed for their Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). With the results they and their parents will have to select a few secondary schools from all over Singapore. Entrance to one of these schools will depend on one's results, the number of places in the schools and the results

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-57578272486181711472010-11-17T19:55:00.002+08:002010-11-17T19:58:34.051+08:00

Below is a map of Katong Park. There is a dog-run within the park where you can let your dog run unleashed. View Larger Map Now if you are dog/dogs-owners in Singapore, like Jeff and Flora, then you will probably wonder "how do I get by dogs there if I don't have a car"? No fear. There are many private car owners who are willing to take bookings for transporting your pet(s). However, they

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-14082976989243154852010-11-17T17:31:00.000+08:002010-11-17T17:31:54.944+08:00

Was surfing around for places to bring the poodles when I go back to Singapore. Dogs are allowed in all parks (including Botanical Gardens and Reservoir parks) provided they are leased. There are also places where they can run around without a leash like Katong Park where there's a designated dog-run area. That will be a nice place to bring the pups without getting glares and stares from

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-83189987431075667602010-11-16T16:53:00.001+08:002010-11-16T17:48:51.661+08:00

There are so many things to do! 1) Cut utilities... 2) Change address for banks/credit cards/university/many others... 3) MPF... 4) Income Tax Returns... 5) Return the possession of the apartment... 6) Air tickets booked! And then there's the packing... oh the packing... loads of stuff to be shipped back to Singapore. Big apartments (in HK context) are a luxury until its time to move... How did

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-38285883140310010982010-11-12T09:57:00.000+08:002010-11-12T09:57:37.767+08:00

I guess there will be more topics as the population edges ever so closer to 6.5mil. Is it a new import? No. I had my experience with some triad members during my school and army days. Are they like the people you see in some Hong Kong triad movies? Not the ones I met. They were regular Joes, a few fluent in English but mostly the Hokkien-speaking type. One can be easily influenced to join them

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-83540022924087368472010-11-10T11:18:00.000+08:002010-11-10T11:18:55.888+08:00

Since I'll be coming to the end of my tenure in a Japanese company, I'd like to write a few things about my 7 years of experience before I forget about them. Please note that the issues might be specific to my company only. 1) It's a Japanese company and you are not a Japanese Whatever you do can be wrong unless its explicitly written in black and white. And no matter what you say or do, even

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-69357673902247540402010-11-09T20:19:00.000+08:002010-11-09T20:19:46.928+08:00

Less than 2 months to go and an air-ticket booked. Finally moved into a serviced apartment for this last leg. Feel less like home but I've only moved into it for 2 nights and none of the places I've stayed here really felt like home. It's a convenience... at a price. Being able to wake up at 8am and reach office by 8:25 is an experience I will treasure for a long time~ Clear the rental apartment

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-41740181128607946182010-11-02T11:48:00.000+08:002010-11-02T11:48:09.139+08:00

The big topic in Singapore must be the way that ministers brush aside or simply find excuses for the meaningless influx of "foreign talents". I appreciate foreign workers because Singaporeans are not willing to slog under the hot sun for such a small sum of money. Not too many will be willing to work in coffeeshops. Unfortunately there are many posts which can be and should be filled by locals

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-82825994948979311732010-10-25T22:43:00.000+08:002010-10-25T22:43:13.373+08:00

Fore-note: The focal point of this post is not about my work. It's about life objectives. We spend nearly half the day (10-12hours) on our work. Travelling to work, having lunch at work and the 8 hours warming the seat. Most of us do it for 5 days a week. That's like 50-60 hours in a 120-hour work-week. Now consider we need to spend at least 6 hours sleeping we only have like 30 hours to do

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-48912879450833782572010-10-20T10:00:00.000+08:002010-10-20T10:00:31.358+08:00

I heard that many times when I was young. My uncle not so much. My mum very much. She always liked to talk about how she went out to work at a very young age and made a living. Often used to reinforce her point that I was lazy or wasn't thankful for what I've got. I admit I was lazy, didn't spend as much time on books as I spent on the basketball court but I was always thankful for what I've got

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-8025051344600235282010-10-18T20:43:00.000+08:002010-10-18T20:43:52.373+08:00

... that reinforces my determination to quit. And a day longer will be a day too late! Hell I hate the position I am in now. I have no cover from anywhere but I'm the smallest shit in the company, looking after the most diverse portfolio. I don't understand how they can expect me to work well when I'm so badly underpaid! How many IT managers out there have to entertain guests, take them to

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-59032660304283260272010-10-17T21:50:00.000+08:002010-10-17T21:50:47.991+08:00

...but the effect on Coffee will probably be long-lasting... dogs have a tendency to be territorial and their behavior can change with the environment. From what I have heard, Coffee is showing symptoms of aggression which stemmed from a change in living environment. From staying in an apartment which is located on the 53rd floor, he is now living in a place which is on the 6th floor. There will

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-27995456105687481782010-10-12T13:08:00.003+08:002010-10-12T13:16:57.711+08:00

... also D-2 to being all alone. Pups flying off on Thursday. Packed and got ready to send their toys and bed to Singapore this morning. They've been sleeping on the bed with me but I wait till the last minute before I send the package out because they will miss the toys. As I sent them into their individual cage, I took the 2 bags and went out of the house. A second before I stepped out of the

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-62600955968489099592010-10-10T15:06:00.000+08:002010-10-10T15:06:17.814+08:00

Another birthday in HK... hopefully the last one in HK... This year is a bit different compared to the last 5 birthdays. This time I know when I will go back to Singapore. The plan is already in motion and this morning the 1st member of our family in HK will go back, followed by another 2 on Thursday, leaving me here alone until end December when I finish my studies @ HKUST and collect my 13th

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-84140185472295940012010-10-02T22:32:00.000+08:002010-10-02T22:32:39.792+08:00

"Couvade syndrome, also called sympathetic pregnancy or (in the U.K.) phantom pregnancy, is a condition in which the husband or partner of an expectant mother experiences some of the same symptoms and behavior as the mother. These most often include minor weight gain, altered hormone levels, morning nausea, and disturbed sleep patterns. In more extreme cases they can include labor pains,

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-11898822191217269562010-09-27T14:48:00.000+08:002010-09-27T14:48:45.574+08:00

I used to write at least once a week. Recently I've more or less lost steam on several fronts. I've stopped gaming altogether and blogging is taking a hit as well. 3 modules is taking its toll on me and I'm trying to tie up loose ends here and there at the workplace before I tender in December. A topic which has been running wild in my mind is the type of life I want for my children. In HK I'm

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-42303094967027794232010-09-21T09:49:00.000+08:002010-09-21T09:49:03.348+08:00

2005 5 years ago a string of events drove me away from my company in Singapore. A company sponsorship for further studies which went to a sales person instead of me. A promotion that didn't feel like a promotion. So pretty soon after the promotion I left the company (actually I submitted my resignation letter the day after my promotion). Then this post in HK came up and I promptly used the

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-60135171128222567162010-08-30T21:08:00.002+08:002010-08-30T21:48:51.400+08:00

Yesh... especially the ones created at work! The best type of messes will be the ones which are 1) by products of some stupid team/idiot's project [preferably not me], 2) will affect the most important people in our sales office [sales offices being sales offices the most important people will be the sales people], and 3) when my job puts me in a position to tackle the mess with relative freedom.

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-49985703338550178142010-08-24T12:11:00.004+08:002010-08-24T13:25:21.548+08:00

Everywhere I surf I will read some criticism about the way the Filipino SWAT team handled the hostage crisis. Some blame them for being slow, others blamed them for being inefficient. But its always much easier to type on a keyboard than to run in front of gunfire. If "T" marks the gunman, how will you take him out without hurting the passengers? Enter thru the backdoor and he will fire at you (

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-52430115137359407832010-08-23T10:42:00.002+08:002010-08-23T11:56:46.419+08:00

The beautiful yet incredibly short journey of the cubs in the YOG soccer tournament came to an end last night, losing 0-2 to Haiti. But even though they lost, they should hold their heads up knowing they showed support sportsmanship, determination and a never-say-die spirit that's been missing from the senior team since the days of Fandi, Sundram and Nazri Nasir. Yes, it was a goalkeeping mistake

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-20385844664154126352010-08-19T13:03:00.004+08:002010-08-19T13:35:47.963+08:00

Lots of noise in the air with the ongoing Youth Olympics in Singapore. Overbudget, hiccups, mess-ups and a whole lot of other things. I never expected the games to be a roaring success from the start. Frankly speaking, who will be interested in watching 14-18 y.o. battle it out on the basketball courts 3-on-3? I'm kind of disappointed that bowling is not part of the games. I'm really into bowling

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-42626549713064771582010-08-11T17:22:00.002+08:002010-08-11T17:31:17.627+08:00

Instead of feeding mass-murderers and rapists until they die, I think the death sentence is a much better solution. Human rights activists love to fight against the death penalty but that hasn't stop several states in America from carrying out the death sentence. Death sentence for drug-related offences is common in countries with a large islamic presence. It is hard for certain people to

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-72803111293504885932010-08-09T11:42:00.004+08:002010-08-09T13:45:35.506+08:00

Whenever I get questions about the Night Safari in Singapore, I will ask if the Day Zoo will be part of the itinerary. And more often than not, the answer will be a flat "NO". The reason(s) for not visiting the day zoo? 1. "The Night Safari is something you can't find everywhere/in HK." 2. "We have the Day Zoo in HK as well."3. "It's too hot."I can never understand why people visit Universal

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-63421390006249458372010-08-05T11:09:00.006+08:002010-08-05T12:08:15.176+08:00

... and the ones working in my company. I've been working with them for the past 7-8 years. The longer I work with them the longer I realise that I despise them. A simple problem but they go round several times without realising what the actual problem was. Had a chat with S yesterday and she remarked that the older generation of Japanese who came up with the Toyotas and Sonys weren't exactly

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463864833566802909.post-70116477711469267012010-08-02T09:55:00.004+08:002010-08-02T11:29:16.600+08:00

It's Monday again... Start of another rubbish week, working among rubbish, doing rubbish stuff... Maybe I will miss all these nonsense when I leave this place~ So perhaps I should enjoy the nonsense while it last...Got my MacBook Pro delivered to the office on Friday. Started it up the very night. Fantastic piece of hardware. Fantastic screen. Have absolutely no idea how to do simple stuffs like

WhiteDuskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12710629633094109728noreply@blogger.com1