My new year's resolution 2008

1. Enlightenment, Wisdom & Ego-less.

2. Good Health.

3. Child.

4. Mulist & BakinCow dream to reality.

5. Good relationship with love ones, family & friends.

childhood memories

dont ask me why.. but i can only remember things from ten years old onwards.. anything before is a blank! perhaps something serious or major happened to me.. perhaps not.. ;P

but i do remember 3 key things when i was ten. ;-)

1. Ng Su San. She was a classmate from another class. She's a sweet and kind hearted gal. I liked her sunshine smile and her soft, warmth & friendly voice. Over the span of 25 over years we have contacted & lost contact many times over.. But this time we really lost contact.. somehow i couldnt reach her using her mobile no, home and all.. btw, she's married with 2 pretty & handsome kids (one gal & one boy). Also, we once make a pact to stay in touch till we grow old & die.. i miss my friend and wish we will meet again one day.

2. 'Ah Suay' aka small bro. i remember when i was ten, i had an enemy (cant remember why - just cant see eye to eye i guess).. we fought or almost.. coz my small bro would come with flying kicks and beat him off.. so i didnt need to raise a fist! ;-) He was my saviour. My hero! We lost contact when we went to secondary school.. however, as we live in the same neighbourhood, we sometimes knock into each other, and we would chat for a while.. that's good enough for me since we have different lifestyle now. Then, i moved.. and then one day on a bus i met another old school gal.. she told me small bro met an accident in JB months ago.. her galfriend was the driver.. lost control and crashed. He died in that accident. Makes me realised that life is so fragile. Must treasure life indeed! His death motivated me to live a fulfilling life.

3. Programming. When i was ten, my elder bro bought the world first 1k RAM computer with the screen using the TV.. that's how old.. He was using basic language and hit a bug which he couldnt resolve. i, a little ten years old boy, sitting there, never touch a computer before, was watching my elder bro trying to solve the bug in vain. Then, i called out to him "Brother, your line xx is incorrect.." The last thing i remember is my brother scolding me! ;-( He must be jealous - for a ten years old to tell him, a sixteen years old, how to do programming.. In the end, he did what i pointed out to him and it worked!! That was a defining moment for me - coz since then i aimed to be a software guru when i grow up. Well,.. i waited for 17 years before i actually held the title of programmer! But that programmer lifespan was short lived.. i was top in class when it comes to programming.. the sad thing is that as a hobby it was fun.. not so when it's your job. no more fun. stressful instead. and my eyes hurt when i stared on the screen too long.. still, no regrets.. my interest shifted into business. now i can leverage on IT knowledge to grow the biz.

Good service: it's all in the attitude

Was reading the Today newspaper 24 Dec 2007 and found the article on Good Service interesting..

Here're the key points:

1. We do not eat somewhere just because service is good but we may avoid a restaurant if the service is bad.

2. Good service is about knowledge and care-based. While we dont expect every service staff to know all products and in depth, we do expect certain level of assistance.. the extent of that knowledge can make or break the customers' experience.

3. Care is an attitude to a customer. It can be explained but cannot be trained. Corporate culture may play a role in customer care attitude but it's still up to the individual to exhibit that passion in serving..

4. You will know good service when you see it.. but you will definitely know when you dont.. ;-)

Christmas gifts

i dont really celebrate Christmas but it seems to be more of a tradition to buy gifts for some of my closest friends.. i still send Christmas cards though eGreeting cards are so common and cheap (free!) these days..

Still, i'm happy to buy gifts for people whom i think will appreciate them.. i dont buy for the sake of buying though some times u cant avoid it.. i enjoy most in buying gifts that he or she has been looking for it.. actually i like to give surprises.. ;-)

Strawberry Jelly Tofu Cheesecake

Have you tried Strawberry Jelly Cheesecake before? If yes, you may like to try the Tofu Cheesecake version. It's less 'filling' and you will definitely like to eat a few more pieces.. If no, you wont wanna miss this tasty cake.. Kids love it.. Adults too.. ;-)

BakinCow is devoted to creating more healthier and interesting 'home-made home-bake' cakes. Lots of love and care have been put in for each cake so that every mouthful has significant contribution to your favorable taste buds experience..

Dont believe me? A kid ever told me that just by looking at the pictures already cause him to salivate.. ;P

Apart from cheesecake, BakinCow also make American Carrot cakes.

How to Improve Search Engine Ranking

4-step approach:

Step 1 - Find keywords that are not too competitive
Step 2 - Subdivide keywords into theme groups
Step 3 - Create website with good content and theme-focused linking
Step 4 - Gather inbound links to your theme pages

That really is the extent of it, and it really does work. When you set out to improve search engine ranking, the most important thing is that you get started. Plan your strategy according to the four steps we discussed here, but then get started. It takes a bit of time before the search engines index your site, but when they do you'll be delighted with the steady flow of free traffic to your website.

Article Source: http://www.ArticlesAlley.com/

Happy Birthday Miko!

This is really me talking to u.. ;P

8 different types of personalities

The art of persuasion and selling.. extracted from Nido Qubein article.

1. The Baulkers. Indecisive people. Cant make up their mind. Takes lots of patience to deal with such people. Squeezed, you will be forced to ask "What would keep you from signing the agreement letter today?"

2. The Talkers. Control and pull them back by asking questions to which they can answer Yes or No.

3. The Clams. Keep the conversation with questions to make them talk. Ask for advice or for their opinions.

4. The Sceptics. With cynics, use lots of raw data. Show proof statements and documentation. Keep getting agreements as u go along.

5. The Sarcastic Souls. Sometimes they are hard to take, but keep yr cool. Find out what's behind those sarcasms. Just laugh them off..

6. The Egotists. Resist temptation to tell them off. Feed their egos by asking their opinions and giving them compliments. Win them over by giving in on all minor issues.

7. The Bullies. They get their way by acting tough. Be nice but stand firm your ground. Dont run. Dont fight. Just stand.

8. The Timid Ones. Take it nice. Dont rush them. Concentrate on building their confidence.

Final words: Clients always do things for their own reasons - not yours. U need to give your client a strong benefit for acting promptly. Dont simply give discounts to get yr client to sign on. On contrary, yr client may think otherwise regarding yr abilities to deliver.. So, be professional and focus on fulfilling yr client needs, yr client's key benefit for buying immediately.

Lastly, someone said "Show people what they want most, and they will move heaven and earth to get it."

a new beginning..

i felt born again.. am tired but content, at ease, at peace. a recent report says that Singaporean lives till around 70 years old on average. guess i've lived half my life aledi.. must make full use of my remaining half to do good and achieve happiness. Buddha happiness. ;-)

Heroes

I'm now addicted to the TV series Heroes.. started renting from my nearby DVD store.. The show really brings me back to my childhood imagination where ordinary folks acquired superpower.. and save the world! ;-)

The cast were great and i liked the fact that different races, cultures and places were featured. A true reflection of present times.

One very big downside though is that it keeps repeating the earlier parts of the show in the beginning of each episode.. and it's quite long.. and thus rather irritating to wait or have to fast forward it.. Am i paying for that and the show is shortened due to that? Mmm.. i think that would not be wise of them..

Anyway, cant wait to rent the 3rd DVD.. ;-)

Is this magic?

This is really interesting! Must try! ;-)

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/games/magic-gopher-central.swf

money, greed & good

i cant help but feeling a little down after talking to friends about the future.. everyone is busy creating a future which they think will make them happy. most talk about financial freedom, early retirement,.. most schemes required the participation of more friends to join in order to make you rich.. and i can see the changes in people after they embarked on this wealth journey..

must say that not all are bad.. though majority are still driven by greed.. worst, usually they think their way is the only way and expect u to follow them.. and their attitude change if u think otherwise..

i had to remind myself too. not to be stuck into this whirlpool. happiness is not about money. it's about contentment, love and passion. but money is good if u know how to use it wisely. and earn it wisely too.

i shall keep Buddha's words at heart while i walk the unchartered waters..

At the Museum - really funny!

BakinCow packaging..

we finally firmed up the packaging.. guess most of it was her idea.. yup,.. she is talented. i agree. i love her the way she is.. ;-)

Interesting talk..

this morning after accompanying my wife for her first time ever, 4 cakes deliveries in one day feat, we drove to Changi village for lunch. heard that one stall selling Nasi Lemak at the market is good.. true enough a long queue was there.. then there was this 60 yrs old man queuing in front of me started to chat with me.. he was friendly and we spoke about which Nasi Lemak stalls were good, then he shared that it was her daughter's good fren wedding at the hotel nearby.. then i shared that my wife just started her part-time baking biz.. and we talked about live, work and family.. all in all we spoke for 20 mins i think.. ;-)

When we reached our turn to place order, we bid farewell.. he even wished me all the best to fulfilling my dreams including my wife.. i wished him well too! ;-)

It was a very interesting conversation. i enjoyed it very much especially it was a nice stranger.. i sincerely wish him good health, happiness and quietly i wished i would meet this uncle again.. ;P

Tofu Cheesecake (topped with Blueberries)

This is really delicious and 'healthy' some more! coz over more 60% is made of real tofu.. of course there's still real cheese used.. but i dont feel 'full' eating them.. tats wat one of our client said too.. Dont believe? order one and make believe! ;P

Lastly, not forgetting the blueberries toppings.. it totally complete the experience! i was never a cake lover.. but now i know what is good quality cakes are made of.. and taste like.. heehee.. thanks to my beloved wife.. I wish her all the best in your foodie adventure! Blessings.. ;-)

Option trading for u?

Freely Option Trading News

happy days!

today, we are all very happy! why? coz since we launched our online baking biz on 1 Nov 2007, we've received over 21 orders! And some are from folks we dont know.. they surf, found us and ordered from us!

Really glad that people like our cakes.. especially it's baked with love and care by my beloved wife. ;-)

To be frank, this is the best days of our lives! never felt so fulfilling in my life.. though we're not rich.. not yet.. but i'm contented. Let me have the spirit, wisdom & perseverance to carry on the good works/deeds as we build a better future for ourselves and for our friends as well. Blessings.

Toilet signs

our building's toilet had just been renovated.. and i happened to notice the toilet sign on the door.. the Men's toilet sign is a Leaf.. and that makes me wonder what women's one would be like.. Either a flower or thorns? Well, most guess it rite - it's a flower..

nevertheless, i'm still puzzled why men is represented by a leaf.. ;-)

Makan Kaki

These are my makan kaki.. Lucky me? Maybe yes. Maybe not.. heehee.. ;P

But they are definitely unpretentious, sincere & caring people. I like people who are genuine. ;-)

Focus, Passion & Wisdom

For over 15 years, i've two key guiding principles for progressing in life. Today, after much consideration, i've decided to add another key principle. It's Wisdom.

So, now i've three principles of life - Focus, Passion & Wisdom.

ps. will share more in the future..

3 H of life

i asked a successful individual today his secret of success. He gave me 3 H.

It stands for Hardwork, Humanity and Heart, a good heart that is.

Good for thoughts.

Noble House

About winning..

Many people thought that i like to win. But they were wrong. Maybe they were right abt me when i was in my 20's.. These days, i just like to enjoy the game. I still play 'serious' coz i like to challenge my mind.

So, in a nutshell, i dont like to win. But i like a good game! ;-)

Count your blessings..

If having good thoughts each day is not good enough, perhaps you wanna try to count your blessings.. It always make me feel happy and peaceful to know that each day i'm blessed in some ways..

Not to worry if you cant think of any blessing today. Dont force it. Just be yourself. Just follow the flow. It will come naturally.

Blessings!

These 4 thoughts a day keeps the mind happy always

i learned that if i practise these 4 thoughts on a daily basis, i achieved greater peace of mind and kept me centred throughout the day. So, i'm writing it here to remind myself of this important discovery..

1. Gratitude. Be thankful. Have a great sense of appreciation towards nature and your being at the present moment. Be grateful that we still have breathe and alive. Realise that we are considered much better than many others. Think about incidents which gives you a sense of gratitude. Recall them and also find opportunities to repay your gratitude. One kindness leads to another.

2. Loving. Be loving to your love ones. Focus on building relationships. Know that it takes years to build good relationship but only matters of seconds to lose one. So be sensitive to the needs of others. Think about your spouse or family members and how you can make a difference in their lives.

3. Caring. Like loving, we need to take action to show our care and concern for our love ones, friends and Nature. Have deep thoughts of those you truly care about, and ask yourself what you can do to demonstrate just that.

4. Humble. Let go of your ego. Let go of your pride. Like what people say - Pride is the downfall of mankind. That is true. Humbleness is the true resting place of peace. Think of those times you are truly humble. You will surely feel a sense of calmness & peace.

Think these 4 thoughts on a daily basis and i'm sure we all will have a happier, more peaceful day! ;-)

In contrast, what drives people these days?! - greed, ego & pride!

Human Tetris

American Carrot Cake - NEW! Party size!!

Past few weeks have been exciting! I helped my wife surf around, drive around, hunting baking stuff and ideas.. Finally, she launched her BakinCow website just.. and now rolling out a new product for Party makan version!! i'm impressed with her energy and creativity!! ;-)

Running may not be better than walking..

Which is better - running or brisk walking?

Research shows that while running burns more calories and boost your heart, it is not as effective in keeping you healthy (fall sick less), reducing tension & stress and improving your back as brisk walking.

A 3-hour brisk walking per week is as effective as 90 mins of running!

Mmm.. now have to find that 3 hours.. ;-)

a little gift.. but a touching one.. ;-)

one more colleague left.. but she left me a gift.. i was touched.. it's a little cute 'boy' tat if u water its head and gives some sunshine it will grow grass!! however, after a couple of days of caring, it grew only a few grass or 'hair'. ha ha.. i hope i dont end up like tat when i grew old.. ;-)

cow

Dont know why i'm beginning to like cow these days.. ;P

Cute ones, tat is..

at peace..

i realised i'm more at peace with myself and with nature these days.. i feel i just want to do things i like to do and be with my love ones - tat includes my frens..

i enjoy a good book.. a good coffee.. a good conversation.. a good movie.. a good laugh.. i even enjoy lying down - just resting! doing nothing.. thought of doing programming as a hobby once more! ;-)

peace and calm shouldnt be taken for granted. it takes years to appreciate.. to understand..

now, i hope to continue this appreciation.. this journey.. for a fulfilling life. ;-)

Softer and Yummy Porridge

how to cook softer and yummy porridge?

1. Wash rice as per normal e.g. once or twice will do

2. Drain rice

3. Add sesame oil (eg. 2 teaspoons for four persons shares) & mix well

4. Leave it to rest for half hour

5. Add water and bring to boil.. continue to cook porridge as usual..

How to have a happy work life?

Are u happy at work? Do u complaint about your management, colleagues or work itself? Do you find that your boss is a tyrant , a weakling or even a fool? Do u feel frustrated at work?

Sometimes u wonder if u will ever find an ideal workplace.. and a good, understanding and knowledgeable boss. But after working for more than a couple of companies later, you probably have lost hope.

Is the situation really that bad? Perhaps not so bad.. if only u made an effort to change something..

I will share an approach that might work for u.. it works for me though.. But before i begin, i must say that it only works for people who are proactive. Passive ones need a different antidote. U need to take action to make improvements.

1. Acknowledge your present situation. You must cross the first hurdle by accepting your current situation no matter how bad it is. Dont let your pride get the better of you. Face it squarely as if you are laying down all your cards on the table - list down all those things you dont like. Examine them.

2. Understand work life. Understand life. Recognise that there are few workplace that's ideal. Most people will live thru their lives working in places they dont like - either they hate the job, the boss or their colleagues.. Identify those things you can change. And those you cant change. Be honest with yourself.

3. Learning and growth is the key. If looking for the ideal workplace is almost impossible or requires lots of luck, what should i do? Well, u can first start by changing your mindset. Change your focus to Learning & Growth instead! This focus serves to add value to yourself and your self worth. It divert your attention to worthwhile matters. By means of learning, i really mean improving your knowledge in your work matters. By means of growth, i mean personal development - soft skills such as communication and project/time management. It can also include characters such as being helpful, caring and compassionate. Spiritual aspect may be looked into as well. Once you have gained value, you wont be afraid of loosing your job, moving on to your next job or even start your own business. Treat every bad situation a learning opportunity. U will move on with life anyway.. so, learn from it and move on..

4. Review your situation. Now that you know your new focus - new mindset, you need to relook at those stuff you placed on the table in step 1 and 2.. By now, you would probably have better insights to which you can do to effect change and which you cant. And what you need to do to enhance your learning & growth.

5. Take action now! Ask yourself everyday what you've done today that is keeping you a step forward towards your goal(s). That should be a good check point. A little step each day is a giant step in a year! Good luck! ;-)

How To Kiss Creatively

VideoJug: How To Kiss Creatively

How To Fold A T-Shirt In 2 Seconds - Explained

This is interesting but will i ever use it?.. maybe not.. ;P



VideoJug: How To Fold A T-Shirt In 2 Seconds - Explained

card for my wife..

this is a 6-sec recordable card for my wife wishing for yr speedy recovery.. dont wanna reveal wat mushy words i said here.. ha ha..

fish & minced pork porridge

today, i tried my hands on porridge again.. after years in 'retirement'.. heehee.. my wife said that it was delicious!! ;-)

i guess using fish stock really helps.. and not forgetting all the other wonderful ingredients added..

cake decoration

my beloved went for cake decor class.. really think she has talent in baking.. ;-)

will support her all the way! cheers!

Tunnels by Roderick Gordon & Brain Williams

Newspaper wrote that Roderick Gordon & Brain Williams will be the next J K Rowling of Harry Potter. Mmm.. interesting.. not sure if i got time to read their book.. titled Tunnels.

What's interesting is that both guys are already in their late 40's.. and even more interesting is that Roderick Gordon started writing after he lost his investment banker job in 2001.. He's a father of two too.. Together, with his good friend Brain Williams they started writing children books.. i wish them luck! Blessings.. ;-)

Their story really inspire me to work hard to realise my dreams.. never give up! ;-)

ginger, ginger

some friends know i like to cook. not really bakery. but cook chinese food with the wok. dishes like fried rice, bee hoon, steam fish, stew,..

Mmm, today i chanced upon an article that shared more abt the ginger.. wanna capture it here before i forget..

Difference between old, mature ginger and young ginger. And when to use them?
Answer: To use young or old ginger depends on your taste. Old, mature ginger has a throat-filling heat and more pungency. Young ginger is light and has subtle lemony warmth which is not lasting in favor. Mature ginger more suited for longer cooking dishes such as slow braises or cakes. Young ginger more suited for brief cooking such as pickles, dips, dressings and salads.

surgery, recovery, love and life..

my wife just went for a surgery on Wednesday.. the surgery was successful and now she's recovering at home.. the whole process has made us realised that life can be really short and that we should treasure our love ones more earnestly while we can..

Rules for acquiring business

ref: HBR Sep 2007


5 rules to follow when acquiring companies..

1. Stick to Adjacent Spaces. Dont buy businesses just because it's profitable today. Buy when it extend and/or build on what your business is already offering. Seek synergy rather than mindless diversity.

2. Bet on Portfolio Performance. Measure and manage from portfolio perspective. Meaning, dont make just a few big bets. Manage sizeable deals with sufficient calculated risk. Remember, no one is perfect. So no deals are perfect. Bad things happen. So hedge against it with proper portfolio management.

3. Get a Business Sponsor. Never let the staff drive the acquisition. You need someone with muscle with the conviction to see thru the whole acquisition. Sponsor is accountable for the success and provide regular progress report.

4. Clarity on how acquisition should be judged. Not all acquisitions are the same. Each acquisition served an unique purpose. Therefore, should be careful not to compare it against with the incorrect types. Still, there should be performance indicators to track the progress and outcome.

5. Dont shop when hungry. When you're hungry, your judgment will be blurred. Mistakes will be made easily. When you are not desperate, you will have clarity and be able to make better judgment.

Make acquisition because of Strategy; and not for attractive or popular deals.

Test your IQ - the light bulb quiz

Wanna test your IQ? Here's one.

Imagine you live in a two-storey house with the 3 light switches on level one and its corresponding 3 light bulbs on level two of the house.

So, if you are given only one chance to go up stair to checkout the 3 light bulbs and to determine which switch control which light bulb, how do you go about doing it?


This is no trick question. It can really be solved. ;-)

grandma birthday

Today is my wife's grandma birthday. Everyone was there. It was a very happy occasion.. at least for me! I feel happy somehow.. just watching them. the kids. the adults. just watching their interactions.. ;-)

881 song

Master the art of Negotiation

It's a fact of life.. u need to negotiate some times in life.. In fact, i negotiate a lot more - in retrospect. Be it a real deal, or just getting what u want, it applies to project mgmt, daily life matters - with yr wife & kids, or just dealing with your colleagues & friends.. u need to learn abt the art of negotiation.

Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazerman wrote a wonderful article in HBR Sep 2007 on just that - Investigative Negotiation! Search for their book too.. though i've not read it, i believe it must be a good one considering this article's merit.

There're just 5 simple principles to go by:

Principle 1: Dont just talk about what he or she wants. Find out why? This is easy but many just forget to do it.

Principle 2: Seek to understand and help reduce his constraints. As you have constraints to work with, so do them. Attempt to discover their constraints and help overcome them.

Principle 3: See demand as opportunities. Every time they object or decline, see it as opportunity to find out more or request for more info - there may be hidden treasure to be uncover.

Principle 4: Build common ground. Different people have different goals though it may at first seems that they are heading the same direction. Very often their goals are slightly different than yours and therefore may not have any conflict of interests with yours. Instead of fighting, you can turn them into strength or friend to work towards a common goal, such as sharing resources.

Principle 5: Continue to investigate even if you think u lost the deal. There're always lessons to be learned in any deal - even u have lost it. Ask them why you lost it. Find out why. Sometimes the answers surprise you. You may even be able to turn it around. So dont loose heart.

Be investigative. Dont assume anything! coz assume means Making an Ass out of U and Me (Ass-U-Me). Get it?! ;-)

frens and kids..

cartoon drawing..

nice packaging

i have always like to look at design packaging.. it's part of the overall branding.. i think Ya Kun has done well over the years..

grandfather & grandchild

went to Bottle Tree for dinner to celebrate Mother's birthday.. little Kevin prepared rose for her .. ;-)

And his granddad more than happy to carry him for that delivery.. heehee..

I Miss You (live) By Blink 182

Blink 182-I miss you

13-year Old Silicon Valley CEO of Elementeo

i like to teach..

today i had my first opportunity to lecture at a local university.. it was fun! and i think i really like to teach.. it was a wonderful experience! ;-)

will really do teaching as full or part-time when i semi-retire or retire.. Mmm.. maybe i can lecture part-time while working full-time..


it's the feeling of being able to help someone learn and seeing their enlightened face that makes it feel rewarding.

and i'm beginning to like public speaking.. it's stressful and challenging.. but i believe practise makes perfection. just do more speeches lor...

are u tired?

sometimes i feel i need a break. not the normal kind of break. not a short vacation. not just a simple break.

more like a sabbatical. those we often hear from the west. but how can we just let go. with all the burdens on our shoulders. but i do feel tired. i need a recharge. i'm not totally out yet. my system is still functioning well.

thanks to Buddhism. i know my limits better. i know when to stop. i know where my ego, pride and arrogance should ends. and it had ended sooner than i thought.

guess i just needed a little break. perhaps. perhaps not. is it within my control? maybe. but i know i just cant walk away. i have my responsibilities. i believe there's a way out. if i try harder. if i think harder.

things have been looking well for me for the past few months. and i believe the future few months. but i know beyond, there will be uncertainty. i am not afraid. instead i am preparing for it. and i will be ready. for whatever that comes. i have built a few scenarios. a few options and routes to take. my wife is with me. the wind is with me. i shall take this journey. ultimately, it's a happiness journey. not wealth. not status. just happiness.

am i tired? yes, i am. i shall take a short break.. and meditate. then i will continue..

mooncake cheesecakes!

have u ever gotten drunk eating mooncake?

Not when it's a mooncake cheesecakes with Whiskey! ;-)

Yup, my wife's creation! though i prefer her second batch without the alocohol.. just tasting the cheese with the not-too-sweet snow skin.. perfect!

my new Vios

last Saturday i finally got my new car.. the New Vios.. medium sliver color..

i like it very much.. even though someone said it looked like a frog.. ha ha.. ;-)

However, i will miss my picanto.. so easy to park.. so mini & cool... tis new Toyota should last me a long time.. or until i win 4-D!! heehee..

i want to be an illusionist

just watched The Illusionist in the comfort of my home. It's a wonderful movie. Illusionist combined the knowledge of psychology, science, technology and more in order to create the effects he desires..

i've learned something from this movie.. but first, i must learn to be present, alert and healthy.. ;-)

Way Back Into Love (full version)

i just watched the DVD of this movie and loved a couple of the songs.. and then i chanced upon one of my favouite song on my fren's blog.. ;-)

Here u go...




(Drew Barrymore)
I've been living with a shadow overhead,
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed,
I've been lonely for so long,
Trapped in the past,
I just can't seem to move on!

(Hugh Grant)
I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away,
Just in case I ever need them again someday,
I've been setting aside time,
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind!

[Chorus]
(Both)
All I want to do is find a way back into love.
I can't make it through without a way back into love.
Oooooh.

(Drew Barrymore)
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine,
I've been searching but i just don't see the signs,
I know that it's out there,
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere!

(Hugh Grant)
I've been looking for someone to shed some light,
Not somebody just to get me through the night,
I could use some direction,
And I'm open to your suggestions.

[Chorus]
(Both)
All I want to do is find a way back into love.
I can't make it through without a way back into love.
And if I open my heart again,
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end!
Oooooooh, Ooooooh, Ooooooh.

(Drew Barrymore)
There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

[Chorus]
(Both)
All I want to do is find a way back into love,
I can't make it through without a way back into love,
And if I open my heart to you,
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do,
And if you help me to start again,
You know that I'll be there for you in the end!
Oooooooh. Oooooooh. Ooooooooh. Oooooooh. Ooooooh Ooooooooh. Ooooooooh.

happy note

mmm.. recently i found this note in my 'Managing with a Heart' book..

It brings a smile on my face.. coz such a big thank you mah..

But why call me uncle? ;-(

Heehee.. but i never looked like one.. at least not now! ;-)

wat a jab!

My dearest went for a blood test.. and ended up with a big bruise! ;-(

Really dont understand.. just take some blood also can turn into such a bruise..

Does drawing blood can really cause such bad bruise? or the doctor is simply lousy?

drowning but learned to swim..

i was walking..

and then i saw this man wearing a t-shirt with the words

"I was drowning in sorrows but they learned to swim."

i think it's really interesting.. and motivating as well..

strawberry cheesecake

my beloved wife did it again! this time it's strawberry cheesecake!! ;-)

my only contribution... cutting the strawberries & kiwis as topping..

i didnt realise that kiwi with yellow flesh is sweet! green ones can be sour..

This morning we just signed up as member of Play! Well,.. it's a DVD rental kiosk.. Had wanted to do tat long time ago.. and now finally signed up for some good 'old' movies.. ;-)

The first movie we rented was Music & Lyrics.. to be frank, i'm not a big fan of Hugh Grant. but i like Drew Barrymore! ;P

somehow i feel for this movie.. as i'm from the 80's era and into composing as well.. those songs and feel really brings me back in time.. hey, it's not easy to write songs u know! inspiration dont come just like tat..

health & cholesterol

As always, after knowing from my recent blood test that my cholesterol level is on the high side.. i felt the importance of good health.. Hope this time it rings into my head and to take concrete actions and tons of discipline in my diet and physical exercise plans..

It makes me realise that nothing beats having a healthy body. With a healthy body, i would be able to do more and be more alert that aids my thinking power.. thus, seems more smart ya.. ;P

Well,.. i take it as a good reminder to stay fit and to take actions to improve my cholesterol level.. ;-)

books

Books, books and more books.. i never really like reading till i was 24 yrs old! i was amazed by the no of books i have read since then.. though i still wish i could read more..

Reading has become more of a pleasure these days. Whenever i learned something from reading those books, i feel very happy, experience growth and gained knowledge.

i still like to read management, personal improvement, buddhism, cooking and photography books. Rotating among those topics provides balance.

i wish i could continue reading.. forever.. ;-)

egg timer

while shopping at Taka, my wife found this egg-timer very interesting.. it helps to make 'perfect' hard-boiled and half-boiled eggs..

from the picture, you can see the egg-timer indicator showing medium cooked eggs..

another great innovation! it's patented technology ya..

perceptions and acceptance

The key to inner peace and building good relationships
with others is to accept that everyone has their
own way of looking at life.

extracted from The Straits Times pg C26.

The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford

This is an interesting read. Similar to the Freakonomics book i read some time back. These days new generation of economists are getting more humourous and got style! ;-)

But what really caught my full attention was the last page of the Undercover Economist.. or in fact the last sentence - "Economics is about.. choice." page 255.

That is so 'Life'!

That is so 'Real'! ;-)

giving your best

You give your best
not because you need
to impress people.

You give your best because
that's the only way
to enjoy your work.

from Happiness in a Nutshell by Andrew Matthews page 58

wan tan mee at Yishun Ring

this little stall is in a coffee shop beside block 257 Yishun Ring Road.. dont think it's famous.. perhaps not just yet.. but it's Wan Tan Mee is really good, if not great! ;-)

The noodle is just rite.. 'Q-Q'.. plus the sauce is just the right amount.. quality is consistent coz i live nearby mah.. and each time i taste it, it's the same goodness!

And lastly and most importantly, only $2. Really worth it!!