A very good morning!

It's wonderful to have great neighbours. They are a couple (probably one generation ahead) living just next door. Their grown up kid has married and moved out. ;-)

Happened to meet them at a nearby coffeeshop when we were looking for breakfast. They even offer to pay for our meal! So we sat together for breakfast and had a wonderful conversation talking about anything under the sky. Well.. we may be a generation apart but our conversation was fantastic!

Indeed a great way to start my day! ;-)

Hoiio - should review its policy or service delivery

Another disappointing local business in recent days though i met one good optical shop..

This time is Hoiio. When i tried to use the Hoiio iPhone app, it gives me error. I emailed their Support and she called to tell me my account has expired after 6 months of inactivity. I read the Terms from the website (which i'm not sure if it's this way when i register the early days) and it does state the expiry period. And it also states it will inform the customer 7 days before expiry via email. The funny thing is that the Support said i didn't give them my email address during registration. So they cant inform me. I think that's a silly excuse! They could have called or SMS me! considering they are providing such comms services some more!! Instead, they just 'eat up' my money!! Though the amount is small it is unacceptable behavior.

When i told her it's not acceptable, she insisted it's the Terms. I think the management should think thru how they should deliver their service then enforcing their legal rights. It doesnt cost much to inform the customer OR add the self alert feature in the app!! Instead of keeping a customer, now they lost one paying one.

Vision Image - a good optical shop!

Many years ago i had problem finding a good optical shop who provides good specs range & service. Then a few years ago a friend recommended Vision Image at Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 Blk 709 Singapore, a walking distance from AMK Hub. Since then i've been using Vision Image service and am a happy customer.

Just to make my case, i've not bought any specs from them for the past few years. But i've been there to change my spec's nose pad and most recently, to change & tighten my frameless specs lens to bridge. And all FOC!! What more can i say..

Oh.. yes, one more good thing, or the most important thing! I used to have problem with new specs as it's either the visual is not comfortable or the specs doesnt sit very well.. But since i used Vision Image, i dont face such problems at all. Perhaps the Optometrist really know how to accurately measure my sight degree and how to adjust my specs to fit me nicely! ;-)

Impressive advs - raised the bar on online advert

“And Then There Was Salsa” from Frito Lay Dips on Vimeo.

Important: You MUST WATCH IT AT THE ACTUAL WEBSITE TO SEE THE EFFECTS. Watching this embedded video here you won't see the special effects!

Just click here to view it at the actual website

HotelRe - a rather disappointed weekend stay

The website looks cool and its offer attractive. But the email booking experience, even before the actual journey begins, was already a let down. Why? Coz when we made our booking, the reservation manager confirmed the wrong date and reassured us that the package included dinner. Then on the day we checked in, the reception said it's not part of the package. Subsequently, the reservation staff called us to reaffirm the dinner's not included. When we insisted the promise with proof of the email, she said she will call back, which she didn't.. even till we checked out and having to pay for our dinner.. Thru-out the whole incident, no manager engaged us.. and that's disappointing. ;-(

Overall Hotel design: Very good and inspiring.

Overall service staff: Average. But poor for the reservation manager. Dont bother to ask them questions. They dont seem to understand English or you.. This seems to be a problem in many local places.

Environment: Quiet. Peaceful. Suits me well.

Hotel Room: Nice, comfortable.

Re!Wine: Enjoyed our few hours of happy hour there. Well ambience. Ok waitress.

Re!Fill: Dinner food was so-so. Staff so-so. Wished the set dinner is also available in weekends.. so i can try their Nonya flair.. Breakfast buffet was so-so. The pricing is reasonable though.

Re!Fresh: This is less than satisfactory too. Spa? More like a two-bed massage parlor using Chinese technique. Didnt work for my wife and me..

Will i go back again? Probably will not stay overnite and forget abt the massage.. but may drop by for dinner followed by a drink.

Holding two opposing thoughts at the same time

Author F. Scott Fitzgerald once said,

"The test of a first-rate intelligence

is the ability to hold two opposed ideas

in the mind at the same time,

and still retain the ability to function."

new Canon 550D camera

Sample video from the new Canon EOS 550D from James Miller on Vimeo.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Interesting Greek Gods movie in modern settings.. similar to Harry Potter adventures formula though of a more adult or teens version.. i wouldn't say it's very good but good enough for an enjoyable time at the cinema.

Cat Breeds

7 Characteristics of Human Revolution

Extracted from Soka's Creative Life issue 8, 2009.

Andrew Matthews video

Sherlock Holmes movie - simply wonderful!

Sherlock Holmes brings me back to my childhood dreaming days.. and this movie added extra goodies, such as showing his thinking process b4 real execution, which is a wonderful surprise! ;-)

official site: click here.

youtube trailer: click here.

Yummy Ribs

Having the Edge

Yesterday, today, tomorrow

Yesterday came,

today has come,

tomorrow is coming.

Know your priority today! ;P

Who's this boy? ;P

Andrew Matthews new book - Happiness in Hard Times

i just found out that Andrew Matthews has released a new book titled Happiness in Hard Times.

Check it out.. i'm reading it right now.. ;-)

Therapeutic cooking

There's so much life lessons to learn from cooking.. no wonder i'm attracted to it..

The process of preparing & cooking is therapeutic.. but not so when it comes to washing the dishes.. ;P

Everything happens for a reason

'Everything happens for a reason' is a concept, not an absolute truth. But it's an excellent concept to embrace. It encourages you to look on the bright & positive side of things or life, and it's never harmful.

From another perspective, it depends on the context you are referring to. Looking thru the 'cause & effect' lens, then everything does happen for a reason, and the reason is clearly there's a cause and therefore an effect.

But if viewed from the individual life destiny, then i believe not everything happens for a reason. It is our interpretation of events and our responses to those events that shaped our own destiny. So, it's our own thoughts that give reasons to everything.

This is my understanding thus far.. and i think it's on the same track as Buddhism..

Who is in control?

Are we revolving around earth or earth is revolving around us?

Are we in control of our environment or the environment in control of us?