28 March 2006

I was thinking what did I do today...

Now I remembered, I went onboard at about 1pm n did not take my lunch. Until about 4.20pm, then I reached back on Clifford Pier. Quickly went back to office to finish something n went home at 6pm as usual.

Then received my wife's sms saying that she has terrible stomachache. So I got rush home to fetch our girl myself. Sometimes when I rains, I cannot reach home in time to fetch our girl but the bus driver is kind enough to wait for us whenever we are late. N so we did the same without complain when they were late to send our girl home. Unlike their lady boss, kept calling n complaining that we are late. Then when we are early, she never praise us.

At night at about 10.30pm, met Bren n X for a pool session. At 1am, the place have to close, so was forced to leave. Then went for supper until about 2am.

Quite tired but it was quite sometime since we last met up. X suggested a BBQ some day n so did my wife.

Installed a new software on my N3230 n can take funny photos. Below are some photos taken using the software.


27 March 2006 - Tired day

Yesterday went to PTP n sleep for 2 hours only. So today whole day very tired. Before I went to work at 12pm, I sent my bike for inspection at Sim Ming area. Failed the test the first time, then went to change tire for $96 n went back for retest. Passed but heart pain because spent money again. These 3 months spent a lot on motorbike. Next month roadtax n insurance expiring, got to pay another $300. My savings sucked dry again n again.

At 11am, everything settled, then went to Casio service centre to repair my wife's new Casio Exilim Z110. But seems like there's no problem when the girl tested the camera for me. I think it's my own mistake that I did not insert the cable fully into the camera, that's why the computer cannot detect the camera. Good news for today, as this is how I told my wife.

Reached office at 12pm, went to makan, went back office n work work work.

Then at night watched DVD, Jumanji 2.

Tired out...

26 March 2006 - Blood Drive

Today woke up at about 8am even though yesterday slept at about 4am. I don't normally sleep very long hours so usually wake up at 9am. But my wife is still sleeping, guess she tired out during the D&D.

At about 10.30am, we reached Woodlands CC for the blood drive. Supposed to reach at 8.45am but I already told our friend, T that we would be late since my wife's D&D ended late. Saw him n some familar faces n my wife joined in n helped out voluntarily. She is part of the commitee group n I am not. Both of us cannot join the same commitee if not no one will be taking care of our girl.

At about 12pm, I left the place n went to settle some unfinished matters of yesterday n went to Sim Lim Square to buy a 1GB SD card for my wife new camera. It costs $54 for 1GB n $30+ for a 512MB. Last time, I bought a 128MB SD card at $20+, now it's so cheap so I just had to get the 1GB for future proof. Bought the Transcend which has only 1 year warranty n tested it on the spot. Photo taking is ok, then when I tested the video recording mode, something was wrong when playback. So I went back to ask n the salesperson took a Kingston SD card for me to test, it's working perfectly. Both costs the same but Kingston has lifetime warranty. You might ask, why not get Kingston in the first place since both costs the same n Kingston has lifetime warranty?
The reason is, Kingston although is a reputable brand for RAMs, but it does not mean it's good in flash memory n users are complaining Kingston SD or MMC are giving them problems. So I tried to avoid buying it n chose Transcend. By the way, lifetime warranty does not mean while the company is still alive, you are exchange for a new SD card whenever it's spoilt. Lifetime warranty means as long as this product is still in production, it's still under warranty but once it's end of production, no more warranty for it.

Finishes everything n reached back at Woodlands CC at about 3.15pm. Saw my wife sitting down by the stage n was told that she has a stomachache. So we requested to leave early n borrowed T's car to fetch my girl at Ang Mo Kio where my in-laws stay. Although his is an old car, it still feels good driving it. Any car is better than my Yamaha RX-Z.

Returned the car after using n wanted to give him $15 for the petrol I used. He refused to accept.

Then received first call from manager asking me to go onboard a barge called Premium, she is in Singapore bunkering. Then within 5 mins, he called again asking me to go PTP instead because another colleague of mine got no car this week (he traded in his Nissan Sunny for Nissan Latio). The time that I must reach there is about midnight but I have never go in in the night because I requested not to as it's dangerous riding bike where a stretch of road has got no lights at all. But I never deny orders, only obey them. Was thinking whether to borrow car from my colleague, Nick. But after discussing with him, realised it's too troublesome so gave up the idea. Told myself, just be extra careful, then nothing should happen.

Indeed everything was quite smooth except when I returned to Singapore, something happened...

I was stopped by a plain clothes police in Singapore custom n was told to dismount my bike. Then followed him to a place where I have to urinate for them to do testing. They wanted to test whether I was on drugs. After about 15 mins, I was cleared n freed to go. This has never happened to me n I wondered if it happened to my colleagues before.

Reached home at 3am n went to sleep...

25 March 2006

Today reaches Parkway Parade at about 9.15am after eating breakfast at the nearby hawker centre. Then I saw many people gathering near the centre of Parkway Parade looking down. Loud music n noise are heard from far, I was attracted to it too. Looking down, I saw a number of male models walking around rehearsing for some kind of Fashion Show. Then came some female models after the male models are done.




Poorly taken photos because I was at level 2 while they are at B1 n I used a camera phone with digital zoom. N I thought I was hardworking to work on a Saturday morning (even though it's not my working Saturday), but I guess this models were even hardworking since they already start rehearsing before I start work.

After work, I went to Flavin Lights at Balestier to buy the light cover for the dining light at $75. After explaining that why I only need the light cover n not the entire bundle which comes with the wire n the bulb, she gave a discount n a new light bulb worth $11. Nice lady n nice lights she got in her shop.

Then I went to manager's house to replace the old USB ADSL modem to a new ethernet ADSL modem because he recontracted his Singnet plan n got a free ADSL modem. Nowadays, free modems are common so everyone shoukl have at least one modem at home n I got 2. After that, installed a free DVD player software in the computer n all done. Left the place n headed to next destination. my friend's house.

Since my friend's house is just nearby, so I messaged him before I went over to tell him the estimated time I will be there. But he did not reply. Then when I was done with the computer, I called him. No answer! Called again, no answer again. No choice but to make my way there first. Reached the place, parked my bike n called, still no answer. Messaged him to tell him I am downstair already n went to the coffeeshop to wait. After about 10 mins, he called back. He was sleeping lah. Wah piang, already told him estimated what time reaching, he still sleep? While waiting for him, a malay girl approaches me for donation to some kind of organisation for $5. I always have a weakness to reject them because it's for charity, so gave her the last $5 in my wallet. Have not had lunch, so no choice but to ask my friend to treat me. So pai seh...
Gossip a bit n talked about my work, then he said he got to go because meeting another friend.

Before I proceeded to the next destination, went to the temple to pray asking for blessing n peace. Recently, my wife complained that she cannot sleep well n suspected that something is wondering the house as she feels uneasy. Next destination, 四马路。

Reach
四马路to search for 大悲咒 audio cd. But too many audio cds until I do not know which to choose. In the end, did not buy. Wanted to go into the 四马路 temple to pray another time but realised no money for the donations. Went to search for atm n took quite a while to find it. After withdrawing money, I went to buy ice-cream but I need to relieve myself but got no coins in the pocket too. Quickly finish the ice-cream n went to look for toilet. Finally, I can go to the temple now. Sign...
After praying n took 3 tailsmans for protection.

Next destination is to Lim Ah Boy shop to buy some 2T lubricate for my motorbike. It's been raining n stopping the whole day but luckily the rain did not last long so I do not need to wear the raincoat.

By the time I finished with all the shopping, it's about 6pm. Time for dinner but I could find no one to join me for dinner. In the end, went home to rest n surf internet thinking there might be someone online n can chat with me. To my disappointment, all were offline. Waited till 11pm before joining Bren for supper. He came to fetch me in his father's Toyota Camry. First time sitting in his car because it's less than 6 months old n Bren do not usually use his father's car as he got a van to bring him around. I always wished to own a car or even van but too bad I cannot afford it. Used to co-own a Daihatsu 1000cc car but too problematic so scrapped it away after 1 years of use.

Returned home at about 12.30am n waited my wife to return home from her D&D. She told me ending at about 1am n someone will send her back. But I still need to wait for her in case she takes cab n no one send her to the door. When she returned home at about 3am, she was with a couple of friends as they needed to use the toilet. Chit chat a bit n left at about 3.45am. She won a Casio Exilim Z110 at the D&D n this was something she always wanted. I played with it for a while n went to sleep...

What a busy day!

24 March 2006

Today is my birthday but there's no celebration today as I had to go onboard at 4pm. Then came back on shore at about 9pm. Went to my in-law's house n fetch my wife. She brought our girl to my in-law's house n leave her over the weekend. I got the following things to do so got no choice but to send my girl away:
1. Go to the manager's house to service his computer
2. Go back office to do some paperworks even though it's not my working Saturday
3. Buy back the dining table lamp because I washed it n the whole thing soften down
4. Buy 2T for my motorbike
5. Meet a friend for lunch n talk
6. Then on Sunday, my wife needs to go for a blood drive organised by CDC

Busy right, but that's the way it is. Since I got the whole Saturday to myself, got to do many things. It is not very often that I get a chance to have a day off :)

23 March 2006

Today is a busy day n so will the rest of the week until next week. Heard that Boss is hiring more people to help up. At about 5.30pm, about 8 bunker clerk came in the office for a meeting suggested by Boss. Everyone was chatting away happily but when Boss came in, the tension build up. I heard the meeting ended around 7pm. luckily I was not called in to join the meeting. Every weekday at 6pm, I would rush home to fetch my wife at the sembawang mrt n then pillon her back to our house. Then at about 6.50pm, our girl's school school will reach downstair. It's become a routine n I got used to it.

But today, my wife did not come back to cook dinner, she has got a meeting at woodlands. There's a blood drive at woodlands CC n hopefully there are many people coming forward to donate blood. I donated my first blood on 27th Nov 2005 n I think I might be donating again. It's not painful but I am scared of needles. Hehe...

My girl was sad when she saw that most of her fishes died. She has caught 12 fishes during the recent excursion to fish farm. She was so happy n excited, n I bought a small fish tank n a filter for her fishes. But seems like my luck with fishes are quite bad, now it's only left with 4 fishes. She cried twice because she loss 8 fishes. Poor thing...

At about 12.15am, I met up with Bren, one of my best friend since secondary days. Know him n another guy. X, for more than 10 years. Time really flies. He passed me the roadtax for my bike n then passed me a paper bag with something inside. I have yet checked what's inside but I think it's a T-shirt because he said it's for me to wear when I exercise. It's a gift for my birthday, 24th March. Then we were discussing whether X will remember if it's my birthday. To me, it does not matters whether they remember my birthday or whether if they celebrate with me, importantly is that we are still best friends n stay healthy. Then once in a while, take leave n go out makan some nice food. Nowadays we do not meet often, maybe once every 2 - 3 months.

At 1.30pm, received call from bunker clerk to go onboard but something unpleasant happened n I do not wish to elaborate more. In the end, I did not go onboard. Came home within 10 mins when I reached Clifford Pier.

It's 3.15am n it's time to sleep...

22 March 2006

It was raining when I was going home at about 6pm. So got to put on my raincoat n rain shoes. Today is our 6th wedding aniversary n I actually forgotten it. My wife was waiting for me to send her flowers but I think she was rather disappointed n for the second time this year. I also did not send her flowers this valentine, not totally my fault because I did ordered the flowers online but the flowers were not delivered on time so I called to cancelled it. My wife knocks off at 6pm but when I called the florist, she said they will arrive at her office at about 7pm. Took in so many orders but cannot cope with all the orders. Never will I order from them again, will find a shop near to my wife's workplace next year as what I did every year. But early last year, she was still working at Bugis, so I know where to get the flowers. Since she changed job, I do not know where
to get the flowers. Will make it a point to search for the shop early next year.

Since today is our aniversary n I did not buy any presents (oops), I decide to bring her to eat something better (althought not very grand or special). We ate at Country Mana since this is the only restaurant in Sun Plaza other than a Chinese Restaurant. I ordered Teriyaki Chicken with Salmon, my wife ordered Mana Half Chicken n my girl ordered Fried Tender Chicken with Fries. N a bowl of Cream of Mushroom for a starter.




After that she ate a cup of Sundae ice-cream from McDonald before we went home because she fell down when I was playing hide n seek with her. So my wife "sayang" her by treating her ice-cream. Ice-cream is my girl's favourite food.

Today got a scolding from Boss. Not just me, but all 5 Checkers got the scoldings because business no good, so Boss thought we are not doing our job properly. N asked why we are not going out n spot checking the barges instead sitting down comfortably in our seat during office hour. If we do not need to do paper work, then we go out there n check anytime. Then Boss said got problems must tell, got suggestions must say. Heard from the old timer, every 6 months, he will sit down n complain business no good. Hopefully I will still be writing blog in next 6 months, then know if it's true that every 6 months will give a lecture.

Sleep at 12am because my wife n I watched DVD. Got so many DVDs but no time to watch. That's all for today.

21 March 2006

Today left office at 7.10pm and went to Clifford Pier to collect oil sample. Went to SGS lab, left the oil sample for testing n left the place. But the lab test technician so proud. Told him urgent before I left the place, he replied, "Don't tell me urgent, I got so many tests to do." Then I told him, "I must let you know it's urgent, if not you don't know n do it slowly." Then he replied but I can make up what he said n I quickly leave the place as he don't looked happy. As if he is doing the test for free, our company pays him $ one, ok!!! These people just think that we really needs his help and so don't give us face.

Anyway, I did not stay long because my mother came to our house to visit us. She even cooked dinner for us, then my wife can take a rest for the night. I know it is very tiring to cook almost every night after a long day's work. She looks so stress after work because her boss think highly of her n gave her important tasks to do alone. Do not need to talk much about her job as she has her own blog
here.

I told my wife will reach home by 9pm n indeed, I reached home at 8.50pm even after I went to nearby provision shop to buy eggs n toothpaste for my girl. Not forgetting my girl's blog is
here. My mother cooked steam fishes, egg n brocolli. Forgot to take pictures of these dishes. I guess I am still not used to using my phone n take pictures as I go. Last time when I was working in MINDEF, I cannot take camera phone, now that I changed job, no one can stop me from carrying camera phone n a thumbdrive in my pocket. It's so shiok to carry these gadgets around especially if you are a technie-savvy guy like myself. Nowadays I always bring my Blue Billionton BT doogle n my Red Lexar 256MB thumbdrive to work.

After dinner, chatted for a while with my mother. Been quite sometime since we last chatted, we always did not chatted so well because I used to be very naughty n hated to talk to her. I think kids are all like that n I can feel the stress when my girl do not want to talk to me. The last time when my mother came over, she heard me scolding my girl, then she told me to relax n teach her slowly, don't stress her. I guess when one gets older, they gets more mature in thinking. She used to be very strict with me too but now she asked me to teach my girl slowly n don't stress her. Then when I was young, I always don't talk or listen to her, now I wished time would turn back so that I can treat her better. Then when I was young, I also spent her money unwisely. If I had controlled n self-desciplined myself, she would had more than $xxxxx in savings. I used up most of her savings to buy motorcycle. It's a total waste of money, that's why now I only ride a Yamaha RX-Z n bought it with my own money from my best friend, Mr Loh.


At about 10pm, my mother went home alone. How I wished I got a car to drive her home but that's impossible within these few years unless...? Everytime I see her, she seems older n weaker. She also told me her leg is painful nowadays so she reduced her working days about 2 weeks ago. I wonder I have enough money to support her when she grows old.

Today wrote a lot, I guess this serves as a good memory for future reference. Will write even more in future. I think there's a lot of gammer mistakes here, so please pardon my language.

Motorola Phones

I just felt like recommending more phones now since I am still in the office at 6.15pm waiting for an order to go Clifford Pier to collect something n send it for testing. Since I have recommended 2 Nokia phones, I will now recommend 3 Motorola phones. I have ever owned a Motorola E398 but this is not what I am going to recommend because it's an old phone. But this E398 has changed my view about Motorola phones. Motorola phones used to be very non user-friendly for example V3688+



To show you what Motorola E398 looks like (Specifications)



And so the 3 Motorola phones I am going to recommend are

SLVR L7 (
Specifications)
This is a slim phone but camera is only vga.


RAZR V3i (Specifications)
This phone is an upgrade from V3, with 1.23MP camera n supports microSD card.


RAZR V3x (Specifications)
This is a nice 3G phone but it is not as slim as V3 or V3i. N the built is not as strong as V3 or V3i.



That's all for now. Maybe tomorrow will recommend Sony Ericsson phones. But I have not much research on Sony Ericsson phones. Hope you guys enjoyed my very short recommendations.

Nokia 3250

After you read this post, you might realised that I am actually a mobile phone lover. I love reading reviews of phones n then discuss about them online. Some friends even asked for my advice when they are going to buy phones. They would ask me which models to buy n what features that phone has. But there's no perfect phones, so sometimes, it's hard to decide what you want. For myself, I bought Nokia 3230 on 31st Jan 2006. It's quite a nice phone despite many users complained that it's slow, restart frequent, visible screen flicker. The slow interface n flickering screen does not bother me, but the restart problem is getting on my nerve. But maybe because my wife does not like me to change phone frequently, so I set my tolerance level higher this time. Sometimes, it's not my fault to change phone frequent, if the phone has so many problems, how are you going to use it n accept it. The phones it bought are not expensive n I always make it a point to wait till my contract ending to upgrade my handset. Hopefully I can hold on to this N3230 for more than 1 year.

Nokia 3250 is next generation of Nokia 3230 n it looks kind of stylo as the bottom part can turn. It's selling at S$620 at the point of time when I write this. Below are it's basic specifications:

Network : GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900
Dimension : 103.8 x 50 x 19.8 mm
Weight : 115 g
Display : TFT, 256K colors
OS : Symbian OS v9.1, Series 60 rel. 3.0
Bluetooth : Yes
Edge : Class 10, 236.8 kbps
Int Mem : 10 MB internal memory
Ext Mem : microSD (TransFlash) (up to 1GB)
Camera : 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, video(QCIF)
Features : Push to Talk
Java MIDP 2.0
Stereo MP3/AAC player
Stereo FM radio
Visual radio
Standard 3.5 mm stereo headphones jack
PIM functions
Voice dial/memo
Battery : Standard battery, Li-Ion 1100 mAh (BP-6M)
Standby : Up to 245 h
Talk Time : Up to 3 h

You can read the review
here. The pictures of N3250 are below:


20 March 2006

Met up with a friend at about 9.10pm, talked about some future plans but the discussion only last about 35 mins before I have to go to work.

I am now working as an Operation Executive a.k.a. Checker in our own words. I do spot checks on our bunker barges just in case the bunker clerks onboard is cheating the company. I think lots of bunker clerks do not like us because we are hired not to trust them, not to befriend them. But at the same time, we must build up our rapport with them so that our job can be carried out easily. So it's quite hard to balance this... Anyway, things are getting ok since I been working as a Checker for more than 5 months now. By next month, I should know whether will I stay or will I go. In other words, my probation period ends next month. If I am confirmed, I hope I can get a pay increment.

This job is not easy, I have to wake up in the middle of the night like 1am or sometimes 4am, then go to Clifford Pier, call for a launch(speedboat), and then to our bunker barge, take sounding of the oil tanks, let bunker clerk verify, sign, leave the barge and then can go home. Whole process could last more than 4 hours because some anchorages are as far as 50 mins ride. So the formula is
45(go pier) + 50(go anchorage) + 15(take sounding) + 50(back to pier) + 45(go home) = 205 mins(3hr 25mins)
This is only a average, normal timing. Anyway, will talk more about my jobs next time. Bye for now...

Nokia 6280

This new nokia phone has just been released into the market. It's a slide phone n seems like Nokia is moving towards slide phones nowadays. But Nokia slide phones are not as good as Samsung slide phones, after all, Samsung is famous for their slide n flip phones. This N6280 is 3G phone but not Symbian phone. It costs about S$688 n comes with a free BT headset n 64MB mini-sd card. So those who is going to buy, dun be cheated like my friend's brother. He paid more than S$700 for it becos the BT headset was sold separately. N he almost bought the mini-sd from the same shop at S$130 for a 512MB. A 512MB only costs S$38 at Best Bargain located in Sim Lim Square. The review of N6280 is
Review 1
Review 2




19 March 2006 - My first post

This is my very first post in blogspot. I have ever used msn to blog but also stopped at 2nd posting. Anyway, I hope blogspot will be a good place for me to continue my blog. With so much bloggers nowadays, it's so hard to choose my blog name. So richdadnodad came to my mind after multiple attempts of choosing blog name. Anyway, I wonder anyone will see my blog, I guess this blog is for myself to see and in future, I can refer back, thinking back what I experienced.

As usual, I would bring my family to my grandma's house to eat lunch. It's quite far from my sembawang house to gloucester road but this has become a routine that we make it a point to go. My grandma who is quite old (n I do not know how old, maybe 80+) is not feeling well recently n she would keep talking n talking in cantonese. Nowadays, I cannot make up what she's talking about. She's a little deaf on both ears, needs a little of shouting, then she can hear us. She has grew so thin and so weak. Before she moved house to current place, she looks more healthy n would wake up around 5am to do some walking exercise. I have no idea why she has become so weak n she just kept sitting or sleeping on the sofa.

That's a little bit of my family history and I just hoped I have got more time to write more today. I am a person who is pretty lazy and gets tired easily nowadays, but when I get into mood to do something, I hope to do more. Anyway, there's still a little time, so I shall continue some other days. Below are pictures of my grandma n grandpa.



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