Will i ever be able to afford my own place?

Ok, confession... I dreamt of owning a place of my own... someday... with a ring on my finger or not.
and I would like to stay near my parents...
I strongly believe I should exercise my rights to buy a HDB 1st... then mayb a private property...

The recent uproar over DBSS flat pricing is demoralising...despite repeated views, comments, feedback... or mayb i should say "civilised arguments"... the govt is still not doing anything...

I read this forum input from Netizen Patrick Tan and I am rather impressed by his ability to articule his views in a very constructive manner... c'mon, singaporeans like to complain right? It's not useful as not possible corrective actions is offered! This man is different!

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ST Forum Home > ST Forum > Story

Jun 21, 2011

FLAT PRICING

Four questions on DBSS

I WAS appalled when I read Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan's response that Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats should not be compared with ordinary HDB flats ('Don't compare DBSS flats with regular ones: Khaw'; Sunday).
Instead of addressing the problem head on, we are fudging the issue here.

First, the land on which DBSS flats are built is Housing Board land. Unless HDB has profited from the land sale, the private developer must have bought the land at a subsidised rate.
  

Second, the flats sold are subject to the same HDB regulations. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, and in the mind of every ordinary Singaporean, those are just better- designed HDB flats.
I would like answers to the following questions which, I think, is in every ordinary Singaporean's mind:

Is the land on which DBSS flats are built not HDB land and sold at a subsidised rate?

Why would HDB allow a private developer to bid for land at a subsidised rate without any form of control on the selling price of flats built on that land?

Is that not allowing the private developer to profit at the expense of ordinary Singaporeans?

What is in it for HDB when the private developers profit at the expense of ordinary Singaporeans?
For a private developer to buy the land at a subsidised rate and then sell the property at market rate - that is gross profiteering.
The Housing Board's mission is to build affordable housing for ordinary Singaporeans. For a major part of our history, it fulfilled its role well. But, over the past several years, it has completely lost its direction and purpose.
Young couples have to defer marriage because they are unable to get a flat and prices continue to skyrocket beyond the reach of ordinary Singaporeans. It is time for a change.

Patrick Tan

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Some of my cats hating/scarily friends blasted endlessly abt Govt caring more abt Cats than Citzens, Trust me... I am torn on which side i wanna be!

Yes, I have cats, 2 ! n I knew I was violating the laws of keeping cats in my flats all along, can u imagine my relief when Mr.HDB looked into this matter?  Hey, like any Human Parents... I just wanna keep my kids safe away frm the dangers on the streets! I want to be a Law Abidding citzen too u know!

And I dream of affording a place of my own too... near my parents... wedding ring or not... now try imagining how torn i am living in the heart of the whole uproar, Tampines?!

And we all knew that the GRC Tampines was under.... the previous Mr.HDB... well, casting my vote in an objective manner was a tough call for me already... hence I was really glad that the new Mr.HDB will be addressing these problems...

So far so good... except for the "Don't compare DBSS flats with regular ones" (Then compare with what? when they are sitting on the land allocated to HDB and govern by  certain HDB rules (like not cats?! ONLY 1 dog?! )

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Singapore

Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story

Jun 19, 2011

Don't compare DBSS flats with regular ones: Khaw

Following the stir caused by the recent high prices of a Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) development launched by a private developer, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan (above) sought to explain the difference between DBSS developments and HDB flats. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

FOLLOWING the stir caused by the recent high prices of a Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) development launched by a private developer, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan sought to explain the difference between DBSS developments and HDB flats.
In his latest blog entry on Saturday afternoon, he said that price control was not a term of the contract when private developers tender for the site, and buyers can choose to walk away from the purchase.
Mr Khaw wrote that on his part, he is ramping up BTO (Build-To-Order) launches and working on pricing them appropriately.


The DBSS development in question - Centrale 8 by developer Sim Lian, to be located in Tampines - will set a buyer back $880,000 for a five-room unit. This amounts to $750 psf, typical of suburban condominiums. The social media scene was abuzz following the news. The discussion thread on straitstimes.com garnered 116 comments in one day, mostly negative.


Here is the start of Mr Khaw's latest blog entry titled 'DBSS Is Not HDB': 'A private developer's DBSS launch in Tampines, with the upper end of the 5 room units priced at $880,000, caused a stir in the social media. The negative reaction was not surprising. DBSS is a class of housing type between HDB flats and Executive Condos (EC)/private condos. It forms a tiny portion of the total housing options for Singaporeans.


'While HDB flats are designed and priced by HDB, DBSS flats are designed and priced by private developers. If the private developer prices it too high and there are no takers, there will be no sales. Netizens would like MND (Ministry of National Development) to come in and tell the private developer to cut its price.


When they tendered for the land, price control was not a term of the tender. If contracts, after they are awarded, can be varied arbitrarily, this will damage Singapore's reputation as a business hub, with severe repercussions.

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When the govt is supposed to be the quick one to adapt and listen to the hearts of the pple... it was the private developers who beat them to it!  This morning's paper!

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Jun 22, 2011    IN THE ST NEWSPAPER TODAY

Prices slashed after DBSS flats uproar

Five-room units drop from $880,000 to $778,000 now By Cheryl Ong             

DEVELOPER Sim Lian Group has slashed the prices of its Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats at Centrale 8 in Tampines by up to $102,000.
The move follows the public outcry at the record prices of the designer Housing Board (HDB) units launched last Thursday, when the developer asked $880,000 for the biggest five-room flats.
......................

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I made me question if the country I so love, should be ruled in a Private Ltd or Public Listed manner.....

对不起, 我爱你... but...

对不起, 我爱你... but... So sowie my kind of love hurt u...

I only have a few soft toys i keep these days...
Dun really cuddle them but I placed 3 of them on my bed these days...
One day I was just cleaning my room and changing the sheets then I realised something...
All those I kept on my bed... were from pple whom i love, but i have hurt them in my kind of love...

Friendship love instead of Romantic Love...
Romantic Love that failed to blosoom, mainly due to my own cowardness...
Friendship love, leading to Possessive n overprotective...

So sorry my friend...对不起, 我是爱你的!

FB Lurkers, Blog Lurkers - they are everywhere...

Recently 2 persons (unrelated to each other) asked me this question: "how are u?"

Strange as we are not exactly on those sms/whatsapp/phone chit chatting terms... it's outa the blue really.
Best, one of them asked me: "I read ur blog to keep progress of how are u n ur cats..."
1st alarm went off in my head- STALKER!!!

My natural reply would be: "Well, then u would already know how I am doing from my blog..."
"It's better to here from the horse's mouth mah!"
 "There's nothing out of the norm, i dun lead an especially exciting life... it's all in my blog..."
"Ok, take care and catch up soon for kopi yah!" (I think he got my hint and ended off like this, ok-give him some points for high EQ)

Then another pple called me outa the blue and ask me
"How are u doing?"
"I am doing fine but I am not free now & really had to go..."
"Oh...u are not at home now?"
"Nope, and I really gota go now... talk to u again k."
"ok." Followed by an sms saying something like this: "I have some time to kill and in ur neighbourhood, thot u might be free for kopi, since u not free nvm, next time.."

WTF?! U have some time to Kill? & I feel like Killing YOU already...
I'll be sure to avoid u when the "next time" it happens again.

Dun get me wrong, i like pple asking how I am doing etc... but not random pple outa the blue! Pple whom u were not close to in the 1st place! n Esp pple who are "Lurkers". I learnt this term from my fav read these days by Jason Hahn (u can find his articles at the back of Ei8hts magazine)... It means pple who "stalk" other pple via their Blog, FB etc... they lurk around these places knowing all about u, but they will not provide a single information abt themselves... a.k.a they have nothing on their FB abt themselves except the asking u to be their millionth friend... etc... or they tell u they have a blog, but refused to give u the address link and then they in term stalk u on YOUR blog/FB.
How fair or rather how SICK is that?!

I know pple like that, that's y I refused to have FB for so bloody long... and i have "Lurkers" who already stalk my blog... msging me/commenting in my Blog almost immediately upon reading something there... Bleah. If they are close close frends, I dun think I'll mind that much. In fact I will be really flattered... that they cared abt my well-being. But if they are not on my "defence" list....GET THE HELL OUTA HERE!

So there goes... i have to change my Blog address again...
& succumbed to the headache of allowing certain access for FB "friends"... to date, I have 33 friends on FB... if need be, I'll open another account for "admin" purposes...

P.S: the fact that u can read this now... u are that exclusive few on my "Defence" list...
NOW, come rescue me from this blasphemy!!

Born Introvert, Nurtured Extrovert...

Pinky brought my attention to this article when warning me that she is going into "Hibernation" mode.

Time to time, I will  do that too. But I have learnt to recover faster each time.
I thought this article totally describes my character and some of the frustration i have when "socialising" with pple....

Here goes:
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Extract from : Hush is the word , Janice Tay, For The Straits Times (26 January 2008)
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WE HEAR a great deal about freedom of speech but what about freedom of silence?
Ironically, from the nation that talks the most about talking comes a push for the right to say nothing at all.

It comes in the form of an American magazine article entitled Caring For Your Introvert by The Atlantic correspondent Jonathan Rauch. Written in 2003, it continues to draw more hits than any other piece on the magazine’s website.

As an introvert, Rauch says, he belongs to one of ‘the most misunderstood and aggrieved groups in America, possibly the world’.

Being introverted does not necessarily mean being shy; it just means that people tire you out.
While extroverts need company like the Energizer Bunny needs batteries, introverts recharge by spending time alone.

But Rauch makes it clear that introverts don’t harbour a grudge against the rest of the human race: ‘We love people…We just can’t socialise with them all the time. We want to hold their hand or hug them or just sit quietly and read a book with them.’

What introverts don’t want to do is go to parties and make small talk.
But the world is filled with people who do – and they set the standard for what is considered normal and desirable behaviour.
Some introverts learn to keep up a stream of conversation (I think this is me now....)  but those who can’t or won’t tend to get labelled as shy, aloof or arrogant.
Rauch notes that female introverts have a harder time because people don’t usually think of women when you say ‘strong, silent type’.
But whatever their gender, introverts are almost always outnumbered in politics, a field where what you say appears less important than how you say it – and how often.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda seems to be one of the few ‘introverts’ who have risen to the top. I don’t have conclusive proof that he’s one but I have my suspicions because whenever people try to describe him, the same words keep cropping up: undemonstrative, self-effacing, steady, grey. (irks!!)

According to an article in The Times last September, when a supporter encouraged him to ‘express his personality’, he replied: ‘I have no personality.’
But of course he does. It’s just the kind of personality that’s at the other end of the spectrum from former premier Junichiro Koizumi’s. Though I think most people, and not just introverts, would look dull beside somebody who has a habit of breaking into Elvis impersonations.

But, writes Rauch, ‘if we introverts ran the world, it would no doubt be a calmer, saner, more peaceful sort of place’.
I don’t know if this is true. But I do know that in a world run by introverts, no meeting would last over an hour because they don’t think by talking; they think by thinking. ( i like this!!)

And I know this because I’m an introvert too. Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy conversations. In fact, I consider them one of the best ways to have fun with another person without taking your clothes off.
But I can’t have them all the time. In fact, I don’t have them a lot of the time, which prompted one friend to say: ‘You’re so quiet I sometimes forget you’re there.’

Ouch. Still, this could be useful if I ever decide to become a ninja. Or wallpaper.
By now, you should be able to work out on which side of the conversation gap you belong. And if you’re an introvert, what can you do?

First, understand what you are – and look after what you are.
If you need time away from the maddening crowd, take it. Fighting this is like resenting your need for sleep. (ME time!!)

Rauch recommends helping extroverts to be comfortable with their opposites. It can be hard to relax with another person when silences keep breaking up a conversation. But not if you understand that ‘if someone is being quiet it doesn’t mean they’re having a bad time; it doesn’t mean they’re depressed; it doesn’t mean they’re lonely or need psychiatric help or medication’.

If you’re an extrovert, be confident that the introvert next to you is enjoying your company. If he isn’t, don’t worry about it. It’s not like he’s going to tell you.

So, yes – I think it’s time to raise some awareness. Start by sending this article to 25 people within the next three days. Failure to do so will mean being trapped at 75 parties where people won’t stop talking at you.

But whether or not extroverts take any of this on board, introverts should be prepared to meet them halfway because we are, let’s face it, not the easiest lot in the world to live with.
Having once had to keep a dinner conversation going around someone who sat silent with his eyes down for hours, I can understand why extroverts get frustrated with us.

There are more ways to fit yourself into a conversation than by talking; you can do it by showing that you’re listening. Just looking interested can take you as far as a well-placed witticism because who doesn’t like a bit of attention?

But why should introverts have to go to such lengths, you may ask. Let me be clear about this: You don’t have to do anything, except maybe breathe. But what you do or don’t do will always have consequences.

The trick is to read far ahead enough to see those consequences, decide if you like them – and then act. Come to think of it, you don’t even have to breathe if you don’t mind losing your vital signs.
But whatever you decide to do, I hope you’ll be happy with yourself. And from there, to be happy with others.
-----------------------

So.... This is me.... but Pinky said I am too expressive to be a classic introvert! I replied with :"I am just more opinionated than usual..." and with that, I just proofed my point!

I have learnt overtime to deal with my "introvert-ness....", how to make pple around me accept me better.... feel less frustrated with me.... in fact, i think i am so good at it these days that pple would never believe me when I admit that i am actually quite shy deep down. Pple tend to think that I am a social butterfly and a party animal sometimes... but that's just what another psychology-trained friend said of me, "Born Introvert, Nurtured Extrovert..." This brilliantly sums up all that I am....

As I told Pinky last night, I actually find Comfort and Solace in Silence.... just not the awkward kind...

So my dear friends, Will u accept me for who I am?

Kena Fried....

Superb in pain... kena fried by the merciless Sun for the past few days...

I have coached many hours under the sun 3 hrs - break- 3hrs again. But in water, u hardly feel the heat. As and when i feel the heat, will just dip into the water!

But yest and today... it's crazy, no wind, no shade at all, i coached a cycling workshop for secondary school students for 3hrs-Break-3hrs under the Hot Sun and kena fried - badly... even for my standard, i freaked out alittle....

See the charcoal face...

The back of my neck hurts...  burnt... Gosh...
I was so freaked by the effect it had on my face that I came home and drowned myself in H2O, "marinated" my face with a hydration and moisture mask, then slathered on 2 thick layers of Pure Aloe Vera Gel...
More protection!!!

I will fry you DEAD!

One thing that irks me the most...

errant car owners who park their bike inconsiderately!

I am so fed up already. Sending this to STOMP!

Also to Parking Idiots In Singapore

"Came home around late afternoon and was about to park in the designated motorbike lot.

This weekend car was parked at the ramp beside a handicap lot (which is for the ease of wheelchair usage). It is illegal to park at this lot, but understandable for loading/unloading from back of vehicles.

I waited on my bike in front of this car as I see a mother and her child in the back seat, the driver seat was empty. As the entrance of the ramp to the motorbike lot is blocked entirely by this car, I expected the mother to at least tell me the approximate waiting time or at least show some remorse. Instead, she pretended to look away and ignore my glare.

Totally irked by such an errant car owner and lousy parent, I detoured and entered the motorbike park lot from another ramp.

The next morning, I saw this car parked in this lot again. Yes, it's illegal to park at the Handicap lot next to it, but it is also illegal to park at the ramp! It defeats the purpose of making the handicap lot as this parking restricts the wheelchair access totally!

 There was no handicap decal on this car. Totally errant and inconsiderate. "

It's officially Torn.... bleah

Over the last 12 hrs, my trusty orange silicon phone cover went from a slight tear to this:

It's expected, cos like all silicon, once it's torn, it will tear all the way!

Since I have made the order for a new phone cover, I had to do this meanwhile:

Reminds me of those pple who stick their broken specs!

Gosh... Such tragedy! Use Black insulating tape some more!

I have been notified that the new cover was posted out this morning....

Expecting to receive it soon!!

Follow up on scam....

This is a follow up from the scam call i got last night.
This David did sms me in the end. I think his guilt conscious made him immediately state that the hp number he is using is a "spv hp" (whatever it means man?).

Screenshot from my Hp:

This is the content of his sms:

"Hi Jessie, David here, i'm using my spv hp. The location is 123 Penang Rd. Regency Office Tower. #03-12. From Dhoby Ghaut Mrt station, exit B. Cross over to Parkmall, turn right. Walk following the traffic flow. Pass PARKMALL, Singapore Shopping center. Cross Clemenceu ave. University of Chicago Booth. VisionCrest Commercial building. Next to it is Regency. 

see u later for the exhibition & collection at 2pm. altogether 4 items for

your collection. I'll fully elaborate the gifts to u when u're there and highlight the company and rates as well." 

 

And my reply to him?

No reply from him thereafter.

I guessed as much too.

I think i can close this case now. =)

Super Vexed by Phone scam !

Super Vexed by Phone scam ! WTF! I am actually so vexed that I bothered to make a Police Report at the NPP and "wasted" a good 45mins there!

Number is 68367537.
Address is Regency Tower Level 3.

Google these, I will give u a shortcut on the most interesting ones:
1) How can one have such luck
2) Airplane Tickets and Hotel Scam

This is my post on their entries:

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"Hi,
I received the call today. And I made a police report already after googling abt it and found it a scam.

Details as follows:
-Calls himself David from IPG Travel (Tel: 68367537). -Everything is similar to all those mentioned.
-Promised to not be a timeshare sales talk etc.
-Mentioned the 3 free door gifts.
-Has all my personal particulars already - which is scary. -Some mini NATAS travel exhibit also, about 90mins to browse and for him to explain to me.

After I said I'll go down, he asked his supervisor to give speak to me as a verification. Supervisor (which I highly suspect is a bogus, prob a colleague) Melvin spoke to me, also stressed that actually is David's off day, ask him to come back specially for me.

I forewarned David that I am a Self-employed investor(which he actually already have this information), plus formally educated in the Tourism industry. I will read n gather the travel information, dun need him to go thru with me, plus I am in the investment industry - will not take sales gimmicks as investment.

David offered to sms me the full address with postal code, but did not. I tried calling back the number, no answer. Googled the telephone number and "Regency Tower 03-15" and found it's a scam, made police report at nearest NPP.
But since I didnt go down, I have not lost "suffered any losses", the policy will only keep the report for record purposes. DAMN IT! Those who did went down, Please go and make a police report and make sure an investigation is going on! I have had enough of these scams!!! I actually bother to spend 45mins infront of the officer on duty to draft my report, please also do a gd deed and report these pple.

I have a good feel to go down tmr and see the place. Then I can make a proper report again, but I am not free lah!
30 April 2011 - 2pm at Regency Tower Level 3."
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WTF! I superb vexed now! This is not the first time I have received a scam call, but I actually wasted 15mins with this David guy. Superb pissed off now. I hope he calls me tmr, I will tell him I have made a police report already.

Apparently, the company's name has been changed many times, same as telephone number.

Legally, they will still give you some small voucher for your time, hence it's not legally binding them and not a scam. But it's time to put an end to this.

Hmm... maybe I should ask the MPs during their GE rally sessions, why the SPF refused to even start investigating into this particular company since complaints has been lodged already. How many lambs need to be slained before the authorities will finally take action....?

Those who experienced something like this, dun sit on it!

You love ones could be the next lamb they slaughter...

Luckily this didnt happen to me...Phew

Today's Norm:

--------------
3 weeks ago, I brought Nugget to the vet. He has got a mysterious bald patch near his where his scrotum should have been, if I havent deprived him of his chance to be a father. I swear the bald patch just appear for no obvious reasons, he wasnt licking/grooming the area excessively, no straining when pee, diet is as per normal and he is still as "highly strung" (used to describe cats that are so what crazy and zooms ard the house up and down for no apparent reasons).

Dr.Handsome did some skin scrapping, pulled some fur from the area and planned to grow them in the lab, some stem cell growing/test they call it. Need to see if it's ringworm or some other skin diesease. Results out in two weeks. Meanwhile, he suggested that the nagging built up of dirt in Nugget's left ear could be due to yeast infection. This ear problem has been with him ever since i first got him and rid his ears of ear mites problem. Obviously it's not just wax built up like what many vets had suggested (including Dr.Handsome), cos it seemed to hurt when I tried to clean THAT particular side of the ear. I am willing to give it a shot to clear him permanently of the pain, also, it's quite painful to clean his ears every other day, he hates it and I hate it that he hates it!

So.... armed with yet another assortment of ear drops and cream, the bill came up to $160. gosh... it's really expensive + i'll have to go back to him in 2 weeks' time.

During the two weeks before the return for lab test results, it's like fighting a war with Nugget.
--------------------
Morning:
-Catch n chase him, apply Cream on bum.
-Catch n chase him, Attempt to clean ears, Pin him down to put ear drops.
-Play with him for the next 15mins at least so he is distracted from licking his medication off.

Thruout the day:
-Try to Prevent him from licking his bum area. I didnt wann put an Elizabeth collar on him as cats are known to like Free&Easy when eating, drinking + he needs to groom this other areas too!

Evening:
-Catch n chase him, apply Cream on bum.
-Play with him for the next 15mins at least so he is distracted from licking his medication off.
------------
It's really shag... but worse is the Heart Wretching Meow he has... very pitiful kind... Btw, he Meows like that and even worse when u say and wave Bye Bye to him...

Anyway, some time 1 week into this process, my brother called me out of the blue and spoke in his most stoccato manner:
"Girl! Ur vet called me and say something abt Nugget, I dont understand what he's saying! U better call them back now!!!!"
He gave me the shock! I quickly called the vet only to discover that they merely wanted to knw how is his condition (ear n skin), lab results will be out only when we visit them again after the 2 weeks!

So imagine the scare if it's dreadful results for eg: "Ur cat has Skin cancer!"
I'll faint on the spot man! **Btw, Skin cancer is quite common for white cats who dun realised that sunbathing is not exactly the best way to look tan n beautiful!

Well, luckily it didnt happen to me... 
in fact, i am rather pleased this time... though it's quite a bomb (the 2nd vet visit cost me $60. that's $220 for this matter). Nugget's ears are turning for the better, FINALLY!!! In fact this is the one time his ears are not dirty and he doesnt whine that much anymore... the tonality of his Meowing is almost the same as cleaning his Good ear already! kekek! Less Pain, means yeast infection Gone!! WOOOOOHOOOO! PLus, there's nothing to worry abt the bald patch on his bum, the fur have since grown back slightly, no ringworms or whatever parasites can be detect from the lab test - it's just another case of idiosyncrasy.

Btw, this is done by Stella:

Staple for the past few days...

Bleah... i am not feeling well again...
i think i'm coming down with another bout of cold...
think i got it from the endless hrs i spent in my wet swim suit.... either toking to parents (who will stop  me whenever they can to ask me abt their child's progress)...

Everything nasty will come after the bad sore throat... at least that's usually the case for me... all things bad starts from a terribly pain sore throat...
and on wed night, i woke up every 2 hrs interval to drink water... the pain is just unbearable...
thursday morning - go back to hospital then to cycling assignment... have to tok relatively much and shout at the kids to "KEEP LEFT!!!"
By thursday nite, my throat is Kaput and i was feeling feverish + nausea... i slept with a cold pack on my forehead again and cancelled all my other plans for fri, except for swim class in the morning...

Fri night, I slept relatively well by sucking on a lozenge. Sat morning, i survived without choking to death by the lozenge... the pain is more bearable now, but I officially lost my voice... bleah...
Sunday still not voice, though not too painful liao.

I literally survived on this:

HONEY LEMON DRINK



Wish me good health soon....

argh! i want my voice back!

Changed iPhone

My Orange MePhone has been cranky lately...
I have received a portable battery since my last birthday, but honestly i hardly use it since I am mostly at home... But lately, i resort to having both charged to full b4 leaving the hse and yet, even after a recharge from the portable battery, i arrived home in style - running to the charging station cos the phone is left with 5% and is auto shutting down!

Damn... the phone is about 1 year now... i feared for the warranty if battery drainage is the problem.

Before I go jump to conclusion, i must try to narrow the problem, is it cos I'm running apps, or cos it's too bright etc...
So,
1st, Brightness! Set to dim but to where my eyes can still see (everyone who looks at my phone complains that it's too dim!! but it's ok - tat's how I conserve battery and maintain the astigmatism degree since 11yrs old)
2nd, turn off most app's notification and locations services.
3rd, shut down running apps - not MINIMISE them! u can do this by double clicking the home button, hold the app widget and it will start to wiggle with a "Minus" sign on it. select to shut down tat app.


Ok, sleep on it now - literally! It's now charged to full and at 12am, I am announcing bed time...
DAMN! 8 hrs later when I woke, the battery drained to 70%! How can it drain 30% when on Standby mode! DAMN! Battery's kaput!

4th, call my SUNSHINE company and asked if i could "WALKED" to their SUNSHINE shop at paragon  or Plaza Singapura.

So i went the next day... i was pleasantly happy when the reception counter told me that waiting time is abt 30mins and upon served, it will take abt 30mins for them to rectify whatever problem.
only 1hr? Tat's managable?! Considering that the last time I went there, it wasted 3hrs of my non-existence youth...

I knew it's too good to be true.
of cos the Fruit Vendor dun repair their Oranges devices since it's an integrated device. It was a one to one exchange.
Me: Is this a Re-con (re-conditioned) set?
Sunny: No, all these device comes from the Fruit factory?
Me: So it's Totally New?
Sunny: We wun know, but there wun be any duplicate in IMEI number.
Me: So the warranty for the new phone is ONE year from today?
Sunny: No, the Warranty starts from the day you bot your 1st iphone, in our records - it will end on 1 Apr 2011, but since u are getting a One-for-One exchange, we are giving a 90 days warranty. so 90 days warranty starts frm today.
Me: I dun understand, you said this is a New Phone. it shouldnt break down within 1 yr else I am still covered...
Sunny: Yes, this is a new phone. but as I have already said, your One-Year warranty will start from the day you 1st  bot an iphone. *
Me: Yes.... so if this is a New phone, why wouldnt u give me 1yr warranty from today?
Sunny: (repeat*), I think u understand what I am saying right?
Me: Hey, I understand English ok. (by now I am rather pissed by this SUNNY person)So how can I be sure this is even a New phone?! Is there a box? Was it sealed? I dint see u break the seal in front of me!
Sunny: Erm... this is the box... it's from the Fruit Factory... it's new and sealed, i just broke the seal.
Me: Now, how can i be sure of tat? shldnt SUNNY pple break it in front of customers like when they bought a new phone?
Sunny: Erm... yah, sowie.
Me: I guess I have no choice and I have to take ur words tat it's new right?
Sunny: U can be assured tat there will be no duplicate of IMEI number.
Me: Honestly, i am not assured at all.
Sunny: Erm....ok

*Sideline: I dun quite buy the IMEI number thingy... did u know that when u buy a used car, the odometer (not trip meter) could be tampered to show how much the car had actually travelled? Bet u didnt, now u know! Of cos the IMEI could be like the chasis of the car which is unique, but then again, it could be sand out and re-engraved!?! Who knws what goes on in the Fruit Factory with staff jumping to their death?!"

Hey, I'm not stupid k. Of cos I know they wun give another 1 year warranty lah, was just trying my luck and putting a point across. the price they sell the Orange Device at, is probably enough to cover 2-3 phones for one-for-one exchange! Do u realise their profit margin?! Operationally and financial biz point, of cos they wun give another year, even if they could! So that u have to buy new ones!! COME ON! Admit it, alot of us are FRUIT SUCKERS!!

Still, I am rather impressed that they dun ask much question for the one-for-one exchange. they merely did a "litmus" test... they shone a torch into the openings of the phone, to see if it turns blue. I caught this information thru the mumbling of the receptionists. I presume it means tat if the litmus paper at these areas indicate BLUE, it's a corrosive set (kena water).

Fingers and toes crossed.... no battery problem till 1Apr2012...  so i can get another ORANGE from the FRUIT VENDOR! Told u! I'm one of the suckers!! Heck!

i'm too serious for my friends...

It's the truth, often I find myself vexed by my friends... but that's just cause I am too serious for them...
All my friends out there, I know u'll put up ur hands to agree with me... it's a known fact that I am an overly serious/sensitive person.... As friends, they would already know I am a serious person. this is me, a total n complete package of Soya. Take it or leave it! Dun say something offending, then say "joking lah, why so serious!"
blah blah..."dun be so serious lah", "relax leh".... easy for those pple to say.

Recently I had an episode that i still feel rather *^(*#%&$#&% about...

HATE 1) I hate being the Meat Patty...
I hate being part of the sandwich, esp between two other friends, who are closer to each other as compared than to me...
A & B.
A:"If B ask u, can u dun tell i go out with u?"
Me: ....(wtf).....

Ok, both A & B did this to me on separate occasions... actually i dun mind it that much, as long as I duno have to lie... cos i am a lousy liar.

HATE 2) I hate Lousy jokes, esp those that is those emotional blackmail ones.
E.g.:
A: "Eh! I call u leh, why u never pick up? Dun want to pick up my calls is it?"
Usually it's....
My Option1: "I was in the shower/toilet/living room/riding my bike..."
but what i really wanna say when I hear things like that is,
My Option 2: "Yah, u are right! I purposely dun wanna pick up cos I saw it's you!"

My point is this, why say something you know is NOT TRUE!?! Definitely something I wun do what!? If I will not pick up ur calls, means - we are not friends... why bother to call me anyway?! I am not even the extreme type who dun pick up unknown numbers! It is BLOODY obvious that I was engaged and not able to pick it up. I really dun expect you ask after my well being: "Is it u too busy to pick up my call? Dun tire yourself too much leh... must rest well k..."

Usually if I rebuked with Option2, the response will be,
A: "Erm... i just joking lah, dun be so serious leh...erm...."
Me: "Joking? Is it funny? I dun think so leh....tell joke must make sure pple laugh, this is definitely not funny at all."

It's a small matter to many, but to me i have had enough!
Last week, I blew my top. This time with an sms reply. it was the worst combination of HATE 1 and HATE 2!
-A had smsed if I am free to have dinner with her, she said she had some manners to tok to me about. I said I couldnt as I was not feeling well. Actually I had cancelled all my afternoon assignments to go back rest after a swim class (which I couldnt cxl). 

-After my sms to her, I rode my bike to Orchard from Holland Rd(student's hse), cos it was along the way and I deseparately needed to repair my iphone (warranty ending + battery faulty liao).

-As fate has it, I bumped into B omw to the carpark-whilst I was still on  my bike! Since A n B are very close friends, and B was on the way to meet A for lunch, I casually mentioned that A had asked to meet me for dinner that evening but I declined.

-Then when I finally settled down, I saw an unread SMS sent to me by A (must have came thru while i was still riding), she told me not to tell B that she is meeting me. Shortly, she spoke to B and B had told her that she bumped into me!

-Ops! Bo bian, so I replied to A and tell her "Too late! I told B liao!"

-My guess is that A havent read my msg and she called me. 1st thing she said to me,
A: "Oey! I tot u say sick? what u doing in town!"
To me, hr tone was offensive. It sure felt like it ended with an EXCLAMATION mark, not a QUESTION Mark. It was as if I purposely dun wanna meet her for dinner, lied abt being sick.
Me: "Bo bian, my phone more sick than me leh... i have to bring it to see doctor 1st!"
*I admire myself for cracking this joke. though I was offended, I told myself that it's just that I am too serious...
A: "Orh... I tot what, U dun want to reply my msg ah!"
Me: "I was riding just now! Give me a break lah! I just saw ur msg only!"

Ok, 1st of all, sms is there for non emergencies.... anything urgent, pls for God's sake, spend some Cents to call k! If u sms me, do not expect me to reply IMMEDIATELY! C'mon, I dun live my life for u hor! Sms is for the receiver to read and reply when convenient hor! Get this right! It should never be the 1st means of contact for urging matters!

Also, will she be able to take it if i reply: "Yah, I purposely dun wan to reply ur msg leh!"
So A has done it! Both HATE 1 and HATE 2 at the same time! I am totally pissed now...
Yet I tell myself once again to be less serious, and I feel bad for being vexed by this matter. I am definitely not a petty person though I cant deny that I am rather Quick tempered.

I figured that A & B probably have some matters to thrash out.
Taking a deep breath, I was even kaypoh enough to send an sms to A & B separately to enquire if they had a gd tok...
The replies I got,
"nothing much to talk about"
"ok"
"like that lor"
"It doesnt matter anymore"

FML (F**K My Life).... I duno why do I even bother... dun get me involved... i dun like this mess.

Btw, next time someone provoke me with HATE 1 or HATE 2 in all variations, I am going make sure the person gets it with the bluntest reply!
You have been warned.....

*QUESTION: Will I still have friends after this post? It's really fine, cos I'll rather die lonely then to have to go thru this SHIT!

Am I a Masochist?

I am selling my road bike... my 战马... my triathlon racing comrade... yes it's true...
it's about time!

Email extract to my friend when she asked why I suddenly wanna sell my bike:
"Other then it's really underused n i'm getting more n more "pussy" riding a roadbike as I age.


Selling e bike also cos it was a gift frm my ex. I have already moved on, but it's cleaner without having to look at it everyday. I kept it so long to make sure I can deal with it, now tat I knw I can, it serve no purpose to keep looking at it! Yes! I am sadist in this manner!! I will keep staring at old photos etc, till I know if I bump into him in e streets, I will b able to react cooly-once I can do that, I'll keep e photo away! Wuahhaha! Sadist I knw-but I "train" myself for such situations!! Kekek!"

My friend replied my email n said tat I'm a Masochist instead of sadist!
I went to ask Best friend, Google.com what it means....

Ok, I ticked 3 outa 4... i guess i qualify...

It felt kinda weird to see an Empty Bike tower in my room (my friend had volunteered to help me sell the bike so she took it to do some swopping n cleaning)... the emptiness in me went away after 3 hrs.... wuahhah! it was such a relief!!

Creamie looking on....

Well, another friend comforted me by telling me that 旧的不去，新的不来! That is so True!!! i even started looking, researching for a new MTB (MountainBike)! Probably later.... let me settle my work stuff 1st... but budget for a decent MTB will be <$500... probably ard the range of $300+ bah... nevertheless.... i saw this in the magazine lately:

COOL! So tempting!

Anyway, I am happy to sell the wheelsets at a decent price.... that funded my need to get a new Tv during the IT fair recently! Was reading the papers n decided on getting this:

Swopping it with the new LCD TV in the living room.... Papa has been watching lotsa TV lately.... chasing a taiwanese drama series.... something like like endless *爱*Love* series currently showing on Channel 8.. it's terrible... he probably spend at least 6hrs in front of the TV till he is also afraid that the TV will burst into flame; he points the fan at the TV! 

One thing for sure, Nugget loves the TV... he is just as bad a TV addict as AhGong! He cant stop watching the big screen now!

Darn... is the TV too big for my room?!

Vexed! All up in Smoke!

Today must have been my lucky day!

Both my vacuum cleaner n TV went up into smoke this morning!

Was vacuuming my room this morning (weekly routine), almost 95% done then "POOF!" Then came the sound of an old walkman running dead on battery.... a final "WHINE" and then SMOKE! Then a burning smell filled the air! faint!

The vacuum cleaner is probably abt 8 yrs old... i guess it's time it retires! Afterall, for the past 2 years esp, it has been working really hard to suck up all the Kitty fur!

Many reasons why I am so Lucky!
1) My room was abt 95% cleaned already!
2) It didnt explode in my face! 
3) I was contemplating to buy a new vacuum bag for the model, decided tat it may be time to change a new one after it's long service award!

Then after cleaning the room, I decided to watch some TV. Everyone knows the TV in my room is a white elephant! I briefly counted the number of hours I spent "listening" to the TV in my room, probably less than 10hours. Actual watching probably account for abt 4hrs in total. Is that very little??
Anyway, despite the TV being abt 5 yrs old, the usage is still very little! yet it went up into smoke this morning after 10mins of watching, the only warning is a "POP!" sound...

Alas! having just splurge on the TV in the living room for papa's bday, this is gona be a hefty for me to replace both items for my own use!

nevertheless, TV can wait.... vacuum cleaner cant!! i dun wanna use a cat fur blanket to keep me warm!!
probably will get a secondhand TV bah! best is less than 32", cos it's too big for my room. 26" will be nice but due to economies of scale, a bigger TV may b more worth it!

I have till end Feb to utilise a $100 voucher for a new Panasonic LCD TV.... totally new one is still too much and a bit of 奢侈 (extravagance). Then there is always the IT fair in March.

But meanwhile, searching the Gumtree websites for 2ndhands now... any lobang, please let me know.

How many BLOODY combs does one need?

Confession time! ok.... ahem.... ready or not, but I do not own a comb, at least not anymore since i chop off my hair. That means I havent comb my hair for probably a decade!! Hahhah! Are u still on ur chair?

I duno, but the little tuff of bush on my head dun really call for the need of a comb! Magic Fingers will do the job!

But, I have spent quite abit on my kitties' comb/brush!

Just how many is enough?!

They have three in total, excluding one rubber one which they refuse to use n I use it to "comb" my bed of their fur, and the one which cost $130 (to shed their fur)......

OK ok, they have FIVE BLOODY Brushes! Ok! Damnit!

The problem is, they go by trial n error mostly! It's doom when they reject the comb at the 1st sight! n everytime I whip that particular one out, they will run and hide! If it's the one they like, they will come to me n purr non stop! 

The one that I was using for the longest time ever is breaking into pieces... so I bot another one (which they really hate), n yest bot another 1 (which they really like) - phew! They are really attas cats lor! They new one cost a whopping $11! Yes yes, I know - I wun even spend $5 for a meal if I were to eat out on my own! ArgH! The life of a Mummy!

Since creamie's collar broke, bot a new one for Nugget too! Best, on their Godma, Starry Stella's account! Kekeke! Pple's kids get Gold chains from their Godparents leh, 2 collars n a brush is not too much to ask for right?

I think the blue compliments Creamie's blue eyes very well!

Well, they are the sweetest I can ask for... this is what happens whenever someone leaves the house or when a family member is coming back!

"Is there you Mummy?"

Strangely, they seem to know already whether the person coming up the lift is a family member or not!

1st: If they scamper to the door and wait = FAMILY MEMBER! 

Usually after counting to 3, then "DingDong" from the lift, then count to 5,

VIOLA, family member at Doorstep!

There's a reverse way around this situation.

1st: If they suddenly scamper to hide in my room = STRANGER!

Usually after counting to 3, then "DingDong", then count to 5, 

HEAR the neighbour opening their doors. 

They have psychic powers!!!

*MEOW!*

旧的不去，新的不来! Old one dun go, new ones dun come!

Do u believe in this saying?

"旧的不去，新的不来!

Old one dun go, new ones dun come! "

Sometimes we hang on to the old stuff we have, we treasure it for sentimental values, citing the only reasons we still hang on to it is that it's still "functioning", "it still works!"... but the actual reasons is our refusal to admite tat we just too "soft" and yet another "Old fart who's getting Sentimental with the old feelings"...

By Old Stuff, I mean not only items, objects, tangible stuffs.... but also our inner most feelings... Just to cite an example, How many couples still stay together though they would secretly admite that there's no sparks between them anymore? We commit the same mistakes of hanging on to stuff we feel familiar with, mayb we are afraid of the New to come, the whole cycle of having to learn the new ropes, or the getting used to something new.

I have this epiphany due to 3 reasons over what happened on the last few days of the year.
1) My trusty TIMEX broke on me...
2) A new friend openly admitted to me that he is committing adultry, n the wife just accepted things as it is...
3) My BGF (Best Guy Friend) finally decided to break up with his 1st official gf...

On matter number 1), my trusty TIMEX was a gift from my ex. It must have probably been with me for the past 5-6years. I feel esp upset not only cos it was the last of the watches still working that I received from this ex, but also cos it has been thru with me another memorable relationship, a series of self discovery thru a return to sports in terms of running n triathlons, many more. For months I have noticed a deep crack on the casting.... i secretly pray that it's just yet another "war scar" it suffered (I have replaced more than once the batteries, the straps when it broke on me though the color was totally uncompatible)... I held on to the watch dearly... but it finally succumbed to it's "war injuries".

Btw, I had already received a new TIMEX since Aug, so frankly I am not in short of sport watches, but I have refused to wear the new one yet, i wanted to be faithful to my old 1.... for crying loud sake- yes! Sentimental values!
Now I am "forced" to "remarry" a new watch after the old 1 R.I.P-ed on me.

 My time stops here...

On matter number 2), I was kinda taken aback when someone who just re-know me (we knew each other in school but never toked), told me bluntly in the face that he was committing adultry... as if he was just telling me "I just got a new mobile phone girlfriend..." Btw, he's a father of 1.5 (2nd 1 due in Apr). He's my age, n knew his wife for like 13 yrs, tat's almost half the number of years he's alive on planet earth! Expectedly, he is full of praises for his wife - for alwis forgiving him even learning of his infidelities (Plural btw) over the years of their courtship and eventually marriage. *Bravo*

He said that for the new year, he wish to stay more focused on his family, sever ties with the current gf. For a moment, I actually tot he was serious - by the end of the day when we left the party n he dropped me home, i am not convinced. I even have this strange feeling that he was hitting on me the whole night.

I ended up telling him that Both Women n Men are stupid, the only difference is that Women tok it out, Men dun. Mayb cos Women knew that Men is stupider, so she feel the need to TELL him, which entry angle will hits her O-Spot. Men, knowing that Women are cleverer, hence he never tells her what pleases him... instead, he spent the whole night pulling her hair trying to smash her head into his balls... Men, the poor girl will be wondering if u are trying to kill her! Just tell the Women "Deeper", i think Women are smart enough to know what it means. Lesson learnt, "ask n u shall be given!"

We toked abt how well oiled his sex machine is with his wife, everything is as reliable as the clock, how this familarities seemed to be a very grey thing - familiarity is predictable, no mistakes, reliable and no guessing needed, otherwise - fool proofed! But familiarity is Boring. For all the pros that it has, 1 con is enough to throw everything outa window. What irony!


For Matter number 3), some time back, my BGF had told me that he was thinking of calling it quits with his gf of 3 years. For the many years i know him, this is the 1st gf that he brought to family functions, introduced to his gang of kakis and i think at some point, marriage was on the cards.

When he told me tat, I asked if he has decided already. U see, a guy never really "ask" another person for advice, he "tells" his concerns n ends with his decision, esp when the person is a girl (moi). Though he said "No", i am not surprised to learn that he finally pulled the plug after 2months...

In his case, he was actually relectuant to let go, but had to after a series of failed "negotiations". He had to make the painful decision. But after 3 years together? Was the need to clinge to "familiarities" involved in this wretched play? IMHO, it's more painful to let go of 旧 (old) when u are not in sight of 新 (new).
I mourn for my BGF's loss, he's a Great guy! But i am happy for his courage to let go of old baggages n wait for new ones to come.


So for the saying of 
"旧的不去，新的不来! Old one dun go, new ones dun come! ",
i have unexplainable mixed feelings of it. A part of me welcome the new experience, yet another clinge on desparately to the old familiarites.

Oh the Wretched n Nostalgic me! 



Bad mood = Lousy Food! Xmas pressies

It is true... when I am in a less than pretty mood, my cooking turns out bad.
The true behold, my family was the one who noticed and warn me abt it. It is alwis in my extreme mood that I cook..... when I am extremely happy, or when my happiness is "less of ace".

One day when I was baking, my elder brother (who is mostly oblivious of pple's feelings) asked me gingerly:
"Ermm... AhGirl, are u in a good mood or bad mood today?"
"Ok mood lor, quite happy actually. why leh?"
"Oh, ok, then can I eat some of the muffins after u finish baking?"
"Of cos! Why u ask my mood leh?"
"Oh, cos i notice whenever u bake, it's either u very gd mood or very bad mood... then if very bad mood, u will later complain that u muffin/cake never rise properly lah, or not nice, too dry etc. So if u lousy mood today, I better not eat the muffins later. keke"

See what I mean when I say he is "oblivious" to pple's feelings... can tell me so bluntly somemore!
Anyway, then I realised that it's true! Most of the time, I cook/bake when I am in a good mood, rare occasions I do that i vent some anger - and yes, usually i end up eating all the byproducts of destruction...

--------
Honestly speaking, I am not exactly in the mood to cook. I dreaded for the day to come when I have to cook for this special days.... due to some unforeseen circumstances and misunderstanding, I kinda offended someone impt in my life. and yet i have to cook... bleah.

Nevertheless, I cooked. But as expected, the food turned out lousy (to my standard), despite the effort i put in to try to make it better. I guess i cant change the mood and queasy feeling.

Colourful greens...

Salmon belly

(more fats, more omega 3, more skin - crispy)...

Spices, herbs, chicken stock, salt, pepper, garlic... 

After marinated... bake the skin to crisp 1st... 

make sure the herb, salt, pepper and garlic is

well mixed with the greens...

In the midst of my 心情欠甲 (Mood less of ace), i forgot to take the photo of finished products n my potato wedges... haiz... what can i say?

-----------------

Some great pressies I received this year!

Bodyshop Body Butter(orange flavour!), Bodyshop moisturiser, wash + scrub (white musk!), cutesy calender (monkey like me!!), Mark n Spencer's Piglet Gummies(mixed flavour! Got cola 1!), drawstring bag (handmade!!)...

I must comment that we were all every impressed with the handmade drawstring bag! Especially so when it's made by Angel Vv... so cutesy, sweet!

Xmas pressie from CH n Daisy... 

So nice n sweet right?! 

The bag adds to my collection of sling bags from Kikki!

The rest from Starry Stella, Wendy and Joyce! 

Lousy food, great company, nice pressies....

my xmas is not that bad after all.... =I