Happy 48th Birthday Singapore!

I would like to wish all my fellow Singaporeans a very Happy National Day! 祝新加坡， 生日快乐，国泰民安 !

Looking forward- National Day Parade 2013

I haven't updated my blog for many months. 

In a few day's time, it will be Singapore's 48th Birthday and I can barely contain my excitement this year! 

For more than the past decade, my attempts at balloting for NDP tickets was quite hopeless and I even gave up attempting to ballot in recent years. Attending NDP 2013 would be the last thing on my mind because the first two weeks of August was earmarked as my exam period for the degree course I am currently reading. My last exam date for this semester actually falls on 8th August, the Hari Raya holiday.

Maybe I would have joined the other half of the population to go on a trip over the long holiday if not for my exams..

Last night, when I was offered the NDP tickets for 9th August from an MP, I jumped for it(and for joy)!

Although I will be bringing my 2 kids together with my wife, probably on public transport and walk long distances under the sun and squeeze with many other fellow citizens(I assume)..I am so looking forward to it!

I tried looking for more information such as what time to turn up and where exactly are the entrances on the official NDP Website, but cannot seem to find the information I am looking for..Looks like I'll have to ask my friends or family who have attended recent previews..

BTW..I will not sell these tickets..my friends..don't even try.. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE! CHEERS!

Seasons' Greetings!

As we come to the close of the year 2012, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who have helped me in one way or another. Thank you!
As this is probably my last post of the year, I would also like to wish all my family, friends, collegues, clients and readers Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year! 
I know Christmas is not all about Santa..but try telling that to my kids.. :P Cheers!

Mortar Bombs

I was exploring the Army Museum of Singapore for the 1st time yesterday before an event and I came across some items that reminds me of the tiny bits of creativity that helped me & my comrades find some amusement in our military service..

Before our live firing of the mortar, we used marker pens and wrote messages such as "Hello God!" and "Please bless us!" and any other messages that we wish to send away..I'll not go into the rest of the messages..I guess that is a form of prayer too!
I smiled when I think of those tough but happy times:) 

珍惜

如果你年幼时不懂得珍惜奶奶炒的饭，长大后想找回一样的口味。。已经没有了。。吃不到了！

时光如果能倒流，一定要把每一粒饭都吃完！

Apologizing for not smiling- good customer service?

I came across a shop in a recent trip to Malacca in Malaysia.

They written a sign on the wall behind their cashier's counter to inform their customers that 'when they are too busy, they may forget to smile, please forgive' and also they do not negotiate on their pricing.
Do you think this is good customer service?

There are wild oysters in Singapore!?

I quite enjoy eating raw oysters if I believe that they are fresh and of good quality.

From what I understand, such oysters, some still in their shells, are usually imported from the New Zealand region. I therefore, was mistaken that maybe oysters cannot grow in the Singaporean climate. 

That was until recently, I saw with my very own eyes where, and how some people managed to harvest wild oysters off the coast of Singapore! I ever saw people harvesting mussels around our coasts, but never oysters. 

While taking a stroll one day, I saw some people in bright life vests in the sea, clearing (what seemed to me) some 'rocks' off the sea walls. It was only when they brought the harvest onto shore and started chatting with me in Thai then I realized they were harvesting oysters & mussels for their own consumption.Well, I enjoyed eating raw oysters in Thailand too.

They kept going into the water and back with the next batches of oysters and mussels..that is until the Police Coast Guard came over acting on the feedback by the PUB staffs nearby. They were 'invited' onto the Police vessel for screening.

They were released with their oysters and mussels intact except for one of them who happened not to have brought along his work permit with him and the Police were unable to establish his identity that they had to bring him back to base.
So, the moral of the story..if you want to go harvest some oysters, bring your identity card with you? Maybe, but I am happily going around telling my Singaporean friends that there are enclaves of wild oysters growing in Singapore! 

A visit to Bosch Roadshow at Chevron House

I do not have any advertising banners on my blog. My purpose of blogging is to help me remember some of the events in my journey of life. I was somehow in a mailing group of omy.sg and they have been sending me invitations to certain events and promotions. I thought to myself that I should at least try to attend one of these events and here I go..my 1st event..Bosch Automotive Check-In Week Roadshow.

In conjunction with Bosch Car Service week, Bosch Automotive and omy.sg came together to work on a project known as  Bosch Automotive Check-In Week for the duration of 28th May- 2nd June 2012.


Now, mention Bosch and the 1st thing that came to my mind would be a series of electric drills and other similar looking tools. Never did it cross my mind that Bosch actually have a range of products for cars too!

Windscreen Wipers blades, car batteries, spark plugs, oil and air filters and even braking systems are some of the products. When I used to sent my Toyota Vios for servicing at the dealership, I did not even know how an oil filter or a spark plug looked like! All I got was a list telling me that this was changed, that was changed.. It was only recently then I got to learn from my mechanic what some of these items looked like.
The mascot for Bosch is Uncle Bob. You can see him on Bosch Automotive Facebook page.
In fact, they were giving away lots of Uncle Bob figurine at the roadshow earlier..

I was given one of the figurine to bring home, but it did not manage to reach home with me. I was taking the MRT home when a little girl approximately 2 years of age were throwing tantrums and crying at the top of her voice. There was nothing her mum could do to pacify her. I looked into my goodie bag..well..I cannot be giving the toddler an oil filter right? 


There goes my Uncle Bob figurine..I had wanted to keep him for my daughter. Amazingly, the moment the little girl received Uncle Bob..she stopped crying and completely calmed down.
Everybody in that train carriage, including her mum, looked at me with grateful eyes and I felt like a hero at that moment..I wonder if they still have some more of these Uncle Bob somewhere ;)