Rule of thumb

My thought of the day

"Rule with compassion, and not with an iron rod."

The Buddha's teaching

"When the Buddha teaches others, he does so out of compassion, because the Tathagata is wholly freed from both favour and aversion."

Food for thought

Niece had an assignment to do, hence the mommy brought her to the supermart to see all the different types of veggies and fruits. There are so many types of veggies and fruits we eat (the more common ones) and yet we didn't take much notice of them normally. The wide array of varieties made up of colourful sights for the eye. Makes me think... sometimes we tend to take for granted the simple things in life amidst our busy schedule. How often do we sit down and analyse? How often do we stop to smell the flowers along the way? How often do we appreciate our loved ones and the simple gestures? How often do we appreciate a stranger who crossed our path? How often do we appreciate our close friends? Or simply, how often do we appreciate those who love us so much?

Black = Water = Wealth?

Today I painted the thin border of my main door black in order to match my beautiful golden-with-black-colour iron wrought gate. And since I have extra paint, I painted the 3 planter stands black as well. Orginally was beige in colour and rusty. Hence the 3 planter stands now matches my main door and gate very well. I not superstitious about black. In fact isn't black colour supposed to belong to the Water element in fengshui? And water = wealth. So with gold and black combination, i hope my main door entrance is even more wealth inviting now. Captured here are some of my growing greens.

Greenery

Took a few photos of the external of my house today amidst my errands. It is quite nice. I took a faulty tap mixer in my kitchen to Hoe Kee to change and then went lunch with sis. After that I went to Bugis to get some paint and brushes and loads of other household stuff. Came back, repotted my new plants and old plants. I love greenery and plants, especially when they are against my shiny white walls. Luckily my house is reasonably windy, hence my indoor plants are growing well. I bought a new hanging pot of ferns for outside my house. So now my house is looking better and better. Later during dinner, I may just get some more plants!

TGIF

TGIF!!! After the long week I am always happy and most relaxed when it comes to Friday because the weekend is finally here! Because I can sleep in late, because I can stay up late doing relaxed stuff, because I can shop for the stuff I needed and because I can snack and watch TV too.... and just do my stuff. The tension of the past week is gone, so I am over the moon.

My usual snacks during the weekends are Lays Potato Chips - BBQ flavour. And I only take one of these 3 drinks, a Jolly Shandy or Sarsi Root Beer or Kickapoo. Nothing else I would bother to drink.

Corporate Billshit?

Very fast, almost 8 weeks into my new job and almost the end of the 2nd month. First month was nothing in sales as I was still churning the pipeline and it was the hardest at the same time because of adjusting to new environment and unusual people and work styles and new job nature. So naturally was a little stressed, a little apprehensive, a little skeptical, a little critical, a little humbling experience... plenty of "a little" this and that, all mixed into one huge uneasy deprived experience.

Now the 2nd month was a complete change. With more consistency, more focus, more determination, more trying to convince others, more heck-care attitude and more thick skin and more confident, everything is starting to come together. Sales came in almost everyday, and I have hit more than my monthly target. Within the next few days before July arrives, I hope to hit twice the number of my monthly quota. And the big boss is also quite generous and supportive, after seeing the good results, he is rewarding me a few carrots as well. So the 2nd month should be pretty good. I have met a benefactor in him as well as a few others.

The aim now onwards will be continuing to build and widen my base, and the rest will be recurring sales next time. After these few months, when I have built a considerable base of my clients, I will be back to account servicing, my old specialty. Making clients happy and be buddy with them. I have past clients who came a long way with me. Once clients relationships are built, I don't have to be so self-conscious in trying to appear corporate, think corporate, look corporate, talk corporate, behave like a corporate drag all the time. All these corporate stuff was drilled into me harder than my previous decades of work experience. Everything has to "look good". I know being buddy and warm and a bit "PR" goes a long way than being a serious prude who behaves eat sleep think "corporate" all the time. How far can that takes you? Does looking corporate feed you all the time? I'd rather be a Bill anytime, folks.

Within you

Thoughts from Fann... which I roughly translated in English ...

From now on, discover yourself

Treat yourself well

Love yourself

Ask yourself

'Are you really happy?'

No need to ask another

No need to lie to yourself

The answer lies in you

If you can't find it

Search deep within you.

PS. I like her beige doggy.

Fav aunt

Today after work, met my fav aunt for dinner. We had Korean food, kimchi soup and saba fish, and lots of fruits. Simple food at a foodcourt which is pretty quiet and empty and with a good view. Good to chit chat and catch up, as normally if we do meet during the weekends, it's with a whole bunch of family members.

Just wanted to chit chat with someone over work topics and to ask her advise on managing certain issues and people I had come across. Mainly just updating each other about what's happening recently, with people around us, granny, cousins, aunts, my work, my colleagues....

My fav aunt is sort of my idol or someone I look up to and have full respect for ever since I can remember. She is the most mild mannered and understanding person I have met. She takes care of granny and granny's needs well, supports the family, loves and stood by her man for many years, doesn't splurge much on herself much. She is a high flyer in her profession and works well in everything she does. She is also my travel companion most of the time. I am naturally concerned about her well-being. I am sure sis and myself will be there for her anytime if she needs us for any matters now and the future.

Stick Gal

I find the simple style of comics girl, Stick Gal endearing. This is one of her sketches. And she is a pretty, young and sweet girl. Go to her blog to view more of her work.

Aussie trails

This was the time my sis travelled with us before she started her own family. We went Adelaide and Melbourne. Our grand old dame, granny was with us as well. We made sure we bring her along in our travels since her health is still strong. I like Australia as it's clean and relaxed everywhere ( especially the toilets, they are dirt and odour free). When we landed in Adelaide in the wee morning at 6am, a huge limousine fetched us to the hotel. We had a nice time in Adelaide visiting the wineries, the villages, the town area, and the beaches along the Great Ocean Road. We loved one quaint little German village in Adelaide, called Hanhdorf, where we took numerous shots of the houses and shops, along with the nice weather and colourful trees. We had endless picnics along the coastal drive towards Melbourne, until I was quite sick of sandwiches and sandwiches. We slipped off at times during the lunch picnics to savour any food like pies, and home made ice cream eventhough the weather was cold. I loved the one night stay in a motel in a fishing port, which was freezing and windy, and had a nice cosy romantic candlenight dinner at its restaurant. We visited the casino in Melbourne and the Chinatown and roamed and shopped at the modern shopping malls as well as the Victoria market, where we lugged back several big wooden framed pictures. We stayed at a new hotel near the train station.

Rainbows of life

Double whammy

Thought of the day : "When you have to keep telling people how you love/dote on them, it means they do not know how you feel for them at all. And when you have to keep showing people how you love/dote on them by your actions and they turn against you instead, it means they do not even value your existence at all. Are they worthy of your love and pain?"

Hungry!

Brought niece and nephew to Swensons today. Since the school is going to reopen soon on monday, both of them were pretty sad. So I thought ice cream should cheer them up a bit. Morever, niece asked me why I did not take leave during the one month's school hols to bring them out, which I normally would have), so I am lagi guilty. Told her because I have just started a new job so it's not so nice to take leave so soon. Promised them I would take leave in december during their year end holidays.

They ordered the Sticky Chewy Chocolate ice cream. I was famished as I didn't had breakfast and lunch yet (by the time we ate was almost 3pm). I had the Princely Almond Crusted Chicken. Nephew managed to wallop another plate of spagetti as well.

你还好吗？

Saw this in Dasmond Koh's blog. Yes it's nice and beautiful.

Sin Hoi San

This evening I suggested to the family we go out for dinner at Sin Hoi San Restaurant in Tiong Bahru since the school holidays are ending soon and since it's TGIF and since I am feeling relaxed and I wanted to give them a treat. We ordered and tried these dishes. I liked the San Bei Chicken and La La best. The bill came up to S$95.55. They actually charged $0.70 for each small bowl of rice, and $2 for each small plate of steamed peanuts and the pot of hot chrysanthemum was $8. Luckily I told them to remove the wet towels. I don't mind paying more to try new dishes but for the side stuff, it was not necessary to pay, I felt.

- Chilli Sambal Kangkong 

- San Bei Chicken (Basil chicken) 

- King Pork Ribs 

- Fu Yong Egg

- La La with Chilli 

- Phoenix Tofu (with century egg and crisps) 

 Sin Hoi San - 55, Tiong Bahru Road.

"where the blue sky meets the green sea"

Early this morning I met up with a potential client in the F&B industry. She is a pretty young lady with her Ang Moh partner. They just took over a restaurant in a nice neighbourhood best known to the expats and the restaurant is in their 5th day of operations. I quite like the rustic natural decor of their restaurant - the interior was left unfinished intentionally. The floor was untiled cement, the chairs and tables are all rustic white with one turquoise chair in each table. It matches the turquoise floral prints on the white walls. One side of the wall in the restaurant has the whole stretch of glass doors which opened out to the trees and nature. I can imagine it to be a romantic place at night. I must go back to try the food one day.

Cheers

By today, almost 7 weeks after I started my new job, I have closed a few deals - some minor, one big, and some more coming soon - the pipeline is slowly building up although there were minor hiccups here and there from the start, there is also the learning curve of the job which is totally new to me. I am still learning to get to know and understand the people around me better, their way of working. Although there were frequent times which I resented or disagreed with their methods and comments, I ignored them and pushed on. I tried and am still trying not to be affected by others. I believe in my own style of handling work situation and people based on my past records, only that I guess I have to prove with my numbers first, before people trust me and believe in my methods. I believe very much in follow-ups and building a good relationship with clients I deal with in the course of work. Although the money is ok if I have deals, I am not there to rip people off once and run away. Just as in friendships, I believe in building a "longer than long" term relationship with my clients and business associates as well. I can lose a deal or two, but I would not want to jeopardise my relationship with people. I guess I will prove my point sooner or later, to my workplace colleagues. On the other hand I know my attitude towards handling people has become tougher, more haughty (I guess due to past experience, I am forced to toughen up) without compromising on being professional. Otherwise people will tend to take advantage and climb all over me. Workwise, for these 3 months I will eat humble pie. If things do not work out, I will have other plans in the pipeline. If things work out well, I would have proven myself to others as well as carving new career for myself. Cheers.

Before dreamland...

Every night before I sleep, I would make sure I drink water, I have chosen what I am gonna wear the next day (but not necessarily already ironed), charge my mobile phone, make sure I check my emails, read and write blogs, read magazines, make sure my aircon is on @24, check my smses, and finally look at a few photos in my mobile/laptop. At the rate of doing these stuff, it's a wonder I am even in bed before 12 midnight. However these few days I tried and still trying to make sure I am in bed by 11pm or 11.30pm. I really need to sleep. And when I am in a long deep sleep then I will have dreams. That night I dreamt of someone I did not expect to, and this person has grown much thinner and tired and sad looking. SZ told me that person is missing someone badly. Hmmm. Anyway although I slept at 11+, ended I still woke up at 5am, because of that dream. Damn.

Received from friend .. "you are greatly loved"

Viva la Paris!

I was in Paris a few years ago, stayed a whirlwind 2 - 3 days. They said Paris is the most romantic place on earth, but I begged to differ. While the structures, scenery, the vibrant artistic culture, and all the shopping and fashion were so sophisticated and breathtaking, the only thing that didn't leave me a good impression then was the people. Somehow, French people seemed an arrogant lot, they were too proud of their language that they preferred to ignore Asians or those who spoke English to them. From the french lady cashier in Monaco casino to the french man in a cart stall selling Tshirts on a Parisian street, their service were anything but courteous. Although I saw the Mona Lisa, although I saw the Eiffel Tower, although I saw the tunnel where Princess Diana's crash was, although I loved all the artefacts and musuems, I couldn't make myself like the people. It was an eye opening trip, although Paris will not exactly be the place on top of my "must visit again place" list.

12-month target

My one year plan for now is to be able to drive this - the cute Toyota Rush - a white or red one. I actually like black colour for cars as I think black looks slick and classy in whatever car model. However black is not exactly my lucky colour. So I prefer to stick to my safe and lucky colours - which is red and white. Green is also another option, but nah... I don't think green looks nice on a car, unless its a very very dark deep green one. So this is my target for the next 12 months, since cars are insanely expensive to maintain in Singapore. Otherwise, if things turn out even better than I expected, maybe I can get Rav4 or Nissan Murano. I like rugged big cars or jeeps. I don't like traditional family saloons.

The crane

A friend made me this tiny paper crane a long time ago, and I still have it. For thousands of years the Japanese culture has treasured the crane as a symbol of honor and loyalty. The crane is a majestic bird which mates for life and is extremely loyal to its partner. The bird is strong, graceful and beautiful. Because of the great importance of the crane, the Japanese people feel that a person who folds 1,000 cranes will be granted his or her greatest wish. When will I get my 1000 cranes?

Lazy susan

Yesterday I finally bought a glass lazy susan for my dining table. As my table is big, it can be difficult to reach out for dishes at times. Hence after searching for a long time, finally found this in a shop in Chinatown which specialises in anything for a F&B outlet. There you can find everything you need. Originally I had wanted a marble top but it was quite difficult to find. Found one but it was going to cost me $300+ for a small slab of marble, or I have to get it customised which is going to cost me more, and the print and design may not necessarily match with my current marble top dining table. So in the end, I settled for this glass piece with a bit design for $100. I lugged the glass piece back myself. Phew.

Charming man

Today I realised the type of man I am attracted to. I have always like Richard Gere, the charming man with kind eyes. And I have always like Alex Fong the HK actor, also the charming man with kind eyes. But I didn't realised how similar both men looked in features. Today then I know. Both have the deep penetrating eyes and eye brows. Both have similar lips and shape of the mouth. Both have strong jawline. Both have wrinkled at the side of the eyes when they smile. So yes, I would fall in love with any man with this mold. Ha.ha.ha.

The Buddha says...

Knowing life is short, how can we quarrel?
- The Buddha

Our time is too precious not to love.
- Jack Kornfield

Turkey days

Once upon a time, I went Turkey with 2 of my buddies. Geographically, Turkey forms a natural bridge between the old world continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. The Anatolian peninsula is where Asia and Europe are divided by the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. We travelled the many parts of Turkey from Istanbul to Canakkale/Ayvalik to Izmir to Kusadasi to Pamukkale to Antalya to Konya to Cappadocia to Ankara to Bursa, all in 12 days. It's always fun when travelling with close friends. Some places of interest we visited were:

Hippodrome
Sultan Ahmet Camisi (Blue Mosque)
Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia)
Yerebatan Sarayi
Topkapi Sarayi
Suleymaniye Mosque
Kapali Carsi (Grand Bazaar)
Misir Carsisi (Egyptian Bazaar)
Canakkale Bogazi (The Dardanelles)
Canakkale
Troy
Behramkale (Assos)
Bergama (Pergamum)
Acropolis
Kizil Avlu (The Red Court)
Ephesus
Heraclitus
Basilica of St. John
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Konya (Iconium)
Mevlana Museum
Sultanhan Caravansary
Cappadocia
Nevsehir
Uchisar (Uchisar Fortress)
Goreme Acik Hava Muzesi (Goreme Outdoor Museum)
Ankara
Anitkabir (Mausoleum of Ataturk)

Oh brudder

Since I am at it...this is my bro, when he was 2 or 3 years old. And when he was 23. Can you detect any similarity? Somehow I missed that cheeky little boy whom I always doted, who was ever hyperactive running around creating havoc for everyone. Now he is a quiet and steady well-built grown up man.

Our "girly"

While going through past cards and letters from friends, I stumbled upon an envelope, inside of which was a stack of various random photos, of myself, family and friends and niece when she was a baby. I packed the random photos for a friend to help me scan this stack of photos about a year ago, but it didn't happened. I didn't managed to pass to friend to do it for me and I know I won't be able to do so now. Then I didn't have a scanner since the last one got spoilt few years back. I have finally bought a new scanner recently, hence started scanning all my old photos which were not taken by digicam last time. And tonight I found these photos in the envelope. Finally this set is one of my favourite photos of niece when she was a baby. We used to call her "girly", a bubbly smiley happy baby. And the one in black and white photo is her Mom when she was young. Can you detect any similarity?

TCC chat

2 weeks ago, was at the most cosiest and quiet TCC outlet in Singapore for dinner. The most appropriate place for chit chat. We tried the main course chicken-forgot-the-name and the Fiery Lentil soup. And of course we didn't missed the dessert creations: Ti-rum-misu, Cocoa Mosiac and Cheesecake-ba. To top it off, I needed my usual passion fruit soda. Understandably I couldnt take their coffee, else I would be counting sheep that night.

Holland blooms!

How invigorating the blooms are in Holland, in Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam. These were taken few years back during Spring time. Anyone who loves spring flowers, especially tulips, should visit. The beauty of these gardens and blooms captured in photos does not do justice when captured in pictures. Keukenhof is only open for about two months in the spring. I also managed to cruise down the river in Dam Square seeing the houses, its beautiful architecture. I only didnt like the red light area in the city where the vibrant night life is, with the women parading themselves and soliciting through the glass windows (prostitution is legal in Holland). There were brothels, sex shops and musuems everywhere.

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Heart sutra obstacle-clearing puja

I rearranged my bedroom's furniture and repacked my stuff today. I have the habit of shifting my furniture around sometime. I do not like a "fixed" look for too long, and most importantly, I must feel good with the arrangement, else I will shift the items till I am satisfied and if I have a good sleep as well. I love weekends, because it's the only time I can rest and relax.

In the evening I went Drophenling for the Heart Sutra obstacle-clearing puja. No one is obstacle-free all the time, hence it's good to go for this puja, whether you are facing any obstacles or not at the moment. The 12 monks and Geshela conducted this special puja. As usual, before the prayers started, I offered light to Buddha, as well as wrote on the small card to dedicate the merit of the puja to whoever I wished to. I normally scribbled down those names of people, family and friends close to me. In addition, today I put down the name of an uncle who has just passed away from cancer to have a good rebirth, and another cousin who has been possessed by the supernatural, to be able to rid the forces asap.

For this puja, we needed to bring a worn tshirt and some coins, and we had to bite half a piece of biscuit for this ritual. The worn tshirt symbolises our obstacles and whatever bad karmic debts we have accumulated in the past and present life, because it has our energy (an alternative to the tshirt, is the cutting a few strands of our hair). Before the prayers, we were given a small piece of dough, which we could rub on any part of our body which was having pain, or we could visualise our problems and obstacles being absorbed into the dough. Then by blowing onto the dough, our bad energy was purged out of us,into the dough. All these with our visualisation. All the items: tshirt, dough, biscuits, coins were then presented on the altar of Buddha Shakyamuni and through the lamas' prayers, they helped us pray to Shakyamuni Buddha with the Heart Sutra sadhana, and also with the huge offerings of torma etc..

Yes, it felt good after the puja. Tayatha Om Gate Gate Para Gate, Parasamgate Bodhi Soha!