Missing dog shows up

WISCONSIN - A MALTESE dog named Max is headed home to Florida after he was spotted in Chicago - 1,609 km from where he vanished.

Mr Richard Gonzalez had reported a pet theft after Max disappeared several months ago from his daughter's yard in Brandon, Florida, The Journal Times reported.

Mr Gonzalez says he thought that Max would never get far. But the pooch was identified in Chicago by an implanted microchip.

Mr Gonzalez contacted the Northcentral Maltese Rescue to retrieve Max. Rescue director Mary Palmer had the dog taken to Racine, Wisconsin, and he will be flown on Saturday to Florida.

Mr Gonzalez says he has no idea how his dog got so far away. He says he was so thrilled about the find that he almost asked Ms Palmer to put Max on the phone. -- AP

(source www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_296856.html)

My comments:

Simply incredible and amazing! The owner must have felt he was on the top of the world when his beloved dog was found after several months.

Year-end Plans

I read from the papers that despite Singapore being in technical recession (btw, what is the difference between the terms "technical recession" and "recession"?), year-end tour packages continue to sell well.

This is another sure trend in Singapore ie getting out of Singapore whenever there is chance.

In the beginning of this year, I dreamt of a long trip to some faraway places by A380. I wondered if arranging to meet my Swiss friends in Hong Kong would be possible since they always make their annual trip in year-end. Then so many things have happened and making a long trip overseas is impossble for me.

I am unwilling to settle down with just visiting the cut-throat island (Sen*), zoo or bird-park. In the end, a trip to Genting has been planned for this year-end.

Following the nerd's trend, I spent some money to feel "normal".

What an irony?!

What about yours?

Outside Food

Do you notice that eating outside food becomes a culture for Singaporeans? For breakfast, office-workers simply grab a sandwich along their way to the train station or work-place. For lunch, besides the office-workers, housewives also go to the hawker centre or coffee shops to get it done. For dinner, office-workers simply pack some food on their way home.

Eating outside food becomes a norm in our culture.

This is a sure but worrying trend.

Regardless how delicious outside food is, it is never as good as home-cooked home. The only advantage I can think of, for eating outside food, is the convenience. There is no need to prepare, cook and wash. One simply point at the food that looks appealing to our eyes, pay and viola, this food is on its way to our stomach.

I admit I often succumbed to this convenience. I often tell myself that after a day of hard work, why bother to cook? Just walk across the street, food is such easily available.

It is time to re-look and access this convenience, if it is good for us in the long-term.

Halloween (31 Oct)

Today, many western countries will celebrate Halloween. Although Singapore is a little modern country and we follow many western trends, the celebration of Halloween hardly takes off.

I have been on leave for the past 2 weeks and today is the last day of my vacation leave. This means from next week onwards, I have to report to work faithfully.

After sending Isa to school in the early morning, I took the chance to have a a breakfast in the coffee-shop in my neighbourhood. It always amazes me that there are so many people having their breakfast outside. And the variety of breakfast is vast. Besides the usual tea/coffee with toast bread, cakes, puffs or sandwiches. Some even eat nasi lemak, noodles, laksa, mee goreng etc. The portion of food is just like that for lunch. I wonder if they are having their breakfast or lunch, or simply brunch.

I know we need to have some food for breakfast. But having so much of food for breakfast is simply beyond the ability of my stomach. Perhaps my stomach is still sleeping.

After my simple breakfast, I walked around my neighbourhood. The feeling was relaxed. The sun was not shinning brightly. I went to the fittness corner to do some exercises. I am unsure if you are aware that there are some simple exercise equipment installed in each neighbourhood. Usually the ones who use them would be old folks and housewives. These equipment were built using tax-payers' money but I hardly use them. What a waste!

Back to Halloween, how shall I celebrate it? Maybe a pumpkin soup for dinner!

"My" Exam Is OVER

30 Oct finally arrives and the school exam is over.

While this is certainly an end to a torture, it is a start of another torture - getting the exam results.

Whatever it is, all parents and kids deserve a rest from books. The teachers will have their busy time to mark the scripts.

I have plenty of things in line to do during this year-end school holidays. Besides spending time to read some story books, I intend to keep a hamster as a pet. I will be going to the library to borrow some books on hamsters.

I will be going to Genting for a short break.

I hope to spend more time appreciating the nature and my living environment. I will take more walks around my neighbourhood if the weather is cloudy.

What about you?

Thank-you, Mr Bernard Chan

They light up English lessons (ST 30 Oct 2008)

Nine teachers are lauded for their passion, innovation in the classroom
By Malini Nathan & Lim Pow Hong

IN AN effort to make learning English fun, primary school teacher Matthew Ong developed a game populated by knights and armies that sees his pupils conquer territories on a map.
The game acts as an incentive for pupils, who gain rewards like bigger armies for doing things such as writing the best poem in class.

'I try to get my pupils to see the importance of English and how they can use it to their advantage in different contexts,' said the Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) teacher.
Yesterday, the innovation landed Mr Ong, 28, an inaugural Inspiring Teacher of English Award.

He joined eight others in winning the first national award to recognise teachers who have helped their students improve their English skills.

Jointly presented by The Straits Times and the Speak Good English Movement, the awards were handed out at a ceremony last night at the National Library.

Each winner received a trophy and a cash prize worth $2,000 from Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister of State for Education and Information, Communications and the Arts.
The winners beat 154 other teachers nominated by students, parents and colleagues. They emerged following a rigorous selection process that included classroom evaluations and interviews with judges from The Straits Times, the Speak Good English Movement and the British Council.

Madam Nordiana Sani of Mayflower Primary was among yesterday's winners. The 28-year-old was lauded for getting her pupils to act out - literally - while studying short children's stories.
'I stop at important points in the story and get my pupils to step into the role,' she said. 'They then think about what the character will do next.'

In a speech, RADM Lui said it is not easy for teachers to inspire students when they have so many demands on their time, such as marking. He believes the role of the English teacher is to infuse students with the 'excitement of the language' so it will stay with them long after they leave school.

Another winner, Mr Tan Ying Kiat, 34, said the award also works to inspire teachers.
The Nanyang Primary instructor said the honour 'will keep me going. It is an indicator that I am on the right track'.

(source: www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_296410.html )

100% for Mathematics Paper

In the late morning, I was idling around in the house when I received an sms. "Good news, Isa got full marks for maths".

Immediately I realised this must be from Isa's teacher. OMG, this bomb dropped so early. Isa just had the maths paper on Friday and the results were known.

I mentioned that Isa did not do well in the dictation because she did ot manage to hear properly to the teacher's reading. Also, Isa seemed to be weaker in languages than other subjects.

Well done, Isa!

100% for Mathematics exam paper is simply wonderful.

Year-end Exam

I did not update my blog for more than a week.

I was pretty busy and stressed. Yes, year-end exam is going on, the irrational behaviour of the global stock markets etc made me simply too moody to do anything.

Kids always ask why there is a need to have exam. I asked this question countless when I was a student. No student loves exam and wants to avoid it at all cost. But as a matured adult, I know that only through the exam, one would be able to proceed to the next level in our country. Only through the exam, what you have studied, learnt or memorised, will be recognised. Press on, the torture will be over very soon.

As for the irrational plunge of the global stock markets, nobody knows what is going on and all countries said that the whole world is going into recession. This R word again and so there is nothing I can do except to worry even more.

A Sad Story

I was at KK Hospital on 14 Oct 2008 8am.

I saw a preschooler sitting in a stroller and another girl probably in the primary school. They were waiting for their blood test before chemo treatment.

I feel extremely sad for them and myself. Cancer has affected these children. What kind and sort of life they are having? Children at this age should be worry-free and almost stress-free. But what they face is probably needles and infusion, remain seated for a few hours during chemo treatment, more medicine to be taken regularly etc.

I feel sad because as a parent, how I wish the suffering is on me, and not my loved ones.

Health is priceless. Only when one loses it, then he will learn it.

Bukit Timah Road

As a local, I am sure you have travelled along the famous Bukit Timah Road.

It is quite a long stretch of road. The start of this road is near Little India or KK Hospital. The end of this road is near Bukit Timah Plaza. From there, Upper Bukit Timah Road continues and would lead you to Bukit Panjang or even further.

There are many famous "places" along Bukit Timah Road. There are many houses and private condos. There are many famous schools such as Nanyang Girls, Hwa Chong, National Junior College, Raffles Girls, Anglo Chinese, Singapore Chinese Girls' etc, just to name a few of these top schools. There are a few wine shops and restaurants serving authentic foreign food.

Have you any experience travelling along this road in the morning rush hour say 7am to 8am?

There will be unusually more private cars due to dropping off kids at the schools. As a result, a lane is purely occupied for this purpose. It causes inconvenience to other road users especially the public buses.

I think of Electronic Road Pricing to ease the congestion!

Do You Dare?

This is Singapore's Bungy at Clarke Quay. Do you dare to try? Not me as I am very timid and shy.

A lot of people gathered to see those daring ones who tried this ride. When I was there, there were not many takers, probably it was still early in the evening.

STRESS

Stress according to a psychologist Vincent Cornelli :
"Wear and tear of the body and mind caused by life's many changes and demands. It is affected by both the environment and the make-up of the individual in the environment"

All living things experience stress almost anywhere and anytime.

A new-born is stressed because suddenly it is brought into a new environment. It used to live in the womb of its mother.

A preschooler can experienced stress from parents and preschools. In this rat-race society, parents and teachers continue to pump as much info to the preschooler as possible.

When the kid enters the school, he is caught in the streaming or ranking exercise. He knows that the only way to please everybody is to get to the peak. But how many people can a peak occupies.

When the kid becomes an adult, he faces stress from his workplace, society and parents. Questions such as "when are you getting married?", "when are you going to have a baby?", "when is your promotion?", "when can you finish this task or project?"

When the adult grows old, stress is still around. Why my eyesight is failing? Why can't I walk faster? Why do I get tired so easily?

When a person is taking his last few breath of air, is stress still around? The answer is still YES because it is very tough to have that last few breath of air. The body systems are failing yet air is still needed desperately.

STRESS is always with us at all times.

I Want A Change!

I live in Bukit Batok for more than 1o years. I am ashamed to say that I have been to Bukit Batok Nature Park less than five times. It is within walking distance from my home, yet I seldom go there to enjoy a break from the bustling city life.

I always give excuses such as the park will still be there next week, the weather is so hot and wait for a cooler and cloudy day to come, the bed is so comfortable and I deserve another couple hours of sleep during the weekend, why should I go there to feed the mosquitoes etc.

Last Sunday, I gave up a couple hours of my sleep and my favourite cartoon "Doraemon", put on my jogging shoes which were hidden in the dark corner of my store room and started walking briskly to Bukit Batok Nature Park.

The Park was already quite crowded with people, both young and old. Some people were jogging, others simply walking and chatting with their family members or friends. Some brought their pets and what a good time when both owner and pet exercise together. Isa brought her favourite blue bike.

Near the lake, there is a big playground and sandpit. There is a morning exercise session organised by 2 seniors at about 8.30am. A lot of people simply join the morning exercise.

We sweat a lot and it was quite a refreshing experience after the morning exercise.

On our way home, we went to the coffee shop to have our brunch. It was quality time spent with my family.

If the weather is dry, I will make a date with Bukit Batok Nature Park every Sunday.

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=9&Itemid=73

What to do during a Recession?

Our government has confirmed that our country has slipped into a recession. What can we do?

I think

(1) Hold tight to your present job. Job hopping is only possible when times are good. Now times are real bad, be very glad that you have a job.

(2) Do not expect any bonus or increment for this year or even next. Be prepared to suffer a pay-cut than become jobless.

(3) Watch the money that is leaving your bank account or wallet/purse. Spend only on needed and essential items. Hold back your spending on big-ticket items unless is really necessary.

(4) Keep 6-12 months of emergency cash in case you become jobless. Companies will reduce or retrench staff to cut or save costs. Today you may be working. Tomorrow you may be at home
for a long time. This emergency cash is best deposited into a bank and used for emergency cases.

(5) Falling sick is inevitable during good or bad times. Falling sick at an economy downturn is worse because one may not have much money to cover the medical bills. Have a comprehensive Hospitalisation & Surgical plan (SHIELD) is a must as it helps to cover a portion of your big medical bills.

If you have any tips on how to cope with a recession, please share and thanks a lot.

Recession has arrived!

SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Singapore's trade-sensitive economy has declined for a second straight quarter, the government said Friday, meaning the city-state has entered a recession for the first time in six years.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter annualised basis, real GDP declined by 6.3 percent in the third quarter after contracting 5.7 percent in the previous quarter, estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry said.

It did not describe the economy as being in recession, but a technical recession is generally defined as two consecutive quarters of quarter-on-quarter contractions in economic output.
Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a 0.3 percent quarter-on-quarter rise in gross domestic product (GDP), the value of goods and services produced in the economy.
Singapore's last technical recession occurred in 2002, and the most recent full-scale recession was in 2001 when the economy contracted 2.4 percent during the year.

source: sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20081010/tbs-singapore-economy-growth-0b9af05.html

My comments:

Recession means job cuts, higher umemployment rates, gloomy days etc while we continue to live in a high cost environment. This time is global recession which means the whole world enters a recession. I can't imagine the days ahead. Very, very bad and hopeless...

Disappointment

Isa can't make it to the second round of GEP selection which is to be held on 16 & 17 Oct 2008. I felt so disappointed because 5 of her friends made it and their mid-year results were no better than Isa's.

Greater expectations lead to greater disappointment.

I brought more stress to myself and Isa.

Life is never a bed of roses.

Wonderful to be healthy

I was at KK Hospital on 6th Oct 2008 around 3.30pm.

I witnessed a lady who was on chemo treatment (carboplatin) complained about itchy on her legs and wanted to go to the toilet. In a split second, the lady just went soft and she was almost on the floor before the nurses and others nearby went to hold her.

When she was seated, she did not seem to be aware of what has happened. So she lost consciousness for a few seconds.

Anyway, she was warded for observation. Her blood pressure was low too.

It is so wonderful to be healthy.

The Square at Hotel Novotel

I had a buffet dinner at The Square (level 7) at Hotel Novotel. The price for an adult was $45++ and that for a child (5-12 years old) was $22++.

There was quite a wide spread of food. The seafood section was limited as I saw only some prawns and mussels or clams. The Japanese food section consisted a few types of sushi and a few selection on sashimi. The choices for dessert and fruit sections were surprisingly wide.

The kids were particularly interested in the mush mellows and chocolate fondue. There was no ice-cream available.

There was some space meant for diners who wish to stay out-doors to have their meals. The kids could go there to play catching.

I enjoyed the lotus-root soup the most. I had quite a few bowls of this soup because it was boiled with wolf-berries, red dates, chicken and plenty of lotus-root.

The service was average as I had to ask for a refill of water a few times.

If you happen to be in this area (Clarke Quay) and want to pamper your kids, do plan a meal at this restaurant.

Clarke Quay

On Saturday, I was invited to a buffet dinner held at Novotel Hotel located near Clarke Quay.

Before I entered the restaurant, I took the chance to walk around Clarke Quay. It was a place full of restaurants. You can find seafood, food of Indochinese, Japanese, local delights and many others among the restaurants along the short stretch of road.

The most exciting was the Bungy Singapore and Extreme Swing. I was aware the existence of the former but not the latter until yesterday. For Bungy Singapore, 3 brave customers sit tight and then the elastic thick string would thrust them high up into the sky before free falling down. For the Extreme Swing, the customers would be lifted high up slowly and then allow to swing down.

I admit I do not have the guts to try these games.

The night scenary of Clarke Quay is quite unique. The sound of the river boats, the strolling of people along the riverbank, the high-rise buildings around provided a different ambience for this area.

Do visit Clarke Quay. It made me feel younger.

What is Life?

I admit that my recent posts were all on sad matters.

I continued my reading on death.

Death comprises of 2 parts: (1) the shutting down of our body systems and (2) the spirit is getting ready to leave. Death occurs only when both parts concluded. What a meaningful way to describe death.

We have seen cases where the body systems have almost come to a stop yet the person is still hanging on a thin thread, refusing to let go.

Death is not a simple and easy process.