Christmas Shopping

I wanted to plan ahead - as with previous years, avoid the crowds, avoid the last minute panic buying.

Yet somehow, other than Matty's Thomas the train set, I bought nothing!

Finally I went to Parkway Parade today and bought Ian, Michelle and mom some clothes.  Yeah, I always fall back to that.  Need to buy K and R their Xmas gift and perhaps one for Ian's maid who's pretty nice.  Washed my car the other day cos she thought it looked a little grimy from all the raining of late.  I am more than willing to pay, the question is always, buy what?  Sigh.

I think sporty people are the easiest.  Walk into Runners Gait or one of these friendly local sports shops.  Buy anything in there!  At least I would be pleased with a gift from a place like that :)

Ok, 3 more gifts and I'm completely done.  Cal/Riz - what to buy?  K, Ian's maid - what to buy?

ERP heart attack

I just paid $5 in ERP to go to work.  Yes, I almost screeched to a total stop to wait the few offending minutes.  Mental note to self : Never between 8:30 to 9:00am.  Never again!

Support you in the back side!

Got an email from a vendor called EVSP.  They replied to say that they "believe EVSP is ability to be your OEM/ODM partner to be support you in the back side !".

Don't support me in my back side!  

Mobile phone market leader - Samsung

Samsung is now no.1 mobile phone in 2012.

I remember a conversation we had in the aisle back in 2006 with some smart co-workers.  We speculated 2 Asian phone makers to rise to the top : Samsung and HTC.  HTC seems to be straggling a little... let's see if they make it through.

My penitential mass - week 3 of Advent. Is it Christmas yet?

The penitential services have begun island wide.  I picked out 17 Dec Monday at Novena church.  At 5pm, I  was tempted to go home.  Re-looking at the schedule of churches and dates, none worked better than 17 Dec at Novena.  Sigh.  Drag feet there.

It was raining yet traffic was remarkably smooth, a sign from the heavens.  I was there early, plenty of time for evening mass at 6:30pm.  I made mistake no. 1 - I browsed the bookstore.  Stepped into the church at 6:20pm - saw a queue for confessions.  Idea!  I can skip penitential service altogether and be done early enough to even skip mass.  God heard that thought.  Precisely at my turn, it was over. Drats and double drats.  If only I didn't waste time browsing the bookstore!

No choice, sat down through mass.  Then I made mistake no. 2 of the night - threw my stupid umbrella back into car before walking to dinner at Novena Square.  Triple drats myself as I walked in a heavy drizzle all the way back to church, just in time for penitential service as it begins.

Mistake no. 3 - I chirpily asked a warden where's the best place to sit.  She sternly replied, "inside the church - please follow our instructions".   Fine, be like that.

The presiding priest ask that we all stay after our individual confessions so that we can end the service together as one church. Right - of cos.  We were quickly directed to different sections for our confessions and I jumped up to queue at the foyer.  "It will be quicker", I whispered conspiratorially to the lady beside me as I brushed past her.  In return, she shot me a 'chao kiasu' look.

I had prepared a scribbled list and read it to the priest.  He heard me out, looked at me and asked me to "do something different between now and Christmas".  He repeated it then pressed "Do you understand?"  I nodded.  Actually I didn't.  Why can't he give me a normal penance of 10 Hail Mary or Our Father prayers?

"Do something different" - what does that mean?  The same unfriendly warden approached and asked me if I was done.  I nodded but kept walking... out of church... to the car.. drive....home.  So much for waiting and ending as one church.

有情人终成眷属

Long time Yishun climbers, he moved to Korea to work a couple of years ago, we still see her around occasionally climbing alone.  Out of the blue, tadah!, Huda gives us all wedding invites.  Awww...

Genuinely happy to see them tie the knot finally.  Congratulations Huda and Muthu!

Jo and I came, ate, smiled broadly at Huda's sister thinking she's Huda, slap ourselves, ate some more, took pictures of the bride/groom as they arrived later and then we left!  Yeah, while the banging of the drums continued, we figured she already saw us, we already ate and, our beds were calling out to us for the customary Sunday afternoon naps.

Holiday break!

I took 2 days leave, packed a small bag and traveled all the way to Serangoon Gardens!  What a great idea, I should have done this sooner.

Smile Matty! 

Ok, don't smile Matty!   Ah, much better!

Here we are at TWG Cafe for tea.

Was a great holiday.  I had zero transportation costs (no flight nor boat ride), F&B was fully catered (ate off the family like a leech), free entertainment (his name is Matty) and plenty of time to catch up on lost sleep (quickly nap when the baby naps!).

Truly an atas holiday.  Breakfast was german sausages from Pan Pacific hotel, tea breaks was at TWG cafe in Takashimaya.  Yeah, I lived like a yuppie (minus the cost).  Now I know how the atas live.  

Sleep

I love sleep, I also love playing stupid games on my mobile.  I need to quit doing that!

Speaking of sleep, I want this!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ostrich-pillow/ostrich-pillow?ref=category

Property Tax for 2013

Yes, I love my apartment.  No, I hate paying taxes.  -__-

Please be working, oven!

I found myself rueing my decision on not getting a  microwave oven over the weekend.  Heating up dinner from the fridge is hard.  Michelle told me to just use my oven that it works the same except perhaps a few more minutes longer.

So I tried.  Put dinner in.  Set oven to 10mins.  Leave for a walk with the 2 dogs.

When I got back, the power had tripped in the house.  Something's wrong with the oven.

Asked around.  Something about our humid conditions, condensation and heating coils - not good for the oven.

Called Electrolux.  They suggested turning it on a couple of times to max heat and see if it will heat off whatever's on the coils.  Ovens need to be used often apparently to keep the coils in working condition.  Which works well for me.  I hope the coils are ok after warming up.  I'll just have to pick up baking now.

Pets

Another myth busted.

I used to think that pets and children are perfect substitutes - you know, substitute goods in economics 101. E.g. rice and bread, coke and Pepsi.

After 1 weekend of dog-sitting, I can understand why people say that.  But yet it's not quite the same.

Yes so pets are cute.  When I nap, they nap at my feet, when I watch TV, Toby sits beside me or at my feet (I often step on him when I jump up suddenly), they follow you around and give you their sorrowful doggie eye stare.  If you fear loneliness, a dog would be ideal.

It was all very clear when Matty and his parents came by for lunch.  Matty touched the ears, the paws, patted the backs and then he held their tail and said "push" and tried to push the dog forward like it's one of his movable toys.  If I could pull my phone out for a photo, I would have!

With the kid and the dogs together, we only had eyes for the kid.  The poochies somehow knew their place, so Toby would leave the minute Matty comes near while poor Josh just sat there and tolerated Matty's molest.

I did get a pretty restful weekend, nice to get a chance to wind down as the year draws to a close.

But I was glad to give the poochies back Sunday night.
Then I spent 3 hours cleaning the house so there is no funky smell, the carpet is back out, the throw cushions are back on the couch again.

Reflection

Not Reflections the gorgeous condo where I had the privilege to visit twice in recent weeks - thanks J, your new pad is awesome!

But self-reflection.

Let's start with my thoughts same time last year : http://feldreams.blogspot.sg/2011/12/looking-back-on-2011.html

So I achieved 3 out of 5.  *clap clap* 

What did I not achieve :

• Job - it's been a little slow going.  My efforts to kickstart anything has not come up to much.  I don't know what else to do but to keep praying and to trust in the Lord.
• Sports - I overdid it with 15 events in 2012, but in the process I now have a string of personal best records : 4:22 (full mara), 2:04 (half mara), 0:53 (10k), 6:51 (50km).

My goals for 2013

• Stay prayerful - more Him and less me.  It's a battle I often lose.
• Be close to family - this one is easier with I/M & Matty than with C, and especially hard with mom.  Needs work.
• CaFE.  The last quarter of 2012 has seen a flurry of activity and the team is now much more close knit.  It's great.
• Sports.  I am contemplating : 

• First half 2013 : North Face City Run in Mar and Borneo marathon in May.  Actually I'm already registered for these 2 races!
• 2nd half 2013 : Half Moon marathon in Sep while attending Steph's wedding in California, and Taroko Gorge marathon in Nov, Taiwan.
• Backup plans : Safra AHM (if I don't go to California) and either Stanchart marathon or Taipei Marathon (if I don't do Taroko Gorge, and if I need to babysit Matty while I&M run in their first Stanchart)
• Break the 2 hour half marathon target that eluded me this  year.

• Discipline.  This is a common refrain.  Every year end I say this and every year I fail miserably.  I will try harder.
• Not intending to focus on human relationships.  I feel if I am successful as a christian, then I should accord the same treatment to all people - whether friend or not.  Yeah, in short, I think being a loner has been easier this year.  Zero expectations worked very well.  

Psalm Chapter 118

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

Let Israel say: his mercy endures forever.

Let the house of Aaron say, his mercy endures forever.

Let those who fear the LORD say, his mercy endures forever.

In danger I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.

The LORD is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me?

The LORD is with me as my helper; I shall look in triumph on my foes.

Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in mortals.

Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one’s trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me; in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

They surrounded me on every side; in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

They surrounded me like bees; they burned up like fire among thorns;

in the LORD’s name I cut them off.

I was hard pressed and falling, but the LORD came to my help.

The LORD, my strength and might, has become my savior.

The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in the tents of the righteous:

“The LORD’s right hand works valiantly;  the LORD’s right hand is raised;

the LORD’s right hand works valiantly.”

I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD.

The LORD chastised me harshly, but did not hand me over to death.

Open the gates of righteousness; I will enter and thank the LORD.

This is the LORD’s own gate, through it the righteous enter.

I thank you for you answered me; you have been my savior.

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.

LORD, grant salvation! LORD, grant good fortune!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

We bless you from the house of the LORD.

The LORD is God and has enlightened us.

Join in procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

How important is sleep?

Had lunch with some HP folks and we started out about health and somehow morbidly veered into dying suddenly and the rise of cancer as no.1 killer.

K's point is we don't sleep enough anymore.  So the body has no chance to detox, hence our cells go mad and turn cancerous overnight.  And then it rapidly escalates cos of the high toxins in our bodies.

Get 8 hours.  She said pointedly.  Mayo clinic thinks 7-9hours. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/how-many-hours-of-sleep-are-enough/AN01487


Ironically, runs contrary to what I always say - you can sleep when you are dead!

Hmm... perhaps she does have a point.  I should sleep more esp now that I've been blessed with a very comfortable home of my own.

It's winter!

I miss the cold wintry mornings of Taipei... 

Phone rehab

Matty is on phone rehab.  His parents think it's too not good for his eyeball development to be squinting into a small screen.  So now he suffers from withdrawal symptoms, a couple of times a day, he will scream for "poone, poone, poooone!" and everyone looks away uncomfortably.


I should try this one day too.  Phone rehab ie, not screaming for pooone!

Standard Chartered Marathon 2012

I started out without much confidence, especially since my left calf was hurting (now I know it's a shin splint - due to excessive racing says physiotherapist).  But as the race progressed, I could tolerate the pain and ran quite smoothly.  At 30km, it was an easy 3:11 for me.  For a while there, I imagined I might score another PB.

Then the left calf gave way, and starting from calves, to knees, to hamstrings, to thigh muscles, every one started to cramp.  For the first time in all the years I have been racing, I stop to accept muscle rub, three times during the race.  Twice, I pulled down my calf guards to slather on the cream in a valiant attempt to sooth the pain.  And I gel myself to puke-dom, I consumed 10 gels this race!  Sam the Canadian, looked at me with horror and asked me how I kept it all down.  I don't know Sam, I was too consumed with pain from the 31km to the finish line!

So yes, the race was lost at the 30km mark.  First the pink-ballooned 4:30 pacers sailed by me, I tried to, but failed to keep pace.  By the 33km mark, I was reduced to brisk walking.  By the 40km mark, the 4:45 pacers ran by, all I could do was stare and keep walking.

In the end, I did enough to equal last year's timing of 4:47.

I went to the agreed meeting spot of the war memorial after the run.  Sat on floor and couldn't/didn't get up until Sam came over.  And then miraculously, Zilsons came by to drive me to a steak lunch and home.  I am so blessed.  A had left earlier as he hurt his knee again - but of cos he chased a 4:11 timing incensed by being forced into the over 5hours start pen.  HY, SS bettered their last year's timing and Peter completed his first ever marathon in a grueling 7:14 battle.  The first marathon is never easy.

Glad we all overcame our pain/ghosts.  Until next year, Stanchart...

My prep kit - 2 days before!  Talk about being well-prepared.  See my knee tapes all neatly cut and ready?