SamSamSuperman ;)

Take Flight

2011-05-25T14:26:00.003+08:00

"Our doubts are our traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."

-William Shakespeare

"Trappings of expectations, fleetingly absent presence of mind..." said headline seems to spell the theme of this phase of our journey. Making the task at hand yet more ardous upon a purpose most simplistic - just keep things functional ;)

It's SOoO Fluffy!!!

2011-05-17T12:31:00.008+08:00

Wisps above and tuffs to the side, volumnous stacks ahead and about... soaring above the clouds this morning, a familiar tune came to mind:

"I can’t stand to fly

I’m not that naive

I’m just out to find

The better part of me

I’m more than a bird...i’m more than a plane

More than some pretty face beside a train

It’s not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry

Fall upon my knees

Find a way to lie

About a home I’ll never see

It may sound absurd...but don’t be naive

Even heroes have the right to bleed

I may be disturbed...but won’t you concede

Even heroes have the right to dream

It’s not easy to be me

Up, up and away...away from me

It’s all right...you can all sleep sound tonight

I’m not crazy...or anything...

I can’t stand to fly

I’m not that naive

Men weren’t meant to ride

With clouds between their knees

I’m only a man in a silly red sheet

Digging for kryptonite on this one way street

Only a man in a funny red sheet

Looking for special things inside of me

Inside of me

Inside me

Yeah, inside me

Inside of me

I’m only a man

In a funny red sheet

I’m only a man

Looking for a dream

I’m only a man

In a funny red sheet

And it’s not easy, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm...

Its not easy to be me"

Off each leg of landmark transit cycles in life, man first moves from his back to crawl on fours, then to stride on twos and finally to hobble on threes. With the dawn of tech-savvy, since the stone age, some may even roll out on wheels. I'm saddened to say that though I'm no less than two-thirds of the cycle on, I've regressed to a crawl figuratively. We endeavour and strive, we've learnt that it brings growth; though sometimes it's possible to strive too hard, and lose sight of the natural scheme of things.

Just as we don't consciously breakdown the active motor-function subsets of tossing a newspaper while on a bicycle cruising around a bend at 20 Kmph, one shd not try to visualise or scribe a thesis on farting while singing in the shower, whilest turning off the tap and simultaneously reaching for the towel and keeping track of a five minute shower. In essence, trying too hard is actually possible, just let go, and take flight ;)

Nuth'in Serious, Sam...

2011-05-16T10:48:00.004+08:00

As the morning rolls off to a hazy start, I find myself seated behind the control column of a single propeller plane, thundering down the tarmac, with yet increasing speed. An odd phrase flashes across my mind, “daag!” A boisterous bellow once often heard from the lips of an eccentric German brother of mine. Brother Ilija, how’ve you been? As always, living life to the fullest, no less, I’d assume!

“Daag!”, a sound so simple, yet uttered with aplomb, masking the toils and burdens of past pains and future dues. I used to think that it was a simple slang coined by sloshed bosom European drinking buddies, shared bashfully with an Asian dreaming of global citizenship. But I’ve come to see the error of my ways. A bastardization coined by Ilija of the german phrase “Guten Tag” - meaning “good day”, said with a warm smile and a hint of an innocent shrug, seaming to suggest, “Why so serious, Sam?”

This same time, yesterday, I was wedged into the couch, irritable from the scarce intermittent bouts of rest snatched between toilet runs; having lost yet another battle with gastro-enteritis, since the pre-dawn. Seraphina had tried to wake me from a restless slumber, calling out earnestly, then impatiently, and finally shoving me irately. Regrettably, I thundered in response, and insensitively chided her for being rude.

But was she not merely struggling to move against the bulk of insurmountable momentum needed for so tremendous a task as to inject life and joy into her father grown weary from the troubles of late. Certainly it was no fault of hers; certainly the dramatic response was unwarranted, for how was she to know. As tears flowed down her cheek, the saddened expression she wore seemed to ask, “Why so serious, daddy?”

My wilful daughter simply wished in eager anticipation, just as my brothers had when they were toddlers, to rouse an unconventional ally to kick start and breathe life into a mundane day. What was I doing, again. To watch her father rise to his usual strength and nonsensical antics, was all she was truly asking, to cherish the time together, to build upon a trove of happy memories. But what I had offered was a bitter dish I myself had resented; I was most remorseful. The flashback came fast and furious, “Why so serious, kor kor?”

A decade lost yet owed to my brothers in the haunting hollow halls of a preoccupied disposition. To be there yet somewhat ethereal; missing out on life as it unfolded, simply because I was too guarded, too detached, and too self-aware to throw caution and dues to the wind. Unawake to the difference between the necessary folly of childhood and the mantle of burden that the responsibility of being an elder sibling brought.

This epiphany has cut deep, sunk in, festered, and finally done me in, and I thank the good Lord. Dense as I might be, this here theme is starting to play like a broken record, and I finally got it. “Stay awake, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” Granted one life, live it… each moment, cherish it… , “Why so serious, Sammy?” …‘cos the beauty about the ability to laugh at oneself, is seriously simple, its simply not serious at all ;)

Take it all in stride, relax, laugh, learn, toil, and enjoy each moment, for life is often hard enough as it is, muster courage and lend strength where it’s needed, and fall into the arms of those who will champion your cause when you need it, because we quite simply cannot be infallible. “Accept the simple notion that the aircraft will settle in its course, despite pockets of turbulence and thermal gusts.”

“Offer timely decisive inputs only when necessary.” …today’s flight has been the simplest yet toughest hurdle in my bid to relinquish over-control of a life so tightly-clenched. Taking-off is the easy part; it’s the landings that we walk away from that truly command respect. Relax, it’s all in God’s steadfast hands. You live, you learn ;) Simplify! K.I.S.S. - keep it simple, sam!

The Force is Strong in This One

2011-05-13T23:12:00.006+08:00

Despite the fact that the missus robbed me of the honour of introducing handheld gaming to our younglings, through the dark allure of the iphone; I finally got to trump her feat by sharing a landmark moment in my daughter’s opposable thumbs training program. It was a proud moment for me, with the wife’s blessings of course.

Pride flowed over me as my daughter flapped frantically and gesticulated wildly to the fanfare of a hip digitized soundtrack, peppered with crackles of diabolical laughter. Yes, little Nana has outdone her old man once again, adapting to the ancient art of nin-ten-do, “hai!” and beat me at a round of Raving Rabbits on the Nintendo Wii console, no less. Yes, she’s three, and I’m thirty. Though I divulge that I granted her the benefit of a head start to sweeten the experience.

Here's to the past, strength for the present, and hope for the future...

2011-02-10T14:30:00.004+08:00

The family would like to thank all, for the support and presence, in testament to the impact of the life of Teresa; who was our sister, mother, grandma, greatgrandma, and friend.

She was an unconventional person, born into conventional times, yet she dared to be different. Most of you who knew her, would recall her larger than life personality. She left a mark of intensity on all that she did. Her zest and passion for life was like rock and roll, it might not have changed the world, but it has made a difference in our lives and in the lives of those around her.

We thank all for supporting her on her many journeys, a journey most full and blessed, to have had the joy and company of her family - siblings, nieces and nephews, children, god-children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - as well as the fortune of firm friendships that have stood true throughout the years.

To care, to keep and treasure in the mind’s eye, to miss and fondly hold dear to heart, to ache deeply and fiercely cherish, is perhaps the greatest gift we can give to her. It is indeed a blessing to freely share unguarded, for we are limited by the transience and mortality of life.

We ask the good Lord for strength to tide us through the grief of her passing. For life must go on, and it will. To be in the here and now, is also to weigh the gravity of past journeys we have shared with her – fleeting or otherwise, which have shaped our capacity for growth and resilience.

The last leg of her journey has been a most challenging one. However, through the blessings of a full and robust journey, she had found the strength to endure the toll of the same illness that had taken her father. We thank the Good Lord for the grace of time she had received, to prepare for her next journey with our Heavenly Father.

She no longer has to be the impervious matriach, she’d always strove to be; we can, and we will be alright, from this point on... We thank her for being our friend, our bickering buddy, our indominable critic and biggest fan.

And to all who have not had the opportunity to say your final goodbyes in person, we thank you for praying with us here today. Do keep her in your prayers, as we’re sure, she’ll keep us in hers.

For the remaining days we've all got together, live strong, cos we once shared her friendship ;)

Goodbye, great grandma.

Goodbye, grandma.

Goodbye, mother.

Goodbye, sister.

Goodbye, friend.

We love u, and always will...

Grossology

2011-02-04T17:00:00.002+08:00

Once upon a misfortunate time, good 'ol Sammy had a roach up his nasal tract... Not to be overshadowed by his old man, Lil Phimmy popped half a roach down his disgestive tract... yup, my boy ate a roach and threw up... chip off the old perculiar block ;)

Medicated @30

2011-01-14T23:11:00.007+08:00

Side-by-side, we braved the cold night, on unsteady feet, on both counts. The sky had started to sprinkle on a light shower of intermittent rain – as I had been told in Meteorology studies, was the right terminology for ‘drizzle’ in Singapore. With one assuring hand held firm, I steadied myself as I peered into the night; then looked to her purposeful eyes.

I watched her eyes sparkle as the blue canopy ballooned at the haphazard flick of a button; this was our shield against the inclement. It was a simple umbrella made off in haste, albeit one with an ever-peaceful Singapore Casket logo embossed; although at that point, I truly felt the logo portended an ominous outlook for me. Burying the pain and discomfort, I swept her up and broke from the brick and mortar enclave as we made haste across the open patch, fixed on our destination.

We arrive at the doctor’s, for the umpteenth time in a week.

As I sat there, allowing myself to momentarily let out my weariness, I looked over my right shoulder to see her shuffling her feet, silent and wary since we entered the room; eyes everwatchful of the man with the foreboding stethoscope, with guarded intent. As I looked to her, Seraphina placed her small hand on my arm reassuringly and said,”Daddy vomit, see doctor, okay”.

A simple yet powerful gesture beyond her years, she was being brave, for me. She did not take kindly to doctors, yet was fiercely protective of me. I recounted the tale of my miserable plight of intravenous drips, jabs and blood test, stemming from a losing battle with gastroenteritis and fever. It was a sullied tale of disgust and distaste; one of a seized gut, nausea, recurrent heaving, and a severe case of the runs.

Like a young hawk, she perched by my side – watching our faces, taking in the unsettling conversation – highly strung yet selflessly protective of her injured kin. Her gaze met mine, with understanding; daddy’s going to be fine. She seemed more certain than I was. I recounted the same sparkle in my son’s eyes, earlier in the day, as he toddled purposefully along the coffee table up to me.

It was late in the morning, sometime between the cocktail of pills and tablets and just before the next retching. Sunlight had flooded across the hall through parted curtains, illuminating a miserable picture, of a pale, twisted man – hair deranged, curled foetal and shivering on my in-laws couch – death’s shadow under a mountain of blankets. Yet the bold little warrior strode precariously up to me and reached with little palm outstretched, to pat me on my cheek.

Deep within me stirred a font, not from the nausea, but from strength I knew not of. In that instant, as he flashed me an accompanying megawatt toothy grin, the pieces snapped in place, I saw from both sides of the mirror. My little Seraphim saw his dad, infallible though weather-beaten, ready to rise from the ashes. Whilst I saw a cheeky cherubim, cheery and unperturbed by the raw scars that still lined his once porcelain visage. My family is my strength, and I am theirs; I have to be strong for them.

I’m going to be thirty in a month’s time, a short three decades providently spent, not squandered, despite several unscheduled detours. I count myself a blessed man for I have had a glimpse of a tomorrow. Simply because, today, my son caressed my sullen cheek and my daughter stood between a rock and a hard place, for me. I will remember this day, as I stand medicated, though not corrected, as a father and husband for life.

This has indeed been the weakest point of my life and I thank God for my angels yet again… I do love them so.

Bad Parents Club aka Operation: Seraphim II Redux

2011-01-08T00:43:00.002+08:00

Eyes downcast, we crossed the threshold, forever entombed into the hall of infamy, vilified by the burning glares of furtive, aching, helpless eyes. Eyes that bore through to the soul, eyes that flickered from empathy to blame, eyes that knew hurt, well and the same. Awkwardly wrenched from the cover of the night, flooded by light; queue number accorded, we had entered the bad parent’s club.

It was 10:15pm, we were at Kandan Kerbau Children’s Hospital, Accident and Emergency Department; it was not where any of us should be. This was Operation Seraphim II: Redux...

Lil phimmy had taken birthday bash a Lil too seriously; in a fit of excitement, he had yet again demonstrated his superb althetic ability, in a springing faceplant off the patio, unto the grille of a rusty draincover, amidst a horified and slack-jawed family, and a most traumatised grandfather. 8th Jan tis just such a gruelling date for him... first e umbilical strangling at birth, and now an unexpected fall, his new codename's Rudolph... a year older, yet another more resilient, we pray ;)

Gravity

2010-10-22T03:18:00.004+08:00

“For God alone, my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”-Psalm 62:1-2

So be shaken or stirred… to life, to action, to care, to hurt, to love, to cry, to live. Meekly or mildly, boldly or wantonly, but do not pass this way unmoved, or you might have missed out on the essence of life itself. Know however, with faith, that the Lord has you in his hands, and has faith that you will manage life’s curves and blindsides with fortitude, for He is your strength. Just as He has and always will be mine..."

_____

What would one do if you had but a year with your loved ones... Party like there's no tomorrow, grandmama ;) and go to church, if anything, for an hour of peace a week...

Yes, and mess around with the great-grandchildren, like you've never had the chance to, with all the seriousness of stereotypical parenting of the past! have good food, albeit in tiny quantities, to savour for taste! and cry if you're afraid, we're all human, you don't have to be the impervious matriach, you've always strived to be, just relax... I thank you for being my friend, my bickering buddy, my indominable critic and sparring partner XD

You gave me a chinese name that was a bane to master at age 5, but that drove me to pick up Calligraphy, and saw me polish my penmanship and tenacity. You bought me toys on rare occasions, and taught me to cherish gifts, yet hid my toys, to punish me, which saw me stretch my creativity to occupy my time. You shared your demanding standards at all times, and your eccentric generosity at surprising moments.

Your candid appreciation for tea and a garden of greenery, lessons in life on harsh comparisons and razer sharp insults, saw us somehow always agreeing to disagree, yet we always found truce over a quiet meal. To never skip meals nor stinge on food, was always your mantra, together with the nagging importance of good dental hygiene.

You'd never bothered about birthdays and never were a conventional grandma, but you've always been an eccentric friend, one of the influences that have shaped me to be the person that I am. Many a lesson in life, I have gleaned from you, and I'm truly grateful to the Lord, to have granted me the chance to tell you how much I appreciated having shared your company on the road together... ;)

Not you... I make me SICK...

2010-02-25T00:00:00.001+08:00

Parents are the most disgusting creatures, I reckon... U look up your kid's noses; eat their leftovers, straight from their mouths, at times, and lay down to rest on mattresses stained with the foul three Ps... that's Pee, Poop, and Projectile Vomitus... disclaimer for all would be parents, you WILL find yourselves most vile and unhygenic...

Bliss is... a well fed baby

2010-02-14T23:00:00.001+08:00

research may prove that breastmilk is alcoholic... consumers exhibit various states of stupor while under the influence... whilst prolonged consumption tends to see abusers contend with withdrawal symptoms of constant irritability, restlessness and addiction...

Operation: Seraphim II

2010-01-08T20:30:00.009+08:00

Newsflash: Seraphim Netan'el braves near death and thunders his triumph...

a tuff lil fighter, this one is...

Defiantly, he struggled against the clutch of his umbilical cord around his neck; nonchalantly wearing his first two battle scars with the vaccum pump, with indifference. He bared no fear as he stared his older sista in the face, as she kissed and hugged him till he cried ;)

Happy Bull Year!

2009-02-01T21:32:00.004+08:00

Wishin all a swell year ahead, that the year ahead may be smooth and accident free ;) That all can have a fruitful year without havin to slog like an ox, listen to people yak non-stop, or put up with bull****... just wear an ever-beaming, sheepishly-loony smile, relax, don't take life too seriously, and have a great niu year! ...Ooo, and don't forget to find time to ketchup... ehehehe...

Brudders in arms... and celebrations!

2008-12-27T15:17:00.001+08:00

Tis amazing that just about this time, a decade and a year ago, we found ourselves wondering upon new directions and crossroads, having just graduated from highschool. Some with dreams in the head, yet others with goals firm in the heart. A chapter closed on the carefree days of youth, with chapters of much anticipated high-adventure, eagerly awaited, with breaths abated, looming around the bend.

Yet now, many chapters and a whole new sequel later, still to the tune of high adventure, we now pull forth livid dreams from fluffy clouds as we fly by the seat of our pants, with sparkling new characters in our tale, in tow. Yes, the eccentric 3 musketeers-brothers-kakis have now settled down, wedded off to spirited princesses, who could give one due distress if not handled with utmost care and love and all that jazz ;)

Elvin big day's today, Big Jon's a month ago. Seems like only yesterday, they were clinking glasses and offering hearty toasts at mine. Yes, I'm still baskin in the sweet afterglow of wedded bliss, 8 steadfast years with my significant better, and ever beautiful wifey, does fly by in the blink of an eye. We're now blessed with our own little bundle of curious joy, baby Seraphina, who will no doubt spin her own epic tales of daring-do, laugh, cry, dust herself off after a fall, break some hearts, and have hers wounded and mended, all in due time.

Such is the wonder of life... So cheers to all and may the music play on... The adventure truly begins now, as we embark on yet another chapter of our neverending story...

Operation: Seraphim I

2008-07-07T23:53:00.005+08:00

"Sam... Sam... This is the Ops Room, we have a no-duff situation, come-in... over."

Jolted from a restless slumber, by the cackle of the voice over the radio, I startled, suspended in the air, strung up in a hammock, at a beachfront campsite, in the dead of night. Voices stirred around me, still swirling amidst the sounds of the night, then a cognitive message, "Sam, your wife's going into labour". I called home, she confirmed, she wanted me to be there, I radioed for assistance!

"WHOA!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, families and friends, the moment you've all been waiting for... has arrived!" a voice seemed to announce. I was about to spring out of my hammock, and crush the trainers sprawled asleep on the ground beneath my abode. "Move it, people, move it, my wife's in labour! I gotta go!" I was still in partial disbelief, "This is gonna be some story for the kiddo someday!" They stirred, I sprang, they startled, I packed.

Clayton waited with me on the beachfront, we proposed to swim out to our speedboat anchored offshore. He gets changed into wetgear. Ops room radios back confirmation of support pickup being despatched. I update wifey on E.T.A. Clayton and I share a nostalgic conversation on the beach, while we waited. Other trainers awake, and wish wifey and baby all the best, while offering congratulatory tidings.

Ops support swung by in a speedboat, Captain Kahar was beaming, so was I. I hopped on, we zoomed off. Ops room was on comms, Course Director Zippy, couldn't get through to the cabbies, we made a push for Changi Ferry Terminal instead. We docked, Kahar waved, Zippy congratulated on comms, I ran.

I dashed for the road, with my assortment of gear clanging off my pack, I looked like a christmas tree. I stopped mid-sprint, to the stare of onlookers, as I sought directions from the nightwalkers of Changi, on the choice place to catch a taxi. I spun to run, and almost slammed into a 'sister'. I side-stepped and muttered an apology, to the reply of a smattering of peppered language, I could not make out...

I ran to the kerb on the corner, and flagged down a passing cab, I dived in and announced, "Am in a rush, wife's giving birth, just drive!" He floored the accelerator, with a focused determination, I scrambled for the belt, with sweat on my brow. We made great time, we swerved, we sped (within legal limits, ahem), we cut lanes (with due care), we screeched to a halt at my in-laws place. I thanked him, and flew upstairs.

She was a picture of calm, she was gonna be a beautiful mum. She smiled an anxious smile, I assured her. I chucked my pack of assorted gear, and grabbed the pre-packed ready-to-go hospital gear, and whisked wifey off to the hospital. She was insistent on filling the registration forms, the nurses were duly impressed, I was duly concerned. We made it to the delivery ward, and began the long ardous wait.

The delivery ward was nothing like we imagined, less pomp and pizazz. Contractions, dilation, graphs and intervals were the featured vocab of the day. I gleaned all the knowledge I could from the mid-wives and nurses, and did all I could to stand by my lady. I was the cheerteam, the voicecoach, motivator, graph interpretator, and screambuddy, all rolled into one, in the absence of the medical staff due to 3 other deliveries that morning.

Fierce contractions started at 5am, she gave in to request epidural at 9.15am, and our little baby Seraphina Nicolette finally greeted the world at 1311hrs, wide-eyed and smiling. My heart melted at the sight of both my darlings. I am a blessed man.

Lost In Translation...

2007-11-11T00:27:00.001+08:00

Japan revisited, tournaments attended, skin blistered, sleep deprived, body broken, muscles strained and pulled... yet lovin every moment of it...

Tis been an unexpected tournament lead-up, with Ilija and Ken for company. Chilly morning runs, mistaken identities, unforseen travel hiccups, weapons training, hot baths, onigiri, the Tokyo Tower and 24-hr convenience stores ;) sweet...

Hair for hope ;)

2007-06-30T22:10:00.000+08:00

Howdy folks,
aye.. tis been a while. How ya all doin? Am good, accident free so far ;) Perhaps ur wondering wat i've been up to of late, eh? Well, i'll be shaving off my hair for the children in need of hope ;) This very Sunday, at Velocity @ Novena Square, 1st July 2007, 1230hrs... which is, tomoro! So, if u be free, do mosy on down and support them. Why i am doing this? You can check it out the link below:
http://www.ccf.org.sg/hfh/webApp/shaveeBIO.php?identificationNo=259

Till later,
Sam:)

How to Market Bottled Sweat and Instant Hair Loss

2007-04-21T20:49:00.000+08:00

Ever sat there wondering what the lastest ads at the big screens are really trying to sell? Just can't help reinventing some ads at the big screen sometimes...

"Since the summer of 1965, scientists invented Gatorade, the sports drink that has kept elite athletes going and going. Is it in you? Made from the very perspiration of top athletes, all the sweat and pain brought to you in a bottle ;)"

Then again, there're stranger ads, such as...

"Clear, anti-dandruff shampoo. Say goodbye to itchy, oily scalp, dry hair, and split-ends. Say goodbye to hair, Clear, nothing works quite like it ;)"

This is not an endorsement, nor am I suggesting the misrepresentation of the said products, but simply illustrating an example of poor advertising...

Know Ur Roots

2007-03-25T23:43:00.000+08:00

Jus the other day, I got into the lift with a nice old malay granny, who struck up conversation with me. For the life of me, nothing she said registered; i strained my ears and raised my brows, but still, it twas a no go... twas then that I came to a startling realisation... she was speaking to me in malay. In embarassment, i meekly said, "sorry, but i'm not malay". The lady then glared at me in astonishment. She proceeded to stare even harder, and gave me an accusing, did-u-check-urself-in-the-mirror look, swiftly followed by the pity-ur-ancestors look. Alas, this situation has now become common due to nature of my job in the outdoors ;)

Fwah...ah...ah..ah!

2007-03-17T13:07:00.000+08:00

Real life is oft stranger than fiction ;) 12 years on, and here I find myself, virtually unrecognizable, char-boiled black, pushing personal limits and quinessentially eccentric... Jus ended a 5-day run with the denizens of NUS High - with 15 teens whose appetites and food-focus easily match mine ;) heyhey, afterall, birds afeather do congregate together. To those who do know me, tis quite a fearsome sight to witness 15 Mini-MEs chomping and wolfing down anything remotely edible, in total abandonment, which is in summary, what beheld me this week during Land-expedition.

Tis been a great year thus far ;) no really it tis!

A Quarter of a Century + 364 Days & Counting...

2007-02-18T22:04:00.000+08:00

A year in review... much has happened, the blue planet has revolved yet another round, as lo and behold, the world sits upon the edge of their seats in manic anticipation of a bittersweet day... a day when day turned into night and night into day, when clocks skipped a second, and hearts skipped a beat, as the earth held its breath, as a little bundle of terror breathed his first, peeping out through sleepy eyes, and glared at the man in white who had the nerve and audacity to Buddha Palm my bare bottom, in true blue kungfu style... yes, twas the day I came to be... the bane that i am, that i am ;) Me 26th year of terror approaches in mere hours...

Happy Ancient Chinese Beast Anniversary

2007-02-17T21:11:00.000+08:00

Allow me to take this opportunity to bid thee many well-wishes on the eve of an ancient Chinese custom... as I mark the day of the fall of a primevil beast, so fearsome and legendary, that we still observe pagan rituals of blasting firepowder, thumpin on gongs, and much hooting & hollering, all decked out in blood-red finery, to commemorate the day... Happy Chinese New Year folks ;) Shin Nen Omedetou!

Breakin Breakneck Speeds...

2006-12-13T00:56:00.000+08:00

Boundin' over hills, ant-hills, that is, and rushin' around at breakneck speeds, has finally taken its toll... alas... it would be apparent, sadly, that me 'av finally broken me neck... *sob* Sustained what the good 'ol chap in the white garbs described, or clinically and affectionately termed as, "a really bad neck sprain... *dramatic pause* ...I'm afraid, ahem!" So here i am, trodding around with my neck in a cervical collar, minding my own business, and here's the good citizens out sniggering at me, every corner i turn, haiz... and everyone's taking pot shots at me, wife-y was poking me shoulders, brothers were jabbing my ribs, and everybody's trying to trip me... when it rains, it pours... looks like i have to do a triple-back-flip-nose-dive-pirouette-into-sleeping-buddha-half-lotus-position over some bonfire high flaming pomelo leaves, just to garner some better luck for the festive season... btw, merry x'mas pple, arg...

Unhappy Feet

2006-11-23T12:49:00.000+08:00

"I know size can be daunting, but..." Arg! after recuperating from a swollen left toe tendon jus a month or so ago; am now the proud owner of a swollen right foot from the kiss of an unknown sea creature in the swamps of Pulau Ubin. 3 puncture wounds, sharp burning pain, shot up the foot to me ankle, to calf, to knee T_T twas suspected to be a catfish, though personally me thinks it could have been an elephant fish, cos i've now got elephant foot, eheheh ;) Dang, why me? all these freak accidents, alas, that's what life's about - keeping one on one's inflamed toes, isn't it? hardy har har... imagine this, i've only got a wee little size 9 shoe, yet lo and behold, here, to me horror and surprise i find meself with a size 10 tak-halal-pork-knuckle-looking-appendage at the end of me right leg, where me foot should be T_T Oh the horror! Jus got back from the good doctor's with a tetanus jab and whole host of antibiotics supplements ;) tis worth the pain, to be back out there in the cradle of mother nature's arms once again...

Strolling Up Gunung Tahan

2006-10-08T22:17:00.000+08:00

Heyhey, am back from me trekking break, and 'ere be a little something I penned, whilst up on Gunung Tahan:

"A moment taken to put thoughts to paper - simple scratchings in a tent, in a forest, on a hill... this is our Tahan venture... A moment to take in the chill of the cool night - a contrast from the warmth of good food (instant or otherwise) and warm company. Many a moment shared and captured, on film, on paper; in the hearts and on the minds. Fellow instructors in a tent, fellow comrades sheltered from the cold, fellow friends amidst cheery banter, fellow journeymen on the trail to great adventure, with a common waypoint on this humble hill... A motley crew of many colours, myriad jackets and fanciful hoods, troubled tents of many sizes, soiled packs of multi-hues, and colors within, worn through... ...this is our Tahan adventure!"

was a short 9 day trip... 20-25kg packs, 3 days up to the summit, 4 days down, 1 day of caving, 1 day of abseiling, all in the name of fun, eheheh ;) all in all, twas a good pace, met the local wildlife, greedy wild boars, bloody thirsty leeches, lazy albino cave snake, scampering cave insects (cave centipedes, spiders, crickets), cave bats, and of course a bold viper perched on a tree branch on our way abseiling down the multi-pitch route ;) next stop... Mt K!

Shooting thyself in the foot...

2006-09-10T23:05:00.000+08:00

Heyhey, howdy folks, it's been a while... How's things on your end? As for me, be busy with 2 more 5-day courses before packing off to Gunung Tahan, Malaysia, for a 9-day trekking and caving trip ;) am recovering from a torn tendon on me left big toe, 3rd week now... alas, me & me freak accidents ;) been relatively low-key physically, these past 3 weeks, trying not to aggravate the injury. But tis getting me grumpy, need to train, train, train... bodies in motion, must stay in motion, can't ever slack, eh? Lesson learnt, don't ever be jumping from boat to boat, least you slip & jam your toe under the motor box...

Over the last half year, I've kayaked 160km+ from Singapore to Indonesia, headed out to sea and slept aboard a sailboat, got my Lifesaving123 swim proficiency, participated in and won a pentathlon (swim, cycle, kayak, run, climb) team race organised by OBS, gotten fitter than ever before, and broken just about every mental & physical limit. It's been a crazy time, but I've still got to apologise for my prolonged absence and uncontactablility as i'm now stationed weekdays on Pulau Ubin ;) catch you around on weekends then, either for a drink and a quick bite or perhaps a quick chat online ;) keep in touch ;) looking forward to hearing from all you doodes and doodettes once again!

Land Ho!

2006-09-03T11:14:00.000+08:00

hardy har har... ahoy 'ere land lubbers! am back after me long sabbatical on the islands ;) hav been at & o'er the sea o'er the last couple of months... ar... has life been good to ye, as it has to me? Ay, me has been taking young sea pups out into the great outdoors, ah... for the sun, the sand, and the sea, arr ;)

A New Chapter begins ;)

2006-03-17T23:59:00.001+08:00

heyhey, I'm with Outward Bound School now ;) I'll be leaving to Japan with Huixian from the 24th of this month to the 6th of April, for my Sports Chanbara Training. Huixian and I will be there to view the cherry blossoms, which I've been told, only lasts for ten days a year! The trip is gonna hurt me pocket something fierce, but I'm working hard for it. I'll be slogging all the way till the 22nd, to get the moolah we anticipate we'll require for the food and travel and sports and training and food and snacks and food ;) Argh... hehheh... I eat too much...

Attachments went swell with a good letter of reference from Infinsys Technologies ;) ...how did I end up the OB way? ...with much prodding from Wifey and Ilija, i guess ;) had to go for 4 interviews before getting offered the OBS Instructor job. It was an interesting process, including a 3 day, two night endurance camp on Pulau Ubin. Those crazy days felt like a weird parallel of Survivor ;) All in all, it was a challenging experience.

Attachments came to an early end, supervisor agreed to release me, as my ol company needed help at the IT Exhibition at Suntec City from Wed till Sun. twas interestingly manic as usual, dabbled with the Microsoft product line again, the XBOX 360 launch this time, met old friends and long-lost loyal customers. Will slog till the 22nd, then pack, then it's off to Japan for two weeks for Sports Chanbara training, then back on the 6th, for wife's 2nd Degree Honours graduation ceremony on the 7th, then rest... then onward with me Outward Bound life.

Till my next update, have a great time, and keep smiling ;)

Plodding up Mt. Ophir

2006-01-08T23:58:00.000+08:00

Jus got back with me missus and some friends, from a short weekend trekking trip to Mount Ophir ;) twas a nostalgic back to nature feeling, fresh air, cool weather, ahh... wat's life without the great outdoors! All in, our party of 7, consisted of me wife and I, Ilija from germany, Wilson the army regular, Chris, Qingzhu and his girlfren.

We'd set off on friday nite via railway to Segamat, Malaysia. Tis a great way to travel to malaysia really, though the airconditioning in the train car was a little too cold. As a tip, the train tickets are considerably cheap and hassle free, and is a viable alternative to coach or air fares. While shivering, we managed to catch our 40 winks in between hopping out at checkpoints, to stretch our frozen appendages.

Now the funny thing about weather forecasts is though they strive to be accurate, they rarely are. The trip was almost aborted on Thursday, due to the forecast for scattered thunderstorms throughout the entire weekend. Eventually, it hinged on Ilija's decision and the fact that this was his only opportunity to trek through a primary rainforest in these parts with us... and so, with hope and a quiet prayer, we went on with the expedition ;)

Hello hello...

2005-10-03T11:56:00.000+08:00

Allo-bonjour-good'ay-howdy-ohaiyo-g'mornin folks! How's the going? Work? Life? Am finally on me final semester. Could it be the light at the end of the tunnel? I think not... there's still plenty of academic journeys calling out. Yes, as most of you who do know me, would say, I took the scenic route in education, and the bumpy road in life ;) but it made me the man I am today, appreciative and wiser, and if not for the many trials, most of us might never have met, and forged the ties that have sustained us to this day, eh? Meantime, hang loose, doodes and doodettes, c'ya around!

COMEX comes to an end...

2005-09-05T11:05:00.000+08:00

its been a hectic weekend at Comex 2005, twas running a combi section for ATF and Microsoft (Ingram Micro)... bartered XBOXes, games, software, wireless desktops, and laser / optical mice, for brain cells, over 4 days, till I lost me voice ;) ...twas some feat indeed, gunning down unsuspecting hardcore singaporean bargain-hunters with techno-jargon and crazy-speak, till they handed over their hearts and their cash, eheheh... of course, it helps to speak heavily accented indian / french / brit / american / arab english, for even the most discerning shopper could not hold out against the carefully balanced, heady dose of verbal bombardment that all began with a seemingly unarming word, "yves, vell, basically..."

dragged wifey in tow this time ;) she was supposed to shadow me, but due to manpower shortage, she had to man the CD / DVD multimedia section, her first stint in tech-gadgetdry retail, but she was awesome... and thanks to her, I actually got mm-mmmingly great food to eat from the food fair... lil sis-in-law, HB, cut class to help out at the fair... she was assigned to assist with Xbox sales, and true to form, this protege of mine did well (except for the crazy part abt telling a pushy customer that the fair was over, "so noooo discount for yooou, understaaand?" )... she's almost ready for the service industry.

Meetin the honorable Shirai Sensei...

2005-08-22T00:48:00.000+08:00

If there could be a word to summarise the experience, the word would be jolly kewl... Sensei has taught us much and shown us more, by example, what leading a life as a gentleman truly means ;) It's been inspiring, and the whole experience truly humbling...

Our club fared well at the 1st Singapore Sports Chanbara Tournament 2005... we all learnt a great deal and improved tremendously in the past week training under Shirai sensei. All in all, we've got lots to do to bring up the overall training standard in Singapore, if we are to compete in the international tournament in Japan, this year end.

There's a saying which states, "it reflects poorly to have both the weakest and strongest amongst one's ranks, for it shows an underlying lack of unison; for instead of flaunting superiority, the strong should assist the weak... for indeed does the true strength of an army lie in each of its members' fighting spirit."

...the adventures of Samsamsuperman as "Retail Boy", your friendly salesman ;)

2005-07-03T23:36:00.000+08:00

bohahahaha... today I commence my tour of duty as retail boy at ATF 'Daily Planet' Multimedia... watch out evil salesmen, for today, I take on a pledge to combat shoddy service, and defend the humble ideals of best bargains, greatest deals and the ever elusive... customer satisfaction! bohahahahaha...

Love and Marriage...

2005-05-29T00:57:00.000+08:00

on this day I marry the lady of my life, me partner in crime, my muse... our wedding solemnisation's today ;) after weeks and months of running around, its all come together ;) and now, for the traditional ceremony, where we'll repeat it all again, on a greater scale, with twice the mayhem and chaos ;) but I know whatever comes, my heart's safe in her hands... and I'll do all I can, to love her and cherish her till forever comes... for from today, I'm her man ;)

IT Engineer Eskimo... dat's me ;)

2005-04-28T21:09:00.002+08:00

recovered from me bout of the sniffles... still feelin a lil lethargic... been cooped up in the workshop these past days, hunched over my quasi-antartic 'workspace' churning out flowcharts and 3D engineering drawings by the minute like an underpaid chinese sweat shop worker... wait jus one moment, wat am i sayin... i'm not gonna be paid! T_T yep, tis a sad tale, of life as a student on the final project phase ;)

Industrial Project commences this fateful day...

2005-04-25T11:57:00.000+08:00

am down with a cold... probably caught it from lack of hydration and all that shuttlin, in and out of semi-antartic air-con labs... and runnin hm jus now... dang... will go rest now...

top 'o the mornin to ya ;)

2005-04-13T00:00:00.000+08:00

arg, ahoy there, land lubbers! aye... tis finally up, me blog, that is ;) phew, tis odd, that it is... talkin at once to everyone, yet to no one... hmm... workin on random concepts ere, we'll see how it goes ;) suggestions, comments? heap 'em on...

Ohayo gozaimasu!

2005-04-12T04:04:00.000+08:00

Hajimemashite, watashiwa Samueru desu! 24 sai desu. Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu! ;) ...and so it is, upon this fateful day, with but a simple short entry, do I commence my web-presence... watch this space ;)