2 little traffic incidents on Sun

1st incident at East point carpark, didn't notice that there's a kerb surronding the pillar(cos parking lot is beside the exit slope and along the exit slope there's this yellow striped kerb, for pedestrians I suppose) so tried to make a acute u-turn(to go down the slope that's just beside the lot), too over zealous, mounted the kerb haha... suai...

nvm then made our way to Old airport rd where we met incident number 2. We exited fort rd frm ECP then have to turn into Mountbatten rd then to fort rd. From the street directory, it's drawn that it's a str rd frm fort rd to Mountbatten rd but when we got near to the end of Fort rd, suddenly realised that we have to made a left turn. so I check the road behind and in front is clear then tried to filter to the left lane to make the turn, all aof a suddenly a MPV(dunno whether it's a Wish or Grandis) appear from behind at very fast speed(didn't notice it cos there's a slight bend behind) estimated it to be running at 60-70km/h(on normal rd) by that time I was already 1/4 into that lane and that bull came charging through with horn blazing... I admit I froze at that instant, dunno whether to swerve right accelerate into the lane or stop. In the end I just stop, think I still not experienced enough having just passed my drv 2 months ago and never drove for 3 years after ORD, anyway I think if I was driving army trucks no driver would dare do anything funny to me... think that MPV driver just trying to be funny moving so fast and didn't even bother to brake nor slow down when I was already 1/4 into the lane when sensing impending accident waiing for me to make the move to avoid an accident. Anyway phew luckily no accident else dd would kill me...but I think not entirely my fault right?

Nevertheless I think the road signboard in singapore also placed very funny, it's placed at the entrance of the slip road and not before it... so until when we are very near the slip road then can see the sign and many times blocked by trees also. Kaoz think every driver will meet with such incidents anyway I read from an article, if that MPV lanka my backside most of the time the insurance coy will find him is in fault haha...Next time have to plan our route to avoid such incidents..Learnt something from it will be extra vigilant next time.

Anyway Old Airport rd FC really got alot of nice food leh(got newspaper at their store one) yummy...

Wah next wk haben start already spend $20(which is 2/5 or 40%) of next wk's $$ liao, $$ very easy to spend leh. Running into deficit also(have to dig into savings) cos spend $30+ on a doggie shirt for ronnie... still gonna spend some $$ on ink(mabbe can claim 1/2 from dad) and on a 2nd hand badminton racquet(mabbe $90-$100, orginal price is $145) which according to my fren is a very good racquet at a bargain price, my racquet all gg to spoil liao(very old already) and somemore fren wan to play badminton wif me again so have to get a decent one lor(I think I not that bad in badminton lah). Aiyah now hol spend more $$ ok lah as long as dd happy, I happy can already anyway it's the festive season now...$$ spent can be earned back right? it's not that much anyway... Will try to save more during sch term lor...

Change her Mind again

Kaoz mum change her mind again, now she wanted to keep the x200 meaning I can't sell it to earn xtra $$ for my other purchases...namely a good meal wif dd(chilli crabs mabbe) and my CISS(continuous ink system) Oh bother, nvm it's my mum after all...Wat to do? slowly save up the $$ again lor...sure will have the chance to buy the CISS and eat chilli crabs(long time no eat liao leh) someday... hahaa... mabbe after Xmas will have the $$ already...pray pray
SingTel sell letter to ask for money liao...wah suddenly I like $$ no enuff leh ....

Some Updates...

Well I guess I've not written anything for quite some time..been thinking and doing my FYP so even though it's sch hol now, I am still not that "free".

last sun went to meet dd at her place and had chicken hor fan for b'fast...quite ok lah after that we went to Tangs and bought a Samsung X200 with dd's $100 CK Tangs voucher, yah finally spent the voucher, actually didn't wan to get it at 1st but that HP shop at CK Tangs didn't have D500C so I did a 1 yr recontract and got the Samsung X200 for $100. (2 yrs recontract is free). Tot of letting my mum use it for the moment then when I am gg reservist then I can use that phone. Then my mum very jialat so fickle minded. one day say dun wan the next day say wan... now she say dun wan and I am trying to sell the phone. sighz...this the fone


Had a row wif my youngest bro, why? cos he was arguing wif my parents abt some "freedom" he desire... then he said some very nasty things so I kindof intervene... yah and he called me a big mouth " I took his drumstick and whack at his leg, dunno whether he felt pain or not but it certainly left a mark there. haha here's the argument.(can't recall much but it's something like that)

Mum:Told u(youngest bro) dun dye hair, u go dye

Dad:Now nothing to do, go lib borrow books

Youngest bro: Now hol, borrow wat books? finished O levels already leh siao ah, now is the time to have fun...

Dad and mum continue to bombard youngest bro abt his disobedience, blah blah blah Youngest bro think he knows alot keep blah blah blah but in a very unrespectful tone...
anyway it was I who notice the color change in bro's hair and informed my mum...

Me: Allow me to say something in fairness, (to my youngest bro), U are not very world-wisely as u think u are...eg, u said ur friend will get u a job at his uncle's coy, and c wat happen(he never got to go there to work and he never attempt to look for a job, ya waiting for jobs to come looking for him)...
Youngest bro: Ya U think u very clever lah, but is think only. (implying that he know more things than me..)

Mum: Ya and u go dye ur hair when we told u not to, if not for ur 2nd bro(me) we would never notice.


Youngest bro: Ya Big mouth KayPo

Me: If u dare to dye why be afraid to let ppl know? Tot u say u are man? Dare to do and not dare to own up? This is responsibility?

Youngest bro mubbling some very rude words

*Smack* drumstick(not chicken) wack on his leg

then I told my parents, u say dun let him but when he disobey u'll still just scold only,of cos he wun listen lah... c watever my parents told him not to do he will do it like coming back late... cos he noes that he would at most at a scolding or sometimes my parents are too tired to scold he would get no punishment at all... like that is educating children? haha Love education..my foot!
will work on some kids but definitely not on my bros...

Kaoz, he 16 yr old so rebellious though I can understand cos I've been thru tat stage when I was 14, I also think that my parents are ill-treating me.. guess I've grown out of that now...but my bro's attitude is really very rude lor...much worse than mine now he dun wan to tok to me...ya think I am a bootlicker, big mouth(disclose his red hair secret)...so be it... w/o him I still can survive I dun need him for anything... but mabbe he will need my help in the future...

Saw his blog even more infuriated...this is some of the stuffs he wrote..
"those iDIOTs who dun haf brains to think & ears to listen just cant get any of my thoughts into those tiny little pathetic brain cells"
of cos the idiots he's referring to my parents and me...

"SOME iDIOT want mi to go to library todae to borrow books to erm.. spend my time reading them instead of having fun..?? L0lX!!! DREAM ON!"
the idiot here is my dad...ya calling his own daddy idiot... bravo wait till my dad sees this

"some bootlicker cum bao toh gia come into the picture"
this is of cos me

And his entire blog is filled wif vulgarities....

Even though I am 9yrs older than him, worked in more coys than him and met even more ppl than him I still dun dare to say I know alot...this little guy her 16 yrs old still haben even go out to work, dare to say he knows alot... haha but anyway u know and I know, those ppl who say they are veyr good and know alot usu. knows little while those who keep quiet are usu those who knows much more..afterall empty vessels make the most noise haha

So many wans, so little $$

End of the year have arrived, I guess many of u'll would be buying Christmas presents... though many would not be christians...
Some of the items that I have "targeted" since begining of the year have also fallen in prices, suddenly feel an urge to get them.
1)MP3 player
2)Continous ink system for my printer
3)Upgrade my computer to Athlon64 and casing

Have been pondering whether to get a MP3 player since long time when my MD spoilt but that time, MP3 players are still quite expensive so in the end never got it. Now prices have fallen so much quite tempted to get one. I am not greedy, mabbe a 1GB one would suffice for me. can be of any brand as long as the sound quality and appearance is acceptable to me then ok already...now still thinking thinking cos no $$

Continous ink system, found out that the cost of using such ink is lower than buying "compatible" cartridges and somemore can use to print photos sometimes...so thinking of getting one as well... my fren got one and he says it's quite good...well gotta do some market survey 1st c which brand is better...mabbe will get one before next sem so can print notes myself...

Been wanting to upgrade my processor to an Athlon64 long ago already..now the new Athlon64 939 comes out the older 754 have fallen in price drastically so mabbe will aim for that... but then the upgrading cost may come up to $200++ (if I sold my older MB and CPU then get the new MB and CPU). Then my casing after being in use for 4-5yrs(can't rem the exact age) have turn yellowish, quite an eyesore...been wishing to change for a long time liao

wah lao if I were to grant myself these 3 wishes I think will severly deplete my coffers... not much left liao after my driving lessons and still need to save $$...
Grr.. mabbe the MP3 player and Athlon64 gonna wait...buy the CISS 1st cos that's more important..

sunboi is super poor, wan to get all things he wan also cannot...Haiz Haiz...

Bro's RS woes

Nothing eventful happened to me recently...so most of the writings here will be dedicated to some of the things I see of the people around me.

1) I think my younger brother have fallen out of love, though he's written it in his blog, but I never heard it from his own mouth so I can only say I "think" until otherwise. At home I think he's trying to act as if nothing's happen. I think he's trying to put on a show to conceal this fact.I don't know why but he should have at least tell my mum (though my mum's a bit of a chatterbox, telling her is equivalent to telling the whole family) I mean if u tok to some1, you will feel better. To me he's just trying to act strong but inside he's feeling really terrible... Using the excuse of mouth ucler he's been eating very little saying that he has no appetite cos of the ucler but I think the truth is he's lost his appetite because of his ex-gf. from wat I observe he's trying to patch up with his ex-gf and I believe that the 3rd party in his relationship is a fren of his.
I think when u are in a relationships there are bound to be alot of problems, during courtship, have to worry abt 3rd party lah, time, and $ for future plans like for my case wif dd. though we have been together for 6+ years sometimes I also dun understand wat she is thinking...most of the time, she will say this and do that. Her views of things will also change over time. for example, I also dunno why she is so reluctant to save $ for pongx4 wif me (though she had said earlier she would) afterall I think in the present society now, I believe husband and wife need to save $ together else if just one party save god know how long he/she is going to take and it's quite unfair to the saving party also (just imagine one save like mad,the other spend and enjoy like mad). Talk about couples should share woes and weal?

Oh bother I think I am straying a bit from the main topic here. From what I said earlier I feel there another component to relationship and that's tolerance. U have to tolerate your the-other-half's sometimes erratic and ilogical behaviour.

Oh another more light-hearted thing,I bought the sepxxx refillable cartridge for my Epson CX3500 printer. Damn it's all a hoax, say can refill...My foot!blaff people one, for those who are planning to buy thinking that it can be refilled, better dun buy ..cheat people's $$...!
planning to buy the inkstation Continous Ink Supply system now...else buy cartridge is super expensive... now saving $$ to buy...

The DDs Eastern Expedition

Ah finally after one and a half month can meet dd and go gaigai wif her liao...Somehow feel guilty cos can't pei her for such a long time.Why cos of my examinations lor.. SighZzz...

Sat night went dd house to drive sunshine to pick her up at expo, was kinda excited cos this is the 1st time since I passed drving that I had to drive such a far distance alone. Even in my army days while I was driving to far far places I usually have someone seated beside me(V-com mah,SAF regulation). Well not much incident along the way. only some idiot driving a SUV horned at me while I was in ECP..cos he dun wan to let cut into his lane, this stupid guy purposely accelerate when I was halfway into his lane, he was quite far when I first start to change lane so I slowly filter into the lane...Grrr should have cut inside faster then purposely slow down after tat haha...Luckily Before moving off I planned my route already AYE-ECP-EXIT 2B then to top up fuel at shell after expo. After topping up I have to make u-turn to return to expo but ended up moving to tampines before I can make the u-turn back haha not famaliar with that place so missed quite a few u-turns. In the end managed to reach expo at 830pm earlier than the estimated time of 9pm haha

Yesterday went to East coast, well not exactly east coast dunno where tat place is called but it's definitely on the east side to have prawn noodles. DD say the prawn noodles quite nice so we go try lor. Parking is a real headache there cos the parking lots are all at the roadsides and there are 0nly a couple of them.luckily for us we managed to find one that is not-so-far from the stall after turning a few rounds.
I feel it's alright lah quite nice(somemore the stall got kena reported by newspapers one leh) funny thing is that the soup base do not seem thick enough but the flavor is there. However there is nothing inside only prawns,onions,beansprouts and Zhu you zha inside... I guess all big prawn noodles have only these ingredients...If they can make the soup thicker I think mabbe it would be more delicious. haha
After the meal, we walk around the place, cos parking coupon time not up yet. saw this pet shop
at the caltex stn opposite the prawn noodle stall then we went in saw 2 king charles watever doggies there..very cute...then we bought some paus for ronnie. After that we went another pet shop futher down the road. haha this pet shop like "fighting" with that previous pet shop tell us that the other one sells things more ex lah blah blah blah... haha

then we made our way to simei-eastpoint cos dd wanted to go to wat "Pet safari" to see see look look dd bought a ear cover for ronnie and some peranakan kuehs for her family. after tat we went back cos we still have the paus in the car and ronnie still go to go for his "training" at 330pm.

that ronnie went to eat the peranakan kuehs. super glutton siahz then we bought him to his training. was feeling quite sick then have running nose,sore throat and running a temperature(when I got home then verified) glup down 2 "she chao" water but no use, ronnie's course ended at 530 then dd drove me back.

Empty Promises...

today dd told me she will be going HK wif her friend... Yah nothing really special abt it, just a trip and she ask "whether she can go or not after she have booked the trip, funny hor? the way she ask...she might as well put it across this way.."dd I am going to HK"

Tot this hol can go hol wif dd, ya a short trip, cos she keep saying she wan to go overseas but then me being a student is quite poor plus the previous driving adventure have already make me quite poor so too bad if wan to go overseas can only go short trips. Then was quite excited cos of all the 25yrs I have been on this planet, I have yet taken a plane. Poor me. Somemore she say "OK" to go Thailand this hol, mabbe she forgot that she promise me ya and somemore boasted that she will pay 1/2 of my expenses. Oh well, think I will stay in Singapore this hol, and goodbye to my aeroplane seat.

Dunno she realised it or not, but to me she seems to keep making empty promises to me, so when she told me that she gg HK, it doesn't surprise me not upset me. I mean I'm quite used to it already...think next time will call her the "Empty Promise Queen" haha example of empty promises she made so she cannot say I wrongly accuse her.

1)Promise after get dog then dun get car until after pongx4- after get dog, then think of car
already, get small OPC car then think of normal bigger car, never think of pongx4

2)Promises to save for $$ after buy car and dun think of other things - think halfway thru' cos
of "pressure", give up liao... Got abit $$ then think of how to spend it(aiyoh like that how to
save?).

3)Promise to put $$ together as saving for pongx4 fund in c'mon account.- for dunno watever
reason never realise it.

4)Promise to go short trip tis hol, of cos now is cannot lah

5)Say wan to go Korea after I grad next year in May, Since she gg HK on Jan where she gg to
find $$ to go Korea in May? she still got XXX bills to pay. Guess this is also OFF liao

Sighz sometimes I really dunno wat women wans, one moment they can say they too young to settle down, the next moment they complain that they waited too long already wan to runaway when the guy is trying to save $$ like mad(mabbe they should swap position and see), the irony is that when she complain she waited too long, she never do anything abt it other than spend $$ which to any normal logical person would make the wait longer. Sometimes when u think of it, one person saving like mad while the other seems to be interested in spending only make the saving person look so stupid like idiot like that.. like water go in from 1 end of a open-ended tube and exiting from the other taking forever to fill the tube.

The guy can also go wherever he wan but in the process will use up watever meagre savings he have accumulated over the years and will make the wait for the gal even longer. If both also have same idealogy, keep wanting to have fun and dun save, I think these 2 persons forever can kiss the pongx4 thingy bye bye... Perharps tis is the difference between the 2 sexes, the guy is usually the more rational one, look at big picture while ladies being more emotional and thus more illogical will only look at short term gains....

If 2 person are gg to be together then I think they should share woe and weal tat's the whole meaning of the marriage vows...if can only b 2gether in good times then I think they will be better off by themselves.

Right now got alot of obstacles to saving
1)Father keep saying wan to retire then we have to support the family(ya even b4 I grad and find job already nagging liao)
2)escalating cost of everything
3)single saving
4)unsympathetic family(includes sprouse side)

mabbe pongx4 thing will only remain a dream for me...

***sighZ sighZ sighZ***

Driving Test

Hurray! just passed my driving test yesterday at BBDC, 1st attempt, so happy cos no need to spend anymore $$ on drv lessons haha guess my drv instructor will be feeling the opposite way cos he can't earn my $$ anymore...
Actually I think I was quite lucky that the tester is not "stingy" though I did made a BIG mistake.. haha
wat took place yesterday...

11:30am
Met my drv instructor for last practise session, sped at BB road at 70km/h for most of the time, then went inside bukit batok to make a few turns.

12:00pm
Went inside cct to practise cct events, my weakest is vertical parking, guess I am pretty used to having big space to reverse in( cos my exp in army is mostly heavy vehicles) so when I see that there's only a small gap(which is correct) at the sides, I was quite hesitant to reverse in though I was doing it the correct way. Well my instructor just gave me 3 words "Just do it" haha..The rest of the stuffs in the drv cct I was quite good except that I always did not bother to check whether I would mount the kerb (but I never did anyway) or not haha

1pm
Left the drv cct, went drive around Bukit Batok again cos my test time was at 1:55pm. went to do all the "harder manueveres" at bukit batok like u-turns blah blah blah.

1:30pm
went back to BBDC, instructor went to "register" for me..then wait....

2:00pm
Tester came and start balloting, Tester Mr Tan XX hai was assigned to me, i was to take route 2. damn, can't go teck whye..cos I heard frm frens that if we go to teck whye area it's easier to pass, furthermore it's where I stay so I am very famaliar wif that place. Somemore Route2 gotta make a U-turn at the traffic light junction.
After that we waited for the tester to come in and call our names, then we followed them to our test car.

2:05pm
went driving round cct, Tester told me that if he beat on the dashboard, means E-brake. Ha I was never taught how to E-brake. but my instructor told me on the very day itself that e-brake just means hard brake lor. so we proceed, after finishing the parallel parking, slope and 3pt turn, while cruising along the outer lane, he suddenly hit the dashboard, honestly I was stunned for a split second, but after recovering frm the shock, I immediately step hard on the brakes and clutch...after that he said "ok" and we moved on to the next 3 items. Did some "auto correction" when doing the vertical parking, dunno why always need to return the steering abit to reverse into the lot, but nevertheless still managed to finished in 1 movement non-stop.

2:15pm
Went out of the drv cct and onto the main road, was asked to turn right upon exiting BBDC, and we drove towards Bt Gombak Mrt, slowed down when approaching the traffic light there cos there's alot of pedestrians there, but the lights never change, so I just drove ahead tot that's the most dangerous place (cos alot of pedestrians thus lights will change very fast), but later when approaching another traffic light further ahead, when I was about to accelerate pass it (very near already) it suddenly turn amber, kaoz no choice, have to shift my leg frm the accelerator to step hard on the brakes, managed to stop but slightly pass the stop line, tester "flew" forward..Die I tot this time die liao, sure fail stupid traffic light. Then he said to me in mandarin "why step so hard on the brakes, be more gentle I also flew out" Strange right? cos all the while he spoke to me in English suddenly change to mandarin. Anyway by then I was qute demoralised liao cos I tot this time sure fail liao..then at the next junction, I forgot to release my handbrake before moving off so cause a short delay, kena horned by taxi, stupid taxi cannot wait for a while..but engine didn't stall lah..then we make a "left turn on red", a u-turn then went back to BBDC.

2:35pm
Upon nearing BBDC,(all conversation in mandarin) the tester ask me whether I got drive before, I think he can tell that I do have some experience in driving. According to my instructor, from the way I change gears, turn the steering wheels, and the way I drive, it's quite obvious I got some experience. So I told him I drove trucks in army. then he ask me how coem cannot convert, so I told him I don't have enough mileage(7k km)lor. Returned to BBDC, followed tester back to office to get my results, then he said (in a nice tone) that I should "slow down" and not brake so hard. for that little hard braking incident I got 10pts. 6 for failing to slow down upon approaching road hazards(traffic lights lor), 4 for very hard braking. 2 for delay in moving off (4got to release handbrake mah, too distraught liao), and another 2 for wide turning (dunno where also) so in the end got 14 demerits points. 0pts or 18pts still pass.. haha

2:40pm
was told need to watch a driver orientation video but I was back too early(i think i was the 2nd candidate to arrived back at BBDC). but I miss that 2:45pm show cos I went to get my stuffs back frm my instructor's car.then hav to wait for 3:40pm video show. after watching the video then can go apply for license. settled everything and reach home at 4:30pm.

I think there are alot of gals taking drving now and the school passing rate is indeed higher than private. Among those in the briefing room(b4 test), There are total 12 person, 8 are gals and 4 guys. There are 8 person in the video room(some from 3:55pm test slot), 5 are gals and 3 guys. then of this 8, 6 are school candidates.

One funny think I saw yesteday, I think there was this gal who believe the rumors that dressing scantily would increase her chances of passing, so I saw this young gal wearing a tight "singlet-like" top, bra strap and cleaveage showing(quite obvious, but her boobs not very big also) lah. anyway I got dd liao so I also habor no lewd tots, just feel abit funny abt her dressing, she look as though she's gg to nightspots to "hook" some guys instead of coming for drv test. haha but in the end she still fail. cos I saw her gg back to the training ground and not to the video rm. so the logic now is dressing scantily won't help. My views: If the tester are all lechers, then if they pass u they cannot see ur cleavage again. so if they fail u they may have another chance to see the longkang right? so gals don't go believing in the rumors that dressing more scantily will increase ur passing chance. drv skills more impt.

FOr those who are taking driving test soon, it's not as scary as u (and wat other ppl told u) think lah, from my exp I don't think the testers go all out to fail first-timers. Just be careful and don't be nervous then with competent driving skills and reaction, should have no prob passing.

oh ya btw, just found out that my present drv instructor name is "johnny" not "ronnie". My previous drv instructor's pronounciation bad (or my hearing got prob ask him 2x still catpure "ronnie"). he's quite good, very patient never scold me, but he likes to sleep lah haha... most of the time I drive myself while he's sleeping sitting beside me.(can hear his snores, haha). Interested ppl who wan to learn frm him can contact me. He teaches at Ubi and BBDC.

Start of Term Break

Time fly so fast, next week would be my 1 week term break, not really for relaxation but in fact for us to catch up with any lagging school work.
Can't really relax during the week, cos still got FYP,HRM and 2 reports to finished plus another test which is immediately after the term break....
Wah looks like I am gonna be quite busy next week.. After the 1 week term break will begin another franatic race to the exams which is about 1 and 1/2 month after the break, exams begin on the 2nd of Nov, all the way to 24 Nov...So fast just start the new sch year so fast exams looming liaoz...Sighz..Exams means I gotta go retreat to my books so cannot see dd liao...think I will miss her as always..but her...ahhh don't think she will miss me lah..she got so many ppl to pei her and all of them more important companions than me...ppl like her parents lah, didi lah, ronnie, sunshine lah wif so many things in her heart where got place for me? even if got also only a little bit...*sighz*

Oh by the way, I am getting a new driving instructor, Coincidently, his name is also "Ronnie" same as dd's dog and my NS time OC. haha. This Sat no driving lesson for me because my ex drv instructor Mr Eng who transfered me to Mr Ronnie told him only last last night and very late so now Mr Ronnie have now timeslots for me..Hmm...alot ppl learning drv nowadays ah? Instructor also fully booked...Fuel prices so high still got so many ppl learn drv? Oh well next week then start lessons wif Mr Ronnie, hope he is friendly and wun anyhow scold/nag ppl.. don't like ppl sit beside me keep nagging and scolding like my army's drv instructors...grrr... Only went to drv cct once so not quite famaliar wif the place..think have to go there a few more times to familise then can take the practical drv test.. Hopefully can pass 1st time..
Pray pray Learning drv is really a big financial strain on me(esp when I am picking up the tab myself, cct lah, drv lessons lah all so ex..and I have no income somemore)sob...sob I think got someone once said wan to pay $$ let me learn drv but dunno who liao hor...*scratch head* Think max. can take 2x drv test then have to break into the piggy bank in OUB...

Another thing, so happy today, I finally found and solved the problem in the MCU program I am writing for my FYP. Grr..quite obvious the error, should have spotted it earlier...
think I quite confused by the many long lines of codes(should have at least 1000-2000 lines blah)...haha
Seems that my code-reading skills which I picked up in poly and in IA does help to siphon the codes...haha
Tested it on a simulator/emulator but hope that when burned into the actual chip it will be able to work...

Ok gtg tata!

Eventful Weekend

Sat:

Went for my last Drv lesson wif my drv instructor Mr Eng, from next week onwards gg to take lesson from his fren. Well funny right how come he cannot teach me all the way till my test... Well cos he don't have the BBDC membership so have to "give" me to someone wif BBDC membership so that I can take the driving test, guess this is a good way to save $$ for those pte drv instructors, they "collabrate", each take membership wif one drv center but they can teach students from everywhere just when the test date come, they just "give" to the instr wif the membership, so one person no need to take multiple memberships to teach students from different location.
Well, Mr Eng after my 4mths of drv lesson wif him is quite a nice guy lah, but as a instructor he is so-so lah cos sometimes he makes funny judgements, but skill-wise he is undoubtly good...and he keep saying that I am "too safe" ..haha carried fwd frm my exp as a army truck driver, Army kiasi one keep asking ppl to be safe safe and safe..thus got this mindset in me lor..so sometimes I dilly-dally at junctions cos I wan to confirm and confirm... haha..think must change lah must be a bit more "daring"
Did alot of parkings the whole of sat, parallel and vertical, cos I guess parking is my weakest link. cos though I do have some drv exp in army, but as my vehicle is big, the parking sequence is usually guided(by ruling,haha) somemore haben been drv for 3+ years already so kinda rusty haha ... Well think now after sat's practice I am quite comfy wif parking wif poles already though I do hit some poles haha but that's purposely one cos I wan to know wat i will c if my vehicle hit any of the poles. Must register that mental image in my mind as a guage of distance mah(no probs in normal lot,no poles to knock down haha.) Mr Eng said I should be able to pass 1st time, hope I wun let him down... Also hope that the new instructor will be good also.. haha

Sun:

DD as usual never called to ask me when to go her hse, as usual I gotta SMS to ask her...then she called to say that her vaccum broke down...but when I got there, she said ok liao (not I fixed huh, dun be mistaken). Then we went to Upp Paya Lebar to look for cheap rollerblades(dd pester me to buy so that I can blade wif her) cos she say newspaper advertise there got cheap blades. And so we went lor...Raining heavily but luckily still managed to find the place wif the help of the trusty street directory and a call to the shop haha. Then we found a cheap pair of blades (california Pro) $69 only...At 1st some1 say wan to pay for me wor, but when come to pay bill time, that "some1" ran away wor... Well as expected lah..so not at all angry nor surprise..Too bad lor gotta pay from my dwindling savings..now only left $745 in POSB + $300(reserved for drv lessons) in drawer sob...sob... Then dd went to the petshop nearby to buy some stuffs for ronnie.
After that we went to Bishan(anyhow drive there) to have lunch...After tat went to Junction 8 to jalan jalan....Then saw the Fila duffel bag dd bought sometime back..and I also bought one there, offer mah then can have "dd bag" (too bad not at all dd cos her fren also hav one).
Then went inside Man's studio (I didn't know when I went in cos nv look at signboard). dd saw a shirt that she want to buy for her bro: Reason: cos he paid $50 for her petrol one time. so she very grateful lor... must buy shirt as "repayment". Shirt is $46. My bday only got a small little bear bear think should be abt $9.90 at most and bought conveniently at the gift shop below her coy.(somemore is I pester one leh, cos me very poor thing,bday no1(all bros) give me present..all act blur but when their bday come I always give them presents,*sigh* too bad lah I am the sucker always)Think hor I also got help her in $$ terms leh, when she doing PT studies and no $$,occassionally I will give her $50(frm NS pay cos I also dun earn much then) think abt 2-3 times...and also got help her pay for many other things leh..think far far exceed $50 (her sunshine I also got share think I should be able to own 4 tyres and 4 doors.hehe)...how come I no "repayment present" but her didi got? unfair...unfair...me jealous of her didi liaoz...Anyway I also nv expected any frm her cos I noe she also not rich, but I still feel unfair, humph,sob sob...

Wah nowadays be her didi like better than dd leh..he gone for 3 weeks, she already miss him very much already,,dunno whether she will miss me if I am away for 3 weeks also..hmm think wun lah...after all didi is almost 20yrs feeling, dd only around 6 years so can be understooded...think I must apply to be her didi rather than dd liaoz...

***I wan to be dd's didi...I wan to be dd's didi...I wan to be dd's didi...

dd bag

Mei Shi Jian

Into my final year at NTU already, at first glance, my timetable looks quite relax. Now assignments are piling up...and they are adding up faster than I can complete them. B4 I complete the earlier ones, new ones have come.. ahh..sianz man like suddenly alot of work to do.
Especially that stupid HRM(Human resource Management),
Wat must interview managers lah, do case studies, and design and develop a product and patent it. Stupid right? worst of all we have NO development funds meaning we have to come up wif the $ ourself to develop the prototype of our product...Grrr...Still have some other assignments tat we need to do and still got tutorials and revision...and FYP...Wah haha...
Nvm think will be able to cope haha.Been coping well but quite lazy to start work on some assignments as the dateline are still quite far away(more than 2wks=far haha).
Bought 2 gadgets recently, my Adata 512MB Thumbdrive for $54(with lifetime warranty somemore) and my $178(bought during offer at courts)Epson stylus CX3500 cos my 2yr old lexmark printer ran out of black ink and I am quite reluctant to buy new one to replace cos the cart cost $50..no point keep buying mah, so decided to change to a new printer in which the ink cost cheaper(Epson's durabite ink cost less than $20, color abt $12,black abt $18). Wah think I getting more and more extravagant these days..Found that can be addicted to spending leh, now keep wanting to buy stuffs haha and getting poorer by the day.

My Thumbdrive

My Epson CX3500

Been pondering whether to change to HP or Epson, but dd say Epson good and my fren also say Epson's ink cheaper than HP's so in the end chose to buy Epson printer...so far so good leh, the scanner quality is superb...

My mum's Panasonic digicam repaired liao lor, can take pics again. haha

Sunboi's review of Samsung D500C

I've been using the samsung e700a for one and a half year before it became "ill" a few days ago. I've to say I've been largely impressed by it's slick curves and it's VGA camera. The VGA camera produces the best pictures among it's peers.

If you are thinking that the D500C with it's 1.3MP camera produces digicam-quality shots then I think you will be disappointed. The 1.3MP camera merely captures a larger picture max at 1280x1024 pixels. The quality is almost the same as the e700a. However it seems that the picture is not sharp enough for my likely.Perharps i am used to digital cameras that's why i am not impressed by the "soft" shot taken with a phone camera. There is no slot for memery cards unlike it's competing models like the Nokia 6680,6670,6230 or the Sony Ericcson K750i among others. Thus the size for media is limited to just 96MB which is to be shared with ringtones,MP3s,pictures and photos which is not very large considering the large amount of content users downloaded into their phones. The D500C cannot support the viewing of animated GIFs as well.
Samsung always seems to be one step behind it's competitors in terms of functionalities of it's phones. The phone is not cheap as well, it costs $688 for a no contract phone and $488 with 2 yrs contract(almost the same as a 3G nokia 6680)

pics taken with D500C max size and quality

Pics taken with D500C in total darkness using autoflash(sorry never focus properly)


However the design of the D500C is very sleek, the slider has good feel. The samsung LCD as usual is great with very vivid colors. With this phone, you no longer need to transfer data through the Samsung PIMS and File Manager like older phones. U can just transfer media contents just by selecting the content frm the phone and "send" it to PC using one of the sending options provided; email,IR,bluetooth etc... just like the right-click of PCs. It is also bluetooth enabled. Configuration of it is very simple and I paired with my friend's Nokia 6680 and my china-made bluetooth dongle effortlessly. The interface was upgraded to the icon-based type which looks more user-friendly. A sound-mate aka loudspeaker was included to increase the sound of the phone and I say that even without the soundmate a MP3 sound loud and nice even when using just the built-in speaker.the soundmate just gives more "ohm" to the sound.The voice clarity function is great, I can't heard the background noise(buzzing) when talking to my friend even while he's walking along a busy street. Reception was good too.

Nice design and LCD,icon based interface(finally)



Plus points:
Nice and sleek design
Vibrant and nice LCD
Nice sound output
Good reception with noise filter
bluetooth enabled(finally)
no need for properiety software to transfer contents

minus points
so-so camera(not much improvement in quality over the e700a)
too little memory 96MB only and no expansion slots for mem cards.
high pricing

Nice phone to have if you are not a very techie gadget freak.

The day my e700a died...

Sighz told myself that I should curb my spendings but then just when I said that my precious Samsung e700a died..., yes RIP on Sat, 17th Jul The LCD screen just blanked off..just like tat it has become like this:

Ah no phone for me is like dd without a digital camera..very tong ku so the next day I strucked a deal with a guy for a set of D500C for $485 with unfilled warranty card means still wif full warranty lah. but then I still feel abit cheated by this seller.
Drat, I never checked the items properly, partly bcos he was very late (745pm) and i was a bit anxious to go home and I usu have no probs wif such transactions... Frankly prior to that I have no chance to check what's in the standard package of the D500C. He told me that it's std package with xtra battery that's why i willing to pay $485. but then when I went home and double check, missing from the box is the english operating manual and the soundmate. shit! I contacted him immediately...even though he did replied, till now I still haben got the stuffs I requested although he promised that he will give me. then grrr... I went to Sim Lim Sq with some frens today(cos they wan to buy RS-MMC card). then saw this soundmate selling for $35, managed to bargain down to $18 then I just bought it lah..aiyah curse my luck lah.. now just pressuring him to get the english manual back to have the full set back so that when I trade in will be more valuable...
next time when u wan to buy from a guy with this mobile num, plz beware!
96805430

Wah spent alot last weekend cos of the D500C and also bought a bluetooth dongle for $16.90 to transfer data between my D500C and PC.

These are my new gadgets...
my soundmate and Bluetooth Dongle

...and my D500C

Hurray! managed to fixed my e700a after much difficulty and have to spend $4 on a special set of screwdrivers to open up the screws of the casing..although the LCD still cranky...color also very funny.. see below..

Curbing Spending Habits

I just realised that spending $$ can be pretty infectious. I don't know why but I suddenly feel like buying alot of stuffs. Guess it started with my Benq DVDRW which I bought got $99, been aiming for a DVDRW for quite something, think about a year already ... After that purchase, the floodgates seems to be open, I keep wanting to buy stuffs. Like MP3 player, a faster computer(need MB and CPU+RAM), and now eyeing for a new handphone(Samsung D500C). just bought a canon ixus 500 wif dd so cannot spend anymore else will have no more $. Have to stop all these tots...else will end up wif no $$ soon...

Hmm I just found that my blog is pretty boring, haha almost 90% are words ...not much pictures...

Ok uploaded all pics my "wants"

Samsung D500C

Samsung Yepp MP3 player

Dream Homestead

Was cycling at Bt Panjang when I came pass these flats. Quite near to my dream flat design already haha cos I always envisioned myself living in a flat with a full windowed living room.
All pics taken with my trusty Samsung e700a which have been with me for a year plus liao but now showing some signs of old age..

Notice the full-sized windows... can get quite a majestic view of the outside from ur living room, dun even need to stand near the window ledge...
Are the flats nice? Do they look like condominiums? They are all HDB flats!

Really hope that one day i can own one of these flats and live in it with my loved one... Guess that will probably gonna take quite a long time still...

Feel so Cheated!

Grr..
just recieved my new SAFRA card, Thought that my safra membership will automatically be void once the old card expired this March but little did I know that they deduct $32 from my IPPT money and send me the new card... Sound a bit like those credit card scam rite? they never inform me that the membership will be automatically renewed if I didn't inform them... Feel so cheated.. hard to imagine such a big (and rich) organisation also uses such "tactics"...

One happy thing is that I've recieve the last instalment of my pay from Toshiba... hohoho good now nobody owe me any money (IPPT money also in already, but $32 short), also means no more money coming in sob... sob..

Haiz yesterday failed my first job interview.. Interviewed by a guy from IDS International... he said he's a IT company, very big and a MNC..and he's the software vendor for the dutch bank ABN AMRO need assistants like us to install his so-call security software to every users. During the interview, he asked for the EXACT words /sentence I would use to "persuade" the users to let me install the software into their computers. Wow sounds abit like sales right? guess i am not eloquent enough ..I beta stick to being a engineer haha.. anyway take the interview as a learning experience lor..no hard feelings on hearing that I dun really like the job also (haha no sour grapes here..)

Had a little tiff wif dd yesterday, I know she's under alot of stress this week because she suspect her dog got illness. somemore she's worried about her confirmation. so everytime I "type" to her in MSN, I will get the "NO MOOD" response..every conversation sure have this words.. make me quite frustrated as well cos typing to her is like she's not that interested also... her whole mind is about her doggie.. I think the best way is not to talk to her till sat after she visited the vet(with her dog of cos). Only then will she set her mind at ease. then can talk..else typing/talking to her grrrrrr make people feel so frustrating, can't help but make a jibe at her yesterday...

I feel I've slipped further down the rungs again... To me, I feel like my status is just her punching bag, for her to vent frustrations at me. whereelse all her love is divided between her dog, her family and her car. I feel so unimportant... way behind all those things/persons I've mentioned. Last time is only persons, now still have a dog and a car slotted in front of me..pushing me further down... She always say I can take care of myself so she pays more attention to her dog, but being able to take care of myself means I dun need TLC from my beloved? mabbe I am just being too sensitive (or it's because I am too free these days to think abt all these)watever the case I can't help but feel that I am more and more "unimportant" to her...

The dd I wan is someone who will love me with all her heart and must place a certain "importance" to me. At least she must make me feel that I'm important to her. And this is the dd I used to know in the past. but now with the new additions and new love I dun feel that "importance" anymore. Or rather I am feeling more and more unimportant...

Perharps I should contract a serious illness then I will know how and where she values me...

NDP Preview Tickets!

Yeah I got my NDP preview tickets...
Though it's not the tickets to the actual day but still very happy cos I think I haven't been able to get such tickets for quite a long time already...
No need to queue overnight also..Yeah! Got a pair means can go with dd liao...
Look here's the tickets below...

NS = King ah?

My younger bro recently got enlisted into army, been complaining that he got no time for this and for that lah...so my mum took his words literally and helped him with this and tat. Like when he needed some stuffs, she would go and buy it for him straightaway... or she would ask my youngest bro to serve him..like bring him his food and drinks (up to him) etc...

And then the problem is I don't see him having no time to do these stuffs himself, when he comes back he would be on the computer playing games or writing blogs or in MSN chating with god-knows-who. If he comes back at 7pm( nites off) then he would be seated in front of the computer from 715(computer need sometime to startup) till 30-45mins before the time he needs to book in. and when he comes back for the weekends he would be seated the whole day pausing only for a 30min lunch/dinner break.

If he's tired bcos of NS training, he should be sleeping rite? I dun see such a case in him leh...And I definitely do see a need to treat him like a king (do everything for him) when he comes back...

Yesterday I so fed up with my mum's constant helping that I spoke up... Wah NS=King ah? must help him do everything, he cannot do by himself meh? perharps I have always been quite independent at home, whenever possible I tried to do everything myself instead of relying on others that's why I see my NS bro's behavior I am very pissed off... One time when the kettle is boiling and he never even bother to go turn off the gas when everyone is busy and he's the most free (playing computer games) he acted like he never heard the sound of the whistling kettle... Grrr...

Ok back to the topic, when I spoke up my mum say I am very selfish dun wan to help him blah blah blah and not "qing qin" sibling love watever... wah kaoz! so angry with that remark. TO show that we care for siblings mean that we have to treat them like king? serve them? do watever they wan to do? then ok why not he serve me and help me do watever I wan? wat's this? *&%#@

then we went to the topic of buying b'fast every sun morn. usually it's either my parents of I went downstairs to buy... since they brought up this topic so I reminded them that it's usu. me... then my dad says the others haben wake up so i should go buy..wah so means that those who wake up early will have to serve those who wake up late lah? waking up late bcomes a excuse for laziness? my fault for waking up early?
where's the logic? I tell u this, my eldest bro and the NS bro sometimes purposely dun wan to wake up cos they dun wan to go down and buy b'fast. actually they have already woken but they still lie in bed. How come I noe, cos when I open the door when i came back wif b'fast, they would then come out...very sharp one timing also precise... coincidence mabbe? haha I doubt so.. so I was complaining that it's quite unfair... then my mum started all her cock-and-bull story of wat qing qin lah bros must help lah etc....

Grrr.....

Super Sianz Ahhhhhhhhh!

Just finished my attachment, so sianz at home nothing to do...Sighz can't find a suitable temp job also...so wat to do? gotta stay at home and rot lor...haha
nothing to do so decided to write(or type) lor...

Ah dd's family having problems financially again... common occurance boo hoo hoo. heard from dd that her mum have to go prawn jewlleries to buy clothes(~$200) for her bro and a $500 cupboard to keep his medals and game consoles.
I dunno why but i find them to be a strange family, they always seems to like the idea of spend-first-plan-later while i believe in doing things in the inverse way that is plan-first-spend-later. It seems that their parents like to buy those expensive stuffs even though sometimes they will be penniless after that. Why? I just dun understand...from wat dd say her dad wants to protect her and her bro so that ppl will not look down on them. So mabbe her dad(& mum) thinks that by having all the ex stuffs , it will show that they have a certain standard of living and ppl will not look down on them... Wat's the point? They are not that poor neither are they that rich... why must they keep buying stuffs that are not that important? I heard a salesman tell me this and I think it's very meaningful... "In Singapore you wun die, if you can only are poor than u live a poorer lifestyle lor, if you are rich then u live a richer lifestyle" which is very true. if you are poor what for u try to live a rich lifestyle? if ppl wan to look down on u then let them lor, wat's more impt? face or filling ur stomach? buying expensive stuffs can't fill ur stomach when u are hungry rite? Dunno y they can't see that...I think I may be wrong to critise her family like that but I think sometimes frm my observation over the years that her parents (esp her mum) are still quite naive... backdated thinking
and her bro too - should know that they have some problems financially, so should try to help by spending less and not spend more... so wat if he signs on? if he earns more then he will spend more...

dd's parents always ask her for $$, and never from her bro. dunno wat kind of thinking is that... mabbe they think that daughter will get married then will b other ppl's daughter already so must use the chance to squeeze every cent from her... and poor dd always have to give in to them cos she's very soft-hearted (to them only) even though she can scream and shout at every other person (including me). so all her $$ will be channeled there.

I used to have a wishful thinking that the big sum of $$ needed for our marriage can be saved by the both of us.. but I guess such a tot is pretty far-fetch now. If she keeps giving them $ then she can't save. If she dun give she will be the "unfillial child". Anyway I've quarrelled many times with her over these so much so until I am so sick and tired of these. She have to choose which side to "scarifice". Either our marriage plans or her parents guess it's quite a tough decision. But guess her parents is more important than anything else... Frankly speaking, I really wish she could contribute some amount to the marriage funds bcos the sums involved is really quite large...

So wat can I do? just have to keep trying to save as much as possible lor...else how? dunno how long that's gg to take...Lucky thing is that my parents(at least for now) are not like hers else really die ..think we will not be able to get married tis lifetime liao..

Anyway I think keep giving her parents $$ whenever they wan is also not a solution...
Must try to work frm the bro and her parents...ask them to change, make her bro realise the situation they are facing... and her parents to realise wat they are doing is so senseless...

If they had planned for everything years earlier and started saving then perharps now her bro dun even need to sign on to get the $$ for his Uni fees... No Big TV, no DVD player, NO PS2, no Home theatre speakers, No camcorder, No $1000 handphone... somemore they bought it when the product was just launched, imagine the price they paid then and the price now... haha all bcos of some "face" issue...
Anyway ppl will noe that her bro signed on bcos of the $$ (even though some ppl signed on bcos they LOVED SAF, but who believes?), and wat does that means? most ppl will think that it's cos his family not $$ to send him to U... so see the pt? ex or no ex gadgets, we have come one full circle and still "lose face"....

Double Happiness

So happy this week,
Recieved a call from the NDP organisers on thursday that my application for a NDP preview ticket have beeen successful haha...So many years didn't go NDP already so happy and excited that I managed to get 2 tickets from the ballot. Although it's only a preview ticket but I am contented at least there are many many more other singaporeans who can't get any tickets...haha Actually I am more concern abt the goodie bags haha always got many things inside...haha

Then sat(which is today) went for my 2nd non-ICT IPPT at Maju Camp. So happy managed to get GOLD again... My left shoelaces came off halfway during the 2.4 KM run then I have to re-tie it so worried that this little incident will make me lose many seconds and there goes my GOLD and my $400 from the govt...But luckily still managed to make it back in time for GOLD.. Yeah! gonna get $400 more in acct soon... more $ into my "L" driving funds hehe

Yesterday eat roti prata at Bukit Timah with dd, expensive roti prata and not nice somemore... worse than the roti prata then the ones sold at the coffeshop near my place. Grrr... kena cheated by dd's brother say that they roti prata there nice...Even a "sui pian" eater like me also find the prata there not nice. can even taste some uncooked flour...

Yesterday was also my Last day at Toshiba Electronics... Well nothing special from any of my bosses, small and big bosses also nv treat me lunch, dinner or anything..super stingy. Spent the last 2 days writing codes to analyse directories and MP3/WMA files cos I am TERIBBLY BORED...make my boss so happy cos means he got 1 thing less to do mah haha...

Aiyah now out of job no $ anymore, called a few job agencies but they also can't find any suitable temp jobs for me(cos I only got 1 more month free mah) think gonna stay at hm and rot till sch reopen liao lor... looking forward to next month...if dd kena confirmed than we can go celebrate and eat CRABs! long time no eat crabs liao lor...Yum Yum. Maybe I will be the one paying lah but nvm...DDs shouldn't be too calculating to each other right?

Lost Control

I don't know why these few days I've been jittery. I keep fearing that dd will not be able to save $. Or fear that even if she do manage to save, her $ will be siphon off by some people. I know dd dun like me to keep bringing this up and I kept telling myself not to think about this matter, I dun know why I just can't. Maybe it's because I had high hopes for our future. Or mabbe it's because I still can't get over the fact that i help dd to purchase her car but now I am left with nothing.
Or it's the combination of both. I guess it's the fear of losing everything. I've no choice, I've to write it down somewhere..

I am left puzzled, previously, she's so adamant that she put her savings into our OUB acct to keep them away from the prying eyes of her mum, but now all of a suddenly she's dropped her interest totally, very unwilling to do so. a full 180 degrees change. I know their family's spending habits that's why I still think it's a better idea to keep them in a safe place. I will NEVER touch the $. Maybe it's beacause she is afraid that I will runaway with her $. If we can't even have the simple trust between us then how are we gg to live together in the future?

I guess the best thing for me to do now is to forget the whole matter, and leave everything to fate, do it in her family's style if got $ then marry if no $ then wait.. wait.. wait... Guess that's the only way to keep all of us happy, at least most...
All I need now is answer, an assurance from dd that she will safeguard her $ carefully and keep steering towards our common cause. Somehow or rather I feel that she's hiding something from me and i feel it's some $ things. perharps i am too sensitive, afterall to me, there's suppose to be no secrets between us.

Must quickly forget the whole thing and be happy again...

No more driving lessons blogs

Hmm I think I shall not write anymore stuffs about my practical driving lessons in my blog anymore. Whenever I write something, someone says that I am showing off when everything I wrote is the entire truth just a narration of wat happen that day. to think that it's the same person who ask me to write and that person seems uninterested to listen to my mini adventures also, shall not "show off" anymore...Grrr...

Coffers running low already, must think of ways to spend less and/or generate some income...Coming to the end of my attachment, going to be out-of-job soon. Dunno whether to find some work or rest till school reopens, next year is going to be tough, most of my frens went overseas to take a break already. No $ for me sighz think, for my case cannot rest for the month long holiday, have to find some work, hopefully to "replenish" my dwindling $ supply.

Driving Lesson #4

Today went for my 4th practical lesson, car died when I was trying to move up a slope from stop position. Haha too anxious according to my instructor, but nevertheless that's the only time my engine died for the whole lesson. Today we went to bukit panjang and Yew Tee to tour, every driving lesson seems like a joyride to me and my instructor. My insructor said that my driving skills on the public road is OK already that's why he never teach me how to make turns because I am doing OK, he said I just need to polish up the way I view hazards at traffic junctions. And of cos I still need to go to carpark to learn some parking and to sharpen my turning skills. then I can stop for a while and wait for my practical test. Wah so happy, my instructor actually regard me so highly, I only attended my 4th lesson leh. Anyhow today I managed to improve on my clutch -accelerator control. Not that much jerks liao, quite smooth....but i feel I must still practise more...He said after a few more lessons than must go to a carpark and practise parking already, and mabbe also moving off on slopes that I think I am quite weak, strangely I executed the same movement as I did for army trucks but it's not that smooth for car and engine even died once. Hmmm think the 2 methods are different must get the army driving out of my mind and concentrate on car one... Ah another thing, same comments from him about me every lesson, "I am too safe!"
Must quickly pass the test, so that I can drive dd around...pray pray...

Driving Lesson #3

Well just finished my 3rd driving lesson, nothing eventful for this lesson. Raining the whole while. So my view is kinda foggy plus my instructor car's wiper isn't all that excellent thus no matter what speed I turn to, after every wipes the windscreen is still abit on the foggy side haha. But nvm still can see... Think his wiper is abit loose...haha
today he made me do alot of turns at the minor roads in bukit batok, right turns, left turns alot of turns turn until my head is also turning. Strangely today he never take me on the 70km/h road and let me cruise at 70km/h like he did last lesson. The moment i hit about 65km/h, he told me to turn left (the 70km/h rd is the only road from my plc to bukit batok)into bukit batok.
He taught me to use my horn at jaywalkers and to c how to react according to jaywalkers who are in the midst of crossing the road or begining to cross the road. then outside Bukit Batok Drving Center (BBDC) I got to use wat he taught me. I horned at my first jaywalker a auntie lah who was trying to cross the road at the time, the moment she step out of the kerb i sound the horn already. Haha
One thing I find puzzling about my driving lessons and/or my driving instructor. He never tell me since lesson #1 when to start turning the steering wheel or when to return the steering wheel. He only taught me things to look out when turning. Even when I am makin sharp left turns, He only told me to look out for traffic and the blind spots... never told me how to and how much to turn the steering wheel at all. all the while I have been using my "fee" to make turns.. He simply have forgotten about that or I was doing the turns fine thus he think no need to teach me the turning parts? I dunno
The moment i started driving in his car he would chit chat with me about many things non stop until we ended driving and he would play his oldies music on the radio, instructor's job like very relaxing hor? haha
Oh then today also went to top up petrol at the Esso stn beside BBDC, Drat have to squeeze in between 2 cars who are also pumping petrol at that time to get to a pump. Luckily no buang any1 of them, he still ask me whether got enough space or not, I replied yes then he told me 'squeeze' through already. he trust me the "L" driver so much ah...haha
Overall I think today my driving is OK lah think should be quite good already, however I think I still abit "gan cheong" (panicky) when driving through junctions and still the vehicle jerks abit when moving off from rest(sometimes). Have to improve on these things. Instructor also say I am too "safe", keep looking at the sides when turning...tell me to confirmed already then go, no need to scare haha..Looks like next lesson have to be more daring and aggressive abit..haha

Drving Lessons

Haiz just starting my practical driving lessons, not very smooth, still can be improved..here are wat happen

LEsson #1
The instructor talked to me about some "theories" about the car and stuffs for almost an hr then I drove to Yew Tee and back the whole journey taking about 30mins. basically the instructor wans me to learn how to keep in lane and practice the clutch "biting point" and accelerator control. Alas my experience with driving is with big army trucks where their clutch and accelerator are stiffer. anyway no excuses, I kinda panick cos I am not used to the vehicle so the vehicle was jerking when it move from rest many of the times. anyway the instuctor complained that I was too slow though i was driving at about 50km/h whenever I can. Next time will try to drive faster.

Lesson #2
Today instuctor wan me to practice moving off without jerking, hmm initial stages I was doing quite well and I managed to get moving without much jerks. Then we drove to bukit batok where I drove at 70km/h at the long stretch of road. Ah this time he never complain that I was too slow. Then at those normal roads I drove at 50+ km/h this time he complain that I was too fast haha. Anyway today my leg control wasn't that good cos at some stage my legs were wobbling(make me throw clutch) and I dunno why thus today the car stalled a couple of times, 3 to be exact. haha mabbe I never adjusted the seat properly cos my heel seem to be stuck to the floor board thus I can't release the clutch properly. Will have to improve on this in the next lesson. Next we practice turning right at a junction where there are more than 1 right turning lane. Drat...I am too used to turning into the left-most lane thus when I switch to turn in the right-most lane I don't know the exact way to turn, i move straight then turn when i am in line with the lane(this is the method for turing into the left-most lane) then I got horned by the car beside me cos i was cutting into his lane..haha have to get this into my head that I am not driving a MID vehicle anymore...still need alot of improvements ah..like the checking blind spot part keep forgetting cos nv do it for long time already and I keep making wide turns(too used to long trucks grrr..)..haha
I think I trying to do too many things at same time thus make me very gan cheong (panick) must try to keep calm and relax abit.

Starting Driving lessons

Ah quite a busy day today, went to take my Final Theory test today, took only 20mins to finish the 50 qns which is even faster than the time I took for my Basic Theory Test.
Oh well hopefully I can pass the FTT. Pray...pray
then afternoon at 4pm started my 1st driving lesson...The instructor talk about everything about driving for an hour then let me drive for 30mins. drove to Yew Tee and back. Ah today didn't drive very well cos long time no drive already plus the controls are not as stiff as military vehicles. thus the feel is different guess I need more practice to be famalise with the car controls.
then the instuctor wan me to learn drv for 2 hrs per session...sighz gg to b tough on my pockets liao ...anyway promised my dd that I will learn and pass driving.
so guess the most important thing is to pass driving and not the $ part...

Panicky

Sighz rather panicky these few weeks. All because of DD's parents discovering that she now owns a car. Worried about wat? Well

1)Worried that she don't have the discipline to save for the car insurance, road tax ...then until the nearing the year end then she start to panick and save like mad.

2)Worried that her parents would ask her to buy these buy that for her "new" car until she has not enough $ to spend for the month.

3)Worried that her parents or bro would ask her to "lend" her car to her bro for some "driving lessons" around the carpark.

4)Worried that she will lend her car to her frens/relatives watever then they will buang(involved in accident). (And of cos won't pay for repairs) or she herself get involved in those accidents(non fatal) then she wun have $ to send in the car for repairs because of 1,2.

5)Worried that she would wan to "Show Off" then take her frens/relatives watever on joyrides to far places which will waste alot of petrol causing her to exceed her monthly budget.

6)Worried that because of 1,2,4 and 5 she will used up the $ meant for marriage.

This is why last week, I've sort of lost control of my emotions when she went to some re-spraying(which i feel is not needed). I dunno if she did sense that I really dun wan her to go, or that she nv did considered my feelings at all. I do realise that she would want to restore all minor defects to her new baby but to me I look at the bigger picture, think that it's better to let it be for the moment. Sometimes I think our roles are swapped, I am the more sensitive female and she is the male. Anyway these matter is over liao...so no pt talking abt it anymore.

Aiyah I also dunno why I became so paranoid, after all it isn't my car. Perharps I am also a bit attached to it as I went with her to every stage from the booking of the car to the collection of the car.
I kept saying that the $ for marriage I will save myself, but perharps I dun really meant what i said. I do hope that she can contribute some amount, but wif her parent's constant "gold panning" and her reluctant to refuse them I know it's gonna to be hard.However in my heart I do wish that she could at least try. I don't wan myself to be debt-ridden just because of marriage. With the job market so insecure, it's even more un-advisable to chalk up so much debts.

Planning to learn driving, but can't seem to find a suitable drving instructor, sianz cheap and preferably some1 acquainted, worried that i may get cheated by some stranger(after all planning to take from private instructor) lah haha. Those who collect fees from you then "disappear"

Let It Be...

SighZzz dd says she hated me now...
Perharps I did something wrong in agreeing on sat nite to let her send into the workshop but in fact I was silently hoping that she could back off at the last minute.
I keep telling myself to let it go, forget it...and I almost did..
then when the whole thing took so long until we can't even meet yesterday I became very angry again, Somemore when dd called to informed me that the whole thing could take quite a while, she sounded happy, like she thinks tat the $ was well-spent and it should b spent...All along to me it's a total waste...
the more I think abt it the siller I feel abt the whole thing then I could turn to no one but to write them all down...
I always think that we could sort things out but she got angry after reading what I wrote in the heat of the moment...now she dun even wan to talk to me...Fine
Let me be my fault, all my fault... I shouldn't have been too meddlesome, shouldn't have expect so much frm her, should have let her do everything her way, shouldn't have talk so much or provided her advices/solutions in the hope that she will follow them...(she never did anyway, facing me she has a mind of her own, facing others she will be manipulated by them)

Ya u can say I am calculating becos I keep reminding her abt $, but wat can I do? u wan me to stand and watch she sink deeper into the mire? or wait until everything's too late then start to voice out. I wan her to have a budget so that she will have enough to spend every month and possibly even some spare cash... No need to dig into her savings at all..U imagine this, if every month u have to dig into ur savings cos u are over budget then very soon even this little savings will run out. I dun wan her to develop this happen of keep touching her savings only use for emergencies...Is that wrong? Is that calculatives? why can't she see the hidden agenda?

She said she does have marriage on her minds..ya like keep saying that she wans this and tats for marriage. So this is her way of saying she have marriage on her mind right? As I mentioned earlier, mabbe I was wrong to expect too much frm her or expect her to put in the same effort as me..but in order to let her b a happy n beautiful bride I am constantly cracking my head on how to save more $, scimping and pinching everyday, then sudddenly u saw this "extravagant" thing happen, who won't be upset? At that instance I really feel that all my efforts are wasted u noe? Why can't she view it this way?

In my views, I dun think pacifying will get anyway, after all she've been pacifying her(her mum) and giving in all these years already but then wat happened? the same thing happen over and over again. So I feel perharps a hard approach would be better. Men are like tis u give them an in they wan a yard... when u r firm and they noe that they cannot gain any advantage then they will back off... After all they are mum n daughter so can't possibly carry on like tis 4ever...TO me she's please cos she has got her way and to put it crudely is "gloating" I dun understand why she's so happy over this...

She always say I dun understand her but have she taken some time to care about how I felt anot? HAve she ever taken time to note that throughout all these while she have never really listen and carry out any of my words, SHe will always listen to everyone except me. Wat other people told her is advice wat I told her is all crap.
I am sorry if I am too direct, I never chew my words...I was not born to please but to solve problems in the most correct way.

Who says I dun understand her? it's precisely this that I am so worried for her.
-I noe her mum is like that so I must ask her to stand up for herself keep giving in is definitely not a solution
-I noe she don't save that's why I ask her don't if possible touch her savings unless it's for emergencies, tis case is a non emergency and she went to touch of cos I am worried for her...
-I noe she will get angry(but didn't expect her to be so upset) but some1 will have to be the bad guy right?to constantly remind her else sooner or later everything will return to sq 1.

Anyway I've decided to give up, If she wants to carry on like this Let it be...I wash my hands off everything then perharps she will be happier and wun be sandwiched between her mum n me... I'll continue to play 2nd fiddle, shut my mouth up and just save $ quietly myself.Perharps this is the most ideal solution to her.After all in her eyes, I am nothing but a calculative, unreasonable, hard feeling , ignorant idiot who does not noe anything but scolding people....

My intentions not being appreciated is 1 thing, but being misunderstood is another...and it's really saddening

DD's angry

Now dd is angry wif me..saying that I am not supportive of her and keep scolding her...Nv understand her predicament etc...
Truth is in fact I did ok...I noe her mum is like that but the best way to keep her from doing all these stupid things is not to give in to her let them noe that u are firm then they will noe u can't b pushed...
I just dun understand why she can't see the whole picture, the bigger picture...I am not trying cause a rift in her family but if she keeps giving in like that then there will be no end to trouble only when the other party noes u can't be pushed around then the whole thing will stop.
I dun understand why she cannot realise that everything is for her own good... Not that I feel totally right, in fact I do agree that mabbe my tone was slightly harsh but it's all due to the fact tat I am concern for her...afterall the blog was written when I am terribly upset due also to the fact tat cos of the stupid car thing I didn't managed to meet her today and waited like an idiot the whole day.
I think the best way to help her is to help and advice her to make the correct decision, not to just blindly support her in everything she does.If that's the case then i would be nothing more than a pet.
I dun understand why I must also b the lamb that's sacrifice, everytime she will take the side of her mum/relatives but never on my side, u called that same freq?
If she wans to be angry I also can't do anything.
SighZzz...

Expectations of a SG guy

SighZzzz I think it's very hard to be a SG guy because of the many expectations that is expected on u...that u are suppose to have..

If Guy can't get into Uni, then he's useless,
but if he gets into Uni and then can't work which equals to no $$ then he still useless

If Guy thinks he's not cut out to be some boss or big shot then he's not ambitious and thus useless..
If all he wants is to be happy and live out the rest of his life then his thinking is wrong(not ambitious enuff) and he's still useless


Ask yourself how many people can be no. 1s? surely there must be thousands who are not no. 1 right? How many CEOs can there be? how many Presidents can there be?

All those who aren't able to reach the top or doesn't think abt reaching the top are all stereotyped as being useless or "mei chu xi". Think that's a bit unfair to the majority of the SG population. Cos I think the numbers of non CEOs far exceeds the num of CEOs. The num of non Uni grads still exceeds the num of Uni grads. Try telling the majority that they are useless... Ha Ha
Many gals(obviously or rather their mums) wan to marry rich and famous guys. How many are there? Most probably they will end up marrying the same guy and they will be kept in the dark...
Is this wat they wan?

Feeling Down...

Sighzzz these few days dunno why have been feeling quite down coupled with the super warm weather...urgh...,
1st thing, my bro just finished his BMT, and came back to stay for 2 weeks before he gets his next posting. He's been complaining that his allowance is very little, he's getting $350 and my mum feels that he has not enough to spend thus keep buying things like shirts, pants ,wallets and other necessities for him. Ok I know that i shouldn't feel that way but I feel that she's practising favoritism, which makes me quite upset cos when i was in army I dun rem getting such treatments and what's more my allowance at that time was even less, $220 only...He's getting $130 more already can't he take care of himself and buy the stuffs he need himself? Grrr...
Seems that no 1 care abt me anymore...
2nd thing, been quite worried whether I will be able to save enough $$ to get married with my beloved dd.Dunno why,It's seems that the more I try to save, the more I would need spend. And though I am trying my best already it seems I am not making much progress,at most $300 every month and then in between my stuffs break down, i.e. my alarm clock spoil then I have to spend $$ to get a new one.... Grr...why? is it so hard to save $$? I've been trying very hard, very tired already...My dd says she wans to save as much as possible but she's been living a pampered life(mabbe she dosen't realise it) since young so don't really expect her to be able to save much, only hope is that she don't overspend than I'll b more than happy...
Many things I wan, I also refrain myself from buying...Pathetic? Now I really wish to spend some $$ just to please myself(and vent my frustration) but I noe that after i spend I will regret it cos i could have save the $$ for better use...
Then her family sigh...Keep associating wealth with a man's achievement and put very high expectations for me to achieve else I would be deemed "Mei Chu Xi"(worthless) by them. Sometimes I think my dd is also affected by this labelling. All I wan is to live happily Is that too much to ask? Why can't they have some sympathy on us, the men of this generation? Everything they say "it's a man's responsibility" I am not trying to shrink from responsibility but why don't we swap places and see how they will feel? Saying want this want that is easy, everything is easier said than done...Sometimes really feel like giving everything up lor...cos seems like no matter wat I do also can't meet the expectations...sighz...
Well nvm what can I do? sighzzz just have to press on lor else how? Sometimes it's just so hard to be a man...just wan to shout:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! to vent my frustrations....

"I'm Worried, I'm so worried"

This few days feeling quite vex becos of dd's carcar prob abit worried that she can't save enuff for the car or because of the car she have to live like a pauper... u can say I am now pondering whether urging her to buy the car is a good thing or a bad thing...
Reasons why I encourage to buy:
1)It's always her dream to own her car, and I feel she'll b happier if she do have one.
2)Car prices are cheap now, may not be able to afford in the future
3)wan to make use of this opportunity to let her learn how to save money
4)Prevent her from giving her parents more money (>500) so as to protect herself
5)Even if she don't buy, her money will also go to some other place and b lost forever without a trace.
6)Let her gain some "face" back.

Reasons why I am having 2nd tots:
1)she can't curb herself from spending more $$ even though she had planned to. She dosen't have the self-discipline and/or she is just not firm enough to put plans into actions.
2)worried that she'll have to suffer due to suddenly having much less to spend
3)Her parents will keep "borrowing" $200-$300 from her every month(on top of her allowance and she don't know how to reject them), To be honest she can't afford to lend them $200 when she is paying for the car lor.

just recieved a car from the car agent,that our orange picanto is coming, already paid upfront $2k now need to pay another $800 for 1st instalment and insurance. meaning I'll have to come up with another $400. Actually it's quite a heartache for me to part with the $400. cos it really take much effort for me to save up to the amt of $$ i have now. I hope this will be a lesson to her to teach her the virtues of savings. I am still a student yet i managed to amass $6K and at 1 pt I have $8K. It's not easy considering I have almost no income. But i guess this time the $400 I have to give to help her fufill her dreams, just hope it's not a short-lived 1. To be honest, I don't have much expectations of recouping the $2.4K from her and i don't want to add to her burden. If she can't "repay" the "loan" then nvm lor. I'll just slowly take my time to save back the $$ again but I guess $2.4k is just abt the max I can part with cos i don't want the $$ in my UOB to drop below $5K unless there's a emergency then that I've nothing to say.
I've been telling my dd to save up some years already, but that time she still have to study and thus have to come up with alot of $$ every year to pay her PT degree fees.Somemore she still have to satisfy her parent's "greed" for more allowance.( To me it's just to brag abt it in front of relatives n neighbours) thus i dont't blame her for having little or no savings that time. But it's been 6 months since she grad and though she's working her savings is still less than $2K.(see my FOR pt 3 and 5).Put it crudely I am not working, my income is almost 0 mabbe she can take a page frm me, I still managed to save a few $Ks, I do believe if I can do it so can the rest of the people even more so for those who are working and have a stable income. Perharps if she had heeded my advice earlier and start saving some $$ a few years back things will b different today, she'll b able to get her things she wan as and when she wan.Anyway no use crying over spilled milk wat's pass had pass.Just forget it.Just start from now.

I don't know what she take me for, but I do take her very seriously though we're not legally married, I've already considered her to b like a wife to me. I tell her almost everything and discuss with her over most matters(say except those that I forgot or those that need a speedy resolution). To me she give me the feeling that she will only come to me when she has a problem. example the insurance case, I don't even know that she bought a policy until she have already subscriped to it for almost year. Then i only came to know abt it when she wanted to terminate. In other stuffs though she came to seek my advice and though after we've discuss and come to a agreement on the next action step, she'll not execute it. Why is that so? Is it bcos I am not working and inexperienced so my advices are mostly "rubbish"? or is it I am just simply taken for granted? I dunno...*sigh*

Breakdown of dd's pay and my calculations:
income:
Take home pay :$1880

fixed expenditures:
Car monthly instalments :$285
Home allowance(home Tax) :$500
Season parking (monthly) :$75
car insurance (monthly) :~$200

var expenditures:
Food :$100 ($5 every meal,a month ~20 working days $5x20=100)
Transport :$~50 ($2 everyday($0.83 a trip) + some unexpected trips)
Car petrol,parking :$50(conservative figure hopefully can meet)
coupons, cash card

thus she still should have $620 if my calculations are correct and she still have to spend on some hidden stuffs like facials, Amore membership, etc...

Well hope everything work out well...well just voicing out my tots no hard feelings...just feel better after voicing out my concerns...
Sorry DD okok?

Money Woes

Grrrr.... today feeling quite frustrated cos had a argument wif my dd over some $$ matters...situation is like this, earlier she has decided that she won't give more than the $500 allowance including fees for the graduation photo shoot that she's gg to take. The shoot itself costs $488, abit extravagant right? ok but nvm since mabbe to her this is the proudest moment in her life to be a graduate. then including makeup for her grandmas, the cost should be around $600. then she've already paid $300 for the shoot alone and then give another $500 to her mum. so altogther this month she've spend $800 , and previously as agreed she say this month she'll not spend more than $500(includ allowance)...so can u see wat's happening? I feel very disappointed bcos I feel that if one make some promises, they should fufill it, if say dun give more than $500 then must keep it tat way mah.else people will keep on pushing and pushing..u give them a inch, they wan a yard. that's the way ppl are. I feel that my dd should protect herself lor and not keep being so submissive to her u-know-who. She should think for herself also...not say that she dosen't give them any allowance.

The reason i 'encourage' her to buy her car is to let her learn how to save. Frankly speaking her family dosen't have a good saving culture, They'll just spend and think later. So when there's some situation that requires $$, they'll just go 'borrow(or rather extort)' $$ from my dd which i feel is very wrong lor... I wan my dd to learn the virtues of saving. I never expect her to be as frugal as me(I spend only abt $200 a month),i've been taught since young to save $$.For my brothers and I, usually we'll only spend 1/2 of our pocket $$ and save the rest..but it's not for their case.
when they wan something then they start saving for it else they just spend everything.

Frankly I'm unhappy because my dd isn't firm enough to stick to wat she has said or agreed. When her ... wants $$, even though she has made up her mind not to give any more $$ for the month she'll still give. She's just too soft hearted. And she said her dad trying to shelter them and not make them lose face or watever. To me, their lifestyle is simply too extravagant. If not so well off then live a not-so-well-off life lah. No need for top of the range audio sys, BIG TV, fastest computer,NEWEST MP3 etc... I'm still living w/o air conditioning u noe and I'm quite satisfied.

Like her dad, i'm also trying to protect her, but not frm outsiders but frm her own family. I feel that they are treating her like a $$ tree. She must noe how to stand up for herself, have her own principles, NO means NO. YES means YES. Simple as tat. I don't want to see the scenerio whereby her car gets tow away for a few months stay at Maybank's car pound or that her life is so miserable bcos of the car. her salary is definitely enough to support a OPC but she has no xtra $$ to give to her parents for NEW gadgets. That's why I wan her to protect herself...If come to the point whereby i've have to stand up for her that would be disasterous, I dun wan to sour relationship between me and her parents that would put her in a tight spot i noe.

I know she didn't anyhow spend her $$ but if she gave the $$ she saved up to her parents for her bro's hi-tech gadgets that wat's the pt? It'll still come one full circle to sq 1.

I never expect her to return the $2k I gave for the downpayment and I never expected her to contribute any $$ for our future marriage purpose athough I hope that she'll be able to contribute some. All this while i've been trying to save as much as possible. I'm very tired also u noe, everyday lunchtime look for the cheapest food possible, control myself not to buy some things that I wish I could have,how to save more $$. Imagine if I am like her, dun have the habit of saving and dun even think of marriage at all then wat will happen mabbe the whole marriage thing will only b a dream. cos even 5-6 years down the rd we'll still b penniless. Is that the ideal situation. I dun understand why my dd keep thinking that my plan to marry at 28 is termed 'marry early' is 28++ yrs old young?? I've keep having tots of giving up the whole savings thing all together and leave everything to fate and destiny but just feel it's not right lor. so wat to do? just have to clench my teeth and trudge on...
Really very disheartening to see that ur love 1s spending their $$ away when u're trying to hard to save, especially so for me bcos i am not working so i can only save very little so after a lot of effot the amt only increase by a little...so sianz...


The reason i say put the $$ for the car insurance in another place is that I wan to try not to withdraw any $$ from our UOB acct. cos I'm afraid it'll bcome a habit, whenever have problems then think of $$ frm there.

Problems dun solve by themselves just like knots, u dun untie them the knor till just remain there.
Problems will only decrease when u solve them 1 by 1 if u just leave it there other problems will of cos add up. Simple theory right? To solve them u just have to b firm, once u've decided on wat to do just go and execute. U may hav a grand plan but if u dun execute it it'll just b a plan.Have some principles, dun sway from ur intended path.

My Birthday

Friday 25th Feb was my birthday, *sigh* so sad this year no presents...My mum gave me $12 ang pow and my dad gave me $20, my bro brought a slice of cake for me and my dd bought me a muffin to celebrate..that's about all. Mabbe will buy myself a small present to remember the day I turned 25...Happy Birthday to Me