A Tribute

By now, most would have heard about Nargis in Myanmar and the recent earthquake in China. And as they say, a picture paints a thousand words, so how much more would a video tell you. It's in Chinese but with English subtitles. This is the story of Chen Jian, may he and all the victims rest in eternal peace:



After all these, the story is not over. What about the loved ones, what about the survivors. What about all those affected in one way or another... may all find solace and peace.

Fever! What a lovely way to burn... not!

Imagine the double bass plucking away, Dum, Dum, Dum......Dum, dee, dum, dee, Dum, Dum, Dum...


Never know how much I love you, never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me, I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever - when you kiss me, fever when you hold me tight

Fever - in the the morning, fever all through the night.
Sun lights up the daytime, moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name, and you know I'm gonna treat you right
You give me fever - when you kiss me, fever when you hold me tight
Fever - in the the morning, fever all through the night.

Everybody's got the fever, that is something you all know
Fever isn't such a new thing, fever started long ago.
Romeo loved Juliet, Juliet she felt the same
When he put his arms around her, he said "Julie baby you're my flame"
Thou givest fever, when we kisseth, fever with thy flaming youth
Fever - I'm afire, fever yea I burn forsooth.
Captain Smith and Pocahontas had a very mad affair
When her Daddy tried to kill him, she said "Daddy-O don't you dare"
Give me fever - with his kisses, fever when he holds me tight
Fever - I'm his Missus, Oh daddy won't you treat him right.

Now you've listened to my story, here's the point I have made:
Chicks were born to give you fever, be it Fahrenheit or Centigrade
They give you fever - when you kiss them, fever if you live and learn
Fever - till you sizzle, what a lovely way to burn.

What a lovely way to burn. What a lovely way to burn.

Alas, I didn't get that kind of fever recently, but was down with the REAL fever on Monday. Being a public holiday, I was literally bedridden due to a stomach illness, and my body temperature soared past 38degrees for most of the day. I suppose it was a good day to rest, but surely didn't fancy having a temperature when I could be revitalising in other more soothing ways. And had a pounding headache to boot! Sigh...

Of things to hoard and what nots

I noticed that I tend to keep things. Things like plastic bags, empty bottles, unused envelopes for recyling, hotel shampoos and bath gels, soap bars, etc. Unsure whether it is the "chinese" in me to tend to want to keep things for future use, but seriously, now that I am rearranging furniture and stuffs at home, I have gotten rid of quite a lot of other stuffs. Definitely need to declutter a bit.

Yes, admittedly, I still have those hotel shampoos and what nots sitting in my cupboard, but I think my penchant for keeping stuffs stem from my childhood craze for collecting stuffs.

When I was younger, I guess I was kind of spoilt. I collected stamps, stickers, marbles, bookmarks, postcards, keychains, foreign coins, shoe laces, books, toy cars, toy soldiers, toy cowboys and indians, legos, and literally, the works! As a matter of fact, I still have some of these collection back in my hometown.

Now? I have progressed a little bit further. Have three main collections which I focus on.

I kind of stopped collecting stamps, but have gone on to First Day Covers. Easier to maintain, and have quite a few to be considered a "collection". The ones in this picture are not mine though, but have progressed to collecting First Day Covers from various countries (at least seven countries now). To be honest, quite an expensive hobby, and I sometimes wonder why I continue. But I guess the joy of admiring the covers and perhaps someday, may look to display it in one form or another. Have never considered it from the point of view as potential appreciation in value, but you never know, eh?

My next biggest collection I guess would be postcards. I have a huge pile back in my hometown, and as I was tidying up my place recently, the ones here with me in the city have been steadily increasing in number. Again, I wonder what I will do with them in the future. How on earth am I going to display them or perhaps just leave them in boxes somewhere in the cupboard. Maybe one of these days, when I am utterly bored with nothing to do (which is seldom by the way), will take them out and view them one by one.

And by default, since I enjoy reading, I also seem to be collecting books. Be it science fiction books or comics. Again, not a cheap hobby but my only consolation is that these are tax deductible! However, none of my books are the intellectual type ones though, as I guess it reflects my character. Am not one to think of serious stuff outside the office and prefer to chill with non market, non intellectual stuffs during my time away from work.

Of course, the usual hoarding of plastic bags to be reused for refuse collection, empty bottles, and other what nots is perpetually on going, but am trying to limit these somewhat. Not to forget, my home seem to be collecting a lot of dust. Now this is something which I definitely don't want to collect, but don't know why, I see dust everywhere, even though I have invested in an ever handy feather duster to brush the ever present microscopic materials as best as I can. Some say dust is just dead skin. Ewww! Am I shedding? Metamorphing into something else? Shish, been reading too many fantasy books...

Then again, sometimes when I am feeling a bit morbid, I realise that these are temporary pleasures. I can't take them with me, but maybe it will do some good for others in the future (like if I ever decide to part with my collections either by giving them away or selling them).

So, do you think it is in the genetic makeup of being Chinese or is this a cultural phenomenon to keep things for future use. What do you reckon?

Of one "Ohiooo" and another

Today is the 1st of May, and four months have passed by so quickly. It's Labour Day (yay! public holiday), but have a series of eating engagements today, and I just came back from breakfast, Dim Sum in SS2 to celebrate someone's birthday.

This being a shortered week, and since most people will be taking Friday off to get an extended weekend break, the fixed income market has been exceedingly quiet, even yesterday. So, with most market players away on Friday, not much activities are expected in the interbank market. Was just thinking that since this is a new month, and I usually answer the phone by saying, "Investment", I will try a change just for tomorrow. Of course, this is done just to spice up the bankers' life a little when they call me.

In the morning, if my office phone rings, I will pick up the phone and say in my best Japanese impersonating voice possible, "OHIOOOOO!" (dragging the end of the word a little). And in the afternoon, will say "KONICHIWAAAAAA!". And if the person on the other line goes "Errr...", I will immediately say, "CHOTOMATEEEEE!", and put them on hold. (Of course, I had better learn which button on the phone to press first thing tomorrow morning to put people on hold! Am quite "lost" with my office phone. I think I have to press the "flash" button? or err...). And when the person is on hold, the company theme song will play in the background, "Life is ....". Hahahaaaa. Wonder how this will play out tomorrow.

SAYONARA for now... Stay tuned...