Food for thought?
The month of April...F & B April to be exact....came and went....
Work is piling up this month...as they say, guess who'll cry come 1st of May...
am I really becoming BUSY (Being Under Satan's Yoke)?
am I back sliding in my faith with God?
am I mirring myself in bureaucratic mud? nailing myself into a political coffin?
What should I do now? Can I find a way?
Unappreciation. The existence of it just makes my blood boil. After being hospitable to external parties, overseas counterparts in an attempt to improve Singapore's bilateral relations in my own way...you get ticked off my others...
Providing personalized service and get a complain plus recommendation for negative reinforcement? What is this world coming to? Why do such ignorant foolish imbeciles even exist?
I can't say I am all that unfortunate...I have been blessed with a loving family, neither rich nor poor...I lack nothing...a good command of the English language...another bonus...countless and indescribable opportunities that many wouldn't be able to fathom.
In fact so many good things and smooth sailing paths have been placed before me by my Heavenly Father who holds the only power that can save this world.
I'm lost...disillusioned, lethargic...
Lord help me to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can...and wisdom to know the difference
I feel fed up today, and I don't really want to pray.
Things are hard for me and I'm too depressed to care.
I gues I'm tired & drained, I've done so much, been through so much with nothing more to give
Lord, I come to you in laziness, half heartedness and apathetic disbelief
And I praise you with my mind though my emotions aren't engaged;
With my lips though my heart is cold;
With my will though my spirit seems dead.
Pour your love afresh upon me today I pray, and accept me in my weariness.
Amen.
FHA 2008
The name says it all. The 16th installation of Asia's largest Food, Hotel and Hospitality trade show. This year was a little quieter, new faces, but many highlights still captivated and took my breath away.
I'll let the pictures do the talking perhaps.
After so many years, Temasek Polytechnic finally decided to sent a team, trained by the most renowned lecturers from the F & B industry.
The Hospitality Alliance foundation was strengthened, and F&B MA (Youth Wing) assisted in the operation of the booth.
In case you do not know, the Hospitality Alliance is made up of:
1) Singapore Chefs Association
2) Food & Beverage Managers Associations
3) Association of Room Division Executives
4) Association of Singapore Housekeepers
5) Hospitality Purchasers Association
6) Les Clefs d'or (Concierge)
7) International Bartenders Association
The proud moment for us all: Temasek Polytechnic clinched the GOLD Award for the Food & Hotel Asia Dream Team Challenge. This shows the hidden potential our students have, comparable or even exceeding global industry standards.
I'll let the pictures do the talking for now. Sit back and enjoy the culinary creations of the pastry & baking showcase. Mamma mia....so tantalizing & mesmerizing...
GONG XI FA CAI! The Year of the Rat
So once again, the 12th year cycle is complete and back to the first animal of the Chinese Zodiac. What exactly is Chinese New Year in Singapore like? Let's find out in this entry...
Due to the global nature of my family, Chinese New Year is spent in different countries every year. In Asia of course! Last year it was Hong Kong, but this year we've decided...Singapore...for many reasons which I probably wouldn't quite understand.
6th February 2008, Wednesday. Also known as the eve of Chinese New Year. Many people rushed back from work & school in preparation for the night's reunion dinner. For my family, it was at Tung Lok Signatures, Vivo City.
Signature dish of the night: Fresh succulent Lobster with Deep Fried Coriander Cheese Balls!
Dessert at Ben & Jerry's after
7th February 2008, CNY Day 1
Started with breakfast & tea ceremony in the morning
This longevity buns are shaped like Rats!
Lunch was at one of the finest Chinese Restaurants: The Summer
Pavilion@The Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore.
Again....there was lobster, but instead of it being a main dish, it was used for the Yu Sheng as oppossed to Salmon which was used the previous night.
My family!
After lunch, it was off to view my uncle's place at Sentosa Cove
The cars parked there are of this standard, if not higher...
This is a typical street in Sentosa Cove
My tired grandparents, sitting in front of my uncle's 2nd unit
How would you like coming home by boat? Along this waterway.
Hope everyone's new year was filled with wealth, happiness, prosperity, longevity and luck of the Rat! I certainly enjoyed my New Year, hope all of you did too!
*Next entry, we will take a look at what's happening down at Sentosa...
Healthwise
As they always say, look after your health.
Very true. Especially so when there's a flu bug in the air right now and some of my friends have gotten it or landed in hospital. As for those of who cannot resist alcohol like myself, DON'T DRINK TO INTOXICATE YOURSELF!!! Its simply not worth it.
Here's what a bottle of Shiraz, Champagne, Riesling and Moscato did to me. My level of consciousness (LOC) on the AVPU scale was a V...Verbal....I was rather disillusioned and on the verge of collapsing, cut my finger against the toilet door and tripped and bruised my left foot. In the end when I decided it was time to go back, 3 friends had to give me some water and let me take the cab first...rather embarassing since they are girls....
I was almost asleep on the cab, the taxi driver could hardly understand a word I was saying. When I alighted, I vomitted outside my neighbors house, lugged myself to my room, changed and collapsed in a heap on my bed.
The next morning, I awoke with a splitting headache and perpetual giddiness coupled with imbalance. Thought sleeping a while more would help but it didn't and eventually had to walk about, eat breakfast feeling giddy, got back home, did some studying and allow the alcohol to wear off about lunch time.
Trust me...the feeling sucks big time.
So....control, resist, abstain...if you can...
Ta ta
A new beginning
Every new year, turns the page on our life, opening the window to a whole wide world of challenges and opportunties coming our way. What happened in the past, the good of it CHERISH, the not so good REFLECT upon it.
It is the dawn of a new year, and once again I get that feeling of sinking into disillusionment once again....as always, my weekends are movies, eating and shopping. Will I really end up like Kym Ng's character in Gone Shopping...requiring the produce of a free economy to satisfy one's self...I hope not....
Just hate the fact when people abuse their powers for their own benefit and bring about the inconvenience of everyone else. I also can't understand how some uneducated individuals act as if they know everything, they should learn to humble themselves and recognize the fact that even the most knowledgeable professor at Harvard could learn something new everyday. To our disgust and abhorrence, these people hold leadership positions, which makes us worry for the people under their charge. The more I see this, the stronger my resolve to work hard and secure a position of authority in society, to change things for the better, the standard of living for the average Singaporean, and most of all....to right every wrong....that justice will be done....
Anyhow, just thankful that I am able to pursue a new course at Singapore Medical Training Institute (SMTI), something outside my field. Have always be interested in Medicine since my secondary school days. But I've never had good enough results to qualify for an
MBBS@NUS or John Hopkins.
Well, guess I just need a little more time....
Till next time....
Take care.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!
As I sit here reflecting on the final moments of this year 2007, many things have indeed occurred this year. The fires in California, the recent assasination of former PM Bhutto, the GST hike the much awaited release of Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix and much more.
Its been a year to indeed give thanks to God for. Returning to Singapore from Vietnam, graduating from Temasek Polytechnic, getting enlisted, re - connecting with my dad's extended family in New Zealand and most importantly fulfilling one of my last year's resolution points. Which is to spend more time with my family, to learn to let go of worldly ambitions and revel in the comfort of knowing that HE is in control of everything.
This year has also brought about its own set of ups and downs for me, but than again, life is never a bed of roses isn't it.
As we look ahead to the New Year of 2008, who knows what challenges it will bring.
Nonetheless, my resolution stands:
New Year’s Resolution for 2008
1. To re – dedicate my life to Christ, make it a point to attend church weekly and do my daily quiet time
2. To touch and change the lives of those who I meet along life’s journey
3. To pray and ask for God’s protection against any corporate politics that is in the pipeline towards me
4. To have greater self discipline
5. To do my best in refraining from engaging in gossips
6. To be time – limited in my assignments, work and other deadlines I need to meet
7. To treasure the people around me more, spend more time with my family, relatives and friends
8. To exercise better time management
9. To perform to the best of my ability in the Food & Beverage Managers Association Youth Wing
10. To be more professional in my inter – personal dealings with others
11. To make as many friends as possible in National Service
12. To be less suspicious of others around me
13. To keep updated with current affairs
14. To clear the air with anyone who I may have offended, asking God & them for forgiveness of my sins.
It would be the last time I blog in 2007, apologies for not blogging for the last few months. As for the remainder of the New Zealand pictures in my last entry, they are in the form of albums on my Facebook account.
With that, HAPPY NEW YEAR to all readers, may you be richly blessed and love, peace, joy follow your heart wherever you may be or what you do! =)
EVERYBODY SCREAM!!! Are you ready for the party???
Fate is a tangle...follow 1 thread
This week went alot better for me. After all the major events have passed, the much deserved administration break sets in. Well, as for myself and a few others, with Games Day coming up we had to train hard for the competition. Everyone seems pressured by the goals set from the top: "I want this company to win first." Words from my OC...
Amidst all the frustration and cracking our heads on how to put on a good show, I managed to applied the theory "too many chefs spoil the broth." That's the problem when you train a leadership batch, everyone has their own opinion, but who's gonna listen. On top of that, several external factors have broken the internal team spirit and unity we had from the start.
On a positive note, I passed my Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) the army equivalent of the school's NAPFA test. I just don't know how I manage to do it, I'm not exactly a physically fit person. Thanks again to God who makes all things possible.
The 5 stations with some advice for future NSmen:
1) Sit - ups - Your daily regime of crunches should give you the strength to accomplish an easy 40 in 1 minute....this should be the station you score most points in. Unless you have abdominal problems like myself, than aim to pass or for Silver (34<)
2) Standing Broad Jump - A problem station for many. This is the first time I passed in 3 years, the last time was Secondary 4....One technique, swing your arms up and coordinate a tip - toe to acheive a spring effect, than swing back once and when your hands come to the front, give a tug - jump (legs touching your chest) and land pushing your hands back. This should give you the the boost to thrust forward. My score, 221, 5 points from the 216 passing mark.
3) Shuttle Run - This you gotta practice, it tests your stability, reaction time and opening up of your steps. Always run in a straight line (MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE). How to practice? You can run 25m back and forth each day and turn touching your toe as a marking...3 months practice would more than suffice.
4) Chin - ups - Another problem station, work on improving your upper body strength first, start with 40 push - ups a day, than go on to assisted chin - ups and by 3 months you should be able to do 6 standard ones without any difficulty. Try using the undergrasp as it works on the bicep muscles which are the fastest to develop. Progressive training does help, from zero I improved by 1 more every week and cleared with 12 at the end. That's a 5 point and would help for your attainment of gold.
5) 2.4km Run - The most demanding station after a 15 minute rest from the static stations. Implement the correct breathing technique (Breathe in through your nose, hold for 2 seconds and breathe out through your mouth) Do this continuously and have enough blood circulate your body. Even if you are too spanned out, the 2.4km is short enough to endure and push yourself. Try running for 20 minutes, twice a week to develop your stamina.
Note: You need to pass all stations in 1 attempt, with 2 - 5 minute break between each static station and 15 minutes before the 2.4km run. Failure in a single static station would allow you to re - take that particular one, but failure in 2 or the 2.4km run would mean you have to re - sit the entire test or probably come back during your block leave.
1) Those wanting to sign on to SAF must PASS!
2) Those wanting to attend Command School must PASS!
3) Those wanting to
officially graduate from Basic Military Training (BMT) must also PASS!
Despite all the aching here and there, I think it was worth it. Am currently down with conjunctivitis and must thus quarantine myself so as not to infect anyone else.
I'm still torn between the following 2 decisions:
1) To attend Command School (Benefits - Looks good on your resume, larger pay)
2) To join the SAF Music & Drama Company (Benefits - Get to come home everyday, where my passion lies)
Will write again when I can...
