The Craftsman’s Forge

When we brought Vicky (A Japanese Spitz) home sometime last year, we were not quite prepared for the fun and chaos she would bring to the entire family. Val, my sis-in-law who owns Vicky, takes care of her, bathe her, etc, bought a book in her enthusiam (which I just managed to dig out of the cupboard) on the lessons we can learn from dogs.

I flipped a couple of pages, and thought it was a really nice book, and the scary thing was that it made alot of sense. The book Dogs Don’t Bite; When a Growl Will Do” pens lessons we can learn from our doggy friends.

This being the year of the DAWG, I thought it justified to write down some of the lessons here:

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Chinese New Year, Dogs

Its been just over four months since I first started my blog, and one of the recurring questions I ask myself is “why am I doing this?” I suppose this is a journey that most, if not all potential and serious bloggers go through. To many who do not ask this question, and worse still, do not have an answer to this question, the result is palpable. Their blogs die an untimely death through irregular updates, a fizzling out of initial zeal and/or simply a death of the desire to write.

I don’t know…. Perhaps my blog will die an untimely death in months or years to come through one of the examples I gave above, but for now, I have asked the important question of myself, and more importantly, I have an answer to my question.

If you have followed my blog from its inception in September 2005, you would have noticed neither a theme or style of writing. I was merely putting down random thoughts and publishing them. I had thought initially that I wanted to do a technological blog, as my first attempt at blogging at http://paulcbc.20six.co.uk/ failed miserably. I deleted my blog at 20six.co.uk several times, and never really got anywhere with it.

But, as I began writing more and more, as well as reading some of the blogs by Asian bloggers, I also gradually began to hone my own identity and style. There are several genre of blogs on the blogosphere. While some are political/economic in nature, and others focus on the comedic, among the many others, there is also a category of blogs where bloggers simply write about their personal experiences, their joys and sorrows, and occasionally, their views of the world around them. It is this category of blogging I feel most sympathetic to.

You would begin noticing that my style of writing has begun evolving towards a casual online diary of sorts, where I treat the readers like casual friends I have known for ages. And indeed so, as many of you are my friends and acquaintances in Singapore, the USA and UK.

I can never hope or afford to be like a Vijay Srinivasan, or a Jeremy Williams in my style of writing. They have an expansive style of writing that tends towards the serious and philosophical, perhaps honed by years of academic inculcation and intuition. To write like them, would literally kill me as I envisage spending hours going through my blog manuscripts.

I can also never hope to be like a Mr Miyagi, who adds a pinch of high society into his often colloquial entries, and can sometimes be difficult to understand.

I find myself more aligned to the likes of Mr Brown, Minishorts, Karen Cheng and the very interesting Kenny Sia.

It is this very casual style that I find myself writing with now. I also find myself coming to terms with the notion of writing for myself and my friends only, and never straying from that principle. The moment I begin writing for others, the death of my blog would have begun its insidious slide to bloggers hell.

Therefore, my entries of late have been that of a very personal nature to me. I struggled with whether I should put them up, and also with how much I should share. In the end, I realize that these posts were for myself, so that I can put down my feelings and emotions during these moments, whether in trying or happy times as a form of record.

The fact that many, and indeed the whole world can read it, is immaterial. I am by nature a straight forward person, preferring to put forth everything I have on the table with nothing to hide. This is my real person persona, and I see no reason being any different on the Internet.

Having said that, I do reserve a small element of wanting to entertain you, the reader. I treat you as my friends and family, and it is my natural instinct to share my emotions, feelings and thoughts with you.

I hope to spend many more interesting and close moments with you in the coming months and years.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Blog, Blogging

I’m Dog-gone tired (Pun intended).

We just completed a whirlwind tour of 6 households starting from 9am to 5pm. I managed to escape home for a little while to get some change of clothes for Chris and myself, cos we’re having steamboat (AGAIN!!!… wah….) at my in-law’s place tonight.

Having forgotten how tiring the first day of Chinese New Year normally is, I stayed up really late last night watching Catherine McCormack (Woo Hoo) in A Sound of Thunder and Jodie Foster (Uh… next please) in Flight Plan. I began realising this was a BIG, BIG mistake sometime about 11am this morning. I had trouble opening my eyes, and was yearning for coffee like a drug addict for heroin . Somehow, I managed to get through the morning.

Strange enough, after 12pm, I somehow got back my steam, but with Elkan the Gorilla in the car, he made it really difficult for both Chris and myself, and we almost blew it towards each other. Had to keep reminding each other to endure.

I’m dragging myself away now to get a much needed shower and to pack a change of clothes for Chris before returning back to me mum-in-law’s place.

Happy Chinese New Year and a wonderful Dog Year to everyone!

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Chinese New Year

We’re here at Dad and Mum’s place for our annual Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner. Although there are three of us siblings, only my big bro and myself come back every year now, since Sock Hua has to go over to Micheal’s place for their Reunion Dinner. But, as it is, the place is cramped with banter, the kids’ incessant laughter, quarrels that liven up the place.

Although we meet every week on Mondays and Wednesdays, our annual Reunion Dinner seems to take on a different atmosphere and almost has a life of its own.

Dad and Mum has prepared almost 7 to 8 ingredients (from what I can see) for the steamboat, and they have even braised a duck!

But, what makes me most happy today, isn’t all this. I noticed when dad called me this morning, he sounded very crisp and alert, very different from recent weeks when he seem to be taking longer with words as he processes his thoughts. So, I wasn’t surprised when he told me this afternoon that he hasn’t had any minor attacks at all today.

Praise God and indeed Thank Him as well! It seems like God is indeed watching over him. The medicine, coupled with the Acupuncture treatments are also helping. I’m really happy.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Chinese New Year, Dad, Reunion Dinner

Just a little prayer….spanning three generations…..

Little Kyla and Ariel laid hands on their Grandad and prayed for him this evening. This is perhaps the second most privileged experience I’ve had, the first being the privilege to lead both dad and mum to Christ. Seeing the kids pray for their Gong Gong is just so powerful. I wonder if they knew the joy and blessing they bring to their grandparents.

I’m having sweet dreams tonight.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Prayer, Dad

We’ve avoided China Town like a plague during Chinese New Year for a couple of years all because the kids were too young, and the place is traditionally really crowded. But, the girls seem to be able to handle walking by themselves alot better now, and it seemed like a good time to swing by China Town to take a look. so, we swung by last night, and I’ve got some photos to show for it.

Its fairly crowded as you can see, although not too crowded until you got no space to walk

Very Apt street name for Chinese New Year.

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This Pasar Malam is definitely alot more colourful than the one in Hougang, thats for sure!

Beautiful toy lionheads.

Heck! I don’t even know what this is! Buddha’s foot or something.. Hmmm… $$ come my home!!??!!

People buying cherry blossoms?

Although I don’t personally by any of this stuff, cos I’m not sure even sure how to consume it, its always the scene that makes Chinatown come alive during Chinese New Year.

Of course…. you can’t do without the “Cai Shen Yeh” Fortune god during Chinese New Year. Wait a minute… doesn’t he look like the gangster guy that always appears on Jack Neo movies?

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Pasar Malam, China Town

Back home already. I’m very relieved to understand more about dad’s situation. Apparently, a major right artery on the neck is blocked, which is the culprit giving him these mini stroke attacks. The good thing is that the left artery is functioning extremely well. The other good thing is that the brain is in pristine condition.

The Specialist at the National Neuroscience Institute explained the optons available, and it seems like the most non-invasive and quickest remedial option is to quickly put dad back on Asprin to thin the blood, while we keep watch over him in the coming months. According to dad, the Asprin helped alot, and virtually removed the attacks when he was last on them 4 weeks back. So the Doc must be right.

One thing though… I’m gonna design a medical card for dad and mum to bring along with them whenever they go out. I’m also gonna give mum a handphone to call us should the need arise. If an attack occurs, and lasts for more than 15 minutes, we will have to get dad to NNI acident & emergency within 2 hours, or else the risk would be that the effects of the attack would be permanent.

I’m living every day just on faith and grace from God.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, NNI, Dad

It’s a worrying morning for me. I’ve got to accompany my dad to hospital for an urgent checkup. He’s been getting several minor stroke attacks in the last couple of months, intensifying over the last weeks. Hopefully the doc will be able to nail the issue here, and prescribe medication that will curb the attacks, thin the blood, etc.

To take my mind off in this in the morning, I thought I’d try out a little photoshop trick. I’ve always wondered how people manipulate photos to show someone in a scene he or she wasn’t even in. I decided to confront my fear this morning, and explored a little of photoshop, and this is what I achieved. GIANT ELKAN!

If this was real, we would be in huge trouble! He is already such a monkey at 10 months old, we’re wondering if we took steriods the night we made him. In this size, he would be worse than King Kong.

A little amaturish I suppose, but WOW! A real revelation to me none the less. I suppose its gonna take me more practice to get the lighting right, etc. I’m probably gonna have to get a photshop book to learn more tricks.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Photoshop, Elkan

I’m gonna outdo myself here. Several people, friends and colleagues have told me on numerous occasions about the benefits of foot reflexology, so I’ve been harbouring thoughts of trying out foot reflexology for ages now. I figured this would probably be the best time to try it out.

So, after church today, and after sending chris and the kids to my mother-in-law’s place, I sneaked off to Hougang Mall to get my first foot reflexology. The shop wasn’t so big, and I know of some shops that were alot bigger, and probably alot nicer in terms of decor and ambience, but I figured that the best refloxologists would be in the shops that had lots of people streaming in and out. And this one in Hougang Mall was always packed. So… it wasn’t difficult to decide which one to go to.

Again, like my previous experience with the Pedicure shop, I was pretty much intimidated before I went in, but I gathered my guts and walked into the shop. A lady greeted me at the counter, and I asked her what the charges were. Foot reflexology costs S$28 per session, unless you buy a package from them for 12 sessions, which will set you back S$240, translating to S$20 per session, or a total savings of S$80 if you bought the sessions individually.

I decided to just have a session first to see how it goes before making up my mind on what package to get.

I was then led into the general area where there were several rows of soft chairs and cushions. There, “Ah Choon” greeted me, and led me to get my feet washed. There was a large basin with hot water rushing out of the tap. Ah Choon told me to wash my feet before we start.

We started to banter…

All the conversation was either in Mandarin or Hokkien dialect, so I’ll paraphrase here

Ah Choon: Wash your feet hor…

Paul: Oh… ok

I walk gingerly to the basin, not quite sure what to do. I wondered if Ah Choon is going to be like nice Joanne and wash my feet for me, or if I had to do it myself. Ah Choon on the other hand, watched like a hawk, and wondered what this idiot was doing wasting his time. I think it must have been a couple of seconds when he realised this wasn’t going as planned, and he finally asked:

Ah Choon: Is this your first time here?

Paul: (Sheepishly) eh… Yeah.

Ah Choon: Oh… ok. Put your feet into the basin lah, and wash your feet ok? Then we can start. You can use the towels in front of you.

Paul: ok.

I rolled up my jeans, and then plunged my feet into the basin. Thats when I realised that they don’t make the water warm and comfortable for your feet here as they do at beauty Ideas. The water was probably at 70 degrees celcius, and to my feet, they were boiling HOT!!! Damn it!

I quickly got my feet out, dried them, and walked towards my designated chair.

Ah Choon: Dun worry… your first time? I’ll go easy on you….

Paul: Thanks. But I don’t think you need to lah… I’m pretty stronnnnggggarrghhhhghghhhh!!!!!!

Ah Choon: huh??? Like that also pain ah? I’m only using one hand you know? ok… I’ll go lighter on you. Do you want to spread out the massage to 40mins per feet? You first time, I think its better, and you will feel much better after this. How?

Paul: Uh… like that more expensive right?

Ah Choon: yah lah… you stupid or what? times two lah! so you take it like its two sessions. How? (Ha ha… he didn’t curse at me lah.. he was very nice)

Damn it… here I am at his mercy, and he’s touting me

Paul: ok lah… lets do 80 minutes. I can take it.

Ah Choon: (With a big smile because he just conned me into paying double) ok… I go slow. Dun worry. You will enjoy this.

With gusto, Ah Choon attacked my left feet

Ah Choon: Is this painful?

An aching, nagging pain filled my feet, and rushed through the sensors of my feet through to my brain…. “Yeow! uhh… no lah… go ahead.. I can take it one.” Ah Choon continues pressing and massing hard, and this time I yelled “Arrgghhh!”

Ah Choon: Wah… you very unhealthy leh. I am pressing this part which is linked to your kidneys… You have very unhealthy kidneys. Better be careful, or you will need to go to NKF and meet Durai

Ha ha… just kidding. Ah Choon didn’t say that. But he did mention that kidneys and liver and small intestines are not optimal.

Ah Choon: (Massaging different part of the foot) Wah… you are very tensed. try and relax. Seems like you are very stressed up. Your neck and muscles all very bunched up. You are too stressed at work leow.

Paul: Is it? (I was thinking evil thoughts at this time towards my bosses) I must try and calm down

Ah Choon worked through my left feet, and then started on my right feet. In the mean time, there was another client who just walked in, and after washing his feet, sat next me. He started chatting with all of us, and I realised then (a little too late) that Ah Choon massaged his feet last week, and that he is known as “Tie Shou” or in literal translation, “Iron Hands”. Oh My Goodness!!!! Of all the masseurs, I had to go pick one with iron hands!!! Just my luck.

But, Ah Choon told me that he could go really easy, but what effect would that have? The fact that I felt pain, was indicative of my body’s unhealthy state, and by massaging slightly harder, he could ensure that the effects of the reflexology was optimised. I couldn’t argue with that, and was in fact quite happy I got the best guy in the shop.

My verdict? Well…it was probably best to take the stuff Ah Choon said with a slight pinch of salt, but there were some truths in his words. So, I ended up buying a 6 session program for S$120. This will give me another 4 sessions free. I intend to fully utilise this in the coming months, and hopefully I will become alot less stress and my intestines, kidneys, liver and whatever else will get healthier too!

Ah Choon also must be doing something right, cos after I got home, I felt so relaxed like I’ve never felt in the last 8 years, and I promptly fell asleep, waking up some 4 hours later completely and totally refreshed.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Reflexology, Feet, Pain

Went to Church this morning, but didn’t get to go for the church service. It’s been four weeks since we last went to church, courtesy of the long bout of flu, stomach flu, food poisoning episodes the entire family went though. It felt nice getting back to church finally, except that Kyla now felt a little intimidated going to Sunday School again. I hope we don’t shove anything down her throat, lest she turns out rebellious like a dear friend of mine.

In the end, I had to stay with Kyla for about an hour in Sunday School before the songs and dancing started, and the nice teacher took her from me. By this time, it was already 11 am, and the service was half over.

Having been reading Kenny Sia’s account on Sibu’s fabulous kampua mee while I was in Sunday School with Kyla, I had this great craving to have wanton noodles urgently. So, I decided to answer the call of my stomach above my spiritual need, which I know God will forgive me for eventually.

I found this nice Hong Kong noodle store in the Kopitiam food court just a couple of minutes walk from church, and I made a special order of wantan noodles with black sauce.

It was hevenly……. Ummm um….. I’ve tasted better noodles elsewhere, but I guess it was the moment of hunger and the irristable urge Kenny’s review on Sibu noodles gave me, this was a wonderful experience. It must have been good, or I wouldn’t have finished it.

By the way… since the more than enthusiastic response to my first Pedicure, I decided to outdo myself. I’m visiting a Foot Rflexologist this afternoon! Watch out for my next post.

Technorati Tags: Singapore, Church, Noodles, Wantan Mee