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    Thursday, April 30, 2009

    I am conned by my boss

    this is not an angry statement. this is more like a super sian, disappointed and give up statement.

    after close to 2 months of waiting for a new project. i am finally getting to settle into the new environment. when i was being prepared for this new assignment, i was told the importance of the job and how crucial the client is to our company. so i need to go into this project, take over from my colleague who is going on 3 months leave, and do a good job.

    i was told that the team i am going to take over is a very responsible team and the team spirit is very good. they have been there for almost a year and are very happy. all these were true. the team was indeed good, very happy group of people, who enjoys their work and company. but my boss conveniently left out a very important point when i was briefed to take over.

    the team was promised to be transferred out to another project by Sep this year. that means, all the talk of me inheriting a good team, a team which is able to help me, is b----s---!

    and i only got to know this fact today when my team member asked me whether if i know they were all scheduled to leave in Sep. how was i suppose to answer them? i was in shocked myself.

    ex-colleagues in this company has told me before how the management works. i was naive or maybe i choose to be more trusting then. but now, i can’t help but believe they were ALL right. i just pray that God has a better calling for me, or maybe give me a better long-suffering ability.

    i can only look forward to my long weekend and stop thinking about this for a few days, till monday comes.

    Fickle-minded (Part 2)

    i dun know how many parts can i write on this particular topic. but once again it just proves that women are very fickle-minded.

    on the way home, i asked Joey why didn’t she like the strawberry jam. she started to give me this super long explanation. read for yourself. just hope that you were there to hear her explain.

    Papa: why don’t you like the strawberry jam i bought for you? 我特地去买给你的。
    Joey: 我不要吃。因为 school teacher say time to eat bread, i go wash hand (action of washing and drying hand). I clean already, go back to classroom, teacher open the box and take tissue. 每一个小朋友拿一个 bread. then we eat and eat. 没有弄到手的。
    Papa: 那个面包就是一样的 la. strawberry jam de lor..
    Joey: 不一样的。老师有 box 的。不会弄到手的!
    Papa: so do you still want to eat strawberry jam? (a bit frustrated le)
    Joey: aiyoh!! (she also frustrated le). must use box and tissue.
    Papa: (thinking to myself) so that was the reason why she is not eating her strawberry jam at home. she wants us to put the bread in a box and use tissue to bring the bread to her. why so 麻烦!
    Papa: so, 我用 box and tissue 拿给你吃,你就会吃,是吗?回家我弄给你, ok?

    Joey: ok! (still slightly annoyed at my constant asking)

    after a while……

    Joey: 要用大大的 box ah…

    now at home…..

    Papa: 我现在弄面包,strawberry jam 的,给你吃好吗?
    Joey: 不要 la.. 很麻烦的。

    haizzz…..God saved me…another girl is coming soon…i really need patience and long-suffering…

    Wednesday, April 29, 2009

    Fickle-minded: young or old, they are the same

    after many moons of observation and years of staying with women. this is my finding. shd be close to 99% true.

    female in general, irregardless of age, can be 57 (my mother), 31 (my wife), 3 (my daughter). when it comes to making a decision, they can change, change again, change again, and still change again…

    last night when i went to Joey’s school, the teachers were just about to give out bread for the kids still in school. Joey was super excited, machim like we never give her bread before. she ran off to wash her hands (good habit developed in school), ran back and eagerly took the bread from her teacher and started to eat like a hungry lion. back track a bit, usually when i go to Joey’s school, she will be super excited to see me and will scream and run towards me at the door. so you can imagine how i felt yest. defeated by 2 pieces of bread.

    well, the secret of the bread apparently was the strawberry jam in it. i didn’t know Joey actually likes strawberry jam that much. on the way home, Joey was telling me, begging me, ordering me to buy her strawberry jam. of course i will buy la. how will a daughter ask for strawberry jam and her father gives her a scorpion?

    so, i bought it. took a longer route to buy it. Joey will be thrilled!

    this morning, she changed her mind le. now she hates strawberry jam. and even asked why did i buy it. please tell me what to do? haizz…. women..

    Sunday, April 26, 2009

    Ace

    we are the Ace team. Tristan, Christopher (later seconded to another team), Andy, Clarence, En Sheng, friend (forgot his name), David and me.

    DD zone organized a futsal competition at East Coast Park. tho only 5 teams registered, the competition was no push-over. everyone came prepared to pay a tough game. we played league style, every team will play each other and will earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.

    our first opponent called themselves ‘5-2’, after the win ManU had last night against Hotspurs. apparently they are ManU fans. we won 1-0. we could have won 2-0 but Andy missed a penalty kick. just too bad. 3 points!

    then i was on with David for the 2nd game against ‘Mixed’. a draw 1-1. 1 point!

    3rd game was against the strongest team, ‘3-1 Dynamic’. however, we defeat the odds and won 1-0. a superb goal from Clarence. he dribbled from half court into the tightest angle possible on the left and let fly an unstoppable shot that hit the right side goalpost and went in. 3 points!

    last game, i was in again. initially wanted to rest le, cos really can feel the pain in my legs, especially the left knee. but since i’m part of the team, i took the challenge. anyway, we just need to maintain a draw, we will top the league. i had a couple of chances but never really troubled the keeper. ended 0-0. 1 point!

    final standing: 8 points from 4 games, we are top!! yea!

    we are into the semi-finals, and fate has us drawn with ‘5-2’ again. hahaa… the semis will be played some other day as the booking for the court is over. another group of people have taken over the court. so maybe in 2 weeks time, we will play again and hopefully will go all the way to finals and maybe even win the competition. if so, this will be my first ever win in any football competition. stay tuned =)

    Last 4 games

    Fulham v Liverpool (0-1)
    Manchester United v Aston Villa (3-2)
    Newcastle v Chelsea (0-2)

    Liverpool v Blackburn (4-0)
    Sunderland v Manchester United (1-2)
    Chelsea v Bolton (4-3)

    Liverpool v Arsenal (4-4)
    Manchester United v Portsmouth (2-0)
    Chelsea v Everton (0-0)

    Hull City v Liverpool (1-3)
    Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspurs (5-2)
    West Ham v Chelsea (0-1)

    Liverpool v Newcastle (3-0)
    Middlesbrough v Manchester United (0-2)
    Chelsea v Fulham (3-1)
     
    haizz… will ManU drop some points? Not that they were exceptionally good, but the opponents are just not playing well enough. basically Chelsea shd be out of the title race le la.. cos they need ManU to lose 3 games… so it’s really a 2-horse race now.. but can Liverpool really do it? as a fan, i am also not very optimistic abt it. just hanging on to a thing thread of Arsenal and Man City doing us a favor. pls God, listen to our prayers. You are never early or late, just in time to give us that breakthru!

    West Ham v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Manchester City
    Arsenal v Chelsea

    Wigan v Manchester United

    West Brom v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Arsenal
    Chelsea v Blackburn

    Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspurs
    Hull City v Manchester United
    Sunderland v Chelsea

    current table standings:
    1. Manchester United (80 points, 40 GD)
    2. Liverpool (77 points, 43 GD)
    3. Chelsea (74 points, 36 GD)

    Saturday, April 25, 2009

    youth is vibrant

    this morning, Kless went for her 2nd last gynae checkup before the delivery. one more to go in 3 weeks time, then on 21st May, Jayne will be introduced to this world. a world of love. a family of love.

    after that, we sent Joey to Pasir Ris and Kless went off to help in her zone’s outreach luncheon. some celebrities were there. the youths who attended were having fun singing together with the performers. youth is fun!

    as for me, i went to my favourite place. Sentosa. suntanning. this the first time i went over so late. reached the beach at 2pm. the place was crowded. almost every bench was occupied. the remaining 2 benches do not have a cushion. but luckily i brought my beach towel. must always be prepared. so i was there, enjoying the sun, the music and the people. yes, there was a lot of angmohs and young people. beautiful people with beautiful tan.

    the sun was fierce today. super hot! a few times i have to dip myself in the pool to cool off for a while. then the surprise came, the pool was filled with form. seems like it’s always the case. the regulars were not very surprise, they just brought along their beer and drinks and make way to the pool. enjoying another round of fun.

    as i look around, i am one of the few who is alone. everyone else is there with a friend or in a group. i’m cool, in fact sometimes doing what i like alone gives me the time to think and also have some ‘me’ time.

    there was this particular group that was near my bench. i think they are from some foreign school in singapore. maybe an american school, cos all of them spoke with a american accent. the thing that i was very envious about was the fun they had. sitting in the shade enjoying the talking and a drink. then it was off to the pool for some form fun. after that, just sleep on the bench and enjoy the sun. youth is energetic!

    of course i have my fun days too. but i really missed those days when i can call a certain gang of friends and go out together to have fun. now, most of us are working adults, with our different commitments. it’s much tougher to plan an outing with friends. one can make it, the other can’t. some wants to go but not with another one going. you understand what i mean?

    youth is fun! i want to experience it again if possible…

    Friday, April 24, 2009

    What if?

    this is really a super ‘what if’

    what if Jayne is not Jayne? what if Dr Fong has been wrong all this time? we are expecting a boy not a girl? what is the implications?

    recently a few strangers have asked Kless if she was expecting a boy. just a few days ago, Kless was walking along some shops, a woman in her 50s called out. “boy ah?” Kless continued to walk on. “boy ah?” Kless starts to wonder who the lady calling? there is no male nearby. then the woman came nearer and pointed at her tummy, “boy ah?” diaozz..

    if we were really wrong, what is the greatest problem?
    1. we need to change a name, what is a good name?
    2. we need to adjust our thoughts of having a son rather than another daughter.
    3. we need to start buying baby clothes for boys. can’t take hand-down clothes from Joey.
    4. most difficult thing to do. we got to explain to Joey why Jayne is no longer Jayne… haizz

    what if?

    Thursday, April 23, 2009

    The Final Countdown (update)

    Fulham v Liverpool (0-1)
    Manchester United v Aston Villa (3-2)
    Newcastle v Chelsea (0-2)

    Liverpool v Blackburn (4-0)
    Sunderland v Manchester United (1-2)
    Chelsea v Bolton (4-3)

    Liverpool v Arsenal (4-4)
    Manchester United v Portsmouth (2-0)
    Chelsea v Everton (0-0)
     
    up till this stage, Chelsea’s boss has already openly conceded defeat. he will be focusing his team on the remaining 2 cups (CL & FA) in the hope of at least getting something for the season. as for my beloved team, we are out of all except for BPL. so this is the only thing we can hang on to le. it’s not entirely over yet cos ManU can still lose it. let’s pray so.

    Hull City v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspurs
    West Ham v Chelsea

    Liverpool v Newcastle
    Middlesbrough v Manchester United
    Chelsea v Fulham

    West Ham v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Manchester City
    Arsenal v Chelsea

    Wigan v Manchester United

    West Brom v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Arsenal
    Chelsea v Blackburn

    Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspurs
    Hull City v Manchester United
    Sunderland v Chelsea

    current table standings:
    1. Manchester United (74 points, 35 GD)
    2. Liverpool (71 points, 38 GD)
    3. Chelsea (68 points, 35 GD)

    Wednesday, April 22, 2009

    Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal

    Keeper: Reina
    Defender: Arbeloa, Agger, Carragher, Aurelio
    Miderfielder: Kuyt (El Zhar), Alonso, Mascherano, Riera (Babel)
    Forward: Benayoun, Torres

    man-of-the-match: Fernando Torres

    the most exciting match of the season. not even the 4-0 win over Real Madrid can be compared to this. right from the start, Liverpool dominated the game, Torres was a man on a mission. i have never seen him run so hard, fighting for each ball that deems a chance.

    despite dominating the first half totally, Liverpool seems not to be able to pull down the defense of the Gunners. esp their keeper Fabianski. he wasn’t the same keeper that played last weekend against Chelsea in the FA Cup. i can safely say, he single-handedly kept Arsenal in the game for the first 35mins. destiny played a cruel trick on us. Arsenal went ahead by the 4-goal hero, Arshavin. but still the faithful KOP sang their soul out and sent their own players into half time with the famous “You’ll never walk alone”.

    2nd half was even better. within 6mins, we are in the lead. goals from Torres and Benayoun gave us the belief. we were unlucky to not have scored a 3rd as the assistant referee ruled an offside which was not. then suddenly, our defense had a lapse of concentration and Arshavin was there to punish us. 2 goals from him gave Arsenal the lead at 2-3. Torres once again proved that he is the superstar of the night and every penny worth to pay for him, a superb fake at the edge of the penalty box, he let fly a powerful shot which Fabianski only managed to palm into his net. 3-3!!

    as the game heads for a draw at 3-3, another defense mistake allows Arshavin to fire his 4th goal of the night at the 90th min. i think every Liverpool fan must have thought the game is over. another season of big hopes but small achievement. with 5 mins of injury time. the Kop started to belt out the theme song with might. even hearing from the tv, i can feel the goosebumps all over me. who knows, God bless His chosen people. Benayoun scored the magnificent 4th goal at the 93rd min.

    final score 4-4. let’s pray that ManU and Chelsea will falter tonight…

    Tuesday, April 21, 2009

    Morning talk with Joey

    we didn’t bring Joey to childcare today. so she had the chance to sleep in. in fact she was still sleeping when we left the house in the morning. so blessed. i want…

    after my morning coffee and cleared some paper work, i gave a call to my little darling. here is what we talked about…

    papa:  hello…
    joey:  mummy!!!
    papa:  huh?!? (speaking in a deeper tone) 我是谁?
    joey:  ……… daddy!!!
    papa:  good girl. 你在做什么? 有吃早餐吗?
    joey:  我在 colouring. (答非所问)
    papa:  ooh… 有吃早餐吗?
    joey:  papa, 你在哪里?
    papa:  我在做工 lor.
    joey:  orh… mummy 也是在做工 ah? 我今天没有去 school.
    papa:  对 lah.. 等一下你可以出去搭脚车。
    joey:  Han 去 school lor.. 他会来我们去玩。
    papa:  ok.. when Han is back, you can go out with him to cycle. have you eaten your breakfast? (still not forgetting my initial question, very focus father)
    joey:  还没有。papa 你做工后去哪里?
    papa:  我有 meeting ah.
    joey:  不要去 meeting la… 每次去 meeting.. 快一点会来。
    papa:  会 lah… 晚上就回来了。
    joey:  不要去 meeting la… (did my mother taught her that?) papa, 我的脚很痛。mummy 剪我的脚指甲很痛。
    papa:  为什么?mummy 是不小心的。我回来后帮你看一看。没有事的,ok?
    joey:  ok…bye bye…

    do they teach kids’ conversation in parents 101?

    Kingdom of God = Kingdom of Relationship

    Danny Yeo (famous 933 DJ) quoted the above statement during his short sharing last sunday in DD zone’s luncheon. he shared that even tho has been attending church for 7 years, but he always felt very lonely/ alone. until last oct, he finally joined a cg and realised that with relationship in church, life became more interesting and more meaningful. how true.

    do we serve better when we are doing it with people we are familiar with? i think naturally we will serve with more joy and enthusiasm when people doing it with us are close friends. a good example will be serving or helping out in a holy matrimony of a couple. i have been helping in quite a number of weddings, most of the time with close friends like ziwei, keng hoe and khen theen. serving together with them are such a joy. we knew exactly what was needed to be done and who is suppose to do what. under the leadership of the super-experienced ziwei, we are like a very trained group of elites doing our stuff to the best. hahaa..

    comparing to other weddings i have helped out in other places not planned by our unique group. the feeling is totally different. even tho i’m still working among christians, the feeling was more like a work than an enjoyment.

    so i do believe, no matter where we serve. we need to find a group of friends who can share our joys and burdens. if not, the fire to serve will surely grow cold de. agree?

    When is enough enough?

    the bible teaches us to forgive others 70 times 7. is that possible at all? let’s do a survey. 9 different categories of people in our lives. how long can we help them before we think it is fruitless and a break is needed?

    on a scale of 1-5.
    1 being ‘cannot forgive’
    5 being ‘forgive forever’

    1. colleagues
    2. normal friends
    3. long time friends
    4. church or cg friends
    5. relatives
    6. family members
    7. children
    8. spouse
    9. yourself

    Regrets in Life

    i think all of us have some sort of regrets in life. the simplest could be a regret of buying the wrong thing. happens to a lot of women frequently. some of us may have deeper regrets like choosing the wrong job or the wrong partner. come to think of it, regrets are the products of our decisions. so no decisions means no regrets? the truth cannot be farther. the lack of decisions usually causes greater regrets than the wrong decisions.

    last year i decided to take up the corporate offer to a local gym. only $30/mth. cheap right? but since i have started paying for the monthly sub fees, i have not stepped into the gym for once. not even to enjoy the aircon. in total i have paid $180, so much regrets. must wait for another 6 mths before i can cancel the subscription. this is definitely a regret due to a wrong decision.

    but my greatest regret in life is due to a lack of decision. i had my fair share of ups and downs. becos i didn’t speak my mind on a frustration, i had to suffer the consequences even until now. i had to let go of things i have been dreaming of for years. haizz…

    if only we can turn back the clock….

    Monday, April 20, 2009

    The dream is over!

    last night at the 'theatre of dreams', ManU's dream of a historic 5 trophy season is shattered. amen! hallelujah!

    just like my dear friend Bruce said. they at least have won the 'useless' league cup competition and the 'who cares' world club competition. ya, he is right, but surely FA cup is ranked higer than these 2 cups. maybe Ferguson got the 'indian rojak' virus and lost his bearings. fielding a reserve team against a first team Everton. how to win? dream on lah...

    as the papers reported, Everton fans proved that there is more than 1 passionate group of fans from Merseyside. they sang and cheered like they were the home team last night.

    the best moment belongs to Berbatov of 'Man'?U. when he took that penalty kick, it would not be wrong to think that it was his missus who took the kick. the kick was so soft even Tristan can kick harder. if Tristan took the kick, maybe he will score leh...cos Brad Fridel doesn't have any video to study and to prepare to stop him. hahahaa..

    so left with CL and BPL. Barcelona will stand as the main rival for ManU. that is provided ManU can successfully win a resurrected Arsenal. the Liverpool will be there to push them all the way for BPL title. maybe my double dream will be fulfilled this season.

    Liverpool champions of BPL
    Newcastle relegated to 1st Division

    Which way is correct?

    this morning my mother asked kless a question. why is joey's time scheduled according to our activities? why aren't we scheduling out time according to joey's activities?

    for example, last friday we brought joey along for our cg outing. we ended quite late lah. so joey was very tired. like any grandparents, my mother felt a bit 'heart pain' to see her grandchild 'suffering' like that.

    are we doing it the right way? i feel my mother has a valid point. but then, it is all a matter of striking a balance rite? i can't plan all my activities (church, work, personal) 100% in-line with joey's time. neither should i neglect to plan my tme for joey's activities. as working parents, when we are in the office, joey is in her childcare centre. the time we have for one another is when i send her to school and fetch her back. once at home, she washes up, plays her toy, watches her cartoons and then it's time for bed. the cycle goes on pretty much the same everyday from mon-fri. except for weekends, kless and i will try our best to plan some outdoor fun for her. not sure have i done enough, but i feel i have tried at least..

    back to the cg outing. if i left joey at home with my mother, she would have better rest. but then i would have lesser chance to do something with joey.

    parenting is not easy. a lifetime of learning thru trials and errors. what more the 2nd baby is coming soon. a whole new level of understanding and balancing will be required. God bless me! kowtow to all the parents i know.... me included =)

    Sunday, April 19, 2009

    The Final Countdown

    Fulham v Liverpool (0-1)
    Manchester United v Aston Villa (3-2)
    Newcastle v Chelsea (0-2)

    Liverpool v Blackburn (4-0)
    Sunderland v Manchester United (1-2)
    Chelsea v Bolton (4-3)

    Liverpool v Arsenal
    Manchester United v Portsmouth
    Chelsea v Everton

    Hull City v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspurs
    West Ham v Chelsea

    Liverpool v Newcastle
    Middlesbrough v Manchester United
    Chelsea v Fulham

    West Ham v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Manchester City
    Arsenal v Chelsea

    Wigan v Manchester United

    West Brom v Liverpool
    Manchester United v Arsenal
    Chelsea v Blackburn

    Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspurs
    Hull City v Manchester United
    Sunderland v Chelsea

    current table standings:
    1. Manchester United (71 points, 33 GD)
    2. Liverpool (70 points, 38 GD)
    3. Chelsea (67 points, 35 GD)

    You'll Never Walk Alone

    i have named this blog as a tribute to my support to the greatest football team in the world. Liverpool.

    you may not agree, but it doesn't matter lah. it's my blog mah.

    actually the title also meant something else. both Kless's and Joey's blog has been moved from multiply to blogsopt. so being a family together, i felt that i have to switch over sooner or later. family power!

    hope you will drop by to read the 'Kuan Family' blogs often =)