Singapore Budget 2009

It was the day when most Singaporeans are waiting for - the announcement that determines how Singaporeans are going to spend in the year 2009.
Before today, there were news about tapping into the national reserves and polls were even put up to seek the public's view on this decision.
I must say that the comments of some individuals were really skeptical and i almost joined in the debate out of impulse. Later thought it was quite nonsensical.

You should have heard it by now about the S$20.5 billion Resilience Package with the bulk that went towards preserving jobs, ensuring people are still earning an income.
As one without financial background and absolutely zero forecasting ability, i was totally convinced and supportive of this move.
Knowing that the country is undergoing the worst ever economic crisis since independence, i couldn't think of a better plan to keep the country and its people going.
Setting up the Jobs Credit scheme to give employers a 12% cash grant on the first $2500 earned by each employee on the CPF payroll, was really something that impressed me.
This equates to giving money to your employer so that they can (continue to) pay you and keep you employed.
It was stated in the speech that the government did consider lowering the employer CPF contribution rate which was executed some years back.
For a person who empties her CPF every month for her housing loan, i'll be the first to be hit if it was materialized. It would meant that i might have to top up with cash instead.
I give thanks for that.
Not forgetting the increment of the CPF grant from $30k to $40k for first-time home owners. It'll be a good year to get married! =)
In addition with the many other schemes that were put in place to help in the labour force.

With the massive amount of money pumped in, i'm glad to be under the government who has its people at heart.
You may think that the doubling of the GST credits and the 20% rebate on your income tax is negligible and they serve minimal help to your personal needs.
Then how much is considered a big help?
How about receiving monthly pension and 100% waiver of income tax and be a loafer for the rest of your life?
Consider a migration then.

Well, the fact is, nobody would want to be in this difficult time if they have a choice.
But since we are in it, we have to brace ourselves through the crisis, putting aside our self-centredness and viewing things holistically.
Truthfully speaking, we are considered very blessed to be living in this country. So blessed that we could be even be over-pampered.
Amplifying our rights when the government doesn't give and complaining when we weren't given enough.
Sounds familiar huh.

Heard of the spirit of CONTENTMENT?

Be thankful.

Monday Movie

The approach of the lunar new year holidays indeed has helped people at work loosen up a bit.
At least i'm hearing conversations out of the formal work context and it includes the making of pineapple tarts and love letters.
With the commencement of the corporate planning exercise (it's NOT the organisation doing Singapore Workout as suggested by Persi), it kept a lot of people away from their desk, including LL.
And since the UAT has to go on even when she's not around, i had my very first meeting with the vendors ALONE.
It didn't dawn much on me at that moment as the meeting was called for in an impromptu manner.
I only laughed at my behaviour after the meeting as i reflected.
Subconsciously, i realised i was actually feeling a lil intimidated by my minimal IT knowledge and afraid that i would ask dumb questions in which might turn out to be a joke.
Hence during the meeting with the IT guys, in the midst of trying my very best to understand the technical terms they were throwing around and the scenarios they were illustrating, i turned the table around and confused them a lil. Haha.
I secretly heaved a sigh of relief when they paused and pondered and concluded with a "we'll check" after i rattled a chain of comments.
I almost got choked by the smoke. =p
As you can see, i wasn't quite bothered if i've convinced them or confused them as long as i get away.
I can imagine more of such situations happening in the near future, i think i better buck up.

Caught "Rachel Getting Married" with Ivana in the evening.It talks about a girl, Kym, who returned to her family from the rehabiliation centre, for the wedding of her sister (Rachel), bringing along with an unhealed and unresolved heart.
And...........................yah that's about it!
Well, yeah....it has a unique and atypical cinematography and insipiring theme but i thought they could work a bit more on the story development.
I was kept awake as i was eager to find out "what's next" but it never happened.
Disappointingly, the movie ended in a "that's it???!!!" note and five of the patrons didn't even sit through to see that.

I would very much prefer the factual "Australia" and 《赤壁之决战天下》.

I fell in love with the ingenious 孔明 and was reminded on the beauty of the Chinese language.
Now i really regretted for falling asleep in my higher chinese class at college.
Would a kind soul give me a quick tutorial of 《三国演义》 please?
Oh just one thing...i thought it was just a lil awkward with the existence of a taiwanese-accented character in the history of China. For goodness sake, please dub 张震's voice. =p

Classic Great Hitz Part II

I posted the videos onto Facebook and surprisingly, it was a good old great hit for some.

Hence i decided to continue explore more of 陈百强's works.
As i was reading up on him, i found this!

I almost forgot about this!

First came across this song during the madly-in-love-with-Daniel-Chan time, as well as Gigi Leung.
Both were featured in the movie 《初恋无限touch》 and Gigi sang this.

I remembered owning two of the vcds just because they have different covers and i watch not less than 25 times.
I could almost memorize the lines at each scene.
Perhaps i should bring it out to watch again. Heh.

Shall continue my CGH search!

让平静的生活泛起涟漪

Occasionally, Jer will take me by surprise when he started displaying his ah pek homesick phenomena.
He showed me this.

Not long later, i discovered this under the "related videos" column and i was THRILLED!

I couldn't remember how i was introduced to this song, not through the movie of course. It definitely left a uber deep impression in me.
Interestingly, i also learned that the scene where 许文强 was killed (at 3.35) was ever awarded the Best Gunshot Scene.
Jer said he was mesmerized by how slowly Chow Yun Fatt took to collapse after being shot.
Speechless.

Then there was another one!

I first heard this song when i was deeply in love with 陈晓东 during my youth days.
He sang it at one of his concert and i love it instantly.

I like 陈百强. If only he is still alive.

一首歌，一个人，一段回忆，让平静的生活泛起涟漪

Chill

The start of the year took on a hustling mode which was pretty different from the previous.
I couldn't steal any opportunities to slack a bit as much as i wanted to.
The project which began eons ago, changed many hands, is finally rolling out end of this quarter.
We are currently into the user acceptance test (UAT) phase, to test out the possible scenarios and to catch as many bugs as possible.
Everyday, i would just stare into the screen and the only parts i moved were my index finger (on my mouse) and my eyelids. Maybe my lungs too since i had to breathe, i think.
Persi called it the uu-wet as it sounds like someone vomiting. I agree totally. It can be that gross.
Through this exercise, i could somehow identify how a typical IT man functions his brain.
It isn't by choice that most IT men appear blockish, when their only interaction is with machines.
It isn't by choice that they are over logical, when their communication language is codes.
No offense to IT men yeah. Just purely my observation. Heh.
So, i was saying, my time was almost occupied by the UAT, if not would be the daily operational tasks.

Church is getting busier too with my new ministries and it is nothing but excitement.
Really looking forward to the new season ahead.
Stay tune!

In the midst of the busyness, chilling became a reward and it definitely helped keep my sanity.
It has been a long while since the last Bonapers and we decided to have the first in 2009 at Brewerkz.
Having it on a Monday was indeed a good choice as the crowd was a good size and the ambiance was brilliant.
Great food, great beer, great friend and all these by the river. What more can you ask for?

We discovered a new chill out joint after CG and each had their fun at Happy Daze.

Who wants to chill with Bonny?

五月天“真正的快乐”新歌飙唱会

经过一番波折, 终于来到五月天"新歌飙唱会"的场地.
兴奋. 期待.
天色慢慢的变暗, 凉风微微的吹着, 好像真是为五月天而来的.

没有壮观的开场, 没有铺张的舞台, 也没有绚丽的服装.
讲的只是心.
用心来聆听. 用心来感应. 用心来沟通.
第一次搞个露天的开放式演唱会. 不知是哪个天才想出来的.
这本来就是五月天的专署演唱会方式.
什么室内体育馆, 什么舒服的椅子, 什么凉凉的冷气.
都是多余的.
五月天属于大自然, 散发出的热量绝对是四面墙无法局限的.
我们也被这股热量给感染, 凉风再也没那么凉了.
从第一张专辑直到最新的<<後期青春的詩>>看到五月天的成长.
不过也只是音乐里的成长而已.
他们是群大孩子, 还是那么好玩, 那么的可爱.

冠佑的缺席让我感受到他们对兄弟的情义与谅解.
透过海风传给冠佑的祝福, 我深信他能听到.
冠佑...要加油!!!

不知为什么, 我是有够陶醉, 有够感动的. 不时强忍着泪水.
每行歌词, 每段旋律仿佛都深深的钻入我心坎里.
对他们的熟悉而感动, 对他们的思念而感动, 对他们影响着我人生的歌曲而感动.
唱到<<温柔>>时, 更勾起了当时的回忆...

一场用心交汇的演出~

Bye 08. Hi 09.

The new year has finally come.
Rounding up 2008 with some major events that had happened.

1. After years of slogging, i've finally earned the most challenging honours degree after the long anticipation. No more mugging! =)

2. After (more) years of slogging, i was finally given the tangible recognition at work. It's nice to to hear the "p" word. =)

3. I broke my personal record of attending six weddings in two months and till now i can't even remember who has wedded and who's not.

4. For the very first (and hopefully the last) time, i was involved in a political disturbance which resulted in me being trapped in Thailand for a week. I've never felt so distress in a holiday before.

Like the previous years, we had our usual watch night service on new year's eve, to give thanks and wrap-up for the old year and to celebrate and commit the new year onto God's hands.
This year was pretty special as we bade farewell to LY who is going on her no-pay leave after serving full-time in church for a good eight years; and commissioned new pastors where one was my dear friend.
As much as i rationalised that LY's step-down is not going to change our friendship, i couldn't control my emotion when she was giving her speech.
I'm gonna miss her. Don't know for what lah.
Maybe her nagging when she caught me late for church outside the auditorium? But i'm very sure it won't stop even after relinquishing her duties. =p

Well, the usuals for the rest of the night would be lotsa hugs and phototakings.

Not forgetting the annual Big Hugs with my favourite Persi.
It has been four years and it will continue. Love you Persi! =)
Hmm..i realised my hairstyle and my dress sense didn't change very much over the years.
My first dinner of the year was feasted at Botak Jones @ Bedok North.
After my first try at the Bukit Merah stall, i thought it was slightly overrated but i believed i could have made a wrong order.
So on the first day of the new year, i decided to give it another shot and this time, i remembered the recommendations by a gourmet friend.

Despite not being a fan of chicken breast meat, the Cajun Chicken was a pleasant surprise.
The white meat was grilled to tenderness, complimented by the melted cheese which added to its flavour and texture.
It went particularly well with a dip of ketchup and mustard sauce.
I felt kinda healthy after the meal, other than the fries which i didn't bother much.
The coleslaw was very fresh and appetizing too.

The Chicken Hot Dog was pretty bland i thought but it could also be my Bratwurst-pampered tastebuds which was rather picky.
The onions should go pretty well with the sausage since Bengz seemed to be enjoying every bit of the generous serving.
What caught my attention was the Baked Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
It was so rich and flavourful and the outer parts that were tad burnt added to its savoury.
Very tasty! Hence i gleefully agreed when Bengz wanted to do a barter trade with my fries.
Yumz...

Thanks to this old-time Bedokian, i was exposed to many more eating places that are hidden at unnoticeable corners in one night.
I'll try to explore some time soon, provided that i don't lose my way in the mazy central.

What an eye-opening day one of 2009...