WHILE WATCHING OLYMPICS

This may be the longest time I take to write an entry. Oh well, having my laptop right in front of the TV, as I became a couch potato today glued to the Gold Medal matches of Olympics - Basketball and Volleyball.

Pictures taken from Times Square & Fifth Avenue stroll in Manhattan.

Why I chose this? Cheesy, but I am having a coke now [the coke side of life..??] while enjoying the Olympic sport [okay that was taken from the World of Disney store]. Donald Trump - do I need to say more -Thinking Big is definitely closely related to the Olympic honours.


The Olympic games - it is not only about watching the world's best clinch their titles. Most memorable to me was the Men's Vollyball Gold Medal Match. I remember how Clayton Stanley from the USA team screwed up the first two spikes in exactly the same manner; but how he was eventually one of the key player who helped the team secured the gold. I remember his expression - how he was unhappy with himself initially, but eventually see the fire, determination and focus in his eyes. Equally impressive (very) was Giba, to me one of the best players in the Brazil team. To me, he played with perfection and wits. He pointed to his head - probably reminding his team-players to not only play with good physical strength and stamina, but with intelligence. What touched my heart most, was reading the news thereafter. The U.S. coach's father-in-law was stabbed to death in Beijing.

While reading the Heart Sutra comic, here's one that striked my mind: Although we have not changed, we cannot deny changes in external factors. The essence of living is to continually dissolve into space and time in which we happen to be. Therefore, we should face reality instead of fooling ourselves in daydreams.

Easier said than done. Is this a challenge I have to go through now? Accept whatever is presented to me? Dissolve in it. If I succeed in dissolving in it, am I a success (even though I am unhappy? or am i supposed to find a way to be happy dissolving in it?)?

Also, why did you have to contact me? I succeeded well for three days (oops only three? seems like a long period of time)...

Dissolve...[easier said than done!!]

Relaxing Sunday Morning at Botanic Gardens


Sumini is off today, so Irwin and I decided to take Bobby to Botanic for his morning walk. In touch with nature, nothing can be better. We walked for an hour, and then settled for brunch.

Feeling a walk was inadequate for weekend fun, I decided to go for Yoga in the afternoon!

While waiting for class to start, I had a book in my hand while I warmed up. I think this paragraph has its truth, although I could not help giggling while reading and warming up.

Mortals are healthy or unhealthy, happy or unhappy, strong or weak, alive or dead, in the proportion that they think thoughts of health or illness, strength or weakness. Your body, like all other material things, manifests only what your mind entertains in belief.

In a general way you have often noticed this yourself. A man with an ugly disposition (which is a mental state) will have harsh, unlovely features. One with a gentle disposition will have a similing and serene countenance. All the other organs of the human body are equally responsive to thought. Who has not seen the face become red with rage or white with fear? Who has not known of people who become desperately ill following an outburst of temper? Physicians declare that just as fear, irritability and hate distort the features, they likewise distort the heard, stomach and liver.

I wont explain why I giggled. But think about it, have you not had such thoughts and wonder? Humour aside, consider what this book is trying to explain.

Finally, and seriously, consider taking up Yoga - I think it really helps to focus and strenghten the mind - and at the same time quieten and calm down the mind! After yoga, I was happy and rejuvenated.

Our Morning Visit

Well I have not visited Shifu in awhile. This morning, Irwin and I drove down to Lucky Heights, munching Old Chang Kee curry puffs and spring rolls on our ride down.

It is always calming to visit him. When we first sat down, I didn't even have to open my mouth.

"Your work is currently very tough."

He went on to say that sometimes the unhappiness can be self-created.

Similar to what I have thought through - this is the current culture of the team... very different to what I have been exposed to, but I should focus on the responsibilities given and think of nothing else.



After I have been doing this for long, it will get better... thats what Shifu told me when I first chatted with him on whether I should change to a different product line back in January 08.

It is important to learn from the people around you.





Build the experience.

At this point, even if I made mistakes, it is okay.



I don't deny I feel tired from the current workload and high expectations. But I guess I chose this path myself. I gave up my cushy role to learn something new from the bottom. I have to learn to enjoy this new stress - life is about evolution and progression isn't it?

That is the price I pay for hating anything static. Yes I did progress =). Met a very good yoga teacher yesterday.



Today, Irwin and I took a jog to Chancery Lane. When we came back, we were hungry, and I (hee hee hee) picked up cooking! Cooked my first dish in Sg! Well, I didnt exactly cook. I was in charge of cutting up the onions, chilli and canned pork (not bad!! onions and chilli are a challenge for a beginner!). I think I can like cooking after all. Gonna start trying - pick up a cook book and explore a bit every weekend. Wish me luck ;)

The WRAF WRAF week and How I deal

This entry is an update of my rough week and how I kinda survived. To start with, it is month end week (from a controller's perspective).

Month-end, I have developed a luff-hate relationship with this process called Mark Review (where you assess your traders' positions and see that it is valued in line with market and other documented methodologies). It is a teeeedious process, yet extremely interesting - and there is no better way to learn and understand a commodity's value than going through this Mark Review process. Its tough - I had to learn the process under crazy conditions before my team-mate went for maternity leave.. but here I am - I have sorta survived this second round. Late nights, early starts, lots of starbucks, teh ci xiu dai, 100 plus - all to focus for building the curves and understanding how the new Gasoils traded in July are valued.... and did I mention - the stress of the Access database not functioning as well as you would like it?!!!

During this week, I also received two rather shocking news. My
university mate's dad has just passed away - and so did one of my colleague's mother. Hey, we are talking about a generation above us (now!!) It used to be Grand - something, but now its starting to be just a generation above us. Due to the late nights @ work, I couldnt even attend the wake...

The friendship with I seems to have died off a little. He is either very very caught up at work, or put off by the fact that I speak about Gui and my in-laws, or feeling guility hehehe... ooh whatever, let it be. This is a situation which I have anticipated as one of the outcomes when I embarked on the friendship. But at least I felt I have learnt a lot too from this friebdship. Be it from books, music, sports, leading a balanced life-style, unwinding tips, good sleeping habits etc.... During the work week, I almost felt like giving up on the job again - but when it comes to weekend, it feels that everything is A-ok... I can do it, I can probably survive another crazy month-end round. I probably learned more in the past three months compared to my entire two years in the bank!


This morning, Gui and I took the makansutra book and decided to explore the Havelock road area. With a book in my hand, we explored 22A Havelock road for some simple fares. Always nice to feel a bit like a tourist, be curious and exploratory.

Its Saturday afternoon now - I know - its a bit too early in the weekend to be reflective? But yes I am feeling so - not much of an energy to look at investments (after the wraf wraf week)... I think I will leave. Was supposed to look at the performance evaluation process this year for my job - Ade has been chasing me to be more proactive about it, but I am exhuasted and I guess I'll leave. Weekend time - its too precious to spend it on matters that matter - but doesnt add a relaxing, unwinding touch to it... (or am I lazy?!!)

The Olympics opening ceremony was a WOO! The chinese athletes are also all nervous about competing on their home grounds. What some of their coaches are doing is to prevent them from speaking with the press, and that they do yoga. Yes, thats what I will do later. Stroll to Great World - and its time to take a more serious approach to yoga - it has to progress!

What are you working for?

Its hectic during the weekdays. Seems to be fighting fire daily. An ex-colleague called me twice this week and asked if I was interested to join his company - promising a very attractive pay package and work hours. Pondered, but no at this point, I do not feel like stepping back into audit. Working in a bank has its perks. You are near the market movers - you see and hear their market perspectives, and hear from the best brains - their problems/ issues. Nope, $ cannot be everything.

Had a really balanced weekend this time. Swam in the morning on Saturday; and in the evening, with a touch of more culture, went to attend a song concert at the Drama Centre Theatre @ the National Library. It was a performance mainly put up by doctors - they can sing!!! We went specially to support Dr Loh - the tickets in support of her goes to charity - so it was a culturally charitable evening. That aside, it was really enjoyable to bask in live music.

Sunday - Gui and I went for McDonalds breakfast along Scotts Road. Was a quick one by the roadside since he had to returned to work. In the afternoon, I went to buy two more CDs. Coldplay's new album (for Gui) and High Society - Jazz in the city 2. Was not that cheap since these are new releases. But music to me is like life's simple pleasures. Hmm, I enjoy it and I feel a certain high when I hear music I like - Do you??!

Took a cab and then went for wall climbing. This time I climbed (nearly) non-stop for two hours. Fun and I learned to tie the knots these time. Not something I will usually do but you goto know if you wana explore this sport. I also had to learn to support my climbing partner who is probably more than two times heavier than me?? I flew up when he was coming down (we did a trial) - eventually I had to be tied to the gate behind (like a dog's leash) so I wouldn't fly. It worked, although I was still lifted slightly mid-air (with legs off the ground) when he was coming down... Took a short swim after that to cool down and to enjoy the sunshine and breeze.

So, what am I working for? Apart from job satisfaction (which might slip from time to time); trying to survive the stress - came up with a new motto "No fears, No worries" which my team-mate laughed at me (but hey I think it works; To paraphrase Thackeray -- "The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own thought.") -- its also to afford my life's simple pleasures. I feel fortunate at this age that I dont have real financial burden to worry about - no debt, no loans, parents are also not asking for financial support -- At this point, its to afford my life's simple pleasures -- without a worry.