Agnes's Commencement 2009

the National Anthem





Agnes as she goes up to collect her 'cert'.





balloons & streamers are released!

be going to watch Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs later. in 3-D format no less. but before that we will be going back to Agnes's office to do some stuff for "10 to 15 minutes".

we are also planning a short trip soon, probably to Cameron Highlands. we were planning to go during the National day long weekend, but it is gonna be hard to get the hotel and coach up during a Peak Season. anyway I am working on the 8th, so if were to go during that weekend, then I am gonna have to change my working day with someone, if anyone is willing to in the first place.

an alternative is to drive up. I love driving up to Malaysia, but Agnes is usually not so keen on such shenigans. was thinking we could drive up to Genting or any of the other highlands for a day then hit Cameron the following day. of course we could do the SIN-Cameron drive all at once and be there by afternoon with quick petrol stops and meals in between.

the back been playing up lately. especially when I stand or sit unassisted for too long. I guess all the years of poor posture and physical abuse has finally caught up with me. may have to see a chiropractor or a massage therapist soon to get it 'straightened out'.

went for Agnes's commencement on Thursday. will post up the pictures and video soon, if only I am able to download the video.

the non-headache inducing blog post

marina bay area is getting all prepped up for the big F1 race in september. so it is surely but surely starting to resemble some hybrid of a construction site and a safari. what with all the box seats and stands being constructed. and the ominous looking cage like structures that will soon line the entire stretch of the F1 track. so be prepared for delays and jams in the area.

watched Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on saturday. before that we had a fast lunch at BBQ Chicken as our show started at 3.30 pm and we only managed to collect the tickets at 3.
Likewise dinner was a similar rush at Hao Kou Wei as we had wanted to watch the Transformers Animated live show at 7pm when our show had ended at around 6.30. but somehow we managed to do it without getting indigestion. The movie itself was awesome. maybe not as great as the first installment, but still good for what it was supposed to be. the fight scenes were visceral and graphic, not unlike chinese gong fu movies, where scenes are purposely slowed down to accentuate every punch and kick. there was even a villain(ess) reminiscent of the movie Species, amongst other familiar pop culture references. somehow Optimus Prime seemed even more noble in this installment than the first. rating: 4 out of 5.

our mext movie to catch is Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. I wanna catch the 3-D version but agnes is adverse to the extra cost. it opens on 1st July in cinemas. I only wonder why this one was not released earlier to capture the young crowd during the June holidays.



the matches last night at the Tampines Stadium and the other fund raising activities for little Charmaine has raised about 420 k! only 80 k to go!! but 500 k is only for the treatment, and does not include all the other financial collateral's of Charmaine's road to recovery.

The noisy pipes thingy has been resolved. I took 'urgent leave' on monday to attend to the technician that day. it was a mere issue of a faulty valve that did us in. apparently the persons who installed the heater had overtightened the connector which damaged it, and caused it to make the infernal sound.

the kitchen area ,around the sink especially, is slowly starting to resemble a swamp of sorts. although it is supposed to be rather water resistant, it is already beginning to show signs of falling apart. we already have a mini mushroom farm sprouting behind the sink. the cupboard below was also discovered to have become disengaged from the wall! I had to push it back in place. and the cupboard below is like a mini community of ants, roaches, fungus, algae and all manner of utter grossness.

Agnes has expressed an interest in going back to church.. finally. but so far it has been a no-go, as she cites having to practise her piano for the exams.
sigh.

I hear an A-Team movie is being planned for release in 2010. stars Bradley Cooper, Bruce Willis, Common, Woody Harrelson. should be a good un'.
then there is the mother of all action movies, The Expendables.it's directed by Sylvester Stallone and the cast includes Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Brittany Murphy, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren. rumours were that Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Dammne, Wesley Snipes and Kurt Russell were also considered for roles.

CHARITY fOOTBALL MATCH

Charmine's Charity Football Match today.... Malaysia Cup Veterans and Celebrity Team at Tampines Stadium this Sunday, 28 June 2009. Kick-off at 5pm. Only $10 per ticket... PLEASE come if you can!!!!

Little Charmaine has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma. She is currently in the 4th stage and fighting hard. We are greatly saddened that such a sweet and cheerful little girl has to undergo so much pain and suffering at such a young age.

Charmaine's family will need all the help they can get to tide through these difficult periods.

Let's do our part and spread the word. Every contribution and words of encouragement helps.

Our soccer icons are having a charity soccer match. Proceeds of the match will go to Charmaine and her family. It is happening this Sunday 28th June and tickets are priced at $10.

visit Charmaines's blog: Our Feisty Princess





read more here: Local Soccer Legends come together to raise funds for Our Feisty Princess

good neighborly manners

on thursday night, a neighbour came a-knocking on our door whilst Agnes was in the shower. I answered the door and was confronted by a guy guy who was disgruntled about the noise generated by the pipes when we shower. he said the noise wakes up his mother-in-law, wife and kid.

it was not so much what he said but rather how he said it. it was the first time I have ever seen the guy, let alone spoken to him. yet he was rather confrontational in his tone and choice of words. it was a simple issue that could have been resolved amicably. but he chose to take the route of being abrasive and basically a prick.

I suspect this is the same family that lodged a series of complaints when we were renovating our flat a while back. this is also the same family that wakes up the neighbourhood with their shouting and banging of pots & pans. and many a time this happens in the wee hours (5 am?). so much for our shower pipes waking them up.

anyway we got the guy to come down tomorrow to see what he can do about the sound. failing which we may have to get a plumber to come down as well to resolve the issue.

marriage seminar on 4th July

signed up today for it.
although there has been a change in venue, and consequently it is $10 now instead of $70.

Happy Father's Day