New pictures!

the pictures from Agnes and mine at Chinese Garden are up. They consist mostly of pictures of us together or just Agnes. There are still the pictures from our bangkok trip and other pictures taken at Chinese Gardens which I have yet to post...
The page may take some time to lad due to the size and number of pictures.

Enjoy...

The Comment

I tried not to say too much in response to nadia's response to my response to the picture she posted of bruce wearing a photoshop-ed pink shirt.

But when POORUL joins in then it becomes personal.

But I will keep my cool... for now....

To change the world

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

the Red Planet cometh

This whole month, the Earth is catching up with Mars and will culminate in the closet encounter between the two plants in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.
Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and affects its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years and it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.
When you look at the night sky this month, look out for a progressively bigger speck in the sky! The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.

'poor' xiaxue seems hurt

Xiaxue has a new post up about how she is hurt by some thing one of the guys on Blind Date said about her on his blog a while back something to the effect that she deserved to get her blog hacked. This coupled with the comments Kenny made on his blog (short, small-breasted and photoshopped)made her spiral into depression for a bit.

A comment regarding a comment:

Leon:You always have something negative to say now don't you? First you complain I never put up photos, then now you want to go on about how it's bad photoshopping. You might be joking, who bloody knows, but callous comments like that just make me want to not bother with blogging anymore because even when I make an effort, I get criticised.

negative?

complain?

bad?

bloody?

callous?

critical?

*sigh*

The filler blog...

I tried to think about what to write about:

I could write about what Agnes and I did yesterday. I could have described how we went to Chinese Gardens and took loads of nice pictures. And how we rushed home to make it on time for a dinner that never was. And how we instead had a late, late dinner at East Coast Park Food Centre. But I will not write about that. Or do a review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Or...I could write about what we did the day before. Describing how we went to Mount Faber for dinner and how the restaurant (a bar now) had no real food. And how we later adjourned to Labrador Park and had a nice romantic dinner at Olive's restaurant. And then how we had a good walk around the Esplanade/Fullerton area before heading home.

Another thing I coulda blogged about was how Faith and I attended the last day of the Festival of Praise at the Indoor Stadium on Sunday, and how much fun it was. And how we managed to catch dinner at nearby Cosy Bay before heading home, schitzophrenic waitress and all. I coulda also discoursed about the huge queue outside the stadium when we got there, or even the comedy of errors that led up to me picking up Faith nearly 45 minutes late.

Or how I spent my saturday at work and then went home before heading to meet Agnes. How we visited her dad at the hospital and went to Funan to buy some books. Or how we ordered pizza from Canadian Pizza for dinner for the 3 of us (Noel, Agnes and myself)

Or even what happened on Friday...
or thursday...
or any other day before today....

BUT INSTEAD....

Since I am home alone today without any dinner again, I thought I might touch upon my family and how a day is like in my household.

I mean I love how my parents allow me to do what I like most times and how they are often quite open to my views. I know alot of people would like to be in my shoes and to be able to do what they like and not really be held accountable for it. I do not have to tell them where I am or whom I am with. I do not have to ask them for dinner and they do not kick up a fuss when I do not join them for dinner.

But the flip side of this is that you have to be able to fend for yourself alot. My parents are still very mobile and have a life of their own (with the exception of the care of the cats!). So it is hardly surprising to not find them at home on most days. They are probably out having dinner or at Leo's place. Or playing chauffeur in relation to either Leo or Noel(and to a certain extent Agnes and myself). With Alden around and another on the way, you see them around the home even less.

We also have an auntie who comes around on wednesdays to do the cleaning and stuff. This helps take a load off my parents shoulders as far as the cleaning goes. But that is about the full extent of what she does around the house.

So my folks either do not cook or cook a large batch which lasts for a while (even up to a week sometimes!). So sometimes I will rush home after work to an empty house. No dinner sometimes, unless I call (read:sms) them to da bao dinner for me or I eat out myself. I have a store of instant noodles which I open out for days like this.

To a certain extent I treat my home like a hotel, where I come home mainly to watch TV, surf the net and sleep mainly. It is a lifestyle part choice and part out of neccessity. Some people wonder why I eat out so much and how I need not call back to 'inform' my folks I am not coming back for dinner.

Another aspect is how Noel's live-in girlfriend,Paula stays with us. It was kinda weird at first having her living in the same house. But as time went on we all kinda adjusted to a new 'member' to our family. It did not help that we had gossipy neighbours who gave her the evil eye and thus pressured my parents and elder bro to react somewhat negatively to the living arrangement. But Noel, Paula and I persevered and it became more of a permanent thing. I guess my endorsement(or lack thereof) of any major decision around the house is often what tips the balance most times. My parents think I am the most grounded and intelligent *cough* one. So they often refer contentious issues to me to mediate,especially when it comes to Noel. Noel and I have a special bond and I am about the only one whom he is willing to share anything. Hence my parents channel through me when they are unable to get through to Noel.

On the flip side, my relationship with Leo is rather strained. He and I have not been on talking terms for a few years now. We are cordial with each other but to me I I do not treat him like my brother,let alone an elder brother. I do not want to go into all the reasons and the history behing our bad blood. It does not help any how much my mum adores him and how Leo constantly disrespects my dad.

Another feature of the Cornelia ,(the name of our house), are the myriad pets. The cats and all their distinctive personalities. Monk the 'manja' one. UJ the stupid,oblivious one. Nico the aloof,skinny skank. Poison the naughty and overly touchy-feely one. Halia the aggressive, distant one who refuse to be domesticated. The dogs. Camou and his insurmountable will to live despite all odds. Beethooven and his reclusive personality except at food time.

Our immediate neighbours are a story unto themselves too. Family feuds/ broken pots/ smashed car windscreens/ vulgar letters/ regular visits from the local police/ mediation from our MP/ the SPCA, ACRES and AVA called in/ fines by the BSA/dead animals/hospitalisations/ mad hysterics...
You name it, we have it! Just another day on Casuarina Road.

Ummm...and that is about it...for now...

Perceptions

Different people have different perceptions. We can never please everyone.

A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why
none of them ride on the donkey?" Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked beside them.

Later, an old man saw them and said, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" The wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.

Later on, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman." The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He said, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you."

the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

What we husbands already know...

A lady visited the government matchmaker, SDU, for marriage and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please."

"Oh, he must be good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. He must also be willing to accompany me the whole day at home and during my leisure hours if I don't go out; tell me interesting stories when I need conversation and be silent when I want to rest."

The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand. You need a television."

Letter from the NKF to me!

Dear Mr Boyd,

Thank you message from the new interim CEO, NKF

This letter is to keep you posted on the recent developments at the NKF as you are one of the important benefactors of our needy patients. As the new CEO of the NKF, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your steadfast support towards our patients. Your kind and generous donations have given them and their families tremendous hope for the future as they battle against life-threatening illnesses.

You must be aware of the recent media reports on the alleged inappropriate use of funds by the former NKF CEO and the Board. As a result, the NKF has recently undergone a major change in its management. I, as the new interim CEO, together with the new Board of Directors will oversee and ensure that all donations made to the NKF are put to good use. We have commissioned an external auditor, KPMG, to conduct a detailed review of the financial controls within the NKF and will make public the findings in due course. We hope to restore your confidence and trust in the NKF.

The new NKF Board members are eminent professionals and administrators handpicked by our Health Minister whose priority is to ensure the continued existence of a strong NKF and ensure that your donations are put to good use. Our Chairman is Mr Gerard Ee, an eminent charity volunteer.

I am familiar with running a healthcare organisation as I was the National Skin Centre’s (NSC) medical director for 14 years till April last year. As interim CEO of the NKF, I will be working closely with the new Board and will take directions from them.

The NKF’s commitment to its needy patients will not waver. Our objective is to continue all life-saving programmes with greater transparency and accountability in all activities. There are about 1,770 patients who are receiving life-saving dialysis in NKF dialysis centres. They will continue to depend on the heavily subsidised dialysis at the NKF for many years to come. Your donations have made this possible.

We are also proceeding with all our medical, prevention, and education programmes to promote the prevention of diabetes and high blood pressure that are the major causes of kidney failure. On behalf of the new Board and staff of the NKF, let me thank you again for your generous support.

The NKF Board and I are reviewing the NKF’s practices and corporate governance as well as reviewing how we can reduce dialysis costs for our patients. We are also reviewing the selection criteria and subsidy for patients who need NKF’s assistance and subsidies.

We need to reassure our patients that they will continue to receive life-saving treatment and subsidy through the donations of caring Singaporeans like you. I hope that with your unwavering support the NKF can continue to help needy patients with kidney disease.

We will be keeping you updated on further developments at the new NKF.


Yours sincerely,


Prof Goh Chee Leok
Interim CEO