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Friday, August 20, 2004
We found Ebbi!
My husband, Fang, went for his late night jog just now. On his way back, he came by the back of our HDB block. He saw a cat, crouching near the door of the service chute. The chute was on the ground floor, directly below our window. It was too dark to clearly. But he thought the cat looked like Ebbi. He went nearer for a closer look but the cat darted into the service chute.
Fang came back home and told me he thought he saw Ebbi. We grabbed a torch-light and rushed down. Fang opened the door of the service chute wide but there was no sign of the cat. I took the light from Fang and went in. It didn't smell too nice in there and the pipes were covered with cobweb. And right there in a corner was Ebbi! We found her at last! From the looks of it, she has been hiding there all this while.
She didn’t seem to recognize me at first and struggled when I grabbed hold of her. I dared not put her down in case she dash away.
She looks dehydrated and she was definitely very hungry. Other than that, she doesn't have any visible injury from the fall. But I’ll have to bring her to the vet for a check-up. She’s very very dirty. Her white coat is now grayish. It’s going to take me a while to clean her up since she’s so terrified of baths. She went sniffing round the kitchen for a while and then finally allowed me to stroke her.
Missing for 13 days! I thought I was never going to see her again! She’s now purring away in the kitchen. Welcome home, Ebbi. Labels: Family
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Singapore Idol
I managed to catch the re-run of the first audition for Singapore Idol last night. Many thanks to Gu who called me. I've read about the funny antics of some of the Idol-wannabes,so immediately I rushed to switch on the TV set and my newly-purchased DVD recorder.
Titles have already been affectionately bestowed on some of the rejects. They are (ta da!)....
Male Stripper : Steven entered the scene in a Gladiator outfit and started stripping as he sang "She Bangs". He was down to his Yellow Speedo when he finished. I've heard of him even before he made this appearance. He has a website announcing his self-proclaimed titles of "The Hunk" and "The Most Handsome Guy in Singapore" and his profession? The Street-Eye-Brow-Plucker!
Careless-Whisperer : The message "This is the original sound level. Do not adjust the TV" flashed across the TV screen as Patrick did a politically correct version of Wham's "Careless Whisper"... in whisper! He mentioned something about the song should be sung using the stomach (??!!). All 4 judges begged for him to stop even though they couldn't hear a thing. But he was really polite and humbly asked for advice on how he could improve. He was very persistent and even tried variations of his whispers. Ken (one of the judges) told him that in order for them to make any suggestion, they would first need to be able to hear him. He came out of the audition room looking confused and wondering why the judges wouldn't give him any comments.
Percussionist : Her dangling ear-rings swing to the beat of her song. We could all hear the ear-rings, but we couldn't hear her. In fact I couldn't even recall what she sang.
Oxy-5 : He wrote the song himself. Something about squeezing pimples. Oxy-5 acne wash ought to use it as an advertisment jingle. Way to go!
Para-Para-Lemon-Tree : Para-para-Sakura, a dance made popular by a HK singer Aaron Kwok. Lemon Tree, a song made popular by Fools Garden. Kelvin managed to put these two (possibly the 2 most irritating performances) together and present to national TV "Para Para Lemon Tree"! You'll have to see it to believe it. William Hung, eat your heart out! There are others, Rapper, Slapper, Disciplinary-master, Watermelon-banana-man. I've uploaded the clips to my website. Will provide links later.
p.s. have included the links to various clips at this entry
Labels: TV/Movies
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
MIA
I was sorting through my photographs and I realized something. I took most of the photographs and hence I wasn’t inside many of the photographs. I also did most of the wedding video shoots of my closer friends. And as I looked through the video clips, I felt kind of left out of their celebrations because I was always behind the camera. Ok. I’m in the posed group shots. But I’ve never been captured in any of the candid shots. And I’m definitely not in the video clips. I've missed out on most of the fun. I especially missed being in the bride's Ah Yees' team. The bride’s Ah Yees (or "sisters") would be at the main entrance blocking the groom from entry until red-packets were given or until the girls were done with the teasing. But I couldn’t be part of that girls’ team at all. I couldn’t even talk because my voice would come out very loud in the video. I wonder if 10 years later when my friends watch their wedding video, would they even remember I was there. Maybe I should insert a self portrait at the end of the video.  Labels: Photography
Monday, August 16, 2004
Photography
Most of my friends know I’m moonlighting as a wedding/events videographer. What started out as a hobby has turned into a little side-income for me. But my real interest is still in photography. Videography, well, helps finance my photography hobby. Equipment, films, processing costs, servicing, photography books etc are not exactly cheap.
Oh yes. I’m still using films. I use both film and digital. I can never understand why there are always flame-wars in photography forums about digital and film photography. Each system has its advantages and limitations. Even more ridiculous are die-hard fans of brand names. I'm a Canon-user but I don't criticise Nikon etc. Ultimately it's the person behind the camera that creates the photo. Cameras are tools. In my case, I always carry a compact digital P&S camera when I'm out with family and friends. For more serious works such as wedding shoots, I’ll use either my DSLR or film SLR, depending on the clients. And for personal works nothing beats film. Well, at least not yet. I haven’t bought any color negative films for the last few years. The digital P&S is enough to satisfy the occasional snap-shots. The only films I buy now are b&w, IR or and slide films.
I’m in my office typing this. And now I feel like leaving to shoot something (sounds dangerous). I've been so busy with work lately that I've not touched my cameras for the last few months. I bought a 2nd hand Hassy XPan and a 2nd hand Mamiya 645 few months back but I haven't been using them.
*sigh* I'm feeling kind of restless lately. Perhaps it's time to pick up my camera again. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a photographic memory. Its just that I forgot to load the film....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Still no sign of Ebbi. 10 days now. Labels: Photography, Ramblings
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Sianz...
No mood to work at all. I ordered 2 sets of PC for the office and they arrived yesterday. So I spent my time installing the softwares and configuring the PCs instead.
Ebbi has been gone for 5 days now. I placed some food outside our door in case she comes home. But I think some other neighbourhood cat has been eating the food.
I have called the SPCA to check if someone brought her in. But no news so far. I've got a feeling I will never see her again. That's how I lost Sandy too. Sandy fell out the window once, we immediately rushed downs and got her back. One day she went missing. We thought she probably fallen out the window again. We never found her since and that was about 5 years ago. Now the same thing happened again. *sigh*
Once upon a time I had 3 cats and now there is none.......... Labels: Ramblings
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
National Day
Yesterday was our National Day.
We accepted a friend's invitation for a boat cruise to watch the fireworks from Singapore River. We had dinner on board and there were games organised to keep the kids busy. The sea was kind of choppy and I felt a bit queasy. I ate very little, though dinner spread was pretty good, just in case I get sea-sick. I'm usually not affected by rough seas, but I wasn't sleeping well for the last couple of days because of Ebbi.
The fireworks display was a bit of a let down. I expected more as it was also the last NDP with Mr Goh as our PM.
There's another fireworks this coming Sunday. It's the last display to close off Singapore Fireworks Festival. I believe the display is by a team from HK. Will need to go early cos I'm sure there'll be a bad jam.
I haven't found Ebbi yet. Labels: Family
Monday, August 09, 2004
Ebbi
No sign of her. I sure hope she's ok. I put up a notice at the lift lobby on the ground floor. Someone tore it away. Hopefully that's a sign of guilt that he has Ebbi and does not want to return it.
I hope she's ok. I miss her. Every night when I'm working or reading, she'll be lying on my lap or next to me. She used to sit on my monitor. After I changed to a LCD, she found a warmer spot, tucked between me and the back of my chair.
I really hope she's ok. Labels: Family
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Ebbi is missing
I can't fine her anywhere. She was around this morning when I left for work. Fang and the kids were home. Fang said he left the main door opened so Ebbi might have ran out. But that's so unlike Ebbi. She's always very timid and will dash back into the house when strangers come.
Fang suspect she might have fallen out of the window. (My old cat Sandy fell out of our window once. We;re staying on the 4th floor so she survived the fall.) Ebbi didn't answered my calls in the afternoon when I home from work. But that was not unusual as she would be hiding and sleeping somewhere in the house in the afternoons.
We brought the kids to the gym class, dinner and home again. But she's still did not appear. We searched the house and walked around the area downstairs. Still no sign of Ebbi.
I'm leaving the door open tonight. Sure hope she comes back soon.
Labels: Family
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Acronyms Overload!
I wonder if this is perculiar only to Singapore. We have acronyms for almost anything! Mostly TLAs.
1. The moment we step out of the house, we'll see SBS, MRT, TIBS.
2. Don't like public transport? Get a COE and buy a car.
3. Be familiar with GIA's IDAC in case there's an accident. You'll probably need AAS's help too!
4. Once you're on the roads, you'll travel on PIE, ECP, TPE, AYE, SLE, KJE, BKE.
5. Problems with roads? Complain to LTA.
6. But usually congestions are due to PUB, SCV, TAS digging up the roads, NPB trimming trees or or HDB carrying out their IUP or MUP.
7. When you're going into town, you've got to watch out for ERP in CBD and make sure cash card is in the IU.
8. You need money? Draw from ATMs of POSB, DBS, UOB, OCBC, OUB, HSBC. Don't like cash? You could NETS it.
9. If you are seriously ill, go to the A&E of either SGH, TTSH, NUH, AMKH or AH. If not, go to your GP.
10. Make sure you top up your CPF so that you can get NSS and ERS.
11. Get proper education from JC, ITE, SP, NP, NYP, TP, NUS or NTU.
12. Don't litter or you may be isssued CWO.
13. PCK is best in Singapore and some say JB!
Too lazy to go on... you get my point.
ps FYI, there's a Netherlands' website with the most comprehensive Singapore acronyms I've ever seen. I don't even know half of them!
BTW pay attention to the heading written in Dutch! It's hilarious! Labels: Ramblings
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
It's Time for Serious Finger Pointing
Yesterday (02.08.04) was the first day of the public inquiry into the collapse of Nicoll Highway. On 20 April 2004, there was a cave in at a MRT deep excavation site, causing a 100m section of the Nicoll Highway to collapse. 4 persons died and the extent of damage makes it one of the most serious construction accidents here in SIngapore. (I'll try to post a description of the incident together with some photos in a separate posting.) Let's see. There are 3 major parties in this project. 1. Land Transport Authority (LTA) : the owner and also the Qualified Person (QP), 2. Nishimatsu-Lum Chang JV (NLC) : the Main Contractor and it's in-house engineer is the Professional Engineer (PE) for the design and supervision of the temporary works, 3. Maunsell Consultants (MC) : Consultant engaged by NLC for the permanent works and possibly the temporary works too. Anyway after more than 3 months of study, it's now time for some major finger-pointing. According to today's newspaper, LTA is putting the blame entirely on NLC. NLC deflects part of blame back to LTA and also to MC. MC claims they are not in the loop. This is going to be interesting. Erm, forgive me if I sound flippant over so serious a matter. I can't help it and I'll try to explain why later. Labels: Work
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Age must be catching up...
as it's taking me a longer time to understand this CSS thingy. It would have been a breeze for me a few years back. Of course, I'm doing it the hard way, slogging through articles, learning by trial-&-error. I wonder if there's a parttime class somewhere teaching this.
Was woken up real early this Sunday morning, at 5.30am!! My hubby woke up at 4am (??) and watched Jonny English. And his laughter woke the 2 kids up. And all of them decided to wake me up too! Anyway, since we were all up, we drove to East Coast Park to have breakfast and some inline skating. Healthy life-style huh.
Surprisingly the carparks were quite filled up. There were many early-risers doing their morning exercise. We tried to catch the sunrise, but it was too cloudy.
 Labels: Ramblings
You've been Harry Pottered when...
1. HP no longer means Hewlett-Packard,
2. You start making enquiries for Transfiguration classes,
3. You sign up for Arts class thinking it's the Defense Against Dark Arts Class,
4. You reach for your broom when you leave the house,
5. You shout "Expelliarmus" instead of the usual f**k off, (heehee)
6. You shake your photographs hoping that the people in the pictures would start moving,
7. You start checking your mailbox for Daily Prophet,
8. You scan the sky for owls,
more to come....
(Not that I've too much free time on my hand. but hey! I need to de-stress right?)
Labels: Books
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