New Life Resolution

Do, or do not, there is no try.

My new resolution for my new life is to get serious about writing.

I resolve to write at least 1 short story or 1 chapter a week, devoting either Tuesday or Thursday lunch time to do it.

I had so much ideas in the past, I never got to work on any properly.  I have no idea what I should do ... Chinese history translation ... Chinese historical detective fiction ... modern thriller set in Asia ... children's story ... biographies of significant women in China's history ... or even a humour piece.

I don't know what I will do well in, but I resolve it doesn't matter.

I am certain I have no aim to rise high to management or senior management in any company.  My interests have always been in thinking, subjects that challenges the intellect.  I love to write, to debate, to argue, to formulate ideas, counter them, build them up, tear them down.

I think my passion in life is to write.

And I resolve to write.

A chapter a week.  I will write whatever I fancy each week.  I will see which topic or subject develops, and let it be.

I'm not going to sit down and plan meticulously a whole book now ... I might do that when I'm a professional, but not now.

I will experimenting, feel my way.  I may start half a dozen different writings in half a dozen week, but it doesn't matter.

They may never be completed, nor published even if completed, but it doesn't matter.

I will do it, because it is my passion.

I have dithered enough, I have procrastinated enough.

New Life begins  ...  NOW.

Work gripes: translating requirements and compliance into contractual clauses

Darn it, if I'm supposed to be writing legal contracts, my bosses should have sent me to Law school.

As PM, I did all that's needed to produce business requirements, technical requirements, delivery schedules, acceptance requirements, project management requirements, information security requirements etc.

But now it seemed I am also in charge of converting them into contractual terms that can be legally interpreted, and if not, they'd have to be dropped.

^#!@$%^&#$$^*&^^$%Y&@$%#%#^$@%^$%^$%!!!!!!

Maybe Wednesday will be pizza nights ...

Good news that Snowylady is able to join a regular aqua-aerobics class, and able to attend all sessions since it started 4 weeks ago.

The last time she was able to do that was during her first pregnancy with Snowylass, and to be supportive of her, especially during the later stage of pregnancy, I spent the time swimming in the same pool.  Occassionally, I watched the group from the sideline, and tried to follow ...

I've done aerobics before, I've managed to job regularly and go to the gym.  But if invited, I'll say "No, thank you." to aqua aerobics ... it's no exercise, it's bloody murder.

Anyway, her Wednesday evening classes now gave the rest of the family a reason not to go to grandma's for dinner - we'd have our own dinner, I'd quickly shower and change the kids and we'd fetch tired mummy from the pool and bring her home for dinner.  If we go to grandma's, the kids will never be ready on time.

It also means it's up to me to get dinner ready - cooking is out of the question, so it's takeaways, but what kind?

It was by coincidence that I got pizza the first time - and saw how the kids loved it.  Coincidentally too, there's a couple of interesting places to get pizza nearby, Oishi and Casa Verde, both having promotions for takeaways.

Looks like Wednesday will be pizza nights for the kids - who'd imagine a 5 year old girl and a 3 year old boy can finish off a 10'-11' pizza all by themselves.  Fine by me, it just means I'll settle my dinner with a double-cheeseburger from MacD's instead, which I hope is less fattening than having pizza.

Of course, it's necessary for me to ensure the kids have a well-balanced meal.  Snowylass is okay, she'd follow instructions.  Snowylad is more difficult, I had to resort to making him eat slices of apples after he finished a slice a pizza and before he gets the next pizza slice.

Men should steer clear of catfights ...

Imagine a battle royale cat fight in tiny Singapore ... no one could have imagined it.

Any talk of cat fights here had always been limited to Caldecott Hill, tai-tai's functions and behind the catwalks.

Now no less than AWARE seems headed for one.  My only suggestion to malefolk affiliated to AWARE is to keep a low profile.

Was it a coup d'etat?  By no means, though the term had been bandied around freely.

But a coup is an *unconstitutional* means of takeover, and the election was not.

When it turned out the chairwoman who resigned was herself only a year-old member of AWARE, it speaks a lot about the membership of AWARE.

I've been in a Church where comm members remained the same for years, and that's not a healthy thing.

Most of the time though, it's because there's shortage of fresh blood willing to step up, like the AAS (Automobile Assoc of Singapore),

In AWARE's case, what's the whole point of the EOGM if it's gonna be a contest to see which side can recruit the most members in time for the EOGM? What do these new members really know about AWARE except being roped in by their friends to take sides?

And I thought the REDS and YELLOWS in Thailand were messy.

Still, it's about the only thing that might galvanise otherwise laidback complacent Singaporeans into activism.

mike and the mechanics the living years - Google Video.flv

mike and the mechanics the living years - Google Video.flv

Hard for a family man to keep fit ...

Progress Update: my exercise schedule had been seriously interrupted twice in the last 6 months - first during my annual year-end leave, second during very intense phase of my project in the month of March when I left user site as late as 10pm ...

It was a real drag regaining the momentum and the stamina after that ...

But can't complain about work 'cos I'm being told I'm lucky to have a job with lots of work to do ...

Easter tale ...

Snowylass learned about the story of Easter from her school and church.  I hope she'll ask questions about it someday 'cos it's not simply Jesus died on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday.

Perhaps she'll ask about the hot cross bun too ... I better do some research.

I've already explained Santa Claus to her.

Recession + SERS = another business gone

Today, the 2 old ladies working in the laundramat at block 15 Holland Drive informed me this is their last month of operation.

Their block had been designated for SERS, and theirs is the last business to continue even after NTUC Fairprice had closed shop in Jan.

I've been their regular since I moved to my present location nearly 5 years ago, but a drop off laundry service that charges by weight like theirs is hard to find in Singapore - very hard to find.

I just have to find another way now to do the weekly bedsheets and towels ...  We have less time now that the kids are growing.