A flurry of blogs...

Upon the 'request' of Moe, I've added the link to his blog and a few other blogs of my younger cousins. Funny how now you tend to know more about people from their blogs than thru the 'traditional' way of getting to know them...Anyway, I enjoy reading all your blogs guys...Brings back memories to my *ahem* younger days *ahem*... the highs and lows of a teenager's life, new discoveries, new revelations, the hollowness of separation from a loved one, the yearnings and hopes... So keep them blogs updated ok?

It's 0230hrs already...

I bet at least 4 people are not getting a good night's sleep because in a couple of hours' time, they are gonna be presenting their plans to a few big guns. And it will invariably decide their fates...

Anyway, it's been a hectic 2 days of exercise so far. I bet it beat last year's record of going back at 2230hrs...huh! what's 2230hrs...that's early for us...wait till you try 0111hrs!! Anyway, the kind air boys and gals did a nice thing for us 'ground guys' yesterday and continued the tradition from previous batches. Thanx guys! And thank you to Cookie for personally cutting the chocolate and durian cakes for us...

Anyway, just happened to be browsing through a few of my regular blog sites...I'm talking about Boboy, Julie, Rina & of course my BH...Boboy would go for days without updating his site but once he updates, it would be a deluge...Rina would always have some quirky stories about her kids and Julie...well, just wish she would update hers more often...

Kinda cute reading Boboy's remarks on who to invite for his wedding...well bro, just remember that all of us have circles of friends and we tend to invite those in the inner circle first before moving 'outwards'. And surprise, surprise...marriage is about a lot of give and take...usually for the guys, it's a lot of giving!!!

Was quite impressed reading Rina's 'report' on the flash card thingy... It's not easy being a parent in a stressful environment such as Singapore. I know it's a cliche but what I have learnt so far is that parenting requires passion and commitment... The passion to always try new things and the commitment to see it through, just like what Rina has done with the flash card. We may want our kids to do many things, accomplish lots of goals but if we are not focused, all these would come to nought. It's just like what I've learnt in defence...if we try to defend everywhere, we will be weak everywhere... Goal setting and visualising one's desired outcome REALLY helps one to focus on one's goals. And remember, goals should be S.M.A.R.T i.e. specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. For example, I want to lose 3kg by 1st August 2007. It is specific, measurable (3kg as opposed to "I want to lose weight"), attainable and realistic (3kg in 3 months as opposed to 3kg in 1 week!) and timely. Most of what we fail to achieve in life is for the lack of setting a goal...

Oh Maldives…

We're back from Maldives...it was what those who have been there have said it would be...and then some. Here are just some of the hundreds of photos we took of that Paradise on Earth.

Below is a little dedication to a place we have fallen in love with...here's an ode to the Maldives...

Oh Maldives!
You of sun-kissed beaches
Of amazing sunsets and breathtaking sunrise
Of crystal clear waters and deep blue skies
From beautiful coral reefs to smiling sunburnt faces
Your wonders are endless, your beauty boundless
You enthralled us with those that roam your lagoons and bays
From playful dolphins, to reef sharks and bright speckled rays

Oh Maldives!
You – a paradise on Earth
Your allure and your mystery
Beckons those from afar to your beauty
Though just once we've been to you
Thoroughly smitten we are through and through
Though we have long left your warm embrace
We'll surely be back again – we're just counting down the days!

Happy Birthday Darling...

Still...

Of Hari 'Nam, CRP Week, Julie's Baby & Water Babies!

Picked up Fahmi from his office on the way to solat today...The usual solat gang ain't here cause they are back home! Yep...Jef's back in Brunei with his wife and 2 kids and a half (have a nice one dude!), Heru's back in Bandung, Minhaz's going back to his embassy, Hisham should already be in PD! Enjoy yourselves brothers!

Fahmi remarked to me as I was sending him back after solat. "Kau tahu tak? Kitorang Singapore je cakap besok hari (meaning tomorrow, since today is Friday), hari enam?!"
"Whaddya mean?", I asked, curious...
"Aku cakap dengan orang Indonesia, Malaysia & Brunei semua ketawakan sey...!", he continued.
"Only we Singaporeans call Saturday, Hari Enam other than the common 'Hari Sabtu' while the rest of the region just calls it 'Hari Sabtu'!", he further explained.
"Ah ah eh...tak ye jugak!", I agreed, "Furthermore, Saturday is the only day we call Hari Enam, the rest of the days we call them by their 'proper' names like Hari Isnin, Hari Rabu, etc. Tak pun kita panggil Hari Satu, Hari Dua, Hari Tiga!!", I remarked, enlightened!

Whaddya know...you do learn something new every day...It'll be interesting to find out why this is so...

Next week is the much awaited CRP (Commandant's Research Paper) Week...From what I've gathered from reliable sources, these 'research' would be conducted in various places all over the world like Brunei, Bandung, Phuket, Bangkok, Australia, Singapore and oh...Maldives!!! Oh well...happy researching you guys!

Oooo...she has finally made it official...my sister is finally P R E G N A N T!!! My girls are gonna get a cousin! Here's the pics of the scans (lifted from Julie's site!).

Our plans for visiting her in France at the end of the year is getting more and more concrete! It got a further boost when yesterday Usop (aka Glen), made known the fact that his parents have a 'chalet' in the French Alps and he invited us to come over!!! More reason to visit France! Oui!

Vesak Day yesterday was a hive of activity...The day started off with breakfast at Al-Azhar with the 'usual suspects' (as Rina would call them...us...!)...Glen, Lynn, Rina and Fauzi were already there when the four of us trooped in on a hot, hot, day that just begged for a rain. After various combinations of indian fare which included prata kosong, prata 'yegg', thosai, thosai rocket, nasi lemak and iced milo we left for town. Rina & Fauzi had other plans while we sent Glen and the visibly pregnant Lynn (makin tembam orang tu!) to Suntec as they bravely attempted to purchase a printer at PC Show 07. I shuddered to think of the crowd there and my fears were confirmed when we saw long lines of vehicles heading into Suntec! The crowd inside, Glen later told me, was worse! We dropped the both of them at Prince (you know, which one right, the one with Sofra Restaurant). We went to get some snorkelling stuff like aqua boots and snorkels & masks from Lucky Plaza and then went back home. Lynn and Glen had already reached our place! They had apparently given up trying to get any decent shopping done and came away with nothing! The thing about these computer shows that takes place every school holidays is that you go and 'recce' the first day and then once you have confirmed what you wanna get, get it the last day! Preferably the last few hours before closing time on Sunday! Oh...and DON'T bring kids! It's madness there...It seems like the WHOLE Southeast Asia goes there...not only Singaporeans! I once took half-and-hour just to cross the OVERHEAD bridge outside Suntec when I parked at the ESPLANADE! Giler kan?

Anyway, we waited for Rina and her family to come before we went for a swim. It had just finished raining and the weather was a bit cool...I had just bought an Aquapac bag for Mars' digital camera and tested it out. Here are the pics!