Friday, December 31, 2010

Archive


The obligatory year end post.

It will be mentioned all over, but where did the year go?!

Even the above sentence has been used to death.
Perhaps time flies when one is having fun. And I am.

Most of the fun part can be found on my twitter account @ahtiong73 (in future no one needs email or phone numbers). Some sad/bad partsare in there too but it goes away quickly.

Although I communicate more online, offline interaction did not suffer. You don't need a guru to tell you that it's not how much time you spend with a person but what you do with that time. People do not count the hours you spend with them, but instead value the few minutes that you do. And from what I have experienced from being online, there are better ways to punctuate a conversation than a smattering of ?!??!! *#^%&
> . A raised eyebrow, a smile, frantic hand gestures and in many of my cases, a raised glass of frothy goodness goes a longer way than some silly characters you generate from holding down the shift key.

I may not have met you for a very long time, our conversations may not be as long as they used to be. Do know that when I do pass you on the street or receive a buzz from you that for those few minutes you matter to me.

So I have decided that instead of a wall of text that you'd get from me intermittently, we can update each other via 140 characters or a bit more under Google buzz/ahtiong73 .

I will from time to time dig up some entries from 5 years of archive to share, but for instant gratification there are those links I provided above.



Thank you for following me, and hope you wake up to 2011 remembering 2010.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Stringing along

It's been such a long time since I've written anything with more than 160/140 characters,such is the allure of Plurk/Twitter, that it has made me lazy to string more than 2 sentences together, let alone paragraphs.

Perhaps I'm done sharing the more intimate details of what's going on in my head, taking the easy route of bombarding you with the most frivolous of updates online.

Every post is about the most mundane of things; where I am (Foursquare), what I'm doing (Twitter), why things are the way they are (Plurk). Yet, it takes up a good part of my day. God forbid if I should ever (never!) jump on the Farcebook wagon.

Have I lost sight of actual "Life"? I can't recall not going through a day without my trigger happy thumb (alpha-numeric keypad for me) ready to fire away on my mobile device.

Time overseas is spent, ironically, online about the going ons back home, where I have my online presence.

It has come to a point where I've tried to impose a curfew on my time online.

Looking at the time of posting this though, you'd know that once again, I've failed.

Well, I did manage more than 2 sentences, didn't I?

Friday, June 04, 2010

Thank you note.

Another half of the year has begun.

Right up till the first half I was pretty optimistic. Plans were afoot, albeit in my head only.

Those were cut down to size recently, and I felt defeated. My cowardice almost cost me the one thing that is good in my life at the moment.

You.

Without your support and conviction, I would have thrown in the towel so easily, as with many things before.

Thank you.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Doubt.

Doubt.

I allowed myself to be clouded with doubt that I missed the chance to see her.

The cloud of doubt that dawned on me since an honest and long conversation a week ago.

Doubt that I may not get approval. Doubt that I will not measure up. Doubt that I can provide.

My callous attitude may yet get us into a bind not necessary to begin with.

Fingers crossed...

Monday, May 17, 2010

回来

自从认识了Twitter和Plurk之后,就很少回来这里。

每次留言在Twitter或Plurk都是那百多个字,以最短的时间,希望能传达最多种情绪。

无意间将自己在这里的一片小空间忽略了。但每次提笔,都心不在焉,往往就干脆不写了。

今晚,游览了一些朋友的小天空之后,忽然感到惭愧。我以前那分热诚去了哪儿?是我生活中少了那少许的纪律 ,还是生命中有了更重要的核心?

或者是懂得节制自己,凡事都经大脑过滤几次才肯纪录下来?

回来的感觉,真好。

N.B. Translated in comments

Friday, May 14, 2010

Service, but at what charge?

How far would you take your complaint when dealt a bad hand at a restaurant that has grown from mom&pop stall to a tourist attraction that charges a premium for their menu.

Good friend of mine took it all the way to print and online media, even posting onto Boo&Bouquet which has made itself into the news recently.

"Ms Lee Ying Wen would think twice about eating out at No Signboard Restaurant in Vivocity again after her experience with her "missing credit card" last Saturday. Here's her story: link.."

Somehow the above website has been closely watched by some retailers/restaurateurs and they responded quite promptly.

"Ms Lee Ying Wen, who wrote to me yesterday about her "missing credit card" experience at No Signboard Restaurant in Vivocity on Saturday, received a reply from the management today -- a day after her story appeared in this blog. link..."

I feel though, that the response was kinda knee jerk and in some way, condescending. Last I know, my friend is still trying to give away the vouchers they sent her.

" So someone sent a big complaint letter. Let's gloss over everything with some cash vouchers. Singaporeans can't resist a freebie. It'll be so un-Singaporean to do it."

Don't take it lying down, nor let sleeping dogs lie.

You are the consumer, let them hear ya roaaaaar!!


Friday, April 23, 2010

Word to your Mother (tongue)


So now the gahment is considering letting kids who cannot manage a pass in their mother tongue to slide into (top) secondary schools without it.

Over the years the MOE has tweaked the education system in so many ways that students and parents sometimes don't recognize the syllabus by the time term starts anymore. This latest "consideration" though, takes the cake.

While I was not a bright student back in the days, I am glad that I went to a school with deep roots in Chinese culture. I took up Confucius studies, studied Chinese literature. Both of which I sucked big time. It did, though, expose me to a world where a few words put together, can summarize a whole passage.

Fast forward to present day. The Chinese language is being taken up in many parts of the world. It is not uncommon in my job to hear Caucasians, Japanese, Indians etc speak the language with some fluency. That they have recognized the economical benefit of grasping the language speaks volumes.

If people of non-Chinese decent are playing catch up to master Mandarin, how come our schools here are being made to dumb it down many levels? And if the "consideration" is taken up, why would anyone in school bother to learn the language since it holds little or no stake in the final assessment before they go onto secondary schools?

It just reflects the way society has placed emphasis on short term, often impatient, quick fixes.

I am also leaning towards the theory that somewhere on this island there are little white ponies who's influencing the decision making.

Do note that of course I am not referring only to the Chinese language, but our ethnic mother tongue at that. Malays should be able to master Bahasa Melayu, Indians -Tamil. Language is the link we have with our parents, and the older generation, of whom has many tales to share, recipes to life.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Re-connect. Dis-connect.


I have been posting more randomly via Twitter and Plurk, thanks in large parts to my smart phone. Many nowadays just can't, or won't, sift through anything more than 140 characters.

Sign of the times.

We want to know things in an instant, with the least amount of fuss. When was the last time you sat down and had a conversation with someone without reference to a tweet, a post on your facebook wall, and in my case, a plurk?

True that I have been communicating with many of you with the written word for the longest time. However, nothing beats sitting down over a nice hot kopi; seeing, hearing, giving each other a firm handshake or a warm hug.

All this, whilst resisting the urge to check in on your online accounts via the mobile web.

The weekend is coming up.

Go out and talk to someone.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Less is More.


I was in danger of turning into my Mum.

Hoarding items from days of yore; the movie ticket from the 1st date, boxes from gadgets bought over the years, old uniforms, dust collecting on electronics sitting in a sad corner at home, clothes bought on a whim. And tupperware... a lot of tupperware.


It started out with a cabin bag that was excess to requirement. Then the 7.1 speaker system that wasn't making a squeak to the home theatre experience. Then the 5.1 DVD system which was a leftover for when my brother was staying with me. Good stuff, all of 'em, but bad use of space.


So word was sent out that the Haus of Tiong was de-cluttering. Of course, one has to entice them people to show. Enter Wii, steamboat and Mahjong. How they love their mahjong... The trio combo were so successful that some forgot about picking up things for a good part of the day.


However, some did go back with items that will get a new lease of life instead of sitting in a dark corner gathering sinus-inducing dust. Somewhere, someone out there is blasting their ears off with a newly acquired sound system, a room will be cooled down considerably by a large fan, stacks of CDs are being digitized into a huge archive, and hopefully someone will turn up with a better tan next time.

And at Lor Ah Soo? I can see my kitchen. Again.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Great way to...Wala!


"So what are you going as tonight?"

"I assure you, it will banish any remnants of your hubby's halloween costume from years back."

"OK onz, tonight I go Wala.."

So it was to be Kevin's birthday on the 2nd Jan of 2010. With this crew there usually is a theme for their birthdays, but I think this really takes the cake. I assured them that the crowd will literally part for them even though it would be a full house by time they got to Wala after the birthday dinner.

It occurred to me to head towards Mustaffa Centre. This place really has everything. It didn't take me long to locate the souvenir department and begin to find a size that will fit me. Luckily the costume is situated at a tiny corner so I could try it on right there, without shoppers thinking I had a particular fetish. Proceeded to make payment before whizzing off.

Word must've got out to the Barflies, cuz by the time we got to Wala the turnout was big. The same people had rushed from a party from another end of the island to join those who, as usual, were there early for a table.

For the first Sa-Thirst-day in 2010 at Wala, it definitely is memorable!!


P.S. another theme party on the same night got totally pwned by ours!

Friday, December 04, 2009

12 ways to Christmas...



On the first day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me... an AC/DC cd..hey!

On the second day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me...2 headlights,and an AC/DC cd..Hey!

on the third day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me..3 Wala furniture, 2 headlights, and an AC/DC cd..Hey!

on the fourth day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me...4 xmm,3 wala furniture, 2 headlights, and an AC/DC cd..Hey!

on the fifth day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me...

5 pints-of-Kilkennnnnyy!!!

4 XMM, 3 wala furniture, 2 big headlights, and an AC/DC cd...Hey!!

on the sixth day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me.. 6 hours spent-in-office-plurking...

5 PINTS_OF_KILKENNNNYYY!!

4xmm, 3 wala furniture, 2 big bouncy headlights, and an AC/DC cd..Hey!!

on the seventh day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me... 7 NSFW links, 6 hours spentinofficeplurking..

5 PINTS_OF_KILKENNNNYYY!!

4xmm, 3 wala furniture, 2 big juicy bouncing headlights, and an AC/DC cd..Hey!!

on the eighth day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me..8 googlewave invites, 7 NSFW links, 6hrsspentinofficeplurking...

5 PINTS_OF_KILKENNNNYYY!!

4xmm, 3 wala furniture, 2 big juicy bouncing headlights, and an AC/DC cd..Hey!!

on the ninth day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me...9, mezza9 that is, 8 googlewave invites, 7 NSFW links,6hrs wastedinofficeplurking.

5 PINTS_OF_SUPERCHILLED_KILKENNNNYYY!!

4 chio xmm, 3 drunk wala furniture, 2 big juicy bouncing headlights, and an AC/DC cd..Hey!!

on the tenth day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me...10-hank gawd we're almost done, 9, dinner at mezza9, 8 googlewave invites,

7 freaky NSFW links, 6hrs might-as-well-go-home than wastetimeinofficeplurking...

5 PINTS_OF_SUPERCHILLED_KILKENNNNYYY!! (if 1for1 we get 10!)

4 chio xmm with long legs, 3 drunk wala furniture headbanging, 2 big juicy bouncing headlights that are waiting to be teh-ed..

and an AC/DC cd..Hey!

on the eleventh day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me...11times this week i dun have a seat on the train..10-hankew for reading this..

9, I also wanna go mezza9, 8 googlewave invites that nobody wants, 7 NSFW links,6hrs eatsnakeandplurking..

5 PINTS_OF_beautiful, super chilled,KILKENNNNYYY!!

4 chio xmm long legs, short skirts, 3 drunk wala furniture doing air guitar now,2 headlights waiting to be teh-ed..

and an AC/DC cd..Hey!

on the twelfth day of Christmas, the cowboybar gave to me...the 12th men for the other team (referee kayuuu),

11 times I had to smell armpit cuz I dun have a seat..

10-hankew, preese cum again..

9, I also wanna go mezza9!

8 screw googlewave invites, so laggy one

7 freaky NSFW videos which had 2 female barflies in Bangkok with a random chick tourist after a bottle of vodka..

6hrs i spent pretending to work but i actually plurking

5 pints of CHIlled KILKEENNNAAAYYYY!!

4 chio xmm, long legs, short skirts, preferably commando for the night.

3 wala furniture kena blacklisted cuz they actually tried to climb on stage and play the guitar.. with Rene still holding it.

2 boing boing headlights.

AND AN AC-freaking rocks-DC cd.................................

HEY!!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Lions whimper at the Grand Dame of Kallang...


So I was given 2 complimentary tickets to watch our National Lions play against Thailand for the AFC Asia Cup qualifier.

With nothing to do till my regular jaunt to Wala Wala (we call it SaThirstDay now..) , I asked my new friend James to join me. Great chance for him to soak in some local action too.

We had a quick lunch opposite the Geylang Lorong 1 bus terminal. The mutton briyani at Banana Leaf is pretty decent.



Whilst washing down the food with a cup of teh tarik, James asked about the price of the ticket.

Then it hit me.

I had stuff everything plus the kitchen sink into my bermuda pockets, except for the tickets!!

Feeling rather stupid, we made our way there on foot with the rest of the supporters to the stadium. The drinks and food temporary stalls were doing brisk business. James took some photos whilst I took everything in with my Vado HD.

The National Stadium is slated to be torn down. When? Nobody knows, cuz they been pushing back the demolition date too many times. Looking at it, I do not think it is necessary to be reduced to rubble.

All they really need to do is put in proper seating instead of the benches, add 2 jumbo screens and a roof. And voila! I suspect it would cost less than tearing it down and building a new one all over again.

Now you probably asking, what about the match?

It ended 1-3. The Thais didn't play that well, but Singapore sucked even more.



The only upside was that we didn't have to watch the match in the rain.

And I was soooo looking forward to using my 100yen rain jacket...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

21st.. Barfly style!


There's only one way to celebrate your birthday... BarFly Style!!

Now that you are 21, there are a few things you should take note of;

1. Flashing the 'V' sign while taking photos is not cute anymore hokaay?!

2. If you wanna talk to a girl, just walk up to her and do so. Don't send a whole section of boys to do it for you, and pretend that you just want to take a photo.

3. Filling your stomach before a night of heavy drinking; Good idea. Ordering dory fish with heavy cream sauce; Bad idea.

4. The sing title is "Don't Stop Me Now", not "Having A Good Time".

5. Don't keep dissin' the CowboyBar/BarFlies, you will kena your just deserts many many times over one.


All in all, you performed admirably. And had the good sense to merlion very, very far away.

Happy Birthday, chow-keng Robin!

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Mercy, Mercy me

Sometimes it takes just a picture, a few line in the papers to get people moving.

Now, I am not talking about Ris Low, or Tracy Ang. Those are fodder for idle time.

It was the typhoon that is sweeping across parts of SE Asia that did it for me. Pictures of helpless folks stranded by the floods, children who have lost their homes, families still trying to beef up their rickety abode against mother nature...

I went over to Mercy Relief Singapore's and read about their efforts there.


Hence, I started my weekend with a trip to the ATM and promptly transferred a modest amount to help Mercy Relief in their efforts.

It was probably what I would be spending at my favourite watering hole the same weekend anyways.

Monday, September 07, 2009

36@Wala Wala

If you look at either side of this post you will see pictures and video of my party at Wala Wala. Suffice to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself, more so because I managed to stay upright till the end of the night.

On an earlier date with some friends, after a nice home cooked meal, they popped out a cake for me. I almost singed my eyebrows trying to blow out all the candles...


Next time 1 candle can liao, okay?

My better half had planned thursday night around a "Rockstar" theme and gave out KISS masks that she lovingly made by hand. We had fun walking around in it and taking many many photos. The Gene Simmons one was the crowd favourite, no surprise there.

Geriatric Gene Simmons on the left


I was prepared to be subjected to the Waterfall treatment, a birthday staple amongst us, but was not ready for the 2nd one, as can be seen from the video. There can ever only be ONE waterfall per birthday...


Nice T-shirt, very apt ain't it?

My own birthday treat? An upgrade to a Flickr pro account, and carting back a foldy back from Japan.

Pwhaaa!!!


Thanks to all that showed up, and those who sms-ed me birthday wishes.

Now excuse me while I go feel the burn from all *pant that *pant cycling *pant ...




Sunday, August 30, 2009

Gone paperless

2 years ago I was all gungho about being involved in club activities. It was refreshing, challenging, and gave me a sense of belonging. The energy within the committee was electric. Though not smooth all the time, the clubs are managed well enough.

As with most of what I do though, I got bored. The meetings, the logistics, the paperwork. Oh the paperwork!! I have taken on more than I can chew. Productivity on my part came to a halt. It was not doing both clubs any good for me to stay on.

And so I stepped down. It is a win-win. I can continue to like what the clubs are doing for members, and still maintain a casual, civil relationship with the exco.

I shall stick to organizing random ctivities on the fly with the motley crew I hang with. More fun in that.

And look, no paperwork!!

Thursday, August 06, 2009

$trong currency




After the last outing to Drama Centre, I was really hoping that the night out to Esplanade turns out much better.

And it did indeed.

I remember I was in a cab when some Mandarin radio station deejay was interviewing one of the cast members, Emma Yong, who did her Chinese best in that interview, haltingly. My ears perked up when I heard that Singapore's queen of drag, Kumar and my boyhood Asia Bagus host, Najip Ali, are part of the ensemble in this production!




Helmed by Selena Tan of Dim Sum Dollies fame, $ingDollar promised much right from the 1st night it opened. One only has to have a feel of the programme for this musical to see that it is bank-rolled a well sponsored one, even if it doesn't make much ticket sales, which I highly doubt.


$ingDollar does well to engage the audience; with a familar setting (Geylang) , the standard stereotypes (most Bhangladeshis are muslims and CAN eat beef, as explained by Kumar's character as, what else, the foreign labourer) , and scores of ditties that poke fun at anything and everything local-centric. All this was played out with an actual live band behind, and the sets look great.

I especially enjoyed the Micheal Jackson 'tribute' which they worked in, with men who were until recently held in high regard but landed in deep shite taking their turns doing their MJ thang. Heck they even managed to work a disgraced monk into the number!

Brilliant.

The trio of Selena, Emma and Pam are good, dimsumdollying their way around. Kumar was the funny one, ad-libbing his way through at some parts. Najip Ali is the better dancer, Hossan Leong the better singer. Lim Kay Siu is the veteren, whilst Sebastian Tan... well let's just say I am not streching my neck out for his Broadway Beng production coming soon.

The musical is the a great sum of all the above talents, and worth wearing something smarter than bermudas and flip flops for.

4/5 stars!

P.S. What's with the local audience being so stingy with a standing ovation, har?!