Yang's Progress

These few weeks has been a trying time for little Yang.

Tuition after school...tuition after swimming..I think he never has been so driven before...

The results are kinda encouraging...the Nan Hua papers I gave him for Maths was 86% and 76% for English..

Perhaps this is not entirely typical of Singaporean parents but I am actually very pleased.

For one who was almost deemed to have dsylesia - to achieve this in the space of less than 5 months is very good - IMHO.

Moving forward, the pace will be quicker and perhaps then we can talk about setting higher goals..but one step at a time ok? :)

One incident affected me greatly...Yang was telling me last week that the post of monitor was vacant after the current one was sacked for being naughty. He told me he wanted to try for it.
There was this glint in his eyes which betrayed his ambitious heart - something latent like Wabe.
But 3 day ago, I asked him again - he told me "My studies are so poor - I am afraid I cannot be a monitor".
I told him firmly that a leader is not one who has good grades but one who is kind and disciplined - who knows how to help the teacher maintain order.

I hope he gains a lesson there... in the journey of life - he has to learn this lesson several times again ..

Hm....1 last day of exam tomorrow for Yang !!! Already planning toys...excursions...etc...such is the life of children...


Adios!

Sam

First attempt

Today I am on leave as we are going to join Wabe in KL tonight.

I decided based on last night's 6km comfortable run - that I am sufficiently fit to attempt at least the cycle/run portion of the triathalon.

Cycled to Mandai Avenue and back - average at 18km/hr - was ok ...legs didn't feel that tired. Distance clocked 25km..15km less than the Olympic distance but heck :)

Happily, I parked my bike and changed to my Asics 2120 and stared at the blazing stretch of tar road ..the shimmering heat wave suddenly felt very burning...

Confidently chanting the mantra "Never give up" I strode away...
Alas, I overestimated myself, 1.5 km down the road, fatigue set in...it's not the stamina...it's actual energy deficiency... my legs felt like lead....it reminded me of those stupid sprints training in my water polo days!

I walked the remaining road back to home...humbled by a small taste of the triathalon. By no means is this merely physical endurance...I reckon mental strength will play a great deal in the completion of it - especially during the last few km of the last leg.

In the words of Robert Browning:
"But that a man's reach will exceed his grasp - else what's a heaven for?"

Words that will apply to this little trial in my life and probably to all of you in all aspects on your life.

Sam

Paris and Running

So where do I start?

Perhaps with the Paris trip...

On the flight there, I shared a row with a professor from Luxembourg and exchanged interesting tales with him...

I was amazed to know Luxembourg is even wealthier than Switzerland! Apparently their banks allow ...numbered accounts..heh heh..

Anyway, he inherited huge lands from his farmer ancestors and is now rich beyond anyone means..he told me he have 4 Nissan GTR and is awaiting the latest one..and lived in Shangrila SUITES....

I was like Wow...and WOw....then I paused...I am in a damn economy class (abeit the new ER jet) but still...why is this rich bloke in the SAME row as me?!?!

Perhaps Singaporeans aren't the only ones to boast..heh heh

Anyway, I must record the superb way French drive - they don't have the concept of sensors..their reverse is literally "Long Tio Wu Siah" (Hit already got Sound).

I with a Finn and Malaysian colleague actually witnessed a brand new CRV reverse into a lampost..and the driver didnt even flinched....I think I will have a heart attack if my Odyssey kena the same...

What do I think of Paris?

Hooligans. Graffiti. Ruins.

FRankly I did not find it beautiful at all.

I wonder what the hype is all about this place..

I will let the pics do the talking..the touristy details.

Running...I am really into running now..bought a ASICS 2120..wow shaved 2 minutes off my 6km run...amazing!!

Am I ready for the tri now? Not by the hair of my chimmy chin chin!! Individually, this should be ok...but I haven't try the combined one...1/2 more year to train...never give up!!

Olympic
1.5 km(0.93 mi) swim
40 km(24.8 mi) bike
10 km(6.2 mi) run

God willing, I will try to complete one this year - nmind the timing :)

Sam

Replace

My new Ody got caught in a stupid log which fell...technically the car isnt spoilt...but I didn't feel good...every sound I hear I imagine it to be from the perceived incident..
so what did I do?

I sold off my current Ody and ..... got a similar new one from Kah Motor.

GRIN.

Although, I had thought of using this chance to buy the Mark X but Wabe still insist on MPV..what to do..GRIN.

I think I will INSIST on the car brand and COLOR next round....


Will be going to Paris and Finland back to back next month..and KL next and Thailand in June.

Funny thing is...I used to think going to Paris etc is exotic..but I found I look forward to more Asia trips ... perhaps has to do with the company you are with but still...I always prefer Asia getaways...at least the food is so MUCH palatable.

Till next time, adios!

Sam

Lament

Remember when I spoke on my mental burdens I carried over the years ?

The anger which I felt towards the vipers - the relatives I blamed for my grandmother's sufferings?

Recently, when I had the time for my solitary runs in the evenings - I thought over it a lot.

Why did I feel so angry?

In my heart, I knew partly the anger was to mask my own guilt. That I did not do enough for her when she was alive and when she left, I felt so guilty that I resorted to blaming others for her "misery".

Where was I when the rest of them were with her at the hospital?

Why blame my auntie when she was the one who shouldered the responsibility of caring for my grandmother? What did I do that was better?

The more I thought of it - my irrational anger suddenly seems very foolish.

To drop my burdens, I need to not just forgive..I need to come to terms that I was a poor grandson who did not treasure my grandmother when she was alive. And now that she is gone, I do not have any rights to start blaming everyone.

"Let he who have not sinned - let he cast the first stone".

Before we point a finger, remember to ask if we are blameless.

If we are, start by forgiving ourselves and admitting our mistakes.

The journey in life has too many wondrous things to marvel - then to waste time mulling over past.

Have you seen a butterfly slowly emerging from a cacoon?
Have you seen a young seedling emerging in the early morning?
Have you seen the mighty Nigara Falls thundering down?

Treasure what we have and move on. Like me, I have started my own healing..

Sam
-healing-

My dream skills...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0s4D7FDYeRA

Pics from my N95

Yang's 7th birthday! Notice the dragon motif:)


Mountain biker wannabe - Yang ! heh heh


Amateur mountain biker :)


First tuckshop - notice his bored buddy...


Home bound from KL to Singapore (Dec 2007)


Sleepless in KL 2 (Dec 2007)


Sleepless in KL .. Dec 2007


The Tale of 2 Odysseys :)


Yang before he went to pray for mother-in-law when she was sick.


Yang after his Kinderland graduation performance.


Me taking the team out for dinner after a successful performance tuning exercise.



Yang - after his golf lessons.

Fitness

Ran 6 km each for 2 days consecutively and still able to breathe easily...I think I am getting there with my tri-athalon dream....will need to intensify my core strength training from current 100 push ups 50 sits up and 100 squats each day to 1.5 times more...then perhaps with my new bike..I might just be able to complete the course:)

NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Sam
in his determined mood.

My son the evangelist

Not too long ago, I related to Yang on how the Christians view the dragon. This topic is of immense interest to this little boy since he always pride himself on his lunar sign, Dragon.

I told him the Bible says the dragon is evil and represents the Devil or monster in his language.

Little will I know what ramifications this story will bring..

It seems or so it goes that, Yang actually have a friend who is a Christian. Being branded a "monster" in his terms, he was out to seek redress and seek out this obvious target.

"Why your God say I am a monster?" he intoned.

"my God like that one lar.." the Christian replied.

"Aiya, your God is not good hearted lar, say I monster... I tell you lar, you just come and pray to A Mi Duo Fuo (Buddha) can already...very good one.."

By golly...he is showing the traits of a spiritual evangelist at such a young age ! haha

I bet the Christian who IF he grows up to be a good one, will always recall that he was once being converted by a insistent Buddhist Yang :)

*stretched and lean back*

On the grand scheme of things, perhaps not scoring full marks for his spelling isn't such a big deal now...:) the important thing is that he is kind and he enjoys his childhood:)

Sam in his contented mood.

PICS

Never Give UP!!




The road to glory!! uphill all the way!!!










My new MTB - Trek 6500 DISC !!!

Trek 6500 DISC

Finally, I upgraded my MTB to a new Trek 6500 DISC! WOO HOO!! Cost around 1800 bucks with all the accessories like speedometer, lights, water bottle rack and a snakeskin protector for the sides.

This morning, I snapped on the Saris rack to my Odyssey and secured the Trek to it - the feeling of it is so good..haha.. premium brand makes you so dizzy with cockiness ..haha

The ride is so smooth - Trek makes it so easy with the uphill and with the hydraulic brakes - downhill also feel safer...but shit I encountered 3 cobras ...lucky did not fell down..else will be bitten..

I joined the singapore mtb group - will join them for rides so it will be safer.

Sighz....no time to focus on my tennis and golf...went golf last week with Yang and Jun Chee...in Executive course ... consistency in the short game has went down - only managed to "on" 2 times..the rest has to depend on the chip..but no choice...MTB rulez now!! heh heh

PICS To follow.

New Saris Bike Rack

After last Sunday's discovery of a alternative entrance to the BT mountain trail, I have invested in a Saris bike rack...200 plus...not as fierce looking but very functional...next will be my MTB upgrade to a Trek bike..

Here's the details:


So what to do with my Aleoca bike....maybe keep it..this is after all my first MTB....deprived childhood that I have ... heh heh.

Sam
in his Trek mood.

Tennis

I rekindled my love for tennis recently.

Bought an used Head i.prestige for 80 bucks - the control is very good though you have to generate your own power in your strokes. Still, it is a solid racket - heavy but powerful. The new Microgel Prestige costs 280...I still cannot bring myself to buy at such prices despite income appreciation all the years..I guess this is something good..

Let's see how I can improve on my game - the old Hammer can amplify the forehand power but lose control..hopefully my increased core strength now can compensate the lack of power amplication and make use of the control!

Sam

Story

To make up for the lost story...I have started on this epic one :P

Who knows..it could feature in Russell Lee's series years later :)

The House

It stood dilapidated with its greenish paint peeling off in most places and its monstrous many antennas erected all over the roof. Passer-bys will see a creaky old house that has seen its better days but to me, it will always remain a place of foregone boyhood where I had my most fun during my growing years. But it wasn’t ALWAYS like this..

Sammy! Yelled my paternal grandmother…it was already 9 am and she was getting ready to lug my kid brother and myself to my MATERNAL grandmother’s house in the east side of the Singapore for a game of “Dua Dee” – the colorful cards the older ladies were so fond of. For me, a 14 year old, the day stretched magnificently ahead – school exams were over…holidays are here (yah!)..and I am going to my favourite haunt then – the big house in East Coast!

The number 10 bus then will take us from Telok Blangah to Siglap – the 45 minutes were in my memories always warm and cosy as we chugged along lazily away from the city and we began to see more and more houses rather than flats. The anticipation of what we were going to do (the other cousins and me) always created a buzz of pleasant fluttering in my stomach..and I always will look out for the BP (then) sign which will tell us, we are reaching the place.

- to be continued.

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The article herein attached is the property of Sam Ang Keng Siong, except where noted. Permission is required to copy, download or use any part or whole text.

New Year 2008

It's been a while since this blog has been updated.

Much has happened since the last update ...

Let me categorized the salient points.

1) Kee passed out from Kinderland to CCK Primary One - much to be said about it later...
2) I have bought the new Honda Odyssey Absolute - pics to follow...
3) A memorable trip to Genting and KL ... pic and stories to follow..
4) I won a quality award for work in Nokia..heh heh... getting a free internet tablet as reward.
5) We are going to khng our house again..this time transforming our masterbedroom to a mega big one by combining 2 toilets and 2 rooms...equipped with state of art jacuzzi, toilet TV, walk in ward-robe and automatic blinds..heh heh. Talk about crouching tiger and hidden dragon. :)


What else...the details will have to wait...but I just want to make sure the main gist is there...

Happy New Year everyone. Be smart not stupid :)

Tolerance

Everything in the world maintain a thin razor sharp edge of equal and opposite forces which keeps them in a stable state. (I believe this is Newton's First / Third Law).

This law I believe aptly also applies to the chaotic world of human relationships.

We always should be mindful of what to give and take in a relationship.

Whereupon a party decides to upset the balance, the state of the system goes to an unstable state and by Newton's laws, it will change the equation or the physics of the system to maintain a new stable state.

Sam

Loan Cleared! And new hobby.

It is so wonderful...whilst the rest of Singapore are going crazy speculating with houses ... I went and redeemed my car loan and now MY HONDA IS TRULY MINE:) Even the log book is ORIGINAL :P
heh heh
Also, renovation loan with Wabe's company also ended. :)

The feeling of almost debt free is SO EXHILARATING :)

Few more years and even our house will be cleared ... WOO HOO!!

Bonus in Sep:) My god, this feels like the old days of dotcom .... BUT! lest we grew overconfident, remember the days of yore...

Economic cycle is shorter these days...we cannot depend on IR everything...

Truly the richest man is one who owes nothing and yearns nothing :)

Let me see if I am ultimately right....


BTW: Mountain biking is REALLY FUN.....will update more..

Sam

Quatrain of Seven Steps - 七步诗

煮豆燃豆萁，
豆在釜中泣。
本是同根生，
相煎何太急?

Boiling the beans to create the soup,
filtering them to extract the juice.
The beanstalks were charred amidst the flames,
and of this the beans thus wailed:
"Borne are we of the same root, brothers two;
should you now burn me with such disregard?"
.............................................

When a man speaks, his eyes betray his intentions.
His actions define his generousity,
When you give to your God, do not be like the Pharisees who go about boasting of their "great" contributions.
Have you ever look back and have "conscience" ?
A wise man will speak in clear direct words.
Speaking in riddles do not mask thy shallowness of thoughts.
A simple monk sweeping floor can attain Enlightenment.
The time will come when you have to face a war.
Beware of the time when your shouts for help will go unheeded.
For such befits the evilness in the heart.
The wayward son can still go back....hearken! lest it grows short...



LET HE WHO HAVE EARS, LET HIM HEAR.

Sam
(very extremely disappointed and angry)

Do you believe in miracles?

Was due to be back on Sunday morning from Finland.

I arrived on Friday night though...Wabe had called me to try to make it back earlier.

Somehow the sense of dread is very real...I kept checking via sms with her when I transited at Frankfurt and when I arrived back in Singapore. Thankfully all was well then..

The trip to hospital ... Wai Por was faintly conscious but she looked very very frail..they had finally administered morphine.

Wabe said a fellow Buddhist has advised them that Wai Por's breathing pattern indicates the end might be near...she was breathing through her mouth...

Should she be moved back home? But there is no standby morphine machine..

The final decision was to risk bringing her home next morning - I had thought it might be otherwise... but I guess we are all humans..my thought was ... 12 hours vs an eternity of happiness..but .. I am in no position to comment..there are so much feelings and human emotions...

And then the miracles started....

I was driving Yang to visit her and the rest of them in the morning as Wabe has told us she will be moving back from hospital that morning and told us to wait in Wai Por's house direct.

As I drove out of the estate, Yang took out a picture of Buddha and started to sing the Medicine Buddha's sutra - repeatedly....
For some reason, the verses sounded very surreal .. it sounded of a child's innocence as it pays homage to Buddha...and for some strange reason, I felt this incredible sadness which I cannot explain as I drove.

10 minutes later, Wabe msg me as I neared Wai Por's house telling me she has passed away...For some reason, Wai Por managed to send this message to us that she is leaving and cannot wait for us already. I know 4th Uncle said if there is chanting when Wai Po passes on, she will reach to the Lotus Land. I hoped in a small way, Yang has helped Wai Por in this..

Tayetha Om Bengkanze BengKanze Tayetha Om....


I learned later that Wai Por managed to make it to her own house and within an hour, she passed on - and everyone can pray for her as planned. 2nd miracle.

The sky I remembered started to drizzle...creating a cool atmosphere..very pleasant ..it is as if Wai Por knew we always found it hot in her house and is making it nice for us..3rd miracle.

Before her resting into the coffin, Wabe told me Wai Por's body did not suffer from any rigidness even though it was 10 hours since she passes on. In fact, I recalled she looked very serene as if she is sleeping even when we last saw her body during the funeral. 4th miracle.

So many miracles...4th Uncle's no pay leave ends next Friday...Wai Por's last day for the funeral has a major event the next day for multitudes of prayers scheduled for departed souls..etc etc.

The food tonight was sumptious...and in ABUNDANCE :) The noise and din was so LOUD:)
Exactly the way Wai Por would have liked it.

Yang asked me if he can still talk to Wai Por - who taught him Hokkien "Der ai kuai ar.." (You must be obedient..)

And for some moments, I could not control my emotions and did not answer him.

He seems to know and said Wai Por will hear us..and we can always call to her..

Years ago, when I was in my darkest period of my life when my own grandmother passed away..Wai Por asked the family to arrange a picnic for me and spoke to me not to be sad...I recalled being cheered and very very much appreciated that.

The time has come for me to show my gratitude and I have decided I will offer a joss stick for the first time in 20 years to this great person who is such a wonderful wonderful grandmother to my Wabe and "ah Chor" to my Yang..

Rest well and we will always remember you, Wai Por.

Sam

Talk and God

How do we communicate these days?

Electronic means like this blog allows instant broadcast of information to all users.

In the old days, this type of data transfer depends on a very professional breed of people - the Gossip.

:)

I find this strain of Gossip DNA still persist in this modern day - and man..words can indeed be sharper than any sword...

So is it idle mind that produce wicked thoughts? I think so.

Throw in a dash of insecurity - why don't you:)

But still, I think I will savour my reservist days memories - it is not worth to sully those fine times for the spat of a viper's tongue. ;-P


So what about God?

When we complain that Christians belittle you on your beliefs..how arrogant they are.. remember the world is round.

On this note, I will specifically use the Bible to quote:

"Judge not and ye would not be judged".

When a thief steals from you, he is guilty. If you steal back from him - you are a thief too. That's just the beauty of karma - and that is using Buddhist concept. :)

How one is saved for salvation is according to the doctrine of the path chosen.


Salvation on faith is not as simple as one thinks. Merely having the promise of salvation if one accepts Christ at death is not as simple as promoting wanton lifestyle and repenting before one dies.

Think about it. Do you know when you will die? :) The promise is like a marketing campaign - look out for the hidden truth:)

The same goes for the promise of Amida Buddha promise that calling his name in your last moments will ensure your rebirth in the lotus land.

This type of issues cannot be so easily resolved...

Basically, when you demand respect for something..make sure you can respect others too. I can....can you? :)

Sam