I'm impressed..

For someone who's halfway across the globe..she reads my movements pretty well..

Reposting..just because..

习惯了，就适应了
适应了，就麻木了
麻木了，就蹉跎了

习惯会上瘾，是建筑身心安乐窝最便宜，好用的材料。 科学家说， 动作重复三周以上形成习惯，重复三个月以上的习惯就稳定下来。
习惯也许因人而异，不能褒贬，就像睡觉原本就是一种享受过程。但是，如果拿未来的幸福当枕头，很容易会把快乐先睡死。这不是很难推断的结局， 选择其实明摆着，但城市人却心甘情愿地成为嗜睡的奴隶。

习惯也有生命，会贯彻思路，无中生有。墨镜戴久了，就会认定室内的灯光也会刺痛肉眼。
旧习惯难以死亡，除非新习惯找到动机。心灵一旦习惯了贫瘠， ‘我要快乐’便会继续成为缠根于脑海的念头， 怎么笑都不彻底，不痛快。

心理学家说:

播下一个行动, 收获一个习惯;播下一种习惯, 收获一种性格;播下一种性格, 收获一种命运’

想象能开创，自律加强执行力。 如果幸福被习惯偷走, 那么想象和自律，也许能把幸福夺回来归还你。思想决定出路，思想的修行更是点滴功夫， 没有捷径。快乐是一种习惯， 跟乐观， 热情， 积极，甚至成功一样。

明天的样子，取决于昨天的习惯； 若想改变， 就要抢当习惯的主人，

美好生活从今天的习惯开始。

 

First posted on 11 Aug 2011

It would have been a nice day to watch the sunset from Gardens By The Bay..

I don't like quarrelling..bickering yes..but no shouting matches, arguing till faces turn red, etc..Maybe i don't even know 'how' to quarrel..

To me, a quarrel (mostly) takes place when 2(or  more) people get(too) agitated..what's the point of trying to say something when the other party is obviously not at the most receptive..?

I once said, i prefer to lose an argument than to lose a friend..so i guess when i really get into a quarrel, i'm prepared to lose the person..

2 persons looked out of the same window at the same time..each facing a different direction..

1 saw dark clouds..the other saw bright sky..so one exclaimed 'It's getting dark!' and the other said 'It's so sunny today!'

Upon hearing each other, they turned and look at the other direction..and realised what both of them said was true..

Sometimes even if you're right, it doesn't mean the other person is wrong..

:)

Feeling quite happy today..

Work-wise - managed to clear some work which i'd been putting off for a while and even changed my filing system to a slightly more efficient one..

Personal life - spent quality time with people who mattered..& that's good enough for me..

She knew i liked it..i had even contemplated about flying over for 'one last look'(which i did not)

To her credit, she had kept me updated on the whole process..from when the decision was first made..to prospecting for buyers..negotiating for a good price..to the exact day when it was finally handed over..

'It' is, or was, my macau chalet..the 5-and-a-half storeys shophouse that i had visited Nth times over the past 12 years was no more..



In the earlier days, we talked about taking over the shopfront and turning in a B&B(apparently not allowed in Macau)..or converting it into some F&B business(never materialised of cos)

When she showed me pics of their new place..some spiffy new condo-looking apartment, i was like..ok, looks nice..but where's the character? Just by looking at it, i wouldn't know if it was in Macau or Sg or London..

I told her 'i prefer the old place', she replied in her typical fish-manner 'maybe i was in there most of my life, so i'm a bit numb with old-shop-character thingy'

Coming of age(35 in HDB-terms), i have been thinking...private or public? Money aside(that's what bank loans are for, isn't it?), do i really need/want to stay in private; by private, i mean condo. Condo..HDB..wats the diff? I don't exactly need a pool at my doorstep..nor do i need some uniformed men waving(smilingly or not) whenever i go in and out of my estate..

Of cos my ultimate dream house is a conservation shophouse..but short of striking the lottery(5times over)..it seems rather far-fetched..

Meanwhile..i shall make do with my 'upgraded' holiday chalet..

Ahh..it's the Grand Slam season again..the french one this time..

First, i must say it was very nice of Ms Choc to add on the sports channel in her cable subscription so that i don't have to go around asking whose house has scv or go to a pub so that i can watch my games..

That said, i spent most nights catching the games on my 13 inch laptop(i just love live streaming!)..mainly cos scv only telecasts the main court which is 'hogged' by the first seed, aka as 'arrogant pig' (in Ms Tan's exact words)..& my dear Federer, who was seeded 3rd, was playing on 'the next court'..

The few nights leading to the finals were busy times man i tell u..my 13 inch laptop was divided into 2 windows - 1 for each court..and my phone..simultanously watsapping 4 people..'wah lau, he better wake up lor'...'did he change sponsor?'...'bad haircut leh'...'tie break is played to 7'..

Life's Like That..

Was commuting during the evening peak hour..my detest for heavy traffic is quite legendary..was muttering under my breath about the bumper to bumper traffic..'why is the traffic so bad..every car is moving so slowly..blah blah blah..'

Then i looked up..and there it was..my fave scene of the day - sunset. Almost missed it cos i was too 'engrossed' in the congestion.

Eventually i did arrive at my destination..2 degrees calmer..

And then i told myself 'Whenever traffic(or life) is not so smooth, i will think of the sunset'

Chicken Little

I have weird eating habits(no..i did not repost my previous entry by mistake..)

Chicken Little is my latest nickname..for my eating habits(again)

It seems like i have the habit of 'dropping' food on the table during mealtimes..it's not that i can't use the chopsticks well enough or..maybe i'm not using it..'correctly' afterall..

In fact, these 2 'characteristics' of mine came as revelations of some sort..i never realised i kept dropping food and i had always been rather proud of my chopsticks skills(mistakenly?)

I dun know if i always had these characteristcs..or were they newly 'acquired'..was it simply cos nobody ever pointed them out to me..?

And if people didn't point them out, was it cos they couldn't be bothered..or they felt it was too trivial/embarrasing/awkward?

Chicken Skin

I have 'weird' eating habits.

Of cos most people have some peculiar eating habits(one friend only eats 'neat' food such as chicken rice; char kway teow is too 'messy'...another doesn't eat anything with wings - that rules out chicken, duck, pigeon, etc) but it seems like mine is fussier than most..

Growing up in an environment with 'just-as-fussy' eaters, i didn't realise i was so particular with food..and i don't just mean the type of food..nothing too spicy..deep frieds are a no-no..and of cos the fact that i dun take any mushrooms is rather legendary..

What I'm more fussy about(than most people)is that i like my food prepared fresh n served hot..'who doesn't?' you might ask..well, i figured it's THE reason why i always prefer eating noodles, rather than rice(ie.菜饭), especially for dinner..since noodles dishes are almost guaranteed to be prepared upon order..tze char being exception cos they're 'fresh' in a way..

Just as i was typing out the above paragraphs..a watsapp msg came in - 'drinking cappucino now, got it for free' and it suddenly dawned upon me that the one person who accomodated/tolerated my eating habits most..is the person that i spent the most and yet, least time with...

In fact, the very first meal we had together eons ago..she asked 'you don't take chicken skin right?' and proceeded to pick out a skinless piece for me..what was so impressive was that our main form of communication prior to the meal was through icq(oh my..sounds so antique!) and it was just a passing comment that i don't take skin(u know.. the sort of rubbish we say on online chat)

I guess that was the moment when i knew i'm gonna keep this friend for life..

Happy Bday Pal!

It's my customary cyber bd wishes to who-else-but-Wei...my ever faithful blog follower..haha

Floppy..?

Was feeling a bit..u know..'xian' over the past couple of days..no particular reason, just a dip in energy levels and happiness index generally..

So I did what i always do..sent out a whining watsapp(yes, i'm totally appreciative of this app) 'feeling lethargic..dont feel like doing anything lately'..

22 hours and 3 irrelevant msges later(such as, 'the hospital is really messed up..haven't received my pay'), the somewhat-sympathetic response came - 'i have been like this all the time..u will have a day full of energy and the rest of the week feeling floppy'

Floppy..??

How amusing to hear this word as an adjective for describing a mental state/mood..and how amazing that it seemed like the perfect ang moh counterpart of 'nuah'..

Should I have...?

I witnessed this scene today:

- Old Uncle wanted to try bubble tea(no joking)
- Counter Girl suggested oolong tea(sensible)
- OU paid for drink (as he should)
- OU then requested to break his $10 into 5 x $2 notes (trying his luck)
- CG obliged (not bad service)
- CG realised not enough $2 notes in the cashbox, returned the $10 and apologised(reasonable)
- OU became angry and shouted at CG to return change of $0.10 (uncalled for)
- CG replied she did so earlier (unfortunately i was busy on my phone to actually see her giving back change)
- OU got agitated and called CG stupid and threw the receipt at her(plain rude)

I was 1 arm's length from the whole scene...and throughout that 5 mins, i was wondering if i should interfere..

I could have told OU that CG already returned the change but i hesistated as i really did not witness the returning of $0.10 change..or i could stand up against OU calling CG names - i really don't like this..raising voice i can still give the benefit of doubt that one has a loud voice..but names calling..tsk..

Also, i was feel a little lousy these couple of days and i really have no intention of getting into another argument, esp when i'm not directly involved(i got into an ' argument' with a condo security guard the day before and he actually called up my friend - the resident, to complain about me)

I'm usually quite mild and occasionally have been labelled 'pushover'...but the 5% when i erupt..you wouldn't want to be near me..

Sorry CG.. -.-

Would you rather be first..or..last?

Do you feel honoured when someone puts you as 'first line of defence'..ie. you're the first person that comes to mind when tat someone needs help..

Or..

Do you feel honoured when someone puts you as 'last line of defence'..ie. you're the last person tat he/she will approach after exhausting all other means, as he/she has superior faith in you that you will not fail him/her..

**********************
Do you take someone for granted when he/she is the 'first' since..well..he/she is the 'first' to be activated..

Or..

Is it when you put him/her as the 'last'..since it is assumed that this person will definitely, confirmed, guaranteed be able to rescue you..

The Importance of Living - Lin Yutang

'A leisure lifestyle is of course far cheaper than a luxurious one. To enjoy life of leisure, one would only need to have the sensibility of an artist. To while away a whole afternoon in a fully relaxed state, doing absolutely nothing. Now, that's an art'

Recycling

..the blog header..cos i think it goes well with the latest entry, courtesy of Mr 吴悠律(cool pen name!)

老老实施地攀山越岭

人间动荡,老实就像一张稳稳当当的床,让人夜夜安眠无梦。

厚厚道道,实实在在,谢绝摇晃, 浮夸与张扬。

世事无常,如果难得喝一杯茶， 要一杯上好的茶也不是罪过， 但喝茶的时候如果心神不宁， 心浮气躁， 就是对茶不敬， 也辜负一段闲情。老实人不懂得， 不愿意也不会做这种糟蹋的事.

胸膛每一刻充满厚实,呼吸不徐不疾， 身心合一；城市人憧憬的物质和精神状况， 最终不也就是这样的吗?

老实必定吃亏,所以不老实就横行霸道； 城市的这个生存法则， 想来是自我保护衍生的意识盔甲。

但是哦,一个人日食三餐夜眠六尺， 真正的需要还真的不多； 即便吃了亏， 这亏能有多大， 多痛， 多伤?

物欲追逐,是摸不到自己的心灵伤口， 是无视前方黑洞的盲障；世观的灰， 人心的罪， 多数源自于此，也许那才是城市人吃得最大的亏。

如此来说,日常的所谓吃亏， 也许不过是外在物质的苦有所失。 穿着扎脚的鞋子， 路是走不了多远， 山是爬不了多高的； 但是老实就不亏心， 而不亏心， 赤脚也能攀山越岭过大河.

全神贯注地往积极的方向老实彳亍， 沿途能够汇集更多乐观和滋养的情感， 例如真诚， 平等
和慈悲。

粗茶淡饭,量入为出的那份老实， 保住了平安； 平静和安稳踩地的每一步， 仿佛都能与大地能量交流。

老实于生活,老实于自己， 老实于世界， 就是给自己多添一点实， 给世界少一份虚。

老实就踏实,踏实就幸福。

不老实,才吃亏。

(吴悠律 - 18 Dec 2011)

点心

Extracted from 'London Eye - Dire 2012? Life's a festive feast with family and friends', Teresa Lim for The Straits Times, 2 Jan 2012

..'My husband's family has also embraced dim sum culture. Although introduced to its delights only relatively recently, his family has decided that from now on it will be a Christmas tradition..Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins will gather from Oxford and Kent and all parts of London for an annual reunion.

One is filled not only by those delicious dumplings but by the warm glow of being in the company of people one has known for a long time and who validate each other by just being there.

Singaporeans understand this of course, and do it all the time over rojak, or fish-head curry, chicken rice or nasi padang. As long as you can enjoy a meal with people in whom you are interested and for whom you have affection, all is very right with the world..'

Coincidentally, i just had dim sum for dinner on new year's day..not so typical since dim sum is not exactly a dinner-cuisine and not quite associated with new year(ang moh new year at least)..But as so accurately noted by the writer, the company is one key factor that makes an ordinary meal an extraordinary one..

And so..with the dim sum that i had on a small wooden table(with a sharp nail on the underside) barely 50cm away from the kerbside of a busy road..throw in a fading twilight on the horizon(behind those HDBs) for ambience..and not least of all, the people whom i was having the meal with..i would say - all is very right with my world..