I went for a run earlier this evening. There was a bit of rain earlier. I thought that would be it. Took my usual route. Half-way through, it started raining (again). Got pretty heavy. I was happy for the rain. Been craving for the chance to run in the rain and I definitely found the breathing easier. Thought I could clock a good timing. The rain eased off somewhat and came to a very mild drizzle before I knew it. As I was about to complete the run — it ends off where I make a left turn, and work on two slopes — a familiar face holding an umbrella waved at me from a short distance away (albeit at the right side junction). It is the wife. In the rush, I signed to her that I will head back first as I start to attack the slope. But just a few seconds in, I stopped and ended the run on the watch monitor. I turned back to meet my wife. She was somewhat annoyed (that I didn’t stop earlier and had the audacity to continue the run) and somewhat pleased to see me. We then walked back together in the mild drizzle. Glad I made the right choice.
Birthday
Constant struggle to write (and read) more regularly. Usual reasons (excuses) (sic) of work and family. I think gaming takes up a bit too much time and the large cause.
Anyways, what better time to get started. Celebrating W1 bday this weekend. We brought her to a toy-shop. Free play to choose something. In the end, she picked a particular series of toys (wife interpreted that as focus) and not the largest, loudest or flashiest but one that had a little more intricacies to it. There was a mystery box, some kit to make a themed jewelry (wife interpreted that as being thoughtful and having depth 内涵). I agree on both wholeheartedly. Within the same series (so think of it as Paw Patrol, Barbie, Mini-Force, etc) — there were things that were playing music, had blinking lights, bigger, etc — cost more of course. But she picked that modest one — cheaper too! We are extremely proud of her. She obviously had limited concept or didn’t notice much re the price tag.
Related, finished reading a book where I was straggling on the last couple of chapters. Some intellectual dude. Anyways he made the comment that the smart/ elite/ 1st world country type attitude is to ask for solution. Wait for magic/ divine intervention/ sit and complain but do nothing. In the developing world, people would go “this is what I am doing, what do you think?”. People are taking action and fixing problems. I hope I, we, the family will have more of such spirit.
Thoughts
Recent experience at work led to some reflections. Listing the topics here and will pen thoughts on them soon.
1. “There are players and there are players”
2. 贵人
3. Humility and the gracious acceptance of good fortune
4. 上岸
Tough love
Earlier this evening I had to give W1 some tough love. So from reading a book together and she willingly saying things to 奶奶, I had to end the evening by making her cry very badly (wailing style). I felt it was necessary as she basically broke a promise and we then went into a conversation about the importance of keeping to our word, trust, lying, etc… Weighed on me. Hope no permanent damage.
One of those days…
Just one of those days where culmination of events puts me in a funk.
1. Passing/ funeral of a relative over the weekend
2. Somewhat lacklustre game of hockey over the weekend… where one of the comments was: [] others seem to be improving while we are stuck []
3. Read a satirical article on the death of the 60/40 portfolio. Have been too lazy and proud (?) to buy the market and just put a simple portfolio to work. Hesitation of buying at the top now.
4. Read an article on this journalist’s experience of taking a job at a dotcom (1990s) and the parallel with today’s market
5. The realisation that it is really damn tough to make money work harder and generate returns
6. Temasek buying Keppel Corp at 25%+ premium… why didn’t I see that coming?!?!
7. Having dinner in town and seeing how Wisma Atria is a ghost town less the food outlets and 60% is F&B. The food court btw is fantastic. General and discretionary retail is dead… (or perhaps Orchard Road is dead). Or maybe it’s Monday. Big box dominates? Delivery? Online/ E-commerce? Bifurcation of brick and mortar — only big box specialty AND craft niche survives. In between you are gone.
Will get out of the funk.
华文
It has been close to 7 years since I used chinese/ mandarin in the context of work. I attended a work function last Fri and met a old chinese business man (前辈). We exchanged namecards or should I say I asked for his. I emailed the gentleman today and did so in chinese.
It has been a while but there was a satisfaction in composing the note… something I haven’t done in a while and was a challenge of sorts.
Learning point. However minute, doing something out of our comfort zone invigorates us. Life long learning is important. Seems a very chinese and Confucian thing isn’t it.
writer’s block
I am having writer’s block… What was two weeks’ (or so) ago where I was bursting with enthusiasm and imagined I would be gushing with writing apparently didn’t pan out as such.
I did read before on some article how some serious (read successful) writer’s have emphasized that writing is a job and a difficult one. You have to force yourself to sit down and write. Anyways, no expectations/ aspirations to be a serious writer. Just random musing.
Anyways, I decided to “gap” the writer’s block by listing — “gasp!” — some topics I would be writing about.
1. Worm 1
2. Worm 2
3. Family
4. Work situation 1
5. Work situation 2
Working on it!
The maid post
We collected our maid yesterday. Random thoughts, of which some may appear contradictory:
1. My wife is now a tai tai!
2. I have never had a maid in my life — awkward penguin alert
3. They really earn very little… first 6months only about $55 per month… (balance of the $600-700 goes to the agency). Only after 6months do they start to earn anything
4. Made sense why people start the “transient workers matter 2” type campaign.
5. Maid vs helper terminology… let’s just call maid. The agencies call themselves maid agencies anyways. Not helper agency.
6. Maid agencies generally located at dodgy locations/ old malls.
7. It’s like reporting for BMT (for the maid)… she carried a big backpack… keeps on nod nod… yes sir yes mdm… really bizarre for me
8. We are really fortunate to be born (consciousness, etc) to our families and our lives… somewhat like the Buffett comment really the luck of the draw. The birth lottery
9. So we have a dog… not sure how religious she is but she is Muslim apparently. She signed up for the gig despite the dog. Real commitment to making money for the family despite the possibility of eternal condemnation. [respect]
10. Transfer maid this one. But apparently crying (sobbing) on her first night. Feel sorry. Really like BMT.
11. Really cheap to hire helper in Singapore (from what I understand) versus other developed countries… no wonder expats love Singapore
12. Shouldn’t be too self righteous/ embarrassed re spending money for labour/ other people to do your sai kang.
13. Did you spot the pun?
rebirth again?
I hope it will last longer this time round…
Got to thinking [seriously] when worm1 told me one night (about few weeks back) that she wanted to grow up (faster). Asked her why and she said because she wants to be taller.
Just thought I really got to get down to chronicling the going-ons. So the musings on life, family, kids, self, work, etc.
Let’s see!
Overdue
Aiyoh… baby already a toddler and then the next post?
Writing takes serious committment — amidst the daily grind (of family and work, etc)… plus vegging it out in front of the TV and playing games on the tablet and/ or phone to zone out.
Let me just continue with the easy one — perspective. And really get things going.
I have found a (partial) analog to pregnancy which most SG guys can identify with and incorporating another element that the active type would know. So pregnancy/ giving birth/ 4th trimester is to:
- Train in earnest for a triathlon (probably more a half iron-man?) >>> this is the 9mth slog and discipline
- Go for the actual race >>> this is the delivery
- Have no chance to recover from the race, i.e. no rest, no post race massage recovery tent, etc
- Be put on c. 90-180x extra guard duties (depending on how well behaved your kid is) >>> this is the 4th trimester
- (during said guard duties) be turned out every night by the DO >>> guess who is the DO
- (during siad turn-out) be made to do full rifle drill, arms drill, etc when one has not been properly trained for any of the drills and your “life” aka ability to bookout on the weekend to meet gf, have a life, etc depenedent on getting drill done properly so no more extras/ confindement is forthcoming >>> this is breast-feeding…
That’s it!!!
I hope to write more on the earlier promised topics… and add more of my random musings, learnings and observations.
Macro 