揽雀尾 -- 按
19.7.09
18.7.09
NPCC
NPCC stands for National Police Cadet Corps, and it is an extra curricular activity that secondary students can pick up. Compared to the NCC or National Cadet Corps (aka student soldiers), NPCC focuses a lot more on foot drill. For this express purpose, the soles of the boot are affixed (at the student's own cost) with a metal horse-shoe at the heel and three pieces of metal at the front to produce a clicking sound when the shoe comes into contact with the ground. When marching in unison, the squad or platoon makes delightful percussion.
NPCC was not my first choice ECA in RVHS though. I signed up for NCC-Air despite already having terrible eyesight at the tender age of 13 and also despite knowing that anything less than almost perfect eyesight means not being accepted. I think I signed up because of a friend. My friend got in and I did not.
Then I tried to sign up for NCC but the Secondary 1 Squad was already filled up; such was its popularity.
So NPCC it was. And I was welcomed with open arms.
ECA in those days was on Saturdays. Our program typically starts early morning around 8am to 8.30am with a PT session. More often than not, this will be followed by frantic changing into the police uniform (there is not even time to change in the toilet) for one to two hours of solid foot drill under the increasingly hotter sun. Part of the fun was learning the Malay drill commands. Even today, I can still rememeber all the complex Malay commands. The ultimate command for most of us was for sizing, i.e. to bring about a nice V 'sized' platoon when viewed from the front, with the taller ones on each side.
Let me try to recall, lousy spelling notwithstanding, the mouthful command: Yang tinggi ke-kenan, renda ke-keri, dalam satu barisan, khra! (It means tallest to the right, shortest to the left, form a single file, move it!) There are four other commands before the desired shape of the platoon is formed, but don't let me bore you.
Related to foot drill is the exacting standards of how the shoe should shine. And that is to be able to see the reflection of one's teeth. I kid you not. It takes a few years to perfect this state of shine.
The art of polishing ventures beyond simply applying 'kiwi' to brush.
Our superior technique includes burning the kiwi covered shoe with an open flame from a candle to coat the surface of the shoe with a even layer of kiwi. This has to be done very carefully to achieve a smooth surface -- sometimes the shoe can catch fire! Next, after allowing the molten kiwi to cool and harden, use a piece of cotton cloth, dip into some kiwi and polish in a small circular motion. Sometimes, a tinny bit of water will help elevate the shine to an even higher notch. This activity typically takes place on the Friday night and can last hours. You had no choice but invest in the effort because a less than desirable standard will mean 'knocking-it-down' -- push ups! We did hundreds of push ups every week. My NCO said polishing shoes builds patience and character.
We also have lectures then on subjects such as campcraft and first aid. In real life, campcraft came in rather useful on many occasions when the need arose to tie knots for various purposes. My knowledge of the reef knot, highwayman's knot, timber hitch and lashing proved to be valuable life skills. As for first aid, I have not encountered the need to provide CPR nor tie a bandage so I cannot say these knowledge was equally valuable.
NPCC was not my first choice ECA in RVHS though. I signed up for NCC-Air despite already having terrible eyesight at the tender age of 13 and also despite knowing that anything less than almost perfect eyesight means not being accepted. I think I signed up because of a friend. My friend got in and I did not.
Then I tried to sign up for NCC but the Secondary 1 Squad was already filled up; such was its popularity.
So NPCC it was. And I was welcomed with open arms.
ECA in those days was on Saturdays. Our program typically starts early morning around 8am to 8.30am with a PT session. More often than not, this will be followed by frantic changing into the police uniform (there is not even time to change in the toilet) for one to two hours of solid foot drill under the increasingly hotter sun. Part of the fun was learning the Malay drill commands. Even today, I can still rememeber all the complex Malay commands. The ultimate command for most of us was for sizing, i.e. to bring about a nice V 'sized' platoon when viewed from the front, with the taller ones on each side.
Let me try to recall, lousy spelling notwithstanding, the mouthful command: Yang tinggi ke-kenan, renda ke-keri, dalam satu barisan, khra! (It means tallest to the right, shortest to the left, form a single file, move it!) There are four other commands before the desired shape of the platoon is formed, but don't let me bore you.
Related to foot drill is the exacting standards of how the shoe should shine. And that is to be able to see the reflection of one's teeth. I kid you not. It takes a few years to perfect this state of shine.
The art of polishing ventures beyond simply applying 'kiwi' to brush.
Our superior technique includes burning the kiwi covered shoe with an open flame from a candle to coat the surface of the shoe with a even layer of kiwi. This has to be done very carefully to achieve a smooth surface -- sometimes the shoe can catch fire! Next, after allowing the molten kiwi to cool and harden, use a piece of cotton cloth, dip into some kiwi and polish in a small circular motion. Sometimes, a tinny bit of water will help elevate the shine to an even higher notch. This activity typically takes place on the Friday night and can last hours. You had no choice but invest in the effort because a less than desirable standard will mean 'knocking-it-down' -- push ups! We did hundreds of push ups every week. My NCO said polishing shoes builds patience and character.
We also have lectures then on subjects such as campcraft and first aid. In real life, campcraft came in rather useful on many occasions when the need arose to tie knots for various purposes. My knowledge of the reef knot, highwayman's knot, timber hitch and lashing proved to be valuable life skills. As for first aid, I have not encountered the need to provide CPR nor tie a bandage so I cannot say these knowledge was equally valuable.
17.7.09
Back to Basics
Just last week, my taiji teacher was saying, as you go through life, you realise what's more important or essential and shed the unimportant stuff, like unnecssary layers. An analogy he gave was he used to like to pick the finer fish to eat, like 'ang kau' (I actually don't now what kind of fish this is). But now, he realised that as long as the fish is fresh, the flesh will be sweet. Woah...a touch of zen!
Uncannily, I had a taste of this today.
My expensive Omega watch had let me down. Meant to be a diver's watch, but after a few weeks of swimming at the neighbourhood pool, yesterday morning I realised that moisture has seeped into the watch and mist could be seen under the glass face.
I sent in the watch for servicing and was told that the wait could be 12 weeks.
So, the lesson learnt for me is for a watch, as long as it can tell time accurately, it is a good watch. So I went to get this $28 Casio watch which tells the time perfectly and can be worn to the local pool and water resistant up to 50 metres.
Uncannily, I had a taste of this today.
My expensive Omega watch had let me down. Meant to be a diver's watch, but after a few weeks of swimming at the neighbourhood pool, yesterday morning I realised that moisture has seeped into the watch and mist could be seen under the glass face.
I sent in the watch for servicing and was told that the wait could be 12 weeks.
So, the lesson learnt for me is for a watch, as long as it can tell time accurately, it is a good watch. So I went to get this $28 Casio watch which tells the time perfectly and can be worn to the local pool and water resistant up to 50 metres.
Early morning, public bus rides, memories of school days
Reading Bro Jinbo's post has insipred me to bog on my experiences :p
Getting up super early was never an issue when we were younger... now getting up at 6:30 proves a challenge every working day :)
Bus ride were tiring but fun, esp if you got fellow classmates taking the same ride. My sec school, Swiss Cottage was along Bt Timah road. Also a hour to 1.5 hours of bus ride or longer, depending on weather and traffic conditions... neber encountered any floods though, would have love the experience :p
I enjoyed most my rides on bus service 170, where they used to have bus conductor... watching them working their way thru the crowded bus, collecting fares and issuing bus tickets (punching holes along the way).
On Sat where I would wake up super super early to catch the first bus to school to prepare for my ECA. Never once feel tired or regreted having to wake up early... wonder why???
On the issue of education... my results were never any good compared to both my elder brothers... Chinese High & River Valley were out of my league... been able to enroll for Swiss Cottage was like striking lottery :)
My parents hopes for me were simple then... maybe too good to me... just pass can liao... and I met their target :) It was only in my final year of Polytechnic did I "jump" out of this mental box to try to improve my scores. Did pretty well, even manage to complete my Final Year Project which was good enough for the Poly Open House exhibition.
And only when I started working, did I truly realise the importance of a good paper qualification. Having "fought" the corporate war for 10 years, I got my fair share of experiences which I would blog abt soon.
For now... the Zzzz babe is luring me to catch up with her (no more Zzzz monster, Zzzz babe is better for a good nite rest)
Getting up super early was never an issue when we were younger... now getting up at 6:30 proves a challenge every working day :)
Bus ride were tiring but fun, esp if you got fellow classmates taking the same ride. My sec school, Swiss Cottage was along Bt Timah road. Also a hour to 1.5 hours of bus ride or longer, depending on weather and traffic conditions... neber encountered any floods though, would have love the experience :p
I enjoyed most my rides on bus service 170, where they used to have bus conductor... watching them working their way thru the crowded bus, collecting fares and issuing bus tickets (punching holes along the way).
On Sat where I would wake up super super early to catch the first bus to school to prepare for my ECA. Never once feel tired or regreted having to wake up early... wonder why???
On the issue of education... my results were never any good compared to both my elder brothers... Chinese High & River Valley were out of my league... been able to enroll for Swiss Cottage was like striking lottery :)
My parents hopes for me were simple then... maybe too good to me... just pass can liao... and I met their target :) It was only in my final year of Polytechnic did I "jump" out of this mental box to try to improve my scores. Did pretty well, even manage to complete my Final Year Project which was good enough for the Poly Open House exhibition.
And only when I started working, did I truly realise the importance of a good paper qualification. Having "fought" the corporate war for 10 years, I got my fair share of experiences which I would blog abt soon.
For now... the Zzzz babe is luring me to catch up with her (no more Zzzz monster, Zzzz babe is better for a good nite rest)
16.7.09
Long daily bus trips
Not now of course, although in present modern Singapore there still are long journeys one can make on a bus, with some services taking impossibly inefficient routes to pass along more streets.
I spent four years of my life a happy student in River Valley High School. In those four years, I probably spent the most hours on the road.
As I qualify for a SAP school based on my PSLE results, my first choice was the Chinese High School along Bukit Timah Road (it still is there at the same address today). My elder brother studied there and most of my chinese friends aspired to be admitted there as well. My malay classmates who were all very bright ended up mostly at Raffles Institution.
I was not accepted in Chinese High. A side story was that my classmate who got the same PSLE results did, and the reason was that he was a gymnast; he later represented Singapore.
Anyway, I decided against an appeal and resigned myself to RVHS. It didn't help that my mum liked the uniform! My parents' place then was at Marsiling (just beside the old customs building) and RVHS then was along West Coast Road, beside the Pandan Reservoir.
For morning sessions, I woke up everyday at 5am, showered, got dressed and took the first bus, service 178, to school. In the morning, and on the first bus, traffic was smooth and there always were seats. I kind of liked the morning rides, with the cool dawn wind blowing in my face and the surroundings were still dark. I can recall all the landmarks. The oil refinery (?) just after the depot which emits pungent and strange odours. Metal Box along Woodlands Road. The two dirt tracks along Yew Tee, and one of them leads to a temple. The Fire Station at the junction before Bukit Timah Road where the bus will take a right turn.
The journey back home was dreadful. Service 178's destination from Woodlands was Jurong, which was the manufacturing hub. Everyday, by the time 178 reached Jurong East, where I boarded the bus for the way home, it will almost always be crowded. To add to the agony of having to stand for the almost 1.5 hour trip, the bus stopped almost at every stop either to allow passengers to alight or pick up more people.
That's not all the pain we passengers had to endure. Before the bus can turn into the depot at Woodlands, it has to pass through Woodlands Road which also happens to be the mother of all roads into the customs and Johor Bahru. Traffic sometimes got so bad that most passengers will elect to alight some 5km away from the station (when the bus got stuck in traffic and stuttered on) and take a brisk walk. My school mate Chongfu and I were among those weary commuters.
I can still recall those days vividly. But now with a smile.
I spent four years of my life a happy student in River Valley High School. In those four years, I probably spent the most hours on the road.
As I qualify for a SAP school based on my PSLE results, my first choice was the Chinese High School along Bukit Timah Road (it still is there at the same address today). My elder brother studied there and most of my chinese friends aspired to be admitted there as well. My malay classmates who were all very bright ended up mostly at Raffles Institution.
I was not accepted in Chinese High. A side story was that my classmate who got the same PSLE results did, and the reason was that he was a gymnast; he later represented Singapore.
Anyway, I decided against an appeal and resigned myself to RVHS. It didn't help that my mum liked the uniform! My parents' place then was at Marsiling (just beside the old customs building) and RVHS then was along West Coast Road, beside the Pandan Reservoir.
For morning sessions, I woke up everyday at 5am, showered, got dressed and took the first bus, service 178, to school. In the morning, and on the first bus, traffic was smooth and there always were seats. I kind of liked the morning rides, with the cool dawn wind blowing in my face and the surroundings were still dark. I can recall all the landmarks. The oil refinery (?) just after the depot which emits pungent and strange odours. Metal Box along Woodlands Road. The two dirt tracks along Yew Tee, and one of them leads to a temple. The Fire Station at the junction before Bukit Timah Road where the bus will take a right turn.
The journey back home was dreadful. Service 178's destination from Woodlands was Jurong, which was the manufacturing hub. Everyday, by the time 178 reached Jurong East, where I boarded the bus for the way home, it will almost always be crowded. To add to the agony of having to stand for the almost 1.5 hour trip, the bus stopped almost at every stop either to allow passengers to alight or pick up more people.
That's not all the pain we passengers had to endure. Before the bus can turn into the depot at Woodlands, it has to pass through Woodlands Road which also happens to be the mother of all roads into the customs and Johor Bahru. Traffic sometimes got so bad that most passengers will elect to alight some 5km away from the station (when the bus got stuck in traffic and stuttered on) and take a brisk walk. My school mate Chongfu and I were among those weary commuters.
I can still recall those days vividly. But now with a smile.
15.7.09
Health tips from Taiji teacher
I am very fortunate to be able to learn taiji from my present teacher; my parents and wife are also in the same class. Besides being very knowledgeble and competent in taiji, he also dishes out health tips on and off during lessons.
These are a few I have gleaned:
1) To prevent catching cold, make sure your shoulders are not exposed, i.e. cover them. Should prevent your feet from being exposed to the cold also, by using slippers even at home or wearing socks when sleeping, especially if in an air-conditioned room.
2) Hang on a monkey bar to stretch the spine like primates do.
3) Exercise the brain by softly clenching your fist finger by finger. This will train the different parts of the brain responsible for the movement of each finger. Particularly useful for the aged.
These are a few I have gleaned:
1) To prevent catching cold, make sure your shoulders are not exposed, i.e. cover them. Should prevent your feet from being exposed to the cold also, by using slippers even at home or wearing socks when sleeping, especially if in an air-conditioned room.
2) Hang on a monkey bar to stretch the spine like primates do.
3) Exercise the brain by softly clenching your fist finger by finger. This will train the different parts of the brain responsible for the movement of each finger. Particularly useful for the aged.
14.7.09
Parallel Parking tip
Source: Esquire MagazineFor detailed instructions Step 1 to 4, pl visit Esquire.
==========================
The first time I read this tip, I went to look for a parallel parking lot to try it. Works pretty well!
13.7.09
Chinese Orchestra
Since I am on the topic of Chinese Orchestra (my previous post on the drums performance), I thought I might search my memory on my dabbling with the art.
I think I joined my primary school CO in primary 2. I was following in the footsteps of my elder brother; my mum also encouraged me to learn to play a musical instrument. My brother learned the di zi (Chinese flute), I had absolutely no affinity with the flute (you need to be able to form your lips in a certain way to emit sound from the bamboo) so I settled, or rather the teacher settled for me, for the er hu.
I had some talent in the erhu. In fact, in my whole life, in many things I have a bit more talent than the average guy but not enough to be considered brilliant. So it was the same with the erhu. I stayed with the primary school CO until primary six. The valuable takeaway from the five years was the opportunity to learn music, to read music and to appreciate music, tempo and melody. I also had a good grounding in being on stage and because of this experience (and also my training as a student councillor doing PA duties), till today I never get stage fright.
Also because my elder brother did, I joined the CO at Woodlands CC. I received additional coaching and more performing opportunities. The two instructors I had then encouraged me a lot to pursue the art but as I reached seconday school age, the lure of a more physical ECA attracted me and after a few months into secondary school, I quit CO entirely.
I had found the weekly training quite a chore and realised that whatever talent I had had reached its limit. It was to be the same when I picked up the piano when I was 25 years old. But that is another story.
I think I joined my primary school CO in primary 2. I was following in the footsteps of my elder brother; my mum also encouraged me to learn to play a musical instrument. My brother learned the di zi (Chinese flute), I had absolutely no affinity with the flute (you need to be able to form your lips in a certain way to emit sound from the bamboo) so I settled, or rather the teacher settled for me, for the er hu.
I had some talent in the erhu. In fact, in my whole life, in many things I have a bit more talent than the average guy but not enough to be considered brilliant. So it was the same with the erhu. I stayed with the primary school CO until primary six. The valuable takeaway from the five years was the opportunity to learn music, to read music and to appreciate music, tempo and melody. I also had a good grounding in being on stage and because of this experience (and also my training as a student councillor doing PA duties), till today I never get stage fright.
Also because my elder brother did, I joined the CO at Woodlands CC. I received additional coaching and more performing opportunities. The two instructors I had then encouraged me a lot to pursue the art but as I reached seconday school age, the lure of a more physical ECA attracted me and after a few months into secondary school, I quit CO entirely.
I had found the weekly training quite a chore and realised that whatever talent I had had reached its limit. It was to be the same when I picked up the piano when I was 25 years old. But that is another story.
12.7.09
The Legends of Drums
Mum very astutely bought these under-valued $2 tickets for a splendid 'drums' performance by The Percussion Assembly. Although the venue was a neighbourhood community club, the air conditioning was adequate and the quality of the performance was splendid. As the host himself declared, the standard of the amateur performers was near professional.
Furthermore, in additional to the performance, with the ticket, one gets a free buffet dinner. Thats why mum and dad looked so pleased! The only drawback was some of the aunties were still engrossed in their food when the performance began.
Parents with their friends.
Mum correctly answering a question and was rewarded with an NAC (National Arts Council) umbrella. The man on the right was the host of the concert Mr Quek Ling Kiong, Assistant Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Mr Quek interspersed the concert with nuggets of information of the various percussion instruments that were used, e.g. flat drum, vase drum and different techniques that can be employed to create vivid effects. For example, cymbals when clanged mutedly sound like ducks clacking. Cymbals can be struck and then thrown into the air to sound like firing of rocket-crackers.
Taking a shot with Ronald at his restaurant and also with mum's new umbrella. Times have improved. The CC in my childhood had one vending machine that dispensed Yeo's packet drinks for 40 cents.Ling's Birthday
Group photo with the birthday girl and the dogs. Note that the dogs were represented in all the photos. 
8.7.09
My green IKEA pillow
Feeling tired? 
Sleepy...
Sleeping...
Dana's green pillow follows her everywhere.
Dana looking really tired and ready for bed. 7.7.09
Love of books
I love books, and I love to buy books, if only to enjoy in the fraction of a second the pleasure of owning one.
I must thank my parents for this healthy indulgent of mine, of which my wife is equally indulgent of me nowadays, by bringing me regularly to bookshops when I was in primary school. I recall with some vividness our journeys to Bras Basah Complex where my brothers and I will spend a happy weekend-day visiting Popular and a small Chinese bookshop on the 1st floor (which is still operating today). I also recall my father driving us to a 2nd-hand book shop at Yishun New Town to indulge us in reading and buying the entire series of The Famous Five and many other Enid Blyton creations. For our generation then without internet and two TV channels, printed words were our only door to limitless imagination, which a young boy craves.
I must also thank my friends in primary school for nurturing my love of books by freely lending me books from their collection, a favour which I gladly returned.
In primary school, we had a small and not very well stocked library and visiting times to it and number of books that can be borrowed were controlled. I remember visiting the library in the mornings when I was in the afternoon session, hiding some of the better books so that I could borrow it the next time my allocated quota allowed me (this is wrong I know btw).
I also recall with much fondness book fairs in school. That was when I would spend some of my savings on interesting reads especially for offerings from the now defunct Bookworm Club. I would hang around the book fair for the entire morning or afternoon devouring the books I could not own but was determined to make an acquaintance with.
I must thank my parents for this healthy indulgent of mine, of which my wife is equally indulgent of me nowadays, by bringing me regularly to bookshops when I was in primary school. I recall with some vividness our journeys to Bras Basah Complex where my brothers and I will spend a happy weekend-day visiting Popular and a small Chinese bookshop on the 1st floor (which is still operating today). I also recall my father driving us to a 2nd-hand book shop at Yishun New Town to indulge us in reading and buying the entire series of The Famous Five and many other Enid Blyton creations. For our generation then without internet and two TV channels, printed words were our only door to limitless imagination, which a young boy craves.
I must also thank my friends in primary school for nurturing my love of books by freely lending me books from their collection, a favour which I gladly returned.
In primary school, we had a small and not very well stocked library and visiting times to it and number of books that can be borrowed were controlled. I remember visiting the library in the mornings when I was in the afternoon session, hiding some of the better books so that I could borrow it the next time my allocated quota allowed me (this is wrong I know btw).
I also recall with much fondness book fairs in school. That was when I would spend some of my savings on interesting reads especially for offerings from the now defunct Bookworm Club. I would hang around the book fair for the entire morning or afternoon devouring the books I could not own but was determined to make an acquaintance with.
2.7.09
Sharing my breakfast with ...
This was my breakfast...
See who came by and asked for a bite...
See who came by and asked for a bite...I shared my entire hash brown, from my McGriddles Meal, with my new friend Mr Peacock. He really loved it. Well, everybody likes deep fried food.
Let's take a closer look at this handsome fellow.
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