Your Comment Please?

18th November 2005, Singapore - I'm in no mood to blog. Sorry, I'm just not in one of those 'moments' where words come freely. So for a change, let me solicit your views on what you do when you're at a lost for words, with your back against the wall, feeling frustrated, beaten, sapped of energy and with a spinning headache? Did I have a bad day? Yes. Cheer me up. Any encouragement and word of inspiration would help me out of a lousy day. A 'virtual' penny for your thoughts...please. *The Comment Box is yours!!!*

Accounting for S$28K

13th November 2005, Singapore - The Editor of The NewsStan(d) parted with twenty-eight thousand dollars after deciding he'd satisfy one of his greatest pleasures in life. After succumbing himself to just under three hours of hard-sell tactics, he finally gave in; swiped his credit card and walked away looking pleased with what he'd signed up for. It wasn't a gold-laced cheesecake, nor was it the latest wheels he'd been eyeing. But a travel membership that would allow him luxurious hotel stays at discounted rates. He said when leaving the travel concept agency, "The deal was incredible. It was almost an obvious choice which you'd pick and I would have come out looking really silly if I decided I'd pass on the savings. They convinced me how pointless it was to pay marked-up rates by going through travel agents."

The above never quite happened actually, though it could have last Wednesday. It was a scenario that the marketeers would have wanted but their hard-driving tactics didn't work. Despite having my dinner delayed by some 3 hours, there was to be no yielding to the call to fulfill my desires to travel far, wide and CHEAP. I never knew CHEAP was spelt "T-W-E-N-T-Y E-I-G-H-T T-H-O-U-S-A-N-D D-O-L-L-A-R-S".

It all started when I'd received a call from a telemarketeer who knew my full name, mobile number and i/c number. First thing she did was to entice me to go for a travel preview. The bait - free accommodation at the Gold Coast plus an MP3 player. I knew it was slightly dubious and I knew I was putting myself in a vulnerable spot of pressure buying if I went for it. But I wanted to go for 2 reasons. Primarily to see what the hullabaloo was about and experience it firsthand. And secondly, with this insight, it would allow me to relate to the kind of pressure that's loaded on an unsuspecting patron.

The presentation looked like it'd never end. Our agent just went on and on. It was as if they wouldn't let you go until you took out your credit card. The manager who came over was even more intimidating. The marketeers were masters at making you sound stupid and your answers inconsistent when you tried to reason with them why you weren't committing to the membership.

Thank God for Dorcas who under the darting eyes of our agent, gently reminded me about the purpose of life in a Christian perspective. She asked what I'd say if God asked for some accountability. Would I have been a good steward of 28K had I blown in on the extravagant travel membership?

Even if I wanted to travel, I could and with far less moolah. The mission field's there and I could fly far and stay long to sow and plough should God call. Wouldn't heeding God's call be more fulfilling that taking luxurious holidays ever so often?

Vertically-Challenged

8th November 2005, Singapore - The latest title to hit The NewsStan(d) is "Dizzying Heights" by Stanley Leong. Decades after the release of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights", this inspiring entry celebrates the human spirit of conquest, life and lightheadedness. I never quite imagined stairwells to go on forever till I committed myself to a Sunday sprint...mind you not your everyday run. It was a tall order (pun intended) for a vertically-challenged to challenge himself vertically (more pun intended). So it was at the Swissotel The Stamford that I took in in one glance and said to myself, "No big deal". So there I was huffing and puffing up my first ever Vertical Marathon. Remember how in an earlier entry I was talking about knees? Well I figured if my knees weren't giving up the ghost yet, might as well put them to good use while the joints are still holding up well.

So after the flag-off and one thousand three hundred and thirty-nine steps later, I was standing proud atop Southeast Asia's tallest hotel, all 73-storeys of it on the helipad. It was breathtaking and I never knew one could see the ends of the island just standing there and doing a three-sixty.

The winds were gusty up there so pardon the hairdo. So if it's 12:05 mins this year, I wonder if I'd want to challenge myself for a quicker time in 2006. We'll wait and see.

Family Phases

5th November 2005, Singapore - It's wedding galore as we enter the final two months of 2005. There goes Mabel, Amos and Gillian down the aisle (erm...not together but with separate partners). Come December, Wee Ming & Wendy, Stephen & Hwan Jing and Dennis & Belle bid farewell to singlehood. Each occasion, the coming together of not only two individuals, but two families.

Still on the family front, Donna's a happy mommy with a less temperamental number 2! (She prayed for it and got it!) Gerry's due to pop anytime now; she may even do it before I complete this entry. Then there's cousin Joe & Marina who're due to be proud parents in the first quarter of 2006. Additions to families...ahh...ever a cause for celebration!

Do you celebrate the people around you? I don't go out with my dad alot. The three occasions we typically spend time together are over a duel on the tennis court, in a bowling alley or watching tv in the living room. But I had an opportunity to take dad shopping downtown on Thursday. My excuse was that I had to drop off a pair of jeans for alteration and had a G2000 voucher to use before it expired. He followed closely behind as I led him through the underpass and up the elevators. He admitted he'd be lost if left alone in the maze of tunnels, bright lights, sprawling malls and manic crowd. I suppose my folks (maybe yours too) aren't quite into jostling in the city crowd and walking the stretch of Orchard. But I felt the tables turning. The days when my parents brought me around and showed me things and places are no more. It's now my turn to lead them on, bring them places and show them things.

I am reminded that every day ought to be a celebration for the people you live with and love. Don't neglect them, don't leave them behind. It's nice to do things you normally wouldn't think of doing with them. For me, it was just a simple walk from Shaw Centre to Tangs, to Wisma Atria and back with dad. I felt happy showing him things and taking him around.

You'll be pleasantly surprised to see how a little break from routine that you introduce in their lives makes them appreciate that you care even as they get older.

So act on it! Bring your folks places. Don't just leave them on a rocking chair or your fancy Osim I-Chair. Bringing them out makes for good exercise and family bonding time.