Life is (one hell of) a Rollercoaster

Oh my gosh, erm, like where do I even start!?

It's been, what, more than a month? What atrocity, man!

Okay, get ready for one long post of pictures, little anecdotes, and every other thing in between to fill this one month void.

But anyway, for those who knew what happened in my family, maybe you could understand why, for this period of time, I just didn't feel like updating at all.

Okay, at the risk of sounding emo (which I'm trying to abstain from), let's just say my job is another huge reason why the first thing I reach home, I think about collapsing on my bed (let alone logging onto the internet and writing about more stressful stuff, and be reminded of them in the process).

To lighten things up first, let me indulge in a few moments of stress-release.

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The next thing some of you probably know from the picture.

Well, I guess now since the situation has stabilised, I guess I should write about this harrowing and unfortunate event that happened in my family, particularly, to my dad.

It was the week before Chinese New Year. It was another tiring day at work and I just entered the MRT with my colleagues, preparing to go home. It was then that I read this SMS from my mom: "Daddy attack by bees in Malaysia. He now at the eye specialist."

I remembered feeling shocked, and exclaiming, prompting both my colleagues' concern as well. I called my mom immediately - it was also then that she explained to me something which the initial shock didn't make me realise: why was my dad at an eye specialist?

She said that my dad was at the golfing green that morning when he was attacked by the bees. I then recalled that my dad had drove across the causeway together with my neighbour for a golfing trip. But the worst had yet to come. The next thing she mentioned - something so out of this world that it made my stomach churn - my father was stung in the eye by a bee during the attack, and the sting was still embedded in his pupil.

The only expression I could muster at that time was a loud "HUH?". That has got to be one of the most outrageous things I've ever heard. At that moment, I knew it was not a matter to be taken lightly, and my both colleagues could tell from the expression on my face.

The bad news didn't stop. Apart from being badly stung on the body, my dad also sustained multiple scrapes on his limps from running and falling while escaping the bees. His brand new Nokia phone was damaged after he jumped into the pond, but the most serious issue was that the doctors in Malaysia couldn't remove the sting so my dad insisted on coming back to Singapore (wise move, right?). My neighbour, who also suffered from bee stings, drove my dad all the way back, both of them vomitting and suffering from fever throughout the journey.

Dumbfounded, all I could ask at that time was his condition. She kept saying it was "serious" in a very hushed tone, but insisted I should go home first, because my younger brother wasn't aware yet. Feeling flustered and extremely uneasy after hanging up, I finally SMS-ed my mom to suggest one last time if I need to go down. It was her reply that made up my mind: "Doctor said too deep can't remove it. Now we at mount elizabeth A&E dept."

I had to rush down.

He went into day surgery, one hour, and he was out. He couldn't even remember anything about the operation because of the local anesthesia given. Thankfully, the sting was removed. But for two days, my dad couldn't open his affected because it was too swollen.

After being hospitalised for 3 nights, he was finally discharged; but because of the damaged cornea, it will be a long route to recovery. Full-recovery is not certain yet - it's still too early to tell.


But what my uncle said was right: “平安就好” (it's a blessing he is safe)

I really want to thank my relatives who visited - their immediate concern was touching and it did provide the necessary support for mainly me and my mom to tide through the unfortunate event.

And of course, the well wishes and regards from my colleagues and friends. Thanks for the understanding, people! I really appreciate it =)
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Okay, emo incident aside. I think it's time for the tsunami of pictures and events that I've missed out on updating. Really sorry if I've forgotten any. There are just too many. Here we go!

In absolute random order (basically, what I can remember, I hantum first):

1) Zhiwei and Peijun's Birthday Celebrations!

Celebrating your birthday at Fish & Co means standing on chairs, doing embarrassing things, and letting the whole restaurant know about it.

This joke, I predict, will go on for quite some time.

Fungi, if you see clearly, you're in the picture too!
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2) Fungi's 21st!
Memoirs of a Geisha... er.. not really, hor? And the raising of the pink cloth at the back 小龙女-style is just because we don't know how to tie that ribbon.

If you must know, our nonya is holding a basket of bananas. Oh my, I can't stop laughing.

Sorry szern I took this photo. I knew what you said about it on your blog, but it's the most complete one =p
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3) Vivien's 21st!
It's the Geek with his Bimbos.. 超级 unglam 的 lor..

My table. Tess you're right.. I am a lucky guy =P

My 'lucky draw' prize. It reads: My friend was in Nepal and all she brought me back was this lousy T-shirt. Yea, she really went Nepal. And yea, all she brought me back was this lousy T-shirt.

05S10 band members rock!
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4) Serkun's 21st!

This photo seriously needs some touch up.

'Peace' is the word of the day.

Told you it'll be a joke. Redefines the meaning of 无所不在..
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5) CNY 09!
花开富贵！

Steamboat rocks!

We should've never opened that box =x

And so it begins...

Our dear banker Keifer looking confident...

My dad sneaking a peek at my cards..

And the night's best Pokerface goes to... Szetho! Pro-kia.. taught us how to do the 'chip combining' move.. Which I think Bernard (Szetho's left) is trying out.. Haha..

(Thanks Bernard for the photos!)


Oh my gosh, it's been so long since I've reviewed a movie! Well, managed to catch 2 movies during CNY period. Sad to say, this has got to be one of the most dismal offering of CNY movies in recent years.

Only one blockbuster, in my opinion, was worth the watch. I even caught a chick-flick on the first day of CNY, which explains how bad the situation was.

Similar movie posters - similarly boycotted. Why? The Wedding Game, although was #1 at the box office, is incidentally one of the most unnecessary local movies ever. Love Matters, well, it's a Jack Neo movie. 'Nuff said.


Movie 1) Red Cliff 2
I give the movie:






(Yep, that's my new movie-rating. That stands for 3.5/5)

As thrilling and as clever as the war strategies go, it was all quite a feeling of been-there-done-that this time around. Besides the battle scenes being long-drawn, useless plotlines such as Zhao Wei and a simple-minded soldier's relationship, and Lin Chi-Ling's idiotic way of distracting the enemy (I can't believe he fell for that) all marred the movie from closing off the 2-part epic nicely.

Last Say: Watch it only if you've watched part one.


Movie 2) Bride Wars
I give the movie:






Not exactly the best that chick-flick queen (Kate Hudson) and chick-flick princess (Anne Hatthaway) have to offer. Hatthaway, by the way, is nominated for an Oscar best actress for another movie about getting married (Rachel Getting Married), but she is not getting married in that movie.

Ok, lame puns aside, I did enjoy myself in this movie (c'mon, those two actresses are gorgeous) but yeah, it can't be taken seriously.

Last Say: Watch it only if the other movies available are The Wedding Game and Love Matters, which, incidentally, is what happened to me! Still, it did have its funny moments =)

And of course, what's CNY without a visit and mahjong with Lamerz? Aside to szern, I hope you have stopped your sounds-ang-moh-but-not-ang-moh english accent =p

Ming Ming's 21st!
Sorry, no pictures. But yea, made me think.. how should I celebrate my 21st birthday this year?? Hmmm...
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6) Slumdog Millionaire!

Met up with Bernard, Colin, Bobo and Junming to catch that Oscar nominated film @ PS. If only it wasn't for Junming's blunder (he mistook the third row from the front as the third row from the back) I believe I would've enjoyed the movie slightly better. (But of course, if we sat behind, we wouldn't be able to enjoy that extra 'sensory' experience - wink, inside joke)

That said, the movie is the first great film I've watched of 2009 =)
I give the movie:






This movie is truly an energetic triumph - from is brilliant pulsating score, to its breathtaking and colourful visuals of the slums of India - if Oscar was based on audience's votes, this film will surely win Best Picture (hey, it just might, after sweeping the Golden Globes and SAG awards).

Fundamentally a love story, the thrilling plot also revolves around the boy's historic win on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. Did he cheat? Is he a genius? How did he get to know all the answers?

Let this fascinating movie enchant you and you'll find the answers (and perhaps, love) along the way.

Last Say: I want to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to see which is better. But currently, this movie is my million-dollar bet for Best Picture (figure of speech, people).

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Okay, I guess that's it? Obviously not. But I can't possibly remember so many things.

Anyway, will start to blog more frequently now.

Work is not getting easier. Bleah. Just thank goodness I'm learning things along the way.

Take care, peeps!