F1 is over, whats next?

My F1 experience would usually be of the 'wait for results' mindset as I look forward to Ferrari winning as V-power will be on discount when that happens. Didn't want to spend the money for the world's first night race but got to know of a spot to hear the screaming engines and a split second look at the speeding cars.

Came across it by accident as I hitched a ride in my colleague's car back on Friday night and traffic slowed to a crawl on the shears bridge and I caught sight of the speedy cars as the loud whines of the racing machines echoes from the underneath the bridge. Thus my cheapo plan was hatched as we went to Queensway shopping centre to look for Wheng's running shoes.

While fen and david headed for the race at 545pm as they had the walkabout tickets and Yongxi went for dinner with his family, wheng and I went to Vivocity for some shopping. But I only found one item out of 3 I was looking for. Hiaz. On the way back, I took ECP on the left most lane and wheng got a chance to hear the roaring of the F1 engines and the noise from the huge crowd. That would be the first few laps, and by the time I reached home, hiaz, Ferrari had crashed out of the race. From leader to last position. Sad. No discount for V-power next week.

Now its back to normal and I guess the effects of the financial crisis in US is snowballing down to Asia. Enroute it is taking out European banks and should be soon before Asian banks also take a hit. Life is all about cycles, without world wars to destroy buildings, lives, economies. I guess business cycles become more prononuced as economy becomes more interdepentant. Would be in the down cycle soon, so I guess it is time to save up and possibly look for bargains, maybe not the time yet. With US in recession, very soon Europe and the rest of the world will follow. This will be a time for re-balancing of fortunes and possibly of World power as Russian and Chinese military might builds up.

I guess the world can't be united as one unless we face a large threat from outer space, and even if such threat arises, there won't be much we can actually do. =) maybe....

Progress

3 months into the job and I find myself staying above water. Probably okay performance and looks like I will have to put in a bit more effort into doing better. Also need to start exercising again to keep healthy.

Another year is about to pass, 3rd quarter is coming to an end and trust me, 2009 will be poping by in a rather short while. I am rather caught up in a few things, maybe it is time to sit back and relax a bit as a watched pot never boils.

Time to boost up my knowledge in oil trading and operations, the contracts and what not. Looks like knowing just enough is obviously not good, but will have to spend more time reading up on it during my 'free' time as being on call 24 hrs gives me lesser free time.

Will have to manage better from today onwards. Since anytime is a good time to start, let's up one level from today onwards. =)

Echo test in Nov

Went through the ECG yesterday as I went for my first appointment with the cardiologist. Was not very prepared as I had forgotten to check with her if I should continue to exercise. Hmmm. But I guess I will continue to do so anyway, just watch my level of tiredness and do exercises moderately.

Challenging to get my body into good shape. Think I am back to 76 and probably up to 78 kg liao. Jogging is definitely in the cards and also contemplating to buy a heart rate monitor watch to help me keep track of my heartbeat during exercising. It would be a 150 dollars investment, so time to do some shopping. Online shopping for information actually. Heh

Business attire, with a sports bag

Standing in the train now, apparently the only free time I have recently for blogging, with a sports bag on the floor in front of me. This extends whatever little personal space I have as I lean on the glass partition beside the train door.

This sports bag brings back memories as this is probably the first bag I bought overseas, at Bangkok or Phuket, with a tick and is of the friendly version. And that was 9~10 years back. Now it still functional, zips are still in good condition, except with a tear on the top cover. For a ten dollar bag(I had bargained from about 25 if my memory serves me well), it is definitely a good buy.

The ba contains clothes in case I need to be in sports attire later for the checkup. Hope it will be done in a day, just the ultra-sound of my heart and maybe ask for the type where they hook up the ECG while I walk/jog on the treadmill. Rather interested.

Realised that I am a very curious person. Hmmmmmm just make sure I am not like the cat. Curiosity killed the cat, wonder what did the cat want to know.....

One more week

Wondering how next monday's heart examination would go. Luckily not really worried about it, only about 15 percent ba. Just need to know what I can and cannot do before I continue exercising. Always know where the limits are, especially when exceeding it may cause me my life.

Hmmmm. Does this mean that I am not a risk taker? Heh heh. Unless I find an exercise that worthwhile to try that may exceed that limit, else I won't have an answer to that. I think one of the biggest challenge is always to find out just where my limit is. Good news is that I am still adapting well to my current job scope, as well as some extra from my colleague as he goes on reservist stint.

Adapting well, but still a long way to go to be a good trading operator. Almost 3 months into it and think I am average, slightly above average at best. Situational awareness not there yet, and also the tracking of tasks. There has to be a better system waiting for me to develop and hopefully be able to share that process with my team.

Oh. If you can guess where I am now, it would be where you suspecft me to be...... Standing in the last cabin of the MRT, surrounded with Baron's Strong Brew adverts. COMMANDS RESPECT .. Hmmm I wonder how? Not in my view. Heh.

Apprehension --- haircut time again =/

It has been a few months since my last haircut. Should be about 2~3 months if my memory serves me well. Had reduced it to a short crop quite some time back, and then a trim till now.

3 years since I have this softer hair and looks like a short crop is out as I need to spray/gel it a lot as compared to previous spiky hair. So I guess will have to trim it for a side parting. Realised the longer the hair, the weight of the haie will enable the fringe to be combed to the side.

Well, to a large extend I don't really care about my hair as long as it doesn't cover my face and looks neat. That is, looks neat to me as I do get comments that my hair is actually 'overgrown'. Time for gardening.

Thus find myself sitting on the bench inside a Malay barber shop along Simei street, waiting for my turn as the barber snips snips at the black growth at the top of a customers head. Usual shears would not be enough as an electronic shaver joins in the relentless attack. Buzzing sound reverberates with the background music, possibly in an attempt to drown out the helpless screams of the hair.

The severed ends of the hair are now being heartlessly blown away from their friends and family, in flight for a short moment before gravity took over and they fell. Great heights they once were, down all the way to the crowded floor, where they joined the rest of the victims. As the blower whirls, the hand held mirror that hands on the wall close by shakes with the wind, gently waving goodbye to the falling hair.

Mirrors are abundant in this place, as light reflects around the darkened ceiling and yellowed walls. The light probably reflects more times than the number of times the sound bounces around, originating from the stereo speakers located at the top of the doorway.

My turn!

Meet friends evening

Took bus 195 from River Valley road after work today. Ended up at Pan Pacific Hotel, thus had to walk through Marina Square and CityLink to get to the MRT. To think I thought it would be faster.

Pleasantly surprised at the few familiar faces I saw during the walk to Cityhall MRT. Qianyi from hall 3, 2 from Kaixin's clicke and my brother's JC friend, who is also my secondary classmate, jianyi's brother. Guess it was a longer trip, but definitely more worth it. =)

Already at Eunos and would be alighting soon as I am heading to Aquarius for a short session of table tennis, let's hope it would be light exercise for my heart. Light and benefitial. Definitely need to find out how to care for my heart from now on. Especially in terms of the amount of exercise it can take.

Need to plan for my trip to Middle East in Nov liao, probably Qatar, Dubai, then Abu Dhabi. Would be on my own for a day or 2, gonna be packed but exciting nonetheless.

Evening crush hour =P

Well, easy guess. Waiting like a sardine to be canned at the moment. Standing in the crowd just outside of the doors of the first cabin in Cityhall MRT. 2 trains have gone and I am now right outside the door, hopefully can squeeze onto the next train that arrives. XP

Yup. Got in alright. Crushed. Sardined. Still considering on the big decision, think will leave it to fate ba. Hopefully will settle on a reasonable price.

Few activities coming up this month, bowling, badminton, soccer and paintball. Heh. Not to forget my appointment with my heart doctor. Work wise will up a bit as I will be covering for a colleague going for reservist. Too bad no reservist for me. Heh.

Life flows on. Not complaining about the crowded trains actually, cos have a chance to look out for friends, time to blog, time for self-reflection. Ironic that having some time alone to myself is when I am surrounded by so many people.

Guess my willingness to take the bus and trains and walking to destinations does mean that I am not a slave to my car. Although time is 'wasted' during travelling, but one can fully utilise this time to think, reflect and read. But too long hours spent travelling to and fro work is also not good. Guess it is still down to balance. To strike a good balance between time and wealth is a good challenge. =)

The morning crush .... oops.. rush hour

Became 'sardined' for a good 20 mins just now as I took the train down to Cityhall from Pasir Ris. Pretty late liao but still quite a lot of people, wonder how bad is it during the actual rush hour. Not thinking of trying that out yet, but may not have a choice soon as I am thinking of going to work earlier. But dealing with overseas market with time differences still means that I go off work later though. Hmmmm.

Standing in the MRT train

Am currently standing in the train on my way back home. Found time to blog, finally. =)

Went for my checkup last Wed, great news as I continue to be in remission. =) Will be going for a cardio check on 15th of this month so as to determine if my heart has weakened and by how much. Apparently one of my chemo drugs is cardio-toxic, and it damages the heart muscles.

This would lead to weakening of the heart muscles and thus may be the cause of my sudden tiredness after some exercise. What I could do a year ago, makes me way too tired to continue after a short while. Hmmmmmm..... Looks like using exercise to manage my weight may not be such a good idea liao.

Life moves very fast, going with the flow really gives me new challenges and may have to make a mega decision very soon. What mega decision??? Hmmmm.. Would be revealed in possibly a few days time, if I find time to blog. =P

My dad is okay liao, now back to delivering papers. Actually wanted him to go on holiday to Macau with my mom and his friends, but he refused to. Hiaz. At least he obtained quite aong period of rest to recover from the op.

Quite some time since I met some of my old friends.. A few months liao for some. Time to plan a meet up soon. Heh. Reaching Tampines already, shall stop now. Still have tons to update. =P Next time ba.