Farewell Lunch

Not much words were exchanged. Just ate Dim Sum at Tea House at China Square, pretty silent throughout, leaning more to the extent of feeling ackward.

CK, came to join, before heading off for his "Pre Honeymoon" at Genting tomorrow morning. He just got ROM yesterday with his beloved.... Congratulates CK! Welcome to the Club! Ha Ha.

Then, presentation time.... Colleagues got a card (Big one!) and Yippee.. a nice Raoul Traveller Watch. Loved it..... Thanks guys!

Till we meet again... Cheerios!

That's me, with the Bosses.

Final Group Photo... Needs a real nice Haircut da.. Looks like crab...

Final Day!

Today is 27th April 2007 - which is also officially my last day at work with the current Company. Monday is a holiday declared by Company, and including May 1st holiday, it's gonna be another long weekend. This is mainly due to the Golden Week Holidays in Japan.

Send out my "Farewell Note" to each and every colleague, customers, contractors, what have you about my departure, and the "Thank You" notes keep coming back.

- Nice -, as least you know what you have been doing in the Company is appreciated.

How fast these 3 over years zoomed past me, but nonetheless, the inevitable had to happen..... Though sad and quite unreluctant, I still made the final decision to move on. I have to think with my head, and not my heart!

Though we always say, money is not everything, sometimes, it does play games with your mind. In my case, money - being the major factor, followed by the good advancement opportunities, convinced me to make the switch.

So, sincerely, with appreciation from the bottom of my heart, I bid Adious my colleagues and comrades, till we meet again!!

My Buddy - Abe-san... Fishing Kaki, Golfing Kaki, Drinking Kaki, Talk-Cock-Sing-Song Kaki, etc.

The Only Group Photo we ever took, I think......

A Tribute to the Bosses,

- Sasaki-san (M.D., in Jacket)

- Komiya-san (Director, 3rd from Left).... and

- Catherine, who has provided tremendous support to me!

Fish Frenzy

Popped down to SAF Yacht Club again on 21 April 2007. Arrived there about 6.30 pm and it was a bit crowded. Lots of action at the end of the Jetty, just under the big umbrella as you can hear a lot of noise and looked congested.

Then was about to setup my rods, when the fishing brudder next to us called me... Bro, come let's go to end of jetty. Many Mangrove Jack there, crazy. Already up 60~70 pcs already, since 5 plus.

What? A Frenzy?
What the heck... quickly setup my heavier rod and popped on 2 live prawns and off we went to end of the jetty, where everyone was almost fishing shoulder to shoulder.

True enough, they were mid-sizes, popping up one after another. No casting, no fanciful jigs, just drop in the line and wait. Then I also come to realise what is luck.

Managed only 1, and I had 4 consecutive bites, and the fish popped under the jetty and got stuck! And I was not the only unlucky ones. Some say maybe grouper, or big one, or this or that. I don't need those crab. I just wanna get that bugger.

Finally, total count :-
Fish - 1
Apollo Jigs with weight, and countles length of line - 4

Best part of the story:-
A family of many brothers and sisters (ave. age 40+), uncles and aunties where all over the end of the jetty, and I guess they already filled up their two 40L Colemans... and one auntie still had the cheek to say... "Ai ya, Sng Doo Pang Buay Loh Liao Lah" (Sigh, the fridge can't fit in all these fishes already!"

Pang Buay Lor, Dng Choo lor... Let the other anglers have the spot and get some...

After a while, didn't really enjoyed the blaberring of the family, so decided to leave the spot and go back to my usual spot and cast out and do the usual waiting game.

Enjoy the stars and sea breeze with my familiy. Niceeeeee...........

Baby Octopus

Recently, I have been actively reading and posting on the Handline Fishing Forum, and there was a thread about live baby octopus. Somehow, some guys figured out that using baby octopus as bait was much better than baby squids.

Prior to that, I acually chanced upon some baby octopus (dead ones though) at Giant Tampines. I was actually looking for some baby squids as spare bait, then realised that there were baby octopuses as well in the basket.

Mai Too liao, so I started to look amongst the sotong for the 8-clawed beast. Managed to find a couple.

2nd time went down there, lucky again... This time got about 8 pieces.

This evening, popped by again, thinking, no way so lucky la.... True indeed.... Not so lucky, cos only got 2 pieces.. Ha Ha Ha..... Anyway, posted the pics on the thread and let the boys decide themselves if they wanna get some Octopus!

Can see any difference, other than squids?

Close Up.... See the 8-Clawed Monster?

My Assistant Angler & Puffy

Went down last weekend to SAF Yacht Club for the usual fishing game.

After a couple of cast and waiting, I went to one side to chat with some fellow anglers, while at the same time eyeing my rod and hopefully see it bend of the reel going zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

After a while, actually caught a shot of my daughter manning my fishing rod, while reading her story book...So Sweet of her!

Then, she shouted out to me... Papa, I think there is a fish. The fishing rod moved. Can I reel in the line, she asked.

Ya right. Perhaps it was the wind blowing pretty strongly or my wife actually pushed on the railing while trying to get some small fishes on the tampan jig.

Well, the little devil so excited, so I told to go ahead.... She started signing her songs and slowly wind the reel.

After a while, she called out to me again... Pa, heavy leh.. Please come and help.

OK, Pa coming... So I took over the rod and tried to bring in the bait....

Wait a minute... it does feel heavy... Wah say, my daughter so lucky ah... Like that also can. Continued to reel in and finally, saw the fella.... Puffy!!!!! (Puffer Fish).


She was so damn excited. So reeled in that fella, then removed the hook and let it go, but not before I explained to her what a puffer fish was, and how its cheeks would swell up when provoked or in danger, just like her when she is throwing her tanrunms.

Then, before she released my grip on the pincers to let Puffy go, she also learned about the fact behind CNR... Catch and Release... Made my day again....

Seventh Heaven..... Yes!

This is indeed "DEE DAY" for all Man Utd Fans around the globe! 7-1 Scoreline against a full Roma squad.

Actually planned to wake up to watch this game, hopefully not get disappointed like the first leg. Got up, checked time.... 4.55 am.... Shark..... Time to get up for my usual routine already and game all over.

Started out 5.30am to send wifey to Airport for her 5.45 am shift. Then, its off to Toa Payoh to offload daughter at in-laws' place.
Reached at 6 am... Still early, so decided to catch a wink next to my daughter, who was still in dreamland from the time we left the house until we reached Toa Payoh.

7.30 am - Felt someone poking me at my feet....
7.35 am - " Huay Huay Hee Lai Doh Kang!"..(Faster wake up, Go Work!) You go figure out what language that is.. :-)
Huh?... Oh, mother-in-law, waking me up
7.45 am - "Yang Bo Hee Lai. Beh Wua Liao".. (Still not awake. Gonna be late!)
Huh?.... Oh, again...
7.50 am - Got up, Staggered to toilet, piss, wash up, quick shower, changed...
8.10 am - Started drive to work.

Was nearing Shenton way area when I heard Glenn Ong over the Morning Express saying something like he does not want to make Man Utd Fans happy or something. Straight away, I knew it was going to be some good results.

He passed the sports report to FD, who gladly announced... Man Utd demolished Roma 7-1!...WTF.... 7-1.. Could believe what I heard, but yeah.... Its the truth... Yipee....

This is some record, I heard. Perhaps the biggest winning scoreline in Champions League history in a long long time.

Arrived office, got my coffee and started reading the report on Man U's homepage.... Oh boy, it's been a long time since I've seen Man Utd get such a big win, and over a strong opponent. Perhaps even better then the thrashing of Arsenal some seasons ago (No offence to Gunners' fan.)

Made my day......! Man Utd Rocks, this time. Hope the form continues a few more weeks.... Yeah!!!

Fishy Report - 04 Apr 07

Went down to Pasir Ris Fishing Pond with Abe-san (my usual fishing khaki) and decided to try the Pro Pond, due to the many fishes they released into the pond for an event. 3 Hours for S$50... Not cheap man!

Started at 9pm and action was slow. Got a few bites but the fishes ran away with live prawn...
They had this stupid pair of stone crocodiles across the small pond and one cast overshot the crocs... and yeah, the float got stuck... Shit!

Tried to lossen it but finally, the line gave way....

Changed into another float jig and then action started.

Abe-san caught one fish (they called it the Taiwan Ngor) plus a slimy eel.. ha ha ha.. He got slimed!!!

Overall catch for me, 1 nice Taiwan Ngor and 1.... I suppose it was a snapper species, they called the Ang Cho Kee, I think.

The Fishies - Before it was gutted!

The 'gutted' Snapper

The 'gutted' Taiwan Ngor

Both fishes have been "fillet" out and I out threw the head and tail away. Fishy smell was too strong, that even my daughter's hamster, which happen to live in the kitchen also ran into its little sleeping house... Ha Ha Ha!

Maybe tomorrow will try some fried "fishy" nuggets, or soup......

Fishy Fishy Fishy

Nothing to do on Sunday, so decided to go down to SAF Yacht Club and dip the fishing rod into the sea, watch the sunset, listen to the live band from the nearby restaurant.... Just to chill out with the family, and a good buddy, Abe-san.

After couple of hours, this was what we could manage, but it's ok. Quantity of fishes caught is not the issue.

Deep-Bodied Mojarra

Tiera Batfish

Fringe-eye Flat Head (Look like a croc, doesn't it?)

Anyway, all the fishes were released after taking pictures. Look out for next Fishy Report.... Enjoy!

Sunflower Man

Not sure if you guys have seen the infamous Sunflower Man! His bike is decorated with big sunflowers, along with the helmet and jacket he is wearing. Saw him zipping into the hdb car park where I was suppose to meet my sister for breakfast.

Quickly followed him so that I can ask him to take a pic with my daughter... but he was too fast for me. Only managed a photograph of his bike...... Very artistic... Wonder if he causes any traffic jam when he is on the road......

The Chapter After....

OK, Informed boss of my move and tendered my Letter of Resignation. Response was kinda of ..... mediocre. Surprised, but not that alarmed. Cool, but not that relaxed....

Anyway, gave him some information of the next company I was moving to, and after being asked: "How much they pay you?"

I said: "More than XX %"

He sent silent.... then: "Woah!"

So, there was it, in a nut shell.

As quoted by a Professor, CEO of a Government agency - Quote:
"Pay is Important, but alone it is insufficient to provide job satisfaction. While staff must be renumerated fairly, what's important is to create an intellectual envoirnment for staff to excel in. Talented people look beyond pay for opportunities to express themselves and perform to their fullest potential....." - Unquote.

The problem here is... we have not reached the Pay factor yet.....

Boss is in Japan this week and I think the news of my "Good-Bye" is gonna spread. The closer peers' gonna call and ask why, why, why. Already received a few overseas call but missed all of them. Was busy doing my health screening and getting "Arse Finger Farked!"

Take about that and I almost took out my prick and smack the doctor in his face. Just don't wanna talk about it! Snobbish Big Stupid Arse Fingering, Balls tweedling Mother Farker!

Anyway, ended the afternoon after completing the 15 mins treadmill. Back in 4 working days to collect results.