tough times never last, tough people do.

2009-02-12T12:16:00.000-08:00

it'll be good.

2009-01-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

i always will remember how I felt that day
a feeling indescribable to me
i always knew there was an answer for my prayer
you, you're the one, the one for me

thanks for the lil' surprise baby!

2009-01-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

its the last week of SIP!

i think everybody can't wait to go back to school cause work is just.. there's nothing fun about it except you feel a lil' happy when you get your pay. other than that, don't tell me its not about the money, it's the passion and whatever. cause i think students are.. students. leave the working shit to the adults.

so i've been to the kitchen already. had a fun time there probably cause i know all of them in there. learnt alot from the chefs/friends as i was rotating to different stations. From plucking, sorting, mixing, dressing the salads to learning how to make jus, removing fresh live scallops, getting a few cuts and making the freaking pasta by myself.

know i know why chefs are obsessed with their job. its much more interesting and fun working in the kitchen because you can play around with the ingredients and especially for trainee, like me, having not much knowledge, there're so many things to learn and experiment. wished i had more time in the kitchen but i've already moved on to the office, doing my own project and portfolio. still, i prefer going back to school.

baby's last day at work tomorrow. can't wait to meeeeeeeeet her! (:

2008-12-21T10:23:00.000-08:00

a private emotion fills you tonight
a silence falls between us
as the shadows steal the light
and wherever you may find it
wherever it may lead
let your private emotion come to me

2008-12-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

finally!

just another week left in service before i put on an apron, to experience the life of chefs in a commercial kitchen for 3 weeks. i guess i will be exposed more to the management side, rather than that of training to be a cook; work flow during operations, food costing, staffing, planning and stuff.

and for the last 2 weeks i'll be going over to the office at newton for some administrative work training. i can't wait!

you don't always get what you want in life. that's life.

2008-11-30T11:19:00.000-08:00

sometimes i really wonder if we have what it takes to be the best in asia. no doubt some of the dishes are prepared and cooked to perfection. the texture, flavour, freshness and the perfect marriage of western cooking techniques with asian produce. but few others, in my opinion, are simply......

true enough, service staffs have good product knowledge, professionalism and whatever. but if you are expecting fine dining food and service, i suggest you go elsewhere. things are much more flexible here. you don't always need to serve from the right, we don't usually use trays and the ambience.. okay there's no ambience.

what you can find is only chairs, table and experience good food and service.

the front of house is perfect. but few saw the back of house. the way the managment works, how they manage staff, welfare and many more. as a management trainee, i thought they are not flexible enough. yes, you need to follow the standard operating procedures, but not for every single thing.

i think as a leader, one should be a role model. there's too much talking and no action. its always, you do this, do that, and when they have no choice but to do it themselves, they always screw it up. if you can't do it, don't tell people what to do. how do you expect people to respect you?

sometimes people don't think before they say something. the best thing ever said was, please take care of your health. nothing wrong, but its sensitive. working 60hours a week, work starts early ends late and there's never enough sleep. thanks alot, even robots will go crazy. don't tell me that's the life in the f&b industry. bullshit. if there's good planning and staffing, i think everything will be fine. if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. i'm not surprised if people take MCs every week.

the most important thing that they should learn, is know how to make employees happy. now the theories comes into play. get the manager to do the job of the staff, include them in decision making, incentives, recognition and whatever.

by the way, if you think i'm having a bad time there, you're wrong. i still look forward to everyday. maybe i'm already used to the environment there but i'm pretty sure i won't consider this industry as a career in the future.

enough said.

2008-11-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

spent my afternoon at the singapore river to support TPDB at the annual singapore river regatta. the feeling is so much different when i go there as a spectator compared to being a competitor. anw, congrats guys for coming in third for tertiary finals with such a young team!

i finally found someone whos schedule is much tougher than mine! stop drinking, ms jasmine. stand chart marathon coming up! and i think i looked more shagged than her when she havn't sleep for 3days. gooooooooodjob!

work... is fine. i've been doing the same old stuff everyday.. except that we did the christmas decorations over the weekend. not easy to put up all the decor man. hell loads of stuff but im glad we finished it and now the restaurant looks like.. okay, very christmasy and we've started playing christmas songs!

at least the change in ambience and the restaurant setup is somehow different, which makes me feel like its something new, even if im doing the same shit everyday.

looking forward to december..

even forever doesn't seem long enough..

2008-11-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

just had a quick chat with my beloved bro over at shanghai and its good to hear that those b****es are doing good over there and he/she is getting all fair and fat. there's so much stupid things to say but unfortunately i've got work later on. anw, all you overseas slaves.. take care and have fun!

ohya, pohpoh john the news correspondent in shanghai, goodjob!

signing off,
studentslave.

2008-11-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

i'm starting to get bored of service, believe it or not. its the usual stuff everyday except providing service to different people. so looking forward to my short stint in the kitchen and over at the office.

passion?

its there. but i'm jaded.

2008-11-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

restaurant was full for the past few days for both lunch and dinner ever since the guide came out. basically i start at 10-4, split, 630-1. with this kinda working hours, i think as a management trainee i should be getting at least 1.3k a month.

so much to complain but i don't think its very nice.

you've been my source of motivation.

2008-11-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in this world
That could change my mind

2008-10-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

to those who think i made a bad decision for my company of attachment,

with great recognition comes great pressure.
never, ever, be contented.
ranking doesn't mean anything, there's so much more for us to improve.
consistency is key.

just so you know, this feeling's taking control of me.

2008-10-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

didn't feel like working at all after 3days off. the fact that the restaurant is almost empty doesn't help. all i did for the whole night was to clear 3 plates. finished everything by 1045, the earliest ever.

how great.

and it's going to be the same for the next few days cause of the global financial crisis. i'd rather we're fully committed and work like a dog. i'm dreading work. i need challenges.

it was always there, just never spoken..

2008-10-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

I actually completed my e-journal. Now i know, all it takes is a little discipline and focus to complete this simple task that we're assigned to do. I'm enjoying my three and half day of off before going back to learn more about service, wines and whatever.

i hope to get some UV rays tomorrow! please don't fucking rain.

now tell me how'd you feel
if i told you that
i have feelings for you

2008-10-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

就是开不了口让她知道, 就是那么简单几句我办不到..

2008-10-15T02:05:00.000-07:00

"I was being judged by people who had less knowledge than me, so what was it truly worth? I gave Michelin inspectors too much respect, and I belittled myself." - Marco Pierre White

RESPECT.

2008-10-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

waiters' best friend award goes to....

COFFEE!

2008-10-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Every night and everyday
Must we hesitate
It’s just the feeling that comes over me
I cannot alleviate

2008-10-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

finally, a...
"good job guys, thank you very much."

these few days we were fully committed, i wonder if there's really a financial crisis going on. realised i am much more efficient when its really busy compared to days when the restaurant is half empty. alright, font feel like typing anymore, i need to get some sleep. take care in the army bros. have fun.

"you get what you want by giving other people what they want."

2008-10-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

i had a good 3 days without having to report for work,
2days off and 1 public holiday.

it rained on all three days when i so badly wanted a tan..
life's a bitch.

anw, enjoyed my lunch @ gunther's..
nice, cozy restaurant but the ambience was a tad too serious.
food was excellent with good service.
its good to experience different restaurants,
to learn and get a few tips here and there to improve my service.

i'm looking forward to the weekends!

im missing you, and nobody knows it but me..

2008-09-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

dinner service was not up to standard
i must say.

so, i was serving PDR 2 & 3 alone most of the time
with my partner/supervisor/manager not around.
don't know why but i wasn't pissed
probably because stressing yourself doesn't help?
and my dear colleague is responsible for many other stuff.

tried to manage but the big table screwed me up.
they wanted to have a quick dinner because this precious only grandchild needs to sleep.
but the thing is some of them keep disappearing and i couldn't fire the next course.

and one thing for sure,
i seriously HATE the fucking attitude of granny taitai's.
they treat us, waiters like dogs.

"WHERE'S MY BREAD!?"
"HOT WATER!"

you know, the cocky face that never smile,
try to act high class by speaking fucking ENGRISH,
all the sunglasses,
boasting about this and that,
and doesn't even say thank you at the end of the day..

EXCELLENT!

anw, i realised 3 weeks have passed and its like..
okay, i think it's really going to be over soon man!
then its army, cause i've received the letter for medical already..

someone please remind me to do e-journal please!

"dont try too hard, just be natural"

take it like a pinch of salt..

2008-09-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

extract from welldonefillet,

Arriving just before last orders doesn't make for a great meal. Let me fill you in on what happens if you arrive just before closing.

Everyone hates you, from the waiters to the chefs to the kitchen porter. And we are calling you names, we are calling your dinner partner names. You are now Mr & Mrs Cuntish Mc Latey. If you can, you should check the booking sheet on the way out to see it written on it. It will have the time you arrived beside it and will be circled very heavily so that the person in the morning can laugh/share in the waiters pain.

The waiter wont make any effort to talk to you. You can make all the jokes and wise cracks you want they will fall on deaf and uninterested ears. You were late because yo were at the hospital visiting your sick grandmother? We don't care. Car broke down? We don't care. And don't even dare to remark about being the only people in the restaurant. This will just wind the waiter up more and that's not smart. The waiter right now is at Defcon 2 (out of 5) and you really don't want to push him over the edge.

Forget about enjoying a wonderful meal made with equal dashes of love and flavour. It ain't going to happen. If it can be zapped in a microwave it will be zapped in a microwave. And if it has to go on the char-grill it will have about 2 or 3 very heavy pans put on top to speed the cooking process. The chef had planned to be stoned, naked and playing X-box live with someone in Tulsa by now and you are delaying this.

If you are in any way smart or intuitive you will have picked up on the negative waves (Moriarity-name the film). So when the waiter asks you if everything is okay, you should swallow whatever is on your fork and say "Yes". By now the chefs have gone and everything in the kitchen is switched off save for the dishwasher and the radio. The kitchen porter is still there so if you need something changed or decide you want another portion of vegetables that's who is going to do it. He doesn't wash himself, he doesn't really know what he is doing and mopping the floor is his greatest skill. So think wisely before you open your mouth.

When the waiter comes to clear your plate, which he will do the moment you put the last bit of food in your mouth, he will ask you if you enjoyed your meal. You can say anything you want it doesn't matter as he doesn't care. You could reply be reciting the opening lines from "THE HOBBIT" and the waiter will still say "Great, you want anything else?" If the next words out of your mouth aren't "Check please" then you have just pushed the Defcon 1 button and opened the secret door to waiter hell. Well done you.

Defcon 1 is when the waiter doesn't care about getting sacked. He has just given up and is planing his next career move. As you sit there imagining your hot chocolate cake and double espresso listen out for things getting kicked and smashed and lots of swearing. That's your waiter throwing a massive tantrum. You want some pudding? No problem the chefs have all gone so the waiter has to do it. Your chocolate cake will reach a temperature not thought possible outside of a nuclear facility. Your coffee will be made from the scrapings from the inside of the bin. They will almost literally be dropped on your table with the bill at the same time.

And if you think by not tipping that you will have got your own back on the waiter think again. He just wants you to leave. You were the table that held him back from a lovely cup of tea.

So the moral of the story is threefold, don't arrive 15 minutes before closing, don't out stay your welcome, and if you do arrive for a late meal ask what the quickest thing to make is and get the check as soon as you are done.

===================================================================

same situation, but all those shit above didn't happen. okay, maybe a lil cursing at the back. we still have to serve and be professional, afterall, we're dependent on them, they're not dependent on us.. in a way.

If we don’t take care of our guests, someone else will.

2008-09-20T23:42:00.000-07:00

met up with P and B after war at work,
all guests coming in at the same time
with lots of requests
side station was full of wines and mineral waters
was basically rushing to get things done.

basically there's only 2 server to 5 tables.
sounds easy?
think again.

an 8 course menu,
excluding amuse bouche and pre dessert,
clearing and setting for every course,
making sure wines and water was topped up,
ensure the food was fired and served,
bake and serve bread
fire crackers
collecting drinks at the bar
do coffee and tea.

and sending one of my colleague home was a huge mistake
cause we were short of staff.
didn't expect so many walk-ins
but thats life? we make do. hahaha.

anw, good to see the two of them after quite sometime
C went to cut her hair,
a little change but i think layered is better than ____
P looks a little skinner,
although i didn't really look at her. lol.

i ASSUME N is busy with the youth olympics,
tearing down of national stadium,
preparing to transform it into a sports hub,
and fighting for touch football to be included in the next olympics,
cause she just can't find time for us.

OKAY BRO! just making fun of you alright.
there's always next time.

went bedok reservoir to watch masters series
but my main objective is to tan cause i'm getting too cheenaish.
meeting the team for dinner later.

"success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm"

What waiters can teach marketers

2008-09-18T11:27:00.001-07:00

Waiters (either gender) interact with paying customers in a more freeform way, more often, than most service professionals. Here's one thing the good ones know:

If a customer tells you something, there's probably a reason.

"I'd like a water, with no ice please."

Now, while some people like to talk just to hear their own voice, there's probably a bigger reason the person said, "with no ice please." If you're going to be a great waiter, you realize that every single time a customer says something, you need to listen.

You don't have to do what they ask, but you do need to acknowledge it and respond to it.

Bringing ice in the water and hoping they will forget they asked is not good waitering. Or good marketing.

credit: seth godin

2008-09-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

today was supposedly the big day.
it is and it kinda sucks.

i managed to reach restaurant early
started with the usual mise en place and some touch-ups.
after that i never got started.

lunch was particularly slow
time passes sooooooooooo slowly when you've nothing much to do.
but i screwed up a little this time cause i wasn't focusing
or rather i wasn't in the right mood to do service.

anw, dinner service was done at the ballroom instead for this function.
quite a big corporate company i must say
but the guests are simply.. weird.

you dont know how much foie gras we cleared away
serving size was slightly bigger than the ezlink card
some, or rather most of them simply left it untouched.
mind you! its a fucking big piece of foie gras and its not cheap!
okay, if you're wondering if there's something wrong with it,
it's perfectly fine. (cause i tasted it)

i would bet with my head that if they're the one paying the meal,
no matter what, the plate will be cleared.

and then there are people
who holds on to their wine glass throughout the dinner,
swirl and swirl
and not drinking.

no matter how many times you say excuse me,
they'll just place their hand on the table
continue swirling and ignore you.
so i gave up and just cleared whatever, with his hand below mine.
not very nice but what needs to be done must be done right.
afterall, its a banquet kinda service..

so there's this old gentleman
who asked me to get him a warm water..
certainly, it's my job.
i was asked to change it after some time
cause its not warm and guess what.
he didn't even have a sip of the water!
whats the point of changing one for him when he don't even drink?
is it the feeling of touching warm water that makes him happy?

uhhhhh, enough of the bitchings.
that's probably what people in the service line can do.
fake smiles, act professional, GEMS..
we can be your best friend - at your service.
but you never know how much we curse after everything is over.

today, is just not the day. hope tomorrow will be a much better one.

he who conquers others is strong. he who conquers himself is mighty.

2008-09-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

my GM asked me how's everything
during roll call yesterday
i said good, everything's going well
and he said let's have a small chat next week..

i don't know why but i'm quite scared actually
i thought of the questions he would probably ask
and i realized i haven't set my goals and targets for this SIP.

that's not a good thing at all
cause without a goal you would've achieved nothing.

i'm glad i've learnt quite a few stuff from the lads
and i'm still learning and familiarising with what needs to be done.
people might be thinking i'm having an easy time over there
cause i've worked there previously.

but seriously, it's so much different being a part-timer
and a full-time management trainee.
you're expected to know almost everything
there's no excuses for service deficiencies
you get to really understand the operations of a restaurant
how exactly staffs are being managed
how problems are being solved
participate in meetings, give opinions and suggestions
and the list goes on...

i'll be doing service for a good few months
will get a chance to experience being a trainee
in the kitchen of one of the best restaurants in singapore
which is really scary
and probably a few weeks doing paperwork at the office.

i'm quite happy with my schedule for this new week.
anddddd....

i should get a tan soon cause im getting way too fair.
damn.

to give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity..

2008-09-14T01:43:00.000-07:00

got a day off on a lovely sunday..

wanted to head down to reservoir
to watch the ongoing sava sprints
but woke up late
so now i'm considering whether to gym or swim.

dinner service yesterday was balllls busy
at one point of time
there seems to be never ending stuff to do
probably due to guests at kitchen table
with the number of staff that we have.

still, we ended at 11
extremely early for a sat..
and kit chan was there
couldn't recognize her at first
until she was leaving
took quite long to figure out who is this familiar face
uh, then my colleagues told me its her.

;explosive start, fades towards end.

we often overlooked that, more than enough is too much..

2008-09-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

i lost my..

will to wake up at 8
so that i can prepare myself for work
at a slower pace.

or is it i'm just too tired after the first day at work.

anw, i was on time for work
which is all that matters.

work was good today
punched in and started doing what is expected of the A shift.
everyone took initiative and...
we finished fast.

service was alright today
just that i wish there were more guests
cause it gets really boring when there're only few of them dining
all you do is to fire, serve, clear, set, repeat
and stand around doing almost nothing
which makes you look very useless.

so there's this couple who came for dinner
unfriendly
pulled a long face
hardly talked for the entire time
just... weird.

whats the point of paying for good food and all
when you are not enjoying yourself?

but in the end they
talked a little
smiled a little (i think i'm the reason behind the smile, GENUINE smile! hah.)
making me feel better
cause you wouldn't know if they're unhappy with the service or food.

alright its time to sleep! left with 6hours again..

(mis-com, diff beef table)

Mistakes are the portals of discovery..

2008-09-10T10:14:00.000-07:00

first day of SIP!

woke up at 630, when i'm supposed to wke up at 8
feeling unwell and uneasy
probably because of the stupid weather
or the sudden change in body clock

and dear B, i slept at 1230 the night before!
its all in the... lazy mind.

reached restaurant early
got all the things that i need for operation ready
and checked my schedule for the week.
A shift man! which is 1000-1500, 1830 - 2300.

met the regent and some maldives-bound boys and girls at the canteen!
SMART SIOL~
good representatives of TP HTM students!

got to meet my colleagues
some new faces
but everyone was good.

lunch was amazingly packed for a wednesday
and the fact that i've only worked a few lunches in the past didn't help
got hold of all the basic setting for different dishes
memorized the lunch menu but i've yet to master it.
lunch was good, guest were happy and that's the way it should be!

reset the PDRs after lunch for dinner service
and went for my break
i'm already feeling the stress man!
i mean, physically, not mentally.
my legs ache like hell.
another 2days of same shift, goodluck to me.

roll-call: portion size, pricing, blackmoor, lunch vs dinner.
(for my portfolio reference)

dinner was... slow
quite normal for a wednesday
made 2 mistakes and got caught for one. LOL!

cause i cleared this gazpacho course
where one of the guest didn't finish it
and i cleared without asking if it was fine for him
or was it not to his liking.

you may not think it's a big deal
but what if he doesn't like it?
we could've changed another dish for him.
what if he's already full?
the rest of the courses could have been prepared smaller
to reduce wastage.
and it all contributes to the overall guest satisfaction.
my bad!

much more things to learn for the next few days
to get at least the basics right.
it's not that hard i guess
just that it could've been better if my leg can take the stress.

so much for now,
and i'm only left with 6 hours of sleep..

passion, enthusiasm, willingness to learn......

2008-09-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

got back from supper with NPB
decided to run on this random sunday morning at 530
cause i've nothing better to do
with my body clock already screwed
my official sleeping time is now 7am.

ran my second 10k from hougang to punggol and back
this time at a slower timing, approx 54mins.

feels great when i'm drenched in perspiration, calves feeling extremely soar
listening to the background music playing on the ipod
the whole stretch of road to myself
with few cars passing by and few souls in sight.

i used to dread the usual dragonboat training
running 1 round bedok reservoir for warmup
but come to think of it now
well, what can i say.. as usual,
its all in the mind.

however, i do need my constant source of motivation
be it quotes, articles or people.

"Damage to one's being and mind cannot be undone, and likewise, strength and size cannot be pounded into place without much strife and struggle. After many hours of sacrifice and many days of physical stress, you will come to know who you are and what sets you apart from others.

Please do as I have tried to do and do not be discouraged, no matter how long your path is. It is for the best. Remember, if it were easy, everyone would do it. Champions are built brick by painful brick and that can take a lifetime. Sometimes it can happen without anyone even bothering to notice. Take heart. The mountains you climb can't always be seen by an audience... Still, you must not stop climbing." - animalpak.com

she may not be reading this but i still must say
i'm kinda inspired by you, debbie khoo.
way to go!

2008-09-05T01:46:00.000-07:00

my heart sank when i saw....

im glad it was just a dream.

2008-09-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

There's something about you now
I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right

2008-08-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

and its the big day.
running for charity without any preparations; sleeping late, no carbo load, not drinking enough water, not even running.......

it was an eye opener for me seeing 11000+ people wearing the same shirt running together for a cause. in fact, its my first time running a marathon, a mini one that is. still, its not that short a distance afterall, considering i've never ran a 10k before.

i always say i want to enjoy, and have fun for whatever sports that im going to do but once i start, i just cant bring myself to giving anything less than my best. in this case, running with friends at a leisure pace..

maybe ive gotten used to the culture of tpdb, where individuals push themselves to become the best in the team for every single training programme that we're given.

i just felt it would be a wasted trip if i didn't give my all, and i wanted to prove to myself that i can endure the distance without walking and clock a good timing. well, im glad i did it.

i saw so many girls along the way and i seriously respect them for completing the run. i know there's the full marathon but i thought to be able to complete 10k is already good enough compared to the typical girl who doesn't even own a running shoe, needless to say, run.

2008-08-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

"Life is often compared to a marathon, but i think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best."

Michael Johnson.

2008-08-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

collected my race pack after queuing for 1.5 hours.
and i think singaporeans are quite nice cause i cut queue and the person behind didn't say anything. sorry i left my 'values' at home but thank you cause i've exams tomorrow.

went liang court's mac to absorb f&b after that.
quite a huge change to that place but that feeling is the same as when i sold my services to them 5, 6 years ago. saw a familiar face but she couldn't recognize me so i thought i should just do my stuff. haha.

anw, goodluck for exams, people!

2008-08-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

i cant wait for exams to be over.
one last time studying before i go for war.
i doubt ill further my studies after this.
im just too tired of the books and notes all these years.
maybe after serving the nation ill get back to school to get just another piece of 'paper'.
blessing in disguise? maybe.

It’s cool we’re just friends
We walk the halls at school
We know it’s casual
It’s cool we’re just…
I don’t want to lead you on, no
But the truth is I’ve grown fond, yeah

2008-08-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

my bad for not informing earlier.

for a moment i was like wtf!?
i didn't know its that serious.
i was thinking maybe you're too stressed studying.

but after thinking through,
afterall, it all started with me yeah.
you took the initiative to check out the info and all,
and i doesnt seem to care by not being there.

my sincere apologies, bro.

2008-08-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

overdue pictures from OL gathering on national day!
meng's house.
olympics.
dinner.
champagne.
chicken little & ivan.
roadtrip.
holland v.
whole stretch of east coast.
visiting men/gays - gaymen
disturbing couples making love at carparks.
shouting at chocolate people as we drive by.
back to meng's.
supper.
crabs.
much anticipated surprise... NEVER HAPPEN!
fuck that.

so much for planning and getting everyone together after the cancelled dinner date the other time.
so much for promising you'll be there.
so much for preparing a surprise with 3 cakes, champagne and wine.
so much for getting stares by many for helping you.
so much for being concerned, hoping that you wont get cheated or whatsoever in the industry and then being misunderstood as personal dislike for the restaurant.
so much for.. and the list goes on.

im no saint either.
i've my shortcomings, no doubt.
but that, was kind of a disappointment.

well,
after all is said and done.

2008-08-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

all set to become the greatest of all time.

2008-08-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

had a gathering at the top table for htm's best ssm class of 06/07.

after that was sports marathon.

swim, gym, soccer, dinner, midnight soccer.
so its 10 hours, including dinner.
and good news!
i just lost 2kg in a day.

its not that hard to lose some pounds ya.

2008-08-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

had my last 2 presentations in tp yesterday.
socio was alright.
lodging was bad cause miss **** was super strict.
everything was being assessed, from grooming to standing posture to the way you speak, whether its loud enough and even aaron's asking for question from the audience casually is deemed to be unprofessional.

question and answer session was a killer. will not elaborate. but i guess that's the way it should be to facilitate students' learning.

well..

2008-08-05T05:25:00.000-07:00

went lecture for the very first time since like months back.
guest lecture from Les Clefs d'Or Singapore.
shared some stuff about the organization and also their experience in the hospitality industry.

a question was posted to the guests, "what is the most difficult challenge that you've faced as a chef concierge?"

one of them shared this experience that he was a butler to a prince that is staying at the hotel he's working in. and the prince wanted to watch a movie only with his family at lido on a saturday morning. so he called lido and found out that all the tickets are sold.

cut the long story short, as the prince didn't want to hear his bullshit of being unable to book the whole theatre, he took $7000 cash, stood outside the entrance and offered to buy a ticket for $50 each. so in the end, the prince watched 10mins of the movie and found out it was too boring and they left. like wtf!?

anw, one thing that i've learnt in this lecture, "under promise, over deliver"

ebiz test today was.. quite alright. lily is so sad because today is the last time that she'll be seeing us. she said we are her favourite class because all her intro class can't wait to end class every lesson.

in memory of cauliflowergal,

2008-08-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

COURAGE.

i feel so small compared to these men with big heart.

2008-08-03T03:10:00.000-07:00

sociology test was much easier than expected.
luckily there's only 3 topics to memorize, which is already a lot.
i feel so useless going to training now.
no running, no push-ups, no rowing.
basically i just need to control the direction of the boat and enjoy the free tan.
need to start memorizing for ebiz test soon.

happy hungry ghost festival.

2008-08-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

not in the mood to play the game of jealousy.
for i'm still being nice, please don't try to push your luck.
thank you very much.

if you think it's you that i'm talking about, its probably not.

2008-07-31T04:11:00.000-07:00

this week kinda sucks.
i don't know why but everything just doesn't feel right.
screwed up body clock.
left me feeling lethargic all day.
which explains my absence from training and gym sessions.
and also my not so pleasant look.
maybe i'm tired of everything.
i need a lil' time.
i'll be back.

2008-07-15T06:59:00.001-07:00

what's up with all those priests and monks and national organization with all the misuse of funds and cheats. where are all your integrity, values and whatever shit that you are supposedly responsible for inculcating them to your fellow religion followers?

new age religious leader?

burn in hell, bastards.

2008-07-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

slept for three hours, reached school at eight in the morning on a sunday! should have slept for like eight hours or something on the night before the race but i think i'm kinda used to it already.

after all is said and done,
im proud to say that we've achieved our target,
though he doesn't seemed to be impressed with everything we do.
still, this was the best gift i could ever asked for, for my last race.
thanks hotdogs!

GF BABY!

2008-07-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

NAPFA was a success. did better than i thought but i felt i could have done better. anw, well done nic, im proud of you for finishing infront of so many guys!

wearing the jersey, with the ever so strong pride of mine as a dragonboater, i guess it somehow helped me push myself even more, taking every chance to perform and uphold the name of the team.

"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."

2008-07-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

a leopard never changes its spots. or maybe, its hard to.

whatever.

我对你有一点动心
却如此害怕看你的眼睛
有那么一点点动心一点点迟疑
不敢相信我的情不自禁..

2008-06-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

dragonboat festival last weekend ended with us breaking our team's best timing over the months of trainings and pacing.

my last official major race before i go mia for 5months as a cheap labour in the industry. i don't understand why are we always so unlucky to always get the most unfriendly lane in competitions. I knew the outcome when i first heard about the lanes that we were getting.

months of sacrifice, pushing hard for every training ended with nothing in return just because of the lane. its definitely not like other sports, fair and all. but again, who'll actually understand what i'm trying to say.

i thought we were great for the last set though. outer lane, light water, there's no excuse for getting a lousy timing. though we didn't qualify for the grand finals, i'm still proud of you guys.

so much things to say.. but i guess some things are better left unsaid.

2008-06-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

You remember what it feels like to put on the school jersey or the national colours. Whatever the sport, the feeling is the same: a sense of pride, purpose and pleasure. You aren’t just anybody, you are a school athlete, a national player. You walk a little taller, run a little faster and laugh a little louder.

You learn a lot more about yourself when you play. You realize how strong you are, or how weak. You learn how to play with sportsmanship, skill and style. You learn how to win with grace and lose with dignity.

You learn that while books will teach some things, sports can also teach you other important things - like discipline, commitment, perseverance. And sometimes you learn better through sports. You learn that even if you lose, you can pick yourself up and try again, for tomorrow there’s another race.

You remember the friendships you find on the field, gymnasiums and sports halls, friendships forged in the pursuit of sweet victory and affirmed in the bitterness of defeat. The shared experiences of sporting life burrow themselves deep into our hearts.

Your teammates and friends keep you going even when you feel like quitting. They encourage you, they cheer you on, they run with you.

http://redsports.sg/

2008-06-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

NAPFA in two weeks time and im not ready..

not ready for standing board jump.

dont want to get a silver because of that.

i can fly, i can fly, i can fly.. hahaha!

2008-06-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

We go through changes
Time after time
I guess that's just life
Feelings we can't express
We only hide
Deep down inside

2008-06-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

one thing ive learnt today,

dont get personal.

when one keeps a cool head given any unfavourable situation, thats the time he'll start to grow. easier said than done.

its not about who's to blame, its about what is the solution.

It don't do me any good it's just a waste of time
What use is it to you what's on my mind?
If it ain't comin' out, we're not going anywhere
So why can't I just tell you that I care?

2008-06-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

after awhile, things will eventually become much simpler.
all that once caused such a big fuss no longer seem to be applicable now.
cause life goes on and whatever will be, will be.

(:

2008-05-30T05:30:00.001-07:00

alright people, study hard for mid-sem while i start celebrating for ull first. hahaha.

ive nothing better to do now.

meeting with NCPB later!

2008-05-29T08:04:00.001-07:00

seriously, i can't wait for tomorrow!

i don't even feel like studying for my last test now. hahaha.

2008-05-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

ive decided.

to do my sip at iggy's.

well, ive heard a few times about people saying that im staying at my comfort zone? just because ive worked there for quite sometime? i chose to laugh it off.

if being a part-timer working once or twice a week will learn everything a full-timer knows, then why do you need a full-timer? part-timer does all the wine inventory? stock check? billing? reservations? host? pr? recommend wines? serve with that flair? duty roster? staff salary? and decides who sits where and which courses to substitute for the guest with dietary restrictions?

there are so much more to just... service. which im only halfway there. i still cant forget the cocky face, full of himself, LA trainee who burns his main course in what seemed to be quite a prestigious competition.

humble is the word. learn from the girls, dude. now you are at the bottom, and being in good hand of such an established company, the only way is UP!

2008-04-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

CONGRATS TO THE DREAM TEAM!!

went down to the food and hotel asia`08 for the second time, this time with a much better purpose - support the dream team competing in the FHA Culinary Challenge Dream Team.

what can i say.. attractive presentation, great food, professional showmanship and excellent service. joined as underdog, ended with being the team to beat. good start for Temasek Culinary Academy. i guess all the hardwork and tiring trainings are all worthwhile.

im so proud of you, girls!

on another note, list of the 2008 top 100 restaurants in the world is out. well, iggy's slipped 17 places to 77th this year. nothing to be ashamed of, it just shows that other restaurants are improving much faster than us.

the world gourmet summit result is also out. congrats to les amis, best restaurant of the year.

so much has been said, comparing iggy's, ghunter's and les amis. but people didn't realised the different concept of each restaurant, be it cuisine, service, company's vision or others.. with great recognition comes great expectations. from guests, that is.

it sucks when you know people come to dine, expecting the best food and service, judging you right from the start, noticing every move you make, testing your product knowledge and how attentive you are. one error and that's it. they say you are not up to standard. well, thats the sad part.

when will people really learn to walk into a restaurant with an open mind, and be prepared to get blown away by the whole dining experience that the staff of the restaurant can offer? afterall, who are we to judge?

i still have so much more to learn.. haha.

till then..

2008-04-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

do i look like i care? no.

((((((:

2008-03-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

so, results were out and yeah, i got what i deserve. no As. as usual, the Cs and the occasional D. thats my standard. nothing to be proud of, especially when compared to my coursemates, where B is already suicidal.

i know i can't compete academically that's why I'm busy gaining experience from the industry. HA! anw, friends were getting upset over results, which doesn't help at all cause no matter how sad you are, how hard you try to appeal, they still wont change the grades.

well, they may be biased. okay, they are. just like how i never got scolded for ssm just because i work at iggy's and mr goh is so biased towards me. can see people are clearly unhappy. got some sarcastic remarks from friends but that's life. i mean, what can i do when he's biased?

so, when the teachers like you and you benefit from it, you're happy and you didn't even realised that. its when you are at the other receiving end, you realised that you're not getting what you want and you're losing out. I'm not the best in the cohort. if it's not for the biasness, i wouldn't have got the chance to be the headwaiter for the grand opening. so, think back. count your blessings.

i know i'm better off shutting my mouth, not commenting and stop trying to act like i know alot. but i'm just trying to help. i'm not someone who sympatise and tell you you'll feel better after you cry it all out. i'm the kind of person who'll tell you straight and hope you realised that life goes on and being upset and all doesn't help. if you can't take setbacks, you'll never be up there.

i always thought you're strong, you can take whatever shit that is being thrown at you. and i still believe you are. but i guess the grades got the better of you this time round. even the best fall down sometimes, my friend. keep the faith of yours and show them that you can do it.

typical boon, but still,

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

2008-03-12T03:05:00.000-07:00

this holiday is all about paying my dues - hitting the gym every other non-training days.

no. i'm not going to sit, back, relax and enjoy the holiday cause what i'm doing is so much different from others. people don't train 7days and they don't work 4 days a week.

trainings have never been so enjoyable and satisfying. sure, the intensity is going up. its all about giving your all for every training and having no regrets about not pushing your limits. we're a much weaker team this year. which probably is the reason why everyone is pushing hard. by the rate that we are going, i'm confident the other teams won't win without a tough fight.

work doesn't feel like work anymore. always dreading to go to work but during operations, its just like a routine which i need to do, serve. by this time, earning money is already a secondary issue. i can easily find a job paying much more than what i'm getting now but i didn't because thats the "nature" of the hospitality industry. long hours, low pay. and by using it as a platform, i'm still learning how to provide service which is deemed as good in the industry.

well, it may look easy. but there's so much more to learn..

2008-03-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

my time table has already been planned for this holiday before i officially become a senior. okay, old i know. but time really flies. so, its going to be trainings and work in the same day and then rest for the next day.

as usual, after laying off for so long, yesterday's training proved to be too tough for me. it took me 2 hours to recover from a 100m x 10 sprint. could barely breathe while doing weights after that.

initially wanted to hit the gym today with some of them but i woke up with my body aching all over. i walked like a penguin. i extend my arms in slow motion and when i cough or sneeze, i need to control. damn it.

training again in 5 hours time. i'll survive. haha.

2008-02-29T13:55:00.000-08:00

Just.. laugh it off :D

silence speaks louder than words.

2008-02-27T23:56:00.000-08:00

sometimes people just jump to a conclusion without listening to the other side of the story. well, you are entitled to your opinions so, thats fine.

i should have gotten used to it long ago. haha.

btw, this is not an emo post. (:

2008-02-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

"ladies, i've never seen girls bitch so much. it was just evil and twisted. hell's bitches." Chef Gordon Ramsay.

2008-02-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

i don't know why i'm so happy about singapore winning the bid of the very first youth olympics. nobody expected us to be the finalist, let alone winning the bid.
that shows how a small country like us can achieve big things. dare to dream, so they say.
im sure we'll do a great job.

still with the yog, somehow, i'm quite disappointed in tp not doing anything to support the bid. so much for wanting to promote Team Temasek. no initiatives from saa? team temasek committee? tpsu? i guess they didn't realise that was a form of advertising for the school. just look at how nyp got mentioned by PM Lee in his speech.

well..

2008-02-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

Thu, Feb 14, 2008 -- This Week's Sales at Sugarloaf....

Hi Commis Chefs

Congratulations on your great effort! The whole Culinary Team is very proud of your achievements, and that includes those who fell just a little short of the target. It is not easy to run an outlet and you guys have done it and deserve many pats on your back!

Monday - $1315.50

Tuesday - $1748

Wednesday - $1660.50

Thurday - $1500

Friday - $1783

Well Done to all for the hard work that you put in!

Best regards

The Culinary Team

the above says it all. (:

2008-02-06T11:01:00.001-08:00

great year ahead peeps!

finally done with all the group projects and individual assignments. like, finally.

so it was sentosa with half the class for beach volleyball, soccer, captain's ball and all. seriously.. whole semester at sentosa, didn't even manage to go to the beach once! which is only like few minutes walk from campus. goodjob i know.

oh i remembered. last friday's culinary was great. never once we got scolded by the chefs. learned plating and stuff. chef jasmine can just stand there and look. haha. FRIDAY CLASS!

so much for now..

happy lunar new year people! (:

2008-01-24T07:33:00.000-08:00

disappointed.

for once my fitness failed me. weakshit.

but trust me, ill be back to my best once im done with those fucking projs.

2008-01-13T10:24:00.001-08:00

as life goes on,
im starting to learn more and more about responsibility.
i realize everything i do is affecting the people around me.
i understand that there are some problems.
and im not too blind to know.
all the pain you kept inside you,
even tough you might not show.
if i can apologize for being wrong,
then its just a shame on me.
ill be the reason for your pain and you can put the blame on me.

2008-01-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

sun-roasted, literally.

well, feeling good after trainings over the weekend after 3 weeks of layoff. i guess the break was a much needed one. can see how fresh we were, rowing again. yet again, people quit due to various reasons. lifes like that, we make do yea.

' You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.'

technique over power, dudes!

2008-01-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

commis chef in the morning, service staff in the evening. that kinda sums up my first friday of the new year.

okay, i jst typed a whole chunk and i delete it away. i thought it was inappropriate. well, im still trying to change a lil to suit the sensitive environment that im in now. no, im not going to promise this promise that. afterall, action speaks louder than words. how true.

ill stick around and see how it goes..

so many thoughts running through my mind, yet so little to say.
so many things to share, yet i showed that i dont care.

2008-01-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

4 assignments down. lots more to go.

training resuming..

hang in there dude!

2007-12-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

As the clock ticks nearer to end ’07 and welcome ’08, seriously, I can’t wait for the new year to start!

It’s been a year full of ups and downs. One that makes me sometimes feel, I’d rather not to have and other time feeling I wish this could go on forever.

Let the good times roll..

. Sports team of the year

. Friday best service class

. Regatta grand final.

. Bros

. TPDB

. Onelove

Thanks to those who by any means, made me a stronger person. As I take on a new perspective on life, as much as possible, I hope to be more sensitive towards the people and things happening around me. Simply put, to become a better person.

“May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace. May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them. Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.

Teach love to those who hate, and let that love embrace you as you go out into the world. May the teachings of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them. Remember, those whose lives you have touched and whose have touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished. It is the content of the encounter that is more important than the form.

May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart. Find time each day to see beauty and love in the world around you. Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is different in our own way. What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future. May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility. Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience. May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on another's judgment of your accomplishments. May you always feel loved.”

2007-12-29T13:36:00.001-08:00

This post is specially dedicated to TANsockneng.

thanks for,

being a wonderful secretary.
being the best class rep.
being a friend who cares.
being a mentor.

i thought you're someone unique in your own way. from seldom talking bad about others to how you are always focused on the tasks and responsibilities given to you, giving nothing less than your best. i hope you do stay this way.

till we meet next sem..

2007-12-23T12:18:00.000-08:00

i stole this from my secretary's blog.

CRS Fila Submission —4 Jan

CSIT Research Paper — 4 Jan

F&E Field Trip Report — 4 Jan

TTB Issues Presentation —7 Jan

CRS Class Test —8 Jan

TCS Individual Assignment —11 Jan

CSIT Class Test —15 Jan

TTB Class Test 2 —17 Jan

F&E Group Project — 17 Jan

CSIT Group Project — 21 Jan

CRS Group Project — 25 Jan

F&E presentation —25 Jan

TCS Group Project —25 Jan

TTB Group Project — 28 Jan

F&E Issues Presentation Report — 1 Feb

F&E Reflections Paper —5 Feb

TCS Class Test — 7 Feb

can i skip training? haha.

2007-12-20T01:22:00.000-08:00

something random.

did you know, that a diamond will break if you hit it with a hammer?

A diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth, but if it is placed in an oven and the temperature is raised to about 763 degrees Celsius (1405 degrees Fahrenheit), it will simply vanish, without even ash remaining. Only a little carbon dioxide will have been released.

Diamonds are formed over a period of a billion or more years deep within earth's crust - about 150km (90 miles) deep - and is pushed to the surface by volcanoes. Most diamonds are found in volcanic rock, called Kimberlite, or in the sea after having been carried away by rivers when they were pushed to the surface.

A diamond is 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral on earth, corundum, from which rubies and sapphires are formed. It was only during the 15th century that it was discovered that the only way to cut diamonds was with other diamonds. Yet, diamonds are brittle. If you hit one hard with a hammer, it will shatter.

2007-12-14T08:31:00.000-08:00

i dont know why im feeling like shit.
its been a long time since i felt like this.
all the unwanted attention suddenly came right up to me.

i aint no celebrity.
i dont need all that stares and judgement.
some people waited their whole life for some attention,
they never really got what they wanted.
and here i am complaining why i got it.

i dont really open up to others when im not being myself.
cause i know these shit problems aint gna bring me down.
what doesnt kill me only makes me stronger.

there are people who care.
silently, i acknowledge them.
cause some things are better left unsaid.
oneLOVE!

i know ill be thinking of how stupid i am when i look back at this post, wasting my time thinking of these stuff that is of no significance.

and then realised that life goes on.
no matter how bad the situation is now.
itll be over in no time.

things may not be what it seems to be..
if you understand, that is.

2007-11-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

They're not your everyday on the block.
They know how to work with what they've got,
Making their way to the top.

Its saddening to hear the tragedy of the n team at cambodia. we wont be able to see those familiar faces anymore. definitely a blow to the dragonboat community.

determined, talented young adults with promising future passed away on a mission - to bring glory to the nation.

my respect.

peace be with you, fellow dragonboaters.

2007-11-12T07:04:00.000-08:00

been quite long since ive blogged uh.

singapore river regatta. did much better than ive expected. but its still not good enough ya. anw, so many things happened. but im not going to elaborate further.

ya! i kinda miss tp cause there're only limited people you see at tourismacademy@sentosa.

BLAH!

2007-10-31T23:43:00.000-07:00

dark is the night,
we can weather the storm,
never say die,
we've been down this road before,
we'll never quit,
we'll never lay down,
see, we've promised ourself that we'd never let us down, so

we'll never give up, never give in
never let a ray of doubt slip in
and if we fall, we'll never fail
we'll just get up and try again,
never lose hope, never lose faith
there's much too much at stake,
upon ourself we must depend,
we're not looking for place or show, we're gonna win

no stopping now,
there's still a way to go,
ohh, someway, somehow
whatever it takes we know,
we'll never quit, no, no
we'll never go down
we'll make sure they remember our name
a hundred years from now

when it's all said and done
our once in a lifetime, won't be back again
now is the time, to take a stand
here is our chance..

2007-09-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

so, headed down to grapevine to watch the big match with teammates. parking was bad there. small lanes, cramped area plus parallel parking. if you just had your driving licence, its best to avoid going there on weekends.

okay, heres why chelsea suck, like again, like always..

MAN UTD 2 - 0 CHELSEA

chelsea seemed to have lost their attacking flair.
chelsea couldn't maintain possession.
chelsea only had 4 shots, 1 on target.
chelsea had 1 corner.

chelsea lacks sportsmanship.
chelsea big names can't work as a team.
chelsea were chasing the shadows of the champions.
chelsea had no answer to the champions domination on the field.
chelsea were lost without jose mourinho.

GLORY GLORY MAN UTD!!

2007-09-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Bottom Line

Expect poor or slow service in a restaurant -- hey, life isn't perfect all the time!

In Detail

Your mojo is going to feel a little bit out of synch with the rest of the world today, but it will only really slow you down in situations that don't matter too much. Parking might be a bigger problem than usual, the traffic is going to be pretty unpleasant, and you can expect poor or slow service in a restaurant. Life can't be perfect all the time, so instead of getting annoyed by others, you should be grateful that things aren't any worse than they could be!

how true. just got back from supper at thompson and ive difficulty parking into the unfamiliar, small parallel parking lot by the roadside. haha! the prata there is much micer than that of the overrated jalan kayu's.

training was tiring. but training is training. you dont call it training if it aint tiring. well, the weak, the undetermined, those who've lost passion have left. what can i say? thank you for not wasting anymore of our time and effort. now we are determined and we can improve together as a team. thanks for the memories.

"it doesnt matter if you try and fail. whats matters is when you try and fail and fail to try again."

2007-09-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

i remembered the movie, i not stupid, where a mum asks a friend, when was the last time you praised someone?

so here i am, haha! alright. there's demand for the topic, krissy is hot. ill try my best alright.

krissy is hot because,

she never try to be somebody that she's not.
she always appear to be happy.
she knows the limit of drawing her face.
she likes red.
she has long hair.

and,

she claims that she is.

next, topic on kim is slim, pretty and gorgeous.

im going to simplify the topic to.. kim is beautiful. this is so because,

she accept who and what she is.
she make the effort to dress up.

and,

her inner beauty far exceeds her outer appearance.

most guys think that blogging is gay. haha! but i'm not going to follow the crowd. i think its quite alright. it's definitely better than smoking or drinking all the time. so you think you're cool? you're a fool!

2007-09-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

greetings to all !

since its the start of the holiday and i have nothing better to do at four-thirty ehh-am after returning from a heavy supper, so here i am, brogging, they call it.

if there is one thing that makes me want to brog, it would be the nightmare of the blues. by that, i mean.. CHELSEA losing to Aston Villa by two goals. the feeling was great. sitting in at my favourite 401 kopitiam with the crowd of manchester united faithfuls, and watching jose mourinho and roman abramovic's sulky face makes us even happier. ohya, if you're not a soccer kinda person,you just need to know one fact - chelsea suck.

so much on that, back to training today after the exam break. okay. nothing much, just that the weather is weird. i cant think of anything to type alrdy. maybe you can give me a topic or something so that i can like try to reply so you'll see me brogging more often. haha!

2007-08-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

I is Tan Puay Boon

I is very passionate about Dragon Boat, we can do it mates.

I is very busy with projects and presentations, but I is not now.

I is not feeling well these days

I is like tanned hot legs, (like Mariaaaaaaa, *foreign Korean words* MARIAAAA!!!!) no, Maria Sharapova I is talking about.

I is need a sister to type this out, in order to update my blog.

I is love my sister because she is the hottest FAT woman on earth.

This is the nicest entry in my entire life, thanks is you.

2007-06-01T07:28:00.001-07:00

"No matter how much i've won, or how much outside praise has come my way, or where it goes from here, there's one clear fact that has never, ever been lost on me. I didn't do this alone."

keep that fire burning, mates!

2007-05-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Bottom Line

You might need a scorecard to keep track of all the things that are going on today!

In Detail

You might need a scorecard to keep track of all the things that are going on in your life right now! This is a very exciting time for you, full of new opportunities -- specifically in the area of travel. If you've been thinking about visiting a long-lost friend, start planning that trip today! Putting it off for even one more day would be a mistake. If you need to get some time away, you have to reserve that time now. Your schedule is about to fill up quickly.

haha. so very true. my daily routine now is like.. leaving house at 8am and reaching home at 12am. tell me im not tired pls.. btw, im in school for that 16 hours okay. imagine how much i love tp.

2007-04-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

for those of you who thinks iggy's restaurant sounds like a freak low-class restaurant, think again..

Newsflash: Three Singapore restaurants in this year’s Top 100 World’s Best Restaurants

Restaurant magazine’s annual World’s Best Restaurants list has named three local restaurants in its Top 100 list, making waves on the culinary scene here. Modern Chinese restaurant My Humble House by Tung Lok Group is 94th, French fine-dining restaurant Les Amis sailed in at 83rd and the European-fusion restaurant Iggy’s nailed the 60th spot. It is an especially significant feat for all three eateries as My Humble House and Les Amis were previously unranked, while Iggy’s was ranked 98th on the same list last year. It is even more remarkable considering that no other South East Asian country is on the list.

As Raymond Lim, spokesperson for Les Amis puts it; "We are pleasantly surprised because it’s a coup not just for the three Singaporean restaurants but more importantly for Singapore’s own branding as a cosmopolitan city. The world now knows that Singapore is more than a hawker food paradise, and that we have restaurants that can rival the best in the world." Looks like our tiny island is well on its way to becoming a foodie paradise of sorts!

HAHAHA.

and congrats to chef who won the chef of the year at the world goumet submit 2007. im so proud. LOL!

2007-04-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

ive turned black and shiny after today's training.

was fucking shagged after training. the run was as good as trying to clock one of your personal best timings. the one hour row was.. quite okay.. just that im not very used to the new style of rowing. the almost glide-less boat didnt help. and im not sure why mr SUNny came out so strong at us today. he was so HOT today. madness.

i dont know why, but whenever im feeling jaded, tired or smtg, zichee's fav quote always comes to mind.
"what doesn't kill me makes me stronger."

2007-04-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

back from sltc'07.

okay. except for the stuffy room that we slpt in, everything was really good.

anw, manchester united rocks. LOL! if you dont get what i mean...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m4BQJpC0RQY

go red devils!

2007-04-03T03:05:00.000-07:00

the stage is set,
but we're not prepared.
dont you think we're bound to lose,
cause we aint no fools.

2007-03-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

The Bottom Line

You're approaching an obstacle -- take time to prepare yourself, and you'll succeed.

In Detail

Today you may feel like a track star -- because you are very quickly approaching an important hurdle. And just like an Olympic athlete, you knew this hurdle was coming -- the good news is that you are completely prepared for it (and preparation counts for a lot). Of course, you won't be able to go around this obstacle -- so take a deep breath and make that leap right over it. You are in a good position to win this race.

tell me all this again on sunday..

2007-03-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

went to check out theLINE at shangri-la, rated 2 out of 3 stars in the wine & dine magazine; dinner with nic, cedric, mark and kim.

nice place.
the staffs can be more professional.
food wasn't exactly great. but still quite okay.

100 odds bucks per cover for the dinner with wine. not quite worth it but good experience.

master's series in 3days time. and im quite drained out from the trainings. still trying to get back my fitness and all ever since training started. i dont know why it took so long this time..

2007-03-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

It shouldn't surprise you that winners are just ordinary people who are always prepared to do a little extra. These top power performers are obsessed with doing their best and being their best at all times. Winners consistently exhibit extraordinary focus, extraordinary commitment and extraordinary determination in everything they do. It is that little "extra" that separates ordinary people from extraordinary achievers. This unfailing, absolute commitment to excellence separates the winners from the would-be winners, pretenders and also-rans of life.
Winners are always ready to do a little more than is expected.

Winners are always willing to work a little longer whenever it is needed. Winners are always prepared to give it another shot should they initially fail or fall short. They unflinchingly believe in themselves and in their ability to get the job done. When you reach the point where you consistently devote a little extra effort, a little extra energy and a little extra focus to your daily activities and interactions with others, you are on the threshold of extraordinary achievement.

Winners have always been willing to give a little extra and so should you. Whenever you are feeling a bit fatigued, you must be willing to push yourself a little harder. When you feel as though you have reached the end of the road and can go no farther, you simply need to go a little farther. When you start believing that you have done your best and can do no more, you need to push yourself and find a way to do it a little bit better. When you are consistently willing to give a little extra here and a little extra there, you will be truly amazed how these little "extras" add up in a big time hurry.

2007-03-07T11:40:00.001-08:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eYsYEKs-fng

this clip says it all.

2007-02-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

EXAMS ARE OFFICIALLY OVER!

papers were alright except for f&b. #@^@$%*&!#%!

i really hope that i'll pass that paper. no sub please..

anw, starting work today. woOohoooo. gonna earn some before i start trainings.

thats all for now. bb.

2007-02-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

maybe i should learn to be more sensitive towards people's feelings. haha. MAYBE. i think many people would agree to that. so instead of using the usual this-is-me.you-either-like-me-or-hate-me shit, maybe i can like apologise. but they say its no point saying sorry when you don't mean it. (of course, sometimes its really not my fault. but im giving in...). other than that, i cant think of anything else to please them.

according to nicholas chua's law, perception is reality. haha. okay thats life i guess. and sorry to serena (eh, really mean it.) thanks for the notes anw. to end ill leave a quote which i think is quite funny for this post, for no reason. (:

You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.

WAIT.

WHY MUST FRANCE PRODUCE WINES!!?