Michelz

30 Years Later

2008-09-14T08:00:00.009+08:00

作文

三十年后的我

(转自湾湾的)

在健康国小，作文老师在五年级的班上上作文课，指定一个作文题目「三十年后的我」。

班上的一位女生小美写道：

今天的天气不错，我开着老公结婚周年送我的劳司莱斯，手指上戴着他刚买给我三克拉大钻戒，脖子上也挂着上个月生日才送我的红宝石项链，带着我的小孩到大安森林公园去玩。我们倘佯在花团锦簇的园区里，到处都是人们羡慕的眼光。突然，路上冲出一个浑身恶臭、满脸污秽、无家可归的老太太，我仔细一瞧～「天啊！她竟然是我小学五年级的作文老师！

老师评语：这一个星期妳只能站着上课!

Life in the 1500s

2008-09-14T07:53:00.002+08:00

They are up to you to draw your own conclusions...

Most people got married in June, because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children! Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying "dirt poor."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a "thresh hold."

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found t have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."

And that's the truth... Now, whoever said that History was boring...

Announcement

2007-04-18T23:22:00.001+08:00

When is the big day? 16th September 2007

What's gonna happen? Customary ceremony in the morning & banquet in the evening.

Who's gonna be there? Next of kins, relatives and close friends only.

Here's Wishing One And All....

2007-02-23T08:22:00.000+08:00

RK House ... A Prank

2007-01-31T22:29:00.000+08:00

Enjoy!

Our Service Just Got Better

2006-12-31T02:34:00.000+08:00

If you are tired of walking through our acres of store space, do not fret. We will be glad to let you have a go at our latest in-house buggies. For more information on how to get your hands on one of these buggies, please approach our friendly sales staff.

While stocks last. 'Batteries' are not included.

New Story Old Ruse

2006-11-07T23:26:00.000+08:00

Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Howell Buxton,Auditor General HSBC Bank UK. I am contacting you in respect of the transfer of a huge sum of money from a deceased account.Though I know that a transaction of this nature and magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that everything has been taken care of, and all will be well at the end of the day. I decided to contact you due to the secrecy,confidentiality and urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION: I was the account officer of a foreigner, named Gerald Welsh who died in an air crash along with his wife on the 31st October 1999 in an Egyptian airline boeing 990 with other passengers on board. You can confirm this fact from the website which was aired by the BBC WORLD NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

Since his death, none of his relations or persons have come forward to lay claims to his this funds as next-of-kin, and on my own i have made concerted effort to locate any of his relatives but all proved abortive,which makes me to believe that maybe nobody of his knows that he was operating this foreign account with my bank. Based on the ethics and policies of the bank, this funds will be declared unclaimed funds and taken to the treasury of the bank as capital base of the bank, because already the account has been tagged dormant because it has exceeded the normal functional number of years.

We cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for it or lays claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission and assistance to present you and have you stand as a next of kin to the deceased, so that the funds can be released and transfer to you, as all documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the funds £10.5 million British Pounds Sterling (Ten million five hundred thousandBritish Pounds) to be released in your favor as the beneficiary's next of kin, if not the members of the board of directors will utilise it for their personal aggrandisement.

Because after eight years as this is the seven year going the money will be called back to the bank treasury as unclaimed bills and the money shared amongst the directors of the bank, so it is on this note i decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the next of kin/beneficiary to this funds rather than allow the bank directors to share this money amongst themselves at the end of the year.

It may interest you to know that I have secured from the probate commission an order of mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following information if you are interested.

1. Your Beneficiary names..In order for me to prepare the document for transfer of the funds in your name.

2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers...For our personal contact and mutual trust in each other.

Upon your acceptance I shall send you my identity for more confidentiality and trust in each other as i shall trust you not to elope with this funds when it finally gets to your account. I shall be compensating you with 35% of the sum of £10.5million British Pounds Sterling (Ten million fivehundred thousand British Pounds) on final conclusion of this project for your assistance, while the balance, i shall use in prolific investment projects as I intend to retire after the conclusion of this transaction. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to contact me immediately if you are interested in this business. Do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you.

I await your urgent response.

Regards,

Mr.Howell Buxton

The Honda Accord

2006-11-02T23:40:00.000+08:00

Got this through an email...

The Pahang Trip

2006-10-22T13:41:00.000+08:00

Day 1 - 11th October 2006

We left on the 8.00am Five Stars coach from Golden Mile Complex via the 2nd Link. By 9.00am, we had cleared immigration and we were on our way to Kuala Lumpur. Thank goodness for the reclinable seats, entertainment and stopover at Yong Peng, otherwise, it would been an unbearable 7-hour journey. This was no thanks to the 2 occasions of vehicular breakdown lasting approximately 1 hour.

By 3.00pm, we transferred to a 1-hour free shuttle service which took us up Bukit Tinggi to Colmar Tropicale resort for our 3-days and 2-nights stay. The resort is pretty small with buildings lined along a cobblestone street. The hotel lobby, shops and restuarants occupied the ground level while the hotel rooms occupied the upper levels.

This is our room and it comes with a golf course view...

Dinners at the La Biason Coffee House @ RM45.00 per pax. That made out to be about S$21.00 each. The food was nothing to shout about. But it did fill us up so much that we did not have to take lunches for the 2 days that we were there.

Day 2 - 12th October 2006

After the breakfast at 10.15am, we took the free shuttle service to visit the rabbit park which was 5 minutes away from the resort. The entrance fees came as part of our tour package. Of course, dearie had a great time... chasing after the little furries to stroke, feed and take photographs with them. Outside the park, there were also the deers and the donkeys to see.
By 12.40pm, we made our way back to the resort before hopping onto another free shuttle service to the Japanese Village and Botanical Garden. Now, this is a 10-minute ride with lots of upslope to reach the 3,500-metre place above the sea level.

Just as we stepped off the shuttle service, rain descended upon us. We took shelter at the souvenir shop, which led us to buy japanese doll handphone danglers for some of our closer friends. The rain stopped but picked up again 3 times. While being stuck there, we got to know 2 elderly couples of indian descent who were also taking shelter from the rain. We found out that they were related by marriage. One couple reigned from Penang while the other couple arrived from Melbourne, Australia to visit the former. As the rain did not stopped for the next hour, we decided to purchase an umbrella from the souvenir shop and made our way to the Japanese Village after bidding farewell to the 2 couples.

5 minutes into the village and rain died down to a drizzle. This was a good thing as we could take photographs even though it is a very small place with only 3 japanese houses from the bygone eras.

When we visited Botanical Garden 1/2 an hour later, the rain descent upon us again but at a greater downpour. The garden was an utter disappointment as there was little landscaping and lots of potted plants, which does not seem to make out to be the botanical garden it should have been.

It was about 4.30pm by the time we returned to our room for a short rest before we went for dinner.

Day 3 - 13th October 2006

After we finished our breakfast at 10.30pm, we proceeded to take a few more photographs for remembrance sake. Alas, the digital camera battery went flat. We went back to our room to get it re-charged while we packed our luggages to prepare for our trip down to Kuala Lumpur once again.

By the time we checked in at Kuala Lumpur's Berjaya Times Square Hotel, it was already 1.00pm. The hotel lobby is located on the 14th floor, which is above the biggest shopping mall in town. We were allocated a room on the 18th floor.

Never did we realise that the room was so big.... all 55 square metres of it. That was almost like 3/4 the size of a 3-room HDB flat!!! It was the most luxurious hotel room both of us had ever stayed. It came with a living room connected to the bedroom, television on a swivelable top to turn about between the 2 rooms. There was also the attached bathroom with both the shower area and the bathtub. Toilet was in another separate room which came complete with bidet. Of course, there was also the kitchenette.

Looking out from the open area of the hotel, this was how hazy Kuala Lumpur was.. of course, no thanks to the Indonesia situation.

We took a short walk within Berjaya Times Square. Dearie mentioned that her colleague told her that shopping in Petaling Street is relatively cheap. Thus, we made our way to the cab counter outside the hotel. The approximately 7-minute trip costed RM8.00. When we reached there, we realised Petaling Street is actually in Chinatown.

Well, the street is well-paved with shops lined on both sides. Touts were all over the place and badgering tourists to buy their goodies. Thank goodness we were not 'targetted' like the caucasians who look more tourist-like than us. I bought for myself a replacement handphone casing. We also shopped in a building across the street where dearie bought two accessories for herself and my sister.

At 4.30pm, we gradbbed a cab back to the hotel. Talk about the double-standards... the trip back costed RM15.00. Being an 'outsider' to the country, we did not want to bargain for it.

Back at the hotel, we took a short rest before we went for dinner. We decided to eat at Secret Recipes. The price was dirt cheap. We paid for the exact price as we should be in Singapore, except that it was in Ringgit.

Following dinner, we walked around The Times Square and dearie bought a pair of shoes. We hanged around until 9.45pm before we went back to the hotel room.

Day 4 - 14th October 2006

Breakfast at the hotel's Big Apple cafe was great. We decided that we have to shop for one last time before we packed up for homebound. I bought a pair of Unionbay bermuda while dearie bought a pair of jeans. We further bought 2 pairs of Teddy bears (1 pair for ourselves) and a small glass bowl as gifts for dearie's recently ROM-ed friend. We went back to the hotel room, packed up and checked out at 12.30pm.

Since we had a few hours to spare before our 3.00pm coach ride, we exchanged our voucher for entrance to the Comos' World Theme Park in The Berjaya Times Square. It is touted as the biggest indoor amusement park in town with roller coaster tracks stretching 5 stories high.

We took a few kiddy-rides (since all the them are generally meant for kids) before we made our way back to collect our luggages, which we left with the hotel frontdesk.

Soon, we were on board the coach making our way home with a stopover at Yong Peng at 6.00pm. By the time we reached Singapore and with the coach stopping at Boon Lay Shopping Centre, it was 8.55pm. We grabbed a cab back to my place where i collected my car key to send dearie home.

~ The End ~

Today's The Day

2006-10-10T23:11:00.000+08:00

The day has finally come... Registering for Marriage.

After 2 fittings of the gown for my dear and cracking heads over what colours the tie should I wear, it has finally come down to this.

By 11.00am, my dear has made her way down to the bridal shop in her dad's car to get her makeup and hair done. I left my place with my family at about 1pm.

By 1.25pm, the entourage were at the carpark just next to ROM. My dear was putting the final touches of her makeup before stepping out of her dad's car. Then, an uncle of mine surprsed us by showing up in his motorcycle. He had actually taken 1/2 day off to attend my solemnisation.

We made our way to the ROM building. Talk about today being the 10th October 2006, it was crowded. The whole podium were filled with couples and their entourages.

My dear and I proceeded to register and make a declaration before the solemnisation. Then, it was off to take some pictures before we await for our turn outside the solemnisation room.

At about 2.15pm, our names were flashed on the big LCD screen outside the room. So, began the usual process of the registrar asking for confirmation that we are entering marriage of our own free will, exchange of the rings, declare our undying love to each other before the big kiss.... hehe

It was all over in about 10mins. Both of us were rather surprised that we didnt have to say much.

By 2.35pm, we took our fair share of pictures near ROM building. By then, most of us were perspiring even though there was not much of sun shine and kinda hazy due to the return of the 'indonesia haze'.

It was off to the bridal shop for my dear to return her gown. The families went for dessert a few shops away before we left our separate ways.

Tomorrow, we will be off for a 4-day-3-night getaway to Pahang, Malaysia...

Pachelbel's Canon In D

2006-09-15T22:32:00.000+08:00

The guy who made it on the News with his pop-rock rendition.

B&W and Sephia

2006-08-27T11:37:00.000+08:00

2 different shots of the same staircase leading down to the 2nd storey of Bridal Concept located at Liang Seah Street.

Somehow, I still prefer the black and white shot though both are products through the digital camera. The later's 'fresh' sephia colour does not replicate an old worn photograph.

Hmm....I may probably have to sit down and 'photoshop' it.

Handheld Games of A Bye-Gone Era

2006-08-21T22:41:00.000+08:00

This is so old school....

Knock yourself out...

Fireworks @ The Esplanade

2006-08-09T13:20:00.000+08:00

This was recorded by my Canon Ixus 55 digital camera yesterday evening at the fireworks display at The Esplanade. It's my first try at using the video function.

It is also my first try to use the Windows Movie Maker. Not bad for first timer, huh?

Presented by Team SINGAPORE among the likes from Italy, France and New Caledonia, it was by far better than as compared to the Italian team's presentation last Saturday evening.

This is my first in using the video function of the camera and a first with the Windows Movie Maker. I had to stream down the video quality so that it will not take too long to download. Not bad for an amateur, huh?

Solemnisation Announcement

2006-07-20T08:18:00.000+08:00

Whose? Mine of course....

Date: 10th October 2006

Time: 2.15 pm

Venue: Registry of Marriages

Little mermaid or Isis

2006-06-27T20:54:00.000+08:00

Spotted this on a pinkish 3-door mid-1990 honda civic VTI just outside Bukit Panjang Plaza while on my way home...

The Claimant and The Respondent

2006-06-15T22:27:00.000+08:00

Yeah, i visited the Subordinate Court this morning in response to a claim against the Corporation my company is managing. As the Corporation's representative, i met up with the Claimant this morning.

Being still on speaking terms, we chit chatted happily while waiting to go into a chambers in the Small Claims Tribunals.

"$1,000.00 to settle", I offered.

"I cannot accept", said the Claimant.

The registrar then asked us to go out and negotiate before returning to his chambers again for a final decision. If we do not settle this today, we are to prepare to go to trial.

So, off we went to "chit chat". Finally, we decided upon a 50% settlement. So, after a quick call to my "highest" authority in the Corporation who gave me the green light, we marched into the Chambers to inform the registrar of our agreement.

An Order was subsequently issued to us to settle the agreed amount by the agreed dateline.

What an 'event' morning that turn out to be...

Montage of Mono-Prints

2006-05-21T10:22:00.000+08:00

We had wanted to catch the Da Vinci Code at Golden Village Marina Square yesterday. However, most of the timeslots for the show were almost full. Left with nothing to do, we went to the Esplanade.

There was this showcase of a montage of mono-prints by Ms Milica Bravacic on the wall outside the recital studio at level 2. These mono-prints are existing tile motifs from well known places in Singapore such as Blair Road and Emerald Hill. Quite cool, huh?

Know more about the artiste at www.milica.info

Snow Wash @ Caltex Toa Payoh

2006-05-21T09:54:00.000+08:00

Having not washed my car for ages (Well, it is a 14-year old car, so i am not so concerned about having it clean, sparkling and shiny), i decided against the hassle of doing-it-myself and drove to Caltex Toa Payoh for a wash after having lunch with my girlfriend at the town centre yesterday.

Actually, this is the 3rd time in my whole driving life of 11 years that i had drove my car for a car wash. During the previous washes, the automated machine worked its way with my car. This time, its manual wash. Now it is quite an experience as they sprayed foam over my car after high-pressure water jetting (hey.. this is a first experience for my darling and me to be sitting in the car while it is being washed). Then, it is down to the usual hand washing before the foam was jet off by water ans the subsequent drying.

My All Time Favourite Music Video

2006-05-16T21:51:00.000+08:00

And that is ..... "TAKE ON ME by A-Ha"

It is the first music video which i was totally in awe with when i first caught it on telly when the song first came out. Of course, the song is still one of my favourites.

* Unfortunately, this music video has since been removed from the original site.

Return of the Party

2006-05-07T01:56:00.000+08:00

Finally, after 10 days of intense tongue wrestlings between the various parties, hands shaking with common countrymen, voicing out their visions for the betterment of the country, blah blah blah.

THE PARTY HAS RETURNED TO POWER ONCE AGAIN.

They have triumped over the oppositions.

Some people would say "why am i not surprised?"

Others asked "How is it that the oppositions, who probably have better calibred people this time, are unable to secure more seats in the Council?"

I guess these are responses only those who campaigned can answer. You can bet there'll be soul-searchings and self-reflections.

For now, the return to power is probably a good thing.

Everyone is waiting to see what will happen in the next 5 years....

Yesterday @ Bakerz'in Paragon

2006-04-22T23:13:00.000+08:00

Yesterday evening, my darling and I went to Bakerz'in at Paragon for her birthday dinner.

It was our first time there. In fact, it was my first try at Bakerz'in while it was her second try. I ordered the Salmon linguini while she ordered the Crayfish pasta (see photo). The food were good but we could not get used to the thicker linguini.

We promised ourselves that we would go back to dine at Bakerz'in again. However, this time we will not be taking the heavier meal. But rather, we will be taking the pastries since its founder is a pastry chef.

Day 1

2006-04-19T07:56:00.000+08:00

Hi Folks,

Just started on this blog today.

Here's something to kick start it....

*Olny srmat poelpe can.*

Cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I wasrdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are. The olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Wasn't that interesting?