Guys, for the first time, I'm telling you I'm really scared.

I just want to go to the printing shop opposite my house. I can't; no, not my mother!

Worse...

My Neighbour (not Totoro) the DOG.

Worse than my mum. She still lets me out for band outings. This dog wouldn't even listen. The owner open the gate so wide and the dog is not leashed! And right now he's sniffing around the very short corridor. If he sniff me - Good Game!

It's not a kampong where you can run and hide. It's a HDB corridor; he chase after you - where to go?! You go downstairs he still can chase after you. The only hope is that Fujitsu lift - you die if he joins you and the door closes!

If not for that very minor printing mistake, I wouldn't be in such agony this instant!

At least can blog a bit to wait for my other neighbour to go for dinner and be my decoy for a while and save me some trouble...

Upon reading LKY's memoirs "From Third Wold to First", I find that AMB and Singapore are similar (in size and circumstances).

Compare AMB and Singapore.

Size: Small
Resources: Very little
Neighbours: Not really friendly
Management: "If you don't want, get out."

I have learnt a lot from the fascinating book. It only looks thick and impossible to digest, but the language is after all very manageable and hard to bored of.

A must-read for aspiring leaders and managers, at least of their own lives. 

Went on a little trip to the Sembawang Giant outlet around noon. It was packed like hell! Try walking in Chinatown on CNY eve - with a trolley...


I think we should consider painting lane markings on supermarket floors. It's that pathetic you know! Anyhow walk only. Not only that. We should have traffic light.Some people so zai that at junction also can stop and talk on the phone. ARRGH!


Before that, went to Daiso. I couldn't believe that everything they sold was only for $2 until I reached the counter. The cashier has the easiest job on Earth, man! Just count the number of items and multiply by two. The funny part is how they try to follow the Japanese service.

1. Greet.
2. Count the number of items. 
3. State total amount payable. 
4. Count the money (ALOUD). 
5. State the amount received. 
6. Sate the change (ALOUD). 
7. "Goodbye .Please come again." 
   

Of course in Singapore it's... a little HARD. 

Excerpts from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

1. Not vulgar yet wonderfully coarse. I wish my tongue could go that fast!



2. "Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. "

Telok Blangah

Went to Telok Blangah Hill Park today. Set off at 1130, arrive at 1300! Once I alighted, I saw this magnificent-looking bridge over Telok Blangah Road. I suppose it links the park to Mt. Faber Park.

I did have intentions to cross the bridge but to find the entrance to the park itself is already difficult. According to the street directory, I was to enter via Telok Blangah Green. What made it so difficult was that the entrance was concealed by an elevation of the road. As a result, I was unsure if the entrance was there at all. I walked blindly only with my instincts as my walking stick and behold! The entrance!

Nevertheless, I still had to walk in (it was only the ENTRANCE, remember?).

I walked through the nature trail. The sign at the start says:

> 2.7km to Kent Ridge

>0.7km to Preston Road

>0.9km to Alexandra Road

I THOUGHT it wouldn’t rain (or so as the NEA man said) and I really had a lot of time in my hands. And so I chionged.

It looked very scary at first as the whole trail is at the canopy layer around 20 – 30m off the ground. The trail is supported only by two pillars every 20 m and metal cables to bind the structure. The path itself consists of triangular longkang covers!

This is going to support this light person here. > 

Actually, not that bad, lah. The maximum inclination of the trail is only about 20 degrees. Saw a few ah peks and aunties along the path; damn steady, all of them. Wah, if I can’t make it, shame on me!

The scenery is not that fascinating as you know, everything’s green. But it is still a very interesting concept. However, think of it… if the route is 2.7km long, then it means that 2.7km of vegetation has been grazed to accommodate this man-made marvel. Feel a bit guilty, hor!

About 45 min into the journey, I encountered separate groups of people but I believe they were on the same mission. In fact they all seem to be family members of employees of the MFA on a treasure hunt. They were saying things like “plants originating in Brazil” and the '”reproduction method of the Saga plant”. Very noisy and irritating bunch of people! I was there to “let go” and they interrupted the flow of my day!

At a certain point, I decided to turn back. Why was I going towards Kent Ridge? Silly me. I instead, then, walked towards Mt. Faber Park. I had difficulty overtaking those MFAs. They looked at me as if I was a 2nd class citizen or something. Remember, these people are responsible for the inner workings of an organisation responsible for our ties with the rest of the world…

And Then Mother Nature Cried, taking her toll on my initial unsubstantiated complacency. Damn the NEA Weather tele-robot!

Rain stained my glasses with naturally-purified water evaporated from the liquid excretion of an innocent 4-year-old bugger behind the cotton tree. 

Arrgh, my carefully combed hair! I briskly walked to overtake those MFAs. Walao, they popped open their umbrellas, splashing water onto me. Serves me right for not bringing umbrella! Now, I feel like a complain-kia!

I just realised that everything I use today is orange. My pen, shirt and notebook.

When in rain, I’ll bend my head down like a Japanese. Don’t want my face wet, mah? I learnt a simple benefit of plants for humans. Down the lane towards Telok Blangah Rd, a shelter of bush provided cover for me from rain all the way until the route towards Depot Road, where I had to walk through dense vegetation. Actually got resthouse halfway, but got couple (but not teenagers and not in a state of clothed undress), so I gave it to them. What a lovely setting for them! Don’t want spoil their mood…

Alas, I managed to find the bus stop! Took 57 to Bukit Merah Central and grabbed Wintermelon Tea, a Curry O’ and Sardine O’ from Old Chang Kee. Then, I realised Bkt Merah is under the electoral ward of Tanjong Pagar. LKY area!

To top it off, I boarded 851 home (I call “Yishun’’ home!).

[ If you wanna noe my experience on that bus, refer to  “thoughts on clothed states of undress” ;) Just change MRT to bus; MRT station to bus interchange.  ]

leadership with the disciplines of orchestra conducting

Method 1 (Carlos Kleiber)

The joy of management is to enable people's stories to be heard at the same time harmoniously. It's like a rollercoaster; you create a driving force for people to ride on. Compliment and appreciate what your people do. This is control in a different manner; to let people be happy and proud of their work. Nevertheless, when there is a mistake, you have to practise authority.  Control is a PROCESS.

Method 2 (Riccardo Muti)

1. Tell people what to do.
2. Tell people what will happens if the thing that you want does not happen.

This is effective only to a certain extent as it does not have room for your people to exercise their skills and creativity and hinders their individual development.

Method 3 (Richard Strauss)

Make people realise they're doing for a cause; not for the leader.

Method 4 (Herbert von Karajan)

Look at conductor, then look at one another. The department leader leads their people.

"A clear instruction prevents people from being sensitive and working together."

Create a state of urgency. -> A clear instruction is not given but at the same time, you are to deliver as needed.

If successful, this will add up to doing by not doing. (Confucius)

Talks Itay Talgam: Lead like the great conductors