I’ve got too many things I need/want to do and I’m really getting no where.
One moment I’m reading on ETFs, then on stocks, then on unit trusts, then on coffee, then on photography, and concurrently I’m switching between facebook and email and newsweek magazine and adium. Then I’m also thinking of the biotech course I enrolled for, and the toilet rolls I need for camp, and the IPPT i’m conducting tomorrow. Then I switch to the toothpaste then I need to bring to camp but do not have at home. And now I’m wondering why the cake we just had sucks so bad.
Then you sit still for a bit, catch a breather, and realise you’ve achieved nothing at all.
Did I just waste my entire weekend?
1) I’m dreading going back to camp so early.
2) What if I’m not well? I can’t be not well. It’s the men’s first platoon exercise, I have to be there.
3) I need to be less needy and pathetic.
4) I just wasted an entire long weekend rotting at home nursing my upset stomach.
5) It’s nice to drive on a drizzly public holiday morning at 8ish.
6) Mustafa’s pharmacist works on a public holiday, and was there at 8am!
7) I can’t wait for the next 2 weeks to fly by.
I love the how it’s made series. watched hell of many on youtube. just search How it’s made on youtube.
9) Though I don’t use them, I have confidence in them condoms after watching How Condoms Are Made on youtube.
10) I miss eating junk, like sweets, chocolates, chips, fries, and all that artery clogging goodness.
11) I need to find that Wizard to guide me toward the pursuit of happiness. Step one, next, step two, next, that kind.
I spent all day waiting in vain, now it’s all cold and un-nice.
I might need help soon.
Life is really hilarious. I have a first aid kit, tiny one, stocked up with plasters, creams, balms and some medicine. And I haven’t really used much of it for myself. But the whole idea of getting one was to be ready and to have one.
And just when I needed the lomotil for my upset stomach, there’s no more.
What is the point of having one in the first place?
It was just days before that I was wondering if the Jurong Fishery Port was open to public. I remember hearing rumours about them controlling access because of security issues. In any case, just to be sure, emailed the good guys at AVA and they came back promptly saying all you need to do is change passes. And so, at 2ish in the morning, we set off for Jurong Fishery Port, nestled away in godforsaken western Singapore.
Where all the fishy business is carried out
The first thing we stepped out of the car, we were assured that we were at the right place. Believe me the dense air of fish odour was… intense.
Then it started to look rather interesting.
Lots of fish lying around and being hauled back and forth on trolleys and pails
We were looking for live fishes, but all we could see were dead, frozen fishes. I think it’s cause they are not stored in proper tanks on the trawlers and are immediately stored in heaps of ice once they get hauled up by the nets. Imagine this is 3am, and your fishes that you buy the market, 10am, some 7 hours later then consume it only even many more hours later. So much for fresh fish huh?
Lots of fish, think these are the ones we have with nasi lemak?
And I was really curious to know who and what fish brokers really were. Because on the web, there were hundreds of them listed. And these brokers sit on their high chairs, with a little stand in front of them, looking very much like towkays (or bosses).
Fish Broker looking all towkay
I really think they are dang rich. There are lotsa moderately expensive cars in the carpark at the JFP. Maybe it’s not too bad an idea aspiring to be a fysh monger.
It’s really a place with a lot of fish
The place is really quite cool feeling. There’s ice everywhere it almost feels like your feet are walking in a refrigerator. And it’s like walking in the freezer compartment because you look left, look right, look front and all you see is…
Heap of stingrays, never thought i’d use such a phrase
a lot more fish!
And the prized catch of the day…
Baby shark amidst many fish
A baby shark! Does anyone know how is the shark used in cooking? It certainly isn’t the sort for shark’s fin right? Really looks quite nice to be sold as food. Gah. And just for the record, I probably haven’t had sharks fin since 2001. That’s a good 7ish, 8 years. Never thought I could last that long, especially when it’s really quite delicious.
So if you’ve been thinking about quitting sharks’ fin soup and all things sharks’ fin, don’t think just do.
Some tips you might want to follow if you decide to go visit JFP:
1) Wear shorts/berms if you don’t want your jeans soaking up the fish juice
2) Wear something you are going to wash immediately after the visit to JFP because somehow the smell just sticks onto your clothes
3) Wear footwear that’s easy to wash/rinse after. Believe me, you really would want to wash your shoes after.
4) Bring newspaper or cardboard or a plastic sheet/mat to place on your car mats if you don’t want soggy shoes to stink up your car afterward
5) The place is still dark, despite being rather well lit. So if you’re there to take photos, bring a camera that can either shoot clean in high ISO, or bring the fastest lens you have. I shot with a 18-55mm kit lens at F5.0 onwards and at ISO 800 (i think) and was struggling with average 1/10 shutters.
And finally, here’s the address and link:
Jurong Fishery Port
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
35 Fishery Port Road
Singapore 619742
Click here to see a write-up.
…things bored people do on their leave.
I am such a wreck. Thoughts on my mind:
1. Why am I not doing enough?
2. I’m only dreaming, how capable can I get?
3. Is it mutual? Wish it was, at least more.
4. Been a bad son.
5. Been a bad brother.
6. Too needy and pathetic?
7. Birthday is going to be dreadful.
8. Platoon training, I can or not?
9. Should I run? Or nevermind, wait until Tuesday’s march.
10. Please approve my leave for wed and thurs.
11. fyshmarket.com actually sucks.
12. Need to achieve something, it’s been a pathetic 21 years.
13. I need a life.
14. Why is my mac so laggy?
15. I want a taugayskin pillow, must be quite comfy.
16. I’m blogging again, how pathetic!
17. I bought a DSLR, what a waste of money.
18. I need a CF card, what a waste of money too!
19. Sleepy
20. I got lousy musik, need new songs
21. I’m sick and tired of writing this. It’s pathetic!
Nothing’s worse than a wet gloomy day alone.
You sit there waiting for your detail to be called, dozing off in an awkward position with rifle in hand and head nodding incessantly toward the muzzle. Then when you get called up, you line up, put on your helmet, sign out and collect your ammo, check the magazines, keep them, put on your earplugs, take a couple of deep breaths and proceed into the chamber.
Then you walk to your firing lane, you wait for the detail in front to finish firing, then proceed to take up position. By this time, you should be perspiring profusely and heart pumping at overdrive. You tell yourself to make every shot count, to stay calm and composed and to remember all the fundamentals (don’t snap, tuck in the butt, grip firmly, breathe-release-hold). Then the command is given, “Firers, magazines of 6 rounds load, and ready.” Target comes up, squeeze off, and down goes the target.
Then your Captain yells at you, “Eh, where you aiming! You shooting wrong target!” You feel disheartened but quickly adjust to the right target, struggling not to panic and to regain focus. You continue shooting. This time, the heart pumps faster and faster, while the breathing gets heavier and heavier.
Then the last target comes up, you gun it down and the announcement of “Firers, unload check clear” comes, then you heave a sigh of relief. You walk out of the chamber in step, with earplugs in ear (almost isolating you from the world), recounting the shots nd the crap mistakes you made and feeling utterly disappointed. You reach the ammo point, return the magazines, sign the forms then realise you’re drenched in perspiration.
As the cadet conducting walks out of the control room, you eagerly wait for his announcement of the people who made marksmen.
Then you know it’s all over when you hear your name. You feel happy momentarily, then the euphoria dies down. You take seat, helmets off, and you rest. Because shooting is tiring. It is absolutely draining–the eyes, the body, the mind.
I was limping (from a busted ankle) to the toilet, with toothbrush in hand, fearing that I would sit out the route march that morning. Then the siren came, followed by the none-too-familiar voice that growled “0615 FULL BATTLE ORDER!” I dashed back to my room, put on my uniform, boots and gear and dashed down to fall in.
I had been running–with load–and I could run. So I went on, did the march and finished it fine.
It was rather puzzling. I choose to believe it must be the wonders of adrenaline (and not my weak mind) at work. Maybe next time they’d make adrenaline-ated cola to complement the existing carbonated ones? It’d be quite a hit, at least with people like me whose bodies seem to be falling apart.
P.S. Someone was referred to my blog with the search engine keywords: “army ocs showering”. Seriously, what?!!!
When I first came in, there were many people I prejudged. There were some I thought would make brilliant friends–ones who I thought I could click with– then there were those that I thought I’d never talk.
Just somehow, my judgement was flawed. Those who I thought I’d hate (too strong?) and never talk to are actually those that make my days in here a lot better. Sounds gay, but they make me happy.
Can’t believe I just said that, but you know what I mean right?
I AM NOT GAY!
I think I’m suffering from caffeine withdrawl symptoms. I’m feeling lethargic, have occasional headaches and keep thinking of coke. Maybe it’s just psychological. Read it off Starbucked: A Double Tall Tale Of Caffeine, Commerce and Culture, became consciously aware, and then the mind started running wild.
But nonetheless, it has been an interesting read as I come close to the end of the book. Taylor Clark writes in style and language a peasant like me can read and more importantly, sustain my ever-dwindling attention span. Written with a slightly light heart, the book covers varying topics from coffee history and culture, the Starbucks Experience, how Starbucks became such an “international juggernaut”, fair trade and even to employee benefits.
Quite a fun read if you wanted to know a little bit more about coffee, Starbucks (*$) and if like me, aspire to start a coffeeshop without an overdose of mind boggling language and boring technical jargon.
The day started out fine, really. Until you had to unleash the gnoll in you. Seriously, what’s the hurry? Or what really is the matter at hand that you have to frown and yell and get the whole world in a dreary mood. For years it’s been like that, can’t you learn? I believe you sense it too, and I choose to believe that you do feel bad about it.
I also know it’s impossible to adjust the winds, and in this case, I can choose to adjust my sail. So yea, it’s no one else’s fault but mine. I can only blame myself.
twitter feeds- therecluse: @thirteeen sounds like fun at work 12, August 2009
- therecluse: @thirteeen that's near my camp! wakaka. 5, April 2009
- therecluse: :( bored to death by an saf precis 5, April 2009
- therecluse: -waves HELLO DEOW!!!!!! 4, April 2009
- therecluse: wonders how did the family turn out like that. 13, December 2008
