SINGAPORE SHORT STORIES

Today's haze is quite bad. The periodic haze situation reminds me how vulnerable Singapore is to externalities. While it takes Singapore 46 years to become a First World country, it just takes one or two days for our country to become Third World country with poor air quality due to the haze.

I was jolted from my deep sleep by the heavy pelting of rain and the loud applause of the thunder in the middle of the night. The thudding sound by the bullet-like rain on my windows was riveting. I had no choice but to get out from my slumber.

These few weeks, I have been real busy at work till when I returned home, I simply have no energy to do more constructive things, which are really the things that I have listed down to improve myself in different arenas.

After working for quite a couple of years, I still find myself dreaming that I sat for examinations yesterday night. For once, I thought that I am still studying. Do I miss my studying days? Yes, I miss my study days a little for there is more free time then as compared to work.

I tell myself I need to Focus in Life and in my career. Focus will lead to Success, hence this morning, I took out a piece of paper and pen down all that I need to do.

Yesterday's Circle Line MRT services disruption is not surprising to me. I no longer link Singapore's MRT providers with good service. What is good service when every morning I enter into a train full like sardines, having to squeeze all my way into the cabin.

I had a good run today. I was super sweaty after a healthy jog lasting 30 minutes. The endorpins released and the litres of sweat proved a good "hangover" for the night.

These few days, I have been really tired. As soon as I reach home, I watch some TV and sleep early. I am really busy at work, tackling many projects and assignments. But I always believe in work-life balance, hence I will always finish my work on time and not bring work home.

I blogged less frequently these days as I am quite tired after returning home from work. A sedentary lifestyle at work does nothing good to my body, looking at the computer everyday for hours. The tons of work load are not quite distributed among my colleagues with me getting so much work but little advancement in career.

Excellence to me is exceling in the basic things we do. Many people underestimate the most basic things we do in life but they fear to know that these basic things underpin and shape our lives. Hence we should excel in most basic thing in life.

Today is Mid-Autum or Mooncake Festival. I wish All of you a Happy Mooncake Festival. I would like to share my archived blog posts of Mooncake Festival with All of you here !

The haze today since morning is quite bad. I do not think it is at a healthy range as claimed by the authorities. The haze is making me feel unhealthy. I think I have breathed in a number of nanometre particles into my lungs, which will not be removed and which will cause complications to my health.

“What were you doing on 911?” the first sentence of a news article I read this morning asked.   This simple sentence was poignant enough to set me recalling to the date that many said has changed the world. 11 Sep 2001 was the exact date when the world witnessed massive forces of destruction on human civilisation or more exactly on the world’s No. 1 leader which was not seen before since World War II.

The Institute of Policy Studies has presented the few scenarios of Singapore’s future population growth. The main problems Singapore faces in its population growth thrust are its declining fertility rate and total replacement ratio. Immigration has been identified as a key plank to keep Singapore’s population younger and at a number which will not undermine economic growth.

Today is yet another busy day at work. I acknowledge that my work is hectic, giving me quite a lot of stress, but as usual, I handle each piece of work with composure, dynamism and efficiency. Some of my colleagues ask me why do I look so positive as always, so free from the stress of my many work assignments that would have stressed them down. As a frank person, I tell them that it is important for one to have a clear demarcation between work and personal life. When it is time to go home after work, one should tune in to a different mindset, away from the stress of work and indulge in our own personal lives and hobbies. For me, I look forward to indulging in my favourite hobbies: 888bingo , the moment I return home and have my dinner.

As I came down from the MRT escalator yesterday, I saw a youngster giving out pamphlets (which are commonly called flyers too). I took one of these, so as to alleviate the weight of the pamphlets on the boy and also to help him complete his work earlier so that he can return home earlier.

I felt disappointed Singapore conceded 2 goals to Iraq. We spent so much time and money on our players however they could not even win against players from a country which is beset with the aftermath of battles and riots!

The viewing of old photos can be rather nostalgic. As I viewed my old photos today, I realised how different I looked now compared to the past. I realised how time has passed so quickly in the twinkling of an eye. And I realised how little I have gained in my career throughout all these years. I promise myself to continue to work hard and hope I will enjoy more career luck in the coming years!

H&M has just opened its flagship store in Singapore. Thousands descended on the store on its opening day and there was fanatic purchasing. This reminded me of a similar episode one or two years back when Uniqlo opened its flagship store in Singapore at Tampines One.

The Haze is back once again. This afternoon, I felt very uncomfortable and looking at the skyline, I saw haze. This then reminded me that the seasonal haze has come and as usual, I  am quite subsceptible to haze healthwise.

Singapore's high inflation refuses to budge. It is expected that inflation in Singapore will hover around 5% for 2011. The real power of our wages will inevitably shrink. If one has an investment portfolio, achieving a return which exceeds the current inflation rate is also no means feat given the current volatible global economic conditions. Keeping savings in banks and earning a paltry interest is also disappointing.

Tomorrow is weekends yet again. Its time to slow down the pace of life for 2 days. I lead a highly stressful life at work, rushing to meet crazy timeline amidst an incessant workload.

It has been some months since I last jogged. After work, I returned home, got into my casual wear and went jogging, sweating all my sedentary office lifestyle out of my body!