Scouty’s Weblog

Finally our last project assignment is completed. Today is the date to submit our business plan and to do a presentation for our business plan. This is for our Entrepreneur subject which is part of this sem’s course.

Today’s presentation is by far one of our best. Everyone managed to meet up and run through their portion. We were rather confident in this project as during our last project consultation, the lecturer was very excited about our business plan. So today was basically to show him what we had done.

I must say, the lecturer was very impressed with our work, he even made the remark that despite everyone in the group being jokers, we are still able to produce a very piece of good work. All of us were happy with our performance, and I must say its a good start for us to prepare for the coming exams in Nov.

Now will have to encourage the rest to start preparing for the exams so that we can all go to Year 3 together and complete the whole Diploma.

A good start to the coming exams!! Yeah!!!

Today is one day where I am looking forward to. My Sis is back from Canada for the week, with my Dad also coming home to get together. The house has never been so crowed for a long time, somemore my granny is also here since last Sun. Wah.. really crowded my house.

Though the 3 of us, (my sisters and I) had not met up for a long time, but our old habits are still deeply engraved in us man… Without much hesitation, we start our usual name calling and crazy talk. Sure brings back memories of the good old days where we were all staying together and thats like our mode of communication. Always include all the crazy talk in the midst of our serious conversation.

Furthermore, my Sis bought me a bottle of Absolut Vodka from DFS!!! Woo Hoo… got my own bottle of drink to enjoy!!!

Now the alcoholic side of me is like eyeing on the bottle of Vodka… Haa… did I hear the bottle calling me to open it??

My Absolut

My Absolut II

Finally experience what mountain climbing is all about. Totally shacked out… with body aching, especially the legs and knees. Left wrist is also hurting whenever I move (think have strain in with the occasional slipping down slope)

Was at Bintan over the weekend for an exchange programme between the Young Men’s Division from our Association and those from Bintan. So one of the highlight of the exchange was to climb one of the three mountains in Bintan, Gunung Bintan. Well Gunung Bintan is one of the three mountain in Bintan, and it’s the most commonly visited mountain by the locals there. So thats how we are put to the challenge to conquer the mountain.

The journey from the Association to Gunung Bintan is a 1.5 hours bus ride… so upon reaching there, one last briefing, then sprayed the mosquitoes repellent before we set off from the entrance of the mountain. Seriously just the steps up to the foot of the mountain is already taxing enough, as the steps are very steep and we could really feel the resistance from the force. So once we are at the foot of the mountain, we set off group by group. Well the first half of the journey was really challenging, with lots of steep steps to climb and also having to climb past this rock formation. To make things worse, the tracks were slippery from the rain during the previous night. So we were like trying to get over all those obstacles, while trying to make sure we don;t slip. After reaching the half-way tip of the mountain, the tracks were less taxing, as its more like a path up to the peak.

Sadly when we reach the peak, the view wasn;t anything that fascinating as the vegetation there kind of block the only view to the sea, so we could only catch a glimpse of it. But I must say the feeling of getting to the top is really wonderful, especially with the constant encouragement as a group to keep each of us going and also the comradeship that we build during the process of looking out for each other. We also realised that through-out the whole mountain climbing process, there are these 3 commonly used words, 小心, ok and 加油！

So when its time to descend down from the mountain, we realise that though it is less physically demanding, but due to the slippery ground, we tend to slip quite often. We were even joking that its time we put our track shoes to the test. However to make matter worse, we were like only 1/2 way down from the top, and it start to rain and before we knew it, the rain starts to get quite heavy and it just make the already slippery ground even more slippery. So we end up slipping quite often but lucky none of us suffered any serious injuries, just the usual abrasion from the branches while slipping or some minor scratches here and there. So we were like wet to the skin and yet still have to be really careful with the descend.

But I must say, the satisfaction level from the whole mountain climbing experience is really very wonderful. Though its really tiring especially for someone like me who is not physically fit, but its really not so much about the physical strength in you but more on the mental strength that you need to see yourself up to the top. As my friend said when we are like 1/4 during the climbing, “now we are relying on our mental strength already, as physically we are already exhausted” Which I must say its really true, cos on a few occasions, you do have the thought of giving up but then somehow with the encouragement from the other, it just keeps you going on and moving forward.

So what did I learnt from this mountain climbing… apart from experiencing the whole process for the first time, I also learnt that in life it’s like climbing up a mountain, its never going to be an easy path, more often than not, we will have to negotiate past obstacles to get to the top, but with constant support and encouragement from friends around it will make the whole process less demanding and we will be able to enjoy the satisfaction of overcoming the odds and seeing victory together in the end. Another thing is that do not always take things for granted, just because things are easy in the beginning, it doesn;t mean it will always be, just like the example of the descend down, though its less physically demanding, but the rain, just up the challenge to another level.

Well, didn’t really take much pictures of the whole thing, but will be putting up what I took within the next few days.

I don’t know if it is a good thing to be so emotional in life. Looking back, today is another day where I need to battle with my emotions again. Had informed my Tow Kay Neo about my intention to leave, somehow after doing that, the rest of the day was pretty messed up with emotions running amok in me. Especially when having tea with my senior exec after a school visit and talking about things in the office. Somehow, a part of me still felt pretty much wanting to continue to contribute to the office, while another part of me was telling me to move on.

Actually had always been battling with my emotions during moments where decisions has to be made. Since my part-time days, I had also on numerous occassions run to stumbling blocks where one side of me want to go, while another side of me want to stay. Even the latest experience where I was supposed to be transfer back from school to office, also had to struggle between comfortable environment vs career advancement.

Looking back, I know that because of my strong sense of emotions, I am able to gain the support and trust from people, especially so with my group of library assistants, but somehow when it comes to decision making, the strong sense of emotions will usually just make the whole process more complicated.

So is it a good thing or not, I really don’t know… I guess I am also confused! Just like my Tow Kay Neo…

Since last week had been encountering people whom are facing problem at work. It kind of make me wonder is it a seasonal thingy, cos it seems suddenly people around me are all facing problem at work. Fellow colleague and friends all seem to be struggling with problem at work, particularly with fellow bosses.

Had been trying to lend a listening to one of my fellow colleague at work, as a result of that, we had been hanging out at our regular drinking place for almost every day. Come to think of it, for this week alone I had been like drinking every alternate days man. Haa.. at least managed to have my fill of alcohol intake.

I must say, yesterday session had been one of the best I guess. Cos I managed to find out what are the things that is bothering him and even managed to make him see the reason behind what had happened, instead of feeling lousy over what happend.

I guess the whole thing also help me to once again reflect on my life and somehow it just further reinforce the idea that our life is a journey, and we will never appreciate what we have in life if things are such smooth sailing. Anyway just to quote one of my favourite phrase from Josei Toda ‘The only person that have no problem is a dead person’ 

So instead of  feeling sad over our problem, lets learn to move forward and instead challange our problem and developed ourself to become a stronger person! 加油吧!!

Well, if all else fails, hopefully this little sign here will help you to move on…

Realised that I haven’t been shopping for a long time. Finally got the time to shop as I need to get little Josiah his long overdue birthday gift. Had planned to go to Taka, since they kind of have the largest range of toys around and the service from them is by far one of the good ones around. But well, as expected.. Sunday afternoon at orchard, you will see nothing but waves of people. Furthermore at the toys department it was like war zone, you have kids running everywhere and the toys are like almost everywhere… Kind of remind me of my retailing days where I also have to see crowds of children like that.

So head over to the Lego counter to see what they have, as little Josiah likes dinosaurs, so what caught my eye was this box of Lego set that is a dinosaur, but you can actually build 8 different types of dinosaur. So was thinking, little Josiah would have like this, since it had like 8 different dinosaurs, and he just have to follow the instructions inside to build the one that he likes.Too bad didn;t have the chance to take a pic of the Lego set for him, as I had it wrapped up after paying for it.

Will be passing little Josiah his present this week, as it is quite some time since his birthday. But will have to find out from his mum, when is he staying back in school before I dropped by. Hopefully he will like it.