Who would say NO to a FREE meal?

"...... of course, unless if you are a fish. :D"

I am a bit under the weather last few days and start to cut back on meeting friends or going out, so I end up spending time at home with parents and doing some stuff on the web. I recalled people that I met last one week and count those who "paid" for me when dining out, like with my former lecturer. There were quite a number of them. Mom didn't like the idea of "being treated" for dining or meal. I think the Westerners will normally graciously say "thank you" to that. Traditionally, I think Asians or those more conservative one, regards "being treated" for meals as a sign of "people belittles you", so one must "return" that. As a result, people like my mom who detest such idea, think that is paisay (i.e., embarrassed) to have people treating you for something. I think this is an "attitude" issue. I didn't beg people to do the same to me, it's happen and when people do that, they are happy to do so, unless people do with an ultimate motive, which can be quite obvious from the start, and for that, I will stay away or avoid, but these are quite rare, how would one say no to someone want to give you a treat?! :D

The other days, a friend was telling me about vides and how they are magnetic and attract people. I then began to think about my vides and how it "attracts" people to "treat" me. Well, I am borne in the year of dog. Dogs are generally likable and they are man's best friend. I like to think that, perhaps these are the two qualities that attracts people around me. However, dogs are also great assets to man, like they guard doors, lead the blinds, hunt the dead, etc, so as long as "keeping an account balanced" is not necessary, as in, the person who treats me lunch, expects me to return the treat, I (i.e., dogs) am quite hamless and friendly, except a bit needy at times. LOL. I don't believe in keeping the accounts balanced, though I try to do so as best as I can, but somehow find it hard especially "repaying" to a senior as I don't know how to handle it when people, especially a senior becomes very "persistent" and "decline my kindness" to repay. To "compensate" for that, I normally would pass the "good deeds" forward.

I had a call today from a toastmaster friend, who suggested that we go for a meal on Friday with his family and friend, and that he openly says he will buy it for me. I told my mom about this and my mom told me me a junior should treat the senior. I told her, in that case, if I got chance, I will treat my junior peers then, students, friends, relatives, etc. Yes, like I said before, passing the "good deeds" forward and more people will enjoy the "fruits" and that should "balance things up". :D

Cabin Fever

Today is a typical day as if "working from home'. I worked on my research all day, spending time on the Excel spreadsheet and not leaving the flat. In the UK, this would have been bad as 'too isolated' could cause 'cabin fever". You could go bad just like Jack Nicholson in 'Shining'. Watch the Trailer and imagine what "cabin fever' felt like, scary huh? :D



In any case, it also rained almost all day. And it poured, unlike those rains I experienced in the UK, as if spitting. Actually, 'doing some work' is good during the holiday as it helps "holiday-work" balance and allow you to feel 'in touch' and 'control' on your research. Of course, you are enjoying this as you find good spirited moods taken over your emotion following you completion of a certain set of work, and then to leave some for later, :D

Healthy food/healthy living is an option

".. but we do have a choice, and we make choices."

Met my Friend LX at JCoDonuts at Bugis junction. Really like this coffee/Donuts cafe. It located at a rather cosy corner and has its own unique character. The website introduces its business and has a section on healthy ingredient. LX was a secondary friend, who is now pursuing a PhD at Australia, doing a topic on Education. I remember LX told me that fruits were really cheap at Australia, and he even bought a fruit juicers and going for a healthy living style. However, he will be back to Singapore following his expected completion of the PhD by end of the year.

We went for a walk nearby after finishing our coffee. The weather was very hot and humid, a total contrast to the cool environment in the cafe. Bugis areas are often very crowded with stalls situated along pedestrian walkway nearby, and there is a market place nearby, in which "fast food" style local dishes were served, you can "eat in" or take away. I remember now each of such stall is classified with governmental approval of "cleanliness and hygiene' standard, either A, B or C. Interestingly in the UK, I don't remember we see this, perhaps there were not very many such outlet, though takeaways are quite common. What however is practiced in the UK, is the food labels highlighting the food nutrients in term of sugar, fat and salt mainly. See the website here. UK has serious problem about overweight and especially among the men. Has any research about similar situation in Singapore been done yet?

I kind of feel that, I cannot imagine the Singapore government doing the food labels like what the UK did, because if that is the case, a lot of food stalls will have to close down, many things in Singapore like those you find in Bugis area, are nice but sweet stuff and what's more Singapore is famous for it's food. It is a food paradise, where do healthy option stands here, nowhere to be seen really. Foreigners visiting here is fine, tasting food like this once in a while is fine. If you live in Singapore, you are often surrounded by tempting and tasty food, healthy food/healthy living becomes an option but for some, they don't even have a sense about healthy living and sadly, only know the importance after problem arise like high fat, high blood pressure, etc kicks in.

whether you are happy..

"it worked out quite similarly like a zero-sum game"

I met two friends today. Both were my High School's mates. I should say both are of different stages in their career too. ZW is now a VP of international Sales in a Major MNC firm, while KH, still seems to me, finding its way getting a grip of what he is best at. All of us are of the same age. It is often easier to open up and share with friends of the same age, as we share similar things a lot more than others. As we open up the conversation, I realise a bit more about their attitudes and what they value. ZW, as far as I remember, inspired to have their own family, wants to settle down and have a good career, by the time he reached xx year old, which I think he already get it now. As for KH, he seemed to have up and down for the past few years in his life, which unfortunately, I was not being updated about, but that was also because I was not close with him, job change, sales of his business and divorce, all seemed drastic to me.

I am also lucky to have found my footing after all these days. There are obviously pros and cons in the UK compared to Singapore. Taxation is not something my friends like, but pension scheme is something not everyone understand. Pension crisis happens everywhere affected by factors such as aging population, and so is Singapore, and that should not make a different. KH also commented the high rank pay of professorship is "not very high", but I supposed that is depending on exchange rate and what one is looking for.

At one point, ZW even suggested I come back to teach in Singapore. SIM, ploy, etc, which I was not too sure because they are not really proper University. I find KH needs some solid speciality for him to excel in his career, which I also suggested to him. At the end of the day, you win some and you lose some. It worked out quite similarly like a zero-sum game. It is where you are and where you worked and whether you are happy, that matters.

Au Revoir Taipei (一頁台北)

I will postpone today's interesting meets with my friend till tomorrow. This is because I cannot forget the movie poster I saw yesterday while visiting the Cathay Cineplex with M. It seems delightful and sweet. It says on the poster, the title to be "Au Revoir Taipei" (i.e., Good bye Taipei)

I quickly check this up online and find more information about this film. This movie has won a few awards already including the Best Asian Film in the latest Berlin International Film Festival and another award in Paris. I often look forward to what the Taiwanese film maker produced in their latest movies, especially the young and the up and coming ones. They normally made films without much of a baggage and can handle the theme in an orginal way and so is this film. I don't want to give too much away, but the following gives the trailer and a brief film review provided here



Oh and I like the theme song too. It nicely integrated guitars and piano and reminds me of a comptenary jazz and also felt very European. Here's the theme song (not an MV though, but you will like it, I am sure)

The Anchorage

"She is one of the few people who know me a lot more than I know myself,...."

I am writing my blog now with the fan behind me turn its head right and left, left and right, as if showing the disapproval of the Singapore's weather, just like the way I felt. I met DL at the Anchorage this afternoon, modern shopping mall in the town area. DL is one of those friends from my University's day who did brilliantly for her career. She is one of the few I knew who has now taken senior management role and she can still tell me she finds no potential and want to find some more challenges elsewhere, despite earning an impressive 6 figures annually, anyone should feel jealous of her.

She is one of the few people who know me a lot more than I know myself. She taught me what it meant to be "perceptive" by claiming I am one and letting me later to find out more about this and excel in it, how charming is that! :D We were talking about the good old University's day and brought this up and had a laugh. That was like more than 15 years ago now.

DL might appear a bit aggressive and ambitious for her own good, by the way she describe to me how she deals with situation at work, but she is never untruthful, as direct and as honest she is and never failed to come with an air of charisma that you cannot help not notice it. She had three children, suffer a miscarriage of a pair of twins and nearly having a breakdown, and here she is, like she used to be and will be as always, full of energy. It was really nice having able to catch up and see her again.

Dubai International Airpot

I have been in Dubai now for about 6 hours and the connecting flight to Singapore should be in an hour time. Then, there will be another 9 hour or so to travel. I am quite impressed with Dubai international airport and the excellent facilities it cater to the travellers. The airport is so modern and really international. Travellers came all over the world and you can interestingly see many Asian people, including those mending the shops and the stores.As this is a country in the UAB, it was also very common to spot travellers with their traditional costume and mostly in huge families, as you would expect.

This is one very tiring, yet enjoyable trip. My connecting experience has never been this satisfying. Even developed countries like the UK have to charge for the use of wireless in Airport, and mostly with bad connection, what I had experienced in Dubai Airport has certainly something the developed world can learn, that way, it will attract travellers even more.

The food was nice. We have chance to taste a different kind of cuisine, spicy Sri Lankan fish curry with local chilli and lemon rice, yum yum!:D The spicy taste just felt so authentic. I also like the whole air flight experience. the in-flight screen is a lot bigger because the plane cleverly design a folded tray which save lots of spaces for a bigger screen, and I watched the ghost writer and enjoy it.

What's more, you can even charge your mobile as it is equipped with USB port and also some seats come with power sockets. Perhaps this is a new plane and maybe a lot of other planes of other airlines had already done so. Anyway, it's time to prepare for check in, :D see you later

The journey is more interesting...

"... than the destination"

Tomorrow this time, GMT I should be about landing at Dubai. This will be the first time I am connecting at Middle Easts. the whole journey will start from me catching a bus from Loughbourgh to Leicester at 8.10 am and later taking a coach there straight to Birmingham international Airport, in total about 2.5 hours, plus the waiting time. I always have a list next to me before I left for a trip. I don't want to be too forgetful and want to be effective, so the followings are the items on the list




1) Remember my battery and battery charger for the digital camera
2) Switch off all the switches, and switch off the digital FREEVIEW boxset
3) Bring my toothbrush
4) Close the window
5) Keep the laptop and cover the wireless router with newspaper to prevent hot sun from heating it too much

Bringing toothbrush for me is the most important. If I don't have this, and then if I have to eat, I would just feel like I am eating rubbish, if you can imagine. This will also be the first time I am taking an afternoon flight at 2.15 pm. If I travelled by KLM, then that will be normally be at 9.15, flying straight from Amsterdam to Singapore direct. The first leg of the journey is shorter. But for Emirates, the airline that I am travelling with now. It will have 6 hours for its first leg, then 6 hours connection time and later final 6 hours for its' final day of the journey. An entirely different sort of experience, that I really look forward to. An interesting quote I read somewhere describe life as a journey as follows:

"All of life is a journey which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there." But, I always believe the journey is always more interesting than the destination, just like the way life is or perhaps when you reached your destination, you begin to search for other destination and then another journey will begin which will take you into the unknown and excitement, embrace all of them :D

Chilling out

"... I supposed chilling out is also a state of mind...."

It's a day I spent "chilling out". This is actually a bit hard, because you only have the laptop screen to face every day after coming back home. When I said "chill out", I mean I try to move away from the laptop a bit, which is hard. Then, you start thinking, maybe you should do something different, like not surfing the research related information. Well, I supposed chilling out is also a state of mind, which makes it even harder. Perhaps change an environment will help you chill better? Anyway, whether I have to chill out or not, it is like a routine already that I get out at least once a day, especially even so on the weekend since I will not be in the office. I went swimming in the afternoon and later went to the library and passed by the Queen's park, which is a bit crowded, but I like, and the weather so lovely and the breeze so cool. I believe this will be the thing that I will miss most when I am back to Singapore next week.

The library was cool and I had a good time searching the book I want to borrow, finally decide on "The Oxford Murders". I heard this book is now a movie starring Elijah Wood (Lord of the Ring). It looks like an interesting story where the murderer left "mathematical clue" each time he/she killed someone. I planned to bring this book back home to Singapore, and the librarian has even kindly extended the return date of the book, so that I can save the trouble having to renew it during my holiday. Later I went home, and the weather still felt so lovely and cool, then I shaved my hair and had a shower, made myself a couple of peanut toasts and a coffee. I just felt like I was "chilling out" and I am enjoying it :D

My Last Saturday before I travel back S'pore

"......perhaps it is just me expecting too much...."

This is the last Saturday before I head home next Tuesday. My normal usual self expect that I clear as much as possible before I left here. I have a list of things to do. Get my DvDs, charge my battery of my laptop, burn my workfiles all on DVDs, etc. One final thing I like to bring back is a couple of novels just in case I get really bored. There are some excitements, but also fear of possible disappointment for not being able to get the most of my holiday, perhaps it is just me expecting too much or a bit of a perfectionist, I guess.

I have been wanted to send JL something about our next project, so I really should start doing some search tomorrow. Today I did some stuff for LLY, spent whole lots of time trying to figure out where my spreadsheet gone wrong. I kept writing notes and taking down points that I might have missed, all are rather tedious, but thank god, at the end, I get some expected findings, which I am pleased. I should be able to re-organise a new datafile for LLY for her to "train" them using neural network programme. Tomorrow must really get a bit more stuff organised. I always have to remind myself this, and then in the end, you don't find yourselves in situation as bad as you had thought, phew! :D

What's the BIG things in June 2010

休息是为了写 更 多的 blogs! :D (a good rest is for the sake of writing more blogs!)

I think it's time I come back. I wanted to give myself a one month break on blogging each time I finished 100 post entries. My next "one month" break will be when my blog post entered at 200th . Interestingly, this coincides with the whole of the month in June for my break. Additionally, the break is a good time to reflect and reinvent. So, just watch out the design of my blog, it may change again. What happening in June? Here's some highlight

Work with JR - I finished my research paper with JR. He is now looking at it and hopefully when he finished his part, I will do mine quickly and then off we go, submit it to a 3* journal. So, I have one task down.

Work with JL - Unfortunately, we received a rejection from a 4* journal for this research with JL. JL, however, was as positive as usual and very encouraging. So, we are going to meet in August in Edinburgh to discuss a bit more research and other topics.

PhD supervision - Finally, I got to interview a potential PhD student. It went well and both BB and I think the student has good potential. An offer has sent out to her, and we really hope she accept the offer and can start in October. Her mathematical skills complement very well with what both BB and I did with our research, in a way that we can come in handy for her to give her the necessary support.

Exam marking - Oh, and I cannot forget to mention this. I marked about 330 scripts in total. I have never marked so many exam paper at one go. Thank god, the mark was well distributed and hopefully the external examiner won't give "sour grape" remark like he did last year. As yesterday was the external exam board meeting and nothing was heard by end of it, I believe it's been fine.

New research - Apart from JL, JR, my collaborator now include LLY, who is my colleague and also a computer scientist and specialised in neural network. We had quite a long chat last month about how her knowledge can be used to predict "buy" or "sell" decision in stock investment. I was interested as it coincides with what I did about active currency management. Today I met her and show her my data and the discussion shows some potential for further research which I am quite excited about.

Meeting with JW - Finally, I made a trip to Nottingham to visit JW. JW was my PhD colleague while at HW. She now taught in Nottingham Trent. She showed me around her 12 Billion pounds office building, which was amazing. We went for a Chinese buffet later and I would like to thank her for the treat. And comparing Nottingham and Leicester, both near to Loughborough, I think Nottingham feels a lot posher, and I love the shopping outlets. The high street brands, H&M, Topman and River island are all there. The shopping area are located so near to train and bus stations, making it so much easier to move about when it's time to go back.

Visit Singapore - Yes, I am going on holiday back to Singapore from 6th July to 6th August. I normally meet old friends when I am back, but as one friend so rightly put it, I believe I will get bored after two weeks or so, therefore, I am looking forward and strangely, also not that look forward, but a change once in a while is always nice. I am slowly making contact to meet people now, even before I am back to Singapore. I don't like the way I do this, I didn't feel very organised, but due to the time constraint, meeting friends sometimes appear quite in a rush and not serve any purpose, but then again, meeting up is always good, though not always you find the meeting really meaningful, can't help to think it is like "meeting for the sake of meeting". Anyway, I believe I will have some more to say about this in my blog at a later date

email @ 5.23 pm - Hey, I am quite happy about this email, not going to give too much away, but sometimes worth a try as it is an opportunity. Will update again if anything actually happened with regard to the email, watch the space.

P/S: thank you to those who read the blog post past few days. I know who you are and thanks for the support. Many many thanks! :D