The 'Infiltrators' in our lives are making me VERY irritated

Most of us must have been so used to and perhaps immuned by the weekly flag day when students, young adults, senior citizens volunteer (or for some, being volunteered) to seek donations from the public, with their little donation cans and stickers, for some charitable organisations. Yes, this is for a good cause but I am also guilty of having developed a feeling of frustration - frustrated of my way being 'obtructed' every Saturday.

But as I have mentioned, that is for a good cause and will not dwell too much on that.

In the recent years, I realise that I have been faced with more frustrations with other infiltrations, like:

The money solicitor:

The dunno real or not real monks and nuns seeking money at the hawker centres. And I wish to also include, under this category, the occasional 'beggars' who literally ask you for money, and some even tell you specifically how much they want! They seem to be everywhere and everytime you sit and eat, they appear in front of you, mumbling something which I do not understand. A friendly no, once, twice, thrice, and gradually the irritation sets in.

The Sales Persons

On a few occasions, some sales persons target my table at the food centre, persuading me how good their 'whatever-products-they-are-selling' is and please get one of two. A friendly no, once, twice, thrice, and gradually the irriation sets in.

The 'Litterer' (I wish I can find a way to deal with them!)

There used to be junk mails that are delivered into our mailboxes on a daily basis. Most of the time, I picked out a stack of papers from the mailboxes with only less than 10% of the contents being important letters. Since some years back, the mailboxes are locked with access given only to the postmen (I THINK so) who delivers the real letters and some official newsletters.

But what happens now? The ads and commercial leaflets are now 'littered' right at our doorstep!!! This is very ridiculous. Even when our door is opened, the worker simply walked past your unit and shaft the leaflet into the grille door or even throw the leaflet into the house! Wah, how rude and they think they have a right to do that. Well, I have no chance to say no yet, but I am definitely very irritated enough to throw the next leaflet back at the person when I next witness it again.

The Leaftlet Distributors

I am not sure if this is also the result of the unavailability of our mail boxes that I noticed and increase of people standing at MRT stations and along the streets- in fact anywhere and everywhere, distributing promotional or advert leftlets to passers-by. This has also become one of the irritations I face when I am out on streets, especially on crowded places and especially when I am rushing for time.

Out of nowhere, a hand will suddenly stick out in front of me to pass me the leaflets. At the beginning, I will entertain them by accepting the leaflets very politely. But I realise that there are more and more and more! Along the same streets, you will probably see 2 or 3 different persons distributing different leaflets!

And the thing I really cannot tolerate is that the hand sticks out like the gantry that blocks your vehicles when you enter or exit a carpark! It really obstructs your way. I wish I can bring a cane out with me and if that hand sticks out, then a whack it gets!

The Can-Collectors

And most recently, there is this thing about collecting drink cans (I wonder if they earn better than the traditional rag-and-bone man, but I believe it's definitely easier). You will see some elderly folks who scouting the hawker centres and coffeeshops for empty cans, collect them, flatten the cans at the foot and place them in the carrier they carry with them. And I thought, wow, I think I salute them for making the effort to make some living with the earnings and might as well, the cans can then be recycled. Isn't that good?

But good things are always marred by some black sheep. More and more, people start appearing again at these food centres looking for empty cans. At one particular hawker centre at AMK I went to (the most recent was just last night), you will see at least 5 different faces (within less than 30 minutes) walking past your table and ask if you have finish that can drink you have on your table. A friendly no, once, twice, thrice, I almost few in a rage.

Last night was especially atrocious, with one of them sitting next to our table, just waiting for us to clear the contents of our cans into our cups. He was about the 3rd person who had asked us for our cans in less than 15 minutes. My temper was rising to near boiling point as he started to sit at the next table (through my peripheral vision), eyeing for our cans which we have yet to empty. It made me so uncomfortable with someone sitting and watching you...eyeing anxiously for my drink can. I stubbornly refused to empty my can and I was on the verge of throwing my chopsticks and slamming my hands on the table to ask what was he waiting for!! From something I thought was a good sign to something that has already started to irritate me. Has can-collecting gotten so competitively now?

Has our world become so stressed that one can even enjoy a simple meal at the food centre anymore?

I definitely do empathize with the situations these people I mentioned above are in and for most of them, this is one of the ways to earn for a basic living or one way to earn a decent living. I feel bad about ignoring them, turning them away, or rejecting them, but the frustration has also gotten to the extend of me trying to avoid them and silently praying they won't approach you.

So, when things are overdone, they really drive us crazy, and that is what I see myself facing now. I wonder what's the next irritating thing that is going to appear.

And I am not sure if I will slowly become a 'colder' person.

30 Sep 07 (9.55am)

Prevent the mouth from shooting off!

Sometimes, our mouths shoot off words like poisoned daggers targeting at enemies. If we are unable to remove that 'poison' or at least cushion the effects, then well, certain things are better left unsaid.

But then, some things have to be made known, so how? To say or not to say?

Alternatives:

1. 'Stab' the other party with the 'poison dagger' no matter what (then maybe try to look for an 'antidote')
2. Lick off the 'poison' before you 'stab' and 'poison' yourself
3. Hide and accumulate the 'daggers' with you and run the risk of 'stabbing' yourselves with some or all the 'daggers' one day
4. Use a toy dagger coated in chocolate fondue! :)

Tough, isn't it?

30 Sep 07 (8.40am)

Mao Mao 'fights' for Sunflower Seeds!

As always, Mao Mao never fails to put up some struggle to get his favourite sunflower seeds....

And chewing whatever he thinks is interesting...

15 Sep 07 (10.37pm)

Meaningful Quote

"Your property will remain when you die. Your friends and relatives will follow you up to your grave, but only the good or bad actions that you have done during your lifetime will follow you beyond the grave."

15 Sep 2007 (7.12am)

First Attempt at Driving Range

Spent a few hours at the range on an early Sunday morning. Thank goodness it was a wet morning, so at least the session was cooling.

This is probably my hubby's third or fourth session at the range. Had always wanted to bring me there to try, but each time something was sure to crop up.
Finally, I got my chance at the range. Trying to put into practice the positioning and all which my hubby had tried to teach me at home.

My little nephew Nic also joined in the fun. How's this for a start?

The guys in action.

Here's a kid's version of play. Don't play play!

9 Sep 2007 (4.55pm)

Tissue Crazy Mao Mao!

Wonder why my little hammie runs wild over tissue and toilet papers! Just look at that!

1 Sep 07 (11.35am)

Way up....on the Balloon!

It was with my dear hubby's persistence that we went back to the Balloon site the same evening to catch the ride at night. We had earlier confirmed that the suspension in the day had been lifted.

Hurray, finally the day had not been wasted and so did the free voucher! Ready to 'balloon' my way up 150meters (ie about 40 plus storey high)

Here's one of the night view of Singapore. The nicest scenary is still the night lights of the CBD.

This is the Central National Library taken from the Balloon.

Raffles Hospital taken at the half-way mark.

Mmmm.....I probably won't spend $23 for this 7 - 10minutes ride up the sky, but with the free tickets, well, I guess I had a pretty good time up there.

28 Aug 2007 (9.25pm)

The Balloon is not taking flight!

A test flight against a gloomy weather conditions.

The day was initially catered for this moment, to utilise the free voucher which we got from Singtel Sweet Treats.

But who's to know that the authorities were definitely taking 'every single precautions' to ensure safety. The right was suspended right from the start at 11am. Well, first the weather was gloomy in the morning, we understand, and hope for the sky to clear come afternoon.

Well, we thought the cloudiness was gone, and the sun had returned, but still we were told it was still suspended!

27 Aug 2007 (5.55pm)

Hungry Ghosts, Hungry Me!

What an extraordinary Saturday with half a morning to half an afternoon getting involved in folding and burning incense papers and waiting for the annual 'zhong yuan jie' (Hungry Ghosts festival) ceremony to finish. And with a scorching hot weather (but somehow threatened by the little dark clouds along the way).

It was held in a MNC with office staff and manufacturing assistants chipping in to get the job done. How interesting!

It had been a long wait for the whole ceremony to complete, but the process was fun. There was a huge load of incense papers to burn and this particular item took a long time to complete.

And finally, the most enjoyable part was chopping up of the offerings (ie roasted pigs, ducks and chickens) on the spot and the pieces distributed to everyone present. Most had their share of 'fats', satisfying their palate on the spot!

Then of course, there was an item most of the people were very keen with - seeking the lottery numbers from the deities. Wonder how much luck we will have this weekend!!!

And...the numbers are.........er...............

25 Aug 2007 (9.35pm)

Snapshot!

This is one of my proudest works. How's that?

There should be a great title to go with the pic. Any suggestions?

23 Aug 2007 (8.45pm)

I've conquered M&M!!

Might & Magic, that is.

Over the last few months (maybe three, maybe four), I have been entertained by a game, called Might and Magic - For Blood and Honour, which my hubby has played for seven years. Seven years!!!

And just on 19 August, I have completed the whole game and even had a certificate! Isn't that quite an achievement. It required a lot of mind works and mind-boggling moments.

But of course, I had the help of the expert to show me the 'way'. And of course, being a newbie, I had created many unwanted opportunties for my hubby to laugh at, tease, make fun of my silliness, stupidity, clumsiness at the game. And making silly comments and stupid questions - that's what he thought.

Now that I have completed once, I am going to do it again, this time, hopefully mostly on my own. But then......I will still need the guy's help every now and then. Wait till I have master the game a few more times, and I can challenge the seven-year guy!

The game involves creating and building your characters, determining the level of skills they possess at the basic levels. As the game progress, your characters should have built up the skills, in terms of weapons, armor, magic, spells, etc...to an advanced level for them. This is required for them to do the quests throughout the games. Find golds to add to your bank account so that you can use them to purchase skills and whatever you need to upgrade. The monsters get more difficult to manage as the levels increase.

You get the thrill of finding precious weapons and armour, the relics and artifacts which can increase your skill levels by leaps and bounds.

So it is quite a challenge and one gets satisfaction at the completion of each quest - esp when you hear the sound of gold deposited to your account! (wish they were real!)

I had grumbled when I found my hubby so engrossed with the game when we were just married. For a while I tried to understand and play the game, but gave up. After a few months, I tried at it again, and found it to be more interesting as I played on! And er.....I started to 'compete' with him for the computer. Ahem, he probably needs to 'beg' me for more computer time now. :D

Well, I would like to show off that 'certificate' the game had 'conferred' upon me - but not now as I have yet to find a way to convert it to a picture file. What a bother!

22 Aug 2007

My 'Pet-ty' World

We seem to have numerous 'pet-ty' topics at work of late. These topics have brought much joy and fun at lunch. And of course, the subjects have no way of knowing the 'gossips' behind them, and even if they do, well, they can't do anything!

Who (or rather, what) do you think are the 'pet-ty' subjects? No prizes for guessing them right!

The little hammie is my first very own pet (I mean, 4-legged ones) after several long years. I had long wanted one but did not dare to commit myself to one. Emotional commitment is one of the many reasons.

I used to have goldfish and guppies during junior school days, but would you believe it if I tell you I 'mourned' the death of everyone of them?? It's tortorous. I even kept one dead goldfish in a matchbox and kept it in my bedroom bathroom not knowing what to do with it. Or rather, I would do anything not to dispose of it.

Mao Mao (my hammie) is a great pet which sleeps most of the day. When he feels like it, you can pet him in your palm while it zzzzz......Tissues are Mao Mao's favourite 'plaything'. He makes nests out of them and sleeps cosily on them. Sure knows how to enjoy life. Sunfower seeds tend to make him run wild most of the time.

The cattie above is a neighbourhood pet. It has been around for more than 10 years, as long as I can remember. It moves about in our void deck and is welcomed by most of the residents. I named cattie Xiaohei, not knowing what it's real name is. Some residents say it's called Cantik (malay word for 'pretty'), and said it was owned by a Malay family who had moved but left the cattie behind. Xiaohei is a lovely cat, but has it's temperaments. When it feels like it, it will follow you and snudge beside you and perform whatever tricks it has. Xiaohei loves to be patted and caressed.

Well, at home, I have another 'pet' on my bed. He is a doggie I named Gougou which was a birthday gift from my dad. Gougou, though not real, looks very much like a real house dog. Very cuddly.

Only recently when the pet-ty topics started that I realise I've got lots of pet-ty friends around. Most of them have dogs and we have very interesting topics surrounding them.

Much more interesting and joyful topics than those surrounding 'homo sapiens'. Don't you think, pals?

20 Aug 2007 (4.50pm)

Official 'Opening' of my Blog

A big warm welcome to myself to this world of blogging!

I wonder how long have I waited to finally get this going. Not that I was making any big preparation for this day. It's simply laziness!

Thanks to my friend who has recently sent her blog to me and that has reminded me to get it started again.

My 'desire' to write has started a very long time ago. At one time, I was contemplating to write a book on myself for myself. But no headway was made. Then, I registered for a distance writing course, from a UK-based institute but there was no time and discipline to pursue. How lousy!

So what I did was ad-hoc writing. That too, went dead, after some time.

Well, I have started this blog going, and I hope....'the best is yet to come'!

19 Aug 2007 (9.45am)