Merry New Year

Greetings on this 4-day-weekend!

This weekend i cleaned my room; mopped the floor, washed my bed linen, cleaned the fan and washed the toilet... i feel satisfied at the state of cleanliness; i'm such a clean freak.

Dank = going to work = 1st day of 2007!
Considering going back to take over at work tonight so that Teo can go countdown with his wife and family. Should i?
-contemplate, decide later-

Xiaoshi called to ask if i wanted to go meet the SoC people for dinner then countdown. I'll probably join for dinner then head to work. What are you doing tonight as 2006 fades away? Spend it sleeping, getting drunk, in the company of close friends, with relatives, at work, studying...?

Michelle's going to London for half a year on exchange:
Take care girl and enjoy yourself there ok? I'm sure you'll have fun, just remember to come back in one piece! =) And by the way... i'm not rich; I just decided that the pink rectangle was worth more to you than its equivalent paper in my wallet to me (and a little persuasion from Clare). I'm glad you liked it.

Merry Birthday Lina Chan

1930H - I saw red spots appear on my chest and legs as i was clearing my emails, and brushed it off as irritating mosquito bites.
1945H - The red spots popped up faster than ever and they were warm/itchy.
2000H - I assess i've got rashes.
2015H - Hoping they would disappear on their own.
2030H - Some difficulty breathing.
2045H - ...still hoping rashes and breathing would go...
2100H - Ask around for Antihistamine; nil.
2130H - Decide i need medicine.
2145H - Got a lift from Pam to the pharmacist, paid $7.80 for a box of antihistamine, popped one tablet on the way back.
2200H - Red dots start to disappear.
2215H - Recovered.
2230H - Leaving the house for Double O, to celebrate Lina Chan's birthday.

Merry Birthday Lina!

I've Taken ill with DWS

I'm ill... i'm having DWS...
Diving Withdrawal Symptoms!
feeling of weightlessness, looking around slowly from side to side and up and down, breathing through the mouth, looking into nooks and crannies for unexpected sightings, swaying from side to side in the pseudo-current.

Just back from a dive holiday to the Similan Islands, off the West coast of Thailand. I spent four days (23-26 Dec 06) onboard the dive boat MV White Manta on a Live Onboard (LOB); enjoying Christmas and the 2nd Tsunami anniversary at sea and with the fish.

Worth Mentioning:
A very big Manta Ray (wing to wing > 5-6m)
Peacock Mantis Shrimp

My very first sightings:
Red Fire Gobies - I was obsessed with finding them, i went in search of them on every dive!
Frog Fish - I didn't know what it was until reviewing the photos
Shultz's Pipefish - Never thought i would see them underwater!
Ornate Ghost Pipfish - my camera battery went flat just before it! Arghhh



These are just four of MANY photos and videos i took on the trip.
See all my Similan Islands Dive Trip Photos

Many Thanx to my dive consultant Ivan Pung for lending me his fabulous Canon S80 and portable one-button-copy hard disk... it was excellent for my many underwater photos and videos! Thanx Ivan!

Workaholic

Have you come across workaholics?
Have you experienced the feeling of being a workaholic?

I think i'm becoming a workaholic, so much so my boss has to force me to take leave! One morning during breakfast...
Boss: Are you taking leave?
Dank: No Sir, not in the near future.
B: Why not? You should take some leave!
D: Err... o..k... maybe i'll take 26 and 27 Dec?
B: -take out his PDA- Here... why don't you take leave on 22, 26, 27, 28 Dec?
D: -loss for words-
B: Ok, i'll await your leave request -keep his PDA, continue his breakfast-
D: -still loss for words-

Excellent. Therefore, my leave starts this Saturday (leaving Singapore this Fryday late night), going to the Similan Islands (again) for a dive trip. White Manta Liveaboard, to be exact.
Dive! Dive! Dive!

In the meantime i have to churn out an essay by Tuesday and settle some important stuff before i zip off to the underwater world! What a dampener eh? Haha...

SonyEricsson w950i (SOLD!)

I bought a SonyEricsson w950i last saturday (25 Nov) 'cos i thought i liked the walkman and radio and 3G and sleek look of it.

Now after i've used it for a week... i realised it isn't what i want:
The walkman function is under-utilised considering my line of work,
the (high quality) earpiece doesn't fit under my helmet,
and it is too pretty a phone for me.

I have just kept it in the box and reverted to my previous phone (Nokia 6510). The w950i is awaiting its next lucky owner.

Anyone wants to buy it over at $900? Price includes:
Original Set (Handset + Battery + Charger + Earpiece + Pouch)
1 Extra Battery (Original)
1 Desktop Battery Charger (Original)
1 Extra Charger (Compatible)
1 Original Receipt from Carrefour
1 Original Warranty + Box
...i paid $1050 for all these just a week ago.

Original Set is in mint condition (no scratches, no bumps, no marks: perfect). Call me if you're interested? I'll buy you dinner if you can help me sell it?

Update: I've gotten a buyer for the phone, and as promised i'm buying dinner. Thanx Mich!