Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Quips from golf
Hi,
Lessons from quips from golf
The game of golf tempts the player to drive the ball as far as he could towards the green, thus making it nearer and easier for him to pitch or chip the ball onto the green and finally putt it into the hole.
So, of course those players who could drive the ball a prodigious distance have the better or easier chance of putting the ball into the hole with the least number of strokes. And players like these would enjoy quipping, " Drive for dough and putt for show". This is so because once the player gets the ball near the hole the rest is simply methodical and mechanical, very little problem putting it into the hole.
But for those players who could not drive the ball very far, all is not lost. These players would hone their chipping and putting skills to the level that they would be able to pitch or chip the ball from a short distance to very near the hole or into the hole, or need only one putt to sink the ball into the hole. With skills like these they are a great match against the long distance hitters. These players would sing a different tune, " Drive for show and putt for dough". They will also add, "It is not how you drive but how you arrive".
This latter quip has meaning in other areas of life. Whatever we do it is the final result that matters, is it not?
If a person shines in study early in life but cannot graduate, what does it amount to ? But if a person just plods along and finally completes his study, that is success. Drive a car like a race-car jerk and do not arrive on time, or start earlier and casually arrive with time to spare; these offer an amazing choice.
Which is better, to gain wealth and power but finally ends in disgrace, or to maintain one's standing and finally gains respect. To put it bluntly and severely, one often faces two choices, "Struggle in life and then live in bliss, or enjoy the easy life and then have little to show for old age." Of course if one knows how to enjoy the easy life and make that last till the end, that would be the winning philosophy everyone wants, having heaven on earth.
Ultimately it is how we arrive that matters.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Lessons from quips from golf
The game of golf tempts the player to drive the ball as far as he could towards the green, thus making it nearer and easier for him to pitch or chip the ball onto the green and finally putt it into the hole.
So, of course those players who could drive the ball a prodigious distance have the better or easier chance of putting the ball into the hole with the least number of strokes. And players like these would enjoy quipping, " Drive for dough and putt for show". This is so because once the player gets the ball near the hole the rest is simply methodical and mechanical, very little problem putting it into the hole.
But for those players who could not drive the ball very far, all is not lost. These players would hone their chipping and putting skills to the level that they would be able to pitch or chip the ball from a short distance to very near the hole or into the hole, or need only one putt to sink the ball into the hole. With skills like these they are a great match against the long distance hitters. These players would sing a different tune, " Drive for show and putt for dough". They will also add, "It is not how you drive but how you arrive".
This latter quip has meaning in other areas of life. Whatever we do it is the final result that matters, is it not?
If a person shines in study early in life but cannot graduate, what does it amount to ? But if a person just plods along and finally completes his study, that is success. Drive a car like a race-car jerk and do not arrive on time, or start earlier and casually arrive with time to spare; these offer an amazing choice.
Which is better, to gain wealth and power but finally ends in disgrace, or to maintain one's standing and finally gains respect. To put it bluntly and severely, one often faces two choices, "Struggle in life and then live in bliss, or enjoy the easy life and then have little to show for old age." Of course if one knows how to enjoy the easy life and make that last till the end, that would be the winning philosophy everyone wants, having heaven on earth.
Ultimately it is how we arrive that matters.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Friday, February 23, 2007
A riddle - who is he ?
Hi,
A friend for ever.
He wakes me in the morning
And plays with me all day
My guests are his friends
Also so sticky without end
Even playing hide and seek
There's nothing he can't mimic
When I sleep he leaves alone
Not far off until the next morn
Where would I be without him ?
Who is he ?
Have a nice day,
Ronald
The answer is xmxyxsxhxaxdxoxwx without the x.
And yes, where would I be when he is gone !
A friend for ever.
He wakes me in the morning
And plays with me all day
My guests are his friends
Also so sticky without end
Even playing hide and seek
There's nothing he can't mimic
When I sleep he leaves alone
Not far off until the next morn
Where would I be without him ?
Who is he ?
Have a nice day,
Ronald
The answer is xmxyxsxhxaxdxoxwx without the x.
And yes, where would I be when he is gone !
Monday, February 19, 2007
Beauty
Hi,
What is beauty ?
Beauty is beauty, as plain as anyone can see.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so people say.
Beauty is but skin deep, thus beauty needs to be thick skinned.
Beauty is a layer of make-up, or what's left when it's taken off.
Beauty is what the make-up is made of, placenta and weird tissues.
Beauty is what one thinks others see of oneself.
Beauty is Whoopi Goldberg's hairstyle.
Beauty is a punk look, a peacock with ruffled coloured hair.
Beauty is a punctured nose and metal rigged body.
Beauty is a pair of silicon inflated breasts.
Beauty is a gait unlike the majority of people.
Beauty is thinned eyebrows until what is left.
Beauty is a restructured recontoured face.
Beauty is a one-tooth smiling child's face.
Beauty is what one lights up with a smile.
Beauty is just a pleasant demeanour.
What makes one beautiful then ?
Smiling is the ultimate beauty !
Beauty thus comes so easy.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
What is beauty ?
Beauty is beauty, as plain as anyone can see.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so people say.
Beauty is but skin deep, thus beauty needs to be thick skinned.
Beauty is a layer of make-up, or what's left when it's taken off.
Beauty is what the make-up is made of, placenta and weird tissues.
Beauty is what one thinks others see of oneself.
Beauty is Whoopi Goldberg's hairstyle.
Beauty is a punk look, a peacock with ruffled coloured hair.
Beauty is a punctured nose and metal rigged body.
Beauty is a pair of silicon inflated breasts.
Beauty is a gait unlike the majority of people.
Beauty is thinned eyebrows until what is left.
Beauty is a restructured recontoured face.
Beauty is a one-tooth smiling child's face.
Beauty is what one lights up with a smile.
Beauty is just a pleasant demeanour.
What makes one beautiful then ?
Smiling is the ultimate beauty !
Beauty thus comes so easy.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Favours & Remembrances (2)
Hi,
More of the things my friends did for me.
When I began my permanent employment in the Engineers Department of the Singapore City Council I assumed that that was going to be my career. As such I wanted a special personal drawing table. My new colleague, S..L....K...., at the Bridges & Drainage Section, took me to a furniture shop in the Kallang Basin area. For two hundred dollars, this Shanghainese carpenter made this desk cum drawing table exactly according to the design drawing I gave him. This four by two and a half feet beautiful and lasting desk was made of solid teak with a quarter inch thick crown glass top, a sliding glass door bookcase at the front and a hinged instrument panel on the right side. It is the only desk I need to have, it is still in perfect condition for nearly half a century.
I had a Volvo 122S saloon car in the 1960s. Its 1800 cc engine was fed by twin carburetors. It had no air conditioner but a ventilation fan. Its consumption was over thirty miles per gallon in normal urban traffic. It was the most treasured car I ever had. Its brake pump unit developed a tiny leak after twelve years. A colleague, G..Y..T.., who was good at fiddling gadgets offered to do a transplant for it as opportunely another friend of mine was scrapping his car, a similar model. This colleague spent a good part of the day doing the transplant, having had to travel from Mandai where he stayed to the Mt. Sinai estate where the scrap car was. It was work done on a sweaty afternoon in the open.
When my colleague, L..S...C..., celebrated his sixtieth birthday, he invited me and another friend to his school anniversary dinner in Seremban besides golfing at Seremban and Kuala Lumpur where he lives, having arranged the accommodation at both these places. He was aware that my stomach needed particular attention at the time. The dinner was late and the catering was not that generous. To my surprise he casually forked his piece of chicken onto my plate and joked away with the party, drawing attention away from his sacrifice. I was sure he had to snack when he returned home.
After I retired I subscribed to NTUC Fairprice; there are advantages being a member here. Once day I got a surprise telephone call from a colleague, I... O.., from out of the blue. He informed me that I was eligible for a special lower subscription fee because I had served at least two terms in the Executive Committee while being a member of the union when I was employed at SIA. I had already left my last employment, and became a retiree, a nobody.
Colleagues are a goldmine of good friends; good friends need no reward.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
More of the things my friends did for me.
When I began my permanent employment in the Engineers Department of the Singapore City Council I assumed that that was going to be my career. As such I wanted a special personal drawing table. My new colleague, S..L....K...., at the Bridges & Drainage Section, took me to a furniture shop in the Kallang Basin area. For two hundred dollars, this Shanghainese carpenter made this desk cum drawing table exactly according to the design drawing I gave him. This four by two and a half feet beautiful and lasting desk was made of solid teak with a quarter inch thick crown glass top, a sliding glass door bookcase at the front and a hinged instrument panel on the right side. It is the only desk I need to have, it is still in perfect condition for nearly half a century.
I had a Volvo 122S saloon car in the 1960s. Its 1800 cc engine was fed by twin carburetors. It had no air conditioner but a ventilation fan. Its consumption was over thirty miles per gallon in normal urban traffic. It was the most treasured car I ever had. Its brake pump unit developed a tiny leak after twelve years. A colleague, G..Y..T.., who was good at fiddling gadgets offered to do a transplant for it as opportunely another friend of mine was scrapping his car, a similar model. This colleague spent a good part of the day doing the transplant, having had to travel from Mandai where he stayed to the Mt. Sinai estate where the scrap car was. It was work done on a sweaty afternoon in the open.
When my colleague, L..S...C..., celebrated his sixtieth birthday, he invited me and another friend to his school anniversary dinner in Seremban besides golfing at Seremban and Kuala Lumpur where he lives, having arranged the accommodation at both these places. He was aware that my stomach needed particular attention at the time. The dinner was late and the catering was not that generous. To my surprise he casually forked his piece of chicken onto my plate and joked away with the party, drawing attention away from his sacrifice. I was sure he had to snack when he returned home.
After I retired I subscribed to NTUC Fairprice; there are advantages being a member here. Once day I got a surprise telephone call from a colleague, I... O.., from out of the blue. He informed me that I was eligible for a special lower subscription fee because I had served at least two terms in the Executive Committee while being a member of the union when I was employed at SIA. I had already left my last employment, and became a retiree, a nobody.
Colleagues are a goldmine of good friends; good friends need no reward.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The wheels of industry
Hello,
The tricks of the trade or the roll of the wheels of industry.
There is now such a great proliferation of secondhand handphone vendors that it would be interesting to know how they manage or compete for business. Surely some of them must have develop new tricks to be at least in some way up over the others.
Indeed there is one trick of theirs which came to my knowledge. I was told that they could simply and surreptitiously deactivate or disable some function of the handphone by making some entries and then tell us that the phone is spoiled. When that happens we are at their mercy because it cannot be used unless it is repaired.
An old handphone has some residual value, and when I was given a better old one I had a little dilemma. The other one was too good to throw away and yet who would want it other than one of these Buy & Sell pavement vendors. So, I tried to salvage some scrap value out of it.
This time I took it to Bedok North Central. The first vendor offered me forty dollars. The battery itself costs me twenty five dollars and so I handed it over agreeably. I waited for him to check its working condition, looking at his showcase display. That was my mistake, because he turned it over to me saying that it has an LCD malfunction. It was working when I took it out with me.
So, it was true; they have a new trick. He then told me that the LCD repair would cost me twenty dollars, meaning that I could only get twenty dollars or half the price he offered earlier. I realised that there was not much I could do about this crooked vendor other than not to let him take advantage of me further.
After I thought it over I decided to see what else they would do. I went over to another vendor whose business sign include Repair. Handing it over to this second guy I asked him how much the repair cost. He took one look and said twenty dollars. I offered to sell it to him and he quoted me twenty five dollars. I agreed happily, after which he opened it up and checked it thoroughly. Then he made a call, talked a bit, and then told me that his boss told him to reduce his offer to twenty dollars.
Well, that was how it went. The phone was worth forty dollars initially, but this amount was whittled down to twenty. I figured that if I had been vigilant I could have got thirty dollars or more for it. As it was, the first shark tried his trick, but I would not let him get away with it, and the second guy benefited. I am not totally convinced that the so said damage was not reversible; it was just that innocent people would not know how to do it.
But it was interesting to see how the wheels of industry turns.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
The tricks of the trade or the roll of the wheels of industry.
There is now such a great proliferation of secondhand handphone vendors that it would be interesting to know how they manage or compete for business. Surely some of them must have develop new tricks to be at least in some way up over the others.
Indeed there is one trick of theirs which came to my knowledge. I was told that they could simply and surreptitiously deactivate or disable some function of the handphone by making some entries and then tell us that the phone is spoiled. When that happens we are at their mercy because it cannot be used unless it is repaired.
An old handphone has some residual value, and when I was given a better old one I had a little dilemma. The other one was too good to throw away and yet who would want it other than one of these Buy & Sell pavement vendors. So, I tried to salvage some scrap value out of it.
This time I took it to Bedok North Central. The first vendor offered me forty dollars. The battery itself costs me twenty five dollars and so I handed it over agreeably. I waited for him to check its working condition, looking at his showcase display. That was my mistake, because he turned it over to me saying that it has an LCD malfunction. It was working when I took it out with me.
So, it was true; they have a new trick. He then told me that the LCD repair would cost me twenty dollars, meaning that I could only get twenty dollars or half the price he offered earlier. I realised that there was not much I could do about this crooked vendor other than not to let him take advantage of me further.
After I thought it over I decided to see what else they would do. I went over to another vendor whose business sign include Repair. Handing it over to this second guy I asked him how much the repair cost. He took one look and said twenty dollars. I offered to sell it to him and he quoted me twenty five dollars. I agreed happily, after which he opened it up and checked it thoroughly. Then he made a call, talked a bit, and then told me that his boss told him to reduce his offer to twenty dollars.
Well, that was how it went. The phone was worth forty dollars initially, but this amount was whittled down to twenty. I figured that if I had been vigilant I could have got thirty dollars or more for it. As it was, the first shark tried his trick, but I would not let him get away with it, and the second guy benefited. I am not totally convinced that the so said damage was not reversible; it was just that innocent people would not know how to do it.
But it was interesting to see how the wheels of industry turns.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Favours & Remembrances
Hi,
Some of the things my friends did for me.
A relationship means nothing if there is nothing that one can remember by that relationship. A good friendship usually leaves behind lots of good remembrances, in both directions. Now at this ripe old age I would like to tell some of these. I shall limit it to four stories here.
One year after I was gainfully employed, I bought a Fiat 600D, a 767 cc engine Italian car. I had nowhere to park it other than by the roadside in front of a shop in front of my house. A colleague, F......C....., visited me; later on his own initiative he had four concrete slabs cast and placed them over the drain alongside the road. And with that I parked my car safely off the road, on the other side of the drain.
There is a small wooden box on my shelf. It contains my collection of picture postcards. At one stage of my life I enjoyed horse racing at the Singapore Turf Club. My interest went so far that I kept records to track the historical performances of the horses. When I mentioned that I needed some container to file my self-designed paper records, a colleague named W...P....... had this beautiful wooden box made of teak wood; that was its purpose then, to filerecords of racing horse s.
When I moved into my present house I wanted a special chiku tree, one with big size fruits. Another colleague, D.....G.. told me to wait. I waited, and several weeks later he handed me the marcotted chiku plant which still bear fruits for me today. He also helped me to obtain dried sludge for my fruit trees as and when I required it.Dried sludge is an excellent fertiliser.
Under my mango tree in the garden I wanted to build a ring pond to rear some tropical fish. My idea was such that the fish therein would have endless space to swim forward, in a circular channel. To reinforce this pond I needed wire netting for the base and the side cement walls. Another colleague, F......F.. told me to save my money. I did save the money, because he found for me some remnants of metal netting which was very suitable for the purpose.
Friends like these and others responded readily and willing and FOC or free of charge. All our response then was to say Thank You, and that was all, no treat, no lunch, no dinner in return. We just did this kind of things for each other. That were our relationships, our friendships, the old fashion way.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Some of the things my friends did for me.
A relationship means nothing if there is nothing that one can remember by that relationship. A good friendship usually leaves behind lots of good remembrances, in both directions. Now at this ripe old age I would like to tell some of these. I shall limit it to four stories here.
One year after I was gainfully employed, I bought a Fiat 600D, a 767 cc engine Italian car. I had nowhere to park it other than by the roadside in front of a shop in front of my house. A colleague, F......C....., visited me; later on his own initiative he had four concrete slabs cast and placed them over the drain alongside the road. And with that I parked my car safely off the road, on the other side of the drain.
There is a small wooden box on my shelf. It contains my collection of picture postcards. At one stage of my life I enjoyed horse racing at the Singapore Turf Club. My interest went so far that I kept records to track the historical performances of the horses. When I mentioned that I needed some container to file my self-designed paper records, a colleague named W...P....... had this beautiful wooden box made of teak wood; that was its purpose then, to filerecords of racing horse s.
When I moved into my present house I wanted a special chiku tree, one with big size fruits. Another colleague, D.....G.. told me to wait. I waited, and several weeks later he handed me the marcotted chiku plant which still bear fruits for me today. He also helped me to obtain dried sludge for my fruit trees as and when I required it.Dried sludge is an excellent fertiliser.
Under my mango tree in the garden I wanted to build a ring pond to rear some tropical fish. My idea was such that the fish therein would have endless space to swim forward, in a circular channel. To reinforce this pond I needed wire netting for the base and the side cement walls. Another colleague, F......F.. told me to save my money. I did save the money, because he found for me some remnants of metal netting which was very suitable for the purpose.
Friends like these and others responded readily and willing and FOC or free of charge. All our response then was to say Thank You, and that was all, no treat, no lunch, no dinner in return. We just did this kind of things for each other. That were our relationships, our friendships, the old fashion way.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Immunity
Hi,
Seeking a touch of immunity ?
There is a placard sign which is planted about here and there, meant to catch the eyes of motorists especially. On first glance it appears like SOLD TEAK, but there is an I making the words SOLID TEAK. Owners of old furniture know what teak is. It is now so expensive that solid teak wood furniture is very rarely seen. Teak is known for its exceptional quality and suitability for furniture making, durability in open weather and immunity to pests like termites and other insects. Teak lasts, and its immunity to pests is one great expensive factor.
In the market certain types of fish seem to be immune to rot. Fish like threadfin or kurau are usually left about in a corner by the fishmonger, without ice and care, and yet they do not rot by the end of the day. This fish is not very tasty, and despite it being one on the most expensive fish, it is usually served by mothers to babies, and also to family members who were recovering from illness. Mothers are known to know what others do not. Is the Immunity factor at play here ? The king mackerel or batang , the dorab or parang, and the pomfret are three other fish which can withstand little care without spoiling quickly. This may explain why they are favouritely used in fish porridge or in the raw fishdish, yisheng, during Chinese New Year.
Most fruits are very susceptible to pests, particularly the fruit fly, but the chiku is one fruit which seems immune to them. Some people do not like chiku because it has a kind of latex-like gum which sticks to their denture; but it has a quality unlike most other fruits, a sandy feel but sweet and pleasant, leaving a good feeling on the tongue. Its being immune to pests must mean something. A kilogram of this from Vietnam or Thailand costs about four dollars when it was initially brought in.
Humans will last too if we also have all round immunity. So, will eating things which are immune to spoiling help us to resist illness and be more durable and lasting ?
Have a nice day,
Ronald
Seeking a touch of immunity ?
There is a placard sign which is planted about here and there, meant to catch the eyes of motorists especially. On first glance it appears like SOLD TEAK, but there is an I making the words SOLID TEAK. Owners of old furniture know what teak is. It is now so expensive that solid teak wood furniture is very rarely seen. Teak is known for its exceptional quality and suitability for furniture making, durability in open weather and immunity to pests like termites and other insects. Teak lasts, and its immunity to pests is one great expensive factor.
In the market certain types of fish seem to be immune to rot. Fish like threadfin or kurau are usually left about in a corner by the fishmonger, without ice and care, and yet they do not rot by the end of the day. This fish is not very tasty, and despite it being one on the most expensive fish, it is usually served by mothers to babies, and also to family members who were recovering from illness. Mothers are known to know what others do not. Is the Immunity factor at play here ? The king mackerel or batang , the dorab or parang, and the pomfret are three other fish which can withstand little care without spoiling quickly. This may explain why they are favouritely used in fish porridge or in the raw fishdish, yisheng, during Chinese New Year.
Most fruits are very susceptible to pests, particularly the fruit fly, but the chiku is one fruit which seems immune to them. Some people do not like chiku because it has a kind of latex-like gum which sticks to their denture; but it has a quality unlike most other fruits, a sandy feel but sweet and pleasant, leaving a good feeling on the tongue. Its being immune to pests must mean something. A kilogram of this from Vietnam or Thailand costs about four dollars when it was initially brought in.
Humans will last too if we also have all round immunity. So, will eating things which are immune to spoiling help us to resist illness and be more durable and lasting ?
Have a nice day,
Ronald
