Time really flies and the first quarter
of 2011 is less hectic than
2010.

In January, I finally completed my
final draft and a month later
I succeeded in pestering
my boss to finish
reading through it.

Reservist was directly after my
thesis submission. I wouldn't
say it's a welcome break but
at least I don't really
detest my reservist.

Thankfully, 3 weeks of reservist
passed by rather quickly.
Waking up at 5:15 am everyday
need some getting used to.

Ever since, I started postgrad,
time seem to pass by v
fast. I wish things & time
could slow down.

There is still a lot I want to
explore. I hope my body
won't deteriorate as
fast. My hair is
getting lesser by the day,
but thankfully my energy
level is still quite good.

____________________________________

2011 is like a starting on clean slate
for me. If given an opportunity,
I will move away from
academic field.

Academic field doesn't feel like
the perfect fit for me. In the
past few years, research
is more like a learning
process, so it's still
acceptable.

But as a career for the next 10 years,
I fear I might not find it as meaningful.
Research to me is like being
sold the future, u delay
your happiness for

the future. If the
future doesn't arrive, there is a
nagging thought that you have wasted
your past 10 years.

Perhaps I have neither the passion
nor the guts to bet my 10 yrs
of my life in research.

But all careers have its snake pit, it's
just whether you can accept it
or whether it's still worth
it in spite of that.

I have been thinking about it &
I got a feel that I'm very
close to finding the
answer.

The memorable part of postgraduate
years is perhaps the colleagues, without
their support, I don't think I can finish
it.

But postgraduate is very tumultous. I didn't
know the enormous challenge was
part of the package. It was
problems after problems,
uncertainties after
uncertainties.

The best thing I learn though is to focus
on what I can do and to forget thinking
about the uncertainties.

So much has happened in the past 5 years that
I really feel I need a rest of some sort.
My engine can't continue to work
at this intensity.

In my 30s, I aim to be more efficient. I hope
I can earn much more $$$ and has
more personal time at the
same time. The challenge
is to establish the foundation
for this to happen.

____________________________________

Would you rather has an exciting life but with
its share of down or you much prefer
a stable life?

My mentally is naturally geared towards the former.
But, it's not easy living that kind of life.

Sometime when you are down in the dump,
you really desire more peace.

I also think my viewpoint on certain aspects
of thing is flawed and might
not be doing me any good. I
think in the past I complicate
people life especially
those v close
to me.

At least my dealing with people has started to
become more consistent. I'm feeling very
healthy and happy about various
aspects of my life.

_____________________________________

Election is around the corner. The last election
I was starting my postgraduate year.

And in May, KaChing!!! Another round
of cash hand-out. I love cash
hand-out, who doesn't, haha.

My army khaki jokes whether there will
be a day when Singapore Pools allow
pple to place their bets on
election results.

After many years as part of Sembawang GRC,
my area is finally craved out to form
the new Nee Soon GRC.

Doreen always said that I like to gamble. I'm not a
fan of casino although I think Russian roulette
is one of the best invention.

You can lose money very fast playing Russian roulette.
You can also make a lot, if the ball
ended up in the right place. My advise is
with whatever 'investments' always
think about the potential loss.
Don't be blinded by the
returns.

As for me risk-taking does give me the adrenaline.
But I'm not an avid gambler. I like to make
'bets' in which I feel I'm in control. Like
spotting test questions & investments.

Spotting question is very fun. As you obtain
the test paper, you glance at the
questions and in matter
of secs, it's either
ecstasy or misery.

In my first three months in Sweden,
my spotting was as worse as it
gets.

But old habits die hard, I think the
best way to prepare for exam
is to spot question.

_________________________________

I have a lot of seafood in the past few
weeks. Wow!!!
Cockles, Crabs, Prawns,
Squids, Fish, Oyster, I
eat them all.

There's a place in Sembawang,
opposite Sembawang CC. The
salted-egg crab is very good.
The shell is thin & the
chef has got v
good skills.

I think the many meals of seafood
seem detrimental. My heart
was beating fast for
no reason for an
entire week. Wonder, whether
it's the seafood.

Mum said cockles are now more
expensive. Cockles are as
good as prawns.

On Saturday, I introduced an
HongKong dessert place to
Kian Leng. He was so
amazed by the
siew mai. Haha, I have never
met someone who love
siew mai so much.