I'm in SGN now somewhere near cho ben tenh. Came here this morning and will be staying here till 1st Nov and followed by a flight to China within 6 hours after landing in Changi.
Qin's at home and saying that I miss her is an understatement. I think our hearts are intertwined. We simply cannot live without each other. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Miserable is how we feel without each other. No friend, No relative can ease that feeling. Come Feb, there will be a 2 -week reservice. How how how???
Any tips from anyone who have been through this?
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup 2011 is in season and I got to catch part of it when I was in a hotel in China. The match I caught was NZ vs Tonga. Quite an early match, so expect to see some huge tries. Well, in that hotel room, something did caught my attention.
For those who are not familiar with Rugby, it is played with a team of 15. 8 of them are known as the "forward pack" as they are larger in size. They are usually slower and bigger, packed with power and great force. They are also the ones invovled in the scrum (the guys who engage in a circle with their backs bent). The remianing 7 are known as the "backs", who are typically smaller in size and way quicker. They are usually the sprinters who are capable of penetrating the defense line of the opponent.
So there I was watching the match in China, alone in the room and I remembered how it was like when I was playing Rugby when I was in JC. I was in the forward pack and often was caught in situations where it is tough, dirty (as we have to dig for the ball literally) and it as a thankless job as it is always the backs who score the try. They are the quick ones who will burst through the enermy and score by running into the try zone.
Back to the game, there was a moment when the NZ backs was in possession of the ball. One of them ran and boy did he run, offloading the ball along the way and passing it down the line. After offload, move down the line to creat extra man. Creating a confusion in the opponent, one of the backs managed to run through the line and he looked like he is going to score. He has gained a lot of ground and it was a bug break. Unfortunately, the fullback of the opponent was waiting for him and looking to tackle him. The NZ player knew he was trapped.
Then the NZ player turned and looked behind to try to pass the ball to one of his team mates(u can only pass backwards in rugby). However, no one was around. He had gone so fast that noone caught up with him. The other backs were also tackled in the previous few plays. The forward pack, that had all the muscle and mass were quite a distance behind also. Then this NZ player did what I thought was quite smart. He just stood firm. the natural thing to do is to go down and quickly release the ball (when you are on the ground, you have to release the ball). Usually, when a player goes down with the ball, the other players will then form a human wall over him and with the ball released behind his "wall", the ball is picked up and pass out. this is known as a RUCK. If the ball is not released, the player is known to have committed a foul.
So why did he stand firm and not go down? Standing firm will make him an easy target for the opponents to tackle. A deadly spear tackle can literally send him to the hospital. He stood there because he knew that if he were to go down, he will have to release the ball and without his teammates with him, they will most likely lose the Ruck and hence lose possession of the ball. He will be forced to release the ball to the hands of the enemy.
He stood bravely and from the look on his face, I knew he was asking the forward pack to hurry up to reinforce him. Yes they are slow, but when they arrive, they can do quite a lot of damage...
I was remembered of my JC days playing rugby. Every rugger in the forward pack absolutely hates it when we have to clear a ruck. Basically, we have to run in and swop down to pick up any opponents who are covering the ball so that your team mate can come in to pick it up and pass it out. When you are tired, you really do not have any energy left to bend down and lift up a 100kg piece of meat and throw him aside. And what's more, you have to form the human wall to prevent another opponent from trying to snatch the ball when you team mate is picking it up. It is pure hardwork, but that's the usual job for a forward.
Looking at the NZ player, the NZ forward pack quicking ran to his aid and seeing that they are coming, and that he cannot hold on any longer (at this stage, the opponents - Tonga were all over him, trying to drag him down) he is really struggle to keep both his feet on the ground now. Good thing he stood firm at the start and can hang on a lil longer for that few more seconds to buy more time for the NZ forwards to rush in. Standing creats no momentum and hence, will be harder to bring a person down. It is like when a Cheetah is chasing an animal, the animal needs to be running in order for the Cheetah to trip it. If the animal is standing still, the Cheetah will not be able to bring the animal down.
So why am I touched by this scene?
It reminded me of church. the NZ backs was like one of a church pastor who has gained great ground. But he cannot do it alone. He will need the forward pack to back him up by supporting him. Being physically there for him and with him. Until that happens, he will be mauled by the opponents and risk losing possession. He can only stand firm until reinforcement comes. I know how it feels to be the forward. You will have to make a decision against your desire. every part of your body tells you not to engage and let the others do it. even if you are going in to clear the ruck, you'll be cursing at the back for running so far ahead. However, deep down you know that it is for the good of the team that he did that.
When PK announced that we are going to have BF this year, That's exactly how i felt.
Is it courageously foolish or foolishly courageous? I do not know. I only know that I have to make a decision to either engage or to just sit back and let someone else do it. I'm tired, yes. But who is not? Am i going to see him being mauled alone by the enemy? Or should I run in and clear the ruck and be a team player?
Today, on the bus, I said a prayer... God, help me to love again.
For those who are not familiar with Rugby, it is played with a team of 15. 8 of them are known as the "forward pack" as they are larger in size. They are usually slower and bigger, packed with power and great force. They are also the ones invovled in the scrum (the guys who engage in a circle with their backs bent). The remianing 7 are known as the "backs", who are typically smaller in size and way quicker. They are usually the sprinters who are capable of penetrating the defense line of the opponent.
So there I was watching the match in China, alone in the room and I remembered how it was like when I was playing Rugby when I was in JC. I was in the forward pack and often was caught in situations where it is tough, dirty (as we have to dig for the ball literally) and it as a thankless job as it is always the backs who score the try. They are the quick ones who will burst through the enermy and score by running into the try zone.
Back to the game, there was a moment when the NZ backs was in possession of the ball. One of them ran and boy did he run, offloading the ball along the way and passing it down the line. After offload, move down the line to creat extra man. Creating a confusion in the opponent, one of the backs managed to run through the line and he looked like he is going to score. He has gained a lot of ground and it was a bug break. Unfortunately, the fullback of the opponent was waiting for him and looking to tackle him. The NZ player knew he was trapped.
Then the NZ player turned and looked behind to try to pass the ball to one of his team mates(u can only pass backwards in rugby). However, no one was around. He had gone so fast that noone caught up with him. The other backs were also tackled in the previous few plays. The forward pack, that had all the muscle and mass were quite a distance behind also. Then this NZ player did what I thought was quite smart. He just stood firm. the natural thing to do is to go down and quickly release the ball (when you are on the ground, you have to release the ball). Usually, when a player goes down with the ball, the other players will then form a human wall over him and with the ball released behind his "wall", the ball is picked up and pass out. this is known as a RUCK. If the ball is not released, the player is known to have committed a foul.
So why did he stand firm and not go down? Standing firm will make him an easy target for the opponents to tackle. A deadly spear tackle can literally send him to the hospital. He stood there because he knew that if he were to go down, he will have to release the ball and without his teammates with him, they will most likely lose the Ruck and hence lose possession of the ball. He will be forced to release the ball to the hands of the enemy.
He stood bravely and from the look on his face, I knew he was asking the forward pack to hurry up to reinforce him. Yes they are slow, but when they arrive, they can do quite a lot of damage...
I was remembered of my JC days playing rugby. Every rugger in the forward pack absolutely hates it when we have to clear a ruck. Basically, we have to run in and swop down to pick up any opponents who are covering the ball so that your team mate can come in to pick it up and pass it out. When you are tired, you really do not have any energy left to bend down and lift up a 100kg piece of meat and throw him aside. And what's more, you have to form the human wall to prevent another opponent from trying to snatch the ball when you team mate is picking it up. It is pure hardwork, but that's the usual job for a forward.
Looking at the NZ player, the NZ forward pack quicking ran to his aid and seeing that they are coming, and that he cannot hold on any longer (at this stage, the opponents - Tonga were all over him, trying to drag him down) he is really struggle to keep both his feet on the ground now. Good thing he stood firm at the start and can hang on a lil longer for that few more seconds to buy more time for the NZ forwards to rush in. Standing creats no momentum and hence, will be harder to bring a person down. It is like when a Cheetah is chasing an animal, the animal needs to be running in order for the Cheetah to trip it. If the animal is standing still, the Cheetah will not be able to bring the animal down.
So why am I touched by this scene?
It reminded me of church. the NZ backs was like one of a church pastor who has gained great ground. But he cannot do it alone. He will need the forward pack to back him up by supporting him. Being physically there for him and with him. Until that happens, he will be mauled by the opponents and risk losing possession. He can only stand firm until reinforcement comes. I know how it feels to be the forward. You will have to make a decision against your desire. every part of your body tells you not to engage and let the others do it. even if you are going in to clear the ruck, you'll be cursing at the back for running so far ahead. However, deep down you know that it is for the good of the team that he did that.
When PK announced that we are going to have BF this year, That's exactly how i felt.
Is it courageously foolish or foolishly courageous? I do not know. I only know that I have to make a decision to either engage or to just sit back and let someone else do it. I'm tired, yes. But who is not? Am i going to see him being mauled alone by the enemy? Or should I run in and clear the ruck and be a team player?
Today, on the bus, I said a prayer... God, help me to love again.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wisdom Tooth
Went to have my wisdom tooth extracted on monday. Been quite an experience.
To start, I went for my regualr check-up at thie place called Profile Dental at Marina Square. The shop was a hole in a wall and I had a hard time looking for it to be honest. If not for the directions Huiqin gave me, I would have given up. It is at one of the most deserted places in MS and even then, only a signboard showed the clinic's name and there was this arrow that pointed to nothing. After walking into the tunnel, you'll find a dental clinic. I went in and realised that the Dentist is a Vietnamese. I thought he is a Phillipino. MY word..... but wat difference does it make?
He did the usual stuff of cleaning but said my wisdom tooth was very serious. Recommended I pull it out and also do braces. Piangz, easily going to cost me a few k.
And so i arranged to take an x-ray. An OPG to be exact. This is the x-ray of the whole set of teeth, not just 1 tooth. And this clinic has no such facility. So I need to get to Tampines. This clinic can only take the x-ray of a single tooth. The facility at tampines is an x-ray centre.
Last thurs, I went down after work. This is one run down place to have x-ray done. It was set in the 1980s. If you have seen Stephen Chow's movie, you will know there is one with a cracky doctor who invented a lot of crappy instruments such as a solar powered torchlight. This centre is exactly like that lab of the mad scientist. The admin staff was blur and the radiologist is a Phillippino. Another job that went to foreigner. The good thing is I bumped into my ex-colleague there too.... he was there to get his x ray done as well.
Now, this is the x-ray that I took before. Not the one at tampines. I will never get to see the one I took at Tampines. However, it should look similar. Oh btw, the horizontal tooth is my wisdom tooth that I'm going to extract. Dun ask me why it's growing horizontally...
That night (thurs), the wisdom tooth started to give pain. In fact it was so painful that I woke up in the middle of the night. Perhaps the x-ray has induced it and i really felt the push. It's like someone trying to break your bone. not at a go, but slowly adding pressure. It is unbearable. Popped a few painkillers but not useful. Used an ice pack to numb the whole left side of my jaw.
I then spend my Friday looking for a clinic desperately that can allow me to do the operation immediately. I was willing to go collect my x-ray from tampines and bring it to wherever. Then, of all the clinics I called, they were all booked. The best part is, Profile even asked me to go find a nearby clinic. Thanks for trying to get rid of me. Profile then gave me the next avail date, wednesday... I think i would have died by then.
Then i came cross Asia healthcare. It is in Wisma. I was there before to extract my baby tooth. Now I'm planning to go back to remove my wisdom tooth. Of cos, the doc to look for is Dr Egwin Yeo. As I'm on my wife's company dental coverage (that will expire end of this yr), I'm happy to know that Asia healthcare is now on the panel of dental clinics. Oh, Asia healthcare also have their own x-ray machine that could take OPG...
The best thing about Asia Healthcare is that it can give me an appt on Monday. Which means I just need to endure through the weekend. Ok, I'll take that I said.
When I was finally there on Monday, the place is as usual - high-class. Classical music greeted me. As well as the bright smile of the receptionist. Totally different from Profile. The magazines on the table were well-arranged, unlike Profile's that were chucked one side. Then I went over to the pantry and noticed there were fruit juices in a jar... there's all sorts of hot drinks. Coffee, Tea, hot Choc, etc. Not that I can drink all that, but it feels good to know those are available. It was like Business Loungue over at the airport.
So Dr Egwin came out while I popped my medicine. Well, I think the last time I did my wisdom Tooth op during NS, I didn't have any medication before the op. No wonder it hurt so badly the last time... After the meds, i proceed to sign the papers and went in for the op.
Seriously, the injection of anthestetic was painful. My tongue felt numb, followed by the lower side of the left jaw. After chatting with Egwin for a while, the chemicals took full effect. Then I was wrapped up and it all starts. The sawing, the hacking, the pulling, the crushing, the stitching, the unwrapping and I'm done.
Totally different from my NS experience. The discomfort was so minimal. So wisdom tooth extraction can really be this comfortable. I remember waving my hands to the army dentist when I was back in camp as the pain was excrutiating. He then called out for the assistant to inject more anesthetic. It was like an operation out in the field. those we see in movies like "saving Private Ryan"... Totally horrible.
If anyone wants to remove ur wisdom tooth, I highly recommend DR Yeo from asia healthcare.
Btw, here's the product of the operation...
The crown (top of the tooth) is on the left and the long part is actually the root. Disgusting? Yeah...
To start, I went for my regualr check-up at thie place called Profile Dental at Marina Square. The shop was a hole in a wall and I had a hard time looking for it to be honest. If not for the directions Huiqin gave me, I would have given up. It is at one of the most deserted places in MS and even then, only a signboard showed the clinic's name and there was this arrow that pointed to nothing. After walking into the tunnel, you'll find a dental clinic. I went in and realised that the Dentist is a Vietnamese. I thought he is a Phillipino. MY word..... but wat difference does it make?
He did the usual stuff of cleaning but said my wisdom tooth was very serious. Recommended I pull it out and also do braces. Piangz, easily going to cost me a few k.
And so i arranged to take an x-ray. An OPG to be exact. This is the x-ray of the whole set of teeth, not just 1 tooth. And this clinic has no such facility. So I need to get to Tampines. This clinic can only take the x-ray of a single tooth. The facility at tampines is an x-ray centre.
Last thurs, I went down after work. This is one run down place to have x-ray done. It was set in the 1980s. If you have seen Stephen Chow's movie, you will know there is one with a cracky doctor who invented a lot of crappy instruments such as a solar powered torchlight. This centre is exactly like that lab of the mad scientist. The admin staff was blur and the radiologist is a Phillippino. Another job that went to foreigner. The good thing is I bumped into my ex-colleague there too.... he was there to get his x ray done as well.
Now, this is the x-ray that I took before. Not the one at tampines. I will never get to see the one I took at Tampines. However, it should look similar. Oh btw, the horizontal tooth is my wisdom tooth that I'm going to extract. Dun ask me why it's growing horizontally...
That night (thurs), the wisdom tooth started to give pain. In fact it was so painful that I woke up in the middle of the night. Perhaps the x-ray has induced it and i really felt the push. It's like someone trying to break your bone. not at a go, but slowly adding pressure. It is unbearable. Popped a few painkillers but not useful. Used an ice pack to numb the whole left side of my jaw.
I then spend my Friday looking for a clinic desperately that can allow me to do the operation immediately. I was willing to go collect my x-ray from tampines and bring it to wherever. Then, of all the clinics I called, they were all booked. The best part is, Profile even asked me to go find a nearby clinic. Thanks for trying to get rid of me. Profile then gave me the next avail date, wednesday... I think i would have died by then.
Then i came cross Asia healthcare. It is in Wisma. I was there before to extract my baby tooth. Now I'm planning to go back to remove my wisdom tooth. Of cos, the doc to look for is Dr Egwin Yeo. As I'm on my wife's company dental coverage (that will expire end of this yr), I'm happy to know that Asia healthcare is now on the panel of dental clinics. Oh, Asia healthcare also have their own x-ray machine that could take OPG...
The best thing about Asia Healthcare is that it can give me an appt on Monday. Which means I just need to endure through the weekend. Ok, I'll take that I said.
When I was finally there on Monday, the place is as usual - high-class. Classical music greeted me. As well as the bright smile of the receptionist. Totally different from Profile. The magazines on the table were well-arranged, unlike Profile's that were chucked one side. Then I went over to the pantry and noticed there were fruit juices in a jar... there's all sorts of hot drinks. Coffee, Tea, hot Choc, etc. Not that I can drink all that, but it feels good to know those are available. It was like Business Loungue over at the airport.
So Dr Egwin came out while I popped my medicine. Well, I think the last time I did my wisdom Tooth op during NS, I didn't have any medication before the op. No wonder it hurt so badly the last time... After the meds, i proceed to sign the papers and went in for the op.
Seriously, the injection of anthestetic was painful. My tongue felt numb, followed by the lower side of the left jaw. After chatting with Egwin for a while, the chemicals took full effect. Then I was wrapped up and it all starts. The sawing, the hacking, the pulling, the crushing, the stitching, the unwrapping and I'm done.
Totally different from my NS experience. The discomfort was so minimal. So wisdom tooth extraction can really be this comfortable. I remember waving my hands to the army dentist when I was back in camp as the pain was excrutiating. He then called out for the assistant to inject more anesthetic. It was like an operation out in the field. those we see in movies like "saving Private Ryan"... Totally horrible.
If anyone wants to remove ur wisdom tooth, I highly recommend DR Yeo from asia healthcare.
Btw, here's the product of the operation...
The crown (top of the tooth) is on the left and the long part is actually the root. Disgusting? Yeah...
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