How different is CNY in 2009?

This year CNY was not that different from last year....This time round we have our re-union dinner at 2nd uncle place....Steamboat as usual.

Sweet Corn is the highlight of this steamboat..dinner together with yam...though it not in the picture....it the first time I saw Yam as a steamboat "food" :-p


The good stuff here...crab-stick...fish & meat balls....chicken...scallop....but where is the abalone?

They call this "Ajak"....but it's hot and I don really like it...sour sour...haha...prefer my "kimchi" where is it...!!

I must say Love this "sambal Chilli".....it hot enough and tasty all right...


On the whole...there is quite alot of stuff...minus the small amount of Abalone....(it's the Crisis, if u have not know...and it is impacting everyone....)

But still the importance of this occasion is not too much about the food..though it helps..but the get-together with family members....to be honest...we only get to see them like once a year....so it quite priceless..here wo...

Mum preparing the table....or getting ready to eat...

As usual...craving for these new year goodies....been tucking into these while waiting for our turn...to start the steamboat....the table is too small to accomodate all of us...so..."we"...the younger generation have to wait...wonder is this why the Abalone is gone....hiaz...

and all new year goodies always come with ....good soft drink...have water means have $$....

Reunion was special..in a way..though sis is not able to make it since she have to spend it with her in-laws....

and CNY movie suck big time....wonder what the Hxxx Mediacorp is saving up for...when this is one of the most important time...luckily I still got my Cable TV....

TVB Top 10 in 2008...and I have not seen any of them

Usually in a year...I will try to rent some TVB( HK's Television Broadcast TV Station) Drama serial...but I did none in 2008. Too busy working working....no time really for watching a 20eps or 40eps show like last time...plus now I even rent movies....

With the CNY coming up and no plans of any outings in place (Sadly) ...thought It would be a good time to catch up on some dramas.

Recently TVB just Release their 2008 Top 10 Drama Serial. This would be good renting reference...though...still need to know who are the actors and actress acting inside...

Here are the Drama Serial I would be seeing in the coming months....

Last One Standing...與敵同行 - 22 Eps..though this is not in the Top 10....think is in Top 12th.

Watching this one now, starring 郭晉安 and 鄭嘉穎 pairing them with 蒙嘉慧.
Thought this one should be nice..always into those plotting and good bad guy fight..
But this one...郭晉安 is the Bad guy though..and 鄭嘉穎 is the poor fellow who always got all the bad stuff(aka good guy).....

This kind of serial is hard to find in our current Mediacorp's released.....can't really remember any..now....

最美麗的第七天

Probably be watching this first...decising between 溏心風暴之家好月圓 and this one...as some of the show here have similar actors and actress in just different role (good and bad). The story is basically a romance story. Got to see how HK Station handle romance which is hard to find in our Mediacorp's Drama. Hopefully I can catch this in around Feb period....(going to cost me around $21)

The Rest of the show that I am Considering are...

This show did really well in HK coming in 2nd. Think is about solving mystery....with a little comedy element added by 郭晉安 who is really good at Comedy roles.


A Sequel to the original about Forensic Science.....something in the line of CSI.....really like the first serial...so u bet I will definitely rent this out as well. Furthermore they added in 佘詩曼 and 鄭嘉穎..plus my favorite actress 蒙嘉慧 is inside as well


Was deciding when I should rent this...it 40eps long and will cost me about $45 to $50 and I may need more time to finish the show....but it the top show of the year in HK...and how can I miss this...I hope it will not drag too much....which is typical of such long show....Let see how this top Show in HK compare to our Singapore's 小娘惹.

Was actually thinking of finishing this show first in Feb....since this is a month I consider to be still quite free...(the most busy period of my job is over till my next product coming in in Mar)...

Think hard....but thinking of getting 溏心風暴之家好月圓 is most likely

Lose over 40% of my Capital...how did that happen

To be honest...was really angry and disappointed today.

I found out a couple of days ago..I just lost some 40% of my Capital of my CPF investment...and all the funds that I have invested in lost 50% of their original value.

Worst...1 fund is at only 34cents....down from 90cent when I brought it....so I call my Insurance Agent to find out how this is so....and wonder why I have not been inform earlier?
(FYI...my sis agent and a friend's agent have already inform their client to Sell or Park the funds)

Was really surprise by how my agent response....

Me : How come I was not inform of my the funds are not doing well?
Agent : Call u numerous time...but u did not want to meet!!
(Yeah...but it all because I lapse in payment and the regular Annual meet-up, I wasn't told of any info on my funds performance)

Me : You should have highlighted this concern via a voice mail or sms with regards to this matter !!
Agent : our regular meet-up include this review of fund performance. Furthermore we are investing medium to long term!!. So this "paper Loss" is inline with your profile.? You are not getting a house soon right....told u before if u plan to get a house...we can seat down and discuss which fund can go while other fund are still in investment
(Lame reason to give...Paper loss is still a loss. Furthermore...does medium to long term means I put in the funds....stay there forever and ever without getting profits at the correct time...aka maximise returns...she is so protective of her capital...kept stressing me not to dissolve the policy even if I want to buy house....)

Me : It would have been better if u could advise me on prices so that we could manage this loss better.
Agent : Prudential does not speculate on the prices. I would not know when the price is going to go up or down.
(Speculate mean guess..? but the funds has been going down for over a year, why is this consider speculate? I seriously think she know nuts about investment)

Me : I meant Advise me on prices. Leaving the decision to sell, hold or switch to me.
Agent : I don provide this kind of service. My role is to provide Insurance Coverage. This job that u mentioned is the role of the Financial Consultant. Furthermore U cannot expect me to go thr all the client investment prices to ensure all their funds are doing well.
(What so difficult to provide me with prices...since u are paid to do so. I don liaise with your so call Financial Consultant which loss my $$. If I know u just provide Insurance Coverage...Why Sell this product and not updates on prices...I am better off monitoring this myself....SO WHY I NEED HER FOR?)

As this is really dragging...and she(Agent) refuse to admit that it due to her poor follow-up...keep saying I am Accusing her of this.
(Seriously...if u would at least tell me something about the loss in my investment....like prices drop...I would have not be "Blasting" her so hard...the problem is not even a single mentioned and update on this...I have to do the Calculation myself...and call u to find out....)

Me : Moving Forward, I want to be updated on prices of my funds and I want the focus to be on Investment...since a large part of the portfolio is in this. Update quarterly.
Agent : My Role is to focus on Insurance Coverage. But since this is your request. I can do that. But During Bad times like this u Complaint about my poor follow-up (Which in this case, she think is not her job)....what have u done for me during good times?
(Bloody Hxxx, didn't I give u some >$xx,xxx worth of capital for you to tax on?...really don understand how come she is so protective of her income when my investment in at risk..isn't the Customer..feedback of concern to her...or I am just some "Peanuts" which can be loss.)

After this incident....I came to know that It still better to monitor my own investment....I nt his way...I can only Blame myself for my foresight. This investment policy is a mistake to begin with....Cos I realise in the first place...noone ...including myself and agent is doing any form of monitoring for me...and the way this works....the agent just want your $$ to be there so that they can have more income....

The only consolation is the Insurance Coverage it provides....but my CPF investment does not really allow me to see the benefits....

Seriously considering of switching agent. If not...I will wait for my investment to recovered and terminate the account. The way I look at this....having been with her for 4 years...I don see her putting my benefits to serious thought...but only her income is of concern.

This is in conflict with my Investment direction and also I have loss my Trust and confidence in her.....(even insurance) :-(

Tough 2009?? Cow Cow Year mean Tough year

It's look like 2009 is going to be a tough year ahead...

Our Prime Minister say this on Friday,

"It's very Bad"....Trade figure are down some 20%

Our Minister Mentor, aka Mr Goh....say

" if this is not a rainy day...I donno when a rainy day is"

Are we digging into our reserves.....I bet "yes"

Pay-cut is on the horizon....and I going to get very poor in 2009? I hope not...

Been Cutting cost already....

- StarHub Subscription - Cut off all the channels except the basic + Ch 55, save me $20 per month

- Hollywoodclicks subscription - Downgrade to 1 Disc package...save me also $20 per month.

Next on the List....
- Cut off Auto-roaming..I don use it anyway....save me $5
- Cut Return the extra Starhub setup box ...save me $12
- Cut down on Aircon usage...maybe use it on 3 to 4 days instead of everyday..:-0
- See if I can sell my Camera(the free one) and my Old Handphone.
......still thinking of what to cut further....

These maybe consider as extreme ....
- Walk to work
- Skip all drinks using Lunch
- Limit Lunch Budget to $2.50

haha...Pray also to be able to keep my job ....since if pay-cut does not work..."layoff" is on the way....

Miss out on Singpost....it now at $0.80...

Been looking at this share....since last year...but didn't go into buying it cos thinking it will go down further...but I was wrong....It shot to 0.80 just this year....been hovering there since...

Market fell this fews days fail to put it down...still maintain...show how "steady" this defensive share is...

It gives good dividends as well...though the latest one is the lowest...but it still worth 2.5cent per share...works out to around $25

Was told they give out dividend on a quarterly basis...that make about a yield of about 9 to 10% interest .......this look interesting....will be monitoring this stock closely...

Target...buy-in price....between $0.69 to $0.71.
Profit sell price .... $1.03 to $1.07...if it ever reach this level :-(

"Bear" period is always a good time to buy in on Blue Chips...their prices are at an all time low...

Looking also at the following stocks but need to do some research before putting my money

• SPH, (High of $4+, but now at $2.73, dividends just issued)
• SPC, Oil Business, (High of $6, now at only $2.28...likely due to the dropping oil prices?)
• Genting (Currently @ $0.46...hold it till IR and beyond...high of $0.57 (30% increase)
• SMRT ($1.69, high of $1.98)
• Reits (Suntec, Ascott, First)

赤壁2:決戰天下

Went to see the show last weekend (sun evening)...with Mr V....full house...wow...lot to expect from 赤壁2 as part 1 ended with a climate...but feel abit half-hearted during the show...as find that there are too much "Cheesy" lines....

But the Final battle on "Water" was fantastic.....but not original...reminds me of "Saving Private Ryan" difference only that this show is in mandarin...

I am not familiar with the actual history...but I was told the story was mostly "make up"....disappointing to true fans....

Overall...I rated this show about...2.5/5...see it for entertainment only..haha


the 2nd movie this year I have seen so far..the first being Transporter 3.

Must say...I expected Transporter 3 to be normal....nothing new to the storyline....but I must say I kept asking myself this question...how did Jason Statham....manage to keep such a fit body....8 packs...to be exact..

The show did a reasonable $31Million in the US....but worst than it Predessor's $42Million. What do u expect from show that have similar storyline both in part 1 & 2 with only changes to the ladies..:-)

Looking forward to what CNY's have to offer in Movies sense...look like only Jack Neo show is worthy....

High-Tea with A Chicken

Well..This is the chicken I was talking about... is too shy to show his face....I can only say...that the chicken that was last seen walking along TaoYuan Airport in Taiwan...in 2007...

Promise a good meal...for it when I found a job so that how this meal come about...

Been quite a while since I went for High Tea...chosen Chatterbox...though their High Tea does not include their ever famous and expensive Chicken Rice..but still kind of enjoy the food..but the variety is lesser than I expected...for a 32++ buffet.

Some Salad ....of the "healthy" sort....but bit on the "hot" side

Salmon...but look not too fresh...or is it just me....:-)

Another Salad....sour sour taste...

Delicious ...inside is "char Siew".....should try it out...I have 2 to 3 of these in 1 go..

Was surprise how this simply local dish turn out...quite good @ Meritus...

Think the highlight of the high Tea is the "Nonya" delicacy...sweet and fill with coconut milk...but not as fantastic as I thought it would be...

I actually ate more dessert than their normal dish.....love sweet stuff....but it's filling

All the sago...inside...yum!!


And Chocolate..filling as well...

Mango pudding....I miss out on this...just to filled...

Finish-off with fruits......cheapo right...miss out the expensive stuff..haha

Not sure if I getting more health concisous or just getting older.....can't really fill-up as much...I must say....I really love the bottom meat alot...think is either chicken or duck.....

all the cakes...and nonya kuek

Rojak and salmon..mix

The resturant use to rotates as we have our meal..but now it just stay stationary....but the view is really good...can see the sea wo...Orchard Road straight down...

Look to your right.....that where the sea is..could have been clearer...misty skies...

Was really thinking hard if I should go for another such buffet..can't really eat as much now....and is getting quite expensive..as well

Tons of Reading to do....

One of my 2008 Resolution is to start reading books...be it story books or books on self improvement...but sadly....none of them I have manage to complete at all.

Recently brought this book by Dan Brown titled "Angel and Demon". Brought it cos it going to be a motion picture this coming Summer....so was thinking why not read it first and see how the movies compared....already read about 10% of it..and it's quite interesting...make me feeling like getting DaVinci Code as well...though I saw the movie already.

Together with books I brought last year....and serveral books I brought on Financial and investment....wow...I didn't know I have so many book under KIV....

I just found out that I borrow a series of books on China History...during the 3 kingdoms...which I have yet to start reading yet.....

Look like I going to be real busy on the Bus and Train also....(haha ...reading lo)

小娘惹 - What A Sensation

Didn't really follow every single episode, but must say this is one of the best show I have seen from Mediacorp in Recent years....


To be honest, I felt that Mediacorp drama have fell in quality since the SPH Left the Competition. Only Remember 荷兰村 and 九 层 糕

All their dramas about the same story lines...worst still , they now go into re-shooting those old serial with Malaysian counterparts and the result is " I donno what to say"...extremely bad

This year was surprising as I usually don follow dramas now....but I see myself watching 3 shows...one is 小娘惹 , 奶爸百分百 and 一房半厅一水缸.

Think these are the better show this year. But nothing beat 小娘惹, like the storyline and the food they introduce...

talk about the tragic life of this lady...story starts from mother to child to even "grand child"...kinda....

I Watch at least 60% of the show...missing only the first few episode...and of course the last 2hrs episode...:-(

But I miss the ending though...heard it was real bad ...and lot of audience are complaining....and they are showing an update...aka...Happy Ending this sunday at 9.55pm.....though only 5mins...but will be there to watch...:-0

First Gathering in 2009....."Steamboating" & "Wiiing"

The place @ Mr Ng's Den.....Look at the Feast....all done by the Host..

And this is home-make..by the Host Delicate hands...wo

With help from this couple....wow..see how thoughtful of them...

Introducing the Host...see so tired after all the preparation.....

The highlight of this gathering is the Wii session coming up after dinner....competition time!!

And the Loser drinks...u know who loss the games right...

The night ended with an exciting Wii Sport - Tennis match with a whopping 4 players...see how high they can get....

and someone really think he is playing the real game...:-0

Lucky me ....as a photographer..I still get to enjoy the game...by playing it myself....

Really enjoy myself...and a good get together....look forward to another high event soon....but the chips and the liquor is killing me ...haha

Look out for my photos in facebook..though...