Change in preference but not too much

Boys are immature, but then men can be the same way

After a long hiatus, a new year and a new job but my mundane life still suffers from the "SAME SHIT DIFFERENT SMELL" syndrome

Have you felt that the world is against you?

Or that nothing you do seems to matter?
Or that luck is always not on your side?
Or that all odds are always stacked against you?
Or that God put you in this world so that he can play the fool with you?

WHY DID I GET THE MICROSOFT PROJECT!Curse you!

On a different note, you're the total opposite of me; you've been run through my mind lately; you've been in my dreams; you're just my type; you're OLDER than me


*sigh*




Ok probably not by too much as what the picture depicted

A nice person may not be a fool

Nice people (men and women) finish last

Lately I've been hearing a lot of ranting from single women saying that they want a nice and decent man if they ever want to get into a relationship, let alone marriage. Guess the women around me are hitting their prime and their biological isn't doing them any justice either.

All that ranting and complains saying that nice and decent men are dead and how they would love to get their hands on one if they ever come across these rare species got me thinking. Then this question pops into my head which applies to all regardless of gender.

What makes us think we deserve that person?

I know of this person, let's call her A. A loves talking about stuff related to relationships and her kind of ideal person. Basically A feels that after all the bad and failed past relationship experienced, she feels that it's time for her to have a better man by her side; to serenate her, shower her with attention, treat her with utmost respect, love her like there's no tomorrow, a humble forgiving person and many more criterias. Another friend of mine, let's call him B, has shown interest and has made his advancement quite obvious. From my observation, B has been quite unfortunate. Whatever A wants, A gets, courtesy of B such as:

• A needs transport to hangout with her friends, B will pick her up AND hangout with her friends while ditching his own friends.
• A wants let's just say a very hard to find limited edition The Darkness CD, B would go out of his way to get it for her.
• A few other incidents I can't really recall.

I'm not sure whether A actually knows of B's intentions, but from my point of view, I reckon that A is using him, regardless or not whether she realises it. B tells me that he doesn't seem to be getting any positive signs or any slightest hint that she's returning his advancements despite all he has done for her. I really pity that guy. From his past relationships, he was always taken advantage of from his exes due to his Mr. nice guy persona.

I'm an emphatic person (which will cause my downfall one day). I tend to put myself in someone else's shoe and try to feel or understand what they're going or went through. Knowing myself very well, I'm not a nice person and would definitely not want to hurt a good person.

Becareful of what you do. There's a thin line that separates a nice person and a fool. Don't mistaken a nice person for a fool as a nice person may not be a fool.

http://www.oxfordstudent.com/ht2001wk1/Columns/why_good_guys_finish_last

Void?I don't think so. It's called freedom

Commitment phobes start each new relationship with high, and usually unrealistic expectations. But It doesn't take long for them to feel suffocated and trapped by the thought of a long-term commitment.

Lately I've just realised something. I'm already in the late 20s club!Damn I feel old. Now I'm starting to understand the advice from my seniors.

"Your life changes to the fast lane once you start working"

Guess I just have to run with the sands of time, without knowing what obstacles I'll stumble along on the way. The reason is that things move so fast, I just don't have the time to comprehend or register with them. One moment I started working, the next moment I have to buy a car, then the next, I have to buy a house. Judging from the trend, marriage is somewhere along those lines as well!

A lot of my peers are either married or planning to get married. I've already attended a few and let me tell you, the sight of them walking down the aisle feels like a time for mourning. I guess it's just me. The thought of marriage really scares me. I mean let alone the commitment and responsibilities, the financial security you must have in order to get married! You must have at least a minimum of RM50, 000 to get married! That's a lot of money if you ask me. After marriage, you must provide a roof for the missus. God knows how much you've gotta spend some more on that. It just doesn't stop there. Wait till the junior/s comes along. Bottom line, you've gotta be prepared to be a slave for the rest of your life which is just to much for me. Heck, I'm barely surviving, let alone supporting a partner.

I don't think I'm even looking to get into a relationship, let alone a state of matrimony. Guess I'm just not cut out for it and definitely not ready to move out of my comfort zone. Work and gym on the weekdays and fun over drinks with friends on the weekend. Getting into a relationship means I would have to give those up which is something I'm not too keen on doing just yet. From my past experience I can pretty much say it all. Sacrificing what I liked doing but ended up flat on my face is not a nice experience. People say my standards are too high but what do they know. It's hard to describe it. Maybe this can:

Baby, everything has fallen into place
My life is so exciting now I've got my space
Like a splash of water on my face
Lately I'm doing what I can do to pleasure me
I'm finding time to focus on my fantasies
I'm satisfied in my own company

I don't need your permission
To take this matter in my own two hands

Lady, all we seem to do is talk about
We take apart and analyse our ins and outs
Honey, I would rather do without

No-one to answer to
I won't spend another lifetime begging you

There's a spring in my stride
There's a twinkle in my dying eyes

'Cos I'm holding my own
Give or take a tear or two
I'm holding my own
No matter what I put myself through

-The Darkness-

Maneater on the prowl

Danger grows on one stalk

STOP HARASSING ME!!!!!!STOP STALKING ME!!!!!

Which part of that do you not understand?!?!I've already told you I'm not interested. So if you don't mind fucking off and leave me alone?

...Calling me 10 times a day is not leaving me alone.

...Texting me 10 times a day is not leaving me alone.

...Calling me randomly when you're in a drunken state and start talking rubbish is not leaving me alone.

...Hoaxing me into to go out with you through a mutual friend is not leaving me alone.

...Investigating my background and profile through my friends is not leaving me alone.

In the first place, there was never a 'WE' but only 'YOU'. Don't kid yourself. I was never and never will be interested in you. There were no sparks like what you claim. Only from your end. Don't you get the message? I've already told you verbally and through my non-verbal gestures, I've clearly shown that I'm not interested. Friends/colleagues don't do the above on a daily basis.

I barely know you. Don't try to act as if you've known me for ages. Our relationship is purely and strictly professional. After office hours, I don't want to know you. I don't even want to be your friend. You know why? Cause I can't stand you! You always insist I'm like this or like that as if you've known me for ages and things are like this or like that as if you know how the world works but in real fact you just don't want to accept reality as it is. You'd rather live in your stupid fucking pathetic world of make believe. You're just damn full of yourself.

Why don't you just pick one of those 5-6 guys who you claimed to be out there vowing for your attention and leave me alone? Heck, why don't you drop everything and go to London to one of your so-called suitor who will take care of everything for you over there. Well since you're a woman of that material, you won't be needing me.

Don't force me to drastic action. If that happens, you can kiss your career and your social life goodbye.

We know the road to freedom has always been stalked by death.

A leopard never loses its spots

Thieves from outside can be guarded against, but how to handle the ones inside?

During the days of our grandfathers, "loyalty" and "trust" are basis for everything especially business. Any good deed will never go unforgotten, unlike today. Moral fibre has eroded, or shall I say, non-existent?It had somehow vanished through a vortex of time.

At the moment, I'm doing freelance work for two of my friends who just started up their own IT/Engineering company. One of them shall be known as Kotek (best describes him) and the other one shall be known as B. Kotek is your typical fat, lazy, pathetic, irresponsible, unresourceful, playful, lying, desperate, childish, always looking for the easy way out, always looking for a way to make a fast buck kind of person. B on the other hand, is an accomplished E & E engineer (Graduated with a 2ND class upper honours), hardworking, resourceful, organised, practical, thrifty, honest, ethical and a person with integrity. Kotek and B were neighbours since young and that was how their friendship flourished. During their schooling days, Kotek was the typical outcast whilst B was one of the popular figures. Sympathising him, B took him around and introduced him to his friends (I was unfortunate to be one of them). Once he discovered that he made new friends that he never had before, he tried all kinds of things to impress them (i.e: Led a lavish lifestyle beyond his means, fabricate stories bout how big a player he is, how great a gambler he is, how good a car driver he is, how much sex he's getting, etc etc). When he realised that his pocket can no longer support that kind of lifestyle, he starting borrowing, cheating, stealing and even gambling. So much so that B and his family actually stepped it to save him a couple of times from bookies and loan sharks. When B decided to start this company, he actually threw Kotek a lifeline for his already future less and crumbled life. And guess what he did? Fucked B over by syphoning and embezzling money from of the company.

em·bez·zle (ěm-běz'əl)

tr.v. em·bez·zled,
em·bez·zling, em·bez·zles

To take (money,
for example) for one's own use in violation of a trust.

Well, one method he used is that he created false vendor accounts, and then supplied false bills to the company so that the cheques that are cut appeared completely legitimate. His bubble burst when his dirty scheme was uncovered by a routine audit. His method was relatively easy to detect but unfortunately most of his transactions were in cash, so it's quite far fledged to actually have him arrested and charged in court.

After all that's happened to him and all that we've done for him, we thought that he has changed for the better and became more matured and responsible. Boy were we wrong. What a bastard. Has he no conscience at all?!?! After all B and his family has done for him, this ungrateful trash still has the guts and balls to fuck them over. I just don't understand how he thinks he can get away with it. If he thinks that everyone around him are just plain gullible and naive, then he must be moron. Even after confronting him with hard evidence, he was still adamant on his stand that he was innocent. Not even a sign of remorse. What a prick. I wonder what is going through his mind right now. What actually triggered that man to act that way?I reckon there can only be three things:

1. Greed
2. Lust
3. Desperation

By nature, Kotek is a compulsive liar. I never really took what he says seriously. No matter what cock stories he told me before, I believe what drove him to act that way shouldn't deviate far from those mentioned above. Well based on his track record, I'm pretty sure it MUST be one of those.

We were all fooled badly. Once a con man, always a con man. Back stab and betrayed his best friend over a mere RM15 000. Well to B it's a small price to pay to learn how much a friendship that span over 28 years is worth. Well things could have been much worse right?

Moral of the story:

As bad as it may seem, never give someone the benefit of the doubt despite he/she showing any signs of remorse from previous crimes committed. They were capable of doing it, so what guarantees do we have that they won't do it again?A leopard never loses its spots and a Zebra never loses its strips.

MTV no good for health

We're in an era where the MTV generation of people judges things based on visuals first

Finally I get to watched Fergie's video for her single "London Bridge" (Sorry la but my house don't subscribe to MTV and Channel V). For those who haven't, you can watch it here. I know was flabbergasted after watching it. Pay extra attention towards the ending of this video:



A quick trivia question:
Name me one of London's most iconic and recognised structure that was featured in this video clip?

Answer:
London Bridge??????



Or so it might seem. If what you're thinking is exactly as of the above, then I'll say what them cockneys would say to you:


Lawd above! you fuckin' buckit. , innit




You know why? Many, particularly in the United States, confuse the Tower Bridge with London Bridge. The video for her single "London Bridge", Fergie wrongly refers to Tower Bridge as London Bridge!

On a different note, I don't watch MTV that much. I don't see anything of interest on it, all I see are non-sensible shows and MTV talking about how cool MTV is. No doubt it has grown to be a major component in the music industry and it has change from video based programming in the past to the television series focused on today. I just feel that MTV has revolutionized and affected the whole world through its negative influence on society and culture. MTV has in many ways corrupted our culture with videos like the above that feeds wrong knowledge to audience like for example, projecting Tower Bridge AS London Bridge! Not forgetting shows such as Jackass, with their dangerous acts of stupid ness. I mean kids now a day are mimicking these shows and getting hurt or even killed!

Not only is violence a major issue, but sexual content and foul language is a huge part of MTV’s line up with shows constantly displaying sexual content and profanity on a regular basis. They not only make it seem like violence, sex and profanity are a norm in our society, they also make it as though it is the cool thing to do!

MTV has completely eroded our patience, our attention span, our communication abilities, and, most of all our intelligence and sanity. MTV is a mockery of our generation. Many people might beg to differ but that's just my 2cents anyway.

Back to the subject. If you don't know how London Bridge really looks like, look below:



Well there's nothing really to be ashamed of if you were thinking exactly what those idiots from MTV were. If this makes you feel any better, on 18 April 1968, London Bridge was sold to the American entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch of McCulloch Oil for US$2,460,000. He bought it with the intentions of disassembling the bridge to be shipped to Lake Havasu City, Arizona where it'll then be reconstructed. But here is the thing

He mistakenly believed that he was buying the more impressive Tower Bridge!

Step 2: Outbound

The entire British empire was built on cups of tea, and if you think I'm going to war without one, mate, you're mistaken

I quit my job on the Wednesday, packed my bags, settle some last minute responsibilities I owe to my old company and boarded an international outward-bound flight the following Saturday morning. My destination?

A little hint: This country successfully branded their underground public transportation system into a household name. I'll give you 10 seconds to guess.

One!

Two!!

Three!!!

Four!!!!

Five!!!!!

Six!!!!!!

Seven!!!!!!!

Eight!!!!!!!!

Nine!!!!!!!!!

Ten!!!!!!!!!!

Time's up!!!!

Still don't quite get the clue?ok ok fine. Then how about this one below?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.



Big Ben?London Eye?Bangers and mash?Cup 'o tea?'orrible food?Periwinkle blue caravans?Dags?Mary fucking Poppins

You should have know it by now. Yes London: The capital of the country that proudly parades its union jack high up in the sky.

My journey:

The journey there via MAS was just sheer hell. Service was horrendous and the food servings were as much as those in soup kitchens (2 meals for a 13 hour flight?!?!?!). The stewardesses?3 words:

1. Grotesque
2. Distasteful
3. Repugnant

I can go on and on but I shall not waste my time as time and tide waits for no man. Anyway I don't even know what I'm paying premium price for. Other air carriers (as much as I hate to admit it, SIA provides better services) are better at an even more affordable price.

Sleepless for almost 2 days due to the time difference, I was welcomed by what seemed like a mile long queue as soon as I touched down Heathrow Airport. After 45-50 minutes, I realised what was holding the queue. The culprits?Non-English speaking Pakistanis and sand niggers. I pity the translator, running from one counter to another as if his life depended on it. As soon as everything was sorted out, I thought that my anguish ended there since there was a tube station in the airport itself but nNnNooOo...after thoroughtly analysing the tube map, I realised I'm still in it for more:

As you can see, my sister lives in zone 4 which is the other end of outer London which requires me to change to the northern line. It took me like almost an hour just to get to her place. I had to take the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square to make the switch. What a bitch -_-' That basically sums up my first day there, besides the dinner I had with relatives residing there. The adventure starts the next day when I'm fully charged up and raring to go.

What can I say?London is a fantastic city. A cosmopolitan city offering a number of diverse neighbourhoods and pubs, impressive architecture, efficient public transportation (only at times mind you), picturesque parks and theaters playing to full houses. It is a city of separate areas, often famous in their own right and with distinctive characteristics.

English people have been stereotyped as cold and unfriendly, but the truth is that London is a busy, fast city. Through my observation, I believe that some English people are a little reserved and private but somehow I realised that most people I see during the day are busy travelling, shopping or working, not in the mood for socialising!When night falls, try heading down to the local pub for happy hour. With a little bit of effort, you're bound to meet a few nice, chatty, easy going and jovial blokes.

London, as everyone knows, is an expensive place to live and visit. What not so many people seem to realise however, is that the city does offer a wonderful range of things to do for people who doesn’t even have a penny in their pocket....ME!Surprise huh?Well it depends on what your interests are. I know mine is to savour the so-called London culture and experience. All that is required is a sense of adventure and a trusty up to date London guide book.Trust me, nothing beats the satisfaction of finding it.


Things I did for free:
Well, I've attempted to decipher the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum without any luck (I'll pay top dollar to anyone who can do it), gazed at the original Apollo 10 Command module in the Science Museum (my rocket scientist brother would love it), and marveled at the work of the world’s greatest artists, from Monet's 'Bathers at La Grenouillère' to Picasso's Child with a Dove, and even Damien Hirst, at the National Gallery and the Tate Modern.

That alone wasn't enough to satisfy my cultural needs. Next in line was the Victoria and Albert Museum in Knightsbridge which houses collections of almost every man made object you can imagine (From a 15th-century Minbar to a Tipu's Tiger made around 1795 to a Mazarin Chest made around 1640) and the National Maritime Museum, in the centre of the spectacular Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.

When I had enough culture for one day and was simply looking to relax, then one of London’s picturesque parks makes for an ideal location. The views on a clear day from Alexandra Palace or the Royal Observatory hill in Greenwich Park are possibly the finest in London I must say.

A visit to London’s markets are simply fantastic and probably the best way to soak up the atmosphere of the capital’s various districts. The Chrisp Street and Spitalfields Markets in the East End hold regular free events, including seasonal festivals and displays of local artists. Another market not to be missed, Camden Market, especially on a Sunday, is hard to beat. Weird and wonderful rhythms, fashions, tastes, and smells all competing for my attention, while the market itself is so big that I couldn't cover it all in an afternoon.
*Disclaimer: The term "free" does not include tube, buses and railway fares



London is also a city filled with vibrant musical theatre scenes all thanks to big budget West End theatre productions. It is a MUST watch even if it'll cost you 30 pounds! Well for what it's worth, there were claims that the West End theatre scene is much bigger than Broadway. After watching a few, I was an instant believer craving for more only to be disappointed for my wallet wasn't allowing me to do so. Sadly I couldn't manage to get them on DVD. Don't think they are even available in stores!



Well besides being a traveller (an extremely thirsty one I might add), I've also taken the liberty to contact and catch up with some old mates. Some I've not seen in years!

Jess:
Sis, thanks for taking time off your busy schedule to show me around. Thanks for taking me for spicy Korean food that left me with a fiery belly. Thanks for taking me for a night out of fun with your London based NZ crew in Tiger Tiger and the other club I can't seem to remember. I had a great time (except for that little incident involving that cunt of an Englishman). Send my regards to them the next time you all meet up ya?

Hsern Wei:
The man who really took the effort and time to show me a great time. Thanks for taking me out for a pint or two (sometimes more) during happy hour, introducing me to cidars (not forgetting, teaching me the method to drink them while I keep insisting that it's all a marketing propaganda) and accompanying me for all the London walks especially the Ghost by gaslight - The Spooky London Pub Crawl (where we discovered a piece of history called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese) and the Jack the Ripper walk. Will never forget your random phrases during the walk like a "Oh Lord!12 more pubs to cover and this is my second pint already" and will definitely cherish the "Jack the Ripper walk that wasn't meant to be all thanks to a failing HP batt" experience. Please find me a nice normal pretty English girl that I can marry so that I can go back to London on a longer term basis ok?And 1 more thing. Please LOCATE that pikey video for my viewing pleasure.

Nikki:
Thanks for the "Sorry for not getting back to you earlier. BTW, it's Guy Fawkes Night...let's shoot some crackers!". Oh yeah!Before I forget happy belated b'day (it's 4.18am, 20th March 2007 here in Malaysia). Hope to meet the Mister the next time we meet ya?

Nic:
Thanks for the "Sorry dude can't meet up...caught up with work". At least we did a little catching up over the phone. Don't be a stranger when you come back ok?

Carl:
Was great to finally have met you. Thanks for adding up to the pool of fun during our Korean and Vietnamese themed dinners. Will definitely remember that button badge businesses are a force to be reckon with. But on a different note, I'm really jealous of you. A civil engineer who gets paid shitload just to erect traffic lights. So when is our next session for drinks?



Well, there's so much to tell and so much to show bout London. I had the best time there plus a few other major European cities as well. The country; captivating, the culture; distinctive, the company; enchanting and the experience; extraordinary. If opportunity arises, without a doubt, without thinking twice, I would jump the wagon for sure. Well maybe for a couple of years. London is definitely not for the old, retired and the weak hearted. It's a good place to experience while we're still young. To sum up what London is like, I would say:

You either love it or hate it..just like Marmite.

When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford