A Really Bad Cough and Other Thoughts

I have been coughing for about 2 weeks and during this period of time, I have visited the doctor thrice. Hopefully, I will recover by this weekend, so that I can head for Japanese class next week without any worries or discomfort. Which reminds me, I should revise what I learnt previously. Due to the limited availability of classes, it has been a month since I last attended any lessons on the Japanese language. I could have forgotten quite a bit of material. -_-

After looking through my blog recently, I realized that there is a lack of images for the past couple of posts. Coincidentally, I have just submitted an article along with some photographs for the latest issue of my company's internal newsletter. Therefore, I thought it might be a good opportunity to upload these photographs here as well. They were taken courtesy of my colleague, Benjamin, with his excellent photography skills. True be told, I am quite reluctant to remove my figurines from their packaging, especially since my room does not possess sufficient storage space right now.


Lala from To Love Ru, a birthday gift from my sister.


My favourite To Heart 2 character, Manaka Komaki.


One of the more popular 妹 in anime right now, Kirino Kousaka.


A group image.


On the left, 1/4 scale Fate from Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS. And to the right, Kallen from Code Geass, a gift from Luke and friends during one of my birthdays.

Moving on to a more philosophical aspect of this post, last Saturday, I was on my way home from Ang Mo Kio. Whilst travelling along a sheltered walkway, I happened to notice a snail making its way across the pavement, from one grass patch to another. Knowing that the walkway is often used by my fellow human beings, I considered picking the snail up to aid it in its slow journey, but ultimately, I decided against doing so partly due to a fear of coming into direct contact with the snail. After taking a few steps forward, a fellow human being walked past me, towards the direction of the snail, just as I predicted. Again, I could have warned the man about the snail on his path, but I did not. Watching the scenario unfold before my eyes, the man avoided stepping on the snail, but the movement of his feet kicked it quite a distance. I am unsure if the snail was killed during this unfortunate accident, but I can't help but feel a little guilty about not doing anything throughout the entire situation. Should I have left things to fate or perhaps it would be better if I had intervened?

Two of my friends have gone abroad for holiday recently - one to South Korea and the other to United States. The former should have been back yesterday and I hope I wasn't forgotten when it comes to souvenirs. :p

Last but not least, I would like to post a question to everyone. Have you ever encountered a situation whereby a simple text message can bring about a flood of mixed emotions - happiness, disappointment, relief, etc? It is quite amazing, wouldn't you say so?

Everyday is a Learning Journey.

I managed to apply for a day of leave on 10 March 2011 and within that day, I gained quite a bit of knowledge. Some of these knowledge can be found or seen in our daily lives, but more often than not, we tend to take them for granted.

- Sometimes, a single phone call can save us quite a bit of inconvenience. Furthermore, an answer could be obtained on the spot.

- Shops and stores need to constantly upgrade in order to survive the competition. Upon speaking with the store owner after having my photograph taken did I learn that negatives are no longer provided; instead a soft copy will be issued within a CD-Rom.

- Waiting for others may not necessarily be frustrating, especially if one is anticipating the upcoming activity. In addition, the surroundings may provide some form of entertainment, perhaps in the form of animal (and human) behaviour.

- Is it true that males do not really like to consume sweet foodstuff? I should conduct a survey among my peers. Otherwise, I may be considered an anomaly or outlier.

- Depending on the situation, it may be impolite to speak while eating. Quite obvious isn't it, but most of us fail to take note of such behaviour... or is it only me? O_o

- Someone convinced me about how troublesome it would be to use an umbrella or raincoat, especially if the rain is still bearable. I am quite amused by the analysis provided. :) However, how can I abandon my trusty umbrella, who has gone through thick and thin with me over the years?

- Even though I am not very music-literate, I am impressed by how passionate and happy others can be while studying said subject. The same can be said of other fields of studies. Just take a look at your surroundings when entering the local libraries. That being said, is music performed by chinese instruments as widespread as its western counterparts? Looking back, I believe quite a few secondary schools would have chinese orchestra as a co-curricular activity.

- Perhaps I am indeed too mindful of the opinions of others. Instead of simply going along with their views (and/or words), I could be more pro-active by making a decision first, and subsequently informing the other party. The chinese saying "先斩后奏" comes to mind.

- Lastly, time always flies by when one is having fun. I do hope to spend more time with certain individuals, be it family or friends, assuming I am given the opportunity to do so. Now that quite a number of us are working, and some in relationships (I feel the envy rising within me), opportunities for us to meet up can be limited, even more so in a big group.

The above sums up my particular Thursday.

Moving on, I am sure most of us would be aware of the disasters which struck Japan recently. An earthquake of a huge magnitude occurred in Japan, and the subsequent tsunami, added to the woes of its residents. As I write, Japan is also facing another potential problem with its nuclear plants, which were damaged by the earthquake. Hopefully, with help from the international community, Japan and its residents will be able to rebuild the affected areas as well as their lives.

Last but not least, on another unrelated note, I just learned how to type sentences out in Japanese using my laptop. The following would be a simple test to see if they can appear on my blog.

熊さんは可愛いです。

あなたはとても可愛いです。

Thoughts on Reservist.. and An Upcoming Test!?

I had wanted to write this post on Monday, 28 February 2011, my first day back at work after reservist. As the day went by, I was surprised to find myself missing reservist, most probably due to the backlog of tasks I had to clear in the office. I wonder if my fellow camp-mates and friends felt the same way?

To a certain extent, I have to say that my 6th In-Camp-Training was quite enjoyable. Throughout this period of time, I learned that there are some people whom we can never work smoothly together with, but yet we can still have fun together. The 1/3 lunch incident, dessert incident, banana jokes as well as the unfortunate event where I slipped and knocked my head were quite memorable. Hopefully, I will be able to see my fellow camp-mates and friends soon, possibly at a clubbing session since they seem keen on the idea. The only problem - I don't club nor drink. Maybe orange juice will be a wise idea.

In addition, my Japanese test for the Elementary 2 level is just a week away. I have a friend who has not attended classes for quite a while, but intends to sit for the test. I can't help but imagine the looks on the faces of our fellow classmates, even more so if my friend does well for the test. What will our Sensei say? :D

That being said, I should also make an effort to revise and study hard over the next few days.

Happy 25th Birthday Shinobu! And a Huge Update?

I can't believe it has been a year since my last update. Thankfully for Shinobu, I will always return to my blog around 15 November of every year.

First and foremost, Happy 25th Birthday Shinobu Maehara! May all your dreams and wishes come true on this very special day! It has been many years since the publication of Love Hina, but I am sure said title remains fondly in the memories of many readers. However, for those of you who don't know, a special all-colour chapter of Love Hina was published to celebrate the 300th chapter of Negima not too long ago. One can easily find it by performing a seach on Yahoo or Google... or so I think.

Without further ado, here are more images to celebrate Shinobu's 25th birthday!


Looking good in whatever clothes she wears.


Even more kawaii when blushing.


Perfect day for a picnic. One should take the opportunity to enjoy good food and the beautiful nature surrounding us.


Shinobu is reminding us that Christmas is just around the corner. Have you been a good person this year?


Baths can be fun too.


Fond memories from the old days.

Enjoy your day Shinobu!

Moving on to some updates in my daily life, I am glad to say that I have been well. Not too long ago, I came to realize that the health of one's family members and that of oneself is of utmost importance. Of course, we should also show concern for friends who are close to ourselves. Although it is quite an easy concept to grasp, people tend to take it for granted, especially in the pursuit of other goals.

Throughout the past one year, there have been moments where I craved for companionship, hoping to find a special someone who will listen to all my troubles and speak of any topic under the sun with myself. Looking back, I must have been rather moody on those days. Romance cannot be rushed, as some would claim, but at the same time, one should not neglect it if the opportunity comes knocking. Hopefully, mine will arrive soon enough.

Japanese classes have also become a part of my weekly schedule. Although I am still at the early stages of learning, I do hope to become more proficient over time, assuming I make an effort to revise on a regular basis. Instead of heading straight home after work from Mondays to Fridays, I thought it might be a good idea to sign up for some classes, partly to improve myself. To a certain extent, I also believe it will open more doors in future, perhaps career-wise.

Apart from the above, I don't think I have changed much. Most of my interests remain the same, but my room is definitely piling up with additional anime magazines, manga titles and figurines. Perhaps it would be a good opportunity to spring clean my room by utilising the leave which must be cleared by the end of December. 7 days (as of this post) should be enough... right?

I assume the wall of text must have hurt some of your eyes? Here are the photographs which I promised my friends previously. I am embarrassed to say that some of them go as far back as August 2009. ^_^;;







Birthday celebration in 2009. If my memory serves me right, we had a Japanese dinner at Paragon. Call me superstitious; I read somewhere that it isn't appropriate to take a photograph of 3 people.


Only Aw was absent from this gathering. When was the last time we had full attendance? We had a great time eating at Dian Xiao Er and cracking jokes about the scenes in medieval martial arts related movies.


Dinner at Sizzler. We were the last few patrons to leave.








Another birthday celebration, this time in 2010. Coincidentally, we had Japanese food again. Then again, what other choices are available? ;)








Session 2 of the Zombies! boardgame which I played with Gan, Kester and Mark. This particular game brought out the worst in us as only one player can win, either by reaching the helipad first or killing 25 zombies. There was plenty of laughter when we turned on one another. And guess what? I won on both occasions. Woot Hoot!

Lesson Learned: Trust only yourself during a zombie outbreak. :P

That's it for now. Till the next time!

Happy 24th Birthday Shinobu! (A Quick Update)

Ok, I guess I am a couple of hours late. Happy Belated Birthday Shinobu! May all your dreams and wishes come true!

How time flies. Yet another year has passed and my beloved female anime character is a year older. I am not sure if the younger anime fans know who Shinobu Maehara is, since a few years have passed since the initial airing of "Love Hina". Nevertheless, Shinobu will always remain important to me.

Here are some Shinobu-related images:


A cake to celebrate the occasion.


Christmas is around the corner and it appears that Shinobu is in the mood for some singing.


It has been raining over here recently; an umbrella would come in handy.


Don't fall ill.


An obligatory pic of grown-up Shinobu.

Have fun on this very day!

P.S. I should be getting around to posting all the birthday photos I took a few months back... I hope. ^_^;;

How My Heart Aches Too...

Over the short timespan of 6 months, one of my closer female friends lost two of her loved ones. I can only imagine how miserable she must be feeling right now. When I met her last Thursday, few words were spoken between the both of us, but from her facial expression, I did not need to hear them to understand her emotions.

I believe this is the first time I ever saw her cry, not to mention so badly, in our 9 years of friendship. It is inevitable for human beings to grieve when a loved one leaves our side; suppressing the tears would definitely make things worse... at least in my opinion.

While she sobbed and recalled her memories of her loved one, plenty of emotions surged within me as well, most notably that of helplessness, since I couldn't provide her with much comfort. The scene in which she said "I really miss her" remains deeply etched in my mind. How I wish I was able to hold her and wipe away those tears of sadness; unfortunately, I wasn't even able to offer her a packet of tissue.

The road ahead remains difficult, at least in the near future, where you have to adapt to quite a bit of changes in your life, but if you are reading this post, I sincerely hope you remain strong to overcome all hurdles. If the need ever arises, don't ever hesitate to seek my assistance. I will always be around.

Disappointment... and A Lack of Conviction

I am sorely bitter that my planned trip to Japan in August, to attend Comiket 76, has been postponed, most likely till December. Although there will be a winter Comiket held at the end of the year, it is usually of a smaller scale as compared to the one in August.

Warning: I am going to rant in this particular post and obscenities will be used. More importantly, my rant is directed at some people whom I know, so if you are going to get offended, don't read on.

First off, let me start by saying that all my friends are nice people. Otherwise, they wouldn't be my friends in the first place.

Now comes the horrible bit. It is inevitable for human beings to have flaws, but some antics of my friends have definitely gotten on my nerves, especially with regards to our planned trip to Japan.

Being the person that I am, I asked around to see who else is interested in visiting Japan and attending Comiket 76. Although there were some negative replies from a couple of friends, telling me to go ahead without them, either due to potential work commitments or lack of funds, I don't really blame them, since their answer were pretty clear cut.

After some searching and discussion, I thought I had finally found someone to accompany me on my trip. Around 3 weeks ago, we were talking about booking the flight tickets, but until yesterday, nothing has been done. Instead, the entire trip has been postponed to December! Although I am still keen on visiting Japan, a huge portion of my enthusiasm has been lost.

I can't help but feel that I have been played out by a friend. If you aren't interested in the entire trip or unable to do so at this time of the year, just FU*KING say so! Maybe I am jumping to conclusions, but the delay in the booking and purchase of the flight tickets seem to indicate that he wasn't interested. In fact, I doubt he knew which part of Japan he would like to visit, nor the hotels he would like to reside at. I admit the recent Influenza A outbreak may have caused some worry, especially if one were to get quarantined. Still, that does not appear to be the case.

Although I have on many occasions stated that I would require the air tickets soon, if we were to visit Japan in August, since documentary proof of my trip has to be submitted to Mindef and my unit, he has clearly ignored this particular piece of information. Better yet, one of his main reasons for postponing the trip to December would be the cooler weather. Of course, he did add that there will be fellow travellers.

Two words come to mind: FU*KING PU**Y! If you are so damned scared of the sun and humidity, why not use an umbrella while living in Singapore for past 20-odd years? In fact, don't head out at all! When one provides such reasons, it only goes to show that they are less passionate about attending the convention as compared to myself. Maybe he simply wasn't as hardcore an anime and manga otaku as I made him out to be.

I wouldn't say I am not at fault. Since the entire trip was my idea, I should have made a firm stand on all decisions, instead of leaving them to the convenience of others. I did notice his lack of interest, and perhaps I should have voiced it out along the way. Unfortunately, I didn't, leading to the current situation.

There are definitely pros and cons to visiting Japan at different times of the year, one of which would the submission of documents to the authorities. However, one can never tell when I may be called up for military duties again.

In addition, there are a couple of lessons I have learned from the whole saga:
1) Clearly indicate my stand. If I had been more determined, with a stronger sense of conviction, my attendance at Comiket 76 would definitely been confirmed.

2) It is all right to be angry. Recently, I have been trying much harder to put myself into the shoes of others, from the slow driver on the road, all the way to the passengers not moving to the centre carriage of a train. For some reason, I just can't empathize with my friend, since I was so looking forward to the vacation.

Lastly, if you are the friend whom I mentioned in the above post, please kindly take no offence to my harsh words. I sincerely wish that our friendship will remain at the same level as it is. I simply had to vent my anger and frustrations somewhere. Even as I speak, these negative emotions are still present within me... unfortunately.

Has it been 5 Months since my last post!?

Welcome to yet another episode of Gambler's somewhat random "Thoughts for the Day"! It has definitely been a while and I hope the following post will keep you deeply entertained.

Well then, let me start off with my work life before proceeding on to the juicier bits. In the past 5 months, I have gotten to know some of my colleagues a lot better, which helps to improve relationships. Of course, some of my negative traits may have revealed themselves, *cough* gambling habits *cough*, and I doubt they have gone unnoticed. However, we are only human and there are bound to be some faults with each and every one of us. As long as they aren't serious flaws, I assume everything should be fine.

Apart from inter-personal relations within the office, my workload has increased significantly too. Gone are the days where I can ask if anyone else needs any assistance with their various tasks. Although I have been completing my work on time, I am also the type of person who needs the affirmation of others, especially my managers, on my progress and contributions. There hasn't been any complaints so far, which may be a good sign, since some may say "No news is good news". Then again, neither is there any form of commendation... at least not to my knowledge.

There are many things I have yet to learn, but hopefully, opportunities will present themselves, allowing me to grasp them soon enough.

Moving on to my personal and financial life, the Champions League has been both a source and loss of income for my wallet and bank account. I managed to win around $30 from my soccer bets on the results of the quarter-finals, but I also lost 1/3 of it on the semi-final matches held over the past couple of days. I did not expect both Barcelona v Chelsea and Man U v Arsenal to be that low-scoring. Anyway, some of my winnings did go to the poor and needy, notably through the purchase of tissue packets.

A dollar may not mean a lot to us, but this sum of money could have a significant impact on the daily lives of the old, poor and needy. My less than postworthy gesture of kindness reminded me that there is no way I can help everyone, everyday. IF ONLY I HAD MORE POWER... To a certain extent, I understand how the protagonists of the recent Gundam series (Seed, Destiny and 00) feel. Power in the right hands can change the world; at the same time, the possibility of corrupting one remains very real.

I have also been planning for my trip to Japan in August. At the moment, nothing has been confirmed, since there are a couple of obstacles hindering my path. Hopefully, all will turn out fine, allowing me to visit the biggest and most popular convention of them all: Comic Market, commonly known as Comiket to those familiar with the anime and manga scene.

On the topic of Japan, I would think its people are quite a creative and innovative bunch. Such a trait can be clearly seen in their re-invention of certain goods and services. Don't ask my how I came across the following product (photo courtesy of a member on a forum I frequent):



Yes, you got it right; those are mousepads with "boobs", also known as oppai mousepads in the otaku community. Apparently, they are rather popular among certain anime and manga fans. A simple search on hlj.com and hobbysearch revealed that these mousepads cost slightly more than 3000 yen, which would amount to around S$50. The contours of the mousepad supposedly provides wrist support for a computer user, though how effective the product serves its purpose remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the companies which came up with the idea to manufacture these products seem to be making good money...

To further prove my point, the Japanese have recently taken the traditional workout video and re-packaged it with anime scenes and sequences. From the image below, one can easily tell why the DVD is popular among the male audience.



Entitled "Isshou ni Training (with Hinako)", the workout anime is suitable for viewers of all ages. As long as it helps viewers to engage in some form of exercise, I would think it has served its purpose as an useful product.

Last but not least, there is "K-On!", an anime which began airing in Japan recently, focusing on 4 highschool girls and their lives as band members. Apparently, there is an ongoing "K-On!" craze, where sales of guitars are going up in Japan. People have even starting purchasing left-handed guitars, which I didn't think were very popular to begin with.

To end off, I shall leave all of you with an image featuring the K-On girls and their teacher in meido outfits. Enjoy!



P.S. My next post is going to be a f**king rant.

December: The Month of Giving... and Plenty of Birthday Celebrations

Once again, I apologize for the late update. I promised you people I would post the respective photos we have taken as soon as possible, but my friend "procrastination" prevented me from doing so. Nonetheless, better late than never right?

The first birthday celebration was that of my "Sis", which was brought forward by a week due to our respective busy schedules. Since all of us couldn't decide on a present, our next best alternative was to go for dinner at Crystal Jade Kitchen, where Chai Bak and I split the cost among ourselves. As usual I ended up eating the most, not because I wanted to, but rather, due to the fact that everyone else ordered too much and leaving the food un-eaten would be such a waste. Although we did not take any photos while at the restaurant, we made up for it with those shot at Heeren.


Chai Bak and I, with my usual stupid pose


Cailin and I, this time imitating Ranka from Macross Frontier


Chai Bak and Cailin


Chai Bak and Cailin again, with the Coca-Cola decoration located just outside of Heeren as a background


Cailin and I. My pose keeps getting all the more ridiculous.


Ran out of ideas, so I just stood still.

The following week was just as hectic. Apart from accompanying Hui Shi on her hard disk shopping trip at Funan and dinner at Waraku (Marina Square), I spent Sunday night, all the way till Monday morning, together with Kester and Gan, at Mark's place, killing zombies... or rather, getting killed by them, as Gan would put it. Now that I have started working, I have come to appreciate public holidays all the more, since they provide a break from my weekly working schedule, and also an opportunity to meet up with friends.

Fast forward to 13th Dec, where I organized a birthday celebration cum gathering for the close friends I have made during my national service days, whom coincidentally, fall under the "Singles Club", perhaps with the exception of Gerald. Oops... did I let loose a secret? Jokes aside, everyone, with the exception of Jason Tay, who is still in America, and Luke, who wanted to watch his weekly episode of Star Wars: The Clone War, were present. Before anyone starts flaming my blog, the main reason for Luke's absence was due to the pain in his leg. If I am not wrong, it should be healing properly by now. Aw did not join us for dinner, but graced us with his presence at Swensons, before we dug into the extremely hard yet delicious ice cream cake. However, I would like to apologize for presenting you people with such a simple gift; I had wanted to treat everyone whose birthday falls in December to dinner, but with 5 of you celebrating it together, the cost would be unbearably high, even with Luke and Wong chipping in.


The only and only photo we took for the night. From left to right in a clockwise manner: Marcus, Gerald, Jeffrey, Aw, Wong, myself and Jason Tan. And yes, the table does look rather messy after our meal.

Hopefully, I will be able to organize another of such outing some time soon, with an equally high attendance, if not more.

Since it is already 01 Jan 2009, I would like to wish everyone a Merry New Year! May 2009 be a good, if not excellent, year for all us, filled with good health, peace and prosperity!

P.S. Why do people tend to use the phrase "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" instead of "Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year"? Just a question that has been bothering me for a while.

Happy 23rd Birthday Shinobu!

Before I begin on the main theme for the day, I would like to post some update on my previous post. I finally opened up the last of my booster packs and unfortunately, the card which I so desired, featuring Manaka Komaki, wasn't a part of it. I could go on and on about being unlucky, but today isn't the appropriate time for such a rant, lest I spoil the mood of an important birthday celebration.

Yes, you guessed it! Happy 23rd Birthday Shinobu, mai beloved waifu! May all your dreams and wishes come true on this very special day!

How quickly another year has passed. I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for being by my side, rain or shine. You were there to support me when I was struggling with my exam revisions, there to give me encouragement when I applied for a full-time job. When I overspent on anime- and manga-related goods, you trusted me to manage my own finances and neither did you complain about the figurines and mousepads I bought. More importantly, when I was ill (and recently too), you were there to nurse me back to health. Thank you for all that you have done!

Here are some images in which Shinobu does not mind sharing with all of you:



Am I ronery?


Swimming is a good form of exercise.


Meido outfit


Kawaii when angry...


Even cuter when blushing.


"Gambler~~~! I told you not to embarrass me by announcing my birthday on your blog."

Enjoy your day Shinobu!

Well, I hope all of you had a good laugh. Jokes aside, I know Shinobu isn't real, or at least I have yet to meet her, but I do wish that someday, I can find a partner who will care for me in the same way I mentioned above.

Fate Works in the Most Unpredictable Manner

Some things were never meant to be.

As a follow up to my previous post, the above statement could apply not only to relationships, but to all other aspects of life as well. For those who are still single, one may wonder why the other party is already attached or has no feelings for oneself. For those seeking employment, one may bemoan not being given a chance by his/her potential employer. Of course, I am not suggesting that people should use "Fate" as an excuse to give up easily, but there are times when trying hard just does not produce the desired results.

On the other hand, Fate can bring about pleasant surprises at times. On Halloween, I was feeling rather moody after receiving some unexpected news, thanks to my nosey nature. Like they say, "Curiosity killed the cat". While wallowing in self-pity, I decided to open a few more packets of my newly acquired Lycee Cards (credit going to Luke for his help in ordering the product online) to ease my sorrow. All of a sudden, everything became much brighter when I obtained the following card:


A Multi Lucky Card! It is supposedly an ultra-rare card, which can be exchanged for another 5 limited edition cards, although such a service is only available in Japan. I guess it is time for me to start seeking help from my online friends living in that region.

Now that I am on the topic of Lycee, I might as well showcase my other cards. Being a big fan of To Heart 1 and 2, I simply had to buy a booster box of Lycee's Leaf Based Edition 1.


Young Tamaki promo which comes only with the purchase of a booster box.

My other cards, notably those featuring the characters from To Heart 1 and 2, starting from the "rares" all the way to the "commons":











And lastly, an image of the Lycee Leaf Based Edition 1 booster box and my last unopened booster pack. Although I have gotten quite a number of nice cards, my favourite character from To Heart 2, Manaka Komaki, still eludes me. Please let her be in this very last packet! I wouldn't mind another Lucky Card Multi though. :p



In addition, I have received my confirmation letter, so I am officially a full-time employee at my new workplace. Three months has passed rather quickly, but I am glad to have learned many new things and meet plenty of people, some of whom are very nice, which I can call "friends". Hopefully, they see me in the same light too.