Peaceful Evening @ Bk Timah

I left work early yday afternoon and decided to head down to Bk Timah Nature Reserves for a short relaxation.

Cool, the quarry ambience was so peaceful and relaxing. Spotted a very loving family of 3 by the side and decided to take some pictures of them.

The baby was sleeping soundly in its mummy's cradle, while the father is hugging the mother from the back affectionately.

Hehee...

Start the ball rolling

Managed to squeeze a few hrs of my sunday to attend the 28th MC retreat.

The society is now made up of very fun loving and energetic people. There were even a number of freshies (yes, yr1s!) joining in today's session (imagine they have only started their NUS life jus a couple of mths ago). Indeed, the society belongs to everybody, be it the MCs, old seniors, active members and freshies. Everyone contributes and shld feel a sense of belonging to the society.

This pic is taken with my discussion grp - i think they are really great. I feel very movitated and spirited with them around.

One very important person we must thank is Puay Kim aka PK. I think he has played a very crucial role in bringing back the alumni to the society (Dharma circles in particular), which has definitely given a strong positive impact to the society.

Its always easy to be just physical present, make a few effortless comments etc. But to get things planned out and really get them moving is a totally different story. PK has started the ball rolling.

ChooChoo Track Revisit

Check out more photos @ www.sgnature.blogspot.com & photobucket_sgnature

Railway Revisit - The gals are great!

Kudos to my female colleagues who braved with us through the abandoned railway track. I have really underestimated them. They were much more garang and adventurous than i have expected. Well done ladies!

Great attendance for Dharma Circle

I am very impressed by the turnouts of the NUSBS Dharma Circles. Besides the invited alumni, we actually have surprise alumni visits - ppl whom we have never met before.

It seems that the favourable conditions are all coming back to support the society.

Mini Bday Celebration

Lena's bday! Bought a brownie from Spinelli at my work place and we had a mini celebration at PGP.

I really feel fortunate to have found her as my soul mate.

$

Lately, I have been spending much, definitely incurring deficit this month.

1) a pair of brake pads: $80
2) 4 x yokohama tyres: $230
3) dental visit: $36
4) treats for friends' bdays: >$100

UOB Singtel card kinda 'cheated' me by telling me they can waive my caller id subscription ($5/mth) if i were to upgrade to platinum card. But i found out later that this is not applicable to corporate plans (i am using Singtel corporate rate). However, the card has proven to be useful many a times, esp at eateries giving additional discounts up to 20%.

My Citibank platinum is only useful when i shop for groceries and pump fuels. It gives me 3% petrol discount on spot, plus additional 5% rebate monthly. Diesel is now having discount at 25%, meaning i get a total of (25+3+5) = 33% discount! Hopefully this saving can help to reduce the stress i am facing on my monthly expenditures.

Oh yes, Jay Chou has released a new album, with a song sung together with Fei Yu Qing. This song is really nice, but i thought it wud be better if Fei Yu Qing sing it alone, LOL. I guess many others share the same sentiments (some of my friends plus the deejays from 933).

Meaningful Day

I do not have the mood to write tonight, but I thought I have just spent a very meaningful today, and wish to jot it down.

This morning, I met up with my 2 RT boys at the Kaki Bukit Prison. They were only 18. Its nice meeting them but as very impressionable youths, I think they seriously need a lot of positive influences and guidiances. In the afternoon, I visited another prison in Changi to observe my mentor conduct a workshop. The immates were all very polite and receptive, and treated us full of respect. I guess tts becos they knew we are there to help them and not for other ulterior motives.

This afternoon i attended the NUSBSA AGM. Volunteered a couple of minor roles - but am feeling pretty guilty cos i seriously lacked practice in myself - So who am i to help out in this religious society? Well, i guess the best way out is NOT not to volunteer, but rather work harder on myself.

Oh yes, yday's DC was very interesting, as we had very old snrs Chung Mun and Pinru to share with us the Dharma. They are both very experienced Dharma facilitators since the older NUSBS days, and i guess theres much for me to pick up from them. I may have missed their era, but am glad to be given a chance to attend a DC and really benefitted myself from the session.

The Diamond Cutter

I have allocated a shelf dedicated for my Dharma books (of cos there are more in other cupboards). Just like many of my peers, I did not manage to finish reading all the books. Most of the books are either read half-way or less. In fact, there are some books which i have not even flipped a single page before.

Shown in the 2nd picture is this book titled "The Diamond Cutter". This nice little red book is still nicely wrapped in plastic, and can be sold as new anytime, LOL. Found together with it was this kind little note written to me by a BS senior:

"Dear Gordon,

Yup Yup! This book is here at last! Went to get it before meeting just now. Kinda knew you'd turn up (fortunately, esle Alice'd haf to bring it home, hee...).

Anyhow, this book is meant as a gift for you. I've just gotten my copy too, so hopefully we can discuss its contents together over ICQ yah? :) Yah read it at your own leisure. At least now you cannot say you're not as 'Dharmic' as the rest liao. :)

Haha relax. Actually I just hope this book will benefit you both in your spiritual progress and social progress.

Regards

Kenneth Loh

1/3/02 "

I read this note with gratitude and guilt. Kenneth was the treasurer of my MC then, while i was the dy secretary, v new to buddhism. Those were the days when juniors were often 'pampered' by the seniors in BS. We have had snrs giving us dharma books, buddha statues and of cos lots of spiritual guidance and advice. I am feeling guilty cos i knew i wasnt feeling grateful then ( i know it judging from the fact tt the book remains unopened). I was often filled with angst and loved to challenge the snrs then.

The growing up process is sweet. I have really learnt much from my snrs, and i thank them for who i am today. That is also why i tried my best to 'repay' the kindness by contributing back to the society as much as i can. But i know i am not doing good enough though. Way to go...

Today marks the end of the 27th MC for NUSBS. This is the 7th NUSBS AGM i have attended, 4 times as voters, 3 times as vote-counters. I feel very happy this evening (i duno why), probably because i really feel the days ahead of NUSBS are bright.

I think Cindy has done an excellent job over the past 1 yr. Some of you may agree with me that NUSBS has been going on a downhill trend over the past few yrs (due to several factors and conditions), but over the past 1 yr, i feel that everything is brightening up once again :D For instance, this evening we have as many as 70++ voters (a number which we didnt get since the 23rd MC) - considering the limited number of hostelites NUSBS has. The turnout and retaining rate for the welcome tea was commendable too. And most imptly, the craziness, the noise and spirits are back.

On a darker note, i wasnt very comfortable with the idea of 'giving treats' to others anymore. Coming from a generous family, my dad has always reminded us to be generous to our friends. He passed me a car since my late army days and have always encouraged me to give rides to my friends - thats why i really have the liberty to use the car for nusbs services. I remembered when i first graduated, i have the sudden feeling of being 'loaded', and was really generous in giving my juniors treats for quite a number of times. But now, i feel like a cash-strapped fellow, having to challenge against the ever-increasing expenses - fuels, erps, electrical bills etc, with the same amt of pay. I just cant use my money as freely as before.

Perhaps i am not like some of the more fortunate fellows who need not support their family households much, i am actually running into deficits for certian months. The only 'income' i really see is my CPF piling up every month.

I apologise if i have appeared or behaved to be a miser lately. But sometimes, i really dun see the need to give unneccesary treats.