Leaving on a jet plane

... but I do know when I will be home.

Typing this post from T2's free internet kiosk. Waiting for my flight in 45 minutes. Off to US to visit my brother. A nice break from Singapore. Will be back on 11 December; then the mad rush of December begins. SRC, LTC, then back to school and at the same time there is One Voice retreat, leadership retreat etc.

Long December indeed.

For all you peeps, don't attempt SMSing me, it will cost!

Cornerstone update #4

There are a lot more pics in my Flickr. But this one really shows how far it is progressing. 

Terminal 3

My Dad flew off to London this evening for a business trip. Interesting thing was that his flight was a test flight from the new Terminal 3 building. Well, took the opportunity to take some pictures of the place. 

The layout and scheme is pretty nice, just that the shops aren't open yet.

This is the check-in area. 

This leads to the viewing gallery. Nothing much to see at the gallery actually. 

A birds's eye view of the check in area. 

Here is the arrival area. Lighting was very poor here. 

Cornerstone Update #3

Realise that I didn't post a lot of the pictures that I've been posting on Guitar4Christ or AGF. So here are some!

The back being braced.


The back fully braced and voiced.


The dove shaped soundport. It's like a second soundhole.


The back glued on! :D


A look at the neck!

SRC advert

Starring our good friend Shaun!

Cute!

Looks like my form class finally discovered my real nickname. I actually prefer it to teddy bear; which was my nick before mashimaro. The latter somehow sticks better.

Here's Wenya's masterpiece:



Cute! HAHA!

Here's Ryan's from two years ago:

Chicken Nuggets, popcorn chicken...

This is mainly for my form class.

This is a recipe for chicken nuggets. But if you cut the chicken down to a smaller size, it will become popcorn chicken. The good thing about it is that it does not involve any frying.

Ingredients:
- Chicken fillets
- Biscuits / crackers / bread crumbs
- Plain Yoghurt
- Pepper, salt, chilli and coriander power


Step 1:
- Cut the chicken into small bits
- That's just 4 pieces of the chicken fillets


Step 2
- Prepare the marinate
- Mix the yoghurt, salt, pepper, spices together


Step 4:
- Crush the biscuits
- Mix the chicken pieces into the marinate
- Prepare the tray


Step 5:
- Coat the chicken pieces with the crumbs


Step 6:
- Bake on very high heat for 20 minutes


This is the end result. That's good for 3 or 4 servings. One tray of chicken should make a solid 12 servings at the least. It is far cheaper than buying pre-cooked stuff.


'

Above All

The anonymous spammer thinks I don't update often enough. Well, will try do so a little more now, since I am a little bit more time now.

Anyway, this is one of the best videos I've seen on Youtube. I'm still amazed each time I see it.

The calm before the storm

It the nice calm before the storm, a storm of marking that is! It is interesting to sit on this side of the examination after being on the other for a good portion of my life. I have to say, teachers get stressed during this period just as much as students. Some signs of stress:

1) Dreamt that the neck of my Taylor broke and the bridge was torn off (more like a nightmare)
2) Dreamt that my Cornerstone's top broke in mid-construction :(
3) Dreamt that I managed to sell my Ibanez and Maestro, only to wake up to find that haven't been sold yet :(
4) Dreamt of "someone". Honestly, it was a little disturbing... cos rottan class...
5) Didn't dream on some nights... those were pleasant.

Signs of stress in the common room... convo between Mr A and Mr E:

Mr E: Mr A, you reminded to remind you early this morning about something.

Me A: Please remind me about what I reminded you to remind me this morning. (Sounds like Jack Sparrow isn't it?)

Mr E: I forgot.

Anyway, I thought the show "Fan Chan" (My girl) was pretty good, even though it was in Thai. I was smiling through quite a number of parts of the movie, really sweet. Honestly, the whole story reminded me of something (or someone rather) in my past. Like what the protagonist in the story said at the end, that he will always remember the girl in a certain way, I don't think I will forget those pink plastic specs (hahahaha...). I wonder where she is now.

Cornerstone update #3

It's been quite a traumatic morning so far. So here's a post to get things off my mind!

Here is a picture of the back bracings. The back has been completed. Nice!


Here is a picture of the two tops being glued. The vacuum bag is supposed to apply an even pressure throughout the top during this process. I think.


The top being prepared for bracing. The top is a double top, a technique used mainly in the construction of classical guitars. Two sold pieces of wood thinned and joined together to "get the best of both worlds". Underneath this lighter layer of wood, parts of it were drilled to created hollow spaces. From the reviews so far, this significantly increases the volume and the quality of the tone.

How time flies...

Met an old secondary school classmate earlier in the day. It just seems like yesterday when we were all in the same class teasing and interogating each other on our crushes. Seemed quite the norm to do that back then, hasn't really changed much.

Well, he's now married with a 14 month old son. I can't quite imagine that.

Cornerstone update #2

Since quite a number of people have been asking me to update. Here is an update. Was going to sleep, but then I received the following pictures in the mail. Woke up instantly and decided to update!

Kerfing going on to the guitar!


The end graft. I love the book-matching even at the bottom!


The rendition of the dove soundport!

Happy Teachers' Day 2007

I usually dedicate a post every Teachers' Day. This year is really different, as I am actually comemorating this day as a teacher. Last year, I was still in NIE, and it wasn't exactly a fantastic one due to salary adjustment annoucement. I wasn't affected, but plenty of my collegues were. Anyway, that was last year.

Well, this year, has a been a real learning year for me. Even teachers have teachers and this post is dedicated to my coorperating teachers at Temasek Secondary School, Mrs Lim Swu Yun, Mrs Rebecca Loke and Mr Toh Wee Kwang who really helped me a lot in the first half of this year.

Cornerstone update #1!

Finally finding a short breather to update the blog, this one is on my new guitar and is an update a long time in the making. Long story, you can check the forums if you are really interested!

Englemann spruce top being glued. This will be used in a top construction technique known as the double top. It will make the top vibrate more freely, giving better sound.


The rosette being inlaid to the sinker redwood top. The Englemann piece will be on the reverse side of this top.


A full view of the top.


A closeup of the rosette.


The back being glued up.


The 5-piece neck being glued up.


The neck all glued up, waiting to be cut.


The sides being bent.


The sides fully bent waiting to be joined.


The box is taking shape!


Happy GASing!

Back online...

Spent the last few days formatting my laptop, now it's back in a decent working condition with a few new modifications. Was acting strange and could not shut down properly, due to having about 60 different thumbdrives inserted into it within a two week period in July. Hopefully I've added another year of life into it. My other 5 year old laptop is still in working order, so I'm sure this one can last a little longer. Will format it again in a year's time.

It sure feels like school is supposed to reopen tomorrow, but in reality its Friday! So two more days of break... or rather marking.

Here's a nice shot of the whole school.


More good food!

This is the Japanese restaurant at East Coast Park. Interestingly, after living in the east for so many years (basically my whole life), I've only stepped into this place twice. The first time to meet up with my primary school mates, but I didn't eat anything then. The second time was 2 days ago, and I can foresee that that won't be the last time.

Out of this world presentation!


Out of this world portions!




Don't be fooled by the size of the bowl though. The amount of food isn't any more than other restaurants. It's just an optical illusion, but a damn good one.

Some pictures...

Here's a view from the Equinox! 70th floor of the Swissotel, formerly known as Compass Rose. I never thought I'd be able to ever set foot into that place. Was playing at a friend's wedding. No angpow... the but food more than made up for it! Too bad I don't have a shot of the food! :(

Anyway, nice place to be watching this year's NDP, but, unexpectedly, not a very nice place to be watching the F1 race next year. While you can see the track, you can only see a small part of it! Have to run from room to room to catch the whole thing!



Here is a shot of the Indoor Stadium before Festival of Praise started. Wasn't that crowded, in fact I only reached the Indoor Stadium at 7.30pm. This was only on Friday night of course. Crowd was noticeably older, and I'm getting a little old to go everyday! Gone are the days when I could queue from 2.30pm to 7.30pm on all three days of FoP.



Good food!

Try this out...

A affirms that B denies that C declares that D is a liar. Knowing that A, B, C and D each speak the truth once in three times (independently), figure out the probability that D was telling the truth.

Source: Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington in Volume 57 of American Mathematical Monthly, reproduced in Mathematical Medley, volume 33 no 2.

It has begun!

As most of the Flowerpots will know, I ordered a guitar earlier this year. That was towards the end of practicum. Now 3 months later, the build has finally begun. Will be tracking the build on this blog as well as guitar4christ and acousticguitarforum. So enjoy seeing this guitar come together!

Many of my friends first initial investment after graduating is a car. Well, mine is this guitar, I'm sure the returns would be much higher!

The specs:
Luthier: Peter Marreiros of Cornerstone Guitars
Shape: Auditorium (OM - Orchestra Model)
Back and sides: Camatillo Rosewood
Top: Sinker Redwood and Englemann Spruce double top construction
Rosette: Bloodwood and abalone
Bindings: Bloodwood
Purflings: Abalone
Inlay: 12th fret "Alpha-Omega" inlay
Soundport: Dove shaped soundport

Here is a shot of the rosette:



Here is a shot of the very rare sinker redwood top:



And finally a look at the gorgeous camatillo rosewood back:


Well, the guitar should take about a year to complete. It will be a long year indeed!

tag-board replies

This is only the second time ever that I am replying tag-board entries via a full length post. I will only reply personal matters, class matters will be dealt with in class!

First of all... hi to all, thanks for visiting. I cannot change the colour of this blog as some of my reguar readers will know, there are actually a lot of hidden messages that are the same colour as the background. They will appear very prominently if I change the colour. Happy hunting if you want to read those hidden messages.

Manjing: So sorry, I don't link anyone to my blog anymore, with the exception of my church Cell Group members. Yes, I do have an expensive guitar. I literally starved to get it. Maybe I should get some more often!

Maggie: Yup, it is photoshop. I learnt how to use it in NS.

To the 1A students: Asked and answered in class.

To everyone else: Thanks for visting! Do give me some time to warm up and yes, I do enjoy teaching all of you!

So it begins...

Been waiting for tomorrow for quite a while now. Don't feel as much apprehension as one year ago when I reported to Temasek. Last year, I really did not know what to expect. This year is different, I'm not reporting entirely fresh, but no doubt inexperienced. Well, let the Lord show His way. The journey really begins.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him. - John 12 :24-26

Road trip... sort of...

Some random pictures...

This has to be the longest street sign in Singapore.



It has not one but TWO street names on it! And I live on one of them! It's a 5 minute walk from Temasek Secondary School, so to my former students, have fun trying to find where I live. Tanah Merah Kechil Road SOUTH, used to be called Tanah Merah Kechil Road, it was that way when I moved in 10 years ago. Interestingly, or ironically, Tanah Merah Kechil Road still exists; its none other than the slope leading up to Anglican High.

Talking about the "dreaded" slope, here's a picture of my new bicycle which I will use to get to school.



Been taking it through it's paces the last few days. I bought in on Monday, and on Monday night I decided to cycle to AHS. The slope ISN'T THAT BAD AT ALL!!! But it will induce about 30 seconds of torture, not funny when you are lugging along a 5kg crumpler and wearing semi-formal attire. Will be getting off the bike and pushing it up the slope. Surprisingly, my legs weren't aching when I woke up.

On Tuesday, I cycled around the estate and once again my legs weren't aching when I woke up. But today I took a ride to East Coast Park on a long 15km ride and now my legs are aching and my butt really hurts (thanks to the seat and not anything else, don't get the wrong idea!). Good exercise, will attempt to wake up early to do something similar.

East Coast Park really looks different. The last time I went up and down the length of the Park was about one and a half years ago, and it was captured in this post. Here's a shot of the cable ski lagoon versus a similar shot that I took 1.5 years ago. Shows how much hand-phone cameras have progressed as well!

Ultimate...

... tai di hand... I promise you.. I did not stack the cards!!!