Persistent coughing

Hi ( cough..cough ) ..

It's been 3 weeks since I got this xxxx virus that got me coughing. I have been to a Thai doctor, a GP and finally today I went to Polyclinic.

To be fair, the doctors are doing their best. May be the hetic of going overseas. The fourth doctor a.k.a. my wife insisted that I have not enough rest. But I usually sleep before 11 pm local time. May be its the pressurised cabin of the aeroplane and the hours of travelling in a car almost everyday.

No complain though. The old saying over-rides: No work, no money. No money, expenses outstanding. That's the way of life...

Not that my wife is disturbing me ( you know what I mean); just that I am stuck to the T.V. watching EPL and the regular out-stationed.

Hey.. to think of it,my soccer watching does not go into the wee hours. I have already skipped the 3 a.m. champion league games since the last 2 years. Not that I am determine or stick to the doctors instruction of good rest. It is just that I can't wake up at that hours to watch the game. Not anymore. Sign of old age?

I am given loads of medicine by the Polyclinic's doctor today and I will get all posted if it works. ( hemm..hemm.. ). He has refused to give me an x-ray as I am not deem serious enough to use this tax-payer's subsidised expenses. Should I worry about my lungs?

For record purpose, I have tried fired rice with fresh ginger without oil. Grandma's remedy that supposed to bring the wind out of your body. Did it work huh? Not really! May be mine is not a "cold" cough. Mine is a " hot" cough or "heatiness".

I have also drunk many cups of the traiditonal "cool and bitter" medicine. And the trusted " Pi Pa Gao". They both work for a while...

Meanwhile I am going to have a good rest as instructed by the fourth doctor and take my anti-biotic to the end... meaning must finished the whole course.

Nite nite and to all parents... good luck to school SA 1.

Tell me that.

Bird Benson Foong

Easter Friday

Good evening all bunnies...oops.. I mean all of my friends;
Sorry that I started with the bunnies. I should have started with chocolate or Easter eggs.. What a mess!
2 days ago, I received a mail from Ricky after he read my blog which featured him at the piano while I pretended to sing. Sound like he enjoy it too! Well.. may be he like his professional look; playing the piano on the web... may be??



Ok.. this is a picture of the horse riding that we did at SuZhou. Introducing Raymond, my colleague who went with me to our branch in Jiangxi. Isn't he look like a pro? Or is he trying to sweet-talk the horse into submission? Your guess is as good as mine.
















Now you know. Raymond is a pro! He got the horse under his command. Hey, he even has the cheek to wave good bye to me... arrghh...my horse is still stubbornly standing still and looking at the far horizon. Wonder what is it thinking? Its missing horse girl friend?
Finally the owner came to my rescue. " Give it a slight kick on its side". "Pull right to go right, pull left to go left", "pull the rein back and it will stop"..
Ohh ! ha ha ! I got it! and off we went.. gallop, gallop, gallop...
bye bye see you guys next Easter...

Have a good Easter weekend..

Benson Bird Foong

Sat soccer night fever

Hello all soccer fan:

It's EPl time once again. After the furry of Champion League these weekdays that just passed, we are upon our toes trying to pick the winner of this weekend EPL.

Spur should beat Man City by 2 goal margin; pushing themselves the fourth qualifying spot fo rnext year Champion League.
Everton will win Charlton by the odd goal; as usual.
Portmouth should beat B/burn at home to ease relegation worries.
Sunderland, down and out will drew with away-winless Fulham; probably scoreless.
Wigna will keep the underdog flag flying high by adding B'ham woes to relegation.
Villa may lost to W. Bromich as they are too eratic to predict any outcome.
Chelsea against W Ham, London derby. At 1.5 goals, I bet W. Ham but they will lose by 2-1 with old man Sheringham scoring from the penalty spot. May be another Chelsea player will be shown the red card.

Pool should beat Bolton whose arrays of nationalities are still finding their feet. Pool by 1-0.
Boro v Newcastle = boring, scoreless draw.

Ha ha ha,, this is the one: Man utd against Arsenal. The young guns are still fresh from reaching the semi-final of the Champion League after a scoreless draw at Juventus. Still after travelling to Italy and with only 3 days rest, the odd is against them. But the young man of Arsenal will go down fighting. No serious injury and expect Sol Campell to come out and defend as if there is no daylight. 1-1 will be the score. Henry equalised after R. V. Nisteroy opening goal.

So fill up the chips and peanuts bowl, select your favorite seat and click the channel 23 button on the remote. Have a hell of a time. Goalsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss......


Bird Foong

Singing in the open

Dear friends;

In one of my blog, I mentioned about the piano placed besides a lake which is part of a horse stable in SuZhou. Remember the owner let newly-wed to take photos with the piano, horses and the beautiful surrounding?

Here is one with me and my good colleague, Ricky re-acting one of the scence from " dun-know-which movie". What do you think? Does this qualified to any photo award? Or maybe even an Oscar for best picture award?

Well, you be the judge. Award or not, I did have a good time riding the horses despite travelling 2 over hours; and the many bumps on my buttock and xxxx. BTW, I was surprised that my thigh, legs and buttock recovered within 1 day and able to walk the normal way.

Oh.. I forgot to mention that on the way to the stable, we had one of the best mutton that I ever tasted. It is in Chang Shu ( literally means "hidden books " in Chinese) where the horse stable is located. We had clear mutton soup, mutton fried in onion, in oyster sauce, with traditional plain noodles. Aaaa ! the noodle is fantastic and we had round 2. Just to remind all, mutton is high in cholestron; so do not eat too much of it.

Cheers and have a good weekend.

regards;

Benson Bird Foong

Our family at Bintan

Hi friends:

This is the latest pic that our family of 5 taken at Bintan. It was during our company's annual trip cum D&D lst Feb 2006. All expenses paid. Isn't is nice? Sun, sea, sand, soveniers, show, games and food. And lucky draw for all staff.... sure to win prizes. Thank you, Mr Ho.

Let you know, the organiser is so thoughtful that they include medical oil, sun shade, towel, and anti-sea sickness pills in the sovenier bags.

The place is nice but a little expensive to my liking. ( Sure hit my pocket when I have to pay S$5 for an hour of table tennis in Bintan. ) But then again, it is for a good time right?

I must thank the organiser again for all the good food and fun. More next year. I dun think anyone mind, right colleagues?

Bird Benson Foong

Stress relieve - another good way

大家们好！

When I was in China recently with my colleague, Raymond Lau, we managed to skip for a short trip for horse riding.
In the middle of this marvellous horse stable is a man-made lake.
In the middle of this lake is a white piano.
Story is that the owner is so in love with this palce that he plays his piano and sings to the horses. Not that he is short of suitors; just then he need to have more horses singing in tune with his business. Horse come, work done ( 马到工成）。。may be his philosophy.

Ok... pulling your leg about the owner playing the piano and singing. But the lake and the piano are there ... truely lah　. It is meant to be a back ground for newly-wed to take photos, with the mountain as back ground. A ride on horses too. Handsome prince on horse? ( 白马王子）。　Couple paid about RMB 100 to use the place. Not sure how long but guess enough for taking memory pictures to show their children in the future.

Ｎｉｃｅ view, worth the visit. Only 3000 + km away from Singapore lah...
So what are you waiting for?
BTW, I got a good massage on my " you-know-where" and my buttock after an hour of struggling with my beloved horse. Riding a horse is not like those you see on the current advertisement about some massgae chair. Believe me. For those first timer, pls use 2 pieces of adult daiper to cushion your buttock before climbing up the horse.
This my good friend, Ricky Ho did not tell us.

Cheers and good day to all.

Bird Benson Foong

returning home

Hi to all:
Away for 2 weeks is a long time. Guess all is alright .
FirstI went to PuXi, Shanghai; an industrial park of which our company has its Chinese branch.The first thing about this building is " WOW" ! It is big, clean and look every inch elegant. And the warehouse is big; the free area is vast.
Let you in... the back yard has a nice pond with fishes of course. A summer pavilion and spring shelter compete with the greenery and blossomed flowers for attention. And all this in full view of the reception area and some of the managerial rooms. So... do you like to work there? Position is available for those who are energetic; strive for the best and for course not a softy..hee hee no offence as some will cry for chicken rice and laska just after 1 month; or feel homesick.

Tell you what! PuXi is only 40 minutes from Shanghai city, The Bund ..dun you remember?
The back ground of many movies and songs? Come on... put on your thinking cap..
Shang hai Tang ?? Brother Xu Mun Keong? Ting Le? ha ha remember right?
The view from the city across the river towards the other side is marvellous. Cool breeze splashes cross my face as I recalled the movies " The Bund". I thought I heard gun shots too...... ???? What that's sack of stuff that the sampan are carrying? Ha... optium! Quick run..police is coming ...run run run to the airport.

Then I was back in Singapore to unload my winter clothings and filled my bag with summer's. yes, I headed to Thailand to do my usual rounds at our Thailand branch inSamutprakean. I loved Thai food and walloped all that I can and ...bingo...I felt a big lump in my throat. Next morning I woke up with a running nose and yes you are right, a sore throat. Then it is a visit to the hospital and returned fruitfully.... with 4 bags of medicine. I was advised to take alot of water and good rest. I missed my tennis gathering and ended up with hot porridge for dinner.

Now I am back in Singapore... and with the 4 bags of medicine. Sawadee Krup... and awaiting the Thai election result... Chok dee ....