My car accident

I got myself involved in a 5-car collision yesterday evening on the AYE... I was driving my way home at 6+pm when it all happened. I was the 4th car, so I was obviously being sandwiched… The accident happened so quickly that everything unfolded in that few seconds.

I was on the first lane... when the car in front of me suddenly jammed brake, so I did too. In the instant moment, so much thoughts flashed through my mind. I remembered thinking to myself that heng ah, I stopped so close to the car in front of mine… then I was alarmed by the fact that my car moved again even though I was so hard on my brakes. I thought that my brake was faulty. The next moment, I heard loud bangs with me being thrown forward and then backward… my vision went black. That instance when I realised I was about to lose consciousness, I was like oh shit, am I done for.

By the time my vision came back quickly in the next few seconds, my airbags were already half deflated in front of me and I was in a state of shock… but obviously I could still think and move. Of course, being caught the first time in this situation, I was totally lost and did not know what to do...

I must say that I am so amazed by our Singaporean fellowmen in this unpleasant experience. During the whole incident, other than the on-the-road car workshop people (who happened to be on the 3rd lane then) and the driver of the car in front of me who came over to ask how I was, the rest were only busy taking out their camera to capture shots of their car’s damage and taking down each other’s contact details. I was obviously in the car for a long while, and I even squatted down when I was out of the car… but they didn’t even bother. They were more concerned about their piece of metal and trying to make sure their loss would be covered than to care for another human being. The most applauding act was that the car that knocked into me was the first car to drive off without even passing me his contact details or letting me take photos of the accident etc. How nonchalant and cool can people be huh? How disgusting.

Of course, though I failed to take any photo except eventually for my and the car in front of me, the workshop people had already taken down all the details… Needless to say, the back and front of my car was in a terrible state. My front window screen was cracked and even the plastic below where my seat belt was anchored to on the right came half off. Fortunately, the main structure and the engine of my car were not damaged, so it was not beyond repair.

Long story short, I eventually went across the road to NUH to do checkup to make sure that I was ok. I obviously have a long life for I only suffered some external bruises to my chin, lips, kneecaps and lower right side near the pelvis and the loud bangs affected my hearing so I kept having the ringing sound in my ears. So I was given painkillers and two days of medical leave to rest at home. Well, based on the great impact of the collision, I am more than lucky to suffer such light injuries… Heaven is indeed looking out for me.

There was some paperwork to be done for reporting the case to insurance etc, and eventually the cost for repairing the cars would be mostly covered by the car insurer... But this also means that the car insurance premium will go up come next renewal. Alas....

And I think I got people worried about me too. Dan dashed down to hospital from his work after receiving my call and he was more concerned about making sure I was fine than to handle anything to do with the car… Of course, I did receive some calls and smses asking how was I... I couldn’t help but think at times that I am only a troublemaker in some people’s lives- make people run all around for me only.

I am certainly feeling more effect from the collision today… As the day goes past, the back of my neck seemed to be aching all the way down to my shoulders… But I supposed this type of whiplash symptom is common for motor accident. Hopefully it would go away in the next few days like a stiff neck.

Oh ya, I was reminded that I ought to go temple and pray to thank the gods for keeping a lookout for me such that I’m so blessed to only suffer bruises… and I would…

Singapore Bay Run 2009

I did the Singapore Bay Run once again last Sunday after skipping it at 2008. Tried very hard and only managed to shave off 10mins from the last half marathon run, finishing in about 2:10… Certainly not a very fantastic timing to many people, but this is the best out of the four half marathons I had done wor...

The run itself was much better managed this year compared to past years– a lot of drinking points and the route was much better with wider roads for runners to space out. The only lacking is the absence of temporary toilets totally at any point in time except for the toilets found at East Coast Park at Fort road itself… What if I suddenly had runner’s diarrhea during the run itself?!?! I used to experienced that last time for whatsoever reason! The deep muscle sprays were not good enough too – we had to stand there to ask them to spray, and usually was not on the exact spots that we wanted! Luckily the distance wasn’t that long for anyone of us to seriously need it...

It is high time for me to get more serious with my weekly runs though I doubt it can ever really happen. Have been too lazy and complacent + full of excuses not to run more like feeling tired from work, cannot wake up the next day after a run… and committing 2x a week is already a torture. Wonder when I can ever really run better in this manner...

Did I say that we have signed up for the Standard Chartered Run again this end year… the full marathon?!?

The playground

I was on my way to collect the AHM runner pack last Sat afternoon when I stumbled across this rare playground.... The car drove past and I was like "Wheez, I didn't know there is still an existence of such playground!" So I could not help it but to swing by to reminisce the times I spent at similar playgrounds like this when I was a kid.

Nowadays, playgrounds have cushioned flooring and the play toys found are more colourful, in greater variety and supposedly to be more stimulating and safer. Needless to say, old playground like this is indeed a rare commodity. It seemed like a long while since I last feel sand onto my feet in a local playground...I must say the sand found here is soft and clean unlike those I used to play in where it was black, dirty and stink with pee!

I couldn't help but to climb up to walk around the structure and attempted to slide down with my big bum... and of course to take some photos with my hp. See the kids? They must be thinking how come this aunt is fighting with them in the playground! Haha.

So tell me, where in Spore can I find my merry-go-round now?! I want!!!!

P.S: Reminiscing the past does come with age huh... Should I sigh with that statement?!

What a nightmare!

It had been a tedious road leading up to my trip back to Hanoi over the past one month– tons of preparation to get done, so much logistics to manage and so much detail to handle… and many stretches were given to me at last minute, thinking I could wave my wand and create magic.

My four days stay at InterContinental Westlake was of no fun too. Nice hotel, great food and overall the offsite event went very well for everyone. I am glad with the result – it just showed how much we were prepared for it. On the other hand, I felt like I was a slave, at the commands and wishes of those spoilt brats, cleaning up every shit they left behind, listening to the complaints on all the little faults they could find. I seriously think I am worthless in their eyes.

I wondered if they did know how much work had been put in to ensure that every small detail was taken care of. My colleague and I practically worked non-stop from the moment our eyes were forced open by our alarm clock at about 6.30am till midnight or later every night. There wasn’t even a moment that we had the luxury to turn on the TV in our room, immerse in the splendid view of Westlake or enjoy the hotel facilities. When everyone was relaxing, we were running all around to put things in place.

Finally it was over – I was back in town by Sunday evening, but the energy expended during those few days were more than what our body could cope. So my colleague was still MIA from work after three days, and though I rested at home on Mon, I struggled at work yesterday to keep my eyes open or to think properly, so much so that I decided to work from home today. My throat is also badly inflamed since yesterday, and it seems like a flu bug is on its way unless I manage to keep it down.

Whichever, the offsite finally came to a close, thanks goodness for that! My boss is already telling me where we should consider choosing for our next year offsite… but blah, stop that. I hope I would not have a chance to organize this again ok, but to formally sit inside the offsite and be part of it.