Last day of November

Today's the last day of November. Just thought that I will add something. Another week went by. Had some irritating complains over the week but will not mention here. I dunno.. I think my highlights of each week seems to be my kickboxing session.. but last Tuesday's one was quite a bit disappointing.. So far there's 4 lessons already and I've already seen the faces of 3 instructors.. The previous 2 female ones are very good.. but just last week de, is a guy and I think he's a newbie in this line.. anyway, he's not very creative in his moves, coz we were like repeating the moves thru' the whole of the sessions.. quite boring.. but I was sweating and tired at the end of the session.. so I can treat it as practise to moves improvement... He overshot in term of the timing and he actually asked our opinion of whether we wanna do floor work or continue with the kickboxing.. Mmmm.. usually we as students just follow rite?? Then he did things like forgetting the steps. When he started the lesson, he was like facing the class..I dun think it's common for instructors to do that because most of the students were confused.. you know.. left or right? right or left?? But then, if this was his first lesson, he did quite well lah.. overall.. haaa... I was busy yesterday, coz my boss asked me to do some statistics.. she said to study the trend.. I went and pull the raw data and spent the time thinking of how to do it.. well, thanksfully, I give the correct kinda statistics.. Phew!!

Mmm.. yesterday I was so bored that I skip half the class... i left during break.. then I went and bought a golden and white bag... now my this month's earning is about nearly gone.. haaa.. guess that's revenge for skipping class.. but can't blame me... I forgot to pay my handphone bill for last month.. so I have to pay for 2 mths with 50cents fine for their reminder service.. Oh.. my handphone bill per mths is very little.. but two months one shot is a killer.. arhhhh!!!

I just had delifrance for lunch.. very very full and very expensive.. i spent $16 for today's lunch.. very bad rite?? Haiz~..

Test: Your Ideal Relationship is Polyamory

Your Ideal Relationship is Polyamory

You want to have your cake... and everyone else's.Which isn't a bad thing, if everyone else gets to eat too!You're too much of a free spirit to be tied down by a traditional relationship.You think relationships should be open and free, with few restrictions.

What's" Your Ideal Relationship?

A Vietnamese Lunch

Had a Vietnamese lunch yesterday with a few of the colleagues.. Somehow, it's only under certain circumstances that I will have lunch with some of the colleagues which I won't usually ask out for lunch.. This is one of it, which the colleagues I asked was asked by someone else and I tacked along.. I've never had Vietnamese food in my live and from the comments I heard this restaurant was opened by a Vietnamese and so are all the waitresses. It's the one at Sky Garden in Suntec City.. I'm sorry but I dun remember the name.

I've just remembered that I've forgotten to continue this blog. Oops.. today is actually 20 Dec 2006.. Well, I still can remember because the meal I had where I had to eat so much vegetables all together... We had the appertizers, which is actually the spring roll, but they call it egg roll.. that's only like 5 or 6 small rolls in one piece.. it was nice.. fried spring rolls mah.. look like this.. but not the actual picture from the restaurant. Just an idea..



Sharing with a colleague...I ordered a the pork noodle - dry mixed with some sweet and sour sauce, crushed peanuts and lots and lots of bean sprout and herbs..the pork they use are really tender.. nice but only a few pieces.. This is the first time I've tasted such un-pork-like pork.. I also order papaya salad... I tell you, the ingredients used in both the dishes are practically the same.. bean sprouts, and the herbs.. did i mention that the egg rolls are decorated by raw bean sprout?? My mouth smell full of herbs after my meal.. I tasted mint in the salad.. I felt like I've just brushed my teeth.... Mmmm.. guess Vietnamese food is not for me bah.. feel very not satisfying after the meal.. Price wise.. it's restaurant kind of price.. At the end of the day, me and my colleagues each share $10.

Kickboxing again

Hey, there's a change in the instructor on Tuesday. It turned out, the previous instructor was just a relief.. so this instructor is the actual one.. And my opinion is that this instructor was even better.. in one sense, because it's not as siong.. I was actually not panting like mad .. in another sense, she's good.. because she will actually check out our pose.. There's one move which was real cool 3 kicks one after another in a move. It's like from the front, you kick with your right leg, then turn and kick the back with the left leg and give the final kick facing back using the right leg.. it's so cool... although I feel like a dummy because I got mixed up especially when changing to the left side... like which leg goes where that kinda thingy.. confusing but it was fun when you get it right.. Another kinda of kick I love is from last week by the other instructor.. first you lift up your left knee up, then using all your might you kick your right leg up, the left knee suspended all the while.. That move took a lot of stamina because you can kick real high this way... fun fun fun... I hope I will gain more stamina thru this course.. so looking forward to the next lesson..

These few days I've been having heavy breakfast leh.. for some reason I was very hungry in the morning.. I had curry puff on Monday, Vegetarian Bee Hoon with a spring roll and mushroom on Tuesday, Mc Muffin meal on Wednesday and today.. I have Bee Hoon again with one egg and cabbage.. Arrhhh... I actually wanted to eat Tanglin Pau.. but the stall dun open so early in the Morning.. the rest of the bao sold here are no good...

Oh.. I had two cuts on my left hand from yesterday's packing... one of the cut on my fourth finger was very painful.. the cut is at the first joint of the finger from the top.. the skin came out.. I had a hard time using my hands.. washing up, shampooing etc.. Come to think of it... my hands have lots of scars from cuts and burns.. very ugly looking..Signz~

I have to do my project tonight so that we can discuss on Sunday.. well.. I only have like tonight because Friday has lesson, Sat has outing, Sun is the discussion.. so only left tonight.. Yesterday I was going home with one of the classmate.. she mentioned that her grp had a discussion for 5 hr discussion only to realised after asking the lecturer that their concept was wrong.. makes me wonder.. not nice to ask what went wrong because we are doing the same question...so not ethical.. so I went to re-read the questions.. Mmm.. like what we had been discussing a bit wrong.... will need to verify this with the lecturer first.. Damn.. we only have like 3 weeks left before project presentation.. shit shit shit!!! and we have two projects altogether.. nightmare..

Haaa.. my colleague just commented that my face look moistursed today.. That may be because I've changed back to my old product... I actually though I will give the Aloe Vera series from Bodyshop a try.. they are like to mild for me... so I change back to my old Aloe Vera product which is so much cheaper and better...

Still Life with Crows

by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child



Currently starting on this book.

I've read their The Cabinet of Curiosities. Frankly speaking, I've forgotten the whole story, but I remembered it's a very good book..

This book like a lot of novels took place in a dying town. It's dying because most young people would move out once they have the chance to do so.. And because it's a dying town, one big corporation finds it an ideal place to experiment on organic corn planting.. So a large part of the place is filled with corn fields.. The story started out (Like most murders story) with a dead body. What was unique was that this body had missing parts. This was a shock to the people of the town because there had never been such a big news happening before. FBI Agent Pendergast from The Cabinet of Curiosities came to this town. He used the excuse of coming for a vacation to get himself involved in this investigation. Despite the dismay of the local Sheriff, Pendergast was happy to carry out investigation differently and by himself. The investigation started from being a single murder case to a serial killing when more bodies turned up killed in weird ways.. One was actually boiled, buttered and salted... then slowly turned towards the involvement of a curse and the history of the past... The conclusion was a surprise to me and a shocking news to the town because it involved the shame past of one of the family in the town... Along the investigation, Pendergast engaged the help of a rebellious teenager girl ,whose life was a upside down, whom he believed could provide him with the background of the town...The partnership started from a simple employment relation and ended as a heart warming friendship....This book is a page turner.. well recommended..

I think I will find the book on The Cabinet of Curiosities and do a re-read..

My career...

Actually, the frightening thing that I was talking about just now is to talk with my boss on my career path in the company. The truth is, I'm currently consider a vendor because I'm working thru' a HR agency for this company. Recently, the new Executive had left the company and this position is once again vacant. I had to used up all of my courage to ask my boss whether I qualify. It's was frightening because, what if the answer is a flat NO?? Anyway, the answer I heard is not as scary as I thought. It was what I expected anyway.. just like any other places, the boss is looking for someone with years of experience, thus it's not a job for me.. after all, the last Executive has 6 solid years of experience... but boss was very kind.. she had a very long conversation with me about what I'm interested. I said I if there's a chance, I really hope to progress in this company even after I've graduated. There is like some light for me, because it's like a promised career path for me to progress provided I put in the effort that is. Well, I'm really glad I had this conversation with her. Anyway, the current contract is ending in November. Boss promised in increment, some benefits and leaves.. that's really quite good consider that I'm like a temp staff here... Anyway, instead of 6 mths, this new contract will be stretch to 12 mths but one drawback, I need 2 mths tender notification.. that's really very long leh.. I'm also not sure why there's such a need, my position is not like very super duper important.. but I dun feel the need to argue about it.. coz look like I'm staying here for good.. actually another thing I like working here is that I have the luxury of waking up at 7.45am.. I tell you, no local jobs will have such a luxury.. no way man.. coz usually people start at 8am or 8.30am.. 9am have lah but hey, my train journey is only 15 mins.. and then there's the shuttle bus to the office from the station.. Sounds like a life of a lazy bum rite?? Haaa..

This week like mad siah.. coz I have lessons on Monday, Wed and Fri. Today is Tuesday, so later will have kickboxing at 8.30pm.. then On thursday there's friends' gathering.. I think Sunday will have a project discussion again.

Talking about project discussion, we had one last Sunday.. I picked the place because I love the place and it had been my project discussions hangout for previous projects.. This is for the Advertising and Promotion Project. Suppose to do a proposal to re-launch a certain chain of 24 hours convenience stores against the competitors. We spent a bit more than 2 hours doing up the situation analysis.. the lecture emphasised on tis 'Situational Anaylsis'.. so that's what we did for the day.. discussing what the stores sell and what services they provide which the competitors don't have...haa..

Then, yesterday at lecture.. I met the two previous project team mate... we split class because of the different courses that we choose. We were talking then.. wahhh.. exposed... they had also been having their project discussions in the same venue.. so cute.. maybe soon the whole cafe will be our people doing project discussions.. I tell them they will not take my favourite seats because I'm never late de.. Haaa.. Yeah one more thing.. one of them commented that I'm like slim down.. wahhh.. so happy.. but really meh?? my weight like never go down leh.. how can slim down le and still have the same weight de?? something's wrong.. If it's the truth, it can only be because of my kickboxing classes and my work where I need to put in plenty of physical efforts.. and also lesser meals after 8pm since I'm not at home most of the week at this time..

I'm scare to death

I wanted to do something which I'm very scare to. Just thinking about it makes my hand cold and my heartbeat speeding like mad... Gosh.. how how how... mainly I'm scare what the result will be.. HOW!! How to overcome fear?? It's terrifying.. maybe after this I will feel silly over this.. but right now.. i feel terrible.. I'm actually a very timid girl you know.. Haiz~

Found new site

Found this real cool site today.. http://www.43things.com

It's a website where people just list down things that they wanna do. It's really a nice way of killing time reading about what people wanna do and how worthy it is after they have done it.

Another cute webbie: www.oceangram.com real neat.. online message in the bottle.

I saw someone wanting to do this: Throwing a message in a bottle into the ocean. Sounds romantic and interesting.. I added this into my list.. haaa... time to find a presentable glass bottle, a cork, a rag and pencil.. the above items to preserve the message as best as possible. The glass bottle cannot be too like the original bottle in case people just treat them as junk.. rag and pencil writing can last longer than paper and ink.. Now the real problem is where to drop the bottle in Singapore?? What are the chances that the bottle will be washed back to the shore where I throw it??

The above two sites are added to my link on the right.

New Kickboxing Class

I just started a new kickboxing class last evening.. my sessions at the cc had ended and I'm not in time to sign up for the next session. It's like sizzling hot because the next class was fully booked almost immediately. It was my fault because I was kinda lazy and keep pushing this signing up errand aside. Anyway, out of desperation, I decided to try the Sports Council. I signed up for the Yishun one. A bit out of the way from my house and starts real late. 8.30pm!!! Anyway, I didn't regret it.. It was damn shiok.. better than the previous one... the instructor was prettier, friendlier and has more spirit. Phew.. The dance studio there was half the size of the one at the cc... but it was really better because the instructor is nearer to us and can see the moves better.. The starting warming up session was really intense, then after that was okay.. and the instructor made up shout.. macham really doing some martial arts.. haa.. it was fun.. Anything thing I prefer is that there's this move call 'Gallop' which was not part of the session. I really really sincerely hate this move. Have to gallop side way, left and right. I dun like it because I often spring my ankle doing this more.. *cry* I love kicking and boxing.. these moves are shiok!!!

I was really stone when I have to walk all the way back to MRT Stadium to the the train back home.. but that night I had a real good sleep.. feel very refreshing today and no muscle ache.. haa

This was like the third time I've been to the Yishun Stadium. The first time was fun.. but bring back some not so good memory.. better dun mention it lah.. The second time was there to play badminton.. this is the third time.. I think Singapore Sport Council has done a really great job modifying all the stadiums in Singapore.. the gym is affordable and real neat and the courses like the kickboxing are so professional.. I'm scouting ard trying to put another course into my schedule... hee...

Oh..oh!! Remember about the marketing executive whom I've suspected will resign.. she came to tell me on Tuesday.. She looked really guilty and sound so regretful when she told me, until I said I knew abt it... then she was like, 'What?? And I was thinking of how to break the news!" Chuckle!! I asked her why.. it's not anything to do with work, just her personal problem lah... Her last day was today.. didn't get to have last lunch because she's busy at an event... even on the last day of her work.. *shake head*

Just to mention, the Txxxxxa called me during lunch time that the ice boxes are ready for collection.

Magician by Raymond E. Feist

Magician by Raymond E. Feist

Artwork for Magician Apprentice


Artwork for Magician Master




Abstracted introduction:
Magician was first published in 1982. It is the first book of the Riftwar trilogy or Saga. It led to many books written by Feist in the world of Midkemia, which was the setting for this book. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riftwar#Magician

Descriptions from wikipedia:
Upon the world of Midkemia, the mighty Kingdom of the Isles arose, beside the vast empire of Great Kesh to the south. The kingdom was then nearing an era of greatness; the nation spanned a continent, from the Sea of Kingdoms to the Endless Sea.
In the twelfth year of the reign of Rodric the Fourth, in the westernmost province of the Kingdom, the Duchy of Crydee, and orphan kitchen boy named Pug was made an apprentice magician to the magician Kulgan. An indifferent student of magic, he rose to high station, for he saved the daughter of Duke Borric ConDoin of Crydee, Princess Carline, from a dire fate and became squire of the Duke's court. Pug then found himself the object of Carline’s girlish infatuation and, as result, rival to young Squire Roland, a member of the court.
With his best friend, Tomas, Pug discovered the wreckage of an alien vessel and a dying man of unknown nationality due the hideous storm. The Duke's priest, Father Tully, used his magic to learn that the dying man was from another world, Kelewan, dominated by a mighty empire of warriors, the Tsurani. They had reached Midkemia by a magic gate, a rift in space, and might be preparing the way for invasion. Duke Borric took council with the Elf Queen, Aglaranna, who agreed that some strange menace was approaching the far coast of the kingdom; the elves had seen strange warriors mapping the west, men who vanished mysteriously. Fearing this a prelude to invasion, Lord Borric and his younger son, Arutha, led a company of men to warn the King Rodric of the possible attack, leaving Crydee to the care of his eldest son, Lyam, and Swordmaster Fannon. The company numbered Kulgan the magician, Pug and Tomas, Sergeant Gardan, and fifty soldiers of Crydee. In the forest called the green heart the Duke’s party was attacked by the dreaded moredhel, the dark elves known as the Brotherhood of the Dark Path. After a long, bloody fight, the Duke and the other survivors were saved by Dolgan, a Dwarven chief, and his companions. Dolgan led them through the mines of Mac Mordian Cadal, where a wraith attacked, separating Tomas from the others in the company. Tomas fled deep into the ancient mine, while Dolgan led the others to safety. Dolgan returned into the mine to find Tomas, discovering that the boy had been given refuge by one of the last of the mighty golden dragons, ancient and near death. The dragon, Rhuagh vanished in a wondrous final moment of glory, a boon of Macros, and left Tomas with a special gift, magic golden armour.
Duke Borric’s company reached the city of Bordon, where they took ship for Krondor, Capital of the Western realm of the Kingdom. They were driven by a storm to Sorcerer’s Isle, home of the legendary Macros the Black, and of other wonders. There Pug met a mysterious hermit, discovered later to be Macros. He hints they shall meet again, but warns them not to seek him out.
In Krondor, Prince Erland, the king’s uncle and heir apparent, instructed the Duke to continue on to Rillanon, Capital of the Kingdom, to see the King. While in Krondor, Pug met Princess Anita, Erland’s only child, and learned she was expected to marry Prince Arutha when she grew up.
In Rillanon, Duke Borric discovered the King to be a man of vision, also a man of doubtful sanity, given to outbursts of temper and rambling discourse. Duke Caldric of Rillanon, Borric’s uncle by marriage, warned that the burden of repelling the Tsurani, should they come, would fall to the Western lords. The King distrusted the Prince of Krondor, dreaming of plots against the crown, and was even leery of Borric, who followed after Erland in the succession. He refused to allow the armies of the east to leave the Eastern Realm. Then came the Tsurani invasion and Rodric put aside his suspicions, giving Borric command of the Armies of the West. Borric and his companions rushed westward as the Riftwar began.
During the early part of the war, a raid into Tsurani held territory was mounted, and Pug was captured.
Tomas was with Dolgan’s force of dwarves, among the first to resist the invaders. Something alien had manifested itself in Tomas’s armour, and while wearing it he became a warrior of awesome power. Haunted by strange visions, he was slowly changing in appearance. In a frantic battle in the Dwarven mines, the Tsurani forced Tomas and Dolgan’s company to flee into the forests. Having no safe haven, the dwarves struck out for Elvandar, home of the elves, seeking to ally themselves with the elves. Reaching the court of the Elf Queen, they were made welcome. Something in Tomas’s appearance caused the old elven spellweavers to be fearful, though they would not speak of it.
Lyam left Crydee to join his father, and Swordmaster Fannon assumed command of the castle, with Arutha his second-in-command. Carline grieved over Pug’s loss and turned to Roland for comfort. The Tsurani raided Crydee, using a captured ship; during the battle, Arutha rescued Amos Trask, the Ship’s captain, a former pirate.
The Tsurani besieged Crydee and were repulsed many times. During a battle, Swordmaster Fannon was wounded and Arutha assumed command. After a terrible underground battle between Arutha’s men and Tsurani sappers. Arutha ordered the garrisons surrounding Crydee to co-ordinate for a final battle against the Tsurani. But before that battle could commence, the Tsurani commander, Kasumi of the Shinzawai, received orders to return home with his command.
Four years passed, and Pug was working as a slave in a swamp camp on Kelewan, the Tsurani homeworld, with a newcomer, Laurie of Tyr-Sog, a minstrel. After trouble with the camp overseer they were taken by Hokanu, younger son of the Shinzawai, to his father’s estate. They were ordered to train Kasumi in every aspect of Kingdom culture and Language. There Pug also met a slave girl, Katala, with whom he fell in love. The brother of the Lord of the Shinzawai, Kamatsu, was one of the Great Ones, magicians of power, beings who were a law unto themselves. One night the Great One, Fumita, learned Pug had been apprenticed as a magician on Midkemia. He claimed Pug for the Assembly, the brotherhood of Magicians, and they vanished from the Shinzawai estate.
Tomas by then had grown to a figure of stunning power, made so by his armour, once worn by the Valheru – a dragon lord – one of the legendary first people of Midkemia, masters of all. Little known about them save that they were cruel and powerful and had kept elves and moredhel as slaves. Aglaranna, her son, Calin, and Tathar, her senior advisor, feared that Tomas was being consumed by the power of Ashen-Shugar, the ancient Dragon Lord whose armour he wore; they feared an attempt at a return of Valheru domination. Aglaranna was deeply troubled, for besides fearing Tomas, she was falling in love with him. The Tsurani invaded Elvandar and were driven back by Tomas and Dolgan’s forces, aided by the mysterious Macros the Black. After the battle, Aglaranna admitted her feelings to Tomas and took him as her lover, thereby losing her power to command him.
Pug was cleansed of his memory by the teachers of the Assembly and after four years of training became a magician. He learned he was a gifted follower of the Greater Path, a magic nonexistent upon Midkemia. Kulgan was a lesser path magician, so he had been unable to teach Pug. Upon attaining the Black Robes, Pug was given the name Milamber. His teacher, Shimone, watched as Milamber passed his final test, standing upon a thin spire at the height of a storm while the history of the Empire of Tsuranuanni was revealed to him. There he was steeped in the first duty of a Great One, to serve the Empire. Milamber met his first friend in the assembly; Hochopepa, a shrewd magician who instructed Milamber in the pitfalls of Tsurani politics.
By the ninth year of the war, Arutha feared that they were losing the struggle, and then learned from a captive slave that new troops were arriving from Kelewan. With Martin Longbow, his father’s huntmaster, and with Amos Trask, Arutha travelled to Krondor to seek additional aid from Prince Erland. During the journey, Amos discovered Martin’s secret, that he was Lord Borric’s bastard son. Martin made Amos swear never to reveal the secret until Martin allowed it. In Krondor, Arutha discovered the city under the control of Guy, Duke of Bas-Tyra, and an avowed enemy of Lord Borric. Guy was clearly on some plan to gain the crown for himself. Arutha then ran afoul of Jocko Radburn, Guy’s henchman and head of the secret police, who chased Arutha, Martin, and Amos into the arms of the Mockers, the thieves of Krondor. There they met Jimmy the Hand, a boy thief; Trevor Hull, a former pirate turned smuggler; and his first mate, Aaron Cook. The mockers were hiding Princess Anita, who had fled the palace. Jocko Radburn was furiously trying to recapture Anita before Guy du Bas-Tyra returned from a border skirmish with the neighbouring Empire of Great Kesh. With the Mocker’s help, Arutha, his companions, and Anita fled the city. During the sea chase, Amos lured Radburn’s ship onto the rocks and the head of the secret police drowned. Upon returning to Crydee, Arutha learned that Squire Roland had been killed in a skirmish. By then Arutha was in love with Anita, though he would not admit as much to himself, counting her too young.
Pug, now Milamber, returned to the Shinzawai estate to claim Katala, and discovered he was a father. His son William had been born during the absence. He also learned the Shinzawai were involved with a plot with the Emperor to force peace upon the Tsurani high council, which was dominated by the warlord. Laurie was to guide Kasumi, who had by then mastered the language and customs of the Kingdom, to the King, bearing the Emperor’s offer of peace. Pug wished them well and took his wife and child to his home.
Tomas underwent a great change, bringing the forces of the Valheru and the human into balance. In a titanic inner battle, the human was nearly overcome, but at the end he mastered the raging inside him that was once the Dragon Lord and at last discovered peace within his soul. He became Prince-Consort to Aglaranna
Kasumi and Laurie came through the rift and made their way to Rillanon, where they discovered that the King had become thoroughly mad. He accused them of being spies, and they fled with the aid of Duke Caldric. The duke advised them to seek out Lord Borric, for it seemed civil war would surely come. Reaching Borric’s camp, Laurie and Kasumi met Lyam, who informed them that Borric was close to death from a wound.
Milamber, as Pug was known, attended the Imperial Games, given by the warlord to commemorate his smashing victory over Lord Borric. Milamber became enraged at the wanton cruelty, especially the treatment of Midkemian prisoners. In a fit of rage he destroyed the arena, shaming the Warlord, thereby throwing the politics of the Empire into shambles. Milamber then fled with Katala and William back through the rift to Midkemia.
Discovering that Pug is alive and prospering as a magician, the dying Duke Borric revealed that he had adopted Pug into his family, also awarding him an island to begin an academy of magic. At the last, Borric also revealed that Martin was his illegitimate firstborn son. Upon his death, Lyam became Duke of Crydee and commander of the Armies of the West. Shortly after, the King Rodric himself led a heroic charge against the Tsurani, breaking their ranks and driving them back. He suffered a mortal injury and named Lyam the heir to the throne. As Lyam was now the King, he sued for a peace treaty with the Emperor Ichindar. The ten year war was at the end, and everyone rejoiced. On the night before the peace treaty, however, in Elvandar, Tomas was warned by Macros that there would be treachery, and that the elves and dwarves be ready to respond by force. During the peace treaty, the two rulers, with Pug as the interpreter, began on good terms by exchanging gifts. By chance, the elves and dwarves mistakenly perceived treachery, and the truce dissolved into an all-out conflict, this time with the full wrath of the Emperor against the Kingdom. Pug sought to close the rift, and with Macros the Black, succeeded in severing the connection between the two worlds, stranding four thousand Tsurani in Midkemia. With the threat of war over, all converged to the capital of Rillanon for the coronation of the new King. Lyam was the appointed heir, but Martin was the eldest son of Borric. At the end, to avert civil war, Martin abdicated his claim and supported Lyam to the throne.


My comment:
This is a story quite related to the Empire Trilogy because it was happening this time in Midkemia, another Empire some distance away from Tsurani. It so happen that Tsurani discovered this strange land with climate so much hotter from their own, had strange looking animals and most importantly so rich in steel which doesn't exist in Tsurani and hence considered very valuable. The Tsurani, being Tsurani engaged themselves in battles with the intention to conquer the strange Empire. This story as the title shows evolved around this young boy who apprentice with the magician of Duke of Crydee (name of a country in Midkemia). No matter how much he studied, he was unable to master any magic even though this Master was so sure that the boy name Pug had the talent for it. Then the whole country was involved in the war. Pug who went on a journey with the Duke to seek the King's help was unfortunately captured by the Tsurani and become a slave. His magic talent was discovered and taken by the Magicians in Tsurani to be trained to be a Great One (powerful magician). Pug was now standing between the two Worlds deep in battle.

The Empire Trilogy afterthoughts

I've finally finished this trilogy..Phew... was quite hook to these books.. took me so many days...I actually borrowed the first book from the library.. then when I wanted to borrow the second book.. the book was lent out.. i seriously can't wait so I went to the rental bookstore to get it.. and when I wanna get the third book, it's the same story!! And this time round, there's lot's of copies of the second book.. anyway.. i rented the third book also...

The authors are really great because they fantazied a whole empire call Tsurani where people believe in slavery and where warriors are not afraid of death. People believe in fighting to death for their land as an honour. They believe that to die under swords was heroic and only slaves are hung. They are really cruel in a sense. Lives are less important than honour. This is the empire that believe in Warlords. Lords, owners of lands and considered the Royal blood will get into wars with other Lords to save their honour. When the last Lord was killed, the land was either taken or abandoned if there's no descendant by blood to take over the ruling. All the residents of the land will be consider cast out. being without master will be like without honour or name.. They will become grey warriors living in forests living lives of beggars and homeless.

Mara of Acoma was really unfortunate, she was going through the process of becoming what we call a nun when the warriors came for her. Her father and brother were dead fighting a battle and she's the only blood-relative alive to take over the land. She had to take over the ruling, because if she failed, all the people she knew from young and all the residents of her home land will be without master and hence homeless. Due to the lost in the war, her current army was only a handful, a weak number to protect the land against anything. Fortunately, she inherited her father's leadership and intelligence. Struggling to protect her life, she decided to do something no one in the empire had ever done before.. She went to recruit the Grey Warriors in the forest. By the end of the recruitment, her army size swelled. She managed to convinced a Cho-ja (giant ants with intelligence) Queen to build her nest on Acoma's land where she could benefit from the ant strong army as well as fine supply of silk for trading. The ants made good quality silk. She continued to do smart moves by marrying the son of the second more powerful Lord in the Empire. Even though the marriage was a nightmare to her, she gained powerful protection and a heir to her land.... I was hooked following her through how she managed to change the traditions of the Empire and how she managaed to secure the throne of the Empire to her second son. All that she had done was mainly for one thing, to protect her children and her lands.

Really thrilling and strategic...

Catching up

Oops.. only one post for last month.. due to busyness and lazyness.. haaa..

Oh well, all those interviews I went to last month were failure.. It's really hard to get a job. My current colleague, a marketing executive asking me questions like 'why would they ask you down for interviews? There has to be something that they are interested in." How the hell would I know? I can't jolly well ask the interviewer why they ask me to come for interview rite? I think this Marketing Executive is really lucky because she has 6 solid years of marketing experience and she start from scratch.. Dunno whether because at that time, employers are not so picky about the stupid 'relevant experience' thingy. So sick of this two words. I guess I will work here for another 6 mths bah.. Have decided to renew the contract. Of course after the renewal, I will continue to look out for work. Oh yeah, I caught rumours that this Marketing Executive had resigned.. She didn't even mention a single word to me.. Dunno wat so secret abt that.. I know because I saw the invoice for job advertising and then saw people coming for interviews.. and then my ka-po finance mgr went to ask and told me.. haaa.. anyway, I shall keep quiet and pretend that I don't know anything.. duhhh..

Actually I wanna complain about this particular company that sell home electronic pdts, 'Txxxxxa' Not nice to mention names lah.. coz that's my principle in this blog... no mentioning of names....but it's so obvious rite?? Anyway, the thing is abt my fridge of less than a year. There's this amazing air tight box in the fridge which can be taken out, filled up with water and placed back so that ice will be formed and dropped into the freezer which is at the lowest compartment.. Well, it so happened that the fridge was so cold that the water is this box freeze.. and my kuku brother dunno use what to try to poke the ice... and guess what?? He made a damn hole in the box... why people can be so senseless leh?? couldn't he had waited for the ice to melt?? Well, the complain begins here. The first time I called the service line, there's this mechanic voice asking me to press 1 for service 2 for dunno what 3 for spare parts. Of course I press 3 lah... but the guy at 3 ask me to call again and press 1 for service to check on the warranty. So i call again and press 1. I told the auntie my model no. She really was a joker..haha.. coz she told me there's no such model number in the company.. I nearly burst out laughing.. coz I have the website of the product in front of me and I told her that.. the picture of that particular fridge was staring at me. She asked me to hold and get back and asked me for the serial number... she said the serial number was not under warranty.. so I said I will check. Anyway, I can't find the warranty card lah.. and I forget about this for a while.. Then just last week, my sister called up the company wanting to buy a new box.. She said dad was like very uncomfortable with the hole in the box.. she got so mad because she pressed 3 for spare part and the uncle said he can't order the box because he did not know the part number of this box.. My sister was yelling that there's not a single number on the box.. and why to get the number. Uncle advised her to press 1 for service to speak to the techician. Unfortunately.. really unfortunate leh.. the technician only ard from 8.30am to 9.30am... dunno what he do after that... and the auntie refused to give a mobile number but said will as the technician to call.. as predicted, he didn't call lah... so my sister passed this responsibility to me since I reach office at ard 9am so can sit down and chat on the phone... I call and press 3 for spare part. The moment i say the model number, he knew abt this incident and he tot I was my sister.. so I said yeah, i called before.. he asked me to press 1 for service to speak to the technician.. okay.. so I call again and press 1 for service.. oh.. surprise surprise.. the technician was in leh.. how nice.. i explain the situation to him and he said he can't help me and asked me to press 3 for spare parts.. I explain that I already had that's why i press 1 now..i said I'm really tired because I talk under no saliva and no one wanna help me.. he admitted that a lot of people said that... he talk a lot of things and the main purpose is to make me press 3 for spare parts.. I ask whether can send him a photo of the box.. he said better to send to Mr Siah because he knows everything.. He asked me to press 3 for spare part.. okay.. so i did.. i asked for Mr Siah.. and good guess, it's the same uncle... I said I was told to call back. I asked him whether I can send a picture.. He then said perhaps he knew what this box is because it's like the only removeable parts in the whole fridge. He said he had ordered for other models but not for this.. I said that had to be the one.. and I wanted two of those.. each cost $15.. I asked him what's the part number.. now I finally have the stupid part number. It's 44T73041!! He said ordering will that 3 to 4 days.. today already 3rd day.. I will give him until Monday then I will call 3 for spare parts again... really hor.. dunno wat to say...