Change of Date of Deepavali for 2008

In a press statement on public holidays for 2008 released on 29 March 2007, the Ministry of Manpower announced that Deepavali would fall on 28 October 2008 (Tuesday). However, the date needed to be checked against the Indian Almanacs when they became available.

The actual Deepavali date for 2008 is now known; it falls on 27 October 2008 (Monday) instead of 28 October 2008 (Tuesday). You may want to note the change of date of Deepavali on your calendars.

PASSING IT ON 2008

Make a difference in the lives of needy families by passing on your children's clothes, toys, books and stationeries that are in good condition and suitable for children below 12 years old. The collection period is from 1 Jul to 15 Aug 08, 9am to 5pm (Monday - Friday). Donors are to provide your own transport to transfer your items to TRANS Centre at Blk 411 Bedok North Ave 2 #01-106 S(460411).

For more information or clarification, please call Wa Ying (email: waying@transcentre.org.sg) or Kwee Huay at 64490762.

Nope, you've got it wrong.

Quite some time back, an aunt asked me why my "sudden interest" in Reuben('s stuff). It took me quite some time to explain.

Just a few days ago, another aunt, her sister, told me she thinks I must be up to something with this "interest", even to the extent of thinking I started this blog because of Reuben. Oh come on......she is not entirely wrong though.

Many years back, I had wanted to create my own homepage which was the in-thing then. I did start building one in geocities but eventually gave up. Then with blogging, it did occur to me to have one but had brushed the thought aside due to commitment and language concerns. It was because of the 5 fine young men that inspired me to pen down the thoughts I had and will have, especially during that same year when I lost quite a few young acquaintances.

Be my guest auntie, read my blog; there isn't anything funny for you to find - nothing up in my sleeves. :P

As mentioned in my earlier post, I shall share on my thoughts about them, and/or rather, the chronological events before and after that fateful incident.

A few days before 12 Nov 2007
EG: Hey, a new colleague will be joining us next week.
group: Another pretty gal?
EG: Nah, it's a guy, does DB-ing, his name is Poh Boon San.
Me to WM: ooohh......you've got yet another hunk to work with....
WM: (laughed it off - I think)
someone: erm......XXX will always top her list lah, followed by XXX then XXX...
group: (laughed)

Week of 11 Nov 2007

Saw Boon San around in the office, even sat beside him while working in the lab, but just didn't speak with him, not even a simple "Hi", probably because no one introduced him (to me) - something out of our norm. Missed the recreational event that Friday as I had to clear my work before going for my ICT the following week so yet another opportunity lost to know him.

Week of 18 Nov 2007
My first week of ICT and the week Boon San and his team flew over to Cambodia. Received a message, on Thursday (22 Nov 07) or Friday (23 Nov 07), from a colleague that the father of another colleague has passed on. Booked out on Friday (23 Nov 07) evening and attended to something till late at night so didn't know of the accident in Cambodia.

Made a call to my supervisor the next morning (24 Nov 07) to inform that I wouldn't be able to attend to the funeral wake of our colleague's father and to ask him to pay for me first the bereavement money. He told me we might have lost one colleague in a DB-ing accident. The first person to appear in my mind was Boon San cos he was the only one I know in our Programme Centre to do DB-ing. I questioned my supervisor whether this was certain cos it just didn't register in me and at the same time, switched on to Channel News Asia and that very piece of news was being reported; I was dumb-founded.

Week of 25 Nov 2007
The loss of 5 fine young gentlemen was confirmed and with the little amount of news we caught before booking in, we talked quite a bit while having our exercise the whole week. By then, the news had already reported that Reuben was a talented chap, so on and so forth, and we thought it was almost always the case that upon someone's death will he/she be recognised for his/her talent/contribution, regardless the magnitude. This was my initial thoughts of Reuben. Nothing so much on our/my thoughts of the other 4 cos I guess Reuben's profile outshone the rest.

Following the end of my ICT, I was so tied up with work that it was not until the second week of December before I could settle down to start catch up with all that is related to the accident. And after reading all that I have access to, the following is my thoughts of the 5 individuals.

Stephen Loh Soon Ann
A filial son and a brotherly brother. A caring and inspirational educator. A reliable and dependable comrade. One year my junior, I have learnt from him that age is never the reason for not pursuing our dreams and aspirations. I think, we don't stop pursuing our dreams and aspirations because we have grown older, but rather, we grow older when we stop pursuing our dreams and aspirations. Keep our hearts and minds young, always.

Stephen's family, apparently, is somehow acquainted with these 2 cute aunties of mine but there wasn't much more that I can find out from them cos they said Stephen was still a little boy when they were still in contact with one another.

Poh Boon San
A fighter against odds and adversities. A bearer of faith, belief and trust. A filial son. A misunderstood person, at times, but eventually appreciated by his friends and buddies. I am learning from his legacy, to stop whining that I am disadvantaged cos I started off late - earned my first degree at the age of 30, and thus falling behind most of my peers. I am hoping to be alike Boon San, that I will be less misunderstood if not appreciated, but I think I need to work on my stern-bold-and-quick-tempered character to achieve that. Hey, I always have the best of intention, ok? *sigh*

Jeremy Goh Tze Xiong
A filial son, a loyal friend, a respectful and humble person. A person who always bring smiles and laughters to others - not a single anger. One kind soul. One particular story shared by one of his friends moved me the most: On one particular rainy day, while Jeremy and this friend were walking, he went around removing snails from the pathway to prevent anyone from stepping on them. I, personally, would merely make sure I don't step on those poor snails but never ever thought of helping them to not be stepped on by others. This really put me to shame but at the same time, makes me want to befriend this kind soul.

A friend who would try his best to attend gatherings even to the extent of attending a few events on the same night. I reminded myself that being tired and not having the time is seldom, if not never, justifiable for not catching up with (long-lost) friends; the little extra effort means a zillion.

Reuben Kee En Rui
A filial son and loving brother. A multi talented guy. One kind and friendly soul who never fails to give others encouraging smiles and words. A gentle and soft-spoken person - I think. A person whom I find so matured in his thoughts that could bring shame to many of us older than him. A strong believer in pursuing ones dreams. A great composer whose music almost never fail to awe me.

Auntie Kim, it is not the person that is the reason for me liking his music, okay. So what if the singer is a Heavenly King/Queen? What matters to me is the music/song. And I did not start listening to ABBA because Reuben did an ABBA medley; I have known and heard ABBA songs when I was in my teens, just as for Carpenters and the likes. For all you know, I was very much into music in my younger days as well, listening to Richard Clayderman, Kitaro, Kenny G, Chinese orchestra, etc.

Chee Wei Cheng
A filial son and a caring brother. A fine gentlemen whose behaviour puts many of us to shame. Read more from here. A capable young man.

It was definitely a great pity to have lost these 5 fine men. I pray for their family to tide through the pain and sadness.