The 1st Gadget That I Fell in Love With…

August 14, 2009 Leave a comment

 

That year was 1984 at Katong Shopping Centre. I clearly remember where I first saw this gadget and it had me mesmerised for the next 2 and a half decades. I was only 9 years old. Looking at it through the glass window of an old clock shop, I stared at it for a long 10 minutes. It was that moment that time froze this love and memory in my mind. It was selling for SGD120 back then – a price tag I certainly cannot afford. For the next 25 years, I have seen more fancy, hi-tec clock devices (mirror clock, LED clock etc), nothing comes this close to my heart.

For so many years, I have been searching for the one I saw in Katong Shopping Centre. Since I started working (back in my poly-days), I have been looking out for it. Many times, I found myself looking into clock shops in Singapore, hoping to find it again. Even in Hong Kong, whenever I walked past an antique clock shop, I will peep inside. For so many years, Felicia followed me to those shops…and I can never describe this device to her or the shop-owners.

2 weeks ago, while doing some innovation research online, I bumped into this clip on U-Tube. Though not the original wooden one, I managed to trace the links and found an online shop selling it! (Many online shops have ran out of stock on this). I paid USD100 and had it air-flown over to my office. It was a life commitment – a promise I made when I was only 9 (I promised to own this one day) …and now, it is right in front of my eyes….It is a kind of joy and satisfaction I can’t explain. Afterall, I have been searching for this for 25 years!

   

Invented by Harley Mayenschein (http://www.idle-tyme.com/), his masterpiece has commercialised by many manufacturers (including Mattel in the 1980s). Harley was an employee of Motorola and one of his greatest works transmitted this famous 1969 quote from space "one small step for man, a giant leap for mankind". Inspired by the gumballs his granddaughter played in his home workshop, Harley invented this "Rolling Ball Clock" in 1978. First started as a hobby (and gifts for friends), Harley’s clock became a big hit amongst his community. He then quitted his job at Motorola and set up his company to start producing these clocks.

Coincidently this June 2009 (just last month!), Harley’s son (also named Joe) is setting a business to bring back his dad’s legacy. On the website, he spoke about his late father’s invention and his intention to bring back the originals! I am so thrilled that I place an order on line with him! Can you imagine it – talk about the right timing – I may be able to get the ORIGINAL WOODEN-CRAFTED BALL ROLLING CLOCK! (Just 1 hour again, Felicia was commenting that it should look good if it is made of wood)

Time roll by fast. But there are some love in life that stays strong and loyal through the test of time. Now, looking at how Elkan mesmerising by this device, it brought back the sweet good old days memories of my childhood at Katong. Surely, I wasn’t very far from Elkan’s age when I fell in love with this.

Filed under Jo's Thoughts

The Js Are Here!

August 12, 2009 Leave a comment

The Js Family is back in Hong Kong – James, Jovel and Jovin! And guess what, we are expecting the 4th "J" soon! (Opps, me and my big mouth!)

Life is so different this week. Overnight, we are overwhelmed with noisy kids and shopperholic-aunties who can outrun me in any marathon. The Js Family joined my family-in-law combing Hong Kong. Over the past 3 days, they covered Disneyland, the Peak and all major shopping streets! For the first time, my sister entered China’s soil via Zhuhai – seasick. What an unpleasant experience for them!

5 short days – that is all the time they have for us. Very soon, all these noise, buzz will be gone. And Elkan has started to miss all of them. The Js are leaving this Friday. And Elkan’s favourite Poipoi will be leaving next Wednesday. (Dun worry… consolations are coming – still have Jimmy, Cousin Bin, Rovis and Ida!)

Kinship is important. And opportunities like these are rare and precious. The money I earned today cannot buy back another time like this. Certainly, my 5-year old son knows this better than his old dad.

When saying goodbye to Qiqi at the taxi stand just now, he yelled to her and said "I want to see you tomorrow and Friday, okay?" Knowing that Qiqi and family will be leaving on Friday, he reminded me on the cab that he only left 2 more days to play with her. When asked "Will you cry when Qiqi leaves". Elkan replied in his purest innocence, "Yes. Of course I will cry. Because I am sad to see her go, daddy."

Even at such a young age, he knows how to treasure every minute and second he spends with his family. Shame on me, I have the option to choose between work and family. And many times, I neglected my family – be it here or back in Singapore. Really, that is no excuse for that. Family comes first.

Filed under Family

Yummy Tofu at Sweet Dynasty!

August 9, 2009 Leave a comment


(Photo Taken: Sweet Dynasty, Tsim Sha Tsui – Our favourite Toful Barrel!)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

National Day Weekend at Macau

August 9, 2009 Leave a comment


(Photo Taken: At Venetian Casino – A Singapore-theme Restuarant "3 Monkeys""- They even have their own Signature Wine"!)

Today is Singapore’s 44th Birthday, we decided to celebrate this special day at Macau with a BIG gathering of Singaporeans!!! My mother-in-law, my sister and family, my Pakistan-borned cousin plus my very very good Singaporean friend from Beijing – HOVMAN (my 67th HK Visitor!) are all here in Hong Kong! To mark our unity on this very special day, we pledged to only consume "Singapore Food"!

Our first stop – the new City of Dreams Casino. There, you find a "chips-stacking" Hard Rock Hotel. At the entrance, we saw a giant projection water-wall. From far, it looks like a big ocean tank. No Jaws or Willy Killer Whale here – the star of this water-wall projection is the semi-naked mermaid. Swimming across the digital wall, she seduced the shutterbugs and enticed you to lose your money inside. (She must be Harshad’s Fairy Godmother – He bet HKD20 and won HKD720 in his first 10 seconds inside the casino! Talk about voodoo luck!)

Next, we crossed the road to Venetian. Honestly, the old Venetian is still far more inviting and attractive than the City of Dreams. It has more "wow-effect" for the tourists. At Venetian, Hovman and I ordered Nasi Lemak at the "Raja Singapura" stall in the casino’s food court. Cousin Mike ordered our Singapore’s very own Hainan Chicken Rice.

Enough of the Vice City, we made our way to St Paul’s Ruins (to cleanse our awful greedy sin). It has been exactly 20 years since mom-in-law last visited Macau. She was here with Chups (when she was only 4 – the same age as Elkan!). It was awfully warm and humid today. There are many "walking attractions" around Macau – it is better to come to Macau during the cooler months.

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Jam Mixer

August 9, 2009 Leave a comment


(Photo Taken: Traffic jam on highway to Central – wonder who caused a longer jam?)

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My 66th Visitors from Taipei!

August 6, 2009 Leave a comment

(Photo Taken: Wildfire Pub at Kimberley Room, Hong Kong) – 2 of my model friends from Taipei dropped by this week for a short 4-day visit. Being a nice lovely host, I bought them drinks at the local pub. Tied with my work, I didn’t have much chance to spend my time with these babes.

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

The Arrival

August 4, 2009 Leave a comment

 

(Photo Taken: Strange Coincident. Typhoon 8 and my Mother-in-Law are here.)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Hot Lucky Dice

August 4, 2009 Leave a comment


(Photo Taken: Hong Kong International Airport – On my Trip back to Singapore)

For the first time, many of my friends called me for the "interesting" dice packaging they saw back in their home countries. These unique packaging can be only found in Hong Kong Airport and they are exclusive for a limited time only. The only way if you want to lay your hands on these hot-sellers – take a budget airline to Hong Kong and get them. Make sure you check with your own customs / tax etc.

Filed under Cool Stuffs

4th Year, 4th Home

August 2, 2009 Leave a comment



This is my 4th year as an expat and we just moved into our 4th home in Hong Kong. It seems that I am moving into a new house every year! Trust me, it is a very painful and tiring process. I bet we will be moving house again next year!

The numbers of my belongings are even more interesting. Back in 2006, I moved to Shanghai with only 4 boxes of DHL Jumbo Box.  In 2007, I moved to my 2nd home in Shanghai – with about 12 boxes. One year later in 2008 June, I was transferred to Hong Kong. By then, I have about 45 boxes of junk! And last week, we moved into our 4th new house – it was about 60 boxes!



Today, we decided to spend our first night at the new house. Hong Fei, Zeph and Harshad popped by for a mini house-warming visit! For the first time, Elkan has his own bedroom – more like his toyroom! Tracy has a beautiful bedroom, overlooking Kowloon. And for Felicia and me, it will be a night of relief. Finally, we need not to worry about Elkan’s sleeping Kongfu kicks.

What a great & perfect timing to move into a bigger house – This month, we will have at least 5 visitors from Singapore! (My mum-in-law, Cousin Bin and family, my sister Jovel and Family PLUS Felicia’s ex-boss, Ida, Kenneth! And Jimmy!)


Filed under Life in Hong Kong

Sam’s Surprise Visit!

August 2, 2009 Leave a comment



My 59th Visitor – Sam is also our 1st visitor to our new home! (Coincidentally, Joanne came the same night when we first moved into our previously home last year!) It seems that there is always a "wahbiang blessing" whenever I move into a new home!

We were super happy and delighted to see Sam – especially Felicia and Tracy! I kept them in the dark until 10:30pm (last Thursday night). I actually lied to them about meeting Hong Fei (an ex-colleague of mine). Sam arrived at the foot of my estate – he was sitting at the bus interchange. It was so unreal to have him around! Haaa… our last meeting / farewell was at the infamous Orchard Towers.

It is always a pleasure to have Sam in our lives. Later that night, we chat about some new "realities and options" about our lives and career – and I couldn’t agreed more.  Sadly, we could not have more time with Sam as he flew out on Friday night. (I actually offered him my new home but he asked me "if there is any ghost in my house". Okay, what a way to reject a friend!)

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

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