朽木百哉のブォグ

Got a call from such strange numbers again.  Wondering if it could be some syndicate scam who will pluck our numbers from the internet.

From my research, I came across this page where many people have also received a call from such a number; and the person calling is PRC native who claims some kind of "prize scam" which has been getting very common lately:

whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/99001
 
I decided to ignore the call.

I got a call from this number and it appears to be an outsourced company, AMG, appointed by StandChart to market their personal loan products.  The lady who answered my call told me there was a promotion on personal loan.

It's another case of an unsolicited telesales call and I told her to remove my number immediately from her calling list.

The above numbers I have gathered are from the company called Magi Communications whom I had wrote in directly to their CEO and have also lodged a complaint with MICA and IDA on the persistant calls I had received from them.

Last response was since Mar and April from both the culprit and ministry whom I have not heard to date; it's really saddening how some parties are not putting their part to stop these cheap tricks pulled by companies. 

Let's see how long they will take to respond this time.

I saw myself walking through this corridor of a heritage town which were made up of pre-war building, and saw Rui En who was standing at one of the corridors waiting for me with a sweet smile on her face.

For a moment, this seemed too good to be true as it was a personal encounter with her right face to face in person.  That whole scene appeared to be a sweet love story which seemed like those seen in television shows where a couple appears to be madly in love...

Switchscene now shows us chilling out in a quiet corner just enjoying each other's company just like any couples who want the world to themselves; we could see each other snuggling up each other's noses and foreheads while sitting in this quiet cafe.

My eyes opened and it was already 8am - decided not to go for the shoot this morning as I could still feel the drag from yesterday's shoot.

Part of the day was spent doing commercial photography - this was seemingly the only thing that can wean off some of my energy at a considerable level.

The journey was quite a ride as it was somewhere in the western part of Singapore.

Much of the evening was spent keeping dearie company after a hard day's work and the long journey back from the sweltering heat of the afternoon - weather had been really warm lately.

A reminder for me to commence the Athlete's Journey soon.

Day 5.  Spent most of my time outdoors as that's one way of ensuring productiveness and keeping the comforts of distractions at home away from myself.

Had some equipment check done prior to moving out at the right time.  This time, lunch was bought from Yummy Rice Box which was a dollar cheaper than that rip-off neighbouring stall which I patronised yesterday.

Lee Kong Chien Library had now become my usual hang out.  Besides working on my Macbook, I can see interesting sights of people who doze off after reading some materials as the library staff has to do their patrols and spot those who sleep in these premises.  I had just enough time to meet my colleagues for a dinner whom I had not seen for a week.  Everyone appears good and we had a good time chatting.

Decided to take a walk around Marina area and parted our ways at City Hall MRT station.  There'll definitely be another meet up in time to come.

It's Day 4 now.

The operative of Escape from Colditz continues as I found myself a quiet spot in Lee Kong Chien Library where I could spend more time hanging out and having my own space.

A man in his late 40s had been sleeping at a corner for awhile, so much so that the library security people had woken him up, but he wiggled around and returned to sleep for the next few hours till his phone started to ring.  That was the only time he was seen awake and subsequently he moved out from this place.

Lunch was from a store beside one called Yummy Rice Shop which charged me $3.70 for a simple combination of vegetables and meat; no wonder there was no queue there; so this will be the one and only time I will patronise it.  Oh well, maybe lack of patrons so the profit margin is increased for each serving sold but the price is really horrendous.

Had the evening spent with dearie and her family as her relatives had done some massive cooking and invited some of us over; one of the places where the warm company is found, before and after I head out to the world for battle.

Day 3.  Saw someone for an opportunity for the next ship, but things aren't confirmed till an offer is made; so that occupied the first half of my day.

As I was clothed in an attire which should be minimised on soiling, I decided to head back to get it soaked and ready for washing soonest.  Much of the rest of the day was spent indoor, trawling the web for opportunities and getting in touch with my 2 younger colleagues who wanted to meet for a meal the day after tomorrow.  Guess there's a considerable amount of fellowship in this small group.  Well that's rather consoling as my previous stints had been on quite a solitary basis; seemed like my absence from those places were not noticed.  Anyway, moving out from those places were necessary maneuvears.

The search must continue.  This phase might just be the path to that of a true mercenary.

2nd day as a mercenary since that departure; the sensation of that vodka insurge was certainly considerable though I can still hodl it quite well despite quite a long hiatus.

Weather has been quite fine so far, hence I decided to head out.  This was also part of the "Escape from Colditz" plan which must continue till the next ship sets sail.  Let's see how things turn out tomorrow when I see another possibility of "landing dock".

Being near hometown doesn't have much to facility to sit even after the lunch hour, hence I decided to pick this place.  Also, I was on the hunt for something which can "unify" the carrying of my mobile devices.  Managed to catch a couple of movies after clearing out the old harddisk that used to live in my PC before it konked on me, and now used as the core for one of the media players.

4 more hours before I head back so it'll be a good opportunity for me to do some street shooting since X-Pro 1 is with me today.

Awoken on the similar schedule after seeing a dream that the CBD area is once again fogged with that haze outbreak that was swept over from Indonesia almost 3 weeks ago.  Once again, the familiar smell of burnt wood filled the air and I could remember how the path of light could be seen visibly when I shine a torch in a pitch dark room.

The final battle has finally commenced and it certainly was the "every minute of tension" session.

Finally the time came for me to bid this warm group of people farewell.  The last gesture from the "SAM site" I had been working with, was certainly something surprising as I had least expected as the previous hours had been tense.

By 6pm, I had passed everything over to the newest collegue on the block and it was time to leave.  Everyone shook hand with me and I had to brace up and take the final walk out of this place.

The final tune of "Three Kingdoms" played in my mind and I gave my final word to a collegue who joined me on the same time to take care of my "successor".

Dinner could only be done near midnight; a solo dining at Macdonalds as that was the only thing edible at that hour...I guess this gate's closed for better things this time round; so the next step may just be something very different.

A late night ended with many thoughts after seeing the preview of a local TVs' Chinese channel's documentary, "Off the Path".

Everyone was forced to evacuate a cathedral where many pious people were seen kneeling and praying as there was a danger of the an opposing military force which was clearly our to ravage the land.  The era appeared in the setting of somewhat the Victorian era where people of the cathedral were dressed in flowy robes.

I was framing and snapping the people around through various angles; through the window, across the courtyard or simply in the plain halls.  This was for the purpose of 'digital refuge' where I try every possibility to get everyone into my shots.

The scene suddenly changed to one clearing out for a badminton game which included people like Steven Chia, one of the ex-comrades during my green days.  He passed me some money to get small bottles of water (all said through sign language as there were vocally-disabled people among us).  The game was at a community centre's hall that appeared to be at Tampines Central.

When I exited the place, I could not find any convenience stores that sold drinks and walked for awhile and appeared at Vivocity.  One of the shops lined outside should have it, but I still could not find it after going through several stores.  The last resort was to take a spaceship like transport that I was led to after entering an arcade centre where I had to board this cockpit, using the joystick navigation to move myself to my desired destination through a combination of a certain set of moves.  After alighting, I realised that this "carrier" is catered only for women with young children....oops.

Soon I found myself radio-ing back to the badminton players in the hall that I can't go back to join them for the game; and this was already after I had left the place for several days.

Soon, my eyes opened and I found myself on my bed; it's 7am and time to get up for part of the final run in this battlestation exit journey.

A night rider's journey for the evening to Malaysia had proved interesting as I could see how things are during a weekday evening.  Considering being a weekday, it is pretty packed at the Causeway.

Flood puddles could be seen near KSL City at the usual entrance where I turn in.  By the time I reached the mall, they were already winding up for the day.  It was one of those 'solo mission' trips which I've not done for awhile.

Despite requiring a little mental endurance after a battlestation manning day, this trip had been made in succession.  Another of such will be planned.

Another venture into the country which I have visited and loved the most: Australia.

This time, I appeared in a part of the town which was in the heart; one could see streets filled with people, road traffic rolling smoothly across and a signboard that read 'Marydove' that indicated the name of this town.

Atop the bus stop, there was a map of the bus routes which was a complex array considering the number of bus services that goes through this town.  I had boarded a Bus No 26 which brought me downtown where it was less crowded.  The exploration begins again as like the previous journey where I travelled alone and made my way around with maps.

Next scene showed me leaving a rocky-terrained planet like place where the Dynasty has met again; seemingly another group trip.  Kevin was wesring this strange cap which has a vehicle registration plate mounted on it.

It was after our jolly chat that I suddenly opened my eyes and realised it was a dream; so pleasant that I didn't feel like coming back here.  I'll definitely revisit Australia.

One of the ususual lunches I had today; the company of The Young Ones as I usually lunch alone.  I guess there's always a reason I only display one facade of myself in the face of the battlestation life which I am working to move out, all the time.

In the face of the diminishing beam, of light, the step of exit grows closer.  Some of my peers are envious of me, some sad but I guess the best things to hold on is always the great fellowship we have despite the tough times we have had.

In less than 7 days will I step out of this place.  Till now, the departure is still kept low despite being made known to those within the department.

Since the data at home is on a massive shifting, ie my cyber-housekeeping, this is a good time to update my blog here as I have been immensely busy the past few weeks.  In a wink of an eye, the evening has entered the late hours, beyond the hours that one can explore malls.  I'm just looking forward for the week to transit over smoothly before the next and final week.

Hope the cyber-housekeeping is done by now so I can retire for the evening.

The heat can be felt even while standing in the shade while awaiting for the bus' arrival.

Today begins the offical countdown of Exit Path.  The news came as true as what I saw through dreamland that I had to go; just that the notice in reality was something that sounded better.  Looks like my hunt several months ago came for the right purpose.

Seems like this is what some people might call an 'annual break' season that requires me to break off from the main track and move into something else before rejoining the 'main force' when time is right.  Hopefully in the long run, I would've broken off from the main track and running well on my own.

Had quite a mindful before I could fall asleep proper so most likely I have to turn in abit earlier tonight.