How I Became a Spurs Fan?

You might have figured out that I'm a Tottenham Hotspurs fan by now if you have seen some of my previous posts.

I have been supporting Spurs since I was young in the early 80's... Yes, it's already over 20 years and please stop counting how old am I...

Since it all started more than 2 decades ago, there were times when I wondered how I started supporting Spurs and why I support them? Basically, how I became a Spurs fan?!

After spending some time "investigating", I finally came to the conclusion... The reason why I started to support my beloved football club was because... I like their jersey colours and design when I first watched English soccer! (Ha... anti-climax?) If you just pause for a while, it's not too difficult to image that. How would a little kid know so much about soccer tactics or formation etc? He simply choose a team with his favorite jersey! (Just like why lots of women supported Man Utd - because Beckham is handsome) Make sense now? But of course as I get more "intelligent" (=older), supporting Spurs had become a choice rather than some kids choosing a toy. Spurs has gone into my blood...

1991 Home Jersey & 2007 Home Jersey

Sad to say that during the past 2 decades, I feel we have not manage to attain much success. There were times when we see glimpse of hopes (Gazza, Lineker, Ginola, Klinsmann) but nothing significant happened. Most of the times we had financial difficulties, stuck in mid table or involved in relegation fights. We suffered... I suffered... especially when teams like Man Utd and Arsenal dominate the game. I had experiences when people told me to switch clubs, but I never have the slightest thought on that... NEVER.

125th Anniversary Jersey

Some other crazy facts...

Ever since Singapore Pools legalised betting on EPL, whenever I bet on Spurs games; it's always on Spurs winning. I never play against my team, not even draws. My GF always said that I throw $$$ into the drain. My philosophy is "No conflict of interest". And I always tell my friends, "You can gauge how much money I made from the EPL season based on the league table standing at end of the season". Unfortunately, times have not been that kind to me for most of the years. (I know the Man Utd fans are saying "We will be millionaire by now if we bet like you!")

Results of Spurs games could significantly affect my mood at times. I know that's rather unhealthy, and I'm trying to change that. Reducing the mood swing... PMS? :p

One thing great to mention... we have a Singapore Spurs Supporters' Club formed by a group of dedicated die-hard fans. You know you are not alone when it comes to support Spurs away from White Hart Lane, London.

Last but not least... Come on you, Spurs!

Deepest Condolescence

Deepest condolescence to the families, relatives and friends of the 5 Singapore dragon boat team members who lost their lives during a competition at Cambodia last week. Their boat capsized on the Tonle Sap River; 17 rescued while 5 lives were lost.
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20071126-38482.html
http://www.asiaone.com/News/The%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20071127-38524.html

Diamonds

To Women, what does "D" stands for...?
- "D" Cup size?
- "D"ollars $$$?
- "D"iamond?!

To Men, it spells "D"isaster... :(

I was shopping with my GF last weekend when she was hunting around for an engagement diamond ring. Yes, I proposed to her during May this year but has yet to get her the ring.

Hmmm... I never believe in diamonds. To me, they are a bundle of stones used to con Women in spending $$$ on them. Even worse, made the Women's Men pay the $$$. :( Is diamond really that good/precious? (Post your comment!)

After spending half a day going jewellery shops searching for the diamond ring, I'm in some way already became a diamond "expert". Ha...

Some interesting facts of diamond which I never know. (I wonder if most of the women who are crazy about diamonds knew about these??). It does change a bit of my perception on the "stone". There are much more about them than my initial impression, but I still find them a bit ridiculous expensive and not practical. You cannot eat them, use them... Just for showing off...

There is 4 "C"s in diamond... (Not the 5 "C"s of Singaporean girl's demand : Cash, Credit Card, Car, Condominium & Country Club). Sigh... now you know how tough being Singaporean guys to maintain their girlfriends & wives?? Btw, I have not attain all 5... :(

Back to the 4 "C"s of diamond : Cut, Colour, Clarity & Carat.

I'm not that expert to talk you through the details, but in a nutshell the attributes from the first 3 will determine how "sparkling" the diamond is. Carat...? Bigger the merrier for ladies??

1) Cut

2) Colour

3) Clarity

4) Carat

Some link for your reference... (let the real experts do the explanation)

http://gia4cs.gia.edu/index.cfm

http://www.egl.co.za/

http://diamonds.pricescope.com/

Well, having said all these... It's not as if I proposed to my GF earlier without a ring. Err... I did have one... See, it does sparkles a bit and err... it's cute... :P

"Cheapo!!! Moron!!! Idiot!!!" Ok... ok... I can hear all the women in the world(or at least in Singapore) screaming at me at this moment... A ring is a ring, right...? More importantly is I LOVE HER. :)

"Lame!!!" Ok... ok... I already promised my GF that I will get her a proper diamond ring.
Happy now (Women) ?

Christmas Mood All Around...

It's about a month away before Christmas Day, but the mood is already all around along Orchard Road. Lighting, Sales, Caroling... etc.

My GF and I went to Spageddies @ Paragon for dinner before her shopping. We ordered our regular items; stuffs we always eat when we come to Spageddies.



1) Oriental Chicken Salad - S$8.50 (Chili that comes with it is the best!)
2) Double Seafood Sizzle - S$46.50 (Best Seller)
3) Chocolate Brownie - S$5.95 (1st time trying, not bad)
4) Dining with GF - Priceless (Ha... I know she is watching)

The brownie tasted good, we made sure that they made it warm enough. :P~~~



Christmas Tree inside Taka (They never change the tree every year, though it still looks good)

Caroling "Silent Night... Holy Night..."

Nice Lighting?

Along Orchard Road

I still remember when I'm younger and unattached, a couple of us (guy friends) would go out to party on Christmas and New Year eves. Drinks, drank, drunk... at parties at pubs along Boat Quay. I do miss those days (the drinks, the fun and the party chicks...) Oops... :p

Old Pictures taken earlier

Some pictures taken earlier which I like to share with you guys & gals. Hope you like it! :)

My niece and I (Hand in Hand)Pulau Ubin, Singapore (Sept 07)

Leave No Man Behind...Last Man Standing... Napa Valley, US (July 07)
Santa Cruz, US (July 07)

Saw some very cool photos in the following blog, check it out too...
http://stephanguess.blogspot.com/

Standard Chartered Marathon 2007

Are you running the Standard Chartered Marathon this year?? I do (10km)... :(
http://www.singaporemarathon.com/

Time flies as it's a year ago when I first joined this event and ran the first ever 10km in my entire life... I also did it without stopping, completing in an hour 12min. Well... not super good but guess respectable. Not bad an achievement. Was initially hoping that I can surpass this mark this year but looks like it's going to be difficult. While some of my colleagues have been training hard for the event for a year (they are running 21km this time!), I was slacking and only start training last week. With a week to go, I dun see how I can survive the 10km run this time round...

Run Forrest Run...
err... should be Run Mango Run... :(

Consolidation

It has been around 5 months since I first started to "blog" back in June. I remember I was wondering if this was an act of stress, fun or ...??? As I try to consolidate what I have done here so far and what I have gained from it, I still kind of searching for the meaning and direction for my blog...

The fact that only myself visiting my own blog may seem pathetic to most people, I still feel it give me some private space to express myself openly (almost)... Though I would love to have my site being visit by thousands. Btw, my GF does read my blog occasionally after I told her about 1 month back.

What do I want from these (blogging)?
If you have realised, I am not into the "publicity" way of blogging. I preferred to stay anonymous, making it easy for me to say whatever I like without any constraints. (Maybe I'm just not that handsome...? you might be thinking) Whatever, I like the way it is now when you got to see me (er... my hand).

What direction do I want to set for my blog in the future?
- I have been writing about myself most of the time; just like a diary.
- At times, talked about my favorite soccer club (Tottenham Hotspurs) and how they struggled recently
- Some personal thoughts, theories or philosophy (bullshits?)
Are these the ones I hope to stick with? Or should it be some other contents of more depths?

I went through a couple of other blogs of which some are written by fellow Singaporean. There is one which talks about "Environment Issues", such meaningful and depth compared to mine (shallow?)... There is some which are purely diary of female individuals mostly posting their daily life pictures. Majority of them showing their pretty faces and cleavages... guess that's why their hits are much much higher than mine... Maybe I should start to post some of my GF's... Ha... There are also blogs that purely discuss about soccer which seem to be popular as well.

So how should I move from here...? What will be my direction? Substance, Nudity, Sports...?
I figured that I shall have some of everything... Meaningful contents, sexy pictures, my life and my Spurs! One other thing which I also like to include is some "artistic" photos since I like taking them. This can perhaps be a good platform to share my works and hopefully get some recognition?!

Hmmm... So is it Mango Crazy... or Man Go Crazy...???
U decide...

Home Sweet Home

I am finally back in Singapore.

Did not miss too much of food here, though the first meal I have in the afternoon on my first day back is MOS Burger! Somehow I had some craving for burger... how ironical as I just came back from US? No chance to eat burger there... Ha. Missed the "In & Out" Burger.

Day #8 (17th Nov) Last Day in States

Day 8...

Time to go home. I am standing outside where we were staying and enjoying the scenery.

Way to breakfast and airport.

Famous Dim Sum? Michelin Awards? Heard it is world recognised recommendation... Like our "Channel U Recommendation... etc..." Ha...

Petrol going sky rocket everywhere...

At the SFO Airport, waiting to go home see my GF...

That concludes my week trip to US... So when will I be back again??

Day #7 (16th Nov)

It's Friday, last day of my conference... I was still having some meetings while the rest of colleagues were happily doing more shopping during the day. Hai... no chance for last minute shopping.

We had checked out the hotel earlier in the morning as we are suppose to head up to San Francisco (from San Jose) during the night. Will be staying at a hotel nearer to the airport for the last night in US.

We went to a Chinese restaurant, which supposing to be famous, for our dinner. Yes... yes... stop reminding me... (Chinese food again?!!!)

We had some drinks at a pub before we headed back hotel. Never drink too much though my colleagues tried to get me drunk. On the way back, we suggested to go to some gay bar but never really did so. Ha... will be very interesting! :p

Day #6 US Trip (15th Nov)

Day 6...

Coming to the end of the week soon. Met up some of my other Singapore colleagues, who are also in US for another purposes, for dinner on Thursday night.

Hmmm... we went to Chinese restaurant for dinner... Yes, Chinese food again... Seem like I am having more Chinese food in States compared to in Singapore. :(

Super big portions of dishes (American sizes)

Fortune cookies. Something you only find in US restaurants!

Ha... Amercian thought that the fortune cookies are very authentic Chinese restaurant stuffs. But they never realised that it only still exists in US not even in China, HongKong or Taiwan!
Guess what I got for this dinner?!!! "You should pay for this dinner. Be generous." Ha we had a good laugh, and I got away without paying for the rest. :P

Day #5 US Trip (14th Nov)

Day 5... Wednesday

It's half way through the week, we got a teambuilding event in the evening after the meetings. We arrived at a vineyard around an hour away from our office.

Dinner... wine tasting lesson... and teambuilding... Guess what? Build a tower of "corks"!

The wine tasting lesson was an eye-opener for me, someone who knows nothing about wine. Very interesting... Wine from steel or oak barrel tasted different. "Tails" which is slower and broader implied higher alcohol content... etc. Ha... Now I can bullshit around man.

After a night of fun and laughter, we enjoyed the scenery and chilled weather outside before heading back to hotel.