Time To Shred Some Fats

Its been just over a year since my last run at 2011 Sundown. I completed 21km, barely able to walk across the finishing line due to cramps. But its still a personal achievement to finish it below 3 hours.

One year on and I have lost all my stamina and muscles, in exchange for expanded waistline, barely able to fit into my pants (again), and some not so good readings with my bad cholesterol. Well the combination of uncontrolled feasting on rich, yummy and sinful food and the zero exercise over the year all adds up.

It is time to put a stop. Watching Sasuke Singapore on TV makes me wanna get fit again! RAWR!

Image from Nike Running Singapore

First, set a target, for without it, there is no aim, purpose or motivation. First target is to complete the Nike 10k 2012. Its almost like Deja Vu as it was the Nike 10k 2010 that I caught the running bug. Let's hope this run gets me started again. Let me know if you are going for this run too. Friends would make it more fun. More details can be found here.

Update 28th Sept 12: Registration for Nike 10k 2012 has closed.

I have also bought myself a Polygon Helios F500 flatbar road bike to join my poly friends on their weekly rides. The first time I ride with them was a 36km ride. I wasn't really expecting that and boy was it gruesome, wanted to give up halfway. But having ride a few more times it's getting more and more enjoyable.

Hope you guys find some fun activities to do and keep fit as well.

Update: Yes I complete the run in one piece. Although the timing is not great, completing it is itself an achievement.

Chain Reaction Cycles - Excellent Customer Service

When I received the replacement package yesterday, I knew I had to blog about them.

Last month when I was in my "lost" world, I bought myself a road bike so I could join my cycling friends on their weekly cycling routine. Most of the time when a cycling newbie like me start on the cycling journey, the bike cost would be the first to hit you. Later on do you realise that it is actually the accessories cost that would run up pretty high, unknowingly.

From my Online US Shopping and Online Shopping Encore posts, you would have realise that I embrance online shopping. Often the prices are cheaper and the range are more extensive. The downsides are:
1) the waiting time,
2) the lack of physical touch (on the actual products),
3) the fear of being cheated,
4) the fear of damaged or wrong goods delivered.

Some of these could be mitigrated. So if you do not need the items urgently, and you have seen or touch or knows exactly what you are getting, the first two downsides are cleared. The third downside could be mitigrated by choosing a reputable online retailer and using Paypal to pay. Why Paypal? Because if you have issues or disputes with the seller/retailer, you could raise the dispute through Paypal who can help you get your money back. I personally have used it before when I won a eBay bid for a toy, paid for it but the toy never came. Raise the dispute ticket with Paypal and they credit the money back to me within 3 weeks.

The last downside is abit of a hit and miss that happens even when you buy at local store. The issue is if the retailer is overseas, you pretty much write off the package since it usually cost too much or is too much of a hassle to ship it back to them for replacements. That was what Arthur and I almost did.

What happen was last month, I found out about this UK online store call Chain Reaction Cycles (CRC) selling heaps of bicycle stuff. The thing I like about this store is, they can display the prices in SGD, enabling easier comparisons with local prices. And if the total orders are above SGD250, they ships for free no matter how big (love this as I ordered a car mount bicycle rack). So I ordered a number of stuffs including two Blackburn Flea lights, one for my friend Arthur. These lights uses USB to recharge so you save on batteries.

The package came fairly quickly but one of the Flea lights USB charger was not working. Arthur took it as bad luck and was ready to write it off. But I felt bad as the light wasn't cheap I actually help him purchase it. So I dropped an email to CRC about the charger. The next working day CRC replied, apologising for the faulty product and said in the same email they are sending a replacement to me. And this was without asking for photos or further information. They send the replacement from UK, no questions asked.

This is what I call excellent customer service. And it is online retailers like this that eliminates the final downside. I would definitely be patronising this site again in future. That BeOne Diablo carbon bike looks so tempting...

The Will Of A Daddy Blogger Is Stronger

I have been lost, scattered to the wind, but I survived. And I'm back again.

So where have I been? If the above sentence sounds familiar to you, you would have probably guessed where I have been spending my nights.

Recently I had a disturbance within me, an anger that stirred inside me that grew suddenly and went out of control. It was toward Lucas. I just could not understand or handle this boy and he sticks to Lilian like elephant brand superglue. That drove me nuts.

I then stopped blogging totally. I confessed to Winston (Dear Xander) of this inner anger, this hatred for Lucas. I told him I do not see the point of blogging about something I hate (yes I used the word something). And so I stopped blogging.

I occupied my time with other new found activities, like buying a bike to cycle and get fit again and going back to what I enjoyed most before I had to give up due to the boys, gaming. Hardcore gaming. Bought a copy of Diablo 3 and burned my nights and sleep fighting monsters and demons. Addictive game.

Then today, I saw a Facebok post from Andy (Sengkangbabies) about a post by The Wacky Duo touching on daddy bloggers and my blog was mentioned. It sort of hit me in the head and made me think what was the main reason I started blogging as a daddy. It wasn't fame and definitely not money, but mainly to document and preserve the growth journey of my boys.

If I do not blog, we might lose that memory of their journey. Suddenly, there is this renewed purpose to blog again, to preserve the memories in words and photos.

What about my anger and hatred for Lucas? Well it has diminised over that period of blogging absense. Maybe because he becomes more responsive and fun, maybe because my gaming void was filled. Or maybe I just needed a break from blogging.

Lucas Taking Baby Steps

Following my earlier post On Your Marks, Lucas can now stand on his own without assistance.

In fact earlier this morning, he took three steps on his own before sitting down again. I manage to capture a video clip, later in the day, of him standing and taking a step or two.

Little man will be walking and running pretty soon.

Lucas turns ONE!

Lucas turns the big ONE today. As usual, we opt for the low-key celebration with immediate family.

Lilian ordered mini buffet from Yum Cha Express. The friendly uncle helped us set up our table. Excellent service. And the food is pretty good as well.

Some family shots and happy shots.

Getting ready for the cake and candle blowing. We chose baby Bugs Bunny as Lucas was born in the year of the rabbit. Xavier seems more excited for his brother.

And everybody sing...


We have a tradition where we would lay items for the one year old to pick and what did Lucas pick first? $Money$. Xavier picked that first too when he was one.

Wishing Lucas grow up healthy and wealthy. Happy Birthday Lucas.