Monthly Archive for August, 2009

Our OPC gets a boost

Published on August 31, 2009 in Usual Ramblings. 1 Comment

A nice little surprise for Lyn (my boo) and I. Makes our decision to getting an off peak car a lot more satisfying… ;)

Changes to make off- peak car scheme more attractive - Taken from Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is dangling more carrots to make off-peak cars more attractive to motorists.

Among them are longer usage hours, cash rebates and greater flexibility in getting licences.

Currently, owners of off-peak cars get a one-off S$17,000 tax rebate. In return, the driver can only drive during off-peak hours, from 7pm to 7am.

Owners of cars have to display a S$20 paper licence if they want to drive during peak hours.

From November 23, e-licences will replace paper licences.

So, instead of being restricted to buying these at a few physical outlets, motorists can just SMS or go online to get them.

An added option is that motorists can now drive first and pay later for such licences for up to 24 hours later, which would be useful in emergencies.

More changes will be rolled out by end January 2010.

Motorists will then be able to drive all day Saturday and on the eves of five major public holidays – New year, Lunar New year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Chrsitmas, instead of only after 3pm on those days.

But there is no free lunch.

With more driving hours available, road tax discounts will also be reduced from S$800 to S$500 while the minimum annual road tax will go up from S$50 to S$70.

Existing off-peak car owners who want to switch to the new system will also have to pay an administrative fee of S$100 for what LTA calls “back-end work”.

Another incentive is cash rebates if a motorist decides to switch his normal car to an off-peak car.

Instead of the current practice of getting a lump sum rebate only when the car is deregistered, motorists will now get a cash rebate of up to S$1,100 for every six months’ registration as an off-peak car until the car reaches 10 years of age.

Currently, the number of off-peak cars in Singapore makes up about eight per cent of the total car population. With the new scheme, the Land Transport Authority hopes to up that figure to 10 per cent.

But are the changes enough to persuade more motorists to opt for off-peak cars?

Said one motorist: “If the situation changes and I do not have to drive during the day, I may consider. But having said that, because I need to fetch my kids to childcare and it’s during the day, it doesn’t sound attractive to me.”

“I don’t like to be restricted. There are already a lot of restrictions on the road like bus lanes, timing, ERP. I don’t want to add on another restriction to the flexibility in which you use car,” said another motorist.

Car dealers said the scheme would make small cars more attractive to buyers.

Glenn Tan, group chief executive, Motor Image, said: “You’ll probably see more people getting interest in the Cat A market because OPC cars have now become more convenient and it is a good buy per se now simply because the hassle could have put off some buyers.”

The changes to this 15-year-old scheme comes after extensive consultations, including with off-peak car users. – CNA/vm

All I can say is…YEAH BABY!!

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A different kind of BBQ

Published on August 23, 2009 in This I like and Usual Ramblings. 4 Comments Tags: , .

It was pretty much a BBQ weekend for Lyn (my boo) and I as we headed over to her sister’s chalet for dinner two nights in a row. The first night was pretty much normal with our plates piled up with the usual heavily buttered sausages, prawns, chicken wings, slices of pork, chicken nuggets and a tonne of other stuffs. As BBQs go, as long as there is good company and beer, we would all have a good time..and so we did.

Planning our second trip to the chalet the very next day, Lyn and I weren’t really looking forward to eating the same ‘ol food again. We wanted to experience something different and thought it would be marvelous if we attempt to cook what we learnt from one of  Jamie at Home’s episode on BBQ from the Asian Food Channel. With that, we popped over to Sheng Siong at The Verge, Little India which oh by the way is not exactly a good idea on a Saturday evening (yes we learnt our lesson) to pick up some ingredients.

Armed with a big piece of rib eye and two striploin steaks, live prawns, clams, razor clams, asparagus, mushrooms and loads of other herbs and seasoning, we excitedly made our way to the chalet looking forward to a fantastic BBQ dinner. The seasoning process was a little troublesome given the lack of utensils and cutlery but we managed to pull through with a good half hour or so with Lyn, her sister and I chipping in. Before we knew it, we made our way to the already fired up pit with our dressing and seasoned goodness and started our cooking process.


Left: Prawns and razor clams | Right: More prawns and clams


Left: We added more flavour by adding bay leaves into the hot charcoal and covered the food with an aluminum tray| Right: Our dressing made of extra virgin olive oil, mint, Italian parsley, fennel tops, chili, lime juice and zest and other seasoning

Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of the steaks on grill so please do forgive me. After about an hour of cooking, we dumped the seafood into our dressing, cut the perfectly grilled rosemary steaks (or how we called it) into strips and jumped straight into our dinner. In my humble opinion, one of the best BBQ we have ever experienced, apart from the one at my sister’s place. I guess it is safe to say we will never look at BBQ in the same light ever again.


Left: Steaks strips | Right: Asparagus


Left: Mushrooms with butter, garlic and Italian parsley | Right: Jamie’s seafood BBQ…amazing…


Left: The three of us cleared the BBQ goodness | Right: Can’t go without beer

More photos in my Flickr album here.

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I Failed

Published on August 20, 2009 in Things that suck, This I like and Usual Ramblings. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Never thought I’d say this but I failed my first ever three-year car inspection today. And this was immediately after I did my 30,000km servicing at my usual workshop. Talk about a kick in the nuts followed by a middle finger. Its not due to illegal modification like my other friends would think but rather a small little blue bulb beside my headlamp…tsk.. :(

According to the folks at Vicom, that is a no-no and I have to change it and return for a second inspection. Being the good citizen I am (or rather was), I drove back to my workshop (you know, the one that I was at earlier on in the day?), changed the bulbs and headed back to Vicom for inspection again.

To be honest, I was so confident that I would pass the first time round. I mean I don’t really modify my car (much) and try my best to keep the ‘ol Chevy as less ‘Beng’ and as legal as possible. I guess I was wrong. Maybe I am a ‘Beng’ ~shrugs shoulders~ :P


My second attempt – oh just in case you are wondering, I finally passed… :)

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Red + White BBQ

Published on August 16, 2009 in Usual Ramblings. 9 Comments Tags: , .

Dear sister Fel and her family threw a Red + White BBQ last Sunday evening to celebrate our Nation’s 44th. Decked out thematically and appropriately, everything from the cutlery to decorations and food such as muffins and wines were in red and white. Heck even the food had toothpicks with our national flags sticking out of them and tonnes of other medium sized ones were hanging everywhere.


Left: Very sweet red and white muffins from Fel | Right: Food had to be patriotic too

Armed with pizzas and ‘inner dead pig parts’ (or how we call them) from KP and a nice keg of Brewerkz’s deadly Indian Pale Ale from Lyn (my boo) and I, we BBQ’ed into the night while catching the National Day Parade on TV with a group of other friends. This is in addition to other food that included Aza’s (Fel’s beau) oh so lovely burger (I want more dude) and the usual sausages, chicken wings, loads of other lovely meat and prawns, amongst others.


Left and right: Firing up the BBQ

Channel NewsAsia was also present (all thanks to Fel’s connection) that night and filmed a significant part of our session before heading back to file the story. You can catch the video here. To be honest, if Fel had told me about the coverage earlier, I would have either worked out a little more to show off my ’soon-to-be-sweet-body’ (its really going to take a while) in my Singapore Slingers‘ jersey or wear something with sleeves. What came out was a fat bloke in a jersey. Not too glam if you would to ask me ;) .


Left: Of course the girls were working… | Right:..while the boys were goofing off

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Sweet Potato

Published on August 15, 2009 in Usual Ramblings. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The Kit Kat search continues and I made a discovery some time last week in office when I spotted a sweet potato flavoured version of that lovely chocolaty confection. Unfortunately I was sick and coughing my lungs out for the past two weeks. So there goes the taste test. Adding to that, my mean colleagues did not allow me to keep (steal) the pack leaving me sulking the entire week. I’m sure there will be other opportunities.. ;)

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The return of the MacSafe Power Adapter

Published on August 15, 2009 in Mac and Me and This I like. 0 Comments Tags: , .

So after a fruitless weekend plus the National Day holiday without my trusty MacBook, I called the folks from Apple (the real ones, not the authorised ones) in hopes of getting my dead MacSafe Power Adapter replaced..for free of course. Initially skeptical, I constantly reminded myself to keep my composure while explaining my predicament to the dude at the other end and at the same time, prayed silently for a miracle or a sign that would give me a glimmer of hope for a free replacement. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to be a miser here (well, maybe a tad bit) but I’d rather spend the $150 on something else than on the MacSafe Power Adapter, which till today I believe shouldn’t have taken a permanent break given that I rarely take it out (so strange).

Thankfully, the two service dudes I spoke to in the morning and the night (long story why I had to call twice) managed to somehow woo me back to loving Apple again with their customer service. It isn’t so much that I got a free replacement, but rather the effort they have put in. Its basic customer service – if you don’t know, go find out, even if you have to put me on hold.  I don’t mind waiting and I kinda like the music they played. They have shown that they are trying their best to resolve the issue (free replacement or not) and restored my confidence in their customer service. I won’t go into the details, I’ll leave that for the feedback they asked me to fill. Top notch guys.

Heading back to the EpiCentre the very next day knowing that a replacement code with my Mac’s serial number was entered into the system all thanks to the Apple dudes, I faced the same lady that served me the day before. You know, the one that had to put up with my attitude (though I still stand corrected that I have the right to, after being treated ‘wrongly’) and left me leaving the service centre extremely unsettled. Putting our awkwardness aside, we got into the replacement process with her smiling most of the time. I have to give it to her, she is a bigger person that I am, because I don’t remember pulling off even the weakest grin. To cut the long story short, I headed back home with my MacSafe Power Adapter and my MacBook is fully charged. Welcome back Mac!! :)


Okay I admit, not a very well taken photo of my replacement

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Apple customer service leaves something to be desired

Published on August 9, 2009 in Mac and Me and Things that suck. 8 Comments Tags: , , .

So we all have seen their marketing efforts – how they have proudly and profoundly proclaimed that their products are more superior than their competitors. Just throw in a dash of carefully and well crafted finishing touches giving it that cool factor, and what you have here is a ’successful’ line of ‘must have’ products with a huge cult following. Yes, the Apple has somehow brainwashed a significant number of the global community to switch from PC to the Mac, me included.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of Apple (wait..its was not am) and one just can’t get enough of their sleek, clean and less is more designs. Nevermind that the prices for both their accessories and products are through the roof or that you need to pay a significantly huge amount for extended warranty, unlike their competitors where they will give you up three years. We are all suckers and want a piece of Apple from their Macbooks to iPhones and don’t we know it. But when their customer service is not up to par, everything  Apple promises suddenly seemed like a huge cloud of fluff.

My MacSafe Power Adapter for my Macbook died on me yesterday afternoon to my dismay. Being a regular user of my Macbook, I was rather disturbed given that the long weekend will allow me more time for surfing and everyone knows we need sufficient power to ensure long usage. Running on my battery, I did a quick check at Apple’s website that noted:

‘Whether your product is in or out-of-warranty, you can take your adapter to an Apple-Authorized Service Provider or Apple Retail Store for evaluation and replacement if necessary. You may be eligible for a replacement adapter free of charge provided there are no signs of accidental damage.’

So with a huge sigh of relief, I popped over to the EpiCentre at Wheelock yesterday night hoping to get a quick exchange. After a few checks here and there, they told me that my Macbook is no longer under warranty and that I would need to get a replacement. To me it means exchange, but the to the folks at Apple, it means forking out a whopping $150. I must admit that having experienced a number of really bad customer service recently, especially from Nokia, I wasn’t exactly the nicest customer there. Although I was smiling and tried my best to reason, I was flustered and was not in the mood to take my non-working MacSafe Power Adapter back.

When I told them that the Apple website clearly indicated that a replacement can be done whether it is in or out-of-warranty, the lady at the counter gave me a small slip of paper asking me to contact Apple first. Once Apple gives the okay for replacement, all I need to do is to pop back to Wheelock again and get a replacement. This means that they will only evaluate upon Apple’s blessings, contrary to the website. What we have here is a new layer. Troublesome and somewhat shocking their policy may be, I unwillingly agreed and looked at the paper hoping to get my problem resolved the very next day. That was when the second wave of shock hit me, they are not opened on Sundays and public holidays. I’m pretty sure Apple thinks that is good customer service, but to me, it is two more days of Macbook inactivity…there goes my weekend.

While I can’t fault Apple for a spoilt MacSafe Power Adapter (I mean gadgets do fail from time to time), I question their quality service. I’m pretty sure I am not the first person with such an experience and God knows there will be a string of other similar Mac users with the same issue. I shudder to even begin thinking about Apple’s thought process for customer service. A keg of beer and a couple of shared hash in a meeting room does not make good management decision.

After a few taps (not bangs) on the table and reasoning with the service centre for the slightest solution possible to allow me to continue using my Macbook through the long weekend, I left extremely upset and even more flustered, wondering if switching to Apple from a PC was even a good choice in the first place. They were apathetic and unapologetic. Until Apple gives me another reason to think otherwise (and no, the new 3G iPhone does not cut it), I believe they have lost a fan.

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