End of Days

Strait Times Interactive: Blackout hits many areas after gas supply failure

Sometime this year, there was a blackout that affected many area.. Well, that time we were the only apartment in my neighbourhood that was unaffected. We were liked a beacon in the world of darkness outside. That time, I didn’t even knew there was a mass blackout till my bro told me..

Last night, it’s our turn. We were the only apartment that blackout in the neighbourhood. I was reading then. And pop! The lights went out. Luckily, I had my army L-torch and some candles around. Armed with the L-torch, my mum went down stairs to check out (gossip) with the neighbour. (We lived on the fourth floor, no elevator)

Armed with the candle, I went to set up the backup phone, the type you only need to tap in the phone cable. Got my handphone and called my sis who lived in Punggol. She gana too. I switched to my handphone radio for latest news.

To add to our misery, there is no water supply as well. My bro found that while he tried bathing in darkness. The apartment’s water was pumped by a electric pump. Luckily for us, the blackout last about half hour. I know my sis was in darkness for more than an hour. (She only got one tiny torchlight and brother-in-law still not back)

My advice:
1. Always keep a torchlight and fresh batteries around in acessible areas.
2. Have some candles and matchsticks too in case your batteries are flat.
3. Keep the lighted candles away from inflammable objects. You don’t want your house to be the biggest torch in the area.
4. Know where you keep all these things.

Another day at the Teddybear shop. Next Tuesday will be my GSS. Finally got my pay..

How sad!! Nobody answer at all.. Sigh!!

Never the less here are the answers to Questionaire 2:

There are 14 LRT stations for the Sengkang Loop of SPLRT and here are the reasons for the stations’ names

1. Sengkang (Town Centre): Located at the town centre. It is integrated with the Sengkang MRT station of the NEl.

2. Compassvale (SE1): Located along Compassvale Street. (Maybe we should find out why the dtreet is called Compassvale)

3. Rumbia (SE2): Sagu Rumbia and Buah Rumbia was quite common in this area. The former found in swampy areas, the latter grows on undulating land.

4. Bakau (SE3): Bakau (mangrove tree) are popular building foundation. The word “bakau” alludes to a strong foundation.

5. Kangkar (SE4): Located at a former fishery and is a familiar landmark to older generation of the residents. “Kangkar” means “riverbank or “river mouth” in Teochew.

6. Ranggung (SE5): A species of stocks which lives along the Punggol seashore.

7. Cheng Lim (SW1): Located near an old road called Cheng Lim Farmway 1. used to have many farms in this area.

8. Farmway (SW2): Reminiscent of its history as a farming area, Farmway was an old road name in the area.

9. Kupang (SW3): Kupang fishing was a source of livelihood for the villagers in the past.

10. Thanggam (SW4): A Tamil word for gold. This station is located near an old road called Lorong Thanggam.

11. Fernvale (SW5): Located off Fernvale Road.

12. Layar (SW6): Means “sail” in Malay and relates to travel.

13. Tongkang (SW7): A lightboat. Commonly used to carry goods along rivers in the past.

14. Renjong (SW8): Located near Lorong Renjong. Means “tall’ or “to raise” in Malay.

Mar/Apr 2003, Issue 43 Land Transport Authority. Katherine Goh.

Yup Yup! That’s all..

Yes! It is down to the last five and a half day. Tomorrow still have to work half day. After which is Teddy bear gathering!

I’m having an in-between mood currently. One part of me is really happy to end the IA. Another part of me is sad to leave the friends here and just doesn’t want the IA to end. Sigh! Does this always happen to you too?

By the way, happen to find the information today which I think can serve for IA Questionaire 2. Questionaire 2 is very difficult.. So the prize for the winner will be not 2 but 3 photos of my teddy bear. The one who got the most number of the correct answer is the winner. Deadline is this Sunday, 13 June 2004, 11pm.

Here’s Questionaire 2:

Refer to the link provided: Map of Sengkang LRT

Question 1: How many stations are there in Sengkang LRT? (So simple, even Primary 1 students can answer this.)

Question 2: What are the names of the stations? Give explaination on how their names come about. (Wa!! Question so tough!! I wonder whether SBST site got the anwers or not? But I do have the answer!!!)

Simply send me your answers through email or use the comments provided by blog.

Finally, down to the last two weeks. Next week my IA will end..Sad sad..

Today, I and my other IA friend from NTU did a presentation for the department during their monthly meeting.. Topic? Bascially what we did and learnt during the attachment in the department.

For my part, it is a long grandfather story that puts everyone to sleep. Seriously speaking I did not do a good job of it. Eating my words most of the time. Sigh! Can be better prepared.. Could be greatly improved.. At least the slides are good. They still know what I’m trying to say. Well, most of them.. But the presentation’s over!! Yeah!!!

Excerpts from my speech:

“Why are we here?

1. Learn how to be an engineer.

2. Get our hands dirty.

3. To check whether what we learn in school is usable or not?

4. To make friends, work together without quarrelling and handle projects without messing it up.”

Excerpts from the slides:

“Why are we here?

1. To experience the engineering profession.

2. Hands on.

3. To relate theoretical studies in school to actual applications.

4. To learn communication skills, teamwork and project management.”

Next time, I will do a better job in presentation.