What do Netflix’s Korean drama We Are All Trying Here, the Sony X1000M6, BLACKPINK’s “GO,” and a soon‑to‑be‑trashed Marshall Major 3 have in common?
A restored Marshall.
The Marshall that refused to die!
Category: Diary
I had a rather strange customer service experience today with Standard Chartered. Strange probably isn’t the word — frustrating perhaps. The missing insurance policy itself isn’t even what bothered me most; it was the feeling of being abandoned by the platform that sold me the product.
A Simple Purchase That Went Wrong
On 27 April 2026, I logged into my Standard Chartered banking app. There was a promotion to purchase travel insurance from Allianz. With upcoming travel plans, I bought two policies through the app – one for a trip in May and another for a trip in October. The bank deducted the money for both transactions immediately. Shortly afterwards, I received the May trip’s policy certificate and everything looked normal. The October certificate, however, never arrived.
Categories
The Meals I Didn’t Return
I’ve been thinking about food lately. Not the kind you photograph, recommend, or complain about on Instagram.
Just… ordinary meals—the kind you buy, sit down and quietly finish even when something isn’t quite right.
Over the years, I’ve had a handful of these moments. None of them were dramatic, but for some reason they stayed with me. I think I’m only starting to understand why.
If you stream Chinese or Korean songs on Apple Music, you’ll probably know my pain.
Around the time I moved from Android to an iPhone in 2021, I also switched from Spotify to Apple Music. It was cheaper then, offered lossless audio and slotted neatly into the Apple ecosystem. Yet I still miss how well Spotify curated a New Music Mix and served it up every Friday. I love discovering new artists and genres while keeping up to date on the latest releases from my favourite artists – a list that grows week by week.
At least for me, Apple Music’s New Music Mix is a pain to use. That’s my opinion, of course, but it’s deeply frustrating. Imagine waiting a week, opening your 25‑song mix and finding that more than 20% of the tracks turns out to be karaoke versions with no lead vocal. Why on earth would I want to hear a “new” song without a voice and without lyrics?
Duh.
Are Team Apple Music aware of this? Or is the engine that powers Apple Music really that arcane and limited? I have some evidence for this later when I tried to match songs using the app, external sites and ChatGPT Plus.
Oh, time flies. It really does. The last time I visited the Peranakan Museum was more than 15 years ago. I even have a blog post to prove it!
Technology and I have always had a love–hate relationship.
Around the time airstrikes on Iran began under President Trump, my partner was away for a social event. Left to my own devices and a little bored, I started surveying the electronic items that have become glorified furniture – no longer in use but occupying space nonetheless.
Categories
2025, in 18 Photos
[29 Jan] A Familiar Ritual
Chinese New Year was spent in Malaysia with my partner. It seems to be a bit of a trend these days. The vibe was great – fireworks everywhere. Some from business owners, others from families. They went on throughout the night, and throughout the nights. Now I know why she is not a fan of fireworks.
I can be quite extreme – at least that’s what people around me sometimes observe. I can’t quite remember why I resisted running any form of marathon when I was younger. I do remember that I love hiking. Before my knee injury from climbing Mount Kinabalu in 2007, I used to run short distances around my old condo before sunrise. The timing was decent. Then, about 18 years ago, I stopped jogging altogether.
This year, I decided it was time to run a half-marathon.
My first attempt at any marathon category, at the age of 53, with only 8 days to prepare.
Categories
A New Chapter in My Career
In my three decades of working life, I have seldom changed companies. At first, I thought I was a loyalist or someone who resisted change. Yesterday marked my last working day with a bank where I spent nearly 18 years. One of my passions at work has always been to build teams and inspire people, and they became the very reason why I stayed for so long. As the saying goes, day-to-day work can be tough, but if the people are good, we tend to stay and weather the storms together. Every year, we might complain about the lack of career growth or that the pay raise and bonus fall short of our expectations. However, if we are attached to the people around us, most of us choose to stay for another year. And another.
Today, AI recommended a Cauliflower and Lentil Veggie Stew for dinner, and I’m here for it!