80 things about DnA

1. I met Huppy on the internet whilst accidently surfing on mirc - galaxynet sg. - when I should have been revising for my uni exams! (about June/July 1998)
2. My first letter from him was 2nd Sept 1998 - officially pen-friends!
3. Huppy's bday is 2nd August 1980 - 25 years old
4. My bday is 15th Jan 1979 - yip I'm older than him and I hate it... Cos always wanna be young! Im 26 yrs old
5. I had this phobia of "I can never date or marry anyone younger than me.." until now!
6. During one of our internet mirc sessions - i got stood up by huppy for a football match - "hey thanx!"
7. Huppy's hates: Most definitely cherries, yoghurt and tomatoes (but ive managed to make him eat tomatoes by saying "do you love me - if so, you'll eat them!!!" hehehehe Of cos he ate them!
8. My hates: Rollercoaster rides - ones which make your heart jump out... hate them with avengence!
9. Huppy's loves: Basking himself in sun, cheesecakes- esp oreo cheese cake (i've yet to try), potatoes and definitely mango pudding!
10. My loves: Hor fun big time and a girls' best friend - diamonds of course!
11. Huppy's fav colour: blue - sky blue to be exact
12. My fav colour: baby pink
13. Huppy was a quiet obedient child - good boy.
14. I was born in a caul - ie. born with the amniotic sac! Cool! I apparently slid out with ease!
15. My first ever car was a F-reg ford fiesta 1.0 popular , black
16. Huppy's first car was a N-reg ford fiesta 1.3 LX, white
17. We became bf/gf on wed 2nd July 2003 via sms: "so, is that a yes i will be ur gf or not?? ask again. will u daisie wong be allan tan's gf, thru thick & thin?"
18. "yes" on 2nd July 2003, Time 22:04
19. After alot of changes to plans - we met for the first time 23rd Sept 2003, 10:10am. Huppy visits me in UK and the rest of my family!
20. Our first holiday was to Amsterdam with my Sis and her fiance Kobe (28th Sept 2003)
21. I meet his parents in singapore 6th Oct 2003
22. I return alone to UK 14th Oct 2003
23. Our promise: "I, Daisie Wong/Allan Tan promise to love&hold, to cherish, to trust, to support, to care, to be honest, to never keep anything from each other (unless its a surprise!), never take for granted& be with Miss Daisie Wong/Mr Allan Tan for as long as I shall live, to make her/him the happiest&sweetest hon/babes in this world. I shall love no other."
24. I won pre-reg of the year for Lloyds pharmacy 2002
25. Huppy was a great Commando Scout in National Service - Singapore
26. Huppy wants a dog in the future - a Jack Russel... Oops - Im scared of dogs
27. I used to have more than 10 Yorkshire Terriers and a Bulldog called Humble as pets! - hence, that's why I was scared (age until 8yrs old) and still am scared!!
28. Huppy prefers to cook and I prefer to wash dishes
29. I have an obsession with washing clothes - if there's too many dirty clothes - i go a bit weird - and i just wash wash wash!!!
30. Huppy loves to generate more dirty clothes!
31. We're both organised, responsible and drop dead gorgeous people (maybe not the last point!?)
32. We have the same common goals
33. I am currently a pharmacist - self employed locum
34. Huppy is an internet website guru and options trader by night (you'll have to ask him personally if you want more details)
35. I am known as Daisie (the way i sign off), Daisy (on my birth certificate!), daze, princess, bingy, hon
36. Huppy is known as Allan, Al, huppy, babes
37. I was born in the valleys - Pontypridd, Wales
38. Huppy was born in Singapore - Toa Payoh?
39. I have an allergy to cow's milk and egg white - but still somehow sneak them in my diet and then suffer afterwards!
40. I am allergic to alcohol.. Tried an alco-pop Hooch and Baileys... was ill big time but slowly trying to prove it wrong!
41. Huppy has major nose allergies
42. I always had a fear of swimming and can now swim. Thanx to my coach Huppy (retired lifeguard)
43. I LURVE chocolate or anything sweet... but now - im trying to cut down
44. My fav perfume is the sweet smelling Angel by Thierry Mulger - its made of choc and vanilla - I wonder y I love it?!?!?
45. Huppy's fav perfume is Polo Ralph Lauren Blue and Pacco Robanne Ultraviolet Man
46. I hold the fork in my left hand and the knife in my right hand
47. Huppy holds the fork and knife in the opposite way!
48. Huppy has "alien toes" which make me laugh!
49. We both want to have a Porsche Cayenne as one of our collection of cars :) Nice!
50. Huppy has major scars from his motorbike accident in Thailand
51. I have a scar on my belly button - as when i was younger i had an umbilical hernia
52. When we both go outdoors - Huppy drives unless he's drunk!
53. I wear glasses/contact lenses (v. short-sighted)
54. Huppy has perfect vision
55. I speak cantonese, english and trying to learn mandarin
56. Huppy speaks english, mandarin and cantonese
57. We both love dancing in front of our room mirror to blasting loud music!
58. I dont like reading much - had enuf during school days!
59. Huppy loves to read and increase his knowledge.. I only do it if its a must!
60. Things passed down from our fathers: Me - big calf muscles, temper. Huppy - skinniness, stubborness.
61. Things passed down from our mums: Me - talkative nature, the ability to talk nonsense and being dipsy. Huppy - quietness
62. I have 4 sisters (im the 2nd oldest) and one bro (youngest and spoilt!)
63. Huppy has just one older sis
64. I love RnB and cheesy music
65. Huppy loves dance music
66. Mum has drummed into everyone's head that I love sheep, when I dont really. I now have a collection of sheep stuff ranging in diff sizes from keyrings to ornaments... I have tried explaining that i dont - but ummm - every occaision for a gift - oh, its a sheep!
67. We both have brown eyes
68. We both have tummy problems - I usually suffer from constipation and huppy with diarrheoa!
69. I drink soya milk
70. Huppy drinks full fat milk
71. I eat chicken breast
72. Huppy eats chicken thigh
73. We never argue when it comes to milk or parts of chicken!
74. I used to play the piano but now forgot
75. Huppy doesnt know how to play the piano but wants to learn
76. I am VERY forgetful - esp when it comes to numbers - I only know my own home tel. no.!
77. Huppy remembers nearly everything - even tel. no.s! Makes me feel thick - but hey!
78. I love to eat fish, however, eating bony fish I try to avoid. It ruins the whole eating process of fish - makes eating fish seem like a chore.
79. Huppy always tells me off for being so picky and he eats the bony sections, so that I dun have to eat it - Thanx babes - mwah
80. We are known as DnA - Daisie n Allan..

That's our 80 things (",)

Best Wishes From Mark!

Location: ASDA Pharmacy, Pontprennau
Time: 1:35pm
Date: 21st Oct 2005

I had just come back from my lunch break when one of colleagues said to me, Mark Williams was looking for me... Ok, I thot - another customer with some query! Well, this Mark Williams had just popped out to his car cos he was told that I was on lunch break and would not be back for half an hour...

Well, my colleague explained it was "The Mark Williams" - the snooker player! I was like "yeah, whatever!" I mean, working in the pharmacy I often read names on prescriptions like George Best, Tom Jones and I just thot to myself, 'it's just another name!' She just kept going on and on about it.. I was sort of in two minds! I was like "ru sure?!"

In my Uni days I used to watch alot of snooker - esp during revision periods when I was having a small break and I supported Mark cos he was Welsh - just like me!!!

Well, this Mark walked in - a little worn out and scruffy - and it was "The Mark Williams!!!" The welsh snooker one!! I kept my cool and made him wait as I was dispensing another prescription! Then when it was his turn, I dispensed his prescription and went to hand it to him... He was so down to earth and was extremely poorly due to being ill. He asked me a few qns about his meds and we had a nice little chat about his snooker. The topic then led to this and that and then Huppy!!!! The chat was about 8 mins - which is long in terms of a pharmacy, when its busy! I then asked whether he would write his autograph for my Huppy so that it would motivate us - as a reminder to never give up when the going gets tough.... And here we are my love: esp. for you...

Today was quite a happy day becos it made me aware that although some people may be rich and famous, live in big houses and drive fast cars - not all are big headed... They still shop in ASDAs and look for bargains, wear casual clothes and are just normal people. Some of these people are what they are today because of their goals and desires and they never gave up... If you're reading this, remember this:
"Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds."



Player Profile: Mark J. Williams

Category: Professional
Name: Mark Williams
Town/Country: Cwm, Wales
DoB: 21.03.75
Club: Emporium, Bargoed
High Break: 144 (1994 Strachan Challenge)
Ranking: 1st (2000/01 to 2001/02, 2003/04)
Turned Pro: 1992

Biography:
Mark Williams has led the Welsh revival at the top of world snooker and is regarded by many as the best single ball potter in the game today.
Originally a promising amateur boxer, Mark got fed up with being hit and took up snooker. He first came to the attention of the snooker world at large during the 1990/91 season when he beat Dave Harold to win a £500 event. In the World Masters in 1991 he was runner-up in the junior event to John Higgins but he beat John to win the British Under-16 title. He also won the UK Under-19 but a certain Matthew Stevens pipped him for the Welsh Under-19. He joined the professional ranks for the 1992/3 season just one year after it had become open to all comers.

He did not make such a spectacular start to his professional career as fellow rookies, John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan, but he did reach the last 16 of the European Open and a few other last 64 places ranked him at 119. It was a similar story in 1993/4 with a couple of last 32 places but his overall performance in those first two seasons took him up to 58th. 1994/95 was better still with two last sixteen places and several more where he reached at least the last 64. In non ranking events he won the Benson & Hedges Championship to give him his first title as a professional but also a wild card into the Masters at Wembley where he beat Willie Thorne 5-0 to get to the second round and his biggest pay cheque to date of £11,000. He rounded off the season by taking the Open championship title at the Pontins festival and his ranking climbed to 39.
1995/95 proved to be the big breakthrough season. He reached his first ranking quarter-final in the UK championship and then, at the Regal Welsh, he beat Doherty and Ebdon, among others, to reach the final where he beat John Parrott 9-3 for his first ranking title and £36,000. He went on to the British Open quarter-finals as well and even though he still had not made it to the Crucible, he jumped into the elite top 16 at number sixteen. That victory seemed to give him supreme confidence and in only the second event of the next season, the Grand Prix, he was a winner again. He followed that with successive quarter finals in the UK and German Open and a semi-final in the Welsh before taking his third ranking title in the British Open. He was now up to fourth in the rankings and one of the favourites for every event.

Although he did not add to his ranking titles in 1997/98 he held his nerve to beat Stephen Hendry on a re-spotted black in a final frame decider to win the Benson & Hedges Masters and a cheque for £145,000. He also had his best world championship so far, reaching the semi-finals but his ranking slipped back one place. He rounded off the season by taking the Pontins professional title. In 1998/99 he certainly made up for his lack of titles in the previous season. Along with Hendry, Higgins and O'Sullivan, he was part of what was becoming known as 'The Big Four' and after a modest start in the first two events he won three of the next four, the Irish Open, Regal Welsh and Thailand Masters and went all the way to the world final in Sheffield but Hendry was not to be denied his seventh title. Mark was now up to third but more importantly he was starting the next season provisionally heading the list. He also helped Wales to lift the first Nations Cup trophy.

Could he match that terrific season? Not only did he match it he went even better in 1999/2000 with no less than six ranking finals. He lost the first of those in the season's opener, the Grand Prix having also been beaten in the final of the new Champions Cup, a non-ranking event to start the season for winners from the previous season. He won the UK title and the Thailand Masters and was runner-up in the Malta Grand Prix and Scottish Open. And so it was on to the Embassy at the Crucible where he was one of the favourites and already assured of the number one position in the rankings. He did not disappoint his fans although he had to come from behind to beat his friend Matthew Stevens in an all-Welsh final to become world champion and, incidentally, the first ever left-hander to win that crown.

As so often happens after winning the world title, he found it difficult to maintain his form in 2000/01. Although he did win the Grand Prix and reached the final of the China International and the UK where John Higgins heavily beat him. He again lost in the final of the Champions Cup and the Malta Grand Prix, both non-ranking events and, in the Embassy, he surprisingly lost in the second round. He did however hang on to the number one ranking position mainly due to his dominance the year before. His form began to pick up in 2001/02 and he won back-to-back ranking titles in China and Thailand to put him back in the running to claim the number one position again. However defeats in the last 16 in both the Scottish Open and world championship ensured that he would drop to number two.

Mark turned to Terry Griffiths for advice and it really paid dividends. Although he did not begin the 2002/03 campaign particularly well, losing his opener in the Regal Masters and only reaching the last 16 of the LG Cup. But he then followed a British Open semi final with his second UK title. He was runner-up in the Welsh open and then won the Masters for a second time. As the world championship began there were three players in with a chance of the number one slot; Mark, Hendry and O'Sullivan. With Ronnie going out in the first round, Mark's entered his quarter final clash with Hendry knowing that a win would ensure that he became only the second player ever to regain the number one position after Ray Reardon. Not only did he win that match but he won the championship as well. He had now picked up the 'big three', UK, Masters and Embassy, in the same season, a feat which had only previously been achieved by Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.

Mark's secret seems to be that he is able to stay so relaxed, even during major finals and nothing seems to unnerve him. He is one of the jokers around the players lounge. As already mentioned he is noted for his tremendous potting skills but you do not win 14 ranking titles and a total of £3 million in prize money without having a great all round game.

Achievements:
World Professional champion 2000, 2003
World Professional Championship runner-up 1999
United Kingdom champion 1999, 2002
Grand Prix champion 1996, 2000
British Open champion 1997, 2003
Welsh Open champion 1996, 1999
Thailand Masters champion 1999, 2000, 2002
Irish Open champion 1998
China Open champion 2002
Benson & Hedges Masters champion 1998, 2003
Nations Cup winner 1999 (Welsh team)
Benson & Hedges Championship winner 1994
Pontins Professional champion 1998
Pontins Open champion 1995

Try This One: SuDoKu

Figure it out yourself!!

If you really get stuck - email me and i'll send you the answers!

SuDoKu

Ever tried Sudoku? Well, I'd never! Then at work one day, one of my colleagues was talking about it.... Then a customer was talking about it.... What?!?!?

Those whom know how to solve it and play it will say to you that it's quite addicitive. Dont worry, it's not gambling!! Its a puzzle based on a square grid (such as chess problems and crosswords)...

The rules are very simple. You are given a 9 x 9 grid divided into nine 3 x 3 mini-grids (boxes) and with some numbers already placed in it - then you just fill in the rest of the grid, in such a way that no number appears twice in the same column, row or box!!!

When I was first introduced, I thot - "oh no, Im rubbish in maths and arithmatics!" Well, there is none of this involved... All you need is LOGICAL THINKING, PERSEVERENCE and PATIENCE.

I truely reccommend this to you if you are lacking in the aspects stated above! Maybe when your children are slightly older or if you have young friends - why not introduce it to them - to expand their mind and logical thinking.

My tips:
1) Scan the rows (1-9)
2) Scan the columns (1-9)
3) Each box (1-9)
4) Fill in the gaps

Example: Numbering system starts from top left.

-No.9 is in row 1 and 3, so it must be in row 2
-No.9 is also in box A and B, so it must be in box C

-No.4 is in row 2 and 3, so it must be in row 1
-No.4 is in box A and C, so it must be in box B
-No.4 is in column 5, so the only place it could be is box B, column 5, row 1.

Answers here!

Thank You All For The Concerns And Supports

Would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank to you all whom was both being supportive and shown their concerns thru the various ways.

Thank you to people who take time off to come down to the wake, and their very generous donations.

Just wanna say, you guys make the difference at this particular moment.
Thank you once again.

God bless and take care!

cheers
Allan

After math

On the day of sending my grand dad to cremation, we had a traditional ceremony, the norm chantings, walking around the coffin and sending him, barefoot on the way to the crematorium (only about 400 metres, followed by vehicle picking us up.)

The special part of the last day, was having a live band to play some nice songs loved by my grand dad. I must say, they were really good.
They played about 30 songs, and they know from oldies in the 60s and the lastest in the 2005. They were so good that, most of the songs played left many with watery eyes, as we all listened to various songs liked by my grand dad. Especially one which i will always rem, "Long Shu Xia" a famous chinese song sung by Yu Tian.
I can still vividly see my grand dad trying to sing like Yu Tian.

A Grandfather Story.

He was a man whom taught me how to be a grandfather, a man with wisdom and abundance of experiences.

He was the one who showed me my lst look of a S$500 note. It was green and lovely. He taught me the value of money and how to appreciate every cent of it.

He learnt it the hard way, hence telling his decendents to keep one's feet on the ground and hard work will pay off.

He showed me how to live frugal and happily, however i watched him in plight sometimes.

He showed me magic tricks that was so easy, even a 5 years old will spot it, yet at age 10, i was baffled.

He was funny and jovial even though his face might show stern emotions.

He was both a father and grandfather when i was younger, older and still will be.

30 years ago, he was fit and healthy doing some small business to earn a living to support the family.

3 months ago, he was feeling down and lonely without his beloved wife bickering with him.

3 weeks ago, he was having a good time on his birthday, enjoying company of his family and amazingly chatting to his grandson via MSN for a solid 1 hour.

3 days ago, he was alive but yet not talking, unlike his character of being chatty.

3 hours ago, we just burnt his new "house, cars, gold ingots, clothes, tv and a harley davidson" to "ship" all the goodies to him where he is now.

3 minutes ago, i was thinking of him and the good times with him.

3 seconds ago, i paused.



"Time is the only thing that goes in one direction. The moment u say "good" its already "bye". Money can't buy time, in fact money can eat away ur time. Find the solution to create more time, to spend with ur beloved, cos time only goes one direction!"

Count Your Blessings...

Today, I drove huppy to the airport to return to Singapore, because he had to be there for his family. It was rather upsetting cos it has been ages since we spent time apart, however, this was something that could not be avoided. We discussed alot and this made me reflect. Now I want to share this with you - Counting your blessings...

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in the quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."

The Contender Theme Song is dedicated to my Huppy as I know this is his favourite song...

See you soon when I join you in Singapore xxx

What Makes A Good Cheesecake?!?

Whilst walking thru the aisles of Tesco Extra, Huppy decided we wanted to make a cheesecake - not too sure why and where the idea came from, but it happened! So off we went to get a "all-in-one cheesecake ingredients" pack...

This cheesecake pack contained everything you needed, with everything measured and weighed... the only thing you needed was milk and just to follow the instructions and mix it!! i suppose you could call this the "beginners pack" or you could call it the "quick time cheesecake pack"!

Anyways, Huppy started to pour the base powder into the glass container... then add butter... ummm - I wonder whether the correct quantity of butter was used? Well, not exactly cos the base was a bit dry! So Chef Tan added more butter.

Then step 2... add a certain quantity of milk to the cheesecake powder... Oh no, we didnt have a measure... so Chef Tan decided to estimate.... Oh no, too much milk so out came the 2nd packet of cheesecake powder (we bought 2 packs you see!!!! ;p) Mix Mix and pour onto the base.. chill for 30 mins, add abit of decorations... and there you go.. the finished product...

Taste verdict:
Huppy (also known as Chef Tan) - Too moist and sweet
Bingy - suprisingly liked it! Although it didnt look very pro and the consistency was soft/moist when it was cut, it tasted rather scrumptious!!
UK Family - Didnt comment but ate it all, so i think that's a thumbs up!

Qn: So what makes a good cheesecake?
I asked myself this qn over and over again... I even went to buy some pre-made cheesecakes to taste the differences in flavours and brands.... My verdict was, no matter what cheesecake I ate, it still didnt have that "yeah-that's it" taste, compared to the one huppy made. The truth is I cant really answer what makes a good cheesecake - in terms of a professional cheesecake maker. However, my answer is as follows:
A good cheesecake is where the person who makes it is the one whom knows how to cater for your taste, or should I say, the one whom your tastebuds have grown to love. Its rather weird... I dont usually eat cheesecake, nor do I intend to often - however, when I do decide to eat it in the future - I hope its Huppy's that I do eat.. Now, do you see my point? That's what makes a good cheesecake - that peckish feeling, the desire to have that "yeah-that's it" feeling... Hope you guys know that feeling cos that's when you can answer the qn "what makes a good..."

Enjoy :)