Here’s some good news to share with everyone! I’m very happy to have made it to the finals of the Watsons YOU Awards 2010 for the Sporty Physique category.

The annual Watsons YOU Awards seeks to celebrate the uniqueness and individuality of the contestants in 8 different categories. The category that I’m competing in is the Sporty Physique category. The Sporty Physique category Award is given to the person who enjoys exercise and has a good body to make heads turn.

I recall the first qualifying round where all interested parties had to submit two photos – one full body shot and one close up zooming in on the body part we wanted to highlight. Then it was waiting to see if one made the next cut in the audition round.

Fast forward to the audition round…Out of the 12 of us who made it, 5 were chosen to advance to the finals. Now in the finals, as in any other competition, there are rules by which we have to abide.

Unlike the qualifying round where our best bodies were already scrutinised by the panel of judges and the audition round where we were assessed on our personality, the finals is a different kettle of fish. Yes, you have the goods. Yes, you have the personality. Now, do you have the popularity?

The winner of the Sporty Physique Award goes to the person with the highest number of public votes. It is solely determined by public voting which starts from 8 Jul to 21 Jul 2010.

The best thing in this competition is that I’m returning to my roots where it all started for me when I first decided to launch my career in the fitness industry.

If you have been a faithful reader of my blog and like my postings; or admire my courage to transform myself from a scrawny, sickly hermit to a lean, toned, confident individual; or love the work I now do in helping others lead a quality lifestyle in fitness and grooming, then please vote for me.

Here’s how to vote for me in 3 simple steps. You can vote once a day for the entire duration of the competition (yes, competition ends on 21 Jul 2010). So do not hesitate, take action now & support me.

Vote for Lionel in 3 Simple Steps!

1. Click on the banner below which would automatically bring you to the voting page. Alternatively, you may wish to click on this link here.

http://www.watsonsyouawards.com.sg/web/youawardsg/vote?p_p_id=AWARDS_VOTE&p_p_action=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_AWARDS_VOTE_struts_action=/ext/awardsvote/view

2. Look for my picture and contestant number 001253. I’m the first guy featured. Click on the Vote button below my picture.

3. Fill up your details – in particular your name, email and contact number. Then copy the text verification into the box. Thereafter, click on the vote button.

By supporting me, here’s what you stand to win too should I win. The lucky voter will win fabulous product hampers worth $100 each.

As the saying goes, every vote counts. Your votes are greatly appreciated. Remember to spread the word too. Thanks everybody!

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We all have our carnal desires. While some of us find an outlet for that moment by diverting our energies to other activities such as sports or work in an attempt to forget that urge, others find an outlet to release it by simply engaging in sex.

Who is one to say the former method is naturally better than the latter? It really depends on the values we hold dear.

Recently, news broke that a local director was having affairs behind the back of his wife. Or rather his wife knew about his extra-martial trysts but chose to close one eye initially, then both, with the hope that her wayward spouse who had veered off course would subsequently return home repentent.

But as the script always goes, the wayward spouse never repents and instead continues with his philandering ways until all hell breaks loose when mistress confronts wife at home. And mind you, it’s not one mistress…it’s a string of mistresses coming out from the closet, slowly, but steadily, one after another, to exposue the true colours of the wayward one.

Why does one always have to learn the lesson the hard way? Is the forbidden fruit always sweeter and more desirable?

I read with disgust how he continued to see the Mistress No. 1 on the sly (or rather openly) when the wife was preganant with child No. 4. Excuse me, even if your wife is heavy with child and cannot satisfy your sexual needs, just do it yourself and get on with it. Do you really need a younger girl to make it up to you?

If his wife was barren, I can probably understand his motives a little better. But she’s not. In fact, she’s given him 3 children and child No. 4 is on the way.

Interestingly, this trend is timeless. Remember the black golfer who drilled holes part-time while he was not swinging his clubs on the green? Or the big nosed megastar who sired a female child nicknamed ‘little dragon girl’ with an actress while married to another evergreen actress? The examples from history past are just too many to list. But I’m sure this will not be the last of such stories we will be hearing.

When men are in power and of a certain status, they tend to fool around to assert their authority. Sowing seeds and drilling holes seem to be the best extra curriculum activities, aren’t they? You can sow a seed, so can you plant a tree. But if you dare to sow a seed, do you dare to sow what you reap? Now there lays the difference.

We cannot erase our past, however unglamorous it is. But we can certainly choose to lead our lives with dignity and intregity. Be a man and own up. There’s no point getting your wife who has suffered enough to be subjected to further emotional torture so as to score brownie points for you.

I don’t blame the mistresses for coming forward with lurid details on how they were wooed all the way to the bed. Men, with their honey coated words, would have offered them a platter of tantalising rewards – be they movie roles, cash or even promises of official recognition. But do a reality check and ask yourselves will any of these materialise? No. The men can promise you anything from the sun to the moon, just to get you into bed. Once the deed is done and he has satisfied his carnal desire, you belong to the category of stale goods. Now on to the next sweet young thing. That’s why only sweet young things aged between 22 to 26 need apply.

Yet, let the truth be said. It’s not always the man who strays. Woman too stray and they do it quite daringly as well. I just saw an old neighbour in the same bus on my way home. She was with another man and she certainly was getting touchy touchy with him. Alright, she’s a widow so perhaps she has the right to seek a second relationship after her hubby died years ago? But if you were in the know, she was already seeing this man on the sly (or rather openly as well) when her husband was still alive! Such audacity on her part. I’m sure her husband must be turning in his grave should he ever find out.

If anyone out there still wants to play, please proceed with caution. You have been warned of the consequences!

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I know something is not quite right as I just can’t keep my eyes open. In no less than a few minutes later, they again are drooping and my head nodding in unison.

This is when I know I need to catch up on my beauty sleep. The body is amazing, isn’t it? It sends a timely signal to the the other senses hinting strongly that it is tired and needs to recuperate. If you don’t listen to your body signals, then don’t regret it later if you fall sick.

Not one who enjoys falling sick, I was obedient for once and heeded the body’s call. After my shower, I promptly checked myself into bed at 10.20pm. This is probably the earliest time I have entered the arms of Morpheus. But there are just some times in life you have to treat yourself to an extended dose of beauty sleep.

Good night everybody. Sweet dreams

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I’m going for my very first food tasting today. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not getting married…YET…hahaha…If I am, I’ll definitely announce it.

It’s a food tasting for Kentucky Fried Chicken’s (KFC) new product which they just launched. In fact, I’m one of the lucky 15 bloggers chosen for the food tasting. But really, till now, I still don’t know what I will be expected to eat. It’s probably going to be a surprise as we were told it is not something that we will expect KFC to serve. Plus it’s something sweet. Hmm….

3PM. Suntec City KFC. Food Tasting Venue. Wow…I feel like a VIP today as there was an area cordoned off for us. Seeing paper trays on the table, I knew only then what I would be eating later.

KFC Suntec City, Singapore

Lo and behold…the KFC Egg Tart has finally come to Singapore! Although we are not the first country in the world to get to enjoy the KFC Egg Tart, but better late than never, right?

I’m one of the lucky few to try the new KFC Egg Tart

Hailing from Macau, it supposedly follows an authentic recipe developed by the famous Margaret Wong who improved on the current Portuguese egg tart’s flavour. Through word of mouth, her improved version Portuguese egg tart took Macau by storm and subsequently some local KFC staff too! That was how they contacted Margaret, and bought her recipe. And thus was born the KFC Egg Tart!

After understanding a little of the history of the origins of the KFC Egg Tart, we were told to start thinking of a word in English or a phrase in Mandarin to describe how we feel after sinking our teeth into the egg tart. More importantly, we would be getting our 30 seconds of instant fame as filming would be done while we utter the word/phrase.

‘Mouth-watering’ was what I said to the camera when it was my turn. Trust me, the KFC Egg Tart truly is mouth-watering. As we were served freshly baked egg tarts fresh from the oven, I could instantly taste the warmth each bite gave me. The freshness apart, what I particularly liked about the egg tart was its smooth egg custard which simply melted into my mouth effortlessly. It was akin to having found my desired happiness. I wish my family and friends were here to share this special feeling with me. For the record, I ate two egg tarts.

Me & my ‘mouth-watering’ KFC Egg Tart

Another finger-licking-good treat from KFC? You bet. The best news must be it’s a permanent item on the menu…which means you can eat it anytime, anywhere. Just hop down to a KFC outlet near you. It’s retailing at 43 selected outlets well situated around Singapore.

Selling either individually at $1.30 a piece or in a box of 6 for $7.50 as a gift for the coming Chinese New Year. Check out the intricate box which was specially designed for Chinese New Year with its hues of red and yellow – both auspicious colours for the festive season.


Get the egg tarts individually or in a box of 6!

After the shoot was over, the KFC management was so kind to extend their hospitality to us by allowing us to order any item off the menu. No prizes for guessing what I ordered…yes, it’s a box of KFC Egg Tarts as I’m going to share the new snack with my family

With the other bloggers at the KFC Egg Tart sampling

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As the bus meandered along Serangoon Road, it dawned upon me that today was the Thaipusam Festival. I was inspired by the Thaipusam warriors carrying the kavadi. Thus was worn this poem ‘The Thaipusam Warriors’.

“Ignoring the sheer weight of the kavadi on my head
and the pain emitting from the sharp skewers pierced into my bare body,
I take yet another step forward. 
Slowly but surely…
stopping sometimes to
receive a food offering from some devotees
stopping sometimes to
dance and twirl around in circles.
With the peacock feathers on my kadavi fluttering majestically in the wind,
I undertake this arduous journey
as a mark of my faith,
as a language of my belief,
as proof of my dedication,
as return of my earlier vow
For if I am pure in both my thoughts and feelings,
may I not be hurt throughout it all.
May I wear a cloak of invincibility to
wade through the slings and arrows that may come my way.
May I be strong and not quiver
when facing my deepest fears.
May I summon my inner courage to
makr good my promise to God.
May I rise above all challenges and
be the greatest warrior of them all.”

Lionel Lim

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Ignoring all other forms of distraction,
I will stand at attention…
ready for your inspection.
For this is my sole proposition -
to make you happy within my jurisdiction,
to make you high with my seduction,
to let you enjoy this moment with no trepidation.

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After a round of ding-donging with ICA after they rejected my first photo submission, I went to collect my new passport this afternoon.

I must have learnt a very important lesson when it comes to photo selection. The photo must always have a super super white background and the facial features must be so clear and frontal. 

After hearing tales on how bad the lunch crowd at ICA was, I avoided collecting it during that hour and chose to go after 3pm. But guess what? The queue was just as long. My queue ticket bearing number 7900 had 42 people in front of me. A good thing I brought a book along to read…

After waiting close to an hour, my number was called. I was really in for a big surprise as the counter staff started to chat with me. I’m not sure if she does this to all customers but it totally took me by surprise.

She started telling me how people would go to extent to choose their nicest photo for the passport as it is valid for 5 years. Then she even let loose the worst kept secret that some people, both ladies and men included go for makeovers before having their photos taken.

I politely nodded my head and smiled. I’ll skip the makeovers please…as confidence and a smile matters more

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I broke a new record…one which I wasn’t extremely pleased with. I slept late, very late to be precise…at about 4plus in the morning…

And now I’m up at 8am because of a morning meeting. When I am sleep deprived, my language tends to be acerbic, my attention span scattered, my reflexes retarded, my eyes bloodshot and my mood greatly affected.

Aargh!!!!

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A distant uncle whom I was seated with at the wedding banquet chatted with me for probably the very first time. When he learned that I was in the fitness industry, he penned this for me in less than 5 minutes flat. I am so impressed.

Beauty

Vanity a necessity
Beauty, to animals
is the vigour, strength,
that won the fight
and gain the access
to the female and
the best offsprings are produced.

This beauty
is without words
without scale
and yet it ensures
the animal would prosper
without drugs, without discipline

The immense forces
of vast nature
enforce this wisdom
to animals
wiser than human
clearer than words

Human
with drugs and needles
can make many things happen
with scale and number
can make happening precise
However, human, the insatiable
nature of human
never satisfy with what they have
and jealous of what others have
so they try to change what it is
even without reason they can
find one
even without logic they can
invent one
and do so more fervently on
others, those who are
who are better already in many other ways

So human keep busy at scale
at number
and forgotten what is the purpose

As a trainer, you cannot easily change the desire
but as a wise trainer,
once you device something measureable
on scale progressively achievable
then man return to optimal instinct and wiser they become

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TV Mobile is officially a thing of the past now as 31 Dec 2009 marked its last day of service.

When it was first installed in the buses in 2001, I lamented its introduction as it was seen as an intrusion. Overnight, my otherwise quiet and peaceful bus ride was interrupted constantly by the jarring noises from that black box they call the television. I really asked myself then why bother installing another television in a public vehicle? Was it to boost revenue?

The reason why I choose to take the bus, or christened the scenic route, is so that I can soak in the sights during the meandering ride while occasionally enjoying precious moments of sleep time with my head nodding away in tandem. Life was a sea of peace and quiet. I really liked that.

Then my life changed as TV Mobile made its debut. Besides the usual chatter on the bus, there was an incessant stream of voices coming from that black TV Mobile box that never seemed to just shut up. I can’t blame it too as it was broadcasting daily from 6am to 12 midnight.

Commuters now had to contend with the existence of the supposed first channel in the world to pioneer the use of Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) technology to deliver high quality programmes to viewers on the move.

But as the years went by and the routes got longer (aargh…), TV Mobile slowly but surely became my companion on those long lonely rides that never seemed to reach the destination. My favourite programme was ‘Just For Laughs’. I remember laughing myself silly on the bus and marvelling at the various antics that never failed to perk me up on a lousy day.

Yet as they say, all things must come to an end, both good things and bad things. With the demise of TV Mobile, it is goodbye to all the latest infotainment, entertainment programmes and real-time news on the move.

Goodbye TV Mobile

What can I say but things have now come full circle once more…Sigh!

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