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There's nothing like a double espresso to kickstart your morning, especially if it's extracted from medium- or dark-roasted beans. What a tasty way to begin the day. I enjoy coffee, but I'm not a caffeine addict so it's not a must for me to consume. In fact, lately, I've only been drinking it once or twice a week - doing this ensures that when I do drink it (to power my way through a hectic day), the caffeine kick will be well and truly felt. I did not stop drinking coffee thrice a day five days a week because I couldn't sleep or became jittery. I have no trouble falling asleep even if I drink coffee at 6pm. Instead, I decided to try and cut down after one of my colleagues mentioned going 'off-caff' because his addiction to caffeine was giving him a headache - even if he was drinking coffee. After he stopped drinking coffee for two weeks, he told me that not only was he having more dreams, but they were very vivid, too. This writer still loves a good espresso every now and then. (Image: Tabitha Turner, Unsplash) You'll never know till you try Intrigued, I began reducing my intake to two coffees a day (one at home and a second one after lunch). After two weeks, I realised I was okay with one double espresso a day. Subsequently, I went 'off-caff'. However, the lack of caffeine didn't immediately cause me to dream more. In fact, it took some time before the no-caffeine routine began having this effect on me. What was immediately more noticeable was that I was sleeping more deeply compared to when I regularly drank coffee. I woke up feeling more refreshed instead of zombie-like and/or confused. It seems that deeper sleep also resulted in my body naturally waking me up at the lightest point of the sleep cycle, which, by the way, is how you avoid that groggy feeling. Alternately, you could try using one of those apps that track your sleep cycle and wake you up during the lighter phase. As the weeks progressed, my 'alarm clock' ensured I woke up just before 7am daily, even on weekends. That's not bad since I usually sleep between 12.30am and 1am. Having adequate shuteye also means I have more energy and don't require coffee to function. A ship on water sailing in outer space? It could only happen in a dream. (Image: Johannes Plenio, Unsplash) In the dreamworld Nobody knows why we dream or how it happens, but to me, they are an interesting experience (not nightmares, though) because I cannot daydream the stuff that happens in them. Dreams can be realistic and fantastic, and they also reflect my current state-of-mind. For instance, I once dreamt that I was in car that had the ability to leap over other vehicles at a press of a button. In that dream, I would activate this function each time I encountered a traffic jam. When I woke up, I realised my mind was conjuring up a form of mental escape. I must have been feeling quite stressed during that period. Without coffee, my dreams also became more vivid. I also started to recall them more compared to when I was regularly drinking coffee. Another dream I remember occurred prior to this year's Motor Show. In it, I was asking an employee of a particular car brand which models would be displayed at their stand. Then one of his colleagues appeared and told me, 'Stop it already!' It reflected the anxiety I was feeling. I can't say whether having more dreams feels more tiring than not dreaming or not remembering your dreams. But I do think that having convoluted or nonsensical dreams that seem to drag on until you wake up will feel tiring. But these are still better than panic-inducing nightmares. Off-caff, another dream within a dream might be possible. (Image: Adi Goldstein, Unsplash) Does inception exist? In the movie Inception, they demonstrated the concept of a 'dream within a dream'. That the subject can wake up, but only from one of the multiple, deeper stages of sleep - he is not truly awake yet. This happened to me when I was 'off-caff'. I don't recall what I dreamt of, but the memory of dreaming that I was waking up from a dream (while still asleep) was incredible. What I cannot determine is whether I consciously realised what was happening, or whether this sequence was part of that complicated dream. I do remember, however, that for a moment, I did worry I wouldn't fully wake up unless my better half shook me awake. Yikes. Though I've yet to experience this again (I'm not sure I want to, actually) the fact that I could sleep so deeply and dream in multiple levels was amazing. That's why I'll continue drinking coffee just once or twice a week. After all, I already know that sleeping between six and seven hours a night is enough to recharge my batteries. And it'll be worth waiting for the next graphic, memorable dream my mind conjures up. Good night. – Jeremy Main image: Cederic Vandenberghe, Unsplash

What are some of the most priceless things in your possession? Some might point out family heirlooms that have been passed down from generations ago. Others might say it is their athletic abilities or artistic talents. To me, memories are probably one of the most priceless things I have. Intangible, yet immensely powerful, recalling them can provoke a variety of emotions ranging from laughter to tears. Or sometimes, we use them to spend time wistfully reminiscing our favourite moments, perhaps to recall beloved relatives we've lost over the years. Memories are precious indeed. Photo: Clay Banks, Unsplash Evoking them This topic came to mind (no pun intended) while I was driving last weekend. For some reason, the scent wafting out from the container smelled like buffalo wings, even if the food inside wasn't. Specifically, it smelled like buffalo wings from Domino's Pizza in the US. That slightly acidic, sour and spicy smell immediately brought me back to my university days, when ordering pizza and buffalo wings was a treat because it was costly for us students. These days, ordering pizza is still a treat, not because it's expensive, but because it's not too healthy and must be eaten in moderation. But I digress. Mental browser Reminiscing is like reading Wikipedia. One memory leads to another and before you know it, you've opened 50 tabs in your mental browser. Like the buffalo wings, they're too good to resist. So, the next thing I knew, I was happily recalling my old friends and our (mis)adventures, including one that involved a trip to the hospital A&E because a buddy had gotten drunk on grain alcohol (95% alcohol) and vomited while passed out. The price for his crime was getting his stomach pumped. He woke up to find his furious (and worried) parents by his bedside and upon his return to campus, was given a disciplinary warning for underage drinking. It was a long time before he dared have another drink. Photo: blocks, Unsplash Music can be a powerful trigger as well. Listening to old songs can make you recall everything from movies to TV shows, which will in turn, bring an onslaught of other memories as well. Even if you're only in your 20s, hearing hit tunes from a decade ago can make you remember your adventures as a teen. You might recall pranks played on friends or the trouble you go into with your parents. Do this while hanging out with your buddies and it becomes a laughter-filled bonding session. Vault of treasures Our memory vault is a fascinating and amazing part of our mind. Its 'storage capacity' is arguably unmatched by any man-made technology, and its ability to instantly recall moments we love is awe-inspiring. Yet at the same time, memories can be too securely locked away that even as the owner, access to them can be difficult or even impossible. They can also become fuzzy over time, resulting in incorrect recollections. Photo: Jon Tyson, Unsplash I often wonder if my propensity to daydream when I'm between tasks is actually my mind trying to access memories so that they can be replayed to my heart's content. Or am I just imagining this? Even with my head in the clouds, I am cognisant of the fact that to have more memories with which to reminisce, I need to live in the present. As the Paul Anka song Times of Your Life goes, "The memories are time that you borrow / To spend when you get to tomorrow". Ahh yes. That song, too, is evoking other memories now. – Jeremy

OK as some of you know, I have just returned from Hong Kong. At the Chek LapKok airport, there is this aerospace exhibit which featured Kai Tak. I am fascinated by Kai Tak. I have never landed on Kai Tak before. I wish I had. You only live twice as the James Bond movie said. Once when you are born and once when you land at Kai Tak Airport. I've been fishing around the Internet and I found this website: http://www.kaitak.tv/ Check out the cool videos of landing at Kai Tak. Landing from cockpit view: Landing at night!

come... let's talk about NS shall we? for me, the memories were mostly ok... some unforgettable ones were: - unknowingly took up a prone position in a nest of ants during a training exercise... jumped up and tio kan by the sergeant - dozing off during an evening ambush (at Tekong) and waking up suddenly in total darkness seeing nothing (couldn't even see my own hands) - lost the ring of a smoke grenade but luckily able to find it before the sergeant knew about it (avoid at least three extras!) - eating many leftover drumsticks like yao gui while cleaning the cookhouse the camps I've been posted to: - Nee Soon Camp - Tekong - Pasir Laba Camp (terrible memories!) - Mandai Camp - Khatib Camp - Sungei Gedong Camp - Paya Lebar Airbase (good life there!)

After watching this advert video, i do remember alot of stuffs/happenings during my younger days, and of course my family did have a KDK fan back then... Haha... i think will get 1 after my current cheapo fan up lorry, for nostalgic as well as reliability sake.

That you retain till your current ride? For me is a rear view mirror “See Wing” from my first car till now. That was in 1991 on a Toyota Starlet till now on Skoda Superb.. it been on more than 10 cars since.. it help me see blind spot and save me countless time.. so insecure without it.. The other thing not on first car but fourth car is my number plate.. from 1996 Civic SiR till now.. it is a 1981 ER plate..

Good afternoon peeps, Meant to start the ball rolling but well, I just reached my 25th post quota so here goes. I'm sure many of you have a past that you rather your parents did not know, or your partner would never find out? *giggle*. I mentioned in my earlier posts that I used to frequent Sparks, Vogue and for a short while, Canto, before it was forced to close. Lots of sweet memories right there. Anyone care to share their teenaged "unglam" adventures? Let me break the ice. I was pretty much the ah lian wannabe back then, thanks to strict parents. I would spin stories like I have a class chalet going on and would not be home for the night (Sat). Then, a phone call to my fellow lian friend sealed my lodging for the night - bunking up at her place. I met my first serious bf there. He was - a beng..duh... but a very gentlemanly one *giggles*. There're many hilarious moments, sweet and bitter recollections ~ and so forth. Once this rival groupie couldn't stand the sight of me because they accused me of snatching their boys. Fact is, it was unrequitted love and because I was a little Eurasian looking and taller than my peers, these women insisted that I was being wanton, which lead to a fist fight. I didn't comply and they sort of forced me.... I remembered the fight ended up with me rolling down the steep hill some distance away from Canto. apparently, this is kinda trend.. because when I shared this story with fellow Uni mates some time later, they (the naughtier ones) said it was common a sight to see people fighting at that spot and gals rolling down the hills *giggles* this thread is dedicated to all the MCMs, Versaces, Sonia Rykiels, Ferragamo Belts, High waisted haute couture and the likes... come forth please... especially the guy who said you were once a beng *giggle* Hear from you all peeps I'm rushing for an ATL campaign now, so if my replies are few and far between, please forgive me.

Chanced upon this video which relates to my era. Was smiling while watching, brings me back to my childhood days. Nice song too!

By Wang Qian and Guo Rui China Daily/Asia News Network Friday, Sep 30, 2011 WUHAN - A fugitive caught after being on the run for 17 years has once again escaped the police's clutches, this time through a bathroom window. Kang Jianlin fled on Tuesday as he was being escorted from Guangdong province to Henan province to face charges of rape. The 46-year-old had been eating lunch with four police officers at a restaurant in Wuhan, Hubei province, when he asked for his handcuffs to be removed and to use the toilet. After 10 minutes, an officer posted outside a second-floor bathroom looked in and discovered Kang had escaped through a window. He was seen running into a community in Donghu district. Police officers have made great efforts to find the suspect, but no clues have so far been detected, said Pan Feng, publicity director for Wuhan public security bureau. Although there are almost 10 surveillance cameras installed in the community, not one captured the suspect running away, Wuhan Evening Post reported, citing a security guard surnamed Shu as its source. Authorities distributed Kang's photo and a description of what he was wearing to the public on Wednesday. The suspect was described as being 1.68 meters tall, having short-cropped hair and wearing a white T-shirt and gray cropped trousers. He was barefoot at the time of his escape. Residents have been urged to call the 110 emergency hotline if they see him. A warrant for Kang's arrest was issued 17 years ago by the Tanghe county public security bureau in Henan province following allegations he committed statutory rape. Kang evaded detection for almost two decades by working as a casual laborer in Guangdong and as a painter at a toy factory. He was eventually detained in the city of Shantou on Sept 18 and was due to face trial in Tanghe. To guarantee the safety of residents, patrols in the community around where Kang escaped have been stepped up, said authorities. Police added that they believe Kang will not be able to get far because he has no money or identification.

hahaha plus many more...

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