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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

Dear Esteemed Readers, It is with a heavy heart and a huge dose of disillusionment that I would like to share with you a personal anecdote about the Nissan Qashqai. Firstly, to be fair, with respect to the road tax- and petrol- saving 1.2 L Qashqai, the first five years of driving had been a breeze. However, all heel broke loose, merely a day after my Qashqai's 6th birthday last September. The chronology of my Qashqai's meltdown is as follows (I apologise for any technical typo): A. Replacement of the faulty (1) Evaporator Cooling Coil $320 (6 Sep 2021) (2) Dashbox $280 (6 Sep 2021) (3) Tow Truck Activation $140 (29 Oct 2021) (3) Thermostat Housing $270 (30 Oct 2021) (4) Manifold Gadget $60 (30 Oct 2021) (5) Fan Motor - Air Con $320 (30 Oct 2021) B. Dismantling and Assembly Costs in total $470 C. Locked gearbox with inability to shift the gear from Parking to Drive As recently as last December, it had taken me an average of 5 to 10 minutes to wait for the gearbox to disengage and move off but the situation dovetailed to a complete lockdown last month in which I have to use a pen to depress the Shift Lock button in every instance of gear shifting. D. Busted Speakers The last straw that broke the camel's back occurred yesterday when suddenly, the speakers just blared as loud as a car horn within the car (even at the lowest volume), the intensity of which still leaves me shell-shocked. I sincerely hope that the aforementioned sequence of unfortunate events only applies to yours truly but on a cautious note, I would strongly urge you to re-consider your buying option upon selection of a second-hand Qashqai. Thank you for reading.

Dear all, I disappear for awhile...hehe...my daughter is 2 weeks now old...she's beautiful and adorable and healthy and cheerful and the list go on and on... However my confinement lady is a nightmare.... Anyone has good confinement lady (preferably you use before) to recommend? And yeah I already tried and called many confinement lady from motherhood forum and the likes. Many thanks!

Yep, China again. source: http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-10/11/content_30264340.htm

Accident at TPE Pasir Ris Flyover,Lane 1. Kiss your license goodbye. Video: https://www.facebook...111961/?theater

Every driver and rider's worst nightmare. Be sure to watch all the way till the ending of Part II, where karma finally caught up with him. Please turn on the volume. Part I https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=699406646766486&set=vb.434096286630858&type=2&theater Part II https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=700294383344379&set=vb.434096286630858&type=2&theater Thank God we don't have people like him in SG roads.

Yahoo News Dream wedding loan boomerangs into financial nightmare for accountant By News Desk in Johor Baru/The Star | ANN

big thumbs down... 2 narrow lane leading to the complex caused so many bottlenecks from Wdlands CIQ (this could be the weakest link) only half of the immigration checkpts were opened to handle huge influx of cars from s'pore. the whole planning looks like dust swept under the carpet... already a big jam on a normal tuesday discounting having the touch n go problems. it will get much worse during peak hours and holidays.... even the JB TP whom i met at 1 of the petrol kiosk restroom commented that the whole complex was worst than before....how did the intellect plan the whole CIQ project ? m'sia boleh and good luck to the Iskandar project...

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,...,170078,00.html? A young adult's struggle with rising costs MY WEDDING DREAM TURNING INTO A NIGHTMARE By Tay Shi'an July 07, 2008 MY dreams late last year: A house, a car and a wedding to take place this year. But now, all I am seeing are the nightmares of rising costs - in property and construction, petrol, electricity and basic necessities such as food and drinks. And I find myself waking up bathed in perspiration after one too many debt-soaked dreams. The car has been bought, the downpayment for the house paid with instalments knocking at my door every month and the wedding is on. How are they making me nervous? Take last week, for example. I dreamt the bridal studio took some test shots which turned out great, so they suggested I buy an additional album of pictures. The price was $1.4 million. For some reason, I was so swept away by the photos that I signed the contract. After that I realised I had no money to pay for the package. A wave of panic washed over me. I literally scared myself awake, with some relief. But that was not to last too long. Two days later, back in real life, I received my credit card bill. Bridal studio instalment: $500. Miscellaneous wedding stuff: $450. Petrol for our 11/2-month-old car: $550. Then there is the monthly instalment for the car. CPF deductions for the house. Wedding rings we have to buy before the (real) August photo shoot. Furniture we haven't even started scouting for. Future grocery bills for two. A huge chunk of my savings stuck in the share market, which I can't sell now because of the downturn (yet again). Such a squeeze on my heart. Starting a new life for two has always been both exciting and expensive. But as a child of the '80s who finally has enough disposable income to start fulfilling her dreams, it is both disconcerting and terrifying to see those dreams getting more expensive, the numbers creeping up right before my eyes. Conversations with girlfriends now inevitably drift to how difficult it is to find a home we love and can afford. Just four years ago, my parents upgraded to a five-room flat, which they bought for about $280,000. Four years on, I had to pay more than $360,000 for mine, in the same estate. Petrol prices have gone up a few times in the 11/2 months I've owned a vehicle. And putting together a home-cooked meal now not only involves culinary skills but mathematical ones too, to compare prices between housebrands and brand-brands, frozen versus fresh meat, anything to save costs. That was why my girlfriends' responses to my nightmare on the $1.4million were not, 'Don't be silly', but 'You are too stressed girl!' And, 'Make sure you check the price 1.4 million times before you sign on the dotted line.' Sometimes, it's tempting to throw caution to the wind. But the prudent self says wait. Why not get a car only when you're 30? Live with the parents first and get your own place later? But there's the impatient self, who is wide-eyed about dreams that have to be lived now, when you're young. The car as the ultimate date vehicle, as opposed to baby-seat holder. A two-person universe in your own home. What's the use of saving it all for later, when money cannot buy back the experiences you lost along the way? That is where it becomes so important to plan, save, prioritise and to brutally slash out the things you don't need. Eyes on the prize: Give up something you kind of want to get that something you really want. And hope that the power of the dreams - and checking those numbers 1.4 million times - is enough to keep away the nightmares. stop your dreams,girl.It's hard to live what u dream of here.Nobody ask u to take up extra wedding album.Nobody ask u to dabble in shares if u dump your huge chunk savings in it.Nobody ask u take up installment for bridal studio package.Nobody ask u must buy a car.Stop whining.

Was clearing my files when chance upon this...... Let's share some lighter moment together since its midweek................... Nightmare #1 After a long night of making love, the young guy rolled over, pulled out a cigarette from his jeans and searched for his lighter. Unable to find it, he asked the girl if she had one at hand. "There might be some matches in the top drawer," she replied. He opened the drawer of the bedside table and found a box of matches sitting neatly on top of a framed picture of another man. Naturally, the guy began to worry. "Is this your husband?" he inquired nervously. "No, silly," she replied, snuggling up to him. "Your boyfriend then?" he asked. ''No, not at all," she said, nibbling away at his ear. "Well, who is he then?" demanded the bewildered guy. Calmly, the girl replied, "That's me before the operation."

Heard from neighbours that ROV came early in the morning to wait for the driver. Driver refused to let ROV to away the car. So ROV radio in his boss to come talk to the driver. Driver got into ROV boss car (send to workplace?) Finally ROV can tow away the car. Car is so lowered that tow operator took sometime to clear the bodykit .