Sleepy Thursday - Part 2/Outing with Ben

Met up with Ben after lunch, at 2pm. Turns out he hadn't had time for lunch, as he had been busy running in the morning. Hmmm...I have not run since AHM in August - unlesss you include those bus and train chases. He decided to lunch at Food Junction in Wisma, where we met Tong Ming Yuan, aka CQ Tong, with his girlfriend. Tong didn't reply when I said hi. Wonder if he remembers me.

Anyway, I chatted with Ben over lunch, and through SMS, got Jason's permission to ask Ben if he's available for the former's birthday, as he had not done so himself, giving himself lots of excuse for not doing so. Turned out that Hoon Nam had already informed him. Ben thought it may be weird if he was the only specialist to turn up, so we tried to get Fabian. All I got was this,"...The number you just dialled is not in use". Wonder what happened to him. It's quite unlike him to change his number without informing us.

After lunch, we went to the coffee joint beside Food Junction - forgot the name - as Ben needed his daily fix of coffee. He insisted on treating me to a drink, and got me a glass of Iced Milo. (Thanks!) Here, I showed him Vincent's puzzle and watched as he racked his brains to solve it. He employed more than mental skills though, and at times, I was afraid he would break that thing as he attempted to force the two parts apart. You don't need brute force to solve this thing, man! No wonder he was the anchorage commander.

Still, regardless of his attendance, Ben decided that he ought to get a present for Jason on account of their friendship. We went to Takashimaya, where the present I had in mind - a Hanayama Cast Puzzle - can be found. I thought it would be suitable given Jason's analytical mind and his fondness for the occasional quiz and mental puzzles. While searching for Jason's present, we also kept a look-out for Christmas presents that Ben needs to get for his colleagues for his company's celebrations. Apparently, they each have to draw lots and get a special present(worth at least $20) for the person whose name they draw. Ben's is a woman in her forties. He had quite a headache as he did not know what be a suitable gift as there were restrictions placed on the gifts, such that certain(simple) presents - vouchers and food - were not allowed. I was equally clueless. It would have been easier if she was two decades younger. In the end, Ben set his sight on a photoframe for her, and chocolates for the rest. However, given that there is more than a week to go to christmas, he did not purchase them then.

We went home after getting Jason's present (I hope the level 6 puzzle is not too tough for him), but not before meeting Kai Fen and Yiwei(he does not know them, of course) at Wisma and Soon Chiean(Ah Wee) at the MRT station. Small world...no, small Singapore...