2005...2006

2005. It’s such a swift ride. I couldn’t even believe 2005 was here on Jan 1^st. And look where we are now. Another year has passed…

January got off slowly. Went to Kluang and had dirty fun. March was Founders Day. Uh, what did I do on that day? I really can’t remember now. In fact now my memories of NCC have been smudged. Though I do remember I got to wear the No. 1 for National Day this year! Fitting finale for my NCC life. March saw Mdm LX, YY, Jarvin and Melvin and I join the whole group of students and teachers for the MOE Sino-Singapore Exchange programme. Honoured and delighted to have been able to participate in it. Forged new friendships and experienced Beijing once more! Familiar, yet different from the Beijing I visited in 1999. First pic below is jialefu, where we went for late night shopping. Haha = ]
Then with May came the Mid-years. I must admit these 2 years I have been doing terribly under par academically. Mid-years were no different. EOYs were a little better though, as I managed to pull through and achieve 37 out of a total possible 45 points. Not bad considering how I flunked tests and papers, but could be better. As always, stand by the school motto “The Best Is Yet To Be”. Uh, heh. June flew by, nothing notable during the holidays. July, 2^nd semester, back to school. ACS (Ind) arts fest was here again. Watched “The Birds”. Committed rash planning error the day before, resulting in a missed appointment. Disappointed. In July the Astronomy Club organised a meteor-shower gazing sleepover, which we rendered fairly successful. Though the skies were somewhat cloudy, we had fun just being together, and catching the occasional shooting star. It’s one of the many activities I helped to organise as Astronomy Club president. The year ended with us Higher Chinese students sitting for the O level exam. Preceding this I attended special classes with Nick, which miraculously helped me. Hopefully I’ll be able to take French next year.

So here I am, looking back at the past year. So many events have occurred, so many experiences I have gone through. I can’t possibly recap everything, for it is beyond my humanly powers. But I do remember its one huge roller coaster of emotions and feelings for me. Never had there been such a year like this. Part of the grand scheme of things I suppose. One of my major lessons was friendship. This year I really learnt a lot about this. Forged, made or broken, at least I managed to gain stuff from it. And especially this hols, meeting up with my best friends Simon and Yuxuan, and Kern Cheh, really made me realise how true friendships can last through many years and still be unchanged. Really miss my friends from ATS. Absence makes the heart grow fonder never made so much sense previously. Though of course, I’m treasuring time with my ACS friends. Oh and, haha, another thing I learnt this year is that gays are very much real people too and deserve to be treated so (Even if they behave differently).

It’s time to move on, time for me to start waking up to cold hard reality, to 2006, to tertiary education, to the International Baccalaureate, to friends old and new…and most importantly, to another fresh beginning, a new chapter in life.

This is it. 2006.

Thank you

Have you ever imagined what it would be like it the sun suddenly just "disappeared"? If all the oceans froze over? Annihilation? First comes the cold, unfriendly chills at mid-day, then the shroud that never would disperse. Next goes our H2O, solidifying our lives forever. Life falls apart, nothing matters anymore...everything has been lost, and you wish you treasured it before, wish you never had to let go, wish you were grateful...but all is too late...
So while you can, go bask in the warmth of the sun, go savour the goodness of clean drinking water, enjoy the company of family and friends...Live life like you never did, no regrets, filled with happiness. For a start, be grateful for life. That you exist for a fraction of eternity. Then move on, to everything else. The sun the earth the water the people. No this isn't a warning of an imminent threat of the sun just going away. Nothing's gonna engulf it either. But not you. Who knows what tomorrow brings? Tides change, tides rise, tides fall. Be appreciative, before the tide gets you like it did to so many helpless souls a year ago, whose lives were changed by the tide...Thank you

Land of the Lala...

I hate it man. I just hate it how the game is luring me in. Like a fish lured by bait to a terrible end. Sliced and diced and chopped and garnished and eaten inside out. I hate that feeling. And I attribute it to the media. No connection right? Not quite. Just think, how much we're exposed to the media with our culture. Pop culture. I <3 you, you <3 me, love is everywhere in the media. Nowadays it gets worse, going beyond kissing. I won't go into details, but you know what I mean. Its too much. Ok so its not like we've been in a cave and suddenly get bombarded by such trash. Its all around us everyday, 24/7. No running away from it unless you live under a rock/in a cave. The media compounds those issues. And makes them all rosy and nice too. TV land is, more often than not, filled with happy endings that follow every downfall or unhappy bump in the road. Which girl wants to be left on the shelf at the end of the day, which good looking guy doesn't want a nice girl...all these are for people to fantasize and dream about. Reality is very much gloomier. The media is a good source of entertainment, but the issue arises when it goes beyond being entertainment. When people get misled, to think everything is all nice like in TV land, and they fail to take note of the fact that imperfect people actually exist.

My whole issue about the media isn't really what they release , but rather, exercising one's control. Well yes I recognise that's more of my problem...so I guess no point continuing this rant for the whole world to see. Thank you for reading!

Game of Love

Starts with a yearning spark,

Or perhaps a chance encounter,

That’s all to get the ball rolling.

You play by the rules,

They’re yours to decide,

Just make your pick.

The ball’s in your court.

Another cursed missed opportunity,

It isn’t to be.

What a hit, the next point is yours.

Or might it be success instead,

That doesn’t seem to be at hand?

To bask in your gain,

It surely lifts you up.

An unfortunate circumstance means otherwise,

A broken heart is yours to heal.

This trivial pursuit,

A play on your emotions.

Is it truly worth your efforts,

To start this game right now?

*Note: Select individuals wishing to view full poem please contact poet...

December Deja-Vu

Holidays in a holiday in a holiday are over. The school holidays are 2/3 way through. This is my life so far...

The "wedding of the year" in my family happened on the 26th Nov. Ee-Ee Melinda was marrying Uncle Abel. The morning began with Ee-Ee Melinda offering tea to her parents. Following that Uncle Able had to bargain his way in, first drinking milk from a bottle, eating baby food, then "savouring" wasabi ice-cream..finally they let him in after he crooned "Mice Love Rice". Oh bother. The bride, now dressed in tradition Chinese kua for the tea ceremonies. Everyone older than her was offered tea: grand aunties, grand uncles, aunties, uncles, my parents...
When we arrived later that evening at the Grand Hyatt, the ballroom foyer was already crowded with people hobnobbing around, elegantly dressed in evening wear. I wore a brand new blue-striped shirt from Dockers, which I bought from Orlando, and a blue-orange Chinese calligraphy tie, which I bought from Beijing. (I bought and saved it just for prom! But it never was to be for us xp)
Most of the female guests, were clad in the tradition sarong kebaya for this occasion, complete with beaded slippers and ornate pins, while their spouses wore batik print shirts. My maternal family has a Peranakan Nonya-Baba heritage, thus its natural they'd want to wear their tradition garb (IMHO the sarong kebaya is one elegant outfit!). As with all wedding dinners, we began late. The bride, originally dressed in a kebaya to mingle with the guests, was now in a pearl-white wedding gown. To the strains of "You Lift Me Up", the bride and bridegroom made a rather simple entrance, a break away from the traditional dramatic big-bang-loud-music entrance. The Chinese fare served was disappointingly not to high standards. I loved the Shark's Fin soup though. Had two bowls myself =D Halfway through the bridal couple reappeared at the entrance, this time with a change of dress. The usual "yam-seng" toasts. Then back to dinner while the bridal couple made their way taking photographs with guests. Nothing notable came of this occasion, just a simple wedding.

For the rest of the time up till now I didn't do much. Most of the mornings, training. Then my sis and I went to learn bowling. Never had I bowled before, I was really only too happy to learn. It's really easy to pickup, but practicing ensures that you remember the steps. Also, coordination is important.

Last Sunday I attended this Youth General Meeting at the invitation of my friend Nick. He wanted me to have a glimpse of his Soka Association, so I obliged. Theres this large hall where everyone gathers. After Buddhist Soka chantings, the YGM concert began. Hmm I thought only Christian organisations have this stuff, so Buddhist organisations have them too. Guess I'm too out of touch with my religion. An eye-opening experience anyway. After that Nick and I went "towning"...guang4jie1...

Celebrated a few birthdays. First was my cousin Denisa's, a simple dinner at my grandmother's house. Next was my Er-Ee's birthday at J8: Chicken Little movie followed by Secret Recipe Dinner. Last was my god-grandmother's birthday (actually she's just my grandauntie who "adopted" my mum) at Traders. As usual, the glutton in me took over, rushing to pile my plate with everything from the buffet. The best part was dessert, and I greedily took 3 plates of cakes, jelly, fruits, as well as fruits and biscuits dipped in chocolate (they have this fountain of chocolate where you can skew a piece of fruit of biscuit and dip it in the fountain). As if that wasn't enough, I took a large bowl piled high with ice-cream, then another large bowl with a whole mountain of ice which was ice kachang. If you could imagine, the pain that followed this meal. In addition to trying not to spew out contents of my meal, my distended stomach (really it was) was a constant source of gnawing pain. Thankfully, the pain subsided within half an hour while we went to Tangs to shop. Bought a casual shirt from Island Shop for CNY. Just the shirt to keep me (feeling) cool. Well actually I already bought a Polo RL shirt from Orlando for CNY, but its plain compared to this Island Shop shirt.

Last week saw my sis and I tagging along with my mum to shop. Met them at Country Road. While I had already gotten my CNY shirts (and my mum warned me that I would get no more shirts from this shopping spree), it was now my sis' turn. She was on the lookout for Bohemian dresses to flaunt her new blue Nikes with. Lunched at Taka food court (hate eating there...so disorganised and crowded). Headed to Centrepoint. Gosh Times the bookstore has really shrunk so much since it's heyday! Thereafter we went to Paragon, (saw Linus along the way...we noticed each other and conveniently coolly passed without acknowledgement at first) where my mum bought a lovely bag for herself/her sister (she hasn't really decided). My sis spotted a beautiful Bohemian blue dress at Polo RL, but the exorbitant $700 price tag put her off. Went downstairs to Starbucks. They were giving out free coffee in return for donations to Salvation Army. Had a nice vanilla latte and cheesecake myself = )

Hmm, this bowling thing is so deja-vu. 4 years ago after my PSLE my sis was swimming competitively, so I started too since I was free. Now my sis has finished her PSLE and wants to bowl, so I'm joining her since I'm free. Hmm...if all goes according to plan I know what comes next. We'll see then...

Anyway I gotta leave now for another round of shopping! = )

Far Away

Love this song at the moment XD Far Away by Nickelback...

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

[CHORUS]
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

[CHORUS]

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go

Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Hold on to me and, never let me go

...X...?

Hi. Sigh, I'm beginning to notice a trend. Why is it that whenever I have inspiration to blog about something relevant to this site it's 'cos I'm caught in some kind of dilemma? Yet another tempest is brewing in me. Or should I say, another, tornado spinning...
I've come to that point in my academic life that I can no longer do badly. Like, now or never. And when I hear of other success stories, there's this inkling in me to be like them. I'm already 16. I can't change much. Many mistakes committed, too late now. Lack of talent for art was a problem. But nevermind, I'll try for other areas...
But have I even tried? Pains me. Destroying my very own future. Sigh. What does it take...
Effort! Yes yes, but the same unchanging answer. Sigh...
Uh, interruption, gtg now...with pain I take my leave...