DaRziE's BloG!~

2010-03-08T21:32:00.003+08:00

An Update After So Long...

=Turning 21=

Alright, so here's an update of my life! It's been super duper long since I last managed to blog and thousand apologies to any avid followers (I doubt there's even a single soul out there who reads this blog regularly lol!) for taking so long for an update! I'm officially 21! :)

^So what you see above it the GAGA-licious cake that i got for my birthday! (: how awesome it that! I threw an awesome party (I HOPE?) and a massive crowd of super duper friends and family turned up to share this special occasion with me! Counting down to my birthday was pretty awesome and exhilirating. I'm really glad that so many of my loved ones could be there with me to celebrate such a milestone of my life! I guess it only reaffirms how much you guys mean to me in my life (before going to London too!) And to those who were at the 'alcoholic after party' - thanks for getting me through the night (you know what I mean brothers!)

^And that's me and my cake, along with 2 huge presents (that are still sitting along my stairs at home! have yet to hang them up) and a jug of alcoholic concotion my birthday bartender whipped up for me! Really enjoyed myself that night with all the cool people around, awesome food from the caterer Lexin, pizza from Sarpinos and Pine Garden cake - turning 21 was truly fantastic!

^That's my truckload of presents I got! REALLY AWESOME PEOPLE I LOVE THEM ALL! Still trying to put them into use right now! (I think so far I'm only using 20% of the gifts lol!) I'm sure most will come into good use when I fly to London! Have to give a special shoutout to the 3 overseas presents I got from my brother (USA), Hedi(Shanghai), Lijun & PK (UK)! And to everyone else for showering all the love, kind messages, blessed wishings and awesome presents!

--

=PARAMORE=

OK. So here's another highlight in my life!
PARAMORE!

They performed live at the indoor stadium! I must admit I'm such a lucky fool for getting the opportunity to meet them at an exclusive MEET & GREET! Even though it lasted only a mere 20 seconds or less, I've got to see how humble and friendly Paramore was! They were awesome people! ((: I got my album autographed from them and Devin managed to speak to Hayley Williams over MY PHONE! ((:

^AUTOGRAPHSSSSS!

^Our tickets to PARAMORE!

^Devin joined me after my M&G session for dinner, and we were super eager for Paramore to come out for a smashing good time!

^Look at the CROWD! I know for a fact some fans were there queueing to enter the standing pen since 12pm when the concert only starts at 8pm and Paramore only came out at 8.45pm! CRAZYYYYY. But it was really an awesome show! TOTALLY ROCKED OUT!

Hayley Williams! Gotta give it up to her! She was so amazing to watch perform live! WILD WILD WILD!

^2 very happy, contented PARAMORE FANS! WE WANT (PARA)MORE!

a season for everything!

2009-12-21T21:49:00.013+08:00

it's been hectic, but i'm pretty glad that ORD's came and gone! i'm finally a civillian and out of national service! i guess i've got to start preparing for 2010, as many more friends will be turning 21 too! i've come to the realisation that not getting any allowance is pretty detrimental to my bank account, as i constantly have to think about how i'm going to have to control my spending.

all fine for now, i'm still survivng, and at least i know that i'd be starting work come 4th jan '10 and it's gonna help my financial situation a little. although there'll be less time to stone, slack or just rot at home, i guess keeping my mind active at work will help me prepare for university.

so, what've i been doing since ORD? nothing much really, apart from a trip to jakarta last week. it was an awesome, laid back trip i must say, thoroughly enjoyable. staying at eunice's (timo's sister) four seasons service apartment was a luxury in itself! we had access to the gym and tennis courts, swimming and hot jacuzzi pools, saunas and steam rooms...! we also did a full body massage and body scrub, plus a safari drive through somewhere outside of jakarta. (photos will be up when eunice comes back to singapore next and passes the photos to tim!)

--DEVIN'S 21ST--

happy birthday devin!

so when devin turned 21 at the stroke of midnight on december 10th, kalai, mark ong and i crashed his place with the help of his family! we surprised him with a cheesecake and 2 helium balloons, along with tonnes of love. haha. it was pretty hilarious how everything went to plan - from calling his place to getting the family involved, shopping with kalai to having dinner with him before bidding farewell to meet the surprise entourage later for the surprise!
(below are some photos from the surprise night!)

of course, devin then hosted us to a dinner party at a fancy spanish restaurant along lorong kilat a week later, along with his AC classmates and swim team. dinner was a quite a huge event, and about 30 people turned up that night. we headed over to velvet underground @ zouk after, where devin got pretty drunk after quite a number of shots and flamings. it was pretty amazing what someone under the influence of alcohol can do - from kisses, nonsense laughter, merlion-ing and bitch fits. sending him back home was another challenge in itself. haha.
(below are some photos from devin's birthday bash!)

yup, so that marks the end of devin's 21st birthday bash! sorry for getting you drunk bro, at least i sent you home haha!

----

--HEDI'S 21ST--

then it was hedi's turn! 20th december!

hedi's party was held at NUSS suntec city, a small gathering of family and friends. we each had a set meal, plus tonnes and tonnes of appitizers which included a mountain of spring rolls, chicken wings, prawn rolls, laksa, soft shell crab...! we were pretty full even before the main courses came, but dinner was just like a banquet fit for royalty! i'm really glad hedi loved the present we got her too! (:
(below are some photos from hedi's birthday bash!)

yup, so here's wishing hedi ho a superb 21st! take care when you leave for your shanghai attachment next jan! YOU'LL BE MISSED and you'll be missing my 21st too! ):

----

yup, so 2 very close friends of mine celebrated their 21st birthdays over the past week. and to think of which, i've also gotten my chalet booking for my 21st in feb '10 as well. i better start getting down to planning, setting a theme maybe and getting finally getting everything put together soon! haha!

--CLEMENTI RAILWAY BRIDGE--

speaking of which, i headed for a photo outing with chankeet and terry over the weekend. it was the first time any of us had been to the clementi railway bridge, and we dauntlessly scaled the heights, fearless of the 20 to 30 feet of air that separated us from the ground and canal below our feet.

below are some photos to share from the mini excursion we had. it's an awesome place for photos, but extreme caution has to be taken. you'd won't want to risk your camera, or your life just for some photos!

---

yup, so this blog entry sums up my past few weeks since ORD. will update again when i have more time! (if anyone reads this blog at all, haha!)
toodles all!

PULAU UBIN!

2009-10-19T16:48:00.003+08:00

walking on sunshine, let's let the photos do the talking! :)

2009-10-11T11:34:00.000+08:00

i'm growing old, but at least i'm growing old with you...

Kitty Cats

2009-10-03T23:09:00.000+08:00

2009-06-20T00:11:00.003+08:00

Unwell
- Matchbox 20

All day
Staring at the ceiling
Making friends with shadows on my wall

All night
Hearing voices telling me
That I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good for something

Hold on
I'm feeling like I'm headed for a
Breakdown
I don't know why

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know, right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
Me

Talking to myself in public
Dodging glances on the train
I know
I know they've all been talking 'bout me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there must be something wrong
With me
Out of all the hours thinking
Somehow
I've lost my mind

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

I been talking in my sleep
Pretty soon they'll come to get me
Yeah, they're taking me away

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me

I'm not crazy I'm just a little impaired
I know, right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

Hey, how I used to be
How I used to be, yeah
Well I'm just a little unwell
How I used to be
How I used to be

2009-05-17T22:08:00.000+08:00

And the hardest part
Was letting go not taking part
Was the hardest part
And the strangest thing
Was waiting for that bell to ring
It was the strangest start

I could feel it go down
Bittersweet I could taste in my mouth
Silver lining in the clouds
Oh and I
I wish that I could work it out

And the hardest part
Was letting go not taking part
You really broke my heart
And I tried to sing
But I couldn't think of anything
And that was the hardest part

I could feel it go down
You left the sweetest taste in my mouth
You're a silver lining the clouds
Oh, and I
Oh, and I
I wonder what it's all about
I wonder what it's all about

Everything I know is wrong
Everything I do it just comes undone
And everything is torn apart
Oh and thats the hardest part
That's the hardest part
Yeah, thats the hardest part
That's the hardest part

2009-05-12T19:10:00.002+08:00

i'm coming to realise that there isn't always a need to satisfy the people around you. no one ever said that there was the need to always do your best. not in such an organisation where you are expected to do well and don't get the due recognition in return. afterall it's only temporal. it's not my life, it's not even a passion. i've only got 7 months to go. right?

for once, the tenacity that i so often claimed to have upheld in my recent years of being a grown teen seems shaky, being probably the one who has the most to do constantly with tonnes of pressure coming from top and bottom. while watching others just live their lives the way they simply want before their time is due has finally etched into me, and today i stand here, for once, wondering what happens if i simply let go of the world i'm clinging on to in these small, blistered hands of mine.

i'm tired. stop bugging me for more.

2009-05-11T21:59:00.005+08:00

technicolour.

gravity, release me;

and don't ever hold me down;

now my feet won't touch the ground.

:D

fishy business

2009-04-10T13:18:00.005+08:00

here are some photos of my first ever fishing trip with devin! hobby fishing seems to be really an awesome kind of activity to be doing. the thrill of the vibrating rod when a fish hooks onto the bait is simply exhilirating and subsequently reeling in a fish is even more exciting.

it must have been pretty much of a beginner's luck experience for me, catching 2 pufferfishes and another pretty yellowish fish on my first fishing trip! and on top of that, not to forget being there to witness a 5kg fish being reeled in and caught by some malay dude who happened to be at bedok jetty on the same day as us!

fishing sure beats the monotony of hanging out in town walking aimlessly! basking in the sun and wind, watching the clouds roll and ships sail by, whoa that was the life man!

just a few photos that i snapped to share with you my super memorable fishing trip! enjoy!

2009-03-30T20:45:00.004+08:00

life is good. the year has passed rather quickly and it's almost a quarter through. i haven't been able to blog much these couple of months, more so because there isn't really i can say much since a huge part of my life revolves around army and we're not supposed to say anything about it on our blogs or facebook. and stacked upon layers and layers of work and sucky army life are just the usual hanging out with various groups of friends and family.

hmm, so what happened to darrick the past 3 months?

been actively participating in outfields and major exercises when his battalion was in high key from jan to march. and looking forward to visiting taiwan in 2 weeks time for an overseas training which is said to be quite senang. getting pwned by my S1 in camp to train for my pull ups more so that i can get promoted soon (which is good and bad, more money but more duties too!). loving my unit more and more, getting to know more friends in army as well.

celebrated brithdays, celebrated my birthday (which happened to be so awesome), timely milestones that god placed into my life to keep check of friendships and their worths! had a couple of 21sts, had more 20ths, picnics, rains, laughter, cakes, amazing races, friends and photo whoring! surprises galore, presents and even more fun filled weekends!

making use of my every weekend out of army enjoying life, watching movies (including my bloody valentine 3D), chilling out on late nights, countless suppers and getting drunk for the very first time (just 2 nights ago!)

visited a commissioning parade and a POP parade willingly (even though some just wanna stay as far away as the can from the green unifrom outside army)!

been back to ACJC a couple of times, for campfire and valentine's, founder's day and more!

helped out a sec one class comm worskshop in SJI!

caught coldplay live singapore, singing along viva la vida!

got rejected by LSE and cambridge which is such a wet blanket.

caught 'sleepless nights', a rather fantastic local musical.

planning the exco trip to penang!

the
list
goes
on...

BUSY!

but enjoying life la, nonetheless! (: how have you been friends?

2008-12-31T11:48:00.001+08:00

darrick's here to wish everyone a superb start to the new year! (:

2008-10-27T22:48:00.004+08:00

here's something i took out of the devastating cambridge entrance test, other than the fact of knowing that i probably didn't do well for the choice of topic i wrote about on saturday. i should have done the topic of:

game theory

it's some form of applied mathematics that is usually used in social sciences, most notably in economics, and reflects how decisions are made by individuals in strategic situations by depending on the choices of others.

the question in the cambridge test introduced this situation: there were 2 people, each being given an envelope containing a certain amount of cash - £2, £4, £8, £16, the value being known only to the holder of each envelope. after looking at the amount in the envelope, each individual was to decide, and simultaneously say out 'swop' or 'no swop'. if both individuals said 'swop', a trade of both envelops will occur and the amount each gets would be of the final envelope they're holding. if either or both persons said 'no swop', the trade will not be carried out and the money in the original envelop they each held on to will be theirs. at the end of the day, both parties had profit maximization in mind, and from here, predict the likely outcome from this experiment.

let's consider the situation in the perspective that i am one of the players in the experiment. should i have received £16, and keeping profit maximization in mind, i will not swop the envelope i am holding simply because of the fact that i have the highest i can get in play, and i will never ever call for a swop. thus, no matter what the other person has in his envelope - £2, £4, £8 or £16, he's going to have to keep his for i'm going to keep my envelope. i've attained my aim of profit maximization. NO SWOP.

now, should i have gotten an £8 envelope, i know that there is a 0.25 possibility that i will swop and receive at £16 envelope, a 0.25 possibility that i will get back an £8 envelope, and a 0.5 possibility i will get lower than my £8 envelope. as such, it is logical that i will want to hold on to the £8 at hand. furthermore, i can establish the fact that should the other person have a £16 envelope, there is no way he will trade that away. hence i have gotten the highest possible valued envelope that i can get in this experiment, and calling for a trade is pointless for me. this only puts me in risk of losing my £8 for a lower valued envelope (£2, £4). hence, i should be holding on to my envelope and it's the best i can make out of getting a £8 envelope. NO SWOP.

so what happens when i do get a £4 envelope? knowing that £4 is the 2nd lowest amount of money i can receive, should i trade it? basing my strategy of game theory as above mentioned, should the person be holding on to a £16 envelope, there is no way that he will call his envelope for a swop. hence i can forget about getting a £16 envelope. likewise he'd probably be thinking, in the second case, if he had £8, that he should not risk his £8 envelope for a lower valued envelope, for i would not give him a £16 envelope (if i ever had it) for sure. hence, should the person have a £8 envelope, he will for sure keep that profit maximization opportunity. hence i know for a fact that i will never be able to swop my £4 envelope for a £8 or £16 envelope. this gives me the ability to know by calling 'swop' for my £4 envelope, i only risk getting a £4 or £2 in return. so i'll choose to not call for a swop. NO SWOP.

that leaves me with the instance where i received a £2 envelope. by now i'd realise that i would, based on the above 3 situations, never get a higher valued envelope if i ever did call for a swop. so it makes no sense in me calling for a swop, for the only time a trade will be carried out is when we both have £2 envelopes. so i might as well save the hassle and keep the £2 envelope. SWOP/NO SWOP.

as a result, it is possible for us to conclude, that the outcome will be both persons keeping, or ending up with the same amount of money at the end that they received at the beginning. that's my answer. (: it's afterall human nature to keep the highest profit in our own yard than in the neighbour's, right?

interesting huh? damn i should have done this question at the test and i'll be a cambridge student! haha! oh well wish me luck for my interviews tomorrow...

^oh and i miss those days.

2008-09-28T19:50:00.001+08:00

my almost perfect weekend.

2008-09-26T19:42:00.005+08:00

MR. X and CRAP WORK to be done

A long time since I last entered blogger, haven't been updating much about how life's been: Two letters, OK. Just recently a couple of friends have left for the UK and USA, making my social circle here in Singapore so much more smaller since the other few left for Australia earlier in the year. Farewells and sobby-eyed goodbyes were always an indication of the close ties and friendship, along with hopeful memories and nostalgia we yearn to relive once more. Whether we manage to rekindle such happy meaningful memories are only left for the future to unfold.

As you know, my blog is somewhat my haven to engage in some solitude and express some verbal diarrhea out of my oh-so-sad internals where all these sh*t that comes along each day gets stored up for random ranting sessions like this one today.

Obviously what can i say but 'I'm back'?

---

Today, let me share with you about my very sad story in a very sad place where I work in the North-Western. No names shall be named, and references made to any individuals shall be used with alphabets, numbers, signs... You get the gist.

Coming in a newbie the workplace, life was good, pretty decent and relaxing, after all I had a senior who handled my current position for almost 5 months and was more able in dealing/dodging with arrows and daggers (metaphorically speaking). It's been almost 2 months now, and I'm kind of settled in and ready to go as what my senior had taught me as he imparted what he knew to me bit by bit. Currently, I've been able to do what my senior does without much help needed, and I've also gone beyond the extra mile by neatening his 2 rooms that will soon come under my charge.

In my training for the job, the instructors often said what was taught by the books in the trainings were often way different from what will be in actual, ground level. To save our asses, they always told us to take over our job scope in the most perfect, updated and orderly form from any predecessors before us. However, my job position was left, perhaps unattended, or should I put it, without professional supervision for almost a year now. As such, conditions, details and paperwork have been left almost deserted, or mildly maintained in almost the same conditions they were left since the previously known trained year-ago 'senior'. (my current senior isn't pro-trained and hence cannot be blamed for the unattended work pile)

Now, the complication comes.

In a couple of months (say 1 or 2), there's going to be this exam. A test of standards. A grading of the operation and maintenance of what my job entails by a foreign examination body. As suggested earlier, I was officially trained to accept the baton of my senior in fully functional form, and it isn't officially my job to be the one getting it into form before I start my work it. But since it's already in such a bad, dire state, I've been tasked to, and am trying very hard to makes things fall into place (simply because I'm suay and got the job). It just happens to be a lot of stuff, documents dating back to, A FEW YEARS ago, say 3/4 years? (By the way my contract ends in 15 months at where I'm working, so you see how much lapse there is in work over the years?) I CALL THAT CRAP WORK, which can certainly be avoided if proper management and regular checks by the higher position people in the department were conducted or overseen.

Now there's this dude, Mr X, he's old and he's been in the workplace for probably a couple of years... maybe since he left school (if he ever made it through and completed it). He holds a higher paying position (probably 7-10 times my pay), and is higher up in position of the department. He works in a room by himself, although I'm not too sure how hard or much he works. Now he hasn't been respecting, what more treating me proportionately to the importance of what my position entails and is. Oh it seems [my own feeling and entitlement] like he never acknowledged me for that role, until today, when he reallied how huge the magnitude of the mess was and wanted me to clear up as said above, the CRAP WORK, addressing me by my position for the what seems to be the very first time ever.

Now, tidying up a year's worth of hey-wire mess, along with consolidating years worth of paperwork, is no easy feat. And it being 1-2 months before the 'exam', somebody's worrying. and that person is definitely NOT ME.

To begin with, my relationship with Mr X has never been good, and is only deteriorating. There were several instances over the past 2 weeks when I felt very much scrutinized, subtly picked on, not cared for and very much unappreciated and un-respected. (Oh in my workplace, respect is never mutual, as much as we want it to be) I heard from some other colleagues recently that he said a couple of weeks ago, I (as in ME) 'do nothing all day and sit around'. Today, I heard it for myself in the workplace when he exclaimed something of such sorts.

Well I have to justify his perceived 'slack attitude' of mine for working so little. On normal days, he never interacts with me to see how things are going, and barely knows that I do an ample share of work alongside my senior. In his eyes I never existed because he never cares to notice any work I do.

For today, my day was initially supposed to be spent in some foreign, grassy area, which was to last till the late afternoon, but due to some unforeseen circumstance, ie. heavy precipitation, the first half of the day was wasted waiting and idling. So my day went like this. I headed for lunch, then headed back to the workplace. Talked to Mr X with my senior in a Mr-X-called-meeting and then went to do a chunk of documentation work for over an hour and a half. I went for tea break with my colleagues after that, and next I was with the whole department around 4.40pm waiting and getting ready to end the work week, a norm for every Friday.

That's when Mr X came in, and made this comment directed at me to 'touch me heart and say if I was slack because I only worked for an hour plus for the day', before storming off. A while later, he was going on bad-mouthing me to other higher positioned, yet younger and probably more capable people in the department about the same matter, probably unaware that I was in the same room behind a desk cubicle.

Frankly speaking, today wasn't even an intended day for me to touch any bit of CRAP WORK, but I managed to tally and sort out all outstanding discrepancies till date of a main chunk of the sh*t I was tasked to do. Although what was accomplished was little to what still remains, I felt disheartened, unappreciated and wronged.

In my head, I was thinking of various possibilities to end this phase of CRAP:
1) To just do what I'm told and do my best in trouble shooting 3 years worth of work,
2) Just do what I can and let mood decide,
3) Just let the examiners see how bad the situation is, for that's a reason for their existence and the truth shall set all free.

Heh. We'll see how it goes.

Shouldering such a huge lump of outstanding workload and constant scrutiny isn't going to help, especially since it kills the soul inside me telling me to 'press on and get it over and done with' when Mr X shows me the you-are-CMI-face or makes comments like the one above mentioned.

Mr X never really showed any care or concern to me for me to say, 'hey I want to work with all my passion to get work done as a favour for his kindness and graces', or 'I want to do my best because I am appreciated'. And I don't see why I have to slog out my guts for anything I don't have the passion in, knowing that this a temporal job that I so whole-heartedly do not want at all.

As much as I never did say I will do the CRAP WORK with all my heart, I also never said I wouldn't do it at all. It's just time I need to sort it out, minus all the scrutiny and heart-less-ness that Mr X open-heartedly showers upon me. Sigh, it's back to work on Tuesday again, with the need to face Mr X for another 4 days till my next weekend. For now I shan't think of anything that happened over the past week. Don't remind me, or I'll kill you.

---

And so, TGIF, I need to relax and serenade myself to a happier zone with happier people and happier experiences.

I can't wait to meet the councillors tomorrow. =/

2008-08-09T01:58:00.000+08:00

singfestttt.

2008-08-05T20:09:00.000+08:00

luckily for me, my in camp has internet access. (:

thank god la!

2008-07-28T19:05:00.012+08:00

how's life people? if there is even anyone who visits this site of mine anymore, that is. OH wells, life's been good, pretty much filled with subtle ups and downs quite recently.

currently the talk of the town's gotta be the film, 'the dark knight' starring christian bale, gary oldman, michael cain, morgan freeman and the awesome late heath ledger. i caught it the first time at vivo with ivan on GV max, the huge screen that scares you with joker's devilish laugher and the scene with the fake batman swinging into the glass at the mayor's office; not forgetting the impossibiliy of missing edison chen's 4 second appearance in the film. the show was quite a good catch, although so many things were happening so quickly that a second watch with my class clique made me understood it better, this time in a smaller screen cinema, which also left me glued to the seats for the whole 153 minutes of the show. yeah, probably one of the best films released so far in 2008.

and yes, other than watching the show and spending my time in cinemas recently, i've been hopping around much spending quality time with many people. tracing a couple of weeks ago, STC graduation dinner, council investiture, club mumbai indian dinner, maritime and port authority scholarship presentation ceremony, kalai's farewell, uncle sarbjeet and aunty rita's annual visit back to singapore, grandpa's 80th birthday, nuj's hangout/farewell sessions, night safari with my london relatives, new postings from army, 3 guys & 3 girls (class clique) movie and ben & jerry's outing... wahha.

yeah. life's been alright! hanging on to whatever that i can grab hold and making sure i don't sweep myself away with everything else.

i got my final posting today. the QM finally deployed juntang and i to our respective company lines. i got HQ coy and he got Archer. hmmm. shan't comment much yeah? :/

oh well. here's a few pictures f my past few weeks i'm going to leave for you. (:

2008-07-14T22:44:00.002+08:00

and so we were back for the investiture of the anglo-chinese junior college 33rd students' council. it was similar in nature from the previous investitures we had, holding on to pretty much the tradition and pride that councils before and after shall relate and adhere to.

being present yet again in the school hall of acjc made us feel so thankful for having such a strong heritage and past as a student, as a councillor of acjc. this time round, we watched our same juniors, the 32nds who had a year ago taken their vows, move on in passing the baton over to the new 33rd student councillors. it was quite heart warming to know that the council is now under the safe hands of the new president and vice president, supported by a strong exco and dedicated teachers-advisors.

i'm so proud of the junior council. our 32nds have grown so much and came a long long way. accomplished tremendous tasks and made such a significant difference in school. one year really passed so quickly.

oh wells. nostalgia fills all our hearts once again. especially since we're many hearts, one spirit.

oh well. photos will have to come later. i'm booking in tomorrow and i need my SLEEP.

2008-07-13T08:50:00.002+08:00

one full circle. the juniors' turn to outvest! we'll see how it goes tomorrow then when we all go back to school. (:

crazy crazy week. there's so much packed in such a small span of time. little spurts of activities that require the delicate touch of me being present. plus the need to satiate my movies mania. I SO WANT TO WATCH hellboy2, red cliff and the dark night! i want.

really looking forward to 17th july, only for the reason that it means i'm on block leave for 6 days. i'll probably be hanging out in singapore.

17th july - scholarship presentation, kalai's departure
18th july - R&R
19th july - R&R
20th july - grandpa's 80th birthday, scholar's choice exhibition [UK uni apps] @ suntec
21st july - R&R
22nd july - R&R

yeah. i'll probably want to go into JB and spend a day out there. haha. better book dad and mum early. (:

will post soon! promise!

darrick, how's army treating you?

2008-07-06T11:47:00.002+08:00

my life in the past months since BMT has been spent in STC (supply and transport centre), undergoing the supply supervisor course, a course that trains specialists in dealing with combat service support. my life in sembawang camp has been spent as a trainee amongst 79 others, going through both admin and operational training. throughout the grueling wait of 4 months staying in camp, complaining how my life could be an 8-5 job and having tonnes of waiting for the next event to happen, i've come to know a decent lot of new friends - some of which are so nice to talk to, others to make fun of and a bunk that's worth sleeping with.

with the usual occasional flowery language that the army churns out of you, life in camp seemed to be pretty darn interesting. the random run-into-the-room-and-taupok-whoever's-sleeping syndrome, the late nights playing risk while your bunk mates try to sleep, the jokes cracked over certain individuals our course comes into contact with, the few quotable quotes which ring down the corridor everyday, the need to spend countless hours filling up the book-in-book-out-book and not forgetting the weekly nights out sessions to eat, LAN and shop, has become part and parcel of life in STC. of course, there are the many eventful lectures and outfield components which makes us better equipped commanders to be.

i vividly remember the first weeks when the cook house food served every meal with unpalatable food. every meal in camp seemed to be a torture to eat, along with the management not being able to understand or react to our countless 'not okay' or 'lousy' survey feedbacks. what i remember even more was when weeks later after they had the major dialouge with our master over the issue of food, food seemed to improve for the better. for the first time we had dim sum, roti prata and better tasting mee rebus for breakfast; prawns, ice cream, roasted chicken and wedges which replaced ngoh hiang, ngoh hiang and more ngoh hiang for lunch and dinner. for once food in the cook house tasted better than food in the mess.

booking out always seemed to be so huge for me. it was the only thing that would take me out from the jaws of the army. perhaps army ain't that bad as many others has put it to be, but having life spent with friends and family seemed to always be a better alternative. recently i've been chatting up with many juniors, and most times it goes on about how army is and all. thinking about it, army actually frees the enslavement of the education system, without the immense need to do so much homework (though we study in the army too) and study so hard to score in out test (yes we do have tests). and what comes along is the forgoing of weeknights with your friends outside the army and family dinners, that we come to a conclusion that army seems detrimental to our social well-being. but it's because of this i've come to learn to be more responsible in the relationships i have - to make more effort to spend time with my family and friends when i get out of camp, like my class gang, the exco (whoever's left in singapore), the council friends, the school mates.

so i'd say, army ain't that bad afterall. it's just a take and go experience that i'm currently going through. 1 1/2 more years to go, can't be that bad. so when you ask me how's army treating me, i'd tell you, FINE. oh wells. it's the weekend! i'm going out! BYE!

2008-05-11T17:31:00.002+08:00

gosh! the days have been passing so fast. it's already closing to the mid of may and it's just bout 5 months into the army. how's life for me? it's been quite chaotic, life in my camp hasn't been fantastic. it's been stay in so we only get nights out on wednesdays and weekends are free. it really sucks to stay in because there's virtually nothing to do once office hours are over and our commanders go home. furthermore there's 2 new commanders who recently joined in our course and life hasn't been any better with them around. shan't talk about cos it's just not worth my effort. and who knows what's allowed and not allowed to be blogged under the SAF. i don't wanna get charged.

booking out has been great. taking off passes for interviews are really a breather. just to let anybody who reads this blog know, i'll be taking up a scholarship under the maritime and port authority of singapore and it entails my course of study in economics at the uk. yeap! i had to reject MOE's teaching scholarship, based on the fact that the prospects in a stat board's much wider than a career in teaching, although i would really want to try it out one day. we'll see, maybe teaching would be my career later on in life. love or hate it, at least i'd get some outside experience too so that's not really a huge issue.

oh yes. today's mothers' day too and my family headed to bistro gaga for lunch. it's located at old school on mt. sophia, the old MGS school compound. brought mum there cos it's her old school and we thought of making lunch a little more special this year. (: the food was really great, the price was reasonable and the place just had so many places to take PHOTOS. haha. i'd probably have the pictures on facebook soon. (:

and yesterday's movie was really funny. i watched doomsday with devin and the show just had everything you needed. i'd call it CHAPALANG cos the show had punks and road rages, knights and amour, forts and kingdoms, guns and grenades, horses and cars with quite a bit of gruesome head blasting and viral infections. very entertaining just watching everything happen in one single movie. oh well. i can't wait for narnia and batman and so many more movies! the civilian world sure beats the time in ARMY hands down.

oh well. got to leave soon! it's dinner with the leows for mothers' day! (: going to some japanese place for dinner at revenue house! till the next time, toodles!

2008-04-19T23:44:00.002+08:00

my life's been pretty good these couple of weeks.
currently a trainee at sembawang camp, CQMS/supply supervisor-to-be.
managed to spend time out with family regularly.
took the effort to maintain friendships.
had the opportunity to think about life.
life's great.

2008-03-08T17:12:00.002+08:00

i got back my results for the 2007 A levels yesterday. it somehow exceeded my expectations to begin with, considering the sweaty palms and shaky feet that somehow made things look devastating back then last october / november in the school's badminton hall.

oh well, i'm pretty contented with my scores right now, even though i must acknowledge the fact that thousands of others did better than me. but i guess hard work pays off, and the family's pretty contented with the results too.

gosh the 3 week delay for the results was quite freaky, thankfully many did ok. (:

smiles were a definite, but so were tears and disappointment for some people, of which were close friends, classmates, council mates and all. just hope that they'll be alright, and probably see that in a way or two the results could be blessings in disguise, perhaps years down the road. (:

but hey, i just wanna say if you didn't fail As, you survived 2 freaking years talking to tys-es, playing with mf15s, engaging with your ti84plus, and clicking away your g2s.

WE SURVIVED THE A LEVELS! (:

sugar.

2008-02-24T13:12:00.002+08:00

it isn't my birthday yet, but i've already gotten 2 presents. (:

thanks binni for the colonge from body shop! (:
thanks BROTHER for the PSP! (:

oh what a way to start a week ahead! birthday in camp... alrighty, booking in at 4pm today. life sucks, ain't it?!

arrrrrrrrrrmy.

2008-02-17T11:05:00.002+08:00

it's about 30 more days to POP. that means over 2 months in pulau tekong have passed. i don't really know what to blog about these days, especially since there's really nothing much about army. or rather nothing much i wanna talk about cos it's army.

life under your commanders. some are nice, some really just aren't; waking up early every morning, running around almost 5 click a day; breakfast, lunch and dinner served at cook house; monotony of life; uniformity.

ippt's coming up really soon, and now they're just making us do so much PT that sleep really seems too little. but hey, 7 hours of sleep's how much they give and we take.

aching arms, calves and knees, due to the 3 rounds every morning for 5bx, another 5/6 rounds for a usual ET run, perhaps 1 click from running to and fro SOC grounds, 6 rounds for night bx, and a little more running in aqua jogging. that's about what we did in the days during our past week i guess. at hindside, my 2.4 timing's really improved from a 12.55 when enlisted to 12.06 weeks ago and it's about 11.26 now. though my knees hurt so much more compared to the past. OH WELLS, sian, suck thumb lor.

field camp's over, sit test's over. that's quite a relief i'd say. we're currently waiting now to finish our SOC, IPPT, urban operations and hand grenade courses before we start our POP rehearsals. but the monotonous PT still goes on. and it's the same 2230-0530 sleep.

ahhye.

but still, we do have our enjoyments in camp, small, sweet ones. such as getting a KFC surprise treat on the night before valentine's, which i swore never tasted as nice even though it was kinda cold and soggy. (was it the entire school or BMTC who had this treat?) such as waking up every morning seeing the faces of platoon mates and knowing that we're all in this sh*t together. such as having book outs to see our friends and families.

oh wells. army's ending soon. but i don't really know what to feel and how to see it. what are my plans ahead? hah. it's been quite a bittersweet experience so far. we'll see how it goes.

anyways, i'm really grateful for friends around. friends who care. and friends who just are willing to go out and chill. and friends who are so willing to share their time with you. and friends who encourage. and friends you know who are there. and friends who are just... friends. you'll probably know who you are, even if you're not reading this, friends.

oh well, it's back to another week of doing what we do best, serving our nation in anyway it seems to be. 30 days to pop!

2007-12-23T09:58:00.000+08:00

life's been so hectic after the As. if you're an avid reader of my blog (which i don't think there is anyone) you've probably been only noticing this random 'i am drowning' line from the time i took my As. but life's been rather fun and exciting having the As over, and i'm officially no longer confined to wearing school uniforms and waking up early like how i did for the past 6 years of my life. so i thought. but let's go there a little later.

hmm. so what did i do after my As? i had tonnes of meet up sessions with many many people, had numerous 'let's go eat _____ cos you're not getting it in army' meal dates, many blockbuster movies, a little trip over to KL, prom shopping, prom, post prom and not forgetting the wondrous pre-enlistment party and 3G dinner that the councillors went for. i did all of these over the time span between the ending of november to about, 5th december. yeah. and i'll never forget 6th december.

that very very early morning, i made my way down to pasir ris at around 8+ in the morning. it wasn't a really good day i could tell. there was rain, thunder, some lightning, a traffic jam plus an idiot who whacked into the back of my dad's car. furthermore, it was probably the day where a teenage boy like me got really confused.

it was the day you start becoming a 'man', from boyhood.

yeah, i enlisted that day. well, i was surrounded by nice people for about part of the day, dad, mum, rach, aaron, tangs, mandy and tim were there to send me into the island, but before you knew it they were gone and like all random camps, you're left alone to survive with tonnes of people you've never met before, and that feeling always sucked i don't know why. yeah, and so my national service began there and then. rainy and gloomy.

i was enlisted into A coy, and i'm currently living on the top floor of the company line. initially it was pretty tiring walking up and down and up and down the 80 flights of stairs for about 20 times a day. it was tough workout man! and that's not even considered PT.

we've been doing loads of physical training, foot drill, lectures and talks, water parades, a couple of jabs by the medics and plenty of visits to the cook house for the past two weeks, and everyday it's like doing the whole routine over and over again. and the uniforms and waking up early part that i thought i needn't do anymore, were obviously part and parcel of being in the military. oh wells.

the first two weeks were pretty hard to bare, especially when you don't get to do what you like freely, for the people in the platoon come from really diverse backgrounds. i'm adapting, nonetheless, but i don't really see much drive i can put when i'm there. not to say i'm chao keng (slacking) cos i've never gone on status (MC after visiting the medical center), but the using of guns and tanks have never been part of my dreams and desires. oh wells, maybe i'll just do what i can and see where i go, or god takes me to.

not to say that the army's all screwed up and restrictive, but i guess the army is the army, and the school there ain't a hotel or resort that we go enjoy ourselves in. it's always a heart warming sensation when you see a certain someone you know well there with that smile on his face (how gay, but true) like tim and jun, or go back to the bunk after routine order to see an sms on the phone from a friend, and perhaps talk to a loved one over the phone. never fails to make one's day, even if it means going to sleep soon.

well obviously there's so much more that i wanna post about my first two weeks but it's better not to be posted up here. so ask me personally and i'll share with you more in depth. haha.

booking out felt really really good. it was like the first time you saw kopitiams, cars, buses, vans, people, GIRLS, old men and women, children, traffic lights, smiling faces, dad, mum and bro, love. and facebook.

FOR RECRUITS...
the only downside, your lack of hair on the scalp gets you violated when someone screams and comes running to you. what you do? pose like you're gonna head butt the person, and just keep still. let them do whatever they want (touch, rub, feel) and be happy after its over. the more you resist, the more you regret. smile!

two more days to book in! not really looking forward cos i know the feeling's gonna get sucky. but oh wells, i'll have to do my job protecting my loved ones and the country i live in. (:

so to all you people out there, i'll be booking in one x'mas night, and for all who wanna date me out, get me out soon cos i'll really wanna do tonnes before heading back to that place. on a lighter note, merry yuletides to everyone and families! enjoy christmas! and i'll be posting regularly from now on, if i get to book out that is! (:

falalalala' lalalala.

2007-11-11T23:08:00.000+08:00

i'm drowning...

recollections.

2007-10-10T22:23:00.000+08:00

my sa2 love.

my council love.

my exco love.

my ACJC love.

what a beautiful conclusion to my 2 years in JC life.

2007-10-08T22:27:00.000+08:00

today was pretty much a hilarious day. reading announcements during assembly for the first time was really an eye opener. so was what happened after chapel service as well. oh man. but it was really fun and exciting too! you literally see the whole hall and LT while singing the national anthem and school song. the red chairs were as comfortable as i imagined it to be! nerve wrecking dude! thankfully i didn't stumble on the measly 2 announcements, and my didn't zao-sia at all. mrs chang said i looked pretty comfy up on the stage too, ALONE.

classes are drawing to their conclusions, as teachers are giving their emo 'you can do it' speeches and smiles. life in JC is almost over. just one academic day, one baccalaureate service and it's the As man! it really is the end of twelve years of foundation education.

life in AC really rocked. it's now back to my quiet interaction time with my texts!

oh and did i say?
manhood looms. december sixth. can't wait.

gonna miss school. badly.

honour's night 2007

2007-10-01T00:29:00.001+08:00

2007-09-09T22:49:00.001+08:00

prank calls.

2007-08-03T00:18:00.000+08:00

eat poop.

emo-less.

2007-07-18T23:48:00.000+08:00

it's been an awesome day 2!

it wasn't so bad in school today as it was yesterday. i guess excessive emo-ing just teaches you how to better hide it. haha.

yeah that still means i'm emo-ing, but i guess i learnt from ms yong. even though i might not show it, my heart's crying out.

but hey, i'm looking at things from the positive side now. life still goes on.

and yeah.

with respect to what junior said, at least i was a councillor to begin with.

(:

2007-07-17T21:23:00.000+08:00

hmmm.

i really do have so much to say but i just don't know how to express it.

all i know, council's been so perfect, that given another chance i'll do it a million times.

it really sucks to be wearing the normal school badge again. but yet, it made me treasure my memories so much more now.

thanks, 31sts.

2007-07-16T00:27:00.000+08:00

you don't know how much i love council.

outvest.

OO

2007-07-11T21:47:00.000+08:00

i found this on someone's blog!

'also i must give speshul mention to darrick leow, i've noticed his big big grin is such a perk-me-up! say hello to darrick in the corridors for your happy fix! :D '

smiling never seemed so worthwhile.

it makes people happy. and seeing people happy makes me happy.

i guess when the whole world's emo-ing,
things doesn't seem to be emo anymore.

2007-07-10T22:57:00.000+08:00

EXCO retreat ended on sunday morning after the official and unofficial programmes both senior and juniors EXCOs went through. the retreat started off with cheking in to east coast resort chalets by the seniors, booking of bikes and the playing of frisbees! it went really well till the juniors arrived and we prepared for the intro speech by the 2 Ps.

after that was dinner with the juniors. we kinda alot of food, EXCO boys especially, before having to share with our juniors about the individual post that we held and what it entailed. talked for pretty long and soon it was time for them to set their vision in a not-too-cold, cosy room.

the seniors had a mini conference with the teachers during that time, and after which we went cycling from ECP to siglap and back, camping at macdonald's for a decent supper. then it was back to the chalets where we pretty much fell asleep. take note... JUNIORS still at work!

woke up in the morning, had some of the EXCO go out to buy breakfast and had macs breakfast facing the outside of the chalet looking out. it rained and we worshipped. time spent was kinda cool! then had the sharing session of the junior EXCO whereby the vision was formed and motto set. COMMON PASSION, PERFECT UNITY! (:

after that, official retreat ended around lunch time. we bade farewell to the teachers before heading to PS to catch TRANSFORMERS. many of the junior EXCO fell asleep, cos of the lack of sleep the night before. but it was pretty good a show i must say. yayness! i enjoyed it throughly.

made our way to GLASS HOUSE where we ate fish and co for dinner like how we shared a meal with our seniors, in the glass room on the second floor. it was quite hilarious and both EXCOs really managed to know each other better so much more through this dinner! they literally saw the crazy zomg side of us! haha!

soon it was vivocity and sentosa for the camp out session, where we talked again to our juniors to settle any AOB and extra stuff to mention. following after it was initiation. the junior EXCO had to do so many tasks along siloso beach given by each of the senior EXCO member, before having to do this cool council EXCO choir thingy (which we did last year too) and the treasure digging. it was FUN! FUN FUN FUN! (: we then went on to try flying kites and playing ultimate. before we zonked out and were just too tired to even continue.

slept after that, on the beach, under the pavilion, EVERYWHERE. then light shone and we headed back! SLEPT for like... so long after that! (:

EXCO.is.<3

countdown.

2007-07-03T00:45:00.000+08:00

council sji was a blast.

i'm proud to be a 31st!

i'm proud of my juniors! i'm proud to be their senior!

i'm proud to be a councillor!
i'm proud to be an ACJC councillor!

13 more days!

aye.

2007-06-26T19:51:00.001+08:00

it's happening, again.
but this time, i know i'm not all alone.

good luck to all with mid-years. you'll do well!

it's4.38amandi'mstillawake!

2007-06-24T04:35:00.000+08:00

i'vejustcompletedchemistryholidayhomework!soproudofmyself.
spendingmylast2daystryingtofinishupallthecraphomework.
what'sleft?ECONSandGPandMATH.there'sseriouslytoomuch
GPtocomplete!ARGH.wasted2dayontherightwordtorealisethat
itcannotbecompleted!it'sstupid.RAH.timetosleep.
beforeistartgoingmadagain!byebye.

AGM. 32nds EXCO.

2007-06-21T20:41:00.000+08:00

whoa.

total time to elect 8 exco members in mins: 315

total number of rounds of voting: 35

total number of rounds for CW: 7

total number of girls in the new exco: 6

total amount of trust i have in them: unlimited.

-

jun's blog: congrats to the 32nd Students' Council exco on your successful election! Come try and surpass the 31sts haha but don't die trying cos it's NOT EASY.

-

i really love the 31st so much. council's been great. it's simply indescribable.

the feeling of euphoria, nostalgia and immense satisfaction kindles, and it will burn stronger by july 16th.

i'm really grateful to have spent the past year with the best people around.

AGM was a simple affair.

the feeling common in all our hearts.

indeed. many hearts, one spirit.

<3

2007-06-20T23:32:00.000+08:00

i spent my whole day with the most awesome bunch of people i could ask for.

right now, i'm a happy kid with a meaning to life.

2007-06-14T21:42:00.000+08:00

certainly, its just me. i've let my emo self come into the picture, again.

it's more than that little part of me indulging in some self-pity.

of course, you've got your own life to live;

you probably think i have my own too.

but tonight, just tonight, the rain's falling;

and i'm hiding behind my dark, black umbrella.

the wind's strong; and i stand weary.

alone. once again.

2007-06-12T13:51:00.000+08:00

friendship beyond words.

(=

2007-06-10T23:21:00.001+08:00

with love to a bunch with so much heart,
i'm proud to be one with you.

june camp

2007-06-09T16:04:00.000+08:00

5 days, as subtle as it seems,

the seeds sown have budded.

31 years of legacy, now entrusted upon the hands of our capable 32nds.

we've done our best, so will they.

they're more than conquerors, they're soaring on eagles wings.

note to self.

2007-06-02T22:50:00.001+08:00

it's been a long time ever since i've blogged properly. perhaps life's really been too busy, priorities been ripped and there's simply no time to waste on unnecessary indulgences and nostalgic memories. but yet again, so much has changed since and i've really been cramming myself with the material things, the gratifying things, the self-satisfaction pursuit of things that really didn't matter. i've lost all mind and form of values, beliefs and hope. recently i've came across a whole new handful, once again. it ain't surprising how difficult it is to handle my emotions, my aspirations, my desires, tactfully that things just seems too hard for comprehension. along with the voices that prevents my heart from following, skipping a beat ever so often and crushing it dearly when it just ain't going the way i hope it should. yet again, i find it so hard to blame anyone apart from my single, lone self. perhaps i could have done much more to prevent the worst of nightmares from occurring, or maybe just put my heart at ease knowing that i kindle some hope, but right now it's really time to discover what i want out of it, and how to get there. choices. all about choices. what about keeping an open mind, or just having god kept in faith, within my hope? i guess i can no longer cry to god in hope for simply having want things to go their way, but rather live in a life of faith and strength. 'God doesnt call the equipped, He equips the willing.'

who wants to listen to me? i want to let it all go, laughing...

random update!

2007-05-31T21:49:00.000+08:00

physically seven.

2007-05-06T23:01:00.000+08:00

eight in heart, forever more.

help.

2007-05-02T00:42:00.000+08:00

i'm drowning in my own dirt.

Radiohead - Creep

2007-04-23T01:28:00.000+08:00

someone sent me this song quite some time ago.
i guess it's pretty much how i feel right now...

Radiohead - Creep

When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
And I wish I was special
You're so fuckin' special

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here.

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here.

Shes running out again,
Shes running out
Shes run run run running out...

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special...

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo,
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here.
I don't belong here.

2007-04-21T22:24:00.000+08:00

if only you understood, how you're playing out to be a pointless enigma in my mind;

past few... weeks?

2007-04-14T01:12:00.000+08:00

rahhh. the past week has been rather hectic and bad.

got back term results. after moderation, which caused some of my marks to drastically fall!!!

terms:
Phy: B -> D
Chem: E ->E
Math: D -> E
Econs: B -> B

although i passed all my subjects, met the minimum requirements, still gotta push!

roar! currently starting to pick up for chemistry and mathematics. need to maintain the econs standard. still a long way to go to do well for prelims and As!

bro went to OCS recently. we visited SAFTI MI to take a look. (: insightful experience, and interesting day touring the place.

ROCK AC's been tough. hard to search for solutions for the tile problems. i hope what we have now falls into plan and we can really start next week! let's go CW!

GP package test on social issues on tuesday. marked and i got 45/50! woohoos! (: that's a second record after my science package with 46.5/50! (: if only i can work on my compres and essays!

PW stinks. got a B grade. hmmm. such a pity. i thought we could have edged a A for the entire group. rahh.

people's been ok. rather dao mode these few days. too much on my mind. existance of humans only makes stuff more complicated. grr.

took a bus one day, got scolded by the bus driver cos he insisted i didn't tap my ez link, which i did tap once i got up. told him so, showed him that i tapped already. stared at him the whole bus journey. pissed. went up to him at my stop and said, 'it would have been much nicer if you could be more courteous if you were to speak. and apologise if you realised you were wrong.' he only said, 'ok.' didn't apologise. i lodged a complaint. rahh.

had duty and movie-under-the-stars just now. tired. sleep.

life now sucks. filled with work work work.

goodness gracious. lord bless my soul.

where will true love shine?

sentosa.

2007-03-31T22:42:00.000+08:00

sentosa outing was super duper fun! despite the small group of people who went, we really managed to make the most! and have tonnes of fun fun fun!

met yili, clovis, huiyu, bronson and aaron at vivocity early in the morning at around 10+, and hung around a little at the arcade where we managed to get some high scores at the photo game thingy.

^8th rank!

^2nd rank! (:

haha! also played some rounds of air hockey when there was really not many people out yet. then left for sentosa on the monorail station pretty close by.

^aaron, huiyu and yili in the monorail

we were pretty much stoning and lazing aroung siloso beach for a few hours. made this huge sandcastle with words on it like 'CCA', 'CW', 'SALES' and '31st' on it, along with a huge 'ACJC' by the side.

^my love <3

^bronson's 5 year old.

then played some frisbee and volleyball, before playing a little near the water side and picking some sea shells. dicky joined us too! brought some groundsheets and sat on the sand stoning. haha. then yili, huiyu and aaron left around 2+, and maggie, mandy and jingwei arrived. played a little more on the beach as jing wanted to get his tan. the 2 ultimate pros started to ultimate a little whereas the blazing sun just made me and clovis a little 'hot', along with mandy and maggie (who didn't want to go for any tan cos she's already black enough).

eugene and leonard came, and soon after sandra was there too. by then bronson left so the 4 guys who came later hung around at the beach. dicky got dragged into the water by jing, and leonard decided to get buried. heard jing was buried on top of him. haha. coolios.

^burying leonard

on the other hand, the other 4 of us decided to tour sentosa, cheapo aunty style as suggested by aunty maggie. well, we just decided to walk around sentosa looking at the FREE and only FREE attractions, cos we were pretty much bored of the beach. first stop, we headed through the jungle walk to the dragon trail. it's just this pretty ugly looking stone-d dragon in a secluded corner of the jungle trail with very few people passing by it. haha.

^no trespassing!

^girls riding the dragon...

^whaddat?

^clovis' love?

^dragon riders

continued on the trail which brought us to this shed with a dragon on top of it and many snakes coiled around the poles of the shed. and we got bored. haha.

so we walked out to the main road and decided to get a drink somewhere, looking around where we passed the 4D magix thingy where we saw tonnes of indians from? india! haha. it was pretty close the the carlsberg tower ride thing, the butterfly and insect world place and the faces of singapore attractions. there, we finally got a map to realise our actual destinations...

^insect kingdom

^look mama. big big.

then we continued to source for cheapo attractions and came across this plot of land with nursery rhyme characters where maggie got so amused and wanted to go on a quest taking photos of everyone of them, and it began to rain! haha! awww.

^eeeeee.

^just about to rainnn.

^some tourists who got caught and stuck.

^that's me. blacker than mag for once.

^act cute! (we swear toursits started doing this after we started!)

^clovis' cocked eye merlion!

so we sorta hung around the place under shelter before heading pass the merlion to get to this place called 'close encounters' for an animal show.

the animal show was pretty cool, featuring all kinds of animals... and it was one full of suprise too! with flying birds, pooping monitor lizards, fury dogs and albino snakes.

^that's the shitting monitor lizard. last touch: mandy!

not forgetting having our council president up there coming close with a sanke for the first time in her life! haha! should have seen the face she had! it was priceless! (: i think she so hates me cos clovis and i sorta volunteered her to go up. and she was SOOOOOO fearful when they cos they didnt tell her that she was gna play with the snake until pretty much longer into the show. (: anyways i have a huge video. will upload sometime later...

^mag didn't dare let go her hands.

^and when she waited to see what it was...

^all smiles!

so after that we went to the southern most point of continental asia where we waited for jing, dicky, eugene and leonard to come join us up on the towers.

^albino peacock?

^1 2 3 4 5!

and the guys had to mass dance up on the highest deck while we watched across the other, along with many people from the public. untimate malu! haha! jing wei's just super hyper...

^zomg. mass dance frenzy.

after that we decided to leave sentosa round 6+ to get our dinner at vivo! ate at kopitiam after dicky, soo and leonard left. cosy dinner, along with a JUMBO ICE KACHANG at the end. it was huge-gi-gla-mongous!

^aunty, one JUMBO ice kachang please.

then kalai suddenly appeared! lol! was pretty funny how mag was a atapchee freak and we all didn't want to touch them, leaving her to eat ALL 5 atapchees. especially when she liked them but wanted us to eat some, we all kinda not touched them and just left her to eat them all. so when she ate the last one, jing was super bad, as he kept on going 'AWWW mag you ate all of it. never leave any for us. horrible person!!!' haha. then mandy left one out of 4 prawns from her hokkien mee... and we also started the... eat all so that they can have a family reunion in her stomach (like that of the atapchees). and when one was left and mandy gave up peeling it, i went 'so you want to wait for angelina jolie to adopt this poor orphaned prawn?' haha! dinner was just AB-solutely painful with all that laughing...

we then headed to the pet shop and then the arcade where it was freezing cos we werent wearing shoes or longs, so mandy, mag, sandra and i went to walk around the rooftop, and suprisingly found ourselves walking in the water body on the roof.

^waddling on vivo's rooftop.

the rest kinda joined us there in as we waded around and sat at the sides chatting, with jing making fun of kalai. hah. it was super peaceful and the company was nicee (: along with the few boats we made and the jokes we cracked. what a great way to end sucha great day! (=

^the end!

time flies!

2007-03-25T11:18:00.000+08:00

wheeee! term exams are over! haha. shan't comment about it. don't really want to. lol.

i've watched mr bean with dhanuj, timo and bronson after our chem paper on thursday. it was a really brainless and ROFLMAO type of show, especially with mr bean's lame antics and the funny references they made to the normal nr bean shows. like the oysters, the cross dressing and the -entertain-the-boy-and-kena-jack- part. it didn't really do justice to us studying so hard the past days, but i really enjoyed laughing it out. (:

oh yes! the council room's clean! AGAIN! (:

oh and on friday night i got electrocuted. i nearly died in the council room. that's cos i touched the 'dover close east' sign which crushed a small x'mas light bulb. so it was in contact with the circuit and when i touched it, my left hand got all shocked and numb for 15 minutes or thereabout. haha. ouch!

anyways, yesterday was DIANE YEO's birthday. that dancer aunty. haha. it was a suprise birthday party at her house (: good food, good company. and i finally took my revenge for her scheme of creaming me on my birthday. she got creamed pretty badly last night, not forgetting the streamers being sprayed on her!!! kena jacked! haha.

okay gtg liao! shall blog more another time! (:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIANE!

blood that bonds.

2007-03-18T00:29:00.000+08:00

i realised how big a fan i am of my brother. let me take some time telling you more about me, afterall that's what my blog is about - to let you know more about my life! (:

as you might or might not know, i'm the youngest of 2 sons in my family and that's my elder brother. we grew up loving one another, and hating one another at the same time. we were close, but often not super tight that we'll hang out in town together. it's more of a frequent chitter-chat change of experience and helping each other out kinda brotherhood since young. perhaps the age gap was a little to close for a 'i care so much for you' older-to-younger brother brotherhood. you know what i mean... hah.

pillow fights, blanket tearing, late night wars with bolsters and pillows and blankets flying across the room, and acting asleep when our parents came to check on us admist the night battles. that's how we grew up. along with teenage mutant ninja turtles, robocops, batmans, mickey mouses, whipped potatoes, desaru trips. that's pretty much life in our first decade.

my bro's really smart. he began his education a year before me at the same primary school. but then, he entered the GEP walkway and ever since, he's been in top schools across all education levels. nanyang pri, raffles institution and raffles jc. his notes and books were often passed on to me, and he's pretty much a decent private teacher of mine. and often he gets uber stressed and pissed over me acting too smart for myself.

he's pretty much an influence in my life too. i always find myself following closely to the things he does, and evidently in the CCAs i chose. it started off with cadet scouts in primary school. and then scouts in secondary level. what followed after was the stuff i saw he did in council and much more. but the studies part didn't really come along that easy. i guess it's the genes. haha!

there's more to it. HE's TALLER than me! eeeeeek. but i'll catch up soon. or at least draw closer! yeah. he's super talented with the arty farty designing thingy too. photoshop skills are like superb. he's IT savvy. and recently kinda enthu about photography too! so... that makes him super talented. haha!

so now you see why i look up SOO much towards him? it's not only cos he's tall! he's like... WONDER-BROTHER! (: i'm so lucky!

procrastination//

2007-03-17T17:18:00.000+08:00

studying never seemed so scary.

it's probably one of my worst prepared for exams ever.

and 2 days left is a lot of time. if only i could kill those Z-monsters that come by ever so frequent, say once every 15 minutes.

i also realised that i study best in the afternoon. evening's are just distractions.

studying so hard also seems to have taken it's toil on weak muggers like me. cos i wander. and wonder.

i'm starting to think, what would come after my A levels, what would come during my national service, what would come after that?

teaching as a career. next saturday. 3pm - 5pm. orchard hotel. anyone interested? gotta register soon! see. so much i'm thinking about, instead of studying!

urgh. why do i even care? i've got to pass the STUPID As first.

my situation.

2007-03-11T14:08:00.000+08:00

phheeew! it's been a pretty long time since i last blogged. months to be exact! school's really been hectic and crazy that it's really so hard to catch me breath. there's been ups and downs during these few months.

-AC's newest additions-
orientation 2 just ended. and boy did orientation 1 seem like days ago. i really wanna thank SATYR for being the best OG that i could ever ask for. it's been a great O1, and a even better O2 with great juniors around! i love my j1s! and i'd also like to give a great big hug to earfalas OGLS! the clan totally rocked and i really missed every single OGL, especially those who couldn't be part of O2! you guys were dearly missed! if there was really a 'one more time', i'd say BOOM! PA! YEA! much love to my co-ogls! joanna and clarinda from O1 who came crashing O2, and debs from O2! really couldn't do it without you guys! i guess this is pretty much the end of all the mass rallies, dances and games! (= orientation was really a blast. sitting in the steeple chase and playing with water, starching people up, mass dancing like there's no tomorrow, getting hyper with friends during mass rallies, watching the OGLs form bonds everlasting and watching our J1s fall in love with AC, who'd ever expect all of that to really happen?! (= despite all the tiresome and blazing heat we had to endure, it was simply worthwhile when i heard a J1 say that 'AC has the best orientation, no doubt about that..' great job OGLs!

-turning legal-
yess. to add, i've joined the legal age gang quite recently too! thanks so much for all the well wishes and presents to people out there! turning 18 was a pretty simple flare, but what made it meaningful was the company i've had! much thanks to the admin exco and my dearest sub-com, classmates and friends!!! i had a pretty great dinner with the council people at new york new york the day before the 25th and had a superb time. thanks for the presents CW! i really love them all! and admin for the bear-y nice soft toy, lijun and diane for the 18th month year old presents, 2SA2 for the long strand of balloons that i had to carry round school all day with the disgustingly whipped-creamy face smash, jingwei for the photo frame and the BECKS which is still chilled in my fridge. also to binni and gabriel for the sweet presents. and kenny for the tee and the rosary, grandparents and aunty ivy/uncle dominic for the angpaos! (=

-valentine's and CNY-
haha! i won't forget that week where the council was streched from head to toe working to make valentine's a real blast in AC. the day was pretty crazy and mad with everyone giving out presents and cards, flowers and chocolates to everyone around school. hearts were seen everywhere in school, and love songs playing near the can-deck. it was simply awesome! not to mention the lack of sleep due to the preparations and flowering! also, there was the preparations for the for-you day that CW planned! pretty much a success with the angpaos-under-the-chairs under every seat in the hall and LT, the giving out of AC angpaos and the sponsorship of nutri-tea to the school! CW pulled it off well! i'm proud of you guys! (= the lack of sleep and the craziness, was all worthwhile!

-people-
time passes so quickly! it's been almost 1 year already being in AC, and things just zips pass day by day. last night, i went to shaun's house for a sec 2 class gathering with some of the people i've missed seeing for ages. weiyi, eahy, jovian, jeremy, peiwei, kor, jiahao, evan and shaun himself to celebrate his birthday! nostalgia?! yeah! it's great to have met them i'd say. come to think about it, i've been very blessed being around fantastic people everywhere i go!

right now, things are great! i've been around tonnes of superb people, especially the councillors in AC! many thanks for making the past few months nothing more but a blessing! i've already fell in love with poeple like mag, tim, jing, rach, dhanuj, aaron, bt, joy, lyd, kalai, bronson, shane, yili, lijun, glenn and so many more people! it's you people who makes school more than home! (= and to think of it, it's only about 4 more months to out-vest. EURGH! >.< so let's make this time more than worthwhile!

2007-01-13T19:39:00.000+08:00

whoa. long time since i last posted. all's well.

must say, i did enjoy orientation very much. many thanks to earfalas - og kids & ogls, new j1s and the rest of the 100+ ogls i worked with. school was tiring for the week, getting back to the studying part of jc life. but really, knowing so many new friends does make life much for relaxed in school, when you see familiar faces saying 'HI'!

anyhows, my brother just went to BMTC. today. i was at tekong with my parents and aunty soi soi + hedi. well i must have been too caught up in school and council that really, i've neglected my family pretty much since the start of the new year. until i felt the jolt when my brother finally said, 'i'll go there now' and as we left to come back from tekong. the ferry ride and car ride home was pretty weird, knowing how he's not really gonna be around for the next couple of weeks, and perhaps months.

it first was how i had to be independent. not to say i am not, but really much of the academic help i get is always pretty much from him. trying to cope the the assignments that i have to do this week seems pretty difficult already. then i remembered just last night when we were out celebrating his birthday for him, how the car had 4 people in it. and today, it was only me behind, sitting at where he usually would have sat. when i got home, it felt even weirder. i saw his messy bed, his belongings, everything. and it's gonna remain like so for the next 2 weeks until he comes back fo a day. but for now he gets to call home at about 9.30pm every night. that's good.

i'm pretty much looking forward to that day already. 27th jan.

for now, it's pretty much gonna be life as a single son. it feels weird.

i miss my brother.

prehaps it's cos we grew up with only a year difference that it didn't seem to be a sibling relationship, more like a mutual companion. that's why its weird.

31sts' x'mas party!

2006-12-24T10:19:00.000+08:00

christmas carols resounding at bronson's house.

savoury smells of delights filled the garden - sushi, ham, pork loin, pasta, fries, wedges, beehoon, duck, chicken and much much more..

stashes of presents arranged at one corner of the house.

cups and cups of cocktails, wines and what nots set on the tables.

calls of laughter and happiness over deck of cards.

gossipy talk within groups all over the house.

beautiful presentations of cakes, puffs, cakes, ice cream and more cakes.

warmth and happiness while giving out presents and the revealing of secret santas.

celebrations of birthdays, christmas and fellowship.

mass dance music blasting, lame movies showing...

i love you, 31sts! merry christmas!

hearts, hopes, aims.

2006-12-15T22:15:00.000+08:00

thank you, 31sts, for making december camp a fantastic and worthwhile expereince!

thank you, exco, for streching yourselves to the limits and pushing me along, making camp an enjoyable one!

thank you god, for watching over us every step of the way. amen.

for now, our hearts, our hopes, our aims are yet again, one.

my past 4 days.

2006-11-19T11:17:00.000+08:00

woopie! i'm back from CCAAB camp and it's really one great and fun camp to begin with. i've had tonnes of fun with so many people around me, and getting to socialise and see how other leaders of other CCAs operate and set goals and targets for their own CCA. firstly, i really enjoyed my group time with the other 15 of them, especially amongst the 'tekan' was a solid and everlasting bond that kept motivating us to push on and WHACK! thank you churchill for making the experience for me a fantastic and fruitful one. (:

i loved... almost every part of the camp. keeping an open mind to everything, pushing myself to the limits and seeing what i and the people around me could do amongst the tiredness and sleepless times were just magnificent. the spirit of ACJC really showned brightly and glowed within our hearts, especially when we had our 4am FINAL CHALLENGE. haha, when our hearts, our hopes, our ~~minds~~ aims were one. what more? having to eat dragonfly larvaes, some girls having a rat visiting them at night in the bunks, doorless showers, motivation, uncooked long beans and wearing the same track pants everyday, with the final challenge of transporting every member, a casulty, 6 PT kits, 16 camp tees, 8 full bottles, 16 sides of slippers, 1 bagpack, 8 torchlights and 16 journals

i) across the swimming pool with a raft,
ii) climbing through a small tunnel,
iii) caterpillaring with chairs across the basketball court,
iv) travelling across the deep drain down and up the sides, seeing a python,
v) doing a tyre lift,
vi) crawling through a part our school's drain system,
vii) running 5 rounds and doing steeple chase with again, every member, a casulty, 6 PT kits, 16 camp tees, 8 full bottles, 16 sides of slippers, 1 bagpack, 8 torchlights and 16 journals
viii) rebirth
ix) crossword puzzles

which really, seemed pretty fun at the end of the day, or maybe after we accomplished it after going through it from the massive change parades and pumpings starting at 4am and running this task straight after. (:

but heck it, it was one whole fun filled and packed experience! CCAAB camp, WHEEEEEEEE!

hmmmmm

2006-11-05T21:35:00.000+08:00

^31sts' College Welfare (=

i love my sum com. it's full of nice, motivated and friendly people. we love each others company and we strive for the betterment of the college environment. [YOU'LL SEE MORE OF US NEXT YEAR!] we manage the internal duty roster of council, the welfare of councillors, the blazer loans, sitting arrangement and also publicity of some council events, especially our FOR YOU DAYS.

^ Beauty & the Beast (=

i went for ACSian theatre's B&B last night. it was awesome. i had fun and laughter together with my classmates and some of the 31sts. great work ACSian theatre! dee and glory you 2 rocked! yeap!

----------------------------

anyway i found this off the net and it really seemed very apt to put up on my blog, especially after one conversation i've had with my councillor-friend. (=

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis
it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

marshmallows and hot chocolate?

2006-10-27T20:58:00.000+08:00

whooaaa! the weeks that have passed certainly were long enough to cry. OGL interviews, open house, AC games, seniors' night ticketing, promotional results, ad hoc meetings, exco meetings, school and life. heh. what more can i ask for.

well, admist these weeks, i've come to lean more onto god, to feel a part of and trust more in him. much seemed really freaky to undertake, especially with so many stuff happening that i really felt that it was difficult to survive the trials that stood before me. but i guess he watches over!

the guys from the exco stayed over at timo's hose on monday night, after the massive meeting we had with the teachers and the following over-dinner one. the stay over with the guys were pretty hilarious, but i guess its cos we're too tired that we just sorta slacked around. yep.

recently, i've really come to know some of them much better than when we first met, people in and out of council, amongst the warmth of beloved AC.

it's nice to see people bonding and widening social circles across the level. in this first 10 months in AC i've really met more and more people, and i really cherish the time that i've spent. for one, some people in concil have been pillars of support amongst the trials we faced together. my classmates are opening up, and really more class bonding is felt since the end of promotionals. *yay*

I LOVE AC!

haha. yeah and yesterday i went out with quanbin and mr ang for dinner at secret recipe's. warmth, love, understanding and sincerity that runs in josephians. i felt that it was a good dinner. a nice feeling that was missing since the year became so hectic and busy.

maybe i've gotta do more of simple outings and humble chat sessions more often.

life's good. but something's mising from it right now...

random ramble.

2006-10-15T23:18:00.000+08:00

this post goes out to some of the really close friends that i have.

it's amazing how people come and go, some stay existent longer than others, while many just simply move on just as time passes. i went on to friendster today and couldn't help to notice many of the pictures my PAE class had taken. and i really haven't realised the tight bonds and closeness we shared over the couple of months that we've been a part as a class, and apart in different colleges and classes.

it's werid how the lack of interaction with them after our 1st 3 months made me feel that we were no longer of much importance to one another anymore. much until i saw the photos of the many countless outings that we've had together, maybe not all classmates, but the group that's always been there to hang out and just pig ourselves with. PAE class of 1SA2 is really one of the most bonded class that i've been in a part of. much envy and nostalgia i do have for the past. the absence of emptiness and not having them with me every break or weekend, after school or outings - fun-o-rama fun, guo-tie making and selling, sentosa beaching, marina bowling, pratashop gathering, pastamania, neoprint whoring, nj funtasia, esplanade and east coast-sakura dinner, movie watching and so much more... weighing that with my current class in AC, i really find it easy to make a comparison at this point of life. i really miss and treasure you guys, and our memories, the old SA2.

ask no further questions, and you'll also know that i'm a freak for council. perhaps the people there and the experiences, pride and joy i hold as a councillor makes everytihng worthwhile. i'm really glad to be in the 31st students' council, despite the fact that the compromises of other aspects of school and social life has to be made. but i'm really happy to be with an exco so united and bonded. to be part of a sub-comm so inspirational and loving. to be part of a council so undivided and unwavering. why do i wanna serve? i don't really know myself. but for sure, it's really the people around me that makes me want to do stuff, who drives and inspires me, who gives me purpose and passion.

so really, people are the people they make outta themselves; no matter what they do or what they don't do, there's really nothing much i can do about them. i guess it's really up to us to decide for ourselves what we want out from the things we do.

for me, that's why i give my heart and soul to keeping the faith of what i believe in. how about you?

blaaaaaaaa!

2006-09-28T20:21:00.000+08:00

this week's been bad bad bad.

nearly lost my file on tuesday.

got screwed by some businessman eager to do business on tuesday.

nearly lost my phone on wednesday.

nearly lost my phone today.

my first ever detention class today.

blaaa.

if only tomorrow just goes fine.

especially for GP and econs. )=

rahhh! PROMOS AHEAD! let's -chiong-

2006-09-25T21:56:00.000+08:00

HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY TO ME BESTEST BESTIE PAL! (=

ACJC!

2006-09-08T21:29:00.000+08:00

2006-09-01T18:43:00.000+08:00

almost a week since i've last posted...! haha. yesss. life is seriously busy and tiring, flying here and there, in and out from school work to council. yesterday's teachers' day concert was SUPERB! pretty good for a first major even as a council! haha. the theme was SURVIVOR, where teachers and students outwit, outmark and outlast each other. kinda cooooolios!

much work, pain staking and efforts were put in and i really was thankful that the teachers enjoyed it. so much for the reception as well. TONNES OF YUMMY FOOD. (= will try to get the pics from some councillors and post em up k.

haha. didn't have the time to go to sji to meet the teachers and give them their presents. so went to mrs chan's house to drop the gifts off and ask her for help to place em on the respective tables... (=

yup. and this morning at about 3am i went to the airport to send my aunt, uncle and cousin off to london. yeap. haha. time passes just so fast. really didn't get to spend much time with them before they left. )=

yeap. the week ahead's gonna be hectic. seniors' night, classes, lectures and stuff. LLTC B's tomorrow too. aye. well...

closure

2006-08-24T21:30:00.000+08:00

closure was painful right from the start. for me it was bad enough, and how else can others closer to him feel?

i made the decision to attend the funeral service. mummy and daddy allowed it.

and i not even halfway through morning prayer session i broke down already. that was bad enough. at that point of time i was thinking whether i should ever had came.

[this funeral was my second one i attended. last time when mum's elder brother passed on, i was still very very young. perhaps that was why i felt much more this time round.]

it was really a saddening experience, but i now feel that maturity has really opened my eyes to see so much more.

and no doubt, i guess going through that entire process this morning, seeing members of my family - even those who i never knew existed - walk through this painful rite of passage and also feeling it myself, really made me realise some stuff which i wouldn't have if i wasn't present there at the service this morning.

family. life. god. hope. purpose.

just on saturday, 6th granduncle was up and about. he shook my hand, and said goodnight.

the next morning, i was told he passed on. so suddenly, but silently. it was hard to even expect since he was such a lively, healthy and youthful person. much younger than his 71 years.

today we bade farewell for really the last time.

i'll miss grand uncle's visits during feast days and chinese new years. i'll miss his conversations. i'll miss his presence.

so much i've learnt from him only after his departure. how he was a fine son of god, a channel of love and a caring vessel to many.

perhaps why i felt so much for him too was because he was so close to grandpa and grandma, dad and mum, uncles and aunts, cousins. so much he's done for so many people in the family. his undying love for 6th grandaunt is perhaps worth more than a hundred lifetimes put together. and that was truly love that makes us thank god for.

even today at his funeral, in one way or another he brought all of us, family and friends together. that i've learnt much more about my family, so much which i never did knew until today. the faces, the people, and some names that i try remembering, 6th granduncle's personality was still felt strongly between the conversations and smiles of family members.

maybe now, things might be different for granduncle's family especially for 6th grandaunt, but i'm sure that family, friends and relatives will walk alongside with them, and with god. for so long as he will remain in our hearts, mortal beings on earth must continue to move on until our day for passing comes too for the reunification in the promise land.

so to all those out there. please pray for my family - my large and distant, but ever so loving family. please pray for all those who knows my late granduncle in one way or another and also for his family.

closure's good. with god's eternal blessings, with him watching over all of us.

i'll miss him.

mournful morning.

2006-08-20T12:14:00.000+08:00

it's been a long two weeks. and it's gonna be even more taxing in the weeks to come.

last night, i went to my late 2nd grand uncle's wake, where i met uncles and aunties, cousins and relatives from my distant family, probably the first time in my life.

i learnt so much from history from just speaking to one uncle and i was so intrested in finding out more. and there last night i met familiar faces as well, one of which was 6th grand uncle.

late 2ndd grand uncle's passing was not hard to let go for me. i didn't know him at all. so i guess 'parting' in any sense at all makes a difference. but despite that, there was this urge for me to be present there last night, despite the long day yesterday.

guess i was right...

today, just this morning, 6th grand uncle was found on his bed sleeping too soundly. i remembered, just last night, daddy parked his car next to him at the wake. i was there too. and i waved goodbye to him for the last time i could ever do so. but yet, so dearly, but suddenly, he's passed on.

6th grand uncle was a common face to me, and probably to the 6 cousins that always are present at grandma & grandpa's house almost every sunday. he's a nice man and a humourous person that i look forward to seeing every st joseph's feast day or during chinese new year. i guess he was pretty close to my side of the family as well. he'll ask us about studies, school and much more, and such a fine, warm heart just had to so suddenly go back to the lord.

i guess now there's nothing much more to say. but for me, i really want to treasure the lives that's really present in my life today.

2 of grandpa's brothers passed away in just 1 week. grandpa and grandma are still in penang. i wonder why must stuff like that happen. please pray for them.

2006-08-14T23:02:00.000+08:00

yes!!! finally we're done! (=

the council voice is fully functioning already! (= now i'm just slacking in the council room waiting for dad to come pick me up! yesss!

sleep!

haha. council rocks man! the heirachy chart's UP! with all our beautiful faces! (=

( lydia says hi)

haha. hurr.

sia la. council life is tough man, working till so late at night. SIANS! haha. but really, the hype and the enthusiasm, the joy and the happiness is all worth it man. SO what if we stayed up so late doing council stuff? ROCKS man!

so yep! haha! can't wait for tomorrow!

for now, i'm going to hug the council teddy bear and wait till dad arrives... *yawns*

life.

2006-08-05T16:48:00.000+08:00

i'm slacking in the council room and finally the computer's all mine!!! ahaha! so yep, we had our second college welfare meeting this morning and i went for CO after that. (= started to play in combined for the first time. hah.

fat man, guan yue's instructor was kinda pmssy today. haha. and i felt a little out of place in CO today. as in the j1s there are not that bonded, and like there's 2 very visible cliques. yeah. so it's kinda meaningless to be around, but something's just telling me to hold on and persist. (=

council life on the other hand has bee great! "milo for muggers aka M4M", CW's first ever "for you day" really made things so happy. yeap! well for all those outside AC, M4M is actually a few days set aside when the councillors stay back late in school and make milo for the j2s especially, and some j1s when they prepare for their prelims. yeap. also, we have chocolates for muggers and biscuits for brainiacs. and best thing? EVERYTHING'S FREE for the students. yeap. so that's like just a sneak preview of what ACJC's council does, apart from all the other school events and stuff.

yeap! so today my sec 4 class is gonna meet for the first time in ages at marche. don't really know who's going, but i am! certainly looking way forward to it! yeap! i really miss 'em, but more importantly living in the present's the best. so.. i'm really anticipating to meet them once again.

and also, the pelandok scouts are stepping down soon. haha. well, many well wishes to all of the newly elected position holders, and also great job done, sec 4s! so sorry that i won't be going down, especially after so much i've experienced back there, i just think living the moment's the best thing i can do right now. haha. looking back, it was today that i've passed down the landyard to darren and the "secretary file" to gabriel. haha. how fast time flies! haha.

really looking forward to AP this year. haha. first time i'd be watching without any duties to complete, nor and marching. haha. how ironic. i've only marched for 2 years, and the opening and closing years that i've missed being in the contiengent we just small steps away from a perfect 4 APs. heck.

SO YEAP! that's really what i've been thinking about for the past few days. nothing much really, just living like an ordinary boy, in and ordinary school, in ordinary singapore. guess much more lies beneath, but those doesn't matter much. why worry? smile. just smile.

one degree asia

2006-07-30T23:15:00.000+08:00

we're finally home. to school!

i love you guys!

busy. hectic. gone.

2006-07-24T01:29:00.000+08:00

life is so rantful.

there's so much that one person can take. and i don't know if i can hold on anytime longer. like seriously. know i really know what madam said about us 'not knowing what we are getting into in council'. aaha.

but looking at things, i am really greatful that i don't regret anypart of life as a councillor. things are finally moving within the subcom. nice nice people i have with me. just hope that they remain with the drive sufficient to empower great events and inspiring moments!

kalai, leigh-anne, joy, justin, lydia, dhanuj, aaron, bryan, ariel, sandra and charmaine! let's rock CW!

next up, MILO for MUGGERS! (=

cheers to a long long long long week ahead. i'm prepared to die. you don't know just when it strikes. hur.

invest.

2006-07-19T20:59:00.000+08:00

cam-whoring on invest day. we're invested. (=

[p.s that's some of the photos i took with my phone. thanks to my camera battery dying halfway through the service. NO PHOTOS. so sad]

if you don't see you face up there, I WANT A PICTURE WITH YOU!

i miss the 30ths!

i love the 31st!

council. council. council.

2006-07-13T23:48:00.000+08:00

oh my gosh.

council life has really became much more busy. like, with coming home at no time later than 10 each night... i think things are getting tough no doubt, although we're barely starting on our term. hah!

and life isn't getting easier after the terms. with so many papers done so badly and a couple of failures here and there... haha!

but well, 31sts, hang in there! we're almost reaching investiture! let's do oursleves proud, and also do the 30ths proud!

council rocks man!

(=

now to sleep.

exco retreat.

2006-07-09T08:18:00.000+08:00

ayee! exco retreat was really great! we did quite a fair share of work, but also had that bit of fun too! i guess that almost everything we have to know from the seniors have been told to us, and we're really having to place them into action after almost all of the work has been channeled to deciding on where council would take us too, along with the vision and aims to bring us there. (=

i'm really enjoying the company of the exco, and i feel that this growing strong bond between us is really helping us to in turn have this great bond within the 31st.

and initiation was pretty hilarious too. wooooo! hahaha. poor ollie! he took some "shame" outta us! (=

anyhows, i <3 31st! yay!

2006-07-05T23:24:00.000+08:00

i think i've screwed it up big time.

for being so blunt,
sorry my best friend.

for taking it rather harshly,
sorry my best friend.

for standing strong in what i believe, against yours,
sorry my best friend.

for getting pissed with you,
sorry my best friend.

for getting pissed with you and you not getting pissed off with me,
sorry my best friend.

i think i've screwed it up big time.
sorry my best friend.

oooh la la.//

2006-07-04T22:05:00.000+08:00

the term exams are finally over. haha. screw it.

haha. i watched superman today. with jessica, athena and katrina. too bad. tai tai was sitting next to a romancing couple. haha. the show was great, superman looked so handsome with that curl on his forehead. haha. and yea, i think making too much noise in the theatre was kinda obiang. haha. but i had fun! (=

yeah.

and yes! the blazers are coming TOMORROW! (= yeah yeah yeah!

too bad the orals are tomorrow too! eeyer. haha. but heck. let's ACE oral man! (=

yeah. let's life our heads and smile! smile! smile! that's the way darrick!

i guess...

2006-07-03T01:35:00.000+08:00

below this cheerful and exuberant facade of mine,

lies a tormented and broken, souless "shine".

yearning for love, joy and understanding,

from tears, pain, hurt and misunderstanding.

i wept, for the first time in ages... for a longest time in ages...

randomness.

2006-07-01T00:06:00.000+08:00

today was such and eventful day. HURR.

well it started off suckily with the chemistry paper for term exams. 1 1/2 hours for 3 sections. not enough time, considering the fact i only thought there were MCQ and essay, unknowingly finding myself at a rush through the structured part and essay part as a result. haha. shan't comments. it was a killer. ask any AC peep. hah!

then after school i stayed around helping with the souvenier comm of investiture with a little help and stuff. yeah. kinda nice idea and we all hope it gets allowed. haha. then talked a little with some other 30ths and 31sts before heading to holland village. well, i went there cos zihui was having a birthday celebration at SWENSENS, but she din tell me it was a orchard. -_-"

haha so yep, at holland village i talked to some other 31sts and then made my way to town with evelyn and winny whom i met at the bus stop.

-fast forward-

reached SWENSENS. haha. sat down and talked to the CO ppl, and then i saw sean lee walk past, on orchard road. haha. so i went out, DASHED towards him and he was... AHHHAAA! [cannot say here, wait brother angry!]

yup. went to and fro across town, back to swensens and had cake, before leaving to heeren and leave to far east again. went back to SJI for "a gathering of kindred spirits"!

kindred was not too bad, but kinda new age i'd say. haha. the emcees were not very professional, clearly one was better than the other. but heys, internal production nevermind. haha. the programme was kinda cool at the start, but towards the back it was pretty much dead. HAHA! saw tonnes of people! made my day! WOOTS. old classmates, old schoolmates, ~~old~~ teachers, juniors and also alot of LLTC peeps and sec 3s! (= haha.

kindred was not bad. i loved the cheering and song singing at the end. never done in any concert before! (= SJI spirit still rocks!

haha. then i went to BK after that. bought a drinks and 6 subway cookies from next door! haha... sugar rush sia! oh yes, the white chip macadamia cookie is best served when it's HOT and FRESH! damn nice la! (= wooooo! chatted with binni, jovian and zachary for a while. the LLTC ppl were there too! (=

yep. then when we left, apparantly PAUL TWOHILL was outside BK at the lift there. haha. then i din know but the rest did cos they came out earlier. then they were like "darrick that's twohill for idol!"... lol. then i was like. oO. so i shouted "TWOHILL!" and turned away. haha! then the rest saw paul twohill turn back and kinda looked around confused, as they tried to pretend they din know who called him! haha! LOL. so PAUL if you're out there, yes i called you! (= WOOOO.

haha. so yes. we parted then and went home, happily ever after! (=

29/6/2006

2006-06-29T10:16:00.000+08:00

today's physics paper's at 1pm. and really, i have totally no confidence in it. grrr.

i'm mentally deranged. all worn out. going mad. i need help. i'm EMO.

gratz to all those people who have ended their terms. haha. pray for the AC peeps man! we're far from the finish line! haha.

ok. i guess i have to go bathe and prepare for school. and mug in the mean time! haha.

HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY, JUNHOW and ZIHUI! (=

2006-06-28T11:57:00.000+08:00

perfection without a flaw is a flaw in itself.

2006-06-26T22:30:00.000+08:00

i guess the exams are really taking its toil on me, along with that lack of sleep and uncertainty of completing my revision on time.

perhaps. perhaps life has really changed for me. changed to a point that relationships are compromised? personal relationships that is. no doubt friends have been made, but what happens when relationships of another kind gets torn in the middle?

maybe things just aren't smooth sailing all the time. maybe behind that facade of mine lies a heart, sorrow and toiled.

life ain't gonna be the same. it's a gut feeling.

i need a break. i need some time off for personal reflection. i need hope. i need you.

lord, grant me the strength, wisdom and endurance in this trialing time. watch over me as i take bold, but uncertain steps ahead. continue to be with me, and allow me to commit myself in your name, i pray. amen.

i think i'm faling down, down, down, down...

i've been tagged.

2006-06-25T19:25:00.000+08:00

rules:- do the following without complains.
- choose 5 people to do this after you have completed yours.
- leave a tag on the person's tagboard to say he/she has been tagged.
- start your post by 'i have been tagged' then do this.

your 10 favourites:
favourite colours: green and white, red, blue, yellow/gold.
favourite foods: salmon sashimi! carrot cake! chocolate fudge! chilli stuff! MORE!
favourite songs: many. many many.
favourite movies: white chicks! ultimate fave!
favourite sports: no prefrences, just like those i like. haha.
favourite season: winter
favourite day of the week: saturday
favourite ice cream flavour: it must be gelato, and then anything goes.
favourite countries: for the world cup? GERMANY! haha.
favourite things: things? ok! binni! haha. erms. tonnes?

9 currents:
current mood: bored. hating the end of holidays?
current clothes: banana republic shirt, brown kakis.
current desktop: windows default.
current toe nails: uncoloured? normal.
current time: 1932 hrs
current annoyance: jessica's blog's irritating music.
current thought: CHINESE! need to START mugging for tmrw!
current song: jessica's blog's irritating music. POWER 98.
current chatter: silence. msn? with samantha only.

your 8 first:
first best friend: erm. i think his name was GARY. he went missing after k2.
first crush: haha. it was a girl?
first movie: i only rmb JUMANJI. but mummy said it was the last emperor. i was in the stroller then.
first piercing: not yet come.
first lie: pretty early in life. that's why the canings. haha.
first music: kiddy songs.
first car: ergh...
first cry: when i was born.

your 7 lasts:
last cigarette: won't ever touch one.
last drink: LLTC day 3. starbucks with papabear, ray wong and sean.
last car ride: just now?
last crush: can't say =X
last movie seen: yours, mine, ours.
last phone call: joan. about council stuff.
last CD played: it was a data CD. with pics on it. GRAD DAY pics.

your 6 have you evers:
have you ever date one of your bestfriends: yes! (= we went out tgt.
have you ever broken the laws: jay walked, littered?
have you ever been arrested: no. but the police held a group of us back cos we were out too late at night.
have you ever kiss some one that u don't know: i guess so.

5 things that you are wearing:
1. shirt
2. pants
3. underwear
4. spectacles
5. uhhhh?

4 things you had done today:
1. carried a BABY. my nephew! DARyl.
2. ate?
3. studied a little.
4. thought of someone.

3 things you hear right now:
1. radio
2. my brother
3. me typing?

2 things you can't leave without:
1. love
2. hate

1 thing you do when you are bored:
1. smile.

WHO I WANT HIM/HER TO DO THIS :
1. binni
2. andrew sim
3. ergh?
4. epmh?
5. errr?

last day of the holidays!

2006-06-25T12:15:00.000+08:00

"Every time I turn around, I'm looking up, you're looking down, Maybe something's wrong with you, That makes you act the way you do, Maybe i am crazy too..."

bleargh. heck.

the terms are coming!!! like it's TOMORROW? but what the hell, let's just do our best, no matter what our best may be. HAHA!

anyway, the past week has been rather eventful for me as a whole. from the rushing of homework to the serenity of being back at SJI, the extreme fun of having juniors swarm around you to the pure sincerity of the times with AC's 31st, the memorable LLTC 2006 to nerve wrecking EXCO elections for council, the friendships that's been established over the past week to the re-kindling of friendships over the past week.

GOSH. now that made me lose track of my studying. but i'm still studying! (=

let's hold on together, as the future remains bright!

17th july. 17th july. (=

teehee.

2006-06-16T11:03:00.000+08:00

i like! (=

feeling young again. heck the jc woes.

grrrr. No Sense.

2006-06-14T11:36:00.000+08:00

ergh.

the moment i have decided and got the strength to apply for deferment for the oh 18 year old macho guy training thingy, it comes to tell me that deferment was unsuccessful.

SIAN!

now to get a school letter to verify that i'm a student.

I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF FOR COMBAT HALF WAY THROUGH MY EDUCATION!

there's still so much awaiting in AC! ergh. sian.

siannnnn.

june camp?

2006-06-10T15:41:00.000+08:00

first and foremost, i'm FINALLY back from council camp! WOOOOO! it's been 5 tough, 5 very colourful and 5 exciting days, all chunked into a 5 day camp.

screw all the physical activities, the sweat and pain. we grew tightly as a council. we've began shaping the 31st! we've come to learn more about each other, ourselves and how to work along with each other.

cheering each other on, not leaving anyone behind, sticking close and watching out for one another, council camp wasn't that bad afterall. it drained us out physically and mentally no doubt, but we were all in it together. and that made it not that bad.

futhermore, i believe we also bridged that trust and friendship to a certain level which answers my questions on how, like what the councillors of the past said, that council provides us with all our best friends.

we'll go far no doubt. we're gonna go far, 31st!

to the 30th and 31st, thanks. it's you guys that made me know what we mean when we cheered "ONE COUNCIL" together. (=

more than conquerors.

2006-05-30T11:47:00.000+08:00

403 people who still don't know about our class blog...

http://four-oh-three-oh-five.blogspot.com

everything we need is in there! (=

updating.

2006-05-26T19:33:00.001+08:00

today marks the end of many chapters in school. the vice principal, mrs wilson left to arts school, lifeng, and guo liang, my GP and chemistry teachers respectively are heading off to universities. adrian's last day was today, and he's going off to pursue his education somewhere else.

rahhhhh!

so what if it was the end of school term and start of holidays? it's not gonnna be different, just only that we need not wear uniforms despite still having the same hectic schedule. bleargh.

anyways, sc's getting more and more fun. there's been more and more interaction between us council elects and also we're bonding well together, despite there being some sort of line arising between groups of people. nonetheless, it's still too early to tell. june camp's gonna be a blast! BRING IT ON!

CO camp tomorrow. >.< let's go... play! haha. it's a pun. enCOre here we come!

[sidenote to all sec 4 students : COME TO ACJC! it's just the right, and popular thing to do! (=]

updating.

2006-05-26T19:33:00.000+08:00

bless me. blast you!

2006-05-22T21:41:00.000+08:00

ahhhh CHOOOOO!

eff off. i'm sick.

screw life!

2006-05-21T20:02:00.000+08:00

life has really been so fake. fake fake fake.

deception, lies, uncertainty, mistrust, hatred, worthlessness.

but let me tell you, it's not over just as yet. cos i'm gonna make live the best one lived ever.

just try me.

a day back into the past...

2006-05-16T20:38:00.000+08:00

i went back to sji today and spent half the day there. times around with the teachers, times with my juniors, times alone. it was sensational.

it really made me look at how much i've missed sji. no doubt it remains in my heart, sji still is, and ever will remain, that fireplace which keeps my fire burning.

it was great to be back, to see the faces of whom i've left behind at the start of this year, and the all so familiar conservations that followed made coming back so worth it. it was definitely affirming to hear how some teachers felt that our batch was missed, how our presence made a difference, how we left our legacy written.

it made doing what we did worth. we still remained in sji, like how it remains in us.

with the josephain spirit burning in me, that's what makes me a difference. ora et labora.

you''

2006-05-14T20:13:00.000+08:00

"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us."
- Epicurus (341 - 270 BC) Greek philosopher

guess there's nothing keeping me moving ahead these few days, than to knowing that you're there.
so if you don't know it's you, it's okay so long i know it's you.

31st!

2006-05-12T10:55:00.000+08:00

elects.

the list.

9.10am.

council voice.

44.

31st.

let's go.

31st!

31st?

2006-05-09T20:20:00.000+08:00

council campaign came to an end. the nerve wrecking feeling filled our minds as we waited in the LT. colder and colder it got, until it reached 6.40am. final run-through. and that seemed pretty messed up.

we headed back to LT3, the chilliness returned after the short walk down the empty hall, apart from some early birds. we prayed. and headed for chapel.

along the back of LT2 we sat, awaiting for the time to come. it finally did, as the announcment went, "college you will now have the 31st council elections"

one by one, council nominees entered the hall, with the company of the ice-cold air which remained pretty stagnant in the sound of soft music. we graced down the hall, and such a familiar procedure was changed with the presence of 2000 pairs of eyes, watching.

one liners of the first few nominees rang through the hall, and a short pause before thunder roars of cheer, claps and sometimes, jeers. i took my step, and never stopped until i got on stage.

my hands froze. "darrick leow" was called.

centrestage-, "are you lost?... give me those ticks!"

finally, a dreadful, but adrenaline pumping task was over. i took off stage, and my body started warming up. it was over. the votes have been casted.

let's pray. tomorrow.