Roar of the Water Dragon

The title has no relevance to whatever I am about to write whatsoever. I was looking for a dramatic title for the post, keyed in the words "dragon" and "roar" into Google and picked out the first item it coughed out. Pretty apt I'd say, bearing in mind that this is the year of the water dragon in particular. On hindsight however, I would like to think of the title as a promise of things to come.

The Rabbit year which has since past was a year of ups and downs. The most significant event perhaps was the passing of our pet dog, Sumo, on May 17th 2011. It was a traumatic event for my family, seeing someone who's become an integral part of the family leave just like that. Words simply do not express the sense of lost I felt and still feel right till this day. That aside, the two car crashes I got involved in would too count towards the downs I've experienced this past year.

Fortunately, the Rabbit year brought with it more ups then downs. My sister made good on her promise to get herself accepted into UBC and I've done better this academic year than I've ever done... since... well... god knows when. Most importantly, as we sat down for our reunion dinner this year, we realized that the greatest happiness that we've got this year is knowing that regardless of what happens in the cold harsh world out there, the 4 of us have got each other to turn to. Not many people out there have that... and one doesn't need to look too far to realize that. No amount of money can buy one the above, just like how any amount of wealth cannot buy someone dignity and class. Losing Sumo thought us an important lesson in life and that is that life is short and unpredictable, and that one shouldn't waste in on insignificant events and individuals. I am glad that the bitching, rumour-mongering, cup-smashing (a classic moment if I might add), groveling for red packets in accordance with Lunar New Year traditions that I believe were not started by the Han people and other assorted theatrics that I've come to associate with the passing of the Lunar New Year are now a thing of the past. Things have been looking up somewhat for me and I hope that they will continue to do so this coming New Year.

Having said that, I'll take my leave and go back to my tea and readings. Happy Lunar New Year Everyone!!! :)

Answers

I finally asked the question. I sure as hell almost didn't but I am glad I did. I can't say that I wasn't expecting anything but I am really glad it turned out alright. :)

Regrets: Part 2

Continuing from the last post.

After posting the last entry and jumping back into bed to sleep the pangs of regret away, Mum came by and had a little chat with me. She wanted to find out which camera I wanted to use in school, you know, to catch snippets of my life in NUS. I told her I wouldn't be needing either one.

Mum: "But you wouldn't have photos to remember your NUS life by? What are we going to do if we do a montage of your life in time to come? Are we going to skip the entirety of your University life... its going to be incomplete"

Me: "There's nothing I want to remember about my University life... perhaps only Biathlon and races and events I participate in... nothing else."

Mum: "When did you start feeling like that? ... "

Me: "Since I matriculated. I kinda despise what I am doing and I can't wait for it to end. I feel left behind... I wished I'd worked harder... argh... Mum... Its a dark chapter in my life I hope I never ever have to go through again..."

Mum: "Sigh... Goodnight."

Me: "Goodnight."

Its good to get stuff of your chest and out of your mind. :)

Snap back to reality... Oops there goes gravity...

Its National Day. 9th August. Day 1 in Singapore after a month long break halfway across the world. School, Moving back into hall, unpacking, re-packing and tons of other errands. Its amazing what a one month trip with good friends across the world, trekking from city to city and experiencing a whole host of new cultures can do to one's opinion of his own life. Everything becomes... rather insignificant; rather unimportant in comparison to what one could do in that bigger pond out there. Till the next trip (Nov isn't too long a wait I think...). Back to the packing.

22 guys and a ball

The three are off to Old Trafford... and I am going to prowl the streets of Manchester:) School starts in a week. I honestly doubt I'll be able to adapt in... 32 hours. Damnzy.

Happy Endings only bring about Happier Beginnings

I am left with just 3 more days of ICT before I am out. Not that I haven't been out at all, taking into consideration what I do for ICT, but out as in free from my responsibilities type of out. In all honesty, I thoroughly enjoyed almost every single day of my ICT. From the "talk-cock" sessions prior to in-processing the RT men, through the long and rather mentally strenuous conducting of lessons, to the chillaxing after-debrief activities, I enjoyed every single moment. The company that I have been keeping the last 1 and a half weeks has been thoroughly refreshing and I must admit I have learnt a lot during my short stint there. Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, I am pretty glad that we'll, or at least I'll, be keeping in touch with the whole lot of you till we next meet again in a year's time... *hint hint*

This entry isn't going to be long because the long hours of FCC life can take quite a toll on one's active blogging lifestyle. Before I hit the sack and call it a night however, I must post a terribly gruesome experience I had at the cookhouse today whilst having dinner with the guys prior to the start of our "work-day".

R.I.P
Random Mynah

The above is the commonly seen Javan Mynah. Pesky, smelly and a potential carrier of some future Avian Flu Virus, it certainly isn't the most lovable of creatures. Anyway... we were having dinner when one decided to swoop in through an open grill gate into the cookhouse, in hopes of getting a quick fix in the washing area or something. I was watching the bird as it flew in, drifted upwards and then struck the ceiling fan which sliced off its left wing. The doomed and stricken creature went careening out of control as the wing broke off (like a doomed airliner) and fell to the floor as the rest of the Mynah went crashing on to the table right in the middle of three SGTS who were having their dinner. The bird, I think..., then rolled off the table onto the floor. The sight must have been a gruesome one I think for I... decided that I wasn't strong enough to stomach such a sight. After a lot of "Eeeewing" and "OOOOOoooing", a tough Guardsman took it upon himself to remove the dead/ dying creature from the cookhouse. I shed two drops of tears for the lost bird, just in case you guys start getting the idea that I am some cruel cold hearted bastard without a care for anything soft and fluffy in this perfect world of ours.

With that last random paragraph, I shall now call it a night :) Till the next entry!

ANIC: Memories

Post-Performance Reception

Us harassing one of the ballroom dancers 

Final debrief before the last performance

Shellfish and Xtomic

Part of the main cast

My favourite part of the performance (:

That million dollar picture

Charlie's Angels... I think...

Jeremy the kid on a permanent high

Ken and I on the way home

Thanks for the laughter, the tears and the invaluable lessons learnt about life and friendship. Till the next meet up!!

Tranquility in Tampines

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.”

- Oscar Wilde, Irish dramatist, novelist, & poet (1854 - 1900)

Alone beneath the darkening sky

Dark clouds gather, but soon blow by

The sun soon dims as the moon too rise

The birds cry sadly as they all fly high

Tear drops fall as I pen this note

Wondering how I am to say goodbye

- Jason Yip (2008)

Hope you like this entry. Basically describing what I see in the photo which I took above a couple of days back in Tampines. Dedicated to all the breaking hearts out there. You're not alone.