Ears Ringing

Aaron! My ears are still burning you flicker! You can apply to be professional ear flicker liaoz lah! :P

On the 1st day of ..

Xmas was a nice and simple affair at home. Had a bbq, exchange of gifts, great company, laughs and music till the nite grew old and the morn young :P Not alot of pics this year as we were all busy indulging in the company of each other. It's great to be among old pals. Thanks for great times, as usual, everyone!

Damages so far..

This is for all the dear ones in Manchester... :P

Round 1:


Cod Fish Head Curry

with the various accompanying dishes like kai lan, onion omelette and cod fish tofu stick. OF COURSE I ORDERED TEH O PENG SIU TAI :P

Yeah baby the rest of the pics.. nuff said

In Singapore

nuff said

La Kopi

Read the story below from dfoff's blog and it really uplifted my spirits. Things have been a little more than hectic lately over here in Uni. I shan't go into the details, but just be certain that it's not been an enjoyable half month. Not even a whit.

The story below reminded me about why I am doing this though. I am laying the stepping stones of my life. The so-called 'pebbles' in said story. This ardous process is to fill up my life and it has to be done as it is one of the important stuff. Feeling weary, worn out, exhausted and fatigued is all well and fine as these feelings stand testimonial to the amount effort you've put into the task at hand. Frustration, bitterness and despair shouldn't come into the picture as you are working on something to better your life.

Another point this story brought to mind is how our lives are really actually multi-faceted. There are so many avenues to pursue. So many ways to strive for excellence.
Also, as long as the core things in life (the golf balls) are intact, it shouldn't matter if we don't manage to acheive what we set out doing. This also means that one shouldn't be hesitant to take risks and try your hands at everything at least once.

My dear friends, thank you for the coffee talk. They are when times seems to pass us right by and you wished it didn't have to come to an end.

Enough ranting. Go read this great story already.

THE MAYONNAISE JAR AND COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the coffee... A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them intothe jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things- your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal." Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. " One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Light In My Eyes

It's been a while since I've seen you so how have you been
Did you get my letter I wrote you, but I did not send...

Cards and phone calls and photograph pictures of you
Constant reminder of all the things you get used to
Is there a chance in hell or heaven
That there's still something here to build on
Or do you just pick up the pieces after they fall

I've been thinking and here's what I've come to conclude
Sometimes the distance is more than two people can use
But how could I have known girl
It was time and not space you would need
Darling tonight I could hold you and you would know
But would you believe

Somehow think this post is a little overdue, but better late than never is what I say. So, yupz, a mini-virtual tour of what I see nearly everyday.
My Room!!! Look at how nicely situated the only light in my room is for me to read in bed

Where I slog all day everyday

One of the few buildings I have lessons in









See that low, brown brick building? I live there! I look out of the window during tutorials everyday and imagine myself back in bed.. so close.. so tempting.. Haha.

Get to know yourself better

Get to know yourself better

Your view on yourself:

You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

The seriousness of your love:

Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

Your views on education

You may not like to study but you have many practical ideas. You listen to your own instincts and tend to follow your heart, so you will probably end up with an unusual job.

The right job for you:

You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:

Success in your career is not the most important thing in life. You are content with what you have and think that being with someone you love is more than spending all of your precious time just working.

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.


How about you?

For...Someone, Somebody

You are Everything To Somebody
Right now at this very minute-----------

someone
is very proud of you

someone
is thinking of you

someone
cares about you

someone
misses you

someone
wants to talk to you

someone
wants to be with you

someone
hopes you aren't in trouble

someone
is thankful for
the support you have
provided

someone
wants to hold your hand

someone
hopes everything turns out all right

someone
wants you to be happy

someone
wants you to find them

someone
is celebrating your successes

someone
wants to give you a gift

someone
think you ARE a gift

someone
hopes you are not too cold, or too hot

someone
wants to hug you

someone
loves you

someone
wants to lavish you with small gifts

someone
admires your strength

someone
is thinking of you and smiling

someone
wants to be your shoulder to cry on

someone
wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun

someone
thinks the world of you

someone
wants to protect you

someone
would do anything for you

someone
wants to be forgiven

someone
is grateful for your forgiveness

someone
wants to laugh with you about old times

someone
remembers you and wishes you were there

someone
needs to know that your love is unconditional

somebody
values your advice

someone
wants to tell you how much they care

someone
wants to stay up watching old movies with
you

someone
wants to share their dreams with you

someone
wants to hold you in their arms

someone
wants YOU to hold them in your arms

someone
treasures your spirit

someone
wishes they could STOP time because of
you

someone
can't wait to see you

someone
wishes that things didn't have to change

someone
loves you for who you are

someone
loves the way you make them feel

someone
wants to be with you

someone
hears a song that reminds them of you

someone
wants you to know they are there for you

someone
is glad that you're their friend

someone
wants to be your friend

someone
stayed up all night thinking about you

someone
is alive because of you

someone
is wishing that you would notice them

someone
wants to get to know you better

someone
believes that you are their soul mate

someone
wants to be near you

someone
misses your guidance and advice

someone
values your guidance and advice

someone
has faith in you

someone
trusts you

someone
needs you to send them this letter

someone
needs your support

someone
needs you to have faith in them

someone
needs you to let them be your friend

someone
will cry when they read this

...thanks to somebody for sending this to me

How To Be Dead

"
Please don't go crazy if I tell you the truth
No you don't know what happened and you never will
If you don't listen to me while I talk to the wall
This blanket is freezing, it's been out in the hall
Where you've had me for hours til i'm sure what I want
But darlin' I want the same thing that I wanted before
So sweetheart tell me what's up, I won't stop. No way.

Please keep your hands down and stop raising your voice
It's hardly what i'd be doing if you gave me a choice
It's a simple suggestion, can you give me some time?
So just say yes or no, why can't you shoulder the blame?
Cos' both my shoulders are heavy from the weight of us both
You're a big boy now so let's not talk about growth
You've not heard a single word I have said. Oh my God.

Please take it easy, it can't all be my fault
I haven't made half the mistakes that you've listed so far
Baby let me explain something, it's all down to drugs
At least I remember taking them and not a lot else
It seems i've stepped over lines you've drawn again and again
But if the ecstacy's in the wit is definately out
Doctor Jekyll is wrestling Hyde for my pride
"
-Snow Patrol

Insanity....been listening to this song for the past 3 days.

BEST FRRRWWEEENNN

Thank you Hoonie!!! Twas very sweet of you to have prepared this to congratulate me on being elected into the post of General Secretary of Singapore Society :)

Greatly Appreciated.


AGM was llllllloooooonnnnnngggggggg 2pm till nearly 7pm were we cooped in that room. My speech took like 30 seconds and I fired down all the questions within 2 minutes! (there were like only 5 questions anyway :P)

A Sign of Things to Come

It snowed yesterday. Caused quite a stir even among the English. We are in Manchester CITY itself after all. Rare for it to ever snow in a major city due to the huge amount of heat generated. All the white fluffy stuff melted away pretty soon though. Snow ball wars and ugly snowmen will have to wait I suppose.

Urh Hmm! Mic test...

...Interview...
Here are the rules:
1 -- Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 -- I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 -- You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 -- You'll include this explanation.
5 -- You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

I was interviewed by Xinhui

1) Would you prefer to stay in SG or England? Why?

First question only and it's already the hardest but yet also the simplest. How can that be you ask? It is simple because I have already given this matter much thought. However, it is the hardest as it will be very difficult and require much resolve on my part to see through with my decision.

My choice is this: neither.

I would rather have a job that pertains alot of travelling worldwide. I know the multitude of difficulties and problems that would arise from such a lifestyle, but I am prepared for it in view of the benefits that I would be able to gain from it. The plan (don't we always seem to have one? but do they really work?) is be a consultant engineer in the aero-industry and fly to all the production plants as needed to oversee/work the process there before flying off to my next destination.

Of course I will miss the familiarity of Singapore. The crush of loneliness might be unbearable at times. These and more are obstacles I foresee for myself in the future. I will survive through them, just as I always have in the past.

Who knows, things might work out so that I have small flats in Singapore, America, U.K, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada. LOL


2) What's your mood most of the time? (Happy? Sad? Or...?)

Most of the time.. I would say I feel ... numb. Haha. Does that make me an unfeeling person? It could be that I was incarnated from a stone in a previous life. 铁石心肠. Hence the "pragmatic prick" above, no?

Haha, alright, I would think I fall under the category of being a Happy person. I don't let too many matters affect me negatively and I obviously like to enjoy and appreciate a moment for what it is. If I'm out to party and have a good time, I do that. If I have to study and work, I do that seriously and don't get distracted. That's just the way I am. My willingness to try my hands at almost anything helps in rising the excitement barometer of my life from time to time as well.
(boy.. bungee jumping.. white AND black river rafting... repelling off cliffs and helicopters.. rock climbing.. snorkelling in New Zealand in the winter WITHOUT a wet suit.. ahaha)

In conclusion, my mood most of the time: Ponderous and positive generally with short bouts of disappointment/loneliness/sadness.

3) Besides playing basketball, what other sports game do you like to play too?

I bascially love any sport that gives me a good work out. Over the years, I've tried everything from Volleyball, Football, Badminton, Table-Tennis, Frisbee, etc etc.

Tried Squash for the first time here in Manchester and I liked it alot as well! Also found out about a Table-Tennis society here and my Dad will be thrilled that I am trying out a sport he so loves.

Sadly, I don't play football anymore due to my ankle injuries.

4) Do you feel that you have a good life? Why?

Despite the difficulties and confusion I experienced as a child, I tend to find, as life went on, LIFE is good. So, yes, I would say that I have a good life. I know what it was like to be poor, to have your Mom break open your piggy bank and count the coins to see if there's enough money in it to buy food. You work through your difficulties, live with them or improve on them. Eventually, you realise that you've become a better person because of them and you will know better than to rest on your laurels and take things for granted when the situation takes a turn for the better.

It also means that when things get tough again, you won't be left stranded and lost as to what to do and how to handle the situation. Simply because you've lived and survived up till that point, you have been armed and (sort of) forewarned by your previous experiences. Life, therefore, is good!

5) I know you read a lot of books, but which particular book left a deep footprint in your mind/heart?

If I had to choose only a single book out of the many I would like to list here, it would have to be
The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck for the lessons I learnt from it. It was this book that introduced me to the world of self-improvement books that are written by people who really care and not out to make a quick buck by regurgitating ideas expounded by some other popular guru of thought. An example of another good book would be Tuesdays With Morrie.

Here's the first lesson you should and will learn from this book:

"Life is difficult.
This is a great truth, one of the greatest truth. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we trenscend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."

I think this is a very powerful lesson/tool to learn and carry on through life. It would be evident to the astute reader that my answer to the 4th question is heavily influenced by this very belief.


So... anyone wants a turn at the mic next?

Sing along with me.

A foggy day in London Manc. town

Had me low, had me down

I viewed the morning with such alarm

British Museum had lost its charm

How long, I wondered, could this thing last

But the age of miracles hadn't passed

For suddenly, I saw you there

And through foggy London Manc. Town

The sun was shining everywhere

the fog lasted for one and a half day by the way...

Lake District

You are hereby warned.. I am gona post LOADS of photos in this post. Finally, after gathering in all the photos from every camera snapping lunatic present on the day of SingSoc's Lake District Trip, I have a mind boggling total of ... 600++ photos!!! What a glut of digital images. Hehe. No worries, I've tried my best to sift through the rubble and came up with these gems. Be glad you've being served the jewels of our trip on a brightly lit screen called your computer's screen. :P For the bored souls still reading on, here are the pics:
p.s. for those who still dunno (duhz) you can click on the pics for a somewhat larger view.






Left to Right:Elder-god-son, God-pa, Younger-God-Son



"I shall strike it out on my own!"





After the long coach ride, HIKE TIME







Clarence






Local Delicacy






Boat Trip!!!














Left to Right: Clarence, Sebaz, Ivan








Rainbow~~




So nice, you can sail your boat right home...



























I wish for...




Marvellous lunch... rum butter scone with fresh cream and coffee... in this traditional little coffee shop. So nice and cosy..






Birds on parade












小白




Hike again~




























Snappers alert!




READ THE SIGN: No Camping!!!








That's it! A totally enjoyable day out in the woods and taking in the beauty of nature. Also helps that I've such an affinity to water. Lakes, rivers, oceans, waterfalls, etc etc. Did warn you about the large amount of pictures, didn't I ? ;)