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 ? ;)