I'm really, really(to the power of 11x, where x tends to infinity) really glad that the Mock Race is over.At least my Mock Race. What happened last night was already swirling into shape since December 2006, when I was still comfortable with the Warrant Crest on me. It fermented over a month (January) and then underwent a major blow wind blow just last week-the restrictions on kayaking at the Bedok Reservoir made me and Juan Jie aka Jady aka JJ realign all checkpoints from 7 on Southwards.
The end result: Mock Race started from the Northern End of Singapore to the Southern end of Singapore on the East Coast before heading North again to reach AHS.
I think my loving Boys like eddie and freddy(haha) would already be writing about the Mock Race...So as the planner and the host and the Officer in charge, I'll write it from my elevated point of view!
The morning began with my phone alarm going off at 5:56, 5:57, 5:58 before I got out of bed. Didn't sleep much actually. The previous night or rather several hours before at 12:27 was entertaining my mother with her fetish for the HUAYANGSHAONANSHAONU show on youtube.she kept wanting to see the attempted rape bit on ruixi.tsktsk...
So, i woke my lao bu, who stoned in the kitchen for a while before moving off to boil eggs, then giving JJ and Mr. Oi, 14th's resident safety vehicle master.Haha...
After being assured that both dudes were really awake, I went to take a 10 min hot bath to wake up properly.
Left the house at 6:35 after Cherng Ru's phone call to 'hurryhurryhurryhurryhurry!!!'.
Just in time, walked parallel with JJ. (after years doing early mornings together, our times were about the same now).
The gang of 6+1 were already at the bus stop, mingjun aka simon;cherng ru;jon tay;ben gan;chong rui and the intruder edmund.
Marlon(dunno how to spell) called me to say that 66th won't be exactly arriving early, so well.-shrugs-
Mr. Oi came and loaded us up, with the all-important host, myself taking the front seat. We stopped opp West Plaza to pick up Jing Han, who conveniently brought nothing but a water bottle. UNBELIEVABLE. His hair was impeccable-as usual. (caught him using his shadow to style his hair later at night.lol).
Oi and I convened a while about which exit to take after TPE and then we were off.
The dark sky at 6:40 plus became a bright one at 7:20 plus at Punggol Jetty. The Punggol Rd to the jetty was like out of like mildly out of initial D.The cute van went up slope and down slope like WHHHHEEEEEEE... And I had a front seat view of it all. JJ was laughing his head off. His view was not bad, before the metal wire of the van.
We reached the jetty and 44th was already there. We stopped over and waited for those who were on their way and those who were late beyond acceptance(edison and sharp-talking keane).
66th arrived in Bus 82. I think in the space of time for them to hit the Jetty, we saw about 4 unskilled bus drivers, who struggled with turning around the loop. Edison and keane had us see 6 unskilled drivers and 2 taxis that were not them and two groups of big-hips police officers drop by.
When we finally were able to have everyone together, they got into a long line in their groups and set about plotting their checkpoints. The line shifted up and down several times: up to avoid bird-crap; down to avoid lousy bus drivers.
It was 8:30 when we finally lined the teams at the area between the barricade. Before that I led them in a group warm-up, allowing 2 guys to go touch up on their maps, and had the Boys stretch from top to bottom, TampJC canoeing training style. We then went for 30 push-ups, where i noticed that JJ conveniently drifted from us the moment I said push-up position. HAHA.
Chong Rui was the default timer. And we went for the dictated 30 lor.
Then we lined up between the steel barricades flanking the jetty.
At the line, Keane hit the stupid sign on purpose. He did ten on the ground with his pack on. He's a nice guy,sure. But he does stupid things with his mouth and hands.tsktsk.
I hit the sign for them to start and they bounded off.
Then me, Marlon(still dunno how to spell), Yong Jie(the FAA from 44th), Mr. Chen, Mr. Oi and JJ went into the safety vehicle to reserve the seats for later. I then told them what to expect, what was coming next and where were we going and how were we going to have things run.
We let the teams clear the front, moving off only after nearly 15 mins.JJ's stopwatch was ticking. He was a bit shocked, but sadistically happy that his estimation of the Punggol route which was not smooth at all was, well-off. We had a laugh and moved. The 4 (JJ,Chen,Marlon,Yong Jie) sat at the back. Couldn't expect the mastermind to take a backseat(literally). We exited the Punggol route up and down, but SLOWLY. When we couldn't take the slowness, i got Oi to speed up. "STEP ON IT!" Haha.
He did, and we exited the ulu part into the jetty into the normal Punggol Rd. 44th, led by Dominic, almost certainly went the wrong way. I shook my head and we went down the Punggol Rd and passed Chong Rui's team, 66th, the rojak team, Xing Kai's team and Cherng Ru's team. We then headed to Rivervale mall, because Mr. Oi needed to withdraw the payment for the race from 44th from ATM. Me and JJ went shopping for prizes at NTUC. It was really weird, indulging in all the buying while our Boys were trudging outside. We were not with them and not sure of their progress and that was a bit unsettling for the both of us, we agreed. We chop chop paid ($22.60!!) and went to the toilet, where JJ only wanted to look at his hair -.-
Mr. Oi was already in the van that he parked aside and we got on, trying to find the Boys.
Since we couldn't catch hold of any team,we went straight down to Punggol Park, and I got off to find the teams. At the playground, we saw Jing Han's team (xing kai,keane,edison) and they were seating on a bench. 66th's team was also lounging there, and Jing Han pulled me over, telling me, I quote:'the blackies jaywalk'. He was putting on his regular cool-guy buay song tone. I thought it was quite funny, especially when the indian guy walked near to throw rubbish. I told the 2 teams not to jaywalk for the rest of the race and to call me whenever they reached a checkpoint. JJ meanwhile, struggled out of the toilet with a jerry can, the one that he brought over to fill.
It was heavy and i helped him abit, but of course, it was still a struggle with me. We went to the bus stop where I disembarked from the van earlier.
Expecting more teams to come in, we waited, until ming jun called to say he reached woodbridge le.
GOSH. I realised that the only teams behind was the 44th team and they were still a long long way off.
We had to go back to find them and we realised that their map plotting was absymal. We had to go back to Compassvale Dr to find them and I had to teach them how to use the markings on the compass and then gave them a free bypass of 3 checkpoints straight to Lorong Ah Soo BLK 124.
In order to chart all 6 teams, we proceeded to checkpoint 6, to ait for them.
Until Cherng Ru called and said they were already at ckpt 7. Bethany Prebysterian Church. SHocked beyond belief at their speed, we drove to the church to intercept them. They were unhappy about staying put at one place for long but we reached and got our message to call after every checkpoint acrossed, they were pleased at least that were 3 checkpoints ahead of everybody. They rushed off and we parked in the church car park and hurried off to find the toilet, one by one.
Ming Jun came 15 mins later, or was it longer? They were struggling to catch up with Cherng ru and mistaken a temple for the checkpoint. We sent them off packing after the first team, making them think that the 1st team had just left. After that, there was radio silence and Mr. Chen entertained us with his mathematical jokes.Or actually ingenius musings. That man is a marvel. I must say.
Well, we waited for so long that it allowed each one of us in turn to visit the toilet in turn a second time. 66th finally came and they replenished the water from our black jerry can; the one we lugged to the bus stop previously. Funny thing, the 66th people were probably expecting a ride or a session to stop and rest freely from us. We did the same thing we did wioth MJ;'s groups and tried to surge the line forward by having the subsequent teams speed up and chase the first team. Turned out that Jing Han's team crossed 7 by running the other way instead of the main gate where we were at. Dubious, but keane's explanation seemed plausible...
Cherng Ru reached Checkpoint 8 then 9 and so did Ming Jun. They finally met in 10 and were awaiting us in the Bike Station .Faced with time shortage and the half and island gap between the first and last teams, we cancelled the biking station and told them to skip over to the National Sailing Centre. The teams, we last heard, were moving like zombies.
We hurried North to push the teams that were lost down. They were in the wrong places and moving at a very very slow pace. We taught them where to go and rushed down to the centre to unload Chen and me, who were kayaking station masters.
We did that and the safety vehicle went off to buy lunch for all the instructors. The teams that were at the East Coast were only at the Bedok Jetty, and we ate and discussed the entire race and more. We made plans to paddle to the Jetty and back for the Boys and set down the plans solidly.
When the teams finally arrived, it was when the safety vehicle personnel got up to transport the kayaks down to the beach. The two teams were Cherng Ru and Ming Jun's and they were all red-faced and stiff-legged. I led them in a full body stretch, them groaning and all.
They then selected their paddles and PFD and waited to go down. We did too, the instructors, while Oi, Amos and JJ stayed ashore to plan for the other teams that were on their way. Chen and I both wanted a single, a bandit boat that would entitle us to our privacy and leisure of movement. But there weren't any suitable boats to brave the waters, so I was stuck with this bony lad that was my nemesis for 2 years. Until he found his conscience.
Chen: What is conscience? (sometime tjhat day on the safety vehicle)
East Coast Waters are notorious for being choppy. We went into the water and i could feel the bobbing up and down sensation. The guys got into their boats and me and Chen sped off, heading at and outward angle. I really was more adept, thanks to training at Reservoir.lol. Chen and I were a good combo, considering we shared a love-hate relationship.Our strokes and everything were coordinated and all and we were fast as well. We reached the reservoir and had them race back to the lauch point. Thank GOD the first 2 teams back were really the ones slated to do Kayaking on the actual Race. If not they'd be dead. WE DID 5 KM!!!! But at least Chen and I were good at bursting...Chen said he could only burst once in one day. LOL. And he was hoping to pass his IPPT too.Dun think so. Barely 2 km, he already put his paddle down to rest le...
Jing Han's team arrived and went into the water and 66th did too. Shawn, the Kayaking instructor who's been helping us since ever took them out. The waters were bastar* and he ditched his dancer and took a double kayak instead, So he skimmed on the water's surface with a double, him taking the back seat. Amazing. I let the other 2 instructors take care of the 66th Boys, and the helpers went to convene on what to do with the guys still wallowing up North.
Mr. Oi decided on this: I mean, safety vehicle and recce that sorta stuff, he's the old hand. I'm just a guy who's been through all the walking and running and trying to recreate them for the next generations that are actually up to the task of covering the distance in the time I give.
So Oi said that he and Amos and Yong Jie would meet the two stray teams, give them directions to the endpoint and unload Yong Jie, thier PFM to topo them back just in case.
44th were given an express route to AHS, and the teams that were done packed up for the final leg of the journey.
the first team was set off, the next team 10 mins later, and the third team-66th, 20 mins later than the first team. It was intended to maintain the rankingas the teams arrived on the east coast at different times, but had to leave at the same time. Hardly fair otherwise.
They left Marlon, me and JJ at the Sailing Centre where me and JJ were wondering where did all our money go ($20), after rivervale mall. While looking at 2 girls at the nexty table from RJC sailing. MMMHmmm.
When we set out with our finances cleared and resolved, we climbed over the locked gate to reach the path the teams took to rendezvous with Oi. We walked for awhile and then met up with the 66th team. WTF! They had set out 10 mins before and now we had caught up with them! Their speed was snailish. Time: already 6:48...
We ignored them, while Marlon made them run abit, and the 3 primers went to get some ice cream. Actually, only JJ got some. I owed him 1 buck.
The safety vehicle picked us up and we cruised back to Anglican High.
All of 14th's teams were back and lounging on the concourse steps; like tradition dictated. The last 2 mock races were the same. They had their shoes off and were sprawled on the floor. AHS was dark by then. Mr. Oi unloaded us and the prizes and we watched him leave the school for his family dinner.
We distributed the prizes to 14th and i gave a short brief, as well as the official declaration of the team rankings in the race and mentioned how ming jun's team was able to chase cherng ru's team even with a gap of 2 checkpoints at the furthest point in the race.
We took a picture with Cherng ru's phone in the best lit area in the swamp of darkness that was AHS at night and saw them off for their KFC date. Which we couldn't partyake in, as there were still 3 teams at large.
Me and JJ waited in the darkness along with Marlon and Edison. Eddi was just lying on the ground resting. Marlon left for the Airport and Eddi went off too. Me and JJ were alone, and ignorant of the trails of the Boys who were supposedly on their way. They had to be; thier wallets and phones were all with us. it was 8:20 plus when we saw the linr of Boys run into the front gates under the orange lights. We thought everyone was back, but end up-it was only the ones led by Yong Jie. I gave them some advice and commendation and let them have their stuff baccck and released them. They were slow to move but quite eager to leave the creepy school. Even more after I told them about the nearby clock tower...
Turned out, the 66th team leader Kesavan had called my house, with the help of call divert and told me that they were on their way. Mer and JJ and as well as their buddies from the Rojak team followed us down to Bedok Swimming complex where they were at. We discovered that tthis lost team actaully had a Sec 5 Warrant Officer with them who didn't lead, guide or anything, but just behaved like a lance corporal, doing nothing helpful to the team at all.
WOW.
Me and JJ were Warrants just 2 months ago too. That kind of Warrant Officer was on parr with the likes of us and six others from 14 and Josiah in VS? Goodness.
When we were assured that they were on their way home, me and JJ went to Bedok's KFC. It was 9 at that time. Gave a sms report to Poh, Yeo, Oi and Chen too, while tasting the ZINGER burger that was marvellous after one whole day of Potato Chips.
In short the race went ok, but wasn't as smooth as we'd all liked...
We did not have the gathering at AHS before dark, we did not have the Biking, we did not have everyone take the conventional proper route to the Endpoint, but at least it was a good day outdoors, i got in the green sea to row, and well too. All of 14th and 66th got to kayak and there were no injuries unlike last year. Pretty neat.
It was really a crazy day. But a delicious one. 14th really does rock.
But we're still not up there yet. But soon. And its not only me who has to have that dream; it's everyone. Under the banner of 14th.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Yesterday was a real cool day.
I broke the law, met a beautiful girl, and gained solid knowledge, and found a resting place for my wanton heart.
Broke the Law
Well, the 5 dudes from 07S04, Aaron, Zheng Wei, Wen Jie and Jackson, and yours truly crashed Meridian JC in the morning, conveniently missing some or rather most of sch at TampJC. We went into the solemn blue building and through the slightly narrow gate.
Before that, I thought that the Cerebral Palsy Centre was the school. Damn. Nearly alighted.
Met Aaron and WJ and ZW and snuck in.
We went to the General Office and proclaimed that "we were here to visit". The two staffers behind the counter looked at us and said: "Yesterday was the last day for visitors. We don't entertain visitors anymore after the JAE."
Inside me, I froze. Aaron and ZW slid out of the office and me and WJ assured them we would leave almost immediately. Gave a smile and bailed.
It didn't end there.
We went to the toilet next to their parade square and the 4 of us entered a single cubicle to discuss our options.
-We could either go to Tamp late and have our EZ links confiscated;
-Or blend in until 1 when it would be legitimate to go back.
We chose the latter, and filed out of the toilet....
A J2 prefect sorta guy gave us a whiny 'faster,faster' and we were slightly amused. We strolled onto the nicely tiled parade square.
Met a Beautiful Girl
We joined the civics class line that was nearest to the GO upon meeting Jackson. That was pure dumbness. I grabbed his shoulder and said, "You stupid or what. Can't you see this is an open area? The GO is just there; we'll be dug out and kicked out. We should go in there instead(gesturing to clumps of people in the middle of the parade square)!" Halfway through my sentence, this beauty turned around to look at me. Her almost brown eyes and fair face stunned me. I didn't feel like leaving anymore. But the DHS bunch ZW and WJ pulled us away. (NOOO...)
I noted that she was from TKSS though-I was really, I still am, hooked.
We went to a class where the blur-face civics tutor allowed us to clump with his class, seeing that one of his students was WJ and ZW's common friend. Cool. And we sung the National Anthem and College Anthem with them. Their anthem was like Propaganda infused into melody, but I like it. :)
We then decided to latch on to the Biology lecture, but not before going to the canteen first. Their canteen was definitely superior to Tamp's. Only thing, they didn't have Roti John. ...
I bought fries and this girl with heavy make-up served me and propped her face up at me as she handed me my fries from behind her bar. !!!!!
I told Aaron that if the TKSS girl appeared again, I would get her name and number. Zheng Wei, or was it Jackson sat down at a table with some girly bags. I told him that people sat there, but he didn't really listen, until the master of the pink sling bag lying on the bench returned with a "excuse me, we are sitting here.". OK.
And she floated by. Once more. Her brown eyes...Our eyes conjoined in a line. My GAWD.
And trying to trail her in the crowd, Aaron kept asking me: "where, where, who?"
...
We turned to go to a lecture and well, she went by again. I was so stunned, I couldn't register anything besides her. When I recovered from her intoxicating beauty, she was a good distance away. DAMN.
Da Well.
Gained Solid Knowledge
Their Biology lecture was superb. It was one lecture that my being was 100% focussed on the slides and the lecturer. Amazing! The woman was brilliant, skilled and very very witty, and she let us room in the Lecture theatre freely. Her jokes turned Zheng Wei off mightily, but otherwise, it was a sexy lecture. I took 3 pages worth of notes. 3 pages full! Yessir, Yessir, 3 page full!
Whoa.
The Chemistry lecture at 11.15 was toned but we learned loads. My GAWD. Principal Quantum shells, energy levels, subshells and orbitals. Much better than Tamp Chem Lectures, even if it were in the auditorium...
Another 3 pages. Splendid.
In that space of time between 8 and 11.15, we went to their library, which we found was brilliant. They had 2 levels, the first was books and computers as well as a video room with a mighty selection of videos to see!!!! Sexy!
The second level was a strict study area where no noise was to be made. AT ALL. Cool!
Their school was littered with tables and benches and just outside the parade square, masses of people were studying on the benches. And they were PAE students like us!
Suddenly felt the urge to study, especially after the Biology lecture.
The culture was just for me, and there and then, I decided that that place was to be my Resting Place!
When we left, me being a bit disappointed having to leave without encountering the girl again, Aaron made a remark after we strolled grandly through the school's yellow gates.
Aaron: Look (he pointed at MJC's buildings from across the road), the gates are wide open but 99% of them don't want to chao school; but in TampJC, the gates are all locked and we have 2 security guards, yet 99% of the students WANT to chao school!
Us all: HAHAHAHAHA...
We then took 39 back to TampJC, while on the way, trying to fight the temptation to alight in front of my house, which we passed painfully, and carried on back to school to attend the precious maths tutorial, not before stopping at Macs...
At this point, I'm really buay song with my inability to land in MJC during PAE, but a bit normal now, that It was destiny or whatever sorta thingie that GOD has arranged in place. Now i have to wait 3 weeks for all the pieces to fall in nicely-me go into that school; she stay in that school.
Wow. Praying like never prayed before!
私は私の腕で近い握り、あなたの名前をそっと呼びたいと思う...
I broke the law, met a beautiful girl, and gained solid knowledge, and found a resting place for my wanton heart.
Broke the Law
Well, the 5 dudes from 07S04, Aaron, Zheng Wei, Wen Jie and Jackson, and yours truly crashed Meridian JC in the morning, conveniently missing some or rather most of sch at TampJC. We went into the solemn blue building and through the slightly narrow gate.
Before that, I thought that the Cerebral Palsy Centre was the school. Damn. Nearly alighted.
Met Aaron and WJ and ZW and snuck in.
We went to the General Office and proclaimed that "we were here to visit". The two staffers behind the counter looked at us and said: "Yesterday was the last day for visitors. We don't entertain visitors anymore after the JAE."
Inside me, I froze. Aaron and ZW slid out of the office and me and WJ assured them we would leave almost immediately. Gave a smile and bailed.
It didn't end there.
We went to the toilet next to their parade square and the 4 of us entered a single cubicle to discuss our options.
-We could either go to Tamp late and have our EZ links confiscated;
-Or blend in until 1 when it would be legitimate to go back.
We chose the latter, and filed out of the toilet....
A J2 prefect sorta guy gave us a whiny 'faster,faster' and we were slightly amused. We strolled onto the nicely tiled parade square.
Met a Beautiful Girl
We joined the civics class line that was nearest to the GO upon meeting Jackson. That was pure dumbness. I grabbed his shoulder and said, "You stupid or what. Can't you see this is an open area? The GO is just there; we'll be dug out and kicked out. We should go in there instead(gesturing to clumps of people in the middle of the parade square)!" Halfway through my sentence, this beauty turned around to look at me. Her almost brown eyes and fair face stunned me. I didn't feel like leaving anymore. But the DHS bunch ZW and WJ pulled us away. (NOOO...)
I noted that she was from TKSS though-I was really, I still am, hooked.
We went to a class where the blur-face civics tutor allowed us to clump with his class, seeing that one of his students was WJ and ZW's common friend. Cool. And we sung the National Anthem and College Anthem with them. Their anthem was like Propaganda infused into melody, but I like it. :)
We then decided to latch on to the Biology lecture, but not before going to the canteen first. Their canteen was definitely superior to Tamp's. Only thing, they didn't have Roti John. ...
I bought fries and this girl with heavy make-up served me and propped her face up at me as she handed me my fries from behind her bar. !!!!!
I told Aaron that if the TKSS girl appeared again, I would get her name and number. Zheng Wei, or was it Jackson sat down at a table with some girly bags. I told him that people sat there, but he didn't really listen, until the master of the pink sling bag lying on the bench returned with a "excuse me, we are sitting here.". OK.
And she floated by. Once more. Her brown eyes...Our eyes conjoined in a line. My GAWD.
And trying to trail her in the crowd, Aaron kept asking me: "where, where, who?"
...
We turned to go to a lecture and well, she went by again. I was so stunned, I couldn't register anything besides her. When I recovered from her intoxicating beauty, she was a good distance away. DAMN.
Da Well.
Gained Solid Knowledge
Their Biology lecture was superb. It was one lecture that my being was 100% focussed on the slides and the lecturer. Amazing! The woman was brilliant, skilled and very very witty, and she let us room in the Lecture theatre freely. Her jokes turned Zheng Wei off mightily, but otherwise, it was a sexy lecture. I took 3 pages worth of notes. 3 pages full! Yessir, Yessir, 3 page full!
Whoa.
The Chemistry lecture at 11.15 was toned but we learned loads. My GAWD. Principal Quantum shells, energy levels, subshells and orbitals. Much better than Tamp Chem Lectures, even if it were in the auditorium...
Another 3 pages. Splendid.
In that space of time between 8 and 11.15, we went to their library, which we found was brilliant. They had 2 levels, the first was books and computers as well as a video room with a mighty selection of videos to see!!!! Sexy!
The second level was a strict study area where no noise was to be made. AT ALL. Cool!
Their school was littered with tables and benches and just outside the parade square, masses of people were studying on the benches. And they were PAE students like us!
Suddenly felt the urge to study, especially after the Biology lecture.
The culture was just for me, and there and then, I decided that that place was to be my Resting Place!
When we left, me being a bit disappointed having to leave without encountering the girl again, Aaron made a remark after we strolled grandly through the school's yellow gates.
Aaron: Look (he pointed at MJC's buildings from across the road), the gates are wide open but 99% of them don't want to chao school; but in TampJC, the gates are all locked and we have 2 security guards, yet 99% of the students WANT to chao school!
Us all: HAHAHAHAHA...
We then took 39 back to TampJC, while on the way, trying to fight the temptation to alight in front of my house, which we passed painfully, and carried on back to school to attend the precious maths tutorial, not before stopping at Macs...
At this point, I'm really buay song with my inability to land in MJC during PAE, but a bit normal now, that It was destiny or whatever sorta thingie that GOD has arranged in place. Now i have to wait 3 weeks for all the pieces to fall in nicely-me go into that school; she stay in that school.
Wow. Praying like never prayed before!
私は私の腕で近い握り、あなたの名前をそっと呼びたいと思う...
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Further Musings
After the turmoil that has swamped my head for the past few days, I think I can talk now.
I can laugh now. I can sing now.
I heard some guy say this in the college toilet just now. Even though the circumstances weer awkward (he was facing his urinal, while i was facing mine), his words made a lot of sense.
He said: Life is fair because Life is unfair.
My intepretation: Since life, known to be universally unfair in a blanket fashion to all, not only you but also the rest of the world; life can said to be fair in the way it isn't fair to everybody else.
Marvellous. I think this is the best quote I've heard all month. And true, but new too.
Just finished a Map Reading Lesson with my AQ Boys-wonder if I did enough to get everything necessary into their heads?
They're a smart bunch, and the things I needed to teach them are idiot proof...Thank God everything finished smoothly enough. They seem ready for my Mock Race, which is really expansive, even, or rather, from a planner's point of view. Juan Jie laughed when I was at his house, counting the projected times they would take to cover how much distance. The prospect that it would be dark by the timeit concluded is highly prevalent...
I've seen the world from a dark AHS angle and I don't really like it. All the more I don't like it when my Boys are out and about...
But well. Can't be help.
My life is a vicious cycle. My plate of TO-DOs never empties even with the new year and and refills again, and receives new servings with each passing day. I don't fancy the next 2 years will be the same all over-I can't take another year of slogging for BB entirely.
Aaron asked me if I was serving full-time when he saw me study the map in the Auditorium. I told him I wasn't, but wondered later: what's the difference?
I bade farewell to Adventure Quest last April and took it up again in November, and then handed it over to JJ, but landed in Recruitment once more. Hasty decisions backed by raw impulse. Brilliant. I like the idea of making the next generation fantastic, but if I'd really wanted to do it full-time, I should really be a 2nd Lieutenant. GASP!
No thank you.
I should really start shedding now, or feel the same, identical painful regret in 2 years ++ time.
Being a Boy was the best.
Growing up is the new worst. You inherit new woes that will cling to you and will probably never leave.
Little Red Flower was right, Kindergarten is the most carefree and happy time of our lives. It was so great, I didn't even bother remembering it.
I can laugh now. I can sing now.
I heard some guy say this in the college toilet just now. Even though the circumstances weer awkward (he was facing his urinal, while i was facing mine), his words made a lot of sense.
He said: Life is fair because Life is unfair.
My intepretation: Since life, known to be universally unfair in a blanket fashion to all, not only you but also the rest of the world; life can said to be fair in the way it isn't fair to everybody else.
Marvellous. I think this is the best quote I've heard all month. And true, but new too.
Just finished a Map Reading Lesson with my AQ Boys-wonder if I did enough to get everything necessary into their heads?
They're a smart bunch, and the things I needed to teach them are idiot proof...Thank God everything finished smoothly enough. They seem ready for my Mock Race, which is really expansive, even, or rather, from a planner's point of view. Juan Jie laughed when I was at his house, counting the projected times they would take to cover how much distance. The prospect that it would be dark by the timeit concluded is highly prevalent...
I've seen the world from a dark AHS angle and I don't really like it. All the more I don't like it when my Boys are out and about...
But well. Can't be help.
My life is a vicious cycle. My plate of TO-DOs never empties even with the new year and and refills again, and receives new servings with each passing day. I don't fancy the next 2 years will be the same all over-I can't take another year of slogging for BB entirely.
Aaron asked me if I was serving full-time when he saw me study the map in the Auditorium. I told him I wasn't, but wondered later: what's the difference?
I bade farewell to Adventure Quest last April and took it up again in November, and then handed it over to JJ, but landed in Recruitment once more. Hasty decisions backed by raw impulse. Brilliant. I like the idea of making the next generation fantastic, but if I'd really wanted to do it full-time, I should really be a 2nd Lieutenant. GASP!
No thank you.
I should really start shedding now, or feel the same, identical painful regret in 2 years ++ time.
Being a Boy was the best.
Growing up is the new worst. You inherit new woes that will cling to you and will probably never leave.
Little Red Flower was right, Kindergarten is the most carefree and happy time of our lives. It was so great, I didn't even bother remembering it.
Monday, February 12, 2007
I don't really feel like saying anything...
Got a lot to say actually. But my high brain is not accustomed or willing to set some words that course through my entire being into print.
I'm just not happy.
With my grade. With Valentine's. With my workload. With myself.
Just don't feel like writing anymore. No longer assured that my english is as strong as it was before.
Got a lot to say actually. But my high brain is not accustomed or willing to set some words that course through my entire being into print.
I'm just not happy.
With my grade. With Valentine's. With my workload. With myself.
Just don't feel like writing anymore. No longer assured that my english is as strong as it was before.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
There are a few pressing things that i have to resolve soon, if not right now. It's not really upliftingt o have all these TO-Dos swimming around, but at least, proper documentation will soothe my nerves. Almost all of them have to do with BB. Do I have a life outside of BB? If i do, that life isn't prevalent.
And so, I move on, leading the rest of the sentient world into a recital of the things that are or will bog me down in time, if I leave them to ferement.
1. Mr. Mok emailed me last night and wanted to see me on Friday to discuss the dates for the Recruit Hike Recce, target test dates , Camp Craft teaching and subsequent lesson sessions.
Subsequently, I've to:accelerate the Recruit Hike committee in overhauling the current route for the hike because the distance due east was too great and the paths; too similar.
I also have toaccelerate the lesson planning committee so that the lessons can be produced, and the teaching-might actually happen.
2. I went on a romp with darling JJ on bicycle to Pasir Ris Park to see where we could project a checkpoint to provide Bike Rentals for the Mock Race happening on the 24th. The Bike rentals were weither closed or no longer in solid existence. And the only thing accomplished was he succeeeded in repairing the piece of crap we called a bicycle, that belonged to Lester. We had a snack and conversed briefly about the Mock Race proceedings. At least he knows what's really going on now.
Our unfulfilled misadventure means:I have to go to Pasir Ris Park again...
3. Issues with the Kayaks rentals haven't been resolved yet. Still waiting to hear good/bad or any news; from Mr. Poh's side. realised that the Kayks would only come into play vwery later on in the day of the 24th Feb Mock Race. I underestimated my first half, which was a delightfully long trip. This affects my end expenditure and I have to have the end sum to derive the sum each participant has to pay. But one thing:
4.Mr. Oi smsed me, telling me to inform him, KK and also 44th about the Mock Race details. i realised with a bit of a shock, that whatever that needs to be done next, has to depend on the assuredness of bike rentals in Pasir Ris and a affirmed end expenditure. Vexing.
But I've to:Draft an email accounting instructions, details and demands to all parties due to engage in the mock race.
5. We also talked about the Overnight Mock Race from 12 midnight to 1 pm the next day. Massive effort, and overlaps with the Recruit Hike that I'm also running, and will be projected to finish in the same time frame as the AQ team. Tedious. Calculations have to be precise all over. That's what made me change the Recruit Hike; covering 25km for a Sec one would mean great lengths of time. We joked briefly about installing Kim Seng Sewage as Mid-Point-cum-Lunch Point. Laughs. but anyways, I've tomake sure Recruit Hike and AQ Overnight hamdam fit in somehow.
This means:
6. Mr. Oi told us Primers to download a form for registration and have it in to huim on Sat. Think my form's largely completed. the only thing now left is seeing it go into the registrar.
7. I have to return to AQ to solve vexing issues that have arised out of a break in a system I thought perfect. Well at least, the intent was perfect, but the drivers behind the system did not exactly fulfill or expand to do service to the simplicity of the prescribed doctrine. Emergency re-training needed to be applied to the Bus Drivers. (citing Senator Obama's analogy of the Iraq war situation. Brilliant chap.) Also have to tell the passengers to sit their butts down and listen, metaphorically.
8. I've to finish my cargoload of homework and college assignments to boot and appease the unsettled toddler in my chest.
9. Then, I've to fill in the Membership Affiliation to Japan form and together with a lump sum of $36, hand it in to Sempai carolyn discreetly, so that when Sensei Patrick returns, he won't burst an artery over me having let the form he'd given me in December bask in the sun for so long.
10. I've to boot up my memory and recall all the other things that I've missed in this breathy rambling. There's definitely something I've forgotten. Even when my Chief Instructor assures me there isn't any... With age comes wisdom... and the uncanny knack for having tendrils of information and informed know-how slip away in spirals.
And so, I move on, leading the rest of the sentient world into a recital of the things that are or will bog me down in time, if I leave them to ferement.
1. Mr. Mok emailed me last night and wanted to see me on Friday to discuss the dates for the Recruit Hike Recce, target test dates , Camp Craft teaching and subsequent lesson sessions.
Subsequently, I've to:
I also have to
2. I went on a romp with darling JJ on bicycle to Pasir Ris Park to see where we could project a checkpoint to provide Bike Rentals for the Mock Race happening on the 24th. The Bike rentals were weither closed or no longer in solid existence. And the only thing accomplished was he succeeeded in repairing the piece of crap we called a bicycle, that belonged to Lester. We had a snack and conversed briefly about the Mock Race proceedings. At least he knows what's really going on now.
Our unfulfilled misadventure means:
3. Issues with the Kayaks rentals haven't been resolved yet. Still waiting to hear good/bad or any news; from Mr. Poh's side. realised that the Kayks would only come into play vwery later on in the day of the 24th Feb Mock Race. I underestimated my first half, which was a delightfully long trip. This affects my end expenditure and I have to have the end sum to derive the sum each participant has to pay. But one thing:
4.Mr. Oi smsed me, telling me to inform him, KK and also 44th about the Mock Race details. i realised with a bit of a shock, that whatever that needs to be done next, has to depend on the assuredness of bike rentals in Pasir Ris and a affirmed end expenditure. Vexing.
But I've to:
5. We also talked about the Overnight Mock Race from 12 midnight to 1 pm the next day. Massive effort, and overlaps with the Recruit Hike that I'm also running, and will be projected to finish in the same time frame as the AQ team. Tedious. Calculations have to be precise all over. That's what made me change the Recruit Hike; covering 25km for a Sec one would mean great lengths of time. We joked briefly about installing Kim Seng Sewage as Mid-Point-cum-Lunch Point. Laughs. but anyways, I've to
This means:
6. Mr. Oi told us Primers to download a form for registration and have it in to huim on Sat. Think my form's largely completed. the only thing now left is seeing it go into the registrar.
7. I have to return to AQ to solve vexing issues that have arised out of a break in a system I thought perfect. Well at least, the intent was perfect, but the drivers behind the system did not exactly fulfill or expand to do service to the simplicity of the prescribed doctrine. Emergency re-training needed to be applied to the Bus Drivers. (citing Senator Obama's analogy of the Iraq war situation. Brilliant chap.) Also have to tell the passengers to sit their butts down and listen, metaphorically.
8. I've to finish my cargoload of homework and college assignments to boot and appease the unsettled toddler in my chest.
9. Then, I've to fill in the Membership Affiliation to Japan form and together with a lump sum of $36, hand it in to Sempai carolyn discreetly, so that when Sensei Patrick returns, he won't burst an artery over me having let the form he'd given me in December bask in the sun for so long.
10. I've to boot up my memory and recall all the other things that I've missed in this breathy rambling. There's definitely something I've forgotten. Even when my Chief Instructor assures me there isn't any... With age comes wisdom... and the uncanny knack for having tendrils of information and informed know-how slip away in spirals.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Had a tussle with a fanatic today. A fanatic of the highest order.
His name was Hansel. Should be the kinda that was great friends with the one called Gretel. Hansel and Gretel? Whatever.
He was this dude from Victoria who was going on about the discipline sof martial arts that he had expertise in, and he got some of his mates to bring wooden kendo sticks to school to spar in an empty classroom. This guy brought every sort of weapons to school every day... Naturally, i was attracted.
I knew this guy could do 50 pull ups at one go, and his mates were going on about him learning 15 martial arts off the internet.
This made me laugh. If internet taught me anything, it would be that you can learn nothing from the world wide web. Swell lesson.
And so we made a date to spar later in the day.
And we met at D203.
They were there and I was a bit nervous, but sure.
Xue Kai did say that the dude had zero technique, but a lot of force. I believe him.
So flexed abit, and was not too glad to see his smug face. Haven't forgotten the way he condescendingly spoke of our Special Operations Forces.
So got ready. I hung back, waiting to see this guy's magic. Was there?
He charged at me and plainly pushed me off my feet. My right leg swept to his face and knocked his glasses far off. I didn't even know where it was. Expecting him to stop, I was ready to look for his glasses with him. He carried on pushing into me. Until i hit the desk on was on the floor. Then he pranced around to find his spectacles.
I think at this point he added, "HAH. My master hits harder than that!"
Me: ??????
I mean, I went soft and he could say that? But that never gave me any much motivation to really drive into him. Sensei Patrick always said I lacked fire (aggression). He must be sneezing somewhere in China now. (AHCHOO!!!!)... lol.
When we could resume, I realised that this bugger had seriously no idea about footwork, leg technique or tactics, but purely brute force and strength. It took me 4 years and hundreds of fights to get it. And his legs were weak. So I gave him a gedan-mawashi (low kick) which had him crumple and spin 360 degrees around. When he spun back to face me, I gave him a moderate left jodan-mawashi to his face, and he fell back, not before going ballistic. It was foolish of me to let down my guard the moment I impacted him. He burst into me, same ending.
It was a decent fight, with the fella concluding with a strong left punch into my rib, which puntured my lung and knocked the wind out of me. The punch, I saw coming, but a second late, and the second that I expected him to help me up late. Surprisingly, I forgot about my IBUKI. Amazed really.
His punches were really strong.
And with five minutes left to the next lesson, we packed up and baleh civics class.
but not befor hearing him say this: Oh I wasn't using any martial art. If I was using any martial art, you'd be dead.
I'm sure.
He wrapped up our delightfully illegal gathering with a talk about a martial art that a master could put his hands in his pockets and have them out and strike to a person's head in 0.1 secs. And he was also talking about a death blow to the side of the temple. wow.
I left with Kenneth. This guy is really full of bullshit. I hope to GOD my kicks gave him bruises that hurt like hell.
But this incident really made me question: Is the doctored Kyokushin as effective and as strong as it was back in 1947?
The incidents where Kyokushin Karateka killed with blows to the body, or Sosai's Ikken Hissatsu. I'm not doubting Kyokushin's power. Kyokushin is absolute, but the way we've trimmed the system into a stand-up fight between 2 men, with restrictions on grappling and grabs and locks and a non-floor combat doctrine might have removed Kyokushin's ruggedness. Kyokushin was based on Judo, Shotokan, Goju-Ryu and Kenpo.
Even Pasir Ris Dojo's initial beginnings were strong in likeness to the ferocity of the Tokyo Honbu's standards.
But not having gone through multiple man sparring, or on-the-ground fighting, has Kyokushin become tamed?
I think I'll bring this up with Sensei Patrick...
The old Kyokushin was rougher and a more wild style.
Would reviving the old ways be properous potentially?
Are we still on Sosai's Kyokushin-do? Or, we've gone on to another path altogether?
Kyokushin needs to return to its roots?
If any, this event has led me to question, has the modern day Kyokushin lost the quality that Sosai Mas Oyama gave it?
One thing is for sure:
Kyokushin is the Strongest Karate.
But Song Leng isn't the Strongest Karateka. Yet.
And the Ultimate Truth (Kyokushin) behind our style is the truth about strength.
The only true strength is by hard training, and hard training alone. That is the Ultimate Truth.
OSU.
His name was Hansel. Should be the kinda that was great friends with the one called Gretel. Hansel and Gretel? Whatever.
He was this dude from Victoria who was going on about the discipline sof martial arts that he had expertise in, and he got some of his mates to bring wooden kendo sticks to school to spar in an empty classroom. This guy brought every sort of weapons to school every day... Naturally, i was attracted.
I knew this guy could do 50 pull ups at one go, and his mates were going on about him learning 15 martial arts off the internet.
This made me laugh. If internet taught me anything, it would be that you can learn nothing from the world wide web. Swell lesson.
And so we made a date to spar later in the day.
And we met at D203.
They were there and I was a bit nervous, but sure.
Xue Kai did say that the dude had zero technique, but a lot of force. I believe him.
So flexed abit, and was not too glad to see his smug face. Haven't forgotten the way he condescendingly spoke of our Special Operations Forces.
So got ready. I hung back, waiting to see this guy's magic. Was there?
He charged at me and plainly pushed me off my feet. My right leg swept to his face and knocked his glasses far off. I didn't even know where it was. Expecting him to stop, I was ready to look for his glasses with him. He carried on pushing into me. Until i hit the desk on was on the floor. Then he pranced around to find his spectacles.
I think at this point he added, "HAH. My master hits harder than that!"
Me: ??????
I mean, I went soft and he could say that? But that never gave me any much motivation to really drive into him. Sensei Patrick always said I lacked fire (aggression). He must be sneezing somewhere in China now. (AHCHOO!!!!)... lol.
When we could resume, I realised that this bugger had seriously no idea about footwork, leg technique or tactics, but purely brute force and strength. It took me 4 years and hundreds of fights to get it. And his legs were weak. So I gave him a gedan-mawashi (low kick) which had him crumple and spin 360 degrees around. When he spun back to face me, I gave him a moderate left jodan-mawashi to his face, and he fell back, not before going ballistic. It was foolish of me to let down my guard the moment I impacted him. He burst into me, same ending.
It was a decent fight, with the fella concluding with a strong left punch into my rib, which puntured my lung and knocked the wind out of me. The punch, I saw coming, but a second late, and the second that I expected him to help me up late. Surprisingly, I forgot about my IBUKI. Amazed really.
His punches were really strong.
And with five minutes left to the next lesson, we packed up and baleh civics class.
but not befor hearing him say this: Oh I wasn't using any martial art. If I was using any martial art, you'd be dead.
I'm sure.
He wrapped up our delightfully illegal gathering with a talk about a martial art that a master could put his hands in his pockets and have them out and strike to a person's head in 0.1 secs. And he was also talking about a death blow to the side of the temple. wow.
I left with Kenneth. This guy is really full of bullshit. I hope to GOD my kicks gave him bruises that hurt like hell.
But this incident really made me question: Is the doctored Kyokushin as effective and as strong as it was back in 1947?
The incidents where Kyokushin Karateka killed with blows to the body, or Sosai's Ikken Hissatsu. I'm not doubting Kyokushin's power. Kyokushin is absolute, but the way we've trimmed the system into a stand-up fight between 2 men, with restrictions on grappling and grabs and locks and a non-floor combat doctrine might have removed Kyokushin's ruggedness. Kyokushin was based on Judo, Shotokan, Goju-Ryu and Kenpo.
Even Pasir Ris Dojo's initial beginnings were strong in likeness to the ferocity of the Tokyo Honbu's standards.
But not having gone through multiple man sparring, or on-the-ground fighting, has Kyokushin become tamed?
I think I'll bring this up with Sensei Patrick...
The old Kyokushin was rougher and a more wild style.
Would reviving the old ways be properous potentially?
Are we still on Sosai's Kyokushin-do? Or, we've gone on to another path altogether?
Kyokushin needs to return to its roots?
If any, this event has led me to question, has the modern day Kyokushin lost the quality that Sosai Mas Oyama gave it?
One thing is for sure:
Kyokushin is the Strongest Karate.
But Song Leng isn't the Strongest Karateka. Yet.
And the Ultimate Truth (Kyokushin) behind our style is the truth about strength.
The only true strength is by hard training, and hard training alone. That is the Ultimate Truth.
OSU.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Is sickness a feeling of swooning inadequacy? Or a bout of headiness birthed from undesired habitual doings that the foolish mortal has dabbled in?
Anyways.
I took a trip to the Pasir Ris Polyclinic this morning, cause my nose kept on-well-bleeding. So while my mother queued in the SUUUPER long queue, I took my time making my way there, until she prompted me with a call that exuded less-than-friendly-tones. I entered the building, looked in, and was shocked to see the queue extended so deep in. I walked in, intending to head to the end of the line and saw a guy about my height coming towards me. He was also in school uniform. I was thinking: hey, another dude's missing lessons and is here at the doctor's! I walked 2 steps: aye? he looks familiar. One step: OH! @#$@#!!! He's me!
I was walking into a bloody mirror! No wonder!
I joined my lao bu and we waited.
The doctor was a delightable young chap who endured my mother's theatrics and diagnosed me as having what, ALLERGIC RHINUSITIS. Whatever that is. And he told me to head upstairs. For a blood test. Which involved a needle breaking into my skin and sucking out much of my precious blood. I literally balked.
And I waited upstairs. The atmosphere in the clinic room was dead. The people worked with the enthusiasm of undertaker ah pehs lowering large brown-black coffins into the dirt in the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.
The woman called my beautiful name and made me sit in a chair and lifted my left arm onto a blue pad and made me grip a tissue box, tying a green strap to my bicep. Then she tapped, and I, the long suffering patient, accustomed to such treatment looked away. I must thank Kevan at this point for SMSing me. It distracted me from the pain.
She had the silver thing in deep and long and filled three tubes each 3/4 the length of a science lab test tube and popped on a plaster.
I was aghast when I saw the bottles/tubes.
My mother gave me a sarcastic thumbs up...
wtf...
And then came the bout of wooziness that has clung to me until now. I shall heed the waves of lethargy, both from illness and missing blood and hit the sack. My left hand's remarkably weak now. Hopefully in 12 hrs, it recovers for another burst of Canoeing..
Anyways.
I took a trip to the Pasir Ris Polyclinic this morning, cause my nose kept on-well-bleeding. So while my mother queued in the SUUUPER long queue, I took my time making my way there, until she prompted me with a call that exuded less-than-friendly-tones. I entered the building, looked in, and was shocked to see the queue extended so deep in. I walked in, intending to head to the end of the line and saw a guy about my height coming towards me. He was also in school uniform. I was thinking: hey, another dude's missing lessons and is here at the doctor's! I walked 2 steps: aye? he looks familiar. One step: OH! @#$@#!!! He's me!
I was walking into a bloody mirror! No wonder!
I joined my lao bu and we waited.
The doctor was a delightable young chap who endured my mother's theatrics and diagnosed me as having what, ALLERGIC RHINUSITIS. Whatever that is. And he told me to head upstairs. For a blood test. Which involved a needle breaking into my skin and sucking out much of my precious blood. I literally balked.
And I waited upstairs. The atmosphere in the clinic room was dead. The people worked with the enthusiasm of undertaker ah pehs lowering large brown-black coffins into the dirt in the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.
The woman called my beautiful name and made me sit in a chair and lifted my left arm onto a blue pad and made me grip a tissue box, tying a green strap to my bicep. Then she tapped, and I, the long suffering patient, accustomed to such treatment looked away. I must thank Kevan at this point for SMSing me. It distracted me from the pain.
She had the silver thing in deep and long and filled three tubes each 3/4 the length of a science lab test tube and popped on a plaster.
I was aghast when I saw the bottles/tubes.
My mother gave me a sarcastic thumbs up...
wtf...
And then came the bout of wooziness that has clung to me until now. I shall heed the waves of lethargy, both from illness and missing blood and hit the sack. My left hand's remarkably weak now. Hopefully in 12 hrs, it recovers for another burst of Canoeing..
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