ravenholm

always

2011-07-04T02:58:00.000+08:00

I wish I could exercise suspension of belief on certain things, instead of effectively and pretty immediately rationalizing away things I don't understand. Call it hubris or delusion or plain intellect, but my gut seems to have a pretty powerful compass when it comes to things I don't understand- I just need to point my mind the right way and pretty soon I'm grasping at the correct straws and straws turn to thread and eventually the rope that leads me out of unknowing, especially for the intangible. But sometimes staying in the darkness seems better. It's more familiar, and like the musty darkness of an old home you garner what comfort you can and it's just enough that you don't want to switch on the intrusive artificial light. You don't have to. I want a baseball bat, so I can smash all of the bulbs and bind the curtains and sit in the dark. Because then, you don't have to face the answers, your answers, and even worse than that, the stupid god-damned shining place where your answers came from. Sometimes I just want to sit in the dark and enjoy the brooding company of my un-understanding, of the pure unknowing that can really set you free. A heart can rest as easy in a tragedy as long as it doesn't have any bearing to anchor itself to. There's more I feel like offloading, but I don't know the words to make them fit. I don't know if I'm too smart or not smart enough, or if I'm too young for my age or too old. And that's how I like it.

Moving

2010-08-27T03:19:00.000+08:00

Tumblr.

my favourite song

2010-01-26T16:57:00.005+08:00

Hate when this shit happens

2009-11-26T21:37:00.002+08:00

foosh

2009-09-20T23:48:00.001+08:00

Happy 09/09/09!

2009-09-09T01:19:00.001+08:00

Everything's the same.

Two poems

2009-08-23T22:07:00.014+08:00

Stephen Crane - The Black Riders and Other Lines
III
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

T.S. Eliot - The Waste Land
I. The Burial of the Dead
(...)
What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow
Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man,
You cannot say, or guess, for you know only
A heap of broken images, where the sun beats,
And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief,
And the dry stone no sound of water. Only
There is shadow under this red rock
(Come in under the shadow of this red rock),
And I will show you something different from either
Your shadow at morning striding behind you
Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you;
I will show you fear in a handful of dust.

I'm going back to 505

2009-07-23T00:10:00.004+08:00

Moving on... It's been a month and a half since I said I was happy, and I guess it still applies at times. Not that I can really complain, with my 8 to 5 and regular off's. Blogging because I'm bored and there's really nothing to do. Plus it's early, as early as 12am can be on a weekday and with leave on the next. It seems this year has worn everything out, with six months of cramming fleeting weekends making time pass faster on civilian days now. My dulled mind from army can only think of a waves-eroding-stone-on-shore metaphor right now. If that's the case then I guess I'm praying for small moons nowadays. Today seems like that day in the post below this, out for a movie. It's so fast, another year, everyone's going to university and I haven't finished thinking about applying. But when you think about it it's not really that fast is it. Reading the posts on this page would make you think I'm in a time-continuum crisis, eh. Trust me it's more a crisis of the imagination. Damn this doesn't seem to have the makings of a good post does it. Ok I've matured this post on my desktop for close to an hour now and if it's not good enough yet then I don't know when it'll take.

happy

2009-06-03T23:02:00.002+08:00

I never thought I would ever say this but I kinda like my NS life now. I hope it continues like this for the next one-and-a-half years. The work isn't that tiring and I get to sleep in my own bed every night and off days are fun and I have time to go shopping and watch movies and whatnot. Yays

2009-05-30T17:11:00.002+08:00

"Why do I do anything?" she says. "I'm educated enough to talk myself out of any plan. To deconstruct any fantasy. Explain away any goal. I'm so smart I can negate any dream."

Chuck Palahniuk - Choke

surprised

2009-05-17T19:21:00.001+08:00

Too lazy to prepare a proper post so I'll just present it in some stream of consciousness way, the way that thoughts actually surface.

Time has passed quite fast, but not really, it's already only 1 week left to passing out, but you kinda know somewhere in your mind that time never passes fast, it's just hindsight and optimism pairing up to screw with you, it's always been unbearingly slow when the things actually happen, and maybe I'm actually looking forward to abit of change now, and the end of trainee life and the start of a proper 8 to 5 posting.

The luxury of bookouts has seemed to have worn off, I don't even feel that different walking out of camp on Fridays anymore, I spend the 2 days in my room at my computer, or at breakfast, or lunch, and it's 8am typing, 1pm watching, 1am shivering and 4am surfing, and somehow time passes slower this way. I haven't been out properly for a month, the furthest I've been to is Siglap or Parkway. Not that I mind, might be surprising to me-I dunno.

I feel the urge to take photos again, buying books on technique and theory, looking at my past photos, re-processing them in my head, but I need a camera, and everytime I'm bored at the break of dawn in the heat of the afternoon in the creative flux of midnight I feel like holding a camera in my hand and telling stories.

You have epiphanies in the middle of the week, lying on the floor in your bunk ears restless from the iPod, and you have short-term amnesia by the next hour, so your thoughts are never collected and you have to start from scratch the next time you lie down, so you might as well never begin. You think army isn't that bad after all, your section mates are fun, you're better off than countless other people, you think of disillusionment, you think of outside, inside, everything in between, of the waste and of the and then you forget and you think hey, army isn't that bad after all. Time passes fast and slow and the difference is just memory and reality. I might be exaggerating now, I'm just rambling but what else is a blog post.

Latest events include watching the season finale of Lost and House, the latter being sad, and making me listen to The Rolling Stone's As Tears Go By on repeat. I pre-ordered the new Green Day album and it's good. Every weekend is the same to me, it's breakfast and the computer screen and dinner and the computer screen and sleep and the computer screen and then it's time to go. Cue: 45 minutes from now.

Hey seems like I prepared a proper post after all. You get tired wondering of the best way to make time pass the slowest, and then you get tired wondering of the best way to make time pass the fastest, and all the other time you realise you do this to keep your mind from wondering about other things, more important, you think, or not, and is your mind doing this on purpose? Keeping itself distracted? I feel I've written like a Palahniuk persona having ingested Joyce's Ulysses. But there's always time to crack jokes because that's essential for survival. Just whose, you wonder, or not.

Photo!

2009-05-10T18:37:00.005+08:00

I feel like writing something but my mind's blank. Or at least, incoherent. If I become an author one day I'll probably end up publishing a blank book. A piece of postmodern literary genius and a notebook, for the price of one! God, you don't know how much comfort I derive nowadays from just taking refuge from the cold by lying in bed amongst my pillows and listening to my lounge music playlist. I get so many spontaneous fleeting thoughts when I'm bored y'know. Like hey let's walk to Cold Storage, then when I get there I don't know what to do. Or other random stuff that I don't have enough time to implement. I just listened to that subconscious and walked around my yard as if I'm expecting someone and saw Ming Hao's maid walk by. You crazy crazy subconscious you. Weekends are always just too short by one day, like if I had another day to waste and stone around my creative juices will kick in and inspiration will stir like so many goddamned leaves in the wind. I want a camera again. And intellectual books. And that one more day.

four more

2009-04-19T18:32:00.001+08:00

I know it's stupid to count down but then so are lots of other things

five more times

2009-04-12T19:41:00.002+08:00

The soundtrack to guitar hero 3 gives me that feeling, albeit un-pronounced and faded, like I can only grasp its shadows for a fleeting second. Weird that I would want to anyway.

2009-04-05T10:49:00.001+08:00

Someone explain to me why I find this so funny

Had we but world enough, and time

2009-03-29T14:44:00.003+08:00

St Paul's Cathedral, London. And I like the poem too.

charlatans & saints

2009-03-28T17:28:00.005+08:00

It's weird, almost surreal, that I've got some kinda plan now. I always thought I'd be stuck in the limbo of liminality (weekends only) after JC and wondering what the bloody heck to study/choose as a career. But now I already got the letter from NUS so there's my backup plan done. But then again my hopes of studying overseas is kinda dashy in the horizon and I just need to hope that I don't change my interests by end of the year.

p.s. I used to take such nice pictures. What happened eh?

My body is an orphanage;

2009-03-22T22:21:00.005+08:00

It always seems that time passes the fastest when you don't want it to. Someone's stealing your minutes and seconds when you're not looking, and it's already past 10 when a heartbeat ago it was still 9, and a few heartbeats before that you were on a bus at 7.45. Before I know it it'll be tomorrow morning and back to army life, just like how I've subconsciously slipped into the personal pronoun. Maybe if I believe hard enough that something disastrous will occur come Friday, the week will fly past? Or maybe not. I forgot, I gotta think of something I don't want to happen.

I'm listening to the same Fall Out Boy album, and it's rekindling old feelings like how melancholic songs always ignite nostalgia. But maybe the fire was always smoldering, and the feelings never got old, just blinded away. Funny, I've got tons of memories attached to different FOB albums, but two outta three ain't bad. My only hope is the future, and my only wish is that my wishes and hopes remain the same tomorrow, and the month after that, and the year after that. Being fickle is such a detriment to progress, no?

Buzz buzz buzz

2009-03-21T20:47:00.002+08:00

Just so I remember.

Fall Out Boy - Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes

"What a match, I'm half-doomed
and you're semi-sweet."

Isn't it just symbolic that here I am 3 months on, soon gonna be reporting to my new posting, and I'm listening to the same album as when I was anxiously enlisting last december.

...but nothing's really changed, eh?

Sometimes we take chances-

2009-03-20T02:24:00.006+08:00

Just gimme some of that presumptuous intellectual shit to cheer me right up pronto yeah

philosophy

2009-03-17T16:24:00.002+08:00

"Money is to Everything, as an Aeroplane is to Australia. The aeroplane isn't Australia, but it remains the only practical way we know of reaching it. So perhaps, metonymically, the aeroplane is Australia after all."

2009-03-12T18:26:00.003+08:00

Hahahah look at the invite my 5 year old cousin gave us for her birthday tonight:ps- yays we're going to eat cow tomorrow

2009-03-12T06:26:00.000+08:00

song and dance

2009-03-08T17:42:00.001+08:00

I think the euphoria of results have completely passed me by; I
don't feel any different from before last Friday, although it might
just be some time lag- or more likely the onset of liminality, which I
want to completely ignore and watch it utterly pass me by. Time is starting
to speed up again, my last 3 BMT days are rushing towards me, and it'll soon
be the joyous period of block leave, with the freedom that is such
a fundamental essence of everyone else's time, where impending NS was just a
footnote. I dont really know what I want right now. No one's going overseas
in my class. But it's a chance for me to go to London, and possibly be
someone else, somewhere else. I wish leaving friends and family were someone
else's dilemma. But then isn't making the choice the only way to ensure
happiness?

nerves

2009-03-06T08:39:00.003+08:00

NS seems to have dulled my senses somewhat. Usually the eve of such a day would be marked with insomnia and worry, but as it is I'm still caught up in the dust storm of the months shooting by, and I'm not even sure it's March yet. But now that tingling in my fingers and the sweat in my palms kinda settles the dust. At the least, it'll be fun returning to VJ and doing the old stuff once more. This is just a spontaneous description of the before, penning my thoughts and stuff, so that maybe the after would come more distinctly to future me.

2009-03-01T16:34:00.005+08:00

Do you sometimes wish you could return to the past, just to relive those few moments, even if you had to repeat the rest of the past as well, good and bad? But is it a struggle between melancholic regret, or just pure longing? Or maybe it's a latent desire to change the present well you're at it. Do you sometimes wish for an insurmountable obstacle, just so that failure and misery can be the status quo? A sine qua non of the new paradigm, one that you finally don't have to go out to acquire, because it was there all along. Which reminds me:

"I'm a war of head versus heart

And it's always this way

My head is weak, my heart always speaks

Before I know what it will say

And you can't find nothing at all

If there was nothing there all along"

Crooked Teeth - Death Cab for Cutie

But if you try sometimes-

2009-02-21T15:55:00.001+08:00

"But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin."

- Brave New World

Top 10 Wishes

2009-02-08T17:42:00.003+08:00

10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. To stay out for one full night until the sun rises and reach home when others are waking to the new day, wondering what nocturnal madness might have stolen away their precious collection of minutes.

There's a magical quality to the night that postpones the exact coming of the next day - the elusive midnight - a few hours back, and that should suffice.

But that's not stardust on my feet, it leaves a taste that's bittersweet

2009-02-07T23:23:00.002+08:00

Mark Francis Thompson --

[noun]:

A beat poet working the streets

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

http://ihardlyknowher.com/noonshiver

Funny thing

2009-01-28T10:42:00.001+08:00

I remember reading this in a book somewhere a long time ago.

"It's a funny thing when you catch yourself lying to yourself."

Yeah, it is.

note-to-self

2009-01-28T10:01:00.002+08:00

I've been reading past blog entries lately and realized how useful they are. Like bits of music they teleport you back to a time and rekindle whatever feeling you associate with the text. So I shall try to blog about more events to help future me recollect more cool stuff in life. Although the cryptic fashion does help to distinguish the feelings better.

So CNY was as per usual this year, except for G10 meet-up (finally) on Monday night, and the now usual meet-ups with Andre and his relatives. Oh yeah there was that 'Andre's loveables' gathering on Saturday too at the nice M Hotel. I'm guessing we'll have to go back there more often now. And during visiting everyone keeps commenting on my hair and how I've slimmed down so that's ok. Like, I look nice in clothes now (: And I kinda feel I wasted last night when I could have spent it more consciously. Oh well. Next next weekend then.

"You're so cute when you're slurring your speech,
But they're closing the bar and they want us to leave."

Marching Bands of Manhattan- Death Cab for Cutie

2009-01-25T22:59:00.000+08:00

If I could open my arms
And span the length of the isle of Manhattan,
I'd bring it to where you are
Making a lake of the East River and Hudson

If I could open my mouth
Wide enough for a marching band to march out
They would make your name sing
And bend through alleys and bounce off all the buildings.

I wish we could open our eyes
To see in all directions at the same time
Oh what a beautiful view
If you were never aware of what was around you

And it is true what you said
That I live like a hermit in my own head
But when the sun shines again
I'll pull the curtains and blinds to let the light in.

This post

2009-01-11T18:02:00.005+08:00

Imagine a place where the half-hearted, half-finished, half-processed blog posts go to. A sort of limbo for the incorporeal, orphaned transcripts of a million thoughts of a million people, another million being entered every second. It'd be a cold place, abundant with feelings akin to shame and insipidity and jadedness and laziness, all carefully acid-washed with vapidity, jejune in their desolate immaturity. A post that was almost never made, or a post that was almost made, multiplied countless times for the countless people in the world. The only conflict would be that between the senses of opportunity and abandonment, of the taxidermal landscape, with hope smack in the middle. It is lucky then that blog posts have no feelings.

"So if the feeling is transient, does that mean it doesn't count?"

"Wait..I know the answer."

And just so I remember:

2008-12-12T02:16:00.004+08:00

Fall Out Boy - What A Catch, Donnie

"I got troubled thoughts, and the self-esteem to match."

where is your boy tonight-

2008-12-12T01:57:00.002+08:00

It's been a good 2 months and 15 days since I last posted. A's, Japan, Bintan, prom, post-prom, Sentosa. It's been a blast (: Been listening to new Fall Out Boy album on repeat. Just got facebook and I finally understand why it can be addictive. Read Watchmen this week and can't wait for movie next March. And now, as always, let's end with some photos, and see you at Christmas:

Farewell Assembly! Bintan!

Bintan again! Prom! (also my locker photo)
Sentosa stayover! here's looking at you...

Bored

2008-09-27T05:21:00.001+08:00

2008-08-27T00:31:00.001+08:00

If I could travel back in time to December 2007, I'd find the younger me who was still deciding what topic to do for History H3. Then I'd kill him.

That is all.

2008-08-14T01:38:00.003+08:00

A little amnesia never hurt anyone.

asw

2008-08-09T13:23:00.001+08:00

A CATCHY FRENCH SONG:

2008-07-27T01:43:00.001+08:00

It started out as a feeling

2008-06-21T22:29:00.004+08:00

-stuck between doors. I've got this weird feeling right now, like I'm missing out on something terribly fun and important and wonderful, and I should stop and look, but at the same time that the future would be similarly exciting. It's like Wednesday is a watershed day kinda thing and I don't know what to expect after that. But at the same time I'm gonna miss this holidays because it was amazingly fun and eventful and everything else. Exams always give me a mixed tingly sensation that could spark something off but at the same time just restrict that exact thing. I'm kinda rambling now, but it's OK. It's just that I feel enclosed in this freedom if that even makes sense. I'm nervous and tired and happy and reluctant and tons of other stuff. Things don't always have to be story-shaped right. Closing of past doors and all that metaphorical stuff are just guidelines. I'm just-

The wake-up call to a rented room

2008-06-21T04:25:00.005+08:00

Hell yeah I just finished AP and GP in 3 hours. At this rate I should be able to finish maths in time for Wednesday. Anyway today was a really fun day with great company. And I kinda screwed my body clock drinking the whole afternoon, learning and playing squash on high, then having a Brit breakfast at Holland V for dinner. I napped for a couple of hours and woke up with a hangover at freaking 11pm. We gotta do this again after exams yeah. And I just made scrambled eggs. Ffs. Good morning.

In other words: If you start to panic for maths just make eggs yo.

Incidents

2008-06-20T02:59:00.002+08:00

Incident 1
A few weeks back, I was reading Neil Gaiman's short story collection on the MRT. I was on this erotic story that was rather too detailed and being semi-conscious of this I looked around and saw this other dude 2 seats away looking at the pages. Fuck. I rushed through that story and moved onto the next one immediately.

Incident 2
Yesterday morning I had this dream where I was in VS for god knows what, when I felt hungry and approached the drinks stall whereupon I bought a yummy-looking hot dog pastry thing. I was just about to quench my hunger with this masterful culinary feat when I woke up to the buzzing of my phone. I answered it and it was Andre asking me about the theme of meals in Great Expectations. Fuck.

Incident 3
I just watched 4 episodes of Hell's Kitchen back to back during the time that I promised myself I would spend studying, seeing as how I have not studied at all today and I have yet to start on Maths and Econs and I will be tragically busy tomorrow. Then I looked at the clock and see it's 3am. Fuck.

Woah 3 tragic incidents in 1 post. My blog is turning emo man.

Music & Idyllics

2008-06-16T22:02:00.009+08:00

Y'know how listening to certain songs that you haven't heard in a while can bring back distinct memories and vivid recollections of whatever you were doing when you last used to hear it? Like a miniature toned-down time machine that only lasts a second? How an opening snare beat can sound like the kicking down of the door of your mind? Here're some of mine:

I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
Australia, around 2 years back. The song was just released and most every place in Australia was blaring to this track. I recall a waitress singing this song while serving my family food, and again on the radio on the plane ride back.

Time of Your Life - Green Day
When I dropped Chemistry, cos somehow I remember listening to this song on the way to school on the day I told Nabilah that I was going to drop Chem. Aww emo shitz.

Welcome to My Life - Simple Plan
Lower secondary days, during the holidays when my family went down to KL by coach, and there was a bloody traffic jam, and this song came on.

My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
Another plane ride from Australia. The onboard radio had some problems and kept repeating this song, but I was too lazy to remove my headphones. The starting bit is forever ingrained in my brain.

Sugar We're Goin' Down - Fall Out Boy
2007 UK-France VJC Lit Trip! Long bus rides and passing time with the aid of Mark Leong's iPod and weird games. Backseat Boys yo.

Famous Last Words - My Chemical Romance
First three months in VJ, taking the bus home after SLV at Sentosa.
Also during a certain Econs period on Tues, when Mrs Chua arrived late and I stoned in the lab listening to this and discussing favourite MCR songs with Edo.

7 Years Down - Rancid
The 5 day photography job I took with Chris last December to fund my life. Seriously the money was the main motivating factor. I kept playing this song on the long bus rides (to NEWater plant and Night Safari and other amazingly dull places).

Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie
The smell of my new house mingled with Christmas-y feelings, cos I only started looping the DCFC album last December and it was still cool to hang out on the couch in the living room.

Miss Murder - AFI
Chinese lesson in sec 4, when I heard this song for the first time on MTV before school and had to ask Jontan if AFI or Miss Murder was the name of the artist.

and lastly,
Creep - Radiohead
Hanging out with the SMUN gang at CHIJMES last last week til like 4am, getting high, when the live band came up with this song and we started to sing along. HAHAHA.

I currently love studying History. Because I just have to copy the lecture notes into 2 messy pages of fullscap to constitute mugging. I hate the thought of finishing History, because that means I have to move on to maths- or worse, econs.

Oh special mention!
Take Me To Your Heart - Michael Learns To Rock
JAHAHAHAHAHAA.

extract

2008-06-14T14:26:00.001+08:00

Is perfection truly that artificial and intangible a construct?

"Isn't it wonderful to gaze at perfection with your very own eyes? Beauty is transposed, now, to your mind."

"Doesn't it make things alright? The feeling that, after this, things will only get worse? That, you, of all people, are perfection and destruction, all at once- forget liminality. And so is everyone else."

"It's all a matter of perception. Or not. You see what I mean."

2008-05-31T00:50:00.002+08:00

She's an Extraordinary girl
In an ordinary world
And she cant seem to get away

He lacks the courage in his mind
Like a child left behind
Like a pet left in the rain

She's all alone again
Wiping the tears from her eyes
Some days he feels like dying
She gets so sick of crying

She sees the mirror of herself
An image she wants to sell
To anyone willing to buy

He steals the image in her kiss
From her hearts apocalypse
From the one called whatsername

She's all alone again
Wiping the tears from her eyes
Some days he feels like dying
She gets so sick of crying

She's all alone again
Wiping the tears from her eyes
Some days he feels like dying
Some days it's not worth trying
Now that they both are finding
She gets so sick of crying

Woohoo first time I remember posting song lyrics. Anyway I'm listening to Green Day again.

Important Stuff

2008-05-21T12:33:00.003+08:00

Last night I was worried about the econs test today, since I only started studying last night. But I woke up today with the now-familiar feel of a bad headache tinged with the creeping sense of nausea. So I went back to sleep, woke up, went back to sleep, tried to read, could not, slept again, woke up, read, then, realising it was 10.40am, made the last order for a Macdonald's breakfast. Then I watched that battle scene from Pirates of the Caribbean 3 again, and continued to read. Sidenote: Anansi Boys is sadly quite disappointing so far, but only because it's not as epic as American Gods. Anyway, to continue this morning trend of doing important, epic, significant, life-changing, thought-provoking stuff, I proceeded to do those blog quizzes thingies to post on your blog to show how great one (viz, me) is. Thus:

What Mark Francis Thompson Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.
You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!
You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.
You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.
You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life.
You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip.
People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.
You are loving, compassionate, and ruled by your feelings.
You are able to be a foundation for other people... but you still know how to have fun.
Sometimes your emotions weigh you down, but you generally feel free from them.
You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.
You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.
You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.
You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.
You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life.
You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home.
You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.
You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.
Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.
Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.
You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.
You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.
At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.
You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people.
Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems.
Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest.

Incredibly, most of it seems true, and all that just from my name! Sadly I think it's largely because most archetypal generic statements have a hard time being false. Anyway, I did one more:

What Your Taste in Music Says About You

Your musical tastes are intense and rebellious.

You are intelligent... but in a very unconventional way.

You are curious about the world. You love doing something new.

In fact, you enjoy taking risks and doing things most people would shy away from.

You are very physical. It's likely that you're athletic, but not into team sports.

You have the soul of an artist. Beauty and harmony are important to you.

Uh huh. Now I shall stop my internets and go shower then head to school for the soccer match and Andre's play tonight. Also,I have to make a peanut butter sandwich. Bye.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-19T11:57:00.003+08:00

God, Saturday night was a night of shit. Belated Mother's Day dinner at some ulu Thai restaurant in the middle of Still Road, squeezed between a dusty car dealer and some other shop, where we were the only customers. Dinner was ok and mostly seafood, but then my stomach began to feel weird after that. Thinking I had just eaten too much, I went home and proceeded to watch Stardust (having just finished the great novel). It was a great movie but then I started to get a headache. Tried to sleep but images of bloody princes and fantastical nonsense sped through my head giving me the worst headache I had ever gotten. Goddamn Gaiman-induced trauma. Finally managed to sleep but awoke at 5 with a horrible feeling and even worse headache. But then I vomited and went back to sleep and woke up at 3pm, took panadols and lazed around til today and now I'm ok, although abit disoriented. Now whenever I think of that sick, disgusting soft-shelled Thai crab I feel like puking my guts out. Fack. I wish I had gone for Rock On Myanmar instead and taken photos.

The Things That I Want

2008-05-17T17:14:00.003+08:00

1, The gift of amnesia, to trade in the fait accompli of finishing a story for the wonder and joy of having a new one to spend a sleepless night delving into.
2, A proper camera.
3, An impulsive cure for my boredom and free time, in the vague fabrications of spending it with friends.
4, For time to fly, so that two weeks will pass by unnoticed.
5, A lack of foreboding, instead of an equipoise between that and preparation, with the holes stopped to prevent that ominous feel from creeping in.
6, Stasis.
7, For my future self to note the shallow qualities of my previous wants, in which was hopefully a great time, and for the wants to retain such qualities, transient and syncopating.

One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for for for..., five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret, never to be told.

reality

2008-03-31T21:07:00.002+08:00

Sometimes you ought to give more credit to reality and the unforseeable.

I overslept today, and only woke at noon.

Reached school in time for lit lecture and GP.

Ignored voice in my head and went for lit lecture and GP.

Note to self: listen to voice in my head.

Circadian rhythm: normality restored.

But I can just foresee myself screwing up my sleep cycle up again tonight... But at least I got me a new schedule for Mondays!

//complaint

2008-03-31T03:04:00.002+08:00

I foresee the future.

It involves falling asleep during History tutorial.

It involves contemplating the pros and cons of attending Econs lecture.

It involves an afternoon nap.

It involves missing dinner due to aforementioned afternoon nap.

Most of all it involves regret over the previous night- that is, still being awake at bloody 3 in the morning.

Then again it also involves resignation to the replacement (albeit messed up) circadian rhythm.

backstory

2008-02-18T22:35:00.005+08:00

This photo of mine was actually cropped from this other photo I took:
It was taken on the first day of last year's lit trip, in Stratford-upon-Avon. We were late for the play and were hurrying towards the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, after dinner at the local pub. It was also bone-chillingly cold, with a persistent wind that flapped at our clothes and stung our extremities. We'd just turned the corner, on a beeline to the theatre, when I saw, to the left, a handful of small boats alongside this nice little dock. Afraid I'd trail behind if I lingered, I just took a rushed photo with my compact cam, hoping to do some photoshop touching-up when I got back. So, I finally got around to it last night, and managed to get the look and feel of the place that day (I think). Anyway I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out, and it's my wallpaper for the moment. It was also one of 5 photos I decided to upload last night (mostly taken and photoshopped ages ago). Check them out on my flickr.

essay

2008-02-18T02:00:00.002+08:00

2 am.

The incessant whirring of the fan blades. Left, right, left, right, left. Tapping of the keys. Tap, tap, tap, tap. It'll be beautiful outside, black and wondrous and limitless. Imagine the possibilities, what infinitely fleeting poignant moment you could capture outside, in the wide expanse of just one mind. Imagine the dreams you could encounter, or the nightmares, it doesn't matter. Tap, whir. Whir, tap.

"If you live here, you live in the real world."

film

2008-02-17T17:47:00.003+08:00

I feel like taking photographs again. Polaroid decided to stop making their special film - the type where photos can be instantly produced without having to wait for an hour at a print store. This has nothing at all to do with me. I have never owned a polaroid, and seeing the current updates, nor am I likely to own one in any future. Don't get me wrong, I know the benefits of polaroid. I've seen polaroids. I've had my picture taken on a polaroid, had the blank paper passed to me, had to shake it vigorously and watch my own face appear from the murky depths of god-knows-where. And the colours are amazing. In 1980, it must have been the closest thing to digitalism. Modernity in a polaroid. I want to take photos, but not with a digital camera, with film. Film needs a revival. You take a shot and you don't know how it's gonna turn out til maybe a day later. You don't waste film. You only keep memories that are worth keeping. Ultimately, though, the benefits of the digital still overwhelm film, I guess. I won't disillusion myself into being a purist, because I'm not. But I want to take photographs in film, and submit it for an exhibition, and have people look at it. If the appreciation exceeds the time captured within the photo, I'm pleased. But I don't want to keep the photo, hidden away in an album on a shelf, lying that I'll look at it and feel whatever I wanna feel, 5, 10, 20 years later. Maybe that's why I want to take a photograph. Just the sense of the exciting colours, the touch of the film in my hand, the smell of the dark room chemicals, possibly even fumbling in the dark. There's a romantic quality to it. Then again this might be a just another transient urge. Maybe tomorrow I'll say digital is the way to go. If only we could tell the future the same way we develop polaroids. A shake here, a jerk there, and the future...develops, from blurry nothingness to a vivid narration in seconds. Void to clarity. Maybe I just don't want to die before I've had a chance to take a film photo and develop it myself. Wouldn't that be an absolute waste?

ph4!l

2008-01-28T23:45:00.000+08:00

OhGodNotAnotherOne

2008-01-25T00:19:00.000+08:00

Hi.

Don't you hate that feeling, when you have a lit essay due tomorrow and it's already 12am the night before and you haven't started and you finally decide to submit it late? (Procrastinators unite, tomorrow!)

We were sitting in the canteen stoning after school when Harris saw us and began to chat about his feelings (un)towards Singapore. Shan't go into detail because it just doesn't do if your lit teacher gets put into jail the year you're taking 'A's. Anyway what he said set me thinking and on the lookout for falling trees.

Anyway I need to a) buy Queen musical tickets tomorrow at Parkway; b) think of excuses for lit; c) finally do some filing because my file is bursting, and it's only been a month back at school; and d) read the four History books Sayers lent me. I shall do so...tomorrow!

Also Mr Ho showed us a Cyanide&Happiness comic during math lecture today. I wonder if he's read the risque ones. Maybe he's into webcomics too and reads QC and xkcd and other cool stuff (or not).

Photog yesterday was quite interesting. Did pinhole photography involving a Yeo's camera, and used the darkroom for the first time. Unfortunately there was an excess of J1s and I only had two tries to estimate the exposure and screwed both shots up badly. I shall try again! (Next week.)

Forgoing afternoon naps in the hopes of early sleeptimes always screws up somehow. How can you be sleepy at 4 dead tired at 5 then wide awake at 7 without napping, then sleeping at 1am and screwing up the cycle again for the next day and dozing off during lectures.

Oh I've got an e) use Borders voucher before it expires.

I just finished reading Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor (Obi-wan!) & Charley Boorman, a sorta autobiography on their motorcycle trip halfway around the world. They literally rode from London across Europe, Russia and Mongolia and then the US. Language is simple and fun to read and it's quite an engaging story. I like the many incidents of strange meetings between them and the indigenous peoples and the clash of cultures. Now I can choose, as my next bedtime book, between History of the Present (a gasp history book), some bizarre vampire novel with hints of eroticism, and Carnival of Spies. Agh someone help me find a paperback copy of Pratchett's new book please.

Ooh I just realized my pics are up on the SYC webbie (that job I took last December for the monies). Aah fond memories.

And now I've spent half an hour writing non-Gatsby related stuff. Goddammit.

ps. Hi Lois

pps.

Nostalgia

2008-01-22T00:21:00.000+08:00

It's so weird blogging suddenly. I was just flipping through my previous posts, y'know, cos that's what a blog is for. To remember the past? Right? Or I might have mixed it up with the pressing teenage need to bore people with emoness. Anyway.

I've realized I haven't finished my recollection of the '07 Lit Trip. It just slipped my mind completely. Remind me to finish it soon, there's like half the trip left.

Also, since no one wants to watch Cloverfield with me, I've decided to assume my own responsibilities and watch it myself. Also because it was conveniently up for download. Interesting show, but the main reason I wanted to watch it (and I suspect for the many others too) was due to the viral marketing campaign, a la Lost. I've been following it for about a month now, and although it culminated quite well (which is more than can be said for countless other movies with normal huge budgets), I have to say it, the monster looks weird. At least it's one step up from black smoke. And the only difference from most movies with monster attacks is the innovative use of a handheld throughout the whole movie to invoke a sense of ~~nausea~~ realism. Acting and effects are pretty solid though. You can see I really have nothing to blog about (concerning my life, that is).

Oo MingHao got a pool table. Coupled with my recent shift to the lane next to his, this means more pool for us. I am improving greatly, but mostly due to the fact that I sucked to start with. We have invented many new styles of playing, most of which require a TV playing weird-ass Chinese dramas and commercials. (like ROFLMAO shaolin hockey/floorball in ancient china? wtf.)

In other news, I've found more nice bands to listen to. Broadway Calls is a new punk rock band, hardly nouveau, but with relatively nice melodies, albeit accompanied with exceedingly familiar vocals. Think early post-punk era 'rock'. Thus far my playlist still consists mainly of Death Cab and Matches, and if anyone has more The Higher songs then givethemtomenowthanks. I need more indie recommend me some bands!

On a sidenote I haven't finished packing 2 more boxes in my room. Hopefully when they are finally gone they shall impart upon my small room the illusion of bigger space.

Hmm, let's see, what else should I blog about that I can read back and reminiscence in the future. Oh sonofabitch I just remembered there's H3 stuff due tomorrow. Okay not a bad start now just one more bit of deep thought. Uhhh. Ummm. I sat in lit lecture with Warran today. And Daniel and Meiyi. And if Jeremy had sat next to us we could have had fun recollecting lit trip. Nostalgia within Nostalgia! I'd better stop before we get emo.

'Cos our December sun is setting

2007-12-30T03:45:00.000+08:00

>You are in a dark, strange room. Indie rock fills the air, accompanied with the occasional noisy tap-tap-tapping of the keyboard.
>You try to move the chair, but it is stuck. You turn around and see heaps (okay maybe just 5) of large boxes cluttered around what free space is left of the room. You are sadly confined to the small space you already occupy. It could only be sadder if this small space were your new room which you recently moved into, the confines of which are exaggerated by a crazy sleep schedule which has one awake, and blogging no less, in the wee hours of the morning. Hypothetically speaking of course.
>You quickly wear out the fun of blogging in MUD-variant. [You are eaten by a grue?]

If you look at the title of this post, you could infer that I'm still suffering from Death Cab addiction. However it appears to be wearing off slightly, thanks to the many new indie bands I have chanced upon. Including the never-before-heard-of Foxboro Hot Tubs :D. Also, have I mentioned Duku Lane is a good place to be when you have no internet connection? The neighbour leaves his wireless on almost 24/7, and although the connection is a tad slow (insert list of vulgarities aimed at neighbour)(please don't report me) a craving for Questionable Content is enough to last a few days. But I have finally procured my computer and new Starhub plan from the clutches of my old house and the Starhub people (respectively). So I am satisfied. Anyway crazy week moving = no sleep = alot of sleep when I finally get it = messed up sleep schedule = blogging at 4am. Although admittedly I'm only blogging while waiting for my downloads to finish. THERE I SAID IT I'M ONLY BLOGGING FOR NECESSITY. I'M JUST USING YOU, BLOGOSPHERE.

Also, I need to talk more about my temp. job the other time, and about Christmas and about the hectic hectic past week. Not because anything traumatic happened and I need to get it out of my system, but because interactive non-fiction needs to make a comeback an oh look my downloads have finished. You have served your purpose, blog! Now back to the depths of the internet til boredom strikes again. And in case that doesn't happen, happy pre-emptive New Year's.

ps Omg I got spam on my last post I AM POPULARRR.

decemberunderground

2007-12-01T00:48:00.000+08:00

It's 1am and I feel like it's 10pm. Oooh I can just feel another long and boring night to come. Seriously, I'm so bored nowadays. I can't sleep til 7am, and I won't wake til past noon. 3am to 7am is killer, when no one's online and my screwed-up computer is not cooperating by not providing me with the usual inane things-to-do. I shall thus attempt to externalise my boredom, through the tried-and-tested method of ranting on my blog so that you readers can suffer the author's banes. Think of it as...interactive non-fiction. We begin:

Yay it's December again. Cue jingly bells and whatnot. I've been looking forward to Christmas since I started studying for promos (what's that, like more'n a month ago), but now, ehh, not so much. Maybe when Christmas is actually here I won't even be in The Festive Mood. It'll be weird having the usual Christmas dinner (no no no shutup about Great Expectations) at the new house. Oh wait, I haven't said that I'm moving, did I.

So, I'm moving.

We're supposed to officially move on the 8th of December, but the new house has only just started undergoing renovation and stuff, so we'll probably shift back the date. I haven't even started to pack =/ My room's gonna be a bitch to pack, seeing as how my new room is smaller and blah. We've removed all the cupboard doors from the kitchen though (whoop de doo). So now there're random cupboard doors stacked in my kitchen, while the contents of each cupboard are exposed. (Time for Short Anecdote For Humorous Effect:) So there I was, preparing my nightly cup of tea, and I turn to grab a spoon from the drawer behind me, and blam my hand smacks into a kitchen cupboard DOOR. Twas a surreal moment, since cupboard doors should be affixed to cupboards, not on the floor blocking harmless drawers. It's like living in a house of a person suffering from cupboard-door-phobia.

Meh.

Had a briefing at Adidas, Cathay earlier this evening. Sounds cool eh. Y'know that Standard Chartered marathon being held this Sunday, well I'm gonna be a paid photographer for the event :D My first official stint as photographer. Woohoo. But it's a measly $50, and I can tell it'll sure as hell be boring taking photo after photo of portraits. Then I'll probably blow the cash immediately after on some whim. But I'm desperate! I know I should find a job, but I just wanna rot at home.

And if you can't tell already, I'm getting hooked on AFI again. I mean, c'mon, there's gotta be a reason I own their album (which coincidentally makes up 33.3% of my album collection). Notwithstanding the fact I bought it cheap at some book fair in Sydney. With my dad's money. OK whatever, they rock. And then there's Death Cab for Cutie and The Matches, two til-recently lesser-known bands (y'know, cos I only recently heard of them) that're great too. Although I think I'm falling back into getting hooked on Green Day again. Bloody December, I'm probably gonna get addicted to LOTR again. Already I feel the urge to re-read the book. Maybe I shall pop the DVD in tonight...for old times' sake?

And webcomics! They're great. XKCD, PerryBibleFellowship, LookingForGroup,ErfWorld and OrderoftheStick(yay) have got me addicted. That I've completed them all in the past few days. Go google them, I'm too lazy to find a link.

Dammit I'm still as bored as ever. Bloody blogs never work. Least I can hope for is every reader dumb enough to read this entire post grows bored too.

*2.45am edit: That's it! I'm going off to my room to watch LOTR and do my crosswords. Why is no one interesting online!

Greatest Hits

2007-11-06T02:37:00.000+08:00

Update is here! Since alot has happened since my last post, I have invented a unique and cool (groundbreaking) way of listing what events have conspired throughout this period- a list. In order of awesomeness and how much I like 'em. Tadah:

Number 5: Getting H3 History

One step closer to going overseas! Or not. Haven't really decided. Anyway was pretty much decided on History as my H3, then Mr Harris had to ask me the day before confirmation if I wanted to do lit, and blahblah a dilemma ambushed me, but I eventually decided on History. Cos it's more exclusive, yo. Like half of LT4 was packed with H3 students, and when they split us up, whoosh, there were only 8 people in History while the rest of Singapore went over to the Lit H3 section. But obviously my desire and passion in History also played large roles in my decision to choose History. Obviously.

Number 4: The End of PW

OMG YESSS!!!!1!1!11!!!!
Actually PW wasn't really as bad as everyone takes it to be, but still, it's over. No more irritating deadlines/formats/chionging etc. Free~

Number 3: Hours of Lan

The end of PW, and thus, semester 2 of JC1, means that we students are incredibly bored. As the middle children of education, we have no O's or A's or PSLE's, but tons of time for LAN's. 4 hour sessions followed by Katong Laksa interspersed with knowledge that school is gone for 2 months is incredible.

Number 2: Night Cycling

The Friday after OP rehearsal, Ming Hao and I decided to go for supper. Not something spontaneous, being as we'd already collaborated a few times, but we decided to go night cycling along the MRT tracks at 12.30am after. Oooh, delinquent behaviour. Cycled all the way to Expo, then left the track and promptly got lost in Simei, at 2.30am. Then took a wrong turn on the way back at Bedok, 3am. Reached home, 3.45am. But tis the joy of night cycling! Plus two spastic people cycling around rehearsing OP in fake slangs is always fun.

Number 1: Class Chalet!

Costa Sands Resort @ Pasir Ris is super cramped, and was not built for, nor will it ever be meant for, 15 people to hang out and sleep in. Cos when four people play the Xbox on the steps, no one can get up into the room. Why would people wanna get into that small room? Cos there're beds and air-con. But it was fun. BBQ on first day was slightly hampered by all the teachers having last-minute second thoughts, and the funny scene of the guys spending LIKE FREE at the NTUC. Banana at BBQ? Yeah. Oh OK take 2 lor. Wa enough burgers not? Aiyah buy 8 lah. And poof went $150, but surprising all the food disappeared by the 2nd day. Activities at the chalet included: BBQ with burgers and hot dogs and lots of wine; Taboo which I unluckily got all the hard words; mahjong til 5am (I played Xbox though);a walk in Pasir Ris Park (sadly cut short by tired people); a nap on the hard floor; breakfast at Macs. And then more mahjong, wine, Xbox, rinse and repeat. Slept for like 2 hours the first two days, but still managed to cycle to Bedok for prata without any major collisions (by me, anyway). And I'm currently still addicted to mahjong. We shall have a mahjong/bridge/Xbox marathon night one day soon. Halo 2 deathmatch is funnn, so is NFS racing, especially with people who make alot of noise. Anyway more info on this fun-filled chalet can be got from my classmates' blogs, so don't be lazy, just cos I am. And if you owe me money for the chalet ($25 for lodging+food), PAY UP LAH.

postscript: Yay lit trip reunion gathering thingy is tomorrow. I shall bring cards for bridge. But Edo is leaving for Indon tomorrow too, so sadly won't be able to see him off. No worries, he'll be back la. And boo to my spoilt graphics card, I can't play shit. Seriously. Solitaire and StepMania not counted. Am sick of countless playing of Generals and DOTA. Which I still suck at. Shall watch movies instead. Does anyone have Brazil, SLC Punk!, Dr. Strangelove, and 2001: A Space Odyssey to lend me? You can have my burnt graphics card in return.

post-postscript: Has anyone heard about the writers strike? Seems like Heroes is gonna be cut to 11 eps cos of that. What? TV Serials have WRITERS?? Blah, I hope House continues.

OMG WIN!

2007-10-15T00:39:00.000+08:00

Look what I got in my inbox!

POWERBALL LOTTO -wheel E-game 2007,
Cumberland House 80 Scrubs Lane,
London NW10 6RF,
United Kingdom.
Date: 14th October 2007
Ref Nr: PBL/CN/___/CP
Dear Consolation Prize Winner,

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on the 14th October 2007,Your email ID identified with coupon No. PBL234897____.

You have been approved for the star prize of 500,000:00 (Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds.Please contact the due process unite [sic] officer DPU Mr William Simon.

Claims Requirements:

1. Full names:
2. Residential address:
3. Phone number:
4. Fax number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age:
8. Nationality:
9. Present Country:
10.Next of kin name/address:
11.Passport Photograph (or any form of legal identification: Driver's License etc.)

Contact E-mail: __________@yahoo.es
Mr William Simon
Fiduciary Agent
+447011140945
+447011147298

Once again congratulations from all our staffs on your consolation prize winning.

Regards
Mrs Judith Mark
Group Coordinator)

Copyright © 1994-2007 the Powerball Lottery Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of service - Guideline

How lucky am I! I won the London Lottery! And I'm underage too! My dreams of taking part in imaginary lottos, being English, and being rich have all come true! Oh my, I feel faint. Now brb while I send them my full personal details!

ps. Maybe I should reply them and point out their typos so the next winner will have no doubts whatsoever.

If You Could Travel Back In Time...

2007-09-30T00:46:00.000+08:00

The end of promos is round the corner! (Sorry people who haven't finished their promos. *sniggers*) Only Chinese left...hope it's an easy paper. Feel quite confident for my promos, especially so since I mugged alot the past week. Mugging in VS is FUN (am I crazy). Hope I'm able to take H3 History.

Just been back from dinner at Lau Par Sat, with some of my dad's old students-including Hamish Brown, that DJ from Gold 90.5. Quite a fun gang, and cool to see such old classmates still hanging out after so many years, recalling memories from their days at SJI.

Anyway been really free since Thursday, so I've decided to photoshop alot of my pics, especially those taken in London/France, with the new techniques I've learnt from Google (Thank You Google). For those interested, it's mostly B&W conversion by Daniel Diaz or Greg Gorman and a few experimental tweaks. It's much nicer than the flat tones I get from shooting B&W direct from camera. Anyway here are a few rejected edits: fun ones but I feel lacking in certain areas that prevent it showcasing on my Flickr.

Tryed out some IR technique to fit with the surreal-ness of the location. Like the blurry effect. Sky here is totally fake-stole it from another pic. Can tell from my horrendous cropping though =/

One of the first few pics I took in England. Somehow reminds me of Christmas.
Taken from the bus, in Paris. Interesting scene, but feel it's lacking in overall impact...

This is what a real grocery looks like, not those air-conditioned neon-sign-ed establishments in S'pore.

Street photography in the UK is the BEST. I hope I get a scholarship to study there, which means H3, which means good promo results, which means I'm already nervous. Also I've been deprived of photography with a DSLR for like 3 months now, due to Promos and Shit™. I'm just gonna borrow the school's one on Monday after Chinese paper and shoot til January. I'm just gonna travel all over Singapore and focus purely on photography this 3 months and shoot daily. Somewhat impressed by that Boston photographer (whose name eludes me now), who took photos for 40 years, selected one good picture a year, and released a collection of these 40 superb photos in a book-imagine the standard of his selection process! So I'll take photos for these 3 months and only upload the best at the end of December. It seems like VJ has 'ignited my passion' for photography (eugh cliche) after 4 years of being school photographer, or it's just the kinda shit that happens at this age, anyway I promise some good quality work by December. Check this space!

ps - anybody wanna go with me to Changi/East Coast/Ubin/Punggol/Botanical Gardens/Zoo/Chinese Gardens/CBD

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS NUDITY

2007-09-22T23:33:00.000+08:00

Now that I have guaranteed viewership, let's carry on with the comic:

2007-09-19T12:03:00.000+08:00

Fillest

2007-09-19T00:42:00.000+08:00

Annndd, that's what she said.

Filler

2007-09-17T21:27:00.001+08:00

No, not an update, weekend maybe?
Anyway seriously funny shit, watch now!
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1759736

Leaving on a Cliché

2007-09-05T00:50:00.000+08:00

So I'm leaving for Macau tomorrow, and fortunately (or not) I'm still not fully submerged in the study feeling that it'll compromise my holiday-fun-time. Anyway I'm still bringing tons of material to mug in Macau. Material mug macau mug material macau mug mug macaumugmug.

Some mixed responses from hearing my overseas plans during this [sarcasm]dire[/sarcasm] period:

Tricia: NO WAY

Andre: YOU ARE MAD

Suresh: LOL

I'm usually terribly bored while waiting at some casino lobby for my parents, usually finishing half a book a night, but perversely I'm looking forward to mugging at the Venetian~ Second largest building in the world, baby! Live bands dancing girls free flow of drinks big cafes.

ohmygod imagine mugging at that cafe with a nice coffee in the middle of the night with irritating locals imitating Italian singers. My mugging break is gonna own everyone elses! wahahhaa.

ps gonna rush from airport on Saturday to HISSOC bbq yay.
pps forgot how fun the halo series really is. dammit now I can't wait for halo 3

Comics

2007-09-03T23:10:00.000+08:00

alt text: "Here, I'll put my number in your cell pho -- wait, why is it already here?"

Disjointed thoughts:

They're holding a wake at our carpark. The big tent rises up to my floor and blocks my view of things. They pasted red paper squares on every level of our apartment. The sounds of weeping and praying rises up even above the TV din and the computer noise. I have no book to read to sleep tonight. I'll visit the library before school tomorrow morning. I wanna take photos at national stadium tomorrow.

Fireworks!

2007-08-20T00:22:00.000+08:00

Saturday. Before I get into the main event of the fireworks (involving a mysterious cat), I woke up at 7am to go to the airport to see Jeo off, who was heading to Indonesia for the Asean track and field sports thingy. Besides me, only Edo and Tricia showed up, and we had breakfast at Burger King before heading to the gate to say goodbye proper (the olde putting face on glass and waving and crap). Funny Jeo, she was like "Take care of the girls in class", to which I responded "You're not coming back?", then she hit me. Yep.

Anyway.

Singapore Fireworks Festival was at night (no, really.), so we VJ photographers (all 4 of us) headed down to shoot. Being the Singapore Festival, we went down at 3.30pm to chope a place. People were already lining the rails by 4+. Crazy bastards, and it started at 9pm, and it was raining slightly. I was immensely bored by the 5h of wait. Lemme sum up the key moments:

Sat down on steps under shade of tree, which did a good job of filtering only the large droplets of water to fall on my head.

Saw a leaf.

Suddenly, a cat came.

And then, to our eternal wonder, it rained some more.

Finally set up tripods to reserve the spot near the railings.

Then proceeded to leaf through great ex, with occasional water droplets inflicting liquid mayhem on my notes. Closer to evening, we calibrated our equipment- ok fine we took out our cameras and put them on the tripods- and stood there like ~~idiots~~ professionals.

When next I turned around, the whole of Singapore was seated behind me. To the right:

And to the left:And finally, 9pm came. And left. Then they launched those lighted kite thingies that fly around endearingly for 10s and then irritatingly for the next 5min after. Stadium lighted up, music came on, yada yada yada and someone quipped in a dry yet witty tone, "Have they forgotten the fireworks." (Yeah that was me)

The fireworks finally began at 9.15pm to a tired yet very much excited atmosphere. Every burst of light ignited a similarly loud (maybe not) reaction from the crowd. Oohs and aahs and waahs and a few walaus. Like that scene in LOTR with the fireworks, remember? A bit humorous, but the display was quite fantastic. I can't recall the last time I'd seen fireworks (excepting that time I was in the hotel in KL and suddenly a few fireworks went off behind the Petronas towers and I looked out the window and returned to my book), so it was kinda nice. Sad that it lasted only 15min, and I only got a handful of useable pics, but a good experience nonetheless. Did anyone else see the show? I think my favourite was the bit when the cat came.

Ooh.

Aah.

Wahh.

Walau eh smoke.

Free!

2007-08-13T01:53:00.000+08:00

Yesss just completed all my backlogged homework. Gonna dump them in teachers' lockers first thing tomorrow when I reach school to (hopefully) absolve all blame. But then again I was supposed to start studying and clear my backlogged knowledge this holiday... and there's still that bloody harris essay due Friday which I'm sure I'll manage to procrastinate til next next next next time, and history essays are looming round the corner, I know it. Now is exactly the time I should not get addicted to CS again.

Anyway, on to more delightful stuff inspired from last Saturday's afternoon of VH1's top 100 songs of the 80's:

REM - It's the End of the World (And I Feel Fine)

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

Do your homework with this songs blasting in the background! It works for me! And the occasional Green Day, of course.
Night.

Shuffle

2007-08-05T21:42:00.000+08:00

Got this from Muyao's blog. Answer the questions of life and everything by shuffling your songs(If this fails, try 42)! I'd like to say I did this when I was bored, but really it was when I was supposed to start my History essay (yar the one week overdue one).

How are you feeling today?
Readymade-RHCP
I wish my homework felt like me.

Will you get far in life?
The Simpsons Theme - Green Day
That answers everything.

Will you get married?
Strange Brew - Eric Clapton
heheh. What?

What is the story of your life?
Shine On - Jet
Optimism FTW!

What was primary school like?
The Passage of the Marshes - Howard Shore
HAHA. Hmm. Nice marshes, though.
(Yes, I listen to LOTR soundtrack. So what.)

How can you get ahead in life?
Love of My Life - Queen
I see...

What's the best thing about your friends?
She Cries - Simple Plan
Optimistic and sadistic, eh

What's in store for this weekend?
The Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Dammit, still underage.

What song describes you?
Welcome to Paradise - Green Day
Whoopee.

How is your life going?
Busted - Matchbox Twenty
Must be the bloody essays.

What song will they play at your funeral?
Liar (It Takes One To Know One) - Taking Back Sunday
D:

How does the world see you?
Inside Out - Yellowcard
Inner beauty FTW?

Will I have a happy life?
Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
Aww. Whatever.

What do your friends really think of you?
End - The Doors
That bad huh.

Do people secretly lust after you?
Shake It Up - Elizabeth Daily
eee.

How can I make myself happy?
I Can See For Miles - The Who
Foresight? Or binoculars?

What should you do with your life?
Touch Too Much - AC/DC
Yessss.

Will I ever have children?
You and I - Michael Buble
I knew Buble didn't really give any answers.

Updates

2007-07-29T13:39:00.000+08:00

As some of you have kindly mentioned, it's been about a month since my last post. Haha. Can't really lie and say I've been busy with school, but yeah been sleeping later than usual these few weeks and taking afternoon naps. Anyway nothing much happened to warrant a long post, except possibly my mid year results, which I'll condense into a few lines for the benefit of those who have had enough of students bitching about results. So here:

GP: C
Chinese: E
Lit: C
Math: D
Econs: E
Hist: E

Yay no fail. Shall work harder for promos- hope to start mugging 1 month before. Of course that's kinda wishful thinking considering I started mugging for mid years only 2 days before. Should I take Hist or Lit H3? Hmm.

Anyway some things to look out for, for those among you who don't google.

The Simpsons is out! And if you remember my post from a few months back, Green Day is in it! Whee. Check out the previews- Green Day even did a cover of the theme song. Sounds pretty good.

Director of Lost and Alias J.J. Abrams just stated he's gonna direct the next Star Trek movie, a sort of prequel to be released in Christmas 08. Sadly William Shatner won't be in it. Just hope Abrams doesn't screw the show up with numerous flashbacks and smoke monsters. Don't you just have a bad feeling about this? Which reminds me, the last few eps of Lost season 3 rocked, unlike the middle part of the season and the whole of season 2. For those lost fans out there, news is there'll be 2 more seasons with the finale of the show airing in 2010.

J.J. Abrams will also be directing another movie to be released on January 18. It's quite a huge movie but largely under the radar, with only one trailer out and a cast of previously unheard of people- kinda like lost. No one knows anything about it, not even the title. Watch the trailer, it's reminiscent of a "war of the worlds" type of movie, but judging from the trailer it's something to look forward to. Kinda like the idea of watching a movie that no one knows about until you actually enter the cinema and watch the frickin movie. (Also, will no one watch Die Hard 4 with me? Don't force me to go illegal here! Ahhh)

Hitman the movie is coming out in October! Yaaay thank god they didn't cast Vin Diesel for the lead role. Cool trailer.

Also, House season 4 will start on September 25! Yesssss!!!!11!11!! Spoilers here. Hope Stephen Fry finally manages to cameo in this season.

And I recently finished 24 season 6, but found it quite disappointing. Seems I'm not alone in this thinking, it's the only season not nominated for an oscar. In response to this, the directors are gonna change the concept of the show for season 7, can't wait!

Why do I get the feeling no one else knows what I'm talking about? Anyway, when you do hear these bits of news, remember, you heard it first here {[Also, I'll probably be glued to the tv next year (or, computer screen. tsk@ illegal downloading).] yay@multiple parentheses}.

Wahaha, bye.

And yes! I'm gonna buy Half Blood Prince and finally read it! Hope it's down to $9.90 already. Will then wait another year and buy deathly hallows for $9.90. What, it worked for Book 5. Budget thinking rocks.

edit: satire. It's Wednesday tomorrow!

Day 05: London-Rochester-Canterbury-Lille

2007-06-21T08:39:00.000+08:00

It is 6.12am as I type this. If you're wondering how the hell did I manage to wake up so early, it's mainly cos I didn't sleep. Strangely I don't feel tired at all- probably related to that cup of extra-nescafe-powder coffee I had a few hours back. Besides if I sleep now I'll never get to school in time to study at 9am. I really need to study more! Have only covered half of maths so far. Studying today-yesterday-was pretty unproductive, especially after I shifted from VJ to VS, which is like shifting from a noisy classroom to a noisy canteen. The difference is seeing everyone again and of course the ever popular game of bridge. Will probably do the same thing later. Hey, it's only mid years.

Ok think I had better get on with narrating day 05 before I forget even more of the trip. Ever hear the metaphor of memories as sand in your hand, the harder you try to grab it, the more it falls away? Which kinda explains the slew of posts this two weeks.

Woke up early, brought bags down, then went into the already-regular process of breakfasting. Collect tray, deposit food coupon, 2 sausage rolls, 1 chocolate croissant, 1 toast (white), 1 jam (strawberry), 1 butter, walk up steps, put down tray, walk down steps, get coffee, etc. Bus was early so we boarded immediately after breakfast, bade farewell to yet another hostel and headed to Rochester.

What's interesting in Rochester? The Dicken's Festival (of course!) was supposedly being celebrated (still, I doubt if this answers the question for most of you). Anyway we didn't head into town first, since we first had a tour around the area (this word suggests 'small'. It took one hour to get to where we wanted, within the area). Dickens lived here, and used alot of the surrounding places in Great Expectations, such as the marshes and the church and the hulks. Don't get me wrong, the old kindly-looking guide was very knowledgeable on Dickens and was in fact quite interesting. It's just that late previous night+early morning+comfortable chair=inevitable, definite, sure slumber. Anyway our point of interest was the church with the graveyard containing the 13 tablets Dickens uses in the first chapter of GreatEx. It was a desolate church in the middle of strawberry farms (don't ask me). Quite a small church, and it looked pretty old, but nevertheless a somewhat spooky aura emanated from it, despite the fact that the sun was high in the sky. Wish I could take pictures that at night... Anyway gotta make do with these:

Headed back to Rochester proper after this, and headed into town, which really takes its celebrations seriously. There was confetti all over, a big band playing music, and heaps of people dressed up old-fashion-like parading down the streets and posing for pictures. There were banners everywhere and flags and lights and tons of people milling around. And it wasn't even Chinese New Year or Christmas. We headed to the house Dickens implemented into his novel as Satis House, which I've always imagined to be grander than what it actually looked like. Sometimes, imagination>reality. Actually, all the time. Strolled around town some more, then headed back to the bus for Canterbury.

Come to think of it, Canterbury held no strictly-academic connotations. Strictly-academically speaking of course. There was of course the famous cathedral and the West Gate.

Canterbury is quite a scenic town- we had to snake along a shallow river infested with ducks to get to town, which is basically defined by streets bordered by double-storey houses, a cathedral and the West Gate. Had free time to explore town, where we guys decided to savour the fish & chips (learnt that salt does go with coke) and explore the cathedral. Spent most of the time at the cathedral actually-the land it occupied was huge, and only had time enough to stroll through the gardens and surrounding ruins, then walk through the church to get back to our meeting place. Took a few nice photos though:

Returned to the bus which took us to the train terminal. Apparently there was some screw-up or other which left four people without tickets, but luckily managed to procure them- what's important was that we now had about half an hour to play bridge (with Ms Chia's luggage starring as the table). The train was surprisingly (at least to me) packed, and had to chase some French buggers off of our rightful seats. Sat with Desmond, Jing Han and Daniel at the table-seats. Which, if you're getting the gist of this post, meant that we could play bridge. The train soon entered a tunnel, and soon after exited the tunnel, and just like that we were in France. Which is quite a rip-off since I expected more notice and a longer time to play bridge.

First building I noticed in France: a Carrefour. Anyway. Another bus picked us from the train station and brought us to the lovely town of Lille, which contrary to its name is quite large. Checked into the hotel (Holiday Inn! By far the best accomodation), had a nice French dinner (bread, salmon, bread, chocolate mousse, bread) and then we left to explore the town. Found this small anphitheatre where we fooled around and I almost killed Warran (operative word being almost), then strolled through and around town. Most of the shops were closed or closing, but it was peaceful to walk around. As usual, Warran was just looking for a club. Met Ms Chia, then left her so we could return late. Nothing much to do, so decided to meet in the lobby to-yes-play bridge. However when the three of us (Warran Mark and me) reached our room, we all fell asleep immediately. I didn't even remove my shoes, my legs were half off the bed when I woke up (late, as you shall find out in the next post). (The next post probably being after the mid-years)

ps-If you're wondering why I take 2h to write one post, it's cos I multitask. For example, I played F.E.A.R. and CNC3 and surfed the net. Anyway off I go to YaKun for breakfast and VJ for studying and VS for bridge later on.

pps- This is probably the most times the word bridge has appeared in a post.

Intermission: And Now For Something Completely Different

2007-06-15T16:58:00.001+08:00

Seems as though the trip has piqued my interest in photography again. Either that or the absolutely blatant uselessness of the school's DSLR as it lies on my living room sofa was boring into my soul (which reminds me, I had to return it this morning). Actually it was because I was so bloody bored just now, that I decided to go for some street photography in Katong (studying just wasn't an option). Cycling through back alleys and streets, it's amazing what you can find. Got off my bike almost every 3 min to take a photo in fact. I'll share some here:

I found this abandoned house in one of the small side alleys. Most of the doors were barred but managed to find an entrance. The interior seemed to have been left to decay years ago, there were plants and even trees growing inside. There was also a spiral staircase in the next room, which was really a bizarre scene what with all the greenery surrounding it, indoors. It was spooky enough in the daytime.

You can view the rest of the pics on my Flickr.

Day 04: London

2007-06-15T03:54:00.000+08:00

Quite a short day, this, but still as eventful as any other. Realised I missed out something amazingly hilarious in the previous post, but I'll tie it nicely into this one then.

The three of us woke up late today, so had to rush breakfast. When we met the other guys at breakfast, they had something amazingly hilarious (note the subtle allusion to the tie-in) to tell us. After we had gone to sleep the previous night, Mark (Leong), Jeremy and Yeow Boon had accompanied Phoebe and Meiyi to the kitchen downstairs to fix up some cup noodles or something, but only after ingeniously passing their one and only key to Warran, who slept immediately. This way, the three of them would have the chance to bang both their doors and our door an hour later, upon realisation of them having been locked out, although this probably awoke more hurt in their hands than the other 6 guys. So, HAHA, they slept on the couch at the stairwell.

Anyway boarded the bus which took us to Westminster Abbey for our guided tour. The tour guides there are superbly well-educated and extremely knowledgeable in almost all aspects of the place. Probably the best ~~beer~~ tour guides on our trip. It was without a doubt one of the grandest church I've ever seen (assuming that this post acts within the boundaries of the space-time continuum and that I have yet to lay eyes upon the Notre Dame). It was enormous and had a very grave atmosphere. Due to the many tombs and burials (sadly, this pun was intended) located all over the church- as the guide said, one cannot help but to step on someone's grave. Excepting, of course, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, bordered by poppies and wreaths. Sadly no photography was allowed within the church, but I know for a fact that Warran and Ms Chia (tsktsk) sneaked some pics. We spent at least two hours wandering around the church, seeing the tombs of Queens, Kings and various rich folk. There was of course the poet's corner, actor's corner, musician's corner and many other unnamed corners, and we even saw Raffles' memorial. Apparently he made some sort of discovery and significant contribution to the world that warranted his memorial in Westminster.

Took the tube to Charles Dickens useum, although we walked past the house, it looked like any other of the hundred houses on either side of it. It was the actual house Dickens resided in, and they preserved all sorts of his belongings. Clocks, pictures, cutlery, dining tables, even the kitchen sink (metaphor here, but could be true you know). Quite a narrow house, although it was three storeys high-almost all filled with his memorabilia- but I liked the garden best. Not meaning offense to his highly decorated interiors, but the small courtyard at the back, surrounded by three brick walls and the gift shop (every museum in London has this). The smell of flowers and the sounds of the fountains complemented the hot sun shining down. In fact the first time I remember it being hot in London. I remember Harris mentioning how this was how summer should be.

We had free time from then on, which was most of the afternoon and night, til 9pm. Had been arranging to meet with Jingyu (presently studying in London), but as we had already agreed to watch a musical, we already booked Chicago that afternoon, so could only meet him later in the evening. Ms Chia also tagged along, although some of the others preferred Les Miserables. The musical was fantastic, and one of the best musicals I had seen so far. That this was the only musical I have ever seen is a minor side issue. But seriously, the stars were quite talented- they could sing, dance and act, all at the same time. I can at most manage 0/3. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the most important part of the play: we were late. It was, by right, according to Ms Chia, only 400m from where we were having lunch, but even with the map, we still managed to avoid the theatre entirely, circling around it and heading too far south before heading north, yet again passing it. All the passers-by we asked gave us totally different directions. Bloody British humour. They're probably still laughing now.

We then parted and took the tube to Oxford street to meet Jingyu, who brought us to a shopping mall and then a Chinese restaurant for dinner. Dinner was quite good though. Definitely better than anything we would have scrounged up on our own. We had lobster noodles, for example. It did cost ALOT though. About ₤160 (S$500). That's average-ly priced in London though. Took quite long to finish dinner, and only ended back in the hostel at 11pm. Whoops. At least we weren't the last group to return. Mr Teo, for example. Last night in London, so Warran's urge to go pubbing was quite high this time. Anyway we played cards in the recreation room til about 3am before retiring to our rooms. Tip: Don't play bluff with Jeremy.

OKOK sorry about the total lack of photos. Here're some random ones then (just got my cam back from Warran, so some shots might be from previous days):

Day 03: London

2007-06-14T00:28:00.000+08:00

Let's start with some news from the present: I've been watching Blackadder almost non-stop and in probably lethal doses over the past 2 days. Haven't watched it since oh so many years ago, but watching an episode on the plane and having Harris recommend it to me many times must have galvanized this craze into action. Seriously it's funnier than Monty Python, and everyone should have a go at it. Go on. Season 4 particularly.

Also a certain biannual event, a major theme in JC life, is just 'round the corner', as everyone so affectionately describes it. Mid-years! Of course it's important so of course I haven't started studying yet. Actually dabbled into abit of maths today with the lit trip gang™ (Phoebe Jeremy Mark Meiyi). A total of three pages actually. Fascinating stuff. At this rate I'll be ready for mid-years by the time A's are over.

And now back to day 3 proper.

Woke up early enough to enjoy an exploratory walk (with my camera) down the street outside our hostel, with my roommates Daniel and JingHan. There's a little lake just a few metres down the road, and was the scene for quite a few nice photos.
Returned for breakfast, again English (What did you expect, Chinese? In fact this sets the scene for a sarcastic joke later on during about day 7). Bus was late, so returned to the lake in greater force to better terrorize the pigeons and feed the ducks. Leftover bread from Meiyi's breakfast was more than sufficient, especially if you know that Meiyi's leftovers are greater than whatever she eats in the first place. Took several group shots, then returned to hostel only to find that said bus had still not arrived. But it's amazing what you can do with a bench and a pack of cards. Sit on it and play bridge. Respectively.

Bus finally arrived, everyone boarded bus, bus drove off, 1.5h of sleeping later, bus pulls into London Imperial War Museum. Also known as the "Imperial War useum" in the programme booklet. This visit was meant to give us a better first hand account of World War I and life in the trenches. [I can't help but think of Blackadder Season 4 as I type this bit] There was a great bit which re-enacted the trenches and you could actually walk through them with the utterly life-threatening blare of red and yellow lights abovehead. We finished the WWI bit of the museum within the scheduled time, before realising it was a war museum, and that there were still 3 more floors, WW2, the Cold War, the pre-war years, the inter-war years, yes, the post-war years, and even other misc conflicts. Sadly, no time! (throwback humour w.r.t. previous post)

Boarded bus again, took off, pulls into Shakespeare Globe Theatre. For the sad literary recluses amongst you, it is a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan theatre opened in Autumn 1599, in the same place, and still many popular Shakespearean plays are staged there today with large crowds of audiences. [I did not refer to wikipedia. That's for recluses.] We had a sort of tour-cum-workshop where we learnt how actors acted in the Globe, which was quite a tricky stage, since it was open-air, it was a fixed set, and the lights were mainly on the audience. It was quite useful, especially since we were gonna watch Othello in the same theatre that very night.

But there was still plenty of time after the workshop, and we had a sandwich lunch outside the theatre, by the Thames. Harris then brought/shepherded some of us to Covent Garden Market, passing by St Paul's Cathedral along the way. Think Harris was quite irritated with me and Warran since we were always lounging far off behind taking photos, while the group had to stop a few times to pick us up. Covent Garden is this large marketplace with plenty of shops, cafes, and most entertaining of all, buskers. Spent half an hour watching two great buskers (their act was great, especially with extremely humorous improv).
Spent the time wandering around, viewing the myriad of shops before making our way to Pizza Hut for a nice unique English dinner. We (read:Warran) kept lamenting the fact that the England-Brazil match was on this very night at the nearby Wembley stadium, but sadly we had a date with Othello which we couldn't stand up.

Othello was a wonderful experience, especially after the mishap that was The Seagull. It probably was a good play, really, but one cannot downplay the seriousness of 20h jet lag. Anyway, we had 'groundling' tickets, which meant we had to stand in front of the stage for the entire length of the play, excepting the intermission, of course, where we were allowed to grovel in the dirt like the peasants of old (the bloody teachers had seats). But having the actors themselves pushing through you to get on stage, and hearing the main actors yelling right in front of you is better than sitting way behind. In fact, it's better than TV. Infinitely better. And, I didn't realise this, but Harris told me that the main actor (Iago) was actually one of the actors in Blackadder!

Play was three hours long and ended at 11pm, so headed back to the hostel where we chanced upon the recreation room and played bridge, poker and bluff for another few hours-all the while repressing Warran's urge to go clubbing/pubbing-before sleeping. And that was day 3.

Day 02: Stratford-Bath-London

2007-06-13T02:25:00.000+08:00

Welcome back to Day 2 of my riveting series, What I Did In Europe.

I somehow managed to awake, on my own accord, quite early in the morning of this day. It was either the ridiculously early sunrise or some overnight build-up of excitement, since this was a feat I have attempted to achieve multiple times in the past 16 years, and have succeeded in none of them. By 6am the sun had accomplished such a high position in the sky as to make one assume it was midday. Anyway did the usual post-waking stuff, found I was an hour early for breakfast, so grabbed my DSLR and headed downstairs and outdoors- oh, but had a chat with the friendly receptionist. Sifting through his Brit accent revealed that the sun had risen at 4.45am, breakfast was at 7.30, and did I sleep well? Unfortunately this translation only took place after said words, but thankfully the humble nod sustained me throughout without cause for too much embarassment. Anyway here're some of the pics I took around the hostel:

Anyway after breakfast (English! Croissant, eggs, 2 cups of coffee [don't ask] and the likes), we bade farewell to the hostel (not really. we just strolled off with our luggage) and boarded the bus to Bath. No, there wasn't a shower in the bus. The Town of Bath. So-called because the Romans built a great bath-not kidding-over there when they conquered the area a long time ago. So they preserved this great public bath where water still flows today (albeit untreated) from the nearby hot spring. The town itself was quite large. Pulling in from afar and elevated ground, one could view much of the town, which scrawled itself down the hills and lay quite neatly at the base. For someone foreign, it seemed quintessentially British to me. Paved roads, river flowing through, streets lined with small shops, an indoor market (where lunch can be got), and of course the hundreds of British folk strolling around was a dead giveaway. Surprisingly there were several Asians about, but the sort who had Brit accents and knew no Chinese.
We first visited some Jane Austen's Centre, showing where she lived and how Bath had impacted her writing. Okaay. Not really a big fan of hers, but interesting nonetheless. Spent about an hour here, then left for the rest of Bath. Harris had an apartment here, but he no longer owns it though. Had a look at it from the back, then the entire troupe ambled to the entrance to the Great Bath. You could tell it was Roman from the start- in fact it was the one place that kinda stuck out and caught your eye the moment you entered town. Archaic, antiqued roman architecture in the middle of a quasi-modern town. Yes, it did tend to stick out.
Indoor tours in the UK, I've found out, is conducted not by a conventional tour guide, but by renting a nifty handphone-like device, which, by pressing numbers denoted on a sign next to whatever attraction you're viewing, would initiate a short monologue, whereby you would then place the device to your ear and nod away attentively. It was thus a strange but common sight to see people stumbling around the museum-cum-exhibit staring at whatever there is to starre at, all the while with this application plastered to the ear. I tried to get a picture of this occurrence, but people were made suspicious. A DSLR and flash tends to do so superbly well. Anyway the Bath was great (pun intended), and well-preserved Roman architecture is really a sight to behold, and one didn't need the 3D models shown off the hanging TVs to imagine the Romans of old walking up the temple steps or making an offering at the sacrificial altar. There were several baths spread over several wings, but the main one was quite magnificent.

and finally: Had free time to wander around, so we guys decided to savour the local delicacies (read: hotdog) and soak in the splendid view(s) from the bridge. You could see the river winding around the gardens, and faintly make out the far-off houses on the hills beyond. Lunch at aforementioned indoor market consisted of ham/bacon sandwich and a Dr. Pepper and took up quite alot of time. Didn't have much left for sightseeing, so just strolled back to the meeting place-pausing occasionally to take shots of the pigeons(shoot bird)-and bought some local ice cream before boarding the bus. We only managed to see a straight minute line of sights, and still wish I had the whole day in Bath to just roam around.

This would be a consistent theme of the trip, as many a retelling of the trip to friends would consist of many an exclamation of "no time!". We did cover ALOT of stuff over the barely 9 days, and both Harris and Teo commented upon arrival that they couldn't believe we accomplished so much in just this number of days- rather, it felt three weeks or more. But I'm not complaining, only I now-as do many others, I know-have the urge to return to London and Paris one day to continue the trip.

Back to the trip! The previous day, Harris and the bus driver were commenting on how absurd it was to travel to Oxford after Bath, and then head to London, since this was absolutely-I inferred from the multitude of exclamations-out of the way, and would only have half an hour in Oxford. The decision was thus to bypass this Oxford place completely and head straight to London. Everyone was in compliance since this would mean we could visit-ta ta ta dahh- Stonehenge! Yay. Sadly the drizzle prevented me from using my DSLR, but got some pics on my Olympus compact. It's with Warran though-long story which I shall narrate further down. Anyway it was great to see this Wonder, albeit oft seen in television or books. In fact this preceding fascination only served to make the occasion that much more meaningful, despite being hampered by rain and a bloody fence.

Then took the long bus ride to London(!). Bus rides were another major theme of the trip. Especially long ones. This literature thing must be rubbing off me, I'm talking in bloody lit essay terminology. Anyway this bus ride included playing those primary school guess-games of murderer and black magic etc etc. Playing murderer with Ms Chia is especially funny. Go try it some time. I think the bus rides were one of the most memorable and bonding experiences of the trip, and I say this with no satirical undertones whatsoever. Really. Playing cards, singing along to songs (FOB, Timberlake, even Michael Jackson) blasted from a handphone, irritating those seated at the front. Hah. Jeremy dubbed us the Backseat Boys, even.

When we got off the bus, Warran realised he had lost his camera. Sadly a search of the bus proved futile. Although I did find the King of Spades under Meiyi's seat. Tsk. Luckily it was only the second day, so I lent Warran my camera, and with an inconceivable and unlikely link to the upper portion of this post, I have just explained why I do not have my camera now.

After dinner at the hostel, Mr Harris brought all of us around central London, via the famous Tube! Here's a nice shot of us on the tube:

As we exited our station, we saw the Big Ben looming just across the street. A general action of whipping-out-my-camera rippled throughout the group, followed by various cries of "Ah **** no battery". Hah. Amateurs. We then walked around central London, skirting around Soho (ahem) and back to Leicester Square station to return to the hostel. Nights in London are quite rowdy (think drunk girls shouting at us), and very crowded (think everyone shouting at everyone). I'll just let the pictures do the talking:

Anyway back to hostel where we fell asleep almost immediately, legs overtired from walking and mind overloaded with sights.

Day 01: Singapore-Dubai-Gatwick

2007-06-12T01:48:00.000+08:00

Finally mustered the erm inspiration to blog about the UK-France Lit trip. It rocked! By far the best holiday I've been on! Anyway, for fear of sounding like a snobbish film critic, I'll just get on to the contents proper and leave the critique to you guys eh. As self-proclaimed photographer, I decided to do this in the form of.... a photo essay! And to add to the immense originality of all this, I shall call it (for lack of a better cliche) :

(editor's note: all photos were taken by me, viz, Mark Thompson, unless otherwise specified.)

So. Day01. Been looking forward to the day for quite some time, although I somehow wasn't as outwardly excited about it as some others I could mention. Ms Chia had been nagging at me the previous nights to be Chief Photographer for the trip, and how I'm supposed to provide quality control every night as I sort through everyones' photos. With excellent 20/20 foresight, I accepted this role without hesitation. Since by the time we reached back every night, it was too late to play more than 5 hands of bridge, let alone have a critique session. I'm proud to say that my duties as Chief Photographer, throughout the entire trip, consisted of no more than saying "I'm Chief Photographer sia", and occasionally taking pictures of other people in front of exciting scenery (read: camwhore).

Back to the airport... Entered the airport same time as Yeow Boon, but wasn't that close to him, so just attempted to sidle away. Although admittedly the bright yellow VJ PE didn't help matters. Saw a whole bunch of yellow-shirt-wearers bouncing excitedly around one of the departure gates, so headed there and was greeted by Harris, who engaged in conversation with my sister (whom he taught) and my parents. In typical Harris fashion, he told us that he had just finished marking my essay, and that my parents could expect it by mail in two working days. As if I needed something to worry about on my trip.

[OK, realised I have covered half a page of the essay, but not so much of the photo bit. The author apologises and presents a random photo to make up for it.]

After being acquainted with the guys on the trip- all nine of them, (This is a sarcastic remark commenting on the small number of guys on the trip)- realised most were from VS! So could already begin talking cock with Warran and Mark (Leong). Oh ya there was this super enthu guy who hung around us during the pre-boarding briefing, saying things like "WOW LONDON AND PARIS EH!!!" and "COOL!!" and even "THAT'S GREAT!!!" when he heard we were on a lit trip. He used more exclamation marks than I did, and I was the one on the bloody trip.

Let's skip the plane ride, cos if I do talk about the horrible epitome of boredom that it was, you could re-enact me dozing off in the plane in front of your computer screen right now.And with the wondrous speed of recollection, we've just touched down in Dubai. Nothing much to see here, except that sleeping was made that much more comfortable once we got out of the airplane seats and into the hotel lobby sofas (note: sarcasm).

We had four hours of stopover, which means four hours to painfully think about the next 10h of flight time. OKOK I might be exaggerating the horrors of air travel. Promise I won't talk about the return journey. Emirates food rocks. Emirates seats are relatively comfortable. I recommend Emirates to anyone flying anywhere. (corporate sponsorship, hello?) The funny thing was, we slept and played cards in that hotel lobby for 3h, before the guy woke us up to tell us we couldn't sleep there. Anyway it was just in time for us to leave for our gate, while taking photos en route. Eg:

Enough procrastination! We're in Gatwick, and the weather is [quote Harris] absolutely dreadful[unquote]. It's raining. In summer. In London. Apparently this is something quite high up the shithappens scale. But it did nothing! to dampen our moods! Wahahah. Fast forward luggage collection to boarding the bus and meeting our friendly bus driver (for the next few days), Colin! Sadly didn't get a photo of him. Got this though:

London is full of nice square meadows and long hedges lining the road side, bordered by blurry horizons, blue sky and gray highways as far as the eye can see. It's a drastic change from Singapore's landscape, where you can't see half the sky, what with looming skyscrapers and HDB flats blocking every view. Come on, London is greener than Singapore! Every few minutes a cow would zoom past us (no, the bus did the zooming) or a flock of sheep. It was, as Mark (Leong) would put it, relaxing (brudder).

Our first stop was the small town of Stratford-Upon-Avon, the renowned birthplace of Shakespeare! (It is a lit trip) It's a quaint small town with cosy streets and a main street lined with shops. Nothing much to say about the birthplace museum- it basically preserved much of the 17th century stuff and living conditions, and also had stuff on Shakespeare. The drizzle was mildly irritating since I couldn't use my DSLR. Anyway dinner was chicken at the local pub somewhere down the street, and then we proceeded to the first big mistake of the entire trip. We went to watch The Seagull at the Shakespeare Opera House. Not so much a mistake, eh, until you factor in the bloody 20h transition from Singapore, more than half of which was spent without sleep. 30 students, sleep-deprived, recently-fed, put in a darkened room and asked to sit still for 2h. You don't have to be a bloody genius to tell me what's gonna happen. The only saving grace was that Sir Ian McKellen (yes that Ian) acted in the play! I caught glimpses of him in between nods (of sleep, not bloody literary appreciation) and he just has that stage presence that kept me awake. Although once he left the stage.. mm yeah.

Bus ride back to nearby Hostel rather uneventful, since everyone was asleep. Oh yeah and London was cold too. Freezing winds that threatened to freeze your hands if you removed them from your pockets. Bizarre for summer.

And thus ended my first day in Europe. Stay tuned for the rest! Yes, I know, sorry for talking way too much. Here's another random pic then:

update: Have just discovered the wonders of alt text. Hover (your cursor) over my pics to see!

2007-06-09T16:58:00.000+08:00

Green Day - Working Class Hero

Fill-in post while waiting for my UK-France post... bloody card reader isn't working so can't upload my photos =( Anyway will probably get one by tomorrow. The trip was great fun though, I really miss London and Paris now. Though the 20h plane ride is a killer, slept for 17h last night.

Equations

2007-04-18T05:59:00.000+08:00

School + Ben & Jerry's free ice cream at Suntec = Reach home at 6
Reach home at 6 = tired
tired = sleep at 8
18/4/07 = PI is due
PI is due = wake up at 5.30am to do
wake up at 5.30am = half hour of slacking, 5min of blogging
6am = chiong PI!

think I'm still tired... = no complete sentences

Short

2007-04-07T01:34:00.001+08:00

Finally an update for my loyal fanbase. Sorry it took so long but had a very busy week of school to deal with, and was mostly too tired by the time I got home. Let's see... how to link the events of this week with the last without losing the attention of my readers? And don't close this window just because this post takes up a whole screen or three. If it's too much, I'm sure you can read a few lines now, then return later for another few lines until you finish this post. Yes, it is that addictive. Anyway, I think a great flashback-y post will do the trick. So we'll start with today:

It's Good Friday so thankfully there's no school since I'm getting sick- actually it would've been better if there were school cos I'd be able to get an MC and still slack at home. Y'know that lousy feeling you get in your throat just before you get a sore throat? I know it much better after the past 2 days. And that was Wednesday.... which brings us to flashback number one.

FLASHBACK NUMBER ONE.
School today was a complete waste. Except the floorball bit. Whole JC1 cohort watched a Chinese Opera performance in the PT, or Performance Theatre for those not in the know(or VJ for that matter). Quite amusing, but the lead guy had some skillz and he's only 18 years old! Anyway the amusing part was when Edo (a non-Chinese) imitated the Chinese opera voice over the next few days (which, might I point out, was in Chinese. Go figure.) Ended quite late so had to rush for PE, and since it's term two we finally managed to play floorball, which is different from secondary school floorball (consisting mainly of hitting the ball with a stick), since Mr Seet taught us a few tricks and we now tried to hit the ball with a stick into the goal. Was really tired after PE, so I tried to sleep during maths and skipped econs lecture to play cards in the comp lab. And since it was Humanities Quiz Day(!) we ended early and skipped GP too, which means that I suffered no education in school for this day. Which is so common most people forget to mention it. Anyway, Humans Quiz was exciting. Being photographer on duty meant I had a front row seat (or stair). It was a shocking last minute victory by newcomer Maris Stella High, although more amusing was when RI kept buzzing when they couldn't say the answer, but said shit into the mic instead. But please, the questions were so easy, I knew all the answers. Although this might somehow be related to the fact that I partook in the rehearsals on... Tuesday! But hold the flashback, I still have to talk about dinner at Katong Laksa (this kinda contributed to that lousy feeling in my throat now) with Jinghan Edo JJ MC and Meiyi. OK now we can continue to:

FLASHBACK NUMBER TWO.
Econs today was spent with my head on the table for 5s, and then after realizing that Mrs Chua doesn't care, for one period. Fast forward to after school, where we proceeded from the treehouse to LT1 for Humans Quiz Rehearsal. Bridge-playing to Quiz-Rehearsing. Fun to boredom. Anyway I was supposed to be a finalist seated at one of the tables (Cedar Girls no less) with two of my other classmates. We obviously didn't know the answers to any of the questions, but had lots of fun guessing. My ability to stay awake during the whole thing, and still head over to Thaipan for dinner after that is probably explainable by the fact that I had skipped PE earlier on account of my growing sickness (not explainable is how I managed to play floorball the next day. One of life's mysteries I guess). Dinner at Thaipan was a humorous affair spanning from passing through Mandarin Garden's super-tight security to eating 20 fried buns, to laughing over (senior-class) Harry in the VJ conduct-promoting posters. Which reminds me, he's a great Bridge partner, which I found out last.... Friday!

FLASHBACK NUMBER THREE.
(Last) Friday was Sport's Day, coincidently the only day VJ locks its gates til 6pm. We all changed into our nice green house shirts, then together with my senior class guys (Harry Zach Yixiong) went to the grandstand, where we waited patiently for about 20min, at which point it rained and we went to a classroom to play Bridge, with Zach's band jamming as background music. Played til four without interruption, but with lots of paranoia, where every sound is Tan Yew Hwee discovering us. Headed back to grandstand to watch cheerleading, since Jinghan and Jason were, erm, performing? Anyway Lynx (my house)(they're house too) won cheerleading, and we proceeded to Cineleisure to watch Music and Lyrics. Unfortunately it wasn't showing, so went to Shaw where it also wasn't showing but had Meet The Robinsons. Quite a good and light-hearted animation flick, provided many a laugh (especially with Edo watching). On the bus home, I was a Witness to an accident. This (stupid) car crashed into our bus (ok lah it grazed the side of our bus) and prevented us from moving forward. Not that we could with the jam already making me late. Anyway the bus driver asked me to be a Witness To The Accident, and took my handphone number down (could that be his ulterior motive?), saying an SBS guy would contact me soon. Soon turned out to be.... next(last?) Thursday!

FLASHBACK(forward?)NUMBER FOUR.
Last period lit was the best. Harris was being ~~funny~~ himself today and cracking a few jokes while we tried to annotate two poems. Sadly after lit he dropped $100, looked all around the classroom for it, then happily throttled Andre when he laughed at Harris. Anyway he said he lost a thousand pounds in London before- can't wait for that story. Went to macdonalds with JJ syazana and MC after school. I must have laughed the hardest I ever had, my stomach was hurting so. A bit after four the SBS guy finally called me and asked for my statement, which I was trying my hardest to give while fending off a starved macdonalds waiter who kept trying to get at my double cheeseburger. Stayed til 5.45pm, until Leow asked me to help her ballot for musicfest tickets, which ended at 6pm, so I literally rushed home (actually, can you rush metaphorically?), dashed for the com, logged on, and found out it had closed, at 5.58pm no less (lying SC bastards). So I promised her I'll give her a ticket if I had extra (balloted for four). Had to wait a while before balloting results were out, which coincidently, arrived the day I started to write this post. And that is....(are you beginning to see the benefits of late posts? Stop complaining you tsp.)

PRESENT DAY.
Received the much-awaited email. Its contents:

"We regret to inform you that due to overwhelming demand, your request for Music Fest 2007 tickets is unsuccessfully. Your request will be placed on our waiting list should the allocated tickets are not collected. Thank you for your interest."

Which is not only extremely bad news, but also superbly bad grammar. Could the SC bastards be mocking me? I'll probably get a ticket from any performer I know (hi pfluggy) or I'll check out the blackmarket. As for Leow... she can watch the live coverage in LT1, right? Feeling much better after resting/slacking/watching TV/playing Titan Quest the whole day. Having dim sum lunch with my family tomorrow, which is good cos I haven't had a chance to eat dinner with them for a whole week (much less update this blog, eh tsp?), since... Monday!

FLASHBACK NUMBER FIVE.
Oh I'm really pushing it now.
Just wanted to say it was my birthday today, a very quiet affair, which is especially good in VJ, although the traditions there aren't quite as memorable (or painful) as those in VS. OKOK egoistic side-notes aside, let's get back to

PRESENT DAY. AGAIN.
Shall conclude this post soon, on account of having too many flashbacks and too little audience attention-span. And also too little time left to sleep.
Realised I'm quite addicted to MCR these few days, I'm always listening to their album. All the songs rock! Especially Dead!.
And I can't wait for the movie One Nine Nine Four.
Thanks for persevering through this long post, although I bet most of you lazy buggers just skipped to the end. Now go back up there and read through it all. I guarantee it's a great albeit complicated and confusing flashback piece. Lost directors, if you need a new scriptwriter...

Taking five in the treehouse

2007-03-24T23:40:00.000+08:00

Ever felt that JC life is too stressful?
Ever wished for a break between lectures?
Ever wanted to stop thinking about essays for once?
Presenting the VJ treehouse! aka LT 6,7 and 8.

ps. not done during a maths lecture

Anyway my father made a funny remark this evening.

dad: how much is lit trip?
me: $3250
dad: when is it?
me: may 30th
dad: you better start walking now.

pet peeve!

2007-03-24T14:37:00.000+08:00

My Chemical Romance - I Don't Love You

MCR! I think Gerard looks much better in this video.

ASS-ay

2007-03-21T21:40:00.000+08:00

I'm two whole sentences further along than yesterday. Remember- "Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man".[1] Therefore, I'm progressing a lot.

[1]Oscar Wilde

2007-03-20T22:58:00.000+08:00

Extract from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

HAHA hilarious political satire from this great movie.

The lay of the History essay.

2007-03-20T22:04:00.000+08:00

Had already opened my History essay and began to write my first paragraph. Then!

dan, 6sigfig said:
hey history essay extended to fri

Baaaasket. I had opened my word document for about an hour before feeling motivated enough to continue and now this. Last Saturday I was preparing to write the essay on Sunday when Mr Khoo told us that the deadline was postponed to Wednesday. Everytime I begin to begin my essay it gets postponed- of course I could complete it now and feel a sense of satisfaction but everyone knows that essays are supposed to be done only the day before! It must be fate.
Now comes the dilemma- do I stare at the partially filled word doc for another half hour before sleeping, or do I wait til Thursday and hope for another extension the minute I start?

2007-03-15T00:20:00.000+08:00

Nokia N93 Hokkien

HAHA conflict!

OKOK I'll try and avoid youtube vids for the next post.

2007-03-14T01:50:00.000+08:00

The Apple iRack

Heh...Get the analogy?

2007-03-13T00:45:00.000+08:00

Good Charlotte - The River

Caffeine OD

2007-03-11T02:43:00.000+08:00

Another fun week of school ended. Amazingly no one from our class had to leave, so we're still the same A13 =D. Sadly MingHao went to A12.. hope it's not my fault since I told him that if he took that combi he's sure to end up in my class. Woops...

Anyway had my first VJ photosoc duty this week! Covered orientation2. Ok maybe partially covered, since we skipped the first day to cycle at east coast and some of the second to play basketball. Took about 220+ pics, but sadly only about 100 are usable due to certain.. circumstances. *koffcamwhorekoff* Hope Ms Goh isn't too disappointed.

Just uploading pics from my cam... celebrated my cousin's 3rd birthday today with a BBQ at my aunty's house! Turns out all those BBQ-ing with the HISSOC made me a quite able fire-starter. No one had stomach-ache! yet. Can't wait for A13 BBQ next week... Then I drank a cup of Nescafe coffee which probably explains my state of awakeness at this time. Need to wake early cos going to IT show tomorrow to get my iPod speakers! Finally will be able to listen to decent music in my room. My mom still thinks it's a waste of money, bleh.

Pics:

Clarke Quay

BBQ!

Ugh. Thank God it's chocolate.

P.S. - This song rocks. Watch Donnie Darko!

ecks-kay-see-dee

2007-03-07T00:18:00.000+08:00

I think this only works for girls. Anyone has a pet cat?

Note that inanity can go to infinity.

Post

2007-03-06T08:55:00.000+08:00

The results of your application are as follows:

Posted Institution:VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE

Course Name:VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE (ARTS)

Course Code:33A

Yay.

Complete

2007-03-05T01:44:00.000+08:00

Woo just completed my History essay. Just hope my printer doesn't screw up again halfway through printing. One can probably guess how last minute this work was, seeing how this post is timed at 2am on Sunday night. Remind me to start on my other History essay at least a week before its due- doing a JC level essay of 2000 words AND researching it in the library is not something you can do in a day (or something you would want to do again after spending a day doing it).
Gonna sleep now with the help of Great Expectations. HAHA I'm on the same part as Harry from senior class (who did the exams on this book last year). The chair by my bedside which is usually cluttered with an assortment of bedtime reading (Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams etc) is now full of History texts and that Great Expectations book.
And I want iPod speakers! Currently using my old computer speakers plugged into my iPod, which means I have to walk allllll the way from my bed to the table to change a song. Here's where CNY comes in handy.

Good morning.

2007-02-28T22:46:00.000+08:00

Haha. Now Mr Khoo, my VS history teacher, is suggesting a reunion of the 4E/B 'History Society' by watching the movie 'Letters from Iwo Jima', which Mr Khoo, my VJ history teacher, wanted to bring us for on Monday. Since I didn't go on Monday (sorry Mr Khoo) I'll go watch it with Mr Khoo!

Anyway. After lit these few weeks everyone seems to be caught up in poems. 3 of the A13 peeps (I used it again!) already have that W.H. Auden poem in their MSN nicks lah. So here's a favourite (war) poem which my sis introduced to me the other day. Isn't it touching? Gave me goosebumps the first time I read it:

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke
If I should die, think only this of me:

That there's some corner of a foreign field

That is for ever England. There shall be

In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,

Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,

A body of England's, breathing English air,

Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,

A pulse in the eternal mind, no less

Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;

Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;

And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,

In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Oh yeah, I'm on page 240 of Great Expectations! See how much you can achieve without the distractions of school?

Shick.

2007-02-26T22:19:00.000+08:00

Today was a bad bad day for me. I should have resisted the urge to go to school the moment I woke up and realised I had a stomach ache... At least school was quite fruitful today. Enjoyed a dramatic showdown in the lit lecture when Harris and that woman(forgot her name) started bickering. Harris was shouting "Good God, woman! Sit down!" Hahaha, hilarious. Then there was chinese, maths and lit tutorial, all of which I tried to sleep through (in vain) due to a bad headache. Lit tutorial with Ms Low is fun! She always veers off course and was talking about boyfriends today- then History was again watching that tape in the library. 4 periods of Ms Low and Mr Sayers really helps to lighten the mood (which comes crashing down at the last two periods). The last two periods which I skipped and went home instead to rest. Haha JJ went home too, he was like 'I'm sick too okay'.

Then comes the bad bad part of the day: Upon reaching home I bought cup noodles to ease my stomach, but immediately after eating it got regurgitated into the toilet bowl. So my mom prevented me from going for the History movie later this evening. Of course I was looking forward to Letters from Iwo Jima, but I guess I realised how sick I was when I again sent some porridge (with force) into the toilet. Bleh, it was miserable. Stomach ache with a pounding headache- My mom brought me to the doctor who said I had gastric flu. Is it some sort of pandemic? First Andre now me. Soon the whole population of Singapore will get it too! Watch out!

Anyway I rested alot after that, and when I went to the toilet I got a shock when I noticed a purple bruise in my eye, and red dots surrounding my eyes. Was quite scary, but turns out I had vomited with such force that my blood vessels had ruptured. =D! It'll take a week to clear, so you guys can probably admire it on Thursday when I get back to school. I should really take a picture. Heh. Thanks to the peeps (isn't peeps such a cool word?) of 07A13 for sending their regards after the movie. I guess I'll have to procure the movie through other means...

Oh, and to those who complain about me shaking my leg in the LT causing vibrations down the entire row: here.

Comical

2007-02-21T16:05:00.000+08:00

Don't you just love xkcd.com

Yellow Day

2007-02-20T09:03:00.000+08:00

Green Day is appearing in the new Simpsons movie!

2007-02-17T01:04:00.000+08:00

Green Day - Time of Your Life (Live)

pon clinic, go school

2007-02-13T22:23:00.000+08:00

Today I didn't go to school. And yet I feel even more tired than a normal school day.
Ok start from the top:

Decided not to go school today. We (Daniel, me, Emmanuel) meant to crash MJ, but in the end Daniel decided not to because of his econs test. (traitor!) So I decided to stay home since I'm already coming down with the flu. And since polyclinic is free for me, and since it's near Parkway (and thus breakfast), and since the doctors there are lax in giving out MCs, I went to the polyclinic. DAMMIT. Had to wait 3 (THREE) hours to see the frickin doctor. HALF HOUR to get my queue number, then the rest was spent sitting down listening to my iPod. I knew I should have left when I saw the average waiting time was 3h flashing by on the signboard, but it's ALWAYS 3h on the signboard. I always thought it was some government scheme so people won't complain about waiting 2h for the doctor (Heng ah, I only waited for 2h, so short sia lucky never kena 3h). Bastards. And they gave me ALOT of medicine. Like 40 antibiotics, and must finish in 5 days ~~or they'll combust~~.

And then I had to do some stuff for some thing, and yada yada yada ( I watch too much Seinfeld) I had to go back to school twice to pass JingHan some stuff, and on the way back the first time, met Mr Sayers outside VJ waiting for a cab again (always see him there). So I said bye, then he asked for my number ~~cos it's valentines tomorrow and he's lonely and stuff~~ cos he might want to contact his humble History rep occassionally. The second time back, I went Parkway with Jason to get some other stuff (which was embarassing) and 10 oranges(!). Dunno for what also.

When I reached home I somehow managed to get sicker (must be the polyclinic), so slept through dinner, and woke up in time to do my much procrastinated lit essay. Unfortunately, I lay on my bed after annotating the poem and forgot to get back up until just recently, whereby I turned off my CD player and turned on my computer. Guess I'll have to do it tomorrow during PE lah.

Now you know, when you're sick, don't go polyclinic, go to school instead. It's much more slack.

Show off!

2007-02-13T01:32:00.000+08:00

Thailand boat ride

Gold Coast

Sydney Airport! Dunno why I just like this pic.

Thailand! Forgot the name of that island resort.

Sentosa (Palawan Beach I think)