Oliver Sayson: Ad Lib

Where does it end?

2011-12-14T16:33:00.006+08:00

Hah! It's December already. See what I mean? This year is gonna vanish any moment now...

2011 has been one of the quickest years that have happened to me. I enjoyed 2010, but I don't remember it coming to an end so quickly. Or maybe I did. It's just that 2011 began in a snap and now it's gonna disappear in a snap too!

Oh gosh. So what have I achieved this year? It's the ol' looking-back-through-the-year question.

This year has been quite a fruitful one, I believe. I graduated from my course, and am now working. I am grateful to have pursued something that I always wanted to pursue six years ago. The wait had been long, but my days at school were one of the best periods of my life. Period.

I've gained skills which I didn't have before, knowledge which I was ignorant of before, and friendships which I haven't been blessed with before. All of these have produced memories - sweet memories - which I will hold dear.

And now as I set my eyes on the future, I can only guess what will be in store for me. As each stage of our life is completed, we create new goals and aspirations, hopes and wishes that we would like to see ourselves achieving in the near future.

It's hard for us to be satisfied, huh? It's hard for us to just stay put, to be happy with our lot, to stop struggling, to stop climbing the ladder of life. Only natural, we would say. When will we be satisfied, then? Or will we ever be satisfied?

The never-ending wheel of life, huh? The Buddhists call it samsara. Will we ever reach nirvana? Total satisfaction, total detachment, total bliss. It seems a far-off dream.

I can only wait and see... and the wait shall be long...

Where do I go from here?

2011-09-18T16:25:00.004+08:00

Ahh... I am finally back in familiar territory after such a long hiatus.

And with good reason too.

The last post I tried publishing by clicking the "publish post" button just couldn't be published. It was as if the button wasn't working any longer.

I decided to wait till the next day to try again. And the same thing happened: the button couldn't work.

I waited yet another day, and another, and another. And still my post couldn't be published. After awhile I decided to give up.

And so my blog was left hanging in limbo. The months passed. I checked back now and then, viewing its simple facade without logging in.

Until just recently I decided to tackle the problem. I "googled" the problem - as I'm sure anyone would've done - and there were so many solutions I could try to see if the problem could be solved.

My eyes fell quickly on one of them. It was about some compatibility button at the end of the address bar; someone said all he had to do was click on it and the problem was solved.

I did exactly that.

Four months have passed now. I'm about to complete my course and looking for a job at the moment.

Ironic, huh? Everyone's talking about escaping the rat race. And look what I'm doing? Eagerly getting myself into it.

I guess it arises out of a sense of security... a sense of wanting to be self-reliant. I mean, for a person my age, I can't go talking about escaping the rat race when I haven't even started earning my first proper paycheck, right?

Perhaps I need to experience the rat race for myself... its highs and lows. And see if it's really all that bad... is there really no end to it? A vicious cycle? Or if there's really no escaping it? Once you're in, you can't get out?

Or... what if I took a different path from the very start? The path less travelled. Do something totally different - the unconventional route. I can only imagine eyebrows raised... or are they frowning?

Ah well... I wonder what my next step will be. What new chapter is in store for me. In times like these I really wish I could predict the future...

I'll no longer be a virgin this Saturday!

2011-05-04T17:51:00.004+08:00

And the month of May has arrived.

I'm in the midst of my study week for the coming exam.

School's been pretty fast-paced and intensive. But I'm hoping I'll be able to pull through.

It's been pouring heavily these few days. And always in the afternoon hours. But I love the rain. A nice change from the lethargic heat of the sun.

My country's up for elections this Saturday. And I'll be casting my "virgin vote", like how a friend puts it.

I've been trying my best to follow election-related news, if not for my heavy workload. I already can't help feeling guilty if I blindly cast my vote on Saturday without knowing any of the proposals put up by the contestants. Definitely not how I want my "virgin vote" to be.

And then suddenly another big story emerged on the world stage: Osama bin Laden was shot dead.

Oh boy, I was ecstatic. It was better than watching how the bad guys die in a movie - this time it was real! But I felt they wanted to temper the story a little. I mean, why can't we see Osama's body? The statements were all very brisk and a little hushed up. Maybe it's because they don't want to provoke the remaining terrorists by blatantly celebrating Osama's demise.

Either way, world leaders have also warned about a possible retaliation from the terrorists. So we're back on alert, no doubt.

Anyway, that's about all I can say for now. Here's to an uncertain future...

An opportunity I'm glad I took...

2011-04-01T20:39:00.010+08:00

So... Happy April Fool's! Forgive me, I had no other way to begin this. So yes, it is April already. I'm done with my graduation project. Now it's somewhat the holidays for me. I'm thankful I have this break. But I've spent it simply. Not much extravagance of any kind. I still go back to school every week, though. I have weekly radio broadcasts that, for now at least, I can put a lot of effort into. I just recently hosted my school's Earth Hour concert and I must say, it was milestone for me. Learnt a lot about compering. To tell you honestly, I just threw myself into the deep end to see if I could stay afloat. And I could! Heck, I could swim! Well, that's about all for me. I hope April would bring a few pleasant surprises as well. Bye for now!

And now for my long, relaxing sigh...

2011-03-06T00:00:00.004+08:00

March! Wow!

The exams are over. And I've just finished my graduation project too. Great feeling, no doubt.

Now it's time for a short reprieve. Rest, relaxation, enjoyment - all those words which convey a sense of lightness are in my dictionary at the moment.

It's been a great year of study. I've mentioned it before and I'll mention it again: I am thoroughly grateful for it. Learnt a whole lot of things, tried a whole lot of things, experienced a whole lot of things.

I don't really want to mention what's going to happen in the future because I don't want to tempt fate, so to speak. I prefer to let the events unfold for themselves, and then I'll mention about them.

So then, I guess it's off to my little holiday I have in mind. I'll send you a postcard...

A Mixed Love

2011-02-02T00:28:00.005+08:00

Well, it turned out that January was one busy month for me. But it culminated well.

This video is the result of all that hard work. We had to produce a short video for our class assignment, and this is the end result.

The video was recorded entirely on a single camcorder, so do pardon the mediocre quality.

We're not professionals, of course, but I hope you'll enjoy the video in your own way.

And now it's February.

The next upcoming event? Chinese New Year.

The next upcoming but not-looking-forward-to event? The exams.

Gosh. And Chinese New Year falls on my study week. Great timing.

So it looks like I have to juggle collecting red packets and revising my books.

Well then, I guess that's pretty much it. Here's wishing you a happy, prosperous, and successful new year...

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Did er, 2011 just ring the doorbell?

2011-01-02T15:48:00.004+08:00

Ahh! 2011 is here already?

Aww, I really miss 2010. It was a great year for me, so thank you so much, 2010.

Now then, 2011. I sure wonder what this year will bring.

According to some sources, it'll be quite a tumultuous year in terms of global issues. Personally, though, I don't want to predict or forecast anything. Because if I do, no matter how much the mind tries to convince itself it's a changeable forecast, it has a very high chance of becoming an outline for the year's happenings, thereby leaving no room for change to take place.

I just had to put it that way. Don't mind me.

So well, it's a brand new year. I'm already in the middle of my school term, ironically. The Christmas and New Year celebrations have whooshed past; I didn't even have time to comprehend what had happened.

So here's my fervent wish for 2011 to be a happy, smooth, and successful year ahead. For me, and for all of you. Happy New Year...

And it's a busy Christmas indeed...

2010-12-05T11:46:00.005+08:00

Ahh... yes. December. Looking back, I'm going to miss 2010. Yes. It's been a wonderful year. Haven't had this kind of year for quite awhile now. I'm satisfied with it.

December, on the other hand, is quite disappointing. Instead of my usual holidays before the Christmas and New Year period, I find myself starting a new term, and realising that my submission dates for my projects and assignments fall just after New Year's Day! Imagine having to celebrate in the festive cheer with the dreadful thought of completing assignments in the back of your head.

What a nice way to end 2010. Well, I guess I shouldn't be complaining too much as the year's been pretty good to me. I should be contented, huh?

In the meantime, while everyone's out there sucking in the Christmas mood, I'll be right here feverishly churning out essays of more than a thousand words.

Merry Christmas to me...

Memory overload...

2010-11-03T15:53:00.003+08:00

And yet again I say... the exams are coming. How nice of November to begin with my study week. It's been a gruelling 3 days so far, and now and then I am left wondering, "How in the world am I going to remember a whole load of information?"

It's like trying to stuff a huge turkey into a small oven, you know? Remember that famous fact about us humans only using what, 10% of our brains? Well, I feel like I've no more space left in mine to take in anything more.

It makes things worse when I reminisce watching that man on television who won the Guinness Book of World Records for memorizing like a hundred things and recalling them one by one. What is wrong with these people, I remember thinking...

Alright. You're probably thinking, "What is wrong with you?" Well, I guess I'm no Guinness World champion; I'd love to have that kind of memory, though. Imagine recalling effortlessly all the stuff you've revised for the exam. Word for word. Now that's an 'A' student...

Well, I guess I'll just leave you to it. Time to hit the books again...

No Christmas holidays?

2010-10-03T00:11:00.003+08:00

10th month of 2010. Just 2 more months and it's the end of the year. We're now in the last quarter of diminishing 2010...

I overheard a woman saying, "Yay, Christmas is coming!" when I was out just now. I smiled slightly to myself. I have a feeling Christmas this year's going to be slightly different from previous years. Usually I'll have holidays at the end of the year, but this time I don't think there are any holidays whatsoever.

School just goes on, I guess. It's incredible in a sense. But since mine doesn't follow typical school schedules, I believe it's lessons as usual. I'll be crossing my fingers, though...

Well, my current term's going to end in a few week's time and then it'll be the exams. But let's not talk about it for now. I'm just glad I've finished most of my assignments and I wonder what the new month will bring.

I hope we'll all enjoy the remaining 3 months of 2010. Ciao!

High tide!

2010-09-02T12:17:00.004+08:00

Okay! September! This is going real fast. I just began my new term of study a little more than a week ago. The class has some additions this time - we've become even more international. The subjects are deeper, and the workload heavier...

We've got many nationalities this term: China, Indonesia, Vietnam - even from as far as South Korea and Kazakstan! It's cool having a cosmopolitan environment to work in. I get to learn loads of stuff about the different countries.

The modules this term delve deeper into their depths. I'm even taking a social psychology subject which, simply put, breaks things down even further. Our lecturer for that subject makes lessons interesting, for one thing. But there really is a lot of reading to do - for all the modules, in fact.

Assignments are really more substantial this time around. I don't even have to mention having to include references and appendixes for our written reports. And then there's no escaping the presentations. I even found out that the exam format has changed! No more multiple-choice questions (MCQs); this time they're all essay questions!

Well, the tides have changed, indeed. And what do we do when that happens? We go with the flow, of course.

I'll see where the currents take me. See you on the other side!

An August break...

2010-08-01T18:23:00.003+08:00

August. Real quick. My exams are done. The holidays have already begun. Just one month of R & R before school begins again...

I actually found a temporary job to keep myself occupied - and to earn some cash, of course. Not the kind of job I would want to have as a career, that's for sure. I'm already considering resigning from it.

Well, with what's left of the holidays, I guess it's only fair that I use the remaining time for leisure. I mean, that's the main purpose of holidays, right?

So it's goodbye from here; enjoy yourself!

Studying my life away...

2010-07-04T14:14:00.002+08:00

July has begun. We're now into the second half of the year. And I'll be facing my exams once again...

It's the end of Term 2 and boy, did everything happen so quickly. I've been into my course for about 2 months plus now, and though I love what I'm doing, the fact remains that exams are not something I love doing very much. But what the heck, I've still got to go through them...

So it's the study week for me. I can still remember the last study week so vividly. It was just 7 weeks ago. Kind of dreadful, I must say, but I guess it's how you plan your time.

I usually study in small chunks - because I hate dragging it for long periods. The average mind also absorbs better in short time spans. So I only revise one chapter at a time. I like to look forward to something after every revision - a chocolate bar, surfing the web, that kind of thing...

Well, I've got to hit the books soon. Till next time!

Waiting in progress...

2010-06-20T12:48:00.003+08:00

Okay, so I'm way into my second term and I just got back my examination results for last term. They were good, I'm glad to say. Shows that I'm making progress...

I have an upcoming test this week so the weekend has been peppered with textbook-flipping and note-taking. To make things worse, it's an Economics test. Not the kind of subject I usually like to study, sad to say.

I feel I'm currently in a growth cycle. The energies are somewhat in a growth stage - like a plant in its germination stage. The results of the fruition will come later. So in the meantime I just have to wait...

I'll sign off here, then. Enjoy this Summer of 2010!

Hey there, June baby!

2010-06-01T18:39:00.004+08:00

It's a new month yet again! We've touched the middle of the year already. June is all about Summer and it's fun in the sun for everyone!

I've just completed my first term of studies. The exams were held last week and we began Term 2 just yesterday. Things have been going smoothly, I'm glad to say, and I look forward to even more good things to come.

The school holidays have also started, and the kids must be having fun. This is the time families plan to go on vacation. So flights must be fully booked and tour agencies should be in chaos, not to mention making lots of money as well.

Speaking of making money, I had to take Marketing in my first term of studies. And I must say it has opened a whole new viewpoint for me. Now I know how businesses make their money come rollin' in, and why they do what they do.

This term I'm taking Economics as one of my subjects, and the first impression I got from it was that it was a thrifty subject - and I was right! Dictionary.com defined an "economist" as a thifty and frugal person. And where do you think the word "economical" comes from?

Well, I wonder what else I'll find out about this and other subjects I'm taking. June looks set to be an interesting month ahead. I'll wish you an exciting Summer!

Welcome back to student life, Oliver...

2010-05-09T12:44:00.006+08:00

It's been great so far... One moment life's like this, the next moment life's like that. It's funny how we wear so many hats sometimes...

Life as a student has been a welcome change for me. The thought of going back to school on Mondays beats going back to camp. I've met really nice friends, too. And the lecturers are very kind people.

Even though there are times when stress starts to put pressure on me - and inevitably so, of course - I constantly remind myself it is nothing compared to the kind of stress in the army, and how fortunate I am to be back in school...

So as with every other endeavour in life, I guess you make the best of it. I'll be looking over the horizon in the meantime, anticipating the events that are to come...

The close of an old chapter, the birth of a new one...

2010-04-24T11:26:00.005+08:00

There. After all's been said and done, it is confirmed. An old chapter has ended, and a new one already begun...

I am officially a free man now. I have just completed my 2 years of National Service (NS), and have now adapted to civilian life - or more accurately, student life. Yes, I am already studying, and it's great to be back in school...

The memories of my service in the army will no doubt be remembered. I cherish the times I shared with great friends and colleagues. It was in those defining moments that really brought the strongest and most endearing feelings of my National Service...

I've experienced the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the satisfaction and pain which frequently peppered my duration in camp. I must admit, the whole experience was bittersweet, but more bitter than sweet, actually. Rare are the times you get to feel true happiness when you're in the army...

But even after all the sadness and longing for freedom, you do get to feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment after serving for 2 years straight. We really do deserve our freedom. And I think that's the best reward above all...

Keep marching on this March...

2010-03-04T22:21:00.003+08:00

It's March already! Fantastic! February has flashed past and draggy March has come. But I'm not complaining; next month's April - the end of my National Service!

March seems to have a lot of things going on. In nation-wide terms, that is. This weekend there is the annual career and education fair, and next weekend the famous - and much anticipated - IT fair. So lots of people will be flocking to town, I guess.

On the personal front, life has been going smoothly, thank God for that. I've always believed we live through cycles. So sometimes things might be sweet, and then suddenly problems start appearing for awhile, and then life becomes smooth again. The ups and downs, ebb and flow... all part of life.

So whether or not we're riding one of life's huge waves or being engulfed by it, things are always changing. Life is always in a state of flux. So don't be discouraged, and definitely don't be complacent...

Tiger, tiger, burning bright!

2010-02-14T00:24:00.009+08:00

Happy New Year again! This time it's the lunar new year - the year of the Tiger. So bye bye Ox, and hellooo Tiger!

It's interesting to see how the year pans out. Tiger years have been known to be aggressive and turbulent. If I'm not mistaken, the last Tiger year - 1998 - was when the Asian economic crisis struck. But for me personally, I remember that year to be a good one. So I don't know what to expect, honestly...

Tiger years are usually frowned upon in Chinese tradition. It's been said that females born in the year of the Tiger are generally hot-headed and dominating. Males are advised not to marry a Tiger-born female as it'll be the wife who will be wearing the pants, so to speak.

Well, as with any other year, I guess we'll just have to go through it and see how it goes. I wish you a prosperous year ahead (the Chinese just love that word), with tons of good luck!

Happy Belated New Year!

2010-01-16T20:22:00.002+08:00

Amazing. It's been more than a month since I last wrote. Two factors. One: I didn't have the time. And two: my computer was down. Again.

We're well into the new year already. I can't believe I didn't even write an entry for Christmas or the new year. It's like, suddenly someone pressed the pause button, and now he pressed "play" again.

2010. It was scary how 2009 ended. I remember saying I wanted 2009 to end fast. But just two weeks to the new year I found myself thinking, "Whoa, I think we're going a little too fast. Slow down, man!"

And there you have it. 2010. Just like that. I started off the year going back to camp for a 1-week stay-in. I wasn't supposed to, of course. There was an untimely cock-up with the duty roster. I was caught between feeling furious and wondering, "How could I be so unlucky? Of all people - me! Going back for duty on New Year's Day!"

Thank God it's over. It's great to be in 2010, actually. Because it means that I'll finish my National Service in slightly more than 3 months. Looking forward to that, of course.

Well, I guess I'll just have to keep moving. I pray that 2010 would be a good year for you and me.

Happy Belated New Year...

My escapade to KL...

2009-12-13T20:39:00.005+08:00

We're well into December, and the end of the year is drawing near. I kind of regretted saying that I wanted the year to end quickly; it seems a little too fast now. The thought of saying goodbye to another year just like that is... scary.

The past 3 weeks have been eventful. I guess the highlight was my trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My friends and I had a wonderful time roaming the streets and the shopping malls. KL is famous for shopping, just like Singapore. It was surprisingly accessible, with its monorail system reaching every hotspot.

The Petronas Twin Towers were a sight to behold - especially at night. We visited a deer park, too. And a significant part of our trip was learning a whole lot about Chinese Tea. We stepped into this shop specializing in Chinese Tea, and as one thing led to another, we found ourselves glued to our chairs, engrossed in what the shop owner was telling us, and the delicate way he brewed the tea leaves.

All in all, a fabulous getaway for us! I'm really grateful that our trip was a success, after all that background work and planning. It was the experience that mattered, and I'll never forget it...

Happy Thanksgiving...

2009-11-22T14:12:00.002+08:00

This month has been pretty significant so far, hasn't it? In terms of politics, I think we've been seeing a lot of it in the news. Personally, I think I enjoyed a few memorable moments, too...

I was at Sentosa recently and boy, it was a breath of fresh air for me! It was only then that I realised how cooped up my army life was. I mean, I'm pretty sure I spend almost three quarters of my waking life in camp - per week! So you can imagine what it was like when I immersed myself in the beautiful setting of sun, sand, and sea...

It was almost like a purification of the soul. As if my soul just heaved a huge sigh of relief. I could feel myself breathing out all that unnecessary stress and just unwinding down from the hustle and bustle of mundane life.

My friends and I played a good game of frisbee, and the feeling for me was like, "My God, Oliver. When was the last time you actually played a game?" Yeah. Talk about feeling cooped up...

Anyway, I think I foresee some more events comin' up for me! We're coming to the end of the year, and the festive season is up and running. Since we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, I think we should take this time to appreciate all the good things and people in our lives. Because without them, our lives wouldn't be memorable...

"Make it simple to last your whole life long..."

2009-11-07T10:40:00.003+08:00

Touch down! November! Things in camp have been pretty hectic, and it always happens at the end of the year. The seasons will affect different industries, that's for sure...

I like the slow life. The kind where you take your time to do things - things which you love to do. No deadlines to meet, no stress to endure; it's like a farmer's life, I guess. I remember spending a night at one of those farms in Australia and our hosts were so hospitable and so nice. But more than anything else, they were just so... happy. They had peace of mind, I tell you. They were experiencing heaven on earth...

Don't know why I suddenly brought out this topic. I guess most of us have been living fast-paced lives in our fast-paced world. Shouldn't we slow down a little? It'll do us a lot of good. The more we speed up our lives, the more impatient we become. And as a result, we get stressed up with the running of our lives.

So in order to slow down our lives, we need to simplify our lives. Make it less complicated. That's when we - almost unconsciously - stop having high expectations and start to lower them down. That's when we start being contented with the simpler things in life. Doesn't it feel so much better this way?

De-clutter your life. Simplify it. Make it less complicated. It helps...

I'm supposed to be living in the present...

2009-10-26T16:39:00.003+08:00

October's ending soon. And I thought it'll be a very long month. October just feels long to me. But I can't wait for the end of the year!

Recently I was in town, and I saw some of the Christmas decorations in place. I guess they're still in the process of doing it, because I wasn't really impressed, haha! Anyway, whenever I see Christmas decorations, the Christmas spirit starts building up within me. Probably takes awhile to warm up, but I'll be in the mood eventually. I'm quite positive that this year's Christmas will be an enjoyable one for me.

Well, in the meantime, I can't wait for November to begin. Whenever we touch November, it's like a prelude to Christmas. That's when the festive season really begins...

October's retrospect...

2009-10-01T19:57:00.004+08:00

What a pity. I only wrote one entry for September. Why? Because my computer was down. It's already the 1st of October...

We're now in the last quarter of the year. Everytime we arrive in October, I look back in awe at how fast the past 9 months have gone by. And I sigh...

All these memories that we've gathered, they're priceless. Let's not segregate them into good and bad. Let's just see them as... memories. They are the ones we have to face on our deathbed. Did you live a fulfilling life? Do you regret anything? Was it worth going through what you've gone through? Are you satisfied?

Powerful stuff, memories. Even now I look back and question why I had to go through what I've been through. They're all lessons, of course. Sometimes I wonder whether I've learned the lessons behind my experiences. It's so hard to grasp the lesson sometimes. But when you eventually get it, you'll realise that the lesson was right in front of you all along. You were just too blind to see it.

Or better yet, right now I can see the lesson behind what I'm experiencing, but I'm just too stubborn to accept it. What a feeling, really. Somebody knock me into my senses...

I wonder how October will fare. Should I be optimistic or pessimistic?

Yes or no?

2009-09-03T18:51:00.002+08:00

Wow! It's September already! I didn't even have time to write one last post for August...

I've just completed another 1-week stay in camp. Felt like eternity, this one. But I'm glad to be back home.

Lots of planning going on recently. Things have been neither here nor there. I hate that feeling. Indecision. Why can't it be a yes or a no? Why leave things hanging in midair?

There's a transition going on. And it's taking quite awhile to settle. We need to be in the affirmative soon.

Well, I'll see how it goes. Funny thing, life...

The ebb and flow of life...

2009-08-15T11:15:00.000+08:00

It's been a long time since I actually had a full weekend to myself. The past 8 weeks of burning my Saturdays are now over.

Well, the past week saw me getting back to business in camp. It's sort of a transition period now for everyone. We've recently taken in some new men, and so there are lots of reshuffling going on.

As we head into the Autumn season (as if we have four seasons here), it's a time for the culmination of things. A consolidation of sorts. It's a time to prepare and stock up for the Winter season, where what was once useful but now outdated, dies away.

We live through cycles in life. There's a time and place for everything, as they say. One moment you may be making a lot of money, the next moment you're not. One moment your social life is on fire, the next moment it's a lull period. We've just got to ride on the waves. When we flow like this, we flow with life...

Well, I guess I'll get down to enjoying my weekend. Tata!

The National Day Parade 2009...

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

IT'S OVER!!!

The National Day Parade 2009 took place last Sunday and I'm glad to say it was a success.

I think it was successful not just for our part but for everyone involved. Finally, after 8 weeks of burning our Saturdays, our hard work paid off on the actual day. All the performers were ecstatic after the show...

For me, I'm just glad I've successfully concluded a project. It was a memorable experience being involved in NDP 2009. Definitely a breather from work in camp.

Well, I guess life in the army still goes on. It's back to camp tomorrow, and I have a feeling it'll be as hectic as ever...

Wish me luck!

The Preview...

2009-08-02T14:25:00.000+08:00

I'd recently completed my 1-week stay in camp. Yesterday was The Preview for the National Day Parade 2009. And boy, was it a blast...

Everything seemed more formal this time around, as it was not a rehearsal anymore. It was a sneak preview of the actual day. So it was a show in itself. From the emcees to the fireworks, everything was upped a notch...

But I was exhausted after recovering everything yesterday. Some friends and I went for supper after that. The feeling of being satiated after a hard day's work was worth it, haha!

Now it's a lazy Sunday for me. I'll get on with my resting...

The fifth combined rehearsal...

2009-07-19T13:14:00.003+08:00

It was another round of Primary 5 students who attended the fifth combined rehearsal yesterday. This time I got to see most of the show from the front - or from the sidelines, to be more accurate.

The number of participants involved is amazing. I only realised this yesterday when I saw how full the stage was, because all along I was backstage. It's incredible to think that every year, so many people have to be involved in the National Day Parade. It's like half the nation's taking part, haha!

Anyway, we'll probably have two more rehearsals before the actual day itself. It seemed like a long, long road at first, but now we're more than halfway there. I'll sign off for now...

Giving and receiving...

2009-07-14T22:06:00.001+08:00

I came across a great poem on Facebook. It's about giving and receiving...

I am a novice when it comes to receiving.
Giving has become my expertise.
But giving alone without getting,
becomes soon a fatal disease.

If the intake valve is not opened,
there's no way to maintain a supply.
There comes a point in the cycle of life,
when the out-going stream runs dry.

Straining out love from a vacuum,
is like drinking from the heart of a stone.
Try as we may, at the end of the day,
we are exhausted, frustrated, alone.

"Better to give than receive," we are taught.
Yet another truth I've learned just by living.
Only the soul with the grace to receive,
excels in the fine art of giving.

- Reverend James Forbes

Many people, including myself, think that giving is way better than receiving. When we give, we feel that we're doing something good for the other person. But when the other person wants to give, we say, "No, no, please. There's no need to."

Somebody commented on this poem, saying, "The way I look at it, sometimes receiving is a form of giving as well... Giving others the opportunity to do good as well. And you can empower them by making giving a great experience and thus they will be good givers to others..."

Well, I guess giving and receiving are the same thing. Neither one is "better" than the other. In order to give, we need to receive...

The fourth combined rehearsal...

2009-07-12T14:32:00.002+08:00

Yet another rehearsal was carried out yesterday evening. This time the audience consisted of Primary 5 students.

Something interesting happened during yesterday's show. It started to rain towards the end of it. It didn't really bother me, but I pitied the performers. They were soaked while performing, but they still continued with the show. You know what they say, "The show must go on..." So I really commend their positive attitude.

We were released fairly early again - thank God. And I went for supper with a few friends after that. Not too bad a night, all in all...

It's one of those restful Sundays for me today. And I think I'll do just that...

The third combined rehearsal...

2009-07-05T14:28:00.002+08:00

It was the third combined rehearsal yesterday for the National Day Parade 2009. Before that I also completed my 1-week stay in camp. So I'd been pretty busy the past few days - and still more to come...

Yesterday's rehearsal was the first to hold an audience. The place was packed with people, of course. And the show was that much more substantial. This time we had the actual emcees rehearse with us. In fact I shouldn't use the word "rehearse"; they were already running the show. It was a full-dress rehearsal for the performers, too. Costumes of all shapes and colours were donned, and more fireworks were ignited this time around.

But I think the greatest satisfaction for me yesterday was the early dismissal we got. I kept my expectations low at first, thinking that we'd probably finish rounding everything up by midnight. But lo and behold, we were dismissed a quarter past ten! Sweet, sweet satisfaction...

Well, now that another rehearsal's over, it's time for me to take it slow again. Inevitably, in a couple of days, I'll have to start running again...

The first combined rehearsal...

2009-06-21T16:06:00.002+08:00

Wow! What a week! I guess I haven't mentioned this, but I'm involved in this year's National Day Parade.

We had our first week of preparations and yesterday was the first combined rehearsal. The place was packed with people and it was just happening. It all culminated down to the evening when all the participants involved rehearsed together.

And although it was just the first combined rehearsal, the atmosphere was ecstatic. There were even crowds gathering around the area to catch a glimpse of the performance. And I think we didn't disappoint...

Well, it's been a tiring week, but it was worth the work (and the wait). I'm taking it slow again...

Taking it easy...

2009-06-12T11:11:00.004+08:00

Wow, it felt like such a long stay in camp. We're well into June now; I'm going to be real busy soon.

The past few days have brought out a lot of changes in camp. Changes for the worse, I dare say. I can't explain it here, of course. I just hope life improves as soon as possible.

There's this PC Show going on in town now. It'll be a mad house, I'm sure. Don't know if I'm going yet.

Today's really a take-it-easy day for me. After a whole week of staying in camp, I not only miss civilization, I need to relax a little. Well, I guess I'll get down to it now...

Fish & Co.

2009-05-31T12:18:00.003+08:00

Tomorrow's the 1st of June. New month, new start. But not really for me. The past week produced a major shift in camp. A shift for the worse, I dare say. I'm praying it's only temporary...

I had a good time with friends yesterday. We ate at Fish & Co.. It was a long time since I ate there. I realised something about their food: You get tired of eating your meal after awhile. I don't know whether it's just me or my particular dish, but I realised that the more spoonfuls I put into my mouth, the more I didn't feel like eating anymore.

Oh what the heck, I think it's just me anyway. I don't want to go spoiling their reputation. If I remember correctly, Fish & Co. is a South African franchise - and I think they're unique. From the decor all the way down to the food.

Well, the point is we had a good time. And I think that's what matters...

One moment, please...

2009-05-24T12:45:00.003+08:00

Ahh, Sunday. Well, another week has passed and it was not a bad week, indeed. Yesterday I caught "Night At The Museum 2". I'm glad they put in more characters this time; the storyline was well thought out.

Anyway, we're already nearing June. Whenever we arrive at June, I realise that half the year has gone by. Just like that. It's quite amazing because I'd still remember the month of January. We've actually lived through 6 months - what an achievement!

I pray the next 6 months would be just as fast. Since I'm in the army, I wouldn't mind this year vanishing in the blink of an eye. But then again, I'm supposed to appreciate every moment life brings. Because each moment is precious. And I'd really want to cherish those great moments, too...

So life still goes on for all of us. I guess we ought to appreciate it moment by moment...

Angels & Demons

2009-05-15T10:36:00.002+08:00

And it's been yet another long time since I last wrote. I've just completed my stay in camp, so now I'm breathing in the sights and sounds of civilization once again.

I watched "Angels & Demons" yesterday. Great show, just like the book. I just love it when Ewan McGregor said that Science and Religion are one. Science has always been trying to prove the teachings of Religion. Yes, Science might be slow to understand sometimes, that's why the two don't seem to complement each other at first. But Science will catch up eventually...

Well, Religion, on the other hand, should try to embrace Science. It shouldn't demean its theories, because Science is ever progressing, ever evolving. The fact that we humans can even break down our universe and study it is an achievement in itself. The discoveries of Science are tangible, first-hand proof!

I'm not taking sides, but I really hope to see Science and Religion working hand in hand. It's always good to have the best of both worlds in your beliefs. So have faith, and await the discoveries of Science, too!

Labour Day: It's time we changed the name...

2009-04-30T22:07:00.003+08:00

It's a Thursday night and tomorrow's a public holiday! Labour Day once again, for all of us laborious workers. Well, I think we deserve it, huh?

Funny how we get so caught up in work sometimes. As if that's the only thing in life that matters. It's especially murderous if you're not doing something you love. That's why there's that saying, "Find a job that you love, and you'll never have to work another day in you life."

So many people miss out this small but crucial step. The moment you sign up for something other than what you love, you're doomed. I'm sorry to sound so negative, but it's true. Think about it, why drag yourself to work everyday if you hate your job? Just quit, find something better - something you love!

Okay, on and on I go again. Anyway, it's a long weekend - and I'm crossing my fingers hoping that it'll stay long.

A reprieve. A reprieve is good.

The exorcist...

2009-04-20T17:46:00.003+08:00

Once again, I report after more than 2 weeks. Although the months seem to pass one by one, time still travels at a pretty slow pace. I believe it's because when there are so many happenings in your days, you'll assume that time has been flying past. But how wrong we are...

Last week, I did my 1-week stay in camp. It was ridiculous. You know why? We played a prank - in fact many pranks - on our fellow mate who was also staying over. To summarize what happened: First, we told him stories about how haunted the place was. Secondly, we gave him a call to which he only heard deep breathing sounds (think "Darth Vader") when he answered the phone. And finally, to top it all off, one of us acted as if he was possessed by some spirit.

And you wouldn't believe this: Our brave ol' friend tried to exorcise him... and it worked!

Hahahahahahaha!

Old Changi Hospital

2009-04-04T10:43:00.004+08:00

Just yesterday my buddies and I had a ghost story-telling session. The highlight of it was Old Changi Hospital (OCH). Many stories have been told about it, and I couldn't help noticing some similarities...

The place is probably one of the most famous - and haunted - spots for ghost trails. Although it is out-of-bounds, many people still trespass into it, hungering for some real ghostly experiences - or just plain stupid.

My friends have said that they went in groups ranging from 3 to 13 people - most of the time to satisfy the ego's idea of fun. It's amazing they haven't demolished the place yet. But I wasn't surprised when I heard that strange things happened to the people who tried to bring it down.

From all the accounts I've heard, I've come to know OCH as some kind of Hell's gate. The place is filled with earth-bound spirits! Not to mention hearing things like long corridors which never seem to end, and the staircase leading down to the mortuary only appearing to certain people.

On a more respectful note, I believe that's where many souls still linger about, unable to go on to the other side either because they have unfinished business here on this plane, they haven't accepted their death, or they're angry at the way they died.

Whatever it is, Old Changi Hospital will still be in the must-see lists of haunted places in Singapore - probably even the first.

The facts of life (in the army)...

2009-03-27T17:14:00.004+08:00

Okay, so we're already nearing the end of March. My days have been pretty long recently. But it's because of a couple of "happy hours" I had after camp...

It's an off day for me today, and I'm taking it nice and easy. Kind of miss the feeling of being home after all those long hours in camp. Someone once told me that when you're in the army, that's when you start to cherish home. How true...

My days in camp are very unpredictable. One day it's monotony, another day there's a major event taking place. The feeling of shock and surprise can be very draining. That's why we cherish our off days so much. "Off is like gold in the army", my friend remarked.

And then there's the big question everyone asks: "When is your ORD?" ORD stands for Operationally-Ready Date. It's the date you leave the army! What could be better than that? Everyone - well, at least most of us - look forward to our ORD. The more you count down to your ORD, the longer it feels...

So that's more or less the collective experience of being a soldier. It all boils down to your jobscope, of course. We all do different things in the army, and there are pros and cons in every vocation.

I guess I'll just be going with the flow. No use struggling upstream, huh?

To buy or not to buy?

2009-03-14T11:47:00.005+08:00

I'm done with my 1-week stay in camp. The craziest thing in town this weekend is the IT fair, and I was crazy enough to go visit it yesterday.

I was extremely impulsive at the fair. Those low prices just made me want to grab whatever item appealed to me. Thank God I was with two other friends (who were not as impulsive as me).

Anyway, I actually had something in mind I was planning to get, but I realised it wasn't a need - it was a want. But the funny thing was that this item which I wanted to purchase - and I'm just not saying it here - was more of a long-term need. My friend managed to whip up a speech about how I should invest in it - and I was convinced at first - but in the end I'm still glad I got my priorities right. Sorry, mate...

Well, I think I had enough of asking myself "Should I buy or should I not?" yesterday. All that indecisiveness is killing me. My God, how do I even live sometimes...

Total Eclipse Of The Heart

2009-02-28T11:34:00.007+08:00

Josh Groban & Ellen DeGeneres - Total Eclipse Of The Heart

My friend posted up this video of Josh Groban and Ellen DeGeneres singing "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" on Facebook. I thought it was not only hilarious, but Ellen could sing pretty well!

This is one song which has slipped in and out of my memory many times before. When suddenly I hear it played somewhere, I fall in love with it instantly. And then after awhile, it fades away.

Now that I've come across it again, I've decided to archive it on my blog. I've seen the original video featuring Bonnie Tyler, and I think it's one of the most ridiculous videos I've ever seen. What a shame for a benchmark song. I guess at that time when it was first released, people were awed by it.

And then I also saw Westlife's cover of it. Pretty good and modern, I must say. Quite an achievement for them to tackle such a difficult song. Too bad I've lost my interest in them, haha!

So there you go. "Total Eclipse Of The Heart". A classic, evergreen love song...

Here's to monotonous times ahead!

2009-02-21T22:23:00.003+08:00

It's been a looong time... Wow. I stayed in camp for a week, and then I had to undergo a night exercise just yesterday. I arrived home this morning.

There's this bad thing about my camp. Maybe it's more like a bad habit, because there are people who are the cause of it. You want to know what's that?

There will never be a month where no major activities are planned.

Alright, maybe there were certain months where nothing major happened. But 90% of the time, you can be sure to look forward to something big every month - and it's usually not something we like doing, at least for us NSFs.

Why can't they give us a break?

I really hope things can slow down soon enough. I still feel stuck in this never-ending carousel which began spinning since last November. It's time to pull the brakes, people. We're in need of a monotonous month. Make that plural.

Just dropping by to say hi...

2009-02-08T14:23:00.004+08:00

Okay, so another week has gone by. I had an eventful time with friends the past two days. Today's a Sunday, and for some reason I'm itching to get out somewhere.

Well, it looks like the next two weeks will be somewhat packed for me. Firstly it's because I'll have to stay in camp for one week again. Secondly it's because of something which I'm forbidden to say due to confidential reasons. I hate to sigh like that but here it goes anyway: sigh...

I'll see how it goes, then. Let's hope the rest of February will be an enjoyable one...

Colours Of The Wind

2009-02-01T23:55:00.007+08:00

You know, there's something about Disney that we can all relate to. Something so deep within us, we sometimes don't realise it exists. Especially for adults, they usually just shun anything to do with Disney, thinking that it's all kids stuff.

But it's the kids who know better. It's the kids who realise that special something deep down within us. Because their carefree minds are a lot less influenced from the troubles of society, they easily connect to their deepest selves - the core of their being.

And that is what we should all do: Connect to our core. Our true selves.

Just last Christmas I happened to watch Disney's "Pocahontas" on television. And when it came to the part where "Colours Of The Wind" played, it struck some nerve in me. As I listened to the lyrics and absorbed its grand melody, I had chills and I started to tear. Seriously. I couldn't remember the last time anything affected me so deeply. This is one powerful song which speaks volumes. Whoever wrote the words to this song has truly connected to their deepest selves...

I just had to dedicate a post to "Colours Of The Wind". Just reading the lyrics can stir something deep within you. I've highlighted the parts where I felt so moved by the words...

Colours Of The Wind

You think you own whatever land you land on
The earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sunsweet berries of the earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How high does a sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white, or copper-skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
Need to paint with all the colours of the wind

You can own the earth and still
All you own is earth until
You can paint with all the colours of the wind

I've always respected and have been awed by the teachings of native cultures. Most people think that in today's modern society, the native teachings of old don't apply.

But it's the natives who know better.

It's the natives who know better...

"This is home, truly, where I know I must be..."

2009-01-31T22:49:00.003+08:00

Why, it's already the 31st of January. Shocking. Tomorrow's February. February of 2009. One month down, just like that...

You'll probably be bored hearing me say that I was busy the past few weeks. But that's the truth. I didn't even have time to write an entry for Chinese New Year. I had a slightly longer stay in camp as compared to previous stay-ins. On top of that, we had to work over-time for 3 consecutive days.

Now that the chaos seems to be over, I'm glad to be back home, enjoying a peaceful weekend. You can't imagine the feeling I felt when I finally returned to my sanctuary.

I hope February brings with it a much more settled feeling to everyone. Sometimes you can underestimate the feeling of being home...

2-0-0-9

2009-01-14T20:16:00.005+08:00

Red carpet? Check.

Spotlights? Check.

Paparazzi? Check.

"Ladies and gentlemen... please welcome... 2-0-0-9!!!"

*Applause*

*Continued applause*

*Applause fades*

2009 speaks, "Thank you, thank you! Thank you for that wonderful welcome. Ah, it's great to be here. I'm glad to see all of you.

"I hope my predecessor, 2008, didn't give you a hard time?"

*Crowd stirs*

"What's that? It did? Ah yes... I did hear about those terrible events. Economic crisis, earthquakes, Mumbai attacks... Regrettable, indeed...

"But hold your horses, ladies and gentlemen! 2009 has come! 2008 is no more!

"I promise you... I promise you that I will give you a year you won't regret. I will take away your troubles, and give you joy like never before. I will be your most favourite year of all!"

*Cheering and applause*

~ The End ~

Alright, ignore what you've just read. That probably has to be the lamest start to an entry. I ran out of ideas, okay?

Anyway, I know it's pretty late to be welcoming the new year when it has already started 2 weeks ago. And boy, have I been busy with stuff...

I have to stay over in camp a lot this month. Long story. Nevertheless, things have been pretty smooth thus far. In fact they've been better than average...

Well, just thought I'd update my blog with the first post of 2009. Oh, come to think of it, Chinese New Year is just around the corner. A little too soon, huh? I haven't even settled down yet...

Since I'm really out of words now, I shall end here. I'll try to find another time when I have something more meaningful to say. Until then, cherio!

The auld lang syne of 2008...

2008-12-29T12:03:00.009+08:00

This might just be my last entry for the year. I know I've been saying this every year, but everytime we reach the Christmas season which follows up to New Year's Eve, I can't believe how fast the year has gone by. I can still clearly remember what happened last Christmas. It was as though it happened 3 months ago...

I guess the biggest change I had to undergo this year was my enlistment into the army. Now it feels as though it happened a long time ago, because so many things have taken place since I enlisted. But it was only in April this year that I had to wear green...

So now it's 2 more days to the end of 2008. I guess the world in general disliked 2008, mainly because of the economic crisis and especially for Asia, the Mumbai terrorist attacks. But we did see some spectacular events like the Beijing Olympics and Barack Obama's historical win in the US Presisential Elections.

2009, I believe, will be a better year (probably because I've always believed that the grass is greener on the other side). I believe the world will be more accomodating. People will forge stronger relations with one another. We will seek greater peace between each other. And we will start to elevate our mindset, seeing things from a higher perspective - the spiritual side of life.

Well, I don't know if I'm all ready to say goodbye to 2008, to be honest. But 2009 does look enticing, haha! I'll wish you all a great 2009, with true happiness, inner peace, and the purest of love in the making.

Happy New Year...

Merry Christmas, from me to you...

2008-12-22T21:32:00.005+08:00

Okay! So I'm back from my stay in camp. Back for the Christmas holidays, of course. Not that I'm given holidays; I had to clear my leaves, for God's sake...

But I'm glad to be back, yes. It's always at this time of year when I feel it's so important to get away from work and just melt in the season of joy! It's a time for giving, ladies and gentlemen. A time for us to spread the love and warmth of Christmas. You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you're curled up next to a fireplace and it's snowing heavily outside? Boy, I wish it snowed here...

But anyway, it's still Christmas around the world!

"... And so,

I'm offering this simple phrase

to kids from one to ninety-two.

Although it's been said

many times, many ways,

Merry Christmas

to you..."

Killing me softly with its song...

2008-12-14T15:02:00.003+08:00

Phew! The past 3 weeks really brought my immunity level down so much. It all started with a running nose, then came the cough symptoms, and a high fever for a finale. How about that, huh?

The fever came just yesterday when I was out with a friend. I was actually feeling cold when the weather was scorching hot. I could actually stand in the sun for minutes at a time without even perspiring. Then the heaviness took over and thank God my friend was kind enough to accompany me to the A & E to see the doctor.

Come to think of it, the fact that I got sick seems to be a blessing in disguise. I was dying for a break all this while, and now that the doctor has given me a MC, I really think I deserve a few days of rest. Work in camp has been continuous and dreadful. No human being can endure this without taking a well-deserved break.

So now I'll go and rest. I'll write again soon...

I paid for my 3-day weekend...

2008-12-08T17:09:00.004+08:00

The 3-day weekend comes to a close today. I've had my share of fun - but not without a price.

Friday was spent with my army mates as usual, but it wasn't a normal working day. We had a ceremony in the morning and a dinner in the evening. During the ceremony, we had to participate in some games. And one of them was the good ol' tug-o-war. Since I was so eager for my mates to win, I shouted my heart out - or should I say, my voicebox.

The effects of it took awhile to develop. Surprisingly. I still had my voice during the dinner that evening. It was only the next morning when I opened my mouth to speak, that I realised I didn't sound so good. I was speaking in a low, hoarse whisper, and as I tried to reach a higher pitch, it was as though my higher ranges were all... blown out. Nothing came out of my mouth! This was the first time I ever lost my voice. I still had an eventful day with my cousins. It was a very fortunate day for me as well, just to add.

The next day was Sunday, and again it was a whole day affair for me. This time I was out with two buddies of mine, and we visited the Asian Civilisations Museum. Actually one of us wanted to catch a free performance outside the museum, but we ended up viewing the exhibits inside, too.

So that leaves me with Monday, today. I promised myself to spend it at home, because whenever I have work the next day, the day before must always be a relaxing one. I'm taking it nice and slow now. Some people think it's a waste to spend a no-work day like that; you might as well seize the opportunity and go out and party or do something crazy. But I like it the way it is. Nice and slow now...

So what's left for 2008?

2008-11-30T13:53:00.003+08:00

We had to come back to camp on a Saturday. How demoralising. But the good news is that we managed to reach our target. The higher authorities had better acknowledge what we've accomplished. We'll be waiting for our reward...

So what's left is a Sunday for a weekend. I'm going to take it nice and easy again. No point rushing to town and partying like a mad dog and coming home exhausted - not to mention reporting to camp tomorrow as the undead. This coming week will be a repeat of last week, I presume. We've got to complete our master plan, which will last for another 2 weeks.

Funny how the work comes full blast at the end of the year. I mean, come on! Christmas is here! We should be in the mood for celebration. But then again, it's obvious that this year's Christmas won't be as merry as compared with previous years. The economic downturn, and now the recent terror attacks on Mumbai have plunged the mood of the world down in the dumps. What bad timing...

Well then, tomorrow is the 1st of December. A new - and final - month of the year. 2008, you have been an eventful year, indeed...

"Change is coming! Run for your life!"

2008-11-22T13:21:00.004+08:00

It's yet another weekend and I'm sure glad it has come fast. The past week was an interesting week, not to mention a stressful Friday. But I'm glad it's over. I think it's time to take it nice and easy now...

Times seem to be changing as we head into December. Lots of changes in store for me. I'm telling myself to see them in a postitive light. Because I've always believed that the universe will never let you down - not at first glance, at least. The universe will always support you in whatever you do. You have to trust in its process. God doesn't forsake his children, does He? Well, that's exactly what I mean. You might think He's making you go through this tough period on purpose, and it's true! He has a purpose for it. And it'll always end up for the better...

It's all about letting go - surrendering yourself - to life, to God. Easier said than done? Yeah, sometimes. Because we always want to be in control. We want to reject these changes that we see coming our way, out of fear that they would upset our routine and we would have to change our way of life. It's an uncomfortable process, don't you think? I hate it, too. But somewhere deep in my being, there's this glimmer of hope that whispers ever so softly, "Hey, maybe this change is for the better. Maybe my life will be smoother. Maybe I'll gain something in the process."

It's hard to think that all changes are for the better. But I have a feeling they all are. Sometimes you might encounter a change that you just want to reject with all your might. You want to preserve your old lifestyle because you've already adapted to it. Life sometimes forces this change upon you because something has to end. And when that something ends, something new - and better - will develop. You see, most of us think that life is always against us. That life just wants to ruin our plans. But why do we see it that way? On the contrary, life wants to improve our situation. It's always trying to find new ways of improving things. If we keep with our usual routine for too long, life will think, "Hmm... why is he wasting time with this routine when he can gain so much more with another one? Maybe I should modify things a bit."

So you see, you have to trust in life. You have to trust in its process. When the old dies away, the new is born. When God closes a door, He opens another. It's a cycle we mustn't be afraid of. It's a cycle we flow along with. It's a cycle we are all part of...

Change we can believe in...

2008-11-15T14:35:00.002+08:00

It's been quite awhile, I believe. My computer was down - again. Now that it's up and running, I shall return to my usual rantings about life.

Many events have since taken place. There were a few commotions in my army life, but I managed to get through them. This weekend looks like it's going to be packed, just like the last one. We're already midway into November. Just one and a half more months to the new year. Time sure seems to fly when you're not noticing it. I can still remember this time last year when I was working full-time, waiting to be enlisted into the army. That was one year ago...

Just wanted to bring this up since I thought about it: I'm very proud that Barack Obama has been voted as the new US President. I'm sure he'll make a fine one. The very first time I heard this man speak, I just knew he was the change the world wanted to see. I may sound like I'm quoting, but think about it, he really does know how to inspire an audience and in the process, change what the US people have always held for a long time. The winds of change have indeed swept over the most powerful nation in the world - for the better...

Well then, I've got to end here. I'll write back soon. See ya...

Nutty the Nat.

2008-10-26T12:13:00.005+08:00

These few days I can't seem to ignore this irritant on my blog who calls herself "nutty the nat". She probably wants my attention (to feed her huge ego), and as she reads this I can picture her glued to the computer screen with her eyes wide open now that I've dedicated an entry to her. She's probably going to say something like this in my chatbox, "Hmph! Oliver you've hurt my feelings. You are sooooo bad. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" But you know what? I can guarantee you that deep inside this (in)sensitive being, she feels ecstatic now that she's become (in)famous...

That said, I believe it's best to shine some positive light on her, lest she goes into delirium. Not surprisingly, of course, this little irritant here loves to send me junk mail. In one of these, (which I've actually taken the time to read), I came across an interesting quote. I decided to share it here on my blog (much to the delight of the nut herself):

"If you love something, let it go.

If it comes back to you, it's yours.

If it doesn't, then it never was."

Well, suprisingly for someone like her, it was pretty wise of her to forward that e-mail. For that I'll give her credit. But I know she didn't write it, so I'll take back that credit...

Ladies and gentlemen, Oliver has left the building...

What will be, will be...

2008-10-15T21:11:00.003+08:00

Just thought I'd write an entry before my 7-day stay in camp. Yes, it's that time of the month again, and I hope it'll be a good stay. The last few days in camp were busy for me. Work load increasing as time goes by. I wonder when it'll start to make a descent...

Come to think of it, we're already halfway through October. Just 2 and a half more months till the end of the year. I'm praying it'll be quick. I want to complete my National Service (NS) as fast as I can. Time seems to be crawling whenever I live day to day...

Well, wish me all the best, then. I hope everything goes well in our world. Che sara, sara...

It's good to be glad again...

2008-10-10T18:15:00.004+08:00

I'm feeling glad at the moment. Good thing. I'm glad I've completed my guard duties for the month. Now all I have left is the 7-day stay in camp. But that's not a problem.

I'm also glad that I didn't have to work today. It was cohesion day, and the whole camp had a gathering outside. So the weekend has begun early. Boy, I've missed my weekends. It's time for me to enjoy a full weekend again...

I can't believe I've seen so much of camp these past few days. It's like having no life of your own. What a relief to be able to experience a full Saturday and Sunday again.

I'll sign off here once more. May good things never come to an end...

A quick note I write...

2008-10-05T14:33:00.004+08:00

Phew! What an exhausting week! 3 guard duties, with two of them separated by just a day! Impossibile!

Now I'm left with not even a full Sunday for a weekend. With what hours I've got left before the workweek begins again, I try to make the best of my time while also wanting some space for me and me alone!

There's nothing more for me to say. I shall sign off here.

Escapism.

2008-09-27T13:45:00.004+08:00

Ahh, one day of rest for the weekend. Saturday. I've got guard duty tomorrow. It sucks, I know. A 24-hour guard duty sucks to the core...

I wish I was dreaming. I wish I could get away from this life. Life in the army, perhaps. Please don't think that I'm suffering. I just want to express my emotions, that's all.

I hate guard duty. I hate guard duty. I hate guard duty.

How I wish I could escape. Escape into another world. Another dimension. Life is a dream. I'm dreaming. I don't exist. I don't belong here.

"How many miles to Babylon?"

"Three-score and ten."

"Can I get there by candle-light?"

"Yes, and back again..."

Wake me up when September ends. No wait, I love September...

2008-09-20T11:11:00.003+08:00

Right, where are we? Oh yes, September. Wow. It's my first post for September. How long has it been? Pretty long, huh? Yeah. I had a 7-day stay in camp. And my computer was down for awhile.

Events have happened over the past 2 weeks or so. Things have been stirring up in camp. Minor changes here and there have led to irritating disruptions in our usual routine. Oh by the way, the 7-day stay in camp was quite relaxing, to my surprise. I guess it's because there's no need to travel to and fro, and I get to wake up much later, of course.

Well, October signifies the last quarter of the year. Being in the army, you just want time to fly much faster. I can't wait for this year to end - no, I can't wait for my 2 years in the army to end. It's funny now. Before enlisting, I always thought that my 2 years in the army would be a fruitful time; that I could make the best of it. But now that I'm serving full-time, I can't help thinking what a waste of time it is. Seriously. It's like I can do so many more useful things in these 2 years. And 2 years is not short, okay?

Yes, I'm trying, I'm trying. I'm trying to find ways to make the best of my time in the army. But something tells me that at this moment, presently, things are going to develop very slowly. That I should go with the flow and appreciate every moment of it. That I should stop and smell the roses (if there really are any roses) and give up rushing ahead. As I've said before, I've always believed that the grass is greener on the other side. That's my fuel for pushing ahead, for wanting a better life.

I guess life does knock on my thick skull sometimes and tells me, "Hey, come on! What are you rushing for? Try and enjoy each moment! That's what you're here for." I guess it's right. Just why am I rushing? We're all put here to enjoy the earthly pleasures and to appreciate each moment as it comes. Whether each moment is good or bad, positive or negative, it's all human perception, human judgement. In true reality, nothing is good or bad, positive or negative. They're all neutral. It's how we choose to see it.

We humans have a limited perspective. It's not that we can't see things through a higher perspective, we just forget to do so sometimes. We can all access this higher consciousness within us, to see things as how God and the universe sees them. That things are... just things. We don't have to judge them as good or bad...

Acceptance. Acceptance is key. How the hell am I going to do that, I wonder sometimes. Especially if the situation is bad - at least through human eyes. How the hell am I supposed to shift my consciousness from lower to higher consciousness? It's plain difficult to accept the situation sometimes, don't you think? But accept it we must. I guess we'll just have to rise above it...

And so I shall leave you here. It's amazing how one thing leads to another. Honestly, I never knew how long this post was going to be. I didn't plan to touch on any of the above. It just wanted to be expressed out of my being...

My alma mater's 75th anniversary...

2008-08-31T17:41:00.002+08:00

Okay, so it's the end of one week and the beginning of another. Good thing I'm off tomorrow - again, I must say that I deserve it, because I really do. 5 guard duties in the month of August earned me this off day. Pathetic reward, I know, but what the heck...

Just yesterday I attended my alma mater's 75th anniversary dinner. Had a splendid time meeting up with old friends and reminiscing about the good ol' days. Being in the army now, I really miss my secondary school days. Those were probably one of the best times of my life. The freedom, the innocence (so to speak), the laughter - boy, I really cherish those memories...

That feeling of nostalgia everytime I visit the school after so many months strengthens my affinity with it. Almost all students, past and present, will inevitably share a close bond with their alma mater - especially after they graduate from it. The ties we have are strong. The whole family is united. The school's spirit hardly wavers.

I take this opportunity to wish my beloved alma mater a happy 75th anniversary. My hopes are that it'll continue to educate and nurture the young men into gracious adults, with a heart full of integrity and a strong sense of belonging to the school...

Posso vincere...

2008-08-21T21:43:00.002+08:00

Thank God I'm off tomorrow. My very first full day off. I can't wait to taste that kind of freedom again, haha! The reason why I chose tomorrow as my off day is because I have to do guard duty on Sunday. So there you go. The downside is there.

Another week has come to an end for me. Days pass like eternity. Time only flies when you're occupied. And yet, I still think there's hope out there. Yes, there is. A change is brewing somewhere behind the scenes. A change for the better. Something has to happen soon enough.

I'm still in the midst of a transition period. A very long one. Nothing has been finalised yet. And when the time comes to finalise it, the outcome will be good. It will be good.

"Non preoccuparti, ascoltami

Avro problemi

Affronto infami ma

Niente mi spaventera

Niente mi corrompera

Niente al mondo

Mi fara scordare che

Posso vincere

E voglio farcela da me.

E voglio farcela da me."

- Andrea Bocelli,

A Mio Padre

I really deserve my freedom...

2008-08-16T11:55:00.002+08:00

Well, I just came back this morning from my third guard duty since I stepped into this impossible camp. Guard duty has always been an issue, yes. I wonder why they can't do something about it. Or rather why they don't do something about it...

Thank God it's the weekend. And thank God my Saturday isn't fully burnt. Oh, how much I treasure every minute outside of camp. The army really knows how to fully utilize the 24 hours we have in a day. Talk about time management...

All I need now is some rest and relaxation, some peace and quiet. I really deserve my freedom. I really do...

The death of the old, the birth of the new...

2008-08-11T20:59:00.003+08:00

I don't have much to say but since it's been awhile since I wrote an entry, I guess I'll just try my best.

These days have been no different. They can only be more and more stressful. I really wonder if this would go on for the rest of my 2 years in National Service (NS). There has to be something better out there. I've always been a firm believer in the saying, "The grass is greener on the other side".

Sometimes I wonder, "Do I really deserve this? What have I done to deserve this? I don't deserve this!"

But I know it's not a matter of deserving. It's more a matter of learning. I've probably attracted this situation into my life for a reason. There's something to be learned here. Only God knows what...

I don't mean to sound depressed or anything. It isn't as bad as it sounds. But something has to be done. Some change has to take effect - and for the better...

Guard duty nuisance...

2008-08-01T16:39:00.003+08:00

Well what can I say? It's the 1st of August and I'm still waiting for some miracle to happen. Things are still up in the air and what's worse, I have to do guard duty tomorrow - on a Saturday.

I guess everyone has to do it some time or another. But there's just something with this camp and guard duty. Imagine, the average number of times a person has to do guard duty in a month is 5. I bet other camps can't beat that.

On a much lighter note, we had a half-day again. But this time we had to pay for it, so to speak. You see, last Friday was a half-day off, which means it was given to us. Today was a half-day leave, which means they had to deduct it from the number of permitted leaves per year. Still, I think it was worth the taking because I'd rather get back early to prepare for tomorrow.

So then, it looks like my Saturday will be burnt. And blimey, it's not just a day-time guard duty. We'll have to do it all through the night into Sunday morning! Sheesh, the thought of that can really bring my spirits down...

How down-in-the-dumps can I go, really?

2008-07-26T10:49:00.003+08:00

I've gotten over that disappointment. But there are still things which I'm not looking forward to in the coming future. Life right now is still pretty uncertain...

You know that famous line Jesus said when he was about to be persecuted? It goes something like, "Father, take this cup away from me. But if it is your will, let it be done." Yeah, I feel somewhat like him now. What a lousy feeling...

But probably I'm using a much more drastic example. It's not like I'm being put to death or something. But you get what I mean.

What more can I say? I guess I could mention that we had a half-day off yesterday. That's probably it. Well, I'll sign off here...

Oliver's sad story...

2008-07-18T20:26:00.002+08:00

Oliver doesn't feel so good about his posting. Oh no. He actually got what he wanted, but it was cancelled at the last minute. That sent Oliver's joyous mood down the drain. "How could they do this to us?", he lamented to his fellow mates who got the same posting as him.

His friends were equally sad. It was pretty hard for Oliver to get over his regret. During those few hours knowing that his wish came true, he rejoiced like mad. But then the worst happened, and the rest is history.

Today, although it is a Friday, Oliver didn't have the TGIF mood he always had when it came to dismissal time on Fridays. He sulked all the way home. Oliver is trying his best now to be positive about his posting. He did get some relief from a friend who explained that it wasn't so bad after all.

"Only time can tell," reflects Oliver.

Only time can tell, indeed...

Now what?

2008-07-12T11:52:00.002+08:00

I've unofficially completed my course. The rest of it now is the posting and stuff. I certainly want to get posted somewhere near my house. And I really want a position which I can handle well.

It's a little scary to think that this is what I'll be doing for the rest of my 2 years in National Service (NS). 2 years can seem a short time, but as I live day to day, it can be as long as hell. But then again, who knows? Vocations can change. Surprises happen all of a sudden. In fact I just had one this past week. I won't elaborate on it, but for a moment there I almost had to make one of the biggest decisions in my life so far. I'm not exaggerating.

But now that it's possibly over, my life has gone back to normal. It's funny how just thinking if I should make that crucial decision can turn my life from carefree to solemn. Suddenly you see people around you living their carefree lives and you being faced with a crossroads. Even crossroads seems to be an understatement.

The mind is a funny thing, I tell you. Our perceptions are the ones which dictate our state of mind. Our emotions are controlled by how we view things, how we judge things. Good and bad; right and wrong; lucky and unlucky; they're just two ends of the same thing. The difference lies in our perception, our judgement.

So life seems to be very surprising, indeed. One moment you think you've settled down, the next moment you're faced with a huge decision. I can't even guess what's going to happen next...

8-5 VS Stay-In

2008-07-05T11:32:00.004+08:00

Well well, the past week was busy. But the coming week will be busier, I guess. Good thing I had a "happy hour" with friends yesterday evening. Not the alcohol type, though. Just a good dinner after work...

It's constant studying, this one. Lots and lots of things to remember. Next week will be the major tests and stuff. I just learned of a misconception about 8-5 jobs in the army. Many people, including myself, have always believed that if you get an 8-5 job, you're lucky. And if you get a stay-in job, you're suay. Well, in the unit I'm in, the stay-in jobs are scheduled in a way where you get to stay-in for one night, that means 2 full working days, and the next day you're off. That leaves you a whole day to do what you want.

Now look at the 8-5 jobs. Yes, you get to go back everyday, but how much time do you have for yourself? Those few hours in the evening are all you have to do whatever you need to do. Before long it's time to hit the sack and the cycle repeats itself. So the feeling of an 8-5 job is very tight. You're just burning off the useful hours of the day at work.

I guess that's one way to look at both modes of work. I realised this because the 8-5 job (or course) I'm now in feels like that. Extremely tight. After this it's back to the lecture notes. So I guess I'll see you soon...

Studying is nostalgic these days...

2008-06-28T14:14:00.002+08:00

Whoa, what a week it has been. The course I'm undergoing seems to be quite a stressful one, I must say. I know it's still early to judge, but on the day lessons started proper, we had a test the following day.

And as I've said before, I can't mention anything about what I'm learning. Restriced stuff. And because it's so restricted, I can only do my studying on the computer. We can't even print out the notes. So it looks like I'll be very intimate with my computer for the next 2 weeks. Boy, I can't wait to get this course over and done with.

Not that it's all gloomy, though. I'm also very satisfied with the present camp I'm posted to. It's pretty easy-going for an army camp. I guess all Privates deserve that after what they've gone through in Basic Military Training (BMT).

Well, I think I'd better hit the books again - or stay online, for that matter. I'll sign off here, then.

Vietnam, Vietnam!

2008-06-21T11:07:00.005+08:00

Xin chao! That's hello in Vietnamese. Kind of nice to be back home again. The holiday was fine. Great that I could go overseas after 3 long years of staying in the country. A breath of fresh air, really.

Vietnam had its highs and lows. But more highs, of course. They're famous for their coffee which, if I remember correctly, is second to South America's. We travelled up to a hilly town called Da Lat which was much cooler in temperature. And probably that was what we were looking forward to: Cooler climates! But if you ask me, Vietnam is not a good place when it comes to shopping. I mean big time shopping. Everywhere you go, the shops all sell the same old things: Herbs, fruits, vegetables, and hand-knitten clothes. Every shop has them! And they're all situated side by side! How competitive can that be?

But I had a good time overall. The service standard there is real good, believe me - especially when it comes to the restaurant staff. It's not an exaggerated kind of service, but a kind that comes from the heart. Something which you can see in their demeanour, and something which Singapore still needs to learn.

And yes of course I have the photos. But because uploading them here is such a nuisance, I've uploaded them in my Facebook profile. I'm sorry if you don't have an account there, but if you do, search for me and take a look. I'm probably the only Oliver Sayson in Singapore, haha! Oh by the way, the photos I selected only feature me. Since it's my profile, I'll censor out my parents, shall I? Haha! How narcissistic can I be...

Finally, I've just got my posting, and it's a little far from where I live, but I'll make do with it. Anyway it's just a 3-week course. I shan't mention the details due to confidential reasons.

So that's about it, then. Pretty summed up, huh? I'll see you soon...

Good Morning Vietnam!

2008-06-13T14:21:00.002+08:00

I'll be leaving Singapore for Vietnam tomorrow. Kind of last minute? Well, there's no time to waste. Only 2 weeks of leave before I become a soldier again...

Don't really know what to expect there. It's the second time my parents are going there. The last time they went to Hanoi. This time we're going to Ho Chi Minh City. Anyone know what they're famous for? Besides their beef noodles?

Anyway, I'll be back in about 6 days. I wonder where I'll get posted to after my leave. Till then, it's "Good Morning Vietnam!"

The ending is just the beginning...

2008-06-10T18:04:00.005+08:00

It was weird, really. Just last Sunday, the day I had to book in to camp one last time before I became a Private, my friends asked me out a few hours before that.

"Hey, let's go for a drink or something before you book in. It's your last book in to Tekong, you know?"

"Yeah I know that. But you want me to go out in my smart 4? The most dangerous uniform in the world?"

I call it the most dangerous unifrom because it has a lot of regulations attached to it. No walking and talking on the phone; no public displays of affection, just to name a few.

"Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with wearing the smart 4 outside. It's okay to eat and drink in smart 4. If you're going to the arcade in smart 4 then I would advise against it."

"But still..."

"Don't worry. Just come. It's your last book in."

So off I went. We had some tea in Ikea before the time came for me to book in to camp for the final leg of my Basic Military Training (BMT).

I passed out yesterday as a Private. I feel great to have completed my BMT, no doubt a modified one. And now I shall start to savour my 2-week long break. I'll probably get so used to civilian life that when the time comes for me to begin my vocation I would get a rude awakening. Well, I guess every guy in the country has to go through this.

So that completes yet another chapter in my life: My BMT. Like what our Platoon Sergeant told us all when we passed out, "The ending is just the beginning."

Just 1 more day to privacy!

2008-06-08T11:08:00.002+08:00

It's just tomorrow! Just tomorrow! I'll be a Private then. Boy, I can't wait to pass out. And to pass out of that offshore island, too. Not that I hate being on that island. It's just that every Recruit passes out of it. Come to think of it, the island itself is not bad. I had this remote idea when I first enlisted that the camp was surrounded by a jungle. I was pleasantly shocked to see a concrete jungle instead.

Oh yeah, the good news doesn't stop there. We'll all be having a 2-week block leave after we pass out. And I'll have my chance to go overseas after a long 3 years of staying in the country. I sincerely deserve some rest and relaxation after what I've been through. Well then, looks like it's all planned out.

Can't say anything more for now. I'll get back to you real soon. Ciao!

A Private in a week's time...

2008-05-31T14:33:00.002+08:00

Believe it or not, my Basic Military Training (BMT) will end in about a week's time. Soon I'll pass out as a Recruit to become a Private. A Private, I like that rank. Sounds pretty... private.

Anyway, it's not like I want to stay a Private forever. If I get a promotion, then good for me. Wow, how fast and yet how slow time can fly as well. When I'm in camp, one day seems like eternity. But if you look at it from a big picture perspective, 7 weeks in BMT is really quite fast. In fact it's less than 7 weeks.

So I guess the rest of my 2 years in National Service (NS) will be spent in my vocation, which is clear and yet tentative for now. I shan't mention anything yet. When everything has been confirmed, I'll shout it out for the world to hear. Till then, I'll wish myself the best of luck for the rest of my BMT and my vocation...

My 1 month anniversary in the army...

2008-05-25T13:58:00.003+08:00

1 month! 1 month! That's how long I've been in the army now. Slightly more than 2 weeks left before I complete my Basic Military Training (BMT).

Thank God field camp is over. What an experience. Again, we had high times and low times. But what the heck, it's the army...

I've got to report back by 5p.m. today. So my time's running out. Anyway, I can't wait to finish my BMT. All of us can't wait to finish it. It's a phase every soldier has to go through. And a phase every soldier will complain about.

I'll see you real soon. Godspeed to the both of us...

In the army...

2008-05-17T21:49:00.004+08:00

And so it goes, and so it goes... I AM BAAACK! Actually it's not the first time I'm back from camp. It's my third time. I didn't have time to write an entry on Labour Day and the last weekend. However, it's a 3-day weekend for me this time because of Vesak Day on Monday. So here I am. Back again.

The dying question everybody wants to ask me: "How's life in the army?" First and foremost, I can't disclose the details here because of confidential reasons. But I can tell you my experiences about life in camp.

Well, the first day was quite interesting. That's when we were all new to army life and were wondering what's in store for us. We got assigned our bunks and beds, and slowly got to know our section mates.

Then as the days passed, more and more things happened. During the first week, we had an endless list of tasks to complete with our sergeants. Mostly the administrative stuff but by day's end, our free time was extremely limited. In the army it's "lights out" at 2230hrs. That's when everyone has to be in bed - sleeping. No talking on handphones or doing other stuff. Just be in bed. Sleep.

As the second week approached, we did have more time for ourselves. If you're wondering why I keep emphasizing on "free time", well, that's what everybody wants: Free time to do what they want! After all the exercises, lectures, and practical lessons, you just want some time to do your own thing and say, "Leave me alone."

It's amazing how so many things can happen in a day. There were times I literally thought that the lessons we had in the morning were part of yesterday's activities. We spend 17hrs awake and the rest of the 7hrs in bed. You can see how disproportionate the ratio is. Leave us alone for a few minutes and we'll have no problem dozing off in a few seconds. That's how tired we can be sometimes. But then again, if ours is already the modified Basic Military Training (BMT), what will the real BMT be like? I keep reminding my mates that we're very fortunate already...

The third week has just passed and I must say that things are much smoother now. Definitely more free time. We've almost reached the halfway mark of our BMT and the next few weeks will be pretty crucial. Just next week we will have our field camp. The outdoor camp every soldier must go through. It'll be an experience, no doubt. After that it'll be the main practical tests of our BMT. Once we have passed, you could consider us graduated from BMT.

So then, this is how life is like in the army. No doubt there are high times and low times, fun times and crappy times. It's all part and parcel of the army. I shall end here. And boy, am I tired. Oh, it's 2230hrs. Lights out!

The army, here I come - again!

2008-04-24T15:56:00.004+08:00

Okay. So I have time to write one last post before I enlist tomorrow. I had to write this one because I am surprised that some more people have asked me out this week. I truly am touched.

I had an aunt who took me out to dinner. Then my friends wanted to have another round with me. Not to mention another aunt who wanted to give me a treat today whom I had to turn down because I wanted to take it easy before I enlist tomorrow. To all these lovely people, I thank you. And to everyone I know, it gives me pain to think of how I would disappoint you - if ever the time arises.

Tomorrow I begin anew.

Godspeed once again, Oliver...

The army, here I come!

2008-04-19T14:59:00.002+08:00

Okay, so it's just 6 days left before I enlist. I may not have the chance to write one more entry before that so I'll take this as my last post.

The past week was pretty fine, actually. I had old friends calling me out because they knew I was going into the army soon. Thank you so much for that, guys. I'm really touched. During the past few days I did things which were as though I was never going to return home or something. Weird feeling, really. As if those were the last days of my life, if you get what I mean. "Hey, you're going into the army already. Better enjoy now as much as you can", that's what I've been hearing lately. Well, I did what I had to do. I have a motto anyway: One life. Live it.

So, the coming week would be used to prepare myself for the upcoming chapter in my life. Lots of packing to do. And lots of mental preparedness, too. If I don't get back here before the 25th, I'll probably write again 2 weeks later. To all who have supported me thus far, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Godspeed, Oliver...

The Victoria's Secret Angels

2008-04-12T15:12:00.007+08:00

You know, I never did mention this on my blog but I have to confess, I've been a huge, huge fan of the Victoria's Secret Angels. Ever since I took notice of them, I can't help thinking how beautiful these ladies are. When I came across the photo above, I just had to put it on my blog and write an entry about it. I believe this was taken for some competition to raise funds for the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Of course these are not the only models from Victoria's Secret. There are many others who are just as gorgeous as them. What's that you say? You want me to introduce them to you? From left to right, we have Alessandra Ambrosio, Izabel Goulart, Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, Karolina Kurkova, and Selita Ebanks.

You've probably seen Alessandra on many Victoria's Secret posters before. In my opinion, she is the face of Victoria's Secret. Her face is synonymous with Victoria's Secret. This beauty hails from Brazil (if my research is correct) and you'll see her around, don't worry.

Izabel has eyes like no other. Those deep, deep eyes really speak to you on some level. She's probably the epitome of a true blue Brazillian woman. And that hair of hers! So wavy and so long. It just makes you want to run your hand down her hair, don't you think?

Ah, Miranda. She's the latest model to be inducted into the Angels 'realm'. Not to mention being the first Australian Angel, too! This sweetheart has one of the most sweetest and smiley faces. In the recent Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2007, when she had to pose at the end of the runway, I thought she gave one of the best flirts ever! A wink and a smile - classic!

Adriana, a.k.a the goddess, has sexy upfront and thrown right at you. This fiery lady has also been the face of many a Victoria's Secret photoshoot and she never fails to keep the temperature up! You should see her in the 2007 Fashion Show when she pumped the crowd up and brought the segment home...

Karolina is one European beauty who hails from the Czech Republic. Those blonde locks says it all. She has been grazing the posters of Victoria's Secret for quite awhile now. And if I remember correctly, Karolina has been into modelling from a very young age of 16, I believe. She stands out, in a way, because all the other Angels are from other parts of the world - and have darker hair colours!

Last but not least, Selita has also recently joined the Angels in their quest to spread beauty to the masses. This model has sass, and also one of the most beautiful faces I've ever seen. Elegant and charming, she looks downright sexy in those photoshoots. She was the one who wore the most expensive bra in the 2007 Fashion Show.

Well then, looks like I've covered the main points. Now you're all set to see the Angels in action the next time they appear in the fashion scene. And to the Angels themselves, keep up the heat!

The West Wing & We Will Rock You

2008-04-10T20:58:00.005+08:00

This week began very musically. I attended 2 musicals, one on Monday and another on Tuesday.

Monday's musical was called The West Wing, performed by the students of the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Theatre Studies group. It was held at the university's cultural hall and believe me, it was just as good as the poster you see on the left. How ingenious they were. They actually interpreted a Chinese play in English and that's not all - they sang the lines in the tunes of today's pop music. From the Pussycat Dolls to even Queen, they pulled it off spectacularly. I was very impressed and really think they should perform it in front of the general public in places like The Esplanade and such...

Tuesday, as you can tell, was the day to let my hair down. Having bought my ticket 3 months in advance (not to mention I was fortunate enough to get one which was 4 rows from the front and at an extremely cheap price), you could imagine my anticipation the moment I stepped into The Esplanade's theatre and saw Queen's crest embroidered onto the curtains on stage. No doubt it was the loudest musical I've ever attended and whoa, I had a hell of a time. The only setback was, as I was seated 4 rows from the front and as you know, people who can afford seats that close to the stage are usually - I emphasize, usually - rich and much older in age, they are not the kind of people who dare to get on their feet and let their hair down. Imagine if I'm the only one standing up when all the others have their butts glued to their seats. I was very sure the people at the back - mostly the younger ones - were on their feet stamping to We Will Rock You. And I could even see it in the performers' eyes: Why aren't many of them standing up? Are Singaporeans that conservative?

Next time if I ever go for this kind of musical, I think it'll be more appropriate to sit with the younger ones, haha! I can't bear to let the great tunes of Queen go to waste again without stamping and screaming at the top of my voice. There were some patriotic fans of Queen in the theatre, no doubt. I couldn't help feeling proud when everyone cheered at Queen's name. The interesting thing about Queen's music is that once you hear it, you will never forget it. It stays with you, and it makes you fill up with pride whenever you hear it. Oh boy, even now I'm getting goosepimples...

You're booked, Oliver...

2008-04-06T13:59:00.003+08:00

Haha, well, it was a good outing yesterday. A few of my friends wanted to have a "pre-enlistment get-together" specially for me. Thanks guys, if you're reading this, I really appreciate it. We went for a sushi buffet, by the way.

So then, the countdown continues. Slightly less than 3 weeks left before I enter the army. Frankly speaking, I think it's a little long to wait. Funny how time slows down when you're counting down to something. But anyway, I guess I have to make the best of it...

This coming week, lots and lots of activities are in store for me. In fact, I have something to attend to everyday. My my, never had such a week before. I'll be looking forward to it. What could possibly happen in ol' Oliver's mundane life?

The facts of life?

2008-03-30T14:58:00.003+08:00

What a nice Sunday it is. Cloudy, rainy, my kind of Sunday. Well then, where am I in my big ol' life? Ah yes, tomorrow's the end of March. Wow. It's less than a month before I enlist into the army. But before that, I have a few interesting days to experience. Yup, yup, events are lined up ahead of me. I'll tell you more when the time comes...

You know, I don't know about you, but I always experience certain feelings on certain days of the week. For example, Mondays are always kind of blue - as they say, Monday blues. Tuesdays are kind of like a transition to the middle of the week - neither here nor there, I guess. Wednesdays are alright - midweek, probably in the mood for some fun. Thursdays get even better - however I always encounter either good things or bad things on Thursdays. Fridays, no doubt the end of the workweek, can be a little moody for me - Friday blues? Saturdays are cool - it's like the start of the weekend. And Sundays, albeit lazy Sunday afternoons, are another transition to the start of a new week - it's like you want to have fun, but then you think twice about it because tomorrow's Monday. And it goes on and on, you know? A vicious cycle...

Sometimes I'm dying for a sudden change of sorts. A wake up call, a knock on the head, an epiphany, whatever you call it. It's like I'm just waiting for inspiration to strike. To get out of this mundane life and really live life. But then again, the thought of experiencing abrupt changes to your lifestyle and the sudden change of events can really be frightening. Your whole world can turn upside down. You lose control of your life. You're in a whirlpool of emotions. Scary...

Funny how life plays out sometimes. For me, I usually experience extremes. I'll use the example of luck. When I have bad luck, it's extreme bad luck. When I have good luck, it's extreme good luck. And that's not all. When I have mediocrity, it's extreme mediocrity, too. Ahh well, I guess everyone's life is different. We'll just have to be contented, huh?

I'm sorry if I'm making you feel depressed. Just want to release some old complaints. I'll leave you to it, shall I? See you soon...

Imagine.

2008-03-24T17:09:00.004+08:00

"Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today...

"Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace...

"You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

"Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world...

"You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one"

- John Lennon

Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana

2008-03-22T18:16:00.005+08:00

Hello, hello! Wow, what a great (and wet) Saturday it has been so far. You know, recently I was trying to find the name of a classical piece that spoke to me so deeply the first time I heard it. I was watching an old film by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro. It's called "Raging Bull" and during the first few scenes - in fact, I think it was one long, slow-motioned scene - there was this classical piece playing in the background. Anyone would have noticed it because there was no talking in that scene, just Robert De Niro boxing slow-motioned in the ring.

It was that music that stirred some deep emotions within me. My God, I had to find it, I told myself. Just a few days back, an old friend of mine called me unexpectedly. He was a fan of classical music and so I happened to mention about the piece I was trying to find. Thing is, I didn't even know the title and composer who wrote the piece. I just knew it was used in "Raging Bull". This extremely resourceful friend of mine searched the net, found the piece, and actually played it from his computer on the spot! I was amazed at how efficient he was, and I am very grateful to him. He couldn't pronounce the title and composer, so he spelled them out for me.

The title of the piece was "Cavalleria Rusticana", by Pietro Mascagni. The name "Mascagni" rang a bell in my memories, and so did "Rusticana". Right now, I'm actually listening to it! Facebook has this music player application and I searched for it there. If you have time, go have a listen. Take note of the second part of the piece - or the 'chorus' after the 'verse'. You'll know it when you hear it. I happened to hear this same piece being used for a foreign advertisement - possibly an Italian advertisement.

Beautiful, beautiful piece. Very touching. I told my friend that it was one of those rare classical pieces which really penetrates into the heart. It's not everyday you find a gem like this...

The countdown gets nearer...

2008-03-18T17:31:00.004+08:00

Ahh yes, the stressful week is now over. I can breathe again. Well, everything came full circle on Saturday, and I dare say the outcome is a good one. It ended well, too, with my cousin's birthday celebration at the chalet.

This week, no doubt, it'll be an easy-going week. But now I'll be counting down to my enlistment day. Before I know it, March will end and April will come. In the meantime, I guess I'll have to get the necessary equipment for the army. People ask me if I'm scared of going into the army. Well, I guess every guy who goes into the army will be a little anxious at first, no doubt. But some part of me is also looking forward to it. With every change comes new and positive experiences, too. So it's not all gloomy and stuff...

I just hope I can sustain this attitude when I eventually get enlisted. I'll be keeping an eye out for the opportunities that come with being in the army. Boy oh boy, I've got a whole life ahead of me...

The evolution of Vanessa Chan...

2008-03-11T18:12:00.017+08:00

Then...

Not too long ago...

Now...

Oh my God, I am so dead... Yes, Vanessa, I know you'll be shocked at this. I don't know what made me do this. It was a stroke of inspiration. Really.

Well I guess I just wanted to show people how you evolved so quickly. I don't mean to hurt you. Listen, almost 2 years ago you were that goody-two-shoes in the first picture. Aww, so "kwai", huh? Bright-eyed, bright clothes, bright everything...

And then, not too long ago, you started to "let your hair down". I'm very sure society calls that "Emo", right? Just look at that second picture. Fringe covering your right eye, left eye looking sober, as if you were pining for something. Oh, the anger, the sadness. How painful...

Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you, Vanessa today. Everything says it all: Goth. The picture just screams, "Goth!" Black eye-liner, black blouse, black everything. And the pale skin just gives it so much contrast. Wow. I could just picture you in a music video playing an electric guitar in a graveyard setting. Goth...

Oh Vanessa, you grow up so fast! Look at you! My my, what a cousin. Dear readers, I hope you realise just how strong an influence society can have on us. Let my cousin be a reminder to all of us. Bless you, Vanessa...

A tedious week ahead...

2008-03-09T17:04:00.002+08:00

Hey there. Nice, cloudy Sunday today. Well the past week was pretty good actually. Everything came full circle yesterday. But I can tell you that the coming week will be one heck of a week. This week will be one of those strenuous weeks where, once again, all my efforts will pay off on Saturday. Whether or not the outcome will be good, I'll have to see for myself when the day comes...

I'll be taking my music theory exam on Saturday. 3-hour long paper, intense brain-cracking. I've made it known to this cousin of mine who thinks I can get a distinction again that the odds of getting one are very slim. In fact, if I can secure a merit for this one, I'll consider myself very fortunate indeed. Getting a distinction, realistically speaking, is out of the question...

But on a much lighter note, thank God there is a function on that Saturday evening. Another cousin of mine will be celebrating her 8th birthday and her parents have booked a chalet for that weekend. So I'll certainly be looking forward to that splendid evening after a 3-hour long brain ache...

Well then, in the meantime, I guess I have to do all the dirty work. It's putting my nose to the theory books and exam papers. Boy, I can't wait to get this week over and done with...

It's clear skies ahead!

2008-03-01T13:47:00.003+08:00

Hello, hello. It's a brand new month today. March. Wow. The third month of the year. It all happened so quickly, huh? I wonder what's in store for me this month. According to my calculations, it seems to be an eventful month. Can't wait, then...

What a nice way to start it off. A nice, cloudy, and if I may add, nostalgic Saturday. Some people may not like cloudy weather, but I love it! Cool and breezy, that's the way to go. And it's a simple Saturday for me. Got to go to church in the evening. And my my, I never said this before, but my days are numbered, yes. I'll be enlisting into the army on the 25th of April. Slightly less than 2 months time. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to it. Want to get it over and done with, you know. Once that obstacle is cleared, I'll be free to follow my dreams. But you know, I have a feeling I'll be able to follow my dreams in the army itself. I'll be very vague here for the moment. But wish me luck, if everything goes according to plan, I'll shout it out for the world to hear!

Having said that, the army doesn't seem to be a big, bad monster anymore. I can make good use of that 2 years, in fact. Not to mention, it'll also look good on my resume. What a surprising start on the road to my dreams. Here's to the future!

Awaken...

2008-02-24T17:41:00.003+08:00

Hi there. These few days I just can't seem to get anything out of my head. That's why I couldn't blog. Somtimes... I don't know, it's like something's holding me back, you know? I guess I have my inhibitions. Should I say? Should I not say? I'm scared of what people would think of me, that's for sure. Nowadays I tell myself I shouldn't judge people. I mean, who am I to judge someone when I myself am no clean soul? You know what's the one thing that scares me the most? People judging me, of course. And it's the bad judgements which scare the hell out of me...

But sometimes I have no choice. Sometimes I feel that when something has to be said, it should be said. Sometimes what I believe may go against the grain; I've said many things here on my blog that were contrary to what many believed - even downright controversial. And I can honestly say that it was just the tip of the iceberg. Clearly, not many see things the way I do. But as they say, "Live and let live", right?

Talk about destiny. Everyone's got one. And if I may say so, mine's going to be one hell of a ride. They say we chose our lives before we were born. Of course we don't realise this consciously - we've made a promise not to know. But today in this new century, this new era, there are a certain few who are starting to understand and know the truth. And as we progress towards the future, the world would become more and more aware of these people. In fact, there are a couple who are living among us today. They are here to teach us something. To make us aware of something. Some truth which has been embedded within each one of us - only that we've forgotten about it. They are here to remind us about it...

I shan't go any further. As I said, I would like to keep it at this level for now - the tip of the iceberg. When the time is right, and only when the time is right, the truth shall be revealed. Till then, awaken...

Mr. Bean's Guide To Dating.

2008-02-13T19:33:00.004+08:00

I came across this video in one of my friend's Facebook profile. Absolutely hilarious...

Soulmates...

2008-02-10T14:11:00.005+08:00

Once again, it's been quite awhile, yes. And I've missed Chinese New Year, too. Well, here's wishing you a happy and prosperous year in the Earth Rat.

Many things have happened since my last post. Thing is, I can't seem to remember all of them. Firstly, I'm glad to say that my music theory exam results have been released, and I got a distinction for that. So well done to me.

I had a couple of nice outings with some friends of mine. We caught up with one another as usual. Time always seems to leave big gaps between us these days. It isn't like the old days when we saw each other in school every single day. Probably even got sick of each other's face, haha! But now it's different. Times have changed...

It's amazing how people come and go in our lives. I'm pretty sure there's nobody who has ever kept the same friends throughout his lifetime. You know the term, "Soulmates"? Yeah, the one people use only for romantic relationships? Well, I don't know whether you've heard, but there is a new kind of reference for the term, "Soulmates".

You see, whenever we meet someone who seems to be Mr. or Mrs. Right, we refer to him or her as our "soulmate". But most people think that the other people we meet - our friends and acquaintances - are just what they are: friends and acquaintances.

Here's the gist: Why can't we also call them our "soulmates"?

I know you're wondering, "Then what do you call boyfriends and girlfriends?" Well, they are also called soulmates. But to be more exact, romantic soulmates.

I've got to make this clear: Not everyone we come into contact with is our soulmate. It's a little hard to explain, but recently I've come to learn that only certain people who come into our lives are our soulmates. These people have a profound effect on our lives, be it big or small. Let me emphasize once again: These people have a profound effect on our lives - sometimes even in very small ways. And you'll be shocked, but sometimes the people who are not that close to you, or whom you don't have an affinity with, are your soulmates. By the same token, even the people who are closest to you, your parents and relatives, may not be your soulmates. But most of the time, from what I've experienced, soulmates will be the people you associate with the most, like your best friends, for example...

Let me explain what soulmates do. Soulmates come into our lives for a purpose. They come to teach us something. And we're supposed to find out what that lesson is and to learn from it. Sometimes, even people you get to know just for a day and then forget about them, are our soulmates and they have something to teach us. Whether the lesson is big or small, we have to learn from it in this lifetime.

It's karma at work. Unresolved karma from past lifetimes will be brought forward into this lifetime for you to resolve. This is crucial for our soul's evolutionary journey. With each lifetime, our souls will progress until we reach our highest potential on our evolutionary journey. And who better to bring about our lessons than our very own soulmates.

It's amazing, isn't it? So if you're just thinking that your boyfriend or girlfriend is your soulmate, think again. Obviously, your boyfriend or girlfriend came into your life to teach you something about love. But let's not forget the other people we meet. They have something to teach us, too.

I think I'll leave you here for now. It's a good eye opener, don't you think? When you start looking at people this way, your relationships become more meaningful. You start to see a pattern in your relationships with people. You start to understand why this-and-that happened, and what you can learn from it. And when you finally do learn the lesson behind it, some burden you have been carrying inside you gets thrown away. You become that much enlightened on your evolutionary journey...

My big, fat Greek exhibition...

2008-01-27T18:12:00.000+08:00

Hi there. Well, it seems to be a cloudy Sunday evening right here in my area. The afternoon was hot, and now it's going to rain. How abrupt...

Things have been happening these past few days. A major change has affected my life, but I won't mention it here because I don't think it's appropriate. And if I may say so, even the most trivial of things can affect me in profound ways. I don't usually have that habit of typing the expression "sigh", but here I must. Sigh...

On a brighter note, I visited the museum with my friends yesterday. I hadn't been inside it since it was last renovated. And I have to say that the architecture is brilliant. Very spacious and clean-cut, especially when walking up to the main entrance from the car park. The last time it had a fence around it.

We visited an exhibition on Greek civilization. Statues and busts of Greek Gods and Godesses were all over the place. Some were finely carved while others were no doubt eroded. A couple of familiar names came up: Athena, Socrates, Plato, Aphrodite, Zeus, Eros, Hermes, just to name a few. We were fortunate enough to be in time for a free guided tour of the exhibition. The guide was marvellous; she probably dug real deep into Greek history...

Anyway, it was a day well spent and I hope to experience even more days like this. Ahh, I wonder what life will throw at me next. I'm signing off here...

The truth about technology...

2008-01-19T14:53:00.000+08:00

Hey hey, it's been a great Saturday so far. I'm so glad my computer's working again. Kind of miss using it in my own home. You know, technology is such an extreme thing. It can make your life a lot easier, but it can also make your life a whole lot more difficult. Why? Because when your gadget eventually gets faulty, you'll have to find a way to get it fixed. And most of us depend a lot on technology. It's as if we give a huge part of our lives to it. Take one simple example: Our mobile phones.

We store probably all our contacts in our mobile phone's SIM card. And what happens when that SIM card gets lost or faulty? We lose all our contacts. Take yourself back to the old days when mobile phones didn't exist and we had to depend on pen and paper to record down telephone numbers. That little black book was our passport to the outside world, so to speak. All our contacts were stored in its pages, in alphabetical order. And where has that little black book gone today? Most likely we've dumped it out of our lives long ago...

So it's quite a pity, don't you think? It's amazing how we can remember most of our friends' telephone numbers in the old days. Our brains were put to much use in the past, I dare say. You ever heard scientists say that we only use two - or was it three - percent our of brains throughout our life? Imagine what the percentage would be these days. It's like our brain cells are dying while we're still living.

There's no doubting that our brains have a whole lot more potential just waiting to be tapped. If you're a fan of Star Trek, you'd most probably have heard the saying that space would be the next frontier. Someone else I've heard said that mind would be the next frontier. I couldn't agree more.

Well, I guess I've made my point. Sorry if I took you by surprise. I didn't expect to talk about this topic in the first place. Have a great Saturday...

Happy 2008!

2008-01-14T15:30:00.000+08:00

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I am so sorry. Look how long I've been away from blogging. We're already in the new year, and I haven't wished all of you yet. So Happy 2008, you guys...

Well, I must apologize because my computer's been down for quite some time now. I'm actually typing this in an internet cafe. As usual, many things have happened since my last post. The New Year celebrations were fun. Had the countdown with none other than my family. On New Year's Day I was invited to lunch with the Brothers back in my alma mater. And then I also had the occasional outings with some friends. In fact just yesterday I was invited to a birthday celebration at Sentosa.

Blimey, it's been almost 5 years since I visited Sentosa the last time. Things have changed there, no doubt. The thing I loved most about it was its accessibility. It's so easy to just travel down there whenever you like! I always had the idea that Sentosa was quite troublesome in terms of entry. This time however I was advised to use the monorail to get into the island. And it was exactly like taking the train. Get a ticket ($3, by the way), tap it at the barriers, and wait at the platform! It's that easy. Of course there are other ways to enter into Sentosa, but the monorail on the 3rd level of VivoCity makes it so easy for people living in the neighbourhoods to travel down to Sentosa whenever they feel like it.

And so I had a great time with my old friend and his family. Another thing I hadn't done in quite a while was riding a bicycle. We rented a bike each and I had the most nostalgic time ever cycling in Sentosa. Not to mention seeing the white, sandy beaches and, ahem, the babes in bikinis, haha! (Hey, it's an attraction on its own, by the way.)

So this is it, then. 2008. I'll have to end here because my time at the cafe is ticking. I hope you've had a great start to the year, too! All the best, then...

Merry Christmas, people!

2007-12-24T17:13:00.000+08:00

Oh my God! What happened? Where did the past week or so disappear to? IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE ALREADY! And boy am I not ready yet. I am still so busy doing things. Here I am, although dressed up and ready to celebrate, my mind is still telling me what tasks I have to finish first. And thank God I've done a good deal of it.

"So this is Christmas, and what have you done..." The song keeps playing in my head. Well, it's great that we've arrived at Christmas. I couldn't wait for it to come. And now it's here. Just a few more hours and it's Christmas day. Wow, the memories of last Christmas are still ripe in my head. Has one year really gone by so quickly?

I'll be having a Christmas dinner in awhile. Not the traditional one for today. That's for tomorrow, perhaps. As you can tell, my mind is still awry. Random phrases just pop up and I just type them down. Tell you what, I'll just leave you to it, shall I?

To all the people of the world, have a wonderful Christmas. Keep the love coming. I'll see you guys...

Do what you love...

2007-12-12T15:54:00.000+08:00

Hello! It's less than 2 weeks to Christmas, and I just can't wait to see how the year will come to an end. Things have been getting a little surprising here and there. I think some changes are about to happen. No matter, I welcome them with open arms...

It's my off day today, probably the only time I'm able to type a post. With work burning away each passing day, I can't help feeling that I'm wasting my life away with something I would never want to have a career in. That's exactly the kind of feeling when you're in a job which you hate. That's why I always, always say that we should do what we love to do. Think about it, you only have one chance of living this life. Why would you want to waste each precious day doing something you hate when you can be doing something you love? Stop wasting any more time! Follow your dreams, live your passion, do what you love! When we die, the only thing we can take with us is our memories. Do you want to regret that you wasted your days doing something unfulfilling, or do you want to be satisfied knowing that you pursued your dreams - or at least tried to pursue them?

If you're in the same position as me, trapped in a contract, seize the next chance of getting out. I don't plan to waste any more time and energy doing something which I feel has no meaning for me. Sure, the experience counts, not to mention the money, but in terms of feeding the flames of my heart, no way. I came into this world with a purpose. We came into this world with a purpose. It might not be clear to us at first thought, but I can guarantee you that you'll realise what your purpose is when the time comes. It all begins with what I call "the great awakening". It's the moment when you just stop and think, "What the hell am I doing? Why the hell am I doing this? I don't get any satisfaction doing this." And that's when you fall to your knees and thank God, because you now know what to do. You now have a purpose, a dream, a passion to live for.

The thing you love will be your purpose in this life. It's clearcut. It's that simple. All you have to do is to follow it, live it. In most cases, you will realise that you already have the necessary talents and skills needed to live out that dream. If you haven't, the universe will find a way to equip you with them. However, you need to have that intention in the first place. If you have no intention of following your dreams (for no reason I can think of), then the universe would have no intention of giving you what you want or need. It's the law of attraction at work. Set an intention, and watch the universe open doors for you.

You have to have faith, of course. You have to believe in youself. Sometimes you might find yourself at a dead end, but you have to know that there is always a way out. You might not see a way out, but the universe can. You have to trust it, you see. You have to put your faith in it. Sometimes it feels as though you're putting blind faith into it, but take heart, the universe supports you in all that you do. Set an intention, trust and believe that the universe will manifest it for you, and then be grateful for receving it...

I could go on and on, but I guess you get my point. If you haven't absorbed any of this information, just take this small piece of advice back with you: Don't waste any more time; do what you love...

This is the way of life...

2007-12-04T15:20:00.000+08:00

Ahh, it's Tuesday. Thank God I'm off today. I had to work last weekend and the crowd just keeps getting bigger because it's the festive season and promotions are all over the place. I'm grateful I'm not working in the sales department; my servicing department is a lot less chaotic...

So we're now in December, the final month of the year. We've reached the end of another year again, I just can't believe it. 2007 is about to vanish into history. Whenever it comes to this time of the year, I can't help feeling emotional. It's like I have to let go of all the experiences I've encountered. I know they'll be stored in the recesses of my memory, but things will never be the same again. Sometimes even the bad experiences can be meaningful enough for you to treasure them. The good experiences, I don't have to mention. Who wants them to end, anyway?

This shows that we have to cherish all our memories, both good and bad. Because memories are the only things we can keep as each experience comes to an end. They're just like photographs, only more vivid. We can access them anytime, experiencing the colours and feelings that play out in our mind's eye. Even as we leave this place, our memories will still be with us, especially the ones which made quite an impact on our previous lives on earth.

We learn from our experiences. The lessons they bring can be easily discovered, or they can be buried deep within the experience itself, requiring you to look beyond the surface. Oftentimes, we have to go within, to dig deep, to return to our core, in order to realise what these experiences have to teach us. The insights you uncover as you "journey to the centre of the earth", so to speak, will jolt you at first, but then you start to realise, from deep within your being, that you've known this all along. You've just forgotten, that's all...

We need to journey back to our core as often as possible. In order to fully be in line with our source and to fully be at ease with ourselves, we need to reflect. We need to know. We need to experience the truth which is buried deep within each one of us, at the very centre of our being. Only then can we understand. Only then can we be enlightened. This very truth which is in every one of us, is linked to every one of us. We are all interconnected. What we experience affects the people around us as well. The things we do reveberate 360 degrees, and come back to us full circle. What you give out, you also receive. "It is in giving that we receive". "What goes around, comes around".

Send blessings out into the world, and watch what comes back to you. Be gateful for what you have, and watch what you receive. This is the way of the universe. Go against the current, and you will be struggling in vain. Flow with the current, and you will experience all that needs to be experienced, and receive all that needs to be received. This is the way of life...