How time flies

The big day of YCF performance is upon us soon...wow, in the blink of an eye...truly.

I could still recall clearly the mixed feelings of doubt and excitement during the first few practices. Much has happened since.

My brother's graduation is tomorrow. His one year at NIE seems to have made him appreciate the teaching profession more. It is a noble profession and I know he will be able to make immense contributions in any way that he can. He is teaching now at his alma mater Temasek Junior College. And as far as I can see, he's enjoying it tremendously. It seemed like only yesterday that I see him coming home from sailing practices. As a student.

Read a couple of blogs about long lost friends and going back to one's old secondary school. We should cherish those friends we have, those whom we have gone through life's ups and downs, joys and sorrows, sharing sweet and bitter moments.

I really miss those secondary school buddies and the Dunman High School which stood at Dunman Lane. Those memories flooding back always bring pangs of nostalgia...

Within You Remain

Man struggles to find life outside himself, unaware that the life he is seeking is within him...

I guess the same can apply to fears we want to overcome.

Eiffel Tower

Rising sun acted as a giant heater but was useless against the freezing wind. The milling crowd loomed before us. Driver said we would have to wait for weeks to go up.

The steel structure looks forbidding and magnificent. On the other side, it displayed 13 days to the year 2000. Just across a small road stood rows of temperate trees ravaged by winter. Flowers still bloomed around the small pond.

Triathlon Fever

Had a crazy idea while jogging at the reservoir yesterday.

I've always wanted to take part in triathlons...and wished I had that chance in the upcoming event at east coast park on 2nd and 3rd july. Unfortunately, I have other plans and haven't trained for it at all.

Since I enjoy all three activities, namely swimming, cycling and running, being a triathlete really appealed to me. So I was toying with the idea of actually carrying out a personal triathlon, swimming at Bedok swimming complex, cycling to Bedok Reservoir and running a couple of rounds around the reservoir.

Hmm...guess it's not such a crazy idea after all. Anyone else interested?

Don't let obstacles like big Ben Wallace stop ya...drive to the basket, drive to your Goal

Is Winning Everything?

Some say it's the only thing... Well, it's certainly something. But I say, if you are not afraid of losing, you've already won.

That's provided you WANT to win in the first place. Accept defeats, attract victories.

Winning is addictive. To be at the top, to be in control, the feeling is like no other. Victories in life give us meaning, a chance for us to say "Wow...so this is how it feels..."

How do we know we've won in life?

Follow your heart. That's what keeps those dreams alive. So, get carried away, guys... get carried away...

Soar to reach those skies above...a la Tony Parker

The Divine Anodyne

The crescent moon shaped like a sand dune, overlooked many stars that lay below.

With rays piercing through the icy window, the hues changed without a moment's notice.

Orangy pink gave way to a yellowish white.

It hung, like a bright solitary jewel, surrounded by sparsely scattered diamonds.

The hands of time will tell, not what I wish to see or hear.

But only the hands of mine shall break or create those very fears...

This one's still in play for sure...the two number 7s battling for South American supremacy

Pet Peeve

The World Cup qualifying match between South American giants Argentina and Brazil was an entertaining affair. With four gems to show for, the crowd would have been pleased with the goal mouth action.

Both sides had their chances to play fluid, captivating football, what with their slick passing and cheeky flicks. We've had glimpses of young talents from both sides. Robinho, Kaka and Adriano proved no match for Argentina's more experienced team though.

Crespo was a thorn all match, Riquelme shone in midfield and the team in blue and white showed their defensive strength as well. Against a talented Brazilian team, a well organized defence and midfield is crucial, and if you've got the likes of Saviola and Kily Gonzalez running at the opposition defenses, that would be useful too.

But I digress.

The issue I want to bring up is quite trivial. But I can't help but bring it up. When a ball is kicked out of play and it hits an opposing player standing outside the field of play, however close that player is to the line, HOW CAN A THROW-IN BE AWARDED TO THE PLAYER WHO KICKED THE BALL?? Anyway, that happened during this match. And it amazes and amuses me at the same time.

Ok, I feel a sense of relief getting it off my chest...hope FIFA or UEFA officials can give me a definitive answer through my blog or whatever...and yo Posh, I CAN BEND IT BETTER.

Realise Your Potential

It's been a month since I last saw Dr Tay at the park or reservoir. Well, maybe less. But anyway, I didn't see him today.

Then I was thinking why I wanted his advice. He doesn't know me that well. He doesn't know much about what has gone on in my life. Hmm...that got me thinking. Perhaps getting advice from someone who knows you very well is a dangerous thing. People who know you well would tend to see you in the light they always see you. They have preconceived notions about you that wouldn't change much, though you might have changed, however slightly. Of course providing solutions and advice objectively is almost an impossible feat in any circumstance. But those loved ones might be doing more harm than good. And I can't emphasise the word 'might' enough.

In any case, I would like to quote from a speech given by Carly Fiorina, the recently ousted HP CEO, to a bunch of university graduates.

"We should be motivated by our own sense of possibility. We should be motivated by our own sense of accomplishment. We should be motivated by what we believe we can become."

"People's ideas and fears can make them small - but they cannot make you small. People's prejudices can diminish them - but they cannot diminish you. Small-minded people can think they determine your worth. But only you can determine your worth."

"I do not know any of you personally. But as a business person and a former CEO, I know that people who have overcome much can achieve more than people who've never been tested."

"Living life defined by your own sense of possibility, not by other's notions of limitations, is the path to success."

Well said.

NO Fear NO Regret

"Viewed from the standpoint of eternity, this life is as short as a one-act play. Therefore, we should boldly play out our drama of life as we see fit, without regret or fear - a person who does so is happy."

- Daisaku Ikeda

Ever Wonder

Ever been to a place 3 times in a day and wondered what made you do so? Well, I did...today...
Still wondering now.

Ever Wonder

Ever been to a place 3 times in a day and wondered what made you do so? Well, I did...today...
Still wondering now.

Ever Wonder

Ever been to a place 3 times in a day and wondered what made you do so? Well, I did...today...
Still wondering now.

Notes from Paris

The sun was bright but temperatures were freezing. The sky was blue with swirling clouds like milk in coffee. Fluffy clouds.

People walked briskly, hands in pockets, vapour from their mouths. The children's playground filled with wet sand, abandoned because of the cold.

The streets got busier as the morning lengthened. The man was back walking his dog. A magnificient animal, white fur with greyish hue. Our British bus-driver got across the road.

The train rambled past, almost silently from where I was.

The trees were ravaged by the elements of winter.

A family of four emerged from the building across. A residential building I suppose. The kids, oblivious to the cold, pranced around. Parents stood and waited, breathing in the morning air. A man walked into the building, smoking a pipe.

Live European sports from a Scandinavian country was on the telly. Outside, the low buildings were of different heights, shapes and sizes. Small streams of smoke were merging from some.