Wild Berries On The Boardwalk

I visited The Resorts for the first time this evening. I had a delicious dinner, an enjoyable ramble through the resorts, and a refreshing dessert. I sat at the side of the bay, taking in the spellbinding view, talking and laughing.

And above all, I spent time with a great friend. Thanks, J. You were wonderful tonight.

P.S. The view of the bay was the second-most beautiful sight tonight.

Ham & Cheese

My Class Is Awesome!

But I bet y'all knew that already. But I'll say it again. MY CLASS IS AWESOME!

Why am I rather high at the moment? Blame the fashion photography on Tuesday, which allowed me to ham it up in front of the cameras. Heh heh. I think I really count as the boisterous bruiser trope. Let's bring up a checklist, eh?

1. Part of an ensemble band? Check.
   
2. A Large Ham? Check!
   
3. Might inadvertently send someone flying across the room? Check.
   
4. Might buy them a drink after picking them up? Check.
   
5. Big, Loud & Scenery-Chewing? Check!
   
6. One man wrecking crew/army? Check.
   
7. Mighty Glacier pulling Tank duty? Check.
   
8. Preference for Big F***in' Guns & other over-sized weaponry? Check!
   
9. Not exactly the brightest spark? Check.
   
10. Can be played by BRIAN BLESSED? CHECK!
    

There we go, the boisterous bruiser. BWAHAHAHAHAA! CHISWICK! FRESH HORSES!

But seriously, this year has started off great. And it just keeps getting better. Jan's party tomorrow, and a church costume party next Friday. I shall attend as...*drumroll*...The Spirit! And yes, I found somewhere to rent a trenchcoat.

Before I forget. Note to self: Projects dues soon.

Spring Cleaning

It's time to go through my things again. Put away all the old stuff, take out the trash, and clear some space in my life. After going through my wardrobe for the past few days, I've found plenty of stuff that I presumed lost, or thrown away. So many things hold so many cheerful memories of a childhood spent laughing, crying, reading, watching, playing, growing. 18 years and more gone by. What a ride it's been.

A big congratulations to Jan for appearing on TV! And Jan, you looked great, and did great. I hope you get a smooth journey during the last few months of work!

I am a happy polar bear. =)

Deadliners Before December

Right, it's deadline week again. The time when everyone scurries around, attempting to catch up on all our assignments. Here's a break down of what I need to finish if I want to see December.

1. Photography Assignment - 30 Photographs (Food For Thought)
2. Persuasive Communications - 3 Reflective Journals
3. Media Management Principles - 1 Job Advertisement
4. Journalism - Individual Assignment 1

Yep, I think that's everything. Seems a relatively doable target, no? I certainly hope so. I just wonder why things coincide at such a time.

Three thousand bleeding dollars to stay Down Under for 3 weeks...and not even on holiday. What a rotten deal. For $3000, I could fly to Oz, crash with my relatives, and go out on my own. Even then, things, friends and girls I want are all here, so no need to hightail it out yet. Plus, I'd rather like to go to the UK, Ireland or America for a holiday. No way am I gonna blow 3k on a lousy study trip. Betcha TP's too cheap to sponsor us. Ah well, at least I can make my own plans.

Media fast my arse. Whoever dreamt up that idea is a bleeding moron, and you can quote me. If I had to do that crap, you wouldn't see me in school for a month. In any case, corporate youth leadership strikes me as a bunch of assclowns, content to bow and scrape before the great white stick. Well, they can piss off, and take their bovine brains with them. I've had it. Bloody herd of sheep. Worse still, the malady seems to be filtering to my region. And for FUCK'S SAKE, stop the holier-than-thou attitude! That's how the Church in Europe and across the Pond got to be seen as stuck-up sods with no sense of humor!

I'm looking forward to the long weekend. Friday and Saturday seem like good days to go out for a lark, and I think I can find some partners in crime. Hope Jan and Rach are free. I miss the Wild Boys, though. Sakae buffets are so last year. Let's do a number on Kuishin Bo Next!

Say It Isn't So

Yeah, so my life is rather confusing at the moment. But I guess that's how it always is, right? And I kinda like it that way.

School's been back in session for about a month now, and I'm clicking back into the swing of things. I like all my classes so far. Shame I couldn't take another CDS, but then again, that leaves me with some time to kick back with a good book and a nice cup of tea. I love how everything seems to fall into place sometimes. The Socio group's got Singapore Dreaming for our focus movie. I've never watched it, but I hope it's good. Open-mind approach, activated.

Okay, so I might not be an expert at photography. Thankfully, there's plenty of people willing to teach me and guide me along the way. To everyone who helped me so far, thanks for the boost!

I want to try out for FOC facilitator! I mean, no-one from CMM turned out last time, so we should at least be represented this time around, right?

Christmas is strolling back into season again. How time flies. It seems like yesterday I was grumbling about Christmas being over too soon, and yet, here it is again. Aaaaah, holidays are always welcome.

Watching movies is a nice way to spend your time. Watching movies with somebody who appreciates them is even more fun. Watching movies with a girl who appreciates them, and actually has lots more to offer than just an airy "Yeah, it was nice", is AWESOME. Thanks for a wonderful time, Ms. K, and here's hoping for much more to come.

There's no Christmas morning service in church this year, so we should have a party at my place. That would be fun. Try inviting 50 teens, and watch the place go crazy. Or Andes can arrange the chalet for selected guests only. No party poopers, and no high-mighty-and-holier-than-thou attitudes.

I think I like two girls at the same time. How's that for screwed up? Heh heh. Oh, and I think one of my seniors is really hot. Yep, that's the definition of screwed up, last time I checked. Oh well, I'll just grin and enjoy the pretty women in my life. =)

The Golden Boy

Freddie Mercury is a LEGEND! Of course, you already knew that, didn't you?

School's back in session, and the holidays are well and truly over. I may not have accomplished everything I set out to do, but I did manage to do a few things, and I'm happy to be back in the saddle for another term.

The flavor of the month is tea. I've become addicted to a cup of tea in the morning, it really kick-starts my day. I might even give up all my other more fascinating concoctions for it. Then again, maybe I won't. And I like a girl. I hope she likes me. She's not my age. Her smile is beautiful. Every little thing she does is magic. It just makes me want to break out into song sometimes.

The last week or so of holidays has been kind to me. I watched a movie, I played football with some old friends, and I made something incredibly tasty. Best of all, I got to go out with a beautiful girl, I ate ice cream with a great friend, and I went out for a quiet err....meal with two other good friends. Yes, I'm incredibly blessed.

First week of term's been okay. I mean, I kinda expected how the cards would fall, in terms of forming groups for projects. The lectures have been cool so far, except for my CDS. Boy howdy, is that lecturer a boring old fart. Anyway, I'm skipping all his lectures this term, since everything is already in the handbook. Which means Friday is a 2 hour day, ending at 11am! Better yet, Wednesday follows the same format, and I only have an afternoon lecture on Monday. Can I get an AMEN?

But seriously, I need to do better this term. Less sleeping in lectures, less last-minute rushing. Maybe more caffeine. I've got MMP (the online module), PerCom, Photo, J2 Feature, and Socio. I might need to borrow a DSLR, and I definitely need models for my photography tutorials. Yes, I mean you gotta come in as photo subjects. So if anybody wants to volunteer their services, I would like to know. I can't afford to pay you, but I'll probably take you out for dinner after that. I'm not a professional yet, y'know.

Another reason why the first week was bearable: Friday. Dropped in on Jan while she was working, gave her a little surprise. Hope it brightened her day up! She certainly cheered up my dreary afternoon.

Everything seems so much brighter this year. I wish it could go on forever. And my adventure continues...

Sunny With A Chance Of Hyper

The holiday is winding down again. Another holiday, and yet I haven't gotten as much done as I would have liked. I still haven't done the beer-battered fish and chips, I haven't had any time to learn guitar, and I still owe someone a treat and a movie. I have managed to finish an internship, I've created a new drink, and had lunch with some of my friends. So, with a week left, I would like to do a few things.

1. Meet the gang and raid a buffet together.
2. Go out for ice cream.
3. Watch a movie.
4. Get out in the sun and play!
5. Cook something incredibly tasty.
6. Restring the old guitar I found in the study.
7. Go out for a proper drink.

The year so far has been kind. I'm in a much better mood than I was the whole of last year, and I'm living a much more stable way. Less late nights, no 3 or 4 day hiatus from sleep, and I can afford the odd day of aimless drifting once in a while. Guess I adjusted better this time.

Bicycle day was enjoyable. Thanks to Arthur, Pamela, Lavette, David and Ivan for turning up, and livening a week when I was bored out of my skull. Among the teens in church, y'all count as some of my closest friends.

I wonder what kind of career I'll get when I finish studying. I hate maths and sciences, I excel in English, I love history, politics, literature, music, movies and theatre, plus I like sports. I can talk my way out of damn near anything, I am not a great artist, and I feel awkward around girls. What a profile to have, yeah?

Sod that, though. Here's to one last blastin' week o'fun!

Happy Holiday Hindsights

Right, it's been three weeks into my holidays, and I'm doing pretty well. Err, except for the numerous cuts and bruises on my left side, and the muscle ache all over my body. Heh heh, business as usual on the football pitch.

Big thank you to Andes, Arthur, James and Ivan for a wonderful time at Crystal Jade. I was feeling a little down that day, so major props to you guys, for being inviting me to one of the best dinners out I've ever had with friends.

This is my last two days working. Yes, I actually got off my arse and got a job. Pretty cool, huh? I'm an intern (no, not interned in a prison), at a law company downtown. I'm quite the happy camper! I've learned a lot during my nearly-a-month at the company, and experience like this is always welcome.

Anyway, plans are still afoot for a 1C04 gathering. I'm just not sure what to do. I mean, the cost of booking a chalet seems a little restrictive when we could just crash at someone's place and have a blast, but who's got a house to take us? And I'm not sure we can hang at Sentosa til the next morning.

Monday's party was AWESOME! Sadly for some of us, Pamela and Janilyn couldn't make it. But still, there was good food, and great company. What's not to like about that? Bonus points to Arthur for the ample supply of root beer and ice cream. Yes, I'm a root beer addict. Nothing wrong with that! =)

I'm really looking forward to Rahman's party. It will be great to see the GOB network, and reacquaint myself with a particular hermit crab. If he sees this, yah boo sucks to him, cos I'm feeling rather irrepressible at the moment. I wonder if my extra-strong, extra-sweet cup of tea had anything to do with that.......Nah, not important.

Why do I seem to be such a klutz around girls, especially good-looking ones? Gaaaah, I blame 10 years in a boys' school. But if I hadn't gone there, I might've never met The Wild Bunch. So I guess the benefits outweigh a little social awkwardness? Yep, it was worth it. Once again, I had an argument with myself and won. I'm a VERY happy camper!

Another benefit of being at a law company, you learn such interesting things while doing research. Like how I can own a REAL sword when I'm 18, as long as it's for display purposes. Wow.... I can finally get that 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword I've been eyeing since I was 15. IDEA!!!

By the by, damned playlist.com seems to be afraid of the record companies. Never you mind though, I still have Groove Shark!!!

Kick Into Gear

Right, now that semester is over, time to study. Next week is gonna be rough, so I've gotta enjoy the small break and the opportunity to revise. Speaking of revision, nothing's sticking. I need some study buddies, or I'll go spare studying on my own.

New plans for the year. I'm back in the pool, so I need to maintain that. If I can bring my weight down to maybe 88-91 kg, I should be fine. Also, do better in semester 2. I won't have the design modules weighing me down, so I must do better. Not to say that CMM design modules are horrendously difficult, it's just that I'm not great at design. Them's the breaks.

I wonder how everyone's getting along in their revision? I mean, I check Facebook every few hours, and I see people complaining about studying and $300 handphone bills, and some randy little pervert in Taiwan raving about the girls there. If he likes 'em so much, he should marry one and stay there, wouldn't you agree? Maybe I'll go blog browsing after my swim. Gotta run!

This is ourselves.............under pressure.

Fortune Smile On Us

Goodbye Ms. Winnie Tan, and thanks for all the memories. You've taught us and guided us for one great semester,and we wish you all the best.

It's been a great day. All my assignments are in, I have no more projects due, no more note-taking, no more losing sleep over project or assignment deadlines. Just a little bit of work left. And with the long weekend, I get some R&R time. I really need some rest, and some ice for my elbow.

Speaking of my elbow, I played some football with the CMM guys today. I'm very happy that I joined them for the game. They are really decent blokes, you know? Bollocks to all the stuff I might have thought previously, they are great fun. And I surprised myself with the display I put up for goaltending and defensive duties. I'm normally not anywhere near that great, I'll admit. But today I hit form, all the better for everyone. And best part is, my adrenaline managed to prevent me feeling the full extent of the bumps and bruises until I got home.

Tomorrow should be great. Hang with the guys and shoot the breeze, while eating and drinking. It's always nice to catch up with old friends.And Monday's footy day. I sure hope it doesn't rain... And that I've recovered by then.

The EXAMS are coming. Granted, I have it easier than most, but I still want to do well, even if that means actually studying. For all the guys and girls who are about to take their exams, God and fortune smile on us all.

Photographic Perception

Yeah, the title ain't saying anything, right. I agree, I'm talking a load of humbug. I just wanted to have an alliterative title.

Well, I've survived, so far. But I'm starting to feel a little weary, what with assignments constantly rushing at me and so on. Anyway,before I started going into the whole "I'm-too-worn-out-to-care" bullshit, I need to remember that I do have other things going on, and that I'm not the only student in the world. Hopefully all my friends can help keep me sane. They've done a remarkable job so far, wouldn't you agree?

Okay, I still have no idea how to use Photoshop, and I'm just too sleepy to keep going. I'll finish it off in the morning, have another argument with my dad about punctuality, run down to the shop, and get the bleeding thing printed. Right, simple as that.

By the way, why are girls such complicated creatures? I mean, I've been around the girls in my class for what, 3 months now, and I still don't understand a lot of what they are going on about, and sometimes it just drives me spare. Oh well, just avoid trouble and bumble my way through, albeit a little obliviously. I still think the girls in my class are wonderful, by the way. They really are. Anyway, I have an appointment with the Sandman. Goodnight everyone!

PS. Enjoy the video!

Note to self. Update playlist.

Another note to self. Drink less coffee.

Pans And Fires

Well, I managed to survive the week. Scary as heck, it was. Majorly rushed several assignments, full on smoke, mirrors and charm. I think my presenting skills are still intact, thank God. Hope I don't go all to pot on my projects, though.

I've lost some weight over the holidays, down 6 kilos to 97kg. I think I shall give myself a round of applause, and a root beer. *Slurps*

There, that's better. Where was I? Oh yeah, keeping fit and healthy...or not. Now, term is back in full swing, and everyone is probably fixed on the 2 graphics projects. Oddly enough, so am I. My grades last term were rather insipid and uninspiring, something I really need to correct. Now let's see, the to-do list for these next weeks.

1. Essential Graphics [Photoshop] project
2. Graphic Design project
3. Marketing project
4. 4 more Marketing journals
5. Media & Society group project
   
6. APEL folio
7. Catch up on my sleep.

On number 7, I calculated that if my average amount of sleep was supposed to be 7 hours, from 11pm 'til 6am, I'm currently short 91 hours of sleep for the month. I suppose I have quite some catching up to do, in that case.

Friday was extremely fun, I had lots of fun at Arthur's. I learned a lot about our region, and also about my friends. I have much more respect for some of them, decidedly less so for others. And to my surprise, I am something like the regional mystery. How that figures is beyond me...or maybe people just don't have the time to try and read me. Here I was thinking I was a happy open book, when apparently I'm the exact opposite. Oh well....guess I'll stay closed. It's better when people don't know what to expect. Wild Card, Maverick, Joker in the pack. Hope my close friends don't find me cold, private or distant. If I am, tell me. Ask me about something, I just might tell you.

Five Of Freedom

This has been the best week of the holidays! The food, the fun, and the freedom! So much done in such a short time. A real battery recharge and boost. Once again, I thank everyone who turned up, and made it happen!

Best 2 days? Easily Thursday and Friday! Kuishin-Bo buffet with Arthur, Ivan and Wendy was nothing short of spectacular. There was so much to eat and drink, and even more time to do it! And the food quality? Excellent. Well, maybe the soft-shell crabs could have been bigger, but still, I'm not exactly complaining. Oh, and I swallowed a large piece of prawn shell without realizing it. Thank God it hung around somewhere less obstructive than my throat, and I could cough it out later, instead of having to choke on it.

Apart from that little incident, we ate. And ate. And ate. And drank. And ate. And...well, you get the picture, yeah? Food, fun, chaos and laughter when Master Chef 1V4N decided to make a wasabi tart. Heh heh. Yes, it looked odd. Pics are on Facebook. No, for once I didn't eat it. Surprising, no?

Sleepover came right after that. Well, I didn't exactly sleep, but I did get a night full of talking, laughing and general tomfoolery. The two cans of soup, the movies and the first season of Mind Your Language were much appreciated. I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did!

You'll forgive me if I don't remember so much of the sleepover. I didn't exactly get much sleep, and was high on fun.

Breakfast after that was nice, though we didn't get to try Lavette and Evelyn's pancakes, since they decided not to cook. Ah well, some other time, I guess.

Everyone's headed off for camps, holidays and so on. I've got five days of freedom, home with just school projects to do. Wonder what I could accomplish? And why do I feel like having a drunken house party? Wait...bad idea, I'd need to clean up after. Happy hols, everyone!

(I Wanna Be) Your Steve McQueen

I'm too darn happy to bother about minor setbacks. Sure, I have scorch marks all over my back (which feels like someone took a blowtorch to it), sure, my laptop charging pin may have broken, but I just can't help being cheerful! There's so much to look forward to this week! And for the rest of the holidays too! A shame I can't remember when we're supposed to go back to school. Hee hee, score another point for me.

Stuff I'm looking forward to:

• Kuishin-Bo Buffet!
• Sleepover Special!
• My Sun Scorches Leaving!
• My Repaired Headphones!
• My Repaired Laptop!
• Windows 7 Release!
• Seeing All My Friends!
• Watching My New Mel Brooks Collection (THANKS GINNY & LIZ!)
• Eating All The Chocolate In My Fridge! (THANKS AGAIN, GINNY & LIZ!)

Yeah, so how can I let a little problem or two ruin my week? I'm sure it'll all work out fine.

There's an online debate raging about who is the King Of Cool. Is it James Dean? Marlon Brando? Steve McQueen? Personally, I'll take Steve McQueen. Enjoy the video!

Shoot To Thrill

What other guy finishes his exams, then goes home and scoffs two plates of noodles and a plate of chicken rice? That's right, I'm the one of a kind, original Beast North East!

Heh heh. Recent activities have been, to put it mildly, brilliant! For all those who organized the Sentosa outing, and relentlessly badgered people to come, a very heartfelt thanks for making it happen. Thanks to those people who came as well. More people equals more fun!

The only drawback to going to the beach? Sunburn. I really need to get more effective sunblock. Ah well, no point crying over spilt milk. Juts bring on the moisturizer.

I should finish all my assignments ASAP. Then I have more time to party!

Sleepover planning going into overdrive! Oh, and two words for the week: Kuishin-Bo and Buffet!

Okay, I gotta go get ready for church. Duty calls.

Switch And Arrange

Okay, Journalism 1 midterms tomorrow. I've looked over and revised the concepts, but I still have no bleeding idea how the test's gonna look like, except for the sample Adam gave me..Thanks Adam!

Weird feeling, obsessing over a test. I must've drunk or eaten something off. Oh wait..... it's just me studying for a change. Hmm, I need a break. And a stiff drink, or a speed drink.

Sentosa Saturday coming up. I wonder who planned it. Anyway, it's a good way to go relax. And I can legally buy booze. Heh heh.

I want a sleepover! Or two....or parties! Yes, lots of parties!

I need to drink less glucose.

Man. Monster. Mountain.

Yeah, yeah, so I drank two cups of foul-tasting sauce. Honestly, it's only bad at the bottom, where all the stuff settles. Still, it was funny to see everyone go loony over that. And, that proves I am the sickest person in the youth. Not sick as in cough and sneeze sick, but sick as in WICKED SICK!!! By the way, the sauce was vinegar, Tabasco and wasabi.

Let's see...put away around 15 dogs, still had space for dessert and some dim sum. Oh, and a burger when I got back home. Plus a can of root beer, and 2 1.5l bottles of water to flush the system. Yes, I AM a monster.

Discussed a sleepover with the 3IV bunch. Guests should not be more than twelve, I guess. Wonder who should Arthur invite?

A day to mid-terms. 2 papers, 2 hours, and freedom. Watch this space.

Far Gone, More Ahead

I took a few hours on Saturday to look back once again, and remember where I was this time last year. Big difference, and it's very welcome. I must always remember to avoid repeating old mistakes. Bit of a mouthful, but it's true. I can't change my past without a time machine, but I sure as hell can learn from it. So, I thank all those who have walked through the halls of my life, if even for a split second. You've all been part of the learning process, you've taught me something important, and you've kept me sane (well, nearly sane).

CMM rocks! Alright, so there might be a ton of required reading, and challenges like Essential Graphics, but hey, what's life without challenges, eh? Oh, anybody mind giving me a crash course on graphic design and art?

Class outing didn't happen. Oh well, shit happens. It's how you deal with it, that defines you. I choose to be nice about it. Admittedly, it was spontaneously planned, so I shouldn't have expected more than a lukewarm response. Still, I hope we can go out as a class sometime this few weeks. The idea is that if we are a tight-knit unit, we will have no problems working together in different groups for our projects. Also, I'd rather we all start off as friends.

I need to do a few things this week and next. I have a few bills to settle, choose which cover I will use for my laptop, purchase a bokken or two, restring my classical, purchase textbooks, and catch the peninsula plaza shops when they are open. I need one or two more buckles. Other than that, I've got school. Yeah, I'm not as free as I was, but not yet at the busy busy busy kind of juncture. Life's lovely.

Class In Session

Well, I survived my first class day unscathed. Excellent! So far, journalism looks the most interesting of the modules. Maybe it's because the teacher is a fat happy bloke who gambles, swears, drinks and smokes. Or maybe it's just me. The Graphics teacher is a little scary....stickler for discipline, she is. Still, I suppose that's a good thing.

I need art supplies! Yeah, I thought I wouldn't need any more color pencils.....oh well. WJ suggested Art Friend, so I'll probably go down on Saturday. Anyone wanna come? We can try getting some discounts!

Class outing set for Thursday. Yes, we do have another free day this week. What are the odds of that? Anyway, I think it would be better for the outing to be this week, rather than next week during the Labor Day holiday. Everywhere is sure to be crowded during that long weekend. For some reason, I'm much more enthusiastic about class spirit than usual. That's a good thing, right? Back to the topic, our options are bowling, a movie, ECP, Sentosa, hanging around town, a barbecue, Pasir Ris Park, or a Sakae raid (No prizes for guessing who suggested that.) We vote on the issue at 3. Oh, today's CCA day. Should I sign up with something, or stay under radar for now? We shall see...

For now, that's it from me. Updates when I update! =)

Burns And Patches

Three days since orientation finished. I'm sunburned, unfortunately. Also, I've got a patch on my arm from where the fake tattoo was. Ah nuts. Hopefully I won't look like a right idiot come Tuesday.

Day 2 was fun. I learned more about my class, course, lecturers, and schedule. Y'know, I didn't have class today. No kidding! No tutorials the first week of class, except Friday, and that's to make up for Labor Day. Lucky, ain't I? Yes Bryan, you hate my guts. Sorry bud, but that's the way the cookie crumbled. No hard feelings, eh?

Spent most of Saturday and Sunday recovering from the sunburn. Also sent the router in for servicing. If I don't configure the next one, my downloads will not connect. Great, just lovely. Brilliant, even. Damn thing.

Monday.......ah, Monday. My last remaining vacation day for a week. And what do I do with it? I spend it shopping. Go me! Walk up and down North Bridge and Orchard, and end up with two new belt buckles, and a reserve order for another one. Since my clothes are kinda low-key compared to others, I guess my standout options are limited to accessories and shoes. And maybe my jackets, if I can get my hands on a leather jacket. Hopefully, one that doesn't have a lot of pockets, and can fit on my shoulders. The one I tried had too many pockets, and wasn't cut broad enough for my shoulders. Oh well, I still have my maroon hood, my black alumni reversible, and my denim number. Maybe I should get some boots, a drover hat, a leather fedora, and a motorcycle as well. Okay, maybe not the motorcycle.

School's in tomorrow, and I get to see all my pals again. I must remember that this is my chance for a whole new start, at something I hope I'm good at, somewhere I like. So if I start complaining before next year, can you guys do me a favor and hassle me until I stop? Thanks, much appreciated.

PS. 1CO4, if you guys happen to stumble across my blog, please gimme a shoutout and link up!