As I promised in me last entry ... this week has been a fulfilling (if rather long and tiring). The Producers, Stomp, meeting with my Uncle Kenny and loads and loads of gym! Been trying to keep fit ... but ironically I have fallen terribly ill ... hacking coughs, runny nose and the like. Just hope its not a reaccurence of me old bronchitis.
Been feeling a little more homesick than usual (unusual for me!) so I blasted an email back home (still waiting for those replies guys!).
Suddenly have had a urge recently to travel ... so many places to see and check out. Been thinking of a trip with Sherwayn to Europe, short weekend one, towards the end of this term. Seem to have become infected with the travel bug!

Take A Chance On Me - ABBA
(me favourite band!)

If you change your mind
I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best and it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test, if you let me try
(Chorus)

Take a chance on me(that's all I ask of you honey)
Take a chance on me
We can go dancing, we can go walking, as long as we're together
Listen to some music, maybe just talking, get to know you better?
Cos you know I've got
So much that I wanna do, when I dream I'm alone with you
It's magic
You want me to leave it there, afraid of a love affair
But I think you know
That I can't let go

(Chorus)

Take a chance on me(come on, give me a break will you? )
Take a chance on me

Oh you can take your time baby, I'm in no hurry, know I'm gonna get you
You don't wanna hurt me, baby don't worry, I ain't gonna let you
Let me tell you now
My love is strong enough to last when things are rough
It's magic
You say that I waste my time but I can't get you off my mind
No I can't let go?
Cos I love you so
If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)

Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best, baby can't you see
Gotta put me to the test, take a chance on me
(take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me)
Ba ba ba ba baa, ba ba ba ba baa ba-ba
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on me


For You ...

A Looooooooong Week!

I've decided to record the details of my trip while the details are still fresh in my head. Came home abt 2hrs 45 min ago and since have rushed my laundry and some readings (I always get these bouts of guilt after enjoying myself too much). Anyway Warwick while it wasn't a blast was relaxing for me ... a little get away in the middle of school term helps especially when the next 3 weeks are going to be HELL weeks.
I met up with Sherwin and yeap he brought me ard his Uni and Birmingham. The highlight of the trip was Warwick University's One World Week - sorta international celebration of culture amongst the students of that Uni. At 6 we went fot this dinner buffet event where u get to choose upto four dishes from each culture. Heh the food wasn't great - no offense to the diff societies cos it was the Student Union that prepared the food - but it was pretty fun. Really upsetting thing for the Singaporeans there was the fact that their dish chicken rice was really screwed up and turned out more like shredded chicken porridge - I was too appalled to try but from Sherwin's expression when he tasted it, I wasn't missing much! Hmmm after that it was a performance by several societies (actually very man) and the odd thing was that there were like 8-10 diff Indian societies - so it almost a third of the performances were sari/ Bhangra music dominated! Arghh! And after that it was a party and more clubbing (my third time this week!!!) and I was sooo tired! Worse of all the DJs were all Indian and so we had 50% Bhangra music!! ARGHHHHHHHHH!
Oh yah and I met Rachel and Addie Quek (noelle's good fren) and Addie Li (adrian's sister) and several others. I even met Wei Liang a BMT buddy and Samantha Wong, a junior from VJ! (Yay one up for VJ!!!) Haiz its truly a microscopic world ... the society we circulate amongst is really pretty small and known to each other! But stop digressing ... next day Birmingham. Now dis town is pretty ... (the city centre at least is ... or so Sherwin tells me) and has nice boulavards and a big shopping mall almost the size of Taka back home. Didn't buy much of cos but anyway I was there mainly to have a look around.
Hmm anyway I am glad to have made new frens (Rachel especially ... she watches anime too!). All of em I met back in Warwick were very friendly and welcoming ... made it seem like I knew them for awhile! Ah but wad I really enjoyed was the countryside itself. Well not really countryside but enuf greenery and natural scenery to convince me ... its a change from London. But Sherwin tells me its really boring and from the amount of movies he watches online, I believe him. Guess I'm too much a city fellow and rural towns are only a kind of escape ... too long there and I think I'd start to get nutty!
Oh one more word. Watched AVIATOR on thursday and it was really good! About this sciziophrenic and obsessively compulsive genius ... Leonardo Di Caprio plays him very well and I admire his acting abilities as much as I dislike his pretty boy look (but that is not his fault I guess)! Go watch it guys!

Opium ... I'm Addicted!!!

Last day was pretty eventful even if it carried with it rather mixed blesisngs! Had a pretty long day at school the went for CU Bible Study. I kinda enjoyed this one more than the last cos I was more familiar with everybody and of cos the topic was much lighter. It was about spreading God's word at the Mission Week (week four) and how CU was equipping us to do so. Hee we were asked to memorize some verses and some cute little pictures that tell the Gospel. Sometimes the simplest things are the best I think.
Well following that we went to the MSS party @ Opium. Here I must air my admiration for those who are not clubbers but made an effort to come especially those from the SingSoc committee. Noelle who valiantly tried to dance! Meiping and Sam sam too who put up all smiles even if they were not really into the atmosphere! Sherwayn and I really appreciate your support! Anyway I liked the place pretty much cos it was a nice cosy little place but had quite a warm ambience (could it be that I was a little soaked with Cointreau even b4 I arrived? hee) and milieu. Yeap I saw quite a few people dance whom I have never before seen in a club ... Victor and Yirong for instance (both looking rather tipsy - quite comical hehe). The music was a little queer though and though there were a few good songs the stupid DJ kept repeating them (I heard "crazy for this girl" like 3 xs!). But overall the company is good and that makes the difference! Ah but wait thats not the end ... cos while I was dancing halfway I felt something wierd in my pocket and lo and behold my ahem hp dissapears again (those of u in Singapore ... shooo! Keep this silent dun let my Dad find out ... he will kill me!). Geesh Justin's luck! Yesh I could have been more careful but sometimes I just ask ... "why me?". Anyway all things are for a reason and I accept that for now. Still ... I will be broke! Well luckily I didn't have school today and Sherwayn and I both woke up at 1430! The former having missed a lecture at 12! Typical!
Rightey oh tmr is a movie: the Aviator, Friday is another clubbing session at Crush: Snow Party!!! And Saturday is one to Warwick to visit Sherwin! Fun-packed week! Hope I get through it without too many scrapes!

... But I Get Up Again!!!

Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

We’ll be singin'
When we’re winnin’
We’ll be singin’

I get knocked down, but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
[x4]

Pissin’ the night away
Pissin’ the night away

He drinks a whisky drink, he drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink, he drinks a cider drink
He sings the songs that remind him of the good times
He sings the songs that remind him of the better times

Oh, Danny boy
Danny boy
Danny boy

I get knocked down, but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
[x4]

Pissin’ the night away
Pissin’ the night away

He drinks a whisky drink, he drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink, he drinks a cider drink
He sings the songs that remind him of the good times
He sings the songs that remind him of the better times

Don’t cry for me
Next door neighbor

I get knocked down, but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down
[x4]

I get knocked down (we’ll be singin’), but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down (when we’re winnin’)
I get knocked down (we’ll be singin’), but I get up again
You’re never gonna keep me down (ooh, ooh, ooh)
[x8]

Great song to dance to ... arghh I so need to go clubbing ... feel deprived!!! Ok that sounded bad but yeah I need some kinda stress reliever every week or so especially whilst I'm studying. Next time I'm gonna try all four drinks mentioned in the song - whisky, cider, lager and vodka - at one go! No but that's besides the point ...

We get knocked down in life all the time ... but God always gives us the strength to get up again ... stronger!

One other thing to add ... I HATE MATHS!!!!!!!!!! I thought that a social science will finally give me a chance to be rid of that odious subject but here I am slugging away at MATH! Sheesh!!

Skater Boy!!!

Round and round the rink we go
Bumping left, tumbling right,
Still we go on
Falling down and getting up,
Bruising bum but feeling fun
Round and round the rink we go!

Like my little poem? Its an impromtou composition to commemorate my first ever ice-skating experience! We went to Somerset House and although it looked a little empty at first sight ... it got really crowded later! Heez anyway my first skate, like my first blading experience, was I must say, pretty good! Cos love falling and bumping around (sounds a little nutty I noe ... ) and so I just went all out and soon had the rhythm (for short stretches at least ... interlaced with numerous falls and crashed into the rails!) going! Mwahaha my dear sifu on the other hand was stuck to the railings for half the time (despite the fact that she is supposed to be PRO!). Hehe but giver her credit, soon she had it going too and at the end was actually zooming away beyond my ability to ctach up! Phew we were all sweaty (yesh sweaty despite the cold london weather!) by the time it ended ... but it was SO fun and the little bursts of adrenaline and satisfaction u get when u manage to complete a few stretches without stopping (or crashing!) also added to our enjoyment!
Yups so looking forward to our next skating trip! In fact looking forward to all the activities being planned! Chinese New Year dinner ... The Producers outing ... factory outlet ... Germany ... mebbe some trip within England I'm thinking about ... Ahh life is good! Hey but buddies back home dun think I'm forgetting u my frens! Write to me once in awhile and I promise to reply! I can't very well write to everyone now but I promise a reply is forthcoming if I receive an email!

Love, Life and Leviathan

Last two days seems to have gone off in a flash for me. Plunged right into the rhytm of things - photocopying books, organising singsoc stuff, my first CU bible study session, math lectures that seem to rush pass me (either because (a) i am sleeping or (b) i am comfounded by what the lecturer is saying ...). Phew! Did my french hw last night ... took a super long time to do it cos I had to check the dictionary every 30 sec? Haha.
Anyway yesterday's bible study was pretty eventful. Made a resolution to read the bible more ... yesh I was am sorely lacking in this area (I think my last known contact with ANY bible study was in AHS ... hehe bible knowledge class in Chinese which I really detested ...).
Life is pretty much flashing bye now, activities, bloody readings and equations that are all a blur so I pray God gives the strength to keep my feet rooted down, the drive and determination to stay true, and the will to keep on excelling.
Summing up my days now? Love, Life and Leviathan!!!

Life In The Fast Lane!

Looks like we're moving off to a cold, cold start! Can feel the tingling chill every moment of the way ... its ever prevalent, you can't escape it even wrapped up in a nice warm duvet! Someone mentioned that the way we spend our New Year is prophetic of the way the rest of our year will be ... Well hope that is certainly NOT true! Gonna make this the most fruitful of years I hope. In UK, the oppurtunity of a lifetime so I must make the most of it, play hard, run hard, study hard, make many friends (my Dad gives this the practical edge he calls this building your network ...) and generally make this the time of my life! Last term was a blast, and we hope to make this term even better. Somehow it seems that it is only when life becomes hectic, harried, packed and stressed do we really enjoy it ... Given too much time I think we just rot and laze to oblivion. Yeah somehow it feels comfortable to be back in the rhythm of things (did some readings today, yay - the first in a long time!) ... holidays and breaks are fun and relaxing but there is more to life.
I watched the ULU water polo team training today and they are not that fantastic actually so I probably have a good chance of getting into the team if I apply (must admit I am not the pro-est of players). But I dun noe if I have enuf time ... schedule's packed to the dogs as it is and even taking into account the "have fun" portion of my resolution ... the sad fact is I am quite fearful about the exams. Haven't taken one in ages so my brain is rusty so prob need more time than usual to get prepared. Well I mite go down to the pool next Sunday and talk to the team Captain I guess ... no harm trying right?

Something Unexpected ...

Back in London at last ... for three days already actually. Got my 80kg luggage to Passfield (thanx Xiaomei!), collected Daniel's old and unwanted stuff, met ZH before he returns to Singapore, got my new SIM card, cleared up my notes and room, watched a wonderful Saturday Night Fever performance - basically almost ready for term to begin! Well that was my last three days in just a few words ...
School is about to start so I better buck-up! Have been slacking through the entire hols and now I feel that familiar anxious tremor up my spine ... the one telling me that I AM BEHIND TIME!
Tchuss!

Bye Singapore ... Again ...

Well this time it feels less harried (due to my better preparation) and of course less sentimental (none of my frens going to airport this time haha). As much as I have complained ... I still love Sinagpore ... its been great being back these 3 weeks and especially the time I spent with my Dad. We get so little time together and since he took about 10 days leave we finally spent some quality time together. Gonna miss my fatty little sis Den and goofy bro Ror and chubby Stu too. Been funning messing with them cos (1) I feel younger (2) we are kick ass nuts when together! Well back to school and new resolutions. Things left hanging will finally eh ... unhang? Kk all its nice seeing you all again! Come over if you can ... have numerous promises hope to see them fulfilled!

Ouch

Hmm the New Year was one of tempered joy at best. The tsunami tragedy seems to have overshadowed everything and we are getting reports about the death tolls, miracle survivors ad nauseum. It is terribly overpowering though when one witnesses not only the scences of devastation but also the torn families and lives. One scene relayed yesterday on CNN really encouraged me to open my wallet (not that it was very large to begin with ... haha) to the Singapore Red Cross Society. It was an interview with several separate elderly Indian folks who had lost their entire families, homes business and all that they had lived for. They were lost and really just ready to give up living. Money cannot cure such pain and anguish but wad it can do is to at least safe guard the lives of especially the children and those most vulnerable in such times. It can give them a new start which is more important because to move on one most be able to leave the shackles of the past behind. Hmm everyone has probably heard this a few million times already but here it is again ... give wad you can cos and everyone of them will receive it with more gratitude and thanx than a whole battalion of ordinary folks. Have sympathy for them and God have mercy on them.
Another thing that struck me about the disaster was the lack of preparation. Japan is armed with an alarm warning system that spans the entire Pacific. Yet the 8-odd nations that sustained the bulk of the damage were not even alerted by a radio broadcast. Now the United States is speaking of establishing a world-wide earthquake and tsunami warning system. Sighz its human nature isn't. It takes a humanitarian disaster the size of Hiroshima to get people of their asses and to look to future safeguards. Is Machiavelli right? Are humans all so shortsighted? Hmm but amidst this erm human failure you get remarkeable acts of human generosity and kindness. The Thais turned out full force to help stranded and bewildered tourists, a couple of Sinagporeans walked in with a bag of cash, $200,000 (actually sounded very dodgy to me when I heard of it ... who the hell has that much money in cash?!!) worth with requests to remain anonymous. Hell thats the thing out people .. they're screwed up but oso have the touch of the divine in them, that bit of both heaven and hell. Its wad gives us the free will to eventually choose either I think.
Well being philosophical aside, haha the last few days have been terribly hmm empty? Hah ... seem to have done nothing again. Have generally been mucking around a lot and watching lotsa DVDs. Just watched Harold and Kuma go to Whitecastle with my Dad last night and it was hilarious! Hee total American rubbish but still able to get under your funny bone and tickle it till it makes u want to cry! Kumar especially, or the the actor who plays Kumar is very good. His jokes and expression come off naturally like that other comedian I love, Chris Tucker (he stars in Rush Hour and if you haven't watched it ... GO!) Heh but had fun with Den at out dinner yesterday and will hang around more with my family b4 I leave cos the next time will be SIX MONTHS!
Sighz I noe I have gotten SLOWER and DUMBER again. I took like FOREVER to do a small math tutorial hw! Sheesh ... better buck up school is starting soon!