The Following Events Take Place Between 080706 and 300706

Apart from the massive workload imposed by my job, I've been feeling a little lazy to blog. Been an interesting 4-5 weeks though. Works been tough but colleagues and the learning experience has been great. I'm kinda sad that the case is now over and that our case team will be disbanded. We've had great fun this last week as the case ran to very sudden close on wednesday. Paintball on thursday followed by a pretty good dinner at La Strada restaurant at Shaw Centre and a night of poker at my German case team leader's service apartment. I even managed to make off with 30 bucks even though it was my first try at poker! ;p
Paintballing is extremely addicitve really. The one short hour we played has me panting for more. For those of you who don't know about it, there's a paintballing arena at the Singapore Discovery Centre in Jurong. Very ulu - I practically drove from one end of the island to the other - but is was well worth the drive. Its pretty realistic - they use modified carbines/ m16 - and the shots can actually be pretty painful. The staff jokingly referred to the game as "paintball minus the 't'". But anyone's whose interested I'm all for gathering a bunch of guys for another game! ;p
Also been playing squash pretty regularly with Mimi and Pierre - I've realized that the pleasures of whacking a ball against a wall is one of the greatest de-stressing methods mankind has invented ;p
Got back into the Jack Bauer addiction recently when Pierre and I decided to watch my Season 4 collection. Now I feel like purchasing Season 5! I've also been inspired to visit the NBC studio in NYC when I travel to the US later this year. Alex tells me there's a 24 T-shirt with a big JACK BAUER written on the back! How cool is that??!!
Gonna be off till Tuesday - our off-in-lieu for the many days, nights (and some weekends) that we've put in, so I'm wondering what to do with this sudden burst of free time. Was thinking of going to JB with my fellow interns but one of em pulled out suddenly so we decided to postpone it. Was actually looking forward to restocking my DVD collection. Sigh.
Also looking forward to our USA trip in Dec. It'll be fun travelling with Pierre and Mimi ... not only because we're close buds but also because travelling with an all-guy group gives you the freedom to organize more rugged activities like hiking, treking, visiting nature parks (;p). Only problem we have is the exhobirant ticket price cos we're travelling in the peak season. Looks like we're really gonna have to scrimp and save. But what's new ... PIS have done it all ... (12-for-one-euro chocolate croissants ;p)

The Fast Lane

This weeks brought an intense, drastic and very powerful introduction into the life of a Bainey. The case we're working on (details not to be disclosed) has a one-month long dateline and basically we've got to do most of everything that a normal case team would accomplish in twice the length of time. Its been an incredible if somewhat exhausting learning experience. Although my role has been limited somewhat to data gathering and preparation of preliminary material, sitting in on case meetings gives me an insight into the minds and thought-process of some of the most brilliant people around. So we've got a Bain partner (one of the most senior positions) on the case, one manager (real veteran guys), two consultants, two associate consultants (the grunts haha) and me, the associate consultant intern. Found it a little daunting to blend into the team the first part of the week but these guys are truly at ease with their work and one another and yesterday's office event at Tapas Tree (and clubbing later on at Insomnia) really helped us (interns) get to know the people better. Working hard comes with perks. Taxi home's paid for. Dinner's paid for. A whole load of stuff can be charged to the company ... heh all they ask for is your 14 hrs of your time and brain power everyday! ;p
Work aside. I've just purchased a new camera! Sony Cybershot T9 - a marvel in sleekness and technological power. Hell of a price tag but with the enhanced night-shot features I think its pretty worth-it! Heh I'm a photo-freak you guys know that! Another piece of good news - my warranty for the crapped up hard-drive was still valid hence I had a replacement 60GB hard-drive for free (the downside is that all my data is lost for good! or bad.)
Oh yah ... I may do my MBA straight after LSE after all! ;p Are you thinking what I'm thinking bee 1? ;p

Joga Bonito!!!! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

Spent the last few nights watching the quarterfinals of the World Cup. No need for the details I am sure you guys known them. Great fun being in front of the tele with the guys again its just like old times (this time however we all have cars so we can drive out easily for supper!) Watching the matches has really reignited the soccer flame (eh dun get cynical I know I support five teams but dun need to get testy!) and my legs were really twitching before todays game at the bedok street soccer court. Heh and I was so totally off-form - anticlimax ;( Ball seems to constantly slip from my boot, shots are splayed off target, tackles are clumsy, tactical decisions are plain wrong ... sheesh a very frustrating way to end my weekend.
Went to Robinson's yesterday to add to my very sparse collection of work clothes so that I won't embarrasingly be seen in the same shirt every other day! Anyway I should finally get posted on a case tmr ... unfortunately and somewhat dissapointingly it is probably going to be one based in Singapore ...sighz. So no travelling around for me!
Okee dokes off to sleep and work tmr!

Oh yah and b4 I go here's the Argentine Victor Hugo Morales insane commentary on Maradona's goal against England ... one BBC commentator asked if it was even possible for someone to say "GOAL" as long as he did!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izl-oDZP1TM
Translated it goes somewhat like this:
"…passes the ball to Diego, now Maradona with the ball, two people on him, Maradona touches the ball, the genius of soccer heads to the right, and leaves the third and passes to Burruchaga…Always Maradona! Genius! Genius! Genius! ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta…GOAL!! GOAL!!!I am going to cry! Oh, my God! How beautiful soccer is! What a goal! Diego! Maradona! I am crying, forgive me please….Maradona, with a memorable run, with the most beautiful play of all time….cosmic podge…. which planet are you from? You let it seem so easy, and the whole country is a closed fist, is screaming for Argentina…Argentina 2 - England 0…Diegoal, Diegoal, Diego Armando Maradona…Thank God, for soccer, for Maradona, for these tears, for this Argentina 2 - England 0…."

In my estimation - he is this generation's Greatest Footballer - I'll root for France if only in admiration of this man's mesmerizing ability