LOOKBACK 2005

A good start January was, I relief taught Geography and Social Studies at Bedok Town Secondary School from the 3rd, and held a concurrent telemarketing job for Starhub at night and on weekends. Turned 19 on 22nd and wished for good 'A' Level results.

A cheery Chinese New Year and a lonely Valentine's Day marked February, as well as a freer schedule made possible by doing away with moonlighting.

An eventful March began with the release of results on the 4th. My slip read AAB A2, a perhaps unsatisfactory performance from an 8 pointer. Still, I'm content and have no regrets. Received my Class 3 driving license on 24th upon passing on my 1st attempt. The next day my grandmother passed away, with that ended all suffering which cancer has brought her. End March, I embarked upon my 1st backpacking trip ever to Taiwan.

Kee-lung, Kao-Hsiung, Chia-I, Alishan and of course, Taipei were where I spent my 1st days of April. National Service for me began on 7th, with me being enlisted into BMTC School 1 Falcon Company.

May you dong xi. (Nothing)

June started on a high note with the notification of me provisionally given the MOE Teaching Scholarship, unexpectedly not least due to my mediocre results. Recruit Chan became Private Chan on the 8th and was posted to Changi Air Base Field Defence Squadron on 20th, where his Field Defence Course began. He signed up for a Kinokuniya Privilege Card and renewed his Seas Sports Club membership in wishful assumption that his RP schedule would be kind enough for the memberships to be worthy.

This blog was born on 29th July, and I vowed in the 1st entry to be committed to it thereafter. Oops.

August is remembered for the extended National Day weekend as well as the gruelling Exercise Earthworm, which was probably the last ever outfield experience for me in NS.

September, surprises! A last minute bloc leave was announced upon passing out from FDC on the 9th. My alma mater Dunman High School netted the School Excellence Award on 22nd, and my favourite singer Chen Qi Zhen released her 4th album A Fabulous Adventure on 23rd!

Sun Yan Zi, another fave of mine released her 9th album A Perfect Day 2 weeks later. A month of indulgence and rekindling of interest in Mandopop October was.

But nothing beats Chen Qi Zhen's Singapore concert on 19th November. I actually dreamt of her twice after that, now those were the first times I ever dreamt of an idol.

December's driving is draining and demoralising though.

All in all, 2005 has been a smooth sailing year, with sufficient surprises too!

May 2006 be just as good, or even better! A Happy New Year to all! :)

A wordy entry is long due I know. Update: Failed 2 attempts at the driving test. Darn! Maybe it's no big deal because few actually pass at their earliest attempts. Then again, the fact that I hold a civilian license is not exactly grace-saving of my lacklustre performance, and I'm about the only license holder who failed it twice, first due to recklessness then unluckiness, or in both cases the sore lack of dexterity, as much as I hate to admit.

It's probably the resignation to fate that I am less feeling embarrassed than indifferent. What is disturbing is that I have never been intimidated by tests of any sort in the festive month of December ever before and this year it had to be dampeningly different.

The tradition of cards-sending would probably have continued with my original RP schedule. I shall, by circumstances, solely be a receiver this year, guilty of not reciprocating yet unashamedly basking in the convenience effected. My heartfelt gratitude to mf, edwin and by for your cards!

3 cards this year compared to 18 in 2003. Is it ironic that we write cards to people when we are still pretty much in contact with them, when it seems to make more sense otherwise? Then again, less contact means less common experience means greetings are only restricted to "merry xmas!" to save the risk of sounding shallow with "you have been a great friend for the past year!" when what you have done was only to meet up for meals thrice.

And since the thanking element is kind of needless it invalidates the purpose of writing a card as only festive greetings and nothing personal needs to be communicated across. An SMS would do a fast and fine job of that.

Still it has been a fulfilling month for I have met up with many of my friends, and to know that everyone is still who they are and in touch despite walking different paths is the best way to close the chapter of yet another year, for I know while making new acquaintances I have never lost them, however misleading the mental notion physical presence matters much for emotional intimacy.

Mushy.

Happy Boxing Day to all! Today a year before...

Watching pyrotechics at Avenue of Stars, Hongkong :)

I had an early reveille by Sunday standards to embark upon an overseas trip, to Johor that is. Exit permit applied. Passport brought. Set to go! Then, at Woodlands Checkpoint...

I forgot to check the validity of my passport! Very smart right. I was then detained at the counter, thought I would be handcuffed but was denied of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But still I became the star of the immigration counter, with the streaming queues of Malaysia-bound travellers scrutinising me like how eager punters would at the vehicle number of one in an accident.

It was not long after a police officer escorted me to the office and explained why they couldn't let me in. I was more taken aback than relieved at the officer's congeniality. Was expecting interrogation of sorts. With thankfulness, I left to take 170 to Queen Street Terminal where I began my little stroll to City Hall MRT.

Sunday flea market at Sungei Road

80 cents ice cream war as reported at Waterloo

Waterloo Guan Yin Temple, where I entered to pray, perhaps inspired by xh's entry:)

A scene reminiscent of what else but Ji Mi's Turn Left Turn Right

Plus me and a bench it would have looked more alike

A photography shop with an interesting name at the ground floor of North Bridge Centre, where I used to work as a telemarketer

A civilian land rover parked outside Raffles City Shopping Centre, eye-opening yet an unpleasant reminder to book in for my Class 4 Driving Course later, or rather, NOW :(

A book about people and places in Singapore, a gift from Biao. A quote from Alfian Sa'at in this book says "The only way to love this country is to wish it's going to stay this way forever." A book which tells us why it may be hard to love this country, where redevelopment is the mantra of government officials, where memories are as unvalued as they are intangible. An inspired entry upon completing this book here I blog.

Taken from the corridor outside my house, a photograph of the big patch of grassland which was scarred by fire early this year. It's always pleasurable to see evidence of nature near one's residence, however minimal.

A place for flying kites. A space for hovering toy helicopters. A pitstop for migrating herons. No longer.

An unfriendly sign was abruptly planted a few weeks back. A rude intrusion with ambigious intentions.

A step of defiance, for the sake of gratifying the urge of rebellion emanated from the impolite instructions.

Illiteracy has warranted its freedom. Lucky bird.

An illustrated irony. Isn't this space the ideal place for playing "Eagle Catch Chick"? If so then why the heck is it on sale? Why must we enter it AT OUR OWN RISK?

I see more truth in Alfian's quote already.