Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Fallen embers
Once, as my heart remembers,
All the stars were fallen embers,
Once, when night seemed forever
I was with you.
Once, in the care of morning
In the air was all belonging.
Once when that day was dawning
I was with you.
How far we are from morning,
How far are we
And the stars shining through the darkness,
Falling in the air.
Once as the night was leaving
Into us our dreams were weaving.
Once, all dreams were worth keeping.
I was with you.
Once when our hearts were singing,
I was with you.
-Enya
Reminiscence may be as sweet as honey when one dreams of the past, but going back to it is never easy. For me, a road that has taken will forever be behind me, impossible to return to where I've started. However much I wish to ride on a time machine back to those days, I know I'll be in vain, because things will never be the same again, and never will things turn out to be like in the dreams of those memories which are dreamt over and over again. I'm afraid to look in front of me these days, feeling old and wary, as once bitten twice shy, mustering the courage again is a mountain before me. Oh well, what should I do? Fate, decide for me, in this new year to come.
All the stars were fallen embers,
Once, when night seemed forever
I was with you.
Once, in the care of morning
In the air was all belonging.
Once when that day was dawning
I was with you.
How far we are from morning,
How far are we
And the stars shining through the darkness,
Falling in the air.
Once as the night was leaving
Into us our dreams were weaving.
Once, all dreams were worth keeping.
I was with you.
Once when our hearts were singing,
I was with you.
-Enya
Reminiscence may be as sweet as honey when one dreams of the past, but going back to it is never easy. For me, a road that has taken will forever be behind me, impossible to return to where I've started. However much I wish to ride on a time machine back to those days, I know I'll be in vain, because things will never be the same again, and never will things turn out to be like in the dreams of those memories which are dreamt over and over again. I'm afraid to look in front of me these days, feeling old and wary, as once bitten twice shy, mustering the courage again is a mountain before me. Oh well, what should I do? Fate, decide for me, in this new year to come.
Saturday, December 27, 2003
Square
Loads of fun we had tonight at Braddell Heights CC. Win 5 lost 3 against some secondary pro players there, much improvement made. I'm absolutely happy for the team after taking 2 weeks' break and finding them playing better. Met a NUS guy doing his first year in Chemical Engineering who played with us. That's the sorta man we really need, one who dunks, both single and double-handed, with ease. (Surpringsly he's only as tall as me. What a shame there!) Well, there's still some glimmering hope that maybe we can scout some tall freak during inter-OG basketball tornament next year. Haha. Wonder if I'm gonna become really desperate and make an announcement on the PA system on 2nd January, "Tall freaks, pls report to me or any of the basketballers immediately after flag-raising..." Bleah. =P
Anyways, think playing basketball really helps to make one forget his troubles. The sense of invigoration after every game or training causes something like a brain-freeze for at least the rest of the day. The part of the brain containing all those never-ending worries gets securely chilled, just like drunkenness. Haha. Life's like that, ain't it? We're spoilt for choice in picking which way to go every time. There ain't no dead end.
Anyways, think playing basketball really helps to make one forget his troubles. The sense of invigoration after every game or training causes something like a brain-freeze for at least the rest of the day. The part of the brain containing all those never-ending worries gets securely chilled, just like drunkenness. Haha. Life's like that, ain't it? We're spoilt for choice in picking which way to go every time. There ain't no dead end.
Friday, December 26, 2003
Ain't funny
Only knew that I lost some money from my bank account this evening when mom wenta do a spot-check and grounded me for using quite a bit of money this month. No idea what happened or who took it really, until I thought of someone who has been trying to warn me about my finances.
This is bad, and sad, when one's trying to trust another but got played out or something just because he's dumb, or looks dumb, ain't it? Oh well. I ain't blaming anyone and think I'm still gonna trust the people I trust, no matter what tiny mistakes they make as no one's perfect in this world, and because I'm always confident in what I reckon. =)
By the way, think I shall just shut up. Perhaps I am just an simpleton who speaks too much most of the time.
This is bad, and sad, when one's trying to trust another but got played out or something just because he's dumb, or looks dumb, ain't it? Oh well. I ain't blaming anyone and think I'm still gonna trust the people I trust, no matter what tiny mistakes they make as no one's perfect in this world, and because I'm always confident in what I reckon. =)
By the way, think I shall just shut up. Perhaps I am just an simpleton who speaks too much most of the time.
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Be the reds
Just took an invigorating shower after returning from the airport. Korea was not at all bad as it seemed when I stepped out of Incheon International Airport, saw nothing but leaveless trees and the misty atmosphere, heard nothing but a unique East Asian language, smelt nothing but some really freezy air, felt nothing but the excruciatingly icy wind blown right at my face and duh, spoke nothing but gaping at the coming 6-day torture. Haha.
Well, vision widened, heart opened, mind rested, body relaxed. Here I am, back for some action - end of year shopping! Hah. (For some who would have thought the 'action' meant something else, yeah right. =P)
Well, vision widened, heart opened, mind rested, body relaxed. Here I am, back for some action - end of year shopping! Hah. (For some who would have thought the 'action' meant something else, yeah right. =P)
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Free transfer
Unlike Singapore, Jakarta's a really lively city. Had lots of fun with shopping, gallery-hopping and experiencing eating with hands only and nothing else (just like an animal). Preparations for daddy's exhibition were kinda done and reckon we're going there again to attend the opening in February. Yay. More gorgeous food then. Anyway, came back this morning to "stopover" in Singapore to have a day's rest and I'll be on the plane to Seoul tomorrow. Not really tired but my stomach's aching a little after so much chilly crabs and lobsters. Arghz. Hafta go on a diet (just like what all girls do) for today or I'll puke once I get to Seoul tomorrow. Haha.
Oh well. Learning journey to Indonesia's over. It's time to head to Korea for some extreme sports - skiing! (Or rather, snowballing when you lose your balance and roll down a slope. Hah.)
Oh well. Learning journey to Indonesia's over. It's time to head to Korea for some extreme sports - skiing! (Or rather, snowballing when you lose your balance and roll down a slope. Hah.)
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Last minute call
Leaving for Jakarta with daddy on Monday to settle some stuff before his first exhibition in Indonesia. What a last minute trip this is. Got the phone call from mommy only this afternoon while playing pool in between trainings. Haha.
Don't know what to do over there but reckon I'll just find my way to slack and relax for a while without trainings. Hopefully I can remember to buy some pairs of new socks to replace all the 'holy' ones. Yay. I'm just beginning to feel a little excited all of a sudden after all. =)
Don't know what to do over there but reckon I'll just find my way to slack and relax for a while without trainings. Hopefully I can remember to buy some pairs of new socks to replace all the 'holy' ones. Yay. I'm just beginning to feel a little excited all of a sudden after all. =)
Friday, December 12, 2003
Party?
Sorta having the basketballers' party now. Came to Zhafri's house late after Metro CIP till 9pm, only to realise almost everyone's leaving. Hah. Oh well. By the way, sometimes I ain't just the mood to talk much, not because of anything else bothering me.
So, the girls left almost immediately and so did Zhi Kai, leaving CJ, Zhafri and I the only ones entertaining ourselves with some Zhaf-made delicious finger food and the PS2. Rayner came at around midnight, keeping his promise, while Don didn't show up. (Reckon he's caught us with his girl, obviously. Haha) Pretty boring frankly but it feels quite nice staying up late outside the house once in a while. Perhaps it's the montony that has driven me to write this entry, eh? =D
Well, reckon the results next year won't be as important as life-and-death after all. What we will have gained more is probably brotherhood and friendship.
So, the girls left almost immediately and so did Zhi Kai, leaving CJ, Zhafri and I the only ones entertaining ourselves with some Zhaf-made delicious finger food and the PS2. Rayner came at around midnight, keeping his promise, while Don didn't show up. (Reckon he's caught us with his girl, obviously. Haha) Pretty boring frankly but it feels quite nice staying up late outside the house once in a while. Perhaps it's the montony that has driven me to write this entry, eh? =D
Well, reckon the results next year won't be as important as life-and-death after all. What we will have gained more is probably brotherhood and friendship.
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Basketball Blue
Played against some guys at Clementi Sports Hall today, extrememly fun. (By the way, I jammed my index finger! Arghz.)
But on the way back alone after Don alighted at Bukit Timah I met Hong Yi and Derrick. Sigh. And obviously that caused my slight depression now. "Of course we can thrash VJC. The threat's only SAJC..." That's what Hong Yi said, with a confirmative smirk below the black spectacles. I suddenly began to wonder how my team can reach their standard when VJC has been deemed as an unreachable standard to us. Memories of those days when Zhi Kai and I dreamt that Gabriel, Hong Yi and Derrick would join us and form a formidable team floated across again and again. Well, that was just a dream, it'll stay as one for good I suppose.
The look on their faces made me swear underneath. I hate it when I thought of what we can really achieve next season... Exponential improvement from rookies can never, unless miracles do happen I hafta say, equate to 6 to 8 years of basketball experience. I want to win. And this will be my last year. But one thing I'm sure of is that I'll do my best (or even exceed what I think I can achieve when I use 100 percent of my power) during the next season and strive for the team. RJC No. 12 next year will be the number. You'll see why.
Things do happen, perhaps, once in a while. But one'll never know when he hasn't tried.
But on the way back alone after Don alighted at Bukit Timah I met Hong Yi and Derrick. Sigh. And obviously that caused my slight depression now. "Of course we can thrash VJC. The threat's only SAJC..." That's what Hong Yi said, with a confirmative smirk below the black spectacles. I suddenly began to wonder how my team can reach their standard when VJC has been deemed as an unreachable standard to us. Memories of those days when Zhi Kai and I dreamt that Gabriel, Hong Yi and Derrick would join us and form a formidable team floated across again and again. Well, that was just a dream, it'll stay as one for good I suppose.
The look on their faces made me swear underneath. I hate it when I thought of what we can really achieve next season... Exponential improvement from rookies can never, unless miracles do happen I hafta say, equate to 6 to 8 years of basketball experience. I want to win. And this will be my last year. But one thing I'm sure of is that I'll do my best (or even exceed what I think I can achieve when I use 100 percent of my power) during the next season and strive for the team. RJC No. 12 next year will be the number. You'll see why.
Things do happen, perhaps, once in a while. But one'll never know when he hasn't tried.
Monday, December 08, 2003
Bursts of desire
Oops. This time I wasn't so persuasive in my attempt to prevent my parents to bring me overseas. I bet they're dying to go for a holiday after missing the holiday trips to the USA and Europe last year and this year due to my insistence on committing myself to basketball trainings, refusing to go for a holiday out of the island.
Reckon I really should take a break for a while, to spend some time with my folks, to recover from the ankle injury with being demoralised being sidelined during trainings and games, and also to take a break from the sport to prevent meeting a plateau. Oh well. Think I should allow myself to enjoy this man.
Not confirmed on the dates but reckon I'm first going Indonesia then South Korea this December, returning on Christmas Eve, and to Indonesia again in Februrary for daddy's art exhibition which has been postponed. Hahaha. This is madness. Just hope I wouldn't get grounded by Coach. =P
Reckon I really should take a break for a while, to spend some time with my folks, to recover from the ankle injury with being demoralised being sidelined during trainings and games, and also to take a break from the sport to prevent meeting a plateau. Oh well. Think I should allow myself to enjoy this man.
Not confirmed on the dates but reckon I'm first going Indonesia then South Korea this December, returning on Christmas Eve, and to Indonesia again in Februrary for daddy's art exhibition which has been postponed. Hahaha. This is madness. Just hope I wouldn't get grounded by Coach. =P
Injury time
Injured my ankle last night at Braddell Heights CC when I was stupid enough to jump for a rebound and land my left foot on Liu Hao's new Nike Shox shoes. Argh. It's ruthlessly painful to even walk down the stairs or anything now. Reckon I'll be out for at least a week from trainings and games. I hate this. This is the second ever injury I've suffered in my life, after the microfractures on my shins caused by high-jump trainings in Sec 4.
Oh by the way, that reminds me the return of Howard. Hehe. Liu's just decided to come back from China last Saturday, earlier than other scholars, to start training and have a upper hand in the school team selection in March. I've really full of praises for him. Welcome back, Number 6!
Oh by the way, that reminds me the return of Howard. Hehe. Liu's just decided to come back from China last Saturday, earlier than other scholars, to start training and have a upper hand in the school team selection in March. I've really full of praises for him. Welcome back, Number 6!
Saturday, December 06, 2003
Your type
Don't know how can one survive without friends for 3 or 4 days, not contacting them, not replying their phone-calls, totally ignoring, just to study. Perhaps that just another philosophy that I can never accept, not even to imagine. Anyway, it's your life, ain't mine. Maybe that's the answer, though it seems out of point totally.
A day without rain.
A day without rain.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Dictionary of RJ basketball terms
Noon Basketball.
Inventor: Zhi Kai, at RJC open house 2003.
Dawn Training. (Erm.. Not refering to one of RJ's babes. Haha)
Inventor: me, last saturday when our training was conducted from 6.45am to 8.30am.
Night Basketball.
Inventor: me, just now, when Rayner, CJ, Zhafri and I decided to play more basketball after training, at Braddell Heights CC.
Inventor: Zhi Kai, at RJC open house 2003.
Dawn Training. (Erm.. Not refering to one of RJ's babes. Haha)
Inventor: me, last saturday when our training was conducted from 6.45am to 8.30am.
Night Basketball.
Inventor: me, just now, when Rayner, CJ, Zhafri and I decided to play more basketball after training, at Braddell Heights CC.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Hey captain
Just read David's reply after I emailed him finally after so many months of promises. He's (besides being my ex-classmate and ex-captain) one of the few true friends I have met in my life and also one of the really few people I respect most (if he comes back from US all of the sudden and to RJ, I won't hesitate a second to step down from captaincy for him). Saying that he was overjoyed to receive my email after so long and talked about school and all, I'm glad that lots of brotherly warmth could still be felt after so long. Sigh. Miss the RI days a great deal, really.
Hope you have fun in everything, captain. You're the man.
Hope you have fun in everything, captain. You're the man.
Monday, December 01, 2003
Welcome back, Mr Junasis (not Anderson)
Was anticipating CJ's return from holiday but didn't manage to show it because of Rush Hour. Haha. Our point guard's back! (A Zhafri joke would be, "that's the point man!" =P) This is gonna boost my enthusiasm in trainings by at least 10 per cent I reckon. Yipee.
