You are your greatest enemy

Had a great outing today with friends from the fellowship. Went Pasir Ris Park in the morning and caught Jet Li's last wushu movie "Fearless" in the afternoon. Not a bad show.

Jet Li again displayed his agility, his proficiency in wushu and his mastery of the various weapons. From sword and sabre to spear and sansetsukon (three section staff), he was totally at ease in wielding them. The duelling scenes were nothing short of breath-taking and adrenaline-pumping. Large doses of blood spewing and bone crunching were present. There was no gore, however. Instead, the audience was left rapt with awe and admiration for the beauty of martial arts. I was touched by the sportsmanship displayed by both Huo and his opponents, especially the Japanese Tanaka. The honour and respect given by one fighter to another worthy opponent spoke of the civility of the fighters.

The plot however, was rather straightforward and quite bare. In addition, there was little to convince the audience that Huo had finally understand the essence of learning martial arts. I could only remember one part when the blind farm lady taught Huo that people must respect one another. Otherwise, there was nothing to suggest that Huo had finally matured during his stay on the farm. Overall though, the show is still worth watching.

Myopia

Saw this pair of glasses that claim to improve my eyesight in a pharmacy on Tuesday. Did not buy it because I thought the price was steep (even though there was discount given). Was also a bit skeptical of the claim. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Have been asking friends to pray for my swift completion of a report due early February and of a book review due end March. Totally forgot that I actually have a more pressing paper to submit. The writing of paper was put on hold when I went for training last week. My boss was not around yesterday and so, I only found out today that the deadline is tomorrow. The tricky part is that I am on leave tomorrow. Obviously I have to submit today before I leave office. By God's grace, I managed to produce it by day's end and I can go for my CNY holidays with my mind at ease.

Time to be an amphibian again

Just signed up for the NUS Biathlon 2006. Missed it last year. Cannot afford to miss it again this year. Hope my fitness is up to it. Going for a good timing this year.

The World Today in History
On Jan. 23, 1973, President Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War.

Contentment

Time really flies when you are enjoying yourself and having fun. Another wonderful weekend passed so quickly. No regrets though. Been having meaningful and fulfilling weekends ever since I started attending fellowship sessions. Made a lot of friends, and learnt more and have grown closer to Him. Trying to learn two new songs in time for next Sunday. Nice songs. They grew on me after I kept playing them.

Observed a peculiar phenomenon among my fellowship members. Whenever we meet, there is a proclivity to make a trip to the city centre, especially the Esplanade. We went there just last Sunday and almost went again yesterday. We were stopped by the rain and could only look on "longingly" at the curiously shaped building from across Singapore river. Magnetism.

A sign of things to come

The week-long hiatus in blogging was imposed due to a five-day training programme in the newly built HTA in the west part of Singapore. It felt like serving NS all over again.

Governed by the OSA, I guess it may not be wise for me to divulge any details of the training here. I can only say that I have learnt more about aspects of my job and of the residential training ahead. Was the squad I/C for the week. Also learnt a lot about roles of the I/C. Was a good overall experience.

250,000 fans can't be wrong

It is confirmed. My training starts on 6th February and that means I will be missing the Oasis concert on 23rd February. I cannot book-out on a weekday. They had planned to perform in Singapore way back in 2002 but had to cancel over safety concerns after the Bali bomb blast that rocked Southeast Asia. I had to ask for refund of the ticket that I had bought. After years of anxious waiting and anticipation, they will finally be coming back to perform in Singapore... on a weekday, of all days. If only they plan it on a weekend. Guess I can only listen to their CDs and assuage my thirst for their music.



Was out looking around for a pair of jeans in central TP and serendipitously met Krystin in TM. Got to know from her that games are being planned for next week's fellowship.

New affiliations, friends and support group

Went for my first ever prayer session in CBC this evening. I realize that it provides strong social support among the members. Also got to know more people in CBC after today. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend next week's session due to a residential orientation training held in the wild wild west of our beautiful island-state.

Over the past three weeks, I have also formed a rather strong friendship and bond with my fellow attachment mates at R&P. I believe this friendship will carry us through the training ahead. Our lunch escapade today brought us to Changi Beach where we found the fabled and prized plant known as the thousand-year lingzhi.

The legendary plant in full bloom. Notice another one at the bottom right?
We believe that to be a specimen of a 500-year lingzhi.

I hope with these new friends whom I make, I can grow as a person. More importantly, I hope this does not spell the end of my old affiliations. I must strive to maintain contact with the friends I have made during my stint in YT.

The World Today in History
On Jan. 11, 1935, aviator Amelia Earhart began a trip from Honolulu to Oakland, California, becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean.

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day

Indeed, my day has been so dictated by the weather that I shall have to indulge in blogging about the weather and not do anything about it. Supposed to have a football session with former soci classmates in the morning but was cancelled due to obvious reasons. Intended to go for a run in the evening but was again thwarted by the inclement weather. Had been raining since Saturday night. The sky is so constantly overcast that I have almost forgotten how it feels like to bask in the sun's warmth. Almost.

Despite so, the core of the brotherhood still managed to convened in the early evening and the initial groundwork for the AGM of the brotherhood to be held this coming CNY eve has been laid. The triumvirate has ambitiously pledged to make this year's AGM more exciting and memorable for the brotherhood.

The World Today in History
On Jan. 10, 1946, the first General Assembly of the United Nations convened in London.

To drive the impossible dream

I read about this amazing car first on The New York Times a few mornings ago and saw it on the evening news that same day. Touted as the fastest, most powerful and most expensive car to date. I give you the Bugatti Veyron 16.4.

With four turbochargers, the Veyron's mighty 8-liter, 16-cylinder power plant produces 1,001 horsepower and enough torque (922 pound-feet) to uproot a redwood. The engine drives all four wheels via a seven-speed automated manual gearbox.

In the words of Mr Richard Feast, journalist of The New York Times, "the car is a sheer technological wonder."

However, it guzzles down fuel at a rather alarming rate. According to Mr Raphanel, a former professional racer who demonstrates the car to potential buyers, at maximum speed, the car would theoretically run out of fuel in 12 minutes.

The price is $1.2 million in the United States, before taxes. Way too expensive for any ordinary bloke like me to afford. It is indeed an impossible dream to drive.

Read more about the car here.

Another dichotomy: Strategic vs Tactical

While most of my colleagues will be taking leave tomorrow to create a super-long-weekend, I opt to go back office and save my leave for future use. It has been three weeks since I started working in this department. Gradually settling down to the routine there. Learnt more about the big picture of re-integrating ex-inmates back into society and read a lot about the various programmes to administer during inmates' rehabilitation. Daily operational issues, which had been my concern three weeks ago, have been taking a backseat. I relish the opportunity to work in a penitentiary institution and interact with the inmates but also welcome the challenge to put up good policy or research papers. Not sure which aspect of the job I am really suitable. Is it the strategic or the tactical? Only time will tell.

Received news a couple of days ago that the orientation training starts on the 16th, one week from now. Guess I will kind of miss the relatively comfortable life of working office hours (attempts to keep myself in top physical condition have been desultory). 8.30am to 6.00pm every day provides a lot of reasons (read: excuses) to stop exercising. Got to start training hard. Heard that the official centralized training starts in early February.

Chance favours the prepared mind

The two chances were there for me to seize. I took them but was not well prepared beforehand on both occasions. Botched two perfectly good chances. On the other hand, I was well-prepared for the chances to happen. I just did not prepare what to do when the chances came. Banking on the clock-like precision of the bus timings, everything went according to plan, only for me to bungle it all. Then again, I was courageous enough to seize the moment.

While waiting for the next chance to appear, I have to prepare myself for it. When it does come, I must be able to recognize it and muster enough courage to do what has to be done.

Chance -- I realized -- when it comes, also favours the brave.

The World Today in History
On Jan. 3, 1959, President Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union as the 49th state.

I once was lost but now am found

First post of the new year. The new year signifies a new beginning. May confusion be cleared by purpose, doubt be vanquished by confidence, and melancholy displaced by mirth.

Glad that the procedural has finally given way to the substantive. Attending all sessions, asking questions, penning notes down, displaying interest and curiosity, saying the correct things. All these amount to nothing in my mind's eye. Belief has to be substantive. I am fortunate to have someone who patiently went through everything with me and helped me reaffirm what I believe. The feeble defenses that my excuses put up never had a chance against the relentless onslaught of the logic. One by one, they went down, leaving me to face what I had been denying and delaying all along. The inevitable took place yesterday night, just before the clock (in my case, it was a metal fork striking a big pot) struck twelve, bringing to an end a tumultuous year for me.

Am not in the habit of setting New Year resolutions. Always believed that actions speak for themselves. There is no point coming up with a long to-do list and not doing anything. If one has the determination to achieve the goals set, lists are superfluous. Have in mind what to accomplish and do it to the best of our abilities.