Alternate_X

post 500

2010-07-07T22:21:00.003+08:00

Maybe I deleted my last post because it revealed too much...

I was in the car with my dad when he told me that business was competitive these days because many of his competitors have finished their contracts with the IRs. Zzz. This is already resulting in a price war and people going out of business. But anyway he said he was just awarded a contract for a nice profit. So I asked what the margin was- on average the margin is probably about 10%. It'd be quite a big deal if it were 30%- consider: this means 3x profit =P... It turns out the profit markup was 900%. Seriously the IRs know how to do business. they're still awarding contracts with handsome profits. great. courtesy of the gamblers

I've never thought of making money for a living next time. Maybe I just take it as a given. Maybe I'm spoiled... I just feel that there's more out there than just making money... I really want to go into either the music, film or fashion industries (if it's possible and duh not in singapore) but... there doesn't seem to be any opportunity in front of me. No good degrees or opportunities of these in Singapore. sighs. 18-20 years old. The age where opportunities start coming for others overseas. I'm stuck in NS.

If I were to enter music, it doesn't need a degree. All I need is a jacky wu to spot me. If I were to enter film (as in directing) I'd have to go to America. If I were to enter fashion, probably London or Paris. Wow. great. nothing near home or within my reach yet.

I'm doing almost nothing to reach my dreams. There's nothing I can do... is there? I have to finish my time in NS. What can I do in NS? Practise piano, maybe study abit... depressing. I wonder what I'm gonna do when I get out of army. There're a few choices: 1) Accounting internship 2) Piano competition 3) Just do something to find some way to let me reach my dream...

I'd much prefer 3) if I knew something.

What's the point of rambling here when it's close to impossible in this practical society of Singapore. money first. Zzz. I have really no answer when people ask why I'm taking economics, accounting or engineering. Truth is, I have never been interested in engineering. I'm just taking economics and accounting because they'd let me lead a boring life which at least earns money in future. I'm taking these subjects because I'm supposedly good in math. Or so says my parents.

Aren't I good in at least some fields of art too? like history, music, economics... I didn't do badly when I stopped geography and art in sec2 either..... so why why why does everybody put so much focus on math 1324354657687980.

2010-03-28T21:39:00.002+08:00

Just watched a video of someone playing beethoven's concerto. Stopped it after a minute. Basically just hitting notes without any imagination, emotion nor lyrical lines. glad im not studying music in singapore.

2010-03-13T23:49:00.002+08:00

Met mr Kerim Vergazov at yong siew toh today. Had considered channging piano teacher for a month because I felt I was not improving as much as I'd liked to. But now it seems like I have such a great leap in piano mastery to perfect in such a short time. I went there thinking like, "Ok, I didn't really work much on my LTCL pieces because I don't feel them anymore..."

Then I got grilled =x... I kept thinking that I was doomed. Nothing worked. Firstly it was a Steinway Grand Piano which costs more than $100000 and knowing that grand piano keys are harder than upright I was like.. oops. Was a really giant shift in perspective of piano playing. Like erm. I knew about colors of the piano but this was really intense.

Towards the end of the lesson he said that he only could have four students and he rejected many people because of inadequate technique and musicality; I was really like Crap. But he said he was willing to teach me so yay :)

He did ask if I want to become a professional next time. I didn't answer. Well, I knew the answer, piano playing is definitely not in my money-making game plan. But I want to play world class... I'm intending to join an international piano competition next year. Seriously only professionals or wannabes join. So I'm going to be there for a different reason. Others compete for their careers. Maybe I better be a bit more serious =x

2010-02-13T17:35:00.002+08:00

Chinese New Year's Eve.

My brain calendar's been stuck at 1/1/10 since time immemorial... (That goes to show either it has been a long time or I really have a short memory) Nice rewards from the past year include passing my Music Theory exam and my piano LTCL. I have my assignments set out for the year...

May- Clarinet LTCL
June- F5, F7, F8, F9 (Hopefully I can complete these 4 acca modules. I'm already on F7)
November- Piano FTCL
December- F6, P1, P2, P3? Undecided...

Don't know if I'd find a job after ORD-ing (and anyway time is passing vvv fast now - Like I said I'm still stuck at 1/1/10..) Teaching piano is a long-term thing so that's not very possible, I'm gonna give up my clarinet (And this is more or less decided) so I won't be teaching band or clarinet.. I could teach maths physics econs or smth though... maths is the easiest though. Just throw a chunk of questions =P

My life now's pretty routine. Trying to adjust back to my routine last year. But I still have trouble doing that despite having returned to band for 6 weeks, because, like I said, I'm stuck at 1/1/10... so I am still not used to band life yet =x... Here's how it's supposed to go, spend the morning on piano and later clarinet, sneak a half an hour nap before mugging. But well, nowadays I become so satisfied with practising my piano I often call it a day after just 3 hours of work. dumb.

Just started clarinet lessons again 2 weeks ago. Took out my weber to play last week. The score said to play at 108. I thought I'd take some initiative to bring it up to 112. Yea, I thought that was good. No, mr goh asked me to play at 125 =x... but amazingly my fingers didn't muddle up. but I still think it's risky playing so fast during exam. in my head I was thinking CRAZY. but ok, now that I think about it, I've heard recordings playing faster than 125...

I almost completed practising the notes for the first movement of one of beethoven's sonatas. Then my piano teacher just said she thought playing beethoven during exam was risky. So yep, there went 2.5 weeks of work =x... So now I'm playing Bach/ Busoni's Chaconne in D minor. It's really awesome. Gotta see Helene Grimaud play it. Magical. Think for piano I mainly need to improve the visual aspect now. Good posture, facial expression, hand gestures, the music's basically done.

K gotta go reunion dinner.

2009-12-31T16:35:00.002+08:00

Okay, this shall be the last post of this year. Let's just sum it off.

The thing which took up most of my time this year - NS. I guess I only had 4 weeks of memorable combat training (memorable in the experience sense, not that I particularly adored being dirty). Then, I was out of training due to injury (which has yet to be diagnosed and erm... yet to down pes who cares) Training wing in band was Fun. Like, revision of all the music theory that I had totally abandoned since O levels. And of course the tiring SAF day (which was the beginning of my long-term on and off sore throat which I have since recovered from...) and national day. COG parades at orchard road were always fun because... that's the only time we get to perform in the public. Benefits of my NS life include an air-conditioned workplace, studios for my music learning, and well, lots of free time, offs and leave.

There was really a lot of time to practice my music this year. I feel that I would do well in my piano exam, although I think my clarinet exam didn't go as well. Still, the process of preparing for the exams was rewarding enough - I've learnt much more and improved much more than before... I have partially convinced myself to concentrate on piano after army and bid the clarinet goodbye (firstly because of the lack of time in university, secondly for the sake of my straight and beautiful teeth... and smile =)

Didn't get to meet secondary school friends this year. Oops. Well haha. After I failed to turn up at the last gathering. sigh. There's always next year anyway. And still about ahs, I decided to cut off links with that band. ahha. shall find time to meet xiaohua and go back ahs soon. Yes, the prawn noodle soup is still legendary.

Oh this year I turned 18. Ok not. but for most of the year I was 18 anyway. So came the start of drinking sessions with ben, cheryl, cindy, eric and evelyn. Erm. Ya so far the only drink I've drank is water. lol. And I still remember the 130+ steps up to Timbre. zzz. Anyway there are good reasons not to drink. 1) It's unhealthy - for the liver especially. 2) Isn't a good idea to get caught for drink driving. 3) It's expensive. Yea, the 3rd reason is the main main reason. So anyway the past few outings have been without drinking sessions =)... And I'm about to miss the next abccee outing. It's like how I have a period of nothing and all the gatherings, meet-ups and what not just suddenly decide to appear together in a short period.

I don't know if I've learnt a lot from SSS this year because of the frequency - once per week? Hmm... And the complexity of it all. Maybe I need to be retained. haha. But fortunately there was BSF to balance it off so at least I can say there was progress. haha. it's funny how chngmin, ruyi and I were always late.

From the beginning of band, I've been stingy in using my offs and leaves, only using it for necessary purposes (such as exams and actually.. only exams or block offs) So this month has been the reward for all that hard work. (hard work not only in the NS sense but also everything else k...) yea. Haha. I don't think I know of anyone else who has had a 3-week break from NS.

Taiwan was wfv. I can't blog in detail about it because I'm not up to it and I do not have a really good memory like ying... haha. So anyway. What I remembered most about the trip was that hmm... the trip was quite disappointing had it not been for the company of ying, jen and ken and the late-into-the night gatherings :) I really enjoy scenery and was the one who convinced my parents to go to taiwan (and as a result persuaded chan brothers to start a tour group to start from kaohsiung instead of taipei and what not) However, yushan (mount jade) and the Snow were not accessible, alishan (mount Ali?) was also not accessible, the taroko gorge was not accessible, sun moon lake was not visible. Wow. haha. there goes all the scenery.

Okay I might as well talk about the 9th day since it was the only day dedicated fully to viewing scenery. I had to do the planning so I took time off to talk to one of the receptionists at Imperial Hotel (yes, I remember her name was Sandy, was just short of asking her to take a photo together since she was so helpful... I spammed questions for about an hour... Lol...) So I basically took a few brochures and started pointing at nice pictures, asking what were their names and where they were located. In the end, I settled for Yangmingshan national park because it was big, easily accessible, and well, for the slightest possibility, there had been snow there before...

So she said to take the MRT, then take xiao2 jiu9. Like small nine? I was like Huh?! But well, luckily she printed out a time chart so I gathered xiaojiu was a public bus. Haha.

So we set off early in the morning and took the MRT to bei3tou2. There, I decided to ask the locals at the bus stop on the direction to yangminshan. Haha. then suddenly they became so helpful and even volunteered to accompany us there. yea, there was a pair of elderly women who wanted to hike with us. hahaha. looks like what xiaowu said about taiwanese's friendliness was quite right. Anyway after reaching the national park via xiaojiu, I went to the iinformation counter, and started pointing at nice pictures and enquiring on their whereabouts again. We finally settled on Mount Cising, the tallest mountainn the region. So we climbed, and climbed. and it was fun. The scenery was beautiful, and there was several thousand steps, like erm.. it was 1.2km high.. We started at 500m. So if each step were 15 cm, there was a total of 4666 steps. And there were ups and downs, so the number of steps was much more (Yep, much more than the 100+ steps to Timbre). Coming back from the national park, I felt tired so I sat on the floor of the bus. And again, a middle-aged woman offered her seat to me and I was like... Bu yong jing bu yong jing! haha... and immediately stood up =x

People said taiwan had good food. Well, being all choosy and fussy I guess the few things I enjoyed were their pineapple tarts and some other pastry, danzai mian and maybe a couple more. Other than a nice brown jacket I bought out of necessity, I didn't buy much else, because well, I don't think taiwan has nice guy's clothes. Oh I also had an accomplishment in taiwan that I am still so proud of ---> I sat a rollercoaster! :):):) Yea, the one which goes upside-down... I still don't know why I sat it. Like haha. don't know.

Oh yea, I'm a born-mugger. Nope, don't think so. But I know I don't like wasting my life away. So I had a couple of exams this year (So at least when someone asks what I've done this year I can say something other than NS). July- ACCA F1 exam, August- ACCA F2 exam, September- ACCA F3 exam, October- Music Theory grade 8 exam, November- Driving test, Piano LTCL, Clarinet LTCL, December- ACCA F4 exam. ok actually that was quite a lot. A handful actually. Hmm... Next year I shall have to take ACCA F5-F9 and maybe a couple more exams, Piano FTCL and Clarinet FTCL... ok. that'd be it. And I should really start thinking about what I'm gonna do after I ORD... of course I have a research paper to do...oh man. This paragraph sounds so muggerish.

The start of the new year. I just bought $490 worth of textbooks and practice books for ACCA. I started warming up on piano and clarinet again today. The new year has started. My 2nd last year of mugging ACCA (hopefully). My last year of practising the clarinet (tentatively). My last year in NS (absolutely).

My hols are ending =(

2009-11-26T10:56:00.003+08:00

Stressed up and exhausted. Many things going on, exams; I don't even know if I would be able to complete studying in time... Unreasonable superiors... My throat hurts a little and it's just days before my clarinet exam. zzz. thanks to parades. There are many things that I really don't have to care about but they just keep coming and coming...

2009-11-21T07:05:00.003+08:00

It's quite unimaginable. At the start of the week, I thought it almost impossible and unlikely I complete the week well. There was driving test (and a high possibility of failure after the uneventful experiences of my last few revision lessons), a meeting (for which I didn't prepare anything because I was too engrossed with creating scenarios for the outcome of my driving test), and of course my piano exam and all the details that entailed with it.

Great. So I passed my driving and the meeting was successful anyway. I don't know how it was successful. I was just talking my way through. Maybe it was the way I was eyeballing or swirling in my chair or smiling like 'Hey, can't you tell I didn't prepare'... hahaha. And then there was the high chance of just wasting away my piano exam due to nervousness and numbness of the fingers and throwing away a year of effort. But well, this week had a good ending. I hope it continues for the rest of the hurdles I have.

Clarinet exam's round the corner. I still can't coordinate well with my piano teacher. And I was panicky yesterday if we would be able to rehearse in time. The reeds are a problem. I've been going for perfect technical playing and it's almost perfect. Actually I think I lack expression. Maybe I should just gulp down a cup of wine and let my imagination run free and everything would be fine. Works on the piano but I don't know about the clarinet...

So unfamiliar with the piano parts of the pieces... Don't know when to come in. argh. So I'm like listening through all the pieces now. Makes that 45 minutes each day. Martin Frost is good...

Since BSF has stopped, I'm going back for my BS... don't know if it'd just be for this period though.

There's still my accounting law exam. Don't know if I'd just skip it. I'm sure I won't be able to study for it till after my clarinet which is on the 30th of nov. The law exam is on the 8th of nov. I've got something on the 6th and 7th. zzz. busy busy. what kind of ns. (but nothing to do with ns of course) Well I'd just see if I feel comfortable after 7 days of chao mugging.

Then I have to submit some forms and admin matters to acca. I'm just jotting down whatever's in my mind so I can stop all these processes in my head. They're taking up memory space... First for 8 dec, I need clearance to go off because of some rehearsal on that day... and they shouldn't take away my 7 dec otherwise I might be in trouble. See I'm always hanging there... hoping nothing crops up otherwise I'd find myself in big trouble. However, it would be rewarding if everything goes smoothly. Let's say there's just a bit of risk.

Ok shall go practise now...

2009-11-17T23:16:00.003+08:00

Yesterday Jason picked me up at 7 to go for my driving test. He was driving a new bmw318 and it looked so cool... We went to eunos market to eat before going for the warm up. The warm up instructor was stone-faced and a huge turn-off. Well, the tester was similar anyway. I was kind of nervous before the test but really decided to just concentrate during the process and thankfully nothing unfortunate happened. The tester brought me to his office and asked me "Is this your first time, or how many times have you taken the test?... You must drive carefully ar..." Then I was like... err is that pass or fail... errrr... luckily I passed. haha. was so happy. I was really like nervous the day before and couldn't concentrate on anything. And anyway jason kindly stayed on while I settled all the license issues.

I had piano lesson after that and it was really helpful because i learned to control my thoughts which was a very important and handy skill... I was a bit early for piano lesson so I used the time to practise parking at her carpark. And it's so different from the poles =x... After that I drove to raffles before going home.

Today I woke up early to find no breakfast and was contemplating to drive out to buy breakfast when I couldn't find the car key so oh great I just had to walk to the hawker centre. but anyway the walk was nice with the morning breeze and all. After breakfast, I had my last piano practice, before playing some comp game (Yes, I do play computer Okay) Lunch. Went home and tried in vain to sleep from 12.30 to 2pm. Then I washed up, dressed up, warmed up, then drove to parkway for piano exam. Met charlene there at 4pm and it was a long long wait till my exam because the examiner was late or someone was late... but anyway it started late.

Exam was good. I thought I did well. I hope the examiner thought I did well. There were a few hiccups and some were funny anyway. I think I did some original stuff in the process of the music and I think that was quite good. Only complaint is the piano can't handle brahms because of the hammers or whatever. ZZ. but i didn't want to tone down and lose the effect so I continued anyway.

After the exam, it was like Phew. A year of 2hrs a day- piano. Finished.

We drove to raffles city 'cause she had to pass something to a teacher and ermz I got lost on the way. and ya I got lost. noob driver. And then we drove to M hotel. I think that's what it's called anyway. It was pouring heavily and getting dark and I didn't have much of a clue where I was going and it was probably the worst case scenario for a first time driver. But anyway we made it there in the end, with no permanent damage to the car whatsoever =P

my dad recommended cafe 2000 so we went there. The food was good. but I didn't eat the seafood and much of the jap food. oops. funny things did happen. And then I drove her home before driving home... safely... I think the toyota's power isn't high enough. Need something better...

2009-10-24T23:23:00.003+08:00

The last few days have been crazy. I've like bought so many cds haha... sembawang's sale is quite crazy.

The next few weeks are gonna be very busy - every day I either have piano or clarinet or driving lesson or more than one of them... zzz... and my piano exam's one day after driving. how stressful.

Today I went to plaza sing, raffles and funan to walk abit and then I headed back to coro and whilst going back i met kaixian n nicole at the bus stop. Just thought the girl looked familiar but I didn't really dare to call her because she had a twin. Ok I'm bad with names. and faces. and well. many other things actually :) I was reading a book at goldenrooster then I met jonhu.

really worried about my clarinet playing and its progress. I have no doubt that piano will forever be my first instrument and when the time comes, I would just leave my clarinet forever. The rapid deteoration of reed and mouthpiece performance irritates me as much as ulcers and mosquito bites. still, mr goh said i improved today. well, at least that shows that the j-curve isn't just some dream of economists.

ive counted 3 more piano lessons to exam. 3... 2... 1... booooom

2009-10-15T23:37:00.003+08:00

I've been concentrating on my music exams lately. I can more or less take the piano exam anytime now. I need a bit more time on my clarinet but it's improving fast. I've also been self-mugging theory. Every day feels the same. Do the music, read some books, revise some notes. Well, not that this life isn't good. I mean. I'm doing it at my own pace (and I'm surprisingly still keeping up with the deadlines).

I dug up my "memory drawer" today. It's basically a drawer in the dining room which stores small bits of things which have some memory value. E.g. notes, the castanet I used when I was 2, drawings, scribblings, letters, etc. Haha... so well, just in case someone wants to write the Memoirs of Andy, that person has somewhere to look into... And I found my doodling book of last year and looked through it and luckily found some information I was looking for (and that was originally why I dug everything out anyway...)

I've been playing C&C generals out of boredom (well, I actually have many other things to do like finishing this particular book but I can't get myself to do them... )

The internet is boring. facebook zzz. emb zzz... cathay n gv website zzzzz... I go through websites faster than they're updated because of the complete lack of lackthereof time =)

2009-09-25T22:24:00.003+08:00

it's been my dream of 5 years. finally, i might just be a bit closer to realising it... though it's crazy to even think about it. and it's crazier to think about the odds... hehe...

haven't been blogging because blogger had problems. much has changed. i'm done with the technical bits and expressions for my music exams, so i'm more or less there already. i've got an acca exam this tuesday. i pia-ed 170 questions yesterday in camp (studied through the night) and then i was so tired i managed 120 questions today. tomorrow i shall go to the airport's viewing gallery and emo... watching the planes fly... and study...

hope i don't fall sick soon. need to drink lots of water... but i can't stop my craving for chips! i used to love lays a lot, but now i think ruffles is much more tasty. but yucks! it's got so much more seasoning! but that's what makes it so addictive. zz. i think i've got to thank saf for my meagre salary so I don't spend so much.

well coma think of it. i've been spending lots on cds. er. i bought $160 worth of cds last month. my zhoujielun cds alone cost about... $500... and the horowitz collection i bought earlier this year for $300+ and i probably have another $300 worth of cds from boa, ayumi, maksim, celine dion, gosh groban, carrie underwood and random classicals (this is excluding the unoriginal... lol) I guess cds and dvds are one of the few things i believe in spending in...

oh yes i can read chinese books now. wow.. i have up-leveled again. i'd probably get an A if i took my a lvl chinese now. nah, no way i'm taking a levels again. haha

2009-08-27T20:46:00.000+08:00

just took my 2nd module ACCA exam. scored 89%. haha. was first out of the room.

band's been quite fun. I get to let my juniors help me do stuff. ok i'm not that cruel. I saved them today from being scolded for drills. see. good senior. lol... then the absm was telling us that we have to change into no.3 today and I gave my sianz face. then she said "don't give me that face".. ha. then she wanted to see if anyone had long hair and stared at me for quite long. lucky nv get caught.

tomorrow's a long day. have rehearsal till 6ish then driving till 10plus. then it's the wkend!

2009-08-25T18:28:00.000+08:00

I've got ACCA exam and FTT this week. hmm... I'm in Band C now. New band. And haha. I'm the lao jiao. =s... 've got 2 juniors directly under me. Err... they might actually be same age or older than me. But anyway, I'm trying to be a pdm.. Yiheng pangseh, so I was the most senior clarinet guy around. wow. must be queue master and I didn't have a clue how to do it.

Spent most of my time in IP18; I'm trying this new technique on the piano, and I think my running passages for my clarinet's improving... I seriously am grateful for the psp, without which I won't be able to watch movies...

Zzz. singapore cinemas don't show all the movies in the world (ok kind of common sense. but still...) hmm. maybe I should start a cineplex chain specialising in showing those that the other cinemas don't show.. or even better.. specialise in starting the screening dates of popular movies earlier than the rest ;P

rather busy the next few days. tomorrow 've got piano lesson. thursday ACCA exam. friday driving lesson. saturday FTT and clairnet lesson. sunday driving lesson. and this is on top of extra drill practices and stuff thanks to new juniors and a new band.

I wanna go out soon... there are no nice movies in the cinemas now though... no no no. =(

2009-08-23T07:11:00.000+08:00

It's been more than a week. and I've been pondering about this. There's something about being an actor or a director or a musician that I want but I don't want to act or direct or do any music for work... hmmz. It's not about money and I know their lifestyles are hectic. I'm not talking about the local actors... I'm talking about the good ones. I'm still trying to find out what's it. I feel my life now has stagnated and I've got to find somewhere to go next. Yea, maybe it's stagnated because I'm in NS. But if I even had a clue on my plans, I won't really need to be going to university. I guess university's just a supposedly just way of buying time...

But I don't know if all my dreams would come to a halt if I find something else. It's also rather worrying. maybe it's not all about happiness; maybe it includes a little struggle as well. Well, if life was so easy, it won't be fun anyway. I know though, that if I had the resources, I would want to produce a musical. yeap, a good musical about something... if only I had the chance. But maybe some door would open up and I'd see everything. hmm... well. im still waiting. I know what I'm learning now wouldn't really help me in my plans.I'm ready to leave my education behind just to pursue it. if only I had the chance.

Singapore's not big enough. It's only proficient in commerce. whatever they say, the good ones aren't performing at the esplanade, the good ones aren't developing here... no. maybe I should be satisfied. maybe not.

2009-08-07T23:12:00.002+08:00

I just had my driving lesson. Haha. It was quite fun. I cleared the lesson objectives within half an hour so I was pretty much doing my own thing after that. I haven't got my provisional license otherwise we were supposed to go out today =(... So I drove round the circuit like countless times.. if we take one round per minute i did about 80 rounds. ok maybe not so much because there were slow cars around. There were things I tried like overtaking at a bend (but only did it once because the instructor said it was against the rules), accelerating at the bend while being sandwiched between two cars (and he did look worried), changing gears while turning (yes, a step to drifting! ok just kidding), reaching 60kmph in the circuit, or accelerating to 50kmph in 5 secs. haha... and well... I reached gear 5 in the circuit (and the instructed said in his briefing the max in the circuit was gear 3.) lol... Then he said something like "You have to drive carefully here because there are beginners on the road..." I think he thought I drove outside without license cuz he just let me try out stuff. so in the end he passed me 2 lessons. yay. so that means I'm nearer my license..... But now i'm seriously bored with the circuit. can't wait for the PDL. and I'm sure I wont get to try out stuff on the real road. more of other ppl bullying me now... zz. hha... driving at 50kmph on the road seems to be an achievement for me now when others can do it at 100. =x

anyway. it's been pretty relaxing this week, so much that I had the idea of pixelising army tanks to give them a better camouflage, write a book on how to read books and what not.

okok. i bet i'm gonna dream about some driving or flying today. it's one of them. hah.

2009-08-03T22:02:00.003+08:00

Today was a busy day - had to practise my piano and clarinet in the morning, and then I had buffet lunch with my parents, before dropping by hwachong and then going home to rest for half an hour. Without really thinking, I drank a glass of white wine before heading of for driving lesson. woops. zz. And after that, I rushed home for dinner before going for bible study. great. just another "off" day.

Tomorrow's also quite a packed day... 've got to go hwachong at 8am, reach home by 10am because the piano techinician's coming, finish lunch before driving lesson at 12.45, catch up on my ACCA and music for the rest of the afternoon, and go for clarinet lesson at night.

hehe. that's ns. I think going to camp is more relaxed than this.

I'm hoping to pass my driving before december so that I can drive in australia. Haha. my dad wants me to study overseas so that he can go abroad more often. what a reason... =x

2009-07-26T00:40:00.002+08:00

I've been pondering all day about my future...

My next 2 years are pretty planned out (more of because of restrictions) and I've said this many times... But. I've decided I would want a home in England or NewZealand... haha. One facing both the ocean and snow capped mountains, with large pastures of grass and a castle-like building! Hmm but a more important question would be how I'd be going to reach my goal. err. So it looks like I'm gonna have to start my own business, and I've more or less decided too, after realising that working in an MNC won't really help me enjoy a highly risky life. what kind of business. ar that's the difficult part. i'm still thinking.

2009-07-21T21:34:00.002+08:00

Nothing much happened today in camp, only thing notable was that I had the whole afternoon free to read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince.

After band, I went to the SAA for my ACCA exam. Ah, I was about an hour early so I continued reading. I don't know if it's because of the good-writing of harry potter books, but I somehow lost any desire to revise a week before the exam (this happens a lot when I was in school anyway... distractions. tsk) The exam started at 7pm. Was my first module btw. Eh it was supposed to end at 9pm but I was quite determined to continue reading my book so I finished the exam in about 30mins and left. Haha. I felt something I haven't felt for a long time, leaving the examination room first, while everyone was scribbling =(... yea, I got a distinction, not really fantastic like 95% or what, but well, it's a pass/fail module. Doesn't matter.

Yay I'm on the last book now. I shall... finish it hopefully by tomorrow

2009-07-21T00:25:00.002+08:00

The good thing about this blog is that it'd let me babble what's stuck in my mind and then hopefully my thoughts would ease off...

I've always seeked comfort in doing anything to the best I could do so I wouldn't regret later... Well, I guess I've got these 2 years' plans worked out and they are more than satisfying, which would result in some academic recognitions. Hmm... but then that's only these 2 years. It doesn't really help not knowing what to do after that. Planning these 2 years had been pretty easy due to the constraints of the army and thus limited routes I could choose to take.

I'm really worrying about after that. I know I've accepted NUS and stuff, but I'm just not sure I'm gonna wave goodbye to US and UK just yet. Well, of course I've ditched some universities (with effect from today actually) such as cambridge and carnegie mellon. HA. hmm maybe ruyi knows why. anyway. I seem to have more friends going to NTU and SMU and it's seriously bugging me whether I should be spending so many years in university or not. I mean... I kind of like cheryl's reasoning about just studying 3 years and then going out to work. I think I'd like it better if I just forfeit the whole uni thing. I don't really know what my academic qualifications would be for actually...

And yea, so I guess i'm going to rethink my tertiary plans again. Of course my real reasoning of studying engineering is not because I've got any real interest in it, but more of me seeing it as a potential source of jackpot and well... my parents think I should take something related to numbers and what not since i'm "good" at it. certainly not actually. On the whole, I think I'm only really interested in taking economics, but what a waste having to stay 4 years in uni just for that. I could spend the same 4 years getting business and accountancy at NTU. yep, that's y I'm not doing a single econs =x...

Don't know if I should try applying overseas again. but then again, going overseas would never give me the same experience as staying here. I won't get the local experience. HA! To those people who wanna "go overseas for the overseas experience"... they're equally missing out the local experience anyway. didn't occur to them I suppose. yea, very well, it must not have.

ok this is not helping. it hasn't solved any of the sparks of whatever in my mind.

2009-07-16T00:15:00.002+08:00

Today there was band practice in the morning. Zzz... the rain was making me feel down. But anyway. After practice, I cooped myself in a studio again and well, practised my own set of pieces for piano and clarinet. I walked down the hill to the bunk to retrieve some stuff, before heading for the canteen to eat yong tau foo. Met some band people there and they were playing Heal the World by MJ at the canteen...

I did indeed finish another about 300 ACCA questions within one hour, before jumping into the 3rd book of harry potter (which effectively used up my whole afternoon and more...) After signing out, I was walking down the hill, or rather, reading down the hill and then I realised green figurines moving beside me. Then I realised I had walk right into the middle of some stimulated fire fight some unit was having. woops. and I was in my jeans, carrying a book and booking out =P...

Went to golden rooster to eat, and erm. I reached there quite early at 6pm, but had to vacate slightly after 615 because I felt it better to give up the seat to the students who were pouring in. ar... see how thoughtful. Yes, i was still reading the book btw. I strolled down the road with a good amount of time to spare, finally deciding to sit at the bus stop to read my book (and not wait for any bus...) I read for about 45 minutes before deciding I should use the hci toilet before going for piano lesson. I saw the gate was locked and no one was near enough to open it, so I walked to the gate nearer the s68 class bench. Argh. They locked it. why what happened. why's it locked. the swines might fly in? or sirius black on the loose... or mas selamat escaped again!? how disappointed. but anyway, I made my way to my piano teacher's house, a good 20 minutes walk, and I was still early by 15 minutes.

Ok my post could sound a bit fairy-taley because I've been dwelling in books for the past 3 days, completing a book a day. or maybe more. I think quidditch would be my dream sport, all about mental power and skill and not that much physical. Ah well, that's why I'm a musician. fits exactly. though I can't say I don't envy those who are physically much fitter... and I do realise I've got eyes which happen to be quite useful... haha. they can make people believe me and can really make people spill the beans... well but of course there are things about me that I don't quite like. but well. haha. no one's perfect. =s. my dismal height. hahahaha... and I need to be stretched sideways somehow. ok never mind. it's time to sleep

2009-07-14T23:31:00.002+08:00

Let's see what I did today. hmm there was LIFE in the morning or whatever it's called. Just meant running 3 rounds round the whitehouse. And yes, I spent most of the time talking to yiheng about reporting sick.

After that, I locked myself in a studio and started reading harry potter and well, after learning band practice was cancelled, decided to practise my clarinet and piano. I was fully unsatisfied with my clarinet playing, and I really hope the band would buy some new pianos, but of course, I should know better that the army would favour buying 4 jerry cans more than 4 pianos.

After practising way past lunchtime (and I didn't notice...), I continued flipping the pages of that harry potter book. And argh. I stayed glued to it, only stopping when I felt I should visit the toilet. I glanced left and saw a row of people. Then I was like "shucks"... I forgot about falling in. ahahahaha...

I spent the remainder of the afternoon walking around the camp and flipping through my ACCA book, doing about 220 questions in less than an hour because I was just plain bored. Oh yes, I finished harry potter before doing the ACCA (duh) so I had nothing to do after that. Hmm... I guess I just jammed the piano and plugged in my mp3 (which I had so confidently thought was left at home)... and I sort of waited for the clock to tick 5 before walking out.

Went for clarinet lesson. It's been 5 weeks since I had serious clarinet practice (which started 3 days ago), shucks I'm really in bad shape. Was really embarassed by my playing. Tone gone, dynamics gone, shape gone, expressions gone, oh man. Nightmare. But I guess I have to start somewhere. Very peculiar or rather a weakness is that my tone annoys me so much I have stopped playing during practice sessions because of it. Yes I have to do something about it, but it'd take time. But I haven't got time. zzz. 4 months left till exams. it's not like academic exams where we can squeeze everything within 2 weeks. this takes a looonng time...

wonder what i'm doing tomorrow. I hope it's the same as today. 've got piano lesson tomorrow though, first in more than a month too. thanks to SAF day. ya for me being so out of shape. oh well, at least I got a cert of appreciation =x hahahahaha

2009-07-06T23:36:00.002+08:00

I think my life has changed a lot since coming out of hc. One really really positive part of this outcome is that I've been a much happier person after graduating. Maybe it's because of the stress, and most significantly the unnecessary stress I had given myself. I was probably being a support system to myself, trying to analyse different outcomes and the probabilities of them affecting me. On saturday I was just waiting to board the bus to go to Marina Bay when I chanced upon Stephen Covey's 9010 rule. It was hanging at the noticeboard next to the mustering area. I then realised that I've spent more than 50% of my life simulating how my life would be like and most of it didn't really help. Well, maybe not simulating, but more of worrying about the near future. It's all better now, because there's simply nothing to worry about, though the 9010 rule is still good to ponder over.

I really really know my ultimate dream is to be a performer. well, I don't know what kind, be it a pianist, a clarinetist or a jay chou but whenever I watch concerts I don't really go "wow this guy's so good..." but more of "how I wish I could be like them..." it'd be so cool to make a living of what I like to do. it isn't really gonna work making me stare at figures and try to make money because I'd get really bored (although I really like the outcome of staring at figures)... I know I like marketing (the business one)... but it alone is nothing without the actual core product. and basically I'm just not gonna be in a marketing department or finance department of any company because I'd just get too bored.

2009-06-20T18:30:00.003+08:00

I'm kinda sick now because of the straineous rehearsals.

Anyway, I spent yesterday in the HQ slacking, like I studied more than 15 chapters of ACCA F1 yesterday. I feel really bored nowadays. I mean, I've got all the exams in front of me, like ACCA, music, piano, clarinet and what not, but I just don't feel any stress. Yea, that's pretty bad. A certain level of stress is suppose to be good actually.

Maybe it's because I don't talk to people a lot now. During rehearsals, I can't really talk because everyone's busy. During my free time, I'm either practising music or mugging. Hmmz. But then again, there aren't many people to talk to. In band, people talk about psp, games, lan - whatever things that I'm not into. And out of band, everyone's doing what they've got to do and no one's that free to talk. Eh, I kinda miss school.

Although I'm happy with the stress- and problem-free life I have now, I do somewhat want some stress to make time pass a little faster and for life to be abit more entertaining.

I went home today and was like ok, I'm kinda sick, so it's not a good idea to practise music (because good music requires lots of mental strength and stamina). And then I realised that other than playing the piano and clarinet, and maybe a bit of going online, I basically had nothing to do. Well, I studied ACCA abit, and soon got bored of it. Like... at the speed i'm mugging, I'd be done with it in 2 days and the exam is 1 mth away. argh. I ended up walking around parkway for part of the morning. yea, my favorite place to walk about - because it's near my home duh. started from the basement, gramophone, then giant, then sembawang, 77th street, a bit more here and there... but i didn't buy anything. oh yes, parkway has many banks. And this brings me to a disappointment or a rather a disappointing realisation.

DBS has cut my interest rate from 1.4% to 0.4%!!! ARGH!!! its like... ok defeats the purpose of putting my $$$ in the bank rite. 0.4% is probably not enough to cover the risk of a bank on the run. but then again i don't have space at home to store cash. like I'm not leavning in a bungalow. yet. lol...

hmm. my dad asked me a few days ago why I wanted to do engineering. now I'm like ... err I don't know! i mean I'm already taking accounting now and I like it. And I die die will and must studying economics. I guess I'm studying engineering because it just takes me 1 more year to get that degree. =x... or maybe it's because it'd give me knowledge in designing some gadget that i can sell. I don't know! maybe it's because I think im good with numbers and I shouldn't put that "ability" to waste? I dont know. confused.

plus I don't know how my music is gonna help me in future. maybe a future paderewski or something. don't know. I knew I wanted to be a jay chou. but aiya, asian male vocals cmi sadly la. compared to like andre bocelli or josh groban. asian male singers must focus on unique styles and heavily rely on the beauty of the songs they're singing. man. I'm confused.

ok why m I talking about singing now. it's about engineering isn't it. whatever. see, I'm bored, i can hyperlink things here and there. like wow

2009-06-03T19:35:00.003+08:00

ok. now that i've been posted to the band, it's been getting quite slack and quite an experience! It's gonna be COG this sunday at the istana - my first! anyway, i've stopped studying ACCA for now since I've yet to register for the exam and i've already finished studying 2 modules. I'm reading up some music theory and practising my piano and clarinet and that's about my life now.

I just bought a PSP from sim lim yesterday. and then i found out the charger didn't work. and i was like ZZZ. so i went back to sim lim today and the guy said it would take $125 to repair. i was like -.0... ok nvm. so I went home, took a screwdriver, pliers and sandpaper and then started modifying the charger to fit the psp. well lucky it worked. looks like im set to be a damn pro engineer. ok lame inference.

anyway i'm going to NUS. yet another change. I accepted Ntu online. then NUS called me on 1 june. and i was like "whatever. call and ask n beg n what but i'm not going nus"... then i told my mum for fun. then wahlao. she n my dad talk until i confuse. in the end i just followed what they say lor. accept nus.

hehe. i got no preference in university. i just don't want a bond, and i believe that no matter which university we enter, as long as we can excel in it, it doesn't really matter. does it.

Oh yes, i'm not a gamer by the way. I bought the psp so that i could view music videos in camp. ya... completely don't know how to play psp games, and i would try not to learn so that i won't get addicted!

2009-05-16T12:09:00.003+08:00

I haven't been blogging much lately because those who know what I'm blogging about don't come here, and those who come here don't know what I'm blogging about!

anyway. Today I'm blogging about some neutral thing that... well. Not everyone would understand also. I've been practising my piano and clarinet each at least 2 hours a day and well... this post is about... my experience of practising so much.

Let's start with the clarinet. Ok, firstly the equipment. Yeap, as most of us know, I have a new clarinet, the tosca. Hmm.. yea, I haven't quite thought of a name for it yet though. And yes, I use the grabner mouthpiece (which is quite well-seasoned but showing signs of ageing), and in the past few week of playing at different venues, I have come to understand the brilliance of the string ligature aka my shoelace. I have set two really cushy (originally) pencil cases aside, one for my reed finishing system and whatever's got to do with reeds, and the other for my cloths, mouthpiece, stand, etc. Currently, I am also looking for a barrel (like backun or something), and possibly a bell. With my mouthpiece already 2 years old, it might be time to just go window-shopping for mouthpieces.

Today I kind of learned how to make my own reeds, so... that's a really big milestone! because I won't have to depend on my tutor for reeds anymore. eh... And I also realise that the one thing which instantly tells if a clarinetist is good or not is Tone... Tone... Yeap, with the right breath control, embrochure, and whatelse, the only thing left to improve the tone is largely... the equipment! So to those who believe a plastic clarinet is as good as a tosca. haha... they can go and... dream on about achieving a professional tone. Well, another thing I've learnt is that extended clarinet techniques are not really taught by tutors. I mean... they can possibly guide us on the techique, but they just can't impart it like the way they teach embrochure. I'm still in the middle of learning some techniques, well, meaning I can do it, but its probably not good enough for a public performance yet. Like... I was trying circular breathing today, I know my portamento can be improved, and... double tonguing, growling, etc.

There's still more I can blog about my clarinet, like how I learned to exaggerate expressions and come up with original interpretations of mozart, etc. but I shan't go into that because it would bore most non-clarinet players, which is rather like most people here.

K. what about my piano. The technician came today, somehow my piano behaved itself in front of him and he couldn't tell the problem. ZZZ. other than that, I've learnt to listen to good pianists as a source of ideas to interpret works, particularly mozart- even though his pieces are more or less technically easy, his works are probably one of the hardest because of interpretation and expression. well, I did play the same mozart sonata in grade8 and got about 28/30 I think. But oh man, it pales in contrast with horowitz's version (yea, you can google youtube to find it: horowitz mozart sonata k 330)... google youtube?! the english language these days is sometimes mind-bogling. argh! I'm having a particularly fun time with the 1st movement of mozart but I'm really stuggling with the 2nd because I can't get the tone I want and well, I haven't got a clue how to tackle the 3rd! And I got about 2 other hurdles to cross- scarlatti k545 and the 2nd brahms rhapsody. zzzzz. i don't really like technical practice. but what to do. that's the foundation of the piece anyway. I was considering joining the piano competition in singapore. but. I kind of have no time. and then, it wouldn't be recognised since ya, it's Singapore. -__-". at least I might not even be proud of it.

right now, I'm looking forward to graduating from the training wing in band and erm the ballet concert a few fridays away. What else. Oh yes, I started loving going to the esplanade (particularly the library with its decks of scores after scores, recordings after recordings).

Haha. I was suppposed to meet samuel at jing1ji1 for dinner before going for my clarinet lesson. but i was like 15 minutes late. what's more, after placing my order, I had to rush to get a quite haircut (because I was caught zzz). ehhe. shucks. ok but we still ate for like 10 minutes before I had to rush off again.

i'm going to the esplanade after this.

2009-04-29T08:47:00.002+08:00

On Sunday, my dad, james, zenn and I went to Band World. I wanted to try the Prestiges, Vintage, Festival and Tosca, but they said that was too many to try... So I started testing the Festival first. Its tone was rather thin and Zenn agreed, so yea, even though I thought I would have liked the Festival, nope... Then I tried the Tosca. It was about this time that mr goh came. I also tried the vintage, which had a really nice tone, but there were some faults, such as the B and C keys. So I settled for the tosca, and it was lucky that they accepted my E13. Haha...

Yesterday, band ended early at 4pm, so Zenn and I went to Plaza Sing for dinner. We also went to yamaha awhile because I wanted to look at some accessories. After that, I took a bus to hci and I was still 45 mins too early for my clarinet lesson. So I went back to hci and met yihui and hinyang and meiying.

Today, I'm here because... I've got the morning off =P

2009-04-25T07:20:00.002+08:00

It's rather sad that I'd have to leave safband. I really would have enjoyed it there. It's been only 5 weeks and my fate to leave is almost sealed. Unless a miracle happens.

It's such a nice place to be in. I mean, there's no really strong sense of hierachy. We can joke about regardless of ranks. And no one's a wayang (unlike 90% in BMT), so it's really easy to make friends. Of course, there are people we can't get along with, but that's just part of life, otherwise there'd be no quarrels in the world (and that might be somewhat boring)...

I still remember the funny things, like hiding and sneaking down the hill by the drain, joking and gossiping about people, and horrendous jokes. argh. of course, trying to sleep and not get caught is part of our daily routine, trying to sneak and disturb the engineer's operations. And about doing a "Primary 6" math question... Haha! I did it through integration and left after a few minutes. But zenn and paul stood there and continued, convinced there was a p6 method to solve it. Lol! They got caught.

There would always be the 'advanced party' during lunch breaks of kahsiong zenn and me because we walk fast... and there might be james lagging behind a bit. hah. james'ability to sleep is truly amazing.

Well, there'd always be the same people who fight for IP rooms 11,15,16 and 18, because they have the piano. Yep, I'm one of them. I personally like IP18 because it's a KAWAI. lol. I know timothy likes koping piano rooms, and recently mingchun as well.

Yesterday they had their merry-go-round and I just watched. I was quite sad, seeing my inability to do it. It might be sweaty, uncomfortable at first, but the fun and accomplishment will always be so fulfilling. and I'm not able to do that. Not even with my batch. The music they played was unique in the sense that no one would play them for concerts, they were marching music. And I think they're really really nice to listen to.

Of course the clarinet section is one of the most interesting sections, because we got a really talkative zenn, a pampered paul, and james who knows drills so well. Well, band's opened my eyes because now I know somewhat what are the people in syo like, they can be nice like zenn, or weird and irritating like ______.

Having so much time to practise, I think I've improved a lot. My clarinet tutor was surprised at the improvement I made in just a week.

As we move on to week6, we've picked up slangs and things people say. Haha... and people's patterns of speech. eg... You see ah, what if...... Then what will happen?...... It's very funny/ strange lah...... or wo3 bu4 zhi1 dao4 la lao2 ban3 (in english)... or dui ma? HAHA.

I may have less than 4 weeks left in band. I don't know. But I know I'm enjoy it fully.

My piano's arriving today. I'm gonna buy a clarinet tomorrow. Maybe a tosca, festival, vintage or prestige. Either way, it's gonna be great :)

2009-04-19T21:32:00.002+08:00

Today, there was church in the morning, and I wore this shirt that I bought from HK. It came with a tie. I guess it attracted lots of attention =s... anyway, after that I had some filming to do. I thought it was only gonna be like half an hour... But then it took in total 3.5hrs!!! Ok nvm, at least it was fun. Took a cab home with mel and then realised that I had no money. argh. embarassing. tsk. I think I'm in my own kind of financial crisis lah. No more regular pocket money, but still too unwilling to withdraw cash from the bank.

Oh anyway! My family went to centrepoint after that, and there we met the owner of Robert Piano... who's name was Robert Chiu. Like duh rite. After a bit of haggling here and there, (and I really can't see the point of it)... The papers were signed, etc... Yep, so it's a K8-AS for me. lol. I'd promise to practise harder... I wonder how an upright grand piano would sound in my house... the small little house...

It's gonna come on 25 apr, so I'm really looking forward to that day. And meanwhile, I'm probably still deciding between a festival or a tosca. which is better? which wouold be more worthed the money? I've already got a mouthpiece which far exceeds the quality of the buffet mouthpieces, yea... that really superb handmade grabner. But I was also thinking of buying a handcrafted Forbes barrel. LOL. but actually the Festival comes with 2 barrels already, meaning I'd end up with 3 barrels!!! I might buy a bell without the metal ring as well. haha. Wow looks like a ton of modifications. oh well, I've already got the best clarinet ligature n mouthpiece. I'm just looking for some nice keys...

2009-04-18T16:26:00.002+08:00

Wow. my parents are on a spending spree. They said they're gonna renovate the house. Oh, I hope it would be good, because I still want my keyboards just within my reach. Anyway, I've just got an almost $20000 nod from my parents - they're letting me buy a new clarinet and piano! =P... For now, I think I'd most probably buy the Buffet Festival Bb Clarinet. For the piano... I went "shopping" today...

I listed 10 pianos I would consider:
- Bluthner Model B
- Bohemia 132 Concerto
- Steinway K-52
- Kawai K-8AS
- Haessler KM124
- Irmler P132
- Wilhelm Tell 132 Zurich
- Ronisch Model 132
- Seiler 132 Konzert
- Bechstein Concert 8

I first went to Robert Piano at Parkway, and tried the Kawai K-8. It had a really really nice tone and sensitive touch. And it was an upright grand, with special acoustic modifications to the soundboard. From there, I laernt that Wilhelm Tell and Irmler were made in China... so they were immediately out of my list.

Next, I went to Gramercy Music to try the Bohemia. I felt the tone of the K-8 was better, but Bohemia was about $1k cheaper and was a European brand. After that, I continued to Robert Piano at Millenia Walk, and there I learnt that the Bluthner, Steinway and Haessler were German models and none of them cost less than $30k. I was like... Oh forget it. And I also found out that Ronisch and Seiler were not of really good quality and that Bechstein was 60% Korean. boo...

There was an experienced piano teacher there and so I asked about the Yamaha piano. She said "It's crap"... Ok, from my experience with yamaha pianos, that's the way most are. And so she explained about the touch, the sound quality and everything... And oh, Mr Kawai built the first Yamaha piano. Yamaha's diversified into motorcycles, toilet bowls and what not, while kawai's just specialised in pianos.

I tried the Kawai K-8AS there. It had the sustenuto effect, which made it ideal for 20th century music - European pianos didnt have this. I guess Japanese pianos just have more gadgets (something like Japanese vs German cars)... So yep... For now, I think I'm picking the Kawai K-8AS. It costs $13200 because it's on offer now... But with a trade in of my old Kawai CX-5H, maybe the price might be about $12000...

A new clarinet and a new piano, and a band where I can practise music all day. What else can stimulate me to put more effort in my music...

2009-04-10T21:34:00.001+08:00

This week I started taking clarinet and piano lessons again. Clarinet lesson was on tuesday. I went there straight after band, and met meiying, suhui, marcus and mr low along the way. The lesson was good, I managed to clean up some pages and get good reeds. I had piano lesson on wednesday, and I met abel at the bus stop. I think hci's a really nice place... i really do miss school...

2009-04-06T22:14:00.002+08:00

Haha. Some funny things that happen in camp:

1) The do but don't get caught rule.

Some of us were going home by a path we shouldn't have taken. Then I saw a car drive pass. I immediately turned around and mumbled "oh shit". Haha... someone commented that it made us look aware of our wrongdoing and made us look guilty. Lol...

2) Just don't blame me.

I'm not stating names just in case some VIPs read this. Haha. We were discussing how to use the "illegal" path. I was saying that we would be easily spotted since we were the only people in the area wearing the no.4 uniform. Then my friend said "Well, if they catch us, it means that the uniform's camouflage is not up to standard". LOL!

3) Cookhouse food.

I really think people understate the quality of food at Pulau Tekong. The NSCC food CMI. One day I was just routinely eating lunch there then when I was scooping some dishes I blurted out "Wah sian, same food everyday..." Then I looked up. The uncle who's in charge of the food was just standing in front of me. Oops.

4) What life is about.

Someone commented "We are very busy people with no time for Physical Training. Our time is spent either working, or resting."

2009-04-01T19:26:00.002+08:00

Today I went back to HCI to collect some stuff. It was a really quick one because I went there at 6pm. ie mr low, chen laoshi and most teachers have gone home, plus no one was at the class bench. I did see some band members having their practice.

Haha. Band today was "fun". Ok it has always been the same anyway. We had nothing in the morning. More of chitchat session. I also managed to complete a chapter of my ACCA there. In the afternoon, I continued practicing my clarinet. Haha. I went into Ryan's room and started playing Solo de Concour by memory and they were like wth. That's why I think I could have achieved much more in music if I had the time in the past. Maybe prodigy or whatever. Oh no. But I think I love my school life in AHS and HCI better than playing music my whole life. So anyway, this is the most recent feat I've done. (the last being composing that Rhapsody of Fate)... I played a grade 8 piece from memory within... 6-7 days.

hmmz.. I got 2 ulcers, particularly one which is stinging and making my life miserable. Today's my bro's bday, also april fool's day. haha. ok I shall enjoy my nice dinner

2009-03-31T23:21:00.002+08:00

haha. I feel so good now. I just mugged 3 chapters of my ACCA module.

Here're roughly my plans for this year: ACCA, Piano LTCL, Clarinet ATCL, Music Theory, Driving License...

Now that I'm in band, it's a place where... I've got to use my so-called Music "resume" a lot. I mean, they aren't going to care about distinctions in math or whatever, but luckily my musical story hasn't been that mundane either. I just need more colour on it. I've already got various postings, but I reckon I need more paper qualifications and documented papers. I was considering going to Sydney with SMU band but... haha. no. That'd take up too much of my leave. I'm seriously considering SNYO but my age is a factor. I'm growing old.

I've got to prepare a piece by next week and I've chosen Andre messager's Solo de Concour. lol... sometimes i really don't know if I'm a good or bad clarinetist. Today I told a senior I chose that piece then he stared at me "You can play that meh?" I mean. Okay... I'm not from any reputable orchestra yada yada neither have I been musically active for the past 2 years. zzz.

Ulcers! I've got two ulcers in my mouth! Hurts when I play. But it feels good to play my clarinet everyday now... xP... k I shld slp now

2009-03-28T17:56:00.001+08:00

2009-03-24T21:54:00.002+08:00

Today we did nothing at band... practically had the whole day to laze around. I found out that the instruments there were much worse than those in schools. The newest is a trombone bought in 1992. Beat that. =x

Anyway although we were supposed to go home at 5.30pm, we had some kind of "lecture" today until 7pm because of some miscommunication. As such... 4 of us cabbed back. Yea, now cabbing makes sense. It saves an hour plus, and then we only pay 2 or 3 bucks more than mrt.

Was quite sianned because of the "lecture". Then I went home. Then I saw that my dad picked up the Kenneth Cole watch for me already. great. Ok that was something to make me a bit less sian about. Then I saw a letter by the side. Okayy... NTU. I'm going to have an interview at SMU on friday, so I was thinking, okkaaayyyy... another interview again... But no. haha. I got offered a place to read Electrical and Electronic Engineering & Economics. lol... EEEE. what a name. So I was like... "ok.. another thing to cheer me up a bit..."

And then I was thinking... seriously I shouldn't be that sian because band doesn't really have physical punishment. The most we had was go home late by 1.5 hours. Compared to bmt or whatever, it was nothing lah. The worst would be confinement or stay in, but that'll be rare. Seriously I think even though band isn't suppose to be as "shiong" I still feel it's not easy. It's psychological. People'd say it's because I'm not "seasoned" already. I wake up at 6am and like Wah! Why must wake up so early! And then I remember in bmt I always woke up at 5am... I book out at 5pm everyday, and I'm thinking wow, that's so long. And then I remember in bmt, I had to wait a week plus to book out. haiz. CMI. These days, I kind of miss combat training and physical training... the most we did is down 10 pushups. The least we did in bmt is 20 pushups, max of 120 at a shot. OCS would be better... haha.

Anyway, the NTU letter had a piece of paper at the back as well. I was wondering what was it about. Then I read it and yadayada... it's just about the nanyang scholarship, what it's about and what's the criteria. So I put it aside. Then I was thinking... why are they so weird ar. Give me the scholarship criteria together with the acceptance letter. So I began reading the acceptance letter. Then I realised it said that I'd been offered the nanyang scholarship as well. I was like... yeah man... Haha. That would more or less mean I'd not go for edb mas already... And I still have the smu interview... which I then can relax on.. wahaha...

Yeap, so that really made me smile today :)... Forget the army. It's what happens after that that's going to impact me a lot. I see people's degrees and phds written at the back of their names. But I don't see army ranks behind people's names. That's the difference you see. wake up. Stop being a boy and thinking army is your whole universe and your rank's going to make you a god and me a devil. ya rite. boo.

hehe. rebel =x... whatever. no lah. I'm a guai kia lah. just that sometimes I think army personnels forget where they stand. They criticize A levels, criticize smart people, criticize university. I'm like OKAY. whatever seriously. Do whatever you want. I will show you in time that it matters.

2009-03-22T20:29:00.002+08:00

And just in a blink, the break after POP is over. And well, I guess I'm quite happy with my posting --> to band. Firstly, it would let me have more time to practise music. Secondly, it would allow me to do other things I want to do because of its 8 or 9 - 5 schedule. so yay.

I realise I have bought quite a few books this month.. and I just bought a fiction book today, yeah, a new one by James Patterson. In total I bought around 21 books in the month of march. cool eh :)... I never thought I would be such a book lover.

And some of you might know, I went to hongkong on tuesday for a short trip of 3 days. There, I really shopped till I was really happy. Haha. Bought 1 bag, 2 chokers and 4 shirts! Didn't wanna buy jeans because I just bought another one a few months back.

Yay. haha. you might realise I haven't been blogging a lot. Well, that's because nothing that special's happening recently. There might be soon... I mean ya. Can't blog about army. But well... I'm technically not in the "real" army anymore... hehehehe

2009-03-16T12:36:00.002+08:00

I haven't posted for quite awhile, but anyway these few days have been pretty busy. On a brighter note, I'm flying off to Hongkong tomorrow!

On the POP day, I received a call for an interview. So, I had to go to shenton way on thursday afternoon, and that meant I couldn't even rest or have a break after my POP! On friday, I spent my time from 12+ till 4pm eating buffet at swisshotel... Ok I didn't really eat all the way. I brought a book to read too... then My dad brought me to some place and I bought 15 books at one shot. haha. I was really happy that day =P... then saturday I went to the NUS openhouse with jason. Sunday, there was fellowship sunday before TUU dinner. sian I was supposed to go NUS again but there was traffic jam!

2009-02-17T17:00:00.002+08:00

I can't really blog about army because I'm not allowed to. Suffice to say that I didn't complete fieldcamp (but I would without re-fieldcamping), because I dislocated/ subjuxated or whatever my right knee for the second time in BMT, with the doctor telling me I have lax ligaments, eligible for down PES-ing (which I said NO rather loudly), and then not being eligible for combat units (so bye OCS and SISPEC, hello to band and clerk work) - which isn't that bad since I have other plans as well. Eh... I had to say no twice. Because... I went to the doc on Thursday for knee pain and then he told me about lax ligaments and about downgrading. I said No. The next day, which mind you is a friday, the accident aka injury or whatever happened, and then the doc asked if I wanted to downgrade and I said No. And to everyone who thinks I'm OOT-ing (out of training-ing) I am NOT going to because... eh. I think I'd rather persevere on... and please, I can walk? I can talk? so what's the point of OOT-ing and redoing BMT. no sense. =x

Eh. Great. They gave me 23.45hrs as compensation to a burnt weekend. Army is sooo fair =) ... Anyway today I bought the jay chou DVD dragon rider and carrie underwood's carnival. hhee... so happy. My textbooks have arrived too! 3 textbooks, 3 workbooks... they cost about 250 pounds in all... or something lah.

I played a bit of piano today- all my exam pieces that I'm gonna have to prepare for this year. And then a bit of clarinet because my audition's in ... 2 days' time!?

Went to some hotel near Hwa Chong to eat today. Even though I preferred Aston's to that hotel called Salone (because it's expensive and I think Aston's food is tastier), I chose to go there because at least it brought back memories of the long car rides to and fro from school everyday last year. I haven't stepped into hwachong like since november 18 when our physics paper ended lah. ZZZ. But nevermind, after bmt, if I get into band, I might just be sitting at the class bench every day. Mugging lah duh, because I think class benches are condusive, especially when what I'm mugging has no time limit and whatsoever since it was self-initiated.

I don't know why but I really love bookstores and I'd just roam around Borders and MPH and well, the library as well. I might soon need another shelf for all my books. There's no space already now. I've kept my new books in the drawer, and it can't fit the next batch of 6-7 books I'm gonna buy...

2009-02-07T20:10:00.002+08:00

Another week has passed, and I'm out of BMTC again. Listening to Qian Shan Wan Shui now reminds me of my JC days, especially the day when I had just finished my Chinese A level exam and was walking towards the high school for band practice (and harmonica concert thereafter). It used to be my alarm clock song too =P

This week in BMT was another fun one. We had really slack days for thursday and friday. Thursday there wasn't much, other than training for IPPT in the evening. On friday it was IPPT. I just dislocated my right kneecap two weeks ago so I didn't expect myself to do well. My sergeant had told me not to do the standing broad jump a day ago and I convinced myself that I would just forego this IPPT.

IPPT started with situps, which could easily be cleared. 40 situps in a minute. I was the 2nd fastest I think. Then it was Standing broad jump. I knew I probably couldn't do it. I jumped a 180cm+ the day before because my knee hurt and then I was told not to jump. 2 days before, the physiotherapist also adviced me not to take IPPT. Well, I just thought I'd just jump for the sake of trying. I did a 225cm. so since I had already done that, I continued with the rest of the stations, aiming for a silver. I cleared pull-ups with 8 reps (the amount needed for silver) and then although my officer told me to "hang on" and stuff, I just explained I only wanted to do 8. Shuttle run let my morale down abit because I did a 10.8 on my first try. I was guessing it was due to my knee that I couldn't break properly, but during the trials a month ago I had no problem for shuttlerun. For my 2nd attempt, I took off both kneeguards (which was a big risk considering breaking needed substantial knee movement). I clocked a 10.2sec. Not bad, though my knee did hurt a bit. 2.4km was the last. My personal best was 11.45 min at RJC 2007. The timing for silver was 11.40min. For the trials I ran 13.54 (ok, I was a bit slacky). Knowing my knee was healing, this would be straining, but since it was the last station, I decided to just try my luck. I was supposedly the "slowest" in my section. ahha. 13.54 is a fail by far. But because we ran a coastal route, I couldn't keep track of my pace and time during the 2.4. I just kept running. I shifted my breathing patterns. I started with 1 breath per 16 paces, then quickly decided it was too long, and changed to 1 breath per 12 paces. I did this for about 1.2km. Then, I felt a need of more oxygen so I switched to 1 breath per 8 paces. This probably lasted till the last 300m or so when my knees were really pain and almost giving way and everything. Then it was 1 breath per 4 paces (but not 1 breath per 2 paces like it used to be in JC)... I did either a high 10 or low 11 min... Yea, my fastest yet. People were amazed I could outrun them.... especially having dislocated my knee 2 weeks ago. I'd just say... I need to thank lots of people for encouragement. so anyway, that leaves me with a Silver on my first IPPT test! And 2 or 3 more to go! If everything goes well, I'd try to get a gold... haha.

I've started "mugging" again. I decided not to slack my mind off. Currently I've finished my research into the Persian Empire. It's just really the surface. I'm just thinking of covering the surface of a broad spectrum of things. Yea, sort of like GK. But anyway, that means I've read 2 books on the Persian Empire and then researched also on the biblical perspective of the Persian Empire. I've also started Music History, and I'm covering things I've never seen before, like periods before Baroque (which is seriously I think extinct but I'm just doing it for the kinda sake of doing it). I just went to the library and am gonna do a book about Zheng He, I've got books on Cold War, Vietnam War, WWI waiting for me, and I've decided to research about WWII, other empires, the year 1421 or 1423, Spartans, Maccabees, Singapore and Israel. That's probably all history. yea, I guess I'm really interested in history. I'd also attempt some geog stuff, although I haven't touched geography since sec2.

I've got 3 options now. I guess I'm most likely going to join the band. My audition is coming soon, on the 20th of feb. Anyway, people around have been really encouraging and nice. I have to consider seriously if I should forego command school (and I think I would, not because I can't live through it, but because there are many more people out there who seem more enthusiastic, passionate about command school and dying to go command school than me). Also I've got an interview to be military police! which is nice too. I don't mind. But I want to join the band. I think. I still can't make up my mind!

2009-01-26T18:46:00.003+08:00

happy cny to everyone =) Today I read through the prospectus for NUS, NTU and SMU in the morning; basically all the universities are good other than that SMU lacks some scope. If I'm studying in NUS or NTU, I would probably take a course that encompasses Economics and Engineering. But SMU would allow double degree with double majors, meaning I can study Social Sciences, Economics, Business and Accounting simultaneously. I was talking to my uncle on the prospects of going US to study. I do understand the teaching style of NTU and NUS may be somewhat mundane to certain people, so going overseas would also be a good option to consider.

I'd apply to the US at the end of this year hopefully, sit for another SAT, and with my AP and A levels I might get to shorten the 4-year course to 3 years. (which is rather my main reason why I initially didn't want to go US.) For UK, I've decided that I'd only go there if I get a place in oxbridge. I might consider LSE but it's not very attractive to me anymore.

Those are future plans after army. And I won't have to worry about my placements for this year because I am more or less not going to university this year anymore (I'm not applying for any government scholarships.) I've singled some scholarships I would apply, like NUS, NTU, SMU, OCBC... I might apply EDB, GIC and MAS to just see... erm. And of course in order to go US I would apply to US universities and firms for financial aid... I don't think I'd rely on singapore boards... maybe not...

I'm going to start studying ACCA - which is a professional program by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants... The earliest I'd finish it is 2010. I'm self studying... By the end, I'd be an affliate of ACCA but not a member because that would require 3 years of experience in the field. But anyway it seems unlikely I would become a member because I do not intend to become an accountant (i'm just taking it to broaden my knowledge).

Lol. My mum thinks ACCA's too hard for me. hmm... I'm really not over confident but 2 years ago she told me only Math wizards took Math S paper or F math. =s... well maybe I'd become another wizard one day.

Oh yes...! Yesterday I was at suntec with jon and jeremy and then I spotted a bookfair at carrefour! I bought 2 books at $10 each! One on the cold war and one on empires. Then I went to borders in the evening and bought anotehr 2 books, one on WWI and one on the Vietnam War! yay... ahha. yes, I told my aunt if not for practicality, I'd probably be a history student (and a music student)...

2009-01-24T19:26:00.003+08:00

Yay! I installed firefox and finally I can start blogging again. The army's policy is that I cannot divulge specific information, so anyway, I'd just be blogging a bit of my past days.

Basically, the army's been really fun and I've grown a lot physically. I've been the song IC and that means I more or less get to choose the songs my platoon sings and lead them... (eg Chai Shen Dao and Home... and some of my own arrangements... hehe) and recently I've been the platoon IC as well. It's taught me a lot about leadership, about how to relate with superiors and "subordinates" (well not really subordinates, let's just say my buddies). It takes great responsibility to make sure every member of my platoon is safe and accounted for and to be a role model for them. I sort of partially dislocated my right knee 2 days ago but despite that I continued with my duties to keep everything in order. On book out day, we had area inspection again, and I'm quite elated with the results in that this's the best that the sergeant has seen. (my platoon was made to do a total of 2000 push ups the previous check; we only did 120 push ups this round... great improvement). Most of all, I've learnt that how to relate to many kinds of people, and it's taught me how to be firm and serious when the time calls for it.

My company's really fun. I mean, I've heard comments that my company is very "shiong" or that the training's tough. But I somehow find it quite slack; even the tougher trainings are fun because we laugh at our inabilities to do things (or rather I laugh and the sergeants sometimes wonder why I'm so happy)... like doing 100 push-ups, then 100 crunches then 100 jumping jacks and then repeating the set 3 times, or doing 50 normal push-ups, 50 spider push-ups, 30 diamond push-ups and then repeating the set 3 times! hehe... jokes. Ok I find it slack because of the lackthereof of using my brains. I feel my brain power is going to waste. Argh!!!

I know my parents want me to excel in army. If my body allows it, then I shall try my best to go ocs. Otherwise, all is not lost, because I can also go to somewhere else where I'd excel - band.

2009-01-08T08:01:00.001+08:00

2009-01-05T15:09:00.002+08:00

It's really irritating when people in the house somehow think I don't keep track of what I own and take things without my permission, making me go around frantically searching for things. Selfish behaviour seriously.

Yesterday was the first time the SSS guys and girls merged. well, at least there's food there now. nice food... pocky. Sad, next wk there'd only be 2 guys left!

Hmm... I didn't go for that music thing. I doubt any of them are reading this, but I don't seem quite pleased with the "contract" they're trying to make me sign to commit to playing in their band. Makes it sound like I'm submitting under an authority by joining it. "I understand that... is a privilege.. status as a [band] member... solely at the discretion of the [band] directors." Well, sounds like I'm at their disposal. No, I'm not. I play professionally, I don't play amateurly. So, nope... I don't think I can sign that since I don't agree. haha. this reminds me of what the main character in the movie Australia says, "No one hires me, no one fires me".

And then there's this element that I've always been struggling with. maybe because I haven't found a suitable group yet. But there're always some older band members (whether in school or outside) who like to assert their ideas because of their age. The "contract" states that I should have "commitment to "flowing" with the team"... in my opinion, that probably means submitting to the ideas of some older person. I wonder... but since I'm already the oldest, haha. Ok, maybe the director might sit in and he'd be the old one. But I believe in meritocracy, seriously, not ageocracy.

I don't think anyone in SSS really knows what a piano can do. They just don't seem to comprehend the use of it. When I hear people saying that a piece is a "guitar song" or a "piano song" it just sounds weird. It's how you play it on the instrument, and not the "fault" or the characteristic of the instrument really. And I see they can't even seem to understand that piano is just as important as a guitar in a band, and just "keyboard" isn't quite sufficient? There's actually 3 keyboards in a real band. so, nah, it's not really fair to call piano a keyboard? It sounds cheap. yea, so until these are rectified I'm not signing anything. adults sometimes just don't understand what people of our age think. tsk tsk.

My family went to vivo city marche to eat dinner. My idea actually, but I had my own reasons of course. haha. After that, we went shopping. We walked into several shops but only a few because we had to go home. There was Zara (which had nice shirts but not my current fashion I might buy it next time), diesel, AX, Gap, FCUK, Ted Baker. Yeah, didnt go to the rest. Anyway, I did buy a AX shirt. haha. so I've got 5 +2 new shirts. lol. I've been thinking of buying a necklace. or do u call it a choker. whatever. just gonna see if there're any nice ones around. lol.

Today after lunch I went to buy plastic covers for my books. I've converted my A level ammunition storage shelf into one for the books I buy for light reading. lol... like erm.. I've got all these last year and this year. I've got erm... oh yes, I should really list them here so next time I can refer to it in case.

I've got a few self-help books. The most recent was my SSS present. I think the title was Dating. Then there were 2 I bought while I was researching early last year a bit on social behaviour. One by Dale Carnegie and another by Leil Lowndes.

Economics and business related books. I've got the undercover economist, freakonomics, the world is flat, confessions of an economic hitman, the essays of warren buffet. And several I've printed online and binded them, yea, a few papers from universities that I found while doing research on some economic theories.

I think James Patterson is a great author. I actually started with The Lakehouse, my christmas present 2 years ago by my brother. Then I bought When the Wind Blows and the Maximum Ride series, which has 4 books currently (the next one due to be published this year!) And of course the 7 harry potter books. What's next? I just feel like I've got all the time these 2 years to read more and more ;)

Or maybe after I get posted to my unit (hopefully really hopefully next yr and not this yr) then I might start some accounting course or some course to retrain and upgrade. Wow. model singapore citizen.

2009-01-03T16:24:00.003+08:00

First post of 2009!

New year resolutions:

Become more Godly (god-like)
Become wiser
Become more understanding

Have more discipline
Be more commited
Remember what I learn

Get into OCS (shows i'm Obviously Chao Singaporean)
Get Gold for IPPT
Get full marks for technical test
Do well for SOC
Don't mind being a marksman
Aim for safos

Get into a good university
Get a university scholarship or a nice one (like safos)

Continue my Piano diploma and Clarinet diploma
Join a band
Perform at a concert
Get involved with the church choir again
Become a recognised organist

Introduce my style of playing the piano
Improve my improvisation skills
Get done with my Variations of Farewell
Get down to composing songs
Get some proper vocal lessons
Maybe learn the violin

Make more friends
Become closer friends with friends
Become closer with closer friends -.-
Have more outings

Learn to appreciate my family more

Become successful in the business arena

Do as much as I can with my life right now. (yeah, and God willing, if I ever get a zhoujielun scholarship, I'd accept straightaway and hit stardom)

_____________________________________

haha. I was at Mel's house on 1 Jan singing Christmas carols to her great grandmother. Wow. Erm. christmas? Christmas is 12 days remember? It's technically not over yet =)... So anyway, after that Jason came home and we decided to have a stayover. So I went home with my family, before packing up my stuff and then... I decided to run from my house to his house, which was about 2+ km away. great. not that bad, at least that forced me to run. I've been so lazy I haven't been keeping my supposedly daily runs.

We then went to cineleisure (because we wanted to go to the arcade but it was siandedly closed) so we watched transporter 3 there. The next day, which was yesterday, we went to cineleisure arcade again! This time we managed to playthe aeroplane game.. lol. spent 6 bucks each for 30 mins of fun. Then we went to watch Australia, which was 6 bucks each again, but for almost 3 hours of entertainment. Wow what a difference in cost. lol.

I can't wait for the half-blood prince to come out..... it was suppose to come out last year!!! Aiyo, how I wish I was born in Britain, maybe harry potter would then be a chinese. Today after lunch, I went to popular and a nearby bookstore and bought the whole series (after comparing prices) and there was a mild confusion over the thickness of the books (several books had the same title but different thickness, upon closer examination they had the same number of pages, so it didn't matter). I also ended up buying 6 dollars worth of really good quality special paper (for the sake of spending 6 bucks due to me refunding one of the books) and then bought the Essays of Warren Buffet just because it sounded quite A-levellish.

2008-12-31T17:36:00.001+08:00

This's the last post of this year. I've watched like... 6 movies in these 2 days. I first watched a korean military movie, then Mr n Mrs Smith, then Harry Potter 1,2,3,4... and I've got the last 2. wait... I'm watching 5 now. hehe. oh and I'm in the middle of starting something new...

2008-12-29T19:56:00.002+08:00

Haha. I slept for most of the afternoon. And then I woke up and decided to do some research to make sure my 2 years in NS (and possibly more) would not be wasted. As usual, I'd have to thank wiki. First I searched the air force. Hhaa. Because conran said it's stronger than canada's. Well, yea, I did search some other nations too and yea, we're probably the best here in terms of firepower. And skills erm like duh right. And I'm like so impressed that they've bought the nice aircrafts.. like F15,16, and possible 35. Well, much better that those unknown planes. hehe. =s... and it's kinda we got at least 2x more planes. But I think if we had some extra cash or wanted to do a lil better we could acquire the F22 and B2? B52 is nice lol.. deadly. haha. talk about xiang empire...

Navy. I'm considering entering navy. hmmz. although after talking to my uncle he said that navy means out at sea and no internet access (I haven't tried more than 2 days without msn or internet in the recent 1+ years) haha. We got more warships too. Eh I was just commenting to jason we shld have some destroyers. But then again, it'd be rather threatening if I wasn't a singaporean. hah. Thailand's got a sort of aircraft carrier but it only holds 18 helis and 8 navy jets. so im not sure if it's considered?

army. I htink singapore's seriously got more manpower in terms of training and weapon skills. More tanks. like duh. Haha... btr tanks? actually I'm not familiar with tanks. wait till enter army lah. haha.

2008-12-29T14:22:00.002+08:00

Today I woke up relatively early (about 8am). Hmm... I went online to confirm my online purchases. Kind of expensive, but I guess it's worthed the investment. Or rather, I'm doing it for fun again. ahha.

I had NTU interview in the morning. Hmm, I was alloted about 15 mins but ended up stuck in the interview for about 30-40 minutes =x. guess I talked too much. They were just laughing all the way (4 of them). Eh, it was about a place in reading Mechanical Engineering & Economics, but somehow, I told them about my business plans, black and white phones, E51 phone, army confinement, HCI GP teachers, St Lukes, Band, thailand, hurricanes, overseas uni, masters, musical instruments, and then they asked me why I didn't pursue a Music Degree. -__-". was laughing a lot. haha. funny interview. not like the cambridge one.

Eh, went parkway for lunch. Made my dbs debit card. And then the girl said my withdrawal limit per day was $2000. Then i was thinking to myself - haha. I don't even have $2000 in that account. lol. it's just for the sake of withdrawing my NS salary.

lol. kinda bored here. army army army... lol

2008-12-28T21:20:00.002+08:00

haha today was our TUUKFO2... Eh I reached at 1pm. Earliest again sigh. Evelyn came at about 145pm. I was waiting at ToysRUS suntec for like 45 min. Woah. The longest I've been in a toystore. I bought 2 kites. Yea, no call from ben; pat would be late. We walked around. I had to buy christmas presents for my bro and sis (because they unexpectedly bought me smth). Hangten, Ashworth, Adidas... bleah. Finally I bought a belt for my sis at Giordano when Ben called.

We went to Marina Bay and met him there. Yay. We started to fly the kites!!! Nice kites. Easier to fly then previous one maybe because of the design. Pat soon joined. Haha, we had lotsa fun. Like erm.. kite running away from us... And unsuccessfully helping 2 kids fly their kite. Letting a toddler hold our kite, etc...

After everything, the rest went home. I shopped around suntec and ended up at Topman where I bought my bro a shirt. Haha. of course one for myself too (but noone knows)... =P

I've got some stuffs coming up. Erm. 31dec is annual dinner, and I'd probably be staying over at jason's house. Then 1st dec, jason's house again for some caroling to his great grand mother (i know christmas is over, but cmon! She's 100 yrs old!) then 2 jan.. erm.... Friday meeting? Suppose to play piano. great. 3 jan. My proposed PEG. Pre-Enlistment Gathering. yea, let's see what I can do about it this time.

Ok. a review of all the TUU and class outings so far since 18 Nov!...

18 Nov- The Songyuan's house outing plus madagascar.
2-4 dec- Chalet
5 dec- Prom
6 dec- Send off at Airport
18 dec- Kite flying Outing
22dec- Christmas Party
24 dec- Australia Movie
28 dec- Kite flying Outing 2

So on average for the mth of december, I meet the tuu like about... once in 3-4 days. Not bad lah. haha. Considering sundays are normally used up and christmas other commitments and stuff. yay. If I missed out any outing please tell me!!!

2008-12-27T23:38:00.003+08:00

ehh. just came back from watching yesman. Hhaha. It kept me laughing quite alot. And it's so late now. Before that I was just walking around Isetan scotts. Yea, we watched at lido. Eh.. bought ralph shirt... reminds me of army that's kinda why I bought it. haha. Green, with pockets, and that 2 thingys flanking the shoulders. Wadeva you call them. And I met shawn and deb outside after the show. They were gonna watch the 1120 yesman. Yes, which is like... now.

haha. brand conciousness. I don't know. I don't really mind any kinda shirt and I don't really bother about any kind of brand, but I just wanna get nice shirts. And somehow, those look nicer... Hmm.. but of course in places outside singapore (like australia and NZ) there are really nice shirts there other than the usual brand names. Haha... for rather nicer prices too. daniel was telling me about this girl who was so brand filled and she's just 16. Oh, she wants a burberry scarf. Wait a minute. Why do we need scarf in singapore??!?!

so what determines a nice shirt for me. hmm, first I'd say the material. Second I'd say it's a unique design. of course this normally just applies to shirts. For t-shirts, it'd probably mean interesting prints or something. I think the most "normal" shirt I have is the abercrombie one. But that's cause I like the color. Yea, till date I still think that maroon + white color suits jeans the best. haha.

I need to find somewhere with nice shirts as in quality and everything but not so costly so I'd be happy and my mum would be happy too. Eh, let's just say I start my own denim company. Andy's Jeans. AJ. wow. too bad, there's already Armani Jeans for AJ. Hmm.. Andy's Denim? AD? hehe... or how about Xiang Denim xD (happy face)

2008-12-27T19:38:00.002+08:00

haha. I am playing o2jam. played till lvl 7 alr. oh my combo only can reach 102. -__-"

2008-12-27T17:26:00.002+08:00

I was talking to charlene yesterday and suddenly the idea of starting a small little "business" for fun just came to me again. Ok, I dumped the whole E-mall concept, because even though it's original, it takes a load of IT skills (which I don't have) and I'd have to get rid of the existing forums and all (which she informed me about.. how ignorant of me). But still I don't mind a blog shop. Well, sell what? Yea, good question. I was looking into ways of starting a blog shop which sells nothing. Ok what a kind of shop. Maybe it's not a blog shop then. But selling stuff is good too. Lol. Blog shops seems to be a girl's thing. But aiya, forget the gender stereotypes.

Oh I decided not to get a new phone. I'd just use the archaic phone of my mum. The one I think woonlue's using. Haha! It's kinda got a cool and cute design as well! Haha. I wanted to change my mobile plan from Classic-100 to iOnePlus. but the guy told me I had to pay a penalty of like $450. I just stared at him. Like... you gotta be kidding. I've got 10 mths of my plan left, x 25 per month, that only makes $250, and you want me to pay $450? Oh, man, SingTel really hires Directors and CEO or whatever they are called who can't even calculate what's 1+1?? And then they had the cheek to tell me they ran out of E51, that all the E51's been given to SAF personnel. Well, I'm gonna be one soon, so why don't give me one as well??! I went into another phone shop and they had E51 for close to $400. You gotta be joking man, no camera, 400bucks?! And the design sux. If it's just the color the phone has, I don't mind just getting my mum's black and white phone. Anyway, I got my own MP3 player as well =)

Yay. I have started on another music composition. Just thought that I'd write my first 2009 compo before entering army. So I'm not typing it out until 1 Jan 09. For know I'd just keep it in my mind. It's a very very sad piece (not a song), yea, variations for piano. Let me think of a name. Actually the central subject is just a sad piece that took me 5 minutes to write, reflecting on going into army and kissing my world goodbye (including my hair and all my 7-1 specs). I'm not sure if I should modulate into a major key for a bright future at the end of the piece. haha. Hmm. For now, let's just call it the Variations on the Pre-NS Piece. Ok lame name. err. The Pre-NS Variations. Ok no. Variations of Farewell. haha. ok cool. That'll be the name now. Though it would be different from other variation pieces in the sense there's no clearly marked out No.1, 2, 3rd variation. It'd just be a flowing piece. ;P... I can just be the next Chopin in Singapore. Ok, it's not I can be the next, because there hasn't been a first. I bet my compos own people... k wait, I haven't even seen any reputable or famous ones yet. Haha. Wait till I publish mine. 21/10/2011. Countdown =).. the day the Xiang Empire begins. and the World comes to a stop. woohoo. k joking lar. haha.

I started doing pull-ups again. Noob lah. Hope can hit 20 by 8th. Maybe I should try push ups and sit ups. Haha. I'm too lazy to run. Someone jio me go run or a running date whatever. bleah. Funny. I'd only run if someone's running with me. Well, maybe I have to create an imaginary friend. Ok jk. THat's not ever going to work right. I'd go psycho.

Tomorrow's The Usual Us Kite Flying Reloaded Outing!!! Long name huh. Just call it (TUUFRO)

I'm going out with my family to watch Yesman later. Yes, yes man. I said Yes, yesman yes yes yes. Yes, nono=yes.

2008-12-26T16:23:00.002+08:00

Ben, your link is up =)... haha

boring boring boring. I lazed at home till noon, picking up some She's the Man random movie to watch. got bored in the middle of it. Then went with my family to Wisma. Crap they hardly know how to shop. I went home pissed off. nothing much to blog about, but since I'm so sian I decided to blog a bit. Hmm. what's fun to blog about...

lol. what about blogging about my s68- group evolution theory.

Let's start with the beginning. Term 1 07. In the beginning, there were 26 noobs. newbies. freshmen. whatever you wanna call us. ok no, we had 25. minus me - I wasn't around in the beginning. I was "sick", which rather meant I was playing my way in RJC and VJC (refer to my older posts).

It was only clear in the beginning to me, that we had erm, Eric, Jian Liang and I somehow got together. Let's call this erm... AWOL Group.. A Wong Ong Lee group. Then there were also the Marists group. I was quite close to them at the start let's say thanks to songyuan's friendliness and partially because we were the only guys in Chinese class. There were several "couples" around. Not love couples, I mean like "2-people groups"... if I'm not wrong there were 3 girls always hiding at the back of the class, the SKY group, Siak Ko Yong. I guess we weren't really bound to our "groups" and were pretty free people.

Then, in Term 2. AWOL split up due to complications by external and internal factors? And there was the "AEP Excursion" which was a rather random expression coined by Eric. Term 2 saw Qinny unfortunately leaving us, and the introduction of Tb and Leon, which sadly wasn't met with much respectable reception. (because people were still sad over qinny leaving yada yada). At about this time, I guess Eric and I decided to be welcoming to Tb so he followed us awhile, till I got pissed one day with the vulgarities and arrogance. Soon, there was the ACCEE group, which comprises of SKY + A&E, and we managed to convince the girls not to hide at the back but to come to the front of the class, not to be slackers but to be attentive well-behaved pupils (ya rite). The SC had formed more or less, with deborah and patricia being occasionally in it and occasionally not in it, but basically, permanent members included the marists, the feminine group and the ladies group (aka Khoo & Soo), of which Eric and I are supposedly in the ladies group =s... A bit of tension arose between the Sc and Accee for some unknown reason, according to an undisclosed source, because of someone's (irritating) laughter -___-"... make "enemies" because don't like their laughter. haha. diao.

Term 3 saw me formally introducing the term - comp club. =x... or was it eric. but obviously it's not a very good term because it somehow doesn't encompass every computing student, and somehow there's no definite definition of who's in it. People who floated in and out of it (in terms of terminology) include Yunyu, Kaiyao, (Leon and Deborah were never really regarded as in it). Term 3 also saw more tension within PW groups, but that didn't really change anything.

Term 4 - nothing much.

2008.

Term 1 saw a revival of the groups. Now there came to surface a new group that I rather noticed and coined... and it doesn't have a real name. I just called them Left column Row 2. And in it, we realised there was a closer group made up of 3- pat, ruyi and lishan. Hmm upon questioning, ruyi said she was rather "floating", so that suggested a "sub-group" of pat and lishan. Ah, just like the KhooSoo (KhooSoo island) and Feminine CLub stuff.

Term 2. The SC and ACCEE began to sort of ally and then there was ABC, which more or less encompasses the whole SC, ACCEE, and some LCR2 members. The ABC had several random meetings after school in the canteen. I would rather term it Gossip Session. At about this time, I realise Ben didn't like being known as the comp club, so we kind of used less of that name.

In term 3, EVERYONE included YOU, THE BLOG READER... became MUGGIFIED!!! So no really big group evolution took place, though if I remember correctly, or oh thaanks to my STML, erm... ACCEE and LCR2 used to go for breaks tgt? or at least some of us la. and of course there were a number of us who regularly stayed back to be the usual Hwa Chong Muggers.

Term 4. Term 4?? U expect what? A levels leh! k NEVERmind, things still took place, because some of us came back to study on our own. So, the usual people at the class bench included Songyuan, Chonglin, Ben and Andy. Sometimes, Lishan, Wanjing, Ruyi... So I sort of got the whole... "ben is in comp club" out of my head. Somehow somehow, and then to me now, comp club now only consists of 3 people ;)... so it isn't really enough of a comp club to be called a comp club is it? haha.

Post A's. Well, the SC survived. ACCEE survived, though it has probably expanded to include some others. I think there isn't a comp club anymore, neither is there LCR2. Well, there's ACCEEBPRL aka PEARL BECC, coined by Andy. Ah, I just love acronyms don't I. Or well, now the name's called --> The Usual Us. Hahahahaha!!! It sounds so funny lah! lol... let's see if our sirnames are any better for acronyms.. LYKWSACFL. FWACSKYLL?! okok. just the usual us. k?

it seems rather that recently the outings have all been planned by Andy, Ben and Eric. Lol... that's why it always ends up at marina square doesn't it =P... hehe. thanks for being such understanding friends, so accomodating and considerate. haha =)

2008-12-25T18:31:00.002+08:00

CHRISTMAS to ALL! JOY TO THE WORLD! yay...!!! remember the True meaning of ChrisTmas...

Let's see what I got for christmas. Erm, I got 2 belts (one from Calvin Klein Jeans and one from OP - which brings me to 5 belts in total. yay) that means I've for belts I got 1 billabong, OP, AX, CK and Pierre Cardin. lol. Oh at first I was looking at the OP belt then it was kinda mud fashion, but thinking about it, my Hat's also part of it. Okok, lets not call it mud fashion. something like.. topman fashion k... The CK belt was like. Hello, I bought it myself and then my mum just wrapped it up aka no christmas present. Ok it was her money anyway and I didn't really need anything so OKay.

I've got a CK shirt from Jason ,Mel and family. (which rather fits and is rather nice) and then a plain Nike shirt from Uncle raymond. Oh, I've seriously lost count of how many new shirts I have for next year. at least 4... haha but I'm going shopping tomorrow again so... I got this unique keychain thingy from my other aunt who calls herself Ee2. eeh, and a Mr Bean teddy bear from my bro and sis. argh. Like I'm gonna bring that to camp or like I'm fond of soft toys. haha. tthe only other thing lying on my bed is the s68 pillow but I gave up cuddling it to sleep after about 2 weeks.

oh did i say? I went erm to collect my black glasses on monday. and then my mum was in a rather happy mood so we went to err... OG isit? to get a pair of shoes. Ya, I chose another kappa shoe. I saw another levi shoe which was rather nice but they didn't have my foot size. I've got unique special foot see? size 8. eight. wow. 8.. 8 that reminds me. 8 jan. when the world stops, when time goes back a century, where I set foot overseas, where all connection is lost, where I TEKONG -__-"

oh yes. Angbaos for christmas. I had one. erm. Chocolates from cheryl and lishan.. they were supposed to be eaten at the party but I guess everyone was too full.

OK. Now I've got a "Need List" and a "Want List"...

Need List
Handphone with no camera (any model is fine as long as it can play music and has 1 GB memory space and can store photos)

Want List
erm. pretty much nothing. I mean I've got all I need. Yea, I guess I'd just... maybe buy stuff if I like them, but at the same time, make sure my savings does not go down... oh haha. I calculated. I make around... $14 from my bank account each month. Ok it's kinda peanuts to adults, but its quite a big proportion of my so called weekly salary, or allowance or whatever you call it. And army starting pay is $450!!! And officers get more than $1200!? and officers have bonus?! wow wow.. hehe. I received a lame email erm job offer $550 per month. haha. diao. rather go army lah. 550 might as well go macs or smth. it's lame. LAME. and they call it a glamorous or whatever word they used. lol.

Haha. jason just stunned my parents yesterday. My parents have been saying like "You know what to do when you get your salary, $100 to ur father and $100 to ur mother, $20 to ur bro and sis each. Just follow what jason does..." and then he said "oh now actually I seldom give already. At the beginning I gave $10 each". HAHA!!! yay. saves me. I still need the money to buy myself some n wireless internet access to bring along to taiwan or wadeva mission trip (if there is).

Ah. yesterday ben and I saw this cute little harmonica which is about 8cm across for $9.90! But I don't even know how to blow a harmonica but I checked and it has 10 holes (which is the same as the rest) so heheeh... I'm so tempted to buy it cuz its cute. oh there's a pocket saxophone too! though it looks really like a recorder.

yay. enjoy your christmas people. And I wonder how dead this blog would be when I go army. maybe I will just mysteriously update it everyday. oh and I've been wondering like how to spend my freetime calling people. Should I just come up with a call list or rather a "calling roster" and call the different people every same day of the week? haa.

2008-12-25T01:18:00.002+08:00

Today we planned to have another "the usual us" aka ACCEEBPRL outing again. I don't know who was the one who coined the term "the usual us", but I came up with ACCEEBPRL aka PEARL becc.bleah... if anyone has better names feel free to contribute. aha.

Unfortunately, it was raining heavily. All of us were late. Eve didn't come because she wasn't feeling well and Pat had some allergy problem too. Cindy didn't feel like coming, Ruyi's mom said no, Lishan was busy, Cheryl was GoInG oUt, so that very much left the guys of "the usual us". I reached second, and Ben was further down at Le Meridien and found out the pool shop only opened later. So we went ot Plazasing to watch Australia! Before that, we headed down to carrefour to buy some snacks to sneak in.

*rewind a few months ago, watching chibi*
Andy was carrying a bag and had a whole stack of notes in his hands, walking into the cinema. Why's a mugger going into the cinema with notes in his hands?? Because MacDonald's is in the bag goon. haha.

Australia was a very nice show and also a very long show (2.40 hrs about). By the time the movie ended, Eric had to leave; Ben and I went to the food court before visiting Yamaha. After that, we walked a bit more before leaving.

Then I strolled around PlazaSing. Nope, not anyone I knew. So I headed for Wisma. Argh. It was raining, and I wanted a drink. I kinda glanced and saw the red-shirts with my peripheral view. Nevertheless I walked on, determined to find a Mac's or a seven11 to buy a drink. There was no macs. The 7/11 sold a bottle of lemon tea for $2.10. I wanted to like just scold the cashier lah. indecent pricing. I headed down a bit more and found old chang kee. $1 per cup. yay. haha. I also strolled into Wisma awhile and WOW!!! Isetan 50% sales! calvin klein, armani jeans, paul smith... wow it's sooo getting me excited and i'm confirm going back there soon. And then outside isetan , FCUK was having sales too! so cheap. haha....

but I didn't bring my money and I had to be at the place at 4pm, so I left. anticlimax huh. aha

Didn't know anyone there other than jinboon, lishan, and michelle. oh, and great they were all girls. Which rather means I had to start learning (at least) one guy's name cuz we had to become like buddies instantly rite. hehe. aiya, But I'm so friendly. Oh so anyway I got to know all of them other than 2 I guess. Ok, make that one, just that one name slipped out of my head. =x

I did talk to one guy, who was actually asking for a place to drink beer. Oh, and being the unofficial (as far as I know) record holder for most number of booklets distributed, I finished my stack fast. So I had lots of time to walk around with my buddy to talk to people. Ok not buddy buddy, just buddy in the army sense. Time passed really fast and it was soon 6. I walked from wisma to plazasing with my group, which so happens, or I don't know how it happened, but I also soon realised it was all girls. nah, not that its a big deal or what, just that it's a fact and this is my blog so I'm writting it here. and it wasn't so boring thanks to jinboon and lishan.

I left them at plazasing and Wow. oh great! I realised (Ok I don't know how I didn't know) but. Dhoby Ghout's not on the East West line!??! siianded. So I took a bit longer getting to Eunos. And I told mel I'd be at her place earlier and ya rite. I reached like.. a bit later. Jason was there too and wow. I got to see the officer sword. ehehe. ah, I want my own. I shall work for it... must must work for it =s

We played some games with their relatives and wow suddenly it was 12am and now it's 1am. Erm its christmas day! Merry Blessed Christmas people! and may god bless you and you bless god. Oh I'm like so happy. Haa. My aunt bought me a CK shirt. I guess i've got enough CK shirts for now. got 3 already. I guess I'd go see the AJ and FCUK and whatever else I can find at wisma! oh I saw a girl wearing the "I'm as cool as FCUK" t-shirt today. and I was put off by it. because of the design or whatever. so nah, Im not gonna get that kind?!

I'm dreaming...
General Lee TX Andy cut the ribbon yesterday in the ceremony to celebrate the expansion of the Xiang Empire.

k. ciao

2008-12-21T18:41:00.003+08:00

2008-12-15T21:52:00.002+08:00

haha. 400th post.

9th day.

DisneySEA! Ok basically we kinda wasted the morning trying to find somewhere to change S$ for Yen because woah, we ran out of Yen! We did see Travelex, but the rate was so poor, we decided to try a bank. But shucks, the bank didn't change S$! Loser bank. Japan's banking is inefficient. Singapore is the world's Financial Hub. Ownz japan 10^10. The exchange rate was like seriously daylight robbery lah. 55.31. -__-"

From Shinjuku, we trained to Tokyo and then Minamata (ok I forgot the name but it sounds like that) and erm. Disney! Yay. Sadly my camera battery ran out towards the end, but the rides were fun! Magical day...

We went to watch this erm Under the Sea musical. I was really awed by it. I mean. the music and coordination were superb, plus the effects and stuff :)... it's always a nice feeling to see a successful performance, even if I'm not the performer, because I know just how the performers feel. noice feeling. yea yea... and then there was a cuban band playing some salsa stuff for dinner right next to my table. nice again. They pushed the regular beats to their limits. And what's more, the singer had some really good improvisation for the last song. it's really no biggie play perfect music because anyone can do it. really. since practice makes perfect and blah blah blah. So what's more important is to play in the right spirit and mood. hmm. which I probably think most singaporean bands or rather most of us (musicians) lack. Just looking at beansprouts and trying to get it "perfect".

yea... and during the performance it's always less than perfect thanks to something known as nervousness. but still, the overall expression shouldn't be compromised for mechanical perfection. yea, another way of saying it, Andy's just too lazy to practise stuff to 100% perfection.

oh well. I might as well type a bit about 2 different ways of mastering a piece. one is rather common. Which would be to be a Singaporean and just be so kiasu, trying to get every note pitch perfect (rather unnecessary since if one just listens to a song to make sure it's in tune, that one guy is quite a retard) trying to get every beat on the dot (rather unnecessary too since no ones gonna care other than yourself; or unless you are one bar late), or trying to get running notes perfect (quite lame because if you can't do it, it won't get any better practising it; you'd probably have to work on other technical scales before coming back and attempting it again)...

on the other hand, I'd recommend this kind of practising! which is rather fun! just play through the piece in as many different styles or interpretations as you can, then pick the one you like most. Yea.. by the time you pick one, you've probably mastered all the technical difficulties already, since without smoothing those stuff, you wouldn't be able to express yourself quite intricately? and there are many many ways of expression. for one bar.. there can easily be like.. 20 ways? or maybe more. just like dynamics, bending the notes, whatever.

this is the first time my hotel has internet access. like wow! one to japan! (but obviously like the rest to singapore). Oh yes. I was thinking about building DisneyAir in singapore. soon. real soon. with a ski field. the whole place spanning 20km x 20 km Platform would be called Andy's Wonderland? or Andy's Fantasy AF... soudns like abercrombie n fitch. k nvm. hehe

2008-12-14T21:07:00.002+08:00

Hi folks, I haven't been posting because I'd shifted to another hotel (as you would discover later, but I'm now back anyway.)

Day 5
We took a REALLY long ride to somewhere near or rather in the fuji area. And for once we got to see mt Fuji. It was a clear day, and at first I almost convinced my parents to allow me to rent the motor boat to cruise the lake. But then the operator (as usual) didn't speak a word of english. Then I thought I'd settle for a row-boat kinda boat, then I thought I'd be satisfied with pedaling one of those lame floating ducks. finally I had to be contented with just a normal cruise. Nevertheless, I was able to take many nice photos! The wind was really crisp and the cruise was noice. Since it's already day.. 5,6,7,8! Now, I kinda forgot some details. Anyway, I doubt many of you would like to read my rattling...

Day 6
Most of the day was spent travelling to Shiga kogen. Luckily I brought 4 books along and guess what? I've finished all of them already. crap. So I'm re-reading and I'm half past the first book. We did "ski" a bit. ie just walk up a short way before sliding down since we didn't buy the gondola ticket (there was only 1 hour left before night)

Day 7
The first official ski day! Shucks, I forgot most of my skill and had to slowly pick them up again.

Day 8
Ski again. Wow. became a ski pro. Anyway, today was freeZing and it was Snowing Heavily!! -9 deg celsius! great. it's gonna be some time before I ski again (Unless SAF decides to introduce winter warfare for fear that Russia might have interest in our small tiny red dot or something =x... )

Which brings me to my next IDEA! Ok I sort of thought through it. It would be fantastic if I had sufficient funds - A ski resort in Singapore! Nah, I know our small island has not enough land, so a 10kmx10km floating platform would be constructed! Then There would be mountains and stuff. Double glazed screens soaring about 500m vertically would cover the entire platform so the coldness is trapped in. And of course, people LOVE real snow and not Fake snow, so snow shall be imported from lets say.. siberia? Which is rather possible if the plane does not ahve any heating system. =)... further plans would be made in due time. Yea, I just need to get my hands on $30 billion first.

yay. Er. no yay. Whys NOONE ONLINE. U GUYS ARE IN THAT COMFY SINGAPORE WITH UR COMFY COMPUTER. I don't know whether to look forward to returning home anot. haha.

2008-12-10T21:10:00.003+08:00

Day 4
Today, we went on a similar route to yesterday, and we arrived at some premium outlet at gotembak. There were many boutiques and stuff, but most sold suits, like those for prom (which I don't need anymore)... the rest sold winter stuff. So anyway, there was only Levi's to shop at. I tried like 15 jeans before finally deciding on one. Zzz. I felt so paiseh keep going into the fitting room and returning piles of jeans to the sales personels.. hah...

anyway, I think my shoes have holes (that shouldn't be there) and my shoes get wet easily. argh. k... so anyway the shopping took most of the day left (which wasn't long because going to the place took like till 2pm)... we took an express train back... which we shouldn't have been on since we didn't pay for it. In the end, we just paid when the officer came around...

The outlet wasn't the factory outlets I was expecting. It was just the normal outlets, just all concentrated at the same place. There're so many I just can't name all. Haha. I'd just name those I'm familiar with. Taghauer, Swatch, Longines, CK, Dolce & Gabbana, Paul Smith, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Levi's, Diesel, Versace, GAP, Banana Republic, Dunhill, Gucci, Prada, can't remember liao

today supposed to be able to see mt fuji. zzz fuji. 2 days never see it! It's like... it rained AGAIN. So the clouds kinda covered it. Yea, tmr would probably be our last attempt at finding fuji. A different destination of course.

I guess the jeans is all i'm gonig to buy from japan. Things there are so expensive. I'd probably be better off shopping at orchard than japan. even paragon is cheaper than here lah. And my heart aches everytime I see the money spent on food. Like... erm. $8 for an ice-cream? Ok anyway, I had tiramisu ice-cream today. It was sooo nice. Then there was tiramisu latte as well! =P

2008-12-09T21:03:00.002+08:00

Japan!

On day one, we took the plane. Yea, that's day 1.

Day 2: Tokyo!
The flight was rather short, and I didn't do much - just sleep, mainly. We took an express train to Tokyo, before heading to Shinjuku and then Okubo, where our hotel is (Fraser smth). Along the way, we asked this old jap lady who advised us to ask younger japs because they learnt oral english in school. Nevertheless, her english was fluent - she'd been to Singapore once. She led us to Okubo station, before heading home (and considering she was old and still took the effort to bring us around, I was really grateful.) We met this young jap guy outside okubo station to ask for directions to our hotel but he wasn't as fluent in english; he took our map and headed for the toilet -__-"... he did come out and then asked the station master and blah blah and anyway, we eventually found our way there without him =x. haah.

We went back to shinjuku after checking in, and I brought my family for a really long walk (about 10km) hehe... the garden was closed. ZZZ. so we walked around the city, looking at their residential areas. We did some grocery shopping where we met this nice lady who advised us on what to buy. My mum went back and cooked instant noodles and miso soup. It's really cold in Japan and dry. My skin is dry. ARGH.

Day 3:
I slept at 8pm the previous night and got up at 7am. I memorised 3 verses out of approx 20 for that annual verse review. hehe... we had some breakfast at the hotel - i had 8 slices of ham, cornflakes, 2 cups of yoghurts. We set off and took a series of trains, including bullet train, finally arriving at Hakone.

This's where the scenic views of nature start. Rather unfortunately, it started to rain, so the view of Mt Fuji was blocked. (But we'd be back there tmr anyway). We did some trekking before cruising and taking cable car, tramp and erm finally the trains again. Jap food is SO expensive. I ate korean food for dinner. One extra bowl of plain rice cost 300 yen = s$5 leh!!! siao one.

ok. I shall update as the days go by!

btw let's organise outing ok! I don't mind organising it from overseas. Eh. 17-19 .. one of the days, go zoo!!! :P

2008-12-07T07:17:00.002+08:00

My blog song is so nice... in all aspects =)

Yesterday I had to go takashimaya in the morning till early afternoon. My mum was telling me about her past relationships. Looks like she had a lot. Hmm...

I went home and met eve and kitty online. I actually planned to play combat arms but xiaohua asked me out to run. So I ran to her house at kembangan and then we ran to ECP. That was about 5km in total. Then we went to Mac's to eat. I didn't realise since we studied in sec4 at mac's she's always ordered what I used to order - filet-o-fish! haha... eh... I can finish it in a minute. =P

We spent some time talking, before we headed to the bus stop. Should have stayed longer, but that meeting was not planned so I couldn't stay. I went up bus 36 at 645pm. I was 3rd to reach the airport after ben and ruyi! We saw leon off before going to t2 staff canteen to eat. There was tommy, jianliang, ruyi, ben, eric and I. Then we went to t1 to walk walk with kitty and lydia too, before going to t3 to walk, where songyuan and chonglin, eventually mr low joined us too. We went to swensen's where I ate my cookies n cream... the thing that I've always been craving for. Yay!

Oh I was thinking about christmas party! 22 dec... my house my house =)... need to ask my parents. hehe

Japan! I'm still not good with my japanese, but we'll see. Eh.. hopefully I come back in a better state. gogo!

2008-12-05T11:42:00.003+08:00

I can't find myself. I have lost confidence in myself. I got rejected from somewhere I thought I'd probably go to next year. fine... It doesn't really matter since I treated it as a second choice it'd probably treated me the same way. I'm still experiencing the consequences of things of this past year. Prelims was and is a nightmare. So is A levels. argh. I really wonder where I'd be one year's time.

I always thought I had something special. Seems like I'm giving up on myself. I'm just wasting everything away. Maybe I'm too tired. I thought I would be busy with unis and scholarships after A's. No. I've been free. Actually, I haven't applied at all. This means I'm not giving myself any chance.

Maybe it's because I've been relying on myself too much. I don't know. My aunt called from Australia yesterday and asked about my A levels. I just said "I hope it'd be good" and she commented that I was being rather modest. well, I'm not confident anymore.

There's the obvious way that I'd take if I don't do anything now. I'd just finish my 2 years in army and go to NUS. yea, it'd probably be that way if I don't do anything now. The otherway, I could also be in UK next year. I can't change my UK uni choices anymore. It's too late. Neither am I gonna apply to anymore places. I've been blaming myself on my prelim results. too late. no way no no no way...

But I know, that I can do better than just going that probable route. I just have to give myself a chance and rethink. That's probably why I need the time away from this place. But I hope when I return, it wouldn't be too late.

jiayou andy.......

2008-12-04T08:17:00.002+08:00

I don't see any reason to go for prom. I hear my sister watching Full House now. Maybe I should drown myself in some of these and cry =P... The music's really nice.

The year has ended. Just how I knew it would. I don't know, but everything always turns out in the worst possible way. Well, that's just because I just made every expectation of mine exceedingly high. So maybe the worst wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that good either. I just don't understand why I can be confident in studies and not any other matter outside it. This makes me sound like some nerd.

Prom prom prom. People are going home after it. Fine. I don't see what we can do anyway. a dream a dream...

I'd be gone for good, from 7-16 December. great. I'd probably find some new way of looking at the next 2 years in army. Or rather, maybe just the next 6 months in army if things go my way again. Skiing... I'm so looking forward to the days in the mountains...

Today's a bad day because there's nothing to do. Sian. How I wish there was still school. And now, I'd have no school for the next 2 years (if things don't go my way) Argh.

talking to cheryl at ecp made me think again. yes, there's no maybe. i should, and i will do it. otherwise I see no purpose, just as how it was a few years ago and i'd probably go down that slippery slope again.

For me, the year ends when I fly off, because I want to close this year and start a new one. oh man, all I can think about now is skiing. ski ski ski...

I realise I only have a few days left here. Well, I'd say I wish it passes quickly. I want to get out of here. Though I have a few things to settle like... catching up with some people, and argh. I don't want to think anymore.

2008-12-02T09:28:00.002+08:00

Hey people, I think we should all go youtube and listen to this. it's so nice...

The Prayer, sung by Andre Bocelli and Charice (my pick) or Celine Dion and Josh Groban. I really like duets... I think a Charice and Josh Groban duet would be very good... lol... the original was sung by Celine Dion and Andre Bocelli. They got a grammy for it.

I love this song because there's no distinctive acoustic sounds. It's mainly the orchestra. Yea, it uses a full orchestra ;)... And the lyrics are quite nice too... Andre Bocelli's vibrato at the end was really nice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpXuMCUeka8

2008-11-30T18:36:00.003+08:00

Yesterday after music practice, I went with my family to Ngee Ann City for lunch at Crystal Jade Palace. Oh how I love the timsum.. it's been years since I ate there because of SSS. After seeing a doctor, I went to Isetan Scotts. Haha. Bought a CK belt and shirt there. erm. not for prom; for my own wear...

Today I woke up and woah. Had to play organ today. It was kinda scary =s... because it was my first time. Erm, I did alright I think, just had some intense sight reading to do and also get used to using pedals and stops. Then there was SSS, piano was cool =)

2008-11-28T14:57:00.002+08:00

I haven't been blogging for awhile. I'm tired. Tired of everything. But it would end soon. I hope...

I've been stoning since I came back from the Camp. It was fun, but it caused my skin a bit of problems. I guess it was a good use of my time, because I learnt many things, and also did run and exercise (something I had promised myself to do but haven't done). Tomorrow I'd go ngee ann city and isetan scotts to shop a bit... and then robinsons on Sunday. It's much better than stoning at home. I tried to get MS running on my comp but it somehow doesn't work.

There's the class T-shirt which's been at the back of my mind recently. Eric's not back so I'm not going to contact the lady for now. BBQ food's thankfully much going to be coordinated by Ben, with just me giving my comments about money issues. Guess I'm pretty strict with the use of funds but hmm... I guess we all deserve a good BBQ, so I'd better let Ben do the ordering since my taste is rather unguy.

I've got my prom stuff. I've got my new specs. And my sis just came back from cambodia and bought me a skinny tie, just what cheryl or kitty (I can't rmb) suggested I wear for prom. Hmm... But I'm still considering. Must see if it matches first. It looks formal except the skinny tie. And I'd probably look pretty lengthy since everything on me's vertically striped. Next time, I'd wanna wear a tuxedo like James Bond. Oh, how nice if I had a pistol as well. =x... woops. Watch too much already =Pp...

It's been so long since I blogged I can't remember if I typed this. BUt anyway. I'm done with writing of the Rhapsody of Fate. 14 pages in total. Yes, Hmm. Ronica or victor or maybe both were suggesting I join the YFC music team. I must see if I have the time.. but I'm pretty keen on it. Actually, I told cheryl I wanted to join a band too. Hmm. Seems like she and ruyi are joining some band but it's not quite established. I guess I should join one so that I can still practise my clarinet.

That made me think of things. Actually I realise I like acronyms. Or whatever they are called. We can have the Andy Ruyi Cheryl band --> ARC band. or cheryl terms it the CAR band. (But ARC is more classy than CAR right!) hmm. Let's say Ben decides to join, we'd have the CRAB band. Err. haha. I think it's got potential.

Ooh. I talent spotted... ok it's not me. I wasn't the first sadly. But there's this filipino 16 yo who sings quite nicely. It's touching really, oh I was telling yong that from the performance if I viewed it from the perspective of the mother, I would be tearing... and then the perspective of the girl and of the crowd... And cheryl commented I should have taken E lit. But shucks. My humanities: geog, hist, econs, music are good.. but just not E lit or C lit. Which led me to suggest we should have gone to A14. But I paused for a moment... oops what rubbish am I talking. Nono... then there won't be s68.

My dream, of being the next Jay Chou. Haha. Actually if I could go to America and learn how to sing like them, being able to belt power ballads... I guess I'd be pretty successful in c-pop because no one in the c-pop industry can do it. (And their voices are pretty... "weak"? esp the girls) hmmz. But as I was reasoning with victor, there are too many bad influences in the entertainment industry. So I guess I shall not enter it. Haha. But what about a chinese don moen =x... that's something to think about. think about think about..... but I always find that puzzling: How to balance, whether it's being done for money or for him?

I can't wait to go skiing. And anyway. I might become really sad or really happy. But I'm inclined to think I'd probably become really sad. Oh, so it's good that I'd be off to Japan in the snow, in the wilderness where I can be alone and just let the mountains hear my feelings. Bringing a clarinet to blow at Mt Fuji? Well... =P... May it be that I clear my mind. How I wish we were trained in winter warfare... hehe. Oh, maybe it's just my imagination, skiing and carrying an AK47 or the SAR21 singapore uses. I shall try to learn how to jump or somersault while skiing. Hopefully I don't break my leg otherwise no more OCS. OCS = overseas community service. Err.

k i'm out

2008-11-17T20:08:00.002+08:00

alevels prep.

Places of study: class bench, hc library, Jurong East library, airport, home... lol.

Songs: bohemian rhapsody, we are the champions

And... it's just 13 hours left!!!

2008-11-16T16:42:00.003+08:00

lol. i'm so full. first I had wanton mee in the morning and I was like.. ok it was quite a lot. Then I ate youmian less than 2 hours later. And it was followed by doughnut 1 hour later, and chicken rice 1 hour later. Argh! I'm so bloated and I still need to eat some more...

Haha. I just went to the optician... who's my aunt's sister. Ok that doesn't make her my aunt because it's my aunt-in-law's sister. Ok whatever. not making sense. Anyway, my degree went up by 100. Sian. so it's 550 now. I guess it's because I strained my eyes during lectures and because blind towards the end before prelims. Zzz. But anyway, I bought a new specs! It's black and full frame... yea for army. Lol. Actually I hope they accept it because it's not totally black. Ok it's totally black with a bit of transparent stuff. So now I've got 6 specs. Yea, I have one more that I used in sec 1 and I can wear it again now since I changed the lens for all of them. I've got 2 blue, 1 cream, 1 maroon, 1 pink, and 1 black specs. Yay =)... I'd probably have more maroon kinda colour specs if I had the choice. I don't fancy green. That's why all my colour combis of my specs doesn't have the pri color yellow =P

Oh today I was in church and was looking at the slide "Year End Dinner". THen I was like.. ok this looks familiar... YED YED... crap econs. Argh. Income... blah blah. Too bad. I'm throwing that away =p

2008-11-16T07:44:00.003+08:00

I started playing since wednesday night. Anyway, it's kinda "over" other than physics, so I was kinda reciting my formulas while swimming yesterday. Did 44, but it kinda rain. Sian. It should have been sunny. I like the pool when it's got those sparkling kinda thing because of sunlight =)... Oh.. the previous round I kept it at breaststroke but I did do freestyle backstroke and sidestroke too this time. Argh. my freestyle and sidestroke sux like totally.

it's erm. time to go... it's sunday!!! but it isn't sunny. zz. nvm I'm not a sunni. k lame.

2008-11-11T19:49:00.002+08:00

Today was chem and econs. I finished 6 tys paper2s before flipping through my notes today morning. I got up at 4am. lol. I reached school rather early actually. Chem paper 2. I thought it was a give away... until I saw qn 4. Then I was like ... hohoho... but never mind, because I reminded myself about the bellcurve. I don't know, that seems to be the thing that's consoling me the whole of A levels.

We studied econs... errm. Haha! Songyuan's joke was chao funny. Kitty commented that might have been our last dine at the canteen. Econs paper was... a fresh new kinda paper. In the sense... I haven't done most of the questions before. I was at a dilemma of which questions to do. I selected 2 and 4 and started doing them. I only chose qn 1 later. How to say. Everyone found it hard. So I was rather thinking of the bell curve.. haha this is the first exam i seem so relax in =x...

after all those stuff I went to mountbatten to swim. finally. 32 laps. I planned to do 50 but the sun went down and it became dark...

2008-11-10T19:47:00.002+08:00

lol. i might just go and take grade 8 for guitar next year. don't know see how... i searched the net yesterday and found the scores for air on G, furelise, turkish march, pathetique, romanza, canon in D, beethoven's 5th symphony... i think i'd probably learn them in this order: Romanza, air on G, pathetique... oh... haha I picked these song because I already know how to play them on piano so it makes it kinda easier. oh yea and the rhapsody.

Today was a tiring day. I woke up at 4.30am. to start my physics revision. I hadn't done any the night before. I finished HC, NJ and RJ p2 by 6. I read the papers or went online or something before heading to the airport with my family to see my aunt and uncle off. He's going to brunei as a naval advisor or something. his description of the house in brunei reminds me of the sound of music... 5 bedrooms... swimming pool... and they were like "so when you're going to brunei for OCS next year, give us a ring and blah blah... get a chaffeur from the embassy." lol...

My family went to the Mac's at the bottom of T2 and I had a Mcgriffin and half a filetofish. and I was bloated. I stayed in the airport till 1145, eating meesiam for lunch. In that time, I finished VJ, TJ, MJ, SA, AJ. Means I finished 8 P2s... lol. was quite sian after everything. Then I rushed home to get my notes (I forgot to bring. my initial plan was to head to sch from home). So I went home to read up my notes.

The physics paper was tough. Anyway. I went to the library to borrow the physics prelim paper softcopy for someone who wanted it. And I was half thinking to myself: OK so I'm gonna look really dumb borrowing physics prelim papers after physics exam. Then I realised I needed a thumbdrive so I ran down to the class bench to get it and then realised I had another one in my wallet. ZZZ. It was like... I was copying 570 MB of data la. took super long. And I carelessly tripped and cracked the cd cover. Then I was like... Oh no... sure gonna kena scolded. But I made up my mind to apologise instead of leaving it at the counter. so I was like "Hi, I'm really sorry but I fell at the steps just now... and so I broke the cover... can I pay for it?" But the librarian was really nice and she said it was ok... Lol... she was more concerned about me sustaining injuries and I was more concerned about the cd =x. ok I didn't get any injury so yea... (OK this paragraph makes me sound so like her majesty yong gui han)

So far I've done HC, RJ, NJ and 2007 P2 for econs. No I don't feel prepared. In fact this's the first time I'm going in for econs paper with a not-so-high morale because of my last fumble. yea I've spotted a few questions =P...

saw abel and his fren at their class bench today and they said some stuff and I was like WHAT??!?!

2008-11-07T17:47:00.001+08:00

2008-11-07T17:27:00.003+08:00

"Good luck, though you don't need it." sounds like a familiar phrase now... lol.

Today was Math paper 2. I brought my bag in. Oh, it's a different invigilator today, I commented to myself. I opened my bag to take out my watch, but got a glimpse of a Hacks sweet, so I decided to consume it. I walked out of the class, and hid from the windows of the classroom, popped it in my mouth, before returning. "You know you are not allowed to go out of the classroom after stepping in... irregularity report..." I was kinda rolling my eyes in my mind. She was staring at me but I was showing no attention =x and I saw lishan nodding her head probably because it was in my direction... I remarked to fangkai "AP". I guess he didn't get me. Attitude problem. Ha! I guess I realised she stopped when I flashed a smile...

I only studied for this paper 1 hour yesterday and 1.5 hours today, where I shocked myself by not knowing how to do several questions in the VJC 07 Prelim Paper! But I wasn't panicky because I was consoling myself "Never mind, it won't come out..."

I started the paper in good fashion. I thought to myself "This's my last math exam. I'm gonna do well. just so going to do well." I finished the paper in 1.30 hrs out of 3 hrs. I checked it again. Ok, I spotted some mistakes, and corrected them, about 2 I think. I think I heard pat turn her head for a moment because my "coloring" of my errors was quite noisy. My pen ran out of ink in the middle. Yay. Finally. That round of check took about 40 minutes (it was practically doing the paper again but leaving out the reading of the questions). And it was followed by another 10 minute check where I was fairly confident about my answers. Ok. Let's see. I took awhile to rest here, wondering what I'd do. Every round of checking's just gonna get shorter and shorter and soon it'd just take me 2 minutes, and there's about 20 minutes to go... So I decided not to do that and instead pen down all my worked out solutions. I wanted to do it on fulscap but remembered I couldn't take fulscap out. Haha. So I did it on the question paper. So that's Andy's Answers for Math 2008 A levels.

I decided to go home because I wanted to play guitar. Don't know. guess that's the thing which is consuming my time this exam. I met steffi at the marine parade bus stop and well... I guess she couldn't resist looking at my answers either...

I'm resting this afternoon. "Andy's so musically talented"... I heard one of it today. Hmmz. or maybe more just that I don't pay attention to it much. You know, actually I've never heard myself play from an audience point of view. It's different. I think the audience get a better listen than the player. I listened to some recordings I took before, but they were really bad handphone quality. But they were enough to make me wonder if I could play like the recording. And then I would remember that it's myself who played the recording.

I've got to get out of the house tomorrow lest I waste the whole day again (like today)...

2008-11-06T17:15:00.003+08:00

I shouldn't have gone home. Couldn't study. But anyway, there wasn't anyone in school. I guess I'd be all forlorn. lol. I reached home at 12. And updated myself with the latest obama gossips in the papers. Then I took a nap of an hour, and spent most of the rest of the time (until now), searching the net for guitar stuff. I guess i'm finding what I want.

I realise I've told people I didn't know how to play guitar because I didn't find what I want in it. But now I'm beginning to see it. It's not just chords and tabs. (Because these methods don't require one to know the exact notes he's playing). And I chanced upon this guy who played this song... and I'm gonna learn it after A's! Oh... I also had a idea of recording a song after A's... hmm. Haha. see how.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu62tYmYPvk&NR=1

This is awesome. Eh. Queen. I was surprised that it was a band. Bohemian Rhapsody. The playing is so different from the pop stuff. Ok. So now at least I know what I'm searching for. hehe. I think this song trashes many new songs today. The lyrics are not rubbish, and its so "classical". I mean... I saw some write up on it and it's split into Intro-Ballade-Guitar solo-Operatic-Rock-Coda. It's just like a rhapsody. (And that's why it's called a rhapsody anyway). Haha. A bit similar to Andy's Rhapsody.

k. It's math tomorrow. I don't know I don't feel any pressure. ZZZ. this is scary. And I've heard many many "good luck although you don't need it". jokes. Of course every one needs it if it exists right? And well, at least I don't believe in luck, but I believe these were all decided by someone somehow and not just random. So it's hard sometimes to wish people before exams. I don't want to say "good luck"... All the best is like 3 syllables. Hmm. I shall go think somemore. "May your brains be with you". haa.

2008-11-04T20:02:00.002+08:00

Now that gp and chinese are over, I'm gonna revise my goals. Haha. Because they seem a little too easy to reach. Or maybe... I'm just rather (or over) confident. ~Which is a bad thing. So I decided to revise my goals for the remaining 4 H2s.

I did OK for Math today, I didn't study so luckily I did averagely. Erm. It was probably the same as my prelim paper 1 standard, can't say I did very well. But it's not too late to top yet. Physics was cool. I got stuck on a dumb question that I really think Cambridge had set wrongly. I finished section A in half an hour and B in about half too I guess. But I was looking at that dummy question for like... almost the rest of the time... I reckon I'd only lose about... 4 marks? And anyway, people have been telling me it's too easy to get AAAA. like... louis says I'm too secured for Physics and Math. Ha. jokes. Well, that's only if I keep my current goal. So I'm changing it in the hope that I won't slack off. And yes, I rather intend to meet these goals since I still have time. (And i think it'd be rather foolish to waste this chance)

Oh yes and another reason why i'm rather confident- it's not that I think I'm really prepared or that I can do well, just that, looking at the national average and hci's performance - haha. Ok. Maybe my reasoning's abit flawed. yea. just maybe, but I really take comfort in the "bell curve" reasoning and the "relative grade theory". Haha. I guess maybe that's why I'm less tense than some people.

ok. so here's my revised goals, excluding gp and chinese of course. It'd just be... to get top in Economics, Math, Physics, Chemistry =)... Eh. I think it's not that impossible lah. anyway at least it'd hopefully make me not so over confident.

2008-11-02T16:34:00.002+08:00

I finished every single compre laoshi had in his possession. Now, it's gp. Nah, I haven't done finish everything. There's too much. I've done 14 comprehensions and 4 essays and 3 sketchy essay plans. But anyway, I've done what I can. (A lot depends on the teachers right, but it's a bit too late now). I play the secret piano piece almost everyday, sometimes thinking "What if I really was able to go back in time! ahah Though... I can say that now there's someone else who can help me a great deal. Oh, so there's this song I'd like to put here...

It is not how hard we study. It is not how smart we are. But really... I've seen this during prelims, if I rely on my own abilities, I'd fail. (just take econs for an example. i thought I was comfortable in econs and decided to study harder for prelims) Yes, but by grace I was given a second chance...

God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.
By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today.

Yea, my cohort's got the highest failing rate for gp prelims. Hmm... but we might just be the cohort with the highest % of As for GP in A levels this year =)... jiayou ppl

2008-11-01T22:48:00.003+08:00

haha. looks like I'm becoming proficient in guitar as well. hehe... hmm. I haven't touched drums since quite long ago. probably 3-4 years now. aiya but anw. i don't think I'm going to get interested in drums just yet. so anyway i shall further explore the organ after A's so my instrumental literacy expands to the piano, clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, keyboard, electone, organ, synthesizer, guitar. lol. jokes. ok we can probably leave out the contrabass since its such a small thing. probably part of the bass clarinet family. hmm. keyboard and synthesizer I do not play much because I'd rather play piano. Electone... I used to play when I was young but I don't play it regularly now ever since I started piano. k i shld really be doing gp

2008-10-31T06:59:00.002+08:00

I might just have the answer why our gp is so not up to par. I was just flipping through the GP Power book that the hod wrote (and Dr Choe recommended). I was rather dismayed by the contents. I mean. haha. It was just like the way we're taught. "You should not do this and this and this..." and then it misses out the WAYS TO WRITE CORRECTLY?!?! zzz. luckily I've got some stuff to fall back on. like rj notes and stuff. but it just might be too late. ok no. it's never too late =P... and unlike us, where we're not given Real Notes... RJ, and Many other JCs which are good in GP like ACJC, give concrete notes for each topic (instead of clipping them together with homework, like say time tunnel or fact to fiction). oh well oh well. No point complaining now. it's a bit too late. ha. just was rather appalled to the extent that I decided to give up the book and do something else.

2008-10-30T19:46:00.002+08:00

yesterday was a rather funny day. I was the first at the class bench (as quite usual). And as I neared the bench, I saw a cardboard box on it. And I was like "Oh, ben oh left it there! Why didn't he throw it away!" but then... I opened it and IT WAS FULL OF GOODIES!!! it was like too good to be true. I built a HALLS TOWER which I later crashed a MENTOS jumbojet into in the reenactment of the 911. And then songyuan and some jnrs started playing UNO STACKO with the halls sweets! And the forfeits were scary - ben had a whole tube of polos in his mouth while songyuan had 17 mentos!

It was just songyuan and I after the jnrs left for CT, when hongliang and marcus came walking towards us "Andy, Songyuan, Ms Claire asks you to go up." And I was like "What for?" haha...

"Ms Claire said there was some Andy who randomly wrote his name on the namelist so she just bought him breakfast as well." LOL~~~!!!

We had McMuffins and tea. Chonglin came in afterwards too. Then we played charades erm. And Songyuan and I got to act out something. Songyuan had the punishment of facing the wall and telling a story... which made Mdm Fok wait for 10 minutes just to get a packet of sugar! jokes. hahahahah. funny funny funny.

After that, nicholas passed me an extra McMuffin and I and chenlaoshi denied it and I couldn't find mr low so I gave it to Mr Loy, who commented the next round I went into the staffroom "I ate the McMuffin but I normally don't eat such salty stuff." HAHA!!!

okok. gtg.

2008-10-28T21:28:00.002+08:00

Andy's Dos and Don'ts to Conversations (Part I)
Applies to both Verbal and Online

Don't talk big if you don't have substance.
Don't criticize people who are better than you.
Don't act as if you are the top in the world when you aren't.
Don't try showing people how smart you are with your mouth only.
Don't open your mouth if what comes out is gonna be crap.
If you don't have anything nice to say... SHHH!

2008-10-28T19:38:00.002+08:00

Haha. I decided I'd probably not apply for US; it wasn't my real plan anyway. And I don't wanna spend one more year doing undergrad in US compared to Singapore or UK. And I'm not the type to take extra subjects. haha. I think I kind of convinced myself. Hopefully. For now. Anyway I'm late for the application. Let's hope UK doesn't disappoint me too much...

Anyway, I just got this letter that I've been waiting for. Yea, I'm going in on 8 January 1pm!!! So please, remember me in your... work, rest, play, sleep, prayer, life, etc. I hope to go taiwan next year... hint hint... so btr train hard n hit a 9.30 at least. Hehe. I also got another letter from AP. Got some... AP scholar w distinction award. haha. I should have taken their music theory and upgraded that into a AP international diploma. Arh. but nvm. lol. And the letter says "Congrats... rigorous series of college level courses." lol. courses? no. it was a one-day thing. ha.

kinda excited. yet, I know. I somehow got the feeling I'd get an A for Chinese. But I don't know why, I don't know how. It's just... a feeling.

2008-10-21T21:31:00.003+08:00

I got woken up 3 times in the night due to smses and then lishan taught me that I could off my phone and the alarm would still ring =x... anw. Today was a really nice day. I mean. There were 4 people standing in the middle of nowhere for flag raising, and we ate into Mr Loy's break time for Chemistry lesson. ehm... We studied at the class bench till lunch, which was at the canteen (and ben was trying to bargain for more liao from the auntie) haha. Meiying wanted to prank Chonglin, but I can just imagine Jianliang, Meiying, Li-shan and I squatting along the ramp, (acting like little kids playing hide and seek, erm actually we were). We studied at the class bench a little while more before heading upstairs in a bid to find a classroom but to no avail, thus we headed for the library. Laoshi wanted me to go for a chinese lecture which he knew I'd be bored in so he said I can prob dont go anymore. Eh.. so after that I went to find Chonglin, Ben and Li-shan at the library again and we went A210 (which according to Ben was our old PW classroom but I can hardly remember). Li-shan's friend came along and so did Mr Low, who as usual started a "quarrel" with Chonglin and it almost turned physical. hehe... er. It started raining and only Li-shan, Ben and I were left. We left at about 630...

and then I went home to open my mum's present. Ok my sis' present is still resting on my desktop but I really have no idea what it is. It looks like a bunch of balloons tied up together =x... anyway. I got a pleasant surprise from my mum because knowing how thrifty she is - She bought me a beginner's guitar in sec1 (which was probably the reason why I didn't continue pursuing guitar because of lack of incentive), haha. I remember she wasn't happy when I insisted on choosing my clarinet in sec 2 (she might have bought the plastic one)... erm. I got a study bible on sec3 and the specs I've been wearing these few days in sec4 (which she expected to cost $100 but I smartly tagged along and with the help of my comments, the present changed from a no-degree sunglasses to a transitional levi specs. lol.)She wasn't involved in my j1 present which is still the most ex till date (the sibelius cd which cost $1400.) zzz. ahaha. so when she said she bought my present this round and it was going to be a surprise so I was like... errrr.. ok... zzz.

K ya so I haven't really gotten to what it was. As many (or quite a few, or a few, or maybe none) people know, a watch and a wallet's on my wishlist. So was a hat, so yea, it was a timely present =)... So my mum's present came in this A4 sized carrier so at first I thought it was a T-shirt. But it felt heavy, and I found a rather 15x15x15cm box inside. I unwrapped it and took out the lid, just to find another box inside. By this time, I sort of guess it was something ex because of the packaging, but couldn't really tell what ex big thing it was. But then, there were 2 more boxes... ok it's rather complicated. Anyway it was a watch. A Longines watch. Yea, before today I wasn't aware of the brand but anyway, wiki says it's a "luxury watch company founded by Ernest Francillon at Saint-Imier, Switzerland." fine. erm then I was looking at the watch. Yea, I did ask for a dress watch but she bought my present before I asked for it. Maybe she knew what I'd been thinking all along. hmm. Then I was like... ok. So it's gonna be. let me think of a price. was thinking what kinda cheapskate thingy it was =x... ahah. I'm so bad rite. Then I saw a price tag dangling from the watch (my mum normally never reveals the price but I guess she forgot this time) ... it was like $830.00. Then I looked at my mum. "eh, this is yuan is it?" no. it was dollars. I was like... wow... stunned. I wouldn't have bought it myself. No money to anyway. haha.

Anyway, other than the watch, I also received other presents and anyway, I do really appreciate all because it's just the thought that counts, and I mean it absolutely. ahaha. And I do feel bad because I've forgotten some people's bdaes whom have given me presents and even... those who wished me in one way or another. So, thanks to... Eric, Pat, Cindy, Cheryl, Evelyn, Ruyi, Li-shan for the presents. Yea, my aunt called me at 4pm today because she wanted to buy a cake for me and err I guess she left a card and Angbao on the way as well! Which brings my piggy bank savings to about 27 times my weekly allowance (it was 26x before I added her angbao)... hha my bro wanted to buy me jaychou cd but my mum bought it for me before he did, but he was gonna pay her for it so I guess that can be counted as his present. heheeh...

Erm, I don't know if I'm gonna miss out anyone, but in order of medium and time, ahah.

MSN: Yee Jiunn, Weeliang

HP: Cheryl (1st), Xiaohua (2nd --> dozed off, woke up at 1.20am, could have won cheryl), Charlene (3rd), Yi Ting, Ruyi, Joshua, Eric, Aunt, Evelyn.
[and by the way yong was trying to act like royalty in her sms =).. hehe]

In person: Mr Low, Li-shan, Chonglin, Rachel (who catalysed the happy birthday wishes from the next 3 ppl who heard her words.. hehe) Kitty, Wanjing, Meiying, Ben, Gordon, Marcus.

Ok I can't really remember. But anyway, thank you everyone for making my day special =)... and I hope I will remember yours too, but given my lousy memory, please forgive me if I somehow don't =(... ok lah, wont one.. hehe.

Interview tomorrow. Not prepared. GG. haha.

2008-10-20T21:25:00.002+08:00

Ben: Tomorrow's your big day.
Me: Yea, it's elections tomorrow... (random)

Is it untrue that the word "untrue" untruely exists in this untrue world?
[this is a math qn. you can go and negatify it and see what you get]

Anyway. My bro got back his results. I guess trashed my sec3 marks again. hah.
Let's see. He got a...
Physics A1
Chemistry A1
Biology A1
E Math A1
A Math A2
SS/Hist B3
English B4
Chinese C6

not bad lah. I got a...
Physics C5
Chemistry B4
Biology A2
E Math A1
A Math A1
SS/Hist C6
English B4
Chinese B4

hehe... quite bad right.
k whatever. slp liao
haha

2008-10-18T20:58:00.004+08:00

I'm planning to have a concert on the 21/10/11. Hehe... 21st bday. hmm. I shall upload this. Just took it just now for fun. This is really where the laws of physics work. My fingers hit the keys and the phone only records the sound on the 2nd semiquaver... which is rather fast. I think i played about 12 semiquavers per second. Haha.. anyway the phone lagged i think 2 times during the recording. maybe the notes too fast or something. can hear the lags... haha.

2008-10-18T14:24:00.002+08:00

It's a week gone again. How fast. I've been thinking... many of us didn't come into HCI the "normal" way. Yea, there're 2 normal ways. Firstly, through IP. Secondly, through O levels. And really, the existence of our chinese class just shows we didn't come in the "true" way anyway. So I thought I shall just list how some of us came in for fun. Like... I don't know, but as we come to the end of this hectic period, I feel that I've got more time to think. haha. i'm NOT copying this time. I thought this out.. it's original. lol.

1st 3 mths:
Pat- DSA sports
Ruyi- Appeal academics
Wanjing- DSA sports
Songyuan- DSA sports
Cindy- Appeal academics
Deborah- DSA sports
Li-shan- DSA choir
Me- Appeal academics
Lydia- Appeal sports
Chonglin-DSA sports
Tommy- Appeal sports

Lol. We had so many DSA and appeal ppl... which probably... yea. I'm right. We all made it into the chinese class! And the chinese class has evolved 4 times.
1) First 3 months (which included sarah and some others)
2) Rest of J1
3) Before release of N07 Results (s71s join, like charlene and I don't know the other ppl's names)
4) Preparing for June08 paper (Tommy, Wanjing, me... I'm not sure if Audrey joined here or in (3)
5) Now. Just the lonely me... ha

Ok.
Now, the 2nd round. What's it called. JAE isit? I guess. Hehe

me
Lydia
Tommy
Eric
Cheryl

and of course we all appealed because DSAs would have stayed in HCI. but I remembered how we felt so sad that we were gonna be separated like "forever" after just 3 months together. Well, lucky it didn't happen (which was quite a miracle to me) I was stone-faced in Temasek the whole day, just pacing around the corridor, watching the cleaner go about her job, wondering why HCI was so big, and why I had to be separated. I thought about what a difference, how what I did in HCI would all be wasted and amount to nothing, how I had to start making new friends and try to smile and have a welcoming face instead of looking downcast. And I met so many people whom expressed surprise when they saw me in temasek. zz. Although I was really quite cheered up because some Music people started bringing me into their studios and persuading me to take up Music. (which I probably would have if HCI had MEP programme, or if it was more recognised and had a more reasonable syllabus) but then again, that could have meant that I would not be in s68. Don't know. haha.

Imagine going back to AHS that day to collect their top scholar award with a not-as-happy-as-I-should-be face, and teachers asking which JC I was in when I was quite uncertain about it. I guess I only started cherishing my time in HCI then. Of course, there've been bad times in HCI, where I feel that HCI is just a bad bad place. (And I still think it's a bad place for pursuing anything concerning instrumental music) like. they only have one grand piano which isn't good at all. They should seriously buy more pianos so that people can relax (it's not like I'm the only person who can play right- like there are 10 of us who can play it in s68) assuming hypothesis is true, it's like 40% of HCI can play the piano lah. I guess the money would be much better spent on pianos then erecting idols. (hehe. I realise all of these statues are somewhat along the road... like some "Singapore River" replica. Other than impressing visitors (i'm not really sure if they would be impressed at all, but anyway. I believe the social benefits for hearing piano music far exceeds the distant sight of a bronze statue who does nothing to please our ears.

And actually, I would think the band should be in the field opposite the flagpoles or something. Hiding them under the bridge muffles the sound, and I seriously think the recording sounds much better than them because of the muffling. haha. Ok of course, these are just tiny things that don't really matter much to me now...

I guess it's more of the people in HCI that make things nice. K i shall go think about these stuff away from the blog. I'm gonna slp..hah

2008-10-15T15:57:00.001+08:00

It's the "Last day of school" And I'd be going back every week day until at least the end of next week. I seem too relaxed for my own good and feel that I should stress up a little.

Oh, thanks Mr Low for the nice cushion --> ironically it's not a student who's started the s68 Merchandise collection =P... hmm. And thanks Eric, Cheryl, Cindy, Evelyn and Patricia for the hat! I was really planning to buy one but now looks like I'd think again :P because it's so cool to have a unique hat. lol. bleah. The class lunch no one said no speech because we were all separated. Not my idea of a class lunch and definitely not my idea to have it only 2.5 hrs long, but nevertheless, still great that we can still go out when it's so near A's! Shows how cool our class is.

And since it's already Awesome Alvin. Maybe I'd have to think about something else. Anti-social. Lol. don't know. i'm gonna nap now.....

2008-10-13T20:34:00.002+08:00

K I just read Eric Wong's blog and I feel I have to copy something here. With modification!!! So please read... Haha. And I realised many people have been sending me emails via the AndyRulez4eva account (Obviously they belive this's true that's why they're sending it there) But actually I only penned that email down on the first days in HCI because I didn't expect to stay in HCI and I was just trying to be guailan =x... now it's led to so much complications. argh! ok besides the point...

Just some impt points b4 I start, I've got no photos, so please ppl, send me grad day photos! And while tommy's sadly said he'd leave he's post, I guess we can all just take turns organising more outings ;D... hmm. and about the 1 person committee. haha. It really made laugh because of ahem grammar. lol. I don't know where I'd be next year in june. Taiwan? Or UK? USA? China? I don't know. haha. exciting life ahead man =P... Erz. And I didn't realise lishan sent out an email before grad day. shows how lag my andyrulez4eva email is! bleah.

I missed the first few days of school for very obvious reasons (because I was sick. Sick in health and sick of hwachong) er. So I can't add the first few points of eric.

1) Thinking of class item for campfire
2) Telling people how I'd be out of HCI by the end of the week
3) Playing the get-to-know-you game by Dr Choe, and songyuan saying that I was someone "special". (even though I was probably the last person everyone got to know)
4) Getting caught for long and "dyed" hair by Mr Low, Mrs Chin, Dr Choe, Mr PPC, Mr Artemis fachead, etcetc.
5) Near confiscation of hp by mr low, near go-and-see-DM because of attendance complications
6) Faking being sick so I didn't have to play the orientation games
7) Not liking lessons and finding them boring
8) CNY at pat's house then Shawn's House!
9) Block test nightmare gets people back to mugging
10) PW fever
11) Swimming lessons!!! <3 it loads loads loads
12) Getting into somewhat of a quarrel with Mrs Toh in front of Mr Chan
13) Spinning in chairs in A412! Loveliest classroom! PW classroom!
14) STJ at Billy Bombers (carried $2000 bomb in my bag)
15) JTS at marina
16) ECP OUTING!!! NIcest beach outing we've ever had (the only one too)
17) Going to h3 and talking rubbish instead of listening to math lecture
18) Pia H3 from chp1 two weeks before final exam
19) Taking photos during chem lessons
20) Fun PE Lessons!!!
21) Cheating during the runs around school for PE (Gets overtaken by Li-shan and Yunyu on numerous occasions)
22) Toopid Napfa makes me lose my Gold by just 5 seconds in 2.4km
23) Mr Rammmmm makes me do Sitn Reach more than 20 times during Napfa 2007
24) Choir concert
25) Dance concert
2*) Harmoc concert
26) Ahem... my concert... which didn't turn out as ideally as I wanted. Nevertheless, I got my solo on video thanks to wongjinhui. --> Learns gliss just to make the song fun, starts learning extreme techniques just to ditch them for prelims 1 month later.
27) Organises Planned Random Outing at Hort Park
28) Organises Class Swimming Initiative in which gets injured and stays out of the pool for most of the time. WAVEPOOL
29) Sian Prelims results
30) Emo times
31) Emo emo a lot.
32) Happy times
33) err. The yet-to-happen full mugger club
34) YWCA!!!
35) PW come andy's house
36) Random study session at andy's house
37) Pat's house outing after BT1, just to go for h3 after that .zzz
38) BT2 outing WANTED
39) Prelims outing Death Race
40) Print class tee
To be continued, not really always in chronological order man. zz. I should continue it after A's. haha.

41) Creation of PEAK
42) Creation of ACCEE
43) Creation of BBQ
44) Segregation of s68 into several clubs
45) Eric's jelly. or jellygum. don't know what. haha. chewing gum. erm. bubblegum. forgot what's it about.
46) Friendly and always-never-wear-school badge, fellow band member who doesn't mind discussing how we disliked band sometimes, BEN
47) Disciplined, lamer, someone with a really nice house and high in status mother, sister of a 1-mth-PEteacher who reportedly crashed our orientation, and super fast runner PAT
48) Sharp, genius, fierce but has got feelings, previous longest hair record holder, rubberband collecter, h3 pal RUYI
49) Go against the physics textbooks, Chinese pro, raokouling pro, 1st CT rep GAOFAN
50) Professional photographer YUANFENG
51) Always happy, sporty, hitched one ride from me just to give me 2 rides back, fellow east-lander, super ability to cheer me up, cousin's friend-in-law, member of BBC WANJING
52) Table-tennis player who "defected" from RJC, Marist Mathpro, Joker, Fellow earlybird, keeps the class noisy Musketeer1 SONGYUAN
53) PEAK Member, veggie eater, nice dancer and sometimes quite lame, ex GB fellow gamer KITTY
54) clique member 1 who can mostly be found in the room beside left wing's toilet CINDY
55) our golfer DEBORAH
56) pro singer, needs to rush home because of curfew, CTrep and fellow chinese lesson and yfc pal, LISHAN
57) the new minister of finance/ hotdog from air maker/ leader of countries/ conqueror/ boss of many companies/ namer of every clique ANDY. Haha. This is like so much of my lameo stuff. [u prob left out the part of 10-year goal to own a HDB flat]
58) the great cartoon and character artist/ GP pro/ deepvoicer/ breakdancer/ full of surprises BENEDICT! a.k.a. FANGKAI
59) the Demure Butterfly, fast runner and darkerskinned than me, member of BBC LYDIA
60) the canoeist, animator and artist JIANLIANG
61) confidant in muggery stuff. sporty and chinese pro, Marist and musketeer, friend of Golden Rooster auntie, smses when I'm sleeping, fellow must-sleep-after-lunch CHONGLIN
62) clique member 2, V&R QM, don't you dare play afool with me, EVELYN
63) the ares-athena who bows ever so gracefully and raises hand like really NP way LEON (if u have seen him bow, no one takes a bow(:
64) our welfare rep. eve's BFF marist 3, lame and full of surprises, super loud cheerer, joshua's cousin TOMMY THAM
65) 3rd CT rep/ body-builder and MIT wanna-be TIANBO
66) fellow econs- lover,, US application Pro YUNYU
67) asks lots of questions HUH?? calls when I'm sleeping, art pro MEIYING
68) n u must be wondering why i left someone who i noes read this blog out (: thanks to cheryl. cos the number is reserved! our one and only CT/physics teacher who adds stories, quotes and weekly reminders/ encouragement in our alr beautiful hc life MR ALVIN LOW! (im sorry to say this to all teachers but you all honestly arent going to get any better class than us, so stay happy but dun miss us this great class okay?; we really regret being the best class your can get alr, we really have no choice cos others cant be better than this motley bunch. stay happy remembering us!)[agrees totally, finds no need to edit this part]
69) the take over evelyn as AVA-rep, ever pushing us to complete things KAIYAO
70) HAHA. This one I got alot to say. BBQ!!! Electric impulses take 30 minutes to move from one neurone to another. "My fault, my fault, everything my fault", Likes to pose for camera, violent , fellow GB gamer, JJlin Maksim zzz lover, dao fface, STone, CHERYL YONG GUI HAN BINDE OSAMA FUKUYAMA MARGARET GHANDI
71) the japanese food cooker, only class certified driver, very relaxed YUWEI
72) I don't know where this guy fits in but anyway. The other guy in the A&E Department, Fits NPCC into most of his Blog posts, Pro niao-er, Likes the chair without hole at the back, draws nice things everywhere, has many shoes and bags, boyfriend of 400 girlfriends, ERIC
73) I guess Eric left her out. But there's still the Lamer and C-pop pro QINNY

Hah. I'm 5 short of 78. But argh .GTG Becuase got things to do! K I'm off!

2008-10-11T14:27:00.002+08:00

I have an interview on october 22. It's been a tiring, fast-paced year. I say I really deserve a break at the end of all these, but sadly, I'm probably not going to enjoy any real break until I die. I didn't feel anything special about yesterday's Grad day. Hmmz. I was going up stage to get a bear instead of a cert or anything special. It's really hard to say how I did for prelims. I guess in one way, I broke my record again in 2 subjects (positively), but broke my other 2 records again, by my worst performance in these 2 years. I just can't get this out of my head. No, prelims doesn't really matter much to me. Something else does. And also, I wonder how was my ranking in HCI for prelims. It's got to be the worst yet because the average of 10+10+5+5 doesn't exceed 4x8. But still, there's A's. And A's... they said 9As yesterday, but i'm only starting with 8 to begin with. Well, I doubt those on stage who made a joke out of it have even 7 subjects anyway. I just better learn and really hope not to be a hypocrite because I'm disgusted by hypocrites and I don't want to be disgusted with myself, though that's been quite the case sometimes. I was thinking about a canteen conversation, about whether one 10/10 or 4 8/10s is better. I'd opt for the 4 8/10s. I might have gotten 4 8/10s for BT2, but I was definitely more satisfied than this round, even though I garnered 2 10/10s. whatever. It's over. I shall just do my best.

Yesterday Laoshi returned me my chinese practice papers, which contained 13 comprehensions. On first glance as Ruyi commented, the mark at the front was good, 14/15. However, as I flipped along, I realised the marks were fluctuating. Maybe it was because of my concentration or attention level or something. But I really hope I can be consistent. I also see this fluctuating pattern in my essays and AQs. I don't mind fluctuations if they are between 75-100, but it matters if it's between E and A or something weird.

I made a mistake going for supper yesterday. I was really tired. I should have gone home instead. And I was feeling really bad as I travelled home, because I felt disappointed and somehow. cheated. It wasn't grand. Maybe my expectations were too high. And as I took photos, I didn't really feel happy because I was wondering why we were taking all these photos when it wasn't after exams, and it wasn't just about to be the last time we see each other. Ok. It was suppose to be a grand affair I guess. Maybe it's just me, having too high expectations again.

And I experienced what it meant to feel helpless yesterday. But thankfully it didn't turn out like that. And thanks Cheryl..... but it really did seem so..... The guest of honour said something about persevering and having a good attitude in all we did. I think I have these in many things, other than one thing, where no matter how I try, things always turn out with the opposite effect. I feel so hopeless. Why can't it turn out better? Why did it have to turn out this way. Why am I almost always thinking about failure..... I might just have to find a counsellor or something. Haha... (no no no, not a student counsellor =x...)

No, but I do believe that it's not over......

I heard some say they were going to give a shot at getting into cambridge. haha. well, no. I'm not going to do that already. I've decided that as much as I would like to give it a shot, I am unable to do it because I do not have the ability to do it. I'm just going to claim my place there and then decide what to do after that.

This is complicated. I don't know how I should be. Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. Normally, I can get the answer moments after the action, or in the process of it. But never before. Haiz... and I was thinking, visualising how I would appear in people's eyes. Here's what I thought. Someone who doesn't have really wise comments, who doesn't know what and what not to say. why can't this bad habit just get rid of itself. I know where I got it from but I can't say anything much about it because it's out of my control. There's probably only 3 things I want written on my tombstone. And only 3 things I want people to remember about me. Nope, not intelligence, not success... But... well I'd just name 1 of the 3 here, since I do not have any of them yet. I want to have wisdom. And I can't learn that from books. The other 2... one starts with G---- and one starts with L-----.

I was a history student in sec4. An exceptionally good one in fact. Yea, that was probably one of the few times I did hit my goals, getting 90% for history. Hmm that's beside the point, anyway, I think I read about Stalin or some prominent russian leader who would not have his enemy's name mentioned in front of him. What utter dislike. Now I might just know how that feels like. Not that I have any enemy to begin with, because no opponent of andy exists. but I find it weird when I find my name included in things concerning the group in which I should not belong in. No, it was written to avoid conflict or something. but really. do away with it. I don't care about fakes. I won't bother with it anyway. I won't even give it a second of my time. And anyway, we should learn not to judge people so I'd rather stay away and have nothing to do with this. But as I've learnt, we have impressions of people. Not like not hate, but good and bad impressions. Well. I just don't think I'd invite someone whom I've got a bad impression of to my funeral. No way man... no way =P... ahahahaha. that was random. funeral. But I hope that my friends can attend my funeral. If there was someone who had to die, I'd rather be the one to die.

K I'm rambling on and on. I don't even know if I know what's gone on. That's all for now.

2008-10-10T05:30:00.002+08:00

It's been awhile since I've blogged - which is a good sign, because I guess I'm starting a bit of mugging already. However, I'm mugging very differently now. I find myself doing GP and Chinese most of the time, and I am really beginning to enjoy doing these two subjects... touching chinese passages that can make you tear, ridiculous GP passages that can make you laugh. jokes.

I just cut my hair the day before yesterday. Songyuan was by far probably the only one who noticed I cut my hair at first glance. Ruyi, Meiying and Li-shan couldn't tell at first. Haha. I guess it's just that I only trimmed a bit. But well, I think it's a half done hair cut, because I'm still waiting for it to grow a bit more.

Yay. I'm just so looking forward to all the things installed after A's. Actually, I find studying now getting a bit monotonous because we're doing the same old things again and again. Like chem... telling me to identify the organic compounds. I've done so many of them, they don't seem interesting or exciting already. Math and physics questions can be interesting now if they have a story to it at the start. Economics... it's always interesting because I write it my way. Yea right mr wilks says that's "arrogance". Well, I believe it's called self-confidence instead of lifting from notes.

Oh jay chou's album's gonna be released today. But aww I have the songs already. I was looking through the lyrics yesterday (part of my chinese A lvl prep ok) err... I found 稻香's lyrics quite meaningful. Yea, not about love this time I guess, but about not giving up. And the family it writes about, hmm. I'd like to believe that we're all one big family. Or hwachong farmelee. Or I've got many "families" anyway. So many people calling me "brother" and stuff.

K this is the last lap man. I'm gonna so gonna so gonna get my... aaaaaaaa... I hope I achieve allocative and productive efficiency at this trying period!!!

　　还记得你说家是唯一的城堡

　　随着稻香河流继续奔跑

　　微微笑小时候的梦我知道

　　不要哭让萤火虫带着你逃跑

　　乡间的歌谣永远的依靠

　　回家吧回到最初的美好

　　不要这么容易就想放弃

　　就像我说的

　　追不到的梦想换个梦不就得了

　　为自己的人生鲜艳上色

　　先把爱涂上喜欢的颜色

　　笑一个吧功成名就不是目的

　　让自己快乐快乐这才叫做意义

　　童年的纸飞机

　　现在终于飞回我手里

　　所谓的那快乐

　　赤脚在田里追蜻蜓追到累了

　　偷摘水果被蜜蜂给叮到怕了

　　谁在偷笑呢

　　我靠着稻草人吹着风唱着歌睡着了

　　哦哦午后吉它在虫鸣中更清脆

　　哦哦阳光洒在路上就不怕心碎

　　珍惜一切就算没有拥有

2008-10-05T20:11:00.002+08:00

I just realised I've been a full-fledged church pianist for 2 years now, but it's only recently that I realise I've reached a satisfactory standard. Haha... my dad said one of the church organists started going around trying to find out who was the one playing the piano alongside her but people only told her "Andy" and so she didn't know which "Andy" it was. Also, she doubted it was the other "Andy", but she didn't know me either. Hmm.. today exposed some of my inexperience when the piece started and the organist realised she was playing the wrong piece and I started playing in a different key. Fortunately Mr Maniam was there to "save" the piece =x... and me. So today's session was great in general.

Hmm. It's been since sec2... I think. Sec 2 I started with JSS. And then sec 3 I did play for SSS, and still do occasionally. I left JSS at the end of J1, but have gone back to play several times. In sec 4, I was chosen to be the main pianist for a camp, so I guess that was when I started my duty as a full-fledged church pianist. I also did play for the choir once this year, but I guess I'm still not good enough. Recently, people have also looked for me to form bands and stuff... I've been assigned several days as the organist (although I am a Grade 0 in organ) I guess they figured out that my foot has eyes of its own to find the pedals correctly =x. So that's something to do after A's. Well, I've already got 5 keyboards at home, I don't mind adding another one...

Haha. I playfullly tried Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique on the organ once and it did sound magnificent. =x. but I didn't add pedal, otherwise it would have been even better.

Okok. so much for this. Maybe in time to come I shall look for posts to play the piano in the esplanade like in chorals, or musicals, etc. haha. fun fun fun. but for now, I need to face the A levels music... aye-aye-aye...

2008-10-01T12:59:00.002+08:00

I'm waiting to go out in 15 min so I thought I might just blog abit here. Hmm.. Yesterday I raced through the night getting the MAS scholarship application done. I remembered Serene reminding me about its deadline (Mr Low corrected my dateline --> deadline) but it somehow slipped my mind. I only applied for MAS yesterday because I realise I have to write a different personal statement for each board! Argh. So it'd be pretty simple anyway, since they are all economics related, I'm just gonna substitute the word "economics" into the board's name in each application =P I was very sure of using my prelim results for scholarship. But now I'm uncertain because my results aren't as glamorous as I expected it to be. esp E for gp. Lawl.

Today's morning was zzz. I did nothing much. I'm going out in the afternoon. I've got a dinner to attend in the evening which will probably last till 10 or 11.

Pretty boring I don't know what I'm doing. Haiz haiz haiz... I rather go to school because I can get more work done and I feel less bored and sian and sad and I get to drown myself in other stuff, not care about all the things awaiting me! But then again, I've been the thinking sort of person (maybe I should seriously consider becoming a philosopher) but anyway, err... I wonder if theres a "hierachy" amongst siblings. ahha. I don't know. But seems to me that I'm always the one doing things... well I've got benefits too. Like coming back late and having my own room. (which I don't sleep in)

8 minutes left. okok. I know. I shall type my sec4 testimonial here for fun since I'm bored. Brackets are my own comments =P.. K i'm sure my teacher didn't mean it this way, but I'm probably just trying to have some fun...

Lee Tian Xiang Andy was an extremely polite, well mannered student (who would say SORRY for being late for lessons)who was highly attentive in class. He was easy-going by nature and was highly trustworthy and reliable (trustworthy to buy nad hide snacks in class). Andy was an attentive and motivated student who participated actively in class discussions, contributing ideas and opinions which are insightful and engaging (This is so true!). He had good analytical skills and was able to solve problems creatively (How to run away without being caught for long hair). Focused and goal-oriented, he worked hard to achieve his goals scoring excellent results in the four years in Anglican High School.

Andy was also particularly talented in music. He was First in the Higher Music Programme in 2006 and Second in the Music 'O' Level Programme in 2005. He was adept in playing the piano (DipABRSM), the clarinet (grade 8) and contributed much by playing the piano for his church.

In his Co-Curricular Activity, Concert Band, Andy showed both passion and commitment (from sec1-3 only). He regularly performed in a range of school and community concerts over the last four years like the 50th Anniversary Concert at the Esplanade (she missed out the part to say I played a nice nice solo), Fengshan Community Concert and Botanical Gardens Concert. He also achieved success at the Singapore Youth Festival (Gold with Honours Award) in 2005.

Andy has proven himself to be helpful, capable, dependable, and industrious. He possesses a positive attitude towards life. Having a strong determination, Andy has proven to be outstanding in all areas. In conclusion, Andy has given much of himself to Anglican High School and has gained and honed many skills. His considerable abilities, character and personality will stand him a good stead for further successes.

haha no more time to add stuff liao. I'm LATE!

2008-09-28T22:43:00.003+08:00

This is going to be one of the rare posts. I am stopping regular updating because of a change in strategy.

I declare prelims a failure.

But failure's not the end. I was just reminded of a story today, so I guess I'd wanna type it here to remind myself, and anyone out there who thinks prelims sux- Well if you think prelims rox, you've got a big problem because you'd be going straight down for A's =)...

Once upon a time, there was a donkey who was trapped in a dried up well. The donkey's farmer saw that his donkey was trapped inside and calculated that since he didn't need the donkey anymore, he would just bury the donkey and in the process fill up the dried up well. As such, he got his neighbors to help pour sand into the well. However, as sand poured on the donkey's back, it shaked the sand off, and stepped on top. After awhile, it was able to get out of the well. Failure's just like sand. It doesn't make sense to stay there and let failures bury us... I guess it'd be more beneficial taking advantage of failures as stepping stones to get to our goal.

Failure's not always our fault. Today's F1 race showed was a horrid unfortunate event for Massa. Yea, I was supporting Massa, so I was understandably disappointed. The fuel pipe was stuck to his car during his pit stop and thus he lost time. He had a penalty some time later and these led to him losing his first position (which he had held before the incident) to become one of the last. It certainly wasn't his fault, but if it were me, with more than half the race left, I'd make sure I get back my lead position. I'm not a racer, but I do know that he was distracted and had a change in mood after the incident, seeing his later flaws etc.

Oh well, yeap that're my thoughts. And they shall guide me through for the rest of this period.

I don't have a positive feeling about tomorrow because of several factors, including chinese prelims, not being able to have my own time in the afternoon, collecting back more papers. Actually, I rather get all my papers back now because I want to finalise my final plan to make sure its flawless. But anyway, for now at least, I'm on track to getting at least 8As... haha. And I really really hope a Y... ok if there's such a thing. Or maybe it's some other letter. haha.

2008-09-24T20:29:00.003+08:00

It's been haunting me, and it's the first time I'n in such disbelief of my grade... Econs --> 53.5%? That's got to be a nightmare. No way no way. ISP's wrong. My predictions have never been THAT wrong. I'm so so sure that it's wrong... I'm trying to comfort myself on this blog so please... erm skip this post? Yunyu and her friend don't believe their results too. Yea, they ain't bad in econs. If it's gonna be a 53.5%, I'm gonna get a C. C? With all the confidence I had after the paper? no... it can't be. I was very sure of my answers. Maybe the teacher missed a page. Or maybe it was a teacher who hated me. Nono... I'm sure ISP IS Wrong. Bleah... I'm like ranting to joshua how I think ISP is wrong. Seriously. argh!!! This is the first time I feel so strongly that the marks are not mine and I'm disowning it. it is impossible. whatever. ranting isn't gonna change it. Tomorrow's doomsday. I shall see if prelims was a make or break. ARGH!!!!!

2008-09-23T21:43:00.002+08:00

I realise my blogging frequency only increases during exam periods =x... Post-prelims is so boring... After 3 days of going out, I find myself at home today. ZZZ. So bored that I wasted my time on a computer game. On Sunday, I met Serene at macs to just ketchup abit. On monday, GP only lasting 1.5 hrs. Some of us went to play volleyball after that. I was mostly just watching the ball. I'm not good in it. Haha.. I've been thinking. Maybe I can only play racquet sports like Badminton and TT or at least my tennis isn't that bad. haha.

I need to get some things done these few days, but I'm doing them at a very slow pace. Firstly, I need to read some books that I've been planning to read. Next, I need to do some research on some theories. I also need to read some articles I cut out during the exam period for interest's sake. I always plan to do my compositions after exams but I don't ever get them done. That's why until now there's no real recording. zzz. And haven't picked up my clarinet in ages. Oh and I wanna learn vibrato. nah not the clarinet one.

I've picked up some books that are pretty interesting. I'd probably read them after A's. George Orwell's 1984 is a pretty sad story =x... not sure if I wanna read books with sad endings. Yay! The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Ayn Rand's Anthem, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter are all on my to-read list... Fountainhead maybe. lol... and the Maximum Series! I haven't read the latest book released in March.

zzz... If only I could... get a nice voice and sing like zhoujielun. =x... haha. Until now, I can only sing well after warming up. And warming up takes quite long. I shall do something about it after A's. haha, it gets irritating. I remember training my vocals in january and february but as stress piled up I didn't do anymore. And now my tone's wavery and pitch fluctuates. crap. hahahaha... worse still, I forgot so many lyrics. I normally end up sub-ing in my own words or humming or smth.

K i'm off! Tmr's a good day!

2008-09-20T07:36:00.002+08:00

THE THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF FUN!

On Wednesday after Physics Paper, we went to the Art Block to help meiying with her art work. Then, Eric, Ben, Kaiyao, tb, Patricia, Ruyi, Cheryl, Lishan and I went to Wisma to eat at Food Republic. I bought this really big bowl of meepok which didn't taste nice at all but was nevertheless filling. Later, we bought movie tickets for DeathRace which started at 250pm, so we headed to Ben and Jerry's. Eric and I bought ice-cream and all of us started drinking their water and playing lame stuff.

Chonglin, Tommy, Songyuan, Wanjing and Lydia came soon after, and we headed for the movie. The movie was nice, but a bit scary too =s... After the movie, we went to this game place I don't know it's name. Erm, it's kinda like Settler's. We first played this.... hand gesture game. Argh I don't know! ahah. And then we played Loot. Lishan and I didn't play that bad, only lost to Chonglin and Songyuan by 3 points. haha.

I woke up at 545am on Thursday and quickly washed up before starting my jog from my house to bedok central. Upon reaching, I then went to bedok stadium and ran there and walked back towards bedok central for breakfast at Mac's. These took me till 7am. I saw many AHS people at Mac's and found out from Vanessa that AHS started school at 830am on alternate Thursdays! So cool... erm. Boonjin came at 730 and we talked till about 815. There was still time since I was to meet wanjing at 845, so I took a walk up the hill to see AHS. Wanjing was late. And we were late- we arrived at harborfront half an hour behind schedule. argh.

Anyway. Present at HarborFront were: Kaiyao, Gaofan, Tommy, Yunyu, Patricia, Kitty, Wanjing and I. We took a bus to Hort Park and met Ben and Eric there. Hort Park was really really beautiful. We walked around and took many many pictures, especially at the playground, sitting on top of this web-like thing for almost half an hour, just to take pictures =)... and tommy didn't dare to ask a guy to help us take pictures, and chose to ask a young girl instead. lol.

We were perpiring a lot when we finished our walk, so we went to the air-conditioned exhibition area, and made a fair bit of noise! And we saw many photos of the same couple kissing at Hort Park...

It took quite long for us to decide on the place for lunch- it almost ended being Sakae Sushi but their buffet started at 3. So we went Vivo and most of us ate Carl's Jr, while Pat, Kitty and I went to Subway =)... We talked a lot at Carl's Jr concerning matters in s68 and started making fun of people... ahhaa. Songyuan met us at 3pm, and we recorded Songyuan's laughter, and some really random and lame ads that gaofan was suppose to post at class blog. lol.

Hmm... After Vivo, Songyuan, Tommy, Gaofan, Ben, Kitty and I continued to Songyuan's house. We wanted to watch a movie and Songyuan recommended 1408. He said it was a thriller. But it was in fact a horror movie. I covered my eyes and ears for most of it. Argh. not gonna trust his taste anymore! That was my first horror movie, though he claims that it wasn't a horror movie at all =s...

It was already 6 when we headed back home, I took a bus route I hadn't taken before and occupied my time calling people and trying to convince people to go for the next day's outing.

On Friday, Eric, Ben, Gaofan, Kaiyao, Songyuan, Tommy, Chonglin, Kitty, Lydia, Wanjing, Cheryl, Ruyi, Lishan and I went headed to Chinese Garden Mrt and we started playing indian poker at the MRT. haha. victims of the game included me, songyuan, ben and wanjing. Hmmz... Pat came at 330 and we headed for Jurong East Swimming Complex. It didn't take long for all of us other than Cheryl, Ruyi and Lishan to get into the water. It also didn't take long for me to injure my hand and that effectively ended much of my time in the pool. So I went back to where Cheryl, Ruyi and Lishan were sitting and joined them. It was really fun seeing Scrabble because I haven't played it in ages, and Taboo was really really fun as well. At about 6pm, news came that the wave pool was operating! I jumped back into the pool just for the wave - that was why I came anyway =P...

Gaofan, Cheryl, Ruyi and Lishan left after the swim, mostly because of broken reasons. The rest of us headed for Suntec and we were really late, reaching at 745 when we were suppose to meet mr low at 7. oops. We went to Kenny Rogers, and Ms Ouyang joined us soon after. I guess Kitty and I were pretty tired... ahaha. Songyuan and Tommy still had a lot of energy, so they were entertaining the rest of the table for most of the time. It was a really fun-filled dinner, and we left about 9 plus.

I guess this would be the end of our 3 days of wild fun, and we would probably not have anymore on such a scale since having too many of it would make outings less special. Ok, so I guess the 3 days, can be named as 1) Day Prelims Ended 2) Planned Random Outing 3) Class Swimming Initiative. ahha. just to categorise the photos well.

And yes, we'd be back to mugging for A levels. After getting back GP, I was almost certain that Friday would be my last playday. On my to-do list now would be GP, Chinese and SAT. yea, the h2s... haha. It would suffice to say that I shall do what it takes to get an A but not a 100 (because it doesn't matter) and the marginal benefit of channeling resources to GP and Chinese is probably much higher than the rest of the subjects.

Bleah. No no. Shouldn't talk about subjects in this post. Of course, if there's anymore class outing, I'd be sure to go =)... if anyone plans it... or anyone has any ideas... because I don't have any ideas anymore.

Oh yes class chalet would probably be 2-4 Dec, and Kaiyao's trying his best to book Aloha Loyang. Ooh... fun fun. haha. We should really be planning the details soon. I had a few proposals for the next few class outings. Ok, we can have numerous class outings after A levels, so we can go walking on the bridges (like Henderson Bridge) for one of the outings! I was just joking aout the "meet the extended family session" outing. haha...

okok That's about all for now. IT'S SATURDAY! But as usual, my saturdays are Boring other than meeting some friends in the morning. Erm. Ok fine I got SAT lessons in the night, and I'm still looking at my poor injured hand every minute. No more piano for quite awhile because of that. SIAN. erm. ok not really. i can play one-handed piano. Something to regret, I missed 4L's class outing yesterday. aww. Haha. nvm, s68's one was better I guess =)... Pat said she'd go for the sec4 one instead of the s68 one, but I didn't really have a choice since I was organising the s68 one and it was obviously fun-er because the outing was planned by me =)... oops. aha. Tomorrow I'd be meeting serene at Parkway to pass her stuff from the HCI bookshop. Seems like the HCI Bookshop's pretty popular for good study materials. hahaha...

I'd be uploading pictures soon! yay... haha. Actually there's no diff between before prelims and after prelims to me. It's still work in the end. But after A's, it's FREEDOM!!! oh yes, I found out some really groundbreaking thing yesterday!!! okok never mind. I guess Andy's just got this way of finding out information xP...

2008-09-18T22:32:00.003+08:00

Ahh.. it's been fun organising the post-prelim outings for s68. Hmm. Today's activity was a success, with 11 out of the possible 16 people going. It's codenamed P.R.O., a name coined out while some of us were walking to songyuan's house later in the afternoon. I shall elaborate more on it and yesterday's outing in my next post, but I'm really too tired now. P.R.O. stands for Planned Random Outing.

I guess our next outing, codenamed C.S.I shall be a success too. These won't really be official class outings since the AEP people have to concentrate on their work. C.S.I. stands for Class Swimming Initiative. Lol. I thought it sounded funny.

K i shall sleep. I ran like 5km today. and walked another dunno how many kms... k I shall go to sleep. Today I had a dumb thought - why did they invent Hertz if it could just be per second. They might as well make per metre a Andy or a Lee. k nvm. shui jiao le

2008-09-16T17:01:00.003+08:00

chem paper was... lobsided. I didn't get any chance to display my grasp of topics like gas laws, chemical bonding, reaction kinetics, chemical energetics, chemical and ionic equlibria. Instead, I was left trying my best to answer inorganic questions and protein questions, some really minor topics that would pretty much put the biology pupils a step ahead of physics pupils. Great. But I shall not complain since there're another 400+ of us feeling the same way. It was almost a test of J2 topics and nothing in J1 came out. Not even a full question of energetics or kinetics? (which is simply standard... every exam has them)... Haha. funny. I don't really think this is a test of my true chem abilities because of the way the paper's been set. I rather cry foul. lol. Luckily I flipped through the little red book and read abit about proteins just minutes before the paper, otherwise I would have thrown about 20marks down the drain. wow. they're really giving bio people a treat, with paper 2 and 3 exhibiting such a large proportion of proteins. I don't really have a good feeling about paper 2 especially. I thought paper 1 was bad enough. Well, all I can do now is hope that my paper 3 does a miracle and my overall score somehow finds its way there... =P, it will.

Tomorrow's physics MCQ. Well... I know it will be a hard one... I need the MCQ marks to drive up my score, but I don't really excel in physics MCQ somehow. I don't know why.

Okokok. hmm. Just now I was at the bus stop waiting for bus 48. I saw an old indian man walking towards me. He stopped a few steps infront of me and pulled out a cigarette. The wind was blowing in my direction. dreads. I guess I was putting on a friendly frown of some sort, so he came to talk to me. He first looked at my collar pin

"You.. you from SMU ar? What school you from?"
"Hwa Chong..."
"Hwa Chong is chinese school? Or got english also?"
"Got English"
"You 18 years old?"
"Yea..."
"Must study hard last time I never study, p3 p4... sec2 drop out. Now like that, school is the best time"
"Yea.. work not fun?"
"see what your work do... now see you all so advanced, use computer... You know how to operate computer?"
"Yes, now school homework... also must do on computer"
"What job you want to be next time?"
"I'm not sure yet..."
"Accountant good..."
"But very stressful lah..."
"But accountant good. Banker also good. Must get at least a diploma, otherwise like me..."
"Yep yep..."
"Lawyer also good... financial... financial analyst.. arh my bus come already"

I was reading about malaysian politics in the newspaper. I think that... the ISA was used wrongly and it can really bring back bad memories of the gustapo and SS. makes me shiver.....

yay tomorrows the last day of prelims! I sort of made up my mind to run on thursday morning. I'm not sure if I'd go for a swim after that, but it sounds tempting. lol

2008-09-15T16:27:00.003+08:00

I just woke up from a nice nap =)... I didn't stay back in school because no one was in school today, and our table got invaded by other people. I kept wondering to myself "Do I have the right to ask them to move away? After all there're 5 of them against one of me..." But I had no place to do my work and there were vulgar words flying all around so I decided to walk off. I met Joshua outside the canteen and we walked to the bus stop and met Damien and Audrey as well. Haha. I realise that... maybe I do know quite a number of people =x... but only in the last few months. I only met them like... 2 months ago... lol. oh ben was at the bus stop as well...

I thought I would catch a nap in the bus, but I was probably too hyped up by the math paper or just that it wasn't after lunch so I wasn't tired. The math paper was certainly a relief for me, and I finished it in satisfactory time and had time to check. Paper 1 was horrible. I went to parkway for lunch, and treated myself to a $4 lunch. Wow. it's like a big treat... because I would not spend $4 for lunch if I weren't with anyone else. And then I further treated myself to two Zhoujielun cds that I'd been eyeing since yesterday. It was purely in celebration of the end of the scary math episode. And err... had to shop at isetan for something for my dad's birthday today. Haha. so funny. I realise that the most thrifty people in the world apart from housewives are students. I went around looking at the price tags before the design. It's the same when I buy other things. Ok maybe it's just me, but I believe that because students are on tight budgets, they make pretty thrifty consumers. In total I spent around 90 bucks there. But I'd save up that amount real soon. haha. I calculated my savings rate yesterday --> 65%... lol. I ownz Singapore's average savings rate of 45%... =P

Oh my dad's birthday. So far DHL has come twice this afternoon to deliver cakes. I guess from banks or smth. I think both are so small they don't even add up to 1kg. But... one has carelessly left the receipt there... 40 bucks o.0... for a 15cm by 15cm cake... I think that's quite ex. argh. anw I guess i'd be the one eating up all the cakes for breakfast tmr!

Oh talking about econs. This has been in my head for quite awhile. I've been thinking of the PPC and how I allocated my resources this prelims. It is true that recently I have channeled efforts from Physics and Maths (of which I had done quite well in promos) to chemistry, econs, and gp. I'm not really seeing results from gp yet (this time it'd be good)... erm. But my chemistry marks have improved and econs... I have been keeping up with myself. I spent more time this round than previous rounds where I spent 2 days. I calculated in the bus, given that I don't study econs in an average week because tutorials aren't nice to do... I have spent a total of about 15 days studying econs (for exams, lecture tests), compared to the probably 100+ for physics and math. Chem's a bit less too I guess. probably 30-40 days because of the lack of doing tutorials but because I've got a standard way of studying chem so it takes longer... As such, I've seen a fall in my math standards in BT1 and further falls in math and physics in BT2. Well, it's all in the name of trying to squeeze as many As while sacrificing a bit of "marks".... haha. I guess BT2 was quite rewarding actually. I had... 70 70 68 60. Almost AAAB. But it was just as well, almost BBBC. dangerous =x...

Never mind. I'm confident of improvement in every subject this round... ok. I should really really be studying but.....

haha. Serene's been asking about the hc bookshop. I guess the hc bkshop is quite good or has smth vj doesn't. i wonder... I'm already sort of planning my post prelims. I've got 2 class outings. Erm. Chinese mock? Or well... SAT. I'd probably focus on Chinese, GP and SAT after prelims. And give myself a break till about 4 october for the H2s... yay. =P

2008-09-14T23:27:00.001+08:00

o ;pbr upi dp ,ivj o vsmy dyp[ yjomlomh snpiy upi///

2008-09-14T18:34:00.002+08:00

I'm going to Jack's Place to celebrate my dad's birthday soon, but smart me went to buy a big packet of BBQ Ruffles at 4 so I'm still full. Argh. But anyway, I think I'm either going to eat Fish and Chips or Spaghetti with Baked Potato... no appetite for steaks today... hmm. I finally see some hope in getting myself to study at home. Or maybe I'm just in the mood today. (It only lasted for 2 hours though, as you can see I'm blogging now)... erm. I turned on the music and it got me to work quite a bit.

Oh haha... There's this My Hope thingy going around. The video was nice. I think this Christmas should be quite happening, with the YFC thing as well (I forgot the name)... Oh I just spent quite a bit of time trying out how to fuse "Lest I forget Gethsemane" and "How great Thou art", two really old English songs... problem is that the starting chords for the choruses of both songs are different so I might have to adjust the cadences. oh, it was for fun anyway =x... erm. I realise I haven't done any recording of 3 of my songs. The other 5's got recordings, though crappy ones. I still haven't put my keyboard into any good use since getting it last Christmas. Maybe all I want for this christmas would be... *secret* I still got my birthday first. 21 oct. 21 oct.

I realise it's just 3 more days till the end of prelims. argh. It's passing too quickly. I want it to stay... I don't know why... hmm.

K i guess I should be getting back to forcing myself to increase the distance in the direction of my force. Haha... SSS was quite funny today. Lame stuff =x.

Uncle John: So you'd have Child A Child B Child C...
Me: Chelsea? Nice name... =x

and my "dollar" sign... lol

and the odd wheels thingy again. haha. oops...

2008-09-13T09:33:00.000+08:00