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Monday, January 30, 2006
When your goodnights have been said
And you are lying in bed
With the covers pulled up tight
And though you count every sheep
You get the feeling that sleep
Is gonna stay away tonight
-Starlight Express, Andrew Lloyd Weber
Its funny... but in the last few days, before I sleep or before I wake up, my mind plays the events of the Novices over and over again in my head. All the "what ifs" flow through again and again... Thinking back, I got eliminated from the individual events too easily... against opponents which I should have beat, even thrashed... The solutions now seem so obvious. Don't go "Ah, finally he realised that". Anytime later than the 1 minute intervals during the bout is too late... Again, it was not physical ability that denied a better placing... it was mental strength...
Could I have done better in the Individuals? In the Team? Yes. Could I have helped a certain VJ Ladies' team better? Maybe. Could I have helped a certain RJ team better? Maybe.
Ah whatever... There's FSC and the U-20s... N the lure of an individual medal will always be there... And given the self assessment and a slight change in attitude (for the better I hope.. the side effects have yet to show)... I think mentally, this time I WILL be more prepared...
Looking forward to it! But hope I don't break any blades this time! =D
Don't worry... I'm not in a slump or in a rut again... Its called "self reflection".
___________________________________________________________________
People spend CNY playing a certain game where you have a green board, n you toss out certain chips, and collect back the same amount... n occasionally you can take advantage of another person's chips... heheh...
Today for the first time in a long while, I played that game... n I won!! Hahaha
Tada! SCRABBLE! Hahaha what were you thinking?
Well, its the first time I think, that I won a scrabble game at my pastors' house... While my sister is around usually I cannot make any headway... What do you know! Today I could... haha
I made a very auspicious start... haha... by putting the word "foil"... After that I could still go make all sorts of weird combinations... Like forming 3 words at one go with "Minds" in the rightmost column... "Bet" and "Chip" on the triple word boxes were also formed by me... haha.... super "tyco" (lucky, flukey) as they say in hokkien..
CNY so far has been very unhealthy =Pp Cos its like I've been eating a lot (I bet my target area has increased). Also cos my klutz gene has been highly dominant... Lets go through the day's events of the past few days...
New Year's Eve (Saturday):
1. Met a certain teacher in charge at FM, when I least expected her and got the "where's the rest of the money" line in front of other fencers.... Eveidently someone hasn't heard the phrase "washing dirty linen in public".
2. Got HIT by Jeri with her epee point
3. Got HIT by Jeri with her epee guard
4. Got hit by Jeri inside my shoe with her epee point
(Jeri, if you're reading this, don't feel guilty... its just a memory =D)
5. Got HIT by Jon Tay with his foil blade
(I hope to goodness I still possess the ability to reproduce)
6. Structural failure on my foil
7. Dropped my uncooked chicken on the floor during reunion dinner
8. Did it again
9. Did it again after it got cooked
you get the idea
It would be too long to go through the other days.... but they include
10. Closing the door on my foot
11. Closing the gate on my foot
12. Dropping a cup coaster
13. Dropping a cup coaster
14. Dropping a cup coaster
(The last 3 in different houses)
Anyway... random pics..
Coming home from church, in a wide variety of red - orange colours... My father is holding the camera... haha...
My cat... Cats are intelligent... Can YOU pull off this kind of gyration? He seems sick these few days though.... n all the vets are not open.... =/
Oh one last thing... the beeping Bio S assignment is getting on my nerves.... N Trina is giving me pressure... haha... she researched so much stuff that I can find little else to put in already!
Alright thats it for now then... regards!
And you are lying in bed
With the covers pulled up tight
And though you count every sheep
You get the feeling that sleep
Is gonna stay away tonight
-Starlight Express, Andrew Lloyd Weber
Its funny... but in the last few days, before I sleep or before I wake up, my mind plays the events of the Novices over and over again in my head. All the "what ifs" flow through again and again... Thinking back, I got eliminated from the individual events too easily... against opponents which I should have beat, even thrashed... The solutions now seem so obvious. Don't go "Ah, finally he realised that". Anytime later than the 1 minute intervals during the bout is too late... Again, it was not physical ability that denied a better placing... it was mental strength...
Could I have done better in the Individuals? In the Team? Yes. Could I have helped a certain VJ Ladies' team better? Maybe. Could I have helped a certain RJ team better? Maybe.
Ah whatever... There's FSC and the U-20s... N the lure of an individual medal will always be there... And given the self assessment and a slight change in attitude (for the better I hope.. the side effects have yet to show)... I think mentally, this time I WILL be more prepared...
Looking forward to it! But hope I don't break any blades this time! =D
Don't worry... I'm not in a slump or in a rut again... Its called "self reflection".
___________________________________________________________________
People spend CNY playing a certain game where you have a green board, n you toss out certain chips, and collect back the same amount... n occasionally you can take advantage of another person's chips... heheh...
Today for the first time in a long while, I played that game... n I won!! Hahaha
Tada! SCRABBLE! Hahaha what were you thinking?
Well, its the first time I think, that I won a scrabble game at my pastors' house... While my sister is around usually I cannot make any headway... What do you know! Today I could... haha
I made a very auspicious start... haha... by putting the word "foil"... After that I could still go make all sorts of weird combinations... Like forming 3 words at one go with "Minds" in the rightmost column... "Bet" and "Chip" on the triple word boxes were also formed by me... haha.... super "tyco" (lucky, flukey) as they say in hokkien..
CNY so far has been very unhealthy =Pp Cos its like I've been eating a lot (I bet my target area has increased). Also cos my klutz gene has been highly dominant... Lets go through the day's events of the past few days...
New Year's Eve (Saturday):
1. Met a certain teacher in charge at FM, when I least expected her and got the "where's the rest of the money" line in front of other fencers.... Eveidently someone hasn't heard the phrase "washing dirty linen in public".
2. Got HIT by Jeri with her epee point
3. Got HIT by Jeri with her epee guard
4. Got hit by Jeri inside my shoe with her epee point
(Jeri, if you're reading this, don't feel guilty... its just a memory =D)
5. Got HIT by Jon Tay with his foil blade
(I hope to goodness I still possess the ability to reproduce)
6. Structural failure on my foil
7. Dropped my uncooked chicken on the floor during reunion dinner
8. Did it again
9. Did it again after it got cooked
you get the idea
It would be too long to go through the other days.... but they include
10. Closing the door on my foot
11. Closing the gate on my foot
12. Dropping a cup coaster
13. Dropping a cup coaster
14. Dropping a cup coaster
(The last 3 in different houses)
Anyway... random pics..
Coming home from church, in a wide variety of red - orange colours... My father is holding the camera... haha...
My cat... Cats are intelligent... Can YOU pull off this kind of gyration? He seems sick these few days though.... n all the vets are not open.... =/
Oh one last thing... the beeping Bio S assignment is getting on my nerves.... N Trina is giving me pressure... haha... she researched so much stuff that I can find little else to put in already!
Alright thats it for now then... regards!
~JcZw~ at 10:28 pm
Saturday, January 28, 2006
OH MY GOODNESS!! Sun and ZiXian used to be from St. John! And the latter even was in Zone 2 also (Loyang)!! Ahhh!! Ok i'm shocked... haha... but also kinda pleased that there are two SJ-ers in FM... so interesting I never knew...
CNY celebration today.... I remember the blog post I wrote about CNY last year... Again, the comments are similar... For myself, I think Wushu and ICS were the best performances (again!) although dance n CO were a close second... The fashion parade was... weirdd.... but the Phoenix one was quite amusing.... Hair is hairy... right... thats so me...
Lion dance... I like the camera angle =D
CO performance... The second guy from the left playing the black drum happens to be Keefe.
A greeting card left on the noticeboard by Charlene from Fencing... It reads "To VJ Fencing: Have a great Chinese New Year ahead..." among other things....
As mentioned last year again, the mass dance was anticipated, and like last year, we formed our circle darn quickly...the difference was that this year we knew how to do friendship dance.. Oh yes, can anyone remember what we were doing the day BEFORE celebrations last year? I can... =D
Didn't go back to AH.... why, I can't say for sure... maybe cos I go back so often already... n many of the teachers I know have left n all...
Went to Cineleisure with my classmates... The first time in how long we've had a class outing on such a large scale... Slept through almost the whole bus journey there lor....
Dory trying to reassemble Xunai's half eaten chicken rice for Keefe, who insisted that "I will not eat it unless the skin is on the chicken". For the record, he didn't =D
We watched "Memoirs of a Geisha"... hmmm ok I suppose... Nothing much to comment, but I think the music was nice... N as ChuaH n I agreed, the way the protegenist went about, she was really "asking for it".
Rushed off too fast for my liking after the movie (I reached the MRT station in 7 minutes!) and on to Dover to meet Maurice, as well as a few SMU people (we didn't meet them. We ran into them). We then proceeded to spend 1 1/2 hours waiting for a taxi. Persistently none would stop to pick us up...
To attract attention, Maurice, Eldon and I even tried dancing Whiney Whiney by the side of the road (using my handphone for music) but it didn't work either. Walked there instead...
BBQ was fun! A lot of people were there... VJ, CJ, RJ, SMU, ITE, and of course all the independant FM fencers.... No one got thrown into the pool, though Jeri was quite high throughout the whole thing...
The "First Shift": Junjie, Kevin (face hidden), Jeri (with paper) and myself (behind the camera).
Food
BBQ at night
Jeri giving her "save the animals!" a la Finding Nemo (Fish are friends, not food) speech. I told you she was high... hahaa...
Through a series of complications, unfortunately our fire went out n couldn't reignite till 10, so we ended up eating quite late! Alrighttt....
Anyway Maurice and I caught a cab back to Kembangan from Dover... cost us a pretty penny... Caused me my blood pressure too... The feller was going sooo fast!!! His needle was hovering around 100 lor... I was thinking "Please let his tyres be inflated properly, cos if one bursts we're gonna die".
Obviously, I didn't, cos I'm writing this now.
Oh yes... not only I don't have to run on wed, but I got an FA post at the turning points of the routes.... a location where not many people are expected to get hurt... This means though, that I have to cover the entirety of the route on the coastal side of the ECP with my stretcher. Running with a stretcher ain't gonna be funny (and they did have to use it a few times last year!)
Seriously, I wouldn't mind running though... though I flatter myself to think that I run fast, but I think running would be more fun than doing first aid...
Alright then... happy CNY all! Goodnight!
CNY celebration today.... I remember the blog post I wrote about CNY last year... Again, the comments are similar... For myself, I think Wushu and ICS were the best performances (again!) although dance n CO were a close second... The fashion parade was... weirdd.... but the Phoenix one was quite amusing.... Hair is hairy... right... thats so me...
Lion dance... I like the camera angle =D
CO performance... The second guy from the left playing the black drum happens to be Keefe.
A greeting card left on the noticeboard by Charlene from Fencing... It reads "To VJ Fencing: Have a great Chinese New Year ahead..." among other things....
As mentioned last year again, the mass dance was anticipated, and like last year, we formed our circle darn quickly...the difference was that this year we knew how to do friendship dance.. Oh yes, can anyone remember what we were doing the day BEFORE celebrations last year? I can... =D
Didn't go back to AH.... why, I can't say for sure... maybe cos I go back so often already... n many of the teachers I know have left n all...
Went to Cineleisure with my classmates... The first time in how long we've had a class outing on such a large scale... Slept through almost the whole bus journey there lor....
Dory trying to reassemble Xunai's half eaten chicken rice for Keefe, who insisted that "I will not eat it unless the skin is on the chicken". For the record, he didn't =D
We watched "Memoirs of a Geisha"... hmmm ok I suppose... Nothing much to comment, but I think the music was nice... N as ChuaH n I agreed, the way the protegenist went about, she was really "asking for it".
Rushed off too fast for my liking after the movie (I reached the MRT station in 7 minutes!) and on to Dover to meet Maurice, as well as a few SMU people (we didn't meet them. We ran into them). We then proceeded to spend 1 1/2 hours waiting for a taxi. Persistently none would stop to pick us up...
To attract attention, Maurice, Eldon and I even tried dancing Whiney Whiney by the side of the road (using my handphone for music) but it didn't work either. Walked there instead...
BBQ was fun! A lot of people were there... VJ, CJ, RJ, SMU, ITE, and of course all the independant FM fencers.... No one got thrown into the pool, though Jeri was quite high throughout the whole thing...
The "First Shift": Junjie, Kevin (face hidden), Jeri (with paper) and myself (behind the camera).
Food
BBQ at night
Jeri giving her "save the animals!" a la Finding Nemo (Fish are friends, not food) speech. I told you she was high... hahaa...
Through a series of complications, unfortunately our fire went out n couldn't reignite till 10, so we ended up eating quite late! Alrighttt....
Anyway Maurice and I caught a cab back to Kembangan from Dover... cost us a pretty penny... Caused me my blood pressure too... The feller was going sooo fast!!! His needle was hovering around 100 lor... I was thinking "Please let his tyres be inflated properly, cos if one bursts we're gonna die".
Obviously, I didn't, cos I'm writing this now.
Oh yes... not only I don't have to run on wed, but I got an FA post at the turning points of the routes.... a location where not many people are expected to get hurt... This means though, that I have to cover the entirety of the route on the coastal side of the ECP with my stretcher. Running with a stretcher ain't gonna be funny (and they did have to use it a few times last year!)
Seriously, I wouldn't mind running though... though I flatter myself to think that I run fast, but I think running would be more fun than doing first aid...
Alright then... happy CNY all! Goodnight!
~JcZw~ at 12:07 am
Monday, January 23, 2006
What can I say.... you never "win the silver". You "lose the gold". And oh man, we were so close to winning to the gold (Coach reckons we had the superior team too).. Just 2 tactical errors made such a lot of difference.
Pictures below, if you care to scroll down...
But as I mentioned before, everyone in the active team pulled their weight... Eldon, Maurice, myself, we all contributed to getting so far... Eldon's french grip, Maurice's lunge n his now-scary reputation, and my close quarter... heheh.. Kind of a bittersweet victory... Our team did perform well, but SMU was just that much better...
Saturday: Men's Team Epee
We got there on time, and as predicted, we did get a Bye, i.e. we auto got into the next round. So for the first round we scrutinized Tanglin Sec, who chewed up CJC's third team. Eldon was like "We're gonna die" and I was like "You! Quiet!" hahaa... but yea, the scoreline was totally freaky man...
Amazingly we did alright... All my close quarters came out (the poor guy who kept running into my point) ok... heheh.. n Eldon totally killed their best fencer.... To a foilist its absolutely unbelievable that anyone would have the NERVE to counterattack... haha... Maurice, of course, put up a stellar performance, marred only by the fact that he gave us a slight panic attack in the last bout by getting our 18-point lead cut to a 10-point lead...
Next was against CJC's top team. Fresh in my memory was Khai catching up 12 points on ITE and winning the thing single-handedly in the U-17s.... Well, this was super exciting lar... The lead changed hands 3 times in the bout, and Maurice went into the last round with only 1 point on Khai. Eldon was like "We're gonna die" and I was like "You! Quiet!!!!!" n hey, Maurice held him off for almost 3 min... But I think Khai wasn't on form (actually, neither was Maurice, according to himself) and we managed to scrape through...
Ahh, tragedy tragedy against SMU. Maurice and I chose the wrong positions (this is hard to explain to a non fencer) and we miscommunicated during the bout.... Think all of us were tired also, n Maurice n I both performed not as well as we expected. But Eldon more than made up for it, catching up a 7 point deficit on the SMU team... This match was so oh-my-goodness.... its like, the lead changed so many times...
But finally it was down to Xuyang and Maurice, and Xuyang got his revenge by getting to 45 first. He hit, went "woohoo!" and flung his mask into the air. Junyuan, his team mate, was running to him and as he jumped up to hug him, the mask smacked him on his face. I'm not joking. I even have it on video =D Just a random comment
Team Silver.... No one remembers it cos its "team" and cos its "silver", but still, I think we did still ok...
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday: Ladies' Epee Team
We rushed over from church, had lunch, and watched the girls fence ITE. It was so possible we could have won... We were even leading in the beginning! But experience told its own story unfortunately...
I then had 3 teams to support.... SMU, CJC, and Candice from RJ (I support the individual, cos only the individual is from FM.. the rest were not). Maurice was rooting for SMU, so, as promised to Jeri, I watched CJC nail RGS, then watched Candice and her team take out CJC's second team. Mixed feelings lar.... =/ Its like I'm caught down the middle, but then Coach n all the FM people were on the CJ side... I thought she should have at least one FM person on hers.... Not that I could do much anyway, cos I was score-keeping.. But apparently, but scores alone, I think she did as well as, or better than me yesterday (when I was playing DD all the way!)
RJ went against Cheryl, Cynthia, Gaya n Rachel in the next round...
How to say... I felt so so guilty during the round.... My consciounce told me I should stay with the RJ team, if only for Candice, cos they really needed help. But I was also praying that Coach wouldn't kill me for doing so, n that the CJ people wouldn't get offended.. But I hope I did manage to help in someway... The RJ team wasn't that good, but Candice herself fenced well, especially when she started attacking...but one fencer cannot win that much... For an epeeist with but 2 months and 3 lessons, it was a good fight, but again, the combined experience of the CJ side told.
The final was between SMU and CJC. Frankly, SMU should have won, but you have to hand it to the CJ team (Cynthia and Rachel especially) that they got the right points at the crucial moments! Come on VJ! Lets all go n buy black socks =Pp... haha alright joking.. CJ got the gold spectacularly! N their supporters were great too!
I watched Candice and her team tangle with Tanglin Sec. Again, what was the saving grace of RJ was that they did not give up even when they were trailing. She still focused and attacked... n I think is an inspiration to her team (so is her father!).... 4th is not a pleasant place to be in, but hey, I think she at least fought well, and I don't say that out of diplomacy or consolation... I really mean it!
Prize presentation.... Happiness and sadness... I'm happy of the silver, but not overly so. We can do better and we SHALL do better in the future...
The U-20 Epee team... I'll probably be the reserve? They don't really need me anymore, cos they are already better, but I'll still be there to fence if they need to throw in a wild card =D
Alrights... Pics of the events.. Individual as well as team, taken by Sean-Paul, Coach's son... I haven't got any images from my video clips yet though...
Individual Men's Foil. Maurice and I sitting on the bench wondering who was "Omar from Ngee Ann Poly"
Individual Ladies' Epee. Helping Candice with her wire. Yea, I look fat I know... Dunno why also... Camera angle?
Men's Epee Team Final. Watching Eldon fence....
Taking over from Eldon (his titanium guard very nice lar!)
Testing blade...
My father, who came down to help us video n take pics! Thats xuyang from SMU in the background, by the way
The VJ Epee Team!! We rulez (i know thats not grammatically or alphabetically correct, dunnit to tell me)...
Yup, so thats it for now then...
Pictures below, if you care to scroll down...
But as I mentioned before, everyone in the active team pulled their weight... Eldon, Maurice, myself, we all contributed to getting so far... Eldon's french grip, Maurice's lunge n his now-scary reputation, and my close quarter... heheh.. Kind of a bittersweet victory... Our team did perform well, but SMU was just that much better...
Saturday: Men's Team Epee
We got there on time, and as predicted, we did get a Bye, i.e. we auto got into the next round. So for the first round we scrutinized Tanglin Sec, who chewed up CJC's third team. Eldon was like "We're gonna die" and I was like "You! Quiet!" hahaa... but yea, the scoreline was totally freaky man...
Amazingly we did alright... All my close quarters came out (the poor guy who kept running into my point) ok... heheh.. n Eldon totally killed their best fencer.... To a foilist its absolutely unbelievable that anyone would have the NERVE to counterattack... haha... Maurice, of course, put up a stellar performance, marred only by the fact that he gave us a slight panic attack in the last bout by getting our 18-point lead cut to a 10-point lead...
Next was against CJC's top team. Fresh in my memory was Khai catching up 12 points on ITE and winning the thing single-handedly in the U-17s.... Well, this was super exciting lar... The lead changed hands 3 times in the bout, and Maurice went into the last round with only 1 point on Khai. Eldon was like "We're gonna die" and I was like "You! Quiet!!!!!" n hey, Maurice held him off for almost 3 min... But I think Khai wasn't on form (actually, neither was Maurice, according to himself) and we managed to scrape through...
Ahh, tragedy tragedy against SMU. Maurice and I chose the wrong positions (this is hard to explain to a non fencer) and we miscommunicated during the bout.... Think all of us were tired also, n Maurice n I both performed not as well as we expected. But Eldon more than made up for it, catching up a 7 point deficit on the SMU team... This match was so oh-my-goodness.... its like, the lead changed so many times...
But finally it was down to Xuyang and Maurice, and Xuyang got his revenge by getting to 45 first. He hit, went "woohoo!" and flung his mask into the air. Junyuan, his team mate, was running to him and as he jumped up to hug him, the mask smacked him on his face. I'm not joking. I even have it on video =D Just a random comment
Team Silver.... No one remembers it cos its "team" and cos its "silver", but still, I think we did still ok...
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday: Ladies' Epee Team
We rushed over from church, had lunch, and watched the girls fence ITE. It was so possible we could have won... We were even leading in the beginning! But experience told its own story unfortunately...
I then had 3 teams to support.... SMU, CJC, and Candice from RJ (I support the individual, cos only the individual is from FM.. the rest were not). Maurice was rooting for SMU, so, as promised to Jeri, I watched CJC nail RGS, then watched Candice and her team take out CJC's second team. Mixed feelings lar.... =/ Its like I'm caught down the middle, but then Coach n all the FM people were on the CJ side... I thought she should have at least one FM person on hers.... Not that I could do much anyway, cos I was score-keeping.. But apparently, but scores alone, I think she did as well as, or better than me yesterday (when I was playing DD all the way!)
RJ went against Cheryl, Cynthia, Gaya n Rachel in the next round...
How to say... I felt so so guilty during the round.... My consciounce told me I should stay with the RJ team, if only for Candice, cos they really needed help. But I was also praying that Coach wouldn't kill me for doing so, n that the CJ people wouldn't get offended.. But I hope I did manage to help in someway... The RJ team wasn't that good, but Candice herself fenced well, especially when she started attacking...but one fencer cannot win that much... For an epeeist with but 2 months and 3 lessons, it was a good fight, but again, the combined experience of the CJ side told.
The final was between SMU and CJC. Frankly, SMU should have won, but you have to hand it to the CJ team (Cynthia and Rachel especially) that they got the right points at the crucial moments! Come on VJ! Lets all go n buy black socks =Pp... haha alright joking.. CJ got the gold spectacularly! N their supporters were great too!
I watched Candice and her team tangle with Tanglin Sec. Again, what was the saving grace of RJ was that they did not give up even when they were trailing. She still focused and attacked... n I think is an inspiration to her team (so is her father!).... 4th is not a pleasant place to be in, but hey, I think she at least fought well, and I don't say that out of diplomacy or consolation... I really mean it!
Prize presentation.... Happiness and sadness... I'm happy of the silver, but not overly so. We can do better and we SHALL do better in the future...
The U-20 Epee team... I'll probably be the reserve? They don't really need me anymore, cos they are already better, but I'll still be there to fence if they need to throw in a wild card =D
Alrights... Pics of the events.. Individual as well as team, taken by Sean-Paul, Coach's son... I haven't got any images from my video clips yet though...
Individual Men's Foil. Maurice and I sitting on the bench wondering who was "Omar from Ngee Ann Poly"
Individual Ladies' Epee. Helping Candice with her wire. Yea, I look fat I know... Dunno why also... Camera angle?
Men's Epee Team Final. Watching Eldon fence....
Taking over from Eldon (his titanium guard very nice lar!)
Testing blade...
My father, who came down to help us video n take pics! Thats xuyang from SMU in the background, by the way
The VJ Epee Team!! We rulez (i know thats not grammatically or alphabetically correct, dunnit to tell me)...
Yup, so thats it for now then...
~JcZw~ at 10:35 pm
Friday, January 20, 2006
Its curious in this way that the night of the competition my mind is always a blank.... I can't remember what my attacks are (i.e. compound attacks, patterns etc) or my defences.... Heh... I guess thats what the free fencing before the comp starts is for ehh?
Sometimes I think "Why our team? Why is our team supposed to be better than the others?"
Other times, the question is simple... "Why not?" Theoretically, physically, it should be possible... for a tall epeeist with an abnormally (and irritatingly sometimes heheh) long lunge and neat disengages, for the not-so-tall foilist with some moves which an epeeist doesn't know about... take the septime CQC for instance... ah well...
I don't know really... I feel kinda empty when I try to visualize what will happen tomorrow... there are many unexpected factors (but I will NOT get injured tomorrow).
Or maybe kinda blur. The whole last week has been a blur... Even in the wake of the Novices' Individual, SHE is so indifferent... I don't know, but I'm sure the other PE teachers don't come bugging their members about changing their training dates during the week of the competition. This is really the first time I'm at the very edge of "respecting the position, but absolutely detesting the person".
There's only one person that cares, and unfortunately he cannot be our CCA teacher sighzz... Well, given my n Maurice's antics on stage on monday during assembly (or rather, his antics and my goof), the school has, at least, stopped going "Huh? There's fencing? Whats fencing?" ahahaa...
I'm remarkably surprised I survived this week... when almost every minute in school I just felt like dropping dead for exhaustion...
Coupled with the time I was walking back from the canteen in the company of a few people from my class when I took it upon myself to have a nosebleed... Thankfully, having had nosebleeds in virtually all kinds of situations, I managed to take care of it inconspicuously.
(These situations include while buying mentoses in Cheers, as well as while as commanding a footdrill session in SJ =D).
Hopefully people will attribute the red stain next to LT1 as a mishap from CNY banner painting... And thankfully I didn't stain my uniform... haha..
Hey S-paper lect went quite well too... I'm surprised that the teacher found our things quite acceptable... haha.. I was expecting her to shoot down my part.... But really, Bio recently is becoming tougher. Evolution, genetics, cells etc... Some of it is already based on secondary school stuff, and I really hope I can keep up... To lose my A in bio (which is right on the limit) is not a pleasant thought... I prefer it when we were kicking about Carbo and Proteins, where you just have to study like mad (Thanks to my SJ ICs who've trained my short-term memory considerably!)
Oh yes... its also been a week for losing things... I lost my Probability notes, my Bio prac, and I nearly left my handphone in FM on wednesday... bleahhh...
Anyway... a few pictures...
Wednesday morning. Having, at that moment 23.5 hours of sleep over 4 days (well, not that bad yet, I suppose, 6 hours sleep a day), my cat and I were not in very good moods... But hey I think its a nice picture... haha....
Wednesday evening. What do you get when you equate a China blade with a very brutal underarm hit. My goodness the blade actually took the hit and stayed intact! The wire didn't even break... But its a terminal case anyway... No way it can be salvaged... Luckily its not mine... haha... Although my old blade looked like that after hitting Victoria.
Wednesday evening. Jeri wanted to take a picture to compare height... I think she reads this blog so I can't be tooo explicit =D but its safe to say that she wasn't overly pleased with the result... hahaa... okok, but well, height doesn't matter that much in fencing anyway, and she IS a good fencer...
Wednesday evening. Sun decided that she wanted to do the height thingy also. Actually she's but one cm shorter than me. Only cos of the perspective of the camera to us, and plus my hair is like puffy, so I look taller...
Random shot of Gerry n Tinyau doing Physics problems....
Can your father drive at 250 km/h without his hands on the steering wheel? Mine can =D Don't ask how... heheh...
Ok, I shall shove off to sleep then... goodnight all!
Sometimes I think "Why our team? Why is our team supposed to be better than the others?"
Other times, the question is simple... "Why not?" Theoretically, physically, it should be possible... for a tall epeeist with an abnormally (and irritatingly sometimes heheh) long lunge and neat disengages, for the not-so-tall foilist with some moves which an epeeist doesn't know about... take the septime CQC for instance... ah well...
I don't know really... I feel kinda empty when I try to visualize what will happen tomorrow... there are many unexpected factors (but I will NOT get injured tomorrow).
Or maybe kinda blur. The whole last week has been a blur... Even in the wake of the Novices' Individual, SHE is so indifferent... I don't know, but I'm sure the other PE teachers don't come bugging their members about changing their training dates during the week of the competition. This is really the first time I'm at the very edge of "respecting the position, but absolutely detesting the person".
There's only one person that cares, and unfortunately he cannot be our CCA teacher sighzz... Well, given my n Maurice's antics on stage on monday during assembly (or rather, his antics and my goof), the school has, at least, stopped going "Huh? There's fencing? Whats fencing?" ahahaa...
I'm remarkably surprised I survived this week... when almost every minute in school I just felt like dropping dead for exhaustion...
Coupled with the time I was walking back from the canteen in the company of a few people from my class when I took it upon myself to have a nosebleed... Thankfully, having had nosebleeds in virtually all kinds of situations, I managed to take care of it inconspicuously.
(These situations include while buying mentoses in Cheers, as well as while as commanding a footdrill session in SJ =D).
Hopefully people will attribute the red stain next to LT1 as a mishap from CNY banner painting... And thankfully I didn't stain my uniform... haha..
Hey S-paper lect went quite well too... I'm surprised that the teacher found our things quite acceptable... haha.. I was expecting her to shoot down my part.... But really, Bio recently is becoming tougher. Evolution, genetics, cells etc... Some of it is already based on secondary school stuff, and I really hope I can keep up... To lose my A in bio (which is right on the limit) is not a pleasant thought... I prefer it when we were kicking about Carbo and Proteins, where you just have to study like mad (Thanks to my SJ ICs who've trained my short-term memory considerably!)
Oh yes... its also been a week for losing things... I lost my Probability notes, my Bio prac, and I nearly left my handphone in FM on wednesday... bleahhh...
Anyway... a few pictures...
Wednesday morning. Having, at that moment 23.5 hours of sleep over 4 days (well, not that bad yet, I suppose, 6 hours sleep a day), my cat and I were not in very good moods... But hey I think its a nice picture... haha....
Wednesday evening. What do you get when you equate a China blade with a very brutal underarm hit. My goodness the blade actually took the hit and stayed intact! The wire didn't even break... But its a terminal case anyway... No way it can be salvaged... Luckily its not mine... haha... Although my old blade looked like that after hitting Victoria.
Wednesday evening. Jeri wanted to take a picture to compare height... I think she reads this blog so I can't be tooo explicit =D but its safe to say that she wasn't overly pleased with the result... hahaa... okok, but well, height doesn't matter that much in fencing anyway, and she IS a good fencer...
Wednesday evening. Sun decided that she wanted to do the height thingy also. Actually she's but one cm shorter than me. Only cos of the perspective of the camera to us, and plus my hair is like puffy, so I look taller...
Random shot of Gerry n Tinyau doing Physics problems....
Can your father drive at 250 km/h without his hands on the steering wheel? Mine can =D Don't ask how... heheh...
Ok, I shall shove off to sleep then... goodnight all!
~JcZw~ at 11:07 pm
Thursday, January 19, 2006
I'm trying to be mentally strong and not let the team down this saturday... Coach has every confidence that we will do well, and I don't want to be a distinctly weak link! Physically, I'm ok, but mentally, I still have to work on that... As Maurice said, "I can't believe Jason Pek even got 9 points of you [me]". Ah well...
21 hours sleep over 5 days... S-paper homework... So many things to settle... Today I didn't do my Bio tuitorial n I think Mr Chong wasn't very happy with it, especially since I was on conditional admission to Bio S already... but at the end of the day theres only so much time in which you can squeeze in school work, yet I dare not slack off fencing until this week is over!
I bet there are some people out there who can do both and still not feel tired... but to me, fencing when you are anything less than healthy is not heroic... Its more like stupid. Or maybe its cos having siblings in medicine and being in FAC makes you more aware that physical exertion while having something as simple as a flu can lead to the heart stopping.
If there's anymore work this week I'm going to die. All the admin stuff has piled up (since the teacher in charge and the rest of the exco are virtually non-existent), and no one is helping... Letters to reply to, so on and so forth... Prioritise your time? Everything's high priority and screaming for attention already! I'm already sleeping through countless lects n tuitorials... In fact, I just fell asleep over the keyboard while trying to research stuff for Bio S.
But oh well, whats the point anyway... There are some out there who don't feel fatigue, or who can endure it better than me, and to whom feeling tired is not an excuse for not performing well.. I'm not one of them...
I'm so gonna sleep before the team event on saturday... n i'm not gonna get injured again.
21 hours sleep over 5 days... S-paper homework... So many things to settle... Today I didn't do my Bio tuitorial n I think Mr Chong wasn't very happy with it, especially since I was on conditional admission to Bio S already... but at the end of the day theres only so much time in which you can squeeze in school work, yet I dare not slack off fencing until this week is over!
I bet there are some people out there who can do both and still not feel tired... but to me, fencing when you are anything less than healthy is not heroic... Its more like stupid. Or maybe its cos having siblings in medicine and being in FAC makes you more aware that physical exertion while having something as simple as a flu can lead to the heart stopping.
If there's anymore work this week I'm going to die. All the admin stuff has piled up (since the teacher in charge and the rest of the exco are virtually non-existent), and no one is helping... Letters to reply to, so on and so forth... Prioritise your time? Everything's high priority and screaming for attention already! I'm already sleeping through countless lects n tuitorials... In fact, I just fell asleep over the keyboard while trying to research stuff for Bio S.
But oh well, whats the point anyway... There are some out there who don't feel fatigue, or who can endure it better than me, and to whom feeling tired is not an excuse for not performing well.. I'm not one of them...
I'm so gonna sleep before the team event on saturday... n i'm not gonna get injured again.
~JcZw~ at 12:12 am
Monday, January 16, 2006
Yes yes, I am aware that Cynthia and Sarah also won stuff in the Novices... The difference being that they were epeeists from the start though... Please identify yourself when you tag though.... Tagging in annonymity is kinda freaky for me.
We announced the results to the school today... Maurice was with me making me look short... heheh... n Mrs Chan shook his hand too... Tiring day though, especially since we also had PE. Just running that 1.6 km at a marginal pace made me feel sick. Think next time I should eat my breakfast first... I'm definitely out of shape... Possibly the only part of my body still in working order is my right arm and right leg... Spent the lectures today drifting in and out of consciousness...
A few random thoughts about Novices... some meaningless and some worth thinking about.
1. The bout with Omar... How did I describe it... Although I was trailing my 6-1, I didn't write off my hopes completely, or switch off as I'd feared, like bouts against Wei Yang or Zi Xian in U17.... Hmm I don't know whether it was complacency or something good... But oh well..
2. Between Ngee Ann Poly and NUS, the entrie Saturday Morning foil group got wiped out in the same round. i.e. Me, Jonathan Tay, Matt Lopez, Michael, Kevin and Nicklaus... Grrr... ok that was random...
3. Next time I will spare the energy to break my fall with my hand rather than let myself fall like a paratrooper (landing on my side and back and rolling to lose momentum).
4. Having people support you does make a difference. Its much harder to give up when there are people rooting for you.
Ok shall prepare for Novices Team this saturday... Ahh, please let my blade survive...
One last random comment: I got assaulted by another creepy crawlie.
Look, I'm happy that cats like to jump out n rub themselves against me, but this is already the THIRD TIME a creature with more than 4 legs has decided that my arms or shoulders were good places to jump on.
Long and the short of it was that when Liling and I were at the Maths Resource Room looking for Stella who was doing Bio (In the Maths resource room, no less... I've seen the Maths resource room used for a lot of things, but not maths) a cockroach (again!) decided to take a flying leap onto my arm. Naturally, the two of us made a series of sharp loud noises...
Alright, thats it for now then....
We announced the results to the school today... Maurice was with me making me look short... heheh... n Mrs Chan shook his hand too... Tiring day though, especially since we also had PE. Just running that 1.6 km at a marginal pace made me feel sick. Think next time I should eat my breakfast first... I'm definitely out of shape... Possibly the only part of my body still in working order is my right arm and right leg... Spent the lectures today drifting in and out of consciousness...
A few random thoughts about Novices... some meaningless and some worth thinking about.
1. The bout with Omar... How did I describe it... Although I was trailing my 6-1, I didn't write off my hopes completely, or switch off as I'd feared, like bouts against Wei Yang or Zi Xian in U17.... Hmm I don't know whether it was complacency or something good... But oh well..
2. Between Ngee Ann Poly and NUS, the entrie Saturday Morning foil group got wiped out in the same round. i.e. Me, Jonathan Tay, Matt Lopez, Michael, Kevin and Nicklaus... Grrr... ok that was random...
3. Next time I will spare the energy to break my fall with my hand rather than let myself fall like a paratrooper (landing on my side and back and rolling to lose momentum).
4. Having people support you does make a difference. Its much harder to give up when there are people rooting for you.
Ok shall prepare for Novices Team this saturday... Ahh, please let my blade survive...
One last random comment: I got assaulted by another creepy crawlie.
Look, I'm happy that cats like to jump out n rub themselves against me, but this is already the THIRD TIME a creature with more than 4 legs has decided that my arms or shoulders were good places to jump on.
Long and the short of it was that when Liling and I were at the Maths Resource Room looking for Stella who was doing Bio (In the Maths resource room, no less... I've seen the Maths resource room used for a lot of things, but not maths) a cockroach (again!) decided to take a flying leap onto my arm. Naturally, the two of us made a series of sharp loud noises...
Alright, thats it for now then....
~JcZw~ at 6:56 pm
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Alright... hope this won't be too incoherent.
Novices Individual was over the weekend. I can't speak much for my own performance though...
Saturday: Men's Epee Individual
My round robin wasn't too good... won 4 lost 1, but that one loss was a 5-0 defeat. I suspect it could have been due to the fact that the piste was not grounded the the RJ feller kept trying for my foot, but its my own fault for not checking.... Oh yea, he ran into me once and slung me to the floor.... RJ drafts all the tall or hefty people into their Epee team, so the impact was quite "whoa".
In the first D.E. I was eliminated already.... I feel really silly about this, but I was fencing with Jason Pek of RJC (My primary school classmates, leftie to boot) when he fleched me. I pulled off the stop hit but he ran into me again. This time I saw the blow coming, so I was prepared to fall, and being a goalkeeper I was heading towards a good landing.
You read in books about those blinding unexpected flashes of pain where everything suddenly seems so detached? I know what it feels like. They told me I landed on the extension cord, which had all the plugs protruding from it, hard enough to disconnect the plug and shut down the scoring system. The left side of my body felt paralysed literally, taking the blow in the ribs. But I was just winded... and a little bruised....
Enough, though, to make every beat, bind and parry an agony. Being a primary foilist, without this, I was basically doomed.... I reckon I should have been more flexible... more adaptive... But I didn't.
Maurice was though. He took out Liang Sheng first, then
Fusheng of SMU, with a dominant victory
Kuhara of FM, such a heart stopper, winning the bout with only 2 seconds to spare literally
Daniel Mendoza of FM
and finally, against XuYang of SMU,
he produced one of the most stunning bouts I'd seen. When the final green light came on, we yelled and danced like crazy... for VJ had obtained its first gold medal.
If there was anyone in VJ, in FM, or even in Singapore who deserved that gold, it was Maurice, who had literally dreamed of it since he'd joined fencing... He was the most motivated of us all (he virtually LIVED in Fencing Masters). He'd come to the camp, free fenced, analysed and re-analysed, reviewed his tactics and his mental outlook time and again.
So dreams do come through...
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday: Individual Men's Foil and Ladies' Epee
It was quite heartbreaking to see the girls' team in action... They did do their best, they even won some of the bouts... But inexperience and lack of free fencing always caught up in the end....
Call it callous, but I had to shut all these regrets and emotions out as I prepared for my own event.
Clarification: For those who think that VJ has a foil team, then please *ahem*, I AM the foil team! Grrrr...
Round robin went quite well actually... I won 3 lost 1... But still seeded 21st unfortunately
My first opponent happened to be my sister's classmate Sirui!!! The bout went quite satisfactorily (I won by a comfortable margin). But the next guy happened to be a certain Omar from Ngee Ann Poly. I just found out that he does ballet n all that.... He can do splits, and in the resulting bout he covered his target area with virtually all parts of his body! His head, right arm, legs, blade, etcetc.... my goodness.... I got thrased 15-6.... sighz.... but I did do my best ever close quarter hit.... Felt thoroughly down and overwhelmed after it...
But a certain RJ girl was proceeding quite well. As mentioned in an earlier post, Candice had thoroughly depressed me with her progress in just 2 months as an epeeist (when I saw the CQC against Kimie I was like "argh, we've had it!"... haha... ok joking... I was also quite impressed (the first time I fenced her it was no mindless bout... I had to think).
Saw her win in her first bout with an ITE? girl.. And although there wasn't that many moves, tactically it was very ok!
I can't exactly remember how many bouts she did... Other than after my elimination, I saw her fence Gaya, where she equalized right "on-the-buzzer" in bball parlance.. It was even more heart-attacking that the Kuhara match! Then when she scored in priority time we were dancing about at the side... hahaa.. Argh! The agony of being on the sidelines... haha
She displayed a very valiant attempt for the silver medal... Don't think she gave up or anything... But the girl she was against was well, different from the previous opponents... It was a good duel though.... She got her bronze medal, and I'm really happy for her.. Well done, well done!
Don't think any other single fencer has given me so many near heart attacks in one day though...
On friday, the year 1s asked me "We've only 1 year or so in fencing. Can we achieve anything?"
Then, I cited Daniel and his U17 bronze (after 5 months) and Jeri and her Novices Gold (after 6 months) as examples.
From now on, I can also cite a certain VJ guy who obtained a Novices Gold after just under 1 year, and an RJ girl who obtained a bronze with only 3 lessons.
Well done, to all VJ people (and of course, to Candice, Cynthia, n the other CJC fencers)... The weekend has been definitely one to remember!
Novices Individual was over the weekend. I can't speak much for my own performance though...
Saturday: Men's Epee Individual
My round robin wasn't too good... won 4 lost 1, but that one loss was a 5-0 defeat. I suspect it could have been due to the fact that the piste was not grounded the the RJ feller kept trying for my foot, but its my own fault for not checking.... Oh yea, he ran into me once and slung me to the floor.... RJ drafts all the tall or hefty people into their Epee team, so the impact was quite "whoa".
In the first D.E. I was eliminated already.... I feel really silly about this, but I was fencing with Jason Pek of RJC (My primary school classmates, leftie to boot) when he fleched me. I pulled off the stop hit but he ran into me again. This time I saw the blow coming, so I was prepared to fall, and being a goalkeeper I was heading towards a good landing.
You read in books about those blinding unexpected flashes of pain where everything suddenly seems so detached? I know what it feels like. They told me I landed on the extension cord, which had all the plugs protruding from it, hard enough to disconnect the plug and shut down the scoring system. The left side of my body felt paralysed literally, taking the blow in the ribs. But I was just winded... and a little bruised....
Enough, though, to make every beat, bind and parry an agony. Being a primary foilist, without this, I was basically doomed.... I reckon I should have been more flexible... more adaptive... But I didn't.
Maurice was though. He took out Liang Sheng first, then
Fusheng of SMU, with a dominant victory
Kuhara of FM, such a heart stopper, winning the bout with only 2 seconds to spare literally
Daniel Mendoza of FM
and finally, against XuYang of SMU,
he produced one of the most stunning bouts I'd seen. When the final green light came on, we yelled and danced like crazy... for VJ had obtained its first gold medal.
If there was anyone in VJ, in FM, or even in Singapore who deserved that gold, it was Maurice, who had literally dreamed of it since he'd joined fencing... He was the most motivated of us all (he virtually LIVED in Fencing Masters). He'd come to the camp, free fenced, analysed and re-analysed, reviewed his tactics and his mental outlook time and again.
So dreams do come through...
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday: Individual Men's Foil and Ladies' Epee
It was quite heartbreaking to see the girls' team in action... They did do their best, they even won some of the bouts... But inexperience and lack of free fencing always caught up in the end....
Call it callous, but I had to shut all these regrets and emotions out as I prepared for my own event.
Clarification: For those who think that VJ has a foil team, then please *ahem*, I AM the foil team! Grrrr...
Round robin went quite well actually... I won 3 lost 1... But still seeded 21st unfortunately
My first opponent happened to be my sister's classmate Sirui!!! The bout went quite satisfactorily (I won by a comfortable margin). But the next guy happened to be a certain Omar from Ngee Ann Poly. I just found out that he does ballet n all that.... He can do splits, and in the resulting bout he covered his target area with virtually all parts of his body! His head, right arm, legs, blade, etcetc.... my goodness.... I got thrased 15-6.... sighz.... but I did do my best ever close quarter hit.... Felt thoroughly down and overwhelmed after it...
But a certain RJ girl was proceeding quite well. As mentioned in an earlier post, Candice had thoroughly depressed me with her progress in just 2 months as an epeeist (when I saw the CQC against Kimie I was like "argh, we've had it!"... haha... ok joking... I was also quite impressed (the first time I fenced her it was no mindless bout... I had to think).
Saw her win in her first bout with an ITE? girl.. And although there wasn't that many moves, tactically it was very ok!
I can't exactly remember how many bouts she did... Other than after my elimination, I saw her fence Gaya, where she equalized right "on-the-buzzer" in bball parlance.. It was even more heart-attacking that the Kuhara match! Then when she scored in priority time we were dancing about at the side... hahaa.. Argh! The agony of being on the sidelines... haha
She displayed a very valiant attempt for the silver medal... Don't think she gave up or anything... But the girl she was against was well, different from the previous opponents... It was a good duel though.... She got her bronze medal, and I'm really happy for her.. Well done, well done!
Don't think any other single fencer has given me so many near heart attacks in one day though...
On friday, the year 1s asked me "We've only 1 year or so in fencing. Can we achieve anything?"
Then, I cited Daniel and his U17 bronze (after 5 months) and Jeri and her Novices Gold (after 6 months) as examples.
From now on, I can also cite a certain VJ guy who obtained a Novices Gold after just under 1 year, and an RJ girl who obtained a bronze with only 3 lessons.
Well done, to all VJ people (and of course, to Candice, Cynthia, n the other CJC fencers)... The weekend has been definitely one to remember!
~JcZw~ at 11:43 pm
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Ok ok, I shall change the picture soon... Just give me till my competitions are over...
Exactly one year ago (not the exact date, but on the second wednesday of the term):
1. Dory got hit by a fruit from a tree
2. Phoon got hit by a fruit that hit Dory from a tree
3. Desmond got suan-ed cos he was in close proximity with Phoon (who got hit by a fruit that hit Dory from a tree) and Dory herself.
4. We ate at ECP Macdonald's with Angele and Ian
5. Xunai, Dawn and I went to watch Phoon go for dance auditions (actually Stella and a few others were there too, but Phoon was the most distinctive one... having a distinctly different genetic makeup on the 23rd pair).
6. I first heard the word "monosaccharide" I think
Just some random memories.
Beats whats happening this year hollow though.... I envy the Year 1s cos, well, they are Year 1... but I sorta pity them too cos they only have a month and a half rather than 2 months like us...
___________________________________________________________________
Its not healthy, and its not pleasant to harbour feelings of anger, hatred even, throughout the day. Like the toxins building up in a broken limb, the emotions permeated the body and saturated every nerve, every receptor.
Throughout the day, throughout lessons. No appetite to eat, but feeling slightly sick. The thoughts floated again and again. Why was it this way? Why did it keep happening again and again. Why did it have to happen now, on such an important week? Everyone looked so happy, and it was as though viewing them through a barrier... that they could be feeling like that but somehow I couldn't.
Smiling was a just a facade... A desperate attempt to disguise a panic which couldn't, or which I couldn't afford to let, overtake... But like walking on thin ice, all it required was a little pressure.
It was so cold in FM... Rain drizzling down outside, combining with the aircon to ventilate the warehouse. Wire into reel and into blade, peering through the grill of the mask at the opposing fencer.
The blades flew and met, clashed, withdrew. Floating into that impromptu dance. But so clumsy. So distracted. Pressure. Stress. And the opponent was so graceful. Landing hit after hit after hit, once, twice, three times... But the blade in the hand did not meet any target. The point rose to the left, dipped to the right, but never did it hit.
If it were competition, so dead.
Parry sixte, septime, prima, octave. The other blade danced around my parries. And always it hit... a tenth, a eleventh...
The bout was over so fast. And the pressure was met. Every shred of anger, frustration rode its way into physical manifestation in tears. The leader should never break. But probably it was a lack of courage... maybe it was just too overwhelming a task, to handle a teacher and a competition on the same week.
Two weeks of emotions came pouring out then... Why was it always the week before the competition that the tears came?
The two of them came around to ask me why... I couldn't explain... it was too long and too bitter to. But it slowly came out over the next 1 hour or was it 2? Why was it that people from other schools could so much more concern than some of mine...
What was left? No anger... no frustration... Just a grim sense of calm. Just exhaustion. On Saturday I'll see how well I can fufill my duty.
I'm not recollecting bitter memories... I'm just stating what happened in fm without being too explicit. Yes yes, say what you like, it is actually possible for a guy to be that upset... I'm sorry if I've let down anyone, or our club's image though...
Thanks, Jeri and Junjie... I think I'll feel better tomorrow...
Exactly one year ago (not the exact date, but on the second wednesday of the term):
1. Dory got hit by a fruit from a tree
2. Phoon got hit by a fruit that hit Dory from a tree
3. Desmond got suan-ed cos he was in close proximity with Phoon (who got hit by a fruit that hit Dory from a tree) and Dory herself.
4. We ate at ECP Macdonald's with Angele and Ian
5. Xunai, Dawn and I went to watch Phoon go for dance auditions (actually Stella and a few others were there too, but Phoon was the most distinctive one... having a distinctly different genetic makeup on the 23rd pair).
6. I first heard the word "monosaccharide" I think
Just some random memories.
Beats whats happening this year hollow though.... I envy the Year 1s cos, well, they are Year 1... but I sorta pity them too cos they only have a month and a half rather than 2 months like us...
___________________________________________________________________
Its not healthy, and its not pleasant to harbour feelings of anger, hatred even, throughout the day. Like the toxins building up in a broken limb, the emotions permeated the body and saturated every nerve, every receptor.
Throughout the day, throughout lessons. No appetite to eat, but feeling slightly sick. The thoughts floated again and again. Why was it this way? Why did it keep happening again and again. Why did it have to happen now, on such an important week? Everyone looked so happy, and it was as though viewing them through a barrier... that they could be feeling like that but somehow I couldn't.
Smiling was a just a facade... A desperate attempt to disguise a panic which couldn't, or which I couldn't afford to let, overtake... But like walking on thin ice, all it required was a little pressure.
It was so cold in FM... Rain drizzling down outside, combining with the aircon to ventilate the warehouse. Wire into reel and into blade, peering through the grill of the mask at the opposing fencer.
The blades flew and met, clashed, withdrew. Floating into that impromptu dance. But so clumsy. So distracted. Pressure. Stress. And the opponent was so graceful. Landing hit after hit after hit, once, twice, three times... But the blade in the hand did not meet any target. The point rose to the left, dipped to the right, but never did it hit.
If it were competition, so dead.
Parry sixte, septime, prima, octave. The other blade danced around my parries. And always it hit... a tenth, a eleventh...
The bout was over so fast. And the pressure was met. Every shred of anger, frustration rode its way into physical manifestation in tears. The leader should never break. But probably it was a lack of courage... maybe it was just too overwhelming a task, to handle a teacher and a competition on the same week.
Two weeks of emotions came pouring out then... Why was it always the week before the competition that the tears came?
The two of them came around to ask me why... I couldn't explain... it was too long and too bitter to. But it slowly came out over the next 1 hour or was it 2? Why was it that people from other schools could so much more concern than some of mine...
What was left? No anger... no frustration... Just a grim sense of calm. Just exhaustion. On Saturday I'll see how well I can fufill my duty.
I'm not recollecting bitter memories... I'm just stating what happened in fm without being too explicit. Yes yes, say what you like, it is actually possible for a guy to be that upset... I'm sorry if I've let down anyone, or our club's image though...
Thanks, Jeri and Junjie... I think I'll feel better tomorrow...
~JcZw~ at 9:58 pm
Monday, January 09, 2006
Its encouraging to know that in the midst of all this trouble I'm in God still talks. Yesterday at church I received a very specific word... That I wasn't putting God first. In my own words, "I'm willing to go for training up to 6 times a week, but when my mother asks me to go Youth Connect I'm like 'errrr'. " Maybe I'll go for prayer meeting this wed? But competition is on Saturday.... If I go, its like I'm going only so that God might bless me, which is quite bad (actually very bad), but if I don't go, I'm not making changes in my life... Hmmm we'll see.... I hope I can achieve the correct mindset too... with God's help, of course...
Thank God also for friends such as Jeri and Junjie, who talked to me last night online. Finally someone whom I could give vent to of what transpired over the past week (which made the things I complain routinely to my classmates about seem so insignificant by comparison). I think the most helpful phrase that night was "Don't fence for the school. Do it for yourself, and for your friends!" Novices is this saturday and sunday... I really hope one of us can pull something out of the bag... and that I can perform at my peak (which I haven't been doing for really long!)
______________________________________________________________________________________
Sea Regatta today... It had been raining the whole day and last night.
By the time all equipment was packed and we reached ECP, the field was flooded and muddy...
The CT council was there in force... We watched as Maurice put up his banner in an extremely dangerous manner and hoped that he wouldn't be the "serious casualty" of 2006.
Sunrise over ECP.... albeit it was very overcast.. Unfortunately after this I had to put away my phone cos we started to get busy.
Got our bikes from the place which likes VJ students... haha... Biathlon went well... No one was injured where I was stationed (at the extreme end of the route). But when Mr Daniel Ang came puffing along, the colour of his face made the words "spontaneous combustion" float around in my mind...
It was when we reached back that the fun started.. Casualties were streaming in. Although most of them were just cuts, blisters and bruises.... But some of the cuts were deep lacerations which had to be washed out... At first I wrapped all the cuts, but later, when plasters began to run low, I only could treat those serious cases a la triage style... It was totally crazy... we easily gave treatment to at least 40 people, both serious and non-serious cases....
The worst two I treated was a quintiple laceration caused by tug-of-war which was bleeding like mad, and a guy who stepped on a 1 cm long nail (or at least, thats how he estimated it) while barefooted. Yuck. Matthew n I are gonna make him go see doctor... Get tetanus shot... But it was like a production line.... Wash, antiseptic, secondary dressing, yell "next!", repeat... Happily most were non serious, and about half stopped bleeding after washing..
It was not easy to keep rushing around... I lost my supply of drinking water due to a stupid mistake, as I've told some people, and there simply wasn't time to get refills.... But although the job we did was not very important, I guess it does bring a slight sense of satisfaction... when you send away a casualty who's no longer bleeding so profusely etc...
Well, the heavens proceeded to open slowly... The first aiders kept washing and plaster-ing until the last possible moment, then we had to evac the area. Chee Hoe and I returned the bikes, and in return had to run back to school in the pouring rain. Mad lar, got wet through 2 times in 4 days. Not healthy for this saturday.
Lost my bag in the rush too... My dry uniform was inside somemore... Had to shiver in the wet one till I found it much later... Stayed in the concourse, talked to classmates (I'm really bad at finding stuff to say... bleah... unlike other people who can sustain a conversation for so long... Possibly its because the things I'm interested in are just so weird... like slinkies)....
For the record, before going home, I DID find my bag... and the uniform inside was wet anyway...
Really exhausted now... but yay, we're going to see Narnia... So cheers for now yea...
Thank God also for friends such as Jeri and Junjie, who talked to me last night online. Finally someone whom I could give vent to of what transpired over the past week (which made the things I complain routinely to my classmates about seem so insignificant by comparison). I think the most helpful phrase that night was "Don't fence for the school. Do it for yourself, and for your friends!" Novices is this saturday and sunday... I really hope one of us can pull something out of the bag... and that I can perform at my peak (which I haven't been doing for really long!)
______________________________________________________________________________________
Sea Regatta today... It had been raining the whole day and last night.
By the time all equipment was packed and we reached ECP, the field was flooded and muddy...
The CT council was there in force... We watched as Maurice put up his banner in an extremely dangerous manner and hoped that he wouldn't be the "serious casualty" of 2006.
Sunrise over ECP.... albeit it was very overcast.. Unfortunately after this I had to put away my phone cos we started to get busy.
Got our bikes from the place which likes VJ students... haha... Biathlon went well... No one was injured where I was stationed (at the extreme end of the route). But when Mr Daniel Ang came puffing along, the colour of his face made the words "spontaneous combustion" float around in my mind...
It was when we reached back that the fun started.. Casualties were streaming in. Although most of them were just cuts, blisters and bruises.... But some of the cuts were deep lacerations which had to be washed out... At first I wrapped all the cuts, but later, when plasters began to run low, I only could treat those serious cases a la triage style... It was totally crazy... we easily gave treatment to at least 40 people, both serious and non-serious cases....
The worst two I treated was a quintiple laceration caused by tug-of-war which was bleeding like mad, and a guy who stepped on a 1 cm long nail (or at least, thats how he estimated it) while barefooted. Yuck. Matthew n I are gonna make him go see doctor... Get tetanus shot... But it was like a production line.... Wash, antiseptic, secondary dressing, yell "next!", repeat... Happily most were non serious, and about half stopped bleeding after washing..
It was not easy to keep rushing around... I lost my supply of drinking water due to a stupid mistake, as I've told some people, and there simply wasn't time to get refills.... But although the job we did was not very important, I guess it does bring a slight sense of satisfaction... when you send away a casualty who's no longer bleeding so profusely etc...
Well, the heavens proceeded to open slowly... The first aiders kept washing and plaster-ing until the last possible moment, then we had to evac the area. Chee Hoe and I returned the bikes, and in return had to run back to school in the pouring rain. Mad lar, got wet through 2 times in 4 days. Not healthy for this saturday.
Lost my bag in the rush too... My dry uniform was inside somemore... Had to shiver in the wet one till I found it much later... Stayed in the concourse, talked to classmates (I'm really bad at finding stuff to say... bleah... unlike other people who can sustain a conversation for so long... Possibly its because the things I'm interested in are just so weird... like slinkies)....
For the record, before going home, I DID find my bag... and the uniform inside was wet anyway...
Really exhausted now... but yay, we're going to see Narnia... So cheers for now yea...
~JcZw~ at 5:07 pm
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Orientation has ended except Sea Regeatta cum Biathlon on monday (however you spell it). Well, I guess it brings back mixed feelings yea.... yayness, the group i supported won (cos they had trojan colours xD). Seems like only yesterday we had our own orientation...
Wonder what happened to all the Teaton people already? I know the two VS guys went to RJ.... and we lost a few others also... Haha, think the only one I really talk to now is the one thats in my class...
School ended at 9.50 for me... I hope we weren't too intimidating during JMS... if I had been them, I would have been... Surprise, Amanda the Mount K-er is in my junior class.... S40... She says I bring back bad memories to her when she looks at me.. haha... Not that I blame her... She's the sickest casualty I've ever treated...
JMS didn't seem to last as long as before though, didn't get to play much either... Oh yar, they have a DHSJAB member also... But I don't seem to take to DHSJ members.... except Xuanyi and CheeHoe.
AHS after that... it rained in the middle of the performance, but BoonKai and Harris kept the division together really well... Kudos to them! Ignoring the NCCs and their teacher and continuing with their format. Thats the kinda stuff that legends are made of... But i have to admit... the standard of St. John is dropping like a baronmeter with a storm approaching while the other UGs are catching up fast...
I scarpered back to AHS, just in time to avoid someone, as SiHui kindly pointed out to me... hehe... it would take more than chaff or flare to E&E for so long though =/
Back in VJ, Jiayan had a casualty to handover to me... Think her name was Joyce... turned out that she was from AHS, and a 4F-er to boot! Great! haha... Anyway we just talked, while behind us people were dancing I want you (no one cut his leg this time) and la bamba... she was asking about VJ life... JAE, major school events... mass dance etcetc... When the finale started, she returned to her OG... think it was Inferno or something.
Finale was nice... Hmm, they treated my blade well, thank goodness... it didn't get whacked by Chronos' giant clock =)
Guest performances by certain VJ-based rock bands.
ChuaH, Liling and I migrated to Suntec... We were late (as usual) for mass dance though... Just when we anticipated that they wouldn't start on time... A case of being overly efficient.... dotz... Hope the VJ people didn't act tooo crazy though... We met up after dance by the expedient of running round the fountain looking for familiar faces, which was not easy, cos our friends were running round also, looking for we ourselves...
Reached home at about 11...
But
I have two outstanding thoughts now.
I hope not becoming an OGL is going to be a sacrifice worth making.
And secondly is this: A first aider that doesn't remember her duty, and does not stand to her post when the wellbeing of the orientation people, as well as the reputation of the FAC, is on the line, and gives the excuse of "I forgot" is simply ridiculous. Cos you can be so sian that you forget, and you even pon, the injuries so minor that they are self-treatable.
But there's always that one case, one casualty SOMEWHERE who will need your help one day. And if you don't stay on hand just for this one case, you let youself down.
Well yup... Sea Regeatta on monday, as Xuanyi said, "We'd better do well"
Wonder what happened to all the Teaton people already? I know the two VS guys went to RJ.... and we lost a few others also... Haha, think the only one I really talk to now is the one thats in my class...
School ended at 9.50 for me... I hope we weren't too intimidating during JMS... if I had been them, I would have been... Surprise, Amanda the Mount K-er is in my junior class.... S40... She says I bring back bad memories to her when she looks at me.. haha... Not that I blame her... She's the sickest casualty I've ever treated...
JMS didn't seem to last as long as before though, didn't get to play much either... Oh yar, they have a DHSJAB member also... But I don't seem to take to DHSJ members.... except Xuanyi and CheeHoe.
AHS after that... it rained in the middle of the performance, but BoonKai and Harris kept the division together really well... Kudos to them! Ignoring the NCCs and their teacher and continuing with their format. Thats the kinda stuff that legends are made of... But i have to admit... the standard of St. John is dropping like a baronmeter with a storm approaching while the other UGs are catching up fast...
I scarpered back to AHS, just in time to avoid someone, as SiHui kindly pointed out to me... hehe... it would take more than chaff or flare to E&E for so long though =/
Back in VJ, Jiayan had a casualty to handover to me... Think her name was Joyce... turned out that she was from AHS, and a 4F-er to boot! Great! haha... Anyway we just talked, while behind us people were dancing I want you (no one cut his leg this time) and la bamba... she was asking about VJ life... JAE, major school events... mass dance etcetc... When the finale started, she returned to her OG... think it was Inferno or something.
Finale was nice... Hmm, they treated my blade well, thank goodness... it didn't get whacked by Chronos' giant clock =)
Guest performances by certain VJ-based rock bands.
ChuaH, Liling and I migrated to Suntec... We were late (as usual) for mass dance though... Just when we anticipated that they wouldn't start on time... A case of being overly efficient.... dotz... Hope the VJ people didn't act tooo crazy though... We met up after dance by the expedient of running round the fountain looking for familiar faces, which was not easy, cos our friends were running round also, looking for we ourselves...
Reached home at about 11...
But
I have two outstanding thoughts now.
I hope not becoming an OGL is going to be a sacrifice worth making.
And secondly is this: A first aider that doesn't remember her duty, and does not stand to her post when the wellbeing of the orientation people, as well as the reputation of the FAC, is on the line, and gives the excuse of "I forgot" is simply ridiculous. Cos you can be so sian that you forget, and you even pon, the injuries so minor that they are self-treatable.
But there's always that one case, one casualty SOMEWHERE who will need your help one day. And if you don't stay on hand just for this one case, you let youself down.
Well yup... Sea Regeatta on monday, as Xuanyi said, "We'd better do well"
~JcZw~ at 3:42 pm
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Guess Maurice and Sihui's right...
Don't think dark thoughts Jonathan.... they're bad for your blood pressure.. why burst your capillaries over such a thing.
School ended early today... like, wayy early..
Discovered that one carries a light microscope (which is actually heavy, not light) the same way as one carries a cat (which are always heavy).
Went to Plaza Sing. with a few classmates (the one that laughs a lot, the one who's name is the same as mine, the tall one and the one with the lethal ponytail).
Converted a fencing video into DVD for Jeri. Talked to coach (who agrees with me on the matters). Watched Daniel fence Jeri. I couldn't fence cos I REALLY did have a back ache... n my right shoulder feels so worn... Even carrying my schoolbag home was not comfortable.
Anyway, pictures....
Random pic.... the scoreboard after our team event with CJC.
Picture taken from our fencing camp... The 4 VJ guys (3 tall ones n one shortie... heh) are all wearing yellow except for Eldon in the upper right corner.... CJ's black adidas windbreaker is really nice loh... haha... Besides that, also seen are ITE people, Jon Tay from RJ, and FM-ers...
Pictures of orientation... not many though... it was more fun to watch than to take pics...
"Whiney whiney right left right and down" Even some OGLs got it wrong... heheh...
"We're moving in, we're moving out..."
Didn't take part though... Think its easier to keep FA watch when you're not dancing (especially things like neutron). The memory of the fellow who cut open his foot while dancing I Want You in O2 last year's still fresh...
The OGLs want to borrow my n Maurice's blades for their performance tml... They better not break them...
Uh huh... tml mass dance at suntec.... hope my back has recovered then...
Don't think dark thoughts Jonathan.... they're bad for your blood pressure.. why burst your capillaries over such a thing.
School ended early today... like, wayy early..
Discovered that one carries a light microscope (which is actually heavy, not light) the same way as one carries a cat (which are always heavy).
Went to Plaza Sing. with a few classmates (the one that laughs a lot, the one who's name is the same as mine, the tall one and the one with the lethal ponytail).
Converted a fencing video into DVD for Jeri. Talked to coach (who agrees with me on the matters). Watched Daniel fence Jeri. I couldn't fence cos I REALLY did have a back ache... n my right shoulder feels so worn... Even carrying my schoolbag home was not comfortable.
Anyway, pictures....
Random pic.... the scoreboard after our team event with CJC.
Picture taken from our fencing camp... The 4 VJ guys (3 tall ones n one shortie... heh) are all wearing yellow except for Eldon in the upper right corner.... CJ's black adidas windbreaker is really nice loh... haha... Besides that, also seen are ITE people, Jon Tay from RJ, and FM-ers...
Pictures of orientation... not many though... it was more fun to watch than to take pics...
"Whiney whiney right left right and down" Even some OGLs got it wrong... heheh...
"We're moving in, we're moving out..."
Didn't take part though... Think its easier to keep FA watch when you're not dancing (especially things like neutron). The memory of the fellow who cut open his foot while dancing I Want You in O2 last year's still fresh...
The OGLs want to borrow my n Maurice's blades for their performance tml... They better not break them...
Uh huh... tml mass dance at suntec.... hope my back has recovered then...
~JcZw~ at 9:04 pm
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
School has started. Half of OSSIS are OGL-ing while the other half is bridging, sleeping and slacking... with the odd tuitorial of course...
But today was another of THOSE days...
I don't know why... but the captain-of-the-sinking-ship impression comes back to me everytime I talk to THAT person.
Well, the day started with me lugging 3 electric blades, 4 plastic blades, 1 metal mask, 4 plastic masks, and full suit, glove and wire to school, not to mentioned brochures, my file and my bag. Happily Maurice was on hand for us to stash everything into his CO room.
We had assembly when we saw the cockroach-and-meteor video again....
We went bridging in class... The first indication that things would go wrong should have been that I only won the last game, but then, it was still actually pretty funny... Well, actually I don't believe in omens, but coincidentally things did go downhill...
WHAT is THAT person doing.... when THAT person doesn't do her job, doesn't provide us with information, then blames US when fencing doesn't get any money AGAIN this year? How am I supposed to respect a person who can give such an order as "tell the year 1s that training is on wednesday, and take only those that can fit this schedule" when the only person that cannot make it on monday is HER.
In fact, why do we need HER at all? It isn't as though she supports our competitions, helps us get resources, or anything useful
Rather its, putting us down, threatening to close down the club, saying that our brochure is untidy and every other thing a person in HER position shouldn't do.
Fine. CCA walkabout then. This time, the council got it wrong. I trust VJ's student council so much more than I trusted the one in AHS (not that wei quan and jiayan are bad, but AHS SC keeps stealing our good SJ members and tying them up with other stuff), but this time they got it wrong too....
They did not tell us when the CCA locations changed. Result: Printing error in brochure. Thank God we caught that before we started mass production.
They did not tell us that the performances were no longer in the hall.
They pushed us to the concourse, where the floor was wet and our shoes couldn't grip, where there wasn't a convinient power socket for our electrical appliances.
So Maurice and I just grabbed a spot and started fencing, non electrical bout. But given my fast foil style over his slower and surer one, my footwork absolutely disgusted even me. It was like trying to fence on a skating rink. And all this happened an hour after the scheduled time. Thanks.
And who's fault is it?
So the gigantic electrical box was nothing in the end. So much for our demo. Then I had to carry that box and all the above mentioned equipment to the main road to catch a taxi. Not more than 250 meters, but it was trying to carry a canteen table over my shoulder, with of course, my school bag, fencing bag, and file. I'm sure my spine is even more bent than it already is. I would have had to do this anyway, but if I had gotten to use the box, I would have been that much more satisfied...
Oh yes. Mr Ho WK also told me that if we didn't have more than 15 permanent members, he would close down the club. How many times does this make? Maybe just 11 or so...
First Aid duty was boring... But then again, its good when its boring. When its exciting usually someone's hurt. But my partner didn't turn up. Sighz... I sat n watched and sat and watched and suddenly found myself waking up. Can't believe I actually dozed off... I ought to be shot. No one got hurt... watched them do games... Whineywhiney and neutron. There were good memories too of my O1 of course.... but the day so far hadn't been something to be very cheerful about...
Fencing was no better... I got thrashed even worst by Jeraldine today, and nearly lost to Eldon. Eldon told Jeri jokingly that I was very upset with my defeat. I was very upset... But it was not with her (she was very gracious about her victory, and kindly pointed out my vulnerabilities too). It was just because of everything.
Just because it was one of THOSE days.
I cannot run a CCA without the support of a higher authority. Don't they just know.
But today was another of THOSE days...
I don't know why... but the captain-of-the-sinking-ship impression comes back to me everytime I talk to THAT person.
Well, the day started with me lugging 3 electric blades, 4 plastic blades, 1 metal mask, 4 plastic masks, and full suit, glove and wire to school, not to mentioned brochures, my file and my bag. Happily Maurice was on hand for us to stash everything into his CO room.
We had assembly when we saw the cockroach-and-meteor video again....
We went bridging in class... The first indication that things would go wrong should have been that I only won the last game, but then, it was still actually pretty funny... Well, actually I don't believe in omens, but coincidentally things did go downhill...
WHAT is THAT person doing.... when THAT person doesn't do her job, doesn't provide us with information, then blames US when fencing doesn't get any money AGAIN this year? How am I supposed to respect a person who can give such an order as "tell the year 1s that training is on wednesday, and take only those that can fit this schedule" when the only person that cannot make it on monday is HER.
In fact, why do we need HER at all? It isn't as though she supports our competitions, helps us get resources, or anything useful
Rather its, putting us down, threatening to close down the club, saying that our brochure is untidy and every other thing a person in HER position shouldn't do.
Fine. CCA walkabout then. This time, the council got it wrong. I trust VJ's student council so much more than I trusted the one in AHS (not that wei quan and jiayan are bad, but AHS SC keeps stealing our good SJ members and tying them up with other stuff), but this time they got it wrong too....
They did not tell us when the CCA locations changed. Result: Printing error in brochure. Thank God we caught that before we started mass production.
They did not tell us that the performances were no longer in the hall.
They pushed us to the concourse, where the floor was wet and our shoes couldn't grip, where there wasn't a convinient power socket for our electrical appliances.
So Maurice and I just grabbed a spot and started fencing, non electrical bout. But given my fast foil style over his slower and surer one, my footwork absolutely disgusted even me. It was like trying to fence on a skating rink. And all this happened an hour after the scheduled time. Thanks.
And who's fault is it?
So the gigantic electrical box was nothing in the end. So much for our demo. Then I had to carry that box and all the above mentioned equipment to the main road to catch a taxi. Not more than 250 meters, but it was trying to carry a canteen table over my shoulder, with of course, my school bag, fencing bag, and file. I'm sure my spine is even more bent than it already is. I would have had to do this anyway, but if I had gotten to use the box, I would have been that much more satisfied...
Oh yes. Mr Ho WK also told me that if we didn't have more than 15 permanent members, he would close down the club. How many times does this make? Maybe just 11 or so...
First Aid duty was boring... But then again, its good when its boring. When its exciting usually someone's hurt. But my partner didn't turn up. Sighz... I sat n watched and sat and watched and suddenly found myself waking up. Can't believe I actually dozed off... I ought to be shot. No one got hurt... watched them do games... Whineywhiney and neutron. There were good memories too of my O1 of course.... but the day so far hadn't been something to be very cheerful about...
Fencing was no better... I got thrashed even worst by Jeraldine today, and nearly lost to Eldon. Eldon told Jeri jokingly that I was very upset with my defeat. I was very upset... But it was not with her (she was very gracious about her victory, and kindly pointed out my vulnerabilities too). It was just because of everything.
Just because it was one of THOSE days.
I cannot run a CCA without the support of a higher authority. Don't they just know.
~JcZw~ at 11:28 pm
Monday, January 02, 2006
Happy New Year one and all! So... new year resolutions...
I shall:
1. Have a closer walk with God... Yeah yeah, everyone says that, so lets be more specific.... I think its basically, as mentioned before, wrapped up in this bit about trusting in God's provision and not relying on myself. Also, trusting that God has a place in the future for me... a career, a job... (a life partner? hahaaaa we'll see about that one after NS and ONLY after NS unless its awfully clear). Its not that I myself can sit back and relax, but I don't need to worry if I've done my best. This is an exceptionally personal promise that has been elaborated on for me time and again in church, or during quiet time, especially since I've been going through a lot of pressure... especially in fencing at the moment, and after January, studies will usurp that mantle. Thank God for his presence and the calm that he can give!
Oh, n I should also be reading my Bible more conscientiously.
2. Act chivalrously and honourably in everything you do. Part of my sister's programme to "convert my two brothers to be gentlemen". Actually it is rather simple... In front of strangers and females act courteously, don't swear, don't lose temper (the first of which is quite natural, the second of which I've never done deliberately, and the third of which I haven't since sec. 2) etcetc. Of course, when one is with one's classmates or close friends, then the bit about "acting courteously" can be integrated into the suaning and cold jokes etcetc so long as one doesn't hit a raw nerve. If one cannot tell the difference, one should keep quiet (which I haven't been doing this past year ooops). This also includes committing less tactical EQ errors to people, especially classmates, St. John people, and juniors whom I shall probably meet the coming year in all CCAs.
The bit about swearing and losing temper should be MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT no matter what.
By the way, being chivalrous to the XX-chromosomed species should not be confused with MCP-sm. The latter is carried out deliberately to put down the above mentioned species, but chivalry is something that should be done as part of life (in my, and my sister's, opinion). After all, in the old days, this was done naturally by all males... Oh Mrs Chan YL did mention once that "all fencers, given their heritage, should be gentlemen" n I was like, "oh ok".
On the other hand, don't go to the other extreme and be some stiff upper-lipped Englishman. Remain natural!
Comments on this are welcome... don't flame me please, thats just my opinion...
3. Do your best to finish your work by the given time (after school reopens. Think my revision tuitorial is so gone). Admittedly, in year 1 I was really slack in this, being swept away by the worldwind of hyperness and so on in this amazing year. But I guess this contributed to me dying in subjects that I had no interest in. In fact, if it weren't for a sudden surge of passion for chem (the subject, not the teacher) at the end of the year, my results could have well nigh been AEEE.
For the record, those As weren't very high either, but right on the border. And this is no way to try to get into Medicine.
This includes suppressing my urge to watch the goalkeepers during the World Cup if I need to study... Man, this is a BAD year to take As.
4. Sit and stand up straight. Yeah, I can hear a few people saying "finally". I know my posture is really bad. Especially when I'm sleeping during lecture. But I shall try ok? This also includes sleeping in a healthy position.
5. Get gold for NAPFA
6. NOT NOT, I repeat NOT get a makeover or allow anyone to do anything to my hair, unless I feel that there is a need to do so. Gel is a lightning hazard! And it compromises one's ability to run faster than 11 min for 2.4 due to aerodynamic drag.
7. NOT lose an arm, leg, head, or any other body part in fencing. Cos thats incredibly unhealthy.
Yup, thats it then...
____________________________________________________________________________________
I've got one more End Of Year Post topic to blog on, but looking back, I realised that I already sort of did it not too long ago. This topic, predictably, is that of my class. How many times I've said that S15 rocked/ruled/other synonyms is a wee bit uncountable. I'll have to go dig in my archives for that one.
I've recounted all my memories and my emotions in that not-too-distant post, I've poured out what I feel for my class and my friends. So I guess it comes down to this:
They have been really good friends to me this year, and I hope I can return them in kind for their friendship in the next year =) Yup... And I thank God that he has placed me in a class that is not only so happening, lively and friendly, but also in a class with many Christians whom I can interact with, or to ask opinions of.
Happy new year once again, and thanks to all the people who have wished me in different ways (Personally, SMS, MSN, or any other acronym).
Good night! And have a great year ahead.
And yea, I need to change the blog picture and song soon before some frustrated people have my head =)
I shall:
1. Have a closer walk with God... Yeah yeah, everyone says that, so lets be more specific.... I think its basically, as mentioned before, wrapped up in this bit about trusting in God's provision and not relying on myself. Also, trusting that God has a place in the future for me... a career, a job... (a life partner? hahaaaa we'll see about that one after NS and ONLY after NS unless its awfully clear). Its not that I myself can sit back and relax, but I don't need to worry if I've done my best. This is an exceptionally personal promise that has been elaborated on for me time and again in church, or during quiet time, especially since I've been going through a lot of pressure... especially in fencing at the moment, and after January, studies will usurp that mantle. Thank God for his presence and the calm that he can give!
Oh, n I should also be reading my Bible more conscientiously.
2. Act chivalrously and honourably in everything you do. Part of my sister's programme to "convert my two brothers to be gentlemen". Actually it is rather simple... In front of strangers and females act courteously, don't swear, don't lose temper (the first of which is quite natural, the second of which I've never done deliberately, and the third of which I haven't since sec. 2) etcetc. Of course, when one is with one's classmates or close friends, then the bit about "acting courteously" can be integrated into the suaning and cold jokes etcetc so long as one doesn't hit a raw nerve. If one cannot tell the difference, one should keep quiet (which I haven't been doing this past year ooops). This also includes committing less tactical EQ errors to people, especially classmates, St. John people, and juniors whom I shall probably meet the coming year in all CCAs.
The bit about swearing and losing temper should be MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT no matter what.
By the way, being chivalrous to the XX-chromosomed species should not be confused with MCP-sm. The latter is carried out deliberately to put down the above mentioned species, but chivalry is something that should be done as part of life (in my, and my sister's, opinion). After all, in the old days, this was done naturally by all males... Oh Mrs Chan YL did mention once that "all fencers, given their heritage, should be gentlemen" n I was like, "oh ok".
On the other hand, don't go to the other extreme and be some stiff upper-lipped Englishman. Remain natural!
Comments on this are welcome... don't flame me please, thats just my opinion...
3. Do your best to finish your work by the given time (after school reopens. Think my revision tuitorial is so gone). Admittedly, in year 1 I was really slack in this, being swept away by the worldwind of hyperness and so on in this amazing year. But I guess this contributed to me dying in subjects that I had no interest in. In fact, if it weren't for a sudden surge of passion for chem (the subject, not the teacher) at the end of the year, my results could have well nigh been AEEE.
For the record, those As weren't very high either, but right on the border. And this is no way to try to get into Medicine.
This includes suppressing my urge to watch the goalkeepers during the World Cup if I need to study... Man, this is a BAD year to take As.
4. Sit and stand up straight. Yeah, I can hear a few people saying "finally". I know my posture is really bad. Especially when I'm sleeping during lecture. But I shall try ok? This also includes sleeping in a healthy position.
5. Get gold for NAPFA
6. NOT NOT, I repeat NOT get a makeover or allow anyone to do anything to my hair, unless I feel that there is a need to do so. Gel is a lightning hazard! And it compromises one's ability to run faster than 11 min for 2.4 due to aerodynamic drag.
7. NOT lose an arm, leg, head, or any other body part in fencing. Cos thats incredibly unhealthy.
Yup, thats it then...
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I've got one more End Of Year Post topic to blog on, but looking back, I realised that I already sort of did it not too long ago. This topic, predictably, is that of my class. How many times I've said that S15 rocked/ruled/other synonyms is a wee bit uncountable. I'll have to go dig in my archives for that one.
I've recounted all my memories and my emotions in that not-too-distant post, I've poured out what I feel for my class and my friends. So I guess it comes down to this:
They have been really good friends to me this year, and I hope I can return them in kind for their friendship in the next year =) Yup... And I thank God that he has placed me in a class that is not only so happening, lively and friendly, but also in a class with many Christians whom I can interact with, or to ask opinions of.
Happy new year once again, and thanks to all the people who have wished me in different ways (Personally, SMS, MSN, or any other acronym).
Good night! And have a great year ahead.
And yea, I need to change the blog picture and song soon before some frustrated people have my head =)
~JcZw~ at 1:21 am