Once upon a time...

So there I was, stumped at how I'm gonna capture the attention of the small but important audience in the room.

The presentation slide was staring back at me, the words daring me to repeat them back to the floor. The fonts challenging me to a battle for the attention of the audience. It was threatening to turn into a borefest.

A friend sits me down to tell me as much during the rehearsal. I had 30 minutes before the real thing starts. It was counting down to the last 15 when it struck me.

Tell a story. One that I know well, where I know the characters inside out. One that would engage them, and tickle their funny bones at times. One that would inspire them, lift them out from the mundane dribble that was 10 minutes worth of slides before me.

I told them the story of Arsenal Football Club.

Fitting it into my presentation got much easier as the minutes went by. I was not reading from an index card, I didn't have to regurgitate boring facts. My audience were not dozing off.

Best of all. I was enjoying myself. At the end of my presentation, I got approving nods from my important guests, and rousing applause from my classmates.

Thank you Arsenal FC. You saved my ass.

To a fantastic 12 years at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger!

Top o' the League

We are top o' the league!!


Say we are top o' the league!!

KNNBCCB

We were cracking jokes about each others' naive/stupid questions in class.

She didn't like the way I gave her the "Duh!" look.

Then in front of the others, plus some juniors within earshot, she subjects me to her vitriol.

I was taken aback.

Not that I was being shouted at.

But how would I look in front of those Juniors?

Now I am frustrated.

Should I let sleeping dogs lie?

Or go down to her level, and give back as good as she gave?

负心的人

一直以来， 我都对人说我是一个没良心的人。

一直以来，我认为我不可以和另一个人常相厮守。

一直以来，我都对她们很坦白。

一直以来，大家都以为我在开玩笑。

一直以来, 我都在保护自己。

但却不知觉中，伤害了她们。

Had myself..a real good time...

Yesterday was when my birthday celebration really took off.

I had my trepidations, not knowing how drunk I will get. The nice people from CowBoyBar were ready to unleash up to 3 "waterfalls" on me. The others from Arsenal Singapore and Batam Cable Ski were not gonna let me off lightly either.

Or so I thought.

The evening got off well enough, I started off with a Kilkenny to calm the butterflies in my rotund tummy. Ed was first to arrive and I promptly got him to chope the next table. Allen was next, so he sat at the table next to mine. Good, 3 tables of merrymakers.

The rest of the gang streamed in before the first set kicked off, with most of them escaping the downpour outside. The 1st of 2 bottles of whisky was ordered and I stuck with that for the rest of the night. Then I was roving around the 3 tables like a 小姐 at Kabuki KTV, sans tips...

"先生贵姓？第一次来吗？我是24号，您叫我小辣椒就行了！嘻嘻。。。"

Of course, certain most all parts of the night is a blur now. But overall, I didn't make too much of a fool of myself, or embarrass my friends too much. I do recall standing on the stool when my Sis mentioned me on stage though...details are sketchy at the moment, but I'm sure my friends will be filling me in.

From what my friends tell me, I was quite steady for the most part of the evening. At one point, when my dear Sis was singing her band's version of I will survive, I stayed in the wash room till she got over the verse where she mentions something about her brother when he was 3. Other than that, I think I was pretty steady throughout the night.

I abhor the dearth of birthday cakes when people celebrate at Wala Wala, so I was beaming when I came back to find a very nice one with a candle waiting for me. Someone told me that I was skilful slicing up the cake after the birthday song. That's cuz I was still sober while cutting it, I told her.

So all in all, I came out at the end of the night pretty unscathed. I was not reduced to a longkang fairy, I didn't start any fights, or go around hugging strangers. The gifts I received were wonderful, and my Sis didn't have to tsk tsk at me throughout.

I only just scrapped my knee at the end of the night. Even that I only have sketchy details. Think it involves me dashing across the road...



Thank you to all who were present, and also to those who sent your well wishes via emails/sms. Pictures of the night will be up soon on the left of the page.

How the 4th was gone...

Mushroom chicken chop with French beans, coleslaw, and garlic toast.

Cigarettes.

Teh-O.

TV.

CMI Singtel Grid Girls on TV.

Got home, did research for project work.

Happening Birthday....

Birthday, he wrote...

"Who are you, after you stop What you do?"

Below is an original, unedited entry from my buddy, Shai.

Thanks, dude!


BIRTHDAY BOY…. SAY CHEESE

I’ve known Jeff aka ‘Ah Tiong’ for about more than two years through the Arsenal Singapore Supporters Club. This club is amazing and I’ve amassed some good friends there. Jeff is one of them. Naturally, we became closer and of course with alcohol involved. Who would not like him, he is such ‘nice’ guy… Through him, I got to know his sister, Shirlyn. She ‘rocks’ my world. Hmmmm….

One of the highlights I would like to share is the Bangkok trip with Jeff in Apr 2008. It was fun and I had a different perspective of how Jeff is. Sometimes, you never thought what and who your friends are until you go for an oversea trip with them. You’ll definitely learn something from each other. And no, we didn’t have bang cock sessions there. We were there to attend a wedding. During the trip, I found out he likes to take long walk and public transport rather than taking the taxis (even though it is damn near and the cab ride was crazily cheap). In the end, I followed his propensity and I had a wonderful insight of Bangkok, which I have never experienced (I was there in 1996). In the end, I enjoyed the walking and the train rides, feeling so touristy and everything. What an experience!

Jeff is really a great way to fly. He is a mixed of a ‘Hokkien peng’ and a down to earth person. I can only describe him as ‘what you see is what you get’. He has no qualms about expressing what’s in his mind and heart. Though sometimes he may be misunderstood by people, he has no malice intended. He is also one charming man and he takes action smoothly. I do not know how he operates though, but I envy him in some way or another. But above all, he is a giving man….

Today, is Jeff’s special day and I would like to dedicate this post to him. Happy Birthday dude! Wishing you all the best in your life and career and many, many more birthdays to come. Have a great celebration…