Don’t Look Back

Well, here we are at the cusp of 2007.

Making resolutions is a chore, keeping to them my Achilles’ heel.

I’d like to try to look back on 2006 and see how much mileage I’ve clocked and reflect on the smooth flights, and the turbulent times too.

Socially, I’m doing more good than bad. Yes, I’ve made some stupid mistakes and cost myself a few friends along the way. Perhaps words like “sorry” or “forgive me” might have done the trick, yet I found it hard to utter those words. I miss watching their little ones grow up. Did I really want those friends back bad enough, or was I too ashamed to face them again? On the other hand I’ve also gained some new ones through a common passion for competition, for music, for Arsenal.

I’ve flown for over 10 years, yet just begun to travel the last 2. I’ve watched a live match at Highbury between Arsenal and Spurs, paying through my nose for the coveted ticket that day. I’ve gone to Old Trafford, and while admiring its long history, taken a dig at it too. My sometime hobby of photo taking has seen me walk familiar paths, but with a keener eye. A footprint, children playing in the park, trees waving in the wind, mundane stuff becoming the focus of my digital library.

Perhaps it’s the age, but I’m watching more current affairs now. The World Wide Web is a big resource and differing views can be found within a few clicks. Satirical sites give me some respite from the cruel realities of any given day. Am I still apathetic when it comes to politics?

I’ve been in 2 adrenaline pumping races, and came away with a medal. It feels good to be competing, alongside comrades at work. Setting targets is easy; attaining them is a long hard drive. I find that I do not have the aptitude to last that long, and have surrendered many times. Yet time and again I kick myself for not trying harder.

I’ve experienced first hand the ins and outs of a relationship. There is joy and anger; the laughter and tears; the shouting and the soothing. I’ve seen couples grow apart, yet saw more that came together. Lessons to be learnt? Or is each case peculiar in itself?

Have I learnt from 2006?

Will I be better in 2007?

Walan eh...

I was already not having a good day yesterday. Wanted to head down to Wala Wala to drown my sorrows but decided to watch a movie instead at Cathay Cineleisure. It's been a while since I went out on a Sat night to town and the place was teeming with plenty of eye candy to suit all taste.

Watching a movie by oneself has it's advantages; you can sit anywhere you like, and getting a ticket using the self help kiosk is much faster thanks to the reduced permutations in decision making due to my solo outing.

The movie was heart-warming. Will Ferrell stars in Stranger Than Fiction. It's not a barrel of laughs and, like I said, one feels warm and fuzzy towards the end of the movie.

I ambled towards Hotel Elizabeth after the movie and sat down to watch the weekend matches with Steve-O and friend. Turnout was good despite Arsenal kicking off late. In between snide remarks at other teams I got some advice on choosing my future laptop(Mac or PC). Well wishes were passed around the group in anticipation of the new year. Seems like most of the group weren't planning to party too wildly.

Match report? I can't find the words to describe the defeat to a much lesser team, and have to ask that you peruse SGGooner's, who linked to Siren's, match report.

Apologies if this entry seem dry as a twig.

I feel that I will snap anytime soon.

Last burst..

2007 is almost upon us. Some are making new year resolutions, while others are yet to meet those they made for 2006.

Arsenal will play their last match for 2006, visiting Sheffield United. No disrespect to Sheffield, but I think we can end the year on a winning note. I've gotten used to the Gunners getting scrappy wins against the smaller teams now, all I care now is 3 points. They can shoot from the halfway line, or scramble the ball in at the goal line, even have the other team score an own goal for us, it doesn't matter. 3 points is all I want to see added to the table.

While in Karachi, I was fortunate enough to catch Arsenal play away against Watford. SGGooner called in to the show and revealed his mystery identity to many fans of his blog (20k, and counting leh). The Singapore Grove was open that night, and from what I read it had a good turn out. Some of us are quietly hoping that it would be open again on Saturday when we visit Sheffield United. Perhaps have an early countdown before the rest of the mad mad world does.

How, Mr Blog, eh sai bo??

LATEST:

Liz Pub is open so the guys will be there to ring in the eve of the eve of 2007!!

Moblog: Kampaii!

Merry Christmas to one and all...

Reporting from Cyber Grove

Last home game at Emirates before going into 2007. The next 2 are away matches. Blackburn are no pushovers this team at 6th of the table. In fact there are a few in the team who actually enjoy pushing other players over, players like Robbie Savage.

Thanks to modern technology I was able to watch the match as it happened. Tried to play commentator on various forum and blogs. Couldn't concentrate, so decided to try my hand at a match report.

Login:
3rd min
Toure gives away a penalty to give Blackburn the shock lead. At this point I've only walked in from me kitchen.

10th min
Arsenal quickly regroup and earns a corner. RvP's corner converted by Captain Gilberto's header to level the match at 1-1. Game on!

23rd min
Hleb "walks" the ball into Blackburn's goal! Really, he does!

26th min
RvP is tripped on the way to goal and earns a penalty, Ade steps up, converts to make it 3!

36th min
Hleb finds himself one on one with the goalie and should've shot instead of passing, suddenly this guy is goal shy again??

Half time
Arsenal goes to the locker room 3-1. Most exciting 1st half by Arsenal at Emirates this season, in my view. Can they hold on to lead or will Rovers claw their way back?

2nd half
Arsenal need to be on their toes for up to 50min. Toure best patrol the last line well.

53rd min
Cesc effort deflected off Lucas Neill's leg, ball rolls away from goal. Arsenal using attack as defence now. Good policy.

56th min
Cesc too wary of being offside, should've just blasted into goal instead of watching the linesman.

57th min
RvP can't cut the ball back properly from goal line ... can only imagine how it could've turned out

59th min
RvP tries a "Drogba" from outside the box... ball flies over the bar.

60th min
Oooo Rosicky's effort from Ade's cut back bounces off the bar!

62min
Arsenal wanna win big, really bombarding Brad Friedal's net now.

64th min
Still Gunners go at it as soon as Rovers make substitution. At this point the Gunners are overplaying it just outside of the box I feel.

68th min
Rovers header bounces off bar, rebound scrambled in by Nonda. Arsenal makes usual mistake again at the back after leading a match.

71st min
Flamini in for . Arsenal seems to be stepping off the pedal, could be doing more harm than good.

79 min
Pederson's ball across face of Lehmann's goal fails to be connected by any players in Blue n White. Heng ah...

81st min.
Lehmann does well to push shot away from Pederson for a corner. Arsenal now trying to wind the clock down... not good idea. I still prefer them to go forward, at least with Ade at the front.

85th min
RvP does his twist and turns in front of goal to shoot into lower left corner. 4-2! I like this twisting and turning, maybe we can call it the "RvP special"?

88th min!
The trio of Ade, Cesc and RvP conjures up a 5th goal!! Nice execution beginning from our own half... Baptista and Walcott then come on. Arsenal still not satisfied with 5-2. I feel can pack up and go liao but...

92nd min
Cesc shoots hard at Brad, who parries away into the path of Flamini, who scores the 6th! Oh... my... freakin..gawd!!!

Full time
6-2 to the Gunners! Against an opposition like Blackburn it's a fantastic scoreline to wind down 2006 at home.

They're so good today, I'm gonna watch them during the repeat again!