Results are out!

After a semester of deep hard mugging, my results are finally out! Really pleased with my grades, especially for Acquistion of skills, super duper tough to study for that one! Lotsa of reading to be done and short essay questions to test understanding! Pleased! (HD = High Distinction, D = Distinction)

Into my final week of reservist, have to juggle studies, squash matches and going out to the jungle all in this 7 days to come! Pam's away to St. Johns Island with Zenith netball team while i have to stay back for classes...argh..... hope they catch Mas Selamat there! Wahahaha $50,000 for his capture i heard? Yumm...

Damn... Reservist....

Have been called up for In-Camp Training for 3 weeks. Had to dig out the dirty green duffel bag that contains all that green uniform and stuff, and clean off 4 years of dust and cobwebs! Still not feeling 100% on the left knee...maybe hurt a ligament or something, not sure if i can run IPPT test! Gonna miss Pam for 3 weeks, jia you at work! Hope i don't have to miss classes in the evenings... troublesome man...

Still can't run!

The bump on the left knee has gone down alittle. I am able to walk without a limp already but i still can't run or climb stairs without pain. That means i am out of umpiring this few days and can compete in squash tonight for my club. Those kinda so close yet so far, i think i can but can't feeling! Very disappointing...

Almost shattered my knee..

Its not really that serious but my left knee hurts like mad.. actually its the tibial tuberosity to be more exact, the little bump just below your knee cap. Well mine's a pretty big bump now anyway.

Apparently, one (or more) SJC girl decide to do a merlion or something while having her break during the game with North Vista yesterday. "Ki chiu"(Leaking mouth) as my mom would say in Hokkien. When the game restarted, me being the umpire i am, sped around the corner towards the goal-line, slipped on the pool of water, slammed my left knee followed by the right into the ground, skidded on them for a good metre or more right to the goal post.

Sounds real cool right? But my god that hurt alot. Had to hobble the rest of the game and back home as well. Pam had to ice and pamper me with food for the rest of the evening! Still hurting like mad now.... Netballers, dun spill your drinks on/off court on wooden flooring.... you will turn it into a skating rink...

Left knee - Medial View



Left knee - Anterior view

Whampoa revisited!

Pam's new job is as a Public Relations Executive at the Handicaps Welfare Association, handling media enquiries, doing school talks and tours, publications, awareness and fund-raising events. Good on her choosing this job over the more "glamorous" Land Transport Authority job offer, wanting to help the needy despite the slightly lower work benefits! Adda girl!

The other good thing about the job is that HWA is located just opposite the newly renovated and famous Whampoa market! At least she doesn't have to travel far to enjoy her breakfast and lunch! There is a wide selection of food, ranging from the more traditional breakfast like rice kuehs (Peng Kueh), chee cheong fun, bean curd, vegetarian bee hoon, etc to the more lunchy food like the famous robert mee siam and whampoa prawn noodles! Of course after sending Pam to work, i enjoyed the luxury of sitting and eating breakfast at the market. Something i've not done since my mom dragged me to the market on sundays during my early teens! Some pics below>

Whampoa Market and Food Center

Robert Mee siam and Whampoa Prawn Noodles

Yummy!

Wanna wear the white? Gotta earn it.

Some people are not fit to wear the white. Being one of the three in 30 from my batch to pass, i know how difficult it is to earn it. But it seems some people are taking wearing the white for granted... This point of view is not taken from someone who just lost a crucial match, but rather a fellow rule enforcer.

We are always talking about looking W.O.E, being L.I.N.A, and possessing the important Cs. But this are technicalities that can be learnt and picked up with experience! The most important factor, not only in this case but in everything we do, is EFFORT. I'm not fantastic myself but i believe what we lack in now, we make up with effort. Everyone is born with abilities, skills can be crafted from these abilities. But without desire, there will be no effort and thus no result at the end of the day.

It is obvious that person has no desire to be an enforcer of the rules, no interest to be "bring fairness to game" as we have been "sworn in" to do so, and hence there is no effort. NO effort to prepare for the game mentally and physically, NO effort to look W.O.E and be L.I.N.A, NO effort with the Cs and thus NO right to don the white! I've seen better from cadets, really.

Done..

Its been a long time since i've felt such disappointment, its even more painful when all those preparation work were undone in a matter of minutes on court... Shooters looked like they were having a good day, the defenders were courageous, but the mid-court... woeful..... Heartbreaking after spending so much time on them...

Losing a match is never easy, but to go down fighting and playing well, eases the pain somewhat. There were lots of fighting spirit out there from most players but it was sad they could not be rewarded for their efforts. 7 goals separated us from the Nationals. Now its time to learn from the lesson and play for lost pride on monday. If not Top 4, at least be the 5th best team in the zone, ready to step up next year!

Blog Updates

- New photo website created

- New Zenith Website added

Mixed netball results in the new year

EVG C girls became my 3rd and final team to make it into the 2nd round of the Netball Zonals 2007-2008. Well done girls for putting in a convincing display to win your final match. Despite the lack of training, you've made it up with effort.

Pam was there once again to help the C girls, as i had to train AMK for their crucial quarter final matches. Looks like she has the makings of a netball coach already with 2 wins under her belt! I think the EVG C girls like her better than they like me!?! The EVG B girls already started their 2nd round matches. Just try your best girls and enjoy the games! Will not be able to go for most of the matches as they clash with AMK's quarter finals!

AMK did not start of the new year matches the way i hope they did. The manner in which we lost to IJ TPY yesterday was pretty disappointing. Of course our opponents were very well prepared and we did lose to a much stronger team. Good thing its was not the most crucial match! AMK "B" div, lets reproduce the type of netball we are capable of, the "i've got nothing to lose" mentality that made us play the best netball they could! It ain't over till its over!

Happy Ratty Chinese New Year!

My Grandpa's place opp Hougang sec!

Chinese new year was a blast! Its been a long time since i enjoy myself during the chinese festive holiday. Was really busy catching up with relatives(mainly cousins my age..), recieving lotsa red packets (not many more years left to do so??), gambling blackjack and playing mahjong, eating all the expensive stuff like abalone, sharks' fin and new year goodie's, visiting friends' places and ktv-ing! Lotsa fun, but think i've gain some rubber around the waist! Gonna get walloped when i go back to the squash courts on wed!! Meanwhile, pics taken the new year!

Playing Blackjack / Norvan with Ah Gong

Preparing the Lou Hei at Pam's Place

Tossing for good luck / KTV-ing

Jo cooking! / Pam drooling!

Typical hand of mine during mahjong!

Who won?? / Driving my mom's Cherry QQ during the New year!