So long and good night...

Alright, this eagerly anticipated post shall be my last for the next 2 weeks. In another 5 hours time, I'll be heading toward the so-called "manhood" lifestyle and trainings. Quoting from what my friend Derrick used to say, blend with the forest and live like a monk.

Prior to today, I seem to have endless thoughts in mind that I wish to express it here before I leave for my enlistment. But right now, it seems like I've nothing much to write. For the next few paragraphs, I'll try to mention and thank all the people who have pretty much left his/her footprints in my heart. Pardon me if I left out some of your names, and if I get too pessimistic, just bear with it.

For a start, this is the 193rd post since I started blogging way back in August 2003. It started off with just mentioning of daily stuff, and slowly evolving to sad tales, sad clips, sad songs, sad analogies and not to mention, this sad template. For those who has been following my blog since then, a very big thank you for your continuous support.

Now, how should I start?

For the past 20 years, probably there are way too many people who have crossed my path and had somehow left behind some good memories. Starting from way back to 13 years ago (I've skipped the earlier phases before this, cause my memories isn't that great enough to recall the names before this.), that's when I'm in my primary school days.

Some names I could still recall, was Mrs. Sim, the so-called tigress of my school. She's my social studies teacher when I was primary 3 and hell-yeah, she's one who bites. There's an incident that I could remember, for one of her lesson, I forgot to bring the textbook for class, and she ordered me to get it from the class next door.

For some reasons, maybe I'm shy or got freak out after she raised her voice at me, I just pretend to walk out of the class towards the neighbour classrooms, and came back telling her no one has the text to lend me, even though I didn't went in to any of the classrooms asking for it.

And guess what? She's smart enough to see that I came back pretty fast and immediately gave me a good dressing down for that I didn't even asked at all and came back lying to her. So I went back the second time round and thank god, some kind soul has the text to lend me.

Probably this is the start of my rebellious, attitude character building.

Those primary school days are probably the most relaxing, innocent, naive days. Used to like play table tennis after school ends around 6pm till late, go around the estate playing block catching until the residents called up the police for that we are making too much noise and hogging the lifts, started all the classroom puppy love gossips whereby there will be a gals group and the guys group always discussing about each other and doing silly match-making for one another, and many other innocent childhood stuff.

Of cause not to mention those friends I made; Siah Jen, Gerome, Ji kun, Kar Wai, Derek, Dong Hao, Elizabeth, Yuan Xia, Jolene, Sandy. Sorry if I can't recall some of the names out there. Siah Jen, whose probably the closest buddy of mine since we were classmates from primary 1 all the way to primary 6.

He was the smartest in class, and I could remember towards the end of primary 6, he's the one who is able to solve any difficult Mathematics problems set by our teachers. And to my knowledge, he excelled again in his secondary days, JC and even now as an officer in Air Force.

Kar Wai, my table tennis and Nitendo playmate, and is also the famous guy from our primary school batch who dated Fann Wong's younger sis during his secondary days. Ji Kun, my badminton playmate, and his dad who's a great badminton player but unfortunately passed away about 7 years ago. Gerome, the great striker in soccer and has been my schoolmate for quite a long time, stretching from primary 1 all the way to secondary 4.

Came my secondary school life thereafter, and again, the first 2 years of my secondary days are probably the best I could every get. The most unforgettable incident was that there's a inter-class soccer competition when I was in secondary 1. We joined class with the class 1 students as I'm in class 2. The competition was stretch from Express stream all the way to Normal Technical.

With no offence in mind, Normal Technical classes tend to have more Malays and are rougher with their playing style. Everyone deemed that our combination with class 1 will get us no where, and especially the fact that we are the only team with all Chinese. For some reasons, back then, soccer is ruled by the Malays.

School team will have like 90% of the members are Malays. So before the start of the competition, we are already deemed as the losers who will be finishing last with zero wins.

Against all odds, our team is the only team who won all the 3 matches, and therefore won the Inter-class soccer competition. All the team members who played in the competition became good friends. Khing tat, Sida, Desmond, Gerome, Yi Xiang, June Hua, are some of the names I can managed to recall. Sorry again for those names I missed out. Can't remember who was in the team, probably too mixed up with other friends who didn't played in the competition.

And when I was in secondary 1 and 2, the thing that got me the title of "Malay" was the countless days of soccer before and after school. Got pretty tanned out prior to the fact that we played regardless of rain or shine. At that time where there's still the system of alternate sessions like afternoon session for secondary 1 and morning session for secondary 2.

So when it's morning session, we will come to school way before assembly, and play soccer for like 20-30 minutes, sweat it all out and then have to stand at the back of the class for that our shirts are soaked. And then after school, we will start kicking again, from 2pm till 6pm.

School shoes have to replace like every 2 months and we will get the US Masters or All-Star school shoes, for that there's an extra pimples strip at the front for us to curve and bend the ball imitating the hot soccer star, David Beckham's famous banana free kicks.

Slowly we moved to play street soccer, and then we reach the point of like losing soccer balls at quite a fast rate simply either the ball was kicked to the road and got burst or totally worn out.

Something nice about secondary school days was that when we all got to secondary 4, before we graduated with our O Levels, it seems pretty much like we know each and everyone in the whole cohort.

Of cause, not forgetting my NCC days which we used to call it ECA, and yeah, I'm in the NCC uniform group. And that period of time as a cadet is definitely going to be useful for me in the next 2 years. Recalling those days whereby I'll be the rebellious and attitude cadet who likes to argue with my Sergeants and get punished most of the time.

So much so, I was told that my attitude in my first 2 years as a cadet left me bad mark to me name and therefore I wasn't able to rise up the ranks to be Staff Sergeant or anything higher like ASM or CSM. But I was still able to get my 1st Sergeant rank and was given the post as Specialist In-Charge.

The days as cadet really taught me a lot of things. Remembering the Specialist course I attended, whereby we were on course for 5 days, was an experience one could never forget. The trainings, the punishments and the discipline have somehow changed my thinking to be more mature.

CLT Bernard Tan was one who I could remember. He's used to be my Sergeant when I was in secondary 1, and then become our Sir when he graduated and came back as Cadet Lieutenant. He's a strict Sir but a good friend as a whole.

Names to mention yet again; Derrick, Eugene, Soon tat, Sida, June Hua, Swee Liang, Yi Xiang, Desmond, Yu Zhong, Seow Chin, Jin Han, Melvin, Gerome, Khing Tat, Seline, Cui Cui, Hui Shan, Jillian, Serene, Sok Ling, Hui Ying. (Sorry, if I can't recall you).
A very big thank you to all of you guys.

The most recent schooling time will be my poly life. 3 years with many happenings. Sad and sorry to say, DBI0203 isn't a class that one would call it a class. We are mainly divided into 2 groups and of cause; I'm so called the bastard in class. Long story behind it, not to say I'm right or who's wrong, I think it's just misunderstandings.

Days as a poly student is pretty much dull for me. Was pretty much less active in sports, and have nothing but projects to be done. I remembered during my first semester when I was in year 2, I stayed back in labs doing up my projects for like almost every single day until lab closed at 10pm.

That's how hardcore I'll be at that time. But ever since I got my laptop, I'll just do them at home, at a very slow pace, simply gaming all the time.

Something I've learnt from one of my lecturer when I complained to her about the unfair project marking system whereby I felt that hard work by an individual in a group project is never recognized, was that learning is more than the grades I get at the end of the day.

Getting Distinctions and all the As doesn't mean much. Till now, I totally agree with this point. Just ask yourself if you are able to teach and educate some other people with those modules you scored well and what's the real meaning behind all the studying.

Names to mention; Zheng Cun, Deming, Ching Wei, Farhan, Sam, Derrick, Kenneth, Wendy, Michelle, Iris, Wen Sze, Ristina, Shenyan, Liu Ting, Pauline, Hanis, Adeline, Crystal. (Sorry if I left out your name.)

Gaming days are also something worth mentioning here. Gunbound and Maple Story are the 2 games which kept me staying up and occupied for quite some days. Had a lot of fun especially in Gunbound, made nice friends, and not forgetting some gatherings we had.
Names to mention: Kenneth, Jacky, Jason, Esther, Hui ling, Erina, Karen, Yao, Elena, Sharin. (Sorry if I left out your name.)

3 notable working experiences I had were at Clarke Quay Thanying Thai restaurant, Hasbro Christmas Village at Expo and Jay Gee (Levi's) at Plaza Singapura. The longest was the time I spent 2 years at Thanying restaurant, the time where I learnt what customer service is about, and experience all the nice Thai food. Jimmy and Calvin are the 2 TP friends I made while working there. Had lots of fun over there.

Hasbro, the most slack and well-paid job I ever had. It was also the first time I actually had Christmas present exchange with my colleagues. The kids over there are generally cute and fun too. Christopher, Timothy, Leon, Nicholas, Azmi, Levian, Pei Lan, Amanda, Xiu ling, Charmaine are the friends I made over there. 1 short month over there that seems forever nice and great.

Lastly, the Levi's time I had over at Plaza Singapura. First exposure to retail line and I must say, it's not easy to be one good customer service assistant. Learnt a lot about Levi's products and how retail line works. Not forgetting the punk rock I got into, the lame dirty jokes, and all the instant noodles I had. Excellent colleagues over there like Don, Desmond, Kheong, Ida, Mel and Susie our boutique manager.

Alright, I hope I have mentioned all the names I could possibly think of. Right now, I'm actually not in a perfect state of mind to write much about everything I wish I can. There are a lot more issues and stuff I may wish to write them all down, but I guess its going to be like a least 10 pages long.

I've took 2 hours to write till here. And now, I'm left with 2 hours before I bid farewell to my bed. So before I end up, time to be emotional yet again.

As most of you guys reading would have know, I'm pretty much a pessimistic guy. Even at times, I don't mind it, but I'll just mention all the nasty, dreadful things. Like death is something I'll hang around my mouth. So it's time for me to write a death wish here, just in case something bad really goes wrong when I'm inside.

Yeah, I know, nothing bad will happen, at least not death that serious right? But there's always a but, so I'll just write my say here. Fingers crossed, if I do faced death, I hope my funeral to be all black. Bury me in black. Black coffin, black suit for me, black funeral theme, with black and white roses.

Ok, enough of that. On the last serious note, to all my friends reading this, take good care.

For those who always get relationship problems, just be strong and things will work out fine, for those who are studying, study well and simply do your best and not be too concern about results, for those working out there, work hard and learnt as much as you can, for those who is always sick, take care of your health, for those who hates me, time to let go the hatred, for those who likes me, (is there one?) I'll be strong.

Since I'm going in army for 2 years, there must be some resolutions I hope to achieve at the end of it. For me, I hope to be able to be a pilot for which I know it's never easy, and the least I hope to be is to be an officer. Shall work hard for it.

Alright, gotta prepare and check my stuff, lunch and get going soon. To all the friends out there, stay positive, stay cool, stay punk and stay out of trouble. May the force be with you.

So long and good night...


Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Oasis

Hold up
Hold on
Don't be scared
You'll never change what's been and gone

May your smile (may your smile)
Shine on (shine on)
Don't be scared (don't be scared)
Your destiny may keep you warm

Cos all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out

Get up (get up)
Come on (come on)
Why're you scared? (I'm not scared)
You'll never change
What's been and gone

Cos all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out

Cos all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out

We're all of us stars
We're fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see us some day
Just take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out
Stop crying your heart out
Stop crying your heart out