Christmas is five days past, but yesterday I felt a little Christmas spirit return. Without doubt, Joyeux Noel, or Merry Christmas in English, is one of the best films I've watched this year. It's a lovely, touching show set in World War 1. A little odd, yes, for a Christmas movie, but it's based on a true story, of how on Christmas Eve in 1914, several stretches along the French-German Front were at peace because the opposing soldiers held unofficial ceasefires. The movie simplifies this by focusing on one location of the truce. Parts of the film seem a little exaggerated and frankly, cheesy, but its overall effect leaves one with a sense of sentimentality and hope. And hey, I'm a sucker for world war films that are shot in German or French.

When I was in SAV on Wednesday, I realised that I didn't want to go back to school after all. That may sound strange to many school-hating people out there, but initially I was actually looking forward slightly to school because the holidays were getting rather dull and long. Truth be told, this seems to me to have been the longest stretch of holidaying I've ever had. All the past year-end breaks in secondary or primary school seemed too short. This one seemed almost too long. Now, it's not long enough.

I guess it was looking around at all the people present, people whom I am going to face next year, that made me realise my reluctance. I don't want to meet everybody again. Even the people I don't personally know. Maybe the best way to describe how I feel would be: I don't want to be immersed in the lifestyle and culture of school again. It would be lovely if I could just study with the people I like and hang out with, and if the whole campus belonged to just the few of us. Strangely, this isolationist sentiment just reminded me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. In fact, wouldn't it be great to walk down Orchard Road one day and find the streets deserted, and having the whole place to yourself? Ok, now I'm sounding morbid.

Work does not create satisfaction.

So I visited the new campus yesterday. I couldn't recognise my old secondary school anymore. It's gone. Gone! And now the whole place feels so cramped. Like a bunch of HDB blocks all lumped together.

It was only yesterday that I realised that every school building I've studied in is now either gone or changed beyond recognition. My secondary school is now my JC. My primatry school has been remodelled, but it's still at the same location. My secondary school now has a new campus. The only building that remains relatively unchanged is the old school building up on Woodsville, now called the Diocese Centre. Now that building brings back memories, although they lie so far back in time they've gotten rather vague and sepia-toned in my mind.

Then after finishing our grand tour of the school we left for lunch. Almost. Just as we passed through the MRT gates Vicks realised she hadn't brought along her EZLink card. So, Dai Wei and I waited. And waited. And waited. I never realised one could lose track of time within Potong Pasir station. But there you have it. We did. I'm sorry Vicks, but your escapades just make such good material for blogging.

My day ended with a Sec 4 class reunion. Jason came back to Singapore 5 minutes before Christmas, which incidentally also happens to be his birthday. But he's leaving again so soon: this Saturday. Well, it was good to see him anyway. He doesn't seem to have changed much apart from his hair. Maybe, if I have enough time and money, I'll go visit him at the end of next year.

Things are getting very disturbing in the Tan household. Yes, I found it more disturbing than amusing, I don't know why. It was nearly enough to give me goosebumps last night. America, ohh America, such beguiling charms you have... But you shall never invade Cuba!

A day of rest

Today was a lazy day. My family just whiled away the time relaxing after the hectic celebrations of Christmas. Thanks, Kelly, for the brownies. They were delicious as always.

At around 5 today we left the house to go out to Seletar reservoir for a walk in the park. It's been awhile since I have been able to just walk about in some park peacefully, without a care in the world, almost. In those few hours I just refused to let any worries cloud my mind.

Then we left the reservoir to make a drive towards Sembawang Park, next to the sea. Along the way we passed by great open spaces, all rarities in Singapore, that seemed so lush, green and empty. It was like we had passed out of Singapore to a greener and fresher country. Then all of a sudden we drove past this field that was dotted with brown skeletons of trees, all of them leafless. It struck me deeply because I was reminded of the German countryside in winter as one crosses the border into Switzerland. And in that moment I yearned to be abroad, back somewhere in Europe, preferably that German countryside. That field, and following that, all the surrounding landscape, seemed so foreign. For the rest of the journey I sat wondering at how suddenly Singapore didn't seem local anymore, and that even as I reached home, somehow the place didn't seem that familiar.

And I remembered that, of course, we are all wayfarers, passing through a land that is not home.

Born that man no more may die

Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11

To everyone, have a Joyous Christmas.

Of uncles and burnt fingers

Yesterday, I burnt my fingers while trying to light Jeremy's birthday cake. I'm not going to say anything more about it. Happy Early Birthday Jeremy. Hope you enjoyed Kong. Great show.

Then afterwards I met Quek and KH and we practically whiled away the afternoon crapping nonsense and playing 15 minute intervals of STAR WARS: REPUBLIC COMMANDOS (cue Star Wars opening music), and QUAKE 4. I think the old urge to get games for Christmas resurfaced shortly within me.

Then KH was off. Hope you have fun on Monday! Did you know, that his class is actually coming to his house on Boxing Day for potluck? Even though "class" meaning around 12 people, I still find that a remarkable feat. I mean, getting 12 people in my class to sit at the same table in the canteen would be a good showing for us, haha. Anyway, don't get drunk on Monday, KH. We don't want too many people in your class to know about America! America! Am I not good enough for you, America?!

Then to round off my day was a most peculiar experience. To tell you the truth, yesterday was a really random day. I ended up in Toa Payoh Central with Quek, helping him shop for, among other things, a mini fan and sponges. He was buying stuff for some needy people gift list, and the items listed were hilarious in terms of having two 17 year old guys buy them. I have this lovely picture of Jeremy squatting in the Household section of Cold Storage squinting at washing detergents. Washing detergents. Then you have to wonder, do they want machine wash detergents or for hand wash?? We both never felt more inadequate and retarded before. I mean, yeah, we both look like uncles, but now we are uncles. You see, there's this complex in Toa Payoh Central that houses Courts on its first three floors and Cold Storage in the basement. It seemed to me to be like the ultimate shopping expeeience, and now, the both of us have experienced the complete family shopping experience. From Cold Storage to Courts.

At Courts we got this mini fan which was really cheap, like $20. I looked at it and went, "ok, we'll take this one." After saying that line I promptly turned away in disgust at actually having said that. I just ordered a mini fan! I'm an uncle! But later on I realised that the fan looked pretty impressive in its packaging cos it came in a large box. I was thinking how impressive that would be if I wrapped up the box nicely and gave it to people for Christmas gifts.

In any case, we rounded up the complete family shopping experience with coffee and tea at Yakun's.

Vicks was saying yesterday that i should compile a list of Moments of 2005. So here's a short list of them:

1) Vicks falling down the stairs, getting up, and falling down again.

2) Vicks tripping over something (not in school) and messaging me a detailed description of her experience. Here's the SMS in full: "Damn, I just tripped over a kerb, ran towards the ground and crashed onto the ground. Now I have a scraped side of knee, palm and a bit of bleeding elbow."

3) Jeremy saying in response to someone's laughter, "That's freakin' gay". (must be said with great passion and energy)

4)Mr Yoong to Lester, "HURRY UP!" (said with a force strong enough to wake Dai Wei and Jeremy up from their post-PE stupor)

5) Mr Yoong to Hanis, "Where is General Kassem from?" (said with a slow, ominous tone of voice tinged with rumblings of the wrath of God)

6) Mr Yoong about Lester, "He's halfway there." (this comment was not related to Moment 4)

7) Mrs Ram and her terrorist joke. To cripple Singapore one should bomb Shenton Way, not Changi Airport, although in my opinion bombing Changi would be enough to cripple our economy substantially.

8) Mr Smith about Vicki Yong, "She's a figment of my imagination."

9) Mr Smith's post Lit promos speech, "Just a reminder that 05A22 must see their CT in the Geography room, and all the Lit reps see me!" (half-sung, half-spoken)

10) Mrs Tan calling me, "Joe-wel..."

11) Samantha calling Jeremy, "Jerrmms...."

Those are all the Moments I can think of for now. If any of you can think of more feel free to contribute :)

Two Days to Christmas

Two days to Christmas and the skies are remarkably gloomy. It's been rainy and downcast these few days. In fact, walking along Orchard Road at night with the Christmas lights lit up and the rain drizzling down reminded me of Paris in winter. All that was needed was for the temperature to be lowered about 20 degrees or so.

I watched King Kong on Wednesday and Narnia yesterday. Two big budget films back to back. After so long, it's nice being able to walk out of the cinema feeling you've watched a good film. Kong is, without doubt, the biggest movie of the year, in all respects. Expansive, visually stunning, pulse-racingly exciting, it bears all the trademarks of Peter Jackson. Once more, the kiwi has done it again. In fact, I think Kong himself acts better than some of the actors. I actually heard someone crying rather loudly in the theatre as the ape fell off the building. That was a lovely scene. Intimate, tender, and epic at the same time.

Narnia, in comparison, wasn't that great. The film's pacing is rather irregular, and the intercutting of the scenes feels stilted and slightly jerky. Nevertheless it's a fairly good movie, with appropriately touching scenes. In my opinion the jerkiness of the story has more to do with how the book is structured than with the editing. Lewis wrote it in such away as to warrant Tolkien's comment that it was a "hodgepodge of images", and I agree with that judgement. It became more obvious to me after watching the movie. But Lewis' strength lay in the intimacy of his words and scenes. The flowing of one chapter to another was painted in flowing sweeps of language that managed to bind the story together as a closely-knitted whole. The movie, in trying to make a picture out of his words, suffers from the hodgepodge syndrome. Still, it makes for good family entertainment. I definitely recommend it for a viewing.

I've been feeling so sleepy... This is good weather for curling up in bed...


Vicks: Oh seriously, vicki, could you not tell the sarcasm of that statement? In any case, it really was a rather eye-catching outfit.

Benita: Yes, that sounds pathetic. And I feel used.... hahaha. Aiya, try to do up some of the econs yourself first lah. You're better at it than me anyway :)

Musa: Musa... sighhhh....

I can't believe I made it through those four days, but I did, so here I am, back home from camp. It was...a tremendous experience, tremendous not neccessarily meaning good, but nonetheless tremendous. I have been suffering from indigestion for the past two days, and indeed am still struggling with the urge to throw up my food right now. Camp food must not agree with my stomach. Or maybe it was because I got caught in a heavy downpour and subsequently endured a cold shower. In either case I threw up twice during the camp. Tremendous.

I'm physically and mentally exhausted. We did a High Elements rope course, meaning the kind of stuff you do at an Outward Bound course, walking on ropes suspended several metres in the air, that sort of thing. Those werent so bad, because they were actually fun to do. They just tire you out. The problem was the ground stations, because there was one game in which we had to stuff all our group members through a car tyre to get to the other side. Continuously carrying people in excess of 65 kg can strain the hand greatly. My left hand is still sore...

But the sessions were great. The guest speaker was seriously funny, and very random. I mean he was saying things like, just because you're born in an airport doesn't mean you're an aeroplane right? haha, but he made sense. In part it's probably because he's my kind of preacher, the thinking, more logical type. I guess some things did hit home.

Christmas is coming! In less than a week the youth congregation will be having its first service in SAV on 25 December! Which also means the year is ending and school is beginning. This could mean a period of despondency for many people in view of the pile of untouched homework, or it could mean hope. I'd choose hope. That is the message of Christmas after all.


Quek: hmm... crazed intoxication... are you referring to materialism? and what time are you talking about?

Musa: Nooo, I don't think I'm about to go camping again any time soon... And if you know me, you should know my idea of fun does not involve dirt and mud.

Vickland: Yup, but you know what, I agree with a few people who wrote into the ST about our service. The way to improve our service is for customers to reciprocate their thanks to those in the service line.

Mein Kampf

Whee, I've been going around shopping the past two days with my mom. I've got a new shirt, a new bag, a new pair of glasses, and a new pair of track pants. The pants are purely for functional uses. I've got a youth camp coming up in which I'll have to use them. I'd rather not have them, really...

And I've been eating. Yesterday we ate at the Island Cafe at CK Tangs. I tried their signature laksa with crayfish dish. It wasn't really fantastic. The service was worse. They were sufficiently congenial, but a tad too partial. Next to us was this table where two caucasians were eating with their Singaporean counterparts. Since they were so close to us I picked up some talk about the usual high business. Now, the irritating thing was that the waiters all seemed to pay an inordinate amount of attention to their table instead of the others. Every few minutes or so some one would rush over to clear the plates, offer more water, bring dishes. They ordered later, but they got their dishes first. Several times the waiter went over to refill their glasses, but as he left, with a jug of water still clearly full, he failed to notice our empty glasses. My mother had to actually call out to him to refill our cups. And when we were done, our table remained littered with the used serviettes while the other table was swiped clean of them, made pristine long before they left. We left our table in the same condition it was after we were done eating.

I simply don't understand the colonialist attitudes some of our service people still carry. Surely 40 years of continued growth and independence, not to mention a world war, would have smashed those inferiority complexes? But no, it would seem. But I'll give them the benfit of the doubt. Maybe they just happened to overlook us, which seems rather unlikely given that we were literally seated next to that table.

Anyway, that aside, I've been having a great time walking around these two days. I think I've done more walking than shopping. But it's needed exercise I guess, haha. I received this letter today saying I've gotten a good progress award in my studies and therefore am eligible for a cash voucher. Well, at least that makes up for the whole Edusave bursary scheme, which I receive now and then, but am never eligible for. More cash to help fill up my account! haha. Thanks be to God for seeing me through my studies this year.

I'll be away from tomorrow till Monday because of my youth camp. I'm not really looking forward to it. I've never really liked camps. They are so much of a hassle. Living away from the urban environment for a few days, indulging (or shall I say wallowing) in silly games that inevitably involve mud and dirt and water. I'd be fine really, if they just concentrated on the spiritual aspect of the camp and left the rest undone. But I suppose being away from your comfort zone and being pushed to do things you don't normally do kind of forces you to depend on God more. Maybe that's what I need, haha.


Musa: I've always liked the idea of being able to yak those kind of stiff on a train or bus, haha. The narcissistic side of me coming out.

Vicks: Well, in the context of the current festive season your outfit was very appropriate. As for the concert one, well, it might have required a few tweaks, but I shall abstain from the details.

Benita: Bye! Have fun on your trip. You, know, I think you were right that day. Naseem was indeed slightly jealous of you... hahahaha

Naseem: Happy? Happy?? yeah yeah.... And I wasn't bitching about you, I was jacking you. There's a difference. But see you around soon!

Quek: I never said I had fun spending. I said I liked shopping. hahaha...

Fill me up

Today we went out to treat Vicks. It's her birthday tomorrow, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKS! Nice outfit today! The best I've seen from you so far. Very memorable. Musa, you MUST send me the pics we took today. For everyone's information Vicks appeared today in a red and white top (red shirt, white long sleeves), wearing a Santa Hat. Dai Wei was the first one to spot her. We were looking around for her and then suddenly he saw her standing at with her back to the MRT signboard. So we hurried behind the board to hide, and then she turned this way, so we hurried to the other side, and then she turned back, so we hurried back. Then we crept up and surprised her. End of story.

Haha, but no, we had lunch later at swensen's. And we got her this book. Books as gifts. The darndest things in the world. I can't even believe I'm saying this! But I guess all gifts are darned things when you're looking for the right one.

And now, I'm feeling the sting of spending so much so recently. Musa found this wallet in the Wallet Shop that says on its front "Fill me up". I think its very appropriate for Musa. And I think for me too. I mean, I'm not really broke, but I don't like the sinking feeling of watching the money in my bank account go down. And it's going down quite fast. I like to imagine what I could do with big money. Invest in shares, place some in fixed deposit, buy property and rent it out, and then sit back and enjoy the dividends. Then I can really do what I once joked about: sitting in bus or MRT yakking away into my phone, "Ah yes, Sam, I want you to sell all 50 000 of my shares in so-and-so company. Buy up a 100 000 in this-and-that. Yes, sell. What? Their rates just went down? Hmm, okay nevermind, just sell the rest and we'll wait and see." or something along those lines. Such silly imaginings.

It's interesting to see how different a picture of yesterday Beni has painted. She says it's a heavenly experience, I say it was tortuous. And I thought you were the one who didn't want to walk around so much. But you did raise a good point about fiction. I think it's been too long since I've invested in a good fiction book. I've been reading a lot of CS Lewis and other non-fiction, think-deep, kind of books. Those are good, and Lewis is as usual fantastic. But there's always something special about delving into a good, captivating story that can transport me to another time or place. Like LOTR, or Artemis Fowl, or Narnia. I see a trend in the fiction books I like. I like mainly fantasy novels, like the ones above. But much of the fantasy genre is crap, so I read the classics. I also like Michael Crichton. Basically my books must have a certain amount of fantasy in them, not necessarily the magical kind. Sci-fi elements are perfectly acceptable too. But there must always be a balance. Plot is absolutely critical to the story. Too much of the other-worldly elements and you end up with garbage. When I do read general fiction the plots, although based on the real world, must be slightly removed from reality. For example the Life of Pi. Perhaps my genre could be described as the surreal.

And, beni, you don't CON me into ALMOST buying a book. If I do so, it's out of the exceeding benevolence of my heart, ha. And you probably will get another anyway... I don't like my presents to be un-liked.

The Art of Giving

My tagboard has become a discussion board for Vicks, Liz and Musa about the strengths and weaknesses of Abigail Sin and Clare Yeo. For starters I've never even heard of Clare Yeo. Ok, so sue me, I'm musically illiterate, or just out of touch with the local, and global, music scene. But I've never really given much thought to music in any case.

The Art of Giving is a skill, or virtue, that needs much refining within me. There are two kinds of giving, I believe. The first is the giving of one's time, skill, possessions. The intangibles, I would say. In this I lack discipline, or the genorisity, to give; whether it be to the needy or just someone who needs help.

The second kind of giving is the one that is troubling me now. It is the giving of material goods, or in other words, presents. I never knew that shopping for books, which has traditionally been a joyous practice for me, could become so tortuous. I have found the perfect person to give books to, for she seems to enjoy a great many kind of books. Perhaps her taste is as erratic as mine, but there remain severe differences. For example, chick lit. The problem arises when I attempt to shop in a genre that I usually avoid diligently. Then many things happen. What a silly convoluted path I've taken today. At least now I have a better understanding of the type of books you want. If it so happens to please me, and my wallet, I may just end up getting one of those from your wish list. Just don't borrow them from the library yet. :)

Shopping for gifts is a truly tiring and irritating experience. At this rate, I should just start doling out gift vouchers for everything under the sun. Saves me a whole lot of trouble.

I visited Naseem today at her workplace. She looked soo traditional and conservative. But the minute she opened her mouth, bam! impression's gone. She's still demanding her silly chocolate mud cake, among other things. Now the list has increased to Christmas gifts, which she's not getting because I'm trying to make my gift list as short as possible to avoid further hassle, and invitations to various outings, which she's also not going to get because of a simple reason: You're working, live with it. hahahah. She even insulted me by saying everyone visits her at work except the people she wants to see. Fine! But this was the best part. She thought chick lit was a short form for Chicken Little.

You know what, I kinda miss chocolate mud cake and Earl Grey tea *hint hint*.

Goodbye

Some events demand a blog post. Today, of all days, was such a day. Our last church service at Malan Road. The last time I will set foot inside that compound, the last time I will stroll through the plaza, sit in the caf (it was the last time I will see it so packed), stand in the hall, sing in the sanctuary. Everything that has a beginning, has an end. (Of all the movies to quote from...)

My brother was confirmed today in the school hall by the Bishop of Singapore. It was the last confirmation at Malan Road as well as the last service. Ironically, it was the first time I sat in the second level of the school hall.

Today it was brought home to me the significance of the site at Malan Road. My parents got married there, in the church sanctuary on the hill. While I was still in her womb my mother brought me there. I grew up there, played there, worshipped there, got baptised there, got confirmed there, and now, more recently, studied there. I have spent all 17 years of my life on the SAJC campus at Malan Road. The site has more meaning to me than just being an extension of my connection to the St. Andrew's family. I practically lived there.

And now, with a final wave, the last prayers have been said, the last hymns sung, the last photos taken. We bid farewell to Malan Road. The sanctuary has been deconsecrated, the altar stripped. I look forward to our move into SAV. The campus will no doubt be much flatter. The hill rises beyond the river now.

17 years... I can only look back and say, great is Thy faithfulness.



***

Liz: I hardly think MG girl necessarily equates good... But, of course, Abigail Sin is good.

Larissa: You would be gushing too if you'd seen him. And my male classmate was gushing about him too. We wanted to like abduct him and bring him home, haha.

ChildAid

I attended the ChildAid concert last night with Vicks, Musa, Jeremy and Dai Wei. One of the performers was this eight-year-old harpist who was absolutely adorable. He was short and pudgy abd walked around with an effeminate sway of his hands and legs. He was even shorter than his harp lah, for goodness sake. But he was sooo cute. You should have seen the look on his face as he caressed his harp. It was sheer bliss, like the harp was the dearest thing in the world to him. Then afterwards at the finale he stood on stage with the rest of the performers holding a flower in his hands. He looked so blur just standing there with the flower. Then as he walked off he waved the flower at the audience. SO CUTE! Oh my goodness I think I've gone slightly paedophilic after seeing him. Child harpists. Fantastic stuff.

The rest of the performances were good too. Several of them were marred by bad lighting. Who shines green spotlights (four of them) into the audience's face when the opera singer on stage is extolling the virtues of love and kisses??? And the lighting during the performance by 3dash1, the winners of this year's School of Rock competition, was horrendous. Just a mish mash of lights being flung all over the place. It hurt the eyes and did little to help the band, whose songs we could barely hear... I never likes rock anyway...

Abigail Sin was good. I've never seen hands move so fast on a piano before. Musa, for some reason has a problem with piano playing, which he forgot to tell me why! Oh yes, Nathan Hartono. His name made me wonder why we pronounce the President's name as Na-thun, whereas normal Nathans are pronounced as Nay-thun. haha. But he sounded quite good anyway. I think he has a growing fan club.

ugh, I still feel sleepy. I went to bed so late...

Whoopy day. I've been tagged. Incidentally, Kelly already did this whole tagging thing to me. But, oh nevermind, I'll do it again.

So, Five Random Facts about myself:
1) I'm falling ill after walking around so much yesterday. So now I have a running nose and I'm feeling sleepy...

2) I haven't started studying for my S Paper selection test, so I may be screwed.

3) I miss certain people in the class...

4) Some of my cell members find it discomfitting when I smile, because they think I have something on my mind about a comment they just made, when in actual fact I don't. When I do have a comment to make I more or less always end up saying it.

5) People have a tendency to call me by my full name. I wonder why. Is Joel too short? Or maybe it's because adding a Lian behind makes it sound so much better. I think I'll take the second option.

I can't be bothered to spread this tagging thing any further. I'm sleepy...

The end is coming

I ate at the Handle Bar today, the biker's bar across the school main gate. Our cell decided to dine there as a mark of our last dinner at the site. Tomorrow will be the last youth service in the sanctuary. Next week will be the last combined service at Malan Road. After that, we move to Potong Pasir.

Because the Youth congregation will be having our camp during the official first service at Potong Pasir, our first service there will actually be on Christmas Day. Quite appropriate I guess. And it adds a poetic touch to our move. And then three days later, the school will converge on that little town to mark its own official move. Well, I guess the end really is coming.

okay, so vicks asked me to say here why you should NOT watch Chicken Little. In the words of Tolkien (this is how he described Narnia actually, but I found it apt), the show is a hodgepodge of images, an incomplete rendering of an imagined world. I mean, it takes bits and pieces from various movies, MTV songs, and cracks jokes at itself. It's too infused with pop culture. You have a Disney movie actually filled with cheesy pop songs. The lyrics are seriously gross. There's one line from one song going, "You hurt me, I hurt you, we both hurt too easily." ........................

Unoriginal and bad script, lousy acting (yes, even cartoon characters can act badly), lame humour, Chicken Little is proof that Disney has fallen flat on its face. It has bastardised moments from Finding Nemo, War of the Worlds, and basically is a tired tale of a father and son trying to connect. Save your money and time. Watch something else. Period.

Vicks: Well, I think I've heard alot about your CIP camp... Good stuff nonetheless. I'm sure Dai Wei and Jeremy can tell me more when we meet, haha. And oh yeah, there are plenty of fine councillors out there. Not everyone is weird. I mean, normal students are weird too.

Of chickens and cows

Do NOT watch Chicken Little. DO NOT. Should you wish to maintain the illusion that Disney will forever remain the premier production house of delightful, magical children's animated movies, do not spoil that image by watching this show. Just hark back to the good old days and dwell in those happy memories of the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, etc...

As for me, I have abandoned that illusion. 'Twas beauty that killed the beast, truly. Long live Pixar!

I need a good show now... Where is Narnia when you need it? Kong! Oh, mighty Kong that dwelleth in the upperemost realms of New York, save this pathetic year at the movies....

Borders has this fantastic promotion now that makes me want to rush out and buy books. If I buy the Narnia box-set edition does that count as one book or seven? How many should I buy? Three, four, or five? For whom should I buy them? It's so difficult getting gifts for people. So subjective. And books don't really make good gifts because of their subjectivity. Of course, I still maintain that books are more worthwhile gifts compared to other gifts, depending on the book. I should probably create my Christmas gift list soon. And yes, this time the gift list is for other people, not myself...

Familiarity breeds contempt, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Such paradoxes of life, I wonder why. I begin to miss the usual gang in class. Beni, where are you? Come back quickly!

at least u're safe. at least i knw u're who u are, u ARE what u seem, i don't have to second guess anything. what comfort it is to have friends like that.

I wish my life wasn't so compartmentalized. I wish I could just let Him permeate every moment of my existence with His love...


Oh, yes, cows. I think I've more or less settled on the model of Braun Buffel wallet that I want. Now all that remains is my parents' will to fork out the cash. Took me a loong time to decide. In fact, I think I still have a few doubts here and there... hmm... That bull is so tempting...

I think I'll spend some time replying to the tags first.

Vicks: I don't see how going to Sentosa without you people makes me a traitor. I think the island is big enough for several groups of friends. Well, if you can, organise one proper outing soon lah! I bumped into Jeremy today, and he was asking me where to go. Are we still going ice-skating?

Oh yeah, about me being a casanova, I hope you do realise that you're one of the girls linked to me ......... (you still remember the time when I said you'd be the last girl on earth I'd want to be linked to, and then I realised that there were plenty other ppl I'd rather NOT be linked to and then took back my words? haha)

Kevin: Well, I heard you did well anyway. Arts is rather slack too.

Quek: Poh Chong? Where did you see him?? Hmm, I wonder if he'll ever, umm.... mature. Anyway, the reviews for Chicken Little seem rather bad. I think we should catch something else. Sigh, when will King Kong come out?

Benita: Can we not do work everytime we meet? I'm finding the Bugis area rather boring.... Let's go shopping! hahaha...

***

Well, like I said above, I bumped into Jeremy today. He was wearing his dorky specs again! And his younger brother, who happens to be about a head taller than Jeremy, was with him. Oh, but don't worry, Jeremy, he doesn't seem to have your amazing bed-moss like hair.

I really wonder whether I over-analyse too much. I wonder whether the things I worry about are worth worrying for. Most of the time they aren't. And after a long period of tension and anxiety, I sometimes stop and think, what exactly am I anxious over? And I realise that a lot of times, they happen to be vague stuff not worth my time. Or at others, they happen to be small little things I extrapolate from, link back to past events, connect, cross over, piece together, and finally emerge with some overblown scenario. But sometimes, these scenarios happen to be true, and so I never know when I'll hit gold. sigh...

Maybe I really do need to go away for a while. I hope my NS doesn't start too early next year. Because I would like to revisit Switzerland after the 'A's. Or perhaps lounge about in Paris (hopefully the rioters will have been appeased). Or maybe London. Maybe this time it won't seem so gloomy and bleak...

HarbourFront

Well, will wonders never cease! I just came back from a meeting with my church friends to discuss this Saturday's outing to Sentosa. We were at HarbourFront, and when leaving on the train I bumped into Min Ling and Alicia, my first-three-months classmates. Goodness, I haven't seen them for months. I think the last time I saw them was in June, when I bumped into them at Kovan. That was in another time and another place for me, the beginning of a long painful period that is past. But oh, seeing them now again was such a pleasant surprise. It brings back all those memories in SR. Slow, lazy days spent lounging about in the aquarium, or in Heartland Mall. Those are my strongest impressions of SR. Everything seemed slow and slack there. Maybe it was just the first three months period, or maybe it was the place itself. I dunno.

Well, those were more carefree times. It's really odd for me, because the first three months were like a different dimension for me. For one, I was in another school, for the first time away from my beloved environment of the Saints. (okay, maybe not that beloved...) But the more curious thing was that I was in the Science faculty, doing bio, chem, maths. HAHAHA, such a joke. I mean, what is maths to me now? Bio? Chem? Such abstract concepts... (knowing full well they are far from abstract. Lit is definitely more abstract) I have abandoned the scientific world to embrace the nuances of poetic beauty and the political machinations of a bygone era...

They seemed more worn down by cares, especially Alicia. Maybe it's only natural. It's been nearly a year, and from the little I know life hasn't exactly been smooth-sailing for her. But, oh, how people have changed! Remember Daniel Sim, Quek? Well, he's in SR, and apparently he's much more open now. He's even been linked to a girl in his class lah! hahaha...

Well, it was good, seeing them. Looking forward to our upcoming gathering. :)

As I walked around HarbourFront, and as I left it, it slowly dawned upon me that never again would I walk in it wearing my school uniform. There was this sense of nostalgia and sadness. I'll never, or hardly ever see people there anymore, walking around in that striking white-blue-tie outfit. I'll miss the place. How many times have we strolled through the centre, sat in pastamania chitchatting, or ate in the foodcourt? I'll miss sitting in Wang Jiao with Benita, eating XXL Chicken in Shi Lin with Bryan, Vicks, Dai Wei, Jeremy. Licking Hip Hop Jelly outside Cheers, tasting pizza at New York Pizza. Studying in Banquet. hai.........

Here's to a wonderful year in Potong Pasir! hahahaha.......... Come to think of it, it will be like a homecoming for me. I've spent the greater part of my life studying in Potong Pasir.

Writing can be a cathartic experience, but even that has its limits. This blog is too public for some things, and not all inner feelings can be expressed in words. But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

My keyboard is acting up again, so when I hit the "1" key it performs the function of the "enter" key as well. Sigh.... I wonder when my father is going to get that new laptop. I suppose I should give thanks for the times it works normally. Sometimes people need things to go wrong to wake them up. In fact, that happens all too often doesn't it?

I've actually done constructive stuff so far. My two History essays are almost complete. I suppose this remark here would make some people hit the roof. But, oh well...

Liz: We're using Economist for starters. But there's something wrong with the brazil page. Keeps loading blank pages for me...

Vicks: oh well, I suppose the plantations would have some problems. I think I saw some article on Human Rights Watch on abusive treatment of street youths in Rio de Janeiro.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

Brazil. Why Brazil? The MUN country listings are out, and we got Brazil. I mean, come on, I know nuts about Brazil except that it possesses the Amazon rainforest which is under threat, meaning our environment committee will have stuff to talk about there, and that it produces rather good soccer stars regularly. The last item doesn't concern me at all. What kind of human rights issues would Brazil face? Ah well, looks like I've got tons of research to do in the long run. I wonder what the Brazilian accent sounds like...

Our school is sending in two delegations this year. The second team is representing South Africa. Why are we getting all these wierd countries that appear in the news only because of soccer and apartheid? Ok, S. Africa would be interesting in terms of human rights. But Brazil...? I dunno...

It's getting so cold and rainy these days. It's been raining non-stop this morning. The weather is perfect for staying at home and sleeping. It's during times like these when I like to imagine myself snuggling up in bed with a huge comforter around me, pillows large and small piled high on the bed, and a cup of hot cocoa by the bedside. The glow of the firelight adds soft homely touches to my room, and I enjoy hearing the sound of the crackling fire. A large fur rug is stretched out across the floor before my bed. Outside, the snow is gently falling, adorning the evergreens in white. I hear the church bells toll in the distance, while the angelic voices of a choir carolling waft me to sleep. My book lies half-read on the bed.



Where the treetops glisten, and children listen to hear sleighbells in the snow...

Ok, this whole colour scheme thing is getting out of hand. Everyone stop talking about their respective colours now! We shall all just be known by our proper names.

Thanks Musa for reminding me about the MUN. We met up last Wednesday to discuss which countries we were going to be and most of us picked Germany, so that's our first choice. But since there are other schools taking part, our choice might clash with theirs. So our second choice is Brazil (don't ask me why. I didn't vote for that. so wierd lah), and our third choice is France. I'm on the Human Rights Committee, which should be interesting, considering Germany's past. But the teachers have instructed us to move beyond WWII if we get Germany.

So, that's that for MUN so far. This week I hope to do some constructive stuff by at least starting on my History homework. And considering how they are only two essays, I should be able to finish both soon. On Saturday after cell I happened to bump into Mr Yoong who smiled and asked if I'd done his assignments. And I hadn't of course, but I'd actually planned to do one the night before. Unfortunately the computer distracted me. And he said just make sure I finish them before school starts. So there you have it. One of those wierd moments that happen when your history teacher happens to be in the same church as you. I don't want to imagine what would happen if the other History teacher was in my church too.

I looked up my dictionary last night and found out the meaning of stalls and balconies and circles and galleries. For more information, please call sistic.

My cell can't do surprise birthdays...

So, today was my cell leader's birthday, and instead of keeping it a surprise some people messaged him to say they were going to be late or won't be able to come, etc.... And my leader kindly replied things like, "Oh, ok, I think you should tell Anna and Jayce, since they're the one's planning my surprise birthday party" or "um, I don't think I'm supposed to know about this..." haha, typical Chris. He was good enough to feign tears as we "surprised" him later on....

Surprise parties. Such delightful things.

Then afterwards I went to the newly refurbished Popular HQ at Bras Basah. It now looks like some poor Borders/Kinokuniya wannabe. I read in the news they were trying to muscle into the big bookstore market, but I think their effort wasn't enough. It's still not big enough. But the decor is much better, compared to the past. I still think they should cut down on the whole assessment books section.

Then after going round and round browsing for things, little miss red lost her $5 voucher. ....
Lost, or got it stolen. It doesn't matter. I shouldn't say too much here, haha. Just let it go. And try to see what can be learnt from this incident. Just because I'm a debater doesn't mean everything I say is a nicely packaged bundle of twisted facts. So, accept it and get on with life, haha.

Oh goodness, I've never eaten so much naan in my life. We went to this Indian restaurant to treat Chris, and now my fingers still smell of naan and spices. And then there was this homemade cheese cake by Anna and Jayce, which was really strong, but good. Ugh, I felt so bloated. And then later beni sat there eating cheese cake again. ugh... oh, but I must say the blueberry cheese cake was quite nice. Maybe next time I'll buy a slice for myself and down it with iced tea. They go quite well together.

I wanna go shop. or sleep. or read.

Everytime when I finish some monumental task, like the exams, the words, "It is accomplished/finished" pop into my head. They are, of course, some of the last words Jesus said while on the cross. Today is one of those days again. That scourge, that...that...plague, that ministry intiative gone horribly wrong, is over. PW is finished. So be it.

As much as I detest the subject, I may actually miss my PW group. Of course, we'll all still be together. But I quite liked those times we just sat around chit chatting about things completely unrelated to PW with the laptop in front of us, haha. When I look back to March, it amazes how far our class has come. I remember standing around during the orientation, wondering at the wierd people around me (That impression hasn't changed much though). Well, for better or for worse, we made it this far, and from what I've seen, there are still bright spots around me.

I have to make a clarification here. I realise now that when I put up my Christmas "gift list", many people assumed I was deciding on what to get for others. That is a misconception. At the risk of sounding terribly selfish, I must say here that the gift list is meant for myself. So I will now change its name to my "wish list". And who doesn't have a wish list?

Oh yes, CIP. I forgot to blog about it. I was doing CIP with Jeremy and Vicks last Saturday. It was quite fun, walking to and fro trying to find a good spot. We eventually found one at the Capitol Building opposite St. Andrew's Cathedral. Jeremy is officially an aunty killer. He was wearing these pair of thick-rimmed black glasses that made him look like the dorkiest, cute little schoolboy ever. As though he doesn't look like a little schoolboy enough normally. Well, apparently that look went down well with the aunties.

Liz: yeah, of course Braun Buffel sounds classier. It's Braun Buffel after all... I want it! And, what's wrong with Fossil? I never knew it was a wannabe brand...

KH: Yup, I won't forget. I wonder what we should watch though. The German spoof ended its run today.

Vicks: What's with you and leather?? No, I don't LOVE cows, but they're very useful animals. We get milk, cheese, beef and leather from them. And yes, I like beef. Hey, I used to eat steak quite frequently. I haven't done so in a long time. And yes, those were cafe cartel ribs.

Quek: Exactly. I suppose some people don't appreciate good food, haha.

Happy Dilemmas

I watched "Dreamship Surprise: Periode 1" today. It was a hilarious, low-brow crassy spoof of Star Wars and Star Trek, plus a few other shows sneaked in here and there. The kind of show in the tradition of "Spaceballs" and its ilk. The kind you waste several dollars for a good laugh. And best of all, it was in German! ahahaha

I realised how good St. Louis Pork Ribs are today. One day I shall debone them myself, rib by rib....

After that I went window shopping around town for my Christmas presents. I face a dilemma. Should I get a watch or a wallet? I saw this nice Fossil watch which I quite liked today. Then I saw various Braun Buffel and Renoma wallet types. I like Renoma for its design. Its got the right leather texture that I like. Soft, not too smooth, and thick. Its quite classy too, and its cheaper. But of course it's a prestige thing to have a bull rampant upon black leather. And there's this really nice Braun Buffel design with a two-tone leather front. Too bad they don't have a model in majority burgundy. I like burgundy.

I think right now I'm leaning towards getting the wallet. Maybe I'll use my hongbao money and get the watch next year. I won't wear it to school anyway. It would be too precious. Maybe now and then, haha... I've decided to take a leather strap again over a metal strap. They look soo good. I think I'll get the wide strap one.


Tomorrow will be the MUN meeting to decide which country we're going to be, and I'm supposed to suggest something. I have no idea what. No particular country appeals to me now... Maybe we should be Jamaica then we can wear straw hats and slippers into the General Assembly and tell everyone in our thick Rastafarian accents, "Hey, chill maaan..."

It just came into my mind to formulate my Christmas gift list today while strolling around. I realised how good Braun Buffel wallets look, and how much I suddenly wanted a new one. hehe

I'm getting a sinking feeling in my heart that always marrs my holidays. That same feeling that tells me there's plenty of work to be done and I haven't done any of it. Well, to begin with there's that blasted INR. I've no idea how we're supposed to go about doing that. Then there's History, Econs, and upcoming Lit homework. On top of these there's my S Paper selection test to prepare for, and MUN research. I think I like putting these things down. It gives me a sense of perspective on what to do.

So, there was no Sentosa outing in the end. There's not much fun in five people running around on the beach. If I've said it once, I'll say it again: a class outing is simply priceless. Even getting four guys together takes up an awful lot of text messages. In the end it was Jeremy, Dai Wei, Musa and me trooping off to watch a movie, the results of which I will not reveal, in order to save whatever scraps of pride we still place in our, um, masculinity...

ANYWAY, I once told Quek that if you walked around Orchard long enough, you eventually meet almost everyone you know. And true enough, we met plenty of people we knew. Let me see, first I met Xin Nin at Lido. Dai Wei also spotted the boyfriend of his 1st three months classmate... Then we bumped into Liz and Kelly at Borders. umm, I think Musa saw several dancers. Then as we were entering Orchard Station Jill emerged dramatically from the crowds (it was more of the classic jump and scream-out-name-of-person tactic). There was even a confused moment when I recognised Shang, the RJ debater, on the escalator. Have I left out anyone? Hmm, nope, I don't think so.

ughh... My head hurts. I didn't exactly have a very pleasant night sleeping. The imagination produces wondrous effects when given room to flower. And so, I will probably end up snoring on my bed this afternoon.

I've been making some progress in my books. Which is of course good. At this rate I should be able to finish everything this hols, with space for maybe more. I should. This kind of talk was unheard of a few years ago. Usually I just blaze through books. But maybe its because the kind of books I'm reading now require more time to think.

Listening to Christmas songs now, haha... Feeling all Christmassy again... I think...Christmas is best experienced as a child, when the wonder of the season wasn't that commercialised, the joy of looking and picking through all those marvellously wrapped gifts clustered beneath that great old tree that seemed to get shorter with each passing year. In my case it literally got shorter. We replaced it with a shorter one a few years back.

I was remarking to my mother some time back that for a secular country, Singapore spends a great deal of money on what is supposed to be a religious holiday. Ha. What a joke.

Birthdays and PW.

Happy Birthday, Beni! So, the first part of my day was spent accompanying that little princess around. You cannot imagine how hard it is to find the right birthday card. Well, looks like I found it in the end, haha. Then later Vicks and I started drawing up fantastic birthday plans for a certain someone we know. If I say the name here the surprise would be gone. Ah, birthdays, such paradoxes. On the one hand they are important for being remembrances of the day we were born, on the other, mere irritances to get by, reminders that we're getting older, and that the world doesn't care. But I've never expected much on birthdays anyway. It's important to be thankful for the things you have, not what you don't, or want to have.

So we come to it at the last. Tomorrow will be the day for Oral Presentation, the make or break event of our PW grades. Our group gathered in Macs today for a final council before the battle begins. And for once, I was the last and latest, ha! Once tomorrow is over we can breathe a sigh of relief and write out our INRs and hand them in. Then this scourge will be ended. By next week. Thank God.

Meanwhile I must look into all the various things to be done this hols. So much to do, so much time to do them, but so little willpower. And the final factor often leads to "so much to do, so little time to do it". haha. When will I learn?

Now even my cell leader has gotten wind of this blogging business with the council. Will wonders never cease? And I thought church would be the last place to be invaded by outside gossip. Oh well, I guess I better clear it up with him before he gets the wrong idea. I am NOT in trouble because of blogging.
Really, I wonder what prayer walks are for if you spend half of it gossiping about others... (this last comment isn't about my cell leader, nor anyone from my church. it's about someone else. obviously.)

Revelation

I just chanced upon a simple revelation that I think I've always known. My brother was asking me if i was going to school tomorrow (tomorrow being Saturday), and I said yes. What he meant, of course, was if I was going to school for academic stuff. When i said yes I meant I was going to school, but for cell group. My church is in the school campus for the uninformed. So I told him, if you asked me on ANY day before school closed for the hols, if I was going to school the following day, the answer would always be yes. I enter the school campus seven days a week. Then I said, on Monday to Friday I go there for academic education. On Saturday and Sunday it's for spiritual education. I thought it sad that we spend more time on other things than spiritual education. Then it struck me. We spend only two or one days in church so that we may apply what we learn there in the other five days of the week. Monday to Friday, then, is putting into practice what we have been taught. Of course, one might say we are supposed to grow and learn spiritually everyday. Yes, that is true, but to me those days of growing are through practice, and perhaps through teaching here and there. But the days when we devote our time and energy entirely to "the things eternal", as CS Lewis wrote, are on the weekends. And they are few, so that we may pass through the things temporal with the grace given then.

***

So, after my PW was done in the morning I went out for lunch with Quek. We witnessed a spectacular pyrotechnics display in Manhattan Fish Market. That's the first time I've seen anyone flame prawns with a blowtorch. So Jeremy got to eat his award-winning flaming prawns. That plus fireworks, haha.

I realised, that for all my fascination with CS Lewis' works, I've never actually read the Chronicles of Narnia. How ironic, since most people encounter Lewis first through that portion of his writings. I've decided to get a copy of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" before the movie comes out. So that's another show onto my list. Add "King Kong" to the list too. Another three-hour Peter Jackson epic coming our way, haha. I miss the yearly LOTR fests.

Liz: For the love of sanity, how many times must I tell you that I am NOT vicks' husband?? I know for a fact she doesn't like you teasing her about this, and I think you know that too. So please drop it. In any case, I'm neither inviting her nor anyone else to the party. haha. But that's for now. My plans may change.

Quek: well, like I said, my plans may change. I don't think my house can fit that many people, haha. How many years has it been since I invited you and Ker Han? three?

Ok, so here I am in school, at 10.25 in the morning, waiting for my PW group to show up. Since I have nothing to do, I shall blog. But the problem is, I have nothing to blog about... Oh well, let me answer the tags...

Liz: I said, the Christmas party is for relatives only... And yes, I know that there are hundreds of MUNs across the world. In fact, from what I now, the Harvard MUN is one of the more recognised ones. In actual fact I don't think MUN counts for much on your resume.

Quek: yeah well, but i still want more books! We must meet up soon. Preferably today, since I've got nothing to do in the afternoon...

Kevin: umm, well, what's wrong with Lian clan? I'm proud of my family name, haha. Quite a rarity... I can stand it everytime people misspell my surname. And the most common misspelling of it is "Lim". Ugh.

This is bad. I've finished answering the tags and still no Musa or Vicks. :( Maybe I should be random and just rattle off my head. Let's see, on the bus just now I saw the Harry Potter trailers again and again. The show seems exciting. So I'll add that to my list of shows to watch this hols. Wait, I don't have a list. Nevermind, it can be the first one. I hope other nicer shows pop up.

OK, Vicks just called. Going off now...

Yay! I got into MUN! So now I'm officially a delegate on the school team. I see two people out of 5 I know on the team, Manit and Anjali. That's good. It's always fun to have Manit around. Have I blogged before about how whenever I see him a smile lights my face? I know that sounded really gay, but I'm serious. He really funny. You people should meet him one day. Vicks, if you think I was deadpan in the second term, wait till you get to know Manit. He's more deadpan than I ever was, and he's certainly lost none of his deadpan-ness so far.

It was while pondering on the things I have to do this holidays when I began wondering on whether I've over commited myself. I have an S Paper selection test to prepare for, and if I make it through that means a Lit S Paper on my back. Then now there's MUN. Plus the Inter House Debates we plan to run next year, and the NUS Challenge Shields. The good thing is that most of these take place only in the first 3 months of next year. But an S Paper a seriously a heavy undertaking, so I hope I made the right choice.

I added yet another book to my CS Lewis collection today, Miracles. This means I now have a backlog of three books to clear. This is quite bad, because I'm taking a mighty long time to read the first book, which is very rare of me. Of course, I know the cause of the problem. The computer. I've been hooked to the com playing games since the start of the hols. I guess I better stop. Oh well, at least I'll have PW to do tomorrow, something profitable to occupy me for the next few days. Did I just say PW was profitable? I meant profitable in purely academic terms. ugh.

My parents raised the issue today of holding a Christmas party this year. Apparently my first uncle looks forward to it, along with a substantial part of my extended family I think. I find it funny that they should think this way, because I don't (when I say I don't, I mean I don't particularly look forward to the party. Just the food). But I guess, ever since my grandmother passed away some years ago, there haven't been many events where the whole Lian clan can gather together. My family holds a Christmas gathering yearly for our relatives, mainly on my father's side. It's actually an on-off event, as in some years we hold it, some years we don't. Last year we didn't for instance. But I think because we've been doing it for so long (my mom revealed to me today they started it when I was a baby), it's become like a family tradition. A good one to keep, I would say. I always look forward to turkey and honey baked ham. This year I'm pushing for roast beef on the menu. We've learnt not to order from NTUC. Cold Storage gives much better quality, even though the prices might be higher. Maybe we should get roasted pork ribs too. :)

Chinese, among other things...

I survived the Chinese AO Level paper. Thank God. Let us now pray and hope that I never ever have to sit for it again. I think I can pass.

ANYWAY, now that that horror is over, we can think of happier things! OK, I went for the Model United Nations interview today. It went smoothly, except for one moment when I couldn't remember the word I wanted to say. But I'm guessing that I should be able to get in. I mean, researchers are all fine and good, but you need a debater to push your resolutions through, haha. I'll keep my fingers crossed though. You never know what might happen.

After that we went shopping at Wisma. Or rather we hung around vicks while she tried to make up her mind whether or not to buy a semi-transparent, flimsy little piece of cloth known as a shawl. She apparently did not buy it in the end. Waste of money, which I agree with. Good call, vicks. haha

So, we walked around Taka for a while and entered kniokuniya and then left. There was this interesting incident at kino with this oblivious little boy hogging the only open copy of the Calvin and Hobbes collection at the comics section. It was funny to see Bryan looming behind him like some impending shadow of doom (he was about two heads taller than the boy), while the oblivious one continued reading, one hand on hip, weight resting on one leg. He looked like the type who'd start crying bloody murder the minute you even raised a hand.

Tomorrow is Hari Raya Puasa, and I didn't even know. I thought it was next week. oops.

I think my posts are becoming more and more frivolous. Oh no.

Liz: yes they're good, but I thought, along with everybody else on the team, that RJ's case was stronger. A debate doesn't hang on the quality of the debaters alone.

Vicks: yeah, what's his url anyway??

The Red Cross Debates: Part 2

Yesterday was the concluding segment of the Red Cross Debate Series on International Humanitarian Law (IHL). I was feeling really drowsy before the debate started. The medicine is fairly strong. In any case, we got to exact vengeance on UWC by a whisker. Quite a satisfying debate. But the UWC people are really nice, and we plan to invite them down for spars next year. All in all, we won three out of the five preliminary rounds.

The finals was between AC and RJ, and I must say the results were a shocker. I expected RJ to win.

Oh well, now that that's over, we can look to the near future. Tomorrow is the AO level Chinese paper, for which I'm terribly ill-prepared and loath to sit for. I think I'll run off to do some futile last minute revision later. Then after that in the same day will be the MUN interview, for which I am also unprepared. I don't know whether to pick topic 1 or 3 to speak on. Topic 1 is: Has the United Nations failed? Topic 3: Would you advocate the universal ratification of the International Criminal Court?

I think that all these recent events and situations have taken up so much of my time that I can't sit down and finish the books I've been reading. Once again I need to re-orientate myself and focus on the things that matter most. I hope that happens soon...

I'm sick. Definitely. Nowadays doctors have such high-tech ways of getting your temperature. He just picked up this scanner and scanned my forehead. Then there was a beep and my temperature appeared on that contraption, which was labelled "ThermoScan". The wonders of science. From mouth thermometers to armpit thermometers to ear thermometers to forehead scanners. What next?

I got slightly zonked out today. It happens when I'm falling sick. My nose becomes a tap, my throat is sore, my lungs spew forth phlegm, and my ears block up. How am I supposed to debate tomorrow? It's the final preliminaries of the Red Cross Debates tomorrow. I hope we don't get some high ranked school, although that would be fun. Maybe we should use an unconventional team lineup tomorrow.

I need sleep... The medicine is making me drowsy....

Quek: Yes, we should skin and de-rib the pigs soon.

Naseem: hai... you're really tiring you know... I think I should just give you the cake to shut you up once and for all, haha... I'll be doing Much Ado About Nothing for Lit. What about you?

Vickland: Yup, linked you! And about this whole council thing, aiya, it's getting really tiring. If she wants to bitch, let her. If I were her I'd be saying I was being bitchy on my blog too anyway... But of course, it depends on perspective. You can call my comments constructive criticism if you want. Her? I dunno...

Musa: The past? Oh come on, nas is clearly stuck in the past. I'm trying to move on...

The password to my blog is becoming highly sought after. I should probably start charging people for membership, haha. Anyway, just to let all of you know, Benita did up the password thingy, so now she has her due credit. I'm computer illiterate.

We had the most hilarious GP review lecture today. You cannot begin to imagine all the mistakes students make in their essays. One Creationist historian wrote, "God created Eve from the dust of Adam" (emphasis my own). Another rewrote history and gender politics by saying, "Throughout history there have been very few female kings." Yet another changed our PM's name to "Mr. Lee Sia Leong". But best of all, was this insightful writer who noted that "men are only interested in looking at the two big beasts on women's chests." Othello anyone?

Prior to the lecture we whiled away our time by playing Monopoly! It's really interesting to play that game with the class. Lester was acting like some diva, flaunting his piles of "loose change". Lesson learnt: NEVER sell Mayfair, even if you don't own Park Lane, or vice versa. You're just creating your own financial doom in the future.

Finally, tomorrow will be the last day of school. But our misery is not over yet. The Chinese paper is on Monday, which I am loath to sit for. And then there's still OP. Will it never end? Oh well, I guess I better start planning my holiday schedule...

OP Dry Run

I'm losing my voice. It started yesterday, and then I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a cough. And now my voice is getting all squeaky when I try and speak in a presenter's tone. Anyway, I had a nice long nap in the afternoon, almost immediately after coming home. But I still feel lethargic...

We had our first OP dry run today. Being the last group can get tiringly boring. But in any case our part went fairly well except for a few technical glitches with the projector. Why does the class always find me funny when I present? They laughed the minute I opened my mouth... Maybe they're not used to people talking as they walk up to their positions. .....

My new maid arrived yesterday evening. So now I have two maids in the house till the outgoing one leaves this Friday. I was about to say "until the old maid leaves", but that sounds really bad, and funny. My brother was joking about how if he calls out, "aunty!", two of them will show up. Well, let's just hope the new one works out fine. She seemed to have difficulties with the schedule my mother gave her this afternoon.

Jeremy: Of all the things to say you must say ex-gf. NO, I DO NOT HAVE AN EX-GF, to all you nosey parkers out there. Now all the conspiracy theorists aka liz are going to have a field day. Anyway, we should go out soon. I seriously want another book from Borders.

Liz: You heard what I said. No ex.

Benita: You're pretty sweet yourself, hahaha.... Or should I say bitter sweet? Ok, I think I shall purposely make Naseem jealous now. When are we having your Miss Clarity blueberry cheese cake? Or the next Mud Cake outing? hahaha

Naseem: umm, I don't think you should link me still, cos then more people will know that I have a blog, and they'll be pressuring the ones who know for the password.

Vickland: Derek said it was the SAS councillors, and Alfred I think. But all the SAS councillors don't seem to have a problem with me, unless he's talking about people like Amar? Oh well, I guess I should take his words with a pinch of salt yeah? haha

I had a long talk today with a friend whom I thought I'd lost. It was awkward, awkward, right from the beginning, and I know it's going to be awkward for a while. Maybe I've already lost this friendship forever, the friendship we had, because how do you go back to one which you've been away from for so long? Is it possible to regain that level of intimacy?

Of course, we will act once more like normal friends, which would be a nice departure from that period of animosity. A cold war, did I not once call it? Now, we can once again begin the thawing process. Thank you for opening up at last, at the very least. You, or rather your action, are an answer to prayer.

My mind wanders back again to that painful period in the past. I don't know how I got through, but I had the support of friends around me whom I know God put in place at just the right time. I remember the long talks spent sipping coffee and eating kaya toast with a new friend. I remember that listening ear, that blog post made by an old friend. Thank you, Benita. Thank you, Jeremy (this isn't the Jeremy in 05A11 for the uninformed). The two of you were, and are, answers to prayer too.

Let's hope it works out this time.

An Unseen Host

I have many things to blog about today, but I fear for my blog's privacy. Unforeseen circumstances have forced my hand to do something I never wanted to do. This will be my last post before I place a password on my blog. All my regular readers will be getting the password soon.

I did not know that my blog had such a large unseen audience. No, not the people who tag regularly, but rather several people whom I would rather not see reading this blog. I am referring to those select few of councillors who happened to chance upon my blog. Apparently my views on the council are spreading among them, causing them to be rather irate. Of course, there are certain councillors, like vickland, who read my blog and I'm fine with that. It's just the people whom I do not know and yet bother that I'm concerned with. Let me here say that all my thoughts and comments on the council's efficiency, which is apparently becoming a catchphrase, are IN MY OWN OPINION. It is IN MY OPINION that I blog about the council and other mundane, irritating things concerned with the college. It is IN MY OPINION that I believe councillors have no right to be sarcastic to their electorate. I did not know that sarcasm came under the purview of the council. Truly I was mistaken, as I found out today.

Let me also say here that if ever I have offended any councillor personally on my blog, I apologise. My comments and critiques are aimed squarely at the council's BUREAUCRACY, and councillors just unfortunately happen to serve such a bureaucracy. I know many people in council, some of which I've known for more than six years. They are really nice people, these whom I speak of. Of the rest, I cannot say, although certainly there must exist among them rather irritating people with puerile senses of humour, as I learnt today.

So there, my take on the whole situation. I will only speak of more personal matters later.

Lines of communication

I have waited for this moment for so long. Now that it has come, I don't know whether I want to face it. Why now? Why so suddenly a talk? Dare I risk all that hurt coming back again? Have I grown numb enough to your shenanigans not to bother? I think not. Yet what can I do? The door has been opened, at long last, so I guess I should at least step through it. And then, I pray to God He will see me safely through. Interestingly I've prayed for so long for this door to be opened. But yet, I don't think I ever believed firmly that it would happen. But He works in mysterious ways, and thus am I proven wrong.

Meanwhile life goes on and PW must be finished. I'm getting pimples on my butt from sitting too long on the cafe benches, waiting for the rest to finish using the laptop... Let's get the OP over and done with quickly. I feel like presenting.

Let me see, let me see, anything else to blog about? hmm... I dunno. Nothing much I guess. School is such a drag. There are no lesons tomorrow and still I have to come for the damned security seminar. Argh. Why did I say yes...

The Red Cross Debates

I went for the Red Cross Debate Series yesterday. I was nervous, yes, and apprehensive about debating again after so long. Fortunately the first round warmed me up significantly. Suffice to say that our first opponent should have felt rather violated by the end of the debate.

All in all it was a good show for a team that rusty. We won two out of four rounds, and had close margins for the two we lost. Unity World College is good, and I didn't mind losing to them. They are at the very least nice people, and they did debate well, while we fluffed a lot.... Raffles... ah Raffles. What can one say about an institution steeped in proud history? As usual, a splendid performance put up by a first class team. Their speakers deserve to be on the National Team. Nevertheless, we gave them a good fight, and did not, unlike them, degenerate into petty insults.

I forgot how tiring debating is. When you're stuck in a room with four other speakers for four debates in a row, it can get very emotionally and mentally tiring. Everyone gets charged up, tensions run high, voices rise. At the end, you are tired and hungry. I was definitely ready to go home after Round 4. But still, it was good to get back into the circle.

I met the PW group today after church to do our OP. I'm really beginning to love my PW group. I think we have the most fun while doing pw. We can sit there and talk about so many things while still managing to get things done. Progress may be slow, yes, but I think the process of work is more important in some ways than the end result. I think it's true that you find out parts of a person's character only in times of crisis.

Oh well, off to do my powerpoint slides.

Funny day today. Full of interesting events. I now know what it feels like to tag around a woman/girl doling out money for her every expense. It is painful on the wallet. Heaven help the working man.

It's funny, when you look back on past friendships and review them. The things that hurt so much seem so distant now. You wonder how you ever got through them. And then, you look around you and see history being repeated, or sort of. Such irony, sych hypocrisy, such...confusion. Am I truly revisionist? Or is my view of the past getting too coloured? I can no longer see it as fresh as I once did, slowly replaying every searing moment in my mind. I guess the moments are getting dull.

Tomorrow is the Red Cross Debates. I'm not feeling confident. Let's hope I've still got some spark left. Two wins would be nice. Three better. Four, excellent.

Today I realised in some small measure how much people expect of Christians. A simple promise to a friend becomes sealed when you realise they are looking at you. I guess this is the weight of glory, as CS Lewis calls it.

Man, Christian Man, has the privilege to sing a song the angels can't. We sing the song of the redeemed. I know that my Redeemer liveth.

It's amazing how much a simple phone call from a loved one can mean when you're out late and tired. That's what I felt last night. Sometimes all a person needs to know is that there's someone out there who cares for you. I think there's a quote somewhere in Doyle that says how sad or accursed is the man who, when he dies, has not a single soul to mourn him. When I think about it, that quote seems quite true. I think if even Osama bin Laden dies, plenty of his followers will mourn for him. What more us?

I was thinking about meritocracy the other day. Of course, everyone knows it's not fair, depending on how you look at it. It's fair that the best get the best grades, the best jobs, etc. Theoretically speaking of course. It's not fair, however, that you can put in twice as much effort as X and still get lower grades. But then again, life isn't fair. We just have to live with it. (Btw, in case anyone is mistaken, I'm not sour over my grades. these were just some thoughts I had randomly)

School is getting very boring. Everyday we go there just for PW. Everything seems to revolve around PW now. PW this, PW that. It's really tiring and frustrating and time-consuming. I just thank God so much for giving me such a wonderful PW group. As if the subject itself wasn't bad enough. At least it's good to be working with fun people.

And then there's the chinese ao exams coming up. I begin to doubt scrapping through. I really hope I don't have to retake chinese next year. It would be SUCH a waste of time. But, ah well, what can I do? It's too late to suddenly pick a hundred and one chinese novels and read them. I wonder, if I read chinese books as much as I read english books from young, what would the outcome be like? I can't imagine myself being effectively billingual. That's a funny thought.

I just wish I could sleep my time away and not care about a thing in the world... Today was a really good day for sleeping. I slept through the afternoon. Such peace...

A long day. Once again, I've been kicked out of the main chinese class into a specialised class. They found a replacement for my teacher, who is currently on long term medical leave. He's this really funny doctor in chinese who looks like some ah pek but is really rather humourous. I mean, a simple discussion on a word can spin off into some trip down the lives of top Asian celebrities, including Rain, the rising Korean star, who is in his opinion, indecent. Then he talked somewhat about the promiscuity of students from a certain junior college in the novena-ang mo kio area. Really funny guy. I think chinese lessons will be more interesting from now onwards.

I also got back the full scores for the year's worth of work, CA + CT + Promos. Well, I must say I did fairly well in comparison to the rest; to God be the glory, great things He hath done... I got to retain my B in Literature! I was quite sure it would have dropped to a C once everything else was taken into account. I was also surprised to find my A1 in GP kept. I thought CA and CT would push it down a grade. The rest of my subjects were fairly average. A C for Econs and a D for History. All in all, a good run for 2005, certainly a year full of surprises. I simply must thank God for seeing me through the second half of the year. It has been... tumultous, to say the least.

Then. we spent the whole afternoon doing PW. Argh. I think I got hyper during the afternoon, I don't know why. I just felt quite hyped up to do oral presentation... I wish I could point out the different JCs on the google earth maps for the presentation. At least, it was satisfying to see everything more or less coming together. I never could have foreseen this at the start of the year.

More boring days ahead... I was just wondering, does meritocracy mean fairness? My answer: Yes and No. I'll talk about this some other time.

My tagboard, as liz put it, is being spammed, and over what? Over ONE comment I made in my last post. The very last comment in fact. For the record, I was in Topman. I put down Topshop cos I thought that was the generic company name for the whole lable, and it is anyway. Topman is under Topshop isn't it? What's the fuss? I didn't buy women's clothing. I didn't buy any clothing from there in the end anyway... I just saw Hanis, who, incidentally, also did not buy anything in the end...

In other more interesting news.... Vicks was telling me today about this person from some secondary school who flamed her alma mater's debate team on his/her blog just because that school lost. The flaming was patently ugly. He/She insulted their looks, the way they walked, the way they talked, their spelling, etc... A complete display of crass, sheer nonsense, and an immature, adolescent spurt of vitriol. What a shame on his/her school. There is absolutely no sense in criticising debaters based on things judges don't take into account, like their looks. If they debate well, they win! How much does this person know of actual debating anyway? Obviously he/she can't debate for nuts.

Anyway, we had a really interesting time after school today talking. It's funny to see how different men and women can be in terms of thought processes. Ah well, the vicissitudes of relationships...

Tomorrow will be a boring day with a long break in the middle. Seriously, the school needs to plan timetables better. Our time is being wasted in school doing nothing.

Open House and shopping

Today was the Open House. The first thing I saw when entering the hall was the debate booth bereft of its notice boards. We were given two pathetic tables when we were supposed to have four. Typical council efficiency. We ended up with the board they keep in the student centre for council.

A slow day. Nobody wants to come here now that we're moving. At least we kept ourselves busy watching the debate videos. I'm frankly hilarious. And this isn't my own personal opinion. Everyone else thinks so too.

Of all the stupid things in the world to get angry with my parents, I get angry over clothes. I hate shopping with my father. Everything looks shabby. It's meant to look that way for goodness sake! I can't shop in peace! I'd much rather shop with my mother. She at least has a much better fashion sense. She'd better have: she's a clothes merchandiser. It's just that there's no time nowdays to go shopping with my mom or on my own. All the time I have ends up with the family, which inevitably includes my father. Argh. I can't stand it when they're all so conservative.

Well, they're good in lots of ways. I think my father is one of the few parents who actually encouraged their child to enter arts, despite me doing triple science in sec school. They've never forced me to do things I don't like. I just wish they would loosen up a little.

Oh, I met Hanis in TopShop. What a funny place to meet him. Ok, thinking of that place makes me pissed again...

I need to change my phone plan. Another point of contention. Argh.

Results, results, results

What an exciting day. It's always exciting to get back results. Nerve-wrackingly exciting. First, there was the ominous lead-up to the results in the morning, beginning with Mr Yoong's prayer. "Lord, strengthen the JC1s as they take back their papers..." Then there was chapel, with the teacher saying how 44.5 can become 45 marks, etc. "God will make a way." haha, I agree, but um...wrong context... Then finally Canon Benson, who chose to speak on perserverance. "The results are not the end of the road... We must perservere onwards..."

With so many consoling words to steel the J1s, I think we got the hint that the impending storm was going to be bad.

And just when we thought it would break, the police came to give a talk. ........ Who gives a talk about common offences to JC students?? It was about all the usual boring stuff. Shoplifting, rioting, outrage of modesty... Don't do these things. They get you jailed and caned. yadayadayada. They should give me an award for promoting their message here...

And so the storm broke. And how. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for me, going down, then levelling off, then up again. At the end, I think I'm pleased with what I got overall. Some could have been done better, but I guess I should give God the glory for seeing me through and granting me good results. (Good as in in relation to the cohort. I'm not getting into any university with these grades)

I have a feeling next year's J2 Arts cohort will be significantly smaller... It's really sad, cos I don't want to see some people go. I hope they all promote.

I realised something. It's becoming all too common to see people around me saying how they study hard but never seem to get the questions right. When this happens once or twice it's fine, but when a person faces this sort of setback time and time again, it gets really demoralising. Is our education system designed to demoralise people? I wonder that perhaps it isn't fine tuned enough to sift out students into the courses most suited for them. Some are just lazy, and won't work hard. But what about those who study hard and yet do badly? Sometimes it just won't click, and you pray and pray it will. As I type I'm reminded of my time struggling with A Maths. Now that was a mixture of laziness to practise and confusion. I think deep inside I was never cut out for math. To all those struggling out there, don't give up. I'm sure one day it will all click. If it doesn't, well, you probably weren't suited for the course anyway... But one must make do with what one has I guess.

Open House tomorrow!! We decided to do up the booth tomorrow morning. No one's going to wait till 4 today to enter the silly hall. Typical council efficiency really...


vicks: Farmer Soldier is an oxymoron... And I don't think I'll be very happy going into ns with sounds of laughter at my back...

liz: you're right, I probably won't survive halfway through ns. That is, if I make it halfway through in the first place... Which is another reason why I'm not looking forward to farewell assembly...

kelly: yeah, sad isn't it? your class is like that too?

Today was a most useless day spent in school. House Day? Come on... We spent most of our time cooped up in the auditorium watching "Coach Carter", which I must admit is a pretty good show. That is, until the teacher started to try and emulate his inspirational speeches at the end... "Tomorrow you will face the truth." And so we shall. The results will all be given out in one great bonanza tomorrow. Today we watched as the J2s cried their hearts out. Tomorrow we too shall cry, for different reasons though.

I'm not looking forward to Farewell Assembly next year. I looked around and saw hundreds of people busy taking shots of each other. Classes were hugging each other, huddled together for that final photograph. Next year? We'll be seeing all the cliques taking shots of themselves. As a class? Puh-leeze... We can't even get the class to take a photo together THIS year. Of course, one year changes many things. I'll just wait and see for next year.

If music be the food of love, play on. Unfortunately not all music is lovely, and nowhere else is this thrown into sharp relief than today's music awards. Some were good, some were not-so-good, to be diplomatic. Don't you find it very irritating when wannabe singers try and slang during their songs? so much so that "deal" sounds like "zeal"? and yeah, I think up-and-coming music stars should try to adopt classier, nicer sounding names that don't bring to mind Jean Yip or something along those lines.

I never knew my fellow debaters were so talented until today. Talented at singing unintelligible lyrics, which sound like a death chant, seriously. Talented at prancing about on stage entertaining everybody (one does not scream when the curtain blocks you. one moves in front gracefully. one does not trip over wires either). Talented at sounding typically bureaucratic even while emceeing. haha... I think we should all just stick to what we do best: debating.

Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne

When in doubt, pray. When in turmoil, pray. When in happiness, pray. Pray, pray without ceasing, in all manner of things never stopping to give thanks and supplication to God.

Not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from your Father.

With the ending of the exams I have spent the last few days in relative peace. Thinking, reading, shopping, going out... I may be getting bored... But this beats studying for the promos anytime.

A funny thing happened yesterday in church. At the end of the service I was on my phone and Tedric just came up to me with a look that said he wanted to speak to me, thereupon he produced a book from his bag and handed it to me saying, "Happy birthday, Joel!"

Now, for those who do not know, my birthday is on the Fourth of March.

It turned out that he apparently saw my birthday listed somewhere as being on 8 or 9 October... Since more than six months have passed since my birthday, I'll take the gift as an extremely advanced birthday present instead of an extremely belated one, haha. Oh goody, something else to read and keep me occupied.

In other news, I went to Lari's surprise birthday party yesterday. She screamed before we could shout boo... That is one excitable little girl. Yes, little.

I realised that Lari has rather funny friends, funny as in humourous, not wierd, although I think you could include that too in the description. And when I think about it, I happen to fall under the funny/wierd category too....

Oh no. Typing this made me remember about Musa's present. Ok, now I've got to find Jill.... Musa has expensive tastes. haha...

I'm going to keep reading and searching... I'm beginning to realise that faith must involve doubt, otherwise it would not be called faith.

It is over

Finished, accomplished, done, complete! My Muse labours, and thus it is delivered: the Promotional Exams, long dreaded, long prepared for, long endured, are unquestionably ended! And how! There is no better way to go out than by hearing John Smith talking happily over the microphone at the end of the exam. He is an anomaly among teachers. Usually they should be unhappy at the end of the paper because the scripts they now have to mark, which is an admittedly tedious and agonising task. But for him he seemed especially jubilant at the end. "A31, remember to see your civics tutor, A11 you have to meet your civics tutor, and all the Lit reps, please see me!" He's really like a jolly old Santa. I think when he retires from teaching he should go take up a part time job as Santa during Christmas season.

There is no way I could have gotten through these three days without the help of God. This has been such a tumultous week, emotionally, mentally and spiritually speaking. To me right now, some of the most powerful words in the Bible are, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!" Genuine faith, honest doubt.

Those who believe in God but without passion in their heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself.
Madeleine L'Engle

In other news, the ending of the promos means the onslaught of the PW season, oh such accursed words. But it also means that the Red Cross Debates are coming! Time to start preparing! I can feel the fire within... hahaha...

Oh yeah, Open House is next week too. What a chore.... In the meantime, before all the results start pouring in, we must celebrate. And we must celebrate with the joy of people who have not tasted fresh, clear water in ages. It dawned on me that the exams are finally over only when I asked beni, "You've really got nothing better to do right?" and I realised that, in actual fact, she really has nothing better to do, and so do I! My goodness, to actually say those words is a... a wonder...

To Life.

Faith: The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

After two days of not being able to access the "create new post" page AGAIN, I manage to enter, by the sheer grace of God. Prayer for technology actually works!

Day One of the promos is over, and like Kelly I didn't consider GP and Chinese to be the actual start of the promos. So, from History we turn our attention now to the workings of the economy and all its vicissittudes (I like this word. I got it while doing the SEA History readings, can u imagine that??).

I'm looking forward to Thursday, and not solely for the reasons the rest of my cohort is.




My heart is heavy and sorrowful to the point of tears, but no tears will flow. I need the strength to go on.

Lord I believe, help my unbelief.

My blog lives! or at least, for now... I think this thing goes off and on intermittently. But before anything else happens, I'll post.

I have been having such conflicting thoughts these past two days. Sometimes I feel like Mary Tyrone... I think the words, "Judge not, lest you be judged" have taken on a new meaning for me, although I always knew this was happening. And yet, I have to help him, but I don't know how, and in any case, I cannot approach him without feeling so much like a hypocrite myself.

And just this morning, I had a dream that was touching and in some way an echo of my inner thoughts. That's what dreams are aren't they? I woke up crying. Maybe this will be a good turning point for me. It's fading away already.

In other news, the entire section below are my thoughts on the recent Bridging Minds debates, which I intended to post on Thursday, but then realised I couldn't access the "new post" page. Keep in mind that whenever I say "yesterday" or "last night" I'm actually referring to Wednesday night.

***
The motion before the house today is This House Would Sit for Exams. We now invite the second speaker of the proposition to give his views.

"A very good evening, members of this house. Before I move into my case proper, I have three main points of contention with the opposition. The first is his point on the equality of benefits that coursework gives in relation to exams. My second point of contention deals with the opposition's outdated view of the examination system. Finally my third point is on the opposition's much harped on 'paradigm shift'.

Onto my first point of contention, that on the equality of benefits. Ladies and gentlemen, the first speaker of the opposition has just conceded his team's case to us by stating that coursework provides the same benefits as exams. Today's motion is The House would sit for Exams. Therefore, in order to win today's debate, the opposition must show us why exams are so bad, and why coursework is better than exams. If coursework then, as stated by the opposition, provides the same benefits as exams, then why is there a necessity to sit for coursework over exams? Clearly we should sit for exams, as the motion proposes.

In fact, we submit to you today that exams provide the same benefits and more, as compared to coursework. This is my second point of contention. The backbone of the opposition's case rests on the twin assumptions that coursework teaches students the critical skills of analysis, evaluation and application of content, and that the examination system teaches students nothing more than mere regurgitation of content. And since the Knowledge-Based Economy demands analysis, evaluation and application, we should all take coursework.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to break the opposition's case down point by point. Firstly, the opposition's views on the exam system are clearly still stuck in the Victorian era (sorry, debaters' insider joke here). Exams nowadays do not just test students on their ability to regurgitate facts. In tandem with the move towards a Knowledge-Based Economy, the Cambridge examination system has been revising exam requirements to include analysis, evaluation and application.

Let us take one paper from the whole spectrum of the Cambridge A Level exams as an example. A standard Economics essay question is worth 25 marks. And out of these 25 marks, around half, about 12 to 13 marks, are allocated to the student if he is able to write out the content needed to answer the question. That is to say, a student can only pass if he regurgitates content. To get a B or A grade, the student must provide analysis and evaluation of the content he has just written out. So it is therefore ridiculous to say that the examination system tests students only on regurgitation and memorization. In fact, exams test students on all the critical skills that coursework promises, and on top of this, tests students on content. What we get, therefore, is the best of both worlds. And thus, it can be concluded that this house will sit for exams.

Onto my final point of contention..."

There are few things that get me more worked up than debating. And watching the Bridging Minds debates last night made me feel I still had that old fire going. I felt SO INSULTED!!! I have no idea how they pick people to represent Singapore on the Bridging Minds team, but clearly the quality of the debaters is not one of their chief considerations. The only people worth watching last night were ______ and ____! And even then they weren't particularly fantastic (this is a gross understatement, but I must remain politically correct on the public domain). Let's just say I'm glad certain people didn't make it to the National Team, 'cos if they did, Singapore debating is in for a hard time...

Oh my goodness, you can't begin to imagine the agony that was going through me. It's a shame, truly a shame, to see former rivals fall to such an extent. Well, I guess everyone's going off-form since the Nationals ended. Myself included. I've gone and become nothing more than target practice for people to suan me in class... How sad... But then again, I've always been easy to suan. So maybe I've still got it.

And boy have I got it. The above excerpt of a speech is what I would have given last night had I been on the proposition. I realised, as I wrote and spoke out those words, that I was giving release to a long suppressed urge to debate. It's been too long since I last debated. Owen, if you're reading this, we gotta get a meeting together as soon as the promos are over. I hear the Red Cross debates beckoning.

Ahhhh... Stress relief...

***
That was then. For now, thanks to everyone for tagging. I see my last few posts got people talking. Oh well, love is not for me right now. At the moment my heart rests in the Divine heart.

Oh, and Adrienne left last night for London. So goodbye! Whatever I'm supposed to say to you via email, I still don't know, but you can read my message. haha.

And Vicks, stop trying to increase your value in my eyes. It's good enough if I say you make life bearable. I'm sorry, but I don't exactly wake up each morning thinking, "oh my goodness it's a new day and vicki's gonna be around. yay!" That sounds positively lovesick, which I'm not, although liz sounds rather despo. Maybe the two of you should go hook up sometime soon. hahahaha...

This has been such a long post...