woooow, it's been a long loooooooong time and lots of things have happened and lots of things have changed.
firstly, i've been up and about on my patched up ankles since 25th march, that glorious date when i received the all clear for those bulky aircasts to be removed. the first few days after that were pretty darn hard on my poor legs, with the muscles needing to be reconditioned and all. yeah..
so i've been back in action (admittedly much less action than post-surgery though!) since 11th april, and a great deal has happened since then too. so to keep things short and just to refresh my memory of a bygone era....
the first couple of months were spent primarily filling in here and there, both for darren away at the haven which is sembawang camp, as well as john who had to fill in for a certain protege of mine in the art of long mcs :) lol just kidding mann... yeah so it was during this period that i really felt first hand certain tight manpower issues and challenges faced by the saf, what with all the "stand in" appointments here and there. quite farcical actually imo..
then in june, people started to return from their mcs, and darren fell back to reality, so the manpower situation eased a little. i guess that, along with my "new and improved" pes, eventually led to my exit. and some exit it was!
you see, basically, i think it's generally true that the grass is greener on the other side. maybe not always, but GENERALLY SPEAKING. so in the days just before my scheduled exit, i was pretty delirious to be honest, filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation of "better life" awaiting me. well, with the benefit of hindsight, i must say that this perceived "better life" in "greener pastures" is but a shimmering mirage in the desert, enticing when viewed longingly from afar, but flattering to deceive when encountered at close quarters. while it is true that certain aspects of my "new lease of life" are "better" or "more desirable", the overall package, i have to say, is severely overrated.
but perhaps more details at a later date, if at all. for now, this brief recap will suffice. it's been somewhat invigorating and refreshing to think about the events of the past few months, allowing me to pause and take stock of my life thus far. till i return, ciao :)
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Mad Jens to return??!
"He [Lehmann] belongs in the Muppet Show, on the couch or in a mental institution." Tim Wiese
Wow, so apparently The Professor (although an increasingly dumb one) is mulling over re-signing Mad Jens. This is absolutely absurd! Who would have thought he would ever bring his eccentric and entertaining ways back to north London.
However, in spite of the nostalgia surrounding Lehmann's likely move, this appears to be a potential banana skin for the Arsenal, as along with his considerable ability, he always appears to bring with him some element of controversy and comedy. Who knows what he might come up with this time! There always seems to be a significant degree of unpredictability with regards to his behaviour. Certainly, with the Gunners gunning for the only remaining trophy they can hope to win (painful fact), any negative publicity or attention on Lehmann would be a most unwelcome distraction.
Perhaps even more significant is the resulting reunion between Lehmann and his great "pal" Manuel Almunia. With the both of them once again in the same team, the old scars of their less-than-amicable relationship could be reopened. If the two of them do indeed start another round of public bickering, it would be terrible for Arsenal's charge to the title.
That being said, Mad Jens certainly brings with him a wealth of experience and quality, and if no significant off-the-pitch matters arise, he would be a useful addition.
All the best to the Gunners!!
Wow, so apparently The Professor (although an increasingly dumb one) is mulling over re-signing Mad Jens. This is absolutely absurd! Who would have thought he would ever bring his eccentric and entertaining ways back to north London.
However, in spite of the nostalgia surrounding Lehmann's likely move, this appears to be a potential banana skin for the Arsenal, as along with his considerable ability, he always appears to bring with him some element of controversy and comedy. Who knows what he might come up with this time! There always seems to be a significant degree of unpredictability with regards to his behaviour. Certainly, with the Gunners gunning for the only remaining trophy they can hope to win (painful fact), any negative publicity or attention on Lehmann would be a most unwelcome distraction.
Perhaps even more significant is the resulting reunion between Lehmann and his great "pal" Manuel Almunia. With the both of them once again in the same team, the old scars of their less-than-amicable relationship could be reopened. If the two of them do indeed start another round of public bickering, it would be terrible for Arsenal's charge to the title.
That being said, Mad Jens certainly brings with him a wealth of experience and quality, and if no significant off-the-pitch matters arise, he would be a useful addition.
All the best to the Gunners!!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
sometimes it really perturbs me how people fail to see the point of view of others. how they are unable to see things from others' perspective and accept differing viewpoints.
at times i find it frustrating that people don't seem to see things the way i do, that i appear to be strange, different, even plain WEIRD. but please understand, not everyone has the same mindset as you, treats things the way you do and reacts to stimuli the way you do.
sometimes, and for some things, we have to agree to disagree.
at times i find it frustrating that people don't seem to see things the way i do, that i appear to be strange, different, even plain WEIRD. but please understand, not everyone has the same mindset as you, treats things the way you do and reacts to stimuli the way you do.
sometimes, and for some things, we have to agree to disagree.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
2010
looking back at the year 2010, there really doesn't seem to have been much of note for me. inevitably, much of the year revolved around, the SAF. yes, OUR ARMY. lol.
well, i must put on record that despite all the miseries and irritance and annoyance and plain angst and frustration this NS experience has hurled at me so far, it certainly hasn't been a thorough dread throughout. naturally, some of the activities and exercises i've had the chance to participate in have been real eye-openers for me, with certain aspects interesting to a certain extent. perhaps exercise wallaby would be a good representative of these "better" moments i've had in the saf. "better" and "more enjoyable" in the context of NS, but not things i would make a career of. not stuff i would sell my soul to.
certainly amongst the multitude of new faces i've come into contact with this year, a fair number of relationships have developed into what i would consider friendships. however, i guess only time will reveal the true quality of these new relationships forged. i fondly recall the days of my course at STC, when i would at times (somewhat) look forward to booking in, eagerly anticipating the camaraderie and fellowship with some of the people there. however, i now barely keep in contact with any of them. with the course over, there leaves barely any reason or motivation to contact them. it sure would be good if some of these NS relationships blossom and develop into something deeper and long-lasting.
NS aside, i'm thankful for the people who have stuck around by my side and continued to provide support and company, at times when i need it. it's comforting to know that there are these people i can count on to understand me and my concerns, and that they provide familiar comforts and reliefs from the various things that stress me and get me down. cheers to many more such years!
people aside, 2010 also took me on an emotional roller coaster. (although this is becoming an annoyingly cheesy way of describing things!) to keep things short, the whole process of receiving my IB results, getting stunned by them, stressing over uni apps, applying to the unis, getting rejected by them, busy crafting my heartfelt appeals when everyone else is busy celebrating their overseas scholarships...all the way to finally snaring a place has been nothing short of draining, both physically and emotionally. but at the end of the day, when i put things into perspective, i'm very thankful for being able to successfully complete a pre-university education in a brand-name institution, and go on to pursue a university education, in a desired course no less.
when people size up the year ahead, they tend to say things like, "oh, 2011 promises to be challenging, it will be interesting and i will pursue my goals with enthusiasm and vigour..." and so on and so forth, all expressing a renewed sense of purpose in life. however, personally, i honestly do not forsee anything interesting or exciting in store for me in the year ahead, and there's nothing in particular i look forward to or eagerly anticipate. to put it ultra-depressingly and bleakly, no goals, no purpose in life. but that sounds suicidal. and i'm not really feeling depressed or suicidal, just y'know, feeling the bore of mundane life. hopefully, things will change. i think i need some sort of change, something to shake things up a little. we'll see.
anyways, gtg soon. hope anyone seeing this is feeling more purposeful and driven than i am, and have a great 2011!
well, i must put on record that despite all the miseries and irritance and annoyance and plain angst and frustration this NS experience has hurled at me so far, it certainly hasn't been a thorough dread throughout. naturally, some of the activities and exercises i've had the chance to participate in have been real eye-openers for me, with certain aspects interesting to a certain extent. perhaps exercise wallaby would be a good representative of these "better" moments i've had in the saf. "better" and "more enjoyable" in the context of NS, but not things i would make a career of. not stuff i would sell my soul to.
certainly amongst the multitude of new faces i've come into contact with this year, a fair number of relationships have developed into what i would consider friendships. however, i guess only time will reveal the true quality of these new relationships forged. i fondly recall the days of my course at STC, when i would at times (somewhat) look forward to booking in, eagerly anticipating the camaraderie and fellowship with some of the people there. however, i now barely keep in contact with any of them. with the course over, there leaves barely any reason or motivation to contact them. it sure would be good if some of these NS relationships blossom and develop into something deeper and long-lasting.
NS aside, i'm thankful for the people who have stuck around by my side and continued to provide support and company, at times when i need it. it's comforting to know that there are these people i can count on to understand me and my concerns, and that they provide familiar comforts and reliefs from the various things that stress me and get me down. cheers to many more such years!
people aside, 2010 also took me on an emotional roller coaster. (although this is becoming an annoyingly cheesy way of describing things!) to keep things short, the whole process of receiving my IB results, getting stunned by them, stressing over uni apps, applying to the unis, getting rejected by them, busy crafting my heartfelt appeals when everyone else is busy celebrating their overseas scholarships...all the way to finally snaring a place has been nothing short of draining, both physically and emotionally. but at the end of the day, when i put things into perspective, i'm very thankful for being able to successfully complete a pre-university education in a brand-name institution, and go on to pursue a university education, in a desired course no less.
when people size up the year ahead, they tend to say things like, "oh, 2011 promises to be challenging, it will be interesting and i will pursue my goals with enthusiasm and vigour..." and so on and so forth, all expressing a renewed sense of purpose in life. however, personally, i honestly do not forsee anything interesting or exciting in store for me in the year ahead, and there's nothing in particular i look forward to or eagerly anticipate. to put it ultra-depressingly and bleakly, no goals, no purpose in life. but that sounds suicidal. and i'm not really feeling depressed or suicidal, just y'know, feeling the bore of mundane life. hopefully, things will change. i think i need some sort of change, something to shake things up a little. we'll see.
anyways, gtg soon. hope anyone seeing this is feeling more purposeful and driven than i am, and have a great 2011!
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