Qiu shi yuan de...

For those who haven't heard that phrase in Chinese, well it just means that the ball's round... and that anything can happen anytime, anywhere...I heard this morning that Chelsea's been drawn in the same group as European Champions, FC Porto for the first group phase of the new Champions League campaign.

This will give Mourinho a quick return to his former stomping ground... wonder how that clash's gonna go... Chelsea's got a good team this year, with a better manager, no doubting that... Arsenal still IS invincible.. Man U.. weell.. sigh.. they've got an outside chance.. much as I hate to say so.. but whateva... Qiu shi yuan de...

It's way passed lunch time. Today's been pretty relaxed so far.. this week passed very slowly for me... couple that with the fact I worked from 8.30 till 5 on .. was it Wednesday? Or Tuesday? Anyway.. i'm not saying anything about others not working.. it's just that that day was tiring... But you know what? I'm actually glad it happened, cos' by the end of that day.. I finished 95% of my work for the week.. Whoooo!!!

So it's been a day since Wacko Jacko left... My care group stayed over at his place the night before... arrived at ten-ish. hmm.. what did we do...played the guitar.. ate.. talked... charades...the girls won...naturally.. as they gave us phrases like "air steward having french coffee" & ..oh I can't remember them anymore.. I didn't feel sad at all throughout the whole time we were at his place.

It didn't even occur to me that he was leaving. It was like any other care group gathering, where we could spend time together.. have fun.. you know.. just hang..but 3 am came and well.. we had to leave.. I could imagine how he would be feeling inside..

I faced the same feeling of leaving home when I was enlisted for National Service last June... and btw I'm going back to Tekong in October, but that's a story for another day...

When I went to the balcony, I pictured Jackson looking at his room.. thinking that this was the last time he was going to see it for a year.. when I went to the toilet, I pictured him thinking that the shower he just took was going to be his last one at home.. and that sucked. I know people think differently, some might think I'm over-reacting.. maybe I'm just fairly attached to home... though maybe it doesn't show...

We travelled to the airport in Jackson's father's lorry.. His flight was at 6am! Jackson and his family sat in front, leaving them time for each other, while the rest of us, sat behind, open air, with the wind in our hair, and for me, Lena's hair in my face as well.. I looked in front at where I thought Jackson was sitting; the morning dew on the window further blurring my view of Jackson... I thought... time for him and his family... maybe if it was me, I would be sleeping already.. but then again.. if I were him, I'd probably be too depressed to even fall asleep..

At the airport... (btw, it was a cool ride in the back of the lorry... think all of us wouldn't mind doing that again.. provided that doing that wouldn't mean that another one of us would be leaving,..).. back to the airport.. Edgar was there when we arrived... His occasional sidekick wasn't there.. probably because ... oh never mind.. Jackson proceeded to check in while the rest of us proceeded to the rows of chairs to finally get some rest.. I fell asleep sitting on the chair..

Valerie said Qiming was going to see Jackson off but he didn't turn up.. for some reason.. Boon Hock said Meijun wasn't going to see Jackson off but she did turn up.. for some reason..

She came with Tommy, but 'em both went to one corner to "hide". Think he has some issues, that are unresolved concerning them both and Jackson.. When Jackson was about to go in, Meijun decided not to walk over to the gate with us all... She murmured something to Jackson, in front of everybody with his parents and the rest looking on.. feeling uneasy as we were...

We walked around the check-in rows, and I saw Jackson fighting back tears as he spoke to some people. Dude.. If I was leaving, I'd probably cry my eyes out walking towards the gate... We gathered for a prayer.. and then we said our goodbyes. We were somehow already in a line when Jackson stepped up towards Charlene and shook her hand...then Lena... then Debra... I was next.. and by this time I couldn't hold back any longer.. tears welled up in my eyes as his came over, shook my hand and gave a small hug...

We were losing a friend who always had God-centred answers whenever he spoke in caregroup, a friend who was willing to offer a helping hand and be there when you were down... I suppose Boon Hock and Diana felt it the worst... maybe there were others who felt the same.. but Jackson was the one who brought Boon Hock to Angora and Diana was the one who, along with Jackson, was around when the caregroup first started many years ago.. So naturally.. they'd probably feel like a part of them has been torn away...

His parents didn't look or seem to sad.. they were like.. "oh go.. take care..." not that I fault them.. I think they probably take things easier.. His father came over afterwards, "Why you all so sad? He'll be back next year. Thanks for coming." I know it might seem like I'm putting them in a bad light.. but it isn't.. His dad's a friendly guy.. bought us supper and all..

I did, however, think to myself... where were the rest of the Angorians that morning? I mean.. come on.. I have to work the next day, so does Diana and Lena... Charlene's got school, so does Boon Hock and Chee Fei and Valerie and Debra.. and we had to go back via public transport!

I think Jackson's probably arrived there safely now.. I hope he remembers the pact that we both made before he left and of course the sweater that I told him to get for me... haha It's one of those sweaters with the school's name emblazoned across the chest and are worn by the jocks you see in a typical American movie.

By the way, that Arse-nal boy Fabregas... He ain't too bad eh? Settling in well in Arsenal and forcing his way into the first 11... mind you he's only 17 years old.. he's already scored for the first team and is starting to make those telling passes which usually results in goals for Monsieur Henry or Monsieur Pires...

So baby gimme that toot toot
And let me hear that beep beep
Runnin her hands through my 'fro
Bouncin on 24's
While they say on the radio...

Its da remix to ignition
Hot and fresh out the kitchen
Mama rollin that body
Got every man in here wishin
Sippin on coke and rum
I'm like so what I'm drunk
It's the freakin weekend baby
I'm about to have me some fun...

Everything.. went wrong..

Everything.. well.. alomost everything that I was looking forward to... went wrong yesterday... playing Championship Manager wasn't fun - wasn't winning, my team's fourth in the league, players unhappy, and I've got too many players (which always happens by the way); found out that we weren't going to visit the detention barracks anymore.. sigh.. so much for that.

Work was bad as well - we going through a merger phase and helping this other unit set up shop by paying for their stuff with our funds.. As a result, our money gets transferred between votes, the computer's balance is inaccurate (yes, it's possible) and I'm as blur as a sotong...

Oh thank God the air-con is up... Keith's just arrived anyway... Pray that God will help me look at my work problems one at a time...

Off to build my second great Championship Manager team...think I should be conferred knighthood for this...

Sir Lizardskin™ doesn't sound too bad...

Feeling like rojak

I'm at work now.. on duty today.. felt the usual "downness" on the day of duty.. but coming to work, I had a few things to look forward to.. the visit to the detention barracks tomorrow, playing Championship Manager and building my second great team, the stayover at Jackson's place tomorrow night and driving on Thursday. Wheew... what a jam-packed 3 days.. you know... that's exactly how I've been feeling for the past month. My typical week goes like this.. One day's taken up for duty, two for driving, one for caregroup, the other weekday for meeting Diana.... and THEN...... it's the weekend...

I'm so glad that PM Lee has decided to change working days for civil servants from 5.5 days to 5 days.. which means.. NO WORK ON SATURDAYS!!!!! Whhooo!!! (okay, so it's not entirely confirmed yet. but i've received info from my "sources" that it'll most likely be implemented sometime in the month of Diana's birthday...I was telling Chris, a campmate, yesterday that Life looks good.. 2 month reduction in national service, 5 day working week... whaa.. give me more..give me more. Seems like PM Lee's pretty thoughtful, or it may just be a ploy to win over his detractors.

Anyway.. back to being busy throughout the week... I haven't been seeing my family much this past month (it goes on till Sept, mind you). I'm either home late (driving or dating) or i'm on duty in camp... It saddened me this morning as I thought that the next time I would see Popo (my grandmother), Annabel, Papa & Mummy would be Thursday night, at the worst Friday. So I'm praying that God would keep 'em safe, till we next meet again. To put it differently, maybe, just maybe, God is preparing me for my recourse in Tekong... you know me.. can't be away from home.. blah blah blah...

I've been through a whole host of emotions this few days. I felt blue because of duty and the fact that I was going to be away from home; grateful because Papa wakes up every day at the same time as I to drop me off at work (Papa, Thank you.); overjoyed, yet thankful that I passed Stage 3 of driving in one lesson; touched, because of Joseph's goodbye card; irritated by the behaviour of certain people in my family; excited at the prospect of staying over at Wacko Jacko's place along with my other care group members the night before he departs to live the "American Dream"; downhearted that a close friend will no longer be around for the next 4 years..sigh.

As I mentioned earlier, I went for driving yesterday, and I completed Stage 3 in one session. How cool is that? This instructor, Ng, happens to have the same name Christian name and surname as me. Yes, spelling even. So it's Terence Ng Wei Feng for me, but Terence Ng Kai Beng for him. Diana feels he's not too professional, as the booklet says min 4 sessions, but I did Stage 3 in one.. Think it's cos' I practiced these subjects in previous lessons and I'm rather familiar with it... so...

I met my parents, Richard, Belinda, Phoebe and Austin afterwards. They are relatives from England.. Belinda's the sista of Jackie (who came earlier in the year), and Christian. Their mother, Rosalind, is my Grandmother's sister.. so that makes us relatives.. no? Anyway, we went to Lau Pa Sat to eat and then to the Merlion. Phoebe's really cute; she's pretty stubborn though.

Btw, Christian and Claire just had their first child, a baby girl. Don't know her name though.. Think Eric, Jackie, Penelope, Rebecca and Yorick's back in France by now.. Haven't got down to emailing them the photos.. maybe I should... soon...

Goodbye.. 2 of you..

I sat in church yesterday, thinking to myself how fast I have grown up over the years.. I'm like 21 this year... which means there are major decisions to make in the coming years.. university education, career path, marriage, family, etc. sigh.. and my campmate, Weisong, was telling me that you could actually be jailed for accidentally killing somebody! I'm like.. what if i drive and i really accidentally kill somebody... guulp..

I also realised that yesterday was going to be the last time (for a while) before 2 of my peers would be back attending church in Angora... Jackson's leavin' on a jet plane (ok, lame) to America for 4 years this Thursday morning to complete some engineering course..civil and structural was it? Or was it environmental? I felt sad as I read the card in the car after church that he wrote to me, the gloomy Sunday evening not doing anything to console my already melancholic self. With a shrug of my shoulders, I quickly brushed off what Jackson wrote in the card, not wanting to experience that pit-bottom feeling anymore...

"It is now time for me to bid farewell... We have grown up in Angora and it is sad to leave... Still remember Mr Lim bringing us out when we were younger...they will be preciouis memories... always. Many things will change in 4 years, but I pray the Lord will keep out friendship strong in Him.."

Jackson... I definitely remember those times Mr Lim brought us out. Though we weren't every close then, over time, God has brought us closer. One outing I definitely recall is the one to the Sentosa bridge. That night, both of us, along with a few others, gave our lives unto Jesus. We didn't exactly know what we were doing, what we were praying, what we were in for. But I thank God that we made THE decision of our lives. Will miss you as well... brother.

Sob.. sob.. must I get emotional over this? Is it okay to tear as I recall the past? Is it un-manly to cry? I used to beat myself up when I was younger whenever I cried when I argued with someone over the slightest issue. Through my teenage years, I formed this invisible wall around me, one that showed me to be strong, being able to contain my emotions and withstand any difficulties that came my way. It seemed that as I grew older and became more serious with God, this "wall" was gradually removed by Him.

I also found out yesterday that Kellyn wasn't going to come to church till November. Her mother banned her from Angora, thinking that the aunties in church were encouraging her to go out with ah-hem, instead of someone else. Ah well.. the complexities of a relationship... She'll be attending the same church as her mother in the mean time. Personally, I feel it's a load of crap.. like what many have said already.. Kellyn can always meet up with ah-hem outside of church, in school... they are in the same fac after all...on that same note, she can always meet up with the Angora aunties outside of church.. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", doesn't it? It isn't any use trying to stem the feelings that are within the heart.. Maybe you should reason this out nicely with her, I mean she's 20 after all..

Okay, I'm like so dead. If anyone in church reads this, and Auntie Esther gets wind of what I wrote.. I'd be like.. wha.. siao liao.. not that I'm trying to impress anyone or what.. Just that I think this is by far one of the few times that I have been so publicly outspoken/critical of someone/something..

Auntie Esther, you might think that, I, with only the 21 years of rice passing through my stomach being less than the amount of salt you've taken all your life, would have the brains to at least be more respectful in bringing forth my opinion and maybe even not "teach" you how to run your family. But I've got to set this straight. I'm not teaching you how to run your family, all I've said above was merely my opinion about all that has happened. So Kellyn.. see you in November then.. By the way, this just came to mind.. Given all these "problems", it's probably the reason why Qiming doesn't like coming or isn't attending church anymore.. or maybe he just isn't serious about God no more...whateva..(so sad for someone though...ooops)

Update on the Manchester United front... Diego Forlan has been offloaded to Villareal (suckers) for a fee of £2 million. I'm pretty sure Ferguson read my blog on the Chelsea game and decided to take my advice and sell Forlan...

All for now..btw..if anyone of you have any disputes on whatever I wrote.. you have 2 options... accept it or accept it... no just kidding.. call me if you're dying to scream your head off at me/tell me your opinion...for what I said...

and I was dying inside to hold you
I couldn't believe what I felt for you

Some people just like to pull rank.. there's this MWO (Master Warrant Officer) who's here to give a lecture.. he struts around the office, head held high, like he's some king who rules over the land. LOSER. He's probably pissed that his lecture slides didn't get through to our email...

He speaks with this air of arrogance, "I'm here to give a lecture and I would like to know who's in charge of the room." "Well Sir, the students are usually in charge. If they are not sure of how to operate the system then they will approach 3SG Keith."

Without acknowledging what I said, he just looked away and walked off.. I'm like what? @#$%@$@ (not that I said anything out loud or in my heart lah...) Such a disrespectful character... The world would be better off without such people..

We face such people here daily or weekly... What goes around comes around.. maybe someday he'll receive the same treatment he dished out.. or maybe his son will.. or maybe his daughter... or whoever lah... Aarrgghh! LOSER.

I'm on duty today.. feeling okay about it.. everyone's gone for breakfast now.. I went to Tekong yesterday for this Tekong Challenge/Highway Challlenge/Healthy Run/Games thingy.. only played the game.. we were supposed to fetch the FBO (Full Battle Order) for the lady in the team to dress up in the game, Dressed to Kill. AO said we would be rewarded with 2 days off if we won. We DID not. That sucked.

I went to BBDC afterwards. AO dropped me outside BBDC, which was a pleasant surprise given that I was prepared to go back to Boon Lay and take a train down. I reached BBDC at 1345 hrs and went straight to do a practice on the computer for my FTT (Final Theory Test). Practical lesson only started at 1445...

Finished a book of about 100 questions and went off to get ready for my practical.. I applied for fixed group instructor, which means this 2 instructors will be with you throughout your lessons. And so I was surprised to get the "nicer" instructor Ng, having expected the more "demanding" Lim...It's not that Lim isn't good... just that he's a little firm and critical at times.. the first lesson with him was bad as I kept stalling the car.. but I've got a hang of it already..

I stalled only once yesterday!!!! ... gtg.. breakfast has arrived..

I told you so...

As I predicted earlier, Man United lost to Chelski. United missing 9 first teamers had absolutely no chance in snagging the 3 points. The team they put out today, apart from a selected few, deserved to be in United's reserves. Let's go through the list while it's still fresh in my mind...

Goalkeeper Tim Howard managed to put in a decent game.. making important saves when called upon. He disappointed however, when they conceded the goal. He looked like he was shying away from confronting gudjohnsen.. maybe his tourette's syndrome acted up at the moment..

Right-back Gary Neville had one of his usual games.. He was consistent today on the right flank, probably only because there wasn't duff or robben to leave him in knots.. gave away the ball at towards the end of the game when United were on the attack, that could have left the team two goals down.. didn't see the trademark "raising of the hand" whenever the opponent springs the offisde trap..

Left-back Quinton Fortune had so much possession down his flank that I wondered whether that had anything to do with his surname..He failed to make any of that count, often crossing from deep..How do you expect your striker to beat a towering keeper like petr cech? Fortune seems to lack any idea or initiative with his play. Definitely one to be replaced..wait for heinze to fill this slot..

Centre-back Mikael Silvestre had a good game in central defence, his preferred position. Quick, athletic and skilled, United should be glad that Silvestre's on their side.

Stand-in Centre-back Roy Keane had a great game in defence, not his preferred position. Yet, Fergie put him there to plug the defensive holes mainly because of his ability to read the game, his calmness and his decisiveness. United's ageing skipper was 1 of 2 players who performed tonight.

Right-winger/debutant Liam Miller made a good start to his United career. Dubbed the "next Roy Keane" after they were both born in the same part of Ireland and played in the same position, I thought young Miller would start in central midfield. He did well on the right, cutting in and winning some 50-50 challenges. His small frame however, only served to undermine any chance he had to get pass the chelsea defence.

Left-mdfielder Ryan Giggs, the golden boy of his generation (apart from a certain media-craving, attention-seeking David Beckham), the Welsh wizard, the girlfriend-beater, once sought after by top Continental teams like Inter Milan, was today, the flightless winger. Gone are the days Giggs would tear down the flanks like knife through butter, with the home fans singing "Ryan Giggs, Ryan Giggs, running down the wing", put in a cross for the striker to finish the work of art Giggs started down the flank. He had a good chance to head in the equaliser for Man U, but as you would probably know by now, after watching Giggs for the past 8 to 10 years, he can't head the ball to save his life. I think he's talented, no doubt about it, but he's not troubling the opposing fullback enough. With his receding hairline showing how much he's aged since he first burst onto the football scene, it's probably time United sought after a new winger. Why not Carlos Alberto Parreira of Porto, Rafael van der Vaart of Ajax or maybe United's own Kieran Richardson? On hindsight, they really missed out on Arjen Robben...

Central midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba looks like his settling in to the rhythm of Man U's play. Sitting just in front of the defence, a la Keano, he destroys the opponent's build-up play. Only problem? He needs to sort out his surname on the back of his jersey. Is it Djemba or Djemba-Djemba?

Makeshift Central midfielder John O'Shea really looked like a fish out of water as commentator Martin Tyler and Andy Gray would put it. He looked uncomfortable on the ball, yet Fergie probably put him there for his height. He could have inserted Phil Neville into the position, which Phil eased into last season... John.. You don't belong there..

Forward Paul Scholes tried his best, dropping into midfield to fetch the ball and supporting his strike parter Alan Smith upfront. Had a few chances, but they were either wasted or blocked by a Chelsea team which crammed their half with 4 at the back and 5 in midfield late on. Recently retired from international football, so we can expect somemore great goals from the "Ginger Prince" (because of his hair). Fergie should look to bring Diego of Brazil though.. Scholesly gotta go someday..

Striker/Debutant Alan Smith was the other top performer for me tonight. He ran his lungs out, wore his heart on his sleeve as he slid in for and chased down every ball he could. Yet when he drifted out wide, there wasn't anyone in the centre to finish off the cross he put in. Looks to be the perfect foil to Ruud van Nistelrooy. We'll see.. but Smith's definitely going to be a big hit with the Red Devils' fans.

Substitute Diego Forlan should just... AARrRRRCGGGhh!! DOn't even know why Fergie bothered to "snatch" him from under the noses of Steve McLaren and Middlesbrough at the airport. Today's display from this 7 million pound Uruguayan flop surely should have furthered convinced Fergie to offload him during the next transfer window. For some reason, Forlorn has a tendency to slip at the vital moment..you guessed it.. he slipped again today.. maybe his hair's getting in the way.. Goldilocks must go...

In all fairness, Chelsea weren't playing to well either. Yet, United with the majority of possession weren't able to convert their chances..Imagine if Heinze or Rio Ferdinand were around, or maybe Ruud van Nistelrooy or better still....Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hello ladies..

Sigh.. it's the end of the weekend, though I'm not taking it as badly as I used to a while ago.

Hmm..there's quite a lot of stuff i want to blog about.. just haven't found the time to do so.. and even if I had the time, I'd probably do something else..

The chelsea vs manchester united match is next, so I don't expect myself to do write much. I think United's going to lose. That's probably one of the few times you'd ever hear me saying that.

I seem to have fairly poor memory these days. Probably I'm too tensed up/uptight with situations in my life...

Anyway, these are what I would like to write about...visit to MMI, Singapore Idol, driving, soccer with SIW..youth and young adults camp, change of command at SAFWOS, church.. blah blah blah..

bye bye.. kick off..