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...