The Last Lap

几日来的豪雨，今天很合作地止步..坐在巴士的我们，正在陪您走这一身的最后一程..

这几天，脑海里一直浮现着几个月前的一个画面。您坐在最尾的那张椅子，我在您前面装可爱撒娇着：＂外公外公，我是谁？＂而您笑了两声说"你是yongyong"..

奇怪的是，才五天，五天的时间却让画面越来越模糊。您声音也越来越不那么清晰了。好想再玩一次这超无聊的游戏，再听一次那我不怎么爱、却有听了快30年的小名..

人过世之后是会什么都知，无所不在的吗？若是如此，外公，您一定知道我好想说声谢谢，谢谢您这辈子当了我那慈祥的外公，谢谢您让我吃到好多好多的水果， 谢谢您及时康复而出席我的毕业典礼..

不过，外公，对不起，我也有好多东西没能跟您做，我没把潮州话学好，不能与您用潮州交谈，害您在那最后一晚还要用华语跟我说话。我当晚应该早点儿到医院，即使您没能认出我，我也能多花点儿时间看您..

您现在的地方有荔枝树吗？不知为什么，我记得您第一次住院时，您突然无缘无故说到中国的不知那儿有很美的荔枝树..

外公，再见啦！我会想您的，也会记得您叫着Yongyong的声音。我也会试着作一个更杰出的孙女，即使不是男生，也会比男生棒的孙女..

外公，安息吧..

And the results...

Judgment day!! This is the 2nd time I've gone to get judgment for a trial, and the 1st time I'm getting results for a trial that I conducted myself. When the phone call came at 10++ to ask if we could go earlier at around 11am instead of 2pm, I still felt that sudden surge of panic. hankfully, this time round, it was a favourable judgment. 80% in our favour. But nope, my boss didn't say anything. In fact, I don't even think he realised the judgment's today.. hahaha..

On hindsight, I'm glad I limited my cross examination to that hilariously amusing few questions. However, I wonder if I would have done better, if I didn't "showhand" as much as I did. The best part was, just before my trial, someone a lot more senior whom I was chatting with along the corridors was warning me not to do just that!

Anyway, it's over and I'm still pretty proud that I survived it without much help. Well, except for the help of a really nice guy, who gave me a lift to the scene one weekend, and give me ideas on phototaking. Thanks for contributing so much to my survival of my first trial! And of course, not forgetting my favourite Mr Tan as well, who knew well enough that I'll start panicking before trial, and sent me the encouraging smses to give me confidence. Thanks too, Mr Tan! :)

I survived my 1st ever own trial!

For the 1st time ever, I did the entire thing, from opening, to cross examination, re-examination, to submissions all by myself. *looks smug* Especially when the other side's witness suddenly threw in something unexpected. Lol. On hindsight though, I should trust myself more next trial. Now for the judgment next week..

On another note, I finally realised how wrong one can be if you simply just take whatever that's written in papers wholesale. So, here's me debunking some mistaken belief of mine with regards to our all white MPS:

(1) MPs do not conduct the MPS. They don't even necessary have to be there, and you may not necessary run into them. I think I must have been spoilt by virtue of my ward. I've always thought your MP would at least be there and have a table for his meet the people's session!

(2) The assistants at the MPS are not necessary professional. Well, unless you tell me that the following constitutes professionalism: (1) shaking his legs so vigorously like he had ants munching at his balls; (2) complimenting people on how nice their beard looks; (3) asking dumb questions about people's complexion.. Did I mention they name-drop too? *yawnz*

That, in essence was the main impression that I took out from one of such sessions. Impressed? Very, by the opposition MPs in my ward (and neighbouring constituency). If this is the sort of standard you get, I'll say, pay me the S$15,000.00 and I'll do a better job.. *yawn*

Macbeth and the picnic

Thanks to the highly cooperative weather that decided to pour as hard as possible in the morning and remain dry in the evening, our date with Shakespear went ahead without a hitch..

The stage

I must say though, a play in Shakespearen English in a unenclosed area may be a bit difficult to understand at the beginning. Nonetheless, the 3 witches and Adrian Pang made it a production not to be missed.

And of course, next time we'll get more decent food for our picnic too, right?

I think the year of the tiger was last year, really..

Once in every 5 years, there's this event called "elections" that starts making newspapers all that thicker. Everyday, articles and articles of who said what, and who did what religiously appear endlessly until "D-day" itself. But amidst the hustling and bustling, if you think about it carefully, how effective would 10 days of campaigning bring?

Elections and campaigns are not limited to a country only. Think back to secondary school, jc days etc. How often did you vote for someone just because you were won over by him/her during the campaigning period?

Come to think of it, it's not that different now either. I'm sure most people would have already decided for themselves who they'll be voting for, regardless whether their choice candidates actually do actively campaign for their votes. The campaigning process is really to swing the fence seaters most of the time, but still, I really do wonder if the campaign process goes really that far.

During the process however, I realised how similar everyone can be. No doubt, I am cheesed off by those who glorify themselves and belittle the "lowly" ones. But then, if you think again, it's really very much a sign of "I support my clan and so you guys are wrong". So really, whatever that you don't agree with, just relegate it all to "noise" and everything will be a whole lot simpler (Though I really must say, I thought some woman putting on facebook that anyone who wants to kill HER tiger has to deal with her first was childish and pretty much needs to brush up her Chinese really)

Despite having come to terms about different opinions and choices, I'm not any bit more morally correct than anyone else. Frankly, I admit I find it obnoxious that there are people who treat rallies as carnival. I mean, seriously, do NOT tell me that you are proud to be a Singaporean just by attending opposition rallies. That, in itself is just pure laughable, and it very much emcompasses the "it's great to have a good opposition, but not in my backyard yah?" syndrome. Or some other kind of syndrome which I don't plan to bother describing. Seriously, just because you as a pro-establisment person attends and is proud of an opposition leader doesn't make you stand on any higher grounds. That thought itself, in my humble opinion, is somewhat akin to the lip service attitude we've been getting isn't it?  If you want to be pro-establishment, stay at that. At least that gets more respect from me than the "oh, it's such a difficult choice, it'll break my heart either way" comment. But in any case, that's just in my humble opinion..

So yes, come 7 May 2011, we'll know what the people have chosen and we'll stand by that for the next 5 years. In the meantime, to each his own (well, as long as you don't wake me up on weekends mornings and then disappear when I finally decided that my sleep has been disrupted too many times to continue)

PS: The above is just my own personal views. Any similarities to anyone may/may not be intentional. However, the author would like to inform that no clarification will be entertained simply because she doesn't particularly like soothing people after she makes what she humbly thinks is her true opinion. Any hurt to anyone is purely unintentional.

"I stole your MP!"

That's what my big boss said when he saw me.

Whilst not really surprised that my respectable MP has chosen to lead a team elsewhere, I can't help feeling a tinge of sadness. The guy I watched for since primary 3 is no longer the guy for my constituency. But you know what? He's still my MP, at least to me. To those lucky ones in a certain GRC, please treasure what you have. My MP really attends all funerals in the ward without fail, goes on his walkabouts when the GE is not anywhere in sight yet and deals with problems immediately when told and is always so friendly, whatever ward you are (I bumped into him near sub courts once and when I smiled, he said hi. Unlike a certain other minister who asked my dad which constituency he was from first, before ignoring my dad totally for staying in the neighbouring ward). And, for those who still do not know, Hougang residents had their lift lobby and corridor renovated, WITHOUT forking out a single cent. In fact, some blocks had the stop-at-every-floor upgrading for free too, before it was decided that all Singaporeans have to co-pay for upgrading..

So so so... if Aljunied-ians do not recognise a gem when they see one, please return my MP to me. And in the meantime, go Mr Low!!! Welcome, Mr Yaw!

Ramblings of an insignificant one

Elections are coming. You can feel it just by reading through the papers. Not only do they drone on and on about stop-bullying certain candidates and how we would be buying the wrong insurance, we even had a particular wife talking about her noble achievements. The mention of her participation in some moots certainly brought back memories of our conferences in the toilets. Bleah..

Amidst all these and after dealing with a particular "FT" again today, I certainly wonder what constitutes "T". The inability to think beyond sheer copying and changing certain facts? (Not that her ability to purely copy is perfect either.) But seriously, for someone with such salary and apparently studying for her diploma (I thought she completed last year? Wonder why she still has to take exams..hah) I wouldn't want her if I had the choice. If only.. But well, we need to be forgiving of such "T"s, they've so much to worry about, you know, for example finding herself a handsome rich guy who would ensure she would never have to work her brains again.. Or planting and protecting vegetables.. I wonder if it constitutes national service if the "FT" makes life difficult from a resident of opposition ward for the past year. Or does she need 10 years of that before she's suitable? Hmmm..

On a lighter note, I still had time to witness some hair transformation yesterday. That, in itself, made all the abovementioned statements somewhat more positive. =)

Before - Or rather, after hair cut, but at the initial stage of styling. Somehow it reminded me of one of the OGLs during RJ orientation...

Styling in progress.. Armani being flattened..

And finally...

Up up up!! *grinz*