Sometimes...

Sometimes I think, its best not to try too hard... and not chase after everything...

Sometimes, I think, its best not to keep your hopes up... lest you get too disappointed.

Get Your Xmas Goodies Here!

Its Xmas again! Time to get your delicious Xmas goodies from Chris' Pantry!

The Visit from a Dear Friend

The Warden of my hall in University, where I spent 3 fun-filled years is down in the “Far East” (or so he calls S.E Asia) for a few weeks as he attends and is the best man for a few of his ex-student’s weddings.

Over the years, we have become very close, and he is a very dear friend of mine. We have not seen each other since my graduation in 2004, and so when I saw him last week, it was a long awaited meeting.

We caught up with the lives of each other, reminisced about the past, spoke of the University, discussed random topics such as the systems of education… it was just like to good old days, and it was refreshing, as if not a day had passed since we last met.

That’s the thing with good friends. Where time, distance does not matter. As long as the affection and respect for each other exists.

I’m thankful, I have friends like these.

But other times, I wonder if that’s enough for me…

Of Taking Photos in Threes and being Comfortable Alone

I was at a party on Saturday night. It was good to celebrate Thanksgiving with your friends, and to be surrounded by laughter, lots of indiscriminate teasing, and being able to catch up with those people that you don’t get to see very often. And of course, to give thanks for the year that has passed.

The host is an avid photographer. He is able to take the most amazing shots of sunsets, wildlife that you have ever seen.

So there he was, walking around, taking photos of everyone at the party.

Unfortunately, but as usually is the case now, everyone was “coupled up”. You know when you are that age where all your friends are with someone? There were one or two persons who were not together with their partners, but they had come with a sibling, cousin etc… you get my drift. I was the only one there alone.

For the rest of the night, I was a plus one to couple / sibling shots. I’m sure my friends didn’t mind, and I certainly didn’t, but what got me thinking was how people are complete until they have partners. These partners could be Girl-Girl, Boy-Boy, or Boy-Girl, it doesn’t matter. As much as I was having fun, I could see my friends having more fun, because they have someone special in their lives.

I’m honestly happy for them, and they are really happy now. Which is what matters, really.

Which brings me to the second half of the title. I’ve met many friends, who have said that they are comfortable being alone. And how they don’t mind spending the weekend just lazing about at home. To that, I have 2 thoughts. One, I used to think I liked that, but I realised that the only reason why I could not mind spending time alone, was because I knew I had the option not to. Two, I believe that as much as people say that they are comfortable being alone, they will actually like not to be, or be given the option to be with someone.

Pardon the emo post on a Monday morning.

Of Roadblocks on a Monday Night

I was stopped at a road block last night. It was fortunate that I had refused the beer that the Warden had offered me after dinner.

There were 4 thoughts that struck me after I cleared the road block.

Firstly, the location. I have never seen a road block along Upp Paya Lebar Road before. Its too near to the Traffic Police HQ, and hence I’ve always thought there would not be a need to have one. (the roads swarm with the white bikes anyway)

Secondly, it was Monday night. I have never seen a roadblock on a Monday night. The only weekday nights I have seen roadblocks are on Wednesday and Friday nights.

Thirdly, they had a new tactic. Instead of asking you to wind down the window and trying to smell your breath by asking you some random questions, instead, they stick the breathalyser without the tube into your face, and ask you for name and IC number. If you fail, then they will ask you to step out and blow into the tube. The scary thing is that even the first cut test has now gotten quantitative.

Lastly, I was surprised that they did 100% checks. All cars, bikes and even lorries were stopped. No one was waved on.

I guess the message is that with the festive season approaching. They are stepping up their enforcement. Don’t play play. The location has become random, on any day, with 100% checks using the machines. It’s not worth it.

However, if I have one thing to add, it is that the roadblock was a TP roadblock and not a Police Division roadblock. If you ever get stopped at one, pray it’s the latter.

Drive safe!

Tired

One very vivid dream about my car being stolen later...

I wake up feeling exhausted... Time for bed...

Those Ang Mohs will believe anything!

They thought they were drinking from traditional Chinese beer mugs!

Thoughts

I was in a meeting last Friday and this thought came to me...

A short term strategy is definitely more fulfilling. The returns are more immediate, and definitely more gratifying. But a long term strategy is harder to play, but at the risk of no rewards at all, may offer greater rewards.

Sigh...

My Horoscope for Today

Your sense of happiness has been associated with someone or something through the force of habit. You'll be absolutely surprised when you find that you can actually live quite comfortably without that thing or person in your life. This is a cycle of renewed self-respect.

Habits

I've come to realise that I'm a creature of habit.

I responded to a fairly abstract question today, not realising that I have already answered it previously. And lo and behold, the answer was identical.

I'm not sure whether that is good or bad, but at least now I know something more about myself.

Bad, Good, Excellent

I Ain't Making this Up IV

There is no interpretation of my dream last night on the site. Wonder what a frond-less papaya tree might represent?