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this blog turns one today! and to mark this occasion, i’ve gathered a group of humble local writers over at “In Conversation“. how’s that for a celebration?
this blog will not be dead as a result. it will be much more alive!
]]>You can seek if you aren’t wise
Enough to blossom
A childish plaything
To those whose sense of bearing
Is impregnable
A shrewd lifesaver
For men at sea or airborne
In times of peril
A general term
Encompassing compassion
Regardless of use
The lake and swans
Even Monet
Would have trouble
Painting these
Sitting on the bench
Staring into spaces
Jenny’s wrinkles
Display trains of thoughts
And experiences abound
A-ma! It’s time to go home!
Her grandchildren voice
Go away! I still want to admire this beauty!
She retorts
Char Kway Teow and Kopi-o
Nasi Lemak and Laksa
Surely food paradise here
Is better than
Heaven above
Chewing with the chopsticks
Gulping down the caffeine
Jenny’s appetite
Could’ve put Bourdain
To shame by miles
Ma! It’s time to go home!
Her children voice
Go away! I still want to taste God’s goodness!
She retorts
Teresa and Sok Hong
Fatimah and Ah-pek
Friends that loved
Neighbours that cared
Only memory remains
Standing at the doors
Looking down the lanes
Jenny’s busy mind
Constantly searching for
The distant recollections
Girl! It’s time to go home!
Her parents voice
Go away! I still want to reminiscent the past!
She retorts
The jade and the gold
The hanky and the panky
It would be difficult
For anyone
To grind them to pieces
Lying on the wooden bed
Tearing at counts of blessings
Jenny’s whole being
Is overwhelmed
With familiar emotions
Jenny! It’s time to go home!
Her husband voices
Yes, Dear! I am going home now.
She relents
The peace and comfort
The joy that lasts
Absolutely no one now
Could stop her
From going home
Closing the eyes
Shutting the breaths
Jenny’s soul
Is finally taken away
By her loved ones gone ahead
I rose in bed
At the poignant tune
Of the robin
Towel over face
I shuddered
At the thought
Of facing me
I did not know
Which face
I should don
For yet another day
On the train
There they were
Faces
Different ones
The lady with mascara
The boy in spectacles
The man with pimples
The baby in deep sleep
Were they
Passing clouds?
Or just
Significant beings?
At the hospital
There they were too
Faces after faces
Very different ones
The doctor with looks
The old man in ICU
The nurse with boobs
The girl in ward 21
Were they
Passing clouds?
Or just
Significant beings?
Back in the closet
He told me again
Those faces I saw
Were masks un-unveiled
I told him
To go away
I did not want
To be swayed
He said he knew
I was desperate
To know
What lay beneath
I always wondered
Behind all the smiles
The sorrows, the angers
What would I see?
Tonight
He told me
To pick one
Again
A dilemma
I wanted to know
Yet
I didn’t want to hurt
Not the paramedic
He’s a nice guy
How could you
Let me choose him?
Mind’s in a whirl
Soul’s in a twirl
Heart’s in a swirl
Body’s in a……
His face was removed
I saw nothing
But flesh and blood
Like the other day
On the train
There they were
Faces
Different ones
The vixen with mascara
The nerd in spectacles
The dude with dimples
The elderly lady in deep sleep
Were they
Passing clouds?
Or just
Significant beings?
For yet another day
I had donned
The face
I did not know
I removed the towel
From my face
And stared
Into the mirror
The melted nose
And mouth
And the lidless eyes
– Gifts from heaven
The midnight news
Bore my face on screen
Hospital janitor
Wanted for murder
]]>So day after day, she would religiously shower a great abundance of water and everlasting love, knowing the seed would grow into the fine tree Mum told her. Water from the canister and love from her lips.
Days turned to weeks; weeks turned to months; and months turned to years. And the seed never grew. Even before Mum passed on in bed that day, she told Holly not to give it up, and that the seed would grow into a fine tree. So she never once relented and kept on in faith what she had been doing over the years. Water from the canister and love from her lips. Years turned to decades; and decades turned to…well…not quite centuries yet. And the seed never grew.
One fine day, Holly came up to me and asked, “Do you believe what Mum had said?” In all honesty, I never once believed, not just because Mum was a great liar, but also, she was a greater mother who would give anything to ensure that my down syndrome sister feel important and useful in this world. “Your purpose in life is to keep that seed growing,” she told Holly.
I looked at her and saw Mum’s image on her wrinkled skin. Seventy years. She had showered the seed with water from the canister and love from her lips for seventy years. Could I just squash her hope with the cold hard truth?
“Yes,” I struggled in uttering that word. She smiled and held my hand, saying, “Me too.”
It was morning when I said, “Take me there.” Holly pushed me to the very spot where she had spent seven decades kneeling and watering. I told her I had a surprise for her and that she had to close her eyes. She giggled and closed her eyes behind those thick glasses. I prayed silently, “God, help me.” I told her to open her eyes which she did almost immediately.
“Look at the tree in front of us. Mum’s right. The seed has grown into a fine tree,” I said, as we both stared at God’s wonderful creation in awe, admiring the beauty in all its glory. I held my sister’s hand tight and breathed my last breath……and Holly lived with her wood happily ever after.
]]>Run
I want to run, run away,
from the light of the shadows
to the shadows of the light.
The world I’m running towards
is the world the world is shunning.
From the lowest rung of this ground,
I long to climb to the highest tier of that.
Don’t mourn my loss,
for it’s a gain to both you and me.
When you open your eyes,
you shut the doors left open.
See that you keep looking up,
so that you stop looking down.
This may be a farewell for now,
but it’s only for a little while.
Before the weight collapses
And the collapse weighs
Just let me run, run away.
You might want to say something here.
]]>What was it that I truly coveted? Would I have made a wiser choice? Was it a mistake? Turning back time would be an abysmal justification. I might possibly pick the identical course. Yes, I could do it.
Nairobi? Canterbury? Lima? Osaka? Geylang?
If only. If only I could envisage the apocalyptic day of reckoning. Making up my paltry mind would have been a cinch. Or would it?
How much time did I take? 14? 23?
Come to think of it, it didn’t matter where, when, why and how. It was who – you.
It could have been worse, I know.
]]>and happy wedding anniversary to the two of us! 
Like any ordinary Singaporean, we were skeptical about this. Was this man trying to hoodwink us into something scheming? Why was he so nice to us? He didn’t really push it, but I thanked him and went along with it. He used his card to buy us two tickets at $10. We thanked him again and looked at each other, still questioning his motive.
Minutes later, we met him at the food court. I thanked him again and told him honestly that we were doubting him. He said there were others who did not believe him and refused his offer. I told him perhaps this is a “Singaporean” thing – we are not nice to people and we don’t believe that people can be nice. As I reflect on this incident, I feel ashamed when I think of times when I choose not to be nice to people, and worse still, I doubt people who are nice. The scant consolation could be that there are probably others out there who behave like me.
Well, I have been nice to people the last few years, but believing in people who are nice is something I’m still learning to do. Anyway, I offered to buy Fred (he told me later) a cup of tea. He accepted my offer, but had to rush off for his movie. It was a pity that I could not get hold of his number, for I think he really is a nice guy.
Anyway, “Bee Movie” is strictly not suitable for young children because most of them will probably not understand the jokes in the show. My two-and-a-half-year-old daughter said she enjoyed the show. I believed her. And I think she is falling sick. Have to observe her closely.
After passing my exam papers, I’m left with one more next week. Then, I will embark on a new journey.
My pupils’ PSLE results will be released tomorrow. I’m excited, and I believe my pupils’ feelings and emotions are stronger. Keeping all our fingers crossed.
By the way, I’ve finally got my hands on “A Half Life of One” by brilliant Bill, and he is a nice bloke. Looking forward to devouring his words this December.
]]>1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.
4. Tag seven random [?] people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.
i’m not one who knows oneself very well, but i’m giving it a go anyway:
a. i don’t brush my teeth after a night’s sleep in the morning. i rinse my mouth, eat my breakfast, then brush my teeth.
b. i will put on my left sock before putting on the right one. but sometimes, i will put on my left shoe after putting on my left sock, before i put on my right sock and shoe.
c. i doodled a lot whenever i attended lessons, workshops, seminars, etc. i must say i could draw some decent comics.
d. i use my left ear during phone calls.
e. unlike many professional football players, i can play football very well with both feet. unlike beckham or giggs, i can bend the football round a wall pretty well with both feet.
f. i can use the mouse with any of my hands.
g. i’m a right-hander.
i shall hand over the baton to the following folks:
*hideKraM
*Louis
*Marie
*Bonnie
*Wilf
*puresunshine
*Seamus
have fun!
]]>
Jason Evans‘ “Restless Dawn” short fiction contest will close soon over at Clarity of Night. If you are still keen in it, do hurry a bit. I’ve sent in my entry. Do take a look here and give me your priceless comments. I want to improve as a writer, so hearing people out will be useful.
As I enter into my last weeks of the work year, I still have tasks to be completed. Trying to stay afloat in the pool of things in this transitional period. Like I have hinted before, I’m slowly but most definitely moving on to something entirely different in 2008. Very excited about it and will talk about it when the time comes.
]]>
before i give this award to another five bloggers, i have to think of three things that are necessary to make writing good and powerful. here they are:
1. the ability to hook – there are writers who are capable of using the right words and arranging them in the right order in the right structure to generate in readers an addiction.
2. imagery skill – there are those who are so good at creating images with words that it makes you wonder if they already knew how to write when they were still in their mothers’ wombs.
3. the ‘wow’ factor – then there are people who, through their words and stories, just simply ‘wow’ you. it’s like the moment you start reading, you ‘wow’. halfway through your reading, you ‘wow’. at the end of the reading, you ‘wow’. as you think about what you have read, you just ‘wow’, ‘wow’ and ‘wow’.
now, may i present the Roar For Powerful Words award to the following folks, not in order of merit:
* Charlieboy
* Suzan Abrams
* Jason Evans
* Jamaican Dawta
* Gautami Tripathy
congratulations, friends! you can collect your awards here.
]]>meanwhile, i’ve just passed my third exam in less than two weeks. three more to go.
and this blog will turn one in december. any idea how i can celebrate with you here?
]]>I would gladly fall head over heels over it.
The truth is,
It spends more time robbing me of daylight.
So, don’t blame me for stinking love:
Love is justly blind faith. ]]>
I was just sitting there alone, staring out into the darkness, while everybody else was busy catching up with relatives and old pals from work or school. It was supposed to be a time of mourning, but at the superficial level, people here seemed to be having a whale of their time. From smiles to laughter; from tears of sorrow to tears of joy; from condolences to jokes. This funeral wake was slowly but surely turning into a farce.
Granny whom I so dearly loved was called home to be with the Lord just days before that. Perhaps, it was really the right time for Him to summon her after watching her, for quite a while, succumbing to the worst disease anyone could ever suffer on earth – dementia.
Just the other day, she looked into my eyes and said I really resembled Elmo. Then she woke up one morning and called Pa Ma, both of whom were rather bemused. She went on singing “…she’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes…” throughout that day. Of course, nothing beats that time when she hugged our neighbour, Mr Ong, and said, “I love you!” Apparently, she saw my late Grandpa in our flabbergasted mister handsome.
So, the day must come. She called all of us into the room and insisted that we sat down together with her to have a round of mahjong. We were baffled. She had never played the game before. The closest she had come to the game was those times she spent sitting by my Grandpa’s side while he played. Anyway, we obliged and Pa sat on my right while Ma sat on my left. Granny, who sat at the opposite end, rolled the dice. What happened the next half an hour or so was rather amusing. Granny did not know the rules of mahjong, but she went on telling us how to play the game, her own way. The three of us who could be considered mahjong veterans just tagged along. It was rather fun, except that we never got to win the game. Granny did all the winning, based on her own rules, of course.
Just when we were cheering for Granny for winning the fourteenth consecutive time, she let out a chortle and collapsed onto the floor, hands clutching her chest. We scrambled to our feet and rushed towards her. She never woke up after that.
I could hear the distinct sound of the mahjong tiles on the table not far from me. I looked up and saw Pa with a stick in his mouth talking loudly. He said he was going to win the next game boastfully. His three friends at the table laughed with him as they arranged the tiles neatly before themselves. Pa rolled the dice and another game began. Surprisingly, Ma was not there to watch or play along. She was sitting at the far end with her group of tai-tais. They were speaking very softly to each other, obviously building up their gossip prowess again. I could have joined Pa or Ma, but I had no mood. It wasn’t that I felt terribly sad to lose Granny. Yes, I loved her and I missed her, but I didn’t really feel devastated seeing her gone forever. Not when she kept calling me Nemo in her last days. I just felt that I should give her my utmost respect as a grandson. I might not be crying, but my heart wept bitterly on behalf of Granny. She must be crestfallen to see her son and daughter-in-law enjoying themselves with their companions at the wake.
I stood and ambled towards Granny’s coffin. Through the glass panel, I looked at her sullen face, much aged with wrinkles and faint red spots. She looked calm, and that soothed my heart somewhat. As I was about to walk away, I saw Granny smiling. I was stunned for a moment. My heart skipped a beat. I placed my face nearer to the glass panel and observed. No, there was no smile. Ha, I must be dreaming. I straightened up to get ready to go back home to rest a bit.
Just as I was about to leave the wake, I could hear another set of mahjong tiles being shuffled on the table behind the wall next to Granny’s coffin. Ma must have initiated another round of mahjong with her tai-tais, but why would she want to play the game so close to the coffin?
As I walked towards Ma on the other side of the wall, I could feel a little chill. This weather was getting on my nerves. Hot for five minutes, cold for fifty minutes; and this cycle went on and on. Then, the mahjong table and the group of players came into sight. But what I saw next got me standing there, rooted to the ground. Granny was sitting right there at the far side of the table with three other players. They were all rearranging the mahjong tiles, almost ready to start the game. Granny looked up and our eyes met. There was this strange sense of homeliness and alienation going round in me. I simply did not know what to do next. The moment of silence was interrupted abruptly when Granny opened her mouth and said, “Nemo, come and join us!” Well, she might have died, and her spirit might be haunting me now, but surely her state of dementia remained. I would never ever forget what I was about to see next. As soon as Granny finished talking with the smile I had seen earlier at her coffin, her three mahjong ‘pals’ at the table turned to face me, and none of them had a face.
That totally freaked me out, so I yelled as loud as I could and took off. Pa and Ma might have seen their son running in countless sprint races in school, winning each and every one of them. But I bet they had never seen me run that fast, as I disappeared from the funeral vicinity in under five seconds. They found me some twenty minutes later behind a trash bin on the floor just outside a 7-eleven store, arms over legs, the whole body shaking violently with a trail of white foam from the mouth. I swear that wasn’t vomit.
Guess what? I told Pa and Ma, in the presence of many concerned relatives, about what I had seen earlier when I was finally resting comfortably in my bed. And guess what again? They all laughed out heartily and said I needed a rest. I could not believe them, especially my folks. After watching how I had broken into a canter just an hour earlier and finding me next to a bin in a contorted state, they could actually trivialise my story!
“You sleep tight here, Sumo Lee! I’m going back down there to carry on my winning streak,” Pa said. Every one of them started streaming out of the room one by one, all appeared indifferent. I could hear Ma say, “I don’t think Sumo is taking Mum’s death too well.”
I close my eyes and feel a tinge of disgust. How can they doubt me? But I am too tired and too kind to hold any resentment now. My drooping eyelids are about to shut when I hear someone say, “Nemo, come join us in the living room here. We are short of one player.”
]]>don’t tell them what they don’t know
don’t tell them what they know
don’t tell them what they want to know
don’t tell them what they don’t want to know
they don’t know at all
they don’t know what they don’t know
they don’t know what they know even
they don’t know what they want to know
they don’t know what they don’t want to know
they simply don’t know
don’t tell them
don’t tell them at all
simply, don’t tell them
you know what i’m telling you
don’t you?
“what say you, weakling?” he thundered. my heart, chewing the tuna nonchalantly, sniffed the air.
“you smell that? that’s the scent of victory! liverpool shall clobber the gunners 3-0.” and he continued munching his fruits.
“absolutely ghastly! you must be mad! look at the statistics and form book! arsenal are going to triumph 3-0! football is played with brains, not brawn!” my head roared.
“i beg to differ, my lord. football is played with hearts, not heads,” my heart ended with a sneer.
]]>the day after was stranger, ‘cos the heart fondled no more than it was supposed to be. blue ought to be the colour, but no, it did not turn up.
and the day after was perhaps the strangest, ‘cos the inkling and the tinkling wooed me a wee bit, and i could feel the presence of the positive and the negative blue. perplexed i may sound now, but the fault is not mine. blame only blue.
yeah…blame only blue. period.
]]>this simple tale has an impact on me. what and how, i can’t describe.
]]>
It’s difficult to give out this award, ‘cos there are many friends I have here in the blogosphere who are sweet. Can I take the easy way out? The fact that you spend time here reading my blog makes you sweet. So take the badge and put it up on your blog, ‘cos you are just……sweet!
once said,
“If I can’t
write poetry,
then indubitably,
I could only turn to
masticating veal,
swigging rum,
championing debauchery
with Junoesque lasses of Soho
and wagers on table,
all allied facets
of pleasant pleasurables,
liken to painting poetry –
judicious words
from an unfailed poet
in Sir Wormwood.”
To that,
perhaps amen.
15 October 2007
An Eyewitness Police Report
I’m not good with words. But I could try and describe briefly what I saw.
There she was, lying in a pool of blood, behind a dark alley called Slora Orbit. I couldn’t make out how she was dressed for her clothes had been torn apart. She was alive, but she was semiconscious. Under the dim light of my torch, I could see her whole body battered, and bruised marks punctured her already frail frame. It was quite obvious that her modesty had been severely and violently violated. Her breathing was slow but heavy. She was slashed at her lips and there was a gash on the left side of her head. Her left leg was lying in an awkward twist. I think it had been dislocated badly. Her nails on both hands looked partially ripped from the skin. Maybe in her struggle with her attacker, she tried too hard to crawl away on the tarmac. There was an ID card pinned on her chest. Her name was Pearl Entath and she looked beautiful in the photograph. Did I mention that there was a broken knife blade sticking out from her right shoulder?
I was wondering who on earth would do such things to her? But I refused to let her die. As a human, I knew I could not give up hope there and then. I made a quick call to you fellows. Then, I looked around on the ground, thinking that I might stumble upon something that you might call vital evidence. Several moments later, I found another ID card near a garbage bag. I shone my torch on it. It was a photograph of a man named Hening Baums. I guess he’s the man you should be after. Soon after, you all arrived and took over.
I’m writing this report not because I’m after some Noble Piece Prize that you guys usually give out to commend citizens who have performed some heroics. But I believe in humanity and no one has the right to do what had been done to the poor girl. I really think that this vicious attacker should be taken to task or justice for that matter.
Submitted by: Ablet Gorre
Dr Willknow put the paper down next to the report. He brought his right hand to his chin and twiddled his goatee with his thumb and index finger.
“This is the 23rd time Mr Gorre has written the same ‘report’, Dr Willknow,” uttered the matron of the psychiatric hospital.
“I guess some truths are too painful to be spoken, and writing is a form of therapy,” Dr Willknow replied. He picked up the report and read it for the umpteenth time. A minute later, he smiled as he began to see the connections he was reading:
Ablet Gorre, long before his well-reported breakdown, was possibly the first politician to grasp the significance of climate change and to call for a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. He was a firm believer that Planet Earth’s downhill glide as a result of constant human violation could be stopped if all Human Beings unite in efforts……
3 words from canterbury soul to all human beings on planet earth:
LESS IS MORE
]]>second, facebook is my current squeeze. networking is key here.
third, just started to try out “world in conflict“. again, networking is the agenda.
fourth, a writing competition for my 12-year-olds is on the way. plan to approach some writers here in the blogosphere to be the judges.
fifth, just got involved with “blog action day!”. will post something on 15 about the environment. and yes, writing will resume after that.
]]>
I don’t doubt the fact that some nice people around me are nice to me; Miss Verilion being one. But I was nicely taken aback when I saw my nice name being nicely mentioned for one nice reason – being a nice guy who is “just always so nice”. Some of you might nicely think that this is not nicely important. But to me, it is a nice huge encouragement and a nice pat on the back. I never consider myself nice for I nicely know that I can be short-tempered and impatient; two traits I don’t consider nice. So, nicely put, I thank you, Miss Verilion!
It would be a nice disgrace to the nice award if I don’t pass on this award to some nice people around. I would gladly hand this nice award back to Miss Verilion if she hadn’t received it from someone, for she has always been nice to me here.
First up, Miss Vanilla, someone whose positive feedback and constant encouragement never fail to inspire me.
Then, I have Miss Vesper whose niceness can be beyond description at times. And the fact that she is a nice mother makes her extra nice.
Mr Jason Evans is a gentleman who deserves this award. He has been nice enough to hold writing competitions for writers from all walks of life. He has been nice enough to dish out awards and prizes to writers from all walks of life. He has been nice enough to encourage budding writers like me.
I also have two local lads in mind. Mr Louis Loo, my ex-student, has come of age as a young man. He has been a nice pal who was nice enough to spend his time with me and my little one the other evening. And he’s a Liverpool fan too. That is nice.
Miss Joyce Yap whom I met just recently is a young aspiring nice musician who is nice in her own way. Being nicely forthright, nicely honest without inhibition and nicely friendly, she so nicely deserves this award.
Ok, time out for a nice while.
]]>Solution to yesterday’s question is ready. Check it out.
]]>So this is it. One more day to the real exams. And one more problem to solve.
Sam bought 3 times as many toy soldiers as dolls. He spent $1972 altogether. A doll cost $10 more than a toy soldier. The total cost of toy soldiers was $476 more than the total cost of dolls. Find the cost of a doll.
]]>P5 & P6 is 25
P4 & P5 is 16
P4 & P6 is 15
Therefore,
Total number of entries is (25 + 16 + 15)/2 = 28
Room for another problem?
Clement and Victor were out for a cycling trip. Clement ran into a tree, damaging his bicycle. They were 16 km from home. They decided that Clement would walk first and Victor would cycle. After sometime, Victor would leave his bicycle on the road and continue walking home, so that Clement would reach the bicycle and continue to cycle home. Clement walked at 4km/h and cycled at 10 km/h, while Victor walked at 5 km/h and cycled at 12 km/h. For what length of time should Victor cycle if they were both to arrive home at the same time?
]]>Today’s question:
In a writing competition, there were 25 entries from Primary Five and Primary Six. The rest were from Primary Four. If 16 entries were not from Primary Six and 15 entries were not from Primary Five, how many entries were there altogether?
]]>
There are 600 children in Group A and 30% of them are boys.
There are 400 children in Group B and 60% of them are boys.
After some children are transferred from Group B to Group A, 40% of the children in Group A and 60% of the children in Group B are boys.
How many children are transferred from Group B to Group A?
Sealing with the epilogue
That evokes the bravura
Of trials and tribulations
Of blessings and edifications
Time the commander
Takes charge of his prospect
Diverting route of progress
With ambitious navigation
That leads to the Promised Land
I woke up this morning, thinking that it was just going to be another day. In fact, the mornings of the last eight years had always been extra ordinary. I could not imagine anything that is more ordinary than my mornings, and I don’t wish to talk about it now.
I just want to bask in the glory of Daddy’s beautiful eyes. It really has been a long time since he looked at me in the eyes. His dark pupils spoke volumes; his long eyelashes curled gracefully; and his soulful eyes warmed my heart. I’m really so happy that he looked at me!
Then, he told me that he was sorry to have treated me that way. He said he regretted saying I was the reason Mummy left him – something which I still don’t understand. Daddy is a man of few words, so he stopped talking after that and walked away.
My heart was still rejoicing when Daddy came back to me with some ointment. He looked at me again and pondered for a moment. His dark pupils spoke volumes; his long eyelashes curled gracefully; and his soulful eyes warmed my heart. I’m really so happy that he looked at me! Then he applied some ointment on the various dark spots all over my body. I can’t remember how these spots came about, but Daddy said that he gave them to me because he loves me. I was on cloud nine when he said that. I felt the pain everytime Daddy rubbed the ointment on the dark spots, but I could feel the tenderness in his hand.
Daddy walked away again. I was already beaming. Maybe tomorrow’s morning will no longer be ordinary anymore. Then, he came back to me and looked at me in the eyes. His dark pupils spoke volumes; his long eyelashes curled gracefully; and his soulful eyes warmed my heart. I’m really so happy that he looked at me! You can never believe what happened next! Daddy took off my clothes and put on a new dress for me! He actually bought me a new dress! This time, I really could not contain myself. I just laughed. I felt beautiful!
Then, Daddy held my hand and led me out of my house! This was the first time I was out of my house! And it was really bright out there! I looked all around me and was nervous yet excited about seeing so many new things. I could not make sense of anything, but I was happy that Daddy was taking me out.
We walked some distance away from our house before coming to a small black chair lying on the ground next to what Daddy called a lamppost. Daddy put the chair up properly and told me to sit on it. I did as told. My heart was pounding fast. Then, he looked at me again! His dark pupils spoke volumes; his long eyelashes curled gracefully; and his soulful eyes warmed my heart. I’m really so happy that he looked at me! He told me to sit there and wait. I did as told. Then, he walked away again.
I saw Daddy walking some distance away before disappearing. I looked around me. I did not know what I was looking at, but I was still very happy. Happy that Daddy has finally looked at me today! Four times he did it!
I’m in a good mood today!
*******************************************************************
Daddy has finally looked at me today!
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God, what time do you think is Daddy coming back?
*
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Daddy has finally looked at me today!
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*
Is that a moon up there?
1. I have lots of ideas for writing. And these ideas are conceived at different times of my daily lives. I could be eating; I could be watching tv; I could be walking down the stairs; I could be showering; I could be driving; I could be sleeping; I could be working; etc. So I do have a pretty cool number of ideas in my bank. I just need the right time to start expanding these ideas.
2. I write what I want to write, and that is my writing principle. Pleasing someone with my writing or garnering votes for my writing is never on my agenda for writing. Albeit I do wish that my writing pieces could be recognised in competitions, I’ll never compromise my writing principle.
3. Behind me and all my writings, I have a very strong support – my wife. Though she only knew about my writings just months ago, she never fails to encourage me to keep pursuing what i’m looking for in writing.
4. I’m able to contribute to the works of my students in class. Being an English teacher and part-time writer, I can use what I learn and know about writing to coach and guide my students in their writing development. And as I go through the teaching process, I improve as a writer too.
5. I believe that through my writings, I offer other writers a very different perspective of things and of life and of writing. This, I know, is important to all writers.
now, i shall pass the meme baton to Maht, Vanilla, Marie, Nothingman and Debi .
]]>Parched under heat
Flaking in layers
Rough gradient
Sore loser
Chilly fever
Smooth slope
Luscious in bite
Lemonade drip by drip
Soothed
Ice age throttled
I stepped out of the room and unrolled the scroll.
The Great Wealth Recipe
The haima of cockerel
On the countenance of slumber
Is like a Mona Lisa
To the imp of prosperity
Fortitude is the key
In the wait of the ghoul
For the juice shall be savoured
And the glorious riches shall be served
I smiled.
]]>Nah! Take a closer look. It’s not a bitch.
I said it’s a dog, not a bitch.
To think that you attended primary school. Bitches are dogs, but not all dogs are bitches.
It’s a dog, right?
Come on, look carefully. It’s a cat, for Pete’s sake!
A cat?
Yeah.
You are lying.
No, I’m not!
Prove it!
Alright, here’s the deal. If I can prove that that is a cat, we’ll eat out tonight.
You know I don’t like eating out.
I know what you don’t like! Is it a deal?
OK! But if that animal is a dog, I’ll blow you tonight.
That’s ghastly! How could you even think of that?
A deal?
A deal.
Show me.
Arrrrr……argf…argf…argf…ARGF!
What are you doing?
I’m barking. If that’s a dog, it’ll come to us. Arrrrr……argf…argf…argf…ARGF!
It’s not coming.
That’s because it is not a dog. It’s a cat! Let me show you. Meee……meow…meow…meow…MEOW!
So you are pretending to be a cat.
I’m not pretending. I’m just mimicking a cat call. Meee……meow…meow…meow…MEOW!
It’s not coming either.
That’s strange.
Hey, look at that! It’s jumping! And it’s…
…flying! I can’t believe this! It’s actually flying!
I don’t mean to be rude, Mr Setag, but I think you’ve got it wrong here. I think that’s a bird!
You know what. I have to agree with you, Mr Setag. It indeed is a bird.
It’s a good thing, isn’t it? Can’t imagine I have to go eating from the trash in the next street. You know I prefer feeding from the rubbish here in our home base.
Yeah. I can’t imagine you blowing my hair straight. You need a hairdryer to do that. And you know I like my messy hair. Like my idol Bob Marley.
Mr Setag laughed. And he laughed again.
From a distance, Dr Willknow finished writing his last sentence after watching Mr Setag for the last half an hour. He was satisfied with the progress his patient had made since his release from the asylum. He picked up his briefcase and walked away from the garbage dump.
]]>Dodo: Hmm…I think so. Hey, am I the king?
Alice: Yes.
Dodo: So I can do whatever I want?
Alice: You can do whatever you want.
Dodo: Right! I will do it.
Alice: Are you really sure about it?
Dodo: I think so. I’m the king, right?
Alice: You are the king, yes.
Dodo: So I can do whatever I want.
Alice: Yes, you can.
Dodo: Then I will do it.
Alice: I’m not doubting you. But you really want to do it, don’t you?
Dodo: On second thought……I…think so. Since I am the king, I can do whatever I want to.
Alice: Absolutely.
Dodo: I will do it.
Alice: OK! You do it.
Dodo: You mean you agree that I should do it?
Alice: Yes. Why?
Dodo: Aren’t you going to ask me if I am sure about this?
Alice: I have.
Dodo: Really?
Alice: Yes. Come on, do it!
Dodo: Wait a minute. Is there something fishy here?
Alice: No. Why?
Dodo: Are you hiding something from me?
Alice: No!
Dodo: Hey, I’m not stupid you know!
Alice: I know.
Dodo: Then, tell me.
Alice: Tell you what?
Dodo: I am the king! Tell me the truth!
Alice: What truth?
Dodo: Don’t give me this straight face!
Alice: I’m not.
Dodo: Then, tell me what I want to hear!
Alice: What do you want to hear?
Dodo: The truth!
Alice: I really don’t know what you are talking about!
Dodo: Come on, Alice. You know you can’t hide it from me.
Alice: I really have nothing to hide.
Dodo: Please, Alice. I beg you. Tell me about it.
Alice: Are you going to do it?
Dodo: What? Do what?
Alice: Never mind.
Dodo: What did you say again?
Alice: Now I know.
Dodo: I beg your pardon. What do you know?
Alice: I know what to do next.
Dodo: Oh, really? What is it?
Alice (pointing): Look over there! I think something is coming in from the waters!
Dodo (turning his head): What is it?
With one swing of the machete, Alice removed Dodo’s head from his body.
Alice: Oops! I’m sorry. Aren’t you the king, Your Majesty? Thought you really wanted to do it. But guess it was too much for you. Just have to bear the burden for you.
And that was the last Dodo to have existed on Earth. Bless his soul.
]]>Then, everything stood still, and I opened my eyes. I stared at the ceiling. The sun had already brightened the room. I wished the dream hadn’t ended.
It was another day, and I still hadn’t got a clue how I should live it, just like all other days. I got off the bed and went to the washroom. I sat there, refusing to think about anything. No, I was still thinking about you. The same question came back to haunt me. How could all these happen to you? For the first time in weeks, there were no tears at the thought of it.
I picked up a piece of bread, laid a slice of cheese on it, and began chewing the food. I missed seeing you at the dining table, swallowing your breakfast. Then, I stepped into the kitchen, like all other days. I had decided to keep my faith and start preparing the soup you so loved. Carrots, peas, potatoes and chicken with some leek. It was easy to cook this, and it was never a challenge feeding you with this. I packed the soup and told myself that you would come round to drink it. I got dressed and left the house.
I saw many faces along the way. Behind each face was a tale waiting to be told, I always believed. And I was pretty sure that someone out there could be suffering a similar fate you were in. Not that it would be much of a consolation.
I stood at the door that was left open. I didn’t want to imagine who was with you now.
If I saw the doctor, I would be afraid that he might give me the anticipated tragic news. I was already hit quite badly, and I couldn’t imagine the collapse I’d probably come to when I heard it.
If I saw him, I would be afraid that I would lose control. I would wail like I did the other day and run to him for comfort and reasons to all these. I would put more pressure on him who had never really recovered since the day you were admitted.
I wished I could be alone with you now. But I knew I had to enter the room.
I pushed the door, and I saw you. It was the same you, the same darling to my soul. I really didn’t find you any different from the times we had had together. Yes, you had these multiple number of tubes inserted into various parts of your body. Yes, you had these equipment and machines attached to your body. Yes, you had this set of swollen limbs. Yes, your eyes were shut and your chest rose rapidly with each breath. Yes, you were lying so still that one could mistake you as dead. But, you were still you, the darling to my soul.
Damn it! The same question came back to haunt me. How could all these happen to you? Waves of sorrow were surmounted by my faceless head. Don’t make me feel numb, please. I would rather cry out loud. Why was it that I was not reacting emotionally?
I took a step closer to you, wanting to touch your skin. I wanted to give you warmth, and felt yours at the same time.
Then, I saw him, sprawled on the floor motionless. This was the fourth time. Without much anxiety strangely, I pressed the button.
Now, I knew how I should live my day.
]]>there are two options at the moment, and they are waiting for both to arrive. one, they are bringing in a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to be inplanted near the heart. this device will help the heart function on its own. this, according to the docs, is just a temporary measure. it is just a bridge to a transplant. in U.S., 6 people had gone through this option. 3 of them had died, and another 3 had gone on to a heart transplant. the second option is a heart transplant. Jordan is waiting for a heart donor. a heart transplant has never happened in Singapore because there are no heart donors so far.
so, the best thing to happen now is that Jordan’s heart will heal on its own. and that, according to the docs, might not happen. other older children had a similar heart problem, but they had gone on to recover within 2 weeks. and Jordan is the first one not to have shown signs of recovery after so long and he is the youngest patient to suffer from this heart condition. at the moment, there are and will be other complications. but the doctors’ primary concern is his heart.
without a doubt, Jordan needs a miracle. he needs another matching heart or he needs his own heart to recover. i believe there’s nothing we can do now but to continue to pray for him.
]]>
me: i’ve sinned again.
devil: the only way to rid your transgression is to rid you. give you to me!
me: really?
angel: no! the only way to rid your transgression is to rid God.
me: so there’s nothing in this world that can be labelled as sin? and no guilt?
devil: right!
three of us laugh.
“Boom!”
devil is exterminated once and for all. angel is thrown from the heavens to hell. me? i’m to continue to suffer the consequences of my transgression on earth.
]]>i’ll be visiting the boy later.
]]>You know I love you.
How could you doubt me?
Had I not done enough?
I have always believed,
I have never stopped trying.
So, I thought you were with me,
I assumed you would work for it.
How wrong, how naïve,
How disillusioned I have been.
Don’t blame me,
I’m just trying to make things right.
Please forgive me,
I’ll make it all up to you.
I wish this have never happened,
I hope this will stop pretty soon.
I’m doing it not quite
In the name of the Trinity,
But in the name of our love –
Something which I know you still have.
Look into my eyes.
You know I love you.
peace – Singapore has been having it for quite some time now. not taking it for granted, i hope this will continue for years to come. and i hope this can be extended to the rest of the world.
prosperity – Singapore has prospered since her beginning. not taking it for granted, i hope this will continue for years to come.
]]>the boy hasn’t stopped fighting. so, we will not.
]]>my army days – when i was in it, i cursed and swore regularly. now that i’m out of it, i can’t imagine what kind of a man i would be without it.
my N.I.E. days – i kind of sailed through the studies. so, pretty forgettable. it was the activities i went through with my friends that have lasting impression. tennis, discos, playing in the band, camping, movies, coffee hangout, cycling, etc.
]]>pupils in school – they are the reason to my profession.
colleagues – there is no ‘i’ in the word ‘team’.
]]>it has been a traumatic experience for both parents who have an elder daughter. friends and colleagues who had visited them were often brought to tears. as parents ourselves, we should understand their feelings, though not completely. haven’t visited them in person and don’t intend to. though we are quite close, not sure if we would know what to say if we are there. heard that they need some financial help, so without hesitation, we gave it to them. we are all praying that the young boy will continue to fight.
knowing what the boy has been going through moved me much. but i was never close to tears. then i heard that the father was more affected than the mother. and the reason made me cry – the boy, in his unstable condition, apparently uttered, “Daddy!”
]]>financial situation – i’m not rich at all, but at least i can still support my family and enjoy life.
mental ability – i’m not enstein, but at least i can still educate children, write sensibly and do things that require some basic intelligence.
and i’m not taking the above-mentioned for granted.
]]>Often comes haunting just when
You think it’s over ]]>
the stapler – one of the most useful inventions in modern history.
the can opener – a very powerful invention for the kitchen.
]]>
I seek seclusion
In the middle of all these
Hurly-burly verve
Yet hanker for succour
Amid the hubbub that broke
Out from the nameless
Call for desperate
Measures could not have arrived
More timely than now
Literature – used to be the most hated subject, but it turned out to be my love, all thanks to folks like Shakespeare, Golding, Orwell, etc.
English – used to be an average subject, but it turned out to be my passion and profession.
]]>
it had been a symbol of my childhood
it had seen a great deal of actions
it had gone through rain or shine
it had come of age in colours
it did not flinch in anxiety
it did not waver in doubt
it just sat there silently
it just waited patiently
then they came
the scissors
they cut
it’s off
poor
me
plants – arguably the most important elements in our ecosystem.
Earth – arguably the most important planet in the solar system.
]]>my ears – hear ye, hear ye, for thou hast much to say.
toys – what is childhood without them?
]]>remote controls – such pampering…
wordpress – for giving me this chance to continue blogging.
]]>after watching Jason Bourne‘s first two stories, The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, in 2002 and 2004 respectively, we had to catch only one movie this time round – The Bourne Ultimatum.
we are not suckers for sequels. in fact, we know that most sequels are badly done. but we both enjoyed Matt Damon‘s portrayal of an amnesiac killer thoroughly in the first two movies, and somehow had ‘fallen in love’ with this character and his story. we could have waited for the release of the dvd, but watching an action movie on a cinema screen is really different, as some of you might agree.
the result? this is probably the best Bourne movie thus far.
i used to like James Bond when i was a kid – i was impressed by the gadgets, the ladies and the suave and good looks of agent 007. but after a series of bad Bond movies the last ten years (i suspect a certain Mr Brosnan is to be blamed), i know i’ll never be foolish enough to fall for Mr Bond and his stories again. Comparing Bond with Bourne is a complete insult to the latter. Bourne is THE SPY!
for those of you who are familiar with Jason Bourne’s story, you would agree that he’s a much more likeable protagonist than 007. Bourne is more human than Bond. he gets hurt, he suffers much, he has emotions and he has feelings. Bond? nah. for those who are not in the know, here goes:
The Bourne Identity – Jason Bourne was a superspy sent to assassinate this African political figure. but he failed his mission and was shot before falling into the sea. he woke up and realised he couldn’t remember anything about himself. but he could still know how to fight and behave like a superspy. his nasty bosses tracked him down and wanted to terminate him. he ended up with a German girl somewhere in Greece after escaping from all the dangers.
The Bourne Supremacy – Jason was still having nightmares of who he really was. apparently he and his girlfriend had moved to India. but sadly, his nasty bosses were still after him. they got one guy to hunt him down. the killer failed, but not before he killed Jason’s girl. so Jason went all out to find out who he was and who the bad guys were. like the first movie, he managed to avoid being killed.
so now, The Bourne Ultimatum – Jason was set to track the real mastermind behind who he was and what he had been trained for. he……go watch it yourself.
what’s so good about the third one then? the fight scenes and the car-chasing and running sequences are all deliberately done with much choppiness. it might look confusing on screen, but i think there’s a sense of realism here. these intentional action sequences make the story so real, so personal. it’s like you can almost feel the pain when Bourne gets hit or when the car flips violently while he holds onto the seatbelt. though some would find it incredible that he can survive all these with relative ease.
this movie isn’t just about actions. you can see how intelligent people are here, especially Bourne. in fact he’s super intelligent. his quick thinking and instant solutions make you wonder why bother sending our kids to school – we should send them to NSA instead. there’s also the constant emotional struggle that Bourne faces. despite his invincibility, he’s not a happy man. he’s someone who’s confused and you can almost cry with him at times because you know his plight, empathise with him and hope that things would turn out well for him.
by the time the story folds at the end, you have this feeling that Jason Bourne could be a real person in this world. credit must go to the entire cast and crew of the movie, especially Paul Greengrass, whose directing blends in well with his storytelling, and Matt Damon, whose eyes and expressions speak much for the tortured soul of his character. for the record, Damon comes out tops in a Forbes list of the most bankable Hollywood actors. i think he’s been underrated for a while now. i’m happy for him.
and of course, there’s this classic Bourne movie track, Extreme Ways by Moby.
i’m a wee bit messy in my ranting here, but my ultimate point is that the Bourne movies are definitely way more meaningful than the Bond movies. go watch Jason then.
am i making sense? time for bed.
]]>
shakespeare – for giving me reasons to study ‘Macbeth’ at ‘O’ levels.
my washing machine – for allowing me to become more lazy.
]]>the fan – my body feels warm easily. without the fan, i wouldn’t survive in Singapore very well.
the internet – need i explain this?
]]>Canterbury – how can i forget this lovely coastal town i visited back in 2000?
my soul – He sowed it and allowed it to grow in mind, spirit, body and strength.
]]>this pain
you have engraved
in my heart
telling me earlier
would not have
lessened it
it cuts across
like nails on a blackboard
and it pierces deep
like a pencil thrust into an ear
teeth into skin
hands into boiling oil
a chopper into fingers
a dagger into throat
blood
would have soothed this pain
for it could mask it
but
how you have punished me
with this silent killer
i could only wish
that someone would end
this pain
i could only hope
that someone would end
this you
look again
]]>my mother – for being the only pillar of strength that can ride through anything all these years.
my digital camera – the Fujifilm Z5 has been a very capable compact cam for an amateur like me.
]]>the dictionary – without it, i’ll probably be half who i am now. this relationship started all the way back in 1989.
my fingers – they have been serving me faithfully since my birth. i don’t think i can ever thank them enough.
]]>My head says the new players will take time to gel, and maybe they will take a season or two to finally take the title that has eluded the club since 1990. My heart, of course, will hope that the drought will end come May 2008.
And it is my personal belief that Liverpool’s first seven games will define their league season this time round. That’s 21 points – the number of points they were behind the champions last season. They had always been slow starters the last couple of seasons and in each of those seasons they finished some points off the eventual champions. Jamie Carragher had said that they could not afford to start slowly last season, and the team ended up doing exactly that.
This season, if they want to improve, they will have to start strong. It is heartening to hear that Rafa has actually set a 60-goal target for his four strikers – Torres, Crouch, Kuyt and Voronin. At least we now know that he is thinking of playing attacking football this term.
I really wish that the players will live up to expectations and push Man Utd and Chelsea all the way to the end.
Players to look out for this season: Gerrard, Torres, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva
So, the first game? Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0.
]]>the ability to dream – without it, i wouldn’t have played for Liverpool down the left flank; i wouldn’t have earned my first million dollars in five years; i wouldn’t have seen my book topping the charts; i wouldn’t have made music that revolutionised the world; etc.
Fiji – my little miniature Maltese who has always been faithful.
]]>
Football Manager – i’m not a gamer. but i do play one PC game – Football Manager (formerly known as Championship Manager). non-football fans will never understand how much i have learned from playing this game since 1997.
Ford Focus – my current family ride. safe handling and a relatively smoother ride than most japanese makes. 8 out of 10.
every year, Singapore celebrates National Day with one theme song and one parade. This year, we celebrated with two theme songs and one parade. of the two, ‘There’s No Place I’d Rather Be‘ and ‘Will You‘, i prefer the former. the words are pretty meaningful and the melody is a typical soulful ballad, all thanks to local musician Jimmy Ye. Kit Chan, our local songbird, sings the ballad with her usual strong vocals that can be emotive at times. what do you think?
over the next few days, i’ll have a few more past years’ National Day theme songs for you to digest and learn more about our people here.
]]>band of brothers – one of the best war dramas i’ve ever seen on screen.
football – about the most beautiful team sports in the world (though some would disagree).
]]>and sometimes, i shudder when i think of the kind of world she’s going to live in for the good part of her entire life. mad cow disease, SARS, dengue fever, H5N1, global warming and its effects, terrorism, etc. my word…..my girl needs to be strong!
i was at the supermarket with my family buying some groceries. as usual, it was packed with people from all walks of life. and like what we have been doing for the last few years, we brought along our own reusable bags as part of our own effort in being environment-friendly. but as i observed the people in the queues at the cashiers’, almost all of them had no reusable bags, ie, they left the supermarket with more plastic bags. some of them even requested for extra bags to contain their ‘heavy’ items. despite the less plastic bag campaign and its awareness programme, people are just not doing it!
i have been telling my kids in school that the effects of climate change (and global warming) are real, and they all agree. i tell them that they have to help to raise this awareness wherever they go. but i wonder how many parents and relatives actually listen to my kids and treat what they say seriously.
i was watching a little of saving gaia on CNA the other day, and was appalled by the type of pollutants present in the polluted air in Jakarta. how can we let this continue to happen?!! people are dying a slow and painful death there! and i know this isn’t just happening in Indonesia.
really, the threats are there for all to see. but people in Singapore here are just not doing enough to suggest that they care about the environment or the world for that matter. maybe because we don’t really feel the impact in a big way yet. do people really have to learn their lessons the hard and harsh way?
as Singapore and her people celebrate her 42nd National Day today, i hope people out there will not forget the fact that not only Singapore needs us. The world needs us too.
when i visited Verilion over at her blog, i read about this climate change camp at heathrow airport. some of these care-for-the-environment people wanted to raise awareness about the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. of course, they met resistance from the authorities. then i read some comments from this gentleman named Calvin Jones. apparently, he is very much involved in anything to do with climate change. i’m really heartened by the fact that there are people out there who bother to fight for gaia. hence, i’ve decided to support Mr Jones by helping him spread his message. do read it.
Camp for Climate Action
From the 14th to the 21st of August 2007 people from all over the UK will come together to form the Camp for Climate Action at Heathrow airport. Described last year as ‘Glastonbury, science seminar and protest all in one’1, we clearly have a lot to live up to. Last year this mixture of education, protest and entertainment captured the media imagination with the camp receiving unheard of news coverage for a climate change protest. At that time we focused on dirty coal2, this year the focus has changed to the ever expanding aviation industry.
Deciding to highlight aviation growth with this years climate camp was not an easy decision. But we asked ourselves: ‘Where are government policies on climate change weakest and most badly needed?’. The answer is clearly the aviation industry: a heavy polluter that is highly subsidised and growing fast. Just imagine would could be done with the £9 Billion in subsides given to aviation3. That is a lot of hospitals, schools…or tax cuts! The government has climate policies that exclude aviation and aviation policies that exclude any consideration of climate change. According to a cross-party group of MPs who looked at this conflict, growth in aviation emissions are likely to entirely destroy progress made elsewhere4.
Whereas the government has shown it’s rhetoric to outshine it’s performance the Camp for Climate Action seeks to lead by example. The week long event will have a strong emphasis on learning, both about low carbon living and about communicating climate change. Renewable energy such as Solar and Wind will power the event, including on-site internet access, projectors and lighting5.
Heathrow was chosen as the symbol of aviation due to it’s international profile and it’s vast carbon footprint—larger than many countries6. It was also important to us that many local people are already strongly resisting the expansion of Heathrow, we felt a strong desire to strengthen there fight.
We have three aims:
1.To highlight government hypocrisy in pursuing both a climate plan and an entirely inconsistent airport expansion plan.
2.To support local communities i there struggle against loosing homes under the ever expanding tarmac of Heathrow.
3.To educate ourselves and all those who join us about low carbon living.
We do all this with a simple philosophy:
Climate change is our generations challenge, it must not be left to burden our children. As governments fail us the realisation is clear, action is our responsibility: we are the ones who we have been waiting for.
References:
1.https://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_a_l/johann_hari/article1359823.ece
2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_for_Climate_Action
3.AEF, Hidden Cost of Flying, 2003
4.Environmental Audit Committee, 2002-2004, 9th Report (Budget 2003 and Aviation)
5.https://www.climatecamp.org.uk/aims.php
6.https://bristlingbadger.blogspot.com/2007/05/heathrow-uks-worst-emitter.html
Calvin Jones
]]>my hair – short, easy to maintain, and it doesn’t look dated.
1927 – the aussie band back in the 80s. they produced songs like ‘if i could’, ‘that’s when i think of you’, ‘compulsory hero’, etc. i was a huge fan then.
]]>my profession – as a teacher, i have seen myself developing in the areas of public-speaking, self-esteem, leadership, people management, teaching of English and Mathematics, etc. ’nuff said.
the chair – the one i bought from ikea. office-style swivel armchair with comfortable leather beneath. lots of words were generated ‘cos of the coziness from sitting on it.
]]>Building my sandcastle
When it appeared
And pulled up to me
It bared its ravenous teeth
And sank its claws into my flesh
My head was swimming
As it huffed and puffed
My heart was thumping
As it moved within me
The pain inflicted
Was beyond description
The joy ensued
Was oddly enthralling
Then it froze for a second
And allowed them to swim
While I caught my breath
Like tomorrow’s the last
It wagged its tail
And bounced to safety
Then I tossed and turned
Looking for sanity
I continued sitting by the beach
Building my sandcastle
the blogosphere – the people around and the opportunities to write have made me a happier person, i dare say. i find life more meaningful in this unique world too.
time – time is so abstract that no one can ever keep it long enough. but i believe that if i can use it well, it will give me chances to make my life more fruitful.
]]>
]]>from today, i shall share my 3 Blessings even an Arse would be Thankful for each day. and i hope i can spread this ‘being thankful’ spirit around.
3 B.A.T. I:
Jennifer – for being the one and only who has to put up with my s***** temper every now and then. her patience and great support have made me a better man. she’s one very strong life partner.
Faith – for being a lovable and thoughtful daughter who almost always make me feel wonderful to be a father. she’s arguably the smartest two-year-old in the whole world right now.
Singapore – how can i forget my own nation…esp. with our National Day just days away? peace, prosperity, progress……what more can i ask?
folks, if you believe in what i’m doing here, go on, spread the word. find your 3 Blessings even an Arse would be Thankful for each day. And perhaps, you can share them with me too.
]]>
i really can’t thank her enough for it. she has just affirmed me that i must be doing something right here.
and now, it is my honour to present this same award to the following good folks:
Suzan (for her continuous support and encouragement)
Vesper (for her kind words that never fail to lift my spirits)
Seamus (for fathering the shameless circle)
Jason (for ensuring that all comments are positively constructive)
Witnessing Am I (for his lovely writes and kind comments)
the orginal idea of such awards came from here. read about it and perhaps you can start giving out these awards to encourage other bloggers.
]]>had ghostwritten
the cider house rules
like clockwork orange ]]>
i want to thank Bucephalus for taking care of this place in my absence. some lovely writings from Bashō! you are good, you beast! and thank you all for giving him your lovely support and encouragement!
my pleasure. will do a better job the next time.
yeah, it was a very busy week with all the work in school, the bonding at home and the writing for competitions.
finally submitted my entries for the Golden Point Award. i took part in both the fiction (maximum 5000 words) and poetry category (5 to 8 poems). spent quite long hours churning out the fiction and understood the real writing process – a definite challenging task. due to competition requirements, i’m not able to share my entries here. the results will only be known by december, so will probably post my entries up come end of the year or in 2008.
winning it? it would be nice, considering the fact that over 500 people took part in the last one in 2005. the important thing is i’m beginning to enjoy writing a lot. should i say i love it. will definitely dedicate more time to write more which implies that i will improve.
jason at clarity of night had another fantastic writing contest again. similar to the last one i took part, a participant is to write a short fiction of up to 250 words based on a theme and a picture. this time, the theme is “Halo” and you can check out the details here.
i submitted my entry entitled “Miss James”. go read it here and give me your comments either here or there.
well, that’s quite an update. will catch up with you at your blogs soon.
and it’s great to be back!
Pretending to drink
sake from my fan,
sprinkled with cherry petals.
Bashō
]]>Another haiku?
Yet more cherry blossoms –
not my face.
Bashō
]]>Do not forget the plum,
blooming
in the thicket.
Bashō
]]>see that my dearest lion has been doing a good job here. thanks, Bucephalus!
you are welcome! leave this place to me!
Now cat’s done
mewing, bedroom’s
touched by moonlight.
Bashō
]]>Spring rain –
under trees
a crystal stream
Bashō
]]>New Year – the Bashō-Tosei
hermitage
a-buzz with haiku.
Bashō
]]>Fields, mountains
of Hubaku, in
nine days – spring.
Bashō
]]>]]>In my new robe
this morning –
someone else.
“i will do my best, master c.s.!”
]]>
simplicity is a rare commodity in the modern human race. few would stop and ponder over it. few would want to have anything to do with it. we were meant to enjoy it, but the world is ever evolving rapidly that we see it superfluous. why should we need it, some say, if the world can offer us so much more? times have changed, some say, so move with times and ignore it. without it, complacency and arrogance have taken root, leading to the evil complexity exposing its snares, a situation which most could not recognise or reconcile. seriously, complexity has become more rampant. times of wretchedness are looming large. if only we could all pause and observe and think. simplicity might just save the day.
]]>
cow on holy trail
takes on path of redemption
narcissistic fool!
weariness is an understatement. love keeps the soul going. a transformer is in store.
a new life awaits. and i am so damn looking forward to it. although the ghost of uncertainty still haunts.
]]>
You’re The Sound and the Fury!
by William Faulkner
Strong-willed but deeply confused, you are trying to come to grips with a major crisis in your life. You can see many different perspectives on the issue, but you’re mostly overwhelmed with despair at what you’ve lost. People often have a hard time understanding you, but they have some vague sense that you must be brilliant anyway. Ultimately, you signify nothing.
try the quiz if you are interested, but don’t look too much into it.
]]>“MEEEOWWW! thank you master c.s., for picking me! i have always wanted to say this, but was never given a chance. thank you members of the jury for believing that i might just pip brat pitt in the looks department! and thank you all for supporting me! from now on, i shall start learning from my master, and hopefully i will churn out some decent writing pieces half as good as my master’s. let me start with this poem:
hear ye o hear ye!
bucephalus is here!
to deliver and conquer!
to undivide and raise the tide!
so be fearful, yet respectful!
for this is only the beginning!
MEEEOWWW!”
well done, Bucephalus!
certainly you have not heard the last of him.
]]>He looked at all around him: the four walls and the ceiling and the floor, and the little window, and of course, the door. Others labelled this place the cell. He preferred it to be called his castle. A place where he could stand tall amongst the rest. A fortress against all odds of life. A shelter where he could be forgotten. He was certain that God had specially created this castle just for him. He grinned lamentably. He was going to miss it much.
He felt the breeze moving through the grills. It gently slapped on his face. It smelled really good. It carried with it the aroma of the charming lake. He could almost always feel the vibes of the lives beneath the surface of the glistening waters. He was certain that God had specially created the lake just for him. He tittered remorsefully. He was going to miss it much.
The door opened. Everything happened swiftly from there.
He stood. He walked. He did not turn round to take a last look at them. They were of the past. He was looking into the future. The promise of life would be fulfilled soon. He was ready.
Closed.
Tied.
Released.
Opened.
(a simple tribute to Mr Nabokov)
]]>
i’m on the edge.
no. i’m not on the edge.
i’m off the edge.
i’m barely hanging on.
you cannot imagine how much is in my hands now.
pray with me, will you?
]]>it moved me a little
doubts about what i do
it kept feeding them
the world seemed blind
surely i’m not
i could crush and toss it aside
but its veins rained on me
stories unfolded one by one
thomas revealed two by two
it seemed completely right
for condemnation to take charge
i spoke forth in fear
for the goodness of all
let the cubs and kittens rule
the fate of future state
dust and ashes wept agreeably
in the hope of peace
]]>i moved it a little
the paper i picked up today
here’s my take:
a life bedazzled,
wasted away
on the point
of aimlessness.
how about:
an abyss
for the sick and lost
with a 20-point
directional scale
folks, have a go, will ya?
what a contribution from this tag team:
]]>Circle of life
wheels within wheels
on target
bull’s eyeShot fired
life arrested
a static goal
why?
shining star says:
tiring day?
cold coffee says:
yeah, a little. you?
shining star says:
never better.
cold coffee says:
i thought we had a great chat the other night.
shining star says:
i agree.
cold coffee says:
we talked so much about football, about our dreams to play for spurs.
shining star says:
yeah.
cold coffee says:
i really think defoe should go since barbatov is staying and bent is coming.
shining star says:
we’d talked about this.
cold coffee says:
yes, sorry. just that my perspective on this is rather strong.
shining star says:
no apologies, please.
cold coffee says:
what are you doing now?
shining star says:
chatting with you.
cold coffee says:
ok…before that?
shining star says:
waiting for you.
cold coffee says:
oh…why?
shining star says:
no idea myself….but on second thoughts, i do know why
cold coffee says:
i thought we agreed not to wait for each other online here. i thought we’ll just meet whenever we happen to meet?
shining star says:
yeah…think we said that, didn’t we?
cold coffee says:
never mind.
cold coffee says:
hey, remember we talked about wishes the other night?
cold coffee says:
hey, are you there?
cold coffee says:
hello?
shining star says:
yeah.
cold coffee says:
are you alright?
shining star says:
yeah.
cold coffee says:
you don’t seem to be yourself today.
shining star says:
you were saying…?
cold coffee says:
wishes…i was saying we talked about wishes…are you sure you are alright?
shining star says:
never better.
cold coffee says:
ok. you know what? sounds like you had a rough day. perhaps we should all turn in early.
shining star says:
i said, “never better.”
cold coffee says:
but you do sound disengaged here. you were different the other night. in fact, you did most of the talking here.
shining star says:
never better, please.
cold coffee says:
ok.
shining star says:
you were saying about wishes.
cold coffee says:
yes……i actually have a confession to make.
cold coffee says:
you know when you were talking about the way to make a wish come true……..it’s funny you mentioned using a mirror. you know i actually listened to you. i broke a mirror, looked into one shattered piece and made a wish that middle of the night,
shining star says:
and?
cold coffee says:
sorry, i know i was mean. hahaha! i actually wished that you could just shut up and let me talk! hahaha! you see, you were talking so much that i wanted you to stop.
shining star says:
what did you really say?
cold coffee says:
can’t quite remember. but i think as i looked into that shattered piece, i said something like, “i wish shining star would stop talking forever at whatever cost.” silly, i know. i was just joking. no hard feelings ok?
shining star says:
sure.
cold coffee says:
hey i notice you’ve changed your display pic by the sidebar. that’s a nice pic of yourself!
shining star says:
yeah.
cold coffee says:
you know what. suddenly i think of doing something we’ve never done before.
shining star says:
yeah?
cold coffee says:
let’s start a video call. i’ve always wanted to see how you look in person. and i’m sure you are dying to see how i look in person too. shall we?
shining star says:
are you sure?
cold coffee says:
absolutely.
Making a Video Call to shining star
Hang up (Alt+Q)
shining star has accepted your call
cold coffee says:
hey! i can’t see you. where are you?
cold coffee says:
oh my god! What’s that?
shining star says:
it’s me.
cold coffee says:
stop kidding! tell me what’s that? you are freaking me out!
shining star says:
it’s me.
cold coffee says:
yeah sure! come on! what’s that? show me your face!
shining star says:
IT’S ME!!!!!!!!! DIDN’T YOU MAKE THAT WISH!!!!!?????
cold coffee says:
what wish???? please don’t joke with me. it’s late at night now.
shining star says:
YOU WISH THAT I WOULD STOP TALKING FOREVER AT WHATEVER COST! REMEMBER!!!???
cold coffee says:
you mean!!!!!!!! i thought this was all a joke!!!!
shining star says:
STOP LYING TO ME!!!!!!! YOU WISHED MORE THAN THAT!!!!!!! LOOK AT MY FACE!!!!!
cold coffee says:
oh no oh no impossible this cant be cant be im sorry im sorry im so sorry i mean i no i yes i wished that you remain faceless forever imsorrysorry thats because i i was so comfortable with you that sometimes i wish we could never see each other in person i like this level of anonymous identity i never expected such a wish to come true im sorry i thought this was all a joke im sorry imsorry im osrry
shining star says:
AND YOU WOULD EXPECT ME TO FORGIVE YOU!!!!!!!!
cold coffee says:
imsorryimsorrypleasesorrypleasesorrytellmewhat to dopleasesorry
shining star says:
I
cold coffee says:
pleasedontpickupthe mirror pleasenonom
shining star says:
WISH
cold coffee says:
pleasenomirror please dont make a wish please
shining star says:
YOU
cold coffee says:
please forgive me please no no mirror
shining star says:
DEAD!
cold coffee says:
e;wlfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
he stood there
looking aggressive
his anger crystal clear
almost embarrassing
the evil of love
had left him humiliated
the rising impatience
threatened more hostilities
i had totake an offensive stancei had tocounter with violence
i had to
i had toi had
]]>
i
i have to thank the wonderful minx for giving me this recognition. i would surely go on to write more (trash and non-trash). thanks, minx!
for those who have not read my winning piece, please scroll down and look for it.
]]>i never thought of not participating. but only managed to write one decent piece today. this is the picture i have chosen followed by my prose, which can also be found here. enjoy!
Door Left Open
Aubrey puffed the cigarette. She refused to cry. The emotions from within could still be contained. She knew she had done the right thing. As much as she cherished her girl, she had to do it.
Alan put his hand on her shoulder. His touch reaffirmed their faith in each other. He knew he was right. There could not be another way out. As much as he cherished his girl, they had to do it.
The screen had been telling a promising story. Images of her eclipsed the dark side of the house. The playground, the barn, the pony ride, the swimming pool, the birthday cake… Her life could have gone on to a fireworks display.
“……happy birthday to Adele! happy birthday to you!” the cheers and applause preceded the end of the movie clip.
“It’s time now,” Alan kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll wait for you.” He disappeared through the door.
Aubrey finished her last bit and put the stub away. Then, it came. The sorrow from deep down surfaced tremendously and took over her entire being. She wept, her hands on her face. She went on for about five minutes, absolutely losing control.
Then, all of a sudden, the tears stopped completely. She removed her hands from the face that was scarred with trails of her mascara.
She stood and moved towards the long flight of stairs. She scaled it slowly, and came to her door. It was left open. She pushed it away and walked to the bed. Alan was there, head hung low. He was sobbing. Aubrey put her hands on his shoulders and pulled herself close.
“I’m sorry, Adele! I’m really sorry!” he couldn’t help but utter, visibly shaken. She was the composed one now. Perhaps, she had dried up all her grief. She took her husband’s hand and placed it on the girl’s face with hers. It was already cold by then. Obviously the drug had worked. She was gone.
They stayed there for quite awhile.
They took one last look at their motionless girl. No more goodbyes, no more pain. They left and came to their lounge. Aubrey sat on the bar stool. Alan went behind the counter and uncovered it from a locked box.
“I love you!” he said, looking at her.
“I love you too!” she answered, eyes closed.
He put it on her head. He pulled the trigger, and she was gone.
He placed it on his and pulled. He was gone too.
The sunlit rays filtered through the curtains and woke her up. She just had a long, wonderful dream. The little girl stretched her tiny body. Then, she was up. She saw the door that was left open. She yelled in excitement and ran through it, the pacifier still in her mouth.
“Mummy! Daddy!” she shouted as she searched. Then, she saw it… through the balcony. The morning sky was bathed in a golden hue. She just stood there, admiring God’s gorgeous backdrop. She smiled.
]]>five people you meet in heaven
nineteen minutes
fantastic four
it seems like numbers have been pretty prominent in names and titles.
why don’t i have my own “the soul’s eight”?
Verilion in paris
Atyllah the mighty hen
Vesper the chick with a quill
Maht at the Moon Topples
Seamus the chief of the circle
Skint the master writer
Minx the shrewd wordsmith
Suzan at writing passions
ok. if your name’s here, that means you are one whom i would like to meet in person, if there is a chance. and how about you guys? who in the blogosphere would you like to meet?
]]>yes, i’m expecting a lot of things in my life.
after a rather short break, school will start next week. even before that, my work has begun this week. challenges, expectations on me, things are happening and they are fast and furious, if i may loosely borrow that tag.
i don’t think i am looking forward to work. i thought i might get into it initially and perhaps, i might enjoy doing it and get ready to soar to greater heights. but now, i’m not so sure. there are times when i wish i could be doing something else, honestly.
don’t get me wrong. this job used to have only one primary purpose, and i like achieving that primary purpose. but as the world is constantly changing, this job has evolved too. now it has two primary purposes (others like to put it, one primary purpose and one secondary purpose). the added purpose had made this job tougher than it used to be.
i’ve been on this job for the last ten years of my life. i’ve got lots of ups and downs in my career. the last two years are supposedly on my ‘up’ side. and with a new position this year, things should look rosy in the next couple of years. i’m probably on the verge of climbing up the ladder.
but somehow, i’m beginning to have doubts. i don’t doubt my abilities (yes, thick-skinned, i know). but i doubt that i will enjoy doing what i’m expected to do in the next few years. as i look at my life and all around me, i can’t help but feel that life is really too precious to be wasted doing what i don’t quite enjoy. (the world is increasingly becoming a threatening place to live in, you know what i mean?) there is my family for me to love and be loved; there are friends to catch up with; there are books to read; there is music for me to appreciate; there are many more things for me to try, experience, enjoy and cherish. should i be off soon?
at the moment, i don’t know. i wish to believe that i have time to think about it. but i know time is moving constantly. and i know that i might not even have the time to think if i were to perish in the next few seconds. will i have any regets then? yes, if you ask me now. i’ll have plenty to regret if i’m gone from the face of the earth.
am i selfish to bear such thoughts?
]]>another wall
nothing’s amiss
just standing tall
been through this
at the last fall
east coast’s bliss
with the maiden’s ball
love paralysis
enhanced desperate call
to find the basis
for a brand new mall
candies with kiss
displayed in the hall
emotions that hiss
moved the heart of gall
probe, test the oasis
bite, taste the softest of all
drip
crack
drop
gone
wish
]]>
]]>
wish me luck!
I drove her safely to our destination. She was escorted up while I went through the paper work.
