Sweetest Thing Ever

Guess what I received today?

[It's not what it says - it's what it brings with it...]

It's been a long long time since I've received something from someone. It means alot to me. Thank you - you know who you are. =)

My University Sanctuaries

Living a busy university student's life is hard. It's important to find personal sanctuaries to release ones emotions and stress.

At universty: I usually sneak into the music department to use their music practice rooms. If I'm quite lucky, I won't get caught. If I'm lucky I find an empty piano room. If I'm really lucky I get to use this room (picture below) the room with 2 grand pianos - a Yamaha and a Steinway and Son grand piano. If the moons and stars are aligned and I'm extremely lucky, I get to use the ultimate, most expensive and biggest Steinway and Sons grand piano located in the concert hall - without being chased around by security guards. Nothing beats playing/banging/expressing oneself with music during dark times. I've had a few PHD music lecturers coming in to ask me whether I'm interested to join the University of Manchester Orchestra team but only to their dismay to find that I don't even study music. At least they respected my piano playing and let me carry on with my session without reporting me. =P

[My special place in university. A place where emotions flow, and great music is made...]

Outside university: Nothing like mahjong sessions to liven' up ones day. Been attending lessons from aunties every Thursdays - these aunties really crack me up. On a bad day, I'll lose and drown my sorrows in beer. One a good day, I win and get pleasure from watching aunties make horrible faces when they are forced to drink beer. Either way - takes my mind of university.

[It was a good night...]

[It was a very very good night...]

[Dammit... I'm on fire! =P]

Something Thoughtful

One of my friends quoted this:

"Would you prefer to be just a normal star which always shines like other millions of star in the night sky; or a shooting star which illuminates the whole night sky but never lasts?"

I think I'm the shooting star type. I'd rather be something special than just something ordinary. It's like saying - "I'd rather have a nice piece of medium rare steak cooked to perfection; than a hundred overcooked and dried up chunk of meat." Or in the words of one of my wacky friends - "I'd rather spend a minute with Jessica Alba than spend a year with Cher." Pretty true.

Which ones are you? =P

Update: I still owe 2 things = (1) posting a short video of my room when it's still clean and tidy + (2) posting my tempura recipe for Jo Yan.

Since last week's futsal incident, I've been limping my way to lectures. Quite an experience actually. People either look at you out of curiosity/busybody or they actually genuinely be nicer to you. For example: an old lady offer me her seat in the bus... Now THAT'S something you DON'T experience everyday. Of course I insisted that she keep her seat - a gentleman will always be a gentleman. =P

Been quite down lately. I guess the beginning of term and finding out the magnitude of stuff expected of me has really taken its toll on my emotions. I really need God to show me my path this year. I know in the past I've been very independent and believed that I'm in no position to ask anything from God. Hearing how God has blessed the people around me - it really does make me yearn for the same. This year... All I ask from you God is NOT amazing results (I don't think I'm that greedy or worthy); but - and I quote:

"God, please guide me and give me the strength to carry myself through the hard times, and accurately reflect my efforts and abilities when the time arises."

God, this is all I ask from you this year. It's my desperate cry for help.

Way To Go, Chungy

I'll tell you a great way to start the new university year - go play futsal n twist your ankle.

[Thank God I'm a fully qualified army field medic, so I can patch myself up by self administering bandage.]

Mah Jong Masters

Just when I thought beating computer AI mah jong players were tough, I just met some proffesional harcore mah jong players from Hong Kong yesterday night. No, not international famous players, its those aunties who send 12 hours in a day playing mah jong in the streets and alleys of Macau. Here are a couple of rules I've learned after playing 8 hours straight of mah jong:

1) NEVER play with Hong Kong people (especially the aunties). =P
2) Choosing alcohol as a substitute for losing is NOT a good choice. =P

But I have my moments of glory too, I'm not THAT bad at it. Even so, after starting to play since 8pm my first win comes around 11pm. That' s pretty bad I suppose. =P

[My first win of the night - a small win but nevertheless - a small bite at the large chunk of meat. Apparently I'm ready to graduate "secondary school" and move on to "high school" by auntie standards. =P]

Deep Metaphoric Stuff

Fallen Angel



Flying high above the night sky,
the coolness of the distant night breeze greets my journey -
my journey down to the darkened mortal realm,
as I hear both their deperate cries and silent prayers,
all seeking for long awaited salvation.

Here I come, I come for you,
I bare with me the promise of salvation.
When I lay my warm gentle hands on yours,
I promise complete protection and comfort,
while you're sleeping soundly in my gentle embrace.
Just with a kiss of my tender lips,
will bring life itself to your aching heart,
and tears of joy to your weary eyes.

Here I come; I hear your calling, .
I've answered your calling, will you receive it?

Through your window I come, landing in your bedroom
with my feet touching the cold and heartless ground,
carrying the promise of salvation with me.
Little did I know - the angel of time was whom you seek.
your heart has no room for the angel of love.
I can't turn back time; I can't change the past.
but would you accept the promises of future which I control?

Crying in the corner, I approached you,
every forward step of of faith and courage I take towards you,
a part of me takes a step back from fear.
I reached out my hands to calm your shaking shoulders,
but clenched into a tight fist just a breath away from them -
scared of hurting a gentle soul such as you.
God forgive me - I've tried.
But the blankness of her eyes, sends blasts of snow across my face;
Her heart is emtombed within a frosted chamber that is lost in time -
The coldness of her icy lips only tells me I'm not needed here.

Losing the grace of God, I plunged from the clouds down to the mortal realm,
like a great meteor of burning flame, falling to its uncertain fiery destruction.
My wings burst into balls of flame, setting alight those pure soft feathers.
The silent drops of tears from my eyes,
are simply not enough to to put out the hungry unmerciful flame.
It's alright - where I'm going burns with eternal fire anyway.
Even when the flame tears and rips across my body and soul killing all my senses -
but nothing compares close to the pain within my heart.

It's time; my time has come.
I see the silhouette of of my shadow getting larger.
No time; I'm running out of time.
I hear the muddy ground opens up to greet me.
I close my eyes, sending one last drop of tears down my cheeks -
and I realise...
I'm no angel after all, I don't bring salvation;
I'm but a fallen angel, who fears the flame -
but come to close and you'll get scorched.
Only God can grant me salvation -
Father, I'm coming home.

Chungy
(dedicated to all the heart broken people in the world who has problems forgetting their painful past & not having the courage to love again.)

Friendster: The Good The Bad & The Ugly

Yay, my first post back in the UK. Was thinking about showing a video of my room but unfortunately its still a mess. Maybe my next post.

I was just wondering, do people actually believe in dating through Friendster? Do they ever work out? It's like a cheap dating agency... Not refering to Allen and Junie by the way... =P I mean, just yesterday I left my laptop on and I received messeges from this new unknown person named X for now, with the strangest of all messages.

Girls these days: they are either so easy they serve themselves on a silver platter; or so hard they serve YOU on a silver platter. You decide which type the person who types the message below belongs to.

X: hi
X: do u know me...
X: opppsss...
X: i didn't notice u...
X: u r dat cute guy on friendster...
X: now i remember..
X: thanks anyway 4 adding me here...
X: i wud luv 2 know u better
X: catch u later k?
X: gud nite

PS: So happy to hear that I've lost weight from many people back in UK. I'll keep up the good work! *sob* =P

That Time Of Year Again

This feeling is indescribable. Yes, its that time of year again... For the 7th time, the end of my summer is approaching and its time to go back to UK. I wonder, how can one person be torned between 2 such extreme feelings at the same time, it really amazes me. I'm going to miss alot of people. Where should I start?

The "ji muiz" Wendy, Junie and Mei Tien. Although it was a short meeting, but I know it was memorable. For Junie, I wish you all the best, hope to see you more when you come over to Leeds next year and may God bless you 2 madly in love human beings. =P For Mei Tien, I hope I've taught you a few tricks which will come in handy in future (of course our lessons don't end here), and thanks for always being there to comfort me when I'm in need. Sifu will teach you a few new tricks next summer!

Hui Lynn, you deserve a special thanks. Without you, the school would have been a boring place. I really enjoyed playing the piano and teasing the kids with you. I'm sure you've brought much life into their hearts as you have brought to mine. Besides, spending time with you has allowed me to witness and reflect on myself, and I have learnt a few lesson in life which "slapped my face" and allow me to wake up and smell the coffee. I've felt things I've never felt for a long long time: such as never feeling so embarresed (face never so red and hot) in my life before, thanks to your constant teasing. I enjoyed it anyhow. =P Just make sure you don't fall ill again: grapes from UK turn sour even after 4 days by pos laju. =P Till' next summer!

My beloved kids. It has been a pleasure teaching 5S class. I can tell you all have much appreciated me teaching. Though none of you should be reading this, I'm glad I brought laughter into your lives. Study hard and good luck in future.

Shaun, thank God you decide to change your hairstyle, keep it that way. =P No holiday of mine is complete without stopping for a few visits to your house and kidnapping you in the night for a few late night drink/chat. I'm glad after so many years, even though situations change, our friendship remains the same. Keep up the good work in your studies, and hope you're able to achieve your dreams of working abroad to be successful. Oh, take it easy on the girls would you? =P I'll be back next summer to check on you.

Though we only met once, I felt that you're really matured and its very very easy to talk to you. I could enjoy pouring out my life stories over a cup of coffee and will know that you are sitting there listening intently. Due to your carefree and open attitude, you could give me advice and point of views which I couldn't see myself. I'm glad we met, though on such short notice. Wait for my phone call next summer, and we can go bowling again... I've never been beaten by a girl except you. Oh, hope you fix your modem so you can go online and chat and hopefully see this message. Thanks Jo Yan!

I din't have much close secondary school friends, but Bazil - I'm glad that through the ups and downs, we're still best of buddies. No one else cracks me up with "chink and nigga" jokes like you do. I really did appreciate meeting up this holiday and had a great time with you. By the way, you lied about not knowing how to ice skate. =P At least you kept your fitness up and scored in rugby last Saturday... Of course, you we're no where close to my level of expertise and fitness... But you did ok. =P If I don't see you in Nottingham Games this year, I'll see you for rugby again next summer!

I know I've missed out many people, but I will thank them in person, errr... I mean though MSN later. Others, I'd probably see you back in gloomy Manchester. =P Now, after those sentimental emotional stuff, time for the other extreme half. Can't wait to pack my bags and leave this place! =P Ee Min, my loving sister is missing me from the other half of the world. My restaurant collegues are waiting for me to start the tempura cooker again. =P Most importantly, I just want to go back being a normal student and get the grades that I'd give anything to get.

Right, next on the list is... Oh yah, pack my bags.

Meaningless Post

Sometimes I ask why it always happens to me. Sometimes I ask God why do I always feel this way. Sometimes I ask why of all the time, now. Then it finally struck me, when do I ever ask questions?

Remember what Shrek says in the movie "Shrek"? "Ogres are like onions, they have layers." Well guess what my hideous green friend, so do humans, except we call it a facade. Some fancy French term if I'm not mistaken.

I guess I've been through enough circles and lies to finally tear down that facade. Well, not really tear down, but live in harmony with it. It's like, "you can think I am whatever you think I am; but I'm just going to be whatever I am."

Quote of the day: Sometimes we worry if people would accept us for who we are; but sometimes we forget that other people worry if they can get accepted for who they are too.

PS: Don't bother regarding my ramblings, I can't find my words today.

At the Hair Salon

I think I'm officially getting a bit vain. It was time for me to get a haircut today and the hairdresser did not too bad on my hair. Just before I paid and left, she offered to sell me a hair product which I declined... For a while. She was a good salesperson I must say. Here is how the conversation sort of resembled:

Hairdresser: Wow, you have very curly hair for a Chinese boy you know?
Me: Errr, thank you.
Hairdresser: Too bad with curly hair, its naturally quite dry.
Me: Oh, I see...
Hairdresser: I have this hair product, its for dry hair.
Me: No, thanks.
Hairdresser: It's nothing fancy, just a hair nourishing cream which you apply on your hair so its not so dry.
Me: I'm fine, really.
Hairdresser: It's not too expensive and it helps to protect your hair roots from damage.
Me: Auntie, I'm ok.
Hairdresser: Many guys your age use this product and they highly recommend it.
Me: I really don't do much with my hair you see.
Hairdresser: You can even apply gel on top of it.
Me: I'm not really into these sort of things.
Hairdresser: All their girlfriends say they like how their boyfriends' hair after that.
Me: I'll take 2 bottles please. =P

Mr. Chong Quotes II

[Everyone starts off from the same point, but the difference are those who can stand the test of time and find their destiny, in the far horizon.]