Mahjonggg

It's been about a week past the start of Chinese New Year and I'd just been lamenting to myself that I hadn't played any mahjong sll these while. I had been looking forwards to Chinese New Year to end the mahjong drought in my life but so far I haven't seen much hope lol. Then, when I was queuing for lunch today in camp, I heard XM talking bout playing mahjong with a couple of other guys. That stirred up my interest of course and I approached them. Within seconds, I had just made a couple of new mahjong mates and we planned to have a mahjong session tomorrow.
I then remembered something! Not long before, I had just received an sms from a JC classmate that they were organising a mahjong session too at a friend's house. Lol! It just so happened that it was on exactly the same day. Haiz, seeing as I had already made arrangments to go for Mahjong with my JC mates, I thus had to forgo this Mahjong session. What a pity! If only these came a little later or earlier. Why did it have to fall on the same day? Lol.
Well, there were still other opprotunities. We just need to make plans.

Internet's back and stronger

Woots! My dad's gotten an upgrade for the internet in our house and now the signal strength is much stronger. The internet is certainly much quicker and there has been less problems of loss of signal while I'm using the internet. So I've had greater ease in using my laptop to surf the net from my room hahas! With that comes the ability and thus the motivation to blog more seeing as I can do it in the comfort of my own room. Thus, you guys can certainly expect me to be blogging more posts? I certainly hope to keep the posts coming in faster and more frequently.

Back to the old days

So right after my MDC auditions today, I was to rush back to CCK to attend a class gathering with my Sec 2 mates at my former teacher's home. Or so I thought I was supposed to go all the way back to CCK lol. When I finally caught an MRT and got all the way back to my home in Jurong East from Sembawang, I was then informed that my teacher, Ms Lim, had actually moved house and is now living somewhere in Sembawang! LOL! I just came from there lol! I had thought that she was still staying in CCK so I had time to get home, shower, change out and then head to her house. Now I had to go all the way back to Sembawang? I was definitely going to be late.
Anyways, I had to rush once again. I had no idea where it will be easy to get a taxi though as I was sure that going by bus or MRT was certainly going to get me there really late. After several tries along the main road outside my estate, I decided to go to CCK Lot 1 instead as there is a waiting area for taxis there so I was more likely to get a taxi there. Also, I hoped CCK was nearer to Sembawang than Jurong East was. I finally did get a taxi and boy did I rush the taxi driver to get me there asap!
Her house was not too difficult to find as I had been told to tell the taxi driver to drive all the way to the end of the road, almost to the coast, and alight me there. He seemed to know where I was headed so it wasn't much of a problem. I finally did manage to find the house after some searching. It was just by the coast, really a breathtaking view from the area.
I went into the house and made the exchange with the mandarin oranges I had brought. Thankfully, they were still round lol. Then she told me that my friends were upstairs on the third floor and so I proceeded up the stairs. Wow! Now her house has three stories?!! Upgrade liao!
While climbing up, I started to worry once again as I knew that I'd be the quietest one when I'm with them. Still, the friendliness of the 2A'ians always makes it easier to get into conversation with them. It was of course awkward once again when I finally reached my destination but they were certainly delighted to see me. They were playing pool on a huge pool table though and so I just joined them and chatted with them, catching up on our lives. I wasn't intending on playing any pool though. Then, up the stairs came Ms Lim's voice asking if I wanted any food. Food! Oh yes, I hadn't had any lunch yet since I had been rushing around. It was now past 3pm already and I was starting to get a little hungry. So I went back down the steps after informing my mates that I'll be back soon.
I wasn't even halfway down when I heard Ms Lim's voice again. This time, it most certainly sounded like it came from above. I was puzzled! She most certainly hadn't passed me by on my way down. How did she get up there so quickly? I went back up the steps again and was then aware that there was a tiny lift in the far corner of the landing on the topmost floor. Ms Lim had gotten me a plate of food, some beehoon with lots of other stuff, and I started on the food immediately. Well, this was partly because I wanted to finish quickly so that I could spend more time chatting with the 2A'ians and not so much that I was really hungry.
While I ate, Ms Lim sat down beside me and asked about where I had been this morning. I then told her about my trip to and fro from Sembawang haha! Then, I told her a little about the MDC auditions that I went for that morning and this led the conversation to her current job helping out in the aesthetic's industry. Then, all this talk about the arts led her to pop a question. She asked about how I was getting along with my Arts. This got me stunned! My memories zoomed back millenia before I finally recalled that I used to do Arts ( by this I mean drawing and painting) quite some years back in my Secondary school days. I had almost forgotten about this period in my life's history lol! Of course, I then replied that I no longer did Arts anymore and the conversations then moved on to my life now in the NS. I got to know also that most of the other guys from my previous Sec 2 class had not been enlisted yet and some were going in soon in the weeks to come. I was again the earliest to enlist then.
After I finished with my lunch, I got invited to join them in the game of pool. I couldn't refuse of course so I just tried it out. Of course, I really sucked at playing pool though my mates were really encouraging and kept giving me chances lol. This made it all the more awkward for me. Still, I have always been like the younger brother of this group of wonderful people all this time so I guess all was still like before. Hahas! Time zipped by and soon 4pm went by and we got nearer to 5pm. We then started to make our way down after tidying up the place and keeping the pool equipment. We then bade farewell and set off home. Hahas, I was sure to come back here again next year for this annual CNY gathering hahas! Just like I have always done all the years before.
It sure was good to meet up with the 2A'ians again. One thing's for sure, I'm definitely going to hang around with this group of wonderful friends for a long long time to come!

MDC Auditions

I went for my Music and Drama Company (MDC) auditions today. Met XM and his friend at Khatib MRT before taking a bus 169 to Nee Soon. Upon reaching the camp, we realised that we were much too early and so decided to walk in to the venue instead of waiting for the bus to bring us in. Oh man, it was really a long walk. Having been told that our destination was very far in, we were thus mentally prepared for a long walk. However, the walk still tired us out but we just joked and laughed along the way so it was still not too bad. Thankfully we were early as we then had some time to rest before the auditions began. We were breathless after the long walk.
The other guys started arriving soon after and we were told to register ourselves. I decided to audition for both vocalists and musicians (ie. pianist). Then, the auditions began!
Those of us auditioning for Vocalists had the privilege of getting a room to ourselves with a piano to warm up before we sang. I volunteered to lead them in the warm ups having done it twice before even though I was still not too confident with it lols. Whether we were warmed up or not I do not know but I was sure that we felt a little less nervous having already done some singing before the auditions. During my vocal audition, I was certainly still not very prepared. Having not sung alone before, I found the sound that I was producing very unfamiliar and I had problems pitching the right notes. My voice sounded really raw as well and I was sure the auditions were a failure. After I finished singing, I was then asked if I knew how to use my falsetto. I immediately said "Yes!" though at the back of my mind I was having doubts. From what I know, I had been using my falsetto the whole time I was singing. If that didn't sound like falsetto to them then I definitely had no idea how to use my falsetto lol. Anyways, I still did what I had been doing but judging from the judges' faces, I wasn't doing it right anyways.
The piano audition went a little better than the vocals. I was certainly more confident playing the piano than I was singing. I ended the piece feeling like I had a chance of at least getting accepted as a musician but then it seemed as though they were looking for pianist for pop music rather than classical music and so I was once again rejected.
After waiting for all of us to finish our auditions, we then left in the bus this time around. I wasn't going to walk all that way out again. Well, judging from the auditions today, it would really be a miracle if I made it through lols. I had been told that the selection is really strict here. Well, all the best to myself then!

Pay

As promised, we have received our NS allowance in advance for us to celebrate the Chinese New Year. However, the sum received is a pro- rated amount. We have also received it only after the Chinese New Year lols. Still, it is the first time I am receiving pay with the money directly creditted into my account so it is quite a good feeling too. Hahas, I'm certainly going to save up this amount first seeing as it's the first time I've received pay.
Now I can't wait for 10th Feb to arrive, Come quick lols! Will start spending then!

Is CNY here already?

Wow! Time seems to be flying by so fast these days after A levels. I've been enlisted into NS for only slightly more than a week and it seems as though so much has happened. I've made so many new friends, adapted to life in a new environment and just experienced a whole lot of other things that came along with the end of JC life. With so much happening in my life currently, it really did come as a shock to me that Chinese New Year is just round the corner. In a matter of days in fact! I haven't even gotten into the CNY mood yet!
Lols, usually by this time of the year just before CNY, I'd be getting ready to gorge all the new year goodies and even participate in buying those goodies. Furthermore, I'd also have packed out all my old clothes and also bought new ones by this time of the year. I would even have cleared out all my old study materials and cleaned out my table to prepare for the start of a new year. However, I've been busy with my enlistment into NS and so I've not even started on any of that.
Well, with CNY arriving is just two days, it seems highly unlikely that I'd finish with the packing even if I started today. Therefore, this year's a first! I'm going to leave all the packing to later in the year when I can find some free time or if there is a great need for me to pack out my wardrobes and drawers.

MDC

I'm still not too sure why I suddenly made the decision to step out today and sign up for Music and Drama Company. Anyways, despite telling myself repeatedly that I was most certainly not going to be able to make it as I had not touched any music for quite some time, latest being just before my A levels, the old me still kicked in finally. Today. I heard that same inner voice telling me once again that "How would you know what's in store for you and if you will be able to make it if you don't even give yourself the chance?" So therefore, I stood out today and signed up for both vocalist and pianist. I am certainly more confident of auditioning for being a vocalist though, seeing as it involves singing. I am really not too sure what is a vocalist at the moment and so am planning to google it first. Lols! Really hope that there is enough time for me to do some quick revision and practise some music before the auditions which are like less than a week away!! And there's CNY in the way too. HEEEELLLLLLPPPPPPP!!!!!!!
Well then again, as my dad put it, since I wouldn't be doing much in my current vocation anyways, might as well take the time to have another experience and make life more interesting.

Sudoku for socializing

Been doing Sudoku during breaks in camp these last few days. Haha... that has really helped me in getting to know more people and making more friends haha. As opposed to trying to start a conversation with someone new as a means of getting to know him, just taking out my Sudoku to do starts off conversations automatically haha! Rather, this simply draws people over to me.
A simple "Hey, you do Sudoku ah?" or "Wah, is that Sudoku?" and conversation starts from there hahas. So then I get their name and maybe even share some tips with them or have them try out a puzzle hahas. Hmm,,, maybe I can establish myself as the Sudoku pro again and earn myself a reputation from there hahas. Btw, this is not a hobby. I'm doing it just to pass time and kind of get hooked on it once I start. So seems like I keep doing Sudoku huh?

First weekend

Wow! My weekend's just flew by. It's Sunday night already in the blink of an eye. Well, it's not that I'm dreading having to book into camp again but the thought of just one more day of good sleep is really hard to resist. Going to have to wake up real early, like about 5+ am again tomorrow morning, Well, at least my bus is the latest one tomorrow so I am certain not to be late. Then again, it doesn't hurt to be early does it? Having the latest bus means that I can't miss this bus of course. Otherwise I would really be late.
So how did I spend my first weekend out of camp? Of course, took more time to sleep in slightly later into the day. However, knowing myself, not too late as I would then still feel tired later in the day. Not been exercising for quite some time too so I woke up early this morning to go for a jog and do a little workout. My limbs and muscles lack exercise as I have mostly been sitting in lecture theatres and moving around very little. Needed to get some sun on my skin as well. Lacking that too.
I did have many plans for this weekend of course. Mostly just plans to clear up my room for the coming Chinese New Year and to buy some supplies. Sad to say, after two days I had not been able to find time to clear up my study table nor clean out anything from my room. Only thing that I did manage to do was clean the fans and lamps and change bedsheets. Haiz, long way to go still in clearing up my room but CNY is drawing ever closer. Looks like I will have to work OT everyday next week and clear out my room bit by bit. CNY is coming the following week!!
Hahaha, and talking about CNY, I've just received an invitation from my former Sec 2 classmate for a CNY gathering, Wow, it really has been quite some time since I last met my fellow Sec 2 mates. Really looking forward to the gathering. Hopefully I do not have to stay in camp that Saturday. Hahas, with some luck hopefully get to play some mahjong with them? Hahas, I hope sia! Long time since I played any mahjong. I have another gathering with my former Sec 4 mates as well sometime after CNY. Really hope that this is successful too though, and that most of the guys can make it. Dunno how many of them have enlisted already. Not seen them for quite some time too. Yup! These gatherings with former classmates certainly do add colour to my life.
Did take time off to watch some TV as well this weekend. Not been anywhere near the TV, radio or MP3 since I enlisted. Been real busy and tired. Haiz...
Finally, did some grooming today as well. We weren't allowed to leave our sideburns so just wanting to play safe, I trimmed my sideburns myself hehe. Then there was the usual trimming of my facial hair.
Okay, it's almost 11pm already. Time to end off or I won't be in good shape for tomorrow. Lessons start proper tomorrow. Wonder what we'd be studying hahas. Real excited!
ciaoz!

The longest two weeks of my life

Yup! Finally after a long wait of exactly two weeks, my wounds have all completely recovered. The last bit of skin finally fell off my knees today and I can finally stop having to worry about my knees hurting. My wrist has also healed very much and I am using it much more now to carry out daily tasks although sudden jerks or using excessive stress on it still results in a short acute pain in the wrist. The knees are still a little bruised and blue- black though but that is of little concern to me. At least I can be more active and do some physical activities such as swimming and even start going back to cycling soon. My bike still needs some fixing though so that'll have to wait. Haha!
Back to being the active outdoor me!