My gold is one week old...

A photo of my and my gold medal on the way back from the party last week. Haiz, can't believe its all already over, its been a ready fast 2 days of race and now, my gold medal have already been a week old... As the chinese proverbs goes "Performance on stage for 10min, is equivalent to 10 years of off stage preparation" But i still stick to my golden rule. "Reap what you sow" and this rule have definately brought me to lots of gold. SYF gold, WMC gold, and now, River Regatta gold. hehez...

Yesterday was a busier than norm day, had to work OT for the first time in a long time... haha never at my current work thou, that was the first time. Was suppose to go chill with jac and gang at DXO, but had to put aeroplane due to work. Sorry gang. Today, was initally contemplating on whether to go for dragonboating, something very rare actually, because its been my top priority for the past month. Had pushed away or delayed appointment just to be there for training, and now there was doubt. But well, its not that I am slacking because gold is in hand, I am definately thirsty for more than one GOLD medal. Its just that I want to play in my school concert which is in january, and practice clashed with dragonboat training. So not that intensity have dropped from dragonboat, I thought i go back to my "root" and hobbies for awhile. for a change. However, was asked to help out with some new paddlers, which put me in this hot spot in between band and dragonboat. One part of me ask me to go for band prac, but the other part of me want to help these people, coz i sure know how much they wanted that medal, I was there before. So any good advise from anyone?

Later dropping by office to check out something for my boss, den will get from there to kallang, would try running there i suppose. Wayne did it before, dun see no reason I can't. just easy run I suppose. Alright then, for today, its dragaonboat, have somethings to pass to to Spencer, and the gang wanna discuss on the issues... so yeah...

Will be older in 2 weeks time... argh..... i hate myself, always so last min, haiz... no one to blame but myself!!! Cya people!!!

Photos of Sinfonia! and Jac's Bday!

ean As i promised here are some photos, of all the mention events recently... hehez...

First up, laoshi, starting the concert of with an orchestra's piece "The Sound of Music" then was Mr. Han with a guest singer from health science helping out to sing the songs "I Will Survive" and "Hero".

More of laoshi in action and together with a solo violinist... Su Zheng if i didn't get her name wrongly... very superb performance by her...

Amelia is up next... making a debut conducting in a major concert, taking the piece "Rose Rose i love you" its pretty nice, its like a mixture of chinese and Xmas music... hehez, and a smile of relief from her when its all over.

Finally the orchestra and laoshi, reminded me of the WMC formation lah... haha memories...

And a very last picture before my camera died, hehez...







Now to Jac's birthday!

First up, me and the fine lady turning 21... hehez... Beauty and the Beast 2? lolx....=P and well, being such a cam whore, I of course went around taking picture with everyone like it was my own party... haha... and here they are...

I am such a lucky guy ain't i... hahaha, well i shall end off with a Group photo!!!

Unlucky Wednesday! Safe Thursday...

Today have been extra careful after what have happened yesterday. Its good to have a couple of day break, but spending have gone up like nobody's business man... haha guess its time to save again for the spending i forsee coming end of the year!

Now more about yesterday, what seemed to be a easy day out didn't really happened as planned. Had a late night out with Gary and Joani of my muay thai. Was out for a movie, watched "A Good Year". A fantastic film, loved it alot and made me love wine drinking even more. Got home abt 2 am, and went to bed at about 3am after everything is set and done (shower and all). Woked up 8.30 in the morning, as I am meeting Angelina for some suntanning, but when I looked out the window, the sun was not at all welcoming, taking leave or something, no where in site. But went off nevertheless. Got to sentosa, was welcome by a very cloudy and windy weather, ideal for sleeping, with the sun occasionally popping out, somewhat like a game of "peek-a-boo". "Cloud-tanned" for a few hours, and when sense rain, we decide to hit for the showers before it starts pouring. But after we are done showering, its started pouring. but still managed to make it to mainland pretty dry. Got to vivocity, met up with jac for "Step-up" the movie. would say it was ok, but the dance is pretty good.

After which, had dinner at sushi tae, good food i must say, fresh items, and very well presented. When dinner is done, its window shopping, my favorite, haha saw so many things that i would want to add to my "To Buy" list, but well given my budget this year... haha if there is any that is... well let just say the items will stay in that list for a little longer. All was well, till we stepped into Precious thoughts (or Moments? whatever it is). Angie was checking out some X'mas cards, and when i wanted to show her some by the counter, I heard a loud crash, and when i turned around, a frame was already on the floor. Was really in shocked as that was the first time i broken anything in the shop. Thank god the place wasn't crowded, imagine the scene it would have created. Was ask to pay half the sum for the item which i did since it was my fault, or should i say my bag's fault as it was the one the knocked over the frame.... Didn't really feel sore about it but would be a long time before i ever return to that shop again. At least the manager was very courteous about the situation, thats what prevented me from causing a scene i suppose. After that was more walking around.. and that pretty much ends the evening, showed mum the stuff i broked and found out its kind of a gift to someone that have a death in the family. haha SUAY right... haha

Today, met up with Azre in town, for him to unload all the hot gossips he have been storing within him... haha, he is my only connection back to the band man... and i suppose i missed a performance of a lifetime for COG (*dame), walked around town, saw a couple of sweater that I think was really nice. haha more items on my "to Buy" list. Paragon is already into the Xmas mood in full swing, and they are currently having a charity programme going to send present to kids of Cambodia, so yah, all the big hearted pple, time to share yah... hehez *winkz.... After that came home already, as he got class to attend and I have no business left in town, more looking means more things to be added into my list. hehez...

And that kinda concluded my 2 days, one suay, and one just boring and normal lor... haha, tml is the weekends again... will be meeting up with friends so should be a good evening... hehez, currently unsure if I am playing for concert as dragonboat just got some new twist... haha seems like its happening... but well shall just see how things goes... Alright den... tata....

FANTASTIC WEEKEND!!! GOLD RUSH!!!

After months of preparation for last weekend's race, aka River Regetta, the biggest event to end of the season for the year... All the effort have paid off with the colour got the medal we got. GOLD!!! yes... we won first place in the "International Mixed (20 Crew)" category. To add icing to the cake, we walked away with a sliver for and "Open Mixed" category, something the team have never expect to get... but we did it... here is a little bit of how my weekend was like.

Friday, didn't had to work, so went to did some last mintue preparation for the race in the gym, basically not letting my muscle slack off before the race, but also didn't tire them out. Just getting them pumped. Afterwhich, head home, rest awhile before meeting up with Sherine to catch Sinfonia back at NYP. On the way home, decided to get roses for the flautist, since they have give me some last year, hehez... thought i show them support as well. Lucky we got there earlier, coz if we were there later, there won't be seats for us and we will have to sit by the stairways. horrible thing to do. They had more then a full house audience, I guess plainly due to the fact that the concert is free. Being typical Singaporean, anything that is free is good i suppose. But done be mistaken, its not that the band is not good. they perfrom relative well. With inside info in the situation of the band, i wasn't pinning to high hope, on the performance, but surprisingly they did better then I expected. All that action that night, made me missed band alot. Something that i have been doing for the past decade or so... will really be a pity to really let it go... Might be playing for an alumini concert in Jan, but still considering, coz I might have to stop dragonboat for awhile. But if I am, please support K!!! heez....

After the concert, didn't really get much time to hang around as Sherine was rushing off, I didn't wanna stay too late neither as I have to be at the race early next morning. Saw alot of familiar faces at the concert thou. People like Teo Hui, Cheryl, and some old timers like Zaidi, Thomas and all. Its always great to meet friends, especially those that I haven't contact for awhile. Got home, got my stuff ready for the race, ate some pasta prepared for the race while watching ghost whisperer, before heading to bed. Not a good idea to load carb so late, it kept me awake the entire night, really felt like i did not sleep at all.

Saturday, got up at 6am, amazingly, without much sleep, I was still geared and hyped. I guess the race is my fuel. Got a ride from Angelia's bro to race site. After we got of the car, morning air was so good that it made me all refreshed. We got there rather early we waited at our area for awhile before John arrived with all the stuff. Help unload and set up the tent, while people started coming slowly. By the time most people got here, the place was already pretty packed with paddlers from other teams. Our first event was the Mixed race, which I was kinda suprised I was left out on. So i actually had the entire morning free as my first race is the Mens opens which is about 1 plus. But I didn't sit around doing nothing neither, took out my camera and started snapping around. Spent most of the time taking candid pictures and all. Soon it was my turn for the Men's Open. Guess the nerves got the better of us and there was just too many hiccups in the boat. In the end we lost out in that. That kinda dampen my spirit a little, and what made matters worse was its started pouring really heavily making it very cold and the race have to put on hold due to lighting. Its was at least an hour later before they commence the race, and yes it was still pouring, but as there wasn't any lighting and we were very behind schedule that we have to race in the rain. Then it was the biggest heats of the day, Expat race. Unfortunately boat our A and B boat have been chosen to race in the same race and we are up against the Germans and Japanese. What seems like an easy race for both boats was not as it seems, apparently only our A boat made first and German came in second while our B boat made third. meaning they were knocked out. With that it pretty much round up day one. Had to rush off to Jac birthday celebration. Met up with Sherine at Newton before taking a cab there, was really lucky I heed Sherine advise about the cab thingy coz its a very remote place and a long walk by bus into the campus itself. But overall its a nice place, and everyone looked superb, especially the host, she was like a princess. Joined the gang that was already there, had a little red wine (ok a little more then a little. heez) and after that the gang went Dbl O to continue the party while I head home for i had race the next day.


Sunday, final day of race, reached there at about 9 am, and was waiting all the way, my race was in again in the afternoon. So was more photos again...hehez... We only qualified for 2 races out of the 9 event we participated in (*disheartening), 1 the Expat Finals, and the Mixed Open Semis (which we eventually made to the finals by coming in first in that event.) Then, it was my event, the Expat Finals. We were up against 2 Canadian boats, the Germans, and Kowloon. Everyone was really focus, and could practically see flames of passion and determination coming out from all the paddlers... As we all prepared and burst out of the starting line, there was practially nothing going through my mind but GOLD! and when we past the finishing line, the expression on Yong's face was priceless. Its like he just won lotto or something. Managed to catch a glimps to the Canadians boat as we past the finishing line, and we indeed won by a commanding distance, its at least a dragon head distance. After that was cheers, and tears for some as we got the annoucment of confirmation. Its was then another while wait before the next race and the morale of the team have indeed been boosted alot by that win. When we got out for the Mixed finals, everyone got back the focus, and we almost got gold for that too... We lost to Singapore Canoe Club by 0.28 of a second. But we are just as contented with a Sliver as its the first Austchamp have every got from an Open event. That means our teams standard is going up, a very positive sign. That pretty much concluded River Regetta 2006, prize presentation was really fun this year and if there is an award for best sports team, i am sure we will get it, coz we cheered for every teams that went up to collect their prize. We were so loud that, when its finally out turn to get our awards, the emcee had to calm us down before annoucing our team. It was dame fun lah...

When everything is settled, we went over to John's place for a get together and prize presentation. It was alot of fun and i must say, the best weekend in ages... First medal of my life and GOLD it is... Still think we could have had a shot at the Men's Open if not for all that hiccups thou... but well, that means more training, coz no point saying it now that is over... looking forward to more MEDALS next year! Cheers everyone!!!

ps. shall share photos of all the mention event on another entry...