Mrs Margarete Tan, Guoqing, Yuanting, Qingzhong & gf, Yongwan, Tianhui & wife, Weili & Junrong, Shaohong & Songbin turned up for the gathering =)

 

We had a nice long chat with her. We sat on the floor surrounding her while she sat on the sofa and it just seemed like we were all back in time where she'll read us a chapter of the story from the all famous Roald Dahl books everyday in class to encourage us to pick up reading so that our our terrible English could improve. Seriously, I would never have passed my PSLE without her. And yes, I can never thank her enough for what she's done for us over the two years, being our form teacher in primary 5 & 6. That was the real education, not just about passing your exams. She was telling us about how the education systems and teachers how lack the essence of teaching; the character development and all; what the use of being a scholar when one even lacks the basic knowledge of how to respect and communicate with others.

I could totally understand and feel her vexation towards the whole thing. It's not only happening to the education system but generally the whole society as we move in to the next 'era'. Basically REAL < FICTITIOUS side of people. Nothing we can do about it really.

 

It's been more than 10years since I last met up with her and this time round, alot of good old memories and heart felt emotions; gratitude; respect for her. She had a relapse of cancer sometime back and I was telling Weili that we should actually have a gathering again. I guessed she felt the same too and suggested another gathering somewhere towards the end of august. :) I'm really grateful and blessed to have all these good friends and teachers around for all these years. Thank you all! :)

 

This day, another moment in life that adds to the collection of memories which money can't buy; words can't 'speak' enough for all that's heart-felt; a memory only shared by those who were there then.

 

 

18th May, Friday afternoon, I was in the midst of attending AQ when I got a call from my ex-company requesting me for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deployment in Seoul, Korea. I had to fly on Sunday night and my AQ course only ends Saturday evening. Met up with my boss at Funan on Sunday afternoon for a short briefing on the deployment and zoomed home to pack my stuffs to catcha da flight. What a rush!

 

The departure flight was at 10.40pm which was delayed till almost 1hr later and we touched down at Incheon Airport at around 7am. Thou we were pretty stoned after the flight, the very first thing that greeted me when I step outta Incheon Airport was the nice cooool air! Simply loved the weather! At 17-19 degrees, everywhere's "natural air-con", pretty much like back in Texas, just not as cold. We were driven to the Seoul Plaza hotel for check-in by the korean embassy driver accompanied by another fellow Singaporean. We took a slow 10 minutes walk to the Seoul Financial Centre where the Singapore Embassy's located, enjoying the refreshing breeze. We found Ya-Kun kopi at the basement of Seoul Financial Centre and had our breakfast there before gettin started with work. I never knew Ya-Kun has an outlet in Korea?!

 

Over the following few days, there were some hiccups in the configuration of hardware and stuffs but good thing we managed to get it all done by Thursday which is also Korea's public holiday, Vesak Day (one week earlier than Singapore). We took a little rest back at the hotel before heading out again. We took subway to Yeouido as Lawrence wanted to visit Yeouido Church but sadly it was closed that day. We then headed for Itaewon, hoping that we can do some shopping there. Alas, it started raining and we didn't really managed to shop around much heh. Nevertheless, we did got ourselves some kimchi & seaweed among other stuffs from Namdaemun Market and Lotte Shopping Mall.

 

It was a good experience less the body aches and tired mind :)

 

Some of the crappy photos taken by the K800i can be found at http://gallery.dailyshit.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyday walking past the coffeeshop.. looking at the regular spot that we used to have our coffee and chats.. the bus stop where we smoke.. the accident spot.. .. never felt so lost and helpless..

My good buddy always..

 

 

 

I've just got home from YuTang's wake and I simply can't get to any sleep right now..

 

Wednesday, 28th March 2007.. I've lost a true, sincere & cheerful friend, YuTang, who is always willing to go all out to help his close friends whenever in need.

 

I did not know about the accident until the following afternoon when Kenneth, a close friend of his whom I've met up twice sent me an MSN message using YuTang's MSN account. Initally I still thought he's playing a trick on me like normal days, the msg goes like "Yixian, booboo here. pls contact me @ 9xxxxxxx...urgent"

 

Though he came from a relatively well to do family, he's not your typical stuck up boastful dude. Infact, he's pretty much the opposite. We've known each other for years since the online game "Renewal Online", we've only met up a few times but always kept in contact on MSN. It was only 2 months ago, that we've been meeting up every other day. The reason being him sending this girl whom he really loves back home everyday who happens to live just a road across from my block. At the beginning, he called me on 4 different ocassions and I just happened not to be at home and we were like "Walan eh really fated lah knn whenever I'm in Bt Panjang, you either at Bt Merah (my workplace) or what Pasir Ris beach (on weekends) I don't believe cannot get you I will continue to call u the next time I come BP! Confirm can meet up!". From then he'd jio me for the usual 'lar kopi (we always ended up drinking other beaverages e.g. Teh) + smoking' sessions at least a couple of times a week telling me abt his life, his relationship with this girl. One fine day, he shared his joy of this girl he's going after finally gave him an answer..she'd be his gf and I was truly happy for him that he's finally found his other half after all the ups and downs. We shared our problems..our joy.. and even friends (Kenneth aka BooBoo, whom he introduced to me just few weeks ago and also kept telling me he's gonna invite me in to the kakisgroup site). We had a long coffee session at Bt Timah Al-Ameen and YuTang parked his car at the far end of the carpark near COURTS. He told me he's shy by nature doesn't like pple starring at him with his EVO as driving an EVO has only been his dream in this lifetime, his dream car. He told me he don't even really speed with his car unless he's feeling down and only once awhile he goes to the track in Malaysia with his friends to race for the fun of it.

 

Two days before this dreaded tragic accident, we were having our usual coffee session after sending his gf back, he was bugging me go get my K800i screen protector done and even bluetooth me a beautiful butterfly wallpaper that he downloaded earlier on saying it's worth 50cents ok!. I was showing him how to create more shortcuts in his K800i and "talk cock" for awhile. He then went on telling me about his CPF investments, urging me to do some planning and investments too. Sharing with me his plan of selling his EVO to get a Toyota WISH next year and hopefully getting settled down with his girlfriend in 2 years time, by the age of 31; aiming to earn a hundred grands in his CPF investments to buy a HDB flat without having much burden on the monthly loans in future..

 

All the great plans and hopes ended on this faithful morning of 28th March 2007..

 

May you rest in eternal peace my talking cock & smoking kaki, Nudge King!, someone who always wins me in MSN 7 Hand Poker, my bro, a true friend, YuTang (Weilong)

 

 

1. My cybershot spoilt during my Texas trip

2. 3 days before CNY, withdrew $ at ATM and I left the ATM happily without taking my money

3. 大年初一 motherboard's SATA controller spoilt

4. 大年初一 injured my ankle

5. 大年初一 knocked by bicycle

6. Lost my mobile phone today..

 

 

 

1 littoru no namida (1 litre of tears)

Our everyday life has been taken for granted while some do not even have the chance or dare to dream about their future.. for their journey in life is coming to an end..

 

Awaken to a spoilt SATA Controller on my motherboard .. grrr suay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late evening stroll by the quiet side of the beach..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking along the peaceful beach as the sun sets..

The last ray of light shines over the silver screen for the week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

strong winds and gray skies brings a light shower over the ever calm sea.

 

 

 http://gallery.dailyshit.org

 

 

 

footprints on the sand, the thoughts, the breeze, the smell of the sea, the sound of waves, the calmness within as the sky paints itself with shades of gray into the darkness