STFU

When people say annoying things that are totally uncalled for sometimes,

I think to myself quietly

weekend in brief

'twas a great weekend to the last official week of lessons.

Caught Company at NLB on Friday evening, thinking that it'd give me a clearer idea
of my take on singlehood, relationships and love... though it sort of ended with me being slightly
more perplexed bout these issues than before. But... since it's really quite pointless to worry
bout these things for now, I'll just let things be what they currently are for now.

Met up with the usual ktowy fellas after the play a random pub in the
Duxton Road cluster to have a few drinks. Ah Ong finally brought his girlfriend to meet
us and we all had a few good laughs over the dice version of Bluff, credits to my non-existent lying *cough* skills. On hindsight, I think it might've been due to the bad fengshui of my seat...
or maybe it was just the alcohol... hmm.

Woke up slightly late and slightly groggy on Saturday morning as a
result of the drinks last night. Jenny gave me a wake-up call that somehow made it feel like
uni mornings all over again; getting all flustered for waking up later than I should. We attended a
brief workshop on coffee appreciation together at Highlander, along Kampong Bahru Road and it
was interesting to learn more about the roasting process of coffee beans, what goes into the roasting of our local kopis, and the main types of beans available out there. We even had a go at making our own latte art for our cappucinos; though it was barista's hands doing most of the work. Met Bun after she renewed her passport and we hopped over to CSHH for a quickie brunch + yet another coffee.
Mmm... tasty patties and salami sandwich indeed.

Moving onto Jolb's place after, whatever plans we had made for a
barbecue were quickly dashed with the onslaught of a heavy drizzle-turned-downpour.
Thank goodness the weather was the only depressing part of the evening. To ensure that the food didn't go to waste, Jolb's mum deep-fried some of the prepared food and we all had a good chat with her over our processed and sodium-laden dinner. Their warm hospitality made the evening turn out to be such a cosy affair, against the backdrop of a gloomy overcast sky outside the tall glass windows - 是幸福的.

After the rain had subsided, we decided to head to the pool for a dip. No thanks to
the rain, the waters were brrrrrr-eezing (by my standards, they were freezing)... but no matter,
we still managed to waddle in the jacuzzi pool, splash water at one another,
belt out drony out-of-tune ballads and swim a couple of laps as I froze
 my buns off. I can't remember when was the last time I did anything
like that (probably the Bali days a few years back?)
and it was awesome.

Numb fingers, body all stiff and cold, the girls let me take a shower first. I couldn't help
but feel like I was an upright frozen drumstick that was being thawed as the hot, running water from the tap washed over me. Slowly but surely, I felt life returning to my body, starting from the fingertips -
那也是幸福的.

Made it down to ECP on Sunday and I headed out to sea for a quick surf. Body's still
aching from the very short session but I'm glad that the longboard's finally taken care of and I can now move back to the shortboard that I've very ashamedly left at Uncle Richard's workshop for the
longest time ever!

It's the second unofficial day of school holidays so far and I think I've cleared most,
if not all, of the mandatory work I need to complete. It's a couple more days to go before we're
flying to Queensland and yes! I can hardly wait.

the E word

Ego.

This three-letter word is a tiny heavyweight; 

its mere length of 3 letters is by no means an accurate indication of 

the frightening conceitedness some people seem to have.

The ones who insist that they don't, usually have tonnes of it. 

If you're not observant enough, you might just fall for it.

It is nearly impossibile to hear a sincere (forced, maybe) apology from their mouths.
Their declinations to accept help from anyone and everyone - 

"nope, I don't need your help, I can do it on my own" (sounds familiar?)

can be seen as an indicator of independent behaviour, 

but when overdone, simply become outright refusals in accepting that 

there can be methods/answers better than theirs.

They must just really be afraid of having that proven.

Ironically, the ones who will not hesitate to admit that they are full of ego

usually have that in them in much lesser denominations.

They reach out for helping hands (that don't mind 

lending themselves) in times of need,

not forgetting to say "thank you" after the help's been rendered, of course.

They understand that no matter how good they may be in something, 

there will always be someone else out there who will be better, 

stronger or smarter.

Ego.

All of us have some of this self-importance in us,

some of us a little more than the rest.

In 5, 3, 1 and poof

On hindsight, I don't remember hearing my own voice shaking that badly 

when I first stood in front of my class to address them some few months back.

I'd said what I had to say.
Who knows, I might regret what I'd done tonight in time to come,

but for now, I can't be any more glad that I've gotten rid of the laden stone in my heart.

Time to get better :)