more flashbacks!

my spain trip was pretty amazing(: the photos, i know, aren't fully on fb cos i'm still procrastinating. I'm currently only editing pictures from day five (of ten).. eek. And now i've got to finish then (CHOP CHOP) because i don't want them to pile up.. seeing that i'm going to hokkaido soon!

So, my family and i travelled to Catalunya, Spain.. First, we drove on a rented Citroen to coastal towns like Blanes and Lloret de Mar (Day1); Tossa de Mar (Day2). then we went on to bigger, less reliant-on-tourism-and-thus-were-pretty-dead towns like Figueres, Olot and Girona. Finally we made it back to Barcelona where we returned the car and went around by public transport and trusty ol' feet.

The coastal towns boasted of beautiful, powder-like sand. I'd love to be back there in summer, tanning my bum away. Sadly though, the average temperature in coastal towns was about 3-5'C... the (Mediterranean) sea breeze made the cold bitter than ever

Coastal towns meant cheaper food! And since the tourist-y attractions and restaurants and hotels were closed (Seasonal unemployment!), we were glad to have sampled Spain's local food! yumyum. I tried my hardest to take pictures of the food we ate (unless i got distracted by the oh-so-delightful meals)..(:

i think one thing i absolutely love about Spain (or at least Catalunya) is the quirkiness of it all. Shophouses, two stories high, flanking the sides of a narrow street, just wide enough for a small car (or a really skilful truck driver)... and they lean in... unsteady? but yet you know they've been standing longer than your grandparents. Lampposts and park benches and graffiti and squares littered with stone or marble sculptures. I love old places(:

After leaving the coastal towns, we moved on to the first (big) town, Figueres. It was home to the Dali museum. (note: Salvador Dali is a quirky artist aka Surrealist Painter. go see his works here! I'm not an arty farty person... and neither can i draw for nuts, but these things usually hit a switch in me and suddenly i'm all interested to know why he's got this crazed obsession with ants, and spindly-legged camels, and eggs and locusts...

Moving on to Olot, we ascended 367 steps to reach the peak of a crater caused be volcanic eruption. Yes, Olot's a volcanic town. How cool is that!? hahha, i am easily fascinated huh?

Okay, i shall continue with editing photos. Stay tuned for more Spain's adventures (HAHAHAH)

let's hit the rewind button

now that i'm back from the land of narrow cobbled streets and gorgeous quaint houses, AND my brother's off at camp COS-ing, I finally have time to blog!

Yes.

Where i left off last, I had yet to mention Prom and my class chalet. So here (rewindzxzzzxx... Dec 6th)

Prom was like any other. People spending tons of money on a single night (i mean just the dinner itself was expensive and not worth it! I've SERVED better food). After Sec4 grad night, I told myself never to get conned into this seemingly glam night only to remember nothing but taking a bunch of photos mostly with people (besides VaRY and SMarWLL and the some other guys) you'd never see again. Prom, then, was an overstatement. A con, like i said.

But this prom, THIS prom. (was still an overstatement, except) I had willingly signed up to be conned for a bunch of 22 hunks and babes (as we narcissist like to call ourselves.) These 22 people whom I would probably have gone into depression and left JC without. They've pulled me through the hardest times, be it Climbing difficulties, competitions, family problems, issues with schoolwork... ALL of it. And i wouldn't have gone to prom if it weren't for the majority who decided we should show our glam-ed up faces.

The dinner was. meh. The programme wasn't too bad. (Watching Calvin, Clement and the rest of the nominees dance) At the end of the night, we took a group photo together. Sadly, without van and alistair and raihan. But, at that moment, i felt like. This is it.

I've said it a thousand times before, written it down in most letters and cards i've given to you batch of climbers, but i'll say it again. Each and every one of you have contributed to the club and have most definitely made a DIFFERENCE in my life.

TJCCC 09/10 has been legen-(wait for it)-dary. And I wouldn't have had it any other way. You hunks and babes are awesome ttm. I'll never forget the times we had together.

emo-momo. =(

(forwardsssss... 13th Dec) class chalet!

There were about 12 of us that day? Nicole, Ying Ying, Ming Xuan, Martin, Mark, Joel, Jason, Albert, Andrew Wong, Tanoto. And I!

That makes 11. uhm, yeah. so we card game-d, we board game-d, we camwhore-d, we ate, we laughed, we talked, we drank. And we did a lot of crazy forfeiting. Which shall not be named, to protect the poor victims of said tragedy. =p

photos are all up n FB. so, none shall be posted here!

I had a great time with the class. (: who cares if we don't have a friggin class tee, and that our outings/chalets arent the most successful. (We've got Ryan, what's your excuse?) haha, i'll remember the tutorials we spent pissing off Mr Lim, Martin having to see teachers after class, GP essay writing while sucking on lollipops, lectures we never attended, getting caught for skiving, being all competitive and whatnot with the rest of the cohort... It's been roses.

I'll see you guys real soon and all the best with your future endeavours..!

days before prom

SATURDAY:

cleaned the house, spick and span! Babysitted Caleb (who's at the most adorable stage now cos he walks like a penguin and sometimes falls on his bum from imbalance...) and fell asleep while trying to put HIM to sleep. Babies... Haha, he'd get kinda sleepy, and comfortable. And just as he's about to shut his eyes... He realises it isn't his room, gets cranky and crawls out to the living room to play. Finally got him to sleep in his pram later on.

After his parents came to pick him, Sam Yee, mommy and I went over to Echo lounge (by foot! i love the convenience of staying in Central SG) to watch Mi Chelle's Christmas gig(: It was really good and i think i had goosebumps when they sang Orphans of God.

SUNDAY:

Went out shopping with mommy (on foot! teehee) to OG for pants. Trimmed my dead hair ends and dolled up for a wedding(:

The wedding was at Conrad Centennial. And no, mommy and I didn't go by foot. Uh, i wasn't supposed to go, but i was filling for someone who fell ill! So, the young bride, Carlene was mommy's colleague's daughter.. But later on i found out how small Singapore really was. The dinner was pleasantly interrupted between dishes with videos made by friends and a guitar acoustic solo by the emcee, a close friend of Say Wei (groom!)

And in one of the vids, I heard these, "Carlene... first year in Temasek JC" and... "She won a lot of climbing competitions". EPIPHANY. okay, over-enthusiastic. Uhm, ding! (?) hhaha. So, later when the newlyweds approached our table for a photo, I told Carlene I was in TJCCC(: and she asked if Phil still coached us. Unfortunately Phil and Kel were just back from CM and Kelly wasn't feeling too well. IF NOT i would have seen them there! :D Anyhow, what was really amazing was that Carlene and Say Wei (who's also a climber!) had been together for seven years... which means. They'd been dating since J1 0.0

How sweet is that? Having someone so dear to you to see you through two graduations, enlistment, POP, ORD, your first job...

To sum up? Bliss.

MONDAY:

so yesterday was an i-can't-open-my-eyes-i-just-wanna-sleep-day

mostly because of the interview i was gonna have with MOE regarding a three-month teaching internship next year. How'd that cost me my sleep?

After the wedding, it was close to midnight when we got home. So i packed my things and tried to sleep. Except... Questions and possible interview scenarios bombarded my half-concious state. And i only started dozing off at three.

Then at 4.44am. A dear friend called. She cried and I listened and I hope she's much much better now. Darling, if you're reading this, remember what i said ok? XOXO

So, the next morning I rushed through makeup and G2000 pants to be punctual for MOE. And in the end, it really wasn't too bad(: Sure, i could have done better. But i think it was pretty manageable and I said what I'd truly thought through the past couple of days. Fingers crossed! They'll get back to me by the end of this week. Or next :D

Oh yes, I did my nails too! And the manicurist asked if i was a stewardess. hahaah.

moxyoron

MOXYORON

You're pretentious; you're charming

Sincere and honest; blatant lying

I'm your Angel; your disposable Plaything

You've got me hooked; nights a-crying

Addicted to your scent; lingering sting

Mended my heart; head-first crashing

More than friendship; a perverse fling

Your savage slashing; my craving

Oblivious and cold; you caressed my feelings

Your words embrace; relentless lashing

Empty promises; you keep me trusting

Suave and soulful; masked disguising

I love you; I loved you.

I despise you; I hated you.

This moxyoron game, I'm done playing

celebration day 1,2 and 3

CELEBRATION day1: SHOP.HOP.OP.P

the few hours after our last paper saw shopping (part 2) with gwen&kris (and weng) at Far East and the Orchard Road malls. my progress with prom-related stuff? Dress, check. Shoes, check. Accessories, check. Makeup, check. Hair. :D i'm happy! And i'm happy kris found her prom dress! it's pretty((:

CELEBRATION day 2: I heart clean tiles(:

on Tuesday, i had no plans. Hence I decided to drop by at CA to help Mr Kao set routes for the juniors. Did a bit of conditioning too. Quite contented with my current state of fitness, but there's definitely much to do in terms of strength training. And I'm hoping to conquer my weaknesses (roofs, slopers...) Oh yes, highwall soon?

The J1 girls have indeed improved since the last time I've trained with them. They've brushed up on techniques and strength too. The only advice I have for them is to be more daring, dynamic and positive. Don't be afraid to attempt something that looks challenging. Instead of groaning and making excuses, work on your strengths to conquer the route. The beauty of climbing is not in completing a route, but dissecting the process of it. It's all about perspective. And on Tuesday, I was quite disappointed with their negativity and lack of enthusiasm towards the end of training.

Well, I'll see them again on Friday. And I hope I can help them make the best out of training time. (: Keep pressing on!

CELEBRATION day 3: two is better than one

Spent half the day with my boy today(: it's just great having nothing to worry about and having no reason to rush off some place. Stress-free days ahead... I like ;D

bio students! all the bestest for tomorrow..end the As with a BANG yes? (: