Retired

After weeks of ploughing through my overdue work for the organisation, all of it finally came to a conclusion this morning. At least now that everything is in order, I can hand over all responsibilities to my understudy with no worries.

At this very moment, I feel rather carefree.

Reaching My Limit

JD makes demands, a lot of them, but he doesn't accepts No for an answer. I would give in to him but there is a limit to it. If this goes on, I'm seriously going to explode very soon. Hopefully that don't happen while the base is so shaky now.

Hong Kong Trip

It's been almost a week since JD and I got back from our Hong Kong trip. JD promised his blog readers that he gonna put pics in his blog but didn't, so I'm gonna do it for him instead, in a picture + description format.

Day 1 280607

0530 hrs
After catching some shut-eye at his place, we arrived at the airport. My specs dropped out from my bag while I unloaded my luggage. I only realised it upon checking in but it was too late. I found it crashed on the road where we alighted. Anyway JD like me in contacts.

0630 hrs
We boarded the plane, but not before JD did some shopping in the check-in lobby and bought books to keep ourselves busy on board. He read "For One More Day" by Mitch Albom and I read "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell. We sort of doze off after about 20 pages.

1530 hrs
After all the arrival procedures, transfers and checking-ins, we arrived at Wong Tai Sin Temple (黄大仙) to pray. I prayed for JD and my family but I forgot to pray for myself. After that JD prayed for two divinations (签) while I prayed for one.

2000 hrs
Having our fill at a 10 course dinner, we headed to the breathtaking summit of Victoria Peak (太平山顶). JD and I took super a lot of pictures there. The place is just so cool (pun intended)!


2045 hrs
A short walk into the mall and we were at Madame Tussands Hong Kong where lots and lots of waxed figurines of famous people are housed (including MM Lee).

2130 hrs
Taking a short transfer, we were at Avenue of Stars (星光大道). We kinda missed the light show so I guess we'll be back again. After that we took a ride on a roofless bus to Jordan and did some night shopping at Women's Street (女人街). JD bought lotsa stuff there. We returned to the hotel at about 1am.

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Day 2 290607

1200 hrs
I kinda overslept and we only stepped out of the hotel at noon for a quick lunch. He got dumpling noodles while I got sliced chicken noodles. The noodles here are almost twice the cost of those in SG!

1330 hrs
Taking near an hour of transports, we arrived at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island (大屿山) to visit the big Buddha. Low-lying clouds shrouded the Buddha at first but somehow cleared after we made our way up the long flight of steps.

1615 hrs
We arrived in Hong Kong's Disney's Land. Though a bit late but we grabbed whatever time we had and took almost every ride that we saw. Of all the rides, JD liked the Space Mountain so much that we took it thrice.

2100 hrs
9pm sharp, street lights dimmed and Disney's Land daily fireworks spectacular sparked off at Sleeping Beauty's castle, Disney's signature landmark. It lasted for a mere 10 mins but it was enough to magically conclude our fun-filled day.

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Day 3 300607

1030 hrs
We made our way to way to Shenzhen at 9am and arrived at our first pit-stop, Shenzhen Xinyu Mineral Museum (深圳市星宇地矿馆). There JD bought one name stamp and two cans of tea leaves. The day continued with JD buying a backpack, a pair of Adidas shoes and a very nice lime green Puma polo tee at dongmen (东门).

1930 hrs
We rushed back to Hong Kong because a local guide told us there would be fireworks at 8pm at the Victoria Harbour. We later found out that he got the date wrong, so ended up walking around in New World Centre (星界中心) and there happened to be a collectors' car exhibition.

2000 hrs
This time at least we were in time for Hong Kong's permanent light and sound spectacular called A Symphony of Lights. Music is being broadcast along the Avenue of Stars while buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour house an array of lights that dances to it. While we admired the show, we wondered how many battery is needed to supply one second of power to all the spot lights.

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Day 4 010707

1300 hrs
Today (Sunday) is sleep-late day so we woke up late. After some packing up and photo-taking, we proceeded to check out of the hotel, but not before I made JD wear the his new polo tee we bought in Shenzhen (he looks dashing in it).

1330 hrs
After some walking about in Jordan while eating cherries, we stumbled upon Yoshinoya and decided to have our lunch there (since it costs as much as any street side food). They serve very nice kimchi as sides.

1400 hrs
We arrived in Central (中环) and toured around the place towards Lan Kwai Fong (蘭桂坊). We were sweating profusely throughout the afternoon.

1700 hrs
JD suddenly thought of paying the TC here a visit to see how the place is like. After some searching, we found the place and popped in for a while. Like their SG counterpart, they have freebies in their lockers in a variety of designs (JD got the brown one while I got the pink).

1910 hrs
JD got the timing wrong and we missed our transfer. We ended up taking a cab to the airport. JD then stopped by Ajisen Ramen for a quick dinner before boarding.

1950 hrs
We took one last picture before boarding the plane back to SG. Love you, JD.

Their Commencement

This evening was the commencement ceremony for the class of 2007. I arrived half an hour early. I saw lots of my course mates, all of them spread out across the hall in smiles and laughters.

I went forward to shake a friend's hand while I smiled in return, sharing her joy on graduation. Except for a few closer ones whom already knew, she would then promptly pop me a question:

"Hey Kevin, why are you not in graduation gown? It's gonna start soon."

I would give her the answer while continuing to smile. She would attempt to smile back and reply: "Oh I'm sorry.", then proceed to take a photo or two. Then I would move on to the next and the cycle continued throughout the evening.

Two hours past and I find that I can't quite smile any more. I left shortly and headed back to office. It's their commencement, not mine.

New Faces

When you're governing a student organisation, you become a full-time Public Relations Officer. You project the image of your organisation outward in a positive manner. You befriend people across other departments and organisations to earn understanding and acceptance through a mutually beneficial relationship.

Over the past 2 years, I've come to know many people on campus, especially management staff across the various departments so as to make my job easier as well as to learn from them. Over the past 4 months however, some resigned, some became relocated.

This afternoon when I pass by the different departments, I come to realise that there's hardly anyone that I know now. New faces are everywhere and the office is no longer as lively as I once knew. Undoubtedly, change is inevitable in everyday lives, you've just got to live with it whether you like it or not.

New Term

First week of school ended. Tomorrow starts week 2 of 4. It is definitely a waste of time to be re-doing a non-core module simply to fulfil the unrestricted elective requirement of the school. But nonetheless, I see this as a second chance. I didn't do very well last semester, so this is to make up for it.

Today started out fine and enjoyable, but ended a little sour. Might be the hot weather.

Moved

JD said something yesterday night over dinner that moved me. This time round I could feel that he really meant it.

Taking A Day Off

Last week this day, I gave in. We reconciled. This week this day, I requested for a day off, to breathe and reflect.

Over the past week, JD changed completely. He became such a different person so quickly that I found it hard to believe. He did all the things I liked to do for him. I can truly feel his love now. I'm very touched but not moved. All that JD had said so far since day 1, what's true, what's not, I can't differentiate.

No More Daydreaming

I held on for 4 months. I endured, I persisted, I gave it my all, I gave him my heart.

And finally last Monday, I felt everything was worth it. I felt it finally worked out. I felt very recharged to head towards building a future with him. I felt very very very happy.

But it was all too short-lived. It turned out to be just another lie, another promise broken, another shattered heart. I felt utterly cheated, utterly disappointed at myself.

Yesterday night, I couldn't help but drench my pillow in tears silently. This morning, I made up my mind to take my heart back. I am not going to let him break it again, ever. I decided to switch off the console, permanently.

I think I finally made it past one crossroad. Painful but relieved.

Game Saved?

I awoke to find myself in shock and sweat. I had a nightmare. I thought I could put it behind me but the scene from the night before kept replaying in my mind. It was extremely excruciating, like stabbing the heart with a knife... many many times.

I shouldn't have saved the game, I should have switched off the console. How long more can I bear with it? I just want to sleep well for once. Just one night. I think I need sleeping pills.