Such fleeting moments

I ought to get over the bad habit of cutting things close to the due date. Just this morning I awoke to my alarm clock (the proper clock rather than the one in all mobiles now since I got shampoo into my phone) to heavy rain and the sound of my mom apologising profusely to the king, for stepping on his tail. With the heavy fog of sleep not yet lifted, I indulged on the possibility of lying in bed and giving my scheduled ippt a miss. Now since I'm scheduled to leave for Prague in a week's time, I had no other alternatives but to go.

When I got to Khatib camp there was a long queue at the guard house. With the air still damp from the morning shower and skies overcast, the mere thought of spending my Saturday morning in-camp just repulsed me. So grudgingly we shuffle along, through the narrow gates like swines being herded to their gruesome death.

I was rather nervous about my first ippt attempt since, well 4 years ago. You'll be surprised by the number of pot-bellied man who showed up I tell you. Thankfully I passed with $100 incentive. At least that will get them off my back for at least another year.

The only thing nagging at me now is the impossibly slow processing time for my visa. Bummer.

On a random note, I've got a Tiara from Shermy and Heidi (Hidayah) who thinks I look gay (which I think is a compliment) and deserves princess treatment. It looks like the one Sarah has. Now what can I possibly do with a Tiara? Even Sarah has no use for it save to collect dust.

I'll miss everyone when I eventually leave for Prague. I won't see my family, grandpa, His Majesty the King Tiger the First for 6 months, and Sarah for a whole year. By then she would have completed her bachelor''s degree and probably attempting her honours and bitching about something.

I'll be meeting April in a short while to get decorations for her room from Ikea @ Alexandra. It sure brings back pleasant memories. We were so innocent back then. It is dangerous to open these trap doors to your memories. It can all come rushing in and you wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Last night I went to Holland Village, another place full of memories for me. Something beautiful and sweet began there and I was once a happy and very lucky boy. Now things have changed, people have changed, I have changed. We cannot go back to how we were, even if we try to.

Sometimes it saddens me, when I think of the days of yore. These memories, the details will soon fade away, the raw emotions, delicate words, gentle promises will soon be forgotten as time trudges on. But we can't keep living in the past. We have to man up, or woman up and carry on with our lives. I am glad to have these memories, no matter how fleeting, than to not have any at all. Digging through my old collection of rather bad poems, I found this. Don't worry, I'm just reminiscing.

Angels fall without you there

The flowers wilt and the meadows go bare.

Morning came without any hope

Too much pain and grief for me to cope.

I watch and wait while my empty heart bled

My eyes run dry from all the tears I have shed.

I would love to kiss your beautiful face

And indulge myself in your embrace

You alone can bring me joy

And the ability to make me coy

You are my princess and I am your knight

Yet all I am is a sorry sight.

Still waiting

A while back I wrote a post expressing my fears about the imminent release of my exam results and my visa's approval. Well this is a follow up to that. My results have been released for about a week now, and I must say I did very well this semester. I could have done better, if I had a better lecturer but let's not point fingers now. So I managed to get 3 A+, 2 A, 2 B+ and 1 B. Yes the work load is crazy but such is the life of an engineering student. This translates to a 4.60 gpa out of a maximum 5.0 for this term, and a cgpa of 4.25. I think that's pretty good.

Alas! The same cannot be said for my visa. As of now I have yet to hear from them, although Kelvin, the other Singaporean I'm going with called me up last Monday to inform me that his visa is ready for collection. Since he applied for it a week before I did, I assume that my visa should be read by next week. The wait is killing me. So please God, if you're reading this could you please help expedite the process?

Another small request, could you keep Patches safe? Well not just her, but all the other poor strays out on the streets around the world. Keep them from harm, hunger and weather.

Lastly, thank you for guiding me through my exams and giving me such good results. (:

I hope to hear from the embassy soon since it's not possible to hear from you.

Happy Birthday Tiger!

Now a year ago someone important came into my life. Before he was just wandering the streets, eating off what people give him. He sometimes sneaked into people's home in search of food. Yet he was loved by many. Yesterday marks the 1 year I am blessed with his company. Yesterday was a testament of how much he is loved by others, for many came to mark this remarkable day. Everyone, meet Tiger, my beloved friend.

For those of you who don't already know, Tiger was a stray before he lived with us. He was just a happy fat cat wandering the streets, until someone abused him. His face was scalded by hot water, and something stirred within me. I can't just leave him like that. I have to do something. So Sarah and I decided to bring him for treatment. The SPCA won't do jack shit, because they're just about as competent as those hooligans on the streets. No, this poor creature's comfort and life hangs on the balance. Handing it over to the SPCA is akin to gasing it myself.

So I brought Tiger home to nurse it back to health, while Sarah worked her magic and charm to bring in donation. Now one year on, you couldn't even tell he was abused before. People always told me that Tiger was lucky to have met us, but I'll say, we're lucky to have met him. Those big round amber eyes, that long swaying tail. That bulging tummy. This fat cat is truly the most handsome one I have ever met.

Here's a breakdown of who attended yesterday.

Shih Shun, Winson, Simon & Michelle, Pearlyn & Bobby, Cindy & Chee Keong, Sharon & Derrick, Yenyi, Keller & Jason, and Tiger's only feline friend, Curious.

There were others who wanted to come, but sadly couldn't.

Yet as joyous as it was, I have to mention that out there, there are many cats suffering. For the joy and comfort of one cat is accompanied by a hundred other cats' suffering. So to anyone who's reading this. Do keep an eye out for people who are sick in their head.

Happy Birthday Tiger! I'll always love you! (:

Busy as a bee

Ty's been a busy bee these days. I met Jiayi for Saw VII on friday, which she found to be gross and I was enjoying all the gore, perhaps to the dismay of her. We then looked for a dress that she can wear today for a friend's 21st birthday. I must say girl, you look good in a dress!

I met her again yesterday evening, after I walked my fat cat and had late lunch with grandpa. I promised grandpa I will sleep over at his place and bring him the Hakka Assosciation this morning to collect his $80 angpow. Frankly only having 4 hours of sleep coupled with a near 3-hour bus ride is enough to make anyone sleepy. Didn't help when I went to visit my grandma around noon. The afternoon sun just makes it that much harder to fight back sleep.

So while Jiayi was doing her assignments yester-evening, I was trying my best not to distract her. So I brought along my 2 books, "I am a cat" which I have yet to finish, and "Great expectations" which I've only just started. I must say the older style of writing is confusing much, but Charles Dickens being such an amazing writer kept it interesting enough to read on. Unlike "The catcher in the rye" and "The great gastby" which bore the shit out of me. Classics are boring, but they are all masterpieces to be read.

Now it's time for me to fret over the impending release of my results this Tuesday and the excruciating wait for my visa's approval. Looking forward to this friday though! Wala wala with Jiayi. I must stress to my reader that she is not my girlfriend, but my partner in crime. Also note that our relationship is complicated and highly inappropriate, though not in the manner which peverted minds would imagine. As to where all this is going we will know in due time. As to what she makes of this I will have an answer by friday, though whether or not I will divulge it would depend on my mood, and mostly her answer. (:

Live

I can't believe I've only just watched "City of Angels". It's a damn good show. It makes America seem more, tolerable. Not that I have been there, but I've always seen myself as a Europe person. It seems like love is the greatest power. It is with love that God created us. It is out of love that we come into being, albeit some are mistakes.

I don't believe love is a mere chemical reaction and can be explained by science. It cannot even be explained by religion. Though right now I'm out of it, I'm glad I had loved and was loved by someone. I do not know what the future may hold, but dear God, if you stumble upon my post please let me find myself. I need to find myself before I can find my significant other. Again, I hope my Europe trip will do me some good. Speaking of which, please let my visa be approved.

I feel like a poem right now.

Live

The inescapable noise of city life

The distant sound of footsteps

The soft buzz of crickets

The deep breaths of my sleepy cat

To feel the cool wind upon my skin

To hear the silence of the night

To witness the pale beauty of the moon

To sing a gentle lullaby

I reminisce

I breathe

I thank

I live

Be.

I am told recently that the me now is more likeable. That is good news. The shackles of my past are broken, and now I am free to choose the path I wish to take. I am reading a self-help/discovery book now. Initially I was quite sceptical about it but now that I'm nearing the end of the book it starts making sense. Well granted that some parts are still a little out there but the rest is true.

This reminds me of something someone once told me long ago. Do not entrust your happiness in someone else. You have to love yourself for someone to love you. It now make perfect sense. I will blog more about the book once I have finish reading it.

If you want to be happy, be.
Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

Bad start but looking good

What a way to kick start 2011. My grandma was in hospital for high fever which subsided after a day, but kept under observation due to low blood oxygen. Thank god she's out of the ICU. If all goes well she should be going back home in a few days.

Between my last entry and this I have bought my air tickets to Prague, and returning from Munich. I still need to get my luggage, a schoolbag, some stationaries, another bag for backpacking and a nice journal for me to keep as a travel diary. Of course there's the visa to be collected as well. So much to do, so many people to meet but too little time.

In a month's time I shall be strolling down the cobblestone streets of Prague old town, soaking in all the historic goodness the city has to offer. I think this Europe trip will do me some good.

Lost

I must make myself clear. I generally don't have the habit of setting New Year Resolutions because I never fulfill them. This year however, I thought I should.

Now I have been through hell and back, emotionally that is, back in 2010. Yet somehow I managed to find forgiveness in my heart. In retrospect, 2010 wasn't a fantastic year for me. I have had my heart broken, became disillusioned about relationships, jaded by life and detached from people around me. So in 2011, I have only 3 resolutions.

1) Lead a healthier lifestyle
2) Be punctual for all my appointments
3) Rediscover myself

These 3 are of equal importance, and I hope I can achieve it. Especially the 3rd. I cannot go on living like this. I have moved on, but I lost myself in the process. Perhaps 6 months in Europe will do me some good. Travelling heals the soul.

Not all that glitters is gold,
Not all who wanders are lost.
J.R. Tolkein