The Shoppa Holik

One of the skills i've learnt this holiday:
How to spend my money like it isn't mine.

I bet the economy feels stimulated.

Dammit. I'm broke.

Summer Dreaming

As sure as day turns into night, it is time to return to London again. Somehow the fact that I am returning to London as a year 3 hasn't settled in. A third year student in a four year course! When i was going into my fresher year, i remember looking at year threes and thinking how cool my year three seniors were... pple like Wenbin, Bernard, Siangpeng, Joseph, Bingrong, Clement, Hai Jade, PC, and many others... Now, i am year three... and they've all graduated and have started on their careers. They say that time flies when you're having fun. I did have fun when i was there, but studying for exams wasn't that fun. So i say, time flies regardless of what you're doing. I guess the only thing we can do, is to live the present, treasure the moment.

I think the reason why my time flies all the time, is because I always have something to do. Now and then i will be lazy and take an afternoon nap... or blog... but otherwise, there is always something. Last summer and year 2 was crazy. This summer is better because i was able to spend more time with my family, friends, and myself.

One of the most memorable things about this summer, was of course my first anniversary with vivian. We had to postpone our celebrations because she was overseas doing her internship then. Only when she returned did we go for our celebration at a beautiful place. When i graduate, I plan to bring my family there too. It may be a bit expensive, but I'm never particular about treating if it is for some special people in my life... and if it is not like... everyday.

vivian and me.

Another memorable thing was accepting the 24th Singsoc ExCo's invitation to be an OGL. I was keen to do it partly because I felt that i have reached a stage where i know enough to help the freshers know more about life in London... but on a personal level, i wanted to find out more about myself. I wasn't sure if i had it in me to be an OGL. To me, an OGL had to be fun, exciting, enthusiastic, crazy during games, but also one who can become totally serious, mature and patient when the freshers have problems. I didn't know if i could do that. I will be honest, some of the juniors from the other groups didn't like me. But in all honesty, i didn't, and still don't, know what i did. I didn't talk to them. I don't even know them. Eda says that i am just an obvious target they pick on because my group is so strong in all the activities... Edwin says my group is too aggressive in one of the games. OK. So that's why they hate me. because of one game that lasted 20 minutes out of the whole day. Well... at least I am more than happy that i was able to help my group in some way before they depart to London. It was really good to work with Sanmay and Klement. Sanmay impressed me so much. I've alway thought.. she's a nice, quiet girl... but through the camp, i learnt that she has, in her own genial style and quiet confidence, a very likeable leadership ability. Respect.

OG Predeparture Dinner at Paragon Sushi Teh.

Also went to watch Jess dance. When Tian and Jess were in London, we were so close together, but didn't meet up in the end. Now that i am back in Singapore, i was really happy when Jess told me that she's got two tickets and she asked me along. Honoured. She can really shake, that girl. How time flies... Tian and her have been together for like... since I was sec three. that's.... *counts* 8 years?! correct or not... *counts again* about there right? hmm. 22-15 = 7... bah. Anyway, it was good seeing them!

Viv, Jess and me! I love my shitty situations Tshirt.

There is also the attachment which i had at Aerodynamics Branch. Speaking of which, i got a dinner with them which i must go prepare for now. Will update this post soon!

Beautiful.

Xiufang! : hullo Xiufang!.. haha. looks like the ! is part of your name. like the !Kung bushmen. hawhawhaw! and the ! is actually a click sound made with the tongue. so it's the *click*Kung bushmen. now u can add this to all your other unimaginable sound effects ho ho ho! *click*

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Ok. Ever since the flooble chatterbox died, i've been replying comments like this. While it's a sad thing that nobody ever tags here... it's probably my fault as well for not updating this blog as often as i would like to. But in all honesty, i like this way of leaving comments and replying them. It somehow feels more... sincere. and personal. Maybe because it takes more effort than a flooble. so i'm not going to get myself another chatterbox. But i will be bringing in somethings to decorate my blog! i'll bring in the little e-pet adopted by Vivian and me!! The name is Ma ling! named after a luncheon meat brand. hahahaha. Super low maintenance pig. woohoo! and mabbe add in a clock or two from clocklink. ok i'll do that later.

Now, it's time to blog! after like... 2 months of inactivity.

This summer has been good. The best thing, of course, was to see my family. The beautiful thing is that it makes me realise all over again what a pampered little brat i am. how fortunate i am for a loving, supportive and whole family. Sometimes when i am in bed, waiting for sleep to settle in, i just wish that time would stand still. We would never grow old. Everything will remain the same. better still, rewind it. So i can go back to the childhood days. Filled with laughs and simple minded playthings. Everyday i was a different person in a different adventure... a cook. a policeman. a pilot. a soldier. a bus driver with a hoola hoop for a steering wheel. simple things, made beautiful by imagination.

But those will now remain as memories. I am now grown up. I can approve my own expenditure, go for excursions without consent forms, legally watch R(A) films. But the most beautiful thing about this summer is to have realised that i am living a dream. My dream. I have a photo in my room, yellowed with time. A little me, standing in the Singapore Science Centre, beaming in front of a display which highlighted my little size, entitled "Developments of Aircraft Systems". That picture is but the the beginning of a dream. And now, 17 years down the road, i am still trying to move closer to that same dream. I'm closer. But i'm not there yet.

Such beautiful machines. Powerful enough to bring people across oceans and continents in mere hours. Powerful enough to end lives in a flash. But yet elegant in their motions like in a ballet. A balance of power and control, these beatiful creations of perfection still facinates and captivates my imagination.

I was accepted into Imperial Aeronautics on the Centenary of Flight. Think about the potential. Think about how much we have still to find out. In a mere 100 years, we have gone from paper+plywood planes capable of a 22 second flight time to composite aircraft breaking the sound barrier many times over. One day, i want to be there in the forefront, pushing them beyond known limits.

This vacation's attachment back to the RSAF was beautiful. I was posted to the Aerodynamics Branch. Met people from the flight test centre, and also engineers from DSO. And it only served to enhance my desire to work with these passionate people and amazing machines. I spoke to people from many places, and learnt about their ideas, experiences, joys, and pains.

When you think that everything's great, life loves to give you a slap in the face to remind you - it's not all beautiful. Roses may smell nice, but they come with thorns.

Even though i may sound idealistic till now, I am not naive. i was warned that not everybody shares our passion, and beyond all the dreams looms an ominous shadow which threatens to swallow all things meaningful. I am glad that at my level where stakes are low, i am not really prone to them yet. But even so, i am beginning to see some things. It makes me feel sad, because it happens even now at this level, and from unexpected sources. I shall elaborate no further. the disappointment is too much.

Meanwhile, it is time for a proper holiday. I am glad that i have worked hard, because it has now served to make me appreciate the luxury of a good, lazy holiday. I love doing nothing.... every once in a long time. Beautiful.

Ok. time to go for a run. later folks.