The Leap Years

In a way, I will suppose this is one of the best local "English speaking" movies ever produced by a Singaporean production team.
Quite contrary to what some of the critics had said, I do not find the characters lacking the chemistry needed to pull the show through. In particular, the performances of Qi Yuwu as the devoted KS particularly stood out. Wong Li-Lin, the protagonist, Li-Ann in the show, put in a very worthy performance illustrating first a young gal who believes very much in the suspense of romance, is willing to wait for the right man to come along to one who is finally jaded and yet, at the very end, refused to believe that the moments of magic are finally behind her.

As for Ananda Everingham who starred as Jeremy, the charming and suave lover to Li-Ann in the show had probably very little chance to shine. Much of the plot had circulated around Li-Ann and the joys and troubles that she went through in her search for Jeremy that very little is being explored and told about Jeremy. In particular, why and how did Jeremy even fell in love with her in the very first place? But of course, this is not strange given the plot is almost unbelievable in reality in the very first place.

Finally, Joan Chen, as the Li-Ann in the late 40s also put in a wonderful performance. It’s rather unfortunate that very little screen time is devoted to her, as she showed her class in depicting a very different Li-Ann, someone who had encountered moments of magic in her life, and yet very very unwilling to stop believing that the next moment of miracle is never too far away. Somehow, the show had flowed in such a smooth manner and perhaps a realist in the theatre will probably laugh at how unrealistic the movie is.

One thing to note though, the use of English in this movie is very applicable, as without this language, the climax of the show will probably not be reached. The final moments before Li-Ann’s moment of magic were wondrously painted by the English medium. This is one scene, which if it was illustrated in Mandarin will probably not reached the climax which was intended.

The story is unbelievable, as the plot happened in the 4 leap days spanning the 4 leap years over a 16-year period. If weren’t for the leap years, perhaps everything would had been settled in 4 days, much to the delight of the Singaporean Government who had been trying to get young Singaporeans hitched…

Of course…

For those who believe in the magic of romance and fate, this is surely one show that you wouldn’t want to miss.
I am emotionally drained after the movie…

There is just one part of me who, sometimes, wishes to believe in the heart rather than the head.

Dogs Avoidance Tactics...

This post is dedicated to all those who had

1. The experience of being chased by dogs
2. The experience of being attacked by dogs
3. Not been through either of the above AS YET.

It was business as usual from Chinatown back to sengkang. But of all strange happenings that could possibly happen to me, i was nearly being attacked by two wild medium sized dogs, on the stretch between upper serangoon road to sengkang east ave. At the very beginning, i tried to skirted around the two dogs by not running on the pavement but on the roads. Apparently that wasn't a very bright idea, as possibly they could sense the fear and trepidation in me.

The next thing i knew, they were already snarling and barking and me...

SIBEH SUAY...

Luckily, my quick thinking got me out of a potential xtra09 vs DOGS situation (which i will surely atand no chance). Sensing their fears of the roads and the cars just as they sensed my fear with regards to them, i made a quick quick dash across the other side of the road (with one eye on the traffic of course!)

Lord and behold... They wanted to try crossing the road, but luckily for me, they were hesistant and before i knew it, they decided not to, as they were really not as adept as me w.r.t. crossing the roads (Luckily for me, there were some cars on the roads) but instead kept barking at me...

That was indeed a close shave, and 2 lessons from this...

1. Will not be taking the stretch between upper serangoon road and sengkang east ave again...

2. The cars and the roads are your best friends in the event of dogs...

I may be over-reacting, but it was a close close shave, at least for me...

I must had set the world record for that stretch in the meantime...
=(

Heroes no more, welcome the legends...

Made the trip to changkat on saturday...
It was a pretty long time since i set foot on the court at changkat on a saturday evening...

The sight of me playing basketball wasn't exactly a sight to behold, especially considering the fact that i haven't been really playing with quality opposition. Yesterday's games proved just that. Made a couple of shots, but surely wasn't really considered being a young hotshot/ sonny anymore. In fact the time where alan is really being treated as the past of Changkat is arriving...

On the whole, however, it was a good effort. The running had helped me in basketball and i was quite glad.

Kudos to wk tan... He managed to get the team in for the competition at such short notice. It was really disappointing on my side, i didn't manage to put in effort for the organising of the team. I have to make especially clear that i wasn't really interested in putting out a team at all though. Definitely, we will be thrashed, without a doubt. But all my salutes to him, he made it possible, something which i reckoned, is definitely not beyond me if i tried. BUT it just going to serve as a reminder to me as to how much one can achieve if one perservre.

Because xtra09's been found wanting for most of the time...really...
Because xtra09's never really tried... unless he's interested...

And it's a timely reminder for xtra09 to buck up, and to try...

Fundamental Shift...

$$ is definitely not everything in life.

I am extremely glad that i have not reach a stage where $$ becomes the most important aspect of my life, and i will make a consious effort that i will not see $$ in such a manner anytime in the future. At a time where i am somewhat enjoying a higher than (what i perceived as an) average pay doesn't really make me yearn for even more, I suddenly realise that having how much $$ is really transient, as compared to what you really want to do to your life. I do not somewhat really crave for that extra $$ that will be going to my pocket.

NOTE that your life need not circulated around the budget constraint that you are facing. There are simply ways to work around it, or i believe.

It wasn't exactly the same, say when i was in JC or University. Although i thoroughly enjoy the economics discipline that i had chosen. There was no doubt that, at the back of my mind, i had the notion that the studying of economics will also enable me to earn a decent living, or perhaps a pay packet which is much more than decent. Studying the subject was fueled not only by interest, but also the fact that better results will equate to a better opportunity in the job market later on, which will translate to more $$!

Somewhere one year after leaving school, the mentality somewhat shifted. Seriously, i don't deny the fact that better results will equate to a better opportunity and subsequently a better pay in future, please do bear in mind that $$ is definitely not everything. At least for me, once i felt that i reach a certain threshold, anymore $$ no longer bring me as much satisfaction as compared to earning the very first dollar (otherewise known as the diminishing marginal utlity concept, just that for a lot of pple, $$ is the exception, as most can't get enuff of $$)

At the end of the day, i just feel that it's all a matter of adapting and adjustment. Just don't think of the luxuries and be contented with what you have. If you have more at the end of the day, just save more. If you have less, try to work within it. Do remember to also do the things that interest you, and don't forget to engage yourself in things that you really want to try, but gave it up because you think that you won't have the time to pursue, (because much of time had been spent wooing $$). Just try to follow your heart, rather than the head for once or twice.

Just try to listen to your heart. It, sometimes, is really easier...

After all, my parents started with a lower than average pay packet after all.

The man has spoken...

1st! I've finally completed a run from chinatown to sengkang. Far it may sound, but at the end of the day it's only 15kilometres. It was an excellent run, as it brings me to places like dhobby ghaut, little india, boon keng, kovan and finally home. If my body permits, i will probably make it a weekly run on top of the training on friday. I suppose in no time, i will be shedding some kilos in return for the kilometres traded in. ;)

The man has spoken. Give urself a chance to rediscover the place. Give the place one more chance. I suppose it's going to stay this way. Although we seem to be shooting in the dark and apparently my guess is as good as anybody's, it seems that i have to endure for quite some time to ensure that i get something meaningful out of this place. Obviously, i respect this man whom i look up to as a mentor. I felt that if he's still around, i will have pick up more things than what i am doing now. Alas, one can only look forward now.

It's game over for punggol lodge, the remaining flats didn't meet our minimum criteria, and as one can only look forward, we will be extremely excited at the prospects of choosing a flat at the nearby damai grove, because of our improved balloting chances as compared to the previous one. Fingers crossed, this whole saga had somehow brought a number of stressful situations to the both of us. Well, i do have to admit, i have been fairly hysterical about the "flat thingy" these few days and brought miss tan undue stress.

Well, sometimes, i have to admit, it's really all my fault

...... and luckily Miss tan is able to take it, otherwise i will be screwed...