Happy Overseas Birthday!

This was taken in Taiwan in 2008, where I went there twice that year.

Tomorrow, I'm going back there to revisit all the food and shopping with my Jumpshot teammates. In addition, we'll be playing a friendly game there which is major awesomeness.

But then, my luggage is facing an impending explosion. I can't close it! No idea what I've been packing, seriously.

As with Australia last year, I'll be spending my birthday overseas for the 2nd time in a row. I wonder where I'll go next year... further, I hope.

Today, the office celebrated my birthday in advance, to my pleasant surprise, and I got 2 presents too!

And how time flies, I'm going to be 24 in 2 days!

See you guys when I'm 24 on Monday morning!

The Jamesthers on 26th Nov 2011

James and Esther are officially married!

It was a happy occasion for the couple, who started dating the same time I joined the church. From the first time when Sean accidentally let slip that they were seeing each other, to the time where they announce their engagement, then to the meticulous planning of the wedding (3 excel sheets to go through ok!), and finally, by God's grace, they are now linked in holy matrimony.

I wrote this on their wedding guestbook after being inspired by the solemniser after she talked about wedding rings being a complete circle, symbolising there is no end to their love.

"Dear Jamesther,
Since a ring is an endless circle, what does 2 rings represent?

Infinite love! (Draws an infinity sign)

Then what does 5 rings represent?

...

...

Olympics!

Loads of Love,
Deanna"

You Are The Apple Of My Eye

当我发现到柯騰和沈佳宜到最后没有在一起时，和戏院里许多的人一样，流泪了。

被这个不是爱情故事的爱情故事感动了。

到最后，连手都没牵的他们终究还是朋友。

大家的背后都有不同的故事。

每一个故事，好与坏，都留下哝哝的回忆和想念。

可能，到最后，希望我的故事也会得到，或留下，一份友情吧。

Wedding March

I just came back from a wedding rehearsal in the chapel.

My first wedding rehearsal, but obviously I'm not the bride. The honour of that goes to Mrs Esther Ang-to-be, my cellgroup mate whose dating progress with Mr James Ang was witnessed by all of us over the past 2 years.

From enduring endless teasing, to admitting their relationship, to making this big step in cementing their commitment to each other, by God's grace, this is it.

As I watched Esther walk down the aisle as she tries to perfect the timing to the wedding music playing from the speakers, there was a warm and fuzzy vibe all around. I also caught Michelle staring dreamily at the bride-to-be, probably wondering in her mind what will she do when it's her turn.

In just over an hour, the rehearsal was over and done with. And all that's left to do is to wait for Saturday, when the real thing happens. I'm really excited about this- which is quite surprising considering I was relaxed much when it came to my own sister's wedding. Weddings also have that magnetic effect to make us all believe that love between a couple can be chaste, pure, beautiful.

I'm sure Saturday will be magnificent.

Against The Titans

I found myself breathless about 3 minutes into the game against one of the three biggest clubs in Singapore.

I was huffing, puffing, and I could feel the stomach stitching up.

不认老也不行啊。

But just playing against them, looking at the way they pass with such precision, the way they play in a whole new level with such fluidity and ease, wow, you really take your hats off them. Of course, these people sacrifice so many other things just for the game, and it's obvious how hard work pays off on court.

Well, for me, I was never the one who'd go all out to train like crazy when I was young. I was the one who took the CCA as it was, a CCA. Just being able to don the jersey and get some playing time, that's good enough for me.

And now, it has come to a point where many times, I've been asking myself, am I still going to continue to play? I'm just one player, in the midst of so many talented girls. And, to be realistic, I'm not that good anyway. Sometimes, I wonder what keeps me going.

In fact, it's not passion that keeps me going.

It's that feeling, that feeling when you run and you just want to stop, but you know you can't, that feeling of your muscles about to burst, but you still have to grit your teeth and continue on.

That "muscle burning, panting like a hounddog when you find yourself at the end point, surprised you're still alive" kind of feeling.

That "hey, I'm not that weak" feeling.

Feels good.

Anything to take the mind off work.

Sad to say, while huffing and puffing during the game, I was slow jogging back every time the opponents got the ball and went on their fast break. I want to say I'm too old already, but oh well, I think my stamina is down the drain. Nevermind, on the positive side, I had 3 assists and scored 2 points (ya, easily satisfied haha), even though I was so confused because Coach put me as a forward.

Now, my aim is to eat a lot and gain weight so that I can hold my own against the taller, meaner, bigger people on court. I want to be FAT!

But still pretty. I want to be pretty fat. Hahaha. That doesn't sound right.

Fat people are usually happy people. So I want to be fat. :) Plus, Christmas is coming around, so putting on some weight shouldn't be hard.

You know where to find me during those Christmas parties/ weddings. Buffet lines, here I come!

I want to be a big fat Dinah Saw!

The Post Producer.

That's me.

That's what I do at work everyday, producing post. No, not the kind with the envelops and stamps, but edits after edits after edits.

At the start, I wasn't really producing post, but I was doing more coordination to make sure the in-house editor, aka "Left Neh Neh" (he called himself that) had his footage on time and that he hands up his edits on time as well.

After a while, I was given more responsibility, like checking tapes after they were dumped out, then sending them off to the only terrestrial broadcast station in Singapore.

Then slowly, I got my break, and now, added on to these responsibilities is the honourable task of cutting an entire episode by myself. Then another, then another.

My best friend at work is the humble Final Cut Pro, where I probably can say I know about 10% of its true prowess.

Well, that just goes to show that I have a long way to go. But hey, I'm not complaining.

I had a chat with my Secondary School form teacher on Facebook last week at 11pm. I remembered the time because I told him I was still in the office. With his 3 kids smiling widely on his profile picture, it reminded me that time stops for no one. He said, "I bet you're in some media company. I always remember that you were hooked after attending some workshop after your O Levels."

How did you know, Mr Thomas? Indeed I'm hooked.

Just having that conversation with him allowed me to think back on my teenage dreams and how far I've come. Dreams are probably one of the hardest things to quash, remember that, and let's just keep on going cos when the going gets tough, the tough get...

GOING all the way!

All I Want For My Birthday Are.... (ankle) SOCKS!

Don't laugh at my weird birthday wishlist.

You know I need 'em after having to resort to wearing 2 socks with different designs just to make up the numbers.

Or that the pairs that matches have holes here, there, or there. Don't ask me why there are holes. I might have worn the socks out with my intensive trainings.

So yes, socks. They're a good gift. Easy on the pockets, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, small and sweet.

Especially ones with Homer Simpson's face on it. (But I have 2 pairs of that and they've got holes already- mega sigh)

But just so you know, I already got a big fat present. Or rather, the Tan family got the big fat present. Let's just put it that, we're all good now. The brother, the sister, the mother and the father. It's a load of hard angsty bricks that's been building for ten over years and it's finally fallen. Ironically, the trigger-point of this reconciliation was because of some scrappy A Level notes that fell into the toilet bowl.

But more of that, when I'm ready to share that overwhelming night. You're probably confused. It's okay. Not a lot of people about this family issue we've been having for the past decade, but we're just glad to come to a turning point.

The one thing that this taught me is to never take the easy way out. Sure, it'll be the fastest solution out there, but whether it leaves other long term problems in its wake is another thing altogether.

And so, enough of complications. All I want are socks. There's no issues with socks.

Oh, by the way, you can watch this- http://video.xin.msn.com/browse/okto

I'm Script Supervisor in there. :)

Glorious Sunday (Or How I Sucked My Sunday Dry)

This sleeping baby is Keren, and she's only 21 days old! It's always amazing to look at little children and see their innocence and fervor for the new world that surrounds them. Seems like we all should learn from them and throw away all our old inhibitions and be like newborns, exactly like this little shark (her mother calls her that, haha.)


Anyway, visiting her was one of the many things I did today. Love my Sundays, especially those that comes accompanied by a public holiday -wait for it- Monday. How precious are these days!

So here's what I did. I'm writing this down because it's a rare thing for me to pack so many things into one day.

1. Church at 8.30am, with Leanne!

2. A pre-wedding briefing for Jamesther's wedding. Really hope that I'll be able to attend the rehearsal, what with the unpredictability of dates these days with a tournament coming up.

3. Called Joyce to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The girl was probably pressing the phone hard to her ears in some street in Melbourne, and half the time she was unable to hear much, but it was still good considering everyone in the cell group got to talk to her for a well.

4. Went to see baby Keren! Soon, she'll probably look like the Michelin Man, and start to crawl, walk, talk, and be 18 in a flash. But it's okay, 21-day old sleeping Keren has been immortalised in this photo.

5. Afternoon coffee/taboo session with Jasmine, Gwen and Michelle in a nice cosy coffeehouse in the middle of nowhere. Okay, it was Upper Thomson, but it did felt like nowhere. Was thinking that if I knew of that place earlier, would have brought people over there. Missed Yuen because she had to leave before I came over, but it was a very nice time hanging out with them.

6. Jeremy's house for a farewell for cellgroup mate Jon before he turns into Army Boy/Man. I was the oldest there, can you believe it? Loads of food to fill the tummy, a Taboo gender war and a very fierce dog ironically named "Mei Mei" who is anything but, capped the evening.

7. And finally, at 11pm, watched the neither-here-nor-there flick "In Time" with cell mates. Samuel quipped, "Should be called Waste Time" and I couldn't agree more. But exchanging our exasperation with the unexciting Timberlake vehicle was quite funny.

And that's the end of my day, well, nearly, since it's 2.35am as I'm typing it while listening to Plain White Tee's "1,2,3,4" (a significant song for a special event coming soon. As if it hasn't been significant enough.)

So I've been kept busy. In a relaxing way. Which is probably good considering Christmas is coming again, also not forgetting the birthday. 24. Yikes.

And now, I finally feel the fatigue settling into the bones. Goodnight, sweet dreams, and a very happy public holiday Monday.

Friday Night Lights

What do I do to entertain myself if I'm all alone in the office on Friday night?










I also don't know.

My face quite oily eh?