Woke up at 7AM; showered; took a train down to Tampines..

Feeling all excited, nervous and curious about what’s going to happen..

Met up with Jayden at Tampines MRT Station, he gave me a lift to the training ground at Kallang Water Sport Centre in his yellow “banana” as I am not too sure where it is located. Tango Yankie!

9:20AM saw us arriving, and we were the only early birds.

9:39AM introduced me to Tresa, and the rest soon followed.

One consolation I got, there was another new guy, Chris, joined in the training for the first time too. However, he had some canoeing experience at least, not for me. Well..

We started with some physical training (on land) with a distance run, rowing exercises and some other static exercises. I must say there was a slight difficulty at first cos’ I didn’t get to workout for the past two months, but soon I will get the momentum going.

We proceed back to the training ground, and soon a few other team mates come along..

Jayden warned me in the morning to be careful upon stepping onto the pontoon and to the boat, as he mentioned that there were few occasions that rookies lost balance and fell over which was un-glamourous. Thank god, it didn’t happen to me. Phew.

We started rowing, and from which I got to learn the strokes. It is simply amazing to experience how the boat glide forward with team effort. However, at certain point, my left arm got tired and slowly affecting my performance in doing a proper stroke. No matter, I believe through trainings, I would be able to better.

Overall, it was a great experience and the feel good factor to motivate although I now feel a little soreness.

Thank you CCWA Dragon Boat Team for the kind guidance and assistance through my virgin session.

P.S.: Time to conk-out..

Let’s take a look at the dictionary..

sim·plic·i·ty (sÄ­m-plÄ­s’Ä­-tÄ“) n. pl.sim·plic·i·ties – The property, condition, or quality of being simple or uncombined. Absence of luxury or showiness; plainness. Absence of affectation or pretense. Lack of sophistication or subtlety; naiveté. Lack of good sense or intelligence; foolishness. Clarity of expression. Austerity in embellishment.

Sophistication plays a role in our daily lives, be it at work, home or play. Curb it!

A trip down to Suntec City was particularly an interesting one, especially with tasty bites around at level one beside Carrefour. They have donuts, tako’pachi, toast, pizza and many more.. not missing out my two favourites:

Cheesy Sausages.. Ooo.. Roasted Sweet Potato.. I simply love this! One choice I would definitely return for more! Yum yum!

As an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and a very good source of vitamin C, sweet potatoes have healing properties as an antioxidant food (to eliminate free radicals). I would eat these roasted sweet potatoes everyday if I can. Sweet!

Ka Sim used to say this to me, “Get your lazy ass working..”

Hmm.. now that kinda ring-a-bell, cos’ I have not been hitting the gym for like.. two days? Okie, I am guilty of two months. Happy?!

I am so going to start a brand new sport – Dragon Boat. So much anticipation for this Sunday’s training.

I was walking along the street and came across NewUrbanMale.com, hopped in and got myself a pair of “act cute” flip-flop:

Havaianas Cartunistas (S$39.90)

I have been spending quite a bit of late, but well, it arouses the happiness within me which brings smiles.

He once said, “How can I make the world a better place? Music provides comfort in time of sadness, loneliness or despair, it inspires us to expect more of ourselves, it calms us down. If I could make that song that helped a person in any of these ways, I feel that I have succeeded in some small way.”

I pen down my thoughts on this quiet night..

Life seems pure and easy upon birth, when time comes, somehow it seems like complications and difficulties begin to fall into picture. It is like picking the wise choice of paint brush, once a wrong size or material is picked, you will end up with a smudge.

Turn back time. It is easier said than done, even so, there is no possibility for that.

Theory applies to prospects I have chosen, matters I have decided upon, people I have met, time I have spent or even places I have gone to. Now memory flashes:

.. Education. I accumulated quite a lot of merits, but at certain point, for (maybe some) reasons, I became playful and slack, hence neglected my studies quite a bit. Didn’t manage to get promoted to a good school or a good course. From then, I was kinda going to school just for the sake of it. What was I thinking? I can’t find a reasonable answer for it till now.

.. Career. I met up with quite a bit of difficulties throughout, be it when I was with Fitness First or even now. Sometimes I am confused, whatever I am doing right could be wrong, or whatever I thought to be wrong could be somehow right. Watching my back is something I hate doing, but unfortunately, that mode has to be functioning all the time.

.. Family. I didn’t balance out to equal time for family. At certain point, I admit that I do have feeling of home as shelter zone or in “layman” term – hotel. The amount of time I spent at home seems to be only sufficient for me to rest.

.. Friends. There used to be this Chinese saying, “You have the support from parents when you’re home, you have from friends when you’re out.” Wrong choice of peers is what everyone wants to avoid, but sometimes the right choice you thought to be doesn’t seems as it is. Yes, as complicated as it might sounds to be.

.. Relationship. Once I step into one, I am completely devoted. Sometimes it doesn’t reciprocate, instead it gives a return with fluctuation of trust.

There is an existence of fine line between right or wrong, just a minor step will brings you to the extreme. We decide.

Someone once said this to me, “You have been thinking too much which is not a bad thing, but don’t think too long. Actions are waiting to be executed.”

I have come to a point where I need to drop off the old shell right now, and begin bridging the new path ahead, towards a new destination in life..

-=-=-

Thank you CCWA Dragon Boat Team for the warm welcome. I am looking forward to start the new journey with you guys on Sunday!

M for Madonna. M-dolla is here with Hard Candy!!

“SWEETEN UP WITH MADONNA” was an event by TREVVY, Warner Music, Starhub, Samsung and Taboo, a “Hard Candy” album celebration party on May 10 2008.

We have sweetened up the party with lotsa exciting factors – decor, atmosphere, performances, prizes and many more that hyped to the maximum.

We were overwhelmed with our partner’s support as they were kind to sponsor – Madonna’s limited Lollipop (10,000 pieces worldwide, 300 pieces in Singapore), Samsung i450, Samsung MP3 player and iPod Classic! Gosh! How much I wanted them!

Soon after the door opens for the party, crowd (mostly Madonna’s lovers) came flowing in non-stop and packed the venue!

Everyone went gaga when the show commenced, and we could see excitement and enjoyment on everyone’s face. Woohoo!

Take a look at some of the lucky souls for the night walking off with fantastic prizes..

Lucky boys and girls! I wanna be a audience next time round so I can be the lucky one too! Geez!

Once again, thanks to Addie, Simon, Evelyn, Khan Tze, all our sponsors and everyone who attended the party. You guys made this possible!

Disney “GRUMPY” tee from Topman (S$49); RVCA bermudas from Wooonderland (S$99); SWAP canvas shoes from River Island (S$69).