Because the world needs a bit of cheering up. There are not many things capable of bringing a smile to my face when I'm feeling down and blue and exhausted after a hard day's work.Kittens however, never fail to brighten up my day.Listening to: Ready For Love by Cascada 4 weeks. It's hard to believe that I've been here for 4 weeks. 4 weeks full of ups and downs, and having to deal with all the crazy nonsense that comes with handling a bunch of boisterous rowdy lower sec students. At least time seems to pass quickly.And at least I finally seem to be moving on. Though I can't help but miss certain things about the sort of life I led when I was still an undergrad.4 weeks. I could get used to this. But will it really be something I'll want to do for the next 3 or 4 years? Hmm...Listening to: the mrbrown show on my school-provided laptop I don't know why... But I have this feeling that maybe I've been single for far too long. A note to say that I'm still alive... Well, I'm still alive, and beginning to adapt to work. It was a real pity that the National Day holiday went by all too quickly.Tragically, I'm finding less and less of an urge to update my blog, hence the lack of updates. Let's just say that I've become quite a chronic workaholic, trying my best to plan lessons and mark assignments that I've had very little time left over to formulate my thoughts and write them down over here. And yes, some of you might have known that I was planning to set up a new blog dedicated to writing about my escapades at work, with the necessary security features of course, but at the moment, I guess that project is on hold for the time being. And there was another little side project which I was planning during the holidays; unfortunately, that too shall have to be put on hold for a while.But I guess I'm just too tired to really dedicate myself to blogging the way I used to when I was still an undergraduate. When I come home, I usually find myself dozing off from sheer physical and mental exhaustion. Plus my brain usually ends up feeling a little fried after all those hours in school, hence you'll have to forgive me if the quality of my writing seems to have declined recently. I have newfound respect for working individuals who still find time to update their blogs regularly; hopefully the time will come when I will be able to strike a balance between work and blogging.Dance rehearsals are going along quite fine, although I have to admit that I suffer from the serious problem of forgetting the choreography every week. It doesn't help that every Sunday sees me having 7 straight hours of dance rehearsals, from 3 pm to 10 pm. And yesterday was really draining, what with us staying until past 11 pm. Thank goodness for Trey, who sends us easterners back home every week. It's a wonder that I manage to get out of bed every Monday morning and drag my tired, aching body to school. And Monday's my busiest day. I can't help but feel a little sian every weekend, knowing how my entire Sunday is more or less completely spent on dance when I could be doing other things. But oh well, I set myself this challenge, and I am not going to quit, not when I've gone so far and invested so much sweat, blood and effort.Last Saturday was a milestone for me, for various reasons. It was the day when months of toil and labour finally paid off, and I got the chance to be a part of Rag one final time. Holding Rag at the Padang was a very novel experience, even if it was a real logistical nightmare. I sliced my fingers on the edge of the metal bars I was holding as we were carrying the props around. I didn't realise that I had so many cuts until I went home and took a cold shower, and the cuts sure made their presence felt very strongly. Well, despite an impressive float and what some say is one of the best dance performances that the faculty has ever presented, we didn't win anything once again. It was upsetting to see so many of the others breaking down and weeping. It's heart-wrenching, feeling the anguish of those who have put in so much, who have earned the respect of our competitors and rivals, only to see all our hard work come to naught simply because of the subjective decisions of 3 judges.I might not have contributed much to Rag this year, but I felt the spirit all the same. Seeing all the familiar old faces from previous years of Rag, plus a whole bunch of new faces, I can only hope that Arts Rag in the future will continue to aspire to soar to greater heights, that the future generations of Raggers will keep trying, no matter the results. The people will always change from year to year, but hopefully, the spirit will never fade away.This year's Rag was special in its own little way. Though my involvement and commitment was much less compared to that of previous years, I had a pretty respectable number of friends from my Arts Camp OG committing themselves to Rag. Ever so often, we'd suddenly find ourselves having a mini OG gathering. And I'd guess it was good that I decided to come back, partly because it did help maintain the friendships I'd built with the freshmen during Arts Camp. In a way, perhaps the bonds I've built with my OG from the past 2 years of Arts Camp will serve as the final thread linking me to my crazy fun-filled days in NUS.Besides Rag, I also returned to make a couple of special guest appearances for O Week. It does feel good that I've offered O Week an experience that only I alone can offer, in the form of a Mambo Jambo-inspired mass dance. It is great for the ego to have freshies walk past you and suddenly they smile and call you "Mambo King". Heh. And it was great to see so many of the seniors having so much fun, whose enthusiasm helped raise the spirits of the entire camp. Perhaps they knew that this was definitely the last time they would be having a Mambo Jambo mass dance. I wonder if next year, the Arts Campers and O Weekers will speak of the memories they had when that crazy senior returned to teach them Mambo Jambo moves. Oh, and the thrill of dancing Mambo Jambo at Palawan Beach? Priceless.But besides the ego boost of performing Mambo Jambo in front of a couple of hundred people, and the satisfaction that comes with teaching that same couple of hundred people how to do those same moves, I guess O Week just wasn't that compelling for me this year. Which is a good thing, if you look at it, since it is helping me to cope with not being involved in FOP anymore. I did try to immerse myself like I did with Arts Camp, but it was difficult, considering that I was a complete stranger to the freshies, and it somehow just lacked the same feel as Arts Camp. I attended only 2 days of O Week, both days when I was supposed to be leading the mass dance, but somehow I didn't feel like I was missing out on a lot. Que sera sera, I guess. The sooner I can turn my back and walk away, knowing my time has passed, the better.Speaking of turning my back and walking away, I knew that the moment I bade farewell to my fellow Raggers that Saturday night, I had finally brought my long and emotional FOP journey to a close. It wasn't easy, deciding to return for one final time, but as I told Michelle, I've had no regrets doing so. Perhaps I just wasn't quite ready to say goodbye just yet, but now that I've completed my final Arts Camp, my final Rag, and continued my Mambo Jambo legacy for just one more year at my final O Week, I can turn away, knowing that I have left my legacy, that the effects of my contributions will continue to manifest themselves in the coming years. Who knows how many freshmen and seniors are there, whose experiences and memories of FOP have been enriched by my presence?Anyway, enough talking about FOP. As for work, I'm beginning to settle into my new life as an educator. I'm still finding it a bit of a challenge, particularly in dealing with the demonspawn whom I'm supposed to help in their development into useful and responsible members of society. True, some of them can be rather endearing, but I have to remain on my guard at all times, otherwise they'll trample all over me.It's great that my fellow colleagues are all quite friendly and ever so helpful in aiding a newbie in need. Really, I probably would have been half-mad and contemplating quitting if not for their assistance. While I haven't really formed a clique like some of the other teachers have, I do spend a fair bit of time just chatting with my fellow newbie teachers and my HODs (who have rendered invaluable assistance time and time again).Things are probably going to get quite stressful for me in the coming weeks, because of all the afternoon remedial sessions I'll be having. There's quite a bit of catching up to do, because 2 of the Sec 1 Express and 2 of the Sec 2 Normal (Academic) classes are quite far behind in covering the Geography syllabus. Plus I received word that my upperstudy will be leaving the school come the end of August, so I'll be taking over her Sec 2 classes. Oh woe is me, considering how I loathe those 2 classes, or rather, certain students in those 2 classes. At least the Sec 1 classes are still manageable and easier to bend to my will, even if they may be quite immature.Those ruffians in the Sec 1 Normal (Technical) class I'm teaching are beginning to get quite endearing, even if it is all but impossible to get all of them to settle down. (Unless they're all in the computer lab) After the hard approach in my first week, I've tried a somewhat different tack, trying to be firm but friendly. Though I'm still letting my upperstudy take charge of the class, while I facilitate, I do wonder how it would be if I had to manage them on my own. I've received word from one of my HOD that I might have the option of being taken out of that class when my workload really increases in September, and while that might be a good thing (7 periods a week is no joke, and you know how anal I am about proper discipline and proper usage of English), I do wonder if I might be better off trying to make a difference to those who need guidance the most. For they don't deserve condemnation, even if it's all too easy to succumb to that. I just wish that I didn't have to deal with 40 of them simultaneously.Oh well, before I prattle on and on, I guess I really ought to start preparing for tomorrow's lessons.Listening to: Forever by N-Trance This crazy little thing called love... How do you ask a friend what went wrong with his or her relationship?How do you bring up the topic, without appearing to be prying into another person's personal life?And how do you find the right words to say and ask, when both parties are friends of yours?Where it comes to discussing my friends' failed relationships, I keep my distance, knowing that all I can offer are my own personal observations. I prefer not to ask them what happened, choosing to let my friends tell me their story on their own volition without any prompting on my part. Naturally, I regret to say that even when it comes to my closest friends, I still remain ignorant about the circumstances which caused their relationships to fall apart. When with other friends, who bring up the subject, I try my best to abstain from taking part in idle speculation, considering that I was the unwitting victim of idle speculation in the past. Romantic relationships have been a major element of my life in NUS. Besides the close to 8 months when I had a girlfriend, I have largely been a bystander, watching and observing from the sidelines, seeing the joys and pains as other friends fall in and out of love. Talking about these relationships has been an important aspect of conversation with friends in my various social circles within NUS. Perhaps I'm just not the person who concerns himself with being intimate and knowing his friends inside and out, but I do not really delve into personal details of my friends' lives, even among those whom I consider to be really close friends.This year has been a year of great upheaval where my friends' relationships are concerned. While a close friend of mine managed to find happiness, after a fair bit of drama over affairs of the heart last year, this year has seen a number of friends dealing with heartbreak. What makes it even more saddening for me is the fact that for a fair number of these failed relationships, I'm relatively close friends with both parties involved. It is difficult to bring up the issue, especially when I value both of them, and remain not quite sure of how to react should I speak to one of them and hear negative remarks about the other, as is inevitable when discussion of failed relationships occurs. It is true that being privy to juicy personal details can be fun, and makes for good conversational topics when with other mutual friends, but at the same time, I try my best to respect my friends' right to privacy regarding the trials and tribulations in their own personal relationships.That does not mean that I do not grieve when I learn that yet another couple among my social circle has split, due to reasons that are vague and ambiguous to me (they always are). For me, learning of friends getting together is always a joyous discovery to me. Subsequently finding out that the same relationship has crumbled away is always a tragic discovery that I always dread. One part of me always wants to personally ask the people involved what happened, another part of me tries to refrain from succumbing to curiosity over affairs that are strictly none of my own business. Yet it is a delicate balancing act. How do I express my concern, offering my condolences, perhaps provide a shred of solace if it is needed, without overstepping myself and turning from concerned friend to nosy gossip?I do wonder sometimes if perhaps I expressed greater interest in the intricacies of my friends' personal lives, I might be better prepared to deal with relationship woes, or to lend a more active hand in the healing process, rather than consign myself to being a mere dispassionate observer. A friend of mine, whom I'd always felt loved his girlfriend a lot, seemingly suddenly broke up recently after a few years. I've found it extremely difficult to even attempt to ask him what went wrong, or to ask him how he's been coping. And then there's all this talk going around about the apparently purely platonic relationship between him and a close mutual friend of ours. To me all this gossip is simple idle speculation, though I would be lying if I said there wasn't a tiny little grain of thought within me that asks: Could it be true? But how do I bring up this topic, without the risk of permanent damage to a wonderful friendship, or without inviting a punch to the mouth should I let slip something that I will regret saying?And then, just not too long ago, I discovered that yet another two friends had parted ways. Once again, I find myself lamenting that yet another relationship has met a tragic end, wondering just what transpired that would lead a pair of people who were apparently so happy together suddenly decide that things weren't working out for them in the long-term. And then I just happened to read something which made me think that perhaps all was not as cheerful and rosy as I had perceived things to be, though of course, considering how averse I am to finding out more about my friends' personal lives, maybe I was never in a position to understand how their relationship worked in the first place.These were but two of the most recent breakups which have affected friends close to me. It is at this point that I recall that I had another pair of friends who were together for more than three years, but who broke up earlier this year. And then I had two Honours classmates who were a couple, at least until the beginning of this year. Recently, I spent an entire night up with a friend, and we started talking about all our mutual friends, including a particularly convoluted relationship between three of our friends; suffice to say that two friends were together for some time, broke up early last year, and by the end of the year, the girl eventually got together with another friend. Though it's been a long time since all those events occurred, to this day I don't quite know just what exactly happened, which perhaps speaks more about how much I know about even my so-called closest friends.Juxtapose all this heartbreak against the tale of another friend of mine, who's been with the same girl for eight years, and who finally plans to pop the big question at the end of this year. Sometimes it's just more than a little strange, to witness relationships that appear to have been going strong for several years, suddenly fade away.But anyway, just asking, how on Earth do you bring up the topic to a friend without earning a slap to the face?Listening to: I Begin To Wonder by Dannii Minogue A return to the good ol' days Well, I still haven't gone crazy yet, though teaching certainly is a challenging experience. Honeymoon's over too, considering that from next week onwards, I'll actually have to teach classes on my own, instead of just sitting in and observing how the other teachers handle the classes I've been assigned to.Anyway, today was a particularly enjoyable day for me, for many reasons. I finally had the time to return to campus, and relive the memories and experiences of Rag and O Week. I did drop by O Week and Rag yesterday evening as well, and I really had a fun time.I finally got the chance to watch a rehearsal of this year's Arts Rag. I'm actually quite impressed that they managed to get so many dancers this year. Where building the float is concerned though, the Raggers still have some way to go, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that in the week leading up to Rag, more will have been completed. I am of course, feeling a little guilty for not having dropped by back when I was still free to go every day, but I'll definitely find the time to help out next week, up to and including Rag Day itself on the 11th of August. The dance is actually quite nice, though still a little raw, but given a lot more practice, it has the potential to look really great.The main reason why I had dragged myself all the way back to NUS was because I had returned to O Week by special invitation, to teach and perform Mambo Jambo for what is definitely the very last time. Seriously, the thrill of taking charge and watching hundreds of people perform Mambo Jambo along with you is one that is truly hard to beat. Yes, I know I probably mentioned at the O Week finale last year that it was my last time taking charge of the Mass Dance, but well, it's hard to resist the urge to show my stuff and keep the legacy I have left behind going for just one more year. It was great to see all those familiar faces, ranging from folks who were freshies in Arts Camp and O Week 2005, to those who had come in just last year, to old fogeys like Chong Han, Hock, Bobby and Fangling; as for the freshies and the seniors who did not recognise me, well at least they know who I am now. It's my 5th O Week, even though I'm returning this year only as a special guest, but seeing all the OGs cheering away sure does bring me back to all those crazy days that are no more. And it's a great feeling to enter the LT and see so many faces light up in recognition. And of course, the inevitable question that comes after that, "Are you here to teach Mambo again?" As someone told me, "Mass Dance just isn't the same without you." I guess in a way, this is how I've left my own legacy, helping to make O Week a resounding and entertaining success in my own little way. It does help inflate the ego a little, when I think of how future generations of Arts students will speak of that old guy who came to O Week one day and taught them Mambo Jambo dance moves.Still, in a way I guess it is a good thing that I'm gradually beginning to adjust to being just an observer, a bystander to the proceedings, content to just sit back and laugh at the crazy antics, and think back on how, just not too long ago, I was doing the same crazy nonsense.But what made the thrill of teaching yet another batch of freshmen how to Mambo Jambo so much sweeter was because of all the friends I got the chance to meet up with; folks like Lionel, Jasmine Tan, Victor, Yuen Mei, Jianwu, Michelle, Jasmine Ling, Joshua, Yiwen, Carol, Chuan Seng and so many more. Even Xiaofen came back, as did Germaine and Adeline, which truly made my day after O Week ended for the day and we had dinner at Fong Seng and chatted about so many things; Alina managed to join us for a few short moments.Another thing that truly made my day so enjoyable was seeing so many of my fellow RaRa people, whether at O Week or Rag. Poor Eu Ming couldn't get the chance to slack for what is probably his last O Week; he was made the poor OGL once again. Jasmine Ling's helping out just for fun, and joining him are freshies Lixin and Jingxiong. Most of the OG though has committed itself to Rag, which really makes me glad. Shamala's leading the dancers, Gillian, Rachel and Minghui are dancing, and Alvin and Sabrina are helping out as techies. It's good to just hang out with them and chit-chat and gossip, something that I've missed terribly now that I've moved on to a new phase of my life.It's interesting that we've got links between last year's Rotana and this year's RaRa. Wes is back for O Week. And as luck would have it, Yiwen is in Eu Ming's OG as a so-called 'fresh freshie'. It always tickles me to explain the unusual circumstances regarding Yiwen, considering that he joined Arts Camp last year, where he won the Best Male Freshie award for R House, and was a freshie councillor in last year's O Week, when he's coming into NUS only this year. And here he is as a freshie; seriously, how many people can claim that they were Best Male Freshie a year before they officially matriculated, and joined O Week as fresh freshies after having participated once before as freshie councillor? Usually, scenarios like this involve some form of temporal paradox or a rip in the space-time fabric. I expect the universe to collapse upon itself at any moment.Alas, as much as I wanted to stay, refusing to acknowledge that I have to move on with the times and let go, I had to leave eventually. I think my emotional attachment to Arts Club, and FOP in particular, is just so strong that I cannot just disengage myself completely. At least, not just yet. It was particularly telling when I bumped into Tyler sometime after 11 and he asked incredulously, "Ivan you're still around?" I admit, I was so extremely exhausted, and in dire need of rest and a bath, but I was having such a great time that I was loathe to leave. Perhaps next year will be different, and I will feel less compelled to bother myself with FOP, after yet more of the familiar people have graduated.Still, it was great to be back, at least for those few hours.Listening to: Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer) by Dreamhouse Blogging from the workplace... Second day of work...Well, I haven't gone stark raving mad yet, though I am somewhat dreading the day when I'll have to take on a class all by myself, instead of sitting in and helping to maintain some sense of discipline and sanity, which is what I've been doing yesterday and today.The classes are... manageable, I would say. So far, I've met 3 classes, one Secondary 1 Express, one Secondary 2 Normal (Academic), and one Secondary 1 Normal (Technical). And they are all dysfunctional in their own ways. While the Express class is pretty alright, they do have their problems, particularly with the social dynamics among some of the students. Others are quite bright, but with extremely short attention spans. But it's nothing compared to what I see in the Normal classes. Suffice to say that I am not surprised that there seems to be a widespread stigma attached to students in the Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams, if the students I've observed are typical examples of Normal stream students throughout Singapore. In some cases, it is pretty justified. They can be quite a rowdy and boisterous bunch, or simply don't even care about the lesson. But it is a good thing that they're a little intimidated by me, for now at least. Must be the way I just glower at them while I silently walk around the class. And when I see them misbehaving, I walk straight up to them, put on my most serious expression, and tell them politely but very firmly to cease their nonsense. So far it's quite effective, but I guess it's because I'm a very new person to them. The Normal (Technical) class has had a taste of how loud I can be if I choose to raise my voice, which works at getting them to quieten down nearly instantly. I suppose all those years of learning to project my voice in 6 years of English Drama, plus all that cheering I've done at the countless orientation camps I've participated in, really have come in quite handy. I might want to start to stock up on Strepsils though, if I have to do this more often.The thing is, I try to be a warmer and more approachable person when dealing with the Express class. And it is quite challenging to have to switch personalities, like today for example. After two periods of being as stern and as serious as possible in the Normal (Technical) class, I then had a period with the Express class, where I had to put a softer touch to my reprimands.Well, that's the students. Where it comes to my colleagues, they're all pretty nice and friendly, and have helped me settle in pretty well, particularly my HODs, who've provided me with so much material to help me plan for future weeks when I take over classes. And there's a small group of fellow new teachers, and I've bonded pretty well with them. The nice thing about the Staff Room is that it's air-conditioned, and a really soothing place to seek refuge from the maddening crowds outside. I've got a pretty nice little cubicle, which is a little bare at the moment, but I suppose the clutter will eventually build up. I know that I'm already stocking up on Coca Cola and Red Bull, considering that my body hasn't quite fully readjusted itself to waking up early in the morning. And my favourite bit? Every cubicle has its own power sockets and LAN point. Brought my own laptop to school today, and though the connection speed is nowhere close to that of NUS, it is acceptable. Hey, that's the whole point of this blog post, for me to let off some steam while hammering away at my laptop in the Staff Room. Ah yes... nice air-conditioning, warm, friendly and approachable colleagues, Internet access... I could get to like this.Listening to: The school bell An all too brief update. Well, I'm back from my ICT. Thank goodness it wasn't as miserable as I'd feared, and at least I did manage to finally pass my IPPT. Maybe all those dance classes did help.Speaking of dance, my entire Sunday is more or less spent entirely in the UCC dance studio, rehearsing and preparing for The Next Wave. Oh well, that's what happens when I make a request to be slotted into items with weekend rehearsals.I need to go. I officially begin teaching later, and I need my rest. So it's goodbye for now, I'll try to update as and when I can, but I suppose I need to take a look at my priorities.Adieu. Time to move on to a new phase of my life.Listening to: A Little Respect by Erasure Not again... Once more, I find myself having to wake up at such an insane hour, just so that I can make it to Sungei Gedong Camp before 7.30 later. Yes, it's the dreaded return for a week of ICT once again. Argh such wretchednesss... I could have started my teaching career today, and gotten my first pay in a few weeks' time, but no... SAF still somehow manages to ruin my life with its annoying choices of dates for ICT. Sigh...Here we go againSame old shit againUp and down this avenueSix more days and I'll be through! (Hopefully)P.S. For those of you who have been waiting for proper blog posts, I apologise. Blame it on the SAF. I doubt I'll have much free time to blog from the pathetic Armour Training Centre computer cluster this time around. Listening to: Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) by Bob Sinclar Mad About Mambo Jambo: You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) This has got to be one of the signature songs of the 1980s, and a timeless track that's still going strong after all these years.If you think that Pete Burns, the lead singer of Dead Or Alive, has some gender issues in the video posted above, you haven't seen the videos for the 1996 and 2003 versions of this song.This is him in 1996:And this is Pete Burns in 2003:Apart from its two newer editions, various other incarnations of this song have popped up, from an awful rendition by Thalia, to a just slightly more tolerable version by Jessica Simpson. Then there was the enjoyable remix that used the song as background, combined with the vocals of Dannii Minogue on her hit single I begin To Wonder:Personally, my favourite version, apart from the original 1984 classic, has to be the one done by Gigi D'Agostino:Watch out here I comeYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round roundYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round roundIf I, I get to know your nameWell if I, could trace your private number, babyAll I know is that to meYou look like you're lots of funOpen up your lovin' armsI want some, want someI set my sights on you(And no one else will do)And I, I've got to have my way now, babyAll I know is that to meYou look like you're having funOpen up your lovin' armsWatch out here I comeYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round roundYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round roundI got to be your friend now, babyAnd I would like to move in just a little bit closerAll I know is that to meYou look like you're lots of funOpen up your lovin' armsWatch out, here I comeYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round roundYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round roundI want your love...I want your love...All I know is that to meYou look like you're lots of funOpen up your lovin' armsWatch out, here I comeYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round roundYou spin me right round, babyRight round like a record, babyRight round round round...- You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) by Dead Or Alive A new phase... Well, it seems that I've been posted to teach at Damai Secondary. It's a good thing that it's just a 15 minutes' bus ride from my home, though I do kind of wish that I could have been posted to one of the many secondary schools in my neighbourhood. Oh well, it could have been worse.I guess it's really the end of an enjoyable holiday for me. I do have some regrets with not having really made full use of my time, as I have a lot of things left undone or incomplete. So much for tidying my room, backing up my hard drive, going out to explore more of Singapore's wild places, and not to mention finishing up the billions of unfinished and unwritten posts I have saved to my drafts.On the other hand, I have had a number of fulfilling moments, among them volunteering for the Naked Hermit Crabs, and taking part in a really enjoyable final Arts Camp. It's a pity that I couldn't get the holiday job I was seeking, but it doesn't really matter now, considering that once I commence work, my monthly salary will exceed any amount of money my bank account has ever contained. I just wish that I didn't have to get my first pay packet so late (damn you, SAF!).In other news, I'm feeling really extremely sian about my upcoming ICT, which starts next Monday, and which is also the reason why I begin teaching on the 30th of July. Otherwise, my teaching career would have commenced next week, and I wouldn't have to wait too long to get my pay. Really impeccable timing, but then again, the SAF has always had a long history of screwing me over. -_-Well, I really ought to try and change my sleeping habits.Listening to: True Love Never Dies vs. Airwave by Flip & Fill vs. Rank 1 It's been too long since I've returned... Headed back to campus yesterday, for a bit of reminiscing, and to visit my juniors who're hard at work for O Week and Rag.I joined the O Week pre-camp at LT10, and looked for Chong Han. A pity that Julie can't return due to her hall Rag commitments, but Ker Ching will make a great partner in crime for Chong Han. Heh. Once again, R House has two male House ICs, two years after Beng Chong and I led Rojak in 2005.Tien Kuan did not strike me initially as the sort who could speak to an entire camp the same way people like Carol, Xu Zi and Steven could, but I don't know most of the 27th MC that well, and besides, I'm in no position to dabble in their affairs. I'm a little concerned that a lot of the old seniors will be gone, seniors who would no doubt have helped to carry the spirit and energy of the camp, but hey, I suppose it's just the old fogey in me who misses the good ol' days. At least Hock, Bobby, Chong Han and Shu Ning will still be around. Funny how so many people I once saw as freshmen have stepped up to the challenge, and filled in the shoes of those who preceded them, creating their own legacies. I'm happy that I've had my own legacy, one that might survive for a couple more years or so perhaps. Would the seniors of future Arts Camp and O Week speak of Ivan, that twisted old fogey who was also the Mambo King? I was initially a little disappointed when I didn't see any of my freshies from this year's Arts Camp among the councillors. A number of the senior councillors recognised me, and they were quite happy to see me. As for the freshie councillors, I'm sure more than a few of them were probably thinking, "Who is this guy?" unless they remembered me from Arts Camp. I didn't see anyone from Rotana though. Eu Ming's probably returning, and Wes is confirmed, but I wonder if Germaine, Adeline, Yiwen and Tom will be coming back. Would be an interesting situation if last year's Rotana could combine with this year's RaRa to lead an OG together.A few of the folks from the Organising Committee spotted me as well, and I was happy to see Carol and Chuan Seng, among others. Ah yes, it's nice to still see a few familiar faces, even if their number steadily decreases every year.Ker Ching said he missed my Mambo Jambo antics, and to be honest, I am a little sad that I really have to keep my distance this time around. Now that I'll be employed during the actual O Week, there's no way I can commit myself the same way I have done every year since I was a freshman. No last-minute caving in the same way I did with Arts Camp. No Mambo Jambo-inspired cheers like what we had for RaRa, though perhaps if my freshies manage to return, they might conceivably continue my legacy of the Hardcore Cheer and Mambo Cheer. I wonder when will be the next time Arts Club has a resident Mambo King.I will miss the cheering, the friendships that are formed, the highs that come with doing absolutely crazy things on the beach or in campus. I'll definitely miss the fun of leading cheers, of helping to rally the house whenever Chong Han needed a rest. I guess once you've been a House IC once before, it's just second nature to step in anytime you feel your energy and voice is needed to help boost morale. I will kind of miss seeing all the attractive young ladies who join O Week (yes, I admit that it is a minor perk) . But I'll most definitely miss the thrill of teaching and performing Mambo Jambo in front of hundreds of people.Somehow, I guess it is a good thing that I'm not really feeling the attachment to O Week this time around. Though I probably will return from time to time in the evenings to see how things are, this is the most I am going to invest in this year's O Week. After all, I do have to move on, and acknowledge that while I probably have played a part in helping make O Week an enjoyable experience for many over the past 4 years, things still go on with or without me. Chong Han and Ker Ching should be able to handle things, and I was quite impressed with how close-knit and friendly this batch of councillors are, and that quite a large proportion of those who were present yesterday were freshmen from this year's Arts Camp.I guess it's the cynicism and weariness that has set in after so many years, seeing how O Week always turns out. Sure, it's still fun and memorable, but seeing a pathetically small handful of freshmen returning day after day does not work wonders for the morale and energy. I remember how after all the hard work and effort that so many of us senior and freshie councillors had put in, only a tiny bunch of freshmen came back on the last day, on the day when it should have ended with a high, but to me seemed to conclude with a whimper. I remember seeing the pathetic size of the entire R House for War Games, and thought to myself, "Screw this, I'm heading down to Rag". Though I did have fun, particularly during the Mass Dance segments and on Sentosa, I just did not quite have the same attachment to O Week that I once had in previous years. In a way, it is good that I'm feeling even less attachment this year.I don't blame Eu Ming for completely giving up on trying to maintain any semblance of integrity of Rockstar, the OG we led for O Week. It's hard work trying to keep in contact with so many groups of friends, and it's an even tougher job having to set aside time for all of them. It's sad, but sometimes, one just has to ditch those groups for whom the bonds and ties were never that strong to begin with. I am happy that Rotana and RaRa still remain quite close, even though the age gap between the freshmen and I is so great.A while after my arrival, the O Week people moved off to SRC for some games. I was feeling a little lazy to travel all the way, and particularly because I also wanted to go visit the Raggers, I left and headed to LT11. The Raggers were quite surprised and pleased to see me, and I tried to make myself useful, helping with twirling strips of aluminium.It was my turn to be surprised when a whole bunch returned from can collection, with a bunch of my RaRa freshies among them. Sabrina, Li Xin, Li Shi, Alvin and Jing Xiong actually came down for Rag! I was so touched, especially with how they were so enthusiastic about the whole affair, and considering they did not need much pushing and encouragement on my part in the emails we sent out during Arts Camp. Looks like Jasmine Ling was right; every year, one OG from R House becomes the Ragger OG, and it looks like RaRa will be it this year, what with so many of our freshmen around, Gillian and Shamala dancing, and with me promising to come back and help as and when I can.While I worked, I chatted with Xinyu, and later, we were joined by Alvin Teo, and the 2 of us chatted about the generations of Arts Club people, and all the memories we shared. He went off on his rants a few times, but then again, that's Alvin. I left for a short while and headed down to the Geography Department. Finally managed to bump into David Higgitt, who passed me a CD of photos taken in the Maliau Basin. Yes... my plans to produce more videos is underway...I was pleased to see so many of last year's freshmen taking part in Rag this year, and a pretty respectable number of freshmen as well. Great to see Kenneth, Applie, Xinyu, Nicholas, Victor and Brian, as well as seniors like Alvin, Guanjie and Lionel. Even Paul and Jasmine, who like me graduated this year, showed up for a moment or so.We went out for dinner in the evening, and had a nice meal at a seafood restaurant in Clementi. Though once again, I was the oldest among the entire bunch, it was a comfortable time, chatting and making crazy jokes with familiar faces. Squeezing into the back of a lorry brought back so many memories, especially what with the hellish traffic and driving that left a lot to be desired. Heh. At least we made it there and back safe and sound with no casualties. I guess it's a little sad that I won't be able to invest that much time and energy into Rag this year, especially now that my own freshmen have committed themselves to it. Though they have expressed interest in O Week, I have a feeling they'll somehow choose to concentrate their energies on Rag in time to come.By the time we returned to campus, it was getting a little late. I decided to return to check out the O Week people, who were trying out Night Venture. I did feel a little out of place; most of the people I recognised were busy with planning, and Chong Han was nowhere to be seen. Turns out that he had a fun time playing a ghost. Ker Ching told me that sometime in the late afternoon, when they were waiting in LT10 after returning from SRC, the O Comm played Mambo Jambo music. Must have been Carol. And damn, could have been an opportunity for me to make one final impression on this year's O Week, though it's probably just the attention whore in me. I left at 11, and finally headed for home. It was a day spent reliving my innumerable FOP memories, days of youthful energy and enthusiasm, and though I am happy to finally move on to a new phase of my life, my heart is heavy. For that spark has been rekindled, giving me the itch for O Week and Rag once again, even though in truth I cannot return as a participant, only as an observer. For my time has passed and it is now my turn to take my place among those who have left their own legacies of Arts Club.I was originally intending to return to school today, just to drop by O Week pre-camp, and perhaps teach them my crazy cheers or have some fun doing Mambo Jambo moves in Sentosa, but by the time I woke up, it was already afternoon and not worth the trip. I'm happy that I returned for Arts Camp, allowing me to depart with at least this final memory. At least I can hold on to my memories of this year's Arts Camp. As for O Week, it probably won't be the same without me, and more than a few people will probably miss my presence, and my Mambo Jambo antics. But they'll do fine. As for Rag, I'll try to come back whenever I can. And I'm definitely going to be there on 10th and 11th August.Listening to: I Begin To Wonder by Dannii Minogue Musical Mondays: Let U Go I've been to all the familiar placesI've been running like a sentence never begunI've been looking for a way to let you knowI've got nothing left to fill the spacesI've got nothing but a centre coming undoneI've been doing circles and it showsI've been to allI've been to allI've been to all the familiar placesI've been running like a sentence never begunI've been looking for a way to let you knowI've got nothing left to fill the spacesI've got nothing but a centre coming undoneI've been doing circles and it showsEvery cloud in the skyEvery place that I hideTell me that II was wrong to let you goEvery sound that I hearEvery thought that I fearTell me that II was wrongI was wrong to let you goLet you goLet you goLet you goIt's the little things that make you crazyLike the thought of someone touching your skinI can see you everywhere I goYou could be inside a sea of facesIt could be a rumour of your grinSwimming in the river as it flowsEvery cloud in the skyEvery place that I hideTell me that II was wrong to let you goEvery sound that I hearEvery thought that I fearTell me that II was wrongI was wrong to let you goEvery cloud in the skyEvery sound that I hearLet you go- Let U Go by ATB Sexy Sundays Rie Mashiko Mad About Mambo Jambo: Leave A Light On I think this song is particularly appropriate, at a time when I'm trying to move on, to leave the sweet memories of my past behind, and to seek a new future. And yet, if and when our paths cross once again, I can only hope that the passage of time would not have diminished the friendships we once shared.This song is dedicated to various friends, who have been invaluable companions during my 4 years of study in NUS, and who are too numerous to list down. It is thanks to your company and encouragement that have made my tertiary education so much more memorable, and so much more worthwhile beyond mere academic achievement.Take my handTell me what you're feelingUnderstandThis is just the beginningAlthough I have to goIt makes me feel like cryingI don't know when I'll see you againDarling leave a light on for meI'll be there before you close the doorTo give you all the love that you needDarling leave a light on for me'Cause when the world takes me awayYou are still the air that I breatheI can't explain I don't knowJust how far I have to goBut darling I'll keep the keyJust leave a light on for meYes I knowWhat I'm asking is crazyYou could goJust get tired of waitingBut if I lose your loveTorn out by my desireThat would be the one regret of my lifeDarling leave a light on for meI'll be there before you close the doorTo give you all the love that you needDarling leave a light on for me'Cause when the world takes me awayYou are still the air that I breatheI can't explain I don't knowJust how far I have to goBut darling I'll keep the keyJust leave a light on for meJust like a spark lights up the darkBaby that's your heartBaby that's your heartBaby that's your heartDarling leave a light on for meI'll be there before you close the doorTo give you all the love that you needDarling leave a light on for me'Cause when the world takes me awayYou are still the air that I breatheDarling leave a light on for meI'll be there before you close the doorI'll be all the love that you needDarling leave a light on for me'Cause when the world takes me awayYou are still the air that I breathe...- Leave A Light On by Belinda Carlisle Musical Mondays: Forever Young The end of another chapter in my life. But the next chapter is still a blank page, with hints of words yet unwritten, of new adventures still to come.Perhaps I'm not quite ready to let go of these memories just yet. The past 4 years have been colourful beyond my wildest imagination, full of joy, sorrow, laughter, tears, pleasure, pain, with the corridors and walls of campus bearing silent witness to it all. Scenes of love that has come and gone, of friends found and lost, of joyful reunions and tearful farewells. If the walls could speak, what tales would they tell?Events of the past week helped ease the transition, helping me maintain and fortify the bridge between my undergraduate years and my future life as a working adult. Perhaps I am quite different from many of my fellow peers, having made a large number of friends and acquaintances from all different levels, thanks to my loyal involvement in orientation activities. It's ironic how gatherings can make one feel so old, yet at the same time, when one is caught in the moment, laughing along at a joke or fondly reminiscing on a shared memory, the age gap is momentarily erased, and one can almost believe that time has hardly passed at all.Yet other events occurred, which only served to remind me that my time as a crazy undergraduate has passed, that it is now time to shoulder the burdens that come along with being a full-time member of the workforce. Events which signified the end of my NUS days, and those of many of my peers, and symbolised the end of an era, yet at the same time heralding the start of an unknown future.As we continue to journey on life's long, winding and sometimes torturous paths, may we always hold these memories close to our hearts, and may we never lose that spirit and fire that help bring meaning to life.Let's dance in style, let's dance for a whileHeaven can wait we're only watching the skiesHoping for the best but expecting the worstAre you gonna drop the bomb or not?Let us die young or let us live foreverWe don't have the power but we never say neverSitting in a sandpit, life is a short tripThe music's for the sad menCan you imagine when this race is wonTurn our golden faces into the sunPraising our leaders we're getting in tuneThe music's played by the mad menForever young, I want to be forever youngDo you really want to live forever, forever and everForever young, I want to be forever youngDo you really want to live forever?Forever youngSome are like water, some are like the heatSome are a melody and some are the beatSooner or later they all will be goneWhy don't they stay youngIt's so hard to get old without a causeI don't want to perish like a fading horseYouth's like diamonds in the sunAnd diamonds are foreverSo many adventures couldn't happen todaySo many songs we forgot to playSo many dreams swinging out of the blueWe let them come trueForever young, I want to be forever youngDo you really want to live forever, forever and everForever young, I want to be forever youngDo you really want to live forever?Forever youngForever young, I want to be forever youngDo you really want to live forever, forever and everForever young, I want to be forever youngDo you really want to live forever?Forever Young- Forever Young by Alphaville Just a short note... ... to let everyone know that I'm still alive. I'm in the process of creating a number of somewhat overdue posts, including -i) My recent (and absolutely final) Arts Camp, and review of my most memorable moments of Arts Camp over the years.ii) Recent OG outings, times when I feel so young, yet at the same time I am reminded of how old I am compared to most of the other people I hang out with at these outings.iii) I watched Transformers. I swear, when Optimus Prime first appeared (in truck form), all the grown men in the audience excitedly began whispering amongst themselves. Considering that I am a semi-Transformers geek (somewhat thanks to my friend Heng Yip during NS), expect a mega-review coming up.Oh, and in other news, I have officially graduated from NUS. Whoohoo! But it also signals a new era of uncertainty for me as I try and find a new sense of direction in my life. A post on my commencement coming up as well.Remind me to do a short review of my latest change in handphone.Plus throw in a bunch of other random and miscellaneous posts, reminiscing about my NUS days, my thoughts on why this year's Live Earth concerts are way overhyped, plus the tragic fate of Sentosa's coral reefs, and you can see that once again, I am beginning to get a little overwhelmed where it comes to updating this space.Then when you consider that my Sundays are now pretty much gone because of dance practice for The Next Wave, and other matters such as outings and gatherings, I shall really have to wait and see if it is ever possible to actually blog about all those topics I've mentioned above. Oh, and then there's the ideas I have for a couple of videos for the Honours class.Oh well. Time to head to bed. I'll be out of the house for practically the whole day later. I'm now a busy busy man...P.S. Oh yah, Val, if you're reading this, I really am a pig. I keep going out and eating good food but I keep forgetting to take photos before I dig in. Listening to: So Young by The Corrs Sexy Sundays Sayuri Ohtomo Mad About Mambo Jambo: Together In Electric Dreams This song has special significance for me, particularly during this period of time. Last week was my final Arts Camp, a fitting (and tearful) end to so many years of selfless and wholehearted commitment to Arts Club and FOP, while this weekend, I will finally be graduating from NUS, and bidding my beloved Geography Honours classmates goodbye as we go our separate ways on life's winding paths.Though I like to think that this is not a final farewell, I have to acknowledge that usually, such matters are out of my hands. In any case, I'll always treasure these memories.I only knew you for a whileI never saw your smile'Til it was time to goTime to go away (Time to go away)Sometimes it's hard to recogniseLove comes as a surpriseAnd it's too lateIt's just too late to stayToo late to stayWe'll always be togetherHowever far it seems(Love never ends)We'll always be togetherTogether in electric dreamsBecause the friendship that you gaveHas taught me to be braveNo matter where I go I'll never find a better prize(Find a better prize)Though you're miles and miles awayI see you every day I don't have to tryI just close my eyesI close my eyesWe'll always be togetherHowever far it seems(Love never ends)We'll always be togetherTogether in electric dreamsWe'll always be togetherHowever far it seems(Love never ends)We'll always be togetherTogether in electric dreamsWe'll always be togetherHowever far it seems(Love never ends)We'll always be togetherTogether in electric dreamsWe'll always be togetherHowever far it seems(Love never ends)We'll always be togetherTogether in electric dreams- Together In Electric Dreams by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder It's back... =( Caffeine withdrawal headache has returned. I guess it really was a bad idea to drink all that Coca Cola during Arts Camp last week, even if I did need that caffeine and sugar boost. Now that I've been caffeine-free for the past couple of days, I think my body is rebelling once again.At least I'm not in a situation like this:Why are the nearest 24-hour convenience stores and vending machines still so far away from my block...EDIT 1.00 am: I forgot there was a vending machine at a nearby neighbouring block. So when I went to walk Bailey, I stopped by and got myself a can of Coca Cola. Well, headache's gone now. Listening to: I Move On by DJ Fierce Musical Mondays: Forever I'm all alone in bed And I can't sleep I'm feeling blueI try to close my eyesBut all I'm thinking of is youBaby only youI cry my eyes out babyWondering what I have to doI look inside my heartI know for sure this love is trueDay by day, heart to heartI hope that we will ever be togetherWill it be me and youI dream that our love will last foreverHold me tight in your armsI know we have the strength to stay togetherWalk with me hand in handI promise to be there foreverForeverI'm all alone in bed And I can't sleep I'm feeling blueI try to close my eyesBut all I'm thinking of is youBaby only youI cry my eyes out babyWondering what I have to doI look inside my heartI know for sure this love is trueDay by day, heart to heartI hope that we will ever be togetherWill it be me and youI dream that our love will last foreverHold me tight in your armsI know we have the strength to stay togetherWalk with me hand in handI promise to be there foreverForeverForever...- Forever by Dee Dee Sexy Sundays Hatsune Matsushima It's so hard to say goodbye Well, I'm home.Arts Camp was loads of fun. There were the usual ups and downs, but seeing how the freshmen were really having a great time and making friends was worth it.The finale was very emotional for me, even more than last year's. For seniors and freshmen alike, many of us were crying at the end of it all. Leon's videos always somehow manage to stir up the emotions.For people like Hock, Chong Han and Giang, whom I've known since our Raphaus days in O Week 2004, it's been wonderful to have had you as company on this journey all these years. For others, like Jasmine, Xiaofen, Shuning, Leon, Josh, Carol, JJ and Chuan Seng, whom I got to know in 2005, having you around was comforting, even as this year, more old friends were replaced by unfamiliar faces.Every year, I come back to Arts Camp, asking myself, why am I doing this? Today, looking all around me, seeing the friendships that had been forged, the immense pride and satisfaction on the faces of the O Comm members, the tears we seniors shed as we hugged each other, I think I understand.To my fellow councillors of RaRa, young and old alike (haha), thank you for being there to help in the task of making the freshmen feel comfortable and at ease, and for going along with the crazy (and hardcore) antics of someone who doesn't want to grow old just yet.To Euming and Jasmine, my 2 fellow old fogeys in RaRa, your experience was truly invaluable. Having the both of you around made it so much easier for me to get into the mood. And I'm sure we could all rest easy knowing that as long as one of us was around to take care of the OG, everything would be fine.To the freshmen of RaRa, it's weird, but even though I can't help but think how old I am compared to you, when we're cheering at Sentosa or at the SRC, somehow I just feel so young once again. Your enthusiasm and friendliness helped keep my mind and spirit going even when my body was on the verge of collapse.To Chong Han, thanks for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this for one final time. It's been an honour for me to have been in the same house as you for the past 2 years, and frankly, you do a far better job as House IC than I could ever have.To Julie, you make a wonderful House IC. It was great to see how you managed to keep our spirits up even during those times when Chong Han was away, and I'm sure you really have got what it takes to lead the House, and groom Chong Han's successor from next year onwards.To Xiaofen, I was never as strong as you, and I could never fully pull myself away like you have. I'm immensely thankful that you still joined us for a few days and contributed your experience and skills in handling an OG. Thanks for being there to remind me that even after all the tears, and the memories, life has to go on.So I guess my FOP journey has truly finally come to an end.Listening to: The End by Groove Coverage No regrets. Voice is gone. Freaking exhausted. Puffy eyes, dark circles and huge eyebags. Digestive system's all screwed up. 4 days of crazy cheering, running around like a mad person and doing all sorts of semi-obscene things all in the spirit of fun and enjoyment.But truly, this is where my heart will always be. The people will always be changing, the programmes will never be exactly the same from year to year, but I'm glad I chose to return and give my all for one final time. What have I gotten myself into? I didn't sleep a wink for the whole of last night. I guess the old excitement plus the fact that I've become used to staying awake all night long lately meant that as much as I wanted to get some much needed shut-eye, sleep eluded me, even as Chong Han, Euming and Jasmine slept next to me.Joined Euming, Jasmine and the rest of my OG's councillors at Fong Seng; I knew Derek and Shamala from Rag last year, but Gillian and Ryan were new faces to me. And I committed an embarrassing gaffe when I made a disparaging remark about Engineering, before I realised that Ryan was from Engineering. OOPS. We returned to AS3 and practised some cheers; Jasmine sure has plenty of ideas for original cheers, I just hope we'll have the time to teach the freshmen the cheers, and the opportunities to show them off. Then we all went to sleep, with the 4 old folks, Chong Han, Jasmine, Euming and I finding our own comfortable little corner.No matter how much I tried, I simply couldn't sleep. Got up a few times, and walked around parts of the faculty alone. Quite eerie at this time, especially since most areas are deserted, save for the bunch of R House councillors sleeping outside Rag Room. I wonder where all the other people who stayed overnight slept. I even managed to sit outside LT12 and compose new original lyrics for a cheer. Heh. I am seriously dying to show off this cheer. The A House people think their cheer is twisted enough, I'll show them what's twisted. I really must have spent quite some time away, because Chong Han had taken the sleeping bag I'd used for my pillow and made it his blanket. Damn. Now I was missing a pillow, and I realised that even though I'd seriously packed too much stuff this time around, I'd forgotten to bring a small pillow.We woke up (or rather, they woke up) at 6.30, showered, and changed into our own unique OG T-shirts before heading off for breakfast. Hurrah... trust Jasmine and Euming to have the initiative to have something as unique as an OG T-shirt.And so, after a sleepless night, I find myself in the Eusoff Hall function room, waiting for the freshmen to arrive. I find myself drinking Coca Cola once more, since I'm feeling quite groggy now and am in dire need of a sugar and caffeine boost. I expect to start to lose my voice before lunchtime. Oh well, I had to be weak and join Arts Camp once more.And it all begins one more time...Listening to: The councillors of each OG heralding the arrival of the freshmen with a cheer And for the final time in my life... (Seriously, for real) July 1, 2003. My first ever Arts Camp. Back then, I would never have guessed that it would mark the beginning of a long, fruitful and memorable journey.I've been a part of Arts Camp every year, except in 2004 when it clashed with my in-camp training. But aside from that, I've returned every year, wanting to feel the thrill and excitement, to be a part of the orientation process and have loads of fun at the same time. Sure, it's draining, and I end up losing my voice all the time, and it's 5 days spent away from home when I probably should be doing a lot of other things, but seeing the friendships that are made over the course of the camp, being a part of all the crazy antics, seeing the sheer joy and exuberance of the others around me, freshmen and seniors alike, is an experience that I simply cannot get enough of.Tonight, I head for campus, to attend my final Arts Camp. Funny how last year, I thought it would be my final one. Funny how over the past year, whenever anyone asked me if I was coming back for Arts Camp, I'd immediately say no, saying that I was too old for this crazy and tiring stuff, and it was time to move on. Funny how I kept telling myself that it was time for me to let go and look towards the future.Well, I guess this just goes to show how fickle-minded I can be sometimes. Time for this old bird to show what he's made of.Listening to: Here I Go Again by E-Type Musical Mondays: Sun Is Shining Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, yeahMake you wanna move your dancing feet nowTo the rescue, here I amWant you to know, y'all, can you understandI'm a rainbow too...To the rescue, here I amWant you to know, y'all, can you understandTo the rescue, here I amWant you to know, y'all, can you understand- Sun Is Shining (ATB Airplay Mix) by Bob Marley Oh my. The first time I watched this video, I got goosebumps, and could feel tears coming to my eyes. And I don't even like opera.2 weeks ago, Paul Potts was a complete nobody. Today, thanks to television and the World Wide Web, millions of people around the world now know who he is.This is my lifelong dream, says the singing salesmanHe has been billed as the classic hidden talent, the overnight star unearthed by chance and catapulted into the limelight. The truth about Paul Potts, the modest mobile phone salesman with the romantic soul and the voice of a Neapolitan opera singer, is, though, a little different.While the three judges of the hit ITV show Britain's Got Talent, on which Potts appeared last week, may have been astonished to discover the quality of his voice, he has in fact been struggling for 10 years on the fringes of the operatic world, looking for an opportunity to show the world what he can do.Sure, he's nothing compared with what the professional opera scene has to offer. But it's perhaps his story which is most compelling to us, the way the television producers present the tale of an extremely ordinary person, unassuming, nothing much to look at, with a very run-of-the-mill job, who yet at the same time has an extraordinary hidden talent. Makes one wonder when you're on the street and watch the sea of people all around; how many of them are just like Paul Potts, completely ordinary folks, yet with amazing skills nobody knows about?The People's Tenor Pits the Sniffles Against the SniffsWhat was that audience in the broadcast reacting to? Packaging played a role: the doleful, hard-luck contestant with debts and health woes who unexpectedly pours out beautiful song. (A contestant who has had opera training and some experience with a local company. And he is, after all, from Wales, which has a great singing tradition.)"At first you think he's going to make a fool of himself," said Melissa Lonner, a senior producer for "Today." "So many of these people go on contests — it's funny. Some of them are a little ridiculous."Then he opens his mouth. You hear the voice, and the voice is mesmerizing. You close your eyes and you feel the voice is very accessible. He could be your next-door neighbor."The semi-final:The final:Last Sunday, Paul Potts won the "Britain's Got Talent" contest, walking away with £100,000, and the opportunity to appear at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.Perhaps in a world full of pain and suffering, where people learn to harden their hearts and become jaded and cynical, it's the true-life stories like these that help lift the spirits, giving us hope for a brighter and better tomorrow.Listening to: Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman Sexy Sundays Manami Hashimoto Goodbye, Thierry Henry. Thanks for the memories of the past 8 years. You'll always have a place in our hearts as one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time. While I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing that you could have ended your career with Arsenal like what Dennis Bergkamp did, we can only wish you all the best with Barcelona.Henry to sign for BarcaMADRID - ARSENAL'S French striker Thierry Henry will sign a four-year contract with Barcelona for a transfer fee of 24 million euros (S$50 million), sources at the Primera Liga club said on Friday.[...]On Saturday, Henry confirmed he was leaving Arsenal to join Barcelona.'I still must pass a medical on Monday but yes, I have chosen Barcelona,' the France striker told French sports daily L'Equipe on Saturday. 'I will sign there for the next four seasons.'A couple of excellent blog posts regarding the transfer:Goodbye Thierry, now let's move on.Thierry Henry: The seven words this Gooner fears he will never live to say...In recent years, we've said goodbye to Bergkamp, Pires, Vieira. Arsenal has carried on in their absence, but now Henry, the most iconic Arsenal player, is leaving. What does the future hold for all Gunners fans? What's with the talk about Arsene Wenger possibly leaving in the near future as well? Let's keep our fingers crossed, and hope that the new generation of players will be able to rise to the challenge, and bring the club to greater heights. After all, Man Utd and Chelsea need to be kept on their toes.Va-va-voom. Watching Arsenal play will never be the same.