28 April, Monday

Amazing what TIME can do...

It has been 2 weeks since my last shitty week/post!   How time flies and how things changes, just thought it will be good for me to take a moment to recollect the good stuffs this time round.

- Rowing Experiences

 Gosh, I am beginning to enjoy rowing, I have been rowing on the lake 5 times over the past 3 weeks. Not quite there yet technically, but I am enjoying every bit of the experience.  Today, we had only 1 boat out (only 4 turn up), because it was about 10 degree and raining!   Cold, but indeed a rare experience.  Who in the right frame of mind would be rowing in the cold autumn rain?  But we did, even though we had to turn back after 30mins, it was a very enjoyable attempt!

- Horse ridding!  

When down to Mornington Peninsula with Hwee Kuan and Yonghao for horse-ridding. 

It was a pretty challenging week for me.  Arrived from Perth on Friday morning 5am ... I was dead tired, slept throughout the journey.  Took another 2 hours nap and headed out for our trip.  Couldn't wake up to meet them for breakfast as planned and I wasn't in my top condition.  Sore throat, toothache and etc... just not 100%.   We lost our way a few times and were late for the 12noon trip, however we negotiated for an 1 hour ride,  which turned out to be a blessing in disgust.  My shin would have swollen otherwise and I know I wouldn't have enjoyed as much if it was longer.  Just wished I can grasp the trotting technique better... didn't quite get it, and did had a bit of problem standing.  My feet kept coming off the pedal!   Overall a very nice especially.  

- Golf

Finally, after 13 months in Australia, I picked up my golf clubs again and on 24 April, played on the Vines golf course (Perth) with Warren Mckenzie (Goughs); Bassem; Robin; Robin's friend Typhoon; and KK of ADC.  I paired with KK on one flight and the other 4 were on another flight.  It was a beautiful afternoon, with temperature around 20 deg and partly sunny.   Perfect weather for golf, in fact, for anything!  :->  I didn't do that badly at all, and scored about 126... not bad taking into account that I have not been playing for awhile.  It all ended well, with us drinking up about 7 to 8 jugs of beer after that!  Never had so much beer in my life! A little too much unnecessary calories I must admit.

- Tennis 

Playing a lot more now... especially these few months with the Autumn season still in play.   At least 4 times a week, 1 practice session with the team, womens doubles, mixed doubles and of course 1 or 2 session with Travis (my coach).  And on a good week, I may get to play with Alex or Hendro and Lawrence since last Sunday!   It's all good, and I am seeing myself improving, still having problem holding my serves at crucial points but, I am getting there... at least better than what I used to be when I first came into Australia.

Dragged thinking about winter though cause that's where a lot of these will stopped. 

Saturday, 12 April 2008

Unnecessary Troubles

Not not a good week psychologically... maybe because the weekend before did not meet my expectation! Plan got screwed... human behaviors and etc... very much affected by it, leaving me at home the whole Sunday afternoon. Even though I managed to get my stuffs done, it is still the "dissatisfaction" that is driving me up the wall. Sigh... EXPECTATION, when will I ever get rid of that and enjoy life happily?

But physically though, it appeared to be a good week, pack my stuffs ready for our office move next week!

Unless I get rid of those dissatisfaction, I'll never b e happy. The best part is, the person(s) I was disappointed with are not even aware or do not ever bother! So, why am I doing that to myself? Having all the unnecessary expectation and then getting disappointed! Sigh.... desire, desire, is really not helping. Should I be asking: "Why do people not place any importance to the commitment they made to me" or should I be asking: "Why am I having so my expectation of people's response and behavior?" I know the later will make me happier, by not expecting too much... BUT, it is easier said then done! I try very hard giving people the benefit of doubt, but...

Today, an even more disappointing day and very moody...

- Was very much looking forward to a good hit of tennis with my coach... guess what? A big patch of DARK clouds was blowing in our direction! Decided to call it off... on a Friday evening! That was ridiculous... I was just lost and didn't know what to do. Tried Tommy to see if I can get a PT session, tried Zoran to see if he have a hit, tried Celine to see if she would like a drink... all to no avail. At that moment, I realized just why I hate to be in Melbourne alone. Was hoping that someone would sms or call and we can go out for a drink! I was still a affected by the attitude of the incident last weekend and with that, I must say it did affect our friendship for now. Anyway, I was so desperate and was willing to go for a Comedy show myself, but... I was too lazy to change... ended staying home! No reply from Tommy on my request to take his 10.15 session tomorrow as well. Guess I will try to attend the cycling at 9.30am... and see if he available. Whatever it is, I NEED to go for my workout.

The weekend ahead? Hope nothing screwed up again...

1) Forego the BBQ with Argonauts just because I don't really know these people and I need to do my workout...(2) Meeting Celine in the afternoon and (3)planning to go over to Agnes' place for dinner... believe it or not, she has been here for a week now, but I only saw them last weekend! Sigh, I seriously missed spending time with Agnes, to just chat, or even do my part of being a host.

As for Sunday... Rowing at 10am is something I look forward to very much, I do enjoy rowing if I row well. As for the afternoon, the sad truth, I still do not have any plan, or didn't dare to make any plans cause I would seriously like to spend time with Agnes and family where possible. Else, will hit some tennis balls and maybe go to the driving range.... all else failed, I will go for a jog if the weather is good. I need to treasure these days when the weather is just perfect, as this will not last. In no time, we'll be freezing, and it will be a challenge getting myself out of the apartment to jog!

SIGH, SIGH, SIGH... Life, I seriously wish sometimes that it will just end here and I don't have to be so emotionally affected by all these self-imposed ups and downs!

Thursday, 10 April 2008   2.40am

Rejuvenated 

Thought it's about time I picked up this habit of writing again.  It is amazing to know how "human" enthusiasm can be so short-term... I was so excited to want to share my experience through this blog, and what happened?   I have been in Melbourne for more than a year now, 14 months to be exact and how much have I written?

This habit had been taken over by other, more exciting activities and  by pure "laziness"! 

It's now 2.25am.  Had been sleeping past 3am these days.  Thought I jot some key thoughts before I go to bed.    

Highlights include:-

- Installed Skype and had communicated with Huiting once and Sandy about twice. It's actually quite fun.   Will have my nephews installed that in time to come so that I can call my dad! 

- Agnes and Vijay in Melbourne with the 2 kids, Anne and Ryan.   Enjoyed being with the kids, noisy but really cute.   I am seeing a different side of the kids than what I usually get in Singapore.  Unfortunate that I didn't have a chance to  spend more time with Agnes, will probably try in the next week.

- Flowers... just received another one today... I lost count,  but it must have been more than 6 now, with the previous one being a plant!  The only difference this time was, I actually brought it home, cause it is finally the flowers that I like, Lily (Bai He) and I  have been wanting to get one to decorate my apartment... so, timing is just right.  Michelle was also surprised that I actually brought it back!   I really do not know what to do, or how to react.    Funny really, always feels that he is just satisfying his own believe without sparing a thought for others.  But on the other hand, why would he keep sending?    What am supposed to do?

- Office Move.  Believe this is the most disorganized one I've seen, and I am not impressed with the way the contractor work at all!  Compare to Singapore, I really feel it is not Value for $$ at all!   

- Rowing!   Yes, I have finally attended the lesson and did rowed on Albert Park Lake just the recent Sunday.   Stressful, but really enjoyable.    Guess the key is really Teamwork and enjoying the lake.   Didn't regret joining and in fact, very much looking forward to this Sunday's second Lake session.   Had to sacrifice some jogging or tennis for that.   There will be a camp which I can't join (very much wanted to)  because of the TC Conference!  Sigh...timing.

-  Jogging.  I wanted very much to join Running Spirit again to build  my stamina and etc...  I will do so soon just so as to keep myself "active"... and hopefully to really lose some weight.  Pretty disgusted with myself now.                

- Gym cum Personal Training

Had been with Tommy for quite awhile now... and I believe will keep that going for as long as I can.  

Tired.. that will be it for now...