Today's sort of the first day since the week started that I did intensive revision for close to 5 hours. Started at 12.30pm, and went till 4.10pm before I got really tired and went to take a nap till 5. Started off with Thermodynamics, and did the first 2 chapters. Managed to understand fully before taking a short break and went on to IA at 3. Did the first three chapters once again, though I managed to grasp only part of everything.
Guess tomorrow it would be more or less the same. I'll be at the driving centre in the morning for the final theory evaluation, so the morning's more or less gone. Some modules to be covered tomorrow: IA, AM and if time permits, EM3B and IAM. Monday doubt I'll have much time for revision, though the main modules I'll cover would be TH and IA, and if I'm still not tired, I might have an all-nighter for Double Engineering Mathematics till 2 to 3am. Tuesday would be intensive revision once again, and I'll cover IA, TH and AM. Double Engineering Mathematics would be covered in the evening from 8 to 10, and might continue from 1 to 3am since classes start at 1pm on Wednesdays. Tomorrow would be yet another mentally draining day.
This evening, went for dinner at 5pm, and came back at 7.50. Since it was still not 9pm yet, decided to go for a shorter than usual run till 8.40pm. Did not go as fast as usual for it was the first time I went for a long distance run after sunset and I might not have the stamina to keep up at the speed I used to run at before I came down with illness.
Tomorrow, I'll try going in the evening again,around 7pm in the evening, this time changing my direction to start along Toh Tuck Road. However, I would not be going slower since this evening I found that my stamina had kind of gotten better over the week I spent on recovery.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
YCSS SYF Gala 09
It was sort of unexpected for me. I had no idea there was such an event until one fine Monday morning when I received Andy's SMS about the event that was going to be held this evening. Today rushed off to Jurong Point from school after classes ended at 4pm. Met Andy and Randall for dinner at 5.15pm. Catched up on the times, and I just got my next polytechnic T-shirt today! Singapore Polytechnic's off the list. Went to walk around the shopping complex with Andy after sending Randall off at the entrance. Met up with the rest at 6.50pm at the bus stop outside the school.
The new school building was finally completed, and there was also the new indoor sports hall. We went to the Multi Purpose Hall which had two really gigantic fans, providing lots of wind for everyone present for the concert. This evening, we did not have to purchase any tickets, as we were part of the alumni. The environment sure has changed much over the past 2 years, but the atmosphere is still there.
Somehow, I managed to become a little "high" during the three hour event, but still, the feelings died away as it was only nearing the finale item when I started feeling that way. On a side note, it takes lots of effort just to make someone like me to become "high". Took lots of photographs before, during and after the gala, and you can find them here, and here. After it ended, Gabriel, Edward, Hong Yong, Zhong Rong and I went to the coffee shop behind the school for supper, and I had to leave halfway through in orer to catch the last bus home, as I still did not have a license to drive yet, nor do I have my own vehicle.
Tomorrow, I'll be doing really intensive revision for the upcoming common tests which would be arriving in slightly more than a week's time. Hopefully, I would be able to go for a short run to regain my stamina lost during the period I was unwell and ended up in more than a week of abstinance from exercise. Sunday I would be having my final theory evaluation for driving, and upon passing(I strongly hope I can clear this in one shot so that I can start my practical lessons in October without the need to use an extra two to three hours a week for theory practices and tests), I would be taking the Final Theory Test, which I really want to pass in one shot as well, so that the time and money would not be wasted.
My "Blacklist":
NP, SP, RP, TP, NYP
The new school building was finally completed, and there was also the new indoor sports hall. We went to the Multi Purpose Hall which had two really gigantic fans, providing lots of wind for everyone present for the concert. This evening, we did not have to purchase any tickets, as we were part of the alumni. The environment sure has changed much over the past 2 years, but the atmosphere is still there.
Somehow, I managed to become a little "high" during the three hour event, but still, the feelings died away as it was only nearing the finale item when I started feeling that way. On a side note, it takes lots of effort just to make someone like me to become "high". Took lots of photographs before, during and after the gala, and you can find them here, and here. After it ended, Gabriel, Edward, Hong Yong, Zhong Rong and I went to the coffee shop behind the school for supper, and I had to leave halfway through in orer to catch the last bus home, as I still did not have a license to drive yet, nor do I have my own vehicle.
Tomorrow, I'll be doing really intensive revision for the upcoming common tests which would be arriving in slightly more than a week's time. Hopefully, I would be able to go for a short run to regain my stamina lost during the period I was unwell and ended up in more than a week of abstinance from exercise. Sunday I would be having my final theory evaluation for driving, and upon passing(I strongly hope I can clear this in one shot so that I can start my practical lessons in October without the need to use an extra two to three hours a week for theory practices and tests), I would be taking the Final Theory Test, which I really want to pass in one shot as well, so that the time and money would not be wasted.
My "Blacklist":
NP, SP, RP, TP, NYP
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
200th Post
Yes. We're on post 200. Did not post for some time now, as there's not as much time as I once had. Nowadays I see myself pushing for time instead of doing stuff to kill time. Last Sunday had camp, then went home with something extra. The next morning, woke up with a bad flu. A consequence of me sleeping before the clock stuck 12 once again. Somehow, something or someone does not like the idea of me falling asleep between 10pm and 12am.
I have been going to bed before 12am for about 4 times so far this year. And all 4 times, something bad has to come out from it. This has been happening since one fine day while I was still in secondary school. Damn. The first was the night before the championships at NTU. The second was when I was overseas in the Philippines. The third and fourth were last Sunday and Thursday.
On Tuesday, I still felt relatively fine, but that was also the day when things plunged. In the morning, I overslept and woke at 11am. my nose started running badly after that, and after lunch, I realised the air conditioner was leaking. After I was all set for school in the afternoon(school starts at 1pm on Tuesdays), I realised I was coming down with fever. Went to school as usual, and we had a presentation during the photography lesson. Had little time for preparation. Turned out pretty well, and it ended really early as well. Went straight home to rest. On the bus, I hit my head aainst the ceiling of a double deck bus just before I went down the stairs. That night I slept for the first night since we moved in, without any air conditioning on in that room for the night.
On Wednesday things went rather well, and the flu that I had was still under control.
On Thursday, it was a long day and just after the first part of the morning, my condition started to plunge. Decided not to go for any CCA that day, and went home straight after IAM. The air conditioner was repaired, and I could sleep with the air conditioner on again. That night, I developed full-blown fever when I could not sleep after going to bed at 10pm.
Friday I woke up at 5.45am feeling very terrible. Blurred vision, lack of balance, burning sensation in the stomach. I realised I had slept for only 4 hours. Decided not to go to school, and just sleep the day away. Did very little, and slept alot.
Great enough, that one day of rest was worth it. On Saturday, I was well enough to go to the Driving Centre to attend close to 3 hours of theory lessons and a 40-minute practice session. Went straight to City Hall to meet Chong Siang before we went to the Esplanade for the concert Distant Worlds:Music of Final Fantasy. It was damn nice. Definitely one of the best concerts I have ever been to. Even the composer was there to attend to Asian Premier of the concert! Sadly I forgot to purchase a copy of the CD. Thanks to Chong Siang, I was able to watch the concert live that afternoon. At the opening time of the ticket sales, I was at the airport waiting to board a plane for Cebu, the Philippines. If not for his help, I would not be able to get a ticket. All three shows were completely sold out 3 months before the concert. Wow. Once again, as expected, there were 2 encore pieces played, the best being One-Winged Angel. Before that, there was a poll of the audience(vote by volume of the cheers among the audience) for new pieces that would be added to concerts to be staged around the world in the coming year.
After the concert an hour after the scheduled time of 4pm, I met my parents and we went around taking shots of people for the final portfolio and third shooting workshop of the Photography module. It was tough taking shots of complete strangers. They would either give you stern looks or stare at you, or simply look away upon noticing the camera facing them. We then decided to take shots of young children. Shots of them were the most interesting, natural and easiest to take. We went to Harbourfront for dinner, and on to Vivocity for a free outdoor performance by RED. Many great shooting opportunities, but their movements were fast, which made it hard to take quality photographs.
As the shots we took we not enough, we went to take more on Sunday and yesterday. The shooting session at West Coast Park on Sunday was cut short as I was not feeling well toward the end. Today was the last lesson, and once again there was a presentation. I was first to go, and it was the same as the previous week. The module ends today, and I can declare that I have successfully completed 2 modules for this semester!
Tomorrow would be a really long day, 2 40-minute practice sessions at the driving centre, tutorial and lectures from 1pm to 5pm, followed by CCA from 6 to 9pm. Anyway, I have decided. In the first week of October, I would begin on my practical lessons for driving. The theory component of the license would be cleared earliest by 18th June should everything go well. The earliest I can get my license after clearing my Practical Test is somewhere around mid November.
It's also two weeks to the common test, and today, I officially begin on my intensive revision.
I have been going to bed before 12am for about 4 times so far this year. And all 4 times, something bad has to come out from it. This has been happening since one fine day while I was still in secondary school. Damn. The first was the night before the championships at NTU. The second was when I was overseas in the Philippines. The third and fourth were last Sunday and Thursday.
On Tuesday, I still felt relatively fine, but that was also the day when things plunged. In the morning, I overslept and woke at 11am. my nose started running badly after that, and after lunch, I realised the air conditioner was leaking. After I was all set for school in the afternoon(school starts at 1pm on Tuesdays), I realised I was coming down with fever. Went to school as usual, and we had a presentation during the photography lesson. Had little time for preparation. Turned out pretty well, and it ended really early as well. Went straight home to rest. On the bus, I hit my head aainst the ceiling of a double deck bus just before I went down the stairs. That night I slept for the first night since we moved in, without any air conditioning on in that room for the night.
On Wednesday things went rather well, and the flu that I had was still under control.
On Thursday, it was a long day and just after the first part of the morning, my condition started to plunge. Decided not to go for any CCA that day, and went home straight after IAM. The air conditioner was repaired, and I could sleep with the air conditioner on again. That night, I developed full-blown fever when I could not sleep after going to bed at 10pm.
Friday I woke up at 5.45am feeling very terrible. Blurred vision, lack of balance, burning sensation in the stomach. I realised I had slept for only 4 hours. Decided not to go to school, and just sleep the day away. Did very little, and slept alot.
Great enough, that one day of rest was worth it. On Saturday, I was well enough to go to the Driving Centre to attend close to 3 hours of theory lessons and a 40-minute practice session. Went straight to City Hall to meet Chong Siang before we went to the Esplanade for the concert Distant Worlds:Music of Final Fantasy. It was damn nice. Definitely one of the best concerts I have ever been to. Even the composer was there to attend to Asian Premier of the concert! Sadly I forgot to purchase a copy of the CD. Thanks to Chong Siang, I was able to watch the concert live that afternoon. At the opening time of the ticket sales, I was at the airport waiting to board a plane for Cebu, the Philippines. If not for his help, I would not be able to get a ticket. All three shows were completely sold out 3 months before the concert. Wow. Once again, as expected, there were 2 encore pieces played, the best being One-Winged Angel. Before that, there was a poll of the audience(vote by volume of the cheers among the audience) for new pieces that would be added to concerts to be staged around the world in the coming year.
After the concert an hour after the scheduled time of 4pm, I met my parents and we went around taking shots of people for the final portfolio and third shooting workshop of the Photography module. It was tough taking shots of complete strangers. They would either give you stern looks or stare at you, or simply look away upon noticing the camera facing them. We then decided to take shots of young children. Shots of them were the most interesting, natural and easiest to take. We went to Harbourfront for dinner, and on to Vivocity for a free outdoor performance by RED. Many great shooting opportunities, but their movements were fast, which made it hard to take quality photographs.
As the shots we took we not enough, we went to take more on Sunday and yesterday. The shooting session at West Coast Park on Sunday was cut short as I was not feeling well toward the end. Today was the last lesson, and once again there was a presentation. I was first to go, and it was the same as the previous week. The module ends today, and I can declare that I have successfully completed 2 modules for this semester!
Tomorrow would be a really long day, 2 40-minute practice sessions at the driving centre, tutorial and lectures from 1pm to 5pm, followed by CCA from 6 to 9pm. Anyway, I have decided. In the first week of October, I would begin on my practical lessons for driving. The theory component of the license would be cleared earliest by 18th June should everything go well. The earliest I can get my license after clearing my Practical Test is somewhere around mid November.
It's also two weeks to the common test, and today, I officially begin on my intensive revision.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Entering Turbulence
Today marks the end of the fourth week. Encountered some turbulence this week, but at the moment, things are still relatively fine. Meeting with some minor problems with TH for a week now. All because I stayed up late last Wednesday, I ended up sleeping through almost every lecture the next day. 2 days to clear my doubts, catch up on sleep and plan for the week ahead.
Monday was pretty fine, except that the first Taekwondo training let me with three blisters and the inability to walk properly probably till next Monday, a result of skipping a month of training. Tuesday we went to the Botanical Gardens for the outdoor photoshoot, and I took a taxi back to school, just in time for the make up practical session for IA back in school. Nothing much happened on Wednesday.
Thursday. School in the morning was normal till 12pm. Went to the driving centre to sit for the basic theory test. Reached the room 3 minutes before the start time, and passed it within 20 minutes. Nice. But I won't be able to settle the adminstrative stuff on that day as the system to update my results was down, and I did not have enough time to book lessons and tests as I had to get back to school by 2pm. It was 1.20 when I completed the test. Took 985 back to school at 1.24pm. Thinking that it would make a loop at Upper Bukit Timah Road, and being a lazy person, i decided to alight 2 stops after the bus made the right turn. That turn did not come at the junction. Instead, I was en route to Geylang! It's Alright. It's ok. Good thing I informed the lecturer that I would be arrving latest at 2.30pm. If I had alighted at the previous stop, I would have arrived in class at 1.50pm. Not too far away on the expressway, there was a jam. What a good day to relax on a bus. Seems like I'm going to have to take service 1 back to school once again. Went to the bus stop outside CJC, flagged down a cab, and reached the classroom at 2.25pm. Parted with 8 bucks(was supposed to be more than that but he was kind to give a rebate of 20 cents) for that serious careless mistake that took me on the best bus ride of the day. In the evening we had the Toastmasters AGM. That was the first time I experienced the meeting as a normal member and a committee member simultaneously. The difference was very great. A normal member would feel carefree about the proceedings, while a committee member would have much more than just seeing that the meeting goes fine. Honestly, if I were not a committee member of the club, I would not have turned up, as I was holding a post in the Videography Club, which happened to be holding its first meeting during the exact same timeslot on the same day. My greatest fear is that I would not be able to cope with the amount of commitment and studies, all at the same time. How great if the end of the world came shortly after I accomplish everything on my wishlist except getting a job.
Today, there's nothing much as well, a relatively normal day. Tomorrow would be a tiring day again. Got to spend time studying once again. Sunday morning I'll be back at the driving centre to settle the adminstrative stuff, studying again in the afternoon and updating this in the evening.
It's starting to get tough, and this time, the difficulties set in just 3 weeks after the term has started. I don't know exactly how long I could hold out under such conditions. But I certainly know that next year, I will have to leave the main committee of a CCA, or worse, both. It's extremely tough. I have found the red line, and every moment, I'm stretching it, inch by inch. I'm afraid that I might just give it a tug and the line simply snaps. It's too late to leave the posts. I'll have to remain where I am, do what I have got to do and wrap up with no regrets. Not that I totally detest a lifestyle like this, but it's for the future. As long as I can find happiness along the way, meet great friends and reach our goals at the end, it's worth it. Period.
Monday was pretty fine, except that the first Taekwondo training let me with three blisters and the inability to walk properly probably till next Monday, a result of skipping a month of training. Tuesday we went to the Botanical Gardens for the outdoor photoshoot, and I took a taxi back to school, just in time for the make up practical session for IA back in school. Nothing much happened on Wednesday.
Thursday. School in the morning was normal till 12pm. Went to the driving centre to sit for the basic theory test. Reached the room 3 minutes before the start time, and passed it within 20 minutes. Nice. But I won't be able to settle the adminstrative stuff on that day as the system to update my results was down, and I did not have enough time to book lessons and tests as I had to get back to school by 2pm. It was 1.20 when I completed the test. Took 985 back to school at 1.24pm. Thinking that it would make a loop at Upper Bukit Timah Road, and being a lazy person, i decided to alight 2 stops after the bus made the right turn. That turn did not come at the junction. Instead, I was en route to Geylang! It's Alright. It's ok. Good thing I informed the lecturer that I would be arrving latest at 2.30pm. If I had alighted at the previous stop, I would have arrived in class at 1.50pm. Not too far away on the expressway, there was a jam. What a good day to relax on a bus. Seems like I'm going to have to take service 1 back to school once again. Went to the bus stop outside CJC, flagged down a cab, and reached the classroom at 2.25pm. Parted with 8 bucks(was supposed to be more than that but he was kind to give a rebate of 20 cents) for that serious careless mistake that took me on the best bus ride of the day. In the evening we had the Toastmasters AGM. That was the first time I experienced the meeting as a normal member and a committee member simultaneously. The difference was very great. A normal member would feel carefree about the proceedings, while a committee member would have much more than just seeing that the meeting goes fine. Honestly, if I were not a committee member of the club, I would not have turned up, as I was holding a post in the Videography Club, which happened to be holding its first meeting during the exact same timeslot on the same day. My greatest fear is that I would not be able to cope with the amount of commitment and studies, all at the same time. How great if the end of the world came shortly after I accomplish everything on my wishlist except getting a job.
Today, there's nothing much as well, a relatively normal day. Tomorrow would be a tiring day again. Got to spend time studying once again. Sunday morning I'll be back at the driving centre to settle the adminstrative stuff, studying again in the afternoon and updating this in the evening.
It's starting to get tough, and this time, the difficulties set in just 3 weeks after the term has started. I don't know exactly how long I could hold out under such conditions. But I certainly know that next year, I will have to leave the main committee of a CCA, or worse, both. It's extremely tough. I have found the red line, and every moment, I'm stretching it, inch by inch. I'm afraid that I might just give it a tug and the line simply snaps. It's too late to leave the posts. I'll have to remain where I am, do what I have got to do and wrap up with no regrets. Not that I totally detest a lifestyle like this, but it's for the future. As long as I can find happiness along the way, meet great friends and reach our goals at the end, it's worth it. Period.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Botanical Gardens Shoot
Today we went to the Botanical Gardens for our Outdoor photoshoot. It was hot, tiring, interesting and new. Even before we started on our shoot, I was perspiring already. Yesterday I had the first training for taekwondo after a month, and the evening's training was great, and although I joined them 3 weeks late, the trainings were still not very tough. Today, for the whole day, for every step I took, my feet gave an exhilerating sensation. After an hour of walking at the gardens, the pain become something like a second nature. It just disappeared. Took lots and lots of shots, some good, some bad. At 12.35pm, when we were dismissed, I walked at my usual pace to the bus stop. I was in luck. A taxi had stopped just behind the stop line, and I just got on. No need for any flag down.
I reached school at 12.50pm, and just went straight for the make-up practicals for IA. Sadly, we were not going to use any compressed gas today. I miss the hissing sound of the gas. At 4pm, went with Yin Feng and Hakim to the library to study. The new strategy is going really well, and I managed to score 100% for 2 quizzes within 2 attempts for both.
It would be the same for tomorrow, though there would only be 3 hours, from 5 to 8pm. Thursday. I'll leave school for the driving centre at 12pm for the Basic Theory Test, held from 12.50pm to 1.40pm. Hopefully I can pass it within 20minutes, update the system with my results and once again, take a taxi back to school(no choice), as I would have IAM from 2pm to 4pm. That evening is also the time of the Annual General Meeting for the Toastmasters Club, and sadly I'll miss the first meeting of the Videography Club(don't worry, I'll be there every Thursday from next week). Friday. There should not be any events after 4pm, so most likely it's back to the library for a solid 4 hours of slacking and study. Coming Sunday, I'll be updating more links(missed out a few links).
I reached school at 12.50pm, and just went straight for the make-up practicals for IA. Sadly, we were not going to use any compressed gas today. I miss the hissing sound of the gas. At 4pm, went with Yin Feng and Hakim to the library to study. The new strategy is going really well, and I managed to score 100% for 2 quizzes within 2 attempts for both.
It would be the same for tomorrow, though there would only be 3 hours, from 5 to 8pm. Thursday. I'll leave school for the driving centre at 12pm for the Basic Theory Test, held from 12.50pm to 1.40pm. Hopefully I can pass it within 20minutes, update the system with my results and once again, take a taxi back to school(no choice), as I would have IAM from 2pm to 4pm. That evening is also the time of the Annual General Meeting for the Toastmasters Club, and sadly I'll miss the first meeting of the Videography Club(don't worry, I'll be there every Thursday from next week). Friday. There should not be any events after 4pm, so most likely it's back to the library for a solid 4 hours of slacking and study. Coming Sunday, I'll be updating more links(missed out a few links).
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Third Week'09
Tomorrow's the third week of the term. Anyway, I have updated some stuff, and I'm sure it's easy to spot them. Don't really have time to list in detail, but should not be a problem to notice which are the items that have been added ya?
Overseltp this morning and I ended up with less time to take good shots at the nature park. Seems like I wasted an hour there taking shots that are not revelant to the assignment, and I'll have to take some shots tomorrow again. Hopefully there will be time in the monring before I head to school.
Overseltp this morning and I ended up with less time to take good shots at the nature park. Seems like I wasted an hour there taking shots that are not revelant to the assignment, and I'll have to take some shots tomorrow again. Hopefully there will be time in the monring before I head to school.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Cruising Soon
It's been 2 weeks, and I'm almost at cruising altitude. Things are starting to fit into place bit by bit, and I find the clouds clearing up once again, revealing a boundless horizon of blue. Yesterday had the first ever outing with the photography club committee, and it sure was fun. met up at 3, went to the gardens at 3.20, and spent more than 4 hours there. I'll be back on Tuesday, this time better prepared for the morning shoot at the gardens. Tomorrow, I'm heading to the nature reserve at 10am to complete some assignments due on Tuesday. Hopefully I'll be as lucky as today when I went there to look for great shooting spots and found squirrels and birds up close!
Tomorrow, i'll finally be able to find time to clear up the messy room and update the stuff in the blog. THese things have been postoned for over a month now, and it's piling up every day.
Tomorrow, i'll finally be able to find time to clear up the messy room and update the stuff in the blog. THese things have been postoned for over a month now, and it's piling up every day.