You...

Lately I had been hearing alot of stories about you. No good things, to be honest. For one, its your attitude. True that we are no longer talking as much, but do think back, why does it happen? If you didn't put words in my mouth in the first place, we could still be friends. Now, we are simply acquaintances.

People are unhappy that you had taken us for granted. Even people working close to you are also feeling that way. Don't put yourself up high on the pedestal when you are not that qualified. I just hope you can reflect on all that and perhaps change your attitude toward friends. I wish you all the best for the exams.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had not met up as often as you might have wished. I am very sorry but assignments and exams are piling and I cannot afford to do badly in any of them. Besides, I know you had been pretty free recently and had ran into some issues with some people. I will try to catch up whenever I could.

The next few weeks are exam weeks and no doubt that you will be bored and want to go out. Just like this time last year, I will be staying home to study. However, this year with so many things happening, I hardly had time for myself. So do give me some time to sort things out and we will go out once everything is over. Don't think so much into things and you will be fine.

P/S Your pictures nowadays... are looking more and more unnatural... And I am not the only one who says that... The comments speaks for themselves.. take care yea...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night as I fell asleep on my desk, I dreamt of you. I was back in Singapore and we were talking about how everything happened. Obviously we don't like how it ends but I guess its for the best. Maybe like you said, at least you have nobody to answer to, you don't have to stop doing things because of me...

I just wish you are alright now and please do take care of yourself. You should rest and let your neck recover. Don't want you to hurt yourself. Although we are no longer partners, but I am still concern about you. Take care and see you soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 months and a half.

Wow. Its been more than 2 months since I last updated. No doubt that its been along time, but I just lost the feeling of typing out my blog. The end of semester is already here.

Alot had happened. My birthday went pretty well. I went to Byron Bay. It was nice there. Dinner prepared by Liam was fantastic. No complains at all. All guests had fun and it was good.

Semester had worn on and it has been a successful semester teaching. Alot of positive feedback had been given with regards to my teaching and everything had been looking positive so far.

My Masters had been good and am just hoping to pass all subjects. Thats all I ask for.

Fauziah and I had gone our separate ways. Its for the best I feel. She had moved on pretty well and I should too. It had been a good year and few months. Wonderful memories will always live on and I wish you well.

I was involved in a near-fatal accident 2 weeks ago. I almost lost my life there. I am thankful that I am still alive. The other party had claimed liability and am claiming all my injuries and treatment to his insurance. My car is a complete write-off with insurance paying me $4,100 for it. Given that I paid $5050 for it 3 years ago, its a pretty good deal. Well, my car is un-repairable. Given that all alignment is gone and the fact that the impact literally killed my engine, its given that its a write-off.




















Note that even the wheel caved in....

She had served me well. When news that my car got hit on the side, a mate said "Woah, Goldilocks got rammed!!" Funny as it sounds, being car-less seriously is not good. Shall thank my lucky stars that am still alive today.

What happened was that I was travelling on a straight road when a ute (pick-up) turning right hit me from the side. It dragged me across to the other side of the road with incoming traffic coming straight at me. I got to swerve to the side, into the grass to avoid a head-on collision. I was very shaken after the accident and ambulance came to access my injuries.

I am very thankful that am still alive today. I could had been lying in a coffin right now if I were not careful at all.

Alright, enough of writing... time to concentrate on my Law and Ethics essay... am given a week extension due to the accident and now I got to finish it by next week!

A sudden change.

Work had been hectic. Going back at night to prep labs for the next day. Fuses blow and everything. Something just doesn't seem to be right. Its been a roller coaster ride this week. Amid of all things, one of ours died in a iron-man competition. Sigh. Whole department was in a disarray. Hopefully next week will be better.

Time had been scarce. I didn't even have time to sleep. Hopefully it will all be better next week onwards although I doubt it as labs will be tougher. Sigh.

Lectures had been good until I received a couple of feedbacks. Got to slow down alot more for a handful of students who couldn't understand the concepts they were supposed to know from previous course. As ridiculous as it seems, when there is a pre-requisite for the course I am teaching, and if you had not done that pre-requisite course, why are you in my course in the first place?! You still have the cheek to write in to complain and say I am going through things too fast for you. I got 120+ students, and 100+ are happy with whatever I was doing and only 2 of you were unhappy, so you got to complain? Argh.. u can never please everyone..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There has been a sudden change in myself lately. I keep to myself more often nowadays. Sigh... perhaps its all the stress... perhaps its other issues... As for now, I am going to try and focus on my work and studies. Try not to let other things bother me for now. Need to put my focus in place.. its only Week 4 next week~!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liam asked to cook for my birthday. So I called a couple friends. Although its very last minute as I didn't know what to do on my birthday til just 2-3 days before, I appreciate that everyone make time to come. I simply got no mood to celebrate. Although sisters in GC had planned a celebration last week, I am happy already. Just surprised that friends do remember as well. Liam should be here any minute. I should be getting ready too. Til then... bye...

Thoughts...

Had been bothered with stuff in my head lately.

First and foremost, Aust DIAC office took some time to process my visa and guess what? After approving my visa application, they did not inform me! There I was, nervous and worried about my visa expiring next week and after all the hoo-ha 2 weeks ago, still no news from them! I went to the DIAC office today and was informed that they actually approve my application last Wed. ~!@#$%

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finally sign my teaching contract last Fri. Got to say I am pretty impressed with how much my pay scale jumped after graduation. Right now, am only giving 2 hours of lecture every week for 13 weeks and 9 hours of labs each week for 7 weeks. At least I doubt I have to worry much about my petrol cost for going up to Brisbane 4 times a week for my lessons.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lately, I seen some friends making advancements in life. I am happy for them. Very happy in fact. However it made me think alot as well. I tend to question myself, "What about me? Have I done anything worthwhile all these 25 years of mine?" I am turning 25 really soon and looking back at my accomplishments, it seemed minute. Friends around me had been very encouraging and asked me to start planning early if I really want to make something out of my life. I do agree that I got to plan early. However, I just cannot help but think of all the 'What-ifs' in life.

I guess I really have to strive harder now. Got to strive even harder. Work towards to my goals in life, even if it means sacrificing my time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had been quite surprised at myself this time. I never expected myself to do what I did. Although its already the past, thoughts of it still stings. Not that I think of issues on purpose but sometimes when you are alone, memories and thoughts tend to float into your mind.

Most important thing for me now is to let go... There are 3 phases in life. Acceptance... Forgive... Let go... Alot of issues I had been through, I was able to forgive. But to let go? It does seem abit foreign to me. However, I believe it will take some time for me to really let go. So please be patient with me...

Commencement of Masters.

Its been a long time. I am back in Gold Coast for more than a week now. The trip back to Singapore has been fruitful. I managed to catch up with alot of friends and without a doubt it had been an enjoyable 2 months.

I made some short trips when I was back in SG but memorable ones are still the BKK and KL trips. The best times I had back in Singapore got to be my last 2 weeks. Sounds kinda funny but its true. Although I was leaving in less than 20 days, the feeling I had was totally different compared to when I first went back.

This year, Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day fall on the same day. As such, my darling went along with me to visit. It was an enjoyable day afterall.




















CNY at Darling's..

Other than spending time with my family, I still managed to catch up with my best friends in SG. Thanks David for the dinner. It definitely tops all previous gatherings we had. I got to say that even KTV will not be as fun as this!















Dinner with best of friends..

Now am back on the Coast, time to do my Masters. As the course only has 10 students, it is quite obvious if anyone skips a lecture. Not that I am going to, but the thoughts of skipping one and how easy it is to be caught, is horrifying.

I will be finalising my contract this Friday. Seems like I will be the course coordinator for one module and everything seems good for now. I don't mind working as long as the Uni pays me well. So far, money is the sole motivation of me working.

Its gonna be a hectic semester as it seems right now. Not sure when I will be writing again....

An update finally~~!@

Its been more than one and a half months since I last updated. I had been busy enjoying myself and did not have the time to write. In short, my parents went over for my graduation and we flew back to SG together.














Family pic without our sis... MayEe... When you graduate, we should take one together as a family!

Had a couple of gatherings back here in Singapore. Of course, the first one was with family and best friends. Dinner with friends and it had been great catching up with everyone!















Meeting with best friends~

Not forgetting, I managed to sprung a surprise on my darling by coming back a couple days earlier. Planned with her sister to let me into the house early morning just so I could wake her up in bed. Usually, I tend to give her morning calls everyday when I was in Aust. So that morning, I went over to her place and woke her up in person instead. Haha. She thought she was dreaming. Hehehe.

I went Singapore Flyer finally! Haha. Not a bad experience as we are only paying half price for it. Thanks darling for getting the tickets! Spending New Year and Christmas in Singapore had been great. Both parties were enjoyable and managed to catch up with some very old friends.















In the cabin of Singapore Flyer...















I like this pic... lol..

I went to JB with my dad and his friends for massage, sauna and jacuzzi for one whole day. Paying only 98 Ringgit, everything was included. Food was free-flowing, drinks were all up to you to choose. It was very relaxing. Dinner was at an exotic-food restaurant. Turtle, squirrels and all sorts of animals were on the menu.




















Menu at that restaurant...

I went Bangkok for 5 days. It was a trip full of shopping, massage and eating. Everything about the trip is enjoyable. Tiring it might be, but still, all worth it. Getting to spend our first anniversary together in a foreign land with no one else to disturb us is a great idea. Perhaps we should do that next year as well. Hehe. Photos for BKK, shall wait for next update or check my fb~

Degree... doneand dusted.

Degree... checked...
party... checked...
Acceptance into Masters... checked...
Party... checked...
Preparation for parents arrival... checked...

I just checked my results, relieved to know that I am graduating afterall. Haha. Not that its any surprise. After the end of exams, it was a day or 2 of rest before the massive drinking and partying begins.

18 Nov - Wed

Last paper. Went straight to the tavern for drinks right after. We spent a couple hours there, drinking away, talking about our future plans. Can't believe that it had all ended.

20 Nov- Fri

Dinner and drinks at Leanne's. Alot of drinking and definitely alot of fun. Most of the tutors or academic staff were also invited and it was nice mingling with everyone on a casual, non-formal setting.















Grp pic we had... among many that were taken..

Company was great. Some of us stayed til late into the night and we played Singstar! Haha. Didn't know I could reach the high notes of scissors sisters in their songs to beat the girls! Haha. Definitely had been drinking abit way too much as well. Haha. Jess and I stayed over and it was home to rest for a couple hours.

21 Nov - Sat

It was Jess's farewell. She is leaving for S. Africa and Canada for 5 months and is not attending graduation at all. Definitely alot of drinking again~ It was nice catching up with her family though. Having known them since last year and been attending their family gatherings, it was not difficult to fit in. I had to wear some funky glasses cause I wasn't in any costume while she was in a Dutch maid's uniform.




















See you soon, buddy!~ Miss ya~

I guess the surprise came when we say our good-byes. She was alright when bidding farewell to everyone else, but when its my turn... She started crying. Her make-up runs and I was surprised. Her Sisters were telling me that its alright and just that she and I had gotten too close over the past year. In the end, Jess still walked me to my car before I head back. Will definitely catch up with her when she returns.

22 Nov - Sun

Dinner with Eziq and Cindy. Was a nice time catching up with them and hopefully we will meet up soon before she flies.















Dinner at Little Singapore..

23 Nov - Monday

Mel's birthday. Called him but he did not pick up.

I had my interview for my Masters as well. To be honest, the only preparation I did for the interview, was to choose the right shirt and tie to wear. Other than that, nothing. Call it confidence or what-so-ever, I knew I could do it. It was me against a panel of 3 interviewers. After the whole interview and it was my turn to ask questions, the following dialogue took place.
Me (M): When will I hear from you again? Interviewer (I): Either this afternoon or over the next few days. We want to let selected individuals have enough time to consider our offer before accepting.

I asked a couple more questions pertaining to the course and also my return flight as well. Then just as I was about to take my leave, the one in charge stopped me.

I: Ben, tell you what. I am giving you the conditional offer now. Would you like to accept it? You don't have to tell me now. You can take a week to consider and get back to us. Just to let you know, we only accept 10 students a year and you are the first and only one to be given the conditional offer on the spot.
M: Thank you very much. Yes, I will definitely contact you over the next few days about the offer. Thank you for your time once again.

And so, yes... I already accepted the offer. And since I am due to graduate, my acceptance is confirmed. After that acceptance, it was more drinking and gathering. I was also doing up my administrative stuff for my Masters as well, i.e; Visa, fees... etc.

Now just got to wait for parents' arrival tomorrow morning before we fly off to Sydney together on Thurs. Would be gone for a week then back in time for graduation. Not sure when I will be writing again. Til then. Adiós..