Second time lucky

Let us take a moment to applaud the second consecutive semester of perfect CAP. Except this time round it's not counted...

Remember how I told the SU peeps that getting anything above C is a waste... Turns out things were much easier than expected! 

Also, this is the bunch of people that made sure I survived the cold and lonely days :) 

自己跌倒，自己爬

Huiwen posted this on his insta after he had a bad game against KE the other time round. 

Even when I've been preparing myself for this day of my greatest disdain to come, I needa constantly remind myself that this is not the end of the world... I'll pick myself up from here. 

Reversed

Sam Tsui and Kina Grannis' "Bring Me the Night" was the theme song of my exchange; I remember how I used to feel a little homesick in early-January (damn, we're still in Jan now!) whenever I hear this song...

Listening to this same song here in Singapore, it's bringing back memories of the Stockholm days...

One week in +30 degrees!

Decided to pon lesson on Friday since there's webcast so we went to IKEA for some meatball and also cos I'm starting to miss life back in Stockholm!

Meatballs to celebrate one week return from meatball land 

Went Queensway and Anchor Point to do some shopping after IKEA and got ourself some tutu kuay and Gongcha! 

Ya this GC waited 5 months for meeeeee

Went back hall wanting to watch webcast but ended up going down to support IVP Volleyball (Sam Sam and Vincy's last game...) then met up with the OC gang for supper behind at Feifei!

Spamming all the local food photos that I don't usually take cos like they say, "you only cherish what you've got when you lose them" 

Saturday morning was friendly with Hall 6 that I sat out cos of my knees/toes/ankle injuries sustained from Handball games (went into Finals injured, coming out worse, duh) and lunch at NUH food court (that I didn't even know existed); Lor Mee I had was disappointing but Sharetea's ice cream milk tea is the new love.

Went down to Nex to meet SC7 (afternoon session cos Zac and Sham left after brunch)!

AM Session

PM Session

And know what? Our GCB Jiejing is ATTACHED!!! Woohoo! Biggest news of the century. Lol. And the drama that comes with it, *clap clap*

Went back home (courtesy of 3-month driver Ceri who drove me back) and ate mama's self-made soy beancurd pudding! 

Shiok shiok taste even better than some that sells outside 

Mum must have put some sleeping powder in it cos I knocked out soon after. And then:

Mmzi mmzi with the FHAGs! 

Really haven't been so high in quite a while; and ah neh being ah neh... ... Lol! Also, buying three hotdog buns and talking nonsense just before we left really trained my abs. HAHAHA 

Thought would be hungover pretty badly but it turned out better than expected. 

Brunch! First chicken rice in 6months hahahah 

Visited grandma with dad and bro. The smile on her face when she saw me was just too much to take it. Ah ma really became much more frail and skinnier; bed-ridden and unable to

speak... Went into toilet to wipe dry my eyes before I could go on to the living room to chit chat with the uncles and aunts. 

Came back to hall after that and visited the back to buy my favourite "behind" food:

卤肉面！

Then napped and training (knees got worse, sadly) and supper! 

You've been missed, Nissin laksa 

Double.

https://temasekhallihg1415.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/handball-finals-m-th-24-22-rh-we-are-champions/

https://temasekhallihg1415.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/handball-double-champions-2015/

RH team was joking around during the warm ups; they cheered when they scored the "final" penalty that eventually wasn't counted; we had the last laugh. 

It didn't feel as accomplished as the semi finals game against SH (though it's our first gold in 10+ years); it surprisingly didn't feel as shag also (full 80 minutes playing time this time round - I'm amazed at myself for outdoing the 60min in SH); and it didn't feel at all pleasant when Redsport didn't even mention anything about #15 that played the full match, scoring 4 goals, drawing two penalties, and two two-minutes for the opponent team; worse, they even got my name totally wrong on the line up list. 

It felt good, when I know I scored the equalizer that forced the game into extra time; it felt surreal knowing I can still do something after my 5-month absence. It felt awesome hearing people praising you ;) 

Taking more cab than I ever did the past 6 months...

Super hungry after coming back from home and it started to pour so I went down to fetch qingying from studio; was blissfully rewarded with this:

Taiwan goodieeeee! Still prefers Tai Yang Bing though haha

Managed to wait till dinner is served and it's Special dinner day! 

Training also got cancelled cos of the rain and it was at this point of time where I got convinced to go back to meet the pri sch bros (supposed to meet today but due to some confusion I thought it was changed to Saturday!). Best part: I managed to counter-proposed for them to pay $6 each for my cab back to hall and they gladly paid - things you'll do to see my handsome face lol! 

Met up with Rubin and went ahead to Chomps for some (additional) dinner

The must have!

Orh Jian was closed so this is the substitution... Not too bad! 

And of course, the bros :)

+7

Talking to Brandon, it felt weird that I'm now the one seven hours ahead. So this is what it feels like...

Also, those days are gone :(

Blur blur being blur blur

So the handball girls won SH in a surprisingly tight semi-finals and when the final whistle went off Ms Blur started to cry. I walked over and ask her "aiyo, why you crying?..." She kept quiet and I hurried off after congratulating them. 

Only later when I'm having supper would I know from her that she actually thought they lost! And her reason? "Cos the Sheares Hall people looks happier than us..." 

LOLOL!!! I can imagine the laughter the rest of the team had when they realize why you cried HAHAHA too cute this girl

"Don't bite the hand that feeds you"

I realize I actually pulled quite abit of people into hall and I believe they've been pretty good decisions so far. Please continue to prove me right, people 

Japanese, Taiwanese, Malay, Indian, Hainanese, Singaporean

Woke up late in the morning to recover from previous night's exhaustion (haven't recover yet, of course) and it's time for the much anticipated Watami!!! 

The regulars: Sukiyaki and half Watami salad!

And since we were already in Star Vista, how can we forget the super-expensive (even more so cos Taiwan sells them for $1) but nice Black Balls! 

Featuring the new Matcha ball which was nice but they didn't have the icy kind so sad :(

Went back hall and tried to do some webcast and it reminded me of how time consuming watching a webcast is: spent 4 hours finishing 30minutes of a 45minutes webcast (including a 2.5 hour nap in between lol). 

Went down for basketball training but my knees really couldn't take it after playing the full match previous night so I chilled at the side after the first few drills. Left early and went home to get car so that I can catch the busy Bird before she flies off to Taiwan for her grad trip! 

Bird that can't fly flying off to land of Bird flu. Please keep the virus to your own species...

Went down to Changi V cos usual chillout Barks and Summer Breeze were both closed; gave me a chance to eat Nasi Lemak (not the nicer stall one though) and Prata at Supper Club (damn I was hungry). Also, finally ordered Teh-O Peng right. Lol

Wanted to say I kinda miss army life, then I remembered that I'm having reservist in 5 months' time... 

Went home late and woke up relatively early. Dad bought chicken rice and soy beancurd pudding! Also things that I haven't had in 6 months... 

Another thing that I didn't have: was telling dad it looks like it's gonna rain, and the very next moment... downpour -.-

Guess some things never change...

I can't feel my knees anymore

But the past two days of dogging out with intensive handball trainings really did paid off; I wanted so much to win but when we really won, it felt so unreal...

FIRST FINALS IN SO MANY YEARS!!! 

On a side note, I've been lookin forward to this but felt sad that it was black pepper not teriyaki :(

Zac the Physiotherapist

So I was telling them I wanna go summer school...

Then Zac said I'm causing old ladies to fall down the stairs......

-.- 

Back to normal

Landed and reached school in a span of 3 hours just to see Ms Blur for the first time in 5 months (and also shun bian attend handball debrief after their match). 

Went home with Ms Blur to spend the night together, and, of course, have some home cooked food! Mum's cooking definitely better than what I did back in Stockholm. Lol

Next morning we both cabbed back to hall and guess what was my first activity here in Singapore? No prizes: training. Went for a 2.4km run and manage to keep timing low enough (consider it's the first time I'm running in months). Handball shots were kinda off but at least I remembered the basics. Picked up a basketball and let's just say I managed to put some balls into the hoop HAHA! Also, second meal back in Singapore: Comm Hall breakfast; it says a lot about my dedication to hall doesn't it? LOL

Took the nostalgic 151 home and time for a nap! Cos jet lag was really serious the previous night, sleeping at 1am and waking at 4. First time experiencing it dammit. 

Next thing I knew, Kang and Pung was already heading out of house and called to check if I was awake (background story: I randomly asked when we meeting earlier in the day and this happened), apparently not... 

Last to see Brandon in Stockholm, first to meet the rest of the gang back here! 

Also, Black Tea Macchiato! 

Impromptu meet up doesn't end there when I went home to get car and drove down to Holland V to meet these FHAG bros-in-arms (gonna draw our arms soon again), and this meet up was also started with Jesse asking "who's free for a drink tonight?!" 

Last time we had this attendance was in Pasir Ris camp lol

Also, bumped into a half-drunk Shengyu who touched my belly to assure that I'm still fit to play in his team (HAHA!) and Alex whom I haven't met for quite awhile and was with his shy girlfriend. Holland V sure was crowded! 

Next morning was time to visit my one month old niece! 

Been long since I got to take a ride behind my dad's bike 

Evidently from the above photo, jet lag still present. But that's not the point... This is:

Lemon Tey!!! 

Swam at bro's place to get some nice tan (it was sunny!!!) and tried to recover from the sore of yesterday's training but gave up the last 6 laps after doing 14 cos the water was too dirty for my eyes haha

Left and went to Wanxin's new place for "housewarming" which was also impromptu (decided after I land as well) 

Nice seeing everyone again! Nicer to know that Mr Macus Fit Yap is now heavier than me HAHAH 

Rushed back to school for... hen sad de life: trainings yet again (no choice, semis is tomorrow) and had to spend $22 to cab back for the much awaited family dinner. But like what I told my mum, money can earn back, time with family cannot. 

Random photo of us all trying to fit the baby seat into Xiaolan and I didn't even realize Oliver knew I was taking a selfie!!! Haha 

-- 

Had such a bad shock the first night when reality hit me that I'm back home to normalcy, but now I'm reminded again of why I call this place home...

Xmas regularity

The only one that still makes the effort nowadays; when people are taking things got granted, it's the old traditions that keep the world going

Cerigwen: Making, Writing, and Sending Xmas cards every year since 2009

This is kinda late but how awesome to have friends like this :) 

Uncle, mee pok gei hiam gei chor

You know you haven't been home for a long time when you have difficulty ordering hawker food; ordered a Kopi-O Peng when I actually meant to say Teh-O Peng; ordered Cheng teng but almost forgot to say that I want the cold one; most importantly, ordered bar chor mee and I actually forgot to tell the uncle I don't want fishball!!! 

--

On a side note...

Finally...

But this stall isn't very nice so imagine the disappointment I had consider how much anticipation was involved the past 6 months...

Where I belong, where I keep my heart and soul

Where dreams come true for us...

Some call it a hostel, we call it HOME 

Just hours ago

Just hours ago I was still walking on snow, now here I am walking in the endless sunshine. 

--

It's 5am now Singapore time and I'm experiencing the effect of jetlag for the first time in my life. Also, the anti-culture shock that comes post-exchange. 

I'm missing the Swedish life now. 

Last Minute Stockholm

12/1/15

Went out to meet Jiahan for burger at Midsommarkransen but it ended up being closed for some staff conference. Headed back to T-centrale and had the super value-for-money (Stockholm-price speaking) Chinese buffet (which is also at this time my scumbag captain lied to me bout losing!). Met up with everyone else including Denise to walk around Gamla Stan to buy the last bit of our souvenirs before chilling out in macs for... Bridge! Haha. That's pretty much the whole day (since days are short here haha and sorry no photos for this day)

13/1/15

Met everyone including Paul at SSE 

Still think it looks a little bit like MRB 

Then off we go to the "Secret" castle! 

Here's everyone! 

Snow field! Gonna miss this when I'm back...

Castle! Human for scale. Lol kidding, just a playground for kids

Castle ruin! The real "secret" castle at Hagasparken that the kind abandoned after building the foundations 

Rooms that look like mass burial grounds :/

The snow really make everything very nice! 

Flippin again after castle trip

Nobel Museum's kids hideout... for the kid! Haha 

Nobel museum was kinda boring in my opinion, though the interior is pretty nice and the short films bout the laureates were very informative. 

Came back to do some packing and finishing some undone business

14/1/15

Became a lightbulb today! 

Natural History Museum with Josh and his girlfriend Katie. Prefer the Vienna one though! 

Super super nice pancakes hidden in some secluded corner in Odenplan!!! 

Did some last minute shopping for a cap I love and grocery shopping (as usual) and time to finish all the pastes we have!

Sumptuous last dinner together here in Stockholm...

Came back and packed the last bit, cleaned up the whole room spamming baby wipes that I've brought over but not used at all and went down for a walk while I cleared my thrash...

Forskarbacken 8

I've been coming down here for a break almost every night, and even more so during the exams... This is, finally, the very the last. 

Listening to Chinese emo songs while I type all these makes me wanna add something emotional and sentimental to this post, but I guess that can wait. 5 hours of sleep last night is back to haunt me... For now, goodnight world :) 

Scumbag captain!

I was having buffet lunch and my appetite dropped so much after this -.-

But good job guys!! Though I don't know half the team lol. 

I'm all pumped up now. 

Snowplowing

It's 2 in the morning; it's -7 degrees outside

And they're clearing the road of snow just so we can have walkable roads tomorrow.