28: New Year, Old Me

2019 will definitely go down as one important milestone year of my life. 

Started off the year at the highest point of my life, literally, back in EBC. And just like the trek, life was full of ups and downs this one fruitful year. 

I passed my 2B exams, and got myself a Vespa;

Owned my first (one-quarter share) of a property;

Got selected into the national (Beach Handball) team and was even on the shortlist to make SEAGames;

Learnt surfing, skiing and snowboarding;

Captained a sport (dragonboat) that I had picked up for just slightly over a year;

Lived in the fantasy world surrounded by Manta Rays and Whale Sharks in Maldives;

Won my first NHL match (with Dreamers); 

Finally saw a hint of 6-pecs after hitting the gym regularly and eating clean, going down to 73.8kg; and most importantly, 

Traveled with the largest fam contingent ever to Dalian

On the other hand, 

I’ve failed to secure a spot to eventually make it to SEAGames after sustaining a chest injury that saw me out of action for 2 months;

Health hit a lowest point after numerous gout attacks and insomnia, almost always at critical moments; 

And most unfortunately,

I lost a 7-year relationship with one of the nicest girl I’ve ever known in my life. 

All that. But the biggest literal takeaway for 2019 has got to be my ever critical, hyper rational, robotic, but ever patient, hyper real, and super loving girl. We came full circle, after knowing each other for 11 years. Never have I, in my wildest dream, thought that someday I would be together with this girl. But we did. 

—

And that sums up a dramatic decade full of ups and downs. Started the decade trying to get over who I thought was the LOML, completed what would be the most gruelling two years of my life (so far), partied hard, got a scholarship for which bond I am still serving it’s final months, started and fell in love with diving, spent the best years of my life in Uni, started work, met, dated, almost settled down, and finally broke off a 7-year relationship with a girl, bought a house (sort of), a bike, bought myself the biggest present ever (Invisalign), and now, just before the decade ends, living my happily ever after with the one and uni. 

And in all these chapters, I’m eternally thankful for the  

friends and my family who have always stood by. 

Goodbye 2010s. Towards a better 2020s. We go again! 

4Q2019

Department outing brought me to this beautiful gem in the day 

First baby of the clique! 辛苦你了 Mama Chiew 

Le MNDragons exco full attendance 

Wedding bell for Natabel! 

Happy birthday mummy! 

Probably my final overseas trip with this team - was quite an experience and thanks for the memories 

Random bee decided to sting me while I was on my way riding to work. At least it means I’m not allergic to bee stings lol

Le random saturdate~ 

And a serious NHL team meeting with the Dreamers before the all-important semis against A-Team 

Falling in love with the one and Uni 

First public Heartland talk for HDB - checked! 

Semis didn’t end as we would like it to, but it was well worth the sweat fighting alongside these bros 

And it’s MND City Excel programme time. Ex-captain Alan was the lecturer for one of the days 

And so was I! I kid. 

And this evil game that got me into trouble 👿

But always a feast at SPCA heh 

CPD planning session day! Invited friend from CAG to share on their transformation journey. Interesting...

“Full” attendance night 

And this team that went ahead to the Philippines. Didn’t achieve what we had set our sight on, but I know you guys did your best. Team Singapore, woosh!

And this sort of provided a closure. Unopened jerseys; finished business. Remember heading for the trials on 16 Dec 2018, severely hungover. Somehow made it into the team before I left for EBC. Didn’t expect much, and since there weren’t any expectations, there weren’t any disappointment to say. Rushed off after trials to meet the VJ gang at Bedrock. This year, 6 Dec 2019, almost exactly one year into my national team journey on the SEAGames quest, my team flew out to attempt to bring the glory back, and there I was back at bedrock with the same gang. Symbolic. And a closure to this very unique chapter of my life. 

Annual year end get together with the dragons! 

He burped after this. Achievement unlocked with baby Isaac

Ju’s hall friends gathering that ended with a double date with the Angs 

And then this happened 

Got back in time for JJLin but was told the previous year’s was better 

Xmas exchange with the Fri Dinz gang at Natabel’s - got a cap of my liking! 

Xmas dinner at Ggmac’s - always a feast! 

And one last full attendance meet up before Zac becomes a father (!!!) and heads to Perth for his masters for a year 

And this regular gang with the annual Xmas gift exchange. 家和万事兴, just don’t bring the Secret Hitler out! 

And just few of my pillars through the various stages of life... 

And finally, ending the year with these gems... 

3Q2019

3Q started off with probably the last low key of my life 

And these high key bros missing First Officer Ng 

Wacky like this 

Diao zhng nimber 2 - also probably gonna be my last 

SDBF2019 

Random sat night when le gf is away hiakhiak 

And then flew in to Bali for the first time for this! Check out that ass

Just wanna put this photo here cos... that body is gone :(

Upgraded from a Bronze to a Silver medal this year 

And this regular bunch where I am an official plus1 now... I guess? Party membership is unclear lol

Happy birthday baby! 


CSC Family Day race! 

And then this happened. 

For the uninitiated, this. 

Time for new helmets 

Thanks for waking up at 7 on a Saturday morning and coming to support!~ 

Le private home chef dining 

Gym sesh with this bunch 

And more birthday celebrations 

And another bites the dust, sort of. Haha 

28 years old still play surprise meh 

Another random Sat night when le gf is away. With this diving gang that sort of got together because of me when I didn’t even go on that trip 

Peska Sukan 2019

That look tho, pa

Happy 70th birthday in advance, pa. ❤️

Really 68, but Chinese 69, and apparently you 偷岁 to celebrate the decades whutt and I didn’t make it for the family shoot cos we got into minor finals for the Dragonboat race. When responsibilities fight for the same 24 hours everyday that I have, I wish I can split myself up into two

And this nice sunset from bro’s new house 

WARNING: PHOTO CONTAINS DISTURBING SKELETAL IMAGE. SKIP IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE. 

And seeing ahgong for the first time since I was 1. I guess it’s fair to say I couldn’t recognise him. 

And then this! Slightly overpriced but I don’t measure experience with the dollars, cos memories are priceless

Seeing these girls for the first time in years! I guess I am part of the girls clique of our class now?! 

Mid-term get-together with the dragons

SMP2019

Feeling proud and appreciated by the two lovely interns I had the privilege of working with this summer! 

Random $300 damage while sitting down doing my work in a cafe with no impact whatsoever. Hmmm...

First worktrip of my life! 

And I guess I’ll be back for this lovely sunset pretty often 

Le cultured gang. Made it back from work trip just in time to see Mr Pang 

Congrats, Mr Future CEO! 

Worth it to rush down from one wedding to another just to see this bunch whom I know since 7!!! 七兄弟 missing 老三! Congrats, BaoLin! 

SMP2019 proper. Missing our regular judge Charles but the debates were equally top notch this year from the participants. Sometimes I wish I could learn a little from them...

SMR2019, quite an experience sitting amongst the top management, engaging in conversations, presenting ideas and charting the next step together with the very top steer persons of the organisation, and might I say, one of the key component of Singapore’s very existence. 

Wedding bells rang again! Encroaching onto the 4Q events but just wanna end with a photo of us again heh. And sorry Swenpy your heads got chopped off in this photo lol