Today is the last day of year 2006. Another year had gone by just like that. Life lessons that I had learnt from many experiences and from the people I had met, had taught me to be a little more independent and mature in some aspects that i had needed to be during this past year.

One of the major shifts I had experienced was the graduation from Nanyang Polytechnic to James Cook University. Like I mentioned in my 7 Jan entry, it was a huge change for me. Going into the "Adult" world where I had to make the major decisions myself. It was a really tough time for me deciding if I would wanna go out working or continuing with my studies. Changes in my life really do scare me in a certain way. In the end, taking a psychology degree was my final decision. I thank my family for helping me making this choice and the advises they had offered me.

Second lesson I had learned from the Gunung Tahan trip. This mountain climbing cum camping trip had really pushed me to my limits. It tested my perservance and mental & physical strength. This trip had proved that if I put my heart and soul into something, I can achieve it. I can still remember the time when I finally reached the peak of Gunung Tahan. It was one of the moments that I cant forget. I endured the tiredness and went all the way up to the peak. Watching the sunrise was marvellous. It was a view not many could see. Another lesson that I had learnt was that encouragements and support from friends do go a long way. The care and concern, encouragements, and support I got from my tahan mates was in great amount. Maybe one day, I will conquer another mountain. (Say say only... Jus kidding~!)

I had also learnt that things in life are not for granted. I have to decide what I want in life and have got to stick with my decision. Some of you might know what I am talking about there. After the "shock" I had been through, I think there are something more to life. It's not just about me myself. It comes with everything and everyone around me. Whatever things/decisions I do/make will more or less affect someone/something. So learning to make a decision is really not easy. It comes with terms and conditions.

Lastly, I just wanna let all of you, my friends, know that I'm blessed in knowing all of you in my life. Without you guys, my past year wont be wat I had expereniced. Thank you for being part of my memories and experiences!

To my family, thank you for being there for me. For being my pillar of support. For all the encouragements, care and concern, and everything... I love you all so much~!!!

Finally, this being the last entry of 2006, I leave you all with a quote written by Eddie Poon for all LaoJ-ao before we left NYP. And also great pics of me and you all taken in 2006. Have a great New Year Eve~!!!

Cited

"Friday, March 24, 2006
Cheers to all of you!! (Lao J-ao) Featuring Eddie Poon
Ed asks.. Will there be forever?
Eddie - I do not knowIs there a possibility?
Eddie - Maybe If its a fact, it would leave no room for possibilities.. Just like Da Xiong, waking up to realise Doraemon is non-existence. Selfish I must, cause friends like you guys are truly hard to catch.10-20years down the road, I hope all of our friendship stay genuine =)
-Eddie Stay Cool!The test of time is just beginning =) 03/24/2006"

*we can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it*

Christmas is a time for love and fun,
A time to reshape souls and roots and skies,
A time to give your heart to everyone
Freely, like a rich and lavish sun,
Like a burning star to those whose lonely sighs
Show need of such a time for love and fun.

For children first, whose pain is never done,
Whose bright white fire of anguish never dies,
It's time to give your heart to every one,

That not one angel fall, to hatred won
For lack of ears to listen to her cries,
Or arms to carry him towards love and fun,

Or friends to care what happens on the run
To adult life, where joy or sadness lies.
It's time to give your heart to everyone,

For God loves all, and turns His back on none,
Good or twisted, ignorant or wise.
Christmas is a time for love and fun,
A time to give your heart to everyone.
--Nicholas Gordon

To all my dearest friends and families, have a merry merry christmas~!!!

*make all you can, save all you can, give all you can*

Yupp yupp, the season of the year is coming....

So excited about it. It's not like as if I will get alot of presents but I just like Christmas.

This also means that the year is ending soon and another year will arrive in a blink of eye.

So many assignments to complete and all of them are due next month. I guess I will spend the whole of my next week break to finish at least two of them. *keeping my fingers crossed*

So many gatherings next week too. For now, I have got three gatherings on hand. One with my secondary school student counsellors. Two with Estee and the SU gang. Three with my secondary school classmates.

So broke as it is the end of the month. Hopefully I can survive till next week with all the gatherings bah.

So I am going to take my bath now and go to Ikea to get some stuff and will be going for the last lecture of the year before the break for the holidays.

*a compliment is a gift, not to be thrown away carelessly,

unless you want to hurt the give*

I love eating candy cane.

Why? Because it's only once in a year that I get to eat it.
Now, you must be thinking why I am telling you all these? Because I was harping on one yesterday. Was out with dear and me got a candy cane from mini toons. I was thinking of eating during the movie "eragon" but to find out that the sales girl did not put my candy cane into the shopping bag. I was so so "angry". Couldn't eat my candy cane. So I was harping on it during the whole show and decided that I should go back to mini toons to claim it back. Surprisingly, the candy cane was still at the counter. If she had put it back onto the shelf, I am so gonna complain. Like as if I would.

Anyway, dear was saying that I was petty over the candy cane. Yea, I kinda agree so. But it's my once in a year "CANDY CANE". Of cos I would be harping on it. Call me childish and petty if you want. But I dont care.

I am loving my candy cane now.

Jus a simple introduction of how candy cane came about.
In recent years, apocryphal origin stories for the candy cane have become popular. Usually they suggest the candy cane was invented by an American Protestant, usually described as being an unnamed candy maker in 1870s Indiana, to represent Jesus Christ. These stories typically suggest that the white of the candy cane represents Jesus's purity, the bold red stripes represents crucifixion.
The white in the candy cane is to for his purity, one bold red stripe for the blood he shed, three thin red stripes for the Holy Trinity, and the general shape for the J in his name and/or to represent the cane of a shepherd.
Once a man named Jesus invented the candy cane. He tried to make a gun and acedintely mixed in peppermints. He tasted it and said it was the best thing invented since heaven.
--From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



*you must give some time to your fellow men
even if it's a little thing, do something for others
something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it*

Wahaha... I am in tutorial now. Watching a series. Had been watching the series since the first tutorial. The series is a recording of 20 kids in 1960s and they were interviewed when they were seven. Today's show is when they were 28. It's really interesting, cos you can see that the children really grow up and their ideas/thinking/mindset/perpective really change. Some of them do keep their childhood dreams when they became an adult. The series goes all the way till the children grow up to 48 years old.

My thought of the day: How much do we change? Do we really "give up" of childhoood dreams because of the circumstances? My childhood dream is to be a teacher. Am I going to be one in the future? What is going to happen in the future? Who knows? Nobody knows what's going to happen tomorrow, what more can we say for the future?

*the first step to getting the things you want out of life is this:

deceide what you want*

Damien wrote a post of me at his bloggie. Funny and interesting things he said.
But me got some comments. Nonetheless, it's good entertainment. Thanks Damien...

This picture shows Christine Da jie and me holding our caricatures
while attending a PAYM lunch along with Asilah, Hui Ping, Siti, Eddie and Farhan.

Name of product: Christine Da jie

Characteristics: Dedicated, Enthusiastic, Aspiring and Decisive LEADER.
*THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD COMMENTS*

History in the making: For the past few years, she has led me to more and more challenges. For example, she challenges me to take up the National Youth Achievement Award (and I swear I will never do it again). In addition, she introduced me to a MUCH more motivating leader and savior, Ms Ong Ying Shya. I certainly have not one else but Christine to thank for she has enlighten me on what is fear.
*OBJECTIONS: HUIPING WAS THE ONE WHO INTRODUCED DAMIEN TO YINGSHYA, BUT IT IS GOOD TO LEARN AND FACE FEAR IN THE EYE*

In the following year, I just happen to be slacking at home just before my birthday. Suddenly, I received a call from Christine. "Hey Damien, we got free tickets to the latest movie, Happy Feet." Being a cheap bastard, I naively joined them. From then on, I realized that I am one of the YEC members. Christine has once again taught me that something about life. "There's no such thing as free lunch in this world."
*OBJECTIONS: HUIPING WAS STILL THE ONE WHO ASKED ME TO CALL YOU. I AM AN INNOCENT PARTY.*

Unlike our previous product, this product has been sold to a gentlemen named Desmond for a VERY HIGH PRICE OF 25. 000 000 000 000 000 Rupiah. So congrats to Mr. Desmond!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!! Please bring the product to Hougang Avenue 8, Buangkok Green Centre if this product were to suffer from any malfunctioning. International Warranty of 18 years starting from year 1986.
*OBJECTIONS: WARRANTY ENDED! BUT PRODUCT STILL SUFFERING FROM MALFUNCTIONING.*



*sometimes the measure of friendship isnt your ability to not harm but your capacity to forgive the things done to you and ask forgiveness for your own mistakes*

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just have to let it out. This semester is so STRESSFUL!!! All major assignments are due next month and I haven't even started on one proper. I am so dead. Bad bad bad... I have to start on one today. So much readings and researches to do. How I wish I am a local uni student. NUS and NTU students are having their holidays now.

Sigh... I am also having the bad blocked nose and was down with a slight fever last night. Having a bad headache now, but cant get to sleep. So here I am, awake and up trying to do some research. Hopefully some of the work can be done by the end of today.

Oh yah, I was on the phone with Estee two days back and she was saying that she'll be arriving back to sg on 30 Dec 2006. Her flight should be landing around 7.30pm. She said she wanna meet us out for dinner. Dinner ≠ Swensens, Cafe Cartel, etc. She wants local food. This "gathering" will be confirmed again. But please keep that day free for MingWei our dear Estee.

*it is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanisms of friendship*

Just a thought about it. I felt left out in my class. Seems like everyone got their own click and I am like the odd one out. It is not like I am a unfriendly person or someone that ignore anyone. I am not keeping a low profile but just felt out of place. I dunno about the rest of them, but I do feel it this way. Well, maybe it will just take time for me to adapt into their "world".

Also for my gang of friends... I know that everyone has their life in different fields. But it seems to me that we are all drifting away from each other. Maybe it is my feelings. But then again, I cant expect much. Life has to move on.

Well, cHrissy... Tomorrow will be a better day.

*never explain-- your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway*

The PAYM Convention was held at Suntec last Sat. There are some of the pics.

I had a great time with the rest of them. Looking forward to meeting the gang soon.

*dont be discouraged by a failure
it can be a positive experience
failure is, in a sense, the highway to success,

inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true,

and every fresh experience points out some form of error

which we shall afterwards carefully avoid*

The LaoJ-ao all appeared for Damien's birthday celebration last saturday.

Wow... Finally a gathering after the last SU chalet. Too bad Estee is in Australia.



*to accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act*