Monday, December 10, 2007
hello world.
Been quite some time eh? Anyway, yesterday was some cohesion chalet for army. Ha! i think it failed spectacularly. Still, the organising must have been tough so thanks anyway to keith and co for planning this. The day before though, we went fishing again. It's this like new hobby of mine. We meet in the night at nostalgical bedok before proceeding to NTUC and Sheng Shiong like old aunties on the hunt for the bargain of the day. After dilly-dallying like gu-niangs, we then grab our stuff, proceed to the area just out of range from the counters and start to analyze. We will then all queue up at the counter with the most good-looking girl even though the other cashiers are like entertaining not customers but themselves. HA! It's all in the name of fun though so don't brand us just yet! =)
After that, we will gather our stuff outside Sheng Shiong on the curved stoned seats and start waiting for our cab. Cabs just don't seem to pass by there too often nowadays. Freakin stony wait but eventually we get our cabs and asses to East Coast Park Carpark erm.. something something. Can't remember. Speaking gibberish like little kids, we will make our way to the lighted bridge that stretches out into sea. Bedok Jetty. After passing countless bus-stops, we decide upon a particular one and start to prepare.
Fisher Check 1 : Proper Hook-Up!
After casting our lines into the dark open sea, initial adrenaline forces us to hold onto our rods. Human minds work in such a way that we tend to hope for a miracle and for the supposedly dumb fishes to get hooked straight away. Of course, this is one of many fallacies. After the enthusiasm dies down, we lay our rods in a way it leans onto the railings seperating us and the sea and proceed to the next check.
Fisher Check 2 : Complete scrutinising of food and opening of them one by one
Tearing open the packet containing whatever is inside, the aroma diffuses into the air and we let our itchy fingers do the job, repeatedly planting objects into our constantly chomping mouths. Always peppered with hopeful glances at our rods but almost certainly followed by more packet-swishing sound and crunches of the mouth. Once in a while though, desperation for a catch takes over and we find ourselves reeling in the line, in a bid to recast it. If we find the bait slightly mangled or ravaged, we curse our luck in unison. If we find the bait gone, we lament on the fact that the fish was BIG enough to rip off the piece of prawn from the hook. Once in a blue moon, we feel tugs at the other end that stimulates even more excitement as we start to jerk our rods and begin the rapid urgent reeling. After a particularly large tug, the tension from the other line disappears and we are forced yet again to dwell on what should have been.
Such a gloomy outlook! but yet, we still want to do it again. Why? i am not particularly sure but i have a gut feeling it's because of the time we spend with each other. The time normally reserved for solitary rest is now converted to social bonding periods. Bonds like these are often strong ( think walawala). And i guess that's why we like fishing. Of course, there are also the times sheer excitement and joy overcomes us. Like when we catch our individual fishes. Catfishes or spinosaurs, they are our catches. The result of hours of hoping and praying. That's the thrill of fishing. The battle against Hope and if the initial battle fails, The battle against Failure. More often than not, we end up slightly disappointed but still happy and that's all that matters, isn't it?
Bbqs have always been quite stupid. A strong excuse to gather but not quite a strong one to fill our tummies. But when the fire is started at like 8.30pm. It only makes it worse. Hungry but not quite as thick-skinned enough to ask for food, people try to smile and talk their way out of hunger. But not before they think the bbq-ers are stealing bites once too often. I'm not saying that is what happened but i think these incidents are rather commonplace, no? Anyway, i realised barbeque-ing nuggets and sotong balls are UP. Tender and juicy, I swear i am going to request nuggets and sotong balls at every subsequent chalet! Often, chalets should be peppered with sudden bursts of laughter, lots of drinking, and even cycling but when chalets are planned without such activities in mind, failure is bound to beckon. It's ok though, if everybody feels a basic responsibility to bear the trouble the chalet organiser went through in mind before attempting to complain about how boring it is and stuff. This is what happened yesterday though, so kudos to supposedly chauvanistic NS boys! We smash those stereotypes! Anyway, chalet providers should include a range of games in their services. Like maybe set up a game renting counter so that people can just grab an edition of Twister in the middle of the night and play themselves senseless. FUN!
Ever since our trip to Wallaby, our lives have definitely changed for the better. BUT, i'm pretty sure it's only temporary. Long weekends will soon be replaced by Long weeknights and rest breaks replaced by hand breaks. Oh well.. On the bright side, i'm more than halfway through my tenure in the horrid army. From a lowlychao recruit, i've graduated to a somewhat more distinguished erm.. LCP. -_-''' Ah well, it wil come to pass eventually. December has been great so far. A lost friend found again proved more satisfying than finding a new one. Best just adds to the extra joy. Good if you know what i'm talking abt, if not, it's okaaaaay too!
Korea beckons... But not quite yet, two more days and i am through!
randomMADNESS
10:37 pm;________________________________
