From this day on

It's been an eventful december.
Many significant things have happened in my life. I went on a pilgrimage to visit Old Trafford, I went on a great holiday to Spain, I spent Christmas away from home for the first time.
There are a lot of stuff that can be said from those events, but I'll just let the photographs be the memories for once, too much to catalogue.
2007 has been an eventful year for me. It started in Singapore and ended in London. I had a 21st birthday party, where I had the company of many of my friends, I watched football in the National Stadium, I went Hong Kong with the fencers, I went out a lot, I worked with HATC, I did relief teaching in RI, I attended many 21st birthday parties, I drove a lot, I watched Manchester United win the title, and when I came to London, I did a whole lot of other stuff that is too long to write about.
Taking stock, I think as a person I have found my internal balance. There is the odd bad day here and there, but I think as a whole I am at terms with myself. I work along my strengths, and try to overcome my shortcomings. To survive on my own in London, I had to take the step up in terms of responsibility, and move out of my comfort zone. As I mentioned to my parents, it didn't seem hard at all to adjust, even though it was for the first time I had to do laundry for myself (I remember wondering how to figure out the washing machine) and having to settle meals for myself.
I have also found that I can deal with people easier now. Thanks to my job I guess. I still come across as the elder statesman (my hallmates call me "lao de" on account of my early birthday date) but it's a bad habit to dispense sagely advice.
Am turning 22 is less than 3 weeks. It's a bit harrowing, for 21 was such a nice year that I don't really want it to end. Yet it feels like that I have finally arrived with regards to adulthood, and with it all the unpleasant responsibilities.
The lack of posts is testament that the internal conflict in me has been resolved somewhat. Perhaps one day I'll trawl through the posts from way back in 2003 to see the evolution of me. I guess I'll still sporadically update, this place holds too much significance for me to close it down.
In closing, here are just some of my wishes for 2008. For the family and friends back home in sunny Singapore or overseas to enjoy good health and success, for me to work hard for my degree, for me to continue improving as a person, for friends here in London to cherish friendships, and finally, for me to be a better man.

We were soldiers

Ok this must be the longest I have been away from blogging ever. Been darn busy, what with work and play, and also never found the motivation to blog about an eventful november. But here is the concise version of events.
The month of november had nick's birthday, which he celebrated party style in the common room of our hall, then went up to nottingham for the notts games, played football for UCL as their lone (loan) signing. Was freezing up there due to the crazy winds, played football with gloves for the first time. Met up with many of the 86 friends there as well. The next weekend I was the facilitator for the temasek forum, held at my school. Facilitated a session, which was good apart from the fact that I felt we spent too much time debating about 377A. On the same day England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, I was in a DBS talk listening to the CEO, but the main draw was the free food after that. Went up to Cambridge to visit my fencing captain with yq, we didn't get on the first bus as it was full, when we finally got there we walked around and admired the quaintness of the place, but it was cold as well due to the winds again. Somehow we ended up meeting all the former SO2 people, and had dinner together. This weekend, had dinner with my uncle and auntie and 3 other cousins at their place. Enjoyed the home cooked food goodness, and got driven back to hall from canary wharf by cousin in his 2 man convertible. Cool.
I guess this is the time to take stock of all that has happened so far. It's been a blast so far, but I think I need to study harder and make good use of the time during the weekdays so that I can play all I want on the weekends. But everything that has happened so far has convinced me that I've made the right decision to come here.
We were soldiers. Indeed.