I think that people should stop thrashing Phua Chu Kang. Sad as it is, it is still the funniest Singapore sitcom, well definitely one of the better ones anyway. And PCK & Co. are still rather effective and representative ambassadors of Singapore..


Take the SARS and MRT courtesy raps for example. While they prompted some eye-rolling from humourless, critical people, the huge presence did make its points, and the messages were effective. Seeing PCK and Rosie standing warningly next to the MRT doors/squatting above the reserved seats reminded people that it is only basic courtesy to not pit ourselves against the outflow crowd or pretend to be engrossed in a book/smsing/playing nintendo DS while a papery old man sways dangerously in front of us. And I didn't realise this until my recent summer holiday back in Singapore.


When the courtesy rap first started, and I was back in Singapore for my summer holidays in my 2nd year, I was pleasantly shocked by my fellow countrymen standing aside to give way at the MRT doors. Of course, it didn't take me long to get used to it, and I thought, "Hm. Singapore IS becoming a more gracious and affluent society." So this carried on for some time, even during my last last holiday when the yellow boots no longer squatted over the reserved seats.



Like I said, I had gotten used to queueing to the side of the MRT doors behind fellow passengers who had arrived before me and had also kind of gotten used to the sight of empty reserved seats. So during my most recent summer holiday back, I automatically stood aside to let the passengers get OFF, only to be stupidly bypassed by people behind me getting ON.


Wth?



And it was not just once. It happened everytime during that last holiday back in Singapore. So I think much as people are sick of/critise PCK, he actually does exert quite a strong influence..

Nice Lyrics

Circle me and the needle moves gracefully

Back and Forth

If my heart was a compass you'd be North

Risk it all coz I'll catch you when you fall

Wherever you go

If my heart was a house you'd be home

(pardon the Paint drawing...)

I was recently influenced by Mei Yun to listen to Owl City songs and I must say, it was a good recommendation (: Then again, I have to warn all unimaginative people that the lyrics are all really whimsical and do not make sense a lot of the time, and that's what I like about them! I read some criticisms of how the lyrics do not make sense and I couldnt help feeling a bit irritated at those impossibly practical party poopers...

It works really well before bedtime coz then you think of dreamy fantastical things like moonlight spilling down to earth and a strawberry avalanche cascading down with it. (Yes, it is another one of his songs) I remember drawing a picture of Happy Land once and I think Owl City songs will be the perfect background music of Happy Land (although the version I drew was a bit sadistic). Think the chorus of this song appealed particularly to me in this time of homesickness what with all the talk of compasses and directions and home.. Quite a quirky way of expression, as opposed to the traditional "You are my air/life/water/carbohydrates and other nutrients" and "I love you deeper than the deepest ocean" and all.

*Grumblegrumblegrumble...leicester...grumblegrumble*

In the past week since I have been back, I have been bored to the muscles. That is not to say I have not been enjoying the autonomy of sleeping and waking up whenever I want and wasting however much time I want just doing plain ol nothing. But it is tinged with gloom and guilt as well. Kind of. While school has been kind to start us off at a mercifully slow pace, it has, nevertheless, started. And this makes me a few steps closer to proper term starting, assessments starting and exams at the crack of spring next year. Which means I should be encouraged to start picking up on my studies which I have happily filed and shelved for half a year now.. And I know the sooner I start, the better. Why then, am I procrastinating? Terrible discipline I have.

To be honest, clinicals have not exactly been stressful (except for the guilt that I have, as a result, been neglecting my studies), but they can get physically tiring. No, I correct myself. They can get quite exhausting. This was particularly bad towards the end of my 3rd year, where

1. i was doing my peri-op block which = standing for hours in the very cold OTs

2. long days + ITU days

3. mei yun came to visit

4. went to london with meiyun

5. went shopping with meiyun

6. had alot of fun shopping and eating while meiyun was here

7. slept for ~3h per night while meiyun was here

8. paula and xinyis graduation and the excitement of families visiting and the prospect that i was witnessing my future in 1.5 years

9. there was the excitement of packing and flying home

10. i had prepared nothing for my periop exam, considering the above (plus i had a blocked and inflamed ear)

and in the midst of it all i kept having a vision of myself, the moment i had nothing else to worry about, doing this

which did not happen, because of #9 and #10. Still, I'm sure that in a matter of months, when the grey gloomy winter is here coupled with the notion of having to study in the grey gloomy lack-of-distraction leicester, this picture of my anguished self reaching for my bed would keep popping into my head again.

This year is supposed to be a productive year! I had the aims of learning a. photography (if I can join the society without actually owning a camera) b. photoshop (which I installed on my 2nd day back! ha!) c. a muscial instrument (if ebay guitars are still going at 99p) d. not being tempted to join volleyball again e. making better use of all the time i spend watching random shows on my laptop, reading repeat storybooks, sleeping and doing nothing. Better use as in pick up my books and notes. I could achieve so MUCH.

Soo... Cross fingers to a more accomplished year. I am so bored my right shoulder + back muscles have gone all stiff and achy from inactivity. Or maybe it is my sleeping position. Or maybe it really IS my 31.9kg luggage ++. Ha. Homehome IS the best. Want wind get wind; want rain get rain. More importantly want sun get sun. Haha Pa Mi you still owe me my moon. I asked for it 3 weeks ago already :D

Meh. So gutted to be back (must speak like ang moh now that I am here). I feel sooo forced and fake all the time. No wonder I always feel tired. I've had to summon up all the enthusiasm I could muster to convince people that I am fine, that I had a fundertastical! holiday, to laugh at not very funny jokes, and to suppress my urge to say stupid things. Ha. Have to get used to it again..