SG Fairy

my heart started to really beat as i approached the National Stadium... i could already see fans streaming in like lines of red ants... a huge mass gathered at the East entrance... music was blasting from loud speakers, enterprising vendors dotted throughout the area, shouting, advertising the various food packets and snacks they were selling. i found a young boy peddling Singapore mini-banners and quickly whipped out $4 for two... tying one across my forehead like a hairband, i felt like rambo.

indeed, there was a carnival-like atmosphere in the place, along with a tension of sorts... Singapore fans were going to war. almost everyone was in warfare attire... red tees of all sorts - some had 'Roar, Lions, Roar' across the front, Arsenal and Manchester United jerseys, plain tees, etc... there were also some shades of pink around, for those who didn't have a red outfit in their wardrobe but wanted to affirm that yes, they are Singapore fans. You could also spot the odd expat.... angmoh couples leading their little kids in red kiddy clothes... the blonde with "Singapore" across her forehead... the brunette guy with a pic of a Lion blazing across his tee...

The Thais were there too... they were easy to spot... little bunches of yellow in the sea of passionate red... as mean as this may sound, i enjoyed the uneasy facial expressions on the Thai fans' faces... it must have been quite uncomfortable for them to be surrounded by us, with Singapore fan spontaneously shouting "Go, Lions!" etc every now and then.

we made our way into the stadium and i caught my breath when i emerged from the the little passage linking the stairs and the interior of the stadium. there were sooooo many fans! it was like Malaysia Cup all over again! there were the cheers, the whistles, the chants, everything!

I was so glad i was there, together with the thousands of Singapore fans.

as the time drew closer to 8, kick-off time, the crowd got more and more excited and nosy. we were sitted near the Thai fans - a small crowd of yellow. every now and then, you'll hear a roar emerging from a side of the stadium. then, the Kallang Wave happened. we easily did about 6-7 of them. because the Wave was coming in from our right, everyone in my sitting area would turn in that direction and watch it approach. we'll be stamping our feet in eagerness, a soft roar rumbling in our throats. the closer the Wave came, the faster and harder we'll stamp our feets, the louder our roar got. til finally, it was our turn and we all stood up, waving our hands in the air with a triumph roaring blast! it was lovely to see the Thai fans get into the act too, doing the Wave with us, lol.

Photographers and camera crew were walking on the tracks, taking pictures, videos of fans. some fans would loudly shout and beckon to the camera crew to come to where they were, and when the camera assistant gave the go-ahead thumbs-up, the fans would go crazy, jumping about, waving their flags.

when the football players started lining up on the field, a loud cheer sounded from the stands. the Thai anthem was played first, and some Singapore fans shouted out "respect, respect" as we all kept quiet while the Thai fans stood up. then, it was our turn, and the drum roll at the begining of the Singapore anthem was such music to our ears. We stood, and fans everywhere sang the "Majulah Singapura" with such loud delirious happiness we sounded drunk. and when it ended, we gave a loud shout of joy!

in all honesty, the Lions didn't play their best game. passes did not follow through, and there were times when we allowed the Thai players to easily take the ball from us. One thing the Thai players have which we do not is that superb ball control. But the Thai team is no longer as strong as it was back in the 80's and 90's, and we did fight well. the fans also participated as the 12th player... cheering each time we had the ball, booing the Thais when they got a corner or throw-in, or well, were just kicking the ball in the direction of our goal. but we do know how to appreciate a good player when we see one and when a Thai player did well, we clapped for him. but no cheer was louder than what we reserved for our team... and when we scored the first goal, the stadium got into such a cheer for a moment i was afraid the stadium would collapse.

even my mum got into the act.. my mum, the person who didn't think much of our team when the tournament first started, saying that the Lions did not deserve any support. now, she was up on her feet, cheering the Lions, shouting "Referee kayu!!!" when the referee didn't reward us with a penalty when it was so obvious the Thai player had executed an unfair tackle on one of our boys.

during half-time, people left their seats to replenish their drinks and snacks. you could see the backs of fans on the top platform of the stadium, rings of smoke rising up around the top of the stadium. the new regulations didn't allow smoking in the stadium, so smokers would dangle their arms outside the railings at the top, cigarette between fingers, blowing the smoke outwards - i guess that counts for smoking OUTSIDE the stadium.. lol.

the second half was even more exciting. the Thai team had now woken up, and were posing a real challenge to us. by the time the score was 1-1, you could see the nervousness on fans' faces... Singapore wanted to win, and the fans encouraged our team on.

when the referee awarded us a penalty, the whole stadium got excited. but the cheers soon died to a puzzled buzz when we saw the Thai players walk off. some asked, was it a break? what was going on? and we soon figured it out and were totally shocked. the Thai team had walked off the pitch in protest. The Thai team, not showing sportsmanship????? if you wanna protest, you do so after the match through proper channels, that's the right way. but to just walk off like that, we were disappointed with our opponents. even the Thai fans seemed very puzzled and upset with the Thai team for doing so.

the Lions soon got back onto the pitch and did various exercises to keep warm while waiting for the Thais. the Singapore fans amused themselves doing the Kallang Wave, many many times - this time, the Thai fans understandably didn't join in. we were excited. while we wanted to win convincingly, the prospect of being handed the Cup right there and then was also very appealling. we figured if the Thai team took too long to decide to come back to the pitch, they would get disqualified and we'll win!

when the Thai team did finally return to the pitch, a resounding boo greeted them. people shouted "ba-lei kampung!" (i'm getting the Malay spelling wrong, but it inteprets to "Go back home!"

With penalty, we hit 2-1, Singapore in the lead... and the stadium exploded again.

Olie, Olie, Olie, Olie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When the final whistle blew, fans got up to their feet and jumped in the air... by this time, my voice had gone hoarse from cheering, but i shouted out with joy anyway, sore throat or not. it was really a most beautiful sight, to see the sea of red around the stadium explode... the happiness everyone shared was just overwhelming. when the Lions indicated their thanks to us, we exploded again, thanking the players for working hard and doing us proud.

Oh i'll never ever ever forget that moment.

even as fans started streaming out of the stadium, everyone was still in a celebratory mood. we were chanting 'Olie, Olie' as we walked down the stairs, lol! in the parking lots, a driver would blast his car horn, and everyone would cheer again.

Thank you, Singapore, for supporting your Lions.

I took an early lunch today and extended it to 2 hours...

And spent it at the Jalan Besar stadium, quening, waiting for the ticket counter to open.

I'm going to be at the National Stadium this wednesday... care to join me?

The plan had been to wake up early today and do the housework.... My parents were arriving home in the early afternoon, you see... Lol, so we kinda like, maintain the house aka keep it from becoming a pig sty when they're not around, and just as they're abt to return, we'll burst out armed with cleaning equipment and get the house looking like a page out of a home décor magazine... And pretend it's been looking this wonderful all the time they were gone.

Yes I know, we're such cheats.

But the night before, I had such trouble sleeping. I was feeling really tired physically but somehow just couldn't get to sleep. So I had parked myself in front of the television and forced really b-grade shows in the hope that I'll get really so exhausted I'll fall asleep.

By the time I went to bed, it was 4-plus.

It's really irritating... It's been like that for a while.. I'll be so tired, yet only able to fall asleep when it's like, the middle of the night :P

Anyway... By the time I got up... I had very little time left til my parents' return. So started a mad dashing about the house.... Fortunately, I was able to get everything looking lovely half an hour before they were due home.

Phew.

Then I continued slaving away in the kitchen cooking them a decent dinner... They were eager for some proper food, you see.

Now, I'm freaking drained *yawns*

Hopefully tonight, I'll be able to fall asleep the minute my head hits the pillow.

I am kinda glad my parents are home... Lol... Trust me to say something like that...

I sat at the edge of the sofa, heart in my mouth... not daring to move a muscle...

I was so scared.

But Lionel Lewis caught Malaysia's ball.

We had won! We had beat Malaysia! We were going through into the finals!

But do you know what I was really really really happy about?

Seeing how Singaporeans had packed the national stadium, converting the stands into a sea of a fiery red, out looking for blood.
Seeing the Kallang Wave back again, hearing the cheers, the jeers (for Malaysia, lol)

Singaporeans are supporting their national team again.

And I hope, they'll always continue doing that.

Because, you dun have to be a soccer lover (or of any sports for that matter) to support your national team... if you as a Singaporean wun support your national sportsmen, who will?

You dun support them just coz they're doing well and winning... you support them, period.

Get it?

I am soooo pissed off!

Remind me again why I bother to cook for my brother after a long day in the office, when I could be just simply stretched out in front of the tv, eating take-out???????

Why do I do it when he's just a bl**dy ungrateful sonofab***h!

You know how normal people live? They come home and for them home is a refuge from the mean bad rat-race of a world out there... It's a place where they can relax.

Me, I come home to a sort of hell.

You know you've hit pathetic when the highlight of your time at home was finishing the ironing.

*crawls into bed to cry*

I had some like, really old friends over for dinner this evening.

They're the sort of friends whom you speak of as people you've known for nearly half your life.

Hmm... Pause for a bit.
The above line makes me wonder whether:
A) it's an indication of how strong our friendship is, that we've been able to stand the sight of one another for so long, or
B) we're just super old pathetic farts.

Nevermind.

Anyway, it was a rather pleasant evening altogether... If you ignore the food issue - first of all I cooked a cream pasta when a friend doesn't like anything remotely related to milk (I'm so gonna kill the other friend for not relaying the 'what-i-do-not-eat' list to me), and second, my cooking wasn't so fantastic tonight :(

At least I haven't heard any complaints of people needing to go to the hospital to get their stomachs pumped.

But I digress. As I was saying, it was quite a lovely evening. The Lions did well on the soccer pitch (we left the TV on during dinner) and we friends didn't murder one another.

It actually felt kinda like a familiar warmth to me. I remember years back, I used to hold these little dinner parties for friends. Of course there were the kickass huge bbqs, but there were also the smaller dinners, just some good food, and a couple of close friends. I always enjoyed those, and tonight was no different... So I'm rather happy I invited them over tonight.

We did also come up with a brilliant idea... Or rather, they came up with the idea and then emotionally blackmailed me into participating.

I now find myself faced with the task of organising a class reunion bbq... Kinda like the ones I used to do all those years ago. Back then, I'll have one during the june holidays, and another during the december holidays for my sec 1 classmates... And we just continued meeting like that on a large scale until I moved out of the area.

Just now, one friend whined, "it's all your fault! Because you moved out, we've lost contact with a number of people, when there was like a tradition happening!"

Ya, my fault :P when they all could have gotten off their butts and done the organizing, FOR ONCE.

But gracious me let that slide... Besides, it'll be really interesting to see everyone again (if we can get everyone) after so long... I mean, hello ah, we're talking about relationships going all the way back from sec 1 leh!

It was a load of fun for us just now, as we tried to remember everyone from that class... We had to resort to looking at the yearbook in the end to fill in the missing names, lol.

But anyway... Ya.... Reunion set for the 2nd-half of the year...

A big job but someone's gotta do it.

And I'll drag the smart alexs who came up with the idea in the first place to help. *evil smile*

But ya, thanks guys, for coming over tonight... I hope you all had as much fun as I had.

Lalalalalal...

Ladies & Gentlemen, I have an announcement to make.... A huge announcement.

Are you all ready?

Drum roll please.......

I lost 2 kg between December and January!

Hurray!!!!!!

And why is it such big news, those of you turning up your noses may ask.

Well, coz I had been pigging out all of December, then there was Christmas, then right through the New Year... Yet, I lost all that weight!

And believe me, I have been stuffing my face.

Lalalala... I'm so happy!

I think it must be the cycling... So now, I'm gonna make sure I cycle regularly.

Then again, come to think of it, I could have just lost that 2 kg tearing out my hair during the past week... Just consider my brother's shitty behavior so far.

Hmm..

Oh whatever... I've lost weight, I've lost weight, I've lost weight!!!!

Those who have said females are hard to please obviously never did know how to tackle the "Honey, do I look fat?" question.

Met up with my god-sis today and we went cycling... It's been ages since I last saw her but she's still the same, well, save for her always-changing hairstyle, lol.

We had a good time together... I never fail to be amazed at how we could not meet for ages, and yet when we finally do meet up, it's like we just saw each other the day before. Like when we first met together, we just greeted each other like we had only been apart barely 24 hours.

A friendship like that... You just cannot afford to lose it.

Tired... Oh so tired...

My only highlight was cooking myself a huge lunch consisting of bacon, scrambled eggs, a sunny-side-up egg, toast, grilled tomatoes and sausages.

That was divine, I tell you.

Nothing like a good meal to cheer yourself up.

One has to wonder just exactly how first-class our IT facilities are when the internet in the office suddenly dies on you.

And they cannot come check the phone line til next Tuesday coz their tech support people are fully booked! That means there are many other customers out there also suffering!

First-class my foot!

I feel so lost without my email and internet in the office... Connection to the outside world cut off!

The positive thing though, about this all happening, is that He'll have some time for me tomorrow... Hehehe

Always good to look for the silver lining in the dark clouds.

I'm so exhausted... Instead of being able to come home to rest after work.. I had to do two loads of laundry, fold clothes, iron clothes, clear the dishes from the drying rack..

It's only been a day since my mum also went overseas, leaving me with my brother and already little bro is being a brat... How in the world am I going to manage for two weeks, cleaning up after him???

I wanna cry liao...

Just finished all the chores, and it's coming to like, the middle of the night... Ahhhhhh... Quick shower then sleep!

I woke up at 10-plus today, looked at my alarm clock and realised I was super-late for work and sprang up in bed. The moment I did that, my head exploded in pain and I regretted that sudden movement.

Had a couple of missed calls from Him, probably wondering why I was still not at the office. When I had called with my explanation, He told me to stay home and rest. And I wanted to cry. I was feeling miserable and wanted to see Him, nevermind that His advice made perfect sense - I wouldn't be much use at work and besides, I didn't wanna pass anthing on to Him.

So being the good girl that I am, I stayed home. Ate some food, read the papers, and then decided on an hours' nap that stretched four hours... When I woke, it was coming to seven already.

:P

I forced myself to take some food, then settled into the sofa to watch some soccer... Pleased that our team won, lol.

Now... I'm gonna go to bed... I shall wake up fresh tomorrow for work, no longer sick... I will.

First attempt at sushi-making today was a success! My sushi rolls look like, and taste like the ones people pay lots of money to buy for consumption.

The tempura attempt wasn't really fantastic though... Banter has to be kept at a certain temperature, and the oil cannot be too hot when I'm still getting used to my stove. I mean, it still tasted good, but it just didn't look as good.

AND... I think the time at the stove has brought my fever back :p

Poping a pill then sleeping early! Work tomorrow!

Weekend's here again... I only woke at 2pm today... Think I caught a bug... And my necks hurts :p lol, not that I'm complaining about the cause of the neckache ;)

Anyway... I'm going off now... Feeling kinda weak and stuff... The older you get, the harder it hits you when you do get sick.

What a way to spend the weekend.

This Saturday, 13 Jan 2007, our Singapore National Football team, in Group B (with also Indonesia and Laos), will play Vietnam at the National stadium at 8pm.

After that match, Singapore will play Laos on Monday, 15 January 2007 and Indonesia on Wednesday, 17 January 2007. All Singapore matches will take place at the National stadium.

You can get the tickets at the FAS Office, Jalan Besar Stadium from Mondays to Friday, during office hours (9am to 5pm).

Prices are:
Grandstand S$10.00
Adult Gallery S$6.00
Child Gallery S$2.00 (For children & students with valid passes up to polytechnic)

I know the Lions screwed up the Asian Games.... but as Radio DJ Glen Ong said today on air, it's on 2007... a brand new slate... so let's start over. No matter what, they are OUR national team. What kind of a Singaporean are you if you'll only support national players who do well? You've to stick with them through everything... and not just wait til they win something before you start cheering them. You're not a part-time Singaporean, are you?

So my fellow Singaporeans, let's go fill up the National Stadium this Saturday and cheer our team!

So dear Lions... you have my full support... go kick ass!

How irritating when your dad doesn't seem to realise that things you do are important and he does things that appear to indicate he cannot be bothered...

Like waking up at the very minute you told him the night before you have to leave the house in order to be at work on time.

If you dun care, why offer to send me in the first place?
You would never have such a 'heck-care' attitude with anything my brother does?

He told me I'm just jealous of my brother... And that got me even more irritated, lol, though I didn't dare show it to Him... But I think I have the right to be pissed.

You would too if nothing you ever do seems to impress your father.

So why do I still try to get the dad's approval?

:P

Sometimes I wonder if I am indeed too hard on my brother... Whether I appear to be the harsh, bitter older sister still jealous of her younger brother after all these years. Whether I get impatient and upset with him too quickly...

But then again, he can be really quite the jerk... The guy who holds the sign 'shoot me!'... The guy who asks for me.

I dun think I'm too demanding... I mean, is it too demanding to ask him to do something as simple as keep an eye (or ear) out for his handphone so my parents and I can call him once my parents have finished their stuff? Especially after years and years of the same thing happening time and time again... Countless rounds of nagging from my parents... And he can still make the same mistake.

Can a person really float so high in his own world that he becomes a complete idiot?!?!

I shouldn't be getting upset with myself for scolding him, right? After all, he's the jackass.

But yet... I do wonder... Whether I actually do observe him carefully, ready to pounce the moment he makes a mistake... Just coz I hate him.

Do I hate him?

Welcome to another self-examination of my emotions.

Excuse the rambling

It's a pattern I hope to establish and maintain.... To spend Saturday mornings sleeping, then in the afternoon, bring the dogs out for walks, before I go off cycling for 1-2 hours.

Healthier... Allows me to have that 1-2 hours of 'me' time... To just ride with the wind

Hmm... I know some people think that 23 year olds should be spending the time out shopping, catching movies, painting the town red... But somehow the idea of dressing up and painting my face to enter into town again on saturdays, where the streets will be filled to the brim with people... Not my idea of a fun weekend.

And the comforting thing is that, increasingly, I have more and more friends telling me they're just gonna laze the weekend away... I dun think it's exactly an age thing, ie us ageing faster... But more, with the increased pace of living, the stress etc, people are finding themselves wanting to just simply not do anything...

Anyway... Excuse me while I go give myself a facial... Bought a couple of facial packs from Watson... The deep cleansing type, the firming one, the rehydrating sort... Each with their own different blend of fruits and vegetables on their ingredients list. And each for only $1.90!

I always feel so pampered when I lay the packs all in front of me to choose one.... Like a facial buffet, lol.

I'm quite easily contended, no?

I do not believe in new year resolutions... mainly because i disappointed myself too many times in my youth... if you know you dun have the discipline to say, lose 10 kg in a year, then why bother, right?

the past 2 weeks have been hectic with the house move... and i also get very melanchoy during that period every year... Christmas comes and you reflect on how God has been good to you, the year-end approaches and you start thinking about how you had spent the year, wondering if you did it justice or not... and as the new year dawns, you comtemplate how you're going to draw on the new slate.

2006 hasn't been that bad, neither has it been fantastic. time just flew by so quickly, i dun think i did enough 'wonderful noble' things. i made a career switch and enjoy what i'm doing... i officially graduated from uni (finally, all those years of studying - or not - have paid off!)... i lost some friends while making some new ones... i learnt to network... i got to travel, though that beach holiday dream hasn't materialised yet (Nis! Thailand this year!)... watched some good theatre... i improved so much on my cooking my mum trusted me to whip up the entire Christmas feast... and i had another wonderful year with Him...

yet, i feel that some things are lacking... i wish i had done some other things.... i dun know, perhaps read more good novels, take more 'me-time' so i wouldn't feel so haggard... compose some poetry... i dun know... i feel there's a 'woah' thing missing out of all the things i did in 2006, and hence, it's kinda left a blot in my 2006 accomplishments.

this 2007... i pray i'll continue to have good health, happiness, the ability to smile, appreciation of the little little things in life, watch the grass grow... more money, now that's something to pray for... and perhaps do other things like, i dun know.... help out in a theatre production, doing lights or something... learn how to drive.... yup, i gotta stop procrastinating and learn to drive... lol, i haven't even been able to get my bum out of the seat to register for my basic theory test (the idea of studying just overwhelms me now, lazy pig!)

i'll also like to learn nonya cooking (all friends rejoice!)... lol... yum yum...

it's okay to have hopes for the new year, right? no pressure... just things to think about doing... and maybe hopefully really do them.

during the reunion gathering with my college student council mates, someone said that the year of the pig is going to be a bad year for us little piglets... some chinese superstition thingy. when i heard that, i told myself, nope, not gonna believe it. 2007 is going to be a wonderful year!

and i hope it'll be the same for all of you too....

I wish you all a 2007 of good health, happiness and love.

The world really needs love.

And the bastards who set off those bombs in Bangkok, I hope you rot in hell.

It was a disgusting act… and whatever your reasons for doing so, you had no right to play God and toy with innocent lives, especially on a day that was supposed to be full of celebration and expectation of good things to come.

Of course when you study the definition of terrorism, you have to applause those terrorists for choosing new year’s eve coz that’s the best time to dash the hopes of millions who are praying for a peaceful new year.

But still, a sick act… and if it’s true that the ones responsible are those whose political power were affected by the military coup… I hope they double boil in hell. To a certain extent, I believe in the saying that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. But to do things to harm people just coz of your selfish desires to rule the country… yes, double boil in hell!

Otherwise, have a good new year, people.

I can be such a damper of people’s spirits, eh?