The Wannabe Economist

Relationships between people is an amazing thing. On one hand, it’s impossible to measure or quantify this relationship. On another hand, it’s something you don’t even have to measure. Sometimes you just feel that things are not going right. And there’s nothing much you can do about it.

It’s my fault that we forgot about the camera. So no camera = no photo. However there are people who brought camera, and i emailed a couple of them in a polite manner to ask for photos. Now you guessed it. No reply. Karen just emailed her set of photos from SISF 2007 and viola! Now i have the photos, and they are appearing here.

Thanks Karen. You probably won’t read this, but i should acknowledge nevertheless. People like Karen make me feel more welcomed. Both at the party and during training.

The group photo, taken in almost the exact same manner as we did last year.

A year has passed. Last year i was one of them. This year, it seems like as much as i would love to consider myself part of the group, things are different. You might say that it’s my choice whether i want to be part of all these. Then again, some things are beyond what i can control. Things like falling sick at the crucial moments. Like certain techniques are beyond my ability to apprehend and capability to shoulder. Like attending rehearsal at 11pm when i know for damn sure i am going to end up transportless afterwards with no means of getting home.

On the bright side, drinks were affordable at $6 per serving.

The fact that Downtown East looks good helped to make the evening too.

And i have gotten my first ever pair of monthly contact lenses.

Attended the chalet BBQ cum celebration party last night. I would have skipped it if not for Dennis who caught me sneaking around online on Friday morning. LOL. Dennis is really funny. He had been eating for the entire night and i kept pressing him to allow me to cook medium steak for him. Just so i can practise again.

BBQ was good. Thank you JJ for catering the food. We contributed within our means. Mrs Chongky brought her stock of M&Ms, snickers and large packs of chips (ask Neh Neh what i meant). I cooked and helped to ensure there was no leftover.

In the midst of getting the steak just right, and chewing on the overcooked steak, Mrs not-fat Chongky and i got a picture of ourselves captured. Where else but on Karen’s camera.

After 10 minutes spent on loading up 2 bicycles into the car, lots of pespiration under the hot noon sun, and getting 1 set of singlet and berms dirty….

I have brought the bicycles back to the shop.

1. Fix the stand on Mrs Chongky’s bike
2. Do up quick release on all the wheels
3. Adjust my seat back to the original angle
4. Change the flat tube
5. Spend more money on pump, saddle bag and tools

I think i is love cycling.

Yes, bad luck. Tire went flat. Just as i was reaching the SLE Flyover.

There are nice Singaporean around. A fellow cyclist who was behind me noticed the flat and shouted out. Then he stopped with me, checked where i’m heading to, and offered me a spare tube.

Unfortunately, i didn’t get around to zhng the bike with quick release. I do not have saddle tool box too. I thanked him for the offer… and he left stating that it’s just bad luck.

LOL…

So much for waking up at 6.30am, only to cycle for 30 minutes, and waited 20 minutes for a cab, and then spending $11 on cab fare.

If you are wondering whether to catch this movie, do watch this, especially if you are:

1. A fan of Resident Evil
2. A fan of horror/thriller
3. A fan of Milla Jovovich

I is tired. And looking forward to cycling bright and early later.

I have just applied medication oil on that swollen thumb, finally. Earlier on we couldn’t find the bottle of oil and Mrs Chongky actually remembered, kept on finding it, and told the barely awake me this afternoon that she found it.

Like what i always say, what doesn’t break us will only make us stronger. Same for relationship. A lot had happened, but we’re still together. That surely has to mean something.

Today, Mrs Chongky decided to be specially nice to me and cooked me steaks for dinner (though i did pay for them in the first place). I would have posted up the photo if i used my own camera, but i didn’t. So this has to wait. Mummy decided that home cooking is still healthier, as the steak does not taste salty compared to the ones we had when we eat out. I agree. I have to agree with mummy. Mrs Chongky too.

Ok i am getting really out of point now. Shall go to bed. Waking up at 6am for morning run. Despite all the saying about wanting to go triathlon since the pre A levels days, i never got around to do it. The whole idea entails too much effort. But now that i got my own bicycles, it seems like the best time to put idea into action.

I just went out of point again.

So here’s to our lovely 2 years and 2 months together, Mrs Chongky.

Dear all,

Mrs Chongky and I are back safely from our first ever night cycling trip. Not a particularly long trip, only from Gambas Ave right down to Thomas Road Long House. But it’s enough to push Mrs Chongky to her limit (because she hasn’t exercised in eons and i’m so proud of her determination). I enjoyed the trip too, the fresh air and the exercise.

WZ, Jean and her colleagues are the most patient with the two cycling noobs. We practically slowed the entire group down, and they were nice about that. I wonder if i would be as gracious about it when i become a better cyclist.

After what happened these couple of months, i think i am not a great person. I have a personality that i would detest, but not as bad as someone i heard about. Not that i like hanging around this person. That was when i have not experienced the worse. I heard he

1. Is damn boastful, yet stingy
2. Orders ice water when the group goes for beer / chill session
3. Don’t contribute to the group
4. And more that i don’t think i want to go on and on, and besides, it’s not that nice if i do that.

All in all, i would like to conclude this happening and tiring day here. Mrs Chongky is damn tired, and i’m suffering a terrible buttache.

If you should fail to see me report at 11am for KTV, please give us a call. We must have overslept (not that i wish to).

Reminder to self: also attend the PS workshop and go for shirt measurement.

Dear all,

I’m proud to announce that i have officially quitted DOTA for this semester. It’s my 40th minute since my last game as Zeus, and i’m sleepy.

On the other hand, i have rekindled my passion for academic achievement, and i fell in love with IE. Nothing too great about it. I just rediscovered that it is an open-book exams, and if i do listen in class and ask questions after that, i can understand everything perfectly.

For climbing, i am going to rediscover myself again. Find that determination to master the iron finger skill. But first i have to find the long lost manual.

It’s late at night now, and i have to send Jordan and Brooke to the Airport in a while. Later on the day, if you are free, come by the SMU Sports Hall and catch me in rowing action. Everything at 3.30pm. Right after another favourite of mine, labour econs.

Mrs Chongky should be taking photo. It’s ok if you don’t come, but i would love to see you there.

Cheers,

Chongky

I have always liked the All Blacks’ Haka.

Plus their attacking style of playing, and the colour of the jersey. That’s why i always wanted to own one of the jersey, to be a prouder supporter of the team, after having the All Blacks training jersey and the backpack.

And then after watching the new Haka, man that’s real scary.

Ka Mate is milder compared to Kapa O Pango.

The other day i was talking to Irvin, who encouraged me to try rugby. The temptation to do so is always there, even with the supposedly temporarily fixed retinal detachment. Putting on a jersey walking around is never as good as putting on one on the field.

I am a happy man. In debt of $47.20 to WZ - mental note.

We went shopping with our voucher (yes WZ forgot his) at Key Power International on Monday. And now we have our red team cycling jersey from Parentini. Individual cycling / running tights from Pearl Izumi. And we have our own running jersey from Descente.

So excited to have my own set of technical apparel. I mean, you don’t have to be an elite runner to own all these. Just a fat wallet. Or just some sheer luck to enter a such a race that comes great sponsors.

Why do i feel so motivated suddenly?

I have came back from Pelepah waterfall. Don’t worry i’m still in one peice. Mrs Chongky too. Though she is currently having some behavioral issues and now she thinks she is an insect.

On our way to the waterfall, we passed by Kota Tinggi and witnessed first hand the devastating effect of the recent flood. The terrain changed quite a bit from the heavy rainfall. Everything is suddenly steeper and still quite slippery. There were landslides, fallen trees across the river and stuff. The two days we were there it did rain. And pretty heavy in the night. Lucky i was already sleeping in the tent. A non-leaky tent.

The trek is definitely challenging. Nothing like what i have heard about being leisure and stuff. Perhaps it’s just me. Leisure to me sounds like a hike into Bukit Timah natural reserve. Even my lovely Teva feels slippery on the wet rocks. My Solomon dry pack broke, i’m not sure why. Everything got a bit moist.

Oh wellz. Kinda expected. Solomon has great design, but poor quality.