c'est la vie?

limits

2011-12-02T19:25:00.009+08:00

"For me sport is not only to discover the outdoors, the people, the mountains... but also to discover myself. To explore my limits. When you race just 100 miles, 100 miles, 100 miles, you discover that your limit is 100 miles." Kilian Jornet

I like words of wisdom like this. It makes me reflect and think through stuff when I am at a bottleneck... well, not exactly now, but it just keeps me thinking of what i should do with my life. Setting limits, to me, is always a matter of the mind, be it physical, mental, emotional or career wise. Not that I am going to be like Kilian and run like a pro, but often, when I feel that I have hit the wall, there seems to be always another way, another horizon, another silver lining or another window/door waiting to be opened, somewhere.

Many a times, we are told to know our limits, to be realistic, to be practical, but do we really know our limits? Many a times, the human mind doesn't function purely on logic and anyhow, there are still much to be discovered about the human brain; even emotions, mood changing, or responses to sudden or extreme conditions are already highly complex phenomena.

I think the sky is the limit.

Twist

2011-11-26T21:52:00.005+08:00

I just have to make sure that in my mind, I’m ready for being able to play with the pain. –Kim Clijsters

Life is weird with its twists and turns, literally for me today. I had planned a 35km trail run and all went well with a good tempo pace until the 14 km mark when i accidentally stepped into a hidden pothole, covered by wet fallen leaves. ouch! was the immediate burst of pain. then I have to cut short, run in pain for the rest of the 8 km back to my car.

Doesn't help when some runners (think they were seasoned runners) trying to make some smart comments (I know he was trying to be sarcastic) of my shoes, "very bright shoes, very colourful aye?". Ya, I know, I like the solomon shoes, I like bright colours, so what? I am in no mood to entertain and bursted off and ran my last 8 km in negative split, in pain. >:-<

darn! i have just recovered from my sprained ankle and now again. need to see physio next week. darn. 8(

Rest... Move on

2011-11-23T00:20:00.003+08:00

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. Sir Joh LubbockIt's been a while. June until mid Nov was packed to the rim with modules, assignments, essays and exams. In the midst, training for TNF100 was intermittent, resulting in problems and injury sustained at the actual race. So after weeks of intensive massages by Victor and Steven to release the badly entangled deep muscles, I have started to do my regular runs. It has been good so far. just did a 12 km run this afternoon around the loyang and Upper changi area (near the prison), trying to cover all the available slopes around the vicinity. I am going to do more of such terrains to prepare for runs at the trails in and around Melbourne. The one I am looking forward to would be the two-bays walking trail which stretches 28 km from Arthur State National park to Mornington National Park (and back, that will be 56 km). I discovered this route through the Two Bays Trail run (there is a 28km and a 56km route) which will be held in Melb next year 15 Jan. I had wanted to sign up but there is a cut off of 4 hrs for 28km and 8 hrs for 56km. looking at my TNF100 timing, I don't think i can make the cut-off. So, I will explore myself and perhaps this would give me more time to take photos and maybe doing some sketches and drawings. I will be having two intense modules there at the Uni of Melb grad sch of education, but since I am going to be there, must well make full use of the weekends and explore around. 8)oh, I did something for charity last sunday, 10km run for the Run for Hope (formerly called Terry Fox runs). Had stopped doing that for a few years, but anyway, signed up and donated an additional sum for the cancer foundation. met up with a former student and it was a good run. Set off with a moderate pace whizzing in and out of the crowd and did a negative split with a time of 47 mins. had not done a sub-50 10 km for a long time. had a good time chatting with my student over breakfast.I am on a random spending spree. bought some salomon gear from the internet. going to bring over to melbourne.Two running friends taking part in the racing the planet Nepal race at the moment. They are pure inspiration. wish them well.pretty random entry.going to do some reading.

Simple

2011-11-16T23:21:00.003+08:00

I like a simple life. I like to enjoy simple things. Kilian Jornet

Indeed when it dawned on me that my age starts with a "4", simplicity becomes my goal. In the midst of all the buzz and rapid changes around, I sometimes yield for that space where I can stop and enjoy the little things that I have glossed over with the excuse of busyness; time with family, time with parents, time with friends, time alone to read, to run, to reflect.

After submitting my final essay for the semester, I had a wonderful "tea party" with some course mates. And I think most significantly, was to meet up and chill with my old friends from my schooldays, "old' in the sense because of close to 27 years of friendship.

I feel blessed.

Less is more.

Expect the Unexpected

2011-10-17T01:47:00.017+08:00

Just want to post my thoughts here instead of the NF100 fb page, don't want to add to the negative energy displayed by some of the competitors.

There were so many complaints about how the race was so badly organised and signages not placed etc. I also got lost and did an additional 1-2 km. I also stopped at the Belukar track on my way to the finishing point and wondering whether to go back to CP2. In the end, I checked the map and saw the instructions and went on the right route. I am not trying to defend for the organisers; they have a few areas to improve on, things like changing the starting time of 100km duo at the last min (this I think need to be seriously considered, 1 hr is a big difference because of the heat), not deploying the bikers to do a quick check of the signages, which prof organisers would (at least I know the Sabah and Powerman do), better training for the volunteers (many of them were clueless of directions and I mistook some non-runner volunteers as the TNF volunteers) and the safety patrols (I only saw them cycling up and down but don't really know what they were doing?). Perhaps, TNF can share the organising experience across the TNF races in different countries? Overseas races tend to be better organised, my experience so far. 8)

However, my sharing here is, this is after all an off-road race, being self-sufficient and self-reliant is required, i.e. why the map was given, I am a local and I also got lost. I personally feel that the disgruntlement and complaints from some of the runners were a misalignment of expectations. Some, I feel, treated it like a normal road race, where the route should be clearly marked. But as in all off-road and adventure races, anything will and can happen, the natural elements such as rain and thunder, creatures such as humans (who want a piece of the race such as signage for souvenirs) can add to the unpredictability. Again, a check by the organiser before the race and deployment of staff at strategic points would have sufficed.

Of course, those who hailed from overseas who needed to fork out much more would expect everything to be in its perfect state. I can only empathise with you. Having done more than 40 over races from 10k to ultra distances since 1996, i have seen races that collect premium but turned out worse than this one in terms of organisation. The overseas ones I took part in were many notches above better.

Anyhow, I vividly remembered the Sabah Adventure Race that I took part in early this year, the organiser had to make so many changes to the route because of landslides and weather situations. In the end, the trail runners did an additional 10-15km while the adventure racers did a modified water crossing and third day race. But the organiser was very efficient and good, they updated us at the night briefing before next day's race; (mind you, the map for next day's race was handed out there and then and we have to study the map at night and navigate as we run the next day). I dare say that all the participants had no qualms about the changes and we just bite the bullet and had a jolly great race. One of the top 5 runners whom I have the privilege of bunking in at the same accommodation, got lost along the second day of the race and eventually dropped from 1st to second or third, i think, and he took it in his stride and moved on (I hope so, yip, right? 8))

I think the biggest issue I see in local races is they have become more and more commercialised and attracting nos is THE KPI for many of them (that is one of the reasons why I have stopped taking part in local races, except for this one which has ultradistance), so in Singapore, it seems that quantity triumph over quality.

I am not saying TNF is like that....or may be they are? Why do I say that? There are already many races out there that is half-marathon and marathon distances, why not stick to the ultra-distance or the minimum a marathon distance for TNF i.e. 84 km duo, 100 km duo and 100 km solo and cap the number? was it because of value for money, so much resources deployed, so must well increase the participant nos to maximise the resources? May be I am a purist, so no offence to those 50km duo, I apologise if I have offended anyone. sorry sorry.

Nevertheless, I think with their limited capacity (i suspect the organising team is a pretty young and inexperienced one), they have done their best to accommodate whatever "spanners" that were being thrown at them, for instance, with well-stocked check points and last-minute addition of 100 plus and wet towels plus cheerful volunteers, some who braved the sun for hours, to ensure our safety, e.g. this road marshal that pressed the traffic lights at Mandai road.

My only misgiving and huge disappointment is the rampant and irresponsible littering and wastage by a number of runners. Why can't you just keep the used gel packets in some part of your hydration pack until you reach a dustbin or the next water point? and leave the 1.5 l water or 100 plus bottles at the water points instead of taking them and litter along the trails? Respect Nature? respect our environment? I can't help but remember the Sabah experience, when the Organiser emphasised, re-emphasised and re-re-emphasised the treatment of rubbish to all competitors at every evening's briefing. I guess the huge increase in no of runners this year in TNF kindaf exacerbated the situation (Sabah nos was kept small, TNF Singapore's nos increase exponentially to 1700).

Anyway, to those TNF competitors who want to have a personal best and expect everything to be laid out prim and proper, then, my take is this kind of trail race might not be suitable for you. Perhaps, you should stick to road races then and get your PBs. For those elite runners who paid the premium to race here and got disappointed by the poor organisation, let's hope they will learn their hard lessons and uphold the high standards that ultra-distance and adventure races should have.

In any case, I would say,

Don't assume,

Expect the unexpected.

Waddle on and run like a trail runner.

No personal attack intended, just my two-cents worth.

Break All Boundaries

2011-10-15T23:29:00.012+08:00

This is not an understatement, at least for me. This race, like all races I have taken part in so far, is a challenge of my mental resolve and physical limits, and this one especially, was one that giving up flashed across my mind several times.

TNF 100 was the 3rd race that challenged my running's comfort zone (the other races being 2009 84km sundown and Sabah 60km (which adds up to 75km)Trail run) earlier this year. Mich and many asked me, why do I take part in such races to "torture" myself (I mean now I am limping around the house). I guess, I like to challenge my boundaries, such challenges bring out the best and the worst (my weaknesses) in me and forced me to reflect, for the better.

I have said before that I was ill-prepared for this race, even though I have been running at MacRitchie for a number of times pushing the mileage to 30km. worse still, I suffered a bruised twisted ankle which has not fully recovered. But nothing compares to the actual race. I have set my target to below 8 hrs but I was praying if I could go around 7 hrs, as I had wanted to use this race to gauge my readiness for a trail race in Melbourne.

I woke up pretty early, 4plus in the morning an hour earlier than my alarm, race anxiety perhaps. checked into the MacRitchie carpark at 5plus and decided to nap. met my last minute racing partner, who was superb.

fast forward, the race started well, with a consistent pace past rifle range to bukit timah trails, though quite a few of us made a wrong turn and ended covering an extra 1-2 km. Then things started to go wrong, somehow, I lost too much salt and cramps started to kick into my calf muscles and my ankle began to feel sore. persevere until mandai checkpoint, took a short break and headed into Gangsa trails. By then, i was depleted and my muscle cramps and ankle sore got worse, reducing my pace to brisk walking. By now, the sun was merciless, it was scorching ( i think temp was around 35 degree celsius; reminded me of sabah) and the trails was hilly and undulating. Checkpoint 5 was just before Mandai .265, the slope was very steep, but at least it was dry (I think nothing compares to the Hamburger Hill at Sabah with its slippery and muddy close-to-80-degree-angle slopes).

After that, it was briskwalking and trottling under the scorching sun with occasional running. by now, I was feeling very sleepy and tired and many a times, I felt like just stopping and to take a nap. Somehow, I refrained from this fleeting thought, and all I did was to tap on my resolve and mental strength to push on; at every pit stop, I reminded myself not to stay beyond 5 mins. At this point, I must thank all the TNF volunteers and especially non-race oragniser volunteers like run-to-eat for setting up a pit stop with a wonderful spread of food and drinks and cold towels, you guys are my saviour.

Once, I hit the ranger station, it is about 6 km to finish line, with a limping stride, I somehow found some strength (or whatever was left) to cover these last few kilometres and 3 final km of consistent (dragging) pace. mm... I am quite amazed where did I milk out that last ounce of strength.

50 (unofficially + 2km) in 7 hrs 47 mins. My racing partner did his (he also covered 52km) in 5 hrs 30 mins, wosh!

Though my end result in timing is not spectacular, but the experience is unforgettable.

congrats to all runners.

I survived, with a bee sting, a sore ankle and tight muscles. 8)

We are all children

2011-10-09T00:43:00.002+08:00

Ford Ironman World Championship underway.

Anyway, the Friday that just past was Children's Day, so it was a school holiday. However, I had lessons on that day evening for my Masters. So, when guagua wanted to go for a swim in the afternoon and I had to tell him that I need to go for my lessons later, he asked, "papa, why do you need to go for lessons? isn't it suppose to be children's day and it's a school holiday?"

My reply was simple, with a smile. "I am not a child, I am an adult now, so I won't be enjoying the school holiday." What surprised me was guagua's reply, "but you and aunt are children of ye ye (Grand pa) and nai nai (grand ma), mama and uncle are children of gong gong (my father in law). So you are all children."

whoof!!! took me off. that was a good response. At the first glance, it seemed child-like but if I were to think deeper, guagua's response makes alot of sense.

In our parents' eyes, we are all children.

It is a matter of perspective.

Be good to our parents.

Apple a day (2)

2011-10-07T02:23:00.003+08:00

Visionary, humanistic, transformational, insurmountable legacy. Just a few words I can conjure, copy and repeat on the legacy of Steve Jobs.

I posted my tribute Apple a day (every minute, every second) in my tumblr.

Just want to share this philosophical and inspiring speech he gave at 2005 commencement address to Stanford University graduates, for readers who frequent this blog.

R.I.P.

Stanford Report, June 14, 2005
'You've got to find what you love,' Jobs says

This is a prepared text of the Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005.

Video of the Commencement address.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

Life is beautiful

2011-10-01T16:27:00.002+08:00

Last evening,
Attended a beautiful wedding,
of dear friend, fellow running companion and confidente.
Simple, touching,
warm and down to earth.
Marriage,
is love and true to the hearts.

This morning,
headed for a 17 km terrain run,
up and down,
the rolling hills,
fresh air, pounding feet.
and I met an old friend,
lost touch for more than 20 years.
Warm and elated.

Running is simple,
running is beautiful,
and
Life is beautiful.

教师节礼物 Tribute

2011-09-20T01:27:00.003+08:00

It has been a long time since I did any post. Busy is a buzz word.

Came across this article by my fav writer, a former principal now retired. Although teachers day is well over but I thought I would like to share this. Indeed, for me, I have never regretted at any point in time of joining this profession; yes, I see teaching larger than a job, a profession because it has the power to make a difference, be the difference and shape minds. I have been gratified to have met all kinds of people; from fellow educators to students and being in contact with them has taught me a lot, and hopefully vice versa.

The modules I am doing now made me reflect on what I have been doing; questioning my practices and beliefs, and help me to see education, hopefully, in a different and positive light.

For the past few weeks and months, I have bumped into students at NTU and other parts of the neighborhood, and it warmed my heart to be greeted with a smile, a hi, a casual chat and learning that they are doing well.

No gift is better than seeing the students that past through your life as an educator, grow.

Enjoy the article.
May peace with you all. B)

教师节礼物

（2011-09-19）

早报导读
● 何濛
好为人师

　　一边吃早餐，一边读早报，是退休生活的一大享受。翻阅副刊，细读几位心仪作者的文章，不但长智慧，还可怡情养性。

　　读卓涵的《我的笔名》，恰是在9月1日教师节的早晨。作者在文末提到吕振端博士和我，说我们当年鼓励她写作，使她得与写作结缘，有了更丰富的人生。

　　记得卓涵，因为常看副刊，因为记得“吉卜赛”这个笔名。在她念高中的时候，正是华文教育被狂风毁灭的时代，也是重理轻文的时代。那时候，人文科目受鄙视，尤其是教华文的我们在同行中往往居末席。

　　但是，那时的我们青春正富。青春不能没有理想支撑，因此，我们决定擎着理想的火把，去点燃生命，无视于现实的恶劣。那时候，我们没想到中国会在21世纪崛起，经济腾飞。我们不问华文是否有实用价值，只坚持“华人就必须先学华文，学好母语”的信念，鼓励学生学好华文。

　　人的生命价值是守恒，坚守亘古不变的理念，是我们的使命。记得有一位教育家说过：“捧着一颗心来，不带半根草去” 。只问耕耘，不问收获。生命的意义在于付出，不在于索取。明乎此，我们尽己所能，撒下文化的种子。浇水施肥之后，能否开花结果，且看造化。

　　最近搬家，在翻箱倒柜时看到28年前学生送给我的教师节礼物，那是我建议那班学生用几毛钱买的小册子。每个学生写几句表达学习华文的感受。我不要他们花费父母的钱去买鲜花、朱古力、玩具熊等礼物。鲜花会凋谢，朱古力会消化在肚子里，玩具熊会烂掉。唯独这小册容易收藏，虽然有点发黄，依然令人爱惜和感动。

　　这班学生讨厌华文，我曾殚精竭虑，使尽法宝把教学变得生动有趣，以便引起他们的学习兴趣。不敢期望他们考到特优，只希望他们不再把母语当仇人。一年的调教，小册上留下这些简单的华文字：“原来华文不难，只要肯读。”“以后还要多学华文。”“懂得母语才有自尊，谢谢老师提醒！”“华文成绩还很差，但我会继续努力，老师放心吧！”

　　我把李姓同学写的一页扫描后电邮给他，在重庆工作的他很惊讶看到二十多年前自己写下的留言和笔迹，感慨当年的无知和幼稚，也庆幸他自己没放弃华文。

　　教育工作者喜见桃李芬芳满园春，更爱见今人胜前人。每年教师节，学生都送礼物给老师。但我认为最珍贵的礼物，是学生的成就超越我们。

善?恶?

2011-08-13T23:24:00.006+08:00

Have not blogged for quite a while, my break has ended and now the intensive 4 modules per week started. Loads of reading and assignments. But I think I can't be given too much free time, made me slacked. But it has been a good break, spent time with guagua and also read and read ooks that are not directly related to my course. Plus have been running and cycling regularly, though I think my mileage must go up in prep for the coming NF100.

Anyway, recent happenings In UK has kept me thinking, is human nature bad at it's roots. it is really a sad state of affairs, with the burning, looting and mindless vandalism. While reports attributed to the unemployment and youth from dysfunctional backgrounds as the key causes, evidence begins to emerge that those who participated and instigated the rioting were from ordinary and average or well to do backgrounds. Some of these people claimed it was a spur of moment that drives tis madness; an excuse perhaps?! Made me draw reference to the recent NTU valedictorian speech using the F word.

Spur of moment?!?

I see there is a common underlying thread that runs beneath these two occurrences; that of human nature. Personally, I believe that there is goodness in human nature, however, circumstances and contexts will either bring out/accentuate this goodness or stir up the dormant bad side in us into the open. One way to ensure the display of this goodness in us is our our personal and shared values; which unfortunately is being eroded in this contemporary and post modern world, where and which everything goes.

I may sound self-righteous and moralistic, and we might be fighting an uphill battle with the Kaleidoscope of temptations and influences around us,

But we have to persevere.

fleeting

2011-07-26T22:47:00.002+08:00

I shall take a few moments to blog short on something I was affected by these couple of days.

couple of days ago, while reading the ST sports pages and came across a familiar photo in the obituary panel next to it. It was a remembrance obituary; a fellow runner which I have met, run and known a few years back, passed away 2 years ago. That was pretty sad.

life is really fleeting, time is short and really how many more 5 years do I still have?

R.I.P., fellow runner.

Teach

2011-07-24T00:47:00.003+08:00

I really must pen these thoughts down before I forget.

I attended colleagues' wedding dinner a few hours back and gave some students a ride home, since we all stay in the east. Btw, they were there to play live music during the dinner, beautifully played. It wets your appetite when you listen to beautiful live music. Ok, that's not the point.

So in the car, we were chatting and I was asking them if they would continue to pursue music after their A level exams (since they are taking Music as one of their A level subjects), two of them intended to continue and probably join teaching. Then, a question was popped to me, which kindaf caught me off guard, "why do you become a teacher (or why do you join teaching, something along this line)". My immediate response was "wow! That is a difficult question, you have set me thinking again...well, it is a calling... (and I paused for a while)". Then I went on to talk about the influence from my senior and teacher, my choice between being a science graduate and pursuing my long time passion in art, how I like working with youths than adults, bla bla bla...

Now, in the comforts of my iPad, as I recall this question, I begin to reflect and ask myself again, "Why did I become a teacher?"

On hindsight, While some of the things mentioned are reasons for me to become a teacher, they don't seem to be the true primary reasons, except probably the calling part. I think it is time for me to reconnect my heart to this "calling". Perhaps, this is the beauty of teaching; a journey of learning, discovery and inspiring, both self and through interactions with others. I missed these kindaf of chats and interactions.

Thank you to my student, Karis. B) You have asked a difficult but beautiful and fundamental question. B)

Gift of life

2011-07-23T15:29:00.005+08:00

"Two roads diverged in the woods, and I took the one less traveled" - Robert Frost

Got this title and the quote from Karnazes' book.

These past couple of weeks have been pretty uneventful, having term break now but need to rush for my assignments which I barely even started. But though uneventful it might be, I managed to devour 9 books; more than what I have read in the past one year. Most of the books were art and design books but I would like to talk abit about two books which I spent quite a while reading, one is dean karnazes "ultra-marathon man" and the other is Macca's "I'm here to win". They are autobiographies and yet the writing style was so much different; I would put it as Karnazes' subtleness in contrast to Macca's straight talking. But what underpins their writing is this intense passion and emotions that drive them to achieve what they aimed for and continue to do so. Their epic journeys in their sports (one is ultra marathons and endurance runs and the other triathlons and ironmans) are inspirational, to me.

Anyway, besides reading and of course doing some research for my assignment, and spending some time with guagua in the mornings, running and cycling has been pretty consistent. Track intervals, bricks training, longer bike and runs and long trail runs on weekends have been a regular feature. I think I had better enjoyed this time before next semester's epic four-module lessons per week.

I was looking at some old photos of students who passed through my life over the past few years posted on fb by a friend, I can't stop wondering in awe how time has whizzed past. Things changed, people grown and changed, even the last school I taught in changed; people come people go. One thing that I seemed to get is people tends to be resistant or reluctant to usher in change. Change makes people uncomfortable because it shifts people into unknown, to face uncertainty. I am thinking hard now, of what I would Iike to do after my studies or for the next stage of my life. I should perhaps choose the one less traveled?

Two weeks to deadline. Better start putting my thoughts together for the assignment. B-P

comfort zone

2011-07-10T16:40:00.006+08:00

"Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself - expanding and learning as you go - you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip."
— Dean Karnazes (Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner)

Had a wonderful run from MacRitchie to Bukit Timah Hill and back, 26 km. First time venturing beyond the confines of MacRitchie, I always do the 11 km loops previously, so again it is about breaking away from my comfort zone. I was apprehensive at first, but once I hit the Rifle Range road, I say, OMG, no turning back now. 8)

Anyway, abit of nostalgia, reminiscent of Sabah trail run (though a mini version, I must say 8-)). it was tough (for me)especially along the winding rifle range road and certain parts with steep slopes, and it doesn't help when the heat from the mid-afternoon sun is scorching down. Guess I need to build mileage, have been doing more short runs and intervals.

But I must say, the scenery and the quietness along parts of the trails was refreshing and somehow, there is this "inner peace" settling down in me after a while; just throttling along the paths with no thoughts going through my mind; just taking in what's around me as the run unfolds itself, butterflies fluttering across the paths, occasional humming birds flying off from the shrubs along the trails and of course, lots of monkeys.

But I hit the wall after reaching the ranger station at MacRitchie on the return leg. Have to psyche myself up, "mind over body, mind over body" for the rest of the run.

On hindsight, this run kindaf epitomises the ups and downs in life. haha, trying to b philo, 8-P but I definitely encourage those who wants to do trails to take this route. Anyway, NF100 should be doing this and a lot of the serious runners would probably have done this countless times. 8) I am just a 'Country bump".

shall do more next week. shiok! 8)

Passion and Love

2011-06-25T21:53:00.003+08:00

"If you don't have the passion and love the process, if the results are all that matter to you, then there's no depth to your career. There's nothing to pull you out of the dark hole when you fall in. "

Chris MACCA McCormack I'm here to Win - A World Champion Advice for Peak Performance

Had a great bike leg today. thanks to Louis for giving me timely advice. I have been able to generate bursts of power but have issue with sustainability for a while. Have not been using the cadence/speed effectively. well, better late than never. Now I shall use that useful piece of advice to build my power and endurance on the bike.

After that, had a 5 km transition run, surprised that I can sustain the pace, must be the change in my return leg on the bike.

shall do that tomorrow again.

Today, went downtown with mich and guagua for bookstore hopping and grabbed books. got MACCA's book and another by Catherine Lim on the GE2011, and two children illustration books from my good friend, i like his illustration style, very expressive. I am so engrossed in leisure and inspirational reading. haha, how I wish I can have the same passion in my course reading, hopeless with statistics and academic reading that involves numbers.

better strike a balance and get my assignment over and done with. argghh...

Life and Obituary

2011-06-23T14:44:00.004+08:00

Lately, I have been looking at Obituaries while reading the ST. Coming of age? maybe.

I can't help but notice that there have been quite a number of people who passed on at a relatively young/mature age; I would define young/amture as those below 60, since our retirement age here is 62. I suppose many of them pass on after some kind of ailments or unforeseen circumstances but it still kindaf of bring a sense of sadness. After all, there are still things in life they could embark on, if they are still alive.

Life is a complex and intricate phenomenon. because of this, people turn to different beliefs; some becomes spiritual, finding solace in religions, others focus on family, some go into hobbies, sports, and yet other see life as a calling to help others, last but not least, some use work and partying to numb themselves. There is nothing right or wrong with this. Quite a while ago, I came across this article by a nurse who is into palliative care of patients. It is an interesting read:

http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html

I would like to quote this from the last part of her article:

"When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness."

Having said all these, I am disturbed by the number of elderly who are working as menial labour in shopping malls, hawker centres and food courts. some of them looked frail and movement were slow, yet they have to work long hours for a small amount of money. Shouldn't they be enjoying their retirement and old age? Why are they still working in such conditions?

Maybe it is just me.

Oasis

2011-06-18T22:44:00.005+08:00

Jun 8, 2011

Pictures: Bukit Brown cemetery

Following the news earlier this week that Bukit Brown cemetery

has been gazetted for development by the URA, Straits Times

readers shared photos and memories of one of Singapore's oldest

Chinese burial grounds via Facebook.

-- PHOTO: LUKE CHUA

FOLLOWING the news earlier this week that Bukit Brown

cemetery has been gazetted for development by the

URA, Straits Times readers shared photos and memories

of one of Singapore's oldest Chinese burial grounds via

Facebook. A favourite haunt of heritage buffs and joggers,

the cemetery located off Lornie Road will be making way

to meet the country's housing needs. Many of the 80,000

tombstones there are weather-worn and covered by

undergrowth. But some draw attention with their size,

grand designs and famous names etched in stone.

========================================

I have not been blogging for quite a while. thought I wanna

talk abit on this. I am pretty perturbed by the "convenient"

reason of scarcity of land being always used to explain the

conversion of our green pastures into housing and

commercial use. Yes, it is a fact that we are land scarce, but

does that mean we need to bull-doze the pastures to

make way for concrete jungles or for that matter, golf

courses?

The latest "victim" is the Bukit Brown Cemetery which will

make way for some "future housing development". This

piece of land is rich both in cultural, historical and natural

heritage. I have done quite a few runs through the place

(enroute to Bukit timah and botanic gardens) and it

is so refreshing in terms of the air quality and there is

this sense of peacefulness and tranquility. It might sound

strange that how can a cemetery be tranquil? well, just try

walking through it in the day or run through. you will get

what I mean.

i don't know man, but I am really disappointed with the

way in which our few pieces of Oasis are being lost through

the concrete "encroachment'; all in the name of development.

All those promises of listening and being more humanistic

seems to be mere lip service; giving way to economic benefits.

Such is the state of affairs. Change?

doubt so.

Mountain and Spirit

2011-05-14T00:39:00.013+08:00

"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Sir Edmund Hillary

It has been a while since my last post. I was too busy with my current full-time Masters amidst other little endeavours. Anyway, not to say I am very free now, just taking a break from reading the piles of articles and textbooks .

The title of this post sounded iffy but I thought I would like to do some reflections on the Sabah Adventure Challenge that I got myself into some time back.

It has been close to two months since the race. It was tough, terrain was undulating, and weather was ever-changing, from scorching sun (literally scorching at the temp of 38 deg celsius) to torrential rain. I shan't go into the details, there are very good reviews of the race written by some of the fellow participants; and if you really want to know what the race is like, the best way is to ... experience it, first hand! B)

Perhaps, I would like to share my takeaways from this race.

Mentally and physically prepared

I found it out the hard way. Being sufficiently prepared for any endurance races, or for that matter, anything we do, is very important; especially for those who want to embark on such races or any runs (since running is fast becoming a popular sports). However, as the experts say, start slow and increase training gradually. have proper gear and most importantly, rest and nutrition. I always feel encouraging for people around me to take up running and sports, but I always feel that we should not jump onto the bandwagon because everyone else is doing. If not, it may become a chore once the initial excitement dies off.

mental toughness

I have always enjoyed pushing myself beyond my boundaries, be it at work or personal life, namely physical. Sadistic perhaps? I must admit that I have not been mentally tough in my younger days but I am always intrigued by how much stress I can take. So, I have chosen some unusual paths; well, I still enjoy teaching, so career wise, I am still within the education fraternity, but I chose to resign to join an independent school after 6 yrs and then returned to the mainstream system again after 3 years. no regrets because I have seen and learned alot.

Personally, I guess I like to push myself physically and mentally, taking part in many running races and later duathlons, has been something I enjoyed and continues to do so. Taking part in this race, was like what I told many that it was a spur of moment and a moment of craziness when I signed up. However, subconsciously, I sense that it is something in me, that urge to challenge myself, that made me click that register button.

And man, I have no regrets at all, and I won't mind taking part again. crazy fellow.

But what impressed me were the mental toughness that fellow competitors/participants displayed throughout the race, the struggles with their bikes (for the adventure racers), the muddy conditions, the long slippery downhill slides through rubber plantations, the muddy slopes up the hamburger hill, the scorching sun, the long undulating tracks. Somehow, we made it through the two/three day course.

Not forgetting the relentless efforts of the organisers and volunteers to make this race as smooth and enjoyable for the competitors/participants.

In some way or another, while it is an adventure race, it is, to me, also a display of the human spirit, in awe of Nature.

Appreciate little things in life

In someway or another, I have learned to appreciate the little things in life more and more now. In this race, I was enjoying the breathtaking sights of the mountains and clouds, taking in the fresh air, appreciating the little pebbles on the tracks and the muddy puddles (no matter how irritating they might be at first sight), the little children who cheered and ran with us up the steep slopes in their bare feet or slippers. In the home of Helena which I was residing with a few other competitors, life is so simple. As a city dweller cooped up in a highly urbanised city, can I (or can we) slow down and appreciate little things and beauty in life? Why am I (are we) always saying that but yet failing to do so often?

Now, I have a new challenge ahead of me, going back to the books has been tougher than expected. I have a genuine scorn for exams (personally, I don't see the purpose of exams at this level); and well, I can truly empathise with my students who are being weighed down by high-stake national exams. But reading, which is one of my enjoyment - not for exams of course, has been intense.

I think I display more self-discipline in running and cycling (and swimming) than my studies at the moment. haha, time to strike a balance.

bye.

2 more days

2011-04-20T00:52:00.002+08:00

2 more days to Sabah Adventure Challenge.

2nd overseas race after Powerman Malaysia 2009.

anxiety. 8)

New Season

2011-04-10T21:39:00.003+08:00

No time to blog. have been busy busying.

anyway, just like fb update is not enough, I just wanna announce that I have done 2 loops of 10.6 km at MacRitchie today. woohoo... a great sense of achievement, for me, with the fact that I have not done beyond 15 km for a super long time. not enough for the Sabah challenge though.

shall target 3 loops by Sat before tapering.

Just to share and motivate myself
2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series started in Sydney yesterday.

here are the video links.

incredible wins by Gomez and Findlay.

http://www.triathlon.org/multimedia/video/2011_sydney_elite_men_tricast/

http://www.triathlon.org/multimedia/video/2011_sydney_elite_women_tricast/

have fun watching.

Price Tag

2011-03-31T23:17:00.002+08:00

Ok, I am digressing.

I like this song. What attracted me first is of course the rhythm in music, very catchy and I like catchy tunes. And being a visual person, I enjoyed the MV. of course, when I look at the lyrics, it kindaf resonates and make me think.

everything comes with a price. Can we remove the price and enjoy life in its "pure" way.

Makes me think about this whole thing about work-life balance.

Ok, I better go and finish my work or i will become imbalanced.

comfort zone

2011-03-27T09:35:00.003+08:00

We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are. Max DePree

I have bought a pair of Brooks Ravenna.

Here is how it looks.

I have been a sauconyer for a long time. The durability and the economy in terms of the price has drawn me to use the brand for my running. In fact I just bought the new Saucony Tangent 4. So, running is my comfort zone, Saucony is a dependable factor for my comfort zone for many years.

Why this change of brand of running shoes. After doing research and asking around, decided to buy this. I guess it is to provide me with a different perspective of running, and the result is it did. The run with this pair is smooth, it is light but with sufficient support, breaking in was fast.

I guess, sometimes when we get too comfy with things familiar, we forget that there might be things outside that can provide a better or alternative perspective to what we have been doing. So it is good to make a step out of comfy zone.

wow, i think I am philosophizing too much into a pair of shoes.

good nite.

How are you?

2011-03-25T00:10:00.003+08:00

I did not lose.

I let go.

I did not get over.

But I moved on.

When you truly love someone/something/some place,

you never lose or get over.

It will always mean something to you.

(adapted)

four days have gone. How are things back there?

four days have gone and I am learning new things.

enriching.

passing

2011-03-17T22:46:00.002+08:00

Thursday.

6 days have passed since my last day in school.

It feels like life is passing by me,

like a steam locomotive or a shinkansen,

rolling and bulleting past

with no regards to stop and pause.

This is one of those moments,

when I wish weekend can delay its arrival

and the week snailing past,

with time to smell the roses

and feel the breeze.

Scary indeed.

Next week will be a brand new start, but will definitely miss that interaction with students.

Aviva 70.3 coming this weekend. Jodie Swallow is here! woohoo..can't catch the race though, I am going for trail running with friend at Macritchie. Need to condition and train for the Sabah terrain.

still have loads of stuff to clear from school and for my course.

why am I wasting time blogging?

Culture

2011-03-15T23:54:00.005+08:00

The magnitude of the suffering and devastation at the scenes of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami is unfolding through the week.

My heart weeps when scenes of such devastation flash on TV. But I have great admiration for what is reflected in the Japanese people, this calmness and stoic courage they display in the face of such adversity, almost Zen-like. There is almost no dramatisation of human emotional outbursts, very few scenes/images that focused on the dead bodies that were found (most of the pictures were from foreign photographers). Only images of the people, waiting patiently in queues, helping one another to overcome this calamity. It truly reflects the depth of the culture that the Japanese has, the respect they have for the dead as well as the living and their pride as a nation and culture.

I have read some rather insensitive online comments abt this calamity; some said it is "retribution" to what they have done in WWII, the pearl harbour bombing, the massacres across Asia. But then, they also suffered two atomic bombs that wiped out at least half a million innocent people. Such comparison to me, is really pointless and overly simplistic.

I like what Mother Teresa said,

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

and she also said,

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

However, as I look at the depth of the Japanese psyche and culture, I can't help but look back at the recent opening of the new regional library in Nex Mall and the "ugly" scenes displayed by some of our fellow countrymen.

Compare this in Japan

with this

I can only shake my head.

haiz, shall go and help those in need.

remember to donate to Red Cross. Ido so tomorrow.

思念是一种幸福

2011-03-12T22:53:00.013+08:00

人的情感是复杂和矛盾的，

总要等到分离或失去后，

才来回味，

才会思念，

才来缅怀，

才会感到伤感，

抑或才来后悔

（不过，必须申明的是能加入这个大家庭，我无怨无悔）

这或许是我现在的心情写照。

曾告诉自己要潇洒一点，也觉得自己能放得下，

但是，当那一天渐渐的，以至到来时，

那不舍之情，

油然而生。

千头万绪，百感交集，

而这不舍之情，也随着时间，愈来愈强烈。

或许我是个感性的人，

但每个人何尝不是，

或许只是程度上的不同。

或许这只是暂时性的，时间会冲淡这感觉。

但我深信，这份情是不同的，会是永恒的。

或许对一些人来说，

这些感触听起来很夸张。

或许只有当一个人亲身经历后，

才能真正体会这种感觉。

或许，我们真的要珍惜眼前的人，时间，情景。

或许，思念是一种幸福。

后续：看着日本大地震和海啸所带来的家破人亡，我的这点离别，真的是算不上什么。

step out of depth

2011-02-26T23:44:00.001+08:00

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

It is always difficult to step out from the valleys.

Do

2011-02-26T00:25:00.003+08:00

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” – Hellen Keller

came across a question on fb, along the line that "what do people do on facebook for hours?"

Got me to think; games, voyeuristic peeking into others' lives, chat, share pictures, videos, status updates every other second, preach about life...I guess technology has become entrenched in the lives of many.

Then people start to question and assert that "this way of expression (through the internet)" is "personal", it defines me, it is private, it is "my right". My response is always that once you go on the internet, it will become public. Just like me, posting on my blog which is linked to my facebook updates which means my friends will be able to read it...

So, it is really a public domain.

Personally, I enjoy this "flattening of the world" and the "interconnectivity" that internet offers. Alot of knowledge and information can be acquired and shared, but I must qualify that one needs to be more discerning abt what we receive and I always feel we need to look at things from different perspectives. I still enjoy reading hardcopies of books, the flipping of pages, the screening of my eyes (coming of age?), the folding of corner of pages that I like and writing of short little notes of my thoughts at the margins of paragraphs... It just feels different.

anyway, shan't dwell too much into it, just find it an interesting question.

Ok, tomorrow cycle and run and Sunday will be MacRitchie, see if I can extend my run beyond the 10.5 km trail.

ciao.

Change

2011-02-21T23:49:00.002+08:00

Change of plan

Trail runs, endurance, mileage, hills repeats, strength training.

Time to move on.

急流勇退。

Give it all

2011-02-21T00:18:00.005+08:00

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'."
-Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner

brought my salomon for its maiden trail run at MacRitchie. what a run it turned out to be. Woke up at 630am, struggled to get out of the bed but somehow, I made it to the kitchen, after preparing my energy drinks and gear, set off to the reservoir park.

Hit the carpark at around 7 am. wow! there were a whole lot of runners congregating at different parts near the carpark. The place has changed alot, with new facilities, more parking places and toilets and even a cafe. The initial parts of the run was slow and steady, with slips here and there as I struggled a bit to get used to the trails in my new shoes. The slopes were a killer but I managed to keep to my pace and when I passed the golf course and re-enter the forest trails, I hastened my pace for the last 2 km with a final sprint to the carpark. Oh, met quite a few friends along the way some of them are doing their second round when I finished mine, amazing fellows!

11 km in 1 hr 5 mins. had my breakfast at the cafe, kopi o kosong, porridge and yam cake. shiok!

I shall target to do 3 loops before the sabah adventure challenge in April. gambatte! 8)

now my muscles are aching. shall do a short recovery run tomorrow morning.

Salomon

2011-02-15T23:57:00.003+08:00

Just bought Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra.

Time to train. MacRitchie! 8)

笑看人生

2011-02-13T22:29:00.002+08:00

三五个老友
捞捞鱼生，
喝喝茶，吃吃花生
闲话家常，发发牢骚。

人生无常，还有几个十载可算呢？
我想也不必太执著，
凡是看开，
看不开，就笑一笑，
少一少，
一笑解千愁。

笑看人生。

In sickness and in health

2011-02-10T23:44:00.002+08:00

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Two weeks totally whacked by the flu.
bravery not bravarado. that's sound advice.

succumb

2011-01-30T12:16:00.002+08:00

OMG, finally succumb to flu and sorethroat. Shows how rest diet and exercise are so intertwined, of which rest is always the weakest link for me.

It doesn't help with CNY approaching, spring cleaning not done, work to be done, loads of reading and assignments for my course. And yet i am instructed to have complete rest for at least a few days.
I am gonna stick to light exercise and some indoor bike sessions.

Double whammy.

Shoot myself. 8(

Let there be light

2011-01-27T00:48:00.005+08:00

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished. ~Michael Strassfeld

I think rain and cold weather tends to make one more retrospective, at least it is for me. perhaps, the cool temperature kindaf chills my hot-blooded emotionally charged self. 8)

Just finishing responding to very genuine and frank responses, it reaffirms my faith and ideals that all children are meant for bigger things. And it is our roles as educators to engage them. Perhaps, that's why i find joy being an educator.

I think I am better at writing than talking....strange for a person that deals with visual imagery (Art)

Anyway, my first module starts on Tue night. It was mind blowing but intellectually stimulating, I was enriched by both the readings for the module and the views of my coursemates.

But right now, my emotions are mixed. I am excited to be studying full-time soon, yet, ...there is an increasing sadness setting in...

Reserve

2011-01-25T00:09:00.002+08:00

My running was very simple; it was out of myself. -- Emil Zatopek

1 x 1 km (4:50)
1 x 2 km (9:10)
1 x 2 km (9:20)
1 x 1 km (4:15)
1 x 800 m

I am gonna miss this kind of workouts. running on reserves.
will treasure this time.

Repetition

2011-01-23T21:21:00.007+08:00

"When a person trains once, nothing happens. When a person forces himself to do a thing a hundred or a thousand times, then he certainly has developed in more ways than physical. Is it raining? That doesn't matter. Am I tired? That doesn't matter, either. Then willpower will be no problem."
Emil Zatopek

great day of running today.

1.2km ard the track at tmp stadium with gugua. He is slowly building his stanina.
After that, i headed out 10km run with 4 to 5 long slopes, in mid aftn sun. Simple, hard but good pace. Nd to do more mid day runs.

Just had a session of table tennis at bro-in-law place. Shiok.

Better get ready for nxt wk. Wkend really comes and goes faster than a wink of eye. God!

Still contemplating whether to buy jamie oliver 30min meals cookbook. Hv some receipes from magazines i wanna try.
Shall do it when i hv more time later. 8)

one of my new yr resolutions. 8)

Spartan (Training)

2011-01-20T22:44:00.006+08:00

Today's totally awesome!

Speed work on the school tracks
down came the rain, and soon it became downpour.
I would have stopped and go home, if I was running alone,
But well, we continued and persevered.
5 x 400m at 1:35pace
10x200m
splashing in puddles of water
and soaked in the downpour.

Have not run in the rain for a long time.

Pure spartan training
and we outlasted the rain.
yeehaaa...

crazy 8)

really took my heavy heart away from the disappointment and hurt that some continued to inflict on. If it is wrong, it is wrong, don't try to justify or blame the whole world.

Reflect on thy self first.
Sigh!

Hurt

2011-01-19T14:27:00.000+08:00

How much hurt and pain are you going to continue inflicting onto this Family?

onto those who love this Family so dearly?

past and present generations that passed/passes through this Family?

Do you find pleasure in inflicting pain and hurt unto others?

Cowardice.

motivation

2011-01-12T14:17:00.006+08:00

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
Jim Rohn

grrr... I need motivation. The more I reflect on what have taken place and what action I have taken on certain issues, the more I feel that I was wrong. Sometimes reflection makes my heart heavy, though it is necessary.

ok, enough procrastination, something to spur me on. Move on, move on ... "I need to kok (knock) my own head"... "kok, kok, kok"

Being a student is simpler than working adult.
time to take a break.

random post, thinking aloud, talking to myself. grr...

Change

2011-01-09T21:42:00.003+08:00

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

Maria Robinson

There are lessons to be learnt in the whole episode, me included. With all good intentions, but once the wrong approach is adopted, whatever good that is intended will be obliterated.

But a lot of positive good has arisen out of this episode, and it has reaffirmed my faith that people are born to be good （人性本善); an ideal that has always guided me in my educational pursuits, or rather which spurred me into the educator arena in the first place.

We shall not divide ourselves, but move on, as a family, united.

On another side note, this episode has led me on a emotional roller coaster, but well, this morning's bike and run leg has kindaf "rebooted" me, rechannelling that heartache into the pedalling and running energy is quite relieving. I shall work on a 14-day training cycle.

35 km bike with 2 x hill repeats

4 km transition run.

I think I am having insomnia.

*Just in case anyone is wondering is there anything wrong with my family, I am glad to tell you that my family is great and they are my pillar of strength. The "Family" I refer here is my "second family" because I hold dearly to the school I am teaching in and I regarded this school as my "family" and everyone in this school as a family member, as my elders, my brothers and sisters. Just to clarify. 8-)

Solemn

2011-01-08T22:04:00.005+08:00

"Because of its tremendous solemnity death is the light in which great passions, both good and bad, become transparent, no longer limited by outward appearences."

- Soren Kierkegaard

First bike ride after hiatus for 2 months.
Going along changi coastal for 25 km.
A sense of solemn calmness in the air,
leaves falling from trees lining the road,
with a relatively strong head wind.

Streams of cyclists along the stretch,
probably training for the coming duathlon,
coupled by big heavy vehicles zooming past,
a weird combination of traffic flow;
especially in the light of the recent accident,
which took away the lives of two fellow cyclists.
A sense of solemn calmness in the air.

R.I.P.

Tomorrow will be the long ride.

Sad

2011-01-06T01:03:00.000+08:00

What a sad day. R.I.P.

can't we cyclists have some peace?

Resolutions

2011-01-03T17:53:00.004+08:00

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years; people grow old by deserting their ideals. - Samuel Ullman

When new year arrives, as usual, one will tend to reflect on the year's proceedings/happenings and set new year resolutions. But many a times, some (at least for me) question the relevance of new year resolutions, since resolutions appear to be the same or similar each year; whether making resolutions is just a hype and it is superfluous to make resolutions since we never keep track of whether what has been made/whether we have achieved what we have set out to do.

I think, for me at least, it is important to set resolutions. For me, the resolutions are like a beacon light, that helps to guide me through the year. Of course, like the article I have shared in my previous entry, we can look at resolution setting from a different perspective.

2011 has arrived.

So, what is my resolution for 2011?

It will be a year of watershed.

A year in which I will be charting new grounds

moving on to a different horizon.

I would want to be more adventurous,

move out of my comfort zones,

in my sports endeavours, my cognitive aspects and family aspect.

To be more concrete;

move into adventure races, go back to duathlons, do at least an overseas race, learn scuba diving,

pick up my reading and painting,

do well in my masters,

spend more time with family,

do more cooking,

and

enjoy the year ahead.

New Year

2011-01-03T00:45:00.002+08:00

Share this article with all

Focus on who you want to be (ST Fri 31 Dec 2010) by Levya Braman

Afraid of making New Year resolutions that come to nothing? Try this alternative.

With the end of the year zooming closer, perhaps you are beginning to reflect upon your year, what you accomplished, challenges you faced, and goals not yet attained. Do you find that each New Year, your goals or resolutions look almost like the year before? Do you feel like you are making progress, maintaining status quo or losing ground?

Rather than setting a long list of task-related goals for the next year, I've found a practice that I believe is a lot more powerful. Resolutions tend to revolve around giving up some behaviour or habit we think is not good for us. We might try to replace one habit for another. Resolutions look good in theory, but often, unless you have a great support system, they aren't any more effective than wishful thinking.

Here's what I recommend instead: focus on who you want to be more than on what you want to do. Ask yourself this question ( I have worded it three different ways to help clarify it):

- Who do I want to be in 2011?

- What qualities do I want to express?

- How do I want to show up?

Write down what comes to you, then craft what you get into a sentence; heren are a few examples:

- A person who is: kind confident, joyful, generous

- A person who is: assertive, (has) boundaries, balanced, organised

- A person who is: healthy,l spiritual, relaxed, passionate, growing

By focusing on the inner qualities you want to embody and express, you will find it profoundly affects the choices you make.

When presented with a situation, problem or various options, simply ask yourself a question like, "How would a kind person respond in this situation?"

Or "what would an organised person do first?"

Or "How would a relaxed person respond to this stressor?"

The benefits of this practice are many, and here are a few examples:

- You will tap into your inner guidance and direction, making it easier to know what next step is right for you

- It will keep you true to your values and purpose

- You won't feel empty when you do get tasks done - you'll know why they were important to you

- You'll have an inner knowing that you are on-track, rather than feeling disconnected

- You will be consistent with your choices and actions, instead of taking one step forwards and two steps back.

Remember, you choose how you show up in this life. You choose how you express yourself and who you will become.

Break the Hiatus

2010-12-28T00:41:00.002+08:00

Ok, I just registered for the Sabah Adventure Challenge Ultra 60km trail run, over 2 days.

I am crazy.

Time to up the tempo after 1 year of hiatus. 8-)

http://www.sabahadventurechallenge.com/sac/

oosh!

barefoot or not

2010-12-26T23:01:00.005+08:00

just bought these weird looking shoes VFF, trek sports. did a 2 km run round the neighbourhood. felt ok, but I will take it in gradually, especially after my experience with newton (going out too far too fast).

Have been reading articles both pros and cons on barefoot running. Is it overhyped? over-rated?
Are running shoes really the cause of running injuries?

http://www.podiatry-arena.com/podiatry-forum/showthread.php?t=48566

http://www.barefootrunner.com/

check them out.

I would say, we need to be sensible and do things in moderation. I would probably use VFF for training in short distances moderately. Shall still do most of my runs in my running shoes.

I feel,
Most important of all,
is to enjoy running. 8)

Inspiration

2010-12-26T20:21:00.007+08:00

Thanks for the uploads from YT. It is so difficult to get such telecasts back home.

Truly inspiritional.
Total Respect.

aiya. no more uploads. 8(

ok, managed to find this.

make the most

2010-12-26T00:43:00.002+08:00

"It was a pivotal point in my life, .. my career has been shaped by that experience. You come to realise what's important in life. It was a huge life lesson for me early on, and it taught me that life is short and you have to make the most of it."

Emma Snowsill, Australian Pro Triathlete, on the demise of her boyfriend, promising Triathlete Luke Harrop.

In this festive season,

while we celebrate and party,

let's us look around us,

and remember to

appreciate

love

smell the roses

and most important of all,

remember to give.

Happy Holidays.

challenge

2010-12-12T23:08:00.002+08:00

“I certainly don't regret my experiences because without them, I couldn't imagine who or where I would be today. Life is an amazing gift to those who have overcome great obstacles, and attitude is everything!”

Sasha Azevedo (American Actress, Athlete and Model)

I like challenges. Shld I take part?

mmm....

Silence is gold

2010-12-10T22:44:00.002+08:00

I must watch what I post on the FB status. 8-P I think writing on the net really opens one to public scrutiny. 8-!

after a whole week of inactivity and two sessions of intense sports massage, my knee is getting better. tight quad and abductor muscles strains the ligaments to the knee cap and caused friction and misalignment. something like that. Age is catching up.

Shall do some light run tomorrow morning.

did a CSII polishing of my car today. 4-hr wait. car shining like sparkle now haha. hope it is as what is advertised, shiny for a long time. got 18 mths warranty. But i must say it is a great job by the company. Those with new car or car in need of good polish should try it.

ok. byeee.

Knee

2010-12-05T23:29:00.001+08:00

OMG, I have just been whipped by Runner's knee. knee area is painful like mad and I didn't even run the stand chart marathon this morning. must have been my shoes and lack of stretching for the past few weeks during my runs.

Argh.
no running, no cycling for a while.
argh.

words, action, habits

2010-12-02T02:34:00.001+08:00

Watch your thoughts they become words.

Watch your words they become actions.

Watch your actions they become habits.

Watch your habits they become character.

Watch your character it becomes your destiny. Patrick Overton

This is the guiding principle for whatever we do.

very tired.

Break

2010-11-20T17:57:00.000+08:00

Dates
Deadlines
Dead

health

2010-11-20T09:58:00.002+08:00

have been really busy. I think the number of meetings i had these 3 weeks is equivalent to the number I had for the whole year. LOL

but still managed to squeeze in at least 5 training per week. But my sleeping pattern has been quite disruptive. A sign of stress?

This week, 5 km run, 20 km bike plus 2 km tempo run, track workout 3 x 1 km, and 35 hard spin bike leg at changi coastal.

Shall target a good bike and run leg tomorrow.

Spurge

2010-11-20T09:12:00.011+08:00

There are two things i would not hesitate to spend money on (i mean besides providing for my family).

First one are books, I think the number of books I have, I can form a mini library. Of course, some books from mich, but the categories are, i would say, vast. From non-fiction, to academic, fiction, comics, personal grooming, scientific, poetry, chinese, history etc. I have a huge appetite for reading and i feel reading is impt to our minds. Of course, now it is getting tougher to get in some reading time. i also have 10 years worth of sports magazines, running, triathlon, plus mich's national geographics, times.

The second thing i would spend on relates to my running and cycling. Running shoes is a huge sum, with every half yrly change or 600 to 700 km change. Used to spend quite alot on taking part in races, but with the 'retirement' from such endeavours, saved a fair bit. The other latest sports spending would be my bicycle. Started with alu alloy scotts speedster, then my first giant carbon frame, to the most recent scotts addict 2009 carbon. The other one will be the cassette, wheelset, crankset. Of course, i don't buy first hand, always second hand and good deal. That's why network is pretty impt. 8) now i am thinking of upgrading my frame to the basso laguna, second hand one year old. Haha.

The most current spurge, the most luxurious spending i made is a car. I must be crazy but after driving my previous one for 3 yrs, and upon advice from Mich, i thought it is high time to change. And what a change it has been. The result, my dream car, mazda 6 hatchback with sporty features and classic silver. an excellent buy, thanks to my sis and bro in law. I must thank the previous owner for keeping the car in such excellent shape.

I don't think my possessions have any tangible value, depreciation maybe. Haha. But they are things that i like and enjoy doing. Afterall, i am human, with indulgences. 8)

It's all in the mind

2010-11-13T01:00:00.004+08:00

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

This whole week whizzed past like lightning. I have like at least 8 meetings to consolidate and review on work done. And I am owing alot of people alot of things. Gosh!

But it is definitely fruitful and productive, seeing things in perspective, forcing myself to ask fundamental questions about what and how things have been done.

Change.
focus.
strategic.
Systems thinking.
Resources
Perception management
Deal with the Head, Heart and Hand.

amidst all these, managed to weave in running, wanna make it my lifestyle.
So, Thur did a 5 km tempo run. today, winding down run of 4 km run along the track. had a great chat with WK. but i think my itb is very sore now. mmm...

Can't stand it, my sleeping pattern is erratic. I am now wide awake after 2 hrs of sleep.

Change.

Round and Round

2010-11-10T00:13:00.003+08:00

“Still round the corner there may wait, A new road or a secret gate.”
J.R.R. Tolkien

Seriously cannot do much work at night.

Tue: intervals training, went round and round the track. 3 x 2km. slow but steady.

Relief

2010-11-08T22:43:00.002+08:00

"Running long and hard is an ideal antidepressant, since it's hard to run and feel sorry for yourself at the same time. Also, there are those hours of clearheadedness that follow a long run." -Monte Davis

Back to work today after a long weekend hiatus.

worked non-stop till 4 plus. thank god the rain stopped and I headed out for a 11 km run, go along geylang road and including the steep slope climb up sheares bridge.

wonderful. felt recharged and relieved. Running is always a stress relief for me. and today, I kept humming this song "Club can't even handle me" by Flo Rida in my head.

focus. LOL

time to get my work and training on track again.

byeee...

lazy

2010-11-07T14:34:00.002+08:00

lazy weekend.

11 km tempo run finally, after a week of no-exercise, although the trek up the waterfall was quite good workout.

"A Developmental Milestone; for Council & Self"

2010-11-04T23:44:00.002+08:00

I like the well-written email.

Anyway, haven't really got time and energy to blog nowadays. will do so if I have time. Just been back from a wonderful 6-day leadership training trip with SC and colleagues. It also gave me time to consolidate and reflect on things. I also see hope, possibilities and potential in our students.

A few key words that kept popping in my reflections:

Leadership is a reflective practice
Communication is about connection
Perspective taking
seize the day, seize the moments
risk taking
cosmetic change vs sustained profound change
readiness

shall leave it at that.

Limits exist only in the mind

2010-10-24T19:56:00.002+08:00

“Know your limits, but never accept them.”

Talking to people shows me my limitations. It is good to constantly reflect and learn.

Time for me to unlearn and relearn.

Make or Break

2010-10-17T12:32:00.003+08:00

"Somewhere, someone is practicing. And when you meet him on the field face-to-face, one-on-one, He'll beat you. Unless that someone practicing is you. So work the left, run the stairs, and crank the corners. Give it everything you've got, every day. And when you feel tired, or feel like quitting, ask your self, is the other guy tired? Is he quitting?"
I firmly belive that any man's finest hour is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle,victorious.
-Vince Lombardi

I can never get tired of watching the Kona Ironman 2010. Crazy me.

Totally spent today. 45 km hard bike leg, and great to have the changi coastal road block because of Real Run, gave cyclists like us assurance from errant car drivers. followed with a 3 km transition run, I must have been doing 5min pace.

My quads are now like jelly.

time to work and get guagua to do some work for his coming EOYs. scary for a P1 boy.

Get Tough and Be Tough

2010-10-16T23:24:00.004+08:00

“When you are tough on yourself, life is going to be infinitely easier on you” Zig Ziglar

It is always tough to get tough, inherent in my role and responibility. But someone has to do it. However, I think what is more important is to be tough on ourselves, rather than being toughened up by others.

That's in the same light of the "Ironman mindset" that I mentioned in my earlier post. Setting high standards for ourselves must come from within us, not externally by others.

Today's weather was a killer, and it didn't help when the haze kindaf trapped the heat and staled the air.

anyway, did a 35km hard bike leg.

Tomorrow is Real Run, wish those taking part all the best. I am gonna bike a longer leg and run. 8)

Something about love

2010-10-16T00:05:00.001+08:00

There’s something ’bout love
That tears you up
Whoa oh oh oh
You still believe
When the world falls down like the rain
It’ll bring you to your knees
There’s something ’bout love that breaks your heart
Whoa oh oh oh…
But don’t give up
There’s something ’bout love

Don’t fight
Don’t hide
Those stars in your eyes (in your eyes)
Let em’ shine tonight
Let em’ shine tonight

Hang on
Hang in
For the ride of your life
It’s gonna be alright
Hold on tight

- David Archuleta Something About Love

Hang in there, Year 6s. All the best!

Ironman

2010-10-14T23:50:00.006+08:00

some asked me, why am I so involved and interested in endurance sports; marathons, distance runs, multi sports, almost like a fanatic. LOL

I guess what i enjoy is not just the physical exertion, sounds a bit self-torturing, but it is that self-driven attitude, that constant mindset to push and challenge my own limits, to learn and unlearn and relearn, the continuing quest for excellence, the need to observe consistency and that mentality of "the person to beat is not outside but within me".

looking at the recent Kona Ironman winner, Macca, and especially the running leg, and his pre- and post-race interviews, is truly an inspiration.

Something that I hope my students would have,

The Ironman Mindset

Incredible run

2010-10-11T17:28:00.003+08:00

Maca Won!

2010-10-11T00:25:00.002+08:00

Yes, Macca won the Kona Ironman 2010! 8-)

2010-10-03T19:51:00.004+08:00

Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope. - Tom Head

This year has been a heavy one. At a personal level, I have to make a few life-changing decisions. At the family front, guagua's entry into the formal school system is life changing. At work, managing perceptions and managing people relationships is draining albeit challenging and enriches my learning.

School is a microcosm of society.

Aside from all these, the passing of many people of great stature has impacted me a lot. It makes me re-evaluate and reflect on the things around and life. Seeing things in fresh perspectives, connect to my inner self, change my tinted lens and see beyond the surface.

Most importantly, discover the positive in people and the things that take place.

Thank you to those who have influenced and impacted my life, so far. whether directly or indirectly.

For these great people, reading about you and your lives have enriched and deepened my conviction to make a positive difference; in myself, to my family, others and the community.

R.I.P. Dr Goh, Dr Balaji and Mrs Lee.

It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.

- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

No Regret

2010-09-27T00:49:00.002+08:00

Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh.
Choose with no regret.
Appreciate your friends.
Continue to learn.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

Life is about making choices.
I don't really dwell into whether I regret making the choices I made. Probably because I see no point and there is no way to turn back the clock. So, I will look at it from another perspective. Just a response to some fb comments.

anyway, made a hefty purchase over the weekend to upgrade my bike. dura-ace cassette to replace ultegra, change my shimano chain ring to mowa and also the worn out chains. made my mavic rims to a set of training wheels. Just removed my aerobars.

see if i can squeeze in a ride tomorrow morning.

good nite.

Weekend

2010-09-24T23:57:00.003+08:00

There aren't enough days in the weekend. ~Rod Schmidt

it is so scary. the weekend whizzes in like a flash, or rather the week whizzed past and now it is wee hours of Saturday. what have I done over the week? quite a lot of reflection and reading and talking to people and working...

In a blink of the eye, now is almost end of Sep.
Time, as fleeting as it is,
never waits.
Good times pass especially fast.
On the one hand,
I am getting more and more productive in work.
On the other hand,
time is not enough,
so much to do with so little time.
Very often,
I pray that time can slow down,
and I can have more than 24 hours.
what a prayer. 8P

rain is affecting my run and cycle plan. tomorrow, cycle and run before meeting in sch. 8-!

Kona Ironman 2010 is coming in two weeks' time. woohoo... how i wish they can have live telecast.

sleep.
time is precious.

all the best to those preparing for exams.

Nostalgia

2010-09-22T17:36:00.004+08:00

Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity.
Robert Morgan

i know I am digressing but hey, it is almost 6pm and I have been at work since 7am.

I was looking at the fb photos posted by last year's graduands who have just arrived in London UK for their Undergrad studies. Suddenly this overwhelming sense of nostalgia rushes into my mind, the photos kept me reminiscing the places that were so familiar during my undergrad days. OK OK, I was studying in Leeds but London was a place that I visited and stayed on every often.

Those in London and other parts of the world, enjoy your stay there.

remember to take in and experience the culture, atmosphere, people, landscapes as much as you can.

remember to go backpacking.

but do remember what and why you are there for,

and be sure to 心系祖国，放眼世界。(sounds familiar?)

Have fun.

i am so envious. 8-)

Angel

2010-09-18T02:38:00.004+08:00

pure madness.
Another week has gone and worse,
knocked out at 930pm and now,
wide awake at wee hours.
There are thousand and one things
racing in and across my mind.

Haven't blog and reflect about things that happened around and in my life for a while. Busyness is a lame excuse. But I think I did, just never made the effort to pen it down. I treasure such quiet moments like now. Channel V is playing some good music.

let me capture some of my random thoughts here to share.

Are humans born good?
I still believe humans are born good, there are angels in all of us. temptations/desires will often interfere this goodness in us and sometimes, bring up the "devil" in us. making decisions/actions/using words that are inappropriate and hurts. That's why, we need to constantly reflect, make reference to our values and our belief system, so that the goodness in us are translated into our actions, thoughts and words.

Alot has taken place, decisions made, opinions and words exchanged. Don't want to elaborate too much here.

I think I am an idealist, peppered with some cynicism and reality. Of course, very often, idealism is associated with negative connotations, such as airy fairy, dreamer, unrealistic (But what is real?)...

I think we need to dare to dream, we need to be able to dream big, we need to have certain ideals and dreams, but grounded in reality. If we don't dream, if we don't dare to, we don't think it is "realistic" to dream, then I feel we are doing ourselves, our lives, the people around us, a disservice.

So don't be too over-pragmatic about things, about lives, don't let pragmatism be the main and sole consideration/factor that governs decision making. Everyone are meant to shine.

These are my beliefs.
These are what drive me into Education and continue to inspire me in ups and downs.
These are what I would want my students to take away from me when I crosses paths with them.

good night.
or rather,
Good morning.

D Day H Hour

2010-09-12T20:37:00.001+08:00

haiz. another 4 hours and the end of sep hols ends. going to miss the good times with family, guagua, friends and kids. sentosa picnic, swimming, cycling, playing. good times never stay longer than we expect.

ITU

2010-09-12T00:12:00.001+08:00

http://wcs.triathlon.org/news/article/brownlee_wins_in_budapest_as_gomez_claims_2010_world_title/

How i wish the sports channel telecasts this.

Wet Wet Wet

2010-09-06T22:26:00.007+08:00

This wet weather is really great for sleeping. But well, ...

had a great tempo run this evening under the drizzle. 40 mins, 5:30min pace. reckoned I have covered 8 km. Not as fast as i used to be able to do, 55min 10km if i extrapolate (when i used to be doing sub-47s). 8( Guess age and not enough training. But well,...need to buck up.

woosh!

To serve, with love

2010-09-05T22:04:00.002+08:00

To serve with love
have been catching up on my reading of the whole week's newspapers. particularly captivated and inspired by the interviews with the 3 President's Teacher Awardees.

There are a number of very good points from the awardees, there is this particular one,
"Education has to be holistic. We can't just focus on academics. We can't always be there for our children, so we need to prepare them for an unpredictable world; we need to give them a moral compass and equip them with life skills to handle life's ups and downs."

true to the core. It is always a fine balance to draw and delineate everything for our kids clearly and in black and white. But this is only just arbitrary definitions which may do more harm than good. It breeds passivism, inertia, short change their minds to think since everything is drawn up for them in absolute clear terms. Whereas in reality, grey areas dominate in which they have to navigate through.

What we need to is really for them to cultivate their minds so that the decisions they make is guided by sound values (moral compass) and not by reasons of conveniences. So, how do we strike a balance between setting warm perimeters and letting go, so that they are given the platforms to become thinking individuals with sound moral values?

Moral knowing, Moral Feeling and Moral Action - Thomas Lickona

Whenever you remember

2010-08-31T10:46:00.000+08:00

Thank you students.

"Whenever You Remember" - Carrie Underwood

When you look back on times we had
I hope you smile
And know that through the good and through the bad
I was on your side when nobody could hold us down
We claimed the brightest star
And we, we came so far
And no they won't forget

[Chorus]
Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believed that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember

When you think back on all we've done
I hope you're proud
When you look back and see how far we've come
It was our time to shine
And nobody could hold us down
They thought they'd see us fall
But we, we stood so tall
And no we won't forget

Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believed that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember

Yeah, Oh

We claimed the brightest star
And we, we came so far
You know that we, we showed them all
And no they won't forget

Yeah

Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believed that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember

Whenever you remember

Oh, whenever you remember

离别

2010-08-24T22:58:00.002+08:00

离别总是有不由自主的丝丝伤愁
一晃五载，情缘依依。
但一个结束，
也是一个新的开始，
正如陶行知说的：
捧着一颗心来，
不带半根草去。

还是潇洒一点，
把这份情缘延续在心中。

非常喜欢徐志摩《再别康桥〉
轻轻的我走了，正如我轻轻的来；
我轻轻的招手，作别西天的云彩。

那河畔的金柳，是夕阳中的新娘；
波光里的艳影，在我的心头荡漾。

软泥上的青荇，油油的在水底招摇；
在康河的柔波里，我甘心做一条水草！

那榆荫下的一潭，不是清泉，
是天上虹揉碎在浮藻间，沉淀着彩虹似的梦。

寻梦？撑一支长篙，向青草更青处漫溯，
满载一船星辉，在星辉斑斓里放歌。

但我不能放歌，悄悄是别离的笙箫；
夏虫也为我沉默，沉默是今晚的康桥。

悄悄的我走了，正如我悄悄的来；
我挥一挥衣袖，不带走一片云彩。

Win with Character

2010-08-15T15:10:00.006+08:00

"You will learn the difference between winning and being a champion. To win, you merely have to cross the finish line first. To be a champion, you have to inspire admiration for your character, as well as for your physical talent. You have to compete in spirit of fair play, respecting your opponents and the rules — without doping or any other unfair advantage.

If you can reach that pinnacle, if you are ready to serve as role models for your generation, you will all be champions, irrespective of your rankings."
- Jacques Rogge, President, IOC at the YOG Singapore 2010 Opening Ceremony

Indeed, rushed down to ECP to watch the YOG Triathlon Girls final. heard ambulance siren and later learnt that there was a bad clash at the bike leg and our sg girl clara was caught in a clash at the final lap of bike leg. though she came in last, she persevered and finished the race, in good spirit.

great show of olympic spirit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/singapore2010/sets/72157624603295845/show/

went for a 6km quick run after that. another end to a precious weekend. I think to encourage more participation in sports among our youth, we shld declare national holidays for this YOG period, postpone all national exams and dish out free tickets for the youths to go watch. obesity is increasing.

my own wishful thinking.

Consistency

2010-08-15T01:06:00.003+08:00

wind brushes across my face,
sweeping the pespiration,
off the face,
repeated pounding on tarmac.
forefoot striking
breathe breathe breathe
relax the shoulders
keep the body upright,
pattern repeats in the mind.

wind blows across the face,
blows away all troubles,
gets rid of my sorrows,
clears away my angst,
keeps my mind clear,
keeps me sane,
adds perspective to things.

Running, my favourite.
My solace.

peeved abt stuff, don't wanna talk here.
but running and cycling has been consistent this week.
Runs have been pretty high octane, fast paced, not too sure if it gotta do with the angst in me.
But Sports is the only thing that keeps me sane; besides time with family, of course.

maybe I shall go and watch the YOG triathlon tomorrow morning, before heading for a bike and run.

oh ye oh ye oh ye. 8-)

Control

2010-08-10T00:01:00.004+08:00

"Too often triathletes in a race environment dwell on what went wrong during their last leg or on what catastrophe might occur next. Engaging in this unproductive thinking comes at the expense of focusing on things that would improve performance." - Triathlete Magazine, Sep 2010, p70

I think this goes beyond triathlons. Every often, I see myself and many dwelling on things that were either beyond our control, or things that are unproductive and waste of time. good to reflect.

anyway, I am enjoying things that are non-work related. Is this a sign. time for time-out?

Running and cycling is my way of life. reading is part of my life.
Sat did a 35 km ride before rain cut it short, followed by a 3km transition run.
Sun did 30 km ride with WK before we head off for breakfast. oh, then, decided to bring guagua to school to cheer YOG torch relay. well, it is inaugural, held in Spore and I would think this would be the only time when any form of olympics will be held here.
had a great pre-national day bbq with friends and their kids. good to chill.

Today's weather was great. did a 45 km ride in mid-afternoon sun followed by 5km transition run. oosh! I have been able to maintain my speed at 34 - 36km/h for sustained periods and at high cadence. good training. I think my bike trainer sessions and the hill repeats up the 200m slope behind old changi hospital help.

tomorrow is the last day of hols. Tennis and exercise time with guagua, before starting on piles of work backlog. eeee....

Dream

2010-08-01T22:07:00.004+08:00

For some strange reasons, the weather nowadays fluctuates like flickering candle lights. Yesterday was a hot hot day, today was a rainy and windy day. Temperature dropped to cool mid 20s and felt sleepy.

no way to cycle. went for the movie Inception with Mich. quite interesting movie, though we might have set too high an expectations because of comments from frens.

Thank god I brought my bike trainer back home. so did a 50 min bike session at the comforts of home. high cadence.

I have been watching the 2009 Kona coverage which I uploaded in my previous entry. Every time I watch, I get inspiration from the pros as well as those ordinary contestants. I know some will be pretty cynical about such endeavours; why subject to such physical torture, trying to show off etc. I guess everyone makes their own choice to find meaning in their own lives.

"There is no shortcut to even get on the start line,... let alone crossing the finishing line...it takes a huge amount of hard work, dedication, discipline and sacrifice..." Chrissie Wellington.

Yup, hard work, dedication, discipline and sacrifice; for everything that we do or we are tasked to do, whether we like it or not.

Desire

2010-07-31T23:01:00.003+08:00

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision. Muhammad Ali

Yup,not cooped up anymore.
recovered.
35 km hard pedalling
8 km run.
hot hot day.

tomorrow again.
longer ride.
strong desire.

Pure

2010-07-28T00:08:00.010+08:00

Great HD of the run leg for 2009 Kona Hawaii Ironman.

Pure Inspiration
focus
discipline
respect (for the sports and every competitor, every support crew)
self-drive
dedication
sacrifice
sheer determination

Time (for me) to Step Up. >8-) woosh!

Love

2010-07-24T23:36:00.003+08:00

Very exciting korean serial. like the soundtracks.

Power

2010-07-24T22:45:00.001+08:00

You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.- Zig Ziglar

I need to go out and cycle and run!!! arrghhh

Life

2010-07-23T22:41:00.002+08:00

When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?" Sydney Harris

Life is hard?
Life is unpredictable
Life has its ups and downs
Life is sweet
Life has its bitterness
Life is fulfilling
Life has meanings
But meaning is in the heart of the beholder.
Life is hard?
Compared to what?

LOL, I am getting emo. down with stomach flu and diarrhoea and on MC. had a lot of time to sleep and reflect. So many of us complain about life but is it that bad?

treasure what we have.

Can I have an island?

2010-07-19T14:37:00.004+08:00

Humans are complex beings,
why?
There is this phenomenonal term
called "emotions"
that runs within and through our hearts,
almost always
against our otherwise "rational mind".

Emotions complicates relationships.

Anger and frustration create confusion;
Sorrow dampens our day;
Depression darkens our perceptions of life;
Love, in its purest form, uplifts relations;
but, if unilateral, causes pain;
Joy, we often find it hard to find;
but when found, almost always fades,
because we are too caught up
with fault finding,
and left little time to appreciate
what we have.

How and what we feel can often drive us up a wall,
But if we lost that ability to feel and exhibit our emotions,
then are we human?

I find managing people's feelings and perceptions so draining,
can I have an island?

life

2010-07-15T00:24:00.000+08:00

Each day is a little life; every waking and rising a little birth; every fresh morning a little youth; every going to rest and sleep a little dearth.
Arthur Schopenhauer

...

2010-07-11T21:59:00.003+08:00

The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination.- Tommy Lasorda

Another productive Sunday
55km bike in hot morning sun
up and down the rolling hills
of selarang and changi
and maintaining cadence is tough
3km transition run after that was ultimate.

Family gathering was great
cousin and her hubby back from Wales
after 4 long years
I love family gatherings.

Now back to reality.

byeee....

sun

2010-07-10T23:57:00.004+08:00

Face each day with the expectation of achieving good, rather than the dread of falling short.

-- Shannon Miller

I love the sun,

I like the sensation of sunrays

on the skin

and the perspiration that

accompanied

beach volleyball,

hard pedalling.

40km ride

up and down changi coastal

strong winds

mid-afternoon sun

pure and simple

enjoyment.

Haha, today, could not wake up in the morning so decided to head down for a mid-afternoon ride. wow, quite a ride.

yup, I have just changed my wheelset to gipiemme, got at a good price.

gonna try it out tomorrow morning.

Yesterday's DHS SH Sports Carnival. headed down with the lads to have some beach volleyball games with students. I enjoyed this kind of interaction through sports. I enjoyed seeing students actively engaged in the outdoors and most important, having fun. And I hope they do cherish such times with their peers, because time passes and will not return.

Memories will stay forever.

Gonna skip all WC matches. All these dikum by octopus and parrot sensationalise and devalue the sports. and I have better things to do. May Destuche win the 3rd and Oranje wins the WC.

byeee...8-)

Success

2010-07-08T23:36:00.003+08:00

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. - Colin Powell

Deutsche tanks finally stopped by Espana bullfighters. It was a muted match in my view, with tactically better Espana neutralising the Deutsche midfeld.

Haiz. At least it was a honest win and we have a new WC champion, away from the traditional powerhouses.

But Deutsche team is a young one and will be a force to reckon in the near future.

gonna sleep. sian.

cycle tomorrow morning.

Team

2010-07-04T15:23:00.012+08:00

Team guts always beat individual greatness. -- Bob Zuppke

Havent blogged for quite a while. Using tumblr seemed easier.

But I guess taking a break, or pure laziness is the reason. Have been busy with work, with reading and following WC 2010 and wimbledon.

Anyway, I must blog about this.

Yesterday, I watched the most inpiring and exciting match of WC 2010 so far, the demolition of ARG by Destuche Nationale Mannschaft, 4-0. After all the fanfare about "the hand of God" Maradona and his much-fancied star-studded team centred solely on Messi, they were taught how to play true soccer by a youthful German team, shredding the ARG defence into pieces and in the process scored 4 fantastic goals. There are alot of good articles abt the match so I shan't do this with my limited language ability. :D But there are qualities that the Destuche demonstrate so far which I thought I would share here.

Hardwork
Having talent and potential is really not enough. hard work, consistent practice, good physical ability, laying solid foundation is the key. Many a times, we keep commenting that one has talent, one has the flair, but having talent, potential and flair is not enough. Hard work and consistency is the key.

Discipline and Respect
One thing that I increasingly hate to see in prof soccer is all these cheating and faking. Germans showed a lot of discipline in this match and the previous matches. no "hand of god" to cheat and deny a legitimate goal, or win a World Cup, no faking injury to win, no wild gestulations and shouting at referees and assistant officials. Just a simple shake of head, a stare or glare, get up and move on. and disciplined in attacks and defence. If I will be say any team that comes close, Japan and Koreans and perhaps, New Zealand. Bottomline is Respect; Respect the game.

Teamwork
No Individualistic heroism, but individual creativity,
focus is on collective success,
selfless passing,
collective discipline in defence and attack.
Essence of the word "Team"

Confidence and Humility
This is something that I respect alot. There is tremendous confidence in the German defence and counter-attacks. Yet, when they win, it's just simple high-fives and smiles and salutes to the fans, no fanfare, no over-reactions, low profile, because there are still matches to play, their job is still not done.

Role-model
A coach is a beacon to the team, a leader and as a leader, there is a need to role-model. "Hand of God" a role model? Hardly so.

So, this match is like a microcosm of school, how School should be, how I wish students can be and will be, and what kind of students should we be nurturing. No empty talks, no thumbing down others or what were done previously to inflat self-egos, or engage in things that are superfluous (in my view). Just do it, with confidence and humility.

Getting philosophical. but, well, with Federer out of wimbledon, I will pray and look forward to Germany lifting the WC.

:D

Nurture and Nature

2010-06-27T21:50:00.003+08:00

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

- Kahlil Gibran

Quote from Judith Rich Harris in her book "The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They do". Currently still reading a number of books. I am enjoying the last moments of solace before the start of school term tomorrow. 0_O

little pleasures in life

2010-06-22T12:12:00.006+08:00

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher

Hard to get the momentum for work going but hey, momentum for my own reading was good. LOL

had a great but tiring day yesterday with three adult frens and 7 kids. we were more like safety officers. but great to see them enjoying themselves at the WWW. then, adjourned to friend's place and we had a good chat while the 4 boys were busy entertaining themselves; trying to hack open a old coconut, running around the house in circles, drawing and having some intense discussions.

Dinner and a few drinks while the tired boys had their own candle light dinner at the garden. I think they are more intrigued by the candles and fire than the food. I was commenting that out of the 5 elements, Fire and Water are the ones that captivated children.

I am gonna miss these times with the kids. it is great to see how they find simple things and pleasures in life while adults tend to take for granted or ignored or forget to appreciate.

Great to have friends around and chit-chat.

Anyway, i need to pack up the house, it is getting very very messy.

Hopefully weather will be better later and we can go cycling with the kids again.

oh, the world cup fever has kindaf fizzle off me now. overdose of WC?!?... if you give me a choice between watching WC and having a good chat with frens and family, i will choose the latter. haha.

but then, go Korea go and go underdogs go!

wee pi dee...

Start

2010-06-19T21:45:00.003+08:00

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." Maria Robinson

Haiz, Jap could have drawn the match. But Dutch is good, i think the best bet for Europe.

Finally able to do two runs on Fri and today. Short but relatively intense tempo runs.

Fri - did the Aviva Half Ironman run route.
Sat - did a 8 km tempo run at 5:45min pace.

Hope tomorrow's morning weather will be good.

time to take stock and get my engine going. I shall finish reading more books.

Complacency

2010-06-19T01:07:00.002+08:00

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00675/floodmain_675735c.jpg

"We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present." THOMAS EDISON

Power

2010-06-17T10:13:00.009+08:00

http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/images/internet.jpg
Readership increased so much in my own standards after linking my blog with tumblr and fb. quite scary abt the power of internet and its reach.

Not that I am bothered. Just make me more aware of what I post here. Since some readers are students. 8-) haha

http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk352/kris879/Backgrounds/SUNFLOWER.jpg

Well, the sun was really shining today and spent some quality time with guagua cycling and playing at pasir ris park before heading for my sports massage. I think I saw a yr 1 class there?!?

Guagua was reading and drawing while i agonised over the excruciating pain. a couple more sessions. I need to run again!!!

http://www.star-seo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/time-flies-clock.gif

Weekend is fast approaching and 3 weeks of hols have passed. OMG. I really took 2 weeks of complete break from work in the first time of my working life, except for occasional checking of emails from work. I totally avoided stepping into workplace. But it was worthwhile becos I got to spend quality time with guagua, and of course, his two buddies now and then.

http://beta.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00021/06MPREPAIR1_21668f.jpg
Now the problem is to start my engine again. vroo....vrooo.... refusing to start. LOL
well, i shall make full use of last week, rather, enjoy.

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/7770/29207452237ah.jpg

Go Korea Go! Dae han min guk! beat Argentina and the Arogant Maradona! Underdogs reign! Yay!

I wonder when are they gonna inform me abt my post-grad scholarship application. Am I gonna get it? I wanna go on sabbatical to recharge my intellectual capacity!!! 8-!

Another post of randomness.