Guard Duty Woes...

The room was cold;
The seat had mould.
You could see them grow,
If you bent really low.
But I did not care;
It was not my chair.
I just left it there,
Hoping everyone’s aware.
I had a duty to fulfill,
That was a day to kill.
I needed a will of steel,
Such that I would not feel.
No hate for the night;
I did not want a fight.
No wandering of sight.
I rather miss a fright.
But then I got no sleep;
I sowed but cannot reap.
Those RPs are so steep;
They never look before they leap.
Their voices were loud,
And they moved all about.
If around me they crowd,
I really vowed to shout.
In a while I had to wake;
No more time to eat my snake.
They just never gave me a break;
I did not sleep for goodness sake!
However I had to serve,
Even with my boiling nerve.
They suffered manpower dearth;
I would take it that I owe Earth.

A Day of Activities...

My work just tumbled on me when I reported from physiotherapy to work. As usual, apart from clearing my own work, I helped others clear theirs. In the process, I hooked myself with a request to help order and carry food back from a food centre.

Ever since I was posted in, I never received such requests, because there was enough manpower in that section to handle such orders. That day however, was different as an NSF has recently been released into national service, and the other was enjoying himself in the US. Leaving one sad NSF behind, he has no choice but to seek for helping hands. Out of curiosity, I learnt that he actually had no intent of leaving camp in the scorching sun. It was his kind heart that gave way when his supervisor politely asked that he did her a favor. Before he knew what was happening, almost everyone else in that and a nearby section jumped on the opportunity and expected my stunned friend to buy for them as well. “It’s on the way,” they proclaimed, but to me, that was a simple typical everyday scenario of exploitation in that section. Helping people is one story, but helping people who stabs your back when you are of no use is another altogether. That is one disgusted fact in office politics. It is fortunate for me at least that I did not suffer the upsetting fate of my friend, but I do hope that in the future when I hold a position of higher authority, such things will never happen.

After we brought the food back, it was just a mad rush of leftover work, and then it was time for my first time to trek up Telok Blangah hill. Half-way up the hill, my friend and I deviated from the designated pathway and we went up to the peak of the hill. The scenery was quite breathtaking, but sadly there was not much of nature left in the horizon. We all know that land is scarce here, and that conservationists are fighting a losing battle when it comes to securing pieces of land for future generations to see. If such a battle is won somewhere, it is synonymous to a story of a traveler wishing for a bridge and the genie created segregated segments of a bridge instead. Not long after we descended from the peak, it was about to rain and the officer-in-charge hurried all of us back to camp.

Upon reaching our office, we packed our documents and left for Bedok for our dinner. I ordered some mutton noodles at the Bedok food center, and never will I order from that stall again. What happened was that my friend explicitly told the stallholder to not add any celery to his meal. He responded by nodding his head and a rumbling hum, but the meal was prepared by a lady and she just added the celery to my friend’s meal without hesitation! The stallholders seriously need to enroll in some communication skill workshops. Customer service is so widely advertised by the government that I feel that even the food centers should not provide anything less than restaurants. Many might argue that there are no service charges in food centers, but who would enjoy their meal if the one who prepares or delivers their meals is mean? Besides, service charges in restaurants do not necessarily end up in the attendants’ pockets, so you should consider tipping them the next time their service is good.

My friend purchased a portable speaker while some of us were still eating. He was thinking of attaching it to his bag while we cycle later. The effect would be almost the same as a Subaru with external speakers attached such that the driver has to wind down his windows to listen to his own music, and that everyone will turn their head when the car passes by, just to throw praises the sports car and groove to the rhythm. The difference is that when he rides by, people will most likely hurl expletives at him and puke to the music. Luckily, there were only a few tracks in his MP3 player that would produce such violent reactions.

Yes, we were going to cycle at night. The proposed route was from East Coast Park (ECP) to Lau Pak Sa, and back to ECP where we would head out to Changi Village and rest at the beach. After watching the sunrise, we would once again return to ECP to return our bikes.

We reached ECP via bus and the underpass, and hanged around in the fast food restaurant eating salty and oily fries dipped in hair-dropping and cancer-causing red or white sauce while waiting for the rest of the cyclists to arrive. I guess many people, including myself, misinterpreted the quote “we only live once”, by subconsciously adding the phrase “so we live it short and good” behind.

When all had gathered and our tasty but suicidal snack consumed, we collected our bikes. For just $7 each, we get a 7-gear manual transmission rear-wheel drive, with 20-inch tires, dual suspensions, sporting 1 man-power with acceleration and top speed of as-fast-as-you-can-pedal. It also comes equipped with superb rubber grips for powerful steering and pulsating front and rear lights for grabbing the attention of other road users. As soon as we had checked our bikes and emptied our bladders, the 12 of us set off for Lau Pak Sa. 10 are my colleagues and the remaining 1 is a lady who was invited by one of those 10 colleagues and had a previous personal connection with him. I was feeling confused but that feeling morphed into something else later.

It took some time before everyone assembled for a final check at the end of ECP, because someone was lagging behind. At first, I thought that it was due to a lack of stamina, as it was a long distance from the bicycle shop to the end of ECP. Being understandable, we moved off to the streets at a moderate pace. We breezed past the first few junctions without delay but stopped when we realised that some of the cyclists have gone missing. Initially, we guessed that they were stuck at the traffic junction, so we waited patiently. However, someone rode in our direction is a wobbly manner, thus instantaneously changing our moods and our expressions. Nope, someone was not injured, and neither was the bicycle damaged. It dawned upon us that if someone did not know how to ride very well, it might actually compromise our entire team’s safety and speed that we can travel. Looking at the assistance of someone’s closer friends, we felt that we could still reach our checkpoints with only a slight delay. Hence, to make someone to not feel left out, we continued the trip.

Life is always full of regrets. After countless stops, hours of traveling, and multiple photo shots, we arrived at Lau Pak Sa. We were way behind schedule, but we needed some food, so we just helped ourselves to desserts and drinks. At the rate that we are traveling, my friend calculated that we will not be able to make it to Changi Village on time to make the return trip to ECP. Therefore, he adjusted the route to insert some shortcuts and thus, shortening the trip.

We continued our trip back to ECP after we are done with our desserts. Experiencing again the same situations of waiting for someone, we began to feel agitated and displeasured. Someone’s attitude of giving up cycling fuelled our annoyance so much that we longed for someone to stop at ECP so that we can still make it to Changi Beach for our breakfast, but somebody had already asked someone and the answer we got was that someone will tag along all the way. The saga did not end so early. The slower paced amongst us took a different turn at one junction and by doing so we have two groups at each corner of Geylang. This time, it took even a longer time for us to assemble as the lead rider from our group had to ride out to look for the lost riders. After much patience and tolerance, we finally arrived at ECP, and were riding towards the other end. It was at this moment that we were enlightened by the fact that someone suffered from night blindness. Our jaws just dropped right there. It was disbelieving that someone went cycling with us all night and did not even inform us of such medical condition. Well, at least someone finally did update us, for it was always better late than never. But then again, it was extremely insane for someone to ride during the night on the streets! It was like asking a deaf man to operate the fire station, which is suicide!

Before we reached the other end of ECP, my colleague pointed out to us that someone was turning pale and that they would wait for us to return from Changi Village at the fast food restaurant. We do not wish to be mean, but someone is one whom locals would classify as “not automatic”, which is also known as someone without initiatives. Someone knew that we were going on night cycling, and should be wise enough to know that it was dangerous to not know now to ride on the streets. The bottom line was that we welcomed her to join our activities but someone should have taken the initiative to let us know that someone did not know how to ride well before we started cycling. However, who would know how well one cycle? There is no classification out there that determines one’s ability to cycle. Let us say we give someone the benefit of the doubt, that someone did not know it was so difficult to ride on the streets and that someone’s current skill level is inadequate to engage in such high risk activity. In any case, someone should have volunteered to back off when we returned to ECP. However, someone did not do so and still wishes to continue to Changi Village with everyone else. I do not sense that someone felt any remorse or guilt in holding back the entire group, which is a character trait that I doubt anyone can tolerate.

Therefore, when someone finally gave up because of physical constraints and not by choice, everyone was overjoyed, but also exhausted by the constant starting and stopping that we had to go through. That was why when we reached the beginning of the infamous “road that never ends”, 5 of us gave up and made a turn back to the fast food restaurant. The remaining 5 continued to Changi Village. Okay, I know that I am one of the 5 who gave up, but I am no sissy. Instead, if I continued riding, I might turn into one when my shorts are reduced to nothing by the never-ending friction and pressure with the bicycle seat. In fact, all of us were already emitting orgasmic sounds when we raise our bottoms from our seats once in a while. They should invent those seats that moulds to the shape of your bottoms, such that riding long distances will no longer be a pain in the ass. There were many reasons that spurred me to not carry on cycling. Firstly, it was already 3:10am. There would definitely not be any time for us to enjoy the sunrise nor the beaches. Secondly, it was going to rain. Lightning strikes were seen in the horizon, and it would not be long before we experience heavenly water. Thirdly, as explained earlier, my bottoms hurt like I had been spanked 1000 times, and that I still wish to celebrate my father’s day. Fourthly, I was about to sleep. I could feel that I am already in hyper-drive mode and that everything I was doing bypassed my central system. I just needed a break and decided that I should just end my trip there.

On our way back, it started to rain. Having sensitive eyes, the rain got the better of me and I had to stop to wipe by eyes. I told my friend to go ahead while I tried to wash away the rainwater with my tears. When I picked up from where I left off, I entered a wrong path and ended behind the chalets. Interestingly, when I “reappeared” on the right track and reached my destination, one of my friends was worried that I was lost, as she did not overtake me but knew that I was in front of her. It sounded like some Copperfield act, but I was too tired to make any humorous comments at that time. I just stepped into the place and slept with my soaked clothes on. My friends asked me to change out but I refused, simply because I was too worn out too do so. Fortunately, I awoke to find myself shivering and not sneezing.

I had my breakfast and we all waited for the 5 to return from Changi Village. We never mentioned anything about someone, but I believed that our feelings are unanimous. Before we returned our bikes, I saw this young lady who could balance another bicycle beside her with one arm and still could ride easily around the park. Originally I thought she was a professional, until another of my friend saw a man who carried a bicycle by attaching in the wheel to his handle and carried the whole freaking bicycle chassis on his shoulder. He rode around with more flexibility, and thrashed the lady I saw hands up. It was a pity that we did not manage to see a kid trying to balance a bicycle on his forehead while riding, or else I would have called all my friends to witness a free acrobat show. Once we returned our bicycles, we bid farewell to each other, and found myself in a cab with 2 of my friends. The next thing I knew, I had showered and was lying on my bed, about to fall asleep. It is fascinating to know that our mind still functions even when we are very tired. It is detrimental to our health, but at least our mind ensures that we still live to tell the tale.

This is my story, described in less than 2500 words and not 8000 as previously mentioned to some of my colleagues. I was looking at the number of characters by mistake, and with my mind not fully functioning, I read that number as the words I had written. I am really sorry to you guys if this was too short. I will try to write more when we have the chance to go out together for such exciting activities with interesting some ones.

Dance Performance...

Silent my room was,
With me reading a book.
I felt a disturbance in the force,
And so my phone shook.
I thought the call was spam,
Until the voice belonged to my friend,
Whom I knew in Pre-U Sem,
And to watch a dance we planned.
I seldom watch performing arts,
And in fact this was my second.
The first was a play in parts;
And this one I was beckoned.
The show was by five dancers -
Each was exceptionally talented.
Their moves were encrypted answers,
That only deciphers when inferred.
They started by expressing hope after devastation,
Followed by portraying dreadful isolation,
And next illustrating desperation,
With the finale depicting compunction.
All were equally interesting,
As they require deep thinking.
I truly enjoyed watching;
Thank you my friend for treating.

EEEEE-ing...

Mosquitoes are so annoying,
As they emit nonstop buzzing.
Once they have done the stinging,
You’ll be doing the scratching.
You hate them when they are flying,
Because then you keep on missing.
When they land on something,
You’ll turn them into nothing.
If you keep on losing,
For you can’t do any killing,
Then soon you’ll be burning,
With the dengue fever they bring.
After that your head will be spinning,
Your eyes will be hurting,
Your joints will be stiffening,
And your skin will be reddening.
Soon you’ll be pleading,
That you can carry on living.
If all goes well during praying,
Your body will activate self-healing.
In a week or two of resting,
You will become fit for fighting,
And you will go around splattering,
Everything with wings that is moving.

Bye Bye...

One by one the seeds were sown –
That was how crops were grown.
Drop by drop the flood was formed –
That was how crops were gone.
Block by block the bricks were laid –
That was how walls were made.
Bomb by bomb the land was shelled –
That was how walls were felled.
Bit by bit the rubbers were torn –
That was how people were born.
Year by year the time went by –
That was how people aged and die.
Cent by cent the businesses grew –
That was how names were debuted.
Part by part the rumors were passed –
That was how names were last.
Day by day nothing had happened –
That was how our world thrived.
Side by side our brethren were threatened –
That was how our world dived.

Help Available...

You are troubled and lost. Your sense of direction is camouflaged by your problems, and you wish to talk about it but just couldn’t seem to find anyone who is willing to listen to you. Some of them who listened to you provided immature solutions to your troubles, which are of little help and even aggravating the situation at times.

Therefore, you try to hide your troubles by ignoring them. However, hiding your troubles does not necessarily mean that they will be solved naturally with time. Somewhere down your road in life, these troubles will return to haunt you, thus damaging your mental and physical health as you once again try to suppress them.

You attempt to solve your troubles by confronting them. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done. The correct strategies have to be applied to optimally eradicate a problem, which you might think that you have done so, but the result just doesn’t turn out as expected. In fact, most people will just crash head on with their troubles and hope for the best. Sadly, the chances for success are no better than buying a lottery ticket.

Then here I come, to save your day. I am no superhero, nor am I a businessman. I do not simply zap away your troubles, but will help you solve them effectively and efficiently. I will offer my listening ear and my helping hand for free. I believe in helping someone for the good of mankind, and that money is evil and it makes the world go blind. I have high myopia and I do not wish to go blind so early in my life.

Now here come the barriers. You are shy, think that it is not nice to trouble me, or just find it troublesome to tell someone else your troubles. If you are shy, you can always email me anonymously. I’m here to solve your troubles and not trying to win your love or expecting something in return. If you think that it is not nice to trouble me, don’t think. You are of course troubling me by telling me your troubles, but sharing your troubles with me is one of the nicest things that you can do. Solving your troubles gives me one of the greatest satisfactions in life. If you find it troublesome to tell someone else your troubles, then I’m sorry I cannot help you unless you meet up with me and let me have a shot at reading your mind. It might take some time, but if you are willing to be helped, I am determined to help.

You can contact me on MSN/E-Mail. Be hearing from you soon.

Friendship...

A friend missing with time,
Is like the sun setting in the sky.
Sooner or later one will find,
Brightness will once again say hi.
One’s reluctance to congregate,
Is like the clouds drifting in the sky.
It frustrates the camaraderie formed by fate,
By blocking all contact at a blink of an eye.
Luckily the clouds though thick have rifts,
And is one of the things that will never change.
But as aims adjusts and focus shifts,
The sunlight that shines through is not the same.
So one constantly has the chance,
To meet a changed lost friend out there.
Even if it is just a glance,
It reignites the friendship both have once shared.

Is Being Kiasu Always Rewarding? Think Again...

As the temperatures soar,
Puddles of sweat merge on the floor.
Competition is fierce amongst us;
Everyone wants to be the first.
Finally the bus arrives at the bay;
Passengers rush up without delay.
Shoving and squeezing they try their best;
Once they sit down they feel very blessed.
They smirk at the others who yet to board;
Savoring the air-con and seat they hog.
The world is unfair though it is round;
In numerous ways that are too profound.
Somehow suddenly the bus breaks down,
Making the “winners” look like clowns.
The driver ran away to seek for help,
Leaving the unfortunate to sit and yelp.
Help arrives promptly but the bus is dead;
Those that think they are early are late.
After a while another bus came by;
As usual passengers rush up like they fly.
The previous “winners” are jumping like mad,
For they are trapped and not very glad.
When they ultimately manage to alight,
The bus is full and ready to take flight,
Much to the new winners’ delight.

Wisdom Teeth...

My heart is racing,
And my blood pressure is high.
My palms are dampening,
And my throat is dry.
I keep thinking of the stories,
My friends related to me.
They mentioned about the agonies,
And the pain they guarantee.
I stepped into the OT.
Feeling a bit queasy.
But come to think of it,
It wasn’t that freaky.
My dentist was nice,
And so were the other nurses.
Up that bed I was enticed –
Something I would not rehearse.
Then the needle was inserted;
Both eyes automatically closed.
My face and body were covered,
With only my mouth exposed.
Then came the agonizing wait,
For my gums and lips to numb.
To have those teeth is just fate;
I just anticipated what was to come.
First came the scalpel,
Slicing open my gums.
The start of my tooth’s disposal;
I just remained mum.
Next came the audible drill,
And immense pressure on my tooth.
I am grateful I could not feel;
It is best not to know the truth.
Cracking sounds were heard,
Indicating my tooth was breaking.
I tasted something sour like mustard,
Which I guess was my blood spurting.
My lower tooth was gone,
And it was my upper’s turn.
Again pain I felt none,
But the sounds all returned.
My gums were sewn,
When all was done.
The extracted teeth were then shown;
The experience was not fun.

Timeline...

For every beginning,
There will be an end.
It is just the question,
Of when.
Within the period,
From birth to death,
Whatever can be grasped,
Is inexplicable by math.
In the hospital,
The babies are born,
With innocent minds,
That will soon be gone.
In the schools,
The students will find;
Knowledge is limitless,
And love is blind.
In the corporate world,
Everyone will learn;
Money is needed,
But hard to earn.
In the families,
Some parents will sigh,
When their children revolt,
And rules they defy.
In the planes,
Bodies will shake;
Health is waning;
Some bones might break.
On the beds,
Spirits are low,
When they reminisce,
How fast they grow.
At the funerals,
Some children will cry,
Regretting their actions,
Before their parents die.
So much to do,
But there is still time.
Now is the chance,
When we are at our prime.
After this age,
We will be old.
Hopefully we will do enough,
To blissfully enjoy our soul.