I was never a big fan of reading the newspapers when I was young. It just seemed so dry to read about politics, disasters, crime and I never seemed to see how all these could relate to my life. I was happy just going from day to day, and thought I had more than enough to worry about with upcoming school tests and within my own small circle of friends.
I only started reading newspapers in university as it became a compulsory course assignment to do so everyday. Our lecturer would usually start the class asking us what are the big issues that we see in the papers every morning. He made us read between the lines and see things that were not said, things that we have easily taken for granted if we treat whatever we read or see in the news at face value. Needless to say, the lecturer was an expat with his own particular points of view on Singapore. :)
Now I find myself enjoying it when I catch up with the news. Particularly local news. The recent buzz about election has gotten me pretty excited in a way. For once in my life, I get to play an active (albeit tiny) role to shape the world I live in. I remember when I was a kid, I didn't understand why my father would vote for an opposition party candidate. I mean, aren't things good as it is? Today, I look at it as an opportunity to voice a change that I would like to see around me. I mean, what is the point of sitting around cups of coffee with friends, complaining about things getting expensive, the difficulty of getting a place to stay and build a family, worrying about the challenges of life ahead for my kids, if I'm not going to do anything about it. If there's a slight chance that something can change, why should I let it go? Even if the results are not going make an immediate impact on me, or if the proposed alternative may not be the ideal solution.... I think a contest of different voices and opinions will still work in everyone's favor. It sounds like a better situation than to be a blindly obedient sheep like the ones in Animal Farm. That said, I do acknowledge that many of my friends are just content with the way things are... at least, there is no need for any major adjustment, nor do they anticipate or fear how change may rock their boat.
I'm looking forward to the day actually. In the meantime, I'm enjoying reading the news, and comparing it with the reality I face day to day, and seeing things that are between the lines. :)
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Why limit ourselves?
Seriously, I think humans find every opportunity available to impose inhibitions on ourselves. Whether it is concerns over what people around us think, or simply motivations born out of a more basic instinct of self-protection or preservation.
I'm not saying we should throw all cares out and run amok doing whatever we want. It just grates me when such inhibitions happen at times when what is really necessary is a willingness to "bite the bullet and just do it." Be it in our private lives i.e. instead of worrying if the price is going to drop further tomorrow or by end of the year, just go ahead and make the purchase after having done your research that it is worth it.
In another instance, why limit ourselves to using obsolete technology under the excuse that it is secure when it is obviously so lacking in capabilities and applications! Of course it's secure... cos it's so obsolete that no one bothers to use it, much less try to hack it!! Technology is flying at warp speeds these days and it just peeves me to no end when people stops you from moving along with it just because they are set in their comfort zone and wishes to exert the bare minimal effort to adapt.
Dinosaurs are supposed to be extinct!!
I'm not saying we should throw all cares out and run amok doing whatever we want. It just grates me when such inhibitions happen at times when what is really necessary is a willingness to "bite the bullet and just do it." Be it in our private lives i.e. instead of worrying if the price is going to drop further tomorrow or by end of the year, just go ahead and make the purchase after having done your research that it is worth it.
In another instance, why limit ourselves to using obsolete technology under the excuse that it is secure when it is obviously so lacking in capabilities and applications! Of course it's secure... cos it's so obsolete that no one bothers to use it, much less try to hack it!! Technology is flying at warp speeds these days and it just peeves me to no end when people stops you from moving along with it just because they are set in their comfort zone and wishes to exert the bare minimal effort to adapt.
Dinosaurs are supposed to be extinct!!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Word Definitions: Self-Awareness
I was looking up the dictionaries online trying to find a definition of what is "self-awareness" or being "self-aware". I guess the closest I got to an objective definition was this from Merriam-Webster online dictionary:
hmm... a definition that is defined by even more abstract concepts of personality and individuality.
Anyway this was what prompted me to wonder about this word. How often are we aware of how we behave in others' company? Are we too loud, too soft, too assertive, too timid, showing too much ego for our own good? Are we being intrusive or are we giving others the kind of quiet and private space they need to function?
Maybe some food for thought before the next time we carry out a conversation with another person / a group of people in the workspace.
- Main Entry: self–aware·ness
- Function: noun
- Date: 1880
- : an awareness of one's own personality or individuality
Anyway this was what prompted me to wonder about this word. How often are we aware of how we behave in others' company? Are we too loud, too soft, too assertive, too timid, showing too much ego for our own good? Are we being intrusive or are we giving others the kind of quiet and private space they need to function?
Maybe some food for thought before the next time we carry out a conversation with another person / a group of people in the workspace.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Getting confused over O3
Recently dad asked me to look into getting an Ozoniser or Ozone vegetable washer for him. Was checking around the web to see what is available on the market .... which is very little if we are just looking at Singapore. Well, there are suppliers, but many of them, in my personal opinion, look a little dubious. Afterall, it just doesn't feel quite right ordering a product from someone who operates out of an HDB flat.
Besides, all this craze about the benefits of Ozone... is it for real or just marketing talk. I can't help noticing the discrepancies between product claims and medical research reports (that ozone is safe at 0.05 ppm or something like that). Most products don't even mention ppm...
So how to find a safe and right product? Is it necessary at all? I wonder.....
Besides, all this craze about the benefits of Ozone... is it for real or just marketing talk. I can't help noticing the discrepancies between product claims and medical research reports (that ozone is safe at 0.05 ppm or something like that). Most products don't even mention ppm...
So how to find a safe and right product? Is it necessary at all? I wonder.....
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Right... when was the last time you did that?
Quote of the day - "please allow us one working day to turn around the results instead of giving us last minute requests..."
Sometimes when i hear this at work, i start wondering... when was the last time anyone ever gave me advance notice to allow for turn around time instead of last minute requests? hardly ever... and yet these are the same people quoting the above to me.
Right... some day if they do give me that turn around time, I might consider giving more advanced notice for my requests too... tit for tat.
Sometimes when i hear this at work, i start wondering... when was the last time anyone ever gave me advance notice to allow for turn around time instead of last minute requests? hardly ever... and yet these are the same people quoting the above to me.
Right... some day if they do give me that turn around time, I might consider giving more advanced notice for my requests too... tit for tat.
Friday, February 20, 2009
It's easy to say... but act on it too!
Maybe I'm just being difficult... but I get really peeved when I get requests from people who have no clue what they are asking. And this, I refer to people who think they know what they want (and therefore they request for it) but they have no idea how to get it done or what is required to get it done... and worse, doesn't take responsibility for their own role in getting it done.
A simple example is a question like "I need to market product X and reach out to potential customers through a website. Please help to do up a website for product X."
Seem like a pretty straightforward request, right? Wrong. Because when one probes further with basic questions like:
- What is product X?
- How is product X different from other competitors' products?
- How does product X fit in with the rest of the company's product?
- How should it be positioned to the customer?
- What are the benefits of using product X?
- What are the specifications for product X?
- How soon will product X be ready?
... the person who made the request had no clue. And I get especially peeved when that person happens to be directly involved in the development, marketing and positioning of product X. If that person, whose role is to drive product X, is not doing his / her job to act on his / her responsibilities and find out or even have some clue about these questions, how can he/she expect others to be able to support his work?
In other words, it is always very easy to say things and express what you want in words.... but you need to act on it and make sure you do your part too. If you did not, don't blame others...
A simple example is a question like "I need to market product X and reach out to potential customers through a website. Please help to do up a website for product X."
Seem like a pretty straightforward request, right? Wrong. Because when one probes further with basic questions like:
- What is product X?
- How is product X different from other competitors' products?
- How does product X fit in with the rest of the company's product?
- How should it be positioned to the customer?
- What are the benefits of using product X?
- What are the specifications for product X?
- How soon will product X be ready?
... the person who made the request had no clue. And I get especially peeved when that person happens to be directly involved in the development, marketing and positioning of product X. If that person, whose role is to drive product X, is not doing his / her job to act on his / her responsibilities and find out or even have some clue about these questions, how can he/she expect others to be able to support his work?
In other words, it is always very easy to say things and express what you want in words.... but you need to act on it and make sure you do your part too. If you did not, don't blame others...
Monday, January 05, 2009
Nightmares.....
I hardly dream when I sleep.... or rather, I hardly remember my dreams even if I do when I sleep. But last night's dream was an absolute nightmare.
I was dreaming that I was out with some friends on a tour bus, and suddenly there was this wave of ghostly spirits that appeared out of nowhere. Everyone on the bus was nervous because we knew we had to get out of there before the "ghosts" discover we are human and decided to harm us. It was even more strange that we found out the "waves" of "spirits" appear once every half an hour or something and the best we can hope for is to get out during that time when they are not around. As my friends nervously got out of the bus and gathered their things to escape, I found that to my horror, I've misplaced my belongings i.e. mobile phone, wallet. Without them, I couldn't get out because I had no money to take a taxi and I had no car. I was running to and fro frantically trying to search for them and none of my friends were able to take me with them. And it was difficult to run... as though every step I take was in ultra slow motion and I had to avoid bumping into the spirits. As my panic grew, the half hour was up and the next wave of spirits was due to appear again. Suddenly I ran past a table and I saw my belongings among the heap of stuff kept there, almost like a lost and found counter. I made a mad grab for my mobile phone and wallet....
... and I woke up. *Phew* it was just a nightmare... but strange one... Maybe I've been gaming too much... hahaha
I was dreaming that I was out with some friends on a tour bus, and suddenly there was this wave of ghostly spirits that appeared out of nowhere. Everyone on the bus was nervous because we knew we had to get out of there before the "ghosts" discover we are human and decided to harm us. It was even more strange that we found out the "waves" of "spirits" appear once every half an hour or something and the best we can hope for is to get out during that time when they are not around. As my friends nervously got out of the bus and gathered their things to escape, I found that to my horror, I've misplaced my belongings i.e. mobile phone, wallet. Without them, I couldn't get out because I had no money to take a taxi and I had no car. I was running to and fro frantically trying to search for them and none of my friends were able to take me with them. And it was difficult to run... as though every step I take was in ultra slow motion and I had to avoid bumping into the spirits. As my panic grew, the half hour was up and the next wave of spirits was due to appear again. Suddenly I ran past a table and I saw my belongings among the heap of stuff kept there, almost like a lost and found counter. I made a mad grab for my mobile phone and wallet....
... and I woke up. *Phew* it was just a nightmare... but strange one... Maybe I've been gaming too much... hahaha
Monday, December 08, 2008
I'm back
ok.... after a disappearing act for almost half a year, I'm back :)
and I'm craving for mahjong!!!!!
and I'm craving for mahjong!!!!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
The good ol' games....
hehehehe... I've resorted to playing old games..... and i mean really old Dos-age games. Been playing Might & Magic: World of Xeen recently and I wonder how many people really remember this one....
Hahaha....
Hahaha....
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Adventures of the missing notepad
Often in our lives, we face situations that require quite a bit of courage to confront and face up to. It doesn't even have to involve encounters with people in power, in terror or even encounters of the third kind. It can be a really mundane situation where one fails to find their courage. And my little notepad went on an adventure today that serves to show just that.
Came into my office in the morning and everything looked fine on my desk. Having booted up my computer, i went to get my daily dose of Kopi-O. By the time I came back 30 minutes later with the intention to prepare for an external meeting, I noticed my notepad went missing. And it's not a small, post-it pad sized thing. It's hardcover A5 sized notepad with quite a lot of pages on it... and obviously my scribblings of notes from other meetings and projects.
I clearly remembered I didn't attend any meetings the day before and it was still sitting at its usual position when I left the office the previous day. Where did it go? If someone had borrowed it, at least leave a note or something? My entire morning was burnt up in angry fumes... because I was frustrated that my notes could be gone. And I still needed some of that for reference for the projects I was doing.
Sent out a mass mail to the entire office asking that if someone had borrowed it or taken it by mistake to please return it to me. No news for the entire day and I was resigned to start a new one.
Two hours before knock-off time, it came back... by proxy, with an innocent looking post-it sticker on it saying someone left it in the boardroom. Someone?? hello? Is that person trying to make it seem that I misplaced it?? I wasn't even near the boardroom for 2 WHOLE DAYS as I was busy working on something at my desk. And the boardroom is situated way AWAY from my desk... at the OTHER wing of the building?
Come on... it doesn't hurt to just own up to it... whether that person had intentionally borrowed it for want of writing materials or taken it by mistake. But committed the act and then leave it in a meeting room pretending you don't know how it got there... that's just plain, absurd cowardice.
Came into my office in the morning and everything looked fine on my desk. Having booted up my computer, i went to get my daily dose of Kopi-O. By the time I came back 30 minutes later with the intention to prepare for an external meeting, I noticed my notepad went missing. And it's not a small, post-it pad sized thing. It's hardcover A5 sized notepad with quite a lot of pages on it... and obviously my scribblings of notes from other meetings and projects.
I clearly remembered I didn't attend any meetings the day before and it was still sitting at its usual position when I left the office the previous day. Where did it go? If someone had borrowed it, at least leave a note or something? My entire morning was burnt up in angry fumes... because I was frustrated that my notes could be gone. And I still needed some of that for reference for the projects I was doing.
Sent out a mass mail to the entire office asking that if someone had borrowed it or taken it by mistake to please return it to me. No news for the entire day and I was resigned to start a new one.
Two hours before knock-off time, it came back... by proxy, with an innocent looking post-it sticker on it saying someone left it in the boardroom. Someone?? hello? Is that person trying to make it seem that I misplaced it?? I wasn't even near the boardroom for 2 WHOLE DAYS as I was busy working on something at my desk. And the boardroom is situated way AWAY from my desk... at the OTHER wing of the building?
Come on... it doesn't hurt to just own up to it... whether that person had intentionally borrowed it for want of writing materials or taken it by mistake. But committed the act and then leave it in a meeting room pretending you don't know how it got there... that's just plain, absurd cowardice.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Ello one and all....
Yes, I'm still alive and I still remember I have a blog... As for whether I'm kicking or not... feeling a little low on energy after a long day (or rather a couple of weeks) of draining my brain juice to write some content for my work.
Recently I find I have a rather acid tongue... when it comes to vendors that perpetually stalk with daily phone calls to chase for the deal. While the offering may look attractive at first, daily calls pestering for decision to engage them can have quite a detrimental effect on that attractiveness. In fact, in the case I'm encountering, the negative impact the calls had on the deal has grown inversely proportionate to how attractive the offering seemed.
While sales gurus will encourage sales personnels to remain optimistic and follow-up with their customers / contacts regularly to catch an opportunity, I think they forgot to teach them when to lay off. Imagine I had to say things like "Don't turn stalker on us" or even "Your daily calls are certainly not helping the cause... we're getting peeved."
Hmmm.... bitchy? Maybe... but sometimes neccessary....
Recently I find I have a rather acid tongue... when it comes to vendors that perpetually stalk with daily phone calls to chase for the deal. While the offering may look attractive at first, daily calls pestering for decision to engage them can have quite a detrimental effect on that attractiveness. In fact, in the case I'm encountering, the negative impact the calls had on the deal has grown inversely proportionate to how attractive the offering seemed.
While sales gurus will encourage sales personnels to remain optimistic and follow-up with their customers / contacts regularly to catch an opportunity, I think they forgot to teach them when to lay off. Imagine I had to say things like "Don't turn stalker on us" or even "Your daily calls are certainly not helping the cause... we're getting peeved."
Hmmm.... bitchy? Maybe... but sometimes neccessary....
Monday, May 12, 2008
Clueless where to start
I hate it when I have to pick up a project right from the middle.... and worse if it entails something that is already in use and requires massive re-write.
Supposed to revamp the website but there's so much to do!! Every part of the website and its component is in use and being constantly updated at the moment, but the revamp entails a whole re-structure of the site as well as adding in new applications, systems and when "lived", training of people to handle the content updating and management too.
Grr.... this is one colossus of a project and I just dread lengthy projects....
Supposed to revamp the website but there's so much to do!! Every part of the website and its component is in use and being constantly updated at the moment, but the revamp entails a whole re-structure of the site as well as adding in new applications, systems and when "lived", training of people to handle the content updating and management too.
Grr.... this is one colossus of a project and I just dread lengthy projects....
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Warped movie experience....
Back from a long hiatus and finally getting back in pace with everything...
Went for a couple of movies recently. Saw Iron Man and Forbidden Kingdom. Iron Man was pretty good... and pretty cool. Loved the effects and Robert Downey Jr was pretty good as a different sort of hero.
Forbidden Kingdom... well.. the action sequences were good... and highly anticipated for Jet Li and Jackie Chan fans... but seriously I felt it was very warped experience... Seeing a whole bunch of Chinese actors dressed in elaborate period costumes speaking English to one another... rendered me speechless. It was totally WIERD!! Especially when the scenes came to Jet Li and Jackie Chan speaking English in mixed Chinese and HK accent.... eeewwweee....
Think there is a Mandarin version around... just not shown here I think....
Went for a couple of movies recently. Saw Iron Man and Forbidden Kingdom. Iron Man was pretty good... and pretty cool. Loved the effects and Robert Downey Jr was pretty good as a different sort of hero.
Forbidden Kingdom... well.. the action sequences were good... and highly anticipated for Jet Li and Jackie Chan fans... but seriously I felt it was very warped experience... Seeing a whole bunch of Chinese actors dressed in elaborate period costumes speaking English to one another... rendered me speechless. It was totally WIERD!! Especially when the scenes came to Jet Li and Jackie Chan speaking English in mixed Chinese and HK accent.... eeewwweee....
Think there is a Mandarin version around... just not shown here I think....
Monday, March 24, 2008
Loss for words...
Basically that's my family and friends are feeling at the moment. And I don't blame them for the decision that I have come to has got long-term ramifications which friends and family that care about me are screaming "NO" against. Yet for some illogical reason (yes illogical because even I can't place it exactly), I'm still going through with it.
Sorry for all the hurt and heartaches I'm causing you guys.....
Sorry for all the hurt and heartaches I'm causing you guys.....
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Definition of a cat
Come on... we all know what a cat is. Who would really go to the dictionary to find out all the meanings this little word has?
Happened to come across it when I was flipping the tome for something else.... and some of the meanings... well, it just makes you wonder if the originator of that was a vindictive man....
Cat: (noun)
1. A small four-legged animal with soft fur and sharp claws
2. an animal related to this, such as the lion or tiger
3. a mean unpleasant woman
Happened to come across it when I was flipping the tome for something else.... and some of the meanings... well, it just makes you wonder if the originator of that was a vindictive man....
Cat: (noun)
1. A small four-legged animal with soft fur and sharp claws
2. an animal related to this, such as the lion or tiger
3. a mean unpleasant woman
And that is the definition courtesy of Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English printed in 1998.
Mission Impossible??
Some course that I've attended recently got me thinking about how people work or even communicate with each other. Of the many comments, reasons or excuses I've heard before, one that comes up strongly is a classic case in its own league.
Worker A and Worker B are doing the same marketing functions, but in separate cities for the same company. The company expects them to be able help each other market the products in the other person's company. Worker A complains that he doesn't know what is required or how the process works, while Worker B complains that there is no communication from Worker A, even though both workers are connected via internet, emails and internal communication channels. And at the end of the day, it becomes Worker C's responsibility to make the two of them talk.
It just makes me wonder... what is stopping Worker A from communicating with Worker B and vice versa? Is it really so hard these days to talk openly with a fellow worker? What about the media options that are available to facilitate communications? Is it really that hard to use them? And what's stopping them from sharing info, knowledge or even become friends using these options?
Or is it a case that they fear that "Big Brother" (in this case, the management of the company) is watching? If it is, wouldn't that make Worker C's job near mission impossible?
Worker A and Worker B are doing the same marketing functions, but in separate cities for the same company. The company expects them to be able help each other market the products in the other person's company. Worker A complains that he doesn't know what is required or how the process works, while Worker B complains that there is no communication from Worker A, even though both workers are connected via internet, emails and internal communication channels. And at the end of the day, it becomes Worker C's responsibility to make the two of them talk.
It just makes me wonder... what is stopping Worker A from communicating with Worker B and vice versa? Is it really so hard these days to talk openly with a fellow worker? What about the media options that are available to facilitate communications? Is it really that hard to use them? And what's stopping them from sharing info, knowledge or even become friends using these options?
Or is it a case that they fear that "Big Brother" (in this case, the management of the company) is watching? If it is, wouldn't that make Worker C's job near mission impossible?
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Passion for something....
Attended a course recently and one of the key points a presenter talked about is having passion. If one doesn't have the passion about his / her job, there's no way one can do a proper, authentic blog about his/ her job and expect others to believe it....
I agree.... and at the same time, I ask myself. What is my passion? I found that things that I'm passionate about... well... either the resources are beyond me or my passion has changed over the years. I used to be passionate about music but I've let that taken a backseat... now that life's realities had forced me to take a good hard look at what keeps my ricebowl intact. I'm passionate about history, exploration and helping others, but the resources to do it at will is just beyond me.
So what is passion to the typical Singaporean trying to strike a living in the ever increasingly realistic and pressurising society....? Or has passion been substituted by something more familiar with us... i.e. Skepticism.....??
I agree.... and at the same time, I ask myself. What is my passion? I found that things that I'm passionate about... well... either the resources are beyond me or my passion has changed over the years. I used to be passionate about music but I've let that taken a backseat... now that life's realities had forced me to take a good hard look at what keeps my ricebowl intact. I'm passionate about history, exploration and helping others, but the resources to do it at will is just beyond me.
So what is passion to the typical Singaporean trying to strike a living in the ever increasingly realistic and pressurising society....? Or has passion been substituted by something more familiar with us... i.e. Skepticism.....??
Monday, January 28, 2008
New office... new furniture.. same ol' me... haha
Been rather busy lately so that explains the drought of postings... anyway been busy preparing for the photoshoot (finally over on Friday) and also packing and moving stuff from the old office to the new.
The new office is bigger, brighter and what i like most is the new furniture. Finally i get a proper table-top that is functional... not those swanky designer stuff that has hardly any space left once you've placed a computer on it... hehehe
The new office is bigger, brighter and what i like most is the new furniture. Finally i get a proper table-top that is functional... not those swanky designer stuff that has hardly any space left once you've placed a computer on it... hehehe
Monday, December 31, 2007
An ending to an era....
Yesterday night was the night the Chinese Orchestra held its 20th anniversary concert and to mark the milestone, the concert was held at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
Well, as a community centre orchestra comprising all amateur players, there are constraints on how much audience we can draw, even if it's held a professional venue like The Esplanade. But it was a fitting ending to an era, sort of.
In particular, it was the marking of an end to my personal era.... I was one of the pioneering members in that orchestra and yes, I've been in the troupe for 20 years. In fact, I've been playing my instrument for 22 years. Have seen a whole load of good... and crap that went on in the troupe through the years, and ups and down in my own performance "career path" too.
I started out as a rookie player in 1987, barely 12 years old and just out of my PSLE when I decided to follow my then-instructor to join the troupe. Afterall, I defied my parents to join Chinese Orchestra in primary school and having spent money on my own personal instrument, I was not about to give it up that easily. And over the years, have gotten to know a lot of friends, people in the orchestra, and in the learning process, developed better skills at it. Had the honour of learning from the best too.... the national "grade" players and representative of the instrument I was playing.... when they came to singapore to perform and also when we went to Beijing for the first time.
I think I peaked in my 20s.... when I was good enough to play solo pieces and was pretty much playing a leading role in the section. That was a decade of performances every year, sometimes two per year because I was in the Uni's orchestra as well.... and was really actively mastering my skills and playing new songs.
Yesterday I realised I've come down from that peak... sad but to think that it lasted 10 years, it was worth it. The young ones are picking up much faster than this old brain can... and work and other commitments that I have nowadays mean I don't have the kind of energy and time to devote to the practice like what I used to. And 10 years ago, the orchestra troupe started its series of annual performances with a solo performance.... mine. And this year, it ended its decade with another solo item from me.... sort of like wrapping up what I started... and there's a good feeling abt it. Considering my solo piece miraculously went smoothly without error only at the actual performance.... hahaha... what an end!
Well, as a community centre orchestra comprising all amateur players, there are constraints on how much audience we can draw, even if it's held a professional venue like The Esplanade. But it was a fitting ending to an era, sort of.
In particular, it was the marking of an end to my personal era.... I was one of the pioneering members in that orchestra and yes, I've been in the troupe for 20 years. In fact, I've been playing my instrument for 22 years. Have seen a whole load of good... and crap that went on in the troupe through the years, and ups and down in my own performance "career path" too.
I started out as a rookie player in 1987, barely 12 years old and just out of my PSLE when I decided to follow my then-instructor to join the troupe. Afterall, I defied my parents to join Chinese Orchestra in primary school and having spent money on my own personal instrument, I was not about to give it up that easily. And over the years, have gotten to know a lot of friends, people in the orchestra, and in the learning process, developed better skills at it. Had the honour of learning from the best too.... the national "grade" players and representative of the instrument I was playing.... when they came to singapore to perform and also when we went to Beijing for the first time.
I think I peaked in my 20s.... when I was good enough to play solo pieces and was pretty much playing a leading role in the section. That was a decade of performances every year, sometimes two per year because I was in the Uni's orchestra as well.... and was really actively mastering my skills and playing new songs.
Yesterday I realised I've come down from that peak... sad but to think that it lasted 10 years, it was worth it. The young ones are picking up much faster than this old brain can... and work and other commitments that I have nowadays mean I don't have the kind of energy and time to devote to the practice like what I used to. And 10 years ago, the orchestra troupe started its series of annual performances with a solo performance.... mine. And this year, it ended its decade with another solo item from me.... sort of like wrapping up what I started... and there's a good feeling abt it. Considering my solo piece miraculously went smoothly without error only at the actual performance.... hahaha... what an end!
