Joycelyn insisted that she did not want to eat. But Geok and I knew that she would take the leftovers. So we ordered a larger serving of noodles and Geok took these random photos of Joycelyn eating:

I know, they are a killer.

Anyway, Happy April Fool’s! Don’t get fooled too much

That was what we kept going round when we first started training almost two years ago. It’s a standing joke among my team

Anyway, the school’s swimming pool is finally back! After waiting for almost nine months of renovation and many, many months of dirty Kallang water, we finally have the pool back! And I just found out that the pool water is not chlorine water but… mineral water!

The school had the staff toilets renovated as well, and, boy, it’s really a comfort room I’m just not too happy with the water pressure because that means I will have to take forever to bathe. And I am not sure why nothing possessed the school to renovate the other public toilets as well. I mean, seriously, those toilets need to be renovated that badly and they did not do a single thing to them!

Oh, well.

Anyway, after more than a month of not training (at all!), I went back without much of a mood to train. Surprisingly, I realized that sprinting was not as tiring as I had anticipated it to be

But the aftermath of a Saturday training showed up on my system: bruised hands, knees and my lower back, cuts on legs, aching biceps, muscle cramps on toes, ankle, shins, calves, you name it, I cramped it…

At least the pool’s back so more trainings for the upcoming competition in April

On a side note (to Jolene and Geok Cheng), there is a dinner buffet at Funan IT Mall (City Hall) and Park Mall (DG). We could go there and have the Youth Buffet! *ahem ahem*

Finally, on a random note, the stupid turd dropped me into a thorny bush and now I have a big bruise on my knee and thorn cuts on my shin (aside from those attained during training)

Geok Cheng, Me and Joycelyn

Chasing for the first ball.

The cold night froze us up

Not a great shot, but I scored a goal

In this last photo, I was apologizing to my opponent because they were a rather new team (think they have only been playing this sport for two months?) I had hand-tackled her and she capsized only to eject out of her boat. Feeling extremely guilty, I went over to apologize and told my teammates not to attempt any hand-tackles on them. If any senior knew that I had done this (apologizing, that is), I would surely get an earful from them

I guess I am too kind, sometimes.

Anyway, to touch on things that have been happening, well, nothing much actually. School’s still a chore (and a bore), still having an assignment that is overdue, a quiz that I managed to convince the lecturer to let me take a re-test (because I missed it due to illness but the doctor refused to grant me a MC) and my project is running behind schedule.

Training-wise ain’t that good either since my back has begun to hurt really bad recently and someone said that I might have a slip disc or something. To think that we are going to have friendlies with NP this Saturday. My arms feel flabby already

I miss my team

Today was Sky Tower & Power98 Carvivor Rally and I had to be up by 5.30 in the morning in order to reach SAFRA Yishun Country Club at 7 to register. My group had Aaron , Xiong and Neo and they can be very, very, very lame (and a tad childish) together.

Oh, and we had a group name, too. When I first saw our name, I literally laughed out loud. Our name was 3 wolves and a not so little sheep

Carvivor had shortlisted groups so there were 150 groups (of four) trying to win SG$10,000 in cash. I kid you not. Hey, $2.5k is quite handy in my pocket This year’s theme was water so we were told to be prepared to get wet.

Anyway, the challenge kicked off with one person from each team swimming the breadth of the swimming pool to collect the location of the first station. There were five stations in all and our first stop was at West Coast Park, followed by Pasir Ris Park, Sky Tower at Sentosa, some car show room around Ang Mo Kio (I forgot the location) and Choa Chu Kang stadium.

At each station, there were challenges that had water involved. The time taken for all the challenges are tabulated for each group and the group that completes all five challenges in the shortest time wins that $10,000. And, unfortunately, 3 wolves and a not so little sheep did not win

But I had fun, I guess. I met Zhi Yuan at the challenge! It’s been a long time since I last saw him. We agreed that we should meet up soon to celebrate our belated birthdays

National Champs are finally over. After this week’s break, we are so going to train hard for SRRR08! Artello! Let’s all jia you together!

Our chalet’s over. No photos since no one had a camera. Phooey But we had fun, I guess. Celebrated Joycelyn’s 19th birthday. Kang Jun got us Swensons ice cream cake! Well, beats our budget Sara Lee cake last year

Our present for the birthday lass? An outfit makeover:

Checked my results and as I had half expected, I failed Oddly, I don’t feel too bad because that means I can play for IVP again next year But the thought of doing the project all over again is very… sian diao

And the random part of this post shall be this:

I want a toy poodle!

Happiness and excitement will never be able to express how I felt yesterday the moment the buzzer went off.

Anyway, let me explain. We played another five matches in the weekend and we lost all of Saturday’s games. However, my team wasn’t too upset about it since we did not feel like we played very badly. In fact, we were laughing over the funny and amusing stuff that happened during the matches over our debriefing.

On Sunday, we were up against NUS again for the IVP category. We lost 1-3, but, we felt pretty good over that single goal

Then it was a six-hour wait till our next match in the afternoon. I spent it by sleeping, eating, watching a match or two and talking with Siao Jia. I think the afternoon sun kind of sapped up our energy because by the time we got into our boats, Jolene went, “I feel like sleeping.”

We were playing against NUS again but this time, it was in the Opens category. We drew a game with them last week in the first round robin.

Our first goal was so sudden that everyone was so surprised. I think it was because when that goal was scored, most of my teammates were already heading back to defend. Plus, it was within the first minute of the game.

I guess Joycelyn getting the first ball always throws the NUS team off. Not to mention we got the first goal in

Poi! We did it! Our attack plan worked! Finally!

I did not see our second goal (since I was capsized underwater) but my team told me it was such a beautiful shot over the keeper’s paddle When they scored a goal, we felt that we simply cannot let them score another because drawing this game would be quite pointless when all we want is to win.

So when the score was 2-1, the countdown from 10 started and we had the ball in our possession, we all could feel that we were going to win this match. So when the buzzer went off, all of us were screaming with joy. Geok Cheng threw her paddle; I banged the boat (I hoped that wouldn’t cause too much damage on that boat!).

When we got off the boats, Lilin went around hugging us (emo kid! haha), Teresa still kept screaming now and then, we were all so happy and we kept giving our shrieks of joy. Even Stanley gave us the thumbs-up sign. And we have to really thank him for coaching us

And, of course, how can we ever forget The Man who believed and supported us all the way? Kang Jun deserves every bit of credit and praise. He has always stood up for us, supported us, encouraged us, taught us, and believed in us. For everything, thank you ??!

Perhaps another reason why we were so elated was because earlier on, NUS won TP to clinch 3rd place for the IVP category. And I guess it is a tad mean to be stealing their joy

Team hug!

Geok Cheng, Joan, Lizhen, Lilin, Teresa, Jolene, Me, Joycelyn and Kang Jun

I ♥ my team

Another exciting thing is that Jolene and I got our Crumpler bags! At a cheaper price, too We got the Navy/White/Red The Fux Deluxe bag. So exciting, sister!

We played with Devlin 2 on our first match on Saturday. Jolene and I were saying that if we lose this match, we might as well quit canoe polo or something since Team Devlin consists of juniors from NP.

We won 5-0 but we played quite a bad game. We made many bad passes, missed a few open shots and did not give our 100%. The next two matches of the day made us more demoralized. Our second match was an IVP match against TP and of all referees, we had a referee who did a bad ref job in one of our matches in SRRR.

We lost 1-5 and most of us were pretty down. When it was time for our last match of the day, it was pretty hard to carry on fighting since we were up against TP Munchies who is an alumni team.

We lost 0-10 and I felt rather lousy when they scored their 10th goal because it was like SRRR all over again because back then, during the final minute or so, one of them yelled to make their score a double digit. When they were still at their 9th goal, I told myself I wasn’t going to let them score another. That’s why I still managed to block two of their shots. But I guess it’s meant to be another event where history repeats itself.

Stanley was lecturing us the same way he lectured us in SRRR. And it was right after the match with the same team. But I guess we could all feel that there wasn’t any bond nor chemistry between all of us and that was what I was quite disappointed in.

So we talked things out, said how we felt about everything and encouraged each other to give our best for Sunday.

Sunday’s match against NUS was a should-draw-but-try-to-win match since they are a team that has more experience than us. But by the 6th minute into the first half when we managed to score a goal, it became a should-win match instead. But I guess it wasn’t really meant to be when I let their goal in I need to bring home Daren’s paddle and practice at home or something.

Anyway, as Stanley said, a goal would greatly boost of morale. And even though we drew the match, we could tell that everyone was in better spirits. I guess we all went home, had a good rest and tried not to think about the losses.

Something random:

Jolene and Kang Jun pulling each others’ hair as Lilin pose along

I think Jolene‘s going to kill me for posting such an unglam photo of her

Anyway, my package finally came!

My first online order from Emily the Strange Clothing! I was like a fat kid waiting for cake as I kept checking the tracking order

Lost Limited Tee: I simply had to get it

Emily Playing Cards: Don’t think I’ll ever use them to play!

2008 Calendar

Classic Strange Poster

Yeah, I got my cake. So I’m a happy fat kid now

Food was great! Great because they had my macaroni and cheese I remember back in the past, I refused to eat Kenny Rogers if they had no mac and cheese.

The Man paid it all and refused to take any of our money. He said that all we needed to do was train hard for National Championships.

Jolene‘s not too happy she’s on the left

Blossom is my favourite puff girl!

Trying to open our eyes really wide to see the purple contacts

There was this point where Jolene and I went to 7-Eleven to grab some drinks and the cashier kept giving us this rather amused look. He kept looking back and forth between Jolene and I and I thought he wanted to check my ID or something (since I was buying this really small bottle of vodka) and probably thought we were below 18.

All of a sudden, he went, “Youngest?” and nodded at Jolene’s direction. It took me a whole second for my gears to click in my brain.

“Yeah,” I grinned at him. It’s easier to just say yes than go through the whole process of explanation

After dinner, we went to Esplanade to talk and slack around. Well, and to take pictures, too

Me, Lilin and Jolene

Joycelyn, Me and Jolene

Team movie was not much of a team thing since Lilin and Lizhen were not present. But we had fun watching PotC3 with Desmond, Daren and Jun Wei.

The movie itself was interesting. I was never interested in PotC until the trailer for At World’s End came. And, no, I have still yet to watch the first two.

If you asked me, I would not mind watching it again. I especially like the marriage part. But I would love to skip the part where there are partings. And especially the extra scene at the back way after the credits.

(Seriously, waiting &$*#$& minutes for a %$#* scene?!)

Everything was delayed. So Geok Cheng, Teresa and I met Jolene at Clark Quay MRT station only to head to MacDonald’s for breakfast. I think I kind of snoozed while everything was being set up. At 10 a.m. (when the first match of TP 1 and Monsters Inc. was supposed to start), the guys were still fixing the goal post and the lines. So Jolene, Joan and I went to MacDonald’s again where I had my second breakfast.

(Note to self: Depression can either starve you or stuff you.)

By the time the match started, it was past 11. It was quite a nerve-wrecking match. We were all rooting (and trying very hard not to cheer out loud) for Monsters and we were pretty disappointed when TP 1 controlled the match with the first goal. However, Monsters fought back and fought hard.

Still, Monsters lost But they played well. I was amazed with their long shots

Since everything was delayed, I could not stay to watch the match where Bulldogs and Fiasco will be fighting to play with Hotdogs I had to leave for Novena where my relatives will be celebrating my nephew’s 1st birthday at Globetrotters.

I wonder if anyone remembered my entry last year. I was blogging about Dylan‘s 1st month celebrations and we were all over his mohawk hairstyle. Well, the ‘rents did it again. He was sporting a fuller and longer mohawk this year.

The birthday boy (note the Nike arm-band)

Because of my stupid mood and had two breakfast, I could barely stomach anything there. Junie, Dylan’s mother, saw my empty plate and went, “Nadine, diet ar?”

And I had to explain that I was not hungry. To be polite, I took a plate of greens and fruits, and as I walked back to my place, I tried to avoid her knowing what she would say if she saw my plate. Well, luck is certainly not on my side. She saw my plate and said, “See? Still say not on diet.”

What I had at Globetrotters

My sisters seemed to have a great appetite that day. They had about two large servings each.

Judaxil and Nicole

The birthday cake was really interesting with a soccer-themed Lego-feel.

Damien, Dylan and Junie

Dylan cutting his cake

The “thank you” gift for guests–a mini cake with Dylan’s face!

Judaxil, Nicole, Dylan, Me and Mom
(He’s not looking because he keeps looking at Grandpa.)

See? Only smiling when my uncle carries him

After the celebrations, I went to meet Teresa and Joan at MacDonald’s at Plaza Singapura and waited for Geok Cheng to join us. They had dinner at Pasta Mania while I stoned since I was very tired (and not hungry in any way).

After dinner, we headed to Ben & Jerry’s at The Cathay to have ice cream and slack

Joan was so happy with her Zouk flyer she picked at Adidas

Me, Teresa and Geok Cheng sharing a tub

With Joan

Managed to squeeze everyone

Training on Sunday was interesting. After a match against the guys, we were to play with the freshmen guys. And we kind of trashed them The feeling of doing fast break is really something.

After that, Geok Cheng, Teresa, Joan and I went to IKEA to buy seats for the Vampire boats that we will be training with.

Geok’s carrying the colourful seats

We were pretty stoned and tired by then. So we took a bus down to Marina Square and had dinner. We sat there and talked for some time before regaining our energy to do some window shopping

I was admiring some tops at Pure Milk but realised that I did not like it after trying it on

Looks odd, somehow

Jolene then met us after her group meeting and we headed to Cafe Cartel for cakes and drinks.

Me, Jolene, Teresa, Geok Cheng and Joan

Striking a pose for Winston

I met a few of my secondary school friends on Monday for dinner at Tampinese Cafe Cartel. However, I was a couple of hours late So I had to treat them to dessert so that they would let me off this time

We had fun talking and laughing. And, as usual, Jo always have a story ready starting with, “I tell you ar!…”

Amanda, Jo, Sof and Me