Keep in Touch

It's not often that your Singaporean friend is abroad in the same city as you.

每一次的離別，每一句的"keep in touch"，我都在猜測到底真正持續保持聯絡和見面的，會有哪幾個人。有時候猜測的和現實不符，但隨著成長，原本牽掛的人或事現在都能放下。

我沒想到我和Tian Ming在這近十年，即便更換了幾個工作崗位之餘，依舊保持聯絡，也有約見面。這是難得的友情，也是珍貴的緣份。

I Survived 2016

2016 has been a challenging year. I began the year with worry, passed the mid year mark with frustration, before finding an emotional equilibrium and a come-what-may attitude to deal with uncertainties.
In between the pain, disappointment and relief, I learnt a few lessons.
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1) Don't feel pressured to make goals where u need to "do better" than last year. Sometimes maintaining status quo or reducing expectations is fine too.
2) U can plan trips with challenging destination or people, but not both. U paid for this holiday, u have the right to enjoy it in your terms.
3) Pace yourself at work. The work will never end, and u are not indispensable.
4) If u feel depressed, do not wallow in self-pity, because it is a self-fulfilling prophecy and downward spiral.
5) Cats may be cute, but it is more important to spend time with people that count.
6) When u r down, fall back on a trust system -- a handful of friends who you can talk to, without judging u.
7) First impressions seldom last. Give a new acquaintance time, and yourself chance to get to know someone.
8) The measure of a person's kindness and integrity has nothing to with the person's designation, accolades or social standing in life.
9) Don't be scared of feedback, provided they are constructive, because u can learn to be a better person. Don't be quick to defend. Some will be blind spots, and u may have been rubbing people the wrong way.
10) Different people affirm in different ways. Do not turn just to one person to validate your worth. U can self-affirm or look to others for encouragement.
11) Don't be obsessed with saving money all the time. Some money is worth spending because u get much more in return.
12) Open your heart to people, and they will repay u with friendship!

Meeting Net Friends

Met a bunch of new friends. We bonded over the online 歡歌 singing app. Singing live with them is a very humbling experience! First time singing with so many semi pros. I felt so nervous! Everyone machiam put cd press play.

Meeting friends off the Internet is something I would not have done if I was much younger. But I think the Taiwan trip has empowered me to be bolder and more assured of myself, and be open to new experiences.

七月與安生

"我恨過你，但我也只有你。"

七月與安生，兩個截然不同的女孩，13歲起成了形影不離的閨蜜。到了18歲，因為家明的出現，她們的關係註定在知己和敵人之間晃蕩。

為了逃避家明的追逐，安生選擇「漂流」，嘗盡人生的酸甜苦辣，也飽受思鄉之苦。為了追逐家明，七月試圖用「安定」綑綁他，卻在安穩的生活中，找不到內心的平靜，和對人生的熱情。

10年裡，她們透過不斷的離別與重逢，彼此依賴、默默關懷，卻也互相羨慕、不斷妒忌。
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導演曾國祥（曾志偉之子）手法細膩感人。電影不斷重復這些畫面--倒影（鏡子、玻璃窗、地板），和流水（蓮蓬頭、水龍頭、浴缸、海洋）。彷彿是要我們和劇中的兩個女生一樣，一起審視我們的人生。在成長的道路中，你是否也在「安定」與「漂流」中難以抉擇？你又在「安定」和「漂流」得到了什麼，犧牲了什麼？

看著看著，想起張艾嘉1986指導的「最愛」，同樣是2個閨蜜愛上一個男生，用一生的時間糾纏在謊言與真相中，各自關懷，互相折磨。
小忠告：要看這部電影，必須預備很多紙巾。

MyPaper Says Goodbye

MyPaper had a good run for 10 years. I had some articles printed there many years ago, mostly on education, entertainment and arts. Back then, the news team worked very hard, churning out original content in both English and Mandarin sections, and the Mandarin articles even came with an English dictionary to teach you vocab. Eventually they succumbed to economic pressures and took existing content from ST and ZB. I'm personally more excited with the rebranding of TNP. It's about time we stopped reading drama disguised as news