In exactly 7 days time, I'll be giving my mid-term progress talk.

New year resolution: Never sleep less than eight hours each day.

Lack of sleep makes my mind confused. It removes my strength. Due to lack of sleep, I hadn't energy for class participation just now. Despite sleeping for half an hour or so on my bus journey to school. I normally don't sleep on the bus. And now, even my typing speed is much slower than before.

I think, the most important issue for this semester is to concentrate on my studies. Some other things can wait. Of course, some of these things may be gone by the time I go back to them. I can't forsee if I'll regret. But I know I'll certainly regret if I don't do well this semester.

I hope my supervisor returns asap. So that I can go home and sleep. I need to replenish my energy. :)

I'm in the right major! Yay! ok lah, I've no doubt bout being in the right major. But it still feels good to have some kind of acknowledgement of the fact, even if the source doesn't seem all that reliable. :)

Went for two honours mid-term talk yesterday. My examiner, who happened to be the examiner of these two students as well, was kind of quiet. This kind of surprised me. Haha. But I think I won't have such an easy time next week. I'll not worry too much bout it right now. Shall prepare my speech during CNY.

I spent one hour trying to fix my modem last night. Couldn't connect to the internet. For one hour, I was trying to call singnet technical helpdesk, and throughout the hour, all their technical officers were engaged. Things are fine now. I was automatically connected when I on my computer. It might be a problem with singnet, not my modem. So much so of having a 24 hours helpdesk, I didn't even get to speak to a single person after waiting for an hour.

Time to do my tutorials. Things are getting tough. 3 more months to go.

Another week of lessons. I think I really like approximation theory now. And the lecturer as well. Haha. What's new right? Haha. When teachers found out I like them as teachers, they seemed pleased. They won't say things like "hey, I'm not as good as what you think. I'm sure you can find a better analysis lecturer who is more knowledgable than I am." When I like a module, when I work hard for it, the teacher will know, and in return, he/she likes me as a student as well. He/She won't say things like "you're wasting time on my module".

One reason why I like analysis is because of the nice lecturers I have. Somehow, somewhat, for a few of my analysis modules, I stepped into class on the first day feeling depressed, confused or heart-brokened. Miraclously, I felt better along the way. Analysis is a difficult course. The lecturers tried to encourage students by saying inspiring things once in a while. Sometimes, I was touched by the things they said. Because I always try portraiting a confident and happy image, my peers may not realize I'm in fact depressed. But I never sink into any great depression these years, because I told myself not to. Another reason is, what they said in class lifted me up from the downward sinking force.

Maybe I'm not suitable to keep a blog. Because I don't tell others how I feel, unless I've absolute trust in the person.

I'm looking forward to my birthday this year. Haha. I should have settled my HYP by then. Oh man, imagine if I schedule my final talk and interview on my birthday? Sweat. For a year plus, I've been hoping I don't get Prof Chua as my examiner, because he was well known for asking difficult questions during talks and interviews. Yes, he's my examiner. I think it isn't unlikely that my final talk and interview will be scheduled on my birthday. Ahhh...

Endure for three more months... My chinese new year holiday gonna be spent preparing for my mid-term talk.

First week of school is over. I can forsee a stressful and challenging semester ahead. Wonder how many people will drop approx theory after attending the lecture yesterday. Seems that the lecturer assumes knowledge on Lebesgue integration and Hilbert spaces. This isn't too bad for me, since I'm in constant contact with dearest lebesgue and hilbert. But it was really shocking that he made the module 49% CA, and there's no mid-term test!

I've decided to take PDE instead of numerical PDE. Hope it's a right choice. With no night lesson this semester, I'll be around if anything happens at home. Even if I'm not able to do much, at least I'm around. If circumstances allow, I'll take numerical PDE during masters year.

Looking forward to the end of the semester. :)

It's kind of getting on my nerve that I still haven't gotten to book my mid-term talk timeslot. I thought the department should at least send us an email to explain the delay, and if the date for first draft submission is affected or not. Not leave us in a confused state. There's this rumour that a panel of examiners will be assigned. All analysis projects will be marked by one person, all algebra projects will be marked by someone and so on. Hmm. As long as no panel sit in for my interview, I'm fine with this arrangement.

Oh yes, I saw quekie on thursday. I was taking the stairs to the 6th floor. While I was almost out of breathe on the 5th floor, quekie appeared (his room is on the 5th floor). And somewhat, somehow, I found this energy to go "prof quek!!" and give an enthusiastic wave. My energy was like replenished after that. Next time I go for a run, I'll carry his photo with me. Haha. okok, the point is, I'm always happy to see him. Most of the people who took lebesgue integration with me last time would agree that he's a nice lecturer. As for this waving business, I do it to almost everybody I know. Of course if the other party flash me this blank look, I'll try to be more subtle the next time round.

On the same day, I sat in for algebra one lecture. I was trying to compare and contrast the lecturer with my algebra lecturer last time. Luckily we were distracted by the flood outside prof goh's office, because prof tan suddenly appeared. Haha. Though I wasn't saying anything bad behind his back, but still, I think it's not good for him to know that I'm comparing his teaching style against that of his colleague. :)

Pictures of my new toys:


mickey and minnie


donald duck keychain


this pair isn't mine...

That's all. Haha.

I heard bout this rumour from a friend whose currently in his third year. A rumour bout me. He so claimed that he heard the rumour from several people. !!!??? I didn't know my love life is ever that dramatic. Those people who spreaded the rumour obviously don't know me well. Though I'm kind of curious who started the rumour, who are the ones spreading it and so on, I guess, I'll ignore them for the time being. When it is time for me to find out, someone will come and tell me. I'm sure if the rumour spreads to a friend who knows me well, he/she will stand up to defend, or approach me to clarify.

Time to type my thesis.

Back from my trip to Hong Kong. The trip would have been fastastic if not for my gastric flu on the third day. A fatal mistake to eat too much on the first two days, which resulted in me staying in the hotel for whole of third day, just sleeping and vomitting. Sigh. Wasted one day away. How much shopping I could do in one day! Now, I've this phobia of food. I feel like vomitting whenever I smell food. What's happening to me!

The highlight of the trip was the day spent at disneyland. I've posted the pictures on yahoo. Take a look if you're interested. Due to my bad vocab, I can only say it's fun. Obviously, it is more than just fun. The cartoon characters are cute. Mickey mouse and donald duck were generous with hugs that day. This was much appreciated since I was freezing cold that day. Ten degrees. And because of the gastric flu, I left my stomach empty for the whole of two days. All the pictures of various trees and roof tops were taken during my train ride. It was some sort of introductory tour around disneyland. Those pictures of elephants, monkeys and crocodiles were taken during the african boat ride. The animals are just statues. The guide on the boat was witty, for otherwise, the ride would have been quite boring.

Here are some pics in case you're reluctant to click on the above link and look through all those pics that reflect my lousy photography skills.


my mum and I at Changi airport


waiting to board the plane


in the hotel room


my godfather and I


I met my dearest near the exit of an arcade. too bad I'm too old to ride on him.


in disneyland at last. this is pluto and goofy. goofy looked really goofy.


mickey mouse. it gave a hug earlier on.


the handsome donald duck.


chip and dale. they messed up my hair and removed my scarf earlier on.


me in front of building near the entrance/exit

Shall take pictures of the soft toys I bought tonight. Shall post them tomorrow or Tuesday.

After all the fun at disneyland, it's time to come back for my studies. My last semester as an undergraduate in NUS. Saw this crazy NIE timetable of my senior. Faint. I better enjoy my remaining days in NUS to their fullest. In fact, many things have changed for the better over the years. I hope I've the strength and courage to face whatever I've to face this year.

You might have guessed that I'm faced with some problems recently. While I was sick few days ago, because my stomach was bloated, I felt a bit breatheless. It was a terrible feeling, and I was reminded of the days when I used to have frequent asthma and migraine attacks. To think that I've survived the period when I was sick most of the time, to have been able to witness and accept the departure of my loved ones, to be able to survive until this very day giving people the impression which I had lived a smooth sailing life ever since my day one in this world,..., I know I can solve my problems this time round.

Looking forward to see my friends in school again.

Mood Analysis TestResults
for Test Taken Sunday, January 01, 2006

Presently, you are trying to break away from a situation that is causing you considerable worry and concern. Things are getting on top of you and you are feeling depressed almost to breaking point. Obviously there must be a way out - but at this time the solution seems to be escaping you. You want to 'get away from it all' and as a consequence you appear to be sullen and introverted and refuse to get involved in any discussion or arguments which could aggravate the situation. Accept the fact that 'as you feel - so your body will respond' and 'pretend' to the world about you that everything is going beautifully as, if you act as if 'all is going well' everything will, whether you believe it or not, work out as you would like it to.

You like the better things in life. You are sensuous and emotional. You are a follower of the Arts and you seek an environment that will give you the fulfilment to the senses that you need.

Nothing seems to be going right for you and you are thwarted every way you turn. You are not at all happy with the situation but it would appear that there is very little that you can do about it at this time. Sit back and let the situation take its course, because at this time you feel that there is nothing you can do to change whatever needs to be changed.

It would seem that an existing situation or relationship is unsatisfactory and you feel that there is little that you can do about it without 'some help from your friends', but you have no desire to show the world how vulnerable you really are and therefore you consider it inadvisable to display affection or be over demonstrative. You regard this particular relationship as a depressing tie and although you would like to be independent and unhampered, you don't want to run the risk of losing anything. All this leads you to react 'touchily' and with impatience, while the urge to 'get away from it all' results in considerable restlessness and stress. Your ability to concentrate may suffer.

You are fed up with other people trying to influence you and you also feel that it is necessary to protect yourself from the threat that your independence and freedom may be restricted. You would just like to be left alone.

I hope I'll be fine when I come back from Hong Kong on the 7th. I'll put in all my heart and soul towards my honours thesis next semester. :)