Dear Santa

All I want for Christmas:

1) A for Econs

2) A for Physics

3) A for Math

4) A for Chem

5) B for GP

6) ... :)

Is this too much to ask for? Not in God's eyes.

God Bless and Peace

Talking to the Moon and 100 Suns.

See the paradox in the title (reminds me of GP)

Wanted to post my views on the 1st week of A levels. Bottom line is, the worst is over (or is it?). Well, honestly I thought Chem was crap. I mean, it was the worst possible start I could ask for in a national exam. GP was better but I'm afraid my Paper 2 was kinda crappy so I think I should be in the B range. HOPE.

Math was a different story altogether, really thought I didn't do too well for paper 1. Whoever said the paper was easy must be out of their minds. IT WASN'T. Well, happy to say that I made amends in paper 2. I should be safe in the A region. (please don't reject my Ho hypothesis HAHA)

Okay, I think besides the blip in Chem, so far so good for A Levels. Just pray paper 2 for Chem will be better and PHYSICS AND ECONS will be safe A subjects. Really am not pinning too high an expectation but I shall excel in these exams with peace, assurance and wisdom. Thank you God for that.

COME ON 8 MORE DAYS TO ALMOST THE END OF As!!! LET'S DO THIS.

God Bless and Peace.

Current Song Playing: Talking to the Moon by Bruno Mars

Bye tuition pals.

I had so much fun over the past one and a half years. Tuition isn't exactly tuition at Raymond's. It's a time to chill and make friends, surprisingly impactful ones too. We'll meet up soon, after As. During Raymond's chalet in January. In the meantime, study hard and I'll miss ya. Especially Hewei Marcus Marc Nico Nat Annmarie Suresh Galen the SAJC peeps, Jasmine and the Bras Basah guys. You guys seriously made my life happier and for that, I thank you. Take care.

Gavin

And you think to yourself.

Sure, I didn't do the amount of work that I wanted to today. And I know that I have to get my ass moving quick to get the amount of work that I have done come 9th Nov. But a little time to reflect on the good times over the past 2 years makes life more fulfilling than it ever is under the pile of books that I'm buried in.

This is a time to find out who true friends are and also a time to find out more about yourself. I did, and this makes the journey all the more enriching than it already is. I think to myself all the things that have happened, is happening at the moment and all the things that are about to happen. And I know, no matter the outcome, there's more to life than merely studying. Exam skills and composure are two key areas I need to work on if I'm gonna see those 4 H2 As on my results slip. So I think to myself the things I need to do within the next 21 days.

Econs essays? Yup need to do them. Don't even mention case study questions.

Chemistry and Physics A Level papers? Bring them on.

Math Vector Questions? Time to kill them.

So yeah sure, 21 days of hell awaits. I still think to myself about today's event and still think it's a day gained rather than lost. No more excuses now though, it's time to shift gear into full throttle. If I do make another post, it's because I need to have some time off. If not, then you know where I'll be at.

21 days of hell for 3 months of heaven. Oh yay, bring it on.

Great day, great look into the future.

Hey today was a pretty fun day at Suzanna's place for her Hari Raya gathering. Had some great food, played Monopoly Deal and watched 'Departures', all at the same time! Once again, partied hard but sadly I have to say, this will be the last time I'll party till after A Levels. It was a good break, in fact it was a great one, but hey, the next 6 weeks gonna be deciding my next 6 years so what the heck right? Thank God I have such great parents for providing me the funds to College.

Anyway, it was the trip back home with Marc that caught my attention.

Marc: "We all have talents out there"

Gavin: "I have a talent."

Marc: "You do? Well, actually, you do"

Gavin: "And what talent do I have?"

Marc: "You have a talent for networking"

And that really caught my attention. If I have a talent for something like that and I enjoy doing it, why not? I mean I do love to socialise, depending on my mood. Well, I still do most of the time. Point is, Marc said something like giving advice to people with their businesses and all, and I asked what the job title exactly is. And he said the word that I've been so clueless about for the past 2 years: CONSULTANT.

Well, investment consultant to be exact. And that enlightened me. He also did mention something about private banking and I for one was very interested in this. And it lit up again brightly.

Moreover, his mum's a broker, another thing that got me interested especially after Wall Street, and he said I might have an internship chance at OCBC. Wow, more doors just opened up for me. Private equity, Hedge funds and Investment banking were three other things mentioned by a Boston University student that got me interested too. Accountancy and Business or Banking and Financial services could become my new aim after all, or shall I say, my renewed aim.

Investment Consultant? I think it suits me a lot.

These are the top 10 firms for Consulting:

McKinsey And Co.

Deloitte and Touche
KPMG
Accenture
IBM
HP
PWC
Ernst & Young

Richfield Global Consulting

And check this:

Itís difficult to pin down just what a consultant can expect to make as the field is varied and is highly dependent on location, but the national average income for consultants is around $146,000 annually. With an unstable economy and many businesses looking to reinvent themselves and cut costs, consultants are in high demand and many will find a range of job opportunities to choose from upon graduation.

I really feel that this could be the start of something new. I'm fully motivated again and will just do my best for A Levels, then talk later. Here's to life and life ahead.

God Bless and Peace.

F1, you're my new favourite sport.

I have one word for all of this:

WOW.

It was the exact break I needed from the studying, all of it. And it continues till Wed. Oh yeah.

It was a fine Friday morning (cliche start) that began this fairytale break. It continued on Saturday with me watching Devil with Jason and Wei Yi. To keep in touch with my studies, I did do a little bit of Math... And off to Qualifying. Honestly, I was already hyped up for all of this but whooo, the experience there really is different altogether. I swear, people pay good money to see cars zoom by but with good reason! The sound is one, but the thrill and adrenaline pumping action really sends shiver down your spine. It's that good.

Being there and being at home watching the race are two separate quantities that will never ever be the same!

Being treated with hospitality, seeing Sean Kingston, Adam Lambert and Mariah Carrey are just part of the side package. The real deal is watching those cars race it out to be champions in SG. For one, I really anticipated cars crashing out and I got what I wished for. Lap 32. Two cars crashed out under the Floating Platform Grandstand. Yes, it's the same spot where a couple of cars crashed out 2 years ago. We didn't see a crash last year and we saw Hamilton won it last year. I really didn't want both to happen again this year.

Out came the safety cars and we all know the whole race won't be the same again. Webber came from 8th to 3rd after a fast blitz that turned into a frenzy after the safety car came off. Hamilton got pushed off the track by, guess who, Webber his closest competitor to the Championship crown. Outta boy. And with all the luck in the world, we saw it right in front of our eyes in real time vision. No cameras, no replays, just the real deal. The crowd cheered as our dear World Champion throws his helmet out with disgust towards the incident. He is like the Manchester United of F1. He does have his fan base, but people just don't really like to see him win. The reaction from the Ferrari and Red Bull camp were of ecstasy, and we could tell why.

Lap 36: Schumacher crashes with another driver at, guess where, the same spot again. We really have to count our lucky stars! One hits the wall, while Michael swirls. But, Michael continues the race to the delight of the crowd. Nobody likes to see a quitter, and the way Schumacher responded to the situation showed why he's one of the greatest drivers of all time in F1. Kudos to him completing the race.

A few near-misses followed in between but just when you think the excitement will stop by lap 60, just two more laps before the end, think again. Because just around the loop at the Esplanade, Heikki swerved as he crashed with yet another driver. He too did a Schumacher as he salvaged the situation with a loud screech, but not for long. By the time he reached the pit stop, just one more lap before completion, his Lotus car burst into flames. It was really burning with an luminous orange flame and from there, we just watched with amazement at the incident. Not so much that the car was engulfed with fire, but more so with how Heikki reacted to it. He calmly got out of the car after 15 seconds or so and used an extinguisher to curb the flames. And not before long, the race was over with Alonso making his champion's greetings to the clearly entertained crowd.

The thrill we all saw on Alonso's face was clear for us to see. He was overjoyed with this victory. And when I saw that, I realised what racing was about: it was the thrill of driving, to be in an adrenaline pumping mood that really set your pulses running high and last but not least for the winner, the feeling of beating all your other competitors with the world watching, that must be the feeling of being top of the world.

So Webber's leading the Driver's Championship with Alonso just behind and Hamilton languishing to third place. Ferrari's fortunes have changed dramatically with three wins out of the past 5 races so they are right back at the top in the Constructor's championship too.

This race is indeed a season-defining one.

Though I may not have the chance to watch it again next year, I really can't wait to watch it again soon. It's not just a race, it's a party as well with loud music and booze so why not? But for now, reality is ready to bring me back to Earth as I prep up for the A Levels in 6 weeks. Yes 6 WEEKS. But I really couldn't have asked for a better break than this in SG. The fun ain't stopping tonight as I plan to play soccer and catch a movie with my pals with the small exception of Chemistry tuition at night. On Tuesday we are surprising someone and also heading down to Woodlands for a Hari Raya open house. I'm starting to get used to this and it is not a good thing!

Give me more F1 in SG soon please.

God Bless and Peace.

Fitter Happier.

Fitter, happier, more productive,
comfortable, not drinking too much,
regular exercise at the gym (3 days a week),
getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries ,
at ease,
eating well
(no more microwave dinners and saturated fats),
a patient better driver,
a safer car
(baby smiling in back seat),
sleeping well
(no bad dreams),
no paranoia,
careful to all animals
(never washing spiders down the plughole),
keep in contact with old friends
(enjoy a drink now and then),
will frequently check credit at
(moral) bank (hole in the wall),
favors for favors,
fond but not in love,
charity standing orders,
on Sundays ring road supermarket
(no killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants),
car wash
(also on Sundays),
no longer afraid of the dark or midday shadows
nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate,
nothing so childish - at a better pace,
slower and more calculated,
no chance of escape,
now self-employed,
concerned (but powerless),
an empowered and informed member of society
(pragmatism not idealism),
will not cry in public,
less chance of illness,
tires that grip in the wet
(shot of baby strapped in back seat),
a good memory,
still cries at a good film,
still kisses with saliva,
no longer empty and frantic
like a cat
tied to a stick,
thats driven into
frozen winter shit
(the ability to laugh at weakness),
calm,
fitter,
healthier and more productive
a pig
in a cage
on antibiotics.

I particularly like the last 3 lines of this 'song' by Radiohead. "A pig in a cage on antibiotics". Abstract indeed.

Anyway I had a fantastic day in lieu of the end of freaking prelims! (Glad it's over)

KTV-ed. Pool-ed. Soccer-ed. Dinner-ed. It doesn't get much better than that. Plus finishing my housechores, that's a bigger bonus. So what if I screwed up my Chem MCQ? A paper of that difficulty would never appear in A Levels (or would it?) Besides, that's not the point. Point is, PRELIMS ARE OVER. Case closed.

From singing my lungs out to screamos like the Pretender and I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing to hanging out with my pool mates again after a 3 week absence to playing soccer with the VS guys and having a wonderful dinner with them, I couldn't have asked for a better day to celebrate the end of prelims.After all, these are three of my most favourite things in the world (out of hundreds btw)

Had a good chat with Jason on how to be a better person and I'll hold on to those advices well. Finally realise the flaws in some of my actions and will better them in the future. Never underestimate the power of communication, that's all I have to say.

And the fun ain't stopping so soon cos it's gonna last till Tuesday night. Yes, for those who don't know yet, I'm gonna catch F1 this Sat and Sun! At the top of Swissotel! Sweeeeeeeeeet. Apparently it's corporate hospitality, so I guess it's time to practise those social skills of mine and meet potential employers. HAHA!

Monday and Tuesday are packed days for me as well, before the hell gates open on Wednesday for the release of Prelim results and continue our intensive revision for the nest 6 weeks. After all, it's 6 weeks and 3 days to Chem Paper 3. Yes, you read that right. So taking a good opportunity to rest during the weekend, so that I can be really effective in the nest few weeks in terms of studying. Fingers crossed!

God Bless and Peace.

P.S. Even if I may not reach my high targets, there's still the glimmer of hope in my heart. It ain't over till it's over. Leaving it to fate and seize the day from there.

Everything In Its Right Place.

"This isn't happening.

I'm not here.

I'm not here."

Radiohead. The only band that matters.