Reservist: 22nd to 26th June

Happy Daddy's Day!

Hey Dad,
Just a short note for a special day.
Thanks for everything you've provided for the family and always unfailingly making our lives the most awesome one!
Especially these weeks when I'm sick, your unconditional love really touched me and reminded me of those days when I was sick when I was a kid. Now I'm a big boy but still you still see me as the little boy in your heart. Yet now when I look at you, I realize how much you have aged (but still looking dashing and healthy, dad!). These marks of age also remind me of how amazing you are as a dad! You've done so much for the family, I hope I could do you proud and at least fulfill half of your accomplishments for the family. You're the most awesome dad! When I become a dad in future, you will definitely be my one and only role model!
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Love,
DT

H1N1?!

I was down with flu, fever, sore throat etc. However I just refused to see a doctor because I believe in self-recovery mechanism of our body. Whenever I am sick, I will just drink more water and do mild exercises to 'sweat it out'. As such I believe that my body has grown stronger over the years as my body is not reliant on chemical (medicine) to recover. I know this might sound illogical or even sound stupid but I really believe in this. What's your take in this?

Anyway this time round, I was kinda forced to submit to the doctor due to social responsibility, otherwise I would fight the illness to the end. I was ill for almost 2 weeks (one of the longest battle with illness) but I just had to give up in the end due to the possible chances of me contracting the H1N1 virus. I just wanna make sure that what I had was not H1N1 for the benefits of my family, friends and the society. I even wore a mask when I was out for dinner with my friends, and at my friend's place. (Partly, I didn't want to pass on the bacteria to Shadow, the dog) I was surprised that I didn't get weird gazes when I was wearing the mask in public, or maybe I was just too sick to notice that.

Anyway, the medicines are really effective; I am almost 100% recovered. But the downside of the medicine is that it causes drowsiness, I'm almost perpetually sleeping a day round. It’s nice to get some sleep but too much of it isn’t lovely anymore. Therefore I urge you to take good care of yourself, drink more water, consume more Vitamin C and stay healthy alright. Nothing is more important than health. Good health!

Translation please

在我开始写新的文章之前，我要感谢所有回我前一篇文章，关心我的网友们。我会试用你们提供的妙法，努力修补我的华语。希望有朝一日能够全全掌握华文，挥洒自如地用华语表达和表演。

为了英文读者和习惯读我用英文写篇的网友们，我将会取个平衡，尽量取五十五十的比例用华语英语写我之后的文章。换句话说，每个英文文章后将会是篇华语文章。

If you haven't 'realized' that I've been writing in Chinese for my previous update and the paragraphs above (you should see your optician soon. kidding), okay here I am telling you about it and the rational behind it.

Just a short summary of the previous update and the paragraphs above: I recently attended a workshop that 'woke me up' from my comfort zone, I realized that I've been busy with school and work that I've forgotten the 'time-bomb' attached to me all along. And the 'time-bomb' is nothing but the proficiency of my Chinese language. Days after the workshop, I chatted with a friend who analyzed the consequences if I remain oblivious about the 'time-bomb' and not denote the it, and my friend of course also pointed out the fruits of taking control of the 'bomb'. Thereafter, I brain-stormed and produced couples of solutions that would help me conquer this barrier once and for all.

And blogging in Chinese is one of the solutions. This is why I've blogged in Chinese and will continue blogging in Chinese. However, not to lose you, the English-inclined netizens, I will also continue to update in English, but with equal shares for both languages. In other words, I will update by alternating between Chinese and English in future. Or maybe translate my updates, during looser schedules.

Well, I'm done with my brief plans for this blog..
It's time to crack my brain for another upcoming big day on the calender.. Fathers' Day! What should I get for dad?

身上的定时炸弹

“定时炸弹”一直绑在我的身上。我也知道它的存在。
这个“定时炸弹”从起程就开始倒数。面对这个“定时炸弹”有两个选择：
一）努力尽快把它解开，然后就可以不受干扰地前进。
二）对它的存在置之不理。知道它是个阻挡前进的绊脚石，但得过且过。

说到这里，你或许还在猜文中的“定时炸弹”是什么。其实这个“定时炸弹”指的是我的华文。

从开始，或更准确的说是入行开始，华文就成了我身上的“定时炸弹”。因为身上带着这个负担，我的表达，表演，伸缩性等都受了巨大的影响。因为无法自如的用华语，我就无法的呈献我的100％。也因为这样，华语就变成了我演艺表现的“定时炸弹”。如果不尽快把它解掉，它将随时爆炸。

但是知道是一回事，能不能采取行动解炸弹又是另一回事。
就如有明人说过，“不要因为需要用华语的时候才临时抱佛脚，那是没用的”。华文或任何语文是需要长年累月的进修才能掌握。我的问题就是没时间。

我因为学校功课量重而无法修我的华文，所以一直‘卡’在现在的程度。在兼顾学业和工作的当儿，我也有在进修华语。比如翻阅i周刊（我常称为我的华文课本），读一些剧本等 。但是进步的速度太慢了。

前几天我上了个讲习会，而这个讲习会大大的提醒我了身上的“定时炸弹”。之后也跟一名朋友深谈了这个问题。我才又发现这个“定时炸弹”依然缠着我。昨天跟朋友谈了后，我不断的想着它，不断地深思。之前可能是不够时间或努力，也或许是方法不好而倒置进步速度慢－我也不清楚。但现在是学校假期，所以我没任何‘理由’了。我将在这假期全全的修我的华语！我会找老师，希望跟拍摄队或探班学习，还有执行“5多” － 多读，多看，多听，多讲，多写。你应该也知道我为什么会忽然用华语写这张文章了吧。哈哈！

我希望我能在这短短几个星期能有更大的进步，也会是我掌握华语的好的开始。我会努力把“定时炸弹”解开 的。加油！

On hunt for...!

I'm on hunt for electric guitars!

I've been playing acoustic guitar for a while and always wanted to try out electric guitar for a change. It's not very big change like learning a whole new instrument but still there's still a lot to learn. Techniques of playing are different, new equipment and specifications are involved, more variation of effects to be manipulated such as reverb and distortion, accustoming to different genre of music etc.

I've been doing some research and also been for guitar recces over the weekends with friends, honestly I was quite lost at the start. It reminds me of the time when I bought my first acoustic guitar.

I've narrowed down to certain specifications that I want for my electric guitar, and currently I'm looking at the Les Paul range that meet most of what I want and also fit my budget.
And now is just about finding THE ONE.

"Effortless" in Passion

Few months ago I did a photo shoot themed "Effortless" for David Gan.
I was surprised to see my full blown picture in David's salon, Passion, today when I went for my haircut for a photo shoot on Saturday. I love the collection of pictures. I'll try to get more of the pictures from David to share with you guys alright.
For now I only have a picture of me posing with 'me'.
p.s. Thanks David and all who were involved in the shoot.

Midyear Spring Cleaning

I'll be having a reporter guest from I-weekly to my crib tomorrow morning, therefore I thought I should neaten my room a little so that my room will show no trace of the "phenomena of post-exam-books-and-notes-everywhere" in the pictures for the article.

I started cleaning my room after my lunch, and expecting the job to be done in 1-2 hours. BUT as I packed I realized the amount of stuff I've not cleared for the past few months when I was busy with school and work. In the end, I had to dedicate my entire day doing a elaborated 'midyear spring cleaning'. I almost spent the entire day in my room; only leaving the room for meals and drinks.

People will usually grumble about such cleaning up or some would not even bother doing it. Well I kinda have to do it so our dear photographer will not have a tough time tomorrow. I did not grumble about the long cleaning up hours instead I kinda enjoyed it. As I cleaned up the room, I came across old things which I would subconsciously pause and recollect fond memories tagged to them. There were also things that I once deemed so precious now seems insignificant anymore. Therefore, there was a lot of throwing to do and a lot of struggle whether to keep or throw some stuff which I've kept for years. Final verdict for most items are still to stay. I realized I'm quite a 'garang guni' dude who loves to keep things which marked different phases of my life.

Though I'm feeling a little tired now after a long day of cleaning, I definitely think it's worth it when I look around me. The room is now all sparkling clean and neat. And the cleaning process was self-reflective for me, and also a nostalgic experience.

By the way, below is an article of my role in Ultimatum from last week's I-weekly:

(Dion, thanks for the write-up.
Joyce Stella, thanks for sending the article to me)