So, S2006 is finally over and I've survived the IMF, World Bank Boards of Governors Annual Meetings! The past 2 weeks were fairly intense, truth be told. As a Hotel Liaison Officer for Swissotel The Stamford, I found myself in a fair few new and interesting situations in which my ability to think on my feet and to adapt to a myriad situations as they cropped up was tested on a daily basis. Having to put into practice the art of diplomacy as well as my customer service skills whilst under the most hectic of situations a few times a day has been nothing short of life-changing. Being "in the field" has been a wonderful experience, interacting with the delegates and watching the past few months of work come to fruition (to name but a few thingmybobs) has been most satisfying and I am very thankful for having had the chance to be a part of it all. I've made some new and good friends (like Glenn and June) whom I hope I'll stay in touch with for a long time as well.
Anyhow, just to recap my celebrations last Saturday when it all ended: I organised a little shindig at Ink Bar at Raffles The Plaza and we had a very eclectic bunch of people turning up, from the student volunteers to some of the management of our S2006 partners. I drank about a bottle of Moet to myself before convincing a few of the group to follow me to Zouk where we danced (and drank) our hearts out to the trance of Gabriel & Dresden. I can't remember much of the music but I do remember that I spent a good deal of the night following June around the club going on various missions.
Ahhh...it's been an eventful few weeks and I'm just relieved it's over. Now, for the mountain of paperwork I need to sort out before next weekend!!

Choonage: When She Smiles She Lights The Sky (4hero mix) - Plantlife

In about 24 hours, I'm expecting to be very merry. I do hope that you'll swing by Ink Bar to say hi and have a drink or two!
The end is in sight and I'm pretty excited. I cannot wait for it to be over!!!!

Choonage: This is Sick - Solid Groove

Poem of the Day:

The leaves falling (spiralling downwards)


She was
The most beautiful thing I had ever seen,
I was completely taken by
The sweetest smile on her perfect lips,
Mesmerized by
Her eyes so big,
That
I felt myself drowning in her gentle gaze,
And if I had to be absolutely honest,
I could have stood there for days,
Looking at her,
As she filled me with
This picture of sunset,
The falling autumn leaves,
And
The sound of the sea breeze
As it moved through the cobwebs of the corridor of my heart....
Stirring within;

This feeling so new.

And when she spoke, I thought that time had stopped in my world
Just for those few minutes,
Nothing mattered because I was in the company of beauty,
The most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Tim'06

Choonage: Fever Dream - Iron and Wine

The IMF and World Bank Group Boards of Governors Annual Meetings is over but Singapore 2006 isn't and won't be till 23rd Sept (for me at least). In the mean time, I continue the countdown with the end very much in sight. Just to let all you loyal readers know where I'm going to be on the 23rd, I'm going to be sat in Ink Bar (located in Raffles The Plaza) at 10pm, after which I'll probably be making my way to some club or other. Please feel free to come find me and give me some of your banter that I've been missing. I can't promise to be completely sober that night because I just have the feeling that a big big night is on the cards so you have been warned!

Choonage: Everything is Everything - Phoenix

The past week has been a most trying one (tonight especially). I can't even begin to describe how annoyed I was at certain junctures this evening. No doubt, I have had some wonderful encounters with lovely delegates and gotten to know my S2006 colleagues in the hotel and at the hotel info desk really well but to be honest, some of the fools I've had to deal with (the majority supposedly on the same side as me!) have really tested my patience. I feel like I've aged a decade in the past week. Thank fark for the helpfulness of folk like Glenn, Sharyn, Arthur, Christine, Miau Hwa, Aishah, Warren Tay, June, Graham, Tai Heng, Wendy and the rest of the STS crew. They have all been spectacular and I will be sorry to stop working with them when this is over, aye.
Still, roll on the end! Hurrah!

Choonage: Stereotypes - Adam Beyer

A week left. Just one more week. Oh, just one more week. Roll on 23rd September!!

The madness starts in approximately 9 hours' time and ends on the 23rd Sept 10pm. Of course, I shall be telling all of youse where to go nearer the time but for now, let's just say that I'm feeling a strange mixture of apprehension/excitement/fatigue/light-headedness. What I've been working my arse off for the past 5 months has finally come to this; these next 2 weeks and I'm determined to do the best I can. Let's hope that I don't fall sick and that I stay positive and motivated. MON!!!
Anyhoo, here's wishing me all the best. I hope you guys and gals have got those fingers crossed cos it's all systems go and the bassline is growling and building up and the breakdown is going to be just massive, I can feel it. I can sense some twisted beats, some banging drums and some crazy vocals in the mix. Yes, turn it up; It's S2006!

Here is the Poem of the Day:

Post-It Note

You complete me,
You half-sticky,
Half-flimsy,
Blank canvas that fits into my hand, fits every single thought, dream,
idea that I express thru the nib of my pen.
How could you be anything but a friend?

Tim'06

Strange to think that yesterday was my last official working day before the big event. Ran about like a headless chicken in the office and outside, trying to get things sorted. There was definitely a palpable sense of discontent/anxiety/stress in the office. People were screaming/swearing/laughing nervously.
At 8.30pm dragged myself away to go for dinner with Miss X and ended up having a very soothing Friday night. Had dinner, probably spoke too much, went for a spot of Wine at Dempsey (I'm beginning to like South African Wines, I must admit) before sending her home, where we went on a mission of sorts (during which I probably ended up speaking too much again...I do think I need to stop spraffing so much nonsense...can't quite help it though. MON!)....Returned home and attempted to watch some US Open whilst polishing off the rest of the bottle of vino from Dempsey (succeeded in the latter task but kept passing out in front of the telly like some alcoholic old-age pensioner).
Woke up with a slightly sore head but nothing some caffeine and exercise (played some table tennis and went for a wee swim) couldn't cure. Am feeling slightly pensive right now. Wot next??
Anyhoo, it's almost time for tennis and any thoughts of attempting to do more work (yes,it never ends) are swiftly diminishing.
Time for a bit of 40-Love action!

Choonage: August Day Song (remixed by Chateau Flight) - Bebel Gilberto

So, I woke up incredibly hungover today, reeking of alcohol......reason being that I was out last night celebrating today. Today marking the fact that I have been back in The Pore exactly one year and also, the fact that I've managed to quit cigarettes for an entire year!! MON!!

Looking back, it's been a crazy year. I've gotten myself a stable job, I've gotten my first car, I've abused my poor liver to the point of it threatening to disown me, I think about my St Andrews (and some of my London) friends every single day, I miss so many of my mates I'm amazed I've managed to survive. I do have a good bunch of friends here in Spore though. I'm thankful for folk like Shervin, who's always up for a good night out! Happy too that I've got mates here like The Tick and Spleenie who are 2 of the nicest people you will ever meet! I'm glad I've got a steady bunch of Tennis/Supper/Basketball Khakis. I'm also very thankful that I've got the friendship of the lovely Moose Girl, who never fails to surprise me by walking over to mine to catch up, especially when I'm really needing her company!I'm grateful that I get to see so much of my family, whom I dearly love and I'm happy that I'm living in a place like this where the food is awesome! Well, one can't have everything I suppose. I suppose I could be in alot of places worse than this eh?
Peas Oot.

Choonage: Sambassim (DJ Marky VIP Mix) - Fernando Porto

It's the end of what has been an incredibly long week for me. Sat through hours of meetings today and found myself with the worst posture (ultra hunched over) at the end of it. Bought myself a cd to cheer myself up; a cd I've been meaning to buy for YEARS....it reminds me so much of my 2nd year of uni. It was Sam's and we used to play it at 7EP all the time. It was the one cd that nobody ever seemed to get sick of and I'd forgotten about it till I popped by the cd shop (it goes by the name of "That cd shop"; yes, how very original) in the building opposite my office with the intent of buying a cd to make life that little much better. Funny how I get so much pleasure from buying cds, much like girls who enjoy buying shoes and handbags.
Anyhoo, I am really too knackered to do much tonight so I'm going to sit in and attempt some quiet introspection as I listen to this amazing cd and drink some of that single malt that Sara very generously sent over.
Peas Oot.

Choonage: Back To Mine - Groove Armada