Yup, my best friend from Melbourne visited me this whole week and I have been extremely happy. I have not seen Matthew for almost 8 years, and having him here in Singapore was very special to me.
Matt's been a very special friend to me, I would forever be grateful that he took me in so unconditionally for 2 weeks when I was 'homeless' in Adelaide. I moved out of Keswick & had not found another place to stay & my term had already started. Not only did he put me up, he also had to put up with my nonsense of telling him off for spending his money on the TONS of CDs that he just kept buying; the amount of fizzy drinks (Coke) that he consumed daily; the food that he ate (lack of); etc. Yes, he put up with my nonsense. He truly deserves the BFF title (Best Friends Forever).

(Below) Here's an old picture of us - 8 years ago, when I visited him in Melbourne. I stayed with him for a week. (YES, he put up with my nonsense again!!)

Matt: Thank you for being there for me, accepting me for who I am, & for treasuring this friendship. ==> This picture specially for you. Miss you heaps. :(

A pleasant surprise when I received a call from Sarah in the morning asking if we could meet. Sarah & I go way way back, we were classmates since Secondary 1, and we have remained the best of friends. I was delighted to see her, and of course her new look - after getting her LASIK done a few weeks ago.
It was about 11am, and I wasn't sure why I was so keen to make pancakes but we did. I showed her how easy it was to put all the ingredients together. We were supposed to have lunch, but we ended up eating the pancakes. Sarah asked if I would normally have pancakes for lunch... LOL... I didn't think about it till that evening, it was quite funny actually.

I hope to catch up with Sarah again, this time for a proper meal. :)

Was just going through my really old pictures and stuff and I found this! How sweet!!! :)

I kept these drawings from Jan till this very day...

It was a great and fun-filled day for us as we headed into Colombo for the first ever Solidarity Gaymes 2008.

I must add that the event organiser did a fabulous job putting it all together. The campaign & marketing aspects were really good. Kudos to the Volunteers who put in their time & effort, we noticed they were young & energetic bunch, and most of them were probably from very good background & upbringing. Their help were invaluable.

Compare the picture on top (taken today, 2008) & 

2 pictures below (from 2002 Gay Games in Sydney).

I should have taken pictures of the drag queen from 2008 Solidarity Gaymes as comparison too, but forgotten about it.

I found the event to be rather successful, there were definitely more SriLankan drag queens taking part in the sports events and they were even running in their skirts. I was proud of them.

In fact, one of our friends Suraj participated in the 800metres event. He was running so far ahead of the rest (pictured below). Well done Suraj!  :)

Netball was undoubtedly the most popular event, there were 6 teams (I think) playing. And this team (pictured below with Sampath shooting the ball) won the game hands down. It was such a delight to watch this game, but more drama unfolded when the two teams got into a catfight with the losing team insisted it was unfair as the winning team had the unfair advantage of Sampath in their team.

Besides the sports events, I thought the best thing that came out of this was the free HIV test that was available at the venue. That would have been the most participated 'event' at the Gaymes. Once again, the event organiser had done a marvellous job. Well done folks!

Er.rrrr... No, I don't know anyone from the organising committee...  :( but they definitely deserve the special mention for putting this all together.

We arrived in Brisbane, and went straight to Redcliffe to meet Angie, Cameron & Matthew. It was not planned, we thought we would surprise them. And we did. Cameron's latte was really good and we loved it.

We also drove past Alan's old house, it was for rent.... anyone?  :)

Year - 1992

Yes, that's me dancing in front of my platoon-mates at Pulau Tekong while waiting for the ferry.

I was enlisted into the first batch at Pulau Tekong, just after graduating with a Diploma in Building Services Engineering. Didn't have time to relax or enjoy like some of my ex-Polymates, but I was impatient & couldn't wait till the day I finished my National Service which lasted 2.5 years.

Facts that not many people know about me:

1) I passed my Physical Fitness Test, thus doing 3 months Basic Military Training (BMT); while most of my ex-Polymates who had regularly exercised did not make it for the shorter BMT course that I went through; I could only point finger to the difference of smoker versus non-smoker. I was the only guy in my class that didn't smoke.

2) I enlisted ON THE SAME DAY my Mom was admitted to hospital for her operation, I did not ask to enlist a day later or to find excuses so that I could be on my Mom's side, I entrusted all that to my family & I didn't have anyone seeing me off; my Platoon Officer Ben & Sergeant Zac were kind to allow me to call home to make sure Mom was all right, for that I am forever grateful.

3) I had my unique number: 505 when I enlisted (Bravo: 5, Bed: 05); SOS. How cool was that... I was even more determined to complete and pass out from Bravo 5 at Tekong Camp;

4) I had no one visiting me after the first 3 weeks at Tekong camp, I didn't tell anyone in my family in case Mom was alerted; but my best buddy Andrew Sim made the day a lot easier - he introduced me to his then-girlfriend (now wifey), & shared home-made food with me. Love you guys, Andrew & Lina! :) My ex-Polymate, Tai Leng, turned up to visit me... She was just amazing.

5) Even with the intensive training at Tekong camp, I bloated and put on 19kg within 12 weeks. I was diagnosed with Oedema, kidney diease of some sort, thus the 'fluid retention' and the bloating. With all positive tests for the blood in the urine throughout the 12 weeks, I still passed my BMT with flying colours, even with all that excess fluid & weight on me.

6) I requested during the recruits interview that I'd prefer NOT to advance into the Officer's course. I just wanted to give my best at BMT, & hopefully get posted to somewhere. I was assured that because of my medical condition, I would not be considered for the Officer's course anyway. However, during the day of posting, I was told that I would advance to the Officer's course.

7) I was eventually downgraded & posted out of the Officer's course, after spending some miserable weeks there. I was given new posting, and sent to OETI (can't remember what that was) but it was to take up the Vehicle Mechanics course. It was there that I met Victor Lam, who was such a great guy & have been my very special friend all these years. Thanks Bro!

8) I was posted to my new unit, at Changi. My officer Alvin Lye was such a compassionate Officer, and I respect him a great deal for his diplomacy and his attitude towards his work. He inspired me a lot. Thanks Alvin!

9) Most of the downgraded personnels were branded "Sick Chickens", and so we were usually not involved in the Fitness Test or the morning exercise. I continued my fitness regime in my own time (own target), and before I completed the 2.5 years stint of National Service, I ran the Half Marathon (21km). No one thought I could do it, ... but I did it. And, I finished in the top few - way ahead of my Officer, who placed a bet with me that I couldn't complete the marathon.

10) I am pretty much a useless Vehicle Mechanic, so don't ask me to service your car. But I had an exceptional journey in my non-combat military days, Staff Ricky Ong (my superior) was such a kind soul, compassionate & simply one hell of a guy I respect a lot. Thanks Staff!

I started working as a Temp staff at SingTel, way before I even completed my National Service (ROD, which is Run Out Date). I did not waste any precious time kickstarting my career at SingTel, I advanced within the company swiftly through sheer hardwork, commitment & a positive attitude. I am proud of what I had accomplished.

A picture could evoke so much emotions, so much fond memories about 16 years ago... WOW!

Year - 1991

I was in my Final Year at the Poly, and was blessed to have the OUB Centre project to study the M&E (Building Services).

During that time, neither UOB Plaza or Republic Plaza were constructed. Thus, OUB Centre (at 280m) stood as the Tallest Building in Singapore. OUB Centre is still the tallest, with UOB Plaza & Republic Plaza tie for the first place.

Oh man... the feeling of standing right up there, with my fist up in the air - priceless.