Wednesday, November 30, 2005

I am coming home

Am boarding the 11am plane (local time)...

Hope to see everyone back in Malaysia in 36 hours.

Henry

Saturday, November 26, 2005

I am in UK after the WSC...

And I end up playing in the Winter Matchplay with several other WSCs and foreign participants.

Am I mad or what.

Was lucky to beat Ade A in Round 1 when my final rack offer more flexibility in the endgame to win by 4.

Got jammy against Wayne Kelly for a big win.

Couldn't overcome Di Dennis and David Sutton, them jammers.

Had fun against Roy Miller who was playing catchup until the end even when I played out with OUTRIDER.

Elie Dangoor gave me quite a lead to catchup, which I managed and overtake with RECEPToR towards the pre-endgame. He never opened for himself after changing 7 and I drew the second blank. A slow agonising death.

Have to beat Mark Kenas tomorrow and hope someone(s) deals Di Dennis two losses to equalise the field.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Just a passing fad

Inspired by the writers museum.

What a night. What a night.
The countryside in moonlight,
tthe car slip along without a sight,
as darkness closes in tight.

The plains are cloaked in shadows,
yet details shine clear as day
what dance hither yon in those shadows?
ghost, ghoul, goblins, even a fey.

Up a bump.
Over a hump
My throat caught a lump
we almost got into a dump.

The house is waiting,
The door is yawning.
The food is ccalling
The bed is welcoming







And I haven't even packed my bags yet for tomorrow!!!!!

Edinburgh day trip

Got my day trip to Edinburgh with the Gipsons.

the city is a lot smaller than I initially conceived, got all my photos, got my haggis.

Observations:
When Cheah recommends a place, make sure that it serves your need. Cheah tends to recommend places that are upmarket, expensive and irrelevant to your purpose (The witchery didn't serve haggis and the price was way out of our budget)

Almost became the first casualty before the WSC even started (tried lifting one of Mon Meg's cannonball)

The National Gallery was small, less eye-catching paintings, but I did find another Rembrandt self-potrait, Degas, Van Gogh and Monet.
The writers museum is even smaller but its exhibits are good and point in the right direction (definitely want to see more manuscript of the writers featured (like Florence Nightingale's letters))

Will update more nex time.

Monday, November 14, 2005

I got my ISC support Account

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I am ready for my daily dose of humiliation.
But first, I decide to give Stewbum his occassional dose of humiliation before I get mine.

The Gipsons are wonderful

Wonderful pickup from Berwick (pronounce Be-Wick) -Upon-Tweed just south of the Scottish Border. We drove across the Border, about six miles in.

The house is a lot smaller than I first imagined it to be, but everything inside is just as cosy. Everything is displayed beautifully including a oriental table bought (by Helen's father) from Hong Kong depicting the infamous Chang Bridge Scene from the Three Kingdom. Needless to say, every room inside the house is spacious with the smallest room probably the size of my sitting room back home.

We are planning our Edinburgh day trip as I type. Edinburgh Castle is definitely on the list. Photos also being uploaded from camera.

Praying for Sunny day tomorrow.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Couldn't resist spending £2

Should have waited until tomorrow when I am at the Gipsons.

Initial Observations:

1 day with Ganesh:
Cloudy weather.

2 days with Cheah Siu Hean (Ganesh has left for Manchester):
Sunny London (sounds like a oxymoron, doesn't it)

Visited:
Buckingham Palace (changing of the guards)
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Hall
Trafalgar Square
National Gallery (twice! still want to run back to see the Reubens exhibition)
National Museum (for the Persian Exhibitions, haven't checked out the rest yet although the Reading Room is excellent)
Marble Arch (such a letdown, cheered myself up with a big cup of juice from edgeware road, the arabian center of london. definitely worth the price)
Wong Kei (My Beef Briskett Hor Fun is bigger than Cheah Beef Briskett Noodles for the same price. YAY!)

Wish List:
Tower of London
Tower Bridge
National Potrait Gallery
Tate gallery
Tate Modern
Some west end production (torn between mousetrap, ten little indian and scrooge. major ones also in the running)
Natural History Museum
British Library
Victoria and Albert Museum

Ganesh is planning Europe after WSC. I think I will just settle for getting lost in London itself.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Posting from the Airport

30 minutes before my flight takes off.

Have been text messaging Cheah for the past 2 hours to test our connection. No guarantees that it works in London but hope for the best.

Ganesh is backpacking, watch him stroll across the Lounge without looking at me. This may be my last post until I find an alternative in London.

Bingos to all (but more to me)

WSC MIA part III

Matt Graham and Sammy O from the USA.

Just realized the Theodore from Philippines is also MIA.

Testing!......

Get to know yourself better

Your view on yourself:

You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

The seriousness of your love:

You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?

Your views on education

Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:

You have plenty of dream jobs but have little chance of doing any of them if you don't focus on something in particular. You need to choose something and go for it to be happy and achieve success.

How do you view success:

You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:

You are full of energy and confidence. You are unpredictable, with moods changing as quickly as an ocean. You might occasionally be calm and still, but never for long.
Quiz

Monday, November 07, 2005

WSC misc preparation

Luggage....Still packing
Camera.....Just bought one, Konica Minolta because I am used to their camera settings
Adapter.....RM30 for one
Tube of washing liquid.....still searching
Flash drive.....256MB, now if someone would be so kind to lend me a computer during the WSC........

Still busy

Saturday, November 05, 2005

An ex-roommate -- the JYNX

Now that I have lost Tony Sim as my roommate for the 2005 WSC,
I dread my replacement, the JYNX from King's Cup.

Just hope that his JYNX is localized to Bangkok only and not portable.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

WSC MIA part II

Add Jim Geary to the Casualty List

WSC MIA

Over the weekend and just today, I have found out that quite a few WSC participants have had their trips scuppered by a variety of reasons.

Nigerians and Kenyas have been knocked over by visa complications, which probably is a institutional rate since it is very hard to get visa to travel overseas.

Tony Sim just told me that his leave for WSC got cancelled so he can't go. Another victim of Singapore's work work work mentality. No wonder Singapore does not do well in any world championship if they don't allow their best prospects to go out and compete.

Just hope that nothing happens to mine.