The Butter Factory at Robertson Quay was where UK Bound 2007 was held for this year.
I was lost! I couldn't find my way. There was no light at the end of any tunnel that could lead me to the right directions. So much for my optimism and my trust in my gut feeling. After having walked endless rounds Clarke Quay and by the river (trust me I walked passed a flier distributor 5 times that on the sixth time, it almost seemed that we knew each other for an eternity!)
Finally I reached! With the help of Xing Cong who came at 7pm (the event was supposed to start at 8pm) to lead his LSE friends there.
My purpose for attending UK Bound 2007 - to support Reuben and Clare. Pity they weren't paired up together. That would have indeed been a great show! Surprisingly (actually owing to an act of sabotage), Xing Cong and Ashraf were also pulled up on stage for the pageant together with Reuben and Clare. It almost became The MOE Show (Ta da!)
Vodka lime (quite a refreshing taste actually) and Asahi Beer (both complimentary drinks by the way - note the grin!) plus some silly dancing around, I left at about 12.30am hoping that the Night Rider will be in service but to my disappointment. It was not Friday, Weekends or a Public Holiday. The painful taxi ride home!
On my way home, I tried to rehearse the lines I would say to the school for Teacher's Day but somehow, my mind was drifting away to a land far far away.
I finally bought my donuts from The Donut Factory!
Twelve mouth-watering and simply irresistible donuts from a myriad of choices for a price of twelve-dollars-and-fifty-cents.
Standing in line for approximately twenty minutes (no, not twenty rounds!) at twelve noon (I wonder what's with all the twelve?); waiting anxiously for my turn to start selecting the delectable donuts that Homer Simpson so affectionately craves and yearns for.
The taste - worth the wait!
Sojourn 2007 - the orientation camp organised by Imperial College Singapore Society was held at Sentosa from 24 August to 26 August 2007.
The day started out with an air of excitement albeit the dark skies and passing showers. First up was a series of ice-breaker games within our respective groups (so as to ease us in and get us into the mood). Lunch was served next (though served in a Styrofoam box and was not exactly appetising). After lunch, we had another round of ice breaker games (this time with all the groups playing 'blow wind blow'). Thereafter, we commenced the inter-group activities which included 'spinning 10 rounds around an umbrella whose handle decided to give way after the 5th person's spin and to carry a watermelon across a distance and to end it off by eating it up as a group', 'captain's ball but with your feet tied with another person' and 'ultimate frisbee'. The games were interesting and fun however some players were a little too competitive for my liking. Whatever happened to all in good fun?
At night (after dinner), we had a series of night games which ended at 12.30am. I think that night our group sang the spiderpig song from the simpsons movie and danced to the national day song 'Take a little trip around Singapore town' (Johnny must be so proud of us!) countless of times so as to provide the game masters some pure entertainment. I wonder perhaps they missed too much of Channel 5 on mediacorp TV (Channel 5 apparently provides pure entertainment or so it claims).
Sleep in a tiny little hut with two double decker beds and a small area for each person to put their stuff. I wasn't complaining much because there was air-conditioning. At 18 degree Celsius throughout the night, I think the four of us in that hut are more than ready to embrace the temperatures in London.
The second day, we went for an Amazing Race at Orchard where we were supposed to complete a series of tasks and once again do silly stuff. In addition, we also had to purchase specific local delights (e.g. ice kachang) from specific places before we proceeded to the next pit stop. My take back - Reverso from Island Creamery (a huge scoop of chocolate ice-cream with chunks of cookies and cream). I was on cloud's nine. The night was a barbecue with at first the seniors at the grill but thereafter us freshers taking over the grill for faster and food delivery (no thanks to my suggestion!) With dinner nicely tucked inside my stomach, all of us then went to the beach for some light-hearted interaction and games with a small dose of Absolut concoction.
The morning of the third day, we bade each other farewell and hopes of seeing each other at UK bound held at The Butter Factory.
The many times I fell off the bicycle. I thought it was seven times but I soon lost count (rather I couldn't be bothered to count after the second fall) after a while. It almost seemed as though every fall I made was a signal to take a breather. Of the many times I fell, I was only injured on one occasion. My left foot suffered a nasty cut. 
Today will remain etched in my mind for a very very long time...
The teaching scholarship presentation held at Suntec City today officially commenced at 3.15pm (someone had to come a little late to establish the common understanding of importance).
The speech was enlightening (though I was not paying much attention to its depth). Georgi's name was mentioned though and all of us overseas scholars led the audience and including the speaker to a resounding applause. I guess it was at this moment that reality descended upon me.
A total of 296 recipients and I was recipient number 260.
"Well done Albert!" he said.
"Thank you Sir." I replied.
With my certificate clutched in my left hand, I walked down from the stage.
Waiting in pitch darkness for our cue to move the props up on stage was actually quite fulfilling. To have Eugene, Ashraf, Ian and I mimicking the seeds was indeed refreshing. Seriously, which gardener wouldn't want to have us all four seeds!
Performance. The laughter and applause pretty much sums it all up. What sunk in the most was when the guest of honour looking at the lyrics and hearing us sing. Indeed, it made the song ever more meaningful!
Socialising with the editor of Lianhe Zaobao was not as excruciating as I imagined it to be. Considering that there were three Indians in our group who knew nuts about the Chinese media and entertainment scene, I would say that the session was pretty much a fruitful one. Nevertheless, the manner in which he ended the session was somewhat classic. "Want some food?" he said with alacrity which then followed by a surprising strong handshake.
Finally, I managed to locate Miss Cynthia Yeo, the teacher I invited for the ceremony. Mr Thomas Aldrin, my secondary three Chemistry teacher was also present. Following that, I met my secondary school principal, Mrs Carolin Tan. This served as a prelude to a bout of photos subsequently taken.
I was dwarfish in one picture yet taller the next. I was gleaming in most of my pictures, though acting silly in some and greedy in one. I was in short just simply being simply Albert!
Most of the photos taken with me in it came from various sources (which I am very grateful for) because I left my camera with my mum and it only contained pictures with either my family or my teachers and principal. I wonder should I upload them onto facebook?
Today will indeed remain etched in my mind for a very long time...
(the 3 dots at the end is dedicated to a certain someone)
This song has been sticking in my head for quite a while...
spider pig
spider pig
does whatever a spider pig does
can he swing from a web
no he can't
he's a pig
loook oouuut!
he's a spider pig
courtesy of homer simpson
I say that kBox was interesting
I say that kBox was interesting because it was my first time there
I say that kBox was interesting because I managed to sing quite a number of songs
I say that kBox was interesting because I had lots of fun!
Though a little expensive and the drinks were rather minimal, but I guess nothing beats the excitement and laughter that all of us had.
Kudos to Biao and Andrea!