Hey people! I'm in the process of moving my posts to a new Wordpress blog. Hence this old one will remain un-updated as of now. Construction is still in progress, but I've added in the entry on my recent overseas trip (as what I've promised GUTS).

See you there!

Wow...a lot of things have happened since the past entry that I don't even know where to begin writing. I'm convinced that its peak period all year round at my office. Did I mention the big big event which I brought up some months before is FINALLY OVER??? In the week leading up to it, I worked late near everyday and worried about it every moment. I even dreamt about it while sleeping. You can say it was practically 24hrs in my mind. And with my boss in the picture, you can imagine things were twice as confusing and difficult. And at the last moment, one of my trusty aides fell sick and could not attend the entire event. That was really quite hard to accept at first. I was already down with flu, but thought that with the assistance of my 2 committee members, I would still be able to 熬过去. But it was now down to 2 of us only. Real tough luck.

Fortunately, the majority of the event came out fine. All 120 participants arrived safely and enjoyed themselves during the competition. There were definitely glitches here and there of course, what with lights not coming in, air con not being switched on at the right time and us over-estimating the participants' abilities. But thank god it did not rain. That in itself was already a big big blessing. All in all, I went without sleep for 30 hours and when it was finally over, I was already too sick and tired to feel glad. By the 30th hour, my nose had lost all feeling and my voice was turning nasal and hoarse. It was the best.

But no matter what, its over and done with, so there's really not much to complain about now. And things are not slowing down still. Suddenly my boss wants this and that (not that surprising actually) and everything is still going at such breakneck speed. SIAN AH!!!! I NEED A REST!!

Ok, Andy has already gone to China liao. And by the way, I bought tickets to watch his concert (with P and Corinni) but did not go in the end cos I was sick lar. And before leaving, he even sent me an sms to tell me to continue to work hard and that he'll check on me whenever he returns for his breaks. Wah lau. But my new teacher, QL is real interesting. He's only 19 (my teachers just keep getting younger and younger) and is Andy's junior, meaning they studied under the same teacher. But their teaching styles cannot be more different. While Andy is systematic, QL is haphazardly creative. He doesn't believe in sticking to a particular format and is willing to forgo traditional instructions and style for beautiful music. Things which Andy said I cannot do, QL says its A-OK! His mantra is if he is convinced that something works and he believes in the theory behind it, he will follow it even though its not considered traditional.

And the most important thing I've learnt so far from QL was, that I should try and find the happiness in learning my dizi. QL doesn't think forcing myself will work in the long run. For Andy, it was more of discipline and proper instructions. With QL, you don't practice till you find the urge to do so. And its nice to note that practice is slightly more fun now! Suddenly, things which I had found difficult to grasp and learn, they've become easier to practice and 掌握. And lessons are not as stressful too. But deep inside me, I agree with QL. Its a real pain to always drag myself for practice and then become all frustrated when I cannot master a technique. But now, QL will say "没事..慢慢练 是需要时间的..不急"

But both of them can play such beautiful music! I know that I'll never ever be able to attain their standard. Just give me like 40% of their 功力 and I'll be satisfied for the rest of my life! To be a maker of music. To let people enjoy what you produced. I think that'll really be quite amazing. =)

Life's really a joke at times. The most fascinating thing can happen lor. Last Wed, I was at a client's place and was chatting up with a regular customer when she introduced with me to her colleague who wanted to talk to me about a deal. Guess what. After the customary shaking of hands, my customer's colleague started talking to me and as we chatted more, something interesting struck me just out of the blue. Boy, he really look and behaved a lot like MR BLACK PANTS!! The mannerisms were all so similar that I would really have believed he was Mr BP's brother, if not for the fact that Mr BP only has a sister and no brother. Gosh. But the consoling thing was, I realised I had quite forgotten how Mr BP looked like, until I met this customer on Wed. It seemed like so long long time ago when I went on dates with him. Wow.

Anyways, on a different note, for those who are interested to know how Andy looks like, he was actually featured on TODAY newspaper yesterday. Wah, didn't know how 大牌 he is until now leh. According to the article, he is the youngest professional dizi player in Singapore and the first Singaporean to be accepted to the dizi MA course in China. Plus, he supposedly won the Gold award in a prestigious dizi competition in China last year. Wah. Cannot imagine that during the periods last year when he was not in Sg, he was actually winning competitions overseas. I suddenly feel like my teacher is a superstar.

And the interesting thing? He actually smsed me on Thurs morning to inform me about the article. So farnie! But if he hadn't done that, I definitely wouldn't have known about the article. Ha ha. And before departing for this 1 year course, Andy will be performing one last time at NAFA next Sat, 1 Sep. Its his solo recital and I heard he'll be playing some interesting pieces. So far, P and Corinni seemed keen to go with me. Must support support a bit lor.

The new teacher QL, is as expected, even younger than Andy. Think he should either be in his late teens, or early 20s. I've only went through 1 lesson with him so far, and I already kinda miss Andy's teachings. QL seemed more lax and easy-going. Although Andy was very strict, I think I really learnt great deal from him. But a change of teacher could still be beneficial after all, as I realised both of them think of different ways to teach the instrument, and although both methods are not the same, there are merits in both of them. This is especially very interesting, cos both of them had learnt from the same master.

Anyway, to end off....anyone keen to watch Andy's last concert with me, gimme a call ok? I'm going for the cheapest tix anyway, at $10. Chinese music concert usually quite cheap one. Haha. But I seriously think it'll be worth a watch. And I bo bian have to go one, so might as well get more people to go together.

So call me ok.

Life has revolved around work to such an extent, that I barely have time and energy to practise the flute each day. It really takes quite some effort to peel myself away from the sofa (and from TV) to hide in my room with the instrument. And even when I had the time to practise, I find myself inventing excuses not to practise, and also not to feel guilty for not practising. Its pathetic I know, but I'm just so tired!!

And of course, I've harboured the evil thought of dropping flute altogether. Its so tempting, cos without the need to practise, I can spend my free time in whatever way I want. I can watch TV till bedtime. I can surf net and blog anytime I want. I don't need to subject myself to pain (yes, believe it or not, there's pain ok.) and loads of boring scales. Not to mention playing the same song over and over again. I also dread going for the exam which Andy wanted me to aim towards this coming Nov. The thought was almost too delicious for me to forget. Plus with Andy not teaching me anymore, I still have to deal with a new teacher who till now, has not met up with me for a single lesson yet. And I thought with me giving up flute, I can find time to take up driving lessons, and maybe even finish my piano Grade 8.

And just when I was really looking forward to breaking the news to Andy, I received an sms from my cousin who's learning the violin now. He's one year younger than me, and has always yearned to master an instrument. He actually smsed to ask that I be his piano accompaniment for his Grade 1 violin exam next year. Of course I was honoured lah (and a bit stressed too). But the greatest emotion that came over me was a sudden sadness and 羞耻 at myself. I look at my cousin being so enthusiastic towards his first exam, and I compare it to my laziness and failure to persist in the flute. I think I really take things too much for granted. Of course I still remembered how much interest and keeness I initially had, and how determined I was to practise my flute to perfection (or at least to Andy's approval). And to think all these just disappeared after I took on my new posting. Its damn sad lar.

I've decided to give the flute another go. If Andy thinks I'm ready for the exam, I will go for it. I've decided that even if I fail it, I've at least tried my best. I don't want to be a 喜新厌旧 person. I don't want all my past 2 years practice to go to waste. I'm so old liao, yet still so impulsive at times. I think even if I were to give up flute someday, I will want to have at least obtained a certain grade before I stop. This will at least show that I've achieved something for the past 2 years.

Ganbatte ne!

I'm blogging now because I have nothing else better to do now. These days, I find it hard to spend my free time, other than flute and shopping. VERY VERY 没意思! I was supposed to have my lesson with Andy earlier, but it was cut short cos he didn't feel well (again) and had to leave. Aiyoh, don't know what it happening to my shifu leh. And he's still leaving for Shanghai in Sep for a year long flute studies...dunno how he's going if he doesn't nurse his health back first. Better to be sick in home country, than in a foreign one right? He's also arranging for me to meet my new teacher in NAFA sometime this week. A bit sian lah, cos have to lug around my flute and books there.

Everyone kept complaining I update so little nowadays. Well, I can always write on the boh liao stuffs I do lah, like change mobile phone, bought new clothes, listen new songs, etc etc. But really like a bit too mundane leh. And seriously there's nothing REAL REAL interesting happening...cos work stuffs I cannot reveal much and that's basically what's occupying the major part of my life now. Except that we are preparing for our biggest event this year and I'm thoroughly terrified that it'll not take off successfully. I get nightmares one ok. My boss lor, want to do it BIG and pitch it like a flagship event. Crazy one. Though I agree its a ambitious and 伟大 idea, 做的是我们, and I don't have as much confidence as he does. If the event pulls off well, it'll definitely add a beautiful feather to my hat (and my boss's obviously). But if it doesn't? Quoting from my colleague "Really quite scared-ed" one. Come Sep, we'll all know the answer to that.

I always feel very wasted when I have time to laze around and blog. Haha...maybe should start SDU activities again. But shudder still. Yeek.