flip.

It's interesting how my discipline master spent his free periods in my secondary school going from class to class checking our bags for handphones. They were a strict "No..No..." when I was in school. I never had one till I was in poly.

Only guy friends could call my house and I had my study periods at home during which calls were filtered by my dad with a strict, "Manoj is studying! Don't disturb." I was at a workshop yesterday and it was funny how every break had students zoned out looking at their phones and exercising their thumbs. Improvisation exercises left students using their phones as their "handy pocket prop" most of the time.

You go clubbing these days and you see clowns messaging in the middle of the dance floor. A five star restaurant has even big time managers messaging through their meals. Even at temples, people are turning to their thumb gyms while waiting for prayers.

I sleep with my handphone beside me these days. Maybe we would be better off without them. Maybe not.

2 somersaults with gun shots.

Welcome home son!

Mr Ma...

I got a call at work the other day from the local post office. It was someone whom I believe was an immigrant with a stereotyped "accent someone from Hong Kong should have thanks to Russell" on the other side of the line. 

He started off all confident going "CAN I SPEAK TO ..." and suddenly all that enthusiasm totally died on the phone as he went... "Mr ... Mr Ma... Mr Ma..." hoping to get some help from me. Me being someone who has heard all kinds of weird pronunciations of my name, kept all quiet and waited to hear how he chose to pronounce my name.

After going a good "Mr Ma..." at least 5 times. He suddenly threw out of nowhere "Mr Manure" (trying to beautify it with a french twist) giving me the shock of my life. I was pretty much shell shocked throughout the rest of the conversation, wanting to ask him to repeat what he just called me. 

9 and a lot more to come.

Nobody understands me better.

Laa... La... Lala... Laa.

cold shivers.

The albums definitely worth some space in your ipod. 

The church organs really did catch me and the beautiful lines trying to explain death.

Marvelous.

"Those who are dead

are not dead

They're just living in my head."

Sammie.

Last season I asked for a replacement for "God".

We got more than what we asked for.

Rafa.

It's time for the next level.

humble pie.

Snapped this near Newton on my way to work.

If only everybody was this rooted to the ground!

mr tan wee lee.

Mr Tan Wee Lee taught me through my Primary 3 English lessons. A man always dressed crisp to class, he made us stand without dragging our chairs whenever he entered, walking around us, poking fun at some while helping point out flaws in others, he once made me pee in my pants while delivering one of those never ending monologues about how nice a day it was.

We didn't have play stations or too many computer games back then, we played with "Caps the game" and had sticker books. He made us relive his childhood by gifting us with presents which he once collected as a kid. He brought us weeds from his backyard. He told us how much he used to love them as a kid and he made us want those precious weeds too.

He was extremely clean spending the first ten minutes of every lesson, rolling his sleeves up and then washing his hands with his mineral water out of the window, from the third floor that we were on carelessly. He feared no questioning for he was one of the senior teachers, probably in his late fifties when he first taught us. He would then talk about random muses while cleaning the chalkboard with a damp towel before sinking a fresh piece of chalk, leaving behind his beautiful cursive hand writing on the board. I still remember the scars on his face and the pimple like bumps on his nose. The well gelled hair with comb imprints paired with huge golden frames. I remember him using a walking stick when we got older.

So why the sudden memoirs about Mr Tan?

A plant was left under my supervision over the past week and a super long stem has been growing off it. I'm now wondering if it's part of the plant or if it's just another weed.

love.

We were at Great World Today.

And took this on e mac.

For Fun.

croTch.

Your name pretty much amused me when you signed for Liverpool. I remember cheering by Funky on my couch when you scored your fluke first goal for us. Then again I loved your acrobatic goals and some of your set ups last season. 

All the best.

YNWA.

PS: I don't wish to ever see that robot dance again in pompey.