Marcus XA
YNWA @ 11:22 PM

I've a Bad May

Yes, as I've mentioned earlier, May seems to be a bad month for me. How true it is today, when I received news that my 2nd Gu Ma has passed away. I really didn't expect her to leave soon, I thought it would be her husband, as he is suffering from stroke. I remembered last year when I saw her at her place, she was still so strong and taking care of her stroke-strikened husband. She even mentioned to me that when she was undergoing a operation for her knee, she was staring at her knee's opening while the doctor operated on it. She was definitely a brave woman. In our family, she has the most children, 6 male and 1 female. Truly and honorably carrying on the family's heritage!
Bye Yi Gu Ma(2nd Aunt), you will be dearly missed by us and your children and grandchildren...

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 11:19 PM

Friday Night Movie
********************
I went to watch "Over the hedge" with Cindy tonight and I must say it's been awhile since we last watched a movie together, ie. just the 2 of us! And tonight was a long time since our last movie(Poseidon) is still showing while we were watching "Over the hedge"! I mean, usually, we don't watch a 2 movies that are screened during the same period. It can sometime be just 1 movie during a period of 3 months! Just show that we are not movie fanatics, I mean, we don't think we have miss anything even if we didn't catch the latest blockbuster...



So let me introduce you this show, "Over The Hedge"... Dreamworks, which has given us great animation movie like "Shrek", produced this show. So it has somehow convinced me that this should be a show that will make my $9.50 worthwhile! This show is about this Racoon(RJ)

, who offended this Big Brown Bear by stealing all his food in his cave. The bear, in typical "loansharks style" wants this racoon to pay back all his food by full moon or risk his life. From then on, the story focus on how the racoon went about finding the food by getting the help of a group of animals whose habitat was threatened by the invasion of humans. I especially like the part when the racoon was describing to the animals human's craving and idolisation for FOOD! I think I shouldn't reveal anything more here. You have to catch it to really enjoy the show. Do look out for the cute tortoise's butt and a caffeine-induced hyper-active squirrel! This is a light-hearted show that has more morals and is so family oriented, definitely worth a bigger audience than some facts-distorted fiction flick who does nothing but try to shatter the faith of more than 1/3 of the world's population!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 3:24 AM

My Monday Night
=============
Evening was the time to look forward to on this cooling Monday night. I was able to finally watch a Young Lions' match with my brudder, Alvin. Any hope of getting into the stadium for free was dashed when that "brudder" who was seen distributing the whole stack of "complimentart" tickets was no where to be seen...Maybe we were really too late(half an hour late for the match!) and he has already given out all the tickets! After we entered the stadium, I was pleased to see the scoreline still at 0-0 after 24minutes, because it means we didn't miss any goals!!! Both Young Lions and Albirex Niigata were full of running but our own Lions were much tougher, unlike the Nippon-sans, who according to my brudder, forgot to take their daily dosage of sushi! They fell down at the slightest contact with the powerful Young Lions, who must have been fed with Tongkat Ali coffee before the match! In the end, the Tongkat Ali served it purpose well as the Young Lions whipped out a 3 goal feast to send the Wobbly Sashimi's Chawanmushi-ed (they produced zero goal you see! ) The Young Lions have stretched their lead at the top of the table by 4 points!



Look at this colorfully produced match's programme, it's free and people can just throw them everywhere after the match! Aiyah...So I got 1 for myself and 1 for my brudder!

The night got better when Uncle Ben and Nancy brought me these gifts from their Eastern Europe trip! Wah Piang, I think my relatives are really rich siah... really envy them! And the most football mad person blogging this is not going to Germany!? NOT FAIR!!! Haha....



One more World Cup's postcard to my the other 2 postcards I got from my Aunt. Another World Cup trouphy on top of the one that Alvin gave me! But this trophy is only half-sized, meaning the back is actually flat. It's a magnet but the whole thing is so heavy! Great!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 12:39 AM

Zidane bids farewell. He will leave Real Madird this summer and also retire from international football after World Cup 2006.



Are they related to Zidane?

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 12:06 AM

During the half time break, I met my current pupils as I was walking back to my seat. I followed them to where they were sitting and I met their parents. One of the parent, I must say, is definitely a local football enthusiast! He enrolled both his sons to the CDC Freekick Programme with the Young Lions and is actively involved with the football community. Singapore needs more parents like him if we are to succeed as a footballing nation! His wife was there and I can see that even though she don't really know much about football, she is surely doing her part to support her husband and kids for their love with football!

Today's S-League result : Tampines 3-2 Balestier

Tampines has not done well so far as they seem to be conceding the odd goal here and there. This has certainly given other clubs hope of preventing them grabbing a hattrick of S-League title this season.

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 11:22 PM

The Singhsons
-----------------
What will The Simpsons look like if they were Singhs?!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 2:37 AM

It's been 1 year...

......since my ah gong's death. Time flies... I sometimes still can't believe that my ah gong has been called home by Our Lord. I still remembered last year's Chinese New Year, he was still enjoying the food we had during our reunion dinner and he look well and full of appetite. But I guess the death of my ah ma in 2004 must have left him so down, a life without his most precious companion of almost 50years. Ah gong, I missed the times when we watched Maradona played for Napoli in the Italian Football League on a lazy Saturday afternoon, the days I will call you to come into the room to watch local football or English Football, the days when you will ask me to go downstairs to get you your daily dose of Marlboro, the days when you will give me $10 to buy my favourite food, the days when you will make me "layang" and bring me to the hill to fly it...All those beautiful memories will forever be cherished. Hope you are happy in heaven ah gong... I miss you...



I was telling my aunt that tomorrow is ah gong's 1 year death anniversary when I was driving her home from the airport. She went to Germany for almost 3 weeks and these are what she bought for me!




World Cup 2006 postcards from the host country!

But I guess the best of all is this Adidas ball!



She actually went to Cologne, Frankfurt and Nurnberg. She even managed to visit the hometown of 2 great musicians-Beethoven and Bach! She was telling me that the weather there was still quite cold even though winter is over, breads were served all day round that she will be sick if she sees bread now! After I sent her home, she actually sent me a SMS to thank me for waiting for her at the airport(i actually waited for almost an hour as her flight was delayed in Frankfurt) and sending her home. Then I replied that it's not a prob, afterall she is my aunt! It really made my day to be able to serve my responsibility as a nephew to her and to see her really enjoy her trip in Germany!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 2:02 AM

In the space of just 2hours, I received 2 bad news. 1-My P2 kid's mother was finally called home after her long battle with cervic cancer. 2-My colleague's sister passed away peacefully after her long battle with, you guess what, yup... cervic cancer. I attended my P2 kid's mother's wake today and got to know so much more about this little girl's family background. To put it simply, she lost her mother twice. Why do I say that? Well... you see, her parents divorced when she was just a toddler. She stayed with her dad and grandma, thus losing the opportunity to grow up in a normal family. Then now, she lost her mum again... but this time, this little kid has lost her mother forever.

Rachel, or Ye Ting, as I will usually call her, was the kid little girl who openly told me she love me and wanted me to marry her last year. But as I recalled all these now, they cannot even light up my face. I'm sad, sad to realise that this little girl's young life will forever changed because of the death of her mother. How is she going to cope growing up with her step mother and 2 step siblings? Even though the grandma is trying her best to take care of Ye Ting, what will become of her when the grandma grows old and can't pay enough attention to her. What if she go astray? What if the stepmother ill-treat her? What if? What if???? I'm worried... worried for Ye Ting. She has done nothing wrong and yet has to bear the consequence of her parents' divorce, and now the departure of her closest kin. This leads me to ponder about mistakes that we human made. You see, if 2 persons love each other, they will get married, bear children, and have a normal and healthy family life until the kids grow up. But in today's society, the stability of this structure is severely tested. People take marriage easily. To them, getting married may just be signing the marriage certificate and being recognized as "Married" by law. But what about the couple's offsprings? Have they even spare a thought for the life that both have created when they decide they can't see eye to eye to each other and separate? To me, Ye Ting is a victim. She don't deserved being without a mother. Thank God she still has her grandma, whom I think is really "Wei Da". She actually has to work, take care of Ye Ting and her ailing "daughter-in-law". When she told me the last food she bought for Ye Ting's mum was tou hua, I nearly cried. Ye Ting's mum couldn't eat on Mother's Day when her grandma bought her MacDonald's breakfast. Her condition worsen. But when she heard that Ye Ting's asthma's breathing mask was bitten by Ye Ting's dog, she reminded grandma to get a new one. When grandma finally got the mask, she finally bid goodbye to everyone. She was still worrying for Ye Ting even in her last moment. Poor little Ye Ting, I just pray that God will guide me to take good care of her in school and that she will be able to grow up into a sensible lady.

When I saw Ye Ting's mum obituary at the wake, I was saddened to see only 1 person related to her Daughter : Rachel Tong Yap Theng, or Ye Ting. Her own mother wasn't there when she was ill. She told Ye Ting's grandma that since Ye Ting's mum was already married, she is like, in Chinese saying, "water that has been poured out". She doesn't have the responsibilities to take care of her anymore once she was married. What the **** is she talking about??? To provoke my anger further, Ye Ting's mum's mother also told Ye Ting's grandma that she is afraid of the bacteria in the hospital that may be contagious! Maybe I'm in no right to judge her actions, but this woman lying in the hospital is your own flesh and blood, isn't she? Why? Why was she denied a chance to be taken care of by her own mother in her dying days? To Ye Ting's grandma, I SALUTE YOU! Even though your own son has divorced this woman, you still continued to take good care of her, shared her bad times with her, I mean, you could have just ignored her because your son has abandoned her, but no, you persisted and perseverved, because she was once, your daughter-in-law, or just because she is just a human, who is weak and who needs someone to walk with her in her darkest moment.

Rest in peace, Ye Ting's mum, Ms Josephine Kong...May you enter heaven and is able to see God's light right now, Amen.

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 12:58 AM

Ballack to Kahn : I'm going to earn billions at Chelski while you will be sitting on the bench during the World Cup! Auf Wiedersehen! (Goodbye in German)


How do I managed to win the golden boots year in year out?


Through Tai-ji ! Hu.....Xi.....! And Barcelona better watch out ah!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 2:09 AM

On the day that all the World Cup particiaption nations submitted their squad, England's coach Eriksson actually picked a bunch of kids for England's World Cup campaign in June! He can't be serious??!!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 6:30 PM

We are the Champions, my friends.... and WE'LL KEEP ON FIGHTING TILL THE END! How fitting these lyrics are for my beloved LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB! Yes, we are the Champions AGAIN, this time, the FA CUP Champions... but certainly not without a gruelling and heart stopping 120minutes of football at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium.

When we were 2nil down, I was totally shell-shocked! We hardly give away 2 goals in the 1st half and our defence has been rock solid for most of the season. But Istanbal 2005 will always be stucked in our mind. With hope in my heart, I know we could fight back and reduce the deficit. It took a superb Gerrard's surgical cross for Ciise to score, to start the comeback.


Was this a perfectly executed shot? Or just a typical slip by Ciise, which fortunately, managed to strike the ball into the net? Me and Alvin were pondering during the game...

I shouted and screamed throughout the game, especially when those Uncles (who only know the match was between the "Red" team and the "White" team!) cheer West Ham and boo Liverpool. I was furious! What were they doing here? This is the SINGAPORE LIVERPOOL FAN CLUB ok?! Not your kopitiam! I was thinking, when will they finally test my endurance's limit?! Have to shout at them sooner or later, I was thinking...



GERRARD! What a goal! We are levelled! 2-2! Yes! I went around hugging some Liverpool fans who were sitting in front of me. My chest felt a slight pain. "Control yourself, just jump up and down at where you are sitting" Cindy was telling me. But how could I? The adrenaline in me was running like mad! When the score was 2-2, Liverpool was controlling the game and impossible is nothing. Then came Konchesky's mis-timed cross. goal, DAMN!



But we still have 20mins to equalise, no problem I was thinking. But as the minute passed by... I was getting worried. We seem to have run out of steam, run out of ideas. In the 78th minute, I started singing "You'll Never Walk Alone"... it gets louder and louder, I bet those fans in front of me could hear me! "With hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone.... "I still have hope. Cindy told me my friend Kok Kin actually told her in the 86th minute that no more chance le...
90mins 10secs
BANG! GERRARD scored with a absolutely 35metres cracker!
3-3! Can you believe it?! Istanbul Replayed all written over the walls!

I was off my seat, running around wildy, removing every chairs that were blocking my way, hugging everyone again, and had a slightly bruised's shin when I finally settled down! PHEW! We have done it again! COMEBACK KING! Have to endure 30minutes of extra time, followed by that dreaded penalty shoot-out...not again??!!


STAYING TOGETHER FOR THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT



I was telling Alvin beforehand that Reina saved 7 out of 9 penalties that Villarreal had conceded last season in the Spanish La Liga. Reina said he didn't want to be the hero before the final because he would rather Liverpool win without having to go through penalty shootout. In the end...He has no choice, but to be the HERO! He saved 3 penalties. God Bless Reina.



But as the saying goes...the rest is history... LIVERPOOL ARE THE CHAMPIONS !


Rafael Benitez giving the thumbs up to STEVEN GERRARD- probably the best midfield general in the world!


The oldest Cup competition in the World- FA (Football Association) Cup belongs to LIVERPOOL FC !

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 3:58 PM

Waiting for that light at the end of the tunnel

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 11:59 PM

Nothing but football
I'm feeling really tired after leaving SGH today. My mother in law is having a fever and she is crying because she thinks the virus is back to attack her body again. God, if you are listening, please help her and also help us! I really cannot take it anymore.



Everyday, I tried to be positive in many things that I do. I know I was crazy when I told Cindy I can't wait for the weekend to be over so that I can go to work. One day, I asked my pupils, do you like the method that I'm teaching, almost everyone raised their hands. Wow man! I was totally flattered and inspired to pass on more knowledge to them. See, we need both hands to clap. Everyday, I tried to remain healthy, so that I don't miss work. I'm feeling sick to continue imagining my superiors having a bad impression on me because I took so many days of MC last year. I was genuinely sick but who will buy that? No superiors like their workers to take MC. I'll fight on, to remain unsick. I just wish my dizziness don't come back to haunt me. I'm still hyperventilating every night. My beloved doctor Mary told me the reason why that happened is because the stress has bottomed up in my body when I am at rest. These stress were accumulated during the day, when my body is working, these stress are released. But when my body has stopped working, I will start to hyperventilate. In Chinese, I think I'm really "Lao Lu Ming"... I was telling my colleague today that since young, my mind is always thinking about something. I can't clear things off my mind for a moment. Even when I'm enjoying doing something, I can't be focused and will be thinking about things that are important, things that need to be done which I have not done.

You know, every weekend, even though there's football to watch, time to relax, Pro Evo to indulged in, I sometimes do dread it. Going shopping is good, but money really not enough these days. Have to save to go Taiwan with Cindy in June. I do enjoy going shopping with Cindy. I'm not your typical guy. You know this election, I was dying to be on duty so that I can get the allowance. Crazy you may think, but I really need the cash.

Back to the topic of my mother in law. I know how happy she is when I buy food for her to eat. It really makes my day when she said " Marcus, thanks for the food " or when she says " Marcus, thank your Mum for cooking the food ". All I wish is to see her happy. Time has passed by, and she is still stucked in SGH. It's nearly 1 year since she was admitted. How long more, my Lord? During Lent, I learnt about perseverence, about hanging there, about patience. I think I have tried... I have given way to errant and unreasonable drivers on the roads, I have tried to give others the benefit of the doubt and I think I have been very patience with Cindy even though I really hate to drag her to church during the past 2 Sundays. I blamed myself when I can't wake up on Sunday morning to attend church, because I know she doesn't like to attend church on Sunday's evenings. I think I have tried very hard to not lose my cool towards her. I believed I am on the right track to learn how to be patient, not to lose my calm and jump into conclusion. In church, I tried to concentrate on listening to the priest's homily, tried to feel the holy spiril filling me, in simple word, try to be HOLY. Even though I'm still not perfect, I do swear, lose my patience, I tried my best in and out of church to be holy. Sometimes, I wish I have a companion who can attend Novenas with me, attend spiritual talks with me, so that I can be holier. When I looked at the people around me, and even those people in church, I feel so lonely, like I'm fighting this war alone. I need to let go, need to stop thinking why people can't worship God the correct way, stop thinking about how parents are teaching their kids these days. I read in the papers today, where this parent actually allowed his 16year old boy to go clubbing so that he can be exposed to the real world faster. WHAT?! What direction is the world pointing to? I will continue to remain hopeful for the world, one day people will realised the good and ditch the bad.

Wasting too much time blogging again marcus... better stop now. Good nite!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 1:30 AM

Xabi Relief......
Phew! Xabi's injury is not as serious as it seems when he was carried off the stretcher during Liverpool's game against Portsmouth. He may even be fit for the FA Cup final! Thank God!

Walcott in the England squad
Can't believe Eriksson has really heed Wenger's advice and selected this fellow who has not proven himself in the EPL. I mean, no disrespect to Walcott, he did really well at Southampton and was deem the next Thierry Henry. But then there are so many good English strikers in EPL who has proven their abilities this season. Harewood, Defoe, Darren Bent, Ashton, Vassell... But on the other hand, I'm feeling excited to see what Walcott can deliver for England if he really does get a game during the World Cup.



Hargreaves continued to get selected and I seriously don't understand why! He has done nothing but harm to England's midfield all the time! He is slow, skilless and can't even managed a decent pass. Just because he is playing for Bayern Munich huh, Mr Eriksson?

Luke Young is another chap who has done really well for Charlton this season and he played a few decent games for England recently. I thought he should be selected to provide cover for Gary Neville.

Take a look at the strikers Eriksson has selected. 1 injured, 1 recovering from injury, 1 who is tall but can't really head the ball well, and the last one, who has not even played in the EPL. Oh dear oh dear, what is Sven thinking of...



The 23man provisional squad for England
Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich)
Defenders: G Neville (Manchester United), R Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Bridge (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Beckham (Real Madrid), Carrick (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Totenham), Downing (Middlesbrough), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham)
Forwards: Rooney (Manchester United), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Walcott (Arsenal).

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 12:49 AM

The EPL has ended

What a night of football actions! Almost breathless man! I'm feeling so happy for my brother Alvin. His team Arsenal had played their last game at Highbury and what a grand finale it was! Spurs must be feeling absolutely gutted at missing out on a Champions League spot. But I think playing in the Champions League might just be a bit too early for them. Look at what happened to Everton this season. So maybe it will be a blessing in disguise for them to be playing in the UEFA Cup next season. I hope my other 3 friends who are Spurs supporters will cheer up. I was shouting "YES" everytime(3 times to be exact!) Henry puts the ball into the net. And what a moment to remember when he completed his hattrick and kissed the Highbury ground! I felt so much for him and all those associated with Arsenal even though I'm a Liverpool supporter.



To me, Henry is a gentleman, a truly nice and honest professional who never cheats and always play the game with a smile on his face. That's the way footballer should behaved! Are you listening Chelski?!

My other brother, Wende, who is a Man U fanatic, is another exceptional bloke. I congratulated him on his team finishing 2nd and guess what he said? " Ya happy for u too for your liverpool. Man U just lucky to win liverpool by 1 pt only la u r my best bro too." See that's what friends should be even when the clubs we support are rivals! Wende think Man U was lucky to beat Liverpool at Old Trafford, which could otherwise have seen Liverpool finishing 2nd. Thanks bro, if every Man U fans are like you, more people will respect Man U. You are the best Man U fan in the world!



So in the end, Liverpool beat Portsmouth 3-1. Well done lads. 10 wins in a row! We have achieved the highest points in the history of EPL! But I'm sad to know that Xabi Alonso has injured his ankle(again!) and will missed the FA cup final. I'm really praying hard that this injury will not keep him out of the World Cup.


Get well soon Xabi...

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 12:56 AM

POST ELECTIONS THOUGHTS...

Chiam rules Potong Pasir Again!

I really thought that with MM Goh's help, Sitoh can win Potong Pasir. One of my mum's friend was telling her the reason why Chiam continued to get the support of the residents. He has obviously done a good job in his estate and most of the older residents have gotten used to him. As this maybe his last election, the residents simply wanted to give him a deserved farewell present so that he can leave the political scene on a high! Upon hearing this, I was overwhelmed by the political knowledge of my mum's friend. When Chiam finally called it a day, I wonder which SDA's candidate can be as good as him. Hope he will finally have enough sinking fund to build the lifts on every floor, otherwise why since 2001 the lifts still haven't been upgraded yet...?? Chiam said he will build lifts that stop at every floor... hmm... ya, they will stop at every floor, but he probably won't have enough $$$ to build the doors that open on every floor! I heard one Potong Pasir's resident saying on TV "No need lift lah, I'm used to walking up and down, who needs lift upgrading." Maybe Potong Pasir's residents just love to jalan jalan...

Low K H's supporters have increased!

No matter how I disliked this fellow's "ya-ya-papaya" typical Teochew man's face, I must admit he is really good at "psycho-ing" and getting the support of his residents. His aggressive manner and his understanding of what makes the people dislike the ruling party are to me, 2 key elements for this victory. He is probably the only opposition's candidate who can represent every anti-government's citizens to check on how the ruling party rules the country. 82 against 1, I say, good luck to him and all you anti-PAP dudes out there.

Disappointed with Aljunied's residents

What has the opposition party done there to deserved more than 40% of the residents' votes? I still can't believe the voters have backed the wayang Ge-Mai-Si (cut wrist & died)! Disgusting! Or maybe the residents think the ruling party is Dua Pai Gia, always bully people, that's why they sympathized with Ge Mai Si. Ruling party's dwelling on Ge Mai Si's issue has backfired? C'mon, Ge Mai Si is not stupid, how can he make simple mistake? If he can make simple mistake, how can he serve all you oppositions' supporters in Aljunied GRC? Even PCK understand how to use his brain!

Khaw's the man!
I was telling Cindy and my mum how Mr Khaw Boon Wan has done a marvellous job during the SARS period and the way he handled the NKF saga. So I congratulate him and his team for gaining the biggest victory in this election. I have confidence that with him as our health minister, medical costs and the quality of our healthcare services will be lowered and improved, respectively. To those people who keep asking for free medical services, I say, migrate to UK then. In UK, they provide free but substandard medical services. Do you want that to happen here?

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 3:04 AM

Pro Evoluton Champions League Final

Pro Evo remake of the Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan. Really amazing! Must watch!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 2:44 AM

RESURRECTION OF MY BLOG
************************************
I promised Cindy that once she has changed my blog's skin, I will start blogging again. The other reason why I've started blogging again is probably due to my friends' persistence persuasion that I should continue pending my thoughts here! I think they really missed reading my blog *thick skinned* even though most of my blog's entries are related to football. So here I am, on the day that PAP has won 82 seats to the oppositions' 2 seats in the parliament, I DECLARE MY BLOG "OPENED"!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 2:25 AM