Beyond reason and belief of even their staunchest fans (Yours Truly included), Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champion League Finals, setting a European competition record of 10 consecutive clean sheets in the process. Having survived a fierce Real Madrid second leg onslaught, cruised through the insipid Serie A champions Juventus and nearly mugged by the conivving, scheming Spanish cunts (*gasps*) that is Villareal, it seems that "Big Ears" is there for the taking.

We have way too much luck for all that transpired to be coincidental

It has to be Destiny.

May 17.

Don't choke now. Please.

***
Maybe i am spoilt rotten but i am dissatisfied.

For the third time in a row, I stayed up to watch a sleep inducing match. Scrapping results is fine but it is not the Arsenal way. If Arsenal does not play their brand of football, victory is a hollow consolation. What i seek is the theological high ground. The True Path. The doctrine of entertaining breath-taking attacking football must always triumph over the cynical game-stopping, fouling/diving tactics so favoured by Mourinho's Porto, this year's Villareal and also over the harmless but bland let-pass-the-ball-till-the-other-side-fall-asleep style so favoured by Liverpool's Benitez and Chelski's Mourinho.

Wengerball is not the only answer. Rijkkard star studded swashbuckling free-spirited side will do as well.

Please let it be a Barcelona Arsenal Final. When that happens, Football will be the winner no matter who lifts the trophy eventually.

***



One match away from pocketing $275 profit !

Bought this after the Real Madrid first leg, when the first seeds of Faith were sowed.

*ahem*

Straining at the leash

After 2 years out in the economic wilderness, I had 2 job offers in succession.

I chose the one where i will not be shackled by past sins of failed academic application. In govt statutory boards, I will only be able to traverse along the trajectory as defined by my measly Bachelor of Arts degree. The other offered me a chance of a break-out, a fresh start, with my efforts and aptitude determining my final destination point.

It was the decisive factor, the secondary being I will be working in an environment I am much familiar with, having worked on ad hoc projects for them in the past 2 years.

I am under no delusions. The first few months would probably be a matter of digging in with the nitty gritty, staying alert, observing the situation, learning the ropes. I am prepared for shit hitting the fans.

All that is left is the contract to be signed.

Doesn't this make you feel old ?

Where was I one year ago?

Couple of weeks after i left Double A Papers and went on 10 days tour of Shanghai, Su Zhou, Han Zhou, Xiamen and Fu Zhou, bumming at home, relishing the break and wistfully thinking a full time job is just one application away.

Where was I five years ago?

Lying on my flimsy creaky bed in Sungei Gedong counting down the 50 odd days to my date of release. I had a dream then, to hurl headlong into academic application for the next 3 years of my life. As with all my resolutions....

Where was I ten years ago ?

Preparing for my Sec 4 mid term exams..I was to get a shocking 23 points that had the joint effect of veering me towards my first ever nervous breakdown and jolting me out of complacency, just in time to whittle the aggregate down to a decent 11 points for the subsequent Prelims and O's.

***
Today's the birthday of my Pri 5 & 6 not-so-secret crush. Happy birthday, wherever you may be !

Had dinner at the French Stall. Unpretentious small outlet off outskirts of little India, I went decked in my trusty old Giodarno T and shorts. Its no more than a kilometer from where i live but its only the 2nd time ive been there, the first being 3 or 4 years back when it first opened.

Back then i found it horrid that my lamb chop was swimming in olive oil and basil.

We had the $13.80 3 course meal, some escargots and giant profite-dunno-wat for dessert. Was shocked when my main course of chicken leg was set down. Was expecting a real leg of chicken ( think big drumstick !). What turned out was 2 mouthfuls of meat. (im exagerating, but it certainly felt like that).

But it was a good 2 mouthfuls. Gone too soon. Haiz.

I vaguely remembered the dessert was great. Vaguely cos i was listening to Jp talking about his recent woes. He certainly had a run of bad luck with women in his life thus far. Part of what i thought was the problem was he gave them too much credit for capacity for thought and independence of mind. If he started from the standpoint that they are all idiots when it comes to relationships, his disappointment would be much reduced. I am not even half kidding. ok, maybe idiocy is too strong a term. Irrationally selfish ? Soft in the head ? Mentally incapacitated emotionally ?

No comments on this section please, you have no idea what happened. If i could, i would slap the lady to her senses. And im not one who lay hands on women, Shu Qi photos excluding...

Sorry Jimmy, for the call out of the blue ! i just realised you last had your meal there 5 months ago ! no wonder you dont remember clearly what u ate liao. Grinz. How come it felt like last month I read that entry in Yann blog. Be prepared. I shall call u 5 months later asking about Hotel 1929.

***

I am feeling more and more like a vermin. And smelling like one. I dont bathe unless i have some reason to step out of the hosue. I live from one Arsenal match to the next, from one saturday kickabout to another. Thats about the 2 things that seemed to matter. Im waiting, waiting for the phone calls that never seemed to come. Im in limbo. The jobs i easily/over qualify for do not want me. The jobs i barely qualify for do not want me either. Its almost enough to make me regret my misspent academic youth.

That ive remained unemployed is a combination of few opportunities and that i fluff whatever few that came my way.

I chose to miss an interview for Men's Health feature write-up intern position for Chorale's Lei Yu final rehearsal. ( When milly had kindly tried to recommend me for it. Im sorry)

I chose to miss participating Chorale's bi annual concert for Voluntary Probation Officer training.

I chose to miss (unable to attend) one ( and hence render all before useless) VPO training because of involvment as Locations Assistant on Singapore Dreaming, a stint i enjoyed but it did not lead to other opportunities as i hoped.

What next ? Turn down a job because it will clash with my planned World Cup trip ?

I baffle myself sometimes. I hope i will not be put in that position. I have delayed buying the air tickets for that reason. I dont want to beat myself up over my random decision-making again.

If the Cantonese come from Guangdong, The Hokkienese from Fujian, Where do the Xia lan people come from ?

What make of cars is best suited for gays ?

If i sat on the iGallop, will it slow down to an iTrot ?

These and similarly intelligent issues were discussed over lunch yesterday.

I think the meal after has superceded the soccer as the main event of our Saturdays. At times during the soccer, I have this feeling everyone came simply cos i asked. We dont seemed to be enjoying our soccer. I dont too. Perhaps the 2 weeks break after the next will recharge us. Or perhaps we need a big field match to kick our ass again....

I dont mind the meal being the main event. I hardly see them cept on Sat. Its an informal way of keeping in touch. Just wondering whats needed to keep the soccer part fresh.

Soccer Clinics ? that would be something..hahaha but i have no idea who can conduct.

Maybe Bergkamp. Or Shearer. Since both retiring soon. Hmm..