A Year in 2009

Celebrated CNY at home after an absence of 2 years. This was a great year of family, relatives and old friends reunion, up to 3-4 times, opportunities from numerous forced leave. But the manufacturing economic slump has also caused several disappointments: canceled short-term projects in the US, and delayed trip to Germany for training. As a result, the whole year will indefinitely be spent at large in the boring "fine" city. The crisis has also left me the last man standing in the product training group, thus increasing work load 3X. In May, decided to stop practicing classical music and left my guitars to good rest back in the BDC studio. May the day for their awakening return. Changed focus to absolute pitch training, learning languages (Japanese, Cantonese),grasping home DIY and new-found hobby the aquarium. Moved from Hougang room to AMK 2+1 unit by end of May. All of a sudden a string of health problems resurfaces (fever, flu) with a culmination of chronic insomnia by end of July. Admitted to Gleneagles Hospital and started taking anti-depressant and sleeping pills. I've hit rock bottom. It will take some time to pick up...

A Year in 2008

Ushered the new year at Quality Hotel of Balestier Rd. Returned to the States shortly after. Got my hands on a Mustang this time, which proved too noisy and only lasted a day. Had the most unforgetable birthday ever trapped in a snow blizzard after a weekend of snowboarding in Kirkwood with the buddies. In Feb, flew back to SG for final technology transfer. Regretted not booking a flight back to SWK in advance and spent CNY alone eating Indian and Western food instead. Following months in SG spent mostly adapting to new workplace and living environment. Pretty much routine and dry stuffs. Unfortunately, insomnia problem reached unprecedented height under new living arrangement. In the midst of this, picked back up habit of reading and practicing music again seriously (read: discipline). Trying to figure things out. Family reunion over at SG and KL and meetup random group of friends now and then. MMU reunion in Genting after a decade. Made my first professional album recording debut for a friend's birthday (much tougher process than expected). Performed solo acoustic again after so long on Sing Hie's wedding. Ended the year with a trip to Victoria, Australia. Highlights included Melbourne, Great Ocean Rd, Healsville Sanctuary and Maton factory! Spent the last days of the year at Fraser's Place, SG for reflection and planning.

A Year in 2007

This has been a year of change for me. After bidding farewell to Kuching in Dec '06, I embarked on 4 months' journey on the road toggling between KL,PG,JB and SG whilst deciding what to do and where to settle next. A prelude to the next chapter in life, not without moments of trials and testing. Finally it was SG and a few weeks later found myself in a plane flying to other side of the world; Livermore, California to be precise. Spent the rest of the year there for training though personally it was time to Take 5 and recharge. Visited quite a few places: Muir Woods, Sausalito, Treasure Island of the San Francisco Bay. Breathtaking natural sceneries of Monterey and Yosemite. Made it to Hollywood, Universal Studios, Six Flags and Santa Monica of Los Angeles. Stepped unto Hollywood Bowl, Capitol Records and Kodak Theathre. Spent the heat summer and extreme cold up the hills of Tahoe in Nevada. Normal days spent roaming around the Tri-Valley of Livermore, Dublin and Pleasanton. Dropped by Silicon Valey near San Jose for about a week. Explored Milpitas, Fremont and Santa Cruz, particularly Boardwalk and Mystery Spot. Exhilarating times indeed. I suppose highlights would include: Getting in touch with Christopher Parkening of Pepperdine University and Sharon Isbin of Juilliard School of Music, both of whom are head of the respective guitar department and America's pre-eminent classical guitarists. Made it to Guitar Solo Publications (GSP) of SF a few times but unfortunately Guitar Salon of LA was closed on Thanksgiving Day. An eye-opening experience to attend some concerts around the Bay Area. Drove down "the world's crookedest street" (Lombard). Variety of American cars test-driven. Halloween at D&B with seemingly unlimited arcade credits. The cool Meditteranean weather of the Bay Area itself is a joy to experience. In Aug returned to KL for a brief 1 week to meetup family and commomerate the nation's 50th independence. In Dec returned to SG again for VISA clearance. Spent Christmas inside SIA plane above the Pacific Ocean. Luggages checked-in included heaps of souveniors, over 50 CDAs, Backpacker guitar, fiberglass casing, Tarrega's picture frame etc. Wonder how I made it.