So far my semester has been extremely busy. Since i'm taking 6 modules, i have very little time for myself. But i'm glad that i have made the choice, enjoying myself when it comes to the chinese studies module. Made a few friends from my project group members. That's what i like about being involved in project works, making friends and knowing new people. I haven't been keeping up to my level of fitness, sad to say..... I have to start to be involved in swimming and cycling once again.

Anyway, I'm me once again! Cool! Ha, and i'm surprised at how fast i can change. I'm glad of the test given to me, it makes me a better person in the end. Facing the obstacle, your confidence gets shaken and you fear. But then, once you overcome it, your morale gets boosted and your inspirations lead you further on. Face your hurdles in life with courage and a positive mentality. Only you yourself can make the difference. No one can help you in this.

I'm not in the right sense of mind lately. This is not right. I have to get a hold of mysef again. I think i'm not ready yet.......

To the Virgin, To Make Much of Time
by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today,

Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,

The higher he's a-getting,

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times, still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,

And while ye may, go marry;

For having lost but once your prime,

You may for ever tarry.

I think I have understood now. I shall start from the begining, once again. The foundation is jeopardised, and so reinforce it, the roots are shaken, so strengthen it. Let's just begin from stage 1 again, have it all over from the start again.

Lester was sad one day. He was upset and depressed about something. This issue disturbed him so much that he couldn't get over it. He wanted a solution and he went to the old wise sage Javier. "Oh wise Javier, I am depressed and sad. Could you give me something to make me feel happy? I want to be happy everyday, every hour ever minute and every second." Javier replied, "Ah..... that is very simple. I can make you a potion that makes you happy forever. Go to the whole village, every single house-hold and ask of a person who reveals that he is never sad before in his entire life. From there, ask a piece of fire-wood from this person for I need it to provide the suitable flame to brew the potion. Lester went to the whole village to search for this person. Yet, he could not find such a person. Lester went back to Javier in disappointment and said, "my wise sage, I cannot find anyone who fits your description. Everyone in the village has been sad before." Javier smiled and said, "Now do you understand why I ask you to undertake this task? I wanted you to find out yourself that in life, there are moments of sadness and happiness. What is happiness if there is no sadness? How do you tell them apart if they do not exist in the first place? Happiness co-exist with sadness. To ask for happiness, you will too ask for sadness. So why do you ask of happiness from me? Since you do not want sadness, what is the point?" Lester was very confused. He could not comprehend what Javier was saying.

So Javier took out a stick and asked Lester. "Is this stick long or short?" Lester said, "I think it is long." Javier took out another longer stick, referring to the original stick he asked the same question. Lester said "its short now" Javier asked, "why is it that the same object that I'm referring to, changes in its characteristic even though I did nothing to the stick itself? Did the nature of the stick change? Obviously it didn''t! What is it that changes then?" Lester couldn't answer the question. "The stick didn't change. It is your perspective that changes. It is your views that changes. They are like the water plants on the river without its roots. It drifts from one place to another. It is ever-changing, never constant or consistent. So are your emotions, of happiness and sadness, you sway from one end to the other because your emotions are built on your views and thoughts. And you will continue to do that if you are looking for happiness." Javier continued, "The way of life is the middle-way! It is neither happiness nor sadness. It is the intermediate of both emotions. There is not even a word for it. Yet you can cultivate it. Now take your leave, Lester. This is all I have to say and my answer for you."

Lester was struck with such amazement and was enlightened. He finally understood and he stopped asking for happiness, living his life the middle-way.

In the arts faculty of NUS, there is a canteen. It is known as "The Deck". It is frequented by mostly arts students and is always extremely crowded in the afternoon."The Deck" is built on the top of the slope. It has a number of stalls providing a variety of food. The canteen has a layout resembling a steppe since it is built on a slope. The highest level is where all the food stalls are located. There are three levels in all. And at the lowest level beside the canteen, there is a small area beside it where trees, shrubs and wild grasses grow freely. Wild mynahs populate there and make it their home. The mynahs are notorious for their bandit like character. From far, the mynahs spot the unattended food on the tables, the unsuspecting careless man who left for a moment will return with a shock when they witness the sight of the mynahs gobbling up their food before taking off its flight. The table-cleaners are not happy about the presence of the mynahs. The Indian cleaner say to the Chinese cleaner, "Stupid mynahs, I hate them. Always make a mess with their feathers. I hope someone can do something to them" The Chinese cleaner responded with a chuckle and shook her head.

Now there are two life science undergraduates by the name of Nelson and Javier. They are two rather philosophical and deep people who enjoy nothing but a good round of discussion of issues in their spare time. They went to the arts canteen for lunch. It was quite empty when they reach there. Javier said to Nelson, "Look at the mynahs. Are they not interesting creatures? Free to wander on this earth, with nothing to rein them in. They are enjoying themselves. They do not need to trouble about money nor food for they have their clever means to survive, by choosing to live near to the human community." Nelson replied, "That is an interesting observation. It seems to be that way, my friend." Javier pointed at one mynah, "I wonder if I can come close enough to this creature and pat its head." Javier tried and it was of course, a futile attempt.

Then, Javier spotted something peculiar. It was indeed an unusual sight. On the side of the wall, there was a pair of mynahs. One was turning its back against the other mynah, and that mynah behind it was calling out to it. "Did you see that? A courtship between the mynahs is going on. Let's watch and see what will happen." Javier exclaimed. The lady mynah flew to a green table and stood there. The male mynah followed it and called out again. Yet, the lady was unmoved and remained cold, turning its back as like before. The male mynah was still passionate, trying to impress its love. It followed the mynah everywhere she went. The male mynah suddenly flew away. Shortly after, it returned with something in its beak. It approached the mynah from the front and released it. It turned out to be a tiny chunk of meat. Alas, the lady mynah was unimpressed and turned it back around, treating the mynah in oblivion.

Javier made a remark to Nelson, "The mynah has a choice. Yet, it chose to go through all the trouble and make its own life miserable, trying to please someone who does not appreciate it. It is just not worth it. There are so many other mynahs around. Yet, it sees no interest in the rest, and continued with its futile courtship. I hope one day, the mynah could understand this." Nelson replied, "They say love is blind. Only the outsiders can see things clear enough. Those in love lose their judgment. Love is, I think an entrapment, once trapped, it is hard for you to get out of it. You will be so helpless then." Javier nod in agreement and they left hurriedly for their next lecture.

Welcome to the new blog set up by Javier. Yes. I have lost all my previous entries and the blog links too. I could not solve the problem with regard to the fonts. So, i'm left with little choice but to delete that old blog and setup a new one. This spells a new begining, a new refreshed Javier. My focus from now on shall be less description on my life, but rather to share my views and my theories or fables, parables to convey a message. I hope my blog will be appreciated for its satirical style, its creativity, its humour or even its emotional touch. Writing is a form of art, human creation which reflects the underlying significance of the thinking and rationalisation process. The ability to create is a wonderful feeling.