Resilience and Persistence

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. And persistence is the fact of continuing in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

I watched a show via youtube and in that show, the current US President Barack Obama said something like him being a big believer in persistence and that the kid who survives is the resilient one. You have to watch the show (at about 29:30) to know what he is talking about but that struck me there and then. And I have decided to make these words my mottos for the coming new calendar year.

Indeed, people can get discouraged from failures and easily quit. But the winners are those who stuck in there and see it through.

Christmas 2015

Its about half past 8 in the evening on Christmas Day 2015. And I just woke up from just about a whole day of sleep after having worked nights for the past 3 nights, due to a shortage and transition in manpower. 

Thank you Lord for being with us.

Bike Envy

I don't suffer from car envy. Of course sometimes if I see a nice looking car zooming on the roads, I do wish to be able to try them out just for the fun of it, but it won't kill me not being able to.

Maybe because in Singapore, owning a car can be quite a burden and I just don't wish to plough my $ into something that is that high maintenance.

A motorcycle is quite different in this aspect. It is definitely cheaper and easier to maintain. Of course safety and protection from elements are the sacrificed factors. Dangers much.

For me, a 2 wheeler just looks cooler. Before I got my bike license, I occasionally turned my head to look at the cool looking bikes like the Harley cruisers. I could only identify a few of the common bikes like Harleys and Phantoms. But now, I am starting to trudge through the internet pages to get acquainted with the various common bike brands and models, and definitely noticing the bikes on the roads more.

I also can't help but wish 3 years (maybe more) will pass sooner just so that I can finally have a class 2 license and seriously start on my superbike journey.

I am, a motorbike person.

eventful 2015

If there should be a description for 2015, it would be “eventful”, even though its not another 10 more days before the world counts down to another new calendar year.

Japan

This was an eye opening experience because its Japan, and also I fell sick within the first 2 days of the 10 days trip. The sickness even carried on for another good month and a half after coming back. It was a really good and memorable one nonetheless and a return is already in the talks even though major trips are being planned for the next 2 years. 

Bali Dive

Bali again. Dive trip again. Same organiser again. Toned down a little but still the same basically. But this time, the dives are truly enjoyable. Not because it is my intended last dive trip but because all the dives done are chock full meaningful sightings. Mola mola mania! Makes me kinda wonder if I am really ready to hang up the old BCD.

Krabi

Back to Thailand but this time to a different area (than Phuket) and towards the end of the trip, a sorta baby sitting experience. More Muslims, more Malaysians, more cliffs, more beautiful. I hate to say this but I enjoyed myself enough to want to go back. This is also a kick off to a year long celebration of our 10th year in marriage ending in a nice adventure in <planning in progress>!

Obtaining my class 2B

Enrolment in mid May, break in June, wobbly at best, failed TP once and now trudging through websites for motorcycle info. Probably my proudest and most fun thing I have done all year.

PNG Foodstuffs

“Should we take over their customers?” was the question posed to me by my father-in-law when the Bukit Batok soya factory decide to wind down their business after 25 years. “Yes!” without missing a millisecond, was my reply. 6 months later, we are all glad we did and to me, economic returns are not the only benefit. We truly learnt much and I am heartened to see Jonathan playing such an active role in all these.

Zaid

Managing someone directly have not been easy. And I do not know how much more I can do this. I am really trusting God in this but I thank God and Zaid for the relief for the stall and hope that things will continue to run smoothly.

Back to Church

And because of the relief at the stall, attending services again is possible even though the spirit is willing but the flesh is really tired and weak. A major concern and a featured item again in the new year’s resolutions.

Lee Kuan Yew

All though much-maligned in his twilight years, he is widely celebrated after death. For me his physical death just paves the way for the second generation of leaders to walk out of his shadow to continue to lead the country. His name is now carved firmly in the Singapore’s history. Right there with Raffles’. People won’t even remember anything else about Singapore. Merlion who?

SG50

Big celebrations most of the year. What was most memorable was the General Election called soon after the big NDP celebrations and PAP kinda walked everyone else over with the patriotic sentiments. Not that I disagree nor agree with the results but the local oppositions need to step up the game but I think PAP has been blowing their competition out of the water. And with the selection of opposition candidates this time around, I think I would rather stick with the incumbents.

2015 is a year of highlights. So many meaningful and memorable things happened and I thank God for all these experiences. I look forward to the new year with courage and joy. 

2B TP Practical Test 2nd Attempt

Passed! But of course not with flying colours. I scored 18 with ticks here and there but none of them are repeat offences. ie 1 tick per category which I have demerits in.

The Expressway Familiarisation Ride (EFR) was quite an experience and I can see why TP would want candidates to do this after obtaining the license. We will be eager to go out and start using our new found skill. But learning and actual riding/driving is different, as anyone who is a qualified rider/driver would tell you. Dangers lurk on the roads, especially for 2 wheelers trying to avoid hazards while keeping the balance.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience speeding down the expressway even though it was guided, and in spite of the rain. I disliked wearing the raincoat. It does not keep you completely dry and the half dry-wet feeling was not pleasant at all. But I guess anyone can argue that better than totally drenched.

I am elated to say the least because this chapter is over and I can start a new one (other projects) but this motorcycle journey is far from over. There will be other form of related experiences. Perhaps I will rent one when we visit Krabi in a few days' time but of course the dangers are there for inexperience riders. Advancements like 2A and 2 are definitely in consideration and who knows, maybe I will own a bike, against all odds.

After the EFR, a letter will be issued to all attendees. With this letter, the TP will then issue the license!

All in, I spent about $1300 for this whole experience. A bit on the high side but it was a fun one.