The time of the year has arrived again when one has to be able to sustain the energy needed to collect ang baos and handle (or rather, fend off) nosy questions from relatives that one may not see often (probably once or twice a year).

Well, here are some interesting excerpts this year:

Cousin (who is having his ROM this year): Do you have a girlfriend?

Me: Nope

Cousin: (shows a surprised face) but why? you are good-looking mah.

Me: I guess I have not met someone suitable.

****conversation veers off to how my cousin met his wife-to-be, thanks to my mom who cuts in at the right time ***

Me: (shaking their hands) happy new year xiao shu (my 6th uncle), xiao shen (6th uncle's wife)

Xiao Shen: Andrew, you look fatter than last time...

Me: nope, there is a difference between fat and muscular. I belong to the latter.

****conversation ended when my sister cuts in at the right time****

I guess there is a fine thin line between being polite and being snappy. However, I make it a point to smile to soften the supposedly 'harshness' of my words. Not that I dislike answering questions because I understand it can get pretty awkward without all these small talk, just that some questions are rather sensitive and I get pretty tired answering them every single year from god knows when. This particularly applies to the question whether I have a girlfriend or not. Yes I am still single, yes I am getting old and I don't know why there must be a reason why I don't have a girlfriend. No means no, is not as if I deliberately want to remain in this status.

This year's CNY coincides with Valentine's Day. This rarely happens, in fact according to geomancers, the next time such coincidence occurs again is 38 years later. Chinese/Mixed (provided one of them is of ethnic Chinese) couples have basically 3 options: 1) celebrate earlier 2) do their respective cny visiting during the day and meeting up at night to celebrate 3) totally forgo CNY and choose to celebrate Valentine's Day instead

Personally, I will prefer option 2. CNY is important not only for ang baos but it is also part of our distinguished Chinese tradition and culture. However, Valentine's Day is a day that affirms the commitment towards the love which a couple shares. Yes, the indifferent people will say the day itself is too commercialised and everyday can be Valentine's day. No doubt all these are valid, but definitely the day itself carries a much more symbolic day than the other normal days in the calendar. It is always nice to commemorate the day itself with a special someone who happens to be the sole occupier of each other's heart.

I have never celebrated Valentine's Day before with anyone special so far in my 23+ years. All my past relationships never make it that far for me to experience what does it feel like to plan the day and do something sweet for my other half. This year is no exception.

I really like 罗志祥's 爱不单行, which is my current blog song. It is a song which I can totally relate to, because the lyrics pertinently describes my current perception on what love is all about after going through alot of ups and downs in the name of love.

爱 只有简单笔画

却比想象复杂 恨安定爱变化

我爱过几个人 也被爱过几遍

却还是没能将幸福留下

爱 是不可数的吗

为何我还相信 它不是独行侠

我在等一个人 在等我的永恒

告诉我爱不单行别害怕

我在等一个人 在等我的永恒

告诉我爱不单行相信它

I am super happy that I finally managed to clear my IPPT. Of course, the above results are not my personal best. Afterall, I used to do 62 situps, jumped 243cm, pulled 10 chinups and ran 9.3 sec for shuttle run. However, all of the mentioned results were accomplished when I was in secondary school/jc and as age rises, the ability to replicate personal best will be harder. Frankly, I am very happy because I failed my very first IPPT last year and subsequently had to do remedial trainings which means going back to Khatib Camp twice a week for Phase 1. Didn't manage to pass after 8 lessons (because I failed chinups by 1) and proceeded on to Phase 2 which means 3 remedial trainings per week. It was mentally and physically taxing, considering that I have my studies and tuitions ongoing at the same time. I was very dejected, but I told myself no matter what I have to muster every ounce of my energy and confidence to clear it. Looking at those uncles and horizontally challenged men who never fail to report for RTs every single year, I told myself this is not what I want. Money incentives aside, I don't want to waste my precious time travelling to and fro camp every single year. Hence, I put in effort to train every sunday other than the usual trainings. As evident, the effort paid off. :D

Looking back, it is all about confidence and the spirit of perserverance that enabled me to overcome my mental and physical barrier. Even though I clear my IPPT this year, my self-training regime will never cease. On top of my heavy schedule, I will make it a point to run at least 3km and do some chinups twice a week. Afterall, seeking a healthier and a more physically appealing body is a lifelong process. A silver with $200 is really not impossible, afterall based on the results above, I am only short of 1 chinup to reach this target. :)