Some friends have decided to have a cycling session in order to get some exercise. For someone who does not really cycle, it was great getting myself out of my house to do some exercise. Two weekends ago, we cycled almost half of East Coast, from the McDonalds to Bedok Jetty to the coastal point, then back. Followed by brunch at the East Coast Lagoon hawker centre.

Last Saturday, we decided to be more ambitious after a proposition by Warren - to cycle from East Coast all the way to Changi Village! Of course logistically speaking, it needs some planning, but overall it was not a hard feat. We rented bicycles from PCN at East Coast, then cycled all the way. It is essentially a pretty straight path, just have to stay on the PCN markings.

So we cycled past Bedok Jetty, past the Golf Course, past SAFRA Clubhouse, and stopped to take a break when we reached the coastal point. Now that is a beautiful place. Clear waters, nice smooth sand, quiet area, pretty scenic for Singapore. Strands of lallang are growing at the other side of the path. The only thing affecting this unspoiled area is the scattering of litter all around, otherwise it is a very beautiful place indeed!

After ten minutes, we continued on our journey. The path is straight all the way. We cycled the entire stretch next to the airplane landing strip and could see the planes landing and taking off. Then further straight until we reached Changi Beach. The path then started to wind that stretch of Changi Beach, until we went past the Ferry Terminal to Tekong, and finally reached PCN at Changi Village, where we returned the bikes.

By the time I got off the bike, my bum and legs were numb, sore and hurting! Luckily that stretch of beach happened to be just behind the Changi Village hawker centre, so we walked there to have nasi lemak for brunch. It was quite a feat, but we succeeded! We cycled aboubt 20km in all! Next goal is to do 20 - 40km in order to make it for the OCBC Cycle Challenge in March! This time I have to do it on my own!

For some reason I have not had much inspiration lately. Nevertheless, it had been a busy month so far. I am so looking forward to an international reunion with people I love this coming weekend! Not to mention a dear friend who came from KL and bunked in with me the past couple of days.

We had a lovely time exploring a few clubs on Ladies Night, eating, wandering around and chatting. It is always good to have guests over because it makes the place livelier. I only hope my room isn't too hot or uncomfortable! I'm starting to miss her and hope she comes over again soon, or if I have the chance to go up to see her!

I cannot profess I have many whom I call close friends. I know many people in my life, some are mere acquaintances, some are friends, good friends even, but there are only a few whom I deem as close friends. It is unfortunate that it is hard to form solid friendships in one's adult life. Maybe we are just too busy working and leading our own lives that we no longer bother to talk or actually get to know people well. Most just go by impressions and first sights, and if they do not feel anything, they just move on.

But how can anyone know someone else by just first instance? It often takes months and lots of frequent communication before one can even get to thoroughly know and understand a person. Which is why the closest friends I have are those I met from school. Even though we have each moved on with our lives, we have other things to do, but somehow we still maintain certain form of communication to keep the friendship going.

My closest friends from school - Melissa, Pauline, Lynn, Hwee Ping. Melissa and Pauline were from secondary school, Lynn after secondary school and Hwee Ping in university. Pauline is the first to get married. Lynn got married last November, Hwee Ping last December, and Melissa is getting married this October. Which makes me wonder, why am I then still single and unattached for now?

Coming from a girls' school, I hardly have the chance to know any guys, but I had been lucky that I have known a couple of guys since primary school. Even though we do not really talk much to each other nowadays, but somehow the friendship is still there. Now, I have quite a few close guy friends. Although at times, even though I treat them as close friends, I wonder if they feel the same way? Hmmmm.....

There has been one guy who has been with me in this recent period when I had been on a roller coaster mood. For that, I give him my eternal gratitude. Before this, I never know there can be a guy who can care for me on just solely pure friendship, as from my experience, most other guys show their care only if they deem me potential enough as a future relationship, but for some reason just pull out without actually getting to know me. Once that happen, they just cut off contact altogether.

Perhaps I am kind of authoritative in how I speak. Perhaps I come across as fierce and controlling. Perhaps I should mellow down. But who is to say I will be controlling in a relationship? Who is to say I will not love and care for a man and his family and friends as my own? Who is to say I will not be a good girlfriend? People are just too judgmental if they go everything according to first sight or impression! And for those, all I can say is, it is their loss, because I believe I have lots to offer if given the chance.

For Melissa, Pauline, Lynn and Hwee Ping - Thank you for being my friend all these while. For Warren, just want to say a big thank you for everything. Who says men and women can never be friends? Men and women are capable of strong platonic friendships too, it is the same as how females or males bond with each other. Friends come in all shapes and sizes, all genders, and all kinds. There will be many people who come into your lives, it is up to you who you discern and who you keep, and who you refuse to let go.

Lately I have been trying to solve some dispute between two friends. I used to think I was rather "problematic" but actually after living my life the way it is and has been, I find it a very good thing to help others with similar experiences. It makes me feel good inside.

Helping others is really a blessing, and it is indeed a better blessing to give than to receive. In the past my prayers were mostly focused on myself, but nowadays I tend to pray more for other people, my friends, family, et al. I feel happy when my friends are able to find peace, and that makes me feel warm and peaceful inside too!

What is a better way to spend a weekend than with vibrant friends who light up your life? It was a rip snorter of a party last night. Fried rice, grilled chicken, curry puffs, coconut cake, Haagen Dazs ice-cream, blackforest cake, ten cans of beer, one bottle of raspberry vodka, two bottles of white wine, one bottle of red wine, four bottles of orange juice and two bottles of green tea were wiped out amongst twenty adults. What a feast!

To everyone who came, ate, drank and got stonkered, thank you very much for making it a lively night for all! I sure had a great time, and I hope you all did too! :-)

Ice-skating is a fun activity, easier than skiing. Although the balancing act is still a problem, but coach Kristy said I should be able to do it in ten lessons or so. Does that mean this is those self-help things like, How To Skate in 10 Days? ;-p

We have Steve, who seems to be able to go round the rink so smoothly, despite falling a few times. We have John, the "expert", who, the moment he stepped into the rink, could sail along so smoothly as if he had been skating all his life. Then we have Kevin, who was also a nervous first-timer like me.

Kristy and John took turns holding me round the rink, but I was able to cruise along without stumbling, except once, when I fell on my bum. Other than that, for quite a few times, I was able to cruise along without needing to hold on to the railing. At the end of the session, I was starting to enjoy myself thoroughly! Hopefully I can really skate in ten lessons, or even less!