indulging my youth

I'm in love.... everytime I eat Vieneza yogurt-flavored ice cream. Haw Haw Haw. And I'm not exaggerating. You MUST try it, especially the BHPs. It's the next thing closest to heaven, I swear. Savour the sweetness of the ice cream, as it spreads smoothly across your tongue, tantalising your tastebuds with its coldness... Instant Ecstasy!~ OMG. I want a tub of Vieneza yogurt-flavored ice cream right now! I must thank Inky and all the other NJ netballers who introduced my love to me for the first time along 6th avenue after/before trainings. Gawd, it brings back memories. Miss those days (and the ice cream).

Talking about memories, was anyone's past sparked by lightning during the thunderstorm last night? Mine was. And that'll be another reason to add to my fascination with rainy days (together with being able to feel the cool droplets of rain in my face, splash water all over and sing out louder than the sky). Scary no doubt the thunder may sound, I used to imagine them as the stomp of dinosaurs roaming earth (during the Jurassic Park craze) and thought them to be So Cool. Such weird thoughts when I was still a primary school kid and most of my classmates were wailing like the rain outside. Adding to that, was my very old pri school compound (CHIJ Ponggol) creaking along with the howl of the winds. Scary~.. As if that's not enough, out of my classroom windows, one could see the church set against the dark sky, with lightning streaks flashing across it like some scene from a horror movie. HAHAHAHA!~ So fun lar! That's how vivid the storm brought me my memories. There were lots of other flashbacks I had but I shan't bore you with them. Though there's one I must mention (to my ex-idol): 2002 S/M series after last U21 game- It was raining heavily, but we were so happy, along with our triumph, we played in the rain like nobody's business. Kicking up and splashing the water like little kids. And KKKL was watching over us like a guardian angel, worrying that we would hurt ourselves in the kind of weather. So heartwarming for wad? Heehee.

And nothing, I'm telling you, NOTHING, beats warming up to a cup of hot chocolate at the comfort of your home during the thunderstorm, while spending time to marvel at such past memories - or snuggling up in bed with a good old book to read. Oh, how I love rainy days.~

Haunted by Hantu

Diving at Palau Hantu definitely makes one appreciate Palau Dayang a lot more. That, my friend, is an understatement. In case you are lost, Palau Hantu is an island offshore the mainland, but it's still Singapore (where else Dayang is M'sia). So, you can roughly imagine what the water looks like. Visibility is bad. Very bad. very very bad. In fact, I lost sight of my dive partners almost right after we descended. I could only see up to an arm's length in front me and nearly swam into reefs that appeared out of nowhere so many times. Shall not comment on my further expedition. I can only say that I'm discouraged.

But... fear not, I'm Gracias 'Sakuragi' Potter, the Ox. I'll bulldoze each obstacle standing in my way one by one.. Even if it means using more of my brains (that has turned so rusty since sec sch days). First, I must learn to navigate properly and stop getting lost in my own world in and out of the waters. Other lessons should fall into place when the time comes (even if it's at the expense of $60 or more). On a brighter note, I did at least manage to find a seahorse (was told it's pretty rare to see one). Also, it's kinda an achievement to have experienced diving in waters of different colors - Blue to green to yellow- makes quite a change (not necessarily nice though). And of course, the poor visibility also made the dive pretty challenging. Must stay off Hantu till I make a better diver. I'm still haunted by the mere thought of it.

"Hantu, I'll be back with a vengeance!"

P/S: Sorry to have made anyone worry. Double apologies to 'Jessie' Toh for the numerous trouble I've caused.

Dayang's Disastrous Diving Dog

Jumping down the jetty 'chihuahua' style.

Back from Dayang again. Goes without saying that Gracias has done something out of the norm once more, else my surname shall not be Sim.

Let's see.. During the 1st dive (30m deep), I bit my regulator (equipmt you place in the mouth to breathe) so hard, the mouth piece broke. Maybe it's cos of the jitters I had, the dive being my 1st after sometime and the fact that it's still early in the morning (note: I'm not a morning person). But again, I wasn't so sure if the mouth piece wasn't broken in the first place b4 I put it in my mouth. blah blah blah ok. Then, during the same dive, I lost my mask. sheesh.. I had to fin on the surface like an idiot while the others were helping me to scrounge for it. Nice way to start a first dive. How very encouraging.

I was determined not to make any more mistakes losing equip or spoiling them again. So determined that I've decided to take the blame upon myself. Physically. I knocked my head on the boat, not once, not twice, but THRICE! Accidentally, of course, and on different occasions.Gee...so much for once bitten, twice shy. But I must defend myself at this point. 1st, I'm tall. 2nd, the ceiling is too low. 3rd, the boat was rocking. etc,etc. bleah. And of course, anybody who knows Gracias Simone Potter, will know that I'm ultra accident-prone. So that shall be included in my defence as well.

As if I hadn't suffered enough, I had to put up with the chants by the very evil people around: Zhong4 Tou1 Jiang3~ (win top['head' in chinese] prize). Furthermore, they were teasing me about my hair LAR!~ SO ANGRRrrY!~ It's just the normal 3 way-tie style I used during any netball trainings, to hold up my irritating fringe. I didn't forsee that my hair on the 2 sides will stand up in the water, with resemblance to dog's ears or even horns. So as you can imagine, I turn out to be another joke for the others to laugh about. I hereby announce my new nick name, not-very-proudly-but-better-than-for-you-to-find-out-through-other-ways-from-bad-people: The Diving Dog, Chihuahua. Grrrowwwl..~

Heehee. Ok lar~ Nothing new to be teased by people around. I'm used to it. And to be honest, I'm actually a very important medium for people to break the ice and unite in the team. hohoho. Not just diving, but for everything else. So I'm actually being very wei3 da4 (noble)! Dun pray pray ar~. And, despite my complaints, the whole experience was far from bad. I didn't spend $400 to suffer. HAHA~ I had my fair share of the pie making fun of others. Also, $400 not for not solely play on land but for the underwater exploration (which is the main purpose). I completed 12 dives in the weekend alone and saw lots of new creatures - sea turtles, squid, blue-spotted stingray, box fish, bumphead fish (which happens to be another joke on me if you get it).. etc. FUN, FUN, FUN! Needless to say, I'm pretty proud of myself, having completed the Advanced Open Water Course successfully despite my disastrous nature.

Next, will be the Rescue Diver Course. Watch OUT... ... ... for more accidents coming. Grrrowl~.

Escapade

I know the singing pretty much sucked and is out of tune. But desperate times call for desperate measures, had to 'show off' I've learnt the strumming of this song (more or less), before leaving for Palau Dayang. Diving again. Running to the paradise that's made up of all my favourite colors. To those that I hold dear, allow me to carry your load of woes together with mine and dump them in the sea. Hope you'll find peace in Singapore or, whatever 'Palau' you're at, enjoy yourself. Bon voyage to me and all out there.

"It's not hard to fall, when you float like a cannonball.~"

High on Pot-ter

OMG OMG OMG!~ I was about to turn in to sleep (it's 6am in the morning) when I recalled that I haven't watched the latest trailer of Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire. For those who haven't seen it. You is to MUST! Must to is.

Goblet of Fire Website


I almost jumped off my seat watching it. It looks so promising!~ "Everything's going to change, isn't it?" Keeping my fingers crossed that it'll be better than Azkaban. Though, already I have one great disappoinment. The actor casted as Mad-eyed Moody is the furthest thing from what I've imagined. Otherwise, the computer graphics and atmosphere for this instalment seems just right. And from the trailer, I'm guessing most of the details from the original book has been kept this time(as compared to Azkaban). Wonder if the duration of this movie will be longer..

As of now, I, Gracis Simone Potter, pledge to catch this movie on or before (if possible) the 18th November 2005. Else, I'll be condemned to the Prison of Azkaban. Pig & Melis, both of you are obliged to date me or I'll drag the both of you in as well.

The big day has finally almost arrived. I can't wait any longer since my grievances of the book, HP & Half-Blood Prince, has drained away any form of happiness and hope, along with 'his' death. Sobz.. Meanwhile, as a temporary mood-booster, I'm gonna catch the trailer once more (frame by frame with Quicktime) and drift to slumberland with thoughts of Potter's magical world. Good -- morning~

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Gracias