This is one of those things you always figure will happen to someone else. Unfortunately, we’re ALL “someone else” to someone else.

“It was so instantly clear that I wondered how I could not have seen it.
Then I knew.
Each time I had studied the board, I wondered how it could have got into such a sorry condition. All I had seen were the senseless moves that had preceded mine. But those moves had no longer mattered, once I hold the black stone in my hand.”
- “Assassin’s Quest” by Robin Hobb

Why is it that everyone seeks accountability? Even when the event is plainly accidental and is an act of nature? Even when the fault lies not with others, but with themselves?

To me, accountability is just another excuse to pin the blame on someone else. Do you really think that people are interested to know what went wrong? Do you really think people are curious to find out why?

I think not.

The flooding in Singapore was an act of nature. The amount of rain was tremendous and we should count ourselves fortunate that most of our sewers were well-designed and are able to cope.

But no.

Everyone focuses on the troubled area. Everyone looks at the flooding and asks "Why?".

Our teachers educate, guide and inspire our young. They impart valuable knowledge and life skills to our children. And yet, when the children disrespects the teacher, the teacher is powerless to do anything because the children will complain to their parents. Who will in turn complain to the principal, the Ministry and even the Prime Minister if need be.

And yet, the parents blame the teachers when the child misbehaves.

I really do think our society's behavior, mannerisms and ethics are degrading.

What happened to Respect? What happened to Self-Responsibility? What happened to the Human Touch?

It appears that no one knows the meaning, nor practise these words anymore.

“‘A man sees the darkness coming and he fears only for himself,’ Harald remarked. ‘He never thinks of others.’
‘And if he does think of others, too often he says, ‘Let them fend for themselves’, Laurana added sadly.”
- “Dragons of the Highlord Skies” by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

At 7.00am, Mom’s not very philosophical.

We wanted to catch the sunrise at Changi Beach.

But we ended up catching mostly clouds and a few orange streaks across the dawning sky.

Sigh...

Better luck next time.

Don’t you hate it when your boogers freeze?

When you dive, you enter another world.

A watery world of silence. A world of vivid colors and shapes.

A world which teems with life. Endless wonders which you marvel at. Graceful fishes and marine life swim by, sketching a beautiful ballet in the circle of life.

And that is the reason why i dive: To see such graceful marine life in their natural habitat. It really is a sight to behold.

The worst part is that I don’t even have the fun of doing the stuff I’m getting blamed for.

"I don't want the public to see the world they live in while they're in the Park (Disneyland). I want to feel they're in another world."
- Walt Disney on Disneyland

And so, i turn another year older among much friends, laughter and silliness.

Most importantly, i spent it with her.

"It has that thing - the imagination, and the feeling of happy excitement - I knew when I was a kid."
- Walt Disney on Disneyland