Writer's Block

I admit I have not been posting too much on this blog in recent days. But my writer's block refers not to the lack of posts. Rather, it refers to my sheer inability to get out the first paragraph of the chapter I'm writing for a book. So picture me, sitting here, next to my window with its pleasant view of a green quadrangle surrounded by white colonial buildings. A tall, lofty old tree casts its cool shadow over one corner of the quadrangle. Its branches sway in the breeze. Every now and then a bird calls. It is very pleasant, yes, but unfortunately it does not provide sufficient inspiration for me to break the block.

So, I thought I would turn to this blog because the only way to cure writer's block is to write.... anything! Is it working? Perhaps if I continue a little more...

I met a former colleague yesterday and she disclosed that she too has started a blog! Of course, she is still filled with the enthusiasm of a new blogger and is posting regularly (unlike yours truly). But it was pleasant to swap anecdotes of our blogging experience and stories of other people we know who blog. I think we were both startled to find out about the other's guilty little secret... but why should it be a guilty secret? Alas, in our case it is probably because of the prevailing work culture in our organisation. Time should be spent working and not reflecting, on "productive pursuits" instead of sitting, watching the world go by and writing about it.

Sigh. With that, it is probably about time to return to my chapter. Am not sure whether the block will re-emerge once again, but one must make the attempt....

Back to Work

Well, it is the New Year and I am back at work. Not that it is that taxing or strenuous, it is a temporary job before I start my permanent appointment. But I started off the week feeling a little ill - nothing much, just a bad throat which has now graduated into a slight cough and the feeling of being drained and tired. That shall be my excuse for not keeping up with the discipline of blogging which I boasted about on New Year's Day.

On Thursday, I went back to the School to say hello and welcome to the next batch of incoming students. I say 'back' but they have now shifted to the new campus in Bukit Timah. It is really a peaceful and quiet place. Of course I could say that of the former school building but these beautiful old buildings exude a certain grace, serenity and charm. The white buildings, the green quadrangles and the spanking new interiors just make it the perfect place to study and reflect.

Of course a lot of work still needs to be done. There is a considerable amount of renovation work going around the place. I wonder whether it will be finished when classes start next week. The offices in the administration building still have the plastic covering on all the chairs, and boxes are still being unpacked all over the place. And the grass in the quadrangles still looks somewhat newly planted. It will take time to grow and take root in these new premises. As will the school.

I told the new students that they were fortunate to have a year's break, and that us outgoing students were now a depressed bunch as we were starting work. More to the point, to remember that anything negative which had been added to the curriculum was the fault of the preceding batches and not us. Whilst anything positive, was, of course, due to our great feedback :-)

It's 2007! Happy New Year!

It's 2007! And the motivational quote for today (which I reproduce here because tomorrow it will be gone) is:

"He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate." - Henry David Thoreau

I have been given the opportunity to reflect on my Masters' programme in 2006 to the group of incoming students. I want to just recall some of my high points in 2006. I did a mini-listing in My First Post on this blog (learning to meditate, tidying up a lot of my old junk etc). So here are my top 5:

• Masters' programme. An opportunity to reflect on an attempt to consolidate what I have learned through my years of work. But also made a lot of new friends - both here in Singapore and overseas. Although it has actually been quite a fair amount of work at times (not the one year of playing golf which I was looking forward to) I suppose the cost-benefits come out positive.



• Buying my new car must surely count as a major high point! I really enjoy driving my BMW around. Someone just told me that it is a very different car for me to drive :-)



• Going to the US. The great open spaces of the US were stunning - the mountain tops of New Hampshire, the bright sunny beaches of Provincetown from which the sea stretches out to an infinite horizon, the strong sense of history in Lexington, Concord and Boston, the sheer majesty and splendour of Niagara Falls. Of course I managed to get interesting insights about the way the people in the US think and react by staying there and by visiting Washington DC.



• Visiting Mexico, the gateway to Mesoamerica. The Pyramid of the Sun was spectacular, and the shrine of Guadalupe a truly special experience (I would say spiritual but those who read the post on this visit will know that the spirituality was somewhat limited). But the visit was an introduction to a culture so different from what I know.



• Starting this blog?! Well, I have benefited from the discipline of having to think of things to write about my life and what I've been doing. It is a pity that I didn't start it much earlier in the year... well, it did not occur to me. And even if it did, I can't say that I would have started it up very much faster. But the activity of blogging also has made me more aware of what is going on in the internet world - maybe I will be less of a techno-bodoh (my friend's brother calls her a techno-bimbo but I really don't like the sound of that) than in the past. Because of the blog, I started a Flickr account (and today I reached my 1,000th view - not a very large number for some Flickr members but pretty good for me) and a Multiply account, and even starting printing photos on-line using QOOP! I know this sounds extremely rudimentary for all the techie folk out there, but to me it is BIG. Not to mention working out how to make all these lovely photo mosaics.

Looking back, I suppose it has been a slightly self-indulgent year - a year for Me. I've probably done more shopping this year than ever before (and my cumulative credit card bills will confirm this). Spent more days on holiday/ leave than in the past - even more than in 2001! But I have spent a fair amount of time just rejuvenating and reflecting - through meditation, through the morning walks which I started just this past month or so :-) and even through this blog. And I think I have managed to keep in touch (better than in the past) with friends old and new.

Now for my New Year resolutions for 2007. Resolutions inherently are about things one is not so keen about. After all, one does not need to resolve to enjoy oneself? So for next year, 2007, my resolution is to keep up a schedule for sharpening the saw - meditate, exercise regularly - say 3 times a week each. Now to work out how to meet this target!!!

I end this post with a sampler of photos to represent 2006: