It’s one of those day. Everything seem to be gloomy and sorrowful. In a dark place, where tears are constantly flowing. Dark clouds are gathering around me. I’m afraid I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel right now.
Keep telling myself to stay on the bright side, I do. I am hang in there, I really am. Just give me some time. I’ll be ok. I promise.
As many should know, we’re in the thick of the America’s Cup right now. After their loss in 2003, Team New Zealand is making a great come back. So far, leading ahead of Switzerland team Alinghi, who was the winner of the last cup. One interesting tidbit to be noted, their team consists of several kiwis(whom were poached by Alinghi from Team New Zealand) as well, even their skipper is a kiwi, Brad Butterworth who jumped boat from Team New Zealand a few years ago. That just shows New Zealand produces great sailors. Hey, Auckland is not called city of sails for no reason ok. Haha.
Talking about the race, what a cry baby Brad Butterworth turned out to be! Don’t know what I’m talking about? Read the following article.
*after the second race.
From The Times
June 25, 2007New Zealand hit back hard by turning the tide against Alinghi
Matthew Pryor in ValenciaEmirates Team New Zealand’s momentous victory from behind against Team Alinghi, the defenders, yesterday levelled the series 1-1 and set up the possibility that the 32nd America’s Cup will be the greatest for a generation.
After the crushing defeat by Alinghi on Saturday, this was a remarkable reversal. All the more so as for the first half yesterday, the second race looked to be following the pattern of the first, as Alinghi were outmanoeuvred at the start, but surged past New Zealand in apparently the same airs. Yet Saturday’s 35sec defeat became a 28sec victory. The third race in this best-of-nine event is tomorrow.
Not since 1983, when Australia II beat Dennis Conner’s Liberty 4-3 to take “The Auld Mug” away from America for the first time since the race began in 1851, has a team come back to win the America’s Cup from 1-0 down. The past three America’s Cups – 1995, 2000 and 2003 – have been won 5-0. But New Zealand’s recovery suggests that although the America’s Cup is a “design race”, New Zealand have not been completely outdesigned. A long port tack in the second upwind leg was decisive. They showed both skill and nerve to hold on and take advantage of the windshift. Alinghi went right and the wind went left.
If it turns out to be about windshifts, Alinghi appear to be feeling the pressure and some of the toys came out of their expensive pram. Brad Butterworth, the 48-year-old skipper, railed against “spectator wash” and stormed out of the press conference. In other sports he would have been fined, but billionaire-bankrolled teams manage to make themselves look amusingly amateurish sometimes.
“It is an issue when you’re in their wake and a washing machine,” Butterworth said. “We gybed at the top in a favourable shift and we didn’t get the gain we expected. Maybe you can put pressure on these wallies [the Cup management] to get them off the course.”
Much to everyone’s amusement, Butterworth said that he did not mind losing the start, because Alinghi had wanted the left anyway. Ed Baird, the Alinghi helm who has been prevented from talking, has been absent at both starts and yesterday was humiliated by Dean Barker, the New Zealand skipper and helm.
Barker sailed over the bow of Alinghi in the prestart – the five minutes of positioning for the line – seizing the right and Alinghi’s turn for the favoured starboard tack. But in lighter winds of eight to ten knots with less lumpy chop in the sea, Alinghi excelled and sailed over the top of New Zealand.
They were 19sec and three boat lengths clear by the first mark. Alinghi lost six seconds downwind, where they had looked lethal the day before, but appeared to be in control. They tacked too early, as Butterworth admitted, lost 28sec on the leg and could find no shift to take them past New Zealand downwind. Too often the outcome of the America’s Cup is decided in the first ten minutes of the first race. However, this time it may be that each race will not be decided in the first ten minutes.
There will be no repeat of Alinghi’s “Swisswash” four years ago. It is the first time Alinghi have lost in competition since BMW Oracle took one race off them in the Louis Vuitton Cup final in 2003. For the five core members of their crew – Butterworth, Murray Jones, Dean Phipps, Warwick Fleury and Simon Daubney, all defectors from Team New Zealand in 2000 – it was the end of 16 consecutive America’s Cup match victories.
more story - Yachting: Alinghi angry at racing in ‘Las Vegas’ lottery
A real whinger, that Brad Butterworth.
Anyway, the kiwis are now getting all excited staying up to watch the game in the early morning hours (It is held in Spain this year, which is 10 hours behind New Zealand). It is interesting to note that before Team New Zealand went on to win Louis Vuitton’s Cup and leading America’s Cup, the general public in New Zealand were not so interested in the race, with majority being very passimistic, predicting them to loose 0-5 as last time. But they care now don’t they?! Quote my kiwi mate: ‘That’s typical kiwis for ya, only love it when their team wins, and jump on the loser the minute they loss the game. Even for the All Blacks!’
So go on Team New Zealand, the kiwis are behind ya! (as long as you’re winning.)
That being said, I truly hope Team New Zealand will bring back the cup this time. They’ve sailed amazingly well, especially in the last race. It’d be interesting to see what’s up their sleeves next. As some said, it’s quite an even race, Team New Zealand with their strong team, and Alinghi with their multi million dollars boat. Who will win? The skillful sailors or the million dollars sailers? We shall find out, very soon.
OK, I have finally take the plunge and decided to have my own hosting and start using WordPress. One problem, no idea how to transfer all the posts here. I have found a hosting and as you can see I’m currently still using my own domain with blogger.
Can any kind souls out there please help me with this method? I am a total dummy here. Starting to doubt whether I’ve made the right decision. SOS!
update: OK, I have figured out how to export my posts. Now, I’m not too sure how to install Wordpress to my host, damn it, seems to be complicated.
I have a restless mind. There’s always something going on in my mind. Be it random thoughts or important issues. I used to suffer from insomnia and would toss and turn in bed for hours. It took me a long time to train my mind not to be so active at bedtime. I used to lie on bed and thought about the happenings of the day, big and small. From international current events, to trivial things like ‘why did the chicken cross the road‘ (to get to the hen pen). It was a habit I had for as long as I could remember. It’s like a bedtime revision if you will. Sometimes I would lapse into the quaint quaint world of my imagination, or get overwhelmed by the memories from the past. It would be easily a good 2 hours by the time my body finally gave up and forced my mind to shut down.
There were countless times when I refused to go to bed even though I was tired. Simply because my mind was still hyperactive. For the longest time, my body suffered from exhaustion. I really envied people like Mr K who seems to have a shut down button in his mind. A press of the button and everything shuts down right away. He can go to sleep in seconds. I kid you not!
There was also a period of time when I suffered from bad dreams. Night after night I would wake up sweating, pondered over the dreadful dreams I had. Really, every single night! It was really that terrible. You’d really have to have experiences like that in order to understand, I guess.
Anyway, to end abruptly, I resorted to aroma therapy and it helps a great deal. Though I still have some problems every now and then, it is no longer as bad as before. Lavender oil is my saviour I tell you! Haha. The end. ;P
p/s: Heh, what do you know, I’m up and blogging again! 
If you’re last minute holiday planner like me, you’d know how painstaking it is to look and book for the right accommodation. That is where CheaperthanHotels.com.au comes in handy. They provide the most comprehensive deals on last minute and advanced bookings on hotels in Australia. For example, you can find various Sydney Hotels, ranging from 2 to 5 stars according to your budget. No matter you’re on a business or leisure family trip, there is bound to be something on their lists of hotel that suits your liking. I found this to be extremely helpful. Now, if only I had know about this site when I visited Sydney 2 years ago. It would have saved me a lot of hassle. Well, at least now I know where to turn to for my next trip.
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As you can see, I haven’t been posting regularly as usual. I am going through moments of mental shut-down recently. Not feeling like going out or interacting with anyone, basically rejecting any form of social interaction. Just want to shut off of everything and live in my own shut down world. I think I’m going through a heavy case of social withdrawal syndrome right now. Normal self will be up and running in a few days.
Please pardon my craziness, I’ll go and stare at the walls for a little while.
If you know me at all, you’d know I enjoy reading celebrity gossip every now and then. There are quite a few sites that aggregate gossips but a good one with nice layout is hard to come by. That is until I discovered Celebrity Gossip. It is the red hot new gossip site with pretty pink layout that has just been launched. Registration is free and they have the usual comment feature and readers get to vote on the gossips, but what set them apart is their bonus points system. You get 100 points for joining and 50 points for every referral you send their way too! The points can be redeemed for magazine subscription like In Touch Weekly, People, GQ, Time and more!
A girl needs her dose of gossip to escape from the mundane life sometimes. Why not jump over there and get your fix today?!
I wanted to buy you a gift, but there is no amount of gifts that can really show my gratitude towards you; I wanted to write you a poem, but my tears overflow whenever I started to do so; I tried to call and say I love you, but my mind is so overwhelmed that I shiver every time I pick up the phone; I attempted to write a letter to you, but it is so difficult because there’s no way to begin and no end.
You have always strived hard to be a role model. You doubted and blamed yourself when I did something wrong. There were times when we went through a tough patch and didn’t talk for days, we were both too strong headed and stubborn then. A father’s love is truly an amazing thing. You shower your love via your unique ways, the unspoken ways, the unconditional ways. Daddy, there is no words to describe how I feel. I just want you to know that what an amazing dad you are, and how lucky I am to have you in my life. When I thought of your own journey, I cried, for you lost your own dad when you were merely a new born baby and have gone through a difficult path to become who you are today, the successful and well-respected man. How do you come to be a great dad that you are, I do not know. I guess I’m just trying to tell you how incredibly appreciative I am to have a father like you.
People say they see you in me as I grow older, I can’t even start to tell them how proud I am. Thank you, dad. I would not have fought through the difficult and thorny path had it not be your constant unconditional love and support. I know I can always count on you. I could not have asked for a better dad.
I struggled to translate my feelings through the limited words in my mind. I love you dad, from the bottom of my heart. You are my hero and strength beneath my wings. You are forever in my heart and deepest thoughts.
Happy Father’s Day!
I have a thing about hotels. A good hotel that is. When I am traveling, a good accommodation is essential. It is that key factor that makes or breaks a trip for me. I love staying in a good hotel that delivers everything I need for a comfortable stay. What makes a good hotel? Well, there are 5 essential factors, cleanliness, good services, good facilities, safety and location. I have stayed in my share of hotels over the years. while not all of them are ‘hotel of the year’ material, most of them have met my standard. Though it can be quite painful and troublesome to look for a hotel at the last minute before a trip, which always happens in my case.
This is where hotelshop comes in handy. They are the professionals who help you book hotel in the UK at the last minute. From 2 to 5 stars hotels, anything you might ask for. Looking for that Perfect Budget Hotels in the UK or the perfect luxury getaway heaven? You got it all here. They are truly the solution for your last minute hotel booking.
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I have over hundred of blogs on my RSS feed reader list. I used to read through these blogs almost daily, but I’ve been so busy lately that there is not much chance to blog-hop and leave a comment or two as often as I’d like. I love reading through the blogs for interesting articles and get a peek of what other people has been up to. It is my relaxing moment of the day, reading through, leaving comments and checking for any replies for my comments. I really hope to get back to the regular blog hopping routine soon. So, if you have not been seeing my name on your comment list, wait for me ya, that doesn’t mean I’ve gone MIA, I am just late.
