Aparting !
Chan is going to KL this coming sunday to take up a new position with an international media company.
Yesterday when we met him for dinner, he just sold his classic Volkswagen beetle - and for cheap! I told him it was crazy, a classic car sold! I reminded him that this is the only car that could take 1 Kodiak, 2 K-lights, and 3 kayakers and lots of gear and be comfy. He wanted to let me use the car for the years he was overseas but I told him I don't even have the cash for the road taxes. All my $ are in kayaks, where to find. He said selling the car felt like parting with the "woman who took his vir*****"... ya rite both JB and me almost burst, and he spent the last night with his car alone, just enjoying the last moments together.
Well I guess people can be very attached to cars but not me, cos I never owned one. But I guess anything that work to take you to places is worth having feelings for. And a kayak is a craft that takes me places, show me life, show me people that I would never had met. I have deep feelings for kayaks but not yet cars.Now my paddling partner for how long, 5-6 years is goin to KL and there will be one less person to kayak with here. JB? not dependable (u hear tht!) , msged me this morning that his 'muscles' are aching due to too many push-ups yesterday over beer and cards. Com'on you didn't lose in cards that much and did less than 200 push-ups ! This is his company btw (www.paddleculture.com). JB is a 4-STAR expert kayaker !
It was Chan's last nite with us and we are goin to jolly make sure he remembers it, cos we are not ever going to visit him in KL. Well unless he has a house by the river like Francis. 12 cans and hundreds of push-ups later I hope he remembered those trainings for expeditions are not for nothing, eh? And he is always welcome to look for us on the water. =)for a moment like this
for a moment like this
some people wait a lifetime
some people search forever
Comments
Fullmoon, remember you wanted me to try kayaking and with FH2o so far away, I'll get to do it here (with Chan?) in our smelly KL sungei (rivers). Yay!!
Now hold it! I was only kidding. haha...
Fullmoon, so sad for you that you're losing a regular paddling partner.
Btw, I need some schooling here...what's a 4-star expert? A little enlightenment would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks for your thoughts, Francis, look forward to seeing you again!
We had a great time last night. In fact, I'd been so busy preparing for the move it was the first night I'd "breathed" in awhile. And my buddies certainly made sure I breathed very hard - push ups and beer is a very fast way to get high. Luckily I was sane enough not to take up Huey's suggestion about the Jim Beam... sure way to die young.
Anyway, I guess there are times when good things come to an end. I never thought I'd part with First Light (my Kodiak) after all we'd been through. But situations change. Now it's the car, one that never failed to amaze us how much kayaking gear it could carry and still move.
It also carried memories from my last 5 years. Allowing a moment of romantic indulgance, I almost want to believe it has a soul, like First Light. And now it's gone for a good reason, dog fur, dead roaches and all. Time to look forward into the exciting unknown -sounds just like a typical day on an expedition, doesn't it? :)
Feb 8-9, 2006 will long be remembered for a plate of fried chicken, many beers, even more push-ups, and most importantly, a great night with 2 of the best mates whom I would trust my life with. Simple, but special.
Hope to see all of you on the water again, some day. Then maybe we can ALL finally carry out the long-awaited plan to sell JB to a foreign brothel in return for shelter.
Huey THANX alot huh!!!!
It was a Fantastic nite and I muz say the finale round was the BEST! Seeing Chan bottom up the last can of tiger beer definately marks the moment. BTW, I'm glad Chan din take up Huey suggestion about that Jim Beam, I bet he will knock out right after that.
Huey, Chan and Francis if you guys try to "sell" me off again the next round, I swear I'm not going to cook for you guys any more in our next trip(Evil Laugh).
Any way, happysurfer ignore Huey, 4 star is Singapore technical Certification standard. The highest is 5 star.
JB, hi! Yeah, Huey probably is busy with his kite. Thanks for the info on the 4-star certification. You mentioned about it being the Sgp technical certification, is it any different from the rest of the world or rather the world std? Also, how and when does one get certified?
Chan, now that u r in KL, on behalf of d other guys, u're duly appointed to make sure that happysurfer gets wet this year!
JB - u never kept us posted with regards to Miss Chiangmai!
Wishing u folks "Happy Cap Goh Mei"!
HappySurfer - The technical system in Singapore is very similiar to British Canoe Union(BCU). In places, where they are extremely particular with qualification, achieving the Star Certification course will be important. However, they are many really good paddlers who dun have any certs at all. If you have technical questions you like to ask, you may write direct to me(lycan@singnet.com.sg), I dun want to bore my dear folks over here.... .hee
Get off my case!!
Chan, pls ignore him. Has he always been like this? Pushy and a royal pain?!
JB, thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions. I just wanted to know more so as to understand the sport better even though I will not be taking it up. So sorry if I bothered you. Thanks for your email address all the same.
Pushy n a pain? That's what endears me to my friends! :) Why be ordinary (mediocre)?
Chan - it's happy's loss not ours if she never gets to meet anyone of us! oops!
JB - the Miss Chiangmai incident was a classic! Miriam n I cracked up whenever we recalled it! BTW she fractured her arm (not from kayaking) and had a ss rod inserted (ouch) and would not be able to paddle for many months.
Would be great if we can paddle again soon! BTW how many 'stars' do u give 'unker'? kekeke
Huey - where the heck are you??
Oh, really?
Pushy n a pain? That's what endears me to my friends! :) Why be ordinary (mediocre)?
Endearing? Say what?
Chan - it's happy's loss not ours if she never gets to meet anyone of us! oops!
Francis, Gee! Too bad, my loss **shrugs** but.....I'll live.
(Gentlemen, this is not meant for you but for Francis alone. Just need to cheese him off even though with his thick croco-skin, he won't feel a thing, I'm sure. hahahah.......)
Chan - make sure you continue to do those push-ups in KL. And plse plse get a decent place so tht we might so even remotely consider to go visit you *shudder... with no river nearby, hard la
JB - we won't sell yo off la, that would be way too cheap a thing to do, too low down man ! We will auction you off.
Francis - next time we need to pack some beers when we go paddle. And do push-ups in the middle of an expedition. That will be the real test man ! (wish Miriam a speedy return to her use of both arms)