Hard work pays off

Had to stay over night yesterday to prepare for the trial in chambers today. Basically stayed till almost 2am preparing documents. In the midst of it, one of my friends who was working in the vicinity called me to step out of the office for a few min, so I went down to the lobby and there was a bag of sandwich and a cup of orange juice for me... Soooo sweet... Ok. I'm touched... Lolz

Our hard work paid off and today the tide changed in favour to us! We were so happy and I was brought by one of the lawyers with the other interns to lunch at the Masonic headquarters in Singapore. Then after that, the lawyer in charge of the case said after the case is over, I can go give myself a big treat and the expenses will be all on the firm! Nice! Lolz

The Flow

Went to town after work to get new shoes as the ones I was wearing is tattered and torn. Bumped into a fellow Jonathan at Paragon while changing shoes. Supposed to meet my banker Kenny after, but he got held up by another client, so I was just hanging around town aimlessly till I got another message from a friend asking if I was in town. I ended up hanging out with him and his friend. Funny how things flows. At least I didn't go to town for nothing.

Always full of rubbish

A friend insisted on meeting me for lunch today despite my having only 30 minutes to eat as I had to rush back to office do finish off some work.

15 minutes into lunch and he says "Ah, feel so much better now." Reason for meeting, he was feeling down and needed someone to talk to. So I asked him why me, and his response was because I'm always full of rubbish. Talking to me makes him forget about alot of things. =.=..... I wonder if I should take that as a compliment. And he's definitely not the only person who does that. I know of alot of others. I think I should consider being a counselor as another alternative to my career path.

And I got to chat with my classmate from primary 1 (1st grade) today. We got connected back after so many years when I bumped into him on the public bus one fine day. And I can't believe it... he still remembers sitting beside me in the school hall in 1991 and watching me practice folding paper origami while the principal was up front talking. Yeah... I was never good at paying attention... Lolz. I don't fold papers anymore... but now i have the habit of rolling them up. Lolz

Blog updates

My home internet has been sucky lately... so haven't really be updating. But lots of stuff has been happening lately.

Starting with coincidental meetings, in this week alone, I bumped into 2 friends from elementary school at train stations - Joseph and Jialing, saw Nathaniel at Suntec, saw Joshua at Bugis and got invited to his band's stint next week, saw Mahat at Cine... hmm who else..

Then I met up with Sunny and Wendy who are back from the USA, met up with Fabian who's back from the US as well, met up with Ivan from Australia.

Attended my cousins' wedding, met up with my cousins from USA.

Got "promoted" at work after only being in the company for 3 weeks. And might finally start getting paid.

Did Jap homework till 4am last night, went for Jap class at 8am this morning,

And I've got concerts and events planned out on the 25th of Jul, 30th of Jul, 31st of Jul and 8th of Aug.

And constantly going in and out of the subordinate and supreme courts.

Pretty good schedule. Lolz. Its tiring but I love it! =)

Not so bad day

So I didn't get to see the eclipse. And I didn't get to stay in court the whole day. And I just got given even more responsibilities. In just 3 weeks, my position in the firm has changed from intern to personal secretary to the Managing Director now. And all the other lawyers received an email not to touch me... bad news... that means I'm gonna be given tonnes of work and this is a warning to that... But then again, I guess its going to be a really good learning experience. Provided it doesn't kill me.

As expected, had to work over time. Came back around 8pm. Tired.

Just had a hair cut yesterday as well. And one of the lawyers commented "as if its not good enough looking 19 when you're actually 25... now you look no older than 16!" =.=... Thanks...

On the bright side, I got a comment on my youtube vid saying I'm hot! Hahahz... totally made my day! Hahaz.

No solar eclipse for me...

There's a solar eclipse today and Singapore chooses to rain =.=... Stupid weather... of all times! It must rain today. Oh well... just gotta wait for the next one.

And my home internet died as well... Sux...

Other than that, life has been busy. Met a an old friend in Court yesterday! He was also a lawyer's intern. But for the opposition side. So we couldn't really talk... Oh wellz. Interesting how the court brings people together thou.

My weekend

My weekend was packed. Started Jap class at 8am, then went for my cousin's wedding on saturday. Met up with many familiar faces. Been years since I met some of them. Everyone was extremely well dressed up. Its almost like some red-carpet event! Finally got home about 1am

Sunday, went to town with my sisters to shop and I met Sunny there, and guess what, we were wearing similar shirts and the exact same pair of pants! Lolz. That's why we're bros man! Great minds think alike! Lolz

Head to my other cousin's birthday at night and hung out there till late. Tired. But it was a fulfilling weekend =)

Something coming up

Got to see real action in court today. Previously it was all just short mentions or hearings. Today, it was a sentencing. Intense. But after that, the day passed by pretty slowly. Met up with Edison and Jaycas for dinner afterwards before heading home. Jap class tml... die... homework not done...

Also got a call from my uncle in australia and he chatted for an hour! Well, I should be happy it didn't last for 3 hours this time.

As for the "something coming up" part... Seems like something big is gonna happen next week. Around the 21st and 22nd of July... Something big in the world... Not really sure what... but just be careful...

Sunny

Got to go to court again today. Then the afternoon passed slowly. After work, so did not want to go home straight, but everyone's always busy in busy Singapore. Then lucky, there's Sunny! From sunny california! You're my saviour bro! Saved me from a boring night. Lolz. It was good meeting up again, thou as always, we didn't really have a plan of what to do and kind of wandered everywhere.

Had Quizznos together. Big disappointment man... Quizznos in Singapore has no Guacamole... and they dumped tonns of onions in my bread without even asking! Sux... Had to ask them to pick out the onions. Sad... and I thought the REAL Quizznos Sub came to Singapore... turns out, its just an imitation...

My rubbish creation which I posted up on facebook. Lolz. Most of u prob seen it already

Irony of Life

Since starting the internship, I've been extremely busy. Not just in the day, but in the night and weekends as well. When you're free, no one ever asks you out. The moment you're busy, everyone suddenly starts asking you out. The irony of life... Oh well... These days, I really need time management. And money management as well. But then again, I'm happy to be busy! Heez =)

Lawyer/Liar?

When I first thought of studying law way back about 8 years ago, all i got were discouragements - bad karma, liars, stressful life, the money earned is not worth the energy spent, u will not like it, u'll need to argue everyday... and that led me on a full circle round the world before ending up in square 1 again....

I think those in the legal field are the most misunderstood amongst professions.

Today I saw a mother crying to ask for help for her son. The other day, a wife crying for help. And there have been cases where an entire family cried for help. People all say that lawyers are terrible people. But when their relatives or friends are in serious danger of losing their lives to the noose or freedom to the bars, the only person who is willing to step up for them is a lawyer...

Sentosa

Had wanted to go to the Cosplay Con today but ended up not going coz 1) It was far, and 2) What's so fun about watching others in costumes? Its not like u're the one in costume. I still prefer halloween. Lolz

Ended up meeting Edison to decide where to go coz we were both extremely bored staying at home. Tried calling Jaycas along but he didn't want to come out, then Edison tried calling some of the girls out and they too were too lazy to come out. What's wrong with all u people man! Ended up with the two of us going to Sentosa alone... how sad.. Oh wellz, but we made it fun for ourselves. Swam in the sea, got stung by jelly fishes, buried ourselves in the sand and the day jsut passed by carefreely! How i wish life can be carefree everyday - minus the jelly fish sting part.

Had dinner with mom in town after that with my two younger sisters and bumped into Jason again! One of my soldiers during my NS days. And he gave us a complimentary hot plate okonomiyaki! Lolz. Its good to know have contacts, and more importantly, good relations with them! Lolz! Most of my other friends will probably curse and swear when they see their officer.. Lolz

Tiger Cave Temple

A year ago, I sort of dreamed of a temple in a cave and told it to my good friend David Williams saying we should go look for that place some day if there ever is such a place. I found it today while randomly browsing the internet... It was exactly the way I saw it in my dreams! I've found it - Wat Thum Sua, the Tiger Cave Temple. What's even more mysterious is that, the abbot of the temple is Ajhan Jumnian! I met him in Berkeley last year and got the privilege to chat with him for 2 hours privately. So strange... so strange...

I guess my next destination has been decided... Thailand.... to the Tiger Cave Mountain...

Zouk

It was MeiQi's last day at the internship so we promised her we'll hang out with her after work. Went Great World City for dinner and then after that to Zouk. Boy, its been like 4 or 5 years since i came to Zouk? Lolz... And I met Harley there! Lucky there was another friend to chat with. Always nice to see familiar faces. And MeiQi was like calling up all her friends saying "Hey, I'm with a guy now who looks like Bae Yong Jun!" =.=... Thanks... Stayed till almost 3am before going home. Jap class at 8am tml.... I'm soooo gonna crash....

Went to the subordinate and family courts today for 2 cases. After the cases, as I walked back into the office with my tie and blazer still on, Mei Qi, one of the other interns said I look like one of the Korean actors... and I immediately said... wait, let me guess, Bae Yong Jun? And she said "Yah!!" =.=... I got that too many times.

Day was busy busy busy. Meeting clients, writing mails, writing reports, even got to write my first mitigation plea! A plea for leniency in sentencing. Learning lots. But plenty of stress too. And I also got to eat the infamous truffle mushroom with my lawyer for lunch today! 1 mushroom costs like a few thousand dollars. I only got a chip of it.

Met up with Nathaniel for dinner after work. My old time friend. Since 1994 man! Think u're the longest time friend I've known. And we never run out of topics. Really glad to have u as a friend. And thanks for the treat! Again! Everytime!

The Big Spaceship

Got to enter the Space Ship today! Also known as the Singapore Supreme Court. Just like how the Esplanade is affectionately referred to by Singaporeans as the Durian. We just love giving our buildings names other than the ones they've already got.

While waiting outside the courtroom with my lawyer, another lawyer said to her "How come u always get the cute guy interns!" and she commented about him always having sexy female interns. Hahaz... I guess the interns are like show things that lawyers bring around and compare. Outside the court rooms, there are lots of other things going on like checking out who's the new lawyer in the field, who are the experts, what cases are going on, who are the new interns who might end up as future allies or "learned opponents." The legal field is a whole other world of its own! No wonder they built the Supreme Court in the likes of a Spaceship... its a whole other planet! Lolz

The real thing begins..

Its only my 2nd week in the law firm, and technically just my 4th day at work, and I've already been given all sorts of stuff. Was asked to write a contract for one of the clients today which, of course, ended up with tonnes of mistakes much to the displeasure of the lawyer.

Was tasked by another lawyer to conduct a search on an organization and retrieve details about them.

Yet another sent me on an errant to another law firm.

And tomorrow, I'm scheduled to attend a trial in the Singapore Supreme Court in the morning with one laywer, and in the afternoon, I'm suppose to assist another lawyer. And a third lawyer was asking if I was free to follow him to the prisons...

Dude... its a lil overwhelming. I have no legal background! But then again, I guess it has to start somewhere. Better to learn it now that later. Just hafta bite my teeth and dash head first into all the upcoming arrows and reprimands! Its not easy to be a lawyer...

Re-service

Most of my friends have been starting their military re-service lately... scary. I'm still free of it! Lolz... but not for long i guess. Gotta start worrying for my fitness test which shall be due soon.

Bumped into one of my former soldiers outside today. He asked me to continue to be their officer for re-service. Said among all the officers that he has met in his 2 years, i was still the best officer he has known. Really flattering to hear this kind of things... makes u want to sign on.. But no... I shall not be tricked... I need my freedom. Let freedom ring!!!

Belief

I close my eyes, and listen to the music in my head...
Without seeing, without smelling, without hearing, without touching...
Yet I still feel the world spinning round and round...
As the outer world slows down, the inner world speeds up.
Where does this feeling come from? Where does it go?
I'm walking blindly, in the journey of life...
Clinching on only to the belief, that everything will turn out fine...
~jozhade

3rd day of internship.

What!? Its only the 3rd day!? Damn... felt really long... especially with all the long hours. Today was another day filled with clientele interviews. Cases after cases after cases! There was one moment where we had 3 consecutive interviews in a roll... didn't even have the time for restroom break. Exhausting but the weird thing is, I'm actually enjoying it. But then again, as I mentioned to my lawyer, its only day 3, and she said don't worry, there's more to come. How assuring isn't it? Lolz...

The life of a lawyer

Basically shadowed the lawyer in charged of me today. From the moment she stepped in, it was meetings, meetings, meetings. Didn't even have time for lunch - all the interns had to attend a legal introduction seminar during lunch hour. Then back to meetings and report writing again. My day started at 7:30am taking the train to the office and finally it ended at 1030pm as I took the night train home... 15 hours of non stop work.... No wonder they say the legal field is an extremely stressful occupation.

The beginnings of the coffee addict

Day 1 at internship and i was packed with stuff to do. Managed to catch some time inbetween before to have a quick lunch with my sister. Then immediately back to work. Felt like I'm gonna be really busy in the coming weeks so when Edison called me up to go watch Transformers 2, I agreed immediately. It might very well be my last free time till the end of my internship.

Got to the cinema at 7pm but most of the tickets then were already sold out. Only managed to get the 9pm one. Show ended finally at 11:30am and by the time I got home, it was already 1am... gotta wake up at 630am tml.... I'm sooooo gonna need a cup of coffee....