happy birthday, singapore!
woke up this morning -was glad that it's a PH! slept super late this morning and was suddenly awoken by e's sms at 7.18am to be exact! sat up and asked myself: "am i late for work??!!" came to senses that it's national day! phew ~ slammed my head back on pillow and continued my dreams. the next minute i woke up -the clock read 11.45am

lazed home to fix up my blog. yes, if you have been a frequent visitor of my blog, you would notice the tremendous overhaul in here. surfed and searched and updated myself with the latest blog skins and designs. being in design school helped a little in art appreciation, i guess. *chuckle* time flew quickly. was looking fw to ndp.

didn't have tickets, unlike some people! [yes, i'm referring to you. lucky you! got free tics!] well, staying home wasn't a bad idea also. need not squeeze. and the national tv showed every detail of it. my eyes were practically glued to the tv. no pop-corns. nothing. just viewing it could get me into the most craziest moods. perhaps not many have seen the 'hot and frenzy' gracie jumping around like a monkey. but yeah, there i was singing to myself during commercial breaks all those national songs i could remember since young.

perhaps you need to be away from home to really appreciate the lyrics of those national songs written every year. for all those who left for overseas career or studies, you would agree with me that you missed saying the pledge with honour and singing the national anthem. it's no kidding. it felt so good to be able to gather around with the other singaporeans while i was at melb to sing the anthem and waving the singapore flag on national day together. such nationalistic feelings only become stronger on national day! i recalled those few years when i was away from singapore, i used to long to fly home just to watch the national day parade.

and yes, whenever i listened to the song "Home" sung by Kit Chan for NDP 1998 at melb, i remembered feeling homesick. and yes, those lyrics spoke to me and have encouraged me to move on.

this year's national song - wow! ain't i glad that i'm home!

This is my home
She's everything to me
Grace and beauty
In all that you see

My island home
Wherever I may be
I never will forget her
Nor will she forget me

Chorus
And I will sing
A song of home
A land of peace
Where dreams are born everyday
My home
Wherever I may be
I believe
You will always be a part of me

My island home
Home of my family
This is my future
Where I want to be
(This is my future
This is my home)