masterwordsmith-unplugged

I love Sundays, don't you? Usually, I spend my time on household chores, blogging, reading and napping. Today was a sharp contrast from the normal routine.

After two loads of laundry, sweeping, mopping and blogging three posts, I hurriedly drove at almost breakneck speed to my friend's restaurant Zealand Cafe at Gurney Drive to meet two former students, Kanatcha and Kuan Ju.

I thought it would be the usual reunion with good food, plenty of laughter, photos and reminiscing. Boy oh boy! I was so wrong.

By the time I passed Gurney Plaza, my car started spluttering and when I stepped on the accelerator, the car seemed to slow down. My heart sank. I looked at the fuel gauge and the indicator was way below the E sign!!! By then, I was just in front of Bella Vista Apartments.

Those of you who know me are aware that I have this hangup about filling the petrol tank. I had not gone out of the house for four days as it is school break and since I had been hibernating at home for the past four days, I had absolutely no idea that my tank was that thirsty!

Quick thinking was needed. Do you believe in miracles?

Amazingly, as my car slowed down, I reached an empty parking lot and swerved into the space on free gear!!! Then I called my hubby who was having lunch with my boy. As expected, there was no rebuke from him and he said he would sort it out for me.

Hastily, I walked in the hot sun all the way to Zealand Cafe, met up with the girls, chatted with the suave owner and his lovely wife and ate far too much for my waistline.

In 1995, Kanatcha was my Sociology student and also in my guitar class together with Kuan Ju and Amy Leitch who now resides in New Zealand. Kanatcha who works with Accenture (Singapore) just got married last November and will be be leaving for Australia to begin a new life there. How time flies indeed! The girls could still remember how to play "If" by Bread, one of the many songs that I taught them in the guitar class. At one point, all of us could pluck along exactly like in the original :-)



As I sat there with them, my heart was filled with pride as I looked at the girls - they were roomates in the boarding house for three years and Kuan Ju and Amy were Kanatcha's bridesmaids during her wedding held in Melbourne. Life is beautiful when we have real and longlasting friendships with people whom we love!

By the time I reached home, I rested, read a bit and then it was time for my Wing Chun class which is more than always filled with scolding from my sifu. Today was no exception. In fact, it was worse today as I had not had my classes for a few weeks as sifu was busy.

I will spare you the boring details of the different moves I had to go through which were so tiring and triggered my back pain and sciatic nerve pain, largely because I had to keep the basic triangular centerline position for so long and had to observe balance, posture and be relaxed and not too tensed when I went through the different moves.

I got scolded when I was too tensed as sifu said it would reduce my punching speed and power. So I had to be 'soft' and yet, not too soft/relaxed. My arms are aching terribly for when he hammered my arms with punches I had to deflect the blows much to my horror. And why? That is because today's lesson centred on the Wing Chun punch and the need to deliver my punch centrally from the my chest rather than diagonally from the shoulders. This is in line with the centerline concept. Sifu said that later on, I would have to learn how the punch is delivered diagonally from the shoulder to the centerline.

Initially, I had a gala time dishing out blow after blow on sifu's chest. And then when it was his turn to attack and my turn to resist, it was a nightmare and he pummelled my chest!!!!! Suffice to say I feel like a punctured car tyre, battered and worn out. Needless to say, I screamed and protested etc etc with all the drama but my boy did better. Well, that is not fair because my boy learnt wushu for three years and has a better foundation in footing than I do and also sharper reflexes. After some time sparring and complaining, I asked for time out while my boy continued with the lesson. I comforted myself with the knowledge that if I do succeed in mastering Wing Chun (very remote possibility!!!) , sifu said that I would be able to defeat a stronger person if and when I can use my structure effectively.

I shuddered when sifu said that things will get rougher when he taught us the different kicks. Then he showed us his sparring bruises - swollen sprained thumb, sprained elbow, swollen parts on both legs etc. *sigh* Not an easy martial art form to learn but I must say that it has given me added confidence. So right now, I feel so tired with aches and pains and bruises all over and I am beginning to wonder if I am sane. No matter what, I will not give up but will persevere to learn more!!! I would encourage you to take up a martial arts form because it can do wonders to your life.

Have a lovely evening dear reader and may the rest of the week be filled with precious moments and wonderful achievements!