Badminton

My office organised Badminton sessions on Wednesday evenings, I think this will be for 2 or 3 months. I didn't know that the rules of Badminton had changed.... there is no more "service over" and the final total score is no longer at 11 (women) nor 15 (men), it is now at 21 (both genders). Imagine how long I've not played this sport properly.

Netball on a Monday

A very long time ago, I had an injury from netball that gave me a lifetime of pain. I say 'lifetime' because 20 years is a lifetime. It could have been worse but thankfully the pain is tolerable. Just that sometimes I wished the incident never happened. Because I have to live with the inconveniences of chronic pain from sprained veins (from shoulder blade leading to lower-back and now the back of the knees. all on the left side.) What can I learn from here? Accidents happen, blah blah blah. But well, I still like the game although I could do without the pain. Well, pain is where masseurs, physio therapists and SPAs get their businesses. Whatever vicious cycle one may have with one's love-hate relationship with sports.
Last night's game was not too bad. More and more new faces, very athletic bunch of youngsters. I should play more often.

A new group is born

 A brief "on-line war" broke out last week which inevitably led to the birth of a new grouping.

I did not join the previous group long enough to have too much unhappiness escalate until eruption but I can't say the same for some of the players who may have compounded their dissatisfaction. Anyway, I don't advocate online rants without addressing the subject or person(s) in question. In my opinion, it makes matters worse and makes the ranting coward even though the person ranting might have a valid point.

There are always more than two sides to a story, so I feel that one could either (1) speak up in person, (2) put in more effort to neutralize any cliquishness, (3) hold on until a right moment to tip the scale, and if all fails then (4) keep calm and walk away.

So anyway, I hope all's well ends well. 

The courts are squeaky new, spic and span.
The air conditioning at the entire stadium is strong (cold), but good thing it is not cold inside the sports hall. 

 The netball courts are at the OCBC Arena

We had a new set of bib too.

Next time I'll umpire.

Last Night

Last night I returned to the court after a long break to address my emotions about playing with the group of people who dominates the games in what I feel; done in a distasteful manner. Being a peace-lover, I am by nature rather accommodating, so I told myself to better cool down, draw deep breaths, and only to return to the games when I feel more zen. After all, why would I wanna let a few such people get in the way of good spirits. It's not my prerogative to mother-hen them nor was it a leadership or team building boot camp. So I would just relax and enjoy the sport as well as mingle with the rest of the individuals who came to the game alone. There are people from all walks of life; an India girl who grew up in South Africa, a Malaysian girl who works in Hong Kong (and now Singapore) who laughs about her size-9 feet, an Ang Moh lady who asked me to hold on to her wedding ring (when I was resting and she was playing), etc. etc. So ya, I went back to the court last night and was happy I did.

Let's Play Netball

 

My sis said- Go DL this App called Meetup, there are loads of interesting groups

I asked- Do I have to meet people?

She- It's called Meetup, you know? 

There really all sorts of meetup groups; ranging from sports, health, hobbies, movie-goers, dating, coaching, reading, whatever you can think of under-the-sky kind of activities. http://www.meetup.com/ 

I didn't know that the first Netball session I'd joined was a Meetup group because I went there as a guest (Member-invited-guest). I might never go attend a gathering if I don't know the host or any other persons. But then that's not quite true too. I've attended so many activities all by myself. Eg: Reiki, NLP, Art Jam, Art courses, Cooking classes, Float Tank etc. But that still doesn't take the timidness away from me. So anyway, I had my second dose of Netball on Tuesday, it was not bad, not as hostile as the first night four weeks back. But I enjoy a hostile game. It makes winning sweeter and loosing justifiable.

This is my sis in action  (black T-shirt)
(when there are excess players (more than 14 pax), everyone takes turn to play a 10-minute session)

It was funny how we stopped in our tracks when the wind carried the aroma of KFC from across the road.

This is my sis' friend in action (pink singlet, black shorts)
They are going for some tournament this weekend. Street Netball, sounds like Speed Netball.
Event: "Netballuxion 2014"
http://www.netball.org.sg/netball-events/item/839-netballuxion-2014
Their game slots on Saturday clash with Kiki's ballet class and Colin's music class... so I don't think I could go support them at Scape. I think if they're still in the league then they will progress into Sunday.

Violin

I was at the admin counter digging into my bag for my wallet to make payment for the concert tickets when the staff gave me a piece of paper summarizing the day's programme.

"Err,, sorry, I don't seem to be able to find Teacher S' name here"- holding out the piece of paper.

"Let me see....." she was as perplexed as me and turned to her colleague.

"Maybe Teacher S' class didn't pass the audition" - I half-joked.

"Yes, the class didn't pass the audition"- a male voice affirmed.

"Oooookaay then...". I thought aloud.

The other parents were just as surprised but we all concluded that it is okay and moved on. 

We are now learning our first Classical piece - Minuet 1 (J.S Bach).

I have an appointment at the Slimming Centre tonight, and Netball tomorrow night. So there goes two nights without me first learning the new tune.... *stress* Hopefully on Wednesday, I will have the energy to learn. The other time I joined my sis for a night of Netball, I walked like an old lady the two following days. Well, still, the pain and leg cramps were worth the exuberance while on the court. After all, I was very glad to play the sport after a 20-year hiatus, I honestly miss the game. I miss fighting (for the team), I miss winning, I miss loosing, I miss laughing, I miss hating warm-ups. So, I was very glad to have a go at it before I die.
Anyway, the aftermath of netball was not as bad as wake boarding.Wake boarding gave me a lesson on the excruciating pain of the smallest muscles I never knew I had.

Kallang Netball Centre

I played netball for both my Primary & Secondary schools. During that era, height wasn't an unspoken prerequisite but of course tall goalies and keepers are great advantages. Everyone in between are of average height while speed, agility, strategy and jumping & intercepting skills make the bulk of the game. The teams that I was in were never natural champions because we were not highly competitive with the game, we trained when it was time for training and we didn't have enough players to practise with. But we had a good coach. She was strict with the rules. Then came secondary school. It was fun upgraded, we played netball on our own with or without the coach, we asked the water polo boys to play with us (they were merciless), we played so many days in a week, we played until the VP had to come to the field (umbrella in hand), wet and drenched, ordered us to stop the game in the rain. We played until a coach from a reputable girls school asked my coach for my friend and I to play for them on a recreational basis at the SRC at Padang for an opportunity to transfer to the school for studies. During those years, I have not heard of Ivy League schools and had no insights into opportunities like transferring to an elite school on sports merits. So that opportunity slipped by without us pursuing it. Clueless adolescent bunch I was.