The charm of Fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable -- a perpetual series of occasions for Hope

Nike 10K Run Completed.
My first Nike 10k run.
Not bad of a run. Beat my personal best at 10km.

I've been participating in lots of loner activities. Things like running and fishing, activities where i do things by myself and let my mind wander. Ryan mentioned an important part of fishing that he kinda liked it coz it was a loner activity.

Letting my mind wander clears lots of things up. Doubts, worries, decisions, choices. Some of these are thought over while on the run or while just standing there casting and playing with my lure. And since i've been doing such activities in quite a high volume recently, i allowed my mind to wander for quite alot.

And the most nagging doubt and decision that i had to make was a matter of the heart. A lingering feeling i have held for quite some time - years in fact. And first and foremost i would like to apologise to my bros of 3MC for not mentioning this to you guys. You guys are the closest to me and we share our darkest secrets together. But everytime when i meet you guys, i don't see it as something for me to bring up coz everytime we meet, i'm lost in the moment that we're gonna spend together which is mostly filled with crazy laughter and jokes, and this matter just slips my mind. I'm happy whenever i see u guys so sad thoughts don't occupy my mind.

It goes like this. I kinda have feelings for this girl. And have held it for quite some time, even years. roughly around 4 years. For the first few years i was quite close to this girl. Spending quite some time with her on certain evenings and sometimes even accompanying her home. We were quite close to such an extent that people even thought that we were together - but we weren't. I wish we were but we were not. But for all the closeness, she never noticed how i much i care for her.. So it's kinda a one sided affair to be honest. But i believe the mistake i made is not letting my feelings known to her. But everytime i wanna do just that, something just pops up that stops me from doing so. Even when i had a girlfriend, she never strayed out of my mind. So much to the extent that even my ex-gf could sense that there was something i had for this girl. Like my ex-girlfriend was something to take me away from my failure of not being able to express my feelings for this girl. But i couldn't get her out of my mind, my feelings for this girl were strong.

So i still kept close to her. Eventually we parted and didn't see each other but i still kept my feelings for her alive in hope that she would one day realise something missing from her life. But she never did -- don't think she ever will.

It's kinda hard to explain feelings that has been going on for 4 years and this is the best i can do, a condensed version of events. We've drifted apart for the past year so as expected, the feelings i have for her come into question and i begin to question myself. "How long would i still want to wait?, Do you think she would still develop feelings for you after so long? "

The first song on my blog -What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts - is a good representation of this sort of relationship that i have with this girl. The lyrics are there so if u're interested just listen to the song and read the lyrics along with it..

The questions have always been coming up but i refuse to answer them, let them just fade away. But these kind of questions don't do that. irritating.

Even before this, when things were already drifting apart. And when i was about to let go, some events just happen and tell me not to. Just to hold on a little longer, maybe eventually she'll notice. This has happened countless times. But not anymore now. Not anymore

And it all culminates down to this moment. Where i have lots of time to allow my mind to wander and ask myself these questions and painfully answer them. And a decision has been made. Last week, i came to this painful conclusion during my 8km training run. I didn't want to accept it -- but i had to. And finally, during this Nike 10K run, as usual during a run. My mind wanders and consoles my heart. And i have decided to stop holding on, stop waiting and to let her go..

And finally after 4 years of painfully holding on, i've let myself free.

My heart is finally free..

Lure Fishing For The Win...!!!

Saturday 16.10.10

Went lure fishing at 8am with dzaki at jurong lake. Northern Promenade fishing ground. Not much fish around. Didn't get a bite, other anglers didn't get a bite too. Dzaki with his first time fishing got my yozuri popper stuck up a tree.. lol.. couldn't get it down. ouh well. let him use the extra skitter pop that i had. He also agreed on the difference in action and feel that the Rapala Skitter Pop has over the Yozuri Arms Popper.

Rapala 1 : other brands 0

Went for archery to help geraldine, her last training before the Pol-ite games. Super hot today, got my tan back.

Went to Pasir Ris for mini alumni BBQ.. went to the location early to try saltwater luring. Stood like ankle deep in the water luring and luring, playing with my X-rap. All around me the other anglers were using their mega long surf rods with prawn bait and their fancy looking mini light sticks attached to their rod tips and leader rigs. I just tried my luck. With me and my new luring rod, working the X-rap.

Alternated going back to the BBQ and going down to the beach. Great company that came down. Shi min, De rong, Ashley, Timothy, Rayson, Shwa Juan were the not-so-often-met.. Ryan, Kailin, Christine and Wai jack, i see them often during archery..

Ryan wanted to learn how to fish so I lent him my rod and off we were to the beach to fish.. So i thought him how to cast and play with the lure, to vary the reeling speed to attract the fish.. He was like skeptical on our fishing success coz of the other anglers around with their surf fishing gear. We were like Out gunned in fishing tackle terms..

There was a time where the lure got snagged close to shore on some rubbish.. ryan thought it was a bite, since the rod bent like crazy.. lol.. but it was no bite.. it was rubbish..

As the tide went out, i thought i saw small baitfishies.. so i asked ryan to cast along that certain area. and true enough.. after several casts.. very very close to the shoreline.. Ryan got a bite and a quick hookset.. We both were caught unawares coz it was so close to shore.. True to wat the people in the forum said. Wild sea bass or Barramundi put up a good fight. it was spectacular as the fish jumped out the water and fought but as it was too close to shore Ryan got it out quite fast..

Rapala 2 : other brands 0

A BARRAMUNDI..!! KIM BAK LOR..!! On a lure..!! while the others around me with their live bait didn't get anything..!! lol..!!

I can categorize it as beginner's luck but wat a luck..!! It's a barramundi..!! One of the most highly sought after saltwater fish on our shores..!! But the greatest achievement was that it was caught on a lure..!! This is the first time i got a fish on one of my lures..!! Very very impressed..!!

Lure Fishing FTW..!!

gonna fish with my Rapala X-rap more.. prolly buy other colours of it..

till then..

Tight Lines..!!

Marathon training starts on Monday and continues thru all the way up to December 5th.
Long runs on Sundays, anyone keen can just tag along.

E-waves Fishbyte at West Coast Road is the fishing tackle shop i shall patronize now. Ease of access with GREAT service. Will definitely go there for my fishing needs.

Ouhya. the previous post was rather too short and brief. I shall explain it further.
I went to Ewaves fishbyte last saturday and was instantly approached for service. I initially declined. but after numerous entries and exits to look at the baitcasting reels outside and inside the shop i was finally approached again when i was looking at Rapala lures. This guy, Melvin, asked me questions about my fishing which was great questions to address a customer's needs in a shop..

"sir can i help u? " is too common and boring a line used to offer service.

Melvin asked me "so u're into luring? where do u fish? " instantly i was hooked by his choice of words.. Words that addresses the customers needs..

Not like the usual
Sales assistant girl: "Sir can i help u?"
Hafiz: " Ouh yes, can u follow me into the changing room and take off my shirt for me? "

AHHAHAHAHAHA.. random shit..

Okay back to the story..

So i answered Melvin on my fishing locations and told him that i am into luring.. And so he told me about his own experience fishing at that location and the type of fish that were there and that he wasted a chance to get this toman coz he didn't bring his flyfishing equipment. So conversations are organic so i asked him about flyfishing and he asked me to drop by COHO if i was really interested. Then he got back into the topic of luring and thought me several techniques on working certain lures..

He also taught me how to effectively use certain lures at different types of the day and how to work them to entice fish to the lure. He is marvelous. A real fisherman and a real service person. He didn't work at e-waves yet was there to help the shopkeeper with the customers. Customers like me.

So he taught me on the different reels, the drags on them.. The rods and the different actions that they have..

So our conversations and exchange of opinions and technical knowledge went on until i made my choice of equipment. And so i made a new friend today -- Melvin..

I just can't wait to use my fishing stuff..

Most probably on saturday, before the bbq..
yesh i shall go there early, find a nice spot, cast my lines and enjoy myself..

And as all the people on fishing forums would go..


Tight lines...

=)

Bought some new fishing gear.. NAISE..!!

watch out all u fishies out there..!!

Ngiahahahahhah...!!

BLEARGH..!!

2 days MC..

So boring at home..

Been looking through fishing forums and websites. Really starting to question my fishing tackle. Ever since that uncle at changi kelong walk helped me with my tackle. He said that my choices were wrong. Ouh well. Thanks to Regal tang staff i suppose. They don't know their stuff just there to sell their items. A total regret. Next time I shouldn't ask them. I shall find online reviews. But since Regal Tang is the nearest fishing tackle shop. Prolly be visiting there quite often.

Yesterday's fishing trip also made me think on the choice of my equipment and also the fun and satisfaction i get out of the equipment.

Thinking of revamping my whole fishing tackle setup since i'm already thinking of getting a proper rod. Might as well change everything together with it. Thinking of getting a baitcasting set.

First, i'm gonna do some window shopping for good baitcaster reels.. then i shall look for a rod to complement it..

I have every monday for the month of october off.. so peeps who want to ask me out on sunday and stay out late. please feel free to do so..

good for me.. more time to spend for myself on sundays without worrying of booking in..

Read thru a fly fishing forum and some fishing blogs and came across albert in one of the pics. LOL. quite funny. Fly fishing sounds very enticing.

Maybe on one of the mondays, i'll drop by COHO fishing tackle to purchase some fly fishing gear and also take up fly fishing lessons..

I'm beginning to really love fishing..