Home Of Tong

Having survived my 1st week at work, I am glad that the 2nd week started out much better. I can feel my wound recovering well and guess in a couple more weeks (or slightly more), I shall be raring to go. Hoping to be able to participate in the Run NUS 2009 this Sun after missing the SAFRA Bay Run as there is no way I can run in my condition.

The BPL season has started once again and I have to endure the scorns of manu and chelski fans after Liverpool started the season with a defeat while the rest of the big 5 win. But the mid-week game means Liverpool is able to go back on track with a 4-0 win over Stoke, especially after 2 nil-nil draws last season. And with the news that manu lost to newly promoted Burnley, it was simply a great feeling. Obviously been manu u don’t expect them to lost 2 games in the row so it was expected that they walk over Wigan over the weekend. Chelski, Arsernal, Spurs and Man City all had a great start to the season, but as we all know, the season only ends in May 2010, not next week. So it is going to be a long season. It remains to be seen who will remain at the top come Christmas.

The last weekend is also the return of F1 after a long break. McLaren seems to have got their package correct when they qualify 1-2 for the 1st time this season, but a pit lane screw up, and a lack of speed (vs the Brawn anyway) see them finishing 2nd and 4th instead. Kimi started from 6th and finished among the podium for another great race following his Hungarian 2nd place finish. Ferrari’s temp replacement for Massa (I didn’t even want to mention his name) had a mess of a race and if I (and millions other Ferrari fan I’m sure) have a choice, I wish he don’t start at Belgian. He was so bad that the reason he finish the race is because he is too careful. And the reason he manage to be better than Nakajima is because he has to drive an entire lap with 3 tires after one burst just after he passed the pit entry. His day of misery is compounded when he gave up his position while coming out of the pitlane. I have never seen someone race so bad before. I sure don’t hope seeing his in Singapore. Really wish Massa will recover for the Singapore leg.

With the Singapore races coming up in slightly over a month, I am beginning to feel excited. Having met up with some old friends, and new ones, recently for our sector briefing, it was just great to be talking F1. Next up is to look forward to the training when I really hope I can be up to mark as a recovery specialist. Wish me all the best!

I lived another day! Haha…lots of things happened today, and it’s barely 3pm.

I woke up feeling the best day of my last 9-10 days and thought my recovery is near to completion. So I decided to venture to the mini-mart across the road for my furthest venture yet. Half way through, I started to regret. The pain is back but I persisted on as I was determined to buy somethings over there. Having again overestimated myself, I bought quite a bit of stuff and while walking back, the pain got worst, as I guess the weight I was carrying play a part. Stupid old me, I should have just rested. But I guess I was getting impatient.

Back home, I was reading the latest Liverpool news. Yes, Alonso leaving is old news. Nevermind he was an unknowned when Rafa picked him out in 2004. Nevermind he won his first major trophy with Liverpool. Nevermind he was a regular in the Spain squad since joining Liverpool. Nevermind the fans adore him and pleaded for him to stay. His mind was already made up…in May!!! Right after the season ended he has already made up his mind to turn his back on Liverpool. Goodbye Alonso, and I am still glad for the good years you brought along to Liverpool. Now I hope you don’t do so well in Real Madrid…oops…did I say that out loud? I mean I still hope you do well, just not so well.

The news of the day is Rafa has already lined up a replacement. Hours after Alonso flies into Madrid to complete his medical, Liverpool has agreed a deal with Roma for 25 years old Italian international Alberto Aquilani, presumably for less than 2/3 of the fees they received from the Alonso deal (which is rumors to be somewhere between £28-30mil with additionals). While many don’t, I do put my faith in Rafa. Look at the players he has brought in, besides Alonso, he has brought in players like Torres, Mascherano, Benayoun, Riera, Aurelio, Reina, Skrtel, etc…the list gones on. Many of this players had many critics wondering, but they turn out to be great players. I know, there are some not so good buys, which he quickly shipped out, and some who are still developing, which I see potential. There are those that I do not agree, but generally, I am impressed with his buys so far.

The only problem is whether Aquilani can pass a stringent medical due to his injury problem, and if he can bed into the sqaud as quickly as Torres did. Sad to say Italians don’t travel that well, and I hope he is one of the exceptions. If he does, from what I read, he will be a great link up player in the middle of the park, and youngest and fastest too (compared with Alonso). Italian football are very technical, which is what is needed as a midfield linkup man, so I am keeping my finger crossed.

Another big news today is that the role allocation for the F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2009 is out! I will be a Recovery Specialist this year and boy oh boy it’s going to be fun! I will be at Turn 8 this year (vs Turn 18 last), and from what I know, it is one of the high risk corner identified. With Michael Schumacher back (hopefully for the Singapore leg too), and the championship race hotting up (vs the early gloom that it’s going to be a 1 team championship year), and McLaren and Ferrari improving their cars by leaps and bounds, it promises to be a good year. And guess what, we get to go to Pasir Gudang for a day of training too! How cool is that!?! Heehee…now all I need is to make sure I recover quickly, so that I will not miss out on the trainings coming up.

My F1 2009 Allocation - Click to enlarge

Cheerios!