Oh where does the time go? Does anyone know?
These days, in the midst of scrambling left right centre, all over the place, a tune keeps playing in my head, Julia Fordham’s “Where does the time go? Does anyone know?” drones on and on and on.
I cannot help it if that particular verse in the chorus keeps calling out to me, especially so when I have been wondering, i am busy all the time, but i cant seem to be getting peak productivity. This is even so after frivolous activities of leisure have been cut down to the bone.
I sleep early at night. Wake up early in the morning to lengthen the day but somehow, it still does not make it. I try to make a rather naughty blog post and end up editing its direction a couple of times and then i realise. Its fatigue!
The fatigue from running the court cases flowing from involvement with Gopalan Nair, Dr. Chee Soon Juan and other protestors are taking a toll. Especially for Gopalan’s mentions, all of which seem to involve so much time including the stand downs which makes things so much more draggy.
The mention for Gopalan Nair in court 26 on Monday 14th July 2008 was an example. Prosecution appeared in Court dealing with all 4 charges. I was only instructed on 2 and i have not had time to consider whether or not to take up the other 2. I needed just a little time to speak to Nair. The Court wanted to stand the matter down by 1.5 hours to 11am. Luckily i had the mind to insist that i needed just a moment and a stand down to 11 am was not required. I spent 10 minutes with Gopalan Nair and then i was ready to address the Court. Not wanting to wait for a PTC on 24th July 2008, we ended up with another PTC on 16th July 2008.
This meant that my entire week had been fixed with one court appearance for either Dr. Chee, Nair or myself every single day.
So much so that it seems that i have fallen a little behind on my professional obligations. On Wednesday itself after obtaining Mr. Nair’s trial dates (24th July Full day , 28th July AM, 29th July PM, 30th July PM, 31st July Full day, 6th August Full day) which were fixed in the midst of my having to appear in other courts for other matters, I having received news that a District Judge had been chasing me for my long overdue submissions for another matter and i realised what i had to do.
I realised that i had also opted to write this blogpost because i wanted to avoid that mental grind needed to get the original post publishable. As of now, i might have spent a total of 2-3 solid weeks of running around those cases which naturally meant 2 - 3 weeks of time less from my professional obligations over the last 1.5 months. No wonder i am feeling the strain.
I have been fortunate as Dr. Chee is very much willing to handle his trial in the Subordinate Courts himself. Dr. Chee’s trial was supposed to start from 14th July 2008 till 8th August 2008.
And since that i have now also found out that Mr. Gopalan Nair is willing as well, I will have my little breather to find that point of balance again.
I guess i should be much more effective in a couple of weeks when my professional obligations are fully discharged. This might also leave me with a little time for some music.
Now where did that Julia Fordham compact disc disappear to?
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About Me
Who is Chia Ti Lik? Who is Chia Ti Lik?
2 persons had asked me that. Yes, right in my face.
One of them was an angry man. Angry with the way i criticised the Ruling Party in Singapore a.k.a. PAP. his point was that i should not have done that.
He had obviously had tried to hint that i was a nobody and make me feel small. He need not have done that.
Because i acknowledge my smallness and i do feel small. Small enough to be a digit in the blogosphere, small enough to be dismissed by anyone with fear.
In Singapore, and especially in opposition politics, one needs to grow an extremely thick skin. I have always prided myself for that, being small yet thick skinned. And why not?
To be a politician, one must be thick-skinned enough to step forward. Be willing to speak of things that are not so nice to hear. To persons whom many people in their sane minds would not want getting into their bad books.
But most of all be willing to speak when one feels right without the fear of being shown to be wrong.
At the very core of vying for political power, at the very core of acting on one’s beliefs. One must acknowledge that one cannot be right all the time. One cannot also try to be right all the time. For to do so would mean jumping on someone else’s bandwagon and picking up your rifle when the war is already over.
There will be times when a majority do not see the flaws which a minority can and public opinion is clearly against you.
Does the minority then choose keep quiet? For the sake of being politically correct? Even though the minority claims to be the alternative leaders who are supposedly at the cutting edge of problem highlighting and solving?
Fear is the last thing an opposition party should have. Fear is what paralyses a people when they face an arrogant and high-handed government.
An viable opposition party must dispel that fear and rise to the role it is supposed to take. You have to face the fear head on, look at it inside out - face the fear within you, come to terms with it and not be controlled by it.
When you are similarly paralysed by fear like the people you wish to lead. What difference can you actually make?
Singapore after GE2006, was abuzz with the recent growth of a potentially viable opposition. What can be the biggest internal impediment to a potential opposition challenger? Fear and Complacency.
I had set out from the Workers’ Party to do the things that are needed to be done. Pointed and marked criticism of the ruling party without fear.
If opposition party members are unwilling to engage and criticise the Government, do you think they will engage in robust debates with ruling party MPs in parliament?
I am one person who believes that what needs to be done must be done. I left the ruling party (the PAP) to strengthen the Workers’ Party when there was a need to do so. I have now left the Workers’ Party to cover a role left empty.
Time and truth will tell whether my criticisms alone amount to more barbs and stings to the Ruling party than that offered by our opposition parties.
I have in this blog, set up a record of my letters raising issues and potential problems to the mainstream press. Whether or not the press decides to filter this feedback, the record of which will be made for all to view. Available for all who care enough to search and wise enough to see.
The 2nd person who asked “who is Chia Ti Lik?” was myself.
Sometimes, you won’t know who you are until you are there face to face with the situation and face to face with the fear.
I have yet to find an answer to that question.
I have been content to sit in its silence for sometimes in silence, if you be still and listen, you might be able to hear echoes.
Echoes which herald the birth of something to come.
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