Music Club

I've been talking so much about Rugby, I forgot to mention my second CCA, music.

At first I find it kinda boring (maybe it's because I missed the introduction and the last meeting, and I had to cut my time in school because Zani's CCA hasn't started yet). I nearly dropped Music to focus more on Rugby, then there was the Audition.

The audition is long awaited to choose out the number of people to become School Band Members and the Commitee. I wanted to give a try on it (bringing the DIME-O-FLAGE guitar in mind. *Laughs like an evil villain*) but I had to meet the President personally. Sure I was afraid, I mean, I left out alot so.. dunno.. maybe a feeling a little blacklisted?
So there he was in the canteen, and if I didn't ask him then I'll definitely drop Music.

*echo* Mr Stuart: "You have to keep pushing" *echo*

So I did. and found out he liked talking to guitar geeks (erk..) and was impressed with my knowledge in guitars (more impressed when I mentioned the DEAN). So I got in, and last Saturday, with my Dean in hand, I came for the auditions (seems he also signed me up for the commitee, w/out my knowledgee. So I got into the interview and asked for the position of Planner. The dudes that create the ideas.)

I expected worst. One of the cables didn't work, so I couldn't use the distortion pedal.
1 out of 2 cables = No pedal = no Azzi's extra crispy, pinch harmonic screaming guitar sound.

I freaked out, and all I can do is to use directly to the amp and the sound was good enough (I can only use the low pinch harmonic, so imagine the look in everyone's faces when they heard it).
yeah, the Harmonics master the Shred master Qawi calls me.

I got in the room, connected the Dean to the President's Marshall amp (and the sound was good! I wanted to bring along my cable and effects pedal but the President won't allow it) and then play Cowboys from Hell by Pantera, one of my favourite speedy songs.

The results were on today. I went to the music club room only to be greeted by the President (I expected the room to be empty and the results to be posted on the board), so there we sat down and discussed about my results.

He asks, "So do you think you did well?" I became nervous and felt a little doubt, but my mom's wisdom says 'In interviews, you must always talk about your good side'.
So I said, "I'm confident that I did well enough"
Then he gives me his answer, "Congratulations, you are officially a School Band member".

*shock*

I didn't know if impressed the judges with my playing or is it my Dime-o-Flage. Anyway, this one kept me going for music. Looks like my passion for music has gone up again!

Highlights of Audition day:
-Me going crazy on Qawi's acoustic. Playing loud Texas-like sound.
-My guitar
-The President's Fender Stratocaster, and his Yngwie Malmsteen speed! *WTH*
-Me playing 'Tears in Heaven', everyone singing along.
-Me telling them about the music you can play with the guitar.
-A dude that plays Trivium.. fast!
-A number of dudes who play Senjakala. HoooWeee.

BTW, did I mention the president's uncle is Man Kidal? The malaysian guitar legend who plays lefthanded for the band, LEFTHANDED. If you listen to Lefthanded, keep track with malaysian artist, heard of some dude who plays his guitar upside down, watch AF2 and see him shred with Sham Kamikaze; you'd know.

Erk, I hope it stays a rumor.

Heard from my teammates about another match with the Knights. I was like "WHAT?!" when I heard.

Oh God, let's hope it stays a rumor.
But if God willed it, then I hope God willed some rain again.

Argh, and I'm still injured!

Oh, and I finally bought my rugby shorts, and a RUGBY BALL! WOOHOO!

No match today. Haka. Tournament

1
*sigh*
Seems that the match was postponed due to transport problems in KB, and we were eager to do extra training. Heard it in the anouncement by Mr Stuart, and we may have a match next week.

At least we get to heal our injuries for awhile. My body still aches from the injury I had last Thursday (the chest pains, my shoulders, neck). Though Wann didn't join us during the Knights match, his eye is still swelling from the training the day before and it looks black today.

We are all still hurt from the last match, but we're lucky not to challenge the Pythons this week.

2
Seems my teammates are into the Haka lately.
To those who are not familiar with the Haka: It is ceremonial dance and chant by the Maori in New Zealand. The Te Rauparaha Haka, popularly known as the Ka Mate was well known by its use by one of the best Rugby players, the ALL BLACKS.

The words are:
Ringa pakia!
Uma tiraha!
Turi whatia!
Hope whai ake!
Waewae takahia kia kino!

Ka Mate, Ka Mate! Ka Ora, Ka Ora!
Ka Mate, Ka Mate! Ka Ora, Ka Ora!
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā
A upa ... ne! ka upa ... ne!
A upane ka upane whiti te ra, hi!



Though their new one was more menacing, the Ka Mate is deeply remembered by Rugby Fans and New Zealand for its powerful presentation.

3
There is a chance that we'll be entering a tournament later this year.
We can use these games to learn our basics, and ready ourselves with the next game.

It's amazing how Rugby is thought to be a sport played by men who only ask for injuries, but when we juniors started playing, we learn that Rugby is more fun than painful. We are eager to do training, work harder, tackle people around us, and play when we have the opportunity.

And maybe we'll get back at Awg Semaun and the Knights.

Why not? Their having fun too.

KB Pythons

This saturday, again, will be more training to prepare for the next match, against the feared Pythons!
After losing against the Knights, can we still fight against the same team that defeated the seniors last year with 41-0 pts? Is it possible?

I can only hope that we'll be blessed with energy for this match and prevent ourselves from getting a crushing defeat. We need to at least score a try or prevent the Pythons to score over 20pts.

Pythons consist of players from Kuala Belait (Thining about it makes me think how tough they are) and people from Miri, Sarawak (Heard the malaysians are hard too).

I nearly broke my back on our last match, and if they are tough as I heard before, then I may have to enter the hospital for this.

But wouldn't it be fun? To challange against speed freaks, giants, and an adversary with unknown strength?

This would be our 3rd game, and if I'm correct, there will be a 4th match. Will it be another school taking up Rugby? The Bandar Blacks? The Royal Brunei Armed Forces? The Yachties? The Under 19 national rugby players?

All for the sake of fun and experience.

Knights.Solar Plexus.Pain makes you happy

1
It was raining, the cool wind and water had removed the chains of heat and exhaustion from us. It was another game of Rugby. This time we do not face adversaries who are fast and stickly, but powerful Giants: The Knights!

It was in this game we finally released our fears and played with vicious furiousity. God had blessed us in this game with the cold shower.

It was my first touch of the ball.

The void has been filled and my first moment of Glory had occured when the ball was in my hands. With burning charisma and confidence, I thrashed myself against the incoming Knights and with my battle roar, I pushed.Even with the numerous Knights that tried, they couldn't stop the force of warrior in Battle. I finally slipped out of their massive bodies only to be stopped by the other Knights who had been waiting.

I think there was around Five who tried to pull/push me down (*nose widening, laughing hard*).

I had not counted our tries, nor our scores. I knew we lost, but to the best players we ever faced.

2
'A blow to the stomach (or upsetting the region where the Celiac/Solar Plexus)' causes the diaphragm to spasm and results in difficulty breathing. This is commonly called 'Getting the wind Knocked out of you' .

I had the luxury to experience this during our Rugby match with the Knights.

-After my second grab on the ball I got tackled by two guys arm to arm. This got my chest hurting.
-The scrums add to the pain since we were facing Giants. The left was difficult to push and the right carried me. So this got my body like this ('>'), like a cookie being broken half.
-The next scrum made it final. The scrum collapsed and the Giants fell on me.

This got me to a state of pain and panic. I was on the ground and my breathing was getting harder and more difficult. The other players got me out of the field made me lie down at the Knight's side. They poured icy cold water all over my body to cool me down.

"Breath slower"
"Don't close your eyes"
"Relax and lie down"
"You'll be fine"

The Knights were more respectable. It was an honor to fight with these Giants.

Actually I'm writing now while i try to endure the pain on my chest. I'm breathing fine but still difficult. But there is one good thing about it.

Wann, one of the players, asked where my battle wound was. He had a bruise in his knee and swell above his eye.
Sofian had a gash on his waist.
Aziz was bleeding today.

So this is my wound, a simple pain in the chest but signifies my first steps in Rugby, and being a talented player.

3
This is a conversation between a kid and myself while I was relaxing down from the pain, translated to english:

Me: "Wanna take Rugby when you're older?"
Boy: "No, it looks painful and difficult."
Me: "That's what makes it fun, it's hard. When you grow up, difficulties like these make it worthwhile to play"
Boy: "You have a swelling on your leg"
Me: "In Rugby, pain makes you happy".

19-5

What's 19-5 you ask? That's the score of our first rugby game.
No, we didn't win unfortunately.
I think that's equals to one try by our team (he was good too, but got a leg injury after that) and 3 tries and a kick over the goal post by the opposition.

Let it be this game that teach us the game, and a reminder that we should do much better in the future. 'Advancement' is the only path of true men.
I want to learn more, train more, be fit like the captain, be the role model of the next batch of Rugby players next year, and maybe lead them to battle like Simon today (he was cool, proud to be a prop with him by my side. Come to think of it, there were numerous scrums).

Rashidin said I need to run more and not to be afraid when facing a ruck. I'll keep this in my mind. I can't disappoint people more.

If we have a chance, I'd like to try again with Awang Semaun again.
But Bloody, Those guys are rude! Fast too! Need to use the body more.

Oh, and one more thing. People have been asking about my position lately.
I'm a forward, I tackle people.
I'm position 1 (cool, huh?), I'm the left prop in the scrum. I push people.

Argh! My Muscles hurt!!

As long as we breath, 'advancement' is the only path of true men

Let me tell you about Rugby.

When you think of Rugby you think, "Violent, Full of Big Men, Tackling, passing backwards, tactics, etc etc."
Training every wednesday got me thinking. Six juniors, including myself, are not left out even if we never played rugby before. Everytime we did mistakes we were always told not to give up. Our Coach, Mr. Hans would just give us Five push-ups for each ball we drop. Save the other five on the 2nd drop, then ten on the 3rd.

I was pathetic on the first training day after the holidays, I was on the verge to surrender myself to fatigue, and feel wanting to leave rugby. Then they'll keep telling you to push on and never give up. In the end of the day, surprisingly, I wanted to do more. Work harder, raise stamina, Get fit. and never give up.

Mr Stuart, my second Coach, said the only thing they won't like is giving up. They want people who are eager to keep going and get better. So I kept going.

Rugby is also about brotherhood, to know the warrior beside you on the field.
And along with my brothers, we will train again tomorrow. Then the next day, we will have our first match against SM Awang Semaun. Newbies like us who may have also learned about brotherhood.

Got this from the anime 'School Rumble ni gaki, episode 7'. A group of students found a door in a Video store which may lead to the 'treasured videos' they were looking for.

Captain: One Step in there and you won't be able to return to the world from whence you came. Despite this, do you guys still have the courage to step forward?

Group of Boys: As long as we breath, 'Advancement' is the only path of true men.

I've Never had a Girlfriend.. in my LIFE!

I remember saying this to alot people, and their reply was surprising...

1. "What?! Really?!"
2. "No way! You're Joking!"
3. "Really? But you look okay!"
4. "What? Why?"
5. "I don't believe you!"

Funny isn't it? I remember a friend saying how nice it is to be single (Note that she broke off with her boyfriend days ago).

Sure, the relationship system between adolescents in this country is mostly exaggerated.
The youngest couple I heard of is a guy from Primary Six, a girl from Primary Four. And you know what? After they 'Broke Up', the boy used that reason to take drugs!

I heard most of my female friends complain about their ex's (My friend complained about her boyfriend 'doing it' before he 'proposed' to her. Why? "Because he doesn't want to lose her before he 'proposed' ". Now that's taking advantage).

Note the word 'PROPOSED'..
Make's it sound like a marriage, doesn't it?
Do you know if you check out most Bruneian Friendster Profiles, most of them would choose "Married" instead of "In a Relationship"

Like I said before, Mostly Exaggerated.

Anyone who argues would say, "You have no right to criticize, you never had a girlfriend."
Well, that's a fact. But I know the emotion of being in love, I know of being heartbroken. Can you?
No one can tell, you have to learn it by experience. And I have.

Note that being single is not all good. Sooner or later, you'll feel lonely.