Auckland Day 5

I must start to remind myself that I only have 2 days left before I return back to Singapore! Time is just passing too fast. And once I'm back, a couple of days of break before I return to work, and have to wait another dreaded year before I get another 2 weeks of compliance leave.

Well, for all you BC fanatics hoping for another update on BC39 and D&R's class, I'm sorry to disappoint because this Singapore boy is still living in Singapore time! Meaning that I'm waking up at about 8am (NZ 1pm) and sleeping at 10-11pm (3-4am). Needless to say, I couldn't wake up for D&R's class this morning at 8:30am. What a letdown I know. I set the alarm but I don't know what happened!

So I woke up, checked the gym schedule, went for my usual early afternoon casino session before heading to the gym for 3 classes!

First up, BB44 rehearsal. Mixed feelings about this one. There's a couple of recycled tracks, not from other programs, but from previous BB releases. Are they really having so much difficulty finding music for BB? And I'm really hoping there won't be any more Seal songs in BB because frankly I really don't like his music and too much of it is annoying.

On a positive note, I do like T8 and T9 very much! Gavin Rossdale's Love Remains The Same and Kate Voegele's Lift Me Up. What a way to bring the class to a close.

After the class was BC by Joe Houpapa. He's the guy who appeared in BC25 DVD. I had a little trouble perking myself up for the class especially after the relaxation in BB, and I was still feeling a little dazed.

After BC, I went down to Studio Two for BJ by Carla! She did some 'new but not the new new' stuff as I quote her. Which means BJ47! I know it's unfair to make comparisons but I think I prefer BJ48 already haha - "There's a UFO!"

Today was Saturday, so the gym wasn't as crowded as usual, but there were many people attending the classes as usual. It's so much easier for an instructor to bring up the energy levels when there are many people.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll try to wake up earlier and I die die must do a BP before I leave. How can I come all the way here and not do a BP?

I left the gym and headed to the other direction towards New World supermarket. Their Quiche Lorraines are simply delicious, and I've already had three so far this trip and I've got another two in the fridge for night snack.

Dinner and after that the usual - casino!

Today was yet another lucky day for me. I won both my afternoon and evening sessions and on both occasions had the discipline to walk away unscathed. I could do a long list about whatever strategies and superstitions, but I still seriously believe gambling is about luck (and discipline to walk away when winning).

Now for the readers who may seem alarmed at my sudden penchant for gambling. Let me assure you this is not new. I have been a gambler since young. My favourite past-time was betting on football matches. I believe that proper analysis and understanding of teams' strength can increase chances of winning. Casino is a different thing - luck. I just like the kick. I like numbers, I like calculations and I like thinking probabilities.

The other thing is that the gambling genes run in my family. My parents are gamblers. My grandparents are gamblers. My relatives are gamblers. And also I think it runs in the Chinese blood. I am quite sure over 70% of the gamblers at the casino are of Chinese descent - China, HK, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore (some ugly gamblers I've met), Korea, Japan...

Carribean Stud - I've totally given up hope on that, not a single winning hand. Today, I was quite down on Blackjack but somehow managed to string a few perfect pairs (this is what I call sheer luck). But the ultimate for me today is BACCARAT! I even managed to get a perfect pair in Baccarat. At odds of 25-1.

I love BACCARAT. It just amuses me to see people writing on the cards because I think everything is to chance, and there's no way of knowing which card will come out next. Blackjack at least requires some skill. I don't play JACKPOT though. It's the same reason as why I don't like buying 4D and TOTO. It's a long shot.

As they say... "Whatever you want, whatever you like, whatever you say, you pay your money, you take your choice. Whatever you need, whatever you use, whatever you win, whatever you lose..." Get the hint people?

Anyway, I'm happy I won today, but I think I'm more proud of myself having the discipline to walk away.