Must really apologise for the long hiatus that I've taken. Fortunately the holidays wasn't a pure hiatus and much has elapsed over the past month or so.

The most significant would be ODAC EOY Expedition which was truly a very moving and inspiring 12 days in some of the prettiest parts of Victoria, Australia. Following that was church camp at Kota Tinggi, Msia which was very enjoyable. Not to mention how lucky we were because Kota Tinggi was inundated 2 days after we left. The 3 week RPPP internship with the Police Force has also concluded and I must say it turned out to be more fun, enjoyable and meaningful than I ever expected. Hence, looking back at the holidays past, it was busy and hectic (especially the last 3 weeks) but very very glad that it wasn't wasted rotting away at home.

Without as much as a blink of the eye, Christmas is here (finally) and the year's come to an end. What a year it's been, truly, with all the fun, excitement and rigours of JC1. What is starking is how we all have grown in the past year in terms of maturity, our dealings with people and relationships and our understanding of each other. From foolish-minded sec 4 boys to level-headed J1s (hur hur). Of course, I hope that for most of us, it was all a change for the better. But more certainly, I am sure that everyone has changed in one way or another, big or small.

For me, Christmas is my favourite time of the year. It's inexplicable but xmas always exudes an atmosphere of celebration and hope. It could be because Christmas heralds the coming of a new year or because (for working folks) the period is also when their bonuses come in. Anyhow, even though we celebrate Christmas year after year, Christmas still bears special significance, meaning and attention.

For one, it's the season where I write and receive xmas cards. It may seem extremely old fashioned but i prefer to mail my christmas cards, which unfortunately, leaves me at the mercies of the one Singpost. But the feeling of getting a card through the mail, opening the envelop and guessing hard who the person may be and be thoroughly surprised that this person remember to send a card, i think nothing can brighten a day more than that. And it was this simple act of receiving a card that convinced me to do likewise for all those i care about. It doesn't matter whether who you send the card to will return the favour and send back to you, it doesn't matter whether you will receive a word of "thanks" (but you usually do anyway) because you know that your simple act has brightened someone's day in a small but significant way.

And the reason for cards and notes and well wishes at christmas is fundamentally similar to why we celebrate birthdays (to my interpretation at least). Simply to tell the other person that he/she matters and you are thankful for having him around. And thanking someone should come uninitiated and without incentive, for sad it will be the day where we have to be induced with some reward or reciprocration to say a simple word of thanks to a friend.

Christmas certainly cannot be complete without christmas carols and songs. It's sad how shops have devalued these songs by playing them ad infinitum for the whole month running up to xmas. It's true that they add to the atmosphere but still...playing the same tracks countless times surely cannot get any more irritating. Thankfully, I haven't spent my holidays staking out orchard road and hence didnt get to feel that sian of the xmas songs.

The singing of traditional christmas carols on christmas service is truly unbeatable and for me, theres no better way to spend christmas morning than singing some carols in church. Is it me or is mariah carey totally pwnage at singing christmas songs like "All I want for christmas is you" and "have yourself a merry little christmas. Christmas atmosphere to the max.

And the christmas celebrations truly cannot be complete without the traditional christmas eve dinner with family and cousins. Its by far the best meal of every year, and the spread of food, drinks, dessert really makes me happy. And unbelievably sleepy after that as well.

It's been a good xmas, parties meeting and having fun with different groups of friends, eating and drinking and making a fool of ourselves. It's really been good fun. But i think this xmas has been a little too busy for me. The past 2 days were spent running around, attending gatherings, church and getting stuff for people. Today was really a welcome and much needed break to pause, sit down and reflect on the whole meaning of Christmas.

Because truly, christmas isn't christmas till it happens in your heart. For some people, christmas is just another time to go on a mad shopping frenzy for presents for every auntie, friend, uncle, maid, cousin, neice, nephew, dog, cat that you know. For some, its a season of friendship - catching up with people that you haven't met in a year of even years. For even others, it may be a time of feasting and merry making and soaking up of festive mood.

And so, have you thought about it, what does christmas mean to you?