To play or not to play, that is the question.

Yesterday night, I had rugby training at the Padang once again after 4 years of abstinence from the game. I used to play for the under-19 team and later on for the senior team. However, due to the concomitant injuries I sustained throughout my “rugby career”, I was regrettably unable to continue playing for them any further in fear of life and not to mention, my limbs. I just couldn’t, despite my love for the game, ignore my shoulder dislocation, the unforgettable knee ligament tear and the neck strain caused by the whiplash effect when I fell after a tackle. So you must be wondering why on earth I actually bother making a comeback to this game. Well, it is because this time I’m playing Touch Rugby. Contrary to what most people think, this is not a wussy game. It’s a very technical game which requires loads of stamina, quick wits and tactics minus all the senseless injuries and backbreaking tackles. It was, in fact, my ex coach cum ex national rugby captain, Adin, who pulled me to this game. He claims now that contact rugby is a, I quote, “Just a Stupid Game”. I bet he sure didn’t think that way when he played for the national team for almost ten years. These days, he even discourages his kids from playing the game.

So after I went to pick my Princess up from school, I made my way to my uncle’s place to deliver something and then headed to the Padang. Traffic was a killer and it took me nearly 30 minutes just to “snail” my way from Thomson to Connaught Drive. When I arrived, I was amazed to find that there were only 5 guys and 20 plus gals training. Now, for all the hot-blooded males reading this; don’t be reaching for your phone to ask me what time’s training. In fact, the training wasn’t so much of a “training” than I had expected. Apart from expecting an equal mix of guys and gals, I also expected the tempo to be a bit quicker. The only thing that was at a high tempo was the incessant picking of balls from the ground but I can’t say the same about the tempo of running and good passing. Nonetheless, I’m doing a favor for a friend so I guess I’ll go for a few more trainings until I really cannot take it anymore; notwithstanding my love for the game.

I had a haircut today and since Reds is undergoing its renovations, I decided to pay a visit to “Hair Mechanics” instead since it’s just opposite my place. I can’t exactly wholeheartedly say that I’m disappointed or thoroughly elated with my new hairdo but I think I’ll be better off visiting somewhere else the next time I need a haircut. The moment I left, I sent a picture of myself with the new hairdo to my baby with the text message, “After haircut – could have been worse”. Meant it as a joke but I think the picture was so scary she called me to ask what happened. I’ve always had a phobia about going to the hairdresser largely because I am not sure of what will become of my hair after that. Well no matter, I’m sure it’ll grow out soon and after that I can start looking into the mirror again.