Dark Horse

With a sleepless night after seeing the worrying entrant list, I awoke with a start. One week ago I was apprehensive. After seeing the entrant list 2 days before the game, I wondered I should have signed up at all.

Of course, I went for the game anyway. The Penang Novice Scrabble Tournament is for novices – participants having a rating below 1000. That's me. Mine's zero.

It was held at the City Bayview Hotel. Quite a nice place, on the other side of the island from where I stay.

I was warmly welcomed with a Penang Scrabble Club T-shirt and 2 bottles of Pharmaton Kiddi Syrup. I have no idea what's the latter for. Boosting the brainpower I suppose.

After a sleepless night, I walked in into people mugging the Scrabble dictionary. In fact, I have hardly looked through my own copy. Practise with Valeria the Scrabble A.I. was all I've done.

There were seven games altogether. First five without pairing, last two are King of the Hill.

In between games, or while waiting for my opponent to move, I looked out of the window, and an old Penang town greets me, with the Penang bridge far ahead.

All the seven games were mentally strenuous, especially towards the end.

My opponent Yin Yee gave me the best game I've had in years. She's a bright tactician and a good strategist. It's a pleasure to play with her.

I won 7 games consecutively, and thus, ends my rating-less status here.

My dad says this is a Father's Day gift.

Third Sunday of June

I have always been around at home in June, a month when we celebrate Father's Day. This time around, I'm dictated by circumstances to be away.

It's a time like this when you stop and reflect. Perhaps one of those times when you, and everyone else in the family, thought Father's Day falls on the second Sunday of June.

And you get all dressed up, for fine wine and dinner, and a photo snap to boot, just to find out the following Monday that it's the coming Sunday.

It's a time like now when I'm fetching people up and down, that I realise how much time and money my dad has spent fetching me up and down, for the past ten-plus years. That daily routine. All I did was make a call.

I understand now. It sure took me a long time.

It's a time like now when I look through old photos, that I realise how lucky I am (or how I had a bad hair day…but hey, it's a happy photo, isn't it?)

It's a time like now, our hearts grow fonder.

It's a time like now, we say, to a wonderful dad

Happy Father's Day

Countdown to A Bowl of Hot Soup

I confess, the initial title was Countdown to a Tournament.

1000 USD first prize
100 ringgit tenth prize
80 ringgit fee
48 entrants to date
9 countries
7 games (if you make it to the end)
5 continents
3 days
1 guy seriously looking for trouble

I must say, after looking at the entrant list, I am a bit doubtful. I think a bit is an understatement.

Good luck to myself.