Ab initio

In the beginning, we were blonde. Legally blonde.

No amount of Law school, mooting nor GPA 7s could adequately prepare one for an actual job, in persona.

Whatever knowledge that was learnt from reading Lord Atkins or HLA Hart becomes obsolete in the situation where 10,000 piece of correspondence papers, medical certificates, tax returns, public authority archive searches, all in triplicate, plus the odd Further Further Amended Statements of Claim stare at you in the eye, teasing your shortcircuited brain which before this very day you thought more than brilliant enough to change the world.

Forget the thoughts of office desk, free coffee, looking smart and walking straight and tall whilst juggling the word justice with both hands. Each file you handle dates back to when you were still giggling amongst a group of gossipy teenagers in 10th grade, if not earlier, like...last millenium. When each piece of correspondence has to be checked, distinguished from privileged and discoverable, useful evidence or 'without prejudice' and until each tax return has been analysed and an estimate figure of loss and damage materialises, the new clerk boy isn't making his $17/hr worthwhile...... lunch breaks, well...think again.

So those ambitious friends or wannabe law students out there, this is one big fish, don't throw the line if its not the one you're after... ...afterall, I'm not sure about it anymore myself.

Looking back- the inaugural season for Urbanites, a baptism of fire

Feb 2007, the Urbanites enter an unfamiliar ground for the first time, not all of the team were present, I grabbed a couple of feisty if not skilled friends to fill in for some who were still away overseas on holiday. Only the captain, Sun Yu(hereafter as Sunny) and I played the rest of the season.

We started well, almost 4 attempts on goal in matter of minutes, the captain broke the deadlock, I think it was my assist but can't be sure. More opportunities came our way, more and more rules were infringed, since we were only just getting used to this pacey, close quarter, furious style of play. We ended up regretting not taking our chances, 4-2 to the opposition. Unfit. Unsatisfied. We wondered whether we'll build up some form.

Wk 2, the rest of the team is back, a total restructure of the team. For so many of its new permanent members, the constant chirping of the whistle, the smell of perspiration on tired men and the nauseating glare of the flourescent floodlights was a first-time experience. Too much to bare. We fought but were in vain, we asked questions but were not answered. Too inexperienced. Still unfit.

The rest of the season saw some consistent improvement but to compete with these other team's 'so called' seasoned veterans we stood no chance. A victory against the top team sparked hope, but lack of unity and understanding remain the key problems. An injury to the keeper's wrist caused an absence of our imposing figure for almost 4 wks.

Finally broke the duck during the 4th last game, scored a vital goal that sealed us victory, scored 3 more times in the next 3 games and some satisfying assists gave me some faith for a better Sem 2 season. Though Derek will now go back to Singapore, the keeper role...hmm, will need to be filled. The team is bonding, Alvin and I can get on the same wavelength much more often, Sunny's switch to defence saw a little spice added to our orthodox halfback-which at the time was me. Goals were coming more often, the opposition were always having to fight to get their goal... ...we did well. Especially since two of our members never played soccer prior to this.

(Photo from left to right: Me, Tim, Jason, Brian, Alvin (c), Sunny, sitting Keeper Derek)