The In-Betweens

Super Junior Galaxy Showcase

2010-06-23T13:51:00.020+08:00

It has been a more than 2 months since I last blogged.

Oh how I missed having the luxury of time penning down my thoughts.

May was a super busy month. Work starts at 9am and ends at 10pm almost every night for that 3 weeks. It was pure hard work! Boy, am I glad that it is over.

Our team was tasked to spearhead the Samsung Galaxy S campaign, featuring Super Junior. Before this, I have never heard of the Super Junior not that they aren’t famous. (I’m just not too interested)

Anyway, some photo highlights from the event!

The Super Fans!

The works!

The Super Junior! (aka SuJu)

(These 2 are my favourites!!)

Supersize Us!

It was such a smashing night!

of Average is the new exception

2010-04-15T22:23:00.004+08:00

Welcome to the new mediocrity.

Finally

of fitting a square peg in a round hole

2010-04-13T20:43:00.004+08:00

Of late, I'll been feeling more and more like this. It's like trying to force my natural shape into something which obviously don't fit me. Feels awakard, uncomfortable and doesn't belong. Feels that my strength are not fully utilise, feels hard to fit in.

At the end of the day, I know that a square peg can never fit nicely into a round hole.

Of countdown to perth

2010-03-15T14:24:00.003+08:00

Countdown: 6 days to Perth

I'm so excited for my perth trip with Juli starting this weekend!

I called it our <8 days Perth-fect Holiday>.

We met up last saturday to discuss our travel itinerary and some of the 'must-go' places includes: Margaret River, Cape Leeuwin, Pinnacle Desert, Fremantle Weekend Market, Cottesloe Beach, Rottnest Island, Harbourtown Factory Outlet and Kings' Park. There are more places to go than the days to cover them but I'm sure we'll manage it!

Went to the famous money changer, People's Corner, at Arcade during lunch. The Aussie dollars are super high now. 1AUD = 1.28SGD. Boohoo... Now no matter how cheap my SUPRE loots are, it might not be worthwhile... But this morning, MArk just told me to enjoy myself and don't be bothered by the money.. If I really don't have enough cash, I could just sign my credit card and he will help to pay for me. Where to find such nice boyfriend!! Hehe..

I better be wise and buy something nice for him! :)

of Rain down

2010-03-12T10:25:00.005+08:00

I feel like jumping with joy whenever I hear this song.

Lord, may you rain down your spirit on me. My heart is parched, but still I will sing. Rain it down on me...

of a Mrs Lee in 365 days

2010-03-05T11:24:00.002+08:00

I'll be walking down the aisle with my best friend in exactly 365 days. Ain't you excited? I am now.

of a tour around Resort World Sentosa

2010-03-05T09:09:00.020+08:00

On Tuesday, I made my first visit to Resort World Sentosa (RWS). Even though it was not a personal leisure trip (was doing site visit on behalf of my company), I was already feeling excited along the drive in towards RWS!

Who won’t be right, especially after being greeted with this castle-like building at the entrance?

I somehow felt teleported to some theme parks overseas.

The taxi dropped us at the Casino entrance as that it is only entrance we don’t have to pay the entrance fee. We then needed to make our way to Hard Rock Hotel where all the meeting facilities are housed.

Me and my colleagues made our way pass this huge walkway with pseudo water ripple effect reflected on the high arched ceiling. It’s akin to walking in an underwater tunnel. Very dream-like.

On our way there, we also passed by much-hyped about Victoria Secret store. To me, it looks small and a tad messy. As we are in a hurry, we didn’t pop in to have a look. Maybe next time…

After about a 10 minutes walk from the Casino, we finally reached Hard Rock Hotel. My impression of Hard Rock Hotel is a good one. It has a huge and spacious lobby and created a modern and relaxing feel. They used unpolished cement flooring with brightly colored carpet. At the centre of the waiting area is an island bar counter. How clever! (Too bad, the picture turned out blurred)

We headed to the outdoor swimming pool area where there is a huge Coliseum that can house an out-door concert for at least 800 people. The swimming pool flooring is not the usual tiles but filled with fine sand purchased from some other countries.

Our guide gave us some background info on the 4 hotels; Crocksfords Tower, Hotel Michael, Festive Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel Singapore.

Crocksfords Tower is a by-invitation all suite hotels, reserved exclusively for high rollers. It overlooked the Singapore harbour and Southern Islands. It is situated just above the the Casino for easy access 24/7.

Festive Hotel is a family get-away hotel situated next to Crocksford Tower and the Festive Walk. The hotel lobby is decorated with colorful lantern-like lights to exude a cheerful feeling. I heard that they gave candy and Shrek toy to kids who stayed there?

Hard Rock Hotel Singapore is more of a modern and contemporary hotel for the jet-setter with a rock-and-rock attitude. It houses all the meeting and conference facilities, and indoor exhibition space. This includes 26 differently-designed function rooms and one of Asia's largest ballrooms with seating for 7,300 guests. It also has a fully-equipped classy-looking gym. (No hunk spotted inside though)

Lastly Hotel Michael is boutique hotel named after and designed entirely by Michael Graves & Associates, Hotel Michael pays homage to Michael Graves' artistic streak.

Anyway, after touring around, we finally made our way to the much hyped about Universal Studio.

A quick check with our guide tells us that the theme park should open by end of the month. I'll come back again once it is fully operational!

Just before saying goodbyes, we saw this huge Hershey's Chocolate Store and made a mini detour inside.

Look what we saw!! Mammoth looking Hershey's sauce and Gigantic Hershey's Kisses!!!

My colleagues clowning around:

Look at the amount of candy!

By the end of the site recee, we are so exhausted...But I'm sure I'll be going back again. haha.. Bye...

Of we are who we choose to be

2010-02-19T13:37:00.002+08:00

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, 'My son, the battle is between 'two wolves' inside us all.

'One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.'

'The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 'Which wolf wins?'

The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'

of a vainity affair

2010-02-01T17:02:00.008+08:00

I’m not usually a lavish spender but yesterday I spent $1,800 on a facial package with Leonard Drake. It’s one of my big ticket items. I’ve discussed with MArk and we both agreed that it is an investment leading up to the wedding preparation next year. Wedding photo shoots, actual day wedding, etc. Being the doting boyfriend, he decides to pay 1/3 out of his own pocket even though he can’t enjoy the facial.
(Even though I didn’t marry a rich man, I married a generous one! They say that a generous husband might become rich but a rich husband might never become generous. haha )

Anyway, Xueli introduced me to Leonard Drake Demalogical a year ago when I noticed that her skin has shown great improvements. I took up their $888 package to try for the first time. Results were quite good, just that it would have been better if I am more consistent.

What I really like about them is that they take my comments seriously. There was once when I commented that I felt cold and dislike therapists with cold hands, they gave me a warm blanket on my subsequent visits and make sure that I never get therapist with cold hands in future. They also make sure to give me a reminder calls a day prior to my appointment.

This time round, after spending so much on the package, I am determined to be more religious in going for my facial!

For the $1800 facial package, they gave me $2800 worth of credit + $270 product vouchers. It’s quite a bargain right?

I redeemed the product vouchers immediately!

I’ve gotten the following products:

Skin Hydrating Booster, $112. Contains Hyaluronic Acid to help improve hydration and skin’s elasticity

Skin Smoothing Cream, $86. A medium-weight cream suitable for dehydrated combination skin with a cauldron of botanical extracts and anti-oxidants vitamins (C, E & grape seed) to reduce skin damaging free radical activity. In another word, prevent pre-mature aging skin

Super Sensitive Sunblock at SPF30, $92. A chemical-free sunscreen with mineral UV-blockers Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide to provide invisible protection against UVA & UVB.

Hydrating Mask. $86. A refreshing oil-free gel masque with calming botanical extracts (Cucumber & Bitter Orange) and anti-oxidant minerals to restore skin’s suppleness

So hopefully with all the products and regular facial, I’ll have the skin of a glowing radiant bride by next march.

of iPad

2010-01-29T16:00:00.002+08:00

You know it’s true when something exceed your ability to understand how it works, it sort of become magical. – Jony Ive

I like how Apple started the iPad video with this sentence delivered by the charming Jony Ive. [Sidetrack: Somehow I find him voice very calming and the ability to let others listen to what he wanted to say. I’m smitten! ]

So what’s with the iPad anyway? Quoting Steve Job, it’s [iPad] so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone'.

Personally, I think that the iPad is a pretty thing and I hope to get it when it reaches Singapore’s shores. I love how institutive it is and the magnificent screen. I also love that Apple is rolling out its own online bookstore, iBookstore, that can be used to download books straight to the iPad. The book-flipping movement is so cool!

But I have this nagging thought in my mind. is it really necessary?

It’s funny how the marketing folks can shape the way we live our life. In the past, most companies are marketing that ONE thing that lets you do MANY things. And now, maybe they realize that they have run out of things to sell, they decided to try selling MANY that makes you do that ONE thing.

So much for simplifying our life.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against technology. In fact, I worked in the telecommunication industry. I’m just not sure if technology actually helped us to save more time or make us waste more.

Just a thought.

Have a happy weekend!

of the man in the arena

2010-01-22T16:36:00.003+08:00

While during some research for my job, I came across this great profound speech that I like to share with you all.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

– Theodore Roosevelt 1910

Of What Could Have Been?

2010-01-13T12:27:00.000+08:00

We received a traumatizing SMS from our Pastor last night that one of our peer, a trainee vocalist, has passed on on Monday. After receiving the news, MArk and I sat in silent throughout the journey home.

I don’t know what he was thinking but for me, I was prompted once again of the fragility of our lives. One moment, we are embracing life and the next we could be gone. Just like that.

I just saw her facebook profile, it’s still there. But she is isn’t, not anymore.

We heard that she has taken her own life. Whenever that could prompt her to do that, it must be really painful and unbearable for her to have made that decision.

I can’t helped but wonder what could her future have been if she hasn’t do that. She has such melodic voice. She has such beautiful smile, She’s 21.

What could have been in store for her?

Now, we’ll never know.

of a Perth-fect holiday

2010-01-08T17:49:00.004+08:00

Many say that Perth is a boring place. I'll let you know if that's the truth when I'm back.

Yup, I'm going to Perth in late March! Will be going with Juli and meeting Yan Ping over there.

Researching and drafting my travel itinerary now. Ya, I'm kiasu, so what!

The last time I went Australia was to Sydney for 14 days. That was 3 years ago and it was my 'so-called' graduation trip.

Talking about trips, I think I haven't post up my entry on the BKK trip with MArk.. :)

Of dd/mm/yyyy

2010-01-07T11:30:00.002+08:00

Did I forget to mention that we have nailed down our wedding date?

5th March 2011: Church solemnization

6th March 2011: Dinner banquet at Grand Copthorne Waterfront

Oh, now I remember why I haven’t mentioned that.
I thought that it is safer for me to let the cat out of the bag in 2010.

Now I can safely say that I am getting married next year without sounding far-fetched.

Most importantly, some friends and relatives will FINALLY stop asking me “Huh, why so long”?

I have sorta run out of excuses for them since they conveniently dismissed my reason that there is no suitable venue for us end of this year.

Anyway, next step for us will be to secure a suitable church and a reliable bridal studio.

Heard that Julia is quite good? Any to recommend?

of Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

2010-01-06T14:42:00.001+08:00

For last year Christmas (sounded like eons ago which in fact is just a couple of days before), Xueli bought me a novel by one of my favourite author; Jodi Picoult. I was so excited that I read the book that very night. Thanks gal!

“Handle with care” by Jodi Picoult is her more recent work after ‘My Sister’s Keeper”.

Thought it isn’t as much a tearjerker as the latter, it is nonetheless still a good read.

To me, both books have very similar theme but crafted so differently.

In “My Sister’s Keeper”, which by the way is one of my favourite book, it explores the controversy of ‘designer babies’ and their social, emotional and mental implications. Will a mother compromise the life of a child in order to save another dying child?

While in “Handle with Care”, it breaks the barrier of medical ethics and personal morality. It’s about a mother’s love and protection over a disabled child at the expense of losing her own family and betraying her best friend.

Both book that a recurring theme of “How far will you go for someone you love”?

Spoilers ahead!

Charlotte O'Keefe’s baby girl is born with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease. Like an irony, her family name her Willow just like the willow tree so that she will bend and not break. You see, Willow will suffer hundreds of broken bone throughout her life. She could easily break a bone while sneezing or by turning in her bed. In another words, it will be a lifetime of pain and suffering. As her family struggles to cover astronomical medical expenses, her mother Charlotte decides to file a wrongful birth lawsuit against her obstetrician for the compensation which might ensure that she can fund a lifetime of care for Willow.
But it means that Charlotte has to testify in a court of law that she would have terminated the pregnancy if she'd known about the disability in advance. It would mean that she has to testify that she had rather Willow has never been born.
But that’s a lie because Charlotte has never loved another person as much as she loved Willow. At the same time as Willow brought her inconvenience and disrupted her life, she also brought Charlotte joy, love, sunshine and the strength she never knew she had. But will Willow know that Charlotte is lying in order to give her a better life? At a young age of 5, will she know that sometimes loving means you have to lie? Does her husband and her teenage daughter that for a fact?

To make matter worse, the obstetrician she's suing isn't just her physician - she's her best friend.

Faced with the accusation from local media that she is a gold-digger, betrayal of her best friend, separation from her husband and teenage daughter, Charlotte still choose to continue the law suit for Willow’s sake.
In the end of the court battle, she won the case at gotten 8 million dollars for compensation for the “wrongful birth lawsuit”.

The story ends with a final chapter written from the perspective of Willow. It is 2 years after the law suit and she is alone at a frozen lake, or so she thought. Suddenly, the surface of the ice break and she has fallen into the water. As soon as it breaks, the ice started to freeze again and trapped Willow in-between. This time, she thought: “Finally, I’m not the one who breaks”……

of a good year

2009-12-29T09:45:00.004+08:00

Christmas came and went. 2009 came and will be gone in a couple of days.
I have asked myself this question repeatedly.

"Where have all the time gone to?" They may have slipped by me without me noticing. I know I have said this numerous times but it never fail to amaze me how time flies.

Just when I turn my head to the other side, a couple more months have passed me by.

2009 has been a good year for me. Below are some of the highlights to share with you guys!

A. Top 10 Movies in 2009

1. Inkheart
2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price
3. My Sister’s Keeper
4. Time Traveler’s Wife
5. 2012
6. Julie and Julia
7. (500) Days of Summer
8. Confession of a Shopaholic
9. Mu Lan
10. Avatar in 3D

B. Top 10 Dining

1. Tea Café – 38A Seah Street (Tel: 63335400)

It’s a quaint little shop serving all sort of teas accompanied with little assorted biscuit to match the different types of teas. Try their cucumber sandwiches and chicken wings. Me and Shelley’s favourite tea place.

2. Nanjya Monjya –Waterfront Plaza 390A Havelock Road #01-03/05 (Tel: 67387177)

According to Iida, this is the most famous Japanese restaurant among the Japanese Expats. We had a wonderful dinner time with Iida, Edwin and their family. This was the first time I tried authentic Japanese Okomoniyaka. This inspires us to try and make our own Okonomiyaki at home.

3. Relish by wildrocket – Cluny Court #02-01

If you love burgers, you’ll love Relish. The patty is uber juicy and was done just right. A good place to hold private party.

4. Caramel Café – Shaw Towers 100, Beach Road (Tel: 62952188)

I saw a very nice picture of Juli on her facebook and she told me it was taken at Caramel Café. I decided to pop by as the deco of the shop won me over. The shop was split into 2 with the restaurant on one side and a hair salon on the other. I love how the different furnitures compliment one other. Desserts are awesome. Try Vita Plum, a good drink to help with digestion.

5. Scrumptious Café - 200 Turf Club Rd #01-19 Turf City (Tel:64636543)

We meet with the siblings and kids at this breakfast joint. Great place for kids as they have a separate room where kids can go expend all their energy before coming back to the table for their breakfast. You can also go for a manicure/pedicure if you call to inform them early.

6. Oriole Ole – 96 Somerset Road #01-01 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites

My colleague swears that they serve the best cappuccino. You can also try their fish and chip. Nice ambience.

7. Marmalade Pantry – ION level 3

Sticky date and toffee pudding & crabmeat linguini. I can have that for the rest of my life.

8. Oomphatico’s – 16 Tanglin Road #01-35 Tanglin Mall (Tel: 67339088)

Food is pricy but the ambience makes it all worthwhile. It is like Alice walking into wonderland. Their lovely juices come in unique-shape glass.

9. Togi – 11 Mosque Street (Tel:62210830)

A cozy family restaurant that provides authentic korean food. I love the Kim chi soup and the grill pork belly. It comes with 5 small dishes which are re-fillable. Comfort food for the soul. Parking is a problem though.

10. Sushi Tei @ Big Splash

Me and MArk particularly love this outlet. We paid $88 and signed up for the Sushi Tei member card which gives us 10% discount plus $60 dining voucher. We like to sit by the window and people-watch. A must-try is the Sashimi Salad with Sushi Tei sauce. Yummy.

C. Top 10 most significant/happiest moment

1. MArk proposed to me at the finishing line of his Desaru Ironman. I said yes, of couse. - Aug
2. Starting my job in SingTel after months of searching – Mar
3. Don’t need to serve 1 month notice for ex-company yet getting paid for that month!
4. Visiting my dad in Guangzhou which he brought us on a mini tour to Sheng Zhen, Macau and Hong Kong – Feb
5. Went Bangkok with MArk. The SHOPPING! – Oct
6. Selected to join the vocal team in my church
7. Crossing the finishing line for my first 21KM half marathon
8. Confirming my wedding date and hotel venue
9. Failing my driving test for the 3rd time and decided never to take the test again
10. Celebrating xmas with the ladies at Melt. It is then I realize that in life, we don’t have to care what other things about us when we have a few good ones knowing who we are and what we are made of.

D. Top 10 things to do in 2010

1. Explore 3 new places in Singapore (Excluding SAM)
2. Learn a new language – Thai
3. Serve in the community for the needy
4. Plan for a trip to Perth with the Juli
5. Go for a beach holiday, bring a book or two and do nothing else
6. Go for a full medical check-up and get vaccinated for preventive cancer
7. Train for 21KM sundown marathon
8. Save more money for the wedding
9. Spend more time with family and friends
10. Be thankful for everything and complain less

As I look back, I saw that God is good. He had blessed me with much.

Have a great year in 2010 and many happy returns.

I look forward to a greater year ahead.

of a ball of wool

2009-11-05T11:41:00.001+08:00

If only the issues of our life can be stacked nicely into compartments, it’ll definitely make life so much easier.

And if only so, I will be more motivated to open up the compartments and try to straighten things out one issue at a time.

But unfortunately, it is not.

They are somehow intertwined together like a ball of wool. I couldn’t possibly straighten one out without touching the other part of the wool.

It’s so tiring and further discourage me to want to iron out the issues of my life. Now the ball of wool just piles on into a bigger piece of mess.

Now, teach me where to start……

of another holiday to get over this holiday

2009-11-04T09:22:00.003+08:00

In case you'll be wondering, I'm back from my bangkok trip. I wouldn't call it a holiday cuz I felt more tired after the trip than before! I need another holiday to get over this holiday. hahaz.. MArk says I'm full of excuses.

I bought tonnes of clothes, 2 bags and some stuffs for my family. Thankfully, we didn't burst the weight budget given by Tiger Airways. :) MArk bought even more clothes and spent his money faster than me! He is a shoppoholic at heart, he just refused to admit it.

More pictures will follows during the weekend. I just need to catch up with work and with reality for now.

Follow on closely!

I'm already planning on where to go next! I can't believe myself too sometimes.

of I'm so going to bangkok

2009-10-27T13:05:00.002+08:00

My luggages are (sort of) packed, counting down the hours before I touch down at bangkok airport. I've done my research, printed out all the places with the thai address to assist us in communicating with the cab drivers. Change our thai baht.

This is such a long awaited trip!

I promised myself to let go off the work baggage I'm holding onto. For the next 5 days, I will not think of work. It is just me, MArk and the holidays.

Yes! I'm so going to bangkok!

of those days which we live for

2009-10-20T09:26:00.002+08:00

I hope you enjoy this. I do!

The winner for Cannes Short Film 2009.

I thought that it reflect those moments when we are awaken by our annoying alarm clock in the morning remaining that work is waiting for us, sitting alone in the train, walking in a sea of crowd, coming home to a voice machine. Those are moments we can identify with our daily lives.

Until one day, something happen. You met the guy of your dreams, you gotten a new job/job promotion, just anything that makes your adrenaline pump faster.

Those days, we jumped out of bed. Those days, the sun seems brighter. Those days, you'll not get pissed no matter who cut your queue. Those days, it's ok even when you don't get it your way.

Don't we all live for those days?

of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

2009-10-16T18:27:00.006+08:00

I just finished reading 'The Bell Jar' by Slyvia Plath. It was just one of those random book I picked up from the national library and boy am I glad I did that.

It is the first and only novel by Sylvia Plath and the protagist life's run somewhat paralle to the life of Plath.

*Warning* Spoiler ahead.

Esther Greenwood is a young girl who wins a dream assignment in a big-time New York fashion magazine in 1953. She is elated, believing that she will finally realise her dream to become a writer. Instead she finds herself spiralling into depression and eventually a suicide attempt.

The story is written in 3 parts. Esther's glamour life in New York during her intern-ship at the fashion magazine, her depression and suicide attempt back home and lastly her time at the asylum.

During her internship in New York, Plath subtly suggest that the significant causes of Esther's depression is certainly the high-pressure environment in which Esther lives. As Esther is the quinessential overachiever, a scholarship winner and gifted student who consistently wins prizes and scholarship.

Jay Cee, Esther's boss during her internship repeatedly told Esther : " Don't let the wicked city get you down". Which aparently, Jay Cee has seen many young and inspiring writer fallen from grace.

Esther grew increasingly depress each day even though she is supposingly leading the time of her life. She questions about her own sexuality in the time of sexuality repression in America. She is uncertain about her career and what she wants to be.

After her internship, Esther went home and found out that she is not selected for a pretigious writting class. She grew more listless each day and have insomia each night. Both symptoms indicating a deeper depression. Death fills her mind that she consider many methods to end her life before deciding to down her sleeping pills.

Esther woke up in a hospital and was later sent to an asylum to recuperate on her 'illness'. She received shock therapy to make her feel 'better'.

" Sitting in the front seat, between Dodo and my mother, I felt dump and subdued. Every time when I tried to concentrate, my mind glided off, like a skater, into a large empty space, and pirouetted there, absently."

I suppose the shock treatment just stopped Esther from thinking/concentrating but not really making her feel better. In this case, the cure of the diesease seems worse than the dieseas itself.

Soon after, Esther is being transferred to another asylum and stayed there, receiving treatments until she feels better. Her path towards recovery.

The author uses The Bell Jar as a metaphor as to how depression can trap the soul and being or the patient.

"If Mrs Guinea had given me a ticket to Europe, or a round-the-world cruise, it wouldn't have made one scrap of difference to me, because wherever I sat - on the deck of a ship or at a cafe in Paris or Bangkok - I would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own soul air".

This book reminds me of 'Girl Interuppted' by Susanna Kaysen in her best-selling book in 1993.

A strongly recommended read, though you might feel slightly depress after reading.

of books, movies and weekends

2009-10-16T16:56:00.003+08:00

I call in sick today.

Not too sure if it is food poisioning or viral infection. Whatever it is, i was hugging the toilet bowl for the whole of last night. Not a pretty sight.

Anyway, manage to sleep through the entire afternoon so was feeling better now though tummy is still a lit' quesey.

Anyway, it's the weekend. What are you doing? If I'm feeling better, I would love to catch Julie & Julia on the big screen. I would maybe even pop by the Kinokuniya and grab My Life in France by Julia Child which the movie is based upon.

Whenever there is a movie based on any novel/memoires, the latter is always much more captivating, interesting and speak to me better. There is something about words that motion picture cannot replication.

The memoires of the Geisha, Da Vinci code, Times' Traveller's Wife, Harry Potter, etc.. The books are always much much better than the movies.

Except for The Notebook, which also happens to be one of my favourite love movies of all time!

The next thing to look out for is 'My Sister's Keeper'. I was crying bucket when I was reading the book by Jodi Picolt. It really tucks at the heartstrings. Not sure if the movie will be the same? Do watch out for that. 'My Sister's keeper' will be in cinema on 22nd Oct.

Do watch out for it.

of wedding invitation

2009-10-10T22:27:00.004+08:00

I adore this video to bits. Must have taken a looooonnng time to create. Such a genius idea.

People are now embracing social media as tool for communication. They are slowing taking away the traditional invitation card. I just received a wedding invitation through facebook. Not that I like that idea but then if I can't beat them, I'll have to join them. Yep you guess right. I RSVP back through facebook too.

of our bangkok hotel

2009-10-10T20:41:00.013+08:00

I finally made up my mind after a week of research!

We will be staying at The Heritage Bangkok for our upcoming trip end of this month.

That decision didn't come easier. Believe me. I practically read up on all the bangkok hotel reviews before making that decision.

Modern and chic room

Clean bathroom with rain shower!!!

Rooftop pool. Can you believe it!!

The Heritage Bangkok was launched in 2008 in Silom which is within Bangkok CBD area and is also 1 minute away from the BTS station! Nice...

Enuff said.

Hope that our experience will be a reflection of the pictures as well.

So excited for the trip.

Being a perfectionist can be so painful but rewarding at times. Thankfully I am a 'selective perfectionist'. I choose what I want perfection in. A holiday is definitely one of them.

Hehe...

of I need a break else I'll break

2009-10-02T23:37:00.006+08:00

Sawadee ka,

Happy friday everyone! Well, I'm happy anyway.

I'm honing my thai language preparing for my next bangkok trip end of Oct! Yeap you've seen right! The tickets are booked. How exciting!!!

I remembered our trip to bangkok exactly 2 years ago. Unlike the last trip where we spent 5 days in bkk and 2 days in Hua Hin, we will just be spending 5 days in bkk this time.

Shop, Eat and Spa. :)

Bkk is like my paradise. No matter how many times I've been there, it's always present a different feeling. The people are so warm and friendly.

Hopefully, no riot, no natural disaster, just happy tourists.

Any nice hotel to recommend? Leave a comment and let me know ya.

Sawadee ka (also meaning goodbye)

of fly-away bride

2009-09-29T23:33:00.003+08:00

Me and MArk is having our usual wedding conversation and this particular one sets me cracking up.

Me: My mom seems to prefer a saturday night wedding banquet but I'm afraid with the morning wedding at church, I'll be half dead by the night session. (Me and MArk initially agreed to have a sunday night banquet)
MArk: Hmmm.. I don't think you'll be tired on that day right?
Me: Ya.. Maybe must down plenty of Red Bull
MArk: But what if you fly away?
Me: .... (my mind conjuncting up an image of a fly-away bride on her wings) ROFL

of more venues down, some more to go

2009-09-29T23:19:00.003+08:00

Seems to have a turn of event during our venue sourcing for our wedding. Apparently Grand Corpthone Waterfront doesn't have the dates that we wanted. We are soooo flexible giving them at least 12 dates but none fits into their busy schedule. Boohooo..

I love the ballroom! High ceiling, no pillar, beautiful long aisle walk-in and garden backdrop.

Too bad.. We have to quickly source for an alternative venue to back us up. We have to convince ourselves that an alternative doesn't mean second best though. It might just means a higher price tag. haha..

of mixed feelings

2009-09-24T23:17:00.010+08:00

I was watching a funny scene on TV when it all started. It first started as a chuckle, and progressively evolve into full blown laughter. I was laughing and laughing so hard till tears were streaming down uncontrollably. Without any warning, it laughing turn to sobbing. Those fat tears just rolled down uncontrollably...

This yo-yo emotion went on for a good 3 minutes before I snapped myself out of it.

This never happened to me before... Must be those pent-up emotions trying all their means to escape me through any emotional release action, hence make those laughing-out-loud become sobbing-out-loud.

While I was laughing-crying or whatever you call that, I was actually alternating between 2 emotions simutaneouly; laughing and crying and laughing and crying again. One moment I was laughing at the stupidity of the actress, and the next moment I found myself crying and thinking about those issues that life has thrown onto my lap. This yo-yo emotion went on for a good 3 minutes before I snapped myself out of it.

That's what I would literally call - mixed feelings.

You know they always say "don't know to laugh or to cry". While I did both. I laughed and I cried.

I must be too high strung lately. Hmmm..

Source: getty images

of full circle

2009-09-22T20:28:00.004+08:00

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiates 3:1

It has truly been a challenging period for me, trying to juggle with work, church and my life.

It wasn’t so much as a tough season, but a season where I have come full circle.

After all the changes that I am going through with the situation at work, the direction of the church and with my personal life, they are now the same as they were in the beginning.

With work has been most frustrating. After all the changes that we need to do since the first draft, we have sent the designers back to their drawing board for uncountless times and in the end, we ended up with something similar to the first draft. I understand that that was an inevitable process.

Last Sunday, Pastor Khong mentioned that he had a revelation that God wanted him to complete what he has started off so many years ago. All these years, with all the implemented changes injected at mid-way, it might seem that we are heading back where we have left off.

I must admit that I am becoming dizzy from all these merry-go-round motion. It’s not fun getting lost in the labyrinth. I just needed some clear direction.

It sets me thinking somehow.

Maybe we all need to come full circle in order to realize something which we have forgotten along the way? Because along the way, we lost ourselves to distraction and to the wrong voices and forget what is truly most important?

I don’t know.

But I hope that now there will be a time when the circle is completed so that we don’t have to go round again. It should be sealed, complete and closed.

But then, I know that no matter how far we have walked. Whether it is still within the circle or off-tangent, we will find ourselves back at where He is. At least, for me.

Ecclesiates 3: 1-8

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace

of kudos to Liese Bubble Hair Color

2009-09-21T22:15:00.005+08:00

I never like to do DIY color at home as I find it very troublesome and messy. I prefer going to a hair salon to have someone do it for me. Not forgetting that I used to get free hair color and treatment thanks to the perks of my (then) job, DIY coloring is really not my thing.

Now that it isn't 'free' anymore, I decided to do my research well before heading down any hair salon which offers the best promotion. Before I could do that, I saw the Liese Bubble Hair Color commercial on TV.

Marketing is about getting the message to the people at the right time when they are searching for it. That just did it for me!

I decided to give DIY hair color a try again after seeing how easy it is. So I bought Liese Bubble Hair Color in Ash brown at Watson at $19.90 to try it out.

Boy, it sure did not disappoint!

For those who are still not in the know, Kao Liese Bubble Hair Color is a new type of permanent hair color that uses foam. It is so easy to apply and best of all, color hair so evenly. That, for me, is what sets it apart from its other competitor.

You guys know that I have super long hair that reaches to my waist. It will be CRAZY for me to DIY the hair color myself without making a big mess. I have MArk on standby in case I need him. But that prove to be unnecessary.

I did it effortless all by myself, on my long hair, without a mess!! That really awe-ed me.

Not only is it super easy to apply. I just need to lather into my scalp and hair and leave on for 30minutes. The color turns out very even as well.

Also, this one doesn't have that chemical stench as bad as others which I have tried from the salons.

However, I do feel a slight itch on my scalp during and after the coloring. But my scalp is on a sensitive side so it doesn't really comes as a surpise for me.

For $19.90, I am so satisfied with the result I see.

I'll definitely use it again!

Kudos to the guys at Kao for this avant-garde product!

of bread and butter

2009-09-17T19:43:00.000+08:00

It’s work, work, work, work and more work.

It’s non-stop action since last Monday. I reckon it will last till end of end week. Gosh, I’m heading to a burn-out and really need a break.

Performing miracles, doing the impossible, hitting ceiling-high targets are all in a day’s work and giving your best seems mediocre.

Good. Better. Best. I wondered what comes after that? I need that.

My social life is non-existent, unless you count those wall messages and photo tagging from Facebook or the random tweeting.

So tired. Crawling to bed each night…

Sometimes when I stopped and think about it, I asked myself why I am doing all these. Or rather, who am I doing all these for? Is it really worth it?

Then I remembered about my plans for the future, I remembered God’s promise, I remembered that I need to give God glory in all things I do, I remember about people who are in a worse situation than me.

I realized that I still have my job to thank God for and am indeed still blessed.

But still sometime I can’t help but wonder how long more can take this?

I’m only human.

of one venue down, many more to go

2009-09-13T13:10:00.001+08:00

The Hilton Wedding show we went to last weekend is a real disappointment.

The ballrooms and deco are very nicely decked out but they just lack the punch we are looking for.

One of the main criteria I am looking for is for the hotel to have an eye for detail, which is what Hilton Singapore is soring lacking.

After registration, we were left standing there without any instruction what to do. We ventured into the grand ballroom and still there isn't any sign of help coming our way. After 10 minutes of loitering within the ballroom, we decided to approach the counter.

Me: Hi, we are very lost here. Can you tell us what to do?
Hilton Rep: Erm..
MArk: XX contacted us for this wedding show. May I know where is she?
Hilton Rep: Erm, XX is busy at the moment.
Me/MArk: I give 'that' look to MArk which we both know is the 'invisible roll-eye' look.
Hilton Rep 2: Maybe I can bring you around?

Duh!

They have to cheek asking us to pay $30 for the wedding show and let us explore your ground on our own? Some great hospitality you've got.

The rest of the show got much better after introdution from the 2nd rep. He patiently bring us to the various venue and explained to us each of the theme they were trying to potray. I must say it don't look too bad. The dessert buffet looks interesting too!

Being the perfectionist me, I have already determind not to sign up with them. They have already lost us in the beginning. Talk about first impression.

Their only saving grace is the complimentary parking ticket which we still have to request for that day. Else we have to pay an additional $17.50! MARk will be super pissed.

Nonetheless, both of us agreed to cross out Hilton. (Sorry, just too bad you didn't manage to wow us)

We are heading to the Fairmont Wedding show later. It's free admission. Hopefully that'll turn out to be better.

of my 1st ultrasound and I don't like what they found

2009-09-05T11:49:00.005+08:00

Period cramps are quite the norm for me but to have cramps until I broke out in cold sweat in another matter altogether. This was what happened to me a couple of weeks back.

Just to be one the safe side, I went for an ultrasound scan at one of the clinic at Paragon just to dismiss any nagging feeling within. Just to be sure you know.

The procedure was fast and the nurse told me that it is the same procedure when expecting mummies come in to check on the growth of their babies. How ironic to be doing the same thing but having entirely different set of feelings! :(

I just gotten the report on thursday. They found a small hypoechoic nodule in my uterus measuring 5.5mm in its longest length. For a layman like you and I, it means they found a small fibroid growth. They attributed that to causing the painful cramps.

I called my mum immediately. (mummies are always the first we call when we are in trouble don't we?)

She told me that 3 years ago, her doctor also told her that she has a 5.5mm growth but that mass ballooned to 9 cm within 3 years. She just had the hysterectomy surgery in july because of the oversize fibroid.

I thank God that I found out early and believes that He can and will heal me. Not really that worrying that as the peace of God is with me.

But my point is if we find that there is something wrong with our bodies, don't procrastinate to see a doctor. Instead of losing sleep because of that anxiety, isn't it better to get a dignosis? Maybe it is just a health scare or maybe it is something much more than that. Either way, it still gives us a greater peace of mind.

Yeah, I know sometimes it could be like opening a pandora's box. But I think I rather know than not know it. It can sometime be a matter of life and death. Early detection can save lives!

Go for your health screening if you have been procrasting that for the longest time. Just to be sure ya.

of the never-ending insatiable wanderlust

2009-09-05T00:22:00.009+08:00

The long awaited weekend is finally here! Some weekends are really good-to-have well others are need-to-have. This one happens to be the latter.

The office environment really become much cheerier as the week wears off.

This is usually how I will feel as I transit down the week.

Monday - A feeling of separation anxiety from the weekends. Need some time to warm up to the work.

Tuesday - Thank God I made it through the mondays. Usually most productive and looking forward to clear the work.

Wednesday - Oh good! Its mid-week. What should I have for lunch?

Thursday - Just need to hold on for 1 more day before the weekends!

Friday - Euphoria! On cloud's nine! Whatever bad things that happen can't be that bad anyway. :)

I guess this couple of weeks is worse due to the heightening of the project on hand. It'll soon be over!

Throughout the week, my mind has been echoing Joanne Peh's mantra from Jetstar commercial! "Singapore, you need a break!" Yes. I need a break. I want a break!

So image my surprise when I flipped through TODAY and saw Jetstar's advertisment on their Jetsaver Light Challenge! It is back!

For those not in the know, Jetsave Light Challenge will be flying 10 shortlisted team to selected Jestar destination for a day of fun, excitment and adverture. The team of 2 will pit themselves again other teams for the grand prizes usually in the form of travel vouchers.

I immediate told MArk that I won't missed it for the world! I will make use of my travel itinerary writting skill I acquired during my HTM days in TP for this. (I remember scoring a distinctive for that!) Hopefully my travel itinerary will be some impressive that it will shout "Pick me! Pick me!" and Jetstar will fly us there for the challenge!

Being a self-confessed wanderlust, I am so ashame to say that I have not been traveling as much as I like to. This just gives me a chance to feed my traveling desire!

of Cockney and talking cock

2009-09-01T21:49:00.001+08:00

During my poly days, I was working part time at Harry Bar in Changi Airport. I get to see very interesting personalities everyday. Those semi-drunkard are always eager give me a cultural walkthrough of their home country. One time, a very drunk australian lady passed me a AUD$100 for bringing her to her boarding gate!

To me, working there is my gateway to the rest of the world. I truly enjoyed my time there.

One of the most interersting things I have heard of is the Cockney language. Cockney is a region in London. They have a very unique slang which is the Cockney slang. It is a rather uncommon slang and was looked down upon in the past.

What happen was I overheard 2 englishmen talking to each other in English but I have absolutely NO IDEAS what they were driving at. I was so fascinated so I asked them. They told me that they were actually conversing in Cockney rhyming slang and explain to me how it works.

Rhyming slang is a form of slang in which a word is replaced by a rhyming word, typically the second word of a two-word phrase (so stairs becomes "apples and pears" as pears rhymes with stairs.) The second word is then often dropped entirely ("I'm going up the apples"), meaning that the association of the original word to the rhyming phrase is not obvious to the uninitiated.

So imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this article on 'Cash machine offers Cockney slang'
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090824/tuk-cash-machine-offers-cockney-slang-6323e80.html

I could decipher its meaning!! My lesson in Harry Bar come rushing back to mind and was put to good use!

Instead of the usual English language, the ATM also comes in the option of Cockney language!

Therefore, they are asked to enter their "Huckleberry Finn", which means to enter their Pin (Finn rhymes with Pin)
To withdraw £10, will have to ask for a 'speckled hen' (hen and ten rhymes) By the way, Speckled hen is a famous ale loved by the Englishmen.
Also, they will be ask how much "sausage and mash" (mash and cash rhymes) they want.

You might be thinking that it makes no sense at all!

Actually, you will be surprise.

I asked that same question when the 2 Englishmen gave me the examples of "Apples and Pears". I asked them what has it got to do with stairs? They said that the rule of thumb is to have some sort of association to it. And 'Apples and Pears' crate can be found under the stairs. Duh... How obvious right!

Do you 'Adam and Eve' (Believe) it? haha..

Translate this:

'Allo me old china - wot say we pop round the Jack. I'll stand you a pig and you can rabbit on about your teapots. We can 'ave some loop and tommy and be off before the dickory hits twelve.

Translated:

Hello my old mate (china plate) - what do you say we pop around to the bar (Jack Tar). I'll buy you a beer (pig's ear) and you can talk (rabbit and pork) about your kids (teapot lids). We can have some soup (loop de loop) and supper (Tommy Tucker) and be gone before the clock (hickory dickory dock) strikes twelve.

OR

"Got to my mickey, found me way up the apples, put on me whistle and the bloody dog went. It was me trouble telling me to fetch the teapots."

which really means:

"Got to my house (mickey mouse), found my way up the stairs (apples and pears), put on my suit (whistle and flute) when the phone (dog and bone) rang. It was my wife (trouble and strife) telling me to get the kids (teapot lids)."

Well, if you don't understand a thing from my post. I guess, that's the whole idea. :)

Resources: http://www.aldertons.com/ & Wikipedia

of wedding bells ringing

2009-08-28T14:24:00.002+08:00

I am in the midst of preparing for our 2010 wedding. It is a bag of mixture emotions. Exhilarating yet confusing. There are so many wedding forums, magazines, articles and advices telling the bride-to-be what to do and what to look out for. They just further confused me.

Right now, we are giving ourselves until oct to decide on our wedding venue. We have shortlisted a couple of hotels that can accommodate our 55 tables. Yes, you did not read wrongly. 55 tables.

Before, I have envisioned my wedding to be an intimate family and close friends only sort of celebration. Somewhere outdoor, surrounded by pretty flowers and greens, breezy, with a live band and a small dance floor for the couple's first dance.

However, looking at the Singapore weather and the sheer number and demographic of guests, I don't think my original plan is going to work. I watched too much Hollywood movies.

In reality, my wedding is going to be a big celebration, somewhere indoor with AC, maybe no dance floor and definately no more mama mia style. Either way, I am still going to make it work, make it an enjoyable time for my guest and an unforgettable memories for me and MArk.

That's what matter most.

Its not about getting my way and having my dream wedding. Well, they all say a marriage involved 6 people. I couldn't agree more. I really hope to make the event and the journey of planning an enjoyable one for us and our parents.

Coming back to the venue, I have shortlisted a few:
-Grand Corpthone Waterfront
-Hilton
-Meritus Mandarin
-Pan Pacific
-Fairmont

We have so far been to GCW for recee. We are happy with what was offered. However, the real haggling will start once we confirm on the venue. haha..

Next step will be to source for the wedding gown and packages.

We might decide to take our bridal shoot overseas. (That's part of the deal he made with me if I accept his proposal. I'm easily bribed.) :)We are planning to do that in Mar/April next year.

Next step is to go on diet. Its really hard for someone like me. Even drinking water makes me put on weight. :(

Anyway, more of that later.

Need some rest now. I'm actually on MC today. Think all the work and wedding plans taking a toll on me.

of overcoming the odds one step a time

2009-08-19T20:59:00.002+08:00

VICTORY is a process. It doesn't happen only at the finishing line. It is actually the sum of many small victories. And if in the process of obtaining that VICTORY, you give up, all the small victories actually counts for nothing.

The small victories come first when you decided to set your mind in obtaining that VICTORY, it is the small little steps along the way where you tell yourselves to take yet another step even when you feel that you cannot, it is banishing all the negative thoughts and fears that tell you that you are never able to make it. It is going beyond your limits one small step at a time.

I had that revelation when I was running for my virgin 21KM.

Negative thoughts hit me just at the 2KM mark. "Christine, you are not going to make it. You still have 19KM to go. Your body won't be able to take it as you have yet to recover from your flu". The mind get bombared by all sort of negative thoughts telling me to give up. I looked at MArk running beside me and decide to just go on another KM. - small victory

At 4KM, I told MArk I need to consume the power gel as I needed more energy. Never have I expected the sheer disgusting taste within that small silver pack. My stomach rejected that immeditately but I force it down with water anyway. -small victory

We started from opposite Fullerton Hotel, up Benjamin Shears bridge and all the way to East Coast Park. Once we reached East Coast Park, it was about 6.5KM. My body felt better, accustomed to the run. We stopped for toilet break and continue to hit the pavement. Along the way, we saw Angelyn. She is looking strong so I told her to carry on without us. Finally, we saw the U-Turn which marks the halfway point of the race. I felt stronger, I urged myself to go on.

Fatigue starts to creep in at 11KM. I told myself that 12KM will be a milestone for me as I have never reached that distance before. I continued another KM. - small victory

I continued for another 2 KM before I slow down to a walk. I looked up at saw that we were approaching 15KM. 15KM! One of my 2009 new year resolution is to hit 15KM. I did what I set out to do! On the other hand, my mind starts to do a mental calculation. "How am I going to complete another 6KM? My knees felt sore and the muscles are cramped. But I have come too far to give up now." -small victory

It was really challenging from 16KM to 19KM. My stamina is still on operative mode but my legs really give way. Every step was accompanied by pain and I have to stop every now and then. The point is I continue. - small victory

Upon seeing the 19KM sign, I somehow find the strength to pick up my speed. I told MArk that I want to run to the finishing line instead of walking there. My legs seem to grow a live of its own and I rely on pure adrenaline to carry me through. The last KM was the longest KM ever. Finally I heard someone shouted "350M to the finishing line". small victory

I am almost there.

I looked at my running pacer, gave him a small victory smile. Both of us know relish that special moment. We are there. I am there. My first 21KM.

I clocked 3Hr and 09min.

MArk told me that the distance (21KM) will never get further but I can.

Yes I can. :)

That is MY VICTORY. - The summation of all the small victories.

Don't give up. Count your small victories and eventually, you will see the FINISHING in the horizon.

P.S: Thank you MArk for your encouragement. Without you, there will not be any VICTORY. This post is dedicated to you.

of unCOMFORT cab

2009-08-15T21:20:00.005+08:00

I had a very bad encounter with a comfort cab driver this week. I was waiting for a cab for a good twenty minutes before I called the booking hotline. Like always whenever we tried to called a cab, another cab with the green-lit top hover over the horizon. I cancelled the booking even before the cab number was called and flagged that down.

Just when I reached home, I saw an unknown number calling so I picked it up. It was none other that the 'so-called cancelled' cab driver. I told him I had cancelled the cab but he refused to take my explanation. He gave me a good verbal trashing and stopped only when I asked for his cab number.

I never see myself as an angry person but this time he really hit my treshold. I called up Comfort Cab to make a formal complaint on this cab driver.

I thought to myself that I should not boycott Comfort as this is just one of the many driver. However after calling their customer care hotline, I don't see what they really care about.

First, they did not get back to me promptly. Secondly, only after the second call did they tell me that they are investigating the complaint.

They are investigating i) for technical failure on why is it after I cancelled the call but the cab driver still received the booking. ii) the attitude of the driver. They will need FIVE working days to get back to me.

Their reply really disappoint me. i) whether if it is a technical failure, the cab driver should not call the customer and verbally abuse them. ii) why do they need FIVE working days to investigate such a straight-forward complaint?

You know sometime you get those feeling like the company is backing up their employees no matter what wrong they did. You felt that you have no choice but to bring this to external parties like CASE or even the forum in order to get your case resolved?

I felt like that.

That is just one very bad incident that I recently encountered. Anybody can just be in a custiner service line and there is nothing 'customer service' about their body language. There are no passion, only full of attitude.

I don't think I am the only one finding it. I will make it a point never to return and also employ WOM to make sure my friends and relatives do the same.

However, not all are like that. I do find some very helpful customer service personnel. One particular one is a lady from Robinson Centrepoint ladies department. I can see she really love what she is doing. Kudos to that.

Well... hopefully FIVE working days later I will hear from comfort and see what they have to say.

child-likeness

2009-08-08T21:33:00.001+08:00

I had a quick catch up with the ladies at East Coast Big Splash earlier this afternoon. We really enjoyed ourselves.

Xueli brought her cutie Elly along but I think she is in a bad mood today. Whenever me and MArk tried to get near her, she will pout her lips and look like she is going to cry anytime. Other times, she will laugh. Talk about unpredictable.

The thing about children is they can behave as how they felt and get away with it. If they are happy, they play with you. If they are cranky, they just ignore you. If they are tired, they will just go to sleep.

You know, how I wish I can be like them. To be able to express my emotions plainly without being critised.

Children never take anything personally and never hold grudges. They will not judge or get angry at you for long. They are basically UNOFFENDABLE.

Each day presents a clean slate for them and a new adventure.

We should learn to be more like children so we can enjoy each day as it is.

How I wish I can dance like nobody is watching, live like there is no tomorrow.

I've got you!

2009-07-20T23:44:00.010+08:00

I've decided to run the 21Km Half Army Marathon which I have repeatedly told MArk that it is something which I won't do.

I sorta regret the decision, the moment the words slipped off my lips. However, I will still stay true to my words.

I know I'm still going to do it anyway.

Why put myself through those gruesome miles?

Well... I am so sick of telling myself I cannot do something and so tired of getting mediocre results.

If I keep doing things the same way, things are going to stay the same.

So this marathon is not only a physical training but also a mental training to myself. It is a platform for me to psych myself to prepare for the greater things in life. :)

So far, I've only covered 10KM. Another 11Km more to go. I cannot and dare not imagine how I'm going to do it.

I was running in the park this morning and was on my 8Km. I wanted to give up initially but saw something.

I saw a father teaching his son how to ride a 2-wheels bicycle. His eyes never left his son and he is always staying closely at the back never allow his son to fall down. His body language seems to be saying: "Son, I've got you".

The boy didn't give up either..

He ride wobbly for some distance before stopping to recompose himself and continue on. I run by them and encourage the boy and told him not to keep it up!

I told myself the same.

That image spurred me on for the last 2KM. The hardest 2KM.

I was reminded by how God also kept his eyes on me all the time.

"Daughter, don't give up. I've got you" is what he says.

of magic wand & genie in the bottle

2009-07-19T12:52:00.004+08:00

When I was a little girl of around 4 years of age, I got the taste of my first real disappointment.

I don’t know how I gotten the idea that I could purchase a magic wand and that could grant me any 3 wishes I wanted. It could be from the cartoon network or some fairy tales bedtime story. Nonetheless, the idea of having a magic wand fascinates me beyond my little mind could contain. I thought of it day and night and even dreamt about it.

Somehow, I manage to persuade my mom to give me $50 to buy my wand. $50 is a big thing 20 years ago. It could be a $200 equivalent in today’s context. My mom could have felt that intense earnest in me to agree to this silly request of her 4 years old daughter.

In my mum’s mind, it just another ‘toy’ which her daughter wanted and soon she will grow out of that airy fairy phase. It wasn’t like that for me. I sincerely believed that such magic exist and is determined in hunting it down.

On that fateful day, my sister, our nanny and I set off for my ‘wand’ hunting at Toys’ R Us across the island. I don’t know if my nanny is just patronizing me or if she really doesn’t have a clue of what I was looking for. We wandered from stores to stores, with me trying my best to describe the magic wand to the sales person. We were rejected at each stores and the disappointment sets in deeper and deeper.

At the end of that day, I was somehow convinced that what I was looking for doesn’t exist.
What saddened me most is not about the magic wand. It wasn’t even about the 3 wishes that I could have. I didn’t even think about what are they wishes that I wanted.

It is about idea of having a magical wand, a mystical “genie in the bottle” who will grant me just about anything I wanted.

I felt disappointment for the first time in my life (at age 4).

I told this story to MArk last night. We were at Wendy’s birthday celebration and somehow I brought up this topic. MArk wasn’t surprise. He is rather accustomed to my ‘Alice in Wonderland’ mode but he had another name for that. He called them ‘you and your nonsense’ instead.

I told me that it was at age 4 that I realized I couldn’t have what I want all the time. I understood disappointment. I realize that my life is not as easy as to waving a magic wand and getting just what I wanted.

On our way home, we stopped by the petrol kiosk and I have gotten a surprise.
Before MArk stepped off the car, being the gentleman that he is, he will always ask if he can get me anything from the store. I just causally told him that I wanted the Tigger plush toy which was on display at the store. Both of us know that I am not a fan of plush toy and he knew that I’m being nonsense again. So he left the car without a word to make payment.

5 minutes later, he came back with the Tigger in his arm.

He told me that he fought all the urges to come back and asked if I truly wanted the toy. He goes against his logic and gotten me something which I just said I wanted.

I knew he remembered my story.

I still didn’t have the magic wand. But I have him. I have family and friends who loved me and who are willing to go all out and care for me and protect me.

I won’t forget the look on his face when he came back to the car that day.

I was looking at my magic wand.

Even better, I am looking at a magic wand who not only give me what I want. He gives me what is best for me.

If given a choice to get what you want and what is good for you, what would you choose?

Me too. :)

I thought of our heavenly father and I thought I saw Jesus in him that day.

of new inspiration and dreams

2009-07-18T12:54:00.003+08:00

Its a funny feeling.

Everytime I wanted to start anew, I have this urge to change my blogskin. It is as if there is some sort of intertwined connection between them. I'll have this urge to blog. Like changing a new outlook will have a change of heart.

My heart.

This is a new beginning for me.

Bit by bit, there will be new changes. Good changes.

Look out for it!

2nd Driving attempt

2009-04-02T15:09:00.003+08:00

Work started in full swing and time passes so quickly. It is one of the rare luxuries that I never get to enjoy back at the ex-company. Back then, minutes passed like hours and hours like days.

Now, a random check on the time will reflect a good 3 hours difference from the last check. Before I know it, it’s time to pack up and hit home! Within the 8 hours, I’m doing a million thing, concurrently.

That’s how 1 month has passed. – without knowing it…

Today’s different.

Today, I’ve taken a day off for my driving test. Unfortunately, I failed the second attempt. I was really confident of this time, thinking that I am more prepared, etc… Still…

This was my worst attempt yet. I wondered why I suck at driving and concluded that my mind cannot be doing only one thing at a time. In another words, I am a serial multi-tasker. To do one thing at a time bored me to death. So while driving, my mind auto-pilot itself to do more than a thing at a time. And most of the time, while driving, my mind auto-pilot itself to day-dream. Its really scary when suddenly, I was jotted out of daydream to force myself to concentrate on the road and one minute later drifting into wonderland like our dear Alice…

(Is it me or it is me?)

But through this, I’ve learnt. We often learn our lesson through failure. I learn how not to be afraid of failing. Many times, the idea of failing is more terrifying than the actual failure itself. I’ll try again.

My 3^rd final attempt.

Love is a walk in the park

2009-02-18T16:03:00.012+08:00

To say that Love is a walk in the park.. Well... that's definitely an understatement. It is hard work.

But that's what we did on St. Valentines' Day.

A walk in the park...

Love is....

A journey

made by 2 like-minded people

to weather the mountain-high and valley-low experience of life together

to look at the big picture, without sweating the small stuff

to watch the sunset together and thank God for the day...

Love is this...

Tickets book for Guangzhou

2009-02-09T18:09:00.004+08:00

I'm finally able to satisfy some insatiable part of my wanderlust bug this year! My air ticket for Guangzhou is booked on the 22nd Feb to 27th Feb. My mom and god-ma will be joining me. I'm finally able to visit my dad after his 3 years stint there. Looking forward to the trip, alas, MArk won't be joining.

I'm nursing a flu and gastric at home as of this moment. Still, it didn't dampened my holiday mood!

Living my best life now!!

Job search testimony

2009-02-05T16:26:00.002+08:00

Dear all,

As some of you have known, I have been desperately searching for a job for the past 5 months. I was really at my breaking point in my current company and was literally dragging my feet to work daily. But I want to share the good news with you that God has opened a door for me and I just signed the appointment letter with the new company on Tuesday (20.01.09)

Jer29:11 is the key verse that held me on during those bleakest days.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prospers you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future”.

I know that God has a marvelous plan for me. I just have not seen it coming to pass. I told God that I’ll be waiting. The wait hasn’t been easy for me.

As you know, God place us in His waiting room where valuable lessons couldn’t be learnt anywhere else. God is teaching me a lesson of endurance, dying to my desire, dealing with disappointment and His favor.

As I continue reading Jer29:12-14(a), “Then you will call upon me, and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me with all your hearts, I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity…

Only on hindsight, I realized that God has led me on a journey to seek Him, not the job.

God has His way of teaching me how to die to my desire. In all the resumes which I have sent out, there are those (3-4 of them) that I have classified as “dream job”. Interestingly enough, I will always be called up for interview, each one keeps getting better that the previous one.

Each of the rejection was always at the final stages of interviews stating hiring freeze or they decided to choose another candidates (its either me or the other person) or other reasons.

The final call came when I was rejected yet again but this time it was for the job which I have been eyeing for since my school days.

I was devastated, disappointed and hopeless. Angry at why God didn’t bless with me that job. I could still feel the raw emotions at this point of time. However it was through that that God lead me on a process of dying to my desire.

I was literally like “since the worst is over, I didn’t get that dream job, what can be worst than that?”

A dead man doesn’t struggle. Through these, I have stopped struggling with God on searching for the job. Of course I prayed that His salvation will come as it was really unbearable for me in my current company but I let Him take full control.

Still after one month, nothing happens. I wondered why God is silent. Then God led me to read a passage from a book “Experiencing God”.

When Lazarus was dying, Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus to come to them. But Jesus waited for 2 days before going and Lazarus was already lying cold in the tomb for 4 days. Why Jesus did not act immediately. Why the silent treatment from Jesus?? The passage then continue to say that (in my own words) :“you already know that I can heal the sick and know that I will heal Lazarus. But now, I’m bringing you to another level and let you see my Glory like you have not seen before by raising a dead man”.

God truly show himself to me after couple of days.

My aunt sent me a good article by Joel Osten on God’s favor. She told me I have to read it before going for my 2nd interview (Yes another mental torture!). She told me God told her that His favor will be upon me. I have attached it so you can read it and apply as well.

Indeed, His favour is upon me when the HR manager called me to tell me that I was selected for the job! WooHoo!

Well.. Just when I thought it was finally over, God still didn’t think it is!

God knows how unbearable I was in my current company and decided to give me a break!

My boss told me that she does not need to me serve the one month notice as I held some confidential information on the company. She asked me to do my handover and she’ll release me on the same day!!!

Through and through, I was overwhelmed by God’s grace and favor. I cannot sit and do nothing after what He had done for me. I really give all thanks to Him for what He had done and for all the people He had sent to encourage me.

Through this, I saw the love of my family and friends. Helping me through this has become a community affair.

People to thank:
Me and MArk’s family are constantly encouraging me. Yee Kwee, Flora and Elaine were always praying for me, my friends (Xueli, Jorine, Carlene-sister) were always sending me sms to update me with job ‘lobangs’, Tina and Shelley did all that they can to pray for me, hold me tight from spiraling downwards, Vincent for his impactful resume writing, Minvey, Chris Tan, Diana for sharing with me their testimony to give me surge of hope when I really need. I also want to thank MArk for he not only saw all the tears, disappointment, hopelessness and fear in me, he also walk the path with me, feeling my pain as though it was his.

Above all else, I thank God for what He has done, the doors which He had close, those that He open and for all the people He had sent to encourage me, to give me hope for another day.

Love Life

2008-08-29T11:44:00.002+08:00

Aurora Greenway: "Work like you don't need the money, love like your heart has never been broken, and dance like no one is watching".

darkness in the dark

2008-06-16T21:47:00.003+08:00

overwhelmed by words cramming up my heads. they could form sentences to create a novel but they chose to do otherwise. random thoughts became irrational fears. sometimes i just want to get away from myself. go to some place where i'm separated by my thoughts. they ought to be one entity but somehow the lines are crossed. those times, those moments, those early hours before anyone start the day, they have already started theirs. they choose to haunt the weak, make them strengthless, crippled them.

all i ask is a quiet night all by my own.

until silent is all i hear.

until peace is all i felt.

until then...

Serenity Prayer

2008-06-01T23:07:00.001+08:00

During our teenage years, we were frantically losing ourselves in the whirlpool of peer pressure, deceived by what love truly means and ignorant of what freedom really stands for. As a result, we become someone who are defined by the wrong yardstick, a measurement given by society, a collective “they” whom we don’t even know their name.

To say that we cease to become who we are is unwarranted because we didn’t know who define what we are.

Are we who we are because of an inborn characteristic?
Or because of what we create ourselves to be?
Or because of who we want to become?

If the second is true, is it sufficed to say that we become who we are by experience?

If the third is true, is it sufficed to say that becoming who we are is a process…

No doubt, I’m sure there are elements of truth in the 3 points.

Why are the differences between growing up and growing old?

Probably growing up is a process where we lose ourselves completely to find ourselves again while growing old is a process by which we learn to come to term with the person we have become.

Learning to accept ourselves may be the hardest thing we all need to learn.

God,

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

(The Serenity Prayer is generally thought to have been written by Reinhold Niebuhr)

Bangkok & Hua Hin

2008-05-23T22:49:00.032+08:00

Destination: Bangkok & HuaHin
Date: October 2007
Travelers: Christine & MArk

This was the first trip we took together and the memories are etched deep into my mind. I was browsing through all the photographs and they inevitably brings me down memory lane. I'm grateful for these 'captured moments' for me. I decided to post them here to further remind myself that life is about moments and I did not want to forget these "Beautiful Moments" that was created. Enjoy my moments.

This was the first day at Bangkok. Having lunch at Platinium Mall. We took the opportunity to take this picture with the colorful building as the background. The picture turn out nice with the stark contrast between the interior and the bright sky!

Having coffee and pretzels. Goofing around with the camera. I like this picture because it reminds me that I can be silly around him and I'm not afraid that he sees me differently.

Day 2: Lunch at MBK foodcourt. Apparently, they have upgraded their food area and is like 'marche-style'. The food are surprisingly yummy!

We tried taking this picture many times in order to align the smiley face with our smiley faces. No luck. Haha.. Anyway, this was when we attempted to be adventurous and asked the cabby to drop us in an unfamiliar territory. We saw this cute building and start taking pictures.

Tucked in a corner was this cozy cafe. I was actually looking for this cafe chain online but could not find the location. Thank God for the spontaneous pit stop if not we will never be able to 'chance upon' this place. Cafe Greyhound.

A rare moment. MArk reading a book!

At the train station on our way to Hua Hin. Hua Hin is a small town in Bangkok and the train journey took about 4 hours. (i think) This trip to Hua Hin was totally unplanned but I had the best time there!!!

At Hua Hin Train Station. Finally (phew!)

We rented a bike and cruise round the city with it. Funny thing happen because little did we know that the bike does not supply us with petrol. We were riding around the main street and suddenly the bike just refuse to budge. Haha.. it was really a classic sight! We were in the main road of the city in front of the traffic light then. The thais are really very good-natured people. NO ONE sounded a horn at us! In the end, we had to push our bike to the nearest petrol kiosk which is aound 500m away. We were told it was the one and only petrol station in Hua Hin! Haha.. I'll never forget that incident.

Feasting like royalties at night at their seafood restaurant.

Next day at Hua Hin's beach.

Carefree. A precious moment.

U.G.L.Y but adorable moment!

If I have to choose a picture to represent the entire Bangkok trip, this would be it! This is my favourite picture. I look like I'm feeling contented. Indeed, I am.. Blessed. Need I say more?

A pseudo 'beach couple'. Haha.. I'm really exhausted on the way back. Was suppose to meet up with a friend (Yui) for dinner but the train broke down half way. Originally it will take about 4 hours but the journey back was about 8 hours. It was quite a scary experience because we seems to be the only foreigner on board and the train just stopped in the middle of nowhere! However, something miraculous happened to MArk. Its his story to tell. Not mine. ;)

Nominees of the Bao' face.
MArk a.k.a Bruce Lee

Parting shot at the airport.

A tribute to Mary

2007-12-26T14:21:00.001+08:00

Fragility of Lives
give someone you love a hug. tell them you love them. let them know you appreciate the things they do. do it all the time. do it now.

The closest that I have ever come face to face with Death is seeing my grandfather breathing his last on his deathbed. That happened 2 years ago.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I witnessed the same thing, but this time it was a friend.

As I was waiting at the holding room in the hospital, I can’t help but reflect on the vulnerability and fragility of our lives. How easily we could slip from one end to the other.

On the contrary, I also see the strength of a person when she faces Death. The relentless pursuit to put up a good fight, not letting Death has its way easily.

How often we said goodbye to somebody without stopping to think that maybe it will be the last time we will ever see them again? How often we don’t stop to ask a friend how she is doing because there is “always next time?”

What if there is no next time? Or there is no tomorrow? What if NOW is all you have?

Would you have done differently?

of a dose of sanity, please

2007-11-29T16:49:00.001+08:00

The mind plays trick. It really does.

It deceived you from the truth, blind you from seeing what you actually need to see. It leads you further from reality. So far away.

Sometimes it makes you sad, but tears you cried flow inward. Deep into the cortex of your soul. Nobody can see what's going on your mind. Neither could you. It's funny isn't it?

Sometimes it makes you afraid, but the fear your felt is groundless and you couldn't hold on to anything to support you. It's ridiculous isn't it?

Sometimes it pushes the people you love away, it didn't began like that but it eventually does.

Sometimes it makes laughter goes on strikes, killing the joy within you.

You get angry because this shouldn't be the way. You wanted to scream but only manage a slight whimper. You grew strenghless allowing it to overtake every part of you till you can no longer fight.

The darkness came overshadowing the lights.

Lost but found.

2007-11-03T19:02:00.001+08:00

There is often a desire to close down this blog because I felt that I never have the time to blog anymore. Once, it was my passion to write down my thoughts and share them with people but now that passion has dwindled to a barely-there, lukewarm attempt.

Someone once told me not to find a job that coincide with my passion because it will be as good as killing that passion. "Why make your passion a chore?"

In my job as a marcomm, I have to devote at least 75% of my time producing communication materials, press releases, newsletter articles copy writing for ads. After so much writing during work, the last thing I want to do when I get home is to write some more.

But there is also another saying which says: "Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life".

So which is then the true mantra?

Will doing something you love everyday makes that a chore eventually?

I believe that it will.

However, it doesn't mean that it has to be.

I felt that I was a little despondent after working for awhile. Day in and day out the same thing. The initial enthusiasm encounter a life-threatening plunge and I believe that if I don't do something about it, it will lead to a catastrophic ending.

So I pray....

God really did came to intervene and did a heart surgery for me.

He let me see that He has already blessed me abundantly. Not many people can claim to do what they love but He has blessed me with that. My heart of discontentment change to a heart of thanks-giving. I saw my situation through the eyes of His and it makes sense to me that it has indeed been a blessing.

He has also blessed me with people whom always give me timely advises that reveals the very word of God to me.

Yes.... we will all grow tired at one point in time doing what we always do. But God always give a renewal of your heart if you asked Him to.

I was lost but now am found.

beautiful stranger

2007-08-29T17:14:00.001+08:00

Beautiful Stranger - Chrissy

Brushed shoulders, blank expression, not a word exchanged
Standing in the masses, disoriented in thoughts, lost in transition
The mind takes on a life of its own, warring to self destruction

There got to be something for me somewhere

Out of the corner of my eyes, I caught a familiar sight
My eyes sweep across the aisle and fix on you.
A beautiful stranger

An overwhelming sense of deja vu

You stood there staring at me, I wonder why
Time stood still in anticipation when your vision align with mine

What is to come, each step closer send shockwaves through
Electrifying, sometimes painful, other times fearful
Your visage faltering like a mirage, unreal

Escape on my mind, realisation of disillusion plunges deep
The hope of the unknown hanging on...

Should I stay or should I go?

of discovering Grace

2007-08-12T21:43:00.001+08:00

"Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less."

Grace comes so freely but yet people just can't accept that. Refuse to accept it even though it is staring us squarely in the face.

Coming from the mentality that "there is no free lunch in the world", we tend to question God's Grace the same way. Is it really given freely? No question asked?

In almost everything we do, there is often a hidden agenda, something that is of our vested interest. Grace on the other hand works on the opposite of the pendulum. It requires nothing from us, makes no demands and ask for nothing in return. The only thing I could think of is that it requires us to have the full assurance of the definition of Grace.

However our thick head just refuse to let that truth sink in. Is that so hard to comprehend? It might be incomprehensible at first, but just wait and see...

Eph2:4-5 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

The alchemist

2007-07-18T13:21:00.000+08:00

It was yet another sad parting when I bid farewell to the last page of ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho. Reading his book is like talking to an old friend; a friend whom knows every of your deepest and most profound thoughts. Thoughts which nobody has excess to and it was imbedded deep into the recess of your soul. You will feel like you have the best conversation yet none of you spoke a word.

I have heard many positive comments regarding ‘The Alchemist’ but didn’t have the chance to read it. Yiling was the first person to recommend me his book with ‘Veronika decides to die’ as the first entry point. I couldn’t keep my hands off his books ever since.

Based on my own interpretation: (Spoilers)

The story speaks of a boy in search of his calling in life. To put it tangibly, he traveled all the way from Spain to Egypt looking treasures base on his recurring dreams and omens that he has. So off he went, selling all his possessions and embarks on the journey of his lifetime. Throughout his experience, he met many people whom became teachers to him, teaching him of the simple and yet unseen lessons of life and how to attain his personal callings.

Hypotheses of the lessons in life include:

Principle of favorability.

When we play the cards for the first time, we are almost sure to win. (some people call it beginner’s luck) It is because there is a force that wants you to realize your personal calling and will whet your appetite with a taste of success.

The destination of your goal is a mean to an end, not an end itself.

When we are too focused on achieving our goal, we forget the most important things; which is to learn the lessons along the way. To achieve your goal without learning anything is a futile process. You haven’t really attained your goal anyway.

Simplest lesson in life: When you possess great treasures within you and you tell people about it, they will seldom believe you.

I was reminded of Jesus. Jesus has the truth inside him that He knew that He is the Son of God that will redeem the sins of the world. He told his disciples about it but none of them really understood what he is talking about.

These are just some of the hypotheses that he has conjured about life. The book contains cauldron of such philosophies and is really interesting to read.

Anyway, the boy made his way to Egypt at his final destination. Unfortunately, he met a thieve that stole all his possessions and even tries to kill him. Not only has he lost all his belonging to get home, he didn’t find his treasures.

The irony twist came when the thieve told him that 2 years ago, he (the thieve) has a recurring dream to go to Spain to look for treasures under an old church but he wasn’t stupid enough to be like the boy to go just because of some stupid dreams.

The boy finally knew where his treasure was.

It was right where he has started his journey; In spain, besides an old church.

Fate has led him on a merry-go-round in search of the thing he was looking for but little does he knows that it was all along right under his nose.

I believe this is very applicable in real life. See, many times we are searching for happiness, love, money and what have you, but it was under our very eyes. We couldn’t see that we simply need contentment to enjoy those things. Until we went on a journey searching for them, going through difficult times, bruising our head and our heart did we find it where we have left off.

Do you think we could have found it if we weren’t led through the difficult period? Will we appreciate it just as much? What exactly do we find at the end of the journey is not really happiness, love or joy because we have them all along. But it is to be contented to know that they are there and to learn to appreciate them.

If the boy hasn’t gone all the way to Egypt, would he found what he is looking for? Even if he has found it, will he treasure it as much knowing that attaining that doesn’t come easy?

Give some thoughts to that.

Random and poignant feelings

2007-06-25T17:23:00.000+08:00

The mind starts the idling process evident by the absence of entries. Inspirations dart around like transitory arrows, missing the target. Nothing was really registered, nothing was really recorded. It seems like it was everything yet it was nothing.

The moment before bedtime, thoughts mirrored the myriad of stars in the sky, but just like stars, they disappear when the day break. You tried to seize them but the motion felt like capturing wind with bare hands; you feel the wind’s caress but can never hold it.

It may be like trying to articulate a thought but the words refuse to come out right. You knew there is a perfect word to describe the exact feeling yet the word seems to go into hiding. Other words do not suffice but you have to make do with them, settling for second best.

Or perhaps trying to mask the real you by pretending everything is rosy and nice. You want to look big on the outside but you felt so small on the inside. Something is eating you up but you could not confront it. And slowly, you shrink smaller and smaller and cease to exist all together.

Sometimes you look on the left and the right, you wonder why everyone seems to be alright. You want to know when is the exact moment when your world starts to crumble. You apprehend they do not happen overnight. They creep up on you slowly but gradually when you least realize. You wonder if everything will eventually be alright.

You look into your lover’s eyes and see an imprecise vision of yourselves inside. Have he seen you in a different light. A gap was conceived between the perception and reality. Who is to build a bridge and reconcile the gap?

The sudden birth of random, poignant thoughts. It captivates the souls, yet unsettling it and heighten the ordinary of things.

Dedicated to the ‘just because’ moments of our life.

100K Campaign Drive Part 1

2007-06-13T17:12:00.000+08:00

The word she whispered was pain.

Like a sensation that comes from the inside of her heart, radiating outwards. It slowly consumes her until what was left was something she could not grasp hold off. She finally realized what it means by “hanging on thin thread”. It could snap anytime.

She is falling into the abyss of darkness, straight into the devil’s lair. Above her was the world she came from. It smells of freshly-cut grasses and vanilla ice cream. She missed the warmth of the sun rays and the coolness of the sea breeze. The rustling sounds of trees invoked in her a sense of nostalgic. That’s where she belongs.

She has forgotten how laughter sound or felt like. Her tears accompanied her days and nights.

Is it too late now?

Then she remembered SOMEONE once told her this.

THERE IS A GOD THAT TAKES AWAY ALL PAINS. THERE IS NO SORROW ON EARTH THAT HEAVEN CANNOT HEAL.

She decided to take a chance. The only one she has left.

And the word she whispered was Jesus.

(Acts 2:21)
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

She got saved by Jesus. Instead of falling into the bottomless pit, she is now falling in the abyss of the love of Jesus. It grows more and more each day. And how do I know?

Of course I do. After all we know ourselves best isn’t it?

Be that SOMEONE to speak of Jesus love today to others in need. Be a blessing to others.

Are you part of the 100K campaign?

Graduation

2007-05-24T17:12:00.000+08:00

My life, unlike this blog, haven't been stagnant. Well, i can't really say that I've been on a roller coaster ride but I guess it has been an uphill journey. Life's been treating me kind. More than kind actually.

The new job is worth raving about. I guess it is really what I have been praying for. God is good to me. As always, He hears my prayer. Besides getting invitation to media events, the perks of having beauty samples, going for free spa treatments, working on magazine print advertorials, religiously surfing through beauty magazines during work, having a team of fun-loving colleagues, meeting with media personnel and working closely with them. What more can a girl ask for right?

I was actually referring to the free samples and spa treatment, I'm sure you know.

Of course there are the OTs and weekends reporting back for work. But in life, you win some and you lose some. Not everyone can have their cakes and eat in. All the time.

But I guess with God, we can. Have the cake, eat it and even top it off with ice creams and delicious looking toppings. That is how generous God is. This morning while doing my quiet time, something daunt on me.

Each new day, we were actually given a blank cheque to fill in. We can put in any amount that our hearts desire and God will credit into our account. Well, not literally of course. But something along that line. The start of each day started on a clean white slate. We could design, write, draw, paint or do whatever we like onto it. At the end of the day, stop and admire the piece of art you have created. God's love is new every morning.

Of course, with God as my banker, I shall lack nothing.

Oh, graduation ceremony was on monday. Here are some pictures from that day;

Chris & Mummy. Wish pupz was there.

Chris & Crystal. Tolls of projects & exams were all behind. Too bad couldn't take a 'family potrait' with Genesis

Cathay Pacific gang

My 2 'mummies'

Just an afterthought:

What is life after graduation?

My first full time job

2007-04-12T12:57:00.000+08:00

Great news my friends...

I have found my first full time job! A real job which brings bread and butter back every month. Not forgeting many beauty products!!!! Nonetheless, there will be the added responsibility that I have never encountered in my student life. But I am so looking forward to it.

I held the position of marketing executive but I reckon that it is more of a Marcom Executive. Which is exactly what I love! I get to write press release to be published in women magazine!, liaise with the graphic designer and produce communication materials and prints, going to the sales floor and gather feedback, meet up with working partners to tie in events, set up atrium for direct sales! and may get to travel around attending events and seminar on behalf of the company. It sounds so challenging but I am sure I will have so much exposure and so much fun!

God is really so good. I told him that I am very picky about my first job, I want to do things that I love and not just take up any jobs that come along. Many people advised me that my first job will not be my dream job. They said that I will need time to find something which I will love. I guess it is their way of protecting me, cushioning me for the dissapointment that usually comes along with great expectation.

Even my own mother says that to me. Accussing me of being too idealistic, a dreamer in my own world. But I'm not affected by their words because I know I trust a faithful God. A God that will come and rescue me in the nick of time. Either too early or too late. I just need to trust Him. This is really God's appointed time. 11th April. A couple of days before my departure to Sydney, not too early and not too late. If it is any time earlier, the employer wont be able to wait for me or if it is any later, I wont be able to make it for the interview. At the nick of time.

The journey of my job search didnt come easy. I was led on a merry-go-round by my own desire. Upon several failures and dissapointment, I finally gave up my desire and choose to give in to God.

I was reminded by this verse by Shelley.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart

I guess that I have always been too preoccupied with the latter part of the verse which states that "He will give me the desire of my heart" that I overlook the first and the most important pre-requiste of it. That is to "DELIGHT myself in the Lord".

I believe that my giving up of my dream of being a cabin crew is the starting point of delighting myself with the Lord. Of course God doesn't despise any type of (legal) jobs. It is just that He knew that I am not ready for a flying position. He knows of my yearning to break away and be set free. He knows that I am impressionable and will be lead and tempted beyond me and God undestands that. He is trying to protect me by closing all the doors.

I vivdly remember a day when I simply sit down on my bed and cry before the Lord, I told Him that I will give up everything that is not of Him. My dreams and my hopes, my fears and my doubts. I gave up all of it. I am also reminded by Crystal who very wisely told me that: "If you hold something so tightly in your hands, your hands doesnt have rooms to receive more blessing from God. You need to let go to be able to receive. That moment is the turning point.

Mark8:35
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it

This verse came to pass for me.

I tried to wrestle with the Lord with my dreams but in the end I lose much, but as I learn to give up wrestling, He blessed me back multiple-folds.

Throughout these few months of searching, standing in many cross-roads, I finally can see God's hand upon me ALL the time. Even when He is silent, He is also waiting with me. He wants me to look on hindsight and be able to testified His faithfulness in my life. He never fails.

Right now, I feel so blissful, so excited about what is to come. A new chapter is going to unfold. I am confident that the Author of my Life will weave yet another wonderful chapter, a new phase that I will have to walk through. I thank God that many friends whom I love have walked with me even when I have given up. I know that they will continue to walk on with me .

I hope that this will encourage those who are searching for something in their lives to know that there is a God that is looking at every steps you are walking. He hopes that you will allow Him to walk with you. Give God a chance. Give yourself a chance to make a brand new start with God.

2007-04-09T23:42:00.000+08:00

Countdown to Sydney: 5 days!

Bags unpacked.
Travel insurance unsettled.
Itinerary unplanned.
Research undone.
Goodbyes unsaid.

Feeling: Jitters, tired, overworked, but can't hardly wait.

My best friend - Wendy

2007-04-03T12:42:00.000+08:00

When is it that your friend becomes your best friend?

Can you remember the exact moment where the transition takes place? At that moment, you know that this particular person will be the one that you will laugh and cry with for the rest of your life. They have become an invisible shoulder that you can lend on even when they are not physically there?

Can you recall that defining moment?

I was transported back to that moment when I was talking to Wendy the other day on MSN. The conversation started simply as an invitation for her to go hiking with me to MacRitchie Reservoir’s HSBC Treetop trail this coming Friday. But then it became a time of reminiscing of how our friendship started.

Back in JC 1, I wasn’t close to Wendy even though we took the same subjects. In fact, I find her a bit of a social butterfly going from group to group. (This is something which she still hold grudges against me for calling her that) I find her ‘girl school style’ rather hard for me to accept since I was from a neighborhood school. But the turning point came when we both sigh up to go to the OBS Camp during the school holidays. At that time, none of the friends from my clique were there and she wasn’t really on talking terms with one of her good friend who went at the camp. So we were like both lost girl seeking solace in each other’s company. (Like we have a choice right?)

On the 3rd day, we were asked to canoe to the extreme end of the island and hike our way back to base camp. That doesn’t sound too hard right? But try imaging that you were canoeing for half the day under the scorching sun that burns your skin, stung by jellyfish along the way and being thrown into some weird places with just a map to navigate our way back. That’s not all. We were both carrying this SUPER heavy haversack that weighs more than ourselves with 2 jelly cans. I really believe that if it were heavier by 1 gram, I would have fallen backwards. That is the maximum threshold weight I can ever carry.

So both of us were grumpy (I was grumpier), tired and frustrated while trying to decipher the map. Even though both of us were geography students, we just couldn’t understand what those lines are trying to tell us as they are blurred into a big mass of irrelevant lines like children drawing right before our eyes. I was on the verge of crying due to the desperation.

But what really makes me so miserable is the darn heavy bag on my shoulders. I couldn’t even walk ten steps without stopping. Wendy was so patient with me and waited for me the whole time with the same amount of junk on her back. She then did the greatest thing anyone can do for me at that point. She picked up my gigantic haversack and slung it across her front and encourages me to move on.

At this point of time, I must really EMPHASIZE the weight of the haversack. It is really almost equivalent to the weight of carrying another person. So she had 1 haversack behind her and 1 in front of her. Try to picture that scene. I was just carrying both the water can. Haha. I am almost too ashamed to say that.

I don’t know if I am really naïve or being in denial. I actually believe her when she told me that she don’t find the bag heavy at all! There wasn’t even tell-tales sign from her face that shows that the bag was actually killing her. She kept assuring me that it is really not heavy. I thought that she was really speaking the truth and think that I must be really very weak. (But she is a black belt so it is not hard to believe her) Haha.. So I let her carry my load.

It was only the other day when we were talking that she confessed that the bags were really darn heavy. She was on the verge of a breakdown as well. Haha… She has waited 6 years to tell me that.

That was really the defining moment of our friendship.

I saw something in her that I never see in anyone else before. She always thinks of others before herself. That is what I love about her.

Well, I think the reasons why I want to blog about this is because I wanted to remind myself of the that moment I have 6 years ago, remind Wendy that she is still a great person, a great friend to me at this point of time, when she has doubts about who she is becoming.

But most importantly, I think that it is about giving people a second chance to prove themselves. We should not discount them base on our feelings of them as feelings are usually a distortion of reality. If I wasn’t given a chance to get to know Wendy through the camp, our friendship will not even be what it is today.

God is a God of 2nd chance and He never discounts us because of something we did wrongly. He simply look past that mistake and start a clean slate for each of us. That’s the beauty of my God. I thank God I have a 2nd chance with Wendy.

Give someone that chance today.

P.S: I hope Antz won’t read this entry. You know what I’m thinking right Wendy?

perfectionist streak

2007-03-27T21:28:00.000+08:00

Question: What is the worst job for a perfectionist?

Answer: Typist (using typewriter)

Just the other day, someone asked me to help her prepare some document to be fed-ex out. She asked if i know why to use a typewriter and I was like (duh). So she gave me a blank template and asked me to type according to the default one. Knowing myself well (a pefectionist) and playing it safe (being cautious), I went to photocopy a few more copies (8 to be exact) of the blank template because I am sure there bound to be mistakes. Haha... I think I must have underestimate myself.

I took almost 50minutes to get the document ready. I could use 5 minutes to type it in Microsoft Word. And you know what, I used up 18 blank templates before I am satisfied with my work. I was mentally exhauted after that. Haha.. That was really hard work (for me).

I don't know why I am so fussy with the way I do things. I always believe that everyone should put in 110% of themselves in what they are doing. Maybe because I cannot tolerate people doing their work in a sloppy manner, I will not allow myself to committe such acts. And I guess because of that, I tend to push myself harder. It may be doing a big project or just typing a simple letter.

But anyway, I think that the lady notice how long I took to complete the letter and the amount of waste paper in my bin, she never asked me to type any letters for her anymore. Phew... Great relief. Haha...

So moral of the story...

Never ever ask a perfectionist to type any letters using a typewriter.

for wendy and amber

2007-03-23T22:40:00.000+08:00

A poem for a dearest friend
Who is standing on the fence
Looking right and looking left
Plunging into her own death

Tossed about in the strongest wind
She has forgotten who she is
Drowning her sorrow with toxin
Someone please redeem her from this

long long ardous bus ride

2007-03-22T23:33:00.000+08:00

I felt like I have embarked on a road to eternity when I stepped out of my office heading to church. In total, I have spent close to 2 hours commuting from Loyang to Marine Parade. I could have reached JB with that time! How thick can it get?

The rain has caused the traffic to be slow moving. The speed of my bus cease to a slow crawl. It made me developed motion sickness throughout the journey. My stomach was threating to regurgitate every bit of my lunch. Yikes! Its really sickening. This is definitely one bus ride that I don't enjoy.

Today was really challenging for me physically. My body kept screaming for me to go back home and sleep but I dragged my foot to choir rehearsal. Say in normal circumstance, I won't consume coffee but today is really abnormal. I had 2.

TGIF tomorrow.

Sunday going Natas Fair with Linda!!! Guess where are we going for holiday? Haha... I'm sure all those that know me don't even have to guess. The country that scream: "Where the Bloody hell are you"? or the more mellow/censored version of "So, Where are you"? The secret is out in the open! =)

Well... actually I don't really like to blog about the coming and goings of my daily life but then I guess the bus ride really eeks me so much that I have to pour it out. Haha... Wanna get it out of my system.

Sleep is creeping up my back, I guess its good night then..

Night world.

the kingdom of heaven

2007-03-18T22:55:00.000+08:00

Troy, Arc of Joan, Kingdom of Heaven, Lord of the Ring and 300.

They are the genre of movies that I love. Ancient history/civilisation and ancient battle. The movies that speak of the glory days of the Roman and the Greek empire where they conquere the rest of the world..

They intrigues me beyond my understanding. Being the sort of girl who dislike watching gory film, I cannot understand what makes me love such films.

Definately not brad pitt in his non-existence waist clothes in Troy or Gerard Butler with his six packs in 300. Well not really anyway. haha..

But they have something that captivate me in that cinema seat. Something that makes me held my breathe. Something that makes my heart beat faster. (its really not brad pitt! believe me) I thought that maybe I'm a saddist that enjoy watching people slaughtering others, blood being spilled, heads detaching from their bodies.

But no, because speaking of all that really grossed me out already.

So I don't think I am a saddist.

Its something else.

Then it dawn on me...

Its about the men fighting for a cause that they believed in. Fighting for their freedom, to protect their love ones, and for the land that they call home. And thus creating history with their stories.

But there is always this leader, this one man. The bravery of this one man that lead his people into battleground. The man that instill courage and strength into his people. This man that urge others to never retreat or surrender. The one that roars the loudest so that other could find their strength to do the same. The one that stands in the frontier of the battleline.

And I saw this one man in someone I know.

The one that says: "If i perish, I perish".

And i know why I love those movies. Because something inside me that is so primeval yearn to be in a battle with him. A battle not of flesh and blood.

Without a battle, there will not be Victory!

And I know I was born for Victory!

back at one

2007-03-14T15:09:00.000+08:00

Its really funny when u think that you have walked away from your heartache and disappointment only to find yourselves confronting the very same thing once again. You dont know whether to laugh or to cry. Literally. You tell yourself you have let that go and ready to put it aside only to find yourself back at the original starting point. Back at square one.

You wonder if this is yet another test you have to pass or is this the real thing this time? What if it is something that God has put in front of me once again and take it away once again? I never know. But i am still going to find out.

I am back at where I was. Will thing turn out differently this time? How many times do I have to go through it before I finally pass the test that He set for me?

Have mercy on me, I cried.

goodbye my lover

2007-03-10T15:55:00.000+08:00

Pen in my hand, staring at empty space.
Trying to put all that is up there into a page.

A writer without a muse.
Impatient into frustration and finally into desperation.

Late at night, you told me you couldn't sleep.
I have hurt you beyond your wildest dream.

But don't you understand.
I am just too far from where you are.

Hoping to make your pain go away.
So I stay away.

For the first and the final time I say this to you instead.
I'm gonna let you go.

αντίο

Yes I do

2007-03-07T11:51:00.000+08:00

I carried the weight of the world on my shoulders.
They pushed me down further and further.
I feel the pain, tears sting my eyes.
I am carrying more than what I can bear.

You then said to me: "Rest on my love, and cast all of my cares on you".

I walked on because I know only I can carry my cross.
Only I can to do this on my own, walk this stony path alone.
Broken into a trillion pieces, thrown all over the place.
Never to be One again.

You then said to me: "I had already walked down that thorny road while carrying that cross for you".

You make everything sound so easy.
Like all my brokeness and pain will just go away.
I wanted to hand you that baggage that I clinged so tightly on.
But I so afraid to let it go.

You then said to me: "Trust in my unfailing love for you".

There are so many questions with so little answer.
I want to know why must I carry this load.
Please tell me how far must I go till I know why.
Why must I wander down this road.

And you asked me: "Do you trust me? Do you trust me? Do you trust me?"

I do, I do, I do

Breaking free

2007-03-04T14:45:00.000+08:00

Many times, we do things out of obligations, live to fulfill unspoken definition that govern our life. We stuck by them because we have to not because we wanted to. And we are restricted in the way we want to live our life.

Then when can we do things that truely pleases us?

Wisemen love to give advise thinking that they know it all, live it all. But they never asked if we needed them in the first place. They have forgotten that it is through the trials and errors that they have been through that truely defines who they are.

If you never try, we'll never know. And if you never try, you never really live.

Maybe we know the dangers of what lurk ahead and know that we might even get ourselves hurt. But isn't that the most exciting part?

I'm tired of living my life with people telling me what I should do, what I shouldn't.

"You should get a job soon"
"Maybe this isn't the will of God"
"With your result, it is a waste that you don't want to apply for university"
"You shouldn't travel alone because it is dangerous for a girl to do that"
"This job might affect your ministry in church so it is better to find something else that won't"

yadayadayada....

Don't they think I don't know all that? Why is it that when I want to do something radical, I have to seek their advise? Because they know better?

Their opinions and their voices became louder and louder and I become smaller and smaller. I cease to become who I am, while trying to please them.

I hate responsibilities, commitment, have a deep hatre for doing things that I don't have a passion for. I always thought that the rules in life don't apply to me.

I don't need another advise to tell me that whatI should do. I know what I should do. But I just choose not to do it. I know it is wrong to say this, wrong to do this. But why can't I be wrong for once? Why do I always always have to do what is right?

I am tired of doing what is expected of me. What I expect of myself.

I want to do something which is out of the ordinary for once.

To live for myself, for once.

Break Away - Kelly Clarkson

Grew up in a small town,
And when the rain would fall down,
I'd just stare out my window.
Dreaming of what could be,
And if I'd end up happy,
I would pray.

Trying hard to reach out,
But when I tried to speak out,
Felt like no-one could hear me.
Wanted to belong here,
But something felt so wrong here.
So I'd pray,
I could break away.

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly,
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky,
And I'll make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun,
But I won't forget all the ones that I love.
I'll take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Wanna feel the warm breeze,
Sleep under a palm tree,
Feel the rush of the ocean,
Get onboard a fast train,
Travel on a jetplane,
Faraway, and break away.

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly,
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky,
And I'll make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun,
I won't forget all the ones that I love.
I've gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.

Buildings with a 100 floors,
Swinging around revolving doors,
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me.
But I gotta keep moving on moving on,
Fly away, break away.

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly,
Though its not easy to tell you goodbye.
Gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.

Out of the darkness and into the sun,
But I won't forget the place I come from.
I've gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.

Break away, break away

eye of the storm

2007-03-02T17:28:00.000+08:00

Like all thunderstorms, the precipitation will eventually cease and the strong gust of wind will stop blowing. And if you observe carefully, you might even see the rainbow that comes after that.

Common sense tells us that the rain will stop and the sun will come out exhibiting its manificent glory.

But it didn't tell us how long the rain will last.

Similarly like the storm of our life, we know that we will eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel but we don't know when.

Fear crippled us when we are standing in pitch darkness. Our cries hit empty walls echoing our loneliness. Our vision is impaired by the total darkness that surround our heart and envelope our soul.

And like King David, we cried out "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me"? -quote psalm 42:5

My life is now in the presence of a major thunderstorm, wondering when will it go away. But God says "Put your hope in God, for I will YET praise Him, my saviour and my God".

And suddenly I find myself in the eye of the storm.

Safe in the arm of my Savior.

Be still and know that He is God

2007-02-28T11:40:00.000+08:00

Waiting for the letter is like waiting for the rain to come in the middle of the drought.

Slow, painful and seemingly impossible.

I have been pacing around my letterbox for days and the letter has yet to arrive. The postman comes and go but without the envelope that addressed my name. Excruciating torment torture me days and nights.

But I put my trust in God. The One that specializes in the impossibles. The God that is above all things. I put my hope in God. The One that says to me that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me".

Be Still and knows that He is God.

Crossroad

2007-02-26T14:33:00.000+08:00

After all the festive feasting, visitation and late night majong sessions, my body finally surrender defeat. My immune system was attacked and I am officially down with the flu virus. It has actually been awhile since I was down with serious flu. This time it hits really hard and I have to stay at home, rest in my bed.

Darn...

Anyway, last night was really fun BBQing at Mark's place. The choir friends from church all gather together to have fun, sing worship songs and stuffing our face silly with food! It was great, especially the singing part! Haven't had that in a long time.

I'll probably will have more time for fun since I have now (un)officially graduated from TP. I have no intention to further my studies in the university and no intention to start looking for a job yet (almost true) so that leaves me with so much time on hand.

What should I do?

I really hate standing in the crossroad wondering where to go next. It bothers me so much that it can give me sleepless night (almost true too) Well... not really sleepless as it take much for me to have insomia but bad enough to give me nightmares. Maybe I am someone who really need to have control over things. So it kinda scares me when I don't know what is the next step for me. But doesn't everyone feels that too?

I remembered watching a show call "CrossRoad" by Britney Spears. Haha.. Ok I admit that I rather fancy her in the past. But that was in the past, so no more raking up the closets. She is really diving headstrong towards a mental breakdown right now. Poor her. Anyway, ya coming back to the movie, it also shows 3 girls standing at the crossroad of their life. And it work out perfectly. I believe that mine will too. Even though it is just a movie.

If you don't know by now. I always believe in the movies because they allow me to be in denial. haha

Anyway, my cough now seems to have worsen. I better go else I'll splatter my monitor with my germs.

Flower power

2007-02-17T11:57:00.000+08:00

My Valentines' Day Flowers!

I recieved these flowers for my Valentines Day. Technically speaking, I only received it on the following day due to the overwhelming delievery that the florist have to cope with.

I was happy nonetheless.

The sender of the flowers came as a big surprise to me because he lives an 8 hours flight away in Melbourne. How we meet was even more amazing. We met about a year ago when he was transiting flight in Changi Airport and I happen to be working there. We chat once in a while and this friendship was on and off-ish. But to think that I receieved flowers from him, well, 'I didn't see that coming'.

I am never a big fan of flowers but then I must admit that my stomach did a couple of somersauts when I received it. And probably more than that. haha.. I think women is really not after the flowers. Afterall they are just some dead plants bundled together delicately (no offence). But it is the feeling of receiving something pretty. Knowing that someone is thinking about them. It is all about the attention.

Haha..

Anyway, dad is back! He is busy in the kitchen doing his thing. Whenever he is home, the house will be filled with aroma coming the kitchen. That is how a home should be. Without him around, I can hardly find anything edible in the fridge, sometimes not even instant noodle in the cardboard!

Anyway, I had crabs for breakfast! He steams it for me the moment I wake up! Pippin' hot when I put the sweet white meat into my mouth. That's the perks of having him around! =)

Well, today is the eve of the lunar chinese new year. Let the feasting begins.
Have fun everyone!

Valentines Day

2007-02-13T23:08:00.000+08:00

Love is a funny thing isn't it. It comes when you least expected it. Maybe Cupid plays a trick on Valentines Day. To the cynic of love.

This stone cold heart felt an aching pain. Like it was falling into love, involuntary. Butterflies were fluttering in the stomach, lips were parched dry.
The mind tries to hold back, but this time the heart won. It finally gave in after the long tug of war.

He said: "Don't back fight the feeling, just let it go".

Just for that few moments, it finally let go. Cupid has struck his arrows.

For just that few moments, its gonna hurt for awhile. But in the name of love, I guess it is all worthwhile.

All seems surreal, like being taken on a magic carpet ride. There were just the two of them, a world new world just before them. But like shooting stars, it lasted only for awhile.

A song came to mind: Can't fight the moonlight - LeAnn Rimes

Under a lovers' sky gonna be with you and no one's gonna be around
if you think that you won't fall well just wait until til the sun goes down
underneath the starlight - starlight there's a magical feeling - so right
it'll steal your heart tonight

you can try to resist try to hide from my kiss
but you know but you know that you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark you'll surrender your heart
but you know but you know that you can't fight the moonlight
no, you can't fight it it's gonna get to your heart

there's no escape from love was a gentle breeze weaves it's spell upon your heart
no matter what you think it won't be too long til your in my arms
underneath the starlight - starlight we'll be lost in the rhythm -
so right feel it steal your heart tonight

you can try to resist try to hide from my kiss
but you know but you know that you can't fight the moonlight
deep in the dark you'll surrender your heart
but you know but you know that you can't fight the moonlight
no, you can't fight it, it's gonna get to your heart.

Tulip Tulip

2007-02-10T22:37:00.000+08:00

Feeling kinda emotional right now with a thousand things flashing across my mind but none choose to stay. There were like fleeting thoughts taking flight prematurely. Just when I thought I've found the right word to describe how I feel but then the feeling is gone and a new one took over.

Ever felt the same before?

Like maybe webster haven't found a word to describe that state of emotion. You know that it is either black or white. So it must be something in between. Just how to describe the in-betweens? You felt that the word is just at the tip of your tongue but it just refuses to come out.

Alright, maybe I'm not making much sense? I always don't. do I?

Anyway, on a lighter note, I discover my favourite flower today. In the past, people always asked me what is my favourite flowers and I will say flowers that are not dead yet. There were even this time when I tell my JC classmates that I like 'baby breath' and they must be thinking "is it counted as flowers"? Well anyway, they got me a bunch of 'baby breath" for my birthday. Haha.. I'll never forget that. Well.. actually "baby breath" is a type of fillers, not flowers. (Fillers as in those that compliments the flowers and 'fills' up a bouquet) It was funny. They tried! =)

*I hope juli is reading this!!*

Ok coming back, my favourite flower is TULIP. And of course those that are not dead yet, meaning still rooted to the ground. Its such a nice feeling seeing a sea of Tulip! How can anyone not like them?

Their petals are all close up as if hiding something underneath. They look so dedicate yet strong. Stretching all out to reach they sun. They look so elegant. Oh, and by the way, tulip means Perfect Love.

How Sweet.

What a timing entry for the Valentines Day! =)

Happy Valentines Day in advance to all the love birds out there. And to my friends whom I love and love me!

Check this out:

Images taken from getty images

Aramsa

2007-02-09T23:01:00.000+08:00

Today is a day of pure indulgence...

Think Spa. Got the idea?

Kudos to Aramsa Spa. It was an award wining spa in Singapore Tourism 2006 award for "Best Garden Spa". Well.. it is an understatement actually.

Nestled in the green canopies of Bishan park. Like an oyster that hides the pearl, its unsuspecting exterior conceal that what lies behind its door.

Walking into the entrance makes me feel like I have walk right through an episode of Samantha Brown's travel and living program. This time I am really not kidding.

Miniature ponds, waterfall, pebble-cobbled walkway, individual treatment rooms, vichy shower! (yes, I'm not kiding). Everything was in place. I bet Samantha Brown wishes to be in my shoe (for once not the other way round!!!)

I chose their signatured 'Aramsa Touch Massage' which work on my tired and aching body. I felt 'brand new' after the 1 hour treatment.

To my surprise, the lady told me I could use their spa facilities which include the steambath! Of course I would not miss such good opportunities! Hehe.. Their showers room make use of the open outdoor concept and is incorporated with vichy shower-head. (yeah i really got a thing with shower-head) Haha..

I'm pampered from my head to my sole. And into my soul.

Well.. the thing is when I walked out of the Spa, I felt really good. Like happy. Its weird because I didn't know that the place will have such a hugh impact on me. I felt my body releasing surge of that positive emotion throughout the day. I know I sound really superficial right now, (gosh, and it sounded stupid) but I'm not kidding! Haha.. So they say "money can't buy happiness" Maybe they haven't been to a spa.

Speaking of all these, I must of course thank one person because without her, there is no such privillege...

*Drumroll please*

All these have been courtesy of Shelley! The best person in the world to me! And no, not only because of the spa treat. But because of every other things.

disclaimer: for your records, Aramsa Spa did not pay me any royalities for promoting for them. All on my own because they have truely *wow* me. =)

unique?

2007-02-08T00:02:00.000+08:00

Spice girls once croon: "Too much of something is bad enough". I'm final understand their sentiment.

I've been searching the web the entire day for my project on the branding of "uniquely singapore". I think I really had enough of this. I can't seems to find anything I want online. Its always the positive stuff, horses riding into sunset horizon and happily ever after stories. I am sure there are some areas of Singapore that is not what we claimed to be. Right? Look, I'm not saying that we have failed to live up to our branding. However, I'm sure there is always a "but" in everthing. I can't find that "but". It is like finding a needle in a sack of hay. Only this time I not even sure someone puts the needle inside.

Frustrated. Anxious. Cranky.

My eyes are failing me after reading through all the articles. All the words seems to be dancing before my eyes and is starting to make no sense to me anymore.

Murder me, she wrote.

Police incident

2007-02-06T23:30:00.000+08:00

Right now, my mind is actively running refusing to take a rest. It could be due to the long afternoon nap I took earlier. And since it refuse to shut down, I thought that the best thing I can do is to let myself run loose in the world of make-beliefs and fantasies. I read. Unfortunately, I realised that I have read every books in my home. Even the old issues of magazine and newspaper had been reread in the last couple of days (yes i'm that desperate). I need to run to the library first thing in the morning. Thank God it is only 5 minutes walk away from my place.

Its really strange because I didn't know that reading is that addictive. I have the constant need to supply my mind with thoughts from those materials else I feel something is missing. Is there something wrong with me? Hmmm.. Is it just me or what? I probably have too much free time on hand! Maybe I'm bored with life.

Well... something happen today actually. There are some problems happening at my grandma place and it involves the police. I spend my entire day accompanying my gram. I went over her place immediately after class. When I was there, the policemen was already there. They were taking statements from her. At that split second, the scene seems so surreal to me, like I was watching an entractment from True Files or something. It was exactly like the show, I almost wanted to ask where is the TV production crews. Haha.. Just kidding. I think I watched too much TV (besides reading)

In case you are worried, it is nothing really. Just hope that everything will be settled soon enough.

Yesterday I said I wanted to go dye my hair, well apparently I didn't get to do that. Maybe it is giving me another chance to rethink my decision to dye to a darker shades. Haha.. Maybe I should really reconsider.

Alright alright, I know I have ran out of topics to write. I better stop. Hopefully the next time I have more interesting revelations that I can share. Its been quite sometime isn't it. Good things goes to those who wait? I dunno.. Till then.

Ciao.

random

2007-02-05T23:48:00.000+08:00

Life's been treating me well recently. I've been blessed with plenty of free time on hand and that means lotsa reading, shopping and all the what's not. I have polished off at least 5 books in 3 weeks. I would say pretty impressive, don't you think? Anyway, I really cherish these couple of weeks because I know it may be the last hiatus before my search for a REAL job begins. *horror*

I'll probably go for a long holiday before the search begin. I think this time it will be HKG. I can go look for my dad too and spend a couple of weeks over there. I need to get away for awhile. To wake up to a different view, meet strangers that will become friends, see the world in another light and become a better person. haha. sounds good to me. Speaking of my dad, he is coming back on the 15th Feb for CNY. Honestly speaking, I'm not too thrill about seeing him. Well, I have my plight......*lost for words*

Anyway, last sunday, i went for a hair cut and the salon charge me $10 more for CNY surchage! damn. The bill came up to almost $50 and less than 2inches of my hair was chopped off. Tomorrow, I will be going for hair colour (to a different salon), hopefully there is no such ridiculous happenings. I was thinking of dyeing my hair to darker shades but i know that dark shades don't really suit me. Should I take the risk? =(

My friend, Ivy, has kindly offered to accompany me to the salon. I thought it was very kind of her because she will be sitting there and wait. Haha.. Let's hope she will not be bored to tears and hope that she will not regret her decision. haha..

Alright better go to bed soon. Meeting the tutor at 8.45am for consultation. My 2500 words report has so far ZERO word. I'll be screwed if I don't start writing soon. Anyway, u guys can contribute your views if u like. I'll be able to gather more opinions too!

Topic: "Evaluate the branding 'Uniquely Singapore'. Does this branding encapsulate the essence of what Singapore has to offer to visitors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this branding?"

Queues?? no thank you

2007-01-25T23:44:00.000+08:00

Today is the first time I've tried the famous Hokkien Mee at Republic Foodcourt at Wisma. (hey, don't look at me like that. I know i'm kinda slow at keeping up) Me and Wendy both agreed that it was too overated. Seriously. I think that the Hokkien Mee stall near my place taste better than that. No kidding. And i don't even see a bee-line for it.

I think that Singaporeans really really love to have something that they work really hard for. Say for example, queuing? And queuing is a big NO-NO to me. Which explains why it took me such a long time to try the Hokkien Mee at Republic Foodcourt. Haha. You know the recent (or not so recent) craze of the donut from Donut Factory? I wondered if it really taste so good that people queue for hours to get them? Novelty? I don't know but I should really yank my tooth at one of those, probably when the queue ceases. Which may be about in a few months time? Haha.. Probably.

the notebook

2007-01-22T15:49:00.000+08:00

Half the day had gone by and I have yet to accomplish the things I wanted to do. Procrastination sets into motion on the first day when I promised myself to start compiling my portfolio. I wonder how the rest of the week will go. Useful, I hope.

I have just finished watching another rerun of 'The Notebook' and it still never fails to fill my eyes with tears. The love between the couple is unprecedented in modern times. Such love, I yearn with great intensity. Such love that burn a mark in my soul. Such love that will set me pursuing it till eternity. Yes. Summer love that is passionate and mindless which develops into something much more. A lifetime of memories, a love that create miracles and bring us back each time when we drifted away.

Maybe that is the reason for me to stay in singleville. I see no reason to come out. I'm happy where I am. Until the love that I'm looking for comes to me. Until then. Call me an idealist if you want. I couldn't deny that. But wouldn't we all want the best? Wouldn't we all not settle for anything less? I wouldn't do that for sure. I have decided to measure love on a different benchmark. It is harder to reach this time. But isn't the journey of love not make easy? Decimated with thorns and planted with tears.

The film has reignited the passion back into me. A passion that was buried by reality, disappointment and lies. I thought I could well forget about the four lettered word, move on and simply just live. But I couldn't. The core of my being is made with love, nurtured with love in mind.

I'll wait till it comes to me. For the once and final time. I'll wait.

Blood Diamond

2007-01-21T13:28:00.000+08:00

Every once in a while, there will be a movie that can capture your soul. It will leave a deep burden in your heart and you can never be the same again. The movie that speaks volume of the dark abyss of a world where I can never in my life, comprehend. One that provoke an inner sense of shame and shake me hard to realise how indifferent I have been. That is the aftermath of my thoughts after watching 'Blood Diamond'. - A wake-up call.

The exploitation of the poor by the rich. Throughout the show, deaths, lies, betrayal, greed and violence are the overlying theme in the movie. The idea behind the violence on the screen is to show the brutality and senselessness of violence, both in Africa and around the world. The most disturbing scene is to see children picking up weapons and started a killing spree without batting an eye. Their eyes reflected not even a sense of remose. A show not for the faint hearted.

During one of Leonardo DiCaprio's weaker moment, he asked a rhetorical questions: "Will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other?", to which his own response is "God left this place a long time ago". A nation without a hope. TIA - This is Africa.

To me, the irony of the story is after all the innocent bloodshed and the merciless killings to obtain the diamond, it was simply put into a vault in London. Totally unjustifiable. The present day struggle between the west and the third world country is at play.

I remembered a commericial that advocate for us to stop the demand of sharkfin's. "The killing stops when the eating stops." This is the same for the movie.

The opposite of love isn't hate. It's indifferent. Yes, I couldn't agree more. And so how I have hated the world, by choosing to be indifferent. A movie that urge me to do something to make a little difference. Anything.

I strongly encourage everyone to watch this film. A movie at its best to give us a reality check of what may still be happening all around the world. It may not be diamond this time.

financial reds

2007-01-18T17:57:00.000+08:00

Stealing some time to blog before I knock off from work. I'll be meeting Yiling and Jinwen for a comedy play at the National Library. Reading from the various critics, it seems to be a 'must-watch' for this season. I'll tell you if it is so after tonight.

My financial statement seems to be in the red lately. There is so much things i NEED to buy but have to be put on hold till the moola appears. Too bad they don't grow on trees. Haha.. I'll have to find a part time to hold the fort in the meantime.

Alrighty, till then.

Everything in this world will come to an end eventually

2007-01-17T20:59:00.000+08:00

2 more days and 5 months of internship will come to a closure for me. 5 months seems so daunting initially. But then I don't know where the days have gone.

In these 5 months, I have an awesome experience! I get to dine at fine restaurants, meet up with experience industry player, handle challenging projects and most importantly, knowing the best supervisor and manager anyone can ask for. It is one of the best experience in my life. If I am allow to say that. Through this, I gain better understanding of the travel and aviation industry. One that I can never learn in a classroom.

I must really really thank God for this. I know that all is not possible if not for him. Initally, it didn't even occure to me to apply to this company. But with his miraculous intervention, I was one of the choosen few to be able to work there for my internship. Everything falls into his perfect and pleasing plan - for me.

Tears will be shed on friday as I bid farewell to my colleagues. All of them.

There is a chinese saying that says: "Tian di xia mei you bu shan zi yan si". Everything in this world has to part eventually. (loosely translated)

I couldn't agree with that more.

Shakespears says that "parting is such sweet sorrow". But I can never understand the sweet part.

With heavy hearts.

2007-01-01T00:48:00.000+08:00

Top 10 Lists in 2006

2006-12-30T12:53:00.000+08:00

2006 is will soon finish its race in another day. I thought it will be siginificant to come up with some my favourite and not-so-favourite things and memories of 2006 as a form of remembrance to this year. Well writing some of these down, I was brought back to memory land, remembering some my laughters and tears, some of the essential ingredient of life.

Here goes:

Top 10 Movies in 2006 (not in order of preference)

Da Vinci Code
The Lake House
Devil Wears Prada
Step Up
Click
Take the Lead
The Guardian
Happy Feet
Eight Below
Poseidon

Top 10 Books read in 2006 (not in order of preference)

Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Under the Duvet - Marian Keyes
Chasing Daylight - Eugene O'Kelly
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
At First Sight - Nicholas Spark
My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Veronika Decides to Die - Paulo Coelho
Eleven Minutes - Paulo Coelho
The Devil and Miss Prym - Paulo Coelho
Memoirs of Geisha - Arthur Golden

Top 10 Dining Experience

The Line - Shangri-la Hotel Singapore
Melt - The World Cafe - Oriental Hotel Singapore
Ellenborough Cafe - Swissotel Merchant Court Hotel
Sakura Restaurant - Orchard Shopping Centre
Crystal Jade Korean BBQ - Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Tapas Tree - Clark Quay
The Soup Restaurant - Changi Airport T2
New York New York - Citylink
Khansama Tandoori Restaurant - Serangoon Road
Long Beach Seafood Restaurant - East Coast Seafood Centre

Top 10 Happiest Memories

Going Bangkok with Jorine, Jinwen and Yiling
Getting the progress package
Being the top student in CRS and getting $300 for that
Internship at Cathay Pacific Airways
Winning Ipod Nano during Company's DnD
Playing tour guide to Max from UK
Ben passing his final year exams, one which he did not put in effort till last minute
Making new friends like Costa and Shane from down under, and Maisie from China (haha) I think I mean Singapore
Dad coming back Singapore to celebrate his birthday with us
The discovery of the mystery of 11:11 (secret)

Top 10 Significant Moments

Last Examination in Poly
Xueli's ROM
Chiew Ling's ROM
Dad leaving for Guangzhou to work
Voting for the first time
1 year in serving my church's celebration ministry
1 year after baptism
Carlene's 21st Birthday Celebration
Trying photoshop for the first time and really really loving it (I really use to hate all thing dealing with computer)
Getting a call from Wendy informing me that she is officially a Singapore Girl

Top 10 Things to Try in 2007

Perm my Hair
Learn something new (option: Spanish, Photography, Dancing, Pilates or Photoshop)
Read the entire collection from Paulo Coelho
Try Online Shopping (haha.. I really didn't try it before)
Redecorate my room, especially the noticeboard
Go on a mission trip
Go to Disneyland to fulfill my dream of being a disney princess (big grinz)
Start a saving plan
Get to know Singapre better, visit SAM, Red Dot Museum, MINT, etc...
Go to somewhere out of Asia

10 Things I'll not do/try in 2007

Cut my hair real short
Wear Bell-bottom pants
Get into a relationship (yet)
Work in a travel agency
Dye my hair Black
Eat anything that is still alive
Be selfish with my praises to others
Get drunk (again)
Accept anything that it not within my expectation
Stop Dreaming

I hope that you enjoy looking through the lists and hopefully tour mind invoke up some memories of yourself in 2006. I hope it rekindle of something in you, reminding you that the best thing in life is yet to come. Continue to dream. But always remember that God can dream a far bigger dream for you than you can ever imagine. That I believe.

May the year 2007 brings even more happier memories, unexpected surprises, closer family ties and friendships, greater desire to make your life story an inspiration to others.

New year resolution

2006-12-26T01:29:00.000+08:00

So late into the night, yet sleep haven't found its way to me. My mind been running its own course, thinking of what I have done in 2006. I'm finding some ways to sum up and have a closure of 2006.

What have I done?

Frankly, I didn't set out to any resolutions in the beginning of 2006. I wanted it to be a year where there is no expectations to be fulfilled. I wanted it to be a year where I set no boundaries or limits to what I do. I thought that I can be free from any promises that I make myself fulfilled.

But instead, it become a year where nothing significant happen. Because I didn't have any dreams.

Quoting from Malcolm S. Forbes, "You cease to dream you cease to live".

How true is that.

Man without dream is living a life not worthy of himself. They are short changing themselves for something much more than they could possible be. It would be a tragedy for me to be less than what I could possibly be.

And so I decided to start off the new year with a list of resolutions I hope for in 2007. I want 2007 to be a year of Victory. With boldness to conquere what lies between the gap of reality and dreams.

I'm sure 2007 will make a difference to me. Because I dare to dream it. Nothing happen unless first dream.

Let's wait and see.

Christmas bane and boon

2006-12-25T03:45:00.000+08:00

The most meaningful thing I have done this Christmas is to visit a family service centre and Tiong Bahru to sing Christmas Carol. Underprivilledge children and their parents were invited by the centre to join in the celebration. This is how we reached out to the community by telling them that they are not alone in the time of celebration. I can tell from their faces that they are touched by our presence.

My idea of how I wanted to spend Christmas?

Gone were the days of hard partying, hitting to town to join in the rowdy bunch of party-goers. Even the thought of that makes me tired.

An intimate dinner with the closest friends, a potluck party at someone's home, coffee at a beachfront cafe (pacific coffee at Vivo!) or even sipping red wine on the couch watching reruns with people I enjoy. These are enough to make happy.

Am I psyched about Christmas?

Not entirely.

I hate gifts shopping together with the whole population of Singapore. I hate being having to plan what to do on Christmas eve (or I may appear as boring/lonely??) I hate being disappointed by friends who disrupts plans. I hate seeing reds in my account balance after all the shopping and feasting. I detest traffic congestions.

I asked myself this for many years. When will I fall in love with Christmas again?

I guess I'll never. For someone as anti-social as me, I don't think so.

But that does not mean that I hate Christmas. I may dislike to routine celebration. But I remembered the reason for it. It is the time to remind myself to pass the love around. You may asked me why do I have to wait till Christmas to do that?

I don't know either.

May we never forget that among all the partying and feasting, Jesus is the reason for Christmas. It is more than the food, the hype, friends or even parties. It is all about Jesus. He is the reason why we celebrate Christmas.

Come to think about it, Christmas ain't so bad after all. If we celebrate it for the right reason.

picture perfect

2006-12-15T12:48:00.000+08:00

The wind flirting with my hair, the sun dimming into a romantic hue of amber, palm tree swaying to the rhythm of the waves.

Picture perfect.

It took away the toll in my emotions that was building up throughout the week. See that picture put hope in me once again. I don't know why. Maybe because I'm a dreamer.

Thank God it is friday today. 5 more hours to weekend!

Once saturday comes, I'll put off my mask and put on myself once again and join the ladies at Yiling's to feast, drink and be merry. We are having an advance Christmas party to celebrate coz Yiling will be leaving for Finland on the 18th Dec. Lucky her. She'll get to sit on Santa's lap and whisper into his ear and tell him her Christmas wishes.

Anyway, this entry is just to share with all this lovely picture. It is taken from Colombo, Sri Lanka

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time

2006-12-09T10:01:00.000+08:00

Recently, I just read another fantastic book that that gave me the "I mustn't read too fast or it will be over too soon" feeling. The title of the book is 'The curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time' by Mark Haddon. I thought that he is very clever with how the plot progressed and how he joined all the fragments of seemingly unrelated pages together. He is able to narrate a story that differs entirely from his own world.

Spoiler Warning....

The story is about a teenager, Christopher, age 15. Christopher is unlike any teenager his age. He is really different. He lives in a world of his own and detest any human contact. Christopher excels in Mathematic, has a photographic memory, love Sherlock Holmes but hate the author and live by his own sets of rules.

He is autistic.

Autistism is a paradoxical word itself. Could it be said that the person is cursed with a gift or gifted with a curse.

Either way.

The person could be the smartest person in his entire school but is not able to commute to school on his own. Or he could solve challenging mathematical equation but not able to understand metaphorphical statements like 'an apple of his eye' or 'I laugh my socks off' . He gets confuse because he cannot imagine how this is so.

He is able to understand and explain the Monty Hall Problem (very interesting, go find out!) which I find it rather difficult to understand mainly because I am someone guided by intuition and not math.

The plot of the story is actually how he tried to be a detective (like his favourite Sherlock Holmes) to investigate who killed his neighbour dog. (Decided not to spoil the story by revealing the ending and this is not a lie because previously I wrote 'Spoiler Warning' and this is just a clarification) Pg177

In the entire book, not once was the term 'autistic' mentioned. I believe that the author is trying to mimick reality where it is a taboo word which no one speak off audibly.

Everyone should really pick up this book off the shelves (if you are lucky enough to find it since it is the winner of the whitebread book of the year) and read it. You will surely gain great insights into their enclosed world as well as other pieces of information that the author includes.

3 cheers to Mark Haddon.

Credits to Mark Haddon who inspired this entry.

Future

2006-12-08T12:25:00.000+08:00

What do I want, where do I want to go? What do I want to do, who should I follow? My dreams and vision of the future vesus the truth of reality. How can I reconnect the dots to complete the picture?

A true idealist at heart. How can I brave myself for the seismic wave of destruction that promise to come along with life?

I'm standing at the crossroad once again. Idealism vesus Realism. Who will win?

It somehow induce a feeling of excitment and fear simulateously. Not knowing what the future holds yet anticipating it to be a dream come true. Conflicting emotions yielding me to my knees.

Will I make the right choice this time?

Time will tell.

Daydreams

2006-12-07T15:00:00.000+08:00

I wish for a cup of hot tea to warm my hands, curl up in my bed and cover myself with duvet.

Let me close my eyes gently and fall into a sweet slumber.

Maybe I'll dream about heaven with singing angels, lavender garden, clouds and cotton candy. Everything moving in slow rhythmic motion. And I know where I am happy. With warm hands and joyful heart, innocent laughters filled the air.

Let me close my eyes gently and fall into a sweet slumber.

So that I am not here.

CX DnD

2006-12-03T17:55:00.000+08:00

The uber chic, alluring and ever-smiling Princess from the Land of a Thousand Smile!

The 4 interns from town office together with the regional manager of singapore Cathay Pacific Airways.

Clockwise: Ben, Runi, BoonKiat, Jenny, Chris, Judy, ST, Samantha, Sheril and Elaine. The whole lot from sales and marketing department

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Judging from the pictures, you could surely tell that I had a great time at my company's annual dinner and dance party held on friday. The theme of the night was International Costumes. We have to dress to best represent all the destination that CX flies to. I choose Bankgkok, Thailand. =) I was thinking maybe I want to dress as Cleopatra, Greek Goddess or Victorian Lady but choose otherwise. It must be my Asian roots' talking. =)

Me and ST were part of the organising committees among others. It was a good experience to see our efforts to fruitation. The performaces put up by the various department were something to remember. I especially love the piece put up by Avril and Shawn. Their salsa Ballroom dancing makes me think of JLo and Richard Gere in the movie "shall we dance". It seriously makes me wanna go and sign up for dance classes immediately. Haha.. They are such a compatible couple.

Oh by the way, I won a 4Gigabytes iPod nano during the luckydraw! Woohoo.. Thought of selling it so as to put away more money for my graduation trips, if any. All wells that ends well huh. Went home a happy lady.

Fits of euphoria

2006-11-28T14:06:00.000+08:00

This morning, I woke up accompanied with fits of euphoria. It appeared the moment I open my eyes. I was greeted by the shy morning ray that shine through my window. Simple bliss. Then while bathing, the euphoria feelings subtly came upon me again and I felt really joyful. Just before I stepped out of the door, I saw my reflection in the mirror. My make-up is perfect, volumized hair, dazzling smile, and was drenched with sweet smelling perfume. I was ready for the day. It wasn't a surprise to know that by the time I was walking to the train station, I was already beaming from ear to ear. What an unique change since I was dragging my feet to work every morning.

But somewhere along the way; on the train, during WORK, during lunch and all the other nook and corner of the daily routine, people come along and took a piece of that joy away from me. Some of the demanded things to be done their way, some impose their ways on me, others use words to dampen my spirit and yet other just behave indifferently. Stupidly, I allow them to do just that; stripping me of my beauty and the felicity I had.

Who are these people anyway?

It is people like you and me. Are you guilty of doing that to someone? Plundering them of their joy because of the cause of your words and actions? Maybe something you did or say carelessly is the turning point of somebody's day where all they wished they didn't even leave their home?

I am guilty as charge.

Many times, I flippantly said or do things that may cause others their misery. Which in turn may be passed on to someone else. Before I know it, it spinned off and circulate to other people they come into contact with. I may have ruined the day of many people! What a heavy sentence.

God says his love is new every morning. Let us keep ourselves in check all the time. Each new day can be a day where we make a difference in somebody's life. Small things count.

Go the extra miles if you can. Say something nice. Smile. Pass it on.

Animals kingdom

2006-11-22T11:47:00.000+08:00

Right now, I'm sitting at my work station freezing my ass off in my office's artic condition. My fingers are numbed by the cold wind from the blast of the air-conditioning. Hate that feeling.
This is the first time I am blogging while working, hopefully I won't get scolding from anyone.

Work has been really frustrating of late. I really hate taking calls. These people are really rude and are hurling insults at me at the speed of 300words/minute. All my self-esteems are trampled on the ground and thrown out the window. I seems to go home everyday empty inside. It is no wonder I feel so tired everyday. It is really a challenging task. People scrutinised me with every words I spoke, trying to pick out every mistake I make.

People are so hard to please..

It is a real test of faith for me learning how to love people who are unlovable. Jesus died for me just as He died for them. He loves me as just He love them. So why should I feel that they are not worthy of His death?

I should really slapped myself for thinking that but it just come to me. My mind is known for having a mind of its own, if I am allowed to say that. =) She is a classic character i must say. My body is a slave to her whims and fancy.

I find myself having bad blood with human being in general. I have a general animosity towards them. This feeling amplified itself when I am in the train on my way to and from work, during work. However, come to think about it, it is basically every other time I come into close proximity of them.

It come to a point that I start to question "is it just me or it is them?"

I may be a freak for all I know. *shrudder*

Maybe I should be like Wendy. She loves animal more than human. I used to think that her thinking is uncanny but think again she may be right. At least animals wouldn't shove me around on public transport (they are not even allowed in right?), call me up and throw me upside down with their words (or barking/meowing/neighing/whatevering). Hypothethically, if I own a pet, they will be the one that sit by me when I am lonely and listen to me. Wendy sweared that her dog, Jaz, understands her when she talked to him.

Talking about that, it reminded me of the little black dog that is around my neighbourhood. He/She is always resting at my void deck almost every morning when I am on my way to work. When the elevator's floor pry open, I will simply see her standing there looking at me. Sometimes during my evening jog, she will be at the park doing her usual walk. At times, she will join me for a some distance until she found something more interesting that deserve her attention. I reckoned that she belongs to some family living in the first level where she is allowed free reign around the neighbour. When it is time for meal, she will then head back to her home. That is what I call faithfulness. =) Even man can't do that! Haha..

Oh I think I have done a major side track from my misery at work to animals. Anyway, I hope this post entertain you guys. Since majority of it is about animals, this post shall be dedicated to ms wendy.

I'm outta here.

Updates

2006-11-08T22:50:00.000+08:00

For that split moment, I almost forgotten my sign in password to blogger. This really shows how long I haven't been updating my blog. What a pity since there is so much happening this few weeks. I decided not to blog about all those delibrately now that it is over. Also due to my laziness. Shall let it surface when the urge for me to write about it comes to me.

Every evening, I came home with a load of tired and aching bones. Dragging my feet home every night. Not that there is much to complain at work. It is the good type of tired. It means I really worn myself out working and going out. Its definately the good kind. (though i do wish for more sleeping time)

What can I say? It is still the same me, same dreams and same grouse. Hehe... I thought it will be good for me to update of my recent life, telling you guys that I am well. (very well lah..) Internship has really been exciting!!! And period to exams. (what can i say??)

Just came home from dinner with Xueli. Had a good laugh over silly things. It was really nice to know that some things still remains unchange, especially friendship. =) It definately warms my heart.

Anyway, all my language sense seems to be left at the door replaced my monotous rumbling. I better stop now before I shame myself further. I have to pushed the blame to my tiredness. They are the culprit. Really. I swear.

sister woes

2006-09-25T22:51:00.000+08:00

If I have follow my emotions today, it would have been a bad day. Not even Daniel Powter's bad day could have rescue me out of the abyss of frustration. It all boils down again to making choices even whenI don't feel like it.

I had a verbal conflict with my sis this morning. It always started with me using her stuff or wearing her clothes. I don't and cannot understand why couldn't I? We are sisters after all right? Can the kinship of sisterhood be destroyed just because the owner of a sweater demands to wear it for that day and thus make the other person take it off? I guess for my sister, it could be. How sad to know it.

It sounds even more pathetic if you have eavedrops on our conversation this morning..

Sis: Have you seen my black sweater?
Me: Yea, I'm gonna wear it.
Sis: I AM GOING TO WEAR IT (walking away and knowing that she has win the arguement).

That's all she needs to say. And me, struggling with my own emotions, withhelding myself by slashing her, hard with my words. But I hold my tongue, instead I walk away. Walking away doesn't make a person weak. Sometimes, it takes stregth to keep quiet too. So I sat there pondering hard how can I love a person that is so unloveable? We even quarrel over tissue paper! 30cents/packet! Such an insignificant object could make me see a person's heart. Such a selfish, self-centred heart?

Has she has no respect for her flesh and blood? Respect is too diplomatic a word. Or should I say, has she has no love for her own sis?

No, there isn't any love.

I would determined by that piece of tissue paper. That's is the measure of her love for her sister. Cheaper than a litmus paper, but it direct me the colour of her heart. Neither blue nor red.

Is this the measure of her heart?

I fear so....

Why has we gone so far from each other? How can two person be so similar yet has become so different at the same time? How has the distance crept between us, leaving only a gap to fill the void?

Slowly but gradually...
Unknowingly but eventually...

That is how it happen.

All about love

2006-09-24T21:32:00.000+08:00

I have witnessed a marriage solemnization today at Fort Canning ROM. When the couples were exchanging their marriage vows, a single tear slide down my cheek. At that moment, I was touched by the promises that the man and wife have vow to keep. And I thought to myself: "such a sacred union that God has created when He intend man to leave his parents and stay with his wife.

I pray that when I have found the man that is worthy for me to exchange such vows with, we'll keep the promises we made in our heart.

I feel honoured to be invited by my good friend in her matrimony. And I pray that her marriage will last her lifetime.

However, I couldn't help myself but to think of the other side of the coin. (No implication to anyone) In this perverse world, it is a commonplace for adultry and divorces to take place. Families are broken up and children were force to grow up under dysfunctional environment. People always say "rules are meant to be broken and promises are meant not to be kept". And so, why in the first place will they commit to such dire promises of taking care, caring, comforting and loving another person in the first place? Why make such tall promises that they couldn't keep?

I feel very fortunate and blessed coming from a duo parents family. However, not all my friends are like me. In my younger days, I was naive about the fact that duo parents family are the most natural thing in the world. I haven't heard of any divorce families when I was in my primary school or not even when I am in secondary school. It was until when I was in JC and Poly do I encounter such things. Not only that, it seems that increasingly, I came to know more and more friends that are not living with both parents.

I have to say that I am not trying to put these people down. I don't even have the slightest intention to do that. Why I mentioned it is because I feel sad... When parents divorce, children are the worst victims. There is nothing they would want most than to wish for their parents to get back with each other. I swear that it could be their birthday wish every year.

People always ask the age-old question: "What is Love?"

My answer will be this: "It is a delibrate choice we make everyday to love our husband/wife. It is a decision we make to love our wife/husband even when they say something hurtful. It is a conscious choice we make to love no others than our wife/husband.

Love is a choice we decided to make and keep to it.

Love is a choice.

I used to romantizied love thinking that it is all about butterfly in the tummy, dizzy and light-headed feelings we get when that someone is near. It is about sweaty palms and flowery kisses. It is about sugar and spice and everything nice. But it is much more than that.

All these will somehow fades away when one gets into marriage. Feelings are not constant. We can feel love for one day and not so tomorrow. So does it means that when marriage kills the passion of love? No I say. More like the mundane kills the passion.

And so how can passion be kept alive in marriage?

It is a choice we decided to make.

"Let what God has put together not be separated by man". - Such simple words with yet profound understanding.

Cheers to that. Or shall I say "yum sheng"!

Ben

2006-09-11T22:03:00.000+08:00

A lot of good things are happening to me recently and most of it involve my family. I am sure that God is hearing my prayers and making things happen for me and my family, especially my borther. I have a closer relationship with him now. And the relationship he has with others are not exclusively with the computer or with the people he met at 'maplestory'. haha. I thank God for that. I am truely glad...

Work's excitment has been picking up. We get to plan their marketing campaign, attend the management meetings and get to organise some of their events for them. We did a proposal for the manager of how we want to run the campaign and he is calling for a meeting tomorrow to hear us out! Wow! And we are only forth day into the job. Can't believe how God has blessed me! Indeed, truely, I am blessed.

However, the down side to all these is waking up early. At 6.30AM to be precised. Even Ben, who has to attend morning assemble at school wakes up later than me. And every morning, the bed seems to have a gravitational pull towards me and I can't say NO to it. =( Sobz.. I thought I'll never be caught saying this, but... I think schoolings are more flexible and I kinda miss it.
Right now, my eyes are failing me as I type this.. I can't go into a slumber just sitting here. Haha...

Hmm.. Another day before everyone from school will officially start their SIP. Crystal and Yilin will start their work at the service apartment, Mais will start her hospitality training, amber at her sunny island of Sentosa. And 5 months later, everyone will go back to TP and share about our experience. 5 months.. Neither fast nor slow. All those that are dear to me will be sorely miss by me, especially those far away, especially those that are in China, particularly Shanghai. Haha *hint hint*

Been reading "The memoirs of Geisha" for over one week and still can't seems to finish it. I guess this is one book that I'll have to put it down halfway. It is not particularly enticing to me, just now my cup of tea i guess. Hmm... Have to catch up on my reading. Just check out the bookstore during the weekend and there are so many new books on the shelves. Hafta get my hands on them before my brains are left on the shelves too..

Alright, hafta go now. Sleepy... yawnnzzz... Night world.

Before the world began, you were on His mind. And every tears you cried was precious in His eyes.