As the world lay silent

Happy New Year!

Sitting at the pews of the watchnight service, I couldn't help feeling a little gleeful about bidding farewell to 2005. It was not the worse year, but it was divided into a great half and a depressing other half. Like a promising-looking cake with a burnt bottom, it was hard to dump, yet you know keeping it there would hardly serve any purpose.

So while I have not made any new year's resolution, I can only joyfully believe that 2006 is only going to be better, or at least, clearer. The good thing about growing one year older is that you know you move further away from the crossroads, into a path where things are much more focused.

Since I've came home, I've only had dinner at home twice. Which makes me wonder what the world have I been doing...

Things I'll love to do and have done:
1) Feasted on durians
2) Went to Chomp Chomp and conquered the wanton mee, chwee kueh and sting ray all in one sitting.
3) Had tonnes of teh terik in Simpang Bedok, Tampines, Adam Road, Bedok Army Camp...
4) Shopped from 2pm to 10pm
5) Talk to my cat to death
6) Change my clothes 3 times a day and not having to worry who's washing and ironing.
7) Finished 10 vcds within a span of 24 hours

Things that I'll love to do and have not done:
1) Jog from Kembangan to East Coast Park and thereafter to Parkway to have a nice fruit juice
2) Have a picnic at the beach
3) Bring the cat for a walk and plant some catnip for him
4) Have kaya roti breakfast with friends (if i can even wake up)
5) Seafood! (I don't care where and what kind)

For those who are like me, either slacking behind those screen of yours, yes, you who is seemingly looking busy at work, check out http://home.planet.nl/~Qwyzzle, thanks to Yuan who decided to ruin a major part of my holiday by sending me this.

Write me on my blog when you reach Level 20 or 30. I swear there's a level 100... so don't start it if you do not have the patience (or brains.. hahhaha).

Cheerios, and hope your new year will be filled with Hope, Faith and Love.

I Didn't Kiss the Ground, but I had..

1 Chinese Onion Pancake
4 Steamed Meat Buns
Few pieces of Deep Fried Dough Fritters with Cuttlefish Stuffings
Hot and Sour Soup Noodles

Burp...

I'm back in the familiar arms of food in Singapore. Had the above for dinner just now, and walking through throngs of merry shoppers in Orchard Road with a bulging stomach-the epitomy of a happy Singaporean.

Not to mention a friend decided to drop by with a log of fruit cake, baked fresh from the oven.

Pardon me (burp again) for not updating the blog. I am currently deprived of my inseparable partner- Mr Broadband- and have to make do with the dial-up mistress. That makes everything a chore, but it gives me good reason to weane off this terrible habit and get a real life.

Which I have... downing tonnes of coffee and teh terik.

I passed my exams! (Thank you God!) That means there's no excuse not to go through another 4 months of debits and credits, and bid adios to the land of numbers.

Three things I miss of Melbourne- the weather (yes yes yes), my church (including corny croatian-aussie pastor and his wife), and my bed next to the big window. Which reminds me, I've moved out-done in faith- that when I returned, I'll be able to settle my housing.

(Skip this part if you are not a kitty lover) Oh yes, I'm reunited with my boy. But that means waking up every night at some odd hour to let him out of the room. And I've missed him so much that I've allowed him to take over my quilt, at the risk of catching a chill. He's been really lonely and no one talks to him. And I'm re-reading Lynne Truss's Making the Cat Laugh, compliments of the new National Library in Bras Brasah.

Have you ever blog in Chinese? At 1am one night, I decided to throw myself a challenge, to reach the deepest recesses of my brain for my 'hanyu pinyin' ability. I rate myself 3/10 at first try, having to resort to Babel Fish for some words to complete a simple paragraph.

In a nutshell, I've been doing nothing really significant but sleeping late every night. I'm aspiring to chart out a decent plan for the remaining days tomorrow.

Meow!

Exams are Over!

Finally the dreaded period is over! When the group went down to Williamstown for fish and chips after church last Sunday before my last paper, I was already half into the celebratory mood. But alas, the last paper was rather 'bewildering', with horrendous typos that I had to call the examiner to confirm the words (think cut and paste, and made mistakes with editing), and most of all, I even had time to think about life.

So again, as the daylight lasts longer, the few of us headed down to Mornington Peninsular. We did some cherry picking (or rather, cherry tasting), a winery lunch, skip rocks at the Acrombe Maze and enjoy the sea breeze at Cape Schank.

Times like these, I really love the cell group, love Melbourne. I'm saying this because there might be a chance I might just make the last exams my very last. This trip back home should throw things into perspective a little.

But still, I'm welcoming the holidays with wide open arms!!!

Cape Schank

Acrombe Maze 

Ching and Pete picking cherries 

Cat or Husband

A friend of mine found this on ebay. And I was still telling him that afternoon that I have made the promise to my 19 year old moggie that I'll not marry anyone who will not love him (the cat). Looks like I'm not the only one thinking this way.

Cat or Husband- My Sentiments

I Really Hate Numbers

This has to be divine confirmation, I can't do numbers for the world. Paper number 2 on Management Accounting was a disaster, and I'll be happy to be given 49.5 (rounded to the nearest ten), and pass. I've done my part, did 2 rounds of 3am in Bailieu library the nights before, plus decent rounds of practising.

Surprisingly I wasn't the least depressed after the paper, considering I had no time to even attempt 37 marks of the paper.

On the flip side, I got an sms from my finance assignment partner at midnight regarding our assignment. It says that we got one of the highest marks. I was nursing a bad case of stomach flu then, and replied with a obligatory 'oh, good work!' type of sms.

Only this morning did I discovered, OH MY GOD.. we did indeed get the highest, ahead of the walking oriental calculators in class. And if you seriously looked at the way we went about doing it in a let's-get-this-out-of-the-way manner (we completed the assignment 1 week before the deadline, my first record), you know how I feel when I saw the marks in disbelief. It's again a divine revelation that I can WRITE and REASON and ANALYSE, but give me a calculator and you're better off giving it to my cat to add.

That being said, I have lots of thank God for in this time of exams.

1)For the everyday pals whom you meet routinely for coffee, for mugging together, talking about the everyday mundane stuff that gets you through.

2)For a special friend who has appeared so timely, drove me to Chapel St for a coffee at midnight when I was sad, and appeared at my door when I was sick. For changing how Friday nights are spent, and just trudging life with me.

3)For the person who appears and says the right thing at the right time, for praying with me and whose presence is always downright assuring.

4)For the night babe who chats with me, the day babe who reads my email...

5)To the lovely couple staying behind me, who fed me well not for the return of my mediocre company, but for the of love for a quiet and company-deprived sister.

This list of by no means exhaustive, just something to think about on a Saturday morning, when you just had the crappiest exam 2 days ago, the pukiest illness, and a harrowing subject that beckons you to study. Such thoughts keep me alive. God loves me.

1 Down, 3 to Go

I have this imaginary thought running too many times today: When I finally touch down at Changi Airport, I'll kiss the ground.

I'm not patriotic, but I do feel a longing to be home this time. And I'll be back on Dec 3, to reunite to the familarity of friends and family. I thank God for the friends I have here, but maybe it's the culture of 'let's go out now' (and having your own wheels) that I miss really much.

Part of the reason why I'm saying this is because I'm bugged with 3 more papers, all I'll gladly exchange a pass grade for it if they exempt me from the exams. The conclusion is: no interest= no pride = no outcome to be proud of.

Speaking of studying, the library at 3am did turn into quite a commune- everyone's relatively nice to everyone. I get smiles when I come out of the toilet, the guys outside playing soccer at midnight. there's a quiet buzz as all the last-minute crammers huddle together to run their last lap.

Soon, I'll be home...

Time Out

This picture doesn't do the cupcake any justice, because yours truly has greedily chomped off half of it, before going 'oops, it WAS so pretty!'. You have to imagine the other half of it, plus the creamy icing.

Welcome to Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder, where the highlight is a mini cheesery in the cafe. Cindy, Kwok and I set a date to savour the Roquefort Cheese, after Australia finally gave the green light for it to be imported into the country. But the desperatecheesos got ahead of us, and so we got happy with a cheese platter of Fourme D'ambert, Livarot and a UK Cheddar. Took away a cupcake each... burp!

I'm hard at work, in case you are wondering.

Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder Cupcake

As the weather turns warm...

There's this commonality between Melbourne flies and its people. They start buzzing out when the weather turns warm. During my one-day break from the library, the supposed dress-hunt for daisy turned out to be a walk in the park, literally. It was sunny and you have two aimless people walking around the city. It wasn't too long before we decided a trip to the Botanical Gardens will do us good. The last time I was there with Terence, was (gasp), a year ago!

Oh yes, yours truly turned one year older on 5th Oct. There were celebrations with Olivia and Evie, Adeline who got me flowers and cake! And of course due credit must also go to Cindy, who trudged down the streets looking for a cake to take-away, and surprising me outside Union House. And belated cakes from Peter and Ching, from a new friend Adele; a treat from Daisy and Clara!

Of course these are the times you remember those you would had celebrated your birthday with had you been back home. I received a parcel from my cell group from home, another one from my 3 month old niece (or rather, my sis-in-law trying to write on behalf of her), calls and emails from my ex-colleagues, primary school friends... Am I blessed or what!

Now that I have taken stock... I'm suddenly comforted. Had been also ridiculously stressed by the avalanche of assignments and all I can think of is the holidays to come. 3 Dec, reunion date with my pals back home and the cha kuay teow, not to mention my dear ah boy.


Self-maddening indulgence

Spring Break!

There are only a few things that sum up my 2 week Spring break. I have made the Legal Resource Centre my second home, hailed Kwok as a legal savior, went on a literal guilt trip to the Mornington and finally started the new school week.

The legal assignment was a mega slap in the face for sitting through class without understanding much. Had to cramp 32 hours worth of lectures into 5 days. My answered prayer came in the form of Kwok, who provided the pro bono legal aid. Clara, don't forget the estoppels and fiduciary duties! (And Cindy, come back and mug with us!)

But we had our fun though, went to Pancake Parlour one night after a disgusting long day at the library till 11pm. It was a post-mugging treat, and the candied walnut and canadian pancakes compensated for the hard work.

Time really flies, and this is probably the most geeky Spring break that I've experienced. At least I know that Winter has bade farewell, and the weather can only be better.

The flies are already making their cameo.

Received a few pressies from friends back home... always nice to come home after a long hard day to a nice little package lying on your table.

After mugging treat

Mugging in the law library 

Portsea- Mornington Peninsular 

Stinky Sweet

Life is sometimes like that durian gelati along Lygon Street, it is stinky sweet. Sweet because it's finally the long-awaited 2 weeks Spring break, stinky because it is laden with truckloads of assignments and group meetings.

The frequent visitors will noticed that I have been blogging less, because sometimes the things you want to say are just too personal to be telling the whole world. But the bigger reason being that work is piling, and I'd rather interface with some decent human beings over a cup of coffee than the laptop screen.

That day after the fateful cup of Teh Terik at Bismi, I ended up lying on my bed till 3am. Was transported to a solitary bench among the wilderness. Suddenly, God came by and sat on the other side, about an arm's length. It felt like he came to make himself available to me, expecting me to say something. I thought long and hard, yet I can't bring myself to do or say anything. It's like we had a fight and I'm choosing to be quiet, or either that, we are like good friends who do can sit by in silence and yet enjoy each other's company. Could feel my eyelashes were a little wet before I drifted off to sleep.

What would you do if God came by and shared a bench alongside you?

Durian Gelati (far right) @ El Freddo Doche. Taken by my new camera phone. Yeah!

Things that Stuff Up in Melbourne

Found this on a fren of a fren's blog. He found this notice pasted on his apartment lobby after living there for 4 years. The joke is that now he has to change every address that he has given, including bills, driver's license.. basically it's as good as moving house.

Things that stuff up in melbourne...

I'm writing on stuff ups because I braved a sleepy windy rainy morning to scoot down to immigration only to have Tom-the-gay-guy-behind-the-counter giving me a lousy analogy for not bringing my passport. In the end, it was a wasted trip, and I would have been better off sleeping in.

I've been watching so little TV I might be able to qualify for regional/country status. House M.D has been the consolation on Wed nights as I forget about my academic weariness for a full 60 minutes. If I have to choose anyone to marry in the show, it has to be Dr House (and not that aussie bloke). I am intrigued by his aversion to social relationships, his in-your-face one liners, and possibly that hint of cynicism that makes his character rather real. Of course the show has its own issues:

1)If your loved one has a neurological condition that requires surgery that will lead to him losing his memory (including memories of you) in order to prolong his life by a few years, would you give your blessings? Or would you rather have him live half that number of years with the full knowledge of who you are, and what you did.

I'll choose the former, to be in possession of the imperfect is better than losing the perfection.

Stuff Up

What is Your Elvish Name

In another pathetic attempt to do a commentary on the adoption of International Accounting Standards and whatever GAAP, ABCDEFG, I found myself wandering into yet another realm of things.

My name is Drogo Overhill of Nobottle, at least in a Hobbit sense. My Elvish name is Fingon Fëfalas, which sounds like a familiar greek dish. Check out yours in The Hobbit Name Generator .

I have been googled! And it's unfair when the other party has a name that is impossible to google. Wait till I get that name out, because I pride myself at being a google queen.

Back to the IAS, IASB, IFRS, EFGHIJKLMN...

Too Little Play

Have been into tv-ish songs these days. The Melancholic steak in me working up amidst finishing up my finance homework. All studies and little play makes Wen a cranky woman.

X&Y (Coldplay)
Trying hard to speak
And fighting with my weak hand
Driven to distraction
It's all part of the plan

When something is broken
And you try to fix it
Trying to repair it
Any way you can

I dive in at the deep end
You become my best friend
I wanna love you
but I don't know if I can

I know something is broken and
I'm trying to fix it
Trying to repair it anyway I can

Maybe somedays you should just take a backseat, have a cup of latte, read the papers, and let someone else do the repairing.

Another one... check out "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane. Featured in Grey's Anatomy.

God, grant me the strength...

If I am an animal, I'm probably a duck. They apparently do not go about alone. But this week, I am most likely a cat who seeks her own comfortable space.

I had an outpouring of 'questions' this week, to account for basically everything I do and don't do (i.e, skipping class). For those whose last trip to a lecture was eons ago, skipping class equals bad student, leech-status group member, absolute no-no. To account for my continued absence in Singapore, I've also finally sent a mass email to some friends telling them about my delayed return to quell the neccessary but incessant "when-are-you-coming-back"s.

I skipped Corporate Accounting to get some solitude. The weather's been fine and I decided to camp in a North Melbourne cafe just to be quiet. The chocolate ring and flat white turned out to be more inspiring than sitting through another clueless absorption of some Aussie Accounting Standards.

Was it an early signal that 1 month ago, I was sitting there in the Hillsongs Conference hearing all about Strength? Because that is surely something I do with in huge proportions right now. I need to continue to persevere in love and in joy.

Meanwhile, hugs for the week going out to Sha (for helping me with finance homework), Nel (for the sweet card), Cindy (for listening to my endless whinges), Clara (for missing out on her B'day celebrations)...

I miss normal life.

Pic taken at Hillsongs

Things that Make Me Go Ohh... (Part 1)

In case you think I've gone mad, I am fully stressed right now with my accounting course. You heard it right, the social sciences/marketing madhat turned numeric. It's been 3 weeks and I am adequately lost to feel utterly demoralised.

So while I am nodding off trying to read my Cost Management notes, I cannot help but to escape into the happy recesses of my mind. Happy thoughts...

So here it is, I had this in the apartment in Sydney (a full stainless-steel version), decided that a Dishdrawer is my favourite innovative kitchen piece, since it departs from the washing-machine format and is half the size. Pulls out like a real drawer, has a rinse-only function (+10 others), and emits a melodious electronic beep when you open it.

Back to the notes, Happy thoughts...

The Fisher and Paykel Dishdrawer

When You Only Had Love to Give

Have you ever love someone for his imperfections? I know it sounds a little bizarre, but have you love someone for what he can be, and not what he is?

(Cries of 'Denial' hurling my way)

I don't know which is more beautiful, to be with someone perfect, or to be there to witness the goodness blooming in him. I chose the latter. I love the movies of the human spirit, how the weak triumph during times of iniquities. I love those soundtracks where the orchestra plays it to the crescendo in the scenes- think ala Truman Show in the last scene, the bittersweet feeling of triumph over your own weaknesses.

To my favourite person who is in his solo battle- the person whom I love the wrong side up, the one who challenged my boundaries of giving and receiving- I hope you will one day understand that you only need to wait it out, and things around you need not be as hard on you as it seems.

"Nothing you can do, can make Him love you more
And nothing that you've done, can make Him close the door
Because of His great love, He gave His only Son
And everything was done so you would come"


Someone You Could Talk To