My good friend Sha did this in her blog, and I thought it's good to think about it (while recuperating at home from a lousy bout of gastro)
Things I would like to do before 35
1) Get married- Highly dependent on God
2) Be conversant in French - gave a lot back since sitting in french class in uni speaking hokkien with angela... oh, that and checking out the butt of the french instructor.
3) Finish the 10km marathon - I will sign up for the next one in 2010
4) Live in a place I can call my own - no more fearful eviction letters from housing agents!
5) Bring a person in need of God to church - not just inviting a friend
6) Serve in church
7) Learn photoshop
8) Finish reading the bible
9) Go camping
10) Swim and cycle decently
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Some Japan Pics
I can still dream of Japan from time to time.
If you ask me, I will go back there again, maybe in a different season.
I love the Asian-ness of the place.
Fushimi Inari - Too many Torii (gates) to count... thousands...
Mister Donut- Our morning staple. The green tea flavoured ones always runs out first.
Streets of Takayama - This is my favourite strip of all Japan. I love the wooden shophouses and the amazing local products, crafts, food of the Hida region. I can go walk there 1,000,000 times.
A really nice sweet shop in Takayama- Did I tell you that I really like sweets? I'm also a sucker for good looking sweets.
Shirakawa-go: 1 hour bus ride from Takayama. It is nestled in the valleys. During the winter, all the thatched roofs are laden with a thick layer of snow. I can huddle here for my honeymoon or something. It is soooo dreamy!
If you ask me, I will go back there again, maybe in a different season.
I love the Asian-ness of the place.
Fushimi Inari - Too many Torii (gates) to count... thousands...
Mister Donut- Our morning staple. The green tea flavoured ones always runs out first.
Streets of Takayama - This is my favourite strip of all Japan. I love the wooden shophouses and the amazing local products, crafts, food of the Hida region. I can go walk there 1,000,000 times.
A really nice sweet shop in Takayama- Did I tell you that I really like sweets? I'm also a sucker for good looking sweets.
Shirakawa-go: 1 hour bus ride from Takayama. It is nestled in the valleys. During the winter, all the thatched roofs are laden with a thick layer of snow. I can huddle here for my honeymoon or something. It is soooo dreamy!
Der Raum
Trying to paint the town red again.
This time, we headed down to 2008 Bar of the Year- Der Raum at Church St. This unpretentious little cocktail joint is not your everyday cocktail lounge. The bartenders there are not only cute, but they are apt at finding you the right cooktail, as well as making cocktail blending look like such an amazing craft!
After mulling through the cocktail list for a good 10 mins, I was lured into ordering a Lemon Buttered Rum, just because it's got lemon butter, and maple syrup! The man ordered a a chocolate cocktail- a mixture of chocolate and yellow chartreuse (spice-like liquor) and frozen using liquid nitrogen into an ice-cream texture in 1 minute flat. It was fascinating to watch, very much like Macbeth and the witches cauldron bubbling with smoke as the bartender mix the ingredients up with his long metal spoon. I'm glad I got the bar seat, because the fun is really in the watching. The presentation of the drinks was creative and nothing short of a high ball glass.
Of course, did I already mention the cute bartenders? They are real friendly, and not the stuck-up sorts you see in most bars. The guy who who made my drink made it a point to chat with us, not in a patronising sort of way, but trying to suss out what sort of flavours we like so that he can make our drinking experience more satisfying.
The man was probably more delighted to meet Masterchef finalist Linda Kowalski. I thought she was quite nice when we were talking about her food escapades in Italy. Of course, I did not realise who she is as I am ridiculously bad at recognising faces. I can have Matt Preston sit next to me and I'll be asking him what he does for a living.
The bartender trying to mix the chocolate cocktail with liquid nitrogen
Thursday, September 10, 2009
If work is the context, what's the goal?
I've been thinking about this a little.
While no one will be able to come to their own funeral to hear the eulogies, you can certainly tell a little with the numerous farewells in life.
A colleague just left. I bought her the card and present on behalf of the team, another colleague organised a lunch. We weren't that close to her, but decided that if we weren't doing it, no one was going to.
Which is a little strange, considering she's been seen as such a good worker. She works long hours, delivers her assignments with spunk, and might be one of the more professional people I've worked with.
Problem is, she's too task driven to stop to have a real chat with any of us. The 'hi' is always a prelude to work. We sort of gave up talking much to her after a while, feeling like all she wanted was to just tick the box, and not really being that interested in our lives.
Maybe it is not everyone's mantra to make friends at work, just keep it at colleague level.
Which may have explained why the farewell was a little nondescript.
If God gave us work as a context, what is the goal?
I'd like to think that it is to show God's love and glory.
But is it a little hard to do so if there weren't bonds of human relationship that acts as a bridge between two people. It is from this bridge that God's love and glory get a chance to travel back and forth.
I never think work is about working 8-12 hours, delivering the goods and leave feeling that you never really made a difference around those you worked with.
Humans... we are made to connect aren't we?
While no one will be able to come to their own funeral to hear the eulogies, you can certainly tell a little with the numerous farewells in life.
A colleague just left. I bought her the card and present on behalf of the team, another colleague organised a lunch. We weren't that close to her, but decided that if we weren't doing it, no one was going to.
Which is a little strange, considering she's been seen as such a good worker. She works long hours, delivers her assignments with spunk, and might be one of the more professional people I've worked with.
Problem is, she's too task driven to stop to have a real chat with any of us. The 'hi' is always a prelude to work. We sort of gave up talking much to her after a while, feeling like all she wanted was to just tick the box, and not really being that interested in our lives.
Maybe it is not everyone's mantra to make friends at work, just keep it at colleague level.
Which may have explained why the farewell was a little nondescript.
If God gave us work as a context, what is the goal?
I'd like to think that it is to show God's love and glory.
But is it a little hard to do so if there weren't bonds of human relationship that acts as a bridge between two people. It is from this bridge that God's love and glory get a chance to travel back and forth.
I never think work is about working 8-12 hours, delivering the goods and leave feeling that you never really made a difference around those you worked with.
Humans... we are made to connect aren't we?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Marriage...
Was reading through these interesting write-ups about marriage:
“Marriage can be wonderful. It can be deeply satisfying and mutually fulfilling. But if it becomes that, it is because both partners have paid a very high price over many years to make it that way. They will have died to selfishness a thousand times. They will have had countless difficult conversations. They will have endured sleepless nights and strained days. They will have prayed hundreds of prayers for wisdom and patience and courage and understanding. They will have said ‘I’m sorry’ too many times to remember. They will have been stretched to the breaking point often enough to have learned that, unless Christ is at the center of both of their lives, the odds for achieving marital satisfaction are very, very low.”
(Bill Hybels, Fit to be Tied)
“I have no way of knowing whether or not you married the wrong person, but I do know that many people have a lot of wrong ideas about marriage and what it takes to make that marriage happy successful. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s possible that you did marry the wrong person. However if you treat the wrong person like the right person, you could well end up having married the right person after all.
On the other hand, if you marry the right person, and treat that person wrong, you certainly will have ended up marrying the wrong person. I also know that it is far more important to be the right kind of person than it is to marry the right person. In short, whether you married the right or wrong person is primarily up to you.”
(Zig Ziglar)
“Marriage can be wonderful. It can be deeply satisfying and mutually fulfilling. But if it becomes that, it is because both partners have paid a very high price over many years to make it that way. They will have died to selfishness a thousand times. They will have had countless difficult conversations. They will have endured sleepless nights and strained days. They will have prayed hundreds of prayers for wisdom and patience and courage and understanding. They will have said ‘I’m sorry’ too many times to remember. They will have been stretched to the breaking point often enough to have learned that, unless Christ is at the center of both of their lives, the odds for achieving marital satisfaction are very, very low.”
(Bill Hybels, Fit to be Tied)
“I have no way of knowing whether or not you married the wrong person, but I do know that many people have a lot of wrong ideas about marriage and what it takes to make that marriage happy successful. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s possible that you did marry the wrong person. However if you treat the wrong person like the right person, you could well end up having married the right person after all.
On the other hand, if you marry the right person, and treat that person wrong, you certainly will have ended up marrying the wrong person. I also know that it is far more important to be the right kind of person than it is to marry the right person. In short, whether you married the right or wrong person is primarily up to you.”
(Zig Ziglar)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Heart's desires
I actually don't know what my yearnings are for, to go back to the days of the 20s, or the people whom I left behind.
Since I got out of school, I couldn't think of a year where I couldn't get friends for a holiday. There were some friends who have gone places with me, whom I know are such great traveling buddies. Among people like Audrey and Atikah, there was the annual tribal trip. For the last 2 years, the tribal trip had to take a backseat as two members had their little ones.
The thing is, my heart still longs for a holiday, and it feels lonely not having someone to get excited with. I haven't been able to find a traveling buddy here.
I thought a lot about my friends back home a lot. I probably thought more about them than I contact them. You know you've aged when you think about the past more than the future.
I used to think I'd like to be in Melbourne because of the work-life balance. I thought about having my own family and wanted very much to have time for that. In a nutshell, I bought the biggest bucket, and stood waiting for rain.
Yet the rain never really came.
I guess I never thought about Plan B. Like a lot of people my age, it would be nice to be near family and friends, people who understand you and accept you.
I'll be still standing around with my bucket, but if the rain doesn't come, life has to go on, and choices to be made. Idealism has to sometimes take a back seat, and the reality is what really counts for now.
Nevertheless, I thank God that He's given me a place to rest, and when I need to move on, He'll bring me to the next place. Hey, this sure sounds like 40 years in the desert isn't it?!
Since I got out of school, I couldn't think of a year where I couldn't get friends for a holiday. There were some friends who have gone places with me, whom I know are such great traveling buddies. Among people like Audrey and Atikah, there was the annual tribal trip. For the last 2 years, the tribal trip had to take a backseat as two members had their little ones.
The thing is, my heart still longs for a holiday, and it feels lonely not having someone to get excited with. I haven't been able to find a traveling buddy here.
I thought a lot about my friends back home a lot. I probably thought more about them than I contact them. You know you've aged when you think about the past more than the future.
I used to think I'd like to be in Melbourne because of the work-life balance. I thought about having my own family and wanted very much to have time for that. In a nutshell, I bought the biggest bucket, and stood waiting for rain.
Yet the rain never really came.
I guess I never thought about Plan B. Like a lot of people my age, it would be nice to be near family and friends, people who understand you and accept you.
I'll be still standing around with my bucket, but if the rain doesn't come, life has to go on, and choices to be made. Idealism has to sometimes take a back seat, and the reality is what really counts for now.
Nevertheless, I thank God that He's given me a place to rest, and when I need to move on, He'll bring me to the next place. Hey, this sure sounds like 40 years in the desert isn't it?!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Random Thoughts...
Well, I was suppose to blog about last week's travel to New Zealand, but since I'm working on a different laptop now, I can't post up the pics. So just some random thoughts to fill the blanks.
Some week ago, the cell group played an icebreaker answering the question "Who would you like to sit next to in a plane on a long-haul flight? (other than your partner)". In my teens, it would have been some movie star, then in my early 20s, it'll be some cute guy with more than 8hours potential, but the strangest answer that most gave now is "hopefully there's no one sitting next to me so i can have more space!"
I had that dream come true over my recent work trip to Wellington. I had 2 empty seats next to me on my way there and back, a hotel upgrade to the executive suit with a large king bed and 8 pillows to boot (plus a pillow menu with 4 other kinds of pillows to add on), but how many pillows does 1 person need? I had a card to swipe for 3 nice meals everyday, and yet there was just that many times you can muster a 'Table for 1 please' and not get a "pardon?" from the wait staff. For all that's worth, I'll trade all the fancy stuff in for a travelling buddy!
Is there a place for 1 in this world? Are we our best and worse company?
I must say I've been accustomed to both lifestyles. As I disembarked the plane this time, I did felt that I've taken too many solo plane flights in the last decade, with each time becoming more normal and less of an adventure.
N.B: For the record, I did walk into a noisy Belgian pub and asked for a huge pot of mussels, fries and a beer, sat in the middle of the restaurant, tackled as many of my green-lipped mussels, slurped my Belle Vue Krik, and at no time did I attempt to hide under the guise of being engrossed in a novel/newspaper/text messages. I did score better service with the waitress who probably thought I got stood up by a date.
View from the NZ Office's Breakout Room
View from the hotel balcony- NZ Post Building
Weekend Breakfast at Cuba St - Floriditas
Some week ago, the cell group played an icebreaker answering the question "Who would you like to sit next to in a plane on a long-haul flight? (other than your partner)". In my teens, it would have been some movie star, then in my early 20s, it'll be some cute guy with more than 8hours potential, but the strangest answer that most gave now is "hopefully there's no one sitting next to me so i can have more space!"
I had that dream come true over my recent work trip to Wellington. I had 2 empty seats next to me on my way there and back, a hotel upgrade to the executive suit with a large king bed and 8 pillows to boot (plus a pillow menu with 4 other kinds of pillows to add on), but how many pillows does 1 person need? I had a card to swipe for 3 nice meals everyday, and yet there was just that many times you can muster a 'Table for 1 please' and not get a "pardon?" from the wait staff. For all that's worth, I'll trade all the fancy stuff in for a travelling buddy!
Is there a place for 1 in this world? Are we our best and worse company?
I must say I've been accustomed to both lifestyles. As I disembarked the plane this time, I did felt that I've taken too many solo plane flights in the last decade, with each time becoming more normal and less of an adventure.
N.B: For the record, I did walk into a noisy Belgian pub and asked for a huge pot of mussels, fries and a beer, sat in the middle of the restaurant, tackled as many of my green-lipped mussels, slurped my Belle Vue Krik, and at no time did I attempt to hide under the guise of being engrossed in a novel/newspaper/text messages. I did score better service with the waitress who probably thought I got stood up by a date.
View from the NZ Office's Breakout Room
View from the hotel balcony- NZ Post Building
Weekend Breakfast at Cuba St - Floriditas
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Autumn Snow
Victoria experienced a cold snap in the midst of Autumn last week. Besides digging up those winter woolies from the recesses of your cupboard, I dug up those gloves and beanies as well.
Mt Buller opened for the weekend as a result of the snow dump. The Bourke Street run was opened, and close to 2000 excited victorians made their way up for an early pilgrimage.
Besides slight patches of mud/grass threatening to show on the flatter slopes of the run, I am a happy snowboarder again. This time, I am less of a tumblebunny than a snow bunny, so I must say that I enjoyed myself more this time round. 4 years back, it took me 2hours to get down the same run on a pair of skis, but this time took me only 2 mins with the snowboard. Wheee!... Oh, Autumn skiing is very very very hot. If I had my way, a singlet and shorts will do me just fine.
Matthias and Flora came with us, and Flora did rather well, managing the run at the end of the afternoon. There were not that many beginners since none of the facilities were opened. Evidently, there was more snowboarders than skiers, and I stand by my choice that snowboarding is reallllllly more fun! (Thanks to the lighter Burton Board as well.. tsk tsk)
Hmm... this may be the end of snow season for me, even before the real snow season started!
Mt Buller opened for the weekend as a result of the snow dump. The Bourke Street run was opened, and close to 2000 excited victorians made their way up for an early pilgrimage.
Besides slight patches of mud/grass threatening to show on the flatter slopes of the run, I am a happy snowboarder again. This time, I am less of a tumblebunny than a snow bunny, so I must say that I enjoyed myself more this time round. 4 years back, it took me 2hours to get down the same run on a pair of skis, but this time took me only 2 mins with the snowboard. Wheee!... Oh, Autumn skiing is very very very hot. If I had my way, a singlet and shorts will do me just fine.
Matthias and Flora came with us, and Flora did rather well, managing the run at the end of the afternoon. There were not that many beginners since none of the facilities were opened. Evidently, there was more snowboarders than skiers, and I stand by my choice that snowboarding is reallllllly more fun! (Thanks to the lighter Burton Board as well.. tsk tsk)
Hmm... this may be the end of snow season for me, even before the real snow season started!
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
One Last Midnight Post
When do we make a right decision, and when do we make the decision right?
We make the right decision with faith, and we make the decision right with hope.
Faith because we can't see the future. Hope because we can only see the future.
Faith, hope and love. Love is still greatest. It gives strength to the faithless, hope to the weary.
We make the right decision with faith, and we make the decision right with hope.
Faith because we can't see the future. Hope because we can only see the future.
Faith, hope and love. Love is still greatest. It gives strength to the faithless, hope to the weary.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I will try...
I will try to forget the hurtful words
Remember the ones that were beautiful
I'll ask that winds not to weather lines of doubts
And return me to the day I first loved you
I remembered you were my hero
You were strong, yet gentle and kind
I laughed when you were around
Smiled when you filled my mind
I want to be admired
Loved, respected
To also do the same for you
Even if we are both imperfect beings
Flog not the relationship
Blame not the person
Belittle not the other
Think not always about yourself.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil 4:8)
Remember the ones that were beautiful
I'll ask that winds not to weather lines of doubts
And return me to the day I first loved you
I remembered you were my hero
You were strong, yet gentle and kind
I laughed when you were around
Smiled when you filled my mind
I want to be admired
Loved, respected
To also do the same for you
Even if we are both imperfect beings
Flog not the relationship
Blame not the person
Belittle not the other
Think not always about yourself.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil 4:8)
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Heroic Birthday Trip
My blog hasn't been the most up to date these days. Apologies to those who were caught in between the intermission.
I've got these pictures saved as draft and they dated a few months back. These are the ones taken in end november where I added another count to the Great Ocean Road. Found a cosy little accomodation "All About Lorne" just about the same time the schoolies hit Lorne. Turned out that Michelle knew the owner of this place.
Halfway through our journey, we stopped by Bellbrae Harvest for lunch. We walked away our calories off at Apollo Bay, settling for a great view at Marriners Lookout. Had dinner at Lorne Oven House, and fled away from the noisy schoolies for a quiet night thereafter.
Morning brekky was served at Cafe Kaos, and we walked along the beach to nearby sounds of 'dosh dosh', but packed up soon after to find another piece of paradise. Dosh dosh music really doesn't go with the idyllic beach, and if not for celebrating a birthday, it was probably a rather bad time to head down to Lorne. Neverthless, it was a lovely weather to be there, and it was a weekend well spent.
Our last stop was the Split Point Lighthouse, which recently offered (or re-offered) hourly tours inside the lighthouse. I don't remember having gone into a lighthouse before. It was very windy at the top, but offered a good vantage point to all 360 degrees of the manificient Great Ocean Road scenary.
Came home exhausted but happy. The birthday boy was a litte sick though.
Split Point Lighthouse - hourly tours are available to see the inside of the lighthouse
Views from the top of the lighthouse
Outside the window of our patio at "All About Lorne"
View from Marriners Lookout - a favourite launch sit for hand gliders
My lamb in filo at Bellbrae Harvest
I've got these pictures saved as draft and they dated a few months back. These are the ones taken in end november where I added another count to the Great Ocean Road. Found a cosy little accomodation "All About Lorne" just about the same time the schoolies hit Lorne. Turned out that Michelle knew the owner of this place.
Halfway through our journey, we stopped by Bellbrae Harvest for lunch. We walked away our calories off at Apollo Bay, settling for a great view at Marriners Lookout. Had dinner at Lorne Oven House, and fled away from the noisy schoolies for a quiet night thereafter.
Morning brekky was served at Cafe Kaos, and we walked along the beach to nearby sounds of 'dosh dosh', but packed up soon after to find another piece of paradise. Dosh dosh music really doesn't go with the idyllic beach, and if not for celebrating a birthday, it was probably a rather bad time to head down to Lorne. Neverthless, it was a lovely weather to be there, and it was a weekend well spent.
Our last stop was the Split Point Lighthouse, which recently offered (or re-offered) hourly tours inside the lighthouse. I don't remember having gone into a lighthouse before. It was very windy at the top, but offered a good vantage point to all 360 degrees of the manificient Great Ocean Road scenary.
Came home exhausted but happy. The birthday boy was a litte sick though.
Split Point Lighthouse - hourly tours are available to see the inside of the lighthouse
Views from the top of the lighthouse
Outside the window of our patio at "All About Lorne"
View from Marriners Lookout - a favourite launch sit for hand gliders
My lamb in filo at Bellbrae Harvest
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Melbourne Marathon
Daisy and I decided to do something useful with our legs over the winter. We signed up for the Melbourne Marathon some time back, ran a few weekends away at Princes Park, and we were there to conquer the world!
Before you think we signed up for the full marathon, it was the 5.5km that we went for. Surely we have to start small, and there were a few friends who wanted to all join in. The run was short, but the atmosphere was nothing that short, with Daisy running into the MCG the same time as the Ethopian full-marathon winner, stealing part of his limelight. There are 2 mega screens that beam you as you are running into the stadium, and big crowds watching at the rows.
It was nevertheless, quite an experience. We all agreed that we'll have to move on to 10km next year. After all, the medals are much nicer.
The start point just outside the Rod Laver Arena
My 'lucky' number
The finishing stretch before you run into the MCG and have the world cheering for you!
The happy runners with their medals
Before you think we signed up for the full marathon, it was the 5.5km that we went for. Surely we have to start small, and there were a few friends who wanted to all join in. The run was short, but the atmosphere was nothing that short, with Daisy running into the MCG the same time as the Ethopian full-marathon winner, stealing part of his limelight. There are 2 mega screens that beam you as you are running into the stadium, and big crowds watching at the rows.
It was nevertheless, quite an experience. We all agreed that we'll have to move on to 10km next year. After all, the medals are much nicer.
The start point just outside the Rod Laver Arena
My 'lucky' number
The finishing stretch before you run into the MCG and have the world cheering for you!
The happy runners with their medals
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The week gone by...
This has to be one of my favourite birthday week in Melbourne. It's the 4th birthday I'm celebrating here, and each time, it's with a different group of people. This year, I had Singapore celebrating with me as we all headed down to the "I love sg" day at Sidney Myer Bowl. I was treated with Laksa, Chilli Crab, Chicken Rice, Hokkien mee (with a huge king prawn), PCK and gang, Dick Lee belting his "Fried Rice Paradise" tunes...all compliments of the Singapore government. My present was a bag full of Glory brand Kaya, Yeo's Satay Sauce, Nasi Goreng sauce, Yeo's herbal drink, a mat, an umbrella, and Singtel threw in a $10 calling card for the homesick. All these for 12,000 people who decided to turn up for free food and entertaiment, as well as old friends from Canberra who flew down to join in the fun.
On my actual birthday itself, I had a fantastic lunch at The Stokehouse facing the St Kilda Beach. I had the milk fed veal fillet with truffled gnoccetti, mushroom ragout, capocollo and foie gras and it was really deserving of the 2 chef hats. The weather was beautiful enough to take an afternoon nap at the beach, finishing up with some chocolate ice-cream, and I even manage to catch Wall-E before it ends its run here.
I had a few surprise presents this year too. Nel mailed me a Care Bear, Sha a piggy motif pouch, I've got a breathing cat and some beautiful paintings.. The tribe decided to send me a silly package of movies, with the silliest birthday card... and Daisy got me a Lonely Planet Japan book to persuade me to head for there in Dec/Jan. Cell Group delivered a surprise when they got flowers delivered to my office, and Terence got a box of chocs straight from the factory of Haighs.
Time to count my blessings.... I thought it almost felt like the usual birthday celebrations I get from home.
I love SG day. PCK and his family were on stage.
The lovely Ranunculus I got from the cell group
On my actual birthday itself, I had a fantastic lunch at The Stokehouse facing the St Kilda Beach. I had the milk fed veal fillet with truffled gnoccetti, mushroom ragout, capocollo and foie gras and it was really deserving of the 2 chef hats. The weather was beautiful enough to take an afternoon nap at the beach, finishing up with some chocolate ice-cream, and I even manage to catch Wall-E before it ends its run here.
I had a few surprise presents this year too. Nel mailed me a Care Bear, Sha a piggy motif pouch, I've got a breathing cat and some beautiful paintings.. The tribe decided to send me a silly package of movies, with the silliest birthday card... and Daisy got me a Lonely Planet Japan book to persuade me to head for there in Dec/Jan. Cell Group delivered a surprise when they got flowers delivered to my office, and Terence got a box of chocs straight from the factory of Haighs.
Time to count my blessings.... I thought it almost felt like the usual birthday celebrations I get from home.
I love SG day. PCK and his family were on stage.
The lovely Ranunculus I got from the cell group
Friday, October 10, 2008
My New Pet
Meet my new pet, he's a ginger tabby and sleeps next to me at night. His tummy moves up and down when he breathes and he makes purring sounds. The downside is that he doesn't wake up, and he runs on batteries.
Isn't he cute??? I'm thinking of a name for him.
Isn't he cute??? I'm thinking of a name for him.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Is it time to go...
I started writing this blog as a way of recording the 1.5 years I was supposed to be here.
Have I overstayed? Is it time to leave?
I no longer have very compelling reasons to stay on.
Something happened today that has made me ponder over this even harder.
"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar."
Have I overstayed? Is it time to leave?
I no longer have very compelling reasons to stay on.
Something happened today that has made me ponder over this even harder.
"Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar."
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Wrong Kind of Love
In the last 8 hours, I have talked to a divorced mother of 2 who turned lesbian, had lunch with a man who married twice, had a drink with a woman recently spurned and rejected by her husband, and got literally carried off my feet by a handsome gay man who got too excited talking to me about his holiday plans with his partner.
It made me wonder about love. Who's found it, who's lost it, and who is the happiest? Did the right way not worked out and the wrong way did?
When Jesus said "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends", he didn't try to be philosophical about love. Think of all the reasons for breakups and divorces and you'll only find a coward with a selfish motivation where love has failed to provide for the insatiable "how-can-i-be-fulfilled" appetite- finding a truer love, a better person, an ideal match, a higher feeling. Have they tried expanding their capacity to love, instead of changing their object of love whenever they hit a snag? Would finding that true love make love so easy and so unburdensome that you can skip your way to 'happy ever after'?
From the selfish coward to the unnecessary hero of love-"Unattainability" as C.S Lewis so eloquently put as the essential quality of love, the intense joy that lies in not having but desiring- celebrates the romantic masochist but had conveniently buried the rest who had their heart sick with deferred hope or hopelessness. Let us not forget that "unattainability" was also the same word that seduced Eve to disregard all that God has given but desire for what she could not have in the garden. Real love always hopes, always trusts and always perseveres.
Give me a real hero who will fight for his love in the real battlefield instead of the pseudo longsuffering romeo in his armchair.
Love is an act, a decision and a sacrifice. The others are best left in fairy tales and the cinema (and the bar that I've just walked out of).
It made me wonder about love. Who's found it, who's lost it, and who is the happiest? Did the right way not worked out and the wrong way did?
When Jesus said "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends", he didn't try to be philosophical about love. Think of all the reasons for breakups and divorces and you'll only find a coward with a selfish motivation where love has failed to provide for the insatiable "how-can-i-be-fulfilled" appetite- finding a truer love, a better person, an ideal match, a higher feeling. Have they tried expanding their capacity to love, instead of changing their object of love whenever they hit a snag? Would finding that true love make love so easy and so unburdensome that you can skip your way to 'happy ever after'?
From the selfish coward to the unnecessary hero of love-"Unattainability" as C.S Lewis so eloquently put as the essential quality of love, the intense joy that lies in not having but desiring- celebrates the romantic masochist but had conveniently buried the rest who had their heart sick with deferred hope or hopelessness. Let us not forget that "unattainability" was also the same word that seduced Eve to disregard all that God has given but desire for what she could not have in the garden. Real love always hopes, always trusts and always perseveres.
Give me a real hero who will fight for his love in the real battlefield instead of the pseudo longsuffering romeo in his armchair.
Love is an act, a decision and a sacrifice. The others are best left in fairy tales and the cinema (and the bar that I've just walked out of).
Sunday, September 14, 2008
When I woke up and saw the blue skies...
I know people use the topic of weather during small-talk, but when the weather change, I really feel my mood change as well.
We had a bout of warm weather yesterday. It was nicely warm and sunny, and it made me miss the beach. I remembered how there was no where else I wanted to be last summer, just the beach, beach and more beach.
It's not really summer yet, but yesterday's weather was probably a nice sneak. I was recovering, but still ended up doing a long walk in the morning, and another run in the late afternoon.
Today, I ended up still feeling a little under the weather, and while hiding under the sheets with my heater turned up, I'm wishing that I am rugged up sitting on the sand watching the waves and sunset instead.
Till another blue skies day...
We had a bout of warm weather yesterday. It was nicely warm and sunny, and it made me miss the beach. I remembered how there was no where else I wanted to be last summer, just the beach, beach and more beach.
It's not really summer yet, but yesterday's weather was probably a nice sneak. I was recovering, but still ended up doing a long walk in the morning, and another run in the late afternoon.
Today, I ended up still feeling a little under the weather, and while hiding under the sheets with my heater turned up, I'm wishing that I am rugged up sitting on the sand watching the waves and sunset instead.
Till another blue skies day...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Faith like a mustard seed...
If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)
Mum was relating an incident that happened to her recently. One of her acquaintance told her about something she was praying for. Both my mum and her friend are not Christians.
Mum: "I tell you something incredible. My friend told me that she actually prayed to Jesus to grant her a job, and that this job be situated near to a Buddhist temple so that she drop in during and after work.. Can you imagine her shock when she really got a job, and there was a really huge temple nearby? And I don't believe she actually had the audacity to pray to Jesus about it. If your Jesus really did answer her prayer, he must be the most gracious God ever."
We laughed at how incredible it was and agreed that she owed Jesus a great deal.
However, Jesus did answered such a seemingly contradictory prayer; Mum was right, Jesus has to be a ridiculously gracious God to do that. She showed me something that I never saw from my own Christian eyes.
And her friend, though not Christian, knew which God to pour her heart's desires to, totally disregarded the probability of how this silly prayer will be answered and prayed with conviction for her prayer to be answered. She'll attest today that it was Jesus who answered her prayers.
As I was reading the above verse tonight, I ask myself how I approach God for His help. Too often, I fall into the tyranny of analyzing the contents of my prayer, if it was a prayer God will answer, if it's right to pray such a prayer, if I was 'against His will' praying this, if the answer likely to be a 'No', then I might not pray it. I've complicated prayer too much.
Come with faith like a mustard seed, and believe that nothing is really impossible for God, even silly ones. His graciousness is beyond our understanding.
Mum was relating an incident that happened to her recently. One of her acquaintance told her about something she was praying for. Both my mum and her friend are not Christians.
Mum: "I tell you something incredible. My friend told me that she actually prayed to Jesus to grant her a job, and that this job be situated near to a Buddhist temple so that she drop in during and after work.. Can you imagine her shock when she really got a job, and there was a really huge temple nearby? And I don't believe she actually had the audacity to pray to Jesus about it. If your Jesus really did answer her prayer, he must be the most gracious God ever."
We laughed at how incredible it was and agreed that she owed Jesus a great deal.
However, Jesus did answered such a seemingly contradictory prayer; Mum was right, Jesus has to be a ridiculously gracious God to do that. She showed me something that I never saw from my own Christian eyes.
And her friend, though not Christian, knew which God to pour her heart's desires to, totally disregarded the probability of how this silly prayer will be answered and prayed with conviction for her prayer to be answered. She'll attest today that it was Jesus who answered her prayers.
As I was reading the above verse tonight, I ask myself how I approach God for His help. Too often, I fall into the tyranny of analyzing the contents of my prayer, if it was a prayer God will answer, if it's right to pray such a prayer, if I was 'against His will' praying this, if the answer likely to be a 'No', then I might not pray it. I've complicated prayer too much.
Come with faith like a mustard seed, and believe that nothing is really impossible for God, even silly ones. His graciousness is beyond our understanding.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sick...
Finally succumbed to it... I've fallen sick.
Must be God's way of letting me mindlessly sleep in peace, and get some much needed rest.
I feel like a car right now - the only way to raise an alarm is when it refuses to move any more. Have been pushing myself in every aspect these days, popping panadols just to get through the day without calling in sick. Decided to get off work slightly earlier today to take a hot shower and nap through the evening. Feeling awfully chilly.
Time to sleep again. The car really needs a rest.
Must be God's way of letting me mindlessly sleep in peace, and get some much needed rest.
I feel like a car right now - the only way to raise an alarm is when it refuses to move any more. Have been pushing myself in every aspect these days, popping panadols just to get through the day without calling in sick. Decided to get off work slightly earlier today to take a hot shower and nap through the evening. Feeling awfully chilly.
Time to sleep again. The car really needs a rest.