God's Sweet Miracles...~ EST~

Its been a long year...

2011-04-09T13:55:00.000+09:30

Saturday, 9th April 2011, 1.42pm

I suddenly decided to visit my own blog after having neglected it for almost half a year.
My blog used to be a space where I attempted to jot down the happenings around me and photos of my life. Revisiting my previous posts again after so long made me realize how important a role my blog had played in my life. Reading the posts I've written before reminded me of the funny moments I've had in my life and the memories I cherish with the people around me. It was kinda refreshing to read them once again after so long.

I created my blog when I first started college in KL. I created it that time just coz blogs were popular at that time and it was a way I could keep my friends and family updated about my life away from home. As I look through my old posts, I realize how fast time has passed, how much I have grown and changed and how my life is now so different.

I used to be quite passionate about my blog. I would think of interesting posts to post up and photos to take around me to update my blog. But I could see the signs of neglect that were slowly building up where I posted less and less frequently and my posts becoming just random stuff unrelated to my life. Where did the initial passion disappear to?

I still love reading people's blogs and I think its a great way to get to know the personality of someone through their writings and their life. Maybe I should update my blog more often. Not sure whether anyone even reads it anymore but I know it would be great to come back and read my blog posts again after 10 years and see how much I have changed now till then. Hopefully I will be more motivated and hardworking in updating it now... :)

LOVE by Jaeson Ma feat. Bruno Mars

2010-11-01T21:13:00.000+10:30

Heard this song that was posted through Kelvin's tumblr this morning and just thought it was really beautiful. The lyrics are somewhat hauntingly beautiful. The tune sang by Bruno Mars is quite catchy and I kept listening to it over and over again.

Thought maybe I should post up the lyrics as well...

Lyrics:

Verse 1
Now Hollywood wants to make you think they know what love is.
But I'm a tell you what true love is.
Love is not what you see in the movies. Its not the ecstasy, its not what you see in that scene, you know what I mean?
I'm telling you right now, true love is sacrifice. Love is thinking about others before you think about yourself, love is selfless not selfish.
Love is God and God is love.
Love is when you lay down your life for another, whether for your brother, your mother, your father or your sister, its even laying down your life for your enemies, that's unthinkable, but think about that. Love is true. Think.

Chorus:
I'll put you in front of me
So everybody can see
My love, this is my love
I know that I'll be alright
As long as you are my guide
My love, this is my love

Verse 2
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, it always perseveres.
Love never fails. Love is everlasting, its eternal, it goes on and on, it goes beyond time, love is the only thing that will last when you die, but ask the question why? Do you have love?

Chorus

Verse 3
There is no greater love than this than he who lays down his life for his friends. Now are you willing to lay down your life for your friends?
You're probably willing to lay down your life for your mother, your father, or your best friends, but are you willing to lay down your life for even those that hate you?
I'm going to tell you who did that, the definition of love is Jesus Christ. He is love.
The nails in his hands, the thorns in his brow, hanging on a cross for your sin my sins, that is LOVE he died for you and me while we still hated him, that is love.
God is true love, and if you don't know this love, now is the time to know, perfect love.

Chorus

The Egg by Andy Weir

2010-07-11T00:31:00.002+09:30

Sunday, 11 July 2010, 12.33 am

Recently read a short story someone posted on facebook which I thought was quite an interesting read, so thought maybe I shall blog about it and share it:

The Egg

You were on your way home when you died.

It was a car accident. Nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal  nonetheless. You left behind a wife and two children. It was a painless  death. The EMTs tried their best to save you, but to no avail. Your body  was so utterly shattered you were better off, trust me.
And that's when you met me.

"What… what happened?" You asked. "Where am I?"
 

"You died," I said, matter-of-factly. No point in mincing words.
 

"There was a… a truck and it was skidding…"
 

"Yup," I said.
 

"I… I died?"
 

"Yup. But don't feel bad about it. Everyone dies," I said.
You looked around. There was nothingness. Just you and me. "What is this  place?" You asked. "Is this the afterlife?"
 

"More or less," I said.
 

"Are you god?" You asked.
 

"Yup," I replied. "I'm God."
 

"My kids… my wife," you said.
 

"What about them?"
 

"Will they be all right?"
 

"That's what I like to see," I said. "You just died and your main  concern is for your family. That's good stuff right there."
You looked at me with fascination. To you, I didn't look like God. I  just looked like some man. Or possibly a woman. Some vague authority  figure, maybe. More of a grammar school teacher than the almighty.
 

"Don't worry," I said. "They'll be fine. Your kids will remember you as  perfect in every way. They didn't have time to grow contempt for you.  You wife will cry on the outside, but will be secretly relieved. To be  fair, your marriage was falling apart. If it's any consolation, she'll  feel very guilty for feeling relieved."
 

"Oh," you said. "So what happens now? Do I go to heaven or hell or  something?"
 

"Neither," I said. "You'll be reincarnated."
 

"Ah," you said. "So the Hindus were right,"
 

"All religions are right in their own way," I said. "Walk with me."
You followed along as we strode through the void. "Where are we going?"
 

"Nowhere in particular," I said. "It's just nice to walk while we talk."
 

"So what's the point, then?" You asked. "When I get reborn, I'll just be  a blank slate, right? A baby. So all my experiences and everything I  did in this life won't matter."
 

"Not so!" I said. "You have within you all the knowledge and experiences  of all your past lives. You just don't remember them right now."
 

I stopped walking and took you by the shoulders. 

"Your soul is more  magnificent, beautiful, and gigantic than you can possibly imagine. A  human mind can only contain a tiny fraction of what you are. It's like  sticking your finger in a glass of water to see if it's hot or cold. You  put a tiny part of yourself into the vessel, and when you bring it back  out, you've gained all the experiences it had.
 

"You've been in a human for the last 48 years, so you haven't stretched  out yet and felt the rest of your immense consciousness. If we hung out  here for long enough, you'd start remembering everything. But there's no  point to doing that between each life."
 

"How many times have I been reincarnated, then?"
 

"Oh lots. Lots and lots. An in to lots of different lives." I said. 

"This time around, you'll be a Chinese peasant girl in 540 AD."
 

"Wait, what?" You stammered. "You're sending me back in time?"
 

"Well, I guess technically. Time, as you know it, only exists in your  universe. Things are different where I come from."
 

"Where you come from?" You said.
 

"Oh sure," I explained "I come from somewhere. Somewhere else. And there  are others like me. I know you'll want to know what it's like there,  but honestly you wouldn't understand."
 

"Oh," you said, a little let down. "But wait. If I get reincarnated to  other places in time, I could have interacted with myself at some  point."
 

"Sure. Happens all the time. And with both lives only aware of their own  lifespan you don't even know it's happening."
 

"So what's the point of it all?"
 

"Seriously?" I asked. "Seriously? You're asking me for the meaning of  life? Isn't that a little stereotypical?"
 

"Well it's a reasonable question," you persisted.
I looked you in the eye. "The meaning of life, the reason I made this  whole universe, is for you to mature."
 

"You mean mankind? You want us to mature?"
 

"No, just you. I made this whole universe for you. With each new life  you grow and mature and become a larger and greater intellect."
 

"Just me? What about everyone else?"
 

"There is no one else," I said. "In this universe, there's just you and  me."
 

You stared blankly at me. "But all the people on earth…"
 

"All you. Different incarnations of you."
 

"Wait. I'm everyone!?"
 

"Now you're getting it," I said, with a congratulatory slap on the back.
 

"I'm every human being who ever lived?"
 

"Or who will ever live, yes."
 

"I'm Abraham Lincoln?"
 

"And you're John Wilkes Booth, too," I added.
 

"I'm Hitler?" You said, appalled.
 

"And you're the millions he killed."
 

"I'm Jesus?"
 

"And you're everyone who followed him."
You fell silent.
 

"Every time you victimized someone," I said, "you were victimizing  yourself. Every act of kindness you've done, you've done to yourself.  Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was, or will  be, experienced by you."
 

You thought for a long time.
 

"Why?" You asked me. "Why do all this?"
 

"Because someday, you will become like me. Because that's what you are.  You're one of my kind. You're my child."
 

"Whoa," you said, incredulous. "You mean I'm a god?"
 

"No. Not yet. You're a fetus. You're still growing. Once you've lived  every human life throughout all time, you will have grown enough to be  born."
 

"So the whole universe," you said, "it's just…"
 

"An egg." I answered. "Now it's time for you to move on to your next  life."
 

And I sent you on your way.

What if you were blind?

2010-06-20T19:09:00.000+09:30

Sunday, 20 June 2010, 6.57 pm

A short story. A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?'

The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said  but in a different way.'  What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.' 

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same  thing?Of course both signs told people the boy was blind.But the first  sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were  so lucky that they were not blind.

This morning's sermon by Aunty Lyn titled "Two Blind Men" made me start to think and imagine...what would my life be like if I were blind? Imagine a world without colours, without anything but darkness...

We go through our lives pursuing things like money, a successful career, fame...Sometimes we fail to see how lucky we are and how blessed we are to even have the simple things that make our lives truly complete. Sometimes we take for granted little things God has blessed us with, things such as our sight. Only when we lose those two little eyes of ours will we realize the immense value of the two little diamonds we've lost.

Be thankful for what you have. The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling. And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it.

What is your deepest fear?

2010-06-12T23:02:00.000+09:30

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others." 

~A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson

I just watched the movie "Coach Carter" which quotes part of this poem which I think is quite inspirational.

Each of us are created unique in God's eyes. Yet we tend to generalize and conform ourselves to the society. 

People tend to look at their inadequacies, to look at their weaknesses, and think of themselves as nothing. But the opposite is true. When you are able to resist temptation, peer pressure, and resist the standards the world has set, that u need to be beautiful, rich or talented to be "someone", you will realize that you are more powerful than you realize. You don't crave for things many people go after, you are not affected by anything, even in utter chaos, you keep your cool. Even the money which is considered as one of the most powerful things to many people, it will not have any power over you.

We quickly blame the unknowable and the dark within ourselves, as well  as the views of others, for our failure to see and act upon the good in ourselves; yet, that dark unknowableness, as well as the views of  others, really has no more bearing on our opinion of ourselves than what  we give it. 

Don't ask "Who am I to be beautiful?" Ask, "Who am I not to be?" If you  undervalue your worth, so will others. The value of your worth is yours, and yours alone, to decide. If you know you are an ugly person, then  choose to know that you are beautiful. If you allow yourself to see your beauty, then the  ugliness is simply those who can't see how beautiful you really are.  Your perspective is your own. Tell yourself how you see yourself long enough  and you will believe it and that is who you will become.  

There are times where we find an opportunity to step up. To come out of our comfortable shell we've been in and to make a difference, make a change. Whether it be realizing a dream or letting your natural talents show. There are seasons of bold opportunities and yet sometimes we are afraid to step up. There is a quote I read which says " The Lord wouldn't give you a dream without the ability to make it come true." Whether big or small, any dream has the potential to bring forth a life of faith, for it takes God to fulfill a dream. We don't need faith for what is possible, but for what is impossible. Sometimes we need to take that step of faith instead of playing small. 

God has planted that seed of uniqueness in each and everyone of us. We are all children of God and He has made and shaped us each individually. And we should have faith that God has given each of us that power within us to make those choices in our life, to live to our fullest potential or let the fear in our lives take control of us. 

In Search of the Pharmacy...

2010-05-31T21:27:00.000+09:30

Monday, 31 May 2010, 8.50 pm

After my nutrition tutorial today, I met up with Marjorie. She didn't have class today and the only class I had today was the tutorial so we were free for the rest of the afternoon. We planned to go visit the pharmacies we were gonna be having our clinical placements at next month and find out where exactly they are and how it looks like so we won't get lost on our first day of placement. Haha! And we had quite an ADVENTURE today.

We went to Marge's pharmacy first which is the Chemist Warehouse in Clovelly Park, along South Road. It was quite easy to spot once we got down from the bus stop. The iconic yellow painted building big letterings could be seen from the other side of the street easily. The pharmacy was quite spacious.

The pharmacy I was gonna be having my placement at is National Pharmacies Ascot Park which is on Marion Road which from the map on the metro timetable seemed not that far from South Road. We just had to walk down Daws Road which connects Marion Rd and South Rd. It seemed very near when you look at the map, but boy was it a long stretch of road!!

I think we walked for round 30 minutes before reaching Marion Road! And we still had to go down a few bus stops away before reaching my pharmacy! Phew!! Was a great workout though! And we had an afternoon of adventure. haha!!

On the way to my pharmacy, we saw this house with miniature windmills and miniature buildings outside. Such a pleasant surprise! Not sure what those little buildings and windmills are doing there. Took some pics of them with my phone.

After taking the pics, we continued walking and that's when we saw at the other side of the house, the owner was standing there!! I think he saw me taking the pics! Oh man! Maybe I should have asked his permission before simply just taking them! But he smiled to us so I guess he didn't mind! haha!!

We finally found my National Pharmacies after the long walk! Haha! The location seemed really good with a Foodland and a Captain Chicken shop next to it! It will be really convenient for me to buy lunch and groceries there when I'm having placements! :)

After visiting both pharmacies, we both decided to go to Marion Shopping Centre to catch a movie since we were not too far from the shopping centre. Haha! We were talking about the movie "Letters to Juliet" when we suddenly decided why not we just go and watch it today since we are free for the rest of the day?? Haha! That's how spontaneous that decision was.

I loved both the movies "Mamma Mia" and "Dear John" which Amanda Seyfried starred in that I've watched. So I was really looking forward to watch this movie when I saw the posters on the public buses.

It was movie Monday so the tickets were only $8!!! What a deal! It was pretty quiet at the shopping centre and the cinema. Including Marge and I, there were only 2 other women watching the movie. Haha! But it was nice to have the cinema all to ourselves.

"Letters to Juliet" was quite nice and romantic. Really liked the Italian scenery of Tuscany and Verona!! The movie made Marge and I both wanna go to Italy! Haha!! I asked Marge to get married in Italy like Claire did in the movie so I can go to Italy to attend her wedding. Haha!!

All in all, the storyline was quite predictable and you sort of know what will happen next, but you desperately wait for it to happen. and if you've watched the trailer, I think the trailer has given out most of the story. But for me, I loved the movie, loved the scenery and love the romance of it! Really beautiful and somewhat touching movie! I wanna go Italy!!! :)

Really loved the letter Sophie/Juliet wrote to Claire in the movie which Claire read out at the wedding. So I shall end this blog post with the letter quoted from the movie:

LETTER TO CLAIRE:

"'What' and ‘if’, two words as nonthreatening as words come.

But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: ‘What if?'..."

"I don't know how your story ended. But I know that if what you felt then was love - true love - then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart..."

"I don't know what a love like that feels like... a love to leave loved ones for, a love to cross oceans for... but I'd like to believe if I ever felt it. I'd have the courage to seize it. I hope you had the courage to seize it, Claire. And if you didn't, I hope one day that you will."

Chippendoubles....COOL!!

2010-05-31T02:15:00.005+09:30

Monday, 31 May 2010, 1.55 am 

I am totally exhausted and drained trying to do the pre-tutorial tasks for my Nutrition and Therapeutics' Omega 3 tutorial tomorrow. "Dr K" must be thinking we are super human beings! All the tutorials have so much prep to be done!  So many readings to be done for the pre-tutorial tasks and readings again for during-tutorial tasks! Its crazy!!! And worse still, we have to search online or through library databases for the readings ourselves! Either she didn't realize she never put up the links for the readings, or the links are dead links! Wasting even more time! 

Especially this Omega 3 tute, having to go to the local supermarket AND pharmacies to check on omega 3 and fish oil products! I didn't even have enough time to go market this week to do my grocery shopping, and with Woolworths in Rundle Mall closed for renovations, the only supermarket in the city is Coles! And on Saturdays and Sundays Coles closes early at 5pm, and opens late at 11 am on Sunday. I  think IGA near my place wouldn't have much omega 3 added products. Where does that leave me? Going to Coles at midnight in such cold weather, walking through dark scary and possibly dangerous Angas Street alone at night??? No way!! 

In the end I stopped by a convenience store after church today and wrote down as many products containing omega 3 as I could (which was not much coz it was just a small shop), even those naturally containing omega 3, not just specifically the omega 3 added products. I wrote down as many as I could (around 4 products???) and left hurriedly coz the shopkeeper kept eyeing me while I was copying down the DHA and EPA contents of the food. Maybe he thought I was trying to steal something??? 

I've given up trying to complete the rest of the questions. I think I'm gonna continue on them tmr morning before I go for the tute. To de-stress I re-watched this video clip from Britain's Got Talent 2010 and this audition was really cool!! These guys who call themselves "The Chippendoubles" are so creative and it was totally unexpected!

At first, you might think it's a scary movie or something with their robes and masks, but you will never have guessed beforehand what they were gonna do! Haha! Even Simon thought they were STRIPPERS!!!! Hahaha!! But he was sort of correct...they were stripping of something!! Haha!!

Totally unexpected and really creative. Especially the last part!!!Hahaha!! Couldn't help but post this up on my blog. Hahaha!

THE CHIPPENDOUBLES

Mission impossible "Romeo and Juliet"

2010-05-31T00:39:00.003+09:30

Monday, 31 May 2010, 12.40 am

I am having my final Effective Communication assessment this coming Friday. And it's a group assignment. The six of us in a group are supposed to come up with a group performance. We got the main idea of using the "Romeo and Juliet" story. And guess what I am acting as in the performance?? Juliet? WRONG! Romeo???? WRONG!!!! The parents??? WRONG!!!!!

You will never be able to guess what I am acting as coz it is so unrelated that you might never imagine it in a performance of Romeo and Juliet! Anyway, I am acting as.....a MERMAID!!! hahahaha! never saw that coming aye?

A mermaid???? What's that gotta do with Romeo and Juliet? hahaha!

Well, we were discussing our storyline of having Romeo and Juliet's two best friends being jealous of the romance between the both of them and plotting to break them up, but they will still end up loving each other.

Now, where does the mermaid come into the scene???

Well, one of my group mates suddenly wanted to do a FISHING scene!!! Ms Catherine, our tutor was asking us to group up and everyone suggest whatever ideas they want to have in their performance and even if the idea might be a bit weird or unsuitable, we should still try to incorporate everyone's ideas. We had the Romeo and Juliet story all figured out when suddenly this fishing idea came in!! Most of us were like "what????" But we had to incorporate that into our story, so in the end, we had a fishing scene in the beginning of the performance. And I am acting as the....mermaid. hahahaa!

Quite a random play. We even have an Indian singing and dancing during the fishing scene. Hahaha!

And the problem is....I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACT AS A MERMAID!!!! Oh man!!!

I've been trying to get ideas from others on how to act as a mermaid, especially when I don't have a mermaid costume and Ms Catherine wants us to try to use our body movements and acting to communicate what we're acting (that's why its called effective communication). But how does one act as a mermaid without any fins, or without any WATER??? I'm gonna be "swimming" on the stage during the performance. Hahaha!! I have no idea how to "swim" on land!!

Sigh...I have been trying to get some ideas through mermaid videos. Haha! Which reminds me of the "Little Mermaid" cartoon I loved watching when I was young. Loved the story and songs in it! :)

Do you think I can ever act like a mermaid??? Especially on LAND?? Hahahaha! I hope they will understand what I'm gonna be acting out on Wednesday!!! 

That Girl - David Choi

2010-05-21T14:38:00.002+09:30

riday, 21 May 2010, 2.30 pm

When I first heard the song "That Girl" by David Choi on youtube, I really loved the song, the tune was catchy and it got stuck in my head for a few days. I could listen to the song over and over again without getting bored of it.

And now, finally the official music video for That Girl is released! The MV was really creative! Especially the part at the end with the photos!

Anyway, just thought of sharing it so here goes...

Benchmarking...

2010-05-19T00:20:00.002+09:30

Busy marking invisible "benches"....

Happy Mummy's Day!! :)

2010-05-09T17:01:00.001+09:30

A mother is a  person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie         for five  people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.  ~Tenneva Jordan 

A Mother's Love

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me:
No Charge
For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you:
No Charge
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years:
No Charge
For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:
No Charge
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:
No Charge
Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is:
No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".

Today is Mother's Day. If you didn't know that, shame on you.

A day where we honour great women in our lives who have  given up so much, even their lives if need be, for love of their  children.

Imagine...what could compel a mother to carry around a big fat belly, enduring the countless morning sickness, muscle pain, weight gain and most of all...PAIN...for nine months? For NINE months going through that torture. It's either she is crazy, crazy enough to keep that pain inflicting thing in her body. Or...she is crazy in LOVE with her child! The love of a mother for her child is  amazing and indescribable. 

For  the majority of us, when we were growing up nothing was more comforting  after a trying experience than to have our mothers dry our tears and  hug us close.

As we have grown older, the intense desire to have  our mothers' approval and seek her advice remains in our hearts. Even  after we lose our mothers, we like to think when we accomplish things  that she would be proud if she were still here. 

Most mothers would still be the happiest woman around if their children  looked into their eyes and said, "Thank you for being my mom and I love  you." Such magical words continue to cement the indescribable bond  between children and their mothers.  

To my mummy, I would like to say "Thank you for being MY MUMMY and I LOVE YOU!"

Making a decision to have a child--it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

Field of Daffodils

2010-05-09T16:08:00.003+09:30

Sunday, 9 May 2010, 3.35pm

 "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed---and gazed---but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

~ William Wordsworth

Sometimes when I feel down or when I'm alone, I think about daffodils and this poem by William Wordsworth. When I read about the daffodils, I instantly picture a beautiful field of golden, with blue skies and the shining sun above, and I just feel like running through that golden field and dancing with the golden daffodils. I have never actually seen or been to a field of daffodils but through Wordsworth's poem and pictures of them, it sure looks really beautiful.

Wordsworth's poem is really beautiful, a romantic poem of a poet's love towards nature. But even more so, love towards God's beautiful creations. I can almost imagine myself sitting or lying in a daffodil field, enjoying the crowd of daffodils dancing around as the breeze blows through them, not just merely flowers dancing, but in my mind they look more like heads of angels joyfully fluttering and rejoicing in the breeze.

It reminds me of spring and the beauty of spring. Like spring leaving behind the cold winter, dancing and basking in the beauty of spring helps leave behind the gloomy feeling and sense of loneliness. In times of loneliness and pensive mood, those little daffodil flowers seem like little beautiful memories, cheering me up and reminding me that there is always hope.

William Wordsworth home, Dove cottage in Grasmere, Lake District

Finally done with the DOG!!! :)

2010-05-04T22:13:00.002+09:30

Tuesday, 4 May 2010, 10.04 pm

I'm finally done with my monologue assessment!!! Yippee!! How this relates to "the DOG" is coz the monologue that I chose to do was about me acting as this guy who accidentally hit and killed a dog while he was out driving for coffee. 

I was SOOOOO nervous today!! Luckily I was the first few to go up and present my monologue, if not I might have died of a heart attack in the seats! But I'm still really scared right now as to how I did. I even used my jacket as "the dog". Haha! I hope I did okay. But I was so nervous I think I was talking at too fast...coz the lecturer seemed like she was frowning whenever I turned over and looked at her. But I hope she understood what I was saying, especially having to try to adjust and control my half sick voice.

But after my turn, I just let it all go, relaxed and enjoyed others' performances. Most were pretty good! Particularly a few which did a brilliant job!! The girl after me acted partly as a waitress, partly as a fish! And she was so funny!! And another guy even dragged out (with the help of the other guys in the class)the piano in the hall and played the piano and sang part of his monologue! We all LOVED his performance! Really talented! Especially considering most of the students taking this class are not studying performance art or theatre as their major! Including me!!

Well enough with DOGS and PLAYS for a day!! Maybe I'll go watch a dog movie! Muahahaha! (even though I should be starting my Pharmacy Management assignments!)

Pon & Zi

2010-05-03T23:59:00.000+09:30

My "sexy" voice

2010-05-03T11:39:00.002+09:30

Monday, 3 May 2010, 11.40 am

I just woke up after sleeping for more than 12 hours. After watching masterchef last night, I went to bed at around 9 pm which is way too early for the normal me! But right now I'm not the normal me so I just had to bear with it. The last time I remembered I ever slept this long was when I experienced jet lag during the first few days after I've reached Manchester when I was visiting my sister in UK.

My hay fever symptoms have been worsening the past couple of days. I have started developing a sore throat ever since Saturday and yesterday I have been sneezing non-stop and had a headache after coming home from church. I kept wondering whether I was developing a cold or was it just my hay fever getting worse? But after the long sleep I have had, I feel much better today. No more headache and my sneezing has stopped. But both my nostrils are currently blocked and my voice has become "sexy". I think its most probably due to my hay fever coz it was also this bad when I had the symptoms last year. But I usually have it during the beginning of spring, not autumn so I'm pretty worried that I'll need to endure this again when spring comes along.

Right now I'm feeling....

I'm a bit worried about my monologue assessment tomorrow as I'll need to speak loudly and clearly enough so that my coursemates and lecturer can hear what I'm saying from the stage. I hope my "sexy" voice won't give me any problems tomorrow! I'm pretty nervous. Hope i don't forget my lines!

I think I'm gonna drink more honey or lemon tea!! And hopefully that will get more voice back!

Whenever I think about warm lemon tea, I think about a funny moment I had during my trip to Japan with Manami. I think we were in Kyoto when we found this cake shop where we went for the all-you-can-eat promo where we just needed to pay around 1300 yen (around AUD15) and we can eat as many cakes as we want within 2 hours? (don't really rembr the price and time limit but its around those figures)

We ended up stuffing ourselves with cake till the point we felt like vomiting out the cakes that we've eaten. It was quite silly of us to opt for that promo, but I didn't regret it coz it was a really memorable experience. Haha!

Anyway, the reason I think about this moment in Japan whenever I think about warm lemon tea is coz the cake shop served us free flow of hot lemon tea along with the cakes. Right now, I think I really need free flow of hot lemon tea for my throat!

It was a fun experience and honestly now, I don't mind stuffing myself with cakes again! Haha! But I think I should stuff myself with more lemon tea instead! :)

Anyway, hope my hay fever will go away soon. Need to go buy some hay fever meds to get rid of these symptoms. Do help me pray for my monologue assessment tmr!!

Achoooo....!!!

2010-05-02T15:59:00.002+09:30

Felt like this today....

I don't know how many times I've sneezed today. It feels like I've been sneezing the whole day and I'm in fact still sneezing right now as I'm typing this post. Feels pretty miserable. Especially with an aching sore throat and itchy throat, it feels really tiring. The previous week I was having hayfever symptoms of itchy mouth, throat, ears and eyes. Now it feels like I'm gonna be going down with a cold soon but I'm not sure. It was just sore throat the past few days but today the itchy nose and sneezing has been really bad. I'm not sure whether the sneezing has anything to do with the chills but it feels quite cold today. should have worn a thicker cardigan to church this morning.

Just hope it will go away soon. Especially with my monologue assessment coming up on Tuesday, I don't wanna be sneezing every few seconds on stage! There's no sneezing involved in my script!! Maybe I should have chosen a script of a sick person if I knew I was gonna be feeling like this right before the assessment! Sigh... Everything feels so miserable and I feel so low in mood in doing anything. Hope I'll feel better this coming week.

I wanna eat ice cream or gelato to cheer myself up but I don't think I can coz of the sore throat. Is there anything hot that is equivalent to gelato that can work as effectively?

Guess I'll be spending the afternoon in bed with Elmo....

Eggless Dessert April 2010

2010-04-30T01:19:00.002+09:30

Went to Eggless today after dinner at Emilly's place. Emilly's mum and aunt cooked us a FEAST of lamb chops, eggs, sausages and Cola Chicken which were super-delicious!! They are both so adorable just like Emilly!! So sad they are going back this coming Sunday. So fast!!!!

After dinner, Eileen, Emilly and I accompanied Cynthia to church for her worship practice. After practice, we decided to go to Eggless for desserts (despite the lamb and sausages feast we just had for dinner! Haha!) since Eileen has never been to Eggless before.

The business seemed very good and we were quite lucky that we managed to get a table. Ken, Mei and Aunty Yong all said that if we were to come on Friday or Saturday, we would have to book seats coz the shop would usually be packed. Its great to see that Ken's shop is doing great coz the desserts are so yummylicious and Ken's family are super-nice ppl so its wonderful to see their business doing so well!

The April menu features:

Lemon & Blackberry Cake

Matcha & Adzuki Bean Ice Cream

Mexican Chocolate Cake

Bailey's Panna Cotta

Shiraz Poached Pears, Quince & Dates

Chocolate Tiramisu

Lime, Yoghurt & Passionfruit Pudding

Rhubarb & Ginger Cheesecake

We ordered the tasting platter which consisted of tasting portions of Bailey's Panna Cotta, Shiraz Poached Pears, Chocolate Tiramisu and the Lime, Yoghurt & Passionfruit Pudding. We also ordered a serve of Matcha & Adzuki Bean Ice Cream to share.

 The Shiraz poached pears with Chocolate sauce

 Lime, yoghurt and passionfruit pudding

Bailey's Panna Cotta

 Chocolate Tiramisu

Matcha & Adzuki Beans Ice Cream

(Homemade Green Tea ice cream with Adzuki red beans)

Cynthia cow with "her" Bailey's panna cottas. Haha!

After tasting the delicious Green Tea with Adzuki beans ice cream, the tasting platter really became a tasting platter and we ended up ordering another 3 serves of the ice cream for Eileen, Cynthia and I. Haha! We were crazy for the ice cream tonight! And Emilly ordered a serve of the Chocolate Tiramisu. We were a bit crazy, stuffing ourselves with the ice cream even though we were actually very full!! Even Ken, Mei and Aunty Yong each came in turns and showed how surprised they were by the amounts we were eating! Haha!

Emilly's Chocolate Tiramisu

Green tea and adzuki beans ice cream!! Too much!!!

Cynthia with her ice cream.

Eileen with HER ice cream

Emilly and her chocolate Tiramisu

Cynthia and I with MY ice cream

Group pic taken by Ken. Thanks Ken!

Due to our greed and sudden craving for desserts, the 4 of us ended up bloated and super duper full! We all felt almost like vomitting all the way to the tram stop. Too full and the weather was cold tonight! Oh man! We shall never stuff ourselves so much next time!!! But it was a yummylicious night and Eggless never fails to satisfy our sweet tooth!!

The April menu is gonna run until the end of this week. Next Monday they are gonna start on their May menu. Wonder what other sweet temptation is gonna be on the new menu??? :)  

When I'm Feeling Low...

2010-04-29T12:45:00.001+09:30

here are many times when I feel like curling up in bed, not wanting to do or worry about anything and just sleep and forget the unhappy things that's bogging my mind.

There are times when ur mood goes low and u start thinking of sad things and memories. And u start to worry about other things. Especially right now when it feels like there's a mouse tickling my throat, and it feels like there is an invisible army of ants crawling over my lips, and there are bugs crawling and clawing through the insides of my ears and my eyes feels like my eyelids are made of onions, itchy and watery. My throat, lips, eyes and ears become super-itchy and irritating. sigh.... it makes life even more miserable.

But its during times like these that I feel like....I feel like....I feel like eating something! I feel the only remedy is FOOD! I feel like a sunny-side up egg right now! With bacon!!! Oh man....

I shall just crawl back into my bed and curl myself into a ball. Hopefully I can forget my worries and hopefully I'll be able to dream of my eggs and bacon!

Royale Lounge, Chinatown

2010-04-22T00:57:00.001+09:30

Went on a spur of the moment, spontaneous "outing" tonight when Miss Yellow Doreen suggested to go have some drinks at the newly opened lounge located above Cibo in Chinatown, the Royale Lounge. It belongs to the son of Aunty Margaret, one of the aunties at Goodwood Methodist Church. I just reached home after finishing work at Ajisen and Miss Yellow Doreen who was sitting in the living room chatting with Abby and Lisa excitedly told me to go change to go to the lounge. She was so excited about the plan that she even called Aunty Margaret to make sure that the place was opened tonight. Haha!

The place is quite a classy lounge so we were thinking it was better to not wear too casually just in case there was a strict dresscode. Abby and Miss Yellow even asked me not to wear jeans, so I ended up wearing a skirt.

The exterior of the shop really looked exquisite when you view it from sushi train side of gouger street. Inside it is equally lavish! The wallpapers with the beautiful floral motif coupled with lounge chairs and sofas that really matched the design of the walls really gave a classy and elegant vibe to the place. The lounge chairs looked so comfy and I was all too prepared to sink my butt into one of them, especially after walking and standing the whole day in Ajisen.

No one brought a camera so we ended up having to use Abby's phone camera to take the pictures. The place was really quiet maybe coz it was that time of the night and it was a weekday night. (Good thing it was quiet, if not I will feel even more embarrassed to be clicking away un-elegantly on the phone camera with the bright flash.)

Miss Yellow and I ordered lemon lime and bitters, Abby had a long island iced tea cocktail and Doraemon Doreen ordered Sex on the Beach cocktail.

The cool looking spirally stemmed glass is the sex on the beach cocktail whereas the one with the green leaves in it is Abby's cocktail. The leaves are I think mint leaves...really unique taste...not really to my liking. Sex on the beach cocktail was quite nice, sweet tropical drink.

We all really loved the atmosphere of the place. Really relaxing and we felt really like royalty, queens sitting in those big and comfy lounge chairs. Really cool place to hang out with friends for a drink, chat and relax.

To a very special woman...

2010-04-20T23:53:00.000+09:30

Ever since the day I was born, you loving arms have embraced me. Even though I may be the noisiest and un-cutest baby in the world, you still loved me as I am. Even though I may be the naughtiest girl you have ever had, having to clean up my mess and stop me from running around the house, you still loved me as I am. And even though right now I may be thousands of miles away from whole, yet your love still extends beyond the ocean that separates us, constantly reminding me that your thoughts are always filled with care and love for me, and that you are always there watching our for me.

To a very special woman in my life....to the world's greatest mother....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!

If you have never met my mum, I think you are really missing out in knowing a really amazing woman!

She is super-teacher, wonder daughter, masterchef, and of coz mum the great!! and she actually has quite a wonderful singing voice too!! :)

Without you mum, I wouldn't be who I am today. Without you mum, I wouldn't be where I am today. And without you mum, I wouldn't have had this amazing life that has truly been an extraordinary blessing!

Every step of my life, every step of the way, you were there beside me. Sending me to piano lessons, to tuition schools....I really disliked going to those classes, but I realize how much you were trying to mould and build me up through those classes into someone who can be proud of what they have achieved in life.

From sending me to netball training every weekend, sending me off and watching me leave for months away from home just to train for netball competitions....for never losing faith in my ability...thank you so much for your love mum!!

Thank you mum for being even more excited than I am in hearing that my science projects won. Thank you for the times you have sacrificed in helping me prepare for all the competitions. Drilling and motivating me. Helping me in the planning of my projects, the experiments involved and of coz for being there and giving me the confidence to stand in front of those judges and defend my project. Thank you mum for going all the way all over Malaysia, even having to give up the luxury and comfort of the cozy bed and wonderful air-con back home and swapping it for the hot, mosquito swamped school hostels during our competition. And thank you for being there to watch me in the happiest moment of my life...going up on stage to receive my awards, knowing you are watching and being even happier than I am....even though the ceremonies can be so long and boring and sedating...thank you mum for being there at every step of my journey!

Today you deserve to enjoy all those blessings that God has given to me through you. You deserve much more!! It saddens me that we cannot all celebrate your birthday together as a family. But even though we are scattered around the world, I hope you know how much we love you and we really really really miss you and dad!! Hope dad and koko brought you out to a wonderful restaurant!!

LOVE YOU MUM!! HAVE A BLESSED BIRTHDAY!!! :)

Hachiko: the true story of the world's most loyal dog.

2010-04-11T16:27:00.002+09:30

Just saw a movie trailer online about the movie Hachiko: A Dog's Tale, starring Richard Gere. The story is based on the true story of a dog that once existed in Japan in the 1920's. The story is sooooo touchinggg that I feel like wanting to share about it!

Hachiko

The story is about this dog whose owner, Professor Ueno was a university professor in Tokyo. Hachiko was only around 2 years old when the professor got him as his dog. Everyday the professor goes to the university to work by train and everyday Hachiko will walk the professor to the station when he goes to work, and at 3 pm each day Hachiko will go to the train station to wait for the professor when his train arrives back from work. This routine occured everyday, and faithfully everyday the dog will go and wait at the station at the same time for his master to arrive back.

This continued everyday until one day the professor suffered a stroke while giving a lecture at the university. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was still faithfully waiting for him.

Hachiko was given away after Professor Ueno's death. But he routinely escaped and returned to the professor's old home. Eventually the dog realized that the professor no longer lived there. So he returned to the Shibuya station where he usually waits for his master's train, hoping that his dear friend the professor will appear. Each day, Hachiko loyally returns to the station at the same time to wait for his master. At times, he wouldn’t return home for several days.

Soon people began to notice the loyal dog's trips made in vain to meet his master. Word of his unaltered routine spread across the nation, and he was held up as a shining example of loyalty. People travelled to Shibuya station just to see Hachiko, feed him and gently touch his head for luck.

Months turned into years, and still Hachiko returned faithfully each day to the station daily at 3 pm, even as arthritis and aging took its toll on him. His daily routine continued on for nine years, even until the day he died. Hachiko was found dead on the steps of the station on March 8, 1935, the same spot outside the station where he had spent so many hours waiting for his master.

Hachiko's stuffed and mounted remains are kept at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo.

Hachiko stuffed

In April 1934, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station, and Hachikō himself was present at its unveiling. Each year on April 8, Hachikō's devotion is honored with a solemn ceremony of remembrance at Tokyo's Shibuya railroad station. Hundreds of dog lovers often turn out to honor his memory and loyalty.

Hachiko's statue outside Shibuya station

According to one of the movie Hachiko: A Dog's Tale's producers: “Something about this dog’s simple act of unwavering loyalty, of waiting, is so profoundly moving…People seem to identify with Hachiko. He symbolizes so many different things to different people. Hachiko represents innocence, fear, hope, joy, loss and loneliness.”

This story was really really really touching! It not only symbolized a faithful dog's loyalty to his master, but it also symbolized how a friendship, even a friendship between a man and a dog can last for a lifetime! What more to say friendships between people. This true story really highlights the importance of friendship and loyalty.

Many people hate dogs and say dogs are stupid and useless, they bite anything and everything! Or dogs are so stupid, even when the thief comes they never bark! This story should wake some people up that not all dogs are like that! Dogs can be intelligent and true companions!

When I read the story of Hachiko, it reminded me of the dogs our family has had over the past years. Lassie, Blackie, Brownie, Goldie, Snoopy, Lucky, Fluffy, Snowy, Joey, Elvis and Gem and Jewel (did I miss out any of them? Hope not.). All of them are dead except Joey, the prodigal dog and Gem and Jewel who are our current dogs.

Elvis, our cutest dog died 3 years ago when I was back during my holidays. Elvis was such a cute lil' dog but he was quite fierce, always barking and fighting with our other dogs. But he was sooooo cuteeee!! Everytime someone came near him, he would lay his head on the floor and looked up at us with his cute shining eyes, eagerly waiting for us to pat or scratch him.

And almost every night, he would squeeze through the small square spaces, through the steel barred gate that leads to our laundry area at the back of the house, and just lie in there coz its warmer and safer. And every night when we go and hang out the laundry, he will be there wagging his tail and waiting for us to pat him.

Reading the story of Hachiko brings my mind back to the memories I have had with our dogs. Even though there aren't any touching stories like Hachiko's, each of our dogs still played a significant role in our family. Oh man, I miss Elvis!!!

Happy Birthday to my MMMMMMM frens!

2010-03-22T19:32:00.000+10:30

Yesterday and today were birthdays of 2 of my very very very very very very good friends!! Yesterday, 21st of March was my dear Manami gokiburi Hikasa's 23rd birthday. Today, 22nd March, is my yummy dim sum friend, Siew MAI's big 21st birthday!!

Picture of Ah Mai & Manami from last year's birthday celebration at Noodle Kingdom. 1 year passed by so fast!!!! Happy birthday to both of u MMMM's!! XOXO!!

Its really really sad coz this year I couldn't celebrate Manami gokiburi's birthday with her coz she went back to Japan dy. sob sob... wished i could go Japan and celebrate her birthday with her and her family there. Japanese style! She went spring spa!!!! *green with envy* But I'm glad that she had a great time celebrating both her father's and her own birthday back home. Otanjoubi Omedetou yo Manami saru!!

Manami gokiburi Hikasa on her birthday 2 years ago!! The lion with the detachable mane was a birthday gift that year from one of her Japanese church frens. Cool gift! Miss u yo Manami saru!!

But glad that i still managed to celebrate Siew Mai's birthday with her this year. Ah Whye, Ah Mai and I went for lunch after church at an Italian restaurant called Brunelli's on Rundle Street. The food were quite good but we were stuffed at the end of the meal and everyone were fighting as to who will not have to eat the leftovers. haha!! But we had plenty of food, cake, sarsaparilla and plenty of fun and laughter. I don't have any pics from this but u can check out Ah Whye's blog and Ah Mai's blog.

Ah Mai when she just turned 20 last year! We forced her to slurp up the noodles without biting it off. Our substitution for long life noodles. Haha!!

While walking thru Rundle Mall yesterday with Ah Whye while on the way to Brunelli's for Ah Mai's birthday, we reminisced of last year's birthday celebration for Manamimi and Ah Mai. One year really passed by so fast! We remembered bout the celebration at noodle kingdom and how we forceed Ah Mai to slurp up the "long life noodles" without breaking it, how we went for boost after that at David Jones and then ending up at Ah Mai's house for cake from her party the night before. Really miss that day!! Wished Manami could still be here to celebrate with us!!

My last birthday celebration with Manami. If only I can rewind back time to that day...

But I really thank God for these 2 friends of mine. Their birthdays are just separated by one day, yet they are a window to 2 very different friendships. Both of which I feel really blessed to have. May God continue blessing both of them in the coming years ahead and bless our friendships as well!! Hopefully maybe next year we'll be able to celebrate these 2 MMMM's birthdays together again!!

Hopefully we can take such a picture for real if not next year, sometime in the near future ne!!

Happy Blessed Birthday My two Marvellous MMMMM friends, MANAMI & AH MAI!!!

GOD BLESS!! XOXO

My Best Friend...Manami Hikasa...

2010-03-18T19:39:00.000+10:30

My dear Manami went back to Japan for good today....and I still can't accept the reality that she's gone. I don't wanna accept the reality that she's gone.

Even though I've only known Manami for a little bit over 3 years, I feel our friendship extends beyond that short period of time. There have been so many wonderful memories over the past few years that we've shared together and it saddens me to know that there might be less and less of those memories in the future. It feels as if her leaving has left sort of a long full stop in our friendship. It feels like the end of something. Yet I don't want it to be the end. I don't want us to stop meeting or lose contact with each other. This point in time it feels like a question mark also. Questions as to when will we ever meet again? Will we ever get to meet again? How will our lives be like the next time we meet?

Last month Manami almost got a job in Melbourne. It came all of a sudden and that if she got the job she would have to transfer to Melbourne immediately. Knowing this, I felt really really sad but at the same time I really wanted her to get the job. She had been trying so hard to get a job in Australia. And I knew that the main reason she continued staying on in Adelaide was because of our friendship. Her parents have always wanted her to go back after she graduated. It had been hard on her. The prospect of moving to Melbourne, even though she had no friends or anyone she knew there, at that time she was willing to move to Melbourne if she got the job, instead of moving back to Japan, I knew mostly she was doing it for the sake of our friendship. Melbourne is much closer to Adelaide than Japan and we could visit each other more frequently compared to Japan. But in the end, she didn't get the job...How I wish now that she could have gotten that job!

But I understand how hard a decision it has been for her to make. She was willing to wait for almost half a year, waiting for an opportunity. She was willing to do it all for the sake of friends, despite pressure from her parents to go home. I knew she had tried her best. She tried so hard to stay back here...and if she could she would have stayed. It was hard for her to give it all up, not so much for the fact that she wanted to work in Australia, but more because of our friendship here.

I really thank God for having blessed me with such a friend as Manami. Even though it ended up with me crying alone in the bedroom we once shared, even though I end up having to feel this sadness and disappointment, I really thank God for such a precious friend that I find so hard to say goodbye to. Even if I had known 3 years ago before meeting her that it would feel this bad when it comes the time to say goodbye, even if I could have had the chance to avoid this and try not to be such close friends with her, I would never have changed anything throughout the course of these 3 years. Even if hurts so so so much, even if it meant crying my eyes all red and my tears all gone, I am really glad that she's my best friend.

I really really hope we'll still be best friends years from now. I hope the future for our friendship will be a beautiful one. I hope one day we'll be able to meet for even longer than just 3 years, even longer than that! Who knows maybe Manami will come back and work here. In my heart I'm still hoping that Manami will come back. That she will change her mind and come back. I'm still waiting for a miracle...Who knows maybe I'll get the chance to work in Japan? Hopefully. Or maybe we might meet and work somewhere else in the future?? I really hope so!! Hopefully even though God has willed us to separate at this time, there will be a miracle to bring us back together!! I shall start praying everyday for this! And hopefully when we're old, we'll still be able to hang out together and sit the whole day just talking about the days of our youth with joy.

I think I'll never be able to get used to Manami not being here. All of the things and the places remind me of her. And I'll never be able to forget the good times we have had together. Hopefully I'll be able to think positively. I'm looking forward already to the next time we'll meet. I hope time flies faster so that day will come sooner!

I'll miss you my dear Manami!! Hayaku kaette kite!!!!

Beautiful quotes

2010-02-17T15:44:00.002+10:30

Found these quotes on my sister's facebook profile and thought they were quite meaningful. Hope it will inspire and encourage someone out there:

The windows of our lives reflect that which is important to us, that which we value most, and that which is sacred to the heart. The moments we cherish are not all part of the grand and the great, often they are pieces of the ordinary - beautiful times in which we have found joy, comfort, and love.

Unlike major events in our lives, there are no photos nor writings to describe them. These simple stories, recorded by the heart, define our values, reflect our virtues, and tell us who we are. Combined, they give us a sense of self. They are the stuff we are made of. A particular sight or sound can quickly allow us to re-live one of these moments. It is wondrous when this happens, for it brings to our minds a state of grace.
– Flavia Weedn

"Sometimes we must try to view the actions of those around us with forgiveness. We must realize that they are going on the only road they can see. Sometimes we cannot raise our chins and see eye to eye, so we must bow our heads and have faith in one another."
-from Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate

Live in a way that every moment matters. Capture every thought, every scent, every note of music, every glint of sunlight on water, every chance to help another human soul.”
- Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate

People Come Into Your Life for a reason, a season, or a LIFETIME.

2010-02-01T14:56:00.002+10:30

Read this on someone's blog and decided to re-post it:

"People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. " Unknown

When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
Just like an answer to a prayer when someone comes into your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. Much like a guardian angel this person appears to assist you through a difficult time, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They are there for the REASON you need them to be.

Then, without any warning or wrong doing on your part, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled. Their work being done it is time for them to go.

Your prayer has been answered, it is now time to move along.

When people come into our life for a SEASON, it is because it is your turn to grow, learn a new skill or share an insight. With this person you may find a peaceful place of rest. You may bring each other joy and make each other laugh. You may teach each other something neither of you would ever have done alone. Through this relationship you may experience an unbelievable amount of joy. Savour it! Rejoice in it; if only for a SEASON.

The difficulty arrises when you want to make a REASON or SEASON relationship into a LIFETIME relationship.

Your job is to accept the lesson of life, the love you shared with this person, then figure out when it is the right time to say goodbye. Much easier said than done; knowing the correct time to leave without staying too long at the fair.

The good news is, when you allow those relationships to end, you open yourself to a world of new possibilites with new people. You are once again an "Open for Adventure Person".

My prayer for you is a peace filled day full of goodness and light. May your path be crossed by many good people who bring joy and peace into your life. Finally, may you have the wisdom to know you already have all you need inside of you. Be open to what this day has to offer you.

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.'
When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better..
Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you'

How to Get Someone to Forgive You

2010-02-01T14:55:00.000+10:30

From: http://www.ehow.com/how_5198880_someone-forgive.html

Everyone has it in their heart to forgive. It really depends on what you did, that usually will determine if they will or not. Once you've hurt someone emotionally, you have lost their trust. Getting that back is difficult. If it's something that you continue to do to this person, I can't say they will or even should forgive you.

Forgiving starts with yourself and being honest with yourself, then eventually with this person. Have you truly learned what you did is wrong? Do you honestly care how it has effected this person, or just yourself? If forgiveness to you only determines how it effects yourself, then you are just going to continue to do these things that doesn't deserve or should require forgiveness from this person.

Step 1

Give this person space. When someone gets hurt emotionally, or they are angry, they exaggerate at the time. They will swear they'll never speak to you again, or even say some very mean and hurtful things to you. They are just acting on impulse, from the anger and sadness you've caused them. The best method at first is to give them time. Time to reflect and let their feelings simmer down. If you did something very hurtful, chances are they'll definitely still be upset when you get a chance to talk to them. They might be willing to give you an honest chance again. For now you are probably the last person they really want to be around, so respect that, and leave them alone for awhile.
Step 2

Examine your own conscience. Okay, if you want someone to forgive you, it starts with yourself first. Simply going up and saying the words "I'm sorry" will not work. They are just words, that they get overused everyday. You say sorry when you accidently bump into someone, or make a simple error. It takes more than those words to ask forgiveness from hurting someone. Take time to really understand what you have done and how your actions effect others. Put yourself exactly in this persons place, and ask how you would feel. Understand where their pain is coming from, not yours. Think about how and why you've done this. Figure out where it came from and how to truly avoid doing this again. Take knowledge over the problem that accorded.
Step 3

Be willing to actually change from your actions. I think it comes down to this simple manner. People tend to be motivated by their own pleasures and pain. I've learn to recognize this from people in general and chances are you've done this as well, which is why you've hurt this person. But people also make honest mistakes as well. None of us are perfect. Which category do you fall under? Was this a mistake, or did you never take the time to begin with to really think about this persons feelings? Are you honestly going to think about theirs when forgiving? To get someone to forgive you, it starts with really caring about their pain and how you've effected it. Not just simply feeling guilty, to help recover for yourself and your conscience. Feeling guilty over something you've done wrong, is the politically "right thing" to do. It's just a way to tell your conscience it's okay since I feel guilty. Everyone has the ability to tell between right and wrong, and to feel bad. Guilt makes a person feel bad majority of the time for their own self, not truly for someone else's. It's the same reason why people seek revenge over a wrong doing of someone's else's pain. We are motivated by our pleasures and pains. You see the difference? If you aren't truly willing to learn and see how your actions can really hurt someone else, and truly care about it for them and not yourself, you'll do this again. Get over your guilt and just think about the persons pain that you've caused. Take the steps to actually avoid not making the same mistakes again. Selfless people learn, selfish people continue down the same destructive path.
Step 4

Speak from the heart and be truthful. When the time is right, and you've done these steps. Now it's time to speak to them. If they refuse to talk, give them more time. If they have finally given you a chance to actually be in the same presence, tell them everything. Explain why it is you did what you did. Explain your motives and tell them what you've honestly learned. If you've done the first three steps, this should be easy. You should honestly see things differently and have a better understanding on the pain you caused the person. You should see their pain, as if it were your own. So on a emotional level, you can then get through them. Doing this shows this person you really decided to take the time to honestly reflect on what you have done. You should be completely honest and show emotion, along with passion when you are explaining to this person. Let them talk as well and let them explain how you've hurt them. Listen to what they are saying, because that is important. If you're not listening, you come across as not truly caring. Ask questions on their feelings on the subject, to come across as honestly caring for them.
Step 5

Do not get angry. If they aren't acting extremely friendly, do no engage in a heated argument. You will have ruin any chance of them forgiving you. Take whatever they give you, good or bad, and be very polite and calm. They might not be over what you've done, but if you act respectful it will help a lot. Let them get the anger out, if it's still bottled up. Be compassionate and show that you truly understand and care. Be very supportive to them, no matter what it is they are saying to you. Don't take it personal, they are hurt.
Step 6

Don't demand anything from them. If this was an ex-lover, whoever, don't expect or demand that they forgive you. Don't even ask for it. People who have to ask for forgiveness, don't come off as genuine. They don't come off as truly caring. They seem more sad for themselves, rather than the person. If someone truly did something, and the first thing they ask, or want is forgiveness, they don't deserve it. If they truly felt bad, wouldn't the first question, or more important one be how are you? Are you okay? Is there anything I can do for YOU? This should have nothing to do with what you get out of it. If you really care for them, you wouldn't ask or demand anything out of them. You'd just want them to be okay.

Don't Forget...

2010-01-27T01:17:00.000+10:30

Don't Forget - Demi Lovato

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Did you forget, that I was even alive
Did you forget, everything we ever had
Did you forget...did you forget
About me?

Did you regret, ever standing by my side
Did you forget, what we were feeling inside
Now I'm left to forget

About us

But somewhere we went wrong
We were once so strong
Our love is like a song
You can't forget it

So now I guess
This is where we have to stand
Did you regret, ever holding my hand
Never again
Please don't forget
Don't forget

We had it all
We were just about to fall
Even more in love
Than we were before
I won't forget
I won't forget
About us

But somewhere we went wrong
We were once so strong
Our love is like a song
You can't forget it

Somewhere we went wrong
We were once so strong
Our love is like a song
You can't forget it
At all

And at last
All the pictures have been burned
And all the past
Is just a lesson that we've learned
I won't forget
Please don't forget us

But somewhere we went wrong
Our love is like a song
But you won't sing along
You've forgotten
About us

The Value of Friendship

2010-01-25T23:19:00.004+10:30

We all have a handful of acquaintances--those people with whom we work or see at the store and casually say hello to and move on.

But a friend is someone you confide in, bring over for an afternoon cup of coffee, invite to your wedding, or cry with when a loved one passes away.

You just feel a sense of safety with a friend.

Don't wait until a rainy day to express how much a good friend means to you.

Often we are unaware of how much we mean to others until they speak up, and likewise we never know how much another person might truly need to hear such affirmations.

An approving, cheerful word of encouragement can thrill a heart. Be sure to always say kind words before you part, show sympathy during hard times and affection during wonderful ones.

Life would not be the same without positive friendships. Express your gratitude to someone today who has made a difference in your world!

"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17

"Real friendship is a rare and precious gift, strong,
stable, yet fragile, and never to be taken for granted."

"Friendship without self - interest is one of the rare
and beautiful things of life."
~ James F. Byrnes

"Give me one friend, just one, who meets
The needs of all my varying moods."
~ Esther M. Clark

"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility,
never an opportunity."
~ Kahlil Gibran

Friendship is a Priceless Gift that cannot be bought or sold,
But its value is far greater than a mountain made of Gold.
For gold is cold and lifeless, it can neither see nor hear
And in the time of trouble it is powerless to cheer--
It has no ears to listen nor heart to understand,
It cannot bring you comfort or reach out a helping hand
So when you ask God for a gift
Be thankful if HE sends not diamonds, pearls or riches
But The Love of Real True Friends. - Helen Steiner Rice -
Footprints in the Sand - Leona Lewis

Points to ponder...

2010-01-21T23:55:00.001+10:30

"Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards. Don't stay on the bump too long. Move on! When you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy, because God is thinking of something better to give you. When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There's a purpose to life's events to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry as hard."

"It's better to lose your pride to the one you love, than to lose the one you love because of pride."

"We spend so much time looking for the right person to love or finding fault with those we already love, when instead we should be perfecting the love we give. When you truly care for someone, you don't look for faults, you don't look for answers, you don't look for mistakes. Instead, you fight the mistakes, you accept the faults and you overlook excuses."

"Never abandon an old friend. You will never find one who can take his or her place. Friendship is like wine. It gets better as it grows older."

You are not a piece of trash! You are a JEWEL!

2010-01-21T23:54:00.001+10:30

when do we know it's time to let go of a friendship? when do we finally give up on trying so hard and it feels like you are being drained by that someone and that person is no longer respecting me or our friendship?

when the person no longer values this friendship, when that friend starts thinking of it as a burden rather than a blessing, when the person thinks of spending time in this friendship as a hassle and would rather be investing time in other friendship and relationships. when the friend takes you for granted and only seeks you when he/she needs you and when you need them, they reject you and make you feel like a worthless piece of junk. when your presence is no longer comforting but instead annoying and disturbing. and when he/she answers your love and care in a loathsome way as if you are the person he/she hates the most in the world.

when a person becomes selfish and takes a friend for granted, its no longer called a friendship. even if it is, the person is only seeking friendship with him/herself. self-centred friends only look out for themselves, for their own benefits and for their own needs. they take friends for granted and exploits them to their own benefits. when friends seek them for help or company, they give many excuses , retaliates with illogical reasons and rejects them in a mean way, treating them like trash.

sometimes we lose sight of our own self-value when we put someone else's value before our own. we lose sense of our own self worth. and when we are pushed to one side like a piece of trash, we suddenly realize, in this friendship, why are we treated as trash when we treat the friend like a king/queen? why do we let ourselves be treated like trash when the person who treats us that way is him/herself the real trash?? when in a friendship or even a relationship you become self-centred and selfish, you will think of yourself as the king/queen and others as trash. maybe this person needs to really look in the mirror and see him/herself in their own true light and when they realize there's no longer anyone around them, that they are not only no longer a king/queen, but they never were...they are and were just a piece of trash.

are you that kind of self centred friend? anyway, think of the friends you might have hurt or reacted to in a mean way just because you were stressed or in a moment of anger. or maybe u have taken a friend for granted and made him/her feel like a piece of trash when in fact, they were a piece of jewel in your friendship. maybe its time to patch things up and start respecting that friend and your friendship. Don't let your pride and big head get in the way of saying sorry and losing a friendship. if you let your selfish attitude and desires become more important than your friendship, it might be too late...

if you feel you are trash, remember you are not alone. There are many others out there who love you! you may feel worthless, your friend does not respect you, you feel your value degraded. don't let anyone else determine your worth other than you yourself and God. God created you in His image. He made you perfect in Him. He loves you so much. No matter how much you think of your imperfections, in God's eyes, He has made you perfect. He will never treat you like trash. He even stepped down from His heavenly throne, being the King of kings, He was willing to come down to Earth to become one of us and to save us. Because He loves us!

"I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them to realize your worth."

Prayer for a friend

2010-01-14T13:22:00.001+10:30

"Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than
brothers."
Proverbs 18:24

Prayer for a friend

I will pray for you, my friend.
I will name you in my heart before God and ask all His blessing be upon you.
I will be concerned for your rising and your daily mood.
I will be sympathetic to your personal needs and desires in each day of your
life.
I will wish you well in your learning, or your work, in your domestic round and
your leisure.
I will think of you at the close of each day and pray that God’s peace be with
you.
If you have been especially kind or helpful to me then I will make my gratitude
known to you.
If you are in trouble or difficulty of any kind, or simply tired and worn down, I
will do all and anything I can to lift your spirits.
I will ache for you in your sorrows and disasters and rejoice with you in your
joys and triumphs.
I will love and care for you as I love and care for myself.

”The true friend is the one who’s coming in the door

while everyone else is going out.

Friends are the ones who love you when you’re hard to love,

stand by you when it’s not the popular thing to do

and are there for you when you need it,

even if it means they don’t get anything back.”

"Have patience with all things but first with yourself.
Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being.
You're a perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist.
And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.
Unconditional self acceptance is the core of a peaceful mind."
St. Francis de Sales

The Spirit of Unforgiveness

2010-01-11T23:11:00.001+10:30

"Friendship is not friendship without trust, without it I walk alone."
- James P. Michels Jr.

Yesterday at church Aunty Lyn, our local preacher preached in part about the spirit of unforgiveness. She talked about the familiar quote "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me."

Who were they trying to kid with that quote?

Words are powerful tools and have a very profound effect on us. Words of praise make us happy; words of love fill us with warm emotions; words of criticism can make us sad or defensive, and angry words can hurt us deeply.

Aunty Lyn talked about how people we love and care may hurt us with words and sometimes that hurt still lingers in our heart for a long long time. After 10 years, we may still feel the hurt. After 20 years, it still hurts real bad. And that is how we harbour unforgiveness in our hearts.

I think back upon times where I have had arguments with family, friends, the people I love and care and I think upon the words we have hurled at each other at that moment where we could not control our anger and emotions. To the person who spoke those hurtful words, it could have been just a moment of uncontrolled anger and thoughtless action. But to the one who has been deeply hurt, that hurt can really break the soul and might never mend the wound for a long long time.

If you have never experienced such a situation before, you might not understand how deep this "hurt" and "wound" can be. It can really haunt a person...maybe even for life.

It is wise to think before we speak especially in moments of anger which can cause us to say things we might regret. Words of encouragement can spur others on. Words of love can melt the toughest of hearts and make others smile. Think of those words the next time you are in a quarrel, do not let the spirit of unforgiveness have a chance to gain a foothold in your heart.

"We always thought we'd look back on our tears and laugh, but we never thought we'd look back on our laughter and cry."

"A friend will strengthen you with her prayers, bless you with her love, and encourage you with her hope."

True Friendship

2010-01-11T22:53:00.003+10:30

I've been thinking a lot about friendship, trust and true friends. Read this article online today and thought of sharing it. It's taken from a website called "All About God".

True Friendship - Recognition

How can we find true friendship in this often phony, temporary world? Friendship involves recognition or familiarity with another's personality. Friends often share likes and dislikes, interests, pursuits, and passion.

How can we recognize potential friendship? Signs include a mutual desire for companionship and perhaps a common bond of some kind. Beyond that, genuine friendship involves a shared sense of caring and concern, a desire to see one another grow and develop, and a hope for each other to succeed in all aspects of life. True friendship involves action: doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return; sharing thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or negative criticism.

True Friendship - Relationship, Trust, Accountability
True friendship involves relationship. Those mutual attributes we mentioned above become the foundation in which recognition transpires into relationship. Many people say, "Oh, he's a good friend of mine," yet they never take time to spend time with that "good friend." Friendship takes time: time to get to know each other, time to build shared memories, time to invest in each other's growth.

Trust is essential to true friendship. We all need someone with whom we can share our lives, thoughts, feelings, and frustrations. We need to be able to share our deepest secrets with someone, without worrying that those secrets will end up on the Internet the next day! Failing to be trustworthy with those intimate secrets can destroy a friendship in a hurry. Faithfulness and loyalty are key to true friendship. Without them, we often feel betrayed, left out, and lonely. In true friendship, there is no backbiting, no negative thoughts, no turning away.

True friendship requires certain accountability factors. Real friends encourage one another and forgive one another where there has been an offense. Genuine friendship supports during times of struggle. Friends are dependable. In true friendship, unconditional love develops. We love our friends no matter what and we always want the best for our friends.

True Friendship - Examples of Real Friendship
True friendship stories are found throughout the Bible. In Genesis 18:17-33, we read about God sharing His intentions with Abraham. Abraham responds by telling God his thoughts and feelings about the situation. God and Abraham are able to do this because they trust and respect each other.

First Samuel 20 focuses on the friendship of David and Jonathan. These two men truly cared for each other and had great trust and confidence in one another. David was running for his life from Jonathan's father, Saul. Jonathan recognized that David was innocent. Because of the true friendship they shared, David survived Saul's assassination attempts and went on to become one of Israel's greatest kings.

Real and true friendship involves freedom of choice, accountability, truth, and forgiveness. Peter and Jesus give us this example: Peter, afraid for his life after Jesus is led away from the Garden of Gethsemane, denies knowing Jesus (John 18). As He is led away by His accusers, Jesus casts a look toward Peter that says, "I knew you would deny Me, and I forgive you" (John 21).

Real friendship looks at the heart, not just the "packaging." Genuine friendship loves for love's sake, not just for what it can get in return. True friendship is both challenging and exciting. It risks, it overlooks faults, and it loves unconditionally, but it also involves being truthful, even though it may hurt. Genuine friendship, also called "agape" love, comes from the Lord. The Lord Jesus calls us His friends and He laid down His life for us (John 15).

Relationships in real life involve different levels of friendships, and that's okay. But humans are designed by God for lasting relationships. Often our isolationist society offers only vague, empty relationships. God wants us to have friends here on earth. Most of all, He wants us to be friends with Him!

God's Word tells us that a friend sticks closer than a brother, and that in order for one to be a friend, one must show themselves friendly (Proverbs 18:24). The question is: what type of friend do you desire to be?

Proverbs 18:19 in the New Living Translation says: "It's harder to make amends with an offended friend than to capture a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with iron bars." When we've offended a true friend - whether by breaking a trust or by speaking the truth with love - we risk losing that friendship. We must be careful not to break the trust. But when not speaking the truth will cause greater hurt in our friend's life, we must be willing to sacrifice our needs for those of our friend. That is true friendship.

If we sometimes offend a friend without meaning to, God's Word offers a solution. It's called forgiveness. There is no greater example than the love of God for us. It so great that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in order that our friendship with God might be restored. He did that in spite of the fact that we have offended Him deeply. We have disobeyed His commands, turned our backs on Him, and followed our own path. So the question remains: What type of friend do you want to be? True Christian friendship forgives.

Do you need a friend? God wants to be your true friend. Are you longing for companionship? God is always with you (Hebrews 13:5). Who do you know who needs a true friend today? God wants you to befriend others. He calls us to be His hands and feet in a world starving for true friendship.

Under Repair....

2010-01-11T22:24:00.000+10:30

I just realized that the blog skin I was previously using suddenly had some problems occuring with it. So I have temporarily switched to this blogger template.

If I can find a new blog skin I'm happy about, I will consider changing it. But for now, I think I'll leave it like this.

SMILE

2010-01-07T00:42:00.001+10:30

2010 is at your doorstep, remember…

Life is SHORT

BREAK THE RULES!

Forgive AND forget quickly

LOVE truly

LAUGH uncontrollably
And never regret anything that made you SMILE.

Took this quote directly from a friend's blog

When I read this, it clearly reflected upon my situation and the stage I am in right now.

Year 2010 started really roughly for me. This quote made me realize that in life, there's a lot of things that may make us unhappy, may break us down, may anger us, may make us think negatively. But if we dwell on these things, we'll never get to enjoy the life God wants to bless us with. We ponder and linger too long on the things we lack, on the things we hope He will bless us with, and we fail to see the blessings He has already given us.

A lot of things have been happening lately. And I know the devil is waiting at my doorstep waiting to beat me down and push down my trust and faith. He is waiting to ruin my life but I know as long as I hold on to the Lord's promises, as long as I trust in Him and His goodness, the devil will never be able to even leave a crack in my life.

There are many things that have happened that I do not understand. Many problems I do not know the answer to and I do not know how to solve. Many riffs in friendships that have made me disappointed. Things beyond my control.

People always say don't look back, just look ahead and look towards tomorrow, tomorrow will be a brighter day. But as I think of this quote esp the last line, I can't help but think how important it is to sometimes look back. Look back esp on the blessings that the Lord has showered upon us. Look back to all those beautiful memories and wonderful moments you have had. Those moments that made you not just smile, but made you laugh, made you love the life you are living. And when we think back on those wonderful moments, there is something for us to look ahead to. Moments like those that we await to be lying at the other side of the doorway to tomorrow. Even if we are in a storm, there is something worth fighting for at the other side of that door. and as long as we do not give up and continue trusting in Him, that door will just be at the edge of our footstep.

Eggless Website is out!

2009-11-12T00:31:00.000+10:30

Just found out that the official Eggless website is finally completed! Just had a look and it looks great! They have placed their current menu on the website and I'm dying to try the new items on the November menu!! I want mango panna cotta!! Now I'll have to go at least once (don't mind going more than once in fact! teehee!!) to try the new items each month! Love their concept of having new menu items each month! Makes us dessert lovers look forward to new stuff to try each month! Haha!

They also have a link to their blog where u can leave some comments. If u do have any good menu item suggestions, maybe u can leave a comment there! Who knows, u might see that on the menu next time! I wonder whether they will do ABC (ais kacang) if i put it there....

Anyways, do have a look at the website by clicking the link if you're interested. If u haven't been there before, do drop by and give their desserts a try!

My "Picture of Love" travel photoblog...

2009-11-06T21:03:00.003+10:30

I am planning to start a new travel photoblog called "Picture of Love" to post up the pics I've taken from my past travelling trips.

I thought of using the name "Picture of Love" from the movie "Tada Kimi Wo Aishiteru (Just Loving You)" I blogged about previously. I really loved the theme song and the name of the song "Picture of Love" so decided to name the blog "Picture of Love" since the blog consists of mainly pictures that are filled with love, not only love radiating from the joy experienced while taking those pictures, but also the love of God who has blessed me with those sweet moments. So my meaning of "Picture of Love" has a slightly different context to it.

Anyway, the site is still under construction. The main page and some of the pages are done but the photo gallery's nt completed yet. Will try to update it after my exams so hopefully it will be completed by beginning of next year. Haha!!

Wanna know more about the website or have a peek? click here...

Unashamed by Starfield

2009-10-22T18:32:00.003+10:30

Heard a beautiful song today! Actually heard a wonderful cover of the song posted on facebook. The lyrics were so touching and meaningful. Can't believe I've never heard this song until today! Awesome song! When you're down or at the lowest in your life, always be reminded that someone up there loves you a lot a lot because you are worth it!
Felt like sharing so here it is...

Unashamed cover by Janice and Sonia:

Unashamed - Starfield

"Unashamed"

I have not much
To offer You
Not near what You deserve
But still I come
Because Your cross
Has placed in me my worth

Oh, Christ my King
Of sympathy
Whose wounds secure my peace
Your grace extends
To call me friend
Your mercy sets me free

And I know I'm weak
I know I'm unworthy
To call upon Your name
But because of grace
Because of Your mercy
I stand here unashamed

I can't explain
This kind of love
I'm humbled and amazed
That You'd come down
From heavens heights
And greet me face to face

Here I am at Your feet
In my brokeness complete

ただ、君を愛してる。。。Just Loving You...

2009-10-21T02:43:00.003+10:30

Just watched a Japanese movie I downloaded called "ただ、君を愛してる” (tada kimi wo aishiteru) which means "Just Loving You" in Japanese. The international title is "Heavenly Forest". The movie was from 2006 which is quite some time ago. Discovered the movie when I was searching for music by Otsuka Ai. Have recently become a fan of hers. Haha! Like her sentimental, touching songs and her cute voice. She sang the theme song for this movie. Another reason I was interested in the movie was becoz the main actor was Tamaki Hiroshi, who I became a fan of after watching "Nodame Cantabile". Haha! He's the main actor of Nodame Cantabile.

Anyways, the movie was quite touching especially towards the end which made me shed a few tears. But it was well worth my tears coz it was really nice. I think if you're a fan of photography, u might like the movie since there's quite a lot of photography involved.

Here's the theme song of the movie by Otsuka Ai which made me watch the movie in the 1st place...

恋愛写真 (Picture of Love) - 大塚愛

English translation:
Picture of Love
----------------------------------------
Performed by: Ai Otsuka
Lyricist: ai
Composer: ai
Translated by: crystalise
----------------------------------------
Under the night sky that is slowly melting into the bluest of blues,
You glanced from behind... the figure of love.

Sometimes, as I look into your innocent sleeping face,
I saw only... the figure of endearment.

Every moment with you
Is an unforgettable moment.
In delirium, I snapped this picture... In my heart*
It was a picture of paining happiness.

“I am still falling for you, only you”
“I am still falling for you, only you”
“I am still falling for you, only you”
That was enough for me.

In the falling rain, when our lips first met,**
We became joined... the figure of two persons.

These feelings won’t last a lifetime
And though it is hard to place into words,
Seeing you everyday
Has only made me glow and sparkle.

“I am still falling for you... only you”
“I am still falling for you... only you”
“I am still falling for you... only you”
Was your gift of happiness to me.
“I am still falling for you. Only you.”
“I am still falling for you. Only you.”
“I am still falling for you. Only you.”
Was it possible to ask for more?***

Adorning this small room,
Sits the tender smiles of two people... the picture of love.

*Note 1: Literally, “Delirious, I snapped the shutter... My heart felt paining happiness”. "Shutter" refers to a camera shutter – not something to shutter her heart off.

**Note 2: Literally, “The time when it was raining, the kiss connected”
***Note 3: Really, this is the same line as the one above it – that is, “That was enough for me”… the meaning is still the same though.

Dim Sum Delight

2009-10-13T16:57:00.001+10:30

Had dim sum lunch with Ah Win, Ah Whye and Ah Mai last Saturday at Ding Hao Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown. We had been eagerly discussing about meeting up for a dim sum lunch ever since Ah Whye started having classes at UniSA City East campus this semester. Finally last Saturday, our plan finally took off! Haha!

Had an awesome time ordering, eating, talking, laughing, taking pics, taking more pics and feeling full!

Anywayz here are some of the pics. Most of them are taken by Ah Mai and Ah Whye. I copied the over from the facebook albums! Haha!!

Left: Taro Cakes. Right: Yam Cakes.

Left: Salt and Pepper Squid. Right: Prawn Cheong Fun

Left: Sesame Custard Balls. Right: BBQ Pork Bun

Left: Yam Puff.

Right: BBQ pork pastry bun (ordered this wrongly. was wanting the BBQ pork pastry triangles).

Left: BBQ Pork Pastry. My favourite!!! Yummmyyyyy!!

Egg Tarts! Oooolalaaaa!

Polo Buns!! Ah Whye's good friend!!! Haha!

Chicken Feet! Yummmmmyyyyy!!! They all LLLOOOVVEEDDD it!! Haha!

Dessert: Mango Pudding!!

Too much food! Felt full already halfway.....

Eating faces.....

Us LOVING and ENJOYING the chicken feet...

Look how cleanly done Ah Whye and Ah Mai's chicken feet are! Shows how yummy it is!! Clean to the bones!!

Halfway we were quite full so decided to take a break....playing with the food....hahaha!!

'Polo bun' eyes Ah Whye! Cute yo!! Haha! Looks a bit like tennis balls! Haha! I say she looks like mosquito, she says she's more of a fly. Haha!

Ah Mai and Ah Sweet trying to imitate along using the BBQ pork pastry buns and the egg tarts. Haha! Ah Mai really looks like mosquite/housefly here!!

Using spoons?? Haha! No more buns or tarts available coz we've eaten them. Haha!!

After lunch and Coles shopping for grocery....

Ah Sweet without her sunnies and Ah Sweet with her "Versace" sunnies. Hahaha!!

And the cutest, most memorable and best pic of the day....

Polo bun bangkali Ah Whye!!! Hahaha!! Look at her cute expression while eating the chicken feet with the polo bun on her head! hahaha!!

We had an awesome time catching up, eating, laughing, having fun and just taking our minds off studies for a day. Looking forward to out next meet-up after the exams in November!! AB!!!

愛美猿。。。今何してるの?

2009-10-05T17:30:00.007+10:30

I wonder what my bestie Manami is doing right now? She has been back in Japan for a few days now and I really miss her. She has always been there to talk to me and laugh with me and have fun with me. And occasionally she leaves some "perfume" in the room which makes the room smells so "nice" and we just laugh about it. But now without the "perfume" the room doesn't smell as "nice" and I just can't get used to the new smell of the room...:)

Now there's only Elmo and I but Elmo is sick. He has been sleeping so much lately and hardly responses when I talk to him. Maybe he's so bored looking at me whole day and talking to me only. Usually he talks to Manami more. Haha!!

Is she plucking bananas at her grandpa's farm??

Is she feeling tired after a long day unko-ing in the toilet??

Is she busy enjoying too much chillis??

Is she busy "protecting" Japan from enemy invasion??

Is she busy "swimming" in her bath tub?? haha!

Is she busy cleaning the toilet after her big unko session??

Is she busy "acting" in Manami Hikasa's version of Harry Potter? Manami Hikasa and the pink slippers!

Or busy playing with her baby??

Or busy trying to make Tangan ABC??

Anyways, hopefully she's enjoying her time back home with her family! Who knows, maybe she IS doing all these things. Haha! I think she must be busy unko-ing after eating so much chills! Haha!!

Hopefully when she comes back, she's looking like this! Haha!!

This post is dedicated to Miss 日笠愛美。：） Sorry for only posting these "beautiful" pics of you 3 months later. Should have done it earlier! Haha!

The pictures posted above were taken during our short but fun trip to KL and Redang 3 months ago.

To look at the full albums for my KL & Redang Island July '09 trip, please press the links below:

Kuala Lumpur Album

Redang Island Album

Redang Island (Underwater pics) Album

Eggless - The Food

2009-10-05T02:46:00.001+10:30

Went for my church's fundraising movie night, watching "Up" just now. After the movies, we went to try out the desserts at Ken's shop. There were quite a lot of people there, I think most of them from people from our church who've just came out from the theatre like us. Luckily we went in earlier coz after we arrived the place started to fill up and coz it's a small shop, there were only a few tables and seats. After us came another group who ended up standing outside coz there were no more seats left. They left after taking away some of the desserts.

Anyways, yesterday I didn't try the desserts so couldn't post up any much pics of the food and stuff they sell there. I've tried a few of them this 2nd visit so now I can post up the mouth watering pics....hehehe....

Display fridge showing some of the desserts...lets get a closer look at some of 'em eh...

left: Banana Caramel tart.

right: Blackforest Cupcakes

left: Orange and almond cake

right: Chocolate fudge cake

left: Strawberry Ricotta Cheesecake

right: Green tea tiramisu

left: Coffee Panna Cotta (in the blue little cups and glasses)

right: Fruit trifle

Teh Tarik, Bubur Cha Cha, Coffee Panna Cotta, Black Sticky Rice and Hot Chocolate

Judy and Esther's Eggless Tasting Platter: Mini versions of 4 of their desserts...chocolate mudcake, coffee panna cotta, banana caramel tart and apple tart

With the tasting platter...

And my favourite of the night....

Green Tea Tiramisu!!! Yummyyy!! Kiing and Eileen ordered this one. I got to taste theirs. Creamy with a smooth texture...my first bite was just heavenly!! It looked stunning when it was brought to the table and it melted right through my mouth! Yummmylicious!!

Some other pics taken thru the night...

Anyways, it was a really sweeeetttt night! Everyone went home in high spirits and "sweet" mode after eating the sweet and lovely desserts! I would definitely recommend to anyone who looovvvesss sweet stuff. Haha!! Even if you don't like sweet stuff, Eggless might turn you into a dessert lover!

If you're a coffee lover, Eggless also serves a variety of plunger coffees eg Mexican Chapas, East Timor Decaf etc. The coffee panna cotta is also superb! With it's rich coffee syrup and soft velvety panna cotta texture...the coffee taste just bursts in your mouth...mmhhmmmm!

If you're a tea lover instead, they also have a range of pot teas ranging from favourites such as earl grey and jasmine to Japanese sencha to Moroccan Mint tea and so on. Definitely great in keeping you warm during a cold night.

If the pictures don't succeed in tempting you, blame it on my grainy quality phone camera...hahaha!! The real stuff actually looks better and more alluring and tastes even more delicious and leaving you yearning for more....hahaha!!!

Eggless...

2009-10-03T23:32:00.005+09:30

A friend from church, Ken and his girlfriend just recently opened a dessert cafe. His girlfriend is really good in baking and making desserts. She does some catering and has even made wedding cakes before. It has always been her dream to open a dessert cafe and finally after wishing and waiting for 10 years, her dreams came true!

The cafe has a unique concept. Ken's girlfriend and her parents are vegetarians and it's quite hard to find desserts that are vegetarian especially for strict vegans who do not take eggs. Hence his girlfriend has come up with a cafe which sells vegetarian desserts which do not contain eggs as well...hence the name of the cafe, "Eggless". Cute name eh!

They just had their grand opening last night. Stopped by and visited the shop just now before going to church for the mid-autumn festival celebration at church. The shop is located right next to our church. It used to be a laundry shop, located next to a hair salon.The place looked great! Saw the shop a few days ago and didn't even know it existed! The windows were previously papered up and there wasn't even a sign up yet and only a few days later, ta-da the beautiful sign is up and there are lights on lined on the windows beckoning you. The place had a wonderful ambience and atmosphere. Felt like "Cocolat" styled cafes and kopitiam style shops blended together to give a cozy and warm feeling.

One unique thing I noticed bout the shop were the chairs. Each table came with different sets of chairs. There were long comfy wall lounges, there were also comfortable leather soft chairs, and even kopitiam styled stools...creating a mix of different seating styles.

Their shop isn't quite fully finished yet. Only one side of the wall has been decorated and the outside of the shop has not been completed yet. Ken says they still need to do some painting and decorating. But so far, the interior looks great! The wall that has been painted was done by a friend of theirs who is studying glass painting. Cool eh! Forgot whether he's studying at TAFE or at uni. Didn't know glass painting is offered as a course at college/uni. The wall painting was amazing! I've always admired people who are artistic and creative becoz I'm not one of them. Haha! I'm always amazed at how they can paint out or create what they have envisioned in their heads into something real.

Anyways, I think I'm rambling too much. Maybe coz I'm talking too much to Elmo but he's not replying me so I'm talking even more on my blog. Haha!

Haven't tried the food there yet. Planning to go there after movie night at Capri theatre tmr night and try out the yummy desserts. Had a look at the menu and saw quite some yummy stuff. Caramel Banana Tart, Chocolate fudge cake, orange and almond cake, coffee panna cotta, green tea tiramisu, bubur cha cha, black sticky rice, curry puffs...to name a few. But they're gonna add in new menu items maybe each month so it's great! More yummy stuff! Haha!

Anyways, the shop is opened from Wed - Sun. It's only opened at night. Wed - Sat 8 pm - late, Sun 2 pm - 5pm/7pm - 10 pm. It's located on Goodwood Road at bus stop number 5, just opposite the Capri Theatre, next to Goodwood Methodist Church. Do come and support Ken!! They are giving 10% discount for this month as a promotion for their opening month.

Congrats Ken and Eileen!!

I better stop now...my mouth is watering....:p

Just Elmo and I...

2009-10-03T15:41:00.001+09:30

If you haven't noticed, I've just changed my blog template today. Saw this template online and liked it so decided to switch. Goodbye my faithful L'Amour friend who have been with me for so long...I've switched my old template over to my diary blog so my trusty old friend is still with me :). Anyways do give me some feedback (if there's anyone still reading my out-dated blog) on my new template.

My 2 week uni break is ending soon...how sad! Back to the neverending notes and lullaby lectures...And just saw my finals exam timetable...gonna be having papers on the 14/11, 17/11 and 21/11. Hate the 17/11 paper the most not only coz it's Applied Pharmacotherapeutics but also coz it's a 3 hour paper at 6.30 pm in the evening! Sigh...

My dear roomie Mimi chan has just gone back to Japan yesterday for 3 weeks for her friend's wedding. The room feels kinda empty with just Elmo and I (but there's also Mr Bumpy, Wonbie and the other soft toys gang)... Luckily I still have Elmo to talk to but he's more of a listener (how ironic seeing that he doesn't seem to have any ears and has a big mouth)...haha...

Anyways...happy mid-autumn festival everyone!! I wanna eat mooncakes!! :P

Hayfever.......scratch scratch....

2009-09-06T15:59:00.002+09:30

I'm down with hayfever symptoms again...sigh....

My body always have this kinda half dead half alive feeling whenever the seasons are changing. Those itchy throat, itchy nose, itchy lips, itchy and watery eyes...i feel like scratching my whole face coz it's so itchy!! sigh... the feeling is so irritating! especially my eyes! these few days they are insanely itchy and sometimes i just can't keep my hands from scratching them! I'm so scared one day I really can't take it anymore and end up scratching them out of their sockets! ewwww.....

And my nose....my poor nose...I think it's almost dead! It was so itchy that I keep rubbing it the past few days. And ended up 2 days ago I suffered a nosebleed while I was brushing my teeth in the morning. Then yesterday another nosebleed thru the other nostril...pitiful nose... And after that double nosebleed injury, whenever my nose is itchy and I try to rub it, I feel a slight pain at the ridge of my nose. sigh...

Better go to the pharmacy and get some medication before my lips and eyes are torn from my face and my nose "cries" blood again!

Kike Warerano Sanbi O 聞けわれらの賛美を　＋　I Will Follow Him Japanese Version

2009-08-17T10:25:00.005+09:30

Presented the Japanese version of the song "Hear Our Praises" by Hillsong and a short part of the Japanese version of "I Will Follow You" during Goodwood Chinese Methodist Church's 19th Anniversary Thanksgiving Sunday service yesterday.

You might be wondering why we are presenting Japanese songs for a Chinese church. Haha. This was coz during the service there was a part where we prayed for some of the Asian races and countries and one of them was the Japanese. So coz our church had only one Japanese, Manami, our Reverend asked Manami to present a Japanese song during the service. So Manami asked a few of us to present the song with her.

At first we were only planning to sing "Hear Our Praises" Japanese version but ended up when we were practising and having fun we suddenly thought of adding in "I Will Follow Him". Haha! So in the end we added in a little part of the song in Japanese just for fun.

And then on the day itself we realized we were presenting it as part of praying for the Japanese. And it was a serious moment yet we were presenting a funny song like "I Will Follow Him"!! Oh no!! But in the end we stuck with the plan and just sang it coz it was too late to change our plan. And it ended up being quite a funny moment. Everyone thought we were just presenting one song "Hear Our Praises" and they were clapping when we finished that song. So when we suddenly started singing "I Will Follow Him", everyone was surprised and even Reverend Ling was shocked! I couldn't help laughing coz the moment was just too funny. Many people were laughing and clapping along with our song but it was quite embarassing coz it was quite a serious moment yet we were singing such a song at this time. Haha...

But after the service everyone told us it was quite a surprise but it was quite entertaining. And luckily Reverend Ling thought it was quite amusing as well and didn't criticize us for presenting it at a wrong moment. Phew.....

Anyway, here's our presentation....

Cuppy Cupcakes

2009-06-16T00:40:00.002+09:30

Discovered a cute little cupcake cafe on Pirie Street today when I went with Manami to certify some of her documents at the Justice of the Peace Volunteers office which is located on Pirie Street. When we passed by the shop on the opposite side of the street, we were instantly attracted by it's shocking pink sign with vintage floral designs on it. We were instantly attracted by the pink words on it's sign saying "purveryor of fine cupcakes". Ooolalah, we've finally found a cupcake shop! So we decided to stop by and have a look at what cupcakes they sold.

The variety of cupcakes available weren't many and the designs look simple and quite similar to each other. The cupcakes came in two sizes, the normal size and mini ones. And u can buy them either as singles or in a set I think of 5 and 10. Not too sure bout how many in a set.
Besides cupcakes, the shop also acts as sort of a cafe where u can enjoy a cup of coffee with your cupcake.

Manami with the cute bag that came along with the cupcakes we bought. She was so happy that we got the nice bag for free along with our cupcakes. haha.

The cute bag Manami likes so much. Looks pretty much like a gift bag u can buy from a newsagent or gift shop so it was nice. (Please ignore the subway cup in the background. :p)

The cupcake that I chose - Princess Buttercup. (If I rembr the name correctly) Contains vanilla, buttercup, and some other stuff which I don't rembr. the description was kinda long so i couldn't really rembr.

Manami's The Satisfier cupcake which contains cinnamon and I forgot what other stuff (forgive me for my bad memory haha!).

The cupcakes were quite nice and sweet, especially the sugar flower that was used as a decoration. Haha. Might go again someday and have another sweet cupcake! Haha!

Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent

2009-05-19T19:44:00.003+09:30

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
Uploaded by dwarthy. - Explore more music videos.

Susan Boyle is an unemployed 47 year old who audtioned for this year's Britain's Got Talent. She embodies how hopes and dreams can be found in the most unlikely places and people. All we have to do is dare to dream and believe!

Check the video out! The judges' reactions are so priceless! Haha!

Europe UK here we COME!!! Haha!

2009-03-25T00:16:00.002+10:30

I'm going to UK and Europe in July!!! Wooooohoooooo!!

Muahahahahaha!! Europe July '09 here I come!!

The big one!

2009-02-04T02:11:00.004+10:30

Pics and video of a big firework we let off after our CNY gathering on the 31st Jan. To my biggie bro Dan, hope u regret coz u missed out on this when u could have played with it before u left for the airport! Haha!!

Pics from Happy's wonderful camera! Haha!

Video taken using my little red princess. Haha! Sorry a bit blur and shaky!

Happy CNY everyone!!

God's Sweet Miracles...~ *EST*~