I'm bored. Only after a week of hols, I'm bored already. Is it a good sign? At least it shows that I'm not a slacker. =)

May have good news coming up in a few days. Pray for me, wish me luck, keep your fingers and toes crossed...

What's up with the use of "label" in blogs and the word random nowadays?

Here's a typical conversation between 2 old ladies who meet each other on the streets. (in Hokkien/Mandarin and a near shout)

Ah ma A: Where are you going?
Ah ma B: Huh?
A: Where are you going?
B: Oh, going to my daughter's place
A: Going to?
B: My daughter's place
A: Huh?
B: Going to my daughter's house
A: Oh, to your daughter's house..
B: Yes, going to my daughter's house

See how they manage to repeat sth 5 times in one conversation? =D

He's my new eye-candy :DD

Super handsome. Absolute melts.

FYI, just in case, he's Daniel Henny. Otherwise known as Henry from Kim Sam Soon.

Is it even possible to be hurt by people who you think do not play a impt part in your life? It is a very minor matter. A mere slight. How? Plummets my spirits.

I so want to tell them that I am hurt by their actions. But it doesn't achieve anything.

Just a week or so ago, I was thinking that I have not had a sad entry in my blog for a long time.

Happy New Year!

Had a great first day of Chinese New Year yesterday! 'Cos it fell on a Sunday, it was a super long day for me. Woke up at 6 plus in the mrng to go to church, then to my ahma's hse. Used up half my energy playing monopoly with 2 kids. And I mean kids. 8 and 6 yrs old each. And I was harrassed by the 8 yr old girl. Super tiring la. But they're so cute!

Went over to my maternal aunt's hse in the evng. It was quite boring at first cos we had nth to do. Both the mahjong tables were occupied by the adults, nth good was on the tv.. In the end we went to my cousin's room to hv girls talk. Haha. After that we started playing blackjack. Yesterday's blackjack was the funniest ever. We spent more than half of the time rolling on the floor laughing. =DD

It was the last day of school today, if you do not consider the days when we have to come back for exams. Tuesday was our last tutorial, today's our last lecture, last meal in the school canteen..

But we had lots of fun today. Heh. Went around looking for teachers to pass them cards we made for them. And Ms Tirzah and Mdm Aisha were super funny. I think we spent abt half an hr in their room disturbing the other teachers with our laughter and jokes. I'm soo going to miss the teachers! And the food. And some tutorials and even a few lectures. =) And a certain part of my class. And Denise, Jiahong, Corrin.. And even AiLi, Wency and Harveen. And projects..

Happy Valentines Day

Kinda happy today, cos I rcved so many gifts.. No flowers though. Hehs :DDD



So thank you Denise, Corrin and Jiahong!

Thanks to Jane too!

Pictures of our last presentation..

Trying to take weird photos..

Yay!

Everything has finally come to an end. Well, not everything, cos we still have a test on Saturday, but still.. It's on Saturday, four days away Saturday! Hahs.

Today was the last presentation I'll ever have in poly. Went quite ok, though the teacher was v irritating. Took some photos, which was the best part. Hehs. I'm going to miss my grp mates.. I don't know if the cliche "being through a lot together" applies to us, but we definitely had tons of fun doing projects. I seriously do not think I'll hv as much fun with another grp, and I will not hv felt so comfortable. Plus, I trusted them.

To repeat myself, I'm going to miss them. Miss Corrin's hyper-ness after her caffeine shots from coke and all her silly cracks. Miss Denise's roll-eyes expression. Miss Jiahong's sit-by-the-side-and-laugh-at-us nature. Miss Calvin's irritating-ness. Er, maybe won't miss Calvin that much. =D

Some crazy photos.

It's February!

Irregular meals, irregular slping hours, irregular working hours.. all these will end on Monday!! Maybe not irregular meals though.. Hehs.

Sort of taxed out because of the past two weeks. Deadlines and tests all crammed into two or three weeks. Thank God these things do not leave a lasting impression on me.

Anyway, had good news from MA2 on Monday!! First time I did so well in a test since primary school? Hah. Hopefully the exam will be just as good. =)

Edited
Met a lot of ppl this week. No need to mention my poly friends la. Hehs.

Met Uncle Tony at a bus stop on Thursday I think. His car got into a minor accident on the way to school so he had to take bus.

Met Cheng, Rena and the rest for dinner for Rena's birthday that day too. It was very long day that day. Had reached sch at 9 plus for the stupid IB proj consultation which only managed to answer one qns. Managed to fill my time up till the time to meet them in the evening. Went to Aerin's at Raffles city. Waited for Candy for more than an hr. The food was a little disappointing, mayb cos my expectations were too high. The service was quite good tho.

On Saturday, we went to Mui Cher's hse for steamboat. But it was a bad turnout cos three of us couldn't make it. Disappointed. Very. Anyway, it turned out better than what we all expected. Her husky's very beautiful. Not v affectionate tho. Hehe.

-- edit:

Oh, I met Adib too while on the way home with Rena and Cheng. Loooong time no see. Miss his bullying, miss bullying him. I don't want to grow up. Seeing him, I feel like going back to secondary school, primary school even.

The Golden Goblet

-- Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado

Flames leap from the hill. Pillows of smoke float upward. Orange tongues crack and pop.

From the midst of the blaze comes a yell – the protest of a prisoner as the dungeon door is locked; the roar of a lion as he feels the heat of the burning jungle.

The cry of a lost son as he looks for his father.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The words ricochet from star to star, crashing into the chamber of the King. Couriers from a bloody battlefield, they stumble into the King’s presence. Bruised and broken, they plea for help, for relief.

The soldiers of the King prepare to attack. They mount their steeds and position their shields. They draw their swords.

But the King is silent. It is the hour for which he has planned. He knows his course of action. He has awaited those words since the beginning – since the first poision was smuggled into the kingdom.

It came camouflaged. It came in a golden cup with a long stem. It was in the flavour of fruit. It came not in the hands of a king, but the hands of a prince – the prince of shadows.

Until this moment there had been no reason to hide in the Garden. The King walked with his children and the children knew their King. There were no secrets. There were no shadows.

Then the prince of shadows entered the Garden. He had to hide himself. He was too ugly, too repulsive. Craters marred he face. So he came in darkness. He came encircled in ebony. He was completely hidden; only his voice could be heard.

“Taste it, “ he whispered, holding the goblet before her. “It’s sweet with wisdom.”

The daughter heard the voice and turned. She was intrigued. Her eyes had never seen a shadow. There was something tantalising about his hiddenness.

The King watched. His army knew the price of shadows would be no contest for their mighty legion. Eagerly they awaited the command to attack.

But no command was given.

“The choice is hers,” the King instructed. “If she turns to us for help, that is your command to deliver her. If she doesn’t turn, if she doesn’t look at me – don’t. The choice is hers.”

The daughter stared at the goblet. Rubies embedded in gold filigree invited her touch. Wine wooed her to taste. She reached out and took the cup and drank the poison. Her eyes never looked up.

The venom rushed through her, distorting her vision, scaring her sin, and twisted her heart. She ducked into the shadow of the prince.

Suddenly she was lonely. She missed the intimacy she was made to know. Yet rather than return to the King, she chose to lure another away from him. She replenished the goblet and offered it to the son.

Once again the army snapped into position. Once again they listened for the command of the King. His words were the same. “If he looks to me, then rush to him. If he doesn’t, then don’t go. The choice is his.”

The daughter placed the goblet into the hands of the son. “It’s all right,” she assured. “It’s sweet.” The son looked at the delight that danced in her eyes. Behind her stood a silhouetted figure.

“Who is he?” the son asked.

“Drink it,” she insisted. Her voice was husky with desire.

The goblet was cold against Adam’s lips. The liquid burned his innocence. “More?” he requested as he ran his finger through the dregs on the bottom and put it to his mouth.

The soldiers looked to their King for instructions. His eyes were moist.

“Bring me your sword!” The general dismounted and stepped quickly toward the throne. He extended the unsheathed sword before the King.

The King didn’t take it; he merely touched it. As the tip of his finger encountered the top of the sword, the iron grew orange with heat. It grew brighter and brighter until it blazed.

The general held the fiery sword and awaited the King’s command. It came in the form of an edict.

“Their choice will be honoured. Where there is poison, there will be death. Where there are goblets, there will be fire. Let it be done.”

The general galloped to the Garden and took his post at the gate. The flaming sword proclaimed that the kingdom of light would never again be darkened by the passing of shadows. The King hated the shadows. He hated them because in the shadows the children could not see their King. The King hated goblets. He hated them because they made the children forget the Father.

But outside the Garden the circle of shadow grew larger and more empty goblets littered the ground. More faces were disfigured. More eyes saw distortedly. More souls were twisted. Purity was forgotten and all sight of the King was lost. No one remembered that once there was a kingdom without shadows.

In their hands were the goblets of selfishness.

On their lips was the litany of the liar. “Taste it; it’s sweet.”

And, true to the words of the King, where there was poison, there was death. Where there were goblets, there was fire. Until the day the King sent his Prince.

The same fire that ignited the sword not lit a candle and placed it amidst the shadows.

His arrival, like that of the goblet bearer, did not go unnoticed.

“A star!” was how his coming was announced. “A bright light in a dark sky.” A diamond glittering in the dirt.

“Burn brightly, my Son,” whispered the King.

Many times the Prince of Light was offered the goblet. Many times it came in the hands of those who’d abandoned the King. “Just a taste, my friend?” With anguish Jesus would look into the eyes of the those who tried to tempt him. What is this poison that would make a prisoner try to kill the one who came to release him?

The goblet still bore the seductive flavour of promised power and pleasure. But to the Son of Light is odour was vile. The very sight of the goblet so angered the Prince that he knocked it out of the hand of the tempter, leaving the two alone, locked in an intense glare.

“I will taste the poison,” swore the King’s Son. “For this I have come. But the hour will be mine to choose.”

Finally that hour came. The Son went for one last visit with his Father. He met him in another garden. A garden of gnarled trees and stony soil.

“Does it have to be this way?”

“It does.”

“Is there no one else who can do it?”

The King swallowed. “None but you.”

“Do I have to drink from the cup?”

“Yes, my Child. The same cup.”

He looked at the Prince of Light. “The darkness will be great.” He passed his hand over the spotless face of his Son. “The pain will be awful.” Then he paused and looked at his darkened dominion. When he looked up, his eyes were moist. “But there is no other way.”

The Son looked into the stars as he heard the answer. “Then, let it be done.”

Slowly the words that would kill the Son began to come from the lips of the Father.

“Hour of death, moment of sacrifice, it is your moment. Rehearsed a million times an false altars with false lambs, the moment of truth has come.

“Soldiers, you think you lead him? Ropes, you think you bind him? Men, you think you sentence him? He heeds not your commands. He winces not at your lashes. It is my voice he obeys. It is my condemnation he dreads. And it is your souls he saves.

“Oh my Son, my Child. Look up into the heavens and see my face before I turn it. Hear my voice before I silence it. Would that I could save you and them. But they don’t see and they don’t hear.

“The living must die so that the dying can live. The time has come to kill the Lamb.

“Here is the cup, my Son. The cup of sorrows. The cup of sin.

“Slam, mallet! Be true to your task. Let your ring be heard throughout the heavens.

“Lift him, soldiers. Lift him high to his throne of mercy. Lift him up to his perch of death. Lift him above the people that curse his name.

“Now plunge the tree into the earth. Plunge it deep into the heart of humanity. Deep into the strata of time past. Deep into the seeds of time future.

“Is there no angel to save my Isaac? Is there no hand to redeem the Redeemer?

“Here is the cup, my Son. Drink it alone.”

God must have wept as he performed his task. Every lie, every lure, every act done in the shadows was in that cup. Slowly, hideously they were absorbed into the body of the Son. The final act of incarnation.

The Spotless Lamb was blemished. Flames began to lick his feet.

The King obeys his own edict. “Where there is poison, there will be death. Where there are goblets, there will be fire.”

The King turns away from his Prince. The undiluted wrath of a sin-hating Father falls upon his sin-filled Son. The fire envelops him. The shadow hides him. The Son looks for his Father, but his Father cannot be seen.

“My God, my God… why?”

The throne room is dark and cavernous. The eyes of the King was closed. He is resting.

In his dream he is again in the Garden. The cool of the evening floats across the river as the three walk. They speak of the Garden – of how it is, of how it will be.

“Father… ,” the son begins. The King replays the word again. Father. Father. The word was a flower, petal-delicate, yet so easily crushed. Oh, how he longed for his children to call him Father again.

A noise snaps him from his dream. He opens his eyes and sees a transcendent figure gleaming in the doorway. “It is finished, Father. I have come home.”

Had a super eventful New Year's eve. Went to church in the mrng, then to lunch with the girls.


Shirley and


Pris and Jia

After lunch we went shopping ard Suntec, MS and citylink. Even went to Redhill as Jialin wanted to go to the TYR sales at its factory.

After tt, went back to Orchard where I met Cheng and the rest for dinner. Shall post the photos another time.

After having a wonderful dinner at Bakerzin, I went to Jialin's apt in Geylang to countdown with them. Was supposed to go to church for Watch Night Service, but they said it'll be very boring, so went to Jia's hse instead. Hehs. We played cards while watching the countdown. The boys were super funny la. Really bth their stupid jokes and antics. Hahs.




Jia and I


Samuel's very artistic and abstract photo of Amos that you surely cannot see that it's Amos.


The boys

I had a very enjoyable though tiring day. Was able to spend time with ppl I don't usually hang out with, espcially Cheng and the rest. Not all of us were there, but it was a fun and good dinner. Had fun poking at each other and stuffs. We haven't had a good talk together since the last time we went to Balcony. Hope we hv another chance again..

It's the end of the yr again. Told myself I'd do this, so here it is.

This yr passed by in a blur. Soo many things happened that I don't even rmb some of them. Hehs.

Anyway, just realised I said at the beginning of the yr that last passed very quickly too. Maybe every year passes very quickly.

I made the following resolutions the beginning of this yr:

First of all, is to stay strong in my faith.
Secondly, to grab opportunities when they arise.
Thirdly, to give without expecting.
Last of all, to learn to trust.

But I don't think I fulfilled any of them, except maybe for the first one. Oh, maybe the 2nd one too. hehs. I mean, I did grab the oppportunity to go overseas for attachment right?

As I said, many many things happened this past yr, things that I did not rmb until I went through my previous entries. Went through 2 n a half semesters this yr, and I must say that they were v eventful and lessons-rich.

From Sem 2.2 to 3.2, made new friends, lost friends, got super close to some, drifted away from some, saw some in new light, some are still seen in the same light. But I must say that every semester was filled with fun, laughter, a lot of hard work and frustration, and a great deal of satisfaction at the end of each sem. Even got to bid for a proj with a construction company outside of curriculum. Spent a lot of time fretting, worrying, and working on that. All for an empty hope.

Actually I have a lot to say, especially abt sem 3.1's projs. I think it goes for everyone of us in the class, at least most of them. But seriously, this event has put me off event planning, at least for the time being. A loong time. Used to want to be an event planner, having second thoughts even now.

Reading through my previous entries also reminded me of sth I wasted plenty of my time and emotions on. Bothered me for quite some time.

Went for my first church camp in June. Was an enriching time.

Then in Sept, I went to Shanghai for attachment. No need to say, that was the biggest happening this yr. Experienced a lot, met a lot of new friends and ppl.

When I came back I felt really alone for the first time in my life. Nobody to call, nobody to whine to, nobody to call for help, nobody to call for consolation. All in all, nobody.

Then I went back to school for the last semester of Poly. Can't believe 2.5 yrs have passed just like that. Having my exams in Feb, meaning I can start working in Mar. I am seriously very frightened of growing up.

This yr did not end with a bang. Christmas was alright. I've been rotting at home most of the time. Watching DVDs.

Don't feel like making resolutions this yr. Can't think of any anyways.

I feel miserable. Again. My nose is running/leaking non-stop; I think I've used up abt 4-5 pkts of tissue which equals up to at least 40 tissues on my stupid nose. Can you imagine?? Absolutely hate it when my nose acts up. Hope I won't get sick, or rather, sicker.

Anyways, my two weeks holidays is coming to an end. Christmas has also passed. Ironically, my Christmases have always been passed without celebration. I'm talking the day itself. Except for last year. Last year was the best. Not only the day itself, but the entire season. But this year, I only had plans for Christmas eve and not Christmas itself. I was at my cousin's place till early in the mrng of Christmas, abt 5am. But that gathering with my cousins was good! Though I was very tired that day cos I had to wake at like 6plus, and not everybody was there, and I was a 'lil pissed abt my cousin. We went to pepper lunch for dinner (I know, weird. Totally no festive mood.) and Haagen Daaz for dessert. And we had choc fondue!!! It soooo good! (To Jiahong and Corrin: I'm still waiting!)

I love meeting my cousins for gatherings. We always have so much fun together.




Dunno what my sis is taking


THE Chocolate Fondue - ice cream balls, cookies, strawberries, bananas, green apples.. Yum Yum!

Have not really met up with friends this year for Christmas unlike previous years. Not v sure why. Stms growing up scares me. It's not only abt the increased responsibilities, but also the drifting apart.

I think I blogged abt my worries on what I'll be doing after graduation. I'm going to leave it in the good (hopefully!) hands of employment agencies and the more than omnipotent hands of God.

Went to Vivocity with my mum and sis on Tuesday and we explored it thoroughly. From Tang's to the boutiques, to Giant. But after the entire day, we went home with a small bag my mum bought, sausages from marketplace and very full stomachs. Haha. Not that the clothes/stuffs at Vivo aren't beautiful, but they were either out of my very limited budget, wrong for the season in Singapore or didn't catch my eye. But, I managed to spend all my available cash at Bakersin. My sis and I wanted to treat my mum, but I had limited money and my sis who came up with the idea had no money. In the end my mum paid for a small part of the bill. Hehe. But before that we had lunch at Carl's Junior which was very very good. Shld hv let my mum treat us to Bakersin instead of Carl's.

Candy and Flo came to my hse to bake yesterday. The main reason was for Cheng's birthday cos we didn't manage to celebrate it with her in time and style. We baked her a cake.. And it looked fine, until the both of them decided to use the pink icing to decorate the cake... It turned out to be a disaster. Cheng asked if we took photos of the cake.. and I just told her str away that they were too ugly. Haha.

Anyways, after that, we started baking cookies. The both of them wanted to bake cookies to give us, their friends for Christmas. But the thing is, they were baking cookies in my kitchen, which are supposed to be for me. Haha.
The first batch of cookies were.. let's just say that the girls were toooo ambitious. They molded the dough into shapes of teddy bears, snowmen, christmas trees and snowflakes. THe dough looked nice. But the end product......... was bad. The second batch was much much better.

Hmm, not much to blog on.

This is my 2nd week of school only, and I'm already feeling tired. How to tahan the rest of the term? But at least I've adjusted myself back from the holiday mood I was in during the first week.

Anyway, I really hv no idea whether to work part-time or not. My school hours are pretty short, just that I may need to do proj often. Anyway, the part-time job thing is minor, when compared to what I'm going to do when I graduate. I seriously do not know what I want to work as 3mths later. I mean, I know I'll definitely be working, but as what? Corp comm? Admin? Events? Tourism? What???? Am feeling quite lost now. In the past I nv seriously pondered over what I will work as in the future. I just took each day as it is. But now, the future seems to be too near.

Anyhow, this year's Christmas came in a blink of an eye. I still remember last year's Christmas vividly. It was the best Christmas I ever had. This year's sort of a blur and rush. Cos I just started school, so half of me is occupied with trying to adjust from coming back after being overseas for so long and starting school.

-- If I could relive those times..

These few days have been very eventful, particularly Saturday and Sunday. Too long a story to say here, but let's say that it was a unforgettable experience.

Anyway, sprained my ankle on Sunday. Have not been to the doctor, crazy and stupid I know. But my parents are not in Singapore and my sis only got home last night from Ireland. And my kookoo sister is suffering from jet lag; she only went to slp late this mrng and woke up at 5 in in the evng. So there hasn't been anyone to accompany me to the doc's. Sad hor..

No matter what, I'm glad to be home. Though I'm not feeling v good.. But oh wells.

First things first, I hv not been able to enter my blogspot website bcos this wonderful country that I'm in has blocked the website.. So I can't read or see what I've written or even the tagboard, so forgive me if I do not reply you.. And, I can't read what you have written in your blogs, so I do not hv any idea what's going on in your lives right now..

BUT.. I only hv 8 more days to go! 8 more days to warm weather; 8 more days to shorts and slippers; 8 more days to delicious hawker fare; 8 more days to my bed; 8 more days to a clean street and air (you shld see their streets when it rains); 8 more days to family; 8 more days to Singapore; 8 more days to you!

Saw your nick yday and just now.. I wish you had a blog so that I can at least know what's happening...

Personality Test

Your view on yourself:
Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love:
You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.

Your views on education:
Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:
You are concerned about your image and the way others see you. This means that you try very hard to be accepted by other people. It's time for you to believe in who you are, not what you wear.

Who is your true self:
You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

My sister called me last night and told me about stuffs.. And I suddenly realised after the phone call that I am so blessed.. I can't believe I even dared to complain to God about my situation here.

Actually, before I came, I already knew that my friend and I were getting a better deal than many of the other students who were coming to Shanghai/China. We have the highest pay, accomodation, lunch provided... And because there's only two of us, getting along is so much easier than those who came in bigger groups. But the realisation of the blessing was only a little.

It was only until yesterday night that I "woke up". My problems with my friend is so minor compared to hers cos I know how hers can be.. And even before they came I was sort of wondering if there might be conflict between them cos let's just say that I know the both of them. And, I am getting along well here with my friend.. Our working style and living habits may be different, but it has nv caused any conflict between us. And most importantly, we have fun together..

I feel homesick, and can't wait to go home.. But at the same time, a small part of me will miss this place when we go back to Singapore.