A Christmas random post...

Returned from Sarawak last week and fell sick for 3 days! Had a low-grade fever that didn't really subside so I got abit worried and thought it was dengue. But thank God I am fine now, Doc said that it was probably because I fell ill right before my trip and did not have an opportunity to recover well, so my viral infection was not completely healed. But I'm fine now :)

Thank God for a successful preformance at Orchard on sunday! although there were a few hiccups, but I would say it's a good show overall, considering the short notice we had! The next 2 shows will be on Christmas Eve (tonight!) and Christmas day...am hoping and believing it will be even better since we are doing it at home ground and with the full backdrop and props. Praying for a successful and fruitful event these 2 nights!

I'm glad it's Christmas again, and this Christmas holds a very special meaning for us :)

On a lighter note...

8 more days to our long awaited trip! We're so so looking forward to it :) Please pray with us for a safe and enjoyable trip! My prayer requests:

1. Safe journey in air and on the roads
2. Safety at the hotel we are staying in
3. Safety when we are touring the city
4. Good weather
5. Protection from any possible food or liquid contamination
6. Protection from any air-borne or contagious diseases
7. Good fun and time of relaxation!

Haha...think the recent incident is really getting into me...but still best to not take anything for granted!

On the recent tragedy....

First Singaporean to fall victim to acts of terrorism...it's tragic. Life is so unpredictable isn't it? Been browsing through come articles regarding this matter and the comments that other readers left...indeed our world is not what it used to be.

Yesterday I was just seeing a documentary about US security, how they build all those secret hiding places for the US government officials in the event of nuclear attacks. The documentary featured a former "hiding place" that was elaborately designed in terms of safety. Now they abandoned that place because it's location was leaked out. It's really awesome how such elaborate care is given to ensure the safety of the top people in the US.

But what struck me more deeply was something the narrator said...he narrated that in the past, in the early days of USA, the president could walk on the streets by himself, unaccompanied by bodyguards. Now, even with heavy security and bodyguards, the safety of the top US officials may not be guaranteed. It has become such an unsafe place.

I think the scary thing about terrorists is that you never know what they are planning to do, who they are targetting at and when they will strike. It's also scary to know that they are not a group of backward, uneducated barbarians, but have proven to be great strategists with high intelligence, some of which are even highly educated. And the most scary thing is that they do not seem to fear death...they are so passionate about what they do and are willing to give up their lives for their cause.

Perhaps it will take an equally passionate opposition force with the same "fight you till death" mentality to counter them, which up to today I'm not sure if anyone can match them in this aspect. Very scary...

Well, I guess the message is not to take safety for granted...even in the seemingly safe Singapore. I think undoubtedly God's hand of protection is over Singapore, to enjoy the safety we have now. May His blood covering continue to be upon Singapore and keep us safe in His hands!

Exams are OVER!!!

Yes!! The exams are finally over! There's really a difference in this exams than my previous experiences...firstly, I'm not as stressed as when I was schooling cos I wasn't meeting the expectations of others, this time, this course of studies is one I embarked on my own will. No one to be accountable to for results, except God and myself. Probably also because I older now that I value the process more than the results...unlike schooldays which failure or poor grades means doom, this time round, the results are not nearly as important as what I've gained from going through the course. Of course I still hope for good grades!!

Not sure when the results will be out...but right now, I can relax for awhile as it's the term break! Yay!! No more night classes!!

Now gearing up and saving up for the next semester, which I think will be fun cos I'll be in the same class as Hubby for one of the modules...haha...

now it's time to get busy for church musical! busy busy days ahead are expected...but I think it's gonna be fun. Looking forward to our mini 2nd honeymoon to Sarawak! So so looking forward to the break! Excited too cos it'll be the first time Hubby and I are travelling by PLANE on our own...haha...mission trip not counted lah cos got one big group of friends who we went with...and all our other trips are by boat or bus...

Counting down...21 more days to go...yippee!!

Series of "politics" recently...

Somehow, recently I started to encounter episodes of "office politics" one after another... sometimes it makes me wonder why are we all here for? Maybe I'm realising it a little late... but I'm learning that even in a helping profession, people still work for recognition. True, no doubt they are concerned about the beneficiaries, but sometimes certain actions speaks of a greater motivation than merely helping....to perform!

I'm wondering is it because I'm now stepped down as HOD, and no longer in a managerial position....I didn't use to get all these from them, but my team did...now I've descended to the level of non-manager, I'm starting to get it...

It's been an experience...I was really upset for awhile today...but it later turned into puzzlement...i'm puzzled about why some people act the way they do...don't they realise that others around them don't like the way they are acting? Bossy, pushy...either they don't realise it or they just don't care....

Simply put, I think either their EQ is really low, or they don't really care about building a constructive relationship in the office context...or they are playing politics lor...cos when I was still a manager...and my "ranking" is higher, I didn't get all these lor....

Sigh...silly office games....now we just look at it this way: just get over it and laugh!

Part-timer...

I'm now officially a part-timer...part-time social worker, part-time student, part-time piano teacher, part-time housewife.

Have been looking forward to this day and it has finally arrived!! Started my part-time arrangement since beginning of October and absolutely loving it so far!! 1 Oct was a public holiday, so I started my part-time arrangement on 2 Oct. It was also my first lesson with my new piano student. God has really been good, about 2 weeks before I started as a part-timer, He already prepared for me 2 students. It's a challenge as this is my first time teaching piano and I really don't know what to expect! But trusting Him for the wisdom to tailor my lessons to suit my 2 very different students.

On friday, the second day of my part-time, I celebrated by cooking dinner! My first attempt at making Shepherd's Pie, which turned out quite well! So glad that after a long time, my kitchen smells like a kitchen again...I really enjoy cooking, so I'm looking forward to do that more often!

Studies on the other hand is starting to get stressful...assignments and the semestral exams are in about a month's time. And I have a paper due next week! I just realised that a couple of days ago...somehow I kept thinking it was due the week after next :s But on the whole, lessons have been enjoyable and I'm still managing well so far :)

Hope for more piano assignments to come my way soon...now that my salary is also proportionately reduced according to my work hours!

Eventful Day

10th September is an eventful day. Bonk has his Passing Out Parade which marked the end of his days at P. Tekong...his BMT was finally over! Then in the evening, Mom departed for her mission trip and the whole family sent her and the group off. Reminded me of the days I went for mine earlier on this year :)

Being at the airport made me feel like going on a holiday again! But that would have to wait...with studies and the Christmas musical now taking the bulk of my time...I wonder when I can take the time to plan a holiday...not forgetting the $$$...now that I'm going part-time, and need to save for the next sem's school fees...don't know if we can afford a trip...unless God blesses :)

Time really flies...I'm in my third week of school and the assignments have started to roll in...next week itself I'll be having 2 presentations! Considering if I still wanna be so gungho and take 3 modules next sem...but maybe it wouldn't be so bad next sem since I'll be working part-time.

I've also started to post ads for recruiting piano students. Decided that this is what I want to try to do...after a short chat with my boss, I was once again re-aligned with my intention of converting to part-time from the beginning, that I wanted to try to do something in relation to my course. Guess I have been so busy lately that I lost focus on my bearings. Thank God for the timely comment by my boss!

Nonetheless, although I do feel tired physically, but I am happy with the way things are now and I thank God for this opportunity to pursue an education in my interest :)

Tiredness...

starting to feel the toll of taking 3 night lessons a week...been feeling tired since I can't remember when! Been in a zombie like state for the past 3 weeks....everything seems to be moving so quickly! But I guess it's all worth it cos I'm learning so much in the area of Creative Arts...lessons have been interesting and the classmates are a crazy and fun bunch of folks to be with!

Just had our little performance during the APTA GA yesterday evening, and received good reviews! Did our little sketch to the script "Ten Little Christians" and a Diamond Ensemble. Didn't manage to get hold of the pics and video yet. Hope they give us a copy!

I've had a mini breakthrough in terms of driving...last saturday, for the first time after so long, I finally managed to muster the courage to drive by myself...along a familiar route to church. Hopefully soon I can manage driving on my own to TCA for my lessons...but not sure if I can cope with driving when I feel sleepy most of the time after my lessons....

God give me strength!! 10 more weeks to go!

I have a MacBook :)

I own a MacBook!

Went to the COMEX fair on saturday as I was contemplating buying a notebook for my studies...I as considering a MacBook as I've never owned one or tried one before....but have heard good reviews about it such as "once you own a Mac, you'll always want a Mac".

So decided to check out the prices...and found out that it actually isn't that much more expensive than a Windows laptop with comparable specs. More incentive to buy a MacBook :) Hubby then advised that we hold on till the last hour of the fair where there will be crazy offers and discounts..

So we did...so we went on sunday evening again, and got a free upgrade to 4Gb ram where it would have cost us $88 on saturday. Hubby's friend also bought a MacBook and we shared the used of the Microsoft Office software for Mac....that saved us another $100.

That's how I purchased my first ever laptop, and it's a Mac, and it came with free crystal case, slip cover, keyboard cover and screen protector film....I'm MacHappy!

I'm going back to school today...

This evening will be my very first lesson of my life back in school. But it hasn't exactly been a great day...woke up with a terrible headache, which continued throughout the day...am praying that it will go away soon and I will be ok by tonight!

Started on my exercise regime....

Finally motivated myself to start exercising again. Woke up yesterday early in the morning to brisk walk at the track near my home. Everything went well up till the time when I was doing my cool down...suddenly felt really sick and nauseous in my stomach, and felt like I was going to faint anytime....thankfully I was doing my cool downs right at my door step, so I could rush back in. Didn't puke but had that puking spasm in my stomach...after that I just started to break out in cold sweat...thankfully after resting for about 5 mins and keeping my head low, I was fine.

Guess it's because I didn't exercise for too long...decided not to push myself too hard, and since I slept really late last night, didn't go for my morning walk today. But I eventually got a chance to walk cos I went on a home-visit this morning, and instead of taking the feeder bus, I walked to my client's home...a good 20 mins walk! Comes with a price tho...today after breakfast I felt the puking sensation again but was ok after that. Now after lunch, the feeling is back again...and fainting spells too...tink my body needs to get used to exercise again soon!! And I'll have to start to go to bed earlier too...so I can wake up early to walk.

Really hope I can persevere in my attempt at fitness this time around!

Getting ready for school

Did some final stationery shopping for my course this afternoon during my lunch break...and reminiscing the time when I was a student in Uni...really looking forward to the course commencement!

This sat morning will be the orientation for new students which I'll be attending together with Hubby. So exciting that we'll be going to study in the same college! Although he's signed up for the block modules (which means that instead of attending lessons weekly, he attends 3 full day of lessons) and I've signed up for the weekly modules, in future we'll be able to attend certain core modules together...like Hermeneutics :)

Things still yet to be accomplished: becoming to be a more confident driver! Right now, I've been very slack in practicing my driving...i'm simply not motivated lah...as I always tell Hubby, I rather be a good passenger than a lousy driver...for now, driving is NOT something I enjoy doing, being chauffered is...haha...So for now, I'm STILL being chauffered around quite abit...but economically, it makes better sense for me to drive myself, then we don't need to pay for season parking at Hub's workplace ($150 per month hor!) and I don't have to trouble him to ferry me all the time. My only concern is that if I'm tired after a day's work plus lessons, would I have the concentration and alertness to drive at night on my own...sigh...such is my dilemma...but still, I would want to be able to drive myself around very soon...

Have been disappointed about certain things this week, but am glad that my lessons are starting soon and that'll distract me abit.

On a side note, we went to watch the Dark Knight yesterday...had 2 free movie passes :) Didn't enjoy it very much as I felt that certain scenes were too graphic and violent for me (I happen to have a very low tolerance level for graphic and violent scenes). Although I must say that the plot was quite well written...I like underlying theme of the movie: that nothing is what it seems, people who look good may not be so, and people who are labelled villians may turn out to be the true hero...and being a hero doesn't always mean you are appreciated. Overall, I would say this is a good movie...I enjoyed the story, but didn't enjoy watching it.

We have 2 more movie passes for any movies screened at Shaw cinemas :) Hubby and I are still debating on whether to watch Money No Enough 2...

Driving...

I'm gaining more confidence in driving now....after not driving for 5 years, I'm slowly but surely regaining my confidence behind the wheels. Since we got the car in early July, I must say I have moved from being petrified to "very alert and careful". Still feel my tension rising as the speed of the car picks up tho...

Once again, I really thank God for the car that have provided us so much more convenience. It's a car we prayed for, nothing too lavish, but it serves our needs. We call it our "baby" now cos of it's size. Tho its a 4-door sedan, often in the carparks, it will be well hidden behind the surrounding larger cars...haha...But this cute little thing is an evidence of prayers answered by God, right down to the details:

We prayed for affordability - the car cost us only $6700, which we were able to pay in full, means no loans or interest! Also because it's 1-litre, road tax is cheaper.

We prayed for reliability - well, except that the pick up is slow, and the car doesn't have much horsepower (it'll probably never hit 100kph cos it's only a 1-litre car with a Sedan body...you get the drift), it's in pretty good condition, and comes with a good Sony sound system too!

We prayed for a car that we and our parents will like - My in-laws are glad for us, and we can now explore more places outside Yishun for our dinner, and my parents are super happy that now we can fetch them to church

I prayed for something that I'll dare to drive - it being a 17 year old car, I have less worries driving it because not so heart-pain even if I boo-boo with my driving. On the roads, newer and more expensive cars tend to give way too....not worth getting too close to us..haha!

Hubby prayed for a car before his reservist so he can drive to ulu Kranji...and we got the car the week before he went on his reservist!

Only one thing left to be prayed for...this car has a rather high fuel consumption (9km/ltr) so we're praying for God to either stretch our fuel usage or give us the means to afford the petrol costs!

Now, I'm praying for courage to be able to drive on my own soon without Hubby in the car with me...cos I'll want to be able to drive to college when lessons start end of this month!

Meeting my classmates for the first time....

The students of the creative arts course have been asked to put up a performance during the Asia Pacific Theological Association's General Assembly. Since I was a new student that will be going on-board the course, my course manage have invited me to join in.

Went for practice on tuesday evening and it was such an interesting experience! We were supposed to do some sort like a mime as someone else read out the simple script which is basically just a poem. We were taught what is a "tableau", which is actually a "live picture" where actors on stage will freeze in action to depict a scene.

Anyway, had fun rehearsing and accomplished quite abit during our first rehearsal! A few more practices and then the performance will be happening on 8th September.

What an appetizer to what I will be going to study! already looking forward to it :)

New look

A new look for a new chapter in my life as I move on to study...

Back to school!

I'm going back to school! Will be starting my lessons end August at TCA College, taking a part-time Dip in Higher Ed in Creative Arts. That will be the start of my 3 year part-time course, devoting 3 of my weeknights to studies.

I'll also be converting to part-time at my current workplace, and probably take the rest of the time to do something Creative Arts related. It's gonna be busy busy the days ahead! Still can't really believe I actually committed to studying this course...it's amazing how God calls and opens the way for me.

Tho I don't really know how exactly the days ahead will be like, I'll just have to step out in faith. One thing I'm sure of tho...that I'm looking forward to be a partner in ministry with hubby, and looking forward to see how God unravels the plan that He has designed for our family.

Counting down to the days.....

New Car!

We finally bought a new car :) A humble little 1 litre red Suzuki Swift at an unbelivable price of $6,700 (not including transfer fees, road tax, insurance of course!).

Thank God again for blessing us with this gift! It is really in quite a good condition for a 17 year old car and we having been enjoying our car since we collected it earlier this week. It's really a good feeling to be fetch to work and from work by Hubby. A car really made our travelling around so much easier! And it's something affordable as we have already paid full cash for it...all that's left will be our monthly carpark and petrol expenses.

We have been so happy about the car, especially Hubby....our first car!! And the best part is that the car was registered on my birthday...haha!

Praise the Lord!

Managing better now....looking forward to a break again

Last week has been a very stressful week...not really due to increased workload, but just a crisis I'm facing about my career. I have a very strong desire to resign and lobo for awhile, yet can't find the motivation to quit. Strange isn't it? A part of me is yearning for change, while the other is resisting to change.

When I had my headache last week, I guessed it might have been due to stress...when I went to see the doc, she told me that my unexplained rashes could have been signs of stress too. There and then, I was determined to send in my resignation. But when I was back at work, things changed again and I am soldiering on now...

I realised that I have begun to have an expectation of Hubby to support me, and that marriage gives me an entitlement to resign at my wish...perhaps it's also the first time I realised that I'm no longer working for myself but for my family. I believe this is what has been holding me back from making a rash decision. I also silently asked myself several times if I'm willing to forgo the financial comfort we have now by giving up my pay...to my surprise, I'm not. All along, I thought I would do anything to stop working.

Perhaps it's this dichotomy within me that has been causing me all these emotional ups and downs....ok, mainly downs. Have thought of switching a job, did a job search, but ended up realising that I don't fit anywhere else. I'm not willing to subject myself to the same stress at a new place, but yet no one would hire me to do what I want...simple admin/no brainer job/maybe cashier etc. And again, I'm not ready to part with my pay after all...Isn't there any job in this world that the stress level is inversely proportionate to the pay?

So nothing's changed so far...except that I've given my dear hubby alot of stressful times and threats about resigning. Yes, we can get by with just his pay, but no more enjoyment lor...maybe it's time to look for other motivating factors to keep me going.

In the meantime, looking forward to yet another break...church camp! It's the first time I'm going since I joined GA. Not sure what to expect...but just welcoming the break :)

Rash attack!

Yes, I'm rashy again! It's the second time I'm having these mysterious rashes on my hands, and this time mouth instead of feet. It's not HFMD cos it doesn't look like it, but it's awful nonetheless :( Went to the doc to get MC for my bad headache yesterday and asked her about the rashes, which she attributed to stress.

Got some prescription from the doc and have been eating it since yesterday, but seems like no effect yet. Will probably monitor today and tomorrow to see how it progresses. Today is a busy day at work since I was on MC yesterday. Got a proposal to rush and finish by 5pm!

So gtg now...ciao!

one year...

one year seems to zoom by so quickly! Hubby and I just celebrated our first year wedding anni over last weekend in KL. Didn't have the time and resources to plan something elaborate, but the short weekend getaway was nice :)

We survived our first year of marriage!! It has been really sweet, and doesn't feel like we've been sharing our lives together for 1 year at all! Sometimes we're still exclaiming to each other:"I can't believe it....we're married!"

It hasn't been as tough as I thought it would be...adjusting to each other was a breeze most of the time. Hubby has been really helpful with the housework...sometimes I think he does more than me...haha...

As for me, the only negative thing that happened to me after marriage was that I fell sick more often than before....not too sure what's the reason too. Maybe the world's climate and weather is getting worse...or maybe I'm more stressed at work lately...maybe it's because I don't get so much home cooked meals since we eat out most of the time.

Into our second year, and we're now looking forward to new additions to our family....yup, we're planning for children :) Now praying and hoping that it happens sometime soon!

I think the second year will be even more exciting for us.

Thank God for His grace, blessings and unfailing love for us! Thanks hubby for his sacrifices and love for me too :)

Ear Infection

My right ear started to ache since saturday to the extend that it was blocked. The kind of feeling you get when you go swimming and water gets into your ears but can't get out...

Kind of got worse on Sunday so I decided to go to the doctor on monday to have it checked since most clinics were closed on sundays.Monday morning it got worse again, this time my gums and right side of the throat started to ache as well! So off I went to the doctor...

When I was there, he used this apparatus to look into my ear and it really hurt! because my ear was already swollen and painful on the inside. Then he told me it looked like a broken ear drum! I was shocked when I heard that...but he couldn't really tell as there were quite abit of dirt inside my ear. So he gave me some ear drops and antibiotics and I am to visit him again in 2 weeks again to ascertain what's wrong.

These past 2 days have been so uncomfortable for me...I couldn't really hear properly although the pain has subsided. It now comes on and off and my gums and throat doesn't hurt that much anymore. But it's really weird to hear myself more loudly than I hear others whenever I'm conversing! And I can't really judge how loud I am speaking because I hear myself more loudly than usual...

I have half my mind to go take an xray to find out if it's a broken ear drum or infection! But guess the wise thing to do now is to wait...and pray! I am now standing on and claiming His promise that by His stripes I am healed! So I haven't been worried per se, just feeling very irritable. sometimes my ears itch by I don't really dare to touch it!

Hope that the weird and uncomfortable feeling goes away soon and I can hear normally once again!

hello again!

It's been such a long time since I last blogged! think the interest to blog has already died down now that there's facebook...haha...facebook is evil!

Well, it's been an emotional up and down for me the past few days. Was really disappointed at an event that didn't happen, but yet glad that it didn't anyway in view of another major event that's coming up.

Looking forward to my long break in April where I'll be going for a mission trip! Just attended a meeting on the trip yesterday and found out that it isn't going to be the free and easy kind. Rather, it's going to be quite tiring! But looking forward to it anyway.

To prepare ourselves, Hun and I are now going on a fast from all meat (except fish, cos we not confident enough to totally abstain from meat all together). It's been a week since we fasted, not too bad...still coping :) Maybe nearer the date, we'll need to set aside special prayer time for the trip to prepare ourselves!

Work wise, I'm coping better now...thank God! Not as stressed as previously when I felt like quitting everyday, still stressed though...but manageable. But I do feel tha if I could, to take a long break from working...but I still need the income!! Newly married couple still owing debts and instalment, cannot afford to shake leg and be tai tai yet.

I'm reminded of what my mother used to tell me about going into a marriage debt free. Now I know the importance of it! But sadly, in our society now, how is it possible to go debt free and without instalment when cost of living is so high now? Unless you are really rich, I don't see how one can pay for everything upfront when starting a family. Unless you work and work and save and save and get married at the age of 50. So to go into a marriage debt free is only possible for rich men's kids, rich young people, people who strike lottery, or found an abandoned bag filled with $1m cash....or more mature adults who are still single after they hit 40.

Well, but in any case, I'm glad I got married earlier and even if it means working a few more years before I fulfill my ultimate goal of becoming a full time tai tai, it's worth it! Marriage has been great so far :) of cos we had our fair share of squabbles...but they remain mainly squabbles and not quarrels. Hun has been very sweet and accomodating, I would say I find him even more tolerant than before we were married! And I guess I've become less emotional too...haha...So all in all, it has been a great 10 months! Time flies...and in under 60 days, we'll be celebrating our first year anniversary already :)

But for now, it's preps for the mission...and more after that...