blessed new year to one and all! i'm not trevor, but it's the same message nonetheless.. alritey, may it be a better year for everyone!

my lovely birthday present - thanks dear! it probably cost u lotsa sweat n sleep.. love it!

love actually

Sometimes when a person just wants to wind down completely at home but ends up having a pile of things to deal with, it does help a little to watch a movie like this to be thankful for the family around.

Wanna curl up alone and watch it somewhere. Hopefully there's a sappy part for all easily teary-eyed girls. Heh..

A year ago I was in Houston, things have changed and I just came back from Bintan. How different...

Hmm it's quite nice having the whole house to myself for once. Everyone's out for dinner, grandpa's out for a day tour in Malacca and only coming back later. Hee, it's quite nice to just not have so many 'bodies' around in sucha small space.

Can't imagine I've just wasted like an hour on facebook and friendster. Even wonder what's the point of these webpages. Do stupid things and snoop on everyone's photos. Sounds a bit superficial cuz everyone just makes some judgement on ppl based on photos posted.

Random moment of the wkend - seeing a total of 2 dead cats on the road yesterday and today. Absolutely disgusted. Thank goodness I didn't drive them over. Was on the other lane on the expressway on my way home after sending Rach back. Yucks.. And we think of cats having 9 lives. Guess not when they're silly enough to attempt dashing across the expressway.

Alright, time for a little walk to my neighbourhood centre. Getting a little bored at home (see women are fickle.. hahha. kidding)

Lunched in today.. Quite nice for a change although it's super quiet here. It's also quite weird how all the colleagues in my cube lunched in today. Worst thing is that we all kept quiet. Everyone reading their own emails n stuff. And here I am typing furiously at this blog post. Haha.. I even wonder if I'll get sacked for blogging. Oh well, then again I'm not posting any thing w suspicious blog content. I'm a politically friendly person.

Darn, I've got things to do but I'm just quite bored at work cuz I still haven't found chummy friends like Aunty Goh back in EY. Ok nvm, I'll jio jio the newbies for tea sometime. Good that we had lunch tog yesterday and will be having another one tmr. Hahaha I think the girls are also bored stiff too.

Looking fwd to facial later on!!!

It's very strange how some people's fate can change in the most unexpectedmanner. I was just reading some website on world news on money launderingand other fradulent activities. Cldn't imagine how the weekly contributorwas someone who had some background in being a money launderer. But well,the website is still genuine in that this person's background is undertight scrutiny. It was kinda like deja vu when I was reading his profile,cause it reminded me of the money "Catch me if you can". Funny rite, howhe's turning over a new leaf by providing the world insights into how thiswhole lot of fishy business goes along, and yet at the same time be in themidst of some pending trial of his own.

But it's quite interesting and refreshing to read and realise how all theseactivities that used to be very fictional to me is so real in our world.Things that I used to read on novel books are actually happening. And theauthorities around the world are doing their part in diligently trackingthese culprits around, in hope of restoring more transparency in ourmarkets.Interesting..

Learning new things about our world each day. Caveat:learning from reading things on authenticated sources. Heh

More often than not, it always takes some drastic event before we all appreciate the little things in life.

It's been a week since a church member was being called home to the Lord. And his family came for service today, where his wife gave thanks for the support rendered during the funeral by all the church members. The kids were all back in church. And kids being kids, somehow the two younger ones were still smiling as usual. Except for the oldest boy, who looks the same little shy boy he is.

Well it's things that we see happen to people closer to us that shakes us and makes everyone realise how lucky we all are, to be able to enjoy the simple things of life. Having a meal with the family, being able to move around on our own, being able to smile etc. Thank God for the little things that are in essence the really important things that anyone will ever need.

My mom was sharing how this loss for the family turned out to be a lesson for her Sunday school class. I also had a discussion about this with my BS group yesterday. Yeah, it's such things that causes us to take count of the many blessing that we all have.

Riches and glory are but transient things we may or may not enjoy on earth. As I'm typing these, I'm also overhearing my grandpa's conversation with my uncle about how lucky he is to enjoy his travels. Other relatives around his age are starting to deteriorate, and see their physical bodies age. Those who were considered more lucky and blessed than him in the good old days because of their riches, are now stuck at home trying to cling onto whatever things that they have left. Those who are rich also face their giants - having big bungalows but yet see their family members trying to sell the home because no one lives there anymore except for the elderly and the maid. I even wonder how can any child conceive such a thought. Weren't they the ones who enjoyed the comforts of the house purchased with their parent's hard earned money?

Whatever it is, I'm just loving the ordinary life that I have right now. Nothing that I want to change. I'm lovin it!

And this song always rings in my head when I head off for work in the morning..

ANGEL IN DISGUISE

I woke up this morning feeling kind of blue
and I stumbled out of bed
and dragged my feet across the room
Right outside my front door was a rose
and a note that said 'Somebody Loves You'

But out on the street it starts to pour
and before I get soaking wet,
A total stranger runs to give me
the jacket off his back
I turn around to thank him
But he waves me with a smile
I can hardly believe my eyes
He puts on a halo and starts to fly

Take a look at the ordinary
Don't need to look at Paradise
You could be next to
an angel in disguise

I met a good friend for lunch
and we had a delicious meal
But I forgot to bring my wallet
I felt like an imbecile
But she was sweet, she gave me a treat and
Bought me a chicken sandwich
To take home for tea

But out on the street with nothing to eat
A man and his shopping cart go
Travelling to places,
Collecting social graces
I give him my sandwich
and we chatter for a while
I see a rainbow wash over his eyes
He gives me his halo and
I start to fly

Take a look at the ordinary
Don't need to look for Paradise
You could be next to an angel in disguise

Don't try to hide away from me
I know you're by my side

Take a look at the ordinary
Don't need to look for Paradise
You could be next to
an angel in disguise
Everyday can be legendary
Every minute, an endless surprise
You could be the next angel in disguise

I woke up this morning
Feeling kind of new.

With the rugby world cup season currently underway, it's terrible not to have cable TV. Argh, I've only caught one All Blacks match. Still remember sitting w the rest of the ruggers at National Statdium back during jc days watching the Rugby 7s. Feel like tossing the Gilbert ball now.. But in a terrible shape to even last for half of the 7minute sprinting..

What is meant by living an enriched and eventful life? Do we engage in many various activities and hobbies instead of being glued to the google box?

Sometimes there are days in which I wonder what am I spending my time on. Watching the telly all day seems brainless (a good 'exercise' after a long day's work) and entertaining, but it gets a little too much. Quite a waste of time.

Then again, ask me what I can suggest to do in Singapore and I can hardly come up with anything really special or exiciting. We're just too small and boring. All people do are so repetitive and aimless.

Hmm wonder if short road trips are possible over the weekends... Wanna get out and do something exciting!!

Gosh, I'm becoming a city rat and a bore..

Time flashes past when you're enjoying it. Just when I started to enjoy the one week of break from work, there it comes - back to work on Monday. Sob..

Can't we go for long breaks? Sigh, ok we're tasked by God to labour at the 'fields', so just accept it.

Hoping that work will be more interesting and there's more work life balance to come.

Alrite, must enjoy the break while it lasts! Handle all things with God's strength!

everyone is brain dead after a while. we do weird things and we talk to ourselves.
tempers flare altho no one expresses it out. the war goes on in their heads.

can't imagine i'm blogging at 1am in the office.

poor alex is clearing 2 years of shit..

suddenly i'm so lucky

can't imagine tt i'm bored until i'm doing some stupid ice cream test i got from a friend.. duh..

CHERRY GARCIA! You scored 70% SWEET, 66% CHUNKY, and 70% UNIQUE!

cherry sweet cream base with cherries and fudge chunks Awesome...you are one of my personal favs: Cherry Garcia. You fall in the middle on all measurements- sweet, wild, and unique, but not overwhelmingly so on any of those. You make a good friend, able to share your unique perspectives on things, and able to have fun without winding up in jail or something. Good job.

Untitled Hymn Chris Rice

Weak and wounded sinner

Lost and left to die

O, raise your head, for Love is passing by

Come to JesusCome to Jesus

Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden’s lifted

And carried far away

And precious blood has washed away the stain...so

Sing to Jesus

Sing to Jesus

Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby

Don’t be afraid to crawl

And remember when you walk, sometimes we fall...so

Fall on Jesus

Fall on Jesus

Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely

And steep and filled with pain

So if your sky is dark and pours the rain...then

Cry to Jesus

Cry to Jesus

Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over

And music fills the night

And when you can’t contain your joy inside...then

Dance for Jesus

Dance for Jesus

Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat

Kiss the world goodbye

Then go in peace, and laugh on glory’s side...and

Fly to Jesus

Fly to Jesus

Fly to Jesus and live!

Copyright 2002 Clumsy Fly Music (ASCAP)

blue sky and white houses.. sweet!

Ahhhh Xiannnnn's birthday!

:photo courtesy of Shirley:

Psalm 19:7-11, 14

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeing them there is great reward.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my redeemer

It's been months since I've last blogged.. Just kinda spend my free time on everything else except for looking at any computers/laptops. Yup, talk about occupational hazards and trauma..

Exactly a year ago, I returned from a month long vacation that was so full of adventure and excitement. A year later, I sit in front of my laptop just being thankful that I managed to get off work on time today.

How things change in a short span of a year. No wonder they say the only constant is change.

Guess change can be for the better or worse. No one knows until the point when we reach that moment when change occurs.

Who knows what will happen a year later when I look back at this blog..

But nonetheless, I thank God for how He is the neverchanging pillar of my life - keeping me sane in the kind of craziness rush that I face almost daily at work..

Romans 8:28.. lesson learnt: all things are planned by God for our good..

Guess there are days when you just wish you can hide in some cave and not do anything cuz you don't know what is there to do or see.

Went to town with my bros and mom after spending almost the entire afternoon with my brothers choosing their shoes. Very sian, dunno what I'm doing. So just walk and walk along with them. No idea what's the big deal with GSS cuz nothing catches my eye, except for some bag which I saw but still didn't buy. Then came all the way home just to meet some insurance agent and get dinner for everyone.

That's my boring wkend. Think I better look forward to church camp.

Very sian for now. Don't even know what went on over the wkends...

Sometimes people at work just irk you to bits. And you can't do anything but smile and be nice. Well when your client complains to you abt your colleague, just be nice and defend your colleague. Hmm, better to always be nice to your client if not life is miserable.

Smile and take everything in your stride. Swallow your pride and be humble. Lesson learnt.

Thankfully I'm outta the terrible cave at tanjong pagar.

Finally went to YZ for a little while today. Wasn't an intended appearance but it was kinda good, even though I felt a little too 'old' and out of place.

I guess youth groups possess some kinda vibrancy that is uncomparable to other ministries in the church. It's the energy of the youths that rubs off, albeit I must say youths these days are not as fun loving as last time. Everyone's a bit stonned compared to when I was there as a little kiddo looking at people like Amy, Joe, Zhiqiang and the other old foggies. Heh.. Maybe that's why I always prefer 830 service to 11 service. Felt energized by Rach's worship today. Thanks babe! =)

Was walking around Ikea area in the midst of YZ when there was some program cuz my groups are all leaders by now, so I just hang around to look-see. Anyway, was walking and thinking about how or what should I be doing about my service. Do I stop after my girls (or should I say growing ladies, tsk) join YAM after that. Am I able to juggle between work commitments and serving actively? Is the youth group still a place where I should serve? Am I too old and no longer in tune with the little kiddos who have joined? Dunno. I just walked on and thought about these things.

Realised that just over the past couple of months since I returned from Europe, I've become really lazy. Maybe it's just me using work as an excuse or something. I'm not sure. Maybe it's also because the usual group of church buddies have moved along and there's less support. Fewer large group lunches, fewer talk-cock sessions.

But for now, one thing's for sure is that I will continue with the girls until they're 18. Wow, I've actually been with them since they were 13 - that's 5ys! Hahah, still remember them fooling around with me and the guys laughing at me for being more like one of them instead of their DGL. Hey girls, you guys have grown a whole lot more mature in a short span of 5yrs. Amazing..

Almost fainted when I was in the midst of filling up the first portion of some bank job application form, cuz I saw the wireless connection signal go off on my laptop just as I clicked save. How right could the timing get. Grr.... Well, my mom didn't know that I was using the internet in my room and turned the router off. Goodness, it always happens.

Oh well, so I stayed up all night to submit the application for that ONE bank. Gosh, I hoped to do like 2 applications tonite. But guess it's too late and I'm too tired also.

Argh, why can't MAS call me.... The other statutory boards sound so boring. EDB and MTI maybe, but MOF sounds so rigid.. We'll see how. God show me the way..

Went to Rochester Park with Pete last night cuz he had access to the company's empty bungalow there. My oh my, it's so nice lah the place. Absolutely quiet and serene. Lovely. The kinda old school type of housing. Haha my favourite. Floored by the nice place and interiors. Amazing.. Too bad we were both tired and didn't stay too long there. One and only chance to enter. But it was good! =)

Guess it's also the general atmosphere of the area at Rochester and the surroundings that makes a person feel very at home and relaxed. Away from all the noise and hussle that we face each day so that you can unwind and space out. The place even had a little walkway out to a garden that's shared between 2 units! Talk about walking out of your house into the greenery. Wah...

There's some unexplainable attraction about old colonial houses. Yeah, I guess it can appear a little errie at night (with all those scary drama serials that were shot with these buildings as backgrounds when I was in primary sch) but it's just very open and spacious. No little corners like the current pathetic and crazily expensive condos; they're literally iron cells. Something quite nostalgic about them and casual. Dream house!

Haha I always get laughed at by package for taking fancy in these old houses. Well, it's things like these that can look pleasing to the eye for ages and you won't hate it. Why would anyone enjoy shifting houses all the time?

Thanks for bringing me to Rochester! Love it!

Quite pleasantly surprised why the internet connection and access barrier at Hitachi Towers have been lifted. Too bad, we've shifted rooms beside Finance Dept for the time being. So this is very temporary only.

Anyhow, my nightmare has kind of started. This is a much much larger firm with complicated and complex processes.. Aggravated by millions of business grps that each function as a separate entity.. Large Finance Team (that some how seems to favour my male supervisor and other colleage over me) And all these makes my work so much harder. Just had a little snide remark passed by one of the accountants again last night. So there goes more un-answered questions that are piling up each day. Thankfully my supervisor is understanding and has decided to 'charm' his way to get the answers for all of us.

I still wonder how we can ever finish this. Cross my fingers and hope for a better day at work each morning..

Sheesh, this has been quite an eventful day at the stocktake. Had to walk under some puny umbrella with my client under the pouring rain just to look at some vehicle number plates to validate their existence. Gosh, why can't I just look at the vehicle log cards instead? Aren't they even better evidence of ownership? Dunno.. I'm not the planner. Just do what my superior says.

But it was quite interesting as I got to squeeze with my client at the back of some Mercedes convertible. Absolutely cool car! Oh well, dear's driving a nice car too!

Hmm, so here I am trying to figure out where and how to go to Dempsey road. And my always-reliable streetdirectory.com has just failed on me. Keeps popping up so many search results for Dempsey road without allowing me to select one of it. Crap... Now I've gottta read the street directory, which obviously I'm terrible at.

Whee! Little Dexter is at my place again! Just heard them enter the house. Maybe I'll go play with him. My little entertainment for Friday night. Hahah.. Cute kid. Absolutely intelligent and lovable. Just like Uncle Boon's Marcus.

It's funny to know that somehow this blog is tagged to the youthzone blog. Kinda like a bit of a subconscious thing that tells me to be more discrete in blogging. Talk about having a personal space to blabber. Oh well, somethings are just private and not for public broadcast. Heh..

But anyhow I thank God for an amazing amazing week. Lovely to see precious everyday. Can't get enough of you! Thank you for always being patient and sweet.. =)

Life seems to be a lot slower now after the completion of the listed company's audit. Doing another couple more companies, but I guess with God's strength and precious' support during the tough times, things are not so difficult to handle. Time to get off sitting on things for too long and start working fast again. Another deadline to finish a Japanese company in 14days. Wonder how we can do it, but we still have to finish it. Talk about time management, learn it from the auditors. Ask poor Lance.

Scooting off to visit lala-land in preparation for a long and physically draining at the yards for some stocktake. Time to tan my face. Sure beats being in Sentosa. Yuck, I'd rather have the sun, sand and sea anytime!

I can be sucha loser at times. Can't imagine that I was filling up some important application online and the silly website had to display errors when I was about to finish the application! Alamak!!!! Goodness, is this a sign not to apply? Pls don't say that it's a sign. Let me go and have life. Stupid website... Now I've gotta fill everything up again

Finally got my ass out and just jog a little. More like a space out session to just walk around and think of stuff. Look at what's happening around me or in my life and just ponder. As usual, my favourite activity. But I guess that's what keeps my mind active. Keep thinking...

Maybe that's also why my dear Salty friend keeps going to the gym nowadays. Might just be her way of sorting out the things in her life. All thanks to some immature and childish other half. Very scary how people just change so quickly. Even things that seemed so cool and blissful for the past couple of years can just crumble like that. Are there really things that people can tolerate? What if there are somethings people close an eye to at the moment, just suddenly blow up before you know anything? Scary. Even the respect you have for a person can be so easily erased overnight. Will it happen to anyone of us? Definitely. Maybe he should go for runs on his own to. Sort things out personally.

With Man and everything around us, the constant is change. But with God, He IS the Constant. Guess Joyce might just be right about this.

Anyway enough of cooling down after the long walk. Time to bathe and meet up with Qinlei. Owe her the long awaited ride in the van.

Till then, keep those grey matter thinking all the time

Wish that I could be whisked into an airplane now and just hide in some other country and backpack again. It's almost a year ago when we started our planning for the last trip to Europe. Can still remember each and everyday there. Heavenly..

So now it's just work hard again, save up again and target for another trip soon. Hopefully it can materialise. Hmm, where should the next place be. Greece? Spain? Scandinavian countries? Cambodia? Vietnam? Kathmandu? I'm game for all of them. Go and see the world before being tied down with more things on hand.

Had some time on hand during the day to wonder (as usual. my favourite activity when i'm free) about what to look forward to for the next couple of months. Hahah I live my days by the wkends and public holidays. Muahaha... Evil.

Yup, so the next trip will be to Malaysia! Cool! Thank God for the approval of my leave to join church camp. It's been almost 4 years since I last participated in the church camp. The last one was when I was back in JC1. Still remember how playful I was. Just play and chat the whole day with the entire gang who was there. And scramble back to my room to study for my first JC exams that were immediately after camp. Hahhaa... Nerdy me. But thank God I could get promoted back in JC.

Heh heh, looking forward to this church camp. Seems like the most adventurous one ever cuz the organizing team are the funky young families group! Whee!!!

Alritey, so it's time to look forward to that and start counting down. Think of the next holiday after June then..

Thank God today for such a wonderful day! Can't imagine that I actually knocked off at 630pm. Gosh, it's such a wonderful treat to a friday nite! Heh heh... Felt fantastic to just drive home from client's place and join the family for dinner at home. Amazing.. It's been a long time since I could go home before the sun sets, and to think that I've got some personal lazing around time at home. Haha.. Wonderful! Thanks to God!

But somehow, I just feel quite guilty leaving the client's place while the team is still there. Asked them whether I could help them, but somehow they didn't have anything to pass to me. So there I was stuck with my own work since the accountant wasn't around to provide me with essential documents. Continue and finish it on Monday then!

I'm so pleased with how the weekend's turning out. And there's the bday celebration, not forgetting time-out with my dear. Heh heh, you've finally got a mention on the blog! Cheers! Haha, other things are personal. Shhhhh....

What are we to do with our lives? What’s our very purpose of our being on this earth? Are we to live our lives trying to be the most outstanding and most noted person? To be more successful than our peers? To earn a quick buck so that we can enjoy an early retirement in the future?

How does all of these then look like when we read that as Christians, the very purpose of man is to please God? Yes, we all know that we can still please God in our workplace (or even some call it marketplace ministry), but how can we strike a balance between what is required of us at work and our service in God’s church?

Sometimes I wonder if it’s too naïve to say that I’m fine with living a simple life, not having to earn much or live a high-flyer type of life. But seriously, isn’t all these just quite so temporary? There are hoards of stories of successful people who were reduced to rags overnight. Their stories sound pathetic, but some are actually much happier when they possess less. Are the rich and famous necessarily happier than the poor farmer? Are not the powerful also targets of backstabbing and man’s evil manipulation? Are they not wary of people who get to friendly with them, who might harbour ulterior motives?

Simplicity can be nice at times. Just live my little life and be contented with whatever God blesses me with, don’t covet for more than I deserve.

:::::

Rare opportunity to think and blog during workhours. Hahah in fact, it’s my first. Really rare cuz senior’s not around and I’ve completed practically everything that I can do. Haha, so back to reading bible commentaries on revelation until my senior comes. Hee hee, thank God for the long break!

Monday blues are quite bad when you know you've gotta rush some job in 4days; from a 5day job which is already very rushed, to a 4day one so that my boss can come down to the client's place and review our work. Goodness...

Worked OT just today itself and I'm still at home trying to finish this up. Wonder if I can even finish it cuz I doubt my client's speed of work and efficiency. Hai.. Okay, press on and complain less.

Miss my dear already. Only 1day and it feels like so long. Can't imagine that I'm saying this online, but dunno who else to say to at this time of the night.

Alritey, kick myself in the butt and back to looking at the fixed assets.

Mantra for the night: I must love my job..

Night out with the Chans

The lovely Chan kids from Mauritius. Gosh, it's scary to see them from babies becoming running machines. Haha, they practically did their 100metre sprints in the restaurant. Amazing..

Taking this photo was such a joy. The 2 older ones (Ryan, 6; Christina, 5) used their 'da ge da jie' power to gather their younger siblings (Brian, 3; Jordan, 2) to pose for my camera. Haha so cute. Obviously my favourites are the 2 older ones. Very smart and mature. Always easy going and smiley. The cheekiest has to be Brian. Can't stand it when he tries to give you the puppy look when you scare him. Makes you melt. Argh.. He gets his way.

So I became the bean bag for them to run to me so that I can catch em. Wah, 4 of them combined can be quite a powerhouse. I was pushed and crammed into the corner. Scary when they come charging at you, but it's quite fun. It beats having to catch the boys who became monkeys jumping off the beds last yr.

It's always nice seeing the whole family get together yearly. From being the ones who were kids the last time my bro and myself went to Mauritius, to playing with their grandkids. Eee, sounds so old. But Chris made quite a gd point yesterday, it's nice to hear kids laughing and playing. Very warm and lovely.

And here's my all time favourite. The red indian chief of the kids, the little darling who teaches me bits of French everytime I see him, haha my personal translater and crowd controller when we're playing with his cousins. Little Ryan Chan! Getting older and more mature, so no more jumping off the beds. He quietly sits by the chair besides his dad, trying to finish his food so that he can feast on ice cream. Hahah..