Stories of me and myself

On the 3rd day, we went to my Uncle's place at Woodlands. Man that is far!!
There was FOOD waiting. I think CNY is just an exucse to pig out like never before.



But though this looked really good, I had rather kiasu relatives. So in the end, I gave up and played with babies instead. Made me so much happier. Heh.

Remember her? The china doll Mindy! Look at her cheeky face. Hee. I think it's really cute when toddlers learn to do that! =)




















Next up is blur-look Marcus! Look at how stylo he is when he plays with his car? He was super funny. It was my cousin's birthday, but Marcus was so excited he thought it was his birthday! So we let him blow the candles and he was so happy. But we were more amused cos he was so adorable while trying to blow the candles! He was so proud when he finally managed to blow them! But the cake was full of baby saliva. Hahaha!





















Finally it's.... *drumroll*..... Zavier!! Today he was just non-hyper but in his own world. I carried him for a while and he actually sang the whole song of "Twinkle twinkle little star", "ABC" and even counted to 10! So proud of my little nephew! Heh. There he is... in his own little lala land.






















Then off to CCK I went to hang out with YP jiejie. We watched "Wu Jian Dao1" and "Initial D". Not bad movies....
Also admired YP jiejie's photo journals. Man... I would NEVER have the patience to sit down and compile my trip photos so orderly and nicely!! So if you need to arrange your trip photos into nice scrapbooks, hire her! =) Ohoh, and I ahd a big big shock! I saw someone in her photos who resembled me! At a glance, I thought it was me in the photos! But of course it isn't! The "sei" sama sama one! Scary sia....

Finally, there was a reunion of the 4 'ABCD' (Meow, Becky, Chien and myself) at Serangoon Gardens. It's just such a nice feeling to hang out with old friends. All the fun you had together, all the memories... and how you somehow know each others' taste and "sei" innately. That was proven when Chien held an 'auction' for her old clothes. With every blouse/pants/skirt/shorts she held up and described, we went "This is so Meow/Becky/Chien!" *Grin* It was a fun and amusing time. Especially when the models strutted into the room for the "judges" to go "Pretty!" or "It suits you." or "It looks good!" or "Ermm... (You get the idea)" Hahahah! But in the end, 2 huge bags of clothes was reduced to 1! No new year shopping needed for the Meow and Becky! Hee. Did I mention that Chien has good taste for clothes? *grin*

And then it was carrom time, where we realised that whenever Chien or myself whacked Hobbs, Meow and Becky will miss. Hee. So poor Hobbs. (I think that's why Meow has kept "Dao Pork the pig" in cold storage. I used to pretend he was a yoyo and dangle him by his tail, or play baseball with him as the ball. It was fun! *grin*) Too bad. But retribution lah, Chien and myself lost to them twice by 1 seed. We are generous ppl lah. We like to help others score. See how selfless we are?

All in all, it was a fun day spent with cousins, babies and good friends. What more can I ask for?

You know how we live in a world with depraved minds? (Romans 2:29) How we like to compare ourselves with the world's standards instead of with God's? And we are so overwhelmed in attaining the world's standards, such as status, beauty, money, etc, that we forget our purpose in life. We foget that all these don't matter to God, and that we won't be able to take these with us when we leave this world.

"Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art."

("Be thou my vision")

God is the potter and our Creator. He made us in His image, in His beauty. Who are we to nit-pick at our bodies and flaws and question why God created us this way? Why are we 'lusting' over the standards of this world?

Just came up with this analogy. Crappy as it might be, just read lah! =)
Imagine, if you a pebble, and compared yourself to various things, how much more would you feel inadequate and wanna resemble these things? Busy and tiring leh, like that!

If you compared youself to sand, you would think that the sand is so fine, so smooth, etc.
If you compared yourself to a gem stone, you would think that it was so pretty, so intricate, etc.
If you compared yourself to a rock, you would think that it was so strong, so 'macho', etc.
If you compared yourself to a mountain, you would think that it was so mightily overwhelming and powerful!

When will this ever end? Have you ever wondered what the others thought of you? (Not that it really matters...)
But they might think you are a cool pebble, just the perfect size with the perfect mix of minerals, and other good things.

We should just remember that God made us the way we are for a purpose. Whatever the purpose is, we will find out sooner or later. =) And if we are made in His image, we are 'perfect', cos God is perfect.

This statement, quoted from Emay jiejie, made me think a bit.

Anyway, this statement just spoke straight to my heart about sins, and how we are made to feel guilty, shameful and unworthy of God's love. We are forever unworthy of God's love, cos we are so sinful and God is so holy. But we should also remember that God's grace and love is beyond what we can ever imagine, and nothing is too itsy bitsy teeny weeny (yellow polkadot bikini!) or too overwhelmingly humongous for God's forgiveness.

However, we should also be wary of the "do first, repent later" syndrome where we take God's grace for granted. For example, sinning first while asking for forgiveness, cos we know that we will be forgiven, and with the full intention of subsequently sinning again. True repentance should come with the conviction of 'abolishing' the sin and the determination to stay holy. We should always focus on Him and realise and appreciate that every single second and minute that we are alive is the will and act of God. It's not easy, but we should learn to strive on.

We should be the 'salt' of the world. Just as salt preserves and adds flavour to food, we also should preserve the goodness and add flavour to the world. What good is salt if it loses its 'saltiness'? What good are we to the world if we cannot represent Christ in the world?

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" (Luke, 14:34)

How "salty" are we?

What made Day 1 of Chinese New Year brighten up so much was the kids' presence. Have I told you how much I LURRVEEE playing (with kids)? Heh. It's so amazing to watch ya cousins grow up with you, get married and then have kids! Haha! It's good, cos then I get the fun of playing with them! So ppl, please go forth and procreate!!! =)

Introducing Mindy. My uncle's daughter... which makes her my cousin, and an auntie at 3 years of age! Call that a privilege?





















Next up is Marcus! My nephew. A perpetual blur look. It's the 'in' thing! Heh. Cos it's just a 'front'.... he's in fact very intelligent! For example, when auntie askes him if he likes "didi", he says no cos he "didi" always beats him. But when didi's daddy asks him the same question, he goes, "I like didi.." Look how diplomatic he is at the age of less than 3? =)




















Finally there's Zavier, ("didi") my other nephew! Decided to put up the pathetic photos of him cos he's just so cute! Not that I'm a sinister! Look at the way he tries to pull off the pathetic face, then the cool way of propping his head up as he cries. Hee. Cool huh? Got character leh, this guy. I wonder how his bro, Ryan, will be like. He was born the day before CNY eve, so he remains a little chickie instead of being 'promoted' to a puppy! =)














Yeah, so I was totally entertained by them as I took them down to the playground for a fun-filled time of chasing, sliding, climbing and all. Sometimes I do wonder if i would be happier working in a kindergarten! Haha!

And to top it all up, today I was so into the playground mood that I myself had to join in the fun! *grin*
"Broom brrroooom brrrrooooommmmmm...."



Have you realised that everyone has grown significantly older? And there are so many new additions to the family, be it other-halves or even new lives! It's ever-changing! And the one change I ain't particularly fond of is the reduction in angbao monies just cos you are older. It was a significant depreciation this year! *pout* So much so that I din get the thrill of opening the angbaos from so-and-so and go "woohoo"! Heh. This year it was filled with more of "huh... ok lor..." *shrug*

But the 2nd day of New Year was not too bad either. Less quantity but more quality. Not just in monetary terms lah! I visited an older auntie today (I see her only once a year at CNY) and it was just so encouraging to see her giving her testimony about how Jesus has answered her prayers and cured her physical pains and aches. She also encouraged the non-Christian auntie to follow Jesus, and even explained the difference between the different religions so diplomatically without missing the gist of it all! I do hope seeds were planted! Ok, maybe I'm being narrow-minded, but I always thought that she jia4 ka3 ("became Christian" in Hokkien) due to pressure from her daughter, and that being older, she probably just listened and that's it. But I was proven so wrong today (*face reddens*) and was so proud of her that i felt so encouraged and couldn't stop grinning to myself in the corner! I must have looked like a kuku! Haha!

I was bored cos the only programme today was reunion dinner at my grandma's place.

So I decided to entertain myself. Set out to make melt in your mouth lemon biscuits. But something else unexpected turned out, cos I mistook soft wheat flour for wholemeal flour! Such a booboo! Anyway, here's what happened.

Neverthelessly, I put it into the oven, as cookies.


Then I decided that they might make better muffins.


And so here they are. At least they look presentable! Taste-wise, well, if you like oatmeal, you will love it. If not, dunk it into hot chocolate, I think it'll be yummy.



And so I went for reunion dinner. Here's the spread, without the steamboat yet.


One of the best yu shengs I have eaten these years. Why? Cos there was SO MUCH sashimi! Woohoo!!



But there was lots of vegetarian food too. My fav was the mushroom satay (totally yummilicious!).
Hmm, but vegetarian food also set me off thinking. Why bother to make food that resembles meat when it's supposed to be vegetarian? Where is the 'sincerity'? If it's so tempting to eat meat, then just eat meat lah! Why bother faking it?! Oh, and the most mind-blowing one... "curry potato" (made of koniyaku) and "fried egg" (made of bean curd skin). *Look of disbelief* Aren't potatoes and eggs ALREADY vegetarian?? Why FAKE it?!! Oh man.... *shrug*

Oh! And in an attempt to rush out of the home to hopefully complete the Lit review with ZY and also hang out with YP jiejie in school today...

I rushed and forgot my badminton racket! So I returned to grab it.
I rushed and forgot my housekeys! So I returned to grab them.
I rushed and forgot to wear my shoes! So I returned to grab them.

In the end, the Lit review was finally completed after a race to see who could produce a decent cover page first! =)
And YP jiejie left as I was arriving. =(

Last item I forgot...
As I was showering, I attempted to step out to dry myself. To realise that my hair was still filled with shampoo!

Hmm... mebbe there are still some stuff I forgot, but I have forgotten about them, so let's just forget about it! Hee.

One thing I remembered...
I remembered to bring my History notes! Whatever that was necessary! Why am I so zai3? Cos I never pack my bag! Hee.

Quote of the day: "I agree to a minor extent...." (Why doesn't he just say he disagrees?!!)
(Source: Candidate's answer in an SS paper.)

Before I blabber... I wanna thank ZY for working with me on the Lit review. It was like a non-stop shift job sia! We should stop procastinating and START EARLIER on the next assignment! Heh. The brain was so fried today that when she said she wanted to rely on me for the 'oomph' in the conclusion of our essay, I offered her fried brain with garlic and oyster sauce instead. Amazingly, that whet her appetite! Hahaha! How incredible! But to her defence, the poor skinny gal din get to eat breakfast nor lunch lah... (What weight is there left of her to be lost?!)

Hmm... I also played badminton with Char today. We had a rather good game. One of the best rallies we had so far, I think. Thanks to the fantastic shuttlecock today! Oh, and we had a good conversation about the difference between Christianity and Catholicism. Thank God that Char and her family believe in Christ! =) Ignorant me thought that Catholics worship Mother Mary instead of Jesus Christ. Thank you Char for enlightening me! If any of you bright souls wanna enlighten me further, please do, cos I admit I'm really ignorant but I do wanna learn! Heh.

To end my day, Pure fren RT, PL and myself had steamboat with ah-ma at her place to celebrate CNY with her. We started the tradition last year, and so we continued this year. Simple fare, nothing elaborate. But it was a nice, tasty, simple meal which filled all of us up to the brim! Such that ah-ma couldn't even finish nibbling at the last tofu fishcake in her bowl... PL couldn't even bend... pure fren reached her limit of savouring the button mushrooms (she effectively gobbled down the entire can!) and I had to be given time-out on a small little chair afterward. I also discovered that Seasons Apple tea is pretty yummy! And New Moon baby abalone is like chewing gum which you chew and then spit out cos it's impossible to swallow!

Here are some photos...





What's your favourite steamboat ingredient??
There was overwhelming response for chinese cabbage just now. Hee.

I should endeavour to visit ah ma more often. I realised that I haven't visited her for a long long time! When there was a time when I would visit her oh so regularly... luckily my Teochew is still at a conversational standard! Should have written down the stuff that PL kinda made up in order to communicate with ah ma! It was hilarious! Like her own slang/translation of Mandarin into her own idea of Teochew! Hahaha! In the end, they had to resort to action and drawing! Ah ma was quite amused! I hope we brought some colour into her life. Life as a senior citizen can be quite boring and meaningless if we are cooped up at home with nothing to do, nowhere to go (other than the fact that mobility might be a problem) and with nobody to visit except strangers... and what you do with almost all your time is to sit by the window and enjoy the wind as you watch people walk by, from afternoon till the wee hours of the morning. How does one cope?

Think time: Ever wondered about the meaning of life? What is our purpose in this life? What happens after this?

Hibernated in the library and noticed this.



Is there an earthquake? Or is it just so comfortable there? I do that at home at times, but never in library. Maybe I should try it one day... =)

Met ZY to do our Hist lit review on appeasement. I must say I really learnt alot from this, thanks to the struggle in finding the different viewpoints, perceptions and explanations of Chamberlain's Appeasement policy. We both came to the conclusion that we need a machine which can 'cheemify' our simple English, or rather, make it sound scholarly. We agreed on Tutor K. "Once you've internalised this, write it down." *grin*

Anyway, we were talking about a possible matchmaking of our bears, so today was the auspicious date. Woohoo!!

There's Pooh just being his inquisitive, silly self. Somehow when I say that, I feel like I'm describing me? Hmmm.


Here's introducing Miss Praying bear. Apparently she is down on her knees praying hard for ZY. So sweet. It's a SHE, rite?? It can do splits and has a girly face! And look at the way it sits!! But ZY insists that it's a guy. Aiyoh. Pretty boy, it is. How to take care of my dear blur Pooh?



And this is our first impression of her.


Wah! First time and she shows her our butt! But for a reason! She apparently produces chocolate!! Woohoo! But Pooh eats honey leh... can produce honey instead? Oh, that one requires "a bee". Not "hei bee"! (I'm saying this cos ZY was wondering what a dried shrimp was doing on the ground when I pointed out a bee to her.)

Sorry to go off on a "tangent". Hee. This is Pooh's way of greeting Miss Praying Bear. He smells her paw.



And they hit off like immediately! Just like old friends... Aww...






















Then I got into the circle too... and Miss Praying Bear told me ZY's secrets. Heh. And I, being one with integrity, shall not reveal them here on my blog! Hee.



We went for the practicum briefing today. In a huge lecture theatre. It's kinda nice being in a lecture theatre after so long... brings back memories. Hee. And it was fun playing "spot a friend" with YP jiejie. It just feels so good going to a lecture and seeing familiar faces... especially this sem where I dun get to see much of my friends, cos of the different classes we are in. So it's a pretty good day (mostly with ZY's company...) where I used my brains (for once!), and got to meet and hang out with several friends.

Made a lunchbox for ZY today. Cos I had promised to make her lunch the day before, but something cropped up in the end. So yeah, effectively I played her out lah. But you know what? Retribution.... Haha! I got played out today too! That gal decided to go on MC! Heh... oh well, so much for the cab ride to school! No lah... it was my own unwillingness to wake up earlier!

Anyway, here's what went into the lunchbox which ended up in my own tummy for dinner eventually! Hee.




Went to Lot 1 for our investigation and observation of the kids with YP, SJ, LL and A. We couldn't catch a cab at NIE, so we flagged down 131- Papa Ken's car. And he was nice enough to take us to CCK! Hee. But when I heard that ppl suspected I was together with him, I almost fainted! Haha! Sorry lor... He's taken liao. And I'm waiting for my Gorilla! When will my gorilla turn up, if it/he ever does? Hmmm...

Ended up being a private investigator taking paparazzi shots! Heh. Would walk past a couple slowly and snap unknowingly while trying to look innocent. Man... all the time my heart was beating so fast! like they could discover me and turn nasty anytime! I feared being beat up so bad! Hee. Especially when LL would pretend and walk away when I was snapping! Hahaha! But A was quite nice... he would come help by posing. While YP would really wanna be in the picture and I had to tell her to get out of the pic once! Hahaha!

Din find anything too interesting though. The kids seem to be doing everything which we ourselves would do, or had done when we were their age! Like taking neoprints, hang around in fast food outlets, window shop, laugh and kachiao each other while being in a group, etc.

In the end, we decided to close shop and found ourselves in the arcade! Woohoo! We played the drums, daytona, and the most fun of it all was this military game in which 4 of us could play together! We held huge guns and shot our way through the game. And we got promoted along the way after completing certain missions. Quite cool. Playing in a group is really quite fun! Hee. I think that was the highlight of the Lot 1 adventure! Other than the real threat of getting confronted and beaten up when we spied on a group of kids at the MRT station and they suspected we were watching them and taking pics.

Here are pics of us playing. =)




Waiting for Practicum results is really quite nerve-wrenching... like waiting for some major exam results! I wanna see where God places me...

"Honour your father and mother."
Why is it always so hard?

Should I tell Pooh that the watermelon will not transform into a honey pot by midnight? Nor into a honeydew?
Oh imagine his broken little heart when he finds out the truth! My poor bear...

We talked about suicidal tendencies during Youth-at-Risk on Monday. (oh, the company finally got to seat together. Well, doesn't sound like a big thing rite? But to me, it kinda is... though it's gradually beginning to not mean much anymore, sadly.)

About how you need to keep an eye on the wallpaper kinda kids (the kind who hands in homework... the guai, average student) cos they too have a tendency to commit suicide, and it's hard to detect! So the preventive measure is apparently to get them to write journals maybe weekly... and to build up trust and rapport with them, so that you can detect anything suspicious. Oh, have to assure them that whatever they write will be kept confidential between the teacher and the kid too. However, if it will cause harm to themselves, or to others, then we'll have to report it. Bo bian.

Kids in their teens are searching for their identities and go through a tough period. And some have it, or take it harder than others. And suicide seems like a viable option. (Other than those who get high from partially strangling themselves! And then end up really killing themselves! Warped!) Sadly. But then again, who hasn't thought of suicide before? Or rather, not killing oneself, but like imagine what would happen if we were to die? I remember reaching a point of time (prob still think this way) where I did think dying is ok, cos I've tried and/or done almost everything I've wanted to try and/or do. Well, other than teaching and skydiving!

And most importantly, I've received Christ. Anyway, we din own our lives in the first place, so what makes us so arrogant as to think that we can take them away? But I guess, when we are deep and drowning in sorrow, it seems like an easy way out huh? Like how we shut down or enter "ctrl alt delete" when we give up on the comp when it's happily hanging. However, God gave us life. He put us here on earth for a purpose. And it's up to Him to take it away from us when our purpose on earth is completed. And God is faithful... through it all, He will make a way, regardless of how unredeemable the situation is. And if we are struggling with our own selves, just come to Jesus, for He died for our sins. Come to Jesus for forgiveness.

Oh what a tangent I've gone off on! Back to the point. The kids have to learn to trust us. And in order to illustrate this point, tutor V made us play Blindman's walk. Where one person is blindfolded and another guides them. And of cos, you can come up with all kinds of pranks and ideas to sabo your friend. However, my friend was YP jiejie, so of cos can't bear to sabo lah! Haha! (Although she cun STARE at me cos she's blindfolded!! Hahaha!) Anyway, what I like about Youth-at-risk class is that tutor V is so admirable! She is so comfortable being herself in front of her students and joking and talking about anything at all! And takes everything in stride and plays to the tune. For instance, if a boy wolf whistles at someone, ask him to continue whistling cos it's nice. (Not in a nasty or sarcastic manner!) And if a group of boy wolf whistle, better still! Get them to form a symphony there and then! Each boy to whistle one note! Hee. And if it's a gal/s going googoogaga over some guy, tell them to get them number of that guy, cos you also think he's quite cute! Very cool teacher indeed! She is exactly the kind of teacher I strive to be! Oh, and it's fun cos although her 'preaching' is interesting, she still bothers to make the class interesting through little games here and there in between her teaching... when she thinks that we've "been sitting for too long".

In many ways, I cun wait to teach. I cun wait to have fun with the kids! But of cos I'm still a little unsettled.... as in I dunno how the kids will be, what kinda teacher I'll be... whether I'll keep fumbling and making a fool of myself, whether I'll be confident enuff, or be able to act confident enuff to qualify as a proper teacher. Though I'm still looking forward to the bonding I'll have with the kids. Well, that's assuming they like me enuff! And the colleagues... will they be willing to play with me?? Will I be able to be myself in front of them or with them? Or will I have to revert to the quiet, serious Daffy? The other thing is, will I become the bia-er or the bochap-er? If I become the bia-er, will I lose my life (metaphorically!) and end up in Buangkok Green IMH?? Though I supposedly alredy have a bed there. (Someone remind me to call them to reserve my bed!) And if I become a bochap-er, someone just shoot me.

YP jiejie told me that to keep sane, I'll have to keep up the "i want to play" attitude. Yeah I so agree! But I wonder if there'll be anyone willing to play with me then! Dun get me wrong, I'm totally comfortable being alone (I'm an only child!) and like being alone. But often there are times when I yearn for good company, a good laugh or some sharing or just someone to kachiao. I feel that as we grow older, our circle of friends just seem to shrink and shrink. And even if they dun shrink, they seem to become more distant. Soon, everyone will be so caught up with work and promotions and family and kids that friends will become very low in the priority list. And I may sound too cynical here, but I think it's only when suddenly something rocks the boat badly that friends come into the picture. You know, some sort of a spare tyre kinda thing? Oh well, whatever. As long as there are friends who are still willing to be there.

What really perks me up is a simple meeting with friends. Dun have to go play or havock... though I dun mind of cos! Haha! Anything that's fun! Pure, clean fun. And anything simple can be fun! It's the company that counts! Even a simple bus ride or a train ride can be rejuvenating! Heh. Like yesterday after a long day at school, having ZY and Jo for company for half the journey home and talking about nothing at all was kinda rejuvenating and served to perk me up. And then meeting Chien for dinner at the regular Scotts foodcourt (and that gal din eat Beef Noodles! Instead, she ate pasta! Oh man... what's wrong with her?!! hahahah!!), sitting there and chatting... was just more than enuff to make my day! (Especially when we opened a very new can of worms regarding her French. "Listen and repeat". Hahahah!) I wish we could spend more time together, hanging out and talking more often. She is one friend I hope will accompany me throughout life's journeys, despite the dumb things I've done.

Remember the joyful feeling of knowing that a friendship is growing stronger? I miss that. K, I'm just in a very lonely mood. Which also explains why I'm talking to myself so much here! Shall stop. Here.

Was looking forward to Sunday all week long. Cos I was excited over studying Acts, playing badminton with cell, poisoning cell with my lemon meringue pie... and the most exciting thing of it all... Pokekar was gonna come visit church and cell!! WooHoo!!

Miracle 1:
It's interesting how God talked to us at lunch on Friday. Sean started the topic about how strange it is for girls at 17 to be able to have sex illegally, yet not legal to watch R(A) shows. And amazingly, it just led us to a conversation about the bible about the depraved mind in Romans 1. And from there, God spoke to several of us and it was just amazing! And that led Pokekar to come visit church. I just pray that she finds her way to God and finds a church in which she is comfortable in. And if it is God's will, may He lead her to stay in our church.

Miracle 2:
ZY's grandma was hospitalized last week and ZY was probably quite shaken by it. But with lots of prayer from as many as we could garner, and through God's grace and mercy, her grandma was out of ICU the following day and discharged rather soon. So praise God! I continue to pray that he will watch over ZY's grandma and restore her health. That His grace will overflow upon them and their family, and that He will work in their lives. May His will be done.

It's amazing to see God work in our lives. May it be big miracles or small miracles. Somehow, the dots will all connect in the end, some way or other. Let's just trust in Him and keep our eyes on Him, for our God is a faithful God.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Joshua 1:5)

Ohoh, and badminton was fun. Thank God for bringing Merf and Eliza to play with us too! 5 is a nice number to play with. Heh. We should play more often! Anything at all! Hee. Other than pigging out on snacks all the time! *grin*

I woke up today feeling all relaxed and determined to enjoy my day, which amazingly had no plans! Heh.

Funny thing was, I got out of bed and found a note on the floor!
It read, "Daphne, like to stay for lunch @+/- 1245pm?? Will be preparing Rosemary Steak. Linda."
So sweet rite? And of cos I will stay home for lunch lah! So tempting! Hee.




Decided that I would make use of the opportunity I had to play in the kitchen! Initially I wanted to make chocolate moouse (this word is so strange! Is there a link between "mouse" and "moose"??) But I couldn't, cos I had used up the chocolate for the roasted cake the last time round! Heh. So I decided that lemon meringue pie would be a better substitute! So here goes...

This is the pie crust as it bakes in the oven...


The lemon filling. Heh. Trying to be artistic!


And the final product. With the meringue added on and left to brown.


This has nothing to do with my playing in the kitchen.
But I'm happy cos I see God doing His work around me. And it's really cool and heartwarming and just exciting to watch Him! I just pray that He will use me in any way possible to bring His people to Him. "I am here. I am willing."

Had another nice long walk home today.

The one I took occurred last Thursday nite in the wee hours of the morning. From Queenstown down Farrer, MacRitchie to home. Adventures/Encounters along the way included:

1) A bent-over old (wo)man like almost 180 degrees on the side of the road picking some weed, no shoes and all.
2) Rushing into the 24-hour Mac's along Farrer to pee oh so desperately!
3) Cutting across slip roads to highways and trekking along grass patches where the paths end
4) Encountering the same snail which I had kicked before. To discover that I had kicked it in the wrong direction! Poor thing.
5) Talking to 2 cats along the way. Poor babies... out in the cold all alone.
6) Running with my big heavy heavy bag along MacRitchie just to experience cross-country again. And also cos it's kinda scary. Geography of fear. And hearing random/continuous hissing sounds from the bushes.

But I made it home. Up the nice slope to my place. Where I imagined filming a video. And rested at the playground in solitude and peace before returning home.

It was a nice long walk with God watching over me. Great way to clear your mind and just be with God. The moon helped. =)Gave me encouragement in some sense. And good ole iPod tahan-ed even though it was on low batt. Worship songs help. Hee.


And for today's walk....

I walked home from Orchard, on impulse. Took me 3 hours... cos I took my time strolling and listening and singing to my ipod. (Well, not TO my ipod. You know what I mean... heh.) The beauty of walking alone at nite on the streets is that you kinda own the whole street... and you can sing, dance and play to your hearts' content! And there's no one to watch you and wonder if you had just escaped from Buangkok Green or something! *green*

Anyway, I met a Taiwanese couple on the way and showed them to Newton Hawker Centre. And for the crap of me, I couldn't think of what stingray was called in Mandarin!! So I resorted to describing it... literally a flat fish with a long long tail! Haha! But I told them that at the stall, of course they wouldn't see what I had just mentioned! Heh.

I'm thankful for such an opportunity and time to just walk home leisurely and peacefully. Nice weather too! But heavy bag again! Now topped up with badminton racket! Haha! But it was fun... cos I imagined being Rambo, a Commando, a Samurai, a Ninja, a farmer with a changkol, or just a normal woodcutter in olden times with a stick and a small bag attached at the end. Hee.

I stopped at the playground again. And this time I sat there and just talked and prayed to God. I love the peace and serenity at night!

During my short break today, I decided i wanted a little solitude and so I hibernated in the library.
Something just prompted me to watch the video that we had made for Shutch. And so I watched.

I din know whether to laugh or cry during and after the video. It's really quite heartwarming leh. Heh.
And I remember how Shutch ended up laughing and crying at the end of it all, and gave me a really big hug. (Cos I was the only one there at that time!)

From the beginnings (19th Oct 2005) to the cheonging part (all the places we went, the food we ate...) to development (SPDK Pte Ltd to our products to "popping up from nowhere") to the final part (when Giz and Geordie were here till we split to venture overseas).

It was such an awesome journey.
Thank God for digital cameras and technology!
Thank God for the friendships which developed out of nothing.
Thank God for the fun times, laughter and memories.
Thank God for the support He provided through the company during the gruelling time last sem with the neverending deadlines and stress.

Whatever happens from here, no one knows.
NIE this sem is so strange with all the changes... all the clashes in timetable, different modules, different classes, etc.
No more "popping out from no where", no more play sessions, no more "anything"....
But maybe it's in an evolved form.... like during the impromptu times when Pengy jiejie will come walk me to class, or meet me for lunch, etc. And we can end up laughing along the corridor such that Kenneth will stick his head out and I find that oops, I'm the last one for class and they are all waiting for me! Heh.

Though I am separated from the usual Geog class, I'm thankful that I still have my mini SS class with ZY around for me to kachiao. And my History class for me to havock... or else this sem will be kinda sad! Heh. Though VH for Youths at risk is really fun! I wanna be a teacher like her! Au naturel...

I received an SMS from Pengy jiejie today... and it went,

"Banana Banana yellow or green
Banana Banana boat or split
I don't like banana, you like banana
O banana...."

Hee. It sounds ridiculous but it made me laugh out loud! So out of the world! Heh.
Like men dun have pets (pads), as compared to ladies. Hahaha!

Hmmm, the highlight of my day was when I walked to your Geog class today. It was quite nice seeing the Lit ppl (CY, LY and SW). And I was so intriqued by LY's dolphin(zzz) that I grabbed it and lo and behold! It died! Hahaha! Then I pulled the ribbon on CY's blouse (you know how she always ties it to the back of her blouse?) and retied it in front and then behind! Hahaha! She went, "Now I look like a bloody ba(4) zhang(3)!" It was funny! And I also discovered something else! SW is scared of being tickled at the neck! Mr BBB Lobster found that out when he crept onto her shoulder and tickled her neck! Heh.

All in all, it was fun. I miss Geog class.

Though I wish you all had stayed outside a little longer to play with me. Heh.

ZY and myself were studying about the appeasement which led to WW2. And there's this guy known as Chip. He's called Chip cos his roommate was called Fish. We immediately thought of FishYee and wondered if she would get married to a guy named Chip. Imagine... welcome to the wedding of Fish & Chip! Would the jie meis be known as coleslaw, you think? =)

K, shall stop being mean.

And what did I do on my free day?

I indulged in more cooking! Hee. My version of playing at home! I'm wondering if I like this more than going to NIE. I think I might! Hee.

Introducing the products...

1) Pasta in pink sauce with garlic and vegetables



2) Mashed sweet potato with caramelized sugar crust


3) Roasted chicken thigh


And that is Pooh looking at the chicken thighs and wondering why they are almost as huge as him. Haha!


Mmm... what should I cook next?

It was a random suggestion. To Jumbo seafood restaurant, just cos I had a 50% discount for Chilli Crab, from a calendar which they had given for free the last time the company ate there. And lo and behold! It was carried out! Yay! Heh. But only the 4 of us could make it... Emay jiejie, Huifen and Mervin.

We ordered Chilli Crab, of course... and sambal kangkong, and scallop embedded in yam. We thought we had better not order too much, just in case we'll need to stay back and wash dishes! Heh. Funny thing was I was wearing orange, similar to the waiters and waitresses there... so I could have easily passed off as one of the staff there, especially when their service was slow! Like the pouring of water and the serving of dishes. Heh.


















Afterward we were so full (as seen below) that we had to go take a walk.
















We walked onto the bridge leading to Clarke Quay and I was high, high, high! High about taking silly photos! Hee. One of my silly favourite pasttimes! If you cun already tell! Heh. So they went crazy with me! Hee. We even climbed onto the paraquet!
















And that's me trying to be funny and blocking the pretty faces! (What's new?) And of course all the other silly poses we had...






















What else can you do high up on a paraquet??

Other than get kicked by Mervin...


And posing with a random stick... (no, cos I din hit him!)


And a group photo at the stairs, where we blocked the way for a few seconds to pose.

















And a scary photo. The light is actually on the ground... so you can imagine the weird position I was in! Heh.


Still remember the times when we got to go on those small little rides? There's even a Mr Smiley one now! I wish I was a kid! Heh.



This photo looks like Emay jiejie took me for a ride on Mr Smiley's train hor?



And a final photo to illustrate the extent to which we went just to take a group shot. In Liang Court! Hahaha!



I think this is the first time I've actually gone crazy outside of church with cell. Heh. Good or bad I dunno! But it was fun fun fun! Hahaha! And what's important is that it's innocent fun! Hurhur... I like being young! And effectively the youngest in cell! Hurhur more... Hahaha! I pray that we bond and grow closer as we fellowship and study God's word together, and that we serve as encouragers and accountability partners to each other, and help each other grow grow grow more Christ-like as we become good testimonies of Jesus Christ.