再次爱上五月天

我又恋爱了。。。

Hidden

I'm done with my second Cathy Glass this week.

Hidden tells the story of Tayo who was abducted by his mother at the age of five and migrated illegally into UK.
He was exploited and betrayed by his mum and led a dreadful life which left a deep scar in his childhood.
However he overcame all odds and stood strong and well-mannered, with the only hope to return to his father one day.I was traveling on a bus to the church office when Tayo finally reunited with his dad and i had to control my tears with all my might. Didn't want to put my mascara to test even if it's waterproof.
It was difficult to withdraw from any emotional attachment with the characters, especially when i know it's a true story.
Cathy expressed every feelings and emotions in great details that as though i was present at every scenes.

But it was nothing compared to Dawn in Cut.
At the age of four, she was left for care with a distant uncle abroad when she was being raped repeatedly by his sons. The consequences was self-harming, serious sleepwalking and functional amnesia [selective loss of memory] due to extreme trauma.
She cut herself to release the bottled-up hurts and anger which she couldn't verbalise.
I used to hear teens who cut themselves but as far as i know, it is to attract attention. Cutting as a method of stress-release, the hurt must be even more excruciating than the physical pain.
My heart broke whenever i thought of that.
I remembered i teared like a tap, on the same bus, a Thursday and always on my way to the church office. I couldn't quite get a hold of myself even during the prayer meeting that evening.
In Dawn's case, she didn't leave Cathy's home as happy an ending as Tayo.
I felt unfinished, somehow. Uncertain about her life after that. Unlike Tayo who has a loving father.
She didn't maintain contact with Cathy, only a phone call about ten years after they parted.
Even when the book was published, Cathy is still hoping to hear from Dawn.

Reading about the children under foster care makes me question - why did God allow suffering children in this world? Why did He allow irresponsible parents in the first place?
I know i will never be able to find an answer and it will frustrate me even more.
Instead, i made a pact with myself to pray for the children in this world as much as i can.
At least i'm certain that prayer makes the difference.

I'm allowing myself some time to recover before i start on Damaged, which i got hold during my trip to KL.
Meanwhile, i would appreciate kind souls who can locate The Saddest Girl in the World in any of the local book stores, to inform me immediately.

Love-Singapore

We are Singapore!

We are Singapore!

We will stand together hear the lion roar!

R-O-A-R!!!

One of my favourite season of the year, the love-singapore season.
It's especially delightful this year with the long weekend in stored. =)

The long love-singapore weekend started with a bang at the indoor stadium on Friday.
Day of His Power, when Christians gathered to give thanks and pray for the country, not taking the peace and harmony and development for granted.
I left the stadium with a greater burden and a bigger passion for the country.

Day 2 of love-singapore weekend, i met up with Jus for my uber belated birthday lunch.
Exactly two months! Well, at least we didn't give up meeting. =)
However, i was exasperated with the closure of Dorothy Perkins and Topshop at PP. I couldn't understand why when their businesses were flourishing!
Anyway, we had a fun time sourcing for baby shower gifts, laughing ourselves silly over our own random comments. Haha.
The lazy afternoon ended with ice chocolate and dessert at the chichi Dome.
So nice... =)

It's 9th of August!! The nation's birthday on day 3 of love-singapore weekend!
For the first time (i think), we recited the pledge during service before a national flag! How cool was that!
Persi and i coordinated our colours the night before.
Not Indonesia hor!
Later in the evening, the CG gathered at Alvin and Nat's place for a NDP get-together!
Seriously, it was so much more interesting and engaging to watch NDP as a group and i reckon, it was because there were simply too many things to comment on and to..hmm...make fun of. Heh.
Check out our dinner spread!

Unfortunately, i had to end my night earlier, all thanks to the splitting headache that made me nauseous.
I threw up all the pizza and fried chicken i consumed earlier. What a waste.

On the last day of the love-singapore weekend, i made a trip to Jer's parents' home at Tampines.
They have just returned from a one-month visitation with their beloved son in Korea, with the main objective to meet the in-law to discuss about the wedding.
Being an old family friend of Jer, Aunty has kindly volunteered to bring back some food for my skin! She was so sweet to call me one day before her departure to ask me to tell Jer my shopping list. Jer....it's time that you learn from your mum lor! Kekeke...
And tada...
The house seemed to be under a minor renovation with painters around and household items stacked up. They were having lunch when i turned up and in order not to intrude, i stood near the door, suggesting that i won't stay long.
After ransacking in some rooms, they finally found the bag of stuff in the glass cabinet next to me. Ok here comes the funny part. I found the receipt in the bag as Jer mentioned and it stated 42,600 won. Hence i asked Aunty for the conversion to SGD.
"Just pay that in SGD lor!" she said.
I was confused.
After clarification, she meant that i pay SGD42.60. Fwah!
I passed her a $50 bill and asked her to keep it but she insisted on returning me $10.
So yeah...i paid $40 for the bag of skin food. I is pai seh.
And before i left, she had to comment that i "越来越美". Aiyohh.... i is pai seh again.
For a moment, i wished Jer was there.
He has flew to Berlin the day before for work and will only be back end of the month.
The six-hour time difference is making me feel that he is so far away!
I'm gonna miss him badly. =(

I proceeded to baby Chloe's one-month celebration at Holland Village after meeting up with Persi.

As usual, the baby seemed so comfortable resting in my arms.
She's such a doll. =)

That marks the end of the long love-singapore weekend.
Quoting Joyce's tweet, the comfort is the short(er) week ahead! =)

Event-ful

Wow, it has been a while.

Gone to Kuala Lumpur II and back. My first flying trip amongst the countless visits to this neighbouring city. Exactly one week before my departure, i realised my passport was less than six months to expiry. Fortunately i managed to get it renewed two days before departure. The efficiency of ICA is commendable, even when they forced me to put an ugly picture.

Attended two weddings out of the ten i have. Did two emcee-ing out of the six. I'm considering to make it a profession. Profit making kind. Hah.

Watched a dance and a musical. Ballet under the Stars and Sing Dollar. One common similarity, i dozed off at both. Definitely not my cup of tea or coffee or milk.

Decided to be wild and added some colours to my hair after being a years of black. I love the lian-ish two-tones. It's gonna last me for a while.

Had muscle spasm (again) on my lower back and i've to admit that i still couldn't quite cope with the pain. It definitely beats sore throats, headaches, stomachaches and menstrual cramps. I visited the doctors thrice, spent three days at home and spent $160. When pain is involved, money will no longer be a considering factor.

On the same week (as the broke-back), Grandpa was warded and was declared critical. Fortunately, he could recognise me when i called out to him, despite of his dementia. Brought back the memories of Granny who passed on five years back. =(

Still finding some excitement in life that i can look forward to.

Holiday, anyone?