Crashing LNY

I can't believe that i disappeared from this space for a good four weeks!
Oh my, i wasn't even aware how did those days flew past.

The Lunar New Year breezed through without much traces, as though the original fifteen-days event was officially refused to four, those that were labeled as public holidays.
On the eve of LNY, i woke up, early enough to give my room a spring-clean and just the book shelve alone, it took me more than an hour.
Not mentioning the drawer chest, the wardrobe and the tv case which by the time i considered it done, three hours had past. Gosh...it was hard labour.
My only consolation was that it's only a once-a-year chore.
I had to get rid of the rubbish to make space for the new batch (of rubbish). My logic. Hah.
Reunion dinner commenced at around six in the evening but it was ruined before we could even tuck in.
As usual, Mum started off with her anger-threats and this time, it included canceling reunion next year and even the visitations the next day.
Shan't go into the details but i concluded it to be a family tragedy when insensible and insensitive creatures exist. Sigh.
I plonked myself in front of the computer after dinner, and unsurprisingly, most of my contacts were offline. But Beng's appearance a while later indeed came as a very pleasant surprise!
Eversince the uber brief farewell and eventually his departure on the last day of January, he seemed to have vanished from earth.
Hence the long (one sided) webcaming chat was good albeit the rush as he literally updated by the days. He also brought me around the house he was temporary putting up in and i didn't expect houses in Perth can be THAT small.
The bedroom can easily be one-third smaller than the bedroom of our three-room flat.
Detailing every aspects of his new way of living, the interactions with his multinational course mates, the uber high ego Aussie tutors, i see everything as an appeal to me.
Gosh...i shan't think too much into it.
He showed me the scones he baked for his assignment and geez...i'm so proud of him. =)

I had to go two hours later as Eric was already on his way to pick me for our annual LNY movie with the rest!
It was our third consecutive year of midnight movie on LNY eve and it has gradually become a tradition we all wish to keep.
To end off the night, we would always proceed for a drink at the prata shop along Bencoolen Street, gazing at the streams of vehicles turning out from the temples, with long thick joss sticks protruding out from their windows.
Considering that service was as per normal the following day, we had to keep the night short(er).
Arrived home at 2am and crashed immediately.

There wasn't a better way to start the LNY with a church service!
It was observed that on special days like this, the attendance could easily be halfed, but i thought this year was actually not that bad. Just a quarter lesser?
Packing up was record quick as everyone had a long day of activities awaiting.
With the aftermath from last night's saga, i deliberated for a while before dialing home and heaved a sigh of relief when Mum said the brothers were on their way and we were heading to Aunt's house. We didn't mention anything about the night before ever since.
I've never enjoyed LNY visitation but yet i think it's necessary. The once-a-year visits somehow become an indication that we are not losing touch. Even though we merely ate and watched television programs which are frequent not of our preference.
That was when iPhone became the best companion! Yes i know it's rude.
I can't stand people isolating themselves into the world of technology when there's obviously a group activity going on. Not even when one claims that he/she is listening.
But since i couldn't comment or participate in their "adult-talk", i guessed it was alright for me to just look up and nod occasionally. :p
After Aunt's place, we proceeded to visit Grandpa at a home.
It was quite sad that he couldn't spend his LNY at home and worse, bedridden.
Nevertheless, i was pretty sure he sensed our presence.
In less than five hours, we accomplished Visitations 2010 under the scorching heat and the killing sun.
Mum and i crashed immediately upon arriving home and got up just in time for dinner.

LNY day two, i met Jac for lunch at Marche and boy, i fell in love with this Swiss-Germany restaurant all over again.
I was devastated after its evacuation from the malls in town and with the only branch remaining in Vivocity, it's considered fortunate if you could beat the queue.
The new establishment at 313 @ Somerset occupies the first level and the first basement with the seating at the later. It's undoubtedly a tad claustrophobic with the low ceiling but the cosy country decor and the delicious spread of food make up to it. =)


After a hearty lunch, we headed to the cinema for Valentine's Day and we left the theatre feeling blissful. =) Strongly recommended, if it's still showing.
Dinner was with Jer and Sejin as they returned from Korea to spend LNY as husband and wife.

As Sejin had an air-stewardess friend who stopped over here for a night, she joined us for the night and while the two Korean ladies got engrossed with their girls talk, Jer and i were enjoying our Singlish chat as well.
Our night ended after browsing 700 pictures of their wedding and honeymoon.
I crashed immediately when i got home.


On the third day, i started off to Fen's place and then to Ps LY's.
LNY would never be completed without having a game (or more) of mahjong!!
Like cycling (or swimming for some), it's a skill that you'll never lose once mastered. You would only get better. =)
As the night gets older, i got more dampened by the post-holiday syndrome.
I wished i had taken leave for the rest of the week. Or maybe forever.
Oh wells.

The only thing that i looked forward on the first day back at work after a long weekend, was to end the day.
Seriously, i think i've lost my motivation totally. That's another story altogether.
Anyway, considering that i won't be seeing Jer for the rest of the year, i decided to send them off at the airport this time.
If i recalled correctly, the last time i did that was when he set off to Brisbane for his studies.
For that, i deserved to be suaned. =p
But i also realised that i really didn't like the feeling of seeing my friend, especially close ones, leaving before my eyes. The idea of parting is just too depressing.
I'm so gonna miss him. =(


Thankfully, i managed to convince him to join the iPhoners!
With the uber amazing whatsapp application, we can text each other for free, anytime anywhere, and best, we can even send pictures and mark our locations instantly!
Just that i would never know where is he only if i read Korean.

Since LNY started, the sun gets more generous each day.
A temperature of 35 degree celsius is totally unbearable and i wished i carry a portable air-condition everywhere i go.
Even though so, i blast a fan AND my air con every night before i could fall asleep. No kidding!
It was reported that February was the driest month in 140 years, since 1869 and the heat will last till May.
That is it! I'm migrating.

Happy Mummy's Day

When i realised i had only one free weekend in the month of May, i quickly recalled the things that i've put on hold for the longest time.
We have agreed and planned for dinner at my place way in advance but when the Easter production and other events came along, we just had to postpone the gathering for a while.
In view of the constant reminders from Tecky on how he missed Mummy's braised pig trotters and that Mdm Toh's delivery date is round the corner, i had to put this on my top priority.
With one week's notice, Mummy planned the menu, did the marketing and whipped up a feast for my dear friends!
Seriously, other than being uber hospitalble (somtimes even more than her daughter), i think Mummy is a great cook!
She never fail to delight my friends with her cooking. It's hard work man.
Hence only reserved for the priviledged! Hah.
Today is Mother's Day and i wanted to cook buy her a nice dinner.
But she has deserted me to go singing with her friends. K lah...as long as she's happy, i'm happy.
Before she left, my dinner was nice and hot, ready in the kitchen. Awww...
世上只有妈妈好...

I stood in the congregation today and boy...i miss worshiping so much!!!
Ever since i had to park myself at the back of the auditorium three months ago, i somehow could only make sure that, others, can have a proper worship.
Keeping a watch at the ushers, making sure that the latecomers are not blocking the projectors and they each can have a seat - are the things i've to manage, as i drift in and out of worship.
We took a moment to show our appreciation to the mothers at service today.
Presenting flowers to them and P. Tiak led the congregation to pray over for them too.
Then i made an observation.
I realised the median age of the mothers in Brighton is getting younger!
Most of them are actually my peers! Wow...
Or the problem lies with me? Oops... =p

Happened to come across the old song by my old time favourite singer 苏芮.
Touched my heart to the max.

《奉獻》

長路奉獻給遠方　玫瑰奉獻給愛情
我拿什麼奉獻給你　我的愛人
白雲奉獻給草場　江河奉獻給海洋
我拿什麼奉獻給你　我的朋友

我拿什麼奉獻給你
我不停的問
我不停的找
不停的想

白鴿奉獻給藍天　星光奉獻給長夜
我拿什麼奉獻給你　我的小孩
雨季奉獻給大地　歲月奉獻給季節
我拿什麼奉獻給你　我的爹娘

God, save the Children!

It has been a long while since i've had encounters with people who are so close to God.
The message came so divine.
Just when i needed to hear from God.

Just when i thought the family, including myself was giving up on SB, God reminded me the conviction He laid in me.
He reminded me the time in secondary school when i delivered my oratorical speech on Juvenile Delinquency with so much conviction that awarded me the first runner-up.
He reminded me the time during my career switch, when i very much wanted to join the MCYS to help families.
He reminded me of why i was so determined to join the Prison and SPF so that i can help the nation.
He reminded me that He left so many of the above options to me, not for nothing.
Every single burden and agony that have been laid in my heard for the longest time, were verbalized within the hour.

Despite having strong conviction and great inspiration to help the society, i wasn't prepared to take a step of faith forward to actualize any of the options.
Fearing that i am inadequate and unequipped.
I could easily recite the various causes that result in juvenile delinquency but looking back to what i've done, i didn't seem to do what i preach.
To the two young ones in my family, i didn't do a good job at all.
In fact i blamed myself a little for what has happened to SB.
Regret for not doing the things that i should have done which might prevent the worse from happening today.
I'm ashamed that i failed to exercise my beliefs in my own family and i even contemplated to give up on my own brother!

God loves the children. Indeed.
They are the ones who will continue to further the Kingdom in the next generation.
Thus they should not be tarnished by the works of devil!

Jason Wong delivered the message without much effort and preparation.
He was merely relating his encounters with God but the impact was enormous. At least to me.
I couldn't stop my tears throughout the hour-long.
It has been a while since i've heard a non-self-centred message.
I thank God for raising a man like Jason who holds the 'legal key'.
We NEED a man like him to lead the nation away from destruction.
I yearn to be like him. Really.
And i hope God will use me like this too.

Bonny is back!

Bonny's back!
From Camp Glorious at Malacca and the extension at KL.
Very fruitful and fun.
Will do a separate post on that soon after i sort out my thoughts and pictures.

I got home at almost midnight last night.
Unpacked, washed up, had supper, talked to Mummy and got onto bed in 3 hours.
Sleep was the least thing i did during the trip and i couldn't seem to get enough even after crashing for a consecutive 9 hours.
I had to force myself up at 12.30 in order to tune back my nocturnal sleeping habit.
I spent the day home, resting and tidying the mess accumulated over the past 5 weeks in my room.
I felt as if i'm getting ready for school reopening tomorrow.
What a day to start work.
On a positive note, it's my birthday and i should be happy.
On the another hand, i have to face the reality of the 5 weeks worth of backlog.
So extreme right?
But being a optimist, the former should overule the latter. =)
And yes...very soon, i'll be moving 1 more step towards the 30-mark.
Oh dear...

Anyway, BB bought me the first birthday gift after 18 years of being my brother!
Look!

He gave himself away! He reads my blog! Haha!
It was the 4th item on my wish list.
I was so overjoyed that i squeeked can!
Very very moved.
Nothing else but the fact that it was given by BB. =)
Not cheap hor!

Ivana and Agnes got me a pair of red wedge too!

I saw this pretty pair of shoes during our KL shopping and i contemplated coz i didn't have much ringgit left.
If you scrutinize properly, there are heart-shaped cut-outs on the shoes.
So pretty right!
I love it!

Gracie got a very-Bonny strawberry and yoghurt hand cream too.

So sweet that i could almost eat it! =)

You know what, the saddest thing is, i'm still dateless can!
Nobody wants to ask me out lor!
I is poor thing.
But at least i thank God for Persi who has offered to go out with me on my birthday.

We'll see.

Academic Misery - Day 7

I tried to turn in early last night at 3.30am but ended up tossing and turning till 5ish.
It was really the impact of waking up at 2.30pm earlier in the day. Cham ah...
Just when i was about to knock out, the eerie noise coming from the window gap and the consecutive door-slamming bangs at the neighbours as a result of the forceful wind outside forced me to get up.
The sight out of the window reminded me of the deadly Cyclone Nargis.
Seriously, i was scared and started to pray.
I contemplated to do a check outside of my bedroom but chickened out in the end.
I reckoned the best was to sleep.

The next time i opened my eyes, it was already a quarter past 10.
It was then that i remembered it's Sunday and church service starts at 10, which was already a 45min bonus than the usual 9.15am.
没想到...
Well, since it was no use crying over spilt milk, i went back to get more rest again. =p
When i finally decided to wake up, Mummy had just returned from church and was preparing to proceed to her karaoke session.
And so i guiltily got up;
guiltily prepared my lunch;
guiltily ate my noodles and;
guiltily did my past-year paper.
So guilty. =(

As usual, being the least productive in the day, i went into snooze mode 2 hours later.
Just as i was about to pounce onto the sofa to take 5, i've got a surprise visit from the girls and the guy!
And Ivana, the Santa of the item number 1 on my wish list, brought along this!

Woohoo!!!
Ok, since it's for Bonny's birthday, i will only open it in June!
For now, i'll stare-plum-quench-thirst by admiring the cover. Hee...
Other than the lovely book, Uncle Chua got me a pretty pink Zebra mechanical pencil too!
So nice and practical!
Looking at the Japanese words on the label, i reckon it's one which i wouldn't bare to spend on.
Aiyer....want to cry already.
Thank you guys for your lovely thoughts and prayer.
It really perked up my gloomy day. =)

Oh not forgetting, to my Mummy, Happy Mummy's Day!
Not as if she knows what's a blog but it's my open declaration to her. Hah.
Even though she prefers to spend it with her karaoke kakis, i don't mind making do with the pandan kaya cake at home too.
Strangely, whenever it comes to Mother's Day, i wouldn't consider other flavours other than Bengawan Solo's pandan kaya.
It was Granny's favourite and we used to get it for her on Mother's Day, when she was still around.
It somehow became habitual, even after she passed away 4 years ago.
The cake reminded me of her and i missed her very much.
My dearest Granny who brought me up.
Happy Granny's Day to her too.

Random

It's 4am and i'm just got home from cell meeting.
The actual meeting ended at 11ish but the fellowship, which was longer than the meeting, continued till now.
This is the most happening cell group i've been sia.
The late nights are making me feeling young all over again.
It's hard to find like-minded owls nowadays and i simply love the nights.
I'll only dislike it when i'm doing undesirable stuff like mugging?
Unfortunately, it's gonna be the case very soon. =(

A couple of random updates...

Mummy has been going to church over the past couple of weeks!
It started when she was invited to an evangelistic event at the Indoor Stadium during the CNY period.
She responded to the altar call then and it triggered her to explore Christianity.
Thus since then, she has been attending the services at Bethesda Cathedral which is located opposite my home.
I thought Mummy is a much better evangelist than me!
She brought her sister to her first service as she believed that only Jesus could solve her problem.
When she was reiterating on how the pastor prayed for my aunt and how she trusted that only God could solve her problems, i almost teared.
Subsequently, she even had the courage to invite her hot-tempered brother who screamed at her eventually. Yet not giving up as she wanted to pass him a christian cd.
I give thanks.
It's an answered prayer. Really.
Tracing back from my journal, i've been praying for the salvation of Mummy since i first accepted Christ.
You wouldn't imagine how much i yearn for this day to come.
I couldn't stop feeling thankful.
Even when she said that she is still in the midst of exploring, i believed the day will come when she's devoted in this eternal journey with Christ.
So exciting! =)

***

The spare-tyre-cum-by-the-way incident repeated itself the day after i put up that post.
I almost screamed at that uber insensitive party.
Thank God i hadn't lost my cool.
I've decided to reject such unreasonable treatment since i couldn't accept or agree on it.
I don't think i deserve that. Really.
No one to be mad with.
Somehow i've concluded that it's probably due to no mutual agreement on how this friendship should be maintained.
It all boils down to managing expectations as well.
It's sad but nothing much can be done.
No confrontation for sure.
We'll see how...

***

*yawn* I'm sleepy.
Good night morning.

Update

I think my previous post scare some of you.
I'm ok i'm ok. Really. =)

Some updates...

Last Saturday, Bonny went for Jay's concert.
Habitually, i would blog the post-concert review
I wanted to! But just plain lazy.
I haven't gone online after i got home daily.
Very drained and exhausted by then.
But no worries, it will be out hmm...soon. =)

Lately took up pilates.
After much contemplation, i've finally decided to give it a shot.
For the sake of my back muscle.
It can't be resting for too long, otherwise not sure when will it decide to contract again.
The night after the first lesson, i thought i could literally hear my muscle protesting.
I was surprised of myself for performing the stunts that i didn't thought i could.
Not every one though. But it's good enough.
The stretching was pretty strenuous and i couldn't help but to question myself umpteen times on the trouble i put myself to.
I mean i could have a cruising Friday lunch at Great World.
Well, no pain [literally] no gain.
Ouch my back....

BB has gotten his 'O's result yesterday.
Sigh...disappointing.
He merely hit the entry mark for the polytechnics.
Thankfully the courses he's keen on have high cut-off points.
Now it's just a matter of arranging them to his advantage.
Well, the only outcome we wish is to push him into a polytechnic, doesn't matter which one.

I have to stop now.
The muscle relaxant is making me uber drowsy.

Ciaoz.

Pinky Love

Under the influence of Mummy, i adopted the habit of sweeping my bed before turning in at night.
No particular reason but just to sleep clean.
And so after shifting into new place, i have been using Mummy's feather duster which she placed in her room to dust my bed.
After time, i thought it was too troublesome aka laziness, and decided to compromise on the cleanliness of my sleeping space. Haha of course not!
To put it simply, i just stopped sweeping my bed before sleeping.
I attempted to buy a feather duster for myself but i couldn't find one that can match my room. It's a girl thingy lah.
Well, guess feather duster manufacturers do not have a slight intention to make feather dusters pretty.
Then last night, just when i wanted to reach for the handphone charger, i saw a pink furry object behind the curtain.


Isn't that cuuute??!!! Seriously i've not seen a PINK feather duster before! Have you?
Above all, i was particularly moved by Mummy's thoughtfulness.
She bought it in the afternoon and secretly hung it behind the curtain.
How sweet was that?!
In fact, i didn't know she had been sourcing for a perfect feather duster for me all these while. I thought it was so trivial.
Alright i teared a bit. Heh.

This is love hor. =)


[looks like a hibiscus right? heh]

Big Bro

A week ago, Bonny met an unusual encounter when i was surfing a renown camera producer's website for fun.
Eversince then, my antivirus kept popping up warning messages and my entire system seemed to halt all of a sudden.
I couldn't open any of my hard disk drives and even the control panel.
Reluctantly, i had to accept the fact that my pc was infected with a virus.
Bonny didn't come across such serious "viral" problem in my IT-literate life before ok.
Being a technical idiot, my usual immediate reaction was to call up Acer technical helpdesk for help.
Thank God i didn't.

A day later, Big Bro and i were watching tv at New Place.
Bonny: Ey you know hor...my computer spoy leh.
BB: What happened?
Bonny: ........website......hang......cannot open........very slow...... Like that lor.
BB: Orh...kenna virus lor. Have to reformat.
Bonny: Yah man. So do you know which shop can i go to?
BB: I can do loh.
Bonny: Ey???
BB: I always help my friends one.

To cut the long story short, a week after that conversation, he did everything that should be done.
Including backing up of all my personal documents and files which i was uber concerned [he had to source for a hard disk from his friends to do the backup]; installing some new and alien-looking programs which he deemed to be useful; calling up Microsoft to get a don't-know-what key etc etc etc.
So impressive loh!
I have always thought that he was just good in computer games as he could spend HOURS before those moving graphics.
Never did i realise that he has attained a standard like this.
I was indeed pleased to discover this part of his talent.
锵(kiang)咧!

-A work-in-progress episode-
While he was doing the repair work and i was at work...
BB: Can i eat your strawberry candies in the paper bag? It has been there since CNY. [he just can't stand junk food lying around, un-eaten]
Bonny: Everything ok already ah? [Bonny is so conditional. =p]
BB: Almost. Installing the programs now.
Bonny: Ok. Go ahead with the candies.
5 minutes later...
BB: Ey your strawberry candies have expired and i ate one!
Bonny: [laughing away] The consequence of being greedy.
30 minutes later...
BB: Everything done. You must frequently update the virus defination files and the spybot. And must scan frequently. Best is every week scan once.
[wah seh...comes together with post-service advices too!]
Bonny: Thank you so much! You may have the marks and spencer cookies in the paper bag.
BB: Huh..what marks?
Bonny: Marks and Spencer is the brand lah.
BB: Ok thks. haha
Another 5 minutes later...
BB: Ey your marks cookies expired also loh :(
Bonny: [laughing hysterically and my boss thought i'm mad] Hahaha okok i'll get you something else.

I think the entire work-in-progress episode was so amusing.
I could imagine him sitting in front of his sis' pc, doing stuff for his sis, thought could munch on his sis' snacks but ended up finding all the expired food in his sis' room.
So poor thing hor. Hahaha...
Ok Bonny is baddy. =p
Therefore to make up for his effort [fixing my pc] and disappointment [finding inedible food], i am going to get him his favourite chips tomorrow. =)

BB is doing his 'O' levels this year [yes we are 9 years apart].
He ever decribed to me about his career plans and i think they are great.
I prayerfully hope that he is able to cross the mark this year and be able to pursue his dreams.
I am affirmed that he will be good in God's hand as He has a wonderful plan for him.
Looking at him now, i think my job is almost done.

It is left with Small Bro now.
Haiz...