10:39.

Close your eyes and listen
to the explosions in the sky
Singing random lullabies
for the watching waiting ones

Won't you close your eyes and listen
There's an explosion in the hearts
of the waiting, wanting, longing
of the Saviour's come on earth

It's the generation now
Of a world that's changing now
The hearts that's bleeding now
will be changed for ever now

It's the changes happening now
Waves over your soul
It's that something you can't say
oh what words cannot express

It's the explosion in the skies
of the reigning victorious One
It's the change in the atmosphere
Revolving through this earth

See it now.

10:33.

A stronger Sing dollar looks set to rise up.

Singapore Rents Alarm Tenants, Spark Inflation: Andy Mukherjee

By Andy Mukherjee

Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Singapore's landlords have already pushed their tenants into a corner; now they may be testing the central bank's patience.

If the global economy doesn't slow in 2008, the island's monetary authority may have to tighten its policy to manage the impact of skyrocketing rents on consumer prices.

And that means there is a good chance of a stronger Singapore dollar.

The average monthly rental for prime office space in the city state has tripled in the past three years, reaching a record high of $12.60 per square foot in the third quarter, according to real-estate brokerage CB Richard Ellis.

The global credit-market turmoil doesn't seem to have had a discernible impact on Singapore office demand, which continues to be dominated by banks and financial firms, Richard Ellis said.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. are building their own office complexes as vacancy rates in the central business district fall close to zero.

Future supply, too, is getting snapped up.

Standard Chartered Plc has booked 500,000 square feet (46,451 square meters), or about one-third of the first phase of Marina Bay Financial Center, which will only be ready in the first quarter of 2010.

The government is releasing more land to ease the supply crunch, though there's no reprieve in sight for tenants for at least another couple of years.

Collective Sales

Chicago-based property consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. estimates supply of new office space in Singapore to be less than half of the projected demand of 5 million square feet from 2007 to 2009.

A similar story is playing out in residential and retail segments, which have even deeper linkages with local inflation.

In the first seven months of this year, 61 sites were sold to developers by owners of apartment complexes in so-called en- bloc, or collective, deals, for a total value of S$11 billion ($7.5 billion), surpassing last year's record of S$7.8 billion, according to research by property brokerage Savills Plc.

This has curbed supply of housing at a time when demand is soaring. International schools are overbooked, suggesting that more foreigners are being allowed in to boost the island's small workforce of 2.6 million people.

The government has recently tightened the rules for en-bloc sales and imposed higher fees on developers. That might help contain the frenzy of collective sales somewhat.

Residential rents, however, are unlikely to come down in a hurry. If anything, the rental increase will be inflationary.

14 Percent Growth

``Given the tight labor market, we expect higher living costs to lead to more generous wage settlements,'' Nicholas Bibby and Puay Yeong Goh, currency strategists at Barclays Capital in Singapore, wrote in a research note last week.

The Singapore economy grew an annualized 14.4 percent in the second quarter, its fastest pace of expansion in two years. Adding to the pressure on inflation -- which is already at a 12- year high of 2.9 percent -- retailers, too, are faced with galloping rental costs, which they want to pass on to consumers.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore sets policy by targeting the local dollar against a basket of trading partners' currencies. At its semi-annual review tomorrow, the central bank will have an opportunity to highlight the inflation risk.

Still, it's unlikely that the monetary authority will change its policy of ``modest and gradual'' currency appreciation, which has been in place since April 2004, to seek a significantly stronger Singapore dollar.

At least it may not do so immediately.

Inflation Hawk

A stronger currency won't be welcome at a time when the island's key electronics exports -- semiconductors, disk drives and telecommunications equipment -- have fallen for seven straight months.

``The difficulty for the central bank this time around is that while the domestic economy is booming, exports are not and indeed are threatened by U.S. developments,'' says Robert Prior- Wandesforde, an economist at HSBC Holdings Plc in Singapore.

Even so, a stronger Singapore dollar may become inevitable in 2008 as inflation crosses the 3 percent mark. Last time that happened was in 1994, when the stance of monetary policy was for quicker appreciation in the Singapore dollar than at present, the Barclays economists note.

The Singapore dollar has risen just 4 percent so far this year against the U.S. currency, compared with almost a 14 percent surge in the Thai baht and a 12 percent jump in the Indian rupee.

Singapore's monetary authority is an extremely credible inflation fighter. And inflation expectations are already firming thanks to the frenzied real-estate market.

While the central bank probably won't jump into the fray to prick the property bubble, it won't let consumer prices get out of hand either. A strong Singapore dollar may be a good bet.

13:52.

SINGAPORE: Lee Kuan Yew, who turned a malarial island into a modern financial center with a first world skyline, is peering ahead again into this city-state's future, this time with plans to seal it off with dikes against the rising tides of global warming.

"Let's start thinking about it now," he said during an interview last week, in what could be the motto for a lifetime of nation building. Ever since its difficult birth in 1965, when it was expelled from Malaysia, he said, Singapore has struggled to stay alive in a sea of economic and political forces beyond its control.

"If the water goes up by three, four, five meters," he said, laughing, "what will happen to us? Half of Singapore will disappear."

For all his success, Lee remains on the alert for perils that may exist only on the distant horizon: the rising role of China in the region as the United States looks the other way, the buffeting of the world economy, even climate change.

Vigorous and strong-minded and on the verge of his 84th birthday, Lee talked at length about his country's vulnerabilities, its slow movement toward a more open, worldly society and the influence of China, India and the United States in world affairs.

A British-educated lawyer, Lee is one of Asia's remarkable personalities, a world figure whose guest book is filled with the names of international political and financial leaders.

His creation, modern Singapore, is an economic powerhouse with one of the world's highest per capita incomes, high-quality schools, health care and public services that have made it a magnet for global labor. Foreigners make up roughly a fifth of its 4.5 million residents.

In his office in the former headquarters of the island's British colonial rulers, Lee sat back in a zippered blue jacket, sipping small cups of hot water and laughing often, as different as could be from the bare-knuckled political infighter he has described himself as.

"I've done my bit," said Lee, who stepped down as prime minister in 1990 and now watches over the country - and occasionally takes part in political disputes - with a seat in the cabinet and the title of minister mentor. His eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, is prime minister.

"To understand Singapore," he said, "you've got to start off with an improbable story: It should not exist." It is a nation with almost no natural resources, without a common culture, a fractured mix of Chinese, Malays and Indians, relying on its wits to stay afloat and prosper.

"We have survived so far, 42 years," he said. "Will we survive for another 42? It depends upon world conditions. It doesn't depend on us alone."

This sense of vulnerability is Lee's answer to all his critics, to those who say his country is too tightly controlled, that it leashes the press, suppresses free speech, curtails democracy, tramples on dissidents and stunts entrepreneurship and creativity in its citizens.

"The answer lies in our genesis," he said. "To survive, we have to do these things. And although what you see today - the superstructure of a modern city - the base is a very narrow one and could easily disintegrate."

Asked whether, looking back, he felt he might have gone too far in crushing his opponents, sometimes with ruinous lawsuits, sometimes with long jail terms, he answered, "No, I don't think so. I never killed them. I never destroyed them. Politically, they destroyed themselves."

One of his concerns now, Lee said, is that the United States has become so preoccupied with the Middle East that it is failing to look ahead and plan in this part of the world.

"I think it's a real drag slowing down adjusting to the new situation," he said, a lapse that worries Southeast Asian countries that count on Washington to balance the rising economic and diplomatic power of China.

"Without this draining of energy, attention and resources for Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, there would have been deep thinking about the long-term trends - working out possible options that the U.S. could exercise to change the direction of long-term trends more in its favor," Lee said.

American diplomats in the region insist that the United States has not turned its back on Southeast Asia, noting that high-level visits continue, from President George W. Bush, from cabinet secretaries and from the military.

That may be true on a day-to-day basis, Lee said, "because of the machine."

"Your ambassadors are here," he said. "Your chambers of commerce are here. Your State Department, trade and Treasury and so on, they are on the ball in keeping the shop going."

The continued U.S. dominance in the region can be seen in the weight of its economy. Lee said that if its current market problems lead to a slowdown in domestic consumption, all Asian economies will shrink.

Even China's vigorous quest for raw materials in the region, he said, is driven in large part by the United States, which along with Europe is the main market for Chinese products.

As the United States focuses on the Middle East, Lee said, the Chinese are busy refining their policies and building the foundations of more cooperative long-term relationships in Asia. "They are making strategic decisions on their relations with the region," he said.

And this is where tiny Singapore sees itself as a model for the world's most-populous country. "They've got to be like us," Lee said, "with a very keen sense of what is possible, and what is not."

Every year, he said, Chinese ministers meet twice with Singaporean ministers to learn from their experience. Fifty mayors of Chinese cities visit every three months for courses in city management.

Singapore's secret, Lee said, is that it is "ideology free," an unsentimental pragmatism that infuses the workings of the country as if it were in itself an ideology.

"Does it work?" Lee said. "Let's try it and if it does work, fine, let's continue it. If it doesn't work, toss it out, try another one."

The yardstick, he said, is, "is this necessary for survival and progress? If it is, let's do it."

Hoping to attract more tourists, for example, Singapore is building two huge casinos, despite Lee's expressed distaste for them.

"I don't like casinos," he said. "but the world has changed and if we don't have an integrated resort like the ones in Las Vegas - Las Vegas Sands - we'll lose.

"So, let's go," he said. "Let's try and still keep it safe and mafia-free and prostitution-free and money-laundering-free. Can we do it? I'm not sure, but we're going to give it a good try."

Even on social issues, themes he habitually argues with an aggressiveness that can seem inflexible, Lee sounded almost mellow.

"I think we have to go in whatever direction world conditions dictate if we are to survive and to be part of this modern world," he said. "If we are not connected to this modern world, we are dead. We'll go back to the fishing village we once were."

For example, on the issue of homosexuality, he said, "we take an ambiguous position. We say, O.K., leave them alone, but let's leave the law as it is for the time being and let's have no gay parades."

Although gay sex remains technically illegal in Singapore, the government has indicated it will not actively enforce the law.

China, Hong Kong and Taiwan already have more liberal policies regarding gays, he noted. "It's a matter of time," he said. "But we have a part Muslim population, another part conservative older Chinese and Indians. So, let's go slowly. It's a pragmatic approach to maintain social cohesion."

As for the set of "Asian values" of hierarchy, respect and order that Singapore is founded on, he said, "It's already diluted and we can see it in the difference between the generations. It's inevitable."

In his own family, generational values are changing. From father to children to grandchildren, he said, command of the Chinese language had weakened, along with the culture it embodies.

"They had a basic set of traditional Confucian values," he said of his children, two sons and a daughter. "Not my grandchildren."

One grandson has just begun his studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he said; the other is heading to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

This well-educated younger generation is part of what Lee said was a social dichotomy in which the top 20 percent is as cosmopolitan as any - well educated, surfing the Internet, traveling the world without constraint. "This is not a closed society," he insisted.

But at the same time, he said, the government must protect the less well-off, less well-educated people from information that might upset or confuse them - people "who are not finding it so comfortable to suddenly find the world changed, their world, their sense of place, their sense of position in society."

These are the people who he said had to be pulled into the future as he seeks to make Singapore "a first world oasis in a third world region."

"We built up the infrastructure," he said. "The difficult part was getting the people to change their habits so that they behaved more like first world citizens, not like third world citizens spitting and littering all over the place."

So Singapore embarked on what he called "campaigns to do this, campaigns to do that."

Do not chew gum. Do not throw garbage from rooftops. Speak good English. Smile. Perform spontaneous acts of kindness.

Paradoxically, he said, if Singapore had not been so poor it might never have transformed itself and prospered as it has. His warnings about vulnerability and collapse are a constant theme to persuade his people to accept limits on their freedoms.

"Supposing we had oil and gas, do you think I could get the people to do this? No," he said. "If I had oil and gas I'd have a different people, with different motivations and expectations."

"It's because we don't have oil and gas and they know that we don't have, and they know that this progress comes from their efforts," he said. "So please do it and do it well."

1338.

I read with surprise and sudden nostalgia yesterday that the Singapore River was going to be turned into a reservoir. A reservoir? What about Bum Boats up and down the river and nice lanterns in the waters before Esplanade? Of course I know Sg is changing, it never stops but it's still strange knowing I'm that far removed from knowing its revolutions. Hm.

16:23.

It's strange to know how much the elitist from my educational upbringing seems embedded somewhere inside very deeply. And it's further strange how it could even have sprung forth when my real upbringing is humble in every and any sense.

But starting from acing Lit, strengthened and grown from Mass Comm admitance and performance, fed and led from that early journalism career despite my real humble beginnings, I think there's simply a little girl inside who believed more than she should in her own elitism when elitism is but hogwash really.

And it's at the strangest times when it comes out - A strong pride that I can't always distinguish. When is it a natural acceptable reaction to the illogical and when is it a green-eyed goblin, defensive, would-be superior and fighting for its tuft?

How Singaporean is that word and behaviour - Elitism. How intricately related to my past living. 'cause well, it was part of life. That we weren't the ee, r a f f l es schools type of elite. We were the street-smart, creative, trailblazers elites.

Oh Lord, help me discern, help me discern please. Let what must die die indeed. Yet let me be able to see clearly the tangled heartstrings so I don't kill what needs to live to build a unique called living being uniquely shaped to fit a specific hole in this society.

Hold my heart.

18:32.

"Contrary to popular opinion, trials don't come into our lives to produce faith. They come to prove faith." - Next Wave Online

Your Birthdate: July 10

Independent and dominant, you tend to be the alpha dog in most situations. You're very confident, and hardly anything ever shakes you. Mundane tasks tend to drain you - you prefer to be making great plans. You are quite original. When people don't "get" you, it bothers you a lot. Your strength: Your ability to gain respect Your weakness: Caring too much what others think Your power color: Orange-red Your power symbol: Letter X Your power month: October

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

1254.

It's still a nice cool day in Singapore, despite it being after noon. It rained yest morn' and this morn' too and it was very very lovely to sleep in and feel the cool breeze wafting in from the windows.

Seasoned bloster, support pillow, blanket - Mmmm.

Am going to take today easy. Going out for dinner later with my folks. Tomorrow's my dad's 60th birthday.

Am also going to tinkle the ivories a bit if there's time and spend time with God especially to deal with the angst I know I'm culminating about my boss. Got to deal with it, got to deal with it or it's not going to be pretty.

Had a great day out yest with 2 friends. Spent the afternoon in Orchard with Anne (a large part in Topshop, oopsie) and dinner and the evening with Germie at Bugis. Ventured to the "old" Bugis Village too which I've not been to since er... poly days I think.

Having been there now, I highly recommend as a great place for cheap buys and great deals. Got a couple of contacts for wholesale selling there so I'm happy :)

I got heaps of good buys yest but even though they are good buys, they add up. And I've decided not to do any shopping for the next two months.

I bought:

- A Topshop dress ($29 only!)
- A Topshop skirt ($19 only!)
- A Topshop bracelet
- An old school cuff watch (which I think I'll float online to check out response)
- A mustard cropped cardi with big buttons :)
- A pair of sliver Accessories earring
- A pair of blue Diva earrings (to replace the exact pair I dropped and broke last month)
- A victorian styled green dress
- A yellow Beatles tee
- 1 pair of button earrings
- 1 pair of chunky white hoops
- 1 pair of clear jellies :D
- 1 pair of white ballet jellies

Ooh, and Germie kindly passed me the Trav is tee she got. And Anne passed me a pair of black Topshop casual shorts I got her to buy for me for $8 during the sale earlier.

So... yes, keep me accountable, folks. No more shopping.

But I'm serious abt seeing if I can start up a shopping blog and bring in stuff to KL from Sg. So I'm gg to float a few items online and see the response and if the response is good, then I'll buy more things and keep it going. Maybe in spree format or just limited items format. The Cur ve's flea market is an option if it gets bigger but that requires more logistics than I'm able to for a while.

Any way, all's good. Deep inside where it really matters, all's good.

Peace out.

17:12.

I'm back in Singapore after about 10 weeks of absence, which I reckon is the longest I've been away from here since I moved last year.

Time flies. '07 will be coming to a close, golly. Ray and I have been together 2 years, wow. I've been in Msia for 15 months, whew. And back in corporate for almost 6 months, man.

Heck, I'm 26 and 4 months away from a new year in which I have to identify myself as *swallows* 28.

So many things are the same and yet not the same. So many things have changed and so many remain similar. And in all things, alleluia, our God reigns so I can rest and live.

I love being back in Singapore, love the green trees and neat roads, love the organised traffic (heh) and brighter air, if that makes sense.

A poster caught my eye earlier as I enter the immi section. "42th birthday. A city of possibilities" (I think it's "city", it could have been another word).

And well, that caught me - "possibilities". And it caught me with a persuasion and magic right there at the doorstep of my nation. I reckon that's great marketing positioning. Kudos, whichever agency our govt uses.

When I came home, took the lift up and stepped through the door when we reached 7th storey, I felt a quiet exhilaration. Am not too sure why. Maybe it's the high rise living (*pokes* my love), maybe it's the familiar slight wind and muted yet clear natural light, maybe it's knowing I was a few steps away from going home.

What a world of contradictions and paradoxes - That familiarity breeds contempt and yet familiarity has our hearts wrapped up in its comforts and languid before its throne.

But you know, I've found family in Msia.

And though admittedly, I'm struggling to see what God does for me in my job, I'm in a good place and thankful.

Went for church camp last weekend and the whole three days just shouted and felt like family. I can see CCKL in my future and I'm rooted and planted and committed.

So despite the duality (triplicate really 'cause Home is with my Lord in the mansion with many rooms) homes syndrome, the scale of RM vs SGD, family here, wanting our future children to have a great education (and me firmly advocating Sg education system despite its flaws), despite every and any thing in between the heart and head, soul and body - Lord I am Yours.

Wherever it be. We've sung the songs and meant the pledge. Now we live the lives that shout your praise positioned at where your calling brought and kept this once lost soul now found and renewed.

You are my King.

I want more of You in my life. I cannot live without You and so never (God help me) want to step out of Your calling for my life.

Keep us, Lord. Yours.

17:53.

And it's almost Thursday evening.

And it's almost knock off time.

And I'm going to forget the loads of work for a few days now. Each day has nuff worries... see my God understands living.

And it's church camp tomorrow.

Like say yee haw.

14:35.

Hey ya hey ya.

Nope I have not abandoned this place, as much as it seems otherwise.

Have just been too consumed by work. And I use the word "consumed" with not much joy but with acknowledgement.

It still remains true, friends, that when I stop writing, it often means something somewhere down the line is broken... the tracks are unhitched. When I don't have time to think and be still, I fundamentally get affected as a person. So... I'm going to have to write again, write more, write like this girl used to.

The break is tiny but it's no good to ignore any friction in the soul. Even when it's mute.

It's a very warm Sat and Ray and I are bumming in Starbucks at up town, which is where I work too. Planned to get a haircut while he chills here but I couldn't face waiting for 30minutes. Looks like I will go back on Monday during lunchtime and get choppy china doll bangs (if I don't chicken out).

Next Fri, I'm off work and we go to Port Dickson (never been there) for church camp :) Now, that I'm looking forward to something major. And the week after that, I'm off on Thurs and go back to Sg. It would have been abt 3 months since I last went back to my beloved homeland. It will be great.

It is well with my soul. As long as my soul train's on track on His, it is still alleluia and amen.

Praise God.

0137.

Hey folks.

How have your been?

Haven't been blogging for a while 'cause work was pretty unceasingly busy.

Good news though, after a little pitstop a few weeks ago where I was seriously wondering what I was doing elbow high in tracking and numbers related reports, S k y e Tan has been back on top since thanks to her very awesome God.

Another good news - Yesterday, I got my passport back. What happened, you ask? Well, I finally got my work permit :D

After moving here a year ago out of faith and a belief that God wants us here instead of Singapore for this season and after those months of struggling with visa and customs and all the challenges, hey hey hey, I'm a legit now ;)

And after that last stretch of stretching, guess what - My work permit took only about 5 weeks to be approved. I knew about the approval last week, just never had time to blog about it. Had to pass my passport to the migration agency and all that and it only came back today... well, yesterday with that matt plastic-y sticker stating I'm allowed to stay till *clears throat* 22 Apr 2009.

Very very awesome :)

It did mean that I couldn't do a monthly sojourn home like I planned to do so with this week and I couldn't get tickets for the May 1 stretch 'cause they have all been taken up. But I'm looking to speedily booking a trip for the next stretch of hols in June... there's a Selangor hol that falls on a Sat and at Maccers here, we are allowed to apply for the Fri or Mon off when that happens so I'm planning to see if I can take that Fri off and there was a Sat hol last month that I never replaced so I am going to see if I can take that on a Thurs and have a 4-day back home in Sg. It would be really good to just chill at home again with the cute lovely and loveable folks.

It's all really good.

You know, Melb might have ended in Feb 2005 but I kept looking back at it for a really long time but somewhere last year just before we entered 2007, when we found CCKL and the burst of conviction, realisation and understanding of the puzzle clicking into place happened, I found a purpose and clarity of why I'm here and a renewed sense of direction of why I had to leave and I can say with all that I am that I'm so glad I'm here now in Malaysia because I know I am perfectly where I am meant to be.

If you give me Melb to return to now, I would say no, however lovely it is still to me. But I'm called here, in Asia, to plant and grow that church that is relevant to this generation and I want to be here, hand to the plow doing my part to prevent young adults from falling away after they come back from overseas studies. I want to be right here in Asia doing my part pouring into young lives from near and far, affirming girls and women and all God's people of their purpose and potential. I want to build my Father's house right where I'm meant to be.

I can see my future clearly than I ever did before, despite still not knowing if or when Singapore can be where I live in again or what's really ahead.

But I can see clearly now and golly, every time I stop and look up and forward, I get this sense of baffled-ness and awe of how un-laden my heart now seems, how clearly so I can hear the beat of my heart and the taste of life on my face and lips. How it has been so for these few months.

I'm so very glad to be alive.

And I rejoice. For the King has come to give me life.

18:37.

I failed my advanced theory test :(

There, that's that. Sigh. Not too sure what went wrong. The first time I did the basic theory test, I knew while doing it that I didn't study 'nuff and there were questions I needed to check up on but this time, I actually didn't get that feeling. So it's kind of sadness inducing to see that terminal, unquestioning msg on your computer screen.

I booked myself another slot near end of next month when I should be back in Sg again but honestly, I'm really considering more and more just doing the whole thing in Msia and come back and convert it to an Sg licence. I found out just a month plus ago - The conversion is automatic as long as you show your work permit and prove that you were there more than three months. And there, you apparently have courses that include the theory to the final practical all for RM1k. Not sure how true that is but what I'm paying per lesson now in Sg equates RM100 every single time so financially, that does look sane.

Will figure it out. And mug some more, darn.

Any way, I opened up a large toolbox I have under my desk last night and found these.



I knew I had CDs in that box but I was actually surprised by the number of good stuff I clean forgot I had. Then I looked at a row of CDs on my desk and realised gosh, there are more albums I forgot about.

From 6 Feet Under soundtrack (which features bands like DeathCab and Arcade Fire) to Coldplay, The Bravery and White Stripes to Bright Eyes and Rufus Wainwright to Billy Corgan and Radiohead and Bruce Springstein's Devils & Dust and Paul McCartney's Chaos And Creation In The Backyard... heck, I've been neglecting them.

There are too many albums I have and didn't give ears to. Should change that.

Any way, as you may have noticed, I've been blogging more. I think having wireless unlimited broadband had a part to play.

Tomorrow, I go back to Msia. And I just told myself an hour ago, walking through the car park on the way home - I won't feel like I'm taking and putting down Life A and Life B here and there, transplanted every time but instead, I will just live. Not gravitate towards wanting one place that's more like Home but just live. To just trust, obey and walk on.

Godspeed.

2300.

Bono Receives Honorary Knighthood.

18:27.

I've not kept up with the new bands coming out for quite a long while. Way I see it, the classics and old school rocks very well and always satisfy and still even amazes, surprises and awe me and there are so much I have yet to listen to that the archives can keep me sated without needing to really find new bands.

Then last last weekend, when Germie was in town and we were in F C U K, I heard a song playing that caught me up like a high school soccer game and prom night and swirled me around and around like a great impetus teenage adventure that made my little heart swell and want to burst. Then another song played and I noted the unusual disco elements that stilled and welled at intervals, and what surprised me was that I really like the song when I've always hate all dance. Then the third song played and the fourth with a burst of dance in its chorus and the continuous brilliance got to me.

Noting Germie singing along, I asked her "who's this?". Thankfully, she gave me the info or I'd gone over to the boutique staff for the music info.

That band was The Killers.


Ray and me went shopping for music last Sat and we listened to both the new album Sam's T own which we both fancied but it wasn't the album I heard so we went to a second music store where Hot Fu ss was avail and whammy, it was the one.

And that song that grabbed and swung me around merrily with a pout is Mr Brigh tside. Which is playing now. Heh.




On the same music tome, R a y read about a new band called Arcade Fire in NYT and was totally intrigued 'nuff to down lo a d a few tracks to sample. They have quite different stuff and almost strangely, I thought, a David Bowie influence somehow, perhaps it was the vocal distortion and delivery. Then Ray showed me a few of their vids and golly, Bowie sung with them on a song called Wake Up, which really hit it off with me. Golly, I love the emoting wave of sound.

Any way, we are happy campers 'cause we couldn't find Arcade Fire stuff in Msia but I scored both Funera l and Neon Bibl e at Gramophon e yesterday for only SGD17.95 and SGD14.95.

:D

I like anthems, they have heart.

Pardon my long sentences today. I've got my advanced driving test tomorrow at 430pm. Would be squeezing in one more driving lesson at 2pm before I go back to Msia on the 8am bus on Sat. Gosh, the week really just swum by.

hallo there.
will you like to be mine? heh. short sleeved, khaki-grey, doubled collared, little red riding hood fashioned jacket from T o p shop.

11:41.

Reminiscing.

What makes the heart goes away to a different time and place so fondly, every now and then?

I read somewhere once of a person who refuses to say any experience was the time of his life, or the best xxx ever 'cause he believes when one pronounces such a judgement, you will forever be living in the past, always reminiscing of the (past) time of your life. Rather, to live believing the best is yet to come - That's the attitude to have and live out.

But to avoid that looking back is impossible. Though definitely not always detrimental, what makes the heart stop in bitter-sweet motion and look backwards, steeped in some sort of sorrow and fondness over those days of our lives?

I don't quite understand this life and the way we live it sometimes but I think that that looking back is such an enigma, a remembering of things gone past, at times a thanksgiving and a smile, a human awareness and identity defining moment. How do you guard yourself from stepping out of the present in those moments though? At least, guard against stepping out in such a way that you isolate those around you now in the present?

Human emotions remain at times so strange and yet so encompassing-ly embracing. How almost odd. And man, I can't believe it's already Wednesday.

09:37.

It's a Friday morning and the bosses are not in yet.

I'm nursing a coffee I was reluctant to have 'cause I've been feeling too caffeined but since I'm loathe to pay for an OJ at the Maccers downstairs when I should be getting my RM100 vouchers soon, I settled for coffee at the pantry still.

Today marks the 2nd week since I've been back here and it does feel like time has flown by.

I still have orientation going on here and there but the pace of mktg doesn't seem to allow my direct boss from focused training. She sent me an email apologising and asking me to do some research at 3am (!) so yeah, among every one, she's the most severely overloaded which is why I really want to be up to speed much faster so I can do more and the dept isn't so inbalanced.

That said, I did handle a few smaller projects this week.

It's not hard - Being small projects, they only involved liaising with the creative agency on the creatives, chasing them, checking through their work, and repeat. Being not totally on top of matters yet, I tend not to give approval straight away but to check with my direct boss first so I need to get that step out of the way.

There has also been a flurry of big meetings which I enjoyed generally, the brainstorming for campaigns, creative direction bit, esp the one with a movie tie-up were all interesting.

I'm slowly getting the hang of the thousand and one abbreviations (And I thought it's an SG thing) and the process of things.

And I'm getting a little more used to coming in to dozens of new emails every morning. I have to admit though that today's flurry of email really drove home the message I have to be super organised if I'm to keep keeping on top of matters and not slip up. It does look a bit overwhelming coming in every day, still being a greenhorn, and reading all the email instructions about work to do when your boss isn't around to direct or help.

Praise God He has been good and keeping me good.

So it's Friday. And honestly, I'm really happy that it's here. The week has not felt long but strangely, this morning, it did. So I am highly looking forward to this day passing fast (pls, Dad!), knocking off work, having dinner and showering, going to Life Grp and just taking it easy this weekend.

Would be meeting Germie babe on Sat and finally watching Pan's Labyrinth on Sat night. I plan to take it easy, maybe get a haircut with Ray, maybe go see some potential houses to rent, just chill and make sure I get a good break before the next week starts. Precious precious weekends... oooh, I really have to knuckle down and study for my advanced theory test on the 30th too. I've not even went through the book completely once!

Happy Friday and have a great weekend.

Love!
Me

0936.
















Nerds Unite! and Destroy NYC. The Threadless sale is on and Ray and me combined orders with Germie and James to grab some very rockin' tees for USD10 each. The above are my choices. These are the guy shirts' colours though, mine will come in mint and slate respectively.

Online shopping is getting more popular with little old me. These r the 4th online purchase within a month for me... oopsie.

It's Thursday, latter half of the work week. Yest, I went to L e o B u rn e tt to familiarise myself with the going ons and all. They have a very well designed office and most people were in their casuals which I still fancy highly. That said, I'm properly more ready than ever to dress corporate compared to me at my last jobs.

At about 1030, another printer should be coming by to take me for a colour separation tour of sorts. I'm a bit of a printer nerd, I really like seeing how things work and all and even smelling the ink and all that so it's very cool for me.

Tomw, it's another media orientation kind of tour at OM D, another agency and then it's the weekenddddd!

Lovely.

I've got a church women related mtg tonight then tomw night, it's Life Grp. Sat, sleep in and lazy living for a bit then off to Pastor's for leadership classes, socialise, prob have dinner then go catch 300. Yay! Sun, it's our Life Grp's turn to do service so we have to go early to pack in and pack out so that's the only plan for that day, I guess.

So how's your day going? :)

0834.

I'm sitting at my cubicle at my new company, this early 'cause Ray has a meeting and has to drop me off earlier than usual. To the left of me is a pile of promo briefs with a merry Ronald waving. On top is a board with translites just like the menu board you see in the Maccers store. A thin strip of sticker line my desk's height saying ". With Hash Browns & Coffee/ Tea . Until 11.00am / weekdays & 11.30am / weekends". Restaurant brochures or FSPs, posters and random marketing tools are all around the office and Ronald Mc Don ald waves hallo every time you walk in the door.

Here's to my new chapter, marketing officer at Maccers.

So far so good. The senior mktg manager and mktg manager are away today till Fri but the latter lined up visits every day for me to go to printers, agencies and such to familiarise myself with the whole process.

Yesterday, time was whiled away reading promo briefs, employee briefs, materials on the intranet and such, plus half an orientation and then a meeting with l e o bur n e t t who presented the creatives for our april promo.

It was all very interesting, being a client and having the art director and designers and all pitch to you. haha. Being on the other side of the equation for just a bit. It felt engaging though, the process, pointing out design, conceptual and copy ideas to tweak and change and all that. Very much cool.

Technically, my offer letter states I start at 9 and get off at 545 but I knocked off at abt 640 yest. I reckon that's gg to be the norm and when work comes in, prob even later but I'll try to work fast, for which I first require to be brought up to speed on the terminology, process and all these structure before I can work the system.

I'm excited though.

After realising the stuff abt how I want to ultimately be building up a church, not a para church org and how being a minister every where and the divide between secular and sacred was more in my head than other where, I'm coming into this after months of "build up".

My paradigm about work has shifted and I'd like to be able to truly live out a difference, though I'm not quite sure how... yet.

I got to go to a printer for a tour in a bit, s k y e out for now.

xo

22:51.

So I'm back in Malaysia.

Got back yesterday after a slightly more eventful ride back (had to chase after the bus in my cab only to find my seat was given to someone else because I was late. Ended up sitting at a non standard chair but thankfully, during the rest stop, the driver got the guy who got my seat to go to another coach with an extra seat).

Attended my first Life Group yesterday and was really really glad to be there. Went to a mamak for supper and had teh halia kurung kurang manis and then gave it to temptation and had a piece of tandoori which was rockin' rockin'.

Had the first of a series of leadership sessions today followed by a relaxed makan gathering with newcomers.

It's just very good to be back, there isn't many words for it. But I'm really glad.

It's amazing how God was perfectly on time. I booked my ticket for Friday somewhere the week before, I think. Just 'cause I thought I want to be here for this weekend and go to Life Group, attend the leadership session and go to church then go back to Sg.

But two days after that, I got the call that offered me this job and I was asked if I can start on the 5th, which is Mon. So the timing was perfect, I didn't even have to re-schedule my ticket or any thing. And I get to be here during this kick off period to growing deeper in this church and start more hands-on towards building a relevant, cutting edge, alive dream church, that church we have envisioned and dreamed of to put our hands to and build up.

I'm psyched.

Will try to keep blogging more soon. Thankfully, there seems to be a constant avail wireless to er, leech from. Heh.

Nights out, folks.

Looks interesting, doesn't it? Like something out of Reed Richards' lab but in real life. This machinery is just part of the Compact Muon Solenoid, designed to probe physics limits and laws. Not that I totally get the implications but any how, I think it's cool.

Article here.

0913.

I drummed for service today, the first time since months last. It was very enjoyable and somehow releasing; worshipping from behind the drums as free as worshipping in the congregation. Tightened up some sloppy playing from the rehearsal, planned ahead the rolls more so it went fine enough. Thank God.

After service, I sat around this long table at the back of the church hall with some of the aunties and church mates, all of us munching on bread and rolls and freshly fried keropoh one of them did before walking to Boo n Keng MRT to grab my way to Plaza Sing.

I was there to check out a shoe shop for which I had a discount voucher for and also to drop by Trum pet Praise where my previous Mt Z i on supervisor's now working part time. I did both but I err... also ended up at um, err, the M ) ph o sis sale and err, um, eh, Doroth y Perkins and *whistles* The Face Shop.

Teehee. Err... there was 50% to 70% off at M ) ph osis ah. And I got 50% off er, 3 tops which were very good deals and in my size and looked great :D Then, feeling like I was on a row and lovin' how the tops look with my True Re li gion black skinnies (oh no, it's a chain reaction!), I bought me a new mustard-canary bag from Doroth y.

*whistles*

I'll excuse myself with celebratory reasons, since I have got a job coming, heheh.

But okay, shopping aside. It was a lovely day. It was drizzling when I got back to Wood lands but there's something so typically familiar and soothingly relaxing to me - Walking from the bus stop to the apt, sheltered mostly but now and then getting drizzled on as I cross from one void deck to the other under the tropical shower.

When I got home, I exclaimed to Dad - who was reading a newspaper at the living room - "Ah! I went shopping! Got good news yesterday, today went shopping" in Mandarin and Dad cracked the usual joke about whether I got him any thing.

I went to my bedroom and tried every thing I bought again. Another ritual. Normally, I'd parade out and show my mom my newest acquisitions but since she wasn't around, I settled for taking my happy-hued bag out to my Dad and bro and going, "Look at my happy bag!" Mostly to ambivalence though, ai.

Hahah. I love family.

[You know what's funny, my mom just came back and she went shopping and she's showing me every thing she bought now. hahaha]

Lovely day this is. I spent some hours reading comics, snacking on persimmon and mandarin oranges and just resting while it drizzled on and off. Dad went to the library like he likes to and called back at 7-ish to ask what to buy back for dinner.

Had my fish ball noodles. Read more comics then the Sunday paper and here I am.

There's a Korean movie showing on TV which I found funny and want to catch again. It's called My Boyfrie nd Is Type B.

Incidentally, Ray is a type b. heh. I had to watch the movie for work before when it was in the theatres and it was pretty funny when we realised that, hah.

Ok, it's been showing for a bit now, am going to catch it. Just wanted to write and tell about this day :) 'cause I'm just feeling very blessed, comfortable and all around taken care of right now.

Have a good Monday, folks.

15:05.

News Flash: I just got a job! :D

13:14.

Got this from Jerem y's site.




"Mega churches" and the controversy and debate they attract are familiar and I've been on both sides before but "rock concert" elements or decibel level are moot to me now. What I'm looking for, wanting to be a part of and intent on building up is a church that is relevant.

A lot of good people, Christians go through their lives increasingly bored with the church. You know people like that, I do too. I reckon I was one too.

In the day-to-day living of reality, somehow, the Christianity preached and modelled seem toothless and impotent. Some Christians walk away from God, some remain the status quo, some wonder why this lack of life but never get close to an answer.

I really believe faith is not a toothless tiger or white elephant.

I really believe faith is empowering, relevant and meant for the living.

I don't believe that faith is that repeating of passive mantras coated with defeatism. I believe the Word of God is alive and able to pierce through my circumstances and situations even when I'm not sure whether He will deliver me from the furnace (just like Daniel's three friends did not know before they were thrown to the fire).

I believe in reaching up and out and communicating with my God, such that at the end when I say "Your will be done", it's breathed out of that understanding of His Omnipotence and our relation and not 'cause I'm powerless and governed by passive fate.

How can you feel the victory if you have never fought?

A part of me is trying to put out there now my Christianity 'cause down the road, I really don't want any friend to feel estranged from me because of... well, me.

Mega churches and "prosperi ty gospels" are magnets for derision. My church in KL is about 200-strong now, hardly mega but I believe it's going to grow in size to the thousands. Not because I want to be in a mega church but because there's such real life in the church and life attracts people.

I believe God wants to bless me but I don't go cursing the devil for my poor financial state now or my lack of a car and house and more pretty dresses (and accessories). I pray for and simply recognise the season I'm in but being here does not discount my belief that God wants to bless and prosper me.

There are those who preach prosperity and derides any illness, poverty as signs of the devil or weakness of faith. That sucks. But I'm not going to let the black sheep mess up my view and relation of and to my Father.

I believe that every single person has a specific purpose in this life. Not all of us find it, 'cause not all of us ask. Not all of us ask but graciously, sometimes we muddle and fulfill some parts of it. But how do you recognise something if you do not even acknowledge it?

I'd like for Christians to hear anew that we are each "called" and to hear anew in a new way the way "calling" and "purpose" resound and mean.

I'm focusing and committing myself to building a church that is alive and relevant 'cause I really think it's high time Christians get to live more.

14:35.

Zoom zoom zoom?











Okie, booked my first driving lesson for Monday, 11am to 1230pm at YCK. It cost SGD42 *coughs* and what's more, all the private instructors now seem to have registration fees of SGD30. I asked to have a first "trial" lesson before deciding to register so let's see how it goes.

On a related note, I'm finding the advanced theory book pretty uhhhh. Don't they have separate books for auto learners? Oh well. hah.

18:34.

Yesterday, I bought my Anna Sui face cream, a tarnished bronzey-gold bracelet from Accessories (at 70% off) and two pair of jeans from this little shop at Peninsu lar Plaza which Germie recommended :)

My True Religion black skinny jeans, model definitely not moi.



The smallest size available was a size bigger than my usual so I kind of wish the skinnies' tighter but it was a very good buy :D















The other jeans were a pair of Frankie B in a wash called "iris" with low back pockets and an embroidered fluttering butterfly on the right pocket. Frankly, my knowledge of designer cult jeans is limited and I called up Germie before buying to ask if she heard of the brand, haha. It fitted really well though, nice wash and yellow-green stitching and was perfectly my size so I got it despite the butterfly and only wanting to get skinnies. I can't seem to find any pix. So see u in them one day! hah.

Any way, just a post for fun :) Am going to get them altered for length tomorrow. They are two inches+ over, sigh. Am taking 6cm off each. Hope that's perfect. And oh, the best part of the bargains were that instead of the usual SGD200 to SDG300 they command, they were at... tada! SGD50 each :D

Heh ;)

D o v e's US Evolution Ad. I love the campaign.

21:36.

Chu San.

I finally switched to the new blogger, lost my archives, decided to just choose a new template and started customising it this afternoon as I explored the new functions. This was meant to be a trial one but I think I'll be a bit lazy to improve on it for a while. So... here is midair with a new face after 4 years.

Woke up at abt 11, had pineapple tarts and tea for brunch, surfed and did blog stuff the whole afternoon then relatives started coming at about 5pm, and more joined them about 6pm and my brother bought k f c and noodles back for everyone at around 8 so a dozen and more uncles and aunties were all about the apartment. First my dad and uncle at the kitchen while the ladies all sat around the couches. Then when more came, extra chairs got dragged out, people randomly sat at various chairs around the living room and later on, some of the ladies decided to stand outside on the balcony and chit chat and enjoy the evening air while the others watched a HK serial on television. Met my only-four-year-older uncle's (my bro and I are on first name basis with him so the ranking's more formality than any thing) girlfriend today and later on, as the evening wrapped up, spent some time chatting with her.

All in all, a great day :) That's what CNY is to me - Lots of family, lots of food, lots of chatter and laughter and everyone being together.

Lovely :)

23:13.

First day of CNY almost over. Oh, my achin' feet and body.... 13 hours of going around in three-inches stilettos cause pain indeed. Thank God for cabs, and the money to pay for cabs, heh.

[Hey, I suddenly have an urge to have prawn noodles]

It was a good day. We got to church a bit late but service ended really early and Mom and me moved on to the first of four stops we made today. Met most of the aunties and uncles and ate a respectable, enjoyable amount of yu seng, cookies, chocolates (one of the aunties offered Japanese choc and macademia cookies... yummy, and white ferrero), bak kwa and tarts, tarts, tarts. Oh, and a bit of steamboat and such. Oh, and receiving ang baos is really still quite a delight after all these years, teehee.

Good day, good day.

Tomorrow, God willing, I'll get my sleep in before any one drops by to visit and I'll just take it slow till later in the afternoon where I prob go to the Asian Civil isati on Museum with my parents 'cause my dad wants to see this exhibition of artefacts from China. Apparently, there's something called chun dao he pang which is supposed to be by the Sg River with lots of CNY related stalls. Cool.

Ooh, and Ray just called. Happy Chinese New Year, all!

14:26.

It's Chinese New Year eve and I'm here at home in Singapore. The skies have finally almost broke, it seems, and the typically scorching heat of CNY has ceased for now.

I'm peacefully happy and enjoying being home, especially during this period.

The last month plus, I really grappled with the Sg-Msia thing again. The sum of it is this: That I would stay in KL if I can, 'cause I can't turn my back when that really seems to be the place to be now.

Call it the grass-is-greener syndrome but yes, I do love Singapore very much so. My memories of 23 years and just every thing that this humble Woodlands abode and the road and sights of this little island remind me of. This will always be home and inside, I told God: "Maybe one day You will lead us here?"

And that's it. It's still about where the call is, where I am meant to be, where my specific purpose has me supposed to be. And all the factors that weigh me down and crush and pull me apart, valid as they are, are not the main deal.

On iTunes, a song called playing All This Time is playing. The chorus shouts my heart:

All this time/ since the day I was born
I never known a time like this
I don't want to let You down.

There's fear, there's a freaked-out of the unknown, there's a recognition of the cliff you stand on now and a vague feeling of something big ahead that scares and exhilarates all at once.

It's all enough to get someone wanting stability but I don't really think there would ever be a total reduction of the traveling up and down or moments where the heart and mind get confused 'cause (maybe) it's meant to recognise only one home.

It's Chinese New Year eve. Dad just got home a while ago. We had the all prosperous leeks, stir fried with prawns and slices of deep fried bean curd during lunch. There are heaps of new year goodies in the house. I helped Mom opened the ginko nuts just now and peel the skin off them. I'm having a vague slight fever and a bit of a fuzzy throat. Tomorrow, we are going to church in the morning and I hope my heels won't hurt (amen!) then going to one of the aunty's house then maybe my godma's and we will see how it goes. I'm thinking of black skinny jeans and grey faded ones and when I can check out the supposedly cheap place with cult brands jeans Germie told me about.

In many or every way, I'm really just a girl, just another person in this populated world, just another idealist determined life should not snatch the stars from my eyes. I've seen enough to be cynical, I may be cynical but I remain more me than what the world should make me. So I'm not just someone else, not because of any of this but because I stand on a Rock that can never be moved and my closest Friend died for His dream so I can dream in this life.

Thus, even sans the cash, non-sans the questions and comments of wasted time and foolishness and all the things the heart can feel, I am thankful.

It's a great time to be alive. I love God, I love my family, I love Ray, I love my friends, I love my church, I love music and words and clothes, shoes, accessories and bags and many numerous matters and objects and beings.

It's all good ultimately and that deserves some boogie-ing.

:)

*boogies*

Happy To-Be-Driver Day

20:18.

Just a sittin' at my venerable blue Ikea desk at home in Sg. Very cool air blowing through the windows, just here typing and listening to some tunes. Feels so familiar a routine and so... precious.

Am just letting the music play. Pretty eclectic so far - From Gabrielle to Garbage, Frank Sinatra and now, Amazing, possibly the only tune from George Michael I have. Hm, I still rem downloading it in Melb after Germie played it fairly often during one period.

The SG-Thailand game is on, live telecast from Bangkok. Winners takes the Asean Cup. A few minutes ago, a Loud cry of anguish sounded from the blocks facing my window. It always amuse me when it happens. When (Ooh, Gin Blossoms is on, awesome) big soccer games are on and you can hear the pivotal parts of the games literally sound. Like a loose wall of sonic waves around the estate so you can rush to the TV to see what's happening, heh. Any way, Sg scored but it was ruled invalid.

It's a nice evening. I miss going to CCKL but hey hey, like Ray and I tell each other, I know this is the transitional period now. Am involved still, just not physically there, but while I'm here, I better do what I need to for the women's ministry, new Christian and comers materials. Am really glad and very psyched :)

Have been enjoying having days in since I got back Thurs night. The unusually cooler weather is gorgeous and unlimited broadband rocks my sockless feet. Will slowly catch up with much loved friends soon.

Going to do some design work nw. Hv a nice one in, ya? Cheers out.

17:57.

To add to a good day, got a call from the wire agency just now for a call back. This time, it's an intw with the bureau chief. Still don't know what will happen or if commodities is really what I want but I'm just very thankful for another intw. Thank You.

0928.

I just switched my basic theory test from March 21 to Feb 27 to now, Feb 2! :D Thank God! The earlier dates were all booked out when I wanted to make my booking so I had to take March 21st but I decided to just leave the s s d c webpage open and refresh it now and then and hey hey, pay off! :D

Ok, now I got to mugggg for the test. Will be back on Feb 1 :) Btw, I'm using my bro's textbook from ahem, 1997. Any one knows if that will trip me up much?

_______________________________________________________

Woke up at 7am today and got into the office by 830 'cause I now live at the loft of sorts at Ray's house and he has got a leadership training session at 830. When I look at the number of barang barang around the pretty big room, I realised I have gathered quite a lot of stuff indeed. Moving out will take another bout of effort but I'd like it if that next step can be taken not too long later 'cause it does shoes, bags, clothes and various stuff no good to be folded and cooped up for long.

Ray dropped me off near the laundromat so I can drop off 1.5kg of clothes to wash. He went to park the car at another condo (since we don't park at my old place any more) and I slowly took my time and jalan to buy a packet of nasi lemak (RM1.80 for a big pack... I ate abt one whole bowl of rice... burp! And what's more, washed it all down with a nice cuppa of coffee... urp!) before getting to work. Damansara Perdana is a ghost town during non-work hours and the town was largely at sleep still. There was even a cool wind blowing despite the strengthening sun. Very nice.

Second last day of work. And my colleague just brought 3 tubs of CNY cookies I ordered. 2 are going home with me, and 1's going to Ray's folks :)

Second last day of work. Let's get things sorted.

Good mornin'

17:49.

Sat morn was spent packing some more, grabbing a quick shower and then helping as Ray, his dad and the mover uncle came to the apt to cart off most of my belongings. Ray said his dad actually went out early to scout for a delivery guy who's willing to just help out and he had to hit two places before he found that uncle. Makes me a bit embarassed to think I troubled him but I'm very thankful indeed for the family love :)

We finished every thing - from my place to putting everything in place at Ray's house (most went to the 3rd storey... huff huff) in a bit over an hour, I think. Then we just stoned and chilled and makaned before I got to go home at about 4 to shower again and change before some mall crawling and then a nice steak dinner at Victoria's Station which we heard about heaps but never tried. Then, since it was quite early, we went back to his place and watched some footage of Delirious' Now Is The Time gig. I really really like this band. And I really really appreciate Everything Is Going To Be All Right and Investigate.

Sun morn, I sat on the floor (no table and chairs left) near the balcony and had a cookies and cream black tea with (experimental) pineapple tarts I made while staring out at the blue skie. Then, it was more packing and Ray arrived earlier than planned with char siew rice I was craving ('cause tt honeyed porkie from tt stall rocks big time) and caught me in full fledged messy state. haha. Showered, had lunch sitting down, shifted stuff to car then went to the mall to escape from the heat. Ended up buying a 2-phone set for my home back... um, home then it was churchhhh! :D

Desmond came along this time and we also picked up Vonnie, who's on a hol back. It was very nice indeed. I'm very much in love with church. It's one of the big reasons to stay on.

And now, Mon evening, Ray has a bowling and dinner night with his colleagues. heh. They invited me to go along but I have the last leg of packing to finish up before Ray comes get me and I move over to his house tonight to stay three nights before I go home on Thurs.

Tomorrow, I pass the keys and stuff to the agent. Tomw night, we are having crabs with friends :D

Despite how every thing's still not settled, how the world still whirls and stills unpredictably so, I'm happy. I don't know how things are going to work out. I don't know if they will work out. But I do know I have a God who I can trust with all my heart and mind and soul and so, I can laugh and rest and face every day with my head held high.

Because He is King and I'm His.

Have a good evening, folks :)

11:47.

Multiculturalism and Aust

Lots of our generation grew up amidst buzz words like "multiculturalism", "globalisation", "westernisation", "capitalism"... words still bantered frequently and casually today along with "developed nation", "first, second, third world", despite the fact that the three worlds categorisation is more frowned upon now by the specific cultural academia scene which coined it. "Westernisation" reminds a confounding misnomer since geographically in the West (when looking at a map), Russia and other countries not typically "Western" are present and in reality, directions are depending on where you are.

Hm.

I read that the 7 pillars of society today are Religion, Family, Politics, Government, Education, Media and the Arts.

While Media, Arts, Religion and to an extent, Family have always been on my radar, increasingly, I've been interested in Education and Government. I find that pretty strange 'cause they are not quite stuff I campaigned for before except now, the rising passion about issues in their fields is pretty real.

Multiculturalism and globalisation are reality these days. Such a diff from when I was 15 and reading about this long word I had to learn how to wrap my tongue around - "globalisation". 10 years and a different world is here. It's amazing awesome.

I was talking to two folks yesterday about how I find ubiquitous brands, one result from globalisation and capitalism, so interesting and how their workings and reach intrigue me so.

I don't know what God is setting me up for but I'm moving to be positioned precisely where I'm meant to be. It's exciting times, me think :)

And tomw is moving day. And I'm not exactly packed. God help me.

1020.

It has been a pretty busy three-week with full weekends and a tired Skye who was perpetually sleepy and wanting recuperating at-least-9-hour snoozes. Had to work last last Sat, and had zi mui duties on last Sat morning for a CG friend who was getting married that day. Sundays the last few weeks have been double service days as we transit out of d u m c to join City Church KL, so it was 11am at the former, lunch with mates till about 230, grab a bit of rest then off to sunway at 430.

I got a really good sleep on Sunday night though :)

Set my system right and last night, after cooking, eating, washing clothes and random neatening up and calling home, I had the time to just lie down on my bed, look at the ceiling and talk to God, relaxed and unstrung.

I'll be moving out of my apt next week, going back to Sg on Thurs, not sure when I'm coming back but believing that God will give me that awesome job and every matter midway will fall in the right place. Just got to keep pushing, pressing in, holding on, believing, while covered with His Divine grace.

Last night, in quiet time, lying down, it felt like "wow, it's the end of this part". Part, phrase, phase, as u like. I moved into this apt in May 2006, we slowly stocked it up and made it more live-able over the months. It has become home, comfortable enough with what I need where I know them to be. I like the hills that surround one side, I like hanging at the pool, walking past the nice bbq area, staring out of the balcony at DP town and what lies beyond, the greenery around the estate and serenity.

I wonder where I'll stay next, me who gets attached to physical places which attained "home" status.

Reminding myself there is nowhere better than being perfectly where God has a specific call on you for. Remembering and living that out.

Exciting times again. Church is awesome. I'm learning a lottt. Meeting a church staff tomw lunch to discuss how to put some new Christian materials together, then going to KL for a writing test. On Thurs after work, I've an interview at Uptown, one of the corporate epicentres for PJ.

Pray for me :)

Ooh, hallo there.

Patent white mary janes with three-inch stilettos!: One-part of three acquistions during yesterday's lunchtime. Only RM69 :D Thank God I didn't buy that SGD100-something lookalike at Topshop.

*boogie*

17:43.

Matthew 25:25-28 '[The man who had received one talent said,] "I knew you were a hard man... and I was afraid, and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you." His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant! … You should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest … Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents."' (NIV)

Why did God get so angry at that servant who buried his talent?

That has always confounded me. Was it that bad a reason - "I knew you were a hard man and I was afraid". In modern speak, that would be like "I knew if I screw up, you would be really upset and I may get punished so I was scared to take the risk".

What's so wicked and lazy about that?

I've heard sermons where preachers denounced the third servant 'cause his motivations were "wicked and lazy".

But what are the causes and processes that have to run and exist before we can, in cumination, label someone lazy and wicked? When do you call someone lazy? When the teenager keeps leaving his clothes on the floor, when your co-worker keeps slyly pushing his work to you... when someone doesn't do what he is supposed to.

And then it hit me.

The servant wasn't meant to be afraid of risk, he wasn't meant to be afraid of using what His master deem him capable and worthy enough to have, he wasn't meant to bury his talent and be cowed by fear. And if he did, after burying that talent, go lepak his days away, well, he wasn't born for the purpose to lepak away.

When was the last time you and I didn't do something 'cause we were afraid of the possible consequences?

When was the last time you and I chose the "safe" way and lepak it through?

When was the last time you deny the God-given gifts and abilities inside of you and chose not, never to use them?

Are you burying your talent?

13:52.

Want to go to London for RM9.99? O_O [Note: Taxes excluded but still !!!]


More news here.

17:11.

It's a nice balmy winded-down transition between afternoon and evening in Sg. At my trusty blue Ikea desk using my trusty Benq lappie, catching the wind wafting through from the windows right in front... very nice.

Ray left this morning at 930am. We woke up early, got ready and being good, caught the bus and mrt instead of cabbing it. Got to Novena at 9am sharp and had that ubiquitous brekkie set of kaya toast, tea and half boiled eggs... mmm.

After Ray's bus left, I made my way home. The shopping complex was still uncharacteristically empty but people were starting to appear. Got back to Woodlands by 10am and ambled back home after a stop at Vista Point to get my net banking password from an ATM.

Mom was still asleep when I got home, heh. In fact, when I called home to ask if they already got the paper, both Mom and bro were asleep still, heh.

I love them.

Me, I caught a ahem, 3 and a half hour nap in the afternoon :P Now, I feel all rested from the traipising around Sg Ray and I did the last five days.

It was a good trip though, filled with happy random moments like a spate of bad jokes from me last night on the way home, finding Boost (*much much joy*) at VivoCity and ordering a Mango Magic, coming across and catching a live band at Esplanade's outdoor theatre, having Haagen Daz, going to the always impactful City Harvest, Sushi Tei, dinner with my parents and so on and on :)

*very happy*

And so we are in 2007.

I'm believing God to come through with big things this year.

2004 was a year of restoration, 2005 a year of action and sight, 2006 the year of building faith and I can't shake it off but like I told CG last last Fri, the word for 2007 in my spirit is "Destiny".

So much have been learnt last year, culminating in the understanding and decision to quit WorldTeach and totally unexpected, change church for this year.

I'm pretty psyched up. Nope - this is sounding like last year - I have no concrete idea what's next. I've applied for some jobs but so far, nothing's confirmed. Ideally, I want a Sg job based in PJ... am very very interested in business, franchises and marketing. Like very. But what's next is as unsure as the looming end of my current lease and my soon-to-make decision on whether to take up a new lease.

But you know, God is faithful :) And He has always redeemed me and came through for me, over and over again, again and again again.

Pr Kong was stressing a few things which really resound with me. Stuff about getting rid of the wilderness mentality, about making a difference wherever you are, about there being purpose why you are uniquely you with the strengths you have, about how contrary to tradition, it's okay for His servants to fail. That last point may seem moot but honestly, the mentality of the- Lord's-servant-cannot-fail is pretty real and that is something that was cut away from me this, I mean last year. So was a dormant religiousity about traditions, fun, suffering and faith, I reckon.

I'm stepping over. If Christ's in my boat asleep, I will learn to be a person of faith who won't automatically shout to wake Him up but knowing He has vested His power in me, know how to be calm in the face of the storm [point learnt from Pr Neil Smith, Lakes]. Even when God seems quiet and uncaring (he was aslp, rem?), it's still safer with Him here than any where else.

So will I learn to... when Christ is walking on water, to ask Him for His command bid me go and take that step out onto the raging seas.

It's going to be a very good year. Skye Tan, 26th year's coming in 7 months... what's you got in your hands?

I will give my all with all I got. God keep me, keep us, and help us soar.

'cause we are meant to live.