Sunday, December 27, 2009
Today's the last Sunday of the year, and also the last Sunday that our pastor will be preaching at our service as our pastor in charge for this term. Labels: church
But I wasn't able to listen to his sermon (on the end times, no less!) because I had to go and teach Pri Sunday School, in which something nice happened. I was supposed to give out the Christmas presents to them, and I could choose in which order to let the students pick out the ones they wanted - in accordance to good behaviour. There was also one special present for the best student, in terms of attendance, behaviour, character.
So I laid out all the presents on the table and let them say which ones they wanted. There was a surplus and some repeated presents, so there wouldn't really have been a problem, except that two kids wanted the same one of which there was only one.
Because one of them was really better behaved than the other, I let her pick it first, but I asked the other kid whether he'd be the more magnanimous one and let her have it, and he agreed reluctantly. I'm pretty proud of him for doing so, and I gave him the special present.
As for the annual dinner, I was supposed to be the co-MC (like interpreting the Chinese to English) and was pretty stressed about it, but in the end I felt rather superfluous, because the other MC would read out the whole English thing, and then there'd be clapping/standing/praying etc, rendering my translating unnecessary.
I seriously think like 90% of the church understands Chinese anyway! And the 10% who don't normally understand the dialects instead of English. But it was good being there, because the youths had all been positioned far away back at the minichapel, where the noise wouldn't disturb the adults, and they had no idea about anything going on the social hall!
So at least I got to see the welcoming and farewell-ing and praying and singing! The pianist is pro! And bilingual pastors even more so! Rev Chai was right when he said we're such a blessed church to have the most pastors in the CAC, despite the mass swap-around we're having next year.
The minichapel with the youths presented a rather rowdy and chaotic situation, with more people out of seats than in at some points, a lot of yelling and cheering and walking around and taking of photos. Even the children of pastors left their prestigious seats at the stage and went to the back where we were!
I'm grateful for the sane people at my table (even Melissa and her photo-snapping frenzy). Though I think we wasted a lot of food, since Yue, Jodie, Serene and Andrea were MIA for a few dishes.
I also think the CJ people were rather high because they're having their camp now. Looking back at it, one year ago I probably wouldn't have been able to name more than a handful of them (also those from MM), and now I recognise and greet many more. It's great to have a combined youth!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
This morning I went for Jamin's wedding at the ARPC pretty near our house. I mistook Jamin for Jeremy, because somehow he looks more like Jeremy than he used to! Good thing I didn't say anything to them! The bride is pretty, and her dress was even prettier! Labels: church
It's nice to know that the parents still remember our names, even though I'm sure the kids have forgotten us already. What a pity, we used to go to church together before they changed, and later went overseas. All their children are the same respective ages as the first 4 children in my family!
Then this evening was the long-awaited D'Arts evangelistic event that my siblings had been preparing for, as they both played in the band! I'm especially proud of my sister for not only playing keyboard but also singing the harmony for so many songs!
I was originally supposed to be an usher, then a server. It mostly required making the drinks, because Priscilla told me first how to make it, and then I told the others. There was like a chain of people putting ice into cups, filling the cups, adding the cordial, slotting in the straws, and bringing them to the people.
It felt rather hectic and inefficient at times, partially due to the lack of lights (for atmosphere), but it was fun! I think being busy is pretty nice as long as you're not TOO busy, because you feel occupied and like you're doing something useful. Good job to everyone who helped! (Yue, Joanna, Yi Hong, Nicklaus, Camilla, Tan Juen, Delia etc.)
They had the band performing plenty of songs, though the sound got cut off halfway during one of the songs. Then there was a drama (starring Nicole and Yong Qiang), including dance segments, and then wonderful guest performances.
Cleaning up after the event was tedious, and at first we wanted to reuse the pretty cups for Juniors, but Yue dumped them into the trash bag by mistake, so we left it. Then Camilla and I got to mopping the floor, but she was distracted into a fight (brandishing her mop) against Shawn, and ended up slacking! So Ying Xuan began mopping, relinquishing the broom to Yan instead.
Yue (to Cam): Let me join you in slacking!
Xuan: You! You're not doing anything but converting oxygen into carbon dioxide! Come and help!
Yan: Xuan, can you stop being a nerd? Or I'll disown the both of you.
Terrible, I know.
By the time Yan and I got down after cleaning the mops and pail, there was hardly any food left. I took the samosas and spring rolls.
[Yan takes a spring roll]
Edward: GASP. Yan is eating something!
Good thing Parents let Brother drive the car. We even had space to fetch YQ to Kovan before going home!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
This year I'm glad I was able to carol with the others in the NJ alumni choir. At first I didn't say I would, because I wasn't able to make it for the Saturday practices, and I understood that they probably didn't want people to just swoop in in December and expect to be able to sing with the rest who'd been faithfully practising. Labels: choir
But I guess they were pretty understanding, and I joined them for my first practice in December after my Malaysia trip. They had quite a few new songs, which kind of scared me (especially the 12 Days of Christmas) but in the end the only new one we stuck with was The Christmas Song, which we never sang anyway, incidentally.
Today was my last caroling session, having already carolled on the 19th and 20th of December. There were like thrice the number of people in the lounge compared to the previous sessions, and balloons in the air, and it didn't feel like we were just singing to ourselves!
Unfortunately, today was our split between the places, so there were only 8 of us plus CK as conductor (but he sang T1 to help) - practically an acapella group! But the audience were supportive and clapped and took pictures!
I realise that it's a bit deceptive when we warm-up and practice in the holding room, because we sound pretty loud in such an enclosed space, but when we go out to the lounge our sound isn't anywhere as good.
I really like caroling with the choir! It's so good to be able to sing in parts with people who do it well, and to create festive music for Christmas! I'll admit I don't really like certain songs, but I love others, so it balances out. It was also an opportunity to see people I haven't seen in a long time, e.g Serene, the J2s, and a new senior, Xiao Ying.
Now we can add a little segment of the holidays to our memories: singing in the lounge, out-of-tune warm-ups, eating log cake (donated by Sheena's parents), demanding sandwiches and water bottles, wearing the silver dresses and black strappy heels, etc.
The only bad thing is trying to get home from Orchard. Tonight was especially crowded, and Sheena and I walked to a further bus stop just to make sure we'd be able to board a bus that wasn't already full. We got seats!
Monday, December 21, 2009
What a lovely day today was! I got to go out with the Choir Comm 07-08 as well as my own IP friends!
First the choir people were supposed to meet at 11:30 at Dhoby Ghaut, and I'm ashamed to say that I was late while LC, Gnia and WY were on time, and XM, JA and YJ were waiting at the wrong entrance I think!
We actually walked to the Cathay and debated over Nihon Mura and Aston's before deciding to go back to Cine to eat the Suki Sushi buffet because we were hungry and didn't want to wait until 2:30 for the other one.
Unfortunately they only had one table seating 6 available, so XM, LC, Gnia and I went to eat first, feeling guilty that the other 4 were still standing there for so long waiting for a table!
Eating with the other 3 was super fun, I felt like I was going high from all the laughter, stemming from LC and XM insulting each other, scheming of ways to hide leftover rice so as not to be charged with wastage, and Gnia's and XM's antics over the sushi train!
XM: Wait, let's keep the plates to keep count of how much we've eaten. (to make sure it's worth the money)
LC: Why not keep the (plastic) covers instead, it's easier.
Waiter comes to remove plates.
Waiter: Shall I remove the covers?
XM: Oh, no, we want to keep track of what we're eating.
XM: Oh, what's that?
Gnia: Mango pudding.
XM takes the mango pudding and takes one bite.
XM: I don't want any more. Where's my chawanmushi?
*facepalm* MAJOR FAIL, XM.
LC: What's that?
Gnia: (takes the plate) I think it's duck.
SX: DUCK SUSHI?
LC: It looks like...something that begins with a C and ends with an R.
*stare at LC*
LC: And has a D in the middle.
SX: OH, I know......wait, maybe I don't know, what is it?
LC: Something like a corpse (i.e. "cadaver").
YUCK, LC!
XM: Eee, the carrot is uncooked!
LC: No it's not!
XM: Yes it is!
LC: No, you just got to let it boil a bit more! Why are you so stubborn?
Later...
SX: (pokes carrot) It's STILL hard!
XM to LC: YOU SEE? It's uncooked! Why are YOU so stubborn?
Then there was a part where Gnia and I were laughing like mad, but I can't remember what about. Yun Tian joined us about halfway through and didn't eat anything, but had to leave early.
Wanyun's table finished first, and they were urging us to finish, I thought they wanted to go to school to see the choir's caroling practice with the conductor, but in the end we didn't.
Anyway, they gave me this farewell gift (even though I only made it seem to be my last outing to guilt trip them to come) which was a personalised 2010 calendar with all their pictures on it (because there's 12 of them excluding me, BRILLIANT) and I think YJ put in a lot of effort making it, so I'm SO THANKFUL FOR IT!! *cries happy tears*
After walking with WY, Sheena, YJ and XM to Dhoby Ghaut again, I took the train up to AMK to meet XW!
We stoned at the Macs while waiting for the others and I was telling her about the Mu Lan movie I already saw. Then Sheryl came in with all her presents and stuff (thanks!), followed shortly by KX and Eliz, and then we went back to AMK Hub to decide on Pepper Lunch for dinner. Maybe we should call it Pepper Dinner.
RO met us after they'd all ordered except me, because I was a bit full and didn't really feel like eating PL. RO gave us our Christmas cards, and Sheryl gave us our presents, including a large toy hedgehog for RO the birthday girl!
I wanted to go to BBQ Express because I remembered liking the chicken wings, but unfortunately they were sold out! So Sheryl and I got takoyaki, and we wandered around in NTUC for a while, spending the most time debating on which sushi pack to buy!
There was much phototaking with Sheryl's pro camera and angles of trying to get XW to look pregnant in her billowing dress! I'm glad we got to take photos together, it's been ages!
Today was tiring, but utterly fun. I love meeting my friends, and the time we've not been together just makes the meeting more special. Maybe I was wrong about "out of sight, out of mind", as I quoted to YJ earlier today.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
I came back from the Model Bag Retreat that my parents brought us along to in Johor from Sunday afternoon to Tuesday morning.
The actual people in the Model Bags include Pastor and wife, plus my parents, plus 9 more adults. This makes 13 people. And then they brought along their kids, which totals to 18 children.
We had to eat lunch by ourselves first (at Serangoon) before reconvening in church and leaving. One car was supposed to follow ours, and since Yue and I were the ones sitting at the back, we had to keep turning our heads around to check that they were still behind us!
The hotel was really nice, apparently 5 star, and the bed was super king, so all three of us sisters could sleep on it! The only problems I had with the room was that the aircon wasn't working properly, and the bathroom couldn't be locked. So you kind of go to the bathroom in mortal fear that someone will accidentally open it!
I think I spent the most of my time watching TV! The room had KBS, Star Movies, plus the local channels, MTV, Hallmark, NHK, ESPN. We got to watch Beverly Hills Chihuahua, World Mixed Doubles Billiards, and some show that Minho from SHINee was on. (Dream Team?)
Most of the meals were eaten together, and REALLY GOOD. Lots of seafood! One of the meals we had just as our family was Monday's lunch at this big Jusco building. I was more concerned about finding new sandals because the bottom of my left sandal came out!!
And then my mum and Yan abandoned us, claiming they didn't want to eat lunch anyway, while we were busy getting the sandals, so it was just my father, brother, Yue and me eating at this Chicken Rice Shop on the 3rd level.
Guess who we found having "tea" at the 1st level? THE TWO ABANDONERS. HMPH.
On Monday night there was a mass gathering of them in parents/our connecting rooms playing the Bible games we had brought! I'm no good at In Other Words, but I think Outburst and Tribond are somewhat easier!
Then four cars left on Tuesday, while Pastor stayed and one car went further to KL. We had a combined lunch at this Bamboo place, though I was pretty full from the wonderful buffet breakfast!
Last night I went for my first caroling practice. I'm kind of panicking because there are so many new songs to learn! Twelve Days of Christmas is a KILLER. It was good seeing the choir people and singing with them again!
Today Yan and I went to watch Gokusen: The Movie at Marina, because it was only showing at GV cinemas there and at Vivocity as of today, and I think today was its last screening!
I think we were cheated by the ticketing girl. She gave us 3rd row from the back aisle, when we really should have taken the 2nd row from the back, if we had known that those were more centred!
In order to watch it, I went to re-watch most of the 1st and 2nd seasons, and watched half of the 3rd for the first time. In retrospect, I should have watched the 3rd season Special, because some of the characters in the movie were only from the special.
I don't recommend people who haven't seen any of the dramas (i.e. people like Sara Chan!) to watch the movie. It's exactly like the movie reviewer in the Straits Times Lifestyle section said - it's like a big reunion full of old characters that are familiar only to those who've watched it!
It was great seeing the older characters, especially Oguri Shun and Koike Teppei, and I think it's a pity Matsumoto Jun and Akanishi Jin didn't have cameos.
The first half felt like one of the typical episodes, while the 2nd half was more different and interesting. I like how the problem was resolved in the end. No romance this time, though!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
So today was my father's birthday, and I must say it's the most things we've ever done for someone's birthday! Labels: family
We woke up early to go to this Bukit Batok Nature Park place to go walking, though it was only about 1.6km therabouts! We then had a late breakfast in one of those under the hdb places.
Then I was allowed to drive with Yan to collect the birthday cake from Fiona. It started raining soon after I'd left, and in the end I nearly missed the turn, and there was a sense of panic, but I managed to go there and come back without causing any accidents!
We went to Tiong Bahru Plaza to watch the movie Mulan, followed by our dinner.
I thought the movie was pretty nice, though predictable at many points, and the transition between scenes and length of scences in the first 30 minutes weren't that good compared to later in the film.
For anyone thinking of watching it, I say it's an enjoyable watch. My father's watched at least 2 drama versions of Mulan, and this one has "entertainment value", according to him!
One touching part was when they were cornered, and their men who had stayed back to allow them to escape back were being tortured by the enemy, and Mulan started singing the song they sang for the dead soldiers.
It's a pity about the ending, Yue said the plot wrap-up was anticlimatic, though I was okay with it, but of course both my sisters were upset about the ending, pertaining to the romance, while my brother and I were more pragmatic about it!
We're going to Malaysia tomorrow!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Today I met up with Melody Cheong (back from Brisbane for a visit) and Shernise, and we had a nice long lunch at Ion Orchard!
We ate at the Xin Wang Hong Kong cafe, and I find it funny that Melody is dying to eat all the Asian/Chinese food after being in Australia for so long, while I who eat Chinese food EVERY DAY opted for cheese baked rice!
Shern and I are wondering if we'll acquire accents like hers! But it was fun to catch up, and it's a bit sad we won't be in the same region. It's also great to have someone to give advice after being there for so long.
On a side note, I think Shern is right about my not really being suited to ACJC. I guess it's a good thing I went to NJC instead!
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities
