xuan

Model Bag Retreat + Caroling + Movie

2009-12-09T21:17:00.003+08:00

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!

Happy Birthday Papa!

2009-12-05T23:02:00.004+08:00

So today was my father's birthday, and I must say it's the most things we've ever done for someone's birthday!

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!

Australia Buddies

2009-12-03T21:00:00.003+08:00

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!

Interesting Part in Luke

2009-11-30T08:50:00.003+08:00

Yesterday during Sunday School the passage included a part I'd never really noticed/bothered to read before.

It comes from the time when John the Baptist sent his followers to ask Jesus if he really was the one they'd been awaiting, and Jesus told them to report to John the wonders he was doing etc. Now, I knew that part, mostly because of this song based on it, but I digress.

After that, Jesus was talking to the people/Pharisees about how John was indeed the messenger preparing the way, and that even though he was the greatest among those born of women, even the least in God's kingdom would be greater.

Luke 7:31-35

31."To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32.They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
" 'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.'
33.For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34.The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' 35.But wisdom is proved right by all her children."

The idea of the children in the marketplace playing different tunes and being unsatisfied when the people comply one or the other is really quite true of the people being unsatisfied with a John who lived a terribly strict lifestyle nor Jesus whose lifestyle was radical.

Happy Birthday Mummy!!

2009-11-15T16:42:00.002+08:00

Yup, today's my mum's birthday!

We were supposed to eat at Quality Hotel for lunch, but because Brother had practice, we went to Parkway Parade instead. And I looked around the shoe shops, but didn't see anything I liked.

Actually yesterday at Toa Payoh I went into 3 shoe shops, saw 3 pairs I liked, and didn't buy a single pair. It's not just that I don't want to spend the money, I also have no more occasion to wear such pretty shoes. I felt depressed after that, and indulged in Burger King! Mushroom Swiss FTW.

Just tried a hand at seeing available Qantas/British Airways flights to Sydney from Singapore - the tentative departure date is 14th February, 2010, i.e. Valentine's Day, i.e. Chinese New Year 初一.

Anyway, during sermon today Pastor told a funny joke, that's actually based on a game some people play, called Fortunately, Unfortunately, where people take turns in telling a story that alternates between being fortunate and unfortunate.

So Pastor's story was about a guy sitting in the cargo area of the plane, and fell out, unfortunately.

Fortunately, he had the parachute and opened it.
Unfortunately, the parachute had a large hole and he began to plummet down.
Fortunately, there was a very large haystack below.
Unfortunately, there was an upright pitchfork in the haystack.
Fortunately, he missed the pitchfork.
Unfortunately, he missed the haystack as well.

THE LAST LINE CRACKED ME UP!

CAC Retirement, Ordination Cum Closing Ceremony 2009

2009-11-12T23:21:00.003+08:00

I came back from the CAC Closing Ceremony (see above for full title), and I didn't expect it to end so late!

Yeah, so at this ceremony they have the retirement of pastors, the ordination of pastors, and the posting of pastors to the various Methodist churches belonging to the CAC (Chinese Annual Conference).

Bishop Dr Solomon was the speaker (Rev Louis Chai translating to Chinese), and for a short while I was wondering why he was the CAC president when he isn't Chinese. Then I remembered he's the bishop in charge of the Methodist Church in Singapore, and Rev Chong is the president of CAC! I'm so blur!

So I didn't know Uncle Francis was retiring! He's so cute - he asked the Bishop if he could receive the graduation hat which he was unable to when he had really graduated years back! And his whole family was there, as well as my parents, and my father's sister and brother and wife!

Then Pastor Jasper got ordained as an elder, which means he can conduct Holy Communion now! He used to be our youth pastor!

Then finally it was Rev Chong's turn to speak, and he told Rev Louis Chai his work wasn't finished yet (as a translator)! So Rev Chong spoke in Chinese and Rev Chai translated it to English, then suddenly Rev Chong switched to English, and Rev Chai just kind of stood there for a few seconds, the congregation laughed, and Rev Chai promptly translated back into Chinese!! HILARIOUS!!

Thus began the long list of pastors who were called out by their District Superintendents, and because it was all in Chinese and my Chinese is worse than some Primary School kids', I couldn't understand WHICH churches the D.S's were referring to as they called the pastors up to the front, except PLCMM and Toa Payoh, lol.

Thanks to my father, whose Chinese is excellent, I have been informed that our C.S. pastor Rev Wilfred Leow will now be the Pastor in Charge(I think?) of Grace Methodist, and our L.S. Pastor Albert Ong will be preaching in Telok Ayer Methodist.

Uncle Keng Tat (i.e. Joshua's dad, whom I didn't know was a real pastor until he came to preach last month or something) will be splitting his time between Grace and our church. And we got a new pastor who I think was previously at some South Korean Conference. I'm pretty sure Korea has many churches. I think he is pastor Gideon Choi or something that sounds similar.

The districts are East, West and Central (called in that order), so all our pastors were called up first, since Paya Lebar is clearly in the east! This includes Rev Chai, Rev Ng B.K, Ps Kong, etc. I think Pastor Jasper is going to Changi Methodist? So far! I also recognised Rev Ngiam (she used to be in our church, her sons still are), and Rev Daniel Lee (used to be C.S. pastor) in the Central District row.

All this swapping around might take a while to get used to, but I'm sure it's all decided upon much prayer and of God's choosing!

It's All Relative!

2009-11-07T22:49:00.002+08:00

So, last Saturday was Zi Jie's and Shan Yi's wedding! A joyous occasion indeed! In the line of cousins, I think Zi Jie is about one year older than my sister.

We went for the tea ceremony in the morning at 5th (note: 4th) Uncle's house, where we got to see the tea-serving, tea-drinking, the pretty bride in her impressive gown and the groom in his shiny suit! We also ate lunch there, while the couple had to run off to her family's side for the same thing.

There was much fun playing with Gwen, though her parents weren't there - the grandparents brought her along. Yue played with her like a lot! I even took a photo with my phone :) She's fascinated by the pictures of herself on Yue's phone as well!

I had to go for tuition, then went home, and the solemnisation and wedding dinner was held at the Marina Mandarin Hotel, I think. Their wedding invitation was so cute, like a movie promotional postcard titled The Proposal!

The wedding dinner started rather late, and for once I was at a table with some people I don't know.

On Sunday we went to see Yan's performance at the Sounds of Hope charity concert held by MGS, in which the performing arts groups each did their own performance. I quite liked The Happy Prince play by the drama group, and the secondary dance troupe, and of course, the string ensemble!!

Today is 1st Uncle's birthday, and as always, we celebrated the dinner, cake and all, at this Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant at UE Square. Actually because my tuition ended at 5:30, I was prepared to take a straight bus from Toa Payoh Interchange to UE Square, but in the end I met my family at Newton and got fetched, yay!

Our table had the four of us kids, the four from 8th (note: 7th) Uncle's family, and Gabriel and Angie. Natalie was MIA for more than half the dinner - I think she was fascinated by the fish!

The babies were evenly 'distributed' at different tables: Natalie, Ke Xuan and Anthea, who are all terribly CUTE!

Zi Chong's table kept passing food over to our table, and at a certain point we had to redirect the food to Anson's table, haha!

The cake was pretty nice, with milk chocolate flakes and blueberries. Apparently there was some alcohol in it too. This might explain why Natalie spat it out after being fed by Grace. Clever girl.

Anyway, it was kind of funny seeing all our relatives again, because it felt like we only just saw them a week ago! I love how our family is so big!

Updates since last post + Permanent Fish!

2009-10-16T00:07:00.003+08:00

Well, so far I've just been doing my data coding job, getting used to the programme.

I'm also currently waiting for the responses of the residential colleges I applied to. I'm feeling rather nervous, but perhaps they're not used to applicants so early in the year, since their Year 12s haven't finished their exams yet.

On Wednesday my sister and I followed my mum to NIE to have a nice sushi lunch and watch this Japanese acapella group called Permanent Fish perform at NTU. They have 5 members - one vocal percussion, one bass, and three others sharing the lead and chorus parts.

And they're really good! Okay, perhaps I'm not an expert on acapella, though I have been in a group before and watched other groups from choir, and I think it's cool that their total singing is pulled off by 4 people, since the 5th guy does the VP.

They really had a lot of energy! I think the VP guy really just went on and on without needing to drink water! And the bass guy went pretty low! And the 3 chorus guys all have excellent strong voices! Plus one of them can make these cool sort of electric guitar sounds with the mike!

Apparently they've also released Korean albums, including a version of the old Korean song Balloons, which DBSK sang a remake of! I bet that there were some DBSK fans in the audience, because they looked excited when the middle guy introduced Balloons as their next song!!

They had a concert on Wednesday night at the Esplanade, but anyway I couldn't go because I had tuition. I think it's cool how they just keep singing non-stop, and don't seem to need any time to get their notes for the next song immediately after finishing the previous one!

I hope they really can go 'from Kobe to the world'!

Japanese Cultural Night

2009-10-16T23:08:00.002+08:00

Otherwise read as ni hon bu kan no yoru, or something like that!

This evening, I went to watch Clarissa at her dance performance, organised by the NUS Japanese club that she and Xiaowen are in, inclusive of dance, tea ceremony, koto, and a guest drum troupe from SP.

I just missed the 151 when I reached the bus stop, but any way the trip was only about 15 minutes (so quick!) that I reached my destination earlier than I needed to! Then Yi Hoong and Samantha met me there and led me to the LT where the performance was.

Xiaowen came in at the 3rd item, and we all took pictures during the intermission!

It was pretty interesting, and I especially liked the last dance. It was so energetic, and had lots of performers on stage, plus people off stage chanting, SORAN, SORAN!

After that XW and I went to the BK to have a sort of dinner thing, and I realise how much I miss having my friends around to just talk about everything.

Just sitting at the bus stop earlier and seeing this whole bustling activity, made the campus really seem alive. I hope my university experience will be fun as well! I'm kind of scared, because I haven't been studying for the past year, I hope I'll be able to adjust to schooling again!

Interviews

2009-09-24T17:01:00.002+08:00

Yesterday was the last day of the interviews for the project, and I'm quite sorry to think that I won't get to do them anymore. Especially because the last school we went to was that one at stevens road, it was so interesting to hear what they had to say during the interviews, and I really enjoyed it. I also met Jodie on the way from the bus stop - she looked pretty surprised to see me!

I feel like I've met so many people who were also administering surveys and conducting interviews for the past two months or so, and I've had the chance to go to so many different schools in this research position, it really was fun!

But anyway I was the youngest one doing the interviews - most of them were either undergraduate students or masters students already. And of course there were older adults too!

I'm just going to list some of their names down here so that I won't forget them next time - I hope it won't complicate anything: Yongqing, Xinjie, Huihui, Zoe, Joanna, Selina, Guan Leong. I didn't really talk to the masters students, I mean they were their own friends anyway.

I wish them all the best on their future endeavours!

Cheerio, Yihui and Yiwen!

2009-09-15T20:56:00.003+08:00

Today I went to Changi Airport Terminal 3 Row 2 to send Yihui and Yiwen off to England (going with Aunty Sabrina). Daryl, Michelle and Rachel were also there!

Yiwen's going for a year to do intense studying for her Masters. I didn't know that a Masters degree could be finished in only one year!

Yihui's going to study law at Leeds, I think, but this means she'll be separated by a 5-hour coach ride distance from Yiwen, poor thing. I don't think she's living exactly on the campus? I vaguely remember her saying something about cycling 4 miles to school.

I'm really going to miss them, but because Australia timetables are such that the long holidays are at the end of the year, while the UK one is in the middle of the year, it means while I'll see Yiwen at the end of 2010, I won't see Yihui until she gets back to Singapore!

Oh, but to go to England, how cool! The land of sarcasm, royalty, musicals and the Queen's English! I love British English!!!!

I hope they'll have a safe journey; they're still on the plane now I think, silly Yihui asked for my letter to last her the whole 14 hours. I said to her at the farewell on Friday, to watch the free movies! That's the best part of flying! That and the playing cards you get to ask for.

Yihui's been my church friend for as long as I can remember, and it's going to be ultra weird not seeing her on Sundays any more. What's happening to our Sunday School class!?!?!

God bless the both of you! :D

Data Coding Completed!

2009-08-31T11:32:00.005+08:00

My gosh, I'm not sure I've ever had a job that felt like it just dragged on forever.

Data coding was my job for one of the projects done by CRPP in NIE, and it was essentially to assign codes to the answers given by the survey-takers in an Excel file.

Now, there were 13509 survey takers, and 4 responses each, though not all of them filled in all the entries, so there were blank cells here and there.

So thankfully, instead of 13509 x 4 = 54036 entries, it was only about 46400 entries. And also, there were already pre-assigned codes, so it wasn't as if I had to come up with a whole set of codes by myself.

It was really easy at first, because being an excel file, I could arrange the column in alphabetical order, which would put all similarly spelt answers together, and then just put the correct code in the next column, click and drag until wherever necessary.

Unfortunately as it went on, I had to try to figure out typo errors as well as make decisions on creating new codes, or conforming to older ones.

I kept doing it, until the point where I thought I was going to go crazy because after entering the codes so many times after a while you it kind of just sticks in your brain.

And FINALLY, as of 11:15am this morning on the 31st of August, I finished the last entry, completing my job!

The good thing was that I got to work from home, so I didn't need to go to NIE like every working day. I think my general knowledge has increased as well.

Now I'm going to have lunch with Jane and Adeline (old MGS friends!!), and they just missed the Teachers' Day celebrations at MGS. I THOUGHT SO, they wanted to be there at what, 11:30, but my younger sister came home at about 11 already, so they must have been late!

EDIT: We had lunch at the Soup Spoon, a first time for me. And it's really filling, until I couldn't finish the bread bowl. It was really nice to see them again, but they're both flying off this month to the UK for university studies! I actually didn't know that Addie had been studying there for about 2 years already! She talks a little like a Brit now, how cool! And Jane's gonna do medicine (in Scotland), like me!! Yay!

Bye Bye Sheryl

2009-08-20T13:56:00.000+08:00

Yeah, so I know I haven't blogged in forever - I keep meaning to, but then get lazy when I actually sit down in front of the com, and then end up not doing it at all.

Recently everyone's been going to university, except for us overseas-bound people. I'm still working!

This morning Xiaowen, Elizabeth and I sent Sheryl off at the airport, where she's headed right now for USA to commence her university studies! Actually I didn't feel as sad as I thought I would, because she's coming back in December. What the heck lah, going for like 4 months then coming back for Christmas??? It's barely going away!

I spent so much effort making her farewell card too! But at least I think she was pleasantly surprised by it :D I also got her a birthday card she can open on the 23rd when she's there.

After that Elizabeth's mum fetched us to TP where her dad works, and we were talking and walking around and chilling in the library before her mum very nicely sent me to Toa Payoh where I had tuition.

After tuition on my way home I met Jane Lua coming down from the overhead bridge on her way home with her da-baoed lunch (just like me, haha), and we talked for about 25 minutes? She's also going to study medicine, but in Glasgow, Scotland, and she's leaving in early September. Everyone's flying off!!

Nothing much exciting has happened in this month, I guess. Let's see, there was the sort of choir lunch that not many people actually went for, including k-boxing in the afternoon, (including Yong Jian, Gabriel, Ann, Chee Jun, Zhirui, Amanda).

Then there was the choir alumni gathering at Thomas' house that I couldn't stay for because of our family gathering on the same day. At least since I arrived earlier I got to play guitar hero, as well as eat yummy satay!

Oh yes, we had our church 70th anniversary on the 16th; the service was at this church near Harbourfront, after which we walked over to Harbourfront Centre to have the anniversary dinner at this Dragon Gate restaurant place.

The entire dinner is kind of a blur for me now, but I remember that there was tonnes of food, but our table always had like one person's share extra leftover, probably because my sister was barely eating. She and Andrea were both studying for their bio common test the next day, haha!

Then there was talk of this Farmville application on Facebook that I was talked into adding by Ian, so now he and Rachel are my neighbours, and I ought to go add Daryl and Nat too.

And then Melody was trying to call Ian at the next table regarding Alicia's flying back to USA on Wednesday, and it went something like this.

Melody: Ian! Ian Wong! (no response)
Me: Haha, let me try - watch this. FARMVILLE!
Ian: Did I hear someone say Farmville? [Doesn't respond to his name but hears the word Farmville. Good grief.]

Yeah, I think I'd better try to post more, or it'll become a dead blog, and I don't think I want the idea of a dead blog hanging over me.

NJChorale Concert!

2009-07-31T23:30:00.003+08:00

So today was our NJChorale - the NJChoir Alumni concert, a culmination of the weeks of practice we had.

Well, it's not like we practiced as hard or as often as we did when we were in the school choir. It's not easy to get the same level of commitment among people who have really different schedules and aren't forced to attend.

Anyway, today for the first half we sang Lux Aurumque, Crown of Roses, Bogoroditse Devo, Burung Kakaktua, Paruparong Bukid. Then the first two acapella groups were the Chinese Yi Bi Yi group and my Lollipop group.

The first group had Lay Wang (who arranged the song), Shermaine, Bi Fang, Gabriel, Hua Cheng and Jia Hao. My group had Xiang Ting, Priscilla, Jia Yun, Ann and me.

We practiced for acapella quite often, though spending quite a lot of time on things like movement, the intro, what we were going to wear etc. At first we were going to just wear the choral gowns, but then decided that the song was too cute for it and wore colourful clothes in the end :D

The funny part backstage was how we all rushed to change. Straight after going back in (after Paruparong) the Yi Bi Yi girls just chionged into the toilet to change, while the guys just stripped the shirts off behind the curtain! Jia Hao was stalling for them

And then Lollipop while waiting for the toilet to have space quickly changed the shoes and tried to do the hair first. And then we rushed to change our clothes, and then rushed back out to tie on the red ribbons, and the guys backstage probably thought we looked hilarious.

After the intermission it was Oh No John, which was hilarious everytime I saw the acting by Thomas and Priscilla. The people singing were Xiang, Shermaine, Cheryl, Jia, Chee Jun, Gabriel, Xingqun and Linus. They probably went sharper and sharper :)

Then it was Fire (Cheryl, Jia, Xiang, Zhirui, Linus, Jiahao) and In The Still Of The Night (Cheej, Linus, Zhirui, Thomas, Gabriel). Based on the cheers we heard they must have done well! (The backstage curtain kind of muffles some of the sound, and we can't see the performance, pity.)

Then we went back to the chorale performances, singing Humpty Dumpty, Vincent (Starry Starry Night), Moon River, Song (composed by Pris) and Shima E. And the encore piece was Ye Lai Xiang.

I'm really thankful to all the people who came to see us, whether it's our choir juniors, people from other choirs or our families, including my two younger sisters!

Last Day at GPR

2009-07-14T22:50:00.004+08:00

Firstly, today's my brother's birthday! Happy Birthday!! You're now a quarter of a century old!!

So today was my last day officially working at Graduate Programmes and Research Office [Teachers' Professional Development] in NIE, but not my last day in NIE.

For the past two weeks, I've been kind of like a regular worker - I would wait for the chartered NIE staff bus for the Holland - Farrer - Bukit Timah area, along with Dr Joan Fry (and for a few days, Mark as well) at the small side road beneath the train railway.

The people on the bus are Auntie Kok Mui, Auntie Lek Cher (both of whom know my mum), Joy, Shih Fen, Dr Fry, Mark and Mary. The two of us would always sit in the back with Mary. Mark was there for the first few days, but wasn't there when he went to Japan.

And then I'd reach NIE at about 8:05am and go to Block 3, hoping that someone would be there to let me in, because I have no pass-card.

I'd be working/slacking from 8.20 - 5.40 or thereabouts, with an hour-long lunch in between. Before my mum went to NZ, I'd just stay in office until about 6.15 to wait for her to be done, and then meet her at the carpark. But for the last two weeks, I had to remember to close everything at about 5.37pm or so, and leave before 5.40pm so as to get to the bus by 5.45pm.

Jun Qiang from the other side of GPR left on 29 June, I think, because the person he was relieving came back from maternal leave or something, and Amos was complaining about all the baby talk, haha.

They also shifted my seat, swapping places with Radha, so that she now sat beside Charles, and I sat in front of Jiahui. At first I wasn't too happy, because I liked being tucked away in my old corner, but at least in this new place I could talk to Jiahui! Madeline also got shifted to one of those tables near the pantry/toilet. (The computer guy, who's Grace's husband! shifted the computers around.)

Sitting at the new place was quite different. The aircon was less cold (made my old corner feel like the North Pole), and I occasionally directed people who came in to the right people to ask their questions to. Also, my desk was right outside the meeting room, where the people inside could be noisy despite the closed door! And once, Mavis came in, I wonder if it was on behalf of my mum?

Then Jiahui's last day was on 3rd July, because she was going to Taiwan on the following Tuesday, and the manager had been officially hired already, so Chris 'terminated her employment', lol. We had Canadian pizza on her last day - good stuff!

After that I was the only one left in my column, the three people in the other column belonging to the other side of GPR (Emma, Asmidah, Mazian). I think it's called GAP or something.

The new manager's name is Wei Ling, I think. She's pretty tall! But then Chris had to go eat with her and the higher-ups, and Su-Ming and Madeline would go by themselves, so I ate by myself once or twice, and once with Amos (we boycott Broadway!).

And they had this TPD lunch-meeting thing on Friday where they ordered KFC. I wasn't even sure if I was supposed to go, but it turns out, I was! Apparently the lunch time was like the manager getting to know everyone's family, work history etc. Hers is really colourful, even more than Charles, but no one can beat Radha: working at NIE all her life! And she looks way too young to be the mother of a 20-year old! Then they had their meeting while I did my work outside.

Yesterday I took a half-day off to go to school to get my SGC, so I only spent the morning in office. Because I took the cough medicine, I was literally falling asleep at my desk! And then the LP people (Audrey and Ros) came in with lots of leftover samosas and fruit tarts, which I admit I stuffed my face with. Kept me awake!

Today I went in (with Cindi) and it took a while to realise that my computer was missing! Rather, they moved it to two desks in front of Madeline, so that the entire column was now empty, and anyone looking for TPD would have to walk to the right, my desk being the first in line.

The good thing about this desk is that I could eat my pau without being seen! But a lot more people walk by it, and I feel a bit paiseh if they see me playing games - not because I'm a slacker but because Chris didn't give me work!

Today at least TPD remembered it's my last day, so Madeline, Charles, Imelda and Su-Ming kind of wished me well with my future endeavours. They're so cute, they all like to shake hands or something. Even Dr Tan!

It's currently the teacher investiture going on, so Charles and Madeline got volunteered to be ushers or something, so my last lunch was at the Cafe by the Quad (teri & yaki chicken!).

Anyway, despite it being my last day, I just realised that I left my earphones there, so I'll pop by tomorrow to get them. I'm going to start my new work at CRPP (thanks to Shih Fen :D), so it's still NIE!

I think NIE is so fun. I don't know why. It's like everything works together. Like how the Foundation Programmes people are all involved in the TIC these 3 days, where teachers previously trained under the various AGs are now released into the schools, and they'll later come back to GPR for other courses! Cool.

Dinner with Choir Comm 07-08

2009-07-07T20:05:00.003+08:00

Haha, this post is like three days late.

Sheena organised a dinner for the 07-08 NJChoir Committee, and we were to meet at City Hall MRT. I came from Toa Payoh MRT (after tution) and reached at about 6.15, but only Jing An was already there.

We were speculating on who would come next, but before I could give my final answer, Sheena showed up. We took a long time deliberating where to eat, meanwhile being joined by Ek Ping, Wanyun, Yun Tian, Yong Jian, Conan, Xuemin and Eugenia. (Eugene was already at the Esplanade area.)

In the end, according to Yun Tian's suggestion (trust the veteran, as JA says) we went to Marina Square, and finally settled on this place whose name escapes me right now, but it was that typical western food kind of place. With good dessert.

I don't really remember exactly what we talked about over dinner. I think it probably revolved around topics of school, army, food, work, choir, alumni concert etc.

Sixuan: I got my driving licence, see?
Eugenia & Xuemin: Ohhhh.
Jing An: What's that? Your student card?
Sixuan: No, it's my driving licence! (expression of glee)
Yong Jian: Haha, so what. I also can drive! Some more the one I drive is like 10 times bigger than yours.
Sixuan: Oh, so like some big tank thing? (expression of wonder)
Conan: You never tell her you can only drive at like 30km/h. *snigger*

There were also the NDP rehearsal fireworks, though from where we sat, unable to see the sky, thought it looked a lot like lightning in the sense that they lit up the buildings in flashes. After dinner, we went to take a picture outside the place.

Wanyun: Okay, let's take a picture!
[Yun Tian takes out a comb and combs her hair.]
Some of us: Aiyo!
Sixuan: Do you NEED to comb your hair?
Yun Tian: Hey, it's important, okay?
Wanyun: Let's be thankful she didn't take her mirror out like she usually does.
Sixuan: That's true!
Wanyun: If she were a more bimbo person, she'd take out perfume and spray it. You know, even though it doesn't actually show on the photo!

Afterwards we went back up and walked around, Ek Ping and Yun Tian went to the Puma shop to see if the bags EP got on sale were really going for that price. Xuemin and I got our cheaper ice-cream from this Japanese shop, and we sat down at a Starbucks table (Conan and YJ got drinks) while Eugene described the present choir situation to Eugenia, JA and me. It sounded frightening.

Then Sheena and I went home together right after, and I only got home at about 10.30pm. Though this is because she pushed back the original meeting time of 6pm to 6.30, and then we waited until 7pm for everyone to come before going to Marina Square.

I realise that I didn't know how much I wanted to see them again after so long until I actually saw them. These are people I used to see thrice a week, about 40 weeks a year, and for 2-3 years depending on which of them.

Well, at least I've tried to wrangle an assurance that when I organise another meeting at the end of the year(with those in my year since the rest will be having A levels/prom/holiday), they'll set aside the date if possible.

I miss them already!

Transformers Movie Outing

2009-06-26T08:29:00.002+08:00

Last night a big group of youths from EJ, CJ and MM went to PS to watch Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

My sisters and I went to join some of them for dinner at the Kopitiam [including Priscilla, John, Yun En, Yun Ze (and their sister), Judith, Gin Gin, Qihang, Michelle, Nicholas, Christopher, Andrew, Yunting, Yihern, Magdalene, Noel, Nicklaus, Joanna, Linus, Joseph, Deborah, Anthia], though Rachel and Yan dabao-ed Subway.

Yan and I went into the Puzzle World to have a look around. We saw a puzzle that's the same as the one our mum bought for us to do and hang up at home, only this one was at least twice as big!

At the 7th level where the theatre is, the promotion for the 6th Harry Potter movie had already begun, and there were the life-sized cardboard figures of the 3 main characters. And Yi Hern asked Dickson to take a picture of him with his beloved Emma Watson :D

Yue actually went to print out the synopsis of the movie, and Yan was quickly trying to read it before going in.

Yan: I don't know ANYTHING about Transformers!
Xuan: Okay, never mind, I'll explain to you! Do you know what a Transformer is?
Yan: No!
Xuan:...Okay, you see the Big Big Robot, that's a Transformer!
Yan: Orh, okay.
[Later in the movie, when the small Decepticon appears]
Yan: I thought you said Transformers were big!
Xuan [oops.]

Poor Yan. I think it's not too easy to understand the 2nd movie without watching the first. Especially when all the Autobots/Decepticons look roughly the same. Apparently the only names she heard were 'Optimus Prime' and 'Bumblebee'.

The movie was quite good, I think. Obviously a lot of it was the fighting and CGI and special effects, but those were good! I think the plot/script could have been better at certain parts, and I felt that some of the momentum was ruined by interspersed moments between Sam and Mikaela in their whole when-are-you-going-to-say-you-love-me thing.

One fun thing about watching with so many people is the collective similar shared emotions felt when watching the movie. For example, in the earlier parts there are bits of humour, and even if it's not very high-class humour (his mother runs out of the house in fright and hits her head on a hanging flowerpot) everyone still laughs very loudly and general merriment ensues.

Movie Sam: You see those three stars over there? That's ORION's Belt...
All the Orion Campers: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!
Haha, so funny!!

We ought to have more events like this! Maybe we can all go watch Harry Potter or something. And find a way to help Yihern steal the Hermione figure.

PLCMC Combined Youth Camp 2009

2009-06-19T16:34:00.005+08:00

Yup, my sisters and I are back from the Orion Combined Camp 2009, held at PLMGPS from 14th to 18th June recently.

I want to say firstly that I wish we'd thought of having this combined thing much earlier, like say 5 years ago? Because the 3 different youth groups didn't really know each other, and by now when I'm already 19 - soon to be a not-youth anymore - it feels kind of late.

It started on Sunday evening (after MM's programme), but Yan (publicity) and I (logistics) had to be there at 4.30 for briefing and preparation, which included registration and clearing up the classrooms to be used for sleeping.

We had dinner and a bit of time to get to know our groups. I was first put into group Rigel (leader Amos Seet), but then later just before worship I found out I had been put into the wrong group! Sihui tried to find another tag, but there wasn't one, so I just got a different lanyard. And in the middle of the worship session (so weird right) I was introduced to the Hatsya group leader Dickson. Lol, the first thing I said after seeing him was, "You're Freda's brother, right?" Because they look SO ALIKE!

Worship was done by the MM team (supposed to be my team (Andrew's) but there was a swap, so in the end I couldn't sing for his session on Monday). [I know this isn't the point, but their keyboardist Luther plays AMAZINGLY.] The first theme talk by Pastor Kong (bits of it were in Chinese, imagine!) which was about the relationship between God and I. Good thing I could understand most of it! We formed small groups (Michelle Ng, Yingxuan, Qiying) to pray, and then he concluded it with a totally Chinese prayer (I understood 65%).

Anyway the logistics team had to go prepare food/drink, and Tan Whenn and I were to put hoses in the toilets for bathing later. John showed us the way (MM always uses the place for camp, I think).

Then my brother came to fetch me home, because I had my driving test on Monday, 15th June. I remember telling a few people in the camp that my test was on Monday, so when I went backsome of them, including Pastor Fui Fui, asked me about it, so I happily said that I'd PASSED!! Thank God!

Yue just arrived after me (being at GB camp) and we went to the hall to find them playing the cat-and-mouse-maze game, so we just watched, haha. Afterwards was the telematch (station games): Frog-race (frog), Soap/grape sliding (tofu), Egg-race (egg), Waterpipe game (bowl of water), and Find-Eraser-in-Flour game (paper scrap).

The frogs were gross! I don't know how Yong Chiang could stand carrying it around everywhere after the first station! And Si Kai SQUASHED OUR FROG. He practically jumped on it when their frog won the race!

The soap was pretty gross too, but we all did it. Amos Chong and John continued splashing soap on after previous members had wiped it off the mat with their backs! After it was the egg-rolling race, and I just want to say I'm glad I didn't have to use my tongue (Louis) or forehead (Caleb Chua)!

The waterpipe game was classically wet, but thanks to Dickson's long and skinny arm, we only had to fill it around halfway before he could reach in to grab the pingpong ball! We lost the final game, and got to take a picture with white-streaked faces and clothes!

We only got like 6th place in the end, but never mind, it was fun! The cleaning up wasn't as fun, though. It required many pails of water and brooms to clean up the flour/eggs etc. There'd be a lot of people waiting for Edward to fill up the buckets before carrying them across the field to the dirty areas, using them up in a minute and going back for more water.

Joshua (slacker!) was talking to Yue and Yiwen about coming up with a new Bible Quiz that's biased against me, involving physical fitness! Afterwards they continued talking about cheemer stuff (joined by Emily and Nicholas), and then it was dinner time.

I was surprised that I was supposed to be a station master for the night games, though my station was terribly easy. Tell group the rules (find extracts of a story hidden in the canteen), remind them of the time (15 min to find & memorise, 5 min to recite), hear the recital and send people to the torture chamber. It's pretty funny how some people can recite about 3 long sentences perfectly, while others can't even do one sentence right. My group (combined with another) was terrible! Aiyo, I even gave them helping words!

I bathed quickly when the rest of the groups were still playing their final game, and came down with Amanda (who hurt her toe), but there was no more supper (beancurd) left.

Despite sleeping pretty late, the three of us sisters still got up relatively early (7 plus) and went down to the canteen. [Yan claims there's something wrong with us :D] My log briefing didn't really occur because the guys were still sleeping!

Group QT was led by Dickson, who was responding to a question asked by Rachel on Monday about the Word in fellowship. The 3rd theme talk was by Rev Leow on the Church and Us, after which we had an interesting group discussion on our personal role in church and changing churches.

After lunch we had the outing game, which was basically a murder mystery where we had to travel to various stations in the region to ask the characters involved questions. Sadly, my group wasn't able to get the better time slots, and ended up having to go around in circles! So frustrating! Thank goodness John knew how to go everywhere from everywhere by which buses!

As a result, we were too late for the last station (PLCMC), so we asked Michelle Foo the questions at the bus stop while waiting for the 62, which took forever to come, and we were the last ones back at the school! We barely had any time to come up with our re-enactment of the murder solution, with Rachel in the main role despite her not having been on the outing!

All 10 acts were good, some hilariously funny and entertaining! Things like Augustine the dad lusting after Zhi Xiang the mistress, Joshua the Butler trying to cosy up to Yi Hern the mother, Rachel the hysterical crazy mother, Benedict the emo girl cutting herself for not wanting teh-o-bing, Priscilla the threatening police officer, Sara the Ah Beng boyfriend and Noel the random Mango Tree!

I wasn't satisfied with the real story (in which nobody actually died and all the 'clues' had lame explanations) because it made me feel I wasted my entire afternoon going round in circles and walking until my legs hurt. But I guess the point was to have fun watching what nonsense acting the groups could come up with in the span of an hour!

I think I slept even later (worship practice till 2.45am), but still managed to get up at around 7 plus again on Wednesday(not bad right). The final theme talk was by Rev Louis Chai (whose 2 sons are in the camp btw) about God's Kingdom and Us. I confess I was terribly sleepy during the talk.

It was free time in the afternoon, to be followed by theme-related games, but they switched the games to the night, so most of the people were playing games at the track/field, jamming in Naomi Hall or sleeping.

After dinner we had a photo-taking session for each group (everyone wore the camp T-shirt), and then the committees and such. It took rather long, and our team was wondering when worship would start.

Then we had the extended worship, for which I was playing keyboard in the first slot, with Andrew on guitar, Si Kai on drums and Caleb Tay on bass. My left leg cramped after that because all my weight was on it as I tried to reach the poorly-placed pedal with my right foot. I think the worship was a bit too long perhaps for the CJ and MM people who weren't used to it. Oh well.

Then we had Pepsi and pizza for supper! After that I remember playing a bit of bridge, before they told everyone to go to the hall to play Twister, involving answering questions related to the theme talks and programme. The representative whose group answered correctly wouldn't have to move, while the representative whose group answered wrongly would be the only one to move. In the end, probably because it was taking too long, they started killing off players more quickly, and in the end made it a final deathmatch.

I think our group's Dickson was seriously the best one, because of the 5 combined groups, three of them got out, leaving him, this MM girl called Jessica, and Qi Hang who was playing for fun. Essentially, Jessica kept doing things like changing position, removing her hands/feet from the positions and resting her knees on the mat, but kept being saved by the MM people's cheers, while Qi Hang occasionally got up to say things in the mike, being the programme IC. So those two didn't have as hard a time, while Dickson was trying to keep his left foot on right index finger with the other hand on blue or something!

That night I guess most people got very little sleep. I played bridge and poker in Naomi Hall. One thing I noticed about the CJ people I played with, is that they like to high-five each other when their pair wins. Seriously. They even high-five when someone else washes and hypothetically one pair with super good cards would clearly have won. This includes Joshua Huang, Benjamin, Yi Hern and Yunting.

I was going to hopefully sub one of the losers in Si Kai's playing group, but then Joshua, Chris etc. came in and I went to learn to play Texas Holdem Poker with them, using random cards from Joshua's and Alicia's wallets as chips!

I decided that I needed to sleep since log team always has to be up earlier, so I went back to the room at about 4am to sleep. I still managed to wake up at 7 something, but only really got up at about 8.10am. Despite breakfast being at 10am, most people were late (as usual), pushing the programme backwards by a lot.

We split up for cleaning, and I was in charge of the 2 groups cleaning the classrooms we slept in - picking up litter and rearranging the tables and chairs to their original positions. I thought we were done very fast, only to realise that Linus' group (toilets) had been finished long ago, asking if we needed help. We went back to the canteen to see most people slacking around with a few guys doing the final hosing of the floor.

The last part of the programme included sharing time (commandants, Darren, Priscilla, Yan, Amos Chong), and revealing of angels and mortals time. My mortal, Steven, was actually Yan's angel, and he wrote her like 12 notes! I spent so much effort on my last note to him and he didn't even see it because he'd left! My angel was Dickson, who only wrote me ONE note because "I didn't reply him"! It's not my duty to reply him! Lol.

They gave out certain mini-gifts to committee people, group leaders etc. They even had a slideshow for "outstanding campers", including things like Best Charlie's Angel (Joanna), Star of Talentime (Noel, Mango Tree), and Prettiest Camper (Barbarella Monika Cheng!!!). Rev Chai covered his face when the slide showed Augustine as "Most Tempted to Touch" from the Talentime.

The camp ended with Rev Louis Chai praying at about 2.50pm, and we cabbed back to KAP for lunch at 4pm before going home.

I'm sure I've missed out many interesting-er snippets of things that happened, like people putting frogs on their mouths, or Yue reading the Bible in Chinese, or talking to Caleb about Bleach, but the most important thing is that the camp was good and I got to know a lot more of the PLCMC youth! Praise God for the wonderful camp!

Family Malaysia Trip

2009-06-14T14:52:00.004+08:00

My family went to Malaysia for about 3 1/2 days, 7th to 10th June recently. We stayed at Kuantan in Pahang from Sunday to Tuesday morning, and then went downwards to Kuala Rompin for the last night, in order to cut our return drive home into two shorter distances.

My mum wanted to go to the beach (I personally don't really like it), and I think my parents just like going on holidays.

We didn't really do a lot of stuff - mostly driving around, going to the beach, staying in and playing games brought from home (I stuffed 6 games into 2 game boxes!) and looking for places to eat.

My mum really wanted to see the sunrise on the sea, since it's the east coast, so every morning we got up to see the sunrise and take pictures, but it was really cloudy for the first two days! At least the Wednesday morning one was nice.

We also went to this turtle sanctuary where they keep these turtles in mini-pools and feed them lettuce! They also have an exhibit there for information, and a hatchery where visitors go to at night in hopes of spotting a turtle laying eggs there. My parents and brother went, but didn't see any.

The villa we stayed at for the first night was nice, even with a small private jaccuzzi pool, but the maintenance was bad! At one point there was a very short blackout, before the lights came on again, but some of the aircons stopped working, and we had to keep calling the maintenance people over to fix the stuff!

The second place was a golf resort, and my parents booked a chalet that IMO was in need of repair (the manager claims it's due for renovation), so we switched to the hotel-type rooms for very little money! Thank God for that! I wanted to go kayaking with my sister, but the seasports centre was closed, sigh.

One thing I really don't like about going to Malaysia is all the mosquitoes and flies. Another thing I wish they had were big shopping centres, but I suppose you'd find those in more densely populated areas like KL. Finding nice places to eat was hard! Lots of seafood though.

And my parents bought lots of DURIAN for us!!! Well, mostly for me, but who cares, right? DURIAN, PEOPLE.

I guess it's nice to be able to go away and just relax, doing nothing, but eventually we have to go back to work and school and whatnot. E.g., the moment I went back to work on Thursday, Jiahui and I had to continue organising and filing the stuff. At least we got it finished by Friday! Just need to put labels and we're done. (I got 2 paper cuts...)

This Saturday I felt like everything was so packed, because I had choir alumni practice from 10am - 2pm, and I thought it was going to end at 1pm and planned to get a haircut, but then I couldn't because I needed to bathe, pack for camp (which starts later), go for my penultimate driving lesson at 4.30pm - 6pm, then go to church for worship practice at 7.30pm. GAH.

I haven't finished packing for camp! And my driving test is tomorrow!!! In the words of my mother, "You're a busy little girl, aren't you?"

Working

2009-06-05T22:23:00.002+08:00

My mum helped me get a temp job at NIE GPR, and I started on May 27th.

Actually it's pretty slack, and the other temp staff Jiahui also isn't particularly busy, so I have absolutely no idea why I was hired. But I'm not complaining! I get free transport, cheaper food, aircon, computer access etc. everyday!

The people in the office are very nice to me, and I was initially kind of a bit afraid that no one would ask me to go out for lunch or something, but they always do! And they go to different places, introducing good stuff to eat, especially reccommending the shaved ice (it's flaky!) in Canteen 2. Pity the NIE Canteen closed, so we must walk further to eat lunch.

I even got treated to - can you believe it - Sakae Sushi on my 3rd day there, courtesy of Madeline, whose birthday was upcoming! She knows my mum and vice versa, and it was super nice of her to treat us!!

I've mostly been doing things like entering data into those master excel files they use for all the 2009 courses, typing out things based on templates, filing things in their respective paper folders, photocopying a bit here and there, putting certificates into envelopes... not much, really.

But today began what looks like a bit of hard work, because Jiahui and I are supposed to go and organise files that date back to 2003, for all the courses and stuff whose paperwork has been collected over the years. And it's all in this somewhat stuffy storage room with cabinets and cupboards and LOTS OF FILES. Chris has all his ideal scenarios, which would mean a lot more work for us, and we've decided he'll leave it to the people who come after we leave in July :P

So we spent some time talking about how to arrange it, and then actually got down to taking the files out and arranging them chronologically by year, and alphabetically by AG. We only managed to do from 2003 to 2005 today (considering we only started at what, 3.30?)

I'm going to Malaysia until Wednesday, so we're going to resume the organising when I go back on Thursday, because it's really sucky for one person to do it alone! Some more Charles has reservist, so Jiahui will probably be helping Chris/Suming out I think.

There's another temp staff on the other side called Amos, who is really really lame. But besides that, he likes to take things. I shan't say it for fear of getting him arrested (kidding), but it's really O.O when you hear what he and his friends have taken. I can't believe such wu liao people exist on this island.

It's been pretty good thus far, hope it stays this way!

And also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YUE! [she turned 14 yesterday!]

Maybe there's such a thing as a Birthday Period

2009-05-25T20:57:00.004+08:00

Meh, the past 5 months of the year or so have really passed by so quickly it's reached my birthday today!

Still, it didn't feel like a real birthday today. Maybe not that I felt lonely, but more acutely alone, since I spent most of the day out by myself getting stuff done.

On Friday the 22nd we had a sort of celebration and sleepover at Sheryl's grandparents' house - me, Sheryl, Xiaowen, Clarissa, Kaixin, Liu Xuan, Rachel and Elizabeth. I actually felt rather un-cheerful before I went there, because the MOH interview was late, and I screwed it up, and I didn't have time to go to McDonald's to get my free cup.

But after I went there I felt a lot happier! The power of friends, I tell you. We ate chips and chicken rice and cheesecake (courtesy of Sheryl), played a lot of guitar hero, tried desperately to get internet connection in one corner of the room, played mario kart wii and stuff! It felt really good to just spend time with friends - it didn't even feel like a birthday, more like a fun gathering.

We slept rather late, since we were playing the wii until goodness knows when, and carried on talking about all kinds of stuff even after going to bed/mattress. But I had to wake up earlier on the 23rd morning to go home to change before going to NUS for the FOS open house.

Over there Xiaowen, Clarissa and I met Audrey and we mostly went to the same talks together, surprisingly unsleepy. But after that I had to rush to church for worship practice, and I was half an hour late! It's my fault for not leaving early enough, but the 151 also got stuck at this place near the Raffles Town Club for like 10 minutes without moving!

At least my mum was there to fetch me home after her own English class thingy :D following which we had chili crab and mantou at home. YUM.

Then on Sunday for lunch we had Sakae Sushi (because of my father's voucher, without which I BET they wouldn't have brought us), then for dinner after eating a slice of hazelnut cake each, my parents, Yue and I went out for DURIAN with our uncle and family (back from NZ)!! HOORAY!!!

So for today, the actual day, the only thing that shows it's my birthday is the smses/facebook wall posts wishing me a happy birthday. I really appreciate all the messages! Even if they only know it's my birthday because facebook sends reminders to their emails, I still appreciate the time they bothered to use typing out the message. I LIKE THE SMSES EVEN MORE.

I actually spent today first going to a recruitment agency, then going to IDP to check university application stuff, then eating lunch and buying myself 2 bags at Marina Square.

I feel terrible for splurging money on bags! I realise the easiness of spending money when one has a NETS card. I think I'm never getting a credit card unless circumstances force me to, or unless you get random benefits for owning one - such as getting Sakae Sushi vouchers, LOL.

I'm supposed to start this temp job on Wednesday. I AM GOING TO EARN THAT MONEY BACK, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME.

Happy 19th Birthday, Sixuan :D

Well Done, NJCHOIR Juniors!

2009-05-05T20:51:00.002+08:00

Today I went to watch the JC Choir SYF competition, and I had the AM ticket because NJChoir was performing at 11.45. I was too late to go in to hear the first choir, was it YJ? If I remember right, I heard VJ, RJ, JJ, AC, CJ, DHS, NJ, TP, MJ.

It's so nice to hear choral performances after so long, but so many different choirs! I had fun looking at their costumes as well - one JC had a purple gown so similar to NJ's that I was really surprised!

Anyhow, I liked NJ's performance, and my heart was thudding all the way through, more nervous than I'd been during my own SYF performances! I liked the performances, possibly because I like the songs as well, the set piece isn't as horrid as last time's one; this one actually has written vocalisations, fancy that!

Of course they weren't perfect - no one is - but I think they performed well! And the way they entered and stood was so impressive! Even though they don't have as many choristers as some other sizable choirs, they had stage presence. I personally prefer the ending of Kalinda not to be that fast, but I remember there's a time limit to the total singing duration, right?

Oh well, this is all irrelevant since they got GOLD WITH HONOURS, BABY.

Now I'm eagerly awaiting the concert, let's see who wants to sell me tickets :P

P.S. I would try embedding a certain video or two that I got busted for trying to record, but the files are crazy big and would probably hang my computer.

Lazy to Post

2009-04-23T22:30:00.002+08:00

I've regressed into a laziness that surfaces every time I think about blogging. Even though there have been many noteworthy things happening these two weeks or so since the last time I posted, I've just been lazy.

1. [10/4] My sister and brother-in-law are back from NZ for a short 2 week holiday! We've gone out for SUSHI, but I feel we didn't eat as much as usual...and then my sister complains that's all we want her back for - to buy things that our mum won't buy us! She let us read her new books, and handmade us these individual wooden things with a picture each and our names in block wooden letters to stick on our walls. Also, she made me clean out my bookshelf. Hmph.

2. [17/4] I had the NUS law interview. It was really short! I met Sarah and Daixi there later. I also talked to 2 people while we were waiting in this nice big room - they even provided chicken wings, mini-muffins and orange juice for us! Then I went back to school to see my choir juniors singing. I still think their Kalinda is regrettably fast - I say 'regrettably' because Ms Lim has decided on that speed (so it's not wrong), but I like it slower. It's still cool, though.

3. [18/4] We went to church for this Juniors Sat programme with many fun games. Most notable was one where 30 paper plates each had a number from 1 - 30 written on the front, messed up in random positions, then were overturned, following which we had to overturn them in ascending order! Then we went home promptly to eat popiah as we celebrated Lorraine's birthday with ice-cream and chocolate cake!

4. [19/4] I had the NUS law written test on Sunday smack in the middle of Sunday School time, 9 - 10.15am, so I was understandably annoyed. Plus it took them about 1/2 an hour to finish collecting the 800 scripts and count before letting us go. I was even late for LS, which starts at 11.30, mind you. From NJ I saw Sarah, Jessie, Ly, Crystal, Ernest, Louisa; from MGS Valerie, Deborah, Kelly, Cheryl Tay. I think I even saw this girl from my Pri 6 class (Amanda Thng?), but obviously she wouldn't remember me.

5. [22/4] My mum flew off to London in the morning for some recruitment thing she's doing at this Singagpore Day event they're having there for Singaporeans in London, I presume. My cousin went as well (as part of the S'pore team), while my mum and this HR person went representing NIE. I hope she enjoys her Full English Breakfast.

6. [today: 23/4] I went for the ISAT in the morning. I didn't realise how far to walk in the road to RELC was, and I arrived at about 8.35, but just in time when the guy started giving out instructions. I saw Shauntel, Jia Neng, Isabel and Jessica! Shauntel meant to cab, but she nicely walked out with me (cos I had to take the bus to the clinic). THANKS!

Looking at all this activity, I still feel like I'm waiting for something to happen. Like I'm just whiling my time away, until something important/life-changing happens. I sincerely hope this life-changing thing will be that I pass my driving test. I detest changing lanes.

Because He Lives

2009-04-12T23:35:00.003+08:00

Today is Easter Sunday! We had a lot of group time, and then I had to go sort out how I was going to teach my Sunday School, with no classroom. There was also baptism done, and we saw Michelle & Melissa's father, and Elaine get baptised by immersion at Charis Methodist.

My car battery spoiled this morning when my parents were going for breakfast! I was really worried - I thought we'd be taking the bus home from the unfamiliar church, but thank goodness it doesn't take too long to get fixed!

More lyrics shall be put here!

God sent His Son
They called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He gave His life
To buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives

And because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
And because I know, I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

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Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia
Sons of man and angels say Alleluia
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleuiia
Sing ye heaven and earth reply

Via Dolorosa

2009-04-10T21:48:00.004+08:00

Today's Good Friday, where we remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, during Holy Week in this season of Lent.

Yesterday was Maundy Thursday, where we remember how Jesus and His 12 disciples celebrated the Passover, and had the exchange which we now practice as Holy Communion. If I'm not wrong, "Maundy" is derived from the Latin 'mandatum' which means command, referring to His command that the disciples love one another as He loved them. The action: washing of the disciples' feet! [And of course, dying for them, but that's another day.]

Today we went for the service in church, and it was held in the LS style, where we got to sing hymns and such!

We were there a little earlier, where they screened this video with a song called 'Via Dolorosa', I think, showing scenes [from a movie?] about the physical toturing of Jesus, and the road on which he carried the cross up to Calvary. I think it was quite nice!

I didn't know how to sing most of the songs, but thank goodness, because it's in LS, as long as the songs come from hymnals, one can always sight-sing! Yay. There was also the LS choir!

Later on I had driving, including in the circuit, which was empty because the school doesn't have lessons on public holidays, but unfortunately it was raining [how apt!] and I could barely see the road markings nor the parking poles sometimes.

We went to the airport to welcome my sister and brother-in-law back for a two week visit from New Zealand. But I stupidly bought western food for dinner, that took long to cook and longer to eat, so my brother and I were desperately scarfing down hot food at an unhealthy pace, while my smarter younger sister and father had bought sensibler things like rice or noodles, and went up first.

My sister gave each of us this handmade wooden plaque things, with the individual name and picture on them!! So pretty! I need to figure out exactly where on my wall I'm going to stick it.

I think I shall list down some lyrics from various hymns that are relevant to the season! Seriously, we should sing more hymns. I feel that the words are better than some of the contemporary ones we typically sing today.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
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On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
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Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul

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Jesus, keep me near the cross
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river