1am rants

Sigh...March is coming to an end already. So quickly a quarter of the year has passed. I look back and i wonder, why some things take ages to get through. Sometimes I feel as though i'm just going through to get through, which is so frustrating. What has happened?!? But I remind myself of Jesus and what he's done for me and that helps me put things back into hope....

Glanced through one of my other blogs yesterday night. Last time i posted there was in october. It felt like ages ago. But it was only 6 months. And YET i felt 3 months passed so quickly. Ironic isnt' it?

(Part One) 21st October 2006 - Arthur's Pass to The West Coast!

I was awakened by the connection of key to lock and the shoving open of the door. I popped my head up to see a chinese guy with a vacuum cleaner in his hand and wearing a surprised look on his face. He apologised and said he'd come back later.

I grabbed my watch on my bed. Horrors! It's 10.30am already! And i was supposed to check out by 10am! I felt as though I had just only fallen asleep, when in fact i'd been snoozing for at least 6 hours. I had quite a bit of packing to do, as well as to have breakfast. I stepped out in to the corridor and saw that everyone was out and about already. Backpackers had already locked and left their rooms for their adventurous day ahead. here was where i learned that some backpackers earned some income by helping to clean the place.

There were some local caucasians cleaning the bathroom too. It took me a while to digest this sight. Seldom do we see caucasians back here on their hands and knees scrubbing the floor, cleaning the toilet bowl, and looking stressed that there was a full day's work ahead.

Packed and ready to go, breakfast was a simple affair. The prior day's supermarket in-house baked grain bread (this bread lasted me 3/4 of the trip and is important as you'll see later) and sliced ham. Two slices. Inhaled quickly because i was late to check out!

I was out by 11am. and I apologised to Wendy. She was kind, understanding the jet lag and it was as though she hadn't realised that i hadn't checked out yet. =) Here was where i experienced the reality that i was on holiday. No rush...dont' stress...most kiwis are a nice bunch. =P

Oh i forgot to share in my last post that on the day before i had trouble starting the car! Whoever knew that for an automatic car, you have to step on the gas pedal and turn the key!!!! I mean, over here, for the auto cars i drive i never had that problem....so i'm making a note here as a lessoned learned. Trust me...I was bummed when i encountered the problem.

One thing about this car though...I think the battery was weak, coz i had to try afew times before it got started, especially when first moving off after the overnight chill.

There are so few people around this 'crowded' city that I had a hard time asking someone to help me take a street side photo simply because there was no passer by! Ha! But this shot was taken by an asian couple.

That's my blue car, behind me in the Issac Theatre Royal. Next to me is the parking meter. How it works is that you pay for the parking in blocks on 30/60/90 mins. The number is indicated under the 'P' alphabet. Then a printed receipt is produced and you just display it!

Seems that the locals dont' really pay for parking...perhaps it's a norm there...or life is such that you seldom get fined. HAHAHA...Note the ample space between cars! Sigh..if only parking in singapore was that good!

This dog was cute! one of the many I encountered on my travels. He belongs to this second hand antiquities shop just next to my parked car. He sleeps on this rattan chair (in front of the man with khaki berms) and greets people by shuffling around the sidewalk. If someone walked into the shop he'd follow them in. I gave it some pats and took some shots.

So I was off! Horrible thing was that the city map i had didn't show you completely the route to the highway i wanted to take to This scenic mountain drive -- Arthur's Pass! So i went by alot of faith, prayer...hahaha...and of course, a general sense of direction.

In that 30mins of getting lost i learned that:-

1) Don't stop at a car sale/ repair shop along that road. You can wait forever for help...and the sales guy can bochap you.

2) Not everyone working at the gas station knows the way around

3) The country is so big, dont' assume everyone has been out of the state/area they live and work in.

4) The lady at the pumping gas at the station was a life saver! hahaha...she was very funny and said..."You live here all your life and know how to drive around. But when asked to decribe the route and give directions and you can't!"

5) I was actually heading in the right direction before i stopped for confirmations. But i let fear get the better of me to not trust my navigation instincts. But i was being cautious too...=)

Well, I did finally get on that highway and it was a warm sunny day. I passed the flat pastures, heading towards the looming mountains ahead. This day wasn't turning out too bad after all even with the stress of the morning screw ups. I turned up my music and looked forward to the scnery ahead...=D

He says: "Surprise!"

HAHAHA...this is truly amusing!

Came back from cellgroup a few hours ago. And just before CG started, I found an ang pow in my backpack! Those in cg saw me holding up a golden angpow and waving it around! heee....I totally forgot my boss gave me one at the AeroCareer Pavilion!

I just took a peek at the amount...And....if you look back two postings ago, under 'CNY Testimonies', for my new mobile phone, i was $5 short! So with this angpow, that means God has given me a free phone! HAHAHAHA....

His surprises just doesn't end huh...I guess...that means His blessings toos...heee...YAY! free new phone!! Yippeee!!! With $$ to spare somemore! =D

AeroCareer Pavilion =)

Hello! Lunch time musings again! hee...

Well, just wanna share with you this project that just ended earlier this month. We had a joint industry branding and awareness for my industry, with some member companies, at the Annual career fair at Suntec city convention center. Idea is to inform the public about the industry and join, JOIN, JOIN!!! hahaha...So we had a Pavilion called the AeroCareer Pavilion, next to us was Maritime...who had alot of support and $$ for this! But no pictures on their side lah, must showcase mine!

A 4 day event, the preparation was horrible! Headaches abounded! But thank god, it all went through! So here are some pictures of the hard work we all pitched in! =)My Backdrop banner: Designed by ME! =P ..I had 2 hours so not too bad bah. The far end is actually a cross section diagram of the A380 plane.

Two guys from some of my member companies clowning around my booth area, we're all friendly in the industry so we visit each other for entertainment and support.
My display area: Slept at 4am the day before just to do it all up. You can touch the parts displayed. The Engine you see in the picture is the Rolls Royce Trent 900 engine. Used in the A380. =)

Proof I was WORKING! hahaha...and not just taking photos ok...wait a minute...then who took this photo??!?!?!....*eerie music in the background*

General photo of pavilion area where the aerospace company booths were. That's the Nordam balloon. It was done up in 2 days. Amazing how efficinet singapore is when you need something done.

My turn to clown around. That's my boss's youngest kid on my right playing with the freebies given out. Extremely shy in front of others, another story altogether when her dad is around. LOL!

CNY Testimonies

=) just have several small testimonies to share. I thought that we always shouldn't leave God out of the smallest stuff...

This CNY was different. It felt different.

For starters, it has been the most tiring CNY build up I've had in the most recent years. Weekday nights were spent packing or going out to buy the necessary for the weekend cleaning or sprucing up tasks, aside from going for cellgroup and bible study. =) Thank God I got my clothes when i was in NZ. It's as though God knew I'd be busy with other things!

The main thing that took my time was solving the soil problem in my garden. My ungrateful animal - Red, has a habit of digging many holes there. Causing puddles and muddy patches all over the floor outside. It also doesn't help that she sleeps in the mud, dirtying the home when she sneaks in! Anyway, spent over $100 on a trial effort that I hope will solve this!

Keeping a dog ain't cheap man! haha...=) But i realise, I love her ennough to spend on her. =)

This CNY there was no pressure to gamble on the eve or first day. So it's significant, coz it is finally accepted that I won't be pressured into it. Hence, others have moved on to either find other 'kakis' or choose another mode of entertainment with me. Helps that majority of my cousins left are saved too, so we try to stick together. Though we're not as close as ideally be, we sense, this commonality that we should stick together to seek other forms of entertainment. This is my guess lah...hahaha...family togetherness doesn't come naturally to me, unfortunately due to environment. =)

Got a chance to get to know some of my distant cousins. Usually we'd be too shy or obsessed with something else to talk during CNY. I learned that one of them is a part-time card magician! Pretty cool. He was demonstrating his tricks and the best part was that he was humble about it. He has got his own website (co-run with friends) so he can be hired for events. http://www.conjurersroundtable.com/

On day two, my grandma on my dad's side came to visit my home. Just on the eve of CNY, I had prayed that i would be able to communicate with her better. She only speaks Cantonese, which somehow I have no problems listening but get tongue tied when i need to speak.

Amazingly, when i was put in a rare situation alone with her and had to give her a small tour on the outside of my home, i managed pretty ok! Just the two of us and she understood me! Praise the Lord! hahaha...i was very amazed and in my heart, I knew it was Him. =) There was a point in time there that i sensed i was talking...But didn't' feel as though the words was spoken by me! hahaha...

Last Thursday night, i finally counted my ang pow $$. =D The past few years the bounty has been much lower. For various reasons. But this year, I prayed that though i knew it would be highly unlikely I'll get anything close to covering a month of building fund, I asked for supply to cover the new mobile phone I'd been eyeing for the past few months.

The final figure -- $273... the phone is presently retailing at $398!

Oh well...not matter what, i still thanked God that this year has been the highest intake at least for the past 5 years! and i would still be able to cover a significant portion of my phone cost! (even after tithing)

So Friday, i made my way to the phone shop. And you know what...after a recommended upgrade of my phone plan, it cost me only $278!!!! WOW!!!!

God is so cool! He provides in the most interesting ways!...LOL! =P It's as though he planned it all as a surprise...hee...so cute! So yeah...me got my new phone..it's an encouragement for me, coz the past month, I'm beginning to really feel the effects of the building fund as it draws to it's final two month closure. Many things have to be put on hold...

But God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good! =D

Need for an update!

I just realised (well, after a small reminder from Shen) it's almost been a month since my last update!

Hahaha...well, been very very busy, with the Chinese New Year, and immediately following that my organisation's Career show which I'm in charge of, and getting my new mobile phone! And the past week has simply just been my 'recovery week'.

Will bear in mind to share all the above soon with pictures. It's very late now, and by right I shouldn't do the entry...otherwise...I may just ZZZZzzzzzzzzzz in church tomorrow! Ha!

Well, I'll go shower first and see how things go.