Friday, February 29, 2008
Ask Me, Won't You?I'm trembling, I need my chinese new year cake! Cell group later; my one hour of school on Friday is over! I'm frying vegetables. I hope it'll taste magnificent, haha.
I forgot to mention in my previous post that the quest for more Aussie friends is moving along slowly but steadily. Edwin and I were on our way home on Wednesday when we spotted several Aussies kicking the ball around on the oval near the UQ signboard with bags for goalposts. After a bit of hesitation, we decided to join in! Wewt! Some of them play really decent soccer. There was a girlfriend of one of the guys playing as well. I must say she can make it into almost any top girls team in Singapore any day. She looked really slim and fit; my guess is she's either a middle distance runner or some long or high jumper from track. She could control the ball, dribble it a bit, and deliver solid passes. I was impressed. Thank God she was on my team! Too bad for Edwin, LOL. I think the Aussies were shocked that both of us were playing barefoot (we wore slips to school) while some of them (INCLUDING THE GIRL) were in boots. Somehow, I enjoyed that game even though some of the people simply towered over me, managing to slot in 4 goals. Two of my teammates were technically quite sound, and that girl could fit into the game decently, so I really enjoyed that game. Hopefully, we will be playing more Wednesdays with them from now on! By the way, I just got my last required textbook. p@N!cker is officially ready to take on the world.
another one bites the dust
paN!cker lost it at 1:44 pm
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Groceries
I had no school today (no tutorials in the first week) and went with Grace and Edwin to Woolworth's at Indooroopilly to finally stock up on ... STUFF.... for the long arduous days ahead. After stocking up there, we headed to Toowong to have lunch and stock up further at Coles haha. I am well and truly back in business! I just wonder why I can't do this back home in Singapore, why I cannot continue this independent streak which serves me well here. My rationale is survival! If I don't do anything, my quality of life will suffer and who's to blame? Myself. Who can make a difference? Myself. Who's going to determine whether anything happens or not? Myself. God sure won't be helping me do my groceries, delivering them neatly to my doorstep. He won't be rearranging my fridge to make space for whatever needs to be squeezed in. He won't be sweeping out my room to ensure I have a clean room to sleep and read and study in. He can however give me the drive and motivation to do all that. Anyway, today marks the second time I had to climb into my own balcony from below. Blehhhh! However, unlike the first successful attempt last year, my sliding doors were LOCKED this time round! Meh!!! Feeling rather stranded outside the balcony with not much else to do except maybe clear the cobwebs forming on the balcony bars, I was prepared to climb down when suddenly, from the abyss Marcus' face appeared! Thank God! He just came home from work! Wewt!!! I've just unloaded all the groceries and stuff, and am feeling wasstteeeddd. ARghh better read up for tomorrow.
Vik, me, Dan.
paN!cker lost it at 3:37 pm
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Don't Steal My Kisses
School's been fun! So many readings like never before, so many prescribed textbooks and many short answer and essay questions for my final exams .. wewt! It's never been harder to get those 7s! Yay! I think work should begin soon, otherwise, the grave will be dug man.
I am taking part in an indoor futsal kinda tourny with friends, and might be looking to join one other sport with Edwin. We aren't too sure yet, but maybe track and field. Apart from the small problem that there doesn't seem any way we can join track unless we are record-breaking Australian athletes, that quest is definitely on track.
In other news, I borrowed a documentary on Anne Frank today! I never actually read her diary before, but I kinda knew her story. It was heartwarming and heart wrenching to find out about her life and her personality and who she was and what she stood for. Her father was an angel who never took a wrong step. He was a model father, even in this day and age. Oh how the Jews suffered at the hands of Hitler the tyrant, and how their squabbles and quarrels faded into insignificance when their cover was blown and the family was separated into different concentration camps. Thank God for her life and her family's as well.
I ended the day by hanging out at Edwin's new place (which is like 30 metres away from mine) to try the Bak Kut Teh maggi mee and watch movies! Grace, this malaysian girl whose here on her first semester, was there as well. She's got a weak bladder as well! I'll just add that to my list of weak bladder people. Well ok, so we just watched Simpsons, which was damn lame but ok, rather funny at times. Edwin taught us Texas Holdem, then we went back because tomorrow is grocery day! I have no tutorials since it's the first week. Woot.
paN!cker lost it at 11:41 pm
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Adjust
I just came back from giving a lift to Siow Wei and Adam and Patrick (from J5, didn't really know him before this!) home from Roma Street station. Borrowed Joel's car to do that. It's so interesting. I've been back barely 3 days and here I am helping to usher people back already, like some old pro.
I've been mildly homesick, mainly because of the drastic change of environment and people surrounding me, from making my way to North Bridge Road every day to see now familiar faces and hang out with old folks to suddenly being back in school in a foreign country but amongst familiar faces with whom I haven't communicated with in a long while. So surreal. Add to that a whole flurry of other thoughts and emotions and you've got quite enough really to keep you occupied for a while. It's been just a year, and not only did I get to catch CNY this time round, I even managed to leave it till the last minute to return to Brisbane for school to start. It's not something I would advise anyone to do, but God has been good. My zoo of a room has been turned back into its homely, livable, warm state, and the unpacking is almost at an end. I'm slightly irritated at losing a bottle of laundry detergent and my face wash, but oh well these things happen and I have more than enough backup to keep me going for now. Next time, -remember- to pack EVERY SINGLE thing you do not want going missing into your suitcase before you leave.
Whenever I get back here, independent mode switches on, because if you ain't doing jack, nobody ain't doin jack for you that's for sure. The challenges of old return, waking early, getting to school on time, ensuring breakfast is conjured up somehow, the room is tidy, clothes get washed, work gets done, quiet time with God is consistent ... these things call out and I really want to have a victorious semester, and year even. I tend to be a nostalgic person, so I'll be like looking back and going like, "sighhhhhh those were the times", and this can be a great time-waster because you reminisce until the cows come home and nothing is done.
Above all, I want to mature in God and know His plans for me. I want to seek His face daily and be able to intercede for family and friends! I want to be able to dwell on His Word and not find it boring. I want to be able to digest it and chew on it, over and over, extracting gem after gem that the human eye cannot see. That is my prayer.
 ANYWAY, a seriously big thank you goes out to -everyone- who came down to see me off! I really felt the love guys, especially those from Noelle's group whom I haven't had that much time to get to know better. I really thank God for each of you. Thanks Alvan for actually giving me your precious bass file AND getting me the bass book too! Thanks Amandaz for the card and chocs; you really spoil me (and no it's not because I'm past expiry). Thanks Shannon and Nicholas for the compilation AND CD! Thanks Joel for your finisher's vest? I'm not sure I'm qualified to wear it though seeing as how I've only ever completed half that distance lol. Thanks Canaan and gang for giving me sour power and erm, dodgy "Hot Babe" and "So Lame" tags so every baggage handler from now on will be able to identify me haha. I really enjoyed my time in 13th Disciple thanks to people like you! Thanks Noelle for the homemade card. (: Thanks mum + dad for providing every single thing I've ever needed and more!
Above all, thanks for just being there. Seriously, your presence was all I could ask for. It just makes me miss you guys that much more. Anyway, if there's anything, please do drop me a mail. Keep in touch and we can do stuff when I next see you guys, haha. That -might- be a while though. :)
and so it begins
paN!cker lost it at 11:40 am
Monday, February 25, 2008
Because We're Family
 
paN!cker lost it at 11:25 pm
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Not Just Digits
but people.
paN!cker lost it at 3:24 pm
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Durian, Bo Bian.
My dad brought back a few boxes of durians recently. Seeing as how I leave for Australia in like under 6 hours, I'm doing the best I can to down the yellow fellows. They taste great, but they would taste better if I didn't have to stuff my face. :(
Right. And so, this little journey in self-indulgent Singapore has come to an end. The last 2 months or so have been hectic and I hardly had time to reflect or even dwell too much on the word of God. I recognise the fact that much time was frittered away, which could have been spent on it. Hmmm.
I pray this semester and year will be different! You know when you wanna do many big things, and you start planning but you don't realise that those things you are planning are not very realistic? I do that all the time! Wewt. But I will try indeed. I hope, and pray.
The time draws near. What am I expecting this time round?
paN!cker lost it at 6:21 pm
Monday, February 18, 2008
Oh My Gosh.
I'm sorry Rachel, but I captured that exact moment. Yes, that's right. I was right there waiting with my camera in hand when it dawned on her that she forgot to pack in her MGS uniform! Trip back to Australia, $1.3k. Guitar pick, $0.40. Expression on face of Rachel, priceless. I'm really sorry, your parents said they could not find any old MG uniforms on Sunday! Argh.
In more uplifting news, local mission today was pretty interesting! But I'm too tired to tell all. Laters!
paN!cker lost it at 10:21 pm
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday Arvo
It's hot and sunny, and I'm feeling lazy hazy. What's there to do right now? Hopefully nothing too pacy, keeping off the crazy, clearing my mind so messy.
Edwin and Rachel are back in Brisbane! I can't believe it, the hols are realllllllllllllly ending! Meh. If YOU are one of the people who owes me photos, can you be so kind as to get them sent to me on msn when you see me. I shall take a nap after a shower, then pack and pack.. and pack some more.
Anyway, today I set out to do VSRJ (sorry la no vowels don't know why). Call Vikram to join us for lunch, hand Shao Wei the love offering my mum gave, retrieve Rachel's MGS uniform, and hunt Johanna down for my PHONE COVER #$^&#*@!#!#%$#%^*. I failed in all except Shao Wei, who overslept and came to meet us for lunch later at Holland Village. It's really a classic case of nuff said yo. What is this man?! Vikram didn't pick up, Johanna didn't pick up, initially Shao Wei didn't pick up too hahaha, and Rachel's parents couldn't find their girl's uniform. Awwwwwwwww. Aldough howleva right, I touched up the nylon tying for our verse on the light support bar in Bethel, because some parts had come undone from the masking tape and were hanging by a moment. Like a seasoned pro, I dragged a stack of chairs over, clambered up, realised there really were too many chairs when I hit my head on one of the lights, then removed a couple chairs before proceeding to secure the thang once and for all. I'm just really glad that it worked out alright after all. I really had given this a 0% chance of completion since I only have a week left here. God sometimes has other ideas, and I hope that the intended purpose will be fulfilled and that the red line and verse would encourage many who need that little nudge forwards from God.
So many things, so many wires, so wired up, and all uniformly confusing. God, help me be systematic in getting each item out of the way. Thank You.
paN!cker lost it at 3:52 pm
Muscle, Ache
After that gruelling run yesterday, my goshhhhhhhhhhh my muscles! Ok it's not really that bad but they are aching somewhat. It's not the worst I've had, and it feels good to ache so.
AS I TYPE, EDWIN AND RACHEL AND JOYCE and goodness knows who else are flying high in the sky, on their way back to Brisbane! Ok, so Rachel's coming back in a month's time, but just sending them off got me thinking. Did I accomplish what I set out to do this holiday? Where'd my time go? Any regrets? I didn't really answer them, and the questions weren't even articulated this clearly in my mind, but it was all one big thought and emotion. In exactly a week's time, it's my turn, and -alone- at that. It'll be a good time of reflection and planning methinks.
I woke up at 8am today, finally, after lazing around and not wanting to respond to my irritating ringtone which failed to get me up. I got to Dover at like 930am, slightly late, to help with Kopi-Stop, a program to reach out to old folks in the Dover area. Today was a special CNY edition, so I was there to do whatever. It was rather fun, helping tie balloons and various assorted decorations. It was also a timely reminder of the lesser seen elderly and less fortunate in our midst, both materially and physically. When I caught sight of the place and the elderly, I found myself practically whispering a prayer to God under my breath to help me be a joyful helper and not be like, wahhh sian, because it isn't my natural inclination to be wanting to hang out with old folks and stuff. It worked, because I found it pretty fun to watch everything. In the end, Shao Wei practically crash coursed me on his video camera and left me to film while he shot off to have a meeting with aunty Lihuan. Good stuff!
Up next was orange blessing packing in the Heartfriends lounge, and boy was THAT AWESOME or what! HAHAHAHAH. There were so many "greyed out" oranges it was eeeeeeuuky. They were so rotten they were just a mushy grey mess! Shannon, the strongest man in the police force, today found that he was not the bravest. His extermination attempts of the mushy mess left him permanently psychologically scarred when his fingers went right through the supposed orange. It was a testing time for him indeed. Through it all, efficiency ruled! We zipped through the packing, stored disturbing images in Vicky's cam, laughed hard over them, then proceeded to go bless the residents with the oranges at 4pm. We met several interesting people, including this Cuban guy who's here as a research fellow in NUS. I learnt a few things from him about what Cuba's like and their Catholicism culture and how they worship all kinds of saints. I also met a China couple who are here renting a place because their children study in NUS! WOW. Anyway, they were so nice and gave me 50 cents in exchange for the oranges, even though I told them we aren't expecting anything in return. Wewt! God is good. My group was the last to finish, which I guess was good. Wei Liang's chinese is really not bad man! My Chinese vocab is non-existent, I can safely say that today.
After we returned to church (with resulting $-0.01 in my fare card), it was decided that we should work on THE PROJECT Noelle and I had been working on the past 69291 days, which was supposed to take like 3 hours to do. Obviously a slight oversight there. We huffed and puffed and rearranged the nylon strings, tied them up, cut the ends, and viola, with the help of Aaron, Vicky and Amaria, THE DANG THING WORKS NOW!!!! WEWT. Not just that, but we managed to put up the entire verse on the light support bar too!! Haha, God is awesome. I thought I wouldn't be able to complete this thing before I left, but now, the whole shebang looks real pretty. Woo hoooo.
After that, I adjourned to Rowe's house for dinner and a bit of chill out time with Rachel's cellkids and Joshua. We capped it off with the visit (my umpteenth) to T3. There are sooooooooo many people flying back today.
AND, THANK YOU SK for the COMPLETE LIFT HOME!
I leave you with memories of Hope Brisbane peeps gathered here at Jasmine's house.
paN!cker lost it at 12:19 am
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Quiet Place
I think I need to retreat to that quiet place and take stock of it all. It's been a while.
Today was spent at St Margaret's Secondary School doing community praise and skit for them, as well as attending Glenn Lim's local missions sessions. I woke up slightly late and ended up arriving at the place at like 0920hrs. Anyway, I must say it went really well, and God's hand was indeed at work. We had certain last minute constraints imposed on us, and we took out one song, and Susanna didn't get to share her testimony with the girls. Before the whole shebang, we were taught by Glenn how to prayer walk and what to pray for, then we went out in 2s and 3s on the perimeter outside the school. It was slightly awkward but I found it a peaceful and relaxing time to talk to God and prepare the ground for God's work to be done.
I especially loved the end of the day, when we sat in a circle to reflect and debrief ourselves in a way on how the day went, and to affirm those who had served faithfully, or behind the scenes. Everyone was greatly encouraged, and heartened. Team unity helped to ensure things were done smoothly and without complaint, as conditions changed and improvisation was required. Through the sharing, everyone learnt of how God had pulled certain people through the planning and execution of preparation for the event, and surely it was edifying to all.
After adjourning to Island Creamery (for the umpteenth time) for .. uh, ice-cream, I decided to rush down to church to run because Josh was running and it is likely his last time for a few months. Anyway, I'm leaving soon too so it was good to be there. The group obviously started first, and I started real late. I tried my best to catch up with the pack but their lead was way to0o much. I made it to Portsdown and back and was utterly surprised to find that they weren't back yet. Turns out they came back via the Buona Vista MRT way, so no wonder I didn't get to see them on the way back. No matter, this was good because it helped me push my limits.
Min Sin's birthday party was up next, and I went down with Josh. I was reaaaaaaaaaallly sleeeeeeeeepy. I still am. I will sleep soon. Following Noelle's -precise- instructions, we arrived with nary a glitch at 2115hrs, alighting at the right stop and bravely treading upon "No Entry You Will Be Shot On Sight" land to reach her place at Jalan Rasok. I had a great time seeing everyone there, and practically thrashing everyone at 7-hand poker. HAHA! It must have been beginner's luck because I seriously did not lose a single match to Josh, or Daniel Tham. It was reaaaaallly fun (or maybe because I was winning).
Elaine very very kindly gave me, Joshua, Jennifer, and Jamie, a lift home after that. And there you have it, a life in the day of sleepypher.
paN!cker lost it at 12:00 am
Friday, February 15, 2008
Crisp
His mercies are new every morning.
But have you noticed?
paN!cker lost it at 1:22 am
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Spin
Can anybody fly this thing?
Before my head explodes
Or my head starts to ring
We've been living life inside a bubble
We've been living life inside a bubble
Confidence in you
Is confidence in me
Is confidence in high speed
Can anybody stop this thing?
Before my head explodes
Or my head starts to ring
We've been living life inside a bubble
We've been living life inside a bubble
Confidence in you
Is confidence in me
Is confidence in high speed
In high speed
High speed
High speed you on
High speed you on
High speed you on
High speed you on
Coldplay - High Speed
paN!cker lost it at 6:51 pm
Dawn Of The Morning
" For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;"
- Psalm 103:11
paN!cker lost it at 1:56 am
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Mooooooooooooooooo because you want to
I feel muddled. Hmmmmm. It is a very funny place God has brought me to.
paN!cker lost it at 10:42 pm
Thursday, February 07, 2008
CNY
This CNY is a break from SERVE, a timely one too. I endeavour to finish sorting my hard disk and read my chosen book to review. Sleep might be a good idea as well, with maybe a run or two thrown in for good measure.
Just as Wei Liang pointed out in his mass mailer, let us spend this time reflecting on how we can impact the lives of friends and especially family around us this festive season, instead of mindlessly diving into the hype and frenzy of it all. May our lives mean more than that. Today, I met Daphne from Ngee Ann on the bus home and she was saying how life now seems so mundane. She looks at her job as .... just that, a job. She has no burning ambition to sore the charts and climb the corporate ladder, and there doesn't seem to be a goal at the end of all this. She realised, there's nothing out there. We were meant to live for so much more, have we lost ourselves? Somewhere we live inside.
Jesus came that we might live.
paN!cker lost it at 1:03 am
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Silent Night
Over the yawn of earth's stretching vastness, where horizon meets land, the tinge of morning gently peeks from below. Behold, the time has come. Dear God, thank You for leading and guiding me in the times when I have been silent, yet expecting.
I love the sun. Rise quickly and shine down on me, that I may go forth with boldness and courage, a spring in my step, sweat on my brow. Whee.
paN!cker lost it at 12:53 am
Friday, February 01, 2008
Switchband, to Switchfoot
7 times a day I will praise You, I will praise you 7 times a day, for I'm in safe hands. Today was ONE of those days. These lessons on responsibility continue to pour in, and thank God for them.
SERVE yesterday was spent at St Margaret's Primary School. I transferred my things into the Stanchart bag, and promptly forgot to include my name tag in it. We took their chapel slot, doing community praise as well as showcasing a skit to them. Response was lukewarm, but at least some got going and caught the vision! Haha. After that was a lecture on singlehood and marriage, before recess ministry and netball against the primary level national champs! I was so excited about netball even though I've never played the darn game in my life. I had obviously done my homework, because I knew the rules better than some of the girls even, which was truly a o.O moment.
Anyhow, we practiced a little bit, and sorted out two teams to play two halves of 15 minutes each. I was duly impressed with the cheerleaders guys, who came replete with green bean bottles and cans and drumming the benches like seasoned S-League cheerleaders. However, that failed to do much in the way of our game, because we went down 4-0 in the first half. Their aim is impeccable. Our poor SERVErs were all over the place but they tried their best. Might I mention that two of our SERVErs actually sprained their ankles after the match! The little horrors those girls are! I played the second half, and tried my best to deal with the pesky little girl trying to run rings round me. We ended that half 2-2, for an aggregate defeat of 6-2. Guess who scored our only two goals, yes Noelle. Too pro to go pro. Or something.. haha.
After that, my group adjourned to Minds Cafe, and it is there I lost my Switchfoot ticket! I took it out to admire it and wonder how a ticket with $55 printed on it would entitle me to a $90 entry equivalent, before getting on with my game and totally forgetting to put it back in my wallet. Very happily, I took the train to Expo and met up with Joshua and the rest of whoever was watching. When I went to get my wristband for entry, I started thinking about the ticket again, and this time there was some cold sweat because I remembered not remembering putting the ticket back. True enough, a frantic search resulted in nothing!!!! It's typical Christopher, why ohhh why!? I wished the earth would open and swallow me up. Here you are at Expo, millions of miles from Prinsep Street, and without your concert ticket. After a few moments of denial spent searching every nook and cranny of my wallet, I finally gave in and called 100 to get Minds' number. To cut a long story short, they found my ticket and with much reluctance, I spent $33 on taxi fare during peak period to retrieve the ticket. In the end, my revised $83 ticket was only $7 short of the $90 I had pondered so long and hard about. HAHA. The irony can?!
On top of that, I -thought- I'd lost my iPod at the end of the night. What a night. I came to a point where I had to focus on the fact the iPod is a cheap device and it is material and I should not be afraid to lose material possessions and so entrusting it to God, I found the iPod under the cardboard piece at the bottom of my bag. Dots. Maybe I passed that test! Maybe.
Anyway, Firefight I liked, Switchfoot, needless to say, were good. I enjoyed the night, save for the ang mohs moshing around near us.
paN!cker lost it at 1:15 am
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