The sunshine state in Summer.

11th December to 20th December 2007- I headed to the sunshine state where i met up with Cai and Casey. Queensland had a pretty much sunshine feeling compared to the gloomy Sydney but the clouds kinda followed me over to that place as well because it rained when I reached there.
Anyhow we headed to movie world!!! and got some crazy rides. I had a concussion and was feeling a bit giddy after the rides- a little too exhilarating for myself:)

And then we had a 2 days stay for the next few stops- Brisbane city, Noosa @ sunshine coast,Murwillambah( Mt Warning) and our last stop for the leg of the travel @ Port Macquarie.

Elf and I at movie world!! Brisbane CityMt Warning,Murwillambah Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie.Adopted a koala Aussie Mick at the hospital

Traveling around Brisbane and meeting ladies from Switzerland, Netherlands, Taiwan, Ireland who some gave up their work to experience a work and travel experience Australia is pretty intriguing. Personally, I wished I could do that some day. The question will be: will I be ready to give up for what I have done in Singapore to go about for a year or two? Maybe..Maybe not. The maybes and perhaps- how fleeting can dreams and ambitions get at times isn't it?

I managed to finish my books- Drawing near by John Bevere and The God Catchers by Tommy Tenney. It's been a book sitting on my shelf for a year and when i finally completed my book in these days-the journeys on the trains. The book left a vivid message of the Fear of the Lord- is it found in my heart? Even if I say I love the Lord, but do I fear Him? What's fearing the Lord all about-fear and love Him at the same time? John discussed about the truth behind speaking tongues in Church and was really an edifying entry for myself. I am currently reading- Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. Update you guys when I am done with it.

The lady from Taiwan made this comment- Traveling alone gets really pitiful because you are like a nomad- you pitch your home as you roam and nobody that you could turn to when you get into desperate boredom.

Well, I will be heading to Victoria in January and Fiji at the end of Jan( hope to book the tickets soon otherwise we gotta spend that time in Sydney..LOL). Let me see if it really gets a little too quiet when you are alone. Pray for internet access when I get to Vic:P

PS: Wishin you all a blessed Christmas! John 3:16.

The wait.

BLESSED xmas to you fellow readers of VIvi's blog!!!
Ahh..it must have been a long wait since I last blogged about my mama's arrival- she left on the 6th december 2007 with my two other little imps. Well, she was gonna cry before she enter the gates when she told me to take care of herself.I kinda mastered the skill to hold my tears pretty well- didn't want to start another melodrama of flooding like it was at Changi Airport 5 months ago. It was just amazing to have them with me,having the smell of Singapore, the language of Singapore, the food of Singapore.

Pandan CAkeHar BeeMaggi Noodle from Singapore!!Ikan bilis for soupNonya SAuce and Assam sauce:)

*applause for my family for bringing all these amazing stuff from Singapore*
It just amazes you when their love for you goes beyond the weight they have to carry. They had one luggage specially for food..it was so funny because that luggage was empty after they came here and filled again with all the OZ products before they head back to Singapore.
I felt that after seeing them, I had been a bit off being a Singaporean. They talk too fast and too mumbled when I speak to them and they don't like to walk too much.
Nevertheless, my mummy came and cooked for me almost everyday except the last two days i cooked up meals for them cuz they were busy packing. Mummy finally ate what i cooked and said it was not too bad. GOod for a start..LOL~THe wait for my mum ,bro and stef to come was pretty much a mixture of feelings. Having living alone with people who could not tolerate you and left you in 5 months, it makes u a little apprehensive to want to live with them having known that you might have caused terror in the past 22 years of my life( esp for my mum who has to deal with my ever frequent forgetfulness and sudden outbursts of erratic screams). I supposed that's what make them your family- seeing beyond your traits of terror and live with you all the same, never once remembering the terrible things you threw at their face. Then again,I have not seen them for 5 months- it's quite a far bit to bear with having seeing them for 22 years of my life isnt' it:P
We had a pretty relax itinerary around Sydney for the 2 weeks- visiting the sights and accommodating to the relatives' requests of meet ups that got me a little messsy. THe highlight was at Port Stephens because my mother did Sandboarding!!! hahaha..someting that she will not participate if she was not coaxed.
pictures for view and memories for me tokeep:)

Mum back in singapore

mummy dan and stef has returned to Singapore..exciting times we had..the occasional squabbles and well..overall a reminiscing time for all of us:)
Mama kinda teared at the airport..well.if i didn't hold back mine,we will have created another flooding at the kingsfordsmith airport..:P

I suppose when i look back at the times we spent, though it was a short two weeks..hm..it was another occasion when i thank God I am alive to see my family and they are alive to meet me..and not everyone gets the opportunity..if they did not come this summer..i will ahve to wait till next year till i meet them again. For my friends, if u are going to come and visit..pls drop me an email..so we can hang out and chill:) i miss the activities i do with u guys..heaps heaps heaps of activities that i can't get to go back to Singapore and start finding people to do:)

EVON!! thanks for your letter..i received it..will reply u soon ya..with all the juicy stuff..that i don't reveal on my blog..LOL..

Alrightey..just some updates of where i might be heading off to- Perth/Darwin( the northwestern territory), Cairns, Surfers Paradise and hopefully NZ or Fiji!
well loads of travelling..hehe..pretty much but i gotta see how much money i have..LOL..God will provide!!

saving up to go for more conferences too( after willow creek's)- the hillsongs women conference and hillsongs conference.:)

Reuben-my big bear

As I took my walk to school today, I did something that I normally will not engage in. I kept looking at the ground- the black and white shades that seem to fuzzle into grey patches. I did not dare to look up because the images before me might make me forget how Reuben looks like.

Reuben went home to be with the Lord on Friday, 23rd November 2007 after a dragon boat accident in Cambodia and went missing after the boat capsized. Yesterday, his body was found some distance away from the site of the accident and is due to return to Singapore. Jill txt my Singapore line and if my cousin *with that line* had not been here, I will not have known about it [no internet to access to news:(]
I cannot imagine myself returning to Singapore a year later to find out that Reuben is gone. It's just..

I met Reuben when I started rowing in NYP. He was a tall burly dark bear that walks around, looking really fierce. That image fuzzles out when he smiles because he had a really nice set of pearly white teeth. I remembered that I first spoke to him on my birthday in 2004-because of a box of winnie the pooh jigsaw puzzle. I took my first photos with him on that day and we made our first email contact on that day. We had our first medals in NYP together at Bedok Reservoir. Joyce tried to trick him into doing something if I won a medal but it neve came to pass. He never fails to tease me about pull ups- always asking me to bring up the muscles to hit the pull up bars in NYP. We were teased by teammates because we just kinda hang out and laughed at a corner when we are supposed to be training. His passion for rowing blew me away when he bought his own paddle and trains almost every other day. The distinction in his tasks and pursuits made me understand the driving power of enthusiasm and passion.We had our occasional MSN chats when I will receive links to his webby for his music-double blown away. We will just exchange few thoughts about his music( though I think I was never much of a help) but still he took that thought and probe till he is able to prefect it. His music was rarely only for himself. The random tots that we exchange, big bear always give me weird answers. He gets a little too busy with music and our conversations always get left hanging. Big bear likes chicken rice-at least that was the only thing we ate together(with Yixue). I left my team not long after that and rarely saw him. Till one day near church, I met him with his group of friends- he could not recognise me cuz I was in a skirt( yea, he acknowledges me as a guy most of the time:P)We said let's meet up but..

I did not say goodbye to him before I left for Australia because he was too busy with work as well. He facebooked me and said we should meet up when I get back, and that will only happen next year.

People questioned why God takes away people who had so much ahead of them, having not finished doing what they are ought to accomplish. They say that God is unfair. Is He? For myself, taking such wonderful people away spoke to me- what have they left behind for the people in this world? Have you made use of every mince of your time that you have wasted none on this Earth? Regrets abound when u remember them?


Big bear, when I return next year, I may not get to see you the way I wished, hear your voice and laughther, your teasing and pokings the way I wished. You could not care less about what people's comments are as long as you were true to what you were doing- that was the amazing focus you had. The tall dark figure will forever lay to rest and be home with our Father. I pray that you will find the peace that you have been searching for. You gave me memories in rowing- from the first medals, to the first marathon, and first secret training that we could not let coach know. The words we exchanged were few.. but those words will not amount to the weird affinity we shared about life. You gave your all everytime,perhaps knowing that living for that day was the most worthwhile thing to do. Your music will play on in my heart.
Remembering your backview on the last time I met you at Adam road, I just thank God that I met you. *big hugs*:)

PS: He is the fourth person to leave me ever since I came to Sydney.God, aRe you telling me something?

The smell of home~

Mummy, daniel and Stefy arrived on the 23rd November 2007 at 2005h, Kingsford Smith Airport T1. I got there by 1930h because they were scheduled to arrive then so i ended up waiting to close an hour before seeing them.

As I was hanging around the places, people (like myself) were gathering to welcome their friends and family members who have been away for some time-long/short- it didn't really matter. it was the distance of separation that made the heart grow fonder. The hugs, run ups, screams and kisses that they share just made my heart melt. It was a feeling that I could not explain- that warmth that surges up your throat and gives you the goosebumps.

School internet does not allow me to add pictures..so yea..pictureless blog for a long time..

Mum cooked her first meal in Australia for me:) 4 dishes 1 soup and it's been a long time since I ate her food. *sobz*

Enjoy every moment with her and the two punks while they are physically with me:)

SCHOOL's OVER! bring out the play!!!!

YOOO HOOO. updates updates!!
It's been quite a long time since I got out to blogging. Pardon me because I was swamped with assignments,take home exams and well my last paper just finished at 1430h. ( that's because I finished early.got tired of waiting so I left the room early:P)
hmm the thought of doing so many things for summer just excites me..well I am not returning to singapore for the summers so i will only get to see u guys in like next year july ( except for fran..she will leave early next year to the US:/)

I got time to blog because I am locked out of my stupid house AGAIN! the last time i was locked out i had to wonder around like some stupid lost soul.so upsetting..so now i am spending my time here to do some productive things ( relative in this season).

The past week has been really upheaving. New housemates, exams, new seasons to come.
new interests... hm and i really wanna let my hair down like some wild kid before i return to be a working adult:)

Haven had time to do a lota reflections this week. and guitar playing. and exercising. Putting on the weight with late night atrocious eating because of work. so hungry lately..*ahem*

I will be out to Gosford next wednesday for overnight session at Mia's house and then MUMMY DANIU AND STEFFY IS COMING!!!!! *jumps in the air* for 2 weeks..then i might head up to brisbane cuz shirlynn is going up to attend Linda's graduation. and then..beginning in january after the fireworks and celebration..i am headin tot he countryside at Albury where larrie stays n enjoy some good camping with GIRLS:)/hehehehe..how exciting can that get. MOre to come..and i pray that I will be blessed with finances to travel. AMEN!!

okei dokes..gotta go out now..hving bbq table at a korean restaurant near our house for celebration for the Georges Avenue girls.

Xmas is coming people!! haha..any orders for TIM TAMS?? i might consider getting my brother bringing it back:P
haha

tke care..luv ya all

1 week of wireless:)

I finally get to do some blogging after a week of being "wireless". The feeling ain't that bad or helpess. Feels like the days when I had to survive on dial up and internet was not at my disposal of use- I had to ration the hours so that we don't bust our bills.

I suppose having no internet at home has directed my time to other events at home like eating. baking.cleaning.washing.and playing soccer in my house!! hahaha..~ except for the last item, i think the rest just increased its frequency with the free time i have..not forgetting the guitar and the TAWG. YES! my housemate has a soccer ball so i can kick some balls in the house..just like what i used to do back at home with my lovely brudder* I miss him manz*.

My new housemate is really funny. He gets bored easily..and he behaves a little like Daniel- he likes to sit around the house but not his room.. he plays soccer..listens to RnB music. I think they might make good friends.. anyway, that's beside the point. With my new housemate, my neighbours get to eat big watermelon that costs AUD 7!!! without having to carry it home themselves..LOL.

Things had not been really good for the past week since last Tuesday but I am thankful for the grace of God is ever bountiful. As I look back on the things that have happened in my house, it's not a sad thing after all. Hm..a pity it can be but I have decided to pick up the pieces, clear the mess and look forward just like before:)
I took 2 days off from work( leaving me really behind time from completing my assignments hehe) to attend the Global Leadership Summit 2007 at Wesley church. It's their Sydney leg and they had a video conference for 2 days. My rating- 9/10 stars!! It was truly inspiring and the speakers they had were amazing.. Jimmy Carter( US president), Bill Hybels( Senior Pastor of Willow Creek), Marcus Buckingham, Carly Fiorina( ex CEO of Hewlett Packard), Richard Curtis(director of NOtting hill), Colin Powell and Michael Porter. It has got me really thinking what I have been doing with the last 22 years of my life, the money and time I have wasted on things that (perhaps) could have made a difference if I chose to. I got down to do something I had always wanted to- bring a sponsor-a-child program to my friends back in Singapore. I believe there are many around and this is one that my cousin Terence started for the SEA and East Asia children. It's tough work but unless I get down to doing it- I will never know what I can accomplish for the kingdom of God:)

YEAPS!! so hopefully when I get back, I will be able to bring back something awesome for all..or better still, get this over even before I return:)

PEOPLE>TAG YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!! so i can send u xmas cards..LOL..otherwise I can't get them to u. I am trying to collate the different TIM TAMS and arnott's biscuits here to do a blog entry on it..haha..will stun u with the varieties we have!!
IT"S MANGOES season..cheaaappp..so happy!!

God bless your week ahead people*hugz*