Esther

A surprise birthday celebration for Mr clovis Tan in Ms Clarity Cafe today. Haha surprise ok! *clap clap* for pearle who manage to keep the surprise from him even tho she told me that was almost bursting already. And he was REALLY surprised when the surprise cake came in together with our SUPER SUPER loud birthday song and the fu-yan claps of the other restauranters. It was quite funny when the waiter came to us with the cake and candle without knowing who’s the birthday boy but clo was busy peering into pearle’s jordon to notice that there was a blur waiter there with a cake for him. So by the time he [clovis] realised what was happening, the waiter already knew who the birthday boy was and the symphony of harmonious birthday song was already starting.

Clarity cafe is very nice, i just wished they would on the lights. I like the Chix Ballotine. Nice. Our age range of the group that gathered there was from 16 – 36 ok! A vast difference of 20 years!! Our youngest was just stoning and finishing his food at record time, while our oldest was busy snapping away [like he said, snap no need money one].. So he caught everybody at their most candid (and of course most unglam moments) and refuse to press the button when you’re smiling at the camera. But you’ll see the flash when you’re laughing with your mouth open with half-chewed food inside your mouth.

Photos are all with Mr Oth. Who would mostly likely post them by this weekend in his photoblog. If not…. it’ll be in my photobucket la.. or in the next post.

The feeling of seeing the place PACKED, with 20 more people queuing up and all of us just squeezing through the queue and enter the place to our ‘reserved’ table is just pure delight. Remind me always to reserve places when we’re out for dinner. VERY convenient and definitely worth it. And so was praised for being smart! hahha

It’s finally the weekends. It’s not the most relaxed weekend but nonetheless, it’s a weekend!

It’s the best! Serious

Our best seller, this moist carrot cake is finished with cream cheese frosting and generous amount of California walnuts.

And when they say generous, it’s REALLY generous. We had a free slice of this super de-li-cious cake in the office. Because of courtesy, everybody only took one, i unashamedly went to take another one. =X

BUT!!!! i took 2 small piece, the others took one HUGE piece ok. it’s just the act of going back to take one more. But it was soooo worth it. Very very nice.

Othniel this is definitely deserving of being in your photo blog.

In yesterday’s graduation, when Wilfred told me that central Asia was actually Middle east, my heart skipped a little. I wonder when…

Correspondence

Your current student email account with the University will be available to you for life. It may be necessary for us to communicate with you on the detailed arrangements for the Convocation via email. To avoid missing out on important information, please access this email account periodically.

 

i didn’t know! I thought it was nice of them to let us access it for life. Because I sent resumes out using that email address, and i was so afraid that once i graduate, then the recruiters won’t be able to contact me. Then again, the resumes were sent for my internship which is…. 1 year ago. Oh well…. it’s still a nice gesture and i get to keep in contact with my professors. Er, although only 2 la.. but whatever.

The police also created this very informative ppt and sent it to all students in NTU informing them about phone scams:

1) Kidnapping phone scam (my sis’ friend’s father kena, say his kid kena kidnap but nothing happen cos he called the kid’s sister and she happened to be with the sis at that time)

2) Strike lucky draw scam (too good to be true, alot of people already know that it’s a scam)

3) Impersonating a police officer / Supreme court scam (I’ve been scared, revealed my name and NRIC number and ALMOST taken in. -_-”’) So yes, i think i know exactly how they operate.

I just heard from my supervisor that there’ll be 2 interns coming in next week (church camp week) and one of them will be tasked to do my work! (muahha cos i’m going on leave ma) so it’s going to be quite cool having someone under my wing, even if it’s only for a day. That’s something interesting to look forward to!

Oh, i must say that i was very ministered to yesterday while we were out on door to door evangelism. Many times even when we’re doing His work, He’s really more concerned about our growth.

I’m strugging…

To rise above the expectations of others and myself. To rise above the pressures placed by the success of others. To have the freedom to be myself.

Who would have known that it’ll be so difficult depending God. I guess i should have known it when God has to shrink Jacob’s muscle in order for him to fully depend on Him. When he prayed for extra strength, maybe another sword, an army of angels or an increased in boldness and courage, and God… made him weaker.

It’s not something that i would personally appreciate, i have to admit, who’s excited about being weak and dependent right. Trusting is so difficult because it means to release the control you have over that situation. But that’s where Jacob learned that “when i’m weak, then i’m strong. “

10am: I have so much work. Jialat i think got to do OT today. [but i still do my work slowly and steadily]

3pm: oh no. better do faster, if not really HAVE to do OT today. [starts to speed up and get gan chiong]

5:05pm: [when work is still not yet done] ok i have to do OT today, better not stay TOO long [ starts to really really speed up! and get really gan chiong]

6pm: AH!!! i need to finish this up! faster! [talks to the computer: FASTER FASTER]

6:30pm: Ok forgetit i’m doomed to do OT today [starts to do work slower]

7pm: wahhh so late liao but i better just clean up everything and finish it up before i go back today.

7.30pm: whatever….. so late already, no harm staying longer. Might as well just blog here and talk with the remainding 1 or 2 colleagues that are still around. Or to pearle who is talking to me online.

Was what my nice General manager of Four Seasons Singapore said in reponse to making mistakes in the workplace.

In my current workplace. I’ve clocked up my SAME mistake twice. Only one more time to go before my client really blows up. He sent me an email that questioned my professional standards because it was just a balant, how-can-you-make-this-kinda-mistake kinda mistake. Well, i did! it was sadly due to carelessness. And with that i can imagine all my primary school and secondary school teachers grimly penning down the dread 5 words in my report book “Ruoling is a little careless” That’s what school teachers do, clients blast you through your email and not forgetting to cc your boss too.

But even so, he didn’t have to scold until like that right! hrmph. I was telling pearle, i’ll go buy products from my client as a consumer and then scold them back. muahhahaha

My boss was nice about it, although he gave me a little small lecture about checking and rechecking and re-rechecking my attachments and things that i do for the clients so that i don’t have to apologise to them. That was through msn, later he made the 30 step trip down to my seat and delibrately scared me and asked me if i was scared by the email that the client sent. I obviously said i was ok la. I was a little bit shaken at first, but it became better as time passed and after i went to the toilet. But i appreciate that check to see if i was ok. He’s like Gerry number 2. Don’t worry Gerry, you are still special.

Why that disclaimer you ask. Because when I told a friend that there was somebody in my hall that acted a little like him, he responded with ” =( i thought i was special”  You are la!

I saw this project on flickr while aimlessly surfing the net today at work (I’m not lazy, i just have nice bosses), and I was really interested to try it out. I got to admit that i’m a little bit daunted by the idea of taking a photo a day, preferably not just a random shot. But as i looked through the photos of the participants and thought through more about it during the day, i am REALLY inspired to try this out.

I think it as i go to Tung Ling in July, this photo a day would probably also help in my spiritual jounaling (Which i know i would have to do, and even if i don’t have to do it, i will do it) I don’t want to over-spiritualise the whole project, but it would be a different experience i guess. I’m thinking of doing it for the cell group! not 365 days ah!! maybe a week, and confining it within certain boundaries. Ah, that’s still up for some more consideration. On a personal note… It’s like 80% confirm i’ll do it (I’ll start in June if i do) the 20% is due to a little bit of fear and doubt. If i do do it, i’ll link up the photos..

Now, to go back home and nurse my throbbing head.

I guess today’s nooma clip was for me too…

I’ve always been trying my best to fit into a pair of shoes that was far too big for me. And thinking that i can only be good if i’m able to fit into that pair of shoes. I’ve attempted many times to make decisions while standing in those pair of shoes. And feeling disappointed in myself that my feet are just too small and i often trip and fall while trying to walk in them.

But God created me for my pair of shoes. And in trying so hard to fit into another pair… i think God might be looking from heaven and wondering why i’m doing what i’m doing (well, then again, God don’t wonder la, He knows) He’s created a pair of shoes specially made to fit into my legs, customised to walk in the path i’m suppose to go, and here am i struggling to fit into a pair that wasn’t made for me in the first place. And seeking to walk the path that might not be for me. And in doing so, my own pair of shoes are left in the cupboard, collecting dust and being a home to many spiders.

So it’s time to stop attempting to fit into that pair which is obviously made for someone else, embrace the gift God has bestowed upon me, understand we all have our strengths and weaknesses. And realising that God is not a partial God, and believing that my strength and weakness under His hands fit perfectly into His plan. To stop wanting to be seen in a certain way and doing things to please another, or to live up to the expectation of another. To allow myself the grace to learn and make mistakes and grow along the way. And to give others a chance to see me for me, and accept that i am me and I’m not the same as others.

Gal 1:10…
only pleasing my Father.

After almost a month here, i’m getting used to the surrounding, sitting at my desk and munching chipsmore biscuit with has been my favourite snack ever since the end of fasting. And talking to my colleagues and feeling comfortable enough to stretch at 4pm. It’s the normal day of a normal full time working person. With… i’ve come to appreciate because you know there’s money coming in every month and you are doing work. But, sigh, it’s not very exciting. I think if this continues long term. I’ll be a boring person.

Anyway i’m going to be playing keyboard for Cecilia (ASAPH). Er….. yay?

SKS is really the place to be if there be any need for inspiration. I love it! It’s just the location, although it’s located on zion road. But it’s really inconvenient la. It’s like Jalan Pemimpin with the captial J and P. BUT because it’s located in such a weird place, it’s not crowded and it’s really a nice place to soak in the books, and listen to Rob (something).

He’s the nooma guy they keep playing on their small tv on the right hand side of the shop.