Monday, March 24, 2008

The Big Clean Up

Last week, I decided to tidy up my room because my study desk has things from 2004 pasted on it and my secondary school notes are seriously collecting lots of dust. I could have created Mount Dusty with the amount of dust collected in my room. It's totally disgusting. After throwing away all my English, Chinese and Literature (with much reluctance, because I love Romeo and Juliet!) notes, I managed to create lots of space for my JC notes. Notes from JC will never be thrown away because they are very very precious to me. All my sweat and blood is in there, especially my answers to the TYS questions. Wahaha...

And so, with my study area cleaned up and organised, I've decided to decorate the piece of wooden wall in front of me. Now, I have so many pairs of eyes staring at me. This shall provide the extra pressure when I procrastinate. Wahaha...

This is how my room look like now...



Saturday, March 22, 2008

In life, you don't always get what you want. Sometimes, things that you ask for come so much later to the point where you've forgotten that it was something that you prayed for. I guess this is God's way of teaching us patience. There are also times when you ask but don't receive at all. This is why...

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get n your pleasures." James 4:3

In life, there are definitely many ups and downs. People tend to remember God whenever they are feeling down but forget about Him when they are happy. All experiences in life, be it good or bad are lessons which God wants us to learn. From bad experiences, we learn how to deal with them and how not to make the same mistake ever again. From good experiences, we learn how we do it right and how we should go about maintaining it that way.

However, man tend to repeat their mistakes again and again even though they made a vow to never repeat it ever again. Isn't it interesting when its always easy to say but never easy to do what you say? This often happens when you are really down and out, when life seems meaningless and you feel alone, when you seem to give up on the things you are fighting for because you can't seem to do things right. I guess this is God's way of teaching us perseverance, to persevere through and not give up.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phillipians 4:13

Oh well, why the sudden emo stuff? I have no idea. Life can never be better without God by our side. Yep. I have decided to live each day to the fullest and not let anything get me down since the beginning of this year. And nothing shall get me down... wahahaha... And I praise God for allowing me to feel triumphant because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! And I will have to constantly remind myself that, that worrying will not add a single hour to my life, that God is my provider and he is my strength and shelter whom I seek in times of need!

Again, why thes sudden emo stuff? I seriously have no idea... wahaha...

God will guide me through for He always provides us with a way out in every test and every situation that he puts us in. Praise God!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Friday

Good Friday. A day which Christians are reminded of the death of Jesus Christ. The day where we are reminded that God sent his son down to earth to pay the ulitimate sacrifice for our sins. The day which we reflect on our past wrong doings and what Jesus had went through to save us. The day which reminds us that He is the lamb who did not run away, knowing that He has to die for us. The day which we should repent.

How great is He who never fails to guide us through each obstacle we face? How great is He who blessed us constantly and answered our prayers in times of need? How great is He who is our comfort, our shelter, our shield, the One and only God who never forsakes us? How great is He who is omnipresent, constanly by our side and never leaving us?

Praise God for all the wonderful things that came into my life. Praise God for blessing me with such wonderful family members and friends, for always providing me a way out in times of need, for never leaving me alone in trying times. Praise God for all that He has done for me. Hallelujah!

Good Friday service is great. Great praise and worship, interesting mime and wonderful sermon. The company on Good Friday was great too. Friend and family. How good can this Good friday get. In fact, everyday seems to be filled with hope and joy as long as God is by my side. Wahaha... Nothing more I can ask for. All I need is You Lord! =))

Dinner at Botak Jones with my cousins today. Food was great. Wahaha...






Even with food in my mouth, hidden in the cheeks area, I don't look as fat as I thought I'd look. wahaha....

Thursday, March 20, 2008

I think the tired-ness of work has caused me to go a little crazy today. I think I did not portray the maturity of a teacher in the classes I went. All I did was laugh and laugh and do stupid things in front of the students. Then again, I've been to all of the 3 classes before. So the they were quite warmed up to me. Wahaha... But I seriously felt deranged. Oh my gosh... save me eh...

Jonathan's 21st birthday party was great. Finally I get to meet my dear understudy (though we just met not long ago... haaa), faizal, jothie, nio, ruting and of course our dear dear birthday boy. The company was great. I don't remember laughing so so much since the beginning of this year. Haha... It sort of made me miss my friends/colleagues in my office. The stupid things we do and the funny things we made my life in office much more easier and memorable. Haha... shall post pictures of the event when I get them from Jon. Great day it has been... Praise God!

Good Friday tomorrow!!! =))

Saturday, March 15, 2008

A day with YOUNG people

And so it was an outing with people who are 5-7 years younger than me yesterday. Interesting enough, I didn't feel the age gap. So it's either I have not grown up, or I am young at heart. I choose to believe the latter, thank you very much. (haaa...) They are quit mature for their age too and most importantly is that it was a happy outing. Yep yep it was =)

Marche for lunch is definitely not on my list of must do since moolah is very important if one is to dine there. However, i succumbed to pressure (thanks to you, jeans) and come to think of it, the last time I ate at Marche was like 5 hundred years ago. Therefore, it definitely qualifies itself to be under the "long long one time" category. Eat that we shall. Food was great, though I almost puked after finishing my brownie and it is not because the food sucked but due to the amount of food I ate (actually, it's not that much either... haaa). The brownie itself is very filling and together with that layer of chocolate (its not cream... is it icing? I don't know. Forgive me for my mountain tortoise-ness) on top, it gives you the "ahhhh" feeling (imagine light shining from the back, and you floating with a halo above your head), the way I lke it.



The crepe which you, jeans, christened as crappy tasted great! Yummilicious indeed. This ham and cheese crepe tastes a little like pizza. The crepe itself is quitethick and therefore, it does not give the feeling of ham and cheese wrapped in dry paper. What made this delicious looking crepe, crappy? I don't know... hahaha =p

Of course, swiss rosti is a must try because it is oh so nice. However, salt and pepper must be added to both sour cream and potato to eliminate the blandness. And here are our food testers...


Daren and his plate of rosti with an "I-can't-remember-what-it's-called sausage"

You, the guy you siams cameras, jeans, with his plate of plain rosti and a cup of hot chocolate.

We were joined by Roy and Anthony towards the end of our meal. So we went to take lovely pictures of ourselves outside Marche. The effect of trying to siam the camera can be seen in the photo below...
Therefore, trickery was involved to make them show their lovely faces. 1... 2... click... and this is what you get...

And after some strong encouragement wtih firearms and knives (just kidding, I'm no terrorist), I managed to get you, jeans, to take a photo with me.


Explains the half not so fierce, half laugh, disgusting look on my face. So i quote, "I'm not photogenic." Haaa..

After the commotion we created outside Marche (with some people looking at us with interest from inside....), we, or rather, you, jeans, got an old uncle to take a photo for the 5 of us. It seems that we were emitting some dangerous aura (the uncle must have thought that we were deranged or something) because the result is as follows....


Note the miniature figurines, i.e. us, behind the nice red cow. I don't blame the uncle though. He is a very nice guy who accepts our request. So it doesn't matter at all. =)

We proceed to watch Spiderwick Chronicles, which happen to be a very very very nice show. So please do go watch it if you have the time. NOT stream/download, but PAY a price of $9.50 during weekends or $8 on Fridays or the cheaper tickets on weekdays to watch it. Piracy, NOT privacy,kills. Wahaha...

Photos from Tuesday's practice will be posted some other time when Keith has sent the nicer ones. Apparently, the ones that I have became 1 megapixel-ish though it was taken using a 7.1 megapixel camera. I quote, "the camera become 1 megapixel in your hands lar..." Explains the quality of the photos. Curse my shaking hands.

Alright, pardon me for my lame-ness throughout this post. I don't know what has gotten into me this morning. Must be the mee goreng last night. Oh well... no offence, especially to you, jeans. =)

"I'm on the top of the world looking down....." - if you get what I mean you sssss-chk people.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Thankfully, I managed to get the photos from wee ling again... And apparently, reformatting my computer doesn't seem to help. It is dead once again. Boo...




Module registration for special term starts next week! I am so excited and ready for it. Intend to take Physics in Life Sciences to fulfil one of my GEMs for part 1 of special term. Hopefully I will be able to get it!! Fingers crossed. If not, I really have no idea what I want at all because I simply have no interest in any of the other part 1 modules at all. As for part 2, i would have taken Understanding the Universe or Genese and Society if I am unable to get Physics in Life Sciences. If I am able to get what i want, I would go for the geography GEM which is quite interesting, thereby fulfilling the 8MCs for GEM! yay!! Hopefully, all goes well and I pray that God will guide me through the registration. =)
More photos of Tuesdays exchange programme at Macpherson Sec and today's outing tomorrow or something... haaa...

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Beautiful Saviour

Beautiful Saviour by Planet Shakers

Jesus, Beautiful Saviour,
God of all Majesty,
Risen King,
Lamb of God,
Holy and righteous,
Blessed redeemer,
Bright morning star

All the heavens shout Your praise,
All creation bows to worship you

How wonderful, how beautiful,
Name above every name, exalted high
How wonderful, how beautiful,
Jesus Your name, name above every name, Jesus

I will sing forever, Jesus I love you, Jesus I love you


This is a very very nice song. Thanks to Sophie for sharing =)

Monday, March 03, 2008

My stupid desktop is in the deadly loop of restarting itself again! Argh!! Luckily not many stuff is in there except for the photos sent to me by wee wee!!!!!! ARGH!!!! hopefully it starts up soon... boo!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

I am so blessed by God. Prayer can be so powerful. Ask and you will receive indeed! All prayers will be answered even if it takes days, months or even years. How great is that?

This day rocks totally. I was really tired when I crawled out of bed to prepare for work today. But God never fails to brighten up my day by blessing me with such interesting and fun classes to take. One glance at my timetable today made me dread what was to come. But surprisingly, the classes that I dread turn out to be quite well behaved and cooperative, exactly what I have prayed and asked for. Praise God! =) One of the sec 3 classes I took today seriously brought back a lot of childhood memories (their games made me laughed throughout the lesson... haaa =X)! And I am happy to be able to relieve the other Sec 3 class where another bunch of students never fail to amaze me... haha... Can't wait for the next relief assignment!

And finally, I got my first rubik's cube. After seeing one of my sec 2 classes going at it, I feel so tempted to try and solve one. Even the guys at Montfort are playing it... and I thought that it was a craze of the past... Still trying my very best to solve mine though.

My tuition class of 3 people has begun to warm up to me! Its enjoyable to teach them but I hope they learn something out of it instead of just gaining laughter from the lesson. Can't wait for my next lesson with them too! I've set a test for them and hopefully they are able to pass it... fingers crossed.

Last Friday was the happy reunion of the 7 wanderers! Though 2 of them were not able to come, we still had great fun at Settlers! Pictures pictures...



We have all changed a lot!! wahaha... More pictures to come when I get them from weeling... woot!!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

My understudy introduced a japanese drama to me called, "One litre of tears". Its a true story about a 15 year old girl who has spinocerebellar degeneration. It is really very very sad and those who cry easily will definitely be able to cry out that one litre of tears. Kind of makes empathise with them. The girl is really very pitiful! So do watch it if you have the time. Shall not say more...

Monday, January 21, 2008

Everytime I enter a class, I will be bombarded with the same question... "Teacher, how old are you arh? 17?"

I look so young meh?

Looking young is good... But not in certain circumstances... wahaha...

Thursday, January 17, 2008

It's been a very JOYful day today. The good and the bad came altogether at once. I guess its good to experience the difficult situations that students put teachers through and learn how to handle such situations. It is then, that we grow to become more mentally prepared for the things that may/will come in future. I guess the young and kind face of mine will have to go before I can actually handle the more challenging classes. I don't know where I heard this from but someone said that there are no lousy students but lousy teachers. I will therefore work on that and see how I can deal with the different types of students that one may face.

Its very heart warming when students actually remember you even though you have only seen them once. It really made my day when students ask me when I will go to their class again or a just a simple shout "HELLO MR ONG!" whenever they see me in one of the classrooms or just walking around in school. I just felt soooo touched... heee... Though my day didn't begin well today, all negativity sort of went away when other classes came. Relief teaching is such a great experience which I will never ever forget. Praise God for all his blessings! Hallelujah! =)

Friday, January 11, 2008

It has been a meaningful and great day today!! I feel very touched and heartened after meeting a great bunch of students today.

As usual, I was woken up by THE call (actually I was half awake, waiting/hoping for them to call me...). So I made my way down to school and the first class I went was a 2 hr Sec 5 Art class. Art and I don't go together, so I was wondering what should I do with the class for that 2 hours. In the end, I didn't have to do much because my class was so so proactive! Upon knowing that their teacher wasn't here, they took out their homework automatically and started doing their work! I was quite pleased and shock at the same time because most classes that I've went would spend their time talking away even if I have given them something to do. But this class just started doing their homework QUIETLY! I was so impressed that till now I still cannot forget those students. Haha... I went around helping them with their maths and chem of course and that is how I spent my 2hrs there. It didn't feel like a teacher with students. Rather, it felt more like a senior guiding his juniors and helping them out with their work. It really felt great and I felt appreciated! Chit chatting with them, seeing them talk among themselves and help each other out with their work. It is really very very heartening! Awwwww... They even exclaimed that it was one of the rare moments where their class was so quiet, especially so for a class with a relief teacher. And so, the 2 hrs went pass like that so quickly. There were happy farewells and I'm glad that I've created an impression in them (i hope...) because they certainly did create a very deep impression in me. =) I pray that they will continue to work hard for their exams and get that good grades for their Os this year, being bright students they are!

After work, I went back to Montfort to help out for their CCA orientation. Though we did not meet our target of 30, we didn't do that bad either. A whooping 26 students wrote their names and I pray that every single one of them will remain in choir or even put choir as their first choice. The choir did put in a lot of hard, albeit last minute, work for this and I am very proud of them. Yes, the booth, board and banner can be better, but whatever mistakes that they might have made has been done. All I hope is that they will learn from it and that the future committee will do better next year. The choir spirit was there (have not seen it for soooo long)! Coming together as a group and shouting "CHOIR" together definitely made me feel good. It sort of made me feel tat the members actually still care for the choir. I see a few members making noise about this and that about choir before practice begin, but seeing them give in their all for the preparation really heartens me, yet again. I pray that they will strive to do better for the future of the choir. haaaa...

Indeed, it has been a great and meaningful day today! It made me confirm my ambition of being a teacher =)

Thursday, January 10, 2008

I was waken by a phone call which I am so happy to answer today! I finally got to relief teach!! The feeling was great! The students were very cute... haaa... First time ever am I bombarded with the words "teacher teacher". Hopefully I get called up again for that!

Went back to Montfort today for choir again. Helped out with their CCA orientation stuff... Hopefully we can recruit the target amount of sec 1s tmr!! Can't wait =)

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

I so need to find a job. Tried calling a few schools today to ask if they have any vacancy for relief teaching but to no avail. This is bad. The school I wanted to teach at has not called me yet. I guess I shall just be patient and wait. But in the mean time, I need to look for a job to kill my time. Tried applying for a few online home tuition agencies but I have not had an assignment so far. So I'm quite desperate...... Oh well, patience is a virture. Whatever God's will is for me man =)

Yesterday was a great!! Log Branch and Manpower Branch gathering!! It has been like almost 2 years since I last met my upperstudy and I finally got to see him yesterday. Its great meeting the other loggies. How nice =)

Anyway, here are some photos taken LAST year...

The Twins!

The Santarinas

Grandma and mum with the little kiddies who wants to blow the candle

That's all for now. Will post more photos from yesterday and last friday if i get them. Wahaha... Hopefully I get a job soon... *fingers crossed*

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Time spent with God on New Year's eve is a time well spent indeed! The presence of God is truly great at Church today! It's the best count down I ever had and I just can't help but to feel high!! woohoo!! =) Now that the high-ness has died down and the tired-ness starts to kick in, i guess I'll just post the first few photos I've taken this year!! =)) Thanks to Choon for being so patronising... haha...

That hand in not mine by the way... wahhahahahaha....


I shall name these photos "Our first faces in 2008!" Lame it is... but i don't care... haha... Anyway, I shall post more photos of Christmas and the wedding dinner tomorrow or something. Its time for me to take my nappy nap =D Have a blessed new year everyone!!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Yes... I'm back from Perth and I have finally ORD-ed. It feels kind of wierd to have finally left the service. Its like I have been waiting for a million years for the day to come and when it finally came, I feel lost. =X I guess its the staying at home with nothing much to do that sort of kill the joy of it all. Oh well...

And so I had an enjoyable trip in Perth. Though the nights were kind of boring with A$5 ripped off of me for using the internet, it is still worth it especially with the great company around. The things I bought back weren't exactly enough but come to think of it, if there were more people with me, I could have tong bang stuff on their luggage because my total baggage weight exceeded 4kg. Haaaa... I feel so paiseh... Nonetheless, its a great experience to have done something like this alone. Sort of train me to be independent and stuff. And it is through this experience that I sort of overcome the fear of sitting planes... Haaa... Praise God! Yay!! Fulfilling trip indeed. Big thank you to Andre and Wen and Friends!! =)

Here are some of the photos taken... mostly scenaries though...


With my mum... the day I fly away....




Perth City. Nice view from King's Park... Taken on my first night =)



London Court in the City



Cottesloe Beach... The place where the sun burnt me... Cool beach though... literally...




Nando's Chicken! Yummm...


BBQ by a lake/river


Curtin Technological University's Department of ART

Fremantle Market aka Freo Market. This shop sells great crepes! I miss my nutella marshmellow crepe

Cicerello's... nice Fish and Chips






Conca's... Great Chilli Mussels!


Swan Bell Towers!



Perth Zoo surrounded by buildings





In front of Art Gallery of Western Australia



Yummy Bubble Tea with Marvellous Pearls with filling!! Yumm...



Andre and I at the Airport


Photos of the trip can be found on the following website:
http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/jere87elm/Perth%20trip/

Oh well... I can't wait for Christmas to come!! And of course the New Year when school starts! Looking forward to many many things to come...

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Wow wow wow... I feel extremely tired now! I went to sleep at about 2 +am (Perth time) last night... Went for Supper with Andre, Wen and their friends at Concas after their mah jong game. The chilli mussels there are good!! Even I, who don't eat mussels at all, loved it! But the place is dangerous at night because all sorts of people go there. At least we were back safely =)

I thought that I that I will be fine after the beach outing but no no no, I was so wrong. I'm having a very bad sun burn on my nose now. And its only on my nose... No where else. I wonder why. I look like rudolph now... wahaha... And the sun burn is sort of making me feel feverish and I'm having the flu now... booo... At least I'm well enough to walk about... Thank God!

Yesterday's BBQ was very cold, literally. The wind was blowing and blowing and the sun came and went. Even with the sun, it was still extremely cold! But it was definitely fun! BBQ by the riverside... Nice scenary and weather. Its an electric BBQ by the way. Free for all to use. No charcoal no fire starter needed. How convenient! Love the environment man.

Fremantle is interesting. The sunday market sells lots souvenirs and stuff. Wen recommended the crepes there and they are indeed yummy! I had the nutella with marshmellow crepe. The taste of melted marshmellow together with the nutella is so so so wonderful! But its heaty though... Haha... Then we went to a huge restaurant to have fish and chips. By now I am sooo afraid of fries that I would probably abstain from fries for a whole month or 2 when I'm back at Singapore. Wahaha... But the food there is great no doubt. Took many many photos today... Will post them up when I am back. Tomorrow is zoo day!! And I will be visiting the famous swan bell tower. Can't wait man... Flying back this coming wednesday!! SOOO looking forward to it! =)

Friday, November 30, 2007

Hellllo everybody!! I am very safe here in Perth! haaa... First 2 days of my trip has been great. The people here are extremely friendly, the salesperson here are so so so polite and helpful but the only setback is that having no company when i return to YMCA kind of sucks. So lonely... But I'm finding things to keep my company when I'm back and I should not complain because I chose it to be that way... haaa =X

Accommodation was quite unexpected. But what else can I ask for if I want cheap places to stay. Andre and his friend has brought me to quite a few places yesterday and today and its quite fun! Though the things here are quite expensive, and I'm beginning to be sick of chips (haha...) but it was still fun. Went to Harbour Town today and the things there are so so so cheap! I bought myself 2 fila polo tees (the only ones that could fit me) and am satisfied with it. The clothes here are tooo big for me. After that, we made our way down to Cottlesloe Beach. The beach is so so beautiful! Super duper windy and cold, but bright sun... Still not getting my tan though... haha... But its definitely an eye opener. Huge waves and clear blue sea water... wonderful...

Tomorrow I will be going to Canning River for a BBQ. Sounds so exciting! wahaha... But I can't wait to be back in Singapore too... Not that I don't like this place, but I am quite deprived here without the internet (though I am using it now, but I have to pay for it and it doesn't allow me to use MSN Messenger =X) and the TV. Booo!

Oh well... Can't wait for next Friday to come... heee =)

PS: I found out how to use MSN Messenger afterall... haha... Stupid me =X

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Finally, the time has come... I will be flying off to Perth tomorrow morning. Kind of excited now and also a little lost. I can tell that my mum is worried for me and yet she wants me to do it. I felt a little afraid because its my very first time sitting an aeroplane alone, flying all the way to a foreign country and the only people I know there is Andre and Wen. Oh well, I sort of got over that scary feeling and I'm converting all this fear into excitement. Thank God! seriously, without His peace, I would be in a nervous wreck now. However, I hope things won't escalate tomorrow. I'm picturing this 7 day holiday as a 7 day field camp in the island. But, instead of training, I will be having fun instead! That is definitely better than the 7 day field camp I went through. So yea... Its all in the mind... Its all in the mind... Its all in the mind.... =)

I'm very very touched today. One of my colleagues gave me a very expensive watch as my ORD gift. I was shocked when she placed it in front of me and I was thinking of rejecting the gift. Oh well... All these gifts from people are making me feel more and more closer to my dept. The people I work with are great! My department has evolved into a lively and happy working environment. So closely knitted together! It definitely gives colour to my life in NS and whatever contributions I have made is not wasted because I know that my efforts are well appreciated by my frens and colleagues. So so so thankful for all of that! Praise God! =)

Anyway, I shall blog more when I'm back from my trip. Can't wait for next week to come... seriously.. heez...