Silhouettes at Signal Hill (L to R:) B, Josh O, Gina, me, Sulyn 

Group photo at junction to Lovers' Leap 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Can you believe it It's already the middle of the holidays. So much has happened in the last 5 days, i dont know where to start.

Saturday:
We had combined homegroup that night, with worship, food, lots of it, games, and heaps of socialising. There were a few newcomers, and that was simply encouraging! Emannuel and Mei Ting came, and so did Susan. YAY...i'm not the only Pharmacy student in homegroup anymore. :) Hehe...Susan's in second year Pharmacy. It's funny how so many are in the same course but you just dont bump into each other in the Pharmacy building.

Sunday:
A few friends were at my place, chilling till 5am. Gosh, i really wonder how many more 5am's i can do. Inhibitions go down in the wee hours of the morning, and we talked about everything from dad's and mum's to your 'valentine'. Ah, around girls, topics of this nature will often find their way into conversations. Quite hilarious really. :P Funnily enough, i wasnt too tired at School of Leaders either. I went out for lunch with the usual group, which was new for me, and it was off to the ice-skating rink! WOOHOOO....just what i need, a new hobby. ;) Not too bad this time. Just a few bruises on both knees. WAY better than the big egg i had the last time. Heh.. Josh O and B helped me get the nag of skating again. Thanks guys!

Monday:
I was trying to remember how Monday was like last night at Eric's dinner, and then "ah..yes". 5am's helped me sleep until 9 in the morning. Then it was chores, tidying up my room, and then to Ruth's for her 21st discussion. Las, as always, was the clown of the day. You're always laughing when he's around. I reckon Ruth's 21st is going to be an awesome birthday. Just seeing the rough plan makes me all excited!

Tuesday:
Now, this has been the most happening day so far. Started at 10am with Josh O, B, Gina and i taking Jenny to the airport. We stopped by Green Island INFAMOUS dairy for an ice-cream. I chose cappucino flavour. YUUUUMMM! How come they dont have that in town? Boo hoo hoo.. :'( I think i'm beginning to like it better than cookies and cream. Noooooo! Nah, probably just an ice-cream affair. :)

Then it was meeting up with the others at Pak N Save and off we were to the Peninsula. Weather was gorgeous, sunny, warm (VERY warm) and summerish. On the way there Chia's car was near empty tank. Bad thing. So we passed Josh O's directions to them so that they can find the spot to meet up later, and he made a copy for himself. Or so he thought it was a copy. It was funny, i must admit. We turned right at Hooper Islet Rd, but little did we realise that our very diligent lieutenant mistakenly copied a Right instead of a Left. People make mistakes and it's no big deal. Though i have to say it's something i'll be 'kacau-ing' him about. Hehe... (credit has to be given for BEST NAVIGATOR prize during the Chch trip ;D). At the beach, it was cold. Didnt wear enough clothes to prepare for that. But food was good, scenery was better, and people were the BEST! Just watching the waves, and reliving childhood memories, like Laughing Stock. J

After all that, the last car went to Signal Hill, picked up Sulyn and watched the sun set. It’s amazing, how different we all are, and yet, it’s almost as though there’s a ‘template’ inbuilt in us. To appreciate beautiful things like the sun setting. It was like God had taken a huge palate of colours and streaked the sky with red, orange and yellow. It was marvelous.

Record breaking

Eunice and i broke our record. 2 hours to finish one dish. We had an oyako don. It's funny, it didnt look that intimidating at first, but the more we ate, the faster the rice replenished itself! Man, i felt as though there was a huge rock in my stomach. And honestly, it was starting to hurt. That's the good thing about eating with guy friends. Most of the time they'd be happy to finish off your plate for you. :P Anyway, we did it, in the end, and dinner that started at 5pm finished at 7pm. Now that's one record that will take a while to break! :)

Daffodil Day

~Pretty daffodils~

It's the holidaaaaaaaaaaaays! Hehe, my holidays began exactly 14 minutes and 34 seconds ago. Liberation! The strange sense of uncontained joy and happiness fills me. We were one of the groups which had a Human Resources Management workshop this afternoon. I walked back home with Eve and Jean at lunch time after the Respiratory test (it was alright :) ) and they were jumping up and down for joy. My celebration was 3 hours away since they didnt have a workshop in the afternoon! It's all good. :)

Jessica is right. We are getting old! No offense to anyone else...maybe it's just Jess and i. :P I shopped around in a shoe store for one, yes, just ONE pair of shoes to wear for my externship and nothing. None at all that i liked. None that fitted the specifications. No open toed ends, preferrably flats, black or neutral, stylish yet not too mature, comfortable and most importantly, to be able to be worn from 8 to 6 without giving me big red blisters that threaten to pop. Not easy. Where have the days gone when i'd walk into a shoe store and immediately be smothered by the array of shoes that i'd fall in love with in that instant?

It's Daffodils Day today. Cancer society have set up stalls selling daffodils, daffodil pins, little teddy bears and yellow bands. I bought some and stuck them on people's doors. Hehe, that was fun. Sun is shining and will be meeting up with Eunice in half an hour's time.

Have a fantastic holiday everyone! Well deserved! :)

Summer lovin..

Finally! The presentation is finally over. I dont know how many inpromptu case presentations my heart can handle. Whoa..it sure was something new, not being fully prepared just right then. We were the first group to go up as well, haha, and the case that Shahin and i were working on was chosen! I dont know if that is a good or a bad thing, but i remember the moment Dr Mikov said "Case 3", my heart jumped and sank into my stomach at the same time. The rest of the group was so happy, Mike patting me on the back, but i wasnt so sure. Ever felt that way? It's like you want to be happy but you're not sure if you should be? It felt weird so i walked out of the room before i could see the way they acted. I didnt want to raise their hopes high. But hey, i've over. It's all over. For this module at least. :) We'll see how it goes. I'm glad. Through this presentation we've built new friendships and if there's ever a teamwork #2, which very likely there will be, it'll be easier to work together.

Spring is really in the air. The cherry blossoms are fallin and it's amazing. It's beautiful. The flowwers are in bloom, one by one. I've watched those pink flowers bloom, since the tree was bare in cold, stark winter, until just a week ago, i noticed the buds. One by one, day after day, i watched. Took a few more seconds to notice on my way to school. I cant wait till summer's here.

In His time

What an eventful week it has been.

Been bogged down with the whole flat thing, but now i see the light at the end of the tunnel. Met up with Eunice for lunch yesterday, and poor girl had to put up with all my complaints and frustrations. I thought i'd gotten over them then, but obviously not. :S What we learnt in School of Leaders, about Guidance and God showing us just that one step in front. No, not two steps, just one. I felt as though all my steps were baby steps, so small that i couldnt feel the difference from where i was just a while ago. Such small steps. But i know that i'll see the distance, the marathon that i'd finished, at the end of the race. There is so much to learn along the way, and this is truly the greatest test of trust so far. Actually, things arent totally sussed out as yet, but we have to give a definite answer by Monday. I must continue to learn, that everything works out for the better in His time...

I really thank God for the people He's put around me, my family, friends in school, friends from church. I wonder how friends in Australia are doing. Some havent been in contact for a while and i miss them. It's funny, how some memories never seem to fade. Sometimes i sit on my bed and look out at the mountains and trees, and wonder. If all this is taken away from me, in the blink of an eye, will i still be complete in Him alone? That's the ultimatum.

YAY...40 Days of Purpose tonight...Week 3. May Your presence fill the place and speak to each and every one of us tonight!

Cherry blossoms....

Spring is around the corner. Arent they gorgeous??!! :)

The best things in life are free

Caught a sore throat from my respiratory module. This is horrible, waking up in the morning and croaking "Good morning God". I dont feel like talking at all, discussing or even making small talk. Not a good thing when we have a workshop today. I was feeling so crap the entire time, and the dry pain of swallowing didnt help at all to my dwindling concentration power. But as sure as ever, God blessed me with a workshop that ended half an hour earlier than the allocated time, which meant going home and guzzling down more 'cooling' water. I sure hope it doesnt get worse. I've had enough of tonsilitis!

It was amusing, when i was boiling water in the large pot and sprinkling in two handfuls of dried sunflowers and plopping in a huge rock of yellow sugar. I dont know if i'm the only one who has this childhood memory, but i remember as clear as day, when i was little, Grandma would cook 'cooling' drinks for us to drink, and whenever i see her take out the packet of rock sugar, i'd stick close by and hold my hand out. And she'll give me a little crystal of sugar which i'd put into my mouth and suck on. Those were the days, the little things in life that gave me so much joy. :) And i guess you would have guessed, that i couldnt resist but to put a small crystal of rock sugar in my mouth as well today. Ah...the best things in life are free..

Now to my huge pile of readings that's due to be completed by tomorrow morning's workshop. :S

Dont marry someone you can live with, marry someone you cant live without ~ Anon

I keep on thinking it's Friday today. That's not a good sign.

Food tasting time!

with great, cool, best friend Lye Funn
with group mates Liz (Kenya) and Ivana (Yugoslavia)

Thanks Ruth for the beautiful blue baju kurung. It was Pharmacy International Dinner night tonight. Most people cooked a dish. It's funny, being students and far away from home. Anything that would normally would have gotten a "eww" response back home, gets a "yum" here. That holds true especially for food that is labelled "Malaysian". The mere thought that maybe by taking a bite into it will bring you back, psychologically, a few miles closer to home, is enough to stimulate the salivary glands. Who cares about authencity. It was real cool though, seeing such a variety of food from all over the world laid out in front of you. It was tasting time! Unfortunately, i wasnt feeling the best and so didnt really have an appetite. No worries, just looking at them made me feel full. :)

They had lots of dancing. First we had Sione and his famous choreograpy skills. Man, he is the man! It was so cool. He twirled his dancing partner around as though she was just another limb! And with his other pair, they were so synchronised it was amazing. Gosh.. Then we had a beautiful Samoan dance. It was with a sad love song. Funny, though i didnt understand the lyrics, i didnt think that the tune sounded sad.. Hmm.. Then there was Patrick and Stella, and Sione and Ai Wei. WOW factor! Put Patrick and Sione with a dancing parter and they do miracles with their twirls and moves. I couldnt help but feel a tinge of jealousy that they had someone who would dance with them, and enjoyed dancing with them. Whoever says that dancing is for sissies just needs a mind makeover. Dancing is a great way of expressing feelings, and it does much more than that.

Happy Birthday Lye Funn!!

Puppy gone liao

You dont know what you have until it's gone.

I tried looking around for someone who'll like to have puppy, but my efforts were in vain. And it would take too long for us to put an ad in the church newsletter or on the Pharmacy School notice board. Puppy had to be left at home alone since everyone had lectures and labs at the same time. Chia had sacrificed heaps of lectures just to accompany him. He needs and wants someone to be with him all the time. Even if it's just sitting in the same room.

I was working on my assignment last night on Chia's computer...and puppy-sitting as well. There he was, walking around the place as though he owned it, chewing anything he could sink his teeth in, and crawling under the bed, as though it was time to play Hide and Seek. It was also the first, ever, night i let him sleep on my bed. The only "little man" i'll ever let sleep on my bed. For the first time i didnt really mind that much if he'd dirtied or drooled on my warm woolen blanket. He's the worst sleeper ever, the soundest sleeper too! You should see him sleep/stretch. A contortionist in the making, i'm sure. Cutie...

Chia and AC had to return him. Family issues and to obey parents. I'm glad i decided to come home during my lunch break, even if it was for 20 minutes. I almost missed my chance to say goodbye. I wonder if he could sense our sadness. Or to see our tears. I thought of him the whole time throughout lectures. It was hard to concentrate. And coming home, coming home with no Radiant in the living room. No more cute playful face. I keep on thinking that i'll see him somewhere, be it in her room, or trailing my steps up the stairs. I keep on looking around, just in case he's sleeping somewhere and that he's still around to wake Chia up at 4am for toilet training. I must say though, after seeing her dedicate herself to waking up several times at night to poopy-train as well as in the day, i'm not so sure i want kids anymore. :P

I miss puppy, and i know it'll take a while to get used to his absence. I just hope it's soon. Letting go is much MUCH easier said than done. I've shed enough tears today. I think i'm dehydrated again. ORT!!!

A picture of peace

I never thought that peace could be caught on camera...

Beatles - If I Fell

If I fell in love with you
Would you promise to be true
And help me understand
'Cause I've been in love before
And I found that love was more
Than just holding hands

If I give my heart to you
I must be sure from the very start
That you would love me more than her

If you love something, let it go.

I didnt think i'd love you that much, but it was love at second sight. From your pretty eyes to the way you curl when you sleep. You're the worst sleeper i've ever seen! :) All the girls adored you. Why do you have to go? But i know if it's God's will, you'll have the best person to take care of you. I'm going to miss you...

You asked me first

Ask and you will receive - Matthew 7:7

I asked and i received, just not the way i thought. I never saw it coming, the startling and yet comforting realisation. Bawling my eyes out and what i saw unfair, i was angry, i was frustrated. But when it dawned on me, i wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Laugh and cry from the joy of finally understanding and accepting my circumstances.

Why why why cont....

Birthday card display...thanks people!


I spent a few minutes after gym yesterday to put up the birthday cards i've received. They're beautiful.

As you can tell from the title of this blog entry, it's another one of those days. Alice's job offer is in Timaru for next year. I know this sounds ridiculously selfish, but does Alice really have to go? *sigh* Another person i'm going to miss...

Why why why? Why another? Family, friend and now mentor! What next... :'( I feel like throwing a tantrum, stomping my feet on the and shouting "No no no!", crossing my arms and childishly protesting "I dont want!" I know i cant do any of that, it's plain irrational and immature. But you know, so often nowadays i feel exactly that way.

I must learn to accept again, what i cant change. It has happened for a reason and i'm not going to oppose it (not that i can anyway :P). Now i have to make more flat-for-next-year decisions. I'm tired of thinking thinking thinking and making the decision. I've got to pray more about this. Will it be okay if i live away from Paul? No, it's not good, and i want to be with family. Yet at the same time, i want to live close to Grange, close to church, not in a place that holds so many memories that i have to live with and yet cant do anything to change it. What if someone stays in Chia's room and i unconciously walk in thinking that she's still there? Or wait for the knock on the wall that signals "Goodnight" from Claire? No more "Hey Wayne, let's go New World?" or "Stella...nice legs!"

When will i soar with You above the storm?

One smile makes two.

It’s once of those things in life. Just a smile. That’s all it takes to make the difference. A shy smile, wide beam or a toothy grin, a smile never fails to brighten my day. I remember your smile. You probably thought it insignificant and nothing more than just a smile, but those memories are imprinted in the photo album of my mind. No matter how far we are apart, or how long it has been, God be with you always and grant you your heart's desire. I'll smile to you.

The sun is smiling today. The warm weather tempts me to go for a swim or take a stroll to the beach. Ah….Maybe during the holidays. Got a lot lined up today, mainly meeting up with people and assignments. I’ve got Jessica and Gina to see for lunch, then Eric, Vineel and Aaron to meet up for the assignment on anthelmintics (de-worm drugs). It’s funny how friendships develop. It can just be a matter of month, years, and for some, just never. They’re supposed to be forever. Always together. Not just any part-time love affair (plagiarism here!)

I hear that the holiday placements are out. Going to check them out. Hope I get Urgent Pharmacy…

Dedicated to you

With Pharm friends Maryam (Egypt) and Jasmine (Taiwan)
My family

Saturday night was heaps of fun. Chia and i arrived in church around 12noon and the decoration of the conference room started then. One by one friends came to help out. First it was deciding where the food table would go. Then "Shall we have little eating tables with chairs?" and "Let's try out the sound system." What probably took the longest was blowing up the balloons (Thanks Joshua O, Jonathan - yes, that took a few days of your life :P - Gina, Jane, Soo Sian and Chia), tying them onto string and putting up the streamers and the ribbons. It went well. Originally, the idea was to string them up and all around the ceiling so that it was totally covered, but in the end, it was more like long clusters of balloons that hung on strings radiating from one corner and out to the stage. It was amazing. Thanks heaps to everyone who came to help. Thanks to Martin as well for driving me around to buy last minute stuff and tranfers Alice's beautiful lanterns. A big thank you to Jess for helping to organise the food. You're now officially an expert "people feeder"!! :D

The night started out later than planned. Being Malaysians there is no denying the streak of not being punctual. The guys wore pink! Man, i was impressed! And i must say, everyone looked smashing!!! :) Eunice and Mart had a great programme for the night, including a very touching power point presentation. It felt strange though, i must admit, being the center of attention. I'd much rather prefer serving food or cleaning up in the kitchen. It was a pleasant change. Hehe.. y the time we finished, the clock had struck past midnight. A number of people were still jamming and shaking their "boodies" to our very interesting selection of music, lights dimmed and spot lights on. That was cool. Man, Ah Chung did the best GREASE performance eva!! I was stoked! Marcus managed to make it after his 7th form ball, which was really sweet. By the time everything was cleaned up and locked up, it was 2am. It was a great night...and night to remember....a night i want to dedicate to all my friends, here in Dunedin, back home in Malaysia, and friends scattered in countries throughout the world. You are all God's blessing in my life and i will treasure our friendships forever. Cheers....to friendship!