= FAVOURITE WORD =
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
[NIV]
New phase. More changes.
What would the future bring?
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Usual Ramblings
I'm feeling kinda sleepy now. I just had a big lunch at Fish & Co. There goes my dieting plans. Anyway, dinner will probably start around seven plus later - maybe even eight. Good to fill my stomach a little more. Hah.
I had driving lesson this morning, driving around the same area and practising on my parallel and vertical parking. I can't seem to park the car right in the centre of the lot for vertical parking. Hm. Parallel parking somehow seems easier. Probably it was the first parking skill my instructor taught me, and I've had more practices on it.
Oh, I kinda wasted my time going all the way to Kembangan last night. Sigh. I was waiting the whole time for the co-emcee to be done so that I could discuss with him on the script. Unfortunately, once the church wedding rehearsal ended and after a brief introduction between us, he left with his wife after dumping me with the script. Bleauch. What could I do? I just told them all I'll do what I can.
After that I took the MRT train from Kembangan to Orchard. And guess what? It was pouring cats and dogs. Even though I had an umbrella with me, the rain was too heavy for me to continue walking to the bus stop (the one right opposite Far East Plaza). So I ended up taking shelter at Royal Plaza Hotel and called my dad to come over to fetch me home. After repeating myself crazy where the hotel was located, he still went to the wrong place. In the end, he went home and my mom had to come out and fetch me home. DUH.
I wish I had followed my gut feel about NOT going down to Kembangan. If I hadn't, I'd be at home eating dinner and watching television - not waiting at the church and subsequently getting wet in the rain.
Right, I know I shouldn't grumble. After all, I'm doing this for my friend. Maybe it's just PMS. I get irritated easily.
Hopefully, it won't rain when I leave the house later for the Graduation Dinner.
Speaking of which, I have no idea who to sit with. Hm, maybe I'd better not arrive too late then. Sigh. I don't really fancy dinners like that where everyone is forced to sit at the table and talk. I suppose I can always walk around and talk to the kids. Yeah, and take lots of pictures at the same time. I should. Come to think of it, I don't really have many pictures with them.
jOyZ blogged at 3:27 PM
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Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Changed
Yo! I've changed my blogskin. Haha. Yeah, I changed my mind about NOT changing it. I was sick of the old one. The content is about the same more or less, just that I changed the layout and the picture. Don't stone me for using so many colours. Heh. I like bright colours - what to do? x)
I've got to get changed soon. Jane has asked me to reach the church at 8pm. But my mom is only starting to cook dinner now. Sigh. I guess I'll be a little late.
Hm, maybe I can take a short nap first. My eyes are a bit tired from staring at the laptop screen for several hours.
I'll be back... another time. ;p
jOyZ blogged at 6:18 PM
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Bored
Right. I'm feeling bored again. I guess I can always go shopping on my own. I need to get that pair of sports shoes for gym anyway. And some other stuffs. I've got like 3 dinners lined up in the next 6 days. There's the Graduation Dinner at Trader's Hotel tomorrow evening. Jane's wedding dinner will be on Saturday at York Hotel. Finally, Belle's wedding dinner will be on Monday at Marriot Hotel. Hm. I'll see how it goes in the afternoon.
I spent a bomb (the fourth one) on my hair yesterday. I went to Cheryl's hairstylist for rebonding because my hairstylist couldn't start work yet due to some delayed renovation work at her friend's shop. I spent $346 (including GST) on the rebonding which took 4.5 hours (from 4.30-9pm) and another $50.40 on a bottle of leave-in conditioner. The boss of the hair salon wanted to sell me this whole pack that cost around $126 and I had to force myself to say 'no' even though it seemed pretty attractive. I figured I probably won't be so industrious in maintaining my hair now that it's rebonded. Hah! What a waste of money! ;p
I think the rebonding I did years ago at Reds was much better - softer. It was slightly cheaper too, inclusive of hair products, though the hairstylist took like 5 to 6 hours on my hair. Maybe that's why it was better. Hoho. I think I'll go back to Reds for rebonding in future. My own hairstylist doesn't quite like to do rebonding because it's tedious. xB
There's going to be a church wedding rehearsal at Bethesda Chapel at 8pm later. I'm not involved in the rehearsal but I have to go through the MC script with the other co-MC for the wedding dinner. Sigh. All the way at Kembangan! I think I'm spending quite a hefty bit on transport these days too - the fifth bomb. ;I
Yesterday's driving lesson was alright. My driving instructor said that he won't let me drive around deserted areas around Choa Chu Kang anymore. Instead, I'll be driving along roads where the traffic is slightly heavier, with more pedestrians. Now that I'm learning driving, I find some pedestrians really irritating. They walk on the roads like they own them. If it were lawful, I'd have rammed them down to teach them a lesson. But of course I can't.
My instructor taught me vertical parking too. It's much simpler than parallel parking, though I still can't quite park in the centre of the lot. I seem to be parking a lot closer to the left side of it. I guess I need to have more practice.
It's a pity the instructor will not me teaching me next month onwards. During yesterday's lesson, he said that he'll be working as a hawker selling char kway teow at NUS for the next four months. After that, he'll decide what to do again. He's quite a funny fella. The only thing I don't like about him is that he mumbles when he gives instructions. Sometimes, I really can't tell whether he's asking me to turn left or right and I have to repeat after him so that he knows what my ears actually hear. Heh.
Geez, I'm really bored! Maybe I should go back to bed. Hur hur.
On second thoughts, I'd better not. I could gain weight. ;x
Weight issues just remind me of food. Bah. The useless tummy is growling already. I guess I'll have to grab breakfast soon.
Hm, maybe I'll just stay at home the whole day and watch HBO. Save money! I'll shop for my sports shoes another day instead then.
jOyZ blogged at 10:09 AM
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Saturday, November 26, 2005
What A Day
I woke up late and had to rush down to school by cab. A few pupils were around waiting by the time I got to school. They collected their certificates and some left while a few stayed for a while to chat. Some came rather late. The rest who did not come had some other commitment or were not in Singapore. I had to pass the whole stack of certificates to Andrew in the General Office.
After that, I went Great World City to eat with John, Selwyn, Sherlyn, Melody, Candice and Pikie. I decided to rot at Pikie's place till my driving lesson at 2pm while the others went their own ways.
Driving lesson yesterday was alright. I did the usual driving routine and then practised on parallel parking. My instructor said that I had to keep practising until I know what to do with the steering wheel without stopping to think. That's really tough! He told me to try but I wasn't successful until my last try. Hoho. Oh, while driving along the roads, I was chatting with my driving instructor most of the time. He was telling me about his daughter and about his plans after he quits as a driving instructor. Hoho. He plans to set up a food stall!
I went home after driving lesson and had just about enough time to rest a bit, wash and dress up in time for Zhiwei and Mag's ROM. In fact, I was so early I had to wait downstairs for Gina and Joey. Haha. Oh, and I met Mag's parents downstairs when they arrived and chatted a while with her mom.
Once Gina and Joey arrived, we went up to the 24th level. It was embarrassing but the first place I visited in their apartment was the toilet. Hoho. ;P By the time I came out, almost everyone had arrived. We gathered around and Gina, who was supposed to be the MC, had a few false starts because Benji wasn't ready with the video camera yet. Haha. After that we had a short worship time and Pastor James began the solemnization. Then there was photo-taking.
When it was over, Pastor James and his wife left because they had something on, I think. We started eating and chatting. As usual, Eunice was very hyperactive while Caleb just quietly watched his sister and observed everyone else. Everyone was crapping a lot the whole time. It was good to see familiar faces again though. We took quite a lot of photos too. Abigail, Fangling, Gina, Joey and I stayed until around ten plus, I think.
Anyway, congratulations to Zhiwei and Mag! I'm sure everyone is looking forward to the wedding next year, 25th of November 2006. Meanwhile, may God continue to protect and preserve both of you. Blessed ROM!
jOyZ blogged at 12:14 PM
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Random Blogging
I'm enjoying driving lessons, really! My second lesson yesterday was a lot better than my first. I was more careful and only 'killed' the engine like twice, at most three times. I hope my instructor will teach me parking soon. Anyway, I think I'd better go brush up my theory as well. I realise I'd forgotten quite a bit of things since the last time I studied for the Advance Theory.
I'm going to try to lose weight this holiday again. Hopefully, I will be disciplined enough to jog at gym for at least an hour every day in the morning, and then have salad for lunch and dinner. Hm... I'll need to buy a pair of shoes for jogging soon then.
Ah, my students have sat for their last paper today. I hope it went well for them. In any case, I'm sure all of them must be feeling relieved and overjoyed now that the O Level is over. There was quite a bit of screaming and shouting after the paper ended this afternoon outside the staffroom. ;o
Oh, Junmin will be back in Singapore from 2nd to 3rd of December. We've already planned to meet up on the 2nd after her gym and my facial. I can't wait to meet and catch up with her again. It's been quite a while since I last saw her.
jOyZ blogged at 8:50 PM
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Saturday, November 19, 2005
Bombs Away!!!
Strange title? Yeah. Well, you see, I have been and will be spending quite A LOT on the following.
1) Driving
2) Facial
3) Wedding dinners
*SCREAM*
Right. Let's start off with driving. I had my first lesson (after five long years of hiatus) two days ago on Thursday. It was a two-hour lesson and I drove around Choa Chu Kang, trying to co-ordinate the clutch, brake and accelerator as best as I could. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
Having not driven for more than five years (I stopped my driving lessons mainly because my previous instructor got hospitalised and never returned my calls *gulp*), naturally I couldn't remember much. I couldn't even remember which paddles were the clutch, brake and accelerator. Hah! And the instructor just told me to drive!
And so I did - and nearly got into a few accidents. Once, I was driving too fast and when the instructor told me to turn left via a slip road, I forgot about looking out for oncoming vehicles as I frantically steered the wheel to turn. Somehow I wasn't fast enough and the car seemed to be swerving all wrong. I panicked and, for some inexplicable reason, lifted my left foot off the clutch - a totally dumb and wrong move - and killed the engine right in the MIDDLE of the road! At the same time, an oncoming car zipped past us. I watched the driver and his passenger glare at me as they drove past. I was half-expecting them to flash me some vulgar sign really.
That was some experience. But okay, I'm probably exaggerating. It didn't feel like I was going to die at that moment, so it wasn't really that bad, though my instructor later gave me a feedback: I can be quite reckless. Hoho!
My second lesson is this coming Monday from 4pm to 6pm. Whoopee! Another 2 hours of driving! I can't wait! =) Well, at this rate, I'll be spending around $100 to $150 on my driving in a week! Yeah, I hope to have lessons at least twice a week.
The other package I've indulged in is facial. Cheryl recommended me her beautician, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I went for my first session today. It was really an excruciating experience - especially when the beautician started the extraction procedure on my nose! I couldn't stop tearing. I didn't want to, but it was really painful. After that, everything else was pretty much painless. The massage part was really nice. I fell asleep for a while, I think. Haha. After that was the MOST terrifying part - payment! Not being able to resist the tempting offer, I'd actually signed up for this $1000-package and bought $300++ worth of facial products.
Beauty business is flourishing, isn't it? Many beauty and spa salons are mushrooming all over the island. People are getting very concerned about looking good and being well-groomed.
Compared to the previous two 'bombs', this third one would probably be considered minute. I've got two more wedding dinners coming up in early December. Two ex-colleagues are getting married to their beaus on the 3rd and 5th. So it's time to spend money on clothes and assessories (again after the two weddings in October) PLUS fat, fat ang pows!
Oh, guess what? I've been asked to be the co-emcee for the wedding dinner on the 3rd. If that isn't incredible enough, try this: I've been requested to speak in MANDARIN. Never mind - all this is for my good friend. Thankfully, there's a script that I can follow. Ha! But I still need to figure out certain words which I can't remember how to read. xP
Riiiiiiight! So speak to me in Mandarin if you see me. Or I'm going to make a fool of myself on the 3rd!
Bombs awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!! *KABOOMZ KABAMZ KABOMZ*
jOyZ blogged at 9:35 PM
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Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Pack And Drive
It's been almost ten days since I last blogged. I haven't been online much seriously.
At work, I've been busy unpacking and packing six years' worth of English Language lesson materials, notes and worksheets. I threw away quite a bit too. Hopefully, I can get rid of all the boxes under my table. I don't really like to have things under my table such that I can't stretch my legs comfortably when I sit.
Today, I went down to Bukit Batok Driving Centre to register for my Provisional Driving Licence (PDL). I'm finally picking up driving again. Yes! First lesson will be this Thursday at 2.30pm for 2 hours. I can't wait!
I wasn't planning to come online let alone blog tonight. So, I'm going to end here, making it a short entry. Anyway, it's time to sleep.
GOOD NIGHT, WORLD!!!!!
jOyZ blogged at 11:30 AM
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Sunday, November 06, 2005
Peaceful Day
I woke up at 10am, washed up, changed and took a cab down to Trinity. I managed to reach the place at 10.50am - on the dot! Ha! But Jocelyn, Jann, Joey and Gina hadn't arrived yet. Well, so I just waited after realizing I was the first to arrive. I didn't have to wait for very long. Jann and Jocelyn arrived first, so we went up to the fourth level for the service.
Hm, the service was alright, I guess. There was the Holy Communion. The sermon was about the power of the Cross. By the time the service was about to end, I was freezing. We quickly hurried out and walked to the Thai restaurant (just beside Coronation Plaza). We had our lunch there. As we ate, we talked and talked and talked. Hoho. By the time we left, it was around 3pm.
Gina said something about playing badminton but she and Jann were going to Joey's place first while Jocelyn went home and I took a cab to Millenia Walk to meet my students.
A few of them were at Burger King with Aloysius Foo. I helped Selwyn and Jessica with their essays while Jocelyn finished the essay she was supposed to have completed yesterday and quickly went home. By the time I finished marking Selwyn's second essay, it was past 6pm. Jessica and Selwyn took the bus while I waited for a cab.
It has been a peaceful day.
jOyZ blogged at 9:51 PM
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Saturday, November 05, 2005
Dull, Boring, Colourless... What A Day...
It's been a terribly dull day. I was at school in the morning to mark Jocelyn's and Wayne's essays and then helped Wayne in comprehension. At around 12.30pm, my parents came to pick me up. I was rather upset with my mom because she'd cooked and packed the lunch for me instead of lunching out which was what we'd agreed on in the morning before I left for work. Anyway, I quickly finished the lunch in the car while she went to buy some of her stuffs. My dad decided to pack the car while waiting for my mom to return. Duh.
After that, we drove to River Valley Grove to take a look at one of the apartments which was on sale. It was a 3-bedroom apartment and the price was $750,000. Steep eh? Yeah. We figured the owner wouldn't allow much bargaining because the whole estate had potential to be sold en bloc. We left the place and headed to view a condominium somewhere along Upper Bukit Timah Road. The apartment that was on sale was facing the main road, which wasn't too appealing although I kinda liked the size of the place. Anyway, it also had 3 bedrooms - priced at around $600,000. The third place we went to was in Novena area. It was quite a new estate - only 7 units were left for sale. We saw 2 apartments - one a 3-bedroom and the other a 3+1 (3 bedrooms and 1 study room). Both had lease prices of about $900,000 odd - close to a million actually.
Sigh. I think we'll be seeing a lot more apartments in the next few weeks and months to come. I hope we can find a nice place soon. I can't wait to dump away all the unwanted stuffs in my room and start afresh in a new home! Well, I probably won't be living in the new place for long since I've got plans to study overseas and then move out of the family. But, still, anything can happen. Things may not go as I want them to.
Gosh, I'm so darn bored! This is like the second time in the week. I'm seldom bored. I always have something to do. Even when I don't, I'd find something to do. I think I'm just too restless now to do anything. Sighs.
Anyway, let me blog a little about yesterday. I left the school at around 6pm with Cheryl and we headed down to Great World City to buy tickets for Sky High. Crazy, huh? Two sensible, level-headed adults watching teenage stuff. Haha. Actually, it was kinda entertaining. I couldn't stop laughing each time this really cheesy song came when Will Stronghold met the girl of his dreams. The movie was more family-centred than anything though. Quite a bit on the family-unity theme. We had this family sitting on our right and one of the kids was on the father's lap. Nice people.
That was yesterday. I've blogged about today. So what's in store for me tomorrow?
I'll be meeting Gina, Jann, Joey and Jocelyn for the 11am service at Trinity. Gina mentioned she couldn't make it for gym tomorrow. I wonder why. Oh well. I guess I'll just start on Monday with Esther then. I've no idea what I'll be doing after church tomorrow. Bleahs.
I'm still bored. I wonder if I should have a new blogskin.
o_O
O_o
o_O
O_o
La la la...
It feels funny not to have any essays to mark for once.
I must be mad to actually type the above sentence.
Oh, almost forgot to blog about something else. Jane has actually asked me to be one of the emcees for her wedding dinner on the 3rd December! Hah! She's also asked me to do translation (English to Mandarin) for her! *double faint* Oh gosh, I've returned most of my Chinese to my JC tutor. Anyway, she's mentioned there'll be a script to follow. I'm not sure if I have to do the translation on my own or if there's a Chinese script ready for me to memorise. Sigh. Oh well, since I'm so free, I said 'okay' to her. I actually said 'okay'! LOL! Hoo hoo hah hah! That'll be the night when I make a fool out of myself! WEEP!
Okay, so there's another reason why I should get started on my gym routine. I really NEED to fit into my oh-so-lovely evening gown. I'd only worn it twice - at Vanessa's wedding and May's wedding. I really like this gown. I'd wanted to wear it for both my cousins' wedding last month but I was too FAT to fit into it. I still am. Sniff. I didn't realise I was so slim in the past. And I was always complaining I was fat back then. Me and my big mouth. ;(
Hm, I think I know what I'm going to do now to kill my boredom... =P
jOyZ blogged at 7:20 PM
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Friday, November 04, 2005
Crap
Okay, I know. It's really rare to see me blogging twice in a day.
I'm still in school, sitting at my junky table. It looks as if Hurricane Rita has just resurrected and visited my table. xI
Right now, I'm just waiting for 5.30pm to arrive. After that, it's movie time. It's crappy but Cheryl and I decided to go watch Sky High later in the evening. We just need something entirely brainless to watch.
I'm not sure if I should start packing my table now. Perhaps I should. 5 more days to the EL O Level papers anyway. I don't think anyone would need anything from me at this point in time except my marking and comments on their essays.
Alrighty then. Time to throw away one year accummulation of xxxxx. Hoho. Then again, how much can I really throw away in forty minutes? ;P
Choo choo!
jOyZ blogged at 4:36 PM
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Time To Gym Soon
I was just talking to Esther online and she mentioned she saw Jann last Friday at the gym. Hoho. Talk about getting inspired. I saw Jann only a few days back when we were all at Timothy and Christina's new place and I must admit she really has lost quite a bit of weight. She looks a lot toner too.
So now I guess it's time I should start my gym regime. I'm wondering if I should just start this weekend. I don't have the intention to join any classes at all. They are too complicating. Jogging on the treadmill is much simpler.
Right, so I'm supposed to meet Esther this coming Monday for a treadmill jog at Caltex House.
I wonder if I should start this weekend...
Gym this weekend...
Don't gym this weekend...
Gym this weekend...
Don't gym this weekend...
xI
jOyZ blogged at 9:52 AM
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Thursday, November 03, 2005
Random Thoughts
Two days of public holidays within a week. How often do we get that in Singapore? Heh, anyway, I'm sure many people (especially working adults) must have taken leave for Friday to have a really long weekend.
Well, nothing of the sort for a teacher in Singapore. Even though it's officially a school holiday for pupils in most Secondary schools and pre-university institutions, most of us teachers still have to work until the primary schools start their holidays. THEN, it's officially holidays for us. Then again, there's the staff retreat for my school and graduation dinner for the graduation pupils, so my holidays don't really start until 1st of December. Hm.
Anyway, I guess I'm just going to rot the whole day at home today. Being a public holiday and all, I'm sure it's crowded everywhere. My brother is still in hostel. My parents will be coming home soon after their usual morning walk.
It's rare, but I'm seriously bored. I'd wanted to strum on my guitar for a while but I realised I'd left it in school. =S
Oh, I was at Timothy and Christina's new place on Tuesday with Gina, Jann, Joey and Jocelyn. I hadn't seen the two kids for about a year I think and they've really grown a lot. Caleb is already two years old and walking. Eunice is really hyperactive, guffawing so much all the time that I got physically exhausted just by hearing her laugh. Haha. She remembered only Gina's name but she remembered all our faces. I think it's really not easy for a kid to remember names that all start with the letter 'J' - especially Jocelyn's and mine! LOL!
It was really comical to see the two kids running around the house. I think they're excited to have more space to run around in their new home. I don't remember wanting to run around so much when I was this young. Hoho.
Speaking of new homes, the estate where I'm presently living in is undergoing an en bloc sale. I'm not sure if the papers have been signed. But it seems the sale is pretty much confirmed. That means I'll be moving some time next year. I wonder where my new home will be. Hm...
Honestly, I'd like to get my own apartment. It's different from living under your parents' roof. Although there are quite a few benefits living together with the family, I'd really like to have a taste of independent living - doing my own laundry and dishes, cleaning up the house. Heck, maybe I'll just hire a maid to do that weekly even. Hm. That will mean increased monthly expenditure for sure - water and electricity bills, instalments for the apartment, payment for the weekly cleaning service and what not.
It doesn't sound too appealing, does it? But I don't think I will mind. If that is what I have to cope with to live independently, I'll do it! ;P
I probably have to start saving up for the downpayment, furniture and so on. Hm. I really hope to get my own apartment by 2010! Okay, that's one personal goal for me to work on now.
And there's driving. I stopped learning it like 5 years back because work at school was so hectic. Now that I'm getting the hang of the pace at work (more or less), I'm eager to pick it up again. I wonder if I still remember how to drive. Haha.
It's probably good timing. My parents are planning to sell off the present car and buy 2! Woo... 2 cars to share between my parents, brother and I. I guess when I move out, I'll hire a weekend car - that is, if I go out at all during the weekends. It's definitely much cheaper. =)
Yoh, I'm feeling really hungry. My parents are back and they didn't pack any lunch back. I don't know what my mom is doing in the kitchen. If she isn't cooking lunch for the family, I'll have to cook my own meal. I guess I'll just have to wait a while more and see. I think my parents just quibbled or something, so I'm going to steer out of their way until my stomach can't take it anymore.
I had lunch with Candice, Sherlyn, Melody and Pikie yesterday after work. Actually, Cheryl and I were planning to catch Chicken Little (which won't be out until 1 December) yesterday, but she still had work to do. At that point, I was looking for lunch company and decided to join the 4 girls, who were already at one of the eateries at River Valley waiting for their food to arrive. I was out of the school gates, hopping into a cab within 10 minutes. I was really famished, so I asked Melody to help me order my food first. By the time I got there, my plate of chicken rice was ready. Gosh, and Sherlyn and Pikie had already finished their first plate of rice. o_O!
Okay, I smell something really aromatic from the kitchen. I can't take it anymore! I hope it's lunch!
jOyZ blogged at 12:18 PM
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