and so we begin 2013.. what a journey 2012 has been! looking back at the year with its ups and downs and certainly there are lots to thank God for,it's hard to know where to start. there was the fear of losing our jobs in the early part of the year when the company had retrenchments, but thank God for his provisions! Also started my professional studies which took up a lot of weekends, glad I finally had that initiative to do it. Talked to a stranger for the first time, although I have not seen them again since the middle part of the year, glad that I overcame that fear. Glad that I talked more to mum this year, although more of it were iMessages, the best gift I've ever bought for her was the iPad, a much more effective means of communication these days. Continued my fitness regime this year by clocking 45 runs, including charity Run for the Kids with an average distance per run of about 8.3km, really proud that I kept it consistent, going to try and run 10k in 50 mins in 2013! Had parents visit melbourne and my house for the first time this year, a great time of family reunion at the wedding of a cousin. Learn to do some new dishes. New friendships forged and strengtened, trying to be a better friend in need this year, which I'm quite sure I did! Led more bible studies this year, although I've still got lots to improve. I've said it before last year as did the previous years but definitely 2012 has been a rollercoaster journey of emotions but it's ending on a happier note, I'm looking forward to an explosive 2013! lots more to things to achieve, lots more dreams to fulfill! Here's to 2013!

Saw my nephew for the first time!

Mum and dad in melbourne!

unforgettable gold coast trip!

ending the year with a bang - christmas party 2012

So, another year is passing, and another one is coming. As I look back upon the years since I’ve graduated, it just occurred to me how fast things have been moving, while I still seem stuck in the slow lane. I’ve seen friends come and go in that period. I’ve seen friends finding love, getting married, having kids. I’ve seen friends progressing in their career. Many questions to ask myself…

2011 was a year that started with so much hope, but is ending with much soul searching and unfulfilled expectations. Over this year I’ve ridden my fair share of frustrations – with people in particular. I’m guilty of obsessing over something that I should have let go, but I held on for some reason which I still struggle to understand. 2012 will be a new start in this respect. I’ve let emotions overtake my decisions in a lot of cases. I’ve struggled to muster the courage to do something I’ve put my thoughts on doing as a resolution for this year, and that is one huge failure I can’t get over with. I have seen opportunities pass and my lack of initiative has let me down.

But I guess I can take some positives too from the year. I did some things which I was not confident of doing before, and that was confronting in itself. I took the discipline to start a fitness regime which by now I feel is a successful venture. I manage to secure a place of my own. I dare say I kept in touch with some very dear and cherished friends. And I did get to know new people. It’s such a cliché to say that we tend to look and compare at what others have and complain about what we lack in comparison. But if I’m honest with myself I will have to say that I have been so richly blessed with a supportive family, a stable job, a good health for myself and family and freedom to do whatever I want in this marvelous and most livable city. Where God guides, He provides sufficiently.. Thanking God for the many blessings (and lessons) of 2011, and looking forward to a better 2012!

Hello world! I'm back after a long hiatus. Many things have happened indeed in the long months since i've 'disappeared'. But in all these things I have learned that people are sometimes unpredictable, and everything happens for a reason. God works in His time and in His discernment. I wish somehow that I could get my timings right (story of my life really), but also trusting in Him to work in wonderful ways while I work to get it right. In the dog eat dog world, so many times we hear about how to get rich, how to retire early.. but hey, one is rich not because of the money he owns or for the properties he has, but for the family and friends who love him because of what he is and not what he has. I'm truly blessed with the latter, and it is so easy to take those simple gifts for granted because we focus on what is, in the bigger scheme of things, trivial to say the least.

Just got back from a two week holiday in Malaysia and Singapore. Spent my birthday at home in I forget how many years. Was great that the whole family was back home , rare in fact... and somehow felt a bit weird because usually it is Chinese New Year that everyone is back home. Ate a lot as usual.. Somehow being back home brings a lot of perspective into how I see the future should be, and it certainly is true that the older you become the more there is to think about. hmmm..

Was in Bintulu as well to visit grandparent's grave.. something I've not done before. Was only an overnight stay but was indeed interesting to see the town being so different from when I was there a few years back.

After a few days in Kuching, off we went to Singapore!

I've been wanting to visit Singapore for a long time but has never bothered.. I guess this time with the opening of two new attractions there was no excuse to not visit. Was very impressed with the level of infrastructure especially the transport system there. And how the old seem to blend in with the new in Singapore. People still go to kopitiams and cornershops in suits and ties.. haha.

Met up with a few ocf-ers in Newton food centre too. Well that was one of the main reasons of visiting singapore really. Had a great time catching up with the few of them. Hearing about their adventures and also struggles in working life in singapore really sheds a perspective into my planning for the future too. Had a great morning breakfast with gb too and nice catchup session which was years overdue! glad that there are some friends which never grow apart eventhough there is a geographical disconnect.

Flight back to Melbourne was quite depressing. It always is after a holiday. Next day after that was back at work. Taking train to work has been a daily agenda. It's not too bad when you have a walking companion :)

Long weekend straight after... it's a once in a blue moon event, and I mean it literally. Went for service at lygon on friday, then dinner at red pepper in the city.. Played tennis on saturday , and had dinner at petaling st in hawthorn. Drove up to Belgrave on sun with nette. Speakers were really good as usual. It feels a bit quieter though, without PL in belgrave. hahaha.. after the evening service we drove back to city.. on the way got lost for a bit and ended up in Box Hill. HAHAHA.. but managed to find our way back to the freeway fortunately. Overall was quite happy that I made the trip even for a day.

On Monday, prepared my presentation for next week.. ahhh it's been such a hassle. It's been on my mind for so long.. I'm gonna go crazy just thinking about it. Wish I didn't have to do it.. I think I'm just gonna wing it in the end.. blahhhhh... ok.. long weekend coming to an end.. such is life..

I'm back again! the past week has been quite eventful. Work was pretty slow but interesting with the manufacturing rotation going on. Going to work at 7 and knocking off at 4, gives room to do something else after work. Cooked for e-nite, turned out quite good in fact. The turn out was good, and the skit and message was very good too. Food as usual was awesome.. On saturday, woke up early and went for a jog around the maribyrnong river. This time I managed a longer distance than previously .. I should keep the routine up. Because of my running, I was late to pick crystal up to go and buy stuff for the july camp fundraising lunch! Picked wl and caroline up and dumped thm at victoria market before going to pick crystal, then we went to KFL.. bought like 280 DOLLARS worth of groceries.. siao.. the funniest was when crystal was trying to speak to the butcher in mandarin.. lol.

After KFL we went to this garage sale for the tsunami appeal. The girls went crazy over there , some of the stuff were like 50 cents.. haha. Crystal bought a dress for 50 cents! goodness.. and then wl beat her by getting a 2 handbags for a dollar. Bought some cool hats too! Was quite happy with my $3 cowboy hat. hahaha..



after that we went to drop the stuff in church. Went to highpoint for a while after that to shop and then went home to do the sambal for my nasi lemak and also chop and marinate the chicken wings. Hands were so sore after chopping up 60 wings! haha..

in the evening, had sushi festival at sitcom house..

err.. sushi festival with lo sang. hahaa.. damn full after. Then helped to do the ikan bilis and nuts for the nasi lemak tomorrow. everyone was so tired afterwards.

Sent crystal and grace back and then went home to crash.. but it wasn't until 2am that I slept.. haha..woke up at 8am the next morning, went to pick crystal before going to church.. and we were early so to make ourselves useful..

We started preparing at 9am.. for the nasi lemak I just had to put the marinated chicken into the oven and cook the rice .. there were more to do for the chicken rice though. We were pretty relaxed in the kitchen... thought it would have been more frantic.. but in the end everything turned out very orderly .. I think coz some of us has had a lot of experience preparing food for many people before. The nasi lemak turned out better than I expected.. some of the aunties even complimented my sambal! haha.. I can say I'm a true malaysian now. lol..

Was kinda worried that the sambal won't be enough but apparently the nasi lemak rice ran out so fast even faster than the chicken.

After the lunch, the painful cleanup began.. but was made a bit livelier with crystal's remark that we had to clean the esky "with a mop".

so there you go, it was quite a productive and fun weekend! looking forward to next weekend of going back to malaysia!

well, dipso just reminded me that I haven't updated my blog for a while so yeah.. here I am typing away on what has been an interesting year so far.

After new zealand things were pretty slow at the office, so it's an opportunity to chill out a bit.. Have been taking public transport to work in anticipation of the office move to docklands. Nice walks with my colleague to the station has been a thing to look forward to. other than that, I've also travelled to Rockhampton for a week for training. First time in a fokker plane after so long.. absolutely hated the weather there, muggy and sticky - kinda reinforcing my belief of not returning to Msia in the short term.. Don't know how i'll handle the weather there, being so used to dry and cold Melbourne.

Long weekend was a welcome break.. had to take the friday off because of company moving to Docklands.. had lunch with housemate and then went to ocf at night.. Saturday was a day for myself, then on Sunday had supper at pancake parlour. hanged out at brother's house for a time after that which was like at 2am..lol. on monday, went for a jog around the river here, something which I've promised myself to do for over a year.. glad that I finally got to do it! but I only ran half of the circuit and was already out of breath..hahah. after cooking for lunch, went shopping for baby products for my sis.. Didn't know raising a baby would be so confusing and so.. expensive! we were amazed at how expensive it was.. after that came back and later on went to Moomba fest. Took a while to find parking and when we did, had to run to watch the fireworks coz we literally had 1 minute left. The fireworks made it all worth it though. after that met up w net te who was with her cousin then walked to the other side of the river to play games, but alas, the shops were closing by the time we reached there. A long walk back to the car and nervous ride back home as 6 people squeezed into the car.. haha. So there you go,a long and pleasant weekend it was indeed..

Going back to work at a new office and a new view.. it was a pleasant change! I don't really like where I sit though, so far removed from the team. but good thing is that boss can't see when I'm slacking ! haha..

Hello again peeps. I've spent the last 2 months in Auckland working. It was an incredible experience - lots of long hours at work and lots learned - particularly enjoyed spending time getting to know my colleagues and having a bit of a laugh amidst the work. In fact I found that I actually love on-site work, much so because it's less stressful than the office and you get to goof around little bit. Haha..

Got to drive around a bit to see the places amidst the work.. I only had 7 days off in 2 mnths there but made the most of the days off to go and see a bit of the sights. went to rotorua after the first commissioning weekend. It was a nice touristy place with great scenery and a unique odor.
Went also to One Tree Hill. the famous hill U2 sang about in the song of the same name. Went to Bay of Plenty too which was great with all the dolphins and all. New Year's eve was great, we went to Monsoon Poon, a thai-indian restaurant for dinner, then to the casino, played some pool and watched fireworks from the skytower. After new year, work was a drag though coz I was working night shifts in the tunnel..interesting experience nevertheless.

auckland was such a refreshing experience.. but now I can't seem to get used to office work. oh well. one good thing was that I got to know more of the people in the company which is good coz in the office it's always just work work work. and more work.

I realized that in 2010 I've been in 3 different countries - Japan, Australia and NZ. missed out on doing a recap at the end of last year. It was such a dreamy year in fact. Hung out closely with a group of people I wouldn't expect to hang out closely with at the start of the year. Sometimes life throws you pleasant surprises I guess.

I'm kinda still tired from the trip as you can see from my unorganized thoughts. More later. Oh - new year resolution - mumble less, speak up more.