6 Months Crossover

Today marks the day where I crossed over my 6 month duration at SNEF. It has been quite an experience so far, good and bad. I have seen a lot more about people, learnt a lot more about a whole new nature of work and developed myself into a better individual and employee.

Looking back, I wouldn't trade my slightly higher salary and work at StarHub for this job that I am doing right now. Not that this job is easy... in fact, it is MUCH tougher than my job at StarHub... but I have learnt so much that my 1 year plus with StarHub didn't and couldn't give me.

Back there, it was a very specialized area of work, yet ultimately still administrative and routine work. Reflecting back, it was as if my KPI was focused primarily on efficiency and speedy admin processing. Totally unlike my current job at SNEF, I find it almost totally the opposite.

Right now, my job nature fluctuates in many ways... even the very admin documents that we use can have variations of all sorts, depending on the nature of situation. The work is ever changing. No one piece of work is identical. It just cannot be... coz if not, that wouldn't be called project work. That would be called paper work.

In short, nothing is as you expect it to be. And the key to doing as best as I can, is to be able to think fast, be resourceful, learn how to build positive relationships, adapt flexibly to changes, think one or even two steps ahead, find opportunities to leverage and plan effectively to get work done (not just blindly do). To succeed in this area of work would mean becoming a 'Jack of all Trades', not a 'Master of One'.

What interests me about this job is the vast network of working relationships that I have to establish as part of doing my job. Like I have recently started telling my colleague under me, "We cannot be Rambo in this job. We must learn to leverage to get things done. We cannot work alone and do everything by ourself."

I think this is very true. As much as I enjoy watching Rambo... there are some jobs which does not call for a Rambo. Rambo is good, in fact very good... but Rambo does not fit in everywhere and with everyone.

I am thankful for my job, though not all is perfect about everything about it. We can't have the best of both worlds all the time. But at least I am glad that what I learnt can be transferred to any industry, unlike solely in Telco where its so specialized. In this job, the skills and experience that I pick up is valuable, applicable and marketable. Besides, I don't like routine work either... =)

The 61st Percentile

Joel shared with me at church this morning that the results for last Sunday's New Balance REAL Race has been released! I was excited to come home after church to check my results online. It turned out that I was position 1874 out of 3041 runners that completed the race!

I didn't know whether this is something to be happy about, coz in all my years of competitive running, I have never been in a position that comprise of 4 digits! It was shocking... but I knew that I did not train for this race, so it was already encouraging that I am in the 61st percentile of all the runners in the 'male open' category.

I made up my mind to train for next year's race and aim for below 1500th position and with a timing of below 1 hour. With a timing of 1 hr 11 mins and 17 secs without training, I am sure that I can better this timing! Hopefully this time, Rebecca can come and support me... and maybe take a few photos too... =)

Record Breaking Working Saturday

I experienced a personal record breaking working Saturday this week! For the first time, I worked from 8:45am till 4:10pm, without even having lunch! Yeah... I was that busy... and by 4pm, I decided that I should leave the office coz I was tired... my working hours almost equaling that of a typical full work day.

I still remember looking at my two pieces of paper, in which I had written down my whole list of things to do this coming new week... and it amounted to 32 tasks! Can you imagine?! I really have to plan to finish as much as I can... though it realy is quite a ton of work to do... God, pls help me...

My First Durian Prata!

Rebecca brought me to this coffee shop near her home this evening and I tasted my first ever durian prata! It was delicious! My eyes just closed in enjoyment as I tasted the warm durian melt inside my mouth, as I chewed on the soft and crisp prata! For $2, it was still worth the satisfaction! Not everyday, of coz... but it tasted so good! Wow! =)

High Tech Taxi Aunty

I boarded a taxi home tonight and came across this lady taxi driver who semi-shocked and impressed me throughout the 10 min journey. What amazed me was this interesting attribute about her - for the age of about 50s, she was really informed about IT stuff! It was astonishing!

My jaw just dropped when she started telling me about her hobby to scan and print colour photos! She shared with me about which brand of printer is good, how to choose a printer, how much does the printer cost and how expensive is that particular brand's printer ink! She even told me that she is considering going to the upcoming PC fair at Expo to buy this discounted 6-in-1 electronics gadget that can scan, fax, print, etc!

She went on to say that she got to know this person at Sim Lim Square when she went there to buy blank CD-Rs and even got his name card to look him up at the PC fair! Plus, she knows where to buy a $30+ 512MB thumbdrive too!

As if all these had not shocked me, hearing this coming from a 50 over year old lady... she even told me that she had took up a course to learn how to use Photoshop and Video making software! Stunning! I can't believe that she is this age... some women at this age don't even know how to use a PC or a video tape recorder! I am impressed!

Enterprising!

My brother recently shared with me that he had created a website by himself to sell soccer jerseys and shorts! I was amazed at this effort and his enterprising characteristic! I never thought that he would set up an online website to pursue an interest! Remarkable... I am so impressed with him. =)

For me, I still feel that my interest and joy lies in writing, especially when it comes to sharing inspiring testimonies or biographical real-life accounts. My aspiration is to be able to write books that stir and impact the hearts of many around the world. But I haven't really got much idea how I am going to do that, or for that matter... what I should write about that people who do not know me, would want to read and find out more. Hmm... maybe over time I would discover... I hope so...

Yawnin' & Tossin'

Melvin has grown more customed to me. He doesn't try to leap away when I hold him in one hand and try to 'sayang' him with my other hand. That's a good improvement... =)

He's a fascinating hamster! Within the same night when I brought him home to his new cage, he was able to climb up and down the circular tunnel that leads upward! He's not afraid to explore different places in this new cage, attempting to sleep at a few spots... though he is still cautious when I reach forward with my hand to let him smell.

I'm glad that he is able to recognize my smell... and I play with him by tossing the fluffy bedding over his head and watch him flick it away as it falls down on him... like falling snow! =)

One percular traitmark of his - he likes to toss and turn himself inside the sandbath every day! Very hygienic hamster! Indeed! Another traitmark of his - he has a habit of yawning quite often. I don't know whether he's really sleepy... or just lazy as a one month old new born 'child'. But he's cute!

Strangely, I feel a sense of paternal instinct when I care and watch over Melvin. He's like a 'son' to me. Maybe its a slow build-up towards fatherhood for me... in several years time... who knows... =)

Welcome Melvin!

After a few weeks of wait, I finally received my new baby hamster! It was given to me by Rebecca's colleague who keeps like a whole bunch of them at her office desk. I gave him the name 'Melvin'. At first I thought 'Jimmy' was a nice name. It still is... but it may sound a bit cheapskate... or casual... so I decided to call him 'Melvin' instead.

Melvin is still a baby, about one month old. Still very small and looks so cute! The most striking feature is his eyes! So innocent and childlike! Well, it is still a baby. When I first carried him, he felt so light! I can’t even estimate what his weight is… Maybe 2 grams or something like that. Hahahaha… =)

I hope Melvin will soon grow to get used to his new cage and my smell. As it is, he is still too small to crawl up and down the tunnel. But I am sure he would be able to soon… now he’s all cuddled up inside the little pink box asleep! Hee!

Becky’s Loveable Trademark

Rebecca has a special trademark which holds very dear to my heart. Sometimes she says things that just make me smile! Like when she saw my 4 mini tummy ‘tires’ and said, “Must cut down leh! Don’t become like a car…” *Laugh*. How can I not find her so cutely loveable… =)

Mispronunciation Once Again…

I am not sure if this would sound like an insult to the brand ‘Carlberg’, but Rebecca misheard my pronunciation and thought I said ‘Cow’s Burp’! =)

Sentosa Is Not Flat!

Yup, it is a painful lesson to learn… not that I didn’t know this before I signed up for the New Balance REAL Run that was held this morning at Sentosa. Except that I didn’t expect it to be that bad… or should I say, challenging. Extremely challenging. Definitely not for the faint hearted. Or those who have not run consistently for at least a couple of months.

After spending a wonderful Saturday afternoon with Rebecca, I returned home on the bus, thinking how it would be like the next day. I had to wake up early and to reach Sentosa by 7am. Rebecca kidded with me that her gut feeling told her that she would see me in church the next day coz I had woken up late. But I was determined not to let that happen.

Yet, as I sat there on the bus, I thought to myself if that determination was enough to see me through the race. After all, I was very, very unprepared. Through the stirring of my heart after listening to Joel share about this upcoming cross-terrain race at Sentosa, I decided to take a step of faith to sign up for it.

It has been a rather long 6 years since I returned to competitive running… but something inside compelled me to sign up. It was like a small mini fire still burning inside to want to be the best that I can be, in the sport which I had been in, throughout school and in the Army. Not about winning, but about putting myself to the test. A personal challenge, in other words.

But I was unprepared. Really unprepared. It was a late sign-up for the race. Just one month before. And I had stopped running for a long time, except the occasional jog like once a month. This time I had only 4 weeks to train, but I only ran twice, for a mere 5 km at each time. This is nonsense to prepare for a 10 km cross terrain race, with undulating road, jungle trail and beach sand!

I have been so tired out from work each day… often even dozing on the bus home until I woke up to realize that I had missed my bus stop. Once in awhile, I would wake up to notice that the bus had reached the airport! With this kind of fatigue, I just couldn’t bring myself to change into my running attire to go down for a jog… much less a run… and even much less for a timed run. Furthermore, my digital watch (with timer) had died several months back, so I didn’t have a watch either. Thinking back, I can’t imagine how unprepared I was for this race.

It is a painful lesson to learn that determination is important, yet not the only ingredient needed to achieve our aim. Just like how I learnt from my break-up with my ex-GF many years ago. It was also a painful lesson that faithfulness is not enough to sustain a relationship. These lessons have been painful, but I thank God for bringing me through.

The alarm sounded at 5:55am this morning… but I lay in bed till 6:05am. I had only slept for 4 and ½ hours. And that is already a bad start to a race day. As I lay on my bed, I realized that I was sleepy, but not feeling tired. Maybe it was inner adrenalin that made me feel that I wasn’t tired. But it is difficult to tell when I had just woken up from sleep. Yet what was holding me back was the worry of how I would go through this tedious race. I had set myself with two goals – one is to complete the race, and two is to finish it under 90 minutes. Sounds reasonable, but I wasn’t so sure about it.

After a quick wash-up, I changed into my running attire and knelt down for a short few seconds of prayer to commit the event to God… then I went downstairs to flag a cab. One passed by immediately and I got in. Inside the taxi, I prayed about the race again, as well as for Rebecca. She is one sweet darling to me. I thought about her more than the race… which I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad. Or maybe both thoughts are important – the race and Rebecca. I had persuaded her to sleep more and not come to support me at the race.

It was a quiet ride all the way into Sentosa, with the expected traffic jam nearing the causeway bridge to Sentosa. The taxi driver got lost inside Sentosa, as both of us didn’t know where exactly the car park is. So I stopped to ask a road marshal before getting back into the taxi.

As I reached the gateway car park, I walked into a familiar feeling. One that I had felt since my secondary school days. Adrenalin pumping mood before a race. But this time the feeling was a bit different. What I felt was the adrenalin from those gathering at the waiting area near the starting point. For me, I held more worry than adrenalin for the race. My mind kept hounding me with thoughts that I was unprepared. I could not push those thoughts aside coz it was true. And I had to admit that. But I was feeling well… and it was really an act of courage to follow through with my personal challenge.

The place was filled with fit-looking individuals from the NS Home Team (Police, Civil Defence, etc) as well as from the SAF, Navy, polytechnics and corporate companies. Being previously from the SAF Logistics formation team (Yeah, I was fit back then), I recognized one or two of them who trained with me, once or twice in the past. One of them was this woman who was a major in the SAF. But I don’t think any of them recognized me. But it doesn’t matter… coz my SAF competition days were over anyway.

Walking and looking around the place made me feel like a extra-terrestrial (E.T.) coz so many looked fit, especially the Malay and Indian runners. I didn’t know whether to find it encouraging or intimidating. Or maybe it was both... but slightly more on the intimidating side.

I was so anxious about whether I could complete the race that I didn’t warm up much. In fact, to be really honest, I felt weird warming up! *Laugh* Fancy hearing that from a previous competitive runner of 8 years! Yeah, I really mean it. It just felt so strange stretching for a run. I knew the type of stretches that I should be doing, but I didn’t do them all coz my mind was too preoccupied about the fear of the unknown terrain.

As if the words ‘road’, ‘trail’ and ‘sand’ didn’t sound scary enough… I made the 4th mistake that any competitive runner should not make – not even seeing the route that I was going to run. The map provided was not very clear to me… or maybe it’s because I seldom go to Sentosa. But even so, the map doesn’t say much about how to plan my run for that day. It was a 2D map which doesn’t even say anything about the degree of slope of the terrain!

I jogged a little to warm up my legs before I moved to gather with the mass of runners near the starting point. It was then that I realized my 5th mistake that I should not have made. I was utterly dehydrated! I haven’t been drinking much water for the past week! In my conscious anxiousness, I had forgotten that my lips were almost totally dry. Argh! So I took a quick sip of water from this 100 plus cup at the nearby water point. I thought it was 100 plus, but it turned out to be water. Sigh…

Standing in the midst of a few hundred runners, it started to feel sweaty from each other’s body heat. But it didn’t matter… I was sure that I would sweat even more once I started running. Soon the horn blew and the first group of runners went off. They were the men and women junior runners, mostly from primary or secondary school. Shortly after they had left, the horn blew again for the rest of the open category runners to begin our race.

Typical as the Sheares Bridge run, we would start by walking coz it takes time for the mass of people to clear up by running forward. And soon I began running. I decided to take a regular pace, which I did, but soon I started to feel tired. The road is not easy to run coz there are slopes and the worse is the upward slopes. By the first half of the first slope, I was tired out already. In my mind, I was thinking how on earth, would I be able to run this sort of race! The normal flat is already tough… must less this one! I huffed and puffed, worse than the wolf who tried to blow the straw houses down. As it is, my huffs and puffs were already so shallow… I don’t think any straw house would even fall down.

The down-slope is easier, especially since I learnt how to increase my stride while I was in competitive running many years back. In fact, I managed to overtake quite a lot of runners using this technique. In my heart, I was smiling, wondering if they didn’t know this technique. But (yes, there is always this word ‘but’) increasing my stride tired me out even more, coz running downwards faster means increasing my heart-beat, which is not very fit to start with.

By the time I reached the Golf Course, I was already in semi-running pace due to the tiredness. As I reached the loop, I saw a few Indian runners speeding ahead, legs flying like the wind… almost sprinting. I thought to myself, wow… these fellas must have trained for years! So I did some mental calculation to distract myself from the tiring run. At the pace they were going, they were aiming to finish the 10 km in about half an hour! I knew that was possible coz I have seen it happen before. In fact, even during my school days, I have seen young athletes completing their 5 km run in 15 minutes! Yes, I was shocked.

Very soon, my pace became jogging pace. I just couldn’t keep up anymore. More and more runners passed me, but I just couldn’t propel myself forward any faster than my legs are already carrying me. Furthermore, my mouth was feeling very dry and I wondered if I must have missed the 1st water point, as the beach came into sight.

As I reached the beach, I found myself stumbling in the sand, not used to the feeling at all. It has been many years since I ran on the sand. I mean, why should I be doing this often when I wasn’t training for any competition? Running on sand is a sure way of draining out your efforts very fast coz there is no way to apply pressure on the front of your feet to push your body forward. Your momentum just sinks in, each time as my feet also sunk in.

Soon, I couldn’t take it anymore and slowed down into a walk… but still trying to walk as fast as I could. As tired as I was, at times I would smile when I found myself brisk walking almost as fast as the slower runners who are still trying to run on the sand. Yet… my quiet smile soon faded, as more and more runners overtook me. Believe me; it is demoralizing to be found walking, while almost everyone else is running past you. My huffs and puffs got heavier as I pushed my body forward; wondering when on earth would this sand distance end.

As I trotted along, I realized that the sand at Sentosa beach is very different from the sand that I used to run at East Coast beach. The sand at East Coast is coarse and hard (often in clumps), thus making it less difficult to run. This sand at Palawan beach is different! It is fine, soft and literally ½ of my shoe sinks in, at every step I take! It was almost impossible to propel using my back-foot lift technique either.

After a much tiresome effort, I reached the end of the sand route, feeling totally drained out. Those runners who were walking at the sand route had begun running coz it was now the trail route, through the jungle (or should I call them a mass of trees). But I was totally gone by now… jogging a bit, then walking a lot more. I felt like it was a walk-a-jog, rather than a cross-terrain run. When I saw that I had only reached the 5.5 km mark, my heart just sank. Literally lost of hope and wondering how I am going to go on like this… 4.5 km more leh! Siao liao lah.

Thereafter, I reached a water point (which I seriously think it was the 2nd water point after I had missed the 1st one). I slowed down to grab a cup, feeling shy and avoiding the look from the water point helpers; afraid that they would see my worn out and pale face… which I believe was already looking the way I felt it was.

I saw that same light green 100 Plus cup and wondered if it was again another trick of water. But to my delight, it was 100 Plus! YES! I never felt so refreshed! 100 Plus tasted better than water! Another mistake that I made, the 6th mistake, which is to drink down the water fast. This is one terrible mistake coz this method of drinking would soon cause stitches if I continue running, which was what I was supposed to do anyway. After all, it was a water point, not the finishing line. But I didn’t have a choice! I was drained!

Now that my thirst was semi quenched, I continued my jog, trying to pace myself so that I won’t get stitches. Surprisingly, I didn’t get any! Wow! But with more and even more crowds of runners passing by, and poor me still walking from exhaustion, it just couldn’t get anymore demoralizing than this.

Soon, with my eyes staring blankly in front, I began to get used to people overtaking me. It had become a trend by now. However hard I tried, people still overtook me. It didn’t make a difference. But the truth is, there wasn’t much that I could try anyway. My strength was spent. Furthermore, my body started to feel hot… and I found myself beginning to reach a point of heat exhaustion. My head was feeling warm, rather feverish and body was heating up from the lack of water and strain from exertion. I felt terrible… but trudged onward at a slow pace. I just set my mind on finishing the race.

Strangely, it was like I had begun to see all these from within my eyes. Like I was watching myself run, while many runners overtook me. It was like a quiet reflection, in the midst of a totally beat-out body. I looked at my watch and it showed that I had been running for about 40 minutes… still a long way to go… and worse thing is – I can’t see how far I have left to go! I don’t even know how the route is like! I was not prepared… and what made me feel worse was that I knew all that I knew to prepare for this. But I didn’t do it. Both because I was tired out from work and I had lost the momentum in running already.

The trail route ended and my heart leaped, wondering if I was nearing the finishing line. By now, I had walked more than I jogged… which was terribly demoralizing for an ex-runner. Then I saw it… I saw it… but it was not the finishing line… it was the sight of another beach! Oh no!

My heart groaned at every step that I took, trotting as fast as I could along the sand. Just that this time, I didn’t have the will to run or jog anymore. I just wanted to walk out of this sand and get onto the main road. And even so, walking on this stumbling sand was killing me… I couldn’t even walk straight! It was terribly demoralizing to see and hear small little boys (as road marshals) cheering us along. I couldn’t even lift my head to look at them. I was too tired and too embarrassed. As I gazed to my left, I saw some smart runners who decided to get their shoes wet by running on the edge of the beach coz the sand was firmer there. But I was too tired to change direction. I just wanted to finish the race.

My head was still feeling feverish, but I knew that it wasn’t the sun coz it was only 8:45am! I struggled on, silently praying in my heart that God would help me. But no strength came… or at least I didn’t feel that there was much. But I steeled myself to go on, even if I was walking.

As I reached the end of the sand route, I prayed in my heart that there would not be another one of these sand routes. I gulped down another cup of 100 Plus at the 3rd and final water point… and continued my slow jog and walk. This time I was too tired out until I got stitches. Can you believe it? Brisk walk also can get stitches! My first time, I think! Thankfully, it was a small stitch, so I could keep going.

Reaching the final road path, the road marshals announced that we had reached the last 2 km to the finishing line. At this time, my heart couldn’t leap in joy anymore coz I was literally moving on my body on subconscious motion, but my mind wasn’t there already. My mind was just full of tiredness.

Suddenly, I thought about Rebecca, which gave me a little bit of strength. But it soon wavered, as I wondered if it was good that she didn’t come to support me. At least she won’t see me in such a pitiful state. I slowed down to a walk again, wondering how many countless times had I stopped to walk already. This was when I realized that my heart was weaker than my legs coz whenever I began to jog again, my stride was still maintainable at jogging pace… but my heart was burning inside.

No more water point already. Great. But I was too tired to bother already. I saw many semi-bald uncles running past me, as well as young women who looked fit. I felt so ashamed. At one point of time, I wanted to distract myself from the pain and tiredness by looking and admiring some of their slim and fit legs. But I decided to stop that and focus on the remaining distance left.

I heard the announcement of 1 km. YES! I started to jog, but stopped again after about 20m. My body couldn’t go on anymore. So I walked till I heard the road marshal announce that it was the last 500m to the finishing line. I gritted my teeth and vowed to myself that I was jog finish the last 500m without stopping anymore. Come on, Matthew… I thought to myself… at least give yourself this chance to regain a little respect for yourself by finishing this last 500m without stopping. Please! So off I went… and with a loud grunt, I ran as fast as I could at the last 50m towards the finishing line! Finish!

I was absolutely beat, as I walked to collect my goodie bag. I couldn’t see Joel or Jacob around, so I sat down by myself to pour out the sand from my shoes. Now that’s the difference between East Coast sand and Sentosa sand. Sentosa sand is so fine that gets into your shoes! And I was carrying sand inside my shoes since the first beach that I encountered during the race. So there I was, sitting down and pouring out the sand from both Palawan and Siloso beach. *Laugh*.

Suddenly my left leg stiffened, followed by a shearing pain shooting up my left calf! I gritted my teeth, recognizing it as a cramp due to an over-stretched muscle. Yeah, what could I expect from this sort of run? The pain was terrible as I sat down winching in pain for almost 3 minutes! My face showed PAIN and I wondered if anyone was watching. I gripped my left calf and squeezed hard to numb the pain, but it didn’t go away… not at least until a few minutes later.

What a relief! I could walk again, but this time with a small limp. And this limp continued till now… half a day later, even after my 4 hour nap. I had indeed pulled my left calf muscle. Over-strained. It may take 1 – 2 days to recover. Argh. But all in all, I was glad to complete the race. And I did achieve my 2nd aim as well… to complete under 90 minutes… which I did… in 70 minutes! Truly was a challenge. But I won’t go into such a race without training, ever again. Spare myself the agony… and the abrasion that I had from the run. But it was a good experience… =)

Chiseled Bodywork!

I was flipping through my brother’s 8 Days magazine, when I came across this fantastic photograph of Vincent Ng! Just looking at his chiseled body makes me wonder how hard he had to work to keep it this way. Surely it’s not only through his Kung-Fu training… definitely has to include gym training as well. I am just so impressed!

It made me wonder if this is something that I want… which to some extent, I do. Yet, apart from the required genetics, the cost of building and maintaining such bodywork is too high (for me). It’s far too much discipline required.

But still, I would try to exercise as regularly as I can… and through it, to build a stronger body, as well as also to look good for Rebecca! She tries to look good for me too… What a girl! =)

My First Sentosa X-Terrain Challenge

Yup, its this coming Sunday! And Rebecca's coming to support me too! Yippee! =)

Chamomile Allergy

About two weeks ago, Rebecca and I went for a drink at a café after dinner at Parkway Parade. It was our first time there and we decided to try out the different types of tea available on the menu.

Preferring to keep to familiarity, I chose my favorite peppermint tea. Rebecca would usually be the one who likes to try something different, so I recommended her to try Chamomile tea, which I read that it helps a person to relax.

It turned out that she didn’t like it coz it tasted like water… which I agreed after tasting it. So we shared my peppermint tea instead.

To much of our surprise, over the next few days, Rebecca started to develop allergic symptoms. After doing some internet research, she discovered that her allergic symptoms match that which was stated in the website!

So now we know… Rebecca can be allergic to Chamomile tea (though I wasn’t). But no matter, she didn’t like its taste anyway. =)

Believer Music Initiative

I have been pondering about this for a long time, ever since last year, I think. It is about this prompting that I get almost every time when I am immersed in worship to the Lord. It is a prompting to learn to play the guitar, so that I can serve in the area of ministry when called upon, be it in the newly formed Discovery Group for new believers, in the upcoming adults Basic Accountability Group (BAG) and / or even in the near future, as part of family time worship after Rebecca and I are married… hopefully with children of our own.

This example of family time is picked up from Rebecca’s Dad who initiated this with his family, every Sunday night. It is basically a sharing session about the morning’s sermon and prayer for each other. I think it is a great way to bring the family close together and I intend to do this for my own family in future too. I think it would also be a testimony to our neighbors; who knows, they may even be curious to want to join in, if they are also a Christian family, or may be interested to find out more, if they are pre-believers!

This prompting took a stronger ‘push’ after I came back from this year’s church camp. I still don’t comprehend how or why, but this prompting just grew stronger after I returned back to Singapore, being more in tuned with the heart of God. Although since then, I have had my struggles with keeping in step with God, I am just so thankful that God has repeatedly brought me back to His presence, when I humbly come to seek Him.

Saturday was the last session of the ALPHA course. It so happened that I asked the speaker Then Chee Ming about how and where I can go to learn how to play the guitar… and he confirmed my decision to take up a course at Believer Music. It has different levels of guitar classes, starting from the beginner class. It is held once a weekday evening and the cost of 8 sessions (beginner class) is $160. It’s fairly costly, but I am committing it to God.

Thus, after many months of juggling with this prompting, I decided that this is a step of faith that I have to take, and commit it to the Lord, if it is His plan for me to serve in this area. I have learnt through my life that sometimes it is about stepping up to give it a try, before I can know if this is where my area of ministry lie.

God, please help me, as I commit this to you. Amen.

Our Visit to HDB Hub

On Saturday, Rebecca and I met up for an early breakfast at Burger King, before heading towards HDB Hub at Toa Payoh. I really love eating the croissant! It’s the only food item that sets BK apart from the other fast food restaurants!

It was indeed a fresh and enjoyable experience touring around HDB, looking at the miniature architectural flat designs, before checking out the show flats for the upcoming Build-To-Order (BTO) show flats at Fern Vale at the Habitat Forum.

Both of us felt like we were about to get married soon, which we really hope so, once we managed to secure a good flat. It was an interesting and fresh new experience of looking and discussing different types of flat layouts, types of floor tiles, wall colors, furniture ideas, bathroom designs, taking photos… and even to the details of what color should our toilet bowl be, etc. =)

Thereafter, we met up with Uncle John and the rest to attend the last session of the ALPHA course. It was a good time, though some of us dozed a bit due to tiredness. Later, I joined Rebecca’s family for dinner before proceeding back to her home to apply for the BTO flat online.

I really like the way Rebecca asked, “Am I fiancé?” So cute and innocent! So I smiled and said that yes, I regard her as my fiancé. Yeah, coz the online application form asked for the status of the co-applicant of the flat. Hee! It feels good to acknowledge each other as our soon-to-be fiancé! We have really come far… Thank You, Lord.

Oh… and we can’t wait for the premarital counseling course to start on 17th September! The day before my birthday! Wow! =)

Fueling Perpetual Sinful Desires

Recently, it came to my realization that magazines are a very strong source of temptation and corruption of the mind. Not that I never realized this before, but this came as an ADDED realization that it is not just a source of temptation, (especially since visual stimulation is a very, very common struggle almost everywhere that we look) but a CONTINUOUS source of temptation.

It dawned upon me that there are so many different kinds of magazines, mostly carrying similar themes of fashion craze, sex appeal, etc. This is exceptionally strong in the area of sex appeal. I feel that this is really an evil coz it increases the chances of sin, especially among men.

As if the tendency to sin has not already increased rapidly over the years, (especially since the beginning of the Internet), now we have even more varieties of magazines carrying all sorts of titles and some even couriered from all sorts of foreign countries!

It is really terrible for it really feeds on the craving of men, and worse of all, increase the appetite for more… and even more. One magazine isn’t enough; soon he will want to buy two magazines… then maybe three. Instead of a monthly magazine of one title, it becomes two magazines of different titles! These unwholesome magazines just continue to feed and feed the corruption of the human mind. I am just so irritated by it. As if it is not difficult enough to resist and flee from temptation already… and people are still adding more!

What I discovered recently, is that some of these stylists and photographers are actually female! I was disgusted at the idea that females are asking females to pose in certain ways to tempt or attract men… or worse still, other women. That’s so urgh! Instead of recognizing that women have a part to play in changing this stigmatizing of their bodies, they are joining in with men to increase this all the more! I really can’t bear to think any more… or how worse the future would be…

It is such an ugly world. God must be so hurt… Dear Lord, please help us to live lives that are pleasing unto You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Umizaru 2

One year ago, I coincidently stumbled upon this VCD titled ‘Umizaru’ at VideoEzy and decided to borrow it. It was a story about the Japan Coast Guard training school whereby rookie divers are trained to become elite rescue divers.

Before I watched this show, I have never watched a Japanese movie that could stir my heart so much. I really must commend the movie director of Umizaru for such a superb script! The choices of soundtracks were excellent too.

On Friday, after celebrating our 62nd month with Rebecca, we agreed to watch the recent sequel ‘Umizaru 2’. This time the movie script was fabulous! Though it had its new addition of corny jokes, we were very touched by the story, especially during moments that so grip our hearts, as we clenched our hands together.

Needless to say, this movie has become a hit in Japan, grossing stunning amount of profits in just the first few weeks of the launch. Why am I not surprised? Hee! The movie director has proven himself once again. Umizaru is indeed a distinct portrayal of courage, determination and camaraderie. Rebecca was so moved by the show that she wanted to buy it to show to her primary school students! Me too! I can’t wait to buy the DVD!

Our Happy 62nd Month!

On Friday evening, Rebecca and I celebrated our 62nd month of being together! It was a quiet night and we met up at Grand Cathay for a simple dinner (my treat) at Ya Kun, followed by watching the movie ‘Umizaru 2’.

Somehow, since two months ago when we progressed into our 5th year together, our passion and love for each other only seemed to grow stronger, especially after we got the blessings from both our parents. I don’t know how to explain it.

Even though there are times we have our quarrels or issues to clarify, we are still committed to love each other and work it out together. And that evening, gazing into each others’ eyes seemed such a loving thing to do. I couldn’t help but gaze into the gentle eyes of this woman with whom I have spent the last 5 years of my life, ever since that day that we decided to commit to each other in a relationship.

Perhaps the common trend is that couples enjoy gazing into each other eyes right from the beginning of their courtship, and this gradually decreases over the months and years. Not that eyes gazing is such a great must-have for any loving relationship, but I personally find it so strange that I didn’t start with eye gazing since the beginning of my relationship with Rebecca. But instead, it is AFTER 5 years that I start to realize how quietly assuring it is, to gaze into her eyes, after going through so much together in these past 5 years.

It’s been 62 months already, but it still doesn’t feel enough. Looking back, I can’t help but marvel at how far we have come in our relationship together… and how distinctly my soon-to-be fiancée has grown and matured from a girl into a woman.

Through her, God has changed and molded much of me too… and it is superbly clear enough to both of us, to see a distinct change since the day we came into each others’ lives. God is so wonderful… she is indeed my 3rd greatest blessing in life! (First is my salvation through Jesus Christ, and second is my parents’ upbringing and supporting me while I was young)

A Joyful National Day!

A few days ago, I was telling Rebecca that I was feeling down because she and her family had been invited to a relatives gathering on National Day (Morning till night). I was not invited and thus was feeling down as I would be celebrating my long awaited public holiday (which so happened to be National Day) bored and probably alone.

Little did both of us know, while I was sending her home after dinner on Tuesday night, her brother called to tell me the good news that Aunty Bessie had called to invite me along! Yay!

I arrived at the Block 85 market slightly earlier the next morning, so that I could eat the delicious nasi lemak, before heading to Rebecca’s home. It was a happy time chatting with her family members, especially since last week when her parents approved of Rebecca and I getting married. Indeed, things have never been the same since then. Yippee!

With the 6 of us in total, Uncle John and I took a bus there, while the others took a taxi. It was a good time of sharing and getting to know each other better through the 40 minutes bus journey. And I sensed a greater openness, now that I have received Rebecca’s parents’ blessings to marry their daughter. I just can’t express how relieved and thankful for God’s hand in this!

The gathering began with an afternoon BBQ which was rather draggy, though we were thankful coz the sun wasn’t blazing with all its might. At times, cloudy skies can be a good thing! =) I am a person who can’t stand extreme temperatures, be it too sweaty or shivering cold. 23 – 26 degrees Celsius is most suitable for me.

There were quite a lot of different kinds of food and I helped out a bit here and there - fanning of the fire, going upstairs to get cleaning cloth, cooking the food over the charcoal (which isn’t really as hot as typical BBQs, maybe due to the occasionally strong wind blowing in this condo).

It was a good time of chatting with Rebecca and her sister Evelyn. I even took a photo of Evelyn holding and posing with her orangey red tiger prawn! Rebecca liked the noodles, whereas I enjoyed the chicken satay. I snapped away on a few photos using my mobile phone camera too!

After the BBQ, Rebecca, Evelyn, Uncle John and I took a stroll around the condo surroundings… and I was amazed at how many facilities there are in this condo! There was even a huge exercise corner specially catered for the senior residents! All sorts of exercises, which I have never seen before, but it isn’t too difficult to recognize that these are more targeted at the senior citizens staying in this condo.

Unlike most other condos which I have seen, this condo does just have a mini basketball corner; it even has a unique corner for skaters to skate onto boxes and ramps! The best part about this condo is that it is superbly windy! I love the wind and you will know what I mean, if you stay on the 2nd storey for years! There is also plenty of strolling places in this condo estate!

After that, all of us when to play badminton with the younger cousins. I was quite terrible at hitting the shuttlecock with my backhand, whereas my front swing is still not too bad… though still slow. What to do… It was been 6 years since I last held a badminton racquet… must less even hit a shuttlecock!

Returning back to Aunty Bessie’s house, Rebecca and Evelyn decided to rest for awhile, while Uncle John and I went for a swim at the pool downstairs. This is the first time I am swimming with my prospective father in-law, but I played it steady, as if I was swimming with anyone else.

The pool isn’t really that great, but it’s still longer, wider and deeper than my own condo pool. It really lacked water massage therapy areas though. Uncle John and I swam about 10 laps; chatting in between laps, before we went for a bath. I felt so refreshed after a quick shower, especially after being around charcoal ashes at the earlier part of the afternoon. I felt clean!

Coming back to the house, we watched a comedy DVD titled ‘Kung Fu Mahjong’, which was rather hilarious and made most of us laugh on our butts! Thereafter, we proceeded to watch the National Day Parade, which we also had the privilege to watch the paratroopers, helicopters, fighter planes, lights and fireworks from afar!

Indeed, this condo is really a great place to live and I really enjoyed the fellowship with Rebecca’s relatives (Mum’s side). I am just so thankful to be invited to join in the cohesive fun and laughter together! It really made my National Day feel like an actual celebration, even though I am not at the Kallang Stadium.

Through this experience, I learnt that a celebration like National Day would be best to be celebrated with a few families of relatives, instead of just ourselves alone or solely with our own family. The mood is just different when in joining in fellowship with others! Praise the Lord!

As before, Uncle John and I took a bus back, while the others took a taxi. It was another simple chatting between us, before we alighted and went our separate ways back to our own homes. With the blessings from God and both sides of parents, Rebecca and I hope to get married by the end of next year!

The Look on My Face

When I casually asked Rebecca if I still had the innocent look which I had last time, I was shocked by her comment that I have already lost the innocence in my facial expression; one that I had since I was a child.

All the years of growing up and working has resulted in a slightly more seasoned facial expression, which bared more seriousness than innocence that I had in the past. What a change it has been! I was told that I no longer looked as friendly as before because my facial expression has taken on a serious tone.

Oh dear… I felt afraid if my serious face would cause me to lose friends. It also made me feel far away from my childhood, which indeed it is. At times, I still wish that I was a child once again. And that is why memories are so important to me. These are something and possibly the only thing that I have left to remember my past. I was so young then… so much I didn’t know…

All Sorts of Taxi Drivers

As part of my job, a significant portion of my duties include meeting companies and attending committee meetings. Thus, since I took on this job, I have been a frequent taxi traveler, easily chocking up $70 - $200 worth of taxi transport claims each month.

‘All Knowing’ Taxi Driver

Apart from the incident of astronomical and astrological taxi driver that I had shared in my earlier blog entry, in the past 5 months in my job, I have come across quite a few other types of taxi drivers. At times, I find it a privilege or rare opportunity to hear and see how ‘interesting’ some taxi drivers can be.

‘Casanova’ Taxi Driver

I have come across a taxi driver (guy) who shared that many of his female taxi customers are attracted to him! He shared that there was one young lady who liked to follow him when he around his block (where he lived) and would wait to see him driving back home at the end of each day!

He went on to share that there was one lady who called his hand-phone to arrange a fixed transport appointment to go to work everyday and would talk to him during the ride. In fact, he even asked and paid him $60 to be her ‘dinner and dance’ partner for 3 hours! Worse still, this lady’s daughter came to know of this taxi driver and fell in love with him! And he had to stop both this lady and his daughter, coz he is already married! Wow… what a Casanova! He’s married and already in his 40s, but still so many ladies like him! Sounds like he’s going to become another George Clooney! 50s and still one of the sexist man alive… well, at least that’s what I read from my brother’s 8 Days magazine.

‘Bon Jovi’ Taxi Driver

Then there is a taxi driver who has a whole collection of limited edition classics and oldies CDs and cassette tapes in his taxi! He listens to them as he drives and even has his taxi customers request for a particular song, so that he can play it for them to listen! Believe me, he really has a huge collection of limited edition CDs and cassette tapes in his taxi! Furthermore, his taxi is almost fully decorated with CD covers and even small figurines! It was such a fully decorated driver and passenger seat in front, that it looked like a display corner! It was filled with decorations, CDs, pictures, slogans and figurines!

‘Full of Comments and Complains’ Taxi Driver

There is another type of taxi driver who just itches to have a say in anything and everything that happens. For such taxi drivers, comments and complains galore! Never-ending. It just goes on. Topic after topic. Comment after comment. Complain after complain. They just must have something to say about something, be it for good or bad. At times, they may even go on and on talking, whether or not I am really listening.

‘Fumbling Greenhorn’ Taxi Driver

Then there is the typical lady taxi driver whom I would get into her taxi and then get out within 1 minute, coz she has no idea where I wish to go, and fumbles with the street directory in her hands! I don’t have time for her to figure out how to drive there and risk getting lost, coz I have urgent meetings to attend!

‘Special Intelligence’ Taxi Driver

Thinking about taxi drivers, quite a long time ago, I also took this taxi… and the taxi driver used to be from the Army, working in Military Intelligence! Brief as his sharing was about how things work in military intelligence, the classified building, how threats are uncovered, and how deadly ex-military intelligence officers can be, etc. I remembered listening to him for almost 1 hour!

‘Great Grandfather’ Taxi Driver

Then there are also taxi drivers that look so old, I really wondered if they are in their 60s! There was once that I took a taxi driven by this really old man… and he looked so frail, that I started to get worried if he could even drive his taxi! Or whether he knows where he is going! Not to mention his indeed really law abiding driving speed of exactly 60 km/h, no more, no less… Argh! I don’t want to be late for my meeting!

‘Punch Bag Victim’ Taxi Driver

I have also sat in a taxi, where the taxi driver shared about how troublesome it is to pick up drunken passengers, be it local or expatriate… some scold him and some even punch him!

‘Scared of Rain’ Taxi Driver

Then there is another kind of taxi driver who would refuse to pick up passengers when it’s raining. I mean, isn’t because it is raining, that’s why people decide to take a taxi? Why do these taxi drivers not want to pick up these passengers? I asked one such taxi driver before and he told me that it’s because it’s dangerous to drive in a heavy rain. If a road accident happens, then the cost of the insurance is more than what he has earned, so it’s not worth it.

When I heard that, my mind silently exploded – “Then why else would people want to take a taxi? Isn’t it because it is raining? And if it is such a heavy rain and taxi drivers like you don’t want to pick up passengers, then what are we passengers to do? Wait till the rain stops?”

‘Doze on Highway’ Taxi Driver

And another kind of taxi driver… one of the worse of all… are the kind who drive on the expressway at 110 km/h… and when I looked up at the mirror, his eyes are closed and he has fallen asleep with his feet on the pedal! Once every few seconds, his eyes would open slightly… before closing again, a few seconds later. Then open for awhile again… then close once more. Wah, I tell you… I was thankful to have survived that ride!

Yup, so these are some of the types of taxi drivers that I have met so far. Really interesting sometimes, when I come across such people. Hmm… =)

The Astrological and Astronomical Taxi Driver

On Friday afternoon, I was taking a taxi to a meeting at MCYS building. In the midst of all the rushing of work in the morning, it didn’t cross my mind that anything was odd (or should I say ‘interesting’) until this taxi driver spoke. His hairstyle looked similar to ‘Ah Meng’ at Ah Meng’s Café, located near Cuppage! Not much hair in front, but LOTS of hair behind! *Laugh*… Peculiar guy.

Seriously, up till now, I don’t know whether to feel fascinated or cautious about such a person, for in a short 10 – 15 minutes taxi ride, he could tell me all sorts of general and specific information about me and my girlfriend! These are not the usual guessable type of information, which I will share in the paragraphs below.

He started by commenting that I look young, before going on to say even though a person may look young, he can roughly tell the person’s age from the look of his neck. This puzzled me… and also my Mum, when I shared this incident with her the next morning.

He asked which year I was born, so I just told him ‘80’. He smiled and casually said that I should be born in between the month of September and December. That shocked me! How did he know just from looking at me from the rear mirror? Besides, he is driving and he wasn’t really looking at me.

As if this didn’t start my surprise, he followed by saying that I like chocolate ice cream and mango. Wow! Bull’s eye! Okay, fine… most people like chocolate ice cream, coz anyway it’s quite common… but how did he know that I like mango?! Of all fruits, he could pin-point specifically that I like mango! He didn’t even say that I like durian. This really began to shock me!

Then he went on to say that I like to eat buffet, but don’t like Chinese 9 or 10 course dinner food… which is true! I prefer buffet coz I have more choices and it’s not just one kind of cuisine food. I also don’t like this kind of Chinese restaurant food coz I can’t be full from eating it, coz the portion is so small!

I am a person who hardly gets eye bags, and I am sure that I didn’t have eye bags that day. Yet he could tell me that I like to eat fried food; I am not drinking enough water and usually sleep late. Okay, maybe this sounds general, but his descriptions of me didn’t stop there. He asked if I had a girlfriend and started to tell me about her! I was stunned! He has never seen Rebecca before, neither does he know who in the world she is… and yet he could tell me very specific details about her!

He casually commented that my girlfriend is not very good at cooking, but may be better at cleaning and organizing the house. Wow… I mean, how does he know that Rebecca isn’t fluent in cooking? Isn’t this a bit too specific to just say?

Then he said that my girlfriend is career minded (not as in ambitious, but she would want to have a job), but she needs to learn how to balance work and family. This is true! How did he know, I really don’t know!

He also said that my girlfriend likes flowers, but does not know how to grow them. She also likes to travel, but not because of work. I mean, how in the world could he know all these?!

I asked him how he gets to learn all these and he started to share that he reads up on astrology and stuff. I am not supportive of this kind of belief, but isn’t this a bit too far fetched that he could tell so much about me and Rebecca in just 10 – 15 minutes WHILE driving?

Thereafter, he went back to talking about me, saying that I am a quiet and diligent worker, but must be careful about my words, coz there are unseen politics in my work. Okay, politics are common everywhere, as long as there are humans… but that was not all, he also said that I don’t like to work long hours and work late… which is true! How could he tell that from looking (while driving) at a person who is merely sitting at the back of his taxi?

Furthermore, he could tell that I don’t think he looks like a taxi driver… and that is also true! I was just so stunned by the things that he said. Just couldn’t believe that I was hearing all these from a stranger who has only been driving me in his taxi for 10 – 15 minutes! And there I was, just sitting there, not saying much.

Before I alighted from the taxi, I thanked him for sharing so much in that short trip and that he really impressed me! I wonder if I would ever see him again… not so much of me wanting to see him, but its really interesting, if not, astonishing, to hear such things from a taxi driver!

New Balance REAL Race!

Two weeks ago, I signed up with a church friend for the upcoming New Balance REAL Race that will be held at Sentosa on 20th August! Since then, I have only ran once each week. Thinking about it, its quite scary to enter into a competition being so unprepared. But I decided to take it as a chance to join in the adrenalin and hopefully kick start myself back into regular exercise.

It hasn't working out too well, coz I have been sick for the past 4 days... and I didn't even run this week. But health is most important. I want to be well to give my best... whatever that I have, on that day. Take it as an experience. Its my first trail cross country across three different terrains - road, trail and sand. 10km. May this be an experience to remember!

Cockroach E-mail?

I recalled that sometime ago I accidentally misread this particular e-mail address kschua@xxx.org.sg as kachua@xxx.org.sg! “Ka Chua” sounds like the dialect for cockroach! *Laugh*… =)

Playing My First Funny Advertisement Tune!

Last Saturday, I went to Rebecca’s house after having dinner with her family. It was there that Rebecca taught me to play my first funny advertisement tune on her piano! This is from the ‘Mini Cornetto’ ice cream advertisement portraying a father and son who stare cheekily at several mini cornettos passing by… =)

And the best part is that I learnt to play it in just 5 minutes! Rebecca was very glad to teach me too... It was her happiest moment that day… =)