Having agreed to go to the Law Ball next Friday... transport arrangements were an issue. I'm planning to imbibe a few drinks during the night, to smooth conversation etc etc... and i would never dream of driving under the influence (ok maybe dream of it, but never do).
A friend of mine, in convincing me to go offered to send me home that night (jokingly, i thought - it's a fair distance)
lo and behold... this sms sails into my phone:
"hey nic do u want a lift to law ball so u can drink"
reply:
"love the way you put that so delicately Tania..."
I accepted her offer - she's remaining sober for the night...
and I will remain ...
I will remain... (I don't want to lie)
I will endeavour to remain...
I hope to be...
a good boy =D
NB: I don't recommend drinking till you can't think ahead any more... Drunkenness is not something I would agree with. However, there's nothing wrong with a few casual drinks...
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
The vagaries of COMTRADE
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this comes after i realised that on the website, commodity imports from A to B don't equal exports from B to A, which screwed me over a tad...
I desperately need to use the COMTRADE Database today - the chapter i promised by supervisor is already behind...
oh well... might as well have breakfast while i wait =P
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Step
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
A work of art begins with a single stroke
Every battle begins with men making that first advance
And yet sometimes we hold back... fearing an end too distant to be glimpsed
We wait... gripped by our inability to see the big picture being weaved
We live our lives forever afraid to charge till the gunfire ends
Wishing we could have done more. Wishing we dared to step out.
Despairing over doors once open now forever closed
Regretting the daily decisions we chose to make
Where a tenuous safety marked by fear
Was better to placing our fates in the Author's hands
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
A work of art begins with a single stroke
Every battle begins with men making that first advance
And yet sometimes we hold back... fearing an end too distant to be glimpsed
We wait... gripped by our inability to see the big picture being weaved
We live our lives forever afraid to charge till the gunfire ends
Wishing we could have done more. Wishing we dared to step out.
Despairing over doors once open now forever closed
Regretting the daily decisions we chose to make
Where a tenuous safety marked by fear
Was better to placing our fates in the Author's hands
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Malaysian football...
When Malaysia played China earlier this week, thousands of diehard Malaysian fans packed the Bukit Jalil football stadium to watch the match. One fan silently prayed to God for better seating conditions during the match since it was so cramped with fans. Suddenly he heard a heavenly voice replying to his prayers.
"I am going to grant you your prayers today since you prayed so sincerely. But since I'm God, I'm sure you have a tougher task for me to perform instead of asking me for such a trivial request like bettering the seating conditions in this stadium", said the heavenly voice.
The football fan thought for a moment. "How about letting Malaysia win this match against China?", he asks God.
There was a silence for a minute. Then the heavenly voice replied, "Now, how big did you say you want the stadium to be again? With cushion or leather seats? Do you want the entire stadium air-conditioned as well?"
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Unseen hands
I don't believe that anyone of us is ever truly alone and isolated. For every step into the dark, there are people willing us on. People that have invested their lives into you. Last year I had the privilege to return to my old school for the graduation of two of my cousins. My ex-principal spoke of remembering and appreciating those people who have contributed to your life, however small or large their part may be. There are people who've given to each one of us something only they can give - their time and love. These helping hands, often unseen have shaped our lives, and like it or not, sometimes it can be too late to mention those words of appreciation.
I'd like to dedicate this post to my grandmother in KL. The odds of her reading this are extremely slim, given she doesn't use a computer, but at least on this corner of the Net, I'd like to show her my appreciation, as her birthday approaches. She means a lot to me, and yeah... i miss her cos she's all the way there, and I'm all the way here.
Unseen Hands
She taught me, through her life the meaning of true beauty.
It went beyond a pretty face, or a shapely figure
It was beyond what lay outside, but an expression of the depths inside
Beauty was in the hands gently massaging a sick child
In the loving hug for a bullied child in tears
In those unseen hands - a refuge from the world
Beauty came in the meals she made daily for those she loved
In the way she threaded a needle - albeit with my aid
In those unseen hands - a life of giving without expecting
Beauty, in the grace and love she lives her life
Undiminished, though my eyes note the years lie heavily
She shines ever brighter in my heart
Those unseen hands now frail
I proudly bear their fingerprints on my life
A testament to the time and love they gave me
love,
your grandson
I'd like to dedicate this post to my grandmother in KL. The odds of her reading this are extremely slim, given she doesn't use a computer, but at least on this corner of the Net, I'd like to show her my appreciation, as her birthday approaches. She means a lot to me, and yeah... i miss her cos she's all the way there, and I'm all the way here.
Unseen Hands
She taught me, through her life the meaning of true beauty.
It went beyond a pretty face, or a shapely figure
It was beyond what lay outside, but an expression of the depths inside
Beauty was in the hands gently massaging a sick child
In the loving hug for a bullied child in tears
In those unseen hands - a refuge from the world
Beauty came in the meals she made daily for those she loved
In the way she threaded a needle - albeit with my aid
In those unseen hands - a life of giving without expecting
Beauty, in the grace and love she lives her life
Undiminished, though my eyes note the years lie heavily
She shines ever brighter in my heart
Those unseen hands now frail
I proudly bear their fingerprints on my life
A testament to the time and love they gave me
love,
your grandson
Monday, July 09, 2007
surprise
Had an eventful day today
having slept at about 2am last night after watching an amazing Wimbledon final... I was woken abruptly by my dad at around 9am...
There was some consternation on my part (I appreciate 8 hours sleep), until i realised that me and my brother had been "volunteered" into painting a neighbor's house.
So off we went, and well... painted
Meanwhile lurking at the back of my mind was the fact that there was a surprise meant for Amanda's birthday. It was... difficult planning for those in charge. The said lady's movements around Perth were so... erratic, they brought to mind a terrorist on the run... apparently she was up north till yesterday, then at the Swan river... with her arrival times varying almost as much as... [insert metaphor here]
so what was originally planned for 1.45 today eventually took place at 3pm... difficult on my part to get some time off painting, with the said brother. I did promise after all...
So anyways we nearly finished putting the undercoat on the ground floor at about 2:35. At which point i looked down, and realised i was coated liberally with paint (the price of being in a rush)... I actually have paint on my left eyelid and right eyebrow. the problem of using oil-based paint is that only turpentine will get it off. Even i would not be so foolish as to use turpentine so close to my eyes, or on my hair... so stay it will, and my hair will look like an orange Christmas tree with "snow", until it eventually washes out.
Back to the story... after dousing my hands with enough turpentine to get the paint (and some skin) off, my brother and I sped off to maccas, arriving just as the rest of the party was leaving. We got to her house, where the Tangs kept the said lady safely ensconced in Rowie's room, while the rest of us snuck in and hid in various places.
interesting note - the girl does not lock her front door. either she's really trusting, or she keeps a pickaxe on her person somewhere.
I got volunteered to hide in the closet, while Tim and Bryan got the bathroom. First point... i realized how claustrophobic i was in that closet - it was tight. Anyways, eventually i heard Rachael's dulcet tones leading Amanda into the room, and then... listened as she endeavoured to keep Amanda (i found this out later) right in front of the closet. When she could stall no longer, i slowly slid open the door. and continued sliding open the door... and then, , she still stood with her back to me... right until i took a step out and invaded her "space bubble" haha... its funny how she didn't hear the noise (which everyone else heard), but as soon as someone steps too close, she jumped a metre, and ... yeah my ears are still ringing... some music ("Kiss me...") started playing out of nowhere ...
and I'll leave u guys hanging there (she will kill me for this)...
Happy birthday Amanda =)
until next time.
having slept at about 2am last night after watching an amazing Wimbledon final... I was woken abruptly by my dad at around 9am...
There was some consternation on my part (I appreciate 8 hours sleep), until i realised that me and my brother had been "volunteered" into painting a neighbor's house.
So off we went, and well... painted
Meanwhile lurking at the back of my mind was the fact that there was a surprise meant for Amanda's birthday. It was... difficult planning for those in charge. The said lady's movements around Perth were so... erratic, they brought to mind a terrorist on the run... apparently she was up north till yesterday, then at the Swan river... with her arrival times varying almost as much as... [insert metaphor here]
so what was originally planned for 1.45 today eventually took place at 3pm... difficult on my part to get some time off painting, with the said brother. I did promise after all...
So anyways we nearly finished putting the undercoat on the ground floor at about 2:35. At which point i looked down, and realised i was coated liberally with paint (the price of being in a rush)... I actually have paint on my left eyelid and right eyebrow. the problem of using oil-based paint is that only turpentine will get it off. Even i would not be so foolish as to use turpentine so close to my eyes, or on my hair... so stay it will, and my hair will look like an orange Christmas tree with "snow", until it eventually washes out.
Back to the story... after dousing my hands with enough turpentine to get the paint (and some skin) off, my brother and I sped off to maccas, arriving just as the rest of the party was leaving. We got to her house, where the Tangs kept the said lady safely ensconced in Rowie's room, while the rest of us snuck in and hid in various places.
interesting note - the girl does not lock her front door. either she's really trusting, or she keeps a pickaxe on her person somewhere.
I got volunteered to hide in the closet, while Tim and Bryan got the bathroom. First point... i realized how claustrophobic i was in that closet - it was tight. Anyways, eventually i heard Rachael's dulcet tones leading Amanda into the room, and then... listened as she endeavoured to keep Amanda (i found this out later) right in front of the closet. When she could stall no longer, i slowly slid open the door. and continued sliding open the door... and then, , she still stood with her back to me... right until i took a step out and invaded her "space bubble" haha... its funny how she didn't hear the noise (which everyone else heard), but as soon as someone steps too close, she jumped a metre, and ... yeah my ears are still ringing... some music ("Kiss me...") started playing out of nowhere ...
and I'll leave u guys hanging there (she will kill me for this)...
Happy birthday Amanda =)
until next time.
ps... the author remains happily single, and decidedly a closet poser.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Unemployment
Over dinner tonight, a thought struck me:
I've realized that this is the first time in 2 years that I've not been employed in anything. It's a strange feeling. I guess a part of my identity may be caught up in being able to (at least in some respects) look after myself and my finances. After all, one conclusion from my many conversations with Andy last year was that a man should be able to look after himself.
Being temporarily unemployed is a rather jolting feeling. One has to rely on the parents more for finances etc... I've actually had to ask for an allowance for the first time in 2 years. On the other hand, i feel no urgency to find another job, owing to the workload of university this year in particular. It may actually be for the best if i concentrate more on my studies and finish off the thesis. After all, it's not like my earning power is that flash anyways.
Having said that, the situation places me in a bit of a conundrum. I get the sense that I should concentrate more on my studies, and yet, if I'm not at least partially earning my keep, I feel a tad emasculated because I'm used to being, at least in some areas financially independent. I know I'm supposed to trust in God, and look for Him in all situations I may be placed in. I also know that well, this is supposed to be the season where my focus is on STUDY, not WORK...
But somehow, I need to work - and the absence of that is disempowering.
To be resolved...
I've realized that this is the first time in 2 years that I've not been employed in anything. It's a strange feeling. I guess a part of my identity may be caught up in being able to (at least in some respects) look after myself and my finances. After all, one conclusion from my many conversations with Andy last year was that a man should be able to look after himself.
Being temporarily unemployed is a rather jolting feeling. One has to rely on the parents more for finances etc... I've actually had to ask for an allowance for the first time in 2 years. On the other hand, i feel no urgency to find another job, owing to the workload of university this year in particular. It may actually be for the best if i concentrate more on my studies and finish off the thesis. After all, it's not like my earning power is that flash anyways.
Having said that, the situation places me in a bit of a conundrum. I get the sense that I should concentrate more on my studies, and yet, if I'm not at least partially earning my keep, I feel a tad emasculated because I'm used to being, at least in some areas financially independent. I know I'm supposed to trust in God, and look for Him in all situations I may be placed in. I also know that well, this is supposed to be the season where my focus is on STUDY, not WORK...
But somehow, I need to work - and the absence of that is disempowering.
To be resolved...
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