1st January 1975

"Quiet thoughts and quiet dreams, quiet walks by quiet streams,
and a window that looks out on the mountains and the sea. Oh how lovely."

Love Came Down

When I call on Your name You answer
When I fall You are there by my side
You delivered me out of darkness
Now I stand in the hope of new life.

By grace I’m free
You’ve rescued me
All I am is Yours

I’ve found a love greater than life itself
I’ve found a hope stronger and nothing compares
I once was lost now I’m alive in You

You’re my God and my Firm Foundation
It is You whom I’ll trust at all times
I give glory and praise, adoration
To my Saviour who’s seated on high

Love came down and rescued me
I thank You, I thank You
I once was blind but now I see
I see You, I see You

The Big Bang Theory, Season 3, Episode 1

By His hand we are all fed,
Give us Lord our daily bread.
Please know that we are truly grateful,
For every cup and every plateful.

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

"What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

I am grateful that God loves me so much that he cleanses me with the blood of Jesus, making me clean as snow that I might have my righteousness, and I can in full confidence approach his throne, knowing that I will receive his grace.

Leaving this time round seems a little more difficult. It might just be for a short 10 weeks, but there is this unsettling sense of uncertainty. I am not quite sure I will come home with things still the same, whether Matches will still stick together, whether the jadedness of working life will suck the life and ideals out of friends. But alas, I trust in God, for He has plans for us according to His will, and no matter how bleak it may seem to me, His plans are good, for His thoughts are higher than ours, and His ways higher than ours.

Good bye Singapore, Hello Exeter.

Jan Myrdal

“Traveling is not just seeing the new; it is also leaving behind. Not just opening doors; also closing them behind you, never to return. But the place you have left forever is always there for you to see whenever you shut your eyes.”

I see Grace

I see grace
sealed by your sacrifice
I see love
reaching for me
Precious blood
washes and sanctifies
Healing flows
setting me free
I see grace

Amazing

Disgusting.

Where are you, Compassion?

"I will live, to carry your compassion.
To love a world that is broken,
To be your hands and feet.

I will give, with the life that I've been given,
To go beyond religion,
To see the world be changed,
By the Power of your Name."

Lincoln Brewster

Thank you God.

Delusional Angel

Daydream delusion, limousine lashes,
Oh baby with your pretty face.
Drop a tear in my wine glass,
Look at those big eyes.
See what you mean to me,
Sweet cakes and milkshakes.
I'm a delusional angel,
I'm a fantasy parade.
I want you to know what I think,
Don't want you to guess anymore.
You have no idea where I came from,
We have no idea where we're going.
Lodged in life,
Like branches in a river,
Flowing downstream.
Caught in the current,
I carry you, You'll carry me.
That's how it could be.
Don't you know me?
Don't you know me by now?

Unbelievable ♥

Chris Rice - Live by Faith

"'Cause blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe
And blessed are the hands that keep giving but never receive
Blessed is the heart that gets broken but keeps holding on
Holding on for another day
'Cause that's what it means to Live by Faith"

Matthew 6:27

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Hope

"Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all." Emily Dickinson

Proverbs 17:9

"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."

Santorini Sunset

Santorini, Greece
30th May 2009 - 5th June 2009

"See the pyramids along the Nile,
Watch the sunrise from the tropic isle,
Just remember darling all the while,
You belong to me.

See the market place in Old Algiers,
Send me photographs and souvenirs,
Just remember when the dream appears,
You belong to me.

And I'll be so alone without you,
Maybe you'll be lonesome too.

Fly the ocean in a silver plane,
See the jungle when it's wet with rain,
Just remember till you're home again,
You belong to me."


I watched, and I listened.

Eric Hutchinson - Okay, It's Alright with Me

Malta on my mind

Malta
14th May 2009 - 17th May 2009

The crystal clear mediterranean.
Cozy cul de sac.
€1.50 gelati.
A cloudy sunrise.
Ernie and Bert.
Classic cars and vintage buses.
Edgar.
Too much good food.
Cisk.
Dang! The bus driver.
Racing down the streets of Pawla.
Someone married.
I can't dance, I really can't dance!
A swinging good time.
好man.

A good holiday.

Needs.to.stop.being.so.busy

Heart

Valentine - Carol Ann Duffy

Britain's very first female poet laureate.

"Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or a kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.

Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife."

Professor Keating in Dead Poet's Society

"And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."

Singapore Day 2009

"Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God."
VALJEAN, FANTINE, EPONINE
Les Miserables

Les Miserables - I Dreamed a Dream

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

"Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him."
Psalm 37:3-5, 7a

"We live for the beautiful moments in between."

"Our children are colour blind, shouldn't we keep them that way?"

My society says that possessions bring happiness.
By faith I believe that generosity is of more value than accumulating things.
The world tells me I need to lookout for myself.
My faith tells me I can trust God with my future.
People all around me speak and live as though "what you see if what you get".
But I want to believe there is much, much more to life than what can be seen and measured.

Rainer Maria Rilke

"I would like to beg of you, dear friend, as well as I can, to have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign langugae. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them...At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, even without noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day."

There is an absolute joy when you meet another christian, especially in the most random of circumstances.

Thank you for encouraging me.

Jason Mraz @ Hammersmith

Amazing showmanship. :) Love this song.

Algarve Coast

Algarve Coast, Portugal
29th March 2009 - 2nd April 2009

Genesis 1:1
'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.'

Prom Praise 2009

Prom Praise 2009 was held at the Royal Albert Hall. I almost didn't want to go for it, if not for Ding's constant nagging. :) It was awesome being right in the middle of the arena, listening to the orchestra play and choir sing. David Gross and Geraldine Latty were great.

Portobello Market - Cash Cows

Vincent

Starry starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day,
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills, sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills

In colors on the snowy linen land.
And now I understand what you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry starry night
Flaming flo'rs that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in
Vincent's eyes of China blue.
Colors changing hue, morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain, are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.

And now I understand what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you
But still your love was true

And when no hope was left in sight on that starry starry night.
You took your life as lovers often do;
But I could have told you
Vincent,
This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.

Starry starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the stranger that you've met

The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloddy rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

And now I think I know what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
They're not list'ning still
Perhaps they never will.

Cha Cha Moon

Had dinner there on Sunday night after we got back from Greenwich. It's at Kingsly Court at Carnaby Street, quite a hip and happening area. They serve some sort of fusion cuisine. Thai-Chinese-Singapore-Asian. I never quite get fusion food. :P

Had my first plate of Char Kway Teow and Cai Tao Kuey in a long long time. Too long. The Char Kway Teow was too spicy, but it had the chinese sausages in it! Which made me very happy. The Cai Tao Kuey, which they called Cha Cha Mooni (don't ask me why), didn't look like Cai Tao Kuey, but surely tasted like it! Both dishes didn't particularly give me a taste of home, but it surely reminded me of home. :)It was home-with-a-twist. I guess it's because the whole decor didn't exactly resemble a hawker centre, nor does does the place smell or sound like it.

Had ice milk tea as well. Finally, my proper teh-ping in London. You have no idea how much I miss teh-ping. I will live on teh-ping when I get home to make up for all the lost time.

Dinner wasn't too expensive for the quality of food and ambience. Overall, a good meal!

http://www.chachamoon.com/

Greenwich

Greenwich, England
22nd March 2010

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."

John Ed Pearce

Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.

Hummingbird Bakery

Chanced upon the famed Hummingbird Bakery. I thought they only had a branch at Portebello Market, but I found another one at South Kensington. So I went in and paid 2 quid (ridiculous amount)for a small nutella cupcake.

I must say, it was a power packed for such a small piece of confectionary. The cupcake was moist and the icing was deliciously sweet and tasty. Had whole hazelnuts as well! Giving it a really good texture.

Would definitely go back for more. When I feel richer, that is.

PS. Would have posted a picture of it, if it had not been in an awful shape after being stuffed in my friend's jacket pocket for most of the morning. :P

http://www.hummingbirdbakery.com/

Imogen Stubbs

Judging by any childcare manual, mine was a pretty rotten mother. She smoked, she drank, she lost her temper; she was ecstatic about taking holidays on her own, and stupefyingly bored by many aspects of motherhood; she dumped us by the roadside if we ever argued in the car; she forced us to take Scottish dancing classes. But I wouldn’t have changed her for anyone in the world.

"I have been influenced by her in many ways – a strange penchant for home-made yoghurt and sleeping in VW camper vans, a love of Northumbrian moors and the melancholy side of joy – a loathing of neon lights and unquestioning conformity."

But perhaps most dominantly I am inspired and challenged by a single phrase she once wrote in a cookery book she had compiled for me: “Thank heavens for giving me a daughter who is brave enough to make a fool of herself.” I think it is actually a misquote from Robert Louis Stevenson: “For God’s sake give me the young man who has brains enough to make a fool of himself.” But perhaps that was deliberate. Either way, she passionately believed that people should constantly seek to elaborate and reinvent themselves. In her forties (among many things), she learnt to play the drums, studied tap-dancing, and took a degree in Chinese.

I have consequently felt compelled to follow – taking up swing dancing, riding, writing and so forth. Not everything works and I have freqeuntly failed and felt foolish. But whenever I consider resigning myself to the mixed blessing of knowing my own limits, I am haunted by her passion for life as a series of beginnings, and her vehement belief that habit and ritual are great deadeners, and a cowardly response to the terrifying, magical challenge of being alive.

Boris

My aunty's new cat. He is British, and his name is Boris. Make your own conclusions. :)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Google pays tribute to Eric Cale's Very Hungry Caterpillar. I have to say, one of my favourite illustrators. Definitely in the ranks of Quentin Blake and Theodor Seuss Geisel.

Asakusa 浅草

After hearing so many people rave about this restaurant, and all that high ratings on online forums, I was really excited to check this place out. Especially since I haven't had my staple japanese meals ever since I left Singapore, (Bento Box does not count) I was pretty desperate for good japanese food.

I was surprised that this place required a 2 day advance reservation, or you'll never get anywhere near that precious slab of sashimi. So my standards were pretty up there by the time I actually arrived at the restaurant. The place isn't the most luxurious, but very homely. Feels as if you're just having a meal at a japanese friend's house. This place feels authentically japanese. The waiters/waitresses were all japanese, not the british born japanese sort mind you. Felt as if someone packed them into a box and shipped them right over here. Although that meant that communication wasn't the most effective, but it was sufficient to get us through the night.

We ordered food to share, so there were 3 dishes between us. Asakusa salad, beef teriyaki and the sashimi set. I must say that I wasn't terribly keen on the salad, I'm not very into greens, especially if there is seaweed involved! But the salad was surprisingly good! Must be all that dressing/peanuts/salmon, disguising the veges. The sashimi set had sake, maguro and I suspect saba. I was too busy talking to notice what fish I was putting into my mouth. It was alright, quite fresh, in rather generous slices, but I wasn't blown away. Nothing too exotic. The beef teriyaki was the least impressive dish in my opinion. The sauce wasn't the most fragrant, and the beef was a bit tough. The bean sprouts were a tad oily. It wasn't a bad dish, but it just wasn't great either.

The most disappointing bit of dinner had to be the desserts. I ordered the mandatory green tea ice cream. It didn't come with red bean paste. Which is a huge crime for a reputable japanese restaurant! The green tea ice cream wasn't very smooth either, you could feel the icicle lumps, which meant that it was not very well made, and had been in the freezer for too long. Next came the japanese red bean pancakes. Don't ask me why, but they called it japanese sweets. It was probably marginally better than the ice cream, but still, the pancakes would have been better warm, and if they had been more generous with the red bean paste.

Milan Kundera - The Joke

"I had several faces because I was young and didn't know who I was or who I wanted to be." - Ludvik

1 Peter 3:15

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Blossoms in my teacup

I never knew jasmine tea blossoms in hot water. :)

The Exciting Adventures of the Famous Five

Found a book today that reminded me of my childhood. :)

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art of ending."

Foux De Fa Fa

Pearl Buck

"Inside myself is a place where I live alone, and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up."

My Secret Garden

Dickon: The animals tell me all their secrets.
Mary: [pointing to the Robin] He wouldn't tell you my secret, would he?
Dickon: About what, Miss Mary?
Mary: A garden. I've stolen a garden. But it may already be dead, I don't know.
Dickon: I'll know.
Mary: Promise you won't tell anyone?
Dickon: Promise.
Mary: No one?
Dickon: Not a soul.

It's a bit old, but this is london snow. :)

回忆是捉不到的月光 握紧就变黑暗
等虚假的背影消失于晴朗
阳光在身上流转 等所有业障被原谅
爱情不停站 想开往地老天荒 需要多勇敢
你不要失望 荡气回肠是为了 最美的平凡

"Don't get stuck in a paradox and disappear in a puff of logic"

I’ve Learned - Omar Washington

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I’ve learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don’t care back.
And it’s not the end of the world.
I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life,
but who you have in your life that counts.
I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself
to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.
I’ve learned that it’s not what happens to people,
It’s what they do about it.
I’ve learned that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.
I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I’ve learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can’t.

I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done
regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don’t know how to show it.
I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to
doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they’re going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned that sometimes you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.
I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I’ve learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.
I’ve learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don’t even know you.
I’ve learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I’ve learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I’ve learned that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice
and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe.
I’ve learned to love
and be loved.
I’ve learned…

Ivy May Waterhouse

Over his shoulder I saw a star fall. It was me.

25 Random Things

I know I am supposed to update on life around this crazy city, but haven't got the time yet, and my fingers have been too stiff from the cold to do much shooting.

So in the spirit of conformity (I am sure you have all seen that thing going around facebook like a virus), here's my 25 random things about the English and this land.

1. A thumbdrive is called a stick here. Or if you want to be clearer, a USB stick. The lady at computer services laughed her head off at me for calling it a 'thumbdrive'. Said I made her day.

2. Tooting Broadway, where St. George's Hospital is at, isn't exactly the best neighbourhood. I'm sure you all have heard my theory about why hospitals on the south side is better, ie. that's where all the shootings and stabbings happen, so by default we get more action down at the hospital. Back to my point, although Tooting isn't posh nosh, it's the ONLY tube station I've been to that played classical music all day long!

3. I prefer Irish people than British people. They are alot friendlier, and they have such a cute accent. Nice irish colleague always says hi, while grumpy british colleague communicates by grunting and drinking out of a really rude cup that says 'fanny hated backing up onto a floppy'

4. They don't say SMS. It's TEXT guys.

5. Snow really looks like icing! Had to resist licking some off some random car downstairs.

6. I'm actually not that far away from home. I have a Malaysian restaurant across the road from me.

7. I want to live in Primark. I can't believe I bought a top for £3.

8. I haven't been inside Tesco. Can you believe that?

9. Living rooms here are real rooms! Not some large foyer space when you step into the house.

10. Showers and taps here are annoying, because you need to adjust different knobs for hot and cold water. In my opinion, they should just have those single knob sorts which you can swing from side to side to adjust the temperature. So much more convenient!

11. I wish it would snow more. 'Cause when it snows, the buses dies, the tube stops, and I don't have to go to work. :)

12. I never thought I would ever desire phua chu kang boots. (different colour maybe, no, definitely)

13. Suddenly, I need really foreign things like dishwashing tablets, lint removers, leather protectors, raincoats and hats.

14. I've seen enough pregnant women to last a life time. They always look like huge melons, or pimples that are ready to be popped.

15. Toilet paper is expensive.

16. I'll never catch on to saying 'cheers'. It's 'thank you' guys! 'Cheers' is reserved for alcohol.

17. I wrestled my neighbours' kids in the snow.

18. I have a parsley plant!!!

19. I wash, cook, clean, take out trash. I am domestic goddess.

20. Don't say vacuum, say hoover.

21. I pay 70 bucks a week for transport.

22. I am never home before 9pm.

23. My housemate is a Macedonian Australian fashion photographer. :P Should try to ask him for London Fashion Weekend tickets. heehee.

24. Chinese are EVERYWHERE.

25. I'm running out of things to write.

Another day, another beginning.

"Today is your day to dance lightly with life. Sing wild songs of adventure. Soar your spirit, unfurl your joy."