we set out to mount cotton on a beautiful Saturday morning to Sirromet Winery and i totally heart the lush greenery and vast land that greeted us.

the weather wasn't too hot, with occasional coastal breeze from the coast. We went around taking photos, chilling out with a nice hot flat white and went on an interesting winery tour and wine tasting.

i think the thing I'll miss most when I go back SG for good are these trips to wineries, hinterlands and beautiful mountains. You can't find anything like these in SG and I will appreciate the beautiful nature that I'm surrounded with for now :)))))

On another note, L&R brought us to this chinese restaurant that served such good Hainanese chicken rice that I almost shed a tear!! It reminded me so much of home and while we had a good chat with the chef (who used to worked at Goodwood Park hotel and making those durian puffs *swoons*), I secretly made a pact to come back frequently to savour other home-cooked goodies...

the weekend ended off with an entertaining movie, Sorceror's Apprentice and we had a bit of laugh with the geeky apprentice and not forgetting Nicholas Cage (who seems to be doing alot of teenage movies) and his unkempt frock. :P

Such is life.....really enjoy these kind of weekends spent with friends :)

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I'm really thankful for this week that is ending soon :) I prayed a simple prayer to God on Monday morning for a smooth sailing week and He has been faithful AMEN :D

I feel happy and at peace every day this week and I'm just feeling really thankful for everything and everyone.

1. Completed a task on Mon which only took me 2 hours when I thought I'd need 1 day.
2. Finished my focus session in record time and met a fellow Singaporean!
3. Chatted with hOi for 30min and makes me real happy :):):)
4. Received andrea's long love letter (finally!). i love hand-written letters from girlfriends <3
5. Home-cooked meals. Love the preparation time with Eug because it feels really loved to be cooking with the man you love most :)
   
6. It's weekend in a few hours!
7. Knowing that my girlfriends are happy with things happening in their lives make me happy too.
8. Knowing that God always provides (amen!) and He is always there loving each and everyone of you.

Yes, life is a bliss :):):):)

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had a wonderful day spent at Sunshine Coast region with Eug, Huixin and Lala!!!

The weather was wonderful! Blue sky, little clouds and the wind was soothing!!

We went to Montville Arts and Craft village, which was about 2hours drive from Brisbane but it was worth it! It's a quaint little town with friendly people and nooks and crannies. We were wowed by all kinds of handicrafts and merchandises that are in the shops and you just want to touch and buy them!! Heh :P

then we went off to Palmview to pick strawberries - the highlight of the day!!! :D:D

the fields were aplenty with fresh and ripe strawberries and we were so excited!!! We each got a big box and started picking!! Just look at the photos below!!!

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we have long been wanting to grow some plants ourselves so that we can have the convenience of fresh herbs and plants to go with our cooking.

and then Eug took time and tender loving care for our first chilli plant - when all hope was lost (he thought the seeds all died), we found 2 budding sprouts rushing out from the soil for fresh breath of sunlight and oxygen!

Before long we can have our very own chilli plant!!! :D

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time flies~ it has been 2 weeks into my christmas break and the last day of my parent's holiday visit.

There are times when irritation and tempers flew because of differences but at the end of the day, i'm really grateful and appreciative of their love and care and that they flew over to spend this festive season with us :)

Over the past 2 weeks, we went to many different parts of Brisbane, some of which were our favourite hang out places and some were new area which we probably would not have ventured if not for their visit.

~Eumundi Markets~

I always love this market for the vibrant culture displayed and the nooks and crannies you can find!

~Yandina Nutworks & Ginger Beer Factory~

A tourist area for some souvenirs back home :)
~Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary~

Brought them to see the national icons, Koalas and Kangaroos but was a disappointment as most of them were hiding away probably due to the hot weather.

Do what the Aussies do! :P

~Mount Coot-tha Lookout~

Here you can see the entire view of Brisbane CBD and the inner city suburbs (gosh my cherubic face! :/:/:/)

~Sunnybank~

Our favourite place to eat for Asian food! The food maybe pricey but it's really good :)

~Harbourtown~

A car boot full of shopping stash! I think between the 4 of us we spent almost $400!

~Surfer's Paradise~

We only got down to take a snapshot of the beach to prove that we came here. The crowd on NYE was crazy. People don't look where they're walking and it was absolutely precarious to drive down the roads at Surfer's. I still prefer Sunshine Coast :)


~Brisbane City~

Yes they were still buying when we went to the city!! (hah actually that bag was my shoe from Nine West!)

~Southbank Natural History Museum~

it's free entry!

~Southbank Gallery of Modern Art~

FREE as well. We went to see the contemporary art and the theme was Optimism. A wonderful display of colours and attiude :)

~ my apartment~

The folks want to take a photo outside our apartment.


and all of us went to Movie World, which, in my truthful opinion, uncomparable to Tokyo Disneyland :/

We spent so much time queuing up for rides that lasted for less than 2 minutes; souvenir stores that sell substandard stuffs; snacks that were double the price outside and the parade (according to my dad) was lacklustre. *bleahhhh~~~* and it cost us $69 for entry!


We only managed to go on a few rides coz the average waiting time was 45min! -_-"

Nonetheless, the highlight was our impromptu bushwalking at the Gold Coast hinterland at Springbrook National Park.

The drive up north was 2 full hours with about 1hour spent on windy roads up the mountains where Tallanbana picnic area was to begin our walk.

We took the 4km route and took about 3.5 hours to complete because we stopped to admire the awesome rainforest, rock formations and magnificent waterfalls :)

I'll let the pictures do the talking :)














It was a wonderful experience bushwalking and the folks were really great (although they concussed when we got home).

There are many more nature parks in various parts of Queensland and of course wineries and bed & breakfast farm stays too! More weekend trips to come~~ :)

Happy New Year folks! I hope it has been an awesome 2008 for you guys and the new year will be a year of favours from the Lord! :)

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I realised I've been MIA from the Blogosphere for almost half a month! can't believe i didn't update when I had so many happening stuff during the past 2 weeks!

[Dinner Gathering/Farewell for Mei & Jon]

Mei & Jon are the couple whom I met when I first came to Brisbane (together with Maria and Zoe) and it was my dearest cousin Tiffany who introduced us online!

It was such blessing to know them, because we got to know more of her other church people whom later on became my cell mates!

There's so much love and support (esp during the difficult time when Eug's dad passed away) and I really can't begin to thank God for letting me meet these people in the new chapter of my life here.

It's only been a couple of months since we first came and we've already grew close with each other, as if we've know for a long time!

I guess it's the similar background (Singapore/M'sia) that we came from so there's more in common to identify with plus i see them every weekend for cell and church! :)

Labels: dinner and dance, God, life, work

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It has been 3 weeks since my first day of work and so far things are pretty smooth except for some minor bumps here and there. But overall, I'm quite happy of the job I'm doing, the people I'm meeting and got to know better everyday, the work environment and of course the 'legitimate' slack hours during the day! :P

I'd think they have certain expectations from me since I hav 2 years of audit experience, which on one hand is flattering (at least i can be considered an 'experienced hire') and on the other, quite stressful to live up to that expectation.

But I'm giving myself a couple of months to suss thing out, observe the work culture and attitude in the office and just continue to learn everyday.

I'm blessed for this job, for being able to be close to my loved one and yet self-sufficient.

This is truly something I've been dreaming about for ages and i'm really living it. Still feel kinda surreal whenever I think about it.

Everyday has been routine yet bliss: We wake up together, brush up, make breakfast and walk to work. He will walk me to office, and then catch his ferry to school.

After school, he takes a ferry back to my office and we walk home together again. There are so many chances to catch up with each other and we will discuss what to eat for dinner, what dvds to watch.

There are of course, minor arguments initially, but I'm trying to learn and adapt and bear with the little things that might just irritate me somehow. I guess it's a very good experience to see how it'll be like when we eventually get married.

Some pals asked me why we didn't ROM before we come over, I said we didn't want to do that for the sake of doing. The whole meaning of the union will not be there anymore.

We'll just enjoy each other's company, learn to accomodate each other and make it all worthwhile while we're here.

He's been progressing really well at his course and his prof is quite impressed with him. *thank God*

I'm glad and proud that I made this choice to be with the man I love and give him support with my company. It will definitely be wonderful memories to keep in future. :)

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I must say it was the 'costliest' mistake I've made today and sure helluva emotional rollercoaster ride (shan't go into details coz I'm still recovering from it :/)

Nonetheless, I really appreciate all things he has done and I couldn't have asked for more. Thank God for such a good boss like him.

I've learnt alot today from this mistake. I've learnt that however emotional I felt about the whole situation, I should always stay calm, organise the facts and speak to relevant people to ask for answers.

I've learnt not to cry so easily, not to let myself be so irrational so easily and to just take a DEEP breath......(I think it's the hormones)

I've learnt that when I pray hard to God, He really answers your prayers and heals your wounds. AMEN!

I've also learnt that I have very dear friends who are with me when I need them. *thank you*

I've learnt to become stronger. More challenges will be coming in future, and I have to be strong for myself because I won't have the luxury of my family and friends anymore. But I always have GOD.

"When life knocks you down to your knees, you are in the best position to PRAY"

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"Our paths crossed, we should be more than glad. But at some point, it has to take separate paths as each of us live out the life meant for us. The thought of which, upsets us and makes us reluctant. But if we lived each moment, then we have no regrets... cos we will see how each person, each interaction, each experience has enriched our lives. And it is that positive energy that sustains us." -TY, 2008

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Goodbye....

It wasn't easy to hand in THE letter. I could feel myself breathing heavily when I was walking to the Partner's room. But he wasn't in. *sigh of relief*

And then it was all the admin matters blah blah blah....

And then some of them saw Retain (actually there was only 1 MZD).

And then, I spent some time penning my thought on farewell emails to my fellow managers, colleagues and finally to our Run.

And then, all of a sudden, I feel empty.

It's not easy leaving somewhere which you've felt so comfortable, surrounded by all your close pals. I can still remember those days when I finally return back to office, the oh-so-familiar smell on the 14th floor, the people that greeted me behind the door, the extension numbers which became our Run's Hotline to report strength for lunches and Friday dinners. :(

There are so many memories on the 14th floor, that we even came out a video during last D&D "Who Moved my Muffin on the 14th floor", depicting lives of an average auditor.

And then those drinking sessions, hanging out sessions. I dun feel sorry for the hole in my pocket (sometimes heartache la :P) because I've got priceless company of my dearest pals who laughed, joked, sing KTV with.

And then the bunch of girlies which I've grown closer too. I always thought that it will be difficult to have really close friends, that can share your happiness, worries and secrets with, at work. But I did. I was used to be around guys (coz my Uni buddies are males. don't ask me why) and then suddenly, I found back those wonderful girly times and hang out gossip sessions that I sorely missed. (and I will miss them the MOST :(:(:(

I cannot bear to think of the day I leave my home because I think I will cry like nobody's business.

Someone asked if our friendship will change when I'm away. Although I fear at the thought of it, I can be sure that God has sent the angels to guide me through my life, and when it's time, my angels will give me the wings of encouragement, to be strong even when I'm without them.

So my dear angel friends, no matter where I am, and how far we're separated, you WILL definitely be missed, loved, thought of and talked about. :)

I love all of you. Thanks for the memories we've shared. :)

Labels: friends, girlfriends, God, life, work

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A very dear fren's father passed away a few days ago, and I was very shocked and shaken at the news when I first heard of it.

It was the 3rd wake which I've attended where my frens' family members passed away since I started working 1+ years ago.

Some say it's the age where you see more life and death.

I shudder at the thought of death, although I firmly believe that God's kingdom is my only way home. I think I'm scared becaused there are still so many things I've yet to experience, yet life can be so fragile and unpredictable at times, that the only way we can seek solace is through faith and religion.

I prayed every night that God will look after my fren and her family, to help them to overcome their grief and hopefully, time will heal all their wounds.

There's nothing I can do to help except through my prayers:

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It's rare that I'm seated comfortably in front of my computer at this time on a Friday night.

Usually, I'll be having a great time hanging out with my frens at work and I'll only head home past midnight.

I decided to have some ME time this evening. Time to rest and relax, time to do my own stuff.

I like this kind of time, it makes me feel QUIET.

Time to hit the bed. Out.

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This is to all my friends... we should try to do most of the things listed below in order to survive long!!!

Jiayou!!!

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

(Romans 8:31)

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Thank God for giving me this wonderful opportunity to rediscover my weaknesses so that I can learn and be a better person. Amen.

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Finally waited for Sammi's Show-Mi concert in Singapore last Saturday, and it was AWESOME!!!

Apart from the fact that she's still as skinny (but I think she looked betta now as compared to her HK concerts, where she was said to be like a 'piece of paper' :), her voice was still the SAME.

Clearly, once a diva, ALWAYS A DIVA. :)

She opened with the concert with one of my favourite slow number, 唯独你是不可取替, and all of us screamed like nobody's business.

It was sooo nice to see Sammi on stage again. 舞台是属于她的，在舞台上的 Sammi，最让人感动。

After which, she changed a few costumes, not as extravagant and elaborate I would expect, but yet, I find that she's trying to tell everyone that she's back and the only thing she can thank her fans is through her voice and songs.

There was the emo part where she began to tell us how 2-3 years ago, she decided to go on a hiatus from showbiz and just take a holiday, how she gained support from her parents and how, just one fine day, she saw the green traffic light outside her window, signalling to her that, yes, it's time to move on again..

Everything was spoken in Canto, although I only managed to understand 70-80% of what she said, I really felt that she has been through alot. Especially since HK papparazzi's are notorious. Most of her fans should noe how she was rumoured to have depression (from the movie she shot 2 years ago), she was erratic, no income and stuff. I think that was really hurting and demoralising for anyone, much less a celebrity.

那晚，当我们去听你的演唱会时，我们找回了我们最熟悉的 SAMMI.

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