Saturday, February 26, 2005
Rainbow Colours are more my thing

Ive been back in perth for almost a week now, however i still feel blue during the nights. Maybe its the extremely slow pace of life after 5pm that gets me down, or maybe i'm just plainly homesick. But whatever the case, as soon as night kicks in, i feel pretty lousy, down and blue.

I miss the hustle and bustle of my family, and i miss d. I miss talking to him as often as possible, i miss holding his hand, i miss strolling down the streets with him, i miss sharing food and coffee with him, i miss laughing and joking with him, i miss everything.

But i am thankful for having all this to look forward to. In 16 weeks. In 16 weeks.

On entirely different note altogether, i seem to have developed very magpie-like symptoms. Ive noticed a trend in my recent purchases, and the things that catch my eye. Ive been going pretty much for things, clothes and accessories that are shiny, sprinkled with sequins or diamontes.

Shopping yesterday ended up with my damaging my allowance with a lilac wrap top which i am not sure if i should return -( picture up in 3 days, when i get my unlimited usage back. Im currently stuck with the cap of ONLY 200MB a month, and its killing me, rationing my internet use.) as im not sure if its auntyish. hmm.... is it?

an esprit spag top, a cute purse (which turned out that my housemate, who chanced upon it when she went shopping ALSO bought for me as a present as she said the pink material, polka dots, and the entire design totally screamed of me. I was so touched. therefore, im keeping the one she gave me, and refunding the one i bought, for sentimental reasons.) as well as a bottle of essential oil.

On hindsight, i should've shopped more, as i didnt get to go out today, as originally planned, as unpleasant things cropped up with j's friend. Bleah. nearly spoiled my day.

anyhoo, i should head back to my readings, to catch up a little more on it before i get too overloaded with work and kill myself with stress.

Till then, its chin up, and soldier on.



| |N| 8:58 PM|

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Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Back Down Under

I arrived back in Perth on Sunday at 11.30pm. When i first walked back into my room in Perth, My heart felt so empty. I missed Home, my family and d. But things got better after i woke up the next day. =) i unpacked in record time, and slacked around the rest of the day.

Headed to school on Tuesday, went to my friend, j's place, got lost in the process =) got clobbered by her HUGE dog, and today, i went shopping! =)

I couldn't resist the sale at valley girl and buss. =) i bought myself a new mint green sequined straw bag, a brown striped skirt, and the exact kinda short sleeved cardigan i was looking for! =) On sale too. I'm a happy girl. I decided to cook dinner tonight too, butter fish with rice, as well as a homemade strawberry apple smoothie.

Now its back to the boring stuff, checking out tomorrow's lecture notes. I hope the class ends early tomorrow, then i can head to Booragoon with j, for some more relaxing. =)



| |N| 8:24 PM|

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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Happy Days

The past few days have been so perfect, i couldn't ask for anything more. I'm so touched at the events that have taken place over the last few days, it couldn't have gone any better. Let me recap and pen this down so that even as time passes me by, i do not forget the blessings i have been blessed with.

On saturday 12/2/05:
The chalet was PERFECT. my cousins were so enthusiastic and helpful, they made the whole day just perfect. The place was bustling with laughter and fun with the whole extended family being there.

The cake cutting portion was hilarious. i had to take photos with every family separately, and by 4 different cameras at each time, at least twice. So with about 10 different familes around my eyes were practically blinded at the end of it, but i was tremendously touched.

The whole event was so grand, something i never expected, as we had originally planned just to have a small family gathering.

After that my cousins stayed behind and we played on the xbox until nearly 4am before we all dropped like flies. =)

What made it extra special was the fact that d came too, and spent the whole day with my family and extended family, and got along marvellously with them. =)

Also, he gave me one of the best presents ever! (cause he shares that title with my mum's gift which i shall pen down in a sec,) the panasonic lumix fx 7 which i had been pinning for, after i found out it was even more powerful then the canon ixus i2. I LOVE it! Thank you d, for knowing me so well, giving me the perfect gift. I love snapping photos, and your gift is going to bless me with countless happy hours, because of the gift u bought with all your love and thoughtfulness.

My mum, and seeing how happy she was the entire day, also made my day. =)

On Monday 14/2/05:
I met up with j, who passed me my bday present. We had a good time talking and dining at swensens. =) Her bday gift to me was so sweet, a big strawberry mirror from taiwan, a pouch, soap, key chain, and a gorgeous esprit shoulder bag, just perfect for school =). (as well as a notebook and a hp accessory that she couldn't find just yet.)

After that i met mum at causeway point before heading back home.

What happened after that was unexpected and to me, extremely touching as well.

When my dad returned back from work, the usually blur him, =) unlike other days, chanced upon a tian po bag sitting beside my mum's handbag. he opened it, and took out a small box. in puzzlement, he called me from the living room and asked me what it was.

Immediately i presumed it was the gift from my aunty, as she has already told me beforehand, she was going to get me a necklace with a pretty pendant. But i was confused, as my mum had told me my aunt had taken it home as she wanted to give it to me the next day, my actual birthday. Nevertheless, i opened it, and what i saw took my breath away.

A small and delicate, gorgeous little cross, embedded with 6 beautiful, intricate diamonds twinkled back at me.

I was so shocked! As my mum had told me previously in the day, when she accompanied my aunt, shopping for my gift, that my aunty had bought me a necklace with a floating heart, crested with diamonds.

I immediately went looking for my mum, and woke her up though she was sleeping as i couldn't contain my shock any longer, and asked her abt the pendant. And her sheepish and quiet reply: "the cross is from mummy" touched my heart in sucha way that at that moment i knew that this is a gift i will treasure for the rest of my life.


My mum, a sweet and simple lady, who has never taken to jewellery or shopped for one in her life, went out and bought me this beautiful gift from her heart, using her own savings, for me. Even as i recall the whole incident unfolding, tears fill my eyes, and my heart is so thankful, and so so grateful. Its not the gift, but the thought and love behind my mum's gift that fills my heart with happiness.

Today, 15/2/05:
I went out shopping with my mum for some last minute things before heading back home with mum and the official bday cake. We waited for my dad and aunt to arrive before taking photos, and cutting it. My aunt also gave me her gift, which was so gorgeous. =) It is very sweet of her, as i know the stuff she is going through and her generiosity makes it a gift i treasure close to my heart as well.

We took loads of photos, and the cake tasted really great. =) and by the time we were done, it was almost 11.30pm. =)

It was certainly the best birthday ive ever had, and the most memorable. My bday is almost over, but the memories i will carry with me forever.

I know i say this alot, but, I thank God for his bountiful blessings and joy He has given me. =)



| |N| 11:59 PM|

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Friday, February 11, 2005
Birthday Surprise

I'm celebrating my 21st birthday tomorrow at the downtown east chalet, though it is officially on tuesday that i turn 21. As i type this, my mum and my aunt are busy in the kitchen marinating chicken wings, and cooking 2 big pots of chicken curry for tomorrow's celebration.

The celebration tomorrow means more then what i expected. What was originally planned, was just me, my family, and d at the chalet, doing our own thing instead of the inital plan of a whole-extended-family celebration. This was because due to the timing of my birthday, which coincidentally falls during the 15 day chinese new year period, resulted with all caterers proving ONLY the CNY menu, which was such a downer, as a result we thought we wont celebrate it as planned.

But on chu yi after returning home from the visitings, my mum thought about inviting everyone for just a simple meal at the chalet. So she did her calls the next day.

What i never expected was the response from my some members of my extended family. The way they were so enthusiastic about everything, agreeing to come even though it was such short notice, and even offering to cook, buy, plan and coordinate everything. My cousin even offered to buy me a $278 cake. The warm response from them really touched me.

Tomorrow means so much. Not because im going to turn 21 soon, but because i know who i can count on.

I thank God for his blessings. =) Big and Small.



| |N| 11:00 PM|

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Thursday, February 10, 2005
CNY Recap

CNY all these years have meant going to visit my dad's side of the family. It has never been a huge affair as much as i would have liked it, perhaps due to my heritage. My mom isn't chinese, and her side of the family are overseas. With each year, what i loved most about CNY is the reunion dinner. And this year was no exception. =)

I had the dumpling duty, while my brother landed the quail-egg-peeling chore. =) And soon after, a few of my relations came over to join us for the dinner. It was really nice. But what made me sad, was when we had to send my old uncle, whose heart and body's not in good shape, back.

As i sent him off in my aunty's car, and watched as the tail lights turned around the corner, fading into the traffic, tears welled in my eyes, when the sad unpleasent thought of whether this would be the last time i get to enjoy the reunion dinner with him filled my mind.

Previous memories filled my mind like photographs on fastforward. What I am thankful for though is the fact that my uncle has been saved, and the obvious change in his life, where he has become such a sweet, docile man, since God met him.

I know everything happens in God's perfect timing, and as i leave for OZ not knowing if i'll ever see him again, I pray and surrender my dear old Toa Peh into His loving Hands.



| |N| 10:47 PM|

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Thursday, February 03, 2005
And I Brood...

Tonight, i did a random google search, and i chanced upon the online diary of a friend i knew purely upon assignment basis in school, and reading her entries gave me just a little insight into the complexity of her life.

We are starkly different. But oddly enough while studying, we seemed to always end up in the same groups for assignments (which were quite a number), but it was apparent to many that we were starkly different. We never really managed to build any kind of bond, besides the joint necessity of submitting our deadlines.

Maybe it was because we were so different, that finding common ground was almost impossible. I love to be happy, as much as she appreciated being broody and seemingly sad. She loved her coffee hot, dark and bitter, while i prefered mine with chocolate and chilled. i loved and welcomed a burst of colours while she stuck religiously to her black, white and greys, with the occasional earthy tones. The list progresses. Somehow she always seemed cynical and i often wondered what made her so unhappy. Even our working patterns were poles apart, that sometimes it was hard to agree and tread on common ground.

Today I saw the literary, expressive side of her, and through the little insight, I see the workings of her mind and her all-be-it, comfortable life that seem to give her no happiness, and silently, i wish she'll find the happiness that she is so apparently searching for.








| |N| 2:50 AM|

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Wednesday, February 02, 2005
... And Jill Came Tumbling After

I've had an extremely clumsy day, not to mention the abuse of my lactose intolerant stomach. I tripped EVERYWHERE!

Today was a surprisingly eventful day. I awoke at the sound of d telling me he booked out for a day and if we wanted to meet, so i jumped into a shower and set out to meet him. It was only after i met him in the mrt, did he elaborate that he was actually on mc. This is due to his extremely swollen and bloodshot infected eyes. It was so bad, that the army doc gave him an mc that he didnt even expect. =) what a nice surprise. So we went out, on a Monday. (which has never happened due to ns commitments). But his eyes are seriously in terrible shape. Urging him not to touch or rub them, was like telling a child not to eat sweets. =) I hope his eyes heal soon.

Oh yes, back to the clumsy day, i seem to trip everywhere! even at the most obvious places! terrible. Goes to show how graceful i am. =)

Hmm, it seems like im really terribly lactose intolerant. My pathetic tummy cannot condone any dairy upon an empty stomach. Its like a timer, in approximately an hour after i consume any coffee or dairy product, it will churn, ache and bloat. -_- nevertheless, it will not stop me from consuming my fav Masters Coffee when i head back to OZ.

Speaking of which, in 17 days, i will have to head back to Perth. Thinking of it leaves me feeling bittersweet about the time i have left in Singapore. Thinking about leaving my mum, my home, my family and D hurts me, and i HATE feeling upset and sad. Its not me at all. So i will try my best to kick this awful feeling.

I am extremely thankful for today though. Being able to spend the whole day with D, just to chat, laugh and stroll down the streets with him make me so happy. It is the time we spend together, which is so treasured that makes it special. I hope i get to spend at least one more day like this, with D. And as for tomorrow and thursday, i think i will spend it will my mum, my best friend in the whole wide world, someone i'll miss terribly when i leave too.

I love company, but staying in OZ has trained me to be even more independent. Even though i know I'll be alright, because the Lord is always with me, my heart will still long, for the family i leave back home.

The time we have with loved ones is precious, which should never be taken for granted.








| |N| 12:56 AM|

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