The Last Laugh Before The Year Ends

The year 2003 is drawing nearer to an end. 8 more hours to be precise. Many tragedies, deaths and events had happened throughout the year. No doubt, we should reflect on all these. But we need something to keep us going, to face the new year. No matter how much of tears and sorrows we have had this year, we should never forget to smile and laugh and think of the bright side of life.

So, let's have a bit of laughter before we bid au revoir to the year 2003 and welcome the year 2004.

What do your icons do while you are not around

How do you drive?

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

Majesty, Worship His Majesty

As Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and tomorrow's a holiday (which means I won't be blogging, of course), let me just make a headstart... Everyone, come let sing Majesty, all together now!!!!

Majesty, worship His Majesty
Unto Jesus, be all glory, power and praise
Majesty, Kingdom authority
Flow from His throne, unto his own, His anthem raise

So exalt, lift up on high, the name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King
Majesty, worship His Majesty
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all Kings.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

Merry Christmas

Another year, another Christmas, and another new year to look forward to. People say that Christmas is a time for forgiving and for forgetting. Thinking back, I've done my share of mistakes and I have hurt so many people. Disagreements, name-callings, finger-pointing, broken promises and even broken friendships. If I could turn back time, I would be willing to take back my words and actions. But I know that "Time Wasted, is Time Lost". All I can do is to say "I'm sorry" and that I never meant to say what I said or do what I did, that I will try to not repeat it anymore. Especially to you. We had been best buddies for many years. We were 2 totally different characters. We've often been at loggerheads with each other, whether in opinion-wise or about other people. Yet we've always been there for each other, through thick and thin, near or far, even across countries and continents, in so many ways. And when it happened, our friendship was broken just like that. Perhaps we've never really tell each other how and what we felt about it, but I would like to say "I'm sorry and I forgive you for what has happened". Please know that, despite that, despite what other people thinks about it, you or even about us, I am still there for you, by your side, and I still believe in you. Please know that although I'm probably non-existent in your life anymore, you still exists in mine. I hope that, someday, we can rekindle our friendship..

Christmas is a time for remembrance to everything we have ever loved. I lost my grandfather this year. I still keep the SMS my cousin brother sent to me, telling me that my grandfather has passed away. I know that I will never be able to forgive myself for not being able to say a proper "Goodbye" to him. Although I hadn't been very close to him in the recent years and that he had been gone for half a year now, I still miss him very much. He was the strength of unity within the family of 4 generations. He would always be so concerned whenever any of us travel abroad or even just to and fro Segamat. He could be stern, yet always ever ready with a smile. I regret taking him for granted, that he would always be there. I wish I knew him better when he was alive. He was never a Christmas believer, but I hope that wherever he is now, he is in a much happier place, that he knows that I miss him a lot and that he'll always be in my memory.

Christmas is a time for renewed faith and hope. There had been so much of disappointments, loss of faith and strength in facing life's obstacles this year. Regardless of whether it happened to me, my loved ones, friends, colleagues or anyone else. As the new year approaches, I hope that they will not give up, yet learn to be stronger to withstand all the challenges that will be thrown upon them. I hope that they will not be afraid to fall and no matter how much they fall, they will always stand up on their feet back again. I hope that they will not take the easy way out, yet always try to look at the bright side of life.

Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, to goodwill towards men, to peace on earth. We had so much of terrorism going on this year, and how can we forget the Iraqi war. I hope that the people will stop fighting and stop hating each other. I hope that they will be able to make amends, to forgive each other's wrongdoings and to start doing good. I hope that the new year will bring peace amongst people, regardless of skin colour and religion. I hope that when the new year draws nearer, the world will be a safer, less sufferring and a better place to live in...

May everyone have a blessed Christmas this year....

This Week's FridayFive

1. List your five favorite beverages.
Ribena!!! Preferably chilled one.. Hehehe... My all-time fav since I was a kid. ;) Ok ok... 4 more... Erhm... Milo ais... Coconut (it's still a beverage, right?)... Vanilla milkshake... And watermelon juice.

2. List your five favorite websites.
I can't really list out my website, can I? It will have to be Y!Mail coz that's where I check my mails, Circles99 to keep in touch with my SAS and Sheffield buddies, Nokia so that I can keep myself update with their phones (so that I can buy one!)... Can't think of 2 more lar...

3. List your five favorite snack foods.
Cheezels... Rollercoaster... Doritos... What else....... Ahhh... Twisties Chicken and Pringles!

4. List your five favorite board and/or card games.
One of my favs would be this card game called In-Between. I had so much fun playing it, especially with my classmates during our post-Grad days in Sheffield where Meng Koon lost like, 20 - 30 pounds, I think. And that also, we were only playing a penny per person each round!! Hehehe... The other games that I enjoy playing would be Monopoly, Chor Dai Dee, Jenga (the suspense of "Oh no! It's falling!!") and Boggle (yes, I'm a nerd).

5. List your five favorite computer and/or game system games.
The first thing that came into my mind is Lemonade Tycoon. Hehehe.. It's like, the easier and the most unstressful game! Next would be Hexic (on MSN), Insaniquarium (on my Clie, I can get so addicted to it, feeding the fishes and all), Bejeweled (another addictive game on my Clie) and Harvest Moon on PS2. ;)

Tree, Leaf and Wind

Got this article from Derek. Apparently, it's originally translated from a Chinese article. It's about 3 person's side of their story in a love triangle. Quite touching lar. Will write more about the article later.. Read on...

"Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay."

Tree
===

The reason I'm called Tree is because I'm good at painting trees. Overtime I started to paint a tree in the right hand corner as a trademark for all my watercolor paintings. I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There's one girl whom I loved a lot but never dared go after. She didn't have a pretty face, nor a good figure, or outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl.

I like her. I really like her. Like her innocence, her frankness. Like her cuteness, her intelligence and her fragility. My reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary was not good enough for me. I was also afraid that if we got together all the special feelings I had would vanish. I feared that other people's gossiping would hurt her. I also felt that if she was meant to be my girl, she would be mine ultimately and I didn't have to give everything up just for her. The last reason made her stay with me for 3 years. She watched me chase after other girls for 3 years, and I made her heart cry for 3 years.

She wanted to be a good actress and I was a very demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled and said "Go on!" before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like walnuts. I purposely ignored what had caused her to cry and instead, laughed at her the whole day. When everyone else went back home, she sat alone crying in the classroom. She didn't know that I had returned from soccer training to get something. I watched her cry for an hour or so.

My fourth girlfriend didn't like her. There was once when both of them quarrelled. I know that based on her character she was not the one who had started off the quarrel. But I still sided with my girlfriend. I shouted at her and her eyes were filled with shock. I didn't care about her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she still laughed and joked with me as though nothing happened. I know that she was very hurt but she didn't know that my heart ached as badly as hers.

When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. After going out for a day, I told her that I had something to tell her. She told me that coincidentally, she had something to tell me too. I told her about my breakup and she told me about her getting together with someone else. I know who the guy was. He had been going after her for quite a while. He was a very cute guy who was full of energy, lively and interesting. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the school.

I couldn't let her know how my heart ached but could only smile and congratulate her. When I reached home, my heart ached so bad that I can't stand it. There was like a heavy weight upon my chest. I couldn't breathe. I wanted to shout but couldn't. Tears rolled down and I broke down and cried. How many times have I seen her cry for the man that didn't even acknowledge her presence?

During graduation, I read a sms in my handphone. It was sent 10 days ago when I broke down and cried, but I hadn't read it since then. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay."


Leaf
===

During Pre-U days, I liked to collect leaves. Why? Because I felt that for a leaf to leave the tree she has relied on for so long it takes a lot of courage. During the 3 years of Pre-U I was on very close terms with a guy. Not the BGR kind but the buddy kind. But when he had his first girlfriend, I learned a feeling I never should have learnt - jealousy. The sourness in the heart couldn't be described using a lemon. It's Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my strong sense of happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.

I like him and I know he likes me. But why wouldn't he pursue me? Since he loved me why didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would ache. Time after time, my heart was hurt again and again. I began to suspect this was a one sided love. But if he didn't like he, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you would do for a normal friend. Liking a person is very heart wrenching. I may know his likes, his dislikes, his habits, etc. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me, a girl, to ask him right?

Despite all this, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, love him, hoping that one day, he will love me too. I waited for his phone call every night, wanting him to send me sms. I know that no matter how busy he was, he would make time for me. Because of this, I waited for him. The 3 years were the hardest to go through and I really wanted to give up. At times, I wondered whether I should continue waiting. The pain, the hurt, and the dilemma accompanied me for 3 long years.

Towards the end of my 3rd year, a 2nd year junior began to go after me. Everyday he pursued me relentlessly. From outright rejection to a point in time when I felt that I was willing to let him have a small footing in my heart. He's like a warm and gentle wind, trying to blow a leaf away from the tree. In the end, I realised that I didn't want to give this wind just a small footing in my heart. I know this wind will bring this badly battered leave far away to a better land. Finally I left Tree. But Tree only smiled and didn't ask me to stay. Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay.


Wind
====

I like a girl called Leaf. Because she's so dependent on Tree, I have to be a gust of Wind, a wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was one month after I transferred to the new school. I saw a petite girl looking at my seniors and I playing soccer. During CCA time, she would always be sitting there looking at him, be it alone or with her friends. When he talked with other girls, there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's happiness in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit, the way she liked to look at him.

One day, she wasn't there. I felt something was amiss. I can't explain the feeling except that it's a sense of uneasiness. The senior was also not there. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scold her. Tears were in her eyes when he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place looking at him. I walked over and smiled at her, took out a note and gave it to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled and accepted the note. The next day, she passed me a note and left.

"Leaf's heart is too heavy and Wind couldn't blow her away."

"It's not that Leaf's heart is too heavy. It is because Leaf never wanted to leave Tree. "

I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me and accepted my presents and phone calls. I know that the person she loved wasn't me. But I had the perseverance that one day, I could make her like me. Within 4 months, I had declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she would divert away from the topic. But I never gave up. If I decided I wanted her to be mine, I would definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I had declared my love for her. Although I knew she would try to divert, I still had a small glimmer of hope, hoping that she would agree to be my girlfriend.

I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone, so I asked "What are you doing? Why didn't you reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head." "Ah?" I couldn't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head," she replied loudly. I hanged up the phone, changed quickly, took a taxi, rushed to her place and pressed her door bell. When she opened the door. I hugged her tightly. Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay.

Tolkien For Bengs

Found a pretty interesting article by Talking Cock on a "brief" explanation of Lord of the Rings. Pretty funny, especially if you understand Hokkien. Hehehe... Read on...

So the new Lord of the Rings movie is coming out, and you want to impress some Ah Lian you're trying to buaya by being able to explain the whole complicated plot with all the funny sounding names and words. You want to seem like you've actually read all 3 books, but - damn suay - even The New Paper is too 'cheem' for you. Neh'mine! Dun scared! Here is our easy to understand guide to J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, written especially in the conversational style of Ah Bengs, so you can memorize :

The Fellowship of the Ring :
Last time got this short-short person with si-beh hairy legs called Bilbo, lor. He, hor, got this ring that last time belong to some monster.
But then, hor, one day suay-suay the monster want it back, and send his kah kiah to Bilbo's house to settle, lah.
But the ring, hor, acherly can make people very powderful. But then, hor, if you wear too long will also kena sai. Si beh hiong one, so better faster go and destroy it, lor.
So Bilbo's nephew Frodo... Aiyah, dun ask me why their name all so funny, can or not? You ask me, I ask who?
Anyway, Frodo and some peng yew kena arrow to go and destroy the ring.
But donno why also, they must do it in the monster's home, which is at the end of New Zealand there.
So they walk and walk and walk across New Zealand, lah. And then along the way, got monster chase them, got people want to hoot them, some of them dieded, all sorts of thing, lah.
At the end, Frodo and Sam, his pooi-pooi friend who I think so is a bit ah quah, got separated from the rest.

The Two Towers :
Frodo and Sam meet up with this thing called Gollum, who look like he take too much Slim 10 like that.
At the same time, hor, the other friends get into some powderful hooting session, where, wah lau eh, even the trees can do gongfu one. They all fight over what, I also donno, but quite kan cheong, lah.

The Return of the King :
In the end, Frodo and his peng yew all win leow, lah. Arbuthen?

- This condensed version of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy was brought to you courtesy of the Coxford Singlish Dictionary.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Ok... So it's not true... But it's not too early to get into the Christmas mood, right? So for those who just feel like singing that Christmas song, view this . And oh, be forewarned, it's those cute cute, animation kind, so if you're not into cute stuff, just errr... Close your eyes and only listen to the background music. Hehehe...

Bug Attack

I've finally been shot down by the flu bug.. Yes, Mr.Bug, you've finally won. I've skipped work today and been given 2 days MC along with bundles of pills and a cough syrup. Not that it's very necessary (the 2 days MC, I mean), coz I'm gonna go back to work tomorrow, I told the doctor, but she said "Why not I just give you 2 days, and if you feel you're up and going by tomorrow, then cancel tomorrow's MC". Bad doctor... Very bad doctor.. Urgh.. The thing I don't like about these medicines is that they leave a very funny, bland taste in the mouth, where you just feel like you wanna puke anytime. And that's not a very nice feeling. It makes you feel so weak that you just wanna sleep all day long and then you wake up feeling so lethargic. I don't know about you, but whenever I'm sick, I tend to have nightmares where I'm mostly stuck in a compact space, images of boxes keep appearing in front of me and they keep increasing in size, and more boxes appear, slowly overcrowding the whole space, suffocating me. And then I'll wake up feeling very nauseous.

Sighz.. I hate being sick... Don't you, too?