Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Gunong Ledang here we come...
I can't sleep so I shall post.
Next March we, and some 30 plus others, are going to tackle Mount Ophir, also known as Gunong Ledang. This is off the sleepy town of Tangkak, some 2 hrs up the North South Highway of Malaysia. Think the peak is 5000 ft. Takes a fit adult about 5-6 hrs. Since none of us are fit, it might take the whole day. Some parts of the climb require using all fours to heave oneself up vertical inclines. This is all very exciting. The plan is to spend one night up there camping near the summit. Tim is nagging me to whip the boys into shape. There are a few waterfalls enroute to the summit. Sounds lovely but what I'm really thinking is.....there'll be leeches lurking in the water.
Many moons ago when I was in Sec 2, I had the privelege of tackling Mount Kinabalu. That's like the highest peak in SE Asia - something like 14,000 ft. Of course, ignorance is bliss and I had no idea what I was getting into. My dad was the BB President then and merrily asked if I wanted to tag along. Sure, why not?
My friend Tina and I were the only girls in a platoon of BB boys & men. We were as slow as snails. I really didn't want to walk anymore...but all these boys (on their way down while we were still struggling to go up) kept telling me that my dad was sitting up on the peak waiting for me!
All the way up I kept thinking to myself - this is really dangerous, it's so easy to fall off and die or get lost, how can my dad bring me up this mountain and not tell me it's so dangerous, i can't believe dad got up there so fast when he never exercises, why can't somebody just carry me up, wow we are really high up......
Well, I made it up and down and so glad I had the chance.
Looking forward to torturing my boys next March. Huh huh huh...

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Nail Art
Finally went to utilise a gift I received for my birthday - a manicure pedicure! Now I can't stop looking at my nails. It's rather nice. I'd post a pic but haven't figured out how to do that yet. Had these cool flowers painted on my two thumbs. That nail artist guy had really steady hands. He managed to squeeze 5 flowers on each thumb. Each flower has 5 petals. Even now, I find myself checking out my thumbs thinking.........that really looks good. The boys were funny. They were sniffing my nails to see if they could get high on the smell. Now I'm beginning to wonder. Will this luxury once enjoyed become a necessity?

Monday, November 28, 2005

Satan's Convention
Just received this email from a good friend. Read it before some time back but misplaced it. Found it thought-provoking then....still do. Sharing it with you.

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and
knowing the truth."
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate
relationship with their savior."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power
over them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their
covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they
don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus
Christ."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and
maintaining that vital connection throughout their
day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and
invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he
answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow,
borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and
the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a
day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will
offer no escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear
that still, small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player
whenever they drive." "To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and
their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it
that every store and restaurant in the world plays
non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with
Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and
newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order
catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter
and promotional offering free products, services and
false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV
so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is
what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with
their wives. "
"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at
night."
Give them headaches too!
"If they don't give their husbands the love they need,
they will begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them Santa Clause to distract them from teaching
their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about
his resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on
God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting
events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. "Keep
them busy, busy, busy!"
"And w hen they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve
them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with
troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have
no time to seek power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength,
sacrificing their health and family for the good of
the cause."
"It will work!" "It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing
Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed,
going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus
to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful
in h is schemes?
You be the judge!!!
Does "BUSY" mean:
B-eing
U-nder S-atan's
Y-oke?
Pope Urban II's best sermon ever...
The date was 27nov but in 1095. This fellow delivered what historians deem the most effective sermon of all time. Why? It was so eloquent, so effective, so moving.........that it launched the First Crusade. Having seen the movie "The Kingdom of Heaven" (with that dishy guy Orlando Bloom), I get a picture of the passion behind it all. The madness also. Seems so plainly illogical & un-Christian, to try to take back the Holy Land by force. The scary thing to me. There's a catch-phrase in the movie that drives the adrenaline of the people. They rah-rah themselves up by chanting "God wills it! God wills it!". Amazing but history speaks for itself. I believe they believed they were doing the will of God. Their leader affirmed it. The church drove it. How could so many people be wrong & be misled like that? Crowd mentality maybe?
On hindsight though, what they did was not biblical at all. Far from it. So the challenge I think is not to be biblically-illiterate. It's good....important, to know what the Good Book says. Regardless of how moving or 'correct sounding' a sermon or talk is, regardless of how well respected the speaker is......there is no substitute for personal study of what the Bible says.

Friday, November 25, 2005

Yadayadayada.......
One of my favourite persons on this planet shared this piece of information with me.

Vaso-vagal syncope is the medical term for a common cause of fainting. In this disorder, the nervous reflexes which control heart rate and blood pressure behave abnormally causing a drop in blood pressure and a fainting spell.

We are of the same vintage, go back a looooong way....and share this abnormality. When we drink and stand up too quickly, we faint. She suffered the indignity of this in a hotel lobby and had to be carried to her room. I've also landed on a few people unexpectedly and they kindly bore my weight. The conclusion - when we drink, we better not stand up. Thing is....whenever I drink, I also need to use the restroom a lot. Well, when there is a will, there is way - so the saying goes. So I'm thinking.....one day, Tim will come home and wonder where I am. I'll be yelling from the throne:
I'm in here....having my evening cocktail!

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Here's a quickie. Have to go out and eat again. For the record, I'm weighing in at 53kg now. Sigh...
Tonight we're taking them to Sanur @ Centrepoint. That kind of food has to be consumed with a lot of rice. There goes my waist. Like we used to say in school - in through the lips, straight to the hips.
Tim kindly disposed of the vermin last night. He asked me what my preference was - drowning or boiling. I refused to answer. Next I heard this awful squealing from where they were. After a few seconds, silence ensued. I think he chose the latter otherwise the sounds would have been gurgling right?
Stay tuned. My next post is going to be about vaso-vagal syncope. And it is not at all about what one might think it is about!
Extreme Materialism
Tim's cousin & family are in town visiting this week and we've been eating out every day. Been eating way too much. Worst part is the realization that the eating frenzy has begun and will continue throught Christmas & New Year...and only end next Jan after Chinese New Year. Anyway, they've been based in Tokyo for the last few years. Discovered that the Japanese society is extremely materialistic. Apparently there is an obsession to always have the latest equipment. Anything that is over 3 years old loses value & gets chucked. That's how they got their 3 yr old Mazda stationwagon for US$4000. In some neighbourhoods, one can see TVs & other equipment on the roads because they have to make way for the latest stuff. They wanted to bring in their own Thai rice but weren't allowed. So they have to buy the Japanese rice for US$50/bag. Tim's cousin couldn't bring herself to buy fruits for the first year they were there because it was so expensive. I'll have these images in my mind when I visit Vietnam next week - one of the poorest countries in the world.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Thinking happy thoughts
I'm so looking forward to next weekend. I'm going to follow Tim up to Ho Chi Minh City. He has to do business there and we're going to take the weekend before his work to play tourist together. Looking forward to eating. Also, it's always good to get out of Singapore and leave the kids behind for a change. Plan on checking out the infamous tunnels there and do some shopping I suppose. I'm not much of a shopper and I can't bargain for nuts. Got what I think is a great deal on the airfare. The taxes ($50) cost more than the flight ($40) each way. The only other budget airline I've flown is Value Air, so I wonder what Tiger Air will be like. The hotel is going to be free because we're swopping some Amex points for complimentary hotel stays instead. Went to the Queenstown library yesterday to borrow a whole bunch of travel books on Vietnam to read up. During this holiday period, you can borrow twice the number of books with each card - 8!
Trapped the last rat
He's in the rat trap sitting on the grass outside the back of the house. Tim says since he set the trap, it's my job to get rid of it. The little fella looks a lot like what my gerbils looked like. There's no way I'm killing that thing but then I can't let it loose either. I'm in a dilemma...

Monday, November 21, 2005

Reflections from seminar
Last week I attended Benny Ho's seminar titled "Finding Balance in an Overloaded World" at Wesley Methodist Church. Sharing some of the things that left footprints in my head.

stress is not based on circumstances, it's based on our response to the circumstances
that would explain why we all react differently to the same things, eg. deadlines, exams. we can be cool or we can work ourselves batty. just depends on how we react to it. and that it is possible to choose to respond to these things in a calm, controlled manner.

we are living a margin-less lifestyle
best illustration of this is imagining two pages full of words - one with a decent margin on all sides, and another with no margin. when there's no margin, there is no room for error. our lives are choc-a-block with too many things. too busy. there's hardly any room to breathe. for our sanity, we need to put in more margin. the more margin we have, the better our health - be it emotional, mental whatever. margin actuallly grants us more freedom.

we are ruled by the tyranny of the urgent
we are impacted by our surroundings. when in fact, it should be the other way around. we should impact our surroundings.
things that are important may not be urgent. however, over time, the important things WILL become urgent. however, by then, it will be a very differerent ballgame. for example, a teeny tiny cavity. it's not urgent but it is important. because in time, that cavity will get bigger & bigger. it will become urgent when it manifests itself as a throbbing toothache. if too late, it will have to be extracted. big consequence for ignoring the important when it was not yet urgent.

learn to do less for greater impact
we need to prune our activity branch.

There's a lot more but I'm going to stop here and chew on these for a while.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Read this somewhere and heard it mentioned again last night....
Most people buy things they don't need with money they don't have to impress people they don't like!
Think there may be some truth to that...

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Good & Bad Sales Service
Yesterday evening Jean Danker & Rod Monteiro were playing a phone trick live on radio. It was hilarious. I was driving at the time & I was laughing so hysterically, my eyes were tearing & I couldn't see the road properly. Jean Danker made a call and was making inquiries about yoga & pilates classes. Rod Monteiro was making increasingly loud farting noises in the background to give the impression it came from Jean. It sounded very authentic. The sales person was spectacular. Throughout the entire call, he was utterly composed and sounded very earnest. Some of the off beat inquiries included how yoga or pilates could help Jean combat her gassy problem, whether the room was small or big and if it was well scented in the event of her flatulence, and what this sales person could recommend for her to decrease her gaseousness. In the end, they let him in on the prank and bestowed on him some "Best Sales Service" award.

Bad service. I was killing some time at Toa Payoh Central yesterday in between running errands. Went to check out a few health & beauty shops - you know, the type that sells the gamut from cosmetics to shampoo to any sort of toiletries. There are always a few competitors & they're always next to each other. Must be tough for business but I think it's great for consumers. Thought I'd pick up some zit cream for my zits (yes, been eating a lot of chocolates again). Was torn between two brands. Then one sales lady offered her help.
Me: Which brand do you recommend?
Sales Lady: Is this for you?
Me: Yes...need something for my pimples.
SL: Oh....it's for you ah (starts to examine my face in detail)
Me: Yes? (waiting expectantly for an answer)
SL: (continues to look disdainfully at my face...specifically at my pimples)
Me: Err....(furrowed eyebrows..then raised eyebrows indicating I'm still waiting)
SL: (doesn't say anything just continues looking at my face)
Me: Err....Which of these brands is more popular?
SL: Hmmm...actually it depends on what you like lah. (eyes still fixated on my pimples)
Me: Yes...thank you. Think I'll just take this one.
Sheesh! As if I'm not having a bad enough time dealing with my face!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Sharing about my mother...

This was published in the Presbyterian Messenger on 31st December 1977.

In Memoriam - Koh Choon Neo 1938-1977
It is very sad that in every recent issue of the Messenger we have had to record the death of some valiant Christian leader whom the Church could ill spare in these strenous days. Such a one was Mrs Lee Soo Ann, nee Koh Choon Neo, who died on 18th November and was cremated on Saturday 19th at 4.30pm. The cremation at Mt Vernon was preceded by a funeral service at her home, 11 Victoria Park Road, at 3pm conducted by the Rev Dr Gunnar Teilmann. Dr Frank Balchin led in prayer at the service, the Teachers' Choir sang a beautiful setting of The Lord's My Shepherd, and Mr Fok Tai Loy , a fellow-member of Prinsep St Presbyterian Church and friend of the family paid tribute to Mrs Lee's life and work at the cremation service. People from all walks of life, from the University, the professions, the educational world, the Kuo Chuan Girls' School, the Counselling Centre, the Presbyterian Synod, the Prinsep St Presbyterian Church, and other churches, and from the Metropolitan YMCA gathered to pay their last respects.
Mrs Lee was born in Singapore and brought up at the Prinsep St Presbyterian Church where her whole family attended and as a girl she was an active member of the Girls' Brigade. After University, teacher training and graduate work in California, she was appointed to the staff of the Teachers' Training College and lectured there for many years during the principalship of Dr Ruth Wong. She was married to Dr Lee Soo Ann in Prinsep St Presbyterian Church, they had known each other for many years, and they have two children, Justin now aged 14 and Ming-Ying aged 12.
When Ms Monica Sirkett retired from the principalship of Kuo Chuan Girls' School in 1972, the School Board invited Mrs Lee to take over. During her five years in the School she maintained the good academic standard that had been built up and with the keen cooperation of the School Chaplain, now also the Chairman of the Board, the Rev Lim Kim Toin, and the teachers, kept up the reputation of the school as a vital centre of Christian influence. As Headmistress she was both firm and kind. She never let her attacks of rheumatoid arthiritis which made walking, or indeed any movement, painful and difficult, curtail her activities. She continued to drive her car right up to the end, except when she was off on sick leave. She also joined a group on an educational tour of China. This was typical of her eagerness to widen her horizons and gain new experiences. Mrs Lee showed great energy and determination in seeing through to a successful conclusion the plan to add a third storey with science labs, and a library to the school buildings and in taking a major share in raising the $300,000 needed. Although she was in hospital for a stomach ulcer operation when Ms Sirkett, on a return trip to Singapore financed by the O.G.A., formally opened the new extension, she struggled up to be present a few weeks later when the O.G.A. and the school staff gave Ms Sirkett a welcome dinner. The operation was successful but the strain must have weakened her considerably. Recovery was slow but she insisted on going back to work. However the doctors were not satisfied and so she was admitted to Toa Payoh Hospital for a thorough check-up. While she was there a collapse occurred and she was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital in a coma. Although life was prolonged for several days, in the end, irreparable brain damage made recovery impossible. So ended a life in which much was accomplished in a short time. Her long experience of pain did not embitter Mrs Lee but gave strength to her character and maturity to her outlook. It did not make her a hypochondriac but on the contrary increased her concern for others. This was especially shown in the counselling service for students that she set up in the school and in her taking on the chairmanship of the management committee of the Churches' Counselling Centre directed by Dr Teilmann. Mrs Lee was not afraid to speak her mind and to stand by her decisions but she was always cheerful and welcoming. She had a tremendous zest for life combined with a sincere and unwavering faith. Those who can remember her at the time of her marriage will cherish the vision of a lovely, talented and charming girl. Those who worked with her professionally will remember a sensitive mature woman with a deep belief in education. Those who share her faith, will believe that she receives her reward in the realm of the blessed redeemed, who praise God with unwearied song.

Friday, November 11, 2005

The pest control technicians just left. The dead rat was in the drain - just outside the boys' bathroom. They also found two live rats hiding in Tim's bucket of coral (not being used but meant for the fish tank). Saw them jabbing furiously with their rotans - one escaped, one whacked dead. Now I'm $85 poorer but no choice.
Just as their van leaves, I decide to get my letters from the mailbox. Guess what? There's a dead lizard with ants crawling all over it sitting amongst my piles of letters. AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHH...............

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Dead Rat
Few weeks back we heard very enthusiastic nocturnal activity going on above our ceiling boards. Sounded like more than one rat....and very heavy-footed fellows on top of that. Like they were playing catching while we were desperately trying to sleep. So, out came the rat poison. This stuff is supposed to make them thirsty and therefore drive them to look for water - so they ought to die outside of the house, in some drain far away. Don't know what happened this time. Now there's a putrid smell that's stinking up the boys' bathroom. It's not the dog doo and it smells suspiciously of death. I dare not look for the corpse. That'll give me nightmares for the rest of my life.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Spiritual Direction
Sharing some stuff I picked up on this discipline. Basically, it is the intention and attention to listen to God. To give my first ear to the Holy Spirit, my second ear to what my heart is telling me and my third ear to the speaker/preacher. It's different, although has similarities, to discipling, mentoring and pastoral counselling. There are differences in the roles of the helper and goals of the learner in those.
The main process of Spiritual Direction is through noticing and paying attention. The key element is silence. The other key difference is that there is no 'advice' given by the 2-3 other people in the group. It's about taking a very intentional step out of the busy-ness of every day life, being silent for a period of time so that I can listen with my first ear to what the Holy Spirit is saying to me. The others may respond to what I shared by asking questions that will help me clarify what I heard or affirming it, by sharing what the Holy Spirit told them.
I was blessed. The hour of silence, to my utmost surprise, flew by very quickly. The two people in my group affirmed & encouraged me in what I inwardly already knew. The verse that appeared through one of them was Ezekiel 36:26
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
It's too long a story but basically, that is a very special verse for me. It was just what I needed to hear, to be reminded of, to be encouraged by, to give me the strength and faith to strain forward.....to "press on".

Monday, November 07, 2005

ACSI Gala Dinner
Dolled up a little for last night's dinner and tried to behave myself in the company of the rich and rich. All this in the name of education. Was invited so didn't have to rob a bank. Food was lavish. Ate my four figure $ worth....that's per person. Anyway, there was an auctioneer from Sotheby's who helped to raise mucho $$. The watches....which to me, a watch plebeian....looked like....duh....watches......went for $$$$. Some paintings also. A 1981 bottle of wine...sure hope they stored that properly....otherwise it'd be very expensive vinegar. The bidding was very fast. It only slowed down when Lot 10 appeared.
Lot 10 - Pantheon Grande Reserve Tourbillion.
That's a clock by the way. The starting bid was $25K. Silence. I was really amused when the auctioneer tried to encourage more bids by pointing out how useful it could be.
"What a lovely timepiece. It can help you tell the time accurately. Tell you what time to pick up your sons from school. Tell you what time to send them to tuition....."
It was sold for $32K. What a good man he is.
The other item I found amusing was Lot 12.
Lot 12 - AriesRam 3 wood golf club (signed, SM Goh Chok Tong)
This is terrible but I absolutely loved the picture of that well used....make that, very well used.....golf club. It looks very much like my very well used golf club.
Funny world we live in.
Dogs on water
Happy to report that Baobei does not get sea sick. We took her sailing on Juno (our 24ft sailboat) yesterday. Not sure if she was water-safe, so was delighted that the boys' baby lifejacket fit her to a tee. She stayed in the cockpit the whole time like a good girl. Extremely proud that she didn't do any business....small or big....on board the boat. She exchanged some barks with fellow dogs on water at two fish farms/kelongs we passed along the way. There was 3 ugly mutts on the first one and 7 even uglier mutts on the second kelong. Bestow a new title for her - Baobei the Sea Dog. Still don't know if she can swim or not....

Friday, November 04, 2005

This week was packed. Had to host & facilitate a bsf fellowship lunch on Monday. That evening saw all 50+ relatives at a family gathering. Two uncles are looking decidedly older. One just started kidney dialysis & is really only a shade of his former self. Spent Tuesday from 10am to 10pm in Changi - roasting in the sun all day & playing host to another 50+ friends. Fun and enjoyable day. Wednesday evening - met a bunch of new friends who are living an alternative lifestyle through an old pal - we talked until 2:30am. That was very interesting. Still processing that. Thursday - from 930am to 5pm - in a seminar imbibing content on Spiritual Direction. Still digesting all that info. In the evening, entertained a lovely couple visiting from Hyderabad, India at Indochine at Empress Place. Those chairs are so comfortable and the atmosphere so laid back and dark, I grew increasingly sleepier as the night progressed. Realized I hadn't completed my assigned tasks, so decided to get power nap when got back at midnight - woke up at 2am, completed my tasks at 4am and went back to sleep again. Stupid dog was barking at 5am - let her into the kitchen so neighbours won't complain. Was refreshed at leaders' meeting this morning though bit groggy. Been wanting to take a power nap this afternoon so won't konk out at cell meeting tonight - but too much domestic backlog. Actually still need to make calls to a bunch of people but am procrastinating. More fun typing here trying to reflect on where my week went.....

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

5 Weird & Random things about myself

Mich tagged me for this game.
"Rules of the game: Post 5 Weird and Random facts about yourself, then at the end list the names of 5 people who are next in line to do this. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "You are tagged" in their blog and tell them to read yours."Five Weird & Random facts about myself:

Here goes:
1. In college, I dyed two patches of my hair orange - front & back. Looked like a punky skunk.
2. I am not a true blue MGS girl. Started off at Nanyang Girls School till P5.
3. I had a fave pillow called "nga nga" which I could not sleep without - for like 25 yrs. Could only bring myself to let it go when my firstborn popped out to replace it.
4. I am a closet alcoholic.....oops....*RA-18!*.....make that closet musician. I love to try & play all sorts of instruments but only in the closet. One day I do hope to come out of the closet.
5. I'm an introvert & painfully shy. I smile a lot to disguise this.

OK done. Revealed my guts and all.
I'm tagging these 5:
1. Bethany
2. Ivfen
3. Jermaine
4. Shu En
5. Charlotte