ONLY BY GRACE

What a trip! 9 of us set off for a 3days, 2night getaway to Batam and it turned out to be a blast. It was our first ever attempt at organizing a class getaway and even though 9 responded this time round, I still felt that this trip was a quality one. At the end of the day its not about the numbers but rather the quality of the company and friendship we get through it all. We each spent about $300 for the trip but considering the fun we had, the food we indulged in and the adventures we splurged on, the cost was reasonably reasonable! Here's a breakdown of what we did during the trip: 1. Adventure package of: - parasailing - jet-skiiing - banana boating 2. Seafood dinner (2 nights) - black pepper and steamed crabs - nestum prawn - garlic fried chicken 3. Cable Skiing (8hours - abt $40) 4. KTVing (1hr) Personally, it was a cool time. Just being able to go on a short getaway and do some of the water sports that I won't do in Singapore because its just so expensive! So I just play...

AT LONG LAST! WE FINALLY MET! The last date was at PS cafe (quite romantic), this time at Canele (Scotts). After the ding-dong on sat, we finally met up but an unexpected boo boo came up. Crazy woman Jo told me to meet at City Hall's Canele but she ended up at Orchard's outlet with her sis and bro-in-law! How clever right??? I know. Of course, me being accomodating and very nice, rushed down to Isetan Scotts. :) Anyhow, we had a pretty nice fare for afternoon tea. Had this toasted bread with sunny side up on top, and ham in between the toast with delicious cheese melted all over the bread. (hmmm..i cannot remember the name. too complicated to remember!) A fare that I thought could be possibly made by any of us but its the cheese that makes all the difference. Then we had the desserts - macarons and macha cake! According to Jo's sis and bro-in-law, this is as good as eating sugar itself! Haha...actually its quite a sugar rush upon first bite but overall taste, not bad. My v...

Feeling utterly bored on a Sat! Woke up at 9am (instead of 7am to do my run) coz I was so tired last night. The Barker's run compounded by little sleep the previous night due to Ed Psych essay enabled me to sleep so soundly till this morning! :) That Jonana not available for our long awaited high-tea session and I have the afternoon free. Waiting for the ODACians next move in their RITE so I can meet them for a short while. Meanwhile, I'm 'buah long longing' at home. This is crazy lor.....I think after all the hoo ha over my assignments in the last few weeks my whole system has to re-adjust to the 'more relaxed' mode. Haha...can relax now but don't know how to! So silly and bizzare! It always happens. When I'm free and want to meet up with people, somehow these people are not free! Then when they ask me out, I'm not available. Timing usually this salah parking lor. And I want to have time alone, people will also ask me out! But when I don't want...

Almost a week since I last blogged. Come to think about it, not sure what I have been busy with, except for the brain-tangling ed psych essay which I am finally done with!!! What a relief. It is officially my last assignment for the semester and I can rest easy. Ok Ok...there's exams but revision can wait! Haha Memorable moments this week: 1. Accompanying my grandpop for his radiation treatment. This week was my first time with him at the centre and emotions inevitably welled up. I didn't cry but felt a bit sad to see my bestest friend having to make his daily trips to NCC for treatment. But he's such a role model. His spirit is still going strong and for his age, his perserverance is commendable! I have so much to learn from grandpop. His throat is feeling more sore this week and treatment has gone into 2nd phase (zero in on tumor) yet he's always determined to rise above the discomfort and carry out his daily routines as far as possible. I know and I sense his wearine...

This week marks the last week for most of my modules in NIE. As I looked back on the last 13 weeks, I'm speechless as to how time passes this quickly. I still remember the 1st day of my 2 year course in NIE very vividly. A lost sheep! No friends (then) in my class and course and was just roaming around to get myself 'warmed up' to my new surroundings and people. And before I knew it, almost 3 months gone by. What can I say except to really acknowledge how true this adage is; " TIME AND TIDE WAITS FOR NO MAN" . Scary as it may be, but I've since learnt to cherish every moment that I have and to enjoy it to the fullest (not always possible!) Now I can say, I really have made friends in NIE and I am loving my class. Well, still trying to get to know some better but I know we will get there. Today was my last POG lesson and I kind of had mixed feelings. Strangely. Towards the middle part of the module, I really struggled to come to terms with the disparity in the ...

Short and succint I shall be... 1. A PERSON WITHOUT DREAMS IS LIKE A BIRD WITH BROKEN WINGS, WHICH CANNOT TAKE FLIGHT. So what's your dream? What's my dream? 2. GREATER LOVE HAS NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS (John 15:13) The greatest challenge - to love others more than self. But it has been done.

The day started pretty alright. I actually woke up looking forward to what was ahead of me. After all, I get to play and play...that's when I'm most happy! Some highlights: 1. 1 hr of solid play of handball during Principles Of Games lesson 2. Inter-class Floorball in the evening The Sunshine Team. My handball team for POG. We were a bunch of handball greenhorns but we played to the best of our abilities and came in 4th out of 4 teams! Haha My class's floorball team. Played well (as usual) and we qualified for another round of play-offs on Friday My class. Finally a complete shot captured. With us are our lecturers for POG - Mr Swarup and Mr Gurmit. The adrenaline from all the play didn't really last long. All of a sudden after POG lesson, this wave of loneliness hit me. Class dimissed and my gal classmates left (2 of them only); the guys either went off as well or played soccer, BB etc. There and then, I didn't know where to go. I wanted to rest because of the ICG ...

Anais and myself finally satisfied our craving for chilli crab...after 2 weeks! YESSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH.........:) happy happy! Together with Ben, Brian and my sis, we headed to Sembawang to indulge in some seafood delicacies that included huge cereal prawns and stingray. It was also a form of celebration for Anais who graduated not too long ago! You bet we were so stuffed after that! Anais still wanted ice-cream after the meal but we were already max. out in terms of stomach's space and capacity. Yummy food was of course the highlight but what was more memorable was the company. First time hanging out with Ben and Brian and it turned out to be a hilarious time! Good food eaten with 'happening' people makes it even more tasty. I treasured this time of fellowshipping as I got to see a different side of people and getting to know them better. More of such makan sessions is good for bonding! Singaporean leh..:) From left: Ben, Jasmine (sis), me, Anais and Brian Happy we went, tota...

At long last...this week is over! The bulk of my assignments is done and submitted and I'M JUST SO RELIEVED AND HAPPY. Finally I can breathe and not awake every morning having to think of what else to do for my assignments. Brain torture! Hair-whitening and dropping experience. Today after submitting my POG assignment (the bane of my week!) and completing the podcast...I zipped out of school! My friend was commenting I'm like this jailbird that got released! Ha..spot on description! I am going to so enjoy my weekend and make up for the last 2 weeks of hard work and being cooped up in school to mull over the assignments! I still have assignments for the next few weeks but nah...not going to fret over them coz they are more managable and AT THIS MOMENT....assignments are non-existent on my list of important things to do! Hahahaha.........there's a time for everything and its time to R & R! I had the impulse to call Sim Sim while in school to arrange a date tonight as I ...