HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Sorry. One day late.
Thank you Lord for this greatest gift of our lives which we more often than not, neglect Him or take it for granted. This four weeks of Advent has been a packed but fulfilling one for me.
#1 Did not walked down Orchard Road or did any Xmas shopping at all. But i don't feel regretful.
#2 A challenging period of time trying to "give birth" to the Xmas pageant.
#3 Frustrations and stress over kitchen renovation works. But now that it's completed. Awesome.
#4 Fretting over Youth Room. But now at least several colour schemes are finalised and we're getting furniture soon.

What a fulfilling Advent season plus a short trip to Cambodia too. THank God for all the blessings and for helping me through the difficult times.

Xmas Pageant Midnight Mass.
Rushy rushy rushy. Din get the approval of the priest to dim the lights of the church, the multimedia image did not go well. Still, with faith, all of us still put in our best foot forward to deliver a meaningful and unique pageant for everybody. When I sang "The Answer", I could really sense the Holy Spirit working on me. It wasn't my best vocal then but it was my best delivery from deep within. At some point, tears nearly choked me. haha, luckily I pulled through fine. Anyhow, really really grateful for the bunch of people in the pageant for making everything possible, starting from nothing to something and ultimately to WONDER.
The climax continued to build up during the midnight mass as the whole church sang in UNISON loudly O COME O YE FAITHFUL for the entrance hymn. It almost have the atmosphere of a cathedral. It's heavenly. Everyone was rejoicing for this birth! It ended on another high with Joy To The World and Feliz Navidad with everybody participating. It's really once a year that this kind of spiritual high is experienced at a Mass. How i wish Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday would be the same too.


~
2 and a half more weeks to the start of another sch term. Checked my result today. No big surprises, just as expected...my grades quite stagnant now. Just hope that my CAP don't fall below 4.0 by the end of Yr4. Well, although ultimately when I graduate from my MAsters, it's just a pass/fail. Was thinking a lot the whole afternoon after the reveal of my results...i'm graduating soon...am I more suitable for the academic/research field? Or attempt the teaching path? Really don't fancy slogging my life in an architecture firm, I want to work with people, to give back to the society in a more direct way, and not being dictated by clients to build another super air-con luxurious hotel or shopping mall that consumes more energy, killing the earth and all about $$. Would venturing overseas be another choice for me? Hmm..not anytime soon. Decisions and discernment. Lord, please guide me.

Bon Voyage, Fr David

If I can recall correctly, I've not yet even spoken a full sentence to you except the brief "Hi"s and "Bye"s. Yet, I don't know why. I just have this close affinity to you. Perhaps because it's your love and concern that you kept showering over the youths in the church. You're stern in your sermons and loud-spoken that almost sounded like scoldings. But this does not hinder many of our respect and love for you. I will never forget the photo that captured you helping out the youths in the car-wash. I mean, how many priests will actually get involved directly in a car wash, getting yourself dirty and wet.
You went up during the masses and campaigned for the youth's fund-raising. You wanted Joachim to quickly get the furnishings of the youth room done up. You told him that you're eager to meet his youth team as much as we're eager to meet you for our AGM too. There're so many have-nots but i'm sure it'll be accomplished in one way or another in God's will.

18 Dec 07. 10am. A packed Holy Spirit Church. Your dear parishioners from St Bern, Holy Spirit and SFA all squeezed into the high capacity seating church. The most heartening moment to me also was when I saw all (almost) the priests in Singapore coming to send you off on this final journey. Be it compulsory or what, it's really a sight i must say, to see the altar filled with priests, young and old, saying the Eucharistic prayer together. And i'm sure you're doing the same do in the heavenly kingdom of God, watching down on us. Final leg to the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, yet another first time for me to attend a proper burial, some more a religious one in Singapore. The last one that i've been to was my grandfather's back in Melaka when I was only pri 6. The sun was scorching for a moment while in a distance we saw storm clouds coming too. Parishioners crowded the burial ground as we said our prayers and sang our songs. As flowers were offered to you, I looked up the sky and saw the sun shining ever so brightly from the eye of the rain cloud. Lord, I know you're witnessing this together with us and that you're inviting Fr David to Your house. About 11.30am, everything was over as everyone made their way to their buses and cars. Not long, the sky opened and tears from heaven filled the earth. The downpour came so timely and luckily it didn't take place during the burial. Fr David didn't want us to get wet.

Fr David, pls continue to watch over the youths of SFA. Pray for us in heaven. Pray that the Lord will send another faithful servant like you to continue to guide our parish. May you live happily ever after in the eternal kingdom of God.

4th Dec 07 to 9th Dec 07, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Finally squeeze in sometime to blog this before i totally lose the drive the write.

DAY 1.
Catched the flight at 6.00AM with 11 other studio mates. All feeling sianz to begin our 3 days of research once we touched down in Siem Reap. All looking forward to the 4th day and beyond. Hah. Totally zoned out on the plane. Landed on Siem Reap's soil on a cool and sunny Tuesday morning. The airport is quite architecturally impressive which brings out a authentic and vernacular feel and not some out of the place modern white box.

Checked out of airport and first person we saw was Richard, our studiomaster, to receive us as he's arrived a day ahead of us. How thoughtful. Had a nice breakfast beside our La Noria Guesthouse. Immediately, we're sent out to begin our research. Omg! The streets are terrifyingly dusty! No proper pavement and paved roads, heaps of sand and dust churned up by passing vehicles forms a haze over the street. Cannot take it, MASKS! Ok, besides the dust and all, Siem Reap town is quite an enchanting place too especially when we walked into certain urban enclaves with temples surrounded by schools, monastery and a community of houses.

It's a hot, tiring and dirty first day of research. Had a good dinner at Old Market Khmer Kitchen Restaurant and a good chat with one of the waiter. Most of the people there are so sweet and nice. They're less fortunate but they have the fighting spirit to work and study hard and learn English. Really impressed.

DAY 2.
Wonderful complimentary breakfast at the terrace of our guesthouse. So resort-y and kampung. Just feel like chilling out there for the whole morning. Set off to explore the river banks and checked out cool hotels that lined the river to cash in on tourism dollars. Interviewed a number of waiters, hotel receptionist, tuk-tuk drivers to find out more about the spatial organization of the traditional houses and settlements. Had a bit of accomplishment when we got one of the tuk-tuk drivers to bring us to a somewhat traditional house and we actually got to go inside. Luckily the owner of the house speaks fluent English too as he works in a hotel. *phew* finally. Also managed to bumped into a low-cost community housing near Wat Bo and interviewed a student staying there who just arrived a few days ago only from Phnon Penh. Insightful day indeed chatting with so many locals. I think the country speaks more English than Japan or Korea. Hah.

Ended the day with a shadow puppet show and cultural dance at our guesthouse terrace and great food. Check out the famous local Amok Fish. The kids doing the dance are so young yet very serious in every step they move. After the show, all the kids have to carry all those heavy instruments and props by themselves and load them up the lorry. Impressed.



DAY 3

Woke up and felt as if I've been here for a week or more after exploring each and every corner of Siem Reap town and speaking to the locals. It certainly helped us to know this city better than just walking around aimlessly like a typical tourist. We haven't even hit any major tourist attraction or historical monument. Well, not for today. Haha. Nicolas, Stacy and me (the archi typology grp) took the risk of venturing further to the outskirts of the town. Found a tuk-tuk driver who persuaded us to check out the Chong Nhnes Floating Village. It was quite a con for USD$15 including the boat ride, but heck, we enjoyed ourselves and it's beautiful.

Saw a floating Catholic church, rows and rows of floating houses and kids rowing to school, and some rowing to our boat to sell us drinks and snacks under the scorching hot sun. At the mouth of Tonle Sap Lake, i can only see the horizon and not the other side of land. Feeling was great. On our way back, went to check out a more traditional village which gave us more insight to their living. Had a good massage finally at the Seeing Hands Massage by the blinds, and some good shopping at Old Market.


DAY 4

It's tourist day! Time to immerse ourselves in the mysterious Angkor temples in the archaeological park. Got our 3-day pass for $40. First up, the Bayon. The moat surrounding the Angkor Thom (behind me) is even wider than Singapore River. The four sided stone towers carved with Bodhisattva image is characteristic of this temple. The spaces within are simply astounding. Snapped and snapped while being very cautious about my battery reserves. It's only the first temple!! Covered another 3 temple compounds within the Angkor Thom, some restored to its glorious state while some just remain in ruins which are more charming actually.

Just like Ta Phrom, where Tomb Raiders was filmed. Nature show us how it is taking over Man's construction over the centuries. Finally to the glorious and monumental Angkor Wat. It's equivalent or perhaps surpass the architecture of Beijing's imperial city and Greek's Acropolis. It was a hot and sunny day which gave me a Cambodian tan, and the overall experience was splendid discounting away the noise and disturbance from tourists that came in packs.

DAY 5.

Had a nice bowl of Vietnamese beef noodles for breakfast & a super shiok kopi-gao and we're on our way to the bigger circuit. Pre Rup, once used as a crematorium, a rather huge one, reveals beautiful brick carvings and the yellow-orange glow of the towers in the morning sun added a different dimension to the temples visited yesterday.

Neak Pean, a small scale monument with 4 bath-like pools surrounding a main central pool and sanctuary tower. Next up to Preak Khan, another Ta Phrom alike threatened by the forces of nature is my temple of the day. The long corridors, beautiful soft lighting, stone carvings etc made this place so rich in experience. Marvellous.

By 4.30pm, we returned to Angkor Wat to make up for our sunset group photo shot which we missed out the previous day. (see above). Well, in fact, what i gained for the return trip was not at the temple but outside. Bought some awesome souvenirs at a cheap price outside the Angkor Wat compound. The Cambodian-Chinese ah-ma who spoke to us in Chinese is so lovely. She never failed to smile or laugh at the end of each sentence she made. Haha.

Rushed back to Siem Reap town in time to catch the mass at the 2-yr old Catholic Church which I found on the first day. It was a good experience together with Stacy (Protestant) and Weilin (non-Christian) whom accompanied me. Perhaps it's in God's plan. This trip to the mass actually sparked off discussions and sharings by our other fellow Christians friends over dinner. And one of them really opened his heart up and shared with us the miracles which he had encountered in Europe. A nice moment and time spent together over dinner.

DAY 6.
Woke up at an unearthly hour again to catch our 7.50am flight back to Singapore. Melvin, Najeeb, Nicolas and me, the first four to return to Singapore while the rest continued to Phnom Penh and some even to Ho Chi Minh. The other 3 were so anxious to get home, always on their toes and rushing on board the plane and down the plane. It's quite a funny sight. They really missed home. I really enjoyed the times spent in Cambodia and was taking in slowly every moment I have. Maybe because I knew that when I got home, it's as dusty as Cambodia with the kitchen renovation still going on. Still, thank God for this safe and pleasant trip in Siem Reap.

*phew* finally finished the blog entry.
For more photos, just check up my flickr some time later.

1st Sunday of Advent

Sick. Arh...how nice.
Well, the weather has been really cool & breezy for a good night's sleep.
But not too good for my sinus nose. Flu bug likes me a lot now.
Hope that i will recover in time before my Cambodia trip.
Strangely, it's the first time that I'm not feeling that excited for an overseas trip as before.
Maybe it was the phobia i had for architectural trip back in Year One. That trip to Bangkok was memorably stressful, intense accompanied with sleepless night. Although i know this time round it shouldn't be that bad, but...still that little apprehension.

1st Sun of Advent in church. Pretty intense day too. But at least got some time the day before to prepare for the reflection to share with the choir. Somehow it's always these things that "force" you to really sit down and do some serious reflections and "spiritual thinking". Hmm...but my actual delivery wasn't that good. Sometimes, I'm quite disturbed by a couple of the choir members when they just automatically switched off when I try to do something spiritual per se. I know perhaps they are tired and just wish to close their eyes and take a break. But the very judgmental me will straight away interpret it as they don't really care. IF i start to talk about parties or gatherings, majority will be so filled with energy and excitement. Is it me? Or that some are not really in the "right frame of mind" to be in this ministry instead of a social club? Hmm...I continue to pray for all and myself, to allow Jesus Christ to be born in all of us again. I just hope the choir could be more open to their spiritual life and talk about Christ in their lives, if we don't even start with sharing among our fellow Catholics, how ready are we to do so to the others?

Pageant practice was fruitful. Though not perfect, but we tried our best. We can eventually do it.

Kitchen renovation resumes tmr. And my mum's frustration over the dirtiness and dustiness of the whole house will just intensify. Just wish that my father and my sis dun add worries and naggings to her but try to live through these "dirty" days together with patience, tolerance and peace. Guess things will just get better when i return from Cambodia as more of the kitchen renovation works will have been accomplished and my mum shld be smiling her way by then.

Trying to look forward to the Cambodia trip. Have to reach T1 at 4.30am. Craziness.

Gatherings, catching up, wedding...

Friday, 23rd Nov
Our first and last studio dinner for Semester I. It's great that our tutor, Joseph could join us. Haha..coz he foot the bill. Had a really nice conversation and he was very opened and talked to us about himself, and finding out about life in other countries of our fellow studio mates. An exchange student from Sweden who's always so outspoken and is really sweet to buy Joseph a bunch of flowers and a book as a farewell gift since she'll returning to Sweden. Nicolas from Mauritius also shared more about his country that most of us probably din know before since we seldom have the chance like this to sit down and chat. Each of us also shared a little something about ourselves. Oh..left out the most important detail...we ate at this WONDERFUL Turkish restaurant at Arab Street. Will definitely come back here again with friends or family. Had sometime to walk around this enchanted urban retreat that literally detached itself from the hustle and bustle of the city and exudes its own quality with not too intense inflitration of tourism. It's really a great place to walk around, eat, chill out at a bar on a Friday night.


Minaret of Sultan mosque

Intricate tiles inside Turkish restnt

Saturday, 24th Nov.
10.30am. Sem II studio first meetup with our tutor Richard Ho. Beautiful office at Siglap with his Jaguar park right outside the door. Envious, inspired to be like him? I dunno men...All i know is we have pre-research to do before our Cambodia trip. A short 5 day trip which i think shld be another memorable one for me. How apt the timing...the dragonboat incident just a couple of days ago. It's really unfortunate but this is what life is, He has his plans to call us to Him at anytime. Just have to live everyday to the fullest no matter how cliche it sounds. Pray for strength and peace for the family members during this difficult times.
12.30pm. Rushed to excelsior hotel to meet my fellow ex-legion curia officers. Dim Sum buffet. Yummy..Patrick foot the bill in the end, pressured by the other 2 girls. Haha. BUt it's a nice and nostalgic experience to catch up with one another over a meal, which is what we always do. And "discussing" about the current youth curia...haiz..complicated issues.
Rest of the day. Went back to catch a nap and rushed down for my JC councilor's wedding, Serene. Same age as me. Met another 2 frens of mine attending another wedding in the same hotel. Gosh...the whole world is getting married.

Reached home at 12.30am. What a packed and shack Saturday. My 3rd day of holiday.

An "eventful" thursday..1st day of holiday

Went to school to assist the PLEA2007 Conference @ SDE
Lots of international delegates, so stressful, must do a good job.
First half of the series of talk quite interesting
Second half started to fight the Zzz monster
Overall good experience and exposure at such a international conference


On my way to the bus-stop
Wow..beautiful sunset on the west coast
Suddenly
Remembered I left something behind in sch
Went back to my studio to take
Back to the bus-stop
The sky changed colour again
Beautiful



Took bus 183 out to Clementi Road
Alighted to transfer to 185 home
happily waiting...5mins passed
Oh yay..saw 185 behind 166.
Bus came and i got on
Suddenly
I saw the bus went straight instead of making a turn at a junction
OMG...i am on the wrong bus!
Trying to stay calm (or rather, act calm)
Continued the journey to find out what bus i'm on.
I'm on 183 again!!...mistaken the 3 for 5
Gosh..am i getting old or just distracted?

Hmm..does God has a plan for me to take the wrong bus?
Got off at jurong east, walk to another bus stop to take 99 home
Waited for 10mins, bus arrived
Managed to get a seat, phew..
Not long after, a couple came and sit in front of me
Very soon, they started smooching...*faints*
what's wrong with these people?
It's a public bus and it's packed..
and it's my second experience with a couple
in front of me smooching..
Ok..i know they love each other..but...
YOung people nowadays...not to say i'm old..
Have to keep praying for them... =D
Dun crave for fleshly desires but
crave for the love tt comes from the heart...

Another hurdle crossed

After submission, all mood for work seemed to cease.
Procrastination simply overwhelmed me.
Ended up cramping two essays over 3 days
Gobbling down chunks of readings and information overload
To write something substantial
It's one of the most agonizing essay writing i ever had
I think I didn't do myself justice for the urban essay
which just simply appears to be a patchwork of many writings
with weak link and coherence
Ok...why am i rattling on about this? It's OVER! Hooray.
Marks the start of a short and precious one-month vacation break...
that still seemed to be jammed packed with stuffs...
catching up with friends
attending my NJC student councilor's wedding @ Sheraton
Architectural trip to Cambodia for my next semester's project
planning for the movie screening for Youth Ministry
the mega-Pageant project due for delivery on Xmas eve
caroling projects with MM
Youth Room furnishings
my own house kitchen renovation
tidying up and re-organizing my room
gosh..the more i list down, the more daunting it gets...
hmm...i thought i could have a break...doesn't seem like it.
NO!! I will make sure i have my dosage of beach, idling at home,
reading a book, preparing Xmas gifts
and most importantly, preparing for Christ's coming!
Come what may, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord and
draw strength from Him.

hehe..time to watch my Taiwan drama on youtube...

Pics for thought..."Who says Singapore don't have nice skys?"

Delivered.

One semester Fourteen weeks
One design project
Of a few ideas
To be delivered
by one person
Twelve days
To prepare and show
a semester's long worth of work
Hoping to get over this quickly
And often getting distracted now and then
But also wishing time could slow down
To accomplish more and sleep more
Twelve November Eleventh hour
Literally rushing to complete and submit
Every submission
Never fails to rain



It's a cool weather tonight
Fans not needed
All I hear is insects' chirping
and the christmas songs in my ears

A huge load off my mind
Felt physically and mentally lighter
Two more essays to go
One more Project to go
A project for Christ.

Song that struck me @ 2.30am

~ enjoy ~

"Thankful"
by Josh Groban

Somedays, we forget to look around us
Somedays, we can't see the joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
we take when we should give

So for tonight we pray for what we know can be
and on this day we hope for what we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
and even though we all can still do more
there's so much to be thankful for

Look beyond ourselves there's so much sorrow
it's way to late to say I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for what we know can be
and everyday we hope for what we still can't see
it's up to us, to be the change
and even though we all can still do more
there's so much to be thankful for

Even with our differences
there is a place were all connected
each of us can find each others light

So for tonight we pray for what we know can be
and on this day we hope for what we still can't see
it's up to us, to be the change
and even though this world can still do so much more
there's so much to be thankful for.

~ AMEN ~

To listen & watch, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44ZeNXqEuTQ

"Untitled Hymn" dedicated for All Souls' Day

A nice and meaningful song that does not necessarily only apply to the departed souls...

Song and Lyrics by Chris Rice

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

IDENTITY

Struck by a series of news broadcastings on Singapore..
couldn't resist to spill my feelings out here...

The new millenium
A new Singapore
Where "foreign" elements invades
To create a new identity and image
Or just mere publicity for tourism and investments

The Singapore Flyer
Flying the First A380
Sentosa and Marina Integrated Resort
New Sports Hub
First F1 Night Race
New Racing Centre at Changi
Mega Solar Panels Manufacturing Plant at Tuas
and the list goes on

What more awaits Singapore
To finally turn it into an Asian Disneyland
And have the best of everything
On a tiny red dot
And our heritage acts as decoration
for this well-acclaimed Garden City
With a landscape so constructed and ordered

It really perturbs and worries one
who truly loves Singapore
and treasures every little thing it has
Apprehension and doubts
Only to hope that the main players and urban planners
Will think with their hearts what is really good for us

D-Day H-Hour at 12 Nov 2007; 1400hrs.

Embarking on my final phase of design project...production and submission project. Having come thus far, I think I still need to put in more effort to really make this project that I'll be truly proud of. hmm...but on top of that, I still need my daily 7hrs of sleep min...getting old already?...Cannot tahan not sleeping enough for days now. Furthermore, it's bad for health.

Time flies. Semester coming to an end. It's amazing how I managed to survive through studio despite getting involved in so many things. Mon night MM, Wed night Alpha, fri night Youth Team, whole of Sun church choir...It's definitely not by my own human strength that empowered me to do all these but through Him. Oh yah, on top of that, i'm constantly "distracted" to think about what to do for Xmas Pageant. It's really so exciting to do God's work and to serve Him, dunno why people find it so tough. Hah. But many a times, i also prayed to stay more focus in my project first. Nevertheless, I'm glad that it seemed like everything has more or less fall into place...
Draft proposal for Xmas pageant is out, but still need manpower to make it come true. Design project at least 60% there already...i hope. haha. Really can't wait to see how my final presentation panels will turn out like.

I guess it'll be busy and stressful for many in the coming wks, still, hoping and praying that everyone will takes things in his/her stride and thanking God for everyday, for every little things He does for us and watching over us.

Till then, my next post might be after 12 Nov 07, or till I have another inspiration to write.

PS: Just spotted this pic that I dug out for my student to use for her essay. Really like the light and shadow effect on the walls from the skylight.

"Survived"

Thank God for being with me through these difficult times. Though the crosses were heavy, but I know You are there to carry with me. I really doubted my ability to go through everything well but You proved me wrong.

Alpha weekend on Sat. Last min 2 guests couldn't make it and another one can only come at 2pm. So that left us with one guest plus 4 other helpers to begin the morning session. Well. A bit discouraged at first but still clinging on the hope of having a more fruitful session after lunch when more people came. True enough, the second half of the day took a different turn and things started to fall in place leading on to the ministry time where me and Amanda had to take turns to lead and play the songs. It's quite unnerving to lead a worship session since my last time was a few yrs back. Eventually, the Holy Spirit worked in His marvelous ways and touched many of our hearts and one of us in fact received the gift of tongue. This session was not planned for the ra-ra super mega kind of p&w session but a more intimate level kind, and it worked in its beautiful ways too. Thank God for that.
Had dinner and reached home around 11pm. Time to pick up my pace for the design project. 2.30am, "fainted" on the bed.


Sunday. Woke up and felt like dying but as I went to church and sing songs of praises to God, I was slowly recharged and awakened. "Awake from your slumber, arise from your sleep, a new day is dawning..."
Again, it doesn't seemed like one of the perfect sundays. Quite a no. of people hospitalised...pray for their speedy recovery! Afternoon practice didn't have a good turnout but still, we did our best.

Rushed home at 3.30pm and the production began. Sister drove me back to school at 9pm as I had to print some stuff. Eventually only managed to complete 70% of the stuff and printed at 2.00am. Waiting to get a cab back home but the roads were "dead". A few cars whizzed past only every 5mins. A unique and yet anxious experience coz i wanna get home!

About 2.30am, the shining blue sign was spotted in a distance and my heart rejoiced! Got on the cab and there the driver, a funky uncle who was concerned about me working so late at night. Had a small conversation with him and his most encouraging words were like, " If you have a clear direction in your life, just go for it, and everything will just fall into place eventually." Reminds me of Paul Coelho's book The Alchemist where it mentioned about our personal agenda and how everyone in the whole world will coerce and help you reach your personal agenda if you are certain of getting it. It's quite an Angel in Disguise to me to keep me a little perk up despite being physically drained.


Monday. Presentation at 9am. I'm the third to go. Richard Ho and Tay Kheng Soon, the two tutors I somewhat respect the most besides Joseph for this semester. Was not very confident of my project. Surprisingly, both were rather positive on my design approach and unique design language which they encouraged me to push further on. I'm really grateful on one hand that they didn't slam my design but on the other hand was hoping to receive more comments to work out my design even more. Guess it's more on my own now. Anyhow, thank God.

4-8pm. Sleep.
Dinner
Check email, Surf net
2am-10am. Sleep.

Not enough. Need more sleep! =)

Approaching a super-xiong weekend

It's been quite a while since I slept at 5am tt kind of timing.
Did that for the past 2 days.
Design project momentum is picking up. Interim II on Monday. Apprehensive of what i'm gonna show or what i can show. Well, just have to hang in there and survive till that day before I take a really good break of sleeping 12hrs!! Haha.

Tmr is Alpha Holy Spirit weekend. Prepared the songs with Amanda yesterday at her ID studio. Missed the year 1 studio area. Such vibrancy and energy. Going to find some quality time to prepare for tmr's session before I dive into design work.

"Entertain no worries, but under all circumstances let your petitions be made known before God by prayer and pleading along with thanksgiving. So will the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7

An eventful Sunday and Monday

Sunday, Feast Day Celebration of St Francis of Assisi.
Woke up at 6.30am. Nuts early. Our choir, Voices of Peace (new name!), set up a stall doing manicure and face-painting services. It was surprisingly quite well-received. Seeing that kids and adults are enjoying themselves at the booth is quite heartwarming.

Our choir members got a first-hand of all the services first...walking publicity. haha. We had a nice environment in the dining hall unlike the rest of the food and games stall out under the tents where they have to brace the rain.

The crowd cleared pretty fast as the food was depleting in supply. But our stall's biz was still running all the way to the last stall packed up. Many tks to Nenita and all the pple slogging at the stalls and not having a good chance to enjoy the food. Well, we wrapped up the celebration with our very own celebration! Our choir's feast day to be in-line with church feast day and also celebrating for the October babies, esp for Geraldine who's turning (turned) 21.


Monday, Studio.

Fretting over design...
Worrying over the practicality of construction
Frustrating over the technicalities of 3D revit software
Every minute before 1pm means a lot at this moment
To produce something presentable to show later

Every Monday seemed to be the same "heavy" feeling
Supposed to be exciting and inspiring
But eventually pressures to produce the deliverables
within a stipulated deadline
Kills everything

Hopes and dreams still linger in the air
Despite discouragement and peer pressure
Working towards a good project
That is truthful to myself and that I did my best
Praying that my wisdom tooth will not get in the way
To affect my last few weeks of 100m sprint

Ended my day eventfully at the Patrician meeting
YIH Study Rm Discussion Rm 3
I was early. Quite unexpected.
Started with rosary and pple began to stream in.
Guest speaker was insightful and engaging,
sharing his experiences with Mary, the saints and the Protestants.
His confronting and yet effective way of "explaining" to the non-Marian believers.
Gained enormously from the sharings
Meditating on the mysteries of the rosaries conscientiously
Could bring about abundant graces from God.
Went home with a peaceful mind
Though still mindful of the hectic wk ahead
But mindful of God being by my side to "carry me" when I need.

" Come to me all you who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matt 11:28

Initiation

My first entry on my blog. hah...bit nervous. Somehow, subconsciously, I sought to be cautious on what i'm gg to write. Still not as "private" as journal entries in a bk. Nevertheless, just wanna try out this electronic virtual journal which i could include images and pictures! Perhaps at the same time, it could brush up my language since I prob won't wish to see serious grammatical errors all the over the place. Hmm...perhaps I shldn't be too cautious anyway.

Alright, I just let it go and run on its nature course. Come what may.


Yesterday, experienced severe headache and jaw ache. Most likely due to heatiness. Hopefully not wisdom tooth. Went to school late today as I need to catch up on some sleep and recover my health. Stepped out of the house and walked to the bus-stop at 3.30pm. The hot sun beats down on me and surprisingly, I felt energized. On the bus, with the air-con blowing on my face, it felt good.


Looking out of the window, the late afternoon sun glows.
It's 4.00pm. I quite like this timing.
2hrs more to knock-off; 2hrs more to flag lowering
and i'm just on my way to school.
But the yellow-orange glow brightened up my day
I see school children laughing and playing
The trees swaying lazily in the wind.
Despite the ache, the day doesn't seemed as bad as i thought.
"...I surrender.
Take my fears, my inhibitions, all my burdens, my ambition,
You can use it all, hope it's not too small." - 5 Loaves & 2 Fishes, Corrinne May.

Went to studio, luckily got a chance to meet my tutor.
To my surprise again, I thought my work is minimal and not very developed,
but he gave me encouraging comments again. Puts my heart at ease for a moment at least, before i get stressed and heaty again.

Went for MM session, 1st caroling practice. Felt like Christmas is so near only. Indeed it is.
Popped by for TAS Mid-Autumn celebration where they screend Ratatouille, only managed to catch the last 15-20mins of the show, but already felt it was quite moving and inspiring. Shld watch the full show one day.

Alrite. Yay! Completed my 1st blog entry. Wonder when will be the next.
Off to bathe now.~