It's strange. Walk up to most men and if you shove them, they try and stay deeply rooted to the ground. Give them a friendly punch and they will not wince. If they were hurt in an accident or fight, despite evident bruises, they claim it does not hurt.
Put them on the football pitch and that all changes. Players from top football nations seem to transform into weird clumsy creatures on the football pitch. Tripping over a blade of grass with no intervention from humans or nature. A slight touch to any part of the body and it sends them sprawling to the ground. Hit them on the chest and they tumble spectacularly and end up holding their face or leg in agony. These occurrences increase even more when they are within the special box also known as the penalty area.
Bizarre, isn't it?
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Oh to be a child again...
...to believe that mummy and daddy are all-knowing and all-powerful...
...to eat and play and sleep...
...and sleep and play and eat...
...to believe that toys come out to play after midnight...
...to be carried everywhere...
...t0 have only one worry: when to throw the next tantrum - when they're eating food for adults, or to get the new toy?...
...to only worry about getting all stars in the nursery art work (meaning colour (any colour) within the lines, not ouside)...
...to believe that mummy and daddy will protect you from anything...
...to have your every wish as everyone else's command (within reason and sometimes depends on gender and order of birth)...
...to fully trust in everyone...
Oh to be a child again and be full of trust and belief! Long road of promises ahead!
Little things remind me of being a child again....
...to eat and play and sleep...
...and sleep and play and eat...
...to believe that toys come out to play after midnight...
...to be carried everywhere...
...t0 have only one worry: when to throw the next tantrum - when they're eating food for adults, or to get the new toy?...
...to only worry about getting all stars in the nursery art work (meaning colour (any colour) within the lines, not ouside)...
...to believe that mummy and daddy will protect you from anything...
...to have your every wish as everyone else's command (within reason and sometimes depends on gender and order of birth)...
...to fully trust in everyone...
Oh to be a child again and be full of trust and belief! Long road of promises ahead!
Little things remind me of being a child again....
- Alpha Kindy, for obvious reasons
- the song 'New York New York' as that was one of my first dance performances. How I frustrated the teacher at practice because I kept twirling the wrong way. Only getting it right at the concert itself.
- 'You are my sunshine' - my first solo song performance. At that time, I could just about get away with being tuneless with having a 'cute' costume that my mom painstakingly made.
- Webster - eating 'nga po fan' with my mom while watching Webster some evenings when dad's working late or has an evening function.
- Full House - following the Tanner family through their family sagas.
- Swings - trying to push myself up in the air as far as possible - not sure why!
- Swimming - my favourite past time with my dad, trying to beat him at swimming because that would mean I was the fastest (of course, I thought my dad was the fastest, strongest, cleverest man in the world, so to beat him at swimming meant I got one of the 'titles'!).
- SJBC - grew up with Sunday school friends and teachers.
- Panini sticker books - falling for those gimmicks and trying in vain to get the books all filled up. If only some stickers weren't so elusive....
- Mind Your Language - the TV show I watched with my dad just before going to bed. Is it to blame for my language skills now? Perhaps...
- Yamaha classes - music classes in a fun way. Having a go at the drums, triangle, castanets, bells. Singing Sayonara to each other at the end of each class.
- Ballet classes - little pink chiffon skirts and leotards. My first dance prop - the bird cage.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Speak O Lord
SPEAK, O LORD, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ‘til your church is built
As You fill the earth with Your glory.
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music
To listen to the song, go to http://shop.kingswaysongs.com/product_info.php?products_id=432
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ‘til your church is built
As You fill the earth with Your glory.
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music
To listen to the song, go to http://shop.kingswaysongs.com/product_info.php?products_id=432
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Light at end of Tunnel
'Big wigs' coming this aftrernoon for preparation for tomorrow's presentation. That means lots of discussion, which would be good because I really need to make sure they are happy with this before tomorrow. That also means I probably won't have as much time to do some of my other responsibilities including working on a workbook that I promised will be published this week.
I hope it goes well tomorrow. So far feedback has been positive but until the presentation actually happens and the end result still remains positive, I won't think it's ok yet. Every week, I think the next week will be it, after which I will be able to have a nice relaxing weekend because yet another major deadline would have passed. But every week, I find another major deadline looms or the present deadline gets extended to another week. Sigh. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I hope for a nice relaxing weekend next weekend!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Bear Grylls
I was privileged to be part of a group who met Bear Grylls. Bear is the youngest ever British to reach Mount Everest and return alive - at the tender age of 23. If that wasn't inspiring enough, listen to this - this was after he had a parachuting accident whilst with the Special Forces and broke his back in three places. Major W-O-W! AND after his return from Mount Everest, he crossed the North Atlantic Arctic Ocean in a small open inflatable boat. As our Managing Partner put it - Don't you feel like an underachiever now? :)
His talk included pictures and videos of his climb. One of his videos was of him crossing metal ladder across a crevasse (with a drop of about 11000 feet). He stopped halfway at the ladder and the video provided a view of the drop. My knees went weak just looking at that. To think the photo of me standing on the glass floor at CN Tower made some people's knees weak, think what this video would do. And the video he showed of reaching the summit - the view from the Roof of the World. Spectacular. Simply incredible. No words can describe it.
Bear spoke so humbly about his adventure. He was honest about his feelings during trip. I didn't feel as if he was boasting at any point, although I felt he was surely allowed to, after climbing the highest mountain in the world!
He told of having to pass Rob Hall's body on the way up and related how Rob died. Rob radioed back to base camp when he realised he was running out of oxygen. Base camp was unable to help him as he was in the 'death zone', so they patched his call to his wife in New Zealand. She pleaded with him to just stand up but he couldn't. In the end, they spend his dying hours choosing a name for their unborn child.
Bear attributed his safe return to the grace of God. He was almost killed in a fall if not for a second rope he attached to himself just a second before the 'floor' collapsed beneath him. He talked about teamwork and how important it was in that journey as you spent 24hours a day attached to another person by a rope. His last message to us? The only difference between an extraordinary person and an ordinary person is that little word 'extra'. It is the special thing within us that would set us apart from others - ordinary people who will go the extra bit or will give the extra bit more. We need to find that 'extra' bit.
I'm probably not doing Bear's talk much justice so visit Bear's website www.beargrylls.com for more details on his adventures and some fab photos. It was really motivating listening to him recall his adventure and talk about climbing with such passion despite the obstacles that were in his way. He is planning to paraglide over Everest next year so we'll pray for his training and safe return on the next trip!
His talk included pictures and videos of his climb. One of his videos was of him crossing metal ladder across a crevasse (with a drop of about 11000 feet). He stopped halfway at the ladder and the video provided a view of the drop. My knees went weak just looking at that. To think the photo of me standing on the glass floor at CN Tower made some people's knees weak, think what this video would do. And the video he showed of reaching the summit - the view from the Roof of the World. Spectacular. Simply incredible. No words can describe it.
Bear spoke so humbly about his adventure. He was honest about his feelings during trip. I didn't feel as if he was boasting at any point, although I felt he was surely allowed to, after climbing the highest mountain in the world!
He told of having to pass Rob Hall's body on the way up and related how Rob died. Rob radioed back to base camp when he realised he was running out of oxygen. Base camp was unable to help him as he was in the 'death zone', so they patched his call to his wife in New Zealand. She pleaded with him to just stand up but he couldn't. In the end, they spend his dying hours choosing a name for their unborn child.
Bear attributed his safe return to the grace of God. He was almost killed in a fall if not for a second rope he attached to himself just a second before the 'floor' collapsed beneath him. He talked about teamwork and how important it was in that journey as you spent 24hours a day attached to another person by a rope. His last message to us? The only difference between an extraordinary person and an ordinary person is that little word 'extra'. It is the special thing within us that would set us apart from others - ordinary people who will go the extra bit or will give the extra bit more. We need to find that 'extra' bit.
I'm probably not doing Bear's talk much justice so visit Bear's website www.beargrylls.com for more details on his adventures and some fab photos. It was really motivating listening to him recall his adventure and talk about climbing with such passion despite the obstacles that were in his way. He is planning to paraglide over Everest next year so we'll pray for his training and safe return on the next trip!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
The weekend is over
It has been a long week. Even though it was only a four day working week because of bank holiday Monday, it felt a lot longer than that. By Thursday evening as I boarded the plane back to UK, I was mentally drained. I couldn't believe it was only three days. There was still one more day, which thankfully passed without requirement for extreme brainpower use.
I have never been challenged so much on every point I make. Down to the microscopic detail. With different scenarios, issues, reasons. But it's good. It will be guidance issued to all global teams so it has to be robust. Hence all the challenge is good. But when I'm in the middle of it, trying to explain my reasons and justifications, it can be tough. And it will repeat itself as more people read the guidance, they will want to give their opinions and I will have to reason with them to determine best way forward. All valid opinions. All to be taken on board to make it better guidance. Doesn't mean it's easy though. I hope that this will be one of those experiences where I come out totally stretched, challenged and exhausted but find very rewarding.
I really needed the weekend to recover. The lie-in on Saturday morning was very welcome. I still had to put in some hours of work over the weekend but hopefully it means my workload this coming week won't be bad. This week will be another long one. I am already looking forward to Friday when the next weekend starts. I will be presenting the as-close-to-final process back to the immediate team on Friday, before another round(s) of chingallenge the following weeks from other team representatives. But at least the first barrier is overcome. Hopefully it will be accepted and my team lead is satisfied with the outcome. It has not turned out exactly the way I wanted it to be, but I hope he's ok with it.
I have never been challenged so much on every point I make. Down to the microscopic detail. With different scenarios, issues, reasons. But it's good. It will be guidance issued to all global teams so it has to be robust. Hence all the challenge is good. But when I'm in the middle of it, trying to explain my reasons and justifications, it can be tough. And it will repeat itself as more people read the guidance, they will want to give their opinions and I will have to reason with them to determine best way forward. All valid opinions. All to be taken on board to make it better guidance. Doesn't mean it's easy though. I hope that this will be one of those experiences where I come out totally stretched, challenged and exhausted but find very rewarding.
I really needed the weekend to recover. The lie-in on Saturday morning was very welcome. I still had to put in some hours of work over the weekend but hopefully it means my workload this coming week won't be bad. This week will be another long one. I am already looking forward to Friday when the next weekend starts. I will be presenting the as-close-to-final process back to the immediate team on Friday, before another round(s) of chingallenge the following weeks from other team representatives. But at least the first barrier is overcome. Hopefully it will be accepted and my team lead is satisfied with the outcome. It has not turned out exactly the way I wanted it to be, but I hope he's ok with it.
King of Kings, Majesty
King of Kings, Majesty,
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest friend,
Strong Deliverer, beginning and end,
All within me falls at Your throne...
Your majesty I can but bow,
I lay my all before You now,
In royal robes I don't deserve,
I live to serve your majesty.
Earth and heaven, worship you
Love eternal, faithful and true
Who bought the nations, ransomed souls
brought this sinner near to Your throne
All within me cries out in praise
King of Kings, Majesty,
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest friend,
Strong Deliverer, beginning and end,
All within me falls at Your throne...
Jarrod Cooper
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest friend,
Strong Deliverer, beginning and end,
All within me falls at Your throne...
Your majesty I can but bow,
I lay my all before You now,
In royal robes I don't deserve,
I live to serve your majesty.
Earth and heaven, worship you
Love eternal, faithful and true
Who bought the nations, ransomed souls
brought this sinner near to Your throne
All within me cries out in praise
King of Kings, Majesty,
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest friend,
Strong Deliverer, beginning and end,
All within me falls at Your throne...
Jarrod Cooper
Delft
As there was not much to do in Rijswijk, I decided on Wednesday to venture to another Dutch town about 5mins away on the train. Referred to by my Dutch colleagues as Netherlands' equivalent of Cambridge, I spent a delightful evening walking around Delft. The weather was not on my side - windy with the dark clouds overhead threatening a downpour at any minute. It wasn't a dampener though - it was still lovely to wander around this picturesque and quaint university town.
Oude Kerk
Picturesque Oude Delft
Canals and bicycles - how much more Dutch can you get?Saturday, June 03, 2006
Trust
Trusting someone is like giving part of you to that person. You are giving them the opportunity to really know you. It's also giving that person the chance to disappoint you, to hurt you. You take a risk when you trust someone. You expect them to cherish the trust you have put in them.
It takes months, even years to build up trust. Yet it takes only a second for it to be broken. Can it be fixed? Perhaps. But it will never be the same. You spend even longer building up the trust again. But is it still trust? It won't be 100%. A nagging thought at the back of your head wonders if you've done the right thing. You wonder whether you've just set yourself up to be broken again.
But can you enjoy life and the promises it offers if you don't trust someone? If you don't take the risk of being hurt? I don't know. Easier to sit back and be a cynic. Trust no one. But what will your life be like if you continue to be sceptical of everyone?
If someone trusts you, don't take it lightly. It may seem like a simple thing - trusting that you will do the right thing, but it is still trust. It can build up to a lot more. If you don't break it. If you do, it will not be the same.
It takes months, even years to build up trust. Yet it takes only a second for it to be broken. Can it be fixed? Perhaps. But it will never be the same. You spend even longer building up the trust again. But is it still trust? It won't be 100%. A nagging thought at the back of your head wonders if you've done the right thing. You wonder whether you've just set yourself up to be broken again.
But can you enjoy life and the promises it offers if you don't trust someone? If you don't take the risk of being hurt? I don't know. Easier to sit back and be a cynic. Trust no one. But what will your life be like if you continue to be sceptical of everyone?
If someone trusts you, don't take it lightly. It may seem like a simple thing - trusting that you will do the right thing, but it is still trust. It can build up to a lot more. If you don't break it. If you do, it will not be the same.
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