27th Bday

Pressies!

Malaysia - Dec 2006

Was honoured to be able to share in Jen and Phong's big day on 29 December 2006...

Spent some time with family and friends...

God Accepts All

God's grace is extended to the animal kingdom... see the pictures here!

Almost Blown Away

Was in Canary Wharf for a meeting on Thursday; a day when 70 - 80mph winds were raging across Britain. Thought I'd be economical and take the tube to Canary Wharf. Exited the train station and was stunned for a couple of seconds at the strength of the wind. I decided to brave it and cross the road to Smollenskys to ask for directions to the client's building. It seemed that the client was just up the road. Thinking it would be rather stupid if I were to get a cab to up the road, I thought it would be ok to walk there. Shouldn't be more than a 2 minute walk at most.

A strong gust of wind greeted when I walked out of Smollenskys. So much so that I had to grab onto the nearest lamp post. My cabin luggage flew about 15cms off the ground for about 10 seconds. It was almost funny. I say 'amost' because it was funny for about one minute, but not 10 minutes later when I found myself still hanging onto the lamp post. I was getting frustrated. The winds didn't stop long enough for me to let go, gain confidence and walk a few steps away. Oh, and I could see people being blown over as they tried to resume their journeys. A woman a few feet away from me was blown over and I think she was unconscious as security and paramedics tried to shelter her from the wind. I guess it would have been a comical scene to view from one of the many skyscrapers at the Wharf. Alas, I wasn't one of them.

The men waiting in Smollenskys found me quite entertaining, though - hanging onto the lamp post with my luggage and in fact, my body veering away in the direction of the wind. My faith in gentlemanly behaviour was slightly redeemed when a nice gentleman approached me not long after to ask if I was ok and then gave me his arm to hold onto as he walked me to my client. Isn't that nice? I was so thankful to him as otherwise, I'm not sure how much longer I could hold onto the lamp post for.

This would sound rather dramatic and funny if it's not for my arms still aching the next two days!

Spiritual MOT

A weekend to focus on Him. Look at whether we have grown in Him, and how much. A spiritual MOT. It's amazing to look back in the last year and realise that we have indeed grown with Him. Maybe not as much as I would have liked but His grace has always been here. We made spiritual resolutions for this year - so we can pray for each other but also as a homegroup, for accountability too...

We also took time out for a walk in Chatsworth - what gorgeous scenery! Also not forgetting the annual homegroup traditions of murder mystery and the Mafia game!

The majestic Chatsworth House

Dorothy (of Wizard of Oz), Robin Hood, Alice (of Alice in Wonderland) and Red Riding Hood.

Cinderella, Snow White and Goldilocks.

Snow White, The Wizard (of Wizard of Oz) and Dracula.

Derwent House transformed into a library - the crime scene.

Pictures of the murder mystery and idyllic Peak District can be found here. More photos will be uploaded later as I get them from the rest....

Is ignorance bliss?

Is it really true? Is it better not to know much at all? Because if you know too much, you can't ignore it, try as hard as you may. Good or bad, it influences your outlook on someone, some place, anything...

Superstitions, other people's opinions, the real faces of people... Changes your perspective... The person you thought was your friend turns out to have a hidden agenda... A superstitious tradition that makes you think twice about doing something that would have been normal 30 seconds before... Reading medical articles and ending up convinced that you have the 15-million-to-one disease...

Perhaps ignorance is bliss after all. No hurt. Just happy in one's own thoughts. No need to worry about others' opinions, comments, thoughts...

I will just crawl back under the shell and be content with ignorance...

Message to Myself

I chose to recite "In the Arena" by Theodore Roosevelt for my solo piece at Fortune Theatre. Feedback was useful, one of which was that I should read this poem more to myself. So here it is to share with all of you...

In the Arena

It is not the critic who counts;

not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,

or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,

whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;

who strives valiantly;

who errs,

comes up short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;

but who does actually strive to do the deeds;

who knows the great enthusiasms,

the great devotions;

who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end

the triumph of high achievement,

and who at the worst, if he fails,

at least fails while daring greatly,

so that his place shall never be with those

cold and timid souls

who neither know victory nor defeat.

-Theodore Roosevelt

Lights Camera Action! Performing on the West End

One time only - "Opportunity Way" cast performing a tailored version of Aladdin on a West End stage...
Cast (l-r): Nicola, Ellie, Nick DJ, Zahir, self, Ryan, Simon, Nick S, Iestyn and Marcus.

with our 'coaches' Nigel and Barbara (and my all-important star cushion).

.....and after that, I can tick off stage actress as yet another job I definitely should NOT go into! Was good fun though....

Thank you Fortune Theatre, for having me.

Don't wanna hear myself think....

On Friday, I had a real TGIF (not the restaurant) day. By Sunday night though, I was glad the weekend was over. Won't go into details here because I'll just get all worked up again.

I just don't want to hear myself think. Haven't felt like this in a good few years but my own thoughts will just make me feel worse. Working with iPod on full blast in the office so I can drown out my thoughts. Anti-social? Maybe. Normally wouldn't recommend this tactic because it's just delaying the root of the problem. But I can't be bothered anymore. Talking about it may help, but I don't want to deal with the decisions and consequences right now. Enough on my plate. Just want to keep my head down, do my work and take my break.

Day in Nuneaton

Enjoying the peace and serenity of rural England...

More photos on Nuneaton link on the left.

Aston Hall by Candlelight

Restored to its glory and bathed in candlelight...

Actors in costumes going about 17th century Christmas festivities.





All photos via this link.

Is it only Tuesday?

Can't believe it's only Tuesday. *Sigh* Three more days to the weekend.

Two days; enough time for two assignments go pear-shaped. That will teach me to complain about being bored. I really shouldn't complain about doing less than 40hours a week for the first time in 4 years, therefore really shouldn't feel so guilty for doing it for 3 consecutive weeks. I really should have enjoyed the quiet for a bit instead of complaining about the quiet and trying (far too successfully) to do more. Have I gone mad such that if I actually get to go home on time for a whole week, I feel like the pace is too slow?

And now, it has been a manic start to the week. Thanks to my inept sense of direction which got me completely lost on Monday. Thanks to a heavily-accented peer from a different department who is oblivious to her heavy accent, lightning-speed-speeches (because she doesn't seem to include punctuations in her speech) and constant interruption of others, which in combination means she is incomprehensible. Oh, plus she gets the basic process of how it should work totally wrong yet makes wild and uninformed assumptions to back them up and insists she's right. Not only incomprehensible but a nightmare to deal with too. Thanks to another job on a system not doing what it should (should get used to that by now, I guess!). Thanks to.... Stop stop stop

*Sigh* Enough ranting. Will shut up in future about quiet pace of work. But I know I can't. I get bored. Look on the bright side.....at least this incomprehensible and nightmarish person is (only) the second person in my five years with this firm whom I would like to steer clear of in future. Also, I now know the way to the client. And I have an enthusiastic team member to sort out the system not doing what it should do and get the evidence we need. And....it's only three more days to the weekend....

Hope it looks up over the next few days..... I doubt so though. Sigh. Three more days to weekend. (Do I sound like a broken record yet) Two more weekends to start of my Xmas holidays..... Not that anyone's counting......

Seeking Perfection

I have an ideal situation in my head about everything. Then the pessimist in me makes me have a worst case scenario too, just so I won't be disappointed. Not sure where I heard this saying from, but it stuck with me throughout college, university and now work: "The higher your dreams, the bigger the disappointment". I'm ashamed to say that it had a hand in shaping my decisions since. I wouldn't say it held me back tremendously, but it helped stop me from reaching for the stars on several occasions.

I have been chasing The Ideal since I started working. Admittedly sometimes more enthusiastically than other times. But He listened and gave me many opportunities seen through ratings, promotions and recognition via the leadership programme. But now, I wonder if The Ideal through my eyes is right. As I read and continue learning His Word, I realise that it should be His Ideal. My life for Him, not myself. For His life was for us. For me, unworthy of His love yet receiving it all the same.

And so more and more, I commit my decisions to Him. For Him to guide me. I feel an inner peace. Yes, I may continue to chase dreams. But I know that He will help me do what's right. And more and more, He has shown me that He knows. He listens. He loves.

Keeping Faith

In more ways than one...

The conflict in Jodi Picoult's book is about a child (Faith White) who sees God. Periphery links about whether this was the child's way of coping with her parents' separation, if God really exists and religion. This book didn't grab me in the way the other Picoult books did. I don't know if it's because I read it right after The Pact and her writing style did not hugely vary.

Whilst the book didn't impress me from a style perspective, it addressed an interesting concept. The scepticism that continues about God. In the preface, Jodi Picoult wrote that whilst she was writing and researching, she realised that people were willing to talk about anything but not about God. I realised how true that was. I don't know how much segments of her book were based on real life, but I would not be surprised if these were events that people who want to talk about God encounter. People who see yet continue to question. Those who say 'I will believe when the time is right' and not realising that it's God who decides when the time is right, not you. Those who continually ask for scientific evidence for His existence. Those who prefer to believe in the myths and rumours against Him rather than believe in the truth. Because it's easier. Because they can continue to live life according to their own rules instead of acknowledging Him.

As I read His Word, I have always wondered whether people would stop questioning had they been witnesses when He healed the incurables and saved the doomed. Maybe they would be believers if they were witnesses to the miracles documented by Matthew, Mark, John and Luke. Maybe they would then listen. Reading Keeping Faith made me doubt this would happen. Sceptics would remain sceptics until He chooses to soften their hearts.

....so, Keeping Faith - not just the child but our beliefs too....

Nearly Istanbul...

Got a call yesterday. Assignment in Istanbul next week. Was excited. Have not been to Turkey before. Would love to go. Although I must admit, it's not one of the top five on my 'must-see' places list. But if I get to go expenses paid, why not?

Alas, thanks to my passport originating from a country which require visas to most countries - rightly or wrongly would be subject of different discussion, this was filed into the 'nearly been' place instead of 'will be going...there...has been' place. Visa takes 20 days. Which means I can't go next week. Well, not legally anyways but that's not a risk I dare take. My colleagues' questions on why I continue to hold this passport become more and more valid (not just with travel episodes but general sentiments I make too). To add to list of decisions to make.

*Sigh*

There is a hope so sure

There is a hope so sure
A promise so secure
The mystery of God
At last made known
Treasures so vast appear
All wisdom, knowledge here
It’s Christ in us
The hope of glory!

And the life that I now live
No longer is my own
Jesus lives in me
The hope of glory
And each day I live
No longer is my own
Jesus lives in me
The hope of glory

There is a life so true
A life of love so pure
For all our sin
A perfect sacrifice
And when that life was nailed
On cruel cross impaled
Our sinful flesh
With him was crucified

There is a life so strong
That a whole world of wrong
And all the powers of hell
Could not defeat
For Jesus rose again
And if we died with him
With him we’ll rise
To share his endless life

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 2002 Make Way Music

The Pact

She did it again. Another fab book from Jodi Picoult. Some have said that her books are all the same. Perhaps. But I left enough of a gap between the books to enjoy her writing all over again.

The Pact is a touching story about middle class families who seem to have it all. Two teenagers who seem on the outside, to be perfect for each other and who have it all in this world. Cut short by a suicide. It showed that having it all is not enough.

You may think you know someone, but do you really? The image of Emily Gold, one half of the couple, is put together through the eyes of others. Which made me realise that one's identity is really based on others' opinions.

Another interesting aspect of the book was the view of truth. Do we always know the truth? Or do we base the truth purely on facts only? Is that the truth? Or is it interpretation of the evidence, which is subjective?

Nottingham

Saturday in Nottingham - strolling through Sherwood Forest. In Robin Hood's land, what better way to spend an afternoon than trying your hand at archery?


More pics here....

Diary of Ma Yen

A simple story. A simple wish. The power of the pen never shown seen so strongly before. If not for her diaries, her wish would not have reached Pierre Haski. Simple writings, yet so touching. The wish, not unreasonable in this day and age, to continue studying (when most teens would probably want to skip school). Edited by Pierre Haski to provide some context, it touched me that education and (near) equal rights that we take for granted here, are unreachables in some parts of the world. Where your gender dictates your right to education and progress in the world.

Thanks to Pierre Haski, Ma Yen had the chance to continue studying. Thanks to her diaries, other girls her age in her province had the chance to continue studying.

The power of the pen should not be underestimated.

A Weekend in Dublin

Spent last weekend in Dublin with colleagues from the London project. Turned out to be a tiring weekend and still, I was one of the early birds on Friday night (Saturday morning?) - leaving at about 2.30am. Can't stay up till the wee hours of the morning anymore.

Did the usual touristy things - Trinity College, St Stephens Green, Temple Bar, Iveagh Gardens, Ha'penny bridge, Christchurch Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral.... Took the chance to catch up with colleagues - past (JC + family), soon-to-be-past (current London project colleagues) and current. Ate out loads. Enjoyed the fickle Irish weather. Saw Jo and was the designated 'unpacker'. :)

Oh, and guess who we saw whilst we were in Trinity? The one-and-only Hoff!

Am going this weekend again - wonder which celeb we'll spot this time?