Yesterday was my first time in semester 2 that I stayed over in school. It's only week 2 by the way. But I ended up watching Sin city with my friends before going to sleep so I really didn't do much homework by the way. Oh well, but Sin city was a really great show. Love the narration. It's fantastic. It's kinda gory at some parts, didn't really like it but oh well... It did help add tension and suspense to the show.

Anyway, went to church today to practise the songs for tomorrow's worship. The 3rd song, the chorus's notes are all so high. Help... I can't sing that. I am a very alto person not saprono (spelling bit wrong). We practiced for more than 2hrs. I really love that time of worship with God. It has been quite some time that I sing with my heart and soul and not sing for the sake of singing. Really love that time of worship with God. That's how worship should be.

Was heading to National Library at City Hall but I suddenly decided to alight and head to the Art Museum instead. There was this art work "Washed away". Really like it. It's basically glass pieces that the artist picked up from the seashore and each piece of glass the artist engraved a word on it eg. man. This really reminds me of one of my treasures. I picked up a glass piece once in Sentosa I think and it was shaped like a lightning. Really like it. Yup... After that, I walked to Bras Basah to get some art stuff before heading to Straits Commercial.

By then it was raining and off I went to National Library to look for stories to adapt for my storyboarding homework. Well, found it and when I left the library, it was pouring really really really heavily but I didn't have an umbrella. That is how I got so drenched. I just walked in the rain from Bras Bsah all the way to the 174 bus stop near Subway Station, opposite SMU. I desperately need an umbrella but don't have any. So there I was walking and this really kind lady she offered to sheltered me across the road. I thinked I looked pretty pathetic. But really have to thank her for her warm gesture. Am happy. Now I am back home all warm and cosy. Yup, very happy to have met a kind soul today. Thanks. God bless you!

It's 630am in the morning, Friday. Bet my friends will be wondering why I am up so early. Actually come to think of it, I woke up at 5am. Wanted to go back to sleep when I remembered that the dateline for the NTU mascot thing is actually noon. I know it is today but the "noon" part I didn't remember it till just now! Oh well, it's done now. Just completed it. I wouldn't say that it is good or anything. I am not good at photoshop really. Ought to go learn it. It's really very early. At least I get to watch the sun rise and watch the sky as it changes colour. Happy.

I had oil painting class today. Oil painting is so tough especially when we have to paint a pelvis bone!!! Dying like crazy! Next week I am going to repaint it because I really did a lousy lousy job at it today. Really lousy seriously speaking. It really test my patience. Oh well... At least today I got a bit more familiar with the medium. That's one good thing.

Anyway I just found out that I am older than Ellen by a few mintues. The timing of my brith was 1338 and ellen was 1343. I am older sister liao but it feels so weird because I am so used to always being the youngest among my friends. It be cool if Ellen and I were born at the same timing and at the same hospital then we would have been bunk mates in the nursery 20 years back. Its very rare that we come across someone born on the same year, same date and same timing as us. But at least Ellen and I came close to it... Same year and same date and well rather close timing. Haha... Ok time to practice piano!

LOL Just found out that Ellen and I was born in same hospital so we were probably bunk mates.

It's the second day of school and frankly speaking, it doesn't feel like the second day if school at all. I felt as if I had been back in school for weeks. feels so good to be back. Haha... Did I miss school that much? Must be mad! LOL... Was walking to canteen 2 for dinner with Jia Hui, Ying Han and Hui Ying and we bumped into Samuel. He asked if we could pose for him. LOL We were supposed to give the attitude look. It's amzing how we immediately agreed and put down our bags to pose. All in the name of art? Haha. Oh and today Ah Gong (Royston) gave me the sweet he promised. LOL... I am surprised Ah G0ng even remember this. Thought was just talking crap, but he really did remember. BUT ANYWAY, THANKS AH GONG FOR THE SWEET!

Anyway, was supposed to have meeting just now but Wang Xun met with an accident. She injured her leg. Really wonder how she is now. Ok, back to updating on the past few days. Another long blog entry coming up.

Went to Kukup, Malaysia with my friends. I am very very surprised that my parents let me go especially since my parents always feel that Malaysia is a rather dangerous place. Yup, so I went. Met ut with Ellen and Jit at McDonalds for breakfast and off we go to Kranji MRT to meet the rest. The rest had breakfast somewhere near the customs before all of us decided to go ahead to JB first to walk around while waiting for Felice. Had lunch in JB. Felice came and off we go to Kukup. Didn't do much during the bus trip there. Talk to Ellen a bit, slept a little and took a few photos too. Still remember one part of the bus ride, had this ridiculous conversation with Pang Ren and Raymond and we go about rejecting one another and asking each other how it feels like to be rejected. LOL. It was dumb but it was fun. So crappy! I was the one who started all that ridiculous rubbish as usual.

Reached Kukup. Feels very much like kelong village. The house in which we lived in is better than I expected it to be. Floor tiles, air cons, 3 sets of mahjong, kitchen, karaoke system, really not bad at all. What's more... Accomadation (2days, 1 night) plus food plus boat ride round the kelong only cost RM75! Oh Dinner was BBQ but guess what we didn't have to barbeque the food ourselves. They do the barbequing, all we need to do is eat! Wow... I can't believe it. Very good service.

We played this game after dinner. It was the murderer, dectective game. Just that instead of blinking we have to link hands and pass the squeeze around. Really fun. Raymond and Ellen sat beside me. Think both of them very poor thing. Well, it's not entirely my fault. Sometimes they passed me the squeeze at the same time. Whoa, how was I suppose to count and remember how many squeezes I received on my left and right at the same time. In the end, I decided since I can't remember, I shall just squeezed both their hands one each which means they have been killed by the "murderer". Killed not by the real murderer but while the "murderer" who can't remember how many squeezes to pass down and that's me. Hee. The funniest thing about being a doctor during the game sometimes is that when you and the other doctor tried to save someone at the same time, the victim will end up being saved and will died once more when the second sqeeze is received. LOL... I think during the whole game, the 2 doctors did help mess up the game while accidentally killing and saving victims. But who cares, it's a game and it's more fun this way!

Oh we bought fireworks and lit them up at 12midnight. It was amzing! Too bad, the whole fireworks thing was so short. If only it had been longer. Really love it. Oh We played the drinking game and it was super fun! Of course I didn't drink beer. I drank water instead. I hate beer. Absolutely hate it! So you can forget about making me drink it. I can't help laughing. Such a funny sight. About half way through the game, I decided not to speak because talking is so troublesome. So so many rules to follow. In the end, we played till 6am. After that, joined Felice and Jia Hui in a game of mahjong. We wanted to stay up watch the sunrise but apparently there wasn't much of a sunrise. All the sky did was brighten itself. Thinking of sunrise makes me think about the sunrise I saw at Huay Hok. It was my first sunrise ever witnessed and the best ever. Nothing can ever beat that image.The clouds below us and the sun rising out from it. It's WOW! Expected that, afterall God created it. It has to be WOW! or more than that.

Went to sleep at 7am and woke up round 9am plus. I have become a light sleeper once more. Woo hoo! Woke up because I heard Danny talking and the TV was kinda loud. Walked around by myself a little. Love the sea but I must admit I was kinda scared of it too at the same time. Scared that I fall into it. Oh and I walked to this fishing area and the way there is lined with wooden planks. Kinda scary especially so when there are gaps all around and when you look down, you see the sea. It was pretty cool but nonetheless bit terrifying. Guess that's my phobia.

Had breakfast with the houseflies. They are really irritating creatures but the one thing I like about Malaysia houseflies is that they are fatter, slower and easier to kill than Singaporean houseflies. I did happily kill one during the drinking game by squashing it with my water bottle. Erm... kinda morbid! Haha.

After that, watched a bit of TV, packed up stuff and off we go to lunch and then finally to a boat ride around the kelong. I spotted jellyfish in the water. Oh my gosh, they are so squishy looking and they seem to go plopping away in the water. So cute! And there were the other fishes, crabs, PUFFER FISH, sea urchins and all that. Got to touch some of it. The next time we go Kukup, we have to take the boat trip into the jungle! Yet to get the photos from Rong Rong. Anyway, we left after that and the ride was pretty long. I meant the bus ride not the taxi. The bus ride was pretty long, two and a half hour. Played "Da Di" with Jia Hui, Ying Han and Ellen. I am really lousy at that.

Anyway, it was pouring when we reached JB. Sigh... Raymond, Pang Ren and Jit got to go to KL while the rest of us head to the shopping centre in JB. Shopped around a bit, had dinner. Oh Royston had a hair cut and it really looks good on him. Was not able to watch movie there. Timing was too late for us to watch. Had dinner at kenny Rogers and the serving was HUGE! I think my appetite really shrank a lot. I can no longer eat as much as I used to. But it was fantastic. Ended up buying a pair of slippers in JB. And it was back to custom and WHOA! was near customs (still in JB) and my hp suddenly had reception. Goodness, I had lots of missed calls and smses. My hp was ringing crazily. Madness. Anyway it really feels good to be back home in Singapore! Though I must say I wish I could stay longer in Malaysia. I love traveling, that's why. This reminds me of the work and travel thing in USA. really hope I can go. I want to!

Ok Should stop here. Entry is way way way too long!

Am going to continue updating. New year eve was spent at Yi Ping lao shi's house. We had a lot of fun playing board games as usual. It was my first time playing risk and I must say it is really fun. Haha... I managed to capture the whole of America but in the end, we stopped the game because it was obvious Yi Lin who has the rest of the world besides America will win. Played with Goofy a little. Love that dog. He's so cute. School has started for some of my church friends. I guess from that day on, it is highly unlikely that everyone can get together to play like we did that day during new year eve. Sigh, really miss the good old days. Oh well, at least we get to see one another every Sunday in church.

These few days while school just started, think I should go out with Zi Xuan more before she goes to Australia. Really will miss her. Take care babe while you in Australia. I will always think of you! You my best friend ever. Zi Xuan is the very first person that got me to open up and changed me. If it wasn't for her, I will still be this really quiet girl that no one knows about because I keep everything to myself and share nothing. I really changed a lot, havn't I? And I am glad I did, I changed for the better. Hee... Thanks so much, Ophe. (Ophe is short for Opheleia and is Zi Xuan's christian name)

Anyway I went out with my school friends on new year day. Went to watch Charlotte's web. It was really better than expected. The last 30mins was really good. The death of Charlotte really had me tearing. I must admit Charlotte is really pretty though I am not one who is fond of spiders. Hui Ying is so innocent and pure. Haha... You know there was this part where Charlotte said to Wilbur that she is expecting. You know what Hui Ying did, she turned to me and asked "What is Charlotte expecting?" Oh my gosh, Hui Ying! Haha... She is expecting babies of course. LOL.

Went to borders after that and I saw this children book that I really like. It's filled with fun facts. Think the title was something like "Pick me up". Extremely interesting book! Love flipping through it. Too bad it's so expensive, $60 plus! Can't afford it. Oh well... Maybe another day of something I go check it out. Anyway I ended up with this really horrile gastric. Never had one that bad before. I had it once while doing stop motion animation but this time it was worse. The pain was continuos. It didn't even stop. Sigh... Good thing I am now ok. So sorry trouble you all that day, Ying Han, Hui Ying, Jit and Raymond. So sorry.

This is going to be a super super long post. Have been wanting to update my blog but I didn't have the time to do so or was too tired. Even my blogskin is half finish. Have yet to complete it. Haha. I don't have any pictures to show for what I am going to type later on because I didn't took any. Pardon me for it.

Went to eat lunch with Xiu Jing and Pei Yun. They intro me to this restaurant that serve really good food at Westmal. It's just beside swensens. Haha Guess what, they were celebrating my belated birthday then. LOL... That's kinda late but I really don't mind. Thanks a lot! And it's really nice to catch up with old friends once in a while. Do miss them. Thanks for the present!

After that, I went to find Ellen and the rest at East Coast Park. It's has been like years since I been back to that place. Really miss it. Bring back old memories. I love the sea the best though I am also afraid of it the most. Well, the afraid part is with regards to falling into deep waters and drowning. This is especially so at night when the sea is just one dark endless "thing". If I stare at it too long, it does kinda freak me out sometimes. Guess I kinda had this phobia of falling endlessly since I was young, the result of endless nights of nightmares so anything related to it kinda scares me after a while. Anyway, when I reached there it was 5-6pm plus and frankly speaking, I really thought they had finish cycling and all I am going there for is to join them for dinner. And guess what, they havn't even cycle yet.

That was my very first time cycling in the evening and the sky was amazing. Love the way the colour changes. I could stare at it endlessly. We rode to this jetty on the left side of East Coast Park (ECP). Really like the long long fishing rod. I havn't tried fishing before, going to have to do it one day. Saw the fishes that the people caught. They are really small and silvery. Are they really edible I wonder. I mean it's so flat and small, seems to me like there isn't much fish meat. LOL and Jit said he wanted to try active fishing and I think it was Hong Yang or Ellen that said that he might as well jump down into the sea and catch with bare hands. Nothing can be more active than that. Totally agree! And that was really crappy! Haha

Anyway it rained when we were not even half way thru the park. It got heavier but it was fun riding in the rain. Never tried something that crazy before. Kinda chilly though but who cares! One thing to bear in mind the next time I go riding on a bicycle, never to wear jeans especially when it rains! The riding part is not the tough part, it's the part where I am in the air con bus wearing a totally wet jeans that kills me. SUPER COLD!!! And I am not one that can stand cold! But it was still fun nonetheless. I like the way the rain beats down on my face. The feeling is rather erm... how should I describe it... nice? Something like that but of course when it pours, it is another different matter. Glad that day the rain was not that huge. I really like riding through those puddles of water. It's fun! Guess that's pretty much the more interesting stuff that I did that day.

Met up with Ellen and we went to the Chua Chu Kang farm area. IT IS SO FUN!!! I love to go to these unusual places. Took the farm mart shuttle bus. Got trick by the bus driver. The ride fare was only 50cents but he said $5. In the end, when we really was about to give him that amount, he had the "I can't believe you 2 girls actually believe me and are giving me that sum of money" face. He told us not to be gullible. LOL... You know, I think I am too gullible. I usually believes what others tell me. I don't know why, I guess I just trust people around me, trust them not to cheat me or hurt me in any way. Oh well, that's me.

Anyway, Ellen and I walked past a group of people doing prawn fishing. They had the radio on and I just couldn't help but imagine the prawns doing their thing in the way. I can picture them dancing and grooving to the music, swaying past all the hooks and occasionally giving the hooks a spin or a tap. LOL... That's just so animation. Quite a funny side. I ended up laughing and smiling all the way while walking past it.

Oh and we fed the bull frogs!!! I like the way they jumped to get to their food. I accidentally hit one or two of them in the head with the food bits. Let's just say my aiming was not that good. Wanted to throw the food in front of them but what they got was a whack. So sorry bull frogs. Didn't mean to hurt you. I fed the rabbits and guinea pigs too. The guinea pigs are so CUTE!!! They made those squeaky little sounds. Haha... They reminded me of Dr Dolittle. There was this talking hamster/guinea pig (which was it?) and it said "I'm cute. I'm furry and I lay 500 badies a year." Wish I could have one of them but my mother would not allow. Anyway, I really love this black brownish white guinea pig. I had tug and war with it. Well that's because it refuses to let go of the food. It wanted the whole long carrot slice for itself instead of a bite and sharing it with the rest. But in the end, I gave it the whole thing and it quickly ran to a corner to eat it after getting rid of his fellow cage mates. Haha... Really love that one.

Ellen and I walked about a lot and even took a taxi to NIPPON koi farm. I didn't know choosing koi will be so much fun. Sigh... All my koi that I brought that day at NIPPON died while I was at Kukup (Malaysia). Don't ask me why I am not sure of it myself. Kinda sad because I really love the fairy kois. Oh well, maybe I should stick to plants instead of fish, at least they don't die so easily. Anyway, the uncle was very kind to have drove us out of the farm and to the nearest bus stop. Ellen and I could have ended up walking to main road if it weren't for him.

The other half of the day was spent window shopping at Orchard with erm... Michael and Yi Chen I think. It was only in the evening that Jit came along. I know we ended up at PS and would have gone to Esplanade if it weren't for the guys. They wanted to eat. Oh well, anyway we were at the food court and we saw this really plump guy eaing like 3 bowls of noodles I think and drinking like many cups of soft drinks. It's really scary to see someone eat that huge amount. The guy looks like he can't take it anymore but he just kept on going. Somehow it just doesn't feel right. I don't remeber much of what happen that day. Losing my memory! Erm... seriously this entry is way too long. Shall end off here and go take a nap. Night!

Oh I suddenly remember why I actually ended up going out with Ellen they all on Thurs (includes Jia Hui, Hing Yang and Jit) because we got back our results that day and it was pretty good, so wanted to go Cosy Bay celebrate. But of course we didn't go there in the end. Ended up at Bugis instead.

Oh I got stomething to say about my art history results. Really I have to thank God for it, got B minus. First of all, that was the very first exam that I went to without studying and you know, Caroline never go to an exam without at least studying a little. Guess this time was because 2 of my end of semester animation project was due that same day as art history exam. Wads more I only slept an hour that day. It was terrible. The whole exam was a torture. I was so sleepy that I had double vision. I could be writing on a line and suddenly my whole vision will blur away and end up suddenly writing on the next line. Ended up doing lots of cancelling. In the end I gave up and went to sleep. When I woke up I got bout half an hour left but I really gave up writing this time. I never felt like that before. I just could not continue writing, was too tired. The whole exam was a torture to me. I seriously thought I would fail and have to retake art history. Really very thankful to God for seeing me through it. All my results turn out way better than I expected it to be. Very happy! Thank you God, could not have done it without you. That I know.

It's 2007. Few weeks back or was it last week that Yi Ping lao shi told us to think about our new year wish. For me, my wish was to dedicate my life this year to doing God's work Not letting things like school work stress me and take my time away from God but rather to use it as a medium. Anyway I was about to do my QT when Hwee Min chatted with me online. We talked about new year wishes and about trusting and relying on God this year. After she went offline, I read my QT and guess what... God just confirmed what we had said through my QT devotional. Haha Just read the devotional material below and you know what I mean.

"Our journey" January 1 devotional

Bible verse: Isaiah 43: 16-21

One thing I love about Chicago is the Chicago River. Back in the 1800s, however, a poorly designed sewage system polluted the river, which then flowed into Lake Michigan, thereby polluting the city's water supply and resulting in deadly outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery.

Something had to be done. Engineers got the idea that if they could reverse the flow of the river, the power and resources of Lake Michigan would flow into it. The fresh, clean water from the depths of the Great Lake would be channelled into the river, and would be a source of long-term satisfaction and strength to the city.

In 1900, they successfully reversed the flow of the Chicago River so that it is the only river in the Great Lakes system that receives its water from the lake. Because of this, the river is clean, strong, and never lacks a source - unline tributaries that draw their water from lesser and often unreliable sources, such as rainfall, snow melt, and underground springs.

Some of us are like the Chicago River before its flow was reversed. We have never permitted God's Spirit to restructure our passions nor allowed ourselves to draw our satisfaction from him and his pure resources. As a result, our passions draw their fulfillment from the world around us, and all we have to contribute is the debris and pollution we have accumulated. Sadly, a bird's-eye view of Christianity looks like that at times, with the pollutants of misplaced passions spilling into the sacred seas of church, home, and friendship.

To reverse the flow means that we need to restructure our longings. We must realise that we have cultivated a longing for lesser, sometimes-impure things. We must "remember not the former things" (Isaiah 43:18) but turn our hearts toward God, seeking to be satisfied in him and in all that he so wonderfully provides for us. When we do, we will experience the "new thing" that God wants to bring forth in our lives - the miracles of a renewed, cleansed heart that will declare his praise. Begin your new year by reversing the flow.

- Joe Stowell