clean linen

I have finished yet another book! It is entitled "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy. The novel is so vivid in its descriptions, evoking all kinds of emotions and thoughts. It is so sad and yet, there are some parts that are hauntingly funny. Do read it when you get a hold on the book! Here are some passages that I found particularly impactful: From the dining-room window where she stood, with the wind in her hair, Rahel could see the rain drum down on the rusted tin roof of what used to be their grandmother’s pickle factory. Paradise Pickles & Preserves. It lay between the house and the river. They used to make pickles, squashes, jams, curry powders and canned pineapples. And banana jam (illegally) after the FPO (Food Products Organization) Banned it because according to their specifications it was neither jam nor jelly. Too thin for jelly and too thick for jam. An ambiguous, unclassifiable consistency, they said. As per their books. Looking back now, to Rahel it ...

It was a frantic half an hour of exchanging presents after the Christmas service yesterday. Imagine this: You stand in one spot with your bags of presents meant to be given away scanning the crowd, then with a target locked on, you spring into action with that person's present in hand, running towards that person, shouting out his/her name to get his/her attention while trying to avoid crashing into other people who are also chasing other people around. It was a mad house, but S-DUPER fun. The 18-year-olds! I then left church for lunch with my family and spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping, because I wasn't feeling very well (Sore throat from, weird as it sounds, the extraction of my 4 wisdom teeth on Friday). So the afternoon flew past and so did dinner. Then came MORE FUN! My parents and brother dropped me off at Alekx's house after dinner for an 18-year-old gathering/bonding session. It was sooo fun! My gosh, it has really been a really long time since all the 18 ye...

After hearing from my fellow one-thirders that they could not view the short video clip of us at K Box, I realized that I had made the video a private one. I have since made it a public video so please go take a look at Bella, Tina, Daniel(not so much) and I make a fool of ourselves. Click here , please.

One-Third (minus Jien and Sheryl) arranged to meet at Taka's Crystal Jade Kitchen at 11am, asking Julie to be at Orchard MRT by 11.30am instead. This would give us ample time for preparations to surprise her, as Julie was under the impression that it was just a Christmas lunch for One-Third. While we were sitting at the bench just opposite Crystal Jade, Bella told Julie over the phone that she was still at Paya Lebar MRT station. Then I told Julie over the phone(after she called Bella, she called me) that I was with Tina in her dad's car and we were still on our way there to Taka. Tina and I even had time to take a photo while waiting for the rest to arrive! Can you see that my face is swollen? ;) Eventually, Julie was surprised and we gave her a collage that was put together by Tina! Lunch was delicious while we talked and laughed. There was the exchanging of Christmas presents too. Then, of course, we took a group photo before I left first for church! Hope you had a swell tim...

Today, I took out all 4 of my wisdom teeth. It was a day surgery at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre & Hospital, the same place where I was born too! All the nurses and people working there were so cheerful and friendly, so much so that I actually liked being in the hospital (Even though I had to wear the hospital gown and had to pee in a bedpan after the operation)! Being wheeled to the operation theatre suites was also very cool too! Made me think very hard about the day surgery I had for my lazy eye about 6 years ago, but I couldn't recall anything of my experience back then. My mother was with me all the way, while my father called me once on my way to the hospital in the morning. Afterwards, my mother called my father when there were new "developments" in my stay at the hospital. They were praying very hard for me and I was praying very hard too, that my face won't become too swollen and that it would not be something torturous for me. Thank God my doctor is su...

Today, I woke up at 6.30am to get to church by 7.45am as I was on keyboard duty. So I played for the 1st service, then the 2nd service. As well as the prayer meeting until 3.30pm (one and a half hours of playing non-stop is not very fun), followed by the song item in the Christmas musical that I am involved in(playing the same song 3 times and making the same mistakes, thus frustrating yourself immensely is not that fun as well). All in all, I was in church from 7.45am to 6.45pm. 11 hours. From church, my parents and sister picked me and Amy up to go to Josh's one-month baby shower, where I stayed until 8.30pm, or thereabout. It was a really fun affair where alot of eating, and some drinking(just wine, beer and mixing the fruit punch with the wine) was involved. With my camera around, of course there was photo-taking too(For your information, we're all holding red hard boiled eggs, which double up as 'props' for our photos)! And that was only today. Yesterday, I was in ...

Yesterday, Tina and I both rushed to meet each other at about 5.10pm to take a cab to City Hall MRT, where we met Julie. Daniel came later, while Bella came even later. Dinner at Via Mar was wonderful and oh-so-cultured. The moment we were seated, the waiter asked us if we wanted a glass of white or red wine each. You should have seen us all, sipping somewhat gracefully from our glasses of wine. We also enjoyed a meal that consisted of an appetizer, the main course(choice of chicken, salmon or beef cubes) and dessert, talking and laughing rather loudly, as per normal:) Unfortunately, we completely forgot about taking a group photo in the restaurant and we were too busy talking and eating to snap some photos of ourselves during the meal. We were rushed into the theatre where we were ushered to our seats by the Muslim Store uncle from our school! I found him very familiar when I first saw him and did not realize who it was until one of us behind me exclaimed, "Hey! It's Uncle fr...

Yesterday, I did some jogging on the treadmill and watched "Clueless" for the first time(I'd bought the DVD from NZ). Is it based on Jane Austen's "Emma"? Because it really seems like it! The storyline is so similar! And the lead actor grows on you, somehow, even though he doesn't seem rather dashing/goodlooking initially. Then I started on a Taiwanese drama serial entitled "Silence", something I completed today. I actually bought it just before I left for NZ. It's another sop story, of course. I was surprised at Vic Zhou's great improvement in acting in the drama serial "Mars". This time round in this drama serial, he didn't really score in his acting. The ending is quite 'bleagh' as well, so it is not something I would recommend for people to watch. I mean, if you want the usual heartwarmer and oh-so-sweet moments, watch this, only if you have a whole lot of time on your hands to while away. I've included a ...

If you ask me what I did on my trip, goodness, I wouldn't know how to reply you with an answer that is short and yet adequate. I would probably end up rambling on and on, day by day of the 12 days' worth of activities and things my family did on our holiday to New Zealand. Also, if you ask me what was my most favourite moment of the trip, I would also be at a loss as to which is my best moment of the trip. I will blog about the trip, making an effort to pick out the best photos(There are probably 700 photos taken by my sister and I) and moments to share with you all because New Zealand is so beautiful that I just have to share it with you. But, at a later date. Right now, I have to begin the daunting task of "archiving" the photos. If I feel up to it, I will make a video clip or something like it because we have many beautiful 15-second(on the average) video clips in our cameras. I will also attempt to pick out the best 200 photos to develop and keep in a photo albu...

An ending: I've finally finished "Habits of the Mind: Intellectual life as a Christian calling" by James W.Sire! It is one interesting and engaging book, even though it was rather dry at some points, but overall very enriching! Here are some quotes: "The best atmosphere for creative thought is expectant tension. You don't know. You want to know. You have some handle on how to know. You go for it. Desire fuels excitement." " 'A Book' by Emily Dickinson- He ate and drank the precious words, His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, Nor that his frame was dust. He danced along the dingy days, And this bequest of wings Was but a book. What liberty A loosened spirit brings!" "Randomness continuing for long enough will yield its own pattern or allow a pattern to emerge organically, incurably, from within - or so I hope." A new beginning: I'm leaving for New Zealand tonight, the beginning of another family holiday! I...

My father, sister and I went to The Berth at Sentosa Cove to collect the keys to our apartment. The scenery and, basically the surroundings, was breathtaking! Every time my sister and I saw the view or something new, we would sigh because we can only enjoy all these beautiful things for about a month. My dad has sold this apartment to another person because he did not want to be saddled with more bank loans. However, it is his dream to own a house/apartment just like this(by the sea). So when market prices for the property being developed on Sentosa island are more stable and he is able to sell our house at Pasir Panjang(which should yield a good amount of money), he will buy a better unit than this one that we are giving up. I'm looking forward to that because I think it is VERY VERY cool to tell people that the street I live on is called: In the meantime, my dad is wonderful enough to agree to apply for electricity for a month so that before the 29th of December where he hands o...

As of 17th November, my cell had a newest member joining us! His name is Josh and he is the son of my cell leaders, Ben and Lydia. In view of this special arrival (and Lydia's one-month confinement), Ben cancelled our normal cell meeting and invited us over to the house for a visit. Many photos were taken of the oh-sooooo-cute Josh and here are a few of them. I've also got a video but it's still being uploaded onto the multiply website where I can transfer it here later... Josh and I! The guy in the background is his father, my cell leader:) JOSH IS SO CUTE RIGHT?! ;)

The terrible thing is over! It's been a long, tiring weekend though because of commitments like the ones in church and dental appointments (boo). One-Third went to town Friday afternoon to shop for Bella and Daniel's prom stuff while I was looking out for a dress to wear to a wedding dinner end of December. I found my dress! Bella found her's too (I think)! Ok, here are a few photos, I'm too lazy to say more. Taking a break at Mos Burger. Waiting for the rest... this is the shop where I bought my dress! :) And of course, a group shot!

Tomorrow, I will be taking my last paper of the 'A' level examinations. My goodness, it seems so surreal. I am very excited and really looking forward to 11am tomorrow when the CPE says, "Time's up. All pens down." because it means freedom! Yet at the same time I cannot believe it, at all. I have been putting off so many things with the famous phrase of "After the A's" such that now when the time has actually come for the A's to be over and done with, I do not know what to do first! I know this sounds very silly but I'm already missing consultations with the Lit teachers and I miss doing Math. I think I'm out of my mind because doing Math should be something that is like a chore to many many people and yet here I am, feeling weird and a little sad that I'm not doing anymore Math. Also, Tina and I had our last consultation with Mr Smith yesterday morning and at the end of the one and a half hours, I had already begun to miss Mr Smith f...

I was talking on the phone with Jien today and she "chased" me to update my blog. So let me tell you that it's been drama serial after movie after drama serial for me this past week... Here's a list of the shows I've completed after watching "Hana Yori Dango": 1) Over The Hedge [Movie] The animals are soooo cute! I love the turtle's shell! :) 2) War of the In-laws [TVB drama serial] This show is now on Channel 55 at 8pm every weeknight! I watched the first episode of it on Channel 55 and enjoyed it very much! Then I remembered that Tina had rented it before so I asked her about the show and finally decided to rent it as well. I finished it in 2 days! It's really funny and rather sweet at many other parts! Although I found the ending a little tiresome and not as enjoyable as the rest of the show. But, put your mind at ease, it was a happy ending. But it made me think... sometimes maybe it's not so bad being matchmade by your parents. I mean, t...

Yesterday, I told myself that I am going to take a long break without feeling guilty afterwards. Besides, the subjects that I have to prepare the most for, or rather, study the most for, have been dealt with already. I miss doing Math but I'm really glad Econs is now a thing of the past. I'm now left with my last 2 Lit papers, a subject that doesn't require intensive studying. SO. With this thought in mind, I started on a new drama serial - Hana Yori Dango. It's the Japanese version of "Meteor Garden" and it is only 8 discs long. If you ask me, after completing the whole drama serial, which one I prefer between the 2 versions. I would say I prefer the Japanese version, it was short and well-condensed as compared to the Taiwanese version. However, the ending of the Japanese version is not as "ideal" as I wished it to be. I was rather disappointed when it ended just like that, but after searching youtube for clips of the show, I am consoled by the fac...

We planned a surprise for Sheryl yesterday evening after our Math Paper 2, which was successful and of course, really fun. Jien and Olive, the geogers, as Jien puts it, pasted small signs to lead her to the balcony overlooking the canteen, where we were standing with signs that said "We're secretly in love with you, Sheryl!" The "Happy Birthday" song was sung and the cake cut and eaten with cut-up pieces of the cardboard box in which the cakes came in because we had all forgotten to bring utensils. However, before we tucked into the cakes, we wanted to give Sheryl her birthday present, which was a holga camera. But we didn't want to give it to her immediately since it would simply be too boring, so we made her close her eyes and placed the gift in her hand to make her guess what it was. We put a box of markers first, tricking her into thinking that was her birthday present from One-Third. She actually believed that we could get her a box of markers. After mu...

You know how as a kid, you turn a pack of your favourite snack upside down after eating the last cracker and say with heartfelt sadness, "No more..."? Well, I used to do that, alot. Now I can't help saying it again, except that it's not with a pack of crackers/biscuits, but rather, it's with the thought of not needing to go for Math tuition ever again. I first started Math tuition with Ms. Tan when I was Sec 3, during the year-end holidays, if I'm not wrong. I'll always remember how my mother, for the one and only time, dropped me off at the house just to see what it was like, at my first session with her. I was supposed to be starting tuition with Karmen as my partner but she couldn't make it, so it was a one-on-one session for me. Since then, Ms. Tan has become my friend, someone I can laugh and trade "valuable information" with. I've also gotten to know her mother, her younger sister (my Chem tutor when I was in Sec 4) and her husband,...

I've half the mind to take my dad's advice and just sleep ultra early tonight, wake up fresh tomorrow (hopefully) to do LOADS of Math for Thursday's paper. Paper 1 today was tough and discouraging just thinking about it, so I will not think about it. I cannot. Please don't mind me, I'll be fine.

The one BIIIG exam that people have been asking about this whole year is actually here. After this whole terrible ordeal, which ends on the 24th of November (Please, quick come!), people can no longer ask me questions like, "How's the studying coming along?", "Why don't you look stressed?", "When do your exams start?", "Do you have school tomorrow?", "Are you okay?", "Are you prepared?", and the list of possible questions goes on. They can also stop telling me things like, "It'll end soon", "You'll get to enjoy after the whole thing is over", "I'm going shopping/to watch a movie"(Because I can't do these things without feeling IMMENSELY guilty at present), "If you go out I'll spank you", and again, the list of "sayings" go on. Oh, 24th November PLEASE come quickly! Although in future, what do I call myself? A student? But I'm neither in Secondar...

1) HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZHULONG! He is 20 as of today and I felt quite bad yesterday because I didn't plan anything special for him. So we lapsed back into our usual routine of cutting the cake and singing the Happy Birthday song to him at Melting Pot. It was a S-duper last minute thing though because Amy just smsed me in the morning before first service and she got Jeremy Robert to get the cake. The both of them then cabbed down to church just in time for us to cut cake while the 2nd-service-people had to rush off for the second service. Zhulong was still surprised though and he was happy, so it's good enough for me! :) As my 'jie mei', I also gave him a card yesterday that's ridiculously bright pink, simply put - VERY GIRLIE. With orders that he could only opened today, he hid it in his bible and was very obedient in opening it only today. He likes the card too so, YAY! 2) A little reward I'm blogging because I just finished 3 Econs. essays in a time period of 2 hou...

Everytime a family member's birthday comes around, we will let the birthday boy/girl choose the place he/she wants to go for dinner, of course, my dad pays all the time:) This time around, my dad chose to go to a Northern Indian restaurant (No surprise here, he LOVES Indian food, but the family's not a big fan of it) called Rang Mahal on Saturday night. But my entry's not about the dinner! Today, the actual day of his birthday, I wanted to surprise him with a simple birthday present in the form of durian ice-cream from Venetia. Mainly because my dad adores durians, and that Tina and I think the durian ice-cream from Venetia is some good stuff! The thing I didn't expect was for him to come home so early! I wanted to surprise him the moment he came back from work, which I thought would be at about 6pm, but nope, he came back one full hour earlier when I just started preparing stuff! No worries, I still surprised him though, when he came back from his run. The first thing ...