clean linen

Dear Mr (Future) Husband, It is the last day of the year, yet again. Just when I was about to get used to writing "2009" instead of "2008", I now have to get used to writing "2010" without pausing for a second or two to ask myself if I had written the correct year or not, i.e. "Last year what did I write? 2008 right? Ok, so this year it is 2009..." It also marks the beginning of my tenth year of reading the One Year Bible - how cool is that right! As with all major/landmark anniversaries, should I hold a party for me and my One Year Bible? We've been together for 10 years now, so I'm pretty sure I've known the One Year Bible much longer than you. But I digress. The One Year Bible splits the bible up into 365 readings, 1 reading for each day. In each reading, there is a passage from the Old Testament, a passage from the New Testament, a passage from Psalm, and a few verses from Proverbs. Over the last two days of the year - 30 and 31 D...

Random #1 : Nemeth 'the Roof Guy' came! He tried to place a new sheet, but didn't manage to complete it today because of the foul weather. He was working right below me so I managed to sneak these two shots:) The weather really was GLOOMY today. The sun barely came out! It was just so cloudy, grey and windy! Random #2 : All I Do is Dream of You I started listening to Michael Bublé's newest album titled "Crazy Love" today. One of the songs, "All I Do Is Dream of You", makes me want to bob up and down to the song because it makes me happy:) You have a listen and let me know whether you feel like bobbing up and down to the song too! (Because I hope you do start bobbing!) I'm really liking this album!

On Christmas day, I skyped with my parents, brother and Carolin. They opened their many presents in the living room at home in Singapore. I opened the few presents I have here in Nottingham. I don't have a Christmas tree, but I just put all the presents and Christmas cards with my soft toys - and I say putting presents by happy-looking or cute soft toys is way better than putting them under a tree! Afterwards, Mike Giddins drove by my house to pick me up when he was on his way home from church. The Giddins family from my church had kindly invited me over to their house for lunch, and I really thank God for such a wonderful family who opened up their home for me. Anyway, we had capon (my discovery of the day: that is what you call a male chicken), with the usual British fare, which was lovely! I am very sorry to be so offensive in saying this, especially if you are a British reading this. But, erm, British food can really get quite boring and bland. BUT, because I don't eat it e...

Yesterday, I entered Singapore Christmas day with my cell group over skype. I say "Singapore Christmas day" because it was still Christmas Eve in the UK. Singapore started the Christmas day 8 hours earlier. It felt SO strange, but nice too, to "be there" with the cell group as they had a short time of worship to usher in Christmas day. I joined them online at about 11:45pm (SG time), and they started their time of worship! I started singing with them at first, then I remembered that there is always a lag in everything said and done when on skype. So I hummed as softly as I could. But Amy later told me that they could STILL hear me, so it seemed like I was very off beat! SHUCKS, haha. Here's a shot with me, Amy and Joanne. They're holding the presents I prepared for them. It is a pity that the photo is pixelated! Although, do you notice it is only Amy's face that was affected? I think it's just because it's Amy lah;) Anyway, I talked the longest t...

I listen to Korean pop songs even though I do not have a clue as to what they are singing. The tunes are usually catchy and easy to hum along to. And, as I have mentioned before, it makes for good music to listen to as I read or do work, because I do not get distracted listening to the lyrics of the song and trying to decipher their meaning. While at www.allkpop.com, I read an entry on the rearrangement of this very popular song called "Gee". The original is very pop-ish and cheery. 5 of the 9 girls in the girl band performed the rearrangement of the song, and I think I prefer this version to the original one! Rearrangement: Original: One other video on the same entry is this: Here, I was more captivated by the piano playing! But the singing was really good too!

This morning, I woke up, and received my dad's email commenting on my previous blog entry: "Your photos of the clear blue sky are stunning. But the light outside causes Hippo to be in the dark. I can hardly see Hippo in the foreground." Hippo wasn't meant to be the center of attention in that photo... Unlike this one (heh heh): This is what happens to you when you study law in Nottingham and stay in the house for 4 days in a row - you blog about stuffed toys all the time... How special is that!

Yesterday, although it was cold, it was bright and sunny. The colour of the sky when the sun was setting was amazing too! Today, it looks like it's going to be another good day, what with the sun out again! This will be my third day in a row of not leaving the house. But I'm fine with that. It's just too troublesome bundling up to go out for a walk or something. I mean, it's cold lor! That is why all my photos are so boring - all taken from the comfort and warmth of my room:)

I usually like songs that have been rearranged into an acoustic version. So for this song, All I Want for Christmas is You, it has been rearranged and performed by 9 Korean singers who come from different groups. And I must say, I really like this version! Their voices are also really good! AND, they didn't slaughter the English language with poor pronunciation of the lyrics. (What really made me laugh was how Alex from Clazziquai Project was dancing around in his box. If you don't know who Alex is, he is the first guy on the left in the middle row.) What do you think? Like it?:)

The worship team performed this song BEAUTIFULLY at the carol services last night. One of the backup singers was the soloist, and she had the loveliest voice ever! This song has been ringing in my head all of last night and today! Here are the lyrics to the song, Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) : What hope we hold this starlit night a King is born in Bethlehem Our journey long, we seek the light that leads to the hallowed manger ground What fear we felt in the silent age four hundred years can he be found But broken by a baby's cry rejoice in the hallowed manger ground Emmanuel, Emmanuel God incarnate here to dwell Emmanuel, Emmanuel Praise His name Emmanuel The son of God, here, born to bleed a crown of thorns would pierce His brow And we beheld this offering, exalted now, the King of kings Praise God for the hallowed manger ground

Yesterday morning, and this morning too, I wake up, look out the window, and see a mostly-white backyard! Then when I left the house in the afternoon to go to church, this fantastic sight greeted me when I stood just outside my door: I'm now hoping, praying and wishing really badly that it will snow on Christmas day so I can say that I've had a "white Christmas"! I didn't go to church in the morning. Yesterday evening we had two carol services, one at 5, the second one at 7:30. I was originally rostered to play with the worship team at both carol services. Later, Jason from Solid Rock (think Asian Christian Union) asked if I could play the keyboard for the Solid Rock choir because they were going to perform a carol or two at the services. I agreed to help them out since I figured that I would already be at both services, so playing an extra song or two would be ok. However, Jason was informed that the programme was too packed and the Solid Rock choir would now sta...

Yesterday was my first full day of the Christmas break back in Nottingham. The sun came out to play, but it was still very cold. Just looking out into the backyard and seeing the small remains of snow and frost is a sign that temperatures are so low, it isn't melting. So while the sun may be out, that doesn't mean it's warmer. No, far from it! And to make matters worse, the neighbour on my right, Fran, was kind enough to pop by to point out to me that part of the roof of the conservatory (i.e. extended portion of the house) had been blown off and so there was a gaping hole in the roof. I didn't really know what to do. I couldn't call my landlord until evening time because he stays in San Francisco. If I called in the morning, I would be calling him at some ungodly, inconsiderate hour. Besides, I had to do laundry, go to the supermarket, run some errands, etc. So I did all those first. And before I knew it, it was evening time. As soon as my landlord saw my email, he...

My parents and brother were in Berlin before they met me in Frankfurt. They took nice photos in Berlin, but I'm not going to put up any of those photos because I wasn't there personally so I wouldn't know how to describe them better. If you want to know more about their time in Berlin, please ask them personally:) Ok, so I met my parents and brother in Frankfurt on Friday, 15 December. Because of a flight delay of over an hour, I arrived in Frankfurt really late at night. From the airport, we just took a train to the hotel, and we all went to bed. Saturday, 16 December : Frankfurt-Kassel We stayed in a small hotel called Hotel Excelsior. Its rooms may be really simple, but its location is fantastic - it is immediately opposite the main train station, hence it is highly convenient. The breakfast wasn't that bad either! I was very satisfied to get a hot breakfast of eggs and sausages. And they even had 'char siu bao' and 'siew mai'! They really make it a ...