wonderment

Val and I each bought a jacket from the same shop that was having a sale. What’s interesting is that she bought the colour I usually buy - brown, and I bought a jacket in the colour she usually buys - pink! But whatever it is, we’re really pleased with our purchases. We wouldn’t have left the shop if Cor didn’t call us to come home already.

Nope, we didn’t go to some fine dining restaurant to eat this piece of salmon. With Cor’s culinary skills and Val’s photography, we present to you Chardonnay Salmon topped with sweet red onions. Yummy leh! Shows that you don’t need to break the bank to taste some of Sydney’s finest.

Here we go, pink again! I couldn’t resist putting on this straw Stetson. Here we are at Circular Quay where you could take a ferry and cruise around the Harbour to look at the bridge and Opera House. We didn’t go coz the visibility was really bad. But that’s all right, we had some fun at the souvenir shop.

‘Nuff said.

Day 2 in Sydney was rainy, windy and extremely cold!

Me and Corine pose for a picture with our loot. She literally squealed for joy when she saw these things from Singapore. Apparently, there’s quite the black market for such foodstuffs among the S’poreans/Malaysians here.

We spent most of the afternoon in a local shopping mall window shopping. The things here have the same price as those in Singapore but you always have to remember to x 1.3. We’re looking forward to tomorrow when we get to go to Circular Quay and get to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

We pray tomorrow’s weather will lighten up so that we can take nice photos. The temperature is beautiful. We sat on a stone ledge for half an hour resting our aching legs, letting the wind chill our faces and watched the sky quickly darken at 4-5pm.

We’re going to sleep early tonight to ready ourselves for an entire day of walking tomorrow! Check back for more photos!

————————-

Hi!

We’ve reached Sydney in one piece YAYYY!!

The 7 hour flight was great. The plane was only half full so many of
us got to stretch out full length across the 4-seat aisle. Bits of
turbulence at night. We did get a little bit of sleep and we woke up
to a glorious Aussie breakfast and a blustery, wintry Sydney morning.

Customs was kind to us. They peered into our bags full of tuna fish,
maggi mee and Jap green tea and let us go with a nice smile. We got
all the stuff we needed like prepaid SIM card, more Aussie money, maps
and the like …

We needed the maps to navigate our way to our next destination: Cor
and Eugene’s place.

Cor and Eugene had to work so we 2 gals lugged nearly 55kg worth of
luggage between the two of us, up the airport station, ran across
Central station to catch another train 4 platforms away, got off the
North Sydney station, where HORROR OF ALL HORRORS, they didn’t have a
lift!!! So we had to make two trips up the stairs to transport all the
luggage.

It cost us A$11.60 just to get from the airport to Cor’s place (about
6 stops), which is really expensive. The trains are the old metal kind
with vinyl seats and a suitable amount of graffiti, and the gaps
between the train and the platform are like 15cm!! We couldn’t drag
the luggage otherwise the wheels would get stuck in the gap. Some how,
I don’t think I’ll ever complain about the MRT in Singapore again.
It’s cheap, fast and QUITE userfriendly.

So we’re here, our tummies grumbling from lack of food (at least mine
is). We’re tired, but not tired enough to stop us from venturing out a
bit later.

It’s not that cold, something like 18 degrees which is like regular
air conditioning.

Okay, check back with you guys later on after we get back. Ta!

A day in the life of Ruth. She adds up the pluses and minuses and is amazed at how eventful her day is.

1. I want a man who can balance the books in a snap, but is anything but an accountant. I DETEST accounting. (+)
2. I said yes to CCIS (Hospitality) in December. Got a schedule in my mind, but future is uncertain. (+/-)
3. I sent the letter to transfer my membership out of my old church. (+/-)
4. My 3 bosses approved my 8-day leave two weeks ago but today they asked me who approved it. @#?$%&* (-)
5. I handed in all my programs today. (+)
6. We’re buying lights for the house tonight. (+)
7. I’m on leave tomorrow. (+)
8. Haven’t finished packing my bags. (-)
9. Haven’t washed all my clothes (-)
10. Haven’t ironed all my clothes. (-)
11. Acne seems to be have come back (-)
12. Haven’t filled up university application (-)
13. My boss’ travel agent STILL hasn’t sent his itinerary even after repeated chasings. (-)
14. Brother Chen is still calling me at weird hours and a few times each time. (-)

+ = 6
- = 10

BAH. The minuses out weigh the pluses but you know what? The minuses don’t mean a thing because tomorrow I will be out and away from here for 12 glorious days!!!

Leaving on SQ 231 at 0030 tomorrow night.
Returning on SQ232 at 1730, 10 July.

Check back for updates. There’s access at Cor’s place. Yipee!!

I want to make you feel proud of me, Lord Jesus.

And I want to let each one of my friends who read my blog regularly: Though I may not be the type that will tell you this often - but I truly care for you. And each little thing you do for me doesn’t go unnoticed. Each enthusiastic “Hi Ruth!”, or each little thought you have for me, or a prayer, or a gift, or anything! - brings a smile to my face and a spring to my step. I have no way to repay you, but the Lord sees it, and He blesses you more than I could ever do.

All day at work ysterday, I had a crazy tingly feeling in my toes, fingers, legs, hair, everywhere. A sense of anticipation.
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Tonight we will be packing the house …
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At 530, I was out of there in a flash. Packed my bags and ran. I didn’t let anything distract me. No taking a detour down to town. No stopping by Shaw Plaza. Nothing.

Bought dinner and waited impatiently for the 154.

Got home, wolfed down dinner and then with a sparkly glint in my eye, I gave my sis a sidelong glance and said softly, “Let’s start.”

OH and the joy of just packing!!

We packed and we packed and we packed ….

The dishes, cookbooks, my mom’s stacks of files, my dad’s books, my clothes … you name it, we packed it.

I love the crinkle of newspaper.
I love to place wrapped china gently into boxes.
I love the zap sound when you peel off the masking tape.
I love to seal the boxes.
I love to write with my whiteboard marker in large scrawly letters: “FRAGILE - MY MOM’S STUFF - GLASS”

And well, the packing party lasted from 8pm - 12mn, 4 solid hours until the last of the 3rd roll of masking tape was spent.

At the stroke of midnight, we hadn’t quite finished but no masking tape left, my mom had given up 2 hours ago, my dad couldn’t figure out what to throw away, everyone was sleepy, so we stopped.

Dusty hands.
Sneezing.
Itchy eyes.
Sweaty forehead.
Aching neck and shoulders.
Dirty feet.

Ohh… but the feeling of seeing those boxes piled high and sealed feels so gooood!!!

Taken from Joyce’s. Highly stressed female needs time out.

Three names you go by:
1. Ruth
2. Ruthie
3. 路得

Three screen names you have had:
1. 真爱
2. Moomoo
3. juanita

Three physical things you like about yourself:
1. Smile
2. Dimple
3. Eyes

Three physical things you don’t like about yourself:
1. Stomach
2. Skin
3. “Mutton-chop” arms

Three parts of your heritage:
1. Christian
2. Teochew-Cantonese-Chinese
3. Possibly part of the Song Dynasty??

Three things that scare you:
1. Rejection
2. Failure
3. Losing loved ones

Three of your everyday essentials:
1. Shower
2. Clean clothes
3. Internet access

Three things you are wearing right now:
1. Pjs
2. Contacts
3. Scrungee

Three of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment):
1. Corrinne May
2. Bebo Norman
3. Natalie Grant

Three of your favorite songs:
1. Safe in a Crazy World
2. What Grace
3. Bless the Broken Road

Three things you want in a relationship:
1. A deep friendship
2. Trust
3. Spontaneity

Three physical things about the preferred sex that appeal to you:
1. Voice
2. Smile
3. Eyes

Three of your favorite hobbies:
1. Surfing the net
2. Reading
3. Swimming

Three things you want to do really badly right now:
1. Eat some peanut M&Ms
2. Be in Sydney
3. Relax

Three careers you’ve considered:
1. Air Stewardess
2. News anchor
3. Owner of my own pushcart business selling handmade jewellery

Three places you want to go on vacation:
1. Greece
2. Israel
3. Switzerland

Three things you want to do before you die:

1. See a group of special people come to know Christ, get baptised and serve actively in church
2. Love and be loved
3. Visit every country on the world map

Three ways that you are stereotypically a guy:
1. My room perpetually looks like a whirlwind went through it.
2. I don’t know how to handle emotional outbursts, especially from girls.
3. I love to eat

Three celeb crushes:
1. Wallace Huo
2. Tom Welling
3. Kristin Kreuk

Off to bed. Answer these questions on your own site, if you will!

The last time I remembered being so busy was waaay back in Mass Comm especially during the last week when all the projects were due at the same time.

It got a bit scary when I stepped into work yesterday. Let’s take a look at my To-Do list:

1) Production of 14 more programs (I have 1 script to write, my friend has to finish 2)
2) Tie up the loose ends after the marriage seminar (Accounting, debrief meeting evaluation report, return books to publisher)
3) Recording for 3 afternoons with Don and Annie Espina.
4) Interview with the crew from “Noah’s Ark” on Thursday morning
5) Collate my boss’ itinerary for July.
6) Pack the house. 70% of the house still to be packed.
7) Buy gifts for my Australian friends and pack my bags!!!

Whew.

The thought of finishing all these by this week is kinda overwhelming. Last week, I learnt to trust God no matter whether the people turned up or not, this week, I have to learn to trust that all my work will be put in order with the 24 hours I have each day. But hey, God has been gracious to me. I’ve still got time to blog.
(Then again, next time I’ll never be so “gei kiang” to schedule a trip the same time I shift house.)
—————

A couple of days ago, Val and I received a letter from Hillsong rejecting our billeting option. It was a real nasty surprise. Suddenly we were left without accommodation for the duration of the conference! (We initally thought we got the billet because of the last letter they sent to us.)

Hillsong offered to transfer our billeting money to a local backpackers hostel but I wasn’t too keen on staying in one given the kind of stories I’ve heard. I just prayed and hoped that God would send us to a good place to stay while we’re at the conference. Meanwhile, I popped an email over to Corine detailing our sad plight and she promised us she’ll get back to us once she recced the place.

This is where it gets just so good! Like I previously thought, the backpacker’s hotel had a shady reputation and she offered to put us up for another week! Truly, this is another miracle happening for this trip.

Also, 3 days ago, Isy Israel, the youngest son of the CCIS Australian family emailed me and arrangements are being made to go out of Sydney before the conference to visit the Marshes in Wollongong! Apparently, there’s going to be a birthday party for Levi (third son) and we’re unofficially invited so that’s going to be really something to look forward to.

———————–

A holiday! Finally!

I was babysitter for a day

Nearly 60 people attended the night concert.

19 people excluding David and Monica.

The wife of the husband with chicken pox is coming.

*1130AM - Another couple just confirmed!!!*

Can I just say something? This is AWESOME!!

When I woke up this morning, I felt so hungover because I didn’t sleep well again last night and when you’re tired, you’re at your weakest point where all sorts of emotions just get to you.

Fatigue had taken a huge check out of the euphoria from yesterday and worry began to cloud my vision. I wanted something to hold onto. I needed to know that God loved me inspite of everything. My dad hadn’t returned from fetching my mom to work so I sat down with my Bible and read a passage of Scripture.

Ps 31: 9, 14, 24
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and my body with grief.

But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”

Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.

I felt a little bit stronger after breakfast. I sat down to review the number of people who signed up. We have 17 people (9 couples), but one couple is Monica + husband, and another couple don’t know if they can make it because the husband’s got chicken pox. But I’m still counting his wife in anyway.

I asked the Lord to make it 20 people. Just 20 people. I know He can do it.

These things don’t happen often. And usually, they happen for a reason. While I was still praying, the phone rang and a lady that spoke to me some weeks ago called to register herself and her husband for the seminar.

My tongue got all tied in knots because I knew that God had chosen to show Himself in this real way to me.

God is just so good.

I’ve spoken about trust/faith on air but I’ve never gone through such a time of moulding and testing as such a time as this.

——————-
Another testing of my patience:

An unfamiliar number appeared on my phone yesterday. I picked it up and a sleepy, throaty voice went hello. It sounded like it was some lady who had just woken up and called the wrong number.

But when “he/she” called my name, I knew exactly who the caller was. He refused to be known as Brother Chen but as “Chris” - his sister. Ok, so “Chris” it shall be. His ‘guise’ fell through in an instant when he started talking about a girlfriend … For nearly half an hour, he talked about his problems with work, family and supposed girlfriend. We’ve had this particular conversation more than once and I always tell him to go find his neighbourhood CDC, but he still calls.

Monica told me to be firm with him the next time and spend not more than 10 minutes on the phone with him. But I don’t think I’ll ever pick up the phone next time. :s

How can there be such tormented people in the world? I wonder if they can ever take the hand that helps them and be changed instead of constantly falling back in their old miserable ways.