unlike any other

Rachel Mcadams

2011-04-17T09:58:00.006+01:00

So besides meeting Gordan Ramsey, we stumbled upon Rachel McAdams. Little did we know that our trip to Greenwich was more than just seeing the line that divides the earth. We were at the Sherlock Holmes set. Oh btw.. the we here in this article refers to Leslie and I.

Here is proof that we were there and we did see her.

2nd from left: Rachel Mcadams and picture below shows her in the similar dress.

Well truth be told, while we were there we knew not anything about the Sherlock Holmes and the star studded cast. Only much later and after screening through the pictures did I notice that we had stumbled upon Rachel Mcadams. If only we had known.. perhaps a picture together with her and kiss would just be awesome! :p

I miss the cold wind against my face.

2011-03-10T16:18:00.002Z

Oh the fond and distant memory of the cold air sweeping across my face.

A couple hours of my own? I'm not asking you please. In no way a bitter manner

2011-02-25T20:45:00.005Z

So yet again, something about work. This time its more controversial. I have been doing 13 hr days on average which means I leave office at about 9ish there abouts.

So this one day I decided to go missing for a couple of hours. Well not really missing, I was with another manager chilling on that Friday evening. The thing is I conveniently forgot to tell my direct superiors that I would be gone. Mainly because I thought it wouldn't take that long. But it did. So I got a call half way through my hang out session.

The argument for my case is that it was well after official working hours 630pm to be precise that I left. Which means in actual fact that I have no obligation to whom what so ever. So which means I could do what I wanted with no guilt whatsoever.

But however the argument against my case is that I still owed them a notice regardless of whether I was bound by them or not.

Well, you might say that there is no point discussing further because it is over and rightly so. And I do admit that I should have notify them, for courtesy sake (something which I do struggle with)

I just feel that my time and the time for myself is no longer the time for myself and my time is other people's time. So so much for the disappearing act. I just wanted a break. Oh well ... welcome to the working life perhaps! LOL

work...squeals

2011-02-21T16:35:00.003Z

So this is what work is like over the weekend..

Its the time of the year where as an auditor you have no time of your own, less time to sleep, weekdays and weekends is no different and you're awaken from a dream, dreaming of work.

Trap and dismay is all you feel. Lost and hopeless is the predicament. What I am doing here every auditor ask themselves, yet only a few know why they are doing what they are doing

Like many I ask myself that old question. Is life this hard and I should have known better. Weren't the signs written on the walls. Well I guess I won't really know until I have tried other things besides this.

So that is the case at this point of time. I find myself yet again at crossroads of life's choices. I shan't say what are those options are, but what I can say that they are pretty good options. However like everything else those options have their goods and bads, pros and cons, or whatever you name it.

Well, there is this option which involves much risk. I'm contemplating this. Am I able to pull through.. hmm.

*Apologies for the 'vagueness'

I really need to do something here!

2011-01-02T08:30:00.004Z

Well what else can be said or has already been said. Like many the trend of a failing blog is inevitable. Well not me I won't give in ;)

I have my new 'toy'(thanks to Daniel Jr. for losing my previous). I shall use this blog of mine as an excuse to utilize this toy of mine! Oh well at least that is the plan.

We will see how it goes.. :)

Life and the living

2010-09-18T17:11:00.002+01:00

It has been quite alright thus far, work and all.

1 Corinthians 13

2010-06-21T17:27:00.002+01:00

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all the mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self -seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I become a man I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

scully the chinko

2010-04-24T04:18:00.000+01:00

the silly things we do...

Breathe on me

2010-03-24T15:34:00.003Z

Breathe on me
Breath of God
Love and life that makes me free
Breathe on me Breath of God
Fan the flame within me.

Teach my heart
Heal my soul
Speak the mind that in Christ we know
Take me to your santuary
Breathe on me.

Speak to me
Voice of God
Soft and still inside my heart
Speak to me
Word of God
Comfort, heal, restore with love.

Holding Nothing Back - Tim Hughes

2010-02-23T06:51:00.001Z

Praise be to God, for He is good and knows all things.

2010-02-22T08:35:00.005Z

Ever since I've arrive, life wasn't easy. But this couple of months have been nothing short of a blessing. Managed to find a job and got my results today. :)

A great conclusion to my one year here! Thanks be to God.

Stranded in Venice and the almost losing of a camera, part 2 of Italy

2010-01-09T00:47:00.008Z

In Venice we had booked the last train to Rome. We decided to do an overnighter, that way we save one night of hotel fee. The train was due to depart at 1130pm local time.

By 9pm or so the buzzing life of Venice died down. Quite was the footpaths and canals. We were early at the train station and with to kill time, my buddy and I chilled out on the dusty floor behind the drink dispenser machine. We were talking among ourselves while constantly keeping an eye on the departure board.

Here comes the drama.

Our train was destined for Napoli via Rome and that is where we were to get off disappeared from the board. Confused, we started checking other screens. All of them show the same thing. Our train is missing! What do we do now? There is no help desk at this hour? We don't speak Italian? Even with our phrase book we were struggling to communicate.

We went platform to platform to check things out. There seem to be no train departing that hour. Weird, very weird indeed and then something peculiar become to me. At the clocks in the station were showing the wrong time to my watch. My watch wasn't slow and even more so it was the same time with Kok Wei's. Hmm. It took quite a while for us to figure out and then it sank. We hadn't adjust our watches an hour forward! Silly as it sounds in the midst of all the excitement and planning we'd overlooked this matter. However though I did recall that the sound system in the aeroplane where the pilot would update on the weather and local time was poor.

Well not knowing who to blame. We were stranded in Venice. We tried asking for help but to no avail. Sleeping over at the station was a no no. Having stayed overnight the night before at stanstead airport was bad enough. The floor at the station was dusty, it was gloomy and we hadn't had a bath for 24hrs. We decided to find a hotel, eventually we did find a room for a reasonable price. It was reasonable because our bathroom was a seperate floor. Well better than nothing.

Our reasonable room. It was only big enough to fit a double bed in it.

We had to buy new tickets for out trip to Rome. Little did we know that our miss train tickets were valid for 3hrs and we could have called a helpline printed in small on the flip side of the ticket.

Next day. Train to Rome.

We had to board 2 trains. A short train from Venice Island to the mainland and then a 6hr ride to Rome. Finally we were leaving Venice. We sat opposite one another with a relief look on our face and with our backpacks next to us. Particularly next to Kok Wei's backpack was his camera. The thought of reminding did occur to me but I thought he should be well aware of it. Once we got down from the train, he was looking for his camera and it was too late. The train just left. Dismay and in a state of unbelief he just lost a camera. The thing is all my photos were in that camera. We decided instead of swapping cameras we would just swapped the memory card at the end. Gone like yesterday is gone would be the appropriate phrase.

Caught in unbelief and in a dilemma. He was emotionless and lost all sense of direction. He didn't know whether he wanted to eat for breakfast. It was harder for him to decide because he is a vegetarian. Even at McD the option of asking them to make a meatless burger did not occur to him. We had half an hour before our next train would arrive. I thought to myself this trip would be ruin, though we still had one camera left. Every photo shot would just remind him of his camera and irresponsibility.

We did ask for help at the tourist center. Good thing the manager was around and he spoke English. There was a look of 'you should have kept your things better' when we told him our predicament. He made a call to his colleague at the other station where the train was heading. He said you might get it you might not. After all if they did find we had to go that station to retrieve the camera and we had a train we have to board in half an hour. He said that train with the camera next stop would be Calcroce. We had no idea where that is and to go there and back if the camera was found would mean that we would have to miss our train for Rome. It was a long shot we would ever see that camera again. Kok Wei at this point had came to terms with his lost.

On train to Rome. Kok Wei was not in the greatest of moods and soon fell asleep. I on the other hand couldn't feel any worst for him was on my Ipod taking in the views. Our train wasn't an express train so it would stop station to station.

Here is the drama,

Our first stop was believe it or not Calcroce! This is where his camera could be. Mind you the train stops are very briefly just only to take in passengers, our window of salvation was very small. He was awoke by the stopping of the train and I told him I'm going to try find your camera make sure this train do not leave without me!

Once I got of the train I started running. It didn't seem right. I was running in the wrong direction. I'd turned back and ran my heart out. There was this officer at the platform. I told him I am looking for a camera and that I am on this train and also said please do not let the train leave without me. It seem he did not understand me but he showed me the tourist help center which fortunately was along side the train.

I'd ignore the queue and force my way in. I told the girl at the desk, camera and she said yes. Amazed, I had one eye on the train making sure that it was still there. However the camera was not in that room but the room next to it. It was a glass room and I could see the camera in front of me.

But the room was unoccupied and was locked. She did not have the keys and was looking around for the person who had the keys. I was outside that room, heart rate through the roof pleading she find that person. Then I heard the sound of pressurize air being released. It was the sound of the doors closing. I started running back to the train shouting at the same time. That officer in the uniform which I think vaguely understood me saw me running. He shouted towards the front of the train. The train reopen the doors. Gladly to my relief.

While this was happening another officer the whose office was locked took notice. He was the officer of that room which was locked. He got our his bunch of keys open his door and pass me the camera. I said gracias and ran back. I honestly believe Kok Wei couldnt belief his eyes. I think he was glad. He did not show much emotion, after all he is an introvert.

That officer at the platform who I think vaguely understood me I believe played such a crucial role. If it were not for him I would have miss the train. What was already bad would then turn even worst had I been stuck in Calcore. It did feel like a hero momment considering the circumstances. I couldn't believe the outcome myself. I must say that there is no exaggeration at all.

2009

2009-12-31T10:00:00.002Z

It has been a quite a year. Though there is much to say but work beckons in an hour so I cant say much. But I want to thank everyone for the time and well wishes and I hope 2010 will be even better!

unlike any other,
Thern

new song: Sing

2009-12-24T00:47:00.005Z

please ignore the typo at the end.

I have been to VENICE! part 1, Italy

2009-11-25T11:59:00.018Z

It was a couple months back during summer, I decided on going on a backpacking trip. Where else other to than Italy. :) I got one of my housemates to join me on this trip. We decided to do it on the tightest budget possible. We flew budget and stayed in hostels.

Being cheap however has its cost, 'is this worth it? will this blow my budget? could I do it for less? could I not do it at all? is there a cheaper alternative? all those questions.... there is so much more thinking involve and not to mention the mental calculations. We were 2 frugal accountants to be making 'financial decisions'.

There is also flight which were non better than a bus with wings and the timing of it at rooster hours. Perhaps the flight was for chickens. Our flight was at 6.30am, since there were no buses to the airport that suited our time, we went the night before. Even so all the good places to rest and to lay our heads were already taken, we walked up and down the airport in our never ending search for something remotely comfortable, unfortunately there was none.

The next best thing was the floor. It was cold, hard and cold. Nevertheless we made do with what we had, the floor as beds and our backpacks for pillows. We tugged in and soon fell asleep. It was the worst of sleeps, there was people moving around and in particular an European student group which weren't very discreet, seriously no decency at all! There was also the floor polish vehicle. He was at his duty at 3am. It is a good thing he was very skilled at manoeuvring his cleaning vehicle gingerly around us. Imagine having to wake up to find your face is as shinny as the floor. "I see my face in the floor and in my face that is in the floor I see the floor." Well perhaps some girls might like that idea, think about not having anymore facials for the rest of your life.

There is so much of waiting to do. Silly airline. Anyways were on the plane and on our flight to trevisio Italy which was an hours bus to Venice. It only cost us 15pounds that flight, I guess you pay up the rest in waiting time and in 'unpleasantness'.

We flew over the Swiss alps which was a sight to behold. I was too lazy to get the camera from my bag, since there was this guy next to me which smell like junk and that I wasn't exactly at the window seat. I honestly did regret not making an effort.

Well enough of talk and lets get to venice italy. It was hot, perhaps hotter than Malaysia and not so romantic as one would expect. Pictures vaguely tell the actual story and documentaries describe it a little too well. I am a pessimist so my story wouldnt be as good as a how sanguine would tell it. It was still however though nice. With practically unlimited storage space. I shall tell my story in picture.

My house mate, Kok Wei charting the places to visit

We did buy a one day pass for the water taxi, but with my superb sence of direction and arm with a map. We decided to walk and in so doing took this photos.

Our destination was a bridge, Ponte di Rialto. On our way there we did get a little lost, we ended up at a dead end. No so good was the map. :p We had hoped on the water bus that took us direct to the famous bridge.

Ponte di Rialto

Ponte di Rialto

Shops upon the bridge

Lunch

Pizza roll for lunch. If my memory serves me right, it was ham, mushrooms, tomato and cheese for its fillings.

Piazza San Marco (St. Marco's Square)

San Marco's Basilica( St. Mark's church)

Bell Tower

Birds eye view from the bell tower

Murano Island, a glass making island. The glass has been a famous products of the venetian island of murano for centuries.

Spectacular buildings

Check out that door!

Backyards of Venetian homes, it was the stumble upon the unglamorous side of Venice.

Other miscellaneous pictures

That is all folks, I wish I could say more but time is not on my side. Pictures will have to do

Unlike any other,
Thern

Dusk

2009-11-16T23:17:00.006Z

The days are ever coming shorter. By half four its already dark. Church is at 5pm and my walk there takes me through kesington gardens. It takes a good 40mins to reach church, but I do love the walk in the park. I always try and bring my camera along wherever I go, especially just for this moments. :)

Autumn

2009-11-08T13:09:00.006Z

The subtle chill, the shorter days of darkness creeping swiftly, the death of life, the bareness that awakens, the phase of redness that sweeps across the horizon, the flood of brown which sits gingerly just above the ground and the sound crunching leaves beneath your feet. The of the becoming of a new season with the ending of one. A transitional stage and the birth of nothing really. Autumn...

Shots from Kesington Gardens

The beach and summer's days out.

2009-10-27T11:14:00.020Z

A six hour ride, a whole lot of strangers, a gathering of people with one God, a place of perspective and an awesome experience. A Summer Camp!! - click on pictures to enlarge.

Camp was held at fallmouth, its almost at the tip south west UK. It is a small town by the English Channel facing the shipping lanes which did ruin the almost perfect backdrop. Summer by far has been the best season to my reckoning, simply because its neither warm neither it is too cold. It is just nice but with the exception of the silly heat waves.

It all started with everyone meeting at Park Lane. It did take a while to sort everyone out since mobilising 400people into 8 buses is not an easy task. It took six grueling hours to get there. The bus ride wasn't all that bad, with then meadows and English country side passing on the left and right, what is there to complain. It it did feel strange however, sitting with a company of people who you are totally strangers with. But I reckon, most people felt that way too. So, its time to make new friends. The thing is I am not very good at it. I guess its just a character flaw but that didn't stop me from trying. Perhaps I'll get to meet some nice English ladies. Hehe . BUT the thing with Hillsong and London in gerneral is that there are not many british people. Most people I met came from somewhere else; South africa, New zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia. Anywhere really but except from Britain.

Once there it was straight to tribal wars. The four hundred of us was split into 4 teams. The conventional Red, Blue, Green and Yellow. The first challenge was to have 4 swimmers, one for each team to swim to a buoy roughly 80metres out from the beach. Mind you even though it was a good 20odd degrees celcius, the water temperature was very much colder. Out of the 4 swimmers who went out. Only 2 made it to the buoy. The other 2 were stuck half way. They were floating for dear life. Quickly the games master said to the teams to sent another 2 people on a kayak to rescue them.
Everything was happening at a frantic pace it was almost chaos. There was no leader to sort us out or to select who should represent the teams. So people just ran out, grab the kayaks and started paddling. In such frenzy and in the confusion some kayaks went out with only one person on board and without a paddle. However though despite not having a paddle, this guy with his surfer style lying on the board and using his hands to paddle was faster than those who had paddles. I must say he was from my team, the blue team. We were on top of the challenges.

Next up, was the raft building. The conditions were, you only had 5 minutes to build the raft and you had to get as many people as possible on it and go out to that buoy. Crazy uh. A raft in 5 minutes!! Well like it or not, you just have to do it. These was the material given; some platic barrels, pieces of wood and some string.

Well, whatever raft that was build was nolonger a raft once it went out ashore. This is what it look like soon after. Pieces of everything everywhere.

So that was it with the water fun for that day. Next up was the head to head challenges. First up was wrestling. Guys and girls included. The idea is you had to remove your opponents sock and not get yours remove. Just imagine the tussle. Whoever did it first wins. However though since I was on the outside of the crowd, I couldnt get much of a view. All I heard after was it was madness.
What I could see though was this;
This was the next challenge. An egg was broken and places in the middle of a plastic tube - something like your hose at home only shorter. Then at each end at the count of 3 you would have to blow the egg to you opponents mouth. I only can feel my lunch coming out at this time. Raw egg, the other persons saliver and not to say if the other person had bad breath or germs for that matter. Yuck!!

That pretty much concludes the day at the beach. At night we had dinner and revival session with Judah Smith. It was a good session and a good encounter. It was a good change to just be a regular participant. :)

Next day at the beach.

This day at the beach was more civilise. No ridiculous games or brainless fun. This time they had an obstacle course set up all along the beach. There was no more coloured teams and we had to find out our own members. Somehow naturally, the Asians being the minority I suppose gravitated to one another. Out of all the obstacles we had choose to build the raft. This time we had more time, proper materials and the brains too. HAHA. So this is the raft and the group who had built it.
I have to say, we did sabotage other teams. I think we had more rope then we were originally given. :) I guess it is just being opportunistic or just being Chinese. Anyway our turn came and had to get out into the water to that same buoy. Remarkably we got 12 people on board there and back. Here is a short clip of it.

After drying up, I'd took a walk along around the place, this is what I'd found. Wild berries. Perfectly eatable only it was very sour. >.<

The 3rd day - a tour around fallmouth town.

This day I decided to go into town instead. It was a small town which revolved around the port. There is nothing much to say really about the town besides it being picturesque. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Low tide

A collage of the town centre

Sail boats

4th day - Baptism

At camp a good number received Christ and received the gift of speaking in tongues. Those who wanted to be baptism were baptism by submersion with friends alike by friends in the cold waters of fallmouth beach. It was raining and the wind was blowing hard - it had spoilt my umbrella but this didn't stop them from getting into the water. Kudos you all and welcome to the family.

Baptism

Like all good things, it must come to the end. It was definitely a different experience. One that is worth cherishing and would perhaps be the last of my camps as a student.

Unlike Any Other,
Thern

'UP' and got all emotionally wobbly

2009-10-22T21:24:00.008+01:00

Maybe I cannot hide it anymore, maybe the feeling is too strong, maybe I'd held off this thing for too long, maybe or maybe not.

I'd always stayed away from movies which had strong emotional con notations, never liked them and never go near them. Even though love stories may depict true life scenarios, they only go as far as telling the nice mushy bits minus the ugly side of reality. All of this stories seems afloat and ungrounded. This movie is no exception. But little did I know that this movie with such a short title packed such depth and meaning. I was caught unaware. I'm very surprised especially for a cartoon let alone a children's show.

I was at my project this afternoon and wanted to get of it. So I found this show. All I knew from the trailer was nothing really, it didn't make much meaning or sense either, neither did it do anything to tell the story. In a good way it didn't spoil the movie like most trailers do. Perhaps all trailers should be like this.
It will best if you watch it for yourself but what I will say will be elements of it. It so casually and unobtrusively tied love, life, dreams, ambitions, ignorance, determination, injustice, selfishness, fantasy, stubbornness with a good punch of silliness and humour. ;-)

Frankly it got me all jello out. Simply because it just tells about life in a unexpected way.

I just wanna dance!

2009-10-20T23:30:00.007+01:00

A sudden high, an irrational feeling, an uncontrollable expression, a beautiful emotion, a state of euphoria or probably something I'd ate.

But anyways, Psalms 16:9,11 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure...... you fill me with joy in your presence

days, dreams, love, life and liverpool

2009-10-19T09:17:00.006+01:00

a stale mind, an endless debate, a state of mellowness, an elusive thing, a dead end, a lamenting and shady me.

Well the bad part of being an idealist is if things don't turn out as expected, it is really disappointing. Settling for less could be the one option but accepting the reality the state of things is probably the way to go.

Striving and pursuing is by all means is good. Then again, fighting for something which result cannot be seen immediately can be depressing.

Well, I guess this is pretty much my make up. A wallower, a pessimist, a melancholy.

Sighs and haihs...unlike any other and from the darker side of me.

awfully good weather :)

2009-10-13T10:31:00.003+01:00

Well if anything were to go wrong, getting the weather forecast wrong is most forgivable. The weather has been anything but disastrous. It has been sunny for the last couple of days when the forecast has predicted rain and clouds.

For those of you who wonder why talk I about the weather so much, you just don't know how good you have in back home. Its also a very basic conversation starter, to speak about the weather and they honestly do love the sun.

So this is perhaps my small blog comeback. I guess its appropriate after such an absence. There will be more to come, I promise but with the condition that I take the effort to write something.

My current devotion, Psalm 13:5,6 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD for he has been good to me.

Bananas and Machas

2009-07-25T13:15:00.003+01:00

Practice footage with Jonathan Scully on drums, Daryl on Lead, Daniel on Keys, Willie on Bass, Jordan on cameras and yours truly on acoustic and vocals.

The Soloist: A lost dream, an unlikely friendship and the redemptive power of music

2009-07-21T21:38:00.014+01:00

The soloist tells about Nathaniel Ayers Jr. a gifted musician who never made it to his potential until perhaps now.

His story begins when he started playing the double bass in middle school. He was then awarded scholarship to pursue music at Juilliard School. He was the few black Americans who ever entered that school at that time.

However mental illness plague him and he dropped out of music school. He went through a series of treatment which included shock treatment. His condition never improved. He then left his home in Cleveland, Ohio after the death of his mother and move to Los Angeles, California, thinking that his father lived there. Homeless and schizophrenic Ayers lived on the streets of Los Angeles and made a meager living playing half-broken instruments for change.

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez met Ayers in 2005, and discovered his background at Juilliard. Lopez wrote several columns about his relationship with Ayers, and Nathaniel's slow transition out of homelessness.

Steve went on to write a novel about their relationship entitled The Soloist: A lost dream, an unlikely friendship and the redemptive power of music which now is re adapted into a movie with Jamie Fox and Robert Downey Jr. playing the lead roles.

An interview by CBS with Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez.

I found this movie agonising slow in the sense that the unfolding of events took forever. However though it was snailed pace with a simple and predictable plot the movie depicts life in its very raw sense telling of the unexpected toils and turns in life with the of rebirthing of dreams and it speaks of the conincidences life brings about which made it moving, touching and definitely worth watching.

Autumn's new stratch plate

2009-06-24T17:36:00.003+01:00

Platform 9¾

2009-06-19T13:12:00.004+01:00

Our train to Sheffield was to leave from King Cross Station. But due to my roommates poor reading, he had read the departure time wrongly and we had missed our train. Thus we had almost half a day to spend before leaving alternatively by bus. With so much time we figured we will go find platform 9¾. Well platform 9¾ is purely fictional but it does exist for the pretty much the sake of the Harry Potter fans. It was hidden away in some corner of King Cross Station. So it took some good searching. Ironically it wasn't between platform 9 and 10 but rather next to platform 6 and thug away in a corner.
There was a group of girls already there perhaps diehard Harry Potter fans. They even had brought a Griffindor Scarf and a soft toy Owl. Of which they had loan us and helped us take some photos. Could it be that they were so kind was because I was the closest thing they could every get to Daniel Radcliffe. HAHA. Well one thing is for sure I'm a full blooded prince unlike Harry who is only half blooded and I don't need a fancy wand. Well enough of lameness as most readers would term it since they in their mind eye's think that they lameness are above average. Here is the photo.

My meet with the Queen, well not exactly

2009-06-15T00:27:00.009+01:00

It was her birthday party or some might say parade. Her actual birthday is on the 21st of April but they officially celebrate it on the 3rd Saturday of June. It was grand.

Our journey started with us cycling all the way to Buckingham palace where the procession were taking place. There was actually 2 groups of us going there. The other took the bus but we still had arrived much earlier. Which leads me to consider getting a bicycle...hmmm.
The place was full with people all waiting in anticipation and to be honest I got me wondering what excitement is there in seeing an old lady? I cannot comprehend and its not like she is going to take me in as a grandson. Then it would be well worth it cycling all the way. HAHA but nevertheless she is the Queen of England.

At first we manage to catch a very short glimpse of her through the gates, which at that time we thought was good enough. But having cycled all the way, we just wanted more.

She left Buckingham Palace on her horse carriage down the road to the what they call the Guard house which is not more than 1km away. Well I'd walked 10km back from college to home, what is a kilometer, sigh such leisure and privilege. Accompanying her was the royal band, knights and royal guards who took post along the stretch. At the Guard house there would be some marching and some music. Then after she would ride back the same route back to Buckingham Palace.

Our strategy since we didn't really get to see her was to camp along the stretch that she would take on her route back. The wait was about an hour long. Well after all she is an old lady, 82 this year. While waiting we entertain ourselves by taking pictures and chatting. One topic in particular was about their fodable bikes. Its called a Brompton. The reason they have foldable bikes here are not only because they are convenient but simply because if you leave your bicycle long enough whether or not chained to the post. Something will surely go missing. It would either be your tyre or the seat and if the thief was really good. It might be you would have to the the tube back. So having this foldable bicycle is convenient in the sense you can pack it up and bring it along wherever you go. When folded it is the size of a box fan maybe slightly bigger. Cool uh. But not so cool after hearing the price. It cost 700 pounds a bike. *Sweat*. Only if nose faeces were money, I'll be rich. Haha.

Back to Queen E. We heard the sound of horse feet trampling and it was getting louder by the second At any moment we could see the queen. This time at a much closer distance. Every one rush to the fences, good thing I wasn't pressed by the people around me I had my mountain bike and it was in the way.

AND

Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty's Knights
I reckon they took the head gear design from Persia
and made from the carboad part of the Kitchen role

Jets flying overhead

and over Buckingham Palace

My fellow cyclist Bruce and Pei Ling

unlike any other,
-thern-

I can do all things in Christ who stregthens me but I cannot do everything

2009-06-07T16:48:00.005+01:00

Simply means that in whatever I do, I can do it because of Christ who strengthens me. But there is so much to what "I can do" simply for the fact I am human with limitations existing in this earth bound by space and time. But nevertheless what little I can do I do because Christ still strengthens me. The quote "I want to conquer the world" is utter nonsense and I simply wish you all the best. To those who carelessly use the quote I can do all things in terms of everything, I disgust you.

My dilemma in life has always been balancing and juggling prioritise, they always have been (in no specific order):

God
Studies
Family
Music
Relationships
Leadership
Hobbies
Sports
Sleep
and perhaps Work

It might be very average and normal to have those kind of responsibilities, and some might say I balanced it quite well but truth be told though I try my best there are some areas which I have haven't succeed as much in other terms failed. Which means though I can still succeed in certain areas of life, collectively I cannot do everything.
If you know me well enough I can be greedy at times, wanting all the best thing in life and do everything at the same time. Take it from me it doesn't work. You might seen it work for some, but for an ordinary person like me it doesn't. So if you start to think that you are the exception think again.

There is a time for everything under heaven, a season to sow and a season to reap. Season we talk of now are not that of time and weather but of phases in life. I ponder over the thing I can do with what little I have and soon realise there is so little time for everything. Sacrificing and releasing all of a sudden doesn't seem to bad an idea. Though I dread sacrificing and to let of things it but it is something that has to be. done.

Random

2009-06-05T14:39:00.000+01:00

Walking around London in shorts.

2009-05-29T21:16:00.006+01:00

Yes summer has arrived. It has been warm but still cool and to a certain extend uncomfortable especially in the tubes. But all in all it just awesome. The sun has generous lately. Not only we have had plenty of sunshine but longer days too. Daylight starts 5am to 9pm in the evening.

We had our summer bbq just last Sunday in the sweltering heat. The temperature was at a high of 25degrees and being in the room was no different than from being in the sauna. More so the excuse to get out from the room. Just simply love it because you dont have to pad yourself with clothes to keep warm.

Here are some photos of the bbq:

p/s My exams are starting on this coming Wednesday and will last for a week. If its not too much to ask from you, please do pray for me. I am taking 3 papers this sem. They are audit, coporate reporting and business analysis. Really appreciate it. Thanks.

Unlike any other,
Thern

SUPERPOKE!!

2009-05-21T22:12:00.008+01:00

Its always the same email in the Inbox. John Keong has SUPERPOKE you, this person has SUPERPOKE you, that person has SUPERPOKE you. I really cannot understand the concept of poking people over the Internet. How do you ever poke someone online and how are you suppose to react to a poke which you can't feel.
Surely when someone literally pokes you, you can imagine the other person being all shock and surprise but no it simply doesn't work online. Get a life!

However though it got me thinking. A poke is a poke, how can ever add the adjective of super to it. I speaking in literal terms now. How super can ones poke be. Hmm.. So I thought and conclude a super poke would be a poke from God. It would be something like this

Imagine God lost his patience and got fed up of speaking to people especially those who are hard of hearing and he resorted to poking people. I wonder whether it would tickle but now that is what you call a SUPERPOKE. Then if God to pokes too hard you would probably be squashed. LOL. So don't wait till God pokes you. I wouldn't want to imagine that. HAHA.

BUT and a very big BUT....just imagine this,

You walked into church office and you are looking for Wilson.

You walk to his desk hoping to find him at his usual duties being either at the computer or on the phone(well i must say the latter definitely holds more truth) but No! You find him on the floor all squashed and flatted into a pizza.

"Oh no what happened!!," you exclaimed. You look at him peculiarly and with much empathy, "Wilson what has happend to you!!!" ............Then with sarcasm you pull a smile and laugh then you say, "Well one thing is for sure, its good to see you so slim!!", HAHA and you go on to say,"Gosh Wilson, you have been trying to lose weight since forever and in a blink of an eye, you never had look better!" However though I must add at this point you see pigs flying and the moon turning blue.

He squeals because his vocal chords have been compressed and replies coughing out his words, "I think........I think.....I think I've been SUPERPOKED" and he regretably says, "That Siew Yok was too good to resist"

However though a note to Wilson: Haven't we been warning you always!! HAHA, no pun intended. Its all in good fun. :)

You found me by Israel Houghton feat. Toby Mac

2009-05-16T20:49:00.004+01:00

Here is some classical, alternative, rock and hip hop mixup. Warning content is not the old school and certainly not for the faint of hearts.

-Introducing AUTUMN-

2009-05-04T21:14:00.051+01:00

My love and dearest Autumn LÂG. Haha

Before I say anymore about her, I have to state that all those post and answers regarding Autumn is nothing but the truth(but relative to which angle you see it from). The whole idea of being so vague and deceptive was to create suspense and to hype her up before the grand introduction of Autumn. Where would the fun be if an ordinary post was posted about Autumn. To those of you who were horribly mislead, I offer you my apology but still laugh in cynicism at your gullible-ness. To those of you who had figured it out, well done. I believe if one had read it and read between the lines with regards to my circumstances, falling in love with a French girl is quite far fetch.

I have to say that not entirely everything was my idea, here is the share of the blame. It was Adelene who contributed the idea of 3rd post. She had came up with the complexion idea. There would actually would be more post but I'd thought it was enough, Leslie had suggested I should post that she weigh 280pounds. Haha.. quite literally that is how much I'd paid for it. He also said that even though she is big sized she is still cute and curvy (well I wonder what is he imagining about, the guitar or someone else...hmm. no pun intended. However as it is I'm not invited to the wedding)

Some close up pictures of Autumn:

Precious Woods 'Autumn' Design for the rosette

Unconventional shaped heel with the
strap holder on the side instead of on the back

Wood bindings on the neck and all the way through the guitar.
(Equivalent priced guitars would have plastic bindings)

Visible grains of the Indonesian rosewood

LÂG badge inlayed into the headstock

Here is some bragging(facts) about my guitar:
It is made from 4 different types of wood.
The body top is made from a solid piece of Red Cedar
The back and sides are made from Indonesian Rosewood.
The neck is made from Mahogany
The bindings are made from Rosewood and Maple
The fretboard and bridge is Indian Rosewood.

Hi-precision machine heads and
Ivorine buttons for the tuning knobs.

And finished of with a Natural Amber Satin finish.

It is equipped with a Shadow 5-Plus Pickup and Preamp
although expensive on its own I
have yet to determine the pickup quality.

Autumn Series

GLA300DCE
Autumn is one of the four series of guitars LÂG produces,
the others would be winter, summer and spring.

************************************

My first post about Autumn;
It's not the seasons that I'm talking about. Its spring over here. Autumn is french and she is wonderful. I wonder why I hadn't known her much earlier. It's about slightly over a month since we first met and every time we meet, the more I learn about her. I'm really getting to know her, her qualities and heritage. Love at first sight? hmmm.... perhaps. She is just unlike any other,

Here are the justifications to those quotes:

Autumn is definitely not a season, its the name of my guitar.
Autumn is really french. Like Yamaha from Japan and Fender from the USA, LÂG the brand name of this guitar and is from France.
This brand is relatively unknown. I had never heard of it until I saw it in the guitar shop - this explains the quote of why I hadn't known her much earlier.
It was slightly over a month after I'd bought this guitar before posting this post up after acquiring her.
Because I have never heard and tried this brand of guitar before, playing on it more made me realise the qualities of this guitar.
It was love at first sight. Though I knew I'd would have to get a guitar when I came here, purchasing it was rather rash decision - it was on the last day of sales and I had to make a quick decision or lose a good bargain. I would usually mull over something esp something that isn't cheap before buying it.
After doing some research online, this guitar is made from several types of quality wood from hence explains her rich heritage.
She is definitely unlike any other guitar I had tried. :-)

Second post regarding Autumn;
Although she is french, she was brought up in China. But on the surface you wouldn't have notice the Asian connection. It was tough figuring her out at first, especially with the french intonation and how she articulates but it is just a matter of getting use to. Perhaps its because of the french scrambled Chinese English mixed up, which is actually intriguing. She sounds very much sweeter now. Of which I'm glad :-) Any regrets investing so much in her? nope not at all. Is she mine? uh hmm yea ;-) Pictures? perhaps later :-P

She was probably manufactured in China. But looking at it, you wouldn't realise it was made in Asia. The workmanship is really good. I did regret buying the guitar at first, but after playing it more and after the strings had settled down. It started sounding really sweet. I'm pretty amazed at the resonance of this relatively slim body guitar, it resonates quite loudly.

Third post of Autumn;
Love her complexion and she feels smooth like satin. I think I should write a song about her or perhaps write a song with her. :) ahhh love.

Most guitars are finished with a shiny reflective coat of lacquer, this guitar on the other hand is finished with a satin type finish. The guitar's "complexion" is tan brown. HAHA. It is also definitely not a problem writing a song with her.

************************************

I hope with the aim of creating such hype, suspense and confusion that it did justice to Autumn. Even though there are better guitars in the world. I still wouldn't trade for anything. I believe for the price I'd paid, I got something really good especially when compared to similar range guitars. Never have I fell so much in love. HAHA.

Again it is like unlike any other and I hope you had some good fun.

Thern

For more information about LÂG guitars, please visit http://www.lagguitars.co.uk/

Figuring out how the shower works.......it's long but a good read.

2009-04-30T22:27:00.013+01:00

I'd always found it silly when people cannot figure out the shower, but I find myself in this very same situation caught in the middle of a predicament and reconsidering whether I should still think its silly not knowing how the shower works. Here is my story.

So there I was in the shower at my aunt's place after my 13 hrs flight from Penang. There is two knobs to control the shower. Isn't that typical? One cold water and one hot water like in all showers. But it wasn't so.

One knob is to control the temperature and another to control the water pressure. Well that is new and how difficult could that be. Set the temperature then adjust the water pressure. Walla a nice hot shower.

Well that wasn't the case. To make matters worst there is a red switch on the temperature knob and both knobs are position in a horizontal manner. Imagine a rolling pin with two dials on each end.

So I'd rotated the knob which controls the water pressure and the water came out freezing(mind you it was winter when I'd arrived). I'd quickly turn it off. I'd adjust the second knob and then turn back on the water, still the water came out cold.

Perhaps the red switch is to activate the hot water. I'd flicked the switch and it sprung back to its original position. Hmm... weird. Well anyway lets give it a try perhaps this time the hot water should be activated. And so I wish I could say I had hot water but no it was still cold.

So this time I'd turn the second knob all the way. Though there was temperature readings on the knob, there was no marker to indicate the temperature of which I'm at. What a silly design. Well since I'd turn the temperature knob all the way I should get hot water. I also had the shower head facing away from me in case of boiling water spurting out. Well all that was spurting out from the shower head was anything but hot. In my head I was screaming(oh sorry I don't scream that is only left to Rachel, I was definitely more composed.) so I'd thought to myself how will ever get hot water.

At this point, the bath roomer was getting colder. It was wet, cold and uncomfortable.

Here I am after a long flight and desperate to get a bath and then rest, I find myself stuck here in the shower. Quickly racing through my mind I'd figured two options. To just forget about bathing or just persevere through a cold shower. Hmm.. the former now definitely sounded like a better option.

Frustrated and agonised or whatever you name was the feelings I faced. How could it be that operating a shower could be this tormenting let alone mind boggling. Does it take a rocket scientist to figure this out? or perhaps Einstein with his physics and Mario with his plumbing skills should do the trick. It just doesn't make sense. I'd tried all the possibilities and combinations and I still get no hot water. arrggh.

So I'd tried again, this time from scratch by reseting the knobs back to its intended original position. This time I'd realise that from the original position the temperature knob moved 2 ways. Which means in its original position is the middle temperature. Now I have a bigger headache. With no marker to show which temperature I am on. Moving the knob forward could either mean turning the temperature colder or hotter. Then turning it backwards could mean it would be hotter or not colder. Its a dilemma.
Then assuming there was a marker next to knob, the mark in this case would be the constant indicating my temperature and the knob the variable. But there was no marking. So could it be that the knob was the constant and by adjusting the constant you would adjust the temperature. Its complicated I know. Don't bother trying to figure it out, and don't ask either. Well there is no better way to know it than to turn on the water and see. So I'd tried again with no avail.

This time I'd tried looking for remnants of the mark, perhaps the paint has been wash away. No such luck. Then I'd wondered could it be that I have been reading the numbers wrongly. After all insanity is doing things the same way and expecting different results. I had to try something different. So then could it be that the smaller the number, the hotter the water? Like certain things especially in science or math which have inverse relationships. Man was I going through a session of brainstorming. I have to say I am naturally technical and this was putting my ability to shame. How awful.

Little did I realise that that little red switch actually played a big role. HAHA it was eureka!! Light bulb lighted like those in the cartoons and definitely a big AHHA momment. Man could I now bath.

Oh well here is how it works. If you turn the temperature knob until it stops you would only have turn on the cold water regardless of what the readings on the knob say. The knob would actually go further if you push and hold the red switch and continue to turn the knob. Its like that little red switch is the secret key in opening up a whole new secret level like in computer games. Where you have this item which you acquire in early stages but they don't seem to have any use until you are stuck. So then once you go through that stage of the knob the hot water starts mixing in. Phew..... wasn't that long. It took me a good 10minutes if not more to figure that out.

Well so you know I was alone in my other Aunt's house with no one to call for help.

Isn't it ironic that when the smallest or the assumed things in life misunderstood, misinterpreted or misread causes the biggest and pointless problems.

Monday morning...

2009-04-27T09:05:00.009+01:00

Its Monday and it is 9 in the morning. I just guess I don't know where to start I guess. The weekend was quite horrible, I caught a cold and it felt dreadful. I suspect I might have caught the cold from this person next to me in class on Thursday or maybe from wetting my hair after badminton of Friday. It could be because of both. Anyway, I should be better today. I have been popping some medication, eating more and sleeping more too.
Thanks for all your concerns and prayers, appreciate it.

Its a wet day today and quite awful really. But it doesn't bother me. The English, I'd notice tend to talk a lot about the weather. You can notice a difference in their personality when the weather is all sunny and dry. A lot of their conversations starters are about the weather.

To Gabe and Mook Chen, glad to heard that the operation went well. My prayers are that things will be the same if not better. God speed.

Replies:
To Yong Syn (Chewys): Yea I would like to think you had miss alot. Lol
To Ying Shan: Its great to see you here. Many thanks for dropping by. Its good news to hear about your dad. Amazing stuff!
To Pei Ling: Patience..
To Ban: Yes I am quite enjoying it here. You should come to. I cannot imagine the weather back home. Hope to see you soon.
To Ben: Navigating around FB is not how it use to be. Prefer the old format.
To Leslie(the lamest lamer): I no like this, I dont like this, I do not like this, I dislike this, I abhor this, I know you get what I mean, but what fun is there in the obvious.

Facebook

2009-04-24T10:01:00.003+01:00

It just isn't what it use to be.

Autumn

2009-04-20T11:34:00.004+01:00

Love her complexion and she feels smooth like satin. I think I should write a song about her or perhaps write a song with her. :) ahhh love.

Updates

2009-04-16T22:51:00.015+01:00

Dear readers,

It has been slightly over 3 months since Id arrived here. It has been quite good so far and I can comfortably say that I'm settled. Although it can be lonely at times here, I find things to pass the time like watching movies and messing with the computer. Download rates here are phenomenal. It can go up to 500kb/s. If only streamyx could be just half as fast :)

I've been cooking practically every meal. My friends and I were commenting over dinner of how healthily we have been eating as compared to eating back home and it is quite shocking realising how unhealthy our hawker food back in penang in contrast to what we have here. But to be an oxymoron and admit that I still love and miss the food back in penang, I would say as long as it taste good, it doesn't matter. Haha. Well wouldn't you agree that after good food which leads satisfaction and to good mental health it is just as good as eating well. Isn't it so? - I'm afraid not.

Chin loon, a friend back in Malaysia had just arrived 2 nights ago. He will be doing his placement here in St George's hospital for a month. I had brought him around London as if it we my backyard, showing him the hot spots and what London has to offer. Not too bad a tour guide I reckon. Perhaps I should charge. Lol. But it was good to see a familiar face, and to recognise that Manglish that we all so comfortably use, it was welcoming.

Well besides all this happenings, the revision period is approaching. The pressure is building up and it is time to get down to the books. How dreadful... My exams are in June which means there isn't much time left. ITS CRUNCH TIME!!
On the other hand classes seem like never ending. We have a day of class per subject. This would equate to 8hrs of lectures with 15mins break and an hour lunch in between. Usually the session after lunch is the worst. Listening alone would be a chore then. What more actively listening and comprehending. Don't ask...

The weather has been here and there. Its can be sunny today and rain the next. The morning when I'd previous post about the depressing weather turned out to be a glorious day a couple of hours later. The days are getting much longer, the sun rises at about 7 plus and sets at 8pm. Yesterday was remarkably hot, it had reach a high of 21 degrees. It was hot enough to go around with one layer of clothing. On average the temperature now is about 15 which is quite pleasant. I wonder how will I get use to the Malaysian weather when I get back.

So if only my left feet was the same size as the right, it would be when pigs fly or when Malaysia started snowing or perhaps Anwar forming a new government.
Unlike any other(I'm sorry Jr. it is just my tag line)

Thern

NB: Autumn is doing fine, haven't met her in a while. You will hear more of her, trust me. ;-)

How depressing

2009-04-13T10:48:00.003+01:00

Woke up relatively early today. Its bank holiday today and the weather is anything but good. The rain is pathetic, its like a leaking tap. You could say its raining but not raining. Its almost like the sun refuse to shine, only emitting half of what it could offer. sigh

Deep of Your grace

2009-04-12T22:36:00.007+01:00

Just wanted something to share with regards to easter. Hope you had a great easter weekend.

more about Autumn

2009-04-10T12:37:00.010+01:00

Although she is french, she was brought up in China. But on the surface you wouldn't have notice the Asian connection. It was tough figuring her out at first, especially with the french intonation and how she articulates but it is just a matter of getting use to. Perhaps its because of the french scrambled Chinese English mixed up, which is actually intriguing. She sounds very much sweeter now. Of which I'm glad :-)

Any regrets investing so much in her? nope not at all. Is she mine? uh hmm yea ;-) Pictures? perhaps later :-P

one of a kind, unlike any other
Thern

dearest Autumn..

2009-04-08T13:38:00.009+01:00

It's not the seasons that I'm talking about. Its spring over here.

Autumn is french and she is wonderful. I wonder why I hadn't known her much earlier. It's about slightly over a month since we first met and everytime we meet, the more I learn about her. I'm really getting to know her, her qualities and heritage.

Love at first sight? hmmm.... perhaps.

She is just unlike any other,

Thern

2009-04-04T13:49:00.010+01:00

I'm back! the trip to sheffield and manchester was a great trip. Will blog about it soon.

Its pretty entertaining the comments I got on facebook and on my blog regarding my previous post. Some of them are mat rocker, italian footballer, jepunan kia, jihad malaysian, malaysian johnny depp and the most absurd of all professor! where could that have come from? Perhaps its the high hairline. Thanks for the comments!! :-p

Just a little update on myself. I'm doing really well. I'm eating well, feeling well and settling in. Not so homesick as I was a couple of weeks back and I'm starting to cope with rhythm of things. Classes are quite far a few giving me alot of time to study(well at least that is what I should be doing). Church wise, I am going to hillsongs. Besides the usual energictic services there is bible study classes on tuesdays which is enriching.
My exercise routine has slacked off recently due to bad timing, lack of motivation and poor weather. I should be resuming the rountine perhaps today. The days are longer now. Spring is here, the flowers are blooming and the weather is getting warmer.

So once again, if all things were made similar, god wouldn't be my god. Unlike any other.

Thern

Sheffield and Manchester

2009-03-31T00:43:00.009+01:00

I will be of tomorrow to sheffield and manchaster tomorrow till friday. Really looking forward to it after being coop up in the my room here in London. cioz

I found this picture of myself quite hilarious. Thought of sharing with you guys as an update of how I am looking. Well then have a good laugh. This is how I'd looked a week back. I have shaven and am back to looking good. lol.

Whats life without a few good laughs.

2009-03-28T11:52:00.002Z

1st verse
We are you Light Lord, we're gonna shine God and be the answer to
The hurt and broken this generation we lead them all to you

Pre-chorus
Givin our lives, for what we know and believe in you
Now is the time well show the world you're the way and the truth

2nd verse
The declaration of your salvation, is life lived complete in you
No more stronger to God the answer we give our all to you

Chorus
You church will rise to be, the hands to be the lost and met the unmeet need
We will be a revolution
We take a stand today and put our hand to what we know oh God we pray
We will be a revolution

Bridge
And your love will remain for all the world
For you grace never fails its undeserved

blood lost...

2009-03-25T21:16:00.002Z

Ever since I'd arrived. My nose has been bleeding. I wonder what causes it and when will it end.

Football, Canary Wharf and Indonesian football maniacs

2009-03-20T23:53:00.000Z

Today is the first time I had played football here in London. It was good and I had enjoyed it.

Football was held in canary wharf. It is an awesome place. I wish I had taken my cam along for some pics but I had forgotten. It is very modern, they had skyscrappers!! LOL
The reason why I am so amazed by that place is because there is just so many old buildings in London and being in canary whaft just felt refreshing. Don't get me wrong I love the architecture of these wonderful buildings but being at canary wharf just made me felt like I had just had travel through time into the future. Ah... modernisation.

Here are some pics I have borrowed from various sites

The tube entrance at canary whaft

Picture taken from:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canary_wharf_tube_station_750px.jpg

The view from inside the entrance of canary water

Picture taken from:
http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/jubilee/jubilee3.html

The overview of Canary Wharf. It has water intergrated around its buildings. Something like venice. There is this dome building which is to the top right of the picture. It is call the O2. Its a concert hall. It is where Micheal Jackson will do his come back performance soon.

Picture taken from:
http://cache-media.britannica.com.cdnetworks.net/eb-media/40/99940-004-D6D6E9B7.jpg

Just for comparison sake this is the station near my place which I use very often to go for classes. Doesn't look very modern does it.

Picture taken from:
http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/vistas/hotels_bayswater.htm

So there at the football pitch. I had the oppurtunity to meet some people. Most of them were Indonesians with the exception of an English guy, a French man and a Bangladesh foreigner named Habi. The French guy was really good. He was intence and his work rate was phenomenal. He read the game well and has quick feet. Unfortunately the same can't be said for the british and the bangladeshi. No pun intended. Well most of the Indonesias were pretty good. I think their secret is coca cola. Makan Bola, Minum Bola dan Tidur bola. What more can I say.
As for me this is the first time in perhaps 3 months I have kicked a football. I was rusty. When we started playing I had to take 2 early breaks to catch my breath before really getting into the pace of the game. Good thing I hadn't lost touch of this beautiful game. Manage to pop in a number of goals too. :)

After the game I had chatted to a couple of them. My BM was so awful. Making it harder to understand was their Indonesian slang, they speak so fast. I was trying very much to recall the long forgotten BM words and while taking to them I had my BM all mixed up with English. However I found a few things peculiar, comel in BM would mean cute but in Indonesian it means somebody who cant keep a secret. Percuma would mean free in BM but in Indonesian it is used for something which is useless.

While chatting with this guy name Julian, he had ask me to have some murtabak which he made for all of us. It was good. He said this is Indonesian murtabak so it was a little different. I dont know how autenthic he made it to the Indonesian murtabak but it was almost the same with the Malaysian murtabak. The filling had egg, beef and spring onions. The cover was something close to those ready made popiah skin. They didnt have any curry or dipping to go with the murtabak but the had one pack of chili padis. The just ate is as a whole together with the murtabak. No way was I going close to these little fellows. Something of which Im not proud of. Well we all have prefrence, and this is mine.

So here Im back blogging this happenings. Tired yet awake. Exhausted yet fulfiled. Nearly dead but very alive and well. Loved and not forgotten.

Till next time.

Unlike any other,
Thern

The Power of Your Name - Lincoln Brewster ft Darlene Zschech

2009-03-10T15:37:00.000Z

The pulsating sound just after the piano intro and before Darlene's solo part is the heartbeat of the writer's unborn son. Pretty neat uh..

Verse 1
Surely children weren't made for the streets
And Fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be
Let Your kingdom come

Verse 2
Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken and due to be ignored
Surely this couldn't be what You saw
Let Your kingdom come
Here in my heart

Chorus
And I will live to carry your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be your hands and feet
And I will give with the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion to see the world be changed
By the power of Your Name
The power of Your Name

Verse 3
Surely life wasn't made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart

Bridge
Jesus Your Name
Is a shelter for the hurting
Your Name
Is a refuge the weak
Only Your Name
Can take the undeserving
Jesus Your Name
Holds everything I need

....what awful weather.

2009-03-08T22:33:00.001Z

The rain here in england cant get as heavy as is it back home in Malaysia. But the wind can get real gusty.

I came out from tesco after some grocery shopping. It was raining quite heavily(their heavy is our moderate). I took out my cheap £2.50 umbrella and guess what had happen. The wind was strong and by the time I got back to my accomodation, it is almost good as useless. It had flip over a couple of times and the metal frame are all bent. I wonder what could I do with it now. Perhaps a deco piece.

Thus the moral of the story. Bad things are usually cheap, but not necessarily good things are expensive. In this case the former is true.

was just told by a roommate that because of the rain the kitchen ceiling came down in one of our friends hse. I wonder whether is that a cheap house or a house cheaply made. perhaps it could be both

Unlike any other,
Thern

Young man you are heavier than you look...

2009-02-23T01:09:00.001Z

What words.. sigh.

I was at the clinic the other day for a general check up, a requirement before registering for the National Health Service. So there I was in the nurse office that faithful afternoon and every test that was conducted was alright except my weight. The nurse said BMI was on the borderline and that if I lose 2 to 3 kilos my BMI should be just nice. She asked me whether I excerise regularly and my reply to her was no I do not exercise regularly.

Besides a couple of games of badminton with some friends I havent got down to any regularly exercise routine. But and the very big BUT is that I do quite a considerable amount of walking. Unlike in back in Malaysia, where the public transport is so poor even with the rapid bus system and the privilage of having a car all I have as a reliable mode of transport are my God given 2 legs.
Walking isnt my thing but I am not complaining. Firstly is because of the cool climate here, you dont sweat. So far how long or how much walking you would do, you would still be fresh. Secondly, there is loads to see while walking. The sights here in London are a sight to behold especially the parks and the olden architecture.

Going back to the consultation with the nurse. She said walking is good and if you could do some fast past walking for 2 to 3 kilometers everyday would be helpful. She also said I need to cut down on eating foods which are unnecessary. Things like crips, chocolate, sweets are a no no.

I must confess that I have been eating alot over here. Its not that my desire of food has increase or that food over here taste better but it is just that the body over here needs more to keep warm. Which means the tendency of eating more is higher.

So this is my plan to keep fit. I have 2 beautiful parks(kensington and hyde park) at my doorstep and I shall being jogging. To start jogging this is what I got. A pair of ASIC running shoes with hydrogel and a Belkin armband to house my iPod.

Started jogging last saturday. After 100meters or so, every muscle and joint in my leg started stiffening up. I think it had to do with my lack of exercise and that I hadnt warmed up enough. It was so bad that I had to stop. I did some stretching before continuing, but it didnt help. So my target of jogging came down to just normal walking. I did however manage to sprint back to my hostel despite the stiffness...well at least some consolation. I'm planning to jog again tomorrow, hopefully I would do better this time.

Unlike any other,
Thern

CNY celebrations!!

2009-02-14T18:23:00.000Z

So this is probably the 2nd time I have had chinese new year away from home. Well it is definately nice to have the experience of celebrating here in London and I must say one thing different is the Ang pows. I did not receive as many as I would have back in Malaysia. But what the heck. London or Ang pows. Its definately London hands down. :( HAHA.... as you grow older, the significance of money from ang pows become less important.

However one thing I do miss is you guys back there in penang and the firecrackers!.. haha. How I wish they sell them here. The best firecracker you could find here easily is pop pop. That is all they have.

CNY celebrations here arent a big thing and obviously so. They only place where they have some kind of celebrations are in china town. We didnt make it there for the first day of celebrations, however we manage to go there the week after. They had a firecracker show which lasted for about 12mins. It was awesome, breathtaking to say the least....not too bad i reckon for a firecracker show here in London.

So for the little I had said and that pictures speaks a thousand words, here are some photos.

Chinatown, Leicester Square

Reunion steamboat dinner with my aunt, cousins and friends

Pot luck with a bunch of Malaysians

Coconut chicken which is my contribution to the pot luck. It didnt taste too bad really. Lol.
I really miss curry. Good thing there is an oriental food stall which sells curry paste nearby. It makes life here so much better... ah comfort food.

The feast!! potatoes, brocolli, chicken wings, coconut chicken, bah kut teh, roast chicken and finally roast pork. You have to have roast pork somewhere, otherwise it wouldnt be a chinese dinner would it?

For Chap goh meh, my relatives from liverpool were over here in London. I have never meet them before and to think that I have distance cousin who are half cast (cocasions) its quite far out. You could term them as long lost relatives, and yea i guess its safe to say that since i have never met them before till now. They would probably term me similarly i guess.

This cousin of mine Kevin, and what is interesting about him is that he works in the air force. Well dont get ahead of yourself like I did. I thought he would be some fighter pilot flying the F22 raptor with stealth and supersonic capabilities. Oh wait that is american. The british probably have a jump jet fighter which takes off vertically and from the stone age. I bet i could build one myself.... lol
but he wasnt a fighter pilot as i had assumed, he was working as a ground crew. Not so glamourous as one might thing but there is definately some pride with that. I wonder who of you reading this blog who join the malaysian army. That surely is something to think about.

We had chatted and he was telling me that he had been in service in afganistan and iraq. All of a sudden the war in the middle east which was so indifferent and insignificant became someting so close. I had family "fighting" the war! It makes you realise that we are not as seperated as we think we are. And speaking about the distance that seperated us who knows the sheikh that bought manchaster city is probaby related somehow. haha. One thing's for sure is that the world is definately a small place.

Sheikh Mansour, Owner of Manchaster City football club. Probably he is chinese. HAHA.

Chap goh meh dinner at miss saigon. Kevin-standing next to me

So as you can see CNY celebrations here has been all about food. I think I have eaten a little too much this season... *BURP*... not me leslie did it.

SNOW!!

2009-02-05T22:56:00.000Z

It had snowed here in London!! FYI for it to snow in London is very rare. Its the heaviest snowfall we have ever seen here in London. Apparently it hasn't snowed this bad for 13 years.

The snow was so heavy that the next day busses were not operating as road had become to slippery and certain rail lines were close.

Besides being a place of great architecture and heritage, London is also a financial captial and because of the snow getting around the city prove to be challenge. With snow this bad people couldnt go to work and it had cost the capital losses of 700 million.
Well it didnt matter for me and my coursemates because we did not have classes. hehe.

It started snowing about 2 in the afternoon. Only in the evening when the snow had collected enough that is when we when out.

Some of my housemates

The snow had continued falling through out the night. These are the pics from the next day

A snowy view from the hostel's garden. If you look close enough you can see snowmans towards the bottom of the pic

Me...

Kensington Gardens

I think sooner of later we get tired of the typical snowman, so why not a snow version of Hello Kitty.

Random pic of a dog

My housemate and our cold dates

Well, the snow had been really fun. It had only lasted for 2days. Too shortlived I reckon. More snow please.....

unlike any other

Rachel Mcadams

I miss the cold wind against my face.

A couple hours of my own? I'm not asking you please. *In no way a bitter manner*

work...*squeals*

I really need to do something here!

Life and the living

1 Corinthians 13

scully the chinko

Breathe on me

Holding Nothing Back - Tim Hughes

Praise be to God, for He is good and knows all things.

Stranded in Venice and the almost losing of a camera, part 2 of Italy

2009

new song: Sing

I have been to VENICE! part 1, Italy

Dusk

Tag Cloud

Autumn

The beach and summer's days out.

'UP' and got all emotionally wobbly

I just wanna dance!

days, dreams, love, life and liverpool

awfully good weather :)

Bananas and Machas

The Soloist: A lost dream, an unlikely friendship and the redemptive power of music

Autumn's new stratch plate

Platform 9¾

My meet with the Queen, well not exactly

I can do all things in Christ who stregthens me but I cannot do everything

Random

Walking around London in shorts.

SUPERPOKE!!

You found me by Israel Houghton feat. Toby Mac

-Introducing AUTUMN-

Figuring out how the shower works.......it's long but a good read.

Monday morning...

Facebook

Autumn

Updates

How depressing

Deep of Your grace

more about Autumn

dearest Autumn..

Sheffield and Manchester

blood lost...

Football, Canary Wharf and Indonesian football maniacs

The Power of Your Name - Lincoln Brewster ft Darlene Zschech

....what awful weather.

Young man you are heavier than you look...

CNY celebrations!!

SNOW!!

A couple hours of my own? I'm not asking you please. In no way a bitter manner

work...squeals