Sunday, August 31, 2003

31 Aug, what a nice weather to sleep in!~ it's cooling and it just feels just right to be under the warm quilt!! yeh!~ winter is leaving us and spring is coming!!! hurray hurray!!! even the flowers in our lawn are starting to bloom....they have been 'botak' for awhile...hee...now, the reds, yellows and greens are once again appearing in the garden.

i guess being in Singapore's evergreen environment, we seldom notice these little flowers by the wayside...we are too busy for such things! too often, we have no time to be in Nature. just yesterday while i went for a Nature walk at Bundoora Park with my friends, i told Jackie: if ever i had a chance to choose where i wana settle down, it will be on a hilltop overlooking the sea, a large greenary and flowers! what a dreamland to be in!~ if that's so, S'pore is definitely not a place to be in! sigh~! =p

Saturday, August 30, 2003

30 Aug, there are many things which brightened my life today. even though life isn't a bed of roses all the time, it's always great to treasure good things around us. i was able to be in Nature today: love the sun, the rain and yes! i was able to spot the rainbow! what a great blessing!!! so excited when i saw it!~ really feel good to see that Nature is just a great painting drawn by Nature's Painter.

one of the BIGGEST things is to know that someone in another part of the world remembers and cares about me. i got nat's email today and i considered this~ one of the BIGGEST things! =) nat and i met at a christmas carolling party and we instantly clicked!~ the only common thing we have is our birth dates-just 8days apart. apart from that, we are different! nat is vivacious, i'm cool; nat is bubbly and cheery, i'm smiley; nat is quick and smart, i'm always blur blur!!~ =p we grow up to be quite different from what we used to be...our friendship changes too...we shared smiles, laughter, happiness, sorrows, sadness, tension... but this friendship~ is a special one to me...one that will always stay. and just today, i got nat's email....and it's a joy to know that i've got this friend who still cares; who still loves me alot...it certainly warms my heart alot to know that our friendship candle has always been lit...still burning...still glowing...

Thursday, August 28, 2003

28 Aug, i went to check my emails just now. Of which, many mails were sent by my 'gor'. even though those emails were often 'fwd:', they often make me ponder a second more...think a little deeper about myself and people around me...to appreciate and treasure the people around me...and true enough, i spent moments thinking about this very interesting article he cited from Straits Times about Friendship.

'who is a friend?'-the definition changes as i grow older. i used to write in my primary school friends' autograph books- we are forever friends! and while i was in secondary school, i started collecting the forever friendz bears! but truly, is there really a 'forever friend' in life? indeed, of all the friends in whom i've called them 'friends', some left and some remain. and in that email, it struck me quite a bit when the writer says, "THE saddest thing about friendship is that it can die. It doesn't come with a lifelong guarantee.' looking back at history, it really saddens my heart at how some 'best friends' became strangers in my life. while there was no quarrels and no disagreements, the friendships just died.

it becomes even more true when i'm now overseas...the definition of friendship fades because distance is indeed a seperating factor. no matter how advanced we are with technology, with webcams, icq and emails, friendships take consistent efforts in building it up. "distance is one killer. Unless you are diligent in keeping in touch with a friend, being far away can drive a wedge in your relationship." at the same time, being caught up with responsibilities and committment here, it makes things tougher having to reach out to that friend out there in the virtual world. changes in circumstances in life changes the friendship..."when a friend moves up in life, he will become too busy for you, while you don't want to risk rejection by trying to keep in contact with him."

and guess i'm really touched by the author's last line:"The hardest part in loving a person from a distance is not being able to hold her hand and embrace her tight and tell her how much you love her - because you are only a friend." how true is this! how true~! it's so true...so my friends, don't sit there and wait! go for it!

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

27 Aug, oh i have forgotten to come up here yesterday!~ man!! i'm suffering the aches from aerobics since monday night. guess it's been a really long time since i exercised! but it was good! although i looked a little 'lost', it was fun!! really sweat alot despite the cold winter and i really felt so much refreshed after a warm shower! all ready to start studying at 9pm!

it really took me great courage to walk back from the Sports Centre at 8+ that night. Monash was so quiet and there was not even a single soul walking around at campus at that hour. just me and me alone....there were many times when i just turned to see no one was following me. only my shadows. *shudder*

to top all the fears up, the worse thing was: just before i left home for the Sports Center, Annie reminded me about the recent police warnings to be aware of molesters/flashers hanging out especially in the night, along the road just outside our house! on that thought, i just wished i had learnt some kungfu or some taekwando for defence! feeling quite hesitant about going, for a moment, i thought i should just call up Shannon to tell her i've changed my mind of joining her at the Sports Centre! =) but guess the earnest desire to work out was still GREATER than the fear of being molested!~ *hmm, not a very good comparison afterall...* hee, eventually, i walked my journey home alone in the dark, while talking to chris on my mobile...it felt so much better to have someone 'there', even though he's so faraway. =p

Monday, August 25, 2003

25 Aug, still feel sick lately....and also, the internet at home hasn't been working well too! i wasn't able to access the net and man!~ lotsa work undone cos' of the breakdown. oh yar!! i'm going for aerobics tonight with Shannon...hopefully that will help me feel better. guess i really need fresh air and sunlight.....i just hate winter! it makes me feel tired easily...don't feel like going out and just put on more fat at home! the weather is turning warmer and yes! i'm excited to start my jogging real soon........September, please come quickly??

Friday, August 22, 2003

Aug 22, it's been a long day. it's now merely 4:30pm and i'm feeling sleepy and tired. i'm glad God told us to rest on one day each week too, or else i'll be super duper tired!!! i woke up pretty early this morning cos' i had to finish up my assignment. i can't believe that i actually woke up at 7am this morning feeling refreshed and good! well, seems like i've been lacking such good rest for a long while. yeah~ guess it's only right to sleep early and wakey early....the day starts at dawn, isn't it? =)

coincidentally, today's Health Seminar talk was on REST. this is something in which all uni students need! exactly right! especially when we are rushing our assignments, it's pretty normal to sleep around 2-3am. however, i just heard that sleeping late will cause much effects on our body's immune system and our lifespan consequently. so don't "PRAY PRAY" ar!~ hee...i'm convinced that i too need lotsa rest....in fact, i'm the first to sleep in the house! they call me the 'sleeping beauty'!!!! haha....*am i???!! hmm~ that's the question!* =)

Thursday, August 21, 2003

Aug 21, man!!!~ the journey back from Caulfield was terrible!! it was so COLD! *shiver* it's less than 10degrees definitely! plus the strong winds that blow in my direction!!! my arms were almost breaking off from my body and i couldn't feel my fingers at all when i finally arrived at the doorstep of my house!!!! i had gone to Caulfield to buy groceries with Annie and i bought too much!! too much for me to carry...it was beyond me!!!!!

for once, i bought so much so much from Coles! after going thru' Health Seminar, i realised how much fruits and veges i lacked in my diet in the past. nutritionists around the world calculated that on average, one needs AT LEAST 7 servings of fruits and vegetables. and man!!~ when i look at my very own diet, i don't eat as much as i should. and thus, today's grocery shopping was satisfying! i bought lotsa carrots, tomatos, brocoli, fruits, grains, muesli, different types of nuts, my fav barbecued flavoured baked beans, salad, fruit juice, soy milk and multigrain bread...oh yar, yoghurt too! delicious eh? =p yummmmmy!!!~~

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Aug 20, i just came back from a health seminar organised by the ASF club i belong to at uni. yep, the speaker is Dr. Barbara Choi from HK, a trained specialist in public health from Loma Linda University in America. well, it's pretty ironical for me to go uni and promote health seminar when i'm not feeling well...but then again, yeah~ i'm there because i wana learn how to be healthy as well. =p

and wow! today's topic is on EXERCISE! man!!!~ BIG topic! i'm guilty of it....not putting enuf effort into managing my exercise schedules. i know why now~ that's why i'm sick! lack of exercise!! =) well, i'm really going for jogging when September comes, cos' it's when the weather turns warmer!~ it's hard to persuade myself to go out in the cold just to exercise. i'm going for jogging every morning...! i wana make it a habit.....or else i'll really look obese when i come bk singapore end of the year!

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

Aug 19, i didn't manage to come online yesterday cos' i was pretty sick. however, my visit to the doc at Monash was interesting! i have wanted to see Dr Craig since last friday but he was booked out till monday. hmm~! he must be a good doc i guess, if not, he won't have so many patients! =p

oh yar, i met a few friends at the clinic...seems like everyone! Yes! so many people are SICK lately. guess it's the changing climate again, i guess. i haven't been well since last week and hmm~! my immune system is down. and if mummy is around, i know she would say i din have enough vitamin C and sufficient sleep!!!

hey know what? something funny happened during my consultation with Dr Craig. he wanted to take my blood pressure and he wanted me to flex my arm...but instead of saying that, he said: take off your arm please? i was stunned for a moment...and i went: 'pardon? take off my arm??~!' in my heart i was thinking...how??!!! and Dr Craig said it again, 'take off your arm please?' so i was like 'err...what do u mean?' i thought he meant that i should take off my jacket, because i had so many layers on and that he couldn't wrap the blood pressure thingy around my arm. when i finally got what he meant, i couldn't help but laugh. and when the whole session ended, before i left Dr. Craig's room, he said something funny: 'don't leave your arm here alright? take it back with you!' heee....i was grinning as i left his room! haha...what a day!? that's why i like visiting Dr. Draig when i'm sick....makes me feel well even before taking any medication!

anyway, jokes aside, i'm still feeling pretty unwell. i've got assignments piling up...help me!? but even then, i am still catching up on my series on liu jin sui yue...man!~xuen(1) xuen(1) and luo(2) jia(1) liang(2) are perfect couple in the show! good plot and definitely, good acting as well! and it's so exciting!! you guys should watch it if u r looking out for a good HK tv series! and i know that mummy will love it if it's showed on tv man! well, you guys take care alright? have fun too!

Sunday, August 17, 2003

Aug 17, i've been in bed...sleep sleep and sleep. well, thanks for your concern, liuminz. it's been terrible lately....well, i've been watching a HK series called~ liu(2) jin(1) sui(4) yue(4) lately....kept me occupied for the whole time. man!!!!~ my housemate hooked me on with this vcd series and since then, i've been watching it non-stop. yes! it's an addiction. guess alot of times, there are so much things depicted in shows which will never be real....no matter how authentic the script is. and now, back to reality, back to work!!! i've got 3 essays to be handed up tomorrow morning and they are still undone! chamz!! gota go...

Friday, August 15, 2003

Aug 15, i'm really sick! it's not fun to be in bed all day long...i wish i could go out, but leaving bed means i run into risk of 'seeing stars'. yes, have been getting headaches, migraine and occasional fever. perhaps i haven't had good sleep for quite some time. and hey, i'm worried for my assignments...i've got 3 more to go! 'hurry gracie, hurry!!' sometimes i just wish i could stay in the dream world and never to face reality~ so much more problems that i can handle...so much more....so much more.

there is no problem so big God cannot solve it
there is no mountain so tall He cannot move it
there is no storm so dark God cannot calm it
there is no sorrow so deep He cannot soothe it

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Aug 13, yeah!!! soot wai and wee leng are both here in melb for holiday! it's been quite sometime since i last saw them and now, they are here! they came over to my place in the morning when Aunty Rebecca sent them here and yeah! they commented that i've got a nice and neat room!!! they love my bed, my dark blue bed sheets and yeah, the comfortable looking quilt! *good on u, chris!* =) *grin grin* yeah, talking about neatness~ actually i packed up before they came...sssshh ssssh ( a secret between us!) hee...

well, i've been super blur today...not sure why! i pointed at the wrong directions and absent mindedly told soot wai i left my mobile phone at home, when it was sitting comfortably in my bag! she ran home for me just to search for my phone and when i finally found it in my bag, i felt so embarrassed!!?!!! *blush* arhhhhh!! what has gone wrong with me today??!! i seriously duno....anyway, i feel great to meet my friends here! feels good to see familiar faces in an alien land....! =)

Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Aug 12, man!~ Kes was whinning so much the whole night...i just couldn't sleep well! she was whinning non-stop and i just hate myself for being sucha light sleeper! i wished i could be like Jackie, when she told me she couldn't hear a single sound last night! man! she's POWER! anyway, it's gona be a long long day today! won't see me home till 5pm tonight! i hope i won't doze off in my lectures and tuts!!

Monday, August 11, 2003

Aug 11, phew~! it's all over!! i have just settled all my bills last night! phone bills, electricity bills, gas bills, cable bills and all the grocery accounts! and you know what? i had to go down to the atm at Monash around 10+ pm just to withdraw $ to return some people. i found it quite weird to walk out into the cold winter night just to do that! of cos! i din go there alone! i don't have the courage to do so man!

well, i'm glad really~ i'm ain't in the accounting field! i'll just die of balancing accounts!!!! Gavin, i hope you are still surviving!!!~ i had to do so much auditing and reconciliation for my club at uni and it has been driving me crazy! yes!~ gracie ~ crazy!!! sometimes i just wonder: why should i do it? it isn't my responsibility anyway?! but David is right to say: doing these helps us to grow to be a better person. we learn in the process...and now that we are at uni, we learn not only what's in the books, but also all the little little lessons that will sharpen our character each day.

our Big Brother is right. i know for sure, if he hadn't pushed me, i wouldn't even have started cooking last year...and now, i'm proud to say, 'er-hem'~!! i can cook! i mean, cooking "eatable stuffs"!!~ and of cos, now it's time to put what i've learnt in Home Economics into practice!!! to take care of the house, tidy up my room even more *hehe, for all those who have come to my room will know what i mean!! hee..*, to clean up the kitchen and to the 'poo-mess' + 'pee-mess' + 'fur-mess' contributed by our KES!!! (our doggie's name). sometimes it's challenging to manage so many things at one go...sometimes it's just so irritating when there's so much to do! but i guess when we look at the brighter side of things and understand it's part and parcel of life and that we learn more through the process, we grow up! yes indeed~~!

Sunday, August 10, 2003

Aug 10, oopsey! i missed Aug 9! Happy belated birthday Singapore! and Happy belated birthday James! even though i sound pretty happy, guess i can't hide my feelings from people who have known me for years. it was a joyous occasion last night when everyone was gathered at the table for dinner to celebrate James' belated b'day~ oh yes! it was our 'family dinner', as what Annie called it. David, 'the old-man' is back after his 2-mths business trip and it really feels good that our 'Big Brother' is now back--our reunion dinner, so called. indeed, so much things have happened while he wasn't here with us and now, he's finally back. guess there are some things that only our Big Brother here can solve....and yeah, well it was a great dinner, of cos. while waiting for our dessert to come, i was deep in my thoughts- just then, David commented: here we see a satisfied woman after dinner! i gave a grin but he knew i wasn't really happy...or perhaps, i was just silent during dinner.

everything just didn't feel right when i woke up this morning. lotsa problems crowding my head. i feel sick...i haven't been sleeping well. no matter how things are, i remembered i told Jackie last night while encouraging her to move on, i said: the world will not stop turning because we have problems in our lives; life just goes on...and on. and yes indeed, life moves on.

Friday, August 08, 2003

Aug 8, well, sometimes when life is too blissful, we forget that we are living in blessings; when life is too troubling, we tend to ask why is it so? time and time again, i just feel...it's during these occasions when we truly grow. and i know when all these things are over, we will understand ourselves more. So,

At the close of the day, when i kneel to pray,
i will remember you...
You need help everyday, this is why i pray,
i will remember you.

When i pray, i will pray for you,
for you need His love and His care.
When i pray, i will pray for you,
i will whisper your name in my prayer.

my friends, take care~

Thursday, August 07, 2003

Aug 7, time has been crawling...the list of things to do is growing longer and i'm not in the mood to do them. 'gracie, you must brace up! don't slack!!' guess owing to the lack of sleep lately, it's been hard to concentrate. it's bad, it's bad!! *tired*

despite the tiredness, someone brightened up my day today! i gota chance to talk to SEALS today and it's great to catch up with an oldie friend. well, it was a shock to me when he told me that he just had a major operation because he bled so much during his Navy training. sigh~! just hope he's alright. hey, take care ok? *just keep swimming...just keep swimming!!* ~my fav line from 'Finding Nemo'

Wednesday, August 06, 2003

Aug 6, a new morning! grrr.rrr...cold cold again! i just wish winter goes away...i'm dying!~save my nose! save me! i really treasure Singapore's warmth alot, now that i'm in Australia! many people have called me 'nuts!' hee...i don't mind~ afterall it's time to be patriotic!! August 9th is coming! c'mon guys, you must love your country!

well, on a more serious note~i really begin to appreciate what Singapore has taught me over the years. S'apore is my home and that will never change. there were times when many people asked me: have you thought of migrating to Aus? there's always a hesitation right down my heart; i feel foreign to this country no matter how long i stay here. it never feels the same to communicate using the Singrish way, to breathe in the Singaporean air around and to put it simply, to live the Singaporean lifestyle.

so what's the Singaporean lifestyle? eat, sleep and grow fat? i wonder! whenever i passed by Singaporean food outlets here, there's always this air of familiarity! you know what? they serve the famous dish called the 'Singapore Noodles'! have you guys heard of that? man!~ this has led many Australians to have distorted opinions about the Singaporean lifestyle! they even feel that it's a sad thing that we can't chew on our bubble gums and that we are a bunch of KS people who wants to be the first in the queue. i guess this is just stereotyping...what do you guys think?

in any case, i love Singapore! =)
this is my country, this is my flag,
this is my future, this is my life!!
this is my family, these are my friends
we are Singapore - Singaporeans!!!

Tuesday, August 05, 2003

Aug 5, i feel sick...i feel giddy...am i alright?!? i din sleep well last night...been having weird dreams. *dreams that will never happen in real life!!* how strange~! i've been thinking too much i guess....and oopsey! i skipped all my lessons today. i know it's bad...'it's bad, Gracie!!', but guess i've not been feeling quite right recently.

i've been missing singapore alot lately. just then, my mummy called. and as usual~ she thought that Annie was me. so many people have mistaken Annie and my voice over the phone. hee~! perhaps it's the way we both said 'hello'. hee, funny how many times our boyfriends, family members and friends got us mixed up over the phone! haha, hmm *grin grin* James once said, if our moms and boyfriends can't even differentiate our voices, it means that we really really sounded similar! there were times when Annie and i just feel like faking to be each other when receiving phone calls and it's really funny how people on the other line got so mixed up!! hee, i feel honoured though, cos' i've heard Annie's voice over the phone and she sounded sweet!!! haha! also means~ er-hem...hee! mine is just as sweet!!! hee...! *gracie, you must be more humble!*

yar, anyway back to my mummy's call, yeah! she told me she's planning to come with dad to melbourne during mid-Nov and we will all fly back singapore at the end of this year. oh!~ how sweet! how i wish time will fly past faster! i've been encouraged when Shannon told me that hey, time will fly when we get busy with our assignments and projects...no time to think! yeah, quite true~! i wish i could meet chris soon....i just can't wait!

Aug 4, oh!! it's Monday! it's a dread to pull myself out of bed! i'm tired...i feel sick...oh no! it must be the weather! so cold~!!! grrr..rr! i don't feel like leaving my warm warm bed....i can feel the cold wind even without opening the windows! i wonder how am i gona make it to lecture hall! sigh~! one good thing about today is that, at least i'll see familiar faces like Shannon and Alicia at lecture. normally, i sat alone....i'm pretty anti-social at times...*er-hem..hee!*

oh yar! i finally gota chance to go grocery shopping again...initially i thought i will have to go alone! sigh~! but after tut, Shannon told me she's gona go clayton with Gwan Hong, so we went together. it was fun! we stopped by at a cafe near the bank...man!! the mud-cakes, strawberry chocolate cheesecake and pastries just look so yummy!!! *i'm drooling! i'm drooling!!* i wish i could have it....well~! gracie, you gota save your $! well, Shannon and Gwan Hong shared their cakes and whoa~! chris, i just wished you were here! *i really do!*

and yeah! while shopping, i came up with my own soup recipe of potato, celery and carrots! well, that really spurred me on to persist on with carrying all my groceries back all the way from clayton back to home! man!~ it was cold! my bag was heavy! my hands were almost dropping off!! i'm glad i met Jackie at Clayton and she helped me with one bag...or i would have not made it home!~ =p and yes!!! i cooked my soup and i liked it! hmm~! feel so proud of myself! hey, you girls should try experimenting recipes if you got time!! it's fun! i love it and hmm~~ i'm feeling so much like a woman now! hee...

Sunday, August 03, 2003

Aug 3, sunny day today!! miss sunshine is back up again! mood swings are all over! hee, =). i was lazing the whole day on my beloved bed when James and Joel rang the doorbell at 11:45am! sigh~! i wished i could stay in bed longer...=). *i feel piggish today!!*

i've been very blurr lately...apparently i wrote my date wrongly for one of my assignments as 31 Aug 2003. and when i wrote it, it dawned on me that it's Diane's birthday! so frantically, i went on to my computer and very quickly sent her a belated birthday note to her!!! foolish me!!! apparently i wasn't thinking straight!!! she replied me the very next day to tell me that, 'hey! my dear...it's 31 July 2003...and my birthday is 31 Aug!!!' oh man~! i just feel like digging one big hole and just hide myself!! *embarressing!!!*

and oh yarr, i received a note from singapore from grace, susan and joyce....and yes! i could decipher their handwritings! hehe, i just smiled so much because of the way they try to trick me with their handwritings. but yes, i'm glad that they still remember me...yes, this Melbourne Girl here!

and hey, 10 more weeks to go before holidays comes! i can't wait to fly home...i can't wait! i've been dreaming about eating my favourite NYDC cheesecake, ice kacang, roti prata!! (oh yes! my roti prata!!) and Mr. Bean!! so much to dream about! and of cos, i know that chris will have more time for me by then. he's promised me....i'm sure he will keep his promise. *i hope* hee...i wana go to the ZOO to see my favourite animals! and oh yar!!! Sentosa, here i come!!!! hee, you guys may be thinking, i'm really crazy! i'm only back here for 3 weeks and i miss singapore liao...!!! sometimes, i will tune into FM 933 online and just "zhi-ji-pian-zhi-ji" (bluff oneself)...as if i'm back at home!!!! *i miss home*

Saturday, August 02, 2003

Aug 2, today's a gloomy day i would say! even though the weather seems to forecast my moods, it's apparently not with the good sunshine. seems like the sunshine girl today has been looking sad today! yes, indeed! i haven't heard from my bf since thursday night....and i missed him alot. i hadn't slept well last night....deep down in my sub-conscious mind, i wish he would call...but he din. i tried to call and he din pick it up. well~ this really reminded me of those days when i just waited at the phone for hours for my ex....

and this time, i fell even deeper into love. it took me so long, so long...so very long to really fall for another guy ever since my ex. i used to tell myself..'never, never will i fall in love!' but guess now that i really consider, sometimes i just wonder~ is this what love is about? what has really gone wrong with us? i really don't know...*shrug* have i been really asking too much from him? can someone out there teach me how to maintain a long distance relationship? i really don't know how what's happening...!?

Friday, August 01, 2003

Aug 1, a brand new beginning! for all those who know me, i love to write...love to push my pen! and so now, it seems like i'm typing more and more....hehe, ever since uni started, i've been sitting in front of my comp. well, this is a good place to jot down my thoughts for the day tho! and for those who aren't here in melb, to check out what the Melb Girl is doing!?? =)