A few of my favourite things

Instead of listing all possible 1^st world problems, I’d like to look to the positive and list some 1^st world advantages/good situations. If there come a time when the dog bites, the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, and I have to sing about my favourite things, I don’t think doorbells and sleighbells and schnitzel with noodles will cut it.

So I thought of making my own version that does not rhyme but may help with not feeling so bad – here are a few of my favourite things:

* Typing on a springy keyboard with freshly cut fingernails

* Having taken just enough pegs for the amount of laundry

* Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes (this I must agree)

* Hotel linen with high thread count

* Fresh bed sheets

* Tearing perforated paper

* Watching windscreen wiper do its thing in the rain

* Opening the fridge/freezer door on a hot summer’s day

* Clearing up the spam mail in my inbox

* Sticky date pudding

* Hearing the tiny stone getting sucked up and rattling in my vacuum cleaner

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In some ways… I don’t feel so sad now, I just feel a little OCD. If only I could make them all rhyme, then I could write a song about all my favourite things. 

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The hidden agenda of the mysterious bobby pins

You may relate to me if you’re a girl with long or short hair whom at the most inconvenient times are in desperate need of a bobby pin.

I’m sure this happens to almost anything – when you need it, you’ll never find it. But somehow, this happens the most for bobby pins. The frustrating thing is that I consciously try to leave a few bobby pins in most places I could possibly think of. Jackets pockets, bag compartments, coin bags, stationary drawers at the office, emergency pack, in the miscellaneous drawer of keys, pens and USB sticks etc.

And still I could end up not finding a single bobby pin when I need it most. I have a strong feeling they know exactly when to hide, and when to show up to be a nuisance at that spot. They just love watching me get annoyed with crazy hair sticking out by the side at the same time.

Come on bobby pins, I’m your friend, please be nice to me.

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Where is my shovel?

I have forgotten how to write.

 

Let me rephrase – I have forgotten how it feels to write. The mental purge of thoughts and ideas. I hope this little step of returning to the blogging habit will help.

 

I read about digging ditches today, from The Great Book in 2 Kings. Elisha told the kings to dig the ground. They were in the middle of war, and this prophet tells them to go dig. Lol.

 

If you have time, read this story, kinda interesting…

 

The kings had big dreams – to win the war, but God is asking them to start small and dig ditches so that He can fill it with water to nourish the dehydrated troop at war.

 

Now my problem is that I do not have a big dream (yet). However, I reckon that if I start digging my ditches, I would be able to see my big dream, I hope.

 

Now where’s my shovel?

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The story you should know

Yup! It happened. He went down on one knee and asked me the most anticipated question. With the gorgeous sunset, sea breeze, shock, and adorably handsome face, I wasn’t left with much of a choice but to say yes!

Just in case you didn’t catch the full story (2nd hand stories are just not thrilling enough), so here’s my attempt to describe the scene.

Last December, I gave Timo a homemade voucher booklet as his birthday present. In it contained 12 acts of service from me to him, such as go for a dinner and movie date, cleaning his house with a smile, doing his laundry etc. And one of it was to go for location scouting for photography purposes with him. And on 19th Feb 2011 (Sat), he said he wanted to use that voucher to go around Perth to get good shooting locations for his clients’ upcoming wedding/ pre-wedding shoots.

I had to work half day that day, so he picked me up and we went to the city. It was HOT! and camera bags were HEAVY! But it was fun =) going around the city, getting chased out by guards who do not allow us to take photos at certain spots. I struggled with the camera a lot. So what I did most was pose for him at potential places. We also went all the way to Swan Valley, and then back down to Coogee Beach to catch the sunset.

“Quick! We gotta make it for the sunset at 6.30!!”

“How u know it’s 6.30? u checked?”

“No, I’ve just been really attentive these days... all these things u gotta know really well so u won’t miss the magic moment! And so that I can advise other people ma...”

Knowing how important it is for a photographer to catch the ‘magic moment’, I didn’t suspect anything and rushed with him to the beach.

“Why Coogee Beach? Isn’t Cottesloe closer?”

“Haiyah, Coogee less people."

At the beach, he said he wanted to take a video of the sun setting. He then said some technical terms about the sun glare and the timing bla bla bla. Hence the tripod and How Boon’s camera. I was wondering why he didn’t wanna use his SLR camera for the video, and even got Jade’s camera for spare. So maybe he wanted to also take still shots. *shrugs* sunset shots- way too complicated for me, so I didn’t ask further.

He hurried me to the far end of the beach. He said there’s a bridge at that end. He was a little quiet then (which I didn’t notice until after). He got me to stand on the bridge while he set up the camera on tripod. Since I’ve been posing for him all day, that wasn’t new to me. I tried taking some shots with another SLR but it’s so hard to comprehend!!! All I got were blank shots of nothingness. Overexposed, can’t focus, give up. Then he came and took some shots, and at my moment of frustration, he said he found this new gadget in Malaysia that you can attach it to the camera and it’ll automatically adjust it for u. I stared blankly and said “Harh? Can’t u just switch the cam to auto mode?” (I almost blew off the proposal!)

“No, this one is different.”

“Did you bring it?”

“Yah, it’s in my bag. Go get it.”

Super curious about this gadget, I opened the cam bag and saw a note.

Step 1: Unlock iPhone

Step2: Play song

Then it hit me like the waves that were smashing towards the bridge. OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS IT!!!

There was a step 3 but I didn’t even read it (which was ‘Look at the title of the song’, and it was ‘Marry Me’)

I clicked play and turned around.

He walked towards me and said a lot of things which I want to save it just for myself *blush*

Went on one knee.

“Will you marry me?”

The song was still playing. Waves. Breeze. Sunset. Diamond ring. OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS IT!!!!

1000000 times yes!

After he put on the ring for me, all I could say was “really?!”

Hahha... then we sat there facing the sunset, and he told me the whole story behind the ring, talking to my parents, telling my friends and getting them to keep it a secret... till it was dark and I was sooo hungry... I also later confirmed that the auto adjusting gadget is not true.

So there you go. The story you should know. Heheh.... so the great shot of him kneeling down, was taken by Timo himself! He’s so smart! And he knew me—simple, romantic, beach, sunset, song, surprise.

Thanks for being so excited and happy for us. We’re grateful to have such an enthusiastic bunch to make this event even more thrilling.

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Raise your glass for the year that was...

2010 has been a rather interesting year for me. And just for my own record, I’d like to pen some stuff down so I can read this again in 20 years time and go woooo~ 2010… interesting…

The “most”s in one year:

Most common incident: missing the bus

Most missed: friends of Adelaide, UZY, and Taro flavoured Bubble Tea

Most watched: How I Met Your Mother

Most said phrase: I love you! (with exclamation mark) (to the same person)

Most wasteful times spent: waiting for connecting bus

Most frequently asked by me: should I get a car?

Most frequently asked by others: do u like Adelaide or Perth more?

Most house chore done: sweep floor (ooopss)

Most avoided: birds (yes, the fear remains)

Most purchased/ received: shoes

Most made: new friends and built deeper friendships with them

The "Least" in one year:

Least done: blogged

Things to remember in 2010:

Moved to Perth from Adelaide. I still can’t answer which I prefer more. Just leave me alone!

Sent out countless resumes. Only a few replied with rejections.

Moved into current house with Jade and Addielle. Though the house isn’t the best but the girls provide such great company! And I’m 3 minutes drive away from the boyfriend!!! Instead of 3 hours flight!

Finally I could go on dates with Timo instead of the ‘virtual dates’ that’s if the internet connection is fine.

Got more involved with Zion Praise Harvest church. Joined ProjectionZ ministry. Slowly adapting to having Friday Nights free (having been faithfully attending OCF for so long, it takes awhile to back down). Had cell groups at my house every week and it was great to witness the house be filled with fellowship. Truly enjoyed the noise and chaos that went on every week.

Sold vacuum cleaners for a week. Decided that I can’t go from house to house with random people selling a freaking expensive tool ($4k mind u!). And it’s way too big for me to carry around.

Went back to work for Subway. Had a really good boss from South Africa. He complains about the way Aussies do business and likes it when I know the lyrics to songs by The Beatles.

Volunteered at Sonshine FM as admin assistant. Enjoyed helping the new General Manager with the usual clerical tasks. Understood more about Community Radio Industry.

Got a full time job at IDP. Had to quit Subway and Sonshine. Entered at the peak period and struggled to learn the system. Went to Brisbane for staff retreat which was fun but a little strange. Learnt more about the education system but discovered the hardship of working life if you can’t smile from within and look forward to go to work everyday.

Appointed to be Young Adults Administrator. Just when I thought I sucked in administration big time, I was challenged to think otherwise.

Went to Hillsong Conference. Cried out to God for comfort. Brought my work stress all the way to Sydney. Immersed myself fully in the courts of thanksgiving and entered the gates of praise.

Endeared a little more at work. Prayed for a sign if I should start looking for another job. The sign appeared on that exact day. I got fired.

Went back to volunteering at Sonshine FM. After one week, my boss said he really wants to keep me but do not have enough funds, so he’ll hold me in for paid employment but only for half a day every weekday. Until today I look forward to serving God and his people by serving at the station. Always feel encouraged when listeners give us feedback about their testimonies. Am learning a little about broadcasting from the senior DJs.

Went for audition to the worship team at church and finally made it in. I really admire the talents that God has blessed this house with.

Got my long hair cut short. Just because it was free.

Went on road trip after Christmas. Super fun! Did real camping, stayed in a farm, and swam in the clear blue sea.

Went to a disappointing countdown at Northbridge and had bubble tea after that. Thankfully I was with good company =)

Lesson learnt in the year 2010: no matter what happens in life, it’s who you’re going through it with that matters.

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