Goodbye

I'm leaving for Singapore in a few hours. I'm excited, but not as thrilled as i was last year.. i can't wait to see my friends and treat myself to the local food. Sigh.. i don't know where my "real" home is now. My friendships in Singapore seem to be dying away because i haven't seen my friends frequently for over three years. I guess that would be inevitable. On the contrary, i've made many new friends who mean a lot to me this year.

Sigh.. people often ask me: "Where are you gonna be working in the future? In Singapore or in Australia?" Most of the times i reply, "Australia", yet at times, i want to work in Singapore for a bit at least. I don't know how i'm gonna feel when i leave Australia to serve the Singapore Army at the end of next year. I'm gonna miss my friends dearly. I didn't cry when i left Singapore.. but i think i might be moved to tears this time.

I'm worried because i won't have any "good" and "reliable" friend in either of these countries. I know that some of my friends will be there for me, but our friendships will never be as strong as they could've been without my intermitent long-term departures. I wanna thank God for these people.. i KNOW that i can always go back to these people and they would receive me back with warm open arms no matter how long i've been away. Jocelyn, Jeremy Lim, Jeremy Goh and Justin in Singapore. haha! It's weird how their names all start with "J". Well in Australia, i know Qynn, Gab, Nick, Harish and Jase will always have my back. I thank God for you! =)

My future's not certain at all. I don't know where i'm gonna end up 10 years from now, but i know for sure that i'll still be walking close to God wherever he should lead me.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

To everyone in Australia, enjoy your hols! I'll see you soon =)

Futsal Mania

I'm exhausted and fatigued now and my eye lids are heavily bearing down on me, but i don't wanna go to sleep so early. I've got my L's Driver's Test tomorrow, and i'm not too confident about it. Oh well, i'll just do a few more of those online practice tests in the morning, before i sit for my test.

The Fungus team took on Collin's team in Futsal at Box Hill yesterday, and i must say that we gave it to them. It was sorta like a grudge match due to various reasons only evident to those who went to the Fungus Ball. Anyway, Collin's a freestylist who has a whole lot of soccer tricks up his sleeves - juggling, close ball control and all that.. but he wasn't that good on the court. Well, his team were EXTREMELY unfit and were exhausted after the first game. Anyway, the Fungus team dominated through the entire two hours. Shaun scored 5, Gab scored 4, Pete scored 4, i scored 3.. but Nick and i were doing most of the support work - carving out 3 or 4 assists each? It was fun. Thanks for the game guys! =)

Well, i organised an semi-impromptu futsal tournament today consisting of two Melbourne High teams and the Fungus team.. with some new players, including some super league player who plays for South Melbourne FC. Anyway, Jin and Daz were bagging the Fungus team before and they claimed to be better than us. So we agreed that we'll keep score of the wins and loses. A win would account for two points, a win through a penalty accounts for one point, and zero points are allocated for a loss obviously! The day ended with Fungus on 10 points and Melbourne High on 7!! haha!!! You guys got OWNED!! =P

Oh yea, Dazza, Banh and i went to the gym this morn at 10am to work out. I didn't want to use artificial weights, so i did three sets of thirty sit-ups and 3 sets of 10 blurpies (HARD AS!). That's all i did really.. well, i haven't started packing for my Singapore trip -.-" But i'm expecting to feel the ache on Saturday. Sigh.. hope i don't suffer from severe muscle ache on the plane!

Oh yea, Danica came over to give us some presents.. had an interesting chat with her and Elysia. She's so cute! And he newly found lil sis, Adrienne, was thoughtful enough to give me a ring to wish me a happy holiday in Singapore! haha! Thanks sis! =)

VCE Results..

I couldn't sleep last night, so i watched The Prestiege with my dad. It was a pretty good show with a lot of twists, but i kindda guessed the ending right... so i wrecked the ending for myself =( haha! I'm really happy because i've watched some rather intriguing movies.. I watched The Prestiege, The Guardian and Casino Royale in the past week or so, and all had really catchy, interesting ad twisty plots. I love these kindda movies! I've been craving for movies like these for ages!

Well, i couldn't sleep last night cuz someone reminded me that the VCE results are coming out this morning.. so i slept at 12.30am and i woke up at 3am to watch the Arsenal - Chelsea match, which turned out to be good too! haha! The TV's not boring to watch anymore! =) Booyah! Anyway, I went back to bed at 5.30am, and my dad woke me up at 8am to check my scores. haha! I was WAY too tired to get outta bed, so i gave him my details and i got him to check it for me.. well, the VCAA website was overloaded as every kid in the state was busy checking their scores too.. so i dozed off only for my dad to wake me up half an hour later to announce that..














Yea, i just wanna thank God for it all. I couldn't have done it without him.





50 for Business Management
31 raw for Chinese which scales up to be 42.


This reminded me of God's unfailing Love and Grace. I've been praying about my results for the past few nights, and as i was studying through the year.. and i asked him to give me the results that i required in order to serve him best.. and i would be happy no matter what they were. Another one of those feelings came over me as i composed a poem in thanksgiving to God.

A Gracious Pardon

Light shone through the curtains,
As i rose to sheer elation.

Tempted was my heart to boast,
To share my great jubilation.

-

But indeed to whom,
Does this joy belong?
I slagged and prayed,
And oft i felt forlorn.

-

But my heart and soul,
Will sing and praise God.
For surely it is He who,
Brings the happiness that men sought.

-

He pardoned my iniquity,
And showed mercy to my sin.
How great Thou art?

Who forgives what has been.

-

May this be of humble praise,
That all may see and know.
Tis not I who deserves this glory,
But thee; where Grace and Love unceasingly flow.

God
& isaac
11/12/06

* Thank you O Lord for helping me achieve such outstanding results. For forgiving my sins and showing mercy. For a God of Love who hears my cry.

Yea, i just changed the song. I got it off Dani's blog, and its dedicated to a special friend of mine who needed my shoulder once, but i wasn't around... i guess, i'm sorry, but it won't happen again =)

I'll Be - Edwin McCain

The strands in your eyes

That color them wonderful

Stop me and steal my breath

And emeralds from mountains

Thrust towards the sky

Never revealing their depth

And tell me that we belong together

Dress it up with the trappings of love

I'll be captivated;

I'll hang from your lipsInstead of the gallows of heartache

That hangs from above

-

(Chorus)

I'll be your crying shoulder

I'll be love's suicide

I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life

-

Rain falls angry on the tin roof

As we lie awake in my bedAnd you're my survival

You're my living proof

My love is alive and not dead

And tell me that we belong together

Dress it up with the trappings of love

I'll be captivated; I'll hang from your lips

Instead of the gallows of heartache

That hangs from above

(Chorus)

-

And I've dropped out,

I've burned up

I fought my way back from the dead

Tuned in, turned on

Remembered the thing that you said

Melbourne Vic - Sydney FC

The state library, grafitti and MC at night..

Jase, Phan, Jin, Banh, Jonno, Jamie, Gleeson, Harish, Stevie, Duc and i met up at Flinders yesterday before heading down to the Telstra Dome for the much awaited Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC game, which turned out to be rather mediocre -.-" We rocked up half an hour before the match, but the good seats were already taken up by Melbourne's eager fans =( So we got pushed ALL THE WAY to the top of the Dome -.-""" We were sitting in the second last row! lol! FURTHEST from all the action. But it felt pretty good having no one sitting behind you.

The game was pathetic really, despite a few bursts of magic from the likes of Archie Thompson and Alessandro. Well, Jamie and Duc were giving me crap throughout the night for not paying an extra $10 for the $20 premium tickets -.-" The fans around us were hopeless.. The 11 of us tried our best to start up chants to support Melbourne, but most of them refused to join in -.-"" I thought Aussies were extroverted! Our chants went something like: "YOU ARE A WANKER!!!" whenever a Sdyney player received a yellow card or when the ref makes a stupid decision. And there was "*clap clap clap* MELBOURNE! *clap clap clap* Melbourne!!!" Yea well, there were a few pple who supported us. It was really funny cuz three young kids sitting near us started chanting relentlessly "Sydney are Wankers!" throughout the match, they didn't stop until the final whistle. lol! I don't think their parents were too pleased x.X"

Oh, at some point in the match, a Melbourne player got tackled and he was lying on the ground when a retard sitting behind us randomly shouted, "Bloody hell, you must be Italian! Stand up!" LOL! He was a bloody Sydney fan sitting in the midst of THOUSANDS of Melbourne fans. haha! Everyone stared at him, most of which, i have to presume, were Italians. He was fortunate to get away unscathed.

There were a record attendance last night of 50,333 people!! BOOYAH! And we were part of that! =) It took us 20 minutes or so to get out of the stadium because of the massive flood of people. We went for supper at A1 before heading home.. but the fun part was the walk to A1. haha! A group of Italian dudes were chanting along Southern Cross station and on Bourke Street:

"We're here to see!
To see the Victory!
Let's make some noise!
We're the Melbourne boys!
Oohhh!!!
OOOOHH!
Ooohhh!!
OOOhhh!!"

haha! No one joined in. Everyone stared at them.. and they were rather disappointed, but they kept it up for the sake of the Melbourne spirit! So we decided to join them. Booyah! We chanted that song all the way into A1! HAHA! Everyone along the streets were staring at both our groups.. The Italian group were on the opposite side of the road, and we took turns to sing the song. haha! Good times =)

Well, i got home way past 12am last night... i woke up this morning, and i thought about this gift that God had given me; of writing songs and poems. I started off writing a whole lot of poems, then i started composing songs.. and i stopped writing poems for a while... and i started writing them again once in a very long while.. And i wondered if i was putting this God-given gift to waste. I have been composing songs, hardly any poems. So i picked up a pen and got my writing book out.. i wondered if God had taken this gift away from me.. I tried to compose a song, but i couldn't! I almost gave up, when i thought about writing a poem... well, the words just came like an epiphany:

The Road

I've been walking this road

For a thousand miles.

Yet I know not where it leads,

Like a lost and lonely child.

-

Oft i stop to pray,

For my God to keep me safe.

Though I know not where i'm going,

I walk this road in Faith.

-

Many times in time's nostalgic past,

The road simply splits in two.

I stumble and fall

Not knowing what to do.

-

A humble prayer brings comfort,

As i look up to the sky.

I know my Dad loves me,

He watches from on high.

-

Should my choice be wrong,

If i slip and fall.

I will walk this road in faith,

In the Lover of my soul.

Tenacious D

I've never seen a movie trailer better than this one.. check it out pple!
Jack Black rocks!
Btw, check out the pictures in my last post.

Game of Love

I just got back from an UNBELIEVEABLE AWESOME time of Futsal at Box Hill. We met up at the train station for lunch at 12pm before heading down to the Aquatic Centre at 1:30pm. I felt rather weird when i left my house because i wouldn't be seeing my mum and sis for 9 days or so.. sigh.. they were on a 5pm flight to Singapore. I miss the times when my sis would come over to my room just to have a chat, or to play the guitar with me.. I never feel bored because she's always next door.

Before she left, my mum taught me how to use the washing machine, and she gave me a whole list of CHORES to do!!! LOL! It included, WEEDING the garden, washing the toilets, washing the clothes, ironing, sweeping and vacumuming the floor, etc. -.-""" The list goes on. Sigh.. it looks like i've gotta limit myself from going out too much. And there's no one at home to take care of my grandmum when i'm out.. so i guess i'll stay home a lil more, hopefully i'll get some Year 12 work done =)

Anyway, the people who rocked up were lil Joe, Banh, Darryn, Jimmy, Jack, Jamie, Stevie.T, Pete, Nick, Daniel, Nick, Qynn, Gab, Jono, Jase, Phan, Jin, Harish, Sam and Luke. 22 people in all! LOL! That's crazy.. poor organisation on my part x.X" Anyway, we formed 3 teams and we played with a "first goal wins" + "Winner stays loser leaves" system. I played for the Fungus team of course! We started off with a bang! Getting 3 straight wins with slick one-two passes, quick and intelligent movement on AND off the ball, and clinical finishing. But our form was short-lived as we crashed to SIX consecutive defeats!!! Anyway, we got our formation back.. any we lauched an AMAZING comeback that saw us win SIX games in the row! Booyah! We were on the court from 3:10pm till 4:53pm.. haha!

The games were all terrific. Thanks for the good sportmansship shown, and for the high level of skills and passing displayed guys! Remember, we're going the to beach next Thurs!

Well, we managed to play till 4.40pm, before being kicked off the courts. The dudes took the train back to the city, while Harish and i shopped around for a bit before taking a train up to Nunawading. I took TWO AND A HALF HOURS to get home! LOL! Firstly, we took a wrong train which skipped Nunawading and we had to take the next train back.. then the bus at Nunawading was CANCELED, so we waited for 50 mins of so for the next one.. then i got off just opposite crossway and walked for 20mins to my house. -.-"""" That was a TIRESOME walk.. Sigh... it was good though, i had a good chat with Harish along the way.. haha!

Aunt Angie took Jerusha and i for a Birthday trip: Gold Class tickets!! Whoa man! The waiter treated us like Kings and Queens! We went to Victoria Gardens to watch The Guardian. Aww, that's a REALLY sentimental and touching film. It's full of action, suspense and sentiment. 4 and a half stars outta 5 is my rating! Anyway, we order yummy wedges, dim sims and spring rolls with tasted HEAVENLY! Oh yea, just wanna thank Aunt Angie for that! =) I really enjoyed myself.

I passed by Sarah's blog this morning and i came across a paragraph that read:

GAME OF LOVE
"What we thought was love and happiness? Is now gone all that's left is to move on. Say goodbye and walk away. Take your wounded pride put it aside. The game of love you have lost. Your broken heart is the cost. Count your blessings and pray. maybe You will win at the game of love one day. Just learn when to walk away. Your strong enough to say good bye. Don't hold back it's okay to cry love hurts sometimes "

I don't wanna be hypocritical... It may be hard to do, but i still strongly believe in it. Well, Love is not a game, like many deem it to be. It should be real and lasting, not on the outside but from the inside out. It should bring happiness AS WELL AS sadness, just to fulfill its role of making you a stronger person. AND therefore, we shouldn't just "count our blessings and pray, and then learn when to walk away." Most people are "strong enough to say 'Goodbye'" and take the hurt, but it takes an extra effort, a whole lot of humility to be stronger than that; strong enough to face and take the hurt, learn and grow from it.. which will enable you to form a newer, a stronger bond of love with someone else...

I took some of these photos on my LONG walk home.. took time to enjoy the beauty scenery. There are also some pictures from the Fungus Ball and the fully-decorated Christmas house! Oh, in the last picture, Venetia saw this irresistably hot dude that mesmerised her.. she couldn't take her eyes off him! =P

Would You Like to Dance?

Many people go on about their fairy tale dreams and stories that never come true. But i had a time of my life last night at the Fungus Ball. I attended the one on Friday night, and i helped out with the cameras and the photo booth. It didn't enjoy myself that night, and i thought it would be the same last night... well, it turned out rather differently.

Isaac (Yip), Tim (Chung), Tim (Teow), Andrew, Jerusha, Charmaine, Venetia and Valerie had a light Christmas dinner at Uncle Francis' house before going to the Fungus Ball. The air was cool and fresh when we got there, a total constrast to the first night where the humid and warm air compelled most of the guys to take off their jackets. haha! Well, we took our seats and the show started.

The MC's (Chara and Adora) did a great job entertaining us with a mini-play, their eye-catching outfits, games and some other stuff. The night was just FANTASTIC... it was as though God was the Master of Ceremony behind it all. See, Dazza won the draw for the 8 Gig iPod Nano ON HIS BIRTHDAY! All of us sang him a birthday song while he was on stage. haha! Isn't that a dream-come-true?

Oh, there was a voting system for the King and Queen of the Ball. Three girls and three guys were chosen. I was lucky to get chosen. We were each put on the spot with an awkward question posed by one of the MC's. haha! It was hilarious! My question was: "What feature of a girl attracts you the most?" Everyone started laughing, and i said "Her hair and her eyes" without much thought... but the crowd went "Oooooo..." when Adora replied, "Oh! I thought you would say her personality." -.-"""

Anyway, Audrey was crowned the Queen of the Ball and Chris Tan was the King. I wasn't too disappointed really, but everyone started bagging me! lol! Chris used me as an example in his AWESOME "swan song" message to illustrate a point, saying that i would cry myself to sleep due to my disappointment at not winning. loL!

The night was great, but the next 10 minutes or so made it a night that i will never forget. At the final stages of the night, the King and Queen were called up and they had the task of starting the dances off. haha! They were sporting and daring enough to do so... then Chris and May-Yen joined the dance floor.. I've never asked a girl for a dance before, partially because i was afraid of asking, and mostly because i couldn't dance. haha! I knew i was going to get MASSIVELY bagged, but i got up and asked Charmaine to dance with me. haha! She shook her head a few times, but she eventually agreed. lol! It was rather funny cuz almost EVERYONE had their eyes fixed on us... (i don't think they believed that i would dare ask a girl for a dance.) Moreover, neither of us could dance! X.-"

Of course i won't list all the details, but i must say dancing is AWESOME! haha! It started rather oddly because charmaine put her hand around my waist, and i gently took her hand and placed it on my shoulder.. and everyone started sniggering -.-""" That really put her off and she said that she didn't know how to dance.. i said "It doesn't matter.." We danced for about 5 minutes until many others flocked onto the SMALL dance floor and we started knocking into pple. LOL! I think we knocked into Chris and May-Yen, Ruth, Audrey and some other pple. Sigh.. i regret not continuing that dance, but i wanted to get some photos shot before the night closed, so we stopped dancing. Well, thanks for only REJECTING me a few times, Charmaine! =P

Chris didn't want to disturb the neighbours with the music, so the music went off pretty quickly and we were soon told to leave. Sigh.. i didn't get to do all i wanted to. Ruth asked me to dance with her later on, and i promised her i would but i never got to. I told Steph that i wanted to take a photo with all the girls, but i never got to because of the long queue at the photo booth, the camera ran outta battery, and they ran out of photo paper! haha!

I was SOOO happy that night that the negatives didn't bother me... I had a good chat with lots of pple, got a photo taken with the dudes, stacked on Dazza!!!, got into the "O-leh" dance with the dudes and shouted "Liverpool" before that chucked me outta the circle and threatened to bash me, had a chance to see Valerie and Venetia (with her thick layer of foundation that comes off when you rub her forehead) in their beautiful dresses, OH! Pete and i bashed up the Shrek mascot (Wudok). haha! I got to bid a decent darewell to Alv, Aud and Sarah as i won't be seeing them for a rather long time. And, i got to dance my first dance with a girl whose beauty is in her heart of gold that loves that the Lord.

Tonight wasn't a fairy-tale.. but it sure was a night that i will always remember.

Thank you God for this slice of the great things that you have planned for me. Keep me in your path so that i might not go astray, and lead me in your way that shall never boast, but in the name of my Lord.