Thursday 23 June 2011

The show that never was and the 21st that has been

Hello! Wait, is my title grammatically correct? Ah, who cares...

Well, It has been a marathon these past few days: I finished my exams, worked a whole lot and slept not a whole lot. But I've finally found the energy and time to sit down to do this long-overdue post...

I am so glad exams have finished and I'm having my holidays now. I have 'freedom' now to work everyday, yay...hello early morning starts and 3-hour all rounder trips!

Anyway, I came into work today in a fairly good mood--well, better mood than I normally am (solemn and boring)-- and the reason being that I was going to go to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies showing later in the evening! In case you're like a frog under a coconut shell, LND is the sequel to the Phantom of the Opera I was rambling about months ago. The tickets were given to me for my birthday by four lovely ladies who I study Pursuit of Holiness with. So I hyped myself up, fully expecting an amazing night.

So I braved the wind, cold and rain and headed into city after work and waited for my friend, I'll call her RJ. I got a call from her telling me that the show's canceled. Here's a snipet of conversation that followed (paraphrased):

Me: What?? How come? Hey, don't play jokes on me...
RJ: *nervous laughter* I'm not, honest.
Me: What happened??
RJ: I booked the wrong date, I thought it was tonight...
Me: So when did you actually book it?
RJ: ...next Wednesday...
Me: Awwww, you got me all hyped up for nothing *sad face*. Well, you still better come meet up cos I'm starving. Let's have dinner at least.

Ahh, the show that never was...yet. 


Speaking of b-day presents, I had a wonderful day of surprises (good ones and bad ones) on my birthday last Friday.

I start with the bad ones first... the first was that it was a horribly cold and wet day, and because I was rushing to get to my exam, I wore canvas shoes and got my shoe and socks wet! So I had cold wet feet the whole morning...the other was that a question that came up in my exam was the part I wasn't well prepared for, but thank God I managed to spew out words and words of relevant (hopefully) information. I guess I'll find out how relevant when my results come out, hah.

The good ones are really good!

After the exam, I went to sort out my library fees and thankfully, I only had to pay $22 because I returned my two overdue textbooks. If I didn't return them, I woulda had to fork out $220. No thank you.

I then collected my assignments and found out that I got a HD (high distinction) for an assignment that was half-arsed, rushed and handed in late! Whew, don't think I'll be so blessed next time round...

When I got home, Esther 'suggested' that I should go read Jan's blog. So I did and words cannot describe how touched I was to read what she (YOU) wrote. I don't think that I can adequately respond, but know this Jan, you and your family has been such a huge influence in my life back in MTS and even now! Seeing how you are eagerly absorbing God's word and equally eager in serving Him really pushes me to strive harder in my own relationship with God. So THANK YOU for the unspoken and spoken words and acts of discipleship, of love and of friendship. You are an amazing friend and role model, truly.

Another surprise came in the form of a surprise 'party'. It wasn't really a party per se, there wasn't food or drinks or flashing music and streamers--no. It was more of a gathering with a surprise: I got serenaded!! Wow, my first time being serenaded! They sang Michael Buble's Everything, but changed some lyrics to suit the occasion. It was combined with a slideshow showing photos of me from young  till now--embarrassing! I was touched my their effort in finding the song, changing lyrics, practicing it and singing it...



I was then forced to make an impromptu speech...and I surprised myself...and everyone else...by getting emotional and crying like a baby. Oh gosh, I don't think I ever cried in public in like FOREVER!

I told them of how it was hard moving here 5 years ago in 2006. And around that time was also a big milestone in my life: my 16th, which was a farewell party as well, so it was a sad occasion. It was extremely difficult leaving family and friends of whom I shared my childhood/teenage years with. I was worried that I wouldn't fit into the youth or church...but this time round, on my 21st which is another huge milestone in life, it was filled with joy. I thanked them all for their acceptance into the church family, and wished that we'll all continue to grow bigger and closer together.


That was the gist of what my speech was...but oh goodness, it felt like I took forever to get those words out cos I was trying too hard not to cry, and failed horribly so I was struggling to talk and get words outa my mouth. I am really thankful to God for this 'family'. It's small in numbers but BIG in love.


That Friday evening will be etched into my memory forever...

Here's some of the gifts I got:
  • A mug that changes colour and reveals pictures when you add hot water (SO COOL!!!)
  • Tickets to Love Never Dies
  • Loads of chocolate (they have a secret ambition to make me even fatter than I am! Really!)
  • Being serenaded :)
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thes 5:16

:D

Some random card tower Esther made from Monopoly Deal cards...I love the colours