Warburton has turned out to be much more pleasant than expected.

Firstly, the statement that there is only one traffic light in town is wrong. There are none.

Secondly, it's actually much more populated than I thought it would be. It seems to be quite a tourist town where Victorians flock to during the weekend. There were families with young kids all about town, with frequent bikers riding through.

Maybe it has something to do with the gorgeous Yarra River that runs through the town.

Maybe the beautiful mountains that serve as a backdrop had a part to play as well.

What about the lovely walks that one could take along the river, listening to the flow of water and simply connect with one's thoughts and reflections?

It's a real pretty town, Warburton.

A real odd one as well, for despite the rather obvious presence of the Seventh-day Adventist church, the majority of the shops in town were very new age influenced.

Walking through town yesterday, about 7 out of the 10 shops in town were selling stuff like healing crystals, bohemian clothes, handmade soap and various items you would normally connect with a hippy township. The juxtaposition was all rather...interesting.

Not that I'm complaining, I love the hippy shops.

leaving for Melbourne tomorrow morning and will return on Thursday evening.

Going to Signs Publishing in Warburton to get some training on how the church's publishing company works. Also a trip to get to know the folks there, seeing that I'll be working really closely with them.

Alas, will not be able to escape without giving a morning worship.

Will probably also not be able to escape without being bored out of my mind.

As far as I know, Warburton is a little country town with well, nothing much to do.

This may be a time for me to catch up on my reading and writing...

i worked with her on the yearbook during my last year at Avondale in 2002.

When I went to England in 2003, she came by to visit and stayed with me for at least 6 months. She was my faithful companion was we romped all around Europe.

When Cydknee got married in Germany in 2004, we met up again, she travelling all the way from Fiji where she was teaching and me coming from Singapore.

This year, she's back and is the principal of a primary school in Queensland.

And now, she's here in Wahroonga for 4 days for a principal's convention.

And I just realised, I'm late for my appointment with her.

Ah, to be able to meet up with beloved friends from long ago...

Natalie Bell, I missed you!

God certainly provides.

When Letrica told me on Monday she had to take back the fridge she lent me, I was beginning to stress that I may have to buy a new fridge.

Ordinarily, that would not be a problem. Except,

1. I'm living in a dorm. All I can contain in the room is a bar fridge.

2. I'm moving out end June. Economics and logic say buying a bar fridge is not a wise move seeing that I will be needing a full sized fridge when I move out.

So after juggling with the idea for a few days, I see an ad on the dorm noticeboard selling a bar fridge for $200. Still, I was reluctant to make any purchase.

That's when God stepped in.

Turns out that Bruna, my boss, has a spare fridge that is well, just sitting there.

Guess who's inheriting it?

i've been trying to understand the Aussie weather for almost a month now, but I think I'm still struggling.

Actually, maybe there is a pattern:

2 days of sunshine.

3 days of storms.

2 days of unbearable heat.

3 days of cowering every few seconds from lightning.

The only reason why this is so strange is the fact that this is the Aussie summer, and a typical Aussie summer happens like this:

2 days of sunshine.

3 days of unbearable heat.

2 days of getting sunburnt over previous sunburn.

3 days of evacuating from homes due to bush fires.

2 days of water restrictions.

3 days of heat stroke.

I think you get the idea.

Three years ago, I nearly couldn't make it for my own graduation ceremony because the highway and train lines were closed due to a massive bush fire.

But now, it would seem like Australia and Singapore have swapped weather.

This is monsoon season in Singapore. Not that it doesn't rain every other day throughout the entire year anyway.

Two days ago, I got a call from my brother who every excitedly told me, "There's a bush fire right opposite our house!" (yes, he made a long distance phone call to tell me that. And in case I never get a call from my brother ever again for that comment - I love you Shannon, and it was great to talk to you.)

We're now having storms in Australia and bush fires in Singapore.

It feels like I've left Singapore to move into...Singapore.

had a 6.30am start at work today. needless to say, I only crawled out of bed 15 minutes before. the joys of staying a stone's throw away from work.

We hosted a Communicator's Breakfast this morning for all the communicators of the different church entities. Places like the Signs Publishing Company, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Avondale College, ADRA, Adventist Media Centre, etc.

I don't think I've ever eaten as much since I've arrived as I had this morning.

We had spaghetti, scrambled eggs, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, a whole array of fruits, cereals, pastries and bread...naturally, there was heaps left over.

Guess what I had for lunch?

Guess what will I be having for breakfast tomorrow?

Guess what will I be having for lunch tomorrow?

i just paid for a guy I have never met to drive me to a deserted part of town less than two hours ago.

I had no idea where I was going, nor would I have any idea where to run for help if I needed it. Not that it would be of much help, seeing that he's got the car and I've only got my two legs.

My best defence would probably be somehow throwing him out of the car and locking myself in it. I certainly didn't know how to get the car moving.

Thank goodness he was a decent bloke, who only took me there because he was going to teach me how to drive.

I drove a grand total of 3km at a whooping speed of 15km/h. And throughout it all, he had to remind me to breathe.

But at least now I know where the brakes, clutch and accelerator are.

Next lesson Friday, 7am.

first driving lesson in 15 minutes.

pray that i don't crash the instructor's car.

it has begun - the perils of working for the church.

In 2 days, I have made as many commitments to take worship, one at a retirement village, the other at Signs Publishing in Warburton which I will be visiting in the first week of March.

And tomorrow, I'll be taking worship for my departmental meeting.

Have I ever mentioned I have a fear of public speaking?

Which is totally ironic considering I'm a Public Relations Assistant for the church.

At least I can be thankful they're short 10 mins speaking assignments and not a full sermon.

photos of the amazing love and effort put into making my yummy treat.

can a girl feel anymore loved?

Letrica dropped a huge parcel on my desk this morning.

And it was filled with such wonderful goodies from home!

There were lollies, stationery holders and peg-like clippy things but the two things that very nearly brought tears to my eyes came in the form of:

1. a gorgeous white Polo-T

It wasn't the top that touched me. It was what was printed on it - the prayer of Jabez and my name, and with it, a certain indication that I have been accepted into the youth group Jabez that I never even thought I would belong.

2. handmade pineapple tarts

Do I even need to go into details as to why it touched me? They were handmade for crying out loud!

I have been truly blessed with incredible people in my lives. Incredible people who show that they care and love despite the distance. Incredible people who accept me even when they didn't need to.

Faith, Jimmy, Lionel, Christon and Brian...thank you for touching my life.

I passed! I passed! Although honestly, it wasn't that hard.

But anyway, this now means that I'm licensed to take driving lessons! Although being under 25 (I'm actually underaged for something!), I would have to be on my learners for at least 6 months before I can take a driving test. Ah well, not complaining at all. I can learn how to drive!

Road trips, here I come!

taking my learner driver's theory test in an hour and a half.

Hopefully this will be the beginning of a wonderful life of complete independence.

Oh, and this arrived in the post for me this morning.

I have a new love!

Chinese New Year eve.

The evening of reunion dinners.

The evening where family members get together and enjoy time together.

The evening where children look forward to 15 days of red packet collecting.

An evening where I'm all alone in Australia.

I guess it's really not as pathetic as it sounds. I just got invited to a dinner gathering organised by the Asians in the area.

It will be fun to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

The taste buds will also be satisfied with the good food (that will not be supplied by me).

But yet there is still a longing to be home with my loved ones.

To laugh, to talk, to simply be there on such a significant day.

Funny how days like these only become important once you're far away.

New photos up!

It was Kristin's birthday last Friday. Chris and Sharona's parents Jillian and David took all of us to Milsons Point for a brilliant Thai dinner.

What more could we ask for? The weather was perfect, the view was gorgeous, the company fun (and more often than not bordering on insane), the food was delicious...

After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and witnessed a lovely sunset. Saw some lovely views of harbourside apartments, the Sydney Opera House...ahhh...tis good to be back in Australia.

Jillian and David returned to Papua New Guinea where they're missionary workers this morning, revealing that I have now been adopted into their family and will forever be indebted to them.

thanks to Faith and flickr...I can put photos online!

ooh, what an exciting email to receive!

Folks,

Hope things are well in your respective parts of the world. I have sent this to a select group of good people as an invitation to be involved in writing a segment of a Sabbath school lesson for CQ - the young adult lesson.

I'm flattered.