One of the major complaints my friends and I had when I first became a Christian five years ago, was the fact that church service was no longer relevant.

To be more precise, a Seventh-day Adventist church service was too rigid, too traditional, too - dare I say it - boring. The hymns sung were too old-fashioned, the sermons preached were irrelevant and the fixed service that started with an invocation and ended with a benediction was not effective in attracting a younger audience whatsoever.

In the last five years, there has been a steady change in the way the church connected with its youth. The music became more upbeat, the sermons became more relevant and the creativity that emerged from this revolution blossomed and drew young people back. There was a real energy and it seemed that life was breathed back into something that was left for dead.

The irony of it all however, is that we have swung from one extreme to another and are once again stuck in a rut.

Church service for a younger audience nowadays has taken on a "lollipop" quality - sweet, feel good and with absolutely no substance. We have swapped an invocation, three hymns and a benediction, for a service with seven Hillsongs and a dance.

Is there really a difference?

Don't get me wrong. I love the energy and liveliness present in a praise and worship delivered with drums and electric guitars. I appreciate the fact that preachers tackle topics faced by a postmodern generation. And I certainly like the various creative expressions that should be part and parcel of worshipping God.

Unfortunately, in an attempt to make a stand against a rigid and irrelevant church, we have successfully created another. And sadly enough, we may have made the situation worse.

Praise and worship songs are almost always from the Hillsongs variety. Sermons preached more often than not touch on how much God loves his children, and that we can never stray far enough for Him to give up.

The messages are all true, but the messages are also all extremely emotional.

Oftentimes, I leave a church service feeling really good about myself and my relationship with God. I feel extremely glad that God still loves me despite the sinner that I am. I feel contrite, I feel on top of the world, I feel sorry, I feel forgiven, I feel close to God, I feel...I think you get the idea.

Whatever happened to actually getting to know God and His teachings even more?

Whatever happened to reading from the Bible and coming away with new insight and understanding?

Whatever happened to being fed and gaining some real substance instead of walking away with sugary sweet fluff?

I really appreciate the effort taken by the church to make it more relevant to young people. I completely admire the courage of these people to stand against traditional expectations and provide something more. Most of all, I respect their sacrifical heart.

But I'm also a searcher seeking. Seeking for a church that will feed and nourish me, and remain relevant at the same time.

Well, photos from my weekend at the Gold Coast are up.

Part of them at least.

More next month since I've maxed out the quota for this month.

i'm back!

back from a long weekend filled with glorious warm sunshine.

where i stayed with the sweetest couple, in a house caught between sugercane plantations and a gorgeous lake.

really, I cannot say enough about Letrica's grandparents. Grandma cooks this fabulous desserts that just threatens to fatten me up and Grandpa is really cheeky and fun to be around.

then there's her uncle who took me on two boat rides up and down the Tweed river just behind the house. We would have went water-skiing if it weren't for the fact that I was battling a cold and staying in the water for a prolonged period of time may not be the best thing.

of course, there was all the driving around and simply soaking in the beautiful scenes of mountains, rivers, rainforests and sugercane plantations...

and then going to the beach, walking along the sand, going to the headlands and just looking out into the sea for as far as the eye can see.

I think I got brown. It certainly was really hot.

But now I'm back in Sydney, where autumn has most certainly arrived. Where I have to start work tomorrow....ah..the long Easter weekend was way too short.

Photos will be up soon!

reorganised the photo album so that it's in some semblance of order now.

included some photos from the Staff Away Day.

watch out for more photos next week when I return from my long Easter weekend trip to the Gold Coast!

drove in peak hour traffic for the first time this morning.

went for a Staff Away Day to Bobbin Head National Park with beautiful views of the Hawkesbury River.

played a three-legged race, an egg and spoon race and a tug-of-war.

went on row boat for an hour and had to be towed back by colleagues who were in a motor boat.

absolutely exhausted.

5 consecutive days of early mornings and late nights makes a person go somewhat insane.

Had been waking up at an average of 5.30am for the last few mornings and I think it took its toll on me yesterday morning.

At about 7.15am, I opened my eyes and realised it was already light. At which I gasped, woke up almost immediately and went "Oh crap, I'm late." Late for my driving lesson which usually happens at 7am.

I sat up, silently cursed my alarm for not going off and grabbed my mobile phone.

"Paul (my driving instructor) is going to be so mad at me," I muttered to myself. Yes, I talk to myself, live with it.

Thoughts of him desperately trying to ring me on my mobile which I switched off the night before flashed through my head. I kept imagining how upset he would be and was rehearsing in my head a suitable apology for sleeping in.

My phone finally started up and I started scrolling through my phonebook for his mobile number when it suddenly struck me.

It was the Sabbath. A Saturday. I had no driving lessons that day. I had set my alarm for 8am coz that was when I wanted to wake up to get to church on time.

I wasn't late. I was early.

I am only thankful that I realised what was going on before I actually called Paul.

Now that would have been embarrassing.

imagine my surprise when I received an email with pics telling me that my friends whom I met in England had a baby!

I didn't even know she was pregnant!

the guy whose position and office i replaced is currently in Brazil and recently had a rather scary experience that left everybody in the office wondering if he would live.

amazing what you can put in a chewing gum...

excerpt:

After this we were walking and he bought a packet of chewing gum and offered me one. Having seen him buy the gum I didn't think much of it at the time. But now I am pretty sure that he swapped it for a pre-prepared gum in his pocket before giving it to me.

his conclusion about the whole thing?

I know now that chewing gum with a liquid centre can contain doping agents. I also am glad that they don't have Krispy Kreme donuts here because without a doubt it would be harder to resist a Krispy Kreme laced with 'Good Night Cinderella'.

goodbye summer, hello autumn.

seems like the Aussie summer is well and truly over. Not that we really had one in the first place.

But it's been wet and grey all day today. Feels a little like England actually. Gone are my sleeveless tops and short skirts with bare legs.

My wardrobe is gradually changing to one consisting of scarves, thicker long-sleeved tops and stockings.

Soon, the turtlenecks, thick scarves, boots and winter coats are going to come in.

And I haven't bought a heater yet...hmmm....could be interesting...

i don't know why I didn't see it when I was there previously (maybe I was blinded by student's poverty), but Melbourne has turned out to be a rather good place to get shopping done.

Our meeting finished just before lunch this morning which meant that I had about 4 hours spare before my flight back. Obviously, shopping was the only alternative available.

I know everybody says so, but it is only after my fifth visit to Melbourne that I realise what a great shopping haven Melbourne is! Streets and streets of shops with great brands. Not to mention the unavoidable sales which would have been more but unfortunately, this isn't peak season.

Mental note to self: return to Melbourne during the Christmas sales.

No wonder people go to Melbourne for the weekend simply to shop...

i was only joking when i came up with the URL for the upcoming cycle tour.

never did I realise that they would talk me seriously.

Seems like the official website for the tour will now be [deleted due to Google issues].

don't bother surfing there now. It's not launched yet (and don't you dare steal the URL!).

Visions of clowns keep popping into my head whenever i think of the URL, it cracks me up. Especially when along with the images, I hear the circus theme song, which I will not bother describing.

On another note, I have to leave for the airport at 5.30am tomorrow to fly to Melbourne. Gah! Early mornings and me don't really go well together. Am especially not looking forward to returning to Sydney at almost 11pm tomorrow evening and having to wake up at 6.30am on Wednesday for driving lessons....

Three crazy early mornings in a row (I had to leave Avondale at 7am this morning to get to work on time), I think I should get an early night tonight...

spent my weekend at Avondale and it was really nice to be back. Especially nice to be back during the weekend and know that i didn't have an assignment due next week or something.

It's a funny feeling, to be back where you had all these memories, and then realise that those are now things of the past. And to know that whatever experience and memory you had will be experienced by the people who are now surrounding you.

It'll be different, and yet the same.

It's weird to find that after spending 2 years away, there are people you knew who are still around. And who, well, are still the same and doing the same thing.

It's even weirder to be introduced to people and have them go, "Oh! So you're Melody. The Melody!"

I can only hope that whatever they've heard about me had been good things...

going to Avondale for the weekend!

wonder how old I will feel by the time I come back.

giggly, bouncy, wide-eyed 19 year olds....*shudder*

goodbye all you stupid trojans and annoying pop-up boxes!

goodbye internet explorer!

hello mozilla!

yup! I finally got the mozilla web browser installed on my office computer.

I'm a happy camper!

Six riders will cycle across Australia in an endeavour to raise awareness about “at risk” behaviour among young people in small rural communities on April 5.

“Studies have shown that rural adolescents have some of the highest at risk statistics,” says Jonathan Duffy, Director of Adventist Health, a department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific. “They are up to four times more likely to commit suicide and females living in a rural community are up to 11 times more likely to experience physical abuse. They are also more likely to use illicit substances.”

The Circle of Courage Bike Ride is organised by Adventist Health. The riders and their support team will start their journey from the Murray Street Mall in Perth on April 5 at 8 a.m. and finish off at the Sydney Opera House on May 5.

“I am very concerned about the increase of risk behaviour in young people,” says Mr. Duffy. “I want to challenge the adults in rural communities to take the leading role in developing positive community relationships. This will build resilience and self-esteem amongst the young people.”

Mr. Duffy and his team will be covering an average of 165km a day during the ride. They will be speaking at local community venues organised through community groups such as the Lions Club every evening. The riders will introduce to parents and other interested adults the Circle of Courage principles for building resilience in young people.

The Circle of Courage is a philosophy that invites people to see themselves as belonging to a community and take the step forward as independent people, able to make wise choices about how to live life.

Very soon, I'm going to become the expert in unknown towns of the southern end of Australia.

Being in charge of the media relations of this project means I have to track down all the newspapers and radio stations operating in all the towns they visit.

Which means having to actually know where places like Bookabie and Wagga Wagga are.

Have been studying the map of Australia for two days now and cross-referencing it with the list of newspapers and radio stations we have, and trying to find out which newspapers cover which areas.

On top of trying to write media releases, coordinate with town representatives and come up with press kits.

By the end of it all, I'm probably going to know more of Australia than some Aussies do.

And yes, I'm going on the cycle tour with the team, although it hasn't been decided if I'm going to be staying for the whole thing.

And no, I'm not cycling. If I did, there will be no media relations whatsoever happening during the entire trip. The only relations there's going to be will be my relations with the bed in a motel.

15 Words That Should Exist

1. ACCORDIONATED (ah kor' de on ay tid) adj. Being able to drive and refold a road map at the same time.

2. AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks' trus) adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub tap on and off with your toes.

3. CARPERPETUATION (kar' pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

4. DIMP (dimp) n. A person who insults you in a cheap department store by asking, "Do you work here?"

5. ECNALUBMA (ek na lub' ma) n. A rescue vehicle which can only be seen in the rearview mirror.

6. EIFFELITES (eye' ful eyetz) n. Gangly people sitting in front of you at the cinema who, no matter what direction you lean in, follow suit.

7. ELBONICS (el bon' iks) n. The actions of two people manoeuvering for one armrest in a cinema.

8. ELECELLERATION (el a cel er ay' shun) n. The mistaken notion that the more you press the lift button, the faster it will arrive.

9. FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until he finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug.

10. LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man gyu lay' shun) n. Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort to the 'illegal' side.

11. NEONPHANCY (ne on' fan see) n. A fluorescent light bulb struggling to come to life.

12. PETROPHOBIC (pet ro fob' ik) adj. One who is embarrassed to undress in front of a household pet.

13. PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh) n. The affliction of dialling a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

14. PUPKUS (pup' kus) n. The moist residue left on a window after a dog presses its nose to it.

15. TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun) n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're only six inches away.

Horseriding pics!

Interesting website alert!

Excerpt:

Church Marketing Sucks isn't simply about putting butts in pews or selling glossy postcards. It's about helping the church be the Church, and seeing lives changed as a result. If helping the church communicate better allows one person to finally glimpse the Gospel, then our work has been worthwhile. It may be fuzzy math, but God can worry about that.

I went horseriding yesterday evening!

It was such a fantastic experience to finally be able to ride a horse, especially with being so in love with the medieval period and fantasy stories and all. I've always read about horseriding and the amazing things the riders could do, and now I finally know how they feel!

Well, the part where they walk the horse that is.

And Ange had to give me a knee-up to get on the horse. I was lying face-down on the horse for a while after that, feeling absolutely disorientated with being so high up, as well as being clueless as to how to straighten myself.

When I finally managed to sit upright, and Ange started leading the horse, I seriously thought I was going to fall off. It was a completely strange rhythm and everytime the horse moved a leg, I slid further and further sideways.

Then Ange told me I had to straighten my legs more and should kind of only half-sit. That cleared everything up and once I got used to the rhythm, it was the most amazing thing ever.

Until the horse went up a hill. Then down a hill.

And then Ange thought it would be fun for me to feel how it would be like to trot. Seriously, bouncing up and down a horse was well, rather strange.

I had a brilliant experience though and absolutely loved it.

In fact, despite my initial hesitations, I have grown to love Warburton. Well, as much as one can love something after 4 days.

Nathan and Ange have been absolutely wonderful and were great company and hosts.

Taking me to watch Hotel Rwanda on Tuesday evening was amazing. Especially with being able to finally meet up with Kel, whom I've kept in touch with through emails for a year or so but never met face to face till then.

Then of course, there's the Three Sugars cafe (thanks Kel for the recommendation!) which is an absolutely delightful place to have a meal, read a magazine, listen to nice music and have a great lunch break.

And the 5 minutes walk to and from work, past beautiful views of the Yarra River and the mountain ranges...

I'll miss Warburton and my time spent here, but I certainly would not miss the millipedes.

“After they see this, people are gonna say ‘My God that’s terrible,’ and then go on eating their dinners.”

Chilling words uttered by a news cameraman to Paul Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda, on the footage he had shot of the genocide. Footage that Paul hoped would spur the world into doing something against the atrocities that were just beginning.

In three months, one million people would be brutally murdered in an event fuelled by ethnic hatred. True enough, the world turned a blind eye to the genocide that claimed Rwandan lives at nearly three times the rate it claimed Jewish lives during the Holocaust.

Hotel Rwanda is not just a brilliant action movie or one that celebrates Paul’s bravery that resulted in saving 1,268 lives. It is not just a true story that gives Paul the recognition he deserved.

It is a movie that makes you realise just how many innocent people gets killed, because the rest of the world does nothing.

The events surrounding Hotel Rwanda is not fiction. The streets of Kigali did run red with blood. Paul Rusesabagina did shelter people in the Hotel des Mille Collines for 11 weeks in the midst of it all. And at a time when Rwanda needed help the most, there was indeed no international intervention, expeditionary force or international aid.

Rwanda was swept under the carpet, the genocide written off as “tribal warfare” and deemed unworthy of attention. And in the movie, we step into the shoes of these victims, terrified and utterly deserted by the rest of the world. We feel their desperation and despair as they realise people will not do something just because an atrocity like the one they are experiencing makes the news.

As BBC journalist Steve Bradshaw says about us, “It is hard not to be carried away with the appalling cultural totalitarianism that is the precondition of genocide. We’re not trained to say ‘No’ when the state, our teachers, priests, police, neighbours and friends all say ‘Yes!’”

But Hotel Rwanda challenges that. Hotel Rwanda challenges you to stand up against such atrocities. Hotel Rwanda challenges you not to simply dismiss something as “terrible” and then go on eating your dinner.

“Ten years on, politicians from around the world have made the pilgrimage to Rwanda to ask for forgiveness from the survivors, and the same politicians promised ‘never again,'" says director Terry George. “But it's happening yet again in Sudan [and] the Congo…places where life is [viewed to be] worth less than dirt. Places where men and women like Paul and his wife Tatsiana shame us all by their decency and bravery."

Hotel Rwanda is worth a watch for the brilliant script that portrays the Rwandan genocide the world tried to ignore, but watching Hotel Rwanda will leave you wanting to do more, even when the rest of the world doesn’t.

in case anybody was wondering, I ended up battling with 5 millepedes yesterday.

There were two hiding by the sides of the shower stall, one crawling towards my bed (again!) and this morning, I found one on my shower wall and another next to the toilet.

I think it's called Revenge of the Millepedes...

I think I've got to have had the weirdest experience of the year.

Bored from editing articles and facing the computer for hours, I decided to look out the window for a break.

Instead of the usual mountain view, I see a sheep trotting down the main pathway into the building. It looked perfectly prepared to saunter into the building and buy a book from the bookshop in the foyer or something.

Wonder if a giraffe would visit tomorrow.

Adventures in the Warburton Motel

Walking back to my seat after a drink, I noticed a thin black something wriggling towards my bed.

Upon closer inspection, my worst fears were confirmed - it was a millepede.

I seriously fought the urge to scream.

Honestly, I hate any form of creepy crawlies. Tie me to a bungy cord and throw me off a bridge. Give me a parachute and tell me to jump out of an airplane. Get me to touch a snake even. But there is no way you can get me near a worm, a cockroach or a spider.

Yet, neither do I want the horrible thing in my room. Images of it crawling up my body and across my face while I sleep was flashing through my head.

I ran around the tiny motel room looking for help. I wasn't sure what I was expecting to find, but I was running.

I picked up the newspaper and considered killing the creature with it. Then it struck me that I would have to then get rid of the carcass. And yes, even touching a dead worm sends shivers up my spine. The newspapers were thrown back onto the couch.

Get it out of the room, get it out of the room, get it out of the room...that was the mantra for the next few seconds as I watched it inched closer and closer to my bed.

Finally, I decided to brave the horror. I tore a couple of tissues away from its box and squatted in front of the worm, all the while wishing I was someplace else.

Next came the most traumatising task of getting the stupid thing to crawl up the tissue. I started cursing the fact that the piece of tissue was firstly too small, secondly too soft.

Seriously, getting the thing to actually crawl up the tissue was a nightmare. I tried to slide the tissue under the worm and succeeded only in turning it upside down. I bit down on my lips as it flipped this way and that.

After several tries, and believe me it was horrible, it finally got on the tissue.

That was when pure panic struck.

"Oh God, help me," I cried as I held on to this tiny piece of tissue with the worm crawling on it. I folded the tissue in half, hoping that it would lessen my fear.

My eyes caught sight of the back door. I rushed towards it, all the while keeping an eye on the worm, ensuring that it was more or less staying in the middle of the tissue.

I opened the door and unfolded the tissue. I started wondering how I was going to transfer the worm onto the ground outside.

Then I simply gave up and threw the tissue, worm and all, on the ground and slammed the door shut.

Somewhere in the backyard of the Warburton Motel, there is a piece of tissue with a worm on it.

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.

yay! Day off tomorrow!

Sydney here I come!

And in case anybody's wondering, I'll be up at Avondale over the weekend, so don't count on any updates!

Fat Chance!

Bridget Jones battles with it. We all hate Ally Mcbeal, because she doesn’t seem to possess it. In fact, practically every female on the face of the earth seem to have some kind of problem with it.

We may disagree on whether durians smell good. We may debate furiously on whether Sylvester Sim is more irritating than cute, but one thing unites the female of the species – weight. Or rather, the need to have less of it.

Let’s face it, unless we happen to fall into the category of girls who do not possess any body fat whatsoever except a high metabolism, we all wish we could lose some weight.

It’s unfair how often the media reminds me that I need to be slim and therefore “beautiful”. I cannot watch CSI in peace without being given the option of going to “Marie Claire Bodyline” or some other slimming centre. At least 5 times. Even if I had no complex about my weight, watching television would give me one!

Why can’t I eat my Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream without having a guilt trip?

Why can’t I buy a size “L” top without going into a panic attack?

Why can’t I go through a day without thinking that I should perhaps go on a diet?

I wonder sometimes how much of my desire to go on a diet stems from the fact that I’ve been virtually forced to do so.

“What, you’re not on a diet? That is amazing.” Friends would look at me in awe and comment, as if I had just told them I play tennis frequently with the Queen.

I walk into a pharmacy to get vitamins and wonder if I have stepped into a supermarket instead. Shelves of diet meals of sorts, as well as numerous slimming ads hit me before I even realise what’s going on.

Every actress worth anything have either written a book on how to eat right and stay slim, or is endorsing a slimming centre that will provide guaranteed results – “just look at me!”

Worse still the numerous new fad diets that spring out of nowhere once every few weeks. Dieting has become the new fashion craze. If you’re not on a diet of sorts, be it a grapefruit diet, a soup diet or the world-renowned Atkins diet, it would seem that you’re some kind of freak.

Personally, I’m thankful I can never go on an Atkins diet. Animal rights somehow seem to overrule my uncontrollable urge to lose weight. The heavy meat and fat eating can go out the window, thank you very much. I’m sticking to my animal-free food. Besides, I don’t really want to walk around permanently constipated with all that protein and no fibre!

Seriously, whatever happened to having a healthy balanced meal? No, let me rephrase that. Whatever happened to having a healthy balanced life?

We are all so used to quick results that we would do anything to lose weight in 2 weeks. But in the process, we deprive our bodies of much needed nutrients, kicking it into malnutrition or starvation mode with all sorts of strange diets. Sure, we lose the weight, but what else do we lose as well?

Sanity.

Happiness.

A life without having to worry that eating a pea would throw our grapefruit diet out of sync.

Besides, if these diets really did work, why is there a need to come up with a new one every so often?

Maybe it’s time to start embracing the fact that our bodies are all different, and possessing a body like a pre-pubescent boy is not the only way to look beautiful.

Maybe it’s time to acknowledge that if we wanted real results, we have to work hard to achieve it. Not simply consume tea leaves three times a day or something ridiculous like that.

Call me old-fashioned, but I’m sticking to the tried and true routine of exercise and sensible eating.

Adventists in South-East Asia in Need of Help
Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia

Adventists in the tsunami-hit regions of Southern Asia and Southern Asia Pacific are now receiving direct aid from the Seventh-day Adventist Church to help rebuild their lives.

“Even though the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is already working extremely hard in the devastated areas, it is not in a position to direct assistance specifically to Adventists who are suffering from the tragedy,” said Pastor Laurie Evans, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific. “The destruction and trauma that this tidal wave has caused is just unbelievable. Our fellow church members in the area need all the help we can give them.”

Initial estimates have indicated that Adventists in the fishing villages in India and Sri Lanka have lost their homes and their only means of income as a result of the disaster. Hundreds of families have no means of replacing the boats and fishing nets that have been destroyed or washed out to sea, as well as the livestock that have drowned. The figures on the loss of life and damages are still pouring in from a disaster of such magnitude.

Some Adventist churches in India are feeding members who have lost everything three meals a day. More immediate aid is also needed to assist people in rebuilding their lives. Requests from the tsunami-affected area indicate that at least US$700,000 is needed in the Southern Asia region alone, to help in the purchase or repair of fishing nets and boats, to replace livestock and to rebuild thatched cottages in various villages.

Every worker of the Adventist church in India, including pastors, hospital workers, school workers and retirees have been asked to contribute a minimum of one day’s wages to the relief efforts and rehabilitation of the tsunami victims.

The Adventist Church in the South Pacific has also donated $75,000 to the Adventist churches in the Southern Asia and Southern Asia Pacific regions to help meet some immediate needs.

“The effect on these areas have been disastrous and their needs are pressing,” said Rodney Brady, Chief Financial Official of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific. “If anybody would like to help, they can send donations to the South Pacific Division or via their local church. Donations need to be clearly marked “Adventists and Tsunami” so that it does not get confused with donations made to ADRA. These donations are not tax deductible.”

Facts and Figures
Southern Asia Region
Churches: 2,160
Members: 849,409

Southern Asia Pacific Region
Churches: 5,959
Members: 1,120,163

Adventists Affected
Sri Lanka:

• 5 church members died
• 100 families with damaged homes and fishing boats

India:

• 9 church members died
• 70 families with homes destroyed
• 200 families with fishing boats and nets lost or destroyed
• 50 families with drowned livestock
• 60 churches along the coast destroyed or badly damaged
• There is an urgent need to provide basic food and supplies to members.

Donations
Send donations marked “Adventists and Tsunami” to:

The Treasurer
South Pacific Division
Locked Bag 2014,
Wahroonga, NSW 2076

Cash, cheque and credit card donations are also accepted at local churches, conferences, unions or division offices, where facilities are available.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific has launched stage one of its new website. Targeted towards the general community, adventist.org.au introduces them to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.

“Our aim has been to create a website that has the potential to change misconceptions about Seventh-day Adventists. As such, the website provides an overview of our beliefs and services using language free of jargon and a contemporary design,” says Jeanelle Isaacs, the church’s electronic media assistant.

The site has been redesigned to focus largely on the services that the church provides for the community. The new website has an easy to use interface, a new navigational system and a contemporary design.

“We hope to provide church members with an accessible resource so that they can share who they are, and what the church does, with their non-Adventist friends,” says Bruna Tawake, Communication and Public Relations director of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the South Pacific.

The launch has been actively promoted to various community groups such as health professionals, other Christians and educational institutions.

“The feedback we received when we first launched the website helped us shape the website to what it is now,” says Ms Tawake. “This is a work in progress. Visit adventist.org.au and let us know what you think.”

Stages two and three that will provide specific information for church members and church employees respectively, will be launched later in the year.

New blogger alert!

Great writer, great thinker, great person. And I like her because she used to publish my work.

Welcome to the blogging world Kel!

Letricia is a darling.

She moved out of the dorm today to a house a few minutes away. Her new place has a fridge and a microwave. She has a bar fridge and a microwave in her dorm room.

Guess who got her extra fridge and microwave?

No more having to worry about food getting stolen or going bad! No more having to eat only canned food! No more having to wake up early to go to work so that I can have breakfast first!

Have I mentioned how much God has blessed me?

What have I done to deserve this? Hmmm...nothing. Then again, I did nothing to deserve Christ dying on the cross for me too.

Ah, the beauty of God. He loves and gives simply because He is.

oh why oh why is it so confusing trying to get a health cover? Geesh.

My health cover is giving me a headache. I thought it was supposed to help me prevent one. Or at least reimburse me for having one. It's not doing anything except drive me up the wall. Not that I have a health cover yet because it is TOO CONFUSING FOR ME!

Please pray that I don't get into any major accidents before I get one.

Thank goodness for friends who are more familiar with such things. I think I now have a better idea as to which cover to take, and which company to take it with.

I've always thought after 4 years away from home, living by myself this time round is not going to be much different. How wrong I am.

I'm no longer a student, or a volunteer. I'm actually here working. Independent as independent can be.

I need to fend for myself. I am responsible for everything that happens to me. Granted HR at work is somewhat responsible for me while at work (and they have done a wonderful job caring for me), but I am basically left on my own.

No more mummy to sort out my finances, insurance, investments, bills, food, etc. etc.

This is turning out to be harder than I thought.

All I can say is, thank God for people who care for me and try to look after me. I am incredibly blessed to be surrounded by them.

all sorted out. Almost.

I finally opened a bank account. Show me the money!

My new mobile number came today. (email me if you want it. Of course I won't publicise it here.)

Have put my name on the waiting list for a house in July.

Got my first article written today.

Now to decide on a health cover plan and get my driver's license.

my boss actually chased me home today. How great is that? Certainly a huge change from when I needed to sneak back home even though it is official time to knock off work.

Am honestly really enjoying work. Granted, it's only the second day, but everything is simply lovely.

My boss and colleagues came dancing, yes dancing, into my office today carrying a huge bouquet of orange gerberas and lilies. People stop to say hi and chat with me. I get smiles everywhere I go. There is always laughter in my department.

I am doing what I love. Organising events. Writing news articles. Doing interviews. Putting together documents that will soothe the anal-retentive side of me. My brain actually gets challenged. I am in a lovely comfortable environment.

All I can say is I thank God for giving me this job.

finally. I got food. In fact, I bought almost $100 worth of food. My wallet bleeds.

Thankfully I was given a ride by Letricia, my colleague. Goodness knows how I would be able to transport everything back otherwise.

The next challenge would be to actually cook it. Is anyone surprised that I copped out and bought stuff like bread, pasta, fruit and lots and lots of canned food? The cooking can start tomorrow. Right now, I'm postponing cooking and simply having grapes and a banana.

At least there are decent kitchens at work where I can cook and store food without being worried they get stolen.

Ah. First day at work.

Hardly got anything productive done actually. Was shown around the building and managed to successfully get lost and forget everybody's names almost immediately after. Thankfully I'm working with people I knew from before, so it saves me some embarrassment.

Thereupon which I had to sit in on a tele-meeting between the Communication Department, ADRA and Signs Publishing over in Melbourne, brainstorming on how to better publicise ADRA's tsunami-relief efforts.

Am extremely impressed as to how efficient everything is here. My nameplate has gone up. My computer system/email has all been set up. My phone/voicemail system has been more than ready. Besides the fact that I have to open a bank account, and that is my own fault, I believe I have successfully integrated into the whole South Pacific Division system!

Although it is rather strange to have an entire office all to myself. Stranger still that there is a departmental assistant (Letricia) who sometimes acts as my secretary. I am totally unused to not doing things myself.

But the best thing about everything? I get off work at 5.15pm. And with living a mere 10mins walk away, I suddenly have a lot more time to myself than I ever did when I was working for Citibank!

so I went to her family gathering, on account of being her brother's girlfriend's best friend.

At the gathering, I find out that Sharona's uncle is a Marketing lecturer at Avondale whom I have interviewed for a radio show before. And he is married to the sister of Ronald Townend, President of the Southeast Asia Union Mission in Singapore.

When you enter the Adventist world, you realise that everybody is interconnected.

It is amazing what wonderful people they are though. For the last few days, I have not once felt treated like an outsider while with the Thieles. Not even at the family gathering. And boy did I enjoy myself there.

The double-storyed house was gorgeous, built on the top of a hill with a backyard landscaped such that you felt like you were walking down a nice little garden path down the hill to a lovely sized swimming pool.

There was a cool breeze and beautiful sunshine while we enjoyed the abundant and delicious food - haystacks with fresh salad generously covered with avocado, a great variety of cheese, olives, pineapples and an excellent vegetarian sauce. Not to mention the wonderful fresh fruit salad mixed with a delicious custard tart and vanilla icecream.

I have been extremely blessed since I arrived, no thanks to Kristin (best friend), Chris (best friend's boyfriend), Sharona (best friend's boyfriend's sister), Gillian (their mother) and David (their father - whom Kristin introduced to me as Satan).

Where I could have been moping all homesick alone in my room, they have befriended me, taken me out, fed me and simply made me feel welcomed.

Now to face first day of work tomorrow.

I need to get used to the idea that I am living ALONE.

so I went shopping on Friday.

so I bought bedding and other stuff in order to actually make my room more like a...room.

Besides finding to my joy of joys that they sell all sorts of different Garnier products like they do in England (yes Faith, shampoo, body moisteriser, face products...the entire range) and then also realising they had a 30% discount at K-Mart for all bedding (which meant great savings on my bedsheets, pillow and quilt), I also managed to get other various stuff like hangers, a laundary basket, detergent and the works.

I get home, fully happy in the knowledge that I am probably almost settled in. Kristin helps me with my bedding while I hang all my clothes into my wardrobe, thankful that I am more or less moved in and no longer have to live out of a suitcase. I look around my room, rather pleased with myself when I realised...

I FORGOT TO BUY FOOD.

I truly, honest to goodness forgot that I needed to buy food. I have nothing. Zilch. Well, except some dried mushroom stems but they don't exactly constitute a meal do they?

I have gotten too used to eating out. I have gotten too used to having my mother buy all the food and constantly having a well-stocked fridge. Now I don't even have a fridge of my own. All I can do is put my food in the fridge and pray like crazy nobody steals it (sometimes, prayers don't get answered)...

But why should I be worried about food-stealing? I have nothing to be stolen!

Honestly though, I haven't had to worry about food since I arrived. I have been extremely well-fed for the last few days.

Kristin's boyfriend's family happened to be living less than 5 minutes away from me and on account of being her best friend, I have been more or less accepted into the family as well. They have fed me good and true and I am even going to some extended family gathering tomorrow where I'm sure more food awaits.

Sabbath was also worry-free since Waitara church which Mae (a fellow Avondale graduate who now works at the hospital and lives 10 minutes down the road) took me to had a decent Asian community that was more than willing to feed me silly.

And since Mae has an unbelievably kind heart, she has also donated a packet of So Good, some muesli bars, a packet of noodle as well as a bowl, plate and cup to me upon hearing my plight.

I am such a pathetic soul.

No wonder my mother worries about me fending for myself.

And in case you're wondering, I will be going groceries shopping on Monday evening.

so I'm here. And it doesn't really feel like I've left Singapore because it is as hot here as it is back home. Except when the sun sets (at 8pm) and then I start getting cold because I'm wearing a sleeveless top and shorts.

My arrival was rather non-dramatic, no setting off alarms at the Charles Kingsford-Smith Airport and whatnot. Although the customs officer did peer curiously at my dried mushroom stems (it's my vegeterian ikan bilis/anchovies!) and furiously hugged my bolster. Not entirely sure what she thought I was smuggling.

Did not take too long to spot Colin, who then drove me straight to my workplace to say hi to the folks. Which turned out to be a huge reunion coz I went to Avondale with practically all of the people at my department.

The biggest surprise turned out to be the fact that I actually have my own (HUGE) office, with chairs for visitors and all. This is going to be fun.....

Next stop: nurses' residence at the Sydney Adventist Hospital right across the road. My home for the next 5 or 6 months till Kristin graduates, whereupon which we'll househunt together.

I am taken to my room where I find this huge cutout stating "Welcome Home Melody!" pasted on my door, and when I walked in, the room was filled with balloons. And then Kristin pops out of nowhere, scaring me out of my wits first before happiness took over.

The next few hours was spent hunting down friends who were in the area, as well as bumping into people I did not know was here. All this done while sleep deprived, confused and more or less running solely on adrenaline.

Bedtime turned out to be 9pm for me last night. So much for my plan to arrive on Thursday, in time for late night shopping. Which meant I went to bed in a sleeping bag on top of a bare mattress. Thank goodness it is summer right now.

The shopping begins in a few minutes...

In about an hour and a half, Mel's Mindcave, previously known as Mel's England Tales 2003, will become Mel's Aussie Adventures.

Am looking forward to meeting up with friends whom I haven't seen for about 2 years.

Am looking forward to getting cheap bohemian clothes.

Am looking forward to fresh figs, cherries, strawberries and other delicious fruit.

Am looking forward to visiting the wonderful markets at The Rocks.

Am looking forward to my new job with the SPD.

Am looking forward to visiting the amazing numbers of secondhand bookshops.

Am looking forward to so many things typically Aussie.

Am not looking forward to saying goodbye.

Reality sinks in. 

2 more days to a life completely changed.

The complexity of my emotions still remain.

Mel Highway Fame City 3 Lake Love 24 Mt. Happiness 52 Childbirth Hospital 164 County Jail 358 Please Drive Carefully

Username:

Where are you on the highway of life?

From Go-Quiz.com

desire is a strange thing.

For the longest of time, I have been wanting to leave Singapore. To live and work in another country.

I prayed about it. I longed for it. I so badly wanted it.

I got it.

And now, I have a strange inertia about the whole thing. I'm trying to find the latest possible date that I can fly out to Sydney.

Suddenly, I find myself extremely reluctant to leave.

I have gotten comfortable here. I have gotten so much closer to my family. I have renewed old friendships. I have gained new ones. I have so many amazing and valuable relationships that I find extremely hard to let go off.

Things will never be the same again. Then again, things never remain the same. Why would this be any different?

I just know I'm going to miss my family and friends back here in Singapore so incredibly much.

Leaving is never an easy thing.

Sigh.

Faith is built on stories like this.

The reason why I write is because of stories like this.

You're a What?

I have never faced as much challenge to my faith and belief in my life as I had over the last two weeks.

I became a Seventh-day Adventist when I was 19 and as such, had the fortune of never having to face Sabbath issues in school like many of my SDA friends in Singapore had. Six months after my baptism, I moved off to Australia to begin my college education at Avondale College. Upon graduation, I went on a one year volunteer stint with Newbold College in England as a Public Relations assistant.

The SDA community surrounded me for probably the whole of my born-again life. I lived the “easy” life where I had Friday afternoons free to prepare for the Sabbath, and nobody questioned me about going to church on a Saturday.

That has all changed since I’ve returned home to Singapore two months ago.

Not wanting the commitment of a full-time permanent job just yet, I decided to take up short-term temporary jobs. Unfortunately, most jobs required working through the weekends and as such, job opportunities were far and few between.

Two weeks ago, I decided to start hunting for a full-time job. Besides sending in applications, I also signed up with a job agency. The phone calls for interviews came pouring in and that was when my true test began.

Practically all the phone calls I received required me to work on Saturdays and going through interviews soon became an ordeal. Interviewers would look at me questioningly when I said, not without regret, that I could not work on a Saturday because I had to go to church.

“I thought church happened on Sundays?”

“Yeah, a lot of denominations do that. But because I’m a Seventh-day Adventist, I go to church on a Saturday.”

“You’re a what?”

And thus would begin a historical lesson on Sabbath and Sunday worship that I’m not sure the interviewer actually wanted to hear. To their credit, they listened to me with patience and understanding. Of course, that also meant that I never got the job.

It became quite exasperating because I would get job offers that I would be happy to take up, but had to immediately decline upon hearing the work hours. However, I managed to do so with a light heart largely because the jobs were never much of a temptation to begin with. I liked the job scope, but it was something I knew I could live without.

So my test got harder.

Recently, I was offered a job with a well-established production house in Singapore. It was everything I wanted in a job and would help me gain much desired experience in film production. The Managing Director of the company himself spent more than an hour talking to me about the company, its past and future projects and the responsibilities I would be taking up. I was filled with so much passion and enthusiasm for the job that I was prepared to take it up immediately.

Just as we started discussing my salary and benefits, the MD mentioned in passing that I would be required to work on Saturdays as well.

My world came crashing down.

“I can’t,” I told him, tears nearly filling my eyes.

After hearing my reasons, the MD actually spent close to two hours trying to convince me otherwise.

“Religion is about a relationship between you and your God. It’s about your heart and your mind. You don’t have to worship God on a special day to be a Christian,” was the MD’s line of argument. “Surely your God would not smite you down if you did not go to church on Saturday. It’s not as if we are worshipping the devil here. You’re working and your God would understand that.

We are living in the real world and when you are, you have to leave religion aside. Having a religion is a good thing, but when it interferes with your life, you need to realise that you have got to live and that your work has to come first.”

When I told him that I knew God would still love me despite me working on a Sabbath, and that I agreed with him that Christianity is about a relationship, he could not fathom what then was stopping me from working.

He shot back with, “But if you take up this job, you never know, you may pick up skills that would be useful for your church in future.”

Our discussion went on forever without any conclusion. He finally told me he thought I was making a stupid decision, that I was throwing away a perfect opportunity and that I was too rigid to my beliefs. But I left with him asking me to reconsider, and that if I changed my mind, he would be happy to take me on and have me start work immediately.

I would have to go through almost twelve hours of pain and agony after that as I had to decline the job three times during that time period. The increasing number of times I had to say no did nothing to numb the pain. On the contrary, the loss I felt for giving up what I felt was my dream job became more real after I said sorry to the MD for the third time. I could not help it, something at the back of my head was saying that I would probably regret my decision in years to come.

Naturally, I started questioning my religion in the days to follow. I started wondering if it was even worth it to be a Christian, and began harbouring the idea of turning my back to God. But it is something I simply could not do.

God has become a part of me and giving God up would be equivalent to choosing not to breathe. I have my ups and downs with God. At times I don’t even feel his presence. But I could never ever knowingly give him up. Especially not when I realise that the only reason why I have gotten to where I am, with the experience I’ve got to put into a resume that enticed employers to call me for an interview, is all thanks to him.

And certainly not when I know that my younger brother’s own faith would be shaken if I chose to break the Sabbath.

This afternoon, I had to decline two more jobs because of Sabbath issues and I still feel the loss. Yet, I trust and know that he is going to provide me with something that would be beyond what I could imagine.

And in the near future, I know I will be writing a sequel to this article, on how I have found my true dream job. A job that would help me honour my God. A job that I would love, embrace and call my own.

An article written sometime in March 2004.

An article which existence I had forgotten about.

9 months on, it has become an article which I have already unwittingly written a sequel to.

Wow.

In order for the South Pacific Division (my would-be employers) to get me a work visa, they would need to apply for a business sponsorship license. The application process would normally take at least 4 weeks.

It took them about 4 days.

In order for me to work for the South Pacific Division (SPD), I would need a work visa. The application process would normally take 4-8 weeks.

I got a call this morning telling me that my application has been sent in. The only problem is that they cannot seem to locate my X-ray which was sent to the visa place last Friday. I provided my SPD contact person, Colin, with the tracking number of the courier package to see if the visa place could better locate my X-ray. He got the tracking number and provided the visa place with it.

Ten minutes later, he receives a phonecall telling him my work visa has been approved.

The entire process took....2 weeks? And I'm being generous at that.

I am left utterly speechless as to how swift everything has gone. What would normally take months has taken me weeks to obtain. Why do I have this strange feeling that God really wants me in Australia?

I can only wonder about the reason why.

In the meantime, I'm going to have to prepare to leave for Sydney on January 13 or 14, 2005. I start work January 17, 2005.

Wow.

Disclaimer: This post sent to me by Gail.

12.19am. From the desk of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Khoo Boon Hui

Dear Mr Tan,

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I am directing Commander Ang Mo Kio to look into the matter and see how they can expedite the matter. As I am unfamiliar with the reasons for the delay, I can only presume that it may still be required as evidence for the court case or is the subject of a disposal enquiry.

Regards,
Khoo Boon Hui

1.24pm. From the desk of the Covering Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Station

Dear Mr Tan,

Let me apologise for the inconvenience caused to you. The delay was due to the fact that your handphone might be used as evidence in court. Nevertheless, we have since made some alternative arrangements so that the handphone could be returned to you earlier.

My Investigation Supervisor, Mr Sabil Juni, will be contacting you shortly to arrange for the collection.

Once again, thank you for your feedback and we look forward to serving you better.

Regards,
Michael Tan
Commander Ang Mo Kio Police (Covering)

Moral of the story?

When you want fast action, go straight to the head honcho.

The Call of a Desperate Phone Owner - my brother

Dear Mr Khoo Boon Hui,

More than a year ago, my mobile phone, a well-beloved Nokia 3315, was stolen by a youth misguided by society.

The reason for my writing is not to express my woes about the youth of today, because the wonderful police force that keeps Singapore safe had actually managed to retrieve my adored tool of communication, along with the misguided youth.

A report (ref no: F/031009/0125) was filed dated 9 October 2003 with Sgt T00148 Lim Swee Hua at the Hougang Neighbourhood Police Centre, which I have attached for your reference. This case was then handed over to the Ang Mo Kio Police Station on the very same day.

Unfortunately, my much missed electronic device is still not in my embrace.

The police officer in charge of the case, Ms Nurul (Tel: 1800 6218 0000), had mentioned that she needed my mobile phone as evidence. As a law-abiding citizen ever willing to cooperate, I bade a temporary adieu to my little bundle of joy. I was promised its safe return within a few weeks.

If my calendar is the same as the rest of Singapore's, it has been almost 15 months since then and I still have not felt the familiar warmth of my phone.

I find it extremely disturbing and am worried my phone may fail to recognise me when it ever returns.

Understanding that our police officers have much to do, I have tried to aid them by calling Ms Nurul on at least 20 separate occasions, so that she did not need to trouble herself to contact me. When I manage to speak with her and question about my phone, she would immediately
brush me off by saying the phone is not ready for collection. It is amazing what a wonderful photographic memory she has, that she does not even need to refer to any documentation as to which case I was referring to.

Also, when I have been unable to speak with her personally, my calls to her would all be unreturned and my desperate pleas ignored, dealing my self-esteem a severe blow.

Now, I sincerely have no idea what has become of my mobile phone and would yearn to have it taken off my "missing persons" list. However, I am not getting much help or response from Ms Nurul or Ang Mo Kio Police Station where my case was reported to.

Mr Khoo, I sincerely plead for your help in this matter as I think I have been placed on the "to be ignored" list of Ang Mo Kio Police Station.

I would really appreciate an explanation of the entire matter, whether my portable communicating device has helped the misguided youth in returning to the flock and if I would ever feel my mobile phone in my hot little hands ever again.

Thank you so much for your time in dealing with this issue.

Looking forward to a much favourable reply soon.

Yours sincerely,
Shannon Tan (Mr)

cc. Quality Services Manager Rajoo V Gopal, Commander 'F' Division Jessica Kwok, Ms Penny Low (MP, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), The Straits Times forum pages and Streats comments pages

do people actually care or listen in this country?

I could have been sprawled on the floor of the train this morning, half-dead and foaming at my mouth and I doubt anybody would have bothered to help me. Surreptiously walk to another corner, more likely.

About 15 minutes into my journey on the train to work this morning, I was suddenly hit by a pang of general unease. My heart start racing (and believe me, it had nothing to do with the flamboyant entrance of a stunning specimen of the male species), my head started spinning, my stomach started aching, I thought I was going to throw up and I was doubled over thinking I was going to die.

For some unexplained reason, I was unable to breathe properly and all I wanted to do was to curl up in a feotal position.

Strangely enough though, despite feeling so uncomfortable, one part of my mind was wondering how long it would take for people to take notice of a person dying. Obviously, far too long. I could jolly well have been a decomposing heap of rotten flesh with flies buzzing around and nobody would have thought twice about calling in the police, or some crime scene investigators.

Honestly, I looked around, and people were either asleep or staring into space in a direction other than at me. Singaporeans give others far too much privacy it seems.

On another note, I just got a phonecall from some fellow looking for my uncle who uses our address and phone number for correspondence (the reason why is too long to explain).

Guy: Hi, I'm calling from NTUC Income, can I speak to Mr Tan Hock Lai?
Me: Actually, he doesn't live with us, can I help you with anything?
Guy: Yes, I'm from NTUC Income, I would like to speak to him.
Me: Ok, but I can't put you in contact with him at the moment because he's not here.
Guy: Oh, do you have his mobile number or office number or something?
Me: I don't, but my mom does and she's not here at the moment. Maybe I can take a message?
Guy: Erm, do you know him?
Me: Yes, he is my uncle. What is this regarding?
Guy: We just wanted to ask him if he received a letter from us regarding combined funds.
Me: I'm sorry, but maybe my mom would know.
Guy: That's why I think it's better to talk to him. Can you give me his mobile number?
Me: Look, I don't have his mobile number. My mom does and she's at work. Do you want to call her?
Guy: Is 62xxxxxx Mr Tan's office number? I can call there.
Me: I don't know!
Guy: Maybe I can call him later tonight when he comes home from work?
Me: I told you, he doesn't live here! He just uses our address for correspondence!
Guy: Ok fine, that's alright. Bye.

What is wrong with these people?!?!

A letter from the Home Office to the People of America

In the light of your failure to elect a suitable President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of Your independence, effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy.

Your new prime minister (The Right Honourable Tony Blair MP; for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded.

A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide.

You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. The letter "U" will be reinstated in words such as "favour" and "neighbour", skipping the letter "U" is nothing more than laziness on your part.

Likewise, you will learn to spell "doughnut" without skipping half the letters.

You will end your love affair with the letter "Z" (pronounced "zed" not "zee") and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise".

You will learn that the suffix "burgh" is pronounced "burra" e.g. Edinburgh.

You are welcome to respell Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you can't cope with correct pronunciation.

Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.

Look up "interspersed". There will be no more 'bleeps' in the Jerry Springer show. If you're not old enough to cope with bad language then you shouldn't have chat shows. When you learn to develop your vocabulary then you won't have to use bad language as often.

2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter "u" and the elimination of "-ize".

3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents. It really isn't that hard.

English accents are not limited to Cockney, upper-class twit or Mancunian (Daphne in Frasier).

You will also have to learn how to understand regional accents - Scottish dramas such as "Taggart" will no longer be broadcast with subtitles.

While we're talking about regions, you must learn that there is no such place as Devonshire in England. The name of the county is "Devon". If you persist in calling it Devonshire, all American States will become "shires" e.g. Texasshire, Floridashire, Louisianashire.

4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the good guys. Hollywood will be required to cast English actors to play English characters. British sit-coms such as "Men Behaving Badly" or "Red Dwarf" will not be re-cast and watered down for a wishy-washy American audience who can't cope with the humour of occasional political incorrectness.

5. You should relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen",but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want you to get
confused and give up half way through.

6. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game.

The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football.

Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body armour like
nancies).

We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens a side by 2005.

You should stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the 'World Series' for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.

Instead of baseball, you will be allowed to play a girls' game called "rounders" which is baseball without fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.

7. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using nuclear weapons if they give you any merde.

The 97.85% of you who were not aware that there is a world outside your borders should count yourselves lucky. The Russians have never been the bad guys. "Merde" is French for "Shit". French is the first language of a country called France which is in Europe. Europe is one of the continents in the world other than your own.

8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive Day".

9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.

All road intersections will be replaced with roundabouts. You will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables.

Roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

10. You will learn to make real chips.

Those things you call French fries are not real chips. Fries aren't even French, they are Belgian though 97.85% of you (including the guy who discovered fries while in Europe) are not aware of a country called Belgium.

Those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called "crisps". Real chips are thick cut and fried in animal fat. The traditional accompaniment to chips is beer which should be served warm and flat.

Waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.

11. As a sign of penance 5 grams of sea salt per cup will be added to all tea made within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this quantity to be doubled for tea made within the city of Boston itself.

12. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all, it is lager.

From November 1st only proper British Bitter will be referred to as "beer", and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as "Lager".

13. From December 1st the UK will harmonise petrol (or "Gasoline" as you will be permitted to keep calling it until April 1st 2005) prices with the former USA. The UK will harmonise its prices to those of the former USA and the Former USA will, in return, adopt UK petrol prices (roughly $6/US gallon - get used to it).

14. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists.

The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

15. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy.

Tax collectors from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776).

Thank you for your cooperation.

And this ought to teach you Americans not to abuse the right to vote.