Please pray for the Ling family

Hi,

This is Dawn here (Margaret's daughter). My parents
are still in hospital. It has been very traumatic for
me as I was in the car witnessing everything that
happen, being conscious throughout before the hit, the
hit and after the hit..being overturned upside down
and trying to calm my dad and mum.

Dad was stuck in his seat belt bleeding
profusely..dangling down while mum kept asking where
she is..as she was thrown out of the car.

I had to calm them down and asked them to trust in God
n pray. Dad was bleeding whole face and wanted to get
up as he was dangling...I squeezed back into the car
through a small opening to help support dad's head and
shoulder..

When the doctor told me that his back of the neck has
been dislocated and all, I asked myself if it was my
fault.

I am glad Mum cannot remember what happened during the
accident as I wish I can forget. Now, when i close my
eyes, images of what happened keep coming into my
mind--the happy moments during our golf game. We were
actually heading out of the golf course to have pizza
buffet for lunch..sigh..and the panic moments when we
saw the train coming towards us and getting turned
over..

It all feel like a nightmare..

I know that God is in control and He def has a purpose
for this. I can see God's hand in it esp during the
prayer rally when my mum-in-law and sister-in-law
attended(who are non-Christians) and to see my
aunt(non-Christian) going to my parents place for a
prayer time tog as well.

It has always been my family's prayer that our
relatives and my husband's family be Christians..so, I
do pray that through this, they will know who God is
and His power..

Mum's leg is getting better but still hurts on her
right knee and she is very weak-vomiting and being
immobile, stuck in bed with bed sores.. Her eyes
cannot be opened as the doctor says she has chemical
burns from the burst air bag. Doctor is just applying
eye drops on her eyes. Pray she can open her eyes soon
and can gain sight.

Dad is still in critical condition relying on the
respiratory breathing equipment. His blood pressure
and heart rate is all good. His hands can also move
and have reaction. But up to now, his legs has not
moved. So, he may be paralysed from chest down. Pray
against it and that my dad will be a living miracle.

My dad has been faithful and has been unashamed of the
gospel by sharing with so many people about Christ. I
pray God will heal him so that my dad can share to
more peopl of God's goodness and mercy.

Many doctors n nurses here already say we are 'lucky'
to have survived this.. Feel blessed and I just pray
my parents will feel better and heal completely.

FOr myself, I have bruises on my left side..hand,
knees and arms..and it is swollen. So, the doctor just
gave me some pain killers and anti inflamatory med.
However, I seem to have some allergic reaction to it
and itching...so I have stopped eating. Pray that God
will heal my sores and my head and neck as I seemed to
have been hit on the head as well.

Pray also for my husband, Chee Tiong as he has been
busy taking care of me and my parents..driving me
around to and fro hospitals as my dad and mum stays in
diff hospitals..he seems exhausted.

My bro and pam will be coming soon and I do pray that
we will have strength and wisdom to take care of our
parents..

Do pass this update around and keep on praying esp for
my dad..

Thanks and God bless
Dawn




29 May 2005
Singapore man involved in US car accident regains consciousness

The Singaporean man involved in a car accident in Alabama in the US has woken up from his coma.

But his daughter Dawn, who was in the same car when it was hit by a train, says he is still heavily sedated.

58-year-old Ling Swee Chan was at the wheel when the accident happened early Saturday morning (1am Singapore time).

The impact of the crash broke his vertebrae, and doctors and his family feared he might be paralysed from the neck down.

Mr Ling was able to move his hands after waking up from the coma.

His wife Margaret, who was also in the car, still cannot open her eyes due to the impact of the airbag but a family member says she remains positive.

The couple was on holiday in the US, visiting their daughter Dawn, who escaped the accident unscathed.

Their son Kin Yew, who was recently married, arrived in the US on Sunday and hopes to arrange for his father to be taken back to Singapore when his condition stabilises. - CNA

Music Baton

I've been hit by a music baton!!!

Total Volume of Music files on my computer: 901 MB

The Last CD I bought was: Dido - No Angel

Song playing right now: none

5 songs I listen to alot or that mean alot to me:

The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
老土情歌 by 阿牛
Be Still In the Presence of the Lord by Peter Campbell
Secret Place by Christian City Church
Perfect by Simple Plan

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
Wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;
He sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what lies in darkness,
And light dwells with him.

I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
You have made known to me what we asked of you,
You have made known to us the dream of the king."

Daniel 2:20-23

looking sweeeeeeeet

While taking the NEL train back, I realised fenfen had this really sweet look that I gotta capture these moments with my phone.

"When are you bringing me shopping again?"


"I think I sniff toooo much weeeeed duuuude...I feel like I'm in heaaaaaven "

"My clients are driving me nutz..."


eh, whatz so nice down there? look at me leh


"What are you looking at mister? I can break your neck like toothpicks okay."

Extract from today's Tozer Devotional:

This Scripture encompasses so much instruction and so much meaning that we should stand back and view it from a better perspective. It is necessary sometimes to do that with great paintings. We can stand so close to the canvas that we note only the many little details, seeing them out of proportion and perhaps missing entirely the true beauty and meaning of the painting. I suggest we stand back from these verses and gaze in wondering faith as we contemplate God's grand design.

-A. W. Tozer-

Style

This book caught my eye. I was at lib@orchard and chanced upon this book. On the front cover was Julia Roberts and she looked fabulous. Furthermore I like black and white photos so I decide to check out what's inside.

Inside are photographs of celebrities whose hair were styled by this well-know hair stylist, Serge Normant. Some of these photographs were so beautiful. Wish I could tear them out from the book and laminate them and put them up on my walls. This is the guy who styled Julia's hair.

Hard to get a cab on a rainy morn

As I came out of the bathroom this morning, it started to rain. Shucks, I thought. It's gonna be tough getting a cab. So I rushed to put on my clothes and get out of the house. It's 6.15am and I'm not gonna spend time on the handphone trying to get a cab. The line will be busy and even if you got in, you'll be waiting and waiting for a cab to pick up the job. Sianz. I waited and waited till 6.40am before I got a cab. The irritating part is before that several cabs with hired lights juz drive pass me as I flagge. Whyyyyyy? Some of them forgot to switch to hired light or some are going home to sleep after their shift. The most dui part is the cab driver who asked,"Where are you going? Oh, sorry. Not in the way" and zoom off. Within that short period of time, he might not have realised I could have missed out other available cabs. sheesh. Really hate bumping into those changing shifts cab drivers.

Darth Vader can read my mind.*shudder* I was thinking of toilet paper and he got it. Awesome...

Getting excited

Receive a call from IDC Asia Pacific Ltd regarding the job I applied. It was quite a miracle because I forgot to switch on my handphone the whole day. It was only on my way back home that I decide discover my handphone was not on and decide to clear some of my sms. Shortly after I receive the call from the HR person asking me some questions and telling me what the job entails. So excited to receive the call! Totally a surprise for me after sending so many resumes since 3 weeks ago. When I got home, saw another 2 e-mail replies to the resume I sent a few days back. Seems like God is opening a door for me to get out here! haha.

Before the IDC people interview, I have to complete a test via e-mail within one and a half hour. Not too sure how well I fare for the test but it doesn't matter if I couldn't get the job. Not too much of a loss cos I was hoping to do something more related to accounting.

later on...

me: did anyone said you looked sexy today?

fenfen: no ...

me: fen! you looked sexy! haha. That makes me the first person to comment you today. heehee.

fenfen: *speechless*

Ya. Cheap thrill. I know. But I like it. hah.

If

A few years back, out of a blue and amazingly, I thought of a poem to give to fenfen and sent it to her in a sms. Now I'm trying to recall what I wrote cos it was left in my previous handphone being traded for a Sony Ericsson phone...

If I could have the sunrise,
I'll give it to you.
If I could have the stars,
I want you to have them
If I could have the rainbow,
I'll give it to you.
If I have your heart,
I want to keep it
As long as I can.

Goodbye Pastor Matthew

Today is Pastor Matthew's last sunday with us. He's the fourth pastor to leave our church and his term was the shortest. Among the pastors, he left an impression as a good friend, candid, love to fellowship with the youths, humorous and a good pastor. His wife also left a good impression upon me and fenfen as she shared her testimony during service and chatting with us during refreshment. His presence in our church, gave me alot of encouragement as I finally could receive feeding from God's words through his preaching. Perhaps God intends something else for him hence he has to leave us. As short his stay was with us, he and his family has truly been a blessing to me and fenfen. On the other hand, there were some people in our church do not like his preaching. Why is it so I don't know.

However, I would want to wish he and his family all the best in the path God is going to lead him and may the Yeap family be a blessing in bringing God's words forth to his people. Goodbye Pastor Matthew and God bless you.

Construct sentences using numbers

Ah Lek was asked to make a sentence using 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10. Not only did he do it 1 to 10, he did it again from 10 back to 1. This is what he came up with...

1 day I go 2 climb up a 3 outside a house to peep. But the couple saw me, so I panic and 4 down. The man rush out and wanted to 5 with me. I run until I fall 6 and throw up. So I go into 7 eleven and grab some 8 to throw at him. Then I took a 9 and try to stab him. 10 God he run away.

So, I put the 9 back and pay for the 8 and left 7 eleven. Next day, I call my boss and say I am 6. He said 5, tomorrow also no need to come back 4 work. He also asks me to climb a 3 and jump down. I don't understand, I so nice 2 him but I don't know what he 1.

Office Characters

For this post, I shall describe some of the unqiue people in my office. This is something for me to remember by if I even leave this company one day ...




the dirty old man (dom)
He's the lao ti go, the dirty old pervert in our group. The way he teaches the new guy or girl in our group is vastly different. With the girl(regarless of looks), he tend to be gentle, patient and explains stuff in great detail. He will make sure she understand what is being taught. But for the guy, oh good luck to him, he's being taught the bare minimal. If the new guy makes a mistake, will surely scold him loud enough for boss to hear. This perverted old man will give this Smeagol smile whenever he notice a pretty girl around. Not only that, he will choose to see a female doctor whenever he's sick or pretend to be sick. Heard that this sicko even mentioned to the lady doc that he has an erectile problem. yucks. Somebody should get a gun and shoot him dead. This sick old man don't deserve to live.

the sleeping analyst
Back in our meeting room office space, he openly sleep on his armchair. With a pillow supporting his neck. Right in front of boss somemore. I salute him.

the househusband
During holidays shift, he'll cook lunch for the four of us and bring to the office. Really touched by his act of kindness. Whoever do holiday shift with him will be bless by his lunch. Cos he knock off at 3pm, he'll go back home to cook dinner for his wife. This kind of man where to find?

the nosy auntie
She likes to poke nose into a lot of stuff, as ridiculous as it seems. "Who pay for the lunch?" she once asked when boss brought our colleagues out for lunch. The auntie tend to have wide and strong network with other aunties from other groups or departments. Much wider coverage than Singtel I presume. Nothing can really escape their eyes or ears.

the OT queen
Somehow or somewhere, she will manage to clock OT for most of the days. She will give a good reason to justify her OT (of coz!). And she will mention that she has claim way under the hours she has worked.

your friendly manager
He will go away talking to people and try to strike up a friendly conversation and make the other party feel funny and nice. When passing by a group of staff chatting, he would be found passing by making some silly comments. He's our friendly uncle in the neighbourhood.

the mad scientist
He says things which we don't understand. We might not even wanna understand them. The funny thing is he's being accepted by a 2nd-tier university in States to study bio stats. Maybe he'll major in Vital Statistics. hahaha. Yet he postpone his enrolment when he got a contract job in this company. Saying "only this company recognises his talent". I wonder what other didn't see in him. He likes to give confusing excuses when he has made a mistake. Good tactics man.




So many interesting people in my office, like a zoo.

Eulogy of Dr Wee Kim Wee

EULOGY BY GRANDDAUGHTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT WEE KIM WEE - LIM
HUI MIN

Weekend May 7, 2005

MY grandfather's achievements as an editor, a diplomat and a head of state are now the stuff of legend. You would have read all these things in the newspapers or watched them on television - he was a public man.

What I should talk about is my grandfather as a family man. I cannot talk about my grandfather without also talking about my grandmother. She was the rock of his life. His last thoughts were of her. They were holding hands when he finally went to sleep on Monday morning.

Last year, we celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. After dinner he presented her with a red packet full of money, which he then followed up with a jewellery box - because my grandmother loves wearing jewellery. There was a jade brooch inside the box. And, in return, in front of everybody, she kissed him three times.

They were 87 and 88 at that time.

Once, (when) I was learning the piano, I thought I would learn some songs to play at my grandmother's birthday party. I asked my
grandfather what songs he thought she would like. To my surprise he gave me a type-written sheet (with songs listed)in order of preference. He was always a busy man - he used to tell me that he had two million things on his mind. But at some point in his life, he had sat down and thought hard about what music my grandmother would enjoy and typed it all out and kept it in special folder ready to be whipped out at anytime.

Husbands who are here today: Do you have a list of your wife's
top 10 favourite songs in a folder? That's a lesson you can take from my grandfather.

They celebrated 69 years of marriage together in April this year. I thank my grandfather from the bottom of my heart for showing us what it really is like to love a person. I also thank my grandfather for showing us what it is to love life.

He was a man who enjoyed life. He collected snuff bottles, coins and stamps. He travelled the world; he played sports; he planted
fruit trees; he loved the smell and taste of hazelnut coffee.

Whenever his grandchildren visited him in his office - whether
at the Malaysian High Commission, the embassy in Tokyo, the Singapore Broadcast Corporation or the huge halls of the Istana - there would come moments when he would wink at us, open his desk drawer and say "have a chocolate".

Unknown to my grandmother, who disapproved of his snacking in between meals, he always kept a secret stash of Hawaiian hazelnut
chocolates, which he ate out of her sight during office hours.

My grandfather loved animals as well. He liked to watch horses
running. He liked dogs and cats and he liked fish. At the last count, his house contained 11 chickens, eight terrapins, two goldfish and one dog.

Once, someone gave him six turkeys. I think the idea was for them to be fattened up and eaten. My grandfather looked at them and spoke to them. He gave them names. I remember my mother saying to me, "Oh no, he has given them names - we'll never get rid of them now". And so the turkeys were with us for quite some time.

But one day, they started irritating the chickens so my grandfather decided to find them a new home. The Singapore Zoo was chosen. When the family heard about this, of course we all joked that the turkeys would be fed to the crocodiles.

He was so alarmed by this that he made special arrangements with the zoo. They were to send him a written report every time a turkey
died. The report had to state the cause of death and age of each turkey.

That was the kind of man my grandfather was. He revered and respected life - even the life of an animal.

The stories of his life are, to me, all stories of love. If you wish to honour his memory in your life, then live your life to the
full, stand by your friends, cherish your family, listen to everyone with an open mind and welcome those who cross your path with an open heart.

He has gone on another journey now. We have spent the past five days saying goodbye to him and it is now the time to let him go.

From all your grandchildren and great grandchildren: I know you love us all so very much.

Goodbye gong gong (granddad). Goodbye.

going once! going twice! sold!

Yesterday, my department came up with this charity auction to raise money for. The idea was to nominate someone with a talent request and the highest bidder gets the nominee to perform the talent for him or her. They may even nominate themselves like the self-claimed stockmarket wizard. You may also nominate someone to do a particular task e.g. cook thai green curry dinner (Has to be thai, has to be green and has to be curry) or a korean dinner from the korean babe. I was nominated to give "fitness consultation" and I was auctioned off for $80. Now I know how much I'm worth. heh.

mervin no pay

I can't believe this. I can't take this coming June ACCA Exam becos they didn't receive my exam fees payment. Maybe the mail got lost or somehow. Sheesh. Can't believe this is happening to me. But maybe it's God's blessing in disguise. He see me so stressed up so He decided to make that mail go to somewhere else where no one could find it. Anyway I don't think I can pass all 3 papers so it might be a good thing that I take them in Dec and instead of failing 1 or 2 papers and waste money. God is so good to me! So blessed! Part time studying is really madness by the way.

Now I can finally enjoy my leave with my lovely fenfen instead of using it to go mugging in a Mcdonalds. So lovely! So nice. hehe.

I think my boss is a pyschopath

I really really think my boss is a pyschopath. Why do I think so? There are times when he talked to me, I can see him having this evil grin on his face. Like some murderous or scheming things are up on his mind. He walks stealthily behind his staff and hoping to catch them doing something else besides work.

He likes be our "Saviour". "Actually the HR don't approve the $100 increase in your pay but I fight for it" Something like this happen to my colleague and I really think he's a great actor. Like that also wanna boast! chey!

He likes to be "God". He asks for volunteers to do Chinese New Year and he end up planning a shift schedule no matter how desperate or disintereted you wanna do the shift.

What time you come for work, go for lunch, lunch for how long, pee, pee for how long and what time you leave work, he also knows. Maybe your mother cooks for you or not, he also knows!

By the way, he comes in for 1 hr of e-mailing checking and replying when he's on leave. Yes, he's that mad. Such boss where to find. Give this workaholic a Horlick ah!

He's not just a pyschopath but he's also a control freak. Even a BBQ gathering has to be organised in great details and he has to be the overall in-charge. He fits the profile below neatly,especially the type 2 kind of freaks:

Two Types of Control Freaks

Type 1 Control Freaks: The Type 1 control freak is strictly attempting to cope with their anxiety in a self absorbed way. They just want to feel better and are not even very aware of you. You will notice and hear their agitation and tentativeness. They usually do not make much eye contact when they are talking to you.

Type 2 Control Freaks: The Type 2 control freak is also trying to manage their anxiety but they are very aware of you as opposed to the Type 1 control freak. The Type 2 needs to diminish you to feel better. Their mood rises as they push you down. They do not just want to prevail; they also need to believe that they have defeated you. They need you to feel helpless so they will not feel helpless. Their belief is that someone must feel helpless in any interchange and they desperately do not want it to be them. The Type 1 needs control. The Type 2 needs to control you.

God save me!!!!!!!!!!!!! And God can save me by giving me another good paying job too. heh.

How shall I deal with them? Only smarties have the answer:

Some Coping Strategies

1) Stay as calm as you can. Control freaks tend to generate a lot of tension in those around them. Try to maintain a comfortable distance so that you can remain centered while you speak with them. Try to focus on your breathing. As they get more agitated and demanding, just breath slowly and deeply. If you stay calm and focused, this often has the effect of relaxing them as well. If you get agitated you have joined the battle on their terms.

2) Speak very slowly. Again the normal tendency is to gear up and speak rapidly when dealing with a control freak. This will only draw you into the emotional turmoil and you will quickly be personalizing what is occurring.

3) Be very patient. Control freaks need to feel heard. In fact, they do not have that much to say. They have a lot to say if you engage them in a power struggle. If you just listen carefully and ask good questions that indicate that you have heard them, then they will quickly resolve whatever the issue is and calmly move on.

4) Pay attention to your induced reactions. What is this person trying to emotionally induce in you? Notice how you feel when speaking with them. It will give you important clues as to how to deal with them more effectively and appropriately.

5) Initially, let them control the agenda. But you control the pacing. If you stay calm and speak slowly, you will be in command of the pacing of the conversation.

6) Treat them with kindness. Within most control freaks is a good measure of paranoia. They are ready to get angry and defend against what they perceive is a controlling hostile world. If you treat them with respect and kindness, their paranoia cannot take root. You will jam them up.

7) Make demands on them-- especially when dealing with the type 2 control freak. Ask them to send you something or do something for you. By asking something of them, you will be indicating that you are not intimidated or diminished by their behavior patterns.

8) Remember an old but poignant Maxim: "Those who demand the most often give the least."

Keep in mind that control freaks are not trying to hurt you – they’re trying to protect themselves. Remind yourself that their behavior toward you isn’t personal; the compulsion was there before they met you, and it will be their forever unless they get help. Understand that they are skilled manipulators, artful and intimidating, rehearsed debaters and excellent at distorting reality.

In order to not feel degraded, humiliated and have your sense of self and self worth assaulted, you need to avoid being bulldozed by a controlling lover, boss or friend. When you are caught up in a truly destructive/controlling attachment, the best response may be to walk out. You have to understand that whatever you do will have a limited effect. These people are angry and afraid to let go of you. Hence, it is your job to let go of them, protect yourself in the process… and grow.

Be cool, dude. God loves control freaks as much as he loves you.

Oh well, I shall try to love thy neighbour (my boss sits right beside me somemore. sigh).

*all these about control freaks are taken from this great guy, Thomas J. Schumacher, Psy.D., R-CSW in this link and more details in there:

http://www.ec-online.net/Knowledge/Articles/control.html

Thank you, Dr Schmuacher. You have no idea how much your article means to me

move on

Pastor Matthew wondered how Pastor Rony Tan at the age of mid 60s is able to relate to the young and old. I think I might have the answer! hehe. *smirk*

I guess Pastor Rony has done what many adults didn't do. He has moved on. He has left his accomplishments , his "been there, done that" achievements behind. He has left his success and failures behind I think. He's able to relate to the young generation is because he has moved on. I don't think I can relate to people of younger age if I think I'm of a "different time and generation" from those young punks. I believe Pastor Rony has done what Paul did:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

I realised I haven't moved on. I hang on to so many hurts, bitterness, resentment, achievements and failures that I find myself not having the strength to face tomorrow. I gotta move on and do what Paul did. If I want to move forward, I need to put down all my past successes and failures and run the race towards the goal that God has called me to. God, I want to move on.