Whoa, what a week! From Sunday till Wednesday full of activities. Come Thursday I was nursing body aches and especially my backache. But well it's almost like a break from office. When I got back to office, everyone else were quite excited to hear all about the things that happened during the Bintan trip. Such a pity that I couldnt go with the rest in the coming week. I have more 'khakis' in the 2nd batch. But doesnt matter. Next 2 days in office would be a personal time for me, and it'll be time to clear some backlog.

Amazing Race was fun and very tiring. During the time when we waited for the racers to come and carry out the activities, the station masters got to bond with one another. For mine, I had the older congregation to help out and it was interesting to talk to them. They helped out a lot and we are all thankful for their help. I'm quite sure the racers had a lot of fun doing the race as well.

All the station planners and masters were all beat and on Monday I couldnt take the tiredness and just have to stay home and sleep the day off. I couldnt even attend Kenneth's wedding. Felt bad but there were also the reason tat I've not prepared anything to wear and i was really really tired. I needed the rest to recover before the teambuilding trip in Bintan.

Bintan was not that happening but it was okay. Just that in the end on the first day, when we were supposed to be doing outdoor and getting wet in the sea, it was pouring. We had to run from where we were back to the indoor venue which was like so far! I couldnt bothered with running. Then second day is always the fun day! We can choose what we want to play and play as long as possible. Played both ATV and jetski. ATV was fun since I chose to ride the motorcycle type. I looked garang on it man! While others were choosing to be clean and dry, i chose the dirty path, and went for all the puddles of muddy water. It was fun! Jetski was quite okay though I got quite bored after some time. I should have just gone for a swim in the sea!

Come Thursday on, the holiday mood still lingered for sometime and especially with Mes' visit, we were definitely in the mood for a holiday. Well though it was one busy week, but I guess it doesnt take a real holiday to feel the mood. The presence of friends and bonding time is always a holiday feeling for me.

Well the long-awaited longggg weekend is here. I am looking fwd to it but at the same I'm not too cos it's Amazing Race week! Although it'll be fun but it's like a long weekend burnt. It can mean anything. Well at least let's pray that it will not rain over the next 2 days. Otherwise the mood will probably be dampened by it. I actually dont know how things would turn out, but I supposed it's all in God's hands now.

After the amazing race which is on sunday and monday, on Tuesday, i'll be in Bintan for 2 days. The company is organising a team-building trip. There's gonna be rafting, beach games and all. I can imagine how tired it is by the time I come back on Wednesday. Just thinking of it is already making me tired.

Oh! I got myself a new iPod touch right after they announce the new generation of iPod touch! And so far i'm loving it. I decided to get this instead of the iPhone since the only difference is the 3g and the call functions. Whenever I play around with miPod (my iPod's name), I do still wish it was an iPhone though. But yeah I can safely say I am contented with this. Having a bigger memory or the iPhone would be a bonus. I am also happy that Apple gave a 20% price cut off their prices. Which means getting an iPod is now even more affordable without having to source through Funan/ Sim Lim to get 1. I know Nata was one who was jumping in her seat when I told her about this. She just bought the 2nd generation iPod just a week before the announce, before I knew that there was going to be an announcement. I got mine through the website and since it came with free engraving, I took it up and tattoo-ed it,

" I may not have an iPhone, But I've got You!"

Life has been great to me. And despite all that complaining about getting poorer, I'm still me and nothing much has changed, except that im bringing back less pay of course. But i must still thank God that I still have today and am still sufficient, with all the love in the world that I can get from the people around me. Thanks Lord!

I've been trying to stretch the thought of generating another income, and am finding ways to go around doing it. There are a lot of options and though sometime the vision gets clearer but the reality check of the principal just makes it all blur again. I guess the clearest vision is to give tuition since I do have quite a number of people seeking tuition. But to me it's tiring if I have to travel here and there for it. My place isnt exactly a great place to conduct tuition. Teaching in a centre is also not really an option as well. And definitely I want my weekends to be undisturbed by these things.

As most of you know, I've been thinking of getting a car. If i do get the car, I would probably get back to teaching as a mean of extra cash to get more income. But of course it has to be nearby and no way I'm going to woodlands to teach. I wouldnt even consider siglap or marine parade area. Just not worth on my petrol consumption. Having the car around will at least cushion the whole tiring journey. And actually i have always had a preference of being in a car rather than taking the public transport. I know i know. Im just killing our mother earth with that, but I guess i still prefer my own space and comfort. I know my way around here and there, getting shortcuts. And it is definitely more convenient.

Anyway so far this month has been pretty nice. Especially now that all of us siblings have graduated, I guess now my parents can really proudly say that their kid managed to graduate through university. To us it is possibly something that is normal, but to my parents, who did not even complete high school, seeing their children go through university is something that is unthinkable and something that they never have thought when they see us through our primary and secondary school. I can understand now why they are so proud of us.

Having been in Singapore for half my life, I am accustomed to the thought that most people around me go to university. Hence it is the normal thing for me to do likewise. Everyone can go to the university down here, but not in Indonesia. Though most Indonesians get to university easily, most just get married and have children after that. Or they help run their family business which are still run in the old fashioned ways as their fathers and grandfathers have run it. Those who are able, they will take the business further and expand it further. They also modernise the systems and the way the business is run. And actually most of these people have really great business acumen and generally are graduates from overseas university. They have seen the world outside Indonesia. They learnt and apply it to bring the business in Indonesia to another level. But of course it does not always work.

Anyway the point is that I understand why my parents even have to throw a thanksgivings party when all three of us graduated. Like the preacher said that day, he answered my question, we are forced to stop whatever we are doing and give thanks to Him. I cant remember what was the verse that we chose as a theme as I was really not informed about it at all. Although the whole thing seems elaborate and lavish, but it was not meant to be a show off thing but more of gathering around people who have cared about all of us and prayed for us and let them be the witness to how much we are so grateful and thankful to God.

Well Lord, as much as I have lots and lots of things to thank you for, let me sum it all up. Thank You and I am really grateful for everything that You've planned for me and how all these times You've influenced the decisions that I take. Being the light that guideth me all these years, being the friend whom I can always lean on. Thank you for all the trials and tribulation that you've put me into. They are great tests for me to be more patient and gain great insight of life and about our kingdom in heaven. Thanks for sending people around me, even people at work or even those reps whom I work with. You sent them to warn me and get me all prepared. I'm not saying that i'm prepared, but Lord at least You are helping me to get prepared. A big thank you and a good bear hug to You!