Sunny Dunedin

The sun was out today!!!
So pretty with snow capped mountains to the north!
Today- one of the last days of winter with sun, the not so miserable ones.

Went out shopping/lunching @ BK with Chyi and May after church. Wah couldn't believe all the sales going around atm, especially at SUPRE. So I bought 2 pretty checkered skirts (though it's still too cold to wear skirts), BUT it's called preparing for hot weather at Singapore, ok. Tops are going as cheap as $6.50 each, it's crazy not to buy. The skirts weren't too bad, 10 bucks each.

And on such a pretty day like this, how can I NOT bring out my trusty camera?

On the way to church, down the steeeeeep Queen Street hill. Notice that it was so frosty at the pathway to the left, there was practically still ice on the road.

I think this was taken yesterday.
Always wanted to take a photo of the med buildings.

At unicol for the music team meeting; enjoying the view at the balcony with Valerie.
I think we were talking about flying...
and then I heard her singing "I believe I can fly...."

Normal pic.

Snow on the mountains.
Can you spot Aquinas hall?

At home; outside my bedroom again.
See the little flowers started to bloom, such a nice sight!

Another photo of the once-botak trees.
In a few weeks, the leaves will return ;P

Was happily snapping away when I saw this bird stopping on a tree.
Guess it wanted to be part of the photo too, haha!

Everyone's mood seems good today. Could be the whole unity thing with the Olympics going on. Could be because of the beautiful weather after a horrid week of rain and wind.

Whatever the reason, I hope the good weather is here to stay.

Join the olympics hype!

WOAHHHHH....

Indescribable is the word to describe the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics 2008.

Saw the live telecast at unicol's super big projector screen from 12 to 4.30am today. *teehee*

So much planning, time, and effort have been put into it, and looking at the performances, fireworks displays, dances, speeches, timing, incredibly awesome lighting just made me want to be part of it.

Some really great pics can be found here at the NZ herald website.
Or, if you're really interested in all things to do with the Olympics, why not go to the official website here?

I know I was- busy googling the budget the committee had for the whole event, and I'm also curious to how much they spent for the opening ceremony alone. Gosh, those costumes, lights, special effects, pyrotechnics must have cost A LOT (more than USD 2 billion for it all, I think).

I can't even start to imagine how it would feel to be THERE. Not just watching a live telecast from the comfort (or coldness if you're in Dunedin- it briefly snowed last night) of your home, but actually being there physically. The atmosphere, the passion, the sweat (it would be HOT there, right?), and just being together celebrating the glorious event.

That's why we (jokingly?) mentioned about all of us being at the London Olympics in 2012.

I mean, it's not impossible since we would all have graduated and started work by then. Probably earning big bucks too. Maybe some (ahem Janice?) might even move to the UK. Honestly, it has crossed my mind a few times- working/doing postgrad in the far west. And I seriously don't mind living close to the Old Trafford stadium and being able to watch live football matches every week. *drools*

So I went to the official page of the London Olympics and registered to volunteer at the 2012 games.
YES, I really did it.

Want proof?



So who's coming with me? ;P

08.08.08 dun play play

How can I not blog on an auspicious day like this?

Ah. The BIG lucky day.

08.08.08

Once in a lifetime.

No wonder over 10,000 people decided to get registered in China alone.
I imagine the news tomorrow would be about 3 things:

1. Olympics. DUH.
2. (insert big number here) people got married/registered/engaged.
3. Babies born on the lucky day (treated like kings and queens)

I like the story covered on Campbell live today- about women of 3 generations- a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother all born on the exact same day! A mathematician was called in to calculate the chances of that happening. The probability came to 365³, which comes to almost 1 in 50 million, and that's excluding the probability of finding and televising the event in New Zealand (taking into account NZ's small population, of course). I'm curious to see how the little girl who turned 8 on 08.08.08 turn out to be in the future. It's one of these little wonders in life that make me put a mental note in my head to ask the big guy up there when I see Him. Was it pure coincidence? Or maybe He was just trying to have some fun/showing His funny side?

It's official! My last day at work would be on the 5th of September- the week of HORROR. The week when MICR336 presentation would be held- giving talks to not only fellow coursemates, lecturers, but also REAL LIFE entrepreneurs/venture capitalists aka people who are rich enough to fund your product for say, $10 million, AND they base that decision during the first 30 seconds of your talk. And they will decide on my 30% final grade too. OOOLALA.

Talk about pressure.

As team members are selected at random, we HAVE to stick to our groups. I couldn't be any more SOI-er than having the *ahem* weirdest guy in the class to be my team. I don't want to judge, but my friend suspects that he was the guy who stalked/peeped into her flat a few days ago (yes her flatmate called the police and gave the exact description of THAT guy. believe me, not a lot of people matches his description).

2000 word essay due next Friday. Which, when I read Chyi's blog and saw her word count of 11,000 words, I was quite relieved. Heh. Congrats on Agnes too in handing in her masters thesis last week. =)

Time to get started on that. OOH, and of course, not miss out on the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Weekend's ALMOST here

WhhhEEEEE. New blog layout.
Too bad the last one didn't last 2 months. Or was it 1 month?

I like that it reminds me of SPRING. which is just round the corner.
Btw so happy that the sun was shining oh so brightly today despite few showers late afternoon.

Congrats Pancakes on getting the internship at Hawke's Bay.
So ulu the place, though apparently it's bigger than Dunedin and has more population. I'm curious to see how it looks like. Guess there's a reason for me to go there for a visit next year then.

It seems like *almost* everyone's internship stuff is sorted now. A few months ago, I was still worried about the work placement. And now, all I have to worry about is finding accommodation. I put almost there because May is still not sure if she'll get sent to Wellington to do her fourth medical year. Pray, hope, and wish that she stays!

One more good news to share with you all. We're signing the lease for next year's flat this Saturday! It's at 143 Frederick Street, super close to uni (5 mins away from central library and less than 10 mins walk to the hospital and town area). Rent is $100 per week. It's a 4 bedroom flat, so if May DOES have to go to Welly (which we all hope she wouldn't), there'll be a vacancy. I can't take anymore of people leaving Dunedin =(

Anyway. I'll end with this random photo taken by Davina a few months back before the ice skating trip. Some sort of festival, (can't remember which one was it) at the union lawn. (Notice his furry backside).

Countdown: 90 days to hot weather

I keep reminding myself that winter is ALMOST over. Not liking the feeling of wet jeans sticking to my skin at all.

Anyway, Ron got a job at SG too! I think his is at the Bioprocessing Tech Institute or something. Also part of the biopolis, few mins walk to GIS. So unfair, he's getting paid more... and the person in contact even asked if he needed accommodation and helped him apply for a working visa. -__- And yet I have to apply for a visa myself and find accommodation myself. Oh well, the thrill of it.

Been posting many ads on property and real estate websites, looking for a room for rent. Gotten quite a few replies too, actually. None that stood out yet, either too far away or too pricey. I know shouldn't be that picky, but then I dread the thought of spending 100 bucks a month on transport and waking up super early to catch the mrt. We'll see. God will provide.

Thanks guys who're helping me with this task. Chyi, Julianna, Davina, John, Greg, etc.

So yeah, can't wait to get there.

Out of the cold weather for once. Into the land of good food and shopping. Ahhhh....

Plus, a few people would be there too. Janice, Greg, and Chyi. hehehe.

And of course, looking forward to the trip to Philippines. Still working on the exact dates or travel etc, wondering if there'll even be time to go home to Kuching or not. I have a feeling I'll only spend a week or less back home, probably during Christmas or Chinese New Year. I know it's un-daughterly of me to only go home for such a short period of time, but what to do? Time is unwilling. Oh well, I'll just have to make full use of it, however short the time may be.

***

Cell group last night was... INTERESTING. and that's an understatement.


We had a "music concert" last night. Which just means a whole night of praise and worship, and good food of course. We started jumping a lot toward the 2nd and 3rd song... (Alex's suggestion). Then I got a tap on the back by Greg, saying there was someone at the door wanting to get in. I opened the door, and there stood a Kiwi guy explaining how our jumping has caused the floor (his room's ceiling as he's staying downstairs) to CRACK ("it's very unsafe", and I quote). I mumbled a quick sorry and got back, shocked at what we just did. Goodness, CONCRETE floor can break so easily? Well, maybe it's possible as last night was absolutely packed- 30 I'd say- and the impact of us jumping altogether probably generated enough force to crack the floor/ceiling. OOPS. So yeah, we stopped jumping after that :P

Sang the "Dessert song" by Brooke Fraser/Hillsong too last night as part of the cafe style session. Love love love the song. Love the lyrics, especially the bridge.

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Alex had the random idea of putting together a video of our beginnings. Of how lighthouse fellowship started- at Arana Hall, 2006, with just the 7 of us- Raymond, Alex, Sam, May, Janice, Rebec, and I. Compared to now- regulars totalling to 30+ (and counting). It was so fun making the video, even FUNNIER watching it, and seeing people laugh =)

Below is a snippet of the video (unedited). *upload failed. lazy to upload again as taking up time* Scene is when Ramon was making some food for us to eat after cell. Note that Greg is narrating as Ramon lost his voice. We all laughed sooooooooo hard- ah, the good times. And yes, I do like eating "chao-ta" (slightly burnt in hokkien) food hehe.

Am I really that forgettable? A primary/school friend just asked me who I was after I sent her a message on friendster. I AM 100% SURE SHE KNOWS ME. Either that or I changed a lot since sec sch. Which is more likely?