Prisca off for her holiday!!!

I'm leeeaving on a jet plane (the airlines I am flying with:)

To Europe: Parts of Germany, Amsterdam, London

Therefore, pls pray for me and keep me in your prayers that the Lord would be with me throughout my trip & keep me safe and sound & I'll be able to enjoy Europe to the max!

In exchange, I'll leave you with 15 days of peace and quietness .. dun miss me too much (Thought a pic of geeky me in classes may be able to portray a quieter me and in turn a more peaceful environment for you..hahaha):

Enjoy your tranquility while it lasts... cos... I'll be back to terrorise you!!!!

The Fish Tank

For those who have been wondering how my new workstation looks like.... and why issit that I call it a Fish Tank...here are some pics for your viewing:




Okie, a closer look at my desk: (See Mr.& Mrs Incredibles, Bugs Bunny & Tasmanian Devil, Evil Clown gave to me by Patrick Callahan [the guy in the pic with me below] wooden angel+photo holder [given to me when Patrick Foong a.k.a lil P when he went to bangkok for trip] and some parts of my cheshire cat on my cpu) Yeah.. and the Clairins mousepad that is so nice that I have decided to use it as a coaster instead. Haha



From the outside:


Heheh... can you see my Nonya Kaya (Coconut Jam) spread & my oats & muesli fibre biscuits on my shelf? That's my daily breakfast.

Another view on the outside:


Further down the corridor, is where I used to sit. See the ribbon tied onto our glass door to make it more welcoming? Hahaha..the next desk behind the glass door you see? That belongs to my colleague Hui Boon. In the room currently is Kate. One of the managers but not of my account. Hmm.. Joel seems to be in the reflection of Hui Boon's window.

Anyway, that's all for my new fish tank of a workstation. As you can see, its similar to a fish tank except tat there are no water or fishes. And I do sometimes feel like a safari animal when people walk pass and peer into my desk. I do feel quarantined when people stop and talk to me from OUTSIDE the room..haha..

Walked pass our Secretary's desk and saw this... (It was so cute I decided to borrow Lil P's camera to take a pic of it and blog it)



Cute right? Think all the people in the office are cute.. and hilarious..

My First Praise & Worship

Date: Friday, 17th June 2005

Mood: Nervous, excited, worried, eager.

Reason: Tonight's my first time leading praise & worship in Caregroup.

Came into office, checked emails and hmmm.. not too bad. Can leave on time today to go to TY & Ink's house to practice for P&W one more time at 7pm. Thank God! Happy! Close to knock off time, received a call... and then suddenly.. there was an influx of emails. All about one particular assignee. If you muttered 'oh no/oh dear/dang' under your breathe, yes you got all of that correct. Not only was this 1. Last minute request 2. Urgent 3. Almost impossible, it also means 1. May not be able to leave on time for P&W 2. May not even be on time for Cg 3. Dun know if I can even make it to Cg. You get the picture.

Was thinking... 'Dear God! Nooo!!' Quickly told Him I really do wanna leave office to make it for Cg tonight. Concentrated and used up the remaining brain juices I have. Thank God, problem solved but it was close to 7pm already. Cg starts around 730pm.

Need to print one worship song in A3 paper so that it is big enough for viewing & singing. Searched the whole office floor. All photocopier machines ran out of A3 paper. My colleagues were truly nice to me. Claire, Yan, Hui Boon started looking all over the place for A3 paper for me as well. Claire and Yan stopped their work half way to help me find. Soon I realised almost the few left like Angie, in the office were mobilised to search for A3 paper for me. Time check: 710pm. Dang! Forget it, will print from downstairs Kodak shop.

Went to Kodak shop downstairs... to my horror, the lady said they too ran out of A3 paper. Uuurrgghh!!!! This can't be happening! Not when I am leading for the 1st time! Is this Your way of telling me You don't want me to lead, Lord? That was the constant thought on my mind. Suddenly, I remembered there is a new Fuji printing shop round the corner. Headed there and finally managed to print the worship song. Brisked walked & was practically leaping in my steps to try to get to Cg earlier.

Arrived @TY & Ink's and everyone was there already! Felt soooo bad. Yet when I found out they all prayed for me knowing that I nearly couldn't make it... I was so touched. I went to the toilet for a pee break. In the toilet I was trying to calm down. Flustered and pale I was. Breatheless, I was. How to amplify my voice when I am out of breathe and on the brink of no more strength left? Prayed and told Him. I leave everything onto your hands. I don't know if I can sing or lead well tonight. But I just wanna do my best for you.

Led the P&W, no one knew I was trembling on a richter scale of 9! Guitarists like Merv & Tiger were very nice and helpful. Thanks, guys! TY too helped me alot.. by helping me to pray.. Thanks, sis! Think my voice sucked .. but as I worship Him and when it came to song number 3. 'Blessed be the Lord, God Almighty', somehow, the breatheless me was able to sing much louder without much difficulty. I know its him amplifying me. I just sang my heart out. Couldn't care less about my voice or anything else around me already.. (perhaps thats why I was slow in signalling the guitarists early..) I just wanted to do Your work and please You. whatever the outcome.. I just do my best for You.

And...that was my 1st P&W for you. And me.

Flickr Pris!

From Irving's blog:

Cool right? Go to his blog and check out the website! (And oh yes.. He has a new blog skin that's got a great green colour and pic....The pic looks quite like those 'chung king express' kindof arty film)

His blog: http://www.pagesofink.com/

Get ur flickr name today!

Praise & Worship Practice

Today, my mummy not feeling well. *Sigh..* I hope she'll get better soon.

Anyway, in the evening I went to TY & Ink's place for Praise & Worship Practice. My face was stiff and I felt like a stone. Why? Cos I didn't sleep well the night before and when I took leave to rest & look after my mummy (send her to doc - doc say stomach flu) I slept in the afternoon.

Came online to edit the fonts of the songs to send to sweet TY to help me print. Kor kor Donald was online. Chat with him and TY and received a text from someone. Hmmmmm...... at least my name was spelt correctly on the text msg. Should I or shouldn't I? Hmmm.... Okie.. anyway I replied & said ok. *Sucker!!!* hahaha..

Anyway thats not the highlight of today. The highlight is the P&W practice I had earlier. Arrived at TY & Ink's and the guitarists (Merv & Tiger) were playing amongst themselves already. *Nervous* Ink had to go meet Gab in awhile as they need to attend to something. Started singing the 1st song.. (Shan't say so that you guys would be kept in suspense till CG this friday!) hahahaha... I like the first song. Meaningful to me cos we were like separated last week when most of them went for camp and Merv & I didn't. TY was patient and nice to tell me some pointers and it helped very much! Thank you my lovely shepherd+sis!!!

Went onto the next few songs.. to the last song, we decided to change it as it was not suitable and we chose (or more like me..) chose another song and we were trying to practice it over & over.. (In my head I was thinking..Oh man .. I think my voice sounds horrid in this song.. my voice is soft... no strength man to sing any louder.. and I keep forgetting need to signal to guitarists. Luckily for me .. both the guitarists were good and understanding.)

Now till Friday, I better ask for Divine intervention and ask for additional HELP! Lord, amplify & improve my voice by Friday pls!!!!!

Sang the last song, wrapped up the session. Chat & catch up with TY and went home. On my way home.. I saw a mammoth of a snail. It was so huge I was tempted.. No.. not tempted to bring it home (YUCK! What were u thinking?!) Okie, probably the world's snails federation or something like dat will kill me for saying this.. but that TITANIC SNAIL was really huge!! It was like mm.. the length of an average human feet and the height was like from say someone's feet to slightly above the ankles!!! Gross right?? I dun like rubbery (lizards, frogs, toads, snails..) and reptilian kindof animals. yes.. it was so huuuuge.... I was tempted to kick it like a soccer ball and watch it flyyyyy. hahah BUT then again.. it could be a suicidal move.. my paranoid mind was thinking it could end up biting and clinging onto my feet and that's it for my europe trip. So I left slowcoach alone and strolled home.

Let's see...

Let's see... officially 9 more days to Europe. What have I done to prepare?

1. Bought all the necessary food stuff to bring there already
2. Bought toiletries already
3. Hand washed some of my clothes that I wanna bring..

Still got alot of things to do.. SO EXCITING!!!!!

Like Father Like Son....(Case of Kena Bang)

*Disclaimer: You gota read the bible on this.. & basically my thoughts on this to be clearer.. is to say that though Abraham is the Father of faith, he was still human and despite out of fear/insecurity that he lied, our God was gracious enough to still multiply his descendants!!! Our God is merciful!*

Scene 1: Genesis 12:12-13.

Abraham to his wife, Sarah: "When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say that you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life would be spared because of you."

Scene 2: Genesis 20:2.

Once more, Abraham said of his wife Sarah to others: "She is my sister."

Genesis 20:2 ".......Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her."

Many moons later.. after the death of both Sarah & Abraham.. Issac married Rebekah and like his father earlier, that due to a famine they went to moved to Egypt.. Issac went to Abimelech, kind of the Philistines in Gerar.

Scene 3: Genesis 26:7-9

Isaac to the men in Gerar when they asked him about Rebekah: "She is my sister.."

Abimelech upon discovering that Rebekah is Isaac's wife, Abimelech said to Isaac: "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?"

At this moment, I thought if I were Abimelech.. I would have been so kena bang man..(Kena Bang = Malay+Singaporean English for super unlucky [picture head banging against wall scenarios]).. hehe..

Almost 10 more days to Europe...

Almost 10 more days (Starting this coming Monday, 11th June 2005) to my Europe trip. So exciting!!

Still yet to:

1. Decide what I wanna bring for my clothes (I'm vain .. I admit..but I'm a girl!! Hahah)

2. Decide what shoes to bring (Other than comfy.. I need to match U know.. haha)

3. Decide what bag to bring.. (Get it? I need to match?haha)

4. Decide what necessaties I need to bring & get the stuff for Annie & Thomas whom Angie & I'd be crashing in at their place in Bonn, Germany.

Here's 2 pics that my friend Annie sent us to tempt Angie & I, to go to Germany to visit them:

Look at the reflection in the waters!! Mesmerizing....This is a small town in Germany call Mosel and nope.. it aint' a postcard.

Look at the picture with Annie below:

Isn't it lovely? We agreed to picnic at that bench and catch up while gazing at the lovely picturesque small town Mosel just behind... *Cant wait*!!!

~Merv's Birthday~

Today is Merv's birthday. Happy Birthday, bro! I met the birthday boy for dinner and supposedly (Yess... I am using 'supposedly' one too many times lately) for a movie too. Merv got to Plaza Sing & called to say that the cinema's left with front row seating and we decided to give the movie a pass. Went straight for dinner instead. We queued at Swensen's for some time and decided we'll go elsewhere instead since the queue didn't seem to be moving. Where? Coffee Club ..yes (second time for me this week after meeting TY, Ink & Gab to celebrate my grades & Ty's good news on Tuesday)

From Plaza Sing, we strolled to Cineleisure where they had the open air Coffee Club. Humidity caused us (or more likely me) to suggest Wisma Atria instead since they too have a Coffee Club indoors. Strolled further, passed Takashimaya and reached Wisma Atria. Glanced at the menu and realised they don't have the full set of menu which = no garlic prawn pasta. SOOOOOO, I remembered that there is another Coffee Club at takashimaya with the full menu and thank God for Merv the kind and patient birthday boy .. who agreed quickly and we headed back to Takashimaya. *I suggested to Merv that he can now blog about how indecisive women are & his theory is proven right by me..*

We settled for Taka & when we arrived there... we had our dinner while chatting. Half way through some bunch of guys sang a birthday song. Not to Merv but to another guy. What a coincidence! I asked Merv if I can pay the guys 5 bucks or something to sing to him as well since it's also his birthday. He said to me 'Don't you dare, Pris..' Hhaha.. okie, point taken. We were enjoying our dinner and had a great sharing whennnnn.....coffee club taka realised it was Merv's birthday somehow and decided to have a power trip to increase the ambience for him. *giggles* For the next hour or so at coffee club, their powers kept flickering.. to Merv & my delight. *Merv was getting a kick out of seeing the waitress at the cashier's face changed whenever the power trip came on...*

We laughed and continued chatting while getting immune to the 'disco lights' at coffee club taka and enjoyed ourselves (at least I did) getting to know this brother even better!! Once again.... Happy Birthday Merv!!!!!!!!!! <--- Should I say from all of us at Coffee Club Taka? hahaha

Jehovah-Jireh..My Provider!!

Monday morning, 7:19.

I struggled to get out of bed.. it's a daily routine.

Remembered why it is important today.

Come noon, 2 results would be on display.

At work later, I keep glancing at my clock.

As the time draws near, my heart seems to stop.

First results was due at One.

12:48 and my emotions starts to run.

A text message came about one thirty pm or so..

Lo & Behold, what joy that message bestow!!

Humming at my workstation, I was grinning from ear to ear...

This is great news, I thought.. coming from someone dear!

Received an email from my school R.M.I.T,

saying my exam results.. would be out earlier at three-thirty!!

*Gulp*Gulp* was all I could do..

I glanced at the clock and it's a quarter pass two!!

I know I need to pray.. I need to find a verse..

Am frothing with anxiety.. am about to burst!!

"Philippians 4:6, Pris" the Lord reminded me..

To substitute anxiety with prayers, & commit everything unto thee.

After I have said my prayers, I was in a better state of mind.

At this time, Ink & Gab added me to their chat online.

When they knew I was anxious, they were very nice.

They said an online prayer & my faith increased twice!

3:30pm sharp, I clicked on the website.

No results were shown at all..it gave me quite a fright!!!

I click & click till my mouse nearly gave way..

The results finally came on .. and I thought my eyes were at play!!

"Father, if its possible I really need at least one distinction", I said.

The Lord said "Tell you what.. I'll give you TWO instead."

2 Distinctions were there on my computer screen.

At that split moment, I really want to scream:

Jehovah-Jireh..my Provider!! YOur grace is more than sufficient for me!!

Jehovah-Jireh...my Provider!! None can ever compare to thee!!!

B is for ????

B is for ????

B is for Badminton. Yes.. I went to play Badminton, people!! Stop sniggering at me!!!! GGrrrr..*Sticks out cat claws..* Here's my evidence of my badminton session: (Pictures courtesy of Irving "Susilo" who not only is good in badminton.. is also good in photography..)

Okie, I was staring at the shuttlecock.. if you are wondering what am I looking so intensely at.

Next B is for..... *drumrolls* Ta-da!! *BiBimBap* After badminton session, Irving, Gab and I went to Amara foodcourt (My territory.. cos I worked around there! Hahah) for lunch and Gab & I had BiBimBap while Irving had a nice Hawaiian Pizza (Check out his webpage! Under INK to the left side of my blog <--- *I am lazy to paste the link here.. heheh). Here's a pic of me & my BiBimBap! Yummyyyyyyy!!

Okie, my hair's in a mess and I look like a mess after a session of badminton..

Brian & Botox: The next 2 B's as you can see is Brian & Botox. Brian came online today and I asked him if he could helped me resize the pics as 1. I don't have photoshop, 2. When the pics are too big, I can't load them onto the net to paste them here. He kindly accepted, I sent the pics to him and while we chat about his work.. when he suddenly asked me if I went for Botox recently. Botox? Told him.. no money .. how to go for botox. Hahah.. And he said.. looking at my pics.. He thinks I look a whole lot fresher and better and reckons I went for Botox. He said he likes this pic of me with the BiBimBap cos according to him I look radiant. (Awwww.....But Brian are you crazy? See my disheveled hair?) I think it's the camera and the photographer!! And the BiBimBap..Hahaha..

Anyway, went home and played Zuma.. now level 5!! Finally! hahah.. That's my saturday... well spent!

Priscilla & Pris

Bought wanton mee back to the office for lunch cos I wanted to blog as well as play Zuma. It's my lunchtime.. hello!!

While sipping my chinese tea which I made from my pantry.. I decided to blog while giving Zuma a pause. (I cannot eat and savour my wanton mee and click on my mouse and watch the colourful zuma balls (its a tad like puzzle bubble) at the same time!!)

Received 2 texts just now.. and somehow it made me realise that when people call me by my name in full, for example, the 1st text I received was "Hi Priscilla, how are you? I am passing by your office and would like to meet you for lunch. Are you free today? I can meet you anytime for lunch." The text made me a little nervous. Why? 1. I do not know who this is and it's not a familiar number. 2. When people call me 'Priscilla' and 3. Asked me 'How are you?' it makes me jittery cos it's so formal and most of my friends (even some expatriates) call me Pris. Anyway, I declined to meet the person for lunch as lunch time is my only time to relax and mingle with my other colleagues.

2nd text message is polite but kindof even worse.. reinforced and confirmed that I do get nervous when I see unfamiliar numbers and again people calling me Priscilla and being so formal. 2nd Message: "Good morning, Priscilla. How have you been? Would you be available for lunch later? I can come meet you at your office area." Errrr.... Riiight. Declined.

3rd text message: Again its an unfamiliar number (what's wrong??!!) but this is how it goes "Pris, I forgot my hp.. am using a pal's.. lunch later?" That message came across much better (to me at least) though I managed to find out who were all three messages from.. I still declined.. cos I wanna play Zuma. Hahhaa..

So folks, call me queer.. but if you have spoken to me more than twice.. Pris will do. Unless your intention is to make me nervous. Haha.. Happy Lunching.. Back to Zuma.

Out of Egypt....

To know why I said I am out of Egypt.. you would have to read my whole day's entry.. hahaha... Too bad!! *Evil laughter.. Muahahahahaha..* (Pris repeats again) *Muahhahahahahaah* love it.



Morning: 1st thing I do in the morning at work. Switch on comp, while waiting for comp to load, go to pantry & wash my cup and get water. When I return from pantry, I logon to my Lotus Notes to check my emails (Emails are my work!!) While reading, I spread nutella on 2 slices of bread and savour my breakfast and sip my water / tea (depends on my mood) while reading my emails. Hehe.. I try to make myself feel as though I am at home so that I can think better and enjoy my work. Hahah.. It works ok!! (for me at least.)



Late morning: This is the time where phone calls starts pouring in from both expatriates and HRs.. but surprisingly today my phone was rather quiet. Hmmm.. How queer.. glanced at my calendar. Oh. It's a Wednesday. Usually, its pretty quiet for me on Wednesdays. Either the expats & HRs are in meetings, or they are saving the work till last day of the week .. Friday, to bombard me with lots of queries and lots of urgent stuff. Think its the latter. They are famous for doing this to me on Fridays.



1145am: Usually, at this time my colleagues would start messaging me frantically on the company messenger almost at the same time asking me if I am lunching.. if I am eating in or not and where to eat for lunch. (It's a daily thing). Time check - 1148pm, 4 chat windows have popped up on my screen. These people are predictable-ly adorable. Love these folks.



***Pris pauses her trail of thoughts. Okie Peeps, right about now I have decided this is enough torture for you folks and I shall skip most details to tell you about being out of Egypt..(I can hear everyone applauding vigorously and doing a standing ovation already) *****



Before I continue to Egypt (This is where you go: "Huh??? Again? Still going on??? Anti-climax!!!!" Haha), I just wanna thank Pann for giving A ferrero roche chocolate today. (Notice my 'A'? Yes.. only 1. But okie la.. for him to kindly remember me.. hahah.. since he sits so far away from me)

Yes.. back to Egypt.

Went to TY & Ink's place after work today. Wanted to see if any of the people on duty for caregroup this Friday needs help. Was there for discussion as well with sis TY and bro Weeleong as we are leading the discussion this coming Friday for caregroup.

Biblical characters we're studying this week: Joshua & Caleb. As I read through the notes. God 'opened' my eyes and revealed to me what have been on my mind lately. Of late, I am at a spiritual low. Many thoughts and questions on my mind and I kept asking and in fact even whining to God.. "Why? What do You mean by this? Must I do this? Why should I do this? I don't understand Your purpose.. blah blah blah"

As I studied on Joshua & Caleb (Numbers 13:26-14:10) where they came back with good reports about the land that God promised them & because the promised land had people who were much stronger and bigger and taller in built than the Israelites, the people who were chosen to go on a spy trip on this promised land with Joshua & Caleb, were afraid. They came back and told the Israelites that though the land is filled with milk & honey.. they do not think its possible to conquer the land cos of the people residing in the land were like Michael Jordan and Yao Ming's heights and probably some WWF (World Wrestling Federation) wrestler, Triple H's built. Sending the Israelites into a state of frenzy and panic upon hearing this news. Joshua & Caleb who were also amongst the people who spied on the promised land, however, reminded the people that God is Almighty & powerful and He is with them. He has delivered them out of Egypt (Note: where they were slaves and in basically a land that does not belong to them and they owned nothing..) , performed so many miraculous actions (1o plagues, dividng of red sea, providing them with manna, quail..++++) in front of them to deliver them out of Egypt YET.. the Israelites fail to see and believe God's goodness & power and continued to whine and complain saying that God brought them to the wilderness to die.. & rarara..

That caught my attention. I forgot how God delivered me out of my personal Egypt (which refers to tough difficult times in my life) and brought me to where I am today where I am promoted this year, I passed my 1st semester exams and got 2 Ds, my family and myself are healthy, I have a great spiritual family, my colleagues & boss are fabulous, and the latest good news.. I finished paying off my notebook in installments which leaves me more money for my Europe trip, and yes.. my Europe trip (I repeat: 22nd June!!! Mark ur calendars .. cos u will be missing all the long-windedness.. its a break for me.. as well as U for 15days..hahahaha) AND.. the most amazing thing is Euro dollar have been dropping significantly in comparison to previous months cos of some talks in Europe not going well (Current rate I checked today is 2.05, few months ago was 2.157) and more to come I am sure.

Sometimes, when we are clouded by problems and when it seems too much for us to handle.. we forget that (like Jon's blog entry) it may be a problem to us.. but it's definitely not a problem to God. TY's prayer today said "He is our Creator, therefore everything is in His control and how can a problem be bigger than Him since He is the Creator of all things?" The giants in biblical times are the problems in our lives. Many times we forget how God rescued and delivered us countless of times out of any situation, be it big or small. Yet when faced with a problem, we start looking inwards ..like me.. "Why like dat? Uurrghh.. " instead of looking upwards, believing that God not only can help u .. believing that God WILL help u.

I truly wanna thank my heavenly father for everything .. for all that He did to deliver me out of Egypt. Thank you for the timely reminder that no problem is too great for You and that I can always lean on You to carry me through.