Face it!!! I'm converted! I love my new phone!
1) It's coolz
2) It enables me to be connected to the latest news. (I can finally read the papers regularly with this new power phone. No more complains of not being able to sit down & read the papers cuz I need to rush out of the house
3) Some of the iPhone apps are really useful and fun. E.g. TransGuide, Dictionary, Bejeweled2 etc
But then again, there are also downside and dangers with such a power phone.
A) Parents don't blur blur just get the phone for your kids. Some of the apps are adult-content and not suitable for children. *shake head*
B) My new Singtel plan is TOTALLY EXPENSIVE....................SOBS....................... 1st bill is already a shocking $112...
So there are always pros and cons. Do your research first before jumping in to the iPhone craze!!!!
Kermit is finally back!!!
Hetic days at work, a CCA camp, a church camp, a personal holiday!!!
I'm back to more writings!!! :)
I'm planning to start a book review blog soon perhaps. What ya think???
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest... perfect peace.
Which picture do you think won the prize?
The King chose the second picture. Do you know why? "Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
Isaiah 26:2-4You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
Just came back from Swiss & jumped straight into a work trip in Malaysia then right into my church camp in St John's island. In total I was away from home for about two weeks. Thankfully my mom was very understanding. Totally busy recently I would love to share more about my wonderful holiday otherwise.
Switzerland - Awesome land of natural beauty
Snowy alps - when u're that close to them, right there with them, woah! the feeling is indescribable. Want to go back again someday
Conquering the mountains! - That's the mountain we conquered. 2.5hrs to trek down. Some parts were so steep we feared for our lives if we missed our footsteps. Definitely memorable journey. At the foot of the mountain though we can't see any possible path from which we could have trekked down from but in our hearts we know there is a way that we came down. Different angle, different perception. I wonder if He's smiling. Looking up or peering down - the view's different.
Arise warriors arise!
A four-year-old boy was finally put into time-out after battling with his mother. "Sit in that chair until the timer goes off," the mother said in frustration. The boy sat down, fearing greater punishment, but said, "Okay, Mommy. I'm sitting on the outside, but I'm standing up on the inside!"
Last weekend wasn't fantastic. Had a misunderstand that lead to much frustration & anguish. Half of me was battling to do the right thing, the other part of me offered nice little excuses & reasons not to. Put it simply I felt lousy & defeated. Yucky yucks feeling.
After a while of self pity & guilt I woke up one morning with this sudden thought that popped in my head. "You're a warrior. Warriors fight, warriors emerge victorious."
Woah woah woah. It's pretty amazing. As suddenly as it came I suddenly realized that though I was a warrior on the outside (My church's theme for 2007 is everyone of us are warriors of light) but really inside of me I wasn't one.
Well whimpy warrior no more. And my favourite female warrior is non other than Hua Mu Lan! Yeah! Arise warriors arise! 
"WinDz: Hey, haven't visited for a longggg time . Didn't know you were married ! xDDD"
I had a minor shock then burst into laughter when I saw the tag from an ex-student! (Hey there WinDz no offence eh to use your tag as a story! I'm inspired that's all! :P)
Eventually I'll be married WinDz but currently I'm not a Mrs yet!!! :) So who are these people calling me mummy. I'm not into adoption either. keke! I've to do a bit of history digging here. These are my extremely close bunch of church mates. So close that we're "related" literally.
My friend invited me to a Christian rally years ago and there was no looking back. From someone who disliked anything related to Christians previously somehow I became more open to going church. It must be a miracle. A good miracle at that! Started attending church with Penny & that girl wanted to join a cell group! OMG she actually called church to asked how to join one. Anyway being good frens that's how I got dragged into one. *But heys Penny dear, thanks!!
In church I've a spiritual family & belong to one. My spiritual "mother" Serene is a lovely mum! I've learnt so much from her. She'll always avail herself to listen when I'm troubled. Best of all, she believed in me even when I don't myself.
From a shy, suspicious, angry, uptight person. I'm glad to say I'm much happier, more confident, learning to trust & enjoy having some lame & fun now. Thanks be to God! Who loves us & has a wonderful plan for each of our lives.
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(You know I must be really excited to be blogging at such a weird timing - Yes of course! I've just completed my scheduling for my Australia trip, hopefully can confirm the air tickets tomorrow. keke)
I'll be going for my holidays soon! Oh I'm so excited!!! Previously I've only travelled to the Asian countries like Thailand, India and China (oh yes China. Will be there again next year. Join my team in Chengdu to help the vagabond children!)
It was pretty interesting actually. A fren of mine asked if I would like to visit Switzerland with her. My immediate response was "NO"! I'm not someone who spurges on holidays to destress plus the fact that I'm planning for a long awaited family trip to Australia soon; money and annual leave are huge concerns. However almost immediately this other thought came into my mind (seriously the brain is really powerful; mine is! It's like in a split second so many things have flashed passed my brain monitor) "Oh Cynthia you ulu turtle, haven't seen much of the world ya". I paused for a moment. dotz dotz dotz. It's true. The last time I went for a real playing holiday was after my graduation to Redang Island with my friends. Well long story cut short -> I've been bubbling with excitement since then. Snowy mountains here I come!
Many good things have actually came out of this decision to go for the trip. Money/savigns became something that I started thinking about seriously. I can no longer be satisfed with my current savings. Rather I need to replenish them to a healthy level again. (Love for money is the root of all evil. True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.) Dun worry I'm not going crazy on a money finding spree. But I'm now on the lookout of finding some good skills or a personal forte. A good skill that I can leverage on wherever I go in future.
After a week of seeking. Ta-da! This is my first option! COOKING! I used to cook when I was younger. I stopped trying to cook for my family when I got really busy studying etc. Oily kitchen is a no no. So it's not just any cooking. Probably healthy cooking. Minus the frying and the whatever that will stink the kitchen and make the floor oily.
Okies. Enough said. Gotta pick up a cookbook soon. 
Met up with a fren recently. Lynn & I didn't know each other for long but we hit off pretty well. She was going overseas to study really soon so we arranged to meet up, have a drink before she files off to pursue her dream.
She's going off for two years in Switzerland to study watch-making. Isn't that cool cool cool! It's not really the kind of profession that would come immediately to the mind of a typical Singaporean. Most of us dream about being a doctor, businessman, teacher, banker, dentist, actor etc etc.
I asked Lynn why she chose that course and she says that it was a chance opportunity that that she heard of the course from a close church friend. Incidentally around the same period of time she found out about a distant relative of hers who has been in the industry. She tried it out a little at his place, feels that it suits her personality; considered about it, discussed with her parents and mentors, flew over to Switzerland for the entry test and passed the interview. (Not everyone have a knack for handling watches you know!) And the rest is history.
Here's the link for your reference. http://www.wostep.ch
WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Technical & Educational Program): a unique institution in its field. WOSTEP is an independent and neutral institution that is recognised as an exemplary training centre in the field of watchmaking. The WOSTEP courses can be held in English, French, German and Italian.
I admire her courage and daring to step out of her comfort zone. How many of us truly have a dream and know what we want? I can't even say that I already know that for myself. Well, I know what I don't want and roughly what I want. But to really really confidently say I know my dream... not really really yet. It's complicated. Ya, it is. So start thinking about it early! You're never too late. At least don't drag anymore. At least you have chance to trial and error along the way.
Go for it young people. Explore your various strenghts, interests & talents early. (Yes to study hard but don't just mug in the sea of books all the time) It will help you in making some decisons along the way. :) 
From Lynn (when I asked if I could share her story) - Pursue your dreams. Nothing is impossible with God!!
Guild Rules & Regulations:
I teach. (*nopes I'm not a teacher, keep trying .... if u wish... hahhaha)
One of the things I teach is Cyber-Grab (Piracy... Burning & ripping CDs to MP3... pirated VCDs... software....games...plagarism etc etc).
I love to share a personal example of what I heard our wise teacher Mr Hee Guan shared with us before. There was once during our gathering Mr Hee Guan gathered us (as best as i could quote him):
"Hey young people you know... life is not easy.... In our life people can steal many different and precious things from us. Our happiness, $$$, loved ones or even virginity (in some bad cases la). But there's ONE thing, ONE precious thing in your life which no one one can ever steal away from you though you may choose to throw it away yourselves. Do you know what is it?
(I thought really hard but no smart answer)
And that one thing is your I*N*T*E*G*R*I*T*Y "
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Wow!!!! What a big word...integrity... what's that??? I was already in the university then but this word came as a big word to me. Well I'm the cheena, chinese kind. Big words like that requires me to check the dictionary.
I*N*T*E*G*R*I*T*Y is more than honesty. It's choosing to do the right things even when no one is looking.
At that point in time I secretly wished that I could have heard it earlier because I was reminded how I throw my integrity away on a daily basis. The earlier days before our current ezy-link card system comes about, Singapore still uses transit-link card. With transit-link card bus commuters select the bus fare themselves. The bus ride from my home to the university is more than an hour, that is about the full fare of $1.00 or $1.20 but I will select the 65cents fare regardless of how long the bus journey is - rationalizing within myself that my family is not rich and I need to save whatever spare I could to better use. Choosing to do the right thing is super difficult can.....but I've come to learn that it's not impossible.
Just try for the 1st three times doing it. And you realized that it gets less & less difficult each time. Usually it's the first time that seems unattainable. But that's rubbish I assure you. Remember -> the brain becomes what the brain does.
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Back to sharing with my students:
With the evolvement of technology & the Net there is now more & more greys areas. Pirated vcds, cds... seems like so many people out there are doing it..... how do u share with the kids..... or even convince them of something tat's so precious (integrity) Man..... (I need help). Though many people out there are doing it doesn't mean it is right. I think I was given a chance to go thru the 65cents days so i can have a good laugh over myself for the NOW as well.
HAHAHA.
But one day... just be prepared.... one fine day the volcano will still explode cause it's full!!! :(
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Won't you like to prevent a volcano's continuous eruption? Eruption is not good. It's destructive to others & self.
Whenever I erupt. I would feel very very guilty after that. I'll just share something which I've learnt before. It's known as A, B, C. (It's a thought process that guide you step by step to better understand yourself)
Activating event
- Scolded by mother
Consequences/Consequential action
- Bang the door as I go out to show my unhappiness at being scolded
Belief system
- My mom doesn't love me
Basically because of my belief system (mother don't love me) I banged the door as an act of protest. Since she doesn't love me I bang the door she also won't care what.
In actual fact this couldn't be further away from the truth. I remember that I felt guilty after that and called home to apologize after much deliberation. She sounded really sad & said that "sorry" very easy to say but it's difficult to recover from the hurt inside.
My perception of my mom was incorrect. She loves me. She loves me enough to feel hurt by my actions.
Thank God that was years back & things has improved.
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Many times people jump from A -> C-> B. But A -> B-> C is really the way to go. If we could pause a little longer to think and ask ourself what's our belief system (B) is. Then we will be able to manage our consequential actions & feelings (C) better. In my case if I know that my mom loves me then I probably would not have banged the door knowing that it will sadden her. The plus point is we probably will end up a happier person as well. :)
I'm sorry this turned out to be a complicated posting. Are you confused by all the words???? Leave me a comment perhaps & we can discuss further.
A better title than the above can be "Anger Management". But I prefer "I am MAD".
It's usually not a nice sight when someone is angry (which realistically prompted me to find the most ugly picture around)
Personally I tend to just sulk and frown & coop it inside & hope that it will go away soon. Then I go all quiet. My good friend always tell me that much as I try to act normal she can easily tell when I'm mad. hahha...
What's your first reaction when you get upset?
1) Fly into a temper?2) Let out a word or two to ease the frustration?
3) Coop it all inside yourself & hope it goes away?
From my personal experience. Option 3 is not that great a choice. I can keep keep keep & try to stack it deep deep down inside. But one day... just be prepared.... one fine day the volcano will still explode cause it's full!!! :(
Continuation from when I first lost my voice check it out here
As of today I got 20% of my voice back. But still can't exert can feel the strain in the throat. Checked out with a doctor friend of mine. Most probably it's acute inflammation due to virus. Usually resolves within 3 weeks. Though it was actually quite fun in the start not being able to talk but it soon turn to exasperation in some occasions. But there were some good & funny stuff that came out of this as well.
**I took a cab on Friday and had to resort to typing my destination on sms to show the cab driver. When I alighted the uncle insisted on taking $10 from me though the meter was reading $10.60. I was really touched. To think that I was still hallucinating what if he drive me to some ulu place & I'm not able to shout for help. Thanks uncle though I didn't manage to see your car plate number. God bless you!
** I'm currently speaking in a whispery voice now not using my vocal cords. Previously I sounded like an orc from Lord of the Rings when I could speak a little. And to my amusement some of my gal-friends replied back in the small little whisper. Some of them really forgot. Funny!
** My mom was really worried for me before she left for holiday with my dad. She was like "You cannot talk still go to work for what!!!!" Much as I tried to hand-signal that though I lost my voice my body could still pretty much function. Anyway I did went for another check on Thursday as I was also getting worried about this sudden lost of voice. To my greatest amazement the doctor gave me 2 days MC. She said that viral infection unlike bacteria infection needs the body immune system to be strong & fight the virus so the body should rest as much as possible. Mommy's right! :p Oh my sister bought me voice gums too. So nice of her!
** And my kind colleagues who covered my duties as well.
** I wondered alot why I lost my voice without any rhyme or reason. I haven't fully understand yet. I shall keep asking I'm sure everything happens for a reason & there is no concidence! TELL ME WHY WHY WHY!
I lost my voice! Hasn't been able to talk since Monday. And I don't even know the cause of it. I didn't shout too much (no lesson these days) nor did I overeat on spicy stuff.
Sunday -> Weak voice
==Went to see doctor==
Monday -> Pain, no voice, got MC
Tuesday -> No pain, no voice
Wednesday -> No pain, no voice
Thursday -> I'm going to see the doctor again :(
Now I can only use my mobile phone to type out a message / write on paper / type on Word document if I want to communicate to others. Also I realized one other thing. When I'm sick I can display a really unhappy & black face. That was Tuesday when I went back to work. Anyway my family and colleagues were still very kind to me so I felt kinda bad after that. Okies 过就过了，明天会更好! (Translated: What is passed is passed, tomorrow is a better day!)
I couldn't sleep after I saw the papers. It's about ten plus years since I was still in secondary school. Back then life was so peaceful, innocent. I wonder if one of the reasons was that I couldn't be bothered to read the newspapers then - the busyness of exams and school was my entire world then. (A pretty small world ya. Hahas)
And I couldn't find the answer which I've been asking myself in the recent years (since I've started working) why things have became so warped so ugly in such a short span of time.
Anyway I saw something which helped a little...
Quoted by Mr Huang Sabin:
* People are never our enemy - evil is. We must love people and fight evil
* We must fight evil using God's power, not our own
Quite funny but as I planned to write this porn series I realized that though I don't go onto the Net often I had my fair share of porn disruption in my peaceful life => BEWARE porn will try to find it's way to you...better think of how to fight it before you fall victim to it.
I used to wonder why people would want to watch porn after my first disgusting experience. Yucks! (Pride comes before a fall, don't ever be too sure of yourself)
Many months later there was a day that I was alone at home. I saw a disc lying around in my house. I seriously don't know what came over me but there was no one at home and soon I found myself sitting in front of the TV watching it. Even as I was watching I was so afraid that someone would come home that I actually latched my door. Bad Kermit...
Did I enjoy watching it?
.
.
.
.
.
Couldn't be further from the truth. After watching it, I felt absolutely stupid & guilty.... worse... it also affected me in days to come.
.
.
.
.
.
I became rather perverted after that. I often find myself stealing glances at girls who are scantily dressed. Tube top/mini skirts/two strings etc. I felt very bad and disgusted about myself. What's wrong with me???? Bad bad Kermit...
.
.
.
This continued for some time until I finally pluck up my courage & shared my dark secret with a church friend. She did not condemn me but listened patiently. And at the end of our conversation she prayed for me.
Thankfully things started improving after that. I was less drawn to see things that I shouldn't be seeing.
Think twice before you start. Easy to stumble in but hard to get out.
P.S: Drop me an email at kermittee@hotmail.com if you need someone to share with.
Ever wondered if pornography has effects on girls? Read on...
I had my computer & Internet connection about 8 years ago when I was in junior college. I starting exchanging emails with one of my male cousin who's 2 years younger than me. One day I received an email from him with a picture attachment titled "BradPitt" that got me all excited. Brad Pitt was one of my fave movie stars back then & he was described as the sexiest man alive!!! No joke k!
I double clicked on the file & it's Brad Pitt all right - a naked one. 100% uncovered. Man.... I was so upset. I just shot back an email warning my cousin not to send me such stuff again else I'm going to tell his mother. Well... I didn't any receive any email from him for a long long time after that.
Looking back my cousin must have thought it was funny. But the truth is I was really really offended by what I saw. I didn't even ask for it!!!
8 years later....
If I shut my eyes now I can still see that yucky picture vaguely in my mind. What I saw for that split second became imprinted in my mind for the last 8 years. It's just stuck there much as I've tried to forget :(
If you're given a choice to choose today "Are you prepared to carry these filthy images with you"???
I've been thinking about this for quite some time. However a part of me was a little apprehensive as well. I mean who am I to talk about female wellness - I don't think I'm there yet.
Just this morning I heard a pretty sad story from the terror of Bukit Merah about a gal in her early teens. I knew her not too long ago too though not well. Still I was saddenend. (I shouldn't go into details here)
As such finally moving from just being excited about the term female wellness I'm now going to start on it. This sense of urgency is good.
Anyway a new revelation. One key reason why I can stand tall & be free to share about female wellness. Well.... who's best to talk about female wellness than a gal herself! Plus all my manly guy colleagues already have their manly topics to talk about & I really don't wish to see them turn girlish/womanly suddenly. EEEEKS!!! *shivers* :P
Stay tuned!