25.06.06 - Wedded Bliss..

Karen's wedding gown..

Slippers.. Cinderella's glass slippers?!

Mr and Mrs Joe Cheok

has it been that long?? pauliesthots #2

Well.. it's been only 12 days since my last blog and well.. that was a real entry anyways..

so the last real entry was july 3.. hmm.. 25 days have passed..

obviously there's many moments which i would have like to blog abt.. but by the time i come online.. the mood is not there.. or i forget..

there was a phrase which Pastor Cara mentioned during one of her preaching.. could be about 3/4 wks ago.. about "not needing it, but wanting it.."

can't remember the context that she was talkin abt.. but it has been sticking in my head.. and i guess it could be used in other situations..

for example.. we don't need to go an extra mile for someone.. but we want to do it.. coz we love them..

hmm.. mayb its a lousy illustration.. but i think.. that if you WANT to do something.. it's more POWERFUL .. than when it's only a NEED..

in WANT.. there's the self initiative/involment/desire..
in NEED.. it's like its a default thingy..

soounds contradicting rite?? for instance.. oxygen.. we NEED it or else we can't breathe.. wouldn't it be important too??

but I guess what my theory is.. it's about an individual's level of commitment.. WANT > need.. =P

what else have been happening??

there was nellie's bday.. her house is really cosy.. the choc fondue was a brilliant idea.. might get one of those thingy when i moved into a place of my own.. but i think those normal pot is sufficient.. instead of the machine.. oh well..

i alwiz wondered.. if getting an ice cream machine would be practical.. guess when i have spare $$ to spend.. i might get one and.. hav ice cream and pancake parties.. haha!!

it's been a while since i made pancakes.. can't wait til i shift into my own place.. and of course.. can't wait til peak is over.. more time to laze ard during the weekends..

well.. it's a good thing that sean is living with me now.. he is doing all the cooking.. got him to pack my sandwiches as well.. think he is amazed at how little i have for lunch.. lolz..

i really hope that we can move out soon.. being stuck in the same room as him.. is not very healthy..

like yesterday.. he was talking to his "best fren" frm msia thru skype.. but not the free one.. he actually pays for it.. coz he calls her house phone..

yup.. i was hopping mad.. i mean.. here is technology which provides free facilities.. but you want to pay $$.. i mean wat's wrong with msn?? cannot type meh?? have to call her?? not even girlfriend lar..

drives me nuts to see him wasting $$ like that..

yesterday was a bad example.. coz i was working OT til 10ish.. so just imagine me seeing him burn cash like that..

i have to evaluate myself.. am i that $$ minded??

i don't think that i hold onto $$ so tightly..

just that.. i dislike him being so careles with his mgmt of $$..

i don't like ppl who think $$ drop from the sky..

of course he has improved a lot from day one.. but still not enuf..

guess i'm just a control freak hey.. sighz..

thank God he listened to me and applied for the McD's job.. or else i would skin him alive for spending $$ faster than he is earning $$..

i guess i dowan him to fall under the world's influence.. spending things on credit..

so many ppl have gotten themselves in deep shit.. bcoz of the introduction of "credit"..

of course without loans and credit line.. most of us won't be able to own a home or something that significant in our lifetime..

but we must have self control in small things.. so that when it comes to big things.. we are able to manage our finances properly??

guess this has turned into a bitching session.. *haiz*..

moving onto something else..

What are dreams??

Does it have any form of reality?? Does it have any resemblance to things that have occured or things to come??

A while back.. i dreamt that someone closed to me died.. and recently.. well just this week.. i dreamt another dream.. well it shld be called nightmare.. that someone close to me died.. and this time.. i can really remember.. i cried.. a lot.. coz i woke up.. and there were tears all over my face..

I really hope that it has no bearing in future events.. maybe I have been working too hard..

Things like these .. makes me ponder about what am I doing here.. away from my family.. my parents.. my granny.. about the times when I was still living under the same roof.. but did not take the time to communicate with them.. did not sit down and catch a tv series with them.. instead.. if i am at home.. i would be on the comp.. playing games, chatting online.. stuff which is so short term.. and non significant..

As a result of the above incidents.. I am planning a trip back at the end of the year.. to visit my parents and granny.. parents are away teaching in Phil now .. and granny is in SG with my uncle and family.. talked to her the other day.. and she ws asking when i was coming back for visit.. guess i should not disappoint her.. even though it will cost $$$$$$... but $$ can be earned again.. time passes by and will never return..

Doncha just hate growing up.. so much to think about..

Would have to catch up with my fav aunt as well.. haven't been in contact with her much since events in life which has separated us all..

funny how things would have been.. if i had match make her with some of the uncles at church.. sighz.. bo pian lar.. no point in looking at things in retrospect..

i would be sighing all night..

of more recent occurings..

had dim sum last sat with Pastor Stewart.. wanted to have it at Joy Garden.. but as usual.. it was a freaking long wait.. approx. 45 mins wait.. couldnt wait that long.. went to Riverside instead.. of course not as much variety and i guess doesnt taste as good.. oh well.. it's the fellowship that matters..

talked about stuff.. but 2 things which was brought up.. girls and ministry.. haha..

no relation to one another.. but i told him that.. sadly but truly.. no prospect frm the church.. and ministry.. i confided to him that i did teach sunday school back in KL.. so i have given him permission to enlist me into the ministry.. albeit discussion with aunty connie.. i thought that was that.. as i did not mention anything abt youth ministry.. but came sunday.. or was it this week at cheryl's bday.. i was given more bad news.. something along the lines of helping with cell grp.. talk about being stuffed..

for certain.. i would be OK to help with either the small kids or the primary school kids for Sunday School.. but cell group is a different thing altogether.. and I don't really have the heart or inspiration there at the moment.. will continue to seek the Lord.. everywhere is lacking of manpower and guy leaders.. but I can't just simply jump into every desperate situation.. i would love to help.. helping is one of my core abilities.. but being a hero or a zero is 2 different things.. and if it's just a NEED instead of a WANT.. then more than likely.. i would become a ZERO..

a bit of work.. i think i might be sensing some form of resentment or frustration from my colleague.. as she is getting a lot of jobs.. and she's feeling the pressure and she made the comment about how she's paid less than me..

i guess it's true.. more $$, do more work.. but then you have to be able to bargain your salary lar.. if your raise isn't enuff.. it's not my fault lor.. nothing is ever goin to be the same alwiz.. like earlier this year.. i was working hard and stressed up shitless.. but she was just in the office.. doing planning..

not trying to make comparisons.. but just depends on the jobs that we get assigned to lor.. most of my jobs are still hanging due to client's f$%^ stupid managing of their accounts.. so when they get their act together.. i'm sure i'm gonna be in deepshit too.. come deadline time..

but my heart goes out to her.. she's been working really long hours.. and she's soft and all lar.. might end up sick... think she's really contemplating resignation liao.. that would be bad news for me... she's like the last of the core grp members.. sighz.. i would have to plan my exit if she does leave.. coz i am afraid her engagements might spill over to me.. that would be worrying.. and my fav jr has expressed his intent to leave as well.. before december.. coz he doesnt want to be ard doing the interim work for all the shit jobs..

i really need to get my act together and start thinking of the alternatives available..

thanks to the stupid CPA mentoring program.. i might just have to continue working until mid next year.. just so i dont have to change mentor.. it's such a stupid program.. @#$%#^&%^

oh yes.. went for dinner buffet at Ms Maud.. pretty much the same stuff as the lunch buffet.. except for the yabbis and oysters..

which i think its pretty crap anyways.. do not like oysters and yabbis has no meat whatsoever...

next place for buffet would be either hyatt or sheraton.. thank God for the Entertainment Book..

oh yar.. Korean food.. real yum.. is Shilla's @ East Perth.. fine dining one..

a cheaper alternative is Seoul Garden @ William St, Northbridge.. to me.. i think the meat and sauce taste about the same.. just that the price and ambience is different lor..

but other ppl might differ.. so if you want to impress your company for the night and $$ is not an issue.. then Shilla's is the place to go.. and there's discount too if you are an Entertainment Book Card Holder..

last thing to mention.. thanks to Chi Chi, Vicky and Seano for the wonderful time I had 2 sundays ago.. had an impromptu dinner.. and sometime to catch up with one another.. really good time.. this is the sort of activity that i enjoy most.. prolly bcoz i'm an old fart now.. lolz.. no more clubs for me.. just makan and chat over coffee in small groups will be sufficient.. and those questions at the end.. was really hilarious.. there should be classes conducted by Aunty Chi Chi for the uni powerhouse girls, doncha think so.. Aunty Chi Chi?! =P

50th entry on BS..

Prayer request..

Guys.. if you can.. pls uphold my parents as they will be teaching on the following dates and i think it's kinda tight schedule esp. when they aren't getting any younger..

16 to 31st July - Philippines;
5 to 14th August - Indonesia;
25 to 27th August - St Paul & FGAKL;
1 - 3rd Sept - Kuantan; and
October - Indonesia.

I wonder if my granny is at home or back in SG.. will hav to give her a buzz and see how's she doing.. someone pls remind me to do that!! =)

Did I marry the RIGHT person?

DID I MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON?

During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question.
She said,"How do I know if I married the right person?"

I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said,
"It depends. Is that your husband?"
In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?"

Let me answer this question because the chances are good that it's
weighing on your mind. Here's the answer.

EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with
your spouse. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked
their idiosyncrasies.

Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it was a
completely natural and spontaneous experience.

You didn't have to DO anything.
That's why it's called "falling" in love...
Because it's happening TO YOU.

People in love sometimes say, "I was swept of my feet."
Think about the imagery of that _expression.
It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing,
and then something came along and happened TO YOU.

Falling is love is easy. It's a passive and spontaneous experience.
But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria of love fades.
It's the natural cycle of EVERY relationship.
Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all),
touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry
the right person?" And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of
the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with
someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their
spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for
fulfillment.

Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is
the most obvious. But sometimes people turn to work, church, a hobby, a
friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances. But the answer to this
dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it. I'm not
saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else. You could.

And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a
few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S
LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER
just happen to you. You can't "find" LASTING love. You have to "make" it
day in and day out. That's why we have the _expression "the labor of
love." Because it takes time, effort, and energy. And most importantly,
it takes WISDOM.
You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work.

Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific
things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your
marriage.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there
are also laws for relationships. Just as the right diet and exercise
program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your
relationship WILL make your marriage stronger. It's a direct cause and
effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable...
you can "make" love.


Love in marriage is indeed a "decision"... Not just a feeling.

When Did You Fall - Chris Rice

When Did You Fall
Chris Rice

You’re all smiles and silly conversation
As if this sunny day came just for you
You twist your hair, you smile, and you turn your eyes away
C’mon, tell me what’s right with you
Now it dawns on me probably everybody’s talkin’
And there’s something here I’m supposed to realize
‘Cause your secret’s out, and the universe laughs at its joke on me
I just caught it in your eyes, it’s a beautiful surprise

When did you fall in love with me?
Was it out of the blue
‘Cause I swear I never knew it
When did you let your heart run free?
Have you been waiting long?
When did you fall in love with me?
When did you fall in love?

Make your way over here, sit down by this fool, and let’s rewind
C’mon, let’s go back and replay all our scenes
You can point out the hints, the clues, the twists and the smiles this time
All the ones that slipped by me
I bet my face is red, and you can hear my heart poundin’
Well I guess it don’t matter now that I realize
‘Cause baby I missed it then, but I can surely see you now
Right here before my eyes
You’re my beautiful surprise

When did you fall in love with me?
Was it out of the blue
‘Cause I swear I never knew it
When did you let your heart run free?
Have you been waiting long?
When did you fall in love with me?
When did you fall in love?

Was it at the coffee shop
Or that morning at the bus stop
When you almost slipped, and I caught your hand
Or the time we built the snowman
The day at the beach, sandy and warm
Or the night with the scary thunderstorm
I never saw the signs
Now we’ve got to make up for lost time
And I can tell now by the way that you’re looking at me
I’d better finish this song so my lips will be free

Have you been waiting long, when did you fall in love
I kept you waiting so long, when did you fall
Have you been waiting long
When did you fall in love with me
When did you fall in love?

PKF Perth's annual ball, Parmelia Hilton - Corporate Services boy's table..

Fascination ft Kem

It was fascination, I know

And it might have ended at the start

A passing glance, a brief romance

And I might have gone on my way empty-hearted, empty-hearted



It was fascination, I know

Seeing you under the moonlight above, baby

And I touch your hand and I kiss you

and fascination turned to love



My fascination turned to love, oh baby, yeahh

My fascination, girl, ohh, turned to love



Fascination, I know

That it might have ended at the start

A passing glance, a brief romance

And I might have gone on my way empty-hearted



Fascination, oh and I know, I know babe

Seeing you under, under the moonlight, moonlight above

Baby I, I touch ur hand

And I kiss you baby

Oh girl



And my, my fascination, my fascination

Turned to love

Fascination oh, my, my, my fascination girl

Turned to love

My fascination turned to love

Fascination

pauliesthots

Don't you ever wished that you had more guts/balls/iron will.. to do that something you so wanted to do..
However due to the lack of the above.. you just let it go.. and well.. you would never know what the outcome might be..

Jobs, relationships, studies, opportunities that might have made a 360 change to your life.. had you taken it..

Guess I'm just in the reflective pms mood right now.. *listening to Que Sera, Que Sera by Sly and the Family Stone; a track from the movie, Take the Lead* nice slow remix of the oldies..

Another nice track.. slow easy ballad.. "Fascination by Kem.."

Today's been a cloudy day.. drizzling here and there..

Was looking thru my friendster page and goin thru my buddies pics.. wondering how they are.. missing those good old times.. missing their company..

Missing Malaysia.. missing Brissy.. sighz =(

Well.. I think the most important thing to learn from this round of reflection is to stop dwelling in the past.. and to seize the opportunity when it comes.. no more waiting and pondering..

I need to move fast.. I'm in the prime of my life.. and there's still time to make mistakes and pick up from there.. Now is the time to go through the pains of life and learn through experiences..

Of course it's not like I'm gung ho to make mistakes and suffer the pain and all.. but I need to do something with my life.. and get out of the box.. I think I have been playing too safe in the 25 years of my life thus far..

And yes.. this entry might sound all about me.. which should also involve seeking His directions.. afterall He knows the best for me..

Need to quieten down and ask for signs and wonders.. =)

I think I am half way there to my 2 year goal in Perth.. need to be planning on what goes on after this..

Been good meeting people and all .. establishing my aussie audit career.. but there needs to be a new action plan..

I just hope that I was able to make a difference here somehow.. although I have been less than willing to do much.. perhaps not wanting to commit myself fully, afraid that I might just fall in love and not leave..

Commitment phobic.. that's the latest thing I figured abt myself..

That's one reason why I quit dancing.. too much commitment required.. don't have enough time for myself.. what with bz season coming on..

Oh well.. no regrets.. will be able to resume it in the future..

Thanksgiving time..

During the last one month, God's been really helping me bigtime..

I managed to pass my last CPA paper.. thus completing the last of 5 papers.. so no more worries of exams in the near future.. =)

and then.. there's the end of financial year promotions/performance reviews.. although I didn't get promoted.. (loads of excuses frm mgmt on this issue.. but will not get into it.. ) the increment which I spelt out to the bosses to keep me happy was satisfied.. so I'm happy for now.. but it's all thanks to Him.. don't think that I would have gotten it without His help.. just hoping that I haven't squeeze all my blessings dry.. =P

I guess He always know when it's time to remind me of His provisions for me..

And I guess He is reminding me of something major that He would indeed pull off for me..

Updated LiquorShop

Hard Liquor

1. Absolut Vodka - 1 Liter
2. Kahlua - 1 Liter
3. Baileys - 1 Liter (OPENED)
4. Jim Bean (Bourbon) - 1 Liter
5. Chivas Regal (12 yo) Scotch Whisky - 1.14 Liter
6. Cognac Camus XR - 1 Liter
7. Moet & Chandon Champagne (Brut Imperial) - 750 ml
8. Jack Daniel's (Whiskey) - 1 litre
9. Bacardi Rum - 1 litre

Wino

Red

1. Jane Brook - Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (1)
2. Annie's Lane, Clare Valley - Shiraz 2003 (2)
3. Xanadu, Margaret River - Secession; Shiraz Cabernet 2004 (1)
4. Jacob's Creek, Barossa Valley - Reserve; Shiraz 2003 (4)
5. Jacob's Creek, Barossa Valley - Reserve; Shiraz 2002 (1)
6. Jacob's Creek, Barossa Valley - Orlando; Shiraz Cabernet 2000 (1)
6. Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River - Prelude Vineyards; Cabernet Merlot 2002 (1)

White

1. Xanadu, Margaret River - Show Reserve; Semillon 2000 (1)
2. Vogager Estate, Margaret River - Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2005 (1)
3. Amberly Estate, Margaret River - Chimney Brush; Chenin Blanc 2005 (2)
4. Brown Brothers, Milawa - Moscato 2005 (1)
5. Jacob's Creek, Barossa Valley - Orlando; Chardonnay 2002 (1)

Beer

Some Becks/ James Squire/Asahi/Corona/Crown Lager/Grolsch/Ginger beer.. ^_^


Additions

Reds

1. Taylors, Clare Valley - Promised Land, Cabernet Merlot 2004 (1)
2. Taylors, Clare Valley - Shiraz 2004 (1)
3. d Arenberg, McLaren Vale - The High Trellis, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (1)
4. Penfolds, Barossa Valley - Thomas Hyland, Shiraz 2004 (1)
5. Leasingham, Clare Valley - Shiraz bin 61 2002 (1)

White
1. Amberly Estate, Margaret River - Chimney Brush; Chenin Blanc 2005 (1)