Singapore Garden Festival 2008

Had been marking this event in my calendar...was reminiscing the days in Melbourne when I went for their Garden Festival...really really liked it then....and was another excuse to take some pretty nice photos......So, here I was on one of my weekends off....lobbed my camera with me with anticipation......

Here's some snapshots of what I saw there....










The Fantasy Gardens...



F04- Rose of Glendalough




Memories of a Water Village - reminiscing of Jiangnan




F01- Seeking Shangri-La (one of the best exhibits!)



My favourite- IMBIZO yase Afrika exhibit...really nice arrangements with pretty wild flowers!!!




This was one of the more interesting ones - The ModGod Garden which showcases a contemporary homage to 2 'gods' of the modern era - Marilyn Monroe (and Mao on the opposite side)!!!


My favourite shots from this collection of photos I took:


























Orchids, orchids and more orchids....




















All in all....a fruitful trip...although the lighting at the exhibit leaves much to be desired.....and I missed the outdoor segment of the Melbourne one....but all in all it was pretty nice to be there!!!

Check out their website: www.singaporegardenfestival.com

Proverbs 14: 10

Came across one of my favourite verses in Proverbs during my QT today....

" Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy."
- PROVERBS 14: 10


How true!! Was just pondering on the reality and truth of this verse in my life......realised that its truth hit home a couple of years ago whilst I was still studying in Uni...but its amazing how the word of God never fails to strike me with its honesty and simplicity!!!

Indeed, after a very traumatic week last Friday at work, was all ready to give up all over again. Just wanted throw in the towel and quit my job...felt that I stink at what I do......a total disgrace to my profession....however, I guess God never gives up on us even when we give up on ourselves!!

Thank you Lord for understanding and giving me encouragement in my work! Thank you for providing moments when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.....

The Daily Scoop

Had some time off work early today...decided with YL to get some ice-cream from a nearby ice-cream shop...called the ' The Daily Scoop' at Sunset way... check out their website at www.thedailyscoop.com.sg

Had great fun tasting all their flavours - like the new Salted Mr. Brown ( brown sugar plus sea salt ?!?).....

Check out their list of 'novel' flavours!!!





Wasabi Mango - ohlala! the spicyness hits just the right spot

Xtra Stout! - love your Horlicks? then revel in our grown up concoction of malt and Guinness Stout ice cream

Jaffa Choc - our orange marmalade ice cream jazzed up with a generous spread of dark citrus chocolate fudge

Choc 'O' Fruity - apricots, cranberries and dark choc almonds folded into a decadent white choc ice cream

Utterly Avocado - a perfect blend of avocado and gula melaka, it's real sedap!

Minty Mint - perfect on a hot hot day. A minty ice cream with dark choc mint chunks makes this flavour doubly cool!

Chilli Choc - NOT for the fainthearted! Count to 10 and feel the burn, tempered with our dark chocolate ice cream

Cherry Brandy - a boozy blackforest with brandied cherries and a dark chocolate brandy swirl

Lime & Black Pepper - packs a real punch! First with tangy lime then with spicy pepper

Nutty Macadamia - a real classic: macadamia ice cream with lotsa roasted macadamia nuts

Kookie Monster - so chockfull of cookies, we're sure the big blue monster would approve

SoBerry Cheez - there's no better name for this strawberry, raspberry, cranberry cheesecake ice cream

Peach Bum! - need a buddy to chill out with? a tub of our peach yoghurt ice cream fits the bill

Banana Fantasy - chocolate ice cream, caramelized bananas, chocolatey fudge sauce...this flavour is for real.

Sensual Tiramisu - prepare to be enamored... captivated... enchanted... (you get the idea...)

Brandied Figs & Honey - absolute decadence! sweet figs steeped in brandy mixed into a fragrant honey ice cream

Green Tea & Red Beans - a special combination of sweet whole red beans folded into green tea ice cream

Unusually Apple - chunky pieces of soft spiced apple with a hint of cinnamon in vanilla ice cream

Durian-Durian - a must for durian lovers and even if you're not... you might just be converted

Mango Magic - mango ice cream that’s outta-this-world!

Cempedak! - with chunks of cempedak, this is the best way to enjoy the sweet sticky fruit (seasonal availability)

Sunny Strawberry – trust us when we say this is the way real strawberry ice cream should be

Orange Marmalade – tangy orange ice cream with swirled in marmalade

Rum & Raisin - the flavour is in the raisins too cos we don't stinge on the rum

Ginger Crumble - give your tastebuds a treat! sweet ginger ice cream with a sprinkling of crystallized ginger

Kahlua® Krunch - coffee ice cream with a more than generous dash of Kahlua®

Chunky Peanut Butter - this won't stick to the roof of your mouth!

Simply Chocolate - rich & smooth - definitely the perfect indulgence

Hazelnut Haven - a must-have for Nutella© fans. Mmmm…

Lychee Martini® - lychee juice + vodka. Churned, not stirred.

Lemon Sherbet - time to pucker up. Refreshingly light but potentially sour!

Mocha Mania – The appeal is in the coffee, or is it in the chocolate?

Simple Vanilla – for those who like to keep things simple

Honey Vanilla – and when things need a little kick

Surprising Coconut - made from fresh sweet coconut water, this is surprisingly yummy

Bailey's® Choc Chip - a light coffee ice cream with a strong dose of Bailey's® Irish Cream

Butterscotch Pecan - old-fashion butterscotch ice cream sprinkled with freshly toasted pecans

cha – savour the flavour in this earl grey tea sherbet

Chendol - an east-meets-west concoction that's a definite must-try

Hehe....must try!!! ;)

Reflections......

Was struck in the face by my landlady and her husband's comments last Thursday....it so happened I was on my way to cell group when they offered to give me a lift.....thought it was strange, but they were pretty chatty that day.....was rolling my eyes (in my head of course!) when they shared with me about a previous tenant who received Christ (through them of course?!?)..... I was like having all these cynical thoughts in my head.....and of course, I just politely laughed....

Then, they proceeded to make a statement of how grumpy i looked all the time.....and that I hardly smiled/ laughed, except when I am watching TV...... Boy, was I offended!!! I just kept quiet, but was truly seething inside......How dare they said that of me!!! Immediately went into 'defence' mode and started justifying myself in my mind with statements like - I am so tired by the time I come home that I just wanna chill out and just be myself....I'm so tired talking and smiling politely at people ALL day that I just wanna let my guard down at home, is that too much to ask?!? My house is supposed to be my sanctuary...you mean I can't sulk of just be quite/ mopey at my own house???? (Ok...mebbe I'm wrong...this is not my house nor my home....sigh)......

Can't wait to move out into my own sanctuary!!!
Lord, when will You give my my own sanctuary?!?

Anyway...have been reflecting about this...and feel that I may be a Christian...but I am not here to serve others a 'fake' smile......I can be there for them...but I also need my own space to be myself ( the sinful person that I am with tantrums/ tempers, etc)......Also realised how people can be so blind to their own faults when they point out others fault....indeed , this is why it is written in the Word about removing the plank in our own eyes before we remove a speck of dust in others eyes!!! How blind they are to their own shortcomings......so much for being in 'ministry' and wanting to 'bless' others and bring others to Christ when they 'oppress' and shortchange their own maid ( who incidentally also became a Christian here in their home).....Do they even reflect on their own actions instead of pointing out others' faults???

Anyway....Lord, I repent.... I repent for not representing You in Your joy and peace.....Teach me what it means to trust in You and to walk in Your JOY!! Yet at the same time, open the eyes of my landlords to their own shortcomings as well!! May they too learn to reflect on their own actions and repent of their hypocrisy before You!!

Heard this beautiful song by some Indonesian church workers whom my church is supporting in Riau Islands..... remembered this Indonesian website where you can listen to these Indonesian songs online....How beautiful these words are!! (Check it out at : http://kidung. com...


DIA MENGERTI
Pdt. Isaac Arief
Album Hujan Berkat


TERKADANG KITA MERASA
TAK ADA JALAN TERBUKA
TAK ADA LAGI WAKTU
TERLAMBAT SUDAH

TUHAN TAK PERNAH BERDUSTA
DIA S’LALU PEGANG JANJI-NYA
BAGI ORANG PERCAYA
MUJIZAT NYATA

REFF:

DIA MENGERTI, DIA PEDULI
PERSOALAN YANG SEDANG TERJADI
DIA MENGERTI, DIA PEDULI
PERSOALAN YANG KITA ALAMI

NAMUN SATU YANG DIA MINTA
AGAR KITA PERCAYA
SAMPAI MUJIZAT MENJADI NYATA
TUHAN MENGERTI

Indeed, God is my only BESTEST friend...

This has been a very tough weekend...never realised how unhappy I have been in this hospital until yesterday.....guess it all culminated after a horrible 1st ICU call......felt so tired, stupid and useless at the end of the call.....
This was made worst by the nurses attitude to me......and the feeling of depression and the thought that I am such a lousy doc.....maybe I should just quit medicine right now?!? Really felt like walking out of the hospital then and there and just quitting it ........Sigh.....
Then, when a friend called me, I just broke down the following morning....and the sudden realisation that I have been totally miserable since I started working in this hospital 2 months ago........felt so isolated.....so unwanted.....became super anti-social.......sigh......
Anyway....worked up all the strength that I could muster to go to church.....and from the moment I stepped into the sanctuary...with the band playing the song ' All Consuming Fire' in the background....I just couldn't stop myself and wept uncontrollably.......wow! have not shed so much tears since my Uni days....not even the days of my housemanship! Felt a release......felt a sense of ' I am back to where I was with God'.....where I am able to weep freely in front of Him... my BESTEST friend.....one of the pastors came to sit with me....but I guess I was more disappointed that none of my cell members came to pray with me or ask me what happened.....I was much saddened by this fact.......esp the fact that everyone pretended nothing happened and that I was ok........honestly, i din want to go for dinner with them... and when HJ made a comment about calls and what the RT said about the MICU MOs on call.....i just felt a stab in my heart...wanted to shrink away and dig a hole to hide... did he even know what his words meant to me? It just made everything collapse around me...... I really wanted to run away and not suffer a long dinner conversation, which like every conversations we've had - superficial, shallow and fake......
Anyway, by this time I was tired and really upset again....so I just kept quiet and gave my usual polite smile and charity laugh....but truly- is this what we call a Christian community of small groups?!? How miserably we fail!!
Yet, I know in all that God is still in control.....can't think any other way coz He is all I have....my only ONE TRUE FRIEND....who truly knows what I am going through....and the only one who can comfort me and bring peace in my heart......Indeed, there is no one I can trust apart from Him!

Lord, You are my BESTEST friend!!

Lord, I need You!!

Whoa!! The last 2 days in my new department has been a mixture of anxiety and exhilaration!! Was so confused and so ill equipped on the 1st day that I felt so lost.....and unhappy that the senior colleagues there were not very helpful in orientating Melvin and I.....felt that they were rather snobbish and 'high and mighty' kinda people......granted, it is a busy place with all sorts of ill patients that one really does not have time to teach others or guide and hold their hands....

Anyway....I survived the 1st day with no major shouting by my big boss....so I guess that's a good sign , right? Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy and granting me favour with my Boss!! ;)

Today was rather exhilarating...was lamenting the fact that I feel scared to do procedures , esp with my 1st night call looming in 24 hours from now!!! Arrggh!! Help! Had a sinking feeling and butterflies in my stomach........and well, God is always good and many many steps ahead of me preparing the way....brought along a patient to ICU for me to practice....and boost my confidence when I successfully inserted 2 IA lines (1st pass!)....successfully intubated my 1st patient alone.....and assist in the insertion of a CVP!!! ( That covers almost ALL main procedures done here!!)....Thank you Lord!!

But yes, I definitely need His grace, wisdom and protection for my 1st night call in ICU tomorrow!! Thank you Lord for always being with me and remaining many steps ahead of me!! Indeed , my future is in Your hands! For this, I thank you Lord!!