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Finally, the dreary week is gone. Felt slightly better over the weekends, but the issue still hovers around whenever I think about it.

Anyway, I finally got a camera. Didn't get a DSLR nor the Canon Powershot S5.. got a Lumix FZ-18 instead after some comparison done. Stella also changed her mind on getting the Canon SX100, and got a Lumix TZ15 instead (I hope I got the model right). Anyway we have been playing our cameras, and it was really fun playing with the manual functions of my camera. I'm still in the midst of learning about the different ISO, shutter speed and apeture settings.. still quite unsure of some of the functions, but it's always good to learn something new. Took some sample shots from my camera. They can be found here. Most of them were taken using the manual function.. Only the last few individual shots of my toys were taken using the IA mode. What I like about my camera is that I can add on the tele conversion and close-up lens, but I won't get those anytime soon.

Thank you, Dad and Mom, for spending so much time (and needless to say, the money), in getting the cameras for us.

Anyway, caught Kungfu Panda yesterday with some peeps from Campus. It's a really hilarious movie, and was definitely worth watching. Laughed from the beginning right up to the end. Even when the Panda was fighting the villian, the producers managed to insert some humour into those scenes. I like 3 characters very much - Po, Shifu, and Mantis. Everybody likes Po, don't need to explain why. I like Shifu because he's so puny and cute. I like Mantis, also because he's so puny and tiny, yet so comical (especially the acupuncture scene and the scene where he controlled the ropes).

Campus has been rather "quiet" lately because most of the people are back home, but Gail and Tirza are on their way to Singapore now (as I'm typing this). Hope they arrive safely.

An update

Ok, Tirza and Gail, this is an update! (Gail, you can wake up now! :p)

Kuku 2 arrived safely on Monday, thank God :) Continue to pray that she will find accommodation and that she'll settle down soon and get used to the place.

Have been looking around for cameras lately, but I've yet to decide on what I really want. I was recommended to get a second hand camera, but seems like I can't find what I want on the forum. Currently looking at the Canon Powershot S5, but Dad made a good point after we viewed the camera. He said that I might as well get a DSLR, considering the size of the S5 and some of its functions which are like the DSLR. Heard that the Canon 300D or 350D are good cameras for DSLR beginners, but buying a DSLR is really a hassle, especially when I only know the bare minimum. It isn't just the camera body.. gotta consider the kit lens, the bag, and other accessories. Some people are selling the DSLR at really cheap prices (even cheaper than the S5) but they may not come with the necessary accessories ( I don't even know what are the necessary accessories).


I have been/will be getting things that I want, which is good cos it makes me happier because these few days have been pretty bleak and gloomy.. feel rather restless these days... However, there are certain things that I want - want more than the material things that I can get... but I know I can never get them. For that, I can only sigh.

Oh, the joy!

Yay! Manchester United are the champions for both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. Too bad I couldn't catch the match live, but watched video snippets of the match and I could tell it was an invigorating match. Poor Terry :(

Back from the bugs-infested Taman Negara. Although we met a series of unfortunate events on our way there, God still proved to be the ultimate Provider. If we don't lean on Him nor pray to Him for help, what else can we do? Thank God for His mercy and grace, nonetheless.

Anyway, it was nice sleeping 3 nights to the orchestral lullaby of the crickets and many other bugs from the nearby forest, swimming in the clean waters by the waterfalls, walking at the canopy level of the rainforest, enjoying the picturesque view from the peak of the hill etc. Most importantly, it was a great time spent knowing more about God's Word, and having sweet fellowship with the Campus pple and even making new friends. The bus ride home was filled with lame jokes and games, and I especially liked the 'noisy game' which Wei-tse taught.

Ohh, I forgot to mention something. The food which the people served were really good! My personal favourites were the snakehead fish and cat fish. So fresh and yummy! We were served chicken and fish almost every day though, but they cooked it in different styles and sauce so it wasn't really a bother. The last day's breakfast was GREAT. Roti prata (roti canai in M-Sia), beehoon and curry sauce. I miss the food there. I was also surprised by the service of the people. They were so friendly, and ever-ready to top-up our food when we requested for more. Despite the many many bugs which I was quite afraid of, I would definitely wanna go back again for a time of relaxation and rest. It's a different kind of life altogether, and it was definitely a good break from a lousy semester - the kind of break I have been looking forward to ever since the semester began.

Now it's back to the hustle and bustle of life.

So many things to do and think about.

Billy Joel - Just the way you are

To use "good" to describe Billy Joel and some of his songs is simply an understatement. Love this song.

Just the way you are

Don't go changing, to try and please me,
You never let me down before,
Don't imagine, you're too familiar,
And I don't see you anymore.

I would not leave you, in times of trouble,
We never could have come this far,
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times,
I'll take you just the way you are.

Don't go trying, some new fashion,
Don't change the colour of your hair,
You always have my, unspoken passion,
Although I might not seem to care.

I don't want clever, conversation,
I never want to work that hard,
I just want someone, that I can talk to,
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew,
What will it take till you believe in me,
The way that I believe in you?

I said I love you, and that's forever,
And this I promise from the heart,
I couldn't love you, any better,
I love you just the way you are.

I don't want clever, conversation,
I never want to work that hard,
I just want someone, that I can talk to,
I want you just the way you are

L

Ok, I'm gonna remain as an L Plate driver, hopefully until 31st July when I'm gonna take my test again.

I was prepared to fail, so thank God for the heart preparation. Was disappointed but felt better after awhile. Actually I felt more sad at the fact that my circuit test was close to perfection until the last station - parallel parking. Everything was fine until I reversed to move out. Touched the pole. Of course, despite the failure, I've many things to thank God for.

1) Thank God it did not rain when I was having my test. It was pouring quite heavily before the test during my final warm-up lesson, and that was the first time I drove in the rain. Thank God the rain stopped before my test.

2) Thank God I was not as nervous as I thought I'd be.

3) Thank God I did not get any immediate failures :)

4) Thank God for a VERY kind and patient tester. He knew it was my first time taking the test and explained many things to me. Along the way, he pointed out my mistakes and corrected me, and for that, I'm really thankful because I understood where I went wrong. He did not get frustrated nor angry, but was smiling when explaining the mistakes. That certainly removed a lot of nervousness and anxiety throughout the test.

5) Thank God for keeping me safe throughout the test route though there were quite a number of road obstacles and the traffic wasn't smooth.

6) Thank God for the mistakes made, so I can learn from them and not repeat them the next time I take my test.

7) Thank God for the countless number of encouragements from family and friends.

One failure, yet many blessings. :)

Dinner :)

Had dinner at ZY's house.. was so nice of him to cook dinner for us! From what was supposed to be an "instant meal", he turned the dinner to a wonderful European cuisine :) Thanks for the hardwork, dude! Your culinary skills are great!

First, the table caught our eye

Then the menu! (This is really amazing)
And the salad dressing..

The busy chef
The salad
The main course :) (Yes, it's salmon and asparagus!!)

The sinful pleasure... Chocolate mousse
Sinful pleasure No. 2: Chocolate truffles
His mini oven! I want this too!
The Chef :)
And all of us :)

We were saying that ZY shouldn't get a wife who can cook well, or else there will never be peace in his kitchen..

Great dinner, but a very fattening one as well. Time to go back to the jogging routine!

ttfn~!

"Nice" picture

Sometimes, you have this really nice and sweet picture in your head which just calms your heart...

But then, piang!

Something comes along and spoil the perfect image..

Haha.. I seriously hate those moments.