.: James Van Praagh : Growing Up In Heaven :.

When I passed from here to there, 

I knew your heart would break.

It's here not there where I reside; 

in mountains, fields, and lakes.

In the break of each new dawn 

and when the sun goes down,

In birds and trees and skies of blue, 

you'll know I'm still around.

A broken heart I gave to you, 

no way to take that back;

Grieve for now, but don't stay long

 in the hole that's filled with black.

If I were there and you were here,

you would clearly see

That you're right there and I'm right here, 

it's where we choose to be.

So dance and sing and laugh out loud, 

just like we used to do;

I know it's hard, but you have to see 

that I'm right here with you.

And when you feel like crying, 

try and smile through the tears;

I hope you will remember, 

I'll love you for a thousand years.

And when you're feeling lonely, 

and you don't know what to do,

Just close your eyes and read this letter, 

from me to you.

.: Work Performance :.

.: Scars :.

You cannot remove my scars or rewrite the past that haunts me. Just hold me tight and tell me everything is going to be ok.

Michael Faudet

.: The One : Lang Leav :.

I don’t want you to love me because I am good for you, because I say and do all the right things. Because I am everything you have been looking for.

I want to be the one you didn’t see coming. The one who gets under your skin. Who makes you unsteady. Who makes you question everything you have ever believed about love. I want to be the one who makes you feel reckless and out of control; the one you are infuriating and inexplicably drawn to.

I don’t want to be the one who tucks you into bed; I want to be the reason why you can’t sleep at night.

Lang Leav

.: Project Wominjeka : Updates :.

The cat is (finally) out of the bag.

Our current project, named Wominjeka (which means welcome in Woiwurrung) which we find apt as it is our first project post Project Wallaby (relocation to Australia).

So, we bought a unit in Melbourne, as part of our investment plan to hedge against the increasing price of properties in Australia. To be fair, we are fully aware of the possibility of oversupply of units, esp in Melbourne, but after much research of the location and the developer, we are pretty much comfortable with this purchase. We decided on a one plus one bedder unit, instead of the more expensive two or three bedder unit, solely because we just wanted this first investment to be something we dip our toes in, instead of jumping straight in. So it only makes sense to start small.

It's been a very good learning curve for us. We picked up so many unique points of buying off-plan properties here in Australia. From the legal, administrative, mortgage/financing to tax and lateron to rental and tenancy. 

It's an art in itself, and tho it is highly stressful, it is also highly fulfilling to be learning new things. And perhaps leverage on this knowledge for future investment (if we wanna go down that route).

Will update more upon completion, in the meantime, here are pics of the construction progress.

.: Become Who You Are :.

That is why it is so important to let certain things go. To release them. To cut loose. People need to understand that no one is playing with marked cards; sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Don't expect to get anything back, don't expect recognition for your efforts, don't expect your genius to be discovered or your love to be understood. Complete the circle. Not out of pride, inability or arrogance, but simply because whatever it is no longer fits in your life. Close the door, change the record, clean the house, get rid of the dust. Stop being who you were and become who you are.

Paulo Coelho : The Zahir

.: Food For Thought :.

Ever since I have been here in Aus, I have been more conscious then ever over food wastages.

The society I now live in, takes pride in having fresh items sold daily. Go to any bakery – they would say “Baked Fresh Daily”. Go to any fruits shop – and you just see the freshest and juiciest fruits on display.

But some may not be aware – that the amount of wastages – food and fruits that are being thrown away. I once observed the amount of bread I saw being binned at a local bakery, a whole bin full; and I thought – what a shame, imagine how many homeless or poor that this bread could feed.

The same for fruits and vegetables that have gone slightly bad, but still salvageable (even if you could only salvage half of it, it’s still better than binning the whole lot).

There are a few steps taken by Australian to overcome this food wastage problem, and I must say, I am very impressed with the measures taken to reduce food wastages and channeling it to the needy. It’s also the awareness that by not wasting food; it’s creating a sustainable place to live in.

OzHarvest - the first perishable food rescue organisation in Australia that collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it to charities channel.

Harris Farm Imperfect Picks - fruit & vegetables that might not look perfect from the outside, but are so inside. It reduces the amount of crops that currently never leave the farm gate simply because they are a bit ugly, and do not meet the visual specifications of some consumers and supermarkets. It helps take more of the farmer’s crops, helps reduce food wastage and consumers purchase this at a lower price. Win win for both sides.

I think it takes a lil effort for everyone to try to reduce food wastages – even small steps at home does help. Do not buy more than you plan to consume. Surplus cooked food – bring it for lunch the next day. Small little steps, makes heaps of a difference. One may say, oh, the food that I waste, that’s not gonna feed the hungry people in Africa. It’s doesn’t really matter. Does it?

“Let's imagine a pile of bananas, grown and produced in a developing country, transported all the way across the globe to a Western country just to be wasted because of some silly cosmetic reason. People in the very same developing country lack food. Imagine looking those hungry people in the eyes and telling them that the good bananas grown in their very own country are being thrown away just as fast they arrive in the Western world." (Source here)

Every lil thing we do count to create a more sustainable world for ourselves and the future generations.

.: A Lesson :.

.: Me :.

Lil things like this makes me smile.

Thanks for making my day Terry & Tammie! :)

.: Status :.

Currently reading : Amy Tan - The Valley of Amazement

Currently feeling : Slightly contented

Quote from previous read : When she had achieved almost everything she wanted in life, she had reached the conclusion that her existence had no meaning, because every day was the same.

.: Laugh Til Your Belly Hurts :.

It's been a while since I had one of those laugh.

A laugh that tickles you, that you laugh so uncontrollably, your belly hurts, tears streams down your eyes and you continuously gasp for air.

Laugh that you can't stop. No matter how you tried. And this was over "pau". Cheras pau. Yip Chee Mei Pau. Don't ask. Seriously. 

But it surely made my day!

When's the last time you experience one of those laughs?

.: Draw :.

For the strangest reasons I have the tiniest veins (so says my a anesthesiologist when he was looking for my veins - not thru the naked eyes mind you, but from this thingymajiggy machine).

It usually takes a couple of jabs before my veins at my arms could be located, causing multiple bruises as an indication of attempts.

Today, it was on the first attempt - my lucky day, says the lab assistant.

However, the bruise is as big as a one dollar coin (or dua puluh sen coin).

This is how drawing blood from me is like.

.: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) :.

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

My chains are gone

I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love, amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

My chains are gone

I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love, amazing grace

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But God, Who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

Will be forever mine.

You are forever mine.

A lil twist to a old classic hymn - by Chris Tomlin.

(Ones in blue are the twist to this song)

Told The Husband that this will be one of the songs played in my funeral :)

(Pls remind him, should he forgets - which he most likely will)

.: Sinking In :.

It hit me hard earlier today that there are some things that haven't quite sink in yet with me.

Perhaps, I am in denial, and rather not face the truth and I am underplaying the magnitude and the seriousness of this predicament, convincing others and myself the same.

Perhaps, it's really what it - nothing serious, all just paranoia and being extra careful.

Or perhaps, subconsciously, I have actually given up and lost the will to carry on.

.: (Do) You Wanna Make A Memory? :.

Mention Jon Bon Jovi, and one would think rock-and-roll. Living On A Prayer. It's My Life. Wanted Dead or Alive.

I love those songs. I am a big fan!

But there is something about the softer, less popular song of his that I enjoy even more. I'm All About Loving You. Thank You For Loving Me. 

Rekindled my love for his song recently, esp this You Want To (Make A Memory). There is just something about this song.

I plugged in my earphones and was tuned up my (mute) volume and played my Spotify, when my colleague next to me looked and me and laughed, and said "You're earphones are not plugged in properly!" 

Which means, here I was happily sitting with my earphones plugged into my ear and she and prolly those within close proximity as we are sitting in open cubicle area have heard You Want To (Make A Memory) blast from my speakers, while I am wondering why is the music not already playing. Gosh. I was (and still am) mortified.

"County-ish love song?" she asked, still laughing

"Jon Bon Jovi" I replied. "Oh, just kill me now, I am beyond mortified."

It was a good laugh, but I am still slightly embarrassed.

Hello again, it's you and me

Kinda always like it used to be

Sippin' wine, killing time

Trying to solve life's mysteries

How's your life, it's been a while?

God it's good to see you smile

I see you reaching for your keys

Looking for a reason not to leave

If you don't know if you should stay

If you don't say what's on your mind

Baby just breathe

There's nowhere else tonight we should be

You wanna make a memory

I dug up this old photograph

Look at all that hair we had

It's bitter sweet to hear you laugh

Your phone is ringin' I don't wanna ask

If you go now I'll understand

If you stay, hey, I've gotta plan

You wanna make a memory?

You wanna steal a piece of time?

You can sing the melody to me

And I can write a couple lines

You wanna make a memory

If you don't know if you should stay

And you don't say what's on your mind

Baby just breathe

There's nowhere else tonight we should be (We should be)

(We should be)

You wanna make a memory?

You wanna steal a piece of time?

You can sing the melody to me

And I can write a couple lines

You wanna make a memory

You wanna make a memory