2010 - 2011 in Retrospect & Hallo 2012!

 

What better way to kick start 2012 than with a new blog skin that is wayyy overdue! I got tired of waiting for the designer bf so I played around with blogger template and viola! Still need some of his expertise to tweak it to perfection though. =D


Looking back, 2010 was a real tumultuous year for me. Huge squabble with relatives led me to hit rock bottom and I even became suicidal. It took me a good couple of months to recover and bury the hatchet.


What followed was a disintegration of a friendship I once treasured. In my love life, my relationship with Aaron was shaky and I was on the brink of giving up.


There were many moments of darkness and I danced in it as much as I could. Somehow, there was still a great fighting spirit in me and a hope that light is at the end of the tunnel. (Read post here.)



I was getting nowhere in my previous job, had barely enough money for food on some days and were months behind my bills. I really wanted a change and sent countless applications to companies late that year in hope of a better life:

This was just half the number of applications I sent. I was so desperate I applied for internships and even a position on board a cruise ship which would take me away for six months... I attended a few interviews but to no avail and felt jaded.


1st day of 2011 came and I was completely taken aback by the news which broke that fateful day. My zone pastor was leaving and starting a new church. I didn't see it coming and struggled for a few weeks to come to a decision - to follow him or to stay in the church which I thought I would be in till the day I die. (Read post here.)


I decided to leave and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made in 2011, thank God! (Read posts here, here & here!)


And honestly, leaving was one of the main factors that led to the improvement of my relationship with Aaron. Because he no longer had a gf that constantly went: "Why you don't pray and read bible? How you lead me like that? You like that also can be PCGL ah? Then I can be CGL lo!" LOLOL. 

I was set free from religion and never felt more at peace with myself and with God.

Back to my job hunting, an opportunity came knocking in early 2011 to teach IT lessons at a primary school near where I was staying and I took it up despite it being a half day part-time position with peanuts pay and no prospects. Desperate times called for desperate measures.


The children were adorable and I enjoyed teaching them but there were many hours where I had nothing to do and was simply too bored. So bored I played an April Fool's prank on FB about my marital status. (Read post here.) Lame rite? 


Finally in July 2011, I quit! I felt a sense of release and no longer had to drag my feet to work every morning. I saw this on FB which only reaffirmed my decision:

My hot pink version of it. =D

God was true to His word and blessed me beyond that which I had imagined... Things started to look up in the latter part of 2011.

The 1-room rental flat Aaron and I applied for in mid-2010 just before his graduation came in July. The best parts were that we got a very good location near Lavendar mrt which is just less than 30 mins travelling time to his workplace and the rental & conservancy charges amounted to only fifty bucks a month which meant huge savings for me. :)

I moved in on 4th September 2011 and finally finally had a space I could call my own after 5 years of living under relatives' roofs! Super duper happy.

Friends came on Xmas Eve! :)

We played Saboteur, watched tv and chilled!

July was also the month where I started on a diet program and successfully shed off a few extra kilos and inches off my waist. Weeee! Am still a work in progress though! =D

Went to interview for my dream job the 2nd time in August. A dream I had since I was 16 which died over the years and got resurrected. And the most surreal part? I actually got it.


Some days I wished I had slimmed down earlier and joined younger but if not for all the setbacks and drama I experienced in those two years after graduation, I wouldn't have the maturity required of me. I needed those bad experiences which helped me grow into a better and wiser person. (School of Hard Knocks!)


And if I had joined years earlier, Aaron and I probably would not have met and even if we did, our relationship would not have the luxury of time it took to grow and stabilize. All things happened for a good reason and I only have God to thank for His perfect timing.

In the midst of learning what my new job entails, I cracked in the first week from the stress and the expectations of me. For those who watch Glee, I always resonated with Rachel Berry but started to feel like a Mercedes instead in a sea of Rachel Berrys and a few Santanas! Self-doubt crept in. For moments I  thought to myself that I might not make it.

But my friends believed in me and that made me feel really encouraged. Gaga's Marry The Night became my new anthem. I gritted my teeth and held on.

Two weeks ago I finally passed the initial phase of my career with a clean slate which is such a miracle for someone like me. I was this close to getting a permanent black mark. What grace!


So far it has been good and I'm treasuring every moment of it. Because fulfilling this dream did not come easy, I cherish it even more. It's not the end but only the beginning!


After two years of ups & downs I can finally declare that I'm no longer a lost fresh grad. Friends reading this who still feel like one, take heart! Your time is just round that corner! You got to believe that good things are coming your way!


2012 will be a year where I see myself doing more of things I love, thanks to the flexibility of time I enjoy. Definitely expect many more blog posts from me this year! ;)


I'm learning German online and reigniting my interest in dancing by going for Hip Hop classes in Feb! Exciting!!


It is highly possible that 2012 will be the year I'm getting the driving license that I've been procrastinating for years cos I'll finally have the mean$ to do so in a few months!


This year will also be the year I lose my single status! Lol.


It's gonna be an awesome year so let's ride this journey together! ♥

The sky is the limit! :)

Sings: I'm gonna marry the night. I'm not gonna cry anymore. I'm gonna marry the night, leave nothing on these streets to explore! Ma ma ma marry, ma ma ma marry! =D

Rubbing Shoulders with Velda, Daniel Ong & Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim on World Kindness Day

So show off rite my title!? Need to catch your attention then you will read mah lol! =P I'm very sleeepy now so let the pictures do the talking!

All changed and ready!

With my fave blogger friends, Charlene & Stephen!

           

And met emo rocker a.k.a Everscar!

Love his hair color! And how 17-year-old nowadays can afford a DSLR just by working part time is a mystery to me. God, what was I doing when I was seventeeen?

Guess who's the lady behind me on the right!?  =D

 Look what I found in the goodie bag? Food for thought eh? =D

I was part of a press release, hehe!

            

Look at the throngs and throngs of volunteers!

           

Tada... Velda was nice! I have 3 Love Bonito outfits to date! =D

Kind of cool to be on the same stage with Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, even if it's just for a few minutes!

Boom!

Giving out daisies to strangers on Orchard Road was kind of cool! Feel slightly irritated by those who didn't want to accept though... If someone shows kindness to you... accept it people! :) A father of a family said to me when I was giving him a daisy, "But I'm not very kind." I said, "Haha nvm, you'll be kinder." =D

To a kinder world! ♥

A Week in The Life of A Wannabe

Monday to Friday:

3 "Unforgivable Sins": 

1) "You have a face that looks very fierce when you don't smile." In other words? Yeah, those 2 hokkien words.

2) "I'm very disappointed with you. If you continue like this I can tell you this is not the right fit for you."


3) "Someone complained you didn't greet him. No situational awareness."


"You got to learn and you got to learn fast. One more time and I will send you for disciplinary action."


Message? It's ALL ABOUT your PERFORMANCE, PERFORMANCE and PERFORMANCE.


In the train, bus, shopping area? Stares, stares and more stares.


Saturday 5 to 7pm: "It's NOT about your performance, achievements & your own human efforts. It's all about Jesus." (so touched, *tears*. Oh ya, *tweets* too.) 


Then in a matter of minutes.... SNAP! Back to "reality"!


7.10pm: "It's about your attitude." " Do this, do that." Underlying message? 


8 to 10pm: "Wendy, dun eat this, dun eat that, it's for your own good!" Underlying message? 


Sunday:


"If you don't change to auspicious date I'm not coming for yr wedding!"

"Why you eat so little!? Why are you so thin? Your face so green. Eat more!"  - -_-''' 



Conclusion? No one is perfect, only God is, which is why He is not calculative with me about my performance. If I can be with him and him only it'll be utopia, a paradise and I never would want to come back. (Yeah I know, creepy thoughts of living my life here shorter slips in during such high stress times.)



It'll be nothing short of a miracle if I can survive till 6 Jan & still be saint (crazy is good cos crazy pple change the world but not mad. =X), stay true to myself & not go back to the old ways of being performance-based/pressured not just on me but everyone around me. I think I will be so happy tears will well up in my eyes. And even happier when I look at my bank acct a month or two later! 

  

'I've had enough, this is my prayer, that I'll die living just as free as my (LET DOWN) hair! =D I've had enough, I'm not a freak, I'm just trying to stay cool on the streets.' - Lady Gaga & Lady Wen <3

Dr. Yonggi Cho's Comment on the Japanese, $25 Million Fraud Investigation and Meeting Pastor Kong & Sun!

Woke up yesterday to this shocking news:

(Source: Straits Times)

(Source: Straits Times)

When I first read a news report in March post-earthquake regarding his comment on the fate of the Japanese, I thought to myself, "Erm, is this article reliable? Did he really say that or did the reporter misquoted him?" (Ha, being a Mass Comm student taught me not to believe everything I read and I also didn't want to believe lah cos I thought of him as a very kind person.)

Fast forward 6 mths later, Straits Times has disproved my suspicion. I remembered being upset if that was really what he said. Mind you, the whole world was mourning with Japan then. Can you imagine how the Japanese must have felt when they hear a South Korean say they deserved the devastating earthquake?

Yet in retrospect, I can understand what possessed Dr. Cho to make such a seemingly unkind comment; my grandma also said something along the lines of the Japanese paying for their past sins (referring to the earthquake) and I don't blame her or Dr. Cho for such prejudiced views towards the Japanese cos they had to go through what I didn't - World War II.

Granny was only a teenager then and her family had to hide in the jungles for fear that the Japanese would capture my great grandfather who was a village head. I think what was most scary was that she had to look like a boy and dress shabbily so that the Japanese soldiers wouldn't rape her.

She is now 84 years old while Dr. Cho is 75 and you know, that's how the older generation talk sometimes - they cannot help themselves as they're very set in their views. I guess the difference is that the latter is very educated and was/is a pastor of the world's largest church, which made his comment that much harder to swallow.

I visited New Life Church in Taipei when I was there for vacation 

in June and guess who was preaching?

Mrs. Cho! =) A.k.a Dr. Kim.

Loved their bulletin and envelop btw, so colorful and cheery! Dr. Kim's message was about being happy and rejoicing even in trying circumstances. She shared how she had to learn to overcome really trying circumstances in her life, like when certain people in her church disagrees with certain things, no details mentioned...



Who are these 29 elders and what do they have to gain if this was a baseless accusation done only to smear Dr. Cho?



They must be super long time church members like twenty years kind if not how to become elders and hold leadership positions right? The question on my mind is why would these long time church leaders have the guts to file a civil suit against Dr. Cho if they honestly did not have any substantial evidence to believe so? They are long time church leaders but they actually have no moral integrity? Then how did they even become leaders in the first place? Hmmmmmm........



If this happened in CHC, it'll be like Pst Tan, Derek, Aries, etc. coming together to sue Pst Kong for misuse of funds! Unimaginable and freaking scary rite!



If this was a baseless accusation thrown just so that Dr. Cho and his family would relinquish control of the church... WA LIAO. If I were the senior pst, I would throw them out of church once investigations results are out and let them go find another one. I mean, how could you do this to the man who slogged his entire life to make the church what it is today and betray him like that?



I dunno if that's what Jesus would do in the same circumstance but that is what I would do lol. (I'm obviously not called to be a full-time pastor! =D)


 
I don't want to speculate why Dr. Cho cannot let go mgmt of the church funds completely etc. but I imagine it must be really hard to... If like him, you've invested 50 yrs of your life into an organization, would u be able to bo chup when you retire? I think that requires a lot of faith, doesn't it? =D



As Aaron and I were leaving New Life's premises, a really good-looking usher chatted with us as he led us to the main exit:

Me: " 我们是新加坡人." (We're Singaporeans.)

The usher: "Oh, 你们是來自城市丰收教会的吗? 能遇见你们真是我的荣幸!" (Are you guys from City Harvest? It's such an honor to meet you!)

Me: *Looks at Aaron*  Er......

Aaron: "Oh, 对" (Ya.)

Me: *nervous laughter*



What a tricky question to ans in that few seconds we had! My bf is, I'm not, but he's like so delighted to hear we're from CHC how to tell him I was but left cos my zone pastor started a new church!? I didn't want to shock him lah, hahaha. Later the perfect image of CHC in his mind gets shattered how?  家家有本难念的经! (Each family has its own troubles that are difficult to explain!)



I dreamed about meeting and talking to PK & Sun for years but never had I imagined that when I finally did, it was at a farewell party in Jan for the few of us who were gonna leave. ='(

I got to sit beside Sun! I was so nervous I looked at Jamie, looked at her prawn and then looked at mine and we both smiled sheepishly cos we didn't want to appear unglam in front of them by using our hands! Hahaha.


Sun was everything I thought she'll be - really friendly, down to earth and so very nice and fun to be with. The best part was she remembers who I am. I was the crazy girl who sent her a  msg on FB about how excited I was to be going to Gaga's concert in Singapore in 2009. The girl who tweeted her and asked if it takes very long to perfect a song in the studio when she was recording one day. And she replied both. I LOVE HER.



Oh and I realized at the dinner that... PK actually eats! Was surprised he is human just like me cos I can never fast 21 days like him! He even had 2 portions! :) *relieved to know both he and I are normal, hahaha* He can be serious but he can also be funny, he said Sun was so slim she she looked like the skeleton on her top! =D



Before they arrived, Pst Darren asked me to be zai and keep my cool but....

Thanking 'em & saying goodbye with tears in my eyes!

How to be cool when CHC is the church I called home for 8 years and that might be the last time I will ever meet them face to face again? I didn't knoww howwww.

Family portrait! =D

Some friends said they think Sun and I look alike, watcha think!? Skin tone, check. Cheekbones, check. Fringe covers half an eye, check! HAHAHA. Differences are her eyebrow points upwards and her face is so much slimmer! I think if my face was slimmer and if I looked slightly younger I could pass off as their daughter rite!? OMG so buay hia bai hahahaha!




I agree with PK, that people are innocent until proven guilty. In my deepest hearts of heart, I don't believe that Dr. Yonggi Cho is capable of a $25 million fraud and even more so, I don't believe that PK and Sun would intentionally misappropriate CHC's funds after all these years of teaching us integrity, sacrificing their life to build the church only to sabotage it later on.





It took the authorities only 5 months to investigate Ren Ci but it's taking them more than 15 months for CHC. God knows why the government which prides itself to be very efficient is taking so long. I hope they hurry up and release the investigation results already, thirty over thousand pple need to find closure can? :)




No matter the outcome of Dr Cho or CHC's investigation results, I will always remember the fond memories I had in City Harvest (that deserves at least a blog post of its own!) and am eternally grateful! ♥

Chris Medina - What Are Words

This is one of those special, rare moments when I break into tears upon hearing a song & its story for the 1st time.

Chris Medina and his gf dated for 8 years and they got engaged, but something tragic happened just 2 months before their wedding...

This is his 1st song release since not making into American Idol 2011 Top 24. I'm surprised the video has only 14 million hits; it deserves at least a 100!


I don't even know if I could love anyone as much as he loves her... If you are touched by his unwavering love for his fiancee like I am, you know what to do.


Reminded me of His unconditional love for me... =') Thanks so much for sharing it Alissa!

Bought a Washer for $299, Won A Blackberry Torch for $1!

I woke up this morning and one of the first few emails I saw was this!

Realized their edm is actually made up of a few pictures, lazy to join 'em tgt!


 

          

I needed to buy a washing machine for my new place so I thought what great timing and how nice it would be if I could win the Blackberry Torch at the Anniversary Draw since it's the most expensive prize on the menu! =D


I know nuts bout washing machines so thankfully the salesman was pretty good, knows his stuff well and recommended me to get LG. LIFE's Good! ;p He said the brand is known for household appliances.


Asked him a few questions, compared a few brands and within 15 mins I was like, "Okay buy!" All sales pple dream of meeting clients like that everyday I tell u! Of course it helped that my mom will be paying for it not me heh heh!

Simple-looking LG WFT 6600.

The impressive part is their Turbo Drum Technology:

"In normal washing machines, only impellers are moving. However, in LG's washing machines both the impeller and drum move simultaneously and in opposite directions, like a handwash, creating multiple water whirls and thousand eddies. This delivers a powerful wash that can remove the toughest dirt yet is gently enough on your delicate fabrics."

Originally $345, discounted price at $299, come with 2 years warranty. Bought the Extended Warranty Plus at $149 in case it breaks down after 2 yrs & he waived the delivery & installation charges of $29.90 for me! :)


It's a low end washer afterall, saw many retailing at more than $1500+ kind! Really need so ex so gd one meh? So now my washer is covered for 5 yrs and full replacement on 4th repair, if ever, awesome! Even washing machines need insurance, lolol.


Scribbled my details like mad on all 9 of the lucky draw coupons I got cos it was only mins left to the 9pm draw but they extended it for like 30 mins more, panicked for nothing!

Many more lucky draw items up for grabs over the weekend!

       

I can't remb the host's name but he was super funny - after the Courts guy (I think he's the VP of that outlet or something) selected a coupon he said, "Wah this person's handwriting like my armpit hair!" I thought, "YES GOT HIGH CHANCE LIAO!" Lolol!


There were about 50 other pple standing around me eagerly anticipating to win too but there can only be one winner and I was so confident that I held my camera in my hand in case my name was called!

Passed it to someone to help me snap the winning photo. 
Whyyy did u not tilt yr head down Wendy!?

I know rite, of all the days I choose to wear blue when I visit Courts. Can totally pass off as a staff. =p
 

 Apparently it's worth $1099?

A quick check with the reseller guy whom I previously sold iPhones to quoted me only $500 for it. This model came out in Aug last year so I guess the value is no longer as high.

I think the Blackberry Torch 9800 is the 1st one to have both a keyboard AND a touchscreen.

I've not used a Blackberry before but apparently it's really useful for pple who travel a lot so I might not sell it since it'll be my turn to do so next year, maybe God knows I would need one! :))


There also had hourly deals where they slashed the prices of selected items. A Olympus Pen I camera was going for $499, originally $899 or $999.



Introducing my fave buy of the day:

A Sony Stereo Headset originally retailing at $60+! It's Gold in color and even has a built in microphone & detachable Voice Tube.

 I can totally see myself using it often in hotel rooms in the future when I'm not heading out!

I probably will be Skyping Aaron, rocking to Gaga (doing that now while typing this entry!) or watching Grey's Anatomy on my laptop & get all sentimental! :)









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In the Twitter war that started yst no thanks to the uniqueness of the 'iPhone' & 'Blackberry', may I cheekily suggest a truce in the form of an....

Android! =p

The new Galaxy S II has a much bigger screen than the iPhone 4 and yet much lighter and is equipped with a 8 megapixels camera! =O Can also use Adobe Flash which Apple apparently hates, can watch catchup tv on xinmsn wherever u go how cool is that!? Very tempted to buy! :) My only concern is a lack of applications in the Market!


Somehow, there seems to be a lack of graciousness in the S'pore Blogosphere... Some bloggers hate each other and are unequivocally vocal about it. And taken to the extreme, it becomes Cyber Bullying, "I'm popular, u're not", "I have so many blogger friends, u don't". I think it hurts the atmosphere of camaraderie that we are supposed to have as a community and makes some of us uncomfortable...


Gaga sang in a new Jazz song with Tony Benett, " I never bother with people that I hate, that's why, this chick is a tramp." (U can listen to it here) Gaga is someone whom you'll never catch bitching bout others in public even though she has all the power in the world to do so and that's something that I really, really admire bout her. What a gracious, sophisticated woman! I aspire to be like her - artistic, fearless & yet, a kind soul to the very core.


Here's to more love in the blogosphere! :)

Notikum: Credit Card Deals All-in-One!

Notikum allows its users to search for credit card deals with ease both on its website and mobile application. (Yes, it’s available for Android users too!)


With this new innovation by our local entrepreneurs, those living in Singapore no longer have to look for a needle in a haystack by pouring over pages & pages of information on credit card websites or brochures!


Yours truly is getting married next year and the most important thing to me is that I make the best out of the wedding event which I would be spending a lot of money on!

Type in whatever deals you are looking for, etc; Food, Movies. Shopping…

And voila, all the deals of your pre-selected credit cards will appear in a consolidated list, a Godsend especially for those who have so many cards that they can’t remb which deals are from which cards! Imagine the hassle of going to each card’s website one by one. =X


Some bloggers and I were invited for their soft launch at Chijmes Le Baroque last week and boy were they generous with the food!

 Sucks to be on a diet when you have a buffet spread before yr eyes LOL!

 

 Wouldn’t it be nice if this was a real American Express Platinum card? =p

 It’s actually a thumb drive preloaded with information on Notikum! Got to love their PR team!

 With one of the founders, Lennon!

I was thinking pple is Director so I had better be polite and address him formally but he was like, “Dun call me Mr. Teng, just call me Lennon!” =D He is no Poly-Halfway-Dropout and surely he doesn’t have Permanent Head Damage if not how to come up with such a brilliant invention rite? He is an actual PHD student with a business idea, salutes!

I had to make (for the lack of a better word) the makeup I put on just to attend this event worthwhile! =p Need to improve on my skills though, no ugly hand showing next time!

 With Lennon’s cousin, Lindson. I think it’s spelled like that!

Can you tell? He’s only 16! I didn’t really had anyone to talk to except him… thank God he was there! Guess what we talked about? On the Fringe! HAHA. Kuduos to MediaCorp for such an awesome show btw! ;)

Bloggers with founders! =D

Mid-autumn festival is next week! Have you bought yr moon cakes yet? If not, be sure to head to www.notikum.com & sign up for an acct to find the best deals or discounts offered on your credit cards. We all need to take advantage of our advantages!  

Their full launch is coming real soon and I cannnoot wait to start applying for credit cards in Feb 2012 when I'm finally finally able to do so and use Notikum! YAY. I love deals and I no longer have to tikum tikum! <3

Fist of Dragon 龙拳 Gala Premiere

Fist of Dragon hits the cinema today and I was privileged to catch it first at the gala premiere last week!

 From the producers of Ip Man 2... a joint production between China & Singapore!

The bloggers I met were really friendly and nice! :)

Treats were a mini-buffet spread and fruit punch! 

I was busy interacting with the bloggers & snapping away on my cam that I plainly forgot I was on a strict no-soft-drinks diet and had a few glasses of the sugary drink oops!

With the director and lead actor, Michael Chuah 蔡业翰!

He's the hero of the movie, saving a village of innocent people that had suffered under the brunt of a group of gangsters as they had often forced the villagers to give them protection money or would physically injure them.

I think he must know real kung fu in order to carry out the countless fighting moves in the show. I imagine 自拍自演 must have been pretty challenging!

 

 This handsome guy which I didn't get to take a pic with is Monday Kang!

Interesting name, haha!

He stars as a sadistic gang leader in the movie and of all the actors, I feel that his performance was the most outstanding. I find his character really believable though I think it's really difficult to act as someone sadistic!

Then in came, the superstar, Henry Thia a.k.a 辉哥！

He was utterly hilarious right from the moment he came in and stirred us all into a good crackle. A true blue comedian! 

Surprisingly, Fiona Xie 谢宛谕 also stars in this movie as the prodigal daughter of Henry Thia's character. I thought she was no longer in the entertainment scene? The last I heard she immigrated away from Singapore for good.

For those who love action-packed movies and appreciate Martial Arts, this movie is a must watch! It demonstrates how good will ultimately triumph over evil and justice will prevail.

         

Now at a cinema near you! :)