Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The end of 2008

Everyone seem to really look forward to 2009! A new year, a new start.
As for me, i didn't know what to expect and didn't know how I should forget about the past and move on with my life.
Like most people, 2008 has been eventful...
today is the last day of 2008... i am still working towards my target for this month. Yup, it's always last minute for me. Till the last sec, God will then help me hit my target. A way to build my faith indeed. To build my perserverance that I should not give up so easy in all area of my life.
Past few days hasn't been easy for me indeed.
Spend some time resting, taking my flu and sore throat as an excuse to just stay at home yesterday to rest and think and pray. Been spedning some time crying at nights too, so I'm really tired.
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Finally got my driving license! Yippeeee! After 5 tests!
Only when I decide in my heart that I will not buy a car now, I pass.
Thank God for warning me that getting a car now, I will only get more stress.
Ha... one thing i did this month... went to Lee Ah Mooi old age home on Christmas's day! Thanks Laura, Danny and Wenwei for coming with me.
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Thanksgiving for 2008
  1. Gotten my driving license!
  2. Manage to go for AIA mini convention Japan Osaka in Sep! By God's grace!
  3. Shared Christ and led 2 to receive salvations!
  4. Prayed for one client's wife and she received instant healing!
  5. Build closer relationship with my sister, brothers, sister-in law, dad and his wife.
  6. Organised a Christian event for my agency during christmas!
  7. Learn to be a better person

Thank God for 2008.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The month of December


1)Before the hair cut, i took a pic of myself at home, put on the nice hair band, tot it suit my perm hair better. 2)Took at salon with the super gd stylist Paul! 3) Just before my hair cut, asked Winnie to take for me. 4) Took at home with my new hair style. Seriously think I look younger with this hair style. Like it more & more now! =)



Dear December,
I like you because it's always cooling during your month! The weather is nice and it just makes me happy and relax. During this month, I just feel like lazing around, taking photos around Orchard Road and spending time with my loved ones. I believe in miracles! May this month bring many miracles in my life and those around me! Praise the Lord! =)
Love, ah xue.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

No mood for buying presents this year


Ha.... don't know if it's due to world economic crisis, I really don't have mood to buy Christmas presents, writing Christmas cards and making the Christmas Chocoflakes this year! Nonetheless, I will still make the chocoflakes cookies for my new clients this year. Just new clients... yup... no strength and mood to make alot this year. Wanted to plan my Dec month today, but nothing seem to come out of it! To call up clients to meet for yearly review plus pass diaries, calenders and small gifts.. no mood yet....

On the other hand, yup... think I'm really more into going to "old folk home" or children home to give them love and gifts. SO if you dont receive any presents from me this year, pls understand k. =p Attached a picture of the old age home I will be going one of the day this month before Christmas. Join me if you want. =)


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Eddy & Hannah's wedding


This beautiful pic is done by Alvin! My designer. Should you want a similiar painting done up with your fav. pictures! COntact me, I am the coordinator for this type of paintings at home! Unique and one of the kind! =)

A beautiful and tall couple!! =)


Beautiful hannah!



Debbie & I! =)




The couple!



Did a special Wedding gift for my eagle friend, Hannah!

Had my designer Alvin to paint out the picture and put in some words for one of the wedding pic and I did up the printing job. Pretty satisfied with the outcome! Hard work but all worth it! Thanks Alvin! Hope Hannah like it alot! =)

Really wanted to cut my hair plus made it straight again!
It is so long!!!! It reaches my bottom! Can you imagine?? The trouble to wash and comb and dry my hair! Oh... it has been almost a year and its time to change. Anyway, think I took enough pictures with my long perm hair at all the weddings... time to change.... been thinking for almost 2 months... no time to go to salon! Been really busy with attending weddings.... more to come!



Anyway, Christmas party is coming... this year at my place!!! Yup, it forces me to clean up my place, I think its good! I have spent more than 15 hours packing and cleaning the house so far! Bought a new bookshelf just to pack up all my books and notes! Ha.... been good so far. Pray that it will be a really good time with many salvations to come! My financial year has ended (AIA financial year ends in Nov of the year) Praise God, I manage to hit my career benefit target.

Now is a new start for a new financial year! I am counting on GOD! =)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Christmas is near.

A walk at the shopping mall or Orchard Road, you will know that Christmas is near. Yesterday while staying in office till 8pm, I decided that I need to get out and do some walking at Orchard Road. Of course to visit one of my Fav. spot HMV at Somerset. I always go there alone after work last time to listen to some of the CDs and enjoy my time alone. Carrying my heavy bag plus my laptop, I didnt mind walking and standing for at least 2 hours plus. As I reached SOmerset at 830pm, and as I walked towards HMV, I had this thought. This Christmas, I wanted to do something different. Every Christmas, I will be wondering where to go for fun, for parties, how to entertain myself and make myself very happy besides shopping and giving gifts to friends and clients. This time, I had this thought, I wanted to visit the old folk's homes, the children homes, the disabled homes, anyone who need extra love.... how meaningful it is to give love in this season. Pls do give me a ring or sms if you wanna join me in this wonderful task.

I went to look for Jay Chou's new album and stood there for 30 min listening to his new songs. I don;t know why but I always think that songs sound alot nicer when I listen to them at HMV. haaa... some of the songs made me cry... some make me smile..... I wanna why many people (including me) love to listen to love songs, they just make us sad when we think of the past. Still, to be able to recall and think of the memories of the times when we have loved and lost is better than never to have loved before. I like the last song alot... its a positive song that encourages us to move on despite all challenges in life. Dream on and keep believing.

As i keep walking around the stores in HMV, then along Orchard Road.... I keep wondering why I always have to be alone... even though Im an extrovert. Yup, I prefer to be with friends than alone if its the right accompany... but seem likes I am always alone... starting to wonder if I have very few friends...

Stop worrying and start living.. every moment is precious... enjoy! =)

Sunday, November 2, 2008

weddings.... for a break

6 of us! Sharon is the first to be married! Congratulation Sharon & Jiande!!! =)
Shandy & myself were busy on the phone and Meifeng took a candi shot for us. haaa....

Beautiful Sharon! =) 1 Nov 2008



11 Oct 08, the couple & I! =)







Beautiful couple, Huili & Xide! =)



For a break from my Japan trip.... I decided to post up some Wedding pictures! =) Being Huili's bridemaid is fun and tiring, serving her like a maidservant. =p

Having to wake up at 5am and being on the same bed with another 2 girls.... I really couldn't sleep. In the end, yup... I guess I had 2 hours of rest at all...


Huili is really very blissful.... everything went well for her. =)

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Getting off to Mt. Fuji......

At Shinjuku, before setting off to Mt. Fuji
At Mt. Fuji.... similar stores where i got all the very nice goodies!
Happy to know that I can withdraw money from my POSB debit card at the ATM! Finally have $ to buy goodies for friends le! =) $30,000 yen
This is the very nice hostel! k's house Mt. Fuji! Really nice! Love it! Japanese style! Clean and affordable. abt S$40 per night per person.
The book I got from New Hope Tokyo Church! The Dream Releaser!

Friday, October 17, 2008

pictures!

Our first hostel "Tokyo Ninja Hostel" rated 6/10 by Shirley. Clean and fun. But too tiring, no lift.
Tokyo New Hope Church! =)
Pastor and his Japanese wife who will do the translation for him.
Yeah! Thank you for praying for me, pastor! =)
Met this family there at the church, very very cute baby! =)

Saturday, October 11, 2008

wedding, wedding and weddings!

I haven't finished posting up all my japan adventures pictures. Reasons being, the photo size is too big and I find it hard to resize them one by one.

Nonetheless, many events these days... I thought I can be excited.. but I felt a sense of sadness over me. To be frank, I really felt that I have been through alot this year. Yet, I have been strong.



But on the other note, my life is indeed bless. I have so many good friends, good health and family members around. I am blessed indeed.



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I have received a cheque for $472.93 yesterday from the Bank of America, AIG.

Yup, AIG never fails to deliver its claims promises. One exciting part of my Japan is that I lost my phone and money on the 2nd day in Tokyo! What an event! After meeting Jac on the first day at Tokyo, the next day is a fateful one that almost ruin my entire trip.



Started the day quite badly, as I was too tired the day before carrying my extremely heavy luggage around.. Jac gave me a black face because I couldn;t wake up on the time we have agreed on. And the whole day, she wasn't impressed at all with the shopping and walking around at Tokyo, comparing Tokyo with Paris. Honestly, I wished I was alone at Tokyo. =p ops.... sorry Jac. That day, I went to meet up with KC and his wife at Tokyo 101 whilst Jac decided to go back hostel to rest??? (Fancy going hostel to rest on a hols?? funny) So I called her up during dinner time to meet up, thinking that she will be very "ke lian".

But it turned out to be a "devastating" night for me.



God is good. On the train to our supposed destination "odaiba", I decided to take a good look at what I brought for that day in my pouch. I took out my wallet and passport in the morning that day and brought along my leftover money which amounts to $40k yen, my handphone, spare SD card for taking pic and the hostel keys.



When we were at one station for transition to another train, Jac decided maybe not to go anymore, and in the midst of discussion, I got really dull and "sian". After which, funny... my pouch was gone. huh??? ya, I really can't recall what happened. I guess I might have left it on the ticket counter while discussing with Jac and station master about whether we should get going, and someone took it. Faint. Yes, all my contacts were gone. I thanked God that at that crucial moment, I was holding on to my dear camera with irreplaceable memories of my Japan trip, photos for the first 5 days.



But, yes... my handphone was gone with all my contacts. I considered that really desvastating, not only so because my Hp is rather new, bought in April, but as a "sales" person, contacts are my lifeline. And, I thought of all my plans for the rest of the trip, getting to Mt Fuji and disneyland... and I thought of my lost money... all of it... no more yens left... in a foreign ground...



I cried and cried and cried.... right where I was.



Ha... Jac didnt response much, which added to my frustrations.



I think I was brave and insisted in looking for it in my best efforts then headed to the police post for reporting. I sat down at the police post and tried to regain my sanity again.



Self talk: "Shirley, what have you lost? Money. Handphone. Contacts.

Are they very very important in life that you find them hard to replace? Would you rather dwell in all these loss, cry for days and decided to get back to Singapore asap to forget about this "bad experience"? or get over it quickly and enjoy the rest of your trip?? Mt Fuji, Tokyo and Disneyland.



Shirley: "Okay, okay. Yup, it's okay. It's not the end of the world. I just lost some money. Besides, I got my travel insurance, even if I can't claim them, they are not so important in life that worth the ruining of the rest of my trip. Okay, I'm fine!"



I decided there at the police post to be well again. =)

Thanking God that I haven lost my passport, wallet, Ic or camera.



I had the most amazing day the next day. Good!



The next day was our Mt. Fuji trip and so we packed up and went over to our 3rd hostel to put our luggage. Then backpack and off we go! Went to the "electric world" full of the latest techologies in town to get a spare SD card for my camera. It's just a 5 min ride from my hostel. Found a cheap SD card, 2 G for only $10 Sing i think. Thanks to Jac who lend me some money. I decided that memories cant be replaced so Im determined to grab a SD card for the rest of my trip. Off we went on to our next destination, Tokyo New Life Church! Wow... small church with a big heart. Loved the church alot, warm people, great pastor from Hawaii, great love for God and people! Guess what, God used the pastor to comfort me as he related his 2 experiences of theft and robbery in Japan for his stay there. He lost $40k yen! Yup, that's what I lost too! God has used him to remind me that I am never alone. That topic of the sermon is Trusting God in crisis times. =) Yup, you are not alone too.

They sang lovely worship songs in Japanese and English. After the whole service, I went up to take a pic with the pastor and told him how God has used him to encourage me. He then decided to pray for me, knowing how bad I must have felt throughout the whole loss. The moment he laid his hands on me, I started crying and crying. It's not tear of sadness or disappointment. It's tear of joy from my Heavenly Father. The presence of God is so strong. God only allows himself to be as close as you allows Him to.

Lovely, got a book "Dream Releasers" from the church too. Written by their Senior pastor from Hawaii. Pastor Wayne. Heard of him in internet and how he led the fasting growing church in Hawaii with more than 10,000 regular attendees now. Hope I got the details right. So they started a church in Japan too and I got there. Thank God.

The route to Mt. Fuji was enjoyable too and the moment we reached there, wow....great weather! I'm loving it! =)

********************** to be continued plus the wedding story.......

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Take a long time to upload pictures! faint!!! =p

Finally can rest after settling at Ninja Tokyo Hostel! Just exploring outside the hostel.
Asakusa area! all the souvenirs!
Bought a cute bowl here!
Caught a Sumo to take pic with me! Ai yo... scary....=p
So many arcades for japanese to vent their frustrations here.
My heavy heavy lugguge! Shouldn't have bring so many things to Japan!
Bullet train Nozomi behind me!
This is the bed that I slept on at Ninja Hostel.... Domitary style! haa... nice experience if I didnt need to carry the heavy lugguge!
A look at the corridor inside the room leading to my bed behind.
This is the living room at Ninja hostel. Actually out of 10, I will only give 6-7 for my experience here. Still prefer K's house! At Mt. Fuji and Tokyo. =)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

different Hello Kitty hat! =)
Yellow cab !
Spiderman! wrong hand!
Peterpan... no show that day!
Hollywood dream........... scream my heart out! Fun! legs shaking before & after the ride!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Japan adventures part 2

Snoopy world at Universal Studio!
Very fantasy world!
Jurassic Park! The ride!
Standard merry go round!
The pink cafe! Pink panther! =)
Cute shop logos are common along Shinshabashi streets osaka!Love this street!
After Dinner by District manager Daisy Wee, she spent $10,000 yen ($130) for each person here. Generous boss!
We make it! AIA 12th Mini convention! =)Davy Goh is my manager standing behind me. Boss Daisy and funny uncle Jimmy.
At the dinner!





Day 3: Universal Studio adventures!


AIA is great to have given us 3 options to choose for our tour. Kyoto day trip, Kobe beef trip or Universal Studio! Don't have to think much, I have chosen option 3 and never never regret my decision!


AIA provided a return train ticket to Universal Studio, the entrance ticket and meal coupons of $3000 yen! Wow, how generous are they! =)


Had a great time there but ended up with a sore sore feet.. nearly fainted from walking too much! Had the most wonderful and exciting rollar coaster ride! It's called "the hollywood dream". =) Fun indeed!


Caught 2 toys at Osaka Shinshabashi!!! Minnie and pooh!! thanks to the sales assistant who helped me! Spent less than $10, abt $6 for each toy. =)


Eat very nice Ramen!!! So nice!!! Thanks to S for the treat! =)


5th sep is the day I travelled to Tokyo from Osaka by the Nozomi bullet train! Fastest train in Japan! Took about 2.30 hours to reached Tokyo.


First lesson to learn: Never bring alot of things when you travel! Keep your luggage as light as possible! Ha.... I didnt know why I brought dozens of clothes, shoes, jackets and skincare in my big luggage till my dad is wondering if Im going to be away for a year! haaaaa..... and my brother told me that I should be bringing things back from Japan and not bringing so many things to Japan! haaa...... In the end, I have to pull my heavy luggage from the station to my hostel in Tokyo!!! Its torturing!!!! and thanks to 2 Japanese I saw at the station who helped me to carry my luggage up the long stairs... Really sorry to see them "suffering" too.


Finally at Ninja Tokyo Hostel! But 2 poor ladies (The receptionists) have to help me carry my luggage up 5 levels. Oh, ke lian!!! I was supposed to stay with Kassey and wife at their apartment in yohohama but because of Jac, I stayed with her in a hostel instead. It's a domitary style bed that we have chosen 'cos it's cheaper. But I ended up in bruises... haaa....


Had the most dramatic event the next day. To be continued....