'Close your eyes, think back to the week before and remember all the good things that happened to you. Then think back to the week before that, and then further back. Have you given thanks for all the good things that came your way?'
That was the sermon we had this morning, short but powerful enough to spin my wheel of thought. I thought back to the past week or so of the good things that came my way. It is not easy I admit, thinking back and remembering all good things that came my way. It is undoubtedly easier to remember bad things that happened but to remember good things takes a bit of an effort. That's just typical of us human, isn't it? I can remember a colleague who angered me in a split of a second, but it takes longer to recall a colleague who helped me solve a problem.
So today is all about recalling good things that came my way and thanking God for them. I think about my friends here who without them my life would be empty and lonely, my colleagues who provide all shades and colours in my daily working life, my work that gives me the means to live from day to day, my unit, though small,provides me shelter from the rain and the sun. I also think of him who has loved me and brought me so much happiness, and though we are no longer together I still thank God for bringing him into my life.
For all good things that come my way, past, present and future, I am indeed thankful.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Thursday, 11 October 2007
While waiting for the bus,
I get the opportunity to observe people and their variety of behaviour. Some are funny while others are just the normal things that people do. You see fashion, bags, shoes, people trying to dash across the road so that they don't have to wait for the light to turn red. Some are running after the bus, some are trying to outrun the bus!
There was a pregnant woman I saw the other day crossing the road.. jaywalking that is.. What caught my attention was how she was trying to balance her growing tummy with the speed that she was walking (jaywalking remember???) on a pair of stiletto! How insane was that?? Just imagine - big tummy, speed, stiletto..And on top of that, a bag on one shoulder, an umbrella in her other hand (yes, it was drizzling). Then there was this other lady who was trying cross the road as the light turned green. Cars were trying to move and she was moving between them! And then there was also this guy who kept sticking his head out to see if the bus was coming...haha.. Such were the antics that people display. I guess waiting for the bus doesn't have to be a bore... hahahah...
Hey, what about those who talk on the mobile from the time they went on the bus until they hopped off?? hahaha... and everyone could hear what the conversation was all about!!! :-)
And me? I observe people while waiting and daydream (mmm.. of you know who :-) ) while on the bus.. haha...
I get the opportunity to observe people and their variety of behaviour. Some are funny while others are just the normal things that people do. You see fashion, bags, shoes, people trying to dash across the road so that they don't have to wait for the light to turn red. Some are running after the bus, some are trying to outrun the bus!
There was a pregnant woman I saw the other day crossing the road.. jaywalking that is.. What caught my attention was how she was trying to balance her growing tummy with the speed that she was walking (jaywalking remember???) on a pair of stiletto! How insane was that?? Just imagine - big tummy, speed, stiletto..And on top of that, a bag on one shoulder, an umbrella in her other hand (yes, it was drizzling). Then there was this other lady who was trying cross the road as the light turned green. Cars were trying to move and she was moving between them! And then there was also this guy who kept sticking his head out to see if the bus was coming...haha.. Such were the antics that people display. I guess waiting for the bus doesn't have to be a bore... hahahah...
Hey, what about those who talk on the mobile from the time they went on the bus until they hopped off?? hahaha... and everyone could hear what the conversation was all about!!! :-)
And me? I observe people while waiting and daydream (mmm.. of you know who :-) ) while on the bus.. haha...
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
An interesting article on News.com.au ...
Kisses can seal a couple's fate
Women use first kiss to gauge compatibility
Good kiss means partner is worth preserving
Bad kiss means no invite for coffee
IT is a moment of high anxiety in any romantic relationship. But now researchers have found that the first kiss may be even more important than anyone suspected.
While a kiss may just be a kiss for a man, for a woman it is an all-important means of gauging a prospective partner's compatibility. She uses it, the study suggests, to assess a "rich and complex exchange" of romantic and chemical clues that pass between partners as their lips touch.
A "good kiss" will help convince her that the partner is worth persevering with but a man who is judged to be a bad kisser is unlikely to find himself invited in for coffee.
In the longer term, the woman treats kissing as a means to induce bonding and assess whether her partner has remained faithful and interested.
For men the kiss is much less important. It might be a source of hormonal information but it's mostly seen as a preliminary to sex. A man tends to regard a good kiss as one in which he's allowed to use his tongue and is rewarded with moans of pleasure, the study found.
"The information conveyed by a kiss can have profound consequences for romantic relationships, and can even be a major factor in ending one," Gordon Gallup, of the University at Albany in the US, said. "While many forces lead two people to connect romantically, the kiss - particularly the first one - can be a deal-breaker."
The study, published in the online journal Evolutionary Psychology, suggests that clues to a person's health are passed on by kissing. These clues are picked up and understood - consciously or unconsciously - by the kissers but are more important to the female because she is more interested in a long-term relationship.
Women were more likely than men to take into account the smell of their partner's breath, the taste of their mouth and the state of their teeth during a kiss.
Women were less than half as likely to have sex with a man without first enjoying a kiss, and less likely to tolerate tongues on a first date. Men were much more likely both to continue to want sex even with a bad kisser or without bothering with a kiss. Once a relationship was established, the researchers found, men grew less interested in kissing whereas women continued to give kisses a high priority. They were more likely to kiss a partner after sex than men were.
Researchers from three US universities surveyed 1041 college students, most aged 18 to 25.
The Times, London, in The Australian
So, there you are, the secret to kisses. Sometimes I wonder how people come up with interesting insights like this. But I suppose being a woman I agree with the fact that our species make a bigger deal of a kiss than a man does. The man is usually the first to initiate a kiss at the beginning of a relationship but it is always the woman who continues to be interested. Kissing is a very intimate act, a kiss means he cares, it means he wants you. Your first kiss will forever be etched on your mind, and it is this first kiss that always brings back the nostalgic feeling, of being loved, being wanted. Every time I remember our first kiss, it never fails to create that warm fuzzy feeling - and it always brings a smile to my face.
Kisses can seal a couple's fate
Women use first kiss to gauge compatibility
Good kiss means partner is worth preserving
Bad kiss means no invite for coffee
IT is a moment of high anxiety in any romantic relationship. But now researchers have found that the first kiss may be even more important than anyone suspected.
While a kiss may just be a kiss for a man, for a woman it is an all-important means of gauging a prospective partner's compatibility. She uses it, the study suggests, to assess a "rich and complex exchange" of romantic and chemical clues that pass between partners as their lips touch.
A "good kiss" will help convince her that the partner is worth persevering with but a man who is judged to be a bad kisser is unlikely to find himself invited in for coffee.
In the longer term, the woman treats kissing as a means to induce bonding and assess whether her partner has remained faithful and interested.
For men the kiss is much less important. It might be a source of hormonal information but it's mostly seen as a preliminary to sex. A man tends to regard a good kiss as one in which he's allowed to use his tongue and is rewarded with moans of pleasure, the study found.
"The information conveyed by a kiss can have profound consequences for romantic relationships, and can even be a major factor in ending one," Gordon Gallup, of the University at Albany in the US, said. "While many forces lead two people to connect romantically, the kiss - particularly the first one - can be a deal-breaker."
The study, published in the online journal Evolutionary Psychology, suggests that clues to a person's health are passed on by kissing. These clues are picked up and understood - consciously or unconsciously - by the kissers but are more important to the female because she is more interested in a long-term relationship.
Women were more likely than men to take into account the smell of their partner's breath, the taste of their mouth and the state of their teeth during a kiss.
Women were less than half as likely to have sex with a man without first enjoying a kiss, and less likely to tolerate tongues on a first date. Men were much more likely both to continue to want sex even with a bad kisser or without bothering with a kiss. Once a relationship was established, the researchers found, men grew less interested in kissing whereas women continued to give kisses a high priority. They were more likely to kiss a partner after sex than men were.
Researchers from three US universities surveyed 1041 college students, most aged 18 to 25.
The Times, London, in The Australian
So, there you are, the secret to kisses. Sometimes I wonder how people come up with interesting insights like this. But I suppose being a woman I agree with the fact that our species make a bigger deal of a kiss than a man does. The man is usually the first to initiate a kiss at the beginning of a relationship but it is always the woman who continues to be interested. Kissing is a very intimate act, a kiss means he cares, it means he wants you. Your first kiss will forever be etched on your mind, and it is this first kiss that always brings back the nostalgic feeling, of being loved, being wanted. Every time I remember our first kiss, it never fails to create that warm fuzzy feeling - and it always brings a smile to my face.
The curse of being a woman is that special time of the month when your hormones go haywire and you emotions running on high. It is the time of the month when your defences are down and emotions take over. It is the time of the month when you miss affections, a hug, a kiss, a smile. I don't like that time of the month coz it makes me vulnerable, and empty.. and all I want to is curl up in bed and immerse my mind in a great big hug, to slip away from this void of emptiness, and enter into a warm fuzzy comfortable feeling. Makes sense?
Monday, 8 October 2007
Sunday, 7 October 2007
This morning I had the pleasure to listen to Sr Joan, who was dubbed the Saint of Bangkok by our parish priest. She gave a brief insight to her work in the slums in Bangkok. Listening to her talk reminded me of my teaching vocation. She has been living in Bangkok for the past 10 years, helping the poor especially the children. She described the lives of the people there, how they lived from day to day on their meagre earning of about 100 baht a day. Sometimes when there is no work, there will be no food on the table for dinner or breakfast the next day. Children as young as 5 roams the slums in the morning if they are hungry. They don't go to school coz they cannot afford it. Many children turn to drugs, especially glue sniffing. So her mission is to get these kids to get some education - putting them in school is easy, trying to interest them to stay is the challenge.
Listening to her today reminded me of how passionate I was when I was one. I suppose that's why teaching is more a vocation than a profession. Believe me, not everyone can become a teacher. I have people telling me that being a teacher is so easy, you get so many holidays and you work only half a day... ahhh... or so they think. Looks can be deceiving, just ask the teachers you know.
They don't see the fact teachers start work as early as 7 am, and often time don't leave school until after 1 pm (on a good day) and sometimes 3/4... errr... Malaysian teachers that is... Teachers have to go back to school on Saturdays to hold extra classes or extra curricular activities. Sometimes teachers have to get involved with organising inter school or inter-district event, and thus work more than just their teaching duties. And when their students are selected to represent their school or district or country, it means more work for them. They don't see the fact that in getting the students to learn what you teach them, you need to prepare your lesson properly, and comprehensively so that you cover every level of abilities in the class of 40 to 50!! And don't forget the tons of marking to do!!
Being teacher has brought many joy in my life and not to mention the countless headaches that came my way. 2 days ago a former student contacted me through facebook. She is now in Sheffield, doing her post grad degree. I am indeed proud of her and it makes me happy that I had played a part in her education. Such is the gratifying aspects of being a teacher.
Listening to her today reminded me of how passionate I was when I was one. I suppose that's why teaching is more a vocation than a profession. Believe me, not everyone can become a teacher. I have people telling me that being a teacher is so easy, you get so many holidays and you work only half a day... ahhh... or so they think. Looks can be deceiving, just ask the teachers you know.
They don't see the fact teachers start work as early as 7 am, and often time don't leave school until after 1 pm (on a good day) and sometimes 3/4... errr... Malaysian teachers that is... Teachers have to go back to school on Saturdays to hold extra classes or extra curricular activities. Sometimes teachers have to get involved with organising inter school or inter-district event, and thus work more than just their teaching duties. And when their students are selected to represent their school or district or country, it means more work for them. They don't see the fact that in getting the students to learn what you teach them, you need to prepare your lesson properly, and comprehensively so that you cover every level of abilities in the class of 40 to 50!! And don't forget the tons of marking to do!!
Being teacher has brought many joy in my life and not to mention the countless headaches that came my way. 2 days ago a former student contacted me through facebook. She is now in Sheffield, doing her post grad degree. I am indeed proud of her and it makes me happy that I had played a part in her education. Such is the gratifying aspects of being a teacher.
Monday, 1 October 2007
Australia Tax Returns Part II
Ok.. spent the morning reading the guide book and filling in the form. I have completed 99% of it, but there are some things I am not sure of, so will go and ask my friends at work on Wednesday :-) The questions are basic enough but there are also some tricky ones. But, I am glad it is almost over!!
So how was your day? :-)
Ok.. spent the morning reading the guide book and filling in the form. I have completed 99% of it, but there are some things I am not sure of, so will go and ask my friends at work on Wednesday :-) The questions are basic enough but there are also some tricky ones. But, I am glad it is almost over!!
So how was your day? :-)
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