Byebye drwb.blogspot.com. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for seeing me through the application processes, through the packing, through the goodbyes, through taking off, through settling down, through missing family, missing friends, missing food. Thanks to everyone who tagged.. Continue to comment on.....
The reason for a new blog isn't particularly a very significant one, but at least to me.
I've already been here for 222 days. Life has settled down in Australia, settled down nicely. Yet heart is in Singapore.
Maybe for me it's just the chapter closing down. The introduction. Coming here and everything. The introduction's over. A beginning into the actual story.
Now before I leave this blog to go on, I'll leave some stories.
The reason for me moving? Haha.. A very valid question which I never took the time to record down here. Actually the whole thing, the big picture... I can't help but think our move was planned. Not that the usual things that happened aren't, but this.
So! June and July saw Sydney moving through the winter season and naturally we hit the heater full power! Well, having lived in sunny Singapore for 20 years and coming here requiring the heater and battling the cold ain't a simple task. Heater. Just the opposite of air-conditioner ain't it? WRONG WRONG WRONG. When our landlady received the bill, BAMB! Hitting almost $1000 is a record high for 3 month electricity bill. And so we got the knock knock from her, asking how we managed to chalk up to $1000 when her usual bill is around $200 plus. Well, all that was to our defence was that aye, we're new here you know, first time using the heater. Ah well... she had already decided that we should help pay for the bill to cover up her 'losses' (when clearly on our contract it is stated that all bills will be covered by our $140 rent weekly). I mean, ok, maybe it's a bit too much, so we (Tsang Yew and me) didn't really mind paying for it. But the next thing we know, she was saying something along the lines of here's the deal, I'm going to make you pay partly for this bill and then I'm raising your rent to $160 weekly and I'm not going to cover your bills from now on.
That's was what - BAMB! BAMB! BAMB!
Come think about it, $160 per week makes $640 per month on top of the internet which is $25 per month, and if we were to pay bills ($665/mth).. If I remember correctly, this kind of expenses clearly exceeds my budget.
Then so we were thinking of moving out next year, because to shift suddenly in the middle of the term's quite strange. The thing is. That wasn't gonna happen. What happened during the time was that we were having dinner with 2 of our Medicine friends (from Singapore as well) - Benjamin and Mervyn. They stay(ed) just a couple of walks away from us and because their landlady was offering us dinner at $3 we took it up. And by chance we mentioned this over dinner and decided to ask "Auntie" if she has any more rooms so we might want to move in next time. The timing can never be more right. Just so she is renovating her garage to convert it into a 4 room place. And we looked at each other - 4 of us.
Next thing was, negotiations, planning, moving, and poof! We're out from Doncaster into Houston! The rent's here is $120 and internet's $11 per month (=$491/mth), so come to calculate, we save at least $150 per month! Which is, a lot. And with dinner provided by Auntie, it's just. God is such a funny God. Full of grace and mercy. Full of wonderful surprises. And now that I think of it, haha.. Yes.. another reason why I can say I'm changing my blog address is because my address here in Aust has also changed. :)
Right now, I only hope in a change in my heart - change that would be more Christ like and bearing in His image.
So there you are, the last post from me on this blog. Stay tuned for the unveiling of the new address tomorrow!! God bless!
DrWb 5:00 PM
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Friday, September 22, 2006
Sorry for not updating for so long.
But now. The time is now.
Unveiling a new blog.
In 2 days.
DrWb 11:29 PM
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Tuesday, August 15, 2006
StYLe cHAngE!
What a fanciful title for a post to tell you about my change of address! Yes, be moving! Soon, be ready to see pictures of my BRAND NEW INDIVIDUAL ROOM!
As of this Sunday, 20 August 2006, my new address would be!!
14 HOUSTON ROAD, Kensington 2033 Sydney NSW
Posted up for more details! I'm gonna move ah move ah move ah.
DrWb 9:23 PM
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Sunday, August 13, 2006
The York is Easy
Matthew 11:28 - 30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Thoughts and feelings - something I can never get pass. Something I can never get through. Something as a human everyone has.
The last week of the July holidays was spent in conference. Mid Year Conference (MYC). I still look back and I still think it's how amazing I ended up at MYC. I had never wanted to go for it. It was never in my plans. Yet the one event that changed everything.
I was praised last Friday. I'd never been praised like that before. Everyone sat around the table during bible study. Everyone was reading from Daniel. And then I was asked to share my testimony... "Yea.. I'm very encouraged by Weibin, he's changed so much since he first came.." Something I would never forget.
Yet the change in me would not be the strength that came from myself. I would not be that strong. Humans are never that strong to begin with. I'd tried to be strong as I grew up. I told myself I could do anything if I believe.
It's amazing the way God chooses to reveal His plans. It's amazing the path that God chooses to take you through.
UNSW was never my first priority to study med in. Yet now UNSW would mean so much more.
I had for a long time been an infant. I had refused to take the hard road to grow up. Then the Lord told me that solid food is what I need to have from thence onwards.
I always wanted to prepare myself for the things I thought that was to come. I wanted control of the situation. I have to have my own plans so I know where to go.
Shiver is still my favourite song. I've walked a mile with a smile, and it doesn't really matter because I'm feeling fine, I'm feeling safe. Cos with the Lord I'm running somewhere I can't get to by myself.
The rules have changed, the tides have turned. I want to be with Him when He wants to be with me.
An amazing thought strike me one Sunday afternoon. What would you think?
What would you think if I had come here to study medicine?
What can I think if I had come here to study medicine and should the Lord call me to mission?
I have no idea. Just a thought...
I feel so much more convinced in the Lord. He's always here.
Turn to the Lord won't you? Give Him a chance. He showed you love. Why don't we try loving Him back? At least try. Don't turn your face away.
I was so tired. Life's so complicated. It's not simple at all. Everyone wants it to be simple. Look at our lives, we go after that that will give us comfort, give us relief, bring love back. But it's not that easy is it?
Then I decided to turn to the Lord. My tears He wiped away, my love He gave. Who His love will not remember?
Bless you.
DrWb 9:57 PM
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Tuesday, July 25, 2006
A look back
Finally got down to typing this long awaited post. A post that would allow me to look back and reflect publicly what happened during the holidays and things that ran through my mind dfuring the period.
Well, the initial plan for the holidays was that I wanted to use the time for some self reflection, taking advantage of a chance to be 'home alone' and so thought it would be a great opportunity for myself to 'settle down' into Syndey and think through some of the things, like how I want to approach future studies and how I want to live a life during this period. This has always been my reason why I had decline all invitations to do anything, including going for the one week Mid Year Conference (MYC) organised by Campus Bible Study.
And I congratulate myself when I was able to go to church the Sunday on the week after the exam. For after Friday (the exam), we had friends over for the Saturday night and we simply played mahjong and bridge until 6 in the morning, then everyone went back and I accompanied my roommate Tsang Yew to the airport. Basically no one slept during the night and because it was Sunday the next day, it was very tempting to go back home to sleep and skip church. And so after when I was determined enough to go to church, I was rather proud of myself and thought about the great 3 weeks ahead I had planned for reflections......
So much for reflections, the first week wasn't exactly productive or anything, mostly I spent time at home playing computer games and watching silly videos like Mr Bean. It was actually quite horrible. At that point in time for a reason I couldn't understand, it just felt weird, even frustrated with myself for 'relaxing'. It's in inverted commas because now that I think of it, I don't count that as relaxing anymore, I would refer to it more as a form of addiction. Yep, computer games and the internet have haunted me all the way from Singapore to Australia. Well lucky for this time, it happened during the first week of holidays after the exam. Which leads to another point - why exactlty was I feeling this waves of guilt when I supposedly should be enjoying and taking time off from the books? Why did I feel guilty of having fun? Strange...
Fast forward 3 weeks later and something which I learnt and give thanks for. I don't know why but I think God has chosen the time to teach me something, I think He gave me conscience extra during that period, which made me to think about how much time I've wasted on the computer doing useless things. It gave me a chance to look back and see the hours I've spent unproductively, yea.. even when I 'deserve' the break, I started to have this nagging that I should be doing something more useful and for building up instead of playing games. Henceforth, may I say that I've decided to uninstall the game, in particular Warcraft and return the CD to my landlord, and subsequently quit Neopets. Haha.. It's not something that I'm proud of, but I do hope and pray that I can continue to receive this inner conscience inside me that tugs me to stay away from these time wasting games and do things that are more meaningful. I would like to take this chance too to thank Simon, a dear friend whom I shared with during the period of intense game playing He taught me 'not to fight temptation but flee from it'. Yea.. It helped me a lot thinking about that, and as something I developed further, I added soemthing else - 'fight not temptation but run away, and run to God, for He will help you to fight instead'. Haha.. Actually until I type here I'm not sure if I have gotten any point across.
But anyway, as I mentioned before, the first week wasn't particular productive. So much for the reflections, I spent most of the time in front of the computer. Now as I look back, I see it as a time of self discovery rather than reflections. Because after that week when I felt more determined to escape from the 'game's grip', I had set out to write a journal post that I listed some stuff that I've learnt about my own character during the period. The significant changing event happened on Sunday that first week when I've skipped church (because I had stayed up to play games the previous night..you get a rough idea how the games disrupted my sleeping pattern); 2 of my friends from bible study group visited me at home and they were encouraging me to go for MYC. I still did not want to go, I was reluctant to go, but something, just the size of a small mustard seed, prompted me to say "ok, help me sign up then..." Anyway, yea.. The next few days was better, I was looking forward for my friends who were coming to visit me. In my mind I was still calling myself stupid for having agreed to sign up for the camp..
And now... the 2nd week.
Well, week 2 was the week where things began to change..slowly. The fist few days, I decided to meet up some friends and cook. Haha.. Yea.. we tried making fried ice cream and some beef stew.. well, the beef stew was still not too bad but the fried ice cream... Let's just say that it was fun and that's it. See the before and after pictures.. Hahahaha... before
after!!
But the highlight came Thursday, when Lip Hang was gonna come. See, I know Lip Hang back from army and we managed to strike off quite well then. He came to send me off when I was departing for Sydney and lo and behold! Told me a few months after on MSN that he would be coming to Sydney!! Hahaha... And so, from there we arrange the dates and accomodation (near my place) and for quite a while anticipating his arrival (for he was to help me bring some books and clothes over..hehe). Alongside with him was 2 other of his friends, Dennes and Ze Yan (who do not know each other). Anyway, Dennes and Lip Hang went to Goldcoast before they came to Sydney and Ze Yan was to come from Sigapore directly to Sydney and so I would to meet him on Thursday morning and meet Lip Hang and Dennes on Thursday night. Anyway, from then onwards, we spent Thursday to Sunday together travelling: Friday - Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Opera House, The Rocks, Fish Market Saturday - Blue Mountains, Starcity casino Sunday - Church, Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach Really enjoyed their company during the period. Even learnt from Lip Hang how to cook Hainanese Chicken rice and we also had steamboat on Sunday night! Hmm.. ok, I need to go now.. I will blog about the last week in another post. Till then, enjoy the pictures here first. God bless!
One of the first (of the many many) group shot at the Opera House. Haha.. Did I forget to mention that all of them are photo muggers? Go everywhere do everything - TAKE PICTURE FIRST!!!
The soup to accompany chicken rice!
Aiya the chicken look so small in this picture. But really we had huge portions! And... *drumrolls* the chicken rice was really like chicken rice!!! Oh man! Now I know how to cook chicken rice!!!! Thanks Lip Hang!!!! Who wants tme to cook for them? Haha..
At the blue mountains. It was amazing the place. I think I really like nature - I found it fun to walk under the rain in the drizzle, jumping over mud pools and feeling the mist and fog on my skin. I liek the sound of waterfall thumbling down and the melody of streams flowing from their origins.. Hahaha.. Really enjoyed myself that day.
This is the food from the casino! For first timers, just bring your passport there and they'll give you a card with $10 credit! Then just use that to play the slots machine, which is what we did. Right to this day, I still have no idea how they work and how you calculate your money or anything. Just glad that I walked away with $16 extra in my pocket.. haha.. Lip Hang won $34 man.. But Dennes and Ze Yan... eh.. let's just say they had fun.
So nice right.. the ice cream.. We bought strawberries to eat with the ice cream. It's really nice.
This is what you get at the fish market for $25!!
Dennes love his chicken soup.
DrWb 2:45 PM
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Tuesday, July 11, 2006
MAJOR EVENT - CHARMED FINALE
Oh Boy.. I visited uTube today while I was bored and stumbled upon several Charmed clips. And slowly as I watched and viewed the comments people posted it dawned upon me that Season 8 has ended - ended with a series finale. That's right, SERIES finale. Which means, after this last episode of the final battle, Charmed is over! Over for good.
Which means, no more season 9, no more season 10... Somehow it made me felt a bit sad. Well, I've been a fan of Charmed ever since I saw that on TV with my friends in a hotel. I think that was season 2. Haha.. And they're already at Season 8 now. Season 8 and out.
Yes... It'd sorta become a part of growing up show for me. I especially enjoy the parts when they fight and when Paige came in after Prue died, she added in much laughs as well. Now that the show is over... well, Charmed's over. Time to move on. Don't understand why I feel so nostalgic suddenly... My 2nd post in a day. Rather rare. But yes, Charmed's over.
Ever since after I started watching it, my favourite character has always been Piper - initially the middle sister but eventually the eldest after Prue died. At first her power was merely temporal stasis (momentary time stopping) but after that her powers grew to include molecular combustion (exploding stuff up). From what I gathered, her powers are related to molecules.. haha.. You see, she can slow molecules to a rate whereby their vibration become temporary negligible such that the whole being is seen as being stopped or captured in time; whereas the other power makes the molecules move so fast that they go BOOM! So cool huh. I'm seriously crazy now, I'm blogging about Charmed! Haha.. But then again, it's the end of it. Some tribute to a show that has been a part of growing up huh.
Another reason why it's played an important role is partly due to the Charmed game I play with my cousins. As I've introduced them earlier before (see Feb archives I think), we used to always play Charmed when we come together, for instances and ocassions such as Christmases, New Years, parties and such. There's a total of 8 of us, and 7 of us are boys; and the 3 sisters ain't it. Well, it's merely for fun. So most of the time we get to choose what kind of powers we would like to have and subsequently adopted the character's role. For myself, haha, of course, who wouldn't like to have the power to manipulate time? That's why I went on to become the most powerful of them all, Piper Halliwell. And Tzer Yeun would be Paige, for obvious comedic effects. Yang and Zhi would switch between Prue and Paige, though most of the times I remember they usually stand around asking what they should be doing and even more often just standing there looking at the 2 elder cousins' performances and simply laugh. Ah Qi would be Leo, Ah B? The demon of course. Haha.. While Ah Jun and Ah Wang would be Clark Kent (where did that come from?) and Cole respectively. Those were the times.. Haha. Well, in a normal game we would just walk around and fight, but usually ending up in a big clutter and everyone displaying their ULTIMATE power, KABOOM here, KICK there, DASH here, SPLAT above, ORB below, basically a clutter all around. Eventually the same things happen - Ah Yang and Hui Zhi would stand aside and laugh (while holding on to their stomachs). But once in a while we think of some story lines and we act it out, which is quite cool.
Now that the series has ended, I've looked around YouTube and chosen 3 of the best (I think - the best that I can find) representative videos. So here's a tribute to Charmed. Something I will keep in my memory.
DrWb 6:48 PM
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Tagspotted
Been tagged before by several people but I'm usually too lazy to do this kinda stuff, but once in an ocassional purple moon (like now) when I feel inclined to update my blog and post a post but can't decide on what I want to post about I shall have 'fun' with this:
I have been tagged by: My only female cousin younger than me
Favourites Colour - black, blue, green, yellow, white, red Food - Are you kidding!? Ask me this question now... Home cooked food, Mum's bests, Lorong Liew Lian food (Laksa, Mee pok, wanton mee, chicken rice.......), horfun, JUMBO CHILLI CRAB..my stomach refuses to answer this question any longer Song - Too many to list, but in case you're curious I just checked out my play count on iTunes, claiming first is 96 plays of Rebecca St James' "Lion" from the movie Narnia, and on my iPod first up is 99 plays of Natalie Imbruglia's "I Won't Be Lost", with the same song Lion coming in close at 95 plays, so that makes Lion the most played song, with a total of 191 times. The song lasts 3 minutes and 49 seconds, and because I'm so bored, I went to calculate how much time I spent listening to that song, and guessed what, I've spent 12.1 hours listening to this song. Movie - Currently thinking of Brother Bear.. Haven't watched much movies recently Sport - Running swimming badminton cycling bowling; of which the last it depends on my luck Season - absolutely Summer Ice cream - Thinking of mango now... They don't have it here in Aust.. Just another thing my stomach refuse to think about.
Currents Mood - I'm doing this because I'm _ _ r e _ . (RSTLNE) Taste - My stomach won't let my tongue move
Firsts Best friend - Zhang Kailiang! Haha.. primary one. Crush - her. won't say. won't tell. Movie - The Little Mermaid Lie - It wouldn't be a lie for me to say I can't remember when's my first lie. Music - Britney Spears Lucky I think...
Ok the list is really getting too long I shall just stop here. Man, I can't believe I'm doing this...
