This one goes out to Fred

And this is Fred, whose birthday is today :)
Always up for laughs, never one in your face...
Mr nice guy Fred, you don't look twenty-eight!

"HsheyrhTLEkdh BIRYEHQ"
which translates to Happy Birthday in Happiness!

Hope you have a very blessed birthday filled with God's many special blessings :)

Friends staying up all night and watched the first sunrise of 2009 together

Which one is Fred? (hehe)

June 13th

I am brimming with excitement!

I think I am overly excited that I got myself rather exhausted.

I am anxious because there are accommodations and return flights yet to be booked. Last minute tour agency abortion means last minute itinerary changes for me. On the other hand I am looking forward to venturing into countries without a tour guide. No one will tell me what to do at the same time I won't know what there are to do.

Freedom comes at a price.

But I have a problem. Before I am released from this guilt of holiday planning, there are studying to be done.

Last exam being this Saturday at 2pm. Last exam being one that I am least confident in: Company Accounting... *Sigh* I do not have what it takes to be an accountant.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13

This verse always brings comfort in times when I am most doubtful!

Therefore I will remain hopeful and positive. I will continue accumulating excitement. I choose to trust and believe. I know that He is with me, never forsaking me!

Transperth Infringement Part II

First impression of the Infringement Office was that it's very small. Walking in I found two empty chairs, few scattered travel brochures and an unattended counter.

Several seconds after ringing the service bell, a middle aged woman emerged slowly from the back office.

"Yes?" Seemingly unhappy with the abrupt interruption to her prior engagement.

After explaining my situation, she asked if I was a student studying full time.

"Yes I am," I replied with as much certainty in my voice as possible.

Then there was an awkward moment of silence.

I don't think deep down in the woman's heart she truly believed my sincere story. Maybe too many people have tried to pull the same excuse on her and past experiences have made her more suspicious than ever.

"Show me your Smartrider".

Oh crap, how do I now explain that my Smartrider had gone with the wind?

"Umm... it's... ... ... ... ... ... lost..." Things are starting to look a little dodgy :(

"Well, in that case give me a letter from UWA printed on UWA's letterhead specifically addressed to Transperth stating that you are a full time student."

Yupp, I'm walking back to pay that $50 now.

"Wait... What about purchasing a new Smartrider? Load the new card number under your name on Studentconnect and that'll show up straightaway."

OoOoo I'm listening...

"After you've done that, call Transperth to report the old card as lost then they'll transfer the remaining balance from the old card to the new one."

But how long does this whole process take? Days? Weeks? Months?

"An hour, tops. Come back with the new Smartrider and if indeed what you're claiming is true, I'll lift that fine straightaway." Said the woman.

Cutting the story short, no complaint letter, no waiting, no $50 out of pocket! When I returned from uni half an hour later with a new shiny Smartrider in hand, case is closed and it's happy ending for everyone except the Asian guard. He's not going to be happy when he finds out that I won't be earning him a commission after all.

lots of victims to the $50 finage
Since when is student ID not valid for concession!?

What a turn of events...

This is definitely not something I was expecting. The mastermind behind it all is God and Him alone, to Him only belongs all glory and priase!

And it is with no coincidence that I read Psalms 70 : 18-19 just days earlier which is also my prayer,

"Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amend, and Amen."

Transperth Infringement part I

I can't find my Smartrider.

On the Sunday morning it sat safely in the phone pocket of my bag and by Monday it had vanished into thin air.

When searching high and low availed to nothing, I turned on the ignorance button. Seriously hoping for it to surprise me one day by suddenly spawning in the most obvious place like my wallet.

In waiting for this hope to materialise, I began purchasing cash concession tickets without Autoload's 25% off benefit.

Days later I promised to meet up with Wui Chien and show her around Perth. I bought a concession dayrider ticket, making extra sure that my student card was on me.

We went to Subi for lunch then Claremont for a stroll. Each leg of the trip I was asked to produce a concession card which I did and was allowed entry & exit. Arriving at Perth train station to meet up with Rowena before going home together, an Asian Transperth guard asked to see my student card.

Then he asked for my ID.

Then he began writing me a ticket.

Well, apparently he needed to see my Smartrider and not the student card... That didn't make sense because had I my Smartrider I wouldn't need to purchase a cash ticket!

As the guard was writing up the fine, he silenced my protest by assuring that the fine can be lifted. When he gave me the ticket he changed the story to say that there is no guarantee. If I want to appeal I'll have to write Transperth a letter within 28 days, send in a photocopy of my Smartrider and wait.

On the train home Rowena said to think of it as giving back 5% of my stimulus package :_<

27 days later, I still can't find the Smartrider to take a photocopy of it.

Ok you win Transperth, I'll pay $50 for a closure and a peace of mind. For the last month it was eating away at me.

On the 28th day which was yesterday, I was back at the Perth Train Station. Walking up to the counter, I pulled out a $50 bill and asked to settle the fine.

As he was writing up the receipt, the man behind the counter suddenly asked if I think I am doing the right thing.

"What do you mean?" I asked back.

"Well if like you said you are a full time student, then why are you paying the penalty?"

Not wanting to drag the matter any further, I explained that I currently have exams to worry about. The last thing for me now is to send in a complaint letter, begin the waiting game, get asked to produce more documents but I'll be away from the country so I'll just pay for it thanks.

"Ok it's up to you, but you realise their office is just across from us right?"

I turned around and indeed, the man behind Transperth counter is right, staring back at me 50 meters away are the blue doors to the infringement office.

"Take your infringement there and ask to speak to someone. If they say no just come back and I'll take your $50."

Running toward the blue doors my heart was pumping like crazy. "Lord, what does this all mean? What are You showing me? What do I do now? Lord please please please guide me!" My heart shouted out to God.

Final Weeks

For the past week, my home was unofficially the UWA business school. Almost everyday I'm there from morning till mid-night.

Next week will be my final set of exams, every moment spent in uni till then will be bitter sweet.

Thank you God for the past 3 1/2 years!




Final assignment was handed in on Monday. A 50 page strategic analysis on Flight Centre Limited.

Dinner

Lunch

Dinner

Last lecture - SMA Final Exam Review

Day 5 of Waiting On God!

SMS that makes you go huh?

11:00pm last night, I received an sms:

"Ok, before i sleep i write u a poem.

Julia went to a journey and she found a
Ufo and then she keep looking at the sky until then she saw the
Label which said made in china. and she acclaimed
I beg ur pardon.
Anyway have a good nite sleep!"

I think we all know who that was from...

Hehe, thanks for the entertainment though, I'm 22 pages and counting into the final assignment!

No sleep tonight either :)

It only takes a spark!

Some of the best memories I have of camps are times around the camp fire. The singspiration, heartfelt sharing and toasted marshmallows are some of my favourite things.

During the 2002 winter camp it rained... so YPG gathered together all the glow sticks and had a makeshift 'camp fire' indoor... that, was very memorable.

At the 2003 Press on for Christ camp, I ate a toasted mashmallow for the first time ever... that, was unforgettable.

The 2006 Beyond Your Comfort Zone camp was a time of sharing around the camp fire. I remember being touched by one particular testimony.

Since then, I've not had a camp fire again.

Just as I was starting to forget the warmth that a camp fire brings, God blessed Regeneration with a camp fire retreat... without a camp!

7:30pm this Friday at Camp Leschenaultia!