Aug 09

Aug is definitely one of the most exciting months in recent times..

Aug started off with the FOP.. Though I can't remember who was playing but I do remember the sermon.. Basically it's not what we do as Christians but who we are and who we worship.. Those diocese practices are just rituals.. I mean despite all the different denominations.. It's still the same God.. Now and forever (and ever and ever..) What's more important is the one we worship.. And a reminded that Planetshakers will be here next year.. :)

Next up Dave went over to Thailand for 2 months.. Shoik!! I still like the place and the people very much and definitely their love and enthusiasm for God.. Ended up he was rushing for his flight and we did not spend enough time to wish him all the best.. But hey.. Everyone's praying for him.. :) It was too late for me to go meet my lower sec friends.. It's all the way back to town!! So instead went for Hary's 21st.. Got a nice pair of shades of Hary.. How much?? $500?? :)

NDP was next.. Somehow Ice-skating got pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances (lack of response).. Well.. NDP.. What's new?? Other than the pledge taking at 8:22pm..

Next on the list was to collect the gown for my graduation.. The place was very badly described that I thought it was in Serangoon.. Serangoon Broadway in Potong Pasir?? Rite.. And a new pair of Oakley shades.. The current design I had was out of stock and I got a new design for the same price!! Weee.. I did it during lunchtime on Friday and it took me close to 2 hours to get from Harbourfront to Redhill.. A waste of time but it was Friday.. So no issue.. :) Also committed to go for the open water.. Felt relucant but since I've paid.. Just make the most of it.. :)

Ice-skating was next.. Not that interesting since only 5 of us turned up and I was concerned of not injuring myself with the diving on the following weekend.. Still twisted my right thumb in the end.. It's still pain till today..

Ah.. The practical diving in the swimming pool @ Outram Sec.. Familiar place?? By right I'm suppose to go for the theory first before the practical.. So in the end I was completely new to everything.. I was initially worried about swimming 200m and treading water for 10 mins.. What if I managed to fail it?? (Pessimistic I know) In the end I swam breaststroke.. A swimming style that I'm not really used to.. (More used to freestyle) So cleared that part.. Next was the regulator and mask.. Not used to it sia.. Then again I usually use my mouth to breath more.. So the practices began.. Everything was fine.. Just that removing the mask under water was the most irritating.. You'll know why when you do it.. Got a sunburn.. In the pool!! And the German guys were so enthu that it got irritating.. Mainly cause they could not understand English properly..

After that was the band rededication thing.. Which is more like a meeting and sharing actually.. I'm still looking more towards the bass rather than acoustics.. More so as Nick and Dave get more involved in main..

The following week beginning 17th I went for diving theory.. which was easier since I went for the practical the weekend before.. The new things being the Nitrogen part..

UP.. Couldn't catch the movie with Simon and the rest as I had to pack and get rest for the diving trip.. In the end I still didn't get enough rest.. Same old story..

Friday and the fun begins!! Was at work and stoning around as usual until 5.. Went down to MS for the pick up and to my surprise there were 37 people heading to Tioman.. So we departed to Mersing Jetty then on the boat to Tioman.. Everyone was sleeping everywhere.. Even on the top on the boat.. Couldn't get a good rest.. But then again.. I'm kinda used to it.. We reached at about 2am.. Got our rooms and rested until 7am.. Luckily there were only 3 people in my room.. One Norwegian who had dived for 3 consecutive weeks and 2 SG.. Actually I'm quite disappointed with the accommodations.. Simply lousy is all I can say.. Even the condition of the boat as well.. According to a friend who went the following week.. The conditions are not that bad.. Unlucky maybe..

The dive began with a shore descend.. Meaning we went in by the shore.. Sadly someone had a phobia of going to the sea bed which is about 6m deep.. Actually it's kinda scary.. But after awhile you'll get used to it.. Stay down and did some drills which went smoothly.. The second dive was training as well.. After lunch we got to do some open water dives with the rest of the leisure divers.. We got to dive around some small island but I had some bouancy problem and could not keep near the bottom.. Dinner was BBQ and a whole load of crap from the instructors and a written test.. Oh and I got to see Man Utd play Wigan.. Score was at 3-0 when I went off.. :) The next day dive started at 7am.. We had to start early due to tide issues when returning back to Mersing.. This time got the bouancy issue settled and started to enjoy the dives.. Got to see this cuttlefish which I originally thought was a shellfish.. Overall I got to see turtles cuttlefish and clams which were bigger than me upper body.. No pearls sadly.. Things ended and we returned to SG.. Still thinking of doing advance after the moonson season.. Diving cool and cold as well!!

Things didn't end here.. We met up for drink at one of the diver's flower shop on wed night and ended up going to Zouk.. Crazy.. Yeah.. But it was worth it.. Got to meet so many more divers.. Anyway it was a birthday celebration for Julia.. Why crazy?? Cause my graduation was at 8am the next day.. The speech by dont know who was so long that I did not bother to listen and just slept.. Looking through the ceremony booklet I happened to see the name "Tan Chaw Shing".. Though it was such a coincident that someone had the same name as Shing.. Realised it was him and dropped him a sms.. He replied saying he didn't bother to go for the ceremony.. Joker.. Later in the day got to drive the Auto-car.. Easy and not much brains required..

Things got back to normal that weekend and I'm encouraged that there's initiative in TAG.. Aren't I suppose to be stepping out?? And before the meeting I was taking pictures with my Grandma in my grad gown.. She looks so happy with it.. Thinking of her makes me think about life and what to place priority in.. I'm definitely not a person who will place work as a high priority.. Money and status are not important to me.. What's important is my family.. Anyway for those of you guys who know where I've worked at before.. Those companies are God-given and I can say that He does provide when you place things in the correct priority..

A belated birthday for Ilango held on Monday.. :)

A super busy August!! And looking forward to Diving again in Feb.. ($$ issue and monsoon season) Pulau Aur anyone??

Sept doesn't look that interesting with only my driving test as the biggest highlight.. Time to get back my rest.. :)

So many things being repeated..

I just sang "This is the day" yesterday and I read it in QT today.. Be glad in all things..

Also the friendship of Jonathan and David.. Remember Mark Conner's Illustration of the Holy Spirit.. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7

Oh and thank's for reminding me of having a meaningful life.. I was unhappy because I could and can have a more meaningful life than the one I have now.. Just have to ask that's all..