Short of being a ostrich with head in sand, just about everyone know that the world is in constant conflicts. Latest to join the list is India and Thailand. This week, Singapore joins ranks of countries affected when the terrorist murdered our fellow country woman.
A quite googling shows areas around the world which are in conflict.
Perhaps I should do a bit of research to understand the historics behind these conflict areas.
Came home yesterday totally drained. Didn't help that the night before I embarked on trip down memory lane, Google Earth way. Fell asleep unwashed till 12mn only to go back to bed soon after. Roused again this morning with both my nostrils totally blocked and my mouth parched from mouth breathing. Darn, sick again. Thankfully, after further rest, I am feeling better, just.
Just a gentle reminder that this is the season of many bugs. Need to look after oneself a tad mroe.
Been in rather nostalgic mood of late. This was in part trigger by dad
Dad, despite being close to 70 years old, is still rather hip and happening. He bought a new iPhone 3.5G from Singtel. He totally digs the iphone interface and constantly annoys my mom with the thumb shoosh. He was especially taken to the Google Earth that he managed to chalk up 300+ dollars in network traffic in matter of days.
This was what he was looking at.
That's my grandfather's farm. Rather, was. My grandfather has passed on for a long time. This is the last of his legacy, which was recently sold and levelled. Dad was in rather reflective mood when he saw this. So I saved the image for him.
This got me going. I punched in my old address in Australia, and I couldn't stop after that. Monash University, Great Ocean Road, Miss Marple's Tea House at Mount Dandenong, Sydney Opera House and the Rock. All these once familiar geographical locales brought back floods of memory that pretty much killed my sleep last night. Nevertheless, I had so much fond memory of the places, the people and the events.
Adding to this, my best friend might be able to pursue a dream that we both have after all. We have both long resigned to the fact that neither of us will ever be able to get out there and do medical mission work. We knew each other during a short medical mission in Aceh and share similar passion.
While I am extremely glad and proud for her, I ached for similar opportunities. I want to be out there too.
Was watching National Geography Channel on cable last night just before heading to bed. My routine of unwinding after a long day. Chance upon this short advertisement that had me shocked, awed and in tears.
This is what I saw.
I sat up and checked out their website. I wonder if others feel what I felt.
Below are 2 other advertisements from them as well.
Piracy, once rampant along Malacca straits, has made news again. This time, in the far frank Somalia. Apparently a couple of supertankers from the Saudi have been hijacked, apparently for huge ransoms. A little confused, as to how on the world did Somalia got involved, I fired up my trusty Google Earth, and the answer is obvious. Somalia is right the mouth of the Gulf of Aden, which is the entrance to the Red Sea, leading up to the Suez Canal. This is a major water way connecting Middle east and Far East to the European countries.
I love Google Earth.
Recession is on everyone's mind, if not on their lips. While recession isn't actually my primary concern now, I do have my financial woes.
For a start, I am down by 120k on my nest egg. Real heartache considering this is my hard earn money. While this are so call "paper loss", the loss will be real if I redeem my investments to buy property. Which really sucks, as my plans will need to be adjusted.
Though I must admit, after hearing Ps Peh's sermon today, I feel more at ease and focus.
All truth be told, I didn't know it exist till today. For one, I am not NS liable. Besides, I am not heavily into camping and stuff.
Nevertheless, while searching for a pair of white cotton gloves so that I don't leave my finger prints all over shiny objects while doing macro photography, I was totally stumped. The great facebook came to the rescue. Friends answer my query almost within the day :)
For the uninitiated, the "Army Market" is located on top level of the food court next to Kampung Glam CC, just across the road from Golden Mile Complex. It's a little similar to army surplus store that you find in States. Overalls, backpacks, boats, uniforms and many more. Good place to look for camping supplies on cheap. Check it out. Pei Ling was suitably impressed when I brought her there days later.
No. I don't have a man problem. I don't have man either. So relax.
My best friend on the other hand, has man problem. More accurately, men problem. No, she is not devoid of men. She has too many. Three to be precise.
Any self respecting socialite will claim there is never too many men. I guess that's true. Which means that she is either not so self respecting, or she is no socialite.
Come Monday, she is going to have 3 men actively/subtly pursuing her, and she isn't too happy about it. Which is interesting. Perhaps she isn't into any of them?
Nevertheless, this is going to get interesting. Though I suspect I will see less of her from now.
Been a while since I attend service at The Bible Church. Pastor Beh Soo Yeong's sermon "Be Still and Know..." was timely and inspiring. A message that I was very much in need of and felt oblige to share.
He based his sermon on passages from Psalm 46.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [b] with fire.10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah
Our world is on brink of total chaos now. Natural calamities and man-made chaos strangles our outlook for our world. There is no better opportunity then in these dark days to stop what we are doing and take stock. We should not get distracted by what's around us but to pay attention to what God has said. HE has promised us that HE will make things right. HE will come to our salvation. Believe in HIM and pray.
On a separate note, Pastor Beh has threw the congregation a challenge. He will like us to pen down on journal what GOD says to us on a daily basis. Idea is so that we can reflect upon our spiritual well being on a daily basis. I shall try.
Updated 081204 - inserted link for audio of the sermon
Caught this on Discovery Channel today. I was so mesmerised. Check out the program detail. It's a little long, but its worth it.
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Today marks the end of first week of the new doctors to my department. More relevant to me, it also marks the first week where I am not struggling with manpower. It has been 2 years since we suffer drastic drop in manpower. It has been 2 years during which I am close to burning out.
It was a fantastic feeling. Coming to work to carry out my role. That is, to supervise, to guide and to educate. To ensure service level for the patient and learning experience for my juniors. It's almost like a dream.
I have been grumpy for the longest time due to burn out So today, I celebrate it with a spa treat to myself. Tomorrow, I should be patient and gentle. I hope.
I am a paediatrician. It's sort of implied that I LIKE children. Well the truth is.... Yes I do like them. Bet I got you there for a while. What horrid thoughts must gone through your mind in the split second.
Having said that, the liking is really acquired much later. In truth, I hated small children when I was in my teens. They are noisy, disruptive, disrespectful and disobedient, completely opposite of how I remember were expected to be when were were young ( i would like to think).
Having graduated after much struggle (that's another story. A short chat with my ex-classmate Wei Chiang so totally reminded me those years), practicing medicine was the last thing on my mind, let along having to put up with those darn kids :p
My posting in KK neonatal unit totally changed me. without going into soapy stories, who won't when you witness the struggle a premature baby put up to survive. Seeing a baby not heavier than 2 quarter pounder insisting on living on despite everyone giving up on her, brings you new respect to these little things. My tolerance and patience for kids stems from extension of those experience ever since ( believe me, I am as impatient as it gets).
Having developed whole new respect for them, it's ironical that I now spend one afternoon per month sitting on Child Abuse Protection Team meeting, getting totally bewildered and depress. Never a meeting did I fail to exclaim "what the f***!", under my breath, obviously. Never a meeting did I not leave the meeting feeling down and totally disappointed with humanity. I have long concluded that if one can't look after well, can't provide for them, then jolly well don't bring them to this world. Yes, your life might be a big disappointment and misery, yes we feel for you. But have basic decency of keeping the misery to yourself, instead of bring some poor kid to this world to share your pain, and fucking up their live while at it.
Please. Pretty please, with sugar on top.
