Early Morning of a Sunday

A peaceful gloomy British morning indeed. This picture was on Google search overlooking Somerset Levels of England which rightly describes current weather condition in Lincoln. The current temperature in Lincoln according to BBC Weather is 13 degree Celsius!

Not just that, the wind speed is 15 mph (miles per hour, no idea why UK still uses non-metric measurement...)! It means that there is showers with rather high speed wind (faster than us walking on treadmill).

I happily rose from deep sleep at 6.26 am by some fake-out sunlight from my windows. I know many found it weird that I sleep with my curtains open, but I like having natural light shining into my room. This is probably due to oversleeping yesterday. I was probably on 18 hours on-and-off knockout sessions the whole Saturday, with a lame attempt to oversleep on a Saturday morning. So yeah,  I had too much of sleep that my body tells me that it is time to rise up. And so, after a futile attempt to return to sleep, I got up for a cuppa Fatt Choi coffee mix (courtesy of a friend whose stuffs I held hostage for at least 8 months before she came to collect them) and half a can of Heinz baked beans cooked with egg, a slice of cheddar cheese and some black pepper to taste. Hmm... I actually have time for breakfast before getting ready for mass! Perhaps an Activia yogurt? I need to wallop them all before tomorrow anyway :P

I even had read the Sunday readings. An excellent achievement for me, since I hadn't had time to do so since a long time ago, always waking up on time to shower and rush off to mass every Sunday. Today I want to make this Sunday a more interesting one. Perhaps sitting in some nice neat hidden cafe to get some work done? Sounds fair enough. I'll decide if I should haul this big white chunk out from the room in such wintry summer morning.

Did I tell you that officially it is British summer time? Yeah, at 13 degrees! It is officially summer two days ago!!! Yeah... I could still wear some of my lighter winter stuffs if I want to. Right now I'd wear my newly-purchase Marks & Spencer Per Una shower resistant mac, because it is my new add-on to the already stuffed wardrobe!! I paid £49 for a £79 mac, okay maybe it still sounds a bit overpriced for a student, but I really like it so much that I told myself I'd bring it home if it were to be on sales. So when it went on sales, my first instinct was to grab it. It happened so that I was out to buy some last minute stuffs for my Paris trip the morning before I left for London. My account is utterly stretched to the max right now, but yeah, I found out it was "out of stock" online when I returned from Paris and my heart was relieved I didn't miss it.

Enough with the yack. Time to try focusing for 30 minutes before getting ready for mass.

P/S: Sorry for the tiny pics... I want them to fit into my template. I know I could increase the width, but I have to consider that some readers may be using a smaller screen lappy... Honestly, I have no idea how many readers I have, not many but it is fine. Haha!

Blessed Sunday!

New Outlook

After two hours deciding on the design of the blog, plus some tweaks here and there, I am proud to present my new blog design! It may look very conservative, but I prefer to keep it simple for the time being. The photo of daisies at Eiffel Tower for my title design was taken by Edgar, one of the four others whom I traveled with to Paris.

It is time for me to get back to my dissertation stuffs. Till then...

God bless.

On Eiffel Tower, Paris (L-R: Nick, Isabelle, Vivian, myself and Edgar)

Paper, Rock and Scissors

This is written on 1 January 2013 on Tity's blog...

Six months later, she returned to the Lord.

A photo of Tity having a meal at my place a few years back in KK.

This is a tribute to a dear friend who passed away earlier this month which I wrote on Facebook:

On 3rd June 2013, 10.50 am (GMT+8), I lost a great friend.

She fought a good fight all the years I knew her.

My first few years of serving in ministry, she was there with me.

We worshipped, we prayed, we laughed, we cried.

She showed me how living life could be so precious.

She laughed out loud always.

A wise and witty girl she was.

I remembered one night in Sacred Heart Parish Center,

I saw her arm with a needle sticking in it.

She said she sneaked out from the hospital for the night.

Tomorrow morning she had to go back.

I remembered laughing and singing along in her Kelisa,

while she and Egn drove me home.

That was when Kambing Kicik and Kambing Besar came into picture.

How could I forget her supportive sisterly love,

when she accompanied me to confront the someone who hurt me a lot?

And the wise advice she'd give me?

Nothing deterred her from living life to the fullest.

She was an example I gave my students when I was a teacher.

We briefly chatted on WhatsApp ages ago.

The next time I go back to KK,

we would go "jalan-jalan cari makan".

This summer, she will not be there.

But I know she's with Daddy God.

All healed and complete.

No more overnight transfusion.

No more hospitalization.

Now she's with her mom.

Maybe she met my dad too.

In the place where Jesus has prepared for us all.

Till we meet again, my dear sister in Christ,

I will be strong.

I will live my life to the fullest.

I will tell others your story.

A story of faith, hope and love.

You have run and finished the race first.

Say hi to Daddy God and Jesus.

I miss you, Tity.

Safe trip to heaven, sis.

Bye for now. — with Charlene Dawn Toyong.

Blog Design!

Oh my gosh!!

Besides "abandoning" my blog for ages due to multiple reasons, I had failed to upkeep its appearance. It looks HORRIBLE and UGLY. I'd need to "shop" for a new blog design to match a new chapter in life.

Yeah, I'm completing my masters in about 6 weeks, and right now I'm struggling like a fish on the land. (aka very badly).

Spiritual life is practically like searching for an oasis in an uncharted desert ground with not much success, relationship status is still null (friends even suggested me to try Catholic online dating website!!), and dissertation deadline is pushing near, and I'm totally overhauled! :'( I need prayers, guys (whoever who reads my blog). Future uncharted, uncertainties looming. Well-suited for my uglified blog design indeed.

This morning I purposely stayed in bed until like... now (11 am). Even though I had been awake since before 9 am. My plan to sleep in late always fails, anyway.

I've decided to make some changes in my life from now on... TO start with.. the uglified blog design. And I just discovered that I DON'T KNOW WHERE IS MY PAINT APP on WIN8. So far I have not much of complaints about Windows 8, except being unfriendly to the user (me). Haha. Okay, perhaps it is just me not familiarizing with Win8.

Here's how my blog looks like on 22 June 2013, 11.16 am (BST)

And design shopping begins now!!!!! ^________^

Blessed Birthday, My Friend!

Some 33 years ago, an awesome couple gave birth to their youngest son on 13th March. And today is 13th March and I thank God for the blessing of knowing a man who is after God's very own heart. On this very special day, I pray that God will always bless him with faith, hope, love and joy in life as he does all that God calls him to. He was there as a great support when I was dealing with my dad's illness and passing, and for this, I will always remember the kindness and love he had showered me. I felt less alone with his support then. And so I pray that he will find true happiness doing God's work always. Blessed Birthday and much love from me to you who are thousands of miles away!

Lenten Reflection: 6th March 2013, Wednesday

Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children.

(Deuteronomy 4:9)

This is a trying time for all Malaysians, especially those currently residing in Sabah, be it the locals or those from West Malaysia. Since my previous post on the issue of intrusion in Sabah by the sultan (whose identity is questionable) of a long-gone sultanate of Sulu, and how bloodshed had occurred, I hadn't posted a reflection of the daily readings. I have to admit and confess that I was angry with my fellow countrymen who posted troll pictures and/or politically-inclined statements on Facebook without taking responsibilities of the consequences which might happen due to their irresponsible statements. I was deeply disturbed by the current conditions which are considered one of the biggest security crises Malaysia had ever experienced ever since the days of communists attack right after independence.

Today's first reading deeply touched my heart, reminding me that the peace and unity of multiracial Malaysia aren't to be taken for granted. For about 50 years we took for granted the peace in the country while our neighbouring countries were in chaos. Right now, we finally are in the same shoes as our neighbours who struggled so much to bring peace in their nations. Indeed, as what was advised in the book of Deuteronomy - to never forget things which we are experiencing right now. We must always bear in mind and in hearts how we regain our independence and peace within the country. We must appreciate the martyrs' blood that was shed to protect our nation during this invasion of 2013. It is crucial that this should be included as part of our modern history to remind our future generation the hardship which we go through, be it physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, when our security forces battled with the barbaric terrorists. It also reminds me to never take for granted my homeland. No matter how far I am right now, Malaysia will always be home, and a nation which I am proud to be born as her people.

As individuals, we don't seem to be able to do anything. But as a nation, we could do something besides voicing out our opinions about the situation, that is to PRAY FOR PEACE AND SAFETY IN SABAH. Right now, we're entering the 3rd day of Divine Mercy Novena for this special intention (GMT time), while in Malaysia, it is already the 3rd day of the novena. I, personally, am very encouraged to see everybody, doesn't matter what race or nationality, is united in prayers according to their own religious beliefs. This is one of those challenging times in our nation which ignites a very strong sense of patriotism regardless of age, ethnicity or religious beliefs. May God hear our prayers and all things will be renewed in the whole Malaysia due to this event! Amen!

Please join us to pray for Sabah by joining the FB event which is created. We have been praying the Divine Mercy Novena since 5th March until 13th March. (click here to join the event)

Prayers for Sabah, Malaysia

Many may not know where Sabah is, until the recent chaos caused by a claim of a long-extinct sultanate of Sulu that Sabah, MALAYSIA, is their homeland and they suddenly "desire to claim the land" back. Hence, a few hundreds Suluk "warriors" sailed from their origin, which is the PHILIPPINES, about a month ago, and tried to take over a village in Lahad Datu. Warriors or not, personally, they didn't think of the interests of those Suluk people who left southern Philippines during the crazy murderous times for a better life in Malaysia, be it as asylum seekers or illegal immigrants. Had this very high almighty sultan without a land but full of empty promises ever spare a thought for the fate of his potential "royal subjects" of Suluk people living in Sabah when he launched this murderous act? Probably he thought sacrificing the opportunities of more than 800,000 Suluks in Sabah to live a better life is worth of his future "kingdom". Or maybe he didn't consider the consequences of his murderous acts. Imagine them being chased back to their original land of southern Philippines due to this act of their "king"? The predator will be preyed upon their flee home I guess.

Not forgetting the natives who live in Sabah for more than 20000 years. Will they ever consider this "conquerer" a king or an intruder of their peaceful land? His "royal highness" probably forgot that besides his "royal subjects", the land is inhabited by the real royal subjects of the DYMM King of Malaysia. He forgot that Sabah gained independence through the formation of Malaysia in 1963 and has since been in the world map as part of Malaysia, not a part of some fabricated "Nation of Sulu". He forgot that a kingdom obtained by bloodshed will end in bloodshed too. Maybe soon he will remember. Maybe.

I'm just a Malaysian who lived in peaceful land of Sabah for 9 years before leaving to further my studies. I saw development, maybe some complaints (as usual) here and there, and definitely a great deal of diversity and unity. The love and peace shared in the state encouraged me that Malaysia is worth fighting for. A diverse nation yet live rather harmoniously together. We, Malaysians, are special and different ethnic groups live as one for more than 50 years now. I am saddened and angered by acts of thoughtlessness towards my home of 9 years, a place I want to call home in future too.

Maybe this self-declared royal highness of a long-gone kingdom wants a better life himself, and for his family members in future. Yet, he truly has forgotten the men whom he brainwashed to fight for his betterment have family members who love them too. Spare a thought for them too!

As the alerts are raised and people are tensed about the possibility of Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah, to be attacked by these intruders, prayers are lifted up by every person who believes in God. Be it Christians, Muslims or any other religions, all with one voice is crying out to God to save His people. I personally will be starting the novena of Divine Mercy tonight for this intention. And may the Lord strengthen the faith of His people in Sabah, and grant peace upon this land below the wind once again. Amen.