WAHSEH!

Moving On...

2011-10-29T11:18:00.000+10:00

I seem to be moving on in a few aspects of my life and I can't seem to be happier. Our move or not to move dilemma has sorted itself out and by default we are staying put in Brisbane. Although I was looking forward to exploring another city in Australia, I am more than glad it is status quo. God really knows what's best for us.

Staying put also means that I can continue working in the city. I think Ling has done me great service by helping me get this job. I couldn't ask for more favorable working conditions. I work 3 full days a week and commute by bus. Initially having to take the bus caused me some trepidation due to horrible experiences whilst studying in Malaysia. We never knew what time the buses would come or if it came at all. Then there were the overcrowded buses on rainy days when the conductor would pack us in like sardines and it was suffocating because nobody could open the windows. We never realized how hazardous it was then. I could go on with the horror stories.

Taking the bus in Brisbane is so different. I find it so very pleasant and yet I know people still whinge if the bus is late by 5 minutes! The weather also makes it pleasant to do lots of walking. If it was humid like in Malaysia, I'd be drenched in sweat even before I reach my bus stop! So I can even say I do a little bit of exercise!

Working also means a bit of time to myself (even it if means work and on the upside, paid work!). I actually enjoy time on the bus because I read a book or listen to music or sermons. I get to dress up and that in itself lifts my spirits up a bit :) Working also means I am less likely to dwell on my aches and pains. Working part time means great work/life balance. I am really thankful.

David on the other hand has been really and truly wonderful. Now that he's finished his course and is very free, he does a lot of things around the house plus takes care of Micah on the days he's not at childcare and I am at work. As for his work, he's juggling his business in China and exploring something new in Brisbane. He's also trying out his DIY skills. He's renovating our outdoor dining area - we want to create another room for the house by enclosing it. I can't wait for that to be completed. We've had to put off doing a lot of things on the house because of the 'move or not to move dilemma' but as that has been solved, we can move on as well on the refurbishments.

As for my health issues, I have been put on the wait list for surgery which I hope will sort it all out once and for all.

Things are moving on...

Time to Travel

2011-07-09T15:09:00.000+10:00

I can't believe it's been a year since we've stayed put and been away from Malaysia. This is the longest by far. Even though we haven't lived in Malaysia since 2007, making this the 4th year we've 'moved' away, we were still visiting home very often.

I am now looking forward to traveling again. 2 weeeks in Kuala Lumpur and 1 week in Hong Kong. We last traveled last year June when we made a trip to London and Geneva. When we got to Brisbane after that, I was pretty happy to stay grounded. A yearly holiday is much better than shuttling around every 2 months.

I was supposed to go to Japan in May. Tickets were all booked but when the tsunami happened, it was a unanimous decision to cancel. The trip was planned with my 2 other friends, Lilian and Carol. We want to head somewhere together to celebrate our 40th. An all girls trip - and I am so excited. This will also be the first time I am leaving Micah for an extended time.

I look back on the year that has passed and am amazed that I made it through. I have to confess that it has been a tough year. Emotionally, physically and mentally. David was busy with work (and he had to travel leaving me with Micah) and he was studying - the weekly assignments meant all work and no play. Despite his schedule and work load he still managed to take care of Micah and help me around the house. That I have no complains. Unfortunately he wasn't really there for me emotionally.

Then there was the adjustment to Micah's development. He grew up lots this past year but in doing so we've had to kick start parenting 101 suddenly when before we were merely providers of food, shelter and comfort. I mean before he became his own person, all he needed was to be fed, cleaned and clothed and comforted. He needed very little until the day he turned 2. As he developed mentally, he demanded a lot of our attention. So the first 6 months here with him was so tough. This took a toll on me physically. Having to manage a 13kg toddler is no easy feat with a weak back and shoulders. I could never find time to heal enough for the next round of lifting! Then there were other problems - I find out that I am anaemic. I couldn't figure out why I was suddenly bone tired all the time before the diagnosis. Now with the knowledge and an iron supplement, I at least have that sorted so that I feel more energized.

When my body is weak, I suffer mentally and emotionally. And so it has been a roller coaster ride with me taking David along for the ride up and down with my good and bad days!

I was also disappointed on a personal level. I had expected to find work pretty easily and was really looking forward to earning some money and getting a bit of me time. That didn't work out so well for many reasons. First was that it just wasn't possible to work full time. We didn't want to send Micah to childcare full time. Part time jobs are also harder to come by. Secondly my qualifications needed to be assessed and that required time. In between waiting for the assessment, David dropped a bomb. Taking into account a lot of factors, it seems that we may have to move to Sydney if he were to get a job in his field or rather, in order for him to progress in his field of study, Sydney seems to have better prospects. With that in mind, I decided to hold back on the assessment because the criteria may be different in New South Wales. That left me in a limbo. I tried applying for jobs in other fields and in administration but there wasn't even a chance at an interview. As it happens - you need connections!

Finally a chance conversation with a friend resulted in an interview at a legal firm. It was a long process but to cut the story short I am now working once a week. It is somehow appropriate that I remain in the legal line - I am most suited to this environment. I spent 2 days in the office to see how I could fit in before I started work last week and I have to say that I am in my element. It was comforting to know that I didn't forget my stuff and I could work quite efficiently despite trying to grasp the way things are done here in Australia. I still don't know how it will all work out in terms of my career especially if Sydney is happening but for now I am extremely glad to simply, dress up, go to an office from 9-5. David noticed that I was in much better spirits after a day at work.

David's results comes out next week and with it he's applying to some consultancy firms in Sydney. We don't really know what to expect. I guess things will start to fall into place once he gets an offer. For now we are focused on enjoying our holiday, looking forward to eating our fill of familiar and much missed foods back home and catch up with family. Also a much needed time for myself in Hong Kong.

Worth a Post

2011-03-17T18:11:00.002+10:00

I had an argument with David this afternoon. The debate ended abruptly when he dismissed everything and said that he'd prefer to end the discussion. That left me a bit miffed. And that's because I don't go down well without a fight. I had an internal debate right then and wondered whether I should let the anger simmer or have it out by engaging him again. I decided to keep silent, not simmering or anything, and felt the anger dissipate because I was busy trying to cook glutinous rice for dinner. It was good I was distracted.

I thought that, that was the end of the matter but discovered that it wasn't.

Later as we were driving to soccer, I said the word, 'stupid.' Now this is a word Micah has learnt and we are trying hard to dissuade him from saying it. David suddenly accuses me of 'teaching' Micah the word. He says Micah must have learnt it from me as he's noticed that I use that word often!

So here I am wondering if I should have an outburst. Mind you, the earlier debate was somewhat an anti climax so I was game to start a fight. Being an unreasonable female at that moment, I linked everything together and felt I needed to defend myself.

Somehow I managed to keep quiet and practically ignore my man while Micah had his soccer. It wasn't the time and place, anyway.

I fumed a bit here and there. I was less talkative than normal - keeping quiet and just preparing dinner and watching TV.

Then it happened.

My very righteous husband spews out the word, 'stupid' several times in response to some funny news item - and Micah says, "Papa, did you say stupid!"

I rest my case.

A Test

2011-01-14T16:53:00.001+10:00

It will be a real test for me personally in the aftermath of the floods. We aren't affected directly and words are beyond me in trying to describe the damage we see in our suburb. As we drove around, we see familiar places covered in mud and our favorite pizza place is still under a feet of water if not more. The golf course has turned into a mud hole and the Jindalee pool is just a pool of dirty brown water. It is amazing how high the water reached at some places.

We are still without power but we saw the Energex people working on the substation nearby.

Micah's childcare was underwater which has now receded - we could see the watermark up close to the roof of the first floor where his room is. We also drove to Rocks Riverside park and it was closed. These are the two places I was going to rely on when David is away next week.

I'll really be a full time Mom after David flies off! The real test begins then :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Queensland Flood 2011

2011-01-13T21:20:00.003+10:00

Our story is trivial compared to those who have suffered loss of lives and home. The unfolding drama of the past 2 days has been splashed across the TV screen the whole day - for those who still have power to watch.

We are safe and dry and although power hasn't been restored, we are definitely not complaining. We commend Premier Bligh, the Queensland Government and all the State Emergency Services people plus the numerous personnel working to give out information including the host of volunteers at all evacuations centers. We've only been able to help a friend who evacuated by keeping their cars for them while they left to stay with their son.

We don't know what will happen in the coming weeks as the water recede and people return to their homes to salvage what they can and to clean up. The city's infrastructure almost came to a standstill and there is a lot of damage and uncertainty. All we can do is to extend a hand where needed and to continue to pray for those directly affected.

Mt Ommaney Drive

Mount Ommaney Shopping Center

Westlake Drive just a few hundred meters from our house

Flooded!

2011-01-13T03:22:00.001+10:00

I can't seem to get back to sleep and it isn't hard to figure out what's bugging me at this moment.

We are cut off - I mean, our suburb. I am even cut off from our friends nearby. Quite a few roads are flooded. We are waiting for the swollen Brisbane to peak in another hour but we will need to wait until it is light to see the extent of the damage out there. There is no power but we've had warning so we are prepared for a day or two.

Thank God we have a gas barbecue! Imagine having stocked up on food but no way to cook on the electric stove! The more pressing problem is the food in the freezer! (For once I didn't feel guilty eating more than one ice lolly yesterday!)

I really didn't think 2011 was going to be this eventful when I wrote that we are on a roll at the start of the year. If we thought that Wet N Wild had too much water from the rain, I guess we hadn't seen anything yet. This flood is now called a once in a century occurrence. Somehow I don't think it is any comfort to anyone of us in Brisbane to know it won't happen again for another 1oo years!

Micah is of course, oblivious to our worries. He seems to understand that he can't watch his TV - we appeased him with ice cream! I don't think the melted version is going to be any clout tomorrow! I think we will be spending a lot more time playing with him with nothing else to do.

In the midst of all this, David is worried about his scheduled flight back to KL enroute to China. He was still optimistic at noon but he's been forced to postpone.

I think I've used up enough reserve power to record this moment in history.

My prayers for everyone in Queensland.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Yikes!

2011-01-03T05:52:00.004+10:00

Up at the crack of dawn and hungry.

I remember having difficulties falling asleep last night, lying in bed with eyes so tired they won't keep open but yet I couldn't sleep.

When I was woke up it was 4 am and very slowly getting brighter - bits of dawn creeping in between the cracks in the curtains. David is still happily snoring away which kept me from falling asleep again and with a rumbling stomach, I'd be better off getting up and finding something to eat.

When I think of food, I think of blogging and my Makanning blog has found a new lease of life. I am wondering at my sudden interest in writing about cooking again when I had been absent from it for a several months. One guess is - it's because of the season - Christmas and New Years - many get togethers involve food and we've been eating lots the past week.

Micah has been significantly easier to handle which is largely due to my changed of perspective and an answered prayer for patience. I have a clear mind and opportunities to take photos and write. I have David to thank for giving me the space and time to do it as well.

The other reason is that I can't quite keep quiet about anything and blogging is as good as telling everyone! All this silence has been eating at me :)

And so....

We ended 2010 with a day out at the beach. We revisited Moffat beach on the Sunshine Coast. It was a pleasant discovery. We did a day trip with Lilian and Lionel end November - it was really on a whim that we drove up the last weekend they were here. We were headed for Currimundi Lake Conservation Park which was recommended by a friend. We somehow stumbled on Moffat beach instead.

It was a great day, I remember. Micah had loads of fun playing in the shallow waters at the creek when it was low tide. David went body boarding and later the kids used the body board to drag each other about. We also had good pizza from Moffat's Pizza Takeaway - another discovery.

Our second visit was on New Year's Eve. It wasn't really planned. This time we went with Ling and Sarah's families. It was a beautiful day - clear skies and very hot compared to the weather past. We had pizza again and gelato as well.

We spent the afternoon there and drove home in the evening. It was a fulfilling day which Micah enjoyed tremendously. He has collected lots of river pebbles as a souvenir and they are precious to him!

We thought it was a great end to the year and didn't expect more adventures for a while but then Peter suggested we go to Wet N Wild for the new year.

It was raining the next afternoon as we drove towards Gold Coast. We were following Peter & Sarah's car and wondering if they'd say to turn back but we are mad folks and since we'd be wet anyway we braved the weather.

It turned out to be a good thing, the rain. The miserable condition meant less people so we got to go on a lot of rides without waiting too long. It was great going with friends - definitely more fun and it also meant that we could take turns taking care of Micah. He had fun too but spent a lot of the time shivering and blue in the mouth! He survived somehow :) If my mother knew what we did, she'd be screaming in horror.

I went on the AquaLoop! Then Kamikaze, Tornado but chickened out at Blackhole. What a rush! I was quite wobbly after AquaLoop and had water up my nose! It was a great way to start the year and I have Peter & Sarah to thank. I didn't think they'd be so gung ho and so fun :) and willing to be crazy with their almost 18 year old son who was pretty embarrassed by all the screaming I did!

Then yesterday we had a Malaysian feast at Celia's to celebrate a new year. We left with more plans to meet and cook and to eat.

I am on a roll and it's only the 3rd day of the year. Waking up early is a good sign :)

Another New Year

2010-12-30T09:17:00.006+10:00

There is something about a New Year looming close that brings out the melancholy in me. This is the time to reminisce and review. Not that you should dwell too long on mistakes but it is good to revisit them as a reminder never to make the same ones. Unfortunately there are some lessons which won't be learned so quickly so I won't be surprised that I'd be doing this same thing, same time, next year.

I am approaching this New Year with trepidation. I have a feeling that it will be a challenging year - I might or might not have a change of career. Next year will also see me celebrating my 40th. Mentally I am gung ho but physically my body is screaming in protest. Still it won't stop me from making a trip to celebrate with 2 of my best friends. An all girls trip - we are celebrating a new era in our lives - it is something we are really looking forward to.

David and I are also celebrating another milestone. We will be married 10 years in April next year while Micah turns 3. I think we've gone through a lot in the last few years and although we've matured a lot individually as well as a couple, I would say that we had actually hit a stage where things were tough because of all the adjustments we've had to make while dealing with a toddler who seems to developing faster than we can cope. Our personal needs were always set aside.

Only one thing kept us going - the glue that binds us and sustains us personally and as a family - it is knowing that God loves us. A simple truth and everything flows from there.

A Clear Mind

2010-12-27T14:49:00.002+10:00

I had lots to sort out - in my mind actually. I think I've purged my thoughts and can now look forward to the new year with a new purpose. Simplicity is my motto.

I didn't realize that I needed to adjust to staying put in one place! There were a lot of things I didn't need to consider when we were traveling. Also Micah is growing up a lot and while he carries on as is expected, I wasn't catching up fast enough with his progress!

I've had opportunities to share with friends here and a few at church, and even though there isn't a solution but I've come to terms with the things that I can't seem to solve. It is funny to me that I am in need of growing up still!

For the new year, I only ask and pray that I continue to grow - even if it means having to grow up some more!

Partakers+of+His+Suffering

2010-11-05T17:03:00.000+10:00

Partakers+of+His+Suffering

Nothing Can I Boast In

2010-11-05T17:00:00.001+10:00

At God’s perfect timing

Christ died for fallen man.

He wore a crown of thorns,

Nails driven through His hands.

Christ willingly endured it,

To death He chose to go.

He broke His body for us,

Shed blood to make us whole.

Nothing can I boast in,

My life is scarred with sin.

My works are filthy rags,

No merit can I bring.

Yet mercy filled Christ’s heart,

Love took Him to the tree.

It’s grace alone which saves me;

Christ’s blood that sets me free.

So if I am to boast,

I’ll speak of my disgrace.

For my weak self displays

The power of God’s grace.

Christ’s Spirit works within me,

In weakness He is strong.

So I look to my Savior

To safely bring me home.

Nothing can I boast in,

My life is scarred with sin.

My works are filthy rags,

No merit can I bring.

Yet mercy filled Christ’s heart,

Love took Him to the tree.

It’s grace alone which saves me;

Christ’s blood that sets me free.

It's Been a Long While

2010-10-30T06:59:00.002+10:00

I am up at the crack of dawn because the electrician is here to install air conditioning. I would never be awake at this time of the day otherwise! So as I am drinking my wake up coffee, I am suddenly struck by a need to write. I have been missing here - ever since we've arrived in Brisbane to grow roots.

The past 4 months has been a blur - of activity and yet of none. I think it was just everyday things that have been happening - life just went on. Besides the fact that Micah is growing by leaps and bounds in his mental development and we are enjoying him, our life here is a mundane existence. It was exciting at first - I was embracing our lives here and trying to do all the things I couldn't before like going for yoga, decorating the house and doing all the little things anyone would have done when they move into a new house or setting up a home but now it is a routine. We've also spent the time to find out where to cut our hair, where to get a bargain and where to shop for fresh vegetables and fruit.

On a personal level, I have been slack. I was pretty gung ho when I arrived and even applied for a job and got rejected within 2 weeks :) I then realized that I need to get my papers in order for assessment - only then I will be recognized to do what I am qualified for. In the meantime, I used the excuse of my mom's visit (which was 2 months ago!) and the fact that Micah only goes to childcare twice a week plus the fact that David still travels to China to tell myself that it is okay not to work yet. All in all taking care of the chores, cooking and keeping Micah entertained when he is at home has kept me busy most days.

I have renewed my efforts again - after wallowing in a bit of self pity and wasting time on ebay - to get a job. I think I will need to renew my efforts to post more here and as well as on my food blog. I have been cooking and trying new stuff but have just been too lazy to take a picture and post.

As for milestones - Micah is being potty trained. His childcare started it when the weather started getting warmer and the kids can run around in their undies or training pants in school. He survived almost a whole day without nappy yesterday. In the next 2 weeks, David will be away so we'd be staying home more and this is great for this purpose. Our baby is growing up!

Less is More

2010-07-28T22:00:00.002+10:00

We haven't really jumped on the minimalism lifestyle bandwagon but we are certainly aware of it. It is an awakening that challenges all your percepts of things of the world. It is interesting to stand back and assess what others have told you to believe in and try to analyze these beliefs to then come to a conclusion that you've been had! Well at least to me it feels like that.

And this is an example why...

I just read a post about using your kitchen sink (stainless steel) to get cooking odors off your hands and I put palm to face - not too gently! Duh! I didn't have to buy a stainless steel soap after all. I had actually bought a J.A. Henkels stainless steel soap many years back when I was traveling and thought it would make a better souvenir than a glass globe or some fridge magnet. I paid a lot to have a counter cluttering object when I could just rub my hand on the surface of my kitchen sink (I've always had stainless steel types. Too bad for those who have porcelain sinks!).

See what I mean? I've been had :)

My perspective on things I need has changed dramatically - but I have to confess to many weaknesses. Slowly but surely we will live a changed lifestyle and I am doing it for the benefit of Micah because I want him to realize the value of things as well as the importance of people or relationships over things.

I still want nice things. My eye is on the Kitchen Aid mixer. I can't seem to shake off the image of the pink version but it is a whopping AUD699 from one retailer. I can't justify getting one just to satisfy my craving. I know it is just a feeling I need to stave off - much like my craving for potato crisps right this moment. And if I don't think carefully how I want to use it in my kitchen, it might just end up looking pretty on my counter top.

A friend was curious to know why David and I spend time discussing, debating and a lot of times fighting over what I want to buy. Most of the time it is me doing the wanting to buy part. He has little wants! I explained that I sometimes don't trust myself and need to verify the value of an item with David. Sometimes I need to justify why I decided on an item and sometimes he needs to tell me I am being frivolous and I am buying another 'stainless steel soap'. It took a while to find a balance but in exchanging our views and our values, we both learned to see our money go farther, our savings growing fatter and more importantly to arrive at a value we both ascribe to. We hope that in doing so we also impart this to Micah because we want him to also be clear as to these values.

Another reason why I suddenly feel that less is more is when I do laundry. I am burdened by this chore every 2 or 3 days. I am also anticipating more work when the rest of my clothes arrive in our shipment and I have to find space for them. And the most of all, the irony is that I only wear like 10% of the whole lot every season. I lamented to David that I wished I had less - it would take a lot less work both in storage, laundry and the time wasted to figure out what to wear every morning. I remembered a friend who decided that he would go all black - tee, jeans, socks and shoes - all black. Simon Cowell also comes to mind when I think of this style!

I don't think I want to go with this minimalist look but I can start by curbing shopping for more clothes. It is a start...

A New Beginning

2010-07-15T15:16:00.003+10:00

2 months ago, we were in Ningbo, China. Life was simple and every 2 months we fly back to Kuala Lumpur to renew our visa and have a brief holiday of sorts plus stock up on food essentials. There was a lot of traveling involved.

Our nomadic lifestyle has been put to a stop when David decided that Micah and I could stay put in Brisbane instead of shuttling. So we packed up in Ningbo, flew back to Kuala Lumpur and packed up whatever we had left there and made our way here to Brisbane.

We travelled a bit before coming home (and by home, I mean Brisbane, a place I can officially call home now) - we visited friends in Kota Kinabalu, flew halfway across the world to be with Lisa and family in London and welcomed Jack, their new family member. We also stopped by Geneva to visit Caroline and her family. It was an eventful trip and one where Micah enjoyed himself tremendously. And he developed physically and verbally during that short period.

We went back to Kuala Lumpur all spent and tired out and broke our backs packing quite a few boxes to ship here. It was an emotional time for me - having to throw away keepsakes, souvenirs and things from my childhood and throughout high school. I also had to part with half my book collection.

Finally after all that and a final farewell to family, we left Kuala Lumpur on a more permanent basis - I won't be back there every 2 months from now but I did wrangle a confirmation from David that we'd go back for Chinese New Year next year which is only 6 months away.

After the usual week of getting back to routine in Brisbane, catching up with friends and organizing the house, we set about getting Micah enrolled in childcare. Today was his first day and he fared well. Goodbye was an easy affair - just a bye from us to him and from him to us and we were off. An hour, 2 hours later and still no calls, I could relax a bit.

We got a call after lunch to say that he has refused to eat anything and was crying just a bit. We were advised to pick him up to reassure him that we haven't abandoned him and when we got there, we found him all teary eyed but smiling when he saw us. The good news is that he isn't put off about 'school' and says he wants to go back again.

As for us, we definitely enjoyed the time to ourselves - we had a leisurely lunch and went shopping for a BBQ. Now we can't wait for another childcare day!

On a personal level, I managed to get my resume sorted within a week and have applied for a part time job. So it looks like things are falling into place.

All is well for now while David is with us. It will be tougher to manage everything all on my own when he leaves for China end of the month. House, child and work (if I am employed) to juggle sounds like a lot to me at this moment. I'll just have to take things in stride :)

Financial freedom

2010-05-15T11:38:00.006+10:00

I think I was financially independent at the age of 19. It sounds grand doesn't it? In actual fact, it wasn't at all grand. I was not receiving any financial support from my parents but I had a scholarship to study law which included a monthly allowance (which was just enough) for an academic year. I had free accommodation - we were staying at my grandfather's house and I was sharing a room with my cousin. Everything else was on my own - food, transport and clothing. It is no hardship compared to what some people have to endure to get an education. I had it easy I would say.

I supplemented what I had by working part time especially during semester breaks. I've worked as a receptionist, a clinic 'nurse' and doing market research (which included some door to door work). I spent all that on partying, buying clothes, going for a yearly holiday with my classmates (right after the exams) and basically enjoying it without much thought for the future - I could always earn money when I became a lawyer, I thought. In my last year of studies I had extra cash because I earned another scholarship that paid for my tuition fees. I have no idea what happened to the extras but I remember that at the end of the semester I was down to almost nothing. I had to find a job really quick!

This job entails having a car and there was no way I could afford one. Mom came to the rescue and helped me borrow to buy one. So I worked as an advertorial writer at a national daily newspaper. It was wonderful to be earning and even better when commissions and bonuses were so good during those times that it sometimes made my monthly salary 4x more than it was! And what did I do with all that financial freedom? I abused it and spent beyond what I earned because I managed to get a credit card! Having struggled with pennies before, all this money went to my head.

Nobody told me about the interest I was paying on the unpaid balance. I think even if they did, I wasn't listening. When the time came for me to quit that job and get into law I had a problem. Pupillage only paid pittance! If not for support from a friend back then, I would never have survived that 9 months of training. I was retained and started earning a decent salary but a lot of that went to servicing the minimum payment on my credit card. It was tough times and I was miserable when there was nothing left over on my salary for savings - I was really in a rut. I also had to pay back the loan I took to buy my car!

Everything finally came to head and I asked for help from a friend. I borrowed his money to pay off the credit card company for a bit of relief from the interest. He saved me that time. We didn't have services like Payday Loans so we had to turn to friends.

From then on, I was wiser (but only slightly). Then I joined that same friend and started a law partnership. I had to take another loan for that. It was again tough times. We had to rely on our credit cards again. Things got better after we recovered our capital within 6 months and then started earning better. I still had some debts.

I finally settled my debts before I got married. And this is why...

While being engaged to David, he found out about my credit card debt. He was furious. So angry that he threatened to call off the wedding if I didn't sort everything out! He is so aware of the costs of unpaid credit card debts and couldn't believe that I was silly enough to rack up some! He paid it all off for me. My knight in shining armor :)

I've not had any unpaid balances since then and that was 10 years ago. I've had to work hard to earn David's trust again after that but it is so worth it because it feels great to have financial freedom.

A New Motto

2010-05-15T02:48:00.000+10:00

Believe much
Wait long
Not doubt

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Obsession

2010-05-14T13:45:00.003+10:00

There is a good reason why the Bible says an idle mind is the devil's workshop. 1 Timothy 5:13 might be referring to widows but it still applies.

I can attest to obsessive thoughts and mindless indulgence because I have no specific goal. I know the big picture but time passes slowly when you try and watch a child grow day by day. Viewed in totality, time flies when I see how fast Micah develops but on a day to day basis, it crawls.

My flesh is weak and I need more than will power to block out unwanted thoughts. I've started singing this hymn to focus. I know the chorus by heart and love singing it to myself - it acts like a healing balm.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel

1922

O soul are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There's light for a look at the Saviour,

And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His Glory and Grace.

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

Over us sin no more hath dominion -

For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His Glory and Grace.

His Word shall not fail you - He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well;

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His Glory and Grace.

A Prayer

2010-05-14T03:00:00.000+10:00

It is now down to the last 2 days of our stay in Ningbo and my heart is heavy. It is not a reaction I was expecting but I think that I am having mixed emotions about what happens after this. I've been lamenting for ever so long about being stuck in time while everything and everyone else is moving forward. Now that my life's momentum is kick starting again, I might not be prepared to face it which is the reason why I am burdened.

Our time here has been great on so many personal levels. A time of quietness, a time of reflection and a time of training. We are different people from the ones that arrived late one night in the middle of summer about 3 years ago and we hope that we have matured for the better. We also emerged as parents.

In our time in Ningbo, we have turned our lives inside out and realized that we need to let go of a lot of things in the past and seek an alternative lifestyle. We sorta had an ephiphany!
And we found many like minded people.

We now want to embrace this change of philosophy and know that this will be good for us. But what if, it somehow unbalances relationships of old. What happens when our values and the basis of those relationship changes. I know some relationships mature, some grow much like a marriage and some just die a natural death or drift off - that is just natural. What if we made a paradigm shift but the other party still believes that we are on the same plane?

Granted that we don't always need to be of the same minds at all times but it is still very difficult to be at peace when you constantly want to disagree at all levels. How does one deal with this sort of stress!

I think that my fear of dealing with people in this aspect, being the 'new me' trumps even the fear of going back to work after being brain dead for so many years!

My heart might be heavy but my mind is positive for I know that our unchanging God is always with me - and that is how I've survived this far.

I just have to keep moving forward.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Zhoushan

2010-05-10T16:06:00.004+10:00

One of the things I wanted to do before leaving Ningbo was to go eat crabs. Ningbo and some of its surrounding towns are great for fresh seafood and it would be a waste not to savor some before we leave. I guess it can't get any fresher than eating it at Zhoushan - a perfecture city consisting only of islands.

We would never have attempted to get there ourselves especially with Micah. So it was wonderful when my friend Vivian took a day off and got her good friend, who is familiar with the island, to drive us there. In the end David made the ultimate sacrifice - he stayed home with Micah leaving me to have a good time on my day off!

Zhoushan is one huge island! Well so is Australia! So it is really like any city in China - massive. It takes one and a half hour's drive to get to Zhoushan from Ningbo via the new bridge. The islands are interconnected by bridges but not all are. On the way we ate tea leaf eggs 茶叶蛋 which I found out was eaten to celebrate the beginning of summer or Lixia. Our driver also opened the sun roof and made up stand up, stick our heads out to enjoy the breeze while we drove on the bridge! Cheap thrill.

We headed for Putou Shan first to see the Kuan Yin and to get there we took a 15 min ferry ride. I must say that it was a good thing to visit on a weekday - I wouldn't want to brave the crowds on a weekend.

There was an entrance fee of RMB160 which to me is a little steep. We had to take a 5 min bus ride which costs us more fare. Then to enter the area to see Kuan Yin, another payment for the entrance. Seems like a lot of tolls!

I am not a believer of Kuan Yin or Buddhism so the visit had little meaning to me. No offence to anyone but temples are a bit scary to me with huge idols and scary faces. Of course Kuan Yin is serene.

After the 'tour' we ferried back to Zhoushan for the main attraction - seafood! The only way to know where to eat local is to have a local guide. Da Pai Dang 大牌档 popular in Zhoushan. The proprietress certainly knew our guide and friend and after the selection was made we were shown to a little room where we could eat in private.

The food was served almost as soon as we sat down. It was rather late by their standard so I guess the chef was rather free. In fact we were the last customers - the restaurant was deserted when we were leaving.

It was an excellent meal with fresh seafood and good company. I could eat my crabs in peace, taking my time and I really enjoyed it.

A selection of fresh seafood

Raw crab is something I will never get used to!

Tried it once and had hard time swallowing.

It is a Ningbo and Zhoushan specialty.

Soy sauce squid was nice and tender.

A simple stir fried vegetable.

Steamed shrimps.

No idea what fish this was but it was

really fresh and the meat very sweet.

Steamed crabs.

The authentic Ningbonese way to cook crab is just to steam it.

More steamed crabs.

Just a different type of crab.

Lots of roe.

After lunch our guide decided that a visit to the local market is necessary. He also wanted to buy us some live crabs and xiao mi gao 小米糕 which is rice cakes - a local desert. The market was so clean and the array of fish, seafood and shell fish was impressive.

I was very surprised that the market was clean

and there were no unpleasant smells.

Grilled baby shark anyone?!

Laden with plastic bags of live crabs and rice cakes we made our way home. Our route home was different - our guide was thorough - he wanted me to have the full experience so he drove to the jetty and we took the ferry back, car and all. On the ride back we drank tea and played cards just like the locals do!

It was a wonderful day and I am glad I got to see Zhoushan before I left Ningbo.

Frugal Parents

2010-05-02T15:58:00.003+10:00

Micah doesn't know any better yet but his parents are very frugal or stingy, if you prefer, where buying toys are concerned. Most of his are either gifts or hand me downs!

Our weekend routine is to let him loose first at Pizza Pino where there is a children's area and then at Toys 'r' Us. He gets to experience whatever toys are on display, try them out and look to his heart's content around the store.

He's taken a liking to some robots on display. He'd be screaming whenever we suggest to go home. Today I took a picture and told him that we can look at the robot's picture at home - he relented :) David and I had a good laugh at how we've managed to escape from having to buy him any toys on many occasions. We've only ever bought him a small toy car and an airplane from there.

We don't really know the pros and cons of having less toys - we only know for a fact that he gets bored of some of those he has. We also find that he uses his imagination more, playing with the same toy in different ways. Of course we sometimes have to help start him off - creating adventure and roles for him and his toys. I also tend to use things around the house - we once played hockey with tissue rolls! Or he'd get a ride on the suitcase or the office chair I use. He also loves playing on the bed - we make a house with the pillows or with his books.

David prefers taking him outdoors. They play hide and seek - though Micah still hasn't grasped the idea yet. He hides behind the glass door at home or stands in front of pillars :)

Books and outdoor toys are ones we make exceptions. Battery operated toys are not favored. I am glad that the library near where we live in Brisbane is great and has weekly activities for toddlers. When he can ride a bicycle, we can go cycling. The parks are great so we want to encourage him to play outdoors more - the weather is also less humid, making it more pleasant for me!

All in all we seem to find activities for Micah which costs next to nothing and better if free :) We know it may not last - he'll soon see other kids having more toys. We'll have to deal with that later.

Hope for Ningbo

2010-05-01T16:44:00.002+10:00

Just when I started counting down to leaving Ningbo, up springs this great supermarket at Heyi Avenue. Besides some nice eateries, Bread Talk and Toys 'r' Us, having Ole supermarket means that we don't have to travel to Shanghai to get all the imported stuff we need.

Things are definitely moving up in Ningbo. It is indeed going to be a bittersweet goodbye as a friend suggested. David jokingly asked if I would like to stay on! For a split second, it sounded like it was possible to continue living here when we can make ourselves more comfortable with what's now available plus the fact that we have friends but I think home is still in Brisbane. We need to begin our lives there for Micah's sake.

I will miss the bargain shopping for me as well as for Micah. When I convert to AUD, I find things so cheap here that I am reluctant to shop in Brisbane. Even haircuts, manicure/pedicures and massages are cheap - I will miss these the most!

I've got 2 weeks more to enjoy some of these things. I've made a list and am slowly ticking them off.

Two

2010-04-29T21:20:00.001+10:00

Micah is TWO today! Finally.

We've been telling people who ask that he is almost 2 and it seemed like he was forever, almost but not yet 2. And he can count - well he only knows how to say 'two' when you ask him to :) It should be easy to teach him to tell people his age then.

I thank God every moment for him - God has given us much and more. Micah is our testimony that He provides in every way possible. We walk stronger in faith and stronger as a family.

Street Shopping, Ningbo

2010-04-23T13:07:00.002+10:00

I had a wonderful day out yesterday. I didn't expect to have that much fun seeing that it was a dreary day and it was drizzling. In fact I almost bailed on a girl's day out with Magie. She, on the other hand, was enthusiastic and it was contagious so we met after lunch and started with some shopping. We wandered into Ningbo's mini maze of street shops near Tianyi Square and spent the whole afternoon browsing, trying and looking at clothes, shoes, accessories. It was really fun. It was not crowded as it was a weekday so it was pleasant.

We were intent to grab a good bargain and we did. It is no exaggeration when I say that there are literally thousands of things to buy if you are a woman. We had to hold each other back :) Street shopping in Ningbo or in China is where you can get things for a steal if you aren't too particular about quality - these are fashion items which you want to wear for a while or for a season because the trend may not be a lasting one. Then again there are some shops offering better quality of stuff but at a premium. Some of the locally designed clothes are pretty good and I have no doubts of the quality seeing that Ningbo is famous for its textile industry. Hordes of European designers and buyers attend the yearly exhibition to buy fabric.

Where we shopped was where tackiness ruled and bling is big! The amount of sequins, 'diamonds', beads and bling on the clothes, shoes and accessories is very eye catching. I jokingly told David that this is where pole dancers and strippers would go to buy their clothes and shoes!

I was quite taken by some of the shoe designs. I am sure they are copies of designer brands but they were made well. Unfortunately not all were comfortable. I fancied some 3 and 4 inch high heeled sandals - they do make my feet and legs look long and slim but I think tottering around on those with Micah around would be dangerous! Plus I don't foresee having a reason to wear them in my line of work as a solicitor. I am also not one to sacrifice comfort over looks so it enough to just try them on and see myself in the mirror :)

We finally shopped until we needed a toilet break and some sustenance so we stopped at Starbucks. Then we ended up chatting and forgetting the time! I called home to check on David and Micah and got the go ahead to continue my evening with Magie. We went to have crabs for dinner which is a Ningbo specialty.

So we finished the day out with a good meal and plans for another outing.

The Early Bird...

2010-04-16T08:56:00.003+10:00

must be worried about something because she won't wake up this early! It's now 6.30 am.

I just realized that I think in blog. I actually form proper sentences in my head while I am thinking - most of the time it is just before I go to sleep - a time of prayer and reflection but I'd always be too sleepy to start writing it down. Then there are the rare moments of lucidity in the early mornings - rare because I am never conscious before 8 am. In fact I confess that David has been tending to Micah the past year while I am dead to the world!

This morning I woke up from a dream. Today's dream wasn't dramatic like some I usually have but it brought back memories of friendships past but that wasn't the worrying part. I guess I woke up early because of the after effects of last night's outburst.

Coincidentally I woke up early yesterday - just an hour before my usual time. Waking up naturally feels so much better than the jarring wake up call from my phone and it left me looking forward to a nice day. Then everything changed when I pulled a muscle after my shower. And David left earlier for work without first taking Micah for his morning walk. So I had a fussy boy and an aching shoulder.

Micah is fussy in a way that isn't too bad. He just gets really impatient and demanding. I had to jump through hoops to keep him happy. The only saving grace was that he ate well for lunch and dinner. Still, at the end of such a day, my patience was wearing thin and the final straw was trying to get him to bed and he wasn't cooperative. Tired and irritable - I lost it. Fortunately not at him but I think Micah realized that I wasn't too happy :) David had to take over the job of getting him to bed which he finally did at half past 9. His usual bedtime is at 8 pm!

I think I am also subconsciously worried about our final move. I am wondering how I'd feel at the thought of not going back to Kuala Lumpur as often. I've never really had a chance to 'miss' home because I go back every 2 months. Then again, I don't foresee any problems settling in well in Brisbane because we've already lodged ourselves there with home and a community of friends, new and old.

So why am I awake? Ah well...

Might as well go get some breakfast instead of dwelling too much on this. After all David made a fresh loaf of bread and he added some chopped almonds. It would be great toasted and slapped with a thick layer of butter!

Good morning everyone!

Simple Living

2010-04-11T13:02:00.002+10:00

I've been inspired by a these 2 websites. Becoming Minimalist and The Simple Dollar - one which have opened my eyes to a choice of a different lifestyle and the other, that teaches me better financial management as an extension of the former choice of lifestyle.

We never realized we were living a simple life. Our lifestyle the last few years was not by choice initially but after experiencing a life with less clutter and less possessions we kinda like it. Now we consciously live it.

Packing up our home in Kuala Lumpur before we moved to China made me realize how much was wasted on material things. When I had pack a whole house into boxes to fit into one room, I had to prioritize. Things which I thought I could never part with ended up at the bottom of the pile. There were more important things!

Living in China was never meant to be permanent and because of that we tried to live simply. We have only the basics but I have to admit that we gradually collected more things as our needs expanded with the addition of Micah and also acquired things to make our life here more comfortable.

As I am packing up our home in Ningbo, I find out that I've collected more things meant for the bottom of the pile and to be given away. Sigh! There are quite a few things I want to keep but it is just not possible to bring every back to Kuala Lumpur and then to Brisbane. Living a simple life with less clutter is made possible because of the circumstance!

Now I read more and find ways to practice simple living and consciously save in order to live this lifestyle.