Wait* - Take That

The good news i received in the post below did not come quickly!!! I was made to wait for it. You see, i was scheduled to go for the scan at 1.30 pm. It should not take long - and thereafter, my doc will see me.

So i went to the counter as directed at 1.30 pm sharp. The people at the counter had no idea about my scan. they did not receive any instructions about it. So i had to wait till the 'lady' came back from lunch. 'Lady' - i dun know what to refer her as!!! She is not a nurse. But she is not the receptionist either. I made my appointment with her and she was the one who directed me to the counter. But apparently, she failed to instruct the people there.

So i waited.

Then she came back from lunch. i was then sent to the radiology department for the scan. Waited some more!!!! Why? Cuz they weren't sure if they had to use the 'dye' when scanning me. The doctor person in charge there went for prayers. So i waited.

Finally, she got back - yes, they needed to use the dye. Which meant also that i was supposed to have fasted for 4 hours!!!! Of course i din. I wasn't instructed to!!!! So i had to loiter around for another 3 hours plus before they could scan me!!!!!

Finally, they scanned me. But after that, i had to wait for the doctor to study the scan and produce the report.

The report finally came. I paid for it and took the scan as well as the report. I was so curious to read the report - but decided against taking it out immediately and reading it!!! Din wanna seem so anxious - altho in truth, i was really wanting to know by then!!! But i had to go back up to see my doctor. I guessed there would be time then to sneak a peak at the report.

When i got back up, i told the 'lady' i was ready to see the doc with my scan. She took the scan from me (with the report) and asked me to... wait for it.... yes, wait!!!!

Since i was there the latest, i had to wait till everyone had seen the doctor before my turn came. But it finally came - and when it did, my consultation did not even last 3 minutes!!!!! But that's a good thing, isn't it? Well, it is. Because as we all know now, the results were very very positive!!!!

So yes, that was really worth the wait!

But more than that - the wait was really good for another reason too! you see, to be honest, i had been rather worried about check-up. And as the time of the check-up drew nearer, i was pretty close to freaking out. I was feeling much more scared compared to last year when i had to go for the surgery!!!! It was so strange! Maybe the tumour had so badly effected me last year that i just did not know how to feel scared about it!

So there i was, worrying all alone. I did not want to cause my loved ones to go thru wat i was going thru so i did not share with them about my fears.

When i drove to the hospital, the memories came back to me again. The nightmare of having to spend the time in the ICU, not allowed to move much, and basically just lying there and waiting for time to pass by. Of course i prepared myself for the worst - and that meant that i ad to go for another similar surgery again!!!

When i was first waiting for the radiologist to come back from prayers, my heart felt so heavy then. I prayed - and asked that i could experience God's peace, the peace that passes all understanding!

And you know what? I did experience that! I did not realise it at first but the fear and the worry just went away! I initially thought the wait would kill me!!! Just get it over and done with quickly and lemme know the results - instead of letting me drown in my worry.

But God had other plans. He made me wait - and in the process, he let me experience his wonderful peace. And just learn to rest in him.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4v6-7

*Track #3 from their latest album which features Robbie Williams again!

Don't come around here no more* - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Scan taken early morning January 4th 2010:-

Scan taken late afternoon January 4th 2011:-

The result:-

Is this the end of the tumour? I sure hope so!

Thank you, Lord.

*A collaboration with David Steward of the Eurythmics.

For better or worse* - Debbie Gibson

It was not a good year to be a Liverpool FC fan. They were lying in the relegation zone for a while and ended up the year in a position they had never been since the 50s!!!!

Yet, surprisingly - and pleasantly so - i have noted that in the past year, i have seen the most number of people out in public wearing a Liverpool FC jersey. Even when we lie in the relegation zone, even after losing to the bottom team, i see people out wearing that familiar red jersey with Carlsberg or Standard Chartered printed on its front.

It is very heartening to see that. This shows that these Liverpool FC fans are the true fans. We do not support the team when they are doing well - thru thick and thin, we will all proudly support our team.

Compare the number of people on the streets these days who wear the Chelsea blue jerseys. I have not seen any at all since Chelsea have been playing badly and losing in recent weeks. Are those who used to support Chelsea true fans? I better not answer that question - but i would say that those who still wear the Liverpool red are true fans!

And i'm one of them! =)

*Her first single from her 5th album which was her only album under the EMI label.

I need you* - LeAnn Rimes

My fav song for New Year's eve! (a lil late but better late than never!)

We don't need a crowded ballroom... - if you're with me, next year will be the perfect year!

A good way to remind myself that i need God to be with me thruout the whole of next year - if i want it to be a perfect one!

Looking back at the year gone, many people would not call it a perfect year. I blogged about the highlights of the year below - but there are a lot of painful and terrible moments, unhappy incidents, experiences which i would not wish on anyone. But i know that with hindsight, it was these things which contributed in making the year to be brilliant! It was these that made the sweet moments sweeter, the achievements more meaningful, the happiness more joyous!

*The title track of her 6th album.

Everything changes* - Take That

Eventually, over time, we all become our own doppelgangers - y'know, these...these completely different people, who just happen to look like us. "5 years ago Robin", that girl? She's pretty great. But "doppelganger Robin" - she's amazing!

Yeah, i was watching "How I Met Your Mother" early on New Year's Day - dun ask why. But i'm glad i did - cuz of that little monologue by Ted at the end of season 5. That monologue got me thinking - and got me blogging!!!!

It is so true, isn't it? Aren't we all doppelgangers of who we used to be in the past? I started thinking of where i was 5 years ago. Well, thank God for blogs!!!! I was reminded from my blog that i was at Sheffield, sharing the New Year with Kok Choong, Kevin and Vivian (see here).

Do i look the same? Definitely better back then!

5 years down the road and Kev and Viv are married, Kok Choong is gonna be my best man this year before he himself tying the knot (or biting the dust) not long after me!!!

But who was i? I was a Masters' student, living life to the fullest and without much care. How different am i today? Well, i would say VERY different. Was i pretty great back then? I would like to think so. but the more important question is compared with who i was back then, have i changed for good?

Change is inevitable - in fact i would say that it is very important. So the question is not whether we have changed, but how have we changed? For better or for worse?

OK - i need my sleep. Blessed new year, peeps!

*The title track of their second album released way back in 1993.

Thank you* - Dido

Toy Story 3, Ice Kacang Puppy Love, National Champions, tGiF's birthday, Singapore, Penang, Human Rights conference at Bangkok, World Cup, proposal, mom's 70th birthday, iLove Camp, lakeside Campus, Chilean miners, seeing Martina Hingis, Standard Chartered marathon, 24 Season 8, New Delhi, hanging out with students.

These are some of the highlights of 2010 for me. Thank you so much for being part of it. Thank you Lord for everything.

*The biggest hit from her debut album - although this was featured in Sliding Doors' soundtrack before being released as a single.

謝謝你的愛* - 李心潔

We were traveling back to her hometown and i asked her to put in my 李心潔's CD. When we came to this song, we both said how much we like it. It was our favourite song of the album.

To be honest, i dun really know what the whole song is all about - but i do understand the title. And each time is listen to this song, i think of all the people who's love has touched my life - my family, tGiF, my close mates - and i always feel so blessed. Most of all, i am thankful for the love of God which surpasses all other love, and is the source of all other true love.

*The second track from her last studio album, this album was the reason why i became such a big fan of hers!

Speak* - Lindsay Lohan

Today is Human Rights Day. This year, their theme is "Speak Up; Stop Discrimination". Let's do our part and speak up against all forms of discrimination.

Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine all the people living life in peace
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
John Lennon

*The title track of her debut studio album - it was supposed to be the 3rd single but was never released.

Invisible man* - 98 Degrees

I was just reading about Houllier's return to Anfield the other day - it was described as "unhappy" as his his team's performance was dismal (see the article here).

It wasn't all bad, tho. I think the highlight for him was when the Kop actually started singing his name! With "affection"! Yup, us Liverpool fans still appreciate all he had done. But Hodgson has still much to prove.

Here's what the article said:-

"The only minor victory he enjoyed over Liverpool counterpart Roy Hodgson came in the closing stages of Villa's 3-0 defeat when he heard his name sung with affection by The Kop. Hodgson is not yet afforded this luxury. Indeed, he is still treated almost as if he does not exist by his own supporters".

Clueless Hodgson?

Yup, Hodgson still has not won us over yet. I know i blogged earlier that he looks promising - but that's about it. One incident which made me lose all faith in him took place at the closing stages of the match recently against Spurs. 2 minutes into stoppage time and Spurs scored, taking the lead. There was still a couple of minutes left - stranger things have happened in football! All is not lost.

But when the camera showed Hodgson, he was slumped on his seat, hands folded, having the expression of a kid who had his toy stolen from him. I was disgusted with that sight. Hodgson basically gave up!

I believe Ferguson and Wenger would not have reacted that way. they would be at the touchline and shouting instructions to his players, urging not to give up. As long as there is time, anything was possible. They could also be arguing with the 4th official for more time to be added.

I was very disappointed to see Hodgson's reaction - imagine how the players would have felt too!

So yes, unless Hodgson can improve, he'll remain the invisible man to us fans. And he should expect to walk alone.

*Their breakthrough hit - the 1st single from their debut album

What a difference a day makes* - Jamie Cullum

What a difference day can make - just 24 little hours...

So many things can happen in such a short span of time - the time it takes for the earth to make a full spin. One day you can be on the euphoric mountain top - and the next, you could have plunged into the depths of deepest gloom. Or it could be the other way round. One day you could feel like you have it all - and the next, you could end up with nothing.

Will the dawn of a new day drive away the dark clouds?

As i was thinking about this, i am reminded of what happened during my recent trip to India. We were there for a international competition. 2 days of preliminary rounds. At the end of the first day, we were sitting at the top of the table - and my student had garnered the most points. Other coaches were congratulating me, assuming that my team would make it to the next round. I refused to be caught up with such thoughts.

The 2nd day was a painful for us - our competitors had walkovers and/or easy opponents. We had to do it the hard way - but at the end of the day, it was a mere 0.5 points that stood in between us and a place in the semi-finals. Just half a point - but it was enuf to block our way.

I was surprised at how badly it affected me - i thought i was over these kind of things. It really dun matter to me anymore - but it does. what a difference a day made!

Still, i guess tt's what that makes life so exciting and interesting. We just dun know what to expect - and i like it! The mystery, the thrill. After all, to me, it's about the journey, not the destination.

I may not know what tomorrow brings, but i know something even more important - i know who holds tomorrow!

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Ira Stanphill

*This remake was included in his debut album. The song was originally written in Spanish!