It’s Been A While… September 17, 2009
Posted by esthertanc in Long Article, Me.1 comment so far
September 17th, 2009
**
[notice: this is a long post]
**
I know, I know. Timid people have been politely silent, while their more assertive friends have ventured to hint at it. The much bolder ones have come right up and said it directly in my face (some of whom had been ALee and KGT): I have NOT been Updating My Blog! And it is about Time I Did!
**
In my defense, I had been swept away by the intense business of work, study as well as pleasure (yes, I include pleasure as well because yes, I had had many good times in the last few extremely exhausting months. God is good).
**
And to my credit, even though I did not find the time to blog, I did, however, record the major happenings in my life in the last months with the good old camera.
**
So I would stop talking here for a bit, and allow the pics to tell the story…Enjoy.
**
APRIL 4th: Park time after Missionettes:
**
**
April 30th: STM Romans class presentation
**
**
April 30th: STM CRW classmates
**
**
MAY 1st: MRYC + YCYC combined at IRC
**
**
May 3rd: After being in the midst of so many cam-whoring youths on Friday, I decided to try doing it myself….hmmm…not bad…lol
**
**
May 9th: It was En’s FIRST TIME ever up on that Hill we all love so much – K. Hill. She did very well, I must say… In the event that she turns out to be one of those world-famous mountain climbers one fine day, I guess this picture will go down in history as her first taste of the heights…
**
**
We went for brunch with dad later. It was his birthday the day before. As usual, the dim sum was good, the company great.
**
**
May 10th: It was Mother’s Day. I got a perfectly beautiful rose from En. She scoured the whole of Jusco to find me this…ain’t that just too sweet?
**
**
May 28th: My first attempt ever at making Dumpling….I made a mess and was asked to eat it up!!! But it was fun. I think I’ll do better – all I need is practice…lol
**
**
JUNE started off by being extremely Kidz Safari busy[June 6th]….
**
**
**
**
**
…and went on being BCM class busy…
**
**
June 9th: …family outing busy…
**
**
June 20-23rd: …vacation busy…
**
**
**
**
**
**
June 30th: …and finally, party busy…
**
**
…Not bad, considering all of the busyness had much to do with pleasure. Lol
**
JULY came, and with it, the start of the Kidz Cell in AGA…
**
**
**
**
There are 3 cells altogether and the kids are having fun, definitely.. J
**
July 2nd: Om was back from Pennsylvania for summer hols…
**
**
And then there was the day I had my impacted and half-rotted wisdom tooth finally extracted. After seven jabs of LA, my gum (and half my tongue) were sufficiently numb to endure the excruciating moments that were to come…
**
**
I know, it isn’t exactly a pleasant sight – but I promise you, I had it cleaned up over and over again before I took a picture of it. Anyway, if it wasn’t so rotten, I would never have been desperate enough to make the appointment with Dr Louis. As it is, I bore the pain and sensitivity heroically for two long months before finally succumbing to the need for relief.
**
July 12th: The Yeoh clan dinners are legendary. This one was no different, save for the fact that it caused me to have a 4-day long stomach upset from the deliberate intake of butter (on my part) on the toasted French loaf. What can I say – the taste of it was worth the pain it caused. Lol
**
**
Other random pics include more cam-whoring and hiao-ing…
**
**
**
AUGUST came…It was Uncle Phan’s 80th b-day [Aug 1st], but looking at the pics, it is hard to tell – all the pics took were only on ourselves!!
**
**
**
**
**
Aug 12th: Anne had her b-day this month and was totally taken aback by the huge bouquet of real flowers she received – she did mention that she had never received flowers for her b-day for the last 8 years. Well, this one came All The Way from HongKong, so be wow’d, People!
**
**
Aug 16th: H1N1 struck hard in August, En had the fever and had to be masked for fear of actually contracting the virus…she religiously wore the mask for a Week – even to sleep… 
**
**
Aug 22nd: This one is a happy occasion – I was to meet up with YKL and JLim, friends I have not seen for at least 23 years…discount the date on the pic, folks, it was actually on Aug 22nd…typo…hehe
**
**
Aug 30th: Esther and Allan came back from Oz and we had a great-but-not-enough-time dinnering at mom’s…
**
**
Oh yeah, did I mention that church camp happened in this month as well? Well, it did. It was totally exhilarating, but utterly exhausting as well. I didn’t get to take a lot of pictures, though, so you won’t see any here. Apologies!
**
August was also a study/assignment-heavy month for me – I had to hand in assignments for two courses – 7 papers in total. If you’ve seen my previous pics on assignments, well, just multiply the mess by about 7 times and you may just get a slight picture of what my office desk and my whole house looked like. The assignments pretty much squeezed every single thought, creativity, energy and bounce I had for the month, so I guess that would be my excuse for not having pics taken of the mess they made of my house and office desk. I was thoroughly bushed by end-August. I really, really thought I would not be able to make it in time to hand in the assignments. But God is faithful. He brought helpers and prayer-mates into my life at just the right the times I needed them. Thankfully, though, the SCG lessons were planned for June and July, and not August, or I would not have been able to cope with my assignments.
**
It’s now SEPTEMBER. The month began pretty numbly for me (it was right after submitting all my papers, remember?), and I took about a week to recuperate from the assignment marathon,and another week to laze around. But it is well into mid-Sep now. I wonder what the next two weeks will bring…oh well, I guess we would probably see it in the next posting.
**
There, that’s my life for the last few months, folks. It has been a whirlwind, and boy am I glad it’s over. Looking forward to quieter months ahead…or not!
**
**
The Longest 23 Hours… August 31, 2008
Posted by esthertanc in Friends and Family, Holidays, Long Article, Me.6 comments
August 31st, 2008
**
It was 3am in the morning on August 30th. The alarm was ringing. I groaned, turned over, slammed the clock down and struggled up. It was going to be a looooong day for me. RT, Minch, MattL and I were to make our way down south to Singapore…by car. And yes, you’ve guessed it. I was the designated driver for the day.
**
I really don’t know why the rest wanted to go. My purposes for going to Singapore were varied, but the more crucial ones were:
-
I needed to get literature for my studies for both schools, STM & BCM. My lecturer suggested that I go to a certain SKS Bookshop in River Valley Road, S’pore to get my materials.
-
I needed to take collect newly bought communion trays from a pastor in S’pore
-
I wanted one “last” holiday before officially starting work
**
So here I was, washed up, bathed and dressed and getting ready to drive off. It was 4.30am in the morning. I was running late (yeah, one-and-a-half hours to get ready – my only excuse is that it was a Bad Hair Day…).
**
I started the Vios, and the engine whirred silently. I glided the car to RT’s house, and then to Minch and MattL’s. By the time we really started moving, it was 5am. It was late, and so I decided to stick “as close as possible” to the speed limit without having RT sound me off. It worked. Most of the time…
**
Here are some snippets of my day, in EsthertanC’s version…
**
[At 5.00am, from MattL’s house]
Engine: WWWhirrrrrrrr
**
[At 5.10am, before entering the North-South Highway]
Engine: RRRrrrrrrrrrrr
**
[At 5.20am, in the Highway]
Engine: GGGrrrrrrrrrr
**
[At 5.40am, crossing a bridge]
Engine: WWWhirrrrrrrrrr
**
[At 5.40am, after crossing the bridge]
Engine: GGGrrrrrrrrrr
**
Me: I think the road’s not that good. See, it’s making the car sound very loud.
**
Minch: Oh, so that’s what the sound was all about.
**
Me: Yeah. It’s not the engine.
**
Minch: Okay.
**
Engine: GGGrrrrrrrrrr
**
[At 6.40am]
Engine: RROarrrrrrrr
**
Me: Man, it’s soooo misty, I can hardly see.
**
Minch: What?
**
Me: I said, It’s so misty I can hardly see!
**
Minch: What?? I can’t hear you!
**
Me: It’s So Misty I Can’t See!
**
RT: [stirred from sleep] Eh? What’s been happening? Are we at the Machap R&R yet?
**
Me: [above the roar] I think it’s coming right up ahead. But I can’t see. D’you know where the switch for the fog lights are?
**
Minch: [also above the din] I think it’s somewhere in the front, near the headlights.
**
RT: You’re going at 120km/hr. Keep to speed limits, please.
**
Me: I am keeping close to the speed limits, mah. Don’t worry.
**
RT: No, you’re over 110km/hr. Slow down.
Me: [sulking] Oh, alright. I can’t see much in this mist, anyway. [slows down]
**
Engine: GGGrrrrrrrrrrrrr
**
Minch: [leaning forward from the back seat] Here, let me check for the fog lights. [begins examining the symbols on the dashboard] Say, what’s that light over there above your fuel meter?
**
Me: “Overdrive Off”
**
Minch: You have overdrive? You can on and off it manually?
**
Me: Yeah. Why?
**
Minch: D’you know where the switch it?
**
Me: Sure, it’s by the side of the gear. I’ll on it for you if you like. [presses button. “OD Off” lights go off]
**
Engine: WWWhirrrrrrrrrr
**
Minch: Esther! You’ve been driving on Overdrive all these while!!!
**
Me: Wha…?? B-b-but….I can’t have been! It says there “OD Off”! I know, ‘coz I was looking at the lighted sign all the time!
**
Minch: Yeah. I think there’s something wrong with that particular sign. But hear the engine?
**
Engine: [dutifully] WWWhirrrrrrrrrrr
**
Me: [light dawning into the head] You mean…..I’ve been driving on OD all these while??? Oh Noooooooo…!
**
[At 7.00am]
Me: Thank God the mist had cleared. Sky’s getting bright!
**
RT: I still don’t see the Machap R&R.
**
Me: Errr, I think we’ve missed it in that mist, during the time of the “OD Off” hullabaloo.
**
RT: Oh No! I need to go to the loo.
**
Me: Me, too. I’ll exit at the next R&R.
**
[At 7.10am]
RT: Is that an R&R up ahead?
Me: No. It’s just a Stopover
**
[At 7.15am]
Repeat the previous conversation.
**
[At 7.20am]
Ditto
**
[At 7.25am]
Ditto
**
[At 7.30am]
RT: [desperately] Where is the next R&R????
**
Me: [just as desperately] It’s comin’ up. I hope…
**
RT: Look! Up ahead! What’s that sign?
**
Me: It says….[squints]..Gelang Patah R&R!!!
**
RT: What? We’re almost at the Immigrations already???
**
Me: [proudly] Yep! Did it in just 2.5 hours!
**
RT: [suspiciously] Did you speed while I was sleeping just now?
**
Me: [straight-faced] ’Course Not! I kept “close” to speed limits.
**
We freshened up, called home, and called Patang in S’pore to wake him up. He was to accompany us the whole day today. We left the Gelang Patah Rest and Relax area at 8.10am, made our way across the border, registered the Vios with the S’pore RTD and was out of the Immigrations by 8.40am.
**
[At 9.00am]
Me: Wah!! The car park at Borders is really sooo empty…I shall choose the best slot. And then I want to eat. I haven’t eaten since 3am and I’m Starving.
**
[At 9.20am]
Me: [whimpering] Isn’t there anything at all to eat in Orchard Road at this time of day….? I’m gastricking and my pants are so loose, they’re falling off! I need to add more tummy to it!
**
The four of us walked to Takashimaya, and were the first to enter their food court when it opened at 9.30am.
**
[At 10.00am, on the ’phone]
Patang: Hey, Jie. Where are you?
Me: I’m at Taka. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen asleep again right after we woke you up just now?
Patang: [unconvincingly] No-lar. Anyway, I’ll come over and meet you at 10.30am, k?
Me: We’ll be waiting.
**
[At 10.40am, on the ’phone]
Patang: Hey, Jie? I’m already here, but I can’t find a car park at al! It’s so full here. I gotta wait a while.
Me: That’s OK. Minch, MattL and I will come over, could you fetch us to Mustafa and then to River Valley Road? I need to find the SKS Bookshop.
Patang: River Valley Road? D’you know which part of River Valley Road this bookshop is?
Me: Dunno. I was just told by my lecturer the shop is on this road.
Patang: Oka-ay. But just to let you know, this road is Loooonnngg. You should’ve checked out the address before coming.
Me: I didn’t know. Anyway, I’m sure we’ll find it when we get there. It’s supposed to be a big place.
**
[At 11.20am, in Patang’s car]
Patang: Tell me again: Where exactly did your lecturer say this bookshop is, and how big is it?
Me: Err…River Valley Road…?
Patang: We’ve been through this long street a FEW times already!
Me: Hold on. I’ll call PSally and ask her PLawrence’ number in S’pore.
Patang: Okay. Do it quick. Meanwhile, I’ll make another U-Turn…
Me: Hello? PSally? Could I have PLawrence number, please…
**
[1 minute later]
Me: Hello PLawrence, it’s me, EsthertanC. Would you know where in River Valley Road is this bookshop called SKS?
PLawrence: SKS Bookshop? Oh. It’s in a warehouse behind some black Glass Hotel.
Me: [aloud] Warehouse? Behind black Glass Hotel?
Patang: [heatedly] What? That hotel is so not on River Valley Road!!
PLawrence: Why did you think it was on RV Road?
Me: Well, my lecturer at the Seminary said it was on this road…
PLawrence: Well, it isn’t. It’s on 315 Outram Road, inside a certain Tan Boon Liat building, and is found in the 9th Floor of that building.
Me: [dumbfounded] Outram Road? Some building there? On the 9th Floor?
Patang: [Fuming] Grrrr…
Me: Errr….thanks PLawrence. Just to let you know, I have a friend driving me to this place, and right now, his face looks a little black…
PLawrence: Ok, well, tell him it’s nearby, and don’t worry, you’ll be able to find it. After all, this is S’pore. Can one really get lost here?
Me: Thanks and Bye.
**
[30 secs of silence later]
Me: [subdued] It’s on Outram Road. You know where it is?
Patang: [combusting] No, I don’t know anything. I’ll call the place and ask.
Me: [bravely] OK. Why don’t you do that?
Patang: [on the ’phone] Hello, SKS? Where are you? Oh. Behind Holiday Inn….? …I get it. Thanks. [hangs up]. It’s behind Holiday Inn, not Glass hotel!
Me: [uncomprehending] Oh. Is it far from here?
Patang: No. Thank God it’s near. Just the next turning.
Me: [phew!] Ok. Let’s get there, then.
**
[At 12.40pm, in the Building where SKS is]
Patang: Are you still “looking” through the shelves? Haven’t you got all you want yet?
Me: [dazedly] There just so many books and cool stuff here to see. Look at this, for example: A Whole Chart for my NT assignment! All in one piece. I don’t have to look much further to complete my assignment!!
Patang: [unimpressed] It’s just a chart. [turning the board over] OMG, it’s SGD15.50!!! For a small chart like this??? It’s Crime!! And look at its sides – all crumpled and lined and old-looking!
Me: [reasoning voice] It’s my assignment – I can do my whole assignment based on this chart!! It’s worth it, ler!
Patang: [unconvinced] Hmmm…let me ask the counter for new stock.
**
[2 minutes later]
Patang: No deal. These two crumpled (haam-choy) sheets are the last two left. You don’t really want it.
Me: [adamantly] But I do!!
Patang: Hmmmmph! Is this what you came here to look for?
Me: Errr..well, not really. I wanted really to look for Hebrew Bibles.
Patang: Found them?
Me: Errr…haven’t searched for them yet…
Patang: [wearily] Why don’ I just hold the rest of the books you have in your arms, and you go look for it now?
Me: Okok.
**
[10 minutes later]
Patang: Jie, can you please stop picking up anymore literature? You’re spending too much!
Me: Okok. We’ll go now.
Patang: Phew! At last!
Me: [petulantly] What’s your problem anyway?
Patang: I haven’t eaten yet and I’m super-hungry!
Me: Oh! I’m sorry. Okok. I’ll pay now.
Patang: Check to see if all your books are in good condition first before paying, ok?
Me: No need, lar…just as long as all the pages are there, enough, lar.
Patang: [sigh] Here, give them all to me. I’ll do the checking.
Me: Oooooh, thanks. You’re such a sweet brother.
Patang: [mutters under breath] I know. Sometimes, I amaze myself.
**
[At 4.45pm, at Borders, Wheelock Place]
Patang: I feel very thirsty, let’s go for a drink.
Minch: It’s raining cats and dogs. Where can you find a place that’s good without us needing to run in the rain?
Patang: Shaw House, across the street. We’ll use the Underpass.
**
[5 minutes later, across the street via the Underpass]
MattL: Oh. We’re going to MOS Burger??
Patang: Yes. They serve Tea here. You want?
MattL: Yep. One for me.
Minch: One for me, too.
Patang: I’ll buy three Large Teas and one Large Iced Lemon Tea for Esther.
Me: [gratefully] Oooooh…thanks!
Together Again
**
[10 minutes later, while sipping the coolest drinks on earth]
Me: [suddenly] Bro, where did you put my chart? Is it in your car still?
Patang: What chart?
Me: The Chart for my NT assignment.
Patang: [alarmed] I-I-I….I didn’t put it anywhere.
Me: Did we buy it?
Patang: I don’t remember seeing it at the counter…
Me: [aghast] Gasp!!
Patang: [whipping out the handphone] Chill . I’ll call the bookshop. [on the ’phone] Hello? Can I know what time you close today? Oh. 6pm? Ok, thanks. [hangs up & stands up] Okay, Jie. Let’s go get your thing.
**
[20 minutes later, in the car]
Me: You’re not angry for having to go again to this most hated place in Outram Road, are you?
Patang: [all benevolent] Nope. I figured SGD15.50 for a whole assignment is well worth the money. How I wish I can find things like this for the 3 assignments I still have to complete before September ends.
**
[At 6.00pm, back at Orchard Rd, in Taka, and heading towards Kinokuniya]
Patang: You two don’t have much time. Just grab what you want and we’ll go, ok?
RT: Okay.
Patang: I’ll meet you at the Magazine area. Here’s your Kino card, Jie.
Me: Thanks.
**
[At 6.45pm, in the Crystal Jade Kitchen, Taka]
MattL: They’ve seated us in a really a secluded spot.
Me: Good place for all of us to eat and chat. Look at the food! Yummy!!
**
[At 8.00pm, same place]
Patang: We gotta all go now. Our car parking tickets are until 8.15-8.20pm only.
Minch: Okay, let’s get the bill and go.
RT: While you are settling the bill, can I go and get some stuff from Borders first? I’ll meet you at the carpark.
Me: OK. I also want to buy some manuka honey before we leave.
Patang: [shakes head] Sigh….still shopping…
**
[At 8.15pm, at the car park]
Me: Phew! We made it just in time!
Patang: Yup. See? The patrolmen are already here, rounding the area.
Minch: Byee, Patang!
MattL: All the best!
Patang: Thanks, you, too! Bye Jie.
**
[At 8.20pm, still in the car]
RT: Has Patang gone off?
Me: Should be. Why?
RT: Errr…I don’t know the way out.
Me: What? But…you led us to this place…?
RT: [matter-of-factly] I know how to get in, But I don’t know how to get out.
Me: [grabs handphone and dials] I hope he’s not too far off…
Patang: [appears in person, in front of the car!] What??
Me: [in shock] Oh. Hi. You aren’t gone yet?
Patang: Nope. What’s up?
Me: We need to get back to AYE, but don’t know how…
Patang: No Problem. Just follow me.
Me: [gratefully] Thanks!
**
And we were led back to AYE with no problem within 20 minutes.
**
[At 8.40pm]
Me: Oh No!! What’s that up ahead??
RT: Those are cars. Lining up to the Immigrations.
Me: [faintly] But we’ve still got such a looooong way to go to reach the Immigrations…
RT: So get prepared for a loooooong wait.
**
[At 9.40pm]
Patang: [over the ’phone] Jie, where are you now?
Me: Still in S’pore.
Patang: What?? How come?
Me: We’re stuck in a jam – waiting for the masses to clear customs and immigrations.
Patang: Oh no! It’s S’pore’s First day of School Hols….!
Me: Sigh….this just has to happen to me…
**
[At 10.30pm]
Patang: [over the phone] Jie?
Me: Yeah, ok. We’ve passed the Immigrations at S’pore. Johor’s Customs wasn’t bad at all. We’re now in the Gelang Patah R&R. Will be making our way back home. Estimate to reach home at about 1.00am.
Patang: Drive safe, k?
Me: K.
**
[At 12.25am]
Me: This AirKeroh-AlorGajah stretch is 90 km/hr. I’m sleeeeeppyyy.
Minch: [stirring from slumber] Huh? [goes back to sleep]
MattL: [stirring from sleep] You want me to drive? [2 secs later] Snore….
RT: Yawn….Sigh….Okay, let’s chat…Yawn…..
**
Arrived at MattL & Minch’s home at 1.10am.
**
Arrived at RT’s home at 1.20am.
**
Arrived home at 1.30am.
**
Bathed and slept at 2.00am. On August 31st, 2008.
**
Happy Merdeka, Everyone…ZZZZzzzzZZzzzzzZZzzzz
**
**
**
