Important life lesson

Don't be too stubborn, it's for my own good.


Got it.

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Pictures speaks more..

Sorry, i apologise for not updating for more than a month! I've been really busy with treating my rats and writing my thesis. Plus, my lab is moving, so we had to do up the lab DIY way simply because the school (or more specifically, the head of school) doesn't want to pay for the contractors to come do it for us. So, we've been painting, putting up whiteboards, organising equipments etcetc for the past 2 weeks.

Anyway, i'll let the pictures do the talking. People do like/prefer to see pictures rather than words anyway.

Here goes: I practically have cravings for cinnamon toast everyday since i was back to brissy 2 weeks ago. As Cafe Nano sells the best cinnamon toast (that's what i've heard and tried) and i walk past Cafe Nano everyday because it is situated right outside the entrance of AIBN, where the animal house is located. To resist any temptations, i would walk pass Cafe Nano REALLY QUICKLY so that i won't have to stop and smell the delicious aroma of toasted bread. One good thing is that Cafe Nano always have long queues. That usually puts me off! = D

But i decided to have a mini cinnamon toast competition where my friend had informed me that genies (over at IMB) also sells pretty good cinnamon toast. So, to get a bigger bang out of my 3 bucks, a mini cinnamon toast competition was held. The results: Cafe Nano cinnamon toast beats genies cinnamon toast hands down. They were judged in terms of taste, visual and smell. Heck! A blind test was even carried out! I prefer Cafe Nano's cinnamon toast because it's more aromatic, sweeter, and they don't use salty butter! Plus, Cafe Nano slices the bread in halves for you!
I've had cravings for the hot chocolate over at Coffee and Chocolate for the longest time! And finally, i've got to try the create-your-own-hot-chocolate using Callebaut Dark Chocolate Buttons. It didn't disappoint me at all. = ) I think i had an overdosage of endorphins (happy hormones) and antioxidents for the week. We ordered the Callebaut Hot Chocolate as well to compare. It wasn't as nice to me because i prefer a chocolatey hot chocolate rather than a milky hot chocolate. The create-your-own allows you to choose how much chocolate buttons to add in the egg-shaped hot pot filled with milk, which i kind of overdosed on the chocolate part. So it was kinda like drinking a 70% chocolate bar. It was yummilious! = ) Oh! And it comes with this metal spoon/straw to stir/drink the hot chocolate. But you have to be careful when you drink it, as you might burn your lips, not by the hot chocolate but by the straw! This create-your-own thing is a copied concept from Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar where they also use the same egg shaped hotpot. But i'm not sure what kind of chocolates they use. I have to go back to singapore and try! = ))


And i had a lab breakfast today! It's like the best brekkie i've ever had since i was in brisbane! No kidding! Giti came over from Sydney to visit (yay!) and it spawned Tombles to come over from Canberra as well! Double yay! It was so good to see them! Missed their company! Too bad Giti is going back to Sydney today and Tombles is leaving tomorrow. Anyway, nick made pancakes for brekkie! And Nick makes the BEST pancakes! Mind you, i've tried the pancakes over at pancake manors, and pancake house over at Canberra and they don't even come close! Giti will agree with me! Nick made this really delicious cottage cheese pancakes that was SO ADDICTIVE! I really want to have it again... like NOW... *drools The company was fun, the food was delicious.... I love my lab! = ))

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Purple meets Yellow

Kor and Wendy's Solemnisation

Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa - Glass Pavillion

Photos are uploaded @ http://picasaweb.google.com/esdilays11/KorSSolemnisation

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Pictures speak more than a thousand words..

Eager to be home--

I'm finally losing my patience. I really really can't wait to get home. To be home with my parents, family, friends and not forgetting, in the loving arms of kare. And most importantly, away from WORK!

Yeayea, i know. No matter what i say, i'll probably still end up writing part of my thesis when i'm back in singapore.

I'm done with my poster! Finally! Hopefully, no more crisis (I don't think my heart can take it). I'm heading off to Canberra early monday morning. Nick wants to do the craziest thing - driving from Brissy to Canberra, which will take us 1 1/2 days to get there. But i guess he loves roadtrip, that's why we're taking a drive. A VERY LONG drive, i might add! A total of 15 hours and 23 mins if you're driving straight from brissy to Canberra. I'm guessing we're stopping over in Sydney. He wants all those students who can drive (with valid driving license) to take turns to drive as well. Yea, so i'm probably driving too... Hope pa has bought enough insurance. HAHA = D

11 more days!

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Brings a smile to my face

Fancy my dad calling me to give me advice on friendship.

Thanks pa and ma! = ) Love ya both lots...

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

ROAR!!!

Let's see....

Tell me whether i should get angry.

No. 1 - you accused me of lying (pretending that i didn't receive/read the supposed message on msn)

No. 2- you said that i'm not a good enough friend for you because i didn't think of you when i go grocery shopping (i know, what the heck right?!)

No. 3- you demanded a reason for not playing tennis ( i gave you one, but you can't seem to accept it)

No. 4 - This is NOT the first time you're doing this (remember when you kept demanding/bugging me about xmas dinner? And also the time when you wanted to go city and i couldn't make it due to work?)

No. 5 - since you're so suspicious of me (like i think that i don't treasure/take this friendship seriously), why the heck do you even want to continue with this friendship till now?!?! Why are you so suspicious of my every move?!

Why should i even bother rushing to do my work last night and today so that we can go for brekky tomorrow morning!?

Give me 10000000000 good reasons why i should not get angry/pissed!

Having a kare is not even as troublesome as this! And kare is not even here in brissy!

Enough is enough. Too much is too much. Don't push it. When enough is enough, i won't spend anymore of my precious time entertaining you.

You've reached my limits.

I just want to go home. Dammit.

*ROAR!!!!!!!!

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

The best supervisor one can have...

How sweet and thoughtful is my supervisor? He gave each one if us (the students in the lab including PhD and Honours students) a late xmas pressie. He apologised during our lab party that our pressie will be late.. But the wait was totally worth it! = )

Isn't he the sweetest guy on earth?! The students who deals with rats/mouse have rats/mouse sewn onto the polo t-shirt. And the students who deals with toads have toads sewn onto their shirts. I'm so glad i deal with rats! Haha... It would be hilarious if i have a sewn on toad on my t-shirt.

I'm so glad that nick is my supervisor. Praise God for that.. = )

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Just in time...

Just before the year ends, i've decided to sweep off some spider webs and dust that my blog had been collecting for the past weeks. I've not been blogging due to my heavy workload. Well, there is a reason why i didn't manage to fly back before xmas. It's because of work. I promised i would explain why i couldn't come back-- so here it is.

I was suppose to fly back on the 23rd dec and celebrate b'days, xmas and welcome the new year with family and friends. I've already planned my experiments 'sui sui'- just nice i'll be done on the 19th december and i just have to collect my glass slides back on 22nd dec. Everything's good. The problem is, the rat brains are usually incubated in the solution for 14 days in this special solution. But who knows! I found out that this protocol is like 30 years old. And apparantly, alot of modifications had been done to it and nobody told me until what...30th november. So, now the brain has to be sliced before incubating in the solution for 30 days. So see the problem now? I terminated my 16 rats on the 28 to 30 november. Can't slice them (total 32 brains - 16 brains sliced into halves) till 1st to 2nd december. With the 30 days incubation in the solution, that means i have to go back to school on NEW YEAR'S DAY!!! So dear family and friends, i've been working my a** off since xmas. I was in school doing work on xmas eve and i just got home from school (it's a sunday today!!!).

At least i got 2 days off on xmas and boxing day (where i went for the boxing day sale - up to 70% off!). I had a better time on xmas than on boxing day though. That's because i enjoy spending time with family(my dear girls and the christian family) and friends than shopping. I had a really enjoyable time at Pastor Steve and Keiyeng's place. They invited all international students over to their place for a homely xmas lunch as they want to be the family to us as we are without family here (does that sentence makes sense?). Anyway, lunch was very enjoyable... thanks to Pastor Steve, Keiyeng, Uncle Mike and Aunty Yileng who prepared loads of food (we girls just contributed a bowl of summer salad) such as stuffed roast turkey, ham, prawns, salads and not forgetting desserts! I ate till i was 110% full and my gastric flared up. Geez. Really a bad time to have gastric when its the festive season. (By the way, i've loaded up the xmas photos.)


I had loads of fun during dinner too. Headed back home after lunch to prepare dinner for our friends who aren't christian and were without family too. We girls just got to know them not too long ago. Katherine and Louie, who lives down the road, and not forgetting Uncle Simon (who kept bugging me to plan for xmas dinner for 1 1/2 weeks) were invited (finally! for uncle simon) to our place for xmas dinner. = ) We had a big feast again! Geezz... There's roasted turkey breast, roasted kangaroo meat ((expired for more than a month!!) - courtesy of boiboi), baked fish, (*yummy- i know uncle simon put in alot of effort and thought into making that salad) fruit and vege salad, potent mushroom soup, mashed potatoes and garlic bread. So you see, how not to grow sideways?! But i didn't eat much, due to my gastric, ate loads of salad though. We played Bang!, a really interesting card game that involves quite a bit of intelligence and LOADS of luck (Alicia would totally agree with me about this point). Initially, we were a tad unwilling to play the game, because it involves some brainwork. But after 1 round of trial and errors, the 2nd and 3rd round were actually quite fun. It was cool to play such card games as it really makes the players interact with one another. I think this game should be available in those games shop in singapore like settlers. Another card game to recommend is Sabotaur. My gastric was flaring up pretty badly in the 3rd round (it was actually already flaring during dinner, but i didn't want to be rude), therefore, i had to excuse myself from the game. I had to immediately go rest. Sorry for being a bad host, my dear friends.


My gastric pills don't really work anymore, therefore i decided to turn to the last resort- drink a cup of soya bean. And it works! But only for 20 minutes. But i've been watching my diet since. Not eating too full, too oily and heavy stuff. It's better, but everytime my stomach starts to growl, i get abit paranoid and will starting hunting for food. I don't want a hole in my stomach. It's all good now. I think i should be able to lose abit of weight before i go back. = ) All my muscles (from tennis) have became fats, therefore i need to tone myself up again.


Overall, i had a wonderful time celebrating xmas. It's weird that just last year, i was used to thinking that xmas was a time to have a fmaily gathering, having a bbq, eat delicious food, exchange gifts, opening gifts. But this year, xmas had a different meaning for me. I became a Christian this year, and i'm really proud to be a Christian. Now, xmas for me is a time to remember that Jesus Christ, our Saviour was born. Like what Keiyeng said, this historic event shouldn't be crowded out by Santa Claus (i didn't go for Bloom, but i do know what the theme was) and about receiving and opening xmas gifts. Xmas celebration should be centred about the birth of Jesus and how we should be jubilent about it. I know i am. = ))


Even though i feel a little sad that i can't be with my family and kare (it's the first time in my 21 years that i missed a xmas family gathering), but i guess Pastor Steve, Keiyeng and the christian family, my dear girls had become family to me. So it had been really great spending xmas with them. I've been horribly blessed this year..... Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings that You've showered upon my family and me.


Boxing day-- Reserved for shopping. I've heard alot of people talking about the boxing day sale. But i've also heard alot of stories about it, i guess it's something like the mid-year and year-end sales in singapore, but it's different cause it's only a 1 day sale. And i've heard scary stories from friends that the shoppers would actually go to the shopping centre 2 days before the sale (eg. on 22 - 23 dec) to 'research' on what they want and on the 26th, they would just rush to the shop, grab whatever they want, pay and head to the next shop. Yes, it's up to 70% off, but is it necessary to go to this extend just to benefit from the sale? Well, to prepare ourselves for this shopping trip, we headed out of the house at 7.45am, so that we could reach one of the major shopping centre (Chermside) at 8.30am. As the driver, i was more worrried about not getting a carpark lot. The following picture is taken outside Myer (a store, something like Robinson) at 8.45am. Mind you, they're all caucasians. So you see, it is not just singaporeans who are kiasu. When/where there is a bargain, people would naturally become kiasu, it doesn't matter whether you're asian or caucasians. I guess it's in our genes. Homosapiens just can't resist a bargain.

Anyway, it was an experience for me. Even in singapore, i would never go shopping when there's a big sale, simply because it's too crowded. Why would i want to justle around with people, get pushed just to haggle for a dress that is 50% off? Geez. We proceeded to DFO near the airport as Chermside was simply too crowded for us. I didn't get much, but enough to make me abit broke for the month. Haaa.. But i finally managed to get my shoes for kor's solemnisation. Dark brown mary janes! Super high heels! lol... I'm so going to walk so damn slowly on that day. Haha.... However, i have to admit that when i bought that pair of shoes, the thought that i might be taller than kare did not cross my mind until i came home. I'm still abit shorter than yx when i wore the heels, so it should be alright. Heee... Sorry kare.. = )


Alright.... To end 2008--


Things have been good this year. I really want to thank God for everything. The major points would be i became a chistian, I graduated with a degree and proceeded on to doing my honours in my dream field, neuroscience. Doing what i love, researching on the brain has been my passion. So i'm really thankful that i met Nick, my supervisor, for giving me the opportunity to work with him and have such a great project to work on. Though i may complain at times when work took its toll, but i'm still enjoying my work. It has been great. Research is really what i want to do. The people i've met and knew in brissie, such as Makio, simon, nick, liz, jazzyman, jess, tim, tom, kirat, boiboi, glenn, felix, adeline, kat, louie, mishie etcetc.... it could never happen unless i came to brissie. Of course, i can't been doing all this/meeting new friends. study overseas/become independent without my parents. Where would i be without them? I'm really glad that pa's eye condition has improved greatly after the operation and medicine. And i hope mummy will still hang on and enjoy their couple time together before i go back home in july for good. Haha...= ))


I'm also really thankful for my girls, for we have taken care of each other, gone through SO much together, shared our joys and sadness together, conquered uni together. I've treated them like the sisters i never had. They're part of my family now, they're not my friends anymore. They're sisters now. We were always there for one another. = ))

All in all, this year had been really great. I couldn't ask for more.



Special message for kare-- Sweetie, thank you being 'there' for me, i could call you whenever i want. Sorry i can't be beside you, when you were in pain, sick, having troubles at work and tennis lessons/coaching and of course, when you're feeling emo. I'm coming back soon. Thank you being oh-so patient and understanding. No words can describe how much i want to thank you. = ) Love you lots. = *

photos uploaded @ http://picasaweb.google.com/esdilays11/

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Update

I've updated the photo albums 'Out and About' and loaded up the photos i took during the Lab retreat. = )

http://picasaweb.google.com/esdilays11/

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Really satisfied..

Yes. I cut my hair SHORT!

= )

Feels good... it's been a looooonnggggg time since i've short hair. The last time i had short hair was in primary 6. And that was 9 years ago!

Weather has been eccentric. One minute it's clear sky with the scorching sun roasting me. The next minute, it's thunderstorm, with heavy rain, deafening thunder, typhoon-like wind and purple lightning streaking among the dark clouds. The thunderstorm was so bad that the lights in the uni and the house were flickering whenever the lightning strikes nearby. When i mean near, i mean you hear the thunder while the lightning is still streaking across the sky.

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

How amazing is God?

Simon shared this video with me. I thought it was SO AMAZING!

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=152b5103d741aca61093

enjoy!

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Reliable Realist

Am i really a Reliable Realist (RR)?

Reliable Realists are down-to-earth and responsible-minded. They are precise, reserved and demanding. Their most prominent quality is reliability and they will always make every effort to keep any promise given. Reliable Realists are more quiet and serious persons, they do not talk a lot but they are good listeners. They sometimes seem reserved and distant to outsiders although they often have a great deal of wit and esprit. Their strong points are thoroughness, a marked sense of justice, doggedness bordering on pigheadedness and a pragmatic, vigorous and purposeful manner.

Reliable Realists do not dither about if something has to be done. They do what is necessary without wasting words. This personality type not only expects a lot of himself but also of others. Once Reliable Realists have set their mind on something, it is difficult to persuade them otherwise. They do not like to leave anything to chance. Planning means safety to Reliable Realists, as well as order and discipline. They have no problem respecting authorities and hierarchies but do not like to delegate tasks. They are certain that others would not deal with them as conscientiously as they do. In management positions, they are very task-oriented - they make sure that things are well done; however, they do not have a great deal of interest in personal contacts at work.

In relationships too, Reliable Realists are reliability itself. As partners, they are faithful and consistent, well-balanced and sensible. Security and stability are very important to them. They have little time for extravagances and flightiness. Whoever has them as friend or partner can rely on them for a lifetime. However, it takes quite a while for Reliable Realists to enter into a relationship or friendship. They have little need for social contacts; they therefore take great care when choosing partners and friends and limit themselves to a small but exclusive circle which meets their high demands. They tend to show their closeness to people who are important to them by deeds - their partner should rather not expect romantic declarations of love.

Adjectives which describe your typeintroverted, practical, logical, planning, tradition-conscious, organised, persistent, objective, tidy, conscientious, cautious, loyal, peace-loving, sensible, down-to-earth, responsible-minded, reserved, careful, independent, punctual, precise, demanding, ability to concentrate, trustworthy, pedantic, reliable, persevering

These subjects could interest you: literature, technical activities (model-making), voluntary work, music, trekking, camping, hiking, cooking, drawing/painting, handicraft work, writing, strategy games, politics.

http://ipersonic.com/

In my opinion, i think it's only 50% true. Of course, i can't judge myself because i am me. So what do you think?

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

missing you terribly..

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Baptism

Was going through my church's blog created by Keiyeng. The following was adapted from her entry on 17 oct (fri)... Thought it was meaningful to share with my non-christian readers, and also to help them understand why i got baptised and what does baptism mean...

What is Christian baptism?

Baptism isn’t magic. It doesn’t have any power in itself and it doesn’t make a person a Christian. Rather, it’s a symbol, a representation of the amazing and powerful things that God has done for a new Christian.

Baptism symbolises cleansing. Christians put their trust in Jesus to clean or wash away the shame, guilt, and penalty of our rebellion against God (which the Bible calls sin). Acts 22:16

Baptism also symbolises new life. Going under the water represents a Christian’s dying to their sin, and coming up out of the water represents Christians being raised to a new life of trusting and following Jesus – living with and for him, rather than for self. Romans 6:1-14

Again, baptism doesn’t make you saved by Jesus; rather it’s a way to show that you have been, through trusting in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us clearly that Jesus saves us by his initiating grace alone, not by ANY rite, ritual, or good work we do. So baptism is like a wedding ring – it’s the outward symbol of the already-present inner commitment of Jesus’ saving love for you and your response of love and obedience to Him.

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

I hate my mouth... it happened again.

I posted this entry on 12 march 2008...

"I think i'm hurting alot of people by what i sprouted out of my mouth. Sometimes, i see their hurt expressions on their faces and i feel really guilty. What am i to do now? I can't take back the words i said... all i can say is... sorry..."

..and sh**... my bloody mouth rattled off things again... without going through my puny brain.

I hate it. I hate to keep trying to say sorry and be forgiven. It sucks.

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

fuming mad

fuming mad with myself

i'll just shut up from now on.

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

A great loss, now it is only a memory -This is dedicated to you, my friend-

I never knew this is how i would feel after losing a treasured friendship. I never ever, and i mean NEVER EVER did i ever foresee that this was how it was going to be. Our whirlwind friendship... it only started last year, and it barely lasted a year.

However, all was not lost. I really treasured the chemistry, the good times that we had. I can never imagine that i would find a person so 'like' me. It was seriously 'Leong Ei Leen, but the male version'. Ok... i made him sound like a transsexual, maybe i'm the one like him, but in the female version. Why did things have to end in such an ugly way?

I pray to God, almost everyday, asking Him if i had made a huge mistake in taking a break from our friendship. I think about my biggest mistake almost everyday. I really miss the friendship that we had.

I knew it was not fair to him, but it was all i could think of to stop the mess from getting even messier. Things really got complicated and i really want to put a stop to it. I was tired from untangling all the knots, running away from the knots, giving the knots another chance, coming back to untangle more knots and running away again. Why did it have to become so complicated?

Why can't we just be really good and really close friends? Someone that i can turn to when i have problems, someone i can turn to for advice, someone to hang out with when i need company or when i'm bored, someone i can call to meet up for a quick lunch, someone i can meet up when i need a friend to talk to...

I think i lost one of the most precious finds that could ever be found. I know i should live with no regrets. But there's nothing i can do now. I can't turn back time. I can't erase the past. I just have to live with it.

My biggest regret.

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

I shouldn't--

I should not let these small little things get to me.

Why should i make myself unhappy/grouchy/moody/grumpy and also cause the people around me to be unhappy/feel gloomy/worried about me?

I shouldn't.

It's not worth it.

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo

Freaking out!!

Freaking out 1000000x!!!!

xoxo Ei Leen xoxo