Project Clean-up!

Today, I got myself a Toaster-Oven. So now I can look forward to nicely-toasted, crispy-edged toast for breakfast, or a quick-fix of baked chicken/fish, or muffins/cakes ((:

Now, guess how much I spent on it?

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Answer: ¥0

That's cos I didn't buy it, duh.

But before you call me cheapo, take a look at this and tell me if you'd pay a single yen for this.

Hahahaha ok let me start from the beginning. Somebody from my floor was throwing out stuff and this happened to be thrown out. I was planning to go out to get an oven-toaster today when lo and behold, I saw this alongside a sign that said "ご自由取ってください" (Please feel free to take). So when you're feeling poor and this happens to be a luxury good that you want and not need, you jump at the opportunity for freebies, don't you? Thank God, really! :D

And that -gestures to above picture- was the state it was in when I first laid eyes on it. I was really disgusted by it. Just look at the brown stains! And it was sticky and all. But aiya, free things normally don't come nicely packaged for you, do they?

But after 3hours, 2 sponges, a ragcloth, an aching back and legs, coarse and dried hands and a headache, this is the final product of Project Clean-up!

Tada! I worked hard for it okay! Well, it's not really as sparkly as it looks (because of flash), but the darn thing has really been transformed. It still smells a little funny but whatever, it works and that's what matters. I'll need a new tray for it so I'll go get that tomorrow and then I can finally start baking :D :D :D

I can't tell you how Extremely satisfied I am with the end-result although it has left me exhausted. But it sure does make your day beautifying something so ugly.

This is how God sees us. We are all stained by sin, and would probably be deemed as trash by others, but if we allow Him, He can turn us into sparkling gems. Mother Teresa attended specifically to people who were sick, diseased and outcasted. Jesus said, "'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'" (Luke 5:31-32) Similarly, Jesus came to Earth to attend to the sick (AKA us) specifically. How can we not love Him who loves us so dearly when we are living in a world so full of hate, in a world where friends backstab each other, in a world where our neighbours are so cold and uncaring, in a world where it's so hard to find true friends? How can we not see His Love in this Era of Hate? It's funny how people flock to places with free gifts, but not to the ultimate Source of Love that is Eternal even though it's free and without any T&Cs.

Outburst of thoughts.

Anyway, exams are finally over! And this marks the official start of Summer Break although it's just a pathetic 2 weeks =\ The whole dorm feels so empty because everyone's going back home ): I don't really have anything planned for this break with the exception of Homestay. So I guess I'll just take this time to rest well and do stupid stuff that I've always longed to do but couldn't, heh :D

Rythmn of Life.

I think there are points in our lives that we absolutely dreaded at that moment and later on looked back and smiled at the memories.

I know I do.

In fact, that sums up my life.

Primary School// okay, I didn't absolutely hate Primary School but towards the end of it, I was in a class where I didn't like much. But I still had good friends that kept Primary School life fun and exciting. And guess what? They are still very much a part of my life even now - Ruth and Zi Ying (: I cannot express how glad I am that I'm still in touch with them 8 years on and that we can still meet up and start where we left off, talking about literally everything under the sun. We've had our ups and our downs, but what matters most is where we are now. You guys have been so supportive and so sweet in every way. Priceless (:

Secondary School// I was really really reluctant to go to StNicks. On PSLE Day, Shauna told me to apply for SN with her and so I did. (yeah, I'm easily swayed I know). Then, I didn't get into the same class as her - in fact, I knew noone in my Secondary 1 class on Day 1 while people around were acknowledging each other. It was such a rotten, stomach-twisting episode for me. I remembered I cried on Day 1 during recess because I felt so alone. To add to that, Shauna later told me that she was going to migrate to Australia after Sec 1. At that time, it was like.. Great. I come to the same school as you because you asked me to, and now you're leaving me alone to go to Australia?! People who know me well know that I'm not the most sociable person around. To quote Sherhan, the first time she talked to me, I was like some monotone depressed person. But the most important thing I got out of Secondary School is a bunch of close girlfriends. They are definitely keepers (:

JC// I spent the last few hours before I had to decide on my final choice of school deliberating and deliberating for so long with Yan Ling. I chose AJ initially mainly because it was near my house. Then when I finally decided to stick to AJ in the second round of choosing, I chose it because I had already spent 3 months there and I'm not a big fan of changes and adaptations. There are so many things that happened in JC that makes me nostalgic every time I think about them. Of course, there are things I liked, things I hated in JC life. But now, looking back at it all, including the mugging and the high stress levels during 'A Level' period, I can proudly say that I would never have changed my choice of going to AJ if I could. 3206 is the most interesting mix of people we can find and we have stuck together even after graduation. Although there might come a day when we will all forget each other, but I know the memories of JC will stay with us forever. As we always say when we catch up "I miss JC days". I love 3206 with a heart. Besides 3206, AJ was also the place where I met Eric. If I didn't go there, I wouldn't have met him and found such a gem. Simple as that (:

It's funny how God works. You think God's making you miserable at that point of time in your life when you think you're at your lowest, but later, you see how they all fall into place with each other. That's when you realise the wonder of God.

Everything happens for a reason.

This thought crossed my mind yesterday when I was thinking about home. And it reminded me so strongly to not always complain about my circumstances because I know no matter what happens, there'll be a point in time maybe 5 or 10 years later when I'll look back and miss the good and the bad.

We can only live in a moment once in our lives. There's no remote control to rewind or fast forward. We can only make the best of where we are. We should allow our moods to affect our circumstances and not let our circumstances affect our mood.

Everything's crashing back to me like a wave.

Time and tide really waits for no man.

Bagel Love!

Feel like eating bagels all of a sudden.

Had Starbucks today. Mmmmm Matcha Cream omg it's so deliciousssss. The cream in Japan is somehow not cloyingly disgusting, and so rich and creamy LOL. Aiya it's just different from the cream in Singapore lah. That's saying alot, all those who know me well will know that I hate cream. Try cream the next time you come to Japan :D

Went out with Yuki today. She treated me to dinner and I treated her to Starbucks! We had helluva fun camwhoring at Starbucks. The Starbucks was awesome la. It had this corner where you can listen to music. And the ambience was just nice. Photos when she uploads them! :D

Well, well, this brightened up my day alot! Like 3 days ago.

Hahahaha good effort, BBF, for trying to write my name in Japanese ((:

As Xiwen says, thank God for BBF. (well, for her case is BFF, but different people what. That's why BBF only got one!) :D

` Veronica said (12:03 AM) says:
and i think i'll hate my kids' husband or wife

charmine / Time Traveller's Wife. says:
huh why you dont even have kids yet and you think so far alr LOL

` Veronica says:
lol interesting thoughts leh LOL!

charmine / Time Traveller's Wife. says:
hahahaha okok then we'll make our kids fall in love with each other ok? so we can be in laws

`Veronica said (12:06 AM):
wah! i like that idea`
seriously, im giving it a serious thought
lol

charmine / Time Traveller's Wife. says:
ahahaha

` Veronica said (12:07 AM):
this is so cute.
lol!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA this is what BBFs are for (:

Ah, I really love nights. It's the time when I get to catch up with family, Eric and friends (:

Thank God a million times over for family and friends! :D

The joke of the day - (Only TanYi'En can come up with such nonsense :D)

yien says:
eh u still can speak english?
uh what u mean???!

charmine / Time Traveller's Wife. says:
duhhhh

yien says:
haha yeah
NOT SURE LAH

charmine / Time Traveller's Wife. says:
what am i speakin now?!

yien says:
we guess she got.
just checking ifyou're using dictionary
maybe u cannot speak out from ur mouth

charmine / Time Traveller's Wife. says:
haha nonsense!
i speak alot of english and chinese every day more than jap actually thats why my jap not improving!

yien says:
REA::U
CHEY thought u becoming pro
who u speak to?
yourself?!?!?!

All the craze!

Hello there!

Update on my room! It's really come quite close to to being a fully-furnished Home now. Heh I have a fridge, a landline phone, a rice cooker, pots & pans, a electric stove, a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, a balcony (if you could call it that), a fan and the latest addition - a tv! Wahaha no it's not really a tv, per se. It's this antennae thing that I connect to my laptop so I can watch TV without incurring the opportunity cost of taking up space in my room with a literal TV. Well well, I would never have imagined it would be possible to squeeze all the essentials in a house into a 9 sq metres room. And the best thing is I DO still have walking space (: Now, tell me how is it possible that I will want to spend time away from my comfy home? Not to mention resisting the temptation every single moment when I'm in the room to turn on the computer to watch TV. Sometimes, being fully equipped with material goods isn't always a blessing.

Oh, and I found overdued photos!


This was Salmon Sashimi, some beehoon thingy, and the one at the background of the photo (can't see it properly though) is... Chicken Sashimi. Yes, like half-raw chicken.


Can anyone guess what's this?

Don't freak out. This is.. Horse Sashimi. Yucks, right! I couldn't bear to even put it in my mouth but I was pressurized and obligated into trying it ): I don't ever want to go near it again.

Yea, this was about a month back I should think so. How can I miss out something so exciting right! Haha ohwell, just caught up with school and stuff.

Speaking of which, had my JLPT yesterday. I don't know why Japan likes to put national exams on Sundays, of all days. Meaning no holidays, and no breaks from over-studying! I studied rather hard (not going to say 100% though because I know I didn't put in my 100%) for it but I still managed to screw up here and there. But all to God, shall not let it get to me.

Today I cooked something very exciting! Haha word of the day: exciting. Okay la, not really that exciting but something that made my evening.


Tada!

It's mapo tofu.. it's curry... no, it's KIMCHI SOUP!

It's really delicious okay! Although it's only my first attempt at it :D Seriously, if you like kimchi, you should try it! Anyone interested can ask me for the recipe (: Mix it with rice and you get a scrumptious and simple dinner. It took less than 15mins to cook it. Definitely going to cook it more because soups are the easiest and most convenient to cook! Next, I'm going to try bibimbap (ban4 fan4) :D Don't know what's the crazy over Korean food but I guess I just wanted spiciness in my food. Japanese food is hardly spicy, while Korean food is mostly spicy.

Recently I've been craving for Singapore food alot. Like, there was this cultural festival last weekend and I heard that someone was going to sell Pandan Waffles (omg). The Pandan Waffle that I love so much! And I was all ready to spend 600yen+ on just travelling to go there and try it. But as usual, the logical Me said I was crazy and that I had to study for my test and not waste my time and money to go so far just to eat something that I could find everywhere in Singapore. Sigh. The worst thing is most of the things I crave from home cannot be sent over ): I could probably list out 100things I'm craving for on my CRAVINGS list on the right but I shouldn't because it's plain dumb. I should just write - everything from Singapore. Yep, pretty much sums it up. Plus the people.

Missed AGPC yesterday when watching last month's sermon. Miss the worship, miss the crazy people, miss the fellowship, miss the sermons, miss Sunday School, miss the Love. Then, I was thinking how different it would be when I go back. New faces, probably missing of some familiar faces due to studyin abroad and what not. Then, a verse striked me.

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

I was thinking to myself, this is so true. I never fully realised the meaning of this sentence until yesterday. The world tells you that noone is indispensable. Okay, that's fair enough, because noone will die just because you're not in this world anymore. You shouldn't have that sort of importance to bring about a death. But the verse means this: Although noone is indispensable, but each and everyone is important in forming that one body, that one unit. It's not the end of the world when a loved one passes away, but you'll always feel that something is missing from your life no matter how much time has elapsed. Like, if you lose your pinkie. No matter how useless you think your pinkie is, when you lose it, your hands just look weird, and your grip would probably be less firm than if it was there. What I'm trying to say is that, each and every one of us is important in being a part of someone's life. No matter how small you think you are, you'll always be that missing link when you're gone.

Another verse was revealed to me when I was at my darkest, most vulnerable that I hope would serve as an encouragement to all who are feeling weak, down, defeated by life right now.

12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I have really come to think that the best way to bear out the worst situations is to find something to be thankful about - even the smallest thing. That way, every situation will look more hopeful and you'll have the strength to get through it. The keyword is: content. Contentment. And knowing that when you're weak, you will always have His Strength to get you through whatever you're facing. That is what I call a blessing.

Hope to find everyone good! (:

♥, char