Friday, June 10, 2005 12:18 a.m.
Just came back about half an hour ago from Goose Queen's near just outside of Derby's Square in town. Goose's is a bar and after an hour of walking around earlier around Albert Dock. Initially we wanted to go to the Dock to look for a pub or bar to settle in for some initial Liverpool nightlife. Turns out the Dock was just another place for dinner and dining. Not really bars and pubs. So we found ourselves walking in one circle and finally settling down at Goose's.
The up side of this is that today the sun set really late... say about near to 10.15pm it still looked like it was going to be 7.30pm in Malaysia. So we had a pleasant walk up and down the streets and managed to take some great photos while getting blown by some cold air from Mersey riverside. Was a bit irritated for going so far and not doing anything but what the heck, I got to see some nice ships docked and got to see some cool souvenier shops with a lot of Liverpool FC merchandise and etc so that made up for it, plus the nice sunset. I suddenly saw the moon in the evening sky and was hit by a feeling of homesickness all of a sudden. In Malaysia, the moon made me feel safe. Here, the moon reminded me that no matter what... I am still a foreigner here and I want to return to my homeland. I love Malaysia despite my growing fondness for the UK in the summer :)
We ordered the first round of drinks at Goose's for 5 pounds for 5 bottles of Carlsberg. I took about half a bottle and liked it very much. Back home in Malaysia, the beer is bitter like anything but here... it's S-W-E-E-T!!! Found myself finishing the bottle in no time and staring at the empty glass wistfully. So we got some chips and ordered the second round whereby we got a mix of other stuff - Vodka, Carlsberg and other brands of beer and mixed alcohol. Another round of chips followed that and the third round and fourth round of alcohol followed suit. Found myself liking Vodka alot tonight.
The interesting part of it all was watching some individuals begin to get drunk as we began to drink steadily. I began to feel a bit warm and there was a slight buzz in my brains after another Carlsberg at the last round. By that time, one of the guys was already red in the face and even his ears were bright red. Not to mention the whites of his eyes turning bloodshot red too. The girls were starting to talk louder and I was amused to see all these changes. Finally, the bar was closing at 11.20pm so we had to leave.
By then, I was outside earlier by 5 minutes to let the cold wind revive me. I wasn't drunk but the alcohol was begging to take over my brains. Thank God I managed. I do have alcohol tolerance but haven't been drinking for a while so that would explain the buzz in my head that time. As we were starting to make our way across the pavement, three guys (say in their late 20s) suddenly approached us and asked us if we would like to take their picture. Weird... isn't it? They didn't even want us to email the pic to them. Obviously, they were drunk and out for a lark. Luckily no harm came to us and a nice picture of these blokes are now in our collection of photos. Will paste the photos up later and describe it in detail. I need to accompany one of the guys and talk to him ... wait a minute... I'm back!! He's gone back to his room.
Where was I? Oh yeah, after we left the three drunk blokes of Liverpool then my groups started acting up. One girl began to walk like a bird with her arms outstretched ready to fly, two girls were walking and sharing one sweater while singing Cantonese songs from Goose's all the way back to my hall of residence and one of the guy was beginning to talk really loud and making sense at the same time (a scary kind of drunkenness I reckon). Me and another guy were walking behind this motley crew with some other sober ones laughing and getting horified at the same time. I'll say it again, thank God for my tolerance of alcohol!
Half way on the way, the group was getting louder and louder and I was getting more worried. Although some of them assured us they were not drunk... fact is, they were. Red like chilis in the face, man!
Note to self: Drink but don't do so many rounds. Order vodka, not pure beer.
All right, here are some photos for y'all to see from tonight:
Drinks that we had just now
Cheers!!!
Look for REALLY red faces.
The three blokes who approached us...>_<
And thus ends a nice night of drinking for the whole lot of us. Those who were slightly on the "happy side" are now happily asleep and I'm here blogging about it. All's well that ends well so they say. I'm feeling comfortably warm from the alcohol running through me veins now and I reckon I'll sleep soundly. Must KIV myself to not have so many rounds, I might not be so lucky to stay sober the next time. I just hope my coursemates don't wake up with hangovers.
Thursday, June 9, 2005 12:43 a.m.
I am now typing on my new laptop that I rented from Student Click that offers rental services to university students at discounted rates. I also just installed my internet connection in my room which is super cool now because I can go online anytime I want :)
One of the things I like about my university is the way things are arranged and handled. It's efficient and fast over here and really I feel appreciated as a student of the university unlike my college. Sometimes, it feels like its such a BIG favour when the TAR College clerk helps you check some information! But here at Liverpool John Moore's, I feel that I'm treated extremely well. Moreover the study environment is conducive. Classes are kept small and my lecturers seem eager to teach us as we're the first batch for my course.
What is the most interesting part of liverpool so far? It's the accent most definitely! It took some time for the first few days to get used to it, but now I'm enjoying it. The scouse accent is quick and light, something that is new to me. In fact, I've been practising it for these past few days and today managed to deliver an all right accent in my room which clearly succeeded in irritating my flatmate Ai Choo aka the Pig *snicker* Not that I'm not Malaysian anymore, but there's nothing wrong really to learn another accent for entertainment's sake now is there?
One of the rules we learnt here at Marybone where we stay is to NOT cook until it creates alotta smoke. That's because it triggers off the smoke alarm very quickly and the local firestation responds immediately by sending firetrucks over and they aren't happy at all if it's just a normal false alarm. We saw three trucks come two days ago and we were watching how the fireman was pissed off and foaming at the mouth at students. I found out today it was a bunch of Indian students had set off the alarm by cooking curry! For my apartment we've used plastic to wrap around the smoke detector to avoid any alarms from ringing.
I volunteered to be course representative with another coursemate Sher Ai so that should be interesting since I've never been that active in leadership in my course. But it puts me in more contact with people and my lecturers which I look forward to. I do intend to participate more here in the UK and with the hectic schedule they have for our studies here, I can be sure that I will be extremely busy. Thank God I can still blog!
We're going to the Walker Musuem and the Liverpool Musuem tomorrow and the Planetatrium in the afternoon. It should be interesting because the latter musuem was just renovated about 3 weeks ago, so we'll be seeing more stuff I reckon :)
Here are some photos people, enjoy...
Me and the girls in front of the Liver Building which is near the Mersey Riverside. Nice blue skies with some chilling air...
The Liver Building at night...
Anyone fancy any crunchy friend chicken near Chinatown?
Omelette ingredients before cooking it. Our first proper dinner (one part of it, that is)
For all you Starwars fans out there :)
The Everton FC homefield!!!
Uh oh... fire truck alert!!!
Tuesday, June 7, 2005 05:11 p.m.
I am now typing from a network computer in the University library called the Avril Robarts building which is near where I stay at the Marybone Project. Incidently, anyone who wishes to mail anything to me (postcards, snailmail and stuff):
Room 25D,
Marybone Project
14, Marybone
Liverpool L3 2BX
United Kingdom
Anyone who wishes for me to send mail / postcards in return to them can email me at babylonixa0206@yahoo.com
It's been quite an exciting few days in Liverpool so far. I arrived jet lagged for the first two days, forced myself to sleep and wake according to local time which left me with migraines. The weather was freezing (for us) upon arrival but now I've slowly gotten accustomed to it and sometimes I don't wear my sweater to walk around my residence.
We visited numerous places which I will post pictures another time with their introduction notes and can safely say I've covered about 75% with my coursemates on FOOT. So there, I have managed to exercise alot every evening after dinner. The cold helps, I think I lost some weight from the cold and adjusting to the conditions here. Did I mention how much I love the cheese and milk here?
Nyways, need to go home and cook dinner tonight. It's my turn. Will blog again soon. Bye!
Kheng Hoe, email me your house address. Will send u snail mail or snail cards, I promise!
Friday, June 3, 2005 07:34 a.m.
Dear people,
I am now sitting comfortably with very sore eyes from lack of sleep watching the sun climb higher and higher into the sky at KLIA. Strangely enough, we both feel numb and are not that excited about Liverpool yet. I guess we're both too worn out to notice anything. I woke up on Thursday at 8am and have been awake until right now right through the wee hours of the morning with the likes of Connie, Michelle and Monica.
Don't worry you guys, life is tough but I'm made of tough stuff too. I will miss everyone from World Harvest Church, especially you, Monica because you really are a dear friend and leader to me. I know you didn't say much yesterday and this morning but I know that the effort you took to help me move my heavy luggage, getting up to send me at 5am just now, praying for me and that warm and brief hug before we bid farewell... you are missing me. I will miss you too *teardrop* Those of you who were up with me during the night - Connie and Michelle- thanks you guys. I really miss you so much and it was cool that we could spend those last few hours together laughing and singing together:) Will remember it forever!
To the rest - I will miss you all. I know it's just for three months, but for someone who loves her family, friends and country as much as I do... it hurts like mad right now. I'm just thankful that I'm so tired that my emotions are temporarily switched off.
Stay tuned for more...
Friday, May 27, 2005 10:48 p.m.
In less than a week, I will be packing up my bags, boarding a plane on June 3rd at 1030 hours and fly for Liverpool, England to do my three months summer course in Liverpool John Moores University.
Strangely enough, I do not feel that bubbling excitement I expected to be in my heart. Instead, my heart is preoccupied with others things that do not seem related to UK at the moment. I am thinking of the move of God, salvation of Man, improving my leadership abilities in spiritual matters and cherishing the people around me in my life. The thought of going to UK most of the time creates a lump in my throat because I'm already beginning to miss the faces of so many friends I have around me here in KL alone.
I know it's just three months, but to pluck myself out even for this short time to a totally new place and start afresh in an environment where I'm not shielded and protected by my leaders... I can on be one thing - MYSELF. I can only pray that God will guide me with His wisdom and lead me in His ways at Front Line Church in Liverpool. I feel His leading that this UK study stint will change me inside out even for three months only. My destination is Front Line, and I intend to arrive there, settle down and learn to hear from God there as well.
I will miss you all. I will indeed. Soon I won't be able to call any of you anytime I like because I'm in UK. No longer will I be able to just take an LRT and meet up for lunch or have a nice night out at the nearby mamak stall. I am cherishing every moment I'm having now. I'm going through the memories even as I speak now.
I miss you.
Monday, May 16, 2005 08:30 p.m.
I haven't been blogging for quite some time and I do feel like apologising to everyone who have still been visiting my blog faithfully in hopes of catching a glimpse of what's been going on. Besides the fact that I was too lazy... I was also busy seeking God's guidance on some matters in my life, changing major areas in my life and coping with some personal problems.
I'm not afraid to tell you guys about this, in fact, my mind is pretty made up and I feel at ease actually as I say this. I find that after a lot of thinking (and a helpful word from shannon) I have embraced the notion that I have always been stalling and running away from all this while... that I am called into full-time ministry.
I know some will roll their eyes and tell me to calm down. Some will even ask me to reconsider what I'm getting myself into. But what can you say when you keep getting dreams from God telling you the urgency to serve Him and just last night... a dream where He personally imparted the anointing of a leader into your very being through a book ?
I know if I wanted, desired, I could get a good job in the world. I could go into writing, I could teach, I could be a salesperson or even go into other fields of science. But yet, inside, the struggle is on. I can't deny the fact that everytime I start to work in a job, even if the salary is great... I feel an ache inside of me. But when I'm out there preaching the good news, when I set aside those worldly cares and concentrate on serving God... everything falls into place and there is such a satisfaction and strong desire to do nothing but that. It tells me so much of what I want to do for the rest of my life!
To be honest with all of you, the idea of serving full-time has always been there. I just thought I was too fired up and got emotional and was jumping to conclusions. But the more I ran, the more pained I felt inside. The more I avoided the topic, the more dreams I would get about going out for a mission for God. The more I tried to convince myself that my job at UM was great and paid well, the more I felt like quitting it and living a simple life serving God.
Is that how people feel when they are called? I understand callings come in different ways for people. If someone were to ask me how do I know, I would be forced to reply with four words only, "I just know it."
At this point, I don't wish to convince anyone I am called. Only time will tell if I really am. It's God's assignment for me and I can't mistake His call or run from it anymore.
All I ask now is for prayer support and a word of advice.
Saturday, May 7, 2005 01:58 p.m.
Sometimes it doesn't depend on how unique your actions are when you want to reach out to people. Sometimes it just takes our willingness to take the iniative to care. If you aren't even willing to take the iniative, you won't see anything happen.
God wants to enter your boat like He did when He stepped into Peter's fishing boat. Are you willing?
Testimonies of Christ don't come from talented people or people with greatness in their lives. It just takes a willing heart and spirit that obeys the call of God in that particular life.
Anger comes from a need that is not met inside of you, therefore that particular anger is let out to punish the thing or person who you think did not meet that need inside of you. When we get angry, stop and ask yourself, "What need inside of me has not been met yet?" That need you think of is yet another area you need to surrender to Jesus. Any other thing, food, drink, activity, person or situation you do to fulfill that need is just a poor substitute because Jesus is the answer.
If you get angry, you'd better be smart enough to recognise it's a need that needs to be surrendered to Christ. "Be angry, sin not," there is a way to manage anger. Not by being ignorant or cool about it, putting that anger aside and forgetting about it isn't addressing the issue. It's just plain running from it.
