It's been busy so haven't been updating much... but I feel I ought to. Just to let everyone know I am happy and well :)
Click here for photos!
PhD: Progressing nicely now. What a relief! I enjoy working at the Chemcentre, the facilities are pristine and everything so clean and organised. Makes lab work such a pleasure. I like the laid back government vibe... morning teas are essential and lunch breaks are an hour long opportunity to socialise.
Despite all that... it is not easy! It's probably just that the monotony of labwork distracts me from other pressing PhD problems! I am still very stressed and overworked, but I am learning how to manage my time more wisely. We all need wisdom in our lives...
Family: Love them all so much and it was such a joy to be reunited with my brother who came back to visit after his BMT, and my father who showed up at our doorstep unexpectedly. Spot the brother!! hint - he has the most winsome smile :) hahah
Sister and mother are graduating soon and so they are busy job hunting. Sister might be getting a position up near Geraldton. Which is quite a distance away from us, but at least we know she can hop in her car and drive a couple of hours to be with us if she ever needs. Wishing them both the best of luck with their job search, and hopefully they will get jobs that they can serve other people, and will be happy and productive in.
Andrew: Is absolutely wonderful :) Last night I was stressing about some statistics that had to be sorted out for a paper that I am resubmitting. And he made me feel so much better by lending me his copy of "Probability and statistics: For Engineers and Scientists". He quite happily pointed out that it was written for scientists... as well as engineers.
I am getting along well with his family, for which I am very grateful. I hosted and planned his brother's 21st birthday party. Somehow managed to organise a murder mystery night with all his friends despite the fact I had never met any of them before. But it all worked out and I even got a chance to know his brother's girlfriend a bit better that night. It took a lot of interrogation but she caved in the end :)
God: I feel I have been maturing as a Christian in the past 2 years or so... and people I have to thank most include my dearest Joy, Anna and Wenny who have been the greatest encouragement to me. It is such a comfort to know that we are safe and secure in the Lord and we will meet again one day. Even though we hardly see each other now, we have an eternity to be together! Mandy has also been a great sister in Christ and a mentor to look up to. She has shown genuine care and concern for me over the past 2.5 years and she has been the greatest blessing... making sure I stay faithful to God and his will for me. She has also encouraged me to start Christian training to lead and follow up with new Christians, and that has been incredibly helpful to me as well. And most of all, I have God to thank for his grace and his provision in my life. I feel so blessed :)
Social life: Oh... for the want of a free weekend! The weekends have been packed full with all manner of things. Laser tag, city to surf, sister's birthday, wedding, emo themed 22nd birthday, Anthony's murder mystery, end of Ramadan dinner, and church camp... But the thing is that all these events happen to be with some very good friends and I just can't bring myself to say "no". So anyway... Andrew and I have decided to go on an alcohol ban until Dec 1st. Because we had 2 weekends of inebriation in a row and we have learned the hard way that we are not as young as we used to be!
Travel: Might be doing Melbourne in December with Andrew, both inner city and the wineries. It depends on whether he can get leave or not so cross fingers and hope!
Also my daddy has asked me to go back to Singapore a bit earlier so I can be there with him and mummy, plus some other things he might want me to do... so cross fingers and hope for that too!!
I am in need of a very very long, relaxing holiday! Ok... now it's back to work... till next time...