Helping Venilale, East Timor

A pic of my colleagues and I.

We had to take this pic to include in an upcoming edition for the newspaper, under the supplement "Know Your Local Trader".

(Left to right): Tarsha Souter (work experience journalist), Me, Elise Turner (advertising), Dianne Jenkins (layout and design), Lynn Plummer (administration), Carmel (advertising) and Steve (journalist).

I had to cover an after-hours event today.

It was one of several fund-raising events to help Venilale, an area in East Timor.

The Mansfield Shire (the area where I work) signed a friendship agreement with Venilale in May this year agreeing to implement several initiatives to help them.

The first was an exchange teacher from Venilale, Pedro Maria de Sousa, who arrived 3 weeks ago and is learning teaching techniques that he could pass on to his colleagues.

When I left home at 7pm to drive to Mansfield, hubby had this queer look on his face as I said bye at the main door. I think its a furrowed brow look, a worried look. I think he'll still look that way until I return home. Quite cute though that he's worried abt me - very touched!..... =O)

Returned home at 9.45pm, quite tired but happy with the photos I took and the write-up I have in mind.

It was strange though at the event when the Venilale teacher, Pedro, was making his speech.

Even hearing his accented English made me feel at home, like it was something familiar. I think being away from an environment that has many languages, hearing only English sometimes leaves me wanting more.

Stepping into the office and greeted by FISH!

*pics of Fish running around so much it was difficult for me to get snaps of her. my colleague tried to pat her to get her to stay still. These were abt the only successful shots I have of her*

What can make one happier than to start the working day with a warm lick and jumps up your leg? One of the guys in the workshop 2 doors away just had a new Jack Russell puppy called Fish. She's only 10 weeks old but so cute and she loves walking away from her owner and just jumping up at me and coming to our office. I love her! And I love the irony of her name - Fish! Heehee..... =O) When her owner tried to get her to follow him back to his workshop today, she bit him (not painful cos its still baby teeth) and then barked at him. She didn't want to go....awwww! sweet!!! =O)

I watched Frasier last nite with hubby and it was the episode of Frasier's dad going to a school to do some road safety lessons with his dog, Eddie. And Eddie was just so cute! And I was telling hubby about Fish!

Yesterday's seminar at Wangaratta was good. We learnt about how we should be careful, defamation laws, style of writing, and many legal cases were raised of how some journalists were sued and the arguments in the case.

Some of the new things I learnt was and which I thot were interesting:

• In one example, during one local election (much smaller scale than state elections), one elector (resident of the area) was very frustrated with one councillor that he went and printed a mock-up of a Qantas airticket. He wrote down all the frequent flyer trips he made and he made 2 other mock-ups of other things too and distributed them to other residents. Anyway, this councillor then brought him to court for defaming him. Thing is, in elections, under the democratic process, anything (true or false) could be said against a politician. The judge basically said that the politician was fair go. Wow, talk about a liberal process.....now I know!
• Even though I have a digital voice recorder, I have to ask the person I interview permission to record the interview and not assume that he should know that since he's speaking to a journalist, that it is being recorded. My other journalist colleague (its juz 2 of us) told me that I could make that assumption initially which he heard from one of the editor from the head office. But big bosses yesterday said we must state, to cover ourselves.

I enjoyed the session even though it was fairly long. But boy, the driving was tough. I don't have passengers in my car ever, except Phill, so when I had to drive my colleague and I to the Wangaratta office, I was really nervous. And after nearly 3 hours of driving, I was badly cramping on my right side. My shoulders and arms were really hurting. At one point driving down the country road, I veered too much to the left. I was frustrated with myself but later on realised that cos I was cramped badly on my right that I may have over-compensated on my left when steering.

I've got a major story on my hands today cos my colleague came in to tell my co-journalist and I about it. I was chasing this story since last week when she first told me so its my story. Anyway, I was pretty pissed off with my co-journalist cos when he heard the news that the "rumour" is confirmed, he called the chief editor straight away and told him about it, etc, and then when he put down the call, he asked who I've called so far, knowing full well I've been chasing the story since last week. He said the chief editor said it mite be a cover story or page 3 story. So without batting an eyelid, I asked him, "Are you doing the story now?".

I think he turned red for abit and said no. My colleague who gave us the story and him then were nice enough to suggest people I could interview.

Reason I was pissed off was cos yesterday, he had to go up the school to cover a story at 10.30am and anyway, at 11.10am, he realised he forgot all about it and asked me to go. I was not v happy cos now it will appear I was late. I offered to drive him there but he said he can't make it cos he's tied up. And now, cos this story that my colleague is giving us is turning out to be major, he wants to do it? Makes me think he only wants to do the important stories and leave the other stories to me. Hmph!

If this carries on for another month or so, I'll need to speak to him about it.

Oh, oh.....

It was a good time hanging out with my colleagues last night. We talked abt many things, from whether a lady should change to her married surname, cancer, the dangers of smoking (only 2 other colleagues and I do not smoke. one quit recently through hynoptism), about our competition - the other paper in our town - and general stuff. And this was over 5 small-medium pizzas (it fed us all), wine, beer and soft drinks (courtesy of me cos I'm allergic to alcohol).

Two bosses came over for the end-of-financial year party, one was the general manager and the other was the sales manager.

When talking abt wives who do or do not adopt their husband's surname, the general manager said he read some stats previously that marriages where the wives do not adopt their husband's surname are twice as likely to end in divorce than those who do. Like he explained, it may sometimes be an indication that the wife is a headstrong woman which may lead to problems later on in the marriage.

We talked from 5pm-8.30pm. It was my first company gathering and it was fun!!!

However, I did not do something which made me regret the whole night. I did not call hubby to say I'll be later home. I had told him I'll be home about 7pm so when I did not arrive home by then, he called me on my mobile several times. When I did reach home at like 8.50pm, he told me he had called me. I apologised and promised to call him in future. I did think about calling him but somehow thought that I'll be heading home soon and as time went on, it got later and later.....arrrggghhh! He was so nice about it, it made me feel bad for making him worry.

This is where I work...

The above pic is the building where I work, actually more like the left half of the building. The other half is made up of a printing shop and a pump shop.

And my office is just next to the police station which means I feel rather safe cos potential criminals won't be so inclined to make trouble just next to the police station!!! And the post office is next door to the police station and that's where I go nearly everyday to pick up my mail and that wonderful telephone connector thing to my digital voice recorder ~~~ YEAH!!!

I'm going off to a full-dress rehearsal at Mansfield Primary School in 1.5 hours' time as some kids from the school will be heading to Melbourne this weekend for a musical performance. I gotta cover it for the paper so I gotta go but it should be fun. Its from 12pm-3pm though and I doubt I'll be staying for that whole period. Maybe just one entire run of the performance which is about 4-5 mins long.

I have to go to the company's HQ at Wangaratta tomorrow afternoon for a training session. Both my colleague, Steve, and I have to be there at 2pm so we gotta start off at 12.30pm. Yes, it takes 1.5 hours to drive there and another 1.5 hours back. By the time I drive back, it'll be really dark and I HATE to drive in the dark cos I'm not a great driver at the moment. There are no streetlights cos its too expensive to light up the entire countryside, only reflectors on the road.

But something to look forward to this afternoon is that 2 bosses from HQ are coming over to bring our papers for us (we're supposed to pick up the papers once a month - other times, the Wangaratta staff helps us with the delivery) cos our newspapers are printed there and they're having a pizza and beer night here!! No beer or wine for me but pizza!!! I think I'll buy my own Coke!!!

Watched a UK show on Sun nite - "You Are What You Eat". Very scary....a nutritionist shows a person each episode how much they consume each week and its usually unhealthy, no-vegetables kinda diet. After watching that show on Sun, hubby asked me if I wanted some chocolates. I was so freaked out, I said, "No thanks, I think I'll have an orange instead."....then again, it'll wear off soon and I'll be back to my chips, chocs and soft drinks sometimes diet......=P

Happiness and Relief!

Can one be so happy over something so minor.

The result of quite a few nightmares whilst I was still in Singapore, I sure am glad I've got it settled.

I was unsettled when I had not bought my digital voice recorder, an essential item in my job as a journalist but when I realised I needed a set of wires to connect my recorder to the telephone, I panicked.

Calling up several stores around the area where I am in Australia did not bear fruit until I was told by a shop owner in Shepparton that my last resort will be an online store in Adelaide!!! So I did the dutiful, enquired online, was told if it does not work, I'll get a refund, placed my order and waited for the beautiful little package to arrive.

It did, this morning. I was really nervous getting it all connected. At the back of my mind was the thought it may not work. But it did!

Who would have thot a small device like that will cost so much A$97!!!



But the main thing is it works and I can now conduct my phone interviews in peace, knowing that I don't have to scribble like a madwoman..... =O) And most importantly, I have evidence if someone says I misrepresented him/her in my article.

Cold, cold, cold....brr!

Drove out of our (or rather, my parents-in-law) 22 acre property this morning and there was ice on the field near the fence (which is like 500m away from the house). Only then did I know how cold it really was although I thot previous mornings felt colder. Maybe I've gotten used to the cold? I hope so!!!

Getting out of bed and taking a shower isn't as painfully difficult as it is now. I use to switch on the heater too whilst in the bathroom but not today. Maybe I'm training myself.
Its 1.35pm at work now (2 hours ahead of Singapore) and I feel like there are still so many stories to write and no time (!!!) and I've got the lazy bug going and I can't write anything or rather, don't want to write anything.

I slept for like 9.5 hours last night but cos I haven't slept well the past few nights, maybe it was sleep recovery so the effects is wearing off now and I feel like I would like to go to bed....zzzzz!
I have 3.5 hours away from leaving work, just had my lunch but definitely feel like either a Mars or a Snickers bar but just read a press release that the company is producing more Mars and Snickers bars to New South Wales (NSW) cos they recently recalled some 3 million of them.

Made me have second thots for a few seconds but I think my cravings will win over that and I'll be trotting (yup, will be a pig soon if I dun curb my cravings) up the streets soon.
In the meantime, its back to the digital voice recorder to hear the proceedings of the Council Meeting on Tues evening cos I have a few articles to write from that meeting.....yawn!

1.5 hours to the weekend

The chief editor came this morning to our office in Mansfield and basically discussed the stories we were to do. I finally completed a 700+ article on the Federal budget which I'm not sure is that good. There are days when I am inspired to go back to my articles to read it over and over again. And then days when I can't wait for it to leave my hands and be edited by someone else.

We're nearly done with all the stories for next week's paper. Quite pleased with ourselves, I think. Its much better to have completed most of the articles and not worry about having to find last minute stories to fill the pages.

In 1.5 hours, I'll be heading home for dinner, then return to Mansfield for a private dancing lesson for our wedding/ bridal dance and then latin dance classes with Phill. I was surprised he was interested in attending the latin classes but YEAH!!! happy too! It was fun doing the ballroom dancing last nite. Lots of giggling and laughter from me cos I don't know how to waltz and just kept being spun round by him....hahaha!

Its been cold these past few days. The days are pretty good but I think its about time soon to wear my turtlenecks. There's a particular woolly one I love that of course I don't wear often but when winter arrives, I'm sure I will.

I was sleeping real soundly last night but I guess just not enough rest cos I kept thinking it was the weekend when there was one more day of work.....quite the opposite last fri when I dreamt I had to go back to work when I didn't have to.

I'm waiting on some info for a few stories that I'm still working on so kinda bored now. But shouldn't be soon enough. I know Monday will be fairly crazy and I wonder if I've gotta work late cos I'll be doing another story on the Federal Budget. I pray it won't be too difficult.

You never know cos its easier when the interviewee is more forthcoming with info rather than withholding it and you've gotta dig it out of them or try and write the article with the little you've glean or maybe after all the hard work, having to trash the idea. Guess the worst would be that the paper needed that difficult article to fill the space.....fortunately, hasn't happened to me yet.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Its sad how we never really appreciate what we have til its not there anymore

I never like to prove this statement true but when it comes to Chinese New Year visiting, I've gotta admit that for me this year, I went through it wondering when I'll be able to visit my relatives if I'm not in Singapore every Chinese New Year. I know I'll miss the extended family gathering at one spot if only for just this one time a year.

I love babies and being able to carry my cousin, Karen's boy, Brandon, made me happy this CNY!!! He's 8 months old and is truly a bouncing baby boy. Its easy to make him laugh and he looks at the camera when you take one out. Quite a photographer's dream. Makes me wish I'll get one of my own soon.

I was talking to my pastor's wife and telling her that I'll be 30 in 2006 (i think she couldn't believe it but like the saying goes "sui yue bu liu ren" which is loosely translated as time waits for no man [esp when it comes to aging...sob!]) .....hope I look nothing like that....heehee! I still feel pretty young at heart so that's good or is that self-deception. Anyway, I don't want to be an ah soh neither a "lao wan tong" but just be well groomed and go through life happy and close to Him! =O)

Jobless - officially UNEMPLOYED

Its weird saying "bye" to my first job I've held for almost 6 years. I felt like I was on MC or that I was going to go back one day, somehow, altho arrrgghhh.......I really don't enjoy the work like I previously did. If anything I know I miss my friends at work, being able to yell across to them or just run to them to share some revelations or news I've heard.

Its now Saturday and in a week's time, I'll be on a plane to go to Melbourne for the next few months before our wedding on 30 June but I haven't packed my room yet......its still really messy littered with things I took back from the office. I'm packing my CDs in CD wallets and cutting recipes from my magazines so that I can throw them away afterwards. I panicked about my packing and had to cancel some appointments with friends (sob!), very reluctantly. With Chinese New Year next week, that will take 2 days away from my packing but hopefully I'll get most of my packing done by then.

I sleep fairly late these days, about 12midnight-2am and wake up anytime between 9am-11am. That's why I hardly eat breakfast these days. Its more like lunch and then dinner. Wonder if its a new diet plan....hahaha!

Search for a job

Whilst all talk about a car is good, I cannot justify buying the car or causing him to take out a loan for me if I don't have some income coming in. Basically, I have no money for a car. So, I sent off an application a few days' ago to be a coordinator for a case management program at a family social services centre 1 hour's drive from his home. Its in a bigger town area called Shepparton. And sent off another application today for a position as administrator of this local business also located at Shepparton.

Sending off all these job applications is making me excited at the prospect of new challenges and hopefully, travelling to and from work in my dream car......heehee......... =P

My current dream car......

Recently, been talking abt a car for myself with my better half. I did mention that a car for me can only be justified if I have a job. BUT I did also mention in previous conversations with him that if we're going to stay at his property and not move to a nearby town, then its fine with me and if I have a car to drive around and go wherever I like, I'm happy staying wherever too. Perhaps that's why he has asked me what kind of cars I can imagine myself driving. We've been talking about cars quite abit and I've been able to spot the type of cars on the road better than before which had caused him to comment, "you're getting quite good at this, Vic".....hahahaha!

Anyway, he mentioned cars like perhaps a Mitsubishi Lancer, or a Magna, a sedan as possible choices. I think driving-wise, it may be okay although those cars are still fairly big for me since I'm short. So for me, my current dream car is the new (either red or silver) Mitsubishi Colt.

Tsunami

Can't believe the escalating devastation of the Tsunami affecting India, Thailand, Indonesia right now. When the earthquakes first occurred in Acheh, my cynical response was that its just one of the many news items of the day.......didn't ever think it would have gone on to affect so many others......I hate to find out the estimated death toll cos everytime it jumps tremendously.......4,000.......8,000......14,000..........60,0000!!!!

I am afraid to read anymore of the reports cos whatever I've read so far have brought tears to my eyes.......the only heartening thing is to know that my friends around me have taken action and passed on messages about how we can help. My church is donating this Sunday's offering to the victims and have sms-d us to come prepared this Sunday. My company has sent an email to say that they are collecting money for the Red Cross Fund. I am going to think twice now when I spend money cos I think about how much more I can give to the victims if I give some things up. Things I take for granted......

My prayer is that all will be comforted, that God's peace will be upon them, that relief and aid will be given to the victims and not siphoned away, that people will come forth not only to donate but go to those devasted areas to help..........God be with all of them!

Blissful Dream...

I can't remember what I dreamt about last night, in detail, only the feelings I had from the dreams. I'm sure somewhere in those dreams, I dreamt of Kwon Sang Woo too....hahahha! Woke up at 2am and tried to continue that dream with Sang Woo but to no avail.....however, the best was yet to be. I remember the general feeling of 觉得幸福 ("feeling blessed". Sometimes I express better in Mandarin) in my dreams, of having a child and carrying him/ her (I don't remember my child's gender in my dream. Could be a boy though.) and saying 'bye' to Phill as he left for work (I think I may have told Phill not to go to work and just stay at home...hahahaha....but he said we'll be alright)........I wait for this dream to be fulfilled!

One dream I still remember pretty vividly even though I had the dream several years ago. I dreamt Phill and I were showing our new house to both our parents and the house had white walls and lots of sunlight streaming through (could be heaven!) and I was carrying this chubby lil boy on my hip. I remember feeling very 幸福 and very contented and happy!

Kwon Sang Woo!!!!! Aaaahhhhh!

Never been a K-drama fan nor a J-drama fan. I usually watch them when it catches my fancy but never from episode 1 to the end. I was neither one of the Winter Sonata devotees. Never watched the entire show before (save for an episode or so) and don't plan to do so. However, I bought this K-serial "Stairway to Heaven" recently cos of the male lead, Kwon Sang Woo, who also starred in the Korean movie, "My Tutor, My Friend", last year.

I never really followed the Korean trend. I only knew whom Korean stars such as Won Bin and Seung Hon were. I only thot both of them were cute and nothing more. BUT shucks, after watching "My Tutor, My Friend" and then when I started watched "Stairway to Heaven", I found my first Korean heartthrob - KWON SANG WOO!!!!!

At first glance, his looks are probably not as striking as Won Bin and Seung Hon but his captivating smile, the way his face lights up when he smiles just disarms you....I love the way his face crinkles up. One thought I had when I stared at my TV screen....this guy is going to age so well! Can imagine him being a handsome old man! =P

What it feels to be wrapped in love!

If feelings are fickle, let me feel this way forever.....

Talking to phill earlier, I couldn't quite pinpoint why, how and what he said. But something in the way we spoke and our tacit understanding made me feel I was wrapped in love, his love. Perhaps it was what we did not say but knew.......A love spanning continents and the oceans, separating us and yet I felt like that love was giving me a big hug, assuring me that even though we're not physically together right now, our hearts are in the right place and I feel as if he was here with me right now.

I miss him......

Irresistible David Tao!

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copyright: davidcn.com

It may just be me but my goodness, I can't resist that smile, that finger-pointing and that DIMPLES!!!! :)

Whats does your personality rate from 1-10? by morning_prayer
Your first full name
Your personality rates a	6
your best quality is	you dont need friends
your worst quality is	youre too nice to people
this is because	of who you are inside
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Your love is... by ChibiMarronchan
Your name is...
Your kiss is...	erotic
Your hugs are...	gentle
Your eyes...	twinkle in the moonlight
Your touch is...	awakening my heart
Your smell is...	exotic
Your smile is...	entrancing
Your love is...	everlasting
Quiz created with MemeGen!

Pet PEEVE

Okay, somewhat "inspired" to write one of my pet peeves whilst on the way to work today. So here goes:
PEOPLE who DIG their noses in public and try and FLICK their goobie onto you.........YUCKS!

The lady standing next to me in the train this morning didn't, thankfully, flick her goobie onto me but from what I could see by side-glancing, she dug her nose and then wiped it on her blouse.....equally YUCKS!!!!!

Which begs the question? Do these people know what they are doing or has it become their 2nd nature and thus they forget they're in a public place???!!! The horror when one day they realise what they're doing AND IN PUBLIC..............YUCKS!

HAPPY Today!

I have no idea why I feel this way today....very HAPPY! I was about to attribute the good start to the day to listening to David Tao's music on the way to work, receiving a Victoria's Secrets package from a friend who's just returned from New York and then continuing listening to David Tao's music at work....they are little clues to a far Greater Source.

Searching deeper, I knew that it was the answer to a prayer I made last night. I was attracted to buy a book by Max Lucado - "Come Thirsty" over the weekend. It talks about how we can draw from the living waters that is in Jesus Christ. The main verses are in John 4:13-14
¹³Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
I was feeling abit discouraged, abit down over the weekend and at some point prayed last night to drink from that well of water, to never be thirsty. The way I feel now, I know my prayers are answered. I also know that my relationship with Christ should never however be based on my fickle emotions. It must be determined by my will to constantly have faith in Him, to trust and praise and worship Him forever. I thank Him for his continual work and undying Love for me!

Praise God He Lives!

p.s. David Tao's music also makes me happy! Praise God for his creation! =O)