Big Announcement! (No I'm not getting married)

December is naturally a busy month with so many events and activities happening around. So let me give a brief run through of some of the stuff that I've been doing for the past two weeks.

Last week I attended MMU's annual musical Another Christmas Thingy (ACT) with my sis and some church frens. Mariel couldn't go coz she had to sit for her last SPM paper the next day =(

Oh and btw, Mariel intends on using her birthday meal voucher at some place she describes as "a small little umbrella shop in a tiny little aisle near Capitol that is mamak-ish and  people sit on small little stools and eat the best food in Melaka with rats running around." Anybody seen a place that fits that description? LOL!

Ok back to the ACT. Last year's edition was hugely entertaining, so expectations were very high this time. Overall I was satisfied with the performances and there were certain scenes where I just cracked up. One scene in particular was when the girls were singing and dancing to 'I won't say I'm in Love'.



On Wednesday I attended our Young Working Adults CG's Christmas Party. The food was delicious and we played some fun games.

One of the games we played was pretty interesting.

First of all everybody was given a piece of paper. We would then write our own name on it and then pass it to the person on the left. Then the game host (my sis) would ask us a question, and then we were supposed to answer the question on behalf of the person who's name was on the paper. Then we pass the paper to the person on the left again, and will answer a new question. Rinse and repeat. So I'll give you examples of some of the answers people wrote for me.

Question: Describe this person in 4 words.
Answer: He is an accountant. (Meh....that's the first thing that comes to their mind -__-)

Question: If this person were to write a bestseller, what would the title be?
Answer: My Christmas Gift, A Wife. (Ok that was so uncalled for =( But it was part of an inside joke.)

Question: What physical attribute of this person is the most attractive?

Answer: Hair. (Some ppl think my hair is nice! Nvr comb hair FTW!)

Question: What is something about this person that attracts the opposite sex?
Answer: His natural humorous nature. (Yea, those words exactly. So some people think I'm funny wor.)

Question: What is something you will like to know about this person?
Answer: How to act so cool. (Can you believe it? Some people actually think I'm cool!)

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ok moving along. Saturday afternoon I had a very exhausting worship practice. I chose two Christmas carols and 5 other more contemporary praise and worship songs.

Who would of thought that just two 'simple' Christas carols would take over 2 hours to practice? However we were singing a more modern version of Angels We Have Heard on High which I heard during the ACT. Its really nice!

I almost lost my voice by the end of the practice and I wasn't at 100% during the morning service the next day. But to quote one of my favourite phrases: Just do our best, and God will do the rest :)

After such a tiring week, I decided to just rot and watch a chick-flick. Scrolled through my movie collection and found 27 Dresses. It was about a girl who was seemingly never going to marry. I could relate alot to her.

Later that night I watched Liverpool vs Arsenal. Prior to the match, all the pundits and analysts were predicting a 2-0 or 2-1 or 3-1 win for Liverpool. My sis (who btw knows nuts about football) predicted a 2-1 win for Arsenal. And as it turns out, she was right -___-

So now, as her Twitter status says: I owe her a meal at Subway. Too bad Melaka don't have. LOL! Oh yea, I'm supposed to promote her Twitter. So erm, go check it out ok? Falalalalaa....

I was pretty emo after the match. In fact I was singing my own rendition of O Holy Night to sleep.

O emo night! Torres wasn't shining~

This is the night, where my Liverpool failed.

It was during this emo-ing that I received a revelation. So brace yourselves guys. I have an announcement to make.

Trust me its HUGE. Are you ready?

Ok. I have decided to................become a Liverpool fan.

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Serious -__-

Ok before you guys laugh yourselves to the grave let me state my reasons.

Firstly, they have the best theme-song ever.

I was letting my sister listen to it today, and she said, "Why so emo wan? Sounds like they know they are going to lose."

You know I'm rather impressed by my sis sometimes. She can be very insightful.

My second reason is that Liverpool is full of jokers. Take goalkeeper Pepe Reina for example.

I will bet you RM1,000 he won't retire in a Liverpool shirt. At least he cracked me up with that statement.

However, the most important reason is that this is a club I can relate to. Most people like to associate themselves with winners, hence the large number of MU fans out there (I'm talking about those people who like to 'tumpang glamour', not you true blood MU fans la).

That is of course very normal. But the thing is, I'm not a normal person. I want to associate myself with losers.

You really have to respect the Liverpool fans lor. They stuck to their team throughout these painful years. I think its safe to say that MU fans haven't really had their loyalty tested in recent times.

Oh and unlike MU where anything less than a victory is disappointing, for Liverpool anything but a defeat is a relief. So its like, more exciting....in a way -__-

So those are my reasons. If any of you can think of a reason why I shouldn't be a Liverpool fan, speak now or forever hold your peace! (Somebody please talk me out of this -_-).

Ok time to wrap this up. Looking forward to the Singapore trip this weekend, where I will be meeting up with Daryl and maybe his gf.
Hi Su Yin! o.ov

For the rest of you, see you guys when I come back =)

Tata.

Happy birthday Best Fren!

Wow I have just violated the sanctity of my blog by uploading  a Paris Hilton pic, but don't worry there is a point to it.

Some time ago I was watching tv and I stumbled across the reality show Paris Hilton's My New BFF. I think Paris was kicking someone off the show and she finished her sentence with, "I'm sorry, but I can only have one true BFF." I seriously couldn't stop laughing.

Paris saying something like that is one thing, but saying that with a poker face was just hilarious. It really made my day.

But of course today's post isn't about Paris Hilton and her list of BFFs. No, today is about the birthday girl Mariel aka the Best Fren =)

Mariel illustrated the story of how we actually became 'Best Frens' to a few people during Henky's farewell. But for those of you who weren't there, I shall very briefly explain it here.

How Mariel became 'The Best Fren':

Ex and current Best Fren: Char and Mar

The story begins approximately 7 years ago at a camp at Lanjut. A bunch of us were playing water polo and Charmaine was full-time man marking me, obviously coz I was the opposing team's most dangerous player. LOL!

Ok that doesn't really make sense, but I forgot the real reason why she was man-marking me, so lets just say it was because I was the most dangerous player =P

So anyway after being continuously hustled by Char, I started taunting Char (think Zidane vs Materrazi but minus the headbutt) and asked her, "You wanna be my best fren is it?" Long story short, for the next few days Char was my 'Best Fren', and we started referring to each other as such.

I won't go into the details but it wasn't long before I demoted Char, and by the end of the camp Mariel became my new 'Best Fren'.

Why Mariel is still 'The Best Fren':

Charity carnival

Church camp '06

Streets of London

London train station (where she was shivering) 

Spanning 7 glorious years, I can think of so many reasons why Mariel is such an awesome person. Where should I start? Her down-to-earthness? Her conviction and passion for Christ? Or what about her innate ability to brighten up any situation with her creatively-crazy-wacky 'Mariel-ness'?

I think her value in friendship can be illustrated in this one example when Fleur organised a pot-luck dinner upon returning from Germany.

I told Fleur I would be bringing cake and I asked her whether she had any preferences. She replied that her favourite was a pricey cake from Nadeje, but the cheaper option of cappuccino cake from the shop Italy was also a good choice. I replied to Fleur that I may just buy the Nadeje cake, depending on how generous I felt when the time came.

Few hours later I received a call from Mariel. She virtually prevented me from buying the Nadeje cake and told me to get the cheaper cake instead. Now I'm sure that most people wouldn't hesitate to simply receive the generosity of others (there's nothing wrong with that of course), but not Mariel. She is really considerate of others and their wellbeing. This is a mark of, in the words of Paris, a one true BFF =)

What present did I give 'The Best Fren': 

Mariel's surprise birthday party last year

Well first of all I sacrificed my 1 hour lunch-time to buy her a card. It took my 1-hour because I couldn't find a card worthy of The Best Fren. Awww......

Just joking, its coz my sense of direction fail. I was literally walking round and round in Dataran then I gave up and walked across to Mahkota. I wasn't completely happy with my choice but Melaka has so few choices lor. Its like the time I went to Jusco to buy ice-cream, there was such a limited variety to choose from =(

So anyway, after buying the card I walked back to my office in the hot sun. Just in case your wondering, yes I am still WTF (way too fair).

Attached with the card was a meal voucher designed by yours truly:

Terms and conditions applied of course, but they are not posted up here. So yes, she can use that voucher to claim a free meal from me. There is no expiry date though I would recommend that she uses it before her next birthday, where she will get a new one. Awww........

Ok time to play our trademark 'theme-song':

THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR!!!

Blessed birthday Mariel!

God definitely has some mind-blowing plans for you! =)

10 Truths about me

1. I am shy.

Camera-shy ler...

Ok fine I'm hiding because my face is so hideous due to my very recent (and cataclysmic) acne outbreak. I'm like the Phantom of the Opera now. Ya I know, "McD somemore la!" -___-




Some time ago I went out for dinner with my sis and a few Church people. I was sitting there quietly just listening to them chit chat and my sis commented, "My bro very quiet coz he is a shy person." Then one of the guys said, "He's a worship leader, always on the stage there. Where got shy?"

But its true. I really am a shy person inside. Its not in my nature to go around talking to people, and it takes great effort on my part to start conversations even with people I've known for years.

Unfortunately some people mistakenly take my shyness for sheer arrogance. Or at the very least I seem 'unapproachable'. So whenever people have something to ask/tell/comment about something I did, they would always go to my sis and mum instead.

You see! People don't believe I'm shy. Well if you agree with Danny, then you must be one of the lucky few who see the 'opened-up' side of  me day in day out.

Unfortunately this also means that you are exposed to my daily lameness.

2. I am lame.

"Hou Yeah" pronounced in Cantonese not yeng meh? =(

Sorry loh I know I lame.

And looks like you guys will have to tolerate my lameness a little while more.

3. I am officially healthy.

Blood test results are out and guess what? My cholesterol has gone down ALOT and is way below the danger zone and far lower than anybody else in my family. Now I claim the bragging rights. Even my mum remarked, "Looks like have to follow Ah Boy go McD liao."

Nowadays my mum and sis everyday eat oats to try and fight with my cholesterol level, and I will always taunt  them, "So health-conscious for what? Lose to me also." LOL!

But seriously, looking through the food content list the doctor provided, guess what food was on the top of the cholesterol chart? Thats right. Eggs.

4. I hate eggs.

Disgusting...

Man I had to make the pic smaller coz its just too disgusting. Yucks!

So anyway, if you aren't aware of my animosity towards eggs, you don't know me at all.

And as you just found out, it is not without just cause.

In addition to this, Mariel theorizes that my abstinence of eggs is the source of my legendary fairness.

5. I am fair.

Why bother? I'm all natural.

In high school one of my nick names was SK-II, coz my complexion was giving the SK-II models a run for their money.

Whenever I tell people of how I used to walk back from school everyday, or be punished to stand in the hot sun for 3-4 hours (coz I forgot to bring my school tie), or about the time when Danny and I walked back from Taipan to Sunway in the heat of the day......

Everybody, and I mean everybody had the exact same response:

WHY YOU STILL SO FAIR WAN?

Even after all the rigorous outdoor activities of church camps and stuff, all I do is turn pink and then I return to normal after 2-3 days.

So assuming the Best Fren is correct, abstaining from eggs is a smart choice. (Y)

6.I am smart. 

Tomorrow the Young Adults CG is organising a Christmas party and everybody has to bring a gift to exchange. Since we are cheapos, the gift cannot cost more than RM5.

So anyone wanna try guess what's inside that wrapped up gift box?

Ok shhhhh....don't tell anyone...its actually a RM5 note. LOL!

I won't bother to come up with excuses: Yes its because I'm just too lazy to buy a gift.

7. I am lazy. 

Forget it. I'm too lazy to describe how lazy I am.

But actually, money is the best gift lo. The recipient will 100% be satisfied with it, and he/she will definitely have a use for it. That is why money was invented in the first place to replace the barter trade system. Sejarah yo!  See I so smart.

Haiz if only I was smart enough to get a girl.

8. I like girls.

Make my wish come true...

All I want for Christmas is you.

I want to clarify something: Just because I'm always (and only) seen hanging out with guys, it doesn't mean I'm into guys ok? Its just that I'm not cool enough to hang out with girls =(

In fact the only girl I hang out with is my sis, and ALOT of people think that my sis and I are a couple. Serious. That of course can mean either two things:

1. We look very warm and loving <3

OR

2. We're so sad that we only hang out with each other -__-

Needless to say, its the latter.

HAIZ.COM

9. I am a Christian.

Christmas season is upon us, with all the pretty decorations and all the anthemic carols and songs. But let us not forget the true purpose of Christmas, which is to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Being a Christian doesn't mean that I'm a self-righteous 'holier-than-thou' kind of person. It just means that I have come to the realisation that I am flawed beyond description that I need a gracious and merciful God to save me from my sins.

I'm worship leading in the Christmas party tomorrow in addition to the Sunday church service as well, but I'm not even close to choosing my songs yet. As always I leave it to the very last minute.

Takkan sing Last Christmas right?




10. I am a procrastinator. 

Give credit where credit is due - Part 2

Smoked salmon....*slurps*

Celebrated my CPA results by spamming Smoked Salmon at Sushi King. Smoked salmon is <3

I know of some people who prefer it raw e.g my parents, Ah Meow etc but the raw one seems tasteless to me though.

Amidst the celebrating, I was still anxious about two other results though.

Heidi Klum did the honours in the 2006 World Cup draw

The first being the 2010 World Cup draw facilitated by South African actress Charlize Theron (I didn't even know she was South African prior to this). I stayed up to watch it last night, and all I can say is good luck to North Korea.

They are in Group G together with Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Portugal. You really gotta pity them lo. Their first World Cup in over 40 years and they get this kind of draw.

The other result I am waiting on is my blood tests which I took yesterday to determine whether I'll live long enough to actually get to watch the World Cup next summer -___-

The thing was that while they were taking my blood I was thinking of the song Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z feat Alicia Keys).

Its been ringing in my head for the past two days now. Even while I was measuring my weight (to see whether my dieting got effect or not), I was thinking of that song. So I just stood on the weighing scale and then got off without looking at measurement LOL!

What can I say, I just forgot to? -__-

I only realised this later while I was talking to Yong about it. Haiz...why my state of mind like this wan?

The funny thing about this music video is that while the song is about New York, Alicia Keys is playing the piano in the middle of ancient Greece or something. But in any case, I have always liked Alicia Keys and her songs.

Ok thats the end of part 2.

Enjoy your weekends yo! =)

Give credit where credit is due - Part 1

 World Player of the Year in waiting.: Lionel Messi

Congratulations to Barcelona's Lionel Messi for winning the Ballon d'or (European Footballer of the Year) award of 2009. He fully deserved it.

While the debate of Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo will rage on (although in my humble opinion Messi wins hands down), it is safe to say that at the age of 21 (last season), he had already accomplished far more than what C.Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Zidane etc achieved at that age.

I was however shocked to find out that Ronaldo actually came in second, ahead of Barcelona playmaker Xavi. And based on a poll taken by Goal.com readers, its looks like I wasn't the only one:

Barring bubonic plague or nuclear war, Messi will be crowned FIFA World Player of the Year later this month. I just hope that Xavi and Iniesta will be standing next to him as first and second runners up.

We have to give credit where credit is due. They are certainly not prolific in terms of goal-scoring, but Xavi is the finest playmaker in the world and Iniesta, well he is so versatile that its difficult to specify a role for him, but basically he's the best in what he does too.

Oh and unlike Messi and Ronaldo, the two Spaniards shine for their country as well. FYI, Ronaldo didn't even score a single goal for Portugal during the World Cup 2010 Qualifiers, and apart from those 40-yarders against Porto and Arsenal, he didn't do anything spectacular for MU either.

But whoever those eventual three finalists are, the most handsome trio ever is still that of Luis Figo, David Beckham and Raul in the 2001 FIFA Awards Gala.

FIFA World Player of the Year 2001: Luis Figo

....Hey don't look at me like that. I'm definitely not gay. Trust me. I'm just giving credit where credit is due.

Throughout his career, Beckham was often considered overrated and was criticized for being a 'one-trick pony'. But his 'one trick' was brilliant enough to decide games. He is/was the best crosser of the ball in the modern game.



It is a crime that a few all-time legends (e.g Paolo Maldini) never won the Ballon d'or or the FIFA World Player of the Year, but only certain kinds of players will ever win such prestigious awards unfortunately.

Its just like how only movies from certain genres can win the Best Picture in the Academy Awards. LOTR: The Return of the King is the first and only fantasy-based film to win Best Picture in the Oscars.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is so far the only animation movie to ever be nominated for the Best Picture.

Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the beast......

I really think that Disney has lost its charm. Their recent film 'A Christmas Carol' was simply awful.  I feel very fortunate to have grown up during the late 80s and early 90s where the Disney films were full of memorable characters and beautiful original songs.







I remember watching the Lion King in the cinema with my sis back in Melbourne. I think I cried when Simba's father Mufasa died T__T.

Looking through the latest Times Higher Education (THES) University Rankings, I notice that it still doesn't favour specialist colleges. Take the London School of Economics (LSE) from example. Its wallowing down at 67th, which is very poor for a university which is widely regarded as being at the forefront in the world in the fields it teaches and researches in.

While it should be noted that LSE does claim a top 5 position the Social Sciences table, most people only look at the overall ranking anyway. So credit hasn't exactly been given to where it is due. Students shouldn't bother with the overall ranking however.

For example, Harvard University has been ranked no.1 for the past 6 years now. However if you were a prospective Engineering student, as far as you're concerned the best university for you is the MIT, which is ranked at no.9 overall.

In fact I have discovered that the THES university rankings are seriously flawed and inconsistent with its own factors, but I'm too lazy to go into that right now.

My CPA results are out! So the time has come for me to give credit where credit is due. Ephesians 3:20-21:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Oh btw SPM-ers, D stands for Distinction okay? =) All glory to God really.

Suffice to say that I didn't do my best, but God was gracious enough to do the rest.

Its been a long day. Sleep first.

Ciao.

Happy Birthday Dog....I mean Zhou.

30th November Birthday boy

I think Yeow JinZhou needs no introduction. He is one of a kind. That pic says it all LOL! Haiz I so bad defame people on their birthday. Ok that's strike one. Nvm got two more strikes.

So I took it upon myself to dig up old photos of Zhou and I to scan them and upload here. I found this photo which was taken in the church camp that I first met him. See I very sentimental ok?

Zhou and his typical 'just-woke-up face'. Yes I'm also in the photo somewhere. I'm alot harder to locate coz I wasn't fat yet.

Hint: I'm standing in between Fleur and Aaron.

If memory serves me right, Zhou didn't really join us youngsters for the activities. Yes believe it or not, there was a time when I was cool and hung out with a bunch of cool people while Zhou was lame and mostly just hid in his room.

How things have changed. Now I'm just another lame person and Zhou is.....well....still lame. LOL! Strike two. Oh noes......

Anyway whilst looking through my photo albums, I stumbled across my old baby pics. Believe it or not, there was a time when girls wanted to hug me, kiss me and play with me. Now they won't touch me even if their life depended on it.

Therefore I decided to scan and upload some of my baby pics, you know, to immortalize my cuteness in all its former glory.

Tip: Listen to Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely' while viewing my baby pics to double the effect! LOL LOL LOL!. But in your minds please replace 'she' with 'he' lah -__-

Cute.

Very cute.

Too cute.

Sigh....I used to be so cute! What happened to me??!!

This is how we 'did it' in the 80s. 

Ok sorry getting a little carried away here. Ahem! This is afterall a dedication post to Zhou!

This was at our booth during a charity bazaar many years ago. I think we were selling second hand stuff of my brand 'Philips'. If memory serves me right, we failed to sell a single thing. Just look at us, we used to be sooooooooo thin. My face still round lah, but that can't be helped =(

I think I've mentioned before that there are very few things things we have not done together. We have studied together, played games and sports together, served in church together, shared hostel room together, and even worked together.

So off the top of my head, the only things we haven't done yet are walking on the moon together, and going on a double-date. Like that's gonna happen anytime soon. I just hope I attend his wedding before he has to attend my funeral -__-

However, the most important thing about Zhou is that, if he weren't for him, I wouldn't know any of the people in this photo of us taken recently in Penang, let alone being in that particular photo.

It is interesting to note that Zhou and I were never classmates, apart from tuition. In fact Mariel was baffled as to how people from different schools could be so close. I guess it was because God in his infinite wisdom had placed us in each others lives, to be each other's companion, you know since losers must stick together.

So what did I give him for his birthday? Three things actually.

The first being the gift of time: My time. Instead of playing Dragon Age or just rotting, I spent last night at his house playing the card game Citadels, with Daryl, PYH, Andrew and Chia Ying. Oh and btw, Chia Ying said that I was an interesting person.....

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

What a joke. Btw Chia Ying, if for some strange reason you are STILL reading this blog (coz Daryl and PYH told her to), seriously don't listen to them! My blog is crap and certainly isn't worth your time.

Anyway, my second gift is this pathetic excuse of a birthday dedication post. So erm.....enjoy -_-

Last but certainly not least, in order to show how much Zhou means to me, I named my dog (in Dragon Age) after him. Seriously I spent about 10 minutes trying to decide on my own main character's name, but it took me only 1 sec to know that my dog had to be named Zhou. Thats how much you mean to me. Aww....

Oh and you should know that the dog has very similar traits with his namesake.

First of all, he can whine. Exhibit A:

He also doesn't like to bathe. LOL! Thats strike three. GG. But hey at least I didn't mention the story about you not bathing at the church camp. Ehh....Oops? Haiz. There's probably a place in hell for people who defame their own friends on their birthday.

I must mention that my dog Zhou has saved me countless of times. He bite very pain wan LOL! Ok now I better choose Option 4: Leave Zhou Alone.

Just in case your wondering, I'm playing a Dwarf because he is short and fat and his face is round like me. Haiz.

I think I'm done here. I don't know how else to defame compliment you on your birthday. So happy birthday Zhou!

FRIENDS FOREVER? (Please?)

End of the world...or so it seems.

Why aren't my latest posts titles updated on other people's links?

Why only me ar? Face problem? =(

But usually this kind of thing is supposed to happen to Zhou, not me!

Well at least its not the Statue of Liberty in this poster.

Watched the film 2012 on Sunday. Oh but first I must inform my critics that I walked, yes WALKED, from my house to Dataran Pahlawan downtown. Ok fine I didn't actually reach Dataran because my sis insisted (hey just noticed that sis is a subset of insist.....maybe coz sisters always insist?) on fetching me. She always sabotages my plans. Hmph!

My sis picked me up near Pay Fong 3 School at Bukit Cina which I took only 30 mins to reach. That's including my rendezvous at the petrol station to buy 100 Plus and all the long waiting at the big road traffic lights. Don't ask me why I wanted to walk to Dataran. Just acknowledge this:

I'M FITTER THAN I LOOK OK?

Back to the 2012. So alot of people have been talking about this film. Some people said it was excellent, while others commented that it was just mediocre at best. But most people agreed that the special effects were top-notch and that this film being something to do with the end of the world, will leave you appreciating your life a bit more.

While I agree that the special effects were awesome, the movie in general was rather predictable. Without giving anything away, lets just say that the people whom you'll expect to die will die, and those whom you expect to survive, simply won't/can't die.

Concerning whether or not this film makes you appreciate your own life more, well I still think that its nothing compared to 1 Litre of Tears. That Japanese drama was really touching and will certainly move you.

1 Litre of Tears is  based on the true story of a girl suffering from an incurable degenerative disease. Its really touching because you see her slowly lose the ability to do all the things she loves. Yong actually cried in the second episode (or was it the first episode? LOL). At least I only cried around the sixth or seventh episode. Zhou didn't even dare to watch it -__- Yes its that sad.

Its Champions League week again, and it may just be the end of the world for big names such as Barcelona and Liverpool. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning to check whether these teams live to fight another day or whether they 'qualify' for the Europa League, or in Liverpool's case, maybe even complete elimination.

But forget Barcelona vs Inter Milan or Ibrahimovic/Messi vs Eto'o. The biggest clash of the mid-week matches is Hull City vs Everton and in terms of key player battles: Zayatte vs Saha.

In conclusion, its Yeah vs Yong.

May the least noob Fantasy Football manager win!