the perfect garden picnic

I didn't have the $347 Laura Ashley picnic basket set, but I had awesome weather, lovely garden setting, and a birthday boy to grace the occasion.

Picnic Menu

• Fresh rocket salad with goat cheese, baby tomatoes, salted cashew, and smoked salmon
• Bread sticks and honey crisps with pink creamy caviar dip
• German bratwurst, spicy Italian and English Cumberland sausages
• Italian strawberry mini custard tart
• Fresh watermelon cubes and chilled fruit juice

Fortunately both of us survived the food which I prepared, and made it to the Lion King musical in the evening. So no birthday boy was hurt in the production of this picnic.

the food critic, back by popular demand

I successfully sold the idea of a second food review video to Mommy by telling her how much my friends enjoyed the first one (I'm telling the truth!).

Watch till the end and see how many stars - out of five - my mum gave to Jack's Place's roasted turkey breast with chicken ham.

Nerds and leather go together

My boss, James, knows I have a soft spot for nerds. And it’s sort of true. He is a nerd with a leather… bible!

The conversation was a little more succinct this time, concluding outstanding issues raised last Friday and taking the last opportunity to clarify doubts. He has spoken to Pastor and I have discussed with Kengyi.

• How are Christian relationships different?
• Are we ready to make sacrifices for the other person?
• Where do we go from here?

We were on the same page (I think) on most issues. For the rest, we will have to work at it along the way. I foresee it is going to be ‘long-suffering’ for him because of all my weaknesses and stubborness.

He pointed me to Ephesians 5. The guy leads in the relationship and ‘lays down his life’ for her as Christ did for the church. “He wears a crown of thorns,” he said.

Speechless and impressed.

He is such a bully

Satan claims that Job worships God because of how God has blessed him. God allows Satan to prove Him wrong by taking everything – children, friends, status, wealth and health – away from Job.

Job cries out to God but receives no answer. He is a righteous and godly guy – so why is he suffering?

God answers at the end of the book. Who are you to question me?

I know that God has the authority and power to do all things and he judges what is right and wrong.

But doesn’t that make him a little of a bully?

(Answer to come soon)

exciting job

My work at Alphabet Media is pretty exhilarating, but what I'm really thinking about is the book of Job.

It has kept me wanting.

When the train approaches my destination and I have to keep my bible, my heart screams out in anguish for Job: "God, how can you remain silent and let your righteous child suffer and be maligned?!"

I know He has an answer, I just cannot see it right now.

(Soon though, I'm already at Chapter 31!)

will you be my girlfriend?

It was at least an hour long chat. And at the end of it, I don't think he even asked it in such simple words.

The conversation was a mash of a sermon, bible study and interrogation. Ok, I'm exaggerating (but only a little).

I had to display understanding of:

• Why we should be contented as singles
• What is the purpose of marriage
• Why no relationships are flawless
• How do children fit into the plan
  

He presented a case of why he thinks we are compatible and justified the question, which was qualified so much I can't repeat it for my life. And I will not be surprised if he can't too.

In this way, he is different, but in a good way. That is why I said yes.

(Great materials on Christian relationships: Four talks on Love, Sex and Marriage by Matthias Media, Joshua Harris' I Kiss Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl, and of course the Bible!)

mee and mee

It's noodles day with grandma!

What I'm having:
Wanton noodles with roasted pork meat $3.50

What grandma's having:
Vegetarian fishball noodles $2.50