EXTREME MAKEOVER!!

Hi all.. remember the previous blog I talk about a makeover?? It is certainly a makeover manz.. =)

Last Friday nite, a group of us stayed over at Simon's (ForeRunner's director) hse after the wonderful dinner!! We had a shrek-theme dinner!! (In terms of deco, etc.. not really the food!)

Then the nxt morning, my friend drove a few of us to Grand ParkRoyal Hotel (besides Pennisular Plaza) and cut our hair!! Later, the others joined us.. we are suppose to cut at one location, and this hairstylist is a Christian and my image i/c knows him.. so he gave discount of course!!

It has been fun seeing the before & after photos of our haircut! Don't have the photos currently.. but when I have it, will post it up ya??

So the hairstylist cut for me the Beckham's old hairstyle (the Mahawk style).. i was like can't imagine how it will look like.. but now come to see of it, not bad after all..

then I got my wildest dream come true.. and that is DYEING MY HAIR!!

here it is how it all started..

Actually b4 the cut, i wanted to tell the hairstylist to highlight my hair.. but I have forgotten.. then in the afternoon, decide to make a trip down to Guardian Pharmacy @ S'goon Gardens to buY the temp hair color spray..

then came home just in time to go for cell outing.. so i told my cell leader (ie, Carlise) abt what I did the whole day and therefore I was late!! Then she advice me to dye instead of juz use hair spray.. she say hair spray not very good..

so i decide to say ok loh.. dye hair no problem!! Carlise then told me that Tiffany can help me to do it as Tiffany always does it DIY.. So when I see Tiffany at the place where we are suppose to meet for cell outing (which is bowling @ Downtown East), I began to ask her about the dye hair thing.. the 1st game was all rite.. the warm-ups.. however, I decided to cont. to play the 2nd game.. and man, my mind is DISTRACTED.. kept thinking abt my dye hair stuff and no wonder, my ball kept going into the 'drain'!!

So i can't stop that thought.. therefore to give me peace of mind, I ask Tiffany to drive me to White Sands and go to Guardian Pharmacy and buy the dye. She chose for me the bronze color (Loreal Brand).. and after the dinner @ Downtown East, Carlise came over to my hse and did the dyeing of hair for me. But apparently, not much of a difference from my black hair color.. went to church next day, and showed wendy & huimin.. both also say not much difference..

so after service on sun, before we all proceed for Committee Meeting, Carlise,Tiffany & me went to Guardian Pharmacy @ S'goon Gardens to firstly, refund the cost of the temp hair color spray, and secondly, carlise bought for me another color dye, and that color dye is the color of brick..

so after which, huimin and carlise came to my hse and did my hair for me.. they seem to have a wild time.. esp. huimin.. she like ma-chiam apply liquid paper on my hair.. but i muz say the effects was very good.. and Tiffany advice me to leave it for 1 hr instead of the 30 minutes to let the color set (instruction says 30 minutes.. but longer is better, so color more intense)..

so ya.. i went to wash my hair, and when I look into the mirror, i've got the shock of my life!! I look so beng.. becos' of the slighly orange colour i have.. but then, it looks great as well.. so now, dun koe whether to cry or be happy..

but anyway, thanx Carlise & Huimin for your rendered services to my hair.. i told my team, and most of them said its well done!! and they are amazed that my cell leader actually did my hair for me.. =)

So for those of you who are reading this blog and very anxious to koe how do I look like, then come to my mission preview concert.. the details are as follows:

Venue: The Third Place (a 15 min walk from Outram MRT)
Time: 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Date: 02 June 2004 (Wed) <-- Vesak Day!! (A public holiday)

*PS: You are MOST WELCOME to bring your friends to this concert!! Its FREE!

For those of you who koes my handphone no, and if you are interested, drop me an SMS.

For those who interested but dun koe my handphone no, pls. email me by clicking on the link at the right column of this blog update space.. scroll down the right portion, until you see "Personal Stuff"> "Email Me!".. click on that link and your mail wld automatically be sent to me! As easy as ABC.

For those of you who are wondering as to when I departing Singapore for Thailand, pls. note the following details if you plan to see me off or sumthing..

* Flight Details:

Flying on 06/06/2004 (Sunday) @ 3.15pm by Silk-Air.
Flight number = MI 0706 (Terminal 2)

Touching down in Singapore on 18/06/2004 (Friday) @ 3pm by Silk-Air. Flight number = MI 0701 (Terminal 2)

Well.. gtg and do other stuff.. have a lot of stuff to do!

So yupz.. cya at the concert (if you are going).. if not, till then,

Ciaoz n have a GREAT week ahead,
<<< aBrIEL >>>

HAPPY BUT TIRED!!

Well.. this wk so far has been an enjoyable week and one of the most fruitful, becos' i have manage to memorise ALL the chords for the 9 songs (with a few "cheat sheets" of course!.. but it was still hard work!) so ya.. wanna thank God for it! =)

Then on tues this wk after our practice, 3/4 of my mission team with Simon (ForeRunner's director) and his family went to Cineleisure and watched Shrek 2!! It was an enjoyable show! definitely a show NOT to be missed!! you shld catch it sometime if you have not too!
but anyway, the show was on a tues nite but apparently, the cinema was packed manz.. dun koe y.. but ya.. gd show!! but let me caution you that if you watch the show, sit till the end, becos' halfway thru' the character voice-over credits, there is a surprise ending.. so ya..

yesterday (wed), most of the my team-mates went to Queenstown shopping centre and buy our clothing for our trip wardrobe.. got a pants @ 50% discount.. no brand somemore.. but this pants is chosen by my image i/c.. at first, look not very nice.. but now, the more i see it, the more i like it!! so originally, it was priced at $69.90 and i got a 50% discount and i got it @ $34.95. good buy huh.. =)
tried to find another shirt.. but cannot find.. so sat (29/05/04) continue loh.. happy but tired!! =)
was suppose to have bible study, but in the end, we end up sharing and praying for each other instead and NOT doing bible study. I had a good time praying and sharing.. i was on a spiritually high in the morning, especially after the worship yesterday (wed).. can really sense the Holy Spirit.. i think that is one of the best times I ever had during this time of mission trip.

saturday also going for haircut at ParkRoyal hotel.. my image i/c hairstylist.. got quite a good price lah!! originally from $27, and the hairstylist is going to charge us each only $20.. not bad hor =)
so i think will have a really good makeover when i attend church on sun (30/05/04)

I have received a letter from CMPB telling me that they are postponing my enlistment date from 16/08 to 19/08, becos' my graduation ceremony falls on the date of my enlistment.. so that means i would NOT be bald-headed for my graduation ceremony. God is good huh.. =)

then, today we got a mock full-dress rehearsal at ForeRunner's office.. and the staff of ForeRunner are our audience and critics loh.. and we finally decided on the band name, and it is called "Audio Xchange".. cool huh..

k.. gtg.. think i've spent like 30 minutes on this blog.. too longwinded.. =)

so i shall cya when i see you ya.. =)

Ciaoz and have a GREAT week ahead,
<<< aBrIeL >>>

STRESSED AND TIRED!

Hi all.. juz came back from a men's retreat.. its part of my mission trip program..

so now a bit tired.. but shall elaborate a bit on what was done during the week..

apparently, everyday from 9am-5.30pm was at ForeRunner's office for classroom lessons as well as rehearsals.. the rehearsals is like about 3-4 hrs a day!! that's how intensive it is!!

And wat's worst is that in a matter of days (ie, by wednesday - 19/5), i have to memorise the chords for ALL 9 songs.. and its not a easy job.. its not juz playing.. its controlling the keyboard too.. so I'm under trememdous stress!! haiz.. =(

so far, have tried memorising and quite successful in a few songs.. but its those keys like D flat which I'm not familiar with. stress again..=(

so ya.. yesterday we had the men's retreat and we slept in ForeRunner's office.. its a overnite thing.. so ya.. the rest of the guys watched the School of Rock DVD.. while i watched halfway and fell asleep..

before we watched the movie, all the guys (including me) brainstormed for names for our band.. we had weird names like papadom, one-way street, WENTKA(What Everybody Needs To Know About) G-sus (sounds like Jesus), etc.. had a fun time laughing and all until i stomach-ache.. ha..

this morning, my whole team went to Ngee Ann City and do street witnessing.. I paired up with the Director of ForeRunner (which he is called Simon) and he shared with 1, while I shared with 1 too..

Simon actually went up to this person, whom he thought was a guy.. I actually asked him whether he is sure, and he was saying like "a guy lahz..".. but in the end, guess wat!! the person is a butch (if you koe wat that means).. but Simon shared with her the Gospel, but not successful..

on the other hand, it was funny how God led me to this "salesman".. apparently, i wanted to join my friend (who was a solo for witnessing, becos' he didn't have a partner with him).. but then, this Indian guy approached me and ask me to buy a coupon from him (its a Vietnamese restaurant affiliated to Pasta Mania)..

so anyway, he tried to persuade me to buy.. i actually said no.. but then, something prompted me to buy the coupon from this person, and then share the Gospel to him.. so i obeyed the voice, and i shared with the person lah..

i then asked him whether he was a christian.. but he said he blackslided.. so i prompt him for a reason.. and he told me.. and he prayed the sinner's prayer.. but not too sure whether he really meant it.. dun koe whether he is obliging me or sumthing like tat.. but anyway, wat's amazing is that he stays in Hougang area and he is near my church.. so i invited him lahz.. but never officially ask him to come my church tml.. got his email address.. and after which, i invited him to attend my band's preview concert at Third Place.. and surprisingly, he said he koes where izzit.. its juz simply wonderful how God works huh.. =)
not too sure whether he would come.. but who koes.. he might juz come!! just really want to thank God for this wonderful opportunity.. =)

after the witnessing session, we went wardrobe shopping.. thought mine was ok.. after after trying and let our image i/c see, she says cannot becos' it is either too tight or too big (which makes you look sloppy).. so currently, got only 1 shirt (which i really like) from U2.. simple and nice!! =)

some of the ppl proceeded to Giordano for their clothing.. and as usual, me the Giordano *ahem* fan, told them I had 15% discount.. n they were like so happy.. esp. the image i/c.. ha.. =)

what really shocked me is that we had to go to her hair-stylist and cut hair.. and it costs $27 !! but she says she will try to bargain till $22.. ya.. dun you think its like a makeover??

but thank goodness that each one of us have $100 to spend on our wardrobe and hair.. and anything more than $100, we have to come out ourselves! but ya.. $100 is not big and not small, since now the clothings are quite ex.. so ya..

I still have to shop for 1 more top and 1 more bottom.. so the image i/c says they will set one more weekday to go shopping.. yeh!!

k.. gtg and pack stuff for church tml and take out stuff from my retreat bag.. haiz..

Ciaoz n have a GREAT week ahead,
<<< abRieL >>>

INTENSIVE PRACTICE AND NOW I'M PRACTICALLY DRAINED OFF OF MY ENERGY!!

I koe I didn't blog like for 2 days, becos' I was simply too tired to do anything.. no energy to do anything else.. even watching TV is a torture.. yes!! I was that tired..

yesterday (13/05) was the worst!! I could hardly open my eyes once I got home from the rehearsal place @ ForeRunner's office. I have been like from 9am-6pm for practice (for commissioning nite) and after tat i came home.. fortunately, got a ride yesterday from my mission trip mate who gave me a ride from ForeRunner's office to Junction 8. From there, I took bus home myself. God's blessing huh.. =)

Today (14/05) was not so bad. Slept enuf last nite but now, as I write this blog, I'm feeling sleepy.. 3/4 of today I'm occupied with classroom lessons and then the rest of the time (from 4pm-5.30pm), practice 2 of my mission trip songs.. they are so nice when the whole team plays.. but I can tell you that the expectation of the music director of this mission trip is really high!! she wants the song to be 90% similar to the CD.. so ya.. that's how high the standard is.. but i think it is a good thing, as we (as a whole team) wants to achieve musical exellence when we play, so that we have that kind of credibility, as we are called by God to use our talents for Him.. so ya..

The stress will intensify over the wks, becos in abt. 2 wks time, I'm expected to MEMORISE the chords for ALL 10 songs for our mission trip.. and the songs are not those simple keys like D,G, etc.. its those chords like Bb (B flat) & Db (D flat)keys.. challenging huh.. *eeks*.. but I will try my best!!

But wat is cool is that next sat (22/05), we will go for wardrobe shopping (ie, to go with a staff who is in charge of this and buy clothing.. its NOT those uniform type.. but contemporary dressing and BEST of all, its FREE! (I THINK!) ).. and also, my whole team may go to a hair salon together and have a hair-cut.. ya.. its like a makeover lohz.. hahaz.. =)

Just came back from NYPC @ Holland Village.. some of us went there to have dinner with the US staff from Keynote, USA.. she would be joining us in the mission trip.. so ya.. we so called played host lahz.. letting her try Singapore food, etc.. its GREAT FUN hanging out with her.. =)
but a group of guys (including me) was on a tight budget.. so we went to a nearby coffeeshop to eat chicken shredded noodles with a few side dishes.. and then we proceeded to NYDC to join the rest..

Matt, Jason, me & Ivin shared 2 desserts together.. we ordered the "grandma about nuts" and "macademia nut brownie".. however, the other guys in the group (who was at the other end of the table) has took the "macademia nut brownie" accidentally.. so we took their dessert but it was more expensive! darn!! so ya.. but it was good.. but prefer the "grandma about nuts".. nicer.. its like a macademia ice-cream with honey and a bit of chocolate sauce.. *salivating*.. tried a forkful of cookie monster mudpie from my friend and i tell you, it is really GREAT!! you shld try it someday =)

k.. gtg and sleep.. tired alreadyz.. wonder when I will blog again.. hmm.. =)

Ciaoz n have a GREAT week ahead,
<<< aBriEL >>>

TIRED..

Well.. this blog webbie to write my post on looks different! i was like shocked when I access this blogger webbie.. didn't know that it changes.. since when it has been changed??

Anyway, was on a retreat at Loyang Aloha Resort for my Alpha Retreat.. The retreat was FUN.. one thing that is most memorable was yesterday's nite BBQ dinner.. we are suppose to tie ourselves from our hand to our partner's hand, and move food from a distant table to our dining table TIED UP!! It was really a test of our unity.. so we ate with each other tied up and we are like have to give and take lohz.. interesting idea huh.. =)

Yesterday was also a day where we played "Loyang Idle".. IDLE, get it?? ya.. its like a Talent-time show lohz.. very funny.. we all did our best, but our team got 2nd runner up.. total of 3 teams.. which makes us the last =(.. but well.. still a memorable one.. =)

During the course of the retreat, i also did 2 types of discovering self surveys.. one is DISC and the other is love language.. then we like shared with the whole group, so that everyone wld be sensitive to each other feelings and stuff.. it was pretty good stuff i must say.. ehh.. sounds a bit like Randy Jackson of American Idol 3?? hmm..

well.. think I've gtg.. like no mood to write this blogpost.. probably I'm tired or sumthing..

k.. need to go and watch TV liaoz..

Ciaoz n have a GREAT day ahead,
<<< aBrIeL >>>

Site Updates:

* Uploaded my photos of my outing with my clique in my Yahoo! photo album. Click the link, "Photos of ME (aka YANDAO), and the album name is called, "Clique's Nite Out!". Check it out ya?? =)

* Changed the countdown event!

* Added link to Calvin Ng's (a friend whom I have during TP Easter Outreach) blog.

* Updated my wishlist, particularly my dream phone model!

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A DAY PASS SO FAST!

Today practice the songs for my music missions trip as well as my worship practice.. not full band so no kick.. but I got familiarised with most of the chords.. so yupz.. still a fruitful practice! =)

Then at the computer after that to surf net and check email and stuff.. ate lunch..

then was too tired as I slept like from 1am-7am.. automatically, I woke up at 7am.. funny huh.. anyway, afternoon slept for about 2 hrs.. =)

then woke up.. and prepare my worship set for my worship next sun (16/05).. next wk I got no time manz.. got rehearsals and retreat lohz.. so no time to pick..

so after tat, went for dinner with family at Serangoon Gardens.. ate Chicken Rice at the new restaurant, "Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice", located beside Guardian Pharmacy.. not fantastic but not bad.. =)

after tat, proceeded to Coffee Bean at Serangoon Garden to chill out.. drink coffee and eat cakes.. as usual, I drank my Vanilla Ice-Blended (with coffee) and ate cakes loh.. but NOT as good as Coffee Club.. yupz.. =).. I'm a fussy eater.. =P

then came home and do my soft-copy of my worship set.. 10 mins ago, juz sent it over via email to my musicians.. yupz..

k.. that is wat I do today lohz.. a bit boring.. but manage to pass my time lahz.. =)

gtg and sleep liaoz.. need to wake up in 8 hrs time for church.. ahh.. hate it when I wake up so early.. oopps.. talk too much..

so probably will not blog till wed (12/05) nite.. becos' may not have a time to!

so till then,

Ciaoz n have a GREAT week ahead,
<<< aBrIeL >>>

AN AWESOME PRACTICE!

Well.. today went for practice at ForeRunner's office, and the journey took me an hour! but it was quite fast already.. but thank God that He guides me on the bus-ride.. not too sure about it, but I certainly prayed before I embark on my journey.. so yupz.. =)

anyway, was suppose to reach there like 11am, but reach there 30mins earlier.. so went in and help to pack stuff as well as clean chairs etc.. we finish the cleaning and all that at about 12.15pm.. so we went for lunch opposite the ForeRunner's office building.. ate fish hor fun with this black bean thing.. not bad.. a few of us ate this special hor fun.. quite ex.. $4.. its a group of us ate this hor fun... then when one of us burp, you get that smell.. which is very disgusting.. so you can imagine if someone burps, that's it! but ya... as usual, someone burp and I smelt it.. my goodness!

before lunch, i met lindsay (a staff from US).. she came to s'pore juz for this music missions trip! talk to her quite a bit.. but not that much.. will talk to her more on mon onwards, when we are going for the retreat! so yupz..

then in the afternoon, i received an SMS about my exam results! and thank God, I've got 1 Distinction, 1 'A', 3 'B' & 1 'C'.. here are the breakdown of subjects with the respective grade:

Product Development & Marketing: Distinction
Final Year Project: A
Food Processing: B
Health & Wellness: B
Communication Skills: B
Food Safety: C

overall.. beri happy with my results! To God be all glory! =)

then after the lunch, we start the practice.. the practice was power manz!! serious!! 90% similar to the CD of the worship songs! serious!

we have this song called, "the wondrous cross" by phillip, craig & dean and this guy in the music missions team was doing solo.. and I tell you.. his voice is 99% like the person in the CD.. really good manz.. =)

I thought there were 3 keyboardists (including me) for the worship and the music missions trip.. however, there were only 2 (only me and the other guy)!! so i played the main,whereas the other guy has more roles in playing.. he is playing the accompaniment.. so yupz.. not very good at accompaniment.. so let him do the honours! =)

so its like 2 hrs and we learn 3 songs! slow but good progress!! =)..

then after the practice, ivin, matthew, deborah, donavon, jason and me went to Holland V and ate Katong Laksa.. quite ex and nothing special about Katong Laksa actually.. dun koe wat is so nice.. ha.. =).. its like $3 a bowl and i order otah and a drink.. so that dinner costs me $5.50! ex huh..

then jason gtg.. so the rest of us went to Coffee Club, chill out, chat and talk nonsense.. I ordered the Ice Mocha Vanilla.. interesting presentation, but not very nice.. but the cakes were very good and value for money i must say.. we ordered the muddy mud pie and the tiramisu! both cakes not bad.. but prefer the muddy mud pie.. =).. we practically sat there for like close to 2 hrs and talk anything under the sun!! and the best thing of all, IVIN TREATED US.. =)..

it was late, and therefore, we each went back.. wanted to take bus 105, but dun want to waste money.. so took mrt instead (becos' i got bus concession mahz!).. this ivin told me its within walking distance to buona vista mrt!! so i decided to walk from Holland V to buona vista mrt!! the more i walk, the further the station manz.. darn far lohz!! haiz.. but still manage to walk lahz.. wat to do??

so ya.. just got home about 30 mins back, and I bathe and wrote this blogpost.. so yupz.. that's all folks for today..

gtg and sleep liaoz, becos' tml need to do quite a lot of stuff.. practically practicing my songs for the mission trip, as well as my worship thing for commissioning nite.. tml will be a playing session for me manz.. ha.. =)

so till then,

Ciaoz n have a GREAT weekend ahead,
<<< aBrIeL >>>

A HAPPY GATHERING & NOW TIRED!

well.. today went out for my clique's (consisting of junting, limei, yanyan, zhengqiu, shanshan & of course myself) gathering.. yanyan brought her boyfriend.. so it was 7 of us.. nice number huh.. 7 and all.. my fave no.. hahaz..

anyway, we went to Joaquim Steamboat Buffet Restaurant at Suntec City for our dinner.. Shanshan paid with her Visa Mini Credit, therefore, got 15% discount.. so each one of us pay $17.70.. everyone of us ate until like we are full up to our chin.. yupz.. its that stage where if we continue eating, we would be merlion.. get it?? hahaz.. shall stop being disgusting.. =P

anyway, we all agreed that the steamboat dinner was not too bad, especially the desserts.. limei & I love the Mango pudding.. its the BEST dessert there manz.. =)..

before the dinner, yanyan complimented me about that I lost weight.. of course, i was so flattered but act modest *grins*.. so almost near the end of the dinner, yanyan told me that I would regained my 6kg today.. then of course i told her that its not so fast lohz.. i then realise how much I ate.. hahaz.. anyway, steamboat only.. not oily stuff.. so not too bad..

after the dinner, we went to Esplanade & The Merlion park to take photos..and of course, yanyan's boyfriend help us take photos.. the photos not that good, becos' its at nite, and not much lights around, so therefore, the camera effect was not so good.. considering my 2 mega-pixel camera lent from Tiffany.. but mai hiam lahz.. good enuf..

will post them up probably this sat on my yahoo! photos.. so wait for it ya??

after that, we actually decide to go to Embargo at One Fullerton to juz drink and chilll out, but the time was a bit late and a bit ex.. so we decide to do it next week, but not at One Fullerton.. heard its at Citylink.. will confirm again lohz.. maybe or maybe not going.. becos' this month, i dun koe y.. i am BROKE!! serious.. dun koe y.. =(

k.. gtg and sleep liaoz.. need to wake up in 9 hrs time (ie, 8am) and get ready to go for practice at ForeRunner's office for my commissioning nite music practice.. =)..

so yupz.. till then,

Adios n have a GREAT weekend ahead,
<<< aBrIeL >>>

A DAY'S OUT!

Well.. as the subject suggests, I went out today with my all time best pal, Jingxian, to watch 50 First Dates.. and my critic of the show?? worth every cent of $6.50.. go catch it.. its funny but yet romantic.. like the ending a lot.. the part where Drew Barrymore was in the yatch and surrounded by icy mountains.. it was such a tremendous and beautiful sight.. =).. shall not reveal more.. but ya.. go watch it if you are into romantic comedies.. =)

But before we watch the movie, we went to PS foodcourt and eat lunch.. and guess wat I ate?? Yong Tau Foo?? You are ABSOLUTELY right !!!!!!!!!!!!!! healthy, delicious and value for money!! what more can u ask?? hahaz.. =)

well.. think that's all I can say because I have not done a lot of things today.. so yupz..

think I will be free until thurs.. fri onwards would be a very time for me.. yupz.. will update when have the time to do so..

Ciaoz n have a GREAT week ahead,
<<< aBrIeL >>>