Anzac Day - Lest we forget

today's Anzac Day, which means that it's a public holiday.. but also means that there were Anzac services all round Australia, NZ, and many other countries.. and at the end of the services they always say "Lest we forget".. really cool thing... had to wake up uber early.. had to leave the house at six.. cos the service starts slightly before sunrise.. i was really surprised at how many people were there.. we went to the service in blackwood, which is pretty near my place.. they closed off all the roads and all so there were people standing everywhere.. it was a really good service.. oh! and 2 people standing really near us fainted.. first this girl fainted.. then everyone turned to look.. a lady rolled up a jacket to put under her head.. but she regained consciousness pretty quickly.. then after a while a little boy collapsed.. well he wasn't that little.. was probably about 10 or so.. was a bit freaky.. but i suppose it was hunger combined with exhaustion.. i could hear tummys rumbling away.. haha.. mine included! :) but yeah.. got home about 7.30 then tried to fall asleep again.. eventually managed to and woke up at 11.30.. sheesh.. so late! had to be in the city by 1.30 lor.. Jon offered to pick me up from home but i felt bad to make him come all the way here and then go all the way back again.. and besides.. he got home even later then me.. in the end i realised he didnt go to bed till 6 cos he was up watching millan vs ManU.. ManU won obviously.. haha.. so yeah..


neways.. eventually met Jon in the city and we drove to the most Ulu place ever! it was like farmland.. miles and miles of empty, dry land.. we went to look at this kitten that his brother's buying.. it was georgeous! sooooo cute! and friendly.. it's of rag-doll breed.. and i so want one too.. haha.. so yeah.. he's definately getting it.. Jon doesn't really like cats much, but he liked these.. he thinks rag-dolls are nice and cuddly! and they really are.. they feel like feather dusters! haha.. super soft.. but they grow to be massive.. super super big lor.. the lady who's selling them had millions of cats in her house lor.. seriously, there were probably 20 over cats there.. but they were all so friendly.. but in the end i found the one that i would like.. he's from the same litter as the one Jon's brother is getting, but he's soooo much more smaller.. he's so tiny.. i was holding him for so long.. he just sat there and didn't move much.. i'm really tempted to get him.. but i don't think my aunt and uncle will allow.. :( but he's the cutest thing ever.. oh well.. next time when i get my own place i suppose.. but i'll probably get a puppy then.. i dunno.. we'll see.. yup.. so we had vietnamese for dinner.. thank you Jon for bringing me there! it was yummy as usual.. and i finished all of it.. although i was super duper full after that.. but it was yummy! hehe


oh! and yesterday i went to the city to watch movie with xiao wei, camilia, sarah, the 2 Jons and many more.. one big group of us.. we went to watch Stomp the Yard.. uber good! I LOVE IT! it's amazing.. wish we had stuff like that here.. if you've watched You've got served and you liked it, then you'll definately like this too.. so many nice movies out now.. can't wait to watch them.. hehe.. then we went for pancakes.. and Jon and i realised that we have mutual friends! his other friends came to join us for supper.. one was his dentistry classmate Jessie, and her friend Esther.. they were my friends in Eynesbury last year! haha.. so funny.. adelaide is really small! ;)


neways.. its 2217 now and i'm exhausted.. gotta go do my assignment now then maybe watch some tv then sleeeeeeeeep.. or might sleep then wake up and do assignment.. haha.. enjoy the rest of the week peeps..

just a little something i copied from the Australian Government webby.. incase any of you wanted to read more about Anzac day.. it's really interesting.. if not, just scroll down to the pics.. :)


Significance of Anzac Day
The Anzac tradition - the ideals of courage, endurance and mateship that are still relevant today was established on 25 April 1915 when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
It was the start of a campaign that lasted eight months and resulted in some 25,000 Australian casualties, including 8,700 who were killed or died of wounds or disease.
The men who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula created a legend, adding the word ‘Anzac’ to the Australian and New Zealand vocabularies and creating the notion of the Anzac spirit.
In 1916, the first anniversary of the landing was observed in Australia, New Zealand and England and by troops in Egypt. That year, 25 April was officially named ‘Anzac Day’ by the Acting Prime Minister, George Pearce.
By the 1920s, Anzac Day ceremonies were held throughout Australia. All States had designated Anzac Day as a public holiday. Commemoration of Anzac Day continued throughout the 1930s and 1940s with World War II veterans joining parades around the country. In the ensuing decades returned servicemen and women from the conflicts in Malaya, Indonesia, Korea and Vietnam, veterans from allied countries and peacekeepers joined the parades.
During the 1960s and 1970s the number of people attending Anzac Day marches fell as Australians questioned the relevance of Anzac Day. However, in the 1990s there was a resurgence of interest in Anzac Day, with attendances, particularly by young people, increasing across Australia and with many making the pilgrimage to the Gallipoli Peninsula to attend the Dawn Service.

The Dawn Service
(The following text is from The Australian War Memorial website http://www.awm.gov.au/)
The Dawn Service observed on Anzac Day has its origins in an operational routine which is still observed by the Australian Army today. The half-light of dawn plays tricks with soldiers' eyes and from the earliest times the half-hour or so before dawn, with all its grey, misty shadows, became one of the most favoured times for an attack. Soldiers in defensive positions were therefore woken up in the dark, before dawn, so that by the time the first dull grey light crept across the battlefield they were awake, alert and manning their weapons. This was, and still is, known as "Stand-to". It was also repeated at sunset.
After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. With symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, a dawn stand-to or dawn ceremony became a common form of Anzac Day remembrance during the 1920s; the first official dawn service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927. Dawn services were originally very simple and followed the operational ritual; in many cases they were restricted to veterans only. The daytime ceremony was for families and other well-wishers, the dawn service was for old soldiers to remember and reflect among the comrades with whom they shared a special bond. Before dawn the gathered veterans would be ordered to "stand to" and two minutes of silence would follow. At the end of this time a lone bugler would play the "Last Post" and then concluded the service with "Reveille". In more recent times the families and young people have been encouraged to take part in dawn services, and services in Australian capital cities have seen some of the largest turnouts ever. Reflecting this change, the ceremonies have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings, pipers and rifle volleys. Others, though, have retained the simple format of the dawn stand-to, familiar to so many soldiers.
marching in.. hard to see much.. sun hadn't risen yet..



that's just a fifth of the people there..

the one that Jon's bro is getting..
Jon and the new addition to his family..
the one i'm getting.. haha.. yeah right! the one i fell in love with!

stressedddddddddd!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
i've got a piece of group work due tmr.. which has been a disaster right from the start.. anyways.. the thing is.. i'm supposed to get my piece in by tonight.. and i'm stuck! been stuck with it for the past 2 days.. 2 days! to write one media analysis.. firstly it took my years to find an article that i thought was slightly inline with our topic.. then, i had to read it.. which was uber boring.. then now i have to write the damn analysis.. because of that i have a splitting headache.. thank God for asprins! neways.. i've managed to do absolutely everything but the analysis.. i've vaccuumed the house, tidied the kitchen, hung and collected the laundry, cleaned my mirrors, surfed the net, chatted with friends, and i even read xia xue's blog.. can you imagine that?! sheesh.. i must be really really bored to even consider reading her blog.. no offence, i think she has a pretty cool blog.. but i dont wanna add to the 30,000 hits her blog gets a day.. i think she's slightly over-rated.. but it's her right.. and people admire her.. anyway.. thats her life, not for me to comment on..

well, i just wanted to de-stress so i decided to blog.. Leo thinks i'm mad to blog to de-stress.. but it works for me! haha.. soaking in the tub with warm water and lots of bubbles, dim candle lights, a good book and good music, or a really good massage are the best ways to relax.. but, due to water restrictions, i can't afford to fill up a tub.. Australia is under-going a severe drought and there just isn't enought water to go around.. so we all have to conserve as much water as we can! :) wish i was back in s'pore.. my maid gives really good massages.. hehe..

ok.. enough procrastinating for now.. i'm gonna go and finish off that piece of work then i'm free!! well not really, cos the next one's due thursday.. oh well, will worry about that after i'm done with this.. hope all of you had a great break and have a great 2nd term peeps..

Madness on Rundell Mall

this were actually taken on Saturday, the 17th of April.. i met Ginger for lunch in the city and we were greeted by the sight of this! haha.. it was great seeing her again after a year.. and this just made the day even more memoriable! haha.. it was absolute madness i tell you! why on earth are there animals in the middle of a shopping mall?!?! haha.. but the kids were certainly enjoying it.. well, we were too.. lol.. enjoy the pics!

last year Leo told me i look like the lama.. cos i'm as white as them.. pls tell him you disagree! haha

the adelaide version.. she's reading 'The Advertiser'.. that's a mug of Coopers beer and just by her right arm are the pigs you usually see along rundell mall.. i think its the adelaide hills in the background too.. pretty cool..

Mannum and Hahndorf

Road trip with my uncle, my aunt and her friend Sue.. it was really fun! although all that driving made me dizzy! haha.. Stirling road was soooooooooo bendy.. turn and turn.. sheesh! and Sue has a really loud and high pitched voice.. it was like there was this constant shrill noise next to me.. and it was kinda embarrassing too.. cos we'd go into a shop and she'll see something she liked then she'll go "Emmaaaaaaaaaa!!" haha.. but she's good fun, so i suppose it was worth it.. although she kept talking about Leo and I getting married.. haha.. weird! the first time was when we stopped outside this shop that had a wedding gown on display, and she said "next time when Leo and you get married you can come here" i was like "huh?!?! ermm.. not gonna be happening any time soon!" lol.. so freaky!! haha.. but then she kept going on and on and on.. like every hour she would bring the subject up again.. and i was like "hey, slow down man.. i'm like 19?!?!" lol.. she's crazy!!! haha

anyway.. we drove to mannum, then to hahndorf.. it was pretty fun.. but i wished my mummy was there.. she'd have loved it.. the little shops in mannum had nice antiques and all.. don't worry mummy, i'll bring you there when you come back.. by then i should be able to drive! hehe.. hopefully!!

yuppers, anyway.. i'll let the photos speak for themselves.. lazy to say much.. don't think people really bother to read all this anyway.. haha.. have a great week peeps! ciao!

Starting out.. having coffee.. i know it's a really bad pic of me.. haha.. but who cares? lol

By the river... like duh.. ;)

spectacular painting?

my uncle thinks she looks like Austin Powers cos of her hat..

my newest possession... yeah right! haha.. i seriously wouldn't want a boat..

Barry, Sue and Gloria

uh huh.. that's where we were..

we stopped the car on the freeway.. Barry and i got out to take pictures..

hey.. i was thirsty ok..
last pic for the day.. was a great trip..

my one and only picture from Harbour Town.. these girls sure can shop! :)

Rambles..

Let me start my wishing everyone a Blessed Easter! It's my prayer, as well as that of many others i am sure, that people will come to know the real meaning behind why we commemorate easter.. no, it's not cos we get a long weekend and lots of chocs and easter bunnies! We're celebrating something much greater and more important then that.. we're celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.. He willingly died on the cross for our sins. yes, for yours and mine, even before we were born He died for us! and then on the 3rd day, He rose again. It would have been amazing enough in itself that someone could love us so much that He was willing to die for us; but when He rose again on the 3rd day, made it a miracle! and that is why we live today! cos of His love and mercy for us, we have eternal life.. and for that i thank Him!!!

on another note, friday marked the start of my holidays.. i'm on 2 week's break.. and i have no idea what to do! haha.. i've written out a list of stuff i need to do, and i'm looking forward to crossing stuff off asap.. i've sorta gotten started, and i plan to complete most of my assignments that are due all the way up until june.. that will mean that i will have less assignments to do once school re-opens.. i think i should get a job! i have so much time on my hands that it's starting to fustrate me.. i hate wasting time, although i sit around and do absolutely nothing most of the time anyway! haha.. i miss my friends who've gone away! Noelle, Xin Hui, Mao, Jon, Chris and Ern Chee.. faster come back leh guys!! Chris, come back to Aussie land la!! marry shell and bring here back here.. then i can see you more often!!!

it's the first time i've dreaded a holiday.. back in s'pore i used to have fun hanging out with my girlfriends.. we used to have sleepovers and shopping trips.. the sleepovers have stopped since we've grown up though. :( abbie, i miss staying at your place! we used to have a blast! and we caused so much havoc.. we were little monsters!! haha..

i spent all my holidays with Leo last year, but this year's different.. i know you want me to be there, but i'm sorry, i can't.. you'll have fun anyway.. you've got so many parties to attend.. :) and you've got spider and grass hopper! ;)

yup, so i'm probably spend my holidays doing assignments, catching up on my revision, doing even more housework, and working out in the gym! haha.. well that's the plan at least..

i read abbie's blog and this is what she wrote:
"
[FridayApril 6th, 2007]
I read Emma's blog and this almost made me cry:
"oh! and my darling abbie told me she almost got knocked down by a lorry a few days ago.. thank you God for watching over her and keeping her safe.. i wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to her.. well, for starters i would get on the next flight back to s'pore.. i love abbie so so so much! she's like a sister to me! she's my best friend and has been since we met in primary 1.. i was taller than her then, but now she's taller than me! by 1cm!! but she weighs over 10kg less than me! i know you eat a lot hun, but maybe you should try to eat even more! haha.. thanks for always being there for me girl.. love you truck loads gorgeous!! so glad you are safe and sound.. don't jay-walk anymore!!!"

I love you Emma! I miss you so much ): "

haha.. feels weird copying from her blog what she copied from mine! lol.. but i miss you and love you even more beef!!! come visit me soon ok?

hmm.. so what else has been going on? oh ya! i went out with some friends on thursday.. we went to karaoke.. it was fun although i didn't sing.. not into the mic at least! but it was fun! was nice meeting the girls.. they're really nice and fun! and i met Ze-Ho-Bo.. that's Sarah's new stuffed toy! oh!!! and i got to have AB's for dinner again! thanks Jon!! we had the one from the blue and white shop last time, so we decided to try it from the red and white shop this time instead.. the blue and white shop one wins hands down.. it's soooo much better.. so if any of you guys are in north adelaide for ABs, go to the blue and white shop.. it's like a dollar or two more expensive, but it's sooo much better and totally worth the money!

went shopping yesterday and got some really good buys.. i think there's gonna be an after easter sale or something.. so that'll be good! haha.. will probably be going down to harbour town with Xiao Wei and the girls this week.. i wonder if they know Xin Hui, cos they're both from VJC.. hmm.. shall ask them..

Barlow girls are really good.. their songs are not only meaningful, but talk about things we go through in everyday life.. go check them out or something yea? here's one of the songs that i feel a lot of people can identify with.. so often we allow the opinions of others to dictate the way we think and feel about ourselves.. and sometimes we just think and feel so negatively about ourselves cos we don't like who we see in the mirror.. but you know, even when we can't find it within us to love ourselves, God loves us - just the way we are! with our uncombed hair and less then perfect complexion! Cos He created us and meant for us to be that way, and He would have us any different! So instead of looking in the mirror and criticising everything we see that we dont like, why not we try and look at ourselves through God's eyes, maybe we'll see things differently! i know what it feels like to dread looking into the mirror; to want to look into the mirror and see something other than what we see, but i thank God for my mum, Leo and my friends (Abbie, Manda, Sterls, my Jie, Shell, Alicia, Chris and Derek and others.. ). Thank you guys for loving me when i found it hard to love my pimpled face self! haha.. thank you especially to Leo.. when other guys may have found the idea of going out with someone who had pimples all over her face unthinkable, you not only loved me, but you were still proud of me and showed me off to your friends.. you loved me and accepted me when i had no make-up on to cover the spots - not that the make-up really helped! so thank you for that! :)

anyway.. enough mushy stuff! haha.. here's the lyrics to Mirror, by Barlow Girl.. have a great week people!

Mirror LyricsArtist(Band):Barlow Girl

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Have I got it?
'Cause Mirror you've always told me who I am
I'm finding it's not easy to be perfect
So sorry you won't define me
Sorry you don't own me

(chorus)
Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, No, no, no I won't try

Mirror I am seeing a new reflection
I'm looking into the eyes of He who made me
And to Him I have beauty beyond compare
I know He defines me

(Chorus)
Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, Nooo I won't try

You don't define me,
You don't define me,
You don't define me,
You don't define maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa,

Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeah
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, Nooo I won't try

Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeah, Yeah
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, Nooo I won't try

Happy Birthday Gloria

had dinner at T-Chow today to celebrate my aunt's birthday! food was good.. only took a few pics, so here are some.. enjoy.. haha.. nothing much to say.. so shall not say much.. lol.. ciao!

my aunt Gloria and I
my aunt screamed at my uncle "why do you always have to put your arm around me?" haha..

school server is down

right.. so i'm supposed to complete an online quiz for my education subject, but the server is down.. i was hoping to finish it today before i go to church.. guess that's not gonna happen anytime soon, so i suppose i'll have to do it tmr morning instead.. saturday was mostly spent at home.. so is sunday.. haha.. my life is so boring.. but it's fine with me cos i like staying home.. i'm domesticated, remember? lol..

nothing much to blog about really, but i've got nothing else to do since the server is down.. well, i suppose i do have stuff to do, but just don't feel like doing them yet.. oh! my neighbour got a puppy.. i heard the little girl shouting to tell her friends about it ever so early in the morning.. i looked out of my window, couldn't see the puppy, then fell straight back to sleep..

oh! and my darling abbie told me she almost got knocked down by a lorry a few days ago.. thank you God for watching over her and keeping her safe.. i wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to her.. well, for starters i would get on the next flight back to s'pore.. i love abbie so so so much! she's like a sister to me! she's my best friend and has been since we met in primary 1.. i was taller than her then, but now she's taller than me! by 1cm!! but she weighs over 10kg less than me! i know you eat a lot hun, but maybe you should try to eat even more! haha.. thanks for always being there for me girl.. love you truck loads gorgeous!! so glad you are safe and sound.. don't jay-walk anymore!!!

ok.. i'm off to cook lunch.. have a great week ahead peeps!