Christmas - the 6th day

More photos at www.siewwai.zenfolio.com

merry christmas - the 7th day

More photos availabe at www.siewwai.zenfolio.com


This is my first Christmas in Australia. My 5th Christmas ever since I discovered the story of Christmas and began to understand the beauty and true meaning of it.








My Christmas Eve was very well spent, the way I never expected it. Of course I worked in the day, and contrary to popular opinion that I would definitely head off for one party after another, I actually felt like hitting home for a quiet and early night. Hmm...never quite the way I wanted but I wasn't feeling my best yesterday...you know, the package of light headedness, lethargy, pale, cramps etc etc ;) and it doesn't help knowing that I would have a long day at work on Christmas day.








So I went home, though unwell yet wanna go to the gym ; went to the gym and to my surprise they weren't open; disappointed and hit home again...








Then I saw my housemate crouching in the couch using her laptop. It can't be she had no appointment on the Christmas Eve...Unlike her,my not-going-out-on-Christmas-Eve was fully justified by the fact that I was unwell and had to work through the whole Christmas Day.








So I suggested to do something different, we were headed to Glenelg, bought the awesome Organic pizza, sat by the beach, saw the magnificent sunset, took some photos, had my favourite Cibo, did some crazy shopping , then home.....








Why was I so excited about this?Because it was a Christmas Eve that was spent with my housemate of whom I've not seen much. Can't believe what the daily rat race has done to us. We have stayed under the same roof for 5 months and yesterday for the first time I knew that she liked golfing and dancing etc...








Anyway...My Christmas entry will be continued...too tired now.

My hiding place in the midst of craziness - the 9th day

The cafe is called the Courtyard Cafe, located in the heart of the hospital and they make brilliant coffee.












It was a valuable 20 minutes break when I took this shot, love to just sit in the shade with a cuppa in my hand. Summer is the best time to sit outside.




























































































Matthew 6:26 ' Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?'

Just a lil thought of the day.

the supposedly day 17 - the 13th day

I have not forgotten about my commitment here :) It is an absolutely lovely day 13 today!


Now now, before anything else, lemme introduce to you my new playground ( it is still under construction now )....ta da!


www.siewwai.zenfolio.com


Finally found a place to showcase my work!


And these are some of the snapshots I took in the Barossa Valley, was there just a few days ago with my church friends. Every picture has a story to tell.


I am happy, terribly happy now. Not just right here right now at this moment, but at this stage generally speaking. Yeay, talk about finishing the year well. Anyone cares to join my club?












Apparently this used to be a nesting place for some birds....
































Someone's boy





























I just like this shot...





























And this...

































And this...


:) will be back tomorrow.

Maybe I should sleep now - the 18th day

So today is the 18th day towards the end of 2007. It is already 11:50, finished work at 9pm, picked up a friend from another friend's place, just got home feeling exhausted. And it doesnt help to know that tmrw I'll have to get up earlier than usual for work. Maybe I should stop typing now, maybe I should just sleep. But, naw, it is the 18th day to the 31st.


Today I got my roster for next year. Anaesthetic, Intensive Care Unit, Surgical and Emergency Department. It is gonna be a brand new experience. What is it gonna be like? Being wrapped in surgical scrubs day and night means I am gonna make my public appearance in scrubs. ( Scrubs, you know, those greenish blueish pyjamas like tops that we see in Grey's Anatomy)...there goes all my fancy clothes and shoes and accessories :(


But it is gonna be a whole new experience at work. Right now I am very comfortable with what I am doing now. After a year I have had the hang of it, I've come to know how to be a good intern, I've grown to be confident and authoritative in doing what I am meant to do. The best thing is, my boss trust me because I've proven myself throughout the year (and it is the same for all other interns), yet I don't bear the true responsibility. I am covered by my boss, I dun have the heavy burden on my shoulders.


Sometimes I do wish to just stay at this stage. It seems to be the safest and most comfortable place. I wonder what I'd be like if I were to carry on for 1 more year.


But, naw...I am glad I am finishing my internship. Unlike many other interns, I don't feel drained or exhausted. I am just bored. I want to do something greater and different.


This year has been great and challenging, I believe next year there is more to come. I've trusted in God, I am trusting in Him, and I will continue to trust in Him.

gusto - the 19th day

Today in my mid term assessment my consultant wrote : ' Dr Wong is a delightful and well respected intern who is finishing off her internship with gusto, she provides excellent care for the patients. ' ...I caught him on the ward and made him do my assessment there and then. I smiled, when I read it.

Then my eye went down to the next line, area of improvement : 'She needs to improve her hand writing.' : ( What!...his is no where better than mine..anyway, just because he is my consultant...

To be honest, I really love what I am doing now. Have you watched Hairspray? Every morning I feel like that girl, wake up looking forward to going to work, to enjoying the good 45 minute drive, to following the wardround, to talking and treating my patients...and then time passes very quickly.

Work to me is not a torment, it is a sense fulfilment and achievement. Maybe because I love the rush of adrenaline, or maybe I simply believe we ought to choose what we love , and love what we choose. I believe in loving our jobs. To me, doctor is not just a job; it is a means of serving God and His ppl.

1 Cor 10:31, 'so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.'

I love pacing around getting things done. My consultant thinks I am too fast for him, he gives me nicknames like Mighty Mouse, Typhoon Siew Wai etc etc...but all in all, I like the way he wrote my assessment , 'she is finishing off her internship with GUSTO.'

All glory to God, I live with enthusiasm and passion because of Him. Amen :)

What is unchangeable?- the 21st day

Nothing is unchangeable. While I was very young I used to believe as long as I stayed the same and persisted, things would go the way I wanted it to be. It was a long and gradual process that God and the world have taken to teach me that nothing will stay the same forever. Things change from moment to moment, even if it is the most seemingly unnoticeable change. To us the cloud looks the same now and 1 minute later, but actually it changes in its shape every single second; and to me, Glenelg looks the same every year, even though the sea level rises in milimeters every year. So, things do change, nothing stays the same.

December is an interesting month, and this has always been the month of changes. I am feeling it now, yes only until this year. Maybe I've forgotten how I felt in the past years anyway. Maybe I said the same thing every year :)


And it is already mid Dec now. 21 more days to go and the grand 2008 will be coming. I m starting to feel slightly terrified now, at the thought that time passes silently and quickly , even before we know or act.

How will I spend the last 21 days of 2007? Everyone starts their new year with new year resolutions, few ppl put their attention in ending the year well.


I am gonna live the last 21 days the way I've never been before. It begins here. Yeay!!! Lets party hard!!! Get drunk!! Nay...thats NOT true. Just joking.


Conclusion of the 21st day: Nothing is unchangeable, only God is. Siew Wai, Siew Wai, let your heart be cool and not troubled by the changes.

:)

I am just so relaxed now. Such is my life after the season of winter and dryness. Is my life hectic? Yes very much. Is my job stressful? Well, at times it can be. Do I feel lonely because I am single and away from family? No, not at all. In fact in this phase of my life I just feel that I can do so much more and enjoy God, enjoy my life, enjoy everything to the fullest. Every single second my heart leaps with joy, be it at work, at home, on my way to work, at chuch, at the gym, catching up with friends, spending time alone, running to the beach , sipping my coffee, etc etc etc...I just feel that, God has infiltrated His perfect peace and joy in every part of me. I have never come to this stage, where I can truly say, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. I SHALL NOT BE IN WANT.



This is what I feel now. I lack nothing. I seriously lack nothing at all. This is what I call completeness, fullstop. Just like the era of King David has passed, the era of wars has ended and then Soloman enjoys peace while he reigns. My David's era has just ended not long ago, God has brought me to the season of rest and prosperity. I am not talking about material prosperity. I am talking about the state of my heart. I dunno how to describe, I just feel so rich, so rich, so rich in my heart. I literally feel God's hand on me ALL THE TIME,His blessings poured down more than abundantly, I am drenched in it.



What's wrong with being single? Why shall we whinge and be worried about not having a bf or gf? I told God, yes, if this is it, then this is it. I will be content with whatever that He gives me. I can love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength , no division of the heart, no distraction. Just God, and me. And I dun want anything or anyone to come in and disturb me.


I am so happy. Naw, actually happy is not the word to use. It is more than mere happiness. It is pure joy, the state of truly REJOICING IN GOD.


I dunno how I do it. Must be God.


I have no problem being alone. When I was younger I loved travelling alone, but in my heart I was lonely, the whole world was just me in a black hole.
Now I still love doing things alone (having said that, I still love spending time with my friends), but God is in it.


My new year resolution? :) My prayer is that God will help me , to live my life to the fullest according to the purpose that He destined for me, in every single day and opportunity I wanna experience Him and the life that He gives me with maximal passion ; may all my senses be so empowered and sharpened, to feel, taste, see, hear and experience Him.


Use me, God.

my camera

I must share this....so I have decided to abandon my old film SLR (I have not used that for a 2-3 years) and switch to DSLR.


I bought a set of photography equipment online from the States, finally got it just 3 weeks ago:) so the story goes all the way back to 3 weeks ago, I was very excited and could not wait to start shooting with my new toy, even without a camera bag. I literally stuffed my new camera into my handbag.and....guess what, as I got too excited talking with my friends, I swung my handbag and it slipped off my hand, dropped on the ground from a great height! Mind you it was only the 3rd day of its arrival....The internal parts were damaged and the only way out is to fix it.

Some of my friends suggested to send it back to the States and claimed that it was a faulty item to start with. Of course I did not do this, instead of that I sent it to the local Canon for repair, knowing that it would probably cost me a fortune. The Canon guy told me the labour fee itself would cost me $350, and that does not include replacement of the parts which I believe can be very expensive.

To cut the long story short, just a few days ago I received a quotation letter from Canon telling me the damage was very minor, the total cost including replacement of the parts was only $94. Wow!!! When I read the letter my jaw dropped, the only question that came thru my mind was, ' How can it be so cheap?', if it was not a miracle from God then it must have been a typo.






That day I was the happiest person in the world. It was not just the money, but what mattered the most was that God again showed me right in my face His faithfulness. I could have been dishonest with the camera trader and said it was a faulty product and asked for a full refund; but I chose to honour God . And, as a result He honours me :)

Anyway, these photos are taken by me, edited by Joshua.

my favourite shot, edited into black and white by Joshua.

Henley Beach

Lil Joshua

Lil Joshua and his dad, both from Ethiopia