S(t)an Dunes, Stan & Jill & Stanley in Wonderland

25th May 2006, Singapore - The editor has decided to treat you with some brilliant photos he took while on his recent trip to Sydney and the surrounding regions. This is in place of his regular longwinded columns. (Why do I hear heaves of sighs all round?) His cold is giving him a major congestion and santence construxion iz oso impeeded. It musk haf travilled up to hiss blain. The handful of photos here were taken at Golden Century seafood restaurant in Sydney, the beautiful beaches at Bondi, the magnificent Sand Dunes at Port Stephens and the colourful Storybook Garden at Hunter Valley Gardens.

<<< Left: The king crab you see weighs a hefty 8.4kg and will cost you A$700 if it ends up on your table!

Below Right: The saltwater pools at Bondi beach; a choice of the open sea and the pool!



Below: The editor tumbles down the hill with Jill while fetching a pail of water.





Below: The editor goofs off in "Wonderful" (Alice didn't want to be photographed).



<<< Left: Getting down and sandy at the dunes.

When Names Speak

22nd May 2006, Singapore - Names connote so much. The country of origin of this blog is Singapore. "Singapore" conjurs images of its founding father, you think of Michael Fay, the society that imposes severe penalties on drug traffickers, its stringent checks on chewing gum, its swanking malls and spanking clean streets. How about Sydney? Yes, the often-mistaken capital city of Australia. The imposing structure of the Harbour Bridge or the shell-clad Opera House. (The editor reserves the right to use this text as the perfect excuse to upload some accompanying photos he took from a seaplane 1,500 feet up while on his recent trip to Sydney.)

Names make suggestions and forge associations. I checked the meaning of mine. Promise you won't laugh? (Make your vow to keep a straight face here!) So you did laugh! I know it's no where near chilvarous or profound, but I'm not blaming my brother. When he was little, he named me after a kite called Flat Stanley, and looking at the way I am today, it's no wonder the fattest I am or can ever be is: LEAN!

Synopsis:
It's a humorous tale of a boy who becomes "flat" when his bulletin board falls on him. Stanley realizes that there are several advantages to being flat, such as the ability to slide under doors, through bars, and yes, being mailed in an envelope for long trips. Stanley's older brother becomes jealous of him, and Stanley offers himself to his brother as a kite. The best part of Stanley's "flat" period is when he is able to catch some thieves in the local museum. People eventually begin to make fun of Stanley, and he tires of being flat. A solution is found by his brother. His brother uses a bicycle pump to make Stanley round again.

Etymology is an interesting field of study. What does your name mean? More importantly, what, who and where do you allow people to associate you with?

So it doesn't matter if your name means 'gazelle', 'blessed', 'beautiful' or 'Yahweh has given', your life and choices weigh so much more.

Names speak about you only to a certain degree,
but it's your life that leaves a legacy.

[Copyright. The Newsstan(d), 2006]

Overnight

2nd May 2006, Singapore - Overnight from the 6th to the 7th of May, the General Elections of this city state will be known. Overnight, we will know the number of candidates from the ruling party who will be returned to power and by what margin. History is written and the future set Overnight.

Overnight last week, between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, an acquaintance was called home to Christ. All of 29 years old, in the prime of his life, just two months into a new job, he was found dead in his office by a colleague. His time was up Overnight.

Overnight, a good working relationship with a trusted and respected contact I had came to an abrupt end. The agreement is off but the show must go on. A premature call-off with no offer to resolve the issue. The deal was called off Overnight.

Circumstances like these hint at the transient state of government, the fragility of life and the unpredictability of characters. It can be all fine and dandy one day, and cold and bitter the next.

Things may change overnight, yet I have certainty and hope. I find comfort and encouragement knowing these:
- That my Lord Jesus Christ is "He is the same yesterday, today and forever". (Hebrews 13:8)
- That when the waves swirl, He is my anchor. (Hebrews 6:19)
- When the wind blows and the arrows fly, He fits me in the cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:22)
- When troubles come, when all seems helpless, He is my "refuge, strength and a present help". (Psalm 46:1)

Come what may overnight, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Indeed "the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)