2011

the end of the year is always a time of reflection on how the year has been, and also of hopes and wishes or expectations on the coming new year. last year i was working a lot in december, and

also on new year's eve so not much time for reflection there. so, since i'm somewhat free this

time around, why not? i mean, looking back is not something we should be doing too often

because it might make you yearn for something that's already past, which might hinder you from fully moving forward. which is something i have a tendency to do if i don't watch myself. but,

looking back also makes me realise how much i have to be thankful for... everything that h

as happened, the people that crossed my path and somehow or rather touched my life in

unexpected ways... just shows how blessed i am, and how loved i am by the Creator i call my God and Father.

anyway, to avoid being draggy and boring, this is a display of what's been happening Denise-wise in 2011... one picture in a month. hopefully it won't be too long-winded :S

January

meet ups and gathering with friends and family

February

Goodbye penang! back to christchurch with a bad case of homesickness lol.

also, the big earthquake which devastated chch.

which consequently allowed me to visit melbourne for the first time (blessing in disguise? i don't know)

March

Denise's birthday! getting old hmm...

Also, christchurch earthquake memorial

April

Easter! Hallelujah! Jesus is alive!

Easter picnic after church (enjoying the last of the good weather)

Also, uni graduation for some of my friends.

May

Exams nearing, so lifegroup girls start packing study packs for our peers.

June

Janice and Sonia in town!

Also, my flat's first party.

July

Snow snow snow! transforming the world as i know it into a winter wonderland.

August

occasional warm spells... the spring flowers are budding! i'm always happy when the flowers start coming out.

Also, having to say goodbye to a well-loved senior/ lifegroup leader/ & friend.

September

combined lifegroups day out.

also, spring is officially here! walking to uni under a canopy of cherry blossoms... priceless!

October

Rugby fever grips NZ. NZ wins world cup, we get to meet the All Blacks. enough said :D

November

Enjoying the greenery in the botanical gardens.

a lot of packing and clearing up the clutter of the year to be put away while i'm away for the summer. a lot of headache trying to settle accommodation for next year as well.

also, balik kampungku! Hello penang!

December

my baptism

also, first cruise trip in my life

and christmas :)

one sleepy blogpost

some things you think you don't want that you realise you want only too late. when it's already gone. or need. come to think of it, you can run after all the things in the world but it's the thing that you don't want that you need. and realise too late that, that ship has already sailed.

and the story is, i always end up doing things like that.

so i probably should've changed all the 'you's to 'i's. sigh

onward to an unrelated topic, i was listening to the mashup of 2011's popular songs that a friend posted on facebook (yes i'm ashamed to say i'm on fb waaay too much than is healthy these days), and boy what memories they brought back. it was as if i saw snippets of 2011 just flashing through my brain as i listened to the mashup.

adele's 'someone like you' - healing from a broken heart

katy perry's 'fireworks' - singing it after having jap food one fine sunday afternoon in chch

adam levine's 'moves like jagger' - one of the late night hangouts with my flatmates and jeremy in our flat. i think it was one of my hyper nights where i was crazy dancing to their eye-rolling.

i can't really remember the rest of the songs now, brain not functioning at full capacity at the moment... pretty sure there were more. songs sure have a way of bringing back memories. whether you like them or not... but whatever it is, and however this year went, i know it all happened for a reason. there were good bits and bad bits, and i'm glad the end of this year seems pretty plesant and laid-back so far. it's a good way to end the year. i wonder what song i'm going to end the year with.

haha this is so unrelated (or is it?), but i'm thinking no matter what i say, i'll still need a musician bf so he'll be able to understand and talk music with me. and make music together... won't that be romantic? ok, enough now. goodbye!

driving in penang

i'm proud to say, after driving only twice in 10 months, i've finally been driving in penang once again. small feat for many people, but big achievement for me! mainly because i'm kinda terrified of driving, and i have been so out of practice. i feel so independent haha!

traffic, and drivers are still as bad as i remember them to be. always a lesson in patience and anger management :)