SEASON 3 EPISODE 1: The journey resumes....

Welcome to SEASON 3 of The Adventures of Josiah!

As a matter of introduction, I have just under 1 month (from today) before the first set of exams take centre-stage. These exams are for my compulsory modules namely, Business Law, Property Law and Litigation [both Civil and Criminal].

It is my prayer that the Lord will endow me with His wisdom and His creativity, yes the mind of CHRIST as I plough through the coming weeks.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

SEASON 2 EPISODE 5: Reflections on my 2-week break in Singapore

After 2 weeks in Singapore, I am back in London for the next part of the LPC which began with preparing and attempting the recently concluded mock assessments in Business Law and Property. This marks the beginning of an onslaught of assessments and exams in January and February and I am glad that I attempted these mock assessments because I believe that half the battle is won when one prepares and attempts it.

What I want to do in this entry and to close SEASON 2 of my adventures is to reflect on the 2 weeks back in Singapore. At the outset, the time was definitely well-spent. But I wished I had more contact time with a few selected people. I am still feeling a little homesick and do miss them. I am pretty sure that once I get into the thick of school life again and assessments, this homesick feeling will die down.

Before I went back to Singapore, I recalled saying that the time in Singapore was to be an opportunity to recharge, be refreshed and reinspired to take on the challenges that lie ahead in the next 6 months. Have I met those objectives? Indeed, I believe I did.

What were my days like in Singapore? Below are the activities I did:

(1) Spending a good amount of time eating as I caught up with my friends, family and even my former colleagues and employer.

(2) Preparing for our Christmas dinners where my extended families will come to my house for dinner. My maternal extended family will come on Christmas Eve while my paternal extended family will come by on Christmas Day. My mother will prepare the turkey, Jonathan [my first younger brother] will do mashed potatos and I will prepare either home-made cream of mushroom soup or a salad. I decided to do the former this time around. Joshua [my second younger brother] will assist in the setting up of the dinner table. The photos of those activities can be found at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82560&l=debc1&id=796305385

(3) Did some occasional studying in between these activities.

(4) Submitted an application to a law firm for a training contract in September 2008 before the deadline on 31st December 2007. As I prepared my application, it was an opportunity for me to sit back, reflect upon the events and happenings in my life so far and marvel at the LORD's workings through those events. PRAISE THE LORD!

(5) Went for a checkup on my heart only to find that the extra set of nerves that had been lying dormant for a whole has resurfacing, resulting in an abnormal ECG. It may not be life-threatening, but it calls for constant monitoring while I am here in London.

So, all in all, I want to thank the LORD for the opportunity to recharge, refreshed and be reinspired. In the course of it, there was space to reconnect with an old church friend. I only wished that there was an avenue to slip in a second meeting before I flew back on 31st December.

The year 2007 has been an eventful year, culminating in a 3-month adventure away from home in London to qualify as a lawyer here. The LORD has definitely been with me in 2007 through very unexpected ways.

I believe He will do the same in 2008 as He will never leave nor forsake. The only difference will be how His presence will be manifested. But, the LORD is a GOD of surprises. So, don't rush Him and let Him take over. He is after all, THE Almighty God.

As I therefore conclude SEASON 2 and begin SEASON 3 (which will likely cover the rest of my time on the LPC), I want to encourage all readers that the LORD is at work, even though you may feel He is not there. Take heart that He is looking out for us and knows our needs. Our response? To draw close to Him.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

PS: School starts proper on Monday and I will be greeted by a 8-minute Advocacy mock assessment which I have to prepare this weekend.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 4: 1 week in Singapore

Greetings from warm, humid (and occasionally wet) Singapore. I want to thank God for a safe journey back home.

It has been a week since I arrived home and it will be another week before I return to London for the next leg of the LPC and final stage of my legal training. How time flies.

My first week here in Singapore has been packed with catching up with people. These range from friends to former bosses and colleagues. The first gathering was on Monday (approx. 24 hours after I returned to Singapore) with my polytechnic Choir friends for our annual Christmas gathering/gift exchange.

You can view the photos at this hyperlink:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=77635&l=15b21&id=796305385

It took me a great deal of time to adjust to Singapore's time and especially weather. But, I am slowly getting used to being here - though I will have to adjust (again) when I fly off in 1 week's time, sigh!

But, I do miss London and would actually love to be back there amidst the cold weather and soaking in the life there. I have thoroughly enjoyed the first 3 months away in a foreign country and I thank the Lord for His faithfulness and mercy during those times. He has proven Himself to be faithful and providing me "angels" to direct me, guide me and protect me. All thanks be to God!

I also thank the Lord for providing wonderful classmates. These are the people I come to contact each day in school and they never cease to make me look forward to school! Many thanks to all, especially Sachie, Abdul, Anita and Sumiera... To round off the term, we had a great time at the Green Man after our Solicitors' Accounts on 13rd December. The photos of that event (and more) can be found in http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=76809&l=f16f7&id=796305385

In the week ahead, I will be inter alia meeting more friends, giving away presents I bought from London, submitting an application for a training contract and getting some revision done before I fly off just before midnight on 31st December 2007.

I want to wish all who read this blog entry A BLESSED CHRISTMAS 2007 AND A PEACEFUL 2008!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

SEASON 2 EPISODE 3: At this time next week...

At this time next week, I will be at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 waiting to check in for my 12.5 hr flight back to Singapore. Just can't wait.

But, in the counting down to that day, there are many things to give thanks for, pray for and plan for. This ranges from giving thanks for my service in Christian ministry at All Souls and LCF to planning for my training contract hunt. This is all in addition to school work. Indeed, there's alot on my plate!

This week has been eventful as I sat through 2 enlightening careers talk on interviews and training contracts on Tuesday and Wednesday, lead a Bible study [which sounded more like a sermon] on Exodus 11-13 at All Souls' SWOT session on Wednesday night and received further advice on potential employers from my lecturers.

I also give thanks to the Lord for enabling me to make the grade for a legal research assessment.

I pray that I will be able to end the coming week on a good note as I take my Solicitors' Accounts examination on Thursday morning.

More in the week to come!

SEASON 2 EPISODE 2: Thinking of home and giving thanks

It has been 2 weeks of assessments and assignments, with one more to go before flying home (ie Solicitors' Accounts). I will have a mock assessment for that this Friday and Part 1 of the real assessment 2 weeks later.

In the midst of all this, I want to take some time out to reflect on what has happened these past 3 months in London.

Time has really flown by since I came over in September 2007. In a blink of an eye, we are now at the tail-end of 2007. For me, the next big thing is to come back home (even if it is only 2 weeks!).

At my recent SKYPE conversation with my parents yesterday, I was very touched to hear that my parents have both taken leave off work from 24th Dec to 31st Dec to be with the family. [Heartiest thanks Mummy and Daddy! :)]

This is because it will be the ONLY time where the WHOLE family will be together. Therefore, it is this that will make Christmas 2007 extra special and memorable! This will also be contained in the subsequent episodes of Season 2.

Most importantly, I believe I have grown more aware and conscious of my own faith in Jesus Christ. I give thanks to the LORD for keeping me safe and sound, providing a clean bill of health thus far and seeing me through each day here.

I also thank the LORD for providing opportunities for me to serve and grow (ie SWOT @ All Souls and Lawyers' Christian Fellowship) and people to catch up with. These "extra-curricular activities" have just made my weeks here more exciting.

So, in the run-up to 15th December 2007 (the date I am flying back), I will be going through the final weeks of school and I will go through it with excitement and anticipation. Stay tuned for the next episode.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Season 2 Episode 1:In the thick of things

The previous season saw my journey from Singapore to London, settling into school and ended with a weekend away with the Weis.

The opening episode for this season begins with assignments and mock assessments. Yes, it is that time of the year! At time of writing, I have already submitted 2 assignments, gone through 1 mock assessment and will be doing the real assessment tomorrow. I still have another mock to go and a real assessment before flying home for Christmas.

However, this is not all that I am doing at the moment. In the background, I also have to decide the electives to take, steer a Student Fellowship Group @ Westminster [ie a Christian Fellowship] under the banner of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship (of which I have just taken up leadership) and begin my hunt for training contracts, not to mention having time for myself.

So, there's alot of things to do and this reminds me of my time back home... Juggling studies with extra-curricular activities. The other thing that comes up once in a while is meeting up with friends and this will conclude this episode.

The BRMC-London group had its second gathering at Strada's near St Paul's Cathedral. The reason? Well, Edmund Bek and Hannah Wong (2 BRMC visiting London. Organised by my doctor-in-training contemporary Melvin and his girlfriend (also a doctor) Amanda. we had a great time and here are the photos of the gathering:




The gang (clockwise): Guan Sin, Edward, Lishan, Hannah, Edmund, Amanda and Melvin


The desserts we had (from top to bottom): Chocolate pudding with Vanilla Ice-cream, a Strawberry Crumble, Tiramisu and (another) Chocolate pudding with Vanilla Ice-cream

[Did not take photos of our main courses because all of us were having it at different times. Anyway, the dessert was what I was going for]


We cleared everything and felt satisfied thereafter. Yummy!!

The following 2 photos are from Edmund's camera (thanks Edmund for them):


Edmund, Amanda, Melvin and myself


Melvin and myself (I was having my main course, a pizza)

I look forward to our next gathering.. :)

Stay tuned.

Episode 10: Weekend with the Weis (3rd to 5th November 2007)

This week is the "non-teaching week" which really means catching up week. I do not need to go to school but I have lots of catching up to do (and today is already Wednesday!!)

Anyway, just want to update my adventures here in England. In view of this non-teaching week, I decided to have a weekend away from the city and go up to visit Uncle Tonni, Auntie Jennifer and Jemima Wei ("the Weis") in Basingstoke, which is about 1 1/2 hour or so out of London.

My links with the Weis go back a long way. Jordan Wei [whom I caught up with in Episode 5] was my classmate back in secondary school, while Uncle Tonni and my parents were classmates back in their years in school!

My journey began on Saturday morning at ten past 9am where I had to take the National Rail train from Waterloo station to Basingstoke. However, due to weekend engineering works, I had to drop off at Woking (2 train stops from Basingstoke) and take a - what was a long and winding - rail replacement bus service to Basingstoke. The photo below was taken from the bus at Woking station.

Throughout the journey, I was greeted by greenery, fields and farms, a refreshing change from the urban jungle in the city. [My apologies for not taking any photos of this]

I eventually got to Basingstoke and was greeted by Uncle Tonni. He then drove me back to the house, which is about 25 minutes away by car from the station. After settling in and catching up with the Weis, we then made a trip to Winchester, the former capital of England before London.

Winchester is largely a historical town, and the archtecture is just marvelous. There was the Great Hall, the town centre and the great Winchester Cathedral. Photos below:

A replica (so they say) of King's Arthur's Round Table

Auntie Jennifer, me and Uncle Tonni beneath the Round Table

The interior of the Great Hall

Winchester Cathedral - Admission fee of GBP3 (students) and GBP 5 (adult)

[If I had more time, I will definitely make a visit]

The road for pedestrians only

An example of a tree in autumn

We left Winchester and headed to See Woo's (a mega Chinese wholesaler) at Reading to get some food for dinner. The Weis also invited 2 of their friends, Yau Wee and his wife Ronnie over.

We had laksa (with [what was left of their] air-flown sambal belachan from Singapore... :)) and chicken rice that night.

Dinner with the Weis and friends

(from left: myself, Yau Wee, Ronnie, Uncle Tonni, Jemima and Auntie Jennifer)

Good things come in pairs!

I spent the "intervals" (and the rest of the night) catching up on my reading and looking through my 2 Timothy 4 notes [which I will be leading the study this evening at All Souls SWOT].

I woke up to a misty Sunday morning. This is the view from where I was holding up and it faces the back of the house.

I followed the Weis to their church. It is a community church located at the town centre. It was mainly worship and the preaching of the Word. But, it was there that my thoughts for 2 Timothy 4 somewhat crystalised and I revamped my approach to the study. Service finished at midday and we walked over to Yau Wee and Ronnie's place for lunch [see below].

Fried rice, chicken rice and salad for lunch

In the afternoon, we had a badminton game at a club where Yau Wee and Ronnie were members. The day ended with dinner at the Weis of meat loaf and pastry pies. For the rest of the evening, I spent it relooking at my notes.

I left the Weis on Monday at around ten to 10am and returned to Old Street just a quarter to 12pm. All in all, it was a great getway, a first for me since I arrived in London. But, it will definitely not be the last. I am somewhat refreshed to face the challenges that lie ahead of me.

Thanks be to God for the Weis, their friends and the hospitality! May the Lord bless them in their individual lives and in their ministry as they continue to serve the Lord wherever they are.

On this note, that concludes Season 1 of the Adventures of Josiah. In this short 2 but exciting 2 months, we saw Josiah's entry into London, finding his feet and establishing himself in both school and church.

In Season 2, we will see Josiah moving through assessment after assessment as the school terms draws to a close for Christmas. Josiah looks forward to coming back to Singapore and be reunited with his family for Christmas!