Mid-year reflections and new miracle stories

I started the year with hope, trepidation and the desire to want to be excited.

I had known I would quit from my job but not what next. London and Europe seemed a natural destination.

The pastoral leadership in TCC had sought God’s wisdom for the year and it was revealed that after two years or so of travails and sowing, this would be a year of harvest, of multiplication and increase. Encouraged by the immensity of it all, I assumed all that for my own life.

For the past 6 months nothing much was clear (except quitting my job). In my Experiencing God study I learnt that many times God reveal His will (His good, pleasing and perfect will) only one step at a time. That, to me, is hard to accept; as one who always zapped past one chapter so I could quickly know that would unfold in the next.

Aileen and Eve were kind enough to remind me what I shared with them; bask in His blessings for the moment, praise and thank Him.

Indeed, I am a privileged child of God.

Two weeks in London I got a call from an old friend and ex-colleague who has moved to Singapore. She is managing the communications department of a large American MNC’s Asia Pacific office, and she would like me to join her on a 6 months’ contract.

I was hesitant because I only just arrived and I had not given London a chance. I had not even seriously looked for a job.

The terms, however, fitted everything I wanted when I quit my previous position. It does not anchor me down with inflexibility and would allow me to work remotely; it would address the damage in my pay scale; and just as importantly, it would be communications on the client-side and not in a consultancy.

It took me many sleepless nights and prayers to say “Yes.”

The reason: I have learnt from experience how God works in my life. At the very same time, my lesson in Experiencing God was asking me to list down spiritual markers in my life- turning points in which I was sure God was present and made a difference.

I now see very clearly that it is when God hands me something, literally placing it on my lap, that things turn out most successfully. Not without difficulties; but I could sense it when I am walking right in the middle of His grace.

Post agreeing to the contract, there were weeks of waiting, and a phone interview with two persons from US offices and more waiting.

Through it all, I struggled with wanting to “grab” and to let go. Elaine, my cell-group member in TCC had said to me that I should not struggle. There is no need. I know all that, especially having spent so much time with God everyday for the past three months. But sometimes there is a disconnect between the mind and the heart.

While waiting I looked into other opportunities in Singapore half-heartedly. By that time, I had decided it made no sense financially to work in London (taxes and cost of living); I was also tired of traveling. I missed the warmth and sunshine of the tropics and most importantly, God did not place my heart in England, much as I still love that place.

There is nothing more I want to do at this point in my life than to be so sensitive to God and be an obedient child.

I didn’t really try very hard at looking for new jobs in Singapore. At the back of my mind and heart there was a sense of “waiting”. I remember the very distinct reasons why I had quit: I don’t want to be stuck with an inflexible job and I had to be movable (don’t as me why because I don’t know. I only know that was the message).

The conspiracy of the universe had it that I had to travel back to Singapore before the end of June or there are no more affordable one-way tickets back until mid-August. Once having made up my mind, I didn’t think there was reason to remain in London for so long.

And so it was that I reached Singapore last night. During dinner, Aileen asked what are my plans. I didn’t have any. It was as if I was in a twilight waiting room; nothing and something is happening at the same time.

After dinner, I checked my email.

I got the job.

I start next week.

Your majesty, I can but bow
I lay my all before you now
In royal robes I don’t deserve
I live to serve your majesty

I wish there is a way to explain AWE. I was awed and amazed at His perfect timing and His amazing grace. And so I had to tell you this story, wordy as it may be.

I started the year asking God for new miracle stories.

I don’t want to be telling last year’s miracles all the time. I want to fill up and infinite number of miracle bottles so that I could be a living testimony. But more selfishly, I crave the constant reality of Jesus.

The last weekend I attended Kensington Temple, the message was about being in the Joshua Generation- claiming the “Promised Land” in victory. The verse was the same as one Pastor Dominic gave in TCC early this year.

Joshua 1:3a “I will give you every place where you set your foot…”

Two days before I was to depart from London another verse crept into my meditation. Moses said to God in Exodus 33:13b: “…If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

I really should stop doubting if I am indeed hearing from God, huh?

Next week is the start of July; the very month I thought would be a good time to start something again when I was preparing to quit months ago.

July. The start of the next half-year. And I find myself in the place of hope, trepidation and peace.

Thank you Jesus, for your grace.

Your grace, still amazes me
Your love, still a mystery
Each day, I fall on my knees
Your grace, still amazes me

P/S. Please keep me in your prayers as we have not finalised the contract details and there isn't any seal on any envelope yet.

PP/S. In case you are wondering, I don't know what will happen after the six months but I know God will be leading me to something even better :)

Les pomegranates pour Eve

When I was in Zurich I watched a sermon on DVD and the lady speaking said that each pomegranate has 365 seeds.

Don't ask my why certain little things pique me so much. Enough to buy a pomegranate and slowly peel off the skin and preserve those little red rubies for my counting.

When in Buckingham and grocery shopping with Ping, I chose the largest fruit so as not to disappoint myself. She thought I was NUTS.

Saphie was very happy she got to eat really pretty seeds and gulped them all down in a minute (it took me over an hour to peel and separate and count).

Me: There are 551 seeds! That's a lot more than 365!! (despaired)
Ping: I told you that! (she did, when I reached 200 and the bowl was still pretty full)
Ping: And oh, it's 553 (she cheekily put two seeds into the bowl; I don't know how her theft escaped me).

Eve also watched the same sermon and was curious to know, too.

Well, my dear, this is for you also :)

Forward reading list

Someone said my blog has too many words.

Someone else said I should plan my life.

So here are the few books, in PICTURE, that I PLAN to read in the course of my life.

HAH!

I spent a few hours at Charing Cross- a great place to get reading inspirations. I think I could rot in the bookstore.

Bedtime gossips

On the male anatomy.

CH: Someone told me that guys who are circumcised have greater sex drive because they (the little they) are more sensitive.
NY: Hahahahahaahhahaah!!!!
CH: Really. Why are you laughing?
NY: Hahahahahahahah! Because XYZ is circumcised!
CH: How do you know?
NY: Because he told a few of us before. Long ago, when we were in school. He said his parents took him to the hospital when he was a little boy. He said they thought it would be more hygienic. Hahahaahahah!
CH: How would it be more hygienic?
NY: I think it is, too. My cousin is circumcised. When he was a little boy he kept getting infections and the doctor said he got too much foreskin when his penis is not erected and it was trapping dirt.
CH: Ewe!
NY: And our friend told me once that when he was a doctor in the urology department, he had to insert something into a patient’s penis (OUCH) and he could see trapped dirt under the foreskin, too.
CH: EWE!
NY: See, it is more hygienic.
CH: But it makes them more horny!
NY: What?? I’ve never heard of that before.
CH: Really. That’s why the Malays are more sexually active than us (the Chinese, not us as in CH and I, but the comparison still holds true).
NY: Gosh! That cannot be real. Who told you that?
CH: You have not heard of it? But I’ve had a few guys told me that in uni.
NY: Like who?
CH: Henry for one.
NY: Henry? How would Henry know? He’s not circumcised.
CH: He is a guy. He would know! I mean if people say anything about the female body we would know, too.
NY: That is true…

On national current affairs.

CH: Our prime minister is getting married.
NY: What?
CH: My colleague told me that. It is true. I checked on the Internet.
NY: So soon? Who is she?
CH: I said that, too. But my colleague says it is not that soon because his wife died 1.5 years ago.
NY: Wow, talk about different perspectives.
CH: This lady is Endon’s ex-sister in law. Divorced from her brother long time ago. Has two daughters. And she is Chinese. At least she is not a young girl.
NY: How old is she?
CH: 53
NY: Wow, you know a lot.
CH: I got it from the Internet.

On politics (we are deep, us girls).

CH: When is the next elections?
NY: 2008
CH: Ok, I must make sure I am home at that time.
NY: Ya, me too.
CH: Have you voted? I’ve voted before (detect the gloating).
NY: I’ve voted twice (ditto).
CH: I tried to register the first time but it didn’t get through so I didn’t get to vote that year.
NY: Yes, I remember. 1998. The government didn’t approve the registrations of many people that year because they feared the young people would vote opposition.
CH: Christine, YL, HM and I were talking about elections and they all had not voted before. They don’t really care.
NY: I know… many people don’t.
CH: But you have to exercise your rights!
NY: Yes! You go girl!
CH: In Shah Alam, it actually doesn’t matter because we always get BN and PAS.
NY: Urgh… that is quite a no brainer. In Subang we get BN and Keadilan. It’s no that I like Keadilan or I want the opposition to win. I just don’t want BN to get so many votes. If we have Gerakan from BN I would vote them cos they are like the opposition within BN. You are right. BN and PAS is bad. I wonder what would I do.
CH: Ya, please tell me!
NY: Well, we cannot vote PAS, that’s for sure. But if we have to vote that means BN gets another vote.
CH: So how?
NY: I guess I won’t go vote then.
CH: But you have to!
NY: Then I will void my vote.
CH: Like pangkah* all the boxes?
NY: Ya.

*Malay for "cross"

Please, make me a picture

That’s how many Europeans say it, I noticed. They don’t say, “Could you please take a picture for me.” They say, “Please, could you make a picture for me.”

It sounds unusual to English speakers like most of us because we take, not make pictures.

It got me to thinking why. And I think I won’t be wrong to say that “make a picture” is a literal translation from the user’s own language.

It’s like how the Chinese always get “he” and “she” confused because in Chinese there is no difference.

Make me a picture.

Is that correct?

I reasoned that in the very technical sense, it is in fact, correct. And that TAKE a picture, is actually not. We, in the literal sense, cannot take a picture. We can pick up (the act of taking) a printed photograph of a picture, but can we pick up the vision before us?

Now, to MAKE a picture. When we click the shutter button, what we in fact do, is to create on film/ digital pixels the vision we see through the lenses. Isn’t that the making of a picture?

The English language is actually quite “aggressive”, if you think about it. So, I quite like the way Europeans say it ☺

Playground of the kings

Hampton Court Palace is renowned for its opulence and the still beautifully kept grounds. CH and I took advantage of good weather two weekends back for a visit. As we were both bored of old buildings, we enjoyed only the gardens.

Here are some of my favourite shots. I have no idea why the vertical shots appear horizontal even though they appeared the right way on my computer. Pointers, anyone?

Three new dreams

“I want to be a forensic scientist when I grow up,” Saphie said. Every night we watched CSI and/or Bones before we go to bed.

“Then you got to be very good with your Maths,” I said. That is not quite true but Ping said she is very lazy with doing her Maths so I am trying to do some cajoling here.

“When you grow up, what do you want to be?” Saphie asked me.

“But darling, I am already grown up.” I tried to get out of saying I was a journalist and a PR consultant. How to explain to a seven going to be eight year old inquisitive girl? Nobody says she wants to grow up to be a PR consultant; surely not I!

“How old are you, jie jie?”
“31.”
“When you grow up to become 32, what do you want to be?”
“Happy.” I said. Hah!

Saphie is very persistent and she asked me that same question probably four of the six days I was there (I was supposed to stay only four days- see how persuasive she can get?).

So it actually got me thinking. What do I want to be when I grow up? I’ve come to a point of thinking how youth is wasted on the young. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Today I was day-dreaming and I felt a little disappointed at myself for thinking the way I did. Later, walking out of church after an inspiring message, my mind strung some words that have been recurring.

New season. Dreams. Harvest.

What if I am not beyond dreaming of what I want to be/do when I grow up from 30 to 50? It’s really the start of another season, no? ☺

(I am very good at defining my own universe, you see)

So here are three more for the road (of course there are more!).

1. Have an organic farm (some you think this is in commercial scale but I’m thinking my parents’ backyard!)
2. Have a small “tent-making” business of my own that would give me flexible time
3. Write a book

Notice the lack of physically challenging activities!! But I would so do hang gliding again ☺
Gin, you wanna write three new dreams down? This time you can refer to this website in case you forget!

Anyone feel like dreaming?

p/s Jenn I know you wanna go Disneyland and I did say I would go with you ☺ If you don’t mind me being the lamp post!

7 random things...

...that Krystal doesn't know about me.

1. I know how to make tiramisu and it turns out well :) You surely don’t know this because I only learnt how to, three days ago.

2. I like to do things with my fingers. Playing the piano. Taking pictures. Developing prints in the darkroom. Folding origami storks. Cooking. Weeding. Gardening. Doodling. Arranging things. I think I could be good at baking, too, if and when I take it up :)

3. I used to think that cats yowl was because they were hungry and wanted food. My grandma told me so when I was four. I believed her until I was in college and saw the actions that came with the yowling.

4. When we were in high school, Gin and I listed three dreams we would like to achieve in our lifetimes. One of mine was to go to Disneyland twice. I don't know why twice. But I did just that, without being conscious of fulfilling this "dream" while they came to pass. I've been to the original one in Anaheim, California and the one in Disney World, Florida. Disneyland is indeed, magical.

5. I have only really, really liked two men in my life and neither of them were my ex-boyfriends. Tragic, huh?

6. Some noises unnerve me. Slamming doors, loud arguments, thumping and harried footsteps.

7. I didn’t think I could keep a blog for so long. September makes two years :)

All about Saphie

I used to think I would not be able to live away from the city but I think age has gotten to me. I like this little town of Buckingham where Ping and Saphie live.

In the morning I indulge in sleeping late (9+); saunter into the kitchen for tea and toast; read the papers; check my emails and look for jobs.

Yesterday I had to pick Saphie from school. Two hours before that I got into a mini panic attack- there is no food. What if she gets hungry when she gets home? I settled for the simple stuff and whatever I could find in the larder and fridge. It was to be pasta and prawns marinara.

I walked to Saphie's school, 15 min away from the house. Ping was at work and I get to do the honour. I came with Ping the day before and one of the moms thought I was 20!?!? Saphie gladly told her teacher that I am her sister because she says I look like her. I look nothing like a Chinese-Italian although that would be nice.

On the way home Saphie showed me a different route. "The long way," she said. We walked through some lush greenery and what reminded me of "the woods" in Enid Blyton's stories. I could almost imagine fairies spying on us. "Be careful of stinging nettles!" Saphie warned.

Ping had told me she would ask to go to the playground, which would be OK. But Saphie changed her mind and decided she would like to make butterfly cupcake. Gulp. Me? Bake?? She must have read my thoughts: " We have instructions on the box". This little girl reads body language and nuances very well.

We searched high and low (basement also) but could not find the measuring spoons. How was I to know how much is 50g of butter?? Let's see, one box contains 500g so I would just make divisions of 10. "You're so smart!" "Thanks darling, I know." :)

Ping came back while we were whisking the dough. Our butterfly cupcakes turned out well and so did the icing. Hurrah!

Then we played badminton in the garden while Ping watered her plants. We mused about starting a garden center together, Ping and I.

Saphie gets me to stay in the bathroom with her while she takes her shower because she doesn't like to be in there alone. Ping hears not of the nonsense but me, I am a woosie... The bathroom, by the way, is larger than my dorm room in Butler's Wharf when I was in LSE. I sit on the cushions with a book while Saphie talks in the shower.

I dry her hair and she continues talking. Something about a boyfriend called Callum and them getting married when they turn 9.

She made a necklace for me from her beads collection. They all came off when she tried to wear it for me. We patiently strung the beads together again. This happened twice.

Then she wanted to type on my computer- she is fascinated by my white Macbook.

Time for bed. Saphie kissed me while I brushed my teeth and wished me good night. She went into her room and came out again. "Jie jie, are you still washing your face?" She comes over and hugged me from behind and kissed me again.

Repeat.

Today Saphie has African drumming lessons after school and then her dad picks her up for swimming. Ping asked if it is OK is she spends time with daddy while she and I go out for a drink this evening.

"Bu neng!" (Mandarin: Not possible!)
"Why?"
"Because she didn't just come for you, you know!"

Ping and I were dumbfounded. She is flabbergasting and lovely all at once.

"Will you come to Italy for my birthday in August?"
"Will you come to Greece with us?"

When Ping and Saphie came to Singapore last year they stayed three nights. On the morning they were to depart I woke up with a big lump in my throat. After the taxi drove off I went back to my apartment and it never felt so empty.

Criticisms of the Abdullah Era

Some people don’t like Pak Lah and the biggest grouse is that he didn’t do much and didn’t do what he promised.

I can’t say I like or dislike the guy and I regret he really didn’t do anything to curb corruption and bring culprits into justice as he has promised.

But with the former common fault I cannot agree. In my view, people who accuse him of not doing much for the country is so used to Mahathirism. For 27 years he was the driver of the economy and UMNO politics. People are so used to have that strong force and when times are good (and they were) it is easy to over look the detrimental effects of all that bulldozing.

As a journalist I interviewed an UMNO politician once who said something I will always remember. He said under Mahathir, a whole generation of leaders has been quashed because he did not allow dissent. To me, that sounded like something to be mourned.

Patronage, it seems, preceded democracy, which I believe would have produced more credible leaders.

If Pak Lah’s “weakness” allowed more factions to grow within UMNO and if among the cracks of those factions arise independent-minded individuals, I am thankful.

On the business front, the community cannot always depend on the government to pump in resources and to be the driver of the economy as with the construction industry right now. The Maybank-law firm-bumiputra-shareholding fiasco is such a shameful development and you see what damage government intervention can do.

The business community must grow up and learn to be proactive. The government should only put in place policies that would enhance and catalyse the development of commerce (i.e., interest rates models, bankruptcy laws, customs and taxes processes, etc).

And sometimes, that can only happen when the government takes a step back and let things happen on their own. Be watchful and step in when necessary (i.e., telco’s local roaming) but not be the jump-starter all the time. Not anymore. We need to grow up as a nation.

Sometimes, doing less or backtracking IS doing something. I am glad this Merill Lynch report came out in the news today:

Merrill Lynch: Abdullah’s leadership is creditable

KUALA LUMPUR: International merchant bank Merrill Lynch says that while recent reforms in Malaysia have been attracting a lot of attention, the country’s new political regime under Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been largely under-appreciated.

“But we think that due credit is not being properly given to the country’s new leadership under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who took over the helm in late 2003,” the merchant bank said in its latest analysis on Malaysia.

“We believe that this change in leadership has been one of the most under-appreciated, if not the most important, developments in Malaysia following 22 years of rule under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” said the merchant bank in an analysis undertaken by its Hong Kong-based economist, Arthur Woo.

Merrill Lynch said although the Prime Minister is often criticised for being too slow, indecisive and deferring to consensus too often, “we believe his new style of leadership may be exactly what the country needs to rejuvenate the economy’s long-term growth prospects, especially in the face of rapid globalisation.”

Merrill Lynch said Abdullah had made a number of tough but critical decisions since he assumed power.

“Many of these decisions, which addressed issues left over from Dr Mahathir’s era, are under-appreciated,” it added.

These include the restructuring of GLCs [NY: this can go one step further by reducing Govt stakes], foreign exchange liberalisation, improved foreign relations, reducing fuel subsidies and cancelling non-essential projects.

As for foreign exchange liberalisation, the merchant bank said the unwinding of capital controls and the de-linking of the ringgit to the US dollar that were implemented in 1998 had helped reverse international investor perception that Malaysia is not open for business.

“This move has played a critical role in re-attracting foreign capital and investment.

“The decision to reduce fuel subsidies and cancel mega projects like a new bridge linking Malaysia to Singapore and the cross-country double-tracking railway line highlighted the fact that Abdullah understood the importance of fiscal discipline and keeping the overall level of public debt in check,” said Merrill Lynch. – Bernama

Enter with strong constitution

Haha... Wat? Hang gliding is not for the faint hearted, no?

Anyways, I've introduced some new/old friends to Nicolaephoria (ni-CO-lay-FHO-ree-ah). So I've decided to add a navigator bar for the top 12 most popular postings as a "summary" of this blog.

I'd also like to introduce a new blogger friend. DocPerineum. I didn't know what it meant until I asked him but I won't tell you. It says a lot about his job. He is new to blogging but promises to be quite prolific.

The doc is also single and eligible and has asked me to find him a suitable partner. CM, if you are reading this, consider yourself employed for the job also since you do like being a matchmaker.

Charles, as we high school friends recently decided to call him, takes great pictures and likes big boys' toys (I mean cars and cameras, and really sophisticated ones, too). He adores his nieces (good family values??). So girls (or boys doing a favour for girls), send in those CVs.

I can fly

Prologue

I’ve always wanted to hang glide.

Correction. I’ve always wanted to fly. To know what it is like being a bird.

It’s strange, I know, and I’ve not told anyone before. I probably mentioned that one of my dreams was to fly a single-seater jet. Growing older means your guts shrink. At 17 I would have done anything. Anything. Now I think about how long broken bones would take to mend and if they would at all.

The Story

Interlaken. Switzerland. Hang gliding. Who would have thought?

Eve, Ee Lin and I thought we were just going to see the lakes and the mountains.

Sure we had butterflies in our tummies, especially when waiting for the van to pick us up from the hotel. I think we might even have hoped the weather might change so that it would be impossible to take off.

Eve would be doing paragliding because they can only take two persons for hang gliding at any one time. The former was supposed to be easier for people who have never done anything like that. I did parasailing and Ee Lin did sky diving; so we were rather eager to glide.

At the pick-up point, Ee Lin and I watched the gliders coming down and it looked awesome. “We would be doing THAT!” Actually we did more than what we saw. You will find out later.

Driving up the mountains we could see Thunersee and the mountain range surrounding it. There were log cabins exactly like they are in picture postcards. Switzerland is beautiful.

“Here is where we take off. We have another point up the mountain but it is much higher.”
“Can we go there?”
“You want to?”
“Would it be more fun?”
“Heck, ya!”
“Let’s go!”

That was me and Bernie, the pilot that flew Ee Lin. He was half Aussie and half Swiss. My pilot was Didu, Swiss. “Touch him, he is genuine Swiss.” I did.

The higher point was also a steeper slope; three steps down, you cannot see ground anymore. We were more than 1000 metres above sea level. Here we are, gearing up.


Bernie said the winds were not so good as they were coming from behind us. I said a small prayer asking God to change the direction of the winds so it would be perfect for us. There was no turning back now.

Ee Lin and Bernie went first. As they took off, “Shit!” I heard Ee Lin say. Shit? Why? Shit is not good. Not when I am going next.

“You ready?” Didu asked. “Yeah!” Deep breath.

One step, two step, almost three and we were airborne! As soon as that happened I had to release my pedal from my left hand and put them under the soles of my feet and stretch out so I am lying on my belly. There was no time for fear.



And when you are up there…

The moment I started flying I was awed beyond comprehension.

Have you ever wondered why eagles fly in spirals sometimes? I always thought it was because they spotted prey.



Up where we were, over looking Thunersee, Interlaken town and Brienzersee, I found out why.

The eagles were catching the wind that would lift them up. I could feel the wind lifting our wings! 1200 metres. 1300 metres. 1400 metres. And we went higher than the mountain we were circling. In this picture above, the mountain we circled was to our right.

Words cannot express what it was like. No fear. Freedom. I wanted to flap. I tried to but Didu pulled my hand back.

“Didu, how long have you been flying?”
“25 years”
“That’s a lifetime!”
“Your tummy ok?”
“My tummy is fine!”
“Look at them, we are going to play catching”
“Whoo hoo!!!”

Up and up again. I could see the shadows of our two gliders on the mountain below us and it was really pretty.

It was 15C up there not counting wind-chill. I thank God for parting the clouds so that the sun shone through again.

“How long can we stay up?”
“Forever if the wind is right”

Without notice, Didu pushed the bar up. No change. Then he pushed it down: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

We went headlong. DOWN! And up and sideways and other ways and many ways.

I opened my eyes wide because I didn’t want to miss a thing. I didn’t scream for fear. I screamed because it was so exceedingly exciting and liberating and I wanted God to know! I AM FLYING. Like a bird. Like how I’ve always wondered what it would be. I could not believe I was flying.

During the acrobatics, I could not tell if we were turning left or right; land, lakes and skies exchanged horizon. At one particular point I remember seeing everything the right way up. We were standing UPRIGHT in the air with our wings behind us. I was not dreaming because I could feel my weight on the pedal I was previously pushing my feet against.

We did the acrobatics twice. After which my tummy didn’t feel so well. My fingers were also frozen. I had to reluctantly alert Didu as I didn’t want to vomit in the air.

The descent was another amazing experience. We headed straight for the field right in the middle of town. People could see us coming and everyone were staring like we were stars. We were the only hang gliders; we must have been really impressive.

We circled the field a little and smoothly, silently, softly and gently grazed the grass before we stopped. It was amazing. We did not kill one single blade.

It turned out I needed to burp a few times and I was OK after five minutes. Darn.

It turned out ours were the last flights because the winds were beginning to get too strong. It turned out the pilots had their best flights that day with us because the winds were JUST PERFECT and we had the longest flights. The guys before us had less than 15 minutes because there wasn't wind. We were up for almost half an hour.

Just half an hour. It that was to be my lifetime it would be enough.

The Making Of

1. Ee Lin shouted “Shit!” because one of her shoes was coming off. She had ballet pumps because she was prepared to just chill out in Zurich. Not running off the mountainside and fly.

2. Evelyn had previously declined when her boyfriend asked her to do paragliging in Interlaken. I was as much surprised that she would. “I would do it if you both do it,” she volunteered. I am VERY proud of her. “Now that I’ve done it I would never have to do it again!” she said. Jay, I am so sorry.

3. Bernie got a call on his mobile up in the air. He picked it up and it was his girlfriend calling from US. He told her he could not talk because he was flying. He then told Ee Lin to please take his phone and put it into the pouch in front of her. She was like “What the???” She wasn’t cross. She was a real good sport and really fun girl.

4. I would so do this again.

Epilogue

The rest of the time was spent in Zurich and since it was cold and wet we watched BBC’s Pride and Prejudice on DVD and I fell in love with Mr Darcy played by Colin Firth. He looked so intense and delicious in that fencing scene I wanted to grab him.

The End