EPISODE 5: MY 1ST DENTAL VISIT

My filling fell off 2 days back when I flossed. Along with it came part of my tooth. Shoot! Oh no! Then, thoughts of cash registers ringing up in dentist's office and pain on that DREADED CHAIR dashed thru my mind. OZ dental care is not cheap. Nobody really wants to be a dentist here, it is true. They'd rather be a teacher, a lifeguard, or even a pet-sitter, but looking into somebody's mouth is not top of the list on OZ preferred careers. The pain wasn't too bad but the gap was just too wide for comfort and exposure of dentin was making it painful to suck in air. So...., I found myself, at the recommendation of my dear neighbour at the dentist's today. Dr Jim was his name, and I find out he is from Beijing. Thin looking guy, thick china accent and expressionless. oh well, dentists are never personal... but I was amused he wore a yellow hello kitty dental gown - so cute lah! Must be something to keep kids occupied... Gave me a local anaesthetic to reduce the pain and started work. They gave me sunglasses to protect the eyes from the light's glare, good idea, how come they never do that in Malaysia and leave u half-blind after that?? Aargh! it was painful!And he was determined to fill that hole too,- very thorough job! Charged me A$180 for just that filling. OK, I tell myself please don't convert otherwise the bill will be more painful than the treatment. ENUFF said, I am brushing and flossing faithfully over here from now on.....

MISSHTIAK !!

Ok, I admit, Jordie is cute. The hilarious part was I contacted his piano teacher yesterday about his piano exam results. She said he had passed with merit. That's GREAT! Considering he told me he had made some mistakes during the exam. So... I shouted the good news to my son upstairs, "JORDAN, guess what, you got merit!" SILENCE. Then he shouts back, "I got married to who?" No, I laughed. Not to who, you got merit for your piano exams He said, " Oh, you mean I'm supposed to get married to my piano, like that?" HYSTERICAL, I was rolling on the floor...

LAKESIDE FUN @ THE YOUNGS' PLACE

EPISODE 4: PARTY @ THE YOUNGS'

Last Sunday, (17 Aug) we were invited to Karen Young's birthday party. She lives somewhere near Sea World and theme parks area, in the hinterlands. She is the wife of Peter Young, a Gold Coast division councillor for Nerang. 

This was our 2nd time there and Jordan was just so looking forward to playing fetch sticks with their dog, Jessie again. My camera charger is still missing... sigh!  but here were some previous pictures of their lovely place by the lake which I love because of its natural state of trees, grass, flowers and animals.  

The peacocks (they have about 5 or 6 in a family) finally flaunted their plumage... it was a good time together and also getting to know many new friends. Karen was the perfect hostess for her own party, and even baked her own birthday cake! Talk about self-sacrificial, it is just so nice of them to give everyone a treat when it's her birthday, and especially when they are going through a rough patch in their lives financially too... About 30-40 people attended, so Karen & Peter were busily serving guests.. scrumptious dips and 'nibblies' (snacks) and BBQ.

Met some interesting people too.. some were Peter's political allies in his fight for justice, and Pastor Mark, who is Karen's father and some of her family. We appreciate Karen for sharing with us this time and devoting herself to give her best for this party.

EPISODE 3: BUILDING FURNITURE, FRIENDSHIPS & FAITH

204);">FURNITURE: 

The past 2 weeks have been hectic, frantic hammering up DIY furniture (Study tables, bedside drawers, IKEA bookshelves) and setting up our home base. Samuel (Huan Seong)has been sweet about wanting to get everything in order and organising for stuff to be set up & boxes to be thrown. So, I am thankful he's around to help do up the place to put things in place. We took exactly 8 days to clear up 95% of stuff and unpack. of course with some distractions here and there lah, including opening of Olympics... 

FRIENDS:

We are also thankful that Jordan has found new playmates, and constantly in popular demand to be out there playing with neighbourhood kids. Flashing light sabres and zooming aeroplanes with his friends Liam, Anika and Tyler, he's happy, we're happy, ...

Aussies are nice and spontaneous people really. On Olympics opening night, this lady who lived across our house knocked on our door unexpectedly to give us some cheesecake. She saw our study light still on from her house and said they were celebrating Olympics opening, we hardly even know her actually. so.. that was a yummy surprise for our supper and Jordie's breakfast the next day...

Usually on Sundays, we wonder which church to head to. So far, visited 4 different ones, Genesis Church, which is where Mum Beryl & Neil attend, King's Christian Centre, a much larger and established church (canggih equipment, LCD visual effects during worship, disco lights and all) plus Integrity Church, a small family type church, meeting in a community hall in Palm Beach. All of them had their own powerful points, unique but definitely loving the Lord in their own ways. The 4th one is a home church - a Fijian church fellowship, which has a unique mix of Fijians, locals and Asians, comprising of some Bond University students and older ladies, headed by a Fijian woman named Vi and Kerrie (an Aussie white).

We enjoy Neil and Mum Beryl's friendship very much. Neil is quite a character and demonstrates what a true son should be to Beryl in every way. He puts all of us to shame. Yesterday, he went back after lunch to Beryls place to help her clip her toenails because she couldn't bend low enough to reach her toes. First he washed her feet, then he trimmed the toenails carefully then rubbed oil on the legs. wow, what pampering! Samuel added foot reflex massage as finishing touches. Beryl was overwhelmed by the attention.... she said it was double portion she received...!

Last Sunday, met up with Peter Young and wife Karen as well. We were very happy to see them after so long. Last saw them in January. During worship, Samuel prayed with Peter.  He's still going thru a rough court patch but he'll be okay, we know - because God is on His side. We had a good lunch together to catch up after church. 

Also had good fellowship with Carol and David a couple of times. They were very nice to cook lunch and invited us over. Jordan takes to David and Neil, the OZ men. He's at the age when he looks up to and bonds more with men. He also asked Peter if he could go to his house to see his dogs again. 

Carol and David will be visiting Malaysia this Nov to be part of the LRC convention at PD. They are very excited about it, especially to visit E. Malaysia as well. Carol's ministry is worship and David more in marketplace. He sells tents (literally a tentmaker businessman) for a living. I love Carol and her crazy passion for God. right now as I speak, she is in freezing cold Kangaroo Island doing identification repentance with intercessors for wrongs done to the first people tribe when whites colonised the land. 

FAITH:

Bill & Wilma, a couple who used to be missionaries to Ethiopia, are another special couple whom we had privilege to connect with. That is another story which involves faith and we'll see how it develops b4 more is told.....

Here's another boost to our walk of faith. Our house finally is getting sold, hallelujah! It has been a long and difficult journey for the sale of the Menara Duta condo, after a viewer toll of about 50 candidates, and leaving for Australia with this chapter unclosed, feeling also very unsettled about this issue, and wondering when is this sale ever going to happen, we received the call from our agent on 5 August. Yesterday, we signed our 1st letter of offer. 

That's just a little bit about the furniture, friendships & faith taking shape over here... the furniture may not last but we do hope the other two keeps going strong....

EPISODE 2: IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Poor injured piano! CERTAINLY IS. When your stuff in container has been delayed, and after 20 days of being resourceful with cooking utensils, yes, it feels like christmas morning when the container truck finally arrives at your doorstep and you open boxes and stuff that is familiar to you, ... But horrors! My digital piano, which I had to bring here and pay extra RM400 for passage had one leg broken. I was upset. Not the 1st time it's happened. The last move, the other leg got broken as well and it brought back bad memories, because the mover in KL refused to do anything about compensating it. The replacement came out of my own pocket. This time, I was praying so hard that it wud be ok, and still it happened again!!!???? Aussie movers are not very helpful. Time and labour is everything. They refuse to do more than what is expected. So, what KL movers promised, (thanks UTS!!!) that they wud set up whatever is taken down was not carried out here, because the movers here said it was too complicated, they didnt know where the parts fitted. But sigh.. anyway, after the guys left, here I am with this piano and alone in the house with the boxes. It was like finally sank in, you're here dude, dudette, for good. Your stuff's arrived. You are SO in australia so get on with it.... I suddenly felt like opening up the piano to play some songs and worship the Lord and thank Him for His goodness. I was also suddenly reminded also that this will be a place of worship and waiting upon Him for new songs and new direction.. how I do not know. It was also as if God was saying, look unless the instrument of worship is broken, I can't use it.. Now... I've gotta go unpack, lots of stuff to sort out. .. and when I do eventually get to that camera charger, will post some photos... and so to those who believe Christmas is an all year-celebration , here's wishing you a blessed christmas in July, because today & everyday, He is the reason for all seasons . No expiry date. Posted by Chris Ong at 5:16 PM

EPISODE 1: ARRIVAL

Well, finally here! We have landed in Gold Coast (GC thereafter) on June 21st, 2008, the exact date of our 11th anniversary, me and Samuel (Huan Seong). Feels kinda special starting off new life in new land on such a significant date, it is as if it was naturally pre-planned, but we both know it was not...just tried to land on a saturday to check in for time share and it ended up on this special day. Seems like wading through a dream which has finally become real.

Well, Neil Falcke, good ole Neil was there to meet us at the airport, so sorry he had to wait so long for us. Pleasant surprise because we weren't really expecting anyone to come, but Beryl probably contacted him to ask him to be there. So good tho' 'cause we then can rent our car (same ole white Toyota camry) from EAST COAST RENTALS nearby with no delay and our migration-size load of luggage could then be split up between two cars. Thanks Neil for being a blessing!

1st stop, Beryl's house. Mama Beryl welcomed us with her warm hugs and it felt so good to be with her again. She is a familiar and wonderful friend to us. After brunch, we then checked into Tiki village resort, nice place easily accessible to town centre at surfer's paradise. Weather felt cooling, pretty cold at nights about 11 celsius, daytime can still walk around in t-shirts if not too kia-soo.

In the next few weeks we were to learn a few new important things:-

• Laksa or noodle soup costs about A$10.00 here  (totally cannot swallow when I think about the RM3.50 version in SS2 hawker stalls with sotong some more). But it has become part of the aussie vocab, laksa. If anyone can import the Jln Segambut seafood laksa franchise here, I'm a definite daily devotee.

• At zebra crossings, cars really do slow down and stop for you to cross over

• A college does not just mean school for university students, it can also be for primary school kids like Jordan. My son goes to this 'terror' sounding school called Varsity College at 7 years old. 

• It is actually possible to live without TV, radio, broadband and microwave or a sofa. Our container is still stuck in customs, and we are learning to live very simply.

• Lamb fry is not fried lamb. It is actually lamb liver steak.

• Thai food is a hot fave cuisine here, literally.

• When the Australians tell you they will deliver or come next week, they usually mean Friday and late afternoon, never Monday and seldom before friday.

 

Thank God we found a nice place just to get Jordie to school in Varsity College which is a good school. The area is called Varsity Lakes and on the expensive side. Our rental is at a reasonable $370/wk and it is good ventilation, 3-room and nice view and neighbourhood. 

I must say the 'narrow place' for us this year (Elijah if you are reading this.....try not to laugh) has taken on new meaning in our garage for our home at Varsity Lakes. Any car bigger than a 2-door Hyundai Accent will be and continue to be constantly scratched or blemished as it passes thru' the garage door. 

Jordan loves the auto lock up garage door tho. He thinks it is cool and scrambles for the remote to open and close it every time. He also loves the garbage truck, look ma no hands... automated robot hand from truck reaches out, tips garbage in and plonks it down again, purrfect. No scruffy-looking garbage collector thumbing thru your discards.....