During the lecture series by Prof Alister McGrath at St Andrew Cathedral over the last weekend, he has shared many insightful thoughts.
One of the sharings that striked me is what is "true" and what is "real"?
"True" are the cold hard facts. "Real" is the relational reality.
Some things are true but not real, simply because we cannot feel it. It does not impact us at all.
Some things are true and real. It is happening and affects our life.
Upon deeper thoughts into "true" and "real", there are so many things that fall into these 2 categories.
Sometimes when we hear of natural calamities happening overseas, we know it has caused many to lose their loved ones. However, it may seems to be "just a piece of news" to some ...
This is true and not real.
We know of the technical recession. It takes one who has experienced the brunt of it (be it retrenchment, compulsory leave, shorter working work week, pay cut etc) to really feel it.
This is true and real.
Interestingly, there are something in middle too -"Semi-true and real" and "True and semi-real".
Science keeps advancing. New research findings may discover new findings that topple the old understanding. I love the aroma of coffee. Some reports say coffee is good for health, some says otherwise. Whatever it is, reports that I "feel" is correct or I choose to believe is real to me. This is "semi-true and real".
Singapore has been through SARS time. Though H1N1 has striked our shore this time round, somehow this seems to be "true and semi-real" to the locals. Why? Because people's memory are short and H1N1 is still considerably kind to mankind for now.
We know deep down in our heart on what are "true and real" in everyday of our life, especially if we take time to reflect.
I was sharing with an undergrad temp staff today that "the world is not exactly beautiful". I may sound pressimistic. However, we need some pressimism, coupled with knowledge and experiences, to understand what are true and real. However, life can be beautiful if we brave life with a positive mindset :-)
Friday, May 29, 2009
One of my friends asked me a question over facebook "office ppl do shift work?". The answer is yes!!
I have been involved in the triage duties for the last 2 weeks, overseeing all the stations for temperature screening and visitor registration. The hours are long, starts and ends at unearthly hours, and hardly have time for meal breaks.
I am largely ok for the duties, taking it as a form of "national duty".
There are lots of visitors who are anxious to see their loved ones. Some of them may lose their cool by our strict visitor management policy, which I can understand. Hope that the public can understand why we are so strict in restricting visitor number, now that we have our first case. There is also a possibility of no impact on public sentiments in another couple of days, especially the fatality rate of H1N1 (fortunately) does not seem to be critically threatening at the moment.
It has been slightly more than a year since the saddest moment of my life.
Whenever I go to the wards due to the nature of my work requirement, my Dad will come to my mind. I still remember the nights when I stayed by his side, together with William, when he was critically ill, and how helpless I was...
When I see visitors wanting to see their loved ones who are in critical conditions during my triage duties, I can fully understand how they feel.
Father 's Day is coming.
My dear Father, I wish you a Happy Father's Day. You are always on our minds.
I have been involved in the triage duties for the last 2 weeks, overseeing all the stations for temperature screening and visitor registration. The hours are long, starts and ends at unearthly hours, and hardly have time for meal breaks.
I am largely ok for the duties, taking it as a form of "national duty".
There are lots of visitors who are anxious to see their loved ones. Some of them may lose their cool by our strict visitor management policy, which I can understand. Hope that the public can understand why we are so strict in restricting visitor number, now that we have our first case. There is also a possibility of no impact on public sentiments in another couple of days, especially the fatality rate of H1N1 (fortunately) does not seem to be critically threatening at the moment.
It has been slightly more than a year since the saddest moment of my life.
Whenever I go to the wards due to the nature of my work requirement, my Dad will come to my mind. I still remember the nights when I stayed by his side, together with William, when he was critically ill, and how helpless I was...
When I see visitors wanting to see their loved ones who are in critical conditions during my triage duties, I can fully understand how they feel.
Father 's Day is coming.
My dear Father, I wish you a Happy Father's Day. You are always on our minds.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Batam Trip (1-3 May 09)
I have always heard from friends about shopping in Batam.
My thoughtful Significant Other gave me a pleasant surprise by organising a trip to Batam over the Labor Day long weekend.
William had wanted to book the resort but it was fully booked.
Nevertheless it was a nice short trip.
Both of us went shopping in the major malls of Batam.
Here are the places we went :
1 May
- BCS Mall (Batam City Square)
- Batam Mall where Ramayana is (Ramayana is the equivalent of Robinson in Batam)
2 May
- Nagoya Hill Centre where Matahari is(I like this the most where I bought the good and inexpensive laptop bag after a long search in Singapore).
- Mega Mall (next to the Ferry Terminal)
Besides the malls, we went to the bustling wet market on Sunday morning and night bazaar near our hotel (Panorama Regency Hotel).
Had wanted to go for a spa. Learnt a lesson that we must book in advance in future. Both of us could only go to IndoThai for a short massage session. Bravo to Wil who finally tried out massage!! :-D
The only not so satisfying thing is the A&W meal.
Both of us were so happy to see A&W at Nagoya Hill Centre. At the end, we did not get to try the root beer float as it was not sold at the satellite branch we went and the chicken was overly fried.
The 'winner' of this trip is probably Wil who bought 3 tops.
I tend to feel that guys' clothings are more worth buy than ladies in Batam.
I just couldn't find something that I like in the major malls, except on the last day when I bought a polo tee at Polo shop at a hotel. It was at 50% off.
Both of us conclude that a day trip to Batam will suffice if just want to do shopping ;)
My thoughtful Significant Other gave me a pleasant surprise by organising a trip to Batam over the Labor Day long weekend.
William had wanted to book the resort but it was fully booked.
Nevertheless it was a nice short trip.
Both of us went shopping in the major malls of Batam.
Here are the places we went :
1 May
- BCS Mall (Batam City Square)
- Batam Mall where Ramayana is (Ramayana is the equivalent of Robinson in Batam)
2 May
- Nagoya Hill Centre where Matahari is(I like this the most where I bought the good and inexpensive laptop bag after a long search in Singapore).
- Mega Mall (next to the Ferry Terminal)
Besides the malls, we went to the bustling wet market on Sunday morning and night bazaar near our hotel (Panorama Regency Hotel).
Had wanted to go for a spa. Learnt a lesson that we must book in advance in future. Both of us could only go to IndoThai for a short massage session. Bravo to Wil who finally tried out massage!! :-D
The only not so satisfying thing is the A&W meal.
Both of us were so happy to see A&W at Nagoya Hill Centre. At the end, we did not get to try the root beer float as it was not sold at the satellite branch we went and the chicken was overly fried.
The 'winner' of this trip is probably Wil who bought 3 tops.
I tend to feel that guys' clothings are more worth buy than ladies in Batam.
I just couldn't find something that I like in the major malls, except on the last day when I bought a polo tee at Polo shop at a hotel. It was at 50% off.
Both of us conclude that a day trip to Batam will suffice if just want to do shopping ;)
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