swimming carnival!!

the first and last time i actually swam!! what a day... i'll let the photos speak for themselves.


on the train :: the new look


orange is our colour :: kelly and kaz feel the need to be orange


ash has grown? :: no kelly just shrunk


my shirt says: "poof... you're gone!" :: karin's jerseys says: "Made in HK"

for the rest of the photos go to: http://flyingdreams.dotphoto.com

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the whole day went by so quickly!! all the past years we would be sneaking around trying to find a spot to hide from all the teachers and fanatical house captains who would make us stand up and cheer all the time... while our bags were not filled with swimming gear but enough food to last a normal family a week - which we would normally finish within a few hours! ok so i'm exaggerating... a little...

remember last year?


but this year it was different. this time it was US who were the fanatical house captains/year 12's and we were cheering hard all day and yelling at the juniors who never stood up to cheer and throwing lollies dangerously into the stands as sugar motivation.. (by the way they are really hard especially when they hit your head!)

ahhh but it was such a day to remember... the traditional Day Girl vs Boarder race was awesome with all the year 12's down on the poolside and the entire school cheering along the final race. and then, as tradition goes; all the year 12's jump into the pool right at the end - haha! that was my favourite bit - getting to push Kelly into the pool!! =D

ooh and i almost forgot.... last year Richardson came last i think?? well anyway... ever since I've been at Abbotsleigh Richardson has been the "losing" house... so to come in the top 4 is always very very exciting.... and this year... we came ... SECOND!! Everyone knew Franklin was going to win since they've won 4 years in a row now but we were absolutely stunned and cheering like crazy when we came 2nd!!

yr 12 camp!!!!

this is where we are going for camp! maan it's going to be our last one EVER...

www.thetops.com.au




looks really nice!! =) hehe ooh i want to go on the giant swing - last time i went on one was in yr9.. and we did it in the dark!!

(looks like a possible place for future EYF camps maybe?)

if everyone in the world lit a candle at the same time....

what the world looks like with the lights on from space:

click on it to enlarge!

(be patient... it will take a while to load)



credit: http://the-raw-prawn.blogspot.com/2004/10/pollution-and-development-as-seen-from.html

d&m thoughts

David Weatherford once said:

"We enjoy warmth because we have been cold.
We appreciate light because we have been in darkness.
By the same token, we can experience joy because we have known sadness."

Reflecting on the past week I must say I heartily agree with this statement. I believe that those who experience true joy have at one point in their lives also experienced real grief, loneliness, pain, misery and sorrow. But I also believe that the key to overcoming such emotions; the key to emerging from such darkness lies in sharing it with others; no matter how painful it might be.

Speaking from personal experience, I can testify that silent tears only compound one's sorrow, for after they've been shed, there is no one there to wipe them away. But tears shared by the bond of friendship; nay the bond of fellowship if not change the problem, can change one's perspective.

One's perspective on life can really affect our emotional wellbeing; and the transformation from a negative to a positive perspective is one not often experienced; but always remembered. When I'm feeling down- everything just seems to be against me; I feel as though I'm carrying a heavy burden with me all day long. But with a few encouraging words- I feel much lighter; it's like the burden just dissolves into nothing; and suddenly everything is for me. I can't really describe what it feels like; only liken it to being trapped in the darkness... and then suddenly let free into the light.

I learnt a couple of important lessons in the past week:

Firstly, that as emotional beings, we can't deny our emotions even if we want to. Our emotions are a part of us just as much as our rational thinking and we need to learn how to properly express them.

Secondly, suffering just for the sake of it is almost unbearable. But suffering for a cause; then that is worth suffering for. Sometimes we need our eyes opened as to why we are suffering. Often we are simply too blinded by the pain.

Thirdly, it is so hard to be a strong Christian by yourself. Now I understand better why church is so important for Christians. It is very hard to encourage yourself when you're feeling down. To have a strong network of loving Christian brothers and sisters is the one of the greatest blessings one could be given. God knows we can't make it on our own. That is why He gives us the church so that we may be edified and encouraged, spurred on towards love and good deeds.

*

oh and a very happy 19th birthday to clare!!

melancholy

The world is falling apart
The elements broken up
Land gives way to meaningless shape
And the sky is crying.

She is falling apart
Friendships broken up
Days give way to meaningless months
And her soul is crying.

...

Trees burned and blackened
Shadows of former greenery
Nothing left in this sickening wasteland
But the bitter aftertaste of smoke

Fear leaves its destructive trail
Only a shell, a frail husk remains
Don't stir the ashes
The fire rages on underneath

...

She is alone in this prison cell
No door, no window, no bars
She screams but no sound
Words are pointless here

Oh but for a glimpse of the stars
Oh but for a glimmer of hope
Oh but for the possibility of freedom
Oh but to find what she's been longing for...

Afraid, and hideously enriched.

while i was bored...

Your Birthdate: January 5

You have many talents, and you are great at sharing those talents with others.
Most people would be jealous of your clever intellect, but you're just too likeable to elicit jealousy.
Progressive and original, you're usually thinking up cutting edge ideas.
Quick witted and fast thinking, you have difficulty finding new challenges.

Your strength: Your superhuman brainpower

Your weakness: Your susceptibility to boredom

>> What Does Your Birth Date Mean? <<

happy birthday helen!!

for all the good times we've had together!! eg in MATHS... haha...
and thanks for all the times i've scabbed lifts off u =P

-- edit @ 7:12pm

>> FONDUE!!!! <<

I shall let the pictures speak for themselves (and make u hungry!)

click on each picture to enlarge:


fondue is fabulously... filling! :: the first strawberry


all ready to eat :: keeping an eye on ash


celebrating love "Friendway":: Ash: what?? *confused*

house choir 2006!!!!!

last year we came 8th.. (last place)

but this year - all of Richardson have been working hard in the week leading up to this first major event of the year: HOUSE CHOIR....

the tension was there... fervent whispers after each house performed their piece, trying to gauge whether the judges would score them well or not... House Spirit was running fever high with cheering every few seconds (i'm surprised i haven't lost my voice)

House Choir is Abbotsleigh tradition. all the different houses compete against each other- the hymn is set by the music staff and is compulsory; the song of choice this year went by the theme of "Where in the world?"

We sang "Surfin' USA" for our song of choice...

AND WE CAME 2ND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D



rest of the photos:

gilmore girls :: henna and karin


franklin :: gilmore


melba house captains :: can u spot ASH?


GO RICHO!!! =D :: our beautiful house captains

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for rest of the photos go to: http://flyingdreams.dotphoto.com

email/msn me if you want to see the videos:

1. House Captains Dance
2. Richo's song of choice (surfin' USA)
3. House Patrons (ie teachers) Dance

interested?

Archbishop PETER JENSEN will be speaking at Abbotsleigh for the next 3 Wednesday nights starting at 8pm in the auditorium. He will be speaking on the topic: "The Cross of Christ"

sounds really good! except bea has piano lessons on wednesday evenings so i don't think i can make it. anyone else want to go? (anyone who lives close to me so i can scab a lift off you?)

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it's been a crazy 2nd week back at school. besides finding new ways to exploit the common room and yr12 privileges; every lunchtime has been devoted to House Choir practice. maan - the younger years can be so bratty! constantly chatting and not listening to our House Captain - argh! our hymn is still not good enough as they sing as though they're half asleep, and the elective song has plenty of enthusiasm, but lacks technique. *sigh* i've decided that House Choir this year will be counted a success if we manage NOT to come last!

happy birthday karin!!!

miracles

this morning i was putting my watch on but not very carefully and to my horror i soon realised that i had put the clasp in the wrong spot! it sounds weird and that i'm exaggerating, but i tried to take it out so i could put my watch on properly, and i couldn't. it was stuck.

at first i wasn't too worried, after all what could possibly happen? but as i kept trying to undo the clasp i was getting more and more anxious as 1) i don't have much time in the mornings and i had already wasted 10 min 2) i couldn't see any possible way of getting the clasp off without hurting either myself or the watch and 3) i couldn't leave it on because the way it was positioned, it was digging into my wrist which really hurt! and 4) this watch was my parent's 17th birthday present to me so i was extra anxious!

it put me in a really bad mood as i kept struggling with it, and i almost swore at my sister when she came into my room, sat down at my table, turned on my computer to check the weather for today instead of helping me!

i asked mum to help me, so we were both struggling to get the watch off for another 10 min, and by this time i was getting almost frantic. mum took out sets of pliers from the toolbox to try and either bend the clasp or cut it - but the watch was too well made and it didn't even make a dent! at this point i was almost in tears and just desperately wanted to get the watch off; my wrist was all red and sore.

just as i gave up hope and resigned myself to having my watch dig into my wrist all day until we could find a way to get it off - it miraculously just slipped off!

and then i realised.

God taught me a very important lesson today. Even with the most ordinary mundane things in this world, God can do the impossible. Not only this, but He cares and wants us to put our trust in Him for EVERY aspect of our lives - even watches that get stuck!

I say with shame that i didn't even consider praying to God to help me this morning - i thought i could handle it myself... and at the moment when i was most helpless only then did my attention turn away from myself and to God who in his mercy provided me with nothing short of a miracle. You might not think so; but i see how God has used this experience to teach me a lesson about trusting Him.