It’s kinda weird not rushing to Kingsford after finish work this friday and the fridays after. Come to think of it, it’s a good thing to be able to rest on Friday, as Friday is probably the most tiresome day of the week for me. But then again, the bible study and the fellowship are worth coming to.. Oh well, it’s time to move on, no longer a student.

A year has gone by
Another is yet to come
Hope it’s a good one

Don’t get around to reflect much on Christmas this year, somehow baby Jesus was hidden below the celebrations, parents coming, future uncertainities, christmas shoppings and many other things. Charles’ talk on Christmas was a good rebuke for me, will try to find baby Jesus.

Few days ago I was missing the Christmas atmosphere that we use to have in Indo. I miss the night service, when we usually sing silent night by candle light, oh and I miss the Christmas drama too.

Over the 5 years spending Christmas in Sydney and Spore made me a little bit tired of seeing people celebrating Christmas without knowing what it really means. At least in Indo, the moslems don’t really celebrate Christmas and they don’t have to “Celebrate Christmas” by giving gifts and having Christmas parties. Just wondering since when the birth of Jesus is celebrated by people who mock Him? Christmas is just another reason for some people to have more drinks.

Good thing about Christmas this year are:
– getting to spend it with my family, Lina and her family
– Pelita Christmas party had greatly exceeded my expectation (Jesus was preached on that party!!).

Bad things about Christmas 2003:
– spending too much for Westpac’s Christmas party, all for the sake of getting the people better (which was not really happening anyway)
– the death of 20,000 people in Iran and the death of 111 people in a plane crash near Beirut. Do they know Jesus?
– REALLY missing Christmas service in Indo-style.. next year I think I will go to an Indo church and join the x-mas service.

Taking a sickie today, not unwell physically but more psychologically. Having an error in balancing for the fifth time in 2 months yesterday (I only allowed 2 mistakes in a year!), feeling a bit down, thinking me not suitable for this role. It looks like I won’t be staying long with this bank.

I really dislike the idea on having a job as prerequisite for other things in life, as it may mean that some of us have to work in things that we don’t enjoy doing. But such is life.

Another reason for taking a leave today is because I had an interview and test for the Department of Land. The test was alright, but the interview wasn’t. I think I am getting better in making up stories, rather than drawing examples from own life. If I was more prepared I might not have to make up stories. Feel bad. Don’t think gonna get the position either.

But day off is great, need to do some banking stuffs that I haven’t got chance to do since working with Westpac, do some shoppings, returning videos. Really looking forward for next week, Christmas!

Summarising (and translating) an article from Kompas about coffee.

The good things about coffee:
– It stimulates the central nervous system, the respiratory system and the heart. Therefore drinking a normal intake of coffee (1-3 cups) will make us think faster, more focused, more tired and sleepy resistant. However this positive isn’t really applicable to people whose work need neatness, accuracy in counting (and maths), drawing or painting. Drinking coffee brings more benefits to people who work with social studies or work that requires memorizing.
– Caffeine sometimes can be found in medicine for headache. Caffeine can narrow the blood vessell to the brain thus reducing the cause of headache. Xantin (related to Caffeine) in low dose can stimulate a depressed nervous system (from the effect of drugs and alcohol abuse).
– Caffeine in coffee can neutralise fatty acid in blood.

Negative effects:
– It carries an addictive effect to its drinker (can be physchologically or physiologically). Coffee consumsion above 250 mg a day can cause insomnia, tremor(?), stomach upset, irregular heart beat and nervousness.
– It’s dangerous for people with hypertension. It causes blood pressure to rise up quickly.
– Might contribute to infertility in female drinkers. It may also increade the risk of osteophorosis to older women.
– Not good for people with “lambung” problem.
– Not good for people with heart problem (a lengthy explanation is given, but i can’t make sense of it neither can I be bothered to translate it).

So the bottom line is: take control of your coffee intake!