The Box That Fell From The Moon

This is a story that I wrote and illustrated for school when I was 6 years old, studying at the Canonbury Infant School in London. The story has been reproduced here in its original spelling and punctuation.

THE BOX that fell from the moon
by Angeline

One day I was walking along the road. Something fell from the sky it was a box. It had a label which said Handle with care. This was found on the moon! My mummy made me pick it up. I thought it was something interesthing so I picked it up. It had silver dots on it I Gasped I didnt know that something would fall from the moon. I went home and opened the box and inside the box was a dimond ring. I put the dimond ring on my table it Glowed. In the morning it changed into a dirty dimond. I din't know it would bring me good luck so I chucked it in the bin. That night it walked back to my table. In the morning I saw my dimond back and it said to me crossly you shouldn't have chuked me in the bin you know you shoulden't. So I left it there on my table at night. I watched it all night long. The dimond brought me good luck I Send myself flying out of my window. I flew up up up. I Picked a Star and landed on the moon I heard a voice and I Said what is that. and a face appeared. He said come in and have tea. I said yes. After tea I went home and lay down to sleep

The End

Rude Malaysians

Just recently a local newpaper had a feature article which required readers to vote for what they thought was the rudest behaviour of a Malaysian. Do we really think of ourselves as rude people? It's sad but so, so true. Some of the suggestions of rude behaviour were horrendous driving, talking on the cell phone in the cinema, taking too much from the buffet table etc. Nevertheless, these are all the realities of our Malaysian lifestyle. What would make a foreigner to our country lift up his hands in horror are taken to be "normal" parts of our everyday life. Just yesterday I was driving along a relatively clear stretch of road when suddenly a car from behind started to weave his way in and out of traffic trying to overtake every car on both lanes of the road. Note: An example of horrendous driving. Needless to say, he did not get very far ahead. Also the other day, I was with 3 friends driving along the winding road coming back from Batu Feringghi when a bus suddenly cut directly into my lane causing me to swerve two or three times before getting my car properly back on the road. (Aside to my sis if you are reading this: don't tell mummy and papa!) Note: An example of horrendous and EXTREMELY DANGEROUS driving, forget about being rude!
As mentioned, Malaysians also have the habit of talking loudly and incessantly on their cell phones in public places. It's annoying enough when you are in a noisy coffee shop and the uncle sitting opposite you wants to make himself heard above the noise. Just imagine if it were in a quiet place. Only last night I was at a evangelistic meeting at the Geodesic Dome in Komtar. Even before the meeting began, it was announced for everyone to turn off their cell phones or to put them to silent mode. Some people just don't get it. So at intervals there were all sorts of ringing tones going off across the hall, and it is especially loud when there is a hushed atmosphere all around you. How distracting.
There are certainly many more rude behaviours attributed to Malaysians but it would take too much time to list them all down. So is there really no hope? Are we as bad as all that? Nevertheless, there may be a glimmer of hope yet. Just today I had an encounter with a very pleasant security guard at a shopping mall. As I entered the mall, the security alarms started going off, startling me in the process. I was unsure of whether to proceed into the mall or to try another entrance. Fortunately, a very nice guard came to my rescue and advised me what I should do instead of yelling at me for making his life difficult.
So I guess we should not give up altogether. Malaysians really are nice people deep inside, we just need to dig a little deeper to find it.

Ball-o-phobia?

I'm deathly afraid of balls, be it basketball, football, netball, volleyball...you get the picture. I wonder if there is a specific term for it...ball-o-phobia? I have a horror of the ball careening towards me and slamming into my head. Which is why I generally shy away from team sports of any kind.
Today, however, I made an appearance at Youth Park to play captain ball with a few friends from church. It was at least 2 years since I had been last, rather like coming out of hibernation. Actually, the original plan was for me to go home and have a nap after lunch, and IF I wake up in time, then I would go for games. At the back of my mind I really had no wish to go, due to the aforesaid phobia, so I did not set my alarm clock on purpose, hoping that I would sleep through the afternoon. However, things do not always turn out the way you plan it. In the midst of my slumber, I received 2 text messages and one phone call asking me if I were going or not. One message can be ignored, even two. But after the third, I was more or less awake and since I told myself that if I could wake up I would go, there really wasn't much choice in the matter. Dragging my unwilling body out of bed, I got ready and drove to the park, half an hour later than the time we were supposed to meet.
But when all's been said and done, I had no regrets going. I may not have played that much, due to the fact that I ducked or ran away most of the time whenever the ball came in my direction (much to the chagrin of my teammates), but I certainly enjoyed myself. Oh well, I hope the fear will dissipate in time...

Bored until blur

Have any of you ever felt that there is really, absolutely nothing to do, especially after a hectic season of rushing about here and there, doing this and that? I'm sure that this is not alien to many of us, especially my circle of friends. Just the other day I was talking to a friend of mine who had just gone home to Johor and he spoke these words, "I'm bored until blur!" Which quite appropriately describes most of us right now.
December 2004 was a really busy month for me. With so many activities going on, there was hardly enough time for me to even sit down and rest. My home became a hotel, what with me just coming back to eat, bathe and sleep.
But now, in the first few days of 2005, I think it is time for me to sit down and reflect on what I want to achieve for myself this coming year, not merely pack it full with activities but rather to focus on what would bring me the greatest satisfaction and fulfillment. One of the ways I believe I can attain this is to have a closer relationship with the Most High God. Which is why one of the top priorities for me this year is to have a deeper, more meaningful time spent with Him each day, and not just to fulfill a duty or obligation. Also, with the help of my buddy :), I will strive to read through the entire Bible this year. This will not be an easy task, as I have attempted it before and only managed to do it half way through. Nevertheless, I believe that this year it will be possible with God's strength and the encouragement of my buddy.
As I am typing this, my boredom and "blurness" are slowly diminishing, and I am getting truly excited about what God has in store for me this year in all areas of my life. There is no need to be bored when there is nothing to do, but it is a good opportunity just to rest and be still in God's presence, to listen to His voice and to know that He is always there.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him."
Psalm 91: 1-2 (NLV)