A second thing to give thanks for in two days. Work was very quiet today compared to the rest of the week. Our team was rota'd on 09:30am-6pm.

It was so quiet all the teams had their callbacks completed and they started drawing names out of hats to send people home early.

This began at 2pm, then another at 2:30pm, 3pm and 4pm. By 4pm Greg was already moaning that he wanted to go home early. There were four people in the 9:30am-6pm 'hat'. At 4pm Greg got chosen, and so did I! We were really pleased that we got let away two hours early on last day of work. =)

I felt so 'lucky' if that is the right word, but ultimately I know it is God's gift.

I came home, did devotions, then went to church centre to watch Fast and Furious with Ah Tung =)

I want to praise and thank my Heavenly Father today. Wow! So amazing!

Last week and this week at work they have Christmas prize draws for people who have met certain targets. For CRC agents we had to do ten courtesy calls to customers and catch them in. Up to last Friday I had nine done with the one let being a customer who finishes work around 5pm but cos we finished 4:30pm last week Andrea couldn't get him.

I reminded Andrea to call customer on Tuesday which she did and my name was entered into the draw from yesterday onwards. Pauline from my team won the Samsung dvd sound system and a bottle of Moet =)

The draw took place 3:10pm today. I just treated it like every other day, every other draw. I just sat at my desk, typing away, getting on with my cases. Gary Irvine, Operations Manager, accounced he was going to pick a name out of the hat. Some people were watching, but I wasn't paying much attention, until I heard it was someone from Andrea and Alan's team - that's my team! So I listened a bit more, thinking what if he called my name? Yeah right, as if that'll happen! Then Gary said, "The winner is... Gordon So." Wow! Amazing! Me!! =) I stood up and walked towards the group of people at the draw.

Gary picked out another piece of paper and told me I won the mountain bike! Oh my gosh! Could not believe it! People clapped and I got a little red-faced. Gary said I could pick up the bike today, tomorrow or even next year! Haha! Also got a bottle of Moet.

I sat back down, full of smiles, prayed to God to give thanks for nice surprise then texted a few folks to inform them of the good news. =)

Later I arranged to take bike to Aaron's and Alethea's house for a few hours of safekeeping before I picked it up by car.

I thank God for the lovely Christmas presents He has given me this year. Mum can have the champagne. Hehe!

Praise God, I passed my three months probation from work today.

My stats targets were all met, and despite receiving only two survey returns, each at 10 and 100%, I was accepted to pass my probation. Alan and Andrea also explained that even if I did get a third survey return, at score 1, my average would be 21 divided by three, which would result in a 7 and I would pass anyway.

So now I can close my own cases, authorise my own goodwill and qualify for Ford privilege scheme; up to 30% off brand new Fords.

An amazing night tonight!!!

Tonight El and I discussed about her coming to attend the Student Welcome on 30th Sept and staying the evening. We didn't think anything would happen: that El would ask, that her mum would say it's ok to go. But guess what? It happened!!!

During the phone call I sought advice from mum about what we should do etc. Mum advised to pray before doing anything, before asking. Mum prayed for El and her mum came home so El could ask her. El was nervous and so was I, but she asked anyway.

She explained that it was a church student welcome happening on Friday 30th Sept in Glasgow and she'd like to go - and it would involve her staying over. Her mum just said it was ok as long as El didn't have to work. Whoo-hoo! Amazing Grace!! God has softened El's mum's heart and she said it was ok for her to stay in Glasgow! So mum and I prayed straight away to give thanks to our gracious Heavenly Father.

The only issues we have left now are: what time El finishes uni on the Friday? What time I finish work on the Friday? Will I have time to pick Jessie up? Will Ellen enjoy herself? Will Cat be ok about any 'noise' we might make when we get home? Will El be allowed to come down to Glasgow for Christmas and/ or New Year?

N.B. (HoLam and Diana's wedding on Sat 24th Sept 05, El came down and return on the same day and I went up to Aberdeen with her.)

Just realised as I was praying before sleeping that I haven't had one day of absence since I worked at Capital BBC Information. Although I have been late for work a few times, even called up to find out if I was absent, which were not my fault, I have had 100% attendance and I thank God for the good health.

There are/ were time when the symptoms of a cold or illness would appear. But thank God, after Beechams, water and prayer, my symptoms were not allowed to develop. =)

Let's hope the same could happen with this new job =)

I want to praise and thank God for His great protection today. I drove to Buchanan Bus Station to pick up El around 10am. I travelled along Baird Street, when a female drive drove out of Black Street wanting to turn right. She crept out just looking to her left and not her right where I was coming. Luckily I was only going about 30-35mph and managed to brake and swerve away from her car onto the other side of the road. Whereas she just stopped.

We spent a few seconds stopped to gather our thoughts. I started reversing back to her intending to give her a verbal lesson but she drove away - she was lucky!

So thank God there was no accident, also no oncoming traffic on the other side of the road when I swerved onto it.

The rest of the day went quite well. =)

There has been many things to praise God about since our holiday. The Lord kept us safe in Toronto, away from all harm and despite some days of 'unhappiness', we all enjoyed the two weeks over all and woudl like to go back again soon! =)

This entry will be about Monday 11th July when i was up Aberdeen the day before and was planning to return to Glasgow with El so we could visit Glsagow Youth camp together. El told me we should get up 4am, have something to eat, then walk out to catch the 2A bus around 5:55am or so as our Megabus to Glasgow was 6:40am. We stood at the bus stop for about half an hour and there were no signs of any buses, and hardly any cars. We got concerned; El called for a taxi at 6:13am. The operator said a taxi would be there shortly. We continued waiting a further few minutes before I called up again to ask for status and to tell them we had a bus to catch to Glasgow at 6:40am. The operator told me I should have booked half an hour in advance, then after putting me on hold to check its status, she informed me that the taxi was "on the path".

The longer El and I waited the more axvious we became. What if we missed the Megabus? Could we get on the 8:40am bus without paying? Would there be seats available? I think El was more worried than me. Oh yeah, if we arrived at Glasgow 12pm it would be a rush to meet people at 1pm.

A few cars passed and our taxi came: a Fiat Bravo(?) estate car. We explained to the driver our bus departs 6:40am so he had ten minutes to get there from Bridge of Don. He said it shouldn't be a problem. We told him we waited at the bus stop for a long time and he told us it was an Aberdeen local holiday so busese were on Sunday service.

Anyway, the driver drove very fast, like 40mph in 30mph zones, went on roads that didn't have red lights etc and got us to Guild Street Station bang on 6:40am. We seen the bus reverse out a little, the taxi driver horned the bus as El and I ran to the bus flagging it down - we go on!

Hallelujah! So close!

Oh yeah, taxi driver almost drove as fast as a seagull soaring! Haha!

(Update from 30th May 2005)

Excellent! Praises to God!

Ja came home on Sunday night (5th) and on Monday (6th) Auntie told her to have the suitcase ready for El for the next day. Ja said to El she'd get it done by Tuesday night.

It was around 9pm, moments before El watches kek-jap, I encouraged her to remind Ja about the suitcase and to ask her for it after the kek-jap at 10pm. Ja did get it ready for the end of kek-jap and El moved stuff from her medium suitcase over to big suitcase! =) Now she'll have more space to carry stuff back if necessary.

Oh yeah, as a kind of side note, Auntie even told El, that if Ja doesn't have the suitcase ready by Tue night El should tip the stuff in the suitcase over Ja's bed! Hehe!

This'll be a prayer for El. Our holiday is in ten days time. El would like to start packing a week before we leave, which means in two days time, since she has to come to Glasgow on the 8th. However, Ja had taken the large suitcase away to Portugal until the 5th, so El has either the medium-sized suitcase which is 3/4 of her legs height, or a smaller one.

She reckons she can fit everything into the medium suitcase, and that she'll need seven days to pack, just like for EDGAS. I need to find a way to persuade her to bring the large suitcase to Toronto so she doesn't need to force everything into her medium suitcase and not have space for anything else. After all, going to Toronto is a lifetime opportunity - we shuold enjoy it to the max.

I will have to ask God to help say to El she should bring the larger suitcase, even if it means packing into the smaller one and transferring to large one.

Please help me God... =)

(Update from 9th May 2005)

I think it was a few days later, Saturday 14th May that El told me her mum told her Honda was working the Saturday I was coming up. That meant I didn't have to work! =)

When El told me through text the first thing I replied was "Hallelujah!" and later I hinted to El that I had been praying about this.

Praise God!

We go on holiday from Thursday 9th June. I was rota'd off duty on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th, then 10:30am-6:30pm on Monday 6th June, before another two days off duty which started my holiday break off. It would be pointless in just coming in the Monday to do to 10:30am shift after two days off, then go on holiday.

Two weeks ago I emailed Paul and INF Duty Manager to ask if they could swap my Sat 4th June off duty and put it down for Monday 6th June instead so my holiday started on Sunday 5th June.

Today, Paul sent me an email to confirm it was sorted. I've been given a 9-5 shift for Saturday 4th June, which means I get a whole 22 days off work.

Amazing! Praise God!

Bit of a dilemma just now. Not sure what to do. When El's mum heard I was going up to Aberdeen on Saturday 16th April (our 1st year anniversary) she suggested I helped work in Golden City's counter. I kind of got trained by El on Friday night and worked the Saturday. Uncled tried to pay me but I declined because I felt since it's a one-off it's fine because I eat theirs and stay in their house all the time it just wouldn't feel right. Uncle gave the money to El and I then took £10.

I plan to go up again on Saturday 22nd May. El said she wonders if auntie would once again suggest I work in the takeaway on Saturday night. To be honest, given the chance I'd prefer not to. I'd prefer to go up and hang and relax. My main aim is to see El to be honest, not to work. If I wanted to work I'd stay and do overtime in Glasgow. I am meant to be off duty you see. If I work, then Honda loses his pay which is a shame really. He might prefer to go out to hang, but he'd still lose money.

If I work on Sat I would look happy on the outside but inside I'd wish I didn't have the pressure. I would only do it to keep El happy and her parents happy, so they'd like me. If I don't do it, would I look like a lazy bug? Would they think less of me? If I don't do it, will auntie allow El to come stay over one night in July before we visit the youth summer camp? Hiy!! Very hard here!

I can only pray that auntie does not suggest I work in the takeaway that night - please!! It's in God's control. This I can only pray for God's help.

I really don't mind taking a few orders now and again and help them out when both El and Honda are busy, but to take Honda's place I'd rather not.

I'm not going to mention this prayer to anyone - just between my Father and myself.

Will will happen? Only time will tell...

Angela Fallone took me by surprise today. She came up to me quietly to tell me that I have won the Incentive Scheme for April. Out of the phoneroom, Willie, Paul and I got the best call stats - yet I had the shortest call time. Angela told me I currently have the best call time in teh phone room. She even asked if I knew that I was in the running for the prize. I told her that I didn't know and that I just do my best. =) So I should be getting an extra £66 in my next wage, at end of May.

I praise God that He helps give me the patience and kind heart to deal with the callers, especially the difficult ones.

This winning the prize should help encourage me to keep my time slow and my stats in shape. Praise God! I hope to continue to shine in my office and show I am different from others.

Two weeks ago in cell group we kinnd of decided to have a cell group social on Friday 18th March. That would have been fine since I am rota'd off duty on Sat so I could hang out late and sleep in on Sat.

However, Ling organised a surprised 23rd birthday/ farewell for Shawn on Fri night in Chukoku. A few people are going to that so cannot go for social and it got changed to Sat (19th). I am rota'd for 07:30am start on the Sunday so would mean I had to leave early on sat or go to work knackered on Sunday morning. Kinda worried.

Aaron called and asked me to bring some sort of salad dish to the social as Lily and Joyce were bringing drinks. I thought 'aiya!' I can't cook and don't really know what to buy. However, Aaron called again and said change of plans, I could bring drinks since the girls would find it too heavy to carry. So that's excellent! Praise God! Even mum said that God 'sek' me. =)

That's one thing sorted, however, what about the shift leh? My plans to try and email my colleagues, offering those who were working on Sat a day off and asking them to work my Sun. Prayed about it a few times.

Got to work and asked Paul for the staff list for Sat and Sun so I could see who's on in which days and emailed them. I discovered there were more people in on Sunday compared to Saturday and Pat McNicol is away to Canada for a couple of weeks.

Therefore, God gave me the wisdom to speak to Paul and offer to take Pat's place since they would be short in numbers. Paul liked the idea and agreed. Very happy indeed! Prayed to give thanks to God.

Spoke to and confirmed with Karen and Frank. Now it means I finish work 3:30pm on sat, come home, pick up drinks, hang in cell group till late amd can go home sleep in on Sunday AND go to youth group! Hallelujah! =)

Was on the Megabus from Glasgow to Aberdeen. Sat on the upper deck of a newer bus. As the bus turned left and right there was a clanging kind of noise above me in the left overhead luggage area.

I had initially thought it was coming from the light fitting above since there was one part uncovered. When the bus turned left on a roundabout the bus tilted right. Suddenly a green beer bottle came flying out of the luggage thing and landed in the space between my seat and the back of the seat in front, on the floor, under my legs. Woah! So scary! What if the bottle fell on me? What if it smashed as it landed? How did it miss me?

Only one answer for that - the Lord's protection!

I thank God for watching over me and making sure no-one was injured from this incident.

Praise God! =)

Chinese New Year. Went to work as usual. Day off tomorrow on annual leave.

5:40pm, it wasn't busy. Ray came up to me and handed me a pink envelope and wished me happy Chinese New Year - Wow! A Chinese New Year card! That's the second year I've received a card from work! Cool! Signed by a lot of staff! =)

6pm Ray came up to me again and asked me if I had a radio. I said 'No', Ray told me to say 'Yes', so I said 'Yes'. Ray then said, "Ok click on BBC Awareness for the next half hour and you can listen to a BBC programme." I clicked BBC Awareness code and was about to go on a radio page. Ray asked if I'm on awareness. I said, "Yes" and he said, "Right, offski".

It took me a few seconds to understand he meant I could leave half and hour early! Wow! Amazing! I thanked him then sent an email to thank colleagues for the card then left at 6:15pm and walked to church centre for short Events Team meeting. =)

Thank God for the colleagues like me! =)

Spent the weekend up in Aberdeen. Was passing through Trinity Shopping Centre and seen a stall that sold crystals. I know that El likes crystals so I paid particular attention to see if I can find something nice for Valentine's Day. Saw some roses, a frog, clocks and a horse and carriage. Found out that everything was on sale, half price! Mmm...interesting!

I seen a crystal heart that said 'Mum' on the base bottom. Immediately asked how much it was - £3. Must get it! Don't have to look around for Mother's Day present anymore. Also very cheap.

El came to have a look and I thought of buying her a rose. However, wasn't sure because she may have wanted something from Clinton's. Tried to question her about her preference but she wouldn't say. Rose would be nice and cheap. Clinton's nice but more expensive. Hmm...

Anyway, Sunday morning El set a reminder on her phone for me to buy her red glass/ crystal rose. Sorted! =)

Valentine's Day (well, 13th): Big wheel, small box of chocs, crystal, dinner. All I need is a card.

I thought I would be at the mail room again today, thinking I would get away at 5:45pm or so.

However that wasn't the case. I had to stay in phone room till 6:30pm! EM Leadership Team meeting at 7:30pm! What could I do? What a rush it would be to go home, eat, grab my Events stuff and head out again! Thank God I thought of asking Ray if I could miss my last tea break at 5pm and get away at 6:15pm. He said ok. =) Left at 6:15pm and rushed to Jessie and drove quickly home. Called home and mum put stuff in the oven for me.

I had eaten and was even only for 7pm. Made the meeting 7:30pm SHARP believe it or not. Meeting finished at 10pm. Ideal! Thank God for He provided.

Also, I needed Sunday 13th Feb off duty since El's coming down. I sent an email to ask for shift swap and offered my Friday or Saturday off duty. Joanne and Julie Stevens said they'd do it but Joanne was on reserve so didn't know her shifts. I had to take Julie's offer of 7:15am-3:15pm for Friday - sacrifice eh! Hehe!

Drove to work as usual in the morning - left at 09:30am and arrived around 9:47am in the Woodlands area. Had to drive along Carnarvon Street to Queen's Crescent and back - no spaces available. The weather was really bad; wind and heavy rain. I need to park in time for devotions then work. I circled around Queen's Crescent once but had no luck. As I made my way back out to the primary school area, a man walking along the pavement area looked at me and waved. Thinking he signalled someone else, I just drove off.

It wasn't until I had to stop to allow Ivor Shek's car by that this man came close to my car and pointed at his own: he was going to drive away and wanted to give me his space! Such a nice man!

He drove away, I gave him a few appreciation flashes of the headlights, packed, then did devotions. Praise God for this man. God bless him.

Actually I think he offered me his parking space once before, around Queen's Crescent. Could God have sent him?

I was afraid of going to cell group tonight. For a very crazy reason. Janetta is meant to have a birthday do thing in Havana Bar on Friday, which includes a bit of Salsa dancing as well.

Two reasons why I didn’t wanna go: no money to buy a card/ present for Janetta and also I have to work 7:30am on Saturday. Therefore I wanted to avoid Janetta because it would be hard to tell her I don’t wanna go: 2 cons. The only Pro is I could get a lend of Kenneth’s PS2 games.

By 7:15pm I decided, ‘what the heck, I’ll go to cell group. It’s for God and I’m sure He’ll help me.’ I prayed on my way to Kenneth’s place. The traffic from the motorway right through to Kenneth’s flat was so smooth. No red lights along Great Western Road at all!

Therefore, when I arrived I had a feeling things would be ok. I was very peaceful at heart.

By the time we started I realised that Janetta was out having dinner with her parents since she’s busy on Friday.

I got to have fellowship, Kenneth’s games and no blushes.

I applied for annual leave from work for 2 dates: Sunday 30th Jan (up in ‘deen) and Sunday 13th Feb (El coming to Glasgow). Both were declined. The reason why I waited till today was because I had to wait for my Reserve Shifts for week commencing Fri 24th Jan to be sent to me. It was sent on Friday 14th Jan at 6:05pm – I was away by then since I was in mail room. Also on 10th Jan I emailed Duty Managers requesting I work on Tuesday 25th since I’m meant to be off duty and be off duty on Sunday 30th instead. They ignored it.

My only hope now, after I appealed to Karen, is that they can sort something out for me for the 30th and that I can apply for half-day holiday for 13th. If not, than I’ll call in sick for the 2 days. I hope it won’t resort to that. Probably don’t have to if God helps me. I just need to have faith and keep praying about it.

I’ll write what happens after I know the result.

(Update from 20th January 2005)

Back to work today, checked my emails.

Got one from Karen about the annual leave requests. The duty managers decided it was not possible to give me Sunday 30th Jan off, nor Sunday 13th Feb because they already have people on leave and Off Duty. The only way around this would be to swap the shifts myself. I was given a list of names of people who are working on Tue and off on Sunday. Names included Willie Burns, Edith, Peter, Lucy etc. I emailed them a plea and explained the situation before heading to mail room to help out.

Received a few replies: 2 saying No, 1 maybe and 1 Yes. Willie said he’d do it for me!! So surprised! He got stuff sorted out with Bob and then confirmed it was ok to go ahead! Praise God! At least now I won’t have to lie on Sunday 30th Jan and phone in sick. I owe Willie a favour now! Hehe!

Still got Sunday 13th Feb to sort out, but I’m sure with the Lord’s grace, I’ll be writing in this pad again! =) Hallelujah!

P.s. I also got all my Toronto annual leave booked, and our birthdays and anniversaries too! =)

A few things to write about for this entry. The first is not date-specific, but I’ve started to do my devotions in the mornings, either at home before I leave the house for work, or in the car before I walk to work. It really does help – reading the Lord’s word with a clear/ fresh mind. Good start to the day.

I was asked to help out in the mail room yesterday and today. They have so many Jerry Springer letters, so I help them out with sorting and scanning. I guess for doing so I get to leave earlier than my end of shift time. Today, for example, I was let away at 5:05pm though my shift finished at 6:30pm. Thank God Ann does not make me go back to the phone room.

Also I received a letter from Karen Scott telling me my annual salary has increased to £12,000 now. An extra £1,000 a year will come in real handy, especially since I have to save up for the holiday in Toronto, and there are special dates in April!

Praise God! =)

I had a day off work today, so I stayed in to chill, chatted on the phone to El for a bit and done chores, hovered, washed bathroom and then cooked dinner for the family! My very first time!

Had rice, crab meat stick and red, green, yellow peppers in black bean sauce! I cooked that myself! Kinda picked up a few pointers from El when she cooked dinner for us! Hehe!

Mum and Cat came home from work and the three of us literally cleared everything up! I washed up after dinner and took the washing down. Mum didn’t have to do anything. Was a fab way for her to start her week’s holiday and for me to redeem myself! =)

We had a good time during dinner. Once again, thank God!

I spent Christmas and New Year up in Aberdeen. At first I thought it was a great idea, getting to open presents with El, going to parties etc. I didn’t realise I was neglecting mum and Cat. The more people I told about my Christmas plans up north, the more people were surprised and asked why I wasn’t spending time with family. I started to feel a bit guilty, but couldn’t really do anything about it since the tickets were bough and plans were made. At the back of my mind I had always though ‘El would do this for me as well – either way, one of us would have to take the slack for doing so. Next year it’ll be better.’

Between Christmas and New Year, mum’s face went all red and blotchy. The medical term was Impetigo if I remember correctly. She suffered a lot from the pain but still had to work. I went up to Aberdeen on New Year Eve because El was getting baptised on Sunday 2nd Jan 2005.

I came home on 3rd January 2005 as usual and thought everything was alright for the new few days. It wasn’t until I arranged to go up to Aberdeen on the following weekend (15th-16th Jan) and showed mum the reservation, that I realised how hurt my mum had been.

Not only was she angry that I am going up AGAIN but I’m going up even though she is still unwell and she had a week of annual leave off work that week and would have been nice if I had stayed at home. I felt so bad about this and cancelled my plans and apologised to mum, reassuring her that it was not intentional to book on those dates. Mum cried on the phone to people, also said I treated the house like a hotel – come and go as I please and make no contributions etc. Actually Cat blogged about mum’s unhappiness to start with. I saw it whilst at work and then all this happened.

Anyway, I thank the Lord for all that has happened. I have since then become more aware of my actions and behaviour towards my family and make more effort to put things back to the way they were: the love, laughter, jokes and family time.

Praise God for this =)