Drifting On A Reed

I should probably be transcribing or reading right now but I need a distraction... The weeks seem to fly by when you have so much to do... It's ridiculous... I think I learn more in a week now than 3 months previously... Anyway, I'd better get back to doing some work soon so this is gonna be short...

Had a scare on Wednesday... My online friend lives in Florida... and the Hurricane Wilma hit the area on Monday... and I didn't hear anything from her since then until yesterday... what a relief... I was really worried... Thank God nothing tragic happened... Most of the town there is out of power anyway...

Well, other than that... my other main concern is this radio assignment that was given to ask like 3 weeks ago... and my group still hasn't done anything about it... hrmm... better get other assignments out of the way 1st... yea...

Oh... might be going back to Basingstoke next weekend cos my cargo has arrived!!! yay!!! I can practice my saxophone now and get some fake books as well... ok... better get back to studying... trying very hard not to get complacent...

I'm off...

Dreamsville

Pictures say a thousand words... I don't feel like writing today...

Hot House

Ah.... Busy busy busy!!! Had a house party at Brighton with the Christian Union people over the weekend... great fun... good teaching... or insightful at least... Then on Sunday I went to Hillsongs to meet up with Melvin, Michelle, Amanda and one Michelle's friends... Sam from my course came along too... Then after that we went to All Souls Church which is where Melvin and Amanda go to... Michelle and her friend didn't join us though... yea... had a scavenger hunt... then Sam abandoned me halfway!!! Guess he didn't enjoy it haha... cos we were split up into different groups... Met him and the Christian Union people again at night to go to Holy Trinity Church!! Waaahhh... Tired sia!!!

And now I have to do so many assignments plus practise and also read!!! hahaha!!! Then I've also got this radio program to do!!! Good thing I finished one of the assignments already... that's due in a month... lolzz...

Oh I also had my piano lesson the other day!!! I thought the teacher was stealing some licks from me when he said... show me what you did there!!! hehehe... well, at least I took back something to practise... he's good thought!!! haha... Also helping out some 1st years understand various aspects of the subject... Oh and I've been jamming with a few people too... Seems like I'm getting noticed... hehe lolzz... bah... I want to learn more!!! Erm... I'm teaching Crystal how to play pool and play church songs too... ok that was random... haha...

Anyway... I better get back to work... sorry if this is a crap entry... hahaha... erm... byeee....

Cya...

Autumn Leaves

Weather Report... Fall...

There's something to be said about the timeless melody, harmony and rhythm of the title song... No doubt the most overplayed piece in jazz repertoire, there's vast freedom in fresh improvisatory approaches to its simplicity; all while maintaining some form of structure... and I keep coming back to it just like a jazzer to his blues roots...

This past week has been nothing short of a blessing... I've had a fantastic time with friends and all... and the strange thing is music's not the core reason... there's no greater joy than serving the Lord :)

Where I left off from last week... had a great time at Christian Union again... Met a few more people... Over the weekend was worship prac and church... Oh... I also checked Skippo's band out... it was nice and all... but I didn't join it cause of financial and practical reasons... It was hard to give up the opportunity...

I'm going to Brighton this weekend... Christian Union House Party... should be fun :) and on Sunday I'm meeting Melvin, Michelle and Amanda!!!! heeee... Might meet with Nadia if she's free too... Anyway.... that's what I've been doing mostly... Oh yea... International Cafe on Thursday nights is kinda fun too :) good outreach opportunities...

Speaking of which... from time to time, my halls mates get into discussions about religion and stuff... God's opening doors :) And other than that, I usually spend the whole day at Pastor Bright's house on Sunday... It's good too... cause he doesn't spoon feed the church... It's nice learning the Word of God in depth... with a little guidance... not anecdotal stuff at all...

Anyway... I'd better get back to either practising, transcribing or reading and revising... eeps... :P

You guys stay blessed...

I Had The Craziest Dream

If the present "me" told the past "me" what he would be doing in 10 years time... The latter person wouldn't have believed it... This week as been, for lack of a better word... "AMAZING"... I can't even begin to describe the wonderful things God has done... But well, gotta start somewhere... lol...

I got every administrative thing sorted out by the end of the 1st week of university... Which was one of my major concerns before I stepped foot in this place... I'm talking about food, uni, fees, registration, yada yada yada... that's sorted...

Next, on the list of my "worries" would be friends in the halls or jazz course... and more importantly, Christian friends... more about that later... cos I want to tie it in with something else...

Church and Christian Union... I think I've written about it my previous entries... but... it's really interesting how all these tie together...

Let's start with induction week... Forgive me if I'm repeating myself from past entries... Met loads of people that week... Even a guy from Singapore!!! Made lots of friends... And of those friends... a lot were living on campus... Had a small party in someone's room after grocery shopping... got to know a few more people there... Met 2 Christians who introduced me to the Christian Union as well... Went to Bright's church that week too... totally blessed... going to start playing in the worship team soon as well...

Anyway, the week lessons start, I meet a few more people from the jazz course, from my halls of residence and from the Christian Union... Hang on just a sec if you think this is boring you...

Now you see, for all my doubts and fears... God knew my hearts desires... and I'm ashamed to say that I didn't trust him enough... I wanted friends, buddies in my course, hall mates, Christian friends and to play with people in a band... well guess what he gave me...

- 2 Christian friends in the halls - Go to church on Sunday with them...

- 3 Jazz Friends in the SAME HALL, 5 Jazz friends ON THE SAME LEVEL in the halls - comprising a full band!!! Piano, Bass, Drums, Guitar, Saxophone, Singer...

- Many other international friends in the halls...

Now this is the mind-blowing one...

- 3 Christian friends in the JAZZ COURSE...

Hold your breath... It gets better...

Of which one of them is in my hall of residence on campus...
Another one produces stuff and wants me to work with him...
And this is the one that takes the cake...

- Skippo... A Christian guy who plays in a band outside of the course... wants me to play with the band... and guess what I found out today... THE WHOLE BAND IS SAVED!!!

And now I wonder why I even had that doubt in me in the 1st place... Cos His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches over me!!!

Me and Skippo talked more about Christianity both before and after our lesson today... It was powerful man... At the end of our lecture, we ended up in a practice room with 2 pianos, playing and singing and worshipping... And mind you, that wasn't in seclusion in some corner at the far end of the building... It was smack right next to a staircase, a staff room, the main lecture room and the walkway outside the building... And it was that time of the day when everyone was in the building as well... People walking back and forth every 5 mins... Unashamed! Can't describe the feeling in words...

Church on Sunday was good as well... Vision... To know Him and to make Him known... That's pastor Bright's vision... Witnessing... Etc, etc... the list goes on... I went with my 2 friends to pastor Bright's house... for 6 hours again!!! lol... Blessed time...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" has taken so much more meaning and depth in my life... There is so much I want to share with you people and many others... these are exciting times... Anyway, I'd better do my laundry now... It's piling up... lol... I hope this testimony (no not the laundry one) has encouraged you...

Carve your name on hearts, not marble...