i am kristy

I originally was going to change lyrics to Barenaked Ladies for my current position of just finishing a month at Fluid... but nahhh can't be bothered

So yeah it's actually been a month! CRAZY... who would've known that I would be here, doing this and meeting the people I am? not I, said the fly. and yet I am. It's kewl though and I am enjoying it... it's pretty full on with the work, meetings, clients, promotions - one is starting tomorrow, so have to keep ontop of everything. crazycrazy... oh and I'm going to my first meeting this sat. by myself! ahh... I'm sure it'll be fine, amusing in fact... so that's sat.

Finally managed to catch up on blogs, woohoo everyone's been going all over the place and road-tripping. I miss that... just getting into a car and driving somewhere - not me driving of course, I'll forever be on my learners! ha... good times

One thing I'm looking forward to is teaching Splash this month, which is the 5-7yrs old at church!! they are sooo cute and i just love talking with them! my new friends :) ok is this my little way of trying to escape the realities of finding real friends and forming deeper relationships??? hah maybe

well last weekend was really good cuz I managed to spend some time with a friend from school, who is a Christian now and just TALK! so it was all in God's timing to bring her along then, she's back in the UK now. But I know that was just for then. At least I know... denial is the first stage of everything. and I'm over that ha

Today is my mummy's birthday. yeah for mummy!! I bought her some white chocolate, which she loves. I guess after a while presents aren't as special as being with someone - your presence... awwww

right yes I know it's been a while, the thing is that I haven't even wanted to blog. I know that's terrible. I guess it just makes it easier to keep things to yourself, your emotions, feelings and thoughts. Cuz once they're out then people know, like they KNOW and that's kinda scary. I dunno, sometimes I feel that I'm holding back a lot. There's a lot I could give, so what's stopping me? I dunno. Like since I've been back I feel like I'm more serious, more reserved, maybe even detached from people, not really ready to be myself. Well what people see is me, and that's what they know. But the real me, what's going on inside - do they know me? Do they even want to know? I guess in HK it's harder to really get to know someone, and let someone know you. It takes time. Something that a lot of people don't have, or aren't willing to give. And fair enough. People come and they go... what's the point in investing you time, emotions, and everything into something that isn't going to last? Is there a point? I think there is. How else are you going to learn, know and grow? We are social beings, we need to connect, to feel connected, be apart of something... so why aren't I?

hah I can't believe some of you don't know what a sante bar is!! They're the best Whittakers chocolate for coffees - ever!

Anyways... after 2 weeks and one day at my job I CRIED AT WORK!! OMG how embarassing!! It was totally my fault though, cuz I did something soo wrong and when my boss found out he got mad and told me off, I tried not to cry, but he kinda kept going on about it cuz he didn't know what to do to fix it and it's an open plan office, so everyone heard, and I couldn't help but cry. Probably more so cuz I knew I had done something really bad, and so I felt even worse... mehh... although my boss felt really bad that he made me cry and kept saying sorry and got me tissues etc. wow, the power of tears! ha and today on our way to a meeting he apologised again and said he's rather blunt and straightforward with things, and rather let it out and let us know what he thinks instead of us worrying he's mad at us etc. He even asked if I actually like my job and everything. I know I'm totally over-sensitive about things like that, so I just need to toughen up and get use to the way he is and not take it so personally. mehh

Anyways it was all better that night by going for dinner with Abbie and Priscilla and sharing XTC (gelato), then crashing on another dinner with Nat, Nate, Derek and Janice (some interesting table topics/discussions) and THEN we watched STAR WARS EPISODE 3!! everyone was sooo excited, it was so funny. and the oldest Ma brother had a REAL light sabre, honestly it was the coolest thing ever and he actually put it on in the theatre, and everyone cheered! hah... but honestly it was really good - didn't quite appreciate the first two... but this one definately made up for it. Weird cuz now it's all over! The end of another trilogy, that's sad.

so that finished rather late and after hanging around and talking about it, headed back to Nat's place and to bed at 3am... up for 7:30am prayer at church! hah very impressed, cuz out of the 6 people, 5 of us had been to the movie and so didn't have much sleep. So crazy, but totally worth it!

Which makes me very tired now so it's bedtime for me...

oh and btw, if you haven't watched Star Wars Episode 3 yet - GO!

ok today was suppose to be my computer-free day... and I've been home the whole day! Yes it was hard, and about 7:20pm I went online... gee I did well. ha anyways my justification was that I'd be on it even later tomorrow nite after work, if I didn't go on now. Yes, nice little things we tell ourselves!

anyways, had a fun exploration around my building and realised that I can get up on my roof! I was so stoked... I took up a mat, my bible, journal, music, water, sun screen, sunnies, phone, books, snacks, pillows and a beach umbrella! hah it was great, although you can hear the roar of the traffic go by, it's exactly like the roof tops you imagine in the old days, where they dry things, hide (Rahab & the spies), pray, look at the stars (ha not in HK!) so yeah it's my new favourite place - my upper room.

Open my eyes, the curtains are drawn - what time is it? 9:55am...
maybe I should get up, or maybe not. Close my eyes

12:20pm - ok maybe I should get up now. Slip into my dressing gown, the place is so quiet. Everyone must be out. It's just me, smile, I like that.

Mosey on into the kitchen, the clocks ticking, the tiles are nice and cool... hmm yum there's mango, thanks I'll have one of them.

Thinking back to last nite, I don't know if I can do that again... just being out till morning in bars and clubs. It's fun and all hanging with school friends and checking out new places - but is that me? Do I really care about being in those places? no not really, if anything it's about the people, the friends and relationships - that's what I care about. So to be with them, do I have to do the things they do? Maybe to a certain extend, but never to a point where I have to compromise my faith and belief in Christ. I guess I always feel that by being there I can be a light to them, to share God's love - but do I really? God, Jesus or my beliefs rarely come up in conversation, talk is more of gossip and the old days. So am I just kidding myself? I dunno and either way I don't think I could sustain a lifestyle like this, work long hours, stay out all night, one that HK demands of young people - physically and mentally it's tiring, and spiritually I know I'm not in the place where I should be - are we ever?

Like Jesus did, I know I have to draw away from the crowds, to a quiet place to be in God's presence, to quieten my mind, soul and spirit to hear His voice - "Be still and know that I am God". It's so hard in a place like HK, but even in the midst of it all, God will bring that peace and lead me to the quiet streams to be refreshed.

On another note - today is Global Day of Prayer - people from all over the world is and will be praying and praising our God. That's awesome and I can't wait to go to the HK stadium (yes where the sevens are held) and be apart of it! woohoooo

Seriously I never knew the extent of that until I did it! It feels sooooo good, esp after walking around the whole day in SoHo and Lan Kwai going to venues and talking to managers/staff, handing out my card, making sure the promo is going alright etc. It's interesting cuz some places are really into it and have heaps of positive feedback, in others there's little interest and they're not even using our coasters! aiya... Will go around later in the week to makes sure they are... it was pretty fun though, being amongst it all

ok so far in my first week I've:
- helped delivered coasters and stands to 58 venues, and taken pictures in SoHo, LKF and Wanchai (check out current campaign atVenue Alliance)
- help take my laptop to get fixed in Wanchai
- gone to four meetings with Simon (Wanchai, Taikoo, SoHox2)
- picked up a cheque in Happy Valley
- helped to take our end of year accounts to the accountants in TST
- drafted letters, replies, quotes, invoices and a press release
- sorted out a licence for trade promotion competitions for a client
- talked to SCMP and Apple Daily for advertising fees
- gone to buy toilet paper and paper towels
- changed the water several times
- put together my cabinet and another one, which has a drawer jammed
- read through the media agencies contact book and the public relations one
- sought out quotes for printing (still waiting to hear back grrr)
- put together a GANTT chart (time schedule) for the June campaign
- organised a courier for pick up and deliverly
- answered phones, hung up on people by accident
- gone through the Media magazine, finding potential contacts
- ordered stationery through Wahwah

Pending jobs...
- work on metatags with Jamie, for all our web sites
- source a waterproof wall clock for a client and a postcard rack
- go to the races tomorrow nite to see how the promo is going, take photos and take the courtesy bus back
- go to the Hofex exhibition on thursday
- get those quotes!
- write up a questionnaire to get feedback from clients of our services
- send out a press release for current promotion
- decide what to put in a package for the company to send out information, work with designers on that
- source metal work folders for staff
- contact/do a send out to all media agencies of our services
- put together a list of potential clients
- follow up on trade promotions licence, send it off and pick it up when it's ready
- make sure venues have enough promo items - so probably will go around again later this week

ok I think that's enough for now, I'm sure more will come along. I guess it's all good being busy and all, it gives me something to do and I admit I like multi-tasking. I guess I need to learn to prioritise and focus on what's important. The time we have is so valuable!

And besides work there's lots of other stuff I wanna be doing! Mel's in town till Sunday, so want to spend as much time with her as possible - so met up with her and Neens after work, shopping, eating and just got home a lil while ago...

Girls night at Amy's last nite was great! I really loved it and knew God was leading us during that time. And it gets me excited about what God is going to teach us and use us to encourage and support each other. Good thing it'll be fortnightly, a bit more manageable.

180 is such a blessing and just want to serve in any way, so this weekend I'm helping out with the food&beverage, which is always a favourite... hmm might be making ambrosia, a taste of NZ :) yummm
which reminds me there's 8am prayer meeting tomorrow, so better go to bed (dpma I will be there!!)

woah long blog - thanks for reading

you know when you're having a really crappy day, esp when you feel bad and look even worse... you just can't be bothered with anything! yep, I even went out without any make-up on. I know! But in those days, little things happen that really make it so special. I mean it's even more special on those sort of days...

SO I woke up yesterday after a bad sleep, I was feeling guilty for sending a rude text in the middle of the night, sporting fresh new mozzie bites - on the face, even!, suffering from puffy eyes and sore throat... shall I continue?!?!

but my slices of heaven were -
1. speed shopping (before my cousins had to leave) and getting some bargins
2. being able to bless my cousin with some of my purchases
3. receiving a card from Abbey - she's so special!
4. moving back into my room!!!
5. receiving a call from GOUTY - it was sooo good speaking to him, it's been so long!

and then after a nap I went to 180 and on the way I was still feeling really crappy and tired and didn't feel like talking to anyone or being "uber"... and it was in the prayer meeting someone said something along the lines of "like no matter what happened this week, or today, or the things on our mind, God we give you this time, this night and ourselves so we can worship you and share your love" and "let us look beyond our own needs to that of others" and honestly it was like a wake up call to me, to just snap out of my oh-poor-me-i'm-so-tired-i-can't-be-bothered-with-this-all attitude! It's funny how our needs and problems become smaller when you look to others. I mean I know we shouldn't ignore our issues, but when you put them into perspective, seriously they aren't so big. So many people out there are facing things bigger than our own, so God I pray you'll help me to take my eyes off myself and look at how I can help and serve others who need you.

ok I'm actually kinda tired, but wanted to blog just to clear my mind... yes it's a bit too late to go for a walk or a run. Maybe another day

So I've had my first week at work, it's gone surprisingly well and I've actually enjoyed it! funny that. I've been tagging along to the meetings Simon has with various clients, listening and learning the ropes as eventually I'll be doing that! It's pretty interesting. Although one muck up today was that I wrote a reply for him and he had checked it and gone through, and I retyped it and he sent it off. But then we realised it had all these spelling mistakes in it! ahh... feel so bad, but hopefully it's ok. mehhh

the funniest thing in the office is that we have a cat that comes in to hang out in the arvo. Her name's Bob hah and she loves sitting in one of the designer's chairs. So when he gets up to do something, she's straight in it and won't let him move her. She actually bit him and throws up a huge fuss! Soo funny, so everyone's trying to get her off the chair and one of the guys spins it around and around and the poor thing is holding on for dear life until it finally was spun off!! It was a bit of a laugh though haha

honestly I'm knacked and my allergies aren't making things easier, I can hardly see the screen mehhh I'm just going to bed. will do some catching up with my blog reading tomorrow so there better be some good stuff! haa

well... firstly thanks to those who texted and left messages even if they were just after 12 last nite - not naming anyone Abbie and Joshua! I was actually still awake then so it wasn't too bad. I woke up super early, as you do - like 6:30am... I didn't have to be at work till 10am, so went back to sleep and thought about what I was going to do when I got up hahha... so got all smarted up and headed out, ready for my first day at work. woohooo

I stroll on up just a little before 10am to find that the office was closed and the gates were up! Hello?! where's everyone? Didn't want to feel like a keen-bean turning up before everyone else on the first day, so went for a walk and came back a few minutes later after seeing one of the ladies go by. Funny, cuz everyone rolls in 10:10, 10:15... even 10:30am... Simon, my boss comes in a bit later, and we sit outside and have a chat. Well mainly he does the talking, me the listening, nodding and ahuh-ing. He's really kewl, this is his baby, his passion and he loves what he does and the company. And wants us all to feel the same. I guess as you invest a lot of your time, self and energy into something you want everyone else to capture that passion and excitement too. So that's kewl.

Went along with two others to watch them change a billboard for a client (they do this at the beginning of the month). The first thing they ask is "how are you feeling? are you nervous?" hah they're soooo funny! so that was kewl to be able to talk to them a little

The rest of the morning (or what was left), was spent reading over some material, getting an idea of what we're offering- we're a design and marketing "agency", not "company"... so will have to remember that. Simon is going to do some role playing with me later to see how I talk and explain to clients what we're about - no it's not a sales pitch, just an introduction. He said it was a luxury having me come in, there's heaps of work and he wants to concentrate on developing the business. So like I said, he did a lot of the talking...

Had lunch with Neena & Mel... so exciting cuz Neenz just got a job with Walt Disney as a financial analyst!! Soooo exciting! Although now her office is in Causeway Bay (I'm in Central) so we can't do lunch boooo... it's only temp for 3months, but I'm excited for her nonetheless... had a free coffee with my stamps I collected so that was a bonus of the day!

In the arvo Wah Wah (Joanne) and I went around delivering coasters and coaster stands to various venues around SoHo and Lan Kwai Fong. It was soo crazy hot and we had to carry all this stuff!! We probably did about 3 trips in all... Wah Wah did all the talking, which was good, I stuffed it up when I tried! ha... it's kewl cuz we'll be working closely together and it was good to get to know her and also go to all the venues that we work with under Venue Alliance; which is a collaboration of restaurants, bars and stores in particular areas to promote and advertise corporations/businesses through campaigns, promotions and so on. We just coordinate it all. It's pretty kewl.

Four hours or so later, sweaty, thirsty, sore foot, hungry us returned back to homebase "the Fluid office" - it's 8:40pm. woaahh first day at work and OT already! Simon was great cuz he kept saying thanks and what a great job we did and if there was anything he could do to follow up (we were actually going to go back out to some places we missed) but he said to do it tomorrow... with the Wan Chai venues and that we could come in a little later. That's the way it works, have a late nite at the office, come in a little later. ok

SO some big stuff coming up in the next few months, Simon wants to train me up within the next 3 - he's going on a holiday in August and I need to be able to handle things by that time!! kinda scary, but should be ok.

Yeah it's BEDTIME!! I feel like a kid, after dinner, wash up and go to bed hahaa well it's another day at work tomorrow - THANK GOD it's Wednesday :)

End of day one.

like omg I'm actually starting work tomorrow ahh... but it's ok, I had a great day laxing out on a junk (boat) trip today which was soooo good! We had 2 boats to accomodate the 50 or so people, and heaps of food and drink, sun screen and people ready to have fun. Weather wise it was beaauti-ful a little cloudy, with some wind and sun so it's definately a recipe for a great day! and it was will have to grab some photos hmm

Crazy I'm not even prepared for tomorrow! I don't know what I'm wearing or anything, usually I would've tried my outfit out several times, with the shoes and sussed out everything. I just can't be bothered at the mo. It'll happen in the morning ha now I'm sunned and really tired... about to go to bed

We just had a guest leave (momentarily) and 3 more arriving today - two cousins and interestingly, the guy who introduced my parents to Christ all those years ago, is visiting for 2 weeks! very kewl

ok promise to post something tomorrow, I'm feeling like I'm still on the boat... wooahhh please let me off - maybe I should just lie down! mehhh