COMFIRMED! - another overseas trip!

We will be heading for HKG on coming FRI. A last minute decision since Hub has sold off some of his leave and another partial leave for clearance. Comparing btw Bangkok and Hongkong, in the end, hands up for HKG. Just do it while we still can. Not much of freedom life left for me..

Still pondering whether to go ShenZhen. But can decide when we are there.

But bad timing, all the nearby budget hotel at Mongkok, Jordan Rd, TST are fully booked. We ended up at Anchor Rd which is 15 mins from Mongkok MTR. They also provide the hourly complimentary shuttle bus service. Hope it come useful.

Tmr will CG and Thurs, busy with packing.

More updates next week..

Some changes to take place soon - yet to reveal till further confirmation.

I dont know what's going on in the small tiny brain of mine. Some fear, or is it the comfort zone that I am living in now. Some disappointments had happen. Unable to provide more details.

Maybe the changes will edify and build a stronger character. It's just one at a go, probably concurrently or 3 times more. Surprise, surprise.

As taken from the story I read 5 years ago:

Who Moved My Cheese

By: Dr. Spencer Johnson


Story

Once, long ago in a land far away, there lived four little characters who ran through a maze looking for cheese to nourish them and make them happy.


Two were mice named “Sniff” and “Scurry” and two were little people – beings who were as small as mice but who looked and acted a lot like people today. Their names were “Hem” and “Haw.”


Due to their small size, it would be easy not to notice what the four of them were doing. But if you looked closely enough, you could discover the most amazing things!


Everyday the mice and the little people spent time in the maze looking for their own special cheese.


The mice, Sniff and Scurry, possessing only simple rodent brains, but good instincts, searching for the hard nibbling cheese they like, as mice often do.


The two little people, Hem and How, used their brains, filled with many beliefs, to search for a very different kind of cheese- with a Capital C- which they believed would make them feel happy and successful.


As different as the mice and littlepeople were, they shared something in common; every morning, they each put on their jogging suits and running shoes, left their little homes, and raced out into the maze looking for their favorite cheese.


The maze was a labyrinth of corridors and chambers, some containing delicious cheese. But there were also dark corners and blind alleys leading nowhere. It was an easy place for anyone to get lost.


However, for those who found their way, the maze held secrets that let them enjoy a better life. The mice, Sniff and Scurry, used the simple, but inefficient, trial –and-error method of finding cheese. They ran down one corridor and if it proved empty, they turned and ran down another.


Sniff would smell out the general direction of the cheese, using his great nose, and Scurry would race ahead. They got lost, as you might expect, went off in the wrong direction and often bumped into walls.


However, the two little people, Hem and Haw, used a different method that relied on their ability to think and learn from their past experiences, although, they would sometimes get confused by their beliefs and emotions.


Eventually in their own way, they all discovered what they were looking for – they each found their own kind of cheese one day at the end of one of the corridors in Cheese Station C.


Every morning after that, the mice the little people dressed in their running gear and headed over to Cheese Station C. It wasn’t long before they each established their own routine.


Sniff and Scurry continued to wake early every day and race thorough the maze, always following the same route.


When they arrived at their destination, the mice took off their running shoes, tied them together and hung them around their necks – so they could get to them quickly whenever they needed them again. Then they enjoyed the cheese.


In the beginning Hem and Haw also raced toward Cheese Station C every morning to enjoy the tasty new morsels that awaited them.


But after a while, a different routine set in for the little people.


Hem and Haw awoke each day a little later, dressed a little slower, and walked to Cheese Station C. After all, they knew where the Cheese was now and how to get there.


They had no idea where the Cheese came from, or who put it there. They hung up their jogging suits, put away their running shoes and put on their slippers. They were becoming very comfortable now that they had found the Cheese.


“This is great,” Hem said. “There’s enough Cheese here to last us forever.” The little people felt happy and successful, and thought they were now secure.


It wasn’t long before Hem and Haw regarded the Cheese they found at Cheese Station C as their cheese. It was such a large store of Cheese that they eventually moved their homes to be closer to it, and built a social life around it.


To make themselves feel more at home, Hem and Haw decorated the walls sayings and even drew pictures of Cheese around them which made them smile. One read

"Having Cheese Makes You Happy"




Sometimes Hem and Haw would take their friends by to see their pile of Cheese at Cheese Station C, and point to it with pride, saying “Pretty nice Cheese, huh?” Sometimes they shared it with their friends and sometimes they didn’t.

“We deserve this Cheese,” Hem said. “We certainly had to work long and hard enough to find it.” He picked up a nice fresh piece and ate it.


Afterwards, Hem fell asleep, as he often did.

Every night the little people would waddle home, full of Cheese, and every morning they would confidently return for home.

This went on for quite some time.

After a while Hem’s and Haw’s confidence grew into arrogance. Soon they became so comfortable they didn’t even notice what was happening.


As time went on, Sniff and Scurry continued their routine. They arrived early each morning and sniffed and scratched and scurried around Cheese Station C, inspecting the area to see it there had been any changes from the day before. Then they would sit down to nibble on the cheese.


One morning they arrived at Cheese Station C and discovered there were no cheese.


They weren’t surprised. Since Sniff and Scurry had noticed the supply of cheese had been getting smaller every day, they were prepared for the inevitable and knew instinctively what to do.


They looked at each other, removed the running shoes they had tied together and hung conveniently around their necks, put them on their feet and laced them up.


The mice did not overanalyze things. And they were not burdened with many complex beliefs.


To the mice, the problem and the answer were both simple. The situation at Cheese station C had changed. So, Sniff and Scurry decided to change.

They both looked out into the maze. Then Sniff lifted his nose, sniffed, and nodded to Scurry, who took off running through the maze while Sniff followed as fast as he could.


They were quickly off in search of New Cheese.


Later that same day, Hem and Haw arrived at Cheese Station C. They had not been paying attention to the small changes that had been taking place each day, so they took it for granted their Cheese would be there.


They were unprepared for what they found.

“What? No Cheese?” Hem yelled. He continued yelling, “No Cheese? No Cheese?” as though if he shouted loud enough someone would put it back.


“Who moved my Cheese?” he hollered.

Finally, he put his hands on his hips, his face turned red, and he screamed at the top of his voice, “It’s not fair!”


Haw just shook his head in disbelief. He, too had counted on finding Cheese at Cheese Station C. He stood there for a long time, frozen with shock. He was just not ready for this.


Hem was yelling something, but Haw didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to deal with what was facing him, so he just tuned everything out.


The little people’s behavior was not very attractive or productive but it was understandable.



Finding Cheese wasn’t easy, and it mean great deal more to the little people than just having enough of it to eat every day.



Finding Cheese was the littlepeople’s way of getting what they thought they needed to be happy. They had their own ideas of what Cheese meant to them, depending on their taste.



For some, finding Cheese was having material things. For others it was enjoying good health, or developing a spiritual sense of well-being.


For Haw, Cheese just meant feeling safe, having loving family someday and living in a cozy cottage on Cheddar Lane.


To Hem, Cheese was becoming A Big Cheese in charge of others and owning a big house atop Camembert Hill.


Because Cheese was important to them, the two little people spent a long time trying to decide what to do. All they could think of was to keep looking around Cheeseless Station C to see if the Cheese was really gone.


While Sniff and Scurry had quickly moved on, Hem and Haw continued to hem and haw.


They ranted and raved at the injustice of it all. Haw started to get depressed. What would happen if the Cheese wasn’t there tomorrow? He has made future plans based on this Cheese.


The little people couldn’t believe it. How could this have happened? No one had warned them. It wasn’t right. It was not the way things were supposed to be.


Hem and Haw went home that night hungry and discouraged. But before they left, Haw wrote on the wall:


The More Important Your Cheese Is To You The More You Want To Hold On To It.


The next day Hem and Haw left their homes, and returned to Cheese Station C again, where they still expected, somehow, to find their Cheese.


The situation hadn’t changed, the Cheese was no longer there. The little people didn’t know what to do. Hem and Haw just stood there, immobilized like two statues.


Haw shut his eyes as tight as he could and put his hands over his ears. He just wanted to block everything out. He didn’t want to know the Cheese supply had gradually been getting smaller. He believed it had been moved all of a sudden.


Hem analyzed the situation over and over and eventually his complicated brain with its huge belief system took hold. “Why did they do this to me?” he demanded. “What’s really going on here?”


Finally, Haw opened his eyes, looked around and said, “By the way, where are Sniff and Scurry? Do you think they know something we don’t?”

Hem scoffed, “What would they know?”


Hem Continued, “They’re just simple mice. They just respond to what happens. We’re little people. We’re special. We should be able to figure this out. And, besides, we deserve better.


“This should not happen to us, or if it does, we should at least get some benefits.”


“Why should we get benefits?” Haw asked.

“Because we’re entitled,” Hem claimed.

“Entitled to what?” Hem wanted to know.

“We’re entitled to our Cheese.”

“Why?” Haw asked.

“Because, we didn’t cause this problem, “ Hem said. “Somebody else did this and we should get something out of it.”


Haw suggested, “Maybe we should stop analyzing the situation so much and get going and find some New Cheese.”


“Oh no,” Hem argued. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”


While Hem and Haw were still trying to decide what to do, Sniff and Scurry were already well on their way. They went farther into the maze, up and down corridors, looking for cheese in every Cheese Station they could find.


They didn’t think of anything else but finding New Cheese.


They didn’t find any for sometime until they finally went into an area of the maze where they had never been before: Cheese Station N.


They squealed with delight. They found what they had been looking for: a great supply of New Cheese.


They could hardly believe their eyes. It was the biggest store of cheese the mice had ever seen.


In the meantime, Hem and Haw were still back in Cheese Station C evaluating their situation. They were now suffering from the effects of having no Cheese. They were becoming frustrated and angry and were blaming each other for the situation they were in.


Now and then Haw thought about his mice buddies, Sniff and Scurry, and wondered if they had found any cheese yet. He believed they might be having a hard time, as running through the maze usually involved some uncertainty. But he also knew that it was likely to only last for a while.


Sometimes, Haw would imagine Sniff and Scurry finding New Cheese and enjoying it. He thought about how good it would be for him to be out on an adventure in the maze, and to find fresh New Cheese. He could almost taste it.


The more clearly Haw saw the image himself finding and enjoying the New Cheese, the more he saw himself leaving Cheese Station C.


“Let’s go!” he exclaimed, all of a sudden.


“No,” Hem quickly responded. “I like it here. It’s comfortable. It’s what I know. Besides it’s dangerous out there.”


“No it isn’t,” Haw argued. “We’ve run through many parts of the maze before, and we can do it again.”


“I’m getting too old for that,” Hem said. “And I’m afraid I’m not interested in getting lost and making a fool of myself. Are you?”


With that, Haw’s fear of failing returned and his hope of finding New Cheese faded.


So every day, the little people continued to do what they had done before. They went to Cheese Station C, found no Cheese, and returned home, carrying their worries and frustrations with them.


They tried to deny what was happening, but found it harder to get to sleep, had less energy the next day, and were becoming irritable.


Their homes were not the nurturing places they once were. The little people had difficulty sleeping and were having nightmares about not finding any Cheese.


But Hem and Haw still returned to Cheese Station C and waited there every day.


Hem said, “You know, if we just work harder we’ll find that nothing has really changed that much. The Cheese is probably nearby. Maybe they just hid it behind the wall.”


The next day, Hem and Haw returned with tools. Hem held the chisel while Haw banged on the hammer until they made a hole in the wall of Cheese Station C. They peered inside but found no Cheese.


They were disappointed but believed that could solve the problem. So they started earlier, stayed longer, and worked harder. But after a while, all they had was a large hole in the wall.


Haw was beginning to realize the difference between activity and productivity.

“Maybe,” Hem said, “we should just sit here and see what happens. Sooner or later they have to put the Cheese back.”


Haw wanted to believe that. So each day he went home to rest and returned reluctantly with Hem to Cheese Station C. But Cheese never reappeared.


By now the little people were growing weak from hunger and stress. Haw was getting tired of just waiting for their situation to improve. He began to see that the longer they stayed in their Cheesless situation, the worse off they would be.


Haw knew they were loosing their edge.


Finally, one day Haw began laughing at himself. “Haw, Haw, look at me. I keep doing the same things over and over again and wonder why things don’t get better. If this wasn’t so ridiculous, it would be even funnier.”

Haw did not like the idea of having to run through the maze again, because he knew he would get lost and have no idea where he would find any Cheese. But he had to laugh at his folly when he saw what his fear was doing to him.


He asked Hem, “Where did we put out jogging suits and running shoes?” It took a long time to find them because they had put everything away when they found their Cheese at Cheese Station C, thinking they wouldn’t be needing them anymore.


As Hem saw his friend getting into his running gear, he said, “You’re not really going out into the maze again, are you? Why don’t you just wait here with me until they put the Cheese back?”


“Because, you just don’t get it,” Haw said. “I didn’t want to see it either, but now I realized they’re never going to put the Old Cheese back. That was yesterday’s Cheese. It’s time to find New Cheese.

Hem argued, “But what if there is no Cheese out there? Or even if there is, what if you don’t find it?”


“I don’t know,” Haw said. He had asked himself those same questions too many times and started to feel fears again that kept him where he was.


Then he thought about finding New Cheese and all the good things that came with it and gathered his courage.


“Sometimes,” Haw said, “things change and they are never the same again. This looks like one of those times, Hem. That’s life! Life moves on. And so should we.


Haw looked at his emaciated companion and tried to talk sense to him, but Hem ‘s fear had turned into anger and he wouldn’t listen.


Haw didn’t mean to be rude to his friend, but he had to laugh at how silly they both looked.

As Haw prepared to leave, he started to feel more alive, knowing that he was finally able to laugh at himself, let go and move on.

He announced, “It’s maze time!”

Hem didn’t laugh and he didn’t respond.

Haw picked up a small, sharp rock and wrote a serious thought on the wall for Hem to think about. As was his custom, Haw even drew a picture of cheese around it, hoping it would help Helm to smile, lighten up, and go after the New Cheese. But Hem didn’t want to see it.

If You Do Not

Change,

You Can Become

Extinct.




It read:



Then, Haw stuck his head out and peered anxiously into the maze. He thought about how he’d gotten himself into this cheeseless situation.



He had believed that there may not be any Cheese in the maze, or he may not find it. Such fearful beliefs were immobilizing and killing him.



Haw smiled. He knew Hem was wondering, “Who moved my Cheese?” but Haw was wondering, “Why didn’t I get up and move with the Cheese sooner?”



As he started out into the maze, Haw looked back to where he had come from and felt its comfort. He could feel himself being drawn back into familiar territory-even though he hadn’t found Cheese there for some time.



Haw became more anxious and wondered if he really wanted to go out into the maze. He wrote a saying on the wall ahead of him and stared at it for some time:



What Would You



Do If You



Weren’t Afraid?






He thought about it.

He knew sometimes some fear can be good. When you are afraid things are going to get worse if you don’t do something, it can prompt you into action. But it is not good when you are so afraid that it keeps you from doing anything.



He looked to his right, to the part of the maze where he had never been, and felt the fear.

Then, he took a deep breath, turned right into the maze, and jogged slowly, into the unknown.

As he tried to find his way, Haw worried, at first, that he might have waited too long in Cheese Station C. He hadn’t had any Cheese for so long that he was now weak. It took him longer and it was more painful than usual to get through the maze. He decided that if he ever got the chance again, he would adapt to change sooner. It would make things easier.


Then, Haw smiled a weak smile as he thought, “Better late than never.”


During the next several days, Haw found a little Cheese here and there, but nothing that lasted very long. He had hoped to find enough Cheese to take some back to Hem and encouraged him to come out into the maze.


But Haw didn’t feel confident enough yet. He had to admit, he found it confusing in the maze. Things seemed to have changed since the last time he was out here.


Just when he thought he was getting ahead, he would get lost in the corridors. It seemed his progress was two steps forward and one step backwards. It was a challenge, but he had to admit that being back in the maze, hunting for Cheese wasn’t nearly as bad as he feared it might be.


As time went on he began to wonder if it was realistic for him to expect to find New Cheese. He wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew. Then he laughed, realizing that he had nothing to chew on at the moment.


Whenever he started to get discouraged he reminded himself that what he was doing, as uncomfortable as it was at the moment, was in reality much better than saying in the Cheeseless situation. He was taking control, rather than simply letting things happen to him.


Then he reminded himself, if Sniff and Scurry could move on, so could he!


Later, as Haw looked back on things, he realized that the Cheese at Cheese Station C had not just disappeared overnight, as he had once thought. The amount of Cheese that had been there toward the end had been getting smaller, and what was left had grown old. It didn’t taste as good.


Mold may even have begun to grow on the Old Cheese, although he hadn’t noticed it. He had to admit however, that if he had wanted to, he probably could have seen what was coming. But he didn’t.


Haw now realized that the change probably would not have taken him by surprise if he had been watching what was happening all along and if he had anticipated change. Maybe that’s what Sniff and Scurry had been doing.


He stopped for a rest and wrote on the wall of the maze:



Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old.


Sometime later, after not finding Cheese for what seemed like a long time, Haw finally came across a huge Cheese Station which looked promising. When he went inside, however, he was most disappointed to discover that the Cheese station was empty.


“This empty feeling has happened to me too often,” he thought. He felt like giving up.


Haw was losing his physical strength. He knew he was lost and was afraid he would not survive. He thought about turning around and heading back to Cheese Station C. At least, if he made it back, and Hem was still there, Haw wouldn’t be alone. The he asked himself the same question, again: “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?”

He was afraid more often than he liked to admit, even to himself. He wasn’t always sure what he was afraid of, but, in his weakened condition, he knew no he was simply fearful of going on alone. Haw didn’t know it, but he was running behind because he was weighed down by fearful beliefs.


Haw wondered if Hem had moved on, or if he was still paralyzed by his fears. Then, Haw remembered the times when he had felt his best in the maze. It was when he had felt his best in the maze. It was when he was moving along.


He wrote on the wall, knowing it was as much a reminder to himself as it was a marking for his buddy Hem, hopefully, to follow:

Movement In A New Direction Helps You Find New Cheese.



Haw looked down the dark passageway and was aware of his fear. What lay ahead? Was it empty? Or worse, were there dangers lurking? He began to imagine all kinds of frightening things that could happen to him. He was scaring himself to death.


Then he laughed at himself. He realized his fears were making things worse. So he did what he would do if he wasn’t afraid. He moved in a new direction.


As he started running down the dark corridor he began to smile. Haw didn’t realize it yet, but he was discovering what nourished his soul. He was letting go and trusting what lay ahead for him, even though he did not know exactly what it was.


To his surprise, Haw started to enjoy himself more and more. “Why do I feel so good?” he wondered. “I don’t have any Cheese and I don’t know where I am going.”


Before long, he knew why he felt good.

He stopped to write again on the wall:


When You Move Beyond Your Fear, You Feel Free.




Haw realized he had been held captive by his own fear. Moving in a new direction had freed him.


Now he felt the cool breeze that was blowing in this part of the maze and it was refreshing. He took in some deep breaths and felt invigorated by the movement. Once he had gotten past his fear, it turned out to be more enjoyable than he once believed it could be.


Haw hadn’t felt this way for a long time. He had almost forgotten how much fun it was.


To make things even better, Haw started to paint a picture in his mind. He saw himself in great realistic detail, sitting in the middle of a pile of all his favorite cheeses-from Cheddar to Brie! He saw himself eating the many cheeses he liked, and he enjoyed what he saw. Then he imagined how much he would enjoy all their great tastes.


The more clearly he saw the image of New Cheese, the more real it became, and the more he could sense that he was going to find it. He wrote:


Imagining Myself Enjoying New Cheese Even Before I Find It, Leads Me To It.




“Why didn’t I do this before?” Haw asked himself.


Then he raced through the maze with greater strength and agility. Before long he spotted a Cheese Station and became excited as he noticed little pieces of New Cheese near the entrance.


They were types of Cheeses he had never seen before, but they looked great. He tried them and found that they were delicious. He ate most of the New Cheese bits that were available and put a few in his pocket to have later and perhaps share with Hem. He began to regain his strength.



He entered the Cheese Station with great excitement. But, to his dismay, he found it was empty. Someone had already been there and had left only the few bits of New Cheese.



He realized that if he had moved sooner, he would very likely have found a good deal of New Cheese here.

Haw decided to go back and see if Hem was ready to join him.

As he retraced his steps, he stopped and wrote on the wall:

The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Find New Cheese.




After a while Haw made his way back to Cheese Station C and found Hem. He offered Hem bits of New Cheese, but was turned down.


Hem appreciated his friend’s gesture but said, “I don’t think I would like New Cheese. It’s not what I’m used to. I want my own Cheese back and I’m not going to change until I get what I want.”


Haw just shook his head in disappointment and reluctantly went back out on his own. As he returned to the farthest point he had reached in the maze, he missed his friend, but realized he liked what he was discovering. Even before he found what he hoped would be a great supply of New Cheese, if ever, he knew that what made him happy wasn’t just having Cheese.


He was happy when he wasn’t being run by his fear. He liked what he was doing now.


Know this, Haw didn’t feel as weak as he did when he stayed in Cheese Station C with no Cheese. Just realized he was not letting his fear stop him and knowing that he had taken a new direction nourished him and gave him strength.


Now he felt that it was just a question of time before he found what he needed. In fact, he sensed he had already found what he was looking for.


He smiled as he realized:


It Is Safer To Search In The Maze Than Remain In A Cheesless Situation.



Haw realized again, as he had once before, that what you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.

He’d been so afraid of never finding New Cheese that he didn’t even want to start looking. But since his journey he had enough Cheese in the corridors to keep him going. Now he looked forward to finding more. Just looking ahead was becoming exciting.

His old thinking had been clouded by his worries and fears. He used to think about not having enough Cheese, or not having it last as long as he wanted. He used to think more about what could go wrong than what could go right.



But that had changed in the days since he had left Cheese Station C.



He used to believe that Cheese should never be moved and that change wasn’t right.



Now he realized it was natural for change to continually occur, whether you expect it or not. Change could surprise you only if you didn’t expect it and weren’t looking for it.


When he realized he had changed his beliefs, he paused to write on the wall:

Old Beliefs Do Not Lead You To New Cheese.



Haw hadn’t found any Cheese yet but, as he ran through the maze, he thought about what he had already learned.



Haw now realized that his new beliefs were encouraging new behaviors. He was behaving differently that when he kept returning to the same cheeseless station.


He knew when you change what you believe, you change what you do.


You can believe that a change will harm you and resist it. Or you can believe that finding New Cheese will help you to embrace the change.


It all depends on what you choose to believe.

He wrote on the wall:

When You See That You Can Find And Enjoy New Cheese, You Change Course.



Haw knew he would be in better shape now if he had embraced the change much sooner and left Cheese Station C earlier. He would feel stronger in body and spirit and he could have coped better with the challenge of finding New Cheese. In fact, he probably would have found it by now if he had expected change, rather than wasting time denying that the change had already taken place.


He gathered his will and decided to keep proceeding into the newer parts of the maze. He found little bits of Cheese here and there and began to regain his strength and confidence.

As he thought back on where he had come from, Haw was glad he had written on the wall in many places. He trusted it would serve as a marked trail for Hem to follow through the maze, if he choose to leave Cheese Station C.


He just hoped he was heading in the right direction. He thought about the possibility that Hem would read The Handwriting On The Wall and find his way.


He wrote on the wall what he had been thinking about for some time:

Noticing Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt To The Bigger Changes

That Are To Come







By now, Haw had let go of the past and was adapting to the future.


He continued on through the maze with greater strength and speed. And before long, it happened.


When it seemed like he had been in the maze forever, his journey-or at least this part of his journey-ended quickly and happily.


Haw found New Cheese at Cheese Station N!

When he went inside, he was startled by what supply of Cheese he had ever seen. He didn’t recognize all that he saw, as some kinds of Cheese were new to him.



Then he wondered for a moment whether it was real or just his imagination, until he saw his old friends Sniff and Scurry.



Sniff welcomed Haw with a nod of his head and Scurry waved his paw. Their fat little bellies showed that they had been here for some time.


Haw quickly said his hellos and soon took bites of every one of his favorite Cheeses. He pulled off his shoes and jogging suit and folded them neatly nearby in case he needed them again. Then he jumped into the New Cheese. When he had eaten his fill, he lifted a piece of fresh Cheese and made a toast. “Hooray for Change!”


As Haw enjoyed the New Cheese, he reflected what he had learned.


He realized that when he had been afraid to change he had been holding on to the illusion of Old Cheese that was no longer there.


So what was it that made him change? Was it the fear of starving to death? Haw thought, “Well, that helped.”


Then he laughed and realized that he had started to change as soon as he had learned to laugh at himself and at what he had been doing wrong. He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own folly-then you can let go and quickly move on.


He knew he had learned something useful about moving on from his mice buddies, Sniff and Scurry. They kept life simple. They didn’t overanalyze or overcomplicate things. When the situation changed and the Cheese had been moved, they changed and moved with the Cheese. He would remember that.


Then Haw used his wonderful brain to do what littlepeople do better than mice.


He reflected on the mistakes he had made in the past and used them to plan for his future. He knew that you could learn to deal with change:

You could be more aware of the need to keep things simple, be flexible, and move quickly.

You did not need to overcomplicate matters or confuse yourself with fearful beliefs.

You could notice when the little changes began so that you would be better prepared for the big change that might be coming.

He knew he needed to adapt faster, for if you do not adapt in time, you might as well not adapt at all.

He had to admit that the biggest inhibitor to change lies within yourself, and that nothing gets better until you change.



Perhaps most important of all, he realized that there is always New Cheese out there whether you recognize it at the time or not. And that you are rewarded with it when you go past your fear and enjoy the adventure.

He knew some fear should be respected, as it can keep you out of real danger. But he realized most of his fears were irrational and had kept him from changing when he needed to change.


He didn’t like it at the time, but he knew that the change had turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it led him to find better Cheese.

He had even found a better part of himself.

As Haw recalled what he had learned, he thought about his friend Hem. He wondered if Hem had read any of the sayings Haw had written on the wall at Cheese Station C and throughout the maze.


Had Hem ever decided to let go and move on? Had he ever entered the maze and discovered what could make his life better?


Haw thought about going back again to Cheese Station C to see if he could find Hem – assuming that Haw could find his way back there. If he found Hem, he thought he might be able to show him how to get out of his predicament. But Haw realized that he had already tried to get his friend to change.


Hem had to find his own way, beyond his comforts and past his fears. No one else could do it for him, or talk him into it. He somehow had to see the advantage of changing himself.


Haw knew he had left a trail for Hem and that he could find his way, if he could just read The Handwriting On The Wall.



He went over and wrote down a summary of what he had learned on the largest wall of Cheese Station N. He drew a large piece of cheese around all the insights he had become aware of, and smiled as he looked at what he had learned:

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

Change Happens
They Keep Moving The Cheese

Anticipate Change
Get Ready For The Cheese To Move


Monitor Change
Smell the Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old.


Adapt To Change Quickly
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese.

Change
Move With The Cheese


Enjoy Change!
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese.



Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again


Haw realized how far he had come since he had been with Hem in Cheese Station C, but knew it would be easy for him to slip back if he got too comfortable. Each day he inspected Cheese Station N to see what the condition of his Cheese Station N to see what the condition of his Cheese was. He was going to do whatever he could to avoid being surprised by unexpected change.


While Haw still had a great supply of Cheese, he often went out into the maze and explored new areas to stay in touch with what was happening around him. He knew it was safer to be aware of his real choices than to isolate himself in his comfort zone.


Then, Haw heard what he thought was the sound of movement out in the maze. As the noise grew louder, he realized that someone was coming.


Could it be that Hem was arriving? Was he about to turn the corner?


Haw said a little prayer and hoped-as he had many times before-that maybe, at last, his friend was finally able to….



Move With The Cheese And Enjoy It!

I didnt attend church or Sunday School today. Down with 'Feng Mo' or rather 'hives' again. The 4th or 5th attack in the past 2 weeks. Some days bad, some days can manage to go to work.

Years ago, I did the allergy and blood test at the National Skin Centre. It's seems that I am not under any allergy catagory or anything wrong with my blood. Mmmm.. Some odd attack, I felt vexed every time I had it and medication makes me so restless. I thought to me, why? Only few year ago, I realised I am not the only one, I have a friend who had similar encounter with mine. For her, her possibility could be work or rather stress.. Whenever she is stressed at work, similar case will happen on her, especially on neck, face, ears and legs.


Some explanation for those who dont understand what is hives all about?

What is Urticaria (Hives) ?
Urticaria or hives as it is commonly called, is an itchy rash consisting of localized swellings of the skin that usually last for a few hours before fading away. When urticaria develops around loose tissues of the eyes or lips, the affected area may swell excessively. Although frightening in appearance, the swelling (called angio-oedema) goes away in 12 to 24 hours with treatment.

How is urticaria produced ?
Urticaria results from some changes in the small blood vessels of the skin. Such changes are brought about by the release of some substances in the body, the commonest of which is histamine. Histamine is released from cells called mast cells by either an allergic or non-allergic reaction.

What causes single attacks of urticaria ?
Acute urticaria, which can last from a few hours to as long as a week is usually caused by drugs, specific foods or a viral infection. Sometimes, no cause can be detected.

What are the foods that can cause acute and repeated attacks of urticaria ?
Foods that can cause urticaria include :
Nuts
Eggs
Fresh fruits (especially citrus)
Chocolates
Fish and shellfish
Tomatoes
Milk and cheese
Spices
Yeasts

Foods additives and preservatives such as tartrazine (yellow dye) may also be responsible. Hives may appear within minutes or several hours after ingestion of the food depending on its rate of absorption.

What are the drugs that can cause urticaria ?
Drugs that commonly cause urticaria include :


Pain killers/Anti-rheumatics e.g aspirin, codeine
Antibiotics e.g penicillins, sulphonamides

However, any drug should be suspected even if it has been taken for a long time without ill effects previously. Drugs commonly cause acute urticaria but they may also aggravate chronic urticaria.

What else can cause urticaria ?
Recurring attacks of urticaria may be caused by physical agents such as; sunlight, cold, pressure and sweat. Urticaria caused by such agents is called physical urticaria. The causative agent is usually recognized by the patient.

Chronic Urticaria
This is urticaria occurring almost daily and lasting more than two months. In the majority of patients, no cause or significant aggravating factors can be found. Physical urticaria may be present as well in some patients. Food allergy is seldom a cause of chronic persistent urticaria even though some foods may aggravate it. Infections such as candidiasis (a kind of yeast infection) may be a cause, although, not common.

Emotional stress is known to aggravate chronic urticaria in some. Fifty per cent of cases of chronic urticaria, clear spontaneously in about 6 months.

How is urticaria treated ?
The best treatment for urticaria is to identify and avoid the cause and any aggravating factors. While investigating the cause, anti-histamines are prescribed for symptomatic relief. Antihistamines, when taken orally, take about 90 minutes to relieve an already formed hive. They work best if taken on a regular basic to prevent the formation of hives. To avoid side-effects like drowsiness, non-sedative antihistamines are available. Antihistamine creams are ineffective.

Elimination diets are not helpful unless a particular food is suspected. Skin tests are generally of no use. Blood and urine test are sometimes carried out to exclude infection as a cause of chronic urticaria.

Itchy itchy go, go, go..

I think he gave up. Why on earth he got himself such a wife?

One minute says that it's ok, keep the present. Another, dont want it at all. Well, in the end, he went back to the shop. Exchange for a couple watch.

At least, it's my present and now his too.

I pity my Hubby. SORRY..

You have a wife that is hard to please. Sigh.

But yes, again. He's sweet. Even when I bombed him with hurtful sms and spoken some things I shouldn't; he never complain.

When he fetched me from work after waiting for 40mins due to my meeting with my boss, he bought some food, honey drink and a piece of chocolate cake. He still knows me best. I am so upset not just over the present, but work, flat and some personal issues. The cake? Some thing to cheer me up.

Isn't he sweet? I heard the radio few days ago while traveling to work. Overheard - "Marrying a man who loves you more than you love him; you are very blessed".. Immediate, I can feel - I DID, I married such a man.

I have heard, seen man who walked out of the quarrel or argue back. But he always has that smile on his face all the time. No matter good or bad.

He is not rich but he think it is worth buying such an expensive gift for me cause this year is my first year as status of wife celebrating with him. All these years, he had never got me a decent, rather 'great' gift as compared to others. So, he just want me to have that surprise. No idea that it will turn this way. He felt bad too..

Today, after all seeing what he did. Yes, with guilt. God really bless me with a Sweetie. :)



(I am so glad that you are part of my life - the rainbow you bring to me after the rain)

Have to take anti-allergy medication again. The one that Doc gave is very drowsy, I took it as I left my usual one at my IL's plc. Left me so restless for 2 days. More like a sleeping pill, can't concentrate on work and slept very early last night.

This morning, asked Dar to search my bags, cant find the box. So, I had intention to go pharmacy after work. But he went ahead and bought it for me before going to work.

After work, I went back to my mum's plc. Together with the medication, a squarish box with the print - BURBERRY.. what is it? Perfume? Ohhhh, it's a WATCH!!! (Very thoughtful, my precious watch of 4-5 years finally gave way last week!)

Nice but because there is wrong instruction booklet attached, I cant open the 'lock' of the watch. After struggling with it for mins, can finally wear it. But when I 'locked' it back, the inner metal does not sits nicely.. How? A gift and totfulness..

I called him and explained the situation - guy salesman who serves him. No wonder, if a lady serves him, I think he will understand why I felt uncomfortable.

Well, no matter what, still a gift from him. Keep it and wear it when I am in good mood then.

And forgotten to mention, balloting results were out yesterday. No good news. Close to 10,000 applicants, we got no. 7000+ for sale of 354 flat. Hope is gone. I think I am not as disappointed as Dar.

Of course, I've telling myself to look up and something better will come by.

Dar's encouragement in my BD card:

"Just as we know when/how to give gifts to one another, our Loving Heavenly Father also know when/how to give gifts to us who He loves and delights so much,

We'll just wait alright..."

Been praying and worrying, even before going to bed, awake in the middle of the night, while sitting on the bus traveling to work, I pray that God will answer my prayer.

Somehow, I broke down and cried last night. Hub told me he often feel the same way and had been praying too, just that he didn't mentioned.

At work, whenever I feel sad, tired, I would tune in to this overseas Christian radio station - K-LOVE.

This afternoon as I felt really sad, they played this song, I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU by Michael W Smith:

When you feel the sunlight fade into the cold night
Don't know where to turn
Don't know where to turn

And all the dreams you are dreaming seem to lose their meaning
Let me in your world
Baby let me in your world

All you need is someone who you can hold
Don't be sad, you are not alone

Chorus:
I will be here for you
Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I'll shine a light for you
Somewhere in the night
I'll be standing by
I will be here for you

In this world of strangers
Of cold unfriendly faces
Someone you can trust
Oh there's someone you can trust
I'll be your shelter
I'll give you my shoulder
Reach out for my love
Baby reach out for my love
Call out my name and my heart will hear
I'll be there
There is nothing to fear

(Chorus)
Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I'll shine a light for you
Somewhere in the night
I'll be standing by
I will be here for you

Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I'll shine a light for you
Somwhere in the night
I'll be standing by
I will be here for you
I will be here for you


After the song, today's verse heard is really an encouragement, a booster!

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair

2 Cor 4:8

Time flies on Sundays. Tiring.

Every Sunday, I kicked Hub out of the bed to remind him that I am late for Sunday School. Today, SS group is getting messy. For the fact that my team has more than 10 boys, a few cheeky ones, a few naughty ones and only a handful of girls. Evey week I double as nanny and discipline mistress, so, how can I manage my own kids and be a good mummy leh ;P

Anyway, Hub is a super busy man. He has to drop me at SS, visit us and help out to pacify my crying boys. Later, went back to his plc, my plc to pick some things, picked up his friends for church and rush back to catch up for 2nd service! Amazing right?

Around 3pm, we carry on with the promise to go Mc Reservoir with the 2 guys. I tell you, 3 of them together is like a market - 'San-Ba-Gong' While waiting for them from a distance, I could hear them talking and laughing so loudly. (I tot only ladies will do that). With 3 of them, faint, noise pollution!!

Managed to complete the tree-top walk, after TT, was a bit lost, made the wrong route. Track is a quite muddy today. Took another route, completed slightly faster - total of 2hrs 05mins.

Had 100 plus - one word to describe - SHIOK AH!!!

Statistic to-date for this month. 354 openings in all areas like Bedok, AMK, Bishan, Pasir Ris, Tampines etc. 2nd day of application and flooded with over 4.7k.

Woww... It's like miracle for those who get selected into the Q and for those who are getting top 5, you really got the best! I completed on my application by 8.15am. But of course, it is not a first-come-first-serve system (I wish it is.. ;P)

Last evening, Hub dropped by HDB hub to get the brochure and floor map. This afternoon, we went looking around AMK and Sg area. Mr * Mrs Kaypoh looking at the recondition of the flat, some floor are hacked away, some remains. Well, we are not the only ones, there are some couples who were there too.

All results will be out on Aug 20, now, fingers, legs crossed, pray hard.

God, I need and long for a house.. can you bless me with one of my desire?

Amen!

It is back. The allergy of 'Feng Mo'. Had it on Monday evening thinking it is due to the dirt or new shirt texture. Next morning, I am fine.

This morning, I woke up, caught in surprise - full bloom. Even my double eyelids are gone, neck, legs, fingers swelling. There was a season I had it very often, even to the extend of blood test, allgery test. Anyway, went to the doc at 8plus, thank God, there was only 1 patient registrating. I was the first. Doc advising me to take jab, my mind ponders - Should I, should I not. I got allergy to pain subsiding medication. Tomorrow is N.D. and clinic is closed, if the swelling strikes again, at least it happened within hours and I can be back in the evening instead of going to hospital. Well, good thing I agreed. Now, it is so much better, at least only redness and not so blotted.

I felt restless at home. Eat sleep eat.

Just called Hubby. He will pop by after work.

DISC Personality Test

D - Dominant/Driver
I - Influencing/Inspiring
S - Stable/Steady
C - Compliant/Correct

Our Sunday School has organised the DISC test. The last round I did it was during MPC last year. Being at SS as a team leader is different as compared to home/relationship. This time, no surprise. At SS, I am a I-S. Influencing/Inspriring followed but Stable/Steady. Probably, I also believed that I have to step up to teach and influence the younger generation. Overall, no pressure though mask/public self and mirror/perceived self differs slightly.

I did another round for general (How I am in life). I agreed, some pressure, stressed, probably new family, marriage, CG and work had changed me a fair bit. Overall, I am a S-C-I. Hub did it too, surprisely, same, undergoing and adapting to changes from previously a High I-S to the current S-I-C.

We happened to fall under same category:

Advocate/Agent/One Who Makes Peace

Individuals who are steady, sociable individual who strive for positive relationships at work and home. Tends toward individualism and independence if 'I' is their secondary characteristics (Hub). If 'C' is their secondary characteristics, they will be more passive and detailed oriented (ME). Once they make up their mind, it can be difficult to change the mind. They like people to support their idea; they tend to support the underdog. They may take opposing sides if a disagreement and leave feeling frustrated if things dont go their way. They need to be accepted as part of a team. Decisions can be difficult for them unless their bounderies are very clearly defined.

They tend to be moderate, thorough, and dependable people. Often willing to intercede for another on their behalf. Have a strong sense of justice and loyalty. Their style is known for their common sense. Always try to think through both sides of an issue. Tends to be great peace makers, since they see many different viewpoints to an issue; and their peacemaking will be forucs on the people involved, not just the issue. Since they are relational, they are very sensitive to the feelings of other.

Not sure how true. But for both of us, probably after settling with a house will be able to stablise our characters. I think we are still searching for our directions in life at this point of time.


Break a Leg @ MacRitchie - Sunday

Hubby's friend had 'jio' us out for a walk at MacRitchie which we are keen since both of us have not workout for the longest time.

So, four of us - K.C, GF, Hub and I took the 10km walk, which took est. 2hrs 20mins to complete. Havent jog for a long time and with the rocky track, was breathless. The hardest was the intial 3.6km. Thereafter was the part to push ourselves to finish off. No turning back and no point, sigh.. Full concentration, though yes, tired and restless (My mind was saying - why am I here???). When I completed it - HURRAY>> I would love to do it next week.. Hahaah... Burn fat mah..

But after the walk, we bid goodbye, Almaka! Forgot to show them our AD wedding album. Never mind, next time loh :O

CG at Pastor's place.

Everytime, we have one at her plc, it's a opening sharing. True ladies' talk, sharing. Some things broken, some things clarified, some things touched.

Woman - complicated creations by God. I am one, but at times, I don't understand myself, needless to say about others.

Just like the email I received this afternoon (Pls read on)


THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guestroom. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."


The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.


"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later...

Finally, the day has arrived. Turning 29.

Come 2008 onwards, I will be in my 30s instead. Times flies. My teens are over, followed by my 20s. Now, I can only look forward for better years to come in the next 1 or 2 decades.

A fair bit of SmSs greetings and well-wishes from friends, CG mates, colleagues and even my boss, though I have kept a low profile by taking a off-day from work instead of a declaration. :o

SmSes

G.L. (Ex CG Leader) - Hapi birthday 2 a lovely lady. God bless u e desire of ur heart as u draw near to 2 him. Hv a fruitful yr.

C.T. (Direct Boss) - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have a great & enjoyable birthday with your hubby.

L.E. (Ex-coll) - Wishing you a blessed birthday.

W.C. (CG Mate) - Special blessings on this special day of yours. May e Lord grant you all wishes, especially ur flat to come soon. The Lord keep u n guides u all e days of ur life.

A.T. (CG Mate) - Happy happy birthday my beautiful angel! :) Hee hee. May you be blessed w abundant blessing on your big day and forever. It's going to be a great year for you! Hee. Hugs Hugs.P.S. (Coll) - Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you... Happy birhday to u.. Happy birthday to pretty.

V.N. (Coll) May GOD walk beside you. Bring you joy, protect and guide you, and shine His light on everything you do. Happy Birthday. GBU.

C.T. (Ex-Classmate) - A happy birthday 2 u. May u hv many gd yrs ahead n God bless u always ;-)

Z.D. (Hub's Friend) - Happy brithday to u.
(Another 3 that I had deleted much earlier - from my CG leader, ex-CG mate and my best friend!)

Of course, an unexpected gift from my ex-colleague that happens to know my BD by accident ;) A expensive gift, thought it is FOC and complimentary from the company she's working in.

I had a great day though Hub had to spend it with me only from afternoon onwards..

We went to park (More pixs will be posted later), great weather, we went for some crab porridge (yes, very unromantic, it's @ a foodcourt leh) and out of all, IKEA! It's my 3rd year that on my BD that I would spend it in IKEA for dinner. I REALLY REALLY try to avoid it this year but we have no where to go and Ikea is having annual sales. This happens year after year.. I want a change next year!!

My plan for BD in 2008 is to hold a celebration since I am turning 30! Maybe a chalet. But somehow, it will be difficult for one reason - My BD is 1 week from National Day and he's always working many weekends in adv. :( This also means I never get the chance to celebrate N.D. at stadium though there is ticket. A day that I dislike.. haha..

Haven't make a wish.. Must think of what I want. Secret Shhssss..

NAME: MRS GOON
DOB: 02 AUG 1978
LOVES: GOD, FAMILY, FRIENDS, SHOPPING, MAKAN
FAVORITE VERSE: MATTHEW 6:33

COMFIRMED! - another overseas trip!

We will be heading for HKG on coming FRI. A last minute decision since Hub has sold off some of his leave and another partial leave for clearance. Comparing btw Bangkok and Hongkong, in the end, hands up for HKG. Just do it while we still can. Not much of freedom life left for me..

Still pondering whether to go ShenZhen. But can decide when we are there.

But bad timing, all the nearby budget hotel at Mongkok, Jordan Rd, TST are fully booked. We ended up at Anchor Rd which is 15 mins from Mongkok MTR. They also provide the hourly complimentary shuttle bus service. Hope it come useful.

Tmr will CG and Thurs, busy with packing.

More updates next week..

Some changes to take place soon - yet to reveal till further confirmation.

I dont know what's going on in the small tiny brain of mine. Some fear, or is it the comfort zone that I am living in now. Some disappointments had happen. Unable to provide more details.

Maybe the changes will edify and build a stronger character. It's just one at a go, probably concurrently or 3 times more. Surprise, surprise.

As taken from the story I read 5 years ago:

Who Moved My Cheese

By: Dr. Spencer Johnson


Story

Once, long ago in a land far away, there lived four little characters who ran through a maze looking for cheese to nourish them and make them happy.


Two were mice named “Sniff” and “Scurry” and two were little people – beings who were as small as mice but who looked and acted a lot like people today. Their names were “Hem” and “Haw.”


Due to their small size, it would be easy not to notice what the four of them were doing. But if you looked closely enough, you could discover the most amazing things!


Everyday the mice and the little people spent time in the maze looking for their own special cheese.


The mice, Sniff and Scurry, possessing only simple rodent brains, but good instincts, searching for the hard nibbling cheese they like, as mice often do.


The two little people, Hem and How, used their brains, filled with many beliefs, to search for a very different kind of cheese- with a Capital C- which they believed would make them feel happy and successful.


As different as the mice and littlepeople were, they shared something in common; every morning, they each put on their jogging suits and running shoes, left their little homes, and raced out into the maze looking for their favorite cheese.


The maze was a labyrinth of corridors and chambers, some containing delicious cheese. But there were also dark corners and blind alleys leading nowhere. It was an easy place for anyone to get lost.


However, for those who found their way, the maze held secrets that let them enjoy a better life. The mice, Sniff and Scurry, used the simple, but inefficient, trial –and-error method of finding cheese. They ran down one corridor and if it proved empty, they turned and ran down another.


Sniff would smell out the general direction of the cheese, using his great nose, and Scurry would race ahead. They got lost, as you might expect, went off in the wrong direction and often bumped into walls.


However, the two little people, Hem and Haw, used a different method that relied on their ability to think and learn from their past experiences, although, they would sometimes get confused by their beliefs and emotions.


Eventually in their own way, they all discovered what they were looking for – they each found their own kind of cheese one day at the end of one of the corridors in Cheese Station C.


Every morning after that, the mice the little people dressed in their running gear and headed over to Cheese Station C. It wasn’t long before they each established their own routine.


Sniff and Scurry continued to wake early every day and race thorough the maze, always following the same route.


When they arrived at their destination, the mice took off their running shoes, tied them together and hung them around their necks – so they could get to them quickly whenever they needed them again. Then they enjoyed the cheese.


In the beginning Hem and Haw also raced toward Cheese Station C every morning to enjoy the tasty new morsels that awaited them.


But after a while, a different routine set in for the little people.


Hem and Haw awoke each day a little later, dressed a little slower, and walked to Cheese Station C. After all, they knew where the Cheese was now and how to get there.


They had no idea where the Cheese came from, or who put it there. They hung up their jogging suits, put away their running shoes and put on their slippers. They were becoming very comfortable now that they had found the Cheese.


“This is great,” Hem said. “There’s enough Cheese here to last us forever.” The little people felt happy and successful, and thought they were now secure.


It wasn’t long before Hem and Haw regarded the Cheese they found at Cheese Station C as their cheese. It was such a large store of Cheese that they eventually moved their homes to be closer to it, and built a social life around it.


To make themselves feel more at home, Hem and Haw decorated the walls sayings and even drew pictures of Cheese around them which made them smile. One read

"Having Cheese Makes You Happy"




Sometimes Hem and Haw would take their friends by to see their pile of Cheese at Cheese Station C, and point to it with pride, saying “Pretty nice Cheese, huh?” Sometimes they shared it with their friends and sometimes they didn’t.

“We deserve this Cheese,” Hem said. “We certainly had to work long and hard enough to find it.” He picked up a nice fresh piece and ate it.


Afterwards, Hem fell asleep, as he often did.

Every night the little people would waddle home, full of Cheese, and every morning they would confidently return for home.

This went on for quite some time.

After a while Hem’s and Haw’s confidence grew into arrogance. Soon they became so comfortable they didn’t even notice what was happening.


As time went on, Sniff and Scurry continued their routine. They arrived early each morning and sniffed and scratched and scurried around Cheese Station C, inspecting the area to see it there had been any changes from the day before. Then they would sit down to nibble on the cheese.


One morning they arrived at Cheese Station C and discovered there were no cheese.


They weren’t surprised. Since Sniff and Scurry had noticed the supply of cheese had been getting smaller every day, they were prepared for the inevitable and knew instinctively what to do.


They looked at each other, removed the running shoes they had tied together and hung conveniently around their necks, put them on their feet and laced them up.


The mice did not overanalyze things. And they were not burdened with many complex beliefs.


To the mice, the problem and the answer were both simple. The situation at Cheese station C had changed. So, Sniff and Scurry decided to change.

They both looked out into the maze. Then Sniff lifted his nose, sniffed, and nodded to Scurry, who took off running through the maze while Sniff followed as fast as he could.


They were quickly off in search of New Cheese.


Later that same day, Hem and Haw arrived at Cheese Station C. They had not been paying attention to the small changes that had been taking place each day, so they took it for granted their Cheese would be there.


They were unprepared for what they found.

“What? No Cheese?” Hem yelled. He continued yelling, “No Cheese? No Cheese?” as though if he shouted loud enough someone would put it back.


“Who moved my Cheese?” he hollered.

Finally, he put his hands on his hips, his face turned red, and he screamed at the top of his voice, “It’s not fair!”


Haw just shook his head in disbelief. He, too had counted on finding Cheese at Cheese Station C. He stood there for a long time, frozen with shock. He was just not ready for this.


Hem was yelling something, but Haw didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to deal with what was facing him, so he just tuned everything out.


The little people’s behavior was not very attractive or productive but it was understandable.



Finding Cheese wasn’t easy, and it mean great deal more to the little people than just having enough of it to eat every day.



Finding Cheese was the littlepeople’s way of getting what they thought they needed to be happy. They had their own ideas of what Cheese meant to them, depending on their taste.



For some, finding Cheese was having material things. For others it was enjoying good health, or developing a spiritual sense of well-being.


For Haw, Cheese just meant feeling safe, having loving family someday and living in a cozy cottage on Cheddar Lane.


To Hem, Cheese was becoming A Big Cheese in charge of others and owning a big house atop Camembert Hill.


Because Cheese was important to them, the two little people spent a long time trying to decide what to do. All they could think of was to keep looking around Cheeseless Station C to see if the Cheese was really gone.


While Sniff and Scurry had quickly moved on, Hem and Haw continued to hem and haw.


They ranted and raved at the injustice of it all. Haw started to get depressed. What would happen if the Cheese wasn’t there tomorrow? He has made future plans based on this Cheese.


The little people couldn’t believe it. How could this have happened? No one had warned them. It wasn’t right. It was not the way things were supposed to be.


Hem and Haw went home that night hungry and discouraged. But before they left, Haw wrote on the wall:


The More Important Your Cheese Is To You The More You Want To Hold On To It.


The next day Hem and Haw left their homes, and returned to Cheese Station C again, where they still expected, somehow, to find their Cheese.


The situation hadn’t changed, the Cheese was no longer there. The little people didn’t know what to do. Hem and Haw just stood there, immobilized like two statues.


Haw shut his eyes as tight as he could and put his hands over his ears. He just wanted to block everything out. He didn’t want to know the Cheese supply had gradually been getting smaller. He believed it had been moved all of a sudden.


Hem analyzed the situation over and over and eventually his complicated brain with its huge belief system took hold. “Why did they do this to me?” he demanded. “What’s really going on here?”


Finally, Haw opened his eyes, looked around and said, “By the way, where are Sniff and Scurry? Do you think they know something we don’t?”

Hem scoffed, “What would they know?”


Hem Continued, “They’re just simple mice. They just respond to what happens. We’re little people. We’re special. We should be able to figure this out. And, besides, we deserve better.


“This should not happen to us, or if it does, we should at least get some benefits.”


“Why should we get benefits?” Haw asked.

“Because we’re entitled,” Hem claimed.

“Entitled to what?” Hem wanted to know.

“We’re entitled to our Cheese.”

“Why?” Haw asked.

“Because, we didn’t cause this problem, “ Hem said. “Somebody else did this and we should get something out of it.”


Haw suggested, “Maybe we should stop analyzing the situation so much and get going and find some New Cheese.”


“Oh no,” Hem argued. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”


While Hem and Haw were still trying to decide what to do, Sniff and Scurry were already well on their way. They went farther into the maze, up and down corridors, looking for cheese in every Cheese Station they could find.


They didn’t think of anything else but finding New Cheese.


They didn’t find any for sometime until they finally went into an area of the maze where they had never been before: Cheese Station N.


They squealed with delight. They found what they had been looking for: a great supply of New Cheese.


They could hardly believe their eyes. It was the biggest store of cheese the mice had ever seen.


In the meantime, Hem and Haw were still back in Cheese Station C evaluating their situation. They were now suffering from the effects of having no Cheese. They were becoming frustrated and angry and were blaming each other for the situation they were in.


Now and then Haw thought about his mice buddies, Sniff and Scurry, and wondered if they had found any cheese yet. He believed they might be having a hard time, as running through the maze usually involved some uncertainty. But he also knew that it was likely to only last for a while.


Sometimes, Haw would imagine Sniff and Scurry finding New Cheese and enjoying it. He thought about how good it would be for him to be out on an adventure in the maze, and to find fresh New Cheese. He could almost taste it.


The more clearly Haw saw the image himself finding and enjoying the New Cheese, the more he saw himself leaving Cheese Station C.


“Let’s go!” he exclaimed, all of a sudden.


“No,” Hem quickly responded. “I like it here. It’s comfortable. It’s what I know. Besides it’s dangerous out there.”


“No it isn’t,” Haw argued. “We’ve run through many parts of the maze before, and we can do it again.”


“I’m getting too old for that,” Hem said. “And I’m afraid I’m not interested in getting lost and making a fool of myself. Are you?”


With that, Haw’s fear of failing returned and his hope of finding New Cheese faded.


So every day, the little people continued to do what they had done before. They went to Cheese Station C, found no Cheese, and returned home, carrying their worries and frustrations with them.


They tried to deny what was happening, but found it harder to get to sleep, had less energy the next day, and were becoming irritable.


Their homes were not the nurturing places they once were. The little people had difficulty sleeping and were having nightmares about not finding any Cheese.


But Hem and Haw still returned to Cheese Station C and waited there every day.


Hem said, “You know, if we just work harder we’ll find that nothing has really changed that much. The Cheese is probably nearby. Maybe they just hid it behind the wall.”


The next day, Hem and Haw returned with tools. Hem held the chisel while Haw banged on the hammer until they made a hole in the wall of Cheese Station C. They peered inside but found no Cheese.


They were disappointed but believed that could solve the problem. So they started earlier, stayed longer, and worked harder. But after a while, all they had was a large hole in the wall.


Haw was beginning to realize the difference between activity and productivity.

“Maybe,” Hem said, “we should just sit here and see what happens. Sooner or later they have to put the Cheese back.”


Haw wanted to believe that. So each day he went home to rest and returned reluctantly with Hem to Cheese Station C. But Cheese never reappeared.


By now the little people were growing weak from hunger and stress. Haw was getting tired of just waiting for their situation to improve. He began to see that the longer they stayed in their Cheesless situation, the worse off they would be.


Haw knew they were loosing their edge.


Finally, one day Haw began laughing at himself. “Haw, Haw, look at me. I keep doing the same things over and over again and wonder why things don’t get better. If this wasn’t so ridiculous, it would be even funnier.”

Haw did not like the idea of having to run through the maze again, because he knew he would get lost and have no idea where he would find any Cheese. But he had to laugh at his folly when he saw what his fear was doing to him.


He asked Hem, “Where did we put out jogging suits and running shoes?” It took a long time to find them because they had put everything away when they found their Cheese at Cheese Station C, thinking they wouldn’t be needing them anymore.


As Hem saw his friend getting into his running gear, he said, “You’re not really going out into the maze again, are you? Why don’t you just wait here with me until they put the Cheese back?”


“Because, you just don’t get it,” Haw said. “I didn’t want to see it either, but now I realized they’re never going to put the Old Cheese back. That was yesterday’s Cheese. It’s time to find New Cheese.

Hem argued, “But what if there is no Cheese out there? Or even if there is, what if you don’t find it?”


“I don’t know,” Haw said. He had asked himself those same questions too many times and started to feel fears again that kept him where he was.


Then he thought about finding New Cheese and all the good things that came with it and gathered his courage.


“Sometimes,” Haw said, “things change and they are never the same again. This looks like one of those times, Hem. That’s life! Life moves on. And so should we.


Haw looked at his emaciated companion and tried to talk sense to him, but Hem ‘s fear had turned into anger and he wouldn’t listen.


Haw didn’t mean to be rude to his friend, but he had to laugh at how silly they both looked.

As Haw prepared to leave, he started to feel more alive, knowing that he was finally able to laugh at himself, let go and move on.

He announced, “It’s maze time!”

Hem didn’t laugh and he didn’t respond.

Haw picked up a small, sharp rock and wrote a serious thought on the wall for Hem to think about. As was his custom, Haw even drew a picture of cheese around it, hoping it would help Helm to smile, lighten up, and go after the New Cheese. But Hem didn’t want to see it.

If You Do Not

Change,

You Can Become

Extinct.




It read:



Then, Haw stuck his head out and peered anxiously into the maze. He thought about how he’d gotten himself into this cheeseless situation.



He had believed that there may not be any Cheese in the maze, or he may not find it. Such fearful beliefs were immobilizing and killing him.



Haw smiled. He knew Hem was wondering, “Who moved my Cheese?” but Haw was wondering, “Why didn’t I get up and move with the Cheese sooner?”



As he started out into the maze, Haw looked back to where he had come from and felt its comfort. He could feel himself being drawn back into familiar territory-even though he hadn’t found Cheese there for some time.



Haw became more anxious and wondered if he really wanted to go out into the maze. He wrote a saying on the wall ahead of him and stared at it for some time:



What Would You



Do If You



Weren’t Afraid?






He thought about it.

He knew sometimes some fear can be good. When you are afraid things are going to get worse if you don’t do something, it can prompt you into action. But it is not good when you are so afraid that it keeps you from doing anything.



He looked to his right, to the part of the maze where he had never been, and felt the fear.

Then, he took a deep breath, turned right into the maze, and jogged slowly, into the unknown.

As he tried to find his way, Haw worried, at first, that he might have waited too long in Cheese Station C. He hadn’t had any Cheese for so long that he was now weak. It took him longer and it was more painful than usual to get through the maze. He decided that if he ever got the chance again, he would adapt to change sooner. It would make things easier.


Then, Haw smiled a weak smile as he thought, “Better late than never.”


During the next several days, Haw found a little Cheese here and there, but nothing that lasted very long. He had hoped to find enough Cheese to take some back to Hem and encouraged him to come out into the maze.


But Haw didn’t feel confident enough yet. He had to admit, he found it confusing in the maze. Things seemed to have changed since the last time he was out here.


Just when he thought he was getting ahead, he would get lost in the corridors. It seemed his progress was two steps forward and one step backwards. It was a challenge, but he had to admit that being back in the maze, hunting for Cheese wasn’t nearly as bad as he feared it might be.


As time went on he began to wonder if it was realistic for him to expect to find New Cheese. He wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew. Then he laughed, realizing that he had nothing to chew on at the moment.


Whenever he started to get discouraged he reminded himself that what he was doing, as uncomfortable as it was at the moment, was in reality much better than saying in the Cheeseless situation. He was taking control, rather than simply letting things happen to him.


Then he reminded himself, if Sniff and Scurry could move on, so could he!


Later, as Haw looked back on things, he realized that the Cheese at Cheese Station C had not just disappeared overnight, as he had once thought. The amount of Cheese that had been there toward the end had been getting smaller, and what was left had grown old. It didn’t taste as good.


Mold may even have begun to grow on the Old Cheese, although he hadn’t noticed it. He had to admit however, that if he had wanted to, he probably could have seen what was coming. But he didn’t.


Haw now realized that the change probably would not have taken him by surprise if he had been watching what was happening all along and if he had anticipated change. Maybe that’s what Sniff and Scurry had been doing.


He stopped for a rest and wrote on the wall of the maze:



Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old.


Sometime later, after not finding Cheese for what seemed like a long time, Haw finally came across a huge Cheese Station which looked promising. When he went inside, however, he was most disappointed to discover that the Cheese station was empty.


“This empty feeling has happened to me too often,” he thought. He felt like giving up.


Haw was losing his physical strength. He knew he was lost and was afraid he would not survive. He thought about turning around and heading back to Cheese Station C. At least, if he made it back, and Hem was still there, Haw wouldn’t be alone. The he asked himself the same question, again: “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?”

He was afraid more often than he liked to admit, even to himself. He wasn’t always sure what he was afraid of, but, in his weakened condition, he knew no he was simply fearful of going on alone. Haw didn’t know it, but he was running behind because he was weighed down by fearful beliefs.


Haw wondered if Hem had moved on, or if he was still paralyzed by his fears. Then, Haw remembered the times when he had felt his best in the maze. It was when he had felt his best in the maze. It was when he was moving along.


He wrote on the wall, knowing it was as much a reminder to himself as it was a marking for his buddy Hem, hopefully, to follow:

Movement In A New Direction Helps You Find New Cheese.



Haw looked down the dark passageway and was aware of his fear. What lay ahead? Was it empty? Or worse, were there dangers lurking? He began to imagine all kinds of frightening things that could happen to him. He was scaring himself to death.


Then he laughed at himself. He realized his fears were making things worse. So he did what he would do if he wasn’t afraid. He moved in a new direction.


As he started running down the dark corridor he began to smile. Haw didn’t realize it yet, but he was discovering what nourished his soul. He was letting go and trusting what lay ahead for him, even though he did not know exactly what it was.


To his surprise, Haw started to enjoy himself more and more. “Why do I feel so good?” he wondered. “I don’t have any Cheese and I don’t know where I am going.”


Before long, he knew why he felt good.

He stopped to write again on the wall:


When You Move Beyond Your Fear, You Feel Free.




Haw realized he had been held captive by his own fear. Moving in a new direction had freed him.


Now he felt the cool breeze that was blowing in this part of the maze and it was refreshing. He took in some deep breaths and felt invigorated by the movement. Once he had gotten past his fear, it turned out to be more enjoyable than he once believed it could be.


Haw hadn’t felt this way for a long time. He had almost forgotten how much fun it was.


To make things even better, Haw started to paint a picture in his mind. He saw himself in great realistic detail, sitting in the middle of a pile of all his favorite cheeses-from Cheddar to Brie! He saw himself eating the many cheeses he liked, and he enjoyed what he saw. Then he imagined how much he would enjoy all their great tastes.


The more clearly he saw the image of New Cheese, the more real it became, and the more he could sense that he was going to find it. He wrote:


Imagining Myself Enjoying New Cheese Even Before I Find It, Leads Me To It.




“Why didn’t I do this before?” Haw asked himself.


Then he raced through the maze with greater strength and agility. Before long he spotted a Cheese Station and became excited as he noticed little pieces of New Cheese near the entrance.


They were types of Cheeses he had never seen before, but they looked great. He tried them and found that they were delicious. He ate most of the New Cheese bits that were available and put a few in his pocket to have later and perhaps share with Hem. He began to regain his strength.



He entered the Cheese Station with great excitement. But, to his dismay, he found it was empty. Someone had already been there and had left only the few bits of New Cheese.



He realized that if he had moved sooner, he would very likely have found a good deal of New Cheese here.

Haw decided to go back and see if Hem was ready to join him.

As he retraced his steps, he stopped and wrote on the wall:

The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Find New Cheese.




After a while Haw made his way back to Cheese Station C and found Hem. He offered Hem bits of New Cheese, but was turned down.


Hem appreciated his friend’s gesture but said, “I don’t think I would like New Cheese. It’s not what I’m used to. I want my own Cheese back and I’m not going to change until I get what I want.”


Haw just shook his head in disappointment and reluctantly went back out on his own. As he returned to the farthest point he had reached in the maze, he missed his friend, but realized he liked what he was discovering. Even before he found what he hoped would be a great supply of New Cheese, if ever, he knew that what made him happy wasn’t just having Cheese.


He was happy when he wasn’t being run by his fear. He liked what he was doing now.


Know this, Haw didn’t feel as weak as he did when he stayed in Cheese Station C with no Cheese. Just realized he was not letting his fear stop him and knowing that he had taken a new direction nourished him and gave him strength.


Now he felt that it was just a question of time before he found what he needed. In fact, he sensed he had already found what he was looking for.


He smiled as he realized:


It Is Safer To Search In The Maze Than Remain In A Cheesless Situation.



Haw realized again, as he had once before, that what you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.

He’d been so afraid of never finding New Cheese that he didn’t even want to start looking. But since his journey he had enough Cheese in the corridors to keep him going. Now he looked forward to finding more. Just looking ahead was becoming exciting.

His old thinking had been clouded by his worries and fears. He used to think about not having enough Cheese, or not having it last as long as he wanted. He used to think more about what could go wrong than what could go right.



But that had changed in the days since he had left Cheese Station C.



He used to believe that Cheese should never be moved and that change wasn’t right.



Now he realized it was natural for change to continually occur, whether you expect it or not. Change could surprise you only if you didn’t expect it and weren’t looking for it.


When he realized he had changed his beliefs, he paused to write on the wall:

Old Beliefs Do Not Lead You To New Cheese.



Haw hadn’t found any Cheese yet but, as he ran through the maze, he thought about what he had already learned.



Haw now realized that his new beliefs were encouraging new behaviors. He was behaving differently that when he kept returning to the same cheeseless station.


He knew when you change what you believe, you change what you do.


You can believe that a change will harm you and resist it. Or you can believe that finding New Cheese will help you to embrace the change.


It all depends on what you choose to believe.

He wrote on the wall:

When You See That You Can Find And Enjoy New Cheese, You Change Course.



Haw knew he would be in better shape now if he had embraced the change much sooner and left Cheese Station C earlier. He would feel stronger in body and spirit and he could have coped better with the challenge of finding New Cheese. In fact, he probably would have found it by now if he had expected change, rather than wasting time denying that the change had already taken place.


He gathered his will and decided to keep proceeding into the newer parts of the maze. He found little bits of Cheese here and there and began to regain his strength and confidence.

As he thought back on where he had come from, Haw was glad he had written on the wall in many places. He trusted it would serve as a marked trail for Hem to follow through the maze, if he choose to leave Cheese Station C.


He just hoped he was heading in the right direction. He thought about the possibility that Hem would read The Handwriting On The Wall and find his way.


He wrote on the wall what he had been thinking about for some time:

Noticing Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt To The Bigger Changes

That Are To Come







By now, Haw had let go of the past and was adapting to the future.


He continued on through the maze with greater strength and speed. And before long, it happened.


When it seemed like he had been in the maze forever, his journey-or at least this part of his journey-ended quickly and happily.


Haw found New Cheese at Cheese Station N!

When he went inside, he was startled by what supply of Cheese he had ever seen. He didn’t recognize all that he saw, as some kinds of Cheese were new to him.



Then he wondered for a moment whether it was real or just his imagination, until he saw his old friends Sniff and Scurry.



Sniff welcomed Haw with a nod of his head and Scurry waved his paw. Their fat little bellies showed that they had been here for some time.


Haw quickly said his hellos and soon took bites of every one of his favorite Cheeses. He pulled off his shoes and jogging suit and folded them neatly nearby in case he needed them again. Then he jumped into the New Cheese. When he had eaten his fill, he lifted a piece of fresh Cheese and made a toast. “Hooray for Change!”


As Haw enjoyed the New Cheese, he reflected what he had learned.


He realized that when he had been afraid to change he had been holding on to the illusion of Old Cheese that was no longer there.


So what was it that made him change? Was it the fear of starving to death? Haw thought, “Well, that helped.”


Then he laughed and realized that he had started to change as soon as he had learned to laugh at himself and at what he had been doing wrong. He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own folly-then you can let go and quickly move on.


He knew he had learned something useful about moving on from his mice buddies, Sniff and Scurry. They kept life simple. They didn’t overanalyze or overcomplicate things. When the situation changed and the Cheese had been moved, they changed and moved with the Cheese. He would remember that.


Then Haw used his wonderful brain to do what littlepeople do better than mice.


He reflected on the mistakes he had made in the past and used them to plan for his future. He knew that you could learn to deal with change:

You could be more aware of the need to keep things simple, be flexible, and move quickly.

You did not need to overcomplicate matters or confuse yourself with fearful beliefs.

You could notice when the little changes began so that you would be better prepared for the big change that might be coming.

He knew he needed to adapt faster, for if you do not adapt in time, you might as well not adapt at all.

He had to admit that the biggest inhibitor to change lies within yourself, and that nothing gets better until you change.



Perhaps most important of all, he realized that there is always New Cheese out there whether you recognize it at the time or not. And that you are rewarded with it when you go past your fear and enjoy the adventure.

He knew some fear should be respected, as it can keep you out of real danger. But he realized most of his fears were irrational and had kept him from changing when he needed to change.


He didn’t like it at the time, but he knew that the change had turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it led him to find better Cheese.

He had even found a better part of himself.

As Haw recalled what he had learned, he thought about his friend Hem. He wondered if Hem had read any of the sayings Haw had written on the wall at Cheese Station C and throughout the maze.


Had Hem ever decided to let go and move on? Had he ever entered the maze and discovered what could make his life better?


Haw thought about going back again to Cheese Station C to see if he could find Hem – assuming that Haw could find his way back there. If he found Hem, he thought he might be able to show him how to get out of his predicament. But Haw realized that he had already tried to get his friend to change.


Hem had to find his own way, beyond his comforts and past his fears. No one else could do it for him, or talk him into it. He somehow had to see the advantage of changing himself.


Haw knew he had left a trail for Hem and that he could find his way, if he could just read The Handwriting On The Wall.



He went over and wrote down a summary of what he had learned on the largest wall of Cheese Station N. He drew a large piece of cheese around all the insights he had become aware of, and smiled as he looked at what he had learned:

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

Change Happens
They Keep Moving The Cheese

Anticipate Change
Get Ready For The Cheese To Move


Monitor Change
Smell the Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old.


Adapt To Change Quickly
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese.

Change
Move With The Cheese


Enjoy Change!
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese.



Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again


Haw realized how far he had come since he had been with Hem in Cheese Station C, but knew it would be easy for him to slip back if he got too comfortable. Each day he inspected Cheese Station N to see what the condition of his Cheese Station N to see what the condition of his Cheese was. He was going to do whatever he could to avoid being surprised by unexpected change.


While Haw still had a great supply of Cheese, he often went out into the maze and explored new areas to stay in touch with what was happening around him. He knew it was safer to be aware of his real choices than to isolate himself in his comfort zone.


Then, Haw heard what he thought was the sound of movement out in the maze. As the noise grew louder, he realized that someone was coming.


Could it be that Hem was arriving? Was he about to turn the corner?


Haw said a little prayer and hoped-as he had many times before-that maybe, at last, his friend was finally able to….



Move With The Cheese And Enjoy It!

I didnt attend church or Sunday School today. Down with 'Feng Mo' or rather 'hives' again. The 4th or 5th attack in the past 2 weeks. Some days bad, some days can manage to go to work.

Years ago, I did the allergy and blood test at the National Skin Centre. It's seems that I am not under any allergy catagory or anything wrong with my blood. Mmmm.. Some odd attack, I felt vexed every time I had it and medication makes me so restless. I thought to me, why? Only few year ago, I realised I am not the only one, I have a friend who had similar encounter with mine. For her, her possibility could be work or rather stress.. Whenever she is stressed at work, similar case will happen on her, especially on neck, face, ears and legs.


Some explanation for those who dont understand what is hives all about?

What is Urticaria (Hives) ?
Urticaria or hives as it is commonly called, is an itchy rash consisting of localized swellings of the skin that usually last for a few hours before fading away. When urticaria develops around loose tissues of the eyes or lips, the affected area may swell excessively. Although frightening in appearance, the swelling (called angio-oedema) goes away in 12 to 24 hours with treatment.

How is urticaria produced ?
Urticaria results from some changes in the small blood vessels of the skin. Such changes are brought about by the release of some substances in the body, the commonest of which is histamine. Histamine is released from cells called mast cells by either an allergic or non-allergic reaction.

What causes single attacks of urticaria ?
Acute urticaria, which can last from a few hours to as long as a week is usually caused by drugs, specific foods or a viral infection. Sometimes, no cause can be detected.

What are the foods that can cause acute and repeated attacks of urticaria ?
Foods that can cause urticaria include :
Nuts
Eggs
Fresh fruits (especially citrus)
Chocolates
Fish and shellfish
Tomatoes
Milk and cheese
Spices
Yeasts

Foods additives and preservatives such as tartrazine (yellow dye) may also be responsible. Hives may appear within minutes or several hours after ingestion of the food depending on its rate of absorption.

What are the drugs that can cause urticaria ?
Drugs that commonly cause urticaria include :


Pain killers/Anti-rheumatics e.g aspirin, codeine
Antibiotics e.g penicillins, sulphonamides

However, any drug should be suspected even if it has been taken for a long time without ill effects previously. Drugs commonly cause acute urticaria but they may also aggravate chronic urticaria.

What else can cause urticaria ?
Recurring attacks of urticaria may be caused by physical agents such as; sunlight, cold, pressure and sweat. Urticaria caused by such agents is called physical urticaria. The causative agent is usually recognized by the patient.

Chronic Urticaria
This is urticaria occurring almost daily and lasting more than two months. In the majority of patients, no cause or significant aggravating factors can be found. Physical urticaria may be present as well in some patients. Food allergy is seldom a cause of chronic persistent urticaria even though some foods may aggravate it. Infections such as candidiasis (a kind of yeast infection) may be a cause, although, not common.

Emotional stress is known to aggravate chronic urticaria in some. Fifty per cent of cases of chronic urticaria, clear spontaneously in about 6 months.

How is urticaria treated ?
The best treatment for urticaria is to identify and avoid the cause and any aggravating factors. While investigating the cause, anti-histamines are prescribed for symptomatic relief. Antihistamines, when taken orally, take about 90 minutes to relieve an already formed hive. They work best if taken on a regular basic to prevent the formation of hives. To avoid side-effects like drowsiness, non-sedative antihistamines are available. Antihistamine creams are ineffective.

Elimination diets are not helpful unless a particular food is suspected. Skin tests are generally of no use. Blood and urine test are sometimes carried out to exclude infection as a cause of chronic urticaria.

Itchy itchy go, go, go..

I think he gave up. Why on earth he got himself such a wife?

One minute says that it's ok, keep the present. Another, dont want it at all. Well, in the end, he went back to the shop. Exchange for a couple watch.

At least, it's my present and now his too.

I pity my Hubby. SORRY..

You have a wife that is hard to please. Sigh.

But yes, again. He's sweet. Even when I bombed him with hurtful sms and spoken some things I shouldn't; he never complain.

When he fetched me from work after waiting for 40mins due to my meeting with my boss, he bought some food, honey drink and a piece of chocolate cake. He still knows me best. I am so upset not just over the present, but work, flat and some personal issues. The cake? Some thing to cheer me up.

Isn't he sweet? I heard the radio few days ago while traveling to work. Overheard - "Marrying a man who loves you more than you love him; you are very blessed".. Immediate, I can feel - I DID, I married such a man.

I have heard, seen man who walked out of the quarrel or argue back. But he always has that smile on his face all the time. No matter good or bad.

He is not rich but he think it is worth buying such an expensive gift for me cause this year is my first year as status of wife celebrating with him. All these years, he had never got me a decent, rather 'great' gift as compared to others. So, he just want me to have that surprise. No idea that it will turn this way. He felt bad too..

Today, after all seeing what he did. Yes, with guilt. God really bless me with a Sweetie. :)



(I am so glad that you are part of my life - the rainbow you bring to me after the rain)

Have to take anti-allergy medication again. The one that Doc gave is very drowsy, I took it as I left my usual one at my IL's plc. Left me so restless for 2 days. More like a sleeping pill, can't concentrate on work and slept very early last night.

This morning, asked Dar to search my bags, cant find the box. So, I had intention to go pharmacy after work. But he went ahead and bought it for me before going to work.

After work, I went back to my mum's plc. Together with the medication, a squarish box with the print - BURBERRY.. what is it? Perfume? Ohhhh, it's a WATCH!!! (Very thoughtful, my precious watch of 4-5 years finally gave way last week!)

Nice but because there is wrong instruction booklet attached, I cant open the 'lock' of the watch. After struggling with it for mins, can finally wear it. But when I 'locked' it back, the inner metal does not sits nicely.. How? A gift and totfulness..

I called him and explained the situation - guy salesman who serves him. No wonder, if a lady serves him, I think he will understand why I felt uncomfortable.

Well, no matter what, still a gift from him. Keep it and wear it when I am in good mood then.

And forgotten to mention, balloting results were out yesterday. No good news. Close to 10,000 applicants, we got no. 7000+ for sale of 354 flat. Hope is gone. I think I am not as disappointed as Dar.

Of course, I've telling myself to look up and something better will come by.

Dar's encouragement in my BD card:

"Just as we know when/how to give gifts to one another, our Loving Heavenly Father also know when/how to give gifts to us who He loves and delights so much,

We'll just wait alright..."

Been praying and worrying, even before going to bed, awake in the middle of the night, while sitting on the bus traveling to work, I pray that God will answer my prayer.

Somehow, I broke down and cried last night. Hub told me he often feel the same way and had been praying too, just that he didn't mentioned.

At work, whenever I feel sad, tired, I would tune in to this overseas Christian radio station - K-LOVE.

This afternoon as I felt really sad, they played this song, I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU by Michael W Smith:

When you feel the sunlight fade into the cold night
Don't know where to turn
Don't know where to turn

And all the dreams you are dreaming seem to lose their meaning
Let me in your world
Baby let me in your world

All you need is someone who you can hold
Don't be sad, you are not alone

Chorus:
I will be here for you
Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I'll shine a light for you
Somewhere in the night
I'll be standing by
I will be here for you

In this world of strangers
Of cold unfriendly faces
Someone you can trust
Oh there's someone you can trust
I'll be your shelter
I'll give you my shoulder
Reach out for my love
Baby reach out for my love
Call out my name and my heart will hear
I'll be there
There is nothing to fear

(Chorus)
Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I'll shine a light for you
Somewhere in the night
I'll be standing by
I will be here for you

Somewhere in the night
Somewhere in the night
I'll shine a light for you
Somwhere in the night
I'll be standing by
I will be here for you
I will be here for you


After the song, today's verse heard is really an encouragement, a booster!

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair

2 Cor 4:8

Time flies on Sundays. Tiring.

Every Sunday, I kicked Hub out of the bed to remind him that I am late for Sunday School. Today, SS group is getting messy. For the fact that my team has more than 10 boys, a few cheeky ones, a few naughty ones and only a handful of girls. Evey week I double as nanny and discipline mistress, so, how can I manage my own kids and be a good mummy leh ;P

Anyway, Hub is a super busy man. He has to drop me at SS, visit us and help out to pacify my crying boys. Later, went back to his plc, my plc to pick some things, picked up his friends for church and rush back to catch up for 2nd service! Amazing right?

Around 3pm, we carry on with the promise to go Mc Reservoir with the 2 guys. I tell you, 3 of them together is like a market - 'San-Ba-Gong' While waiting for them from a distance, I could hear them talking and laughing so loudly. (I tot only ladies will do that). With 3 of them, faint, noise pollution!!

Managed to complete the tree-top walk, after TT, was a bit lost, made the wrong route. Track is a quite muddy today. Took another route, completed slightly faster - total of 2hrs 05mins.

Had 100 plus - one word to describe - SHIOK AH!!!

Statistic to-date for this month. 354 openings in all areas like Bedok, AMK, Bishan, Pasir Ris, Tampines etc. 2nd day of application and flooded with over 4.7k.

Woww... It's like miracle for those who get selected into the Q and for those who are getting top 5, you really got the best! I completed on my application by 8.15am. But of course, it is not a first-come-first-serve system (I wish it is.. ;P)

Last evening, Hub dropped by HDB hub to get the brochure and floor map. This afternoon, we went looking around AMK and Sg area. Mr * Mrs Kaypoh looking at the recondition of the flat, some floor are hacked away, some remains. Well, we are not the only ones, there are some couples who were there too.

All results will be out on Aug 20, now, fingers, legs crossed, pray hard.

God, I need and long for a house.. can you bless me with one of my desire?

Amen!

It is back. The allergy of 'Feng Mo'. Had it on Monday evening thinking it is due to the dirt or new shirt texture. Next morning, I am fine.

This morning, I woke up, caught in surprise - full bloom. Even my double eyelids are gone, neck, legs, fingers swelling. There was a season I had it very often, even to the extend of blood test, allgery test. Anyway, went to the doc at 8plus, thank God, there was only 1 patient registrating. I was the first. Doc advising me to take jab, my mind ponders - Should I, should I not. I got allergy to pain subsiding medication. Tomorrow is N.D. and clinic is closed, if the swelling strikes again, at least it happened within hours and I can be back in the evening instead of going to hospital. Well, good thing I agreed. Now, it is so much better, at least only redness and not so blotted.

I felt restless at home. Eat sleep eat.

Just called Hubby. He will pop by after work.

DISC Personality Test

D - Dominant/Driver
I - Influencing/Inspiring
S - Stable/Steady
C - Compliant/Correct

Our Sunday School has organised the DISC test. The last round I did it was during MPC last year. Being at SS as a team leader is different as compared to home/relationship. This time, no surprise. At SS, I am a I-S. Influencing/Inspriring followed but Stable/Steady. Probably, I also believed that I have to step up to teach and influence the younger generation. Overall, no pressure though mask/public self and mirror/perceived self differs slightly.

I did another round for general (How I am in life). I agreed, some pressure, stressed, probably new family, marriage, CG and work had changed me a fair bit. Overall, I am a S-C-I. Hub did it too, surprisely, same, undergoing and adapting to changes from previously a High I-S to the current S-I-C.

We happened to fall under same category:

Advocate/Agent/One Who Makes Peace

Individuals who are steady, sociable individual who strive for positive relationships at work and home. Tends toward individualism and independence if 'I' is their secondary characteristics (Hub). If 'C' is their secondary characteristics, they will be more passive and detailed oriented (ME). Once they make up their mind, it can be difficult to change the mind. They like people to support their idea; they tend to support the underdog. They may take opposing sides if a disagreement and leave feeling frustrated if things dont go their way. They need to be accepted as part of a team. Decisions can be difficult for them unless their bounderies are very clearly defined.

They tend to be moderate, thorough, and dependable people. Often willing to intercede for another on their behalf. Have a strong sense of justice and loyalty. Their style is known for their common sense. Always try to think through both sides of an issue. Tends to be great peace makers, since they see many different viewpoints to an issue; and their peacemaking will be forucs on the people involved, not just the issue. Since they are relational, they are very sensitive to the feelings of other.

Not sure how true. But for both of us, probably after settling with a house will be able to stablise our characters. I think we are still searching for our directions in life at this point of time.


Break a Leg @ MacRitchie - Sunday

Hubby's friend had 'jio' us out for a walk at MacRitchie which we are keen since both of us have not workout for the longest time.

So, four of us - K.C, GF, Hub and I took the 10km walk, which took est. 2hrs 20mins to complete. Havent jog for a long time and with the rocky track, was breathless. The hardest was the intial 3.6km. Thereafter was the part to push ourselves to finish off. No turning back and no point, sigh.. Full concentration, though yes, tired and restless (My mind was saying - why am I here???). When I completed it - HURRAY>> I would love to do it next week.. Hahaah... Burn fat mah..

But after the walk, we bid goodbye, Almaka! Forgot to show them our AD wedding album. Never mind, next time loh :O

CG at Pastor's place.

Everytime, we have one at her plc, it's a opening sharing. True ladies' talk, sharing. Some things broken, some things clarified, some things touched.

Woman - complicated creations by God. I am one, but at times, I don't understand myself, needless to say about others.

Just like the email I received this afternoon (Pls read on)


THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guestroom. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."


The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.


"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later...

Finally, the day has arrived. Turning 29.

Come 2008 onwards, I will be in my 30s instead. Times flies. My teens are over, followed by my 20s. Now, I can only look forward for better years to come in the next 1 or 2 decades.

A fair bit of SmSs greetings and well-wishes from friends, CG mates, colleagues and even my boss, though I have kept a low profile by taking a off-day from work instead of a declaration. :o

SmSes

G.L. (Ex CG Leader) - Hapi birthday 2 a lovely lady. God bless u e desire of ur heart as u draw near to 2 him. Hv a fruitful yr.

C.T. (Direct Boss) - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have a great & enjoyable birthday with your hubby.

L.E. (Ex-coll) - Wishing you a blessed birthday.

W.C. (CG Mate) - Special blessings on this special day of yours. May e Lord grant you all wishes, especially ur flat to come soon. The Lord keep u n guides u all e days of ur life.

A.T. (CG Mate) - Happy happy birthday my beautiful angel! :) Hee hee. May you be blessed w abundant blessing on your big day and forever. It's going to be a great year for you! Hee. Hugs Hugs.P.S. (Coll) - Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you... Happy birhday to u.. Happy birthday to pretty.

V.N. (Coll) May GOD walk beside you. Bring you joy, protect and guide you, and shine His light on everything you do. Happy Birthday. GBU.

C.T. (Ex-Classmate) - A happy birthday 2 u. May u hv many gd yrs ahead n God bless u always ;-)

Z.D. (Hub's Friend) - Happy brithday to u.
(Another 3 that I had deleted much earlier - from my CG leader, ex-CG mate and my best friend!)

Of course, an unexpected gift from my ex-colleague that happens to know my BD by accident ;) A expensive gift, thought it is FOC and complimentary from the company she's working in.

I had a great day though Hub had to spend it with me only from afternoon onwards..

We went to park (More pixs will be posted later), great weather, we went for some crab porridge (yes, very unromantic, it's @ a foodcourt leh) and out of all, IKEA! It's my 3rd year that on my BD that I would spend it in IKEA for dinner. I REALLY REALLY try to avoid it this year but we have no where to go and Ikea is having annual sales. This happens year after year.. I want a change next year!!

My plan for BD in 2008 is to hold a celebration since I am turning 30! Maybe a chalet. But somehow, it will be difficult for one reason - My BD is 1 week from National Day and he's always working many weekends in adv. :( This also means I never get the chance to celebrate N.D. at stadium though there is ticket. A day that I dislike.. haha..

Haven't make a wish.. Must think of what I want. Secret Shhssss..

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