It's raining outside and it has gotten quite chilly as well. Another evening of stark contract to the recent weather we have had in Glasgow recently. For the past number of weeks Glasgow has seen daily weather temperatures averaging 24C (according to my car trip computer) and we have seen days with blistering sunshine which puts lots of smiles onto peoples' faces. Supermarkets saw a huge rise in the sale of disposable barbeque sets along with all the barbeque foods. The sale of ice cream and cold drinks would also soar alongside that, benefitting the smaller businesses like newsagents, coffeeshops etc. Parks and green grass areas would be swarmed with visitors and their frisbees. They would sunbathe and have a barbeque as well then later drop litter around the overfilled bin that was not expecting to be used so much. The poor park attendants have to clean up so much more around this time. Tourists and visitors who arrived to Glasgow at this time would be very fortunate to have this weather and would definitely benefit from the sunlight as they check out the world famous architecture or come for university graduations etc. This weather can be described as "too good".
Glasgow is never famous for being dry or sunny or for it's good weather. Ask anybody local to describe the Glasgow weather and you'd hear something similar to "we get four seasons in one day". Check out any foreign nationals who have stayed in Glasgow for a period of time and you'll find they have traded in their shorts for long trousers and also an umbrella. "Glasgow weather is just unpredictable", however we know it's so ever-changing that we aren't that surprised by it anymore. But this recent heatwave did take us by surprise. It's so different. It's so unusual.
To be honest, hearing and seeing the rain outside tonight made me happy. It gave me a sense of normality. It was like Glasgow for the past few weeks has been too different. Glasgow in my whole life has never had so much sunshine for such prolonged periods. It was too unusual and affected my way of life. I don't mind sunlight, don't get me wrong. I am not a vampire who longs for darkness, but too much sunshine in Glasgow is just not normal. We've never experienced this before and frankly I do not know what to do in it. Besides being at work which is by the far the most boring thing to do - sitting inside a five door hatchback car being driven around Glasgow for prolonged hours seeing people enjoying themselves outside just makes life sucks! Being in the passenger front seat for the majority of my work time means my left arm gets more tanned than my right and this deep down really annoys me like nothing else. The weather is too hot to wear a shirt so I wear t-shirts or polo shirts for comfort, but then I realise the colour difference in my arms when I get home. What's worse is the sunlight also makes my skin itch and there were a few evenings when I find myself scratching the new tanned skin. Some people suggest using sun factor but personally I'd rather put on sun factor on my body and sunbathe like everyone else. Why should I put on sun factor to "encourage" further tanning? Even in an office job I'd finish around 5pm and can still go out and enjoy some sunshine with friends perhaps, but being a driving instructor I spend the best part of the day in a car getting tanned one sided.
I really do enjoy my job, but I'd much rather be outside getting an even tan. Maybe I am vain. Yes, maybe I am. I find having uneven tan marks very horrible. I'd rather be tanned all round or fair skinned all round. What's the point in looking tanned and light togther? Just not nice! =(
I love the summer sunshine whilst I am on holiday. I don't mind sweating away wearing shorts, sandals, sleeveless tops and carrying a backpack whilst touring Hong Kong. And of course with sun factor on. But I just cannot do such thing being at work.
Glasgow weather should just stop pretending to be what it's not. Just go back to being unpredictable, to be ever changing and sunshine should just play hide and seek with the clouds as it used to it. Us as human beings too - stop pretending we are something else or someone else. We can pretend for a while, for a day, two days, two year but deep down you're not, and one day it will be revealed. Being something you are not is just very difficult. Putting on a mask. Changing yourself to please people. If you are yourself then you read from your own script. You have your own dialogue. But changing yourself changes your character and you have to re-write your dialogue in order to suit the character you're playing. But God has already assigned you your role and character and has already destined you for great things. Why change that? If people are not happy with your character they can cast someone else for their "movie". You know your own CV and should keep on displaying that to those interested. Yeah, your life CV is shaped by God. What you don't have you don't necessary need to have, so don't need to strive to achieve. And if you do strive to achieve something, then listen to your conscience telling you if it's the right thing to do. If not, then reconsider what you're intentions are. For your benefit or for the benefit of others.
Life is too short, don't kid yourself on. Don't change yourself to please others. Going out of your way to help people is nice. However, don't change your personality just to please people. You cannot be what you are not.
My current passions are:
Working out: keeping and shaping a nice body which is the temple for the Holy Spirit.
Teaching people to drive: the happiness of pupils passing their driving test is undescribable. Only instructors will understand this.
Living a life pleasing to God: I am not the best Christian in the world, far from it, but I desire to be closer to God, to keep pure for Him and serving Him. To stay pure for Him I have abstained from viewing anything with adult contents for almost three months. This is through my computer, on tv or even anything tempting on the streets. I am very pleased that I can keep strong and God is my reason for this. I hope this can continue for a very long time, just like me abstaining from crisps since March 2008!! =D
03 July 2010
16 May 2010
Six Week Bodyfat Challenge
Hey guys, I have started up a new blog to chart down my success and failures as I take up in the six weeks challenge of burning off body fat and achieving a cut and trim look. If you're interested in following this blog, please drop me a message with your email address and I will invite you. This will be a private blog as I do not want all my information (and pictures) to be so readily available online to everyone. Some readers might not find upper body pics very appealing.
Only those who have a genuine interest in losing bodyfat and exercise and fitness should ask for access to this page. Once you're in you can read my daily entries into how I work towards decreasing my bodyfat from 21.3%!!
Thank you and God bless!
(Information taken from Greens Gym website)
"Six Week Blast!
:: Personal Coaching Offers
We have a limited number of places left on our "Six Week Blast" Personal Coaching... it is proving to be a really popular offer!
It includes one personal coaching session per week, for 6 weeks.
The sessions are designed around weight loss and toning for summer, your Body Fat will be taken on Week 1 and Week 6 - so you will really get to see - and feel - the difference!
At a Fantastic Price of only £100 it won't be around for long so call now, or speak to Reception to book your place.
Regards,
Jeri Dickson
Leisure Manager
0141-243-2200
Speak to Reception or one of our super helpful Gym Staff to book."
Only those who have a genuine interest in losing bodyfat and exercise and fitness should ask for access to this page. Once you're in you can read my daily entries into how I work towards decreasing my bodyfat from 21.3%!!
Thank you and God bless!
(Information taken from Greens Gym website)
"Six Week Blast!
:: Personal Coaching Offers
We have a limited number of places left on our "Six Week Blast" Personal Coaching... it is proving to be a really popular offer!
It includes one personal coaching session per week, for 6 weeks.
The sessions are designed around weight loss and toning for summer, your Body Fat will be taken on Week 1 and Week 6 - so you will really get to see - and feel - the difference!
At a Fantastic Price of only £100 it won't be around for long so call now, or speak to Reception to book your place.
Regards,
Jeri Dickson
Leisure Manager
0141-243-2200
Speak to Reception or one of our super helpful Gym Staff to book."
13 May 2010
God's timing is impeccable!
(Post taken from http://my-gracebook.blogspot.com/)
This morning I received a phone call from a pupil who had to cancel his driving lesson originally scheduled for 12pm-2pm. I finished my morning lesson then went home for some lunch and to do some chores etc. At 1327hrs I received a call from an 0845- number. I picked it up and was greeted with an automated message from Lloyds TSB Fraud Prevention Team. The message was saying they detected some unusual activity with my Lloyds TSB Mastercard which were made recently and they needed me to verify these transactions. The message listed out these three:
1) 13 May 2010 (today) £1119.18 - Made at a Travel Agency / Tour Operator in Israel - 1.26pm UK time
2) 8 May 2010 (last Saturday) £6.04 - Made at Miscellaneous retail store in the US - 11.05am UK time
3) 6 May 2010 (last Thursday) £34.99 - Made in UK online merchant (Play.com)
After these three recent transactions were read out I was presented with two options: Press 1 to confirm I made these transactions. Press 2 to confirm that one or more of these transactions were not made by myself or Press 3 if I was unsure about any of the mentioned transactions.
I pressed 2 and got through to the operator after a two minute hold. The operator asked if me I had made any of these transactions. I advised I only recognised the Play.com purchase. The other two mentioned I had no knowledge of those activities. I told her especially the £1119.18 transaction which was made in Israel. I said there was no way I could have done that if at 1.26pm UK time today I was still hoovering around the house. So there was no chance. The operator said I might have made a purchase recently which might have only processed through now at 1.26pm UK time. I said to her that the activity was for a travel agency tour operator in Israel. I told her I have no holiday plans at all this year and that it was definitely not me. She said the transaction was declined so nothing will be done about that. She also verified the £6.04 transaction from last Saturday. I advised again I did not make that transaction either. She will now put a trace on that transaction and find out where and how it was made.
The operator asked me I understood what was happening here. I told her I understand there was fraud happening and although I sound calm, I am sure it will all sink in later. Picture this, I was at home minding my own business, doing chores etc when suddenly this kind of phone call brings this sort of news! It was a bit alarming, aye. The operator told me she had blocked the Mastercard now and will arrange for a replacment one to be sent out. Any monies removed from my account as a case of fraud will be reimbursed into the account. The PIN will not be changed as that was not compromised, the card details must have been cloned from elsewhere.
After I hung up I went to tell my sister about it as she got home from being out. I still have the piece of paper which I used to jot down the details of the transactions hence I could be so accurate. But man, this is definitely scary thing. My household has been so cafeful with our confidential letters and documents and we shred everything we do not want. So it cannot be ID fraud by people searching in the bins etc. It could only be information cloned from a non-secure website when I was using it to make purchases with the card.
Once the initial shock passed I reminded myself of God's way of working. His ways are well and truly beyond our comprehension. There I was a bit disappointed with my lesson cancellation, but that meant I was at home to receive the all-important call. If I were working I'd certainly miss the call and there might still be illegal transactions happening as I type this. But no. By God's grace and mercy the card is now redundant and I will get a new one. Will have to be careful of how I use this one. I thank God so much for His protection.
Guys be careful with how and where you use your credit or debit cards, especially for online purchases. Make sure the website is a secure site (you can tell if web address begins with https://)
This morning I received a phone call from a pupil who had to cancel his driving lesson originally scheduled for 12pm-2pm. I finished my morning lesson then went home for some lunch and to do some chores etc. At 1327hrs I received a call from an 0845- number. I picked it up and was greeted with an automated message from Lloyds TSB Fraud Prevention Team. The message was saying they detected some unusual activity with my Lloyds TSB Mastercard which were made recently and they needed me to verify these transactions. The message listed out these three:
1) 13 May 2010 (today) £1119.18 - Made at a Travel Agency / Tour Operator in Israel - 1.26pm UK time
2) 8 May 2010 (last Saturday) £6.04 - Made at Miscellaneous retail store in the US - 11.05am UK time
3) 6 May 2010 (last Thursday) £34.99 - Made in UK online merchant (Play.com)
After these three recent transactions were read out I was presented with two options: Press 1 to confirm I made these transactions. Press 2 to confirm that one or more of these transactions were not made by myself or Press 3 if I was unsure about any of the mentioned transactions.
I pressed 2 and got through to the operator after a two minute hold. The operator asked if me I had made any of these transactions. I advised I only recognised the Play.com purchase. The other two mentioned I had no knowledge of those activities. I told her especially the £1119.18 transaction which was made in Israel. I said there was no way I could have done that if at 1.26pm UK time today I was still hoovering around the house. So there was no chance. The operator said I might have made a purchase recently which might have only processed through now at 1.26pm UK time. I said to her that the activity was for a travel agency tour operator in Israel. I told her I have no holiday plans at all this year and that it was definitely not me. She said the transaction was declined so nothing will be done about that. She also verified the £6.04 transaction from last Saturday. I advised again I did not make that transaction either. She will now put a trace on that transaction and find out where and how it was made.
The operator asked me I understood what was happening here. I told her I understand there was fraud happening and although I sound calm, I am sure it will all sink in later. Picture this, I was at home minding my own business, doing chores etc when suddenly this kind of phone call brings this sort of news! It was a bit alarming, aye. The operator told me she had blocked the Mastercard now and will arrange for a replacment one to be sent out. Any monies removed from my account as a case of fraud will be reimbursed into the account. The PIN will not be changed as that was not compromised, the card details must have been cloned from elsewhere.
After I hung up I went to tell my sister about it as she got home from being out. I still have the piece of paper which I used to jot down the details of the transactions hence I could be so accurate. But man, this is definitely scary thing. My household has been so cafeful with our confidential letters and documents and we shred everything we do not want. So it cannot be ID fraud by people searching in the bins etc. It could only be information cloned from a non-secure website when I was using it to make purchases with the card.
Once the initial shock passed I reminded myself of God's way of working. His ways are well and truly beyond our comprehension. There I was a bit disappointed with my lesson cancellation, but that meant I was at home to receive the all-important call. If I were working I'd certainly miss the call and there might still be illegal transactions happening as I type this. But no. By God's grace and mercy the card is now redundant and I will get a new one. Will have to be careful of how I use this one. I thank God so much for His protection.
Guys be careful with how and where you use your credit or debit cards, especially for online purchases. Make sure the website is a secure site (you can tell if web address begins with https://)
12 May 2010
Something to look forward to...
(Information taken from Greens Gym website)
"Six Week Blast!
:: Personal Coaching Offers
We have a limited number of places left on our "Six Week Blast" Personal Coaching... it is proving to be a really popular offer!
It includes one personal coaching session per week, for 6 weeks.
The sessions are designed around weight loss and toning for summer, your Body Fat will be taken on Week 1 and Week 6 - so you will really get to see - and feel - the difference!
At a Fantastic Price of only £100 it won't be around for long so call now, or speak to Reception to book your place.
Regards,
Jeri Dickson
Leisure Manager
0141-243-2200
Speak to Reception or one of our super helpful Gym Staff to book."
"Six Week Blast!
:: Personal Coaching Offers
We have a limited number of places left on our "Six Week Blast" Personal Coaching... it is proving to be a really popular offer!
It includes one personal coaching session per week, for 6 weeks.
The sessions are designed around weight loss and toning for summer, your Body Fat will be taken on Week 1 and Week 6 - so you will really get to see - and feel - the difference!
At a Fantastic Price of only £100 it won't be around for long so call now, or speak to Reception to book your place.
Regards,
Jeri Dickson
Leisure Manager
0141-243-2200
Speak to Reception or one of our super helpful Gym Staff to book."
11 May 2010
Ganjue
Wo xianzai ganjue dao hen lei. Xin li hen zhong. Yuanying ye shou bu chu lai.
Wei shenme you zheyang de ganjue? Wei le gongzuo? Wei le ganqing? Wo zhen de bu mingbai.
Shen ya. Ni zai naar?
Wei shenme you zheyang de ganjue? Wei le gongzuo? Wei le ganqing? Wo zhen de bu mingbai.
Shen ya. Ni zai naar?
26 March 2010
"When you run till you're out of strength"
Video shared by a brother in church :)
Sorry if you don't understand Cantonese or the Chinese characters. Song is titled: "When you run till you're out of strength" and it talks about how Jesus is there for us through the toughest of times :)
God bless!
23 March 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)