Location: Somewhere over the Timor Sea.

Time: Depends which timezone you use.

Speed: 813km/h.

Height: 40000 feet.

Progress: 7 hours into my 10 hours flight.

As the plane flies over the Timor Sea, the sea that separates Australia from Indonesia, there isn’t much to do but think and reminisce. It’s no different from the usual really. However it does provide me ample time to jot these thoughts on my laptop.

The same planes normally fly the same routes. It’s not the first time I’ve been on MH130 (and MH131 which covers the same route), and I’m sure it won’t be the last. However these Malaysian 747’s have been refitted within the last year. Planes now offer Movies, TV and Video on demand! So that means instead of catching the usual 2.5 movies (since we have to wait for scheduled screening times, and normally I never get to finish the last movie). WHOOPEE~! There’s a choice of about 40 movies to choose from instead of the usual 5, and the library contains old movies too, ahh the joys of technology and digital streaming.

I’ve already watched a Japanese movie (called Simsons, it’s about the sport of ice curling), a romantic comedy that didn’t have a happy ending (The Break Up, Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Anniston), and a broadway musical (Westside Story).

Westside story tells of a rivalry between two gangs, the Jets, an all American bunch of hoodlums) and the Sharks (a group of Puerto Rican immigrants trying to make a living in America). I’ve always wanted to watch it since our school did Westside Story for our production in 7^th form. I was privileged enough to be given the role of Tony (although there were two sets of casts), the lead male and Anashuya Richards co-starred with me as Maria. It’s basically Romeo and Juliet in a contemporary context and in a musical format.

I’ve been involved with performances in church since I was 5, but Westside Story was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget, we had about 100 people involved with the production, not to mention I had the Auckland Youth Symphony Orchestra backing for me! It was so much hard work, but we had so much fun in rehearsals and I made a lot of friends. Watching the movie just rekindled lots of memories for me, and reminded me how much I love acting/dancing/singing. God has blessed me with a talent to perform and I do like being on stage, I do it all for His glory. I still remember lots of those lines, and most of the lyrics to the songs. I do have one bad memory from performing in West Side Story though, I bought a ticket for my dad to come watch the results but he never showed on the night.

I stopped participating in performing arts when I entered uni, I’m not exactly sure why. I think one of the reasons was that I had a bad experience auditioning for the Auckland Theatre Company a few years ago. A friend I’d known through productions asked me to come audition with him. I thought I had aced the audition and my friend had made a few mistakes. However, it was to my dismay a couple weeks after that I got some mail saying that they would not accept me, however my friend was accepted. I never knew the reason for that choice, however it might’ve been because I don’t have the height, the looks that my friend has, or just the fact that I wasn’t white. Perhaps I’ll never know.

However, it’s something that I enjoy, and something that I think could reach people for Jesus. It’s something I might want to pursue when I get back to NZ next year.

Anyways, we’re almost going to start descent now, gotta go.

Dance like no one’s watching,

Sing like no one’s listening,

Life like there’s no tomorrow.

Love as though your heart has never been broken.

!!!SUPPLIESSSSSSS!!! (or was that Surprise!!! Ask me about this, it's a pretty funny joke)

It would be stupid of me not to thank all my friends who planned a 'surprise' party for me (which i blatantly foiled, bwahahaha). I feel guilty for having them put the effort into having a party for me and not enjoy the 'fruits' of their labor, but at the same time, you know me, I'm a horrible actor. I guess that is a challenge for all my friends to try to really surprise me next time..... if there is a next time... if they ever have the desire to try again... and if i have anymore friends left after spoiling their surprise. :P

I thought I'd lay down my experiences so that if you wish to be a party pooper like moi (and it's not the first time I've foiled one too, so consider me experienced!), here is everything you know:

1) There must be an event, ie your birthday, your anniversary, your leaving, your happy hanukah day, your promotion.
Basically it must be for you! Don't go and foil surprise parties that aren't for you unless you have a death wish! General events like Christmas or Easter do not count so don't expect any surprise parties for you on days like these (Unless of course your birthday is on Xmas).
Application: Well, the guys did pretty well here, they planned to have the party on the day before my birthday! However, still having it so close to my actual birthday roused suspicions.

2) Your friends are acting strangely.
If your friends can't stop giggling or don't wish you happy birthday (half the guys who were at my birthday party) or congratulations, it's not because you smell. It's probably because they've got some dark secret they're trying to hide and don't want you to know.
Application:
i) Well, tons of my friends didn't wish me a happy birthday :( so instead of being sad or angry I got paranoid! Either they were useless friends, or they were forgetful friends (more likely), or they didn't know it was my birthday and that I existed (most likely). I won't name names, you guys know who you were!
ii) My mum had told me we were going out for dinner. Daniel told me we were going to play DoTA after. I asked my mum if I could go out after dinner. She became stone-faced and went "uh............... maybe after 11 or 12" *BIG HINT HERE*
iii) So, we went out for dinner, and Dan Yang called me around 9. And after saying that DoTA was cancelled... ASKED TO TALK TO MY MOTHER. *BIG BIG HINT HERE* When I asked him why, he said "uh..... I want to buy some sunglasses from her." I gave it to my mum, thinking nothing of it, then my mind went BOOM why didn't he ask for my dad instead?! Indeed, my suspicions were roused!
iv) After the suspicious phone conversation with my mother, we were maybe 3/4ths through dinner. My mum suddenly said "Charles, are you full? Feel free to go ahead and go home." *ALARM BELLS TOLLING* She said this while my mouth was still full of tofu and rice!

3) Friends don't conceal their intentions! If your friends are carrying "SURPRISE!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY" signposts when you're around.. pls pls pls pls be aware that there may be a surprise party in your near future.
Application:
i) Driving home after being chased unceremoniously before having my dessert, as I was driving on the street before my home, what do I see? I see this beautiful red and white new Mini Cooper which I had been riding around in just a day before, parked on the side of the road outside my house (Thanks Edward). Next to that, I also saw Amos' car, Eugene's car, and a few others. Hehe, that was when I was sure.
ii) These guys forgot to pack up their shoes in my foyer! Enough said. Lol!

Having said all I have said, I AM STILL BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH GREAT AND WONDERFUL FRIENDS. I appreciate all that you guys did for me. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Sorry I was a little out of it, I was still pretty tired from Reflect 07! I really wish that you guys had gotten that SWEET guitar for me, but with friends like these, who needs really really really really expensive and awesome guitars? :D You connect the dots.

Thanks to: Dan Yang, Eugene, Wei Lun, Edward, Jimbo, Hsu Lynn, Sarah, Ivan, Gilainne, Ben, Shaun, Abby, Yen, Kimarie, Hensen, Amos, Irvin, Rayvin, TX (did I miss anyone else out?) and all those that wished me happy birthday and even those who didn't.

I'm trying to do 2 3000 word essays which are due next friday. So most of you won't be seeing me till then! But right now I'm participating in something they call a community placement programme and basically, I'm riding around the night shift from 11pm-7am with the police, vanquishing crime and preserving justice and all that jazz! I've already gone through one night, but have two more to go! Will try to keep everyone up to date!

22 years ago. I was born. Happy birthday to me.

Someone told me that you know you're mature when you don't celebrate your birthday with big bashes anymore. I wonder if that's true? Maybe you just forget to celebrate the fact that life is an awesome gift from God and is worth living.

Age and goodness don't necessarily correlate. I'm growing older, but still trying to be a better man. Thanks God for giving me another year of life, be with me through the next too.

:)