Waiting for an End...

For some, especially those of you in Singapore, it is already 2008. Here, as I pen this, it is still 2007 and with two and a half hours left to go.

How fast the year seems to have flown past, you may say. Perhaps, it is because we don't really expect it to end so soon! ;-) However, since I am here in Rome, I am desperately waiting for the days to go by quickly, so that I can head back to Singapore and not worry about:

a. not receiving letter/packages from Singapore because they get utterly lost in the local mail when they get here
b. the thought of walking to the university because of the transport strikes that can happen anytime
c. the thought of walking back home from anywhere because the buses stop after midday because it is public holiday like Christmas and New Year
d. having to wear layers of clothing to fend off the cold and have to bear with rashes because of these layers of clothing

In about two hours from now, a small group of Malaysians and myself will be celebrating our own New Year mass of thanksgiving as we welcome 2008. I am just thankful that I have managed to stay alive through the year 2007 and make it, albeit a little knocked up here and there, into 2008!

So, what was I wanting to say?... Oh yes! Have a blessed New Year and catch you all in 2008! :-D

(Fr Wilbert - India [l], Fr Nicholas - M'sia [far r], Fr Paul - India [back]. taken in kitchenette at basement)