The clash of the Titans: Bus Vs Pat

Over the years, its been always annoying to be waiting at a bus stop for a bus that never turns up. But according to the Brisbane City Council

"Brisbane Transport makes every effort to have services run to schedule. However, weather, road works, traffic, minor mechanical difficulty and sometimes human error, all impact on running times.

Brisbane Transport tracks its buses by obtaining data from a satellite
tracking system (BLISS), this data is recorded from a transponder on the
bus travelling over receivers imbedded under the roadway at selected
intersections. "

So whilst waiting at a traffic light and watching my bus 150 go past. I decided to test their claim to see whether walking on foot back home was quicker and more efficient than taking a bus.

Starting Point: Intersection of Logan Rd and Eight Miles Platting Rd
Destination: Runcorn North Station


When I reached the first stop it said the bus would come at 12:11. Which i have to say it did (evidence: that was the bus i saw drive past whilst i was stuck waiting for the traffic light). So i began to time from that point onwards. According to the Timetable the next bus was not expected to arrive at that station 12:23.

Time From Starting Point
0 min (12:11) Watched one bus go past which meant (Est time of arrival 12:11)
5 min (12:16) I was at the station next to BP. (Est. time of arrival 12:27)
8 min (12:18) Bordeaux Station (Est. Time of arrival 12:27)
At this point i thought that was a big claim to get from one station
in under a minute including time to drop off passengers and pick
up more
16 min (12:27) Station outside Ivan's House (Est. Time of arrival 12:27) Looking
around there should have been a bus turn up just as i arrived. But
no bus. And once again the stupid claim that a bus could get from
one end of Warrigal Rd to half way in 1 minute.
25 min (12:36) Runcorn Plaza Station. Just when i turn to look at the timetable
the 150 arrives (Est time of arrival 12:27) IT WAS LATE
32.08 min (12:43) Runcorn North Station

So pretty much apart from my crazy walk down Warrigal Rd with the sun blazing down on me at 12 noon. The truth is that the BCC buses something run on time but most often or not they are late.

The Dark Night (Part 2)

The park went quiet. All you could hear was the wind rustling through the trees. Suddenly Simon's vision began to blur and his head started to throb. What was going on? He grabbed his head as the pain started to run down from his head to his feet. The pain was excruciating. His breathing became shallow and then everything went black.

Ten minutes passed. Simon's body lay rigid on the footpath. Sirens were heard as paramedics arrived and tried to revive him. There was no hope... the fall had taken a major blow to Simon's head and he was now in a coma.

As Simon was taken to the local hospital, police were called to the scene. A paramedic had noticed something unusual on the park bench nearby... there was a beanie, scarf, trenchcoat neatly folded neatly on the park bench. This was odd as there were no sign of anyone else in the park, just Simon. Back at the hospital, doctors performed MRI scans on Simon which showed that brain activity was abnormally high. Yet, Simon's body lay absolutely still.

Simon... come here...
He opened his eyes. Where am I? Looking around, he noticed the fountain. The same one he had seen in the park. However this place was different. It was peaceful. An open plain on a dark night.

Simon... come here...
It was that voice again. A voice so innocent and sweet. Who are you? Where am I? A million questions went through his mind. A bright light began to descend upon him. He could feel the heat radiating.

Welcome home my son...

Simon's heart stopped. Doctors ran to his ward in an attempt to restart his heart. Ten minutes later Simon was declared dead. As the doctor went to cover Simon's face he noticed a big smile.

The Dark Night (Part 1)

It was a dark cold night in the park. The wind was rattling against the windows and trees looked like they were watching you closely. Along the footpath, you could hear Simon's shallow breathing as he approaches the fountain in the middle of the park where he would ponder over things. Simon enjoyed his quiet time since there was nothing that could bother him. He was alone.

Suddenly a big gust blew across his face sending chills running down his spine. Something was different about tonight. Out of the corner of Simon's eye he noticed another silhouette sitting on the park bench next to him. It looked like the outline of a slender girl with long hair wrapped up in a beanie, scarf and trench coat. She turned and looked up at him with a smile. Simon tried to smile back. However, something was holding him back... he felt like there was someone else watching him from the bushes.

A million thoughts was going through his mind...
Who is this person? Why are they here? What should i do?I should leave...

Gradually Simon got up from where he was and began walking away from the fountain. A few steps down the path, he turned around. She was gone. Simon stood there dumbfounded. Where did she go? Before he could take another breath, he realised what had happened. He froze, his blood went cold.

There was nothing he could do, it was too late.... (To be continued)

A trip down memory lane...

Ever sat there daydreaming about nothing in particular... just playing back on snapshots of your life.

As each minute passes it become another minute to add to your snapshot. Just looking back how much things has changed.

'88 Baby Pat enters the world in HK

'92 Amazed by the Apple computers with the big floppy discs (my favourite game was King Kong)...

'00 The well known millenium bug, Y2K, which was supposibly able to infect people despite the fact that it was a "computer" bug, so it was claimed by con's on the streets of Hong Kong.

'04 The great depression.... Marks... what marks...

'05 First time i got introduced to CiA doing the Purpose Driven Life (by Rick Warren).
CiA Camp and YF Camp

'06 Baptism... The testimony that surprised everyone even my parents... A testimony based on my search for the word "love"

'08 Finally coming to understand more about my own identity and who i am through many obstacles.

Can small people move big things?

Whilst I was waiting for the bus today I noticed a 4WD with hazard lights on like the one seen below. Knowing that the bus was going to arrive at 12:58 and now being 12:56 I only had to wait a few minutes before my bus would arrive. Then to top it all off the driver of that car, he asked me to help move his car into the driveway which just happened to be on a hill. I dont know what was going through that driver's mind but a small kid like me how was i going to be able to push a 4WD up the driveway.

Luckily another man came to help out. Only to result in me watching my bus go by. So after we managed to move the car i had to wait another 20 minutes.

The ball is in your court...

Finally Avatar has come to an end with a 2 hour finale on the Battle between Aang and the fire Lord. There was something in the final battle that seem to stand out to me. Nearing the end of the battle between Aang and the Fire Lord, Aang had a choice of totally wiping the Fire Lord with all the powers of the previous Avatar. However he decided against it, saying "it doesn't have to end this way".

I think this is something important to remember, there is no such thing as "I did so because I have no choice". For example it would make sense to hate someone who has wronged you or has done something like killing one of your family members. However, it doesnt have to end this way. As written in Mark 12:28-31, love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. We should love our neighbours, enemies as God loved us. Another reference is seen in Jonah.

In life, things may happen, whether things that make you smile or things that make you cry. Most importantly its not about what has happened already but what is to come. How you handle the situation will determine how things will pan out. (W.W.J.D.)

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present. (MASTER OOGWAY- Kung Fu Panda)

Let it snow... Let it snow... Let it snow...

A few weeks ago i was listening to "Best in me" by Blue.

Here is how the first verse goes:
From the moment I met you I just knew you'd be mine
You touched my hand
And I knew that this was gonna be our time
I don't ever wanna lose this feeling
I don't wanna spend a moment apart

Ever woken up wondering where your dream partner who was there in your arms disappear to? Only minutes before both your hearts were racing and your blood rushing through your system. You seem almost in heaven and you dont ever want to lose that feeling.

But once you wake up its a whole new story... back to the real world... no girl... no nothing.

STATE OF ORIGIN 3: The Decider or is it the Decided

After a kinda disappointing start to the Origin match, Queensland seem to pull themselves together in the second game with a 30-0 win.

For the State of Origin Decider held at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, everyone was on the edge of their seats. At 3 minutes into the game, NSW had already taken the lead with a penalty. Leaving the score at 2-0. [Note: First Fist Fight] Then QLD took the first try made by Israel Falou. Just look at him in the picture those muscles... Being only 19 years of age and playing for Origin... he's a awesome player.

Later on, NSW scores a try and QLD scores two tries. But due to the number of penalties given and fist fights over accidental gestures such as dropping a NSW player on his head. In the end QLD did pretty well in mocking that guy. But yeah half time score 10-8 to NSW. For QLD's star player, Prince it was all over for him in minutes.


HIGHLIGHTS:

- Falou tremendous airtime as he jumps up grips onto the ball and as he is being flung onto the ground by a NSW player he slams it into the ground and score. Seriously if he played NBA he would be like a good slam dunker with the amount of air time he gets

- Slater's Amazing catch in the air even though he clip a NSW player and plummeted to the ground


BUT YEAH OVERALL>>> QUEENSLAND ROXS... GO QUEENSLANDER....