Solid Rock Christmas Party 2012

The last Solid Rock session of the year, an informal Christmas Party for people to hang out and have fun together before being separated from the looooong Christmas break and exam weeks. Since Solid Rock started this semester, I have been playing in the worship team EVERY week, just to make myself clear that I'm not complaining, it's fun nonetheless, but it's just record breaking (really? I felt like I did this before).

Started off with a few simple carols:

I usually packed something simple and eat early before worship practice, or return very late after Solid Rock for dinner. For the whole semester, I finally has a Friday dinner on proper time (not too proper but still better). It's a pot luck style that everyone bring something, I'm quite amazed that we have a lot of amazing chef around.

Time to eat!

We won't go home until we had real fun, played some silly games... like stuffing your mouth full of marshmallow and sing a song. The classic SR style is still our beloved group charades where we see some people giving out their all to act something out. Well, finally SR is done for this year.

Playing various games to end the night:

"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
-Matthew 23:12-

Honestly, I don't feel that the bond between SR members as strong as last year, or probably I'm just too occupied to feel the fun. Anyway, I do enjoy being in a small bible study group of 4-5 people. Oh well, I still have a little time to spend with them before really leaving, just pray that it'll be good next semester, Amen.

Reason For The Season 2012

After weeks of practices and preparations, it's finally the day for Solid Rock's Christmas event - Reason for the Season. I'm in the band and choir, just like last year, and this means double commitment. Choir already took up 4-6 hours per week, and last minute band practices that we hardly get everybody together. Anyway, it's gonna be my last event in UK.

Our band is the earliest to arrive in the hall:

It's the first time ever that RFTS is held in the Great Hall, probably my first time performing on a grand piano as well. We're just doing a medley of famous carols, my personal favorite is my new jazz arrangement of O Little Town of Bethlehem. Spent the whole afternoon for rehearsals, just like the previous year, the Mandarin fellowship and Christian Union are doing some performances as well.

Stage testing before audience start flowing in:

The agenda is pretty much like last year (band > choir > dance > acting > testimony > message > band > choir). The problem is, choir is right after band session, and the piano is below the stage. I ran up to join the choir after band, twice! I'm pretty surprise that we had a full house of audience. Fuh~ I finally get a proper meal at 11 pm after working for the whole day.

Too busy to take pictures during the event:

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
-Matthew 16:25-

I admit that there are still times that I complain when I'm overloaded with such stuffs. It's obvious that I can handle it physically and mentally, I'd been through worse cases, probably just need to pray for more patience and self-control. Well, at least I know I have to enjoy it while I still have the opportunity to join such events, Amen.

Prism Chamber

"SoundShoots is a unique music platform that challenges music makers to create a 180 second piece of music in response to a given weekly theme. The site is 100% free to use and whether you make your own music, or just like listening, there are plenty of good reasons to join!"

This is a theme that I don't anticipate, "Rave" is a kind of dance party which is pretty popular in the UK, with full blast techno/trance song and disco lights. I've only experienced clubbing once, and I don't like it at all =.= I don't dance and I don't drink, sat there for a few hours tortured by the loud music... Generally, the music is done by a DJ mixing beats and parts of songs with random sound effects.

I've been practicing to make tracks using synth, and after the previous theme, 'electric', this is exercise 2. I've implied rapid synth for chords, and slap base as the main riff. I kinda used a heavier pads here, synth voice. The synth lead came in after layering all the accompaniment, at the same time hype up the drum beat. It's pretty much the same style as the previous soundshoot... The only thing lacking is a dance kit for drums, but I haven't really figure out the right software to make it.

Click here to listen to:
Prism Chamber - Adam Jong

Rate the track using the ✓ icon (you need to be a member to do this, but it's free). Check out other contributors' clip under "The Shoots" tab and top tracks of previous themes under "Showcase".

"Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand."
-Matthew 12:25-

Doesn't seems like there's alot of improvement, there's still plenty of space for me to expand. Gonna spend more time to figure out how to work on this new style. Solid Rock is having a Christmas event soon, pray that everything will be fine and people will be touched by the message that we convey, Amen.

Kathleen's Birthday Surprise

It's Kathéen's birthday tonight and as usual we gonna give a surprise. It's gonna be the UK style where someone baked cake, and bring it over to her place surprising her at the door. Eunice and Tifani baked carrot cake, and we're gonna get a bus to Beeston. Why? Kathleen, why must you stay so far and having birthday on such a cold cold night?

Completed the cake and shaking at the bus stop:

With Elyssia's help, we managed to lure her down the apartment and give her a surprise. Funny enough, she was so locked herself outside the main door being excited seeing the cake (it's those kind of door that you need a card to enter after closing it and she left it in her room). Good enough, we found another entrance to the flat, or else we'll be seriously freezing out there.

Waiting outside her room while she's doing emergency cleaning:

Nothing too special going on, but just had a time of chatting and chilling. We also called Audrey at Durham to make her feel like she's part of the thing. The carrot cake is really awesome! I think we're really enjoying it like a mamak session, we dragged on til 2am =.= Ended up walking back because to Dunkirk coz we don't think bus will be coming any time soon.

Chilling at Kathleen's room:

"A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’"
-Matthew 3:3-

For those that just arrived in the UK, it might be kinda lonely sometimes, but it's kinda great that there are still people that you know around willing to do stuffs for each other. It's a cold and tiring night =.= but we did enjoy the fellowship, Amen.

Volt Up

"SoundShoots is a unique music platform that challenges music makers to create a 90 second piece of music in response to a given weekly theme. The site is 100% free to use and whether you make your own music, or just like listening, there are plenty of good reasons to join!"

Before I introduce the new theme, there is a breaking news in Soundshoot! The admin is removing the 90 seconds limit of submitted track and now extending it to 3 minutes! It is indeed opening more space for creativity. So, the theme for this week is 'Electric'. The possibilities are either using heavy distortion of electric guitar, the element of thunder, and electronic circuits. The main style I'm gonna use is trance music, which is called 电音 in mandarin (direct translate: electric sound).

It's time to practice my usage on Synth, I recently notice the wonders of this instrument patch and is getting more and more interested in it. I'm using square synth lead for counter melody, with synth strings under phaser effects, a very modern feel. For the chord provider, distortion guitar with power chord riffs. I learned some of these styles from Planetshakers. As the accompaniment are layered up, saw synth came in as the lead. Wow... synth sure is one of the best lead, I love its attack.

Click here to listen to:
Volt Up - Adam Jong

Rate the track using the ✓ icon (you need to be a member to do this, but it's free). Check out other contributors' clip under "The Shoots" tab and top tracks of previous themes under "Showcase".

"For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth."
-Malachi 2:7-

This Soundshoot is more like an exercise for me, digging into a new style that I'm not familiar. Anyway, I'm glad that I've found a possible area that I could expand into, or else my composition would reach a plateau. It might not work out, but it's always better than not moving at all~ May God bless me with new creativity, Amen.

Nottingham Malaysian Games 2012

After weeks of practices with new teammates, it's the day of the games. I thought I could arrive before the game starts, who knows we got a message the night before to come at 7am for opening ceremony =.= The weather is kinda cold, but I'm really amazed with the amount of Malaysian gathered here, more than graduation ceremony!

People coming in and opening ceremony by the Malaysian Minister of Youth & Higher Education:

Wow... I think there're almost 20+ teams for badminton. There was only men single, double and women single. We don't have enough time and courts for all the categories. Preliminary rounds are 10 min match, not the full 21 points, some teams aren't happy with that. I thought our team is not bad, especially after the Loughborough friendly match, but none of us made it to the top 3.

Badminton matches going on, while one of the minister have a trial match as well:

Was busy being volunteer (umpire and linesman) for the matches whole day. Only get to walk around Portland and Trent building to grab some food almost late noon. Most of the stalls are closed, but still managed to get some satay. Crazy! 5 sticks for 5 pounds, luckily Suvik is buying for me. Heard the there weren't as many stalls as last year, so the food fest was just OK OK...

Satay stall at Trent building:

It was a long long day, a little down because of losing, and pretty much tired rushing here and there, kinda lousy being in a hall crowded with so many people with crazy weather. But the day don't end easily, the Solid Rock choir is having a song for closing ceremony >_< Well, at least I get to see some friends from further parts of UK.

Walking around during other games and closing ceremony:

"On that day holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar."
-Zechariah 14:20-

Just noticed that I still have a lot of things to improve, mostly on the mental part =.= I can't believe I'm not over with being nervous during competition. Thank God no trouble came to my shoulder. Phew... the long day is over, gonna get some rest after the hyper business, Amen.

Loughborough Friendly Match

The badminton team of Nottingham Malaysian Society is having a friendly match with the Bruneian team of Loughborough University. This is actually my first time travelling to some other place for badminton match. It felt so cool when our team step into the train with our badminton gear, looks like pro. It's a warm up match before Nottingham Malaysian Games, but my intention is just to visit Loughborough :P

Arrive at Loughborough University after 20 minutes of train:

My teammates just told me that Loughborough Uni is famous for sports, and their facilities are superb. They have 4 courts JUST for badminton, and it's the proper rubber floor, best grip and jumping condition for players! Our team won all the matches, seems like our pairs are doing good although we don't get to practice much.

I really enjoyed the game:

After that, the Loughborough Uni team brought is to have a walk around town (with our badminton gears). We had early dinner at a Thai restaurant, I love this gang massaman curry rice recommended by Jia Wei. Had a good chat there acting like a young student, and then head back to Nottingham by train.

Catching the train after Thai dinner:

"Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another."
-Zechariah 7:8-

What a wonderful experience to do something like this in UK, but most importantly, I think it really helps to build up the friendship among team members. I really thank God that we had a safe trip back and forth, no injuries during matches (especially my shoulder) and a great time spent with both teams, Amen.