FINE WITH ME

VBS fun again!

2007-12-07T07:59:00.000+08:00

NEVER a dull moment. Yes, that was the consensus of the children and teenagers in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur who got together on the grounds of the Canaan Community Service Centre for the annual VBS (Vacation Bible School) recently.

More than 180 boisterous preteens and youths converged daily for a week, from 9am, for a few hours of healthy activities ranging from games to learning new songs to participating in sketches. In the process, many undoubtedly made firm friends!

With the theme being Game Day Central, the young ones were in for a week of fun and interesting sporting activities.

Donning caps on their heads, some looked real cool while others still needed Mum or Dad to hold their hands. But everyone was soon in the main hall where teachers led them all into singing catchy songs.
While the majority were initially shy and self-conscious — who could blame them as they all came from different schools in the area — they were soon participating with gusto, warming up to the friendly instructors there, captained by the ever-smiling Pastor Leong Siew Teng.

As the days went by, it was apparent that positive reinforcement and praises were constantly reiterated by the experienced teachers to gently guide the children.

Many discovered new abilities in the course of the fun activities. Who knew an innocent wide-eyed girl could execute a Chinese stick performance by the end of the week, or that a hip hop dance lesson was all it took to bring a pre-teen out of his shyness. When a seven-year-old can confidently walk to the front of the stage and address the audience after a few days of practice, you know that the organisers of the VBS are on to a good thing!

Besides practising for their performances during a concert which was to be held on the last day of the VBS, the children also coloured, drew, pasted and created a lot of handiwork which they proudly showed to their parents at the end of each day.

As expected, the energy and enthusiasm became more infectious as the days went by. Teachers and helpers formed close bonds with the children and their hearts must have welled with pride to see the children on stage at the end of the week. Indeed, who would have thought that the children could have done it in so short a time? It is surely because they truly enjoyed every moment spent there!

Many parents took the opportunity to help out in various areas such as cooking and teaching, and it was heartwarming to see the camaraderie.

From the traffic flow to the delicious food being served by the kitchen like clockwork, they all worked hand in hand to ensure the VBS was a success.

Reverend Bernard Ang, in his welcoming address to parents on “graduation day” just before the start of the concert, said: “Every parent places great emphasis on education. We just need to guide our children onto the right path.”

Well, that week, the young ones definitely trekked a fun and educational path, with joy and laughter warming their hearts throughout.

A Kerala adventure

2007-10-20T21:00:00.000+08:00

The writer marvels at Kerala’s charming simplicity amidst life’s many complexities.

WARM smiles. Clogged roads and much honking. Beautiful horizons. Svelte bodies in colourful saris. Ayurvedic massages. Kathakali’s menacing eyes. The cool, gentle dab of pottu on my forehead.

A heady onslaught of images flash through my mind like some television broadcast gone berserk. How does one make sense of Kerala, often referred to in tourist brochures as “God’s own country”? Well, it does seem as if this huge swab of land on the southwest coast of India, with kilometres and kilometres of beautiful beach and swirling waves, is blessed on many fronts.

For one, the innocence of its people is tantalising. Children and adults alike jostle for a picture, the prospect of the occasional tourist stopping for a bit to reward them with a click of the camera almost irresistible.

And, needless to say, warm smiles are ever-present, except perhaps in rare instances as when a fisherman, his livelihood crushed by the monsoon rains, stretches out his weather-beaten hand for some money, his eyes defeated of will and purpose, an empty shell of emotion, shamed at the humiliation.
In general, however, the populace is a busy and contented lot. The day begins early, with the sky turning a lighter shade of blue at 6am.

At Cochin, where my adventure begins, the city stirs with almost a perceptible yawn and a quick jump out of bed.

Streets fill quickly with cars, motorcycles and buses, their incessant honking drawing little anger, mostly quizzical stares. With the morning sun soon reaching maturity, schoolchildren can be seen walking briskly in groups, their presence a welcome sight for photo-journalists eager for some colour to the drab city skyline, as are sari-clad women and men in dhotis.

From a broader perspective, Kerala is certainly intriguing for visitors. With the Arabian Sea in the west, mountains of the Western Ghats towering in the east and networked by 44 rivers, the Indian State boasts serene beaches, tranquil stretches of backwaters, lush hill stations, exotic wildlife, enchanting art forms and monuments, both historical and cultural. Yes, it does begin to sound a bit like heaven on earth.

For many who have not been to India, Kerala is probably the best place to start. To begin with, it boasts a literacy rate of almost 100 per cent. A higher stand of education normally equates a higher everything else, manners and cleanliness included.

At a village called Mararikulam near Marari Beach hotel in Alleppey district, 50km from Cochin, we visited a family whose livelihood depended on the weaving of floor mats on a flimsy loom. Yarns from coconut husks lined the floor, every centimetre of the sturdy threads a plodding and blister-inducing labour in the hands of the female old folk. Yet, for all their relative poverty, their young son, all of his 11 years, stood ready and eager to go for tuition class.

My guide tells me that almost everyone here takes pride in education, and much sacrifice is made to ensure every child goes to school. It’s a warm feeling that there’s a way out of poverty for the younger generation.

Kerala also boasts the highest physical quality of life in India, with the lowest infant mortality and highest life expectancy rates. It has also been called India’s cleanest state, which should put potential travellers’ minds at ease. I started my adventure armed with loads of medication for diarrhoea, fever and all other potential medical hazards. They remained untouched throughout.

Cochin (or Kochi), the commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala, is also known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. With one of the finest natural harbours in the world, it was once a major centre for commerce and trade with the Arabs, Chinese, Dutch and British.

For us intrepid travellers after a restful night at the luxurious Taj Malabar, a day of sightseeing in and around the city is a balm. After all, we had endured a couple of flights (KL to Colombo and henceforth to Cochin) and half a day of waiting and trudging up and down the tourist van with much expectation.

So there we were soon ambling down the almost deserted street of Fort Kochi playing noisy (and nosy) tourists to view St Francis Church. It’s the first European church that was built in India, where the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama was once buried. (His remains, however, were subsequently shipped to Lisbon.)

The Dutch Palace was another stop, a stuffy two-storey building with multiple rooms boasting intricate (but fast fading) 17th century murals depicting scenes from the epic Ramayana on its walls. It’s a magnet for visitors and students, with large crowds waiting to get in and us wanting to get out after a brief polite sojourn.

Then there were the Chinese fishing nets along Vasco da Gama Square, huge, towering cantilevered wooden contraptions that, I suppose, serve better as tourist attractions than trapping fish given the long, unforgiving monsoon season that plays havoc with the local fishermen’s livelihood.

The evening’s highlight – a Kathakali performance at an almost spartan primary school classroom-like setting – turned out to be an anticlimax. I blame it on my heightened expectations and the preceding hype.

In it, a sole dancer in heavy make-up takes on various roles based on themes from Hindu mythology, relying heavily on hand gestures and eye movements to convey his message. After 10 minutes, it quickly became apparent that such a performance will appeal mostly to enthusiasts.

But what did capture my rapt attention the next day on my trek through Kerala was the love for the environment by certain quarters in small but helpful ways. This in a country still noticeably Third World. I thought that with all their attendant problems of being such a populous country, going green would be the least of their priorities. How wrong I was.

At the Broadway (yes, you read right) market in Cochin, plastic bags were a no-no. Later, at Marari Beach Resort, located 50km from Cochin city where we spent the night, this “green” concept was practised to the hilt, from the use of paper bags to solar heaters. Almost everywhere one turned, there were reminders to reduce water usage and to keep the environment clean.

All this, of course, is quickly forgotten the day after when our party was plonked on a houseboat for a three-hour backwater cruise to the famed Kumarakom Lake Resort.

The houseboats may be a pretty draw, with yummy lunch served on board no less, but the living conditions of those who lived along the banks did not help with appetite. Women and children washed and bathed in the river, and their poverty was quite stark.

One family’s sole source of income depended on the benevolence of tourists who stopped to partake of a coconut drink for a mere RM1 per coconut. During the monsoon and heavy rains of the past few months, I dreaded to think how they could even put food on the table.

As my plane took off for Colombo from Trivandrum where we spent the night after a five-hour road journey, my hyperactive mind still could not stop the heady onslaught of images of my Kerala adventure: The little Indian boy who asked for a pen instead of money. The shy salesgirl at Kovalam who blushed at the sight of my camera. The skies which opened up as we were leaving the marketplace in Cochin. Packed buses everywhere with plastic sheets in place of glass window panes. The warm smiles of the fish sellers. My first Ayurvedic massage. Spices everywhere. The eerie yellow glow of my chalet. A grand view of the turbulent Arabian sea.

Truly I have gradually grown to appreciate India a lot more than just a week before. I definitely look at my Indian fellow Malaysians a little differently these days. Friends may jest that I have danced and sung around coconut trees in the few days I was there but truth be told, I think India danced to me and my heart sang heartily with it.

* The writer’s trip to Kerala, India, was sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines and Kerala Tourism. The airline flies daily to Colombo from Kuala Lumpur, with regular connecting flights to Cochin. For more information, log on to www.srilankan.aero, call 03-2144-2139 or fax 03-2144-3278.

A defiant Kathakali, with eyes blazing

2007-10-18T16:20:00.000+08:00

Here's the first of my stories on Kerala. It appeared on Oct 15 in the NST:

A Kathakali performance in Kerala, India sounds just grand. A pity all that stomping around in majestic headgear and elaborate makeup is just not drawing in the crowds, observes the writer.

SO who’s up for a little traditional Indian performance? With that, our guide led us down a little alleyway and up some stairs which opened up into a small classroom of sorts with a raised stage at one end.

The rundown nature of the place hardly befits the grand-sounding name that’s the Cochin Cultural Centre in Kerala, India. It may not look like much but never mind – it’s the performance that matters.

There to partake of what is known as a Kathakali performance, our group of 10 took our seats amongst a handful of foreign tourists. It’s a shame that this classical dance drama unique to Kerala hardly appealed to the locals anymore but I guess that’s progress.

I tried to maintain as open a mind as possible. What does it entail? My guide book tells me it’s a unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance, with the dancer in a Kathakali performance taking on various roles based on themes from Hindu mythology.

Often referred to as “the stately dance of Kerala”, Kathakali literally means “story-play” and involves elaborate make-up and costumes.

With a tradition dating back more than four centuries, it is a highly stylish art, with some reviewers calling it “a deeply moving, immensely cathartic aesthetic experience”.

The makeup, grand costume, complicated hand gestures, exaggerated eye movements and feet stomping got my attention for all of 10 minutes before the monotony and the exasperation of not being able to comprehend anything of what the actor is trying to portray started to frustrate me no end.

But that’s hardly anyone’s fault. The themes are usually from Hindu epics and purana, with characters representing existence in the worlds of Gods, demons and humans. So unless you are a scholar or enthusiast of such epics, much of what is depicted will be lost on you, and quickly too!

Enthusiasts, however, beg to differ. “Once you master the art of viewing Kathakali, it’s very painful missing one, especially if the veterans are acting,”gushed one fan.

Kathakali makeup (using natural pigments like manayola) is a slow metamorphosis — of mortals into immortal deities and demons. A lengthy affair, the process takes two to three hours to complete.

We caught the end bit of the process just before the performance proper, apparently a not-to-be-missed part of any show. After another 10 minutes of that, and since hardly much had metamorphosised before my eyes, my mind started to wander, distracted perhaps by the thought that dinner will be very late that night. Well, the guide did warn us that some performances can last up to 12 hours!

But as the headgear was finally fixed on the actor’s head, he did become larger than life. I was transfixed when he jumped on stage and stomped around for a bit. His eyes blazed and his emotions lurched from one extreme to the next, expressing such volatile feelings as anger, sadness, love and frustration at will.

Much of what was communicated was through his eyes, which flicked up and down, right to left or just glared at the audience. A myriad of hand gestures added to the effect. Good thing there was an interpreter, for some expressions did look the same to me. Strangely, I started to empathise with his emotional outburst, and even marvelled for a while his ability to switch from one facial expression to the next.

Given his already fierce demeanour from all the makeup, costume and headgear, his most dominant expression must surely be anger. Well, looking at the near empty hall, this Kerala cultural icon has something to be angry about, doesn’t he?

The writer’s trip to Kerala, India, was sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines and Kerala Tourism. The airline flies daily to Colombo from Kuala Lumpur, with regular connecting flights to Cochin. For more information, log on to www.srilankan.aero, call 03-2144-2139 or fax
03-2144-3278.

Wait till Dad gets home!

2007-10-18T13:59:00.000+08:00

I wrote this article for Canaan Voices (Sept 2007 issue):

HOW not to be intimidated? I’m not talking about a domineering boss, bungee-jumping or even climbing Mount Everest. My concerns are more down-to-earth and ordinary but no less scary.

Okay, here goes. I worry a lot at being … wait for it … a Dad. It’s something that has terrified me for years. How (or why) do some people do it, I wonder.

With my two children long past the infant stage, you must think that I’m half way there. Actually, the worries mount. You know how people say that our children’s lives are like a white piece of paper when they start out? I shudder to think what it looks like at this stage in their lives.

A Dad is supposed to be a role model to their children. All the time. Not easy. When one is plain tired after a difficult day at the office (“go ask Mum!”), when you just want to let your hair down (okay, pig out), when you want to relive some crazy moments of your youth (playing an imaginary guitar riff to the accompaniment of rock music and gyrating nymphs on DVD), when you just want to curse (okay, this is bad)… in these vulnerable moments, Dad becomes A Bad Example.

Too harsh? Let me ease you into the intimidating bit first.

* You’re a father. Which means they look up to you for everything. You are supposed to know everything. And when you don’t, the look of disappointment in their eyes is crushing. It may be imagined but I tell you, it’s as real as can be in your mind.

* You’re a father. Which means you’re supposed to read to them/bond with them every night before they sleep. And when you don’t, because you had a very long day and you really, really want to catch C.S.I. (which you don’t allow them to watch because of the gore), they’ll have that sad puppy dog look again.

* You’re a father. Which means you are not supposed to be scared of the dark. But it’s midnight and that scene from Exorcist is still playing in your mind (yes, yes, I should have gotten over that by now). Your son wants you to get his stuff from the back room but you are acutely aware that the neighbour behind your house is having a wake. With strange sounds coming from there, do you gulp down your fear or show him just how much of a scaredy-cat Dad is?

* You’re a father. Which means what you say or do is etched in their memory… forever. So think twice before laying down a rule which you will never recall in the months ahead. One painful example: No reading papers or having the television on when dinner is served. You conveniently forget this silly rule when your favourite Hong Kong drama is aired. I can tell you it’s not easy getting through dinner with the children chiding you, the missus giving you dagger stares and you having to concentrate on the drama as well. As for reading while enjoying your meal, sigh, isn’t that one of the little pleasures in life?

* You’re a father. Which means you stand for everything that matter in their lives. Basically, this means you must plan, save, guide, chauffeur, love and protect them forever. It also means you must always give in, trust and leave everything to God if they grow up one day and choose to undo all that you have planned, saved and guided them to do. No wonder Dads have high blood pressure and little hair.

Okay, now for why being a Dad is good.

· Deep down, you like being a Dad. At the end of the day, when all the work’s done, when all the bumps have been smoothed over, when the noisy chatter and laughter of the house wind down, somehow being a father suddenly makes you feel privileged. You look into their trusting eyes as you ruffle their hair and kiss them goodnight and you know you have, for now at least, a special place in their lives.

· You get to lord over them. Occasionally, they protest but most of the time what you say goes. It’s a heavy responsibility but hey, someone’s got to hang on to the remote. As for other, more mundane life-changing decisions, there’s always the Missus.

· I get to buy stuff for myself under the pretext that the children will enjoy them too. Sure, Junior deserves his Gameboy but Dad gets to go a few rounds with the bad guys on the PS2 too!

So yes, despite myself, I’m actually enjoying the challenge of being a Dad. At moments of stress, I take a deep breath and plod ahead, knowing that, heh heh, there’s no getting out of this one.

I may complain loudly at having to turn back home for their buku kerja just as I am reaching the school gates, I may balk at having to give up my precious leisure moments to chauffeur them some place, I may feel financially pressured having to save for their education… but I tell you, nothing beats the warm glow inside when your little one puts his or her hand inside your palm so trustingly when you cross the street. So there!

Ephesians 6:1-4: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother— which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Hello

2007-10-17T13:55:00.000+08:00

I'm back... Yes, it has been a while. What happened? Lots. For now, it's just that my heart and mind are in all the wrong places. But I am glad to be back, though I had to change my login, etc... it is good to be here again.

The day before Valentine's

2007-02-14T08:08:00.000+08:00

Valentine's eve at Tony Roma's -- you know, the restaurant where supposedly great beef ribs can be found.

Luckily we made reservations for we could see people waiting to go in. But the food was okay only-lah. We all enjoyed the succulent prawns more than the ribs though. I suppose we are still Victoria Station loyalists, ha ha.

Commented to my Other Half that Valentine's Day now so unromantic -- with two kids in tow -- and so expensive some-more. Bill came up to RM264 *faints* and all we ordered were those tough ribs, a fish (very fishy-or!)-cum-steak combo and those delicious prawns on a stick.

Oh yes, we also shared two bowls or soup, plus we all ordered drinks (milk shake, a margarita, a pineapple mocktail and a hot chocolate).

As usual, being ravenous, we all whacked the food as soon as they arrived, so forgot to take pictures.

Here's one from the Net though:

My 'new' phone

2007-02-02T10:20:00.000+08:00

What I finally bought. Second-hand some more. What to do, times are hard (or, as a colleague insists, times are lean). Whatever. What I do know is the phone looks great (I like it that it's so slim), the SMS and call functions work beautifully (which is my main priority) and it's only RM120. I like...

Stupid phone

2007-01-26T07:57:00.000+08:00

My darned phone is causing me a lot of grief. I send out sms-es but people sometimes never receive them.

The result is, needless to say, some misunderstanding and cold weather.

I also cannot receive long messages (wtf!) and so sometimes I get angry with people thinking they are rude, uneducated and poorly brought up. Dang!

Should I buy another phone? But I paid RM1,900 for my Motorola E680 and now the market value is only RM400. @#*&@!

The Sony K750 looks quite nice even if it is only 2-megapixel and a bit outdated. I only have to top up RM250. How?

My stories

2007-01-24T21:15:00.000+08:00

Found out recently that the story I wrote for the CBC newsletter finally made it to print together with the Vacation Bible School series of write-ups.

It must have been a little out of sync with the church leaders' idea of who gets to heaven as they included a disclaimer at the end!

But I do not really mind -- after all, I have so much to learn when it comes to being a Christian. But I really meant what I wrote and I hope it was a good read.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the newsletter.

Soul mates

2007-01-21T18:40:00.000+08:00

Got a reply from Barbara and Lindsay whom we met on the cruise last year. I'm so thrilled that they still remembered us.

It's my fault -- I took a long time to send them an e-mail but finally got around to it. Thanks, guys, you're the greatest.

The way the four of us connected on the last two days of the cruise holiday, many would have thought we were long-lost siblings.

Well, I believe God brought us together for a reason, the simpliest of which is that we were meant to be the best of friends.

The way we danced on the dance floor, the way we shared a laugh or two over a drink, the way you guys waved and waved at us (on the sad day we had to leave) until we were a speck in the distance -- thanks, guys, again for the memories. Hope our friendship will last for many more years to come.

p/s Barbara, hope you don't mind that I'm duplicating the picture for my blog.

Need a break

2007-01-10T07:52:00.000+08:00

The first week of 2007 has already passed me by and I'm still gasping for breath. Why, cos I not only have to wake up at 6am every morning to send LY to school, I also have not had a proper rest since Xmas.

I go to bed at about 11pm and I haven't been sleeping well lately (I'm kinda hyper when I have things to do or complete) so you can't imagine how exhausted I am.

Well, my boss Philip is back (since yesterday) so I guess it's time to take a breather.

Actually, it being 2007 is also a very good time to review what I intend to do with this blog. It has been gradually morphing into a diary of sorts (which I do not really want it to be).

I think the real cause of this is because I do not have time to really reflect on life and such. Penning my thoughts is one thing but I also want to put in stuff which I did or which happened to me. Just so that I can read back and recall when they happened, see? So most of the time, I just log in, put in what happened to me and then feel so woefully inadequate as a blogger. But I guess this will do for now.

Hmmm, yes, this is it -- it'll be a diary-cum-opinion-cum-rant kind of blog. How about it?

Japanese friends

2006-12-30T22:48:00.000+08:00

Some visitors turned up today courtesy of Sam. Married to a Japanese more than a decade ago, Michiko (as she's known on her blog) was visiting Malaysia again after a spate of two years, this time with her two sons and a daughter.

After prayers at her mum's grave at Nirvana, the whole gang turned up at 7pm and we all went for a nice set dinner at a Chinese restaurant.

After dinner, it was tong yuen all over again at my house as I think my guests were craving for it and thus made advance request, ha ha. KK, my mum-in-law and the maid made them. KK's versions, as expected, were of the flat, mixed-colours and others in various shapes. Ha, ha.

The Japanese kids hardly spoke as they only knew a smattering of English words and no Chinese at all but they were polite and well brought up. They were big-sized though, with the 12-year-old daughter almost as tall as me. I thought she was at least 16!

...................................................................................

Phew, I am exhausted. Earlier today, I went out to pay my Great Eastern premiums and ended up at Low Yat plaza where I managed to lepak for close to four hours!

I was itching to treat myself to a gadget but did not know what to get. But I was tempted to buy:

* a hailer (RM69). Why, I don't know. To shout at my kids without exerting myself?
Maybe...

* a short-wave radio (RM400). This is like so last century that only a couple of shops stock them and in limited choices too.

* a Sony MP3 player (RM499). But I do hate wires dangling from my ears.

* a monocular. Why? Because I can look at the stars but I am quite fearful of seeing a UFO (as I think I did during my teens and the experience scared me stiff).

In the end, I went home empty-handed. Maybe another day...

....................................................................................

Tomorrow's the last day of 2006. Got two invitations to meet up for dinner -- from Ooi and Lian Peng -- but had to decline both as my family will be at KK's godmum's place for a BBQ. Sounds like fun!

The new me, I hope

2006-12-25T19:31:00.000+08:00

It may be still a few days to go before 2007 but I have already decided that my main resolution will be: that I will always remain happy and cheerful in whatever circumstances.

We've all heard this -- that whether we are sad or happy, life goes on, so why not be happy? -- but it did not really sink in until recently.

What happened to trigger such a decision? Ironically, thoughts of mortality (personal as wll as those around me whom I love very, very much), my turning to Christ since April this year, the support of my friends and their example, worry over my other half's job (her constant travelling, especially) but mostly, because I WANT to be happy because I hope the people around me will not have to bear with my mood swings any more. Yes, I could be quite a grouch in the past, ha ha.

Life is short. Know that this is true. This is serious stuff. How I want to be happy because yes, time is always slipping away.

Thank you, Lord, for guiding me in my daily life, for teaching me so much, for showing me that joy does lie with me, if only I choose to grasp it. Thank you, Lord, for transforming me. I only hope I can live up to Your expectations.

Xmas at Eric's

2006-12-25T19:12:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas! Attended my first Xmas eve party last night and it was complete with carollers and grilled lamb.

Of course, the usual super ingredients were also present: fun games, group singing and great conversation with friends.

Family reunion

2006-12-18T14:35:00.000+08:00

Came back yesterday from the second Fong family reunion up in Genting's Awana and I'm beat! But it has been a terrific three days and the memories will last a lifetime.

It all started with everyone leaving late from KL due to Sis 3's car breakdown saga. When it was finally repaired after about three hours, it was almost 4.30pm. But never mind -- we all reached Awana finally and had our potluck dinner of chee cheong fun, roast duck, curry chicken, rendang, yam cake and much more. Yum!

The best news of the night was of course Sis 3 striking it big at the casino and that meant our dinner the next night was on her. Hurray! She also bought durians and while they were RM24 per kg, they were delicious!

The night's programme also involved Bro 7 and Bro 6 entertaining us, including the former getting us all to sing, "Here we are..." and "Ta mu chi..." Cringe-worthy but fun nonetheless.

It was also Sis 2's birthday so there was also a cake. We could all tell that she was really touched by our gesture.

Bro 1 came up only on Saturday but we were all in Genting the whole day and only met up in the evening. That night was another round of games and exchanging gifts.

It's always a little sad when such close-knit activities come to an end. I can't wait for next year's when it's Bro 6's turn to host.

Ai Ya-ya, it's Low

2006-12-15T08:28:00.000+08:00

Once in a while, a treat falls onto my lap and the latest was when the editor of another section passed me tickets to a children's musical drama at the Actors' Studio in Bangsar Shopping Complex. Whee!

And what a treat it was! Titled A Little Mission Impossible, it's about an eight-year-old pixie who has to protect an egg and bring it on a journey to its cocoon to save the world from losing its colour.

The title character was such a joy to watch as she could act, sing and dance but even she was soon eclipsed by the wicked White Witch who was hardly menacing but turned out to be all funny transvestite-like.

Heart-warming at times, especially when the bad fox character is touched by the kind ways of Ai Ya-ya, the cute pixie, and realises that a friendship that cares is so much more worthwhile than blind loyalty to a bad master.

The highlight of my night was meeting Low Ngai Yuen, she of the prolific life of being radio DJ, columnist, host, emcee, actress, writer, director, mother, and wife. Phew. I really take my hat off to this super-energy gal. No, that's not her in the picture. That's Ai Ya-ya.

Did not take a picture with Low though. Forgot. :(

But my children thoroughly enjoyed the 90-minute production (though it was freezing cold in the auditorium!) so I guess it's a night well spent.

Dieting works!

2006-12-12T18:47:00.000+08:00

Yahoo! After dieting for two days -- less salt in my meals, oats for breakfast and only bread plus Chinese tea for lunch -- my weight has come down 1kg and my BP is down to a more "normal" level.

I'm only hoping my cholesterol level will show a marked improvement in a month's time when I go for another blood test.

It'll better be okay otherwise my Chinese New Year will be a hungry one. :(

Nice weekend

2006-12-10T20:54:00.000+08:00

This has been a great weekend. Had lovely dim sum with Lian Peng, Lih Juin and kids before my family headed to Tesco in Damansara to buy our family reunion gifts. Our haul: a set of nice glasses, some pretty handkerchiefs and some chocolates.

Then we met up with Lian Peng and family again for a nice lunch at the Ikea restaurant. I ordered the fish and chips which was nice. Loved the free refills of cappuchino.

The Jolin concert that evening started off badly as it was drizzling. Luckily, the skies cleared up but the VIP seats alloted to journalists sucked big-time. I could hardly see the stage and had to content myself with watching the sexy Taiwanese gyrate on the relatively small screens. No way I'll be writing anything! Oh, well.

When it ended, the terrible jam at the carpark held us back for almost an hour before my family as well as KK's godmum and godsis ended up at the mamak for supper. Jennifer and her dad joined up and we called it a night only after 1am. Phew. I was dead tired but very happy.

Sunday's church sermon was appropriate -- Christmas! I'm kinda looking forward to it though I will be working on the eve. Never mind-lah. I hope to finish early.

What's next? Oh yes, next week's family reunion in Genting. Yippie!

Health concerns

2006-12-07T17:56:00.000+08:00

Having mixed feelings about my health. After the barrage of tests by the company clinic and Pantai's cardiologist, namely, blood test, echo test, stress test and X-ray, the verdict: my heart's in tip-top shape.

The downside? My cholesterol level's up, as is my blood pressure. I guess it is time to take medication for them (sob!) as high BP levels run in my family.

Never mind. My mind's actually on this week's Jolin Tsai concert and the hotel stay with my family. Yahoo!

Xmas gem!

2006-12-06T22:25:00.000+08:00

My first Christmas tree. Pretty or not?

A wedding and a holiday camp

2006-11-30T10:00:00.000+08:00

Oh man, this has got to be the busiest week ever. First it was KK's godbrother's wedding, which meant not one but three nights of makan and helping out. He's after all the only son.

How chaotic? Think dozens of relatives from outstation, think of the meals they had to prepare, think buffet dinner the next night and finally a grand vegetarian dinner at a restaurant on the final day. Phew!

The next day was the start of the Vacation Bible School for the kids and as I had volunteered to help out, there I was with my camera.

I actually did not think it would be so exhausting but after the third day my BP level had actually shot up tremendously. By the way, I think I may have to start medication soon... :(

But it was great fun shooting the kids at play, at study and at mealtimes. Thank you, Lord, for the children, for your Word and for your Grace.

Facial

2006-11-24T23:54:00.000+08:00

Gone for my second facial in two years. Painful, yes, but I guess it's worth it because I am prone to blackheads. Not cheap though. I paid RM50 two years ago and now it's RM75. I guess there's a price to pay for looking nice.

How my Saturday went

2006-11-19T08:47:00.000+08:00

The bath at the house which was on sale. Nice or not?

Yahoo, today's Saturday so that means I get a day off. I always look forward to this day of the week as it means:

* I get to eat a nice breakfast -- usually dim sum -- with my missus and kids and spend quality time with them;

* I get to maybe go to MPH or Kinokuniya at MidValley or KLCC and lepak there before we end up at a movie or something.

Well, one out of two ain't bad. We found a new shop to have our dim sum and it was quite a tasty treat. Not too expensive (though the waiter was surly most of the time) and the environment was okay. The food was yummy.

We wanted to watch Casino Royale but decided against it later as it was the first school holiday weekend and the movie just opened a couple of days ago. Sure no tickets.

So we went house-watching again and fixed an afternoon appointment to view a 2 1/2-storey house.

After a little shopping at Jusco in Pearl Point and picking up KK who was at a Hari Raya do, we went to the said house but it turned out to be smaller than we expected. Guess there is a big difference between a house that is renovated and one that's not! So, buy or not buy?

So much free time

2006-11-16T16:41:00.000+08:00

Got a day off finally after a long week. Funnily enough, don't know what to do with all the free time. After having a hearty breakfast and paying the house bills, I suddenly had a lot of lepak time on my hands.

Hmmm. I think it's because my maid has come back from Indonesia and so the chores at home were all pretty much done.

Actually, I do have some stuff to do -- write an article, pack my things, plan my wife's book, watch a DVD, update this blog (ha ha), reply e-mails, punt some stocks (must make some money for my new house-mah), go to Low Yat and buy my gadget stuff, call up an old friend for a drink... etc -- but having an off day seems like such a luxury so become quite lazy-lor.

Actually, my mind's still on the 2 1/2-storey house. Can I afford it? But I want, I want...

House-hunting

2006-11-13T15:47:00.000+08:00

Went house-hunting with the missus and the kids last weekend. Don't know why but we were suddenly bitten by the need-more-space bug. I guess I'm also getting fed-up with some of my neighbour's relatives.

After 12 years, it is time to get a new place. Pity about the RM5k spent on my toilets though. My other half did take a lot of time and care choosing the fittings.

Strange but then we actually thought we could continue staying in the present place for at least three more years.

Anyway, one old semi-dee that we checked out did give us the creeps. Firstly, after waiting a long time for the agent to show up with the keys, we suddenly discovered that the outer gate and the main door were actually not locked! It was only four in the afternoon but the interior of the house was really dark -- the agent blamed it on the tinted glass on the windows -- we could not see much of the kitchen and the back. The house at the back was also abandoned after some partially-completed renovation work so that also added to the state of disrepair. Creepy.

Another semi-dee opposite was in better condition and still tenanted but we all agreed that the space inside the house was quite small. Things also looked quite old and there were lots of mosquitoes. Next!

Anyway, we ended up looking at some 2 1/2-storey houses and guess out, everyone's pretty enthusiastic. The downside: leasehold, RM470k, and still need to renovate the porch to park two cars. Hmmm. The missus is quite smtten though and I know that what the missus likes, the missus usually gets!

Fine food, great company!

2006-10-26T10:58:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I enjoyed myself so much but last night's potluck to celebrate Xiao Meng, Pastor Chuah and Wei Leng's birthdays was great!

First the food. I contributed KFC (easy-mah) while Pam made delicious curry chicken and dhall. There were also pasta, bak kut teh, Cantonese fried noodles, Hokkien mee, ice-cream, cake... Yum!

Everyone there mingled well, even the children -- who ran though the house playing hide-and-seek -- and my Form 2 daughter was even mistaken for college-going, which made her beam the whole night.

Pastor Chuah spoke to me at length on the five Languages of Love, namely Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Touch (Hugs), Quality Time and Support(?). Must have thought my marriage needs a bit of help, ha ha.

Anyway, thank you, Lord for giving me the joy of knowing such wonderful people. Thank you, Lord for making my life that much more meaningful with a greater purpose.

Potluck again

2006-10-25T16:25:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I last updated this blog. What can I say, I'm lazy, ha ha.

What has happened since? Well, I came back from Macau, renovated my toilets (not a good decision as I am thinking seriously of buying a bigger house), attended Guang Liang's concert and wrote a book review.

The Deepavali and Raya holidays are coming to an end and I am looking forward to the year's end.

Tonight, Ephesians CG is holding a potluck to celebrate three birthdays -- Xiao Meng, Wei Leng and Pastor Chuah -- and I'm kinda looking forward to it. I'll just be buying KFC as we have no maid and the missus is not exactly the cooking kind. Hee hee.

Renovation woes

2006-09-17T09:53:00.000+08:00

This has been one busy period! Not only did I have to finish my Macau stories, I also had to supervise (more like watch over) the workers repairing and renovating my house toilets.

As the contractor is only helping me as a favour to my babysitter, I had to endure almost 10 days of slow, painful progress. Why? because he can only start after his normal work hours, which means he's only at my place only after 6pm! Sigh.

Anyway, the ordeal's almost over -- the house is full of dust every night. Luckily my maid's still around. She's only going back on the 23rd.

But look at my downstairs toilet now. Isn't it comfy? Looks like those in upmarket hotel loos, doesn't it?

I love Macau!

2006-09-10T16:24:00.000+08:00

Back from Macau and it was great! Short trip but the company was pleasant, the food was great and the itinerary was fun.

I had scallops, oysters, Portuguese egg tarts, pork chop buns; dined at a grand ball room, stayed in a four-star hotel -- what else can a man ask for? My group included Anthony Tan from The Star, Hooi Ling from Travellers magazine and Loo from Nanyang. Fun group and the memories will last a while! Thanks for everything, you guys!

Macau on my mind

2006-08-11T15:05:00.000+08:00

My mind is still in a whirl over my upcoming junket to Macau from Sept 3-6. From what I can discern from the fax, it's quite a relaxing trip.

Organised by Matta, it is open to travel agents and those in the industry. That, actually, is my concern. I expect two busloads of people who have no inkling of what it means to be on time, people wandering off and generally be stuck in the company of irritating strangers. Help!

On the plus side, I have not been to Macau, I need a break and I miss being on a plane. I also want to do something else other than just subbing. So I am, in a way, kinda looking forward to it...

The long and short of it

2006-08-05T15:33:00.000+08:00

The following is an article I'm writing for the Canaan Baptist Church newsletter. Don't know if it'll be used but I'm posting it here anyway. Yes, I know, it's very long...

Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

THERE’S a lady, whose name is Pak Tai (literally, Auntie White), who never fails to give me a smile every morning when I go for my walks around the neighbourhood. We hardly speak but she has always struck me as the resilient kind.

I know she has (had?) an ailing husband, which was why she offered her services as a nanny when my wife and I were asking around for one after we moved to Sri Petaling from Seremban. (Alas, I did not choose her as her frail husband’s constant coughing did make me worry for my daughter’s health).

I use the word “resilient” because it has been a decade since, and she has hardly aged. Her hair is white (how apt!) but she still gives me that warm smile each time we pass each other. I see her trudging to the market at the same time every morning without fail and I often wonder what it is that motivates her. Love? Grandmaternal instincts? Routine?

In truth, she reminds me greatly of my own mother, who passed away in September last year. Mum was a resilient soul of the first degree, one who would have been right up there next to the Lord had she been a Christian.

Hers is the kind of love that brought up nine children on my father’s meagre salary of RM150 back in the Sixties without a whisper of a complaint.

Hers is the kind of love that ate only after all the children had eaten.

Hers is the kind of love that diligently mended and sewed our clothes for Chinese New Year, for school and for home wear -- year after year -- because there are too many of us to splurge on such a luxury as new clothes.

Hers is the kind of love that demanded that we did well in our exams because she craved a better future for her offspring.

Hers is the kind of love that cleaned up, changed and fed my ailing Dad when he was bed-ridden with Parkinson’s on the last difficult years of his life.

Hers is the kind of love that did not expect much -- only that we go home and see her and Dad occasionally -- after we have all grown up and started our own families.

And you know what? I know I’ll never be able to measure up to her level of commitment and love. No, not in a million years. I can only marvel at her strength and hang my head in shame because I may be her offspring but I am not of her ilk.

What she went through would have broken a lesser mortal. During World War II, invading Japanese soldiers slaughtered her whole village, leaving her the sole survivor. She was bayoneted twice in the neck and left for dead.

But she survived and how! She got married, raised a boisterous brood and even learnt to cut hair to earn extra money. All these I learnt from my elder sister as Mum was not wont to dwell on the past.

Sept 24 is the first anniversary of her demise. Mum, thanks for your care and love. Yes, I miss her thoroughly but you know what? Just knowing that she and Dad are together again comforts me no end.

Her passing away has also been a turning point for me in my life.

In the last few years of her life, in her frailty, I see our mortality. I have never been so conscious, as in the past year, of how short our lives are.

Think about it: how many 10-year spans do we actually have? Minus our childhood, minus our teenagehood, minus our first two decades of earning a living and we're almost at retirement’s doorstep.

So, cliched as it may be, we should treasure each moment we have with our loved ones. Our parents, especially, will certainly not be around forever. Better yet, we should make sure we share with them the Word of God so that they will be able to hear the good news. We want them to have eternal life, don't we?

A friend once mentioned how angry he always is when he hears of acquaintances who hardly visit their parents! Like me, his parents have passed on and he misses them a lot. He cannot understand why children nowadays do not appreciate how lucky they are that they can still spend time and enjoy their parents while they still can. I concur.

I may be wrong but I think many young people consider their ageing parents as an inconvenience after their useful roles as an ATM and chauffeurs are over.

I once read on a blog written by this angry young adult who grumbled that his parents had refused to buy him a car upon graduation. I feel sad that there seems to be no gratitude and love at all in him that he has to write so harshly about the very people who raised him from young, seen to his every need and paid with their hard-earned money for his education. What about the years of tender love and care?

Mum’s priceless legacy to me has been to treasure the family. Ensuring the family's survival in trying times, loving wholeheartedly and teaching us well (oh, I do remember the numerous canings we received when we were naughty!) have been her motivation. Her goal: A loving family, one that stays together, makes the cycle of life worth living.

Like her, this life on Earth is important to me because we have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people we love.

In my case, her passing away left a void in my life which left me disillusioned and apathetic. For a few months afterwards, I felt very tired, unmotivated and aimless. I felt that life had little meaning if only death lay at the end of the journey.

Of course, I know now that death is not the end. Knowing what it means to be a Christian has been the greatest thing that has happened to me since my mum's passing away.

It has given me encouragement that while we may be so caught up in the rat race and all, we should pause a moment and realize that they are all temporary, losing their attractions after a while.

Becoming a Christian has "saved" me from despair -- I am not confident enough to use the word "salvation" for I know I have only taken a feeble step towards being a good Christian.

To be honest, to be a Christian to me is much more than just "having eternal life" (See earlier post).

Anyway, I started my bible reading with Matthew and Jesus's teachings in Chapters 5-7 seemed to speak directly to me. So too Ephesians 5 & 6.

Things like praying and loving our enemies, how to treat our spouses, how children should conduct themselves, learning not to worry -- do not all these teachings tell us that we have to be good Christians on Earth? Do they not tell us that how we act in this life is ultimately far more important than just "being saved"?

The whole bible is, to quote a recent inspiring sermon, an instruction manual of sorts on how to be good Christians. Everyone have their own favourite verse.

For me, it’s the following from 2 Timothy 1:7: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So much meaning in those few words, don’t you think? “Spirit of power”, “love”, “self-discipline” -- words to live by in our Christian life, no?

I pray that God will guide me daily so that I can be to my children what my Mum has been to me. She may not have been lucky enough to have heard the Word of God but I believe that Jesus loves all his children, especially the kind, the selfless and the sincere. So I am pretty sure she has a place in his kingdom.

Lord, give me the strength to utilise this life in the manner you have planned. I pray for forgiveness and I pray for guidance in my daily endeavours.

As for Pak Tai, I have not met her in the last few mornings. Is she well? Has something happened? I hope to find out more about her just to satisfy my curiosity. Who knows, maybe our lives may just intersect.

Thank you, Lord, for your time. I write and pray in Jesus's name. Amen.

Matthew 19:19
"… honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Salvation

2006-08-02T09:48:00.000+08:00

Peter sent me an SMS today inviting me over to his house for bible study on Thursday nights. Should I go? I'm still mulling over it but I'll probably give it a miss.

Why? Well, there's the Friday meetings to keep up, and if I do get an off day on Sunday, that means Sunday service. Twice a week for my "salvation" is more than enough, I would think.

Speaking of salvation, I read on someone else's blog that going to heaven is hardly the reason why she became a Christian. Becoming a better person on Earth, making a difference in the lives of others and generally do more good things -- those are what she thinks should be the motivation force.

You know what? Strangely, I agree wholeheartedly, however much it has been taught to me otherwise... that my place in the kingdom of heaven is assured the day I accept Christ.

I think that this life we have been blessed with has a purpose, and it entails more than just hearing the word of Christ, believing in him so that we are saved and spreading his Word to others so that they may be saved.

I want to be a Christian because I want to be a better person on Earth. I want to look myself in the mirror every day and say, "Today I want to make a difference in another person's life." I want to be a Christian because it makes me walk the right path. I want to avoid the temptations of the past and becoming a Christian gives me the strength to walk tall.

If all these are not good enough reasons, I don't know what is.

Battery low

2006-08-01T13:43:00.000+08:00

Missed last Friday's cell group meeting. Don't know why but I chickened out at the 11th hour -- 8.25pm to be exact.

It was like there were all those doubts floating about in my mind and I just let them overwhelm me.

I mean, there I was kinda looking forward to attending and all, and then the feeling that it was not really necessary for me to be there that night just swept over me.

Actually, I've never regretted going for the meetings. Not once. They always leave me upbeat and cheerful... though I get very tired the day after because I slept so late!

Three reasons I could fathom for not making the effort last week:

1. laziness -- Yeah, after three weeks, the lethargy does set in.

2. weakness -- both physically and spiritually. I had just recovered from another bout of diarrhoea (yes, after a recent bout of the same two weeks back) and my energy level was just way, way down there. Spiritually... well, less said the better.

3. fear -- I just cannot face my fellow cell group members and tell them about my week -- which, as usual, nothing much happens anyway other than a boring workplace and colleagues, and my usual duties as father to my children.

I really hope God will help me find a way out of this lethargy. Soon.

Dragons in Bukit Jalil

2006-07-30T16:34:00.000+08:00

Here are some pictures of the exhibition on Chinese culture and stuff at the Bukit Jalil stadium car park. I think it ends today though. Quite a show of lanterns made
from plates and so on.

Yay, thanks, Blogger

2006-07-26T14:06:00.000+08:00

I'm so relieved that I could still retrieve my blog. Decided to revive it as I miss it so much...

Half and half...

2006-04-23T07:52:00.000+08:00

Wanted to call the Missus but decided not to. So expensive-mah. I'll just wait for her nightly 9.30pm calls, as planned. God, I miss her. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Well, it's true. The house seems so empty. I guess many long-married men will be happy to have so much freedom but, nah, not me. Silly-hor?

The children have been extremely well-behaved but then again, KK has always been mature despite being only 10. His occasional tiffs with the Princess are, I guess, only natural. If kids don't fight, then I should worry, eh?

Anyway, I've decided to let KK be on his own at Sunday school despite the fact that I'll be working. He'll be okay. He's actually an extrovert and loves being with other children, unlike his sister who's painfully shy. I'm still trying hard to convince her to join KK. Maybe next week.

Speaking of work, it's getting more and more difficult to drag myself to the office on Sundays. Mo yee see (literally, no meaning anymore).

The man himself

2006-04-22T08:27:00.000+08:00

We had a surprise visitor at yesterday's meeting. Pr Chua turned up, much to our delight. I actually saw him drive up and park in front of me, and for a while I froze, as I always do in the presence of authoritative figures.

But, as it turned out, he does his rounds of the various cell groups occasionally. We had a good turnout -- I counted 13 adults and quite a few kids -- and while everyone was in their best behaviour, the meeting was relatively formal. The jokes, however, still flew. It is always fun when Lih Juin, Peter, Pam and Xiao Meng are there.

Pr Chua was a wonderful guitar player, and he stayed in the background, not leading the meeting, which I think was so professional of him. Chris, as usual, was his eloquent self, and while he turned it into one of sharing, I was so glad he did not pick me to say anything!

Anyway, the kids also had fun -- Kin Kit clicks so wonderfully with SJ -- and they also enjoyed Pam's hot dog buns. I think there weren't enough to go around too (and KK later told me in the car that they were so delicious he had four! Oops!)

This thing called life

2006-04-21T13:36:00.000+08:00

When I was younger, much, much younger, I believed that life would somehow plan everything out nicely for me. I never worried. I never doubted for a minute. Naively, in my confident mind, it'll be along these lines: I'll go to school, then Form Six, then university (where I'll meet a very pretty girl who will fall in love with me), then get a fantastic job that pays lots of bonuses with fat yearly increments, buy a big house, have five kids and enjoy life for the rest of my life.

What has happened thus far: I went to school, did not make it to Form Six, flopped STPM at a private college, repeated the exam and, just barely, made it to varsity, met a lot of pretty girls but none fell for me (ha ha), got a nightmare of a job working shifts and Sundays, working at it for almost five years before ending up where I am.

Along the way, I've realised that, for all the times I have read that life is never smooth or fair, I've gradually come to accept that, well, life is never smooth or fair.

Funnily enough, I am a contented enough soul. I realise that while I may never, ever get behind the wheel of a BMW, I'm happy with my Waja. I'm comfortable in my tiny double-storey link. I met and wed the most beautiful girl south of KL after graduation and am still as much in love with her as the day I first set eyes on her. My two kids bring me endless joy and, despite occasional parenting woes, they give meaning to my existence. My job does not pay well and I work most Sundays (no shifts though) but I actually love doing what I do so I guess that is what matters.

Which, if you think about it, is what life is all about. Somehow, despite the hiccups, everything does fall into place.

It lights up my life

2006-04-18T19:51:00.000+08:00

Check out this lovely Philips table lamp from Carrefour. Fell in love with it at first sight. Just perfect for my study table, don't you think? Costs a bomb but I just had to have it. Yes, I know, I sound just like a woman...

Stuff of dreams

2006-04-16T21:36:00.001+08:00

Went to the PC Fair, spent three hours there and all I had to show for it were two back issues of Stuff magazine! Not that there weren't any bargains.

Tempting: a Canon all-in-one printer for RM299 (normal price (RM338)

didn't get it because: it started to pour and I'm not about to lug it all the way across town in a crowded LRT just to save RM37.

Tempting: a 2-gigabyte pendrive/thumb-drive from this company called, what else, Pendrive for RM200

didn't get it because: I already have two thumb-drives which I can hardly fill up anyway.

Tempting: a 50-piece CD-R cakebox for only RM29 from Imation

didn't get it because: I still have about 30 pieces at home.

Tempting: a DVD-RW external burner for, gosh, only RM450.

didn't get it because: my CD burner serves me well for my purposes -- burning songs and storing pictures -- and I don't have extra cash to splurge.

Tempting: those lovely 17-inch and 19-inch LCD monitors

didn't get them because: no money-leh!

So sigh, I only got these two gadget magazines which, you will have to agree, I just must buy as they are only a couple of months old and only cost RM2.50 each (normal retail price: RM9)

Sun-loving, that's me

2006-04-15T18:10:00.000+08:00

Just came back from Stefanie Sun's PC. She will be holding her May 6 concert up in the highlands and it's one-night only so make sure you get your tickets fast.

Isn't she just the sweetest thing? Her voice is, oh, so heavenly. If it is still not that obvious, yes, I am a BIG fan.

Florida... and boo hoo, I'm not going

2006-04-14T07:08:00.000+08:00

The Missus just left for the airport with her best friend for Florida. Waving goodbye, enjoying the recollection of that last hug and mentally storing her final smile at me from the taxi window -- all conspire to make me quite depressed ...

As usual, as with her annual company incentive trips, my emotions (when she goes off) will run the gamut of:

* feeling a bit lonely (the house, small as it is, can suddenly feel very empty, two noisy kids notwithstanding); to

* happiness (that she is living her life fully and richly); to

* pride (that she is making something out of her life and doing what she loves in the process); to

* feeling it's a good time for a break and do what I like to do without having to worry about what the Missus thinks.

This year's trip is affecting me more than usual because:

1. she nearly lost her life last week during a rafting excursion for a team-building exercise in Gopeng. You know how such incidents always make one feel very guilty... like why one should always, always be there by the spouse's side... :(

2. she qualified for two tickets to Florida but I, being the silly one, has decided to NOT go as I cannot leave my kids for two weeks. Actually, I can but truth be told, I always dread company outings as spouses are always trying to fit in amidst all the office colleagues and cliques.

3. I really should have gone because there's not much work at the office and we are all twiddling our thumbs.

I'm so proud of her. She's the perfect example of how someone without even a decent SPM result (the result of poverty, not laziness) can achieve what she has achieved. Let's put it this way, she qualifies for her targets every year (Million Dollar Round Table, no less) -- and she gets to go for her dream holidays every year.

Which is more than I can say or achieve with my English degree merely working my butt off for peanuts... Hee, hee

Not the end

2006-04-13T14:46:00.003+08:00

Really, really tempted to end this blog -- it's been a month already and that was the plan I set when started this exercise.

I am quite pleased with myself. While the learning curve had been pretty steep, I think I've mastered most of the hard stuff. Now I won't grow old and die with this big Question Mark hanging over my head -- How the hell does one set up a blog? Hee hee.

Anyway, my Other Half will be in Florida for the next two weeks and I really don't know what to do with my time (other than finally getting around to painting the house, writing an article or so, watching my DVDs, attending cell group meetings, planning that long-delayed book, and bonding with the kids.

Yes, actually lots to do but don't really feel like doing any of it without my Other Half around. That's life. So I guess writing this blog should be a diversion.

So there.

Bedtime story

2006-04-07T07:10:00.000+08:00

My kids always say I'm a good story-teller (ahem!). Most of the time, I just make one up to get them to sleep as I can't remember much of children's tales that I have read. In fact, my Princess says I should compile them into a book and make lots of money. Wah, if only.

Anyway, here's one that just came out of nowhere, inspired by my nonsensical conversation with my 10-year-old before bedtime.

"You know where your teachers will bring you now that you can't go to Bukit Merah (bird flu-mah)?"

"Where?"

"They will launch you guys into space. So that they will have some peace and quiet. Ha Ha!"

"Kaboom! Now tell me a story, dad."

"Okay, I have an idea for one. Do you know how our solar system came about? Once, there was a rich family with 10 children. They would have been a perfectly happy family if not for the fact that one of the children was a jealous, unhappy brat, always harbouring bad and envious thoughts about his siblings.

"One day, their father asked them to go out into the world to seek their fortune as he did not want them to be weak and depend on him all the time.

"So they all went to pack and say goodbye to the parents. Their mother was, however, sad that she had to part with her dear offspring and so she slipped each of them a magic stone.

"'Use the stone only if necessary as it can be used only once,' she warned her children.

"The evil child, however, had only one bad thought in his mind. He thought: 'If my nine brothers are no more, I will be the only one left and what little effort I put into my endeavours will be praised by my parents.'

"With that, he summoned the magic in his stone and turned all his brothers into stone.

"What he did not realise is that his mother had forgotten to warn him that the stones cannot be used against the family as they were forged from her soul.

"His dastardly act engulfed her in fire which grew in magnitude and size until it too engulfed everything and everyone in sight. The heavens opened up and she became the sun around which all her sons revolved around her, for are they not part of the same soul?

"As for the evil son, he too became stone because of his folly, condemned to revolve around the fertile Earth as the moon, always alone, cold and desolate. Occasionally, when he could, he would peer in the distance at her mother, the sun, but from the glare, he knew in his heart that she would never forgive him..."

How's that? Do you think I make a good children's book author? Hee hee...

A helping hand

2006-04-06T07:37:00.000+08:00

Want to do a good deed? Here's an opportunity ... and you get a lovely framed poster of a stunning scenic view for your home or office too!

Biz Buddies, a Kuala Lumpur-based business network group, aims to extend help to two Christian-based homes – Stepping Stone Home and the Kenosis Home – through the sale of posters.

Stepping Stone Home, located at Taman Seputeh in Kuala Lumpur, provides care for underprivileged children. At present, there are about 90 children there, as well as six mothers and three senior citizens.

Kenosis Home is a non-profit drug rehabilitation centre which aims to empower its residents to lead purposeful and drug-free lives via a conducive and supportive environment. It is located at 24 Lorong Jugra, Batu 3, Jalan Kelang Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

A company called Picture Library Malaysia will provide the photographs to be converted into posters. These stunning photographs feature scenic views of waterfalls and mountains.

The framed posters will make ideal decorative fixtures in companies, restaurants, offices and living rooms. A small sum to pay to help the less fortunate.

Call 03-7710-8462/012-210-8448 (lau) or log on to http://www.picturelibrary.com.my/index.php?section=charity for more information.

So sian!

2006-04-05T07:35:00.000+08:00

LIFE is never fair. We all know that, right? But sometimes, when things happen to you personally over and over again, you rant and rave inside and wonder why the One up there is SO UNFAIR.

It's like he doesn't care. No one cares. I endure pain fairly well but when it drags on for years and years with no end in sight, the body and mind can get very tired.

Of course, there will be people who will quote wise words, pat your shoulder and say things like how things will work out soon enough, how the whole sitation is not as bad as it seems and how some people live worse lives.

Well, I am not other people. I have given my best, tried my utmost and put in more than my fair share. Why should my life be any different? Why do some people get away with almost everything or have it so easy?

Nowadays, it seems like everything is like a sacrifice. There is little joy in going on. No one appreciates. That seems to be it. I can try and I can try but the end result will always be ziltch. Life sucks.

So. hard. to. get. mind. and. body. working.

2006-04-03T15:02:00.000+08:00

Still shaking off the effects of a week of sleeping way past midnight and waking up early to catch the magnificent sunrise. A day to go before I go back to the grind of, horrors, working for a living.

As the cruise director joked on the last day of the tour, he's got good news and bad news. The bad news is that we all got to go back to making our own beds. The good news? Our bath rooms will look very spacious when we get home! Ha! ha!

The eagle has landed... on Langkawi. It never occurred to me that Langkawi came from the word "lang". Helang, eagle, geddit?

On the dusty trail in a tuk tuk in Krabi

A week in paradise

2006-04-02T19:46:00.000+08:00

When can we go again? Those were my heartfelt words to my other half at the cruise terminal even as we were waving goodbye to our new Aussie friends Lindsay and Barbara on the ship.

They waved and we reciprocated until they were practically a speck in the distance. I will miss them a lot, as will the rest of those we met and clicked during the days and nights on the ship. Thanks for the memories, Peter, Jane, Jennifer, Myla and Charmaine.

Along the way, we got to know some of the ship staff so well that photos, e-mail addresses and hugs were exchanged.

It has been a memorable six-day, five-night voyage that took us from Port Klang to Langkawi to Krabi (Thailand) to Phuket and then back to Penang.

Great food, luxurious ambience, friendly staff, excellent service and fun activities. What more can one ask for?

Spendid views from the ship (above), equally sumptuous fare (below) in the dining areas

.....................................................................................

2006-04-02T19:26:00.000+08:00

Going cruisin'

2006-03-26T09:29:00.000+08:00

Yahoo! One more day before I go on my cruise to Phuket with the Other Half. We get on at Port Klang and the ship will stop in Penang, Krabi and Phuket.

Going on this holiday has been a go-not go-go-not go situation as the kids are still in school. Finally, we decided to go for it as:

1. we will not be able to go later on the year as my Other Half is running out of time to achieve her insurance target. (She will be going for her two-week incentive tour to Florida next month and it'll be May when she gets back);

2. my son's godparents have agreed to babysit the kids and the maid when we are away, including managing their transportation. God is great!

3. it has been a decade since we both went anywhere. While my Other Half has her annual company incentive tours, the last time we went abroad together was in 1996 to Beijing. How time flies...

So, while I am filled with trepidation as to whether my kids will be fine -- though I think they are also glad to be rid of us for a while, ha ha -- I am looking forward to sunset-watching in the high seas, six meals a day and best of all, getting down in Penang and Phuket to eat and shop! Yeah!

Paint away!

2006-03-25T22:08:00.000+08:00

Phew! I'm dead tired. Why? Well, I painted a section of the wall outside the house for a good part of the morning which, incidentally, was hot, hot, hot. (Actually, that's good for drying the paint but not for the painter...)

It isn't exactly one of my favourite pastimes but with all that mould accumulating, I thought it needed a bit of touching up. So paint I did, and you can bet it was quite an exertion.

Two hours later, I was quite pleased with the results. I was surprised that it didn't required a lot of paint either -- only half of the weathershield stuff which cost me close to RM100 for quite a small tin.

Anyway, it being a weekend, my kids kept me company by doing their homework and stuff on a little picnic table in the driveway.

Incidentally, a friend, Assa, who's from Penang but is actually a Thai, flew in from JB and so the missus went to KLIA to pick her up.

In the evening, we all went to our favourite Kuchai Lama food court for the delicious porridge, BBQ chicken wings and fried lobak. Yummy!

Ephesians update: Yesterday's meeting was so well attended that a group photo was in order. Unfortunately, it did not turn out well due to my camera's condition and the shaky hands of the maid who handled it.

Uniformly segregated

2006-03-24T15:41:00.000+08:00

When sending my daughter to school this morning, I noticed a lot of her schoolmates in police/army cadet uniforms.

It's quite a sad state of affairs that of all the members in these two uniformed units in the whole school, only ONE is Chinese! This information shocked me! I thought this situation occurs only to our police force and army recruits.

Shouldn't the happy carefree years of school be one of camaraderie and having fun? Why should race be a factor in school activities? It's not like a share in the nation's economic pie is at stake!

But I also ruefully acknowledge that the Chinese have a saying, ho chai um tong peng (literally, a good son will not join the army).

But the authorities in school and elsewhere are not helping much with their silly rules. According to my Princess, every member of these two uniformed units in this school MUST wear the tudung during official functions!

Fast forward

2006-03-22T16:07:00.000+08:00

It's hard. Really hard. I wonder how people do it for a month. I'm talking about fasting.

It's only the third day in a skip-lunch five-day fast and I'm already hallucinating about delicious roti canai, mouth-watering wantan mee with its char siew, fried chicken, nasi lemak and Hainanese chicken rice.

Hope everyone's on track for this good cause...

It's 4.07pm now and I don't know if having tea is okay. I want to tahan until dinner so that at least it's a bonafide lunch fast..

Two more days, two more days...

Qing Ming-cum-mini reunion

2006-03-21T13:39:00.000+08:00

Meeting the whole clan (well, almost) after a span of a few months always lifts my spirits.

Last Sunday's get-together in memory of dear Mum and Dad was tinged with mixed emotions ranging from:

* sadness (but mostly fond memories of Mum and Dad); to

* happiness (that everyone's making an effort to turn up despite the vast distances); to

* rueful realisation that everyone's getting on in age. My eldest sis is already 62 and almost half the siblings are touching retirement age already! The next generation is growing up so fast. One niece, Su Chen, will be flying off to Ireland in Sept to start her medical course. Way to go! So proud of her. First doctor in the family, mah)

After brief ceremonies at the temple, a refreshing coconut/sugar cane drink from a roadside stall across the road perked everyone up before heading for temple No.2 to pay respects to maternal granny. For lunch, we all decided on Seremban beef noodles (yummy!), courtesy of brother No.7. His son got 10A1s and one A2.

All in all, a fine Sunday get-together. Parting, however, is such sweet sorrow when everyone bade their goodbyes. See you all at the next reunion...

Almost my dream house

2006-03-18T11:55:00.000+08:00

Went with my family to visit my two good friends Ooi and Fran at their new house in Bandar Puteri Puchong.

Lovely three-storey 22-by-75-feet link with a good view of the city skyline in the distance when there's no haze in the distance.

Loved the space (especially the third floor with its living room and huge room) and the quiet nature of the neighbourhood. Good security too.

Sigh, when can I afford one?

Happy birthday, Peter and Jessie

2006-03-18T00:20:00.000+08:00

Tonight's meeting turned out better than I expected.

I thought Lian Peng and Lih Juin would not be coming as they are probably exhausted from their Camerons trip but surprise, surprise, they made an appearance at 9.30 with roses for everyone. Camerons-mah.

It's also the birthdays of Peter and Jessie (Lian Peng's daughter) so there was also a cake by Andrew, our resident wedding cake specialist. Eric's wife, unfortunately, was down with rashes so she did not join us. Hope she recovers soon. I could sense that Eric, despite his usual cheerful self, was very worried for her.

Our teacher, Chris, is in Penang or something so tonight's merely an informal gathering. Besides eating, sharing and singing, almost everyone also sent messages giving moral support to Ju Liang via his blog.

It's past midnight when I reach home. I am typing this as my family is still watching a DVD which I have little interest in. Heard of Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing, the 1980s tear-jerker?

Thoughts on Mum

2006-03-17T16:30:00.000+08:00

I regret..

Not spending more time with you, Mum, after Dad passed away two years ago.

I'm sorry for staying away, for blocking you out of my mind, for immersing myself in work and every other non-important detail when I should have been by your side.

Being the youngest, you have always loved me a bit more than my siblings. I could do no wrong in your eyes and I guess I took a lot for granted.

Mum, it's been half a year since you departed but it still has not sunk in how much I really miss you. Occasionally, I'll dream of you, smiling at me in your frail condition and I'll wake up with tears in my eyes.

Sometimes when I switch off the lights in the living room, I imagine you are there watching over me and my family.

During such moments, my heart is heavy and guilt envelops me. But then I see my children snug in their beds and I know the cycle of life continues.

Mum, thanks for your care and love. Just knowing that you and Dad are together again comforts me no end.

NB: Thoughts of Qing Ming triggered this post. Prayers for my Mum will be conducted this Sunday.

Me

2006-03-16T13:52:00.000+08:00

I think all bloggers do this, at one time or another. This is my blog, so here goes:

I like (in no particular order):

1. watching the sun set on a beach (and hearing the sound of the waves)

2. reading a good novel in the afternoon in my favourite corner, soft music in background. If it rains, even better.

3. hearing my children squeal with joy on seeing me -- especially after a tiring day at work

4. my family get-togethers especially the annual one involving the whole clan

5. prowling electronics stores to look, feel and gape at new gadgets, preferably digital cameras and big-screen TVs. Oh, when will prices drop to a level I can afford?

6. the camaraderie of friends sharing their experiences, problems and solutions without being judgmental

7. travelling, but prefer the East. Been to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and of course, Singapore. Would like to see Korea and especially Japan. Don't ask why but I think I have this complex that Westerners look down on us yellow-skinned Oriental natives. Some will say I'm out of my mind to have rejected two trips -- one to France and another to Florida -- in the last year.

8. scouring for new restaurants to dine in once a month with the Missus (no kids!)

9. going to the movies alone, sitting as near to the screen as possible (I like my effects vivid)

10. my father-in-law's superb Hakka mee (at his stall) and his home-cooked meals/soft-boiled eggs with kaya-and-butter toast

I hate it when:

1. there is no reply to my e-mail, SMSes or calls

2. I have to eat leftovers. Cold soup, yucks!

3. I have to deal with opinionated people

4. my newspapers are read first

5. surprises are sprung on me at the last minute

6. I work my butt off for years and someone else's butt gets promoted

7. I try my best and my intentions are misconstrued

8. changes occur around me. For instance, I am always sad for days when colleagues resign, friends leave for outstation jobs, familiar faces do not make an appearance and even when neighbours move. The closure of a favourite shop can also momentarily throw me off-balance.

9. people do not keep promises. To me, a man's worth is judged by his integrity and by his word.

10. I meet rich people and they yak patronisingly about what they own, play, eat or do. Like, do I care?

.....................................................................................

Ooo, byte me!

2006-03-16T06:43:00.000+08:00

a colleague forwarded me this. So funny...

WHY MEN THINK WOMEN ARE LIKE COMPUTERS

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;

3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for possible later retrieval; and

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

WHY WOMEN THINK MEN ARE LIKE COMPUTERS

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;

2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;

3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

Food for thought

2006-03-15T17:04:00.001+08:00

Will-power. The lack of, actually. Now I know how difficult it is for fat people to diet. What brought this on? My love for a hearty breakfast. Call me traditional, call me old-fashioned. I'm one of those who love going to the coffee-shop for breakfast and read the newspaper at leisure.

(By the way, I also hate it when someone beats me to the papers in the morning, for I like the crisp, unopened feel. Many a time I have glared at my maid for reading the papers at the gate instead of bringing it straight to me.)

Anyway, my love for yummy food kinda hit a bump when the 30 sen hike in petrol price was announced. Suddenly, school bus fares shoot up, marketing becomes very difficult on a limited budget and going to the movies is suddenly such a treat (multiply everything -- tickets, snacks/lunch/dinner -- by four and you get the picture).

Everything's sooo expensive and my pay has been stagnant so long I should be calling up Indah Water.

My immediate reaction: Eat breakfast at home and only go to the coffeeshops during weekends. That should leave me with something extra at the end of the month, right?

It worked for a while but lately, I've been sneaking in a couple of weekdays. A man's gotta eat to work a full day, right?

But, frankly, if you think about it, I really shouldn't. Consider, for instance:

* roti canai -- unwashed hands kneading stuff into your food, yucks

* half-boiled eggs -- bird flu virus?

* beef noodles -- hand, foot and mouth diasease?

* wantan mee -- boric acid or whatever it is they put in to make the noodles look fresh?

* shredded chicken Ipoh-style noodles -- bird flu again?

* teh tarik -- cheap tea leaves with high concentration of colour and chemicals

So, I really shouldn't. Anymore. Have breakfast at the coffeeshops, that is. I should just eat bread and jam, day in, day out until the coast is clear. Plain Milo with bread. Biscuits and milk. Bread with bread. Bread with water. Maggi Mee. Plain. You get my drift.

Thoughts of yummy steaming hot wantan mee with thick gravy and succulent pieces of pork do have their moments. Or Ipoh hor fun with its prawns and shredded chicken slices. Crisp roti canai with its mouth-watering dhall. Beef noodles with that distinctive meaty aroma. All downed with a cup of kopi ice. Oh, I'm hungry...

What goes up...

2006-03-14T21:23:00.000+08:00

The recent petrol price hike is one thing. Now it seems that the haze is coming back. Read that bit of news in the papers today. Stocked up on face masks yet? Better do so before prices head upwards. Time to face reality. Is there no end to our woes? High electricity rates are almost at our doorsteps. What next? Higher bus fares? Oh sorry, that has happened already.

The storm which lashed KL this evening was ferocious, yet another sign of our unnatural weather. On coming down and turning left after the Pantai Hospital, my car hit a deep stretch of flooded road.

Unable to stop in time, I had to rev the car hard and forcibly manoeuvre until I reached dry land. Oh no, my car developed an unnatural whine after a short while. I managed to reach home but hope nothing's amiss with my wheels.

It has been hot, rain, hot, rain... Mother Nature is angry, angry, angry. Will our children and their children be able to enjoy this beautiful world? On that note, will I be able to enjoy my EPF savings?

Bad vibes

2006-03-14T13:20:00.000+08:00

Arrggh! My throat is still bad. My voice is so hoarse I can barely make myself heard. Which is not good when my Boss asks me something and I have to keep clearing my throat.

My Princess fell sick first last week and she still has a persistent cough. I'm actually quite worried for her as she has lost a lot of weight since joining CBN.

The trouble is I think she has not learnt how to manage stress. Her day in school is quite long -- 9.30am till 7.30pm before she reaches home.

My fault actually. I send her to school every morning before I head off to work (even though she's in the afternoon school) as I worry for her safety. Her journey involves taking the LRT to Masjid Jamek and then walking alone to school.

My rational is that she reaches school safely and she also gets to do her homework early, which is a good thing since I do not want her to sleep too late. Sigh, perhaps she will adjust to the routine...

Anyway, after she fell sick, my maid fell sick! My Other Half also complained of a bad migraine so you can just imagine how everyone around me is either coughing, having a fever or a headache.

But I have been praying -- for my Other Half's BIG problem at work to be resolved happily too -- for their speedy recovery (mine too!) as I do want to enjoy the days ahead before we go off on our Cruise to Phuket. More on that later...

Oh yes, one good news. My brother's son got 10A1s and one A2 for his SPM. Wow!

KK is 10!

2006-03-12T12:35:00.000+08:00

Supposed to go to church today, after an absence of a month (oops!) but could not get my Other Half to go. Everyone overslept! Well, it was my son's birthday celebration with his godson's family last night and it ended near to midnight.

I know, I know, excuses, excuses. I hope Lian Peng and co. will understand. Well, I do work Sundays (hell of a job, pardon the insinuation) but it's rare getting a Sunday off and this thus means I cannot commit to faithful attendance.

Still, I do attend Friday's Ephesians care group meetings faithfully (though I did skip last Friday's meeting as I was coming down with something) so I do hope to become God's faithful servant one day this way.

My son turned 10 on March 10 and, like my daughter (who will be 14 in June), he is blessed with very loving godparents, godsisters and a godbrother.

Anyway, what's a birthday without presents? His haul this year: a lovely Mastermind set, a bag of marbles (perfect for his congkak set with my Better Half bought), a couple of expensive t-shirts and a comfy bouncy seat (my present).

Kids are so lucky these days. During my time, Mum used to make me two half boiled eggs and dad would give me 50 sen. But life was hard those days (that story will be in another post) and I have eight other siblings...

Long, long walk in search of the LRT

2006-03-11T14:26:00.000+08:00

I survived just fine. Made it to the Lake just before break of dawn and sheepishly I will have to say it ain't that difficult to find. The nearest LRT or monorail is however, half an hour on foot which, in the soon blazing sun, is no walk in the park.

This I discovered after my Other Half dropped me and the Princess off. While waiting for Princess to start her jogathon run, I decided I had better find my way to the LRT. That, and my tummy was rumbling.

This is just fine.

After a hearty breakfast of wan tan mee and steaming hot kopi (yum!), I trekked to the Monorail. Horrors. Not only was there no overhead bridge, thus forcing me to risk life and limb running across highways, it was also horribly far away.

In search of the next nearest station, the one at Chow Kit was, alas, just as distant, entailing a long trek through the KL GH and past a big padang.

Nope. It's definitely the taxi home for me. RM15 poorer I am but at least my Princess and I are out of the blazing sun. Which is fine by me.

Duty calls

2006-03-11T06:07:00.000+08:00

Aargh! The things I do for children. It's an unearthly hour of 5.30am and I'm already up. If before I have to drag myself out of bed by 6.45 to send Junior (henceforth KK) to school, today I've to send Princess to Lake Titiwangsa for her jogathon. I hang my head in shame because after three decades of living in the city, I still don't know how to get to that bloody lake. A frantic search on the Internet shows that it is a popular place for joggers, boating with even horse-riding among its many attractions. Okay, all I have to is head for Ampang Park, GH and then Jalan Tun Razak. A fine one I am. Hope I don't get lost....

Virgin Post

2006-03-10T15:38:00.000+08:00

Fine. So now I have a blog. What now? For one who has always abhorred diaries, this sure is a fine turn. You know why I do not like diaries? They cannot disappear when you want them to, not when the pages and pages of your personal life are written down with so much passion.
Short of throwing the whole diary away, which I am sure one will not, that leaves only one result: the darned thing will lie around for years and years waiting for an opportunity to haunt you.
Fine. So I do not like diaries. So why now a blog? Because I can delete my posts anytime I want. Because it feels good to have a blog. Because I want to. Mostly, to be honest here, because I don't think I want to continue wondering how on Earth people go about setting one up.
Thank God for blogger.com. It took me less than an hour to set this yet, learn how to upload a picture (muah, my darling Kate) and create links.
Fine. Now I have to update this darned thing for the rest of my life. Is this what I really want? We'll see.