Love your children like how you expected them to love you..

Yay, getting so much better today. It's always the early morning feel that tells you whether you are getting better or otherwise. The sun was up early this morning. The throat was clear and everything just felt right. So I guess it's recovered. After the pill last night, I just collapsed on the bed. When phone calls came in, I could hardly speak any longer coz the effect kicked in so fast and yes I took a strong medicine. Glad that it works!

I have a few topics to discuss tonight. First, I was captivated by an article published online newspaper discussing about the hospitals being the dumping grounds for the elderly. When it hit the frontpage of a major newspaper nationwide, I was like others, being dismayed by what the society is growing into. Is it really that the society has gone so low that filial piety is a word only kept in the dictionary? Then I bumped into this article: All a child needs is love and affection. I can't agree more what the writer was trying to say. Simply put it here, the writer stressed that children are not insurance policy, they are the responsibilities of the parents. I could really relate what he meant and I was touched by how he vowed to care for his kids no matter what. `

Contrary to that, there was another article speaking on low birth rate in the country and men are to be blamed. How unfair. Glad that this news does not spread to the rural areas. Also both men and women made up a pair of parents and both equivocal. There are men who take care of their children and women who don't. And producing progenies according to one's capability is the right thing to do rather than giving birth to kids who suffer the consequences later. These kids do not choose to be born into this world. It's you, the adult who decided to bring them to this world. Thus, it is your responsibility bringing them up decently including providing educations. We don't want a society that stands out in quantity but not quality! Imagine a society full with crimes and famine! So, people, family planning is important.

Why still people don't understand. It's so clear. If you can afford to have a decent big family, go ahead and be my guest. But if you bring so much sufferings to these lil beings and then expecting them to care for you when you grow old, duhh... dude, that's really not fair! Nevertheless, it's a long debate if this were to go on and on and on...

Despite feeling better after the episode of flu, I am learning to be a lil more patient. I feel it's quite trying when it comes to people challenging your patience. Mmmm...let's just embrace a broaden heart and accept the fact that people who try to hurt your feelings are simply not worth your time to think of them. Contrary to that, remember and always cherish those around you who support you no matter what.


If this was how the children were left unattended, please judge for yourself if the parents deserved anything from them when they grew up?

Flu..

Day 2 of flu. No signs of improving just yet. Took medicine 2 days in a row, symptomatically relieved just a lil bit. Wanna take an off-day but if I don't work, who will?.. Glad that the weekend is fast approaching, so that I could wake up late.

This morning the weather was so cold. Misty everywhere and then it rained just when I was getting ready to go work. Great. So I got wet abit when coming out from the car. The nose was like a tap, shi sho..shi sho... (sound effect somemore). Both hands were so cold that it sent a shock up the spine on those who felt the touch of my clammy hands. What to do, gotta work and there wasn't any heater around.

Everyone was like having fun nowadays, talking loudly at the corridor, missing in actions, bla bla bla. Obviously their superior wasn't around la. Basically I am in charged of the office but the job of looking after these people lies over the admin site. I deal directly with all the senior staff. I just feel so drained for the past one week because despite having to do my work, I have to watch how the office was working because the senior staff were not around. Well, I was just too busy for that. I can't be going around to check if they were working or not coz I am usually busy with my work and on top of that, I am not well!! Watever. One more day.... just be patient, ahaha..

The H1N1 fluA is spreading so fast and thus far claiming 4 lives. Gee... that's really serious. People, please becareful and stay healthy coz the complications usually found in those with low immune system. Drink more water and listen to your doctors.

Okla, time to zzz....

Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life.

After a cold shower, the night is calming down slowly. It was afterall a rough day. The mood had once again hit the dipping note. It feels like hitting the wall, nowhere to go. So frustrated. Hmm... How can I complain...? I got a flu, no, I don't think that H1N1 thing but the normal flu from not taking enough water. On top of that, yesterday's meeting only served coffee, with thick condensed milk! How can I not get so dry in the end of the day. The sorethoat, it's an early sign. The precautions were taken the night before going bed. But the misty morning and the aircond in the office once again irritated the nostrils. I had to but to take a tab of flu med, which made me drowsy the whole day. Rested but not really well rested.

We had another aerobics session today. I am starting to feel a lil bit of frustration. I know I shouldn't have but I said I am going to! Not yet, but soon. Most of the superiors in the office were away either for courses, or took leave. Leaving me alone to fend for everything. I have been doing things which are not my work -related stuff but for me to take care of these ppl who are like small kids with an adult body?? On top of that having the flu. Come on, hit me hard! Slowly I felt the pinch of reality. Perhaps it's true that people won't change rather than can't change. Well, I did change for better! But not others. I have been pushing the situation so that people would comply and improve further. I know I have made lotsa changes but the feelings that I've got so far is that, once I leave, the place will crumble once again. People who are not born leaders just cannot lead! Even though you try so hard to train one, if they were not meant to, they were not! Or perhaps they refuse to come out from comfort zone. I don't know.

During the aerobics, it seemed like more of taking care and entertaining the kids. Yes, kids! Big kids! They had fun, it felt nice coz it was like creating magic. I enjoy bringing joy to others. But it was a lil disappointing coz ppl just expect magic and never want to learn the art of bringing magic. They expect me to do all the leadings, and if I was not around, they started to lag. They need to be pushed all the time. Things won't move when I am not around and I made that clear to them as if I was doing this to please myself. I could've gone back at 5pm and shut the door, not bothering the world outside. I could have just concentrated on my work and not care if they learn anything. But no. I took my time, spend my energy, so that people will start learning and perhaps one day they could take over this art and move on. Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life.

How true is this saying? Again, reality check. Once, the people from the agency came and taught the people to fish and provide some fishing nets so that these people could start fishing and get a business outta it. They were then given 200bucks to buy other materials. After taking the nets and the money, they left the talk even before it started. No, that's not done yet. Later, they sold their nets and get the money so they could spend on them. Voila, reality checked. Speechless.

Feel so old already, feel like doing a father job here. So boring. Just because people don't care of these KIDs, I feel like it's my obligation to raise them up nicely. They are anyways my staff. Look at the kids and you know the parents. So the saying goes that way. I want them to be capable, I want them to mean something to the community, I want them to start creating magics and transmitting it to others like dominos effect, I want..., I want..., I want...gee... I am just a human. Okla, after ranting, I'll just get back to reality. The reality says that magic will never stay put at one place. So, I guess it's time for me to leave this place and embrace a new environment. And yes...I am still waiting.

Life is magic...

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at- change
-Wayne Dyer

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is light somewhere
-unknown

The moment I stepped out of the plane, I had a sudden urge to write so many things on this blog. By the time I started to write, I find it a lil difficult. I can't seem to place the priority on the things that I wanted to write. Nevermind, we'll go according to the flow.

Yes, I just got back from a weekend talk which was sponsored by a certain company. It was rather a sudden decision and there were so many things that I wanted to do over the weekend. And yes, I made up my mind. The national carrier seems to provide better seats compared to other budgeted airlines. The plane was a lil delayed while awaiting for 1 late passenger. The first hour when the plane took off, I was already dozing off and 1hour later when I woke up, I was still thinking what happened to the plane coz it was like not going anywhere. Then I realized it was actually in the air already.! See, how tired I was.

There were just too many things happening during the weekend that I find it a lil difficult to absorb. Probably the best method is by trying to take it piece by piece so that the impact isn't going to be so great. I started to feel that many people nowadays especially those living in the urban areas have forgotten one important component in life which is magic. Probably they are so educated that magic is a disguise, magic is like santa, only for the kids. People minds are so occupied and consumed by materials that only the object in front is the evidence of reality. There's no more spiritual, there's no more believe, there's no more the tradition that gives hope to people, simply putting it as there's no magic!

Well, if you said there was magic, then let it happen here. Such an understatement is actually ridiculing the existence of magic. Magic only happens to those believe in it. You don't demand for miracles to happen when you don't do a thing about it. Coz that's an act of the cynics. You may argue that there's no free lunch. True enough. But I can tell you that magic does occur. This boy for goodness sake might not have eaten for maybe few days was loitering at the cake hse in the hope that he would at least get to eat something. He thought he might not but there came a tourist looking into his innocent eyes and decided to feed him that day. You see the magic there? Of course not! But in the eyes of the kid, it was a magic. And in fact, human create magic!

Magic is beautiful. It's a surprise, it's a blessing. It's beyond expectation. If we didn't get magic today, we still could create one for others. Do you see the beauty of it. I just think that we should keep magic as part of ourselves because that makes us human. No magic, it would be too materialistic. Perhaps that's why the urban dwellers are too immersed in seeking reality. Sometimes we need to get back to nature and release the inner self.

Let's move on a lil bit on the newspaper nowadays. The message I got from the readings , Life Is so Fragile. You never know what's going to happen next. Better cherish life and start doing something you like today. A friend just passed on last week. I guess there's a moment where the others are still feeling difficult to accept it. The impact is just too great for some. Take time to heal guys.

Have to go now, it's quite late already. I'll try to write again soon. Time to recuperate from the trip.

PS: There can be magic when you believe...

Reminiscing those songs...

While searching some songs for the coming aerobics, I kinda bumped into a few chinese version of MVs (MusicVideos la) on you tube. Being nosy, I clicked and listened back to those songs back in the 90s. Gosh, it feels like nostalgic! True, really one! I could hardly remember when was the previous time I listened to a chinese song. Must be very longggg time ago.

During the high school time, I was very into these chinese songs and watching lotsa chinese movies. I started going karaoke or singing in the bathroom memorizing those hardcore lyrics, ahaha. I guess after the year 2000 that the interest had slowly toned down. I really have no idea. It was like vanished, just like that. The new genre of songs had lost its appeal. It's so westernized that the classics remained as classics. Maybe that was why I'd changed my interest. The lyrics used to be so meaningful and beautifully written.

Those days we didn't have so many singers, and usually those who really could sing would remain in the industry. But look at nowadays, even if you don't sing, you could still be a singer. Whatever.

For those who had watched this movie in the 90s, 'summer vacation', it's time to reminisce abit. Enjoy and perhaps it's time to think of your childhood friends again!

Scene was in Redang island, white beach. We went there, remember guys?!

1st aerobic class

Well, it was the 1st aerobic session today and the response was kinda positive. We might just turn this into an event like 'the Biggest loser', ahahaha... Everyone's weight was taken. And the class was conducted by ... yours sincerely, nevertheless it was smooth flowing.

The biggest drawback was the radio, not really helping much. Yay, I was able to repair back the severely severed speaker and now with this, I could conduct the class with the mp3, as simple as 1,2,and 3, hehe... Gonna play more hits songs the coming Wednesday.

Let's see how it goes. Nite nite

Are you a parent?

There was a post previously on 'What makes a baby'. Now let's talk something on 'What makes a parent'. I won't be discussing into too details because the night is not so young afterall. I remember when I was in 4th form, I was representing the school for an interschool debate on this topic: Moral decadence of youths today is due to the lack of parental responsibility. I have these words stuck right behind my brain for years!! I find it a very interesting topic to talk on.

It has become so unbecoming that these days we see children are suffering because of the adults' action. I have seen mothers at 13 years old. I have seen father at 15 years old. We even read that the youngest father in England was probably that small lil 13-year-old kid. Ok, I am not discriminating on age. But how sure are you that you are really ready to become a parent. I see big family where kids were free to roam everywhere as if nobody care they were gonna jump into the river behind their house, or run across the road with full of traffic. When things happen, then only they starte blaming this and that but not themselves. These people however keep on producing progenies when they even didn't have the means to support the basic needs of their kids. Oh yes, they sure do. Probably they thought the basic needs were food (less nutritions), shelter (crowded rooms), and what else? Er...forget it, afterall they'd still be breathing tomorrow by just having these two main things in life.

Nooo......that's so wrong. Nowadays, kids need educations. They need proper food for growth. They need proper clothings, and on top of that, they need LOVE! Yes LOVE. Parents often give the reason that this is beyond their control which I think is total b*llsh*t. We have the means for family planning. We are not living at dark ages anymore. We have meds, we have devices to help us, why don't we use them! Of course having a kid or not despite using this is totally up to ....HIM. But at least we try. You won't get pregnant if you didn't have xxx. That's the logic as simple as 1,2,3.

OK, so I have the right to have as many kids I want. But have you ever thought that your kids have the right to live like other kids as well, like being LOVEd? You are simply depriving them of all these because of your undue plannings! That's so wrong. So you choose to have 10 sick kids because they didn't get proper food, rather than having 3 educated and healthy kids? Come on. Kids are not toys. They will be the person moulded by your action. They went into crimes, and you just raised your hands and shook your head while sighing, 'see, I told you oredy'. That's so unfair.

Let's see a scenario. There was a 14-year-old girl who was living with g'ma in a poor village. Both parents chose to go to the city to look for a living. This girl followed her bf and was brought to a camp where there were lotsa guys. She got pregnant and realized it wasn't what she expected and ran away. She was found by her father's friend who brought her back to her father in the city. Father was like raising the hands and shook his head while saying, " I send you money every month to study but you ended up like. What happened to you? Why are you doing all these?" And just ignored her then. He had no sense of guilt at all. What do you think? Who is the main culprit. The innocent and unattended 14-year-old girl who wrongly believed her bf and got herself pregnant or the selfish father who left her since she was born and even never realized she went missing but just sighing after finding out about this problem of hers. You be the judge.

Do you think that minors can probably make a right decision for themselves? They are at a stage of learning about life. They need a role model to show them what is right and what is not. So when things went out of hand, fingers were pointed at them. Come on, even adults don't make right decisions and how do you expect these kids to fend for themselves. So stop telling me that in India there are also thousands of street kids or the phillipines or where ever and 'so-what?' kinda attitude coz this shouldn't be happening in the first place. Not even in India, not even in Africa and most of all NOT EVEN HERE where we have all the means to plan a family.

Ok, that's just a penny worth of thought. That's why I don't get bored listening to this song "we are the world" coz it's really so meaningful. Kids are the future leaders. They are what you moulded them into tomorrow. Look at the kids and you will know the parents well though this doesn't apply to all families. But again, give these kids a life that they deserve. Start planning today for a better tomorrow, for you and me and your kids....

Opss....didn't expect this to be so long. Tomorrow we are having aerobic in the office after work. Some sort of health programme for the staff. Afterall, it's our health.

Nite nite...

When people cry,....

So. There was this moment today. Tears pouring out from the orbits. I could only watch and there was enough time for me to analyse and feel the situation. I was literally struck by the fact that we were all the same within, human! All these while, the different cultures had created a set back for me to understand if I was so different or was it that they were different. Today, I guess I've found the answer. We may look different outside or even behave differently, but deep under the skin, we are still the same human.

It was a farewell lunch for 2 of the senior staff. I don't really get to know them too well due to my short stint here but from the speech that they gave today, I was touched because I was acknowledged. I didn't realize such a small gesture that I made had a bigger impact in their heart. I treated them like others, talked, sometimes joking or so. I saw them as friends even though they are like double my age. But yes, sometimes this small gestures show that you care, you are non-discriminatory of any status. Anyways, why should I? I am no better than any other. But for some reason, I can't tolerate lazy people and those pretend to have big heads but in fact have small brains. What a joker...

Ok, back to the lunch. She was crying while relating to her ordeal as if she was heart broken in a love relationship. Even worse than if she were to divorce her husband, as she said the pain from having to be separated from her love, was soooo unbearable. I know it sounded a lil confused. What love and what bout her husband or so. Anyways, she was saying that she missed her colleagues and her job so much coz she had been seeing them and working what she was working for the past 30 years and any changes could be shock to her.

I could see everyone was not shy of crying, and they shared the pain and yes, I like the word sharing! When we share, the burden is reduced. When we share, the more people will get. Another gave a very simple speech. She was the lowest rank in the hierachy but she worked way longggg time ago even before I was born. She shed the tears when she said we didn't mind talking to her like a friend and even eat on the same table. I was really so proud. Proud of all my staff. They taught me humility. They taught me humanity. Or was it my job. But either way, it was a moment to compliment.

Just on the sideline. A staff has gone this morning, to a very very very far place. Sometimes life can be so awkward. It's like a chipsmore. Now you see, now you don't. He was there to search some files yesterday but he was gone this morning. So ironic. Perhaps life is more peaceful on the other world. Thus everyday life is indeed a lesson to us. Let's have a moment of silence....

It's party time tmrw!

Everytime I wanted to blog, I would think of the weather. I wonder why?... It's a statement anyways, no answers required. I started to learn that whenever there is a difficult situation, just leave it alone. Don't bother to think much about what's happening. Think about flowers, pets, tinkerbell, waiT.... ee...so girlish. Tinkerbell? Oh yes, we had our office painted tinkerbell green! Ahahaha...the colour we all agreed on. After the fire, the clients do not get to watch tv coz it was destroyed. So nowadays it appears more boring while waiting. I am thinking of some form of entertainment for them so that they won't get bored easily.

I realized that I am getting thin and thinner. Not really obsessed by that fact but it is bothering. Need to work on that otherwise gotta watch out if there was strong wind. Time has certainly past so fast. It's already the mid of the year and we are heading to the year-end. The next thing you know, it's already December and 2010 is here. I am so anticipating for changes. It's time for a change indeed.

Nowadays I get tired easily. So I plan to read a book before going to bed. So cultured eh? Anyhow, that's life here lor. Hehe.... I am watching startrek. Nice movie. Would rather to watch it in the cinema than on some rotten dvd. (nevermind using 'rotten' for this description). One more thing bugging the mind. Why people always like to complain and bad-mouth behind people's back? So no guts and such a small people's behaviour. What irritates me was that A would tell me something bout C but when in front of C, story changed. You will never know who's the victim next.=.=! Okay, that's monkey business. So I leave it for you to think about it. Yes, it's a question for discussion today my friend.

Terima kasih cik.....gu.

PS: It's lunch party tmrw coz 2 staff are going for pension! Hooray...

I send my regards to you!

It was in the paper on 6.7.09. Two photos with a familiar face eh..

The rain was so soothing this morning but I wasn't planning to sleep more. It was however the housechores day. Yes again, due to the inefficient housekeeping for the past weeks. Yesterday I spent the whole day doing the write up on a research project where the little office is taking part in an oral competition next month. That project was implemented last year but it wasn't really handed over that well enough when I took over the office. Basically it wasn't what I expected to be but I guess I am kinda satisfied with the write-up. It has been years since the last time did a research project. The itch has come again but I'd really prefer if I was implementing it from the beginning rather than trying to modify everything that I could to suit the competition.

Well, I have also realized that I have not been writing vigorously as before. In fact, there were only a few entries last month, probably the lowest since the blog was started. Sometimes I feel like stopping to blog. Probably there aren't really that many readers out there. But in the end, I guess it's a way for the friends who were far away to at least know how I was doing here and that it felt not too far away from them. Also perhaps 10 yrs down the line, I would be able to look back and chuckle a lil on the wonderful experience that I'd gained travelling and working around the place which I may have forgotten by then. Whatever it is, I will follow my own pace in writing.

I was trying to make liver pate a while ago and of course it didn't work out as it supposed to be. The most important utensil, the blender was missing. I was thinking of having one but would it worth to have one just for the liver pate? The liver pate were converted to a rough liver pate spread over the bread. Not too fancy but it was a dinner. Also I made some mango puddings, let's see if that worked.

Tomorrow is Monday again, working day. Nowadays work is not that stressful. But the axillary activities such as the clubs and association are occupying some of the work. I have to pre-arrange meetings so that they won't coincide with my work and clients. The club is currently busy organizing activities for the district-level programme next month. Within the programme itself, we are going to visit another support group at other state. Besides, I am planning for a fun day for my own staff end of the year. I enjoy planning activities like that so that everyone can look forward to work together and anticipating the day to come. In the process, these people get to learn how to plan and execute the project rather than working routinely.

So much so on the updates. I am actually anticipating some changes soon. Let's see if that would happen really soon.

Until then, regards to all my dear readers!

Something in the paper..

Hello hello,

Found something in the paper today. Actually it was last monday's local daily. Was trying to snap a pic and post it here but the phone just wasn't compatible with the pc. So frust! But no prob. Will try to do as soon as possible.

Just a short note that the author is still breathing in the blog.

Check out.

Who's next?

It was all about eating this weekend. Ting-ting, yi-yi and gin-gin flew over recently for a conference in town. Instead, they found themselves dipped into a speechless ocean of succulent seafood gourmet! Wow...look at how many descriptive nouns are used in that sentence alone, ahaha.

I am so gonna faint now, i am so gonna faint now. That was what ting-ting had to say all the way savouring the very last bit of the juicy roasted shellfish. I was like: so dramatic meh, how come you are still eating and not blacked out yet, ahaha... But that was really a fun trip. The trios were really in an eating spree. They even went to try out 4 different dishes of crocodile meat! I was like, hello.. we are gonna have so much seafood later.

So, we went to the usual shellfish shop and ate like 4 baskets from small to large-sized shellfish. They were so impressed by the volume and size that even darkness couldn't make us stop eating. Then the roasted coconut drink, yummy.

We then proceeded to a kinda well known to locals of seafood restaurant. Lobsters, shellfish, oysters, mussels, etc. You name it, we had it. It's more affordable here I guess compared to other places. So glad that they really enjoyed the food so much. It's like being a proud ambassador to them, ahaha.

I don't really have many pictures for this entry coz most of the pics were taken by their cameras which I am actually waiting for them to be developed and send over to me. Thinking of that, I am so salivating now. Food, food, food. Oh yea, ray was so entertained by the food as well, no? It was cloud9 to everyone.

So, who's next?