HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Today 31/12/2008 is the last day of year 2008. Time flies very fast and our last reunion in Sibu was still fresh in my mind although it was almost a year ago.

Tomorrow is the 1st day of another new year of our life; 2009. I believe there are plenty of 'look forward' events or things that each and every one of us are eagerly waiting for irrespective of personal, family, company or friends, therefore in order to make our 'look forward' happen, we must put it into action in the coming year.

Here I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year 2009 and may all your dreams come true. No matter how well or bad our performances was, no matter how high we flew, no matter how happy or sad we were in the past, let's forget about the past. Live with no regret, no reserve & no turning back but instead march forward with hopes, smiles, dreams, aspirations and resolutions.

For those who join us to conquer Mount K.K next year, please be reminded that we MUST well prepare ourselves mentally and physically fit. Set your own preparation for the historical event of our life time. See You At The TOP.......Cheers.... :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas songs were played everywhere, shopping arcades, hotels, offices, home and even in our cars for the past few weeks. Even though with the current economy situation, this annual festive season will not be forgotten by all of us and the mood of the pre-celebration are still equally high as compare with the westerners.

For some of us, it's time to do some recollection of what we had been done or achieved in 2008, although some may or may not have that kind of practise but I must say that it's good to start to review ourselves in order to prepare us in moving on towards the even more challenging and tough year ahead which is just A WEEK before we say goodbye to year 2008.

In Kuching, we had just organised a small scale of Christmas gathering at Kenny Rogers. How about you guys out there? I guess you should have a great plan for family gathering or dinner somewhere.

Here I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and God Bless. Treasure every moment being together with your loved one, family, relatives, friends and colleague and always show appreciation to them anytime & any place.


HO HO HO......


This is my dream and I hope to celebrate a real White Christmas one day...... How about you?

We Did It Again !

A total of 9 families joined in our 2008 Season Ending Get-Together event at tHe Spring yesterday. It was a joyous occassion as we mingled among families as we update our memory banks (in case some of us complained about memory loss, overhauling may be needed here).

It is a simple gathering with no official speeches but pure chit-chatting, laughters, smiling, hugging, cuddling, singing, cheering, drawing, games, free CDs and of course eating plus cake cutting but we start with food ordering first in line...

Whilst waiting for roasted chicken, Heroes finds time to cuddle Isaac.... & mommy is watchful at the side...

A family drawing event, putting down wishes for 2009 was a hit. I must say this is a lively event, some of us had not been drawing for the last 20 years, suddenly the art & skill when display is unfaded and even much better than those years ago. Beside wishing peace, health, harmony & wealth...we have a catchy wish which is celebrating White Christmas next year...whooha...oh yes...a White Christmas in US or Europe... err..may be a bit expensive...then we could choose Beijing/Shanghai...cheaper leh...

Mr. Tee though lone ranger is seriously displaying his unused artistry since leaving school in 1990.

Updating is a must...we can observed how our 3 friends catching up with each other. Mr. Tee even taking time to consult specialist on his troubled parts...hehehe..guess which leg ? (no photographic evident, pleasezz)

On yes...for the kids...beside the drawing, we have gift exchange activity.

Ivy is indeed very good in this activity, taking every advantage being close with kids (just look at her lovely smile...not only watching her communicating with the little ones and the flow of her body language). The little cute girl is Josephine (Leh Ning/Ah Too's daughter) who is so happy to have her choice. This year no more crying liau...more confident now. hehehe ...

A wonderful event indeed...Moses is so delighted to have the RM20 MPH voucher, had been holding on (yes...for 6 hours or so) until I had to go back with him to buy his favourite comic book using that voucher.

Last but not least...a group photo taken...mapping the smile of everyone...

Oops..there is one special photo after the group...looks like this is going to be the Photo Of The Year ! (this is not an anniversary cake of theirs but ours as we get the singles to do the honour).

The cake is very delicious and Moses had 3 pieces just to validate on this fact !

We also played our special edition Christmas CD (specially prepared by Heroes) and we sing along a few songs softly....

We had only spent slighlty over two hours but after the event, as I slowly walked back to my car with Heroes, I am practically exhausted but satisfied as it was an enjoyable moments especially cuddling Isaac (Looking at this condition, Heroes warned that we had better be prepared for the big event in May 2009).

Hmm...I am looking forward for our next gathering soon and of course the White Christmas next year..

Before ending, on behalf of the organising committee (Ivy, Heroes & MGB), thank you very much for joining us for this season ending gathering...(Ah Too/Leh Ning/Jonathan/Josephine, Ah Yaw/Joanne and kids, Martin/wife/daughter, Mag, Mellisa, Mr. Tee). It will not happen without the support from each one of you.

We look forward for bigger crowd next round...may be bigger than the traditional gathering in Sibu.

Hohoho...Merry Christmas Everyone...

A Family Affairs at Kenny Rogers

In 6 hours time, 10 families of our batch will be having year end lunch together at Kenny Rogers, The Spring Kuching. It will be a fun time for the children and for the parents to catch up with each others (probably the last time before the new year ends).

A wonderful event awaits...shall keep all posted. Cheers

The Final Countdown

In 14 days time from now, we will be gathering around with family and friends to wave farewell to a great year 2008 and welcoming 2009. Wow, time really flies it is another year end and another new year coming. A lot of festivity moods here, I must confess. Nevertheless, the kickstart is a bit slow and I believe everyone would say...well you know..lah,...financial ? Angpow boh leh...

Hmm, never mind that...I am not Chinese educated but I was repeatedly advised that there is sayings in Chinese, in risks or challenges, there is always opportunity. Importantly are we ready to sieze the opportunity when we saw it ? Many of us could not sieze though many said they will not let opportunities pass by. Example....if today you come across an opportunity to buy a property that has guaranteed good investment return, will you buy it ? Uurh...frankly, we will think more protective measures especially during times of financial turmoil, engaging a surviving mode rather going all out to sieze the opportunities. So, generally, we will not take it during this time of turmoil, worrying about what if we are tie down with such big investment when the return is only going to materialise in 5-10 years time, amidst rumour of more job lay offs or closures of businesses (I have just learnt that 1,800 companies were closed down in the last 1 month in China ?).

So, state of preparedness (SOP) is crucial, I believe strongly. We will probably not strike even we have clear opportunity ahead...if we are not prepared (as we cannot afford it). In the world...there is only one Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Barrack Obama, George Bush, Warren Buffets, Tun Dr. M, Tan Sri Ting, White Ant...they are well known to us as they have achieved huge successes. From what I know they seldom missed opportunities passing through them...few of them even had grasses died off naturally whenever they stepped on it. They practically did the opposite but of course with a lot of guts and risks consideration.

My best buddy had also mentioned to me few years back, success is depending on one's definition and even if one's success is so minute compared to others achievement, it is also a great success to their satisfaction. Example, if a beggar managed to beg a plate of rice and met his daily target...it is a success to him. So long as he is happy, there is nobody who could take that satisfaction away from him. This is a great advice indeed for which we must honour as many among us do go for the stars but for the moon which is equally successful as they lived a happy and wonderful life. In short, everyone will have their opportunities, they shall need to make the best of it.

Whichever way, we have fourteen days to reflect for what we have gone through for the past 12 months or so and to chart our new course or aims (if needed) to seek our own stars or moons in the new year.

One thing for sure, we have the magnificent 7 who had put forth one of their 2009 goals to scalp the highest mountain in South East Asia on 2/5/2009.

A happy time ahead together with all our loved ones with array of wishes are along the way, with free flowing beers, whiskey, brandy, soft drinks plus roasted chicks, ducks, squids, fishes and prawn...hmmm..muacch...(like this how to achieve my dream weight huh...) Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2009...plus Happy Reflection 2008 hehehe...Cheers..

Of Magazines and Pen Pals

Oops, I have owed Ivy a tag for more than a month now, and Mygreatbuds have been kicking my butt in the shoutbox, so I guess I better get going.

The topic came to my mind when I was driving (as with most things nowadays) to work one day.  Remember those little A6 sized magazines that were sold every now and then in both SHS and SES?  That's right folks, I'm talking about The Young Lasallian.

The little compact magazine was meant to update the La Salle students all over Malaysia and Singapore on the latest happenings in the La Salle schools.

One of sections that always caught my attention was the pen pals.  Around Form 2, I finally got the courage to write to 2 of them (both girls, of course :P)  One was in Taiping, and the other Semenyih.  I later corresponded with another 2 pen pals (both girls as well, of course!) in Penang and Kuching.

Those were the days of non-instantaneous communication, where calling outstation cost a bomb and there was neither sms nor email.

So, we all used to look forward to going back home after school and checking our mail box to see whether another letter has dropped into it.

I remember the Taiping lady used to write long reflective letters about her life, while the others were more flippant and generally just shared about the latest happenings in their school lives.

After I went to college, the letters dried up, and when I reached uni, I lost touch with all of them.

But as I reflected on those letters that we exchanged, I am in a way quite struck by how profound some of those letters were.  Those were the days of youthful idealism and great clarity of mind, unpolluted by cynicism and broken dreams.  They were a snapshot of our minds, and reminded us of who we once really were.