pay it forward

Most of the time, when I encountered difficulties or obstacles in life (read : having troubles) I'm fortunate to have people to help me out (in cantonese, we call them guai yan).

I've always feel very grateful ... that things turn out better for me that I make it a point to pay it forward (especially when I'm indebted to the 'guai yan's and don't know what else I can do to repay their kindness)

Take for instance, earlier this year when I was very prone to fainting especially during peak hours rush in the morning, many good samaritan (most are total strangers) have helped me before.

Among them, there's one that really had me wonder 'is there still such kind people around?' especially in urban area where people are more selfish for self protection (this i don't blame anyone)

This 'guai yan' is a guy who caught hold of me just as I faint in time after alighting the LRT at bandaraya station. The next thing I knew was I was asked by 2 female LRT officers whether I'm alright. They brought me to the rest room of the LRT station allow me to recover laying on a row of chairs.

A colleague from the opposite direction LRT who saw me fainted came over to help. I was told when I woke up later that the guy who helped me earlier had actually left the station, came back with a bottle of 1.5L mineral water and 2 roti cream (thinking I may have skipped my breakfast).

He left before I recover that I didn't managed to remember his face or thank him for his kindness.

Later I found out the price tag showed KK supermart - some convenience store like 7-11, i don't think there's any KK supermart near the bandaraya station, so either this good samaritan has walked very far to buy the water n roti or he had sacrificed his breakfast.

As I felt better, 3 colleagues of mine brought me to the nearest panel clinic.
Again, they were late for some meetings due to helping me. They even contacted ah dear to come fetch me.

I've started to feel that I'm surrounded by good and kind people almost all the time ... and I realised by paying it forward, it will make this world a so much more better place ... for us as well as our children.

Oh .... the story ended beautifully .... because one morning around 3 months down the road, while I was waiting for LRT in the morning, a girl whose face is as pale as tissue paper dashed out of the crowded LRT. I forego the LRT and decided that the girl need help. I know how exactly it feel like fainting. True enough, she almost fainted when I hold her arms and lead her to the bench. Asked her to take deep breath and went to call for help when she recover a little. I even had the gut to ask another person to look after her while I went to the ticketing counter for help.
I even spoke to her mum when the girl passed her handphone to me (talking about being a busybody).
Oh .... I did not go and buy the mineral water and roti for her.

for every kindness that we received, if we pay it forward ... the compounding effect will be even greater =) the world will be a wonderful place =D

blessings

realised I've not wrote for about 26 days (4 days short to a month)
realised that I've so many things to write, to share that I literally have at least 1 post for a day ... yet I've not have time to put everything in writing (plus I don't know where to begin .... it's a long long journey)
realised that in these 26 days .... I've received so so much blessings
realised that there will be more more 26 days to come ... and there will be more more blessings I'll receive.

I thank God for all the blessings we've received ... precious little

ps. have you ever seen the flower of aloe vera plant? the aloe vera plant in my garden is having flower ... the 1st time in my almost 30 years =D

letter for wishbone

Sometimes we do not know whether to be angry or to laugh at wishbone...
why do I say so?
she seem to have her ways to people's heart ...


either she thinks all letters from SPCA is for her OR
ps. I have no idea how she actually tear open a letter that's in the letter box??? and choose this one from the 2 letters in the letter box??? is it the SPCA smells???


she's doing her bit ... trying to help her buddies in SPCA (by letting them out)



only god knows what's on wishbone's mind I think .... =p

re'living' those moments

During then ..... year 2004 (at aunty andy's home)

During then .... another year .... 2005 (at CY's home)


During then ... another another year .... 2006 (at SY's home)

what about 2007 & 2008 gathering? anyone have the pictures?

If I'm not wrong we did have BBQ + potluck for 2007 & 2008 right?

no matter what, let's make one happen for 2009 eh? ok boh kawan kawan?

up early

It's fun and refreshing to be up early ...
woke up with a stomach pain... went to toilet and couldn't get myself to sleep again.
Read a few chapters of a 'Tony Parsons' book and still couldn't sleep thus decided to station myself at the PC.
Love the calmness and serenity of the morning ...
Love wishbone greeting me with her 'furiously wagging' tail when I opened the glass door.
Love wishbone stay right there at the door step accompanying me (without fail) - lol...she's actually waiting for her 'breakfast' ...

Up early .... it's like you have whole lots of time to yourself ... it's like you have the whole long day for yourself.

Have a happy day everyday .... everyone
(yeah, I know easier said than done .... but but at least give it a try)

'puppet show'

I'm getting a little tired of some 'puppet shows' put up by some so called 'respected' sweepers who treat us like dirt (cheap dirt).
They sweep us under this 'carpet' at one moment and decided we should be swept under another 'carpet' at the next moment.
All they do (or did well) so far was sweeping us around ....
Somehow, I have a feeling that this bunch of dirt will not stay long ... they will follow the wind to a better place ... leaving no dirt to be swept.
Perhaps then the sweepers will realised no matter how well they sweep, they are still sweeping the dirt under the carpets, not into a dustpan.

Honestly, life has got much more to offer than being swept around ... (especially like nobody's business).

the voice of,
a little frustrated tiny speck of dirt

father's side of the stories

=D 1
The new father ran out of the delivery room and announced to the rest of the family who were waiting for the news : "We have twins!"

The familly was so excited they immediately asked : "Who do they look like?"

The father paused, smiled, and said, "Each other'.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=D 2
A man speaks frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant, and her contractions are only 2 minutes apart!"

"Is this her first child?" the doctor queries.

"NO!!!" the man shpouts.
"This is her husband!"


source : Wyeth Mama 'Beautiful Life Begins' Guide

Different kind of read

I picked up the latest issue of Cleo the other day...
and I found I didn't have the patience nor the passion to finish (or even start reading) it at all.
I forced myself a little to at least read some interesting articles .... but I just couldn't wait to 'get rid of it' just as I started.
Nothing in there really interest me any more (sad to say). Cleo was at some point one of the mag I read diligently.

It makes me wonder ... what is happening?
Is it me or is it the magazine?
I think it ought (it has) to be me... outgrowing the magazine.
My priorities have changed and so do my need & taste in read & knowledge.
Perhaps I'm too old for that 'stage' Cleo is in.

No more Cleo ... Goodbye Cleo ...
Have you ever like reading a certain genre of books / magazines and finding yourself disliking the same genre over time?

Hey, that's my dog

This is our wishbone .... the 'steadiest' dog in the neighbourhood.
just don't ask me how she got up there... she just got up there all by herself.
Sometimes, she'll just sit up there waiting for us to come home.

Fascination box

I went crazy last Friday while shopping with dear at Tesco.

I refused to budge from the stationeries section ... despite numerous attempts to persuade and numerous attempts to threaten me ...haha

There were something there that glued me to it. I couldn't bring my feet to leave.

It's something that has kept me fascinated for the almost 30 years in my life.

I insisted on buying that 'fascination box' despite dear has given me another 'fascination box' with more varieties.

Not enough with that 'fascination box' ... on Saturday, I again went berserk searching for the 'book' that allow me to start using what's inside 'fascination box'.

After a few futile attempts at the pasar malam (night market), I went to the chinese book booth at Tesco concourse area - found some but was too pricey.

We proceeded to the book store, dear was helping me search high and low for the wanted 'book' .... it was located at very strategic place - toddlers / kiddies' eye level =D

There were about 8 selections ... I was only allowed to buy 2 (I took 3 anyway...shhh...hehe)

Upon reaching home, bathing, having dinner & watching movie, I embarked the journey of 'fascination' ...

It was really therapeutic and calming.... (I know what you must have been thinking)

This is CHILDISH I know ... but I found it effective in making me HAPPY and CALM my nerves.

total damage : about RM10 - the fascination box cost about RM3.50 and colouring book cost RM2 each... ( i see someone shaking his head...lol)

ps. now I start to wonder whether I'll start fighting with my children for colouring activities? lol

2 jabs in a day..

I've just got back from the 2nd jab for today.
It has been some time since I last got jabbed ...
what more 2 in a day at the buttock (almost same spot) 12 hours apart
I've numb feeling all over my right leg.
I'm going to rest ... I need rest.
people say if there's anyone who's willing to take the pain for us ... it has got to be our parents and our love ones ... it is indeed true.

I'm back on track ...

source : flickr.com/photos/coloursofmalaysia/2227968631/

I'm back on track ...errr. I mean the walking track at Tmn Tasik Permaisuri.
I've just came back from the track.
It has been like a month (that's a total of 4 weeks equivalent to 30 days) I've been absent from my weekly walk at the park.
It feels good to be alive and walking with the companionship of buddies. Thank you buddies.
Also thanks to CY & family whom I always trouble to pick me. Thank you very much CY.
Looking forward to more walks.
They say the 'walking' will make the 'process' easier ... hopefully it does help =D

'no need to read also can' post

It has been some time since I wrote something 'SOLID'
I used to be someone who write about what happened in my life ...
somehow I feel I've changed over time.
I'm now a little more protective of those dear to me in my life or coming into my life.


I'm not too sure as to whether this is for better or for worse ...
sometimes I feel like sharing my ups & downs in my life,
sometimes I'm afraid I spill too much for my own good.


Now that I'm closer to the BIG 30 ... I think I've got a clearer picture of what I want in life.
No doubt I do wander around aimlessly at times but I know what I want most of the time.
I also begin to understand more about unconditional love and responsibilities.
It has been a wonderful journey so far ... I would like to say thank you God for the blessings I received every day.


Yah, most probably you have the feeling "write already equal to didn't write" cause I "say some don't say some"
Perhaps it will be some time before I learn to open up again.

English is a difficult language .... for some

I couldn't stop laughing after reading this ... such is the beauty of language =p

lunchtime is lunchtime

The office phone rings, one of the employees picks up and says: "What kind of an idiot is it that dares to phone me in the middle of my lunch break?!?"

The caller shouts back: "Do you have any idea whom you are talking to...? I am the CEO of this company!"

The employee replies: "Do you have any idea whom YOU are talking to?"

Perplexed the CEO mumbles: "NO!!!"

The employee heaves a sigh of relieve and say: "Thank goodness for that!!" and hangs up.

ps. this is one smartie the company should retain =p


source : from some forwarded email

Saturday night dinner

Asparagus

Macaroni sauce

Lasagne

The Sturday Night Dinner ... thanks to ah dear =)

On Sunday, I failed in my attempt to boil herbal soup for ah dear though ... I added too much salt and ended up with a pot of 'sea water' =p .... there you see, I was & am never good in cooking but I hope I'll be good enough to cook for my children in future =)

那一天

This is one of my favourite movie of all time ... 天下无贼 A World Without Thieves
the story, the scenes and the song 杨坤 - 那一天
The song will start playing on minute 5:16 of the video snippet from the ending of the movie. A little long but I hope you can watch till the end.

and this short simple scene ... it's so simple yet it conveys a whole lot of emotions.

money money money

Lately, I'm worrying about money again ...
We seem to have many expenses coming and I feel I'm not earning enough.
Call me a kiasu but I'm more comfortable with some 'cushion' (the thicker the better) in my account rather than living from paycheck to paycheck.
I've been saving very hard from young ... thank to what my parents inculcate in me and I do take money very seriously.
Looks like now I'll need to pursue a higher income ... nevermind via the main stream or via side stream (even better if it's from multiple streams)
Help me ... I need the money.
I'm also in a dilemma. I do not know whether in times like this, is it appropriate for me to hint to my friend to return the money I lent her about 1.5 years ago?
I really do hope she and her husband is doing better now and returning a few thousands of dollars will be 'sap sap sui' for them. But then how come I find it so hard to ask? why?

will you or will you not?

A friend raised an easy question to another friend which may not have such an easy answer after all.
Q : You're not so into that person. However, if in the end, there's no other options / alternative, will you still choose to be together with that person? Will you?

I could not answer this question because I've found the person I love.

There are differing views on this though :

1. NO... It wouldn't be good to treat others as last options. It wouldn't feel good too if we are that person's shoe. If we think we both are not meant for each other, let the person go. Do not hang on or give that person hope just because we are afraid we couldn't find other better options. Thus if you've let go, no matter what happen in the end, you'd rather remain single than to drag the other person (whom you may love only half heartedly) in.

2. YES ... Sometimes, when we come to the last options, things may just work out wonderful. Never try never know. Sometimes, when we are still capable and have the conditions to find better options, we do not want to settle for 2nd best. However, things that doesn't look bright in the beginning may shine in the end...Susan Boyle remember?

3. YES ... Human being human are greedy and selfish creatures (although not all, i do not want to generalise). We do not want to be tied down to a person because we are secretly hoping we find a better option down the road. At the same time, we may refuse to let the person go because we want 'security' .. something we can fall back on just in case other options fail. Thus we want both the 'grass is greener' option and the 'security' despite being unfair to the other person. In the end, you still think having 'someone' is better than 'having no one'.

But then again, like they say, love is blind ... you could be not into that person at 18 but love that person to bits at 28... so things in life are sometimes hard to say.

Will you or will you not?

clean up act

Arriving unusually early in office yesterday, looking at my office desk ... it suddenly occur to me to clean my office desk .... to sort out what's below, what's above and what's inside my desk.

If you're wondering what's below my desk, wonder no more .... there are currently 19 boxes, 2 pairs of shoes / sandals, some paper bags, some plastic containers, some recycled A4 papers in 2 boxes.

what's on my desk .... papers & papers, files, calendar, plants, monitor, keyboard, telephone, some souvenirs from colleagues....

what's inside my desk (basically refering to 3-tier drawer) ..... haha, my colleagues say I have a sundry shop here right at my desk.... basically it consist of neccessities like dry condiments / foods, medicines, mobile kitchenware (eg.bowl, spoons, forks), personal items, a support pillow, some recycled plastic bags, ang pow packets, notebook, groceries which I've yet to bring home.
haha...now that I do stock check, really like a sundry shop, isn't it? =p hehe

update as of 11/6/09 8:40am : I've only managed to clear my desktop of some papers and old newspapers and brought some brochures home to for wishbone's shi* =p i think to really clear this whole place of mine will take weeks if not month ... it's a personal MEGA project (imagine how long it took me to accumulate those THRASH) =p wish me luck.