Monday, April 28, 2008

Enjoying a Good Book

The book is titled Second Innocence by John Izzo.
A good read maybe because it put into words certain thoughts of mine. It talks about how as we grown older we lose our innocence with life and tend to view it with cynicism. It talks about how we should go back to our childhood innocence hence second innocence. But the point to take is that we need to be more CHILDLIKE and not more CHILDISH. To think that the world is all good and pure and that life only goes by certain rules is childish. To be childlike, we use our grain and understand that the WORLD is made up of all kinds and we need to recognize and take certain path but at the same time have faith after all that we had done our best, it will be ok.

In the section on rediscovering wonder in the daily journey, he tells us that life is mainly rowing the boat and the final goal is but a short duration. We work hard and state our goals but we sometimes had our goals all wrong. We maybe able to plan but God decide and we need to make DETOUR. Lastly, when things get bad, don’t give up.
For those still working, he has a section on rediscovering the joy of work. Similarly he spend 2 chapters on relationship and 3 on faith
I am now in the middle of the section on faith.
It is a beautiful read. Nothing very heavy but something to keep us thinking.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

After Retirement

Having blog about the family, what about me?
As I enter into the new year as a retiree, it is confirmed that how we run our life is totally dependent on our selves. I feel that most people fear retirement with only 2 thoughts in mind. One is obviously concerning finance and secondly, how they are going to spend their time.

Hubby and me met up with a schoolmate who has been a friend for donkey years and as all conversation goes for people in the 50’s, the topic of retirement crop up. It is surprising that people can view it with a question ‘But what are you going to do then?’ I feel that what we can do is entirely up to us. We have spent the last 30 years doing what our career requires us to do so. We played the part of bringing up and enjoying our kids. But don’t we have any other interest in life? As for me, I have a variety of interest. I love reading which has been put aside for years. I read novels, trash sobby love stories, language, hobbies, geography, philosophy, feng shui, investment and anything else I can get my hands on. (Having said that, I have dropped a number of topics off my list like character building, teambuilding and motivation!) I also would like to pick up on handicrafts like sewing, patchwork and paper craft. (Only problem is that all these need money which all retirees need to be careful about.) I am waiting for my husband to reach 55 too so that we could do leisure holidays together. We talk about slow moving holidays where we just move around and enjoy each others company (and if we got bored with each other we still have the scenery to look at, ; ) ) . I would like to go back to the cinema and enjoy the big screen. That I might need to do it myself or with the kids because hubby sleep whenever the show stars. Trying out recipes and cooking for my loved ones is another thing I would enjoy. Not forgetting the basic being a couch potato and start discovery what Astro can offer. 10 months have passed and I haven’t done much and that is the good part. There is no time limit. Maybe it is because little Au is still in pre-U and the boys are still staying with us. I know that there will come a time that they will leave the nest and while wanting to prepare them to be on their own, I still want to enjoy the last few years of pampering them, hugging them, teasing them and just having them near me.
Financially, I also realize that income have dropped drastically and while the pension will be there as long as the death certificate is not issued, inflation will set in. The worth of the pension will drop as the years go by. As we age, medical fees will come in and God know how our last years will be spent. It could be totally dependency. (Fingers crossed but who knows. My thoughts on death will be another interesting topic to blog on) While I can I hope to venture through the financial door, learn enough to make some sound decisions and preparation.
All I want to say is that there is a life after 55 that is much more challenging. I intend to take it up and make the best of it. There is still a home to run, a family to love, lost ideas to be found, interests to be revived and a whole big world to discover. Our career is nothing but a speck compared to it.

Monday, April 21, 2008

On Being a Parent

There is another lesson to be learned as I blog. I am not sure if it is the way my brain work or if it is due to old age. (Ad will insist it is the second option.) but ideas and thoughts are really really fleeting nowadays. At one instant, the thoughts are there and organized, the next, it is forgotten until it comes back at its own time and day. So this morning as the thoughts came, I quickly jot it down on a paper before it flew away again
Following my last statement in the last blog and on the occasion of my niece’s wedding over the weekend, one gets an overview of a parent’s role. Time flies as I still remember how shy she was as a baby and how she will cry each time anyone unfamiliar gets too near her. Today she is all grown up poised and pretty, confident and a wife to another. In the process I am sure her parents like me would have gone through a journey of parenthood. I am sure there were many times in her life that the parents would have love to steer the child’s life believing that it is the best course. But as parents we learn that we need to let go and the more we care the more we need to stand apart and let them venture out. It could be pretty nerve racking and sometimes stressful not forgetting painful but it has to take that that course. It is truly ‘if they don’t fall, they won’t learn’ we can only prepare them before hand and say our prayer that if they do fall, it is not too painful. Their choice of career path, their friends and their life partners are some of the things parents need to tie themselves to the tree to stop themselves from interfering. You may feel you have the right and the eyes to see things they don’t but the kids themselves certainly think otherwise.
Parents have only approximately 20 years to prepare the foundation and then you move aside to view and bit your fingernails. If you are lucky, you will still have nice manicures nail otherwise, good luck!
Nowadays as I listen to the younger generation talk about their opinions, or see the decisions they made about their life, you say a silent prayer. I was reading the life history of Tian Chua and the thought is how the parents have felt. I have seen a number of those in the twenties who threw away their profession and decide to do the alternative like spending time at church and I pray that I could accept it if my turn comes along.
Phew, the job of a parent! Maybe the happier alternative would have been to have half a dozen kids, throw them out into the streets and be ignorant of all things possible. Maybe life would have been simpler then! And we thought we have progress from our parents’ time! Look as if they might have been the smarter ones.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Being Discipline

If blogging teaches me anything, the first thing would be to be discipline. I am still suffering from the old virus of opening other sites and never reaching here. So early this morning I told myself this will be the first page I will open irregardless what the world is saying. So here I am.
The last 2 odd months has been busy. A lot has happened to every one around and that includes me. Starting with daddy, he has now moved office to PJ.I went to visit the place even before renovation started because we wanted to see the direction of his room. He is given the 'boss' room in his floor and has all his 'little' and 'big' girls with him all within reach! Unfortunately, the room looks like a quarter of a cake (is this shape getting popular with architects or what!) with 6 panel glass for the curvature. It possesses a challenge to my limited feng shui knowledge. His boss' boss too had a say and the fact that the new furniture was purchased without any thought to the roomdid not help. Fortunately with the help of the compass and our innovation, we had a few twisting and turning of the table and cupboards, I am glad to say that it is up to our satisfaction. To end the event, I would like to record my appreciation to Ad for going along when we speak of feng shui and directions in his presence and not kick a fuss. (For the record, we know his passion into Christianity but I for one always believe in being 'non extreme')Thanks too to Ed for helping to move the furniture the last time. By the way the whole office has nothing but cavities as walls as oppose to a flat plane! Another architectural style?
At this time and place, Ed is busy with his last minute preparations for his IMU ball. He took up the post with quite a bit of concern towards his studies and I don't blame him as I too was a bit worried. I am glad he managed well and I think he has done a wonderful job as a leader. He managed to get the various committees working and he had the patience and PR to handle all sorts of characters. I am proud of him and told him so. I have always advocated that there are many things in life that no textbook or educational institution can teach you. The family has decided to dress him up with a suit and bow complete with special shirt and new shoes. (Only lacking is a girl's hand to hold for the night, ha ha ha). We wish him luck and would say a prayer for him to have a successful event tomorrow night. He had grown up mentally early and his teachers saw that potential in him when he was the assistant head prefect during his lower secondary days. With that, I think I would feel pretty relaxed as he proceeds to his next phase of education.
Au had her SPM results. Relatively speaking, it was a wonderful result with straight A's. But she has always had high goals and therefore was not too happy with the results. It was so touching seeing the 2 brothers playing their roles and talking to her. Her tears never flow in my presence but mothers always know what a child feels. (Is that a gift?) Right now all is well and she is working hard at her pre U program. She has also just got her driving license and she could drive confidently and well. Am I glad she is the last one and no more motor tutoring for me. It can be pretty nerve racking. No offence to my 3 kids.
All in all, the kids are getting on fine No doubt many things they do still give me sleepless nights and you hope they will be fine. It becomes a skill of seeing them take risks but you have to restrain yourself from helping. You hope to help but not let them know you are helping. You worry and care but not show. Simple as it sounds but God knows how hard it is to follow.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

CNY 2008 year of the rat

At the dinner in Yan Yan with sister and eldest brother and their respective loved ones.
Doctor to be bored with the carom game that he just can't end.
In laws at the Sang Har meen do at Green View Restaurant.
Daddy's princess at the decorated corner in the garden.Lovely water fountain and 'instant lemons' on a limau kasturi plant!
The heart at the door. Students wanted to know if it was in conjunction of CNY or Valentine. Good question.
Daddy's vegetarian gourmet dish.
Two lovely Ladies of the house with the flowers we put up in a vase(not visible)
3 Siblings dressed for CNY first day
Low Sang at Japanese restaurant
Enjoying caroms instead of the usual mahjong in every Chinese home during CNY


Wow, that was a long break from blogging. Not that I had nothing to write. Just the usual problem of too many things to do and by the time I go through the Internet, too lazy to write.


The last month was CNY and the usual buzz of baking, cleaning, cooking, eating and entertaining.


Children are still so thrill with the cookies we bake and I promise them I will do more of it from now on. Hope to keep my promise!


Everything was going on fine till 2 things happened. One was BL called to say he can't be back for new year because he was robbed in China of car, money and passport. Funny thing is that nobody seem to know the actual story behind it even till today. That is the difference between my in-laws and my own siblings. With my siblings, we don't talk much All are too serious. But when something happens be it sickness or problems arising, calls will be flying in all directions and all will be rushing to discuss the next step to take. Not they we are great problems solvers but the togetherness will emerge. Whereas, with my in-laws all is a haze and nobody seems to think that anything need to be done. Or maybe that is the way they think God will take care of everything. No conclusion as to which is a better setup but I guess life will still goes on.


The second bit of bad news is when my one and only sister have severe muscle cramps and backache so much so that she needed jabs and had to be send to KLGH emergency. Obviously, all new year plans of going out had to be reduced and until now, we pray that she will recover soon.


Apart from that, starting from eve, it was a eating carnival. On new year eve for the first time in twenty over years, it is not sponsored by us. This time round WL took us to a restaurant in Kepong and that was the first 9 course dinner.


On the first day, Daddy tried his hand on vegetarian compete. Not too bad, Children minus A was very supportive of the vegetarian 'till-12 practise. Unfortunately had to break fast as they couldn't restrain the fingers from the cookie jars. Could you believe that it was only A that keep the promise and that was because he sleep till mid day so he didn't eat till then! so i don't think it is counted.


Dinner was Japanese at Jogoya at RM 100 perpax sponsored by Prudential. Another case of eat till you drop with smoke coconut, lobster, crabs baskin robbins, all kinds of Japanese desserts, latte, hazelnut coffee and abalone soup.


Come second day, I spend with sis and brother and nephew sponsor 8 course at Yan Yan. 3rd day was the avalanche of students and students so much so that, the boys and me need to skip dinner at Green view sponsored by ex-custom officer.With the whole house overflowed with ex students, they suggested that I should start a database and play matchmaking and networking. What an idea. but it was nice to see all of them.Back to dinner, daddy bungkus the prawns , crabs, buns, pork leg and it was supper again.


4th day was duty call for daddy's boss's house and then a quiet evening at home. The carom board came out and all had good fun.


College start the next day and the 2 younger ones were back to campus. Daddy and A took 2 days more to relax and help with the subsequent relatives and this went on till the 15th day.We ended with a dinner in Desa water park with sister.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Waking Up

Last night I was watching a Chinese soap opera about a daughter-in-law who was having problems with a problematic mother-in-law, an ex girlfriend of the hubby after a whirlwind romance adjusting to married life and accepting the fact that she is pregnant. The ex carefully plotted so that she lost the baby and then choosing the right words to the hubby and MIL thus ensuring the DI L's problem escalate. Once upon a time when I see this type of show, I just say, 'show only lah' People can't be that conniving ,stupid or cruel.
It just strike me that I was the victim of this very thing.
When Q came in as the new HM, she was someone with no self confidence except her faith. Capability is below par. Along came A who anxiously told her about the 'poor' condition of the discipline. Q takes it to mean that A feels that the HEM is lousy. Actually I belief A just wanted Q to know that his job is not simple and that he contributes alot to the school. Unfortunately, messaged received was interpreted differently.
Next comes along S who carefully choose her words and implies lots more like I was a contender for her post, arrogant and I don't like her presence. etc etc.S also had her pawns all ready like HB, N, E, LS and maybe some others whom I hope I really don't want to know.Q shaky confidence, incompetence, suspicious mind was moved beautifully to the direction plotted. I am sure along the way there were others who out of favour must have happily nodded the head at the right (or wrong) time. And viola, I am out of the system. The caustic group belongs to the same religion so the religion was carefully crafted in too. As they try to move the problem unknowingly they went to the very person who plotted the whole thing-the director of the show! Again falling right into the plot.More religious elders were involved so that everything will sound more justified and again they were 'gently' guided into the plot all planned and directed just like a soap opera.
The difference is that all TV operas has the victim waking up finally and the villain kicked off. In my life story, that has not happened. and most probably never happen. Q may have woke up once but S will make sure that she will get her dose of sleeping pill so that Q will go back to sleep and maybe stay asleep for a long long time. M and the rest of the audience hopes and prays that Q wakes up but I am sure the end of the opera will not come soon. If anything there will be part 2 and and 3. Come to think of it, I was not part one. My was already third or fourth. A story repeated with different twists. A bitter sad lesson to learn and I pray nobody else need to go thro this. Unfortunately, that is life and most probably everyone will need to face up to that episode in life sometime or rather.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

In Memory

Two months ago I was packing my drawer as part of my promise to clear things up since I have more time on my hand.I saw the handout /paper/ whatever that we collected at the church service of Arthur's funeral. I am not' churchee' enough to use the right word but that is not what I want to blog about. What I wanted to blog about is who Arthur Yoong is to me.
He was the eldest brother of my husband and was the father figure of the family as far as I know. He was a Pastor of the AOG when I first met him. It was on the day M and me were registered and I was having my first sit down dinner with the Yong family. He welcomed me to the family and hoped that I will feel at home.Subsequently, we used to drop by his place once in a while and he always join the family for the CNY. (Maybe as CNY approaches every year, I think of him more).
I was told that in his presence, the other members of the family will tried to be better behaved. ie not dress in shorts or revealing clothing and maybe not gamble during the CNY. I used to be tickled at how the family sees him as a prime and proper Headmaster. It is as if they must be at their best of behaviour whereas in my family, all siblings are treated as equal.We joke and laugh, tease and argue as equals in all aspects.
The funny thing is that I have never seen or heard him demand that from the rest. He is a soft spoken man who speaks with love and care. He never makes you feel small or even different.He is slow moving and he is never impatient. (at least not in my impression). He has never once preached to us as a Pastor but you know he has always pray for the family. He doesn't push his way around nor insist his ways in our presence. I have never heard having anything negative to say about anyone. But you will think of him when you have something to discuss or just tell.
I really can't put it in any Queen's English words but all I know is that he makes me feel comfortable and deep down I just feel I miss him a lot. I was never really close to him but you do feel the tears as I remember him. Faith wise, he has been challenged many a times but he has vision in place and I admire him for that.
Brother Arthur, I am glad I had you for a brother-in -law and may you rest in peace.