Who do you think you are?

One day, you will learn your lesson. You will learn that money does not make you greater. You will learn that money does not give you the right to insult. You will learn that the one thing that you think is cheap will be the thing that you will be deprived of. You will learn that we do not question or fight God's will and that all this will be shown to you. You will reap what you have sown and every harsh word and insults that you put onto others will reflect upon yourself. You will know that when you die, you will be nothing and all the money that you think makes you powerful is just going to be ashes. When you break, the people that you looked down on, will be the people that you will come begging for help. And these people who are poor to you and whom you have insulted will still pitied you and because this poor people has a gold of heart and they will still bestow you with kindness. But all that you have condemn, all that you have insulted, you will still be judged when the time is right!

6 September 2008

It would be the day for the street party. We have been so busy organising this event. Invitations to our guest went out yesterday. Some of the guest have already received the invitation. I am amazed at the speed of our post Malaysia. The secret is, to send urgent mails to the main post office in Daya Bumi. The mails apparently will be delivered the day after. I am impressed.

It has been a really tired week and next week will be another tired week. So much to do, to plan, to buy, to execute. I have been doing so much thinking the past few days. I woke up with a splitting headache yesterday and the pain still last till now. Today was a shopping day - work shopping day - where I buy stuff for the event. Glad that my good colleagues are there to help. I would have enjoyed my day better if not for the splitting headache.

Anyway, we were at The Curve and tonight there will be a street concert. All the stage has been set up. It was almost 9pm when we were at The Curve but to our surprise, we noticed the lack of crowd. it seems to be less enthusiasm in celebrating "Merdeka Day". I hope the crowd will turn up much later at night though.

It has been a long day today. I am glad tomorrow I get to rest, for I am making a trip to Bukit Tinggi for some photography session. Ah! That is a nice thought!

Too much to do

Dead tired. Been coming home late most of the nights. Simply too much to do at work. I am to pull off an event on 6 September. A street party with lantern night theme and Buka Puasa event. Time is so short. So much to think, so much to plan. Love the challenge.. but I need a break now.

7th month

This month is the chinese 7th month. It is the month of the hungry ghost. Today apparently is the "real day". I never really did know there is such thing as the real day until few years ago. No incident to make me know about it but rather my acquaintance with a friend with a gifted third eye lead me to this information. It seems that today, the gates of hell have opened fully and all the underworld being is free to roam the place. So while we are sitting at the coffee shop or the cafes or while we were at public toilets, these beings could be there, except that we cannot see them. If we have been sensitive, we may be able to sense them, that is when we have goosebumps I guess.

So, today, at 6pm sharp, most of my colleagues left the office. They have asked that I leave early too. So I went home at about 7 plus and deliberately cook myself and hubby dinner so that we would not have to go out anymore. With the warnings and all, one have just got to be careful. Despite all that, me and hubby still did went out to the nearby 7-Eleven at 10 plus to buy some supplies.. maybe we have walked among them but my thought is, if I do them no harm, then they shall do me no harm.

Power Failure

Last night was a hot night, not hot in the "exotic hot" kind of way but rather it was a really hot, without air and wind night, simply because there was a power failure in my housing area.

This happen in SS2 near the fire brigade. Just next to the fire brigade, there is a TNB substation and just sitting near the fence, a feeder pillar. A Mercedes Benz driver has carelessly rammed into the feeder pillar causing the blackout. I can only guess that the driver must have either drove too fast, too drunk or maybe just too sleepy.

The accident happened at about 11 at night but the power failure only came about around 1am in the morning. Sleep was just impossible. The heat became so uncomfortable. I only came to realise how important electricity is and how important air conditioning is then. It dawned on me that I never did know who invented air-conditioning.

I googled and found the name Willis Haviland Carrier. Is this somehow related to the famous "The Carrier Man Can" advertisement? Now I am beginning to see the connection. My searched in Wikipedia found that Willis Haviland Carrier was an engineer and inventor and is known as the man who invented the modern air-conditioning in 1902. My further search on the History of Electricity in Wikipedia leads me to a long list of names and history. Geez, I am not even going to talk about it as history is really not my thing. It just makes me sleepy.... Yes, I should catch up on my lost sleep last night... zzzzz....

Assessment

Today, after 5 years of purchasing my property, I went to MPSJ to check my assessment dues. It came up to RM1466.40, interest included (ouch!). My appeal to waive the interest despite me telling them I have never receive any assessment bills (bills were sent to previous owner address) fell on deaf ears. "Memang tak boleh kurang". I knew all along that I am to pay the assessment but somewhat, somehow, it just "slipped" my mind and since I never did receive any bills, I simply have forgotten about it.

So if you buy a subsale property, be aware that you are to inform the council of the change of name within 3 months from the purchase, so that you will receive the notice of assessment in your name. All along I knew that has to be done, except that I did not know that I have to make that change within 3 months from purchase.

So what will happen if you fail to comply the 3 months rule? It states clearly in the transfer form that - "You will be charged with a fine of RM2,000 or jailed 3 months or both". I panic somewhat and asked the counter girl if they do really carry out this rules. She "dengan selamba" said "actually sepatutnyalah... tapi.... taklah.. "

80 feet high

Today I went up on a crane, 80 feet above ground. It was a photo shoot of a building conducted by my company's photographer. As I was on the crane at a height that is despairingly high, it brought back memories of my old 17 storey flat in Penang.

I used to live in a one room flat on the 8th floor. It is a highly densed flats with about 20 over units per floor, multiply that with 17 floors and you will have more than 300 units per block. In the areas where I used to lived, there are about 10 blocks of flats, multiply that with 300 units and you will have more than 3,000 units and multiply that with approximately 5 person per household, you will have..... well... more than 15,000 people.

Rifle Range Flats in Penang

My flat has a balcony (yes despite it being a one room flat) it does have a balcony. My block is apparently the best as it faces directly to campsite of "FRU" (Federal Reserve Unit). I used to run to the balcony each time the sirens goes off and loads and loads of police trucks would drive out. During the evening, I would sit at the balcony and watch the men playing "sepak takraw" and football at the open field. Yes, it is amazing to know that lots of activities can be seen from my little balcony.

The place is practically so convenient, you can find food anywhere and anytime.. ahh.. I still remember "Ah Teik Char Koay Teow", "curry mee" and the economical Fried Bihun Mee... not forgetting "Koay Kak" and on the wheel "fried chicken"... yummy!

The evening market along the main road

Famous "Kek Lok Si" Temple

Beyond the yonder, there are the hills where you can see the famous Pagoda and the beautiful "Goddess of Mercy". It is exceptionally beautiful during chinese new year when the Pagoda is all lighted up.


Well, coming back to being on top of the crane, I have not been up so high for a long time and it does give me the goose bumps when I was up there. I do not have fear of course as I am quite used to height but somehow, today, I still felt a faint quiver when I was 80 feet above ground.. I guess age is catching up on me.

Mixed emotions

I have not been sleeping well the past few days. There is a lot of mixed feeling inside me. If everything goes well, I may be leaving the country. Everything is still in discussion but here I am, thinking of many many things. I do feel excited and yet at the same time wary of my decision. There is really a lot to think and a lot to do if I ever leave the country. Until things are being finalised, I am still in a "in-between" feeling.

Bird Tongchai McIntyre

I am not a Thai song fanatic but my recent exposure to a thai song by a friend lead me to being very interested... especially to one particular singer famously known as "Bird Tongchai McIntyre".

Geez, one song I heard on "You Tube" got me hooked for hours searching all his songs. I am just amazed not only at the number of fans he has but also the fact that young and old alike are simply crazy about him. To add to the fact that he is quite charming on stage. My search on his biodata revealed that he is actually 50 years old and yet he looks so young and good.

Even though you have never heard thai song in your life and do not understand a single thai word, you should still check out the following link:

Bird - 2007

Bird - Medley

Beautiful creature

Beautiful creatures live amongst us. I was praying the other day, in my house and I chanced upon this grasshopper right on top of my Buddha statue, as if silently meditating.

You Raise Me Up

This is a beautiful song dedicated to papa and mama...

You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

The Wooden Bowl

I received this beautiful piece through email and thought it would be nice to share and remember. Message from the sender - "I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now...

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up'. The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back .

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you but, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Accident and the after that

If you ever are involved in an accident, the last thing you want to do is to go to the police station. Yes, you would hope that you can settled the matter with the parties involved without having to report police. However, two days ago, hubby met with an accident and as the damage was quite bad, we had to make insurance claim and make a police report.

It was a motorbike accident and hubby was knocked down by two cars. Yes, horrible. Imagine my shock when I got a call from him. But thank God, he is fine and the injury was just minor. The night itself after the accident, we head our way to the police station. In case you are not familiar with the procedure of making an accident report, here is how it works.

1st step - you fill up a form listing your name, vehicle number etc.

2nd step - you pass the form to an officer and wait to be called.

3rd step - when you are being called, you will have to enter your details in the computer system. The details involved would be your name, address, ic, vehicle number, driving license number etc.

4th step - you will proceed to type your own report on how the accident happened. A sample report is paste on the side panel of desk and provides you a guide on how to use it. After finished typing the report, you are to save it and print it out.

5th step - the officer will take your report and assigned you to meet a sergeant in charge. He will tell you to go to a particular so and so floor at so and so counter.

6th step - the sergeant will ask you questions and interrogate you on how the accident happened. They will proceed to write their own report to deduce who is wrong and who is not.

7th step - the sergeant will then follow you to your vehicle to take a photograph of your vehicle.

8th step - you go back home and will have to come back the next day to buy the report.

Now, that is the last step. Not too hard really. Except that a few questions popped into my mind. Now, what happens if I am illiterate and what if I do not know how to type? Would the officer helped me? Why the impression? Cos, I do not find the officers to be friendly. I saw a poor guy slowly typing, struggling to find the letters on the keyboard.

When we were assigned to the sergeant, we have to wait more than 1 hour as he was away for his late supper break. Question - why would we be assigned to someone who is on a break? Unless he is not suppose to go for the break? or they don't really care do they?

During the meet up with the sergeant, we realised that we did not mentioned a certain details in the report. So after meeting up with the sergeant, we went back to the counter to make changes to the report. Well, what you need to know is - changes to the report can only be made within 1 hour after filing the report! We waited for the sergeant for more than 1 hour and we were not able to make any changes after that!

Well, the ordeal of an accident is bad enough and it does not get better when you have to go through such lengthy procedure at the police station. Sigh..

I just want to run away...

Sigh... if you believe in fengshui, I would say this month is a quarrelsome month. I am just so tired. Just this one month alone, I have met from rude people to arrogant, self-centred, bossy, sarcastic, immature, destructive .... the list is endless. As I write this, a few faces comes to mind.. 1,2,3,4,5,6,....

The world is really not that big. Life is short. Why the need for such attitude. Well i believe in repercussion, that you will reap what you have sown. I pray that these people will see it soon enough so that they make amends. People like this, makes you lose hope in the society sometimes, people like this can demoralised you and shun your beliefs that there are good people out there.

I have been feeling down the past 2 days. I have encountered the most unpleasant personality of a particular person. I make a resolute decision to let go and forgive. I woke up this morning and unhappiness sets in. It seems that the episode still plays in my mind and I am trying to forget. Ya, moments like this comes and goes.. one moment you are ok and you decide to move on, let go and forgive, other days, you remembered and it gets you down, it makes me angry and sad. So I only have to remind myself there are still good people out there... there are still good people out there...

A lesson learnt

He is born in a rich family. Anything that he wants, he gets. He is always instructing and never gets instructed. He does not have to work hard for money, he never has to work for his Ferrari and yet he condemns those who drives a Proton with their hard earned money. He is a boss without having to work his way up and yet he belittled those who have. Just because he is rich, he automatically becomes smart, wiser and obviously powerful. With money, he threatens, he provokes, he criticized, he condemns those who have not.

What do I feel when I meet someone like him? I feel sorry for him. For he will walk alone and he will never have the liberty to know who his true friends are. I pitied him for he will not understand love, humanity, laughter and joy. I pitied him for despite having seen the world with his richness, he has such small heart. I pitied him for his piercing words on others will one day find its way back to stab him.

What have I learnt when I meet someone like him? I learnt that there are people like that everywhere and that I have to learn to face them. I have learnt that even though I am not born with a silver spoon, but yet I am so lucky is so many ways for I have been born in a family that is rich with love and humanity. I have learnt that everywhere I go, I am surrounded with people who loves and cares for me and most important thing, I have learnt that I never have to walk alone.

This caption from my heart, is dedicated to my husband and my true friends (you know who you are).

The world is full ??

What is happening to the people around? They are so arrogant, rude, self centred and close minded. I really feel sorry for them, for the way that they are. Yes, they are rich, but being rich does not give you the right to be rude and arrogant. I have been meeting this people for the past few days and here is what I want to say to them:

Mr Y - Do not think that money can buy you power and that it can buy you respect. You do not have a single respect from me. Despite your so-called richness, I am surprised that you continue to demand for free lunch and free things. Are you not ashamed? Stop flaunting your so-called generosity - you have nothing but greed and arrogance. You knowing "this person" or "that person" has got nothing to do with me and I am not bothered by it. Do not think that with money you can make people listen to you or that people will respect you. I pray that you will not fall one day, for if you do, is going to be a hard one.

Ms L - You have such narrow mind and immature heart. You talked about things that are not of relevance to you and you have such red eyes over things that other people has. Grow up! Goodness! You are a mother of 2 and yet you act worst than a child of 5! I have no words to describe your behaviour but do hope that one day you will wake up and realised what a fool you have been.

Ms Bitchy - I only have a few moments with you and seeing you, I am just ashamed that someone like you exist in our world. You stormed in the office, speaking rudely to us. You are so impatient and plain rude talking to us. You think that you have a rich husband, that entitles you to treat everyone else as if they are not worth a dime? I can see within the fairness of your face, that you have a tortured soul. Your eyes are full of hatred and anger and I feel very sorry for you. I know that one day, you will realised what a bitch you have been but I guess it will be too late then.

Sigh... now I feel so much better!

Yes, just quit

I do not know why but some people uses the short cut way to end things. Face with small problem and they just chooses to quit. This tells much about the life that they lived in. Things can be resolved easily if only they would let go of their ego. Sometimes, we know we are wrong but we are too egoistic to admit it. Where does that get us to? We keep grudges and revenge in our hearts and we have only ourselves to hurt.

Certain point in our life, we will realised that things are not what we use to think it is. As for me, I think things are easier if you let go. And the most important thing is to let go your ego. Some people mistaken ego for self respect. So they chooses to be stubborn. This is what I

Geez.. what am I talking about? I am talking about the many egoistic people I have met, about people who chooses to quit rather than to persevere. I am talking about people who thinks the are right, they are right and that they are still right. I am talking about obstinate people who stick to their guns even though they know they are carrying the wrong one. I am talking about this people who makes the world a ugly place to live in.

Drained...

Is been really busy the past few weeks. Most of the nights, I come back late feeling tired and drained. Yes I do enjoy what I do but sometimes I just get tired.

Next week we have a night launch and because we organised this without the help of a event organiser, we had to spend considerable amount of time to plan. Every angle must be thought of so that we do not miss anything important. Basically, we are the event organiser. It is really not difficult when you have set your planning right. Infact, I just love the challenge. It is just that, I wish I have more time....

Birthday

This year birthday is indeed a pleasant one. It is rather unexpected for me as I wanted to just quietly celebrate with hubby. Instead, my birthday turned into a series of celebrations:

1- Dinner with Khor, Lisa, Yin and Hubby at Apartment on Friday night. Is my first visit to the Apartment at the Curve. The seat was not that comfortable. Ambience is so-so but I would say the food is really good. My birthday cake was a delicious chocolate cake bought by Lisa from Chocolate World. Yes, I love chocolates.

2 - Dinner with father, brother, Hui Yin and hubby at TGI Friday's on Sunday night. I still love to go Friday's despite being there few times. I only go to Friday's on birthdays.. whether is mine, hubby's or with friends.

It was the first time for father and brother and I wanted them to have a taste of good western food. We went to Friday's at One Utama. I was very disappointed with the service. I expected the service to be good as I have experience the same with Friday's at the Curve but this was different.

A young indian girl took our order, without greeting nor smile at us. I find it rude that she did not acknowledge that she have heard me. I was even more surprise that she did not even repeat my order to make sure that she has got it right. Later our food arrived. We were left waiting without utensils. I find it odd that they were so unprepared and unfriendly. My brother wanted to get the staffs to sing a birthday song for me but looking at the staffs forlorn face, I asked him to abort the idea. Despite all that, I am still glad that my family still enjoyed the food.

3. Monday morning was a pleasant surprise. My colleagues gave me a surprise gift - an extremely beautiful bouquet of roses and a delicious cake. I later treated them KFC and pizza for lunch.

4. Tuesday night - is my real day. After much celebration, I went for a quiet dinner with hubby at One Utama. We decided to settle for a simple Japanese dinner.

5. Thursday night - another dinner with my ex-colleagues, Pauline, Tok, Sharon & Ema. It is another pleasant surprise as I do not expect them to gather for my birthday. It was Pauline's thoughtfulness.

So.. here I am, eating all the way from Friday to Thursday.. Is time to exercise and go on diet!

Accident

Hours ago, I had an accident...

Where: coming out from Tropicana heading to Sprint highway somewhere the front of old Sony office
Who: 4 cars (including mine)
How: A van hit an Iswara where the Iswara hit onto a BMW and the BMW banged my poor honda city.
Why: All disobey the rule of leaving a one car gap in front of the other - except for me of course as, Thank God! I was far away from the car in front of me.

To share something funny though, minutes before I felt the bump behind my poor honda city, the car in front of me actually hit the other car in front. So while I was witnessing an accident in front of me, I was being hit from behind. So is a good thing that I was not too close to the car in front, otherwise, it would be a 6 vehicle accident with mine being the 3rd car.

My "banger" decided to settle out of court. I would say that I was lucky that I was "banged" by a rich guy who is also a pure gentlemen... from my 1st impression... I will be checking the extent of my damage and will be forwarding my claim to my "banger" - which I hope he will "gentlemanly" pay.

Looking at all this, it just looks as if this episode is meant to be.. well.. I specifically chooses to drive today after not driving for weeks, and I offered to fetch my bosses where usually I would be the one hopping into their car, and I chooses to make a stop over at another office before heading back to office.. . So if I did not choose to make the stop over, I would not appear at that point of time and if I had chosen to hop in my bosses's car, my car would be safe at home and if I had allowed my husband to drive me to work, I would not be having this accident.

So, my thoughts are.. maybe, it is a destiny for me to meet my "bangers" - afterall, they really are very nice and very gentlemen (all the 3 other drivers were male). So who is the terrible driver now?