Million Smiles

A group photo taken at last night's gathering. I am not good in uploading the photo as sometime the photos cannot be enlarged when it is published on net....still not too sure why...so this round..I have waited for the photo to be uploaded (slow as the 3G signal is weak at my place)and only then I started to write few words.

Now you can see clearer...

Year End Gathering 2007

It has been while since my last home gathering with friends. Tonight, we have a family gathering among friends at my house. The idea was mooted sometime in middle of last month as we felt we should have small gathering among family to enable family members to know each other better and this can be helpful in time of need.

In all, we are estimating 10 adults and 16 children will be in my house. In fact, I am quite worry that the number would swell much further that my little house would not able to cater for such number and we may need a professional place to provide better cosy environment. But with support and encouragement from organising friends, I believe we shall have a great evening tonight.

We shall start our programme at 6pm as to cater for those with kids that we believe may need to have early break..or some may go for late night movie etc. It is on potluck basis as everyone have the opportunity to prepare their own food.

We had initially talked about BBQ (our young time favourite) but then again...due to age and kids, we felt it may not serve the best interest for this round.

Few games shall be conducted and a gift exchange event shall also be carried out for the kids.

I look forward to a great evening tonight.

Last 5 days of 2007

Time really flies...today is 27th of December and we have less than 5 days to reach end of 2007 and begin with a new 2008.

Many would have been preparing for year end gathering, singing Aulang syne to a great year whilst embracing the brand new year and I myself are also preparing one gathering among few friends over at my home in the next few days.

At Corporate front, we are scrambling to hit our budget of RM280m by 31/12/2007 (It shall be another record year !). The workout on paper is achievable but the real confirmation would have to be till the eleventh hour...

What is the significant of this situation to us, to me ?

In self improvement world...we always need to ask ourself the following few questions;

What have I achieved in 2007 ? What are the obstacles that I have gone through ? What have I failed to accomplish ?

Then, we need to ask what we are going to do next year ? Our expectation in our quest of excellence ? Our life's wishes ? How have we progress in our quest to achieve what we want in life ?

Remember, our teacher used to ask us to write a New Year Resolution ?? (I remember when I wrote my New Year Resolution for 1990 in my PA class, I achieved what I have written an "A+, the best of all" for PA in the STPM...and this just one of the many real achievements when I wrote down my wishes)

For me,...all these questions have probably been answered partly and yet to be aligned. All I need to complete this task with proper tracking and feedback method. I have to admit that it is always tougher to disciplinely manage our personal things as when compared to corporate responsibility. But hey...the master said that if we cannot do welll on our own personal things, we also could not do well on our corporate engagement.

****

Some shopping malls had already changed tune and started playing the Ding Dong Chiang...building up the Chinese New Year's mood. I saw people started buying the VCD/DVD of CNY songs/movie.

I am still incline to Christmas mood as Christmas shall be celebrated for 12 days till 5th of January 2008. Only after that I will put up CNY songs...to drum up to our Reunion 2008 ! Ya !

Finally, I visited Boulevard today

Since Saturday, 22/12/2007...I have tried to visit Boulevard Shopping Mall, the latest mall in Kuching with my bro-in-law from Sibu but the crazy traffic jam like no law is applicable totally prevented me from entering the main roads.

We have to go other places as there is no way to go there...

Not be discouraged by the first try, we try again the next evening, Sunday...even worst. The traffic jam started even before reaching the 3rd mile flyover.

We have to believe that the fatal attraction is there...but wondering why such a huge turnout though not many shops were ready there.

But we concurred that the place is like a mountain of spilled honey...for sure a lot of ants will be grouping there...

Well, last night...my wife ask me to try another time...this round we go around 8.30pm...yes we manage to pass through the mall after trailing in the jam for at least 20 minutes (in Kuching standard, this is a very bad jam) but decided not to go in as we could not find any parking space nearby, so we ended doing our grocery shopping at our favourite place...Everise 4th Mile.

Ever determined to enter this new mall, hence, after attending Christmas Mass this morning, we want to give another try, yes...we smoothly entered the parking bays (of course as the time is only 9.30a.m).

As I enter the mall, I noticed that it is still very dirty with muds, dusts and unsettled works. I observed no cleaner at sight to clean the mess (probably they are just too tired of mopping in the last few days as expected a lot of footprints made by score of ten thousands of visitors coupled with wet conditions).


We were only in the mall for less than 15 minutes, we decided to leave as there is nothing much to see where many shops are still under renovations and beside the condition is "dirty" with dusts.

Basically, the shopping environment is not conducive as yet. Many shoppers were there probably due to the new opening and all may just want to have a glimpse of the new mall.

I hope the management of the mall will quickly address some of the glaring weaknesses to ensure this hyper mall will truly shine its majestic beauty to all shoppers soonest before few of its rivalry opens out.

The next one will the Spring opening which has been scheduled on 10th January 2008 ! Let's see how they perform...

Happy Birthday To Jesus, My Lord & Brother

It's raining outside and concluded the forecast by the metrological department that this year, we shall be celebrating Wet Christmas. So, if man could forecast yet quite an accurate future...then we would have no doubt in God's love for us as he send his only Son through Mary & Joseph. He had planned this salvation programme in the beginning of time and He fulfill on this very holy night. May the light of Christmas keep you warm, guided and renewed your faith as it lead you in the righteous path of salvation.

***

Millions of money have been spent just on SMSes tonight and the day after....throughout this season of jolly. Is it worth it ? Yes, indeed as I can feel the warm of freindship and kinship, that is priceless and precious bonding. Without this SMS technology, we would have been sending physical cards which is limited and more expensive though may hold different value of reflection.

We cannot just keep silence...can we ? It is rude if we do not reply the message of love and blessing....we must pass on the flame of love so that we could be renewed and transformed...like a Candle...giving light to others,...self-tranformed...

***

Hey, I have a new phone for Christmas....it is my wife who gave this early Christmas present, a cool sleakzy N95 8G (not before my N80 was faulty, suspected due to after heavy usage as Internet modem to my laptop 2 weeks earlier).

It is indeed a different in quality especially the big screen that it has, bigger than the 1st version of N95. It can also display a horizontal show apart from usual vertical stance. Now, I can also download the whole movie to be watched at convenient as the memory bank is 8G.

It has also WIFI function, so I can still browse Internet at Coffee Beans, Starbucks..

So, my dream of having N95 in my earlier post has been fulfilled :)

***

Christmas gifts for my family...I also bought a special gift for my wife (must be vice-versa mah..if not my ears would be longer) and of course not forgetting my kids who have been pestering since they saw the Christmas tree on display in the shopping mall...

They also asked..."Is Santa Clause going to come tonight to give them gifts ?" I do not know who gave them the idea as definitely not from me...

When I am very young (when my age is still a single digit), I used to hang my stoking on the eve of Christmas for Santa to put in the Christmas gift...and in one Christmas...I got a note instead of gift...it is actually a long note from my parents...commenting on my whole year action/attitude bla...bla...a detail appraisal..huh (I wish I could have kept that note, it would be a priceless note)...hehehe...what an experience...(later I found out that they have tight budget that year to buy all 5 of us (4 brothers & a sister...I am touched by their innovative action...though no gift but the note gave a renewal to my life as I take it very seriously as though it is from Papa Santa)

***

Merry Christmas, Felix Navidad..may you all receive abundant blessings on this Holy Day...

Dong Zhi Festival : The Eleventh Moon falls on 22nd Dec

Why we (Chinese) celebrates this day: always 3 days before Christmas ?

Dong Zhi is the second most important festival of the Chinese calendar.

Celebrated on the longest night of the year, Dong Zhi is the day when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. The coming of winter is celebrated by families and is traditionally the time when farmers and fishermen gather food in preparation for the coming cold season. It is also a time for family reunions.

This celebration can be traced to the Chinese belief in yin and yang, which represent balance and harmony in life. It is believed that the yin qualities of darkness and cold are at their most powerful at this time, but it is also the turning point, giving way to the light and warmth of yang.

For this reason, the Dong Zhi Festival is a time for optimism.

Dong Zhi is celebrated in style. The longest night of the year is a time to put on brand new clothes, visit family with gifts and to laugh and drink deep into the long night.

For my family?

We still celebrate this event till today...but minus the "tang yuon" or in foochow "si yang" (dry type mixed with kacang powder). Tonight, I have celebrated with my parents and family of my eldest brother, having sumptuos dinner at a local restaurant.

At young, my mum will cook big time at home...and we children shall burn fire crackers after dinner (only during this occasion, I have the opportunity to drink soft drink...like aiscream soda, sarsi and fanta green). I must admit that Sibu still provide the strong scent of this tradition when compared to bigger city like Kuching or KL, may be because Sibu folks are still pretty a loyal traditional group of people keeping the tradition intact.

I will continue this good tradition as a family reunion activity and also celebration towards a whiter Christmas with love and a brand new year at the corner.

Have a GREAT PARTY.

Leg Shaking

While having breakfast this morning, I have noticed that human like to shake their legs...at least 6 people were shaking either one of their legs whilst having breakfast (you can call it a hobby...for which I always like to observe human character, nature or behaviour when I am relaxing).

I also noticed I also do the same act which realising it. Why do we do it ?

Don't believe...please observe the next time when you are at coffee shop.

Are our legs communicating to each others on that basis ? Definitely not !

I have surfed the net for answers...and found that it could be probably just due to sleep disorder or neurological disorder ?

Not enough sleep, difficult to sleep or waking up too early or having unrefreshing sleep could lead to restless legs.

As for old man talks...it may just show that we are too comfortable and relax...nothing to do with sleep or neuron..."we may be "Chia ba beh pau" ! Others said don't shake your legs..you may be shaking off a lot of lucks.

Well, if you are shaking too much, please see your medical doctor to find out the real reason.

Stay healthy !