Family Birthday Gathering

Tonight I attended a family birthday gathering. We celebrated two birthday, one is my uncle's 70th Birthday and another is my aunt who happens to be back to Malaysia for 2 weeks vacation. They are both senior citizen and 2 years ago when my mom turned 70, everyone came to my hometown and gave her a surprise birthday gathering.

My mom 2nd eldest in the family of 10, decided to make a trip here just to be with her dearest siblings. The reason is simple she wishes to be with them as she is also getting old and just never knew how many more birthdays she could spend with them. I feel for her and truly understand her feelings.

It was a simple family dinner without my children sadly because this dinner was planned last minute, and my children are on their way back to my hometown for school holiday. It would have been nice to have them for tonight's dinner. They would have created a lot more noise and laughter throughout the dinner.

I have 3 very independent children who will not give me much problem when they have to leave me. The little one was so excited and happily waving good bye and hugged me.

I wish my uncle, aunt and my mom...the best of health and many more such gatherings in the future!

My son is on facebook

I can see he is growing, and it is a joy and I enjoy as well as I also geram at times....

Firstly he started his gmail account, and he created his own blog and now he is into facebook. Nowadays he has many friends calling him and they have some common topics like discussion on the some IT staff...can you believe it??

A few minutes ago, he was chatting with me on facebook. And since he is quite an IT savvy person and I don't have to teach him much on the application.

I hope with facebook, it helps to foster a closer bonding. I actually treat him like a big boy but I know he wishes to be mommy's little boy, still a lot of "manjaing" ! I feel the way to teach him is to give him more responsibilities at home...and of late I see some improvement!

Mommy's big boy, you were once tiny and small when I held you in my arm 10 years ago, when you made me a proud mom for the very first time...you have grown to be a big and handsome boy now.

Mama loves you Jordan !

Away to Langkawi

I have been to Langkawi a few times and all for different purposes.

First visit was with my ex, it was a "pak toh" trip, courting me and also mini honeymoon. I remember vividly we rented a car, drove around the entire island, did what a first timer would do, visited many sightseeing places. I remember we stayed at Burau Bay Resort, the cabana room, nice and romantic! It is probably called Mutiara Burau Bay now...

Second trip, I brought my bundle of joys, my son and daughter with my mom and it was a big entourage. This time, we stayed at the Andaman, the kids have a good time but sadly it rained so our activities were limited to indoor. Staying at the Andaman is lovely and it is luxury, nice landscape and lobby is airy and spacious but you have to be prepared to pay for the expensive F& B, a breakfast can easily cost you RM75 - 80 per person. The location is kind of isolated that you wouldn't want to drive out to Kuah Town or Pantai Cenang for food.

Then, last week I was there again, and I was there alone...is ok la because it is for work. The entire island was heavily packed with events and tourist, and many hotels were fully booked. So, my office booked me at Tanjung Sanctuary Resort & Spa. As I previously posted my discovery of how effective and fun to use google maps, it made my trip even more interesting. While we were driving from the airport, I became the navigator and was really great tool to travel with. The resort has gone through a refurbishment from a 3 star to Villa concept. Not highly populated as there are only 32 units of individual villa. The room is spacious, bathroom is nice with a bathtub..The resort is only at soft opening stage since May 09, and there are certainly room for improvement. The balcony is great with a daybed, very relaxing to read and just snooze away...

The restaurant set up is simple yet cosy...a good place for couple to relax. So, alone at this resort can be quite lonely and boring!! right ??? No way, I took the opportunity to spend half the morning by the pool, reading and just do nothing while enjoying the sea breeze. I enjoy the peace and quietness at this place except for a family with two kids jumping up and down the pool that woke me up from my lazy morning!

So, overall my overnight trip to Langkawi has been great! I guess it is my work nature, ingrained in me....grrrrrrr, it is never a pure vacation without involving hotel inspection...So, I did another inspection at Bon Ton and Temple Tree. This is totally different from sea, sun and beach. You get the sun but not the beach and sea. The property is built around padi field, and all the structure of the building are actually "antique old structure/facade" that were put together. It is very interesting but maybe typically Malaysian will not really appreciate this.

Just feel like sharing my work cum leisure experiences...

Sukiyaki ~ a dedication to you

I have heard of this song many times, we hear this over and over again at the bar, live band performing ! And few days ago, I heard it again ! They are so many different versions...

It is a lovely song that I wish to dedicate to you...happy listening !

My baby girl

I must admit the little girl is my darling.....maybe she is the youngest and she simply knows how to make me laugh ! She is forever my baby girl..the one that I can carry still...

She is adorable, cute and she has beautiful eyes, 2 dimples...she has that manja look that you simply can't raise your voice. She is like a little puppy and just glue her head to me. Something funny yesterday between me, the maid and her..maid was talking to me and she was in between our conversation, and she suddenly said this to kakak..."you scold me ar???" We burst into laughter by her response..obviously the maid wasn't scolding her!

When she talks, she surprises you all the time. Each time when I look into her eyes, her unpretentious face, the sweet smile, cute face and her naturally curled hair, I always think of her father, he has missed seeing her growing up.

Today met up with a few ex colleagues during a gathering, everyone has their share of opinion about my children. And this remark certainly stays...he is the replica of his father!

My dearest children..mom loves you all !

Crossroads

I was lying by the pool, enjoying the solitude, calmness and quietness that morning. And I was reading and thinking too. For the past two years, the first year was rush, unsettled and I was trying to get my breath, face the world, deal with emotions and everything. Now, the 2nd year, I am more adjusted and facing life in a more comfortable manner.

There are moments in life that just gone past without us realising. Most of us have so much to work and to manage in family. I reflected what have I done in the last 10 years of marriage. I was just busy managing the family and work, and little have I noticed that I needed some time to myself, a quiet solitude moment for me and him.

I have rushed my days, kept myself totally busy and the day ended almost midnight..dead tired. That was typically my life for the past 10 years. Somehow, perhaps it is also the age, I am now making changes to life, living a life that has more values and not the same way I used to have.

I have came across a few crossroads, and whenever I had to deal with it....he has been there for me. I am about to face another one, and I think this time it is a much more challenging one, something that I have considered and being encouraged, and opportunity and chances seem coming my way....

This time I have to make some decision on my own, should I take this big bold step ? Should I consider ?....a lot to ponder and think about, at least there is still hope in life !!

Google Map

For the past few days, I have learned something...it is Google Map. This is obviously not new to me, but for the very first time, I make use of this application effectively in my work.

I found it so useful and it has certainly helped when you are traveling on the road to some place totally unfamiliar to you. All you need is unlimited Internet access, otherwise it may cost you a lot of money.

I am never afraid of getting lost as I believe if this way is wrong, there is always another way...and during my stay in Langkawi, we drove and not that we will get lost but I was excited to try out google map. I must say...very very useful. Not only it tells you the direction from one point to the other, even the contact no. and address of the place you are heading also available. And some even show you the street view...and it is actually virtual tour of the surrounding!

I love it....

My bed

I have been thinking about this lately, especially nowadays my 3 precious sleep on my bed and left me with a narrow side to sleep.

I have been sleeping on this bed for years since I got married. The kids occasionally shared my bed. Of late, they love to share the bed and the only thing that came to my mind is, they want to be part of me and closer to me.

As we all know, kids love to kick their blanket, and changing position always, they might end up at the bottom of the bed when they wake up, or it might be horizontal and etc. Can you imagine all three, 6 legs crisscrossing each other, one foot on the tummy of the other..hahahaha!

This is what I love and enjoying seeing them on my bed, even though I don't have a proper bed to myself. Since the day I started to sleep alone, I am still loyally sleeping on one side of the bed...I always thought maybe I should sleep in the middle of the bed, and have the entire bed to myself, strangely when I lie down, it is always on one side of the bed...don't know why...hehehe!

Yeah....a great event !

I am all smiling now as the event is finally concluded and it is a success. Yeah !

I only had merely 90 mins of sleep the night before due to the set up and preparation, and arriving at 6.45 am looking energized. I am used to this because of my work nature, and never complaint much about this, why ?? I love my job.

We have almost 90% ready by 7am, just some touching up. Dealing with government involvement, it requires some protocol, especially the salutation list. Well, it was not easy but I thanked the NGO which is Thalassaemia Association of Malaysia (TAM) especially the President for entrusting me this role. He even thanked me in his speech for the dedication and effort towards making this event a success.

The moment the PM's wife has confirmed her presence, we had to work on confirming the invitation list and some of the high ranking officers from the ministry didnt confirm their attendance. And we have to be on our toes at all times. Suddenly all showed up...and thankfully I have prepared for this...even the drinking water, glass are prepared for it.

Just before her arrival, I was running up and down ensuring we are all set. And her official informed me...she has left her residence. All the VVIP were on standby at the entrance to welcome her...and that was the beginning of the launch.

Everything went smoothly...and she left about one hour later. Of coures, in between, there were a lot of play by ear situations. If she wants this..or if she will not attend and etc. So it was exciting and great learning experience.

This is the first time seeing her in person...what is my feeling about her?? I shall not comment here....but I shoke her hand....hahahaha!

So, the actual event rolled out. The blood screening was really busy with a lot of public that came to find out if they are suspected Thalassaemia carrier. I noticed this young girl who was with her parents and she was crying when she read her screening result and whle the counsellor was talking to them.

Apparently her mom is a carrier and yesterday she found out she is a carrier. She can't accept that she is a carrier that she might have a thalassaemia major child in future....poor girl. Actually people like Abithar Bachan is also a carrier and in Malaysia, we are now in developing and advancing into the care of Thalassaemia treatment. Therefore, they are now surviving passed their 20s and even older.

There were a lot of fun activities on stage, the clown entertained the children, breakdance from a local famous dance group BBoy Suicide. We have happy lucky winners who walked home with iPod Nano...and it was all fun, fun and fun.

I drove home feeling extremely tired and almost dozed off a few times on the road..And had a quick dinner and slept right after the dinner..I was that exhausted.

Most importantly my client and the NGO is happy....my objective is met. I hope this awareness campaing has awaken all Malaysian.

Thalassaemia Awareness Day on 9 August 2009

Thalassaemia Awareness Day..the project that I have been working for months is finally reaching out to the public on 9 August 2009.

This is a personal blog but since I like to share this special day with everyone, I have used this site to promote this educational event.

I have been with the patients, parents and NGO who works hard on promoting the awareness of the disease, I feel for them. It is not easy to see a 6 months old baby experiencing a bloated stomach due to the spleen enlargement. And to feel for a thalassaemia major patient going through blood transfusion his entire life time and continuous medical treatment.

Despite all the inconvenience that they have to bear, they are still wonderful people who are as normal as us except that their life will be threatening if treatment and blood transfusion are not done on regular basis.

It is really our responsibility to know if we are a carriers and how to avoid bearing a child eventhough it is only 25% probability of the child is the major. It is better to know and please come for the screening which is free of charge. Counsellors from HKL are happy to speak to you on Thalassaemia.

Please come and join us.....agenda of the day :

• 9 August, 2009 @ Berjaya Times Square
• 0900 hrs - 2000 hrs
• Official launch by Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor
• Blood Donation
• Free screening and counselling
• Chat with patients and NGO
• Great fun activities and Lucky Draw.

See you there !

最初的夢想

今天我反复的听了这首歌好几遍. 它令我想起了我的梦想, 我们每一个人在学校里,老师们要我们写下我们的梦想. 想起来,有多少个人的梦想都达到了.

我所响往的美好的憧憬. 和人生的旅途都在反反复复, 有挫折, 有欢乐, 有悲哀, 有成就也有失败. 一切一切都是短暂的. 在人生的某个阶段, 因为我们的经历, 改变了我们最初的梦想, 是不是我们的梦想就不会再达到了吗? 在彷徨的时候,是不是就没有梦想? 好多人说我们一定要有梦想,才会有实现的机会. 因为我们的人生又开始有目标 - 就是我们的梦想!

我的人生到了这时候, 面对的前景没有抱太大的希望, 没有多大的勇气面对, 只好依靠我小小的梦想, 一步一步的迈向它, 堅持自己把我小小的梦想实现了.

快乐幸福，感恩知足。希望你也和我一样喜欢这首歌:)

如果骄傲没被现实大海冷能拍下 

又怎会懂得要多努力 才走得到远方

如果梦想不曾坠落悬崖 千钧一发

又怎会晓得执着的人 有隐形翅牓

把眼泪装在心上 

会开出勇敢的花

可以在疲惫的时光

闭上眼睛闻到一种芬芳 

就像好好睡了一夜直到天亮 

又能边走着边哼着歌 用轻快的步伐

沮丧时总会明显感到孤独的重量 

多渴望懂得的人给些温暖借个肩膀 

很高兴一路上我们的默契那么长

穿过风又绕个弯心还连着 像往常一样 

最初的梦想紧握在手上 

最想要去的地方 怎么能在半路就放 

最初的梦想绝对会到达 

实现了真的渴望 才能够算到过了天堂 

My love

I am actually very tired and it has been a long day, meeting till almost 10 pm, but my mind and hands are eager to write this post.

Actually this is nothing interesting or exciting but it is all about my love - 3 precious children.

A moment ago, the baby came to me, just step out from my room, sucking her thumb, her messy hair all over, looking extreme blurred and walked to me. She woke up and realised I am not in the room. All I did was cuddle her in my arms, brushed her messy hair aside so that I can see her little angel face clearer. And just to kiss her little forehead, and feel her warm in my arm.

The two older one are equally my darlings..they know how much I love them, and why do I care so much and been fierced to them. All three are devils and angels, how can I don't love them. No affirmation needed, I know my love for them is real and so true!

Just a short post..but it is all about my love!

Despair !

I faced an issue with him recently and I have asked him to resolve it soonest possible. And he didn't respond to me if he has done something about it.

Little that I know what exactly is happening, I finally realized what had happened and it is too late. I ask for it to be return to me, I know it will be tougher than anything I can imagine.

Out of frustration, I wrote to him, and all he said was..am sorry !


Who feels sorry for me ? This issue was not the fault of me, the other party is involved, I am the unfortunate one, what do I do now ? I can't be doing this for you anymore..I have a life and 3 precious lives with me.

It spoil my day and even thinking of cancelling dinner plan, but life goes on, if I have to fake, just put up a brave front, I just did, I am just enjoying my sorrow...hahahaha. I just faked, but I have no choice, just stay strong and move on.

I feel despair, frustrated and unhappy. I only pray that he survives...

With metta..may you be well, peaceful and safe.

My day

My day usually starts well...work out, already planned out for the day, client calling me or text me and etc. Visiting client to follow up on upcoming event, to present new proposal and just to build the rapport.

Back to the office, deal with internal issues, operational matters that ultimately my objective is to deliver the best for the client.

Makan2 is just another part of life, lunch here or there, today I will lunch with my client, business associates, acquaintances and sometimes in the evening, have a teh tarik, a few drinks with friends and client just to relax after a long day !

In between the day, we deal with challenges at work, negotiating and planning, interesting and funny moments at work, receiving phone calls and sms from those that make your day or those that trying to sell you insurance in 5 mins sales talk.....argghhh.

Back home, opening up mail box is not something I look forward, full of whatever whatever we have to pay for living. But, I have 3 beautiful and adorable children waiting for me that brightens up my day. Seeing them make my day even better, typically as a mom, whenever I walk pass any bakery, I will step in to get some breads and cakes.

This is how I live a day at one time, start the day right (hopefully everyday), facing the world and challenges and look forward to end it well and start another great day tomorrow.

:)