2010 is coming to an end.As usual when something comes to an end its a time for reflections and thoughts of things to come.For me the first thing that comes to mind is gratitude that I have survived another year together with all my loved ones.Life is fragile,I have seen a few good friends passing on ,and some coming down with old age or facing health problems.Some of my closest friends have either stopped playing golf or unable to do so.Indeed we have to be grateful that we can still do the things we have been doing.
On the work front it has been an eventful year.Hostel work is ever challenging because you are dealing with young people from all over the world ,with different cultures ,outlook and peculiarities but fairness and firmness in management will always win the day.Dealing with young people or anyone for that matter requires consideration, diplomacy,consistency,fairness and a genuine concern for their well being.I have in the course of the year counseled a fair number of residents for various offenses and they end up happy because we always give them a chance to talk and understand why what they are doing is not right and happily none of them appears before me again.Yes work is still interesting and challenging.I would not be here if it were not for this.
Travel has been less .As we grow older the desire for traveling diminishes because its stressful and tiring.Besides I have seen enough places,the US,UK,Japan,Philippines ,Europe ,China,Uzbekistan,Singapore and find that even though each country has its own unique attraction,there is actually no place like home.A lot of truth in the saying " A man roams the earth in search of happiness only to realize that he finds it in his own home".
Golf has become more challenging and I have always tried to challenge the existing paradigm that old people cannot do this and that.New friends, new golf courses ,new equipment makes the game a continuous fascination and I hope I can continue playing for at least a few more years.
Family ties have been good .Helen and Ming came back ,so did Lily and it was good to my sisters again after so long.Character wise Helen and Ming have not improved much but knowing them we tolerate ,accept and love them all the same.Wendy got her first baby and Sze and Andrew got married making us all so happy.Imn came back for the wedding and nothing makes us happier than to have all our family together.
2011 will be another year of Chinese New Year,Pai Thin Koong,Ching Ming,All Soul's Day,etc etc.We are happy and grateful that we can do yet one more round of all this.But for how long more???
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Life is so fragile...
Got the shock of my life when yesterday morning a friend called me and told me one of our golfing members Eugene passed away in SJMC of a heart attack.He was 58 years old,fit as a fiddle and such a good friend.We just could not believe it.It was so sudden and unexpected,never heard of him being sick or anything like that.He was so fit that he would fly back from Bangkok (he had his business there) on Saturday and was on the golf course with us early Sunday morning.
A nice guy,soft spoken,a true friend,a fierce golfer.why?why?
One would hardly expect this to a person like him.Heart attacks will strike anytime and anyone so we have to be on the alert all the time.It has been known to hit people in their twenties upwards and its good to learn more about this .For us older people we realise that we are living on bonus time and that we can go anytime through so many reasons.That is why when you are old enjoy life while you can, think no bad things about others,always count your blessings and be happy that you are alive and in good health.Good health is not automatic,it is something which you have to cultivate in order to get.Enough sleep,no over indulgence in anything,eat the right food ,exercise,regular check ups are all ingredients for good health.We all know this but how many of us practise it?
When someone you know suddenly passes away it sets you thinking.When is my turn?What should I do with the rest of my life?This I believe will make you a better person and look at the people around you with new perspectives.Life is short,its unpredictable so live it while you can.
RIP my good friend Eugene Tan.
A nice guy,soft spoken,a true friend,a fierce golfer.why?why?
One would hardly expect this to a person like him.Heart attacks will strike anytime and anyone so we have to be on the alert all the time.It has been known to hit people in their twenties upwards and its good to learn more about this .For us older people we realise that we are living on bonus time and that we can go anytime through so many reasons.That is why when you are old enjoy life while you can, think no bad things about others,always count your blessings and be happy that you are alive and in good health.Good health is not automatic,it is something which you have to cultivate in order to get.Enough sleep,no over indulgence in anything,eat the right food ,exercise,regular check ups are all ingredients for good health.We all know this but how many of us practise it?
When someone you know suddenly passes away it sets you thinking.When is my turn?What should I do with the rest of my life?This I believe will make you a better person and look at the people around you with new perspectives.Life is short,its unpredictable so live it while you can.
RIP my good friend Eugene Tan.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
My favorite place
The driving range at the Saujana Golf Club has become my favorite hangout.There is something about being in the driving range which makes you feel good and relaxed and it is a great stress reliever.Hitting about 100 to 200 balls gives you time to reflect on the game and takes your mind away from everything else.The view and the wind which blows into your face occasionally is so soothing and comforting.No disturbance from anybody,just the sound of clubs hitting balls .You can choose to go to one corner by yourself and just hit your balls and watch them fly into the sky or on the ground if you hit a bad shot.
It takes a lot of determination however to step into the range.At times you may be tired and since home is so near you might just want to give it a miss but the need to improve and exercise pushes you there and once there all else is forgotten.
Truly a fine place to chill out >Does not cost much and you can easily forget everything more more than an hour or even more.
It takes a lot of determination however to step into the range.At times you may be tired and since home is so near you might just want to give it a miss but the need to improve and exercise pushes you there and once there all else is forgotten.
Truly a fine place to chill out >Does not cost much and you can easily forget everything more more than an hour or even more.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wedding
Today it is interesting to note that weddings have not changed very much especially so the Chinese ones which are steeped in tradition.It begins when two people decide to spend the rest of their lives together.In the olden days a representative from the male side would go to the girl's house to officially ask for the maiden's hand.The first visit by the rep is also accompanied by some form of gifts.
When the marriage is agreed to ,the dowry is then negotiated.It can range from huge sums of cash plus jewelery and dinners ,silken cloth and etc etc depending on the status of both families.Once this is agreed the auspicious date would be selected and thenceforth the groom and bride cannot meet.It was common in the early days for marriages to be arranged and there were not many love matches as male/female encounters were limited.
The wedding ceremony itself would involve the groom going to the bride's house with a lot of fanfare and a big delegation of supporters.Once the bride was received the couple would pay their respects to the parents and bow at the ancestral altar to get the blessings from the dearly departed.
After that its over to the groom's side where again the respects re paid to the parents and the bowing at the family altar.Then comes the wedding dinner attended by friends and relatives .It was usually lavish as the parents would want to announce to everyone that their daughter was married.The couple was expected to stay at the groom's house and the daughter in law had to be very obedient and courteous to the in laws.
Our youngest daughter got married traditionally on the 11th Dec. and we are all happy that she found the man of her choice in Andrew.As parents nothing make us happier than to see our children happily settled down.We can feel that they are compatible and hopefully Sze has made the right choice.A bit of the tradition mentioned above were followed but with some modifications.It was gratifying to see all the sisters and cousins chipping in to make sure everything went well for the little sister and they did a good job seeing that everything went on well.The distribution of work was nicely done and a fine testimony of how modern management can get things done efficiently.I believe everyone entrusted with the different tasks carried out their responsibility to the best and it was a good example of delegation of work.
Reminds me of the time when I got married.Mum was only 21 and I 27 .We had nothing ,our parents were unable to support us financially and we had to depend on ourselves.We had nothing except love and the courage to take the plunge.We did everything ourselves and there were no relatives to help us but at the end of the day we managed to survive the ceremonies and everything and after 43 years of marriage I believe we have no regrets .Life was tough for us but mum was a strong lady and through her inspiration and encouragement we made our lives into something meaningful,bringing up 4 children,educating them and seeing them become adults ready to live their lives on their own.A sterling example of team work...mum always believed that the woman should be one step behind the man and the house chores should be done by the lady thus giving the man his full attention to concentrate on his career.It worked well for us !
Three down and one to go and when Imn gets her marriage done we can say Mission Accomplished!
When the marriage is agreed to ,the dowry is then negotiated.It can range from huge sums of cash plus jewelery and dinners ,silken cloth and etc etc depending on the status of both families.Once this is agreed the auspicious date would be selected and thenceforth the groom and bride cannot meet.It was common in the early days for marriages to be arranged and there were not many love matches as male/female encounters were limited.
The wedding ceremony itself would involve the groom going to the bride's house with a lot of fanfare and a big delegation of supporters.Once the bride was received the couple would pay their respects to the parents and bow at the ancestral altar to get the blessings from the dearly departed.
After that its over to the groom's side where again the respects re paid to the parents and the bowing at the family altar.Then comes the wedding dinner attended by friends and relatives .It was usually lavish as the parents would want to announce to everyone that their daughter was married.The couple was expected to stay at the groom's house and the daughter in law had to be very obedient and courteous to the in laws.
Our youngest daughter got married traditionally on the 11th Dec. and we are all happy that she found the man of her choice in Andrew.As parents nothing make us happier than to see our children happily settled down.We can feel that they are compatible and hopefully Sze has made the right choice.A bit of the tradition mentioned above were followed but with some modifications.It was gratifying to see all the sisters and cousins chipping in to make sure everything went well for the little sister and they did a good job seeing that everything went on well.The distribution of work was nicely done and a fine testimony of how modern management can get things done efficiently.I believe everyone entrusted with the different tasks carried out their responsibility to the best and it was a good example of delegation of work.
Reminds me of the time when I got married.Mum was only 21 and I 27 .We had nothing ,our parents were unable to support us financially and we had to depend on ourselves.We had nothing except love and the courage to take the plunge.We did everything ourselves and there were no relatives to help us but at the end of the day we managed to survive the ceremonies and everything and after 43 years of marriage I believe we have no regrets .Life was tough for us but mum was a strong lady and through her inspiration and encouragement we made our lives into something meaningful,bringing up 4 children,educating them and seeing them become adults ready to live their lives on their own.A sterling example of team work...mum always believed that the woman should be one step behind the man and the house chores should be done by the lady thus giving the man his full attention to concentrate on his career.It worked well for us !
Three down and one to go and when Imn gets her marriage done we can say Mission Accomplished!
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