A Fair Week

This week was pretty alright for me as in many positive ways. The highlight of course was the fact that I am able to change my 2 year old phone to something that I was drooling over for some time. Yes, it's the mercurial iPhone!! Maxis was gracious enough to extend a free iPhone provided I sign up to stay with them for 2 years. Well, I have been with them for 14 years now, another 2 more years wouldn't make a difference and a big plus point of being a heavy user. An invitation to the launch next week and to simultaneously collect my "precious one" is indeed an impatient factor for me now.

As in work, my clients have decided to shoot in New Zealand and if that happens, it is a real situation of "dreams do come true". I always wanted to visit New Zealand whether be it for leisure or work and guess if everything falls in place, its gonna be in 2-3 weeks time. I've also a photoshoot coming along and this time is for a budding Malaysian artist who would be launching her debut album. Wouldn't wanna disclose details in here but will do after things are being done. My client from India had decided to resume work for a feature film that is to be shot in London. Guess the effect of Slumdog Millionaire is starting to take place and as this project was first conceived in 2007 and damn the long wait, hope it turns up for real now. On the other hand, a close friend of mine secured a project and is engaging my services to scout locations in the next few days. The miserable part of all is the fact of not able to have a transport to move around as yet. Hope to resolve it by the time work starts.

As in recognition, my works have been chosen to compete in the Leica Oskar Barnack Photo Award 2009 amongst the thousands around the globe whom competed to get there. There are only two Malaysians chosen and its a great honour to be in there. I am certainly not looking forward to win anything but getting there had won me all.

The only setback this week was that my puppy, Midnight Mist fell ill and had a sudden burst of body temperature. Took her to the vet yesterday, had her jabbed and started her medications. Towards the night she was jumping and active but this morning she could hardly walk. Her hind legs were too weak to carry her up. Called the vet and the only assurance that he could give me was that she is under medications and time is required. It did scare me a bit as the memories of my late buddy Sgt. Pepper Rooney came back. On this day a year ago, he succumbed to failed liver caused by jaundice. Until this very day, I miss him a lot.

Hope things pick up better next week.

Relationship In Lesson : Surviving Infidelity | Can It Really Be Done?

From The Infidelity Centre ...

Can someone really survive infidelity in his or her marriage? I totally believe that you can survive infidelity, as long as it’s not repeated over and over with a spouse that has no remorse. But if your spouse is very remorseful and is very willing to work on the marriage and there isn’t history of infidelities, then yes, you your marriage can survive infidelity.

Know that you are not alone in this fight. About 80% of marriages will fall victim to infidelity. Surviving infidelity can actually make a marriage stronger, however, it’s a very personal choice if you stay in the marriage or leave it. Make sure you make that decision yourself and that you are not influenced by others. I wouldn’t even make that decision for a full year so that you aren’t making a choice from emotions. If you are willing to work hard and long then here are 6 strategies for getting past the devastation pain of infidelity.

* You’re going to have to try and be calm and collective. You can’t be flying off the handle in screaming rages towards your spouse. No one said this was an easy road to take. You are going to want to know details of the affair and if you fly off the handle and rage towards your spouse, he or she is no longer going to be very forth coming in information when they know you are just going to bite their head off every time. If you are discussing the affair and find you can’t take it anymore, remove yourself from the situation and come back to it when you have had a chance to calm down. Vent to others, friends, forums, counselors, etc. not your spouse.

* Be compassionate towards how your spouse is feeling. Now this one is VERY hard but it still needs to be done. Even though you are hurting very deeply, chances are so is your spouse. They are realizing the impact of what they have done and seeing how much pain you’re in, how much pain the family is in, and everyone that is involved. They most likely thought they would never be caught and that it wouldn’t really hurt anyone. They love to justify what they are doing, even though it’s usually irrational. Their pain isn’t the same as yours and never will be. But be understanding to their pain as well. Remember to keep in mind the goal is to save your marriage, not tear it apart even further.

* Find support. Going through this alone can be extremely hard. There are support groups out there for betrayed spouses. It was one of the best things I ever did and I think it greatly improved the odds for my marriage surviving. If you can’t find a local support group, then find one online. Just make sure you reach out and find others that have gone through what you are going through so that they can help you through the low times. I would also strongly advise to getting couples therapy and individual counseling. You can never have too much help, as long as it’s for saving your marriage. Make sure you stay away from those that want you to leave.

Here are the remainder of the six steps to surviving infidelity.

Work on some of the most glaring problems in the marriage. The ones that don’t have anything to do with the affair. Try and really work through these problems and strive for a stronger marriage. This was hard for me because I felt that I had to do all this work and try and change when I didn’t even do anything wrong. But try and not feel this way. Know that this is for the benefit of the marriage. Work on meeting each other’s most important emotional needs. Work with your counselor when discussing sensitive issues. Remember you want to build a stronger marriage and make it as affair proof as possible.

Be honest. This is very important. Be honest with your spouse about your feelings. Don’t use honesty as a way to stick it to your spouse. There is a right way and wrong way of being honest. You don’t use honesty as a way to hurt your spouse. But, you want to make sure you are honest in how you are feeling. If you don’t, you will find that you are building up anger and resentment, which poisons marriages. Don’t fall in this trap. Tell your spouse how you are feeling whether it be angry, sad, devastated, hurt, betrayed, etc. You can say these things in a matter of fact way without sounding accusatory.

Learn to have fun together! Try and remember back to when you two were first dating. What did you both love to do together? Find things that you both love to do and do them! Do things that make you laugh and feel good. Do this as much as possible. My husband and I found a comedy club and we went EVERY weekend for months because we laughed there and we have very found memories of that place now. We still go, just not every single weekend. But you have to find something that you both love doing and make sure you do them. At first that was the last thing I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted my marriage to get better so I made myself go. Now I’m so l glad that I did. Go have fun together!

This will get you started in the right direction. It’s a long hard road, but if you put your mind to it and really try hard you will succeed!

Relationship In Lesson : After Infidelity | But I'm Not Doing It Now

Writings of an experience at The Infidelity Recovery Centre ....

From the people I talk to this comes up a lot. Their spouse will say this to them when they voice that they are still hurting over the affair. They will say they are still in pain over the affair and maybe the affair ended over a year or two years ago. Their spouse will then say to them, “But, I’m not doing it now.” Like we shouldn’t be in pain over something they are no longer doing.

I heard a story today that I really liked. Say you were severely burned causing you tremendous pain over a large part of your body. You end up in the hospital burn unit for months. To heal from this takes a LONG time. Would you really say to this person that you can clearly see is in pain, “Why are you in pain? No body is burning you now?” That would be ridiculous! Recovering from affairs is like recovering from burns. It’s a LONG SLOW PAINFUL process that one just doesn’t get over just because they aren’t doing it right now. And in it’s wake is left many scars.

The Wayward spouse needs to realize this point. We aren’t just going to “get over it” or sweep it under the rug. It takes YEARS to get over an affair. I’m talking over 3!!!! You can’t expect someone only one and a half years out from D-Day to just be “fine”. This just isn’t going to happen. At one year out I was still in pain EVERY DAY!! I was depressed, angry, hurting, devastated, etc. Was an emotional mess most of this year. I couldn’t focus on anything. Had to go on med’s just to function.

At 2 years out I was still VERY angry, mean, had my wall up, wouldn’t let him back into my heart, felt NO love for him at all, would have gladly left him if it wasn’t for the kids, and was still in pain at times. At times I think I really did hate him.

At 3 years out I was finally getting better. I didn’t have as much anger, I wasn’t nearly as depressed, my wall was about half down, we are starting to get along better, I have way more good days then bad ones, I’m still not “in love” with him but I don’t hate him either.

Today marks my 4th year. I found out on July 21, 2004. Today is MUCH better. I am not angry, we can talk about the affair without pain and anger. I can talk about it without getting upset or getting depressed. I am still working on letting down my wall and letting him back fully into my heart. I am still not “in love” with him like I want to be. You know the romantic heart swelling kind. I’m hoping that at year 5 I can say that I am truly in love with my husband that way. I got for DAYS without even thinking about the affair. When we do have disagreements it’s never about the affair and we hardly ever talk about it anymore.

I truly believe that it takes well over 3 years to FULLY recover from an affair. Now, everyone is different and has a different healing timeline. We did have counseling on and off during this time. We did the first whole year but not so much after that. Maybe had we done some things differently my timeline would be different. Not feeling “in love” with my husband does bother me, but I think I’m still blocking those feelings because I may believe that if I feel those feelings again then I’m saying that his affair was okay with me. I have to get past this belief and then I believe I will have those feelings for him again. I do plan on working on that this year because I do want those heart swelling feelings of love again.

Relationship In Lesson : A Guide In Dealing With Infidelity | How Your Spouse Can Help With Your Pain

A reciting from The Infidelity Recovery Centre,

Here are some things that I have learned along this rough road of recovery. Now, I do realize that not every spouse is really going to do these things. I just wish they would and that they would realize how much it would affect the marriage if they did.

To rid yourself of the pain of your spouse’s affair, is to have your spouse really listen to your hurt and absorb it. Not get defensive, but to really hear and feel your hurt. We need them to bring up the affair, and let us know it’s on their mind too, so that we know we aren’t alone in our pain. The more they pay attention to our pain, the less we will pay attention to it.

I know our spouse’s probably want to run away from our pain because it causes them pain too. They might think, what good can come of us “always” talking about our pain and grief except to hurt and punish me? But, having them listen to our pain and hurt and really hearing us, will make us feel closer to them and the pain less intense.

We need them to NOT try and cheer us up but to really own the pain we are in. To really feel what we are feeling and to verbally say, “I did this to you and I’m truly sorry.” We need to be able to go to them as often as we need to with our pain and to really be heard. No more, “Let’s not talk about the affair anymore.” No more, “Let the past stay in the past.” We should be able to talk about the affair whenever we need to and have them willing be there for us with support and NOT anger.

Really, just listening, with empathy, will help us heal and feel closer to them. Sometimes we are so worried about NOT bringing it up anymore and trying to move past this, that we fell as though we are never going to get any better. All we are doing is burying our hurt just to be triggered again. The more we talk about our hurt and pain to spouse’s that are willing to put aside their defenses and justifications and are willing to own our pain and feel our anguish, the more we heal and the less we hurt. This is a great way to stop the hurt.

So, if your spouse asks if there is anything they can do to help you, tell them YES there is! You can tell them that listening and empathizing are the most powerful healing gestures they can make. This will go right through our sense of combativeness and isolation and encourages us to reconnect with them.

My marriage coach told me that I needed time, antidepressants and my husband meeting my needs for my pain. I did all this and my husband tried to meet my needs but my pain was still there. I was made to believe that bringing up the affair wasn’t doing any good and to leave it alone. I had hurt and anger that I had no idea what to do with.

My husband should have been told to draw out my hurt, anger, and pain EVERY DAY, and to own it all! Then, once I was hurting much less and we were connected again, THEN address the issues in the marriage BESIDES the affair.

Relationship In Lesson : A Guide In Dealing With Infidelity

An interesting topic that stumbled upon for those who are in search for help ...

Infidelity is one of the most painful issues that a couple can deal with. There are feelings of betrayal, worry, anxiety and anger that swirl out of control after finding out that a lover has been unfaithful. Since everyone has different personalities it is very difficult to have a one size fits all plan to mend the relationship and return the couple to a loving plateau. This is not to say that it is impossible, but something that must be addressed with care and caution! Here is a little more about fixing a relationship after infidelity.

Dealing with infidelity is a complicated issue, as there are so many thoughts and feelings. In the beginning the person may have trouble believing that their partner would actually have an intimate relationship with another. For others they are angry that their lover has stooped to cheat on them. What ever the specifics it is important that the couple begin repairing the relationship immediately. The longer the gap in time, the less likely the couple is to have a positive and healthy relationship. In order to move from pure anger to a forgiving mode the first step is in the admittance that there is a problem. Obviously there is something in the relationship that needs to be addressed. Counseling or mediation can help tremendously in this area because there is an unbiased third party that helps the couple sort through the issues.

Another effective tool for dealing with infidelity is for the couple to address their lifestyle and interfering factors. In many cases it is outside forces that cause one partner to be unfaithful to the other. It may be a co-worker, financial troubles or simply issues between the couple themselves. If these issues can be pointed out and addressed the couple stands a chance of surviving. Of course the other man or woman must be completely removed from the picture. There can be no contact of dealings with the offending party, because there will be years of mistrust and jealousy within the relationship. This is a given and must be the first thing to change! In cases where the “other” woman or man is a fixture in life it is important to set clear boundaries. Any contact or dealings must be purely business and not personal contact or conversation.

The jealousy and mistrust that ensues after an extra marital affair is sometimes one of the most difficult things to over come. There is generally issues of questioning, checking up on and other behaviors that reassure the offended party. This is normal and only to be expected. The couple that is working on their relationship after an affair must have an open book policy. No secrets and they must weather the storm of questioning, without hesitation or getting angry. This is important because it is the only way that trust can be rebuilt. Time and honesty will allow the couple to continue with their relationship, but without it they will likely perish.

In Pursuit of Happyness

The title of this post is not a typo error but it is actually the title of one of my alltime favourite movies which was based on a true story. The story is about pure determination to succeed in life against all odds and achieving it till the peak. 

For some time I have been going through a lot within myself in constant struggle to free myself out from a certain crisis that surfaced some months back. Every happy moment was limited to number of hours of a week and the rest were indulged in sadness, anger, anguish, fights and quarrels. I have been straining my energy into wasteful events lately and I feel completely drained thus creating an unwanted and unhealthy mindset. Every issue had a lead back to those events and eventually flowed out a series of setbacks. Current financial turmoil and the complete crippling factor of not having a transportation have sunken into me. The troubles and woes seem to be flowing freely in my veins and every outcome of result is going nowhere good but somewhere bad. It had taken a great toll on myself, my family, my work or intended project and other elements significantly related to it. Many statements and pondering with much "ifs" and "buts" were scattered around making me dwell well in the home of woes. To be frank, I am not a deservingly resident in this home, just a temporary tenant. 

I have decided to come out of it with a mode of transportation called "Take It Easy" and I believe that it will drive me out. It may be a bumpy road ride but as long as it takes me out of that "home", I know I will be a level headed resident elsewhere. Setting priorities and adhering to it have been a norm and it was used to be set according surroundings and situations but now it will be set on a single objective. My life matters to me as it gives the soul to see, hear, feel and touch and the reality aspect, many come and go, pass by and leave. Nothing can dictate that but one can dictate their own perspective. If someone hates me today, I will let it be and not make any efforts just to please them. If there is good that the person sees in me, then it would eventually carve their path towards me. I have a heavy task of rebuilding my life, stature and stand. This stage will be the most tedious but is never impossible. 

It may surprise some that of my perception now or even may draw unwanted reception but as far as it concerns, it will be an external event and not a factor. I may have a great affection towards some people but that feeling will remain as it is, not allowing it to eat through me anymore. Life being shattered into a million pieces can always be patched in various patterns to move towards a new direction. Nothing is really lost in fact should the standing goal remains as the final drive in my path. Everything around me may seem bleak now now but I have seen the slightest ray of redemption and would want that light of hope to guide me through my path In Pursuit of Happyness.

A Beautiful Piece

I was scrambling through some thoughts of a song that I would really wanna play, just to refresh my good ol' "self jamming" days until a tune hit me and kept ringing. Didn't have the song in my iTunes but managed to get the lyrics and started going through it all over again. The following are the words penned by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren in 1988 for a beautiful song by Chicago:

Though it wouldn't matter, if we didn't stay together

And if it was over, maybe it was for the better

I was thinking I'd be alright, 'til I thought it all through

Now I know that I ain't really living, 

If I have to live without you

Chorus:

I don't want to live without your love,

I don't want to face the night alone.

I could never make it through my life,

If I had to make it on my own.

I don't want to love nobody else,

I don't wan to find somebody new.

I don't want to live without your love,

I just want to live my life with you.

Guess I had to go away, so much I had to go through.

Guess I had to lose you, to know how much I love you.

Can we make the fire burn again, burn a little stronger?

Cause I've been alone, and baby,

and I can't be alone now any longer.

Chorus

Oh, if I could make it on my own,

My life would never be the same.

My love would never be the same,

I don't want to live without your love

Chorus

Nice piece of work .....

Fabulous Sunday

Sunday, the 15th of February 2009 will be a well remembered day. It was the day that good things happened for the better and sealed many gapping holes in my life. This is being more directive to being forgiven and accepted by my mother in law. My heart was much relieved after the unorthodox session with her which taught me some finer lessons in life. I guess that part of the day relieved many around especially my wife whom have been kept in a difficult position and which I am completely sorry. 

"Lessons are learnt everyday, the good ones come the hardest way" - JRR

The events of the day started with the above mentioned and followed by with a water splashing time with my wife, son, sis in law, Amy and her boyfriend John whilst Dad in Law sat by the side with his mom. 

The night took off with a simple dinner and "open table" time and it was so much of fun having lots of people (relatives and friends) around. The kids, Christian, Mabel, Alex, Sidney and Scottie were the reasons of the lively atmosphere and of course, the high decibels while the others whom were there, Lee, An, Gladys, Harrison, Florence and the two visitors from Indonesia were in the same mood but on a adult basis. My camera was clicking away with An and Lee having much fun with it. 

My Terri made a two-tier cake which was the birthday cake blown on that night, highlighting Alex's turning of age but it was also a joint celebrations of Terri and her twin Florence whom were turning a year older in the next few days but it looked for like 5 little kids having a bash on their own. The night went on with a Baskin & Robins ice cream fiesta and some table top games. 

It was indeed a great night for all of us and especially for Terri and me. 

A Nice Memory .... From Germany

I had finally got hold of the images that were produced on my one and only project for the pathetic year of 2008. It was the most difficult shoot that I've worked on in my 14 years of film and photo production career and till today, the painstaking process of the project still haunts me. 

This project is still a significant part of my career and life, and which will carry a great fusion of mixed feelings. Looking at the results, makes me live in an oblivion of accomplishment gravity. 

For those who read these, be prepared to be mesmerised by the images .....

 

Caring Is Sharing or Sharing Is Caring?

Was just pondering over those words that are commonly used as an abbreviation of feelings. Looking into details, the terms are rather subjective and it is derived of the basic words of care and share.

Care as a noun means an anxiety of concern. To me it is a form feeling that one has over a certain person or object that are meaningful to the person. Caring attitude reflects the inner feeling or a mode that shows concern or gratitude towards another being or object or even a subject. When the question of care arises, one will look into his or her priority list and realises whom or what matters most in one's life. If it concerns people, the rank of order usually begins with the person he/she loves and adores the most where on a common, it could be the mother, child, father, spouse or companion. Sharing is a way to divide and distribute accordingly or apportion certain values or to participate or experience a journey jointly.

If you love someone deeply, the care and affection is probably the highest. You will do whatever you can and think of to care for that person be it if you're in the midst of a meeting with Barack Obama. You will be concerned of the well being of that person and being always aware of how you could make situations better or easier for the other party by sharing of what you may have and the possible needs of that person concerned. Sometimes, the simplest thoughts could be the biggest gesture and it will certainly be a overwhelming feeling for that person concerned. Until then, you can never say that you actually care so much or deeply of someone. You in caring maybe noticed as just a surface of an image that you may have been working so hard on. Don't work too hard as it will be realised by the other party with much ease. 

 

A Peculiar Language

If anyone could figure out the meaning to some words that my 2 and a half year old son utters, please advice. Those words are as follows:

• ai-yent
• ak-ko
• ak-ka
• mamee pass
• em-bow
• tess-fess
• koong koom
• ata-shop
• koukou-pace
• a-ter
• o-to-fee
• wa-tis
• arto
• swerf
• pek shop
• parkssen
• watssen
• medichbens
• a-nait
• ettafour
• eng-chai
• daddy plis cavvy
• apen
• teng-ku mamee

Chronicles of My Life .... A New Journey

My usual Saturday mornings usually begin by picking up Terri and Christian for breakfast and spending 2- 3 hours in the vicinity of Desa Sri Hartamas while Terri attends her weekly cake decorating course.  Last Saturday was completely different as I hauled up myself in a pleasant and enchanting environment amongst 16 people seeking to be healed under the guidance of 2 Godsend beings. This session was highlighted by a dear friend of mine, Geraldine.

Not realising in the beginning but this experience was truly a start in journey that I've longed for. This experience was simply called "The Family Constellations". It is a configuration of ideas, feelings, characteristics and intuitions. Its an experience where our inner feelings and souls communicate in healing and reaching out to beings that are going through mishaps of life which seem to have made it through and living well in our systems. 

It was a 2 day event where most of us poured out our sorrows and anguish in a group that hardly no one knew each other. Each cases were analysed well and eminent results were achieved. For a first timer, it could be a complete awe but as when the mechanics of the healing process begins to wheel every individual will realise the importance of a family. Many elements that we've failed to see, realise or even ignored when they were just right in front us. These issues may have been brushed off with ease as at that time it could have been as what it may have been seen as a microgerm sized issue. Just be prepared as these puny "things" could turn out to be one of the greatest problem for an individual.

I wouldn't want to share in here the details as we have a mutual understanding among us but what I can share is that this 2 day journey has opened up many closed pores of pain and realisations of a family. I wouldn't dare say that I am healed but I wouldn't hesitate to say that will go all out with great determination to be healed.

Eyes Wide Open

Personal experiences made out of life disappointments, events, tragedies and betrayal have amounted in me of making through my daily life with my eyes wide open. This has enabled me to view details and elements in every angle in a contrasty of a 16:9 instead of a 4:3. Elements that are included in this comprise from a full cast of companion, friends, family, business associates and the ordinary Bangladeshi pump attendant that helps me to refuel my car.

Personal emotions and a razor edged instinct contributes the narrative aspect of "Eyes Wide Open". This factor is working well with a character and attributes of a highly charged emotional person like me. I have erratic traits that may not go well with the society but with a strong opinion of what makes me myself is my being, not the society that is ad-hoc. 

I am still seeking for a connection that will be eventually know and understand being me. I may sound self centred here as this chapter is merely a self expression. When you care for someone, do not do things to show him/her that you care. Do it because you care. When you love someone, love that person because do love him/her. Do not love the person for merely including the word "love" in your daily vocabulary. When you would want to lie to someone, lie because this person is meaningless to you. When you choose to hide things from the person that means some much to you, keep on doing it as this person actually never meant anything to you. If you want to be in happiness, reveal the unhappiness first.

...... more to come

3rd Grade

The 3rd Grade is usually referred to grading of subjects, objects, productivity or classifications of people in a society, etc.

During our younger days in secondary education, getting a Grade 3 in the SPM is like .... damn, I had been so "lembap". Should have studied smarter but the results just showed where I am academically.

If you're gunning for a gold medal in a sprint race knowing that you're the best on that track, a 3rd place is a failure. Finishing two places behind runners whom are not of your calibre adds severe insult to your reputation.

Globally, a 3rd Grade Nation or commonly known as a 3rd World Nation is a categorial label used to describe countries that are considered to be underdeveloped in terms of their economical dismal or level of industrialisation, globalisation, standard of living, health, education or other criteria for "advancement".

3rd Grade also describes the level of education, step in scale or rank, inclination with the horizontal of a road, building trades or even an animal resulting from a cross between an ordinary stock with a pure bred. 

Can anyone help me figure out how does it feel to be a 3rd Grade in a legion or a circle of where you think that you're important and being loved? How would it feel that when whatever and however you may go around it by laying your priorities and practicing them simply believing in the importance and your sincerity but in the end of it you're simply a 3rd Grade person? You always want to make the best for the people you love most, share whatever you may have with them, sacrifice whatever that may be important to you but rather let it go for someone that you love, just because he or she may want/ need urgently or other foreseen circumstances that may have led to that request but it is rather sad to learn that these people that you make your efforts for have a strong opinion about you as of being just a 3rd Grader. 

My advice for the "3rd Graders" (though it may be easier to preach than being done),

• do not expect appreciation as it may never be in the slightest thought of the other party
• do whatever you can if you feel that those people involved around you are a priority but do not believe that they may ever try to even think likewise about you
• try to spend the little time or opportunity given to be with your loved ones as you may not get it from your loved ones in a similar manner as they may rather spend their time with others
• your job is important to you as it gives you a living but do not put it all above everything especially when it matters your loved one(s) even though your loved one(s) may put their employers or clients well above you and that includes after "working" hours
• be prepared to spend RM200 on a simple thing for your loved one(s) and be well prepared to receive nothing when you need RM20 from your loved one(s) as whatever they have belongs to them and not you. You made a decision on parting with your money even if that was only what you're mediocrely left with but never expect the other party to LOAN you RM20 even if that could leave them with a healthy balance of RM1980 
• upgrade a level up or just accept it if you're placed at a plunging depths of being the 333rd in the pecking order, believe it or not as that could be what you are really WORTH!

Beginning The New Year In A Challenged Manner

Everyone hope and wishes for the new year to start off with a blast or at least in a positive manner. Mine had been a difficult one.

For the fact that possessing a personal transportation is a priority to us these days, I have none of it as of now. My car which was burnt in a freak incident was all I had to move around conveniently. And it is even harder that one has to rely on public transportation that is a known unreliable facility in this part of the region. Public buses are never as scheduled, taxi drivers charge to whatever they feel like (meter charges are not existent) and LRTs are seemingly packed during the times that I wanna get on one (maybe it is the wrong timing that I chose to ride).

I have seen and tested a car that I like based on the make, model, colour and condition. Despite the age and the mileage that is clocking in, I was completely taken aback with the mint condition of the car. I wouldn't want to reveal it as yet but it is definitely a Continental masterpiece. 

The other thing that didn't go well with me in Week 1 of 2009 is that my clients whom were to fly to Melbourne with me for a location scouting trip have been refused visas. This is came in as a surprise as they are well travelled and even have visas for the most difficult destination in the world, the ever paranoid nation of the United States of America. Damn, being Indian nationals ain't easy despite owning big industrial sectors in the world. Now, there is more work to be done in order for these "unlucky" Indians to continue work and eventually start filling up my pockets.

2008 to 2009 ... Transition Notes

It definitely felt good to be able to dawn the new year with my loved ones, well it just could be everyone else's stature as a near perfect way to begin the new year.

Terri, Christian and I had a late dinner (no thanks to my delay) at Ducking Jaya One and we were more than satisfied to fill up with a good meal. Once done, we strolled around the newly established "Biz-Leisure District" watching folks of all walks oohing and ahhing in chorus awaiting the countdown. Many were seated at the courtyard enjoying an evening of live music while gulping down pints of beer from the nearby Belgian Beer House or casually loittering around awaiting the countdown. Out of the blue, Terri and I decided to head to the good 'ol Waikiki Bar to party the night.

Upon arriving there, we were greeted by an expectedly loud and party crowd. We wriggled our way through to Tony Siew's table and nestled there. Christian was in an awe watching people of various sizes and colours busy being party-goers. The decibels increased as the minutes to the dawn of the new year decreased and the delirium didn't bother Christian as he was just too engrossed with two party packs that he was clutching tightly to while two well lit whistles hung around his neck.

As the clock struck midnight, the entire wooden shacked bar erupted with whistles, wishes and hugs while I grabbed my wife and wished her with a kiss. Our son was not dismayed at all but chose to hold tightly to his whistles and party packs! As time passed on, the club was blanketing with smog of nicotine and we realised that it was best for Christian to leave and he a fact that he was tired too.

It was a good night, nothing spectacular but certainly left a great feeling of ending the year and starting it with people that you love and cherish the most.

Happy New Year and Happy 3rd Anniversary, my beloved Terri.