Thank You, Grand-aunt

Your kind words, your familiar voice and your warm smiles are something that I'll never forget since as a little kid. I shall add those perfect white sets teeth too...Never have I gotten the chance to thank you personally after busily growing up while your visits became rarer.

Thanks for touching my life, literally, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

RIP, Kor Poh

Hobart High

This is what I've been given towards the end of the reception in Hobart last Saturday! Was it a standing ovation of some sorts? For me, hell, yeah...It was like my Oscar night! It felt and still feels so good!

It's such doses of "HIGH" that spurs me on, giving my utmost best. Thanks, guys...!

 

These are some of the shots taken.

Congrats to Angeline & Andrew. It's such a sweet, fun and beautiful wedding!

Friendships, My Soul

Writing allows my sanity to be kept in check but I've been slacking. In the last few weeks and months, I've gone through some events and experience, both good and not-so-good.

One thing for sure that stays constant in my universe is friendships, specifically the genuine friendships. Being the only kid, I've been brought up with friends around me and some of these friends are like my brothers and sisters who are closer to me than some blood relations, no disrespect to them. These friends have extended their supports in various forms and offerred blunt but honest advices/opinions during times when I require them.

During my competitive swimming days, we had our ups & downs. Although these brothers- and sisters-in-arms can be a pain in the neck for being rascals, we genuinely supported one another through thick & thin, joy & frustrations, achievements & disappointments. Til this very day, some of these swimming friends are still the closest, truest and warmest friends. We might have grown up and living apart but that bondage that binds us will never break. You can take the swimmer away from us but you can never take away the swimmer in us.

Of course, there are some classmates, schoolmates, coursemates and colleagues that made great impacts then and now. These are genuine friends who I grew up or shared my days with and that they have no ill intentions whatsoever. We could be frank yet there would be no negative consequences to the friendships.

Unlike those childhood and true friends, there are such "friends", especially from the corportate world that are backstabbers and fakes who try to take advantage of the good souls without showing even the slightest true appreciation for our contributions and supports. I question the fact why such "people" not only exist but survive longer than some of those good souls who were taken away from me.

What I've been through over the last few months have made me realised that I should appreciate more of such great and true friends. I abhor the feeling of being taken for granted of my friendship but somehow I always fall into that deep end, offerring my warmest and truest!

Friendships are the heart and soul in my universe. I live and breathe them. They are the one very thing that I cherish, love, respect and fight for. I will always extend my truest frienship to touch their hearts. I would not be me if these qualities were to be taken from me. To take away that foundation that I long for, or the threat of doing so, is to take away suck out my soul and would certainly sadden me. Call this simplicity.

To all my genuine friends, my brothers and sisters, my heartfelt appreciation and love for your kinships. You know who you are. This is for you.

To quote from the Bad Boys movies, "We Ride Together. We Die Together." Friends Forever!

CNY Festivities & Goodies

I've skipped a few CNY and having this opportunity with family and friends in my hometown this year was awesome. There were gatherings to attend, food to relish and drinks to down. Memories to reminisc, for sure. Photos speak a thousand words and here they are.


It is the best CNY I have had in many years. Miss home, friends & those laughters!

Keong Hee Huat Chye to all

Chinese New Year is one of the biggest celebration for, urm, Chinese descendents. It's like Christmas to the Westerners but it's celebrated over 15 days, 16 if to include the eve. It's all about relishing food.

The eve of CNY is a pivotal tradition whereby preferrably all family members are gathered together for a reunion dinner. In the olden days where my grandparents were still around, a big cook up with plenty of big pots of dishes were prepared. In the last few years, our family members are gathered in a hotel for reunion dinner. The homecooked and atmosphere are sorely missed but at least my family is still very much tightly woven.

Hope the Rabbit year brings joys and successes to all and sundry.

Keong Hee Huat Chye (Hokkien dialect for Gong Xi Fa Chai)!!