Frustrations, Disappointments and Greed

For the past couple of weeks, I have been feeling really tired and just didn't feel like doing much other than lazing at home. This may have been the result of a few recent happenings.

Usually, I would be taking lots of pics and/or editing them. However, it has not been the case. Instead, I have been having shorter fuse and easily get frustrated with things that normally I would shrug off.

What probably started off this streak is that I felt betrayed and wounded by someone whom I am closed to. It just worsened from week to week.

Additionally the late nights in the past few weeks just didn't help at all.

On another matter, I am very proud to say that I'm earning and spending my own hard earnt money since I started working. Even during my 2 final university years, I was working casually to be able to enjoy life a little bit without worrying about my parents' finances. From the cameras, lenses, accessories and my car, I have gotten them with my own cash. These monies may also be from my swimming days' incentives but they are still hard earnt from the efforts of both myself and my parents poured in. The other sources are from the further investments I made with the advise of my dad. I have to admit that without the educations provided by my parents, I would not have attained these.

For sure, I will never allow money to be the root of my undoing. Neither will I be the slave of it. So long I can live comfortably from what I have, I will not allow greed to set into my life. My parents have provided me the opportunities and supports to study and learn from those around me. Of all the gifts I received, they are the greatest. Of course, these are besides their love that will never ever be overtaken.

Indeed, historically money has proven to be the root of all evil. It just takes some efforts and willpower to resist the greed. I guess I am brought up very well by my parents as well as through competitive swimming of which only diligence will be rewarded.

I hope tomorrow I will be able to fill my huge lungs with some breaths of fresh air while spending time with a group of friends in Dandenong Ranges. Perhaps, I should also spend a little bit of time to refresh and recharge myself for the journeys ahead.

To recap, will I be tempted by money? Maybe I will but I will have the willpower to resist it. Time will tell...........at least I have this note to remind me too!

Plenty of Wedding Invites

In the past few weeks/months, I have been getting lots of wedding invitations from my long-time friends. As much as I'd like to attend, with my camera (of course), I have to give most of them, if not all, a miss. I would not only be able to share the happiness with the newly weds but able to meet up with some good old friends too should I make it there for the events.
Although in the past I mentioned I will cherish my friends (and family) as much as possible now than regretting it later for procrastination, I just couldn't justify to pay >AUD1.2k for a flight home to attend their weddings in May, June, November and so on. Moreover, I don't have that much of annual leaves to burn and definitely won't be able to take no-pay leave since I have bills to pay and aspirations to realise.
However, I will certainly try my best to attend should the event, be it wedding or registration, coincides with my planned trips back. That's a promise.......
I'm very delighted that there is a long time friend who asked me to attend his/her registration and wedding in May. We have lost touch for many years and thanks to Facebook for the opportunity of finding old friends! I'm not too sure yet whether I can make it to the registration ceremony as it depends on my family holiday's planning. Again, I really hope I am able to attend and arm myself with my camera!!

Congratulations to those who are getting married in 2008, the year of the Rat.....

Have been catching up with processing of photos taken during a friend's visit to Melbourne and sleeping.

50th Anniversary of the Construction of the Great Ocean Road

I had the opportunity to visit the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road and wouldn't have done the trip in 2007 if my friend didn't drop by Melbourne for a visit. The coastal road is certainly great, in fact, it's magnificent!

I really enjoyed the drive but would have been better if my friend could just stay awake and keep me company (=P).

Here are some of the shots from the Great Ocean Road Series from my album. I'll just let the photos do the talking.

Perhaps some of these photos will bring us some emotions as well as some ponderings and reflections in life.

Hope the new year will bring us all good fortune.

Finally

Finally, I get to meet up with a close friend
Finally, we get to catch up after so very long
Finally, we reminisced the good ol' memories we had
Finally, I am suddenly feeling very tired


The friend who visited from Perth recently finally left Melbourne few hours ago. I am very happy that we get to meet up, catch up and sharing the laughters from the good ol' times we had during our swimming days.

Time really flies. We were just chatting on our way to the airport and both realised that it's been at least 12 years since we've known each other (longer for her elder brother). We just clicked right from the dawn I picked her up (and right from where we left off back in Malaysian Games 1998 and back in Perth 2005)!!

TWELVE years and TWELVE Apostles!! Hahaha......That's a coincident!

I am very glad my friend made the trip here. Certainly, the one week including New Year's eve was one of my best moments. I will certainly cherish these memories - our 1st trip to the 12 Apostles, Sovereign Hill and the many adhoc plans we had! It was fun, tiring but very fun. Lots and lots of photos were taken during the 1 week, meaning I have plenty of backlogs ;P.

After sending her off, I am finally and suddenly feeling very tired after a week of having someone to annoy, chat and spend some time with.

The memories of those moments have been captured. I guess when I look back in many years from now (like all other great memories) these captured moments will definitely put a smile (perhaps a cheeky grin) on my face.

Quite frankly, I am very happy to know that she's doing well in life.

Thanks again for the sweet gifts and of course for visiting me.......the gifts are of course not necessary but nevertheless very nice gestures.

When will we meet again? Perhaps in 2009 during the BIG Swimmer Get-Together, an idea I have put forward to many other Malaysian swimmers from many states but now scatter all around many continents. I'd rather hope some of us will come together more often.

New Year Resolutions - making the Swimmers' Gathering in 2009 a reality, continuously strengthening myself in many ways and keeping in touch more often with family and friends.


Finally, I am heading to bed


p/s: These captured memories will be posted on my WhoALSE website soon. For now, I need to get to bed and get myself ready for the reality tomorrow.

Holiday

With a good old swimming friend visiting from Perth, I am finally getting some opportunities to travel some places of interests in and around Victoria. Not to forget taking photos too.

I have just been to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat and will be heading to Great Ocean Road (again) but this time will be further from Lorne and Apollo Bay for 12 Apostles.

However, the best part was reminiscing the good ol' memories we had, especially those during the ASEAN Age Group and ASEAN Schools Swimming Championships as part of the National Swim Team. Recalling those moments and laughing about it brought the smirk back on my face.......

I have taken many shots but there will be many to come. Having said that, this friend has also been taking pics with my camera too.

Bed time calling as I will be doing most of the driving.

Happy New Year to all....

Sunset at Williamstown

10 Long Years - Swimming

It's been 10 long years (minimum) since I and many others of my generation left competitive swimming scene. It's unbelievable that it's more than a decade since many of us left. It seems like yesterday that we were having a pool of a time in and out of the swimming pool, enjoying a rush lunch between sessions, doing a performance during final night dinner of a swim meet and sharing ghost stories on the last night of staying in hostels. Time really flies....

After having a long chat (after some long periods of time) last night with an-ex swimmer whom I consider my sister, the idea of having a get-together of ex-swimmers struck me while laying on my bed. This idea has been at the back of my mind for some years and was even put forward by a parent during my coach's Appreciation Dinner (Lee Chek's Appreciation Dinner) that I organised back in Sept 2005 (with some assistance from his swimmers of many generations).

I really don't mind getting the ball started since I had the opportunities to swim and know swimmers from across the generations - those who are 10 years my senior and junior. Perhaps, this gathering will be more of the generations that swam in the 1980s and 1990s.

Swimming form very much a large part of my formative years. Fellow swimmers are like brothers and sisters to me. In fact, we are all a very large family sharing one thing in common - CHLORINATED WATER. It's the chlorinated water that made our hair golden in colour!

The list of some of the well-known swimmers that I came to know personally are (not in any particular order):
Jeffrey Ong - whom I got to play with on weekends, yes, in the pool....
Angelia Ong - whom I got to play with on weekends, yes, in the pool....
May Tan
Magdaline Goh - another big sista who's now in Melbourne too
Loo I-lyn
Ming Yen - and family who's my neighbour (another siblings of mine)
Mark Chua - whom I shared the same dormitory during one of the centralised training
Marilyn Chua - can't say we share the same dorm....grinz
Elena Saw - whom I grew up with in and out of the pool
Alex Lim Keng Liat - who was my roommate
Allen Ong - whom I grew up and competed with back in the late 80s
Cindy Ong
Elvin Chia - whom I shared the same dormitory during one of the centralised training (he slept on the floor due to his height!)

I do hope this meet up will eventuate because it's been too long since we actually sit down and enjoy meals together with a few jokes thrown in!

Certainly, I will make this my new year resolution though it's planned (or suggested) to be held in 2009 to allow better coordination and planning.

Merry Xmas to all............